Cloud gaming is catching on and with these two accessories you can play on the move as at home
When we associate gaming with the mobile world, we are likely to consider these two universes irreconcilable. This is true for the most passionate gamers, who consider gaming on smartphones ‘second class’ compared to classic methods of enjoyment. Unless you are Asian, gaming on a smartphone will inevitably make you associate with a ‘casual’ market. Despite its many impressive exponents, both on Apple (thanks to the Arcade model) and Google Play, this way of enjoying video games is often viewed with prejudice and enjoyed by more heterogeneous audiences than console and PC gaming. MG-X Pro wants to reverse this trend.
One of the biggest limitations of this type of enjoyment compared to hand-held consoles is the absence of physical buttons. So many titles are not ideally suited to this type of design, and more complex and layered experiences require greater interactions and combinations. Touch controls are a viable route, even a successful one, but it is clear that they take time to assimilate or use a level terminal with a large, quality screen.
Microsoft’s Cloud
When Microsoft presented its idea of the future, combining Game Pass with Cloud technology, some of these prejudices began to creak. The idea of playing great experiences on the small screen, which we all have with us all the time, thanks to the power of the Cloud, is exciting. Great games that overcome some of the technological limitations of the platform and can go beyond the market, away from the monetization and design systems we know now.
The idea of playing Forza Horizon 5, the new FIFA or Starfield (and Skyrim!) on your smartphone is exciting, as are the many games (over 100!) on the subscription and compatible with the cloud. But the problem is always the same, where are the buttons?
This is where Nacon’s MG-X Pro comes to our aid, an accessory designed explicitly for XCloud, based as it is on the Xbox Series X/S controller itself. An essential accessory if you want to fully enjoy this new way of enjoying mobile gaming. The design of the MG-X Pro is self-explanatory, with an extendable hinge you insert your smartphone inside to lock it securely during the gaming session. Useful features are few and simple: a Bluetooth 4.2 connection (with low power consumption), an LED indicator to signal certain elements, and compatibility with smartphones up to 6.7 inches.
The feel is excellent, the smartphone feels firm, and the rubberized mat prevents scratches on the back of the smartphone. Pad in hand, the sense is similar to that of an Xbox controller. The buttons are the same, complete with the Xbox button. The asymmetrical sticks give the same user experience as on the Microsoft platform. The result is, therefore, familiar, even on the ergonomic side.
MG-X Pro
The MG-X is very comfortable, even for long gaming sessions (the battery lasts around 20 hours), thanks mainly to the rough texture that envelops all the plastic. The feel of the keys is slightly softer, and there is less resistance from the buttons and analogues, which are functional but give a more plastic and noisy feel than traditional controllers. However, the Xbox Game Pass app’s compatibility is absolute and straightforward.
The biggest shortcomings of the MG-X Pro are undoubtedly the lack of a headphone jack, which would have benefited the user experience. This is because once you plug in your smartphone, it is very likely that the speakers will be covered by the controller, as will the jack (or USB-c) input. To use headphones, the only solution is to go wireless. An increasingly common occurrence nowadays, but it is important to point this out. There are still many of us with the good old wire; let us live like we used to. The other is the price, set at almost 120 euros, a bit high compared to what it offers in terms of user experience. Some ten euros less would have already made a difference.
The GameSir X2 Pro
This is what the GameSir X2 Pro, also for Android, costs, more or less. The GameSir X2 has dimensions of 17.7 x 8.4 x 2.5 centimetres, and the internal part can expand to support smartphones with a maximum length of 173 millimetres, virtually all Android devices. The controllers are made of well-finished matt plastic, as all the buttons give good feedback, are smooth, and the analogues have a satisfactory grip. In this respect, the company has done a very good job, as one can instantly feel the quality of the product. At the rear, we have the classic L1+L2 and R1+R2 buttons; at the front, the analogues, the directional arrows, the screenshot button, the S, G and Home buttons, two status LEDs and X, Y, A, B.
In fact, once logged in, the pad will be recognized instantly, and you will be able to start playing right away, again, without any delay between pressing the buttons and the action on the screen. Fallout, PES, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, Halo, PUBG, Gears of War, everything ran smoothly and buying these joysticks will allow you to play anytime, even on holiday. The only thing you will need is an internet connection.
As mentioned at the beginning, thanks to Cloud Gaming, now all popular games will be accessible even to those who don’t have a console or PC; all they need is a smartphone and an internet connection. Accessories such as these from GameSir are elevating the gaming experience to new heights, especially since they are lightweight and portable gadgets that we can put in any backpack and use even on holiday.
The GameSir X2 Pro costs around €90 and comes with a month’s trial Xbox Pass and a handy semi-hard carrying case. Less ‘professional’ than the Nacon, it certainly has on its side lightness and portability, as well as the presence of a Type-C input to hook up the smartphone without the need for Bluetooth. We are therefore talking about a figure that is not excessive since we are offered the possibility of playing all possible games at 360 degrees, thanks to the customized configuration of the keys. This is a feature that we do not find on traditional joysticks or some other competitive pads.
