Razer Officially Announces Junglecat MFi Controller, Available for Preorder
PSP Go style sliding controller available soon for $99
Razer has officially announced the previously leaked Junglecat game controller, available soon in both black and white.
The Junglecat is a Standard layout controller with a sliding design reminiscent of the infamous PSP GO. With this design, the controller slides away behind the iPhone when not in use, making for perhaps the most pocketable design of any MFi controller so far.
Just how much this pocketability impacts the quality of the gaming experience remains to be seen. On the one hand, Razer is a quality accessory company who understands gaming. On the other, I own a PSP GO, and the gaming experience on that example of the sliding form factor isn’t pretty.
On the feature front, the Junglecat is a mixed bag. As a Standard layout controller, it is missing the analog sticks and triggers common to every other upcoming MFI controller. Unlike the previously released Standard layout PowerShell MFi controller from Logitech, the Junglecat does not appear to include any form of backup battery for the iPhone. At the same time, the Razer controller will include a feature none of the other MFi controllers have: a companion app. Using this app, it should be possible to customize the sensitivity of the buttons, as well as see a list of compatible games.
Razer has opted to sell the Junglecat at the not-insignificant price of $99. While that is keeping in line with earlier MFi controller launch prices, every other controller has had their price reduced to the $69 range. I’m not sure how well the Junglecat is going to sell at $99 price against newer, more fully featured competition. Also of note, the design of the Junglecat limits it to compatibility with only the iPhone 5 and 5S. Software tricks aside, iPads, the iPhone 5C, and any future iOS devices will likely not fit within the Junglecat’s dimensions.
Questions about price and about the sliding design aside, the Razer Junglecat looks to be a really well built device, and the companion software is potentially a big deal. I’ll be looking to get my hands on one of these as soon as possible, and will hopefully have a review up before long.
Learn more about the Junglecat from Razer, or preorder yours today.