Backbone One, arguably one of the best smartphone controllers, is getting even better as Backbone announced the second generation of its accessory, providing small but significant changes.
At first glance, the Backbone One 2nd Gen looks precisely the same as the original model. But do not let the looks fool you. Backbone says the revision has an improved D-Pad for more precision during gameplay and promises "enhanced phone stability."
More importantly, the Backbone One 2nd Gen features new magnetic adapters that click and stay in place. Backbone touts these allow you to plug your phone into the controller without popping the case off (assuming you keep a case on your smartphone to begin with).
While this seems like such an insignificant feature, criticism is often found in some controllers, especially the Backbone One. Especially if you are on the go, the last thing you want to do is find a place to put down the removed phone case while streaming games on GeForce Now or playing the latest offerings on Apple Arcade. Though Backbone did not elaborate further on case compatibility other than the revised controllers "support most cases available today," I would wager that thicker cases like those made by Otterbox might still be a tight squeeze or incompatible.
This is the latest news from Backbone, which has already had a big year in terms of partnerships with video game publishers. In January, the company announced a limited edition Backbone One inspired by Death Stranding: Director's Cut, which was released on Apple devices, including the iPhone 15 Pro, earlier this year. Earlier this month, Backbone revealed a collaboration with Activision and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, where if you buy the Prestige Edition Backbone One controller, you will obtain a double XP token, in addition to special packaging not found in the standard iterations of the device.
Backbone One 2nd Gen is available in Lightning and USB-C and will cost $99.99—the same price as its predecessor. However, if you are a Backone+ member, you can save 30% on your upgrade, and you don't even have to mail in your old one to take advantage of the trade-in promotion.
Taylor is a Reporter at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.
