Backbone Pro Review: A Smart Mobile Game Controller That'll Cost You

Professionals

• Bluetooth plus some in-controller processing means you do not have to play together with your telephone inserted
• Software program now gives entry to emulators for retro video games
• A lot better, ergonomic grip than Backbone One and different “flat” controllers
• Rear buttons

Cons

• Costly, particularly if you happen to want the subscription
• Can nonetheless solely use USB for charging (now each controller and telephone), not audio
• A lot of options, together with the unified recreation hub and launcher, emulators, dwell streaming and extra require a $40 annual subscription

One recreation controller to rule all of them? Not but, however the Backbone Pro units out on that path and covers a good bit of floor — for a nontrivial $170 price ticket (thanks tariffs) plus an non-obligatory subscription at $40 a yr to carry the required options into play.

I examined the iPhone model of the app; Android is forthcoming.

The unique — and nonetheless accessible — Backbone is designed to run solely with a telephone snapped into it, which obviates the necessity for built-in wi-fi or batteries; the Pro has its personal Bluetooth radio and batteries, so it could possibly function independently like a typical Bluetooth controller. For the Pro, Backbone retronyms the unique perform as “handheld mode,” differentiating the Bluetooth as “wi-fi mode.”

That is the useful distinction between the 2 controllers. The Pro was redesigned considerably from the unique as effectively, each to accommodate the brand new capabilities and to make it really feel extra upscale; sorry, previous iPhone homeowners, it would solely include USB-C, not Lightning connectors (so iPhone 15 or later). And underpinning all of it is the software program, notably its subscription improve, Backbone Plus.

Throughout my preannouncement briefing, Backbone’s CEO, Maneet Khaira, defined his philosophy about the place his nook of gaming was heading. “Our view is that sooner or later … all it’s important to do is purchase only one gadget and you may play video games on any display. And perhaps you might be a child who would not personal a console, and you might have the ability to play Fortnite on a TV, as a result of that is simply the TV you should buy at Greatest Purchase, proper, and you may play video games on it. So our objective is to make one gadget that works at each single display, so you possibly can transfer from can transfer from display to display, and that manner we will carry gaming to much more individuals and increase just like the addressable market of gaming. And that actually is what we attempt to accomplish with Backbone Pro in a nutshell.”

However it’s the subscription software program that allows what he is describing — the {hardware} is sweet, however there are plenty of competing controllers — and essentially the most tough half to drag off because of all the sport launcher and repair fragmentation. 

A extra conventional, natural design

One downside with the preliminary era of on-phone controllers, just like the Backbone One, was that they had been designed to be as small as attainable. That meant really feel and options had been regularly sacrificed. With the Pro, Backbone tried to maintain it small, however reinstated plenty of the design traits that gamers need, reminiscent of grips that you would be able to really grip, full dimension thumbsticks, rear buttons and Corridor Impact triggers.

Backbone additionally modified the swap sort on the ABXY buttons (to carbon tablet) to make them quieter somewhat than the crisp clickiness of these on the older controller. They have deeper journey, which to me registers as barely much less responsive, however I am a button masher so after some time I bought used to them. I did not really feel plenty of latency in native video games — actioners like Carrion and Hades on the telephone — however over wi-fi I do suppose I skilled occasional lag (in Lies of P on a Mac, Useless Cells on an iPad and extra). Bluetooth has gotten so much higher, but it surely’s nonetheless not excellent. You can nonetheless join wired if it turns into a difficulty.

The grips provide a stable handhold, and so they have somewhat extra texture than the Backbone One, however lower than the Xbox Wi-fi controller, and so they really feel somewhat softer than the opposite elements of the controller. Fairly cozy for lengthy hours of gameplay.

I am not loopy concerning the left and proper buttons — due to the controller and button sizing I’ve bother utilizing them with out having to consider it — which makes the rear buttons so helpful for me. These are somewhat bit more durable to press to stop unintended activation, however not so onerous that I can not function them with weaker fingers (my ring fingers) so I remapped them as default within the software program. 

