Speaking in a new podcast entry regarding all of the recent Switch 2 leaks and how they may be affecting Nintendo, Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang speculate that the company is almost certainly discouraged by the situation. According to Ellis, the leaks have spiraled out of control due to Nintendo's "mindset that they could control everything." Yang agrees, saying that there was "always" a dangerous mentality of "we're different."

"The fact of the matter is they're not different than any other company," explains Yang. In other words, Nintendo isn't immune to leaks - and the Switch 2 only serves as proof. It all hits even harder, as both Ellis and Krysta describe, thanks to the company's love of surprise. "In terms of inside Nintendo … that sense of surprise is so valuable and so important," says Ellis. "We would hear 30-minute lectures [on] the value of surprise."

As for how Nintendo is handling the leaks now that they're out and about, Yang reveals that she's "100% sure that they are really mad - to the most severe level." The former lead then states that the company is "very, very, very upset by this." Throughout the podcast, both Ellis and Yang continue to stress how significant surprise is to Nintendo and how much work goes into maintaining that element, even without the threat of leaks.

Taking all of what's said into consideration, it's understandable that Nintendo isn't thrilled by all of the recent leaks. With a possible Switch 2 reveal coming this week, there's no telling what has and hasn't been legitimate - from blurry images to lengthy text threads claiming to contain truthful insight into the new console, it feels impossible to discern what's real and what isn't. Hopefully, Nintendo will share more itself soon.

Here are the best Nintendo Switch games to play right now while you wait for more news.

With the big day likely fast approaching, I can’t help but look back at every console, and handheld, that came before. I’ve been playing Nintendo consoles since I could stand on two legs (and have the photo to prove it), from the NES all the way up to where we are today. That over 30 years worth of experience showed me a wealth of features I can only Nintendo as given serious thought to when it come to the development of their newly anticipated console.

Here are ten things I hope Nintendo has learned from its previous hardware, that I hope will see a return when the Switch 2 finally comes our way.

10. How to make a good eShop (and serve retro games on it)

The Nintendo eShop on the Switch isn’t the first digital storefront that’s existed on a Nintendo console (that award goes to the Nintendo Wii) but it is the worst. Even before it was clogged up with AI-slop and dubious jigsaw puzzle titles, using the eShop has always been a bob-omb-shaped minefield.

Right from the start, the eShop has always felt incredibly slow to run, especially against its 3DS and its eShop counterpart. Even loading up the virtual storefront can take more than a few minutes of your time. On top of that, the tedious experience of navigating through the new releases or sales charts is then so painful that it’s led to me giving up and dealing with delivery wait times for physical releases.

Not only is it slow to use, but since the Switch, there’s no way to buy older Nintendo games on the current eShop. The Wii, 3DS, and WiiU allowed you to digitally purchase ‘virtual console’ games from Nintendo’s massive back catalog, and they’d forever be playable on your system. With every passing generation, you did have to re-buy games from the previous system, but afterward, they were yours to enjoy as your leisure.

The Nintendo Switch, however, introduced Nintendo Switch Online. You have to be an NSO member, which requires an ongoing fee of $3.99 a month/$7.99 for three months, or $19.99 for a year, for access to the NES, SNES, and Game Boy game libraries. To get your hands on the additional Game Boy Advance, Genesis (Mega Drive), and SNES libraries, that’s a payment of $49.99 for the whole year.

There are methods to make it more affordable, and you do get access to the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe DLC among other discounts and benefits, but not everyone wants to be part of yet another gaming subscription. Giving back the ability to buy older games singularly on the store with the Switch 2 will be a welcome return, especially for those who want to relive the nostalgia of games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time or Super Mario Land on the Game Boy without being tied to another costly gaming service.

9. How to take advantage of portability for extra experiences

Streetpass was one of the most innovative additions to the Nintendo 3DS. The built-in software allowed you to connect with friends over your handheld, even in sleep mode. Every time you walked by another friend, random in the street or fellow Nintendo comic-con goer, the 3DS would send a burst of data to the other.

This data would then populate their Miis into your device, and allow you to play free games. In the early days of the 3DS, nothing was more fun than attending comic and anime conventions with your handheld in tow. After attending the same local events, you’d end up running into the same people as before, which gave you heroes to hire in the RPG Streetpass Quest, or additional puzzle pieces in Puzzle Swap.

This extra gameplay wasa massive incentive to bring your 3DS with you everywhere you went and gave you plenty to play in between waiting for major first-party Nintendo game releases.

The current Switch and its many models are already one of the best ways to play games on the go, but the incentive to pull it out while commuting on work trips isn’t always present. For one, the Switch is a lot bigger than the 3DS, and that’s likely to continue with the upgraded console-handheld hybrid. Yet, having a ton of built-in games that rely on connecting with friends, without a doubt would have me reaching for the Switch 2 every chance I get.

8. The importance of backwards compatibility

One of the undoubtedly greatest features of the Nintendo Wii was its backwards compatibility. I was fortunate enough to have a parent remember to pre-order mine in time for launch on December 8, 2006, and as much as I was excited to play my newly acquired copy of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, I was equally as excited to still be able to play my collection of GameCube games on the, then, revolutionary console.

The Wii was compatible with GameCube game discs, and by popping open the top you had access to not one, but four GameCube controller ports - not to mention the two memory card slots behind that. At the time, this meant that I could continue to rack up my 2,000 hours worth of playtime in Super Smash Bros Melee, and have access to my entire GameCube library whenever I felt like it.

Having continued access to my GameCube games, and save files, meant a lot when my Wii game library didn’t end up as beefy as other teens I knew. Luckily, Nintendo has at least confirmed some semblance of this for the Switch successor.

On a X/Twitter posted shared on November 6, 2024, Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa posted on November 6, 2024 that Nintendo Switch software “will also be playable on the successor to Nintendo Switch” including Nintendo Switch Online.. However, further details on the Switch 2’s compatibility would be explained at a later date. While this is great news on the compatibility front, it wasn’t yet stated if, like the Nintendo Wii, this also meant that physical games from the previous generation would be compatible.

Having access to not just our digital game library, but all of our physical Switch carts on the new console would be ideal at a time when not everyone can budget for the latest and greatest gaming tech. Cheap games, which continue to drop prices could still be picked up and played, and titles late into the Switch’s lifespan, from The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Mario & Luigi: Brothership could have a longer lease of life.

7. The power of the OLED

The release of the Nintendo Switch OLED on October 8, 2021, breathed new life into the aging handheld. It wasn’t until I personally made the upgrade from my original Switch to the Tears of the Kingdom OLED model that the green hues of Link’s new outfit really popped, and even the Switch UI looked crisper and more vivid than ever. After owning the OLED model for many months now, I can’t imagine switching back to an LCD screen, and as a result, my original Switch has been left to collect dust.

With the Switch 2, Nintendo has the opportunity to integrate an OLED display from the get-go and I really hope they do. While this would undoubtedly be a costly endeavor, at least providing the option at launch for those who would want it would provide the best of both worlds. Typically, however, they like to wait a few years before providing an upgraded version of their hardware.

The OLED Switch itself was released four years after the original Switch. Years before, the Nintendo 3DS, which launched in 2011, didn’t see its next-step upgrade with a 1.2xbigger screen until 2015. With these past examples, it’s likely we’ll have another iteration of the Switch 2 with some minor improvements in the future, I just hope the new console will make a splash with an OLED display right from the start instead.

6. Amiibo support matters

Amiibos, as we know them today, were originally unveiled at E3 2014 alongside Super Mario Bros Brawl on the WiiU. Thanks to the NFC reader hidden on the left side of the WiiU gamepad, you can read and utilize the data on adorable, sculpted official Nintendo figures and unlock extra content or features in your favorite Nintendo games. In the time since the WiiU era, there are now approximately 857 amiibos figures (and cards), according to the Unofficial Amiibo Databse website.

Of those 857 amiibo figures and collector cards, I only own over 100 myself. That’s even after collecting them shortly after the first wave was made available. Since the original Smash Bros figures, the sculpts and detail present on Amiibos have dramatically improved and they’ve become one of the most treasured collector items I own, but Nintendo isn’t pumping them out often as they used to.

Major releases, like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Mario & Luigi: Brothership have come and gone without any Amiibo figures of their own. Luckily, We don’t yet know if the Switch 2 will have an NFC reader of its own to carry on the Amiibo trend that the Wii, WiiU, 3DS and Switch started.

Without Amiibo support a lot of functionality on older games will be useless. So far, Nintendo has confirmed backwards compatibility with Nintendo software, so I can only hope this means I can still have chests rain down from the sky in Breath of Wild when tapping my beloved Zelda amiibos, or have Wolf Link follow me around when the new console releases.

5. Themes are worth it

Even after eight years of the Switch, we’ve still never had one important feature - themes. To this day, if you load up your handheld you can change between light and dark modes, and that’s all you get. There was light on the horizon when Nintendo included the ability to create and organize folders during the ver. 14.0.0 software update released in March, 2022, however as of writing, themes are nowhere to be found.

Again, this is where the 3DS shined. The eShop was full of official themes for the handheld. These themes came with background images for both screens, and even animations, background music and sounds which would play as you opened and closed your handheld.

My absolute favorite theme from this time was the Chao theme from Sonic the Hedgehog. With it installed, the top screen would run through a series of expressions made by the cute creature as you scrolled through your 3DS game library. Meanwhile, an adorable face would make up the bottom screen and change through expressions of its own while a track from the Chao Garden from the game, Sonic Adventure 2 Battle, would play in the background.

Having themes on the Switch 2 would open it up to better levels of customization than the previous console, and allow Ninty fans to truly make the device their own.

4. Everyone loves a Nintendo gimmick

Nintendo is known for basing their hardware around a unique, and charming gimmick. From the motion gameplay of the Nintendo Wii and its Wii Mote controllers, the 3D slider of the 3DS that didn’t require glasses, to the WiiU and its gamepad with a built-in screen.

The Nintendo Switch,of course, had one of the most unique ‘gimmicks’ of all, combining a home console and handheld into one single machine. While a relatively new concept at the time, the Switch has since inspired a whole new wave of handhelds, from the Steam Deck to the Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw, all of which can be used portably, or hooked up to a dock.

It’s more important than ever for Nintendo to give us a spin on the Switch 2 that’ll make it stand out from the increasingly crowded handheld space. Of course, there are always the first-party Nintendo games, from new entries in the Super Mario, Metroid, and Legend of Zelda series that’ll likely never see the light of day anywhere else to attract people to Nintendo’s hardware alone. But a new fresh gimmick and unique feature for the Switch 2 could help push it into the hands of people, like myself, who have let the Switch fall to the wayside to pick up the Steam Deck instead.

3. It’s best to keep costs low

The Nintendo Switch stood out from other consoles of its generation for a multitude of reasons, but its more affordable cost was definitely a key factor. When it originally launched back in March 3, 2017, the handheld had an MSRP of $299.99 in the US, and £279.99 in the UK. This was marginally more budget-friendly than Sony’s PS4, which hit shelves for $399.99 / £349, and the PS4 Slim which launched for the same price just a year before the Switch.

While it was released years before, the Xbox One was the priciest of the lot, coming in at $499 when it was released in November 2013. Both the Xbox One and PS4 are bigger pixel-pushers and that tech comes at a price, but a console that also transformed into a handheld, that was cheaper than its rivals, definitely aided the Switch to become the big seller that it is known as today.

Keeping the Switch 2 affordable could mean the absence of some well-requested features, like the aforementioned OLED display, but I could forgo the display of my Nintendo-shaped dreams if it meant more fans could get access to the upcoming device.

2. The New 3DS proved even a small upgrade can go a long way

Over time, as to be expected, the Nintendo Switch has been showing its age, putting pressure on the Switch 2 to bring some well-needed technical upgrades.

As it stands I have no big trouble playing recent releases on my OLED Switch. Echoes of Wisdom, for example, looks beautiful on the handheld but the regular slow down and frame rate issues are hard to ignore. Every time you take a spin through the lush Hyrule environment, the frame rate staggers, disrupting your sense of immersion and overall enjoyment of the game.

These issues aren’t unique to Echoes of Wisdom either, and the prospect that everything I play isn’t going to look as optimal as it could is one of the reasons why I reached for my Steam Deck more throughout most of 2024,

All the rumors surrounding the Switch 2 at least hint that we’ll see some graphical and performance upgrades that will help make it a worthwhile pickup. Activision emails as far back as 2022 mentioned that the console’s specs will be “closer” to that of the PS4 and Xbox One, which is more than enough to separate itself from current Switch performance. More recently, a patent filed by Nintendo in July 2023, and discovered by journalist Laura Kate Dale, outlines the use of machine learning tech. This tech suggests the upcoming console could come equipped with its own DLS-style feature, which would more than help improve the framerate issues that have plagued the Switch for years.

The Switch 2 is never going to be the highest-powered handheld out there, especially at a time when PC gaming handhelds are releasing left, right, and center. However, not having to worry about ugly and often non-existent anti-aliasing, bad frame rates, and performance issues will go a long way in securing the Switch 2 a place in my Nintendo-loving heart.

1. Launch games matter

Having a fantastic series of launch titles up and ready can make a huge difference to the overall success of a console, and Nintendo knows that firsthand. The original Switch debuted with games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the charming Snipperclips, and later Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, ARMS, and Splatoon 2. While two of these games originated on the WiiU, it was still a packed line-up with something to suit everyone.

I didn’t get my Switch until shortly after the release of Super Mario Odyssey later that same year, but you can bet I’d have been easily kept busy with the Switch launch lineup. The WiiU lineup was even busier but relied more on third-party releases and lacked the first-party support you’d expect of a brand-new console.

From the get-go, the WiiU launch window featured games such as Assassins Creed 3 and ZombiU. While I absolutely adore the latter and still play the subsequent port on the regular, it was surprising to see a lack of many actual Nintendo games. There was, at least, Nintendo Land and New Super Mario Bros. U to carry out the roster, but these lukewarm releases are partially why I myself waited a while before grabbing a WiiU of my own.

Despite the ridiculous amount of leaks and rumors surrounding the Switch 2, however, we know very little about the games we’ll see at launch. So far, we can only speculate that games like Pokemon Legends Z-A will be available from the beginning, mainly because of it being officially confirmed to come to “Nintendo Systems” this year. There’s also speculation that the highly anticipated Metroid Prime 4 could be a launch title, as eight year old pre-orders have been canceled right before the Switch 2 rumor mill went full force.

It’s been ample time since the release of one of the best platforms I’ve played to date, Super Mario Odyssey, and Animal Crossing is well due another game in its series after New Horizons, but I can only hazard a guess as to what Nintendo is cooking. Any launch games, or any projected Switch 2 games at all, have been a well-hidden secret. I just have my fingers crossed that a juicy launch lineup will put the Switch 2 in a good position to be just as successful as its predecessor.

If you're fine and happy sticking with your current Switch, check out our guide to the best microSD cards to give it a worthwhile storage boost. We've also gathered the best Switch accessories and best Switch controllers in one place to help you make the most of Nintendo's older handheld.

In a statement posted to Twitter today, FuturLab CEO Kirsty Rigden confirmed that PowerWash Simulator VR won't receive any more updates or DLC going forward, though the base game and all released DLC will remain purchasable and playable as normal. If you want to start playing the game or keep playing it, you will be able to.

"We absolutely love and believe in VR, so this doesn't mean that we won't support it in the future but we aren't able to continue with support right now," Rigden says. "We have been faced with a crossroads: we have a truly excellent and kind VR team who were working on a platform which costs us more than it makes, while also having a list of job openings that were looking to be filled on other projects. We took the decision to redeploy our VR team into those other projects/roles."

When you put it on the scales, Rigden says "I will always choose job security for my team" over maximum multiplatform support. The returns on VR simply made the platform unviable for this game – a candid assessment of technology that has grown and improved considerably since the earliest headsets, but has yet to reach critical mass or truly break into the mainstream. PowerWash Simulator is a huge success, the VR version was a standout among the Meta Quest 3 lineup, and it's well-rated on the Meta store, but even FuturLab could only keep it up for so long.

VR remains a relatively minor enthusiast market compared to traditional gaming hardware, and it's still dealing with a problem that will sound familiar to anyone who's struggled to find a job because they need experience to get a job. For VR gaming specifically, you need enough good games to attract enough players to sell enough headsets to bring in enough developers to make good games, all without pricing people out or making them fall over from nausea. It's a hard problem to solve, and it hasn't fully been solved yet. Singular experiences like Half-Life: Alyx and evergreen hits like Beat Saber have moved the needle, and options like PSVR2 at least put VR next to mainstream hardware as a cool attachment (with a fairly low attach rate), but VR hasn't yet exploded the way some emphatic early proponents probably would've hoped.

These are the best VR games you can play today.

Although its AI co-host was hinted at toward the end of last year (I first saw it in a press briefing for different Logi gear a few months ago), the company wheeled out a trailer for its upcoming Intelligent Streaming Assistant at this year's CES. It's being made in partnership with Nvidia (of graphics card fame) and Inworld AI, an engine geared at games and media.

After installing the extension application in the Streamlabs app store, you'll be greeted with an AI assistant - talking avatar and all. From there, you have control over whether this virtual assistant will act like your producer or co-host. If you so please, it can hurl cheeky comments your way in front of your viewers, it can read and organize your chat, and it can call back to moments from your previous streams, either sharing or taking clips.

In producer mode, chat won't be able to hear or see your assistant - or at least it doesn't seem that way in the trailer. But it will be able to help you organize sounds, switch your scenes, or even help you troubleshoot technical problems with the best streaming gear.

I must admit, there's a part of me that's sort of intrigued by that last part. Switching between various bits of broadcasting gear can be a nightmare, and working out the problems when one of the best microphones doesn't match up with one of the best streaming mixers, for example, can cause massive headaches. Depending on how good this AI assistant actually is at sussing out problems within Streamlabs, it might be worthwhile to have just for setting things up correctly.

But for all the potential utility of having a Jarvis to help me broadcast my gameplay, my heebies were well and truly jeebied when I saw the trailer last week. Like with so many AI models being widely adopted without regulation, I have big concerns when it comes to things like data mining, consent, and in this instance, potential copyright issues for streamers.

After reaching out to Streamlabs for clarification, I'm a little less worried, but I'll still give this a suspicious side-eye glare. I'm told that none of the three parent companies will try to claim ownership of the content that's created when this bot is active, which is reassuring. In fact, it seems like any data collection to improve the model will be an opt-in affair, as Inworld will ask for permission before analyzing performance, resolving technical issues, or anything else.

That's good for the creator, but what about the audience? My concern upon seeing this chatbot read back over previous stream interactions was that if it was using what the audience says to improve its model, shouldn't viewers be alerted to that fact? Streamlabs tells me that it recommends the content creator should make viewers aware that this AI is active, but the assistant will be transparent that it is AI-powered.

Of course, there is another part of this virtual sidekick that's giving me the fear, and it's the way it looks. I'm told the goal for Streamlabs is to make it completely customizable in terms of appearance, so if you don't want this dead-behind-the-eyes, stripey shirt guy who really needs to invest in a good beard trimmer, you may be off the hook.

I'm also told that in time, you'll be able to change the personality and functionality of this AI co-host as well, which may be a more agreeable solution for those content creators who don't want to be casually roasted for bad gameplay like the poor streamer in the trailer above.

Maybe I need to get more used to uncanny valley AI avatars like this, but they seriously unsettle me - perhaps the ability to remove the avatar and just have a disembodied voice would be better. Then again, it probably isn't the avatar's inhuman mouth movements that are unsettling me, it's just the rapid adoption of this technology that's giving me a stomach ache.

For now, I think I'll be sticking to Nightbot in my livestreams because I enjoy running my livestream without a talking head that's funnier than I am. Seriously, stop trying to upstage me - my live streams are my time to shine.

For more streaming accessories, check out the best capture cards, the best green screens, and the best webcams.

Should you buy a PS5 Pro in 2025?

Investing in a pricey console or brand-new games just after the holidays can be risky - especially if you're still recuperating from all the cash you spent on gifts, food, and a cheeky drink or two just weeks before. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit that even days after the bells rang on New Year's Day, I was ordering some PS5 games myself. (I couldn't say no to a physical Japanese import of Slitterhead.)

Some deals are worth not skipping out on, and if I wasn't saving up every spare bit of cash now for the inevitable Nintendo Switch 2 release this year, I'd be clicking 'add to basket' to this PS5 Pro deal in seconds.

