The Backbone One would be an ideal game controller—if the iPhone had more games
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It seems quite wide with a 16 pro max. I almost wonder if they’d have been better served putting the phone a little more upwards and then having little cut-outs in the controller so that the dpad could be below the screen, with the left stick next to it. If that makes sense.
Steam Streaming to an iPhone would make this sort of thing really attractive. Actually there’s stuff in that general vein out there, I wonder if there’s a really nice one that everybody likes. Last I tried was Moonlight, but it wasn’t very good when I tried it (it was a while ago though).
Steam Streaming to an iPhone would make this sort of thing really attractive. Actually there’s stuff in that general vein out there, I wonder if there’s a really nice one that everybody likes. Last I tried was Moonlight, but it wasn’t very good when I tried it (it was a while ago though).
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"But if your goal is to play modern games, the time still hasn't quite come."
Oh, sure it has! Just not on an Apple product.
Oh, sure it has! Just not on an Apple product.
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The biggest selling point for me was for Genshin Impact. Playing on the phone with touch controls is rough.
But that they demand a subscription to do on screen controller emulation is pretty gross.
But that they demand a subscription to do on screen controller emulation is pretty gross.
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Before I had a steamdeck I used the Backbone controller w/ SteamLink and it worked flawlessly. Other's have mentioned Moonlight which allows you to stream non-steam games as well, but I just used SteamLink the entire time. Of course, it is completely dependent on your network setup
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I wanted to love the Backbone but it feels like an ergonomic nightmare to me - the face buttons require way too much pressure, and feel awkwardly placed with the insubstantial grip. No doubt it's fine for certain games but try to play something as simple as Super Mario Bros. and you might find that rolling your thumb from run to jump becomes fatiguing pretty fast. The sticks are also basically the same as on joy-cons, which is to say, fragile feeling and meh. Love the d-pad though.
But in all honesty, the Gamesir G8 is SOOOO much better in every way it isn't even funny. And it doesn't take up THAT much more space. A tradeoff I'd take every time. It's also cheaper and there's a bluetooth option, which has negligable latency and since there's no dependency on USB-C port placement, you can use a foldable or small tablet no problem.
It's a big upgrade over the v1 Kishi yes but that's a low bar - saying it's "ideal" is absurd to me.
But in all honesty, the Gamesir G8 is SOOOO much better in every way it isn't even funny. And it doesn't take up THAT much more space. A tradeoff I'd take every time. It's also cheaper and there's a bluetooth option, which has negligable latency and since there's no dependency on USB-C port placement, you can use a foldable or small tablet no problem.
It's a big upgrade over the v1 Kishi yes but that's a low bar - saying it's "ideal" is absurd to me.
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Price is way too high, IMO.
Cut it in half.. and I may buy it if it goes on sale from there.
Cut it in half.. and I may buy it if it goes on sale from there.
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Apple seems to be fantastic about getting people excited about their hardware platforms, but a much harder time drawing in developers for their newer endeavors.
The few times outside hardware that I've seen Apple get ahead of the curve are related to the App Store (mobile), audio (iTunes music library), and creative apps (pretty legacy for Apple, now). They almost had books until Amazon convinced the courts that Apple was colluding in price fixing, which was a baffling conclusion even then.
The rest of the time, Apple seems to want to let their platform and position speak for themselves. In the saturated markets of (non-mobile) gaming, they just aren't compelling.
The few times outside hardware that I've seen Apple get ahead of the curve are related to the App Store (mobile), audio (iTunes music library), and creative apps (pretty legacy for Apple, now). They almost had books until Amazon convinced the courts that Apple was colluding in price fixing, which was a baffling conclusion even then.
The rest of the time, Apple seems to want to let their platform and position speak for themselves. In the saturated markets of (non-mobile) gaming, they just aren't compelling.
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Streaming games with Moonlight or Gamepass (you have to use a browser to access it) is probably a popular use. Backbones don't seem to be that popular in some threads I've seen about mobile controllers, primarily because of people pissed at the subscription existing, but there are also a lot of other controllers like it on the market. I use a small 8bitdo to play games on my iPad on the go. At home I just use my actual console controllers.
