Leave a Review Backbone
Too expensive waste of money get an Xbox controller instead cheaper and better
I bought the backbone June 8 and I was happy I could play Xbox steam PlayStation all of it for free then I started just playing on my pc again then I got a message that I was being charged for a “FREE” trial which I never redeemed and i thought must have been a mistake and reported it and them today I put my phone in and wanted to play some Xbox and I get a pop up saying I need to buy a subscription? I try steam,subscription I tried PlayStation no also a subscription like what I paid 100 US dollars to play games on my phone anywhere for FREE but no now I have to pay a MONTHLY subscription for 30 dollars I rather play touchscreen like this is the most What I wanted what I got type of situation like 100 dollars for this is crazy then a monthly payment for an extra 30 dollars like just buy a 30 Xbox controller and you get the EXACT same thing just no more monthly subscription or insane price then now I can’t refund it because it’s been over 30 days like I false marketing claiming unlimited gaming for one hefty price well no not what your getting very disappointing to see me burn my money on thisShow lessChemsborgor
Very aggravating
I would totally give this product a 5 star rating, I absolutely love the backbone...
However, about 11 month into owning one, which was given to me from my girlfriend for Xmas, it started making random screenshots.. multiple times.. did some research, turned out it was somewhat of a common issue..
The company honored my warranty, sent a shipping label and I sent it off same day... it took a week to get there (from Chicago), a week to process my warranty claim, and another week to receive my replacement..
Everything worked swell up until last week, the backbone stopped working... right during gameplay.. it's some sort of connection issue... both my iPhone 14 Pro Max and the backbone app are updated..
Notified backbone again via their website and they gotten back to me via email... Demian, confirmed my name, account, shipping address, etc.. I sent the pictures of the backbone as requested... haven't heard from them since.. it's been almost 2 weeks now and still no resolution..
I suffer from PTSD and using the backbone actually helps me mentally..
If this gets resolved asap, I will remove my 1 star rating and give them a 5.. I understand that there's defects in products sometimes, but as long as the company can honor and stand by their product along with great customer service, I'm willing to be patient..
But it's almost 2 weeks and still nothing..Show lessDubb Sac
Not bad
I’m pretty happy that you can play assassin’s creed odyssey, and several other cloud games. What they don’t tell you is that it takes an annual fee of $40 a year to play on Backbone. I’m also pretty frustrated that I bought this less than a week ago and there now coming out with a USB-C type. I really hope Backbone has a solution or an adapter for older phones for those of us going to upgrade. Overall, I really enjoy it but I also wish you could put a tablet in it instead of a phone just so that you could see better. But it plays Diablo, immortal, assassin’s, creed, odyssey, monster, hunter world, and many other cloud games very well. It even sees all my old saves and loads. I’ve been very surprised. The controller is basically the exact same as my Xbox controller the buttons are just a tiny bit smaller and thinner. We have been looking for an alternative to buy a Nintendo switches for Travel . And I think this is it. I’ve been able to hook up my Steam account, Xbox account, Twitch and I’m hoping to eventually be able to hook up Amazons new world. If they ever get to it that would be cool! There are cheaper alternatives that are just as good but for $100 this feels like it’s built well and will last. Time will tell.Show lessRktmtnman
UPDATED Review
My Backbone controller (that I live on) recently died out of the blue, and was incessantly blitzing me with pop ups to install this app in the middle of battle and launching the App Store without permission, as well as the in-game chat interface. Meanwhile two of the buttons died (one I never even used- it was discovered when I tried to install this app in a failed attempt to shut up the pop ups). I contacted their customer support to see if we could troubleshoot what was happening, and they’ve incredibly offered to replace my controller even though it’s out of warranty! I’m deeply grateful.