While the PS5 Pro is a digital-only console, you can grab the official disc drive for the best of both worlds. This is great news for anyone like myself, who prefers physical games, and who still wants to play that impressive game collection they've been building up in the last four years. Getting hold of one can be tricky, as they sell out fast, but luckily the Pro has 2TB worth of storage from the get-go - which is ideal if you also like to download your fair share of PS Plus Premium titles.

Every time Fortnite needs an upgrade, or I want to try out this month's latest PS Plus additions, I have to free up space on my launch model PS5. But with 2TB at my disposal, I wouldn't have to put up with that annoyance anymore which is worth any price Sony can offer. If 2TB isn't enough, the Pro is also just as easily upgradable as every model before it. You can pick up a PS5-compatible SSD and give it enough space to contain your entire gaming backlog.

While I'm very much satisfied by how stunning my launch model PS5 makes my favorite games like Astro Bot and Tekken 8 look, after almost four years with Sony's current-gen console, I could do with some performance graphical upgrades. Our very own Tabitha Baker stated in her PS5 Pro review, that "games look better on this device, and - more noticeably from my testing - they run smoother" which is enough to get me questioning if I should save for Switch 2 and a PS5 Pro this year.

There is the caveat that, to notice these slight improvements, you'll need a gaming setup where you often get up close and personal with your TV or gaming monitor. Tabitha further explains that the differences are "subtle" and that she was "impressed by them when I’m sitting an inch away from the screen, but I don’t expect them to make much of a difference in my overall enjoyment when I just want to sling some webs, spells, or Swingshots from the couch." With that in mind, anyone looking to integrate the Pro to a setup where they're always face-to-face with their monitor is more likely to get their money's worth.

Even with this current deal, a price tag of £659 is still a big ask. However, with January already halfway through, and winter sales coming to an end, it could be your last chance to grab the PS5 Pro for this cheap. Plus, you can always invest that saved £40 into shaving off some cash from an additional DualSense controller, or any PS5 game you've had your eyes on.

Already happy with your current PS5? Check out our guide to the best SSDs for PS5 to give your Sony console a worthwhile storage boost. We've also gathered the best PS5 controllers and the best PS5 headset so you can pair your beloved Sony console with the best peripherals we've got our hands on.

In a recent CES 2025 press briefing, Indian Express (paywalled article) delves into Alienware gaming handheld comments made by General Manager Matt McGowan. Rather than diving straight into portable PCs, the Dell GM first conceded that the Switch has a "clear advantage" within the scene. He then praises the console for featuring a lightweight design and providing a "seamless experience" in terms of games and software - two reasons why it's still my best gaming handheld pick overall even in 2025.

As for McGowan's take on handhelds like the Steam Deck OLED, he believes that portable PCs don't "quite meet all those factors." He then serves up a sort of backhanded comment by stating they "do an okay job," before proclaiming he isn't satisfied with that.

Ultimately, the Dell GM shoots down any notion of an Alienware handheld using the current format. He recognizes that "people are willing to accept those deficiencies," in systems like the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go, but affirms that it's "not a step we are willing to take yet." McGowan rounds off the comment with a bit of a quip, suggesting the company doesn't want to say "Hey, consumer, this is good enough, right?" while presenting a portable PC on par with current options.

Will Dell release an Alienware handheld gaming PC?

Dell hasn't outright dismissed the idea of an Alienware gaming handheld, but the company appears hesitant to enter the space. It's clear to me that the PC brand has thought long and hard about the format in general, and all signs point towards it not wanting to come third to the Switch and Steam Deck.

That's not to say we won't see an Alienware handheld gaming PC eventually. It's more that Dell will want to offer a balanced device without glaring caveats. I love devices like the Steam Deck, but trade-offs like battery life give the hardware genre an experimental vibe.

Do I think it's possible to build a portable PC with no pitfalls? The short answer is no, and I don't think aiming for such heights is productive. Rather than using the notion that the Switch performance "meets expectations for the Nintendo ecosystem," as a reason not to compete with the Steam Deck, I'd prefer to see Alienware innovate within the handheld space by serving the growing player base an elevated experience.

Why can't Dell be the company to better balance runtime and portable PC performance? Perhaps it feels like current APU and battery life tech isn't quite up to scratch yet. I'll be asking myself that very question as I get hands-on with new AMD Ryzen Z2 devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S, especially since the launch marks a new generation of handheld gaming PCs.

Already got Valve's handheld? Swing by the best Steam Deck accessories and best Steam Deck dock. Alternatively, check out the best Alienware gaming PC if you want an out of this world rig.

In practice though, I’ve always found Razer’s controllers to ever so slightly miss the mark, either misplacing their back buttons or ultimately feeling cheaper than their premium price tags should suggest. The Wolverine V3 Pro feels like a new chapter though, and it’s making a serious play for a spot on our best PC controller list. This is a peripheral that shows Razer has gone back to the drawing board, listened to feedback from fans and critics, and genuinely improved upon its product.

Even the price has been refined, although I’m not sure people will be any happier with the result. The Razer Wolverine V2 Pro on PS5 costs $249 / £249, but the enhanced V3 Pro has managed to adhere to the $200 / £200 mark. If that’s still too much for you, Razer has made a Tournament Edition which skimps on a few features but comes in at just $99.99 / £99.99. Are all of these improvements enough in a market that’s stacked with affordable competition?

Design

The design ethos behind the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro was to convert the speed and performance from Razer’s successful mice and keyboards into an Xbox Series X controller. After all, controller players are constantly mocked for not being able to keep up with traditional PC players, but if they have the speed of mechanical switches from Esports mice at their fingertips, maybe that’ll give them the boost they need.

In shape and size, the V3 Pro feels similar to the previous Wolverine models. It has that slightly bloated, more rounded feel in the hands than the stock Xbox controllers, but the new version feels more robust and professional than the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro ever has. I always find that Razer’s PS5 controller has a fairly hollow feel to it, and its metallic thumbstick guards create an echoed clacking sound that doesn’t do much to justify its high price tag. The V3 Pro sounds much tougher, and although I don’t like its $200 demands, it at least feels like a premium peripheral. Besides maybe the PowerA Advantage Controller, I can’t think of another gamepad I’d bet money on surviving a Mous case-style drop test.

The grips have a rubberized hexed texture that doesn’t over-exert itself. The GameSir Kaleid Flux controller has that 3D dotted texture on its grips which sometimes makes your hands itch, but the V3 doesn’t go that far. Despite some refined ergonomics elsewhere in the package, I’m a tad disappointed that the grips haven’t been elongated since previous Wolverines. My pinky fingers don’t feel catered to with this pad, which becomes more of a problem now that the back buttons are placed properly.

To be completely frank, the back button placement on the older Wolverine models is completely nonsensical. They live on the controller’s back plate, but they’re central and are placed far too high up. The result is a pair of unruly half-triggers that pay no mind to how a human being actually holds a controller. The back buttons in the V3 models feel like the biggest improvement of the entire product because they sit exactly where your middle and ring fingers naturally rest. I find I can either curl my fingers to press these with their tips, or I can have a more relaxed hold and actuate the buttons with the insides of my DIP joints.

Features

The Razer Wolverine V3 Pro is an officially licensed Xbox controller, which means it’s available to use with that console and ecosystem, as well as PC. Razer, like more and more peripheral makers these days, has skirted around that annoying stipulation for Xbox controllers that means they can only use a wired connection. The V3 Pro is a wireless option that comes with a USB dongle, but most competitive PC players might be drawn to a wired connection anyway since it can reach a 1000Hz polling rate when tethered. The more affordable Tournament Edition is locked to a wired-only connection, so this is worth weighing up if you’re trying to decide which controller to go for.

There’s clearly a lot of thought that’s gone into this pad’s extra buttons. According to Razer, they feature actual mouse switches from one of its unnamed Esports mice that’s supposedly “market leading”. I’d love more specifics on that if I’m honest, but they do the trick. Either way, this places them in a league of their own. Back buttons are usually simple plastic switches that don’t have much feel to them at all, and back paddles found on the DualSense Edge and Elite Series 2 use magnetic levers that feel much more premium. With a mechanical set of four back buttons, the V3 Pro treads the line between the two, offering more speed and a feel that’s consistent with the product's other switches.

Looking at the controller from the top down, we have the two additional bumpers that this line of Razer’s controllers is known for. These are almost identical to the ones found on the Razer Kishi Ultra, and although they’re not my most-used feature, Razer wanted to carry them over for players who use a “claw-grip”, since they aren’t catered to all that often.

The rest of the buttons use a mix of membrane and mechanical switches, so the D-pad feels very spongy while the very shiny face buttons have more responsiveness. Using the trigger-stops, you can even give the triggers a super-quick mechanical actuation, which could be huge for budding Esports players. The Hall Sensor thumbsticks have removable tops, which is a first for Razer. For the brand that charges the highest price for its controllers, it is wild to think this is the first option with replaceable thumbsticks and a carrying case. It’s not quite the attachment selection offered by the Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox, but it’s much better than a controller and a cable in a plastic box, which is what Razer has offered until now. If you do opt for the cheaper Tournament Edition, you won’t get that carry case.

On an Xbox, the V3 Pro pads feature a 250Hz polling rate, which is standard for the platform. You’ll also be able to benefit from Xbox haptics, but on PC you get more for your investment, with that 1000Hz polling rate when wired, as well as Razer’s RGB Chroma syncing up with your rig’s other Razer-lit accessories. Of course, the Razer controller app for mobile and PC lets you tune deadzones for both sticks and remap the additional buttons. I’m delighted that you can do the latter without downloading an app though.

Performance

I’ve played loads of different games with the latest Wolverine controller, from Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero to Pools, to platforming around in Owlboy. This really is a versatile controller, and it has as much to offer in single-player games as it does in competitive multiplayer ones.

Even in early tests, it’s clear that speed was a priority for Razer’s product designers. Nothing better exemplified that than my time in Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero. Speed is quite literally everything in that game, and both the back buttons and face buttons have saved my skin during many a difficulty-spiked bonus level. I did, however, find that the game’s button-mashing moments felt less forgiving on this controller than on the likes of the DualSense on PS5. Mechanical or membrane buttons are great for fast actuation, but something about them makes my joints scream “Please stop doing this, you aren’t 12 years old anymore”.

Speed was equally useful when playing through a level of Celeste, as I do with every controller I test. Back buttons can be a blessing and a curse when it comes to this game’s tight platforming because if they take too much pressure to press, you can end up hindering yourself. Using back buttons, face buttons, analog sticks, or a d-pad with the V3 Pro, I felt I had an accurate tool for the movements I was trying to pull off.

I do, however, have a gripe with the wireless connectivity. When playing on a PC using the wireless USB dongle about five feet away from me, I frequently found that sitting the controller on my lap and crossing my legs, was enough to block the connection, which created all sorts of problems. Sometimes, it prevented the PC from actually pairing with the controller, which was infuriating when I was trying to enjoy a quick level of Owlboy on a lunch break. I have found this to be a frequent issue with some wireless controllers, but I haven’t experienced it quite as much as I did with this one.

Luckily, the thumbsticks are another saving grace of the V3 Pro. I recorded gameplay of Pools for a video I was making a few months ago, and the eerie tension in that game means that quick turns of the camera are vital. Using the Wolverine’s taller thumbstick attachment I was able to look over my shoulder for lurking eldritch monsters at a moment’s notice. When I was taking a moment to enjoy the game’s vast halls, smooth camera pans were a breeze to control, and it’s nice to have a peripheral that can do both.

As an FPS controller, the Wolverine’s six extra buttons are as good as ever. I was able to wield all of the in-game actions in Hunt: Showdown, barely needing to take my thumbs off of their sticks. I do wish the deadzones were smaller out of the box since I felt my accuracy suffered before diving into customization software. Overall, the V3 Pro wasn’t exactly on par with the Azeron Cyborg II, but this is still one of the best gamepads currently available for FPS games. In a similar way, game feel wasn’t quite on par with the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra, but it was good enough that I didn’t feel I needed to finetune the out-of-the-box vibration levels.

Should you buy the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro?

It really shows you just how much Razer has been overcharging for its V2 Wolverine on PS5 when this massive improvement costs less - and it's still $200. There’s no dodging the fact that the competition from GameSir and EasySMX is now capable of throwing out equally good products for much, much less money than this. The PowerA Fusion Pro manages to stay under $100 while also having four back buttons and official licensing from Microsoft, so I struggle to see why the V3 Pro should cost as much as it does. Even Victrix and Turtle Beach manage to keep their options under $200.

Sure, you could opt for the Tournament Edition if you’re willing to forgo a carry case, the grip textures, swappable thumbsticks, and a wireless connection. Then again, I haven’t tested that model, so I can’t say it’ll have that truly robust feel that I enjoyed here.

On the other hand, this is a controller that feels speedier than the current pool of Xbox options. If you’re drawn in by six extra buttons (that are actually usable now), mechanical and membrane feel, and the pedigree of Razer’s previous work, I can’t blame you for splashing out on this. It’s a premium option, but you’ll likely be happy you spent the money on it.

How I tested the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro

I put the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro to the test for a number of months before this review was written. In that time, I used it for the majority of my PC playtime, in games like Celeste, Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero, Owlboy, Hunt: Showdown, Pools, and Hellblade II. I used the controller in wired and wireless mode and swapped the back buttons and extra bumpers extensively during my testing time.

I compared my experience closely to when I reviewed the Wolverine V2 Pro, as well as other Razer gamepads. For more on how we test controllers, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

Looking for something cheaper? There are plenty of options out there if you look at our list of the best Xbox One controllers, best PS4 controllers, or the best Xbox Series X accessories.

Hyperkin has teamed up with Crunchyroll to unveil this new line of Nintendo Switch accessories based on the fantasy anime series via X/Twitter, and my anime-obsessed heart can't get enough. This is the first set of accessories to come from the brand partnership, consisting of two EVA cases, and two wireless controllers featuring everyone's favorite awkward elf mage.

The two different available designs are stunning - showing protagonist Frieren herself in her adorable glory. While pricing and further details are planned at a "later date" the controller appears to be a re-skin of the brand's existing Pixel Art controller line, and the cases are based on the brand's EVA hard shell carrying cases.

If the specs remain the same, the Frieren controllers are set to be compatible with not just the Switch and its OLED model, but also with Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices. The current lineup of Pixel Art controllers also features an ergonomic form factor, and Bluetooth support up to 30 ft of your gaming console, or platform, of choice. Meanwhile, if previous collabs are any indication, the cases should be available for every available Switch model.

However, while I'm smitten with these designs, and licensed anime merch for the Switch isn't anything new, there's one problem - the Switch doesn't have any Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Switch games.

In fact, there's no game adaption of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End on any gaming platform as of writing. In the time since its anime adaption first aired in 2023, and the original manga released back in 2020, the slice-of-life series has only seen mobile collaborations, like its appearance Japanese game Monster Strike held in April last year.

With that in mind, there's nothing Frieren-related to play while you pick up the wireless controller and admire your new swanky anime case. That doesn't mean the accessories aren't some of the best looking Nintendo Switch controllers and cases I've laid my eyes on, but personally, I prefer to have my Switch decked out in accessories based on actual Switch games I can play.

Right now, my Tears of the Kingdon OLED Switch is sitting protected in the PDP Slim Travel Link 8-Bit case. Before that, I had a Splatoon 2 case and matching Joy-Con covers that I imported from Japan. So as an avid Frieren manga reader, and someone who's watched the first season of the anime more than once, I can't quite help wishing there was a game to go with these new Hyperkin peripherals.

At least you can currently watch the anime series through the Crunchyroll app, which is available for free on the Nintendo eShop. Watching on even the OLED's 7-inch display may not be ideal, but it will mean you can pair your future Frieren accessories with the perfect series to watch.

Regardless, I hope this new collab between Hyperkin and Crunchyroll will mean even more anime Switch accessories on the horizon and more that feel more inspired by the Switch's existing game library. Especially as a Spy x Family controller to use while playing SPY×ANYA: Operation Memories would be a perfect combination.

If you aren't that much into anime, check out our guide to the best Nintendo Switch cases to find an alternative to protecting your beloved handheld. We've also gathered the best Nintendo Switch microSD cards and the best Nintendo Switch chargers in one place so you can have more space, and juice, for your favorite Switch games.

There's been big news in the PC gaming space this January. Nvidia announced its RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 GPUs, while AMD followed up with a handful of new processors to boot. All these components have been making their way to gaming laptop and PC brands for this year's roster of configurations, which means there's a lot of new kit heading our way.

It's not all about what's under the hood, though. You'll need a screen to run all that graphics power - LG swooped in with its own OLED panels ready to bend to your will, whether you're after a high refresh rate 1080p experience or something a little slower and more detailed.

In short, every brand had something to say this January - and we've rounded up all the best of CES 2025 right here.

1. Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070

Yes, the RTX 5090 is the top dog, but the RTX 5070 actually shouts a far more compelling argument for Team Green this generation. The mid-range GPU was touted as offering RTX 4090 levels of power during Nvidia's keynote, and it comes in cheaper than the previous generation did at launch. That's a recipe for some serious success, and with specs that look ready for much smoother 4K gameplay (especially in the RTX 5070 Ti model), this is certainly one of the best graphics cards to watch this year. Pre-orders are set to open in February, so if you're upgrading in 2025, be sure to check out our full guide to where to buy RTX 5070.

2. Razer Iskur V2 X

Razer has updated its Iskur line with a budget X entry this year, and that $299.99 / £299.99 price tag means it's actually affordable for the average player. Let's face it, the Razer tax is real - and when it comes to the brand's best gaming chairs those numbers can climb particularly fast. The chair does pare back on features to keep that cost low, with reduced lumbar customization and no 4D armrests, but the wider seat base and 152 degrees of recline make for particularly comfy specs.

The Razer Iskur V2 X is now available for $299.99 at Amazon.

3. Hyperkin Competitor

Hyperkin is well known for bringing the Duke Xbox controller back to the masses, but nobody thought the Xbox-approved brand would be taking aim at Sony in 2025. The Hyperkin Competitor was announced at CES this year, in full fake-DualSense glory. You have to hand it to them, this is bold.

Still, if you're on the hunt for one of the best Xbox Series X controllers and don't want to miss out on the shape and feel of the PS5's gamepad this could well be a sleeper hit in 2025. We joked earlier in the week that it looks like a lawsuit waiting to happen, but there's actually a lot going for the Competitor. After all, if you're after an Xbox gamepad with symmetrical thumbsticks (with anti-drift measures) and back paddles, there's very little else on the market.

4. Razer Blade 16

Honey, I shrunk the Razer Blade 16... is what CEO Min-Liang Tan should have exclaimed when the brand announced its latest iteration of the 16-inch powerhouse. Configurable with up to an RTX 5090 GPU this could be one of the most powerful slimline machines on the market in 2025, and considering its predecessor was already one of the best gaming laptops available there's plenty going for the new model.

Perhaps the biggest revelation, though, was the fact that Razer is dropping Intel for this generation. Instead, it's opted for the fantastic AMD Ryzen 9 AI HX 370 - a CPU that we argued could well overshadow the new GPU overall. At just 0.59 inches thick, the Blade 16 needs to be as efficient as powerful, and it's fully primed to nail the brief.

5. Asus ROG Flow Z13

A gaming laptop with no dedicated GPU might be an odd revelation in 2025, but the Asus ROG Flow Z13 isn't an everyday laptop. In fact, it's one of the best gaming tablets on the market - and it just got a whole lot smarter. The 2025 ROG Flow Z13 comes packed with an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chiplet processor that takes advantage of Radeon 8060S integrated graphics. It's that processor that's making the difference here, with 40 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores.

Yes, it's pairable with a ROG XG Mobile for the full RTX 50-Series experience, but it should hold its own on the battlefield as well. A 2.5K resolution Nebula touchscreen display runs at 180Hz with 500 nits of brightness, and the whole thing comes in at just 12mm thick, maximizing portability with an intriguing amount of power.

