Before I review the Steam Frame, I feel it's only fair that I give you some important context. I'm a big supporter of VR gaming; I'm an enthusiast of the technology that's used for it, and I've been waiting for the arrival of the Steam Frame for so long now that I find it difficult to believe it's actually on my face at times. In my role as a Hardware Editor here at GamesRadar+, keeping tabs on the best VR headsets is one of my absolute joys.

I don't say all of that to immediately undermine how useful this review will be, but because I feel it's important for you to know where I stand. It feels like when it comes to VR, you're on one of two sides as a gamer these days. You either read every headline about it with a patronising shake of the head, thinking, "When will this die already?", or you're like me, and you appreciate that this is a different genre of gaming that just hasn't found its own sustainable way to thrive yet. It'll never be truly mainstream in my opinion, but companies like Valve are trying to make it work in its own niche way, and I want them to succeed. That doesn't mean I'm going to give this headset a pass where I shouldn't, just that I'm not going to write it off for the tiniest flaw like others might.

Unfortunately, the Steam Frame arrives in a market that seems to be collapsing in on itself. Meta has finally yielded that its affordable Quest 3 headsets aren't sustainable; it's closed down its gaming studios, laid off large swathes of its VR workforce, and is course-correcting to smart glasses. Meanwhile, PlayStation has just sold all of its VR patents to Meta, signalling Sony's departure from the market. And pretty much every other brand seems to be chasing the Apple Vision Pro's high-end, unaffordable aura. Valve feels like one of the only companies left actually trying to harness this technology for the benefit of gamers, but due to the RAM and storage crisis, it's had to price it above $1,000/£800. Does the Frame do enough to succeed in these trying times? Let's find out.

Design

Don't expect a straight-shooting sequel to the Valve Index here. Where that somewhat rigid and bulky headset made a lossless connection to your gaming PC the priority, the Steam Frame is lightweight, portable, and is all about freeing you from cables. In fact, there isn't a way to wire this headset up to your PC, so if lossless connections were what you were hoping for, look elsewhere at something like the Pimax Dream Air.

In my opinion, this is the first major weakness of the Frame. I don't see a reason why the Frame couldn't have put a DisplayPort connection somewhere on the headset for those PC gamers who want that sort of experience. You don't need to make the displays any more high-end, but the option for a wired connection to a GPU would have given this thing more scope.

Without it, the Steam Frame is a standalone device that comes with a wireless dongle that creates a dedicated path in your home network for streaming games from your PC. Think of SteamLink from a Quest 3 or other third-party device, but turned up to Super Sayain 2.

It can't be denied that the Steam Frame looks really quite high-end. It's got a highly reflective face that trounces the design of the Meta Quest 3 and 3S in the class department. Then, there are classic Valve design flavours with graphite touches and a dotty, textured facial interface cushion.

The headband isn't fixed like it is on Meta's headsets either, and tightens to your face via two clever sliders that push and pull the elasticated material of the band. The headset as a whole is very, very lightweight at only 440g. Maybe that's thanks to clever trickery of putting the battery on the back of the headstrap to distribute that weight well, but overall, it's a very easy headset to wear for extended periods of time. Meta might be gunning for a full glasses design at the moment, but a headset this lightweight will be more secure on your face if you're playing VR games that involve a lot of head movement. Both for wearing and carrying around in a bag of some sort, this is one of Steam Frame's big design wins.

There's yet more convenience baked into this device. The facial interface is magnetic and clicks on and off with absolute ease - sometimes too much ease, but I'm choosing to respect the innovation here. Mostly, because the Quest devices have plastic clips you always feel are snapping something when you try to remove their interface. Everything about the Frame's design is really easy to click on and off if you need, and it all just feels to me like it's screaming out for third-party brands to create accessories for it to really bring it to the next level. I hope that happens.

A lightweight design and some very plush cushioning add up to a headset that's super comfortable to wear.

What isn't great design is that the inside of the headset (the bit you put your face into) is quite narrow. Valve includes a glasses spacer that allows a little more room for your specs if you need them, but testing both of my sets of glasses frames, which have larger lenses but certainly aren't close to being bulky by today's fashions, I can't fit them and my face in the headset.

It's a painful irony, but I can't get my frames inside the Frame. This is not a headset I'd recommend if you have a strong prescription you can't see detail without. Thankfully, I've been just fine wearing the headset and using it extensively without glasses, but prescription lenses might be the best best for you.

On the outside of the headset you'll find a couple of handy controls. First up, there's an IPD adjustment scroller which you can lock into a set position. Then, there's a power button, an interaction button in case your controllers run out of battery, and then a volume up and down key. Up on top, you'll find a vent to exhaust some of the internal heat. I'm not sure what kind of airflow trickery is going on, but sometimes I feel a flow of air hitting my face when I'm wearing the headset - I don't know if it's intentional, ambient air getting in from the outside, or I'm imagining things, but the Frame feels cooler on the face than any other VR headset I've tested.

That's not the entire Steam Frame package, however, because there are some accessories sold separately that are important to evaluate because they somewhat alter its design. I think it's a sin these aren't included in the price of the inflated and much delayed Steam Frame, especially given the accessory pack is what you need to fork out extra for if you want a power adapter.

That's right, the charging cable you'd use to plug this thing into the wall is not included in your cost of entry - utterly ludicrous for any piece of technology in 2026, but even worse when you consider the battery life issues this one has.

The accessory pack includes an extended light blocker for folks with differently sized noses, some hand wraps for the controllers to secure them with a bit more insurance, and a top band for the headstrap. On top of the power adapter, I really struggle to see why this should warrant an additional cost of $59/£59.

Features

I think the natural first point of comparison for the Steam Frame is Meta's Quest 3 and 3S visors. All three are standalone devices that can run games natively, but when it comes to gaming, a lot of emphasis for all of them has been put on streaming from a PC or laptop.

Now, all three of these headsets use a Snapdragon ARM processor, but Valve's is newer and more powerful. Moreover, Frame has a bit more freedom thanks to a compatibility layer that can, in theory, let it run any x86 Windows or Linux game. The Quest 3 ecosystem is locked to Meta's Horizon OS, whereas Steam Frame runs via SteamOS with the same sort of Linux freedoms as any other device harnessing that platform.

Like the Pico 4 Ultra, the Steam Frame also features more RAM than the Quest 3, and a larger ceiling on storage options. Its dual LCD displays have a higher resolution and match the Quest's refresh rate options. Both the Quest 3 and Steam Frame go toe-to-toe with 110-degree FOVs and Pancake lenses, but Valve has tried to push the envelope by including eye-tracking and foveated streaming - a version of foveated rendering tilted toward streaming the detail that you're looking directly at in clearer fidelity.

All in all, the features of these headsets are pretty similar - the reason the spec table above will draw a lot of attention is because of how much the prices differ.

It's been known for a while that Meta has been selling the Quest headsets at a loss, and Reality Labs just isn't pulling in profit from its affordable pricing. Valve was always going to charge more than Meta here, but because of the global RAM shortages and massive price inflation on a slew of technology, that's likely come back to bite the Steam Frame more than was ever intended.

The Quest 3 now sits at $599, but the Steam Frame's most affordable configuration costs $1,049 / £889. If you opt for the 1TB model, you're talking $1,089 / £1,299, and although you get Half-Life: Alyx included in all of those costs, it's a dramatically more substantial price tag than the mainstream option that's been on the shelves for three years.

That's where the Steam Frame goes beyond the spec tables and more into user philosophy. The Quest devices were designed with gaming in mind, but their main goal was to get mixed-reality hardware on the faces of as many social media users as possible as Meta planned to take over the internet with its Metaverse. Its passthrough cameras are full color and otherwise unmatched in the industry - they're still the only headsets I've worn where you can read text on other screens.

Valve's monochrome passthrough cameras don't live up to that, and that's because mixed-reality is so far from the goal of the Steam Frame. Its aim as a bit of hardware is, in my eyes, to provide an alternative to a Steam Deck for those who don't like handheld play or who also want access to VR games. I wouldn't recommend buying a Steam Deck or Steam Frame as your sole platform for gaming if this is your favorite hobby, only because their processors aren't the strongest - you'd be limiting the types of games you'd have access to.

Expensive as they are, the Steam Deck and Steam Frame feel like Valve's second platform offerings for people who want to take their library of PC games on the go, or who want to experience them in a different way. This is also true of the Steam Machine, which isn't going to give you a desktop experience, but will let you play less demanding titles in a more comfortable environment than at a desk. The Steam Frame has the capability to play plenty of non-VR games, as I'll come onto shortly.

In essence, the Steam Frame's features outmatch the Quest 3 in only a few areas. If that isn't enough to justify the massive price disparity between the two products, maybe think about how you'd use either device. For PC gamers with a big Steam library who want to be able to run some games natively on the go, the Steam Frame actually compares directly to the price of the current generation of handheld PCs.

Controllers

What must be applauded is that Valve has taken a revolutionary approach to VR controller design. Gone is the annoyance of having two face buttons on each hand now - these are honestly pointless because they never end up being used by most VR games, and makes VR controllers in general feel totally foreign to most gamers who have held a normal gamepad before.

On the Steam Frame's controllers, Valve has taken the sensible decision to cut a regular controller in half. There are four face buttons on the right controller, a D-pad on the left, and one TMR thumbstick for each hand. There's also still a grip button and trigger on each, but a bumper button that means translating the headset to something that can play flat-screen games is a very easy and intuitive experience.

Before you have concerns, Steam's VR Input will automatically detect disparities for the games you play if there are any, and the D-pad acts as buttons for the VR games that need left-hand functions. It all works just fine, and I, for one, prefer the familiarity of this layout over the other VR controllers I've tried.

I would argue that what doesn't work so well is that the grip buttons don't feel quite as robust as the ones on Meta's VR controllers, and they have an additional click at the end of their actuation. This helps navigate menus by activating pointer mode, but it causes a bit of confusion when you're in the middle of a VR game. Do you need to hear this click for the button press to register? Does it have an additional function when you're in a game? Any communication on that when you're setting up a new game or initialising the headset would be really appreciated. The menus for the controllers don't live up to the ones for the Steam Controller, and I think those would be really useful things to have on Frame.

Other than that, I don't have many complaints about the Steam Frame controllers. They give a decent amount of feedback; they're comfortable, well-weighted, and, despite not having tracking rings, only suffer the occasional placement glitch when I'm in a game. Overall, these are the best VR controllers I think I've used.

Performance

There are two parts of the Steam Frame's gaming performance to review here. Firstly, as a VR headset, and secondly, as an on-the-go option for flat-screen games.

I'll say that the biggest issue facing either is the battery life, which has received improvements throughout my testing period, but is still pretty lacklustre. I ran Big Walk natively on it, and the headset lasted an hour before telling me I needed to plug in or go away. With an improved firmware patch and some game streaming as opposed to using native processing power, I've pushed that further toward 90 minutes, but it's still not great for a headset that makes freedom from cables such a pillar of its design.

For context, the Quest 3's battery life has always been considered dire, and even it can last around two hours.

As a standalone VR headset, the Steam Frame can run your VR games just fine, but this isn't the experience I'd recommend to get the most out of the headset. It'll run the VR games in your Steam library, with even the most demanding ones like Half-Life: Alyx now having improvements for eye-tracking, performance, and generally just running natively on an ARM processor. Similarly to Blade & Sorcery and Walkabout Mini Golf, these games run fine and are certainly playable, but they're not quite as polished yet as I'd want them to be for this kind of price. Meta's native games, even with a less powerful processor, run really well, and I've never had an issue with performance when I'm playing something on the Quest store, probably because games are running on a dedicated version for HorizonOS. Steam Frame doesn't have that luxury, and you can tell it's working harder to make it all happen.

I'm talking about more jaggy lines, strange visual noise in the backgrounds of games, motion where there shouldn't be, even when you play with the appropriate motion smoothing and refresh rate settings. Like I say, these games will run, and you can play them just fine, but you'll likely know from looking at them that they're running natively.

The situation changes when you stream from a gaming PC, as detail suddenly sees a marked improvement, any visual noise is gone, and actually, VR games stream from a PC far better than they do to a Quest 3 using Steam Link.

One of the reasons for that is the wireless dongle creating a streamlined connection, but the other is that with the Steam Frame you have access to a whole menu of visual and graphical settings that you won't see on Steam Link on a Quest device. There's a whole Remote Settings menu that doesn't exist on Quest 3's Steam Link interface, and it allows you to more finely tune the graphics and the way you want to run your PC game on your headset.

Moreover, Foveated Streaming really kicks into play here, and it does an excellent job of applying more detail to the thing you're actually focusing on. While testing Blade & Sorcery and Walkabout Mini Golf directly streamed to both the Quest 3 and Steam Frame, I found I was having much smoother, higher-detail sessions on the Frame, and everything about the hardware was enhancing my time on Valve's headset - especially the controllers. It's a much better VR headset for gaming than Meta's when you use it in this way.

That said, the Quest 3 still has a win to its name. Its LCD displays have slightly more exciting colors, with scenes in games like Walkabout Mini Golf and Tiny Flock popping and really giving them a wow factor. On the other hand, details are conveyed more accurately on the Frame as the resolution is higher, and I noticed Valve's pancake lenses giving me a wider area of focus, so it's a real toss-up. If Valve would allow us to play around with contrast, saturation, and other image settings, it could likely match Meta on colors.

Similarly, there's no avoiding the fact that the Quest 3's speakers are far superior. The bass quality they have just isn't present on the Steam Frame, where music and sounds are a bit more treble-heavy and less optimised. Valve's speakers still do the trick, but I expect Valve Index owners will be pining for a headstrap design with that headset's audio prowess.

Then, there's the flat-screen side of things. Thanks to really easy Bluetooth settings, you can pair up one of the best PC controllers to the Steam Frame and play with no latency in probably under a minute. You can use the included VR controllers too, but I have noticed a bit of latency from them when streaming flat-screen games from a PC.

What games you can run will be a continual game of trial and error for the forseeable. I've managed to play Big Walk, Hades, Sable, Towerfall Ascension, and Eastward natively on the Frame, and they run seamlessly. In that pile, Hades is the only one with official "great on Frame" accreditation, so there's a solid, undiscovered stockpile of games that will run well on the headset.

I think the key is not expecting too much from this thing. In the same way you wouldn't go to a Steam Deck to play brand new, technically demanding titles like Control Resonant, don't expect them to run well on a device like this. For context, I tried to play Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, and while it ran in 1080p, it was in slow motion because its frame rate was so low. There are games that will work, games that won't work, and games that will improve with time, just as the entire Steam Deck library has over the years.

Don't forget there's also the ability to stream flatscreen games too, and this works well for the most part. Interestingly, I've had mixed results with games that my PC is using upscaling for. In Hunt: Showdown, Control Resonant, and Crimson Desert, I think the combination of flat-screen games being locked to 60fps when they're streamed to the Frame, and the latency with DLSS, the connection to the headset, and then your controller, is a bit of a recipe for disaster.

I'd hope to see this patched out, but right now it means that any demanding game is harder to rate as playable, and I'm working with an RTX 5080 machine and a really strong internet connection. Personally, I'd be surprised if we didn't see more improvements to this with updates to DLSS and the Steam Frame's firmware. Thankfully, a few games like Dishonored streamed seamlessly.

Should you buy the Steam Frame?

As a fan of VR, I have no trouble recommending the Steam Frame. One of its biggest problems is poor battery life, and that's already seen improvements through updates, which shows that this device is only on the up and up from here. Running VR games natively is more than playable, and streaming them from a more capable PC gives as close to a lossless level of detail as I've found with a wireless VR headset. The controllers especially deserve credit, and the fact that it's all running within Steam makes it a perfect match for PC gamers who have built their gaming library in that ecosystem.

The Steam Frame isn't the most affordable VR device out there, but it still lands comfortably in the mid-range of the market. For its convenience, comfort, and strong design, it's pushing for that best overall spot on our buying guide. I wish there was an option for wired play somewhere, because that could really bolster it further.

However, the fact that the Frame can also act like a Steam Deck you wear on your face gives this thing a whole new lease of life. I hope to see plenty of support from Valve and game developers on the software side to ensure there's plenty to play on it.

Overall, the Steam Frame might not be the VR salvation I was hoping it would be, but it's a great device that shows us there's still a point to prove when it comes to this genre of gaming.

How I tested the Steam Frame

I put the Steam Frame to work in my gaming setup for a number of weeks before this review. I've used it for VR gaming, portable gaming, and at-home gaming plenty in that time, testing its various use cases and features. I've tested VR and flat-screen games both running natively and streamed from various PCs to check how they run. I've also performed like-for-like tests with the Meta Quest 3 to compare how both headsets feel and appear from a user standpoint.

For more on our testing methods, take a look at the GamesRadar+ hardware policy.

To see the sorts of add-ons I hope you can get for the Steam Frame someday, check out the best Meta Quest accessories and the best early Black Friday Meta Quest deals.

Blaze's latest cartridge-running machine, the Evercade Nexus, officially launches today. It's a retro handheld that's been years in the making, building on the company's formula that made the OG portable, the Super Pocket, and even arcade cabinets like the Evercade Alpha, which absolutely won't fit in your pocket. That might sound like a gadget that brings nothing new to the table, but actually, it could become a precedent for keeping physical gaming alive.

Those of you who want to cut to the retro console chase can grab the Evercade Nexus for $199.99 at Amazon. My one-liner as someone who's spent hours with the handheld so far is that it's a fantastic offline solution for playing well over 700 games, and the fact that it comes with both Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie is a selling point in its own right.

If I know my readers, though, you'll want to know exactly what the deal with the Evercade Nexus is and whether it holds up against the many Linux and Android alternatives out there. It might surprise you to hear that the latter is no - it doesn't - but that's because the latter is a trick question that distracts from the fact that this is a fully fledged console platform that runs its own library of physical cartridges, including native ports, and has zero reliance on the internet in the big 2026, and that's worth supporting.

I could easily split the players who are most likely to vibe with the Evercade Nexus into three camps. The first is simply those of you who love old games but don't actually own any original copies. Let's just say you're looking for a rundown on how to play N64 games today on something like a Retroid Pocket 5; you're going to, at the very least, need to back up your own games and turn them into ROMs that emulators can use, and let's be real, not many of you will do that.

That's where Blaze's handheld ecosystem comes into play, as rather than risking ending up sailing the seas of video game piracy, you'll be able to buy a whole library of Evercade cartridges for the Nexus and legally own the games within forever. No, publishers won't be able to do a Sony and come take them away from you due to weird licensing agreements you didn't sign up to when parting with your cash, and while you'd traditionally have to buy second-hand classics to achieve that, these brand-new carts make the process simpler.

The second camp that will be drawn to the Nexus, or in fact the Evercade family as a whole, is collectors. Each release comes with a numbered clamshell case containing a full-color manual, meaning you'll be able to slowly build a collection that isn't just codes in a box or a bunch of tat linked to a certain open-world sandbox crime caper. I know not everyone cares for things cluttering their house, so you'll really need to be a shelf filler to see the appeal in this one, but I feel like more players than ever can vibe with owning things that are real and not just data hanging out on a hard drive or in the cloud.

Of course, there are also those of you who, for the moment, just want a neat way to revisit Banjo-Kazooie, and that's absolutely valid. Is the Evercade Nexus the absolute best handheld to dive back into the collectathon on? From a performance standpoint, absolutely, as it's good to go at 60fps, 840 x 512 without any mods or tweaks. Plus, this is a ground-up duo of ports specifically for the handheld, so you'll be able to play using the Nexus' shiny new dual thumbstick setup and embrace modern controls.

I should note that it's my job as a hardware tester and tinkerer to be objective with my reviews, so there are some sore points with the Nexus to consider. The first ties back to its price tag, as while it comes in at $200, it skips some features you'd normally get at that price range, like an AMOLED screen and hall-effect thumbsticks for keeping drift at bay. Its core custom operating system could be doing with a touch-up too, since it's currently missing basics like a sleep function, but Blaze says a patch will resolve that soon.

