UHQBot
-
Posts
39,331 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
25
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Downloads
Posts posted by UHQBot
-
-
As reported by Motherboard, Girls Who Code, a nonprofit to support women pursuing careers in tech, including the games industry, is taking part in a new student mentorship initiative with Raytheon Technologies. Raytheon is a weapons manufacturer that has sold arms to Saudi Arabia which have been used to kill civilians in its invasion of Yemen, and which spent $15,390,000 on lobbying the US government in 2021 according to Open Secrets.
According to Raytheon's press release, the joint effort is a "four-month pilot program" targeting STEM students near graduation. It launched on August 30. Tarika Barett, CEO of Girls Who Code, stated, "We're overjoyed to partner closely with Raytheon Technologies on this pilot program and are excited by the opportunity to continue to provide students with the tools and confidence they need to make a difference." Students partaking in the program will be in contact with mentors from Raytheon, and will take part in networking events, interview prep, and community service projects.
As GamesIndustry.biz points out, Girls Who Code has accepted donations from Raytheon and companies with questionable ethical underpinnings in the past. You’d hope for a socially conscious organization to hold itself to a higher standard, especially as it exceeded its operating budget by almost $10 million in 2021 according to ProPublica.
Girls Who Code has a worthwhile mission, helping underserved and underrepresented individuals pursue lucrative, potentially socially impactful careers. But partnering with a company that profits off war and death to do so pollutes that mission. Accepting donations from Raytheon would be one thing; making the active choice to collaborate with the arms dealer to mentor students is a step beyond for me, even if, benefit of the doubt, the students will be working one of Raytheon's non-military ventures.
The non-profit seems to be aware of how bad this looks: I was unable to find anything related to the initiative on its social media, only the press release from Raytheon's side. Girls Who Code has not returned requests for comment from GamesIndustry.biz or Motherboard. We have also submitted a request for comment, and will update if we hear back.
The ethics of the tech industry's relationship with the military-industrial complex have a way of returning to the fore again and again. Unity and Microsoft both received pushback from employees over the companies' lucrative contracts to develop technology for the US military. US Defense spending like this has roots in the origins of Silicon Valley; it was integral to early investment in the California tech sector, and the internet as we know it developed out of the Department of Defense's ARPANET.
Last year, Girls Who Code terminated its partnership with Activision Blizzard in response to the multiple lawsuits against it over workplace harassment and discrimination. I would have hoped for a similar ethical consistency here, maybe politely declining an offer to burnish the image of a company that exports death abroad. Albert Einstein once said something lame and nerdy about the weapons of World War 3, but there's no way he could have predicted they'd be produced by girl power.
-
Back in June, co-op survival sandbox Core Keeper introduced a new biome, The Sunken Sea, which helped the game cruise its way to over a million sales in just three months of early access. But that huge success doesn't mean the developers at Pugstorm are taking it easy. Two new biomes are headed to Core Keeper, one coming later this year and another in 2023.
The first new biome is planned for November, called The Desert of Beginnings, an arid underground environment with a "Molten Quarry" subzone. Filled with dunes and tombs, the desert biome will also be packed with new enemies like the Bomb Scarab, Lava Butterfly and Caveling Assassin, and more importantly players will get to challenge a new boss called "Ra-Akar the Sand Titan." Sounds fearsome. And sandy.
The desert will also supply a new ore called Galaxite, which players can use for crafting and upgrades, plus a new, currently unspecified mode of transportation will be introduced in the update. A dune buggy? A sand sailboat? Worm riding? We don't know, but we're looking forward to finding out.
The second new environment, scheduled for sometime in 2023, is a crystal biome, but the developers haven't given any specifics about it yet. I'm sure we'll hear more about it sometime after the Desert of Beginnings update.
To tide you over, there's a smaller free update coming on September 14 called Cozy Caverns, which will introduce new cosmetics based on community feedback that players can use to decorate their bases.
There are also special events planned for Halloween in October and Christmas in December. That's a lot of new stuff to look forward to! You can take check out the complete Core Keeper roadmap right here, a take a look at some screenshots of the Cozy Caverns update below.
(Image credit: Pugstorm)
(Image credit: Pugstorm) -
Steam Deck users, despite owning a surprisingly powerful handheld PC, are primarily using it like an upgraded Nintendo Switch.
Valve released a list of the most played games (by hour count) on the handheld and it largely includes ones that are also available on Nintendo's console. Vampire Survivors, which doesn't currently have a Switch version, sits on top, but Cult of the Lamb, Stardew Valley, Hades, Skyrim, and Monster Hunter Rise are all games that work well on Nintendo's handheld. And I'm sure Switch owners wish they could have a version of Spider-Man and Elden Ring that didn't run like trash or via cloud streaming.
The Steam Deck is truly the answer for a Nintendo Switch form factor that can handle modern games. The only real caveat is that its beefier hardware impacts the battery life, so everyone combing through Elden Ring or other newer games have to keep it juiced up.
Unsurprisingly, none of the games in the list, except Skyrim, are first-person, and none of Steam's most popular competitive FPS games are on it either. Trying to do the finger gymnastics to compete in a CS:GO match against mouse and keyboard players seems futile. Non-FPS games make more sense: Multiverse has cross-play with consoles, so playing it on a Steam Deck isn't as punishing.
Games with anti-cheat software require a little extra work from the developers to add compatibility, so that's why Multiversus (Easy Anti-Cheat) has flourished, but Destiny (BattlEye) hasn't—Bungie has no plans to add Steam Deck support and will punish you if you try to play it.
And just like that, August is over! Taking a quick look back, here are the top games on Steam Deck for the past month, sorted by total hours played. pic.twitter.com/FuDRLh2XaOAugust 31, 2022
See moreNot only is the Steam Deck a better Nintendo Switch, it can also literally be a Nintendo handheld too—via emulation. Earlier this week, Twitter user GameXData showed a 3DS game on the Steam Deck that also emulated its second screen. Nintendo's own console can't even do that.
Almost 10% of Steam's massive library of games are playable on the Steam Deck. This year's biggest games are not only playable, but being played, and if you combine that with its fantastic emulation capabilities, it really seems like the handheld to get.
-
A number of Diablo Immortal players are suddenly and unexpectedly facing crushing "orb debt" following what appears to be a massive revocation of Eternal Orbs purchased from resellers at cut-rate prices.
Eternal Orbs are an in-game currency in Diablo Immortal that can only be earned through the battle pass or with real-money purchases. They're important to serious players, and they're not cheap, ranging in prices from $1 for a pack of 60 to $100 for 7,200. And that's not going to buy you a truckload of cool stuff: Ten Legendary Quests, which grant better drops from Diablo Immortal's loot boxes, cost 1,600 orbs, while a collector's cosmetic set goes for 1,500.
Understandably, some players wanted to avoid paying full price for their orbs, so they turned to third-party resellers offering orb bundles at sometimes significant discounts. Resellers typically acquire orbs by purchasing large numbers of them, generally with stolen credit cards, then offer them for sale through external websites. Some will actually log into your Diablo Immortal account (after you give them the login details) and purchase the orbs directly on your behalf, claiming to be doing so with unused gift cards—although, again, stolen credit cards are usually what's being used.
Earlier this week, however, things seemed to go very sideways, very quickly.
"Half the clan members (and I'd guess half the server) is reporting they're in massive eternal orbs debts (saw screenshots up to -600k)," redditor paleblood reported on Reddit (via PCGamesN). "This is the result of 3rd party purchases (7200 orbs for 10$ etc.) as there has been probably some mass coordinated refund wave from those scammer/stolen/missing credit cards."
"Most of the traders I know have stalled the sales, stating that the platform they use has been suspended by Blizzard, they can no longer top up the balance using the method they did (either gift cards or stolen cc)," Ok_Support9029 wrote in a separate thread. "Meaning no cheap orbs for people that wanted to get the edge over regular buyers."
"Happening right now. 3rd party orbs massive refunds," Shironeki_Lovecraft added. "Bought 2 accounts online, and both owners’ accounts got banned for their 3rd party orbs purchased refund. As of now 5am GMT8, searched online 3 accounts got banned. 2 of mine, 1 in Thailand DI FB group. Maybe more to come as it’s midnight now."
On Wednesday, player Expzero1 said that large numbers of players in the Southeast Asia chat were trying to sell their accounts, presumably because they'd purchased large numbers of orbs from resellers and were trying to unload their accounts—and get their money back—before they got hit by the banhammer.
Image 1 of 2Diablo Immortal's crests and comestics are not cheap. (Image credit: Blizzard)Image 2 of 2Diablo Immortal's crests and comestics are not cheap. (Image credit: Blizzard)Diablo Immortal players have been calling for Blizzard to do something about third-party resellers (and those who make use of them) for quite a while prior to this. "This is huge issue on Eternal Conflict, the leader of Elegy “greedypie” made money off his guild knowing the risks of them being banned with these illegal orbs," Katsu wrote in an August 22 post on the Blizzard forums.
"Other guilds such as Huaxia participated in illegal activity as well, as well as shadow rising member Broski definitely bought cheap orbs. Please check all 3 of this clans for transaction history and you'd find a surprise. They are contributing to the game negatively by driving the market prices down as well as getting advantages over actual paid players such as myself."
Redditor Forsaken_Bed3801 wrote on August 14 that they'd seen a sudden spike in players in the PvP Battleground with high resonance ratings, which they attributed to purchases of "Chinese black market orbs," available at rates just 1/10th of what Blizzard charges. Resonance boosts attribute bonuses and other derived stats. They're acquired primarily via legendary gems, which drop at extremely slow rates—unless you drop some orbs to purchase some crests in order to boost your odds.
"So many honest players who spent more than 1k or less, [have] quit spending money and
this game. Plus not only whales, also F2P player leave DI because [it is] really hard to find four people for dungeons. Please Blizzard do something before DI fails."
Using external resellers violates Blizzard's EULA, and so rather than just clamping down on resellers, Blizzard also apparently disappeared orbs that were purchased through them. That's left a lot of players, particularly whales, deep in the hole. Redditor No_Peace_3031 said they had spent $500 on cheap orbs and, following the revocation, now sit at -120,000, "or about 1,1650 in the hole."
"I want to spend money and am a hardcore player," they wrote. "The problem is this game gives you next to nothing for free (gocha standards would be 1 legendary crest a day) while this game gives you 2-3 a week. When you actually do buy something you have to pay an arm and a leg for it."
"To put it simply: currency in this game is too damn expensive and it’s near impossible to make any progress without it. I could spend 10 hours playing everyday as a F2P and even after a year likely would have no more than 1000 resonance."
One player, named Shia, said in an interview with Diablo Immortal streamer jtisallbusiness that they'd lost nearly 2.5 million eternal orbs, with a regular market value in excess of $30,000.
Players with negative orb balances are apparently barred from group activities like joining parties or taking part in rifts and dungeons, and also cannot access the in-game market. In the eyes of some players, though, that punishment is insufficient because they can still take part in the PvP Battleground, where they'll still have an advantage thanks to the orbs they've already used. There are claims that some accounts with negative orb balances have been permanently banned for failing to pay the balance back, but those reports are currently unverified.
What is verified is that a not insignificant number of Diablo Immortal players have suddenly found themselves in a hole. Some will no doubt quit, but others will feel compelled to spend even more than they already have to stay in the game, which won't be a good look for Blizzard: In fact, at least one redditor has accused Blizzard of "trying to get anyone who is addicted to shell out the money and keep playing."
Blizzard confirmed in a statement sent to PC Gamer that it had taken action to address third-party resellers, and warned that it will continue to do so in the future.
"We have been looking into abnormal Eternal Orb purchases that have been reported among the community, and taken actions to prevent players from purchasing Eternal Orbs through unofficial channels," a Blizzard spokesperson said. "Investigations have been made for accounts that have participated in these activities, and disciplinary measures were implemented against accounts that were found to have violated the Blizzard End User License Agreement. We will continue to monitor and take actions as needed."
-
New Tales from the Borderlands was revealed at Gamescom last month, and I got to see the new extended gameplay reveal ahead of its announcement at PAX West. The spiritual successor to Tales from the Borderlands is headed up by Gearbox Studio Quebec and features an interactive story from head writer Dr Lin Joyce—who literally has a PhD in narrative system design.
Gearbox Quebec teamed up with Telltale veterans to create an experience Telltale and Tales fans will recognise, but with a few changes. The classic "X will remember that" function is gone, and the dialogue system will instead provide immediate reactions from characters. Naturally, the impact of some decisions won't be felt till further down the line, but at least you won't be muttering "VaUgHn WiLl ReMeMbEr ThAt" for the entirety of your playthrough.
QTEs, but not as we know them
During the demo, I saw New Tales' three new loveable losers decide how they were going to follow the heavily armed Tediore soldiers through the sewers to a vault entrance. Players can decide whether to take Octavio's advice and go in stealthily, fake army lingo in tow, or take Fran's windpipe-crushing approach. The demo showcased a section of the game where you'll be controlling the group through QTEs (quick-time events, for the uninitiated), and producer Frédéric Scheubel explained the improvements the Quebec team has made since the first Tales.
While most QTEs will result in a game over, there are certain QTEs in New Tales that will allow you to carry on should you fail. Of course, failing these means that the story is irreparably changed, and you'll only be able to see a difference in the narrative in your next playthrough. The other key feature with QTEs in New Tales is that you can adjust their difficulty. If you're more interested in the 'canon' story—i.e., running with the concept that passing every QTE is the right choice—you can turn down the difficulty so that the sequence is shorter. Alternatively, you can make them more difficult, especially if you want to try and see how many failed QTEs don't end your run.