6. Lenovo Legion Go S - Powered by SteamOS

The first and (currently) only handheld to run SteamOS other than Valve's own Steam Deck, the Lenovo Legion Go S was announced and launched over CES 2025. Available with both Windows and Steam operating systems, and the choice between the older AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme and the new Ryzen Z2 Go, there are a lot of price points floating around. It's a rejection of a lot of the fancier features of the previous Legion Go - a slightly overpriced gaming handheld with detachable controllers. Rather than reaching for those lofty MSRP heights, though, the Go actually takes on the more well-rounded Asus ROG Ally with prices starting at $499.

7. Shure MV7i

What's so special about the Shure MV7i? It's more than an XLR mic, there's a full built-in audio interface in here as well. Rather than relying on a separate streaming mixer to actually get your mic up and running on a PC, the MV7i can do everything straight from the get-go. That's a big win for value - one of our highest-held priorities when choosing new tech. It's apparently packing the audio quality of the Shure MV7+ - a podcast mic that's earned its own spot among the best microphones for streaming overall. On top of that, SmartGate tech can fix your gain automatically, and the mic comes decked out with a Real-Time Denoiser and Digital Popper Stopper.

The Shure MV7i is now available at Amazon for $349 / £329.

8. LG UltraGear OLED Gaming Monitor (45GX950A)

Yes, LG unveiled its bendable OLED gaming monitors this year, but we're more interested in the tech that will make its way to most players' setups. That's where the LG UltraGear OLED GX950A comes in. It shares the same 5K2K dual-resolution mode as the flexi panel, with that LG turbo-charged OLED display up top, 125 PPI, and support for DisplayPort 2.1 and HDMI 2.1. Refresh rates will run at 165Hz when in full 5120 x 2160 resolution, bumping all the way up to 330Hz in 2560 x 1080. It's not the first dual-resolution display, but it's certainly the prettiest so far. Considering this is a technology we're expecting to see a lot more of among the best gaming monitors on the market in coming years, it's an excellent next step.

We're also rounding up all the gaming laptops announced at CES 2025, as well as the best gaming PCs and the best gaming phones for more.

According to Lenovo, the new Legion Go S officially launches January 2025, but Best Buy says the Glacier White $729 model will ship out on Valentines' Day. Whether the big box store is just trying to be romantic in the nerdiest way possible remains to be seen, but February 14 could simply be when the retailer expects stock. Still, I'd rather receive the best gaming handheld contender than a bunch of roses, so take note, suitors.

The Windows 11 version currently listed at Best Buy is the Glacier White model with 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and Ryzen Z2 Go for an APU. The company's press release for the handheld does claim there will be a Ryzen Z1 Extreme model too, so watch out for that hitting the retailer for less at some point in the future.

Where to pre-order the Lenovo Legion Go S

Where to pre-order Lenovo Legion Go S in the UK

Should you buy the Lenovo Legion Go S Windows 11 handheld?

I wasn't the biggest fan of the original Lenovo Legion Go, but the smaller S version is shaping up to be something special. I'm admittedly more keen on the SteamOS version since it'll serve as a proper Steam Deck OLED rival for $499, but there are still plenty of reasons to stick with Windows 11.

For starters, Microsoft's operating system is going to offer up instant storefront versatility. It'll provide exactly the same access to Steam, the Epic Game Store, Xbox Game Pass, and GOG as your gaming PC, meaning there shouldn't be any real compatibility concerns. The same can't be said for SteamOS, as while it's possible to get many libraries up and running with Linux workarounds, you'll be using Valve's shop by default.

As much as Microsoft is dragging its heels, I'm also fairly confident that a handheld-friendly version of Windows will arrive soon. The tech giant has also been teasing its own portable Xbox since last year, and depending on how things pan out, the Legion Go S could end actually being that system in a roundabout way via software updates.

It's worth noting that Ryzen Z2 Go benchmarks aren't live yet, and I'm keen to see how it fairs compared to the current gen Z1 Extreme. If frame rates are too similar, you might be better off opting for the Asus ROG Ally instead since it costs less, not to mention it was one of favorites from 2023. If you're quite happy splashing out over $700, the Asus ROG Ally X is also an option that'll furnish you with high-end upgrades, boasting a chonkier 80-watt hour battery and 24GB RAM.

Ultimately, if you're looking for something that'll feel more like a Steam Deck 2 than a successor to Lenovo's first handheld, you'll want to wait for the black Legion Go S with SteamOS. The operating system is still superior in terms of usability and functionality, not to mention you're saving a chunk of change on the model. I'll be keeping a close eye on pre-orders for that specific version, so make sure to check back in for updates.

Already got Valve's handheld? Swing by the best Steam Deck accessories and best Steam Deck dock for excellent add-ons. Alternatively, check out the best gaming laptops for powerhouse mobile rigs.

In a conversation with Spanish PC gaming YouTuber Michael Quesada, AMD's Frank Azor explains why the Radeon RX 9070 XT was a no-show at CES. The chief of gaming marketing says "With the announcements of RDNA 2 and RDNA 3, we had dedicated events to present the architecture and performance improvements," before going on to proclaim "We can't cover that in five minutes."

Simply put, the decision seems to be linked to keynote time constraints, with Azor expressing that players would be "angry with us for not giving the new graphics cards the attention they deserve." As a result, the GPU is now set to get its own separate event that will also feature more on FSR 4.

While I completely get the reasoning behind AMD's RDNA 4 move, I can't help but feel like there's a bit more going on behind the scenes. Keep in mind that the embargo for the announcement wasn't actually pushed, so the Radeon RX 9070 XT ended up getting a soft launch by yours truly instead. At the very least, the card could have gotten a mention alongside plans for a separate event during the keynote, but alas.

AMD should be loud and proud about the RX 9070

Rather than trying to convince you not to buy an RTX 5090, AMD seems to be targeting everyday players with the Radeon RX 9070. The red team's new naming conventions signify that this is a mid-tier card that aligns with GeForce 70-class cards, and Frank Azor says it's "balance of power and price similar to the RX 7800 XT and RX 7900 GRE" (via Videocardz).

Azor also gives us an idea of RX 9070 XT pricing via a bit of a riddle, stating that it'll be "not a $300, but also not a $1,000 card." That could mean it'll set you back around $600, which could be a nice sweet spot if it can provide a robust 4K gaming experience. Just like with Nvidia's Blackwell GPUs, the new RDNA 4 card will no doubt rely heavily on AI upscaling to provide a next-gen performance uplift, which means a lot of focus on FSR 4.

In my eyes, the Radeon RX 9070 has two objectives. The first is to serve as a mid-range card that beats higher-end GPUs from the previous generation. At this stage, 4K gaming shouldn't be locked behind a $800+ paywall, and by the sounds of it, the RDNA 4 card will be delivering that for a cheaper price.

The second goal is to compete with the likes of the RTX 5070, especially since Nvidia boldly claimed it'll offer up GeForce RTX 4090 performance during its CES keynote. I did raise a bit of an eyebrow at Jensen Huang's boasts since the feat will likely only be possible thanks to DLSS 4 and AI trickery, but if I'm being frank, the conversation within the GPU scene is ever shifting away from native performance.

I am a little bummed out that the RX 9070 didn't get a CES 2025 reveal. However, I'm hoping that it's more a case of AMD trying to nail the unveiling rather than a lack of confidence, as I'm completely on board with the first RDNA 4 card being an affordable 4K GPU. With the likes of Intel aggressively targeting the entry-level scene with its $250 Arc B580, perhaps this generation will feature each graphics card maker sticking to respective pricing lanes, and I can see AMD doing wonders for the mid-range market.

Looking for more components? Swing by the best CPU for gaming and the best RAM for rig upgrades. Alternatively, check out the best gaming PC for systems that are ready to go.

In an interview with Japanese outlet Game*Spark (highlighted and translated by Automaton), a Genki representative reportedly admitted that the Switch 2 cover accessory that the company had on display (not the mock-up) was created based on leaks, and its size isn't final. What's more, the person interviewed apparently said they'd not seen the real console. This seriously brings into question the legitimacy of the viral mock-ups – how would the company be able to mold those after the actual console, but apparently have to create a cover for it based on leaks instead?

Nintendo has also finally stepped in to address the situation, although it's still not revealing the real console. The company issued a comment to Japanese outlet Sankei Shimbun (translated by Automaton) saying that the images and videos that surfaced from CES 2025 are "not official." To be fair, that's not a shock – it was always clear that Genki was presenting mock-ups rather than actual hardware – but in case there was any doubt, Nintendo also reiterated to CNET that the "gaming hardware that Genki presented as Nintendo hardware at CES is unofficial and was not provided to the company by us." (Thanks again, Automaton.)

So, where does that leave us? Obviously, Genki seemingly creating the mock-ups based on other leaks rather than an actual look at the console gives the viral creations less credibility, but it doesn't necessarily debunk the whole thing if the leaks it was looking at end up being accurate. Nintendo weighing in is interesting, but its statements don't outright dismiss the mock-ups as inaccurate – it's seemingly just clarifying that the images and videos weren't of an official Nintendo-manufactured product, which we knew. 

Once again, it seems we'll have to be patient. Former Nintendo marketing leads Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang have both expressed that they believe the company won't budge from whatever date it already had in mind to reveal the console, even with all these supposed leaks and rumors circling around. 

Accessory maker Genki already expressed that it  "didn't expect this much media attention" over its Switch 2 mock-up because it thought all the information had already leaked.

Priced at $249.99 / £219.99, the Quarter Arcades Taito Bubble Bobble machine’s price isn’t for the faint of heart. By that, I mean you have to be really into the idea of having a micro arcade cabinet to pay this amount, and even then, its MSRP is a bit lofty. Before getting my hands on the tiny time capsule, I wasn’t convinced I’d want to pay over $200 for a system that can only run one game. However, through clever design and tremendous quality, the unit actually nails its objective of somehow feeling exactly like the real deal.

There’s certainly a conversation to be had on whether Quarter Arcades machines are proper gaming systems. They skirt the line between collectible game room display pieces and playable retro consoles, which in turn affects how you view their illustrious price tags. Would I recommend this Bubble Bobble machine over something like the Evercade Alpha? Not if you’re looking for a proper sit-down retro gaming session, but it rocks if you want a playable conversation starter in your space that’ll suck you in with gorgeous sounds and visuals.

Design

Made almost completely out of wood, the Quarter Arcades Taito Bubble Bobble machine couldn’t look more like the original arcade cabinet. I’m pretty sure if I took a Leaning Tower of Pisa-style picture leaning against it like Fonz, I could trick some of you into thinking it was full size. Naturally, it isn’t, instead it uses a 1/4 scale design, measuring in at just 17 inches tall and 6.5 inches wide.

Despite its size, you’ll still be able to treat your eyes to tremendous decal details if you squint hard enough. It’s actually more detailed than some of the OG cabinets I’ve come across, featuring a bezel with instructional artwork and Bubble Bobble’s Bub and Bob on the front panel. The Taito-themed blue and black sides provide a nice visual break from the busy screen area, with the whole getup feeling very much like a typical machine from the ‘80s.

I’ll get onto how the buttons and sticks actually feel, but from a visual perspective, they’re practically perfect. The joysticks even have tiny dust covers included to drive home the authentic feel, while the buttons look just right thanks to their height, concave top, and vibrant blue and red plastic. The fact you’re also getting two sets of controls for multiplayer action is a bit bananas, and again, helps the machine still feel like an accurate replica in spite of its size.

Down the bottom of this machine, you’ll find extra buttons where the coin slots live. Rather than simply adding a simplistic reference to the old payment method through molding, the slots instead serve their original use as illuminated red buttons, allowing you to feed the machine visual coins (and probably upset your virtual parents.) The cherry on top of the whole cabinet, however, is the illuminated marquee, which provides a warm glow that breathes life into the machine. I’ve messed around with a few arcade lighting setups in my time, and this banner nails the fluorescent look.

Features

Armed with a five-inch TFT screen, the display sits recessed under a perspex cover in a move to replicate an old CRT. It certainly manages to pull that off, although I’m surprised that the visuals lack scanlines. This is likely to ensure the screen is still bright enough, and at this sort of size, overlays aren’t required for extra sharpness. The viewing angles are slightly less impressive than IPS displays due to the panel tech used here, but again, the size and layout mean that’s not a biggie.

Onto sound, and the Quarter Arcades Taito Bubble Bobble’s 3W speakers are surprisingly punchy. I feel like their placement gives them a huge boost since they’re angled down from the inside lip, with the wood body helping make everything sound warm and bassy. Had Numbskull shoved the speakers at the back or sides, I think the whole effect would have been drastically different, so I’m glad they’re on the ball.

One of the Quarter Arcade's more surprising features is the inclusion of a built-in lithium battery. Perhaps that means the machine can technically serve as a gaming handheld, albeit one you’d have to hold like a Djembe drum. Silliness aside, its inclusion is ridiculously handy, as it means the system is ready to go without having to fetch its USB-C power adapter or keep it in a set spot. Simply put, you can become that guy at house parties who whips out a guitar for some Wonder Wall, only you’ll have a cool battery-operated arcade machine to show everyone (the Gallagher brothers could only dream of writing the Bubble Bobble theme.)

Performance

Just like most modern arcade machines, Quarter Arcades use emulation to provide access to the classics. In this case, we’re looking at a custom setup that requires no intervention, but firmware updates are available when the need arises. Sadly, you can’t mess around with the emulator it's using and fire up your own ROMs, but that’s typical when it comes to officially licensed products.

So, since we can play any game we like as long as it’s Bubble Bobble, I’ll focus on some of the performance insights for the old arcade romp. Visuals, sounds, and responsiveness are all pretty much identical to the original, and the TFT screen is superbly vibrant. I’m actually surprised just how much contrast the screen is able to provide seeing as it’s not OLED or anything like that, and the recessed setup does its utmost to look like a CRT.

Before acquainting my thumbs with Quarter Arcade microscopic buttons and sticks, I was slightly nervous that they’d be borderline unusable. I’ve also come across plenty of novelty arcade machines in my time with similar-sized inputs, and none of them felt remotely high quality. Thankfully, my preconceptions couldn’t have been more wrong, and everything about these controls feels like the real thing, but tiny.

Naturally, you’re not getting anything close to Sanwa switches here, but both the buttons and sticks are exceptionally clicky. The joysticks in particular have defined cross gates that provide a nice degree of arcade accuracy, and the buttons have travel that feels just right. You’d think you’d need Barbie hands to use either, yet your thumbs will fare just fine.

I managed to get a few games of Bubble Bobble in with my partner over the holidays to see how multiplayer holds up. I figured we’d be fighting for space on the control deck, but we managed to get by without any arguments. Naturally, everything about this setup is squished, but I’d argue that’s all part of the novelty. This is very much a device for quick bursts rather than long sessions, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Should you buy the Quarter Arcade Taito Bubble Bobble?

As a modern arcade solution, the Quarter Arcade Taito Bubble Bobble machine packs a surprising punch. If you’re simply looking for a way to play the classic ‘80s platformer, there are a million cheaper ways to do so. However, if it’s an eye-catching piece of visual brilliance you’re after for your game room, you won’t find anything quite like this cabinet out there.

The entire Quarter Arcade line-up is admittedly pricey, and it’s certainly one of those purchases that can be hard to justify given it boasts just one game. That said, I think solely focussing on that caveat risks missing the point of this collectible machine, and while financial guilt may keep you from splashing out $250 yourself, I think it’ll make an outstanding gift for retro fans looking for something special.

It’s safe to say I’m head over heels for this adorable mini arcade homage, and I reckon plenty of you will be too.

How I tested the Quarter Arcades Taito Bubble Bobble

For a month, I used the Quarter Arcades Taito Bubble Bobble arcade machine at my desk in both single-player and multiplayer. During that time, I carefully assessed the machine’s build quality, controls, and screen as well as compared emulation results against other ports and releases. I also repeatedly ran through the game to check for any glitches or bugs and installed firmware updates as they became available.

Chances are that if you're looking to buy the RTX 5080, you'll end up comparing its specs to the RTX 5090. Upon doing so, you'll realize that there's a big gap between the 90-series card and the 5080 in terms of memory, as the latter only packs 16GB GDDR7 VRAM. That's a huge gulf since the flagship boasts 32GB, and it feels like it really should have at least matched the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090.

Of course, this isn't the first time Nvidia has made a graphics card launch decision like this. Back in 2022, I watched in absolute confusion as the green team announced a 12GB RTX 4080 before swiftly cancelling the SKU altogether. Releasing two cards within the one class is a questionable move in any case, but I firmly believe it harmed the card's reputation among potential buyers.

• Looking for Nvidia's flagship GPU? Here's where to buy the RTX 5090

The model practically showed up later as the RTX 4070 Ti, which helped somewhat differentiate its specs to the 16GB 80-series release. Still, the RTX 4080 was anything but a popular card, as its original $1,199 price tag left players craving the cancelled 12GB SKU's $899 MSRP.

VRAM ramifications

It feels like VRAM is one of the most contentious talking points attached to graphics card conversations today. Last generation, it pretty much started with that un-released RTX 4080 12GB and its measly memory configuration, but it ended up extending to the RTX 4060 only boasting 8GB. Whether or not the eventual RTX 5060 will release with more remains to be seen, but I can already see history repeating itself somewhat with the RTX 5080.

Simply put, the gap memory gap between the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 feels like a risky move, and it's not too dissimilar to the RTX 4080 12GB situation. Perhaps the RTX 5090's lofty $2,000 asking price will help players feel less cheated when paying a grand for half the VRAM. What might be more likely is that the core count compared to the RTX 5070 Ti is overlooked for the fact it's under $750.

No one wants to feel like they're paying more for the same thing, and paying $250 more for a 16GB card compared to the RTX 5070 Ti will raise a few eyebrows. Naturally, the card will boost fps much further thanks to its increased CUDA core count, but the benchmarks will need to be pretty impressive to distract some players from the memory figure.

There's a case to be made that 16GB is enough memory for ultra 4K gaming, especially if you take advantage of new DLSS 4 upscaling tech. At least, that's the pitch for the RTX 5080, as this generation is less about native performance more involved in AI tricks.

Whether or not 16GB is fine for high-spec gaming isn't just a question for now either. Yes, it should be enough memory for 4K outings in 2025, but minimum specs can change pretty quickly as the years go by. If you spend $1,000 on a graphics card, you'll want it to handle big blockbusters for at least a few generations, and that could become real tricky if the industry makes 8K gaming a thing soon.

Is the RTX 5080 worth buying?

Taking the above situation into consideration, I believe benchmarks will ultimately answer whether the RTX 5080 is worth buying. The same obviously goes for any GPU, but it'll matter more so with the 80-class card since it'll have to prove its worth against the RTX 5070 Ti. There will be a performance gap between the two, so it's more a case of "how much."

In any case, I'll be sharing RTX 5080 benchmarks and tests when the time comes. You won't be able to buy the RTX 5070 Ti until next month, and while I'd advise waiting for frame rate comparisons, you also won't want to miss out on Founder's Edition stock.

Upgrading your rig? Check out the best CPU for gaming and the best RAM for more components. Alternatively, swing by the best gaming PC builds for systems that are ready to go.

This mock-up has been going viral following reports from the likes of Numerama, which shared the video that originally caught me off guard. In the same report (translated using Google and DeepL), it was also alleged that Genki had indicated that an optical sensor would be included as a new feature – something which had already been speculated about in recent days following a supposed leak of the left Joy-Con. There was a whole lot to unpack, but speaking to IGN, a representative for Genki has rather amusingly stated that they "didn't expect this much media attention, to be honest."

Reportedly, the representative was surprised that the mock-up had caught so much attention because they felt they weren't offering any new information, having thought that it'd all already leaked. To be fair, they have a point – the Genki mock-up seemingly matches up with certain existing rumors, such as the apparent inclusion of magnetic Joy-Con, but it's not like it showed something that looked nothing like what previous claims had suggested. With that being said, it's obviously still a big deal if it's accurate because it could offer our first proper glimpse of what we can expect the real thing to look like.

IGN also reports that the Genki representative has given a few more details about the console, but they claim not to know the technical specs, and say they don't have any info to offer about a mysterious new button which features on the right Joy-Con. 

Curiously, they suggest that the Switch 2 looks like it'd fit in a regular ol' Switch dock, but apparently there are indentations that look like they'll prevent it from being usable. Also, while it's clearly not confirmed, Genki is reportedly "assuming" the Switch Joy-Con will work with the new console, despite not being able to attach to it – it's apparently thought that they'll be able to work as wireless controllers, instead. 