Here's the thing, though: other handheld makers aren't trying to build an entire modern physical ecosystem from scratch. Sure, I might be salty about the fact that the Nexus also lacks HDMI output, or the fact that it doesn't dive too deep into detailed CRT scanlines or try to include boons like save states. However, the latest handheld is still a milestone in the platform's evolution, venturing boldly into 3D gaming and providing a fully licensed way to play classics that don't have the caveat of subscriptions or downloads attached.

I am well aware that for many of you proper retro enthusiasts with existing collections, the better option for $200 is an Android or Linux portable that can run your library. But the Evercade Nexus gets a lot right while holding onto the conquest of ensuring physical gaming is here to stay, and if you really care about resisting the wider industry's push for an all-digital future, you can indeed put your money where your mouth is while also running around as a bear with a bird in his backpack.

Swing by the best retro controllers if you're seeking a gamepad that'll add wireless and more to your OG consoles.

8BitDo has joined forces with Microsoft to produce a gaming keyboard and mouse in full Gears of War: E-Day garb. The red and black designs of its R8 gaming mouse and Retro Mechanical Keyboard (though not so retro in this iteration) are both officially licensed, sloshing that blood-red aesthetic all over your desk. That's perfect for PC Xbox players, especially considering analysts have recently suggested an Xbox launch hasn't helped the franchise.

The R8 mouse is a little more refined in its aesthetic, whereas the TKL gaming keyboard goes all out with translucent keycaps, a Gears logo banner up top, and various juicy blood spatters. You're also getting two extra giant macro buttons in the box as well, kitted out with Crimson Omen and Locust Horde emblems.

Both the keyboard and mouse are now available for $119.99 / $59.99 respectively at Amazon after a lengthy pre-order period, with shipping currently set for November 4. It's unclear why these gadgets are launching nearly a month after Gears of War: E-Day officially hit the shelves.

It's those macro buttons I'm most interested in.

I've had the original NES-styled 8BitDo retro mechanical keyboard on and off my desk for a few years now, and it's always these giant clackers that keep me coming back. Think of these as huge slappable inputs that can be a little tricky to hit during faster moments but still remain incredibly satisfying.

Personally, I like the keep them as map and quest log shortcuts in most of my games. It's a luxury, but saving time hopping between different menu options while also being able to whack a giant button just hits different.

Elsewhere, though, both the 8BitDo retro keyboard and mouse still offer solid value for money from a technical standpoint. Wireless gaming tech usually carries a hefty premium and, while you're spending more here than you would a lesser known Amazon brand, 8BitDo steers its tech well clear of the kinds of rates we often see from Razer, Corsair, and Logitech.

It's no surprise 8BitDo got the official go-ahead from Microsoft for this one either. The brand has recently collaborated with Xbox on its 25th Anniversary kit, producing a separate translucent green colorway of its retro keyboard and R8 gaming mouse as well as a number of gamepads and controller accessories to boot.

• Xbox X25 Edition keyboard: $119.99 at Amazon
• Xbox X25 R8 mouse: $59.99 at Amazon

We're also rounding up all the best Xbox gifts for this holiday season, as well as the best Xbox Series X accessories and the best Xbox Series X controllers for more kit.

The Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless doesn't want to be the fastest on the battlefield or the most nimble in the hand. In a market dominated by rodents trying to convince you you'll climb leaderboards faster with their premium tech, that's a breath of fresh air.

In an almost nostalgic return to the thumb-rest design, the brand's latest pointer pairs a large palm-focused form factor with its own virtual Stream Deck button to form a home for the more casual player still looking for quality under the fingertips.

Its $129.99 / £119.99 price point might be a sticking point, though. We're only $30 off the price of some of the most expensive gaming mice on the market here, and yet the Nightsword V2 has a few missteps to answer for.

Sometimes awkward button positioning, an underwhelming scroll wheel, and hollow-feeling main clicks are making that upper mid-range price feel a little squeaky in today's market. Still, Corsair's secret weapon isn't FPS mastery, it's the ability to draw on Elgato's wealth of Stream Deck macros and plugins for more unique functionality than you'll find in many of the best gaming mouse models.

Speedsters can click away now, you're much better off with a Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro or one of Logitech's ambidextrous pill Superlight models. Anyone looking for a comfortable palm grip with a wealth of additional controls, read on.

Design

It's been a good few years since we had our hands on the Corsair Nightsword RGB, and the rodent's predecessor seems to have grown up during that time.

The shape itself has been smoothed out, with a less aggressive middle hump and a longer taper towards the rear. It's a form factor that begs for a palm grip - despite naturally favoring a claw hold, I found myself instead opting for a more relaxed position on this wide, fairly flat base. It's the extension of that tail that really stands out the most, though. While the previous generation (like most gaming mice I've had my hands on over the years) features a drop-off as it nears the base of the palm, the Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless extends its plastic - sitting almost flush with the desk or mouse pad underneath.

That nestles neatly into the bottom of the hand, making for excellent comfort in a palm grip but less control for claw users. Without that wiggle room to the rear, I was unable to finely tune my aim as I often rely on smaller tweaks in direction via my thumb and pinky.

Gone too is the textured surface running along the main body of the mouse, though a similar design still sits along the thumb rest. In its place, a soft matte finish keeps palm temperatures cooler under pressure though I've already noticed this material picking up a decent amount of shine. It clings to oil like a government and isn't particularly forgiving about fingerprints either.

Still, the actual construction is fairly solid - as you'd expect from a $100+ gaming mouse. There's a little creaking when pushing the sides of the device together but the top and bottom panels hold out well with no flex. You won't hear any internal rattles here either.

The whole thing weighs 89g. If you're coming to the Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless from a more FPS-oriented background that might sound like a rough deal. While mouse brands have been tunnelling to the bottom of the weight goldmine for a few years now, larger devices focusing more on comfort and a wide range of controls have been less focused on this aspect.

That means 89g is actually pretty light in the grand scheme of this market. The newly released Razer Basilisk V4 Pro targets a similar design with a 100g form factor and the Logitech G502 X Plus comes in at 106g. Corsair has, however, removed the adjustable weights that came with its predecessor.

Underneath all that you've got a set of standard PTFE skates. These are certainly serviceable, but they're not the smoothest on the market. They drag compared to the PTFE feet of the Razer Basilisk V4 Pro I've been testing alongside, with greater resistance behind every pan and zip.

Features

The main draw stealing the Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless's headlines is that dedicated virtual Stream Deck button. You'll need to download Elgato's Stream Deck software to get it all configured (and straight out the box it'll be pushing you towards the website every time you accidentally nudge the clicker), but once there it opens the Nightsword up to a massive amount of customization.

That's going to appeal to streamers mostly, with a huge supply of tools to take advantage of while live. However, anyone doubling up their setup between work and play will still find a roster of productivity uses for this floating Stream Deck. Corsair's ownership of Elgato means this one's a Nightword V2 Wireless exclusive.

Elsewhere, you've got eleven buttons to play with in total. The two main clackers use speedier optical tech rather than the omron mechanical snappers of yore, while the scroll wheel offers not just standard click function but also side-to-side tilt buttons as well. The left side of the Nightsword is home to the aforementioned Stream Deck button, as well as two regular side clackers, with two additional inputs running alongside the left main click.

You'll be running either Web Hub or iCue to customize these inputs, though I'd recommend sticking to the browser-based software. I've said it before and I'll say it again, iCue is my least favorite customization tool. A program that hides its download button behind a subscription is pretty heavily signaling what its user experience is going to be like. That said, you will still need to keep the Stream Deck app on your PC to get the full wash of Elgato features.

With both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth you're covered for versatile wireless connections here, with an 8,000Hz polling rate to boot. This isn't a must-have feature - especially not for the playstyle this gaming mouse is designed for. Considering the size and shape of the mouse it's been placed in it's likely an unnecessary cost factored into the final price.

Performance

Ultimately, the Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless provides a zippy, responsive experience with enough tracking speed to keep up with faster movements and the comfort to withstand longer sessions. I'm just disappointed that it falls at a few more sensory hurdles.

The main clicks feel smooth and actuate precisely, but have a hollow affect that makes them feel a little looser than tighter switches you'll find elsewhere. Their quiet sound profile is going to come in handy if you're doubling up for productivity in an office setting, but there isn't the snap you'd expect from a $100+ device here.

Similarly, the scroll wheel feels a little... limp, for lack of a better word. Softer notches make individual movements feel less precise than alternative models. While those steps are still firmly felt in use (swapping between weapons in Doom: The Dark Ages remains smooth and accurate), they don't feel as solidly reliable as the tactile clacks of the Razer Basilisk line. They don't let me down too often, but I still can't fully trust them.

Thankfully, side buttons are perfectly tightened with just the right amount of tension for each press. While the position of the Stream Deck button can get in the way of some faster forward motion, causing unwanted inputs, I came to appreciate the slightly cramped cluster of left controls. Positioning my thumb right in the center meant I could still maintain full control of the main body and sensor, but also roll my finger across all three inputs for a much faster interaction. While other rodents often require me to physically pick up and move my thumb to hit these side clackers, this is a particularly frictionless design.

It also packs a pretty sturdy battery life, beating others in its price class with up to 170 hours of juice on a 2.4GHz connection. Granted, that's with RGB switched off and the polling rate set to 1,000Hz - but those are easily achievable sacrifices. In testing, I never once had to plug this bad boy in - and I've been using it non-stop for work and play over two weeks.

Should you buy the Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless?

The Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless isn't the most expensive mouse on the market, but it's far from the cheapest. Softer main clicks, a slightly wimpy scroller, and grittier skates are all drawbacks I wouldn't expect to see at this price point. If you're not fussed about that Stream Deck functionality, I'd recommend waiting for something like the Razer BlackShark V4 Pro to go on sale, or holding out for a discount on the older Logitech G502 X Plus or Razer Basilisk V3 Pro.

Anyone looking for a speedster controlled with a fingertip grip will be looking at more compact, lighter models anyway.

It's that Stream Deck functionality that's going to save the day for the Nightsword V2 Wireless in some use-cases, though. If you're a productivity wizard or a macro-heavy player / streamer, the additional customization options here are worth serious consideration. Whether or not Corsair's latest rodent is right for you depends on how often, and how deeply, you'll be making use of that specific ecosystem. If a lot, it's a no-brainer. If you're on the fence, there are better value options out there.

How I tested the Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless

I used the Corsair Nightsword V2 Wireless as my daily driver for both work and evening gaming for a period of two weeks, with an additional week spent testing alongside the Razer Basilisk V4 Pro. The rodent was put through its paces in Doom: The Dark Ages as well as a few mouse and keyboard runs of Control: Resonant and plenty of Planet Coaster 2 action. I also performed more stringent tests in CS2 alongside Razer's iteration. For more information on how we test gaming mice, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

We're also rounding up the best wireless gaming mouse models and the best gaming keyboards for more options.

PlayStation has announced a new range of DualSense colorways and PS5 console faceplates, and if you've been enjoying the recent trend of transparent gaming tech, you're in luck. The Prism collection gives you the chance to stylize your setup with some colorful translucence in your PS5 controller or console aesthetic in either black, red, or green.

This niche of gaming hardware has been seeing a resurgence of late as Xbox revived it to celebrate the anniversary of the original Microsoft console. That's led to quite a few third-party Xbox controllers coming out with new retro-styled aesthetics to join the celebrations, but PS5 players have been feeling left out until now.

The brand's product designers are even alluding to the 90s-led inspiration:

"We know how much our fans have been looking forward to the return of transparent controllers," said Leo Cardoso from PlayStation's Color, Material, and Finish design team. "We wanted to bring back the iconic see-through trend of the late ’90s in a fresh, modern way that complements the PS5’s industrial design.”

Sony will launch pre-orders for the new color range on November 10, 2026, with the actual products shipping for a release date of February 4, 2027. They'll set you back the same as other limited edition DualSense and faceplates: $84.99 / £74.99 and $74.99 / £64.99, respectively.

The new console covers and DualSenses can be had in their official color names, Graphite Gray, Flare Orange, and Emerald Green.

The faceplates for the console aren't without a lovely touch of irony, since the transparent panelling ends when you get halfway down the machine. That means the Blu-ray drive, should you have one, will be covered by solid paneling and not visible from the outside. Okay, no one wants to look at the disc drive of a console, but pretty funny considering the dominating topic of conversation surrounding this brand since the start of summer has been its decision to kill physical media on its platforms.

Whether this is intentional or not, it is pretty funny to observe, particularly since PlayStation's socials have been flooded with "no disc no buy" comments for months. As you might expect, the PlayStation Blog post that announced the news makes no mention of it, with all of the promotional material being for the digital version of the console. It's certainly ironic considering physical media was a pretty fundamental part of the 90s tech the Prism collection is harkening back to.

"The high-gloss clear finish extends across the back of the controller, offering a look at the technology that powers the DualSense controller while maintaining a sleek, monochromatic look", says Satoshi Aoyagi, also of the design team at PlayStation.

"The metallic finish on the middle cover brings the contrasting surfaces together for a premium appearance that feels consistent with the PS5 generation."

For more, take a gander at some of the best PC controllers, the best TMR controllers, and the best Switch 2 controllers.

As we're now less than a month out from the launch of GTA 6, you may have noticed that a number of controller brands are selling you peripherals that are adorned with palm trees and quietly purple colorways. You might also notice that not many of these PS5 controllers and Xbox controllers will officially state anything about Grand Theft Auto. The second they do, they'll have Rockstar knocking on the door asking for licensing fees.

Thankfully, it's easy to make something look Vice City-inspired without actually approaching the GTA studio for a partnership - a purple sunset and palm trees are in the public domain.

I have to admit though, of all the subtle GTA 6 controller designs I've seen, GameSir might have made the best ones yet. It's launching two new versions of the GameSir G7 Pro, and both look worth buying even if GTA wasn't launching in the next 30 days. First of all, there's the Sunset Boulevard (the street, not the musical) Edition, which features a brighter pink face. Then the Ocean Breeze Edition gives off a lighter, brushed steel kind of vibe.

What I love about these controllers is that they cost the same as any other rendition of the GameSir G7 Pro, despite having a metallic, pearlescent finish to them that looks more premium than the other colorways. Not to mention, the entire games industry is trying to squeeze every last penny out of GTA 6's release, so it's nice to see a brand like this not price-gouging.

Naturally, these are going to be controllers for the Xbox players among us, until such times as Rockstar launches GTA 6 on PC as well as consoles. The G7 Pro is one of the most popular controllers on the market right now for good reason, but it isn't compatible with PS5, and GameSir, as a brand, is yet to make its move over to the officially licensed world of Sony.

To give you a reminder, the G7 Pro has earned its reputation with fans and critics by offering a really impressive feature list at a sub-$100 price. It has TMR sticks, wireless capability, a charging stand, two back buttons, and two additional bumpers, as well as excellent-feeling microswitch buttons that feel nice and responsive. There's solid versatility to be had in multiplayer and singleplayer games, so it's one of the pound-for-pounders on the controller shelves right now.

Both new versions of the controller are available for pre-order via GameSir's website now, and both will ship in November 2026, although there isn't a more specific date for when it will arrive on your doorstep. I would imagine the goal for this type of product will be to make it readily available in time for the game's launch on November 19, but just be prepared for it to be later than that since this is a new release and GameSir isn't being very specific.

If you're hunting for a new controller on another platform, check out the best TMR controllers, the best PC controllers, and the best Switch 2 controllers.

GTA 6 was always expected to be a chonky download, but the actual file size has just hit the airwaves - a full 210GB heading to your PS5 SSD.

The information comes from PlayStation Game Size on Twitter, a niche, but very much appreciated source for upcoming file installs across Sony's consoles. 210GB puts GTA 6 in line with some of the greediest PS5 releases of the generation.

If you've been stocking your console with current-generation releases, though, some sacrifices might have to be made when GTA 6 pre-load begins on November 12. I have an additional 1TB SSD running alongside my own internal storage and regularly have to cull my installs to make way for a shiny new game, but I wouldn't recommend upgrading too heavily if you're staring down the barrel of the software management page.

Component shortages have caused chaos in the world of SSD prices, so much so that the cheapest 1TB sticks will now run you around $150 (Silicon Power, Newegg). Thankfully, the best PS5 external hard drives are having a slightly easier time of it right now - enter the Seagate HDD.

Of course, this only makes sense for those with a PS4 library competing against their newer games. However, if you're still making the most of the previous generation's roster, it's worth remembering that they might as well sit in their own little house.

Adding 1TB of SSD storage that will match the internal system's 5,000MB/s will cost you around $150, while upgrading an existing 1TB stick to 2TB will generally see you spending $250 to $300 at the cheapest end of the market.

Seagate's external hard drive will run you a little over $100 and allow you to store and play older PS4 releases or act as a backup folder for PS5 games you want to keep within arm's reach but not play on your main system right now. Is it the ideal solution? No, but if GTA 6's install size has you in a jam, it's the cheapest way to get out of it right now.

Of course, spending zero dollars is always better. That's why I'd urge you to take a look at your existing downloads and question whether a healthy clean-out is possible. If you're already close to full, a storage upgrade is probably on the horizon anyway. GTA 6 is likely to stay on your system a long time, and if online functionality appears, that install size is only going to grow. For now, though, while storage prices are the way they are, it's worth seeing if you can clear enough space for the next few months.

Top PS5 external hard drives

• Seagate Portable Drive (1TB) | $119.99 at Amazon
• Seagate Portable Drive (2TB) | $129.99 at Amazon
• WD My Passport (2TB) | $139.90 at Amazon

We're also rounding up all the best PS5 accessories as well as the best PS5 controllers and best PS5 headsets to get you ready for the big day. With Black Friday PS5 deals on the horizon, we could be in for some solid savings to boot.

It's been an open secret for some time now that Meta has been making a startling loss on its Quest VR headsets, but in a Q3 earnings call, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has addressed the situation directly. After Meta Connect last month, when the brand's new VR Glasses were revealed, it seemed to all but confirm that the Quest headsets wouldn't be seeing a direct sequel anytime soon.

"I also shared at Connect that we are changing our approach to virtual reality to only ship new devices when we have major breakthroughs like we had with the Meta VR Glasses this year", said Zuckerberg. "Which of course are the first VR experience ever in a pair of glasses.

"I continue to believe that the path to delivering the holographics experience of bringing together the physical and digital worlds in everyday glasses will come through VR first, but we will pace this aspect of our investment more to focus on delivering personal super intelligence first."

As we know, much of Meta's Connect keynote this year focused on Muse, the new user-focused AI the brand is trying to integrate into its hardware, including its smart glasses. It seems the focus has shifted from consumer-facing headsets that the everyday person can afford - which we knew when the tide turned from the Metaverse to the pursuit of AI.

Surprisingly, Zuckerberg alluded directly to the lack of profitability of the Reality Labs division, which has seen studio closures and multiple rounds of layoffs this year.

"So with these factors combined, we expect that the P&L of Reality Labs to improve from here, with operating loss coming down to around $15B next year and trending towards profitability from there."

For us gamers, that doesn't give us much hope about the future. For anyone hoping for a Quest 4 anytime soon, that seems a little more than a pipe dream at present. The flame might still be flickering, but "major breakthroughs" is fairly open-ended. You can buy controllers for the Meta VR Glasses, and play all of the same games on them as you would a Quest 3 - they just aren't focused quite so heavily on gaming in their design. What's more, Meta has closed its three biggest game development studios, so I wouldn't expect any more exclusive games or fun bundles.

For context, Steam Frame has now launched to the tune of $1,000+, which offers a fairly similar experience to Meta's devices. Other headset manufacturers are clearly unwilling to compete with Meta's more affordable pricing due to the losses they're creating, but it seems there are fewer and fewer names in the market each time we look.

It came to light in recent weeks that PlayStation has sold all of its VR patents to Meta, signalling the brand's exit from the VR gaming space. But if Meta is only going to be focusing on wearables for AI, and not for the everyday consumer to game and have mixed-reality in their homes, who is left to appeal to the market? Pico is one of Meta's biggest competitors, but its upcoming headset, Project Swan looks to be a higher-end offering not necessarily geared at gaming.

