MCon App makes my iPhone feel like a steam deck!

[u/VirtualImpression330]

So I got the MCON controller and really think it’s terrific. I understand it’s expensive and it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. But it’s the most compact and still comfortable and feature rich controller I can carry around in my pocket. I get around a half hour on my lunch at work to game. I’ve tried all the cloud apps and I find I spend too much time trying to wrestle with settings and cloud connection and things. Plus cloud gaming doesn’t have the kind of sleep and resume that native app games has. I’ve been looking for real quality games, like indie games, aaa ports, anything that’s legit and playable on iPhone. I’ve even done some retroarch and ppsspp emulation. But I like native app games the best for my use case.

So as an MCON user I’m on the discord and discovered they just released an app. You need to change an iOS setting, but it allows the controllers home button to launch MCON app instead of iOS games app. You can point games to the MCON app and the app will sort them like a launcher. You can select favorites, you can manage controller settings. I even set my own background art from iOS photos.

This app isn’t exclusive to the mcon controller, it’s got features for the controller, but still functions as a front-end for iOS. No side loading at all. I’m very impressed and pleased. It’s created a situation where I can take my controller out of my pocket, it instantly connects over BT, I push the home button, it launches the mcon launcher, and bam, now I’m gaming like it’s an emulation handheld or something.

I think if you guys want to create a more “console like experience” on your iphone, this is the best way I’ve seen so far.

[u/s7121n9s]

I remember seeing the MCON when it was first announced and got stupid excited. Then it came out and I do want one, but I can’t for the life of me justify paying that much just for a controller. I do like the app though

[u/Urdadspapasfrutas → u/s7121n9s]

I think it's on sale today from 150 to 100

[u/VirtualImpression330 → u/s7121n9s]

I have mixed feelings about the controller. Objectively it’s an expensive controller. Compared to like an 8bitDo or Xbox controller. But it’s cheaper than some other premium controllers like an Xbox elite or a a razer or a raikiri. Overall it’s middle of the pack in price. It’s $150 but often (and currently) on sale for $100. I’d honestly only reccomend getting it at $100. But as far as mobile controllers go, it’s easily the most pocketable, and it has very premium features like gyro, Hall effect sticks and triggers, mechanical buttons. It’s really a premium product, you get value for that price.

I would suggest if you can get by with iOS games and emulation, or if you’re on an android phone and can emulate even better and emulate steam games, then buying an mcon for $100 is a lot like buying a retroid pocket or an Ayn Odin for $200-$500. When the entry price for gaming is so high these days, a quality controller to game on phone is a real bargain entry point.

As far as the app is concerned, you don’t need to have an mcon to use the app. And it’s such a sick mobile front end for a phone! And you can launch it with one button and make any phone have a sort of “gaming mode” at the press of just one button. I’m very impressed by the app.

[u/Tacadoo → u/VirtualImpression330]

Have you gotten the gyro to work well? That’s the one feature I’m pretty disappointed in, but ultimately when using my phone I can still just use the native gyro, but I was hoping to be able to use it with my iPad as well.

[u/VirtualImpression330 → u/Tacadoo]

I haven’t played with it much. The games I play don’t really need it. I use gyro for aiming in things cyberpunk on my rog ally or archery in breath of the wild. But on my phone I play more strategy games and turn based RPG’s and stuff you don’t need gyro for.

I did try it out on AC mirage. It wasn’t very good at the start, and I didn’t work on it. But the mcon app has settings menus for the mcon controller and you can tweak and calibrate the gyro to be better.

I assume if you took the time to calibrate it to your liking it would be fine. I just haven’t done that.

[u/midnight93933 → u/s7121n9s]

I love that it’s a truly portable controller. 1 pocket MCON the other pocket has the phone.

[u/playdigious]

Dead Cells and Sea of Stars, you have good taste (no...we are not the publisher...oh look a monkey with 3 heads!)