On top of that, there's said to be an additional USB port on the top of Switch 2, although it's not clear if it can be docked this way around. IGN also measured the mock-up, and report that it's notably larger than a current Switch OLED – it states it has an 8-inch screen (that's an inch bigger than the OLED), is an inch wider at 10.5", and half an inch taller at 4.5" (they're apparently the same thickness). 

Obviously, we'll have to wait and see what the real deal ends up looking like when Nintendo finally announces it – two former Nintendo marketing leads are convinced that the company won't change its plans from whatever date it already has planned, despite the "wild" leaks. 

Analyst predicts Switch 2 supply will struggle with "significant early demand surge," PS5 will still end up the best-selling hardware for US in 2025.

Scheduled to arrive January 30, the Razer Handheld Dock Chroma will provide your Steam Deck with three USB inputs, 100W Power Delivery via USB-C, Gigabit ethernet, and an HDMI 2.0 port. Those specs are pretty much identical to the Baseus 6-in-1, which I happen to use daily with handhelds on a variety of screens, and it even mimics its deck-chair adjustable cradle tricks I've been raving about since 2023.

So, what's my big problem here? Well, I feel like it's high time we got some HDMI 2.1 docking stations for handhelds. Yes, Razer's Chroma shenanigans is going to bring a nice level of pizazz to your gaming desk, especially if you've got plenty of other accessories by the peripheral pioneers. But, seeing a dock emerge in 2025 that doesn't offer higher refresh rates at 4K feels like a missed opportunity for some futureproofing.

A throne fit for the Steam Deck 2

I've been hard at work reviewing the best Steam Deck docks from the very beginning, and not a lot has changed in a few years. Sure, there was once a time where the only hub I'd recommend was the Jsaux 6-in-1 since it beat even the Valve's official docking station to market, and I'm glad we have an abundance of options with wide handheld compatibility. However, I'm craving more from premium add-ons like the Razer Chroma Dock in 2025, and I firmly believe it starts with HDMI 2.1.

Yes, I'm aware that getting new releases to run at 4K 60fps on the Steam Deck OLED or Asus ROG Ally is a struggle never mind hitting 120fps. However, there are plenty of adventures that'll run at higher refresh rates just fine on current handhelds, and the limitations of HDMI 2.0 reared their head when playing the Tomb Raider Remastered Trilogy recently.

Lara's revamped romp is fairly lightweight, which makes sense given its using a lot of OG Tomb Raider bits under the hood. On a regular PC, hitting 4K 144Hz is extremely easy, and since the game has no adjustable settings, it'll automatically pull off the resolution/refresh rate combo. That all changes on most Steam Deck docks today, though, as HDMI 2.0 caps out at just 60Hz.

Until now, I've been willing to make peace with these refresh rate caveats, but now that a bunch of "next-gen" handhelds are on the way, I feel like more players are going to notice the drawbacks. I'm not saying devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S will boost fps that much further using a AMD Ryzen Z2, but there will certainly be a chunk of your Steam library that'll start to benefit from 4K 120Hz and beyond.

Luckily, HDMI 2.1 Steam Deck docks are starting to show up, and I've actually got one by BenQ on my test bench that could be a game-changer. That's not to say it'll necessaily beat Razer's Chroma dock on other fronts, however, as the accessory maker has a knack for creating add-ons with great build quality.

Plus, the company's docking station benefits from its Cortex handheld launcher, which provides a more controller-friendly way to launch games on Windows. It's pretty much the same software included with the Razer Edge, and while plenty of you will still likely use Steam Big Picture mode, at least its thinking about portable play.

I'll be looking to test Razer's take on handheld connectivity once it arrives, so watch this space for a full rundown. I suspect its build quality and high-quality RGB lighting will help justify its $80 price tag, but I'm already grumpy about the lack of an extra power adapter.

Looking for more add-ons? Swing by the best Steam Deck accessories for more options. You'll also want to peek at the best gaming TVs and best gaming monitors if you need a new screen for your devices.

If it's to be believed, we might have been given our first proper glimpse of what the console will look like, but is that going to push Nintendo into getting its official reveal out sooner than planned? Two former marketing leads at the company don't think so. Krysta Yang, former senior manager of creator relations and original content, and leader of the Switch launch campaign, has spoken out about the situation on Twitter, and is convinced that Nintendo is "not budging" from whatever announcement date it has planned out. 

"As wild as these leaks are Nintendo is going to stick to their plan," Yang writes. "They have a date in mind and they are not budging no matter what."

This same sentiment has been echoed by Kit Ellis – Nintendo of America's former director of social media marketing and original content, who also served as a co-host of the official Nintendo Minute YouTube series alongside Yang. In a video shared on the Kit & Krysta Patreon page, Ellis says: "I don't think Nintendo is going to change their plans."

Despite believing the company is "going to stay the course," he adds that "Krysta and I have looked at the calendar coming up and identified that, yeah, once you get out of this week – once you get out of CES week – there are some good pockets of time for them to announce this before the end of January." The pair can't know "exactly when," of course, although Ellis suggests Nintendo is "probably gonna steer clear of that US inauguration," but outside of that and "past this week, there's some dates that look good."

Ellis also states that Nintendo values "long-term" plans over "short-term" opportunities, the latter of which it'd be taking by reacting to the alleged Switch 2 leaks now. Obviously, "it's an uncomfortable time for them now, they don't like what's happening," but "a lot of this is going to be in the rear-view mirror" once the announcement is actually made, especially since no games or software have leaked. 

Beyond that, Ellis also notes the "high degree of risk" that'd come with changing plans last minute, which might see things go "haywire" or not work out like they were supposed to. "I understand and I tend to side with them, on the side of, yeah, this is bad, this is not good, this sucks, but we're going to stick to the original plan and we're gonna have a great announcement when that day finally comes. And by all accounts, we're very close," he adds.

Ellis and Yang both left Nintendo in 2022, so they obviously can't know everything that's going on behind the scenes right now at the company, but their experience puts them in a great place to provide some insight on how Nintendo is likely to be handling the current situation. Hopefully though, we do get some official news sooner rather than later.

No doubt to Nintendo's fury, you can now pre-order a Switch 2 case on Amazon, and the dock has apparently leaked too.

PowerA is recognized as one of the leading manufacturers of some of the best Xbox Series X controllers and it hopes to continue that trend with the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless. Offering hall-effect sticks, wireless connectivity, and a unique ghost RGB design it hopes to impress for a very respectable $149.99.

On paper, the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless controller is seriously not my cup of tea. However, after spending some considerable time with it and really getting to know the controller I have to admit… I may now be an RG-Believer.

Design

One of the biggest selling points of the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless controller is its aforementioned ‘GhostRGB’, but looking at it straight out of its very premium feeling carrying case you wouldn’t even know it had LEDs hiding beneath the surface. Once turned on the whole controller lights up with a variety of different designs, the default one is a multi-color flow design that fades through color cycles. My first thought when seeing it turned on was that it looked like a rainbow version of the Far Cry 3 loading screens - which I’m sure was the inspiration.

A simple button on the rear of the controller allows you to cycle through its six different RGB modes, and if you really don’t like your hands being lit up like a Christmas tree then you can just turn it off completely. This can also be done via the Xbox PowerA app which gives you full control over the color choices.

Looking past the bright lights of the less-than-subtle RGB, the controller is impressively well-built with textured plastic on the handles providing you with lots of grip when gaming. This extends to the thumbsticks which feel nicer than the default Xbox sticks, with a textured rim to stop you slipping. The thumbsticks are also hall-effect meaning you won’t run into any wear and tear from them further down the line, and if that wasn’t enough you can customise their height with a simple twist. I was really impressed by this and often found myself fiddling with the sticks… no, not like that.

The buttons feel almost identical to your standard Xbox gamepad which isn’t a bad thing, they are responsive and satisfying to use. The D-pad differs from the usual Xbox Series style with a four-way design similar to that of the GameSir Kaleid controllers.

Features

At the rear of the controller, you’ll find four additional programmable buttons that really emphasize how ‘pro’ the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless controller really is. The large majority of the best PC controllers at this price range feature two back buttons so having a couple extra to play around with is a really nice touch. The buttons themselves are perfectly placed for my middle and fourth fingers and provide great feedback and a satisfying click.

A little further up you’ll find a couple of switches which are 3-way trigger locks that allow you to customise how deep you need to press the triggers to register an input. Having never used a controller with this feature before I really liked the ease of access to this. The triggers and bumpers were nicely built and felt good to use - again very similar to the default Xbox controller but with a little bit more surface area.

Alongside the RGB, the other key selling point of this gamepad is the wireless aspect. Most pro controllers for the Xbox Series family of consoles are wired which is often a huge negative for players. Thankfully the PowerA Fusion Pro walks down the same path as recent entries like the Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox, the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra, and the upcoming Nacon Revolution X.. It comes with a low-latency wireless dongle which you simply plug into your Xbox or PC’s USB port and it will connect the controller to the console.

I briefly mentioned the carrying case that came with the controller which goes that extra mile to make it feel even more pro and this is further enhanced by the very cool wireless charging stand. That’s right, the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless really lives up to the name and allows you to charge the controller wirelessly. It now holds a place of pride on my shelf as it magnetically charges on its stand displaying itself like a proud peacock - yes, all of the lights come on when it charges.

Performance

I had really high expectations going into my time with the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless controller partly because of how premium and ‘pro’ it felt when unboxing it and partly because it promises so much. But I also had serious reservations. I really don’t like RGB, I feel like it takes away from a lot of devices and makes them look tacky. While I admit some usage of it can be tasteful, more often than not I really don’t enjoy it.

So you can imagine the shock I had when I realized that I absolutely adore the RGB on the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless controller. I really mean it. I love it. On paper, I should dislike it but it makes it look so unique and it’s done in such a tasteful way that I can’t help but admire it - I think it helps that there are multiple different modes to allow me to get one to suit my taste, but I love it nonetheless.

My adoration of this controller extends past the surface level and the RGB as it’s a truly remarkable controller that exceeds all my expectations. I spent a large amount of time testing this gamepad in games such as Call of Duty Black Ops 6, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Valhalla, Star Wars Outlaws, and Starfield and I found that it really elevated my experience playing these games.

I think a large part of my enjoyment comes from the four programmable buttons at the rear of the controller. After getting to use two back buttons for the first time on console via the GameSir Kaleid, having an extra two to play around with here really made all the difference. I was able to get those game-winning kills on Black Ops 6 multiplayer thanks to having everything I needed mapped to buttons right at my fingertips, my parrying skills were significantly quicker on Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, and being able to change up what these buttons did on the fly made this an incredibly simple experience. I never once found myself accidentally clicking the rear buttons, and on the flip side, I never struggled to press them when I most needed them. More controllers should think about having four extra buttons around back as opposed to two, because it really does make all the difference.

Another aspect that I thoroughly enjoyed was the hall-effect thumbsticks. While I have used those style sticks before, the peace of mind knowing you won’t be impacted by stick-drift does make a big difference. They feel responsive and comfortable to use, and being able to customize their height with a quick twist was no short of revolutionary. This allowed me to really tailor the controller to my liking to give me the most comfortable experience possible, while also giving me even more control over my gameplay. I currently have my right stick as high as it can possibly go as I have been playing a lot of Call of Duty and so it gives me even more precise control over my aiming - that said, I can’t claim it’s helped my KD ratio.

Unfortunately, some of those deaths could be attributed to the slight latency I experienced while using the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless. While it is advertised as having low-latency connectivity I found that navigating menus on the Xbox dashboard was sluggish and there was a slight delay in my actions. This would extend to some games, most noticeably in Black Ops 6 and Star Wars Outlaws. It happened very rarely and only really when I would enter the game from Xbox’s built-in quick resume feature.

Another aspect that fell flat a little for me was the triggers, while they work and are satisfying to use, I found the trigger locks to be somewhat pointless as I didn’t really notice a difference outside of a couple of instances. Perhaps I’m not playing the correct games to fully appreciate them but I found that keeping them unlocked gave me the best experience when gaming.

Overall though I found the controller incredibly comfortable to use and I actually prefer it to both the GameSir Kaleid and the standard Xbox controller, even with all the RGB. One little note however, I was disappointed to discover that it isn’t compatible with Nvidia Shield which I don’t believe is a fault of PowerA but as it is one of my primary ways to game via GeForce NOW it did make me a little upset that I can’t use this fantastic controller for that system.

Should you buy the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless controller?

Hands down I would fully recommend you purchase the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless controller if you are looking for one of the best Xbox controllers on the market. It truly does live up to the pro nametag and does so at a very approachable price that undercuts some of its biggest competition such as the Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox and the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra.

Not only does it provide you with everything that you could possibly want in a pro controller such as hall-effect sticks, customizable thumbsticks, and four programmable back buttons, but it also does so with style and finesse. I really struggle to find reasons not to like the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless controller, which is not something I expected to be saying when I was first told about it.

I never thought I would be so high on something that lights up so bright but I really do recommend this controller, RGB and all. It has completely replaced my usual gamepad, the GameSir Kaleid, and I can’t see that changing anytime soon.

How we tested the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless controller

I used the PowerA Fusion Pro Wireless controller as my main gaming handset for a couple of weeks and used it across both Xbox and PC. I used it in a variety of games including first-person shooters like Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Starfield, to open world RPGs like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Valhalla. I tested the controller in both offline and online environments in Call of Duty to fully understand and appreciate the ‘pro’ feature and if it had any impact on my gameplay.

For more on how we test controllers, check out the full GamesRadar+ hardware policy.

Between Intel's new Ultra 2-Series processors and AMD's laser focus on big-power AI, and of course with Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti, and 5070 mobile GPUs making their debut, there's plenty to feast your eyes on this year. Brands have plugged these components in 14-inch, 15-inch, 16-inch, 17-inch, and 18-inch rigs for a massive selection of portability and performance options.

With some of my personal favorites making a return to the show floor this year, CES 2025 has been particularly strong for gaming laptops. We've got a brand new Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 to stare at, the MSI Titan 18 is back in business, and the Razer Blade 16 2025 looks set to become one of the biggest players this year. It's all go at this year's show - here's everything you might have missed.

Acer

• Nitro V line has been refreshed with AI components
• 3 new Predator gaming laptops with Nvidia RTX 50-Series GPUs
• New Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI offers cheaper RTX 5070 Ti

A refresh of its budget-minded Nitro line and three new Predator machines, Acer had a whopping eight new gaming laptops to talk about at CES 2025. The Nitro V line is getting five new Nitro V refreshes, spanning everything from the 14-inch to 17-inch model, and mostly concentrating on adding new AI-focused components under the hood. These are machines designed for the entry level market, though they often some slightly above Asus's TUF range in price. Still, last year's Acer Nitro 16 beat the Asus TUF A15 for its display quality so if you have a little more cash to invest in a QHD+ panel they're well worth a look.

These cheaper models are sticking with the RTX 40-Series for now. If you're after the latest and greatest GPUs, you'll need to turn to the Predator range. The Acer Predator Helios 16 AI, Acer Predator Helios 18 AI, and Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI were all on the CES show floor this year, bringing Nvidia RTX 50-Series GPUs, OLED and Mini LED displays, and Intel Core Ultra 9 processors to the party.

Alienware

• New 16-inch and 18-inch Area-51 gaming laptops
• M-Series and X-Series are out
• Full Intel specs with Nvidia 50-Series GPUs

The beast is back. The Alienware Area-51 gaming laptop returned to CES this year, putting both the M-Series and X-Series to bed for good. This will be the brand's flagship line going forward as the rest of the best Alienware laptops currently on the market start to sail off into the sunset.

Available in two sizes (16-inch and 18-inch), the Area-51 is packing Nvidia RTX 5090 GPUS at a full 175W TGP (280W total power in the 18-incher) for some serious power under the hood. Alienware has gone full Intel on us this year, whereas other brands have also incorporated AMD's excellent AI series into their portfolios. Still, with anodized metallic chassis', a brand new 'zero hinge', and a new Cryo-Chamber cooling system, this is a big'un.

Alienware seems to have abandoned the upgradeability aspect with the new generation. It was a big draw for previous Area-51 gaming laptops, but turned out disappointingly in the end due to a lack of compatible components. Instead, we simply have next-generation power in a newly redesigned chassis ready to take over the top spot on Dell's shelves.

Asus

• Four new Strix RTX 50-Series gaming laptops
• ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 return with up to RTX 5090
• ROG Flow Z13 uses a super-efficient AMD chiplet system

Seven of the best Asus gaming laptops have returned for CES, with all the usual suspects accounted for. These are mostly internal refreshes, with everything from the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 to the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 seeing the Nvidia RTX 50-Series treatment.

That G14 has stuck with AMD this year, with the fantastic Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU at the helm and its 3K OLED display making a triumphant return for 2025 as well. I'm glad to see RTX 5080 graphics on the table this year - 2024's iteration dropped us all the way down to the 4070 after previously playing with 4090 power. Meanwhile, the G16 is taking the Intel route with an Ultra 9 285H CPU and a slightly lower-res (though physically larger) 2.5K OLED display. This one's maxed out at an RTX 5090, which will be interesting to witness considering the brand's slimline ethos for this range.

All four Strix machines are back in play for 2025 as well, though you'll be limited to the G-Series if you want an AMD build and further limited to the ROG Strix G16 if you want that fancy AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor. Still, these are machines built with sheer power in mind, and while the G16 and G18 are limited to a maximum of 32GB RAM, the Scars can push that up to 64GB with full RTX 5090 power.

There are some smaller updates to the chassis' - the brand's AniMe Vision LED matrix lighting is coming to the Scar 16 and Scar 18 (I hate it, but some will go for it), and Intel-based versions can be easily opened up with a single button press. Here, both RAM and SSD slots can be upgraded.

Then we have the Asus ROG Flow Z13, a tablet that wants to punch with the laptop big'uns (as long as it has its RTX 50-Series eGPU attached). This is a device built with efficiency at its core, as evidenced by the intriguing AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor. There's no dedicated graphics in here, but Asus is promising that the Radeon 8060S integrated GPU is more than qualified for the job of running the latest and greatest titles in a mobile form factor.

HP

• HP Omen Max 16 brings full next-gen power
• Refreshed Omen 16 provides more mid-range choice
• Updated Victus 15 serves entry level market

HP's big star was the Omen Max 16 this year, the brand's most powerful gaming laptop to date and sporting a QHD+ OLED display for good measure. With high-end Intel and AMD processors, a still-undefined RTX 50-Series family of GPUs, and a new Omen AI gaming hub, there's plenty to dive into here. Not only that, but the cooling system resists dust buildup by periodically reversing its fans - neat!

If you don't quite want to shop right at the top of the price bracket, HP also announced a refreshed Omen 16 at CES. You've still got the option of AMD's Ryzen AI 9 (though only the 365 model) and Intel's Core Ultra 9 285H, but there are more options further down the price bracket here, as well as a cheaper RTX 4050 GPU option.

HP has spanned the full price spectrum with its CES offering this year, also refreshing the budget HP Victus 15. There's no Nvidia RTX 50-Series GPUs on the menu here, instead the cheaper model focuses on entry level RTX 4050 and RTX 4060 configurations without AMD's AI processors or Intel's Ultra models available.

Lenovo

• Refreshes across Legion Pro and standard range
• Legion Pro 7i Gen 10 available with top range components
• Cheaper models configurable up to RTX 5070 Ti

Lenovo has refreshed both the Pro and standard versions of its Legion line for their 10th generation this year, with the top dog, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10, seeing the bulk of performance upgrades. Configurable all the way up to the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 this is up there with the big guns, and 2025's model even improves that display with a 16-inch OLED panel up top as well. This is a full Intel build, with no AMD options available yet.

The non-Pro version ticks things down to an RTX 5070 GPU but keeps the OLED, all while running with a currently unknown Intel Core Ultra 9 HX processor. We also don't know how much RAM and storage Lenovo is packing into any of these non-Pro models.

The Legion Pro 5 is stepping out with both an Intel and AMD trim this year, the former pitching at the top of the scale with its Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and the latter offering an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX. That's not at the top of Team Red's pyramid, and it's not an AI-focused card either (though the base level Legion 5 Gen 10 does offer the AMD Ryzen AI 7 350). Still, both models are configurable up to an RTX 5070 Ti, sporting up to 32GB RAM.

