Apple is reportedly planning to launch a new device specifically aimed at the gaming market. According to unnamed developer sources speaking to PocketGamer, Apple has been talking about its plans with third-party developers during the Game Developers Conference this week, hinting that a dedicated game controller is on the way.

The site claims Apple might announce such a device as soon as April, a month that is loosely rumored for another Apple media event. This time of year would traditionally be reserved for iPad announcements, but Apple's decision to update the full-sized iPad (and introduce the iPad mini) last October has thrown predictions off-schedule. That said, the as-yet-unannounced April event might well be yet another iPad reveal, but PocketGamer believes Apple plans to shift its focus to gaming for the upcoming event.

There are reasons to be skeptical of this one—PocketGamer claims Apple booked a conference room at GDC under a pseudonym and has been holding secret meetings with developers to talk about the game controller. This seems unlikely given Apple's heavy focus on secrecy even among its own employees, but not entirely impossible—Apple does occasionally bring in third parties to co-brainstorm at its Cupertino campus.

The real question, however, is whether Apple would actually launch an entirely separate gadget for the sole purpose of gaming. Then again, if you believe in the ongoing Apple television set rumors, or believe that Apple might put a greater focus on the current set-top Apple TV, a dedicated gaming controller could potentially go along with those two products. If Apple decides to finally open up the Apple TV interface to apps like it has with other iOS devices, then it could find itself bringing console-like games to its user base.

Is this wishful thinking on behalf of GDC developers, or could Apple be getting more aggressive in the gaming space? And should it? Let us know what you think in the poll below and via the comments: