


#XBOX BACKBONE GAME PORTABLE#
The shallow profile makes the bumpers and triggers a little small, although it's an inevitable sacrifice for a slim, portable machine. It's incredibly comfortable for extended use, among the best solutions for ergonomics. The stick and button layout mirrors the Xbox controller, adopting the same ABXY configuration (a pain point when transitioning to Nintendo systems) with offset thumbsticks and commonplace inputs. It supports every modern iPhone with iOS 13 or later, hooking up over a direct Lightning connection, eliminating the added latency introduced by Bluetooth controllers. It's the closest alternative to a Nintendo Switch for mobile phones, emulating the split "Joy-Con" controls with an adjustable rail that scales the device's width for different screen sizes. The Backbone One design will be immediately familiar to many, splitting a controller into two adjacent panels and your iPhone sliding into the center.
#XBOX BACKBONE GAME SOFTWARE#
There lies the next opportunity for Backbone, with deep integration with Xbox services, it's also the standout solution for cloud gaming on Apple phones.īackbone One is a different breed of accessory, with calculated hardware and software that tie the experience together. It supports countless iOS titles with gamepad integration, and a Microsoft partnership blesses it with the "Designed for Xbox" tagline. The gamepad is the first creation from Backbone Labs, a fresh San Francisco startup, currently working around the shapes and sizes of modern iPhones. Xbox Cloud Gaming introduces a new reason to convert to iOS gaming, with gamepads the best way to play console experiences on a touchscreen.Įnter the Backbone One, an iPhone controller which sprung onto my radar in the lead up to the arrival of cloud gaming. But navigating the Apple policies has repeatedly posed challenges, from Microsoft openly slating Cupertino's tight grip on the platform, now sidestepping the App Store for a web-based experience. The seasoned platform holder has expanded its Xbox Game Pass subscription offerings to iOS, with an expanded beta now available to all Ultimate-tier subscribers. Source: Matt Brown | Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Matt Brown | Windows Central)Ĭloud gaming is steadily becoming a reality, and while several contenders have already tried and failed, Microsoft is among the frontrunners with its Xbox "xCloud" game streaming tech.