MSI

• Massive supply of 18-inch gaming laptops
• Titan returns with 4K Mini LED display at RTX 5090 GPU
• Stealth range offers most versatile specs

MSI has nine (nine!) gaming laptops already readied for this year, spanning the Titan, Raider, Stealth, and Vector ranges. This dragon's putting it all on 18-inchers this year, with only three models offering smaller screen sizes (and one of them still sitting at 17-inches). Configurations are mostly Intel-based, with a few AMD options peppered among them as counterparts, and currently span RTX 5070 Ti to RTX 5090 GPUs.

Of course, right at the front of the herd we've got the MSI Titan 18 HX AI, a turbo-powered machine with top of the range components, and the return of that zippy 120Hz 4K Mini LED display. The Raider shares these specs, albeit with an additional AMD option offering a Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor. Meanwhile, the Stealth series is looking like the most versatile option. It's available with both AMD's fantastic Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and Intel's Ultra 9 275HX, the full RTX 5070 Ti - RTX 5090 GPU range, and a choice between higher resolution 4K displays and faster QHD+ options.

The big headlines across these models come from cooling, though. MSI used CES to debut its SSD cooler, which is said to reduce the maximum operating temperature of your storage by up to 10°C. Of course, it wouldn't be CES without an AI buddy - MSI has also introduced its own AI assistant for natural language control.

Razer

• Razer Blade 16 shirks Intel for AMD in its CPU
• Comes outfitted with RTX 5090 GPU
• Keeps the same fantastic QHD+ 240Hz OLED panel

Razer has sharpened its Blade 16 for 2025, with a new even slimmer form factor measuring in at just 0.59-inches and an improved keyboard with 1.5mm travel distance. Of course, the OLED panel that made last year's model one of the best Razer laptops ever released returns, displaying all the RTX 5090 goodness in full splendor as well. On top of that, the Blade 16 has received a new six-speaker audio array with custom EQ controls as well.

With a new slimline form factor and a more powerful GPU comes the need to rethink cooling, and Razer has outfitted its latest release with its next generation vapor chamber and a dual-fan system. The solution now covers 57% of the motherboard while also using 0.05mm exhaust fins.

We're also rounding up all the best gaming handhelds and the best gaming PCs for more options, or take a look at the best gaming tablets for a more mobile approach.

Nvidia GeForce Now is like the GPU manufacturer's version of Netflix or Game Pass, and it allows you to integrate your existing gaming libraries to its cloud streaming servers so that you can play them on whatever device you want. Later this month you'll be able to play GeForce Now on some of the best VR headsets, Nvidia has confirmed.

Depending on how much you pay for the subscription service, you'll get to play at varying degrees of performance, tiered by Nvidia's graphics cards for reference. On a compatible device, you can stream your games with the 4K performance of an RTX 4080, if your connection can handle it. On the Pico 4 Ultra, however, you'll only be able to play at up to 1440p, but at least you won't need to pre-order an RTX 5070 in order to do it.

What might be a surprising bonus for many is that DLSS will also be catered to when playing GeForce Now on one of these headsets, so long as the game you're playing has DLSS support in its settings. Just keep in mind that the maximum refresh rate of both the Meta Quest 3 and 3S is 120Hz, and the Pico 4 Ultra has a max of 90Hz, so you won't be able to boost up to Esports frame rates.

Even the Meta Quest 3S has Bluetooth connectivity, so you can hook up your best PC controller to play your GeForce Now games and enjoy them on a commute, or at home when someone else needs to use the TV.

I should clarify that this integration will be more in line with how Game Pass works on the Meta Quest 3. You won't be able to turn 2D platforming Celeste gameplay into a VR port, but you will get to play on an enlarged display right in front of your eyes. It's also been confirmed that to play on a VR headset, you'll need a gamepad-compatible game, and so far, there's been no mention of cloud streaming of actual PC VR games if you own them.

In my eyes, this is a particular feather in the cap of the PICO 4 Ultra, which feels like it needs to justify itself against the more popular Meta headsets. Jessica Zhang, head of partnerships at PICO, said "Our integration of GeForce NOW underscores PICO's commitment to expanding our library of content and providing the best possible gaming experiences. This latest work eliminates the hardware barrier and delivers an incredible library of games to our platform, making PICO headsets an ideal destination for immersive entertainment."

Despite Nvidia's slightly confusing marketing speak, GeForce Now isn't like Netflix - a subscription doesn't allow you immediate access to a massive library of content. You integrate your libraries from Steam, Epic Games, Xbox, and more, and any games you own in those libraries that are supported by GeForce Now will be available to stream.

The GeForce Now app will be available to download from Pico 4 Ultra later this month, but on the Quest 3 and 3S, you'll need to visit the GeForce Now website on your device's browser. Support has also been confirmed for Apple Vision Pro, which is a nice gaming win for any owners of that luxury headset.

Looking to refurbish your gaming setup for the new year? Take a look at the best Meta Quest accessories, the best gaming PCs, and the best gaming handheld.

Set to arrive with a $999 price tag, the RTX 5080 isn't exactly affordable. However, an RTX 5090 pre-order is going to set you back $2,000, so the GeForce GPU is more likely to fit your budget. I'm fully expecting the model to enter the best graphics card race with a bang, even if the fact its packing 16GB GDDR7 RAM rather than 24GB is questionable.

RTX 5080 pre-orders have yet to surface online, so to prepare for the next-gen GPU's arrival, I've whipped up a list of recommended retailers. I've also got some pointers that'll help increase your chances of grabbing a graphics card at launch, making the path to next generation GeForce performance a walk in in the park.

Where to pre-order RTX 5080 in the US

Where to pre-order RTX 5080 in the UK

Where to buy RTX 5080: FAQ

Should you buy the RTX 5080?

The RTX 5080 might be second in command this generation, but it's still set to be a powerhouse 4K GPU with snazzy next-gen abilities. It's also half the price of the RTX 5090, and if its specs end up providing plenty of bang for buck, it could end up stealing the graphics card crown this generation by way of value.

That said, there are a few things to note about the RTX 5080 based on its specs alone. For starters, it'll only pack 16GB VRAM, meaning it's got less memory than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090. It will use faster GDDR7 modules, so it does at least have speed and efficiency on its side. However, it's strange to see such a wide gap between this card and the flagship's 32GB setup, and it could affect future performance when dealing with high resolution textures.

It's also worth noting that its sibling, the RTX 5070 Ti, looks to offer the same memory for $749 / £729. Naturally, you'll be getting a reduced Blackwell GPU with that model compared to the RTX 5080, with the latter boasting 10,752 CUDA cores versus 8,960. Nevertheless, the 70-class model could end up winning over more players if there's not a massive difference in frame rates, especially if it can still pull off great 4K performance.

At face value, the RTX 5080 looks to be the GPU most premium players should pick up for 4K ultra gameplay. If you won't settle for anything but the best, you'll naturally want to consider spending $2,000 on the RTX 5090 instead, but I suspect most of you would prefer to spend under a grand. At the same time, I'd also hold off for my official benchmarks before settling on the 80-class card, as its value will ultimately hinge on how it fairs against the RTX 4070 Ti in terms of real gaming scenarios.

Upgrading your entire rig? Swing by the best CPU for gaming and the best RAM for new components. Alternatively, check out the best Alienware gaming PC for powerhouse pre-builds.

In an interview with The Verge at CES 2025, Microsoft's vice president of "next generation" Jason Ronald says the team is working on ways to use their knowledge of gaming consoles and their PC expertise to improve the gaming experience on Windows PCs and handhelds.

"I would say it's bringing the best of Xbox and Windows together, because we have spent the last 20 years building a world-class operating system, but it's really locked to the console," says Ronald. "We're really focused on how we bring those experiences for both players and developers to the broader Windows ecosystem."

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has already confirmed that Xbox handheld prototypes are in the works, but it seems that Ronald is talking about a different project. Microsoft already has the Xbox Game Bar which does make gaming on Windows-powered handhelds more convenient, but Ronald says: "We're focused on really simplifying that and making it much more like a console experience. Our goal is to put the player and their library at the center of the experience and not all the work that you have to do today."

The reason improvements are needed is because "There's just certain things in Windows that were not designed for if you don't have a keyboard and mouse, like thumbstick support or joypads and stuff like that," explains Ronald. "At the end of the day, our goal is to make Windows great for gaming on any device [...] There's fundamental interaction models that we're working on to make sure that regardless of the operating system details it feels very natively like a gaming-centric device and a gaming-centric experience."

While Xbox's handheld is still years away, Ronald says that Microsoft will "have a lot more to share later this year" about making Windows work better for gaming devices.

While we wait for the news, check out the best Game Pass games you can play right now.

According to French language site Numerama (translated by Google and DeepL), accessory maker Genki has shown off two mock-ups at the event, as well as a video supposedly showing what the new console's Joy-Con controllers will look like. It's claimed that the Joy-Cons are magnetic, and Genki reportedly suggests that – as was previously speculated by some following recent supposed leaks of the left controller – an optical sensor is included as a new feature. What's not known, however, is the purpose of a new button claimed to be on the right Joy-Con. 

The console itself is also apparently a fair bit bigger than the Switch we already know and love – you can see the comparison in the video below, which also shows the Joy-Con being attached and re-attached to the mock-up. 

Just to take things a step further, as highlighted by @Wario64 on Twitter, Genki itself now has a webpage that allows users to sign up for news about "the next handheld," complete with a video showing off what are likely meant to be mock-ups of the console, its Joy-Con controllers, and dock. Unlike a recent Amazon listing which actually allows users to pre-order a protective case for the Switch 2, nothing is for sale here yet, but to so confidently show a video about a console that's still not been announced is pretty wild. 

So, what happens now? We still don't know exactly when Nintendo is going to make that fateful announcement, other than the fact that it'll be before the end of March. However, Numerama claims that accessory makers it's spoken to at CES 2025 appear to agree that the console is set to launch at some point in April, so watch this space. What's more, it's alleged that some accessory makers claim to own the real thing. There's a lot to potentially unpack, but as hype continues to grow, remember to take leaks with a pinch of salt.

Nintendo Switch 2 will have backwards compatibility with Switch games, and Nintendo Switch Online will be coming back too.

Already being a proud owner of the PSP, PS Vita, and even the long-forgotten PSVita TV, I knew a PS Portal would one day be mine. That said, with the $200 / £200 price point, and the fact I’ve already been remote-playing my PS5 on Valve’s pixel pusher for a year now, I wasn’t in too much of a rush to pick one up last year. It wasn’t until the announcement that the PS Portal could stream games without relying on your PS5 that I finally added it to my shiny Sony tech collection. But now, with the announcement of the upcoming Midnight Black model, I wish I held out a little longer.

Vice President of Global Marketing at Sony Interactive Entertainment, Isabelle Tomatis, first revealed on the official PlayStation Blog on January 7 that the new version of the PS Portal was on its way. The new sleek-looking handheld is part of the upcoming ‘Midnight Black Collection’ which features multiple iconic pieces of Sony tech, from the Pulse Elite wireless headset to the DualSense Edge controller but all with a new black colorway. These aren’t the first PS5 accessories to get the Midnight Black treatment, but the upcoming PS Portal is a sight to behold.

Instead of the dissonance of the Portal’s huge 8-inch screen and its black border clashing with the white on either side of the device, this new version has a more professional-looking edge. The deep, dark black makes the matte plastic finish look more velvety and the whole handheld looks more seamless in design. The device will always be a chonky boy, but somehow the Midnight Black makes it look less obscene, and more like a swanky device you’d want in your collection.

You may just be thinking to yourself, “But Rosalie, isn’t it just the same device but in black instead of white?” And you’d be entirely correct. Even the price point remains the same. But it’s the fact this stunning new colorway will now look the part amongst my other PlayStation hardware that’s grabbed my attention. Ever since the PS5 was announced I was often put off by its white design. Not only is white tech the easiest to get visibly dirty, but it stood out too much from its predecessors. From the PS2 to the PS3 and then the PS4, each of Sony’s consoles originally launched in all black - and now the PS Portal is finally following suit.

To me, ignoring the original PlayStation, black hardware designs and Sony are interwoven with each other, so if I can grab the black versions of Sony tech, I will. Even as I type, my PS5 has swapped its garish white colorway for Dbrand’s Arachnoplates - third-party console covers that now make my pixel-pushing beast look like a perfect Spider-Man homage with its black and red colors. Regrettably, I don’t own the Midnight Black DualSense controller, but I use three other PS5 controllers to avoid using that unpleasant-looking basic white variant.

Most importantly, the Midnight Black PS Portal would look the part next to my beloved PS Vita. Although Sony has let its last major handheld collect dust, it’s still one of my favorite devices to pick up and play and sports a sleek black colorway of its own.

Currently, sitting the Sony handhelds side by side just makes the PS Portal look like an unsightly oddity. The handheld is large enough as it is, but it draws even more attention to itself standing out against not just my PS Vita, but even my Steam Deck, Ayaneo Flip DS, and my plethora of all-black gaming headsets. If I waited for that Midnight Black version, at least my various bits of tech would feel and look more unified as they take up space on my bedside table.

I’m still glad, at least, that I made the step to get a PS Portal of my very own eventually. The often complicated setup of unofficially running remote play through the Steam Deck was a headache I no longer have to deal with, and as a first-party device, I even have the immersion-inducing DualSense haptic tech to enjoy, something Valve’s handheld isn’t capable of. After owning it for a few months, I look forward to nothing else but curling up in bed after a day's work and comfortably playing Persona 3 Reload, or browsing the PS Store for some brand-new deals.

With the new Midnight Black PS Portal launching on February 20, 2025, and pre-orders beginning as soon as January 16, I still wish I held out for just a little longer. Yet, with how notorious I am for feeling the need to own every piece of Sony hardware possible, I wouldn’t put it past myself to look for an excuse to already off-load the white handheld and prioritize some Midnight Black gaming sessions in my future instead.

Check out our guide to the best PS5 accessories if, like me, you have a soft spot for Sony's current-gen console. There's also a ton of peripherals to pair your beloved console with, from the best PS5 controllers to the best PS5 headsets to make the most of your future PlayStation gaming sessions.

In a fresh CES 2025 announcement, Lenovo officially introduces us to three new best gaming handheld contenders. There are three new models in total, with two following the company's new 8-inch Legion Go S formula and a larger 8.8-inch protype that feels like a successor to the original. The SteamOS model is set to cost just $499.99, while prices for the Windows 11 edition start at $729.99.

Both Legion Go S models come armed with either a Ryzen Z1 Extreme or one of the newly announced Ryzen Z2 Go, while the chonky 8.8-inch "Legion Go 2" will use the Ryzen Z2 Extreme. That chip choice makes more sense seeing as the handheld will come with a 144Hz QHD OLED display. However, the smaller versions are hardly low-spec, as they'll wield a whopping 32GB RAM and feature respectable 120Hz panels not unlike the Asus ROG Ally.

I know I've dunked on the original Lenovo Legion Go quite a bit over the past year, and I'm admittedly a Steam Deck OLED fan girl. Still, I think the exciting part of this announcement is the SteamOS Legion Go S, as freeing the tech companies handhelds from tedium of Windows 11 could help them reach more players.

Sure, the operating system isn't flawless, and you'll have to tinker with Linux of you want to play games via the Epic Game Store or other storefronts. Nevertheless, I stand by SteamOS being ideal for portable gaming, and it's less likely to result in you launching your device out of a Window when Windows acts up.

Should you buy a new Lenovo Legion Go?

One of my main gripes with the first Lenovo Legion Go was that it felt more like an overambitious prototype than a finished handheld. That's perhaps a little harsh, but the device felt too clunky for my liking, and its removable TrueStrike controllers failed to win me over. I'm also not convinced that a QHD 144Hz screen pairs well with a Ryzen Z1E system, but perhaps the OLED sequel will have the chops to provide a matching frame rate.

Both the Legion Go S and 8.8-inch OLED model will arrive with new Ryzen chipsets, but it's the larger handheld that'll provide a next generation edge. That's not to say the Ryzen Z2 Go won't perform admirably, but the Z2 Extreme will boost fps further using 8 cores and 18 threads. The end result is a machine that has more chance of matching 144Hz with a suitable refresh rate while running for more than half an hour.

I need to put all the new Legion Go models through my own tests to see how they shape up. Same goes for whether each device feels nice in the hands, as while all models look pretty nice so far, pictures only tell half a story. My hope is that we end up with a device that better delivers on the promise of the 2023 device accompanied by two lighter options that embrace value and comfort.

Ultimately, I'm still more hyped for Lenovo's "Steam Deck" than anything else, especially since it'll cost under $500. Ideally, I would have loved to see an extremely competitive price here, but with more and more $800 options emerging on the scene, I'll take what I can get.

Already got Valve's handheld? Swing by the best Steam Deck accessories and best Steam Deck dock for helpful add-ons. Alternatively, check out the best gaming laptop for a more powerful mobile rig.

It's claimed that the new image – which has been shared by journalist and author Laura Kate Dale, who reports that it's "from a trusted source" – shows the console's dock, specifically, part of the back of it. It's claimed that the console will ship with a 60W charger, and Dale adds that "to my understanding, the current generation Switch mains charger cable won't be suitable for use powering the Switch 2 when docked." 

With this apparent dock image, as well the left Joy-Con leaks that recently emerged, it feels a bit like we're piecing the console together like a jigsaw puzzle. But what about that protective case, does that bring the whole thing together? Well, as highlighted on ResetEra, it's a real listing on Amazon Japan, produced by Laziro. If you pop in a Japanese postcode, you can see that it's supposedly set to release on March 15. 

More importantly, does this give us our first full look at the console? No, almost certainly not – as has been pointed out on ResetEra, the images appear to be the same as a mockup render which first surfaced a few weeks ago. If you look closely, you can even see that the X and Y buttons are in the wrong places compared to their usual layout. What is baffling is the listing's insistence that this thing is only for the Switch 2, and isn't compatible with anything else. It begs the question, does a case for the console actually exist? Would one really show up on March 15 if you put an order in? Frankly, I have no idea – I'd be inclined to recommend waiting to see when the console itself releases before buying any mysterious accessories for it, though.

For now, Nintendo has us all waiting with bated breath for an announcement that we know is coming at some point before the end of March. Whenever that might be, it really can't come soon enough.

Nintendo Switch 2 will have backwards compatibility with Switch games, and Nintendo Switch Online will be coming back too.

Typically, if you have an XLR microphone at your fingertips, you need one of the best streaming mixers to actually use it. Desktop PCs and Macs don't come with XLR ports from the get-go, so having an interface like the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (the one I use every day) comes in handy. A device like this provides not only a way for you to hook up and record various audio and instruments but can also provide phantom power needed for any condenser XLR mics you may have at your disposal.

But interfaces like those don't come cheap. If you've already spent a small fortune on a high-powered mic, it's unlikely you'll have the financial means, or even just the motivation, to add a separate audio interface into the mix. That's what makes Shure's new MV7i Smart Microphone and Interface an ideal piece of audio kit for budget-conscious audio nerds, like myself.

Not only is the MV7i set to save you from forking out more cash for your setup, but Shure states that the brand-new microphone offers up the same audio quality as the MV7+ podcast mic and includes the onboard DSP and MOTIV Mix desktop and MOTIV mobile app integration. Through these apps, you can control both channels, whether you're recording two mics for a podcast or preparing for your next gaming live stream.

This newly upgraded smart microphone also comes decked out with Auto Level Mode with SmartGate Technology that automatically calibrates gain depending on certain factors, a Real-Time Denoiser to reduce ambient noise, a Digital Popper Stopper that acts like a pop-shield to damper harsh sounds, and Adjustable Reverb.

Despite being just showcased for the first time at the Pepcom CES Digital Experience this year, the MV7i Smart Microphone and Interface is already available now on the Shure website for $349 / £329. Hopefully, I can get my hands on it for testing and see if it truly makes my Focusrite interface a thing of the past.

Not quite sure the Shure MV7i Smart Microphone is for you? Check out our guide to the best gear for streaming where there are plenty of other options for you to choose from. We've also tested out some of the best webcams and the best capture cards if you're hunting for something more specific.

Even the phrase RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 sounds a bit vicious, but Blackwell is a successor rather than a rival. The new Nvidia card is specifically designed to replace the Lovelace flagship, a tradition that has taken place every generation since the Nvidia 256 back in 1999. However, that doesn't mean the fresh GPU will universally better, as while it boasts elevated specs on paper, there's more to this match than brute performance.

