Xbox is kicking off its 25th anniversary celebrations with a new lineup of retro-inspired hardware and accessories, including two new controllers aimed at mobile and cloud gaming: the Backbone Pro Xbox 25th Anniversary Edition and the GameSir X5 Lite for Xbox.
Backbone Pro Goes Retro
The standout mobile accessory in the 25th Anniversary Collection is the Backbone Pro Xbox 25th Anniversary Edition. The design takes inspiration from the clear-shell electronics that were popular in the early 2000s, with three translucent color options: Iconic Blue, Bold Orange, and Crystal Clear.
Weirdly enough, Backbone is selling the special edition as a blind box, so you won’t know which color you’ve got until you open the box.
Aside from the retro look, the Backbone Pro is the same controller designed for playing and streaming Xbox games on mobile. It can be used with Xbox Cloud Gaming as well as remote play on compatible mobile devices. Read our full review here.
GameSir X5 Lite Brings Classic Xbox to Mobile
Also joining the anniversary lineup is the GameSir X5 Lite for Xbox, which takes its design cues from the original Xbox. It comes with a translucent green shell and supports both iOS and Android, with Apple MFi certification included.
The controller is designed for low-latency gaming and features controls aimed at replicating the feel of a traditional console controller. That makes it another option for playing Xbox games through Xbox Cloud Gaming directly on a smartphone.
Pre-orders for both the Backbone Pro Xbox 25th Anniversary Edition and the GameSir X5 Lite are available now through Backbone and GameSir.
Would you take your chances with the blind-box Backbone Pro, or would you go for the classic green GameSir X5 Lite? Let us know in the comments!
As always, remember to follow us on our social media platforms (e.g., Threads, X (Twitter), Bluesky, YouTube, and Facebook) to stay up-to-date with the latest news. This website contains affiliate links. We may receive a commission when you click on these links and make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. We are an independent site, and the opinions expressed here are our own.
