8bitdo's Latest Phone Accessory Is a Clip-on, Game Boy-Like Controller

8BitDo has a caller mobile controller accessory that clips onto your smartphone, and makes it look similar there's fractional a Game Boy snapped onto the bottommost 3rd of your screen. It's called the 8BitDo FlipPad, and it's up for preorder for conscionable $30.

There are a fewer accessories similar this, and portion I've utilized a couple, they don't truly enactment for me. I thought I'd similar the small button-having plates that lone enactment with that company's circumstantial telephone case, but figured retired I person beardown telephone lawsuit preferences they don't meet. And portion I deliberation determination are immoderate large sandwich-style mobile controllers retired there, I privation thing that's easier to transportation astir with me.

The FlipPad mightiness code that by being a small button-faced puck that sits connected a hinge that plugs into your phone's USB-C port, and lets it fold astir down your telephone erstwhile you request to do, you know, telephone stuff. Since it's powered by USB-C, there's nary request to fuss with Bluetooth pairing, and effect clip should beryllium near-instant. Also, there's nary artillery beingness to interest astir (except, I suppose, connected the telephone itself). And I emotion the thought of unplugging it and conscionable sliding it into my pocket. Clean!

The FlipPad's layout and colour strategy hint astatine the archetypal Game Boy (Assuming you get the "G Classic" version; there's besides a achromatic one) but the fastener layout is much modern. You'll find 4 enarthrosis fastener stand-ins successful a enactment on the top, and beneath that a d-pad, ABXY buttons, and commencement and select, positive the bosom and prima buttons you'd find connected different 8BitDo controllers. I presume those are location and turbo, respectively, but I couldn't instantly suss that retired connected the 8BitDo site.

Don't crippled and drive, folks.

The FlipPad looks similar a great, pocketable mode to play games connected your, uh, bespoke classical gaming room software. That said, 2 things: First, 1 of 8BitDo's images amusement a idiosyncratic playing with the FlipPad portion down the instrumentality of an automobile. I emotion gaming, but what? Please bash not promote radical to crippled and drive! I'm cycling here! Thing fig two: its look benignant of makes maine privation a Game Boy clone of a ammunition I tin conscionable driblet my telephone into (especially aft seeing it adjacent to a Game Boy successful the pb representation connected The Verge nonfiction wherever I archetypal saw this news), with bundle that lone displays my crippled wrong its small greenish window. Alas, for now, possibly the FlipPad volition person to do. According to 8BitDo's site, it starts shipping July 30th.

Wes is simply a freelance writer (Freelance Wes, they telephone him) who has covered technology, gaming, and amusement steadily since 2020 astatine Gizmodo, Tom's Hardware, Hardcore Gamer, and astir recently, The Verge. Inside of him determination are 2 wolves: 1 that thinks it wouldn't beryllium truthful atrocious to commencement collecting crippled consoles again, and the different who besides thinks this, but much strongly.