To properly put things into perspective, I'm going to run you through RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090 in terms of price, specs, and features. That way, you'll know whether you should buy the RTX 5090, consider another model, or even try and grab the last-gen Lovelace card if prices happen to drop in the months ahead.

RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090: Price

The RTX 5090 is set to arrive on January 30 for $1,999, whereas the Founder's Edition RTX 4090 retails for $1,499. At face value, you're paying $500 more this generation for Nvidia's flagship compared to 2022, but the increase can be attributed to inflationary changes and technical enhancements.

Of course, these MSRPs don't apply across the board, and custom RTX 5090 will likely come with a much higher asking price. At the same time, there's a chance RTX 4090 stock will start to receive a price cut, meaning you'll pay even less for the former flagship. Whether or not those discounts are worthwhile fully depends on how the RTX 4070 and RTX 4080 perform in benchmarks, as CEO Jensen Huang says the former boasts 4090 levels of performance for $549.

If you're looking for a GPU that'll provide uncompromised performance throughout the generation ahead, the RTX 5090 will do so for $1,999. The same can't be said for the RTX 4090 since the new flagship will boost fps further at 4K, but if you can get one for cheaper than something like the RTX 5080, it could be a winner in terms of price. Again, that hinges on how mid-range Blackwell GPUs perform, as the Lovelace card could be end up worse value.

RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090: Specs

For many, specs will be the main point of comparison between the RTX 5090 and RTX 4090. That makes sense given that the Blackwell GPU will use a shiny new architecture paired with 32GB of faster GDDR7 VRAM and enhanced AI abilities, but it's worth noting that on-paper figures don't always translate performance-wise.

I'd advise waiting for my RTX 5090 review if you want a true idea of how the above specs compare to the RTX 4090. I'll be sure to return here with some comparative benchmarks after that too, but even before we get to that point, the Blackwell graphics card is packing serious specs under the hood that will impact frame rates.

For starters, the RTX 5090 has 21,760 CUDA cores versus 16,384 on the RTX 4090. Those extra units go a long way in improving rendering performance and generally speeding things up, which should result in a boost in capacities over and above the 4090.

RTX 5090 boost clock speeds are technically lower, coming in at 2.41 GHz versus 2.52 GHz with the RTX 4090. That might lead you to believe the new card is somehow slower, but an increased CUDA core count and enhanced architecture give Blackwell an edge regardless.

The 32GB GDDR7 VRAM in the RTX 5090 is not only an increase over the 4090's 24GB GDDR6X offering, but the modules are up to 33% faster and 20% more power efficient. The upgrade will help Nvidia's card better deal with heavy rasterization and ray tracing workloads, and should help playing games at 8K become more viable.

As for power, the RTX 5090 comes with a 575W TDP, and Nvidia recommends using a 1,000W PSU for your entire system. That's a big leap over the 4090's 450W requirements, so you might end up needing to upgrade your power supply if you go next-gen.

RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090: Features

AI upscaling is absolutely the secret sauce when it comes to both the RTX 5090 and the RTX 4090, and the former will launch with brand new DLSS 4 tricks. Not only will the toolkit help Blackwell GPUs boost fps even further using new "Multi Frame Generation" abilities, but it'll also use something called "Transformer."

Nvidia's Bryan Catanzaro provides a full rundown of DLSS 4 in the video above, but Transformer is the same model used by the likes of ChatGPT, Flux, and Google Gemini. It effectively aids elements like temporal stability and anti-ghosting to provide a more seamless upscaling and Frame Generation experience, meaning you're less likely to notice any visual hiccups that break immersion.

During the Nvidia CES 2025 keynote, Jensen Huang also claimed that Blackwell GPUs can generate 33 million pixels using just 2 million pixels worth of data and new AI abilities. The event included a "real-time computer" graphics example that showed off hyper-detailed textures and ray tracing on every pixel. The AI basically predicts visual data that hasn't been rendered yet, in turn increasing performance by lightening GPU workload.

Okay, so how does that impact games? Well, Nvidia uses Cyberpunk 2077 in a DLSS 4 demonstration in one of its examples. In a side-by-side clip, the feature boosts 4K frame rates to 245fps versus 142fps using DLSS 3.5. That's the version available to the RTX 4090, so you can count it as a reason to go for a Blackwell card over Lovelace.

If you're into shooters, you'll be pleased to hear the RTX 5090 will use Reflex 2 - the latest version of Nvidia's latency-busting tech. It'll come armed with a feature dubbed "frame wrap" that seemingly improves results dynamically using mouse input information and calculating camera positions. Using The Finals for a visual example, the GPU giant claims thew new tech will reduce latency from 27ms using OG Reflex compared to just 15ms with the new version, adding up to an overall 75% reduction compared to native results.

RTX 5090 vs RTX 4090: Which GPU should you buy?

On paper, the RTX 5090 beats the RTX 4090 in terms of performance and features, but I'll want to get hands-on with Blackwell before recommending it over Lovelace. Once I've got benchmarks and frame rates in hand, I'll be able outline whether it's worth spending $500 more on the latest model or trying to get the last-gen card for cheaper.

It's important to stress that the RTX 5090 and 4090 aren't equivalents, and it's more likely that lower-class cards will outpace the previous flagship. Nvidia says the RTX 5070 will boast 4090 levels of performance, and while that might be thanks to AI upscaling and DLSS, it still means it's more of a rival to the previous frontrunner.

Of course, I'll also be looking to see how AMD's eventual RDNA 4 challenger holds up against the RTX 5090. However, seeing as the red team glossed over its graphics options during its own keynote, and has only publicly mentioned a lower-spec Radeon RX 9070 option so far, we might have to wait a little bit.

Putting together a new rig? Swing by the best CPU for gaming and best RAM for more parts. Alternatively, take a peek at the best Alienware gaming PCs that are already primed for take off.

Dubbed the 'SanDisk Creator Series', this new range of portable SSDs, microSD cards, and USB flash drives is targeted towards buddying artists, content creators, and gamers alike. The set includes "tailored, professional-grade collection of products infused with vibrant colors that celebrate creativity and individuality" which includes brand-new portable SSDs, micro SDs, and other storage solutions.

This all-new SanDisk Creator Series begins with the SanDisk Creator Phone SSD, a portable solid-state drive that can attach to MagSafe-compatible smartphones. This compact SSD is available in 1TB or 2TB versions and is compatible with Windows, Android, and macOS devices, including the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. In fact, if you find yourself commonly creating YouTube or TikTok videos on your phone, this SSD can even support video capture in Apple ProRes 4K at 60fps, making it ideal for Apple fans.

Additionally part of the set is the SanDisk Creator microSD Card, featuring a stunning gradient colorway. The microSD comes in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage versions and can be used to capture stunning 4K5 and 5.3K5 footage on compatible smartphones and cameras. The Creator Series also features a brand-new Creator SanDisk Creator SD UHS-II Card with transfer speeds up to 280MB/s, a SanDisk Creator Phone Drive that can transfer media between your Apple devices, a SanDisk Creator USB-C Flash Drive for those non-Apple devices, and a SanDisk Creator Pro Portable SSD, and SanDisk Creator Desk Drive.

Fortnite fans are in for a treat

SanDisk has also launched the Fortnite Portable SSD and USB Flash Drive Peely Editions, two new storage solutions also revealed at this year's CES 2025.

The SanDisk Fortnite Portable SSD, Peely Edition is a lovely change from other plain SanDisk designs. According to Western Digital, it will be available in 1TB and 2TB options and sport a cute all-yellow colorway. Everyone's favorite anthropomorphic banana from Fornite is represented further with his cute, infectious smile right in the middle of the compact SSD. Specs wise, it's similar to that of the brand's existing 1TB drive with speeds up to 800MB/s and a USB 3.2 Gen 2 interface, which is nothing new. So just like the official SanDisk Super Mario and Pokemon microSD cards, the appeal of these Peely Editions is all in the design.

The matching SanDisk Fortnite USB Flash Drive, Peely Edition is just as cute, featuring a similar design but with some added 'nana' Fortnite decals. The USB drive is set to be available in 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB variants and comes with the kind of specs you'd expect of SanDisk's flash drives with read speeds up to 130MB/s.

Neither the Peely Edition SSD nor the USB Flash Drive can be used to run Fortnite on any of your devices. Yet, if you want a colorful change-up, these or any part of the Creator Series would be a good bet. Just don't be surprised if the funky colors and designs come at an extra cost.

If you can't wait for these new SanDisk storage options check out our best microSD card for Nintendo Switch for some extra space for your Ninty, and other compatible handhelds. We've also gathered all the best SSDs for PS5 and the best Xbox Series X hard drive, SSD, and memory card solutions for all your gaming needs.

If you're like me and you're strangely nerdy about the makes, models, and prices of the best gaming chairs, you may be stopping here to ask me something. Is this new seat affordable by market standards, or is it affordable by Razer's standards - because there is a difference. I'm actually surprised and quite happy to say that the new Razer Iskur V2X is genuinely affordable compared to most gaming chairs, with a price tag of just $299.99 / £299.99.

Ok, so it's not under $200 affordable, but we are still talking about a gaming chair here, and Razer's tend to ere on the side of premium. This new 2025 throne is the sequel to the Razer Iskur V2 which launched last year to praise from us for its excellent lumbar support, eventually going home with our runner-up award for best gaming chair of 2024. It does cost $649 / £599, though, so for all its fancy features, you'd have to budget almost as much for a PS5 Pro.

Other premium brands like Secretlab have attempted to make a more affordable version of an existing gaming chair. That's how we got the Secretlab Titan Evo Lite last year, but even that will set you back over $400. Razer seems to have cracked the $300 code here, but the way it's done so gives me reservations about whether this chair will be worth sitting in.

The way Razer has been able to half the price of its 2024 tour deforce is by seriously cutting back on the features that make it so great to begin with, and that may defeat the entire point of investing in a gaming chair.

The Iskur V2 X takes away the original V2's beautiful lumbar support panel and instead replaces it with a non-adjustable lumbar arch. While I'm sure that will be plenty comfortable thanks to the high-density foam cushioning, it makes me wonder why this new chair shares the Iskur name, and why Razer didn't just launch it as a new product that specifically targets the budget buyer instead.

Lumbar support isn't the only thing missing, either. Ignoring the 4D armrests gaming chairs all but include as standard these days, the Iskur V2 X gives you 2D ones. That may be all you need, and if so, great! That said, you can get more from this sort of price range from the likes of Boulies, GTOmega, or even the Corsair TC100 Relaxed.

It's not all doom and gloom for the V2 X though, because, despite lessened side bolsters on the backrest, you actually get a wider seat base here than you do with the original Iskur V2, as well as 152 degrees of recline.

The Iskur V2 X is available today either from Razer or approved retailers. If you're not in need of a gaming chair right this second, you may be interested to learn that Razer has also revealed project Arielle at CES 2025, a new concept for what it calls "the world's first integrated heating and cooling gaming chair". No one tell them about the Mavix M7, okay?

Looking to up your gaming furniture game this year? Check out the best pink gaming chairs, the best console gaming chairs, and the best gaming desks.

If you're still waiting for the PlayStation Banana gamepad to sweep into our list of the best PC controllers though, I have some bad news for you. Most of the patents the company is awarded never see the light of day as finished products, and it seems more like Sony really just bags ownership of ideas to stop rivals from making them first.

It's bizarre then, that at CES this week, the latest Xbox Series X controller has been announced, and it looks like a bona fide rip-off of the official PS5 gamepad. The Hyperkin Competitor has caught a lot of attention for its DualSense-like looks, and for good reason. There are transparent buttons, tiny textures on the controller's grips, and even a similarly placed mute button to Sony's flagship. The D-pad buttons are the exact shape of the ones found on a DualSense, which feels totally out of place for an Xbox controller since they usually feature 8-way directional circles instead of four distinct buttons.

The whole product looks like it's been designed to jab Sony in the ribs, which is a hilarious punch for Xbox to throw at a competitor platform that's outselling its own console so handily. The Hyperkin Competitor has official Xbox licensing, so don't doubt that this thing has gone through some painstaking development processes with people from Microsoft - who have clearly okayed its uncanny PS5 design.

I hope Sony can have a sense of humor with it, because for a company that's so hell-bent on stopping competitors from using its ideas, the new Hyperkin pad smells like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

Hyperkin Competitor: Meme, or worth buying?

When you look past its clear console war-fueling disguise though, the Hyperkin Competitor actually has a lot going for it.

For starters, it might be the first Xbox Series X controller to lock users into a symmetrical thumbstick layout. Other pads for Xbox consoles this generation have modular designs, which means you could swap around the parts of the Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox and make it have the symmetrical layout of one of the best PS5 controllers. But I can't think of another Xbox controller that has no option to switch to the offset layout that they're typically known for.

As if its PS5-coded design wasn't enough of a poke at Sony's ribs, the Hyperkin Competitor features anti-stick drift thumbsticks, healing an ill that's plagued the official DualSense since its 2020 launch.

Then, there are two back buttons, which I've always felt the stock DualSense is missing. Sure, you can save up and spend $200 or so on a DualSense Edge, but for its price, I always felt more functionality should be in there. The Hyperkin Competitor's back buttons look ergonomically placed, and while it's a shame there aren't four of them to really tilt this toward competitive gameplay, a pair of back buttons could honestly be a DualSense killer when using this as on PC.

Of course, it'll all depend on how much this new gamepad is selling for, because right now we don't have any official price or release date details. I've reached out to Hyperkin for more information, but since the brand mainly focuses on retro controllers like its Hyperkin Duke, and prices things pretty reasonably, I'd be willing to bet this won't be over the $100 mark.

Looking for more controllers to consider? Look at the best joysticks, the best racing wheels for PC, and the best Xbox One controllers.

It's needless to say the RTX 5070 is designed to be an GeForce RTX 4070 successor, and it might steal the best graphics card crown this generation. Of course, if you're looking for Ultra 4K performance without compromise, you'll be looking to pre-order the RTX 5090 or pick up the RTX 5080 on January 30. However, DLSS 4 AI tricks are going to provide all cards with a UHD boost, so even the 70-class model will boost fps further using next-gen tech.

If you're serious about grabbing an RTX 5070, I'd start preparing to pick up the card ahead of February. I'll let you know an exact release date as soon as I have it, but until then, I've got a bunch of recommended retailers for you to consider, and I'll also be providing plenty of stock updates down below.

Where to buy RTX 5070 in the US

Where to buy RTX 5070 in the UK

Where to buy RTX 5070: FAQ

Should you buy the RTX 5070?

We'd all love to be able to buy RTX 5090 graphics cards and live our lives in full splendor, but realistically the RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti have a lot to offer - perhaps, pound-for-pound, more than the high-end cards. With DLSS 4 at the helm, this could be the first mid-range GPU capable of reliable 4K gaming and even if we're not quite there just yet you're still going to get much more power for your cash than in previous generations.

On paper specs alone, we're yet to test the new generation, I'd be pitching the RTX 5070 to anyone with a current GPU from the RTX 4060 and weaker. If you're running with an RTX 4070 or RTX 4070 Super at the moment, I would wait until we've completed our full benchmarks before considering your options.

If you're going big on the AI side of things, you will want to take advantage of this new generation, and the mid-range card looks to be the most cost-effective way to do so at the moment. It's worth noting here that the RTX 5070 Ti's 1,406 AI TOPS is considerably higher than that of the RTX 5070 (988).

Eyeing up the RTX 5080? I'd slow down on that one. The 5080 is due to launch at $999 - $250 more than the RTX 4070 Ti. With both cards sharing 16GB of GDDR7 and the RTX 4070 Ti's memory bandwidth (896 GB/s) only sitting slightly behind the 4080's (960 GB/s), pure numbers are looking pretty similar here. You do get more AI grunt out of the RTX 5080 (1,801 TOPS), however.

Looking to build an entire system? Swing by the best CPU for gaming and best RAM for vital rig parts. Alternatively, check out the best Alienware gaming PC builds if you're not into DIY.

Before anything else, you'll want to keep an eye out for RTX 5090 pre-orders. Nvidia's next best graphics card could end up in high demand due to its AI abilities, so it won't just be gamers picking the GPU for their rig. That's why I'm already keeping tabs on the GeForce card at various retailers in the US and UK, as well as pointing you towards the retailers I'd check out first.

The RTX 5090 will arrive on January 30, meaning you have around three weeks to make purchasing plans. Some retailers like Overclockers UK have advised checking listings periodically if you're hoping to pre-order, as each model's out of stock status will change once stock is available. Ultimately, you'll want to sign up for notifications at more than one retailer, as that way you'll be able to hop on whatever site kicks things off first.

Where to pre-order RTX 5090 in the US

Where to pre-order RTX 5090 in the UK

Where to buy RTX 5090: FAQ

Should you buy the RTX 5090?

The RTX 5090 will undoubtedly change PC gaming when it launches January 30, but its $2,000 price tag means it absolutely isn't for everyone. If you're planning on putting together an absurdly powerful 4K rig that can also venture into 8K territory using the power of AI, you'll ultimately end up eyeing up this card. However, if even the RTX 4090 feels like more than enough juice to run your Steam library, there are far cheaper options this generation.

During Nvidia's CES 2025 keynote, CEO Jensen Huang also unveiled the RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5080. Each class of card should offer up frame rates that scale with price, but even the latter 70-series card can apparently provide Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 performance. Better still, that particular model comes in at $549, so current gen 4K gaming is about to get a hell of a lot cheaper in the generation to come.

Of course, there is a slight catch, as such feats are achieved using new AI tricks made possible by Blackwell. DLSS 4 will effectively give your PC a boost by generating graphics on its behalf, with Nvidia claiming the tool can fill in 33 million pixels for every 2 million generated by your actual hardware. If you'd prefer to keep things native, the results might be slightly less impressive, but you're still going to be getting a huge performance boost across the entire Blackwell range.

It's still early days for the RTX 5090, and I'll be looking to share my own benchmarks soon. That'll ultimate paint a real performance picture that'll help you decide on whether to buy the flagship, but its price tag already suggests it's for power users and extreme PC builders alike.

Looking to build an entire system? Swing by the best CPU for gaming and best RAM for vital rig parts. Alternatively, check out the best Alienware gaming PC builds if you're not into DIY.

On the Intel side, MSI has plugged the latest Core Ultra 200HX and 200H processors into its 2025 lineup, with all their integrated NPU performance. Meanwhile, it's the Ryzen 9000HX series taking up the flagship in the majority of this week's AMD announcements. That leaves only a few rigs sporting the red team's Ryzen AI 300 Series processors - a powerful chip that revs up to 50 TOPS for an incredibly efficient processing system. That's an odd play for a lineup that seems so laser-focused on AI processes, but for now, we've only got specs on paper.

MSI Titan

The MSI Titan 18 HX was among the most powerful gaming laptops I tested last year (bested only by the Raider). 2025's iteration doubles down on that performance, with Intel's Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and either an RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 GPU. Those GPUs are running at top pelt as well, with the brand's OverBoost Ultra tech pushing up to 270W of total power. The MSI Titan 18 HX AI comes armed with the same 18-inch UHD display that we saw in the previous generation, while also upgrading its connectivity with two Thunderbolt 5 ports.

MSI Raider

Strangely, the MSI Raider 18 HX beat the Titan in my testing last year, and with two new models hitting the shelves in 2025, the brand is leaning into its classic chunkster. The MSI Raider 18 HX AI and the MSI Raider A18 HX look similar in name, but their processors set them far apart. The Raider 18 HX AI leans into, you guessed it, Intel's AI-powered Core Ultra 9 275HX processor while the A18 HX takes a more traditional route with its AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D CPU.

That Intel processor means the HX AI benefits from Thunderbolt 5 support, whereas the AMD build sticks to older Thunderbolt 4-compatible USB4 Type-C ports, but both models sport Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 GPUs.

MSI Vector

CES 2025 marks the first ever 18-inch MSI Vector machine, a slightly cheaper rig packed with the latest Fire Range AMD Zen 5 processors (and an older Ryzen 9 8945HX option). With its RTX 5070 Ti GPU, this is one of the few mid-range specs on the show floor this year. The Vector's display is knocked down a peg compared to the traditionally more premium Raider and Titan, packing a fairly standard QHD+, 240Hz panel. It's still good to see a Thunderbolt 4 entry, though, especially considering this could be one of the most high-value picks once those prices start to drop.