Another wild choice that exists but was ultimately not recommended by Scheubel is the order you play the chapters in. All five chapters will be available from day one and you can play them in any order you like, but you'll obviously be missing key missions and decisions if you jump right to the end, so maybe don't.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: Gearbox Software)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: Gearbox Software)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: Gearbox Software)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: Gearbox Software)Why are you people like this?
The classic humour you'd expect from a Borderlands and Telltale game is intact, with the demo showcasing a Metal Gear Solid reference complete with the "!" noise—you know the one I mean. There's also a ridiculously stupid yet brilliant minigame you can spend hours on if the story isn't gripping enough. Let me introduce you to Vaultlanders, collectible models of your favourite Borderlands characters. These plastic figurines can be used to fight against NPCs who wish to challenge you to a battle with their toys.
You'll enter into a battle arena where you'll use a mix of point-and-click and QTEs to damage your opponent's health in what's really a Mortal Kombat rip-off, complete with terrible one-liners. There's one non-negotiable match in New Tales but the rest are skippable, but who would want to miss this? You can also access Vaultlanders matches from the main menu, which lets you try out the new characters you've collected so you can pick a favourite for in-game battles.
While the demo focused heavily on the group, you'll have the opportunity to play as each character individually. Which path you take them down is up to you; while Anu begins the story relying on her Tech Glasses and shunning firearms, your decisions might lead to her becoming a gun nut. Similarly, you might be forced to choose between your friends and family or a spectacular rise to fame and glory as Octavio—it's up to you whether you want to lean into their desires or hold fast to their morals.
It turns out my eyesight is also fine, as it's been confirmed that I did indeed spot Rhys in the Gamescom trailer, and he'll be returning to New Tales, alongside Lor, Stapleface and more. New Tales from the Borderlands comes to PC on October 21.
-
The next release from the New Blood indie collective, the Thief-inspired first person survival horror game Gloomwood, is set to enter early access September 6. It's been a long wait since we first got to try Gloomwood's demo back in 2020, but the variety of new mechanics and locales creator Dillon Rogers has been teasing on Twitter make it seem like the wait was worth it.
Gloomwood sees you take on the role of a professional assassin, simply called the Doctor, who finds himself trapped on assignment in the city of Gloomwood. It's currently wracked by the sort of ongoing catastrophe you just gotta piece together with cryptic notes. In a trailer for the PC Gaming Show this year, New Blood revealed that Terri Brosius, the voice of Viktoria in Thief and Shodan in System Shock, has joined the project in the role of the Countess of Gloomwood.
While Thief is Gloomwood's primary inspiration, it also takes cues from Bloodborne and Resident Evil, and is much more permissive of some good old fashioned violence than Garrett's adventures. Gloomwood definitely has a bit of a Yharnam thing going on, and the Doctor's arsenal of 19th century firearms fits neatly into a killer 3D attache case inventory, the Resident Evil 4 mechanic I wish every game on the Xbox 360 had chosen to copy instead of quick time events. Inventory tetris is finally getting the attention it deserves, these days.
When you're caught out in Gloomwood, the lack of quick saves encourages you to roll with mistakes and make full use of that quirky Victorian arsenal instead of timidly tapping F9 to give it another go. It helps that the enemies of Gloomwood are a little more monstrous and unsettling than the charmingly dopey guards of Thief or the misguided youths whose parents you can meet in Deus Ex.
I'm quite fond of the shockingly historically accurate folding shotgun, but the highlight of Gloomwood's arsenal for me is its trusty default melee weapon, a stylish sword cane. It can be used for the prerequisite one-hit stealth kills, as well as a more fast-paced and engaging take on Thief's underutilized first-person fencing.
Gloomwood's big early access debut comes on September 6th, but until then you can whet your appetite with that free demo I mentioned. It represents a much earlier point in development, but Gloomwood's stealth-action-horror cocktail was already well-realized. For further New Blood action, Gloomwood's stablemate, Ultrakill, recently got a nautical second act.
-
1047 Games, developer of free-to-play 'Halo with portals' FPS Splitgate, is ready to move on.
Not from portals, but definitely from the Halo comparison. The studio announced today in an interview with Digital Trends that Splitgate's next content drop would be its last.
The game isn't shutting down, but from there on, 1047 will support Splitgate with regular bug fixes while the bulk of its team moves on to what's next: another portal shooter in the Splitgate universe powered by Unreal Engine 5.
"Specifically, we are trying not to be 'Halo meets Portal,'" 1047 Games founder Ian Proulx told Digital Trends. "That’s another reason we want to move away from this. We want to come up with a new art style … Give us a blank slate and let me show you what we can do."
Following a $100 million funding round this time last year, Proulx says 1047 is going much bigger. The goal is not to make "just something that’s a really successful indie game, but is a massive AAA game with the budget, with the team."
Proulx sees this as an opportunity for 1047 to rethink aspects of its FPS that it was never satisfied with. "There are things we want to redo because we’ve learned a lot. There are things we want to change because we think we can do better," Proulx said.
1047 isn't talking specifics yet, but player retention seems to be a major focus of its next game—something Proulx feels Splitgate was never set up to do well.
"I think with Splitgate right now … it’s really fun and people love it, but after a month or so, they’ve experienced everything there is to experience and they’ve probably left their positive reviews. But they’ve also probably run out of things to do and it’s gotten stale for them."
(Image credit: 1047 Games)Splitgate's story has been one of ups and downs. The arena shooter originally launched on PC in 2019, but despite positive impressions, it didn't make a splash. In 2021, the studio returned with a plan to reinvigorate Splitgate—unreleasing it back into "open beta" to coincide with its console launch. This worked, attracting millions of players at its peak, though the Splitgate player base has steadily declined over 2022. On Steam, around 1,600 players are playing Splitgate daily (that number is likely higher on PlayStation and Xbox). Those are healthy numbers for an indie game, but not sustainable for Proulx's "AAA" vision for 1047.
The way Proulx talks about the new game has me doubtful it'll be another arena shooter. "We’ve done market research, we’ve done surveys, we’ve looked at the data, we’ve talked to our community. There are a lot of things we want to change to make sure we have a game that stays relevant long-term."
Please Proulx, you had me at market research. While I'd personally like to see 1047's cool portal tech applied to, perhaps, a singleplayer campaign, I'd wager surveys are steering Splitgate towards some version of a battle royale with built-in downtime for socializing.
Whatever it is, the next Splitgate is still years away (Proulx says it definitely won't be out in 2023 at least). Meanwhile, as a goodbye to the original Splitgate, the arena shooter will get an unlimited-time battle pass with 100 unlocks on September 15.
-
When sitting down to play a new game, sometimes the wait between 'sitting down' and 'playing' is a gulf of unskippable cutscenes. That's not always a bad thing: the world needs explaining, the story needs an outline, the table needs to be set before you can jump up and start dancing on it. But it can be a bit dull sitting there, just waiting to play, while all the things that have already happened are explained so all the things that are about to happen, can happen.
The first two episodes of Amazon Studio's The Rings of Power, the television prequel series to The Lord of the Rings, aired late yesterday. The first episode in particular felt like one of those long, slow cutscenes that I want to skip by mashing my spacebar. Even as an LOTR fan, both of the books and films, I was bored, though things did pick up a bit in the middle of the second episode. I know some people have been saying HBO's new Game of Thrones series House of the Dragon is like doing homework, but if so, then the first couple episodes of The Rings of Power is like sitting through a professor's dry, droning lecture.
The Rings of Power takes place 3,000 years before The Lord of the Rings, but this is a world filled with immortal elves, primordial spirits, and ancient evils so there are still plenty of familiar faces and names. Most of the focus is on Galadriel, the courageous elven warrior determined to find and forever destroy the defeated Sauron. (Before his defeat in the Third Age in LOTR, Sauron was defeated in the Second Age, and before that, in the First Age. Name an Age, and this dude got his 'donkey' beat in it.)
The rest of the elves, including Elrond, not a ruler yet but a younger assistant to the regional manager, figure that since Sauron hasn't been seen lately, he's probably not worth worrying about. But Galadriel is insistent that just because you can't see evil doesn't mean it isn't still out there, plotting and festering and probably growing disgusting creatures in some sort of fleshy pods. You can probably guess who's right.
Meanwhile another elf, a soldier named Arondir, has been serving as an occupier of human lands because the humans sided with Morgoth (Sauron's boss, basically) against the elves. So, the elves don't trust humans, and the humans resent the elves' presence because frankly it's been generations since their lot threw in with Morgoth, and they don't think they should be blamed for what their ancestors did. And there are dwarves, naturally, bangin' around under the mountain at Moria where they've been for ages and yet haven't come up with a sport more interesting than smashing boulders with a hammer.
So far, despite a gulf of 3,000 years, this is all standard, completely recognizable stuff for anyone who saw the LOTR films. Elves are beautiful and arrogant, dwarves are gruff and jolly, and humans mostly suck and are not to be trusted. I guess for someone who's never read or seen The Lord of the Rings it's important to grasp those dynamics, but I found myself pretty impatient for the story to actually get rolling.
(Image credit: Amazon Studios)Thankfully there are hobbits around to stir things up a bit, and The Rings of Power shows us an earlier version of the halflings. Ages before they'd discovered a taste for pipe-weed and ornate underground homes, hobbits were more nomadic and migratory, and far more woodsy than refined. (They literally have twigs and leaves in their hair, messily cram berries into their mouths, and are in great need of the invention of bathtubs and napkins.) I'm happy with this, and it does a lot to explain the wanderlust of Bilbo, the durability of Samwise, and the curiosity of Pippin. The hobbits may have evolved into creatures of comfort, but they've got the DNA of world travelers, and we can finally see why.
By the end of the second episode, thankfully, the wheels of the show finally begin turning. Galadriel is getting gaslit left and right that Sauron isn't a problem but isn't having any of it, defying tradition and orders and every other damn elf so she can get back to the quest she alone believes is important. Likewise, Arondir is ordered back to elf HQ, but seems reluctant to leave the humans because he's sweet on a healer named Bronwyn, and while looking for excuses to stick around he discovers there's some skulking evil creeping back into the world. A young hobbit meets a stranger and despite the fact that hobbits traditionally avoid interlopers, decides to help him. The big theme, I guess: don't always do as you're told, especially if everything within you is screaming that the rules and traditions of your elders are wrong.
(Image credit: Amazon Studios)But still, the show gets off to a sluggish start. Part of the problem for me is I find Tolkien's elves interminably boring. The Fellowship was perfect because for most of it you just had one elf around to do some sick archery and banter with a grouchy dwarf. That's the ideal amount of elf for a fantasy story. One. Otherwise you're just watching beautiful people standing around in expensive robes in front of setting suns and golden leaves, speaking as slowly as possible and entirely in metaphors.
Hopefully the little bit of momentum in the second episode continues and the series picks up the pace. It's also great to finally see diversity in The Lord of the Rings (I did not see the three hobbit movies, but the LOTR films were like 99% white dudes) and there are elves, hobbits, and dwarves played by people of color. Morfydd Clark, who plays Galadriel, is excellent, and I'd categorize the rest of the performances as "fine." And it's a beautiful looking show. It's the most expensive TV series ever, so at least it looks that way even while I'm impatiently hammering the spacebar in my head.
-
The best CPU for gaming is all about giving your gaming PC the superior frame rates for your budget. Whether it is high core counts or clock speeds, you'll need something that could handle your day-to-day computing needs and your hardcore gam ng habits.
I'm happy to report that there are a ton of great affordable processors out there right now. For start rs, I've been really impressed with the Intel Core i5 12600K that currently sits at the top of the list. It so far offers incredible gaming performance at a great value.
Saving money on a CPU is crucial because it will let you splurge on other components like a larger SSD, better motherboard, and maybe even a better graphics card, assuming you can find one. It's not about being cheap; it's about being smart with your money, so you get the most gaming bang for your buck.
Every chip on this list has been tested through our intense CPU benchmarking suite on our PC Gamer test rigs. This comprises plenty of the latest games and 3D and video rendering workloads because we're all content creators and streamers now. Games are the most important tests for us, hopefully for obvious reasons.
Make sure you also check our guide to the best gaming motherboard if you are planning to do a brand new build.
The best CPU for gaming
(Image credit: Future)1. Intel Core i5 12600K
The best CPU for gaming right now
Cores: 6+4 | Threads: 16 | Base Clock: 3.7 GHz P-core, 2.8 GHz E-core | Boost Clock: 4.9 GHz P-core, 3.6 GHz E-core | Overclocking: Yes | L3 Cache: 20 MB | TDP: 125 W
The best CPU for gaming in 2021Faster than the Core i9 11900KA more efficient Alder Lake chipStill more power hungry than RyzenDoesn't play nice with some gamesIntel's 12th Gen Alder Lake processors are a vital return to form for Intel. Its underlying hybrid design was seen as a gamble when it was first announced, with its combo of performance and efficient cores not obviously bringing much to the desktop experience. It's a gamble that has unquestionably paid off though, and the gaming performance offered by Intel's latest CPUs is nothing short of incredible.
The Core i5 12600K is the standout processor for gamers because it not only offers great gaming performance across the board, but it does so at a price point that isn't going to reduce you to tears. It not only beats the similarly priced 5600X in pretty much every game, but it outperforms the $750 Ryzen 9 5950X in plenty of tests too. That it soundly beats the Core i9 11900K is just the icing on the cake. Not bad for a $320 mid-range chip.
