Highlights
- Android 17 is getting a major, native upgrade for mobile gaming.
- A new "virtual gamepad" will let controllers work with touch-only games.
- This will make thousands of incompatible Android games controller-friendly.
Google is developing a massive, system-wide upgrade for mobile gaming in the upcoming Android 17 release, poised to fix one of the platform's longest-standing frustrations. According to details and code found in the latest Android Canary builds, the new operating system will finally introduce a powerful, native way to remap controller buttons.
More importantly, it will add a "virtual gamepad" feature, allowing players to use physical controllers for games that only support touch controls.
This move is a complete game-changer, as it means thousands of popular, touch-only Android titles could suddenly become fully compatible with Xbox, PlayStation, and other mobile controllers. The new feature, reportedly called a "virtual gamepad", acts as a software bridge. It allows players to map on-screen controls, like a virtual joystick or an "attack" button, directly to the physical buttons on their controller.
The system essentially intercepts the signal from a button press and translates it into a simulated touch event for the game, which won't even know a controller is being used, eliminating compatibility issues.
The evidence for this new system, first detailed by Android Authority, was spotted in the latest Android Canary release. Code references show a new permission called “android.permission.CONTROLLER_REMAPPING.”
Xbox
Why This Is a Game-Changer for Android Gaming
This permission is restricted to system apps, meaning it will be a stable, low-latency, and native feature, not a third-party workaround. The code also points to a new, dedicated game controller menu within the Settings app, which will likely serve as the central hub for managing and remapping hardware.
This fix is long overdue. For years, Android players have relied on clunky, "hacky" third-party apps to customize their button layouts. These tools often use the Accessibility API to intercept and remap key presses, which can be unreliable and add significant input lag.
Android's current system doesn't support remapping out of the box; it relies on predefined configuration files for popular hardware (like official Xbox controllers) and expects individual games to build in their own remapping options, which most do not.
The need for this feature has grown significantly. While the vast majority of Android games use touchscreen controls, the rising popularity of cloud gaming services like GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming has increased demand for robust controller support. This update is also crucial for the growing market of Android-powered gaming handhelds.
By building a powerful remapping tool into the core of the OS, Google is signaling a serious move to create a more unified and reliable "console-like" experience, meeting the evolving needs of players head-on.
