Backbone Pro works with Phones, Tablets, PCs, and More

Backbone is well established in mobile gaming, but the new Backbone Pro also works wirelessly with tablets, PCs, and other devices.

“Backbone Pro offers two ways to play: Handheld Mode, where it’s physically connected to the device via USB-C for zero latency and no need to charge, and Wireless Mode, connecting via Bluetooth for gaming from a distance,” the announcement post explains. “It pairs instantly with phones, tablets (like iPad), laptops (including MacBooks), VR headsets (such as Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro), and smart TVs like Samsung Gaming Hub even without a console. And Backbone’s FlowState Technology in the Backbone app remembers previously paired devices and connects with a tap, ensuring frictionless device switching.”

Backbone started over from scratch with the Pro, almost: The company went through over 9,000 parts iterations and ran over 30 user research studies. The result is familiar enough, it’s a full-sized game controller with all the expected buttons, sticks, and functions, but it’s also highly customizable so you can remap every button and create profiles for specific devices you play on.

Backbone also added profiles for specific categories–like App Store games, Remote Play services, Cloud gaming platforms, and so on–so you can download them from its mobile app. Those who subscribe to Backbone+ can also access a rotating library of free, streaming-based games that offer enhanced features for Backbone Pro.

This is a really cool device, and I’ll be reviewing it soon. The Backbone Pro is $170 and available for pre-order now. You can learn more on the Backbone website.