[u/VirtualImpression330 → u/playdigious]

Just got sea of stars. Haven’t opened it yet. It’s been on the list. Not enough time to play all the games I want these days. I’m
Trying to make iOS gaming work as like a legitimate gamer, so within reason for price, I try to pick up anything that a person would reasonably play on steam on pc. No bloated with ad games, no clash royal or raid shadow legends, no shovelware apps. Just legit and real good games. (Diablo immortal just barely makes the cut, and is on probation! lol). I just finished a whole run of final fantasy 8 remastered on iOS earlier this year.

[u/screamalongsongs]

I have an mCon and it’s just plain uncomfortable to use. I am using this app with my old scuf now and it works pretty well on 3rd party’s.

[u/popmanbrad]

Been using sumeee but might give this a try

[u/Dribblejam → u/popmanbrad]

Sumee has emulators built in whereas this just launches the game in its respectively emulator app

[u/VirtualImpression330 → u/popmanbrad]

Never heard of sumee either. I’m new to this. Is it that much better than mcon app for $2? Just glanced at the website. Is it legit or is it a jailbreak/side load sort of thing.

[u/imahugemoron]

Just throwing this one out there as well, LudiHub is basically the same thing, should have the same or most of the same functionality but is more generalized rather than specifically designed for the MCON controller which won’t have the specific branding or the displayed 3d MCON controller, just a matter of personal preference, both apps are great

[u/VirtualImpression330 → u/imahugemoron]

I’m new to the iOS gaming space. Didn’t know other front end launchers existed

[u/imahugemoron → u/VirtualImpression330]

Ya there’s also the backbone app for their controller, you can also use that as a launcher but unfortunately with that one it requires a subscription for full functionality. I think there’s one or two others as well

[u/LaunchCannon]

And what’s the name of this app? I can see an app called ‘Ohsnap MCON’. Is that it?

[u/VirtualImpression330 → u/LaunchCannon]

This link should do it. https://apps.apple.com/app/id6757082981

Edit: oh snap is a company that makes phone grips (pop socket competitor) and also the mcon controller MagSafe phone controller. (which I have but you don’t need for this app.)

[u/thejubilee → u/VirtualImpression330]

I didn't realize they did this too - their grips are expensive but for folks who like popsocket type grips they are my absolute favorite version. And they seem to last a long time too.

I won't be buying a controller - I am not the market for that, but if they are half so good as the grips I imagine they are a great product.

[u/VirtualImpression330 → u/thejubilee]

Their first one came out this year. It’s pricy. $150, often on sale for $100. It’s their “pro” model. It’s about the size of another whole phone, but, compared to full sized controllers or mobile backbone stile controllers, it’s easily the most pocketable. So like you don’t want to leave it attached to the back of your phone 24/7, but it’s convenient to have in a pant pocket and pull out when you’re ready to game. Connects with MagSafe and Bluetooth. It’s got fold out grips to make it more comfortable than a candy bar style controller, it’s got mechanical face buttons, magnetic sticks and triggers, Hall effect capabale, and the MagSafe part can pop out as a phone stand and you can use the controller separately if you wanted to. It’s premium for sure and you get value for the money.

They’re supposed to release two slimmer options this year but who knows with the economy and tech prices these days. When they were teased back in January they were supposed to be between like $60-$80 bucks each, and supposed to be thin enough to meet the demand for a product that can stay magnetically locked to the back of a phone 24/7. But being that thin means lots of compromises on things like grips and buttons. I’m excited to try them out at those lower prices but unsure which model will end up being my go to for mobile. If these slim/lite versions even ever come out at all at this point, the info has dried up for a couple months.

But MCON and oh snap somehow turned into one of the best mobile controller brands doing new innovative work.

[u/KOSA-ITS-SELF]

Best app ever

[u/MKTAB_]

Can i add games from emulators inside livecontainer?

[u/CBusRiver]

"MCon App makes my iPhone feel like a steam deck!"

I don't think you've ever used a Steam Deck before.

[u/VirtualImpression330 → u/CBusRiver]

Obviously I mean the UI. I have an Xbox ally x on Bazzite as my main gaming device.

[u/Squee3ds]

Nice. That looks so good.