As this is a new platform, you will need to pick up a new motherboard and probably new memory while you're at it—Alder Lake supports DDR5 as well as DDR4. That means the initial outlay may be a bit more than you planned, but the performance is worth it, and it isn't a power-draining beast either, so you won't need an outlandish cooler to get the most from it. Throw in future-looking support for PCIe 5.0 and we have a new gaming CPU king. Long live the king.
Read our full Intel Core i5 12600K review.
(Image credit: Future)2. Intel Core i5 12400
The best gaming CPU on a budget
Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | Base Clock: 2.5 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.4 GHz | Overclocking: Kinda | L3 Cache: 18 MB | TDP: 65 W
Great stock performanceLow power from 65WDoesn't need a beefy coolerIt really goes when overclockedRequires a whole new motherboardBCLK OC may get patched outThe Core i5 12400 is nearing on legendary status in the Alder Lake lineup, and that's because of its unprecedented ability to overclock where it shouldn't. The lack of a 'K' at the end of the Core i5 12400's name should denote its lack of overclocking prowess, but somewhere in the silicon it has the ability for BCLK overclocking.
With a motherboard capable of taking advantage of the Core i5 12400's overclocking ability, we managed to push this little chip that could to 5.2GHz rather happily. It didn't run too hot or too power hungry to do it, either, though you will need to be considerate of cooling potential before attempting this.
Similarly, Intel doesn't recommend anyone does this—though that's true of pretty much any overclocking nowadays. The company also could close the door on the non-K-series overclocking at some point, so keep that in mind if that's the sole reason you're thinking of purchasing this chip.
If you're not looking to overclock in the slightest, however, don't fret. The Core i5 12400 was already impressive without its secret ability, and with cooler included at this price tag, it's one helluva great deal.
Read our full Intel Core i5 12400 review.
(Image credit: Future)3. Intel Core i9 12900K
The best enthusiast CPU for those that need serious power
Cores: 8+8 | Threads: 24 | Base Clock: 3.2 GHz P-core, 2.4 GHz E-core | Boost Clock: 5.2 GHz P-core, 3.9 GHz E-core | Overclocking: Yes | L3 Cache: 30 MB | TDP: 125 W
Incredible single-threaded performanceMuch improved multithreaded abilityBig leap for Intel's Core CPUsThe best desktop platform with DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 supportSome games don't play nicely with Alder Lake yetHigh power consumptionPotentially high platform costs at launchThat the Core i5 12600K takes the top spot is hard to argue with—awesome performance at a good price will do that—but Intel's top chip hitting the second spot may be a little more surprising. The reasoning here is that the vast majority of gamers should get the Core i5, leaving this second spot covering those that need even more performance.
If you're building a high-end PC not just for high-end, 4K gaming, but for more serious pursuits like 3D rendering and video editing, then this is the chip for you. It's a powerhouse, no question about it, but one that really needs a system built around it to make it shine—you'll need a beefy PSU to get that absolute best from it, and a serious cooler wouldn't hurt either. The fact that there is plenty of overclocking headroom will allow you to push it to a whole new level as well.
When it comes to gaming performance, this is the fastest chip out there, by a considerable margin. The problem is, you only get a few more frames per second over our top recommendation and you have to pay royally for the privelige. And even when you're buying an 'ethusiast' class CPU, you still need to have an eye on overall value for money.
Read our full Intel Core i9 12900K review.
(Image credit: Future)4. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
It's AMD's fastest gaming CPU ever. But does anyone really need the 'fastest gaming CPU' in their gaming PC?
Cores: 8 | Threads: 16 | Base Clock: 3.4GHz | Boost Clock: 4.5GHz | Overclocking: No | L3 Cache: 96MB (32MB + 64MB V-Cache) | TDP: 105W
Integration of 3D V-Cache is excellentAlmost Alder Lake levels of gamingEfficientRuns surprisingly hotHas to run low-clocked than 5800XCosts more than a 5900XThe AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the fastest gaming processor the red team has ever made. It also offers a value proposition Intel's elite gaming CPUs cannot compete with, even if they are actually the faster chips in the final reckoning. But that doesn't change the fact that AMD's new chip is a technically impressive beast, using the latest packaging processes from TSMC to bung an inordinate amount of cache into its new CPU.
Because, after all, what do you do when you can't squeeze any higher frequencies out of your processor architecture? You stick a whole lot more cache memory into it and hope for the best. That's what AMD has done on the GPU side with its Infinity Cache, pairing up to 128MB with its RDNA 2 graphics cards, to great effect, and now it's doing the same to its CPUs.
The Ryzen 7 5800X3D is architecturally identical to the standard Ryzen 7 5800X, using the same Zen 3 processor design, and therefore the same chiplet setup that has made AMD's recent generations of CPU such world-beaters. That means you're getting the same eight-core, 16-thread layout in a single chiplet (so no potential inter-chiplet latency issues), but a slightly slower clock speed because of a necessarily lower voltage.
In general, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D either essentially matches or outperforms the Ryzen 9 5950X. That's a great result considering the top Ryzen is still an expensive CPU, and more than ever just a productivity chip and little else. There are also a few times where the new Ryzen CPU outperforms the standard Core i9 12900K, which again is a great achievement. Though, for the most part, it lags behind the Golden Cove microarchitecture of the Alder Lake part when it comes to gaming.
It's a technically elegant, efficient CPU that delivers on its promises. It can't quite beat Intel's hulking brute of a Core i9 12900KS in the frame rate war, but it still offers the majority of AMD users an easy upgrade path to gaming performance that is not far off. And for a fraction of the price and power demands, too.
Read our full AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D review.
(Image credit: Future)5. AMD Ryzen 5 5600
AMD's most affordable, and available, Zen 3 CPU today
Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | Base Clock: 3.5GHz | Boost Clock: 4.4GHz | Overclocking: Yes | L3 Cache: 32MB | TDP: 65W
Ace gaming performanceStrong value for moneyDecent overclocking potentialWraith Stealth included5600X doesn't cost much moreLags behind Core i5 12600KZen 4 is coming soonThe Ryzen 5 5600 is a cheaper take on the 5600X, with slightly lower operating frequencies, but it's cheaper too. This is AMD's response to the release of Intel Alder Lake, specifically, the Core i5 12400—Intel's chip just pips it in gaming performance and is available for less than the 5600X. That said, the reason we still feel the Ryzen 5 5600 is worth mentioning is that, while it's a great chip in its own right, it's also a lot cheaper if you're upgrading from another older AM4-compatible processor.
Say you have a B450 motherboard in your PC today with a previous generation AMD Ryzen chip, you could make a simple swap for the Ryzen 5 5600 if you wanted to. That could save you a lot of cash on a compatible motherboard, which you'd definitely need to drop if you picked up an Intel 12th Gen chip.
There's also very little between any of the Ryzen 5000 chips in games, which means you'll hit the same frame rates with this chip as you will the more expensive Ryzen 9 5900X. Which is incredible when you think about it—top-tier performance from the most affordable Zen 3 CPU? We'll say yes to that every single day.
This does have half the core count of the 5900X, rolling in as it does with six cores and 12 threads. However, this is only an issue with those more serious workloads, which is more than sufficient for more reasonable stuff.
The Ryzen 5 5600 also bucks the Ryzen 5000 family's trend by shipping with a Wraith Stealth cooler, so you don't have to drop extra money on a third-party chiller. You don't need to, but if you do, you'll hit higher clocks for longer and also open up the wonderful world of overclocking, which could make it worthwhile. This is a decent little overclocker, and while it won't affect gaming much, it'll help in other areas nicely.
Read our full AMD Ryzen 5 5600 review.
(Image credit: Future)6. AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
AMD's best CPU for serious performance at a reasonable price
Cores: 12 | Threads: 24 | Base Clock: 3.7 GHz | Boost Clock: 4.8 GHz | Overclocking: Yes | L3 Cache: 64 MB | TDP: 105 W
Great gaming performanceFast and efficient architectureAffordable platformNeeds a proper 3rd-party coolerAMD's Zen architecture has improved with each generation, but the fact that AMD managed to knock out a 19 percent IPC improvement with Zen 3 is nothing short of staggering. The key takeaway for us as gamers is that this improvement means AMD pushed Intel to improve, and improve it did with Alder Lake.
Whatever resolution you are gaming at, this processor can handle it and keep your graphics card of choice fed with many juicy frames. That this is a 12-core, 24-thread monster means that it can cope with anything else you throw at it as well. So if you have dreams of 3D rendering, video editing, or any other serious tasks, you'll know that you have the raw grunt to handle it. That it won't hold you back when gaming makes it even sweeter.
The only real downside is the pricing and the dropping of the Wraith cooler—don't forget to factor in you'll need a chip chiller when you buy. You do get what you pay for, though, and this is a phenomenal chip for gaming and anything else you might want to do.
If you're in the market for absolute power, you could step up to the Ryzen 9 5950X, which gives you 16 cores and 32 threads. However, it costs $250 more, and for gaming purposes and even most content creation chores, the 5900X is more than sufficient.
Read our full AMD Ryzen 9 5900X review.
(Image credit: AMD)7. AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
The best chip that doesn't need a graphics card
Cores: 8 | Threads: 16 | Base Clock: 3.8 GHz | Turbo Clock: 4.6 GHz | Overclocking: Yes, 5.0-5.3 GHz typical | L3 Cache: 16 MB | TDP: 65 W
The best Integrated GPUExcellent thermals and power consumptionStrong all round performanceLacks PCIe 4.0Needs fast memory to be at its bestExpensive for an APUAMD's APUs are the best processors to drop into your rig if you're not going to use a discrete graphics card, but still want a modicum of gaming performance out of your system. And the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G is the best of the latest Zen 3 based chips to deliver that.
Unlike previous APU offerings from AMD, the Ryzen 7 5700G is far more of a jack-of-all-trades chip because we are talking about an eight-core Zen 3 CPU component with 16 threads and a powerful Vega-based GPU to back it up. That makes this a chip that's almost up there with the best of the Ryzen 5000-series CPUs in processing power, but with the graphical grunt to deliver 1080p gaming on low settings in some seriously demanding titles.
Board walk(Image credit: MSI)Best gaming motherboard: the best boards around
Best AMD motherboard: your new Ryzen's new home
Best Intel Z490 motherboard: Intel's premium boardsIn a GPU drought, that makes the 5700G a tantalizing APU as it will get your new gaming PC up and running. At the same time, you wait for discrete graphics cards to be available and without compromising too heavily on your system performance in the meantime.
The issue is that, as the 5700G is a monolithic design rather than chiplet, there are some performance differences compared to the standard Ryzen 7 5800X, a straight eight-core, 16-thread CPU without graphics. It also lacks PCIe 4.0 support to run the fastest SSDs and demands high-speed memory to make the most of its GPU power. But it's still an excellent all-around AMD processor and a handy option when graphics cards are still so rare.
Read our AMD Ryzen 7 5700G review.
Best gaming PC | Best gaming keyboard | Best gaming mouse
Best gaming chair | Best VR headset | Best graphics cardsThe best CPU for gaming FAQ
How do you test CPUs?
While gaming resolutions run from 720p to 4K, we largely test at 1080p. This will show the most significant difference in gaming performance you're likely to see and pushes the CPU into the spotlight instead of the GPU—an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 in this case.
We use a mix of motherboards depending on the platform, but all high-end to ensure as level a playing field as we can. These boards include the Asus ROG Maximus Z690 Hero, MSI MPG Z490 Carbon WiFi, and Gigabyte X570 Aorus Master.
When it comes to memory, we use Corsair's Dominator DDR5 RAM at 5,200MHz effective for 12th Gen Intel processors, while 11th Gen processors are tested using Corsair Vengeance Pro RGB sticks at 3,600MHz effective. The AMD test rig uses Thermaltake DDR4 3,600MHz effective.
To further eliminate any bottlenecks, a high-speed PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD was used across each system, each loaded with Windows 11 and our suite of benchmarking applications and games.
Liquid cooling is also used on all test rigs to ensure these chips are not restricted thermally.
Our benchmark suite includes 3DMark Time Spy, Civ 6's turn benchmark, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, Metro Exodus, F1 2021, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Cinebench R23, SiSoft Sandra, x264 v5, and PCMark 10.
Where can I read all of PC Gamer's CPU reviews?
AMD CPU reviews:
- AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700G
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Threadripper 3970X and 3960X
- AMD Ryzen 9 3950X
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT
- AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600XT
- AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
- AMD Ryzen 7 1800X, 1700X, and 1700
- Threadripper 1950X and 1920X
- AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
- AMD Ryzen 5 2400G
- AMD Ryzen 5 1600X, 1600, 1500X, and 1500
- AMD Ryzen 3 2200G
- AMD Ryzen 3 1300X and 1200
Intel CPU reviews:
- Intel Core i9 12900K
- Intel Core i5 12600K
- Intel Core i5 12400
- Intel Core i9 11900K
- Intel Core i5 11600K
- Intel Core i5 11400F
- Intel Core i9 10980XE
- Intel Core i9 10900K
- Intel Core i5 10600K
- Intel Core i9 9900K
- Intel Core i7 9700K
- Intel Core i9 7980XE
- Intel Core i9 7960X
- Intel Core i9 7900X
- Intel Core i7 8700K
- Intel Core i7 7700K and Core i5 7600K
- Intel Core i5 8400
What motherboard is right for my CPU?
Alder Lake is the most recent platform to be released, and while initially only Z690 motherboards were available, Intel and its partners have since released cheaper chipset such as H670, B660, and H610. These are available supporting DDR5 (new) and DDR4, so pick that side of things carefully.
The latest AMD Ryzen 5000 CPUs still use the AM4 socket and are only compatible with X570, B550, and A520 motherboards (oh, and B450 and X470 motherboards).