MSI Stealth

Both the new MSI Stealth 18 HX AI and MSI Stealth A18 AI+ look to be the most versatile of the brand's CES 18-inch lineup. This is a simple Intel / AMD split, with the former packing an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU and the latter sticking with the fantastic AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370. That's a processor that's proven its worth even in cheaper configurations, and a must-see in slimline machines like the Stealth. Both configurations come with a 4K option (a MiniLED at 120Hz) but can also be specced up for speed with a QHD+ panel at 240Hz. GPUs span RTX 5070 Ti to RTX 5090, the largest range of MSI's CES laptop lineup, though that Intel model does benefit from Thunderbolt 4 as well.

Between brands? We're also rounding up all the best Razer laptops and the best Alienware laptops on the market, as well as the best Asus gaming laptops.

The Asus ROG Flow Z13 hasn't traditionally made sense when viewed against the best gaming laptops. It's more expensive and less powerful - but the magic comes when you remove the keyboard. The 13-inch device has been the best gaming tablet on the market for years now, and I'm eager to see where the next step takes us.

The new tablet will feature an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chiplet processor featuring RDNA 3.5 GPU cores, whereas previous entries in the range have always relied on a dedicated graphics card instead.

These aren't your Grandma's integrated graphics, though. The Radeon 8060S system sits within AMD's Ryzen AI Max 'accelerated processing unit', with the top-of-the-range Max Plus 395 model boasting 16 Zen 5 CPU cores and 40 RDNA 3.5 graphics cores. The cheaper Ryzen AI Max Plus 390 still packs a punch with 12 of those CPU cores and 32 for graphics.

In combining both the CPU and GPU, the 2025 Asus ROG Flow Z13 can draw from a single RAM store, with up to 128GB of LPDDR5X 8,000MHz memory powering the whole system (and up to 96GB VRAM allocated at a time). That's some serious grunt built into a single-chip system - the new Z13 can push TDP up to 120W.

All of that comes together with a 2.5K resolution 13-inch Nebula display on top, running at a 180Hz refresh rate and 500 nits brightness. Efficiency is the name of the game here, though. The whole device is just 12mm thick, weighs in at 1.2kg, and still features a full CNC-milled solid metal chassis.

The key is that new vapor chamber, keeping everything cool with super light stainless steel and copper materials covering 54% more of the motherboard compared to the previous model. 0.1mm fins and Asus's second-gen Arc Flow Fans keep air moving without adding to the overall chassis silhouette. There's even dedicated air routing behind the main touchscreen, to ensure that Corning Gorilla Glass 5 panel stays comfortable to the touch.

Asus has taken some cues from its gaming handheld division with this device. After all, the tablet is blurring the already smudged lines between traditional handheld vs PC play. I'm a big fan of both, having spent most of my free time trading out a full laptop system for my Asus ROG Ally over the last year. The Asus ROG Flow Z13 will likely remain a niche product - it doesn't quite scratch that handheld itch, and it's not going to outperform RTX 5090 laptops this year (though I haven't had my hands on it yet). But somewhere in the middle there will be folk like me who just love a versatile, efficient way to play - and that's where the Z13 finds its family.

If you're after more portable play options, check out everything we know about the Nintendo Switch 2, or take a look at the best gaming phones and the best mobile controllers.

Rather than simply releasing a new Alienware Aurora R17 and calling it a day, Dell has instead announced both a 2025 successor to the Aurora R16 and an "Area 51" version it dubs as its "highest performance desktop." At a glance, that latter model looks like last year's rig with a silver paint job, but its innards bring non-custom sensibilities and a standard ATX motherboard to the table.

Dell says the new Area 51 model caters to "PC gamers, technology enthusiasts, and even gamers who enjoy engaging in a DIY approach to desktops." I'd normally raise an eyebrow at that last claim, but the machine's new motherboard and wide AIO cooler compatibility means it's as customizable as an ordinary rig. Even it's PSU is "industry standard", with Dell providing 800W and 1,500W options.

In addition to being more upgradable, Dell claims its layout choices for the Area 51 help it run up to 13% cooler and "45% quieter." In turn, that improves airflow by up to 25%, which naturally aids its Intel Core Ultra CPU in terms of performance capabilities.

In a nut shell, the Area 51 is a "standard" gaming PC that looks like an Alienware rig. Everything from its 2.5-inch and 2.5-inch storage caddies to its three M.2 SSD slots to its extra headroom for longer graphics cards make this build feel as customizable as any other, which should help entice anyone who was previous put off by Dell's more proprietary designs.

Of course, if you're merely looking for a successor to the R16 with a shiny new GPU and processor inside, you'll still be able to pick up an "Aurora R17." Dell has seemingly dropped the number moniker, instead referring to the machine as the "2025" version. Basically, this is a revamped Alienware with an Nvidia RTX 50-series GPU, an Intel Core Ultra CPU, and up to 64GB DDR5 VRAM, but takes up 55% less space than its Area 51 sibling.

Will the Area 51 change Alienware as we know it?

I'll be putting both the new Alienware Area 51 and Aurora 2025 to the test ASAP, but part of me is wondering whether Dell is currently at a crossroads. While I get that the company is pitching both a mid-size boutique desktop as well as a more customizable machine that targets enthusiasts, both systems are providing access to mostly the same components.

Naturally, I'd want to advise grabbing the Area 51 based on upgradability alone, but sticking with the more traditional Aurora build could save you some pennies. I'm still waiting for entry-level model pricing, but the top end build will set you back $4,499, which is actually cheaper than Dell's $4,694.99 R16 price at launch.

If the Aurora is able to offer up an RTX 5090 and a 14th gen Intel chipset for significantly less than that, I'd perhaps be inclined to trade away upgradability perks. Sure, Dell's proprietary motherboard is a bit of a pain when it comes to sizing, but it is still possible to swap out its two DIMM sticks of RAM and its GPU. So long as you're not looking to massive overhaul cooling or change fundamental components, the would-be R17 could end up winning if it bears the right price tag.

Looking to upgrade your system? Swing by the best CPU for gaming and best gaming RAM options for ways to revamp your rig. You'll also want to peek at the best SSDs if you're in need of more storage.

As components get more powerful, they need increasingly sophisticated tech to keep them running smoothly. Most of the best gaming laptops employ Vapor Chamber thermal pads as well as a robust system of fans and vents to keep airflow moving, but these machines last a long time - and dust often undoes all that hard work pretty quickly. So what did HP decide to do? The HP Omen Max 16 periodically reverses its fans to dissipate dust, preventing build up and keeping that system running efficiently for far longer. That's on paper, anyway - I've yet to see it in action.

It's such a simple solution I can't believe nobody's done it before. Unless they have, and found out it doesn't work. Regardless, on a show floor obsessed with graphics card upgrades and AI integrations, it's refreshing to see a brand focusing on innovations in other build aspects that we know contribute significantly to performance without the brute force of a whole new set of components.

Overall, the rig is HP's most powerful Omen gaming laptop to date. Configuration options span CPUs including the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 375, AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, and Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX, with between 16GB and 64GB DDR5-5600 RAM. Cheaper specs can ship with 512GB SSDs, but there's also space for larger 2TB options as well. Meanwhile the display tops it all off with a QHD+ OLED 240Hz panel running with 500 nit HDR in full edge-to-edge glass. That's a screen built for the very top spec, with cheaper IPS panels at both QHD+ and FHD+ resolutions.

Alongside the Max 16, HP also announced its new Omen AI Beta program. It's a piece of software that promises to optimize your system's settings with specific presets based on your own gameplay and hardware. I'm less convinced on this one at the moment. At launch, Counter Strike 2 is the only compatible game, but I'm more than happy to be proved wrong should HP fill this library with a strong supply of titles.

If you're not sold on HP's new cooling tech, check out the best Razer laptops and the best Alienware laptops on the market. Or, take a look at the best Asus gaming laptops available now.

That's a fix for something even the best gaming mouse models can sometimes struggle with - if you've got all the internal specs you want, you're pretty stumped if the actual chassis doesn't bend to your will. It's a novel concept, where personalization is usually limited to software features, HP's latest range can shape itself to whatever you feel is most comfortable - especially since additional parts can be downloaded and 3D printed.

That last part does make it seem like HyperX won't be releasing its own accessories alongside the Pulsefire Saga and Pulsefire Saga Pro - which would defeat the purpose for anyone who doesn't have one of the best 3D printers stashed away. The Saga comes with two shells, two button covers, and two side button pairs straight out of the box, so there is still some wiggle room from day one.

Both mice feature HyperX's 26K sensor running at up to 650 IPS and 50G acceleration. The wireless Saga Pro is capped at a sensible 4,000Hz polling speed, but the cable on the Saga allows it to move up to more competitive 8,000Hz rates as well. Optical main switches will make for a faster response than more traditional mechanical clickers, and - of course - everything will be customizable with the brand's Ngenuity software. The wireless Saga Pro comes in at a slightly higher 79g, taking it away from the featherlight FPS-first mice across the rest of the market. However, if you want that reliable 8K polling in the wired Saga you can slim that waist down to 69g. That's still a little heavier than more premium entries from Razer or Logitech, but it's a cheaper device overall.

The HyperX Pulsefire Saga and Saga Pro will be available from March, with the Saga starting at $79.99 and the Saga Pro coming in at $119.99. HP also announced the budget-minded Pulsefire Fuse at CES this year, a 75g ambidextrous wireless mouse with a 12,000 DPI sensor that runs off a replaceable AAA battery for $49.99. Plus, the Pulsefire Haste line is seeing a refresh with the 2 S and 2 Pro 4K, two wireless gaming mouse models with a slick design, low weight, and the same HyperX 26K sensor. They will launch for $149.99 and $119.99 respectively.

We're also rounding up all the best Logitech gaming mouse models and the best left-handed gaming mice. If you're looking to keep your pointer running smoothly, though, check out the best mouse pads for gaming.

The 18-incher will launch with Alienware's latest quad fan design, propelling up to 37% more air through the system while also reducing operating noise by 15%. Throwing those top of the range components in with a total power level of 280W (10W more than the Alienware M18 R2) will make for a seriously speedy machine. On paper, this looks like one of the best gaming laptops heading our way in 2025, especially if the prestige of previous Alienware Area-51 rigs holds up.

There's enough power in here to send the Area-51 to the moon and back, and in true Alienware fashion the brand has kitted its machine out with true space vibes. An anodized metallic chassis reflects light in a manner inspired by the aurora borealis. That's combined with that classic Alienware RGB running through the rear cooling shelf and logo. There's more from those LEDs as well - a window beneath the main chassis reveals the internal fan system with full AlienFX lighting. It's not going to be seen too much during everyday use, but it's a continued nod to the PC / laptop hybrid system of the original Area-51 machines.

The 18-inch Alienware Area-51 will ship with a QHD+ display running at a blistering 300Hz refresh rate, while the 16-inch model bumps that speed down to 240Hz.

Dell is keeping quiet on upgradeability. The original Area-51m machines launched with that sweet promise of future proofing - a promise that was never particularly fulfilled. Limited upgrade options meant that these components could only be swapped out for a select few options, a disappointment that eventually saw the model phased from the shelves. Last year's Alienware M16 R2 and Alienware M18 machines are staying put on the shelves for now (though with new Nvidia GPUs on the market we could see further refreshes in a few months time), so the Area-51 is looking to satisfy those after extra power rather than upgradeability at the moment.

The 2025 Area-51 will join both of these Alienware gaming laptops in Q1 of this year, with high-end configurations at $3,199. The base model will follow with entry level components at $1,999.

Keeping an eye on the other brands this CES? We're also rounding up all the best Razer laptops and best Asus gaming laptops on the market. Or, for something more permanent, take a look at the best Alienware PCs available.

Nvidia's next generation RTX 5090 mobile GPU will run at up to 155W of maximum graphics power in the new Razer Blade 16, with 24GB GDDR7 VRAM under the hood. Pair that with AMD's exceptionally powerful AI processor (with an NPU capable of up to 50 TOPS) and new DLSS 4 image generation and you've got yourself a blinding piece of kit on paper. The best gaming laptops are continuing to grow, but it remains to be seen exactly how these performance improvements actually translate in every day play.

I'm a fan of everything Razer is throwing down with this new model. I loved last year's Razer Blade 16, I loved the AMD Ryzen AI processor I tested in the Asus TUF A14, and I do love a new GPU family.

These changes aren't just under the hood, though. The new Razer Blade 16's chassis has been updated as well - it's now thinner at just 0.59-inches (compared to last year's 0.86-inch waistline) and packs a new keyboard with a deeper 1.5mm travel distance for a more full-bodied typing feel. Of course, this machine isn't forgetting what made its predecessor great. The 2025 model features a QHD+ 240Hz OLED display with a 0.2ms response time. In its 2024 iteration, this remains the best display I've ever used on a gaming laptop, so here's hoping the new release stands as tall.

A larger GPU and a smaller frame can only mean one thing - Razer's had a headscratcher when it comes to cooling. The brand's come up with a solution, though. The 2025 Blade 16 also heralds a new vapor chamber cooling system with dual-fans keeping the machine cool and quiet, covering 57% of the motherboard while also packing 0.05mm exhaust fins.

Call me crazy, but I don't think the RTX 5090 is the game-changer here

AMD's AI mobile processors only made their debut in the summer of last year, so I only managed to test them properly towards the tail end of 2024 - and boy did they get me excited for 2025. Yes, DLSS 4 is certainly one to watch and the raw power of that RTX 5090 is impressive for the sake of progress, but I think it's going to be those AMD brains that truly give the Blade 16 its sharpest edge. Granted, I haven't tested either component in isolation yet - this is purely based on my own experience with the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 in the slimline RTX 4060 Asus TUF A14.

It's the same processor that Razer is using for its Blade 16 this year, and considering it managed to push the budget-minded lower mid-range TUF A14 to framerates that beat more expensive RTX 4070 models, I'm hyped. It's not all in those speedy frames, though. This is an incredibly powerful processor capable of topping PC Mark 10 charts even in cheaper builds.

The RTX 5090 is going to be Nvidia's top dog processor for the year, and it's also going to be the most expensive. I haven't seen it in action for myself yet, but improvements on the already incredibly potent RTX 4090 may well be minimal in an everyday setting. I'm more excited for what Razer's cheaper configurations will be able to do further down the price scale with that AMD AI processor. After all, an RTX 5060 with this CPU at the helm could well push budgets much further than ever before.

The Razer Blade 16 will be available from Q1 2025, though we have no indication on starting prices.

Of course, you can always check out all the best Razer laptops on the market, as well as the best Alienware laptops and best Asus gaming laptops we expect to see this year.

• Looking for pre-orders? Here's where to buy the RTX 5090 when it lands

If, like me, you tuned into this year's CES event to hear more about the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, you also likely had to wait through a bunch of AI announcements. Perhaps that's your bag, but my objective was to learn about the new flagship's price and capabilities.

Now that we're at the other end of the keynote, we now know the RTX 5090 for $1,999 alongside the RTX 5080 for $999, RTX 5070 Ti for $749 and the RTX 5070 for $549 this January. I'll keep you posted when I have an exact date and specific specs for each card, but CEO Jensen was pretty hyped to reveal that the latter will provide RTX 4090 levels of performance.

If, like me, you tuned into this year's CES event to hear more about the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, you also likely had to wait through a bunch of AI announcements. Perhaps that's your bag, but my objective was to learn about the new flagship's price and capabilities.

Now that we're at the other end of the keynote, we now know the RTX 5090 for $1,999 alongside the RTX 5080 for $999, RTX 5070 Ti for $749 and the RTX 5070 for $549 this January. I'll keep you posted when I have an exact date and specific specs for each card, but CEO Jensen was pretty hyped to reveal that the latter will provide RTX 4090 levels of performance.

There's no getting round that the company is now hyper focused on AI, but it also plans on using the tech to completely "revolutionize GeForce." Clad in a black snakeskin jacket, Jensen did kick things off with a quick graphics card history lesson, covering everything from Virtua Fighter to the first gaming GPU that debuted in 1999 (the Nvidia GeForce 25).

By that, Jensen means that new graphics cards like the RTX Blackwell family will use new forms of AI upscaling like DLSS 4 to completely generate graphics from scratch. The green team boss says the tech can effectively "predict the future," which is a bit cheesy, but he means that Blackwell GPUs can create 33 million pixels using 2 million. As you can imagine, that means a lot less native computational power is required thanks to really good graphical guess work.

It's that same tech that allows cheaper cards like the upcoming RTX 5070 to apparently pull off Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 levels of performance for a quarter of the price. I'm curious to know how much of that heavy lifting is linked to AI rather than native performance, and how quickly new version of DLSS will reach new games. Nevertheless, it's an impressive feat, and it it hammers home that the RTX 5090 will be absolutely monstrous.

Diving into DLSS 4

While we're talking about DLSS 4, Nvidia has uploaded a short demonstration of the tech to YouTube using Cyberpunk 2077. In the clip, the new AI upscaler can apparently boost frame rates in the shooter to 245fps at 4K. As someone who spends a lot of time in that game benchmarking specifically, that sounds absolutely wild, and the example even includes some textures I'd normally expect to see artifacts with, like a grid pattern on a coffee cup.

In a fresh blog post, Nvidia says "DLSS Ray Reconstruction, DLSS Super Resolution, and DLAA will now be powered by the graphics industry’s first real-time application of ‘transformers’, the same advanced architecture powering frontier AI models like ChatGPT, Flux, and Gemini. DLSS transformer models improve image quality with improved temporal stability, less ghosting, and higher detail in motion."

Simply put, cutting edge AI tech is going to be giving RTX 50-series cards extra juice, which explains how demanding romps like Cyberpunk 2077 can reach over 240fps using a Blackwell GPU.

The post also specifies that 75 DLSS games and apps will support DLSS 4 at launch, and you'll of course need a new Blackwell GPU. However, those same games will apparently get a Frame Generation boost on RTX 40-series cards, so that's a nice bonus for current-gen owners.

Naturally, I'll be looking to test out native performance as well as artificially enhanced benchmarks, but that'll all come in time with our review.

Right now, the keynote is still ongoing, and I'm still gathering up information of specs and specific release dates. I'll keep you all updated on that, but for know, just know that if you're looking to splash out on a new GPU, some serious powerhouses are coming this month.

This story is developing.

Looking for more components? Swing by the best CPU for gaming and best RAM for rig revamps.

Outside of its CES 2025 keynote, AMD revealed three chips - the Ryzen Z2 Extreme, Ryzen Z2, and Ryzen Z2 Go. The first two are set to feature 8 cores and 16 threads, but the Z2E will provide the best gaming handhelds this year with 16 graphics cores. The non-extreme version sticks with the same CU count as the Ryzen Z1, whereas the 'Go' scales things back to 4 cores and 16 threads.

As for power, the Z2E features a 15-35W TDP, while the Z2 sticks with 15-30W. Anyone who owns something like a Steam Deck OLED or the OG Asus ROG Ally will already be aware of the blight of current handheld battery life, and while specs are similar to current generation chips, the improved efficiencies tied to RDNA 3.5 should help extend playtime on new portables.

The next generation of handhelds starts now

Technically, Ryzen 8000 APUs have been powering boutique handhelds like the Ayaneo Flip DS for a few months now, but the Z2 Extreme and its kin should help usher in a new generation. Rumors have been circulating for months that the new chips will power new Lenovo Legion Go devices, and AMD says the chip's partners include Asus and Valve.

As I've already mentioned, the Steam Deck 2 will likely use something custom based on the same RDNA 3.5 architecture rather than a standard Z2 Extreme. But that aside, all signs point towards the chipset powering most upcoming handheld PCs. Naturally, rivals like the MSI Claw 8 AI+ will be stick with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor instead, but I'm willing to bet most newcomers will be batting for team red.

The proof is always in the performance pudding, and I'll be putting the new Z2 chips through their paces using the latest handhelds throughout 2025. Even without frame rates and data to hand, I can already tell that this year is going to be a big one for portable players, especially since the Nintendo Switch 2 will likely show up with a new Nvidia chipset and enhanced abilities.

While I'm not expecting Ninty's console to pose a threat to new handheld PCs in terms of raw power, I am curious to see how the green team responds to AMD's dominance within the space given that it has a stronghold on the graphics card market.

Of course, if you'd rather sit at a desk than play your Steam games outside, AMD has shiny new Ryzen 9 X3D CPUs on the way too.

