Meet Backbone Pro – Open Worlds Await
Dear Backbone community,
When we founded Backbone in 2018, we had two beliefs about gaming's future—both were contrarian at the time. First, we believed mobile gaming would soon rival console gaming in quality. Second, gaming would shift entirely toward cloud streaming, eliminating the need for consoles or downloads.
Seven years later, those beliefs are reality. Over half of all mobile gaming revenue now comes from high-fidelity titles like Call of Duty and Minecraft, and millions of players stream Fortnite, Halo, and Forza straight from the cloud. That progress has fueled everything we’ve built so far and it sets the stage for what’s next.
Today, we’re thrilled to introduce Backbone Pro.
Why We Built Backbone Pro
The way we play has evolved. From cloud streaming to cross-platform releases, the controller, not the console, has become the centerpiece of a player’s identity. Yet most controllers were still designed for living-room setups and only adapted later for other screens.
Backbone Pro was engineered from the ground up for any screen, any platform, anywhere you want to play.
Backbone Pro: Designed for the Future
Backbone Pro isn't just another controller; it's an all-in-one gaming system designed to unify your gaming experience across your devices. Our team, including designers and engineers from companies like Apple and Google, went through over 9,000 design iterations and conducted 30 rigorous user studies. We even developed a proprietary 3D system to analyze thousands of hours of gameplay, measuring hand movements to perfect the ergonomics.
Every detail—from the precise placement of full-size thumbsticks to the laser-etched grips carefully measured to 0.3mm spacing—is the result of relentless optimization. We obsessed over the smallest details, shaving down measurements by fractions of millimeters to achieve perfect comfort and precision. Shaving down measurements by the width of red blood cells to achieve perfect comfort and precision.
Two Seamless Modes:
Handheld Mode directly connects to your device via USB-C for instant response, no latency, and zero charging hassle. Dock your phone to create one of the lightest, most comfortable handheld systems ever made - just 199g, with full-size console thumbsticks and featherweight ergonomics.
Wireless Mode offers Bluetooth® connectivity for effortless gaming on tablets, laptops, VR headsets, and smart TVs up to 40 hours of battery life in Wireless Mode¹. Our new FlowState™ switching in the Backbone App moves your controller from screen to screen in a tap, no menus, no re-pairing.
Next-Level Customization: Fully remappable buttons, tailored control profiles for individual games, and platform-specific configurations mean your Backbone Pro always feels uniquely yours.
The Backbone App—Your Gaming Command Center: Backbone Pro integrates seamlessly with our Backbone App, transforming your phone into a universal gaming command center. With Smart Search, built-in retro gaming emulation, and cloud gaming support², everything you love is always just a tap away.
Pre-Order Starts Now
- Price: $169.99 (US)
- Pre-orders open: Today, May 6 on backbone.com & Best Buy
- Ships: May 20 (also available in all US Best Buy stores)
- Global rollout begins this summer
Thank you for believing in our vision and shaping our products with your feedback. Backbone Pro is the next step in our journey to let everyone, everywhere, play beyond limits.
See you in-game,
Maneet Khaira
Co-Founder & CEO, Backbone
¹ Based on internal testing. Actual results may vary.
² Backbone+ subscription required. Terms apply.