Whereas Intel's Comet Lake chips use the LGA 1200 socket, Rocket Lake introduced 500-series boards. Unless you're desperate for the still slightly awkward Intel PCIe 4.0 solution which the latest Intel chips offer, go with either a Z490 or cheaper B460 motherboard to save some cash.
Is Intel or AMD better?
This is a rather loaded question. AMD has held the top spot for a long time, with its Zen architecture making for some incredible leaps in performance, but Intel has stolen the crown with its Alder Lake family, specifically the Core i5 12600K. The fact that it's a completely new kind of hybrid CPU is almost by the by, it's just a really strongly performing chip.
It's worth remembering that most games are GPU-limited, which means the graphics card is the limiting factor in terms of performance, and you would likely see the same essential frame rates with either CPU manufacturer when a discrete graphics card is used. This is especially true as you up the resolution, with 4K having little between the top chips.
Should I overclock my CPU?
The honest answer is: no. Overclocking your processor is not necessarily the risky move it once was, but equally, the benefits of doing so have drastically dropped in recent times. When we're talking about gaming performance, having a slightly higher clocked CPU can make a bit of a difference, but arguably your graphics card will be the part that limits the speed of your system.
There is also the point that overclocked CPUs create more heat, require more intensive and expensive cooling solutions, need those coolers to work harder, and are, therefore, often louder.
For us, overclocking your CPU to gain real-world performance benefits is not something we'd recommend most PC gamers do.
Jargon buster
Caching - A small segment of high-speed memory dedicated to storing and executing frequently used commands/instructions to speed up software execution. CPUs contain caches designated as Level 1, 2, and 3, with L1 being the fastest and smallest and L3 being the slowest and largest.
Core - Modern CPUs can contain anywhere from two to 70+ cores (in supercomputers), though CPUs housed in most consumer machines will generally carry between four and eight, with AMD's latest CPUs sporting up to 16 cores.
Clock speed - The speed at which a CPU can execute instructions, measured in hertz. A processor with a 3.7 GHz clock speed can process 3.7 billion instructions a second. Clock speed is one of the most critical factors for determining performance in games and workload functions.
Heat sink - A cooling solution for PCs that utilize fans or liquid cooling (active) or aluminum radiators (passive) that rely on convection to regulate a component's temperature.
Hyper-Threading (SMT) - Intel terminology for a tech that allows a processor to handle two sets of instructions 'threads' simultaneously. AMD and other CPU vendors call this SMT, Simultaneous Multi-Threading.
Socket type LGA (Land Grid Array), PGA (Pin Grid Array), or BGA (Ball Grid Array) - The way a CPU interfaces with the socket on a motherboard. LGA is used on Intel sockets with pins as part of the socket. AMD's AM4 solution, PGA, has the processors' pins, which fit into holes on the socket. AMD's Threadripper CPUs also use LGA sockets. A BGA socket is when the processor is permanently soldered to the motherboard, typically on a laptop.
TDP - Thermal design power, the maximum amount of heat a system or chip can produce that the attendant cooling system is designed to deal with under workload. This term can apply to PCs as a whole, GPUs, CPUs, or nearly any other performance component that generates heat and is in large part an indicator of how much power a part draws.
Thread - A thread refers to a series of CPU instructions for a specific program. Older CPUs and SMT disabled run one thread per core, but most modern AMD and Intel CPUs can simultaneously run two threads, sharing some resources (e.g., cache).
Turbo Boost - Intel technology that allows processors to run at higher clock speeds under demanding loads. AMD also supports turbo or boost clocks, and we use the terms interchangeably regardless of CPU vendor.
-
Valve has made some very big, influential games over the past 25 years, but it hasn't made a lot of games. You can literally count them on the fingers of one hand—and that number is mainly made up of sequels (Dota 2), spinoffs (Dota Underlords), and tech demos for new hardware (Aperture Desk Job). It's not really a problem on the business side of things because Steam is the proverbial money printer go brrr, but an awful lot of gamers sure would like it if Valve would get back to making the games they love, like it used to.
In what's sure to come as good news for those long-suffering fans, Valve's Greg Coomer told Famitsu (via Tweaktown, Google translated), that Valve remains deeply committed to making games, and in fact has multiple projects on the go at this very moment.
"Valve has a lot of games in development. We will continue to release games," Coomer said. "Game development is very important to Valve. I don't know the exact numbers, but the percentage of employees involved in game development is high. A lot of people are involved."
And yes, that commitment extends to Half-Life, although to be clear Coomer said nothing specific about a Half-Life game in development. He did, however, say that Valve loves the setting and wants "to continue exploring the Half-Life universe."
"Half-Life: Alyx was a really fun game to make," Coomer said. "Even for [those of] us who worked on that world, it's still fun to go back there and tell more stories.
"Also, there are many challenges in virtual reality, and it was an interesting task to solve them. Half-Life works are always accompanied by technological innovation, so it was a big step in that sense as well ... Half-Life: Alyx is a sign that Valve has more to say about that world."
Of course, you'll want to take Coomer's statement with, well, whatever quantity of salt you feel appropriate, because this is not the first time that someone from Valve has made this sort of statement while standing amidst a barren wasteland of no actual new games from Valve. Let us review:
- "Yes." - Gabe Newell, when asked during an AMA if Valve is still making singleplayer games. (January 2017)
- "Right now we're building three VR games ... When I say we're building three games, we're building three full games, not experiments." Gabe Newell, strongly implying that these games are bigger and better than The Lab tech demo Valve made for the HTC Vive. (February 2017)
- "Artifact is the first of several games that are going to be coming from us. So that's sort of good news. Hooray! Valve's going to start shipping games again." Gabe Newell, during an Artifact presentation at Valve HQ. (March 2018)
- "Now we're in a place where we're able to, as a company, invest and focus a lot more on games again ... To deliver a bunch of high quality games that show we're actually working really hard." Gabe Newell, refuting the commonly-held presumption that everyone at Valve is just dicking around all day. (August 2018)
- "We definitely have games in development that we're going to be announcing. It's fun to ship games." Gabe Newell, commenting on the impact of Half-Life: Alyx on Valve's interest in making new games. (January 2021)
- "There are multiple games in development right now at Valve, and I think they're pretty exciting ones." Greg Coomer, insisting that Valve has a lot more on the go than just Aperture Desk Job. (March 2022)
To be fair to Valve, it has a lot on the go. Steam is still crushing concurrent user records, and the Steam Deck looks to be the legitimate hardware hit that Valve has been chasing for years. Still, there's no overlooking the fact that we've heard this sizzle without seeing the steak many times before, and I have no doubt that it'll happen again, almost certainly before we get our hands on any new game from Valve.
-
There comes a moment in every PC gamer's life story when they are ready to build themselves a gaming PC. This gaming PC build guide will serve as your faithful sidekick during your sacred mission. Below is a list of curated PC parts and components to build your dream gaming rig.
Consider this guide your cheat sheet for building your future rig, even if you don't pick up exactly what's on our shopping list. As long as all the parts fit together, you should do what feels right for you and your budget. Also, don't forget to have fun.
Speaking of budget, the cost for this gaming PC build is $1,000, with around $400 (keep an eye out for deals) reserved for an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti that should provide an excellent framerate for most games at 1080p (and even 1440p). And with the help of upscaling tech like DLSS, 4K gameplay is within reach on some games.
The Ryzen 5 5600X is the best choice for a CPU for this build because of its price, performance, and overclocking potential. However, if you are strictly in an Intel camp, Intel Core i5 12400 and B660 motherboards are good choices. Remember, you can get by with a smaller SSD or slightly slower RAM and upgrade those later to save a few bucks. The item you absolutely shouldn't skimp is a power supply
The last thing you should know is that all the hardware on this guide are all things I'd want in my own gaming PC. Each component has been tested on our PC Gamer Test Bench and merits my full recommendation. If this isn't what you're looking for, check out our budget PC build guide and high-end PC build guide. Or skip the whole building thing and get a cheap gaming PC.
CPU
(Image credit: AMD)AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
AMD's top affordable, and available, Zen 3 CPU today
Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | Base Clock: 3.7GHz | Boost Clock: 4.6GHz | Overclocking: Yes | L3 Cache: 32MB | TDP: 65W | PCIe 4.0 lanes: 20
Awesome gaming performanceGreat value for moneyDecent overclocking potentialWraith Stealth included$50 more than 3600X... 3600X came with a better coolerWhen it comes to gaming, everything that's great about the 5900X rings true for this more affordable Zen 3 chip as well. There's nothing between any of the Ryzen 5000 chips in games, which means you'll hit the same frame rates with this chip as you will the much more expensive chip. Which is incredible when you think about it—top-tier performance from the most affordable Zen 3 CPU? We'll say yes to that every single day.
This does have half the core count of that top chip, rolling in as it does with 6 cores and 12 threads. This is only an issue with those more serious workloads, though, and this is more than sufficient for more reasonable stuff. You could argue that gaming could go beyond the 12-threads we have here, but there's no evidence that is the case so far, and that's even though the next-gen consoles are rocking 8-cores and 16-threads.
The Ryzen 5 5600X also bucks the Ryzen 5000 family's trend by shipping with a Wraith Stealth cooler, so you don't have to drop extra money on a third-party chiller. You don't need to, but if you do, you'll hit higher clocks for longer and also open up the wonderful world of overclocking, which could make it worthwhile. This is a decent little overclocker, and while it won't affect gaming much, it'll help in other areas nicely.
Read our full AMD Ryzen 5 5600X review.
Motherboard
(Image credit: Asus)Asus ROG Strix B550-E Gaming
The best B550 motherboard
Form factor: ATX | Memory support: 4x DIMM, up to 128GB, up to DDR4-4600 | Expansion slots: 2x PCIe 4.0 x16, 1x PCIe 3.0 x4 | Storage: 2x M.2, 6x SATA 6Gbps | Networking: Intel WiFi 6, Intel 2.5Gb ethernet, Bluetooth 5.1 | Rear USB: 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2, 4x USB 2.0
Extensive feature setBuild qualityTop-end networkingPricey for a B550 boardStock-clock performance is unremarkableSure, the Asus ROG Strix B550-E isn't the cheapest motherboard for a Ryzen 5 5600X chip, but it offers a huge amount of potential room for your PC to grow in the future. It's a premium motherboard, with all the trappings you'd expect from Asus' Republic of Gamers stables, such as 14+2 power stage, M.2 heatsinks, and pre-installed backplates. You also get Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking as well as Intel 2.5Gb ethernet too. And RGB LEDs, of course.
At a glance it cuts a convincing enthusiast dash thanks to copious heat sinks and spreaders, including one for each M.2 slot, snazzy LED lighting, and three full-length PCI Express slots, two of which come in Gen 4 trim.
Impressively, those slots support dual-GPU graphics, each in eight-lane PCIe 4.0 configuration, ensuring the maximum currently available bandwidth for high end graphics. A niche concern? Perhaps, but it's indicative of the ambitions of this board. Similarly, the Strix B550 has not just an eight-pin but also a four-pin supplementary CPU power supply connector. Again, that’s an indication of a board designed for high performance.
Performance too is typically good for a high-end Asus board, matching X570 motherboards for gaming performance without issue. The Asus ROG Strix B550-E Gaming is the whole package then, and right now is our all-around pick for the best B550 motherboard.
Read our full Asus ROG Strix B550-E Gaming review.
GPU
(Image credit: Nvidia)Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
A GPU that can take on the RTX 2080 Super... and win
GPU Cores: 4,865 | Base Clock: 1,410MHz | Boost Clock: 1,665MHz | TFLOPS: 16.2 | Memory: 8GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 14GT/s | Memory Bandwidth: 448GB/s
4K performanceDecent ray tracing performanceGreat coolerImpossible to find......stupidly expensive if you doThe RTX 3060 Ti is the GeForce card that we want in our mid-range machine. That was true last year, when buying one was almost impossible, but it's true today for another reason. The next-generation of Nvidia and AMD GPUs are just around the corner, but history tells us the first to launch will be the high-end GPUs. That means that mid-range and budget GPUs, such as the RTX 3060 Ti down to the RTX 3050, will stick around a lot longer before being replaced.
So if you want a great gaming PC now, and one that doesn't break the bank, the RTX 3060 Ti is one of the cards out there we'd still recommend.
It marks the same incredible generational leap in performance that has come to epitomize the Ampere architecture, up until the non-TI GeForce RTX 3060, that is. With performance that can often outpace the RTX 2080 Super, for a nominal $399 price tag, it's the mid-range card to beat.
And, because of its RTX 2080 Super performance levels, that means you can nail 1080p and 1440p frame rates, but also that 4K at 60fps isn't beyond the realms of possibility for this GPU. The RTX 3060 Ti then delivers gaming performance that's rather stupendous when you look at generational gains over even the RTX 20-series—next to the 10-series, it's quite frightening, actually.
Read our full Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti review.
Memory
(Image credit: Corsair)Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3200
The best value RAM you can get
Capacity: 2x 8GB | Speed: 3200MT/s | Timings: 15-17-17-35 | Voltage: 1.35V
High frequencies on a budgetLow latency tooLacks the RGB prettiesMemory is pretty straightforward these days, though if the price isn't much higher you can improve performance slightly with faster RAM. DDR4 prices have thankfully galvanized somewhat, with typical costs for 16GB often falling well below $100. There are many options to choose from: Adata, Ballistix, Corsair, Crucial, G.Skill, GeIL, Gigabyte, Hynix, HyperX, Micron, Mushkin, Patriot, PNY, Samsung, Team, and XPG are all good brands as far as we're concerned.
