The Razer Kishi was one of the most interesting devices we saw at CES 2020 This mobile accessory can turn any smartphone into a portable gaming console reminiscent of the Nintendo Switch Now, Razer is releasing an Xbox-optimized version of the Kishi peripheral, with an Xbox controller layout and guide buttonsThere is no denying that the $100 Kishi is very expensive for a mobile controller, but it is essentially the perfect version, too

The Razer Kishi for Android (Xbox) is a simple, lightweight controller attachment that works with a variety of apps on almost any Android phone subscription, it's doubly true if you also have a subscription Thanks to two recent updates to the Xbox app for Android, the Kishi is a more valuable accessory than ever, making Razer, Android, and Xbox all the more appreciated in one fell swoop

The Razer Kishi for Android (Xbox) is one of three Kishi variants For the sake of brevity, we will refer to it simply as Kishi, but if you are so inclined, you can also get the iOS and Android versions without the Xbox attachment The device itself is a hybrid controller/phone mount, and while it looks complicated, it couldn't be simpler to use

Unfasten the two clasps on the back of the Kishi and pull back the plastic plate to extend the mount Then insert your phone (USB-C only) into one side of the Kishi and pull the other side up until it fits snugly That's it; if the Kishi works without additional configuration and takes more than 30 seconds to install, something is terribly wrong

From there, you can play any Android game that requires a controller The buttons themselves are all responsive and work as expected There are two clickable analog sticks, a D-pad (a little squishy for my taste, but otherwise not bad), and four face buttons What sets the Kishi apart from many other Android controllers is the color and placement of the A, B, X, and Y buttons, the right menu button, and even the guide button on the left, the buttons are in the official Xbox arrangement (The Xbox buttons are off to the side, not in the center This is because the center space on the shore is occupied by the handset)

Since the Razer Kishi is primarily an Xbox accessory, we tested it with the Xbox Game Pass (beta) and Xbox (beta) apps on Android The former allows you to stream Xbox Game Pass titles directly from the cloud to your Android phone, while the latter allows you to stream Xbox One content to your Android phone we used a Google Pixel 3a to test the Kishi, and it worked physically and software, it worked flawlessly

I tried an interesting experiment with the Xbox Game Pass app; Middle-earth: Shadow of War was one of the titles available for streaming I have the game as a digital download and wondered if Xbox Game Pass would allow me to sync the save data of the streamed version As it turns out, the answer was "yes" After a long initial load time and a short save sync, I was able to resume right where I left off on the Xbox and PC, slaying orcs and collecting powerful equipment

In this instance, I think Kishi accurately illustrates the beauty of the burgeoning Xbox ecosystem I have played "Shadow of War" on Xbox and I have played it on PC In each case, the software scales to the platform in terms of graphics and performance, and the controls are always the same This makes for a seamless experience when switching between three very different platforms

While it is theoretically possible to use the Xbox Game Pass (beta) app with an Android-compatible controller (including the Xbox One wireless controller itself), Kishi essentially turns your phone into a fake Nintendo Switch turning it into a fake Nintendo Switch Also, anyone who has played the Switch can attest that it is often much easier to set up a handheld than it is to deal with a mount or phone stand

My experience with the Xbox (beta) app was similar After a simple process to get my phone and Xbox to recognize each other, I was able to use Kishi to control my phone as if it were the Xbox One's small screen This time I tried "Blasphemous" It's a brutally difficult and excellent metroidvania where observing the movements of small enemies is key, and usually one wrong move and you're dead

Blasphemous was excellent, as was Shadow of War I had the TV on in the background to see what input lag existed, but the two screens worked almost in unison; with the Kishi and a USB-C Android phone, even after the spouse has taken over the TV to enjoy the latest Netflix, the Xbox games can continue to be played [Google Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now, and PS4 Remote Play are also viable options

None of my minor points about the Razer Kishi are worth much discussion on their own, but overall there was plenty to complain about Below is a short list of things that might drive you crazy about the Kishi and Xbox game streaming in general:

Still, I liked the Kishi more than I expected, even if I find it a bit tough to justify the $100 price tag If you want to experience the full console/PC/mobile Xbox ecosystem, the Kishi is a great accessory