Game controller input workflow

Game Controller Input Workflow

Overview

Use this skill for game input that belongs to the Game Controller framework or to controller-adjacent keyboard and mouse game controls. Keep rendering work in SpriteKit, SceneKit, RealityKit, or Metal owner skills.

Source Check

Use Xcode MCP DocumentationSearch, Xcode-local documentation, Dash Apple API Reference docsets, or readable official Apple documentation before making Game Controller-specific claims. Generic no-JS web search/open results, snippets, metadata shells, or bare Apple Developer URLs are not enough evidence that Apple docs were read:

• Game Controller
• Supporting Game Controllers
• GCController
• GCKeyboard
• GCMouse

Workflow

1. Inspect input ownership:
   • import GameController
   • GCController, GCDevice, GCExtendedGamepad, GCMicroGamepad, GCKeyboard, GCMouse, GCVirtualController, GCDeviceHaptics
   • controller connection and disconnection notifications
   • polling, value-changed handlers, input snapshots, or custom input abstraction
   • renderer-specific input bridges in SpriteKit, SceneKit, RealityKit, or host views
2. Preserve evidence shape:
   • Keep button press/release, analog values, directional values, repeat state, timestamps, modifiers, and device identity visible where the project needs diagnostics.
   • Do not normalize discrete keyboard events into fake continuous geometry.
   • Do not claim hardware behavior was verified without the relevant controller, keyboard, mouse, Siri Remote, or virtual-controller evidence.
3. Design mappings:
   • Keep gameplay actions separate from raw controller elements.
   • Provide keyboard or touch alternatives when controller input is optional.
   • Make remapping, dead zones, inversion, and accessibility choices explicit when they are part of the requested work.
4. Validate:
   • Verify compile/build through the Apple Dev execution workflow.
   • Run a manual or automated input checklist on the relevant hardware or simulator surface.
   • Record missing hardware as a validation gap instead of pretending the sandbox proved controller feel.

Handoffs

• core-haptics-game-feedback-workflow for haptics, rumble, audio-haptic patterns, and capability checks.
• spritekit-game-workflow or scenekit-game-workflow when the work becomes scene or gameplay integration.
• apple-dev-skills:xcode-build-run-workflow for build, run, simulator, and project membership mechanics.
• apple-dev-skills:apple-ui-accessibility-workflow for broader accessibility review when control alternatives, labels, focus, or assistive interaction become central.

Output Shape

Return the input devices, raw input owner, gameplay-action mapping, accessibility alternatives, validation hardware or simulator path, and missing evidence.