Our main goal for gaming memory is DDR4-3000 or higher, with as low a CAS latency as possible, but at a good price. It doesn't make a lot of sense to buy extreme memory for a mainstream build, but with DDR4-3200 only costing $10 more than basic DDR4 kits, it's worth paying a little extra for AMD builds.
For more information, check out our guide to the best gaming DDR4 RAM.
Primary Storage
(Image credit: WD)WD_Black SN770 1TB
Deent capacity and low cost makes the SN770 a winner
Capacity: 1TB | Interface: M.2 PCIe Gen4 x4 | Sequential IO: 5150/4900MB/s read/write | Random IO: 740K/800K IOPS read/write
Decent capacityGen4 without breaking the bankEasy installation500GB is a viable option to save cashYou could spend more on a high-performance PCIe 4.0 SSD, but you can get awfully close to top performance with this SN770 from WD.
An NVMe M.2 SSD offers swift access to your data, and the SN770 delivers that snappy response at an exceptionally agreeable price. Fitted with 1TB worth of NAND flash, there's enough space for your operating system, applications, and plenty of games. So feel free to go wild downloading your favourite games on Steam. Well, not too wild.
If you wanted to save some cash, you could opt for the smaller 512GB version here. It's more agreeable on price, and your secondary storage could make up for lost capacity later down the line.
Read our full WD Black SN770 review.
Additional Storage
WD Black 1TB (Optional)
The quickest regular HDD, offering storage on a budget
Capacity: 1TB | HDD speed: 7200RPM | Cache: 32GB | Connectivity: SATA 6Gb/s | Warranty: 5 years
A cheaper storage optionGreat reliability for a HDDHigh capacity for files less often accessedSlow compared to SSDsGiven the install sizes of most modern PC games, it's probably a good idea to get yourself a new drive for your gaming PC. While SATA SSDs are almost cheap enough to recommend as secondary storage (what a world we're living in), you'll probably look to a regular HDD to keep the cost down when you hit multiple terabyte demands.
We recommend the WD Black drive because it's a 7,200 RPM drive with a respectable 32GB cache, which offers 1TB of storage for about $70 or less. While you could get a WD Blue or Seagate Barracuda for less, the WD Black offers speed and reliability over capacity. Realistically, you'll appreciate that speed if you're planning to keep your HDD inside a gaming PC for more than a couple of years, as we already see load times creep up for the biggest games of 2022.
PSU
Corsair TX650M 650W
Highly reliable and efficient power without going overkill
Output: 650W | Efficiency: 80 Plus Gold | Connectors: 1x 24-Pin ATX, 1x 8-Pin (4+4) EPS12V, 4x 8-Pin (6+2) PCIe, 6x SATA, 4x Molex, 1x Floppy | Modular: Partial
Good efficiency and priceSane output ratingAll Japanese capacitors650W may not cover it for some super high-end GPUs down the line, but be realistic about whether that matters to you or notPower supplies are not the most exciting part of a gaming PC build. After all, it can be hard to tell them apart in terms of features. Even so, you don't want to skimp on your PSU. Corsair has an excellent and well-deserved reputation for its power supplies, and the TX650M comes at a reasonable price and delivers 80 Plus Gold efficiency.
Most power supplies from the bigger names are generally good, but we wouldn’t recommend that you put your money in anything with a warranty of fewer than five years or an efficiency rating below 80 Plus Gold (maybe Bronze in a pinch). The $10 or $20 saved often isn't worth the risk.
We also tend to go with modular PSUs where possible. It means less cable mess inside the case since you don’t have to stash unused cables somewhere. Instead, the remaining wires have to find a home in your closet.
Here's our guide to the best power supplies for PC gaming.
Case
(Image credit: NZXT)NZXT H510
Clean design and great cable management
Type: ATX mid-tower | Motherboard Compatibility: ATX, Micro-ATX, Mini-ITX | Drive Bays: (Up to 7) 3.5/2.5-inch internal , 2x 2.5-inch SSD | Front Ports: 1x USB-C, 1x USB 3.0, Headphone, Mic | Fan Options: Front: 2x 120mm or 2x 140mm, Top: 120mm (included) or 140mm, Rear: 120mm (included) | Max GPU Length: 381mm | Dimensions: 460 x 210 x 428mm | Weight: 6.6kg
Tempered glass side panelPlenty of expansion optionsUSB-C front panel connectorGetting on a bitCases can be as stylish or boring as you want. We're going to go for the former rather than the latter, with the NZXT H510, a slick, tempered glass case available in white or black. The NZXT H510 is also reasonably priced, which is always a bonus.
If you want other options, check our guide to the best mid-tower cases. The clean look goes well on any desk and doesn't stand out like many so-called 'gaming cases.' There's also the pricier H510i that integrates some smart features if you like the look of the H510 but want a few more bells and whistles.
Picking a case can be an entirely personal choice, so for more options, here are the best PC cases you can buy right now.
Components
-
Jason Allen lives in Colorado, and last week lit the fuse on a debate that's going to run and run: he used AI software to create art, submitted it to the Colorado State Fair fine arts competition, and took first prize. Needless to say, some people don't like the idea.
There are a few important facts to note. Allen did kind of acknowledge what he'd done, in crediting his submissions as being by 'Jason Allen via Midjourney', and also spent considerable time working on the prompts to produce the eventual artworks: "many weeks" he says. He also worked further on the images Midjourney created in Photoshop, so they are manually finished.
But of course this is nuance next to the central issue: an AI artbot just beat-out human artists, and was clearly also plausible enough to fool human judges.
Midjourney is one of the many AI image generation tools emerging at the moment, and is currently in beta. The user enters text prompts and the software generates images based on the associations therein. This means there is an element of human finesse to what it produces, as specific language in different combinations can produce a wide range of outcomes. There's a large element of automation to these things, in other words, but they are still fundamentally tools to be manipulated by humans: and as the old computer saying goes, garbage in means garbage out.
Allen's images are certainly not garbage: they're beautiful. His winning piece is called 'Théâtre D'opéra Spatial' and took the prize in the state fair's digital art category. It was printed on canvas, and shows a bunch of figures staring out of a dark interior towards a sunny sci-fi landscape.
Following the win, Allen posted about it on Discord, a post that was soon picked up and went viral on Twitter. The event was presented with the TL; DR of "Someone entered an art competition with an AI-generated piece and won the first prize. Yeah that's pretty 'frelling' poopoo."
TL;DR — Someone entered an art competition with an AI-generated piece and won the first prize.Yeah that's pretty 'frelling' poopoo. pic.twitter.com/vjn1IdJcsLAugust 30, 2022
See moreThe pile-on soon began, though luckily for Allen he seems to be one of those sensible sorts who doesn't use Twitter. The arguments for and against this are by now familiar, but boil down to the potential of AI generation software to replace human artistry and skill, and its impact both in terms of costing jobs and the implications for cultural production. There's also the fact that these things are trained on the work of humans who get no credit nor benefit from them.
Then there's the most obvious dividing line: AI image generation software exists, and it's not going away. But should it be competing against humans?
"I’m not going to apologize for it," Allen told the New York Times. "I won, and I didn’t break any rules."
A spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Agriculture told the Times that, as Allen had disclosed the use of Midjourney in his submission, it was indeed within the rules. They added that the two judges did not know what Midjourney was at the time, but would have awarded Allen's work the prize regardless.
Allen believes that ultimately awards shows like this will end up creating an 'AI category', which does seem like a sane solution to a debate that can get extremely passionate. One senses that Allen is, however, up for the fight and out to tweak the noses of a few critics.
"The ethics isn’t in the technology," Allen told the Times. "It’s in the people. This isn’t going to stop. Art is dead, dude. It’s over. AI won. Humans lost.”
While this is an obvious provocation, it gets us into the messy and unanswerable question of what counts as art and what methods of art production are 'valid'. The method is new, but that question is not: Plenty of historical examples have prompted the same consideration over the years, like Duchamp's urinal, Pollock's paint splashes, Warhol or Hirst''s production line of assistants, nevermind technologies like cameras or factory moulding or the logistics and processes that go into public art.
Ultimately it comes down to disclosure, and to the end result. No-one really knows what art is, after all, but we all know it when we see it.
-
As has been standard practice for FromSoft's games since Dark Souls, Elden Ring's concept art is to be collected in a lavish book. But this time the game's so large, the art book is coming in two 400-page volumes. Both will be released on November 30 in Japan, with worldwide releases inevitable but yet to be confirmed. Volume 1 focuses on concept art of locations, NPCs and armour, while volume 2 contains art of enemies, weapons and items.
The two books are available separately, or you can sell a kidney and get the so-called Ultra Edition: this comes with a box to hold both books, and a framed piece of art showing Godfrey. The books are A4 sized, and are retailing for 4,400 yen apiece ($31 / £27) with the Ultra Edition setting a Tarnished back 17,600 yen ($125 / £108).
I've bought all of From's art books in the past, with the original Dark Souls Design Works and Bloodborne's equivalent both being spectacularly great books. The blurb for these doesn't mention whether they will include interviews with the design team and Miyazaki—traditionally they have, and the interviews are uniformly excellent. Miyazaki's infamous quote to an artist about their undead dragon concept originates from the Dark Souls book: "Can't you instead try to convey the deep sorrow of a magnificent beast doomed to a slow and possibly endless descent into ruin?"
As I get older, I feel very seen by that quote. In all seriousness, the only beef I've had with the official art books is that the print quality of the western edition is often inferior to the Japanese originals. I felt this especially in Bloodborne's case. But also, I'm a book snob, and the books as they exist are fine and still felt like good value.
I've asked Bandai Namco about whether a global release is planned, and will update with any response. In the meantime, feast your eyes on these official images from the book, and enjoy seeing the word 'sample' a lot:
(Image credit: FromSoftware)(Image credit: FromSoftware) -
Twitch's most-followed streamer ended his last show more dramatically than usual. While recuperating after a brief Fortnite skirmish in which Rick—of Rick and Morty fame—leapt out of a family saloon car and began firing indiscriminately, Tyler "Ninja" Blevins put his head in his hands, leaned back in his chair, and stared in silence for a while before declaring to his squadmate that he "can't do it anymore, dude." He said he needed to take a break from streaming and quit the game, and the stream, abruptly.
The streamer's apparent burnout comes hot on the heels of Pokimane's month-long break and subsequent pivot into non-gaming content. In a video posted after her time away, Pokimane explained that the pressure to produce content and capitalise on trends can get incredibly severe. Streamer burnout, after all, is a real, common, and deeply unhealthy thing. But it doesn't really seem like that's what's happening with Ninja. Before he stopped streaming, the star remarked pointedly, "I don't know where I'm going to be live next". If this isn't a deliberate attempt to gin up publicity for an upcoming announcement, it's uncannily similar to one.
Since then, the star's social media accounts have undergone a radical makeover: they no longer have profile pictures, the names have been changed to "User Not Found," and they've been updated with a message that reads, "I just need a break… I don't know when I will be back, or where." His Twitch profile no longer has its verified status, meaning Ninja, one of the platform's most famous streamers, is no longer an official partner.
Ninja's 18.3 million Twitch followers are perplexed to say the least, and not only because this break has come so abruptly. Before he went live, Ninja tweeted cryptically that "Big things are coming." It's got people thinking that maybe the streaming megastar has a move lined up like the one that saw him dump Twitch for Mixer (rest in peace) all the way back in 2019.
It feels pretty likely, at least to me. Call me cynical, but I'm not sure I'd have a synchronised and cryptic social media campaign ready to fire if I ever hit the burnout wall. Then again, I'm not one of the most famous streamers on Earth (yet); maybe things are different when you play videogames so entertainingly you have to hire a manager and PR firm.
Save for a tweet containing the "I just need a break" message that's now ubiquitous across his social media, Ninja hasn't said anything since the sudden end of his stream. It seems unlikely that will stay the case for long. Whether he's got a new gig lined up or he's genuinely burnt out, the self-perpetuating engine of stardom doesn't let anyone stay idle for long.
-
There's a question that's always asked by members of the industry at Gamescom. When you bump into someone you know as you're rushing between appointments. As you're debriefing about what you've seen in the pub after-hours. As you're in the press room, struggling to transcribe an interview over the ambient noise that is Koelnmesse at full capacity. The question is always the same: "How's your Gamescom going?"
Many of the people I talked to seemed to think it was a disappointment this year—a quiet showing from an industry still recovering from the effects of the pandemic. The major publishers hadn't shown up. The big-budget blockbusters were nowhere to be found. I would nod my head sympathetically as I was told this. Secretly, though, I was in my element.
For me, Gamescom was back to doing what it always did best. It was never supposed to be a second E3. It's not here to celebrate the industry's most expensive projects. Historically, Gamescom is a bit weird, a bit German, and mostly about PC games. And so it was again this year.
If you want to know the biggest trend of Gamescom, you just need to look at the biggest trend in PC gaming. And the biggest trend in PC gaming right now is that the game you loved is coming back.
Homeworld
(Image credit: Gearbox)Did you love Homeworld? It's coming back. Homeworld 3 is a confident successor to the space RTS series of the early 2000s—a game that respects the units, scenarios and the general vibe of the series. It understands its legacy, but also adds something new: terrain elements like cover that you can hide behind, or tunnels that block your enemy's sensors.
In the demo I played, the terrain elements were introduced in a somewhat heavy handed fashion, meant to teach you how best to use them to your advantage. But Blackbird Interactive says that, in later missions, it will just be a natural, organic part of the game—even letting players take cover behind things that they themselves destroyed. It feels like a clever progression, augmenting Homeworld's reliance on rock, paper, scissors combat, and giving you the tools to turn the tides in an otherwise unfavourable composition.
