The iPhone 15 Pro is the next AAA game console

techcrunch.com:

Apple spent some time focusing on games during Tuesday’s iPhone 15 launch event, and while we got the usual mobile devs talking about the improved hardware and software capabilities, we also found out that some very recent top-tier console games are coming to the iPhone, including the Resident Evil 4 remake, Resident Evil Village, and Death Stranding. The iPhone’s distinction from dedicated handheld gaming devices like the Steam Deck introduced more recently has been largely academic – and with the 15 Pro, it’s eroding further still.

Apple also announced that Assassin’s Creed Mirage, a forthcoming Ubisoft game from its popular franchise, would also launch on iPhone 15 Pro, and that the device would support hardware-accelerated ray-tracing dynamic lighting effects. This is not a mere continuation of the device’s already-impressive existing gaming story. The original iPhone, when it expanded software access to third-party developers, changed gaming so much that the real massive moneymaking industry titans of today are all mobile devs. Despite that, it’s never touched the market occupied by the console makers and PCs, a gaming strata that even the Mac hasn’t really been able to find purchase within, despite multiple tries over the years.

The iPhone has a chance to finally earn Apple a place as a must-target destination for big budget, major studio game releases. The A17 Pro that’s powering the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max is at least on par with the kinds of processors that are powering devices like the Steam Deck, Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go and many other portable form factor console PCs hitting the market and in development. And paired with devices like the Backbone One USB-C controller, which already announced support