MOGA Pro Android Controller Launches in the USA

"The full-size MOGA Pro builds on the tremendous success since the launch of MOGA Pocket Controller last October," said Eric Bensussen, President of PowerA. "When gamers put the MOGA Pro Controller in their hands, there's an instant familiarity. As the recognized leader with impressive developer support and a growing list of top games, we're giving mobile gamers a console-style experience, with an Android device that they already own."

We took the MOGA Pro controller for a spin back at CES 2013 in January. While the Pocket Controller was slim and light, built for tucking into your back pocket for on-the-go Android gaming, the Pro model handled like an Xbox 360 controller, only with an added retractable arm for parking an Android smartphone. It provided two console-style grips, two clickable analog thumbsticks, a D-pad, your standard four-button setup, two shoulder buttons and two triggers.

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As noted in the hands-on back in January, there was a certain amount of lag when testing the Bluetooth-based MOGA Pro with NOVA 3 and a smartphone connected to an HDTV via a MHL port (which supports video, audio and power). PowerA said it was interference stemming from all the gadgets at the show, but after purchasing the Pocket version and testing it with the Nexus 10 tablet at home, there's still noticeable lag with NOVA 3. The problem could be related to the game itself, using Bluetooth, or a combination of things related to tablet and smartphone hardware. However, so far it works great with less FPS-intense games like The Bard's Tale.

As for supported Android games, MOGA Pro and Pocket owners aren't required to hunt through Google Play's huge library of games. Like Nvidia and its Tegra Zone app, controller owners can easily find and purchase supporting apps via the MOGA Pivot app which also calibrates the controller with the connecting smartphone or tablet. Games that support MOGA controllers include Another World, Battle Bears, GTA: Vice City, Modern Combat 4, Shadowgun: DeadZone, The Conduit HD, Wild Blood, and over 70 others in a growing list of games.

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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.

4 Comments Comment from the forums

disolitude

The fact that this is the very first controller to support Windows Phone and there is absolutely no mention of this in the article is a fairly big oversight. These controllers are dime a dozen for Android and iOS, but with this one you can use it on a small but growing number of Windows phone games...including soon to come emulators.
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kinggraves

Great, I was hoping I would have a chance to play the nonexistant Android games that support a controller in public where I could look like a complete tool who strapped an XBox knockoff to his phone. I hope it works well with my emulator and the games I didn't pay for.
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ipwn3r456

I will still take the pocket version, because of the portability. It's kind of odd carrying a full-sized controller with you around, right? And plus, when you go out somewhere, you will most likely to bring your android device with you. You want something that portable to play it anywhere you want.
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itchyisvegeta

I wish there was an updated version of the Xperia Play, so I wouldn't have to look into something like this.
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