The Gamepad API should support the haptic feedback motors found in popular modern videogame controllers like the XBox One and DualShock 4.
Related issues on the w3c/gamepad github:
Vibrate feature for Gamepad
https://github.com/w3c/gamepad/issues/19
Consider changing API to match SDL2's
https://github.com/w3c/gamepad/issues/24
Support Buffered Haptic Effects
https://github.com/w3c/gamepad/issues/39
The most common haptic feedback mechanism for standard gamepads uses two Eccentric Rotation Mass (ERM) motors positioned in the controller handles. These ERMs have different masses to provide both low-frequency and high-frequency rumble effects. ERMs are typically controlled by a sequence of intensity/duration pairs which tell the motor when to vibrate and how strong the effect should be.
Newer gamepads, including the Oculus Touch and HTC Vive VR controllers, use Linear Resonant Actuator (LRA) motors to provide haptic feedback. LRAs can provide a wider variety of effects, and can often be programmed by sending a buffer of samples that are played back by the LRA as vibration intensity.
Comment 1 by mattreynolds@chromium.org
, Jul 26 2017