On touch controls being fine...they'll do if you want to do a quick session or just do dailies. I really dislike how movement feels in Infinity Nikki's developer's games. Games with faster action combat like Devil May Cry is probably doable with touch, but I'd definitely want a controller for games like that.
Although in terms of a phone controller, I'm more interested in the M-con, hopefully that comes out. It has an Xperia play form factor to it (Sony was kinda ahead of its time with that and the Vita, judging from the emulator handheld space constantly going for Vita shapes) and the creator says it supports Androids and iPhones.
View: https://youtu.be/J3969hkkFSE?si=N-rPmuaidjWsiINc
On touch controls being fine...they'll do if you want to do a quick session or just do dailies. I really dislike how movement feels in Infinity Nikki's developer's games. Games with faster action combat like Devil May Cry is probably doable with touch, but I'd definitely want a controller for games like that.
Although in terms of a phone controller, I'm more interested in the M-con, hopefully that comes out. It has an Xperia play form factor to it (Sony was kinda ahead of its time with that and the Vita, judging from the emulator handheld space constantly going for Vita shapes) and the creator says it supports Androids and iPhones.
View: https://youtu.be/J3969hkkFSE?si=N-rPmuaidjWsiINc
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I liked the Gamesir except for the buttons on the back of the handle, I found them way too easy to accidentally press (I know you can probably disable them somewhere but I was trying a couple of different controllers and needed to get the losers back within their return windows). I don't want to have to remove my case to use the controller so the Backbone has an obvious advantage there, although what I wound up settling on was just using one of those mounts that holds you phone while attached to an Xbox controller. Obviously not quite as ergonomic from a weight distribution angle but it seemed like the best solution in terms of ergonomics on every other angle.
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A 3D printed adapter that holds my phone and clips on to an Xbox controller has been the best option for me.
I get the novelty of the form factor these grip controllers make but they have too many drawbacks.
I get the novelty of the form factor these grip controllers make but they have too many drawbacks.
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What emulators? How is the transfer process? Do standard ROMs work on the iPhone?
As somebody who uses an old Raspberry Pi pretty much exclusively for gaming these days, to play SNES-era games, I'm fascinated -- but I don't know anything about gaming on an iPhone.
As somebody who uses an old Raspberry Pi pretty much exclusively for gaming these days, to play SNES-era games, I'm fascinated -- but I don't know anything about gaming on an iPhone.
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I enjoyed the backbone but switched to the gamesir g8 for a bit more comfort and because it can be conveniently modded to work with an iPad as well. I spend a lot of time with access to a mobile device but no big screen and have found GeForce Now and Game Pass to both be very satisfying gaming experiences in those circumstances.
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My issue with phone gaming is not necessarily the controls, but the interface. The UI tends to be designed for a 27" screen. Shrunk down to a phone size, text becomes almost unreadable.
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I side-load RetroArch. Currently loaded stuff I've got on it (the App Store version doesn't support some of these modules) is: Atari 7800, Bandai WonderSwan, CHIP-8, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga, DOS, Vectrex, Handheld games, MAME, Intellivision, GBA, GBC, N64, NDS, NES, Pokemon Mini, SNES, Sega 32x, SMS, Genesis, Sega CD, Saturn, SG-1000, Neo Geo Pocket, Playstation, PS2 (requires JIT enablement) and PSP. Separately, I've got some stuff loaded in Dolphin for GameCube and Wii.
Standard ROMs work, both uncompressed and compressed with zip or 7z, compressed disc images work, CHDs work for some platforms, all can be loaded via iCloud, via local network share, via browser download or even via a thumb drive plugged into the phone.
The on-screen touch controls are customizable (size, location, sensitivity), and the emulators support most controllers.
Now, to get RetroArch set up well, it can be really painful. Thankfully, the default settings aren't that bad; if you've got RetroArch on another system, it's often easier to set everything up there and then copy the settings over to the iPhone.
