Did a gaming controller operate the missing Titanic sub?
Use of gaming controller was confirmed by OceanGate CEO
CLAIM
A video game controller was used to operate the OceanGate Expeditions missing submersible used for exploring the wreckage of the RMS Titanic in June 2023.
RATING
The claim is true. OceanGate Chief Executive Stockton Rush previously appeared in TV interviews and explained that the sub is steered by a game controller.
BACKGROUND
Posts on social media emerged claiming that the submersible that went missing during the expedition to the wreck of the Titanic, was navigated with a video game controller and seemingly implying that this was somehow part of the reason why the sub disappeared.
One user wrote, “The missing submarine near the Titanic was steered by a $29.99 gaming controller.”
Another shared a link to a CNN story with the quote: “Titan is roughly the size of a minivan and is equipped with repurposed everyday items, including a video game controller used to steer.”
METHOD
Stockton Rush, CEO of OceanGate, explained in an interview with CBS in November 2022 that the vessel was steered using a video game controller.
A screengrab of the controller shown in the video can be seen below:
Through an online search, we were able to identify the controller, which is an F710 Wireless Gamepad made by Logitech. The below screengrab taken from the Logitech website confirms the exact match:
From this, we can conclude that a game controller was used to steer the missing submersible.
RATING
The claim is true. OceanGate Chief Executive Stockton Rush previously appeared in TV interviews and explained that the sub is steered by a game controller.
SOURCES
Twitter. (2023). The missing submarine near the Titanic was steered by a $29.99 gaming controller Available at: Link [Accessed 21 Jun. 2023].
Twitter. (2023). FFS. “Titan is roughly the size of a minivan and is equipped with repurposed everyday items, including a video game controller used to steer.” Available at: Link [Accessed 21 Jun. 2023].
Nouran Salahieh,Priscilla Alvarez (2023). Searchers detected banging while scouring the Atlantic for a manned submersible now running out of oxygen | CNN. [online] CNN. Available at: https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/21/us/submersible-titanic-oceangate-search-wednesday/index.html [Accessed 21 Jun. 2023].
CBS Sunday Morning (2022). A visit to RMS Titanic. YouTube. Available at: Link [Accessed 21 Jun. 2023].
News, C. (2023). Missing Titanic sub could run out of oxygen by Thursday. YouTube. Available at: Link [Accessed 21 Jun. 2023].
Logitechg.com. (2023). F710 Wireless Gamepad. [online] Available at: https://www.logitechg.com/en-in/products/gamepads/f710-wireless-gamepad.940-000119.html [Accessed 21 Jun. 2023].
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