System Shock
(Image credit: Nightdive)Did you love System Shock? It's coming back. The remake feels faithful, while actually doing an absurd amount to bring it to the modern day. There's an impressive degree of restraint here. There's a light tutorial that arms you with the basics of controlling your character, and a minimap in the corner that lets you more easily navigate the space—seeing where you've been and how it links to where you're going.
Otherwise, you're left to your own devices: hunting clues, slowly unpicking the story, and desperately battling to survive. My progress through the section of demo I played was slow—the game is committed to being System Shock—but I never felt like I was battling with the UI or control system. It works, and lets you focus on what it is about System Shock that makes it worth preserving.
Visually, it looks fantastic too—colourful lighting providing depth and texture to the cold metallic walls and corridors. It's dark, but never muted, and the enemies you face are no less scary because of it.
Command & Conquer
(Image credit: THQ Nordic)Did you love Command & Conquer? It's coming back. THQ Nordic's Tempest Rising bills itself as being inspired by the RTSes of the '90s and 2000s, but—based on what I saw—you can pin down its influence far more specifically than that. It's a love letter to the Westwood classics, set on an alternate history Earth that's being colonised by a dangerous yet valuable resource: the titular Tempest, an obvious Tiberium analogue.
Its two campaigns each focus on a different faction, with a third exclusive to multiplayer. On the one hand you've got the forces of Western Europe and America, organised under the banner of the GD, er, F. On the other, Eastern Europe and Asia—the areas most affected by Tempest's rising—are under control of the Dynasty. It's even got mission briefings where a general talks directly to the camera. It's CGI, not FMV, but the feeling it evokes is the same.
And you know what? Watching the hands-off demo, I realised that yes, I am entirely up for a big, bombastic tribute to the RTSes of old.
Jagged Alliance
(Image credit: THQ Nordic)Did you love Jagged Alliance? It's coming back—and, it seems, properly this time. After decades of reinventions that failed to capture the true essence of the series, Haemimont is committed to doing justice to those first two games—a variation of the turn-based tactics model that, for some, was a serious contender to the X-Com series.
The game appears to capture much of the depth of Jagged Alliance 2. There's a full strategic layer on a satellite map of the conflict region, where every square is a level that can be visited, and notes will provide intel on what interesting encounters might be found where. The mercs—around 40, all fully voice acted, and with some familiar faces—have their own skills and personality, and wield weapons that can be fully customised.
It feels like the primary directive is that Jagged Alliance shouldn't be a puzzle game, where each turn is about finding the most optimal move. It's a messy simulation, where things will go wrong. I've written in-depth about the studio's struggle to differentiate the game from Firaxis's XCOM revival. That care, and the commitment to doing something that stands apart from the template set by the biggest turn-based tactics game of recent years, gives me hope in what Haemimont is doing here.
Everything else
(Image credit: Future)Even the games I saw that didn't have specific, obvious parallels still captured something of the essence of the '90s. Two years after we pleaded for their resurrection, RTSes are back in a big way. In addition to Homeworld 3 and Tempest Rising, Petroglyph—a studio of former C&C devs—is itself making a new RTS set in World War 1. The Great War: Western Front has a hint of grand strategy to it, but is primarily focused on its real-time battles. Its Total War-style pre-mission set up phase mimics a full month of battle planning, as you build new trenches and set traps in preparation for the battle to come.
The trick here is that, as much as PC gaming is looking to its past right now, most of the games I played were being careful not to retread it.
City builders continue to be one of the most successful genres on PC right now, with a long list of upcoming games providing a fun twist on the basic idea. Haemimont's Stranded: Alien Dawn will strand your team of pre-defined explorers—each with their own personality traits and relationships—on an alien planet. Blending Rimworld-style simulation with survival, you'll research and scavenge in order to create a base—at first to simply provide some basic comforts, and later to fend off the aggressive beasties that attack in the night.
What of the most classic of '90s genres, the CRPG? They're back too. One of the most exciting games I saw at the show was Broken Roads. Its creative lead, Colin McComb, has worked on many of the best games of the genre: Fallout 2 and Planescape: Torment to name just two. Now he turns his hand to the Australian post-apocalypse, with a game that the team stresses can be completed without ever harming a soul. My demo wasn't as non-violent; I ended my 30 minute session with the death of one loudmouthed mercenary on my conscience. I'm looking forward to seeing more of the game's vibrant wasteland.
It is of course possible that you didn't love these games or genres—perhaps you don't have fond memories of tinkering with C&C ini files to make the Mammoth Tank even more OP. That's fine too, because the trick here is that, as much as PC gaming is looking to its past right now, most of the games I played were being careful not to retread it. I bounced off of the original Homeworld. I never played the first System Shock. I've still not actually finished Planescape: Torment. Now these games and styles are coming back, and as much as there's a desire to respect the games that came before, there's also a care to revisit this history in a way that's approachable for those who missed it.
I'm not excited for a System Shock remake simply because it's a chance to replay an old game. I'm excited because it's a chance to experience the things that make it so beloved by the people who did play it, but in a form that reflects how games have progressed and evolved in the decades since its first release. Bringing things back not precisely as they were, but as the idealised versions of our memories. The games we love are coming back, and they're doing it in style.
-
Immortal Redneck is really not a great title for a game—in fact, I would argue it's actively bad. The game itself is not, though, and it's also free on GOG for the next few days, which means that if you don't want to take my word for it, you've got absolutely nothing to lose but 7 GB of storage space by trying it out for yourself.
The setup is silly: A local yokel takes a vacation to Egypt, then crashes his dune buggy (which he brought with him, of course) and wakes up mummified, thousands of years in the past, where all sorts of weird things are trying to kill him.
The action was better than I expected from a game I'd never heard of before today. It's a fast FPS in a roguelite setting, with randomly-generated dungeons (pyramids, actually), nine playable classes with different skill trees, permadeath, boss fights, and a built-in Twitch Quest mode that, for those who stream, enables viewers to vote on what you do next.
It's not the most sophisticated game you're likely to ever play, but I blasted through a couple levels and it was good fun: A straight-up run-and-gun, fight-until-you-die kind of thing, ideal for when you've got a few minutes to kill and are in the mood for something that's more Serious Sam than Solitaire.
The Immortal Redneck giveaway is the final freebie in the GOG sale, which is apparently just called The GOG Sale, that wraps up on September 5. GOG carries plenty of new releases these days but I still prefer it for the older (and some not-so-old) stuff, like FEAR Platinum ($1.50), Deus Ex: Human Revolution ($2.50), Homeworld Remastered ($3), Swat 4 Gold ($5), Painkiller Black ($2), Control Ultimate Edition ($13), and Kane and Lynch 2 Complete Edition ($4—and which, for the record, I liked unironically and I will not apologize for it). There's also a whole section for games under $1, which is always my favorite to poke through (there are some stupidly good deals in there), but hey, you do you.
The GOG Sale runs until 6 pm ET on September 5, which is also when the Immortal Redneck giveaway comes to an end.
-
There's a lot going on under that new AMD Zen 4 heatspreader. In fact, there's a lot going on outside of it, in all those little cutouts around the edge of it, too. Somewhere you know is going to end up with a whole lot of thermal paste getting squidged in at some point down the line.
I got my first chance to get hands-on with AMD's new Ryzen 7000-series CPU at the recent Tech Day in AMD's Austin backyard. And it's a relief to finally have an AMD chip where you can't mash the pins if you get a little heavy handed with it.
Though I kinda wish they'd told me the heatspreader wasn't attached when they passed the sample over, telling me not to break it. Inevitably I did the fake drop thing, only for the chonky eight-legged heatspreader to hit the floor with a dull thud.
Still, it's good to get hold of something tangible after a long while of rumoured specs and performance figures. With the chip in hand it feels a lot more real.
And somehow this shift to an LGA socket with AM5 makes the chip feel a whole lot more grown up, too. The AM4 platform has been a real workhorse of a socket for AMD, lasting six years and hosting red team chips even prior to the Ryzen revolution. But they all still looked essentially the same as the old Athlon 64 3200+ which sat in the first gaming PC I bought with my own money.
This solid lump of CPU is a far more robust thing, though we've yet to see how well the AM5 socket itself survives against the inevitable accidental thumb-squishes that have historically blighted Intel's LGA motherboard sockets.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)The cut-out design alone tells a story. A story of backwards compatibility and of AMD's desire to retain cooler support across the old AM4 platform by creating a new chip with the same footprint and socket keep-out zones. There's maybe some slight variation in height, however, which means coolers with a non-standard AMD backplate may actually need some sort of aftermarket spacer to support it.
It's a "very unique design," says Robert Hallock at the Computex pre-brief earlier this year, "that helps us retain cooler compatibility with socket AM4. There is a real method to the design here; it allowed us to keep the same package size, the same cooler keep-out."
But, in creating a new, more powerful chip of the same size as its predecessor, AMD has needed to provide more space on the CPU baseboard to house both the two compute 5nm chiplets and the packed 6nm IO die, as well as a host of capacitors "to drive more power and greater signal integrity for all of those high-speed IOs." So says AMD's David McAfee, anyways.
AMD may have massively shrunk down the lithography used in its IO chiplet—from 12nm in Zen 3—but it's having to deal with PCIe 5.0, new AM5 DDR5 support, and house a whole RDNA 2 GPU core, too. And, as you can see from the bare chip, it's crammed as many capacitors as it can under the heatspreader, and it also needs to find places outside to fit them in.
Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)Moar RAMBut hey, it's a funky look, and we're sure some enterprising folk are figuring out ways to fill in those gaps and avoid a glop of thermal goop getting stuck in one of those cut outs.
This dummy chip is set up with a pair of eight-core compute chiplets, which is what we'll see in the Ryzen 9 7900X and Ryzen 9 7950X, but for the more mainstream Ryzen 7 7700X and Ryzen 5 7600X chips you'll only see one Zen 3 compute chiplet under the cover.
And how do they perform? Well, AMD has provided some preliminary numbers, but we'll have to wait until late September to find out how the new Zen 4 chips perform once they're out in the wild.
Price Cores | Threads Base clock Boost clock Cache (L2+L3) TDP Ryzen 9 7950X $699 16 | 32 4.5GHz 5.7GHz 80MB 170W Ryzen 9 7900X $549 12 | 24 4.7GHz 5.6GHz 76MB 170W Ryzen 7 7700X $399 8 | 16 4.5GHz 5.4GHz 40MB 105W Ryzen 5 7600X $299 6 | 12 4.7GHz 5.3GHz 38MB 105W -
Would you believe that some of the best microphones for streaming and gaming cost less than $100? I'm not kidding; the audio quality on the best cheap microphones I picked out can rival even some premium ones that are double, or in some cases, even triple, the cost. And the best part? Your listeners probably won't hear the difference.
Over the past few years, popular microphone makers have offered more budget-friendly gaming and recording microphones lowering the barrier for someone to become a content creator.
So, how can a $50 mic compete with some of the best microphones that could cost up to $300? The cheaper mics, while sounding great, offer way fewer features than your usual USB microphone. Things like volume, gain control, or even a mute button arere often nowhere to be seen on these microphones requiring you to do any audio tweaking or monitoring through third-party software like OBS or Xsplit.
The cheaper price point doesn't change how we test these microphones. We still follow the same testing criteria as the more expensive mics; all we did was add a $100 max budget. We are still looking for excellent sound quality, form factor, usability, and build quality.
Best cheap microphone for streaming and gaming
(Image credit: HyperX)1. HyperX SoloCast
The best sounding budget microphone
Polar patterns: Cardioid | Connectivity: USB | Recording sample rate: 48kHz | Frequency response: 20–20,000Hz | Features: Tap-to-mute sensor
Sounds nearly identical to QuadCast MicGreat pricePortable designLimited feature-setNot as flashyhe new HyperX SoloCast microphone is all about delivering what's most important: higher-fidelity voice recording for gamers on a budget. For less than $60 you're really paying for the portability and ease of use.
As far as sound quality is concerned, you usually get what you pay for, but the HyperX SoloCast is seems to take a 'sound over anything else' approach. Essentially, HyperX seems to has stripped down one of its QuadCast mics down to the bare essentials. It's missing a headphone jack, gain control, shock mount, internal pop filter, and I won't lie; I miss the RGB lighting. But even though it's less flashy than HyperX's other mic offerings, the sound quality is incredible for the price.
The HyperX SoloCast still reigns as the king of budget microphones.
When comparing the $160 HyperX Quadcast S, the sound quality is scarily similar when using cardioid mode across both. Both mics have a 20Hz-20kHz frequency response and a 16-bit sample rate. The SoloCast only has the single cardoid polar pattern, as opposed to the four that's offered on the QuadCast mics.
Without gain control you cant regulate the gain on the fly, which is awkward as it sounded a bit too hot out of the box. Changes need to be done on the software level, but the ease of set up is great.
While the JLab Audio Talk GO and Razer Seiren Mini also offer great sound, the HyperX SoloCast still reigns as the king of budget microphones, giving us the audio chops of its own pricier QuadCast S compatriot but for a fraction of the price.
The SoloCast opts for a pill-shaped design that sits at roughly half the size of the QuadCast S, and is fairly similar in stature to the Razer Seiren Mini. Instead of very aggressive RGB you have a single LED status indicator. There or no buttons or dials like I mentioned before, just a tap-to-mute sensor. It's a very understated look that lacks a lot of the HyperX charm we've come to know and love from many of its products.The mic itself can be easily pulled from the stand if you need to mount it on a boom arm. The USB Type-C connection makes for easy plug and play along with playing nicely on Macs, and even a PlayStation 4, in case you do you're streaming directly to Twitch from the console.
