Gaming on your iPhone is a unique pleasure thanks to Commands and Gaming focus

The iPhone is a powerhouse when it comes to mobile gaming. You can make this delightful pastime even more enjoyable by using Siri Shortcuts and a special Gaming focus. Grab your device!

Since the arrival of iOS 16, a number of new Focus modes have been added, including the Gaming focus. By using this Focus you can limit notifications from other apps while playing. Combine this with the cleverness of the Assignments app and gaming on your iPhone becomes a real pleasure.

This is how you set the Gaming focus on your iPhone

There are several ways to activate the Gaming focus, such as manually, based on set times or by automatic recognition. When you play a mobile game like Marvel Snap, after a while your iPhone asks if you want to use the Gaming focus. Super handy, but it could be even better.

If you use a game controller on your iPhone, it works even faster. Your phone recognizes that you connect a Backbone One, Razer Kishi V2 or Nacon MG-X Pro, for example. You can set to automatically turn on the Gaming focus when a controller is paired via Lightning or Bluetooth.

To get this done, go to your iPhone’s settings and tap Focus. Select Gaming or add this focus via the blue plus sign. Make sure that Wireless controller is enabled as a schedule. Then it’s time for the real work.

Automate!

We are not there yet with just setting the Gaming focus. We can apply a number of smart automations to make the gaming experience run more smoothly.

Open the Assignments app on your iPhone and go to the Automation tab. Add a new one Personal automation please. Select the Gaming focus and then choose Turns on. Tap on Next one and then up Add task. Now it is entirely up to you to determine which tasks you want to use. We give you some examples.

Some examples to apply

For example, add the task Brightness and select a high setting. Also consider the volume. Is there a game or service that you almost always use on your iPhone? Then use Open app. For example, the PlayStation Remote Play app, the Xbox app or a single game opens automatically when you connect a controller (and the Gaming focus is activated).

You can also attach conditions to this when the Gaming focus on your iPhone goes out again. For example, set the volume and brightness back to a lower setting. To make carefree use of the automations you have set, it is smart to Ask before performing and Report if done to turn off.