I still won’t use this app though, there’s no reason for it for me. I only play Genshin Impact, and I don’t livestream. The stars are actually for the controller, not the app. 😅 (one star off for the buttons being a bit stiff and the plastic is somewhat brittle and prone to cracking and shattering, but I definitely got my money’s worth and serious mileage from it!)Show lessNobodyUnoe
Developer Response
Thanks for letting us know about these issues. We’d love to get this diagnosed! If you have contacted our team, we will respond back to you as soon as possible. If you haven't received a response from us within the next few business days, please submit a support request at https://go.playbackbone.com/support/ and provide the ticket number in this space. You can also submit one in the Backbone App settings.Tech issues all of a sudden
First off: I don’t want this app. I have used my Backbone controller daily since January 2022 with no problem… until tonight. There’s nothing wrong with the controller visibly or my phone. But it is spontaneously demanding once every second or two that I install this app, and without permission launching the App Store repeatedly as well. I have tried disconnecting, and reconnecting repeatedly, to no avail. I have hard rebooted my phone too. No improvement. And here’s where it gets even weirder: I decided to humor it and install this app, and it refuses to complete set up, not responding to the screenshot/screen record button. And while I am writing this commentary, it has been repeatedly spontaneously switching over and launching the app for no reason… it’s making it impossible to write this review, even! Don’t bother telling me to write to customer service- I have. No reply yet. I’m told via automated email that it will take a few days of me sitting without access to my game before they write back (likely with no help at all, judging by the useless FAQs).Show lessDeveloper Response
Thanks for letting us know about these issues. We’d love to get this diagnosed! If you have contacted our team, we will respond back to you as soon as possible. If you haven't received a response from us within the next few business days, please submit a support request at https://go.playbackbone.com/support/ and provide the ticket number in this space. You can also submit one in the Backbone App settings.App works controller doesn’t
Was fine two days ago now my phone doesn’t pick up on the controller . Could be the app could be the phone update or computer idk I didn’t design it, but either way the light blinks on one time and shuts off for good when initially in the phone . Then it does nothing. No buttons work . Nothing . Hasn’t been 5 months yet and I’m having issues . I have a two year warranty so I might get it replaced which seems to be a waste of time for a controller that was literally working maybe 2 hours prior to it stop working ? …I was playing my game perfectly fine up until last night . This morning it was also fine until I took a game break . when I went to play it was acting crazy I assumed the button didn’t work but I kno that isn’t it. I took it off a few times and then it worked . This time it just isn’t working. I’d love for the issue to be resolved I love having my controller.Show lessAppleeBaee
Developer Response
Hey there. We’d like to get this diagnosed as soon as possible! Can you please fill out a help request at help.playbackbone.com/hc/en-us/requests/new and put the ticket number here so I can escalate it? Let’s get you back in action!Controller works good when it doesn’t disconnect
I had the Razer Kishi controller for my phone that was given to me as a gift. I have always wanted a Backbone for my iPhone 13 Max Pro because I’ve heard good things. Unfortunately after biting the bullet and getting one I have had connectivity issues. Backbone suggests to make sure the phones software is up to date as well as the Backbone app… Both have ALWAYS been up to date, Yet here I am trying to stream COD Mobile and I finally gave up streaming. The Backbone keeps disconnecting and I have to completely remove my phone from the controller and put it back in to the connection. I would have gave it a 2.5 ⭐️ rating if I could… Unfortunately we are going to have to wait for somebody else to push the limits and get the gamers something reliable.
Nobody likes to see there character freeze in the middle of a gun fight just to get humiliated and angry at the same time. Hopefully this helps people like me who relieves stress from there life by escaping into a good game, whatever that game may be!!Show lessTheRealTagzz
Developer Response
Thanks for letting us know about these issues. We’d love to get this diagnosed as soon as possible but need your help. Can you please fill out a support request at help.playbackbone.com/hc/en-us/requests/new and put the ticket number here? You can also submit one in the Backbone App settings.Great concept, but ya still need every system
The good; amazing concept. The control is beautifully designed, doesn't feel alien in my hands, and ACTUALLY lets you play games in the App Store. It also charges your phone while charging itself if you have it plugged up. This ACTUALLY DOES WORK. I loved this idea.
Now, the bad; I had to sell my PS5, my Xbox Series X and my custom PC to pay for my move back home. As a parting gift, my roommate bought me this to make me happy after seeing how upset I was. After getting it started, I find out that it still requires me to have all 3 systems in order to play. Now my roommate is upset, I’m about to cry because I got so excited, now this good bye present she got me has turned into something sad. Ik this sounds extreme and childish, but she was really excited to see me open it and play it. I wish your device was able to just access my accounts when I log in and let me stream play like all the systems give the option for now. You’re device should be a cheap option for those who don’t have and/or can’t afford these newer systems instead of requiring us to literally spend over $1,000 for the 3 different systems.Show lessxXxScottixXx
It’s great BUT…
So I put off buying this device (PlayStation edition) for a while and I finally made the jump and purchased one. It’s nice being able to play games on my Iphone and worked perfectly well until about 3-4 days ago when this app updated and now my backbone disconnects during my COD matches. It is frustrating to say the least. The backbone button will start blinking when that happens and sometimes I’ll get a pop up saying that the device isn’t supported. I’ve already tried the troubleshooting that’s given through support. With all of this, now I’m debating if I should return the controller now. I hope the company fixes the issue because I really don’t want to return it.Show lessIraL94
The hardware is awesome, software not so much. Still a good purchase.
The Backbone device works well, using it with your iPhone AND iPad is a plus and when it works right it’s amazing. But that’s when it works right, lately the thing freaks out when I plug it into the iPad, so I don’t use that anymore, and every game that has ever been opened on my backbone is now always there, every game my daughter ever tapped or a game that I tapped on is auto added and you can’t delete it or clear it or remove it from the app. There are instructions on how to do this but they don’t work, so be sure you always want whatever game to be on the app cause it’s gonna be there for a while, oh and your get to pay for it, the app that is. $100 for the controller and then a sub? At least Polish it up, allow us to remove a game from the app from within the app! Not go through the App Store, with app open, then remove app and tap again then maybe it goes away, cmon. And fix the iPad issue where the joy sticks freak out like they are stuck spamming all around.Show lessLT.Cunningham