That stated, they’re nonetheless somewhat greater than these on the Backbone One, as are the triggers, and nonetheless comparatively clicky. I’ve blended emotions concerning the triggers, although. They have a comparatively deep pull, which might be nice for aiming however not as responsive as I like for capturing. The software program allows you to set digital set off stops and deadzones (in addition to joystick deadzones), however with out the bodily cease it is solely partially efficient for me. However you’ve got bought the management if you wish to attempt it.

There is a devoted Bluetooth pairing button and analog jack for audio on the left grip and USB-C charging on the precise. Along with charging the batteries within the controller it could possibly cost your telephone, and when it is charging your telephone it trickle prices the controller battery. (Backbone charges the battery at 40 hours, however I one way or the other drained it so much quicker on the primary cost. Now it is draining extra slowly.) However as with the Backbone One, you possibly can’t use the USB-C port for audio, video or knowledge.

Whenever you pair the controller with one other gadget however the telephone is linked, it provides you a selection as to which gadget you wish to management. However as soon as you’ve got set the profile by way of the telephone — I want it had been attainable to cycle by way of profiles in {hardware} so the telephone wasn’t crucial — you most likely wish to take away it. I discovered that it disconnected Bluetooth once I went to the Backbone app utilizing the contact display, for instance.

Software program and $oftware

The free Backbone software program delivers some fundamental capabilities that you just get with most cellular controllers, though that features more-basic-than-basic stuff like “you need to use it” and button mappings (for the iPhone it refers you to system settings, anyway). Every part else requires the $40 annual subscription, which implies for the Pro you possibly can find yourself spending $210. There is a month free trial.

The Backbone Plus subscription does provide so much. Along with what you’ve got beforehand gotten for the Backbone One — reminiscent of help for streaming, chat, a unified recreation launcher, perks and reductions — Backbone’s added retro video games and emulators to the hub, and particular to the Pro, recreation profiles with button remappings and deadzone/set off cease settings on a per-game foundation. 

It additionally allows you to save completely different gadget connections within the app for simple switching (which Backbone calls “FlowState”), which is without doubt one of the slickest facets of the software program particular to the Pro. As an example, as soon as I would paired to my iPad, I subsequently merely needed to go to the record of paired units and choose it to attach and management. You may choose the profile you wish to use. After that, take away the telephone from the controller.

It is as seamless as I’ve ever seen, and when it isn’t it is due to the Byzantine methods it’s important to arrange issues on Apple units or how the companies work — internet app shortcuts to play Xbox Cloud gaming and GeForce Now’s painful login course of spring to thoughts.

I usually just like the software program, however I want there was an possibility to show off the audio whereas scrolling by way of the sport thumbnails, which autoplay. When you’re delicate to sound (in a neurodivergent manner), it is like a cat strolling throughout your mind, gripping with its claws. I needed to mute my telephone simply to browse. I discover it ironic that the corporate redesigned the buttons to function extra quietly however the software program remains to be noisy.

Compatibility claims can get complicated as effectively. As an example, Backbone claims it could possibly work as an Xbox controller, however there isn’t any Bluetooth help within the console: You have to make use of Distant Play or cloud gaming, which are not at all times possible. In my case, Distant Play is not supported by my community configuration — a double NAT setup — and cloud is hit and miss (even an Xbox Cloud Gaming light-weight recreation like Blue Prince ran high-quality for some time after which began to degrade and Expedition 33 barely ran). Neither of these is inside Backbone’s management, however can have an effect on the Backbone Pro expertise.

The {hardware} is compelling if you happen to just like the on-phone controller idea or need one thing somewhat smaller to tote on your Bluetooth gaming — you need not subscribe for that — but it surely’s actually not for the funds minded given you could find tons of alternate options for a fraction of the value. When you play on plenty of completely different Bluetooth-equipped units, although, and are keen to shell out for one more subscription, the Backbone Pro’s most likely the slickest possibility on the market.