Tag Archives: gamepad

Sony Astro Bot-Edition PS5 Dual Sense controller is a livened-up peripheral with Googly Eyes

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Astro Bot, the Mario-like adventure game for PS5, developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment and team Asobi, is all set to arrive on September 6. On the same day debuts, the limited-edition Astro Bot controller, based on the reliable DualSense controller by Sony. The lively peripheral will cost a bit more than the normal wireless DualSense version, but it does come with some perks that’ll excite gamers.

The pint-sized robot featured in the game has become a modern-day PlayStation mascot, and to have a controller that blinks its googly eyes is exciting for fans. This limited edition Astro Bot PS5 DualSense gamepad is priced at $80 and will be available for pre-orders from August 9 at PlayStation Direct in the US and UK at select retailers.

Designer: Sony

This special gamepad is unsurprising as Sony has previously launched themed controllers including the limited edition PlayStation 5 Spider-Man Miles Morales console. According to the Japanese consumer electronics giant, the themed wireless controller “is a work of art” and we can see why. The touchpad has robotic blue eyes that seem like blinking, while the handles and buttons have signature blue hues.

Another interesting thing is the number of textures (like grass, metal, sand, water, or glass) that the player feels through the haptic feedback. The adaptive trigger response further enhances the overall experience. Things like the feeling of the thruster rattle when the Barkster bulldog jetpack is deployed, the power-ups going through your fingers, or the impacts of the one-on-one battles in the boss fights. This Dual Speeder gadget can be felt as the motion-controlled input for the spaceship too.

The sensory feeling is matched with the sound effects for a complete experience of the upcoming title. The blue accents on the handles and buttons are carved in a sci-fi theme which makes owning this controller special. If you too love Astro Bot, it’ll be a wise decision to hit the pre-order button when the floodgates open. For those who already own the standard DualSense version, it would make more sense to go for the feature-loaded DualSense Edge controller.

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Limited Edition Post Malone Backbone One Controller in translucent green

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If Post Malone’s music sets the tone for your day, then you need to know that he is a passionate gamer too. Yes, the acclaimed songwriter and rapper has many chart-breaking performances under his belt, and he’s stopping at nothing. During his busy schedule, the star finds it difficult to game on a PC setup but makes up for that with his mobile games.

Backbone One is his favored controller choice for whenever he can find time and the team at Backbone acknowledges this fact. That’s the reason they’ve released Limited Edition Post Malone Controller. The accessory for mobile gamers will satisfy your gaming needs while having a deep connection with your favorite singer. Only 500 gamepads will be sold for $199, launching June 25 exclusively on their website, so you better mark the date.

Designer: Backbone

Post is mostly touring in his tight schedule and he found this collaboration request to be what his heart desired. He can bring his gaming to the road while traveling and the exclusive gaming controller based on the Backbone One is developed with inputs from him. The design bears a direct influence sporting his favorite color – 90s green done in a semi-transparent theme that looks stunning. The D-pad and the face buttons also get a facelift in an aluminum finish with the icons laser etched. When you’ll be gaming in the dark, the glow-in-the-dark Post Malone logo makes this one even a sweeter deal.

According to Backbone CEO Maneet Khaira, “The fusion of Post Malone’s renowned brand and his genuine passion for gaming with the category-defining Backbone platform felt like a perfect match.” The normal Backbone One controller for Android, iPhone and PlayStation costs $99 and this version is $100 more. Would you want to spend that amount, depends solely on your affinity towards Post Malone and this cool color theme.

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This multifunctional racing wheel has integrated keyboard and gamepad for all your PC gaming needs

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For PC gamers having the right set of peripherals goes a long way in giving them strategic advantage. Be it a gaming keyboard, mouse, gamepad, or steering wheel with pedal inputs – different genres of games demand a varied setup. Take for example racing games that are best played with a steering wheel setup, Battle Royales that need the precise input of a mouse and keyboard, and strategic Multiplayer titles that require a hybrid input of a joystick gamepad.

Eventually, a serious gamer will end up buying the best of all these accessories that’ll take up space on their desk or cabinet. So, how about a multifunctional gaming controller that integrates a keyboard, gamepad and steering wheel into one? A smart peripheral that can be customized depending on the specific needs of the user.

Designer: Thulir S S

This concept design for the brand Logitech more than just caught my eye for the right reasons. Called the Logitech G360, the gaming peripheral is ultra-compact and solves the intended purpose. The highly versatile device is designed aesthetically to not take too much space while keeping the gaming function of each of them, or combined configuration in mind. On the steering wheel base, the gamepad and keyboard are configured to handle the car’s directional inputs, while the connected pedals register the speed, braking and clutch inputs. Simply mount it onto your desk and you’re ready for intense racing action.

When you’re done playing a racing title, you can take out the gamepad from the housing and connect it to play an MMO. For playing real-time shooting titles you can employ the ultra-compact keyboard designed keeping in mind the required input keys for such games. Each of these devices has their independent Bluetooth connectivity hardware, so you don’t have to worry about latency or connection issues.

To add a bit of flair to the whole setup, Thulir imagines the gaming peripheral in sporty Fourmula-1 themes of Red Bull Racing in blue, McLaren in orange and Ferrari in red. I was taken aback by the level of thought put into the design of this concept Logitech gaming accessory. The idea is smart and PC gamers already be licking their fingers.