"Our work on personal superintelligence is now also the focus of Reality Labs. Muse is coming to Meta Glasses starting next month, and that will be an important step towards this," continued Zuckerberg as he pointed toward the future of Reality Labs.

"People already love many features of the glasses already -- music, calling, capturing moments, 4 hearing assistance, and more -- but over time we expect Muse and having your personal superintelligence with you throughout the day will be the most important part of the experience".

To make yours last as long as possible and feel just as new as the day you unboxed it, check out the best Meta Quest accessories.

Around this time each year, I'm approached by friends and family to help give advice as to what gifts they should be grabbing for the Nintendo fans in their lives.

You'd think I'd be bored of it by now, but it's honestly nice to use my years of being a hardware reviewer and my lifetime as a Nintendo nerd to recommend gadgets I know would bring a smile to any Ninty-fans face, and this year the Turtle Beach Animal Crossing Switch 2 accessories are going to be the first thing I bring up.

Starting from $24.99 (via Amazon), the range consists of two cases and two matching controllers, and so naturally, you need to make sure your giftee has a Switch 2 and loves Animal Crossing first and foremost. If they do, they're bound to be as obsessed with these goodies as I am, and I'm here to give you the lowdown as to what makes these cute (and affordable) accessories worth spending your hard-earned bells on and popping under the tree this holiday.

KK Slider & Timmy and Tommy PlayTrek Switch 2 cases

There are two cases available in this range: a KK Slider design and a Timmy and Tommy design.

If your loved one prefers the cute and cozy look, the KK Slider PlayTrek Case is definitely my go-to pick. It actually happens to be my favorite piece from this entire set, and it's not only draped in a cute blue and purple design that blends in well with my pink gaming room (and will with any other cute-decorated setups), but the design glows in the dark.

Yeah, you heard me right: the little stars and moons sprinkled across the hard-shell case glow. I love a good gimmick, and while it may have been more apt to place star-gazer Celeste on the case rather than KK Slider, the effect is as magical as it is adorable in person. The design is also complemented by neat little details, including a matching purple carrying handle, purple and blue zipper, and purple interiors to tie everything together.

If your loved one is more into Animal Crossing merch of the nature variety, the Timmy and Tommy design is going to be more their thing. It swaps the cool-toned hues for a pastel green background and little illustrations of two tanuki wearing their little New Horizons shirts. The design is then paired with a brown carrying handle and a beige zipper, which give off the perfect earth-toned vibes I've long associated with the Animal Crossing game series.

These cases don't just look the part, but they're pretty robust too. The inside contains space for the handheld, up to 12 physical games, and there's a zip-up fabric mesh pouch for smaller goodies, like a few pairs of thumb grips and some Joy-Con controller straps, or at least that's what I store in them. There's also plenty of room to place a Nintendo eShop gift card inside one of the cases, should you want to go the extra mile this holiday season. You can always provide the exact amount needed for a Nintendo Switch Online subscription so your loved one can get access to the New Horizons DLC if they don't already have it. Just a thought.

KK Slider & Timmy and Tommy Rematch Switch 2 controllers

I have yet to add Nintendo's Switch 2 Pro controller to my setup, as I instead rely on Turtle Beach's more affordable Rematch controllers. With a $64.99 MSRP, they are far more accessible than the $89 required for the first-party Switch 2 controller, and these new KK Slider and Timmy and Tommy designs are just the latest in this line of fabulous Pro pad alternatives.

While I'm sure anyone would love to get the Pro pad under the tree, neither its default nor its Resident Evil or Zelda designs feel quite as dazzling as these Animal Crossing versions. For one, each contains a hidden RGB feature, which is sure to go down well if your loved one loves that gamified look. If you opt for the KK Slider version, the sky of stars, the crescent moon, and even the two music notes near KK on the right grip light up with color, and it's a gorgeous sight to behold. The Timmy and Tommy Rematch gamepad is even more of a spectacle. At a glance, the controller opts for a green faceplate that matches perfectly with the same shade as the case. However, the touch of any button reveals a sea of Animal Crossing-themed icons, showing leaf, house, and tree designs shining under a rainbow glow. It's a stunning and illuminating feast for the eyes.

In the controller's case, it's actually my favorite, as the effect is hidden in plain sight, which makes the payoff all the more memorable. Better yet, the face and shoulder buttons are draped in a beige colorway that carries on that earth-toned theme. They almost look wooden, and that feels perfectly Animal Crossing to me. Yet while these pads are flashy, they are missing some of the best features of the Pro alternative.

For one, there's no NFC reading tech here. If your loved one has amassed the entirety of the Animal Crossing amiibo as I have, they'll have to use a third-party accessory or switch to the Joy-Cons to tap any figure in-game. That being said, these officially licensed pads still provide the same 40-hour battery life, the same spread of buttons (including two sets of shoulder buttons and back paddles), and they're just as easy to pair as Nintendo's pricier pad.

The best part is that they've also taken a bit of a discount in the weeks since their initial release. While each retails for $64.99 / £54.99, you can find them for just $49.99 / £42.57 at Amazon, which is more than reasonable for the features on offer. With Black Friday on the horizon, there's every chance their prices for the controllers (and the cases above) will drop even further, but I'd recommend you pick them up now while stock lasts, as cute Nintendo accessories tend to be the first go-to when the holidays are near.

• View all Turtle Beach PlayTrek cases at Amazon
• View all Turtle Beach Rematch controllers at Amazon

Want more Switch 2 accessories? Check out our guides to the best Nintendo Switch headsets, the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers, and the best Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express Cards.

The best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers typically have one thing in common, but it rarely makes its way into our handheld adventures. Back buttons have been keeping thumbs on sticks for years now, and while the Switch 2 Pro Controller, 8BitDo Ultimate 2, GameSir Super Nova, and countless other gamepads keep those clackers to hand in docked mode, handheld players are often left in the dust. With the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake launching next week, I'm going to need some paddles on the go.

Thankfully, there's an all-in-one out there. We've been road-testing the CRKD Nitro Deck 2 all month, finally scoring it 4/5 stars in our review. The Joy-Con replacement system packs four back buttons into its chassis (alongside a host of additional features) and, despite only just hitting the market, it's already discounted.

We don't yet fully know how The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake's controls are going to pan out. U/DefiantCharacter has a pretty substantial shakedown of everything we've been shown via gameplay demos so far, though, and that gives us plenty to work with.

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A lot of it is conjecture, of course, but there are some quick moments that would make sense to map across a set of rear clackers. Switching weapons, jumping while climbing, and swapping between items all (so far) look like face button or d-pad operations. While Ocarina of Time isn't exactly an esports speedster, keeping those controls within easy reach has its benefits.

I'm not a competitive player, I'm not climbing ranked, and I certainly can't stand against younger battle royale-ers. But I still love me a set of back buttons. Whether it's keeping my dodge nimble in Control: Resonant (or relieving some of that button mashing pressure) or simply speeding up my walk without having to hold 'B' in Pokemon Pokopia or Dragon Quest 2 HD 2D Remake, I'm living proof that you don't need to be a speedster to enjoy an extra set of buttons.

The main draw is that you get to keep your thumbs firmly on those main sticks. That means easier camera and movement controls while your other fingers take care of your quick-select items, dodges, attacks, and jumps. Less scrambling up and down the face of the controller makes for a far more relaxing experience, and a lot less pressure on these aging joints.

That's all fine and dandy in docked mode. Having to swap my whole control scheme when I'm playing on the go can halt proceedings. Plus, Ocarina of Time is begging to be played in handheld mode, curled up on a stormy Fall evening.

So what are your options?

The CRKD Nitro Deck 2 is the only Joy-Con replacement with back buttons we've fully tested and verified so far. It's a little more expensive than the previous generation (though today's discount is helping in that arena) but brings a chunkier, more ergonomic shape to your handheld adventures while offering thumbstick tightening, additional shoulder buttons, and adjustable deadzones. While that tightening process feels a little cheaper than it should at this price, the large Steam Deck-esque shape makes storage and transportation tricky, and that rumble is pretty OP, the Nitro Deck 2 also doubles as a docked pro controller. That's two cuccos with one Death Mountain boulder.

Alternatively, for $99.99 (usually $124.99), you can opt for the Mobapad M12S. This drops your back controls from four buttons to two, though it improves on the Nitro Deck 2's capacitor-based thumbsticks with full TMR tech. There's also the far-more-expensive Nyxi Hyperion 3 Ultra - a full-fat Switch 2 Joy-Con replacement system that keeps the OG's mouse functionality and its own TMR thumbsticks. You'll be dropping $149.99 (down from $199.99 at Amazon) on this set, though, and still halving CRKD's back button count.

Ultimately, we'll stick with the Nitro Deck 2 for Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake. Those additional back paddles and the lower price make for a compelling setup upgrade ahead of release.

Our top Nintendo Switch 2 controllers:

• Switch 2 Pro Controller | $89 at Amazon
• GameSir Super Nova | $49.99 $29.99 at Best Buy
• 8BitDo Ultimate 2 | $69.99 $56.99 at Amazon

We're also rounding up the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories you can stock up on ahead of Ocarina of Time, as well as the best Nintendo Switch headsets and best Nintendo Switch 2 cases.

Of course, we've also got Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals looming over the horizon as well.

I cannot tell you how excited I've been to try out the Razer Kiyo V2 Pro since its announcement. I've been using its predecessor, the Kiyo Pro Ultra, for over three years now for every YouTube video I've created, and I stand by what I said back in 2023 when I reviewed it: it's the best webcam ever made. That said, I can't pretend there aren't improvements I was waiting for in a sequel. I've been dying for the bump up to 4K60 recordings; I've been wishing autofocus was a bit quicker, and for some sort of customizable aperture to help with depth in my shots.

But the best live streaming gear for gamers has taken a bit of a turn in recent times. The trend with almost all of the webcams hitting the shelves these days is the inclusion of AI. Not generative AI, mind you, but AI image enhancement, and more often than not, some kind of clever pan, tilt, and zoom. The Kiyo Pro Ultra never had those AI features in it, but even as someone who hates the current AI situation, I can attest that most webcams use it pretty well. It's hard to offer a DSLR-type of performance in a USB-only webcam that's in a smaller body, so AI is used by lots of brands now to provide a less costly performance bump. It's the way the market has gone since 2023, so I'm not exactly surprised to see Razer follow the trend with the Kiyo V2 Pro.

Sadly, I've tested this thing, compared it to what came before, and I don't like it one bit as a sequel to one of my favorite pieces of content creation gear. For the same $299/£299 price as the Kiyo Pro Ultra, it feels like a worse product in almost every way, and not one I can recommend easily.

Design

Personally, I never had any problems with the design of the original Razer Kiyo Pro or the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra. Were they comically large for webcams? Yes. Were they a bit bulky and impractical when sitting atop a laptop or monitor? Absolutely. Did their design get in the way of anything? Definitely not. Were they big for a reason? Yes - they have larger sensors than other models, and in the case of the Kiyo Pro Ultra, the largest sensor ever put in a mainstream webcam. This made a big difference to the sort of imagery it could capture, and its low-light handling especially was perfect for the gaming content market.

All of that said, Razer decided to make changes to the design of the Kiyo for its V2 range, and the V2 Pro has followed suit. It now has the largely common design language of a modern-day webcam, small and round for the lens in the front, with a lot more junk in the trunk. I first saw this sort of design with the Logitech MX Brio: a smaller lens with a massive, wide body on either side of it. I can maybe see why this became the norm for a few cameras, but it is far, far more impractical for you to sit atop a monitor or try and squeeze between other things on your gaming desk because it has a lot more real estate on its flanks.

Despite its size changes, the Kiyo V2 Pro, at 380 grams, has somehow become heavier than the Kiyo Pro Ultra (348g). What you have, then, is a Kiyo V2 Pro that feels bulkier and more awkward to use than its predecessor, and what makes things worse are design decisions that make it less versatile as a camera.

For example, the Kiyo V2 Pro comes on a standard crocodile clip-like stand, but unlike the Ultra before it, it can't be removed from this stand, which makes mounting it to the Elgato Prompter or another tripod a lot more difficult.

Even worse is that this crocodile clip isn't very strong, so if you want to sit it up in different positions, the folding hinges can't even sustain the camera's weight very well, meaning it sometimes slowly wilts out of the framing you just spent a minute trying to line up perfectly. If you try to tilt the V2 Pro backward at all, it's so back-heavy it'll fall pretty much immediately. Most users will clip this onto a monitor or laptop, but I have my doubts about laptop screen hinges being able to deal with this sort of heft too.

Unlike other webcams that tout AI PTZ features (the Insta360 Link, the Insta360 Link 2, the Obsbot Tiny 2 4K, and the AverMedia cams to name a few), the Kiyo V2 Pro isn't attached to a gimbal, meaning it doesn't actually pan, tilt, and zoom; it just uses slightly punched-in shots from its wide-angle lens to track you with its AI features. There are vents on the back of the webcam's body, which I assume are for venting heat, but when software is doing the heavy lifting, I'm not sure why the thing needs ventilation or, indeed, its increased weight.

One thing I'm happy to see carried over is the privacy shutter you can close by twisting the lens. It's nice to have that peace of mind, especially in this day and age of digital security feeling like a lottery ticket. There isn't an external lens cap this time - even though you don't need both for privacy, I always thought the cap was more useful to protect the expensive lens and camera innards from breakage. It's a shame that, at the same price, Razer isn't offering you the same protection this time around.

Annoyingly, the small recording light placed on top of the Ultra's lens has been moved to the side body of the V2 Pro. That's hardly an issue for most users, but if you plan on chucking this webcam into the Elgato Prompter as I do for my videos, you're going to have more trouble spotting where to look.

Features

I think the main feature disparity to focus on here between the Kiyo Pro Ultra and Kiyo V2 Pro is the sensor. The Ultra features a Sony Starvis 1/1.2-inch sensor coupled with an f/1.7 aperture. The Kiyo V2 Pro uses a smaller 1/1.8-inch sensor with an aperture of f/1.9. The V2 Pro may have a wider-angle lens, giving an FOV of 86 degrees as opposed to 82, but don't be fooled by that. The Ultra's lens and optics let in more light; the V2 Pro can just capture a wider area.

In theory, with its sensor and updated innards, the V2 Pro should be able to capture more vivid colors, not least due to its UHDR support, which the Ultra didn't have (it was limited to HDR). That said, I didn't notice a more vivid color range in my testing. The Kiyo V2 Pro relies on software to try to tune your image, especially with features like one-click image enhancement. My issue is that the Ultra offered even clearer and out-of-the-box lighting balance because it was baked into the capabilities of the product on a hardware level.

We've run into this kind of thing before when we reviewed the Elgato Facecam Mk 2. While colors feel a bit flat and the imagery isn't so good right now, there's every chance it could improve with time and software patches - either way, at the top of the market, I think people should get a bit more bang for their buck on hardware alone.

You might think that the big engine running the show on the software side of things is Synapse, but it feels like more of a cheerleader this time around. In fact, Razer has partnered with Camo Studio for the V2 Pro, so much so that Razer's website even says the camera is "powered by" the software. That does mean that with a webcam purchase you'll get a lifetime license for Camo Studio Pro, but don't think of that as an added bonus because, as I found out in my testing, it's really a requirement if you want the quoted capabilities of the camera.

That's not to say Synapse doesn't have a lot going for it. It's here you'll have access to settings like autofocus, auto exposure, shutter guard, low light compensation, noise reduction, HDR, and image presets if you don't want to get into the nitty-gritty image settings within Camo Studio.

You will need to go to the third-party app if you want to access the pan, tilt, and zoom trickery however, which works just fine; don't expect the actual camera to move around with you, it'll just zoom in slightly and shift the focus around where you are in your shot. Yes, it still looks like an Oblivion NPC has stolen your in-game attention.

Essentially, if I had to sum up the features here, I'd tell you that, as a fan of the Pro Ultra, Razer has taken a more affordable step down in terms of the hardware and parts used in favour of giving you more software support. Where the Pro Ultra relied on pure sensor might to give you the best image possible, the V2 Pro relies on not one but two bits of software to make up for the fact that it isn't quite as strong a camera. And the big bonus? Capturing 4K footage at 60fps instead of 30.

Performance

I think the best way to tell you why I don't recommend this webcam is to run you through my experience with it from start to finish. Hopefully, with the testing footage and imagery I've captured, you'll get a sense of why it's not a match for the older Kiyo Pro Ultra.

To begin with, I slotted this camera into the Elgato Prompter in preparation for recording a new video essay I'm working on for my YouTube channel. I know from countless recordings with the Ultra what sort of image quality I should expect, and I was excited to see that scaled up to 60 frames per second as opposed to 30 this time around.

I went into Synapse to ensure I was working on the most up-to-date firmware, and found nothing besides Synapse telling me I could activate my Camo Studio license for enhanced features and PTZ stuff. Since I wasn't going to use those in my static video recording and was only interested in 4K60 and the out-of-the-box experience (because why would I need anything else with a $299 camera), I ignored that. I turned on the vibrant color mode, I made sure all of the other settings were correct, and I got cracking setting up lighting.

The first bump in the road came when I couldn't get the lighting right. The Kiyo Pro Ultra's larger sensor always means that if you're recording in a gaming room like me, using darker scenes with colorful lighting in the background, it's excellent at balancing things. The V2 Pro was struggling, and with Low Light Compensation on and playing around with the Shutter Guard, I couldn't get the balance I wanted at all because it was overexposing the image or not capturing the vivid colors of the blue lighting in my background. Keep in mind I was doing everything I could to make it work, including bumping my ring light down to 1% of its brightness. Things also looked pretty grainy, so I ended up turning both of these settings off. I finally found the balance I wanted, so I got to shooting my video.

When I went to watch it back a whole 40 minutes later (I had a lot of outtakes), my head immediately hit my hands. I must have recorded at 1080p, because this was not the sort of quality I expected at all from a 4K webcam. Below, you can see an example of the same lighting being used in an older video with the Kiyo Pro Ultra, then a sample of what I had just captured with the Kiyo V2 Pro. The difference is scary, and I knew something must be wrong - even if the properties of the file promised me the frame sizes were in 4K. It looked like 1080p stretched up to 4K.

The next day, I decided to look closer. First off, I did tests in 1080p and 4K to see if there was actually a difference in quality, and there wasn't.

I was sure there must be a firmware update or a wider software issue I wasn't catching, but Synapse had nothing listed that fixed the issue except that offer to download Camo Studio. I decided to give it a try, so I downloaded the app and accepted my included Pro license. Suddenly, the quality the V2 Pro could capture was enhanced and looked a lot closer to the sort of detail of a 4K image, but now, there was all sorts of noticeable AI noise going on in the background. To be clear, the Kiyo Pro V2 will actually capture at 4K60, but you need both Synapse and Camo Studio working in the background to make it happen.

But I had new problems: there was all of this visual noise and distortion when there was any motion in front of the lens because clearly whatever AI was working in the background couldn't keep up with the 4K60 promises on the box of the webcam. I hardly move around in my shots, but I didn't want streaky nonsense all over my facecam footage. I tried turning off Dynamic Noise Reduction to get rid of this, but the camera seems to be totally faulty without it. I couldn't capture any image with the V2 Pro in any application, as you'll see below.

Even with this noisy, blurry motion making the footage uncomfortable to look at, I still wasn't seeing the sort of crystal-clear, sharp imagery I'm used to from the Kiyo Pro Ultra, so I wanted to do some more direct comparisons. I plugged the older model back in, and despite my using the same cable, Windows was now telling me through its camera app that I could only record in 1080p. It wasn't until I uninstalled Camo Studio that the full 4K might of the Ultra was enabled again - very suspicious, if you ask me, and just one reason why I hate products like this relying on a bit of companion software.

Apps like this can be unruly, cause wider compatibility issues with other bits of your kit, and generally be subject to change in the future. I'd much rather buy a device whose hardware can do what I need it to.

