Best Xbox Cloud Gaming Controllers and Accessories in 2024 – CNET

First, a little background. Xbox Cloud Gaming, formerly Project xCloud, lets you play a subset of Xbox Game Pass games on a device other than a console by streaming them from the internet. It’s similar to Google Stadia (RIP) and Nvidia GeForce Now. To use it, you need to be an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, which costs $15 a month or $160 annually (with four three-month membership codes). For Windows PCs, it lets you play games your system might not otherwise have the power or space to run locally via Game Pass for PC. Navigate to Xbox Game Pass games on your console and look for games with a cloud icon, then click the “play” button.

Xbox Cloud Gaming requires a fast internet connection for smooth game streaming. I’m not reviewing it here, but I’m highlighting the best controllers and accessories to use with supported devices. As you might expect, the various Xbox controllers are the main options, but there are plenty of other controllers and accessories to choose from. Some are designed exclusively for Android phones, Windows PC and iOS devices.

Microsoft maintains a list of supported controllers, but you’ll find others that work. Initially, Microsoft said that if you’re using a web browser to play cloud games, the Xbox Wireless Controller was the only “officially supported controller.” However, most controllers I’ve tried — and every controller on this list — works for cloud gaming on a browser.

If you’re an Apple user, go to the Xbox website and sign in to the Microsoft account linked to your Xbox Game Pass, then tap the share button at the bottom of the screen and select Add to Home Screen. Android users can download the Xbox Game Pass app from the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store (Samsung devices only). 

Below, you’ll find my picks for the best Xbox Cloud gaming controller options currently out there. And I’ll update this list as more Xbox Cloud Gaming controllers and accessories are released, and we test additional products.

Best Xbox Cloud controllers for Apple devices

<div content="LIST ITEM" superlative="Best iPhone controller" description="

The&nbsp;Backbone One&nbsp;is my favorite of the iPhone controllers that mimic the physical experience of the&nbsp;Nintendo Switch, although Razer’s improved second-generation Kishi V2 controller is a close second. As part of the&nbsp;Designed for Xbox program, it also has specific features designed to make you feel more like you’re playing on an&nbsp;Xbox&nbsp;or stand-alone device. The Backbone One is compatible with the Xbox app as well as the PlayStation Remote Play app. (And Backbone now makes a white PlayStation Edition of this controller.)

The Backbone One game pad uses a layout similar, though not identical, to that of&nbsp;Microsoft’s&nbsp;own Xbox controllers. But Backbone’s software is one of the keys to its success, and makes the controller an easy update for current owners wanting to get the new features. It’s compatible with all iPhones running iOS 13 or later.

For instance, it already has a dedicated gameplay capture button, it can tag gameplay and share as a link, it incorporates a dynamic feed and, because it’s designed for use with all mobile games, it can serve as a central hub for those titles.

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<div content="X – LIST ITEM" superlative="Best controller for iPhones as well as iPads with USB-C ports" description="

I previously had the RiotPWR Mobile Cloud Gaming Controller for iOS on this list, but it had one flaw. Because it has an integrated Lightning cable that allows for lag-free gaming — at least when it comes to button presses — you couldn’t use it with newer iPads that have a USB-C connection. The new RiotPWR RP1950 controller solves that problem by allowing you to swap out the Lightning cable module for a USB-C cable module.&nbsp;

Like RiotPWR’s earlier iOS controller, which is white, the black RP1950 is a more traditionally shaped Xbox-like controller that includes a mount for your phone. While there’s no built-in battery that keeps your phone charged while playing, like the Backbone and Razer Kishi V2, this model has a pass-through charging option if you want to hook up a separate Lightning cable to a battery pack or wall charger.

The controller is nicely designed and doesn’t feel cheap (the dock can accommodate a variety of iPhones, including larger iPhone Max models). Remove the dock and you can use this with any iPad that has a Lightning or USB-C port. To swap cables, you have to stick a paper clip in a hole in the bottom of the controller, which releases the cable module. It’s a little tricky the first time you do it, but once you figure out how it’s done, it’s pretty straightforward.

It’s also worth noting that even though this is called an "iOS controller," it will work with Android smartphones and tablets that have USB-C ports.&nbsp;

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RiotPWR

<div content="LIST ITEM" superlative="Razer's iPhone option" description="

The second-generation Razer Kishi V2 smartphone controller is similar to the Backbone and comes in both iOS and Android versions (the iOS version has an integrated Lightning connector while the Android version has a USB-C connector). Both cost more than the original models, but offer substantially improved ergonomics and more responsive buttons.&nbsp;

The iPhone version is MFi-certified and will work with the iPhone 6 Plus and any newer model. It has pass-through charging but no built-in battery to supply extra juice.&nbsp;

We prefer the companion app for the Backbone controller for iOS users, but the design of the Kishi V2 controller now measures up well against the Backbone. Alas, no Android version of the Backbone controller yet exists.

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PowerA’s Moga XP-Ultra is fairly pricey, but it works as a wireless controller for not only Android smartphones but with your Xbox Series X/S and Windows 10/11 PCs. What’s nice is that unlike the official Xbox controllers, it incorporates a 2,000-mAh rechargeable battery. On top of that, it has a modular design with a detachable full-size grip and a mobile gaming clip so you can choose whether to go with a full-size controller or a more compact controller for gaming on the go. That said, the ergonomics are much better when you go with the full-size grip.

There are two mappable “advanced gaming buttons” that PowerA says can perform any button command to “keep your thumbs on the sticks.” It’s also worth noting that the controller is equipped with dual rumble motors and impulse triggers. In fact, I slightly preferred this controller to Microsoft’s Core Xbox controller. (Sony’s PS5 controller remains the best, however.) 

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