The Razer Kishi controller is the best way to experience Project xCloud
Source: Windows Central
The Razer Kishi controller is a truly stunning device that defies years of poor-quality attempts to bring some real ergonomic control to mobile gaming.
While touch-based mobile gaming is truly massive, it’s a hard leap to make for anyone that has played games using a real gamepad. The precision and, frankly, immersion is elevated with a gamepad since you’re not hiding the screen by strumming your thumbs all over everything.
Therein lies my biggest gripe with Project xCloud, Microsoft’s big upcoming game streaming service. As awesome as it is, playing games on phones with touch just isn’t fun for me. It’s even less fun when you’re playing games on phones that weren’t designed for phones.
Related: Full Razer Kishi review
With Nintendo Switch selling out faster than Nintendo can manufacture them, the market for truly ergonomic handheld gaming has never been healthier. It’s that experience that emphasizes Project xCloud’s biggest missing link — ergonomics. This is why the Razer Kishi is now the de-facto best way to experience Project xCloud, and probably mobile gaming in general.
Fixing mobile gaming
Razer Kishi
Best for Project xCloud
The Razer Kishi controller is the best way to experience streaming services like Project xCloud, Stadia, and more, on your mobile device.
USB-C decimates Bluetooth
Category | DeviceNameTKTKTK |
---|---|
Buttons | Two triggers, two shoulder buttons, 8-direction d-pad, offset joysticks, ABXY buttons, start, select, and home buttons |
OS requirements | Android 8.0 Oreo, 7.0 Nougat or higher (iOS coming later) |
Confirmed compatibility | Razer Phone 1 & 2 Samsung Galaxy S8 / S8+ / S9 / S9+ / S10 / S10+ / S20 / S20+ / Note 8 / Note 9 / Note 10 / Note 10+ Google Pixel 2 / 2 XL / 3 / 3XL / 4 / 4XL |
Required phone dimensions | Height: 145.3 to 163.7mm Width: 68.2 to 78.1mm Depth: 7.0 to 8.8mm |
Connections | USB-C |
Price | $79.99 |
Bluetooth is just a crappy wireless protocol. It sucks. Let’s not kid ourselves or sugar-coat the reality of it. We put up with it because we don’t have anything better right now, it is what it is.
It’s decent enough for music and other devices you might be using in passing, but for game controls, it’s substandard at best.
Source: Windows Central
So, why the rant about Bluetooth? It’s because the Razer Kishi connects directly to your phone with USB-C. With streaming services like Project xCloud, you’re already introducing additional latency into the mix. Bluetooth only adds another layer of unresponsiveness, which the Razer Kishi totally eliminates.
More responsive, more ergonomic
Source: Windows Central
The best thing is the Razer Kishi’s responsiveness, though, by a mile.
Overall, it just feels great to use. In our full review, my colleague Russell Holly found that the Kishi can struggle with smaller devices, but with my larger 6.4-inch Galaxy Note, both sides of the device fit extremely snugly, with minimal flex. If you’re playing console-grade games on your phone, you’re probably going to want a larger device anyway, but Razer notes that, sadly, the Kishi isn’t compatible with the hefty S20 Ultra, which comes in at 6.9-inches. This year’s Galaxy Note will probably be too large as well.
It’s a bit of a downside that the Kishi can’t somehow extend to larger devices, but the fact Razer has managed to get the range of compatibility it has already is pretty admirable.
Source: Windows Central
I never really realized how much of an impact Bluetooth can make in terms of responsiveness, removing it from the equation gave me my best Project xCloud experience yet. It’ll be hard to go back to Bluetooth afterwards, for sure.
That Android life
Source: Windows Central
Therein lies Microsoft’s biggest hurdle with xCloud, generally. The market for Android is truly gargantuan, but making an xCloud service, alongside capable accessories, that are compatible with the widest range of devices possible is a truly herculean task. How do you make a single gamepad clip accessory that is compatible with everything?
The Kishi is the best xCloud device yet
For now, though, the Razer Kishi is by far the best solution for streaming services like Project xCloud, Stadia, and PlayStation Now. Great design, responsive controls, ergonomic feel, and that crucial USB-C connection (complete with pass-through for charging), really elevates the game for me.
Now we just need Project xCloud to like, you know, actually launch.
Fixing mobile gaming
Razer Kishi
Best for Project xCloud
The Razer Kishi controller is the best way to experience streaming services like Project xCloud, Stadia, and more, on your mobile device.
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