HEADLINE: Razer and Gamevice Collide at CES 2020: The Ultimate Dual-Sided iPhone Controller is Here
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LAS VEGAS, NV — In a CES show dominated by 5G and foldable screens, Razer has returned to its roots to solve the biggest bottleneck in mobile gaming: the touchscreen. In an exclusive joint venture with mobile peripheral leader Gamevice, Razer has unveiled the Razer Kishi, a dual-sided game controller designed to transform the iPhone into a console-quality gaming device. HEADLINE: Razer and Gamevice Collide at CES 2020:
The announcement, debuted exclusively at CES 2020, marks a significant pivot for Razer’s mobile strategy, moving away from the "sleeve" style cases of the past toward a universal, low-latency controller that fits the modern, bezel-less smartphone.
The device is technically two separate controllers that lock together. When not attached to the phone, the left and right halves magnetically snap into a "travel core" that doubles as a battery bank (2,000 mAh total). This transforms the controller into a Bluetooth gamepad for iPad or Apple TV, albeit with reduced polling rates. This transforms the controller into a Bluetooth gamepad
The timing of the Kishi’s debut is no accident. With the rise of Apple Arcade, Xbox Game Pass streaming (Project xCloud), and high-fidelity native shooters on iOS, the iPhone is no longer just a casual gaming device. However, the hardware has lagged behind the software; touch controls often obscure the screen and lack the tactile feedback required for precision aiming.
“The Razer Kishi is the bridge between the power of the iPhone and the precision of a console,” said a Razer representative at the show floor. By wrapping the controller around the phone rather than mounting the phone on top of a controller, the center of gravity remains balanced in the user's hands, significantly reducing hand fatigue during extended play sessions. The Backbone One Competitor At CES
For years, the Achilles' heel of iOS gaming has been ergonomics. While Apple’s A-series chips deliver console-rivaling performance (think Call of Duty: Mobile and PUBG), the touch interface ruins immersion. Your thumbs cover the action, haptic feedback lacks physical travel, and marathon sessions lead to hand cramps.
Sony and Microsoft solved this with DualShock and Xbox controller support in iOS 13. However, those require bulky clips or a flat surface. Enter the "dual-sided" form factor—the Nintendo Switch model—which the Razer/Gamevice collaboration perfected at CES 2020.
At CES, whispers of the "Backbone One" (released later in 2020) were already circulating. However, Razer’s partnership with Gamevice gives them legal cover that Backbone lacked. By owning the patent rights, Gamevice could potentially block competitors from using the exact dual-sided pass-through design.