What this single-condenser microphone does come with is an adjustable stand, boom arm and mic stand threading, and tap-to-mute sensor. Now, you may chuckle at the idea of the SoloCast having a mute button as a standout feature, but we've seen other budget microphones forgo the ability to mute the mic to drive costs down. One such culprit is the Razer Seiren Mini, which we will be checking out soon.
While not as flashy as other HyperX offerings, the SoloCast easily takes the crown of best budget microphone (for now), dethroning the surprisingly impressive JLab Audio Talk GO microphone. Though only $10 more expensive than the Talk GO, the SoloCast's sound quality is more in line with microphones twice its price, and that is a huge deal. Quality streaming gear at more affordable prices means that more people can easily create that #content.
Read our full HyperX SoloCast review.Image 1 of 5(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 5(Image credit: RAZER)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: Future)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: Future)2. Razer Seiren Mini
The best looking budget microphone
Polar patterns: Supercardioid | Connectivity: USB | Recording sample rate: 48kHz | Frequency response: 20–20,000Hz | Features: Tap-to-mute sensor
Pill-shaped designGreat soundNo mute buttonProprietary micro-USBThe Razer Seiren Mini is a $50 budget microphone for streaming that might skimp on features but still delivers top-notch sound.
The Seiren Mini's adorable pill-shaped design comes in your choice of Black, Mercury White, and Quartz (pink). Out of the budget mics out there, the Seiren Mini's design is the most eye-catching. I was sent a Mercury White microphone, and it's one of my favorite looking pieces of hardware I've gotten this year and pretty darn cute.
Much like the HyperX SoloCast, many features were stripped away from the Seiren Mini to keep the sound quality up and the cost down. There's no volume or gain dial, or even a mute button. It's bare-bones as they come, but for $50 it's to be expected.
The Seiren Mini sounds just as good as Razer's more expensive Seiren offerings.
The proprietary micro-USB cable Razer tends to use on many peripherals is a bit of a pain. It keeps you from using third party cables because they simply wont fit. I can't express enough how much I hate when a hardware company does this. If you lose that cable for whatever reason (which happens), the mic is useless until Razer's replacement arrives.
I would have loved to have seen a ⅝ to ⅜ thread adapter so it could mount on most boom arms but it doesn't have one, sadly. I like the tilting stand and built-in shock mount (a feature missing from the SoloCast), which is useful if you run a pretty animated stream where accidental bumps are everyday occurrences.
The Seiren Mini sounds just as good as Razer's more expensive Seiren offerings. The Mini's super-cardioid polar pattern does a better job of tapering down background noise to focus on what's in front of it, though it does sound a bit softer than the Seiren Emote at its default gain.
The Seiren Mini is a perfect entry for Razer's already reliable line of microphones. It's ultra-portable size and pricing gives streamers another good option for a budget microphone. The lack of a mute control and some other quality-of-life features will take some getting used to for any more pro folks, but they'll be aiming their sights higher up the product stack anyways.
The simple fact that the Mini, at just $50, sounds as good as its more expensive brethren will attract users who just want a simple mic that looks elegant and sounds excellent.
Read our full Razer Seiren Mini review.Image 1 of 4(Image credit: Blue)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: Blue)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: Blue)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: Blue)3. Blue Yeti Nano
The best budget mic that's feature packed
Polar patterns: Cardioid, Omnidirectional | Connectivity: USB | Recording sample rate: 48kHz | Frequency response: 20–20,000Hz | Features: Zero-latency monitoring, mute & headphone volume controls
Very small and lightEasy to useGreat sound qualityRelatively expensive for a 'budget' micThis miniature version of the classic Blue Yeti is the perfect microphone for those just starting with streaming. It has an excellent sound quality for a product under $100. Simultaneously, its tiny size and lightweight metal build make it easy to transport (this is at least 40% smaller than its larger cousin). The Yeti Nano sits as an outlier as the most 'expensive' budget mic on the list but offers more than the cheaper mics regarding features.
Its 24-bit, 48kHz recording sample rate is noticeable, too; audio from the Nano and original Yeti shows that the former is superior by a significant margin. It's only got two polar patterns (cardioid and omnidirectional), but the Yeti Nano makes up for it with everything else.
The Nano is a reliable microphone that travels well and still provides that stellar Blue Yeti sound you'd expect. Features-wise, the Yeti Nano isn't as sparse as other microphones on the list. The 3.5mm aux output is super helpful to hear exactly how you like it without the need of any software. The volume control for that output shares the same dial/button as the mute.
Things like gain control are handled through the Logitech G Hub software (RIP Blue Sherpa). Here you have a little more control over your mic settings without using any third-party broadcast software like xSplite or OBS. However, you can use those if you choose to opt out of using another type of hardware software; I don't blame you.
Image 1 of 3jlab mic on desk. (Image credit: jlab)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: jLAB AUDIO)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: JLAB)4. JLab Audio Talk GO
Best budget microphone for beginners
Polar patterns: Cardioid, Omnidirectional | Connectivity: USB | Recording sample rate: 96kHz | Frequency response: 20–20,000Hz | Features: Tripod
Good starter micSubtle RGBPortable designCan sound tinnyA relative newcomer to the scene, JLab Audio is probably best known for affordable audio products, such as budget headphones and speakers. Now it's trying its hand at microphones. The Talk GO comes in with two condensers and a resolution of 96kHz/24Bit. While the options for $100 + mics are vast, there are almost no viable options around this $50 price point.
It uses two directional patterns (cardioid and omnidirectional). Cardioid is no surprise, but seeing omnidirectional is a welcome surprise for a microphone at this level. This means you can plop down the GO in the middle of the table for group interviews or panel discussions.
If you're starting as a content creator with a tight budget, you go do a lot worse than the Talk GO.
The plug-and-play microphone and accompanying tripod weigh in at just under a pound; the GO sure is a lightweight mic. The hard plastic chassis gives me some concern about its durability over long-term use and travel, and maybe a smart idea would have been to include a travel case or pouch, but then that would add to the price.
The Talk GO's unobtrusive size makes it ideal for small spaces, which is especially useful if your desk can't accommodate a boom arm.
The powder blue accents and the bright light wheel make for a fresh design. Aside from looking dope, the light wheel lets you know what directional pattern mode you use.
Blue means cardioid, green is omnidirectional, and red is mute. Holding down the mute button is how you switch patterns and has so far proved pretty noob proof, which is all you can ask. All of the Talk series microphones have a simple sleekness that I don't hate.
The Talk GO will surprise many folks by not sounding too bad despite having just two condensers. When I recorded some lines, my voice was tinnier than I would prefer, and my Ps popped a lot. For everyday use, such as conference calls or podcasting, it's okay, but if you're looking for crisp, clearer vocals for music performers, you will have to expand your budget upgrade to the Talk PRO.
The JLab Audio Talk GO is probably the only $50 USB microphone you can buy aside from the aging Blue Snowball ICE (if you can find one) that's worth a damn. If you're starting as a content creator with a tight budget, you could do much worse than Talk GO's size, sound, and price.
Read our full JLab Talk GO review.
Image 1 of 5(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 5(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: RODE)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: RODE)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: RODE)5. Rode NT-USB-Mini
The best microphone for entry-level content creators
Polar patterns: Cardioid | Connectivity: USB | Recording sample rate: 48kHz | Frequency response: 20–20,000Hz | Features: Zero-latency monitoring, mute & headphone volume controls
Great soundSimple compact designDecent softwareSoftware only works with NT MinisPicks up background noiseRode makes quality microphones. No question. The only problem is, its prosumer audio often requires a bit of financial investment. The Rode NT-USB Mini microphone is hand down one of the best sub-$100 mics you can pick up right now.
Taking cues from smaller mics like the Razer Seiren Mini, Rode has stripped a lot of the usual features in the standard mic for a more no-fuss, no-muss design approach. The Mini has a built-in pop filter to deal with your plosives and a neat little detachable magnetic stand that enables easy traveling.
Zero-latency monitoring mode removes the delay of your voice in playback. That's important because it can be super distracting to hear your own voice a few milliseconds after speaking, depending on your setup. This deals with all that rather well.
The NT Mini is an easy-to-use mic that any beginner can use.
Rode has always been known for its top-tier audio gear. Anyone looking to upgrade from semi-pro to pro streaming or podcasting status is often recommended. However, the cost has always been a sticking point since Rode's gear has traditionally been skewed towards the serious prosumer. The Mini's $100 price makes it a good choice for anyone looking for a quality microphone that travels well and keeps its traditional Rode durability.
You can hear from the test recordings that the mic's quality is good, if not better, than more expensive microphones on the market. My audio came out crisp and clear, though I did pick up some of the background hums of my very loud gaming PC. For comparison, I've included some cheaper mics like HyperX Solocast, which is $40 cheaper than the NT, and a couple of premium mics just to hear the difference.
Aside from sounding incredible, the NT Mini is an easy-to-use mic that any beginner can use. Speaking of easy, the Rode Connect software is a digital mixer that actually allows for up to four NT Minis to be plugged into a single computer without jumping through any hoops. It follows the same design philosophy as the other mini mics on this list: compact, traveling well, and looking like a cool piece of tech.Read our full Rode NT Mini review.
Image 1 of 2(Image credit: Audio techica)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: Future)6. Audio-technica AT2020
Best cheap XLR microphone
Polar patterns: Cardioid | Connectivity: USB | Recording sample rate: 48kHz | Frequency response: 20–20,000Hz | Features: Headphone volume controls
Well builtFor musiciansExcellent soundRequires USB Audio InterfaceOne polar patternUSB model is $50 extraAudio-Technica AT2020 might be the best cheap XLR microphone you can get your hands on right now. Any professional musician will tell you that trying to find a good XLR mic for less than $200 is a massive chore. Somehow, Audio-Technica manages to provide an excellent sounding XLR microphone for musicians for around $80.
The AT2020 follows the trend of stripping out features to cut costs. Here the mute button is absent, although you still have headset volume, monitor dials, a pivoting threaded stand mount, and a handy travel bag. Whenever you record yourself using the AT2020, you'll often think you're using a more expensive microphone.
So whether you're banging away on drums or explaining your latest win in Call of Duty Warzone for your adoring viewers, the AT2020 is a highly versatile microphone. Since it is an XLR microphone, you need to invest in an audio interface (which you can find as cheap as $50 online) to use on your PC. If you can't be bothered with an audio interface, for an extra $50, you can pick the AT2020USB+, which as you may guess features a USB interface instead.
Best gaming headset | Best gaming monitor | Best HDMI cable for gaming
Best computer speakers | Best SSD for gaming | Best CPU for gamingImage 1 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 3(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 3(Image credit: Future)Streamplify Mic
An affordable option with all the trimmings
Polar patterns: Cardioid | Connectivity: USB | Recording sample rate: 48kHz | Frequency response: 100–18,000Hz | Features: RGB lighting, included stand + pop filter
Affordable priceClear audio outputPacked with clever featuresRattly pop filterVolume dial is a little impreciseLack of additional software may not please someEnter the Streamplify Mic, a cheaper solution to all your vocal needs. What you get here isn’t just a mic, but a full kit with shock mount, pop filter, tripod and cables to get you started in a matter of minutes.
Most of the kit feels pretty substantial, with a blend of metals and hard plastics on show, which, for the price, is rather good indeed. Just note the pop filter is a little thin and rattly, but in the grand scheme of things, this isn’t too much of an issue. Too often, cheap mics are a sea of hollow plastics designed more for looks than function, so it’s nice to see Streamplify taking some care with their entry.
The Streamplify Mic feels like a steal for its asking price.
What’s more, everything is nice and easy to put together—it’s as easy as putting together some flatpack furniture from Ikea. No, wait, it’s a hell of a lot easier than that. Oh, and one bonus feature Streamplify won’t mention on the box: assembling this mic is definitely likely to keep your relationship intact, unlike assembling a BILLY bookcase from Ikea—we’ve all been there.
The interface on offer is nice and simple with a headphone jack for real-time monitoring of audio input, which is handy; a small button for controlling the bundled RGB lighting; as well as a dial for on-board gain control. This is traditionally a feature reserved for more expensive mics, so kudos to Streamplify for including it here. Do note though that there isn’t a start and stop point in the dial, so you can turn it 360 degrees, which can make it seem like the volume perpetually increases, so just be wary of its actual start and end points.
The gain dial is also a click-in button that can allow you to choose between the two playback modes. There’s the choice of either what Streamplify calls the mic’s ‘Full Playback Podcast Mode’ which will filter through any ambient noise so you can check your levels, or ‘One-way Playback Gaming Mode’ which cancels out any background noise. It’s a useful feature to have, and there’s a small noticeable difference between the two.
But, the reason you buy a microphone isn’t for its construction or anything like that, let’s face it. It’s all to do with vocal clarity and sound quality. I’m pleased to say, for the price, this baby sounds pretty decent. There are no hisses, crackles, or pops for that matter, and with a cardioid pickup pattern this microphone works especially well for voices. Truth be told, it sounds nearly as good as my old faithful, the Rode NT-USB, which I’ve had for a couple of years, and sits at double the price of this Streamplify option.
All in all, the Streamplify Mic feels like a steal for its asking price. It’s well built, even if it does have a rattly pop filter, and its audio output is crisp and clear, which is all you can really ask for. The on board gain control, mic mute, and two playback mode features are all handy, and means this microphone is punching above its weight class somewhat. The same also goes for the fact you get an entire kit in the box, which keeps things convenient.