Either way, once I expelled Camo Studio from my PC, there it was: the 4K, beautiful power of the Kiyo Pro Ultra. Was its autofocus slow? Yes, but its imagery was so noticeably better than its successor that I don't even know if there's a proper comparison to make here.

I tried a bunch of wider setting changes with the V2 Pro and played around in Camo Studio for a while, but I'm just not impressed at all. Thankfully, its autofocus was a bit quicker off the mark than the Ultra, and a wider-angle lens does give you more framing potential. But those things were never dealbreakers for the Ultra, and its amazing clarity spoke for itself. It's one thing to promise DSLR-quality image enhancements with AI add-ons, but when the image quality of the camera itself can't keep up in real time, and isn't as good as a product you released in 2023, it's hard to advocate for.

Should you buy the Razer Kiyo V2 Pro?

This isn't the webcam I was hoping for. Besides a wider lens and faster autofocus, the Razer Kiyo V2 Pro feels like a step backward from the Kiyo Pro Ultra in almost every conceivable way. The colors are flatter, the AI enhancements get in the way of crystal-clear footage, and the bulk of the camera makes it harder to use in a professional setup.

The annoying part is that the Ultra is now more expensive half the time, and it's getting harder to find. I haven't gone hands-on with the Elgato 4K60-capable webcam it offers in competition to the V2 Pro, but I'd be willing to bet that it relies on a lot of the same AI enhancements as this does. So what do I recommend over this?

If you can find the Kiyo Pro Ultra, go for that, because it's still the best webcam ever made in my eyes.

If you're looking for that ultimate 4K60 imagery, if you want access to more aperture and a suite of ways to make the photography your own, maybe it's finally time for me to recommend you look into a DSLR option. Personally, I hate to say it, but webcams might have reached a ceiling that no amount of AI can help you break through.

This is what I feel most webcam makers are missing in 2026 - it may seem as though harnessing AI features is the catch-all to improving this type of device, but the end result looks flatter, less crisp, and cheaper than if you were to actually invest in better camera specs. This wouldn't bother me so much, but when the marketing makes claims that these things can offer DSLR-quality anything, I think it's important to set the record straight.

Beyond actually going for a professional-grade camera for a bit more money, there is a plethora of 4K PTZ cameras that use AI a lot better than Razer has here, and of course DJI's range of tiny handheld cams.

Overall, it's really difficult to recommend a $299 webcam that's just okay in isolation, but so much worse when compared to what came before it.

How I tested the Razer Kiyo V2 Pro

As outlined in the performance section of this review, I integrated the Kiyo V2 Pro into my setup while attempting to record a new video for YouTube, but its difficulty out of the box without software and its blurred visuals when working with its AI companion software led me to go back to its older sibling. I did plenty of test recordings and comparisons with the V2 Pro before coming to a verdict, and I also did extensive testing in Camo Studio to mitigate the problems I was having.

For more on our testing methods, take a look at the GamesRadar+ hardware policy.

For more on content creation, check out the best capture cards, best streaming mixer, and the best microphones for streaming and gaming.

Last week, Razer unveiled the latest addition to its long line of cat-ear-having headsets, the Kraken Kitty V3. This new headset is designed to "transition seamlessly from streaming setup to cosplay accessory" thanks to its new 'Cosplay Mode,' which allows you to plug its USB-C cable into a power bank to keep it illuminated for cons and events.

As someone who used to cosplay before the word was even mainstream (yes, I'm that old), it's great to see brands like Razer acknowledge some of the most creative and hard-working individuals that have been fueling comic cons for decades, but just be careful when it comes to taking gaming tech to conventions. The $99 (via Razer) gaming headset looks neat, but any tech worn at a busy show floor is going to be a target for anything from damage to theft. I'd feel far more comfortable if you settled for using it to make videos with your friends at home than putting accessories that will be pricey to replace in harm's way.

When I've had cosplays that called for headsets or headphones in the past, I went down the cheap route. Hatsune Miku's Magnet outfit requires a pair of cans with butterfly wing attachments, while mine were fake and built up from foam pieces. I didn't want to lug around real headphones or stick Glow EL wire around tech I actually used that couldn't be removed later.

When it came to putting together a Futaba cosplay from Persona 5, I did dabble in a real pair of cans for many years, but grabbed the cheapest, less than £10 pair of wireless black headphones I could find. Futaba, being the nerd she is, likely would not have settled for a cheap headset, and in reality I could see her preferring a Razer headset like the Barracuda V2 Pro instead, but utilizing real and expensive accessories to replace them just wasn't on my mind. By that stage, I was more than familiar with what conventions were like since cosplaying from 2010, and running the risk of damaging or losing something I used for gaming or music every day wasn't going to be an option. Cosplay is expensive enough without factoring in replacing a gaming headset.

That's why, while Razer states that users can "keep the RGB lighting illuminated at conventions, cosplay gatherings, and community events" on its official blog, I'd recommend omitting the 'conventions' part. At $99, the Kraken Kitty V3 is one of the cheapest in the Kitty lineup (especially the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro that costs $179.99 / £179.99), but replacing even $100 when cosplay is pricey enough is not going to be fun.

Of course, there's every likelihood nothing will happen to your accessories, and I'm not your mom, so you can entirely do as you please. Just as someone more than familiar with the con circuit and headsets, I don't want to run the risk of your $100 headset, which isn't typically designed to withstand the climate of an over-sold and packed convention, ending up needing to be replaced. That's before I even get into the fact that it weighs 315g, and when adding heavy wigs into the picture, you don't really want that stuck on your head for multiple hours at a time.

If you do want the headset for gaming, streaming, and frolicking around in cosplay at small gatherings and meet-ups with your friends, there's plenty to like here. The pair is equipped with Razer's signature 40mm TriForce audio drivers, which sound great, and they feature a HyperClear cardioid microphone too. They're also Chroma-powered, so you can use Razer's Chroma app to sync them up to any other RGB-riddled Razer tech you have laying around.

However, typically, conventions and expensive tech you don't want to replace or have any harm come to them don't mix. No matter how purr-fectly cool and illuminating they look.

• View all Razer Kraken Kitty gaming headsets at Amazon

Want more headset options? Check out our guides to the best PS5 headsets, best Nintendo Switch headsets, and the best PC headsets for gaming while you're here.

It started with Crash Bandicoot but ultimately ended with Dark Cloud. When I first picked up a PS2 controller more than 20 years ago, it was to spin and jump as a shorts-bearing marsupial. Whenever I return to the system in my 30s it's to roam the dungeons of Level-5's village-builder RPG. And yet, even with an Asus ROG Ally kitted out for PS2 emulation I still sometimes struggle to put down the DualSense or close the gaming laptop and return to the simpler days of Nolun (or Norune) Village.

Pairing one of the best gaming phones with one of the best mobile controllers has half-solved this blindspot already. With the GameSir Pocket Taco (currently on sale for $27.99 at Amazon) at my side I've been blasting through GameBoy Advance titles. Being able to whip out my phone at a moment's notice and tap through gaming history rather than doomscroll has been a backlog-saver.

It's something I would rarely do at home, not when I have kit to test on the very latest releases. While it demands the right game (and what could be better than quickly hopping into a world-building Dark Cloud dungeon run while waiting for the bus), being able to jump in and out of classic titles while on the go has turbo-charged my GBA adventures. It doesn't, however, feature the sticks required for PlayStation adventures. Instead, I'm hoping the Abyxlute M5 will do the same for my PS2 memories.

The magnetic attachment and slide-up design of the new Abxylute M5 and M6 mean they could, theoretically, stay permanently attached to your phone. Push up that screen and you've got a full selection of controls waiting for you; two thumbsticks (low-profile carbon-film on the M5 and capacitive on the M6), d-pad, face buttons, shoulders and triggers (Hall effect no less, on the M6). In other words, a full set of PS2 controls ready and waiting whenever I find myself reaching for some thought-preventing entertainment.

The Abxylute pop-up mobile controllers are currently still in their Kickstarter phase, though Early Bird pricing has now ended. The brand does have some presence at wider retailers, like Amazon, so hopefully we'll see these gamepads popping up more across the web shortly.

It's those two sticks that are driving the M5 and M6 to the top of my brain. Yes, yes, I know. Most of the modern mobile controllers worth their salt will come with a full set of controls. Taking a look at the top contenders across the market, though, they're all designed to accompany your phone rather than staying permanently attached.

The ELO Vagabond will need its own pouch in my backpack and you can forget about keeping the Razer Kishi V3 Pro in a back pocket. Even the foldable Asus ROG Tessen (while taking up less space) will likely be left at home when leaving in a rush. Hell, even Razer's tiny Prio controller runs the risk of being stuck in a drawer.

Often, the best controller is the one you have with you - and that's doubly true of mobile gaming. Abxylute's gamepads will have to prove that they're light, thin, and sturdy enough to withstand days in pockets, but their permanent connection to my phone might finally bring my PS2 backlog under control. Who knows, I might even get round to ripping my Dark Cloud 2 disc.

Our top mobile controllers

• ELO Vagabond | $99.99 at Amazon
• GameSir G8 Galileo | $79.99 at Amazon
• Razer Kishi V3 Pro | $149.99 $125.99 at Amazon

We're also rounding up the best retro handhelds for those after a purpose-built device, and showing you how to play PS2 games in 2026.

Anbernic is undeniably one of the best retro handheld makers around, but for 3DS emulator devs like Azahar, it's flying too close to the piracy solicitation sun. In a series of posts tied to the portable maker's latest device, the clamshell RG DDS, the team has denounced decisions to use "unofficial piracy-focused forks" of the software in gameplay advertising, in turn distancing itself from the brand.

In an X thread, the Azahar Emulator team confirms, "It has come to our attention that handheld manufacturer Anbernic has been promoting their latest handheld device, the RG DDS, using unofficial piracy-focused forks of Azahar, and has been openly featuring these forks in their advertising material." The trailer in question uses Azahar Plus to run games like Pokemon Ultra Sun, Resident Evil Revelations, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, and Kirby's Blowout Blast.

The idea of an emulator team turning its back on a handheld maker for playing games with its emulator might be a head-scratcher. However, Azahar says, "After some internal discussion, we have decided that we will NOT be officially supporting this device or others from this manufacturer: Any issues or bugs related to devices from this specific manufacturer will not be investigated or resolved."

Azahar goes a step further, saying, "If you would like to stay on a device with guaranteed official support, we recommend looking for alternatives." Simply put, the developer reckons you should opt for something like the Retroid Pocket Duo. Again, some of you may feel this reaction is disproportionate, but it makes sense, since Anbernic could end up on the US Notorious Markets list alongside other ROM-loaded handhelds.

I should stress that Anbernic isn't necessaily the one selling handhelds with unauthorized ROMs included, as it's usually third-party sellers who will explicitly use the devices for piracy. That said, the portable maker is doing itself zero favors by demoing its hardware using anything Nintendo, and outright showing the world that Azahar can run Ocarina of Time right before the remake drops could place the dev team under Ninty's litigious spotlight.

Keep in mind that Azahar was born out of the back of Citra, a renowned 3DS emulator that was closed down alongside its Yuzu Switch emulator sibling following a $2.4 million settlement with Nintendo. That more than explains why devs are now treading with extreme caution, and with the Entertainment Software Association already calling Anbernic out specifically, the emulator could end up being a patsy for the new portable.

Sailing the seven seas of video game piracy has always been a fine line. In fact, the only reason players are able to play their legally owned backups on other devices at all is down to old precedents set by historic court cases (like Bleem! vs. Sony). Technically speaking, it's all still a grey area, and the last thing the scene wants is Nintendo finally bringing a party to court to set a new precedent.

The reason Azahar should watch its back all comes down to the liability of software vs. hardware. Technically speaking, Anbernic could argue that its device isn't exclusively designed for running Nintendo 3DS games, despite looking almost exactly like the 2000s clamshell. On the other hand, emulators are more or less the tools that allow people to pirate games in the first place, meaning they are likely to face heavier legal repercussions than a handheld maker.

I've been covering the retro console and handheld scene for a long time, and I'd argue Anbernic isn't doing anything out of the ordinary with its RG DDS marketing. At the same time, Azahar is right to distance itself from anything that could be construed as piracy, even if the art of running your own game backups with enhanced resolutions and settings is more nuanced. The big N doesn't deem running its games on anything that isn't officially branded hardware legal, and that'll become a real issue as handhelds and emulators evolve.

• 3DS handhelds at Amazon
• Retro handhelds at Amazon

Swing by the best gaming handhelds for souped up portable PCs that can run your Steam library on the go.

Razer launched the Barracuda V2 Pro on October 15, noting on its official blog that the newest addition to the lineup is designed with "versatility in mind" and, as it turns out, the marketing spiel has plenty of truth to it.

From its foldable form factor, dual-mic design, great sound, and understated look that doesn't scream "gaming headset", the Barracuda V2 Pro has managed to take priority in my backpack no matter if gaming or music-listening is on the agenda.

There was nothing stopping me from digging out any other Razer headset to use for both gaming and in lieu of a pair of headphones, but not all the brand's past pairs are suited for the outdoors. As much as I adore the Kraken Kitty lineup, I don't feel comfortable donning the RGB-powered cat ears to listen to the latest Troye Sivan album while running to the Big Tescos for the food shop, no matter how cute I find it. However, I've done just that with the Barraduda V2 Pro, and its versatility is entirely to thank.

Key specs

Design

Much like the black Barracuda X (2022), the V2 Pro is a closed black over-ear headset with oval-shaped cups. RGB haters (couldn't be me) will be happy to learn that the Chroma-powered logos of the Barracuda X Chroma haven't stuck around, and instead the three-headed snake branding is nothing but subtle, glossy, 3-dimensional-to-the-touch images on the exterior of each cup and nothing more.

The design differences of this new pair are so minor that you'd barely be able to spot the difference unless you're someone who spends far too much time in the land of headsets - which is undoubtedly me. What's new is that the foam padding on the underside of the headband now travels from the left yoke to the right yoke. The padding of the 2022 X release just sat in a small section in the center, but it's been extended to provide more optimal comfort. Comfort must have been on Razer's mind, as the fabric-coated ear cups are now made of a leather-like material too.

Features

The Barracuda V2 Pro is an over-ear, closed-back 285 g headset with 40mm Triforce Bio-cellulose audio drivers and THX Spatial Audio+ support. Unlike the existing pairs in the Barracuda lineup, the V2 Pro is holding a very neat (and handy) secret - its left earcup can be opened to reveal its HyperSpeed 2.4GHz wireless dongle.

This may not seem like a big deal, but for someone who constantly misplaces wireless dongles, it's been a bit of a lifesaver. Unfortunately, this lucrative hidden storage doesn't provide enough space to also store the adapter that's packaged with the pair, but I'll take any storage ingenuity over none at all.

Besides the storage, this headset is rocking some serious premium upgrades over its predecessors. The V2 Pro is equipped with simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless, so you can answer phone calls between gaming sessions, and it sports ANC - both of which can be selected through the pair's manual onboard controls. The ANC includes an ambient mode, so you can be more aware of your surroundings, and makes the V2 Pro handy for more than just gaming.

Using gaming headsets for day-to-day music listening can be awkward, particularly if there's a large microphone in the way. The V2 Pro has a solution as the HyperClear Full Band Mic is not only detachable, but the "dual-mode mic system" allows you to switch to using a dual hidden beamforming mics for chatting when you're out and about.

Performance

Testing Razer's Barracuda upgrade happened to coincide with my favorite time of year, Halloween. The smell of freshly carved pumpkins and dusty old spider decorations had fully enveloped my house by the time the headset arrived at my door, and so it felt entirely fitting to first test out Disney Dreamlight Valley with the pair on PC while its spooky-themed events were in full swing.

While I usually prefer to run around my Disney-themed valley on the OLED Steam Deck so I can multitask with a Netflix binge, being able to focus on the game's audio for once was a treat with THX Spatial Audio+. I occasionally find myself overwhelmed with the life sim, as there's always a myriad of Disney characters roaming around, and finding who you want can be a challenge even when you have fast travel to rely on. Thanks to the combination of the crystal-clear audio from the can's bio-cellulose audio drivers and spatial audio, I could easily pinpoint any approaching pal - whether it was Scar with a new sarcastic quip, or the Fairy Godmother about to check in. It was neat, as this game is already my happy place for when life gets a bit too much, so the extra level of immersion was a welcome experience, and one that's got me playing more on the PC than my Valve pixel-pusher ever since.

Of course, you don't need to be able to hear Goofy's cheeky laugh in a 3D soundscape in order to be a good Dreamlight Valley player, so I stuck on Counter-Strike 2 to put the "ultimate immersion" properly to the test. With the ANC and THX Spatial Audio+ working together, I was more than able to get absorbed into the game, so much so that I missed deliveries at my door on multiple occasions despite people both knocking and ringing my door. That may not sound like a good thing, but being able to entirely drown out the real world for a moment definitely proved Razer's "ultimate" marketing spiel.

While I'm not a fan of beamforming tech, I do love the V2 Pro's dual-mic setup. In this day and age where a cost of living crisis still affects so many of us and determines how we enjoy our hobbies today, I'd hope that a piece of tech that costs $200 would be able to be helpful for not just gaming, but everyday use too, and this is.

You didn't have to stroll uptown feeling a bit silly with a microphone dangling next to my face or wearing a gadget that looks and feels designed purely for gaming in mind. Instead, I was able to easily detach the HyperClear full-band mic and leave it at home, while being able to depend on the beamforming mics for incoming calls. I'd not recommend using the latter for streaming or podcasts, but they are decent enough where a quick call with your mum is entirely doable, and she won't be exclaiming "what" or "huh" every two seconds.

The main microphone was also great for playing Repo with friends and was enough to record my screams without sounding like a muffled, peaking mess. But what pleased me the most about the V2 Pro was that versatility, as it was just as formidable for music as it was for gaming. Its 285g weight was light enough to make long journeys across the city of Glasgow less of a strain on my ears, and its foldable design took up less space than my go-to JLab JBuds Lux ANC cans.

While switching from one pair to another left me feeling a bit glum (I really adore my JLab cans), it was nice to only have to worry about charging one device at a time. Although its 70 hours were enough to cope with a weekend of blasting out Wolf Alice and Florence Road, while keeping the pair on my head for weekdays, divulging in fun Repo madness with friends without having to pick up a USB-C charging cable once.

Should you buy the Razer Barracuda V2 Pro headset?

This is the most premium Barracuda headset the line has seen so far, but nabbing all of those juicy high-end upgrades and its versatile ways comes at a $199.99 / £199.99 cost that not everyone is going to afford. Especially at a time when the hobby has already become an expensive minefield.

The thing is, that price point is pretty much what you can expect when it comes to gaming headsets of all shapes and sizes that incorporate both simultaneous wireless audio and ANC into the mix. The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 also launched for $199.99 / £179.99 and had a similar simultaneous wireless and ANC combo. Whenever those features are key, you can expect to be paying upwards of $150 / £150, but you don't have to stick with it if you don't want to.

If you're just a fan of the V2 Pro's design and feel, the Barracuda X still remains a great multi-platform headset, and it's regularly found under $99.99 / £99.99. You'll have to forgo the dual wireless and noise-canceling, but it sports the same look and still sounds fantastic for its age. There's also the Barracuda X Chroma available for $129.99 / £129.99 if you love your RGB lighting.

If it's more of the premium trifecta of the dual wireless, ANC, and an impressive battery you're after, that's when the Barracuda V2 Pro feels hard to beat. Sure, alternatives like the aforementioned Stealth 700 exist with even an additional 10-hour battery life, but it's missing ANC. Meanwhile, my other go-to option, the Sony Inzone H9 II (which has dropped to a similar $200 price in recent sales) has the wireless and ANC covered but not the battery chops.

How I tested the Razer Barracuda V2 Pro headset

The Razer Barracuda V2 Pro became my one and only headset for two weeks, in order to see how it matched up against all other pairs I've tested to date. In that time, I used the wireless pair to play Counter-Strike 2, Marvel Rivals, and Disney Dreamlight Valley on the PC, while switching over to play Marvel Rivals, Doom Eternal, and Silent Hill Townfall on the PS5.

