Sphero's BB-8 Gets Even Better with the Power of The Force (Band)

CBR

By Jesse Gormley

Published Sep 2, 2016

If your smart phone's too big and bulky for stylish Jedi like you, toss it. Now you can use the Force Band to make BB-8 do your bidding.

In the big wind up to last year's premiere of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," toy company Sphero unleashed onto an unsuspecting world a little, app-enabled, remote controlled BB-8. And the internet -- and possibly the world -- was never quite the same.

Well, Sphero's back with an upgrade to the BB-8 unit, a wearable device called a "Force Band." Resembling a wrist-watch of sorts, the Force Band allows users to control their BB-8 droid through a series of hand gestures, no app required. With a wave of the hand, the user can "tell" BB-8 to move forward, return and stop.

Witness the Force Band in action in this video:

Originally announced in February, Sphero introduced the Force Band as a new way to interact with the little app-enabled droid at Toy Fair 2016. The device not only controls the BB-8 unit, but it also lets the user know, via voice prompts, if there are any Holocrons in the area, as well as emitting a series of blaster and lightsaber sound effects.

If you already own a BB-8, fear not. The Force Band will be sold both separately and as part of a BB-8 "special edition" set that features not only the Force Band, but a "battle damaged" BB-8, as well. The Force band is expected to retail for $79, with the special edition bundle retailing for $199. Both units will be available for purchase September 30.