Watch out Sony: Archos GamePad tablet packs PlayStation controls

The Gadget Show  Wednesday 29 August 2012

Thought the Sony PS Vita was pretty big for a gaming handheld? Think again: the new Archos GamePad Android tablet, launched today, brings dual thumbstick controls to a seven inch slate at a bargain price. Is this the PlayStation tablet that never was?

The Archos GamePad looks much like any tablet running Android 4.0, but for one crucial difference: on either side you’ll find traditional gamepad controls, including two thumbsticks, a D-Pad and four action buttons – in fact, it looks a lot like Nintendo’s Wii U controller.

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Under the hood, it’s packing a 1.5GHz dual-core processor so it can power through even the most taxing Android games. And best of all, Archos says it’s backwards compatible with many games already available on the Google Play store, so unlike a brand new gaming platform, you won’t be bereft of titles to play from the start. That’s thanks to some clever tech which the Archos GamePad boasts which detects on-screen controls, and maps them to the buttons on either side of the tablet.

How much will all this set you back? Not a lot: we’ve confirmed that the Archos GamePad is coming to the UK in late October, priced at around €150 – that’s just £119. Is this the new gaming handheld of choice? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.

Check out our video review of the PS Vita now