When I was in a gaming-on-the-go mode, I stuck the USB-C dongle into the Switch 2 and played everything from Marvel Kart World, Pokemon Pokopia, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave while taking breaks to watch Party Down on Netflix and catch up with some Halloween movie offerings, including Hocus Pocus on Disney+. The headset was also perched on my head as I listened to Wolf Alice, Florence Road and Troye Sivan via Spotify.

For more information on how we test gaming headsets, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

Not a fan of the Barracuda V2 Pro? Check out our guides to the best PC headset for gaming, the best PS5 headset, and the best Xbox Series X headset for more options from Razer and our personally picked brands.

Video game attire isn't remotely novel at this stage, but I really wasn't expecting a jacket based on the 1998 arcade shooter Truxton. You've got Kumagumi, a Japanese merch brand, to thank for turning a whole bunch of Toaplan shmups into threads, and yes, the game that introduced me to the very concept of memes is included.

Yes, that latter game is "Zero Wing", the arcade shooter that gifted us "all your base are belong to us" via a terrible translation. Spotted by Time Extension, the range sadly doesn't include anything with that specific botched phrase on it, instead opting for the line prior, with antagonist CATS exclaiming "how are you gentlemen !!" (Don't forget the double exclamation mark; that's important.)

There are 27 pieces in the Kumagumi x Toaplan collection, covering some of my all-time favorite Mega Drive shooters, like Hellfire, FixEight, Btsugun, and the aforementioned Zero Wing and Truxton. Again, I know many of you will be here purely for the memes, but it was the $149 jacket based on the latter vertical shooter that really reeled me in as a retro console and arcade nerd.

Sadly, my plans to rock the fashion scene by turning the Truxton jacket into a fit have to go on hold since it's already out of stock. That has potentially ruined my Monday since I was planning an '80s-inspired getup for my next visit to the arcade, but alas, I'll have to join the waitlist. The thing that hooked me in the first place is that this bomber jacket, complete with skull bomb art on the back, looks like it's straight off the back of someone in '80s Osaka.

Perhaps the jacket going AWOL is a blessing, as it does mean if you haven't played any of these legendary shooters, you can invest in doing just that. Those of you without any means to play right now should probably think about grabbing an Evercade console (like the Super Pocket for $69.99), as Blaze's Toaplan cartridge packs Truxton, Zero Wing, and six other classics for $35.36. That's reasonable, seeing as original Sega Mega Drive copies of the games come in at substantially more for a single cart, and Zero Wing didn't actually land in the US market to begin with.

I'll play devil's advocate and say that while you'll have a blast playing Truxton on a handheld like the Super Pocket or the shiny new Evercade Nexus if you're feeling fancy, I do prefer my OG Mega Drive setup. It all comes down to my preferences for blasting the high-contrast vertical shooter visuals into my eyeballs using a CRT, but I do pair Sega's old timer with an 8Bitdo M30 2.4GHz wireless controller ($29.99 at Amazon, FYI) to freshen things up with wireless, authentic buttons.

I could probably rhyme off a dozen ways to play Toaplan's excellent shooters, including using the best retro handhelds if you have your collection backed up. However, I get that some of you will already have that in hand and either just came for the pretty jacket, daft 2000s memes, or both. If that's the case, you'll want to keep an eye on Kumagumi's storefront for stock drops, but I'll always take an opportunity to talk about playing old games using new stuff since that level of love is why we have clothing like this in the first place.

Swing by the best retro controllers for authentic classic console gamepads with modern day abilities.

Resident Evil Outbreak, Capcom's PS2 online multiplayer spin-off from 2003, is now playable for free in your web browser. Better still, you can even team up with friends using the original co-op mode to escape Raccoon City, and that's blowing my mind, seeing as I failed to convince my parents to buy me a PlayStation 2 Network Adapter back in my teen years. The catch? The project is allegedly vibe-coded.

Again, you don't need a real PlayStation 2 or even a retro console emulator to play Resident Evil Outbreak or its File #2 sequel (thanks, Men's Journal). You don't even have to download patched ROMs or mess with emulators, as the series is all playable at Outbreakweb with controller support, game saves, and multiplayer rooms. Yes, you can even use a retro handheld like the Retroid Pocket 5, but your mileage will vary compared to on a beefier gaming handheld or a full-blown PC.

That all sounds marvellous, but if you've been keeping up with my retro recomp, decomp, and port coverage, you'll get why I immediately started digging for development details. Resident Evil Outbreak has been playable online using emulation for years, so I initially wasn't sure whether using AI or vibe coding a web browser version would even need to be a thing, but alas, players are sounding the alarm in X posts.

An Outbreakweb Discord server exists for reporting bugs and organizing multiplayer rooms, but questions regarding AI use remain unanswered. The project is seemingly by a developer named “Lucas”, and while not much is known about the individual or any additional devs behind the scenes, a Facebook post credits a "Lucas Gonzalez Falcon."

I should note that since there's no GitHub repository or publicly available code, it's hard to determine whether tools like Claude were used. That's an absolute pain if you're looking for a way to play PS2 games while avoiding AI projects, and it means it's up to the developer to share details so that players can make an informed decision.

Beyond vibe coding shenanigans, the Outbreakweb project also potentially has Capcom to contend with. There's a strong chance that the publisher will take action against the site just like it would with any other instance of unofficial game distribution, meaning you're probably still better off using an emulator. I'm personally planning on pitching up a real PS2 with a CRT in my living room and playing through both games in the lead-up to Halloween, and that sounds like a creepy setup; at least I'm guaranteed to be safe from the horrors of AI.

Swing by the best retro controllers for gamepads that'll bring modern tricks to your original setup.

Ever since Sony raised its prices on PS5 consoles earlier in the year, I've been shouting about refurbished stock. With a console now costing you a minimum of $600 in the lead-up to GTA 6, it's the only way I recommend upgrading in 2026. PS Direct is usually the go-to here, with its sturdy supply of stock and 'Certified Refurbished' designation. Today, it's sweetening the deal a little further.

Here's the offer: buy a certified refurbished PS5 and DualSense together from PS Direct, and you'll save $40 on your total order. That essentially nets you a second gamepad (because one automatically comes in the box anyway) for an extra $20. It's certainly among the cheaper PS5 bundle deals we've seen since those prices increased, but whether it's worth it for you ahead of Black Friday PS5 deals will depend on your setup.

Here's how the same cart would look if you bought everything brand new. A digital edition PS5 costs $599 box-fresh (Amazon), with a DualSense controller sitting at $74 (Amazon). That drops us off at $673 - $155 more expensive than buying everything in PS Direct's current refurbished offer. Swap out that digital edition for a disc version, and you're looking at $723 all in.

As it has been for most of the year, it's pretty clear refurbished PS5 consoles are the way to go if you're upgrading for GTA 6.

Whether or not Sony's current offer will cut the mustard, enough to keep you from waiting until Black Friday later in the year, will depend on whether you actually need that second controller. It's only adding an extra $20 to the final price, but $20 is $20 (that's a full game on a really good day), and without it, the cheapest PS5 stays under that $500 bracket.

Do you need two PS5 controllers?

As the owner of far too many DualSense controllers, I'm going to sound a little hypocritical here. You don't need an extra DualSense controller in your setup. So long as you're conscientious about charging (and assuming you don't play couch co-op), the refurbished DualSense you'll find in the box with your console will do you just fine. The battery life on these things isn't great, lasting about seven hours on average. Unless you're marathoning, though, it's pretty easy to manage with the supplied cable.

Adding that extra controller to your setup does feel nice, though. Unless you're looking for the absolute cheapest way to buy a PS5 ahead of GTA 6, the extra $20 for a spare gamepad is solid value. It's not going to give you the extra features of the best PS5 controllers, but it does have its benefits in battery management and overall longevity.

Being able to keep one charged up while playing with another will make a larger difference for those playing over longer sessions. However, it also spreads your wear and tear across two devices.

The only fault I've noticed with my longstanding gamepads is a slightly stuck Options button. I've personally never experienced drift from DualSense controllers (and I've had one going since 2020), but many have - and picking up refurbished stock is going to put you further down that path than a new device. That's partly why I generally only recommend going straight to Sony for renewed gamepads, after all.

For $20, you're getting a whole second controller to spread that action across, as well as the obvious battery life benefits.

• See all PS5 deals at Amazon

We're also bringing you all the best PS5 accessories available in 2026 and rounding up the best PS5 gifts this holiday season. Check out the best PS5 headsets if you're kitting out a whole setup ahead of GTA 6.

Amazon lists its best-sellers across pretty much every category you could think of, but one battleground becomes particularly competitive this time of year. Thankfully, Hallmark has Master Chief on its side.

The brand typically releases a new retro console holiday ornament every year, and in 2026 we have the translucent green OG Xbox console, complete with a controller and a small Halo stamp in the corner. The 3.5 x 3.5-inch decoration has stormed to the top of the Hanging Ornaments best-seller list, even beating plenty of Halloween supplies in the process.

Pressing the power button lights up your translucent console, while the tiny Xbox plays the original startup sound and Halo 2's Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix. That, alongside its bright green glow, is the main difference between the Halo edition and the original Xbox console Hallmark released separately.

The all-black model still runs the original console startup sound, but lacks that Halo flourish.

The Halo Xbox Hallmark Keepsake has done particularly well in its short life so far. The ornament only hit the shelves a few days ago, so soaring to the top of Amazon's ornament category is quite the achievement. Whether it's Xbox's 25th Anniversary magic (Xbox X25 pre-orders are already difficult enough to get hold of) or a yearning for a time when Xbox didn't charge double digits for capped streaming time, the tiny console is already standing pretty mighty.

Of course, it's not the only retro gaming console to grace the trees of avid Hallmark Keepsake collectors. The brand also has plenty of Zelda, PlayStation, Sega, and even Oregon Trail decorations in its collection.

More Hallmark Keepsake ornaments

• PlayStation | $27.99 at Amazon
• Dreamcast | $27.99 at Amazon
• Oregon Trail | $24.99 at Amazon

We're also rounding up more of the best Xbox gifts this year, as well as the best Nintendo Switch 2 gifts and the best PS5 gifts.

Nacon is launching a new wireless Xbox Series X controller, and you'll be glad to know it's a lot more affordable than the brand's premier Revolution X Unlimited. While that flagship will set you back $199.99 / £199.99, the new Revolution Pro X will only cost $109.99/£109.99. Despite that, it'll give you wireless play, a charging stand, and some fancy features besides.

In a brilliant pat of its own back, Nacon has used the art design of one of its best-selling games to give the new RPX a distinct look. 2025's Hell is Us was published by Nacon, and its iconic patterning found all over its in-game world adorns this controller like it's something out of Hadea itself. I love this, because almost every controller is being marketed with palm trees and a GTA 6-reminiscent look at the moment (just look at the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra 2), but Nacon is backing its own third-person action-adventure, which received a major update in recent weeks.

Admittedly, Nacon is calling this a "Special Edition", so it remains to be seen whether a non-Hell is Us colorway will arrive later. Personally, I think the design does an excellent minimalist job of being a nod for fans without plastering branding for a game all over it.

As a controller, the Revolution Pro X seems to be a rival to the GameSir G7 Pro, despite being a bit more expensive. It offers Xbox and PC play, a charging stand, and two back buttons, but it steers well clear of that $200 price point a lot of Xbox controllers land at.

It's got Hall effect thumbsticks, but what I'm really excited to see is that Nacon has emulated FlyDigi and 8BitDo by making their mechanical tension adjustable by spinning their gates in either direction.

I've tested this on the wired-only FlyDigi Vader 5S, and it's a truly brilliant way to bend your gamepad to different genres. The 8BitDo Ultimate 3 Lavender Dusk also has this feature in its repertoire and, although Nacon claims it's the first to bring this feature to the wireless Xbox controller market, 8BitDo did technically beat it to the punch.

"With the REVOLUTION PRO X – SE, we wanted to offer a full-featured precision controller at a competitive price,” said Yannick Allaert, Director of the Accessories Division at NACON.

“Its joystick tension adjustment, Hall Effect sensors, and micro-switch combine technologies designed to allow every player to tailor their controls to their playing style.”

Somewhat confusingly, this controller replaces an older Nacon Xbox controller called the Nacon Revolution X Pro (this is the Pro X), so be careful you get that right if you go shopping for it later. Right now, it seems to only be available at Nacon's own website.

I'm really excited for folks who are unable to invest $200 in a controller to experience the incredibly tactile and premium microswitch buttons that Nacon uses for its current suite of gamepads. The RPX sports the same, lovely, light-actuating, clicky buttons as its pricier siblings, and I'd argue the feeling of those is worth the $109 price tag on its own.

It's a shame there aren't TMR sticks here, but for a mid-range controller, this should sit really reasonably in the Xbox market. For reference, the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro TE and Scuf Valor Pro Wired are both $100, and while both of those have more buttons for you to play with, wireless play, comfort, and a charging stand could be a real boon for Nacon at this level of the market.

There's more where that came from, - take a peek at the best PS5 controllers and best TMR controllers.

Turtle Beach is launching a Stealth Ultra 2 controller for Xbox and PC, and it looks like it's making some sweeping improvements over the original model, which launched back in early 2024. The first Stealth Ultra was one of the first officially licensed third-party Xbox controllers to integrate a screen and menu system, as well as offer wireless play on the Xbox console.

That said, I've always felt bad for the Stealth Ultra. It was a really solid product, but it faded into obscurity very quickly thanks to a swarm of other third-party gamepads stealing its limelight with similar features. Since then, Turtle Beach acquired rival controller brand PDP, and although the results have mainly been a relaunch of so many of PDP's products under the Turtle Beach banner, it finally feels like innovation and collaboration are coming to fruition.

There seem to have been meaningful changes made to the Stealth Ultra 2. The screen size has been increased and its gimmicky social features removed; its thumbsticks are now TMR and have swappable gate shapes thanks to integrated switches - an Xbox first, but something you could do with PDP's Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox by manually swapping them out.

The metallic, flat D-pad has been exchanged for one with more shape to it; the grips seem to have been lengthened and slimmed down slightly for a more comfortable hold. To my delight, the layout of the back buttons has been swapped from horizontal to vertical, integrating them into the product's refined grips.

There aren't any additional bumpers or side buttons, which might be a disappointment for some players when comparing to the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited or the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, but you do get a charging stand and a carry case with the Stealth Ultra 2. Three-way trigger stop switches also appear, which feels generous considering these are usually limited to one or two levels as opposed to three.

With a now-larger touchscreen on board, it feels like there have been more refinements to Turtle Beach's menu system. Marketing images show button mapping, audio levels, connection, and power settings, but settings for the screen itself and ways to customize the controller's home widgets are also there. It'd be great to see more of an in-depth overview of how this will all work to compare it to other controller screen menus, but Turtle Beach is yet to publish a trailer for the gamepad on its social channels.

Competitive players will be happy to learn that, in wired mode on PC, the Stealth Ultra 2 will be able to achieve an 8,000Hz polling rate, which rivals some of the top-drawer PC controllers I've reviewed this year.

Despite the inclusion of a charging stand, Turtle Beach details that there are Full Power, Balanced, and Eco settings. On Eco mode, you'll get a quoted 34 hours of playtime, albeit without vibration and RGB lighting on. On Full Power, you'll get 10 hours of play with the full suite of features working and lights twinkling.

I look forward to hopefully testing the Stealth Ultra 2 to compare it with the original model, but also evaluating it against the increasing number of feature-rich pro controllers on Xbox's platform at this sort of price range. It feels as though Turtle Beach has used design and customization elements from its experience with the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded to offer something a bit more distinct this time around, but thankfully it's held true to the first Stealth Ultra's price.

This week I published a review of the SteelSeries Aeon Pro which sits at a much higher $250 price range but despite its innovative charging stand hasn't really warranted its price. For that reason, I'm happy to see the Stealth Ultra stick to that established but still pricey $199.99 / £179.99 tag we've seen already.

You can also dive deeper into the rabbit hole by looking at the best TMR controllers, the best PS5 controllers, and the best Switch 2 controllers.

Months after announcing its departure from physical PS5 games in 2028, it looks like Sony just signed the death warrant for another physical media stalwart. The UBP-X700 standalone Blu-ray player will be phased out starting from today, reports Japanese partnered retailer Kunkoku, with only the PS5 Disc Edition remaining in the brand's Blu-ray repertoire.

Recent trends have seen physical media on the rise, with vinyl shelves also now welcoming CDs, DVDs, and even VHS in the homes of those fed up with current streaming service offerings. Coming in the same week Xbox announced its own refinements to streaming pricing, those tired of paying for media they never own will have some new battles to fight in the near future.

As originally noted by FlatPanelsHD, who broke the story earlier today, Sony's departure from the Blu-ray market leaves only Panasonic in charge of mainstream brand offerings. Remaining stock of the 4K UBP-X700 is holding firm at $328 at Amazon while Panasonic's own UB420 4K player comes in at $299.99 (was $369.99). While supplies are still kicking about, there's not much of a price difference between the two brands, though Panasonic's cheaper HD options can undercut Sony at $117.99 (Amazon).

Compare that to the $649.99 cost of a PS5 Disc Edition console, and even those previously sitting firm in Sony's entertainment camp should be jumping ship. Yes, gamers will get the full benefits of the PS5 system (in disc game format, while we're still lucky), but ultimately spending double the price of Panasonic's 4K player if you haven't already been interested enough in Sony's games to warrant the upgrade is going to be difficult to justify.

The removal of Sony's UBP-X700 isn't surprising, but that doesn't make the brand's culling of physical media hurt less. It's more an additional nail in an already pretty secure coffin than an extraordinary business move. While Blu-ray and DVD sales have seen a steady decline since the rise of streaming services, those pushing back against the domination of Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+, and all the other subscription names you see on your bank statement every month are growing in number.

It's not just a TikTok trend; collecting and curating owned physical media is a viable step off the wheels of streamers. With Sony setting out its clear priorities, it seems it's down to its competitors to keep those discs spinning.

• See all Blu-Ray players at Amazon

New to discs? Rosalie's sharing top tips for Blu-Ray collectors.

Did you forget that Gran Turismo 7 existed? Because the PS5's premier racing game is still alive and kicking, to the point where you can now buy a Limited Edition GT7 DualSense controller. Why is it launching four years after the game's release? Because other, bigger games had more popular licenses first, okay? And maybe because it's helping to mark 30 years of this in-depth racing game simulator franchise.

The Limited Edition DualSense is available pretty much wherever you would normally go to buy a PS5 controller - great news! A collectible bit of hardware like this might seem a bit niche, and so you may think it'll be an easy one to find, but remember that Gran Turismo is one of PlayStation's classic franchises that has a pretty quiet but cult-like following. If you're keen to get your hands on this colorway of the DualSense, don't underestimate its potential popularity.

The GT7 Edition of the PS5 controller isn't quite as flashy as some of the other designs for this gamepad we've seen, but it still has plenty of character to it, and a signature pop of color that fans of this franchise will appreciate. It actually looks more like a standard, white DualSense that's had some stickers slapped on it, going hand-in-hand with the game it represents, which sees you collect bits of motoring history in highly polished digital rooms.

Of course, all jokes and smooth Japanese jazz aside, the controller is here to celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary, and there's an almost retro, nostalgic charm to the design here. It's available for pre-order ahead of its December 10 launch for $84.99 / £74.99, like all limited-edition DualSense controllers before it. It's now available in the US and UK, so let's see what retailers are stocking it.

Where to pre-order the Gran Turismo 7 Limited Edition DualSense in the US

US retailers have pulled up to the Grand Prix! What? Too much of a racing pun? I can't promise I won't keep them up for the rest of the article.

You can, of course, grab the new DualSense from PlayStation directly, and that would probably be the safest port of call. Best Buy and Target are also celebrating.

