As mobile gaming controllers go, Backbone is up there with the best. And for fans of Xbox Cloud Gaming, this new one is a perfect fit.
I recently wrote about how Xbox Cloud Gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate got a big boost. 1440p resolution and a vastly improved video encoding algorithm delivers performance closer to NVIDIA GeForce Now, as Xbox Cloud Gaming sheds its beta tag finally after years of testing. The service also just launched in India for the first time, as Microsoft continues its global expansion to new regions.
The Backbone Pro Xbox Edition is an "Xbox you can take anywhere"
Announced today, the Backbone Pro is the firm's "next gen" mobile controller designed for players who switch devices frequently. Connectivity includes Bluetooth as well as USB-C, with inserts and a telescopic clamp that support a huge range of phones and other types of devices.
Backbone says it ran over 30 user research studies and went through over 9000 (Vegeta?!) part iterations, specifically targeting boosted ergonomics and balance. It sports Hall Effect triggers, and is one of the "lightest" controllers of its type out there, coming at a mere 199 grams.
It sports USB-C connectivity, either docked inside the controller or via a wire, as well as wireless Bluetooth connectivity.
In wired or docked handheld mode, it eliminates that sliver of latency that Bluetooth injects for a console-like experience, pairing well with the recent Xbox Cloud Gaming latency enhancements currently rolling out across the service.
Bluetooth makes it a good option for playing on cloud-enabled devices like Samsung TVs, the Meta Quest VR headset, Amazon Fire sticks, tablets, and other screens that won't fit into the device itself. In wireless mode, you're also looking at up to 40 hours of battery life too.
What seals the deal is Backbone's capable app, which remembers previously-paired devices and makes it easy to switch between platforms without the hassle of constant re-pairing. As someone who has been driven to despair by how clunky pairing current-gen Xbox controllers can be across devices, this is great to see.
The app also sports shortcuts to popular services like Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Remote Play, PlayStation Remote Play, Steam Link, and even native mobile games like Minecraft and Fortnite.
The Backbone Pro comes with one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate so you can test it out before dropping the $30 per month, although Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available on the more affordable tiers too (with a rumored free tier coming in 2026 on top). Xbox Remote Play is of course free, but requires a pretty solid network environment at 5 GHz Wi-Fi to run well, as well as an Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One console.
The Backbone Pro Xbox Edition is available today
Similar to the Backbone Pro Xbox Edition on Amazon, the regular black Backbone Pro is available now to buy from Amazon at $169.99. The Backbone One Xbox Edition is cheaper, at $119.99, but doesn't come with Bluetooth support. You can also get a non-Xbox version without Bluetooth for $99.98.
I have the regular Backbone Pro and it's quite easily the best Xbox-style mobile controller I've used, with tight ergonomics, reassuring construction, and a svelte profile. It isn't cheap, of course, but it'll last longer and offer a better experience over long periods for those who plan to do a lot of multi-platform cloud gaming.
You can grab it via Amazon or via the link below, and let us know in the comments if you plan to grab it. For more details, be sure to read our full Backbone Pro review.
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