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It’s onerous to imagine that it’s been greater than two years because the sliding magnetic controller that we now know as MCON was launched to the world in a YouTube video. On the time, it was closely targeted on the Apple ecosystem, however now that the system is lastly out, it’s was a lot extra.

Positive, it nonetheless has MagSafe magnets, however now so do Pixel telephones. Magnets on telephones are right here to remain, and MCON is without doubt one of the first gaming controllers making an attempt to reap the benefits of them with a sliding design that calls again to the legendary PSP Go and Xperia Play.

After testing it for a number of weeks, I’ve to say it actually delivers the place it counts. Positive, the sliding half is enjoyable and novel (once more), but it surely’s additionally probably the most versatile controllers I’ve ever used.

I’ve examined loads of gaming gadgets, from controllers to devoted gaming handhelds, and I’ve to say MCON is without doubt one of the most overengineered merchandise I’ve ever seen. And I imply that in a great way.

Out of the field, it virtually seems to be like a screen-less telephone or wi-fi battery pack. Nothing about it screams “controller” when you don’t look too intently, and it slips very simply right into a pocket or bag. I’d by no means put a telescopic controller in my bag with out some type of case, however I’ve absolute confidence that the MCON can survive by itself in there. In actual fact, I’d virtually be apprehensive for the remainder of the bag’s contents, as a result of this factor is hard.

Functionally, it’s only a Bluetooth controller, however there’s a lot happening behind the scenes. The system attaches to your telephone with a magnetic puck. It’s pretty thick, so there’s no fear about it hitting or scratching even the fattest of digital camera bumps. The puck may also be slipped off and turned vertically, which is useful for Nintendo DS emulation and vertical video games.

Then, there’s the headlining characteristic: the slider. There’s an enormous button on the highest of the controller that’s simply begging to be pressed, and whenever you do, the controller completely flies out. It really startled me the primary time I opened it.

It has a lot pressure that the primary magnetic case I attempted for my Pixel 9 didn’t reduce it. There’s a magnetic array sticker within the field, however when you’re utilizing a unique magnetic case, be sure to choose one with the complete magnetic array plus the road on the backside (and never simply the circle). In any other case, you may unexpectedly shot put your telephone onto the ground.

Earlier than attending to the controls, I also needs to level out that the backplate also can detach from the controller and function a kickstand. This was really probably the most snug methods to play on the MCON, though I want the kickstand had a couple of snapping level. Placing the entire thing again collectively is simple in a method that appears like magic, though I nonetheless really feel like I’m going to interrupt it each time I push them collectively. It’s not an interplay I’ve had with some other system, so it’s onerous to recover from the trepidation.

The controller itself is definitely nice. The dome swap D-pad doesn’t have a lot pivot, however I used to be nonetheless in a position to hit diagonals after I wanted to. The buttons are additionally responsive and quiet, which is nice for enjoying on the bus or subsequent to my spouse in mattress.

The sticks are closely recessed, however nonetheless have a pleasant vary of motion. I initially discovered them fairly uncomfortable to make use of since they’re so near the center of the controller, however this was simply solved by flipping out the grips hiding within the again. That stated, there’s a bizarre empty house within the again the place the grips ought to go, and it’s noticeable when holding the controller. For D-pad-centric video games, I discovered it higher to maintain the grips stowed. They’re additionally very stiff to take away, with no place to get leverage.

However my solely actual grievance concerning the MCON’s inputs are the shoulder buttons and triggers. The shoulder buttons are completely tiny. I discovered them each too skinny and too quick, which is additional difficult by the truth that the entire setup is kind of top-heavy. My index fingers needed to each maintain the telephone up and scrunch as much as hit the shoulder buttons, which is lots to ask from my getting older dad gamer arms. The analog triggers are additionally small, however at the least they’re barely greater and farther from the again of my telephone.

All issues thought of, I used to be in a position to make progress in difficult video games like Useless Cells or Silksong (by way of GameHub), which is how I sometimes put these controllers via the gauntlet. It’s not fairly as snug as a big telescopic controller, but it surely’s so moveable that it’s not even in the identical class.

When testing MCON over the previous few weeks, I discovered that there are particular situations the place it’s nice, and others the place I’d quite attain for one thing else. The obvious win is taking part in controller-compatible cell video games. I gave up taking part in heavy video games like Genshin Impression or Future: Rising with contact controls, however with two sticks on the go, I’m again within the sport.

The opposite nice use case for me was sport streaming. Paired with Xbox Cloud Gaming, it will probably flip your telephone right into a unbelievable little gaming system. Having a full vary of inputs is totally transformative, whether or not connected to your telephone or taking part in in tabletop mode. The identical is true for native sport streaming by way of Steam Hyperlink, Moonlight, or Razer Nexus.

It’s additionally nice for emulating video games on my telephone, which I had beforehand deserted in favor of devoted gaming handhelds. I can’t say that I’d at all times take MCON with me in my go bag, because it’s roughly the scale of a small gaming handheld, however I’d take it on a flight or longer journey. For no matter cause, I really feel much less embarrassed pulling out this sliding controller than a gaming handheld in entrance of strangers on a practice.

That stated, when not on a practice or in entrance of the judgmental public, I nonetheless desire devoted gaming handhelds. There are simply so many nice choices on the market, and most of them are literally cheaper than MCON. For instance, the ANBERNIC RG Slide, which has the same Xperia Play-style sliding mechanism, retails for a similar quantity however can incessantly be discovered on sale for a lot much less. It’s in all probability not as highly effective as your telephone, however the truth that it isn’t a telephone makes it a extra appropriate devoted gaming system for me.

Earlier, I additionally talked about that the magnetic puck will be turned to play vertically, however in follow, I didn’t discover this very helpful. Nintendo DS video games performed wonderful, however the weight steadiness was horrible. Many DS video games additionally require contact inputs, and taking one hand off the controller to faucet the display screen made issues worse. At that time, I’d quite simply play with contact controls (or a purpose-built handheld just like the ANBERNIC RG DS).

However except for edge instances like Nintendo DS emulation, MCON is a stable possibility for any time of gaming I do on my telephone. Not like gaming handhelds, my telephone is at all times with me, and MCON is a a lot simpler journey companion than a telescopic controller. These two components make the setup extremely versatile, and I may simply see this turning into my most popular option to play most video games I used to play with touchscreen controls.

There’s one factor that I haven’t touched on but, and it’s the largest draw back to the whole system. MCON retails for $150, which is a really hefty price to pay for a Bluetooth controller, no matter how fancy it’s or the extent of engineering that went into its design.

Nonetheless, when you’re somebody who already performs loads of video games in your telephone, it may very nicely be well worth the worth of entry. Not everybody desires to purchase an entire separate system simply to play video games on Android. MCON and controllers prefer it assist bridge the hole.

By way of alternate options, there’s actually just one different related magnetic controller available on the market, and that’s the Abxylute M4. It’s nonetheless within the crowdfunding stage, but it surely’s less expensive and extra compact. It’s really the controller I at present hold in my bag, with the massive caveat that I solely use it for D-pad-centric retro video games. The sticks on the M4 don’t maintain a candle to these on the MCON, nor do the ergonomics as an entire.

On the finish of the day, nothing can do what MCON can do, which is a testomony to simply how versatile this design is. In a controller market that’s completely saturated with almost an identical merchandise, it stands out and manages to make gaming on my telephone really enjoyable once more. It took greater than two years (and the assistance of Oh Snap) to get via the end line, however hopefully that is simply the beginning of a beautiful new line of magnetic controllers.