Already got Valve's handheld? Swing by the best Steam Deck accessories and best Steam Deck dock for excellent add-ons. Alternatively, take a peek at the best retro consoles for ways to play classic capers.

So far, the card is staying true to its implied class, serving as al alternative to the RX 7900 XT with enhanced AI abilities. Naturally, that means it won't be taking on the RTX 5090 or any other top-end Nvidia cards, instead fighting for value 4K territory.

The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9070, marking the launch of RDNA 4 graphics card. Just like the RX 7900 XTX, the new GPU line-up won't be taking on Nvidia frontrunners like the RTX 5090 in terms of performance, but it could lure PC players looking for an affordable 4K experience this generation.

Scheduled to land Q1 2025, the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT will enter the best graphics card race with a 4nm RDNA 4 GPU, boasting improved ray tracing core performance and new AI capabilities. The latter goes hand in hand with the red team's AMD Fidelity FX Super Resolution 4, which may finally bring the AI fight to DLSS using machine learning-powered upscaling.

AMD FSR 4 will seemingly only work with new Radeon 9070-class cards, so that in itself could be a reason to opt for one of the RDNA 4 models over an older RX 7900 card. The component maker seems to be pitching the 9070 XT as on par with the 7900 XT, but says the successor will provide a "significant boost in AI." Simply put, we're looking at a more affordable 4K GPU with top-end abilities that can pull more impressive upscaling tricks.

It's also worth touching on AMD's new naming conventions since RX 9070 looks more like either a typo or a future Nvidia graphics card than a Radeon GPU tier. The company says the decision will help players better recognise model tiers at a glace. It also helps the company's card names match up with its Ryzen 9000 series CPUs, unifying both with generational terminology.

I'm not so convinced the new naming conventions will help make shopping for a graphics card easier, and the fact AMD has reserved the entire Ryzen 8000 series for its RDNA 3.5 APU range makes things that bit more complicated. Nevertheless, it should mean using the exact same patter to identity GPU class as you would with an Nvidia card, with XX90 representing top-end models.

I was fully expecting to hear more about the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 during AMD's CES 2025 presentation, but for whatever reason, its gaming section only covered the gaming CPU side of things. So, if it's RDNA 4 specs you're after, you'll sadly have to wait a little longer. What I can confirm right now is that both those cards and a lower-spec RX 7060 are in the pipeline, and I'll be sure to update you all when I have its official price and abilities.

Looking for more components? Swing by the best gaming RAM and best SSD for gaming for ways to revamp your rig.

The AMD Ryzen 9-9950X3D is the latest flagship processor that's stealing the title of "the world's best CPU for gaming and content creation". It will feature 16 Zen 5 CPU Cores, supported by a generous 32 threads, giving it a maximum boost frequency of 5.7GHz. That lifts it over AMD's previous X3D offering from this generation, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, which has a max boost clock of 5.2GHz.

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D sports a total cache of 144MB, which AMD has said in its marketing material gives it an 8% increase in performance over the previous generation Ryzen 9 7950X3D chip when gaming at 1080p. Of course, this 3D V-cache is also bred for content creators, and compared against the same last-gen chip, AMD has found a 13% increase across 20 applications including Photoshop, Blender, and Cinebench.

We're yet to hear an official launch date and price for the new Ryzen 9, but AMD says it will be on the shelves in Q1 of 2025, which could mean it arrives any time in the next three months or so.

If you don't quite have the budget for the best gaming PC specs available, this new powerhouse processor does have a presumably cheaper alternative. The Ryzen 9 9900X3D has only slightly lessened specs, but still offers you flagship gaming and content power.

It features 12 cores and 24 threads, with a max boost clock of 5.5GHz, and a total cache of 140MB. This may be one for the more power-conscious, since the flagship 9950X3D has a TDP of 170W, whereas the 9900X3D only draws 120W.

In other exciting news, AMD also announced that it's bringing its highly popular X3D tech to its "H" processors, giving owners of the best gaming laptops the chance to enjoy this breakthrough processing feature.

Of course, GPU news is the talk of the town right now, and AMD has also lifted the admittedly leaking lid of its RDNA 4 selection. The new Radeon RX 9070 has been confirmed, so read up on that if you're interested in the latest gaming PC specs. You'll also want to check out the upcoming Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip if you're excited about next-gen handhelds.

For more component chat, check out the best graphics cards, the best computer speakers, and the best RAM for gaming.

Hoon Chung, Executive Vice President of Enterprise Business Team, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics stated in a press release on August 21, 2024, during the monitor's initial unveiling that Samsung is committed to "leading the premium gaming monitor market by continuously developing cutting-edge technologies", however, the idea of a 3D display isn't exactly cutting edge at all.

In fact, CES as far back as 2008 played host to what is believed to be one of the very first 3D gaming monitors by the brand IZ3D. Plus, Acer beat Samsung to the punch with the Predator SpatialLabs View 27 monitor 3D monitor, with also forgoes the need of glasses. But what does make the Odyssey 3D an intriguing piece of tech is what it is, but how it works. According to the CES Samsung press release, the monitor uses light field display (LFD) technology to create 3D imagery using 2D visuals alongside its lenticular lens. These technologies, when combined with Eye Tracking performed by a built-in stereo camera, and View Mapping that continually adjusts the image to aid with depth perception, is what enables the glasses-free 3D experience.

While it will soon be available to take a spin for yourself on the CES 2025 show floor, Samsung has been quiet in other details surrounding the Odyssey 3D. Whether it comes to the original Gamescom 2024 unveiling or CES 2025, so far any info on what games work best with the new glasses-free 3D visuals has been scarce. Hopefully, this will be made available as CES gets rolling, however, I do worry that getting the best 3D result could involve game developers integrating support. A fact that could be a predicament for the niche tech, especially when other monitor brands aren't jumping back into the 3D space.

At least for the time being we do know that the Odyssey 3D will feature a 4K resolution, rapid 1ms gray-to gray (GTG) response time, and a refresh rate of 165Hz. Not only that, but for those not too fussed about 3D, Samsung states the display "seamlessly switch between 2D and 3D modes" as you see fit.

Check out our best gaming monitor guide if you're looking to give your PC gaming set up the display boost that it deserves. We've also rounded up the best curved monitors if you want more immersion and the best 4K monitors for those who put visuals above all else.

As highlighted on Reddit by user SwordfishAgile3472, it's claimed that the images in question originate from Chinese forum site Baidu Tieba, and they show the side and back of what looks like a left Joy-Con. Its black and blue design is reminiscent of the black and blue New 2DS XL, and there are some obvious visual differences setting it apart from a regular Switch Joy-Con. For a start, it seems to be larger, and the SL and SR buttons are bigger.

New Joy-con Photos from Chinese SNS from r/NintendoSwitch2

However, many fans aren't focused on the features of the controller itself but rather on a bit of information printed onto it. Notably, if you zoom in and squint your eyes, there appears to be a 14-digit number running down the side of the controller, which fans have found to actually fetch a result if entered onto Nintendo's official 'Check Warranty Status' page, rather than an 'invalid serial number' error. With that said, while some are suggesting that this proves beyond doubt that we're looking at a legitimate controller, this isn't necessarily the case.

As others on Twitter have pointed out, it's rather easy to get the website to accept a completely made-up serial number – after a bit of testing, I was able to get it to work on multiple series of letters and numbers I entered at random. Although it didn't work every single time, it's fair to say that avoiding the error isn't that difficult. 

Needless to say, do take this all with a pinch of salt for now – chances are, we're going to see more and more supposed leaks appear online until Nintendo finally unveils the console, and fakes will likely become increasingly common. At the very least, the end is in sight for when we can expect the company to give us some legitimate information – it was previously confirmed that an announcement will happen within the current fiscal year, which means we can expect something to happen before the end of March. It's been a long time coming, but hopefully the new console will be able to meet expectations – so far, we already know that it'll be backwards compatible with current Switch games, which means it'll have a massive game library from the get-go. 

The Switch 2 news drought sent so many Nintendo fans to the page for a new AI upscaling patent that they seemingly crashed it.

Blasphemy! I hear you cry. How could you possibly substitute the PS1, one of the best retro consoles ever made, for a half-baked replica that favors style over substance? Well, convivence is key to my questionable decision, as being able to solve all of the stock device's shortcomings helps make it the mini I'd been originally waiting for. Plus, I had big plans to stick it in my pocket and take it with me to the family Christmas gathering, and I don't think the OG system would fit in my parka.

I'm also acutely aware that the PS1 mini could end up going up in price out of sheer collectability. That's largely because it's now discontinued, meaning you're at the mercy of second-hand marketplaces and resellers. However, Amazon has some new in-box and refurbished options from $69.99, matching some of the cheapest listings at eBay. You only need to look at NES, SNES, and Genesis mini prices to know that could change as supplies deplete, especially since new mods make it a really nice system for quick classic sessions.

A PlayStation Classic comeback

Okay, let's dive into what you can actually do with the PlayStation Classic as we close out 2024. If you leave it stock, the system will still serve as a way to play some classics, but the console's 20 included games don't really represent the PlayStation's legacy. Sure, you've got Final Fantasy 7, Metal Gear Solid, and Resident Evil on there, but there are countless classics you could have instead of, *checks notes", Jumping Flash.

Let's be real, a proper PS1 mini should be serving up iconic capers like Spyro the Dragon and Crash Bandicoot. So, upon grabbing the plug-and-play mini console for cheap, I decided to look into what modding could do for the poor wee thing. And oh boy, the community has been busy, as you can now play practically any game you'd like on the device. Best of all, the whole process is technically a softmod, so you won't be permanently changing the console's firmware.

The mod in question, "Project Eris", is designed to support your own collection of ROMs via a USB drive. As someone who has a large physical PS1 collection, this is exactly my kind of jam. While I will use the original console at any opportunity just to hear those sweet laser mechanism sounds, being able to access any of my games and output over HDMI is extremely valuable.

To successfully give the PS1 mini these new abilities, you'll need to grab a few things. The first is an OTG cable with a micro USB port and full-sized type-A port built in. Not only will this save you plugging drives into the front of the system, but it's key to carrying out the softmod installation. You'll also want to use your gaming phone charger or a power supply, as while the mini console can happily run off your TV's USB port power, running the installer requires a little bit more juice.

There's a step-by-step set of instructions on the Project Eris website that'll take you through downloading the mod, putting it on a USB stick, and getting it onto the PS1 mini. It does tell you not to use an OTG cable until you've installed the mod, but for whatever reason, I couldn't get the installer to work without it. Your mileage may vary, though, so try putting the drive in the front controller port instead if you're not having much luck.

Once the transformation is complete, you'll have the ability to drag and drop ROMs onto your PS1 mini. The firmware will still retain the original 20 included games and simply add to the main carousel using your own files and artwork. However, you'll also have the ability to ditch the look of the PlayStation Classic OS altogether and use RetroArch instead, which means you can emulate a bunch of systems using just this tiny PS1.

Should you buy a PS1 Mini?

If you're willing to engage in a spot of modding, the PS1 mini is more than worth picking up today. It already had looks on its side thanks to its beautifully accurate shell and physical attention to detail. Even if Project Eris wasn't a thing, this tiny replica is still going to look fantastic on a game room shelf alongside the rest of your miniature collectible consoles.

That said, modding is what truly makes the PlayStation Classic worth buying today, and while you'll have to supply your own ROMs and pop them on a USB stick, the process is pretty easy. Not only are you gaining the ability to play all your favorite outings from Sony's past, but you'll also gain comforts like wider USB controller compatibility and more visual settings via RetroArch.

The thing that appeals to me most about the Project Eris softmod is that it's fully reversible. Unplugging your USB stick and OTG cable will prompt the console to boot up as normal, and while the same risk applies here with any firmware fiddling, it feels safer than other projects I've dabbled in.

Ultimately, it's game selection that initially held the PlayStation Classic back from greatness, so it's now an excellent way to play PS1 outings in my book. By the time you've read this, I'll be in a sugar coma playing Toy Story Racer using the mini console, and you could spend New Year's Eve doing the same.

Looking to play games on the go? Check out the best gaming handheld for an nice selection of consoles and portable PCs. If you've already got Valve's device, the best Steam Deck dock and best Steam Deck accessories are well worth a look too.

I've been swept up in the gaming handheld euphoria of the last 12 months, and it's come at the cost of a number of Ninty titles that I still want to enjoy. Super Mario Bros. Wonder is getting dusty on the shelves for crying out loud - and that's a crime. While my Switch may have been usurped for handheld moments, though, it can still shine on the big screen - and that's why the mClassic upscaler might be my alternative to the Nintendo Switch 2.

The dongle connects via the dock's HDMI port and freshens that 1080p output. GamesRadar+ Hardware Editor Phil Hayton reports a crisper, cleaner image with less jagged edges across everything from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Available at Amazon for $99.99 / £89.99 (and often on sale for far less), it's considerably cheaper than the rumored $400 - $500 cost of a whole new system and that value is compounded if you're a retro collector as well.

Should you buy the Marseille mClassic upscaler?

I'll get this straight out the gate - if you want a more substantial performance upgrade, you're better off waiting for the fully fledged console upgrade. The mClassic works well to soften the edges of scenes the handheld struggles with, but isn't going to improve choppy framerates or pop-in. It's a fresh coat of paint, not a whole new house.

However, if you're like me and don't want to invest in a whole new system in a few months time, it could be well worth a look. I want to give my library a boost, to get me back into the Ninty's world but also invest more time in my aging retro PlayStation collection. The mClassic does all that without sacrificing speed or color vibrancy. Those using the Switch on a particularly large screen will see more of the benefits, but I'm still expecting a boost on my 55-inch 4K panel.

No, it's not going to be the same upgrade as a full new processor and graphics system - but Nintendo games have never needed the latest and greatest specs to hold their appeal. These are simple titles that do fantastic things with limited tech, and I don't need a new console to play the current roster of releases. Do I still want to give them a spruce? I'm certainly not saying no.

We're rounding up all the best Nintendo Switch accessories on the market, as well as the best Nintendo Switch controllers and best Nintendo Switch headsets as well.

The GameSir G8+ Bluetooth Mobile Controller has picked up the slack as one of my favorite Switch controllers and has the same MSRP of $79.99 at Amazon right now. It isn't any cheaper than a new pair of Joy-Cons and can't switch between a one and two-player set-up, however. Instead, the G8+ controller allows the Switch display, OLED or LCD, to slot in the center and connect over Bluetooth. There, you can ditch the drift riddled peripherals and instead make use of the Bluetooth controller's tactile D-pad, hall effect sticks, and ergonomic shape. The curved controller design and its textured surface make it far more comfortable to hold than the flat backs of the Joy-Cons, and better yet, switching to this mobile controller doesn't mean losing out on rumble as its integrated with asymmetrical motors, which provide an even stronger feeling feedback.

Goodbye Joy-Cons, hello GameSir G8+

The GameSir G8 Galileo G8+ takes the existing GameSir G8 Galileo and turns it into one of the best Switch controllers for those fed up of the limitations of Nintendo's Joy-Cons. Both controllers benefit from hall effect sticks, which make drift a thing of the past. But what sets the G8+ apart is its brand-new connectivity options.

The G8 relies sorely on a Type-C port to connect to your smartphone, which makes any Switch connectivity non-existent. With the inclusion of Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz connection (via a dongle), the G8+ becomes one of the best Switch controllers I've ever gotten my hands on, and it has the exact same MSRP of $79.99 as it's non-Bluetooth counterpart. Connecting to the Switch is similar to any Pro controller, and once you're good to go the GameSir Home button will light-up to let you know.

It's then just a case of slipping the Switch screen into the center of the G8+ (without the Joy-Cons attached of course) and you're good to go. Hooking up your Switch to the G8+ won't make you lose out on any features either, other than NFC support. Should you actually like to use them, there's still gyro support and rumble to take advantage of.

The G8+ doesn't just had wireless connectivity into the mix for the same price, but it also features swappable sticks and ABXY buttons. Right in the box there's a selection of different sticks, ranging in size and grip, which you can easily attach to the controller. I can be pretty heavy handed with my tech, but I easily managed to pop off the magnetic faceplates of the controller to fit in the sticks of my liking - and it made a whole world of difference.

I've been using the G8+ controller with most of my Switch games, since it launched, but it's become my go to when playing Super Monkey Ball Banana Rumble. The combination of the hall effect sticks, comfortable ergonomic design of the controller and the powerful rumble motors actually improved my Monkey Ball skills - skills I've been trying to perfect for decades.

There isn't any passthrough charging this time around, which might be a deal breaker for some. It can be frustrating having to charge both your Switch and the controller separately when they're both out of juice. But the charging port of your Switch isn't hindered and any way, so it has that going for it.

For the exact same price as the wired only GameSir G8 Galileo, you're getting all same hall effect sticks, ergonomic design, and programmable back buttons but this time around you have actual Switch support. Without a type-C port to be mindful of, this mobile controller transforms into one of the best Nintendo Switch accessories I've ever had the pleasure of getting my hands on. And the G8+ is also compatible with Android and iOS based smartphones, should you want a controller for your favorite mobile games too.

GameSir G8 Galileo vs GameSir G8 Galileo G8+

• GameSir G8 Galileo
  • Android, iOS, PS Remote Play and Xbox Game Pass support
  • Hall effect sticks
  • Pass through charging
  • Movable Type-C port
  • 109 - 184mm device support
  • 2 programmable back buttons
  • Magnetically detachable faceplates
• GameSir G8 Galileo G8+
  • Switch, Android and iOS support
  • Hall effect sticks
  • Swappable sticks & ABXY buttons
  • Bluetooth, 2.4G (via dongle) and Wired compatibility
  • 110 - 215 mm device support
  • Built-in 6-axis gyro control
  • 2 programmable back buttons
  • Magnetically detachable faceplates

More of the best Nintendo Switch accessories

The GameSir G8+ Bluetooth controller is a great Joy-Con alternative for handheld players, but not everyone likes to play their Switch on the go. Luckily there's a ton of Nintendo Switch controllers that pair well with docked mode, and we've gathered some of our favourite's below.

Check our our best Nintendo Switch accessories guide for more of our top picks of the best controllers, Switch chargers, and more. If you need some extra storage space too, our Switch microSD card guide is full of the best storage solutions so you can download eShop games to your hearts content.

I didn't give up on my dreams of those clacky clickers under my thumb, though, and soon found an alternative. The EasySMX X10 comes in at just $49.99 / £40.99 (available at Amazon) and still packs those speedy face buttons. They're not quite as crispy as Razer's implementation but they're fast, clean, and incredibly tactile in everyday use.

That's fantastic value for a $50 wireless controller with both 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections and a dedicated Nintendo Switch mode to boot. Not only that, but you're getting Hall effect thumbsticks and triggers as well as swappable faceplates for different design options as well.

Should you buy the EasySMX X10?

I first received the EasySMX X10 at the start of the year, and it's been my go-to PC and Nintendo Switch controller ever since. I originally picked it up to use with my Asus ROG Ally when docking to a TV, but its versatility keeps it hopping between devices these days. It offers everything you need for a slick experience across a range of platforms, and does it all with a strong wireless connection and low price point.

It feels more luxurious than that price might suggest, with a sturdy weight in the hands that sets it apart from the cheaper plastic in similarly priced options. Xbox-style controls might trip you up if you're only using this gamepad on Nintendo Switch, but makes it easily compatible with Windows systems. Two additional back buttons can be programmed on the fly with your own macros, and while they're a little easy to accidentally hit outside of gameplay they feel fantastic in regular use. I was particularly impressed to find full rumble support in this gamepad as well, a feature usually omitted in this cheaper bracket.

There's one caveat to all this. The EasySMX X10 doesn't run quite as fast as more competitive endeavors. While the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro, and the newer V3 Pro, can communicate with your PC faster for ranked matches, the EasySMX is more for casual runs. Still, you'd have to be at the top of your game to spot a problem here, the vast majority of players will find everything runs slick and smooth. You'd only spot a difference if you held the X10 up to the very best PC controllers on the market - and you'd be paying a serious premium for the pleasure. If you're looking for a one-and-done controller but hate the feel of mushy face buttons, these are the clickers for you.

We're also rounding up all the best PS5 controllers and best Xbox Series X controllers on the market, or take a look at the best Nintendo Switch accessories for more gadgets.