• ✅PlayStation Direct: $84 to Pre-order from Sony
• ✅Best Buy: Pre-order for $84.99
• ✅Target: $84.99 but no collection options

You might be surprised not to see Walmart, Amazon, or GameStop with stock, but I'd keep an eye on these retailers throughout the day, as they usually arrive at DualSense launches in their own time. Thankfully, stock seems to be plentiful, so there's no mad rush to find it.

Where to pre-order the Gran Turismo 7 Limited Edition DualSense in the UK

The GT7 30th Anniversary DualSense is already available in the UK. Hop to the links below to grab one.

• ✅PlayStation Direct: £74.99, straight from the horse's mouth
• ✅Argos: Pre-order for £74.99
• ✅Very: In stock for £74.99
• ✅Currys: £74.99 with store collection options
• ✅Smyths Toys: Pre-order for £74.99

The other retailers to look out for are obviously going to be Amazon, as well as places like TheGameCollection, ShopTo, and even places like O2 and EE. Bizarrely, I've seen B&Q stocking a lot of gaming hardware and controllers lately, so that could be one to watch in a pinch too.

Amazon hasn't joined the launch yet, and that's pretty usual for this sort of thing. Often, its stock allocation will be bigger but will drop after the first batch of retailers. If you're waiting for that sweet, sweet Prime benefit of free delivery, fair dues. I'll update you when you earn your new racing stripes at Amazon. If you're not a Prime member, you're just as good buying from one of the available retailers now while there's plenty of stock.

My take: is it worth pre-ordering the new Limited Edition GT7 DualSense?

Like every limited edition PS5 controller drop, there's going to be two sides to the story. On one side, it's a celebration of a franchise you may be a big fan of, and that's great. If you're a long-term PlayStation gamer and you remember the good ol' days of the original GT games on the first PlayStation consoles, it might be one you're clambering over other shoppers to get - or maybe... racing them to the checkout to buy?

Still, the PlayStation controller reviewer in me feels obliged to tell you there isn't all that much you're going to gain in a practical sense from buying this GT7 one. It's like the other Limited Edition colorways in that it's a cosmetic, collectible timepiece that's going to set you back more money than a regular colorway would. You likely understand that already, but it bears repeating that if you'd rather put your money into more specs, buttons, and features in a controller, there are third-party licensed options that'll give you more bang for your buck.

Remember also that there's a plethora of sim racing wheels you could buy to enhance your enjoyment of the game more than a stock gamepad would allow.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but if I had to be honest, even with its roadster, flight case-adorned sticker aesthetic, the GT7 colorway is a bit of a plain Jane in the pantheon of DualSense colorways, so you could also get a flashier version if you want something bolder.

Again, though, this is a controller that's designed to appeal to long-term Gran Turismo fans, so if you want to celebrate the 30th anniversary of your favorite racing franchise, start your engines.

Hunting for a new gamepad? Seek out the best PC controllers, the best TMR controllers, or the best Xbox Series X controllers with our handy buying guides.

Xbox's 25th Anniversary has spawned a whole army of translucent green gaming gadgets, with brands from 8BitDo to GameSir and Razer getting involved with that iconic '90s aesthetic.

The best part is none of this stuff will cost you the $899.99 going rate of the full Xbox X25 limited edition console, with some special editions coming in cheaper than the X25 controller to boot. You can peer into the internal workings of a Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K gaming mouse, for example, or a simple controller charging dock. Everything carries that same see-through plastic throughout its design, with some kit nodding to those brightly colored face buttons for extra nostalgia.

Prices range from $39.99 for 8BitDo's Ultimate Charging Dock all the way through to $209.99 for Razer's hot-swappable mechanical keyboard. Each one comes with that official Xbox 25 stamp somewhere, so you know it's an officially licensed anniversary edition. What's more, while Xbox X25 console pre-orders continue to evade the shelves all this tech is readily available today. You'll be heading to Amazon for half of this collection, while Razer's gadgets are exclusive to its own store.

We're also rounding up all this year's best Xbox gifts ahead of the holiday season.

I don't think I have to say that an $1,800 Xbox is not okay, but spending time with the Evercade Nexus has personally compounded the absurdity. I enjoy new-fangled consoles and PCs as much as the next hardware editor, and I wouldn't say Blaze's new portable is a direct competitor. However, we're at a stage where rather than just giving the big dogs of the industry our moolah, even when things soar to used-car prices, I'd rather invest in a handheld that's actively trying to project the art of physical, approachable gaming.

I should note that I don't think the Evercade Next is the absolute best retro handheld out there, but that's only if you ignore its underlying portable premise. Yes, it lacks really simple functions like a sleep mode (although Blaze has confirmed that'll come in a firmware patch), and it's missing some premium touches like an OLED display and hall-effect thumbsticks. Nevertheless, we're talking about a console around the same size as a Nintendo Switch that runs physical cartridges in the year 2026, and I know many of you would take that over whatever Xbox Project Helix will do for upwards of $1,800.

Okay, yes, in an ideal world, Blaze's Evercade ecosystem would exist alongside Xbox Helix and the assumed PS6. The main issue I have is that if Fortune's report that the next-gen console could cost "between $1,200 and $1,800" holds true, then many players won't even have a next generation to consider. Plus, when you consider the likelihood that physical gaming won't be a thing on either Sony or Microsoft's platform, not at least with heavy reliance on internet connectivity, the idea of just sticking with Evercade games makes heaps of sense.

The Evercade is anything but new, but it does feel like yesterday that I reviewed the original handheld for a UK national newspaper. Back then, I was skeptical about whether the cartridge-based ecosystem would continue to grow or break free from its relatively bog-standard portable confines. Over 700 game releases and a staggering number of hardware options later, it genuinely feels like Blaze has stealthily become a fully fledged platform, one that could keep providing you with offline access to classics and indie games while we weather RAMageddon.

I should note that this proposal doesn't solely tie to the new Nexus handheld. You could instead opt for the far cheaper Super Pocket since it will run all the same games for $69.99, or you could even get a bit fancy and invest in an Evercade Alpha, a bartop arcade machine that works as its own standalone console (a bit like a modern-day Vectrex).

The reason I'd consider the Evercade Nexus specifically as your daily driver, though, is that it feels closer to a contempoary handheld, and that matters when running ports like the Banjo-Kazooie collection. I wouldn't say the controls are ideal; I'm not personally a big fan of bottom-placed symmetrical sticks, but beyond that, full 3D controls and a larger 5.98-inch IPS screen help quash the notion that it's a novelty device, so you'll think less about modern alternatives.

Now more than ever, companies that do right by players who just want to buy, own, and play games without egregious price tags or caveats deserve your support. Blaze is absolutely on that list, and the fact it is still making brand-new cart releases with full-color manuals, clamshell cases for your shelf, and games ranging from solid emulation-based classics to ground-up native ports is nothing short of spectacular.

Don't get me wrong, I know many of you looking into how to play N64 games or play PS2 games using original hardware or a handheld will look elsewhere. The Nexus is beholden to licensing its own releases, and while that has its perks, many players will already have stacks of games they want to make use of. My main goal here is to simply signal that if you want to keep buying "new" games, but word of $1,800 consoles makes that sound like an impossibility, grabbing a Nexus could tide you over.

And hey, I'd rather replay Banjo-Kazooie and Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver for the millionth time than take out a loan for the next Halo anyway.

Swing by the best retro controllers for modern gamepads with an authentic classic console twist.

A new report suggests that the next-gen Xbox Project Helix console is set to launch by Christmas 2028, and it could cost anywhere between $1,200 and $1,800.

That's according to a report from Fortune. According to the outlet's sources, a next-gen handheld device is set to be released "by the 2027 holiday season," with the main console set to follow in time for the 2028 holidays.

The report additionally suggests that Microsoft's internal projections suggest that the console will "cost consumers between $1,200 and $1,800," though Xbox could choose to subsidize some of that cost, taking a loss on manufacturing the device.

Fortune's sources also suggest that Microsoft's internal engineering deadlines for Project Helix have been moved up by several months, putting pressure on devs to get their work done faster, even if that means using AI.

Additionally, the outlet reports that there have been internal clashes between the Xbox and Windows teams at Microsoft over what software Project Helix should use. The Windows team reportedly wanted the upcoming handheld to use a version of Windows, while the Xbox team wanted to use custom software. To that part of the story, Sharma simply responds, "We can't build Helix on our own."

Sharma has previously described Xbox Project Helix as "a family of devices," but we have not gotten any official details on the planned hardware rollout or potential pricing. With current hardware manufacturing costs being what they are, analysts have been predicting $1,000 consoles for some time now, and these price tags are expected to have a major negative effect on the growth of the next-gen console market for both Xbox and PlayStation.

Meanwhile, Xbox's plan to lay off 3,200 developers continues. Fortune reports that 1,868 of those jobs have been cut so far, with more rounds of layoffs set to occur in October, November, and January.

Xbox Game Pass overhaul would have you pay for add-ons like multiplayer and cloud gaming "ala carte."

I'm probably going to get a lot of hate for this one, but tiny gaming controllers just don't cut it for me. If your algorithm is tuned well to you, you'll probably have heard about the new Xbox Nano controller that Microsoft is launching. I'll be the first to tell you this little thing is absolutely adorable; it's definitely more portable than your bog-standard Xbox Series X controller, and at only $49.99 / £44.99, it's pretty easy on your wallet too.

It's for those reasons that I hate to say it, but it's almost certainly going to suck.

Hi, I'm Duncan. I review controllers for a living, and I'm here to tell you that while cute, tiny gaming hardware is adorable, it's almost never usable for players like me. I love to look at the CRKD Atom+; I love the idea of carrying around the most portable mobile controller in my back pocket, and I love the cozy vibes of playing on a nostalgic handheld in bed at night, but they're all so uncomfortable for me I just struggle to see the point anymore.

The Nano controller Xbox is launching is in that category for me: adorable to look at, amazing and convenient on paper, but something I'd use once, remember the hand cramp it gave me, and then avoid using for the rest of time as it decayed in a drawer while laughing at my wallet.

To be clear, I'm not telling you Xbox will have made a bad gaming peripheral here, or that the new Nano controller won't be worth your time, but I am issuing a word of caution because if you're reading this and you're over the age of 12, you're probably not going to enjoy using it. This thing isn't being made for me or you; probably, it's most likely designed for kids to carry around, or for gaming households that want to be able to have Switch-like gaming sessions that involve the whole family without forking out hundreds on new controllers for each player.

For that reason, I love to see Microsoft coming out with this. Xbox is in a sorry state and has been for a while, and adding more charm, more brand loyalty, and just a bit more whimsy for fans to hold onto is exactly why new CEO Asha Sharma is doing a pretty decent job of turning the ship around - or at least steadying it. It's just a shame new releases like this come a week or two after mass workforce layoffs - those aren't quite so tiny, or cute as the new controller.

I've been testing portable controllers, full-sized gamepads, and everything in between for years, and I can tell you that while every new, tiny controller gets me slightly giddy and filled with childlike wonder, using them is always a different story. I have pretty big hands - nothing freaky or out of the ordinary, but I'm comfortably in the large-hand gang. Wrapping my hands around a Joy-Con controller, for example, is not a pleasant experience. Even holding a Switch or Asus ROG Ally X is a pretty uncomfortable and hand-cramp-inducing affair, so tiny controllers like the Nano Controller, the new VoidJoy GC-P01, the CRKD Atom, or anything that hasn't had a bit more ergonomic oomph thrown at it, actively take me out of whatever game I'm trying to play.

Hell, even Razer's new genius foldable mobile controller, the Prio, which is a feat of engineering, had me so excited. Then I tried using it, and even though it wasn't designed to be the ELO Vagabond, it was still pretty hard to enjoy playing with. These things are not made to be amazing ways to play, and I try to grant them that leeway; they're built to be convenient. But I think there's a line that's crossed with each of them that can be seen even back with the original Backbone One.

In trying to be portable, convenient, and a "quick fix" for gaming on the go, ergonomics, comfort, and usability fly out the window. One of the reasons controllers are either good or bad is that they can be so comfortable they make you forget you're holding one, or so bad they prevent you from enjoying whatever virtual game you're running and jumping around in.

Where this changes, and the new Xbox Nano controller will likely find a market of its own, is with younger players, and that's great! Younger kids will be catered for with the opposite perspective. Expecting a 7-year-old to hold a heavy-duty pro pad like the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited is asking for it to get broken, and it's way too big for them to wrap their wee hands around, so something like the Nano controller is ideal. This is the year 2026; it's okay for us to have Mama bear, Papa bear, and Baby bear controller sizes.

Similarly, I have plenty of guy friends who are trying to get their female partners interested in gaming for the first time, and bigger controllers with tonnes of buttons can be downright intimidating for them. Coordination around a gamepad is already difficult enough to develop at first if you've not been used to it from an early age, so a smaller controller with fewer buttons is probably a much better jumping-off point, or will at least be a more accessible option should people want it. I'll let the hosts of our G+RLS podcast (which you should definitely listen to; be the judge, though).

So if I'm aware of all this, why am I bothering to tell you that the Xbox Nano controller will suck?

Because something happens when we adult gamers get a hit of nostalgia from seeing cutesy gaming memorabilia, and it's our wallets that pay the price. Essentially, I'm giving you tough love here. The Xbox Nano controller isn't for you or me, and that's alright. Just don't go buying it expecting it to be a revolutionary or enjoyable way for any adult to play games because it probably won't be. On the other hand, if you have younger gamers in your life, it's definitely one to keep around.

Want more controller buying tips? Check out the best PC controller, the best PS5 controller, and the best TMR controllers.

The SteelSeries Aeon Pro is the most expensive controller I've come across in my four years of reviewing them professionally. At a cost of $249.99/£229.99, it's about $50/£30 more expensive than a DualSense Edge, Nacon Revolution X Unlimited, and Razer Wolverine V3 and V4 Pro. That means it's about $70 more than the Victrix Pro BFG pads, and a staggering $170 more expensive than the popular GameSir G7 Pro. Even against the most expensive and most recent PS5 controllers like the Scuf Omega and Razer Raiju V3 Pro, SteelSeries is still coming in about $40 higher up the price scale.

I'll be honest, I like the SteelSeries Aeon Pro, but when an Xbox Series X controller is this expensive, it better not miss and hit the wall. SteelSeries has definitely shot its shot with the Aeon Pro. This thing feels distinct; it has a unique identity because it's not afraid to take big swings or just do some things a bit differently. Its charging stand cancels out the need for a carry case because it holds all its parts together. Its removable battery ensures you never run out of charge. Its screen has a bold interface that flies in the face of most on-board gamepad menu systems. All of these things are impressive, but are they $250 impressive? I'm not so sure.

For context, I think even a $200 controller is still way more expensive than it needs to be. That much is clear when brands like GameSir, Gulikit, FlyDigi, and PowerA are charging far, far less than the licensed brands for much the same features on PC. $250 is a lot of money for you to spend on a controller, so let me tell you why you should probably wait for a price drop on this one.

Design

I'd love to say the design of the Aeon Pro feels original since we haven't seen an officially licensed Xbox controller from SteelSeries before, but it's very reminiscent of the GameSir G7 Pro. That is hardly a bad thing, and SteelSeries, whether intentionally or not, has managed to recreate some of the best parts of that popular controller. Particularly in the white colorway, its grey, textured grips are grabby, contrasting beautifully with its eggshell body that feels really sturdy.

The G7 Pro and the OG Xbox Series X pad from Microsoft itself feel like inspirations here, but SteelSeries has absolutely souped up some of its parts in ways that feel unique to this product.

For starters, there are four large, metallic back buttons on the rear of the Aeon Pro. These aren't your average GameSir back buttons that hide away in the grips of the controller, camouflaging themselves into the shape of the handles. These are loud, brushed silver paddles that don't try to blend in neatly in any way, shape, or form. They understand that largesse is easier for your fingers to find when they're wrapping around a controller, and they click in with absolute delight. They draw a lovely line between back buttons and back paddles. They're not quite the magnetic ones found on the Elite Series 2 or the Gulikit KK3 Max; they're non-removable and a signature part of the Aeon Pro's identity, but they're longer levers that actuate with more flexibility, feeling more premium than your average pro controller's back buttons.

That element of metallic design flourish is present elsewhere on the Aeon Pro too. The D-pad, triggers, and bumpers are all a brushed steel vibe, even if they're actually just a different type of plastic and not the real thing. It all offers a temperature contrast to the Aeon Pro's plastic and rubberized textures you find for the most part. If this were a cheaper controller, I'd be applauding the trickery this plays on your brain to make you think more expensive materials have been used, but when this thing costs $250, I end up raising an eyebrow in the same way I would when an unfamiliar charge appears on a bill I need to pay.

Thankfully, the microswitch buttons, which click with a deep, almost "thocc" sound like premium keyboard switches do, feel luxurious. Again, I don't know if I'd argue they feel and sound more premium than the ones on the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited priced at $200, and that's really the crux of the issue with the Aeon's design. It's got top-shelf features, but they're not worth $50 more than its competition.

Unfortunately, there's a design flaw staring you in the face here, and it's the options and in-game menu buttons being at the bottom of the controller's body, not on either side of the integrated screen. I don't care who you are, how expensive your controller is, or how many fancy features you give it. Those buttons should be at the top of the controller, not the bottom.

Yes, I can adjust to this, and have had to for a few controllers that I've reviewed, but it is always, always, objectively wrong to place them here. Twisting the knife is the fact that there is so much space at the top of the body for these buttons to fit.

The Aeon Pro has a deep and long face, which I enjoy the look of. I suspect this was to give the screen a bit more room to glow, but when it isn't actually that large, it feels like there's a lot of dead space bordering it where functionality could have been squeezed in.

Some pause buttons would happily border the OLED display without ruining the Aeon Pro's look.

Features

For years, some of the higher-end wireless Xbox controllers have been shipping with charging stands, but SteelSeries has well and truly broken the mold. The charging stand here is the most robust offering I've seen, acting not only as a place to holster your peripheral between sessions, but a connection hub for your gaming platforms, and as a hold-all for the swappable parts the Aeon Pro has at its disposal.

The Aeon Pro features extremely convenient magnetic thumbstick tops, which are fantastic. I hate swapping out controller thumbsticks because it's such an anxiety-inducing process. You feel like you're going to break something when you pull it off, and putting a new one on takes such a faffy angling process that you're never confident it's on correctly. SteelSeries clearly understands this, and using magnets is absolutely genius to snap on and snap off to your liking. According to Razer and its new Wolverine V4 Pro, however, using magnets so close to the Hall effect thumbstick sensors could cause issues with calibration. I haven't encountered any.

These swappable thumbsticks slot right into the top of the charging stand - a convenient and simple way to keep them safe without warranting the need for a carrying case.

Like a lot of the SteelSeries gaming hardware you might come across on PC, the brand has provided a "limitless" battery life system, which essentially means that you're supplied with all of the capability and means of never running out of battery life, and if you do, it's your fault and not SteelSeries'.

That includes a swappable battery, and a spare that slots into the charging stand too. If you somehow run out of charge in a session and don't use the stand itself to refill, you can remove your battery, replace it with the one in the stand, and hot-swap as you need to. It's a genius system that's hard to fault, but it's another small innovation that I'm not sure warrants the extra $50 SteelSeries is demanding since one or the other (a charging cradle or a spare battery) would have sufficed for a lower cost.

Offer me a "limitless battery life" claim if you want, but when it's on me to make that happen, don't also charge me $50 extra for it.

The charging stand does double as a USB dongle as well, since there's no separate receiver supplied in the Aeon Pro's box. Around the back you'll find an Xbox and PC USB-C port so you can connect to two platforms at once and switch out on the controller's menu depending on which you want to game on. That's a really nice touch for folks who do play across Xbox and PC at the same setup, and could be a reason to buy this particular controller if you find yourself in that section of the gaming Venn diagram. Personally, I haven't found this all too useful and would have much preferred the ability to connect to two different PCs at once. Bluetooth does work great, however.

The thumbsticks here are Hall effect. I'm fine with that, since Hall effect still feels great to play with. Again though, if you're going to charge this much for a controller, I expect to see the gold standard of TMR sticks included, thank you very much.

