I’ve heard many good issues about the Backbone One, a $100 iPhone-only gaming controller. It’s usually heralded for its low-to-no latency and general consolation, which makes it simpler and extra enjoyable to play video games in your cellphone. This fashionable peripheral is now getting assist for extra units in order that Android customers like myself can lastly have a go. But it’s clear that that is nonetheless an iPhone-only gadget.

Backbone simply announced a subscription tier referred to as Backbone Plus. It prices about $50 a yr, or $4.17/month billed yearly, and unlocks many options, together with a brand new high-resolution gameplay recording capacity and turn-key Twitch streaming via the Backbone cell app. The subscription additionally means that you can use the Backbone One controller with different units, together with Android telephones.

However, slightly than make a controller that works with the USB-C port on just about all Android telephones, the Backbone One requires a Lightning-to-USB cable to work. The impact is a console-sized controller tethered to a tiny TV display when it’s all arrange.

Technically, which means the Backbone One continues to be iPhone solely. The controller was designed to be used with the iPhone in panorama mode. It has an uncovered Lightning port on the suitable facet, which is a proprietary connector that solely works with Apple’s cell units. So you may technically join the Backbone One to an Android cellphone, however you may’t really slot your cellphone into the controller the best way you may with an iPhone, and you must pay further for the privilege.

Android customers are higher off getting any Bluet00th-connected 8BitDo controllers accessible to play video games that manner as an alternative. There’s additionally the extra inexpensive Razer Kishi controller, which provides a USB-C model and works much like the Backbone One, cradling the gadget to realize the identical Nintendo Switch-like handheld look.

If you have already got a Backbone One, you should utilize the companion cell app to sport on a gadget apart from your iPhone, like a MacBook or iPad, although you’ll must subscribe to Backbone Plus to get the flexibility.

If you had been already a Backbone person and had an account earlier than at this time, you’ll get a free lifetime membership to Backbone Plus. All new Backbone One customers will even obtain a free first yr of membership.