There’s a new, Sony-licensed mobile controller in town. Backbone’s DualSense-inspired One, which was originally slated to launch in 2022 for iOS, now has an Android counterpart with USB-C support instead of Lightning. This PlayStation version is a palette swap from the all-black version selling for the same $99.99 price, adopting the DualSense’s black and white color scheme, as well as its translucent face buttons.
If you haven’t heard of the Backbone One, it’s the best controller I’ve ever made for a phone. It plugs into your phone’s charging port, using less battery over time than Bluetooth wireless, and it offers a passthrough charging port and 3.5mm headphone jack.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24666787/backboneoneandroidrear.jpg)
Notably, the Backbone One is now the only third-party Android controller that works with PS Remote Play (like it is on iOS), the app that lets you connect to your PlayStation 4 or 5 console and control it over Wi-Fi. Runs on or cellular. With the latest update to the PlayStation app, double-tapping the Backbone One’s options button lets gamers launch directly into it.
$99.99 is a lot for a controller, but I haven’t found any other options that turn your phone into a console (the Razer has come closest, though). When you plug your phone in, you’ll be greeted by a well-designed dashboard that encourages game discovery, chatting with friends, and sharing clips and screenshots on social media. It’s a nifty gadget, and PlayStation fans may have a hard time keeping up with an Android phone.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24666787/backboneoneandroidrear.jpg&description=Backbone%E2%80%99s+PS5+DualSense-inspired+controller+is+now+available+for+Android){kind=link}