Full listing of emulation cores for sideloaded RetroArch is too large for me to list right now, and includes modern MAME, which itself supports all sorts of computing hardware as well as arcade machines (yes, you can run a Macintosh Quadra 800 or a Mac Plus in MAME in RetroArch on an iPhone).
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If your main goal is emulators, there's an awful lot of cheap 'retro' handhelds these days that are about the same price (or less!) as a Backbone One. Yeah, they're an extra thing to carry around, but so is a Backbone.
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I just bought in of those clips that attaches a phone to my Xbox controller and it works great.
Also Apple just can’t take gaming seriously. It’s a relic of an older Apple culture that considered gaming to be a low-class thing that didn’t sell their pretty and pretty expensive computers.
Also Apple just can’t take gaming seriously. It’s a relic of an older Apple culture that considered gaming to be a low-class thing that didn’t sell their pretty and pretty expensive computers.
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Isn’t it designed around game streaming? You don’t think there are enough games on PS5?
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I don’t have data to back this up, but my hunch is that most consumers who also like to game don’t want to carry around an accessory just to play games that require a controller. If mobile gaming is what they want, they have other, more compelling options like the SteamDeck or the Switch. Those have way more games available, and if you’re gonna carry around an accessory like that you may as well carry around a handheld.
A good chunk of people also would rather not use their daily driver for extended gaming sessions, weather it be because of battery life concerns or just not having their gaming interrupted by notifications and the like. For those who would use a tablet instead, these concerns are lessened but you still run into the chicken and egg problem of limited games.
Just my 2 cents, I had a Backbone for a bit and I enjoyed emulating Metal Gear Solid 1 among others on my iPhone.
A good chunk of people also would rather not use their daily driver for extended gaming sessions, weather it be because of battery life concerns or just not having their gaming interrupted by notifications and the like. For those who would use a tablet instead, these concerns are lessened but you still run into the chicken and egg problem of limited games.
Just my 2 cents, I had a Backbone for a bit and I enjoyed emulating Metal Gear Solid 1 among others on my iPhone.
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I have a backbone and a 15 Pro. The app is useless, but you never have to look at it again after you start using the backbone. The hardware itself is pretty great for the money.
Unfortunately I had hoped the backbone would allow more convenient gaming via Steam Link... I quickly learned that the experience ranges from awful to OK on a screen this small - even in more casual, controller-first games. Most PC gaming menus and UI are just not suited to a screen the size of a (standard) phone. It may have more to do with the specific types of games I enjoy, but I have yet to find a combination of resolution and UI scaling that generally works. Full disclosure, I have never tried moonlight (as opposed to Steam Link). I've heard it is supposedly a better streaming experience, though I don't see how it could do much to overcome the screen size limitations.
There are probably PC games that do work great, I just have yet to discover them. Beyond that, I'll agree with the sentiment that this is a good device but greatly hampered by the lack of AAA games tailored to small screens.
Unfortunately I had hoped the backbone would allow more convenient gaming via Steam Link... I quickly learned that the experience ranges from awful to OK on a screen this small - even in more casual, controller-first games. Most PC gaming menus and UI are just not suited to a screen the size of a (standard) phone. It may have more to do with the specific types of games I enjoy, but I have yet to find a combination of resolution and UI scaling that generally works. Full disclosure, I have never tried moonlight (as opposed to Steam Link). I've heard it is supposedly a better streaming experience, though I don't see how it could do much to overcome the screen size limitations.
There are probably PC games that do work great, I just have yet to discover them. Beyond that, I'll agree with the sentiment that this is a good device but greatly hampered by the lack of AAA games tailored to small screens.
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I've had a Backbone One for about a year. Overall, I'm very happy with it, but second the sentiment that having more games that worked with it (and more new releases hit iOS) would really help move the needle. I also really dislike that the 'open the Backbone app' button cannot be remapped to do something more useful, like toggle the screen magnifier (some games that do work aren't really made for the tiny screen). I would've picked up an iOS DQ3 HD-2D day one, even for $60 or whatever its launch was, if it was available and had controller support. Same for a bunch of other games that I wish would come out for better hardware than the Switch while I wait for the Switch 2.
