Backbone’s latest product, designed in collaboration with PlayStation, is the Backbone One for Android PlayStation Edition mobile gaming controller. Although quite a mouthful, the Backbone One delivers on what it advertises.
With its design inspired by the PS5’s DualSense controller, it feels very natural at first touch and is something you could easily hold for hours without experiencing hand cramps. The layout consists of 2 analogue sticks, a D-pad, 4 triggers, 4 action buttons, plus Start, Select, Capture and a Backbone button for quick-launching the Backbone application. Featured on the underside of the controller is a 3.5mm headphone jack and a USB-C port for charging your phone.
What’s great about this device is that it does not require its own battery. It only uses minimal power from your phone which means it’s perfect for long gaming sessions or whenever you need to grab it last-minute before leaving the house. The 3.5mm jack also supports headphones with microphones which is a handy feature.
The Backbone controller extended quite easily, and I was able to snap my 6.3” phone in with no issues. From there I downloaded the Backbone app, and then launched into the PS Remote Play app by double tapping the Options button on the controller. I played some TMNT: Shredder’s Revenge along with the latest Final Fantasy XVI. The controls were super responsive and the layout has been designed well. The analogue stick and button size, as well as spacing between the two, can take a little getting used to but overall they’ve implemented it nicely. Sadly you won’t experience haptic feedback or adaptive triggers with this controller, but it’s not something I missed during my time with it.
Now even though this controller is PlayStation branded, it does work with other mobile games or streaming services. These include games from the Google Play store and also Xbox Cloud or Steam Link, all of which can be launched from within the Backbone app.
Overall I was extremely impressed with the quality of this controller and it’s something that I can see becoming a commonly used gaming accessory in my household. Not just for PlayStation Remote Play, but also for use on-the-go with mobile gaming. The Backbone One for Android PlayStation Edition is available from July 6th 2023 from leading Australian retailers including JB Hi-Fi, EB Games, Big W, The Gamesmen and more.
Gaming, Pop Culture and Tech Enthusiast who has an obsession with the 90’s. I have a long running background in the IT & Audio Visual Industry, followed by substantial experience in Business Development, Sales & Digital Marketing.
