So I noticed that Power Support, the company making The Claw, have added it to their store and you can make a purchase that goes into awaiting fulfilment. (I did, and now sit and wait for it to either ship or be canceled by them. woot!) https://www.powersupportintl.com/google-claw-for-stadia-controller/ I would call this pre-order, but hey, they didn't choose to put that word on there. Regardless, it appears from their blog post on the 13th that they are shooting for a mid December (now?) release date. https://www.powersupportintl.com/blog/claw-for-stadia-controller/ Enjoys!
Update 18DEC2019
And I woke up this morning to an email that the product shipped. I would suspect the Google Store will be updated 'soon' with stock. But for now, the maker is shipping orders!
@RyudenPhoenix and here is the perfect cable https://amzn.to/35O3eNC
Amazon link didn't work for me.
I wound up getting a little amazon basics 6" cable. I couldn't find a short one with right angles on one side and usb-c on both ends. but I will keep looking another day. for now.... stadia!
I can't seem to get this claw. I go to power support and it's backordered and I get the email for the same product on Google's store and it sold out in 12 hours. Plus, I bet it won't be back in stock until after the holidays.
$14.99 for a bit of plastic...**bleep**!
And some padding, don't forget the padding. That's worth at least $9 by itself.
But seriously, yes I could have done it cheaper.... however, I had the disposable income so I disposed it.
@Stoked4Good : Not mad, well not mad enough to buy one lol. But talk about cashing in on the users, obviously not just Apple that take their customer base for a ride lol.
I’ve no plan to start playing Stadia on a mobile device unless Boom Beach makes it over, so I’m safe from the claw for now.
Happy holidays!
Yeah, let's start a go fund for this guy.
I think it's rightly priced. $20 USD, I would be Mad Dog about it, ha...
@Stoked4Good : woohoo!! We have all the lego pieces!!
@Mad_Dog_Bravo I will send you one for Christmas it's available here is Canada:) Tell me you have a Pixel phone!?
@Northlight : Thanks dude, but all joking aside, save your dollars, it is fine. Thanks for thinking of me though, appreciated!
Happy holidays
I haven't seen mine get scuffed or scratched by it yet, but I've also been super careful putting it on and off. Not for the sake of the controller, but because this thing is rather snug of a fit on both the controller and the phone. So I find myself just being careful with it.
I can however see how it will scratch or scuff the back meshing. I have a spot on the back that is from when I first got the controller, it's a very light scuff. But all of my other controllers have some sort of scuff or scratch after time too. (Xbox, ps4, etc.) The only one that doesn't is my steam controller because it lives in a little case. (Which the Stadia controller fits in too so it might just get it instead.)
In terms of build, these things have some rubber inlay/padding on the sides that touch both the controller and the phone. The pad leaves a faint 'spot' where it touches the controller. But it wipes away easily. The only peace that would drag and scratch in my opinion is the small lips that sits on the charger and the mic sides. As you slightly flex the edges to get it on the controller, these non padded edges of the claw scrape against the controller.
Now is it comfortable? Yes, it's surprisingly nice considering it being in front of the controller buttons. But that's also a benefit I didn't think of. The glowing Stadia button is not in view when using it, so if you are like me and annoyed at distracting things, that's one less to deal with.
That all said, the claw is very sturdy, excessively strong maybe.
The packaging it came in is also designed for shelf sale, so I wouldn't be surprised if some batches don't make it to stores with other 'made for google' products.
@frozst Mine is coming in the next few days I will test it and provide some details when it's done.
I swear I replied to this but here's a TLDR; version.
No it hasn't scratched my phone or the controller, though I can see where it 'could' scratch the controller. The claw is more than just a hunk of plastic. It has some padding on the sides that touch the phones and the controller. (Padding... grip maybe?) But the edge of the piece that you get onto the controller is without.... this edge can rub against the controller when mounting. (You use a slight bit of flex to get it on the controller.) The side with the phone actually expands one two metal rods with interior retention. Less of a chance there in my opinion.
Very comfortable though, and you don't see the glowing Stadia button while playing.
@frozst Ok I tested mine for a week now and the device is well made and sturdy however it's a little difficult to install. Of you handle it carefully it's not gonna scratch your phone however taking the controller in and out is a little more difficult and the controller easier to scratch then a modern phone so caution is advised.
Also with the Pixel 3a Xl there is weight imbalance and after 30 minutes playing I feel it in my forearms when playing on my back and I am not a skinny guy :).With that said it's obviously easy to change position and find repose.
All together it's a good but not perfect 7.5/10 I would have give 8 if it was a few bucks cheaper.