Like many other gamepads these days, there's an integrated screen and menu system. I do like this; it uses bold lettering and clever haptic feedback to help you navigate, which goes against the norm of tiny text and janky but navigable menu systems on most of these controllers. It feels like it has a purpose by easily helping you connect via Bluetooth, Xbox, or PC, but it's nothing revolutionary, which again, for a product of this price, maybe should be. The Manba One's menu still did it better, even if the haptics and navigability on the Aeon Pro are among the clearer and more satisfying controller settings menus I've tested. When the Genki Manta eventually launches, I fear both might become irrelevant anyway.

Rounding up the rest of the features, there's wireless charging, a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB charging, and two trigger stop switches.

Performance

The Aeon Pro is a very comfortable and usable controller across the board. I played about 4 hours of Big Walk with two friends using this controller in my hands, and time melted away without me realizing. That's the sort of experience you can have with it; it'll provide plenty of functionality and decent comfort for general gaming needs, and you won't complain about a thing. I think sometimes, the best controllers are the ones you don't notice or even have to think about; they work and let you immerse yourself in the game you're playing, and the Aeon Pro does that.

As a controller that's trying to be an all-rounder for console and PC play, the Aeon Pro succeeds. Its swappable thumbstick tops are super easy to use and feel like a breath of fresh air. Its microswitch buttons are well cushioned and feel responsive. Its grips wick moisture well and help you hold it securely. It looks nice on a desk, adding a touch of class to your setup. Platformers, exploration games, driving games- they all work really well with this controller, and for anything you're looking to casually kick back and enjoy alone or with friends, the haptics are precise and add a good layer of feel to the mix.

As for anything more? I think the Aeon Pro falls flat, and with its aforementioned price tag, it should be offering you more. As a controller for FPS games like Hunt: Showdown or Titanfall 2, I don't think the back buttons/paddles help as much as they should. I even found this in challenging singleplayer games like TowerFall Ascension and Control Resonant. Despite their clicky actuation and bold design, the lower back buttons especially take a bit too much force for my ring fingers to press in an instant. That leaves me feeling like I'm lacking the twitchy speed a controller like this should give me, and it feels like my gameplay suffers as a result.

The Aeon Pro doesn't feel as responsive in Control Resonant as the FlyDigi Apex 5 or the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited do, and both are more affordable. Perhaps more telling is that both of those alternatives have two additional bumper buttons as well as four back buttons, so they outclass the Aeon Pro for less money. For a bit of context on how I come to that judgment, let me explain.

In Control Resonant, you use the dodge button a lot. I map my "B" button to the right-hand additional bumper on these sorts of pro controllers, with the back buttons filling in UI and other combat or movement abilities. I can do that on cheaper alternatives to the Aeon Pro, but I can't do that here because there aren't additional bumpers, and yet it costs more. Combat gets significantly more difficult and feels clunkier, then, because my right thumb is going to have to come off its stick all the time to press dodge.

Then, I need to pause the game, and my thumb hits absolutely nothing on the top right of the gamepad. Remembering the awkward button placement, I clumsily bump my thumb on the right stick on its way down to the bottom of the controller, and I remember that price tag again. If I had paid for this controller and not been supplied with it by SteelSeries, I'd feel a bit like a clown putting on his makeup for throwing so much money at it.

There are lots of more affordable options that are an objectively better bargain than the Aeon Pro if you're after absolute speed and responsiveness. It seems to have misplaced priorities that are invested in comfort and connection convenience, not functionality.

That just about sums up my experience with the Aeon Pro; for anything relaxed, like driving in GTA, Cyberpunk, or Forza, you'll have a great time. For light platforming, exploring a big open world, playing a sports game like Tennis Elbow 4, or narrative-driven first-person games, it offers a premium feel and good comfort. The issue is that a $40 gaming peripheral can offer you great experiences across those sorts of genres too, so why should I recommend this to you for $210 more?

For players who want to top leaderboards, improve KD ratios, and best their time trial records, there are so many more affordable controllers I'd recommend over this one, and that's the problem with SteelSeries pricing this thing so high. There's a great controller to be had here, and if it were even $200, this review would be very different. But it doesn't give you enough to warrant its expense. Yes, the charging stand is excellent; it's cool having a swappable battery, and magnetic thumbstick tops honestly rule. But they don't feel like they warrant the extra expense when the gamepad itself isn't as good as the cheaper competition.

Should you buy the SteelSeries Aeon Pro?

If you're going to charge significantly more than the competition, it better be for a good reason.

That's the golden rule with any product, but in a competitive market like that of Xbox and PC controllers, it's especially true. Having tested the Aeon Pro for a few weeks now, I find it hard to pinpoint why it costs so substantially more than its rivals, and that's an issue.

While the SteelSeries Aeon Pro has a lot going for it, I feel as though SteelSeries has slightly misjudged where its priorities should be. It might demand a higher cost because of its innovative charging stand/accessories hub and spare battery, but I would have been more open to paying a premium if there were more additional buttons and TMR thumbsticks on top of the clever innovations the brand has made. If it were like the Steam Controller and offered some funky PC navigation, or extra ways to use it and make life easier, sure, charge more, but the Aeon Pro doesn't do any of that.

As it stands, the Aeon Pro is an great, truly comfortable controller, but it's not the best controller. Being the priciest, that makes it difficult to recommend. Once the price inevitably drops because no one can afford it, or when it hits the discount shelf, it'll be a better investment, but until then, shop for something else.

How I tested the SteelSeries Aeon Pro

I used the Aeon Pro for all of my gaming for about two weeks before writing this review. I tested it across PC and VR platforms, using it in all sorts of gaming genres to see how it fared. While I compared it closely to other premium Xbox controllers in how it performed, I also used my knowledge of the controller market to evaluate it and drew from my four years of experience as a gamepad reviewer.

For more on how we test controllers, take a look at the GamesRadar+ hardware policy.

You can see some more alternatives by looking at the best TMR controllers, or the best PS5 controllers.

The first time I 'dropped in,' as the kids say, I was 21, and Epic had launched their fancy new Battle Royale for a weekend. It was the first time I realized I might not have the skillz to take on the gaming youth. Despite being booted out of Fortnite's age range long ago, GameSir's latest range of X5 Lite and G8 Plus mobile controllers is still calling to me this afternoon.

The brand has launched six new colorways of its two iOS and Android gamepads, split between the more premium G8 Plus model and the cheaper X5 Lite. The thing is, ignoring that great big Fortnite logo in the middle (that's where your phone goes anyway), these actually look great even without their individual character context.

Take that black and green X5 Lite ($49.99 at GameSir), for example. Sure, it's got that handsome fella all the kids seem to like across the middle, but it's also sporting a slick translucent smoke gray design with a clean-looking khaki green to complement it. Even the brighter designs of the Peely Edition G8 Plus ($89.99 at GameSir) feel fresh, with its bold yellow and blue screaming out.

Some are easier to slide under the Fortnite radar than others, yes. That Peely version does have the game's name stamped across the right grip and a banana-styled logo along the back of the device itself. If I didn't know some of these were collabs, though, I'd think they were just darn groovy gamepads.

I love me some bright colors and translucent plastics, and with brand after brand hooking up with major franchises to offer a new spin on classic tech, I'm always on the lookout for new designs. While many take their source material and plaster it all over your tech, though, GameSir's Fortnite collab brings its own design punch to the party, separate from Epic's mega-playground. If you do happen to be a Fortnite fan, I tip my bonnet to you; may your reflexes remain sharp well into your 30s. However, you'll also be glad to hear each controller comes with its own virtual item, from gliders to emotes.

You're looking at either $50 or $90 for these controllers, so if those bright colors and translucent designs are piquing interest - what's the difference?

The GameSir G8 Plus gives you a little more room to work with, extending those grips down for more comfortable play during longer sessions. It also ships with a wireless dongle for use with a PC and easily connects to a Nintendo Switch as well, if you're after an all-in-one controller for play at home and on the go. This is the gamepad our very own Rosalie ditched the Joy-Con for a while back, upgrading the original gamepads for Hall effect thumbsticks, extra back buttons, and a far more ergonomic shape.

The cheaper GameSir X5 Lite keeps those durable sticks but squashes the design into a smaller form factor. That's going to be better for those with smaller hands, but it does mean those back buttons have to go. There's a trick up this guy's sleeve, for those pairing their mobile controller with one of the best gaming phones from a more competitive standpoint. Unlike the G8 Plus, the X5 Lite uses a physical USB-C connection to keep your gamepad going. That means lower latency in high-speed scenarios, with passthrough charging to keep your phone juiced up at the same time. It's also important to note that the X5 Lite isn't compatible with PC or Nintendo Switch due to the lack of wireless connection.

Both devices can stretch to hold most smartphones in between their grips, with the G8 Plus moving a little wider (215mm compared to 213mm). That means some of the best gaming tablets (under 8 inches) like the RedMagic Astra 2 are catered for here as well.

Both the GameSir G8 Plus and GameSir X5 Lite Fortnite Editions are available now via the brand's own store, with listing pages also live at Amazon (though no stock at the time of writing).

Our favorite mobile controllers:

• ELO Vagabond | $99.99 at Amazon
• GameSir G8 Galileo | $79.99 at Amazon
• Razer Kishi V3 Pro | $149.99 $125.99 at Amazon

Looking for more portable play? We're also rounding up all the best gaming earbuds to take with you as well as the best gaming handhelds.

As I constantly have a wireless speaker in my pocket at all times in the shape of my smartphone, I've felt little desire to pick up a standalone one in 2026. Yet a week with the new Pokemon Special Edition Beats Pill has reminded me that portable audio sounds better when it's not tinny and draining the valuable battery of my Android-based phone.

The Pokemon Special Edition £149.99 (via Apple) speaker launched last week, swapping its plain coloring for a Pikachu and Mimikyu design across its grill, and even a small Pokeball sitting on the strap. Naturally, slapping Pokemon on tech gets my attention, but the speaker managed to grab and keep it by providing not just a cute design, but a sublime sound that has changed my friends' and I's gaming nights forever.

The speaker became the star of my weekend. I took it over to my friend's house as we queued up an evening of hanging out to get our minds off the scary world around us. As it's the Halloween season, I hastily grabbed and brought over some good scares in the form of Chucky: The Game (2025) by Goliath Games, and packed the speaker just in case.

I'm glad I thought to pack it, as it became the perfect addition to get us into the 'zone' for some spooky fun. I used the Beats Pill to play some Chucky-themed ambience in the background, which consisted of audio clips from the Child's Play/Chucky franchise played over thunder and rain sounds. It sounded fine coming through the speakers of my Samsung S26 phone, but the Pill's neodymium-powered woofer brought out the true nuance of the track. It sounded booming, but not overpowering, and there was no residual tininess to be found.

There were plenty of moments where we were contemplating cards to flip over, only to hear the quiet mumbling of Chucky's cheeky voice, which felt like it was playing all around us. The louder I made the speaker, the more nuance to the audio we could hear and the more scared we got. Better yet, there were absolutely zero unwanted vibrations coming from the speaker to the table to bring us out of the spooky mindset. Which is likely thanks to the speaker's handy 20‑degree upward tilt.

We could have easily played the same sounds through my friend's TV or my phone, but the lack of that tinny, unpleasant audio helped us get absorbed into the Chucky fun. Its portability also meant it was easy to move out of the way when we needed more table space, and that alone has me set on bringing it to every board game night going forward, spooky-themed or otherwise.

I grew up trying out a ton of Bluetooth speakers and typically ignored Dr Dre's audio lineup due to its pricing. Yet I'm glad I got to finally put the Pill to the test, as its fantastic sound makes all people's comments over the years feel justified. I only wish there was a matching Pokemon bag to carry it around with, as I don't want to use my phone's speaker for anything but phone calls ever again, but also don't want to risk damaging the grill's adorable Pokemon-themed art.

This weekend I'm going camping, and you can get bet the Pokemon Beats Pill will be first on my list of things to pack. We won't be playing any spooky Chucky games as I don't want to get too frightened while hanging out in the Scottish wilderness. Yet, I'm looking forward to being able to listen to music with my friends in a quality that manages to bring out the nuance in anything and everything.

Maybe this time we'll play some actual Pokemon audio through the Pikachu and Mimikyu-printed grill to make our weekend feel more fitting. No matter what we decide, you can bet I'll be choosing this Beats Pill as my speaker of choice.

• View all Beats Pill speakers at Apple

Love high-quality audio? Check out our guides to the best gaming headsets, which include some of the best Nintendo Switch headsets to pair with your favorite Pokemon games.

Mini PCs haven't been shielded from this year's price increases, but the GMKTec K8 Plus still manages to pose a serious threat to Valve's $1,000+ Steam Machine. The AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS box launched a good few years ago, but has nevertheless risen to fame among those looking for a lightweight gaming experience. Its sturdy 1080p performance across some of the most demanding games on the market keeps it fiercely competitive with both cheaper alternatives and more expensive mainstream devices, even if the days of a $500 price tag are long behind us.

The K8 Plus used to be a steady $400 - $500 device, but the 32GB RAM version I've been testing is now more likely to be found between $750 and $900. If you spot it on a good day, though, it could be one of the few last bastions of entry-level PC gaming - assuming you're happy rolling the dice on its WiFi card.

With the best gaming PCs running you thousands of dollars and the best gaming laptops seeing their own inflations, many are looking to integrated GPUs to see them through these troubling years. The GMKTec K8 Plus does much more than its Radeon 780M would suggest, though. With easy upgradeability, a rare Oculink port for additional eGPU access, and a cooling system equipped to deal with gaming's larger challenges, the K8 Plus could give the Steam Machine something serious to think about.

Configurations

This far into the GMKTec K8 Plus's lifespan, there are only two configurations that sit with consistency on the shelves. Both use the AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS, an octa-core processor with 16 threads and a 54W TDP, partnered with the brand's Radeon 780M integrated graphics. However, the 16GB DDR5 5600MHz RAM model is often available for a couple hundred bucks less than the 32GB version I've been testing.

As it stands, the model sat on my test bench will run you somewhere between $750 and $950 depending on sales (note Amazon's listings generally drop you down to 512GB of storage), whereas the cheaper alternative can drop things down to around $600.

Design

The GMKTec K8 Plus keeps the same compact form factor you'd expect from a mini PC, with a 58mm height and a pretty square 127 x 132 mm depth and width. It's small enough to sit neatly under a monitor or to one side, though its port placements might get in the way of such a neat setup.

I was initially nervous about the transparent plastic top floating just over the top edge of the main chassis. The twist-off cap provides easy access to four top screws for entry into the main compartment, housing the system's main fan right up top. You'll either love it or hate it.

I can see how those going for a cleaner, more professional look might balk at the plastic hat, but the convenience it brings to the table is undeniable. Plus, anyone bored of the homogeneous box aesthetic will be glad of the more unique design choice here.

Twisting the lid counter-clockwise provides a satisfying snap as it lifts away from the main body of the device, and replacing it is as simple as lining everything up and twisting in the opposite direction.

Everything around that lid also feels solid. A metal casing keeps things looking premium on the desk and in the hands, while that bold green power button provides a little relief from the all-black design. My only concern is the printed 'GMKTec' logo positioned diagonally across the top right edge, which cheapens the aesthetic a little.

Features

The GMKTec K8 Plus has three main weapons in its arsenal: its ability to host a whole bunch of external displays, its Oculink port, and its upgradeability.

Ports aren't plentiful here though; you'll find similarly-sized options with more USB-As on offer around the back. You're still getting two USB-A 2.0 connections for more permanent accessories as well as two USB 3.2s at the front for easier access as well. On paper, those dual USB 4 slots are holding their own as well, and we haven't even mentioned the twin RJ45 Ethernet slots.

Tallying those connections with the HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort, you've got space for up to four external displays to run here - perfect for those building a more substantial workstation from a smaller device.

That's not all, though. The front of the device also plays host to an Oculink connection, a rarity even across mini PCs designed more specifically around gaming. It allows you to (probably later down the line, looking at current GPU prices) attach an external GPU for a boost in performance should you require it. It's also a boon for those building a home NAS server, allowing for additional SATA connections.

Port placement could present some concerns here. The USB 4 required for that final fourth external display is positioned around the front, next to the Oculink. It's a small gripe, but that's going to make for a slightly messier setup when everything's firing on all cylinders. I would have loved to see at least the Oculink's more permanent connection situated out of sight towards the back.

Finally, that aforementioned twist-off lid provides easy access to RAM and storage upgrades. Once you've got those four screws holding the fan down away you're in to swap out for up to 96GB of SODIMM memory and up to 4TB of M.2 2280 storage.

Performance

The GMKTec K8 Plus can hold its own in lighter games, speeding through Restory, Stardew Valley, and Islanders with only a little stutter here and there. It's a perfectly playable experience for these less demanding games, often at a lower price than you'd find elsewhere on the market.

Putting the K8 Plus to the test against something a little meatier shows its limits, though. It still holds its own in full Triple-A releases, as long as they're a little older, slimmer, or offer additional optimization tools.

Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, and Cyberpunk 2077 hold their own in the 40-fps range when under Medium settings here. That's not the super smooth 60fps many aim for, but it's running - and with prices the way they are, I'll certainly take it.

Yes, things fall off a cliff slightly when we get to High graphical settings - though Tomb Raider manages to hold its own here much better than the heavier titles in my benchmarking roster.

Suffice to say, the GMKTec K8 Plus will run a sturdy Steam library, but you'll need to be taking advantage of additional FSR tools baked into that Radeon 780M GPU to reach the kinds of speeds you'll find in more expensive machines. If you just play lighter indie titles, though, you're pretty set.

The GMKTec K8 Plus doesn't just want to play your games, though. This is a compact mini PC designed to power through day-to-day productivity as well. AMD's components scored 2,218 in their single core Geekbench 7 benchmark here, with 13,410 in multi-core performance. Considering the size and price point, that's certainly a result in GMKTec's favor.

Unfortunately, there's one glaring issue I ran into almost every day when running the GMKTec K8 Plus. This thing's WiFi card is fried. While it can hold its own in day-to-day web browsing, downloads represent a particular challenge for the out-the-box connectivity, often requiring me to leave it running overnight for a job that would take most other machines an hour or so. The K8 Plus allows for WiFi card upgrades, and it's not an expensive part to replace, but I'd factor the cost into this rig's price tag before checkout.

Should you buy the GMKTec K8 Plus?

If you're willing to roll the dice on those internet speeds, or swap out your WiFi card straight from the off, the GMKTec K8 Plus actually represents solid value in today's market. It's going to hold its own against the Steam Machine in day-to-day 1080p performance, while coming in remarkably cheaper (especially on its best days). You'll also enjoy the benefits of a full Windows productivity suite for your cash, as well as that easy-access upgradeability - not to mention the flexibility of that Oculink port later down the line.

How I tested the GMKTec K8 Plus

I've had the GMKTec K8 Plus on my desk for two weeks, running the mini PC for all my work and most of my play during that time. Aside from a few Doom: The Dark Ages and Planet Coaster 2 skirmishes, this hub has been my destination for lighter gaming across Stardew Valley, Islanders, and Restory, with in-game benchmarks tested at both high and medium graphical settings in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, and Cyberpunk 2077. The CPU was also tested using Geekbench 7. Each of these benchmarks was performed three times, with the final result representing an average of all runs.

For more information on how we make our recommendations, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

We're also running through the best gaming handhelds for something even more portable, as well as the best mobile controllers and best gaming tablets.

You know what they say, bundle it with Banjo, and they will come. That’s pretty much the headline draw of the Evercade Nexus: Blaze’s grand foray into the fully fledged world of early 3D retro handheld gaming, and, if I’m being real, the N64 collectathon is all some players need to pick one up. However, as a proud portable console parental figure who has watched the cartridge-based system grow up over the past few years, I’d say the platform has more to offer as it becomes an awkward teenager.