Library complaints aside, I've still used mine a ton, it travels really well, and it works great in the house with PC or Xbox game streaming for a cheeky sleep delaying session from bed. Also, all of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games support it natively, which was an extremely pleasant surprise, and has given me plenty to do with just those games. We have Apple Arcade as part of Apple One Family for the (egregiously priced) iCloud storage boost and Apple Music subscription, which has been a good value add, and does have more than a few controller-enabled games, although sometimes it feels like Apple forgets they have this massive platform that is a controller away from being an instant XGP competitor considering the hardware in modern Apple devices.
The Backbone itself seems very durable, and if anything, I wish that the springs or whatever inside it were less strong. One issue, at least with the iPhone 15 and 16 Pro Max, is that it partly blocks the front speaker at the top of the phone. No big deal 95% of the time, but sometimes I am entirely alone and don't want to find my headphones and would be okay with just iPhone speaker sounds normally.
Library complaints aside, I've still used mine a ton, it travels really well, and it works great in the house with PC or Xbox game streaming for a cheeky sleep delaying session from bed. Also, all of the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster games support it natively, which was an extremely pleasant surprise, and has given me plenty to do with just those games. We have Apple Arcade as part of Apple One Family for the (egregiously priced) iCloud storage boost and Apple Music subscription, which has been a good value add, and does have more than a few controller-enabled games, although sometimes it feels like Apple forgets they have this massive platform that is a controller away from being an instant XGP competitor considering the hardware in modern Apple devices.
The Backbone itself seems very durable, and if anything, I wish that the springs or whatever inside it were less strong. One issue, at least with the iPhone 15 and 16 Pro Max, is that it partly blocks the front speaker at the top of the phone. No big deal 95% of the time, but sometimes I am entirely alone and don't want to find my headphones and would be okay with just iPhone speaker sounds normally.
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One word: Delta! Works great with a huge library of legally nebulously games (look I bought Mega Man back in the day — from The Wherehouse?). Required for Contra and Ninja Gaiden!
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A long time ago, I had an iPhone XS Max. It had 3D Touch which was a killer feature for certain games. In FPS games, eg PUBG, you could aim with your right thumb and fire by a firm touch, without the need to stop aiming. When I got my next phone (an iPhone 12 Pro, I think), that game became unplayable without a controller.
The Backbone One interests me tremendously.
The Backbone One interests me tremendously.
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I have a 2hr train commute to work. It is nice to play games on my older model iPhone - admittedly I'm one of those strange people playing COD Mobile on an iPhone with a PS5 controller on a train. Australian lag is normally bad enough without being on a train navigating valleys, tunnels and other dead zones.
I've found with the right phone holder it also makes it better when watching streaming services as I don't have my hands over the screen.
I'm fine with new controller options, not fine with hardware requiring a subscription. Likewise if they new controller will stop other bluetooth options being supported that would be a terrible step backwards. I bought a PS5 for mobile phone gaming, no point in having the PS5 itself as my only real play time is commute time.
I've found with the right phone holder it also makes it better when watching streaming services as I don't have my hands over the screen.
I'm fine with new controller options, not fine with hardware requiring a subscription. Likewise if they new controller will stop other bluetooth options being supported that would be a terrible step backwards. I bought a PS5 for mobile phone gaming, no point in having the PS5 itself as my only real play time is commute time.
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I’d be happy if more indie games came out on iOS/iPadOS (not even AAA or “hardcore console” games). I was planning on getting Dredge and playing it on my iPad Mini during downtime while on holiday travel. My iPad Mini has become my travel PC when on personal travel (my Steam Deck is way too big for travel since it’s pretty much a carry-on by itself). Then I found out Amazon Prime Gaming was giving away Dredge for free so I ended up playing it on my PC. Now I have no game to play on my iPad Mini.
