Apple is developing a physical gaming controller according to claims from hardware review site AnandTech.

In a review of Apple's latest tablet, the new iPad, AnandTech's experts weighed in the lack of a physical game controller dropping a hint that Apple had internally been working on such a peripheral.

It's especially the case as Android now has that support including with the OS.

The hot button

"While controller support in Android in its infancy at best, it's more than iOS currently offers," said AnandTech's review.

"I know of an internal Apple project to bring a physical controller to market, but whether or not it will ever see the light of day remains to be seen."

A little creative input

Despite Apple's past aversion to destroying the purity of a touchscreen interface, the idea of a controller that would be compatible with its range of iOS devices isn't completely out of the blue.

In 2010, a number of patents filed by Apple surfaced for a range of controllers that could communicate wirelessly with TVs, a portable gaming device and an add-on with buttons surfaced shortly after the launch of the first iPad.

[source: AnandTech]