The Backbone One controller is a welcome addition to any handheld mobile or cloud gaming setup, turning nearly any iPhone into an on-the-go rig.
We’re in the early days of what could be a cloud gaming renaissance, as the technology and bandwidth is finally catching up to the ambition and promise of a “play anything anywhere” kind of future. The only problem is figuring out exactly which device you’ll be playing everything on when that future gets here.
The Backbone supports pretty much all the major services gamers would be looking for, including PS Remote Play for PlayStation, Xbox Remote Play and Game Pass Ultimate, Steam Link, Google Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now, Apple Arcade titles and most major mobile games. Taking things a step further, the unified Backbone app serves as a one-stop hub to access your games across various platforms from one convenient spot.
In gameplay use, the Backbone feels surprisingly natural. The device’s layout and usability is pretty much what you’d expect if you’ve ever played anything like a Nintendo Switch or SEGA Game Gear. After a few minutes, it’s easy to forget this isn’t one unified device. The phone locks in tight, and the input is instant across pretty much every service, from Apple Arcade games to PS Remote and more. It all works seamlessly.
The Backbone’s design choices sidestep some of the typical problems you might run into with video game controllers. Along with skipping the Bluetooth connection for latency, the controller also has a dedicated headphone jack, in case you want to avoid all things Bluetooth and plug straight in for audio. The controller expands out to allow a phone to slide in, and closes with a satisfying click, with the phone cradled between rubber lips to keep it firmly in place.