Games I’d actually play are few and far between when it comes to iDevices. Even Apple Arcade has been a pretty big let down. The free Apple Arcade trial I get every now and then is enough for me to play any new games I’d like since my last trial 2+ years before. Too bad I run out of games to play before the trial even ends.
Games I’d actually play are few and far between when it comes to iDevices. Even Apple Arcade has been a pretty big let down. The free Apple Arcade trial I get every now and then is enough for me to play any new games I’d like since my last trial 2+ years before. Too bad I run out of games to play before the trial even ends.
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If I'm not mistaken, Apple still requires that all apps on iOS be fully functional on a touchscreen. This is a pretty major impediment for bringing console titles direct to iOS, nor is it needed anymore.
Developers should be able to port a game to iOS and not worry about implementing a control mechanism that works on touch screens. Just let them implement Apple's controller API and call it a day. The app store listing can make it clear that a controller is required, and Apple could even add an additional pop up dialog requesting confirmation that you understand this title is not usable without a controller.
Done right, these titles could be playable on all Apple platforms, giving a boost to iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, Macs and even that obscure Vision Pro platform. There's not a lot of AAA games on Apple platforms often because Apple itself gets in the way. I'd talk about the Metal API too, but I'd mostly be rambling on in ignorance of how much of an issue that it is for games originally designed for something else. I'll leave that to those with knowledge in the field.
Developers should be able to port a game to iOS and not worry about implementing a control mechanism that works on touch screens. Just let them implement Apple's controller API and call it a day. The app store listing can make it clear that a controller is required, and Apple could even add an additional pop up dialog requesting confirmation that you understand this title is not usable without a controller.
Done right, these titles could be playable on all Apple platforms, giving a boost to iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, Macs and even that obscure Vision Pro platform. There's not a lot of AAA games on Apple platforms often because Apple itself gets in the way. I'd talk about the Metal API too, but I'd mostly be rambling on in ignorance of how much of an issue that it is for games originally designed for something else. I'll leave that to those with knowledge in the field.
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iPhones are very powerful devices. But this sort of thing highlights the UX around classic gaming that becomes a barrier to making the transition on mobile. Beyond having to hunt for titles that fit for a device like this, there's also the friction of having to dock it, possibly in addition to taking off a case, and then deal with the text or other app in between. Unless someone brings back the ngage, I think having a second device just makes more sense for many looking for traditional gaming on the go
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I wish the App Store had a section that highlighted if a game had controller support. I swear I saw it in there at some point in history, but at the moment there is no way to know if a game supports controllers unless you launch it and try, unless I am missing something.
I got a Backbone a year or two ago, works great for what it does, but it mostly collects dust until I go on a trip. Originally got it for PlayStation remote play, but the screen size was cutting it. Eventually got the PS Portal instead, and that’s been working wonderfully for my needs.
At home, I would rather play on a game console. Pretty handy to toss in your bag for a plane ride though, if you feel like traveling light.
I got a Backbone a year or two ago, works great for what it does, but it mostly collects dust until I go on a trip. Originally got it for PlayStation remote play, but the screen size was cutting it. Eventually got the PS Portal instead, and that’s been working wonderfully for my needs.
At home, I would rather play on a game console. Pretty handy to toss in your bag for a plane ride though, if you feel like traveling light.
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Am I the only one who found it weird to read an extremely lengthy review of a product that works with Android handsets and never mention anything about what it's like to use on Android, where there's something of a bottomless pit of emulators and game-streaming apps to use it with?
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The normal price is $70, if not less. I appreciate the review as I was interested in one before it came out, but it often feels like these reviews of older products miss that MSRP isn't what most people pay.
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I have had had Backbone since Christmas 2023. I use and abuse it for xbox cloud streaming, and Moonlight to my gaming PC to play truck sim and easy things from my couch or bed. I have probably 250-300 hours on it total this year.
The backbone app subscription is useless and the app is useless. I just open the apps specifically on my phone screen and do not touch the social features of the app or anything like that. So yes, seriously, but it's useless enough to not need to pay that and get full functionality from the device+phone itself.
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