The brand new Turtle Seashore Recon Cloud is an all-in-one controller for taking part in video games on Xbox, PC, Android, and cell streaming (Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Steam Hyperlink). This controller, now out there within the US, is basically Turtle Seashore’s present Recon however with the addition of Bluetooth to wirelessly pair with telephones, tablets, and PCs.
The opposite key element giving the Recon its “cloud” designation is the easy addition of a cell phone clip within the field, which screws into the gamepad’s prime for a really sturdy mount. Whereas it gives extra flexibility than a devoted cell phone controller like a Spine One or Razer Kishi, its $99.99 worth level appears a bit of excessive if you happen to’re not continuously utilizing all of the performance it has to supply.
The Recon Cloud is available in a soft-touch matte black with titanium coloured accents or a blue and metallic orange “magma” colorway. They each look fairly sharp, with the magma reminding me of some Spider-Man fits — or the New York Mets (RIP to this season).
Since it is a Recon at coronary heart, all of the options current in that controller are nonetheless right here. That features many FPS-centric issues like Professional-Goal for rapidly decreasing the fitting stick’s sensitivity whereas sniping, two programmable rear buttons, and an unlimited array of audio controls to be used with 3.5mm wired headsets. These audio controls embrace Turtle Seashore’s Superhuman Listening to mode, which pulls out the sounds of enemy footsteps and distant gunfire in an try to offer you a leg up throughout aggressive play. Although these audio tips bought me liking the unique Recon sufficient to earn it a outstanding spot in our Xbox controller shopping for information, none of them work when utilizing the Recon Cloud through Bluetooth — limiting them to wired mode on Xbox and PC solely.
So, if you happen to can’t use all of the options of this controller in Bluetooth mode, why spend twice the worth of the non-cloud Recon? Properly, the actual star of this present is the cellphone mount. Turtle Seashore fortunately didn’t half-ass it and pack in a low-end clip-on mount with this controller. The Recon Cloud’s cellphone clip securely threads into the highest of the gamepad through a thick steel screw, and it’s bought three surrounding prongs to forestall it from twisting or turning. Additionally, the cellphone clip and mounting plate could be disconnected so you should use the clip to prop up your cellphone like a kickstand.
Not one of the Recon’s audio tips work on this controller whereas utilizing Bluetooth
I’ve mounted each my Pixel 6A and iPhone 12 Professional Max to the Recon Cloud, every with their circumstances left on, and so they felt rock stable. I did all my cell gaming on the Pixel because the Recon Cloud sadly doesn’t help iOS, however the 228-gram iPhone was a great take a look at of the clip’s would possibly. I even examined it mendacity down on my sofa, with a mounted cellphone hanging the other way up above my face, and I didn’t have a fear {that a} hefty handset would come crashing down on me.
The multi-prong attachment across the heart screw is what makes the cellphone mount so sturdy.
The mount permits entry to the USB-C port. Whereas the screws to regulate the angle are plastic, they really feel superb.
Although the Recon Cloud’s cell phone mount is excellently stable, it’s a bit of restricted on viewing / mounting angles in your cellphone. I’ve owned a PowerA MOGA gaming clip for years, and whereas it feels very flimsy by comparability, it’s bought an additional level of articulation that enables a cellphone to take a seat above the controller — nearer to its heart of gravity. I can settle for the Recon Cloud’s restricted articulation in alternate for the sturdier grip it has on my cellphone, however it additionally means the setup needs to awkwardly tip backward underneath the burden of the cellphone every time I put it down. Maybe it’s on-brand that this controller turtles once you put it down, however it’s nonetheless a bit of annoying.
I’ve dubbed this “beached turtle” mode.
After all, the Recon Cloud isn’t the one cellphone controller with a sturdy mounting system. That is the place devoted cell options just like the Spine One and Razer Kishi (V1 and V2) excel. These expandable controllers that center-mount your cellphone inside them supply a extra transportable expertise that travels higher, feels extra cohesive, and appears a lot sleeker. They’re finally a greater expertise than any controller clip system, providing one thing nearer to a Nintendo Change, although identical to a Change, their buttons and sticks are downsized for the sake of measurement. From an ergonomic standpoint, the one draw back of those clip-in controllers is that they often pressure you to take your cellphone out of its case.
Its greatest omissions are an absence of help for iOS and likewise PlayStation Distant Play
For the Recon Cloud, its greatest omissions are an absence of help for iOS and likewise PlayStation Distant Play. Certain, this controller is nice for taking part in video games wired on PC or an Xbox console identical to the common Recon — and total it really works properly for streaming video games through Xbox Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Steam Hyperlink — however I can’t use the Recon Cloud to distant play off my PlayStation 5 as a result of Sony’s limitations.
That might not be a deal-breaker to some, however for a controller that appears constructed on flexibility, it’s a limitation not simply ignored. My Spine One controller works completely for all of those self same options, together with PlayStation Distant Play because of its direct partnerships with Sony, and I can simply use different controllers when it’s time to take a seat in entrance of my Xbox or PC.
The cellphone mount could be break up and used as a kickstand in your cellphone.
Propping your cellphone up like this feels precarious at first, however it balances properly, and it’s nonetheless higher than the usual Nintendo Change kickstand.
Whereas choosing the Recon Cloud over a Spine One or Razer Kishi provides you full-size sticks, triggers, buttons, and the flexibility of a full-size controller, I believe it solely is sensible if you happen to’re completely sure to reap the benefits of all its makes use of throughout PC, Xbox, and Android. The world of sport streaming could also be taking successful with the sunsetting of Google Stadia, however there’s nonetheless little doubt that the trade remains to be slowly marching on this path — particularly with devoted sport streaming handhelds just like the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld and Razer Edge coming quickly.
If you happen to’re simply inquisitive about sport streaming however wish to persist with a controller that feels acquainted, the Recon Cloud could also be an incredible jack-of-all-trades starter pack. However a devoted mobile-first expertise like a Spine One remains to be a greater solution to spend $99.99, particularly if streaming off a PlayStation in your house is within the playing cards.
Pictures by Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
