The new Turtle Beach Recon Cloud is an all-in-one controller for playing games on Xbox, PC, Android and mobile streaming (Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForce Now and Steam Link). this controller, now available in the USis essentially Turtle Beach’s existing Recon, but with the addition of Bluetooth to pair wirelessly with phones, tablets, and PCs.
The other key part that gives the Recon its ‘cloud’ designation is the simple addition of a cell phone clip in the box, which screws into the top of the gamepad for a very secure attachment. While it offers more flexibility than a dedicated mobile phone controller like a Backbone One or Razer Kishi, it’s $99.99 price point seems a bit high if you don’t often use all the functionality it has to offer.
Since this is a Recon at heart, all the features in that controller are still there. That includes a lot of FPS-focused stuff like Pro-Aim for quickly reducing the sensitivity of the right stick while sniping, two programmable buttons on the back, and a wide variety of audio controls for use with 3.5mm wired headsets. Those audio controls include Turtle Beach’s Superhuman Hearing mode, which cuts out the sound of enemy footsteps and gunfire in the distance in an effort to give you an edge during competitive play. While these audio tricks made me like the original Recon enough to give it a prominent spot in our Xbox controller buying guide, none of them work when using the Recon Cloud over Bluetooth – limiting them to wired mode only on Xbox and PC.
So if you can’t use all the features of this controller in Bluetooth mode, why spend twice the price of the non-cloud Recon? Well, the real star of this show is the phone holder. Fortunately, Turtle Beach didn’t half do it and packed it into a low-end clip-on mount with this controller. The Recon Cloud’s phone clip screws securely into the top of the gamepad via a thick metal screw, and it has three surrounding prongs to prevent it from twisting or turning. The phone clip and mounting plate can also be detached so that you can use the clip to support your phone as a stand.
None of the Recon’s audio tricks will work on this controller while using Bluetooth
I mounted both my Pixel 6A and iPhone 12 Pro Max to the Recon Cloud, each with their cases on, and they felt solid. I’ve done all my mobile games on the Pixel, as the Recon Cloud unfortunately doesn’t support iOS, but the 228 gram iPhone was a good test of the clip’s strength. I even tested it lying on my couch, with a phone mounted upside down over my face, and didn’t have to worry about a hefty handset falling on me.
While the Recon Cloud’s cell phone holder is excellently solid, it’s a bit limited in viewing/mounting angles for your phone. i had one PowerA MOGA game clip for years, and while it feels very thin by comparison, it has an extra pivot point that allows a phone to sit above the controller – closer to the center of gravity. I can accept the Recon Cloud’s limited articulation in exchange for the firmer grip it has on my phone, but it also means the setup will awkwardly tip backwards under the weight of the phone every time I put it down. Maybe it’s curious that this controller turtles when you put it down, but it’s still a bit annoying.
Of course, the Recon Cloud isn’t the only phone controller with a sturdy mounting system. This is where dedicated mobile solutions like the Backbone One and Razer Kishi (V1 and V2) excel. These expandable controllers that center mount your phone provide a more portable experience that travels better, feels more cohesive and looks much sleeker. They’re ultimately a better experience than any controller clip system, offering something closer to a Nintendo Switch, but like a Switch, their buttons and sticks have been reduced in size for the sake of size. From an ergonomic point of view, the only downside to these clip-in controllers is that they usually force you to take your phone out of the case.
The biggest omissions are a lack of support for iOS and also PlayStation Remote Play
For the Recon Cloud, the biggest omissions are a lack of support for iOS and also PlayStation Remote Play. Sure, this controller is great for playing wired games on PC or an Xbox console, just like the regular Recon – and generally works well for streaming games via Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Steam Link – but I can’t use the Recon Cloud to play remotely from my PlayStation 5 due to Sony’s restrictions.
That might not be a deal breaker for some, but for a controller that appears to be built on flexibility, it’s a limitation that isn’t easily overlooked. My Backbone One controller works perfectly for all those same solutions, including PlayStation Remote Play thanks to its direct partnership with Sony, and I can just use other controllers when it’s time to sit in front of my Xbox or PC.
While opting for the Recon Cloud over a Backbone One or Razer Kishi gives you full-size sticks, triggers, buttons, and the versatility of a full-size controller, I think it only makes sense if you’re absolutely sure to take advantage of all its usage on PC, Xbox and Android. The game streaming world may be taking a hit with Google Stadia’s sunset, but there’s no doubt that the industry is still slowly marching in this direction — especially with dedicated game streaming handhelds like the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld and Razer Edge coming out. coming soon.
If you’re just curious about streaming games but want to stick with a controller that feels familiar, the Recon Cloud might be a great starter pack for everything. But a dedicated mobile-first experience like a Backbone One is still a better way to spend $99.99, especially if streaming from a PlayStation in your house is in the cards.
Photography by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