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A mini controller for your mobile gamers who love minimalism

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Smartphones have evolved to be more than potent gaming devices with constant evolution in processing power. Titles like Genshin Impact, COD Warzone, Car X Street and Asphalt 9: Legends have high-end graphics comparable to consoles and PC titles. Of course, there are capable phones that can play these games at the highest settings without breaking a sweat.

The perfect alibi for serious smartphone gamers who want to gain tactical advantage is a gaming controller. Yes, the likes of 8BitDo Pro 2, Backbone One, GameSir G8 Galileo and Razer Kishi V2 elevate the gaming experience on a smartphone but they are bulky for sure. Imagine holding a 6.8-inch smartphone with the controller mounted on it. This calls for a compact and lightweight option that is easy to carry around and a treat to use.

Designer: Wootae Kim

The Mini Controller is an option for mobile gamers who don’t want to carry around the bulk and also like the compact form factor of the gadget for better ergonomics. Everything on this dongle-sized controller is kept to the minimum with a round joystick, D-Pad buttons and shoulder trigger buttons. This cool gaming controller can be used both in Bluetooth mode and connected mode depending on the titles you want to play. In the latter mode, the accessory can be plugged into the USB-C port and the joystick can be used for the directional control and the on-screen buttons for other input.

The Bluetooth mode works best for FPS shooters and racing games where you want total multidirectional control without missing a move. The connected mode is ideal for playing MMO titles and strategy games like Clash of Clans that require movement in the two-dimensional plane. The designer intends to pitch this controller to Gen-Z mobile gamers who like to explore fresh options. It is easily pocketable just like your earbuds case or can be hooked to a keychain. Also, the availability of the Mini Controller in peppy color options makes it best suited for the younger generation.

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Sleek futuristic game controller concept removes almost all buttons

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The recent years have put gaming under the spotlight, from the hit mobile games like Pokemon GO to innovative consoles like the Nintendo Switch, to the messy adaption of iconic video games into films or TV shows. Of course, this has also given rise to interesting new product designs, especially those riding on the retro trend that’s bringing aesthetics from the past to the present. That said, we can’t always be looking backward trying to relive a so-called “golden age” of design. In order to move forward, we sometimes have to break away from standards and tradition to pave the way for the future. That may sometimes result in unusual designs that may or may not work as intended. This futuristic-looking game controller, for example, aims to simplify the user experience and give the product a more aesthetic flair, but it also raises questions about the usability of the redesign.

Designers: Sami Azfar, Salekin Piash

The basic design of game controllers has changed little over the decades. Yes, they vary depending on the platform or generation, but the existence of buttons, directional pads (D-pads), joysticks, and triggers has always been a standard. For now, it’s the only way you can express a multitude of actions with a limited number of controls, but it’s hardly the most effective or convenient. Unfortunately, we will have to stick with such conventions for the foreseeable future, but that doesn’t mean we can change how they are implemented.

Moenix is a design concept that tries to simplify the form of the controller, thereby allowing it to take on a completely different aesthetic. It specifically takes inspiration from the design of steering wheels and gearshift which are examples of simple yet powerful user interfaces. Unsurprisingly, the Moenix takes on a shape that’s not unlike the steering wheel of a vehicle but utilizes more organic shapes to give it a less mechanical appearance.

The most striking aspect of the controller’s design, however, is the lack of any visible interfaces. There are only two explicitly mentioned in the design, and both come under your thumb. These are touch-sensitive buttons whose actions can change depending on the game being played. One could act as a trigger in a shooter or as the gas pedal in a racing game, while the other can be mapped to movement or camera controls. Given the shape of the controller, it wouldn’t be surprising if it had motion controls so that you can turn your character or your car just by turning the controller itself.

This concept allows the game controller to take on a simpler and more approachable design, but it seems to come at the price of actually providing enough controls to the player. The dynamic buttons can be changed, but unless it can provide more than 2 or four actions, it will definitely be insufficient for most modern games. Alternatively, it might be possible to include buttons behind each handle, providing the same amount of expressiveness but in a more ergonomic position.

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Death Stranding edition Backbone One controller sports a pee-colored semi-transparent body shell

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Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding is coming to iOS devices later this month and you’ll need a sharp gamepad to have the tactical advantage in-game. Backbone has got you covered on that front with a BackBone One Death Stranding Limited Edition controller. This comes on the back of the recently unveiled second-generation version of the highly rated USB-C controller for the iPhone 15 and Android controller.

Now the brand has collaborated with the developer of the highly anticipated title to develop a unique-looking gamepad that for you could either be a golden bliss or a piece of piss! That’s because the color is so peculiar, you’ll have your own subjective opinion on it. By the way, this is not the first time such a controller has made its first appearance since there was a DualShock 4 in the same hue.

Designer: Backbone One

Death Stranding is coming to iOS and Mac on January 30, 2024, and on the very same day, Backbone will make the special edition controller available for purchase in the United States. Playing this crazy haunted open-world title with touchscreen controls is going to be difficult, so if you own the iPhone 15 series, you are better off getting this mobile controller before the stock runs out. The new version (limited edition and standard one) has incremental upgrades including magnetic adapters for an ergonomic fit and a revamped D-pad.

The controller is inspired by the peaking technologies of 2000, explaining the transparent plastic casing that exposes the hardware inside. That hue somehow reminds me of the portable jars for carrying Bridge Babies around. While the front sports a cool transparent yellowish hue, the rear has a more standard solid yellow-orange and graphite color scheme.

Get this limited edition Backbone One mobile controller for $150 and you’ll suit yourself to the free iOS download code for the game. Also, the USB-C connection should be good for connectivity with Android devices.

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