8BitDo, once known exclusively as a purveyor of Nintendo-infused nostalgia, has expanded in recent years into all types of controllers and gaming accessories. The company's latest foray is into mobile gaming controllers. The 8Bitdo Ultimate mobile game controller takes the highlight of its well-received Ultimate series: Hall effect included! – and leads them to an extendable accessory that clips to your smartphone, a la Backbone and Razer Kishi.
First, the bad news (for some). He amazon;elmt:;cpos:5;pos:1″ href=”https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=76638f03-2ce5-4167-b033-321f32b02271&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL2FtYXpvbi5jb20vZHAvQjBESzM3Q1NIUD90YWc9Z2RndDBjLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiI3NjYzOGYwMy0yY2U1LTQxNjctYjAzMy0zMjFmMzJiMDIyNzEiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYW1hem9uLmNvbS9kcC9CMERLMzdDU0hQIiwiZHluYW1pY0NlbnRyYWxUcmFja2luZ0lkIjp0cnVlLCJzaXRlSWQiOiJ1cy1lbmdhZGdldCIsInBhZ2VJZCI6IjFwLWF1dG9saW5rIiwiZmVhdHVyZUlkIjoidGV4dC1saW5rIn0&signature=AQAAAYyTi7w1IPdXKDagnHGNKoI_941IjWGTd0ud-QPlPhUC&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DK37CSHP” class=”link rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:8Bitdo Ultimate Mobile Gaming Controller;elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:amazon;elmt:;cpos:5;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”>8Bitdo Ultimate Mobile Game Controller It's Android only, so no love here for iPhone owners. It's also a Bluetooth accessory, rather than a plug-in one like Backbone's, meaning it has a 350mAh battery and weighs more than some rivals. (As The edge gradesIt tips the scales at 236g, making it 71 percent heavier than the BackBone One). 8Bitdo says its battery lasts up to 15 hours with 1.5 hours of charging time.
But for Android device owners, it is a versatile controller. 8Bitdo says it supports mobile devices from 100mm to 170mm in length. That may even include some small tablets, although not many are that small these days. (Even amazon's relatively small Fire HD 8 is about 32mm wide.) However, it should fit almost any Android phone.
The controller has Hall effect triggers and joysticks, so you shouldn't worry about drift. It includes four standard action buttons, a “click”, “soft” and “touch” D-Pad, a profile button, and two paddle buttons on the back. The levers have “wear-resistant metal joystick rings.”
It works with 8BitDo's Ultimate software, allowing you to remap buttons, adjust joystick and trigger sensitivity, and create or edit profiles. The software is available on Windows and Android. The iOS version can be installed on Mac from the App Store.
You can't get the 8Bitdo Ultimate mobile game controller yet, but you can amazon;elmt:;cpos:10;pos:1″ href=”https://shopping.yahoo.com/rdlw?merchantId=66ea567a-c987-4c2e-a2ff-02904efde6ea&siteId=us-engadget&pageId=1p-autolink&contentUuid=76638f03-2ce5-4167-b033-321f32b02271&featureId=text-link&merchantName=amazon&custData=eyJzb3VyY2VOYW1lIjoiV2ViLURlc2t0b3AtVmVyaXpvbiIsImxhbmRpbmdVcmwiOiJodHRwczovL2FtYXpvbi5jb20vZHAvQjBESzM3Q1NIUD90YWc9Z2RndDBjLTIwIiwiY29udGVudFV1aWQiOiI3NjYzOGYwMy0yY2U1LTQxNjctYjAzMy0zMjFmMzJiMDIyNzEiLCJvcmlnaW5hbFVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYW1hem9uLmNvbS9kcC9CMERLMzdDU0hQIiwiZHluYW1pY0NlbnRyYWxUcmFja2luZ0lkIjp0cnVlLCJzaXRlSWQiOiJ1cy1lbmdhZGdldCIsInBhZ2VJZCI6IjFwLWF1dG9saW5rIiwiZmVhdHVyZUlkIjoidGV4dC1saW5rIn0&signature=AQAAAYyTi7w1IPdXKDagnHGNKoI_941IjWGTd0ud-QPlPhUC&gcReferrer=https%3A%2F%2Famazon.com%2Fdp%2FB0DK37CSHP” class=”link rapid-with-clickid etailiffa-link” rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank” data-ylk=”slk:pre-order it now from amazon;elm:affiliate_link;sellerN:amazon;elmt:;cpos:10;pos:1;itc:0;sec:content-canvas”>pre-order now on amazon. It's $50 (half the price of Backbone One!), comes in black and white options, and arrives on Black Friday, November 29.
