Android 17 leak points to a major update to gaming features

Code in Android preview builds shows that Google is testing system tools for customizing game controllers. Android 17 may bring built-in button reassignment and support for physical buttons in games without official gamepad support.

A report from Android Authority notes that fresh test versions of Android have revealed mechanisms for native reconfiguration of gamepads over Bluetooth and USB-C. Users will be able to change the purpose of any button, from triggers to extra keys. Right now, this flexibility is only available through third-party software or device manufacturers’ utilities. The built-in feature will bring Android closer to the level of consoles and PCs.

Reassign physical buttons and support for gamepad-less games

The code also has traces of a tool that allows hardware buttons to be mapped to virtual controls on the screen. This will make it possible to use a gamepad in games that lack official support, turning taps into assignable actions. For older projects or games without updates, this feature will be a marked improvement in usability.

At least for older projects or games without updates, this will be a noticeable improvement in usability.

Android’s gaming capabilities have long been inferior to those of modern devices. The OnePlus 15, iQOO 15, and RedMagic 11 Pro smartphones are designed to max out on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and the new tweaks could bring real-world gaming experiences closer to the achievements of hardware tests.

Not all features will make it to the Android 17 release

Google regularly tests features that may then not make it into the final version of Android. But detailing the current changes shows that the company is serious about updating controller management.

If the tools being tested hold up to release, Android 17 will be the update that brings mobile gamers a long-awaited thing – stable and universal gamepad support that works across the entire ecosystem. Amid the growing interest in PC emulation on Android, the changes could have a noticeable impact on smartphone gaming scenarios.