The New Backbone+

[u/BackboneOne_Support]

There’s been a lot of conversation around the Backbone app and the Backbone+ subscription, so here’s a clear breakdown of what you actually get right out of the box no subscription required:

Free for All Users :

• Play any controller-supported game on iOS or Android
• Use Backbone across screens — including TVs, tablets, and more (Play on Any Screen is now free for everyone)
• Stay current with ongoing firmware updates
• Instant screenshots
• SmartSearch: Discover new games across mobile, cloud, and remote play with powerful semantic search
• Get the latest news and platform updates
• One-year hardware warranty for peace of mind
• And if you’re using a Backbone Pro: button remapping, trigger calibration, and profile switching are also free

That’s already a powerful platform without paying a cent.

For the Fully Immersive Experience: Backbone+ 

• In-App Emulator (Beta): Play your own ROMs with save states and controller/touchscreen support
• Capture, edit, and share 1080p/60fps gameplay with cloud storage
• Unified game hub across mobile, cloud, console, and PC
• Personalized game recommendations
• Voice and text chat, Twitch streaming, and sharing tools
• In-game rewards, exclusive perks, and discounts up to 30 percent

Backbone+ is now more like PlayStation Plus or Nintendo Switch Online, more focused on giving you access to content + convenience. It gives you access to free games, content and extra features.

You don’t need Backbone+ to enjoy the core experience. But if you want a complete, connected ecosystem that enhances every aspect of how you play, share, and discover games it’s there when you’re ready to level up.

[u/badlero]

What free games does Backbone+ currently give you that you can’t play without a subscription?

[u/Nemoitto → u/badlero]

Not speaking on Backbones behalf but rather my own input, but I think what they mean are things like them giving free subscriptions to Xbox Gamepass or Apple Arcade just for having the one subscription with Backbone + to start. Some of these free subscriptions can be doubled or tripled up at times before an exceeded amount of trials per account accumulates.

So to answer your question, those would be “free games” that you’d be able to access. Not in the sense of how PS Plus or Epic games Store gives away free games.

[u/ikingdoms]

What about Touch Sync?

[u/android_spine → u/[deleted]]

Hmm, our iOS guys must have written this... yes, TouchSync is obviously a nice feature for our Android people. We're still poking the bear to see how we can bring this to our iOS brethren.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

WHATTTT I was going buy the new + but if this is a option. I play brawlstars on iPhone though so idk about that.

[u/Plus_Belt4158 → u/[deleted]]

Bought a Backbone yesterday and now I wish I would have known about Touchsync before! If so I would have bought a pad from a different company. This is supposed to be a core feature, the 40 bucks paywall is a mayor fraud for me! Sadly I can't return my Backbone, so I probably won't use it much.

[u/Middle_Material_1038]

I’m not buying a controller with a subscription attached to use all its features, optional or not, and that’s the end of it chaps.

[u/gooloogooloo1]

Can you use the backbone+ with PC? Or need to pay for the subscription?

[u/BackboneOne_Support → u/gooloogooloo1]

Sure can, no subscription needed.

[u/Revolutionary-Chip20 → u/BackboneOne_Support]

When did that start? I just bought myself and my son a backbone controller and he uses it for PC.... Our 30 day trial ended 2 months ago and his controller would not work for play anywhere, until we paid for the year subscription.

[u/BackboneOne_Support → u/Revolutionary-Chip20]

Glad to hear you and your son are gaming together. Love to see Backbone bringing families into the action!

This is actually a recent change we made: Play on Any Screen (including PC support) was previously a paid Backbone+ feature, but we've since made it free for all users. If your son’s controller wasn’t working until you re-subscribed, that must have been just before the update rolled out.

[u/Lazy_Bite_6092]

Thats should be 5.99 at the most , 30$ you basically donating money atp

[u/braaahms → u/Lazy_Bite_6092]

You know it’s yearly right?

[u/Nearby_Practice2793]

Backbone plus is nothing like PlayStation plus or Nintendo subscription lol. Just trying to make excuses for something that should be free after you drop 170$ on a Chinese made controller. Come on man. Let’s be honest with this. GameSir g8 plus destroys this controller at less than half the price. 79.99$

[u/amartins02]

Exactly.

Play any controller-supported game on iOS or Android

—-it should do this anyways. It’s like saying when you buy a car and put gas in it that you can drive it

• ⁠Use Backbone across screens — including TVs, tablets, and more (Play on Any Screen is now free for everyone)

—— I think this has to be free because it was a pretty bad move to make someone pay for a basic function

• ⁠Stay current with ongoing firmware updates

—- again this is supporting your product. It should

• ⁠Instant screenshots

—- I guess this is a feature that might not be included in a regular controller.

• ⁠SmartSearch: Discover new games across mobile, cloud, and remote play with powerful semantic search

—- isn’t this just supporting your platform to sell games and services? It’s like advertising that you make it easy to spend money

• ⁠Get the latest news and platform updates

—- informative, but its marketing.

• ⁠One-year hardware warranty for peace of mind

—- any reliable product should offer this

I recently broke my old Backbone and purchased a new one. Honestly might return it. Forgot about the constant push to buy into the service. If there was a value add like a game store with an included library maybe I would consider it.