Android 4.0 to support USB game controllers

In a move that is taking on Sony’s Xperia Play phones, Google framework engineer Romain Guy has revealed that the Android 4.0 update, also called Ice Cream Sandwich, will allow user to connect a USB game controller to their phone and also make use of HDMI.

Essentially what it does is turn any updated phone into a portable gaming console when a USB controller is connected through a USB-to-microUSB adapter.

The Samsung Galaxy Nexus will be one of the first phones to be released with the 4.0 update, while USB gamepads are already supported in Honeycomb.

“It’s definitely something we can see developers flock towards, and we’ll expect some cool stuff to come out of it. Just in case you thought the Nexus wouldn’t let you get anything else done around the house already, this pretty much seals the deal,” Engadget wrote.

Charlie Fripp – Consumer Tech editor