Backbone recently released a new Pro version of its Xbox controller. The Backbone Pro Xbox version looks better than the existing One controller in almost every way.
It’s still a USB-C shell that wraps around the phone or related device, but the actual controller is now in league with actual Xbox gamepads. It has a full-size control stick, Hall Effect trigger, and two customizable back buttons. Most inputs can be remapped. This will make working with that Game Pass library a lot easier.
To that end, this controller has Bluetooth. This means you don’t have to rely on any device that physically connects to your smartphone or gamepad. Game Pass has become available on all types of platforms in recent years, from PCs and smart TVs to Meta Quest VR headsets. This opens all that up. The company promises a simplified “tap and play” experience.
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This Bluetooth mode offers 40 hours of battery life per charge. The smartphone powers it when used in a wired configuration, so it lasts as long as the phone lasts. The controllers pair with a proprietary app that allows the above remapping and other customization options.
The controller is available now at brick and mortar locations like Best Buy and digital storefronts like Amazon. It costs $180 and comes with a free month of Game Pass Ultimate. The only potential downside here is the Game Pass itself. The price keeps increasing.