The “Gun God” Controller Turns the New OnePlus Smartphone Into a Stylish Portable Gaming Console.
If you want to turn your smartphone into a portable gaming console, there are plenty of accessories available. However, most of them add full-size controllers to the sides of the phone—great for gaming, but not very portable. OnePlus seems to be trying something a little different (at least compared to most competitors) by offering a gaming case that fits in your pocket.
The “Gun God” version of the Ace 6 Ultra adds a trigger and a cooling fan.
In a post on its Weibo page, OnePlus announced a new gaming accessory for its upcoming Ace 6 Ultra smartphone. The “OnePlus Gun God Game Controller” may have a somewhat odd name, but the accessory itself is quite stylish. The controller is a flat plate with rounded edges on the sides that serve as “handles.” It houses the traditional L1 and R1 triggers, as well as internal triggers accessible with the ring finger. OnePlus claims the triggers have a 1000Hz polling rate (the rate at which the trigger reports its position to the device) and an “ultra-fast” 1.8ms response time, and that you can remap the buttons to your liking.
Perhaps the most interesting feature here is the magnetically removable suction-cup fan. Promotional images show that the fan can remain flat in the controller, but when extended, it can be opened for additional airflow. It’s unclear whether the Ace 6 Ultra is specifically designed to utilize this active cooling system, or if the fan simply dissipates heat generated by the device, but either way, it’s an intriguing design. I’m curious to see how testers will test it and determine what impact, if any, it has on performance. The controller also features a USB-C port, so you can charge your phone while it’s in the case.
Of course, the main drawback here is the lack of buttons and joysticks. Although there are four triggers, you’re still entirely dependent on your phone’s touchscreen for the rest of the controls. Having separate triggers frees up some screen space and likely makes shooters and other games that require heavy use of the triggers easier to play, but it’s unlikely to appeal to players who rely on physical buttons, D-pads, and joysticks. The advantage here is that this controller is much more compact than some controller accessories on the market. Compare the Gun God to something like the Backbone , and you’ll see the difference. The former can fit in a pocket, while the latter will barely fit anywhere but a bag.
On the other hand, there are compact solutions on the market that include these additional buttons and joysticks. Take, for example, the MCON , which folds into a sleek, pocket-sized form factor , like the PSP Go. It’s almost as portable as the Gun God, but it’s equipped with all the buttons and joysticks you could need in a portable mobile gaming console. Plus, it’s phone-independent.
Still, what OnePlus is doing is very interesting. Gun God is scheduled for release on April 28, though it’s still unclear when (or if) it will debut in the US.