Daft analogies aside, the Evercade Nexus has the potential to become one of the best retro handhelds around, but it has some growing up to do. I mean that with love and support, as the portable console builds on what the OG handheld, Super Pocket, and EXP have already achieved. Turns out adding a pair of thumbsticks, a pretty cromulent 5.89-inch IPS 840 × 512 display with elevated brightness, and tricks like Bluetooth and multiplayer Wi-Fi can take a system to the next level, but that means transferring the same school as many other $200 brutes.

I don’t think $199.99 / £169.99 is an egregious price for the Nexus given its access to over 750 classic games and its overall contribution to physical gaming. The latter means I’m certainly willing to overlook some smaller caveats in the name of keeping true ownership in the hands of players via pretty fun collectable cartridges. The latest handheld also proves that Blaze is more than capable of venturing beyond the fifth generation of consoles and beyond, suggesting that the ecosystem is here to stay, but I’d avoid directly comparing this latest portable to its ROM-wielding rivals.

Here’s what’s Nex(us)

I’ve got fond memories of freeing the OG Evercade from its cardboard prison back in 2020 to review it for a national UK newspaper segment. At the time, I recall wondering what Blaze could do next with the 2D-focussed portable, and while I was rooting for the cartridge-based platform actually taking hold, I figured the hardware would need to evolve.

And evolve it did, but not quite in the pattern I was expecting. While we’ve now been graced with a much larger handheld that’s comparable to the Nintendo Switch in size and form factor, Blaze clearly decided to bide its time and focus on grabbing very specific groups of retro sickso, like the coin-ops crowd with the Evercade Alpha, couch dwellers with the Evercade VS, and budget button bashers with the Super Pocket.

That’s not to say it sidelined its core handheld ambitions, as it has been slowly simmering the broth with the improved Evercade EXP-R. The Nexus is the first device from Blaze that screams “next-gen”, though, and while the company continues to squeeze juice out of the same innards it's been using for all its gadgets, this newbie really is a different beast.

I could compare the Nexus to a zillion handhelds out there, and if I’m being particularly mean-spirited, I could say it looks like a Wii U mini. Rather than using the latter as a gag, though, I reckon it’s best used to describe how the large 5.89-inch display dominates the centre of the handheld, while the chonker-than-average sides exist to provide you with something solid to grip from the front. It should be all eyes on that screen, and given the platform's new quest to expand into 3D games, blowing up those visuals makes a ton of sense.

The screen isn’t massive, but it’s certainly big enough. Depending on the size of your mits, the handheld’s side lugs will vanish as you grip the front. Trust me when I say you will need to use your thenar muscle to hold on to the portable since the back passes on ergonomic grips, meaning you’re holding something more like a solid slab. That sounds like it’ll upset your hands, but so far, I’ve yet to feel any specific strain compared to using a Switch or any other handheld that doesn’t include ergonomic humps around back.

I am sort of surprised Blaze didn’t try to tap into classic portable designs with the Nexus, instead going for something that ultimately looks contemporary. This isn’t a departure since the OG Evercade also went with its own arcade-inspired aesthetic rather than paying homage to anything specifically. That said, it does somehow feel like it’s trying to tap into what our hands all collectively love about gaming handheld mammoths like the Steam Deck OLED while trying to maintain the portability of both larger emulation portables and conventional contenders like the Switch.

Whether it actually achieves that goal is somewhat subjective. The figures certainly suggest so since it weighs in at 410g, sitting nicely between a Switch Lite and larger handheld gaming PCs. It even takes a middle ground on feel, straddling between the more plastic-heavy cheaper devices and the full-body feel of something more substantial. You could argue it should be going for the latter for $200, but so long as it’s not committing hollow-feeling cardinal sins, I’m on board for some deliberate plastic-based bulk.

Gaining control

The key here is that the Nexus’ controls are designed to facilitate “early” 3D, rather than covering console generations that bring us closer to the present day. Yes, it includes thumbsticks, but it sticks with smaller Switch-style sticks rather than making room for full-sized gaming handheld controls. That, and the fact that it chose not to go with at least hall-effect sensors, something I’d absolutely say is now a standard, is a bummer, but at the same time, the decision makes sense in the context of its current library.

I could harp on about how I’m not super into the bottom placement of the thumbsticks for balance reasons or the distance that then introduces between the bumpers and triggers. But, after spending a lot of time playing Banjo-Kazooie and its sequel while comparing them to the N64 original and other ports, it’s clear that the layout is a nice fit for the specific platformers now landing within the library.

In Banjo’s case, I found using the right stick for camera controls to be slightly cumbersome due to the above face button placement and the aforementioned downward balance quirks, but quickly realized the L and R buttons make for a more authentic feel anyway. I personally appreciate the way that if you choose not to leverage the secondary thumbstick, the handheld feels more like a single-stick setup geared specifically towards ‘90s capers, and just like with controllers like the 8Bitdo N64 controller, the setup manages to feel that bit more authentic.

I can’t guarantee Blaze even meant this, nor am I convinced everyone will see the bright side in what is otherwise not an ideal layout. Had the Nexus launched alongside a bunch of later re-releases, particularly those that rely on that stick for contemporary camera controls, it’d be in a spot of bother. The layout hits the spot for the era now being covered by the Evercade, though, all while not omitting any specific buttons in the name of needless nostalgia.

As for my overarching feelings on everything accompanying the sticks, the Nexus pretty much sticks to the Evercade handheld script. The membrane-based buttons feel nice and tactile, offering up taller domes sitting within a bowl recess to keep things from protruding too much. Blaze has actually changed up the D-pad since its EXP-R and OG portable, as it’s also taller, slightly larger, and has a wider floating pivot than before. It’s not the nicest set of directionals I’ve ever had the pleasure of using, and it can be fully pressed in the middle rather than being completely on a pivot, resulting in some stiffness if your thumb is at the centre, but it’s still pretty serviceable in fighting games and arcade romps.

The digital clicky triggers feel fine, but as previously mentioned, the distance from the sticks makes them a little hard to wield. There aren’t too many games that make the bumpers and triggers mandatory, but the new DOOM collection does default to a modern FPS control scheme, and I could feel my aging hands having to extend vertically to swing around hell while aiming my boom stick.

First-time frills

3D-orientated controls aren’t the only thing making their debut with this handheld, as the Evercade Nexus acts as an introduction to quite a few portable perks. Some of these boons are more valuable than others, as while the customizable RGB logo at the front is a nice touch and doubles up as a battery life indicator, I can’t say I’d miss it. The real meat and potatoes ties to wireless connectivity, with the main course being the new Eversync local co-op feature.

Eversync is a prime example of Blaze extracting something innovative modern-day consoles are doing in the space, namely the Nintendo Switch’s local multiplayer functionality, and retrofitting it for the Evercade platform. While you might pick up a VS-R specifically for its same-room couch co-op, this handheld bridges the compatibility gap for when you want to play multiplayer carts with friends.

There’s a slight catch-22 in that EverSync will only really feel beneficial if plenty of players actually pick up a Nexus. I guess there’s an element of self-marketing in that if you do spend $200 on the portable, you’ll potentially nudge your pals to do the same so you can reap the full wireless benefits. If that doesn’t happen, though, the feature will likely fade into the background and become less of a reason to have invested in the portable in the first place.

The Nexus’ other big new trick is wireless audio connectivity via Bluetooth, and I have really mixed feelings on its inclusion. You could say it’s a no-brainer in 2026, as fewer players have wired headphones that’ll slot right into the 3.5mm jack. At the same time, it’s a feature that likely impacted the end MSRP, and if you’re already into old-school setups, chances are you’d be a-ok with using a corded set of buds or phones. Plus, as I’m about to get to with the way the OS works, you can’t simply jump into the global settings if your headset disconnects while playing something like Banjo-Kazooie.

One smaller element that has survived between the EXP-R and Nexus is the TATE mode for vertical arcade games. The dedicated button still sits proud on the front row, meaning you can still technically play shmups like Truxton while filling more of the 5.89-inch display. The downside is that the Nexus ditches the option grip and lacks the extra left-hand A and B buttons, meaning you’ll have to use the default buttons and a thumbstick. This is fine for casual play, but I’d rather play those tough shooters with a D-pad.

HDMI hang-ups

I’ll keep my complaints about the Nexus’ lack of HDMI output brief, as Blaze has already given up on handheld video output. I’ve come to accept the fact that it’s simpler to just remove the port from the EXP range since it has been historically plagued with issues, but I feel like the Nexus should double up as a home console. Part of that comes down to its price point, but it also feels like not making the device dockable, in turn allowing players to hook up the shiny new Evercade Dual Thumbstick Wireless Controller, is a missed opportunity.

Would all of that likely drive up pricing? Absolutely. It’s important to be realistic amid the current climate, and unfortunately, the impact of AI on everything means we can’t have nice things. The Nexus is an unwilling participant in RAMageddon, and I’m confident if Blaze could pull off expanded features while keeping the MSRP sensible, it would do so.

Sleep mode slip-ups

Blaze has been using the same Linux-based operating system for its Evercade range since 2021. The VS HDMI console brought with it the side-menu interface that went on to power the Alpha arcade machine and, now, the Nexus, but I really figured the OS would have evolved somewhat for this handheld.

I’ll admit that I foolishly took common Linux/Android features before realizing they’re not a guarantee, and one of those perks is sleep mode. The idea of not being able to hit the power button, suspend everything in motion, then return to what you were doing later is unfathomable if you’re using a smartphone or another portable console, but the Evercade Nexus completely lacks this ability.

I know some of you will be immediately shouting about how sleep mode on Evercade consoles isn’t possible thanks to the cartridge system. I’d be willing to buy that argument if plenty of handhelds hadn’t already included suspend and resume before now that use physical games (PSP, DS, and even the much newer Analogue Pocket), not to mention the games are completely dumped into memory upon boot. I suspect the real reason stems from using the same hardware and Kernel pairing since 2020. Whether that means updates that usher in a proper sleep mode are still on the table remains to be seen, but having to completely power up and down the Nexus between sessions feels pretty archaic.

An otherwise slick OS

Credit where credit is due, the Nexus’ operating system feels like proper console software. It avoids feeling like a Linux or Android reskin, something that might fuel the idea of buying something by Anbernic or Retroid, and while there are cons tied to that, it still feels like you’re playing on a proper independent platform.

It’s the small digital library touches that link to physical games rather than downloads that help the Nexus’ OS shine. From the basics like tracking what you own to hidden and downloadable “Game of the Month” releases to tide you over between cart pickups, the handheld’s software feels pretty alive compared to cartridge-based systems of yore.

The portable’s OS really is pleasant to use, and far snappier than you’d expect from something with 512MB RAM and a standard quad-core chipset. I’ve certainly used front-ends on more powerful hardware that feel a little sluggish, but then again, this isn’t an ordinary handheld, and that becomes more apparent when you hop from home to cart. As much as it pains me to say it, the only slow part of the whole experience is loading cartridge games themselves, since the handheld dumps the contents into memory rather than running straight from the source.

It’s a hard one to explain to those of you unacquainted with Evercade handhelds, but booting games is almost like an operating system swap. When you load up a cart, you’re diving into either a bespoke wrapper for running a ROM or a native port, and that means you won’t always be able to hop back into the main menus for access to things like brightness, aspect ratio, or even scanlines. In fact, the latter highlights that unless a game specifically supports the visual overlay, it won’t kick in after boot, and that’s the case for the Banjo-Kazooie double pack.

What the Nexus perhaps needed, or could use, to achieve a perfect portable score is an overarching HUD, one that can remain after you’ve swapped the handheld’s consciousness for a cart. The current setup makes Evercade consoles feel like something from the sixth generation, and I’ve been far too spoiled by dashboards since the early 2000s.

In an ideal world, the menu button would present players with a pop-up side menu for accessing base settings, or at the very least the brightness toggle, while in-game. I could be jumping the gun here, as we could end up with these features creeping in with future Nexus updates. That’s the beauty of having Wi-Fi for OS updates, but alas, I can only judge what’s currently on the plate.

The power of optimization

The Evercade Nexus aims to prove the same portable point as its predecessors in that optimization can triumph over brute specs. The retro handheld scene has gotten real comfortable with increasing horsepower until emulators can run classics at full speed without any quirks, whereas Blaze continues to impress with its bespoke cartridge system and bespoke ports.

Of course, waiting for Blaze to strike licensing deals and dial in those emulators for specific releases will slow you down. That’s not a caveat; it’s more just a reality tied to traditional game releases and ports that makes sense outside of DIY emulation perks. At the same time, it’s that same process that will save you from historically rough-looking N64 results on most devices and the onus of using the right settings and specs.

Not to keep banging the Banjo drum, but the Nintendo 64 compilation is the perfect launch title for the Evercade Nexus. In 2026, it’s easier to play N64 games in general, but in previous years, emulating Ninty’s old console was a nightmare. It technically still is if you aren’t using a relatively high-end handheld, but by teaming up with Rare, Blaze has managed to prove you can get platformers like this running at 60fps with zero quirks.

While a chunk of the Evercade library uses ROMs and emulation wrappers, that isn’t the case for Banjo-Kazooie and its sequel. Rare has instead created a native port for Blaze’s hardware using the OG source code, and that’s absolutely bananas when you think about it. We’re not talking about a massive monolith in the industry here; we’re talking about a handheld maker from the UK that has built a platform that now has enhanced versions of retro games, and that is absolutely worth celebrating.

That’s not to say you can’t get good results with emulation, but running a Banjo-Kazooie ROM will certainly pale in comparison to Rare’s custom widescreen, 60fps enhanced Evercade port. Even on something high-end like the Retroid Pocket 5, the N64 collectathon is stuck at half the frame rate without intervention, and even then, there are plenty of visual texture glitches tied to frame buffering to deal with.

All of this boils down to a specific truth: tailored ports normally reign supreme, and while the Evercade library still largely leverages emulation, the Nexus sets the stage for more bespoke releases. Banjo-Tooie isn’t even the latest cart that uses original source code, as the new DOOM collection is also built from the ground up, and the boomer shooter feels slick thanks to the portable’s beefier controls, thumbstick support, and the back digital triggers.

The overarching message with the Nexus is that Blaze is striving to continually pair enhanced hardware with solid releases without disrupting backwards compatibility. I’m pretty impressed it has managed to stretch its core hardware this far, even though that comes with some functionality caveats, to say the least. But there’s something honorable about a handheld that puts its existing library and core player base first over trying to accelerate, and that really helps put some of the big console dogs in this industry to shame.

I want to wrap up the whole performance side of the Nexus by touching on the battery. In my tests, I was able to squeeze around 4 hours out of the 5,000 mAh cells before reaching for a USB-C charger. That's the average runtime while putting the portable through its paces with Banjo-Kazooie/Banjo-Tooie sessions,

Should you pick up the Evercade Nexus?

I’ve no qualms with calling the Evercade Nexus Blaze’s best handheld yet, helping both the existing library and shiny new ports shine through enhanced hardware. At the same time, I stand by my initial comments that the portable platform is about to go through an awkward teenage phase as it tries to grow out of its old habits and adopt the same functionality as its competitors.

There’s absolutely still room for the Evercade Nexus to improve and become its absolute best self. For instance, if Blaze can patch in some sort of sleep feature and find a way to make global settings accessible regardless of the cart you’re using, then we’ll be looking at a standout alternative to emulation-based devices. However, if those perks don’t make their way to the portable via a future software update, I feel like Evercade fans and newbies alike will be wondering what’s “next” after the Nexus.

As things currently stand, the Nexus is absolutely worth investing in if you’re serious about the Evercade ecosystem or want to support one of the last bastions of physical gaming. Caveats like the fact that you’re getting a traditional (but serviceable) LCD display, standard potentiometer thumbsticks, and no HDMI output will matter most if you’re also considering an existing Android or Linux contender, but otherwise, you’re still getting the best Evercade experience yet from this new handheld.

How I tested the Evercade Nexus

Throughout my time with the Evercade Nexus, I used the handheld with multiple cartridges, including the new Banjo-Kazooie double pack and DOOM collection, to assess its ergonomics, features, performance, and overall user experience. To test the screen, I used the portable to play games in all lighting conditions, including outdoors and indoors with different illumination, while also keeping track of elements like battery life, perceivable frame rates, and general operating system stability.

For more information on how we test retro handhelds and other gadgets, swing by our full GamesRadar+ hardware policy.

Casetify doesn't shy away from a collab, and neither does Hideo Kojima, so it's a wonder it's taken this long for the two to come together. Taking on the iPhone 18 Pro Max (with a few iPhone 18 Pro options mixed in), the new range plasters Death Stranding 2 all over your phone case. Didn't sell your soul for the latest Apple flagship? The series also transfers its designs over to everything from luggage to charging stands and earbud cases.

This is Casetify, though, so none of these gadgets go particularly easy on the wallet. Prices start at $32 for those earbud pouches (a cheaper Ludens Duck keychain would have run you $24 before it ran out of stock), and run all the way up to a whopping $799 for a carry-on suitcase. If you're going all in on the new collection, there's also a series of accessory sets covering you for each product selection in one go (with a few bundled savings up for grabs).

Easily the most impressive piece is this BB Pod AirPods case. The whole thing snaps around your charging case in a particularly satisfying glow of orange, with all the tiny details you'd expect from the Death Stranding art department. This is a headline of the collection, but it's already sold out at its $56 standalone price (it's still available as part of the $170 Dollman Plush Set).

The designs, produced with both Kojima and art director Yoji Shinkawa, span 11 collections:

• Fragile Express
• DHV Magellan
• Ghost Mech
• Ludens Emblem
• Yoji Shinkawa Art Editions
• Drawbridge
• Bridges
• Neon Signs
• Cargo ID
• Damage Sensor
• Design Patch

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max cases cover the majority of the designs here, with both the brand's Impact and Ultra Impact cases covered by the collection. Prices vary from $64 through to $84 on the iPhone 18 Pro Max front.

At the cheapest end of the spectrum, though, is the KJP Earbuds Pouch. This little AirPods holder is designed to hang onto a belt or bag loop, adding a little extra flair to that charging case. Is it an essential? Hell no, but Death Stranding fans can still gussy it up with some Ludens iconography.

The final accessory before we hit $100 is the 2-in-1 charging stand, available in both Ludens Emblem and Damage Sensor Tape designs. $92 is certainly a lot to spend on a single charging stand when multi-accessory MagSafe chargers are available for far less elsewhere. Still, they don't come with Kojima's design stamped all over them.

Casetify's collection of crossbody bags takes us past the $100 price barrier, jumping up to $169 for one of these limited-edition designs. The Design Patch model is a go-to here, in my humble opinion, with the Bounce model offering up space for your everyday essentials in a hard-shell form factor.

Right at the top of the price bracket, we have the Bounce Suitcase, available with a particularly striking Cargo ID design. This is a big spend, and those looking to drop $800 on new luggage might be better off heading to a more specialist manufacturer with that kind of budget. If you're here for Kojima and find yourself with some megabucks to spend, though, this is the jewel of the collection.

Want something more geared towards playing your games? Check out the best gaming phones and best gaming earbuds on the market right now.

Xbox X25 controller stock is still widely available today, and with launch upon us many a player will be wrapping their hands around these translucent green grips.

Not only that, but Xbox has also announced an exclusive dynamic background unlocked with both the gamepad and ultra-limited edition console (launching later this year). Announced on X, the wallpaper brings back those circular shapes of the OG with that bold green breathing in and out as well.

Thankfully, you're spoilt for choice if you're looking to buy the Xbox X25 controller this morning. Uncharacteristically, these gamepads are still in stock across both the US and UK. After selling out particularly quickly when pre-orders first dropped at the end of August, the gamepad has been MIA for a few weeks.

Anyone looking to get their hands on this tasty translucent green design can do so at a number of retailers across the web. I've scoured through the retailers with X25 controller stock live on the shelves, hunting down the stores with the fastest (and free-est) deliveries. In the US, you'll want to head to Walmart and Best Buy, both (at the time of writing) still holding the vans for either same-day pickup or delivery. Meanwhile, the UK stock hunters should head to Amazon.

Xbox X25 controller stock in the US

Xbox X25 controller stock in the UK