Clip the latest Backbone One iPhone controller to your iPhone to assemble what’s essentially an Xbox you can take anywhere. Press a dedicated button on the controller to dive into Xbox Cloud Gaming or Remote Play.
The gaming accessory launched Thursday.
Game anywhere with Backbone One: Xbox Edition
While there are roughly a billion games for iPhone, it’s very rare for AAA games made for Xbox to go mobile. That’s where cloud gaming comes in. The games don’t run on the player’s local computer. Instead, servers handle the demanding task of running premier games, and they stream only the video to the player’s Apple device.
But playing games designed for a console on an iPhone touchscreen can be frustrating. Besides, you’re used to a game controller. Bring on the Backbone One: Xbox Edition. As the name indicates, it takes the Backbone One clip-on controller and adds a hefty dose of the Xbox look and feel, including a translucent body.
“Its green finish, inspired by Xbox’s iconic aesthetics, allows you to showcase your gaming style while tapping into Xbox’s storied legacy of innovation,” said Backbone.
All the usual sticks, buttons and triggers are included. Plus, the new version boasts a button to access Xbox Cloud Gaming to play anywhere. Alternatively, use Xbox Remote Play to stream games from your own console. On top of all that, the game controller comes bundled with a free month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, giving access to an expansive library of games, including Halo Infinite, Indiana Jones, Forza Horizon 5 and hundreds more.
And that’s not all because Backbone One: Xbox Edition also works with games on Apple Arcade, Steam Link, and controller-supported titles from the App Store.
Price and availability
Backbone One: Xbox Edition launched Thursday, March 27. It costs $109.99.
Buy it from: Best Buy
This is the USB-C version of the game controller, so it works with all iPhone 15 series and iPhone 16 series models, but not earlier ones with a Lightning port.
Or get the regular non-Xbox version for $99.99. Be sure to read our review (Spoiler alert: We love it!).
Transform Your Phone Into a Gaming Console. Unleash the power of Xbox on your phone with the Backbone One: Xbox Edition. Designed for seamless gaming, this controller lets you play console-quality games anywhere —whether you're streaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming with Game Pass Ultimate, playing locally installed games, or connecting remotely to your Xbox console. Simply snap in your phone and start playing.
Ed Hardy has been writing full-time about tech for 25 years, and using it for much longer than that. His intro to Apple was a Macintosh Classic II (which he still has), but now he uses a 13-inch iPad Pro as his primary computer. He’s written for NotebookReview, TabletPCReview, and Brighthand, as well as other sites.
