Android mobile gamers now have access to the closest thing Sony would have for a controller.
Mobile controller Backbone recently announced it had its Backbone One - PlayStation Edition controller compatible with Android smartphones after almost a year of waiting.
The company previously released the mobile controller exclusively for iOS devices in late July 2022 to much praise and acclaim.
Backbone One - PlayStation Edition Controller Features
Backbone CEO Maneet Kahira mentioned in the company's announcement that gamers' reception was "incredibly exciting" when it released the iOS version of its Backbone One - PlayStation Edition controller. Thanks to this reception to their controller, many took advantage of Sony's PS Remote Play app feature that enabled them to play PlayStation 4 and 5 games streamed from the console while on the go or anywhere at home.
It also led Android mobile gamers to request the company to make an Android-compatible version for their smartphones due to its performance, which led the company to do so and eventually release it.
There is nothing different between the iOS and Android versions of the Backbone One - PlayStation Edition. Both identify as a PlayStation controller to the phone's operating system, allowing compatible mobile games to use PlayStation glyphs like Triangle, Circle, Square, and X instead of the usual ABXY in menus, tutorials, and similar functions, per Tech Crunch.
This software design is also reflected in the controller's physical design - its colors, materials, and finishes are inspired by the PlayStation 5's DualSense wireless controller, including the transparent face buttons (like Triangle, Circle, Square, and X).
As with the mobile controller's iOS version, Sony made an update to the PS Remote Play app on Google Play to allow for its easy setup. Thanks to this update, plugging an iPhone or Android device into the Backbone One and access to broadband internet would allow gamers to instantly start playing their favorite PlayStation 4/5 games through the app.
The latest app update also comes with support for controller-based navigation in landscape orientation for an optimal user experience. It also has support for Google Play games and other game streaming services that support controllers, such as Call of Duty: Mobile, Fortnite, and Diablo Immortal.
Last but not least, Backbone updates its own Android app to allow various PlayStation integrations like custom glyphs and the ability to browse hundreds of game titles through it.
Backbone One - PlayStation Edition Controller Price, Availability
Just like the regular BackBone One mobile controller Backbone is offering, the BackBone One- PlayStation Edition costs $99.99. It is now available for purchase in the US, Canada, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Australia, and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, the controller will be available in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore in the immediate future; people in these counties will have to wait a bit longer to get their hands on the BackBone One- PlayStation Edition's Android version.