Convenience is the name of the game here. If it’s what you’re after, then you won’t be disappointed with the Streamplify Mic in the slightest.
Read our full Streamplify Mic review.
Budget microphones FAQ
What are a mic's polar patterns?
The polar pattern is the way a mic captures the sound around it. These are the most common polar patterns:
Cardioid: Records in front of the microphone. Perfect for voice-over, vocals, and streaming.
Bidirectional: Captures audio in front of and behind the mic. Ideal for one-on-one interviews.
Omnidirectional: Picks up sound from every direction. Perfect for round-table interviews.
Stereo: Perfect for ASMR recordings. YouTube 'ASMR' if you want the best example because I couldn't do it just justice.
Is a gaming microphone worth it?
You can always make do with the stalk mic sticking out of your gaming headset, but there are very few that can come close to matching the recording quality of even the cheapest gaming mic on this list. If you're planning on streaming or recording your gaming, and what to add your own voice to the mix, then making yourself sound better than your weedy headset microphone is surely a must.
Having a good mic will also mean you don't have to use a gaming headset at all. For us audiophiles who prefer a great set of headphones that come without a mic at all, a desk-based option is the only way to roll.
What form factor should my mic be?
This isn't a fashion show, but the form factor is still something that matters. In the case of a standing mic, you'll be staring at it every time you're sitting at your desk—and attachable mics need to make sure they aren't too distracting either.
A mic's form factor can also play a role in how adaptable it is, as you'll need to make space for it. We used every mic in multiple settings with different PCs, keyboards, and monitors, getting a feel for how they looked and performed in each environment. As a streamer, your mic will also be in view for your audience, so its appearance is relevant.
-
Multiversus isn't done with its roster in the slightest, and keeps on expanding in unexpected ways. The surprisingly good fighting game from Warner Bros is adding in as many iconic characters as it can with weekly updates and the next friendly faces getting thrown into the battle are Gizmo and Stripe from the film Gremlins.
Gremlins is a 1984 comedy horror film starring these furry little fiends. Even if you've never seen it you're probably acquainted with the cultural significance of these beasts. I mean, we've all been taught from parody, quotes, and memes on the internet never ever to feed mogwai after midnight as they undergo a terrible transformation. The two main 'Gremlins' in the film are Gizmo and Stripe, though there are plenty of others involved.
We've got a little, fluffy surprise headed your way on Tuesday! #MultiVersus pic.twitter.com/83CVuUs0p2September 1, 2022
See moreThough both Gizmo and Stripe are mogwai as is their traditional name or gremlins they have very different personalities. In brawlers it's not uncommon that similar characters will just have a skin swap rather than a full new set of moves. As such, it was a pleasant surprise when Multiversus game director Tony Huynh tweeted that Gizmo and Stripe were different characters altogether.
Gizmo and Stripe are two separate characters. #MultiVersusSeptember 1, 2022
See moreWe've not yet seen the full set of moves of either character but we've now got the first official trailer for their appearance which fans are already theorising over. The bike and the blade saw could definitely appear in the movesets but there is so much possible junk in the teaser, as well in the film, that could be involved in the game.
This announcement has also been met with a light amount of disappointment from certain fans. Many people have been hoping to see Rick Sanchez from Rick and Morty added to the game, but realistically he's probably just around the corner. Until then it's very easy to get your fill of Justin Roland comedy from the new trailers of High on Life.
-
The launch of Starfield has been delayed to 2023, and since the Microsoft and Bethesda Games Showcase back in June we really haven't heard anything new about the game. We're essentially stuck staring at the launch pad, waiting for Bethesda's big ol' rocket to start billowing out pre-launch smoke.
In the meantime, we'll take any new information we can get, and happily enough (via wccftech) an interesting new source popped up recently. Starfield's composer, Inon Zur, was interviewed by musician and podcaster Nikhil Hogan, and after a pleasant chat about Zur's extensive career the topic finally came around to Bethesda's upcoming space RPG.
If you've never heard of Zur I can all but guarantee you've at least heard his work: The award-winning musician has composed for games like Baldur's Gate 2, SOCOM 2, Crusader Kings, Prince of Persia, Twisted Metal, Crysis, and Dragon Age: Origins, just to name a few from his illustrious career. And for all you Bethesda fans, Zur composed the music for Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 4, and Fallout 76. Here he is playing Fallout 4's main theme on piano. It's awesome.
Hogan asked Zur what he could tell us about Starfield, and Zur immediately started talking about the game's size,… though not so much the size of the game world but more its scope, story, and themes.
"Starfield is a huge game. Starfield is a deep game, it's a philosophical game. If you want to play Starfied it will consume a lot of your being," Zur told Hogan. "I believe that after Starfield you will be, I wouldn't say a changed person, but it will definitely give you another perspective, maybe a deeper perspective to your whole being."
Those are some pretty big claims for a game where you fly around with a jetpack shooting pirates, stealing spaceships, and worshipping cosmic serpents. But, Zur's excitement for the RPG does feel genuine, and it's nice to hear that there may be some deeper themes than just shopping for the perfect parts to customize our spaceships.
"In terms of size, how big is it, music-wise?" Hogan asked.
"The game is at least twice as big as the biggest game Bethesda ever did. So, it's huge."
It's tempting to take Zur's "twice as big" statement as relating to the size of the maps or the playable areas, but remember that Hogan was specifically asking about music. And as for the rest of Zur's statements about Starfield's size, his answers seem to be more aimed at the scope, the story, or other more intangible elements—the 'experience' of Starfield—rather than something like map size.
"The premise of Starfield and the courage to ask questions and to try to answer them, actually standing in the core of Starfield, more than just another shooter or another RPG, Starfield really takes a very courageous step into [a] realm that is more philosophical," Zur continued.
"It's not about how it looks, it's not about how the gameplay is, although [that's] also incredible, it's about the story, and it's your ability to write your own story within the story that Starfield is. And your ability to ask questions, seek further answers, and maybe get them."
It's hard to pin down what Zur means, but I'm sure the vague nature of his statements are due to him not really being allowed to talk specifically about the story before Starfield's release. Like I said, though, he seems genuinely excited. And one thing's for sure, having listened to so much of his work in so many other games: Starfield's music is gonna be great.
You can watch the interview with Zur here, with the Starfield discussion beginning at 56:54.
-
September is here, and soon the sweltering days of summer will be far behind us. But over at Fanatical, the deals stretch out beyond the horizon. There's so many, in fact, that you definitely need someone to sort through them and pick out a selection of the best ones going.
Well, that's what we're here for. Whether your fancy is management sims, gangster tales, strategy, or just shooting unpleasant people from a very long way away, we've got you covered.
Remember that for Labor Day, Fanatical is offering an extra 8% off PC games—including stuff that's already on sale—if you use the code LABOR8 at checkout. You can use that code on their audio and software products, too, if you happen to use your PC for something besides games (pretty strange, if you ask me).
Top Pick: F1 Manager 2022—10% off
(Image credit: Frontier Developments)£40.49/$49.49 | Fanatical link
F1 Manager might be the most dad game that's ever happened. Don't get me wrong, it's great, and it's received a few fulsome write-ups in our pages alone, but it's a game of tyre degradation graphs, fuel conservation, and obsessive attention to minute detail. It's a strategy game more than a racing sim, and is replete with all the spreadsheets, tables, and historical data you need to optimise the living daylights out of every nanosecond of your races.
But there's layers beyond the races. Managing an F1 team involves making decisions about personnel allocation, R&D, sponsorship deals, and responding to emails (much like real life). As you bounce back and forth between these two layers, you'll gradually hone your team into an F1 race-winning machine. Or at the very least get something like an informal PhD in tyre technology.
Total War: Warhammer 3—21% off
(Image credit: Sega)£39.49/$47.39 | Fanatical link
The series that should have been called Total Warhammer continues in this third instalment, which sees you guide one of a number of Warhammer factions to domination and glory through gameplay that's turn-based on the grand scale and real-time during battles. We liked it quite a bit, praising it for the depth of its mechanics and its full commitment to Warhammer's "wonderfully over-the-top brand of fantasy".
Two Point Campus–21% off
(Image credit: SEGA)£27.64/$31.59 | Fanatical link
Two Point Campus takes all the Theme Hospital-inspired zaniness of Two Point Hospital and moves it to the classroom. It's your job to build an educational empire that produces hard-working, inspired, and above all lucrative graduates in courses ranging from "Money Wangling" to Wizardry.
Mafia: Definitive Edition—68% off
(Image credit: 2K Games)£11.19/$12.79 | Fanatical link
The 2020 remake of the 2002 classic, Mafia: Definitive Edition is a trope-filled gangster tale set in the "City of Lost Heaven"—which is definitely not Chicago—in the 1930s. You play a taxi driver who gets sucked into a life of crime after two wiseguys commandeer your car to make a quick getaway. Expect broads, capos, and the legal minimum of at least one guy called Paulie.
Sniper Elite 5—26% off
(Image credit: Rebellion)£33.29/$36.99 | Fanatical link
Shooting Nazis is, of course, great. Shooting them from really far away? Even better. Ensnaring them in Rube Goldberg machine deathtraps that you've planned out meticulously and triggered with a single bullet from miles off? I couldn't ask for anything more.
-
The best gaming monitor is much more than a panel full of pixels. It's a window into other worlds and a visual representation of everything your PC was made to do. A good monitor doesn't just pump out high-resolution images; it makes everything look stunning and keeps up with any fast-paced gaming you plan to do on it. The best gaming monitors are the partner to your powerful gaming rig, and they should be able to deliver everything from accurate colors to low latency.
Getting your head around the GPU-monitor symbiosis is essential for making the most of your money. A ridiculous 4K monitor with a high refresh rate would be overkill if you're still packing a GTX 1060; unless you're planning to upgrade to one of the best graphics cards soon, your new monitor won't be able to achieve its full glory. If you scored yourself a fancy Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti or one of those high-end AMD RX 6000 series GPUs, you've got plenty of options to choose from regarding gaming monitors. 4K panels are child's play for these cards.
If future-proofing your setup is a big thing for you, it makes sense to go for a higher resolution—you can always use it at a lower res for now. And for the competitive gamer who values speed above all else, our list of high refresh rate monitors is the place to look.
We're constantly testing an exhaustive number of gaming monitors to make sure we've found the best gaming monitors for each budget bracket and performance needs. This list frequently gets updated as newer models pass our rigorous testing.
Best gaming monitor
Image 1 of 5(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 5(Image credit: Alienware)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: Alienware)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: Alienware)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: Alienware)1. Alienware 34 QD-OLED (AW3423DW)
At last, a true OLED gaming monitor for the PC.
Screen size: 34-inch | Panel type: QD OLED | Aspect ratio: 21:9 | Resolution: 3440 x 1440 | Response time: 0.1ms | Refresh rate: 175Hz | Weight: 15.26lbs | Refresh rate technology: G-Sync Ultimate
Fabulous contrast and coloursStupendous pixel responseGenuine HDR capabilityNot a great all-purpose panelNo HDMI 2.1OLED has truly arrived on PC, and in ultrawide format no less. Alienware's 34 QD-OLED is one of very few gaming monitors to receive such a stellar score from us, and it's no surprise. Dell has nailed the OLED panel in this screen and it's absolutely gorgeous for PC gaming. Although this monitor isn’t perfect, it is dramatically better than any LCD-based monitor by several gaming-critical metrics. And it’s a genuine thrill to use.
What that 34-inch, 21:9 panel can deliver in either of its HDR modes—HDR 400 True Black or HDR Peak 1000—is nothing short of exceptional. The 3440 x 1440 native resolution image it produces across that gentle 1800R curve is punchy and vibrant. With 99.3% coverage of the demanding DCI-P3 color space and fully 1,000 nits brightness, it makes a good go, though that brightness level can only be achieved on a small portion of the panel.
Still, there’s so much depth, saturation, and clarity to the in-game image thanks to that per-pixel lighting, but this OLED screen needs to be in HDR mode to do its thing. And that applies to SDR content, too. HDR Peak 1000 mode enables that maximum 1,000 nit performance in small areas of the panel but actually looks less vibrant and punchy most of the time.
HDR 400 True Black mode generally gives the best results, after you jump into the Windows Display Settings menu and crank the SDR brightness up, it looks much more zingy.
If you're going to hook your PC up to a high-end gaming monitor, we recommend it be this one.
Burn-in is the great fear and that leads to a few quirks. For starters, you’ll occasionally notice the entire image shifting by a pixel or two. The panel is actually overprovisioned with pixels by about 20 in both axes, providing plenty of leeway. It’s a little like the overprovisioning of memory cells in an SSD and it allows Alienware to prevent static elements from “burning” into the display over time.
While we didn’t sense any subjective issue with this 175Hz monitor, there’s little doubt that if your gaming fun and success hinges on having the lowest possible latency, there are faster screens available. You can only achieve the full 175Hz with the single DisplayPort input, too. The Alienware 34 QD-OLED's response time is absurdly quick at 0.1ms, however, and it cruised through our monitor testing suite. You really notice that speed in-game, too.
There's no HDMI 2.1 on this panel, however. So it's probably not the best fit for console gaming as a result. But this is PC Gamer, and if you're going to hook your PC up to a high-end gaming monitor, we recommend it be this one.
Read our full Alienware 34 AW3423DW review.
Image 1 of 5(Image credit: LG )Image 2 of 5(Image credit: LG)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: LG)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: LG)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: LG)2. LG 27GN950-B
The fastest, most responsive 4K gaming monitor
Screen size: 27-inch | Panel type: Nano IPS | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Response time: 1ms | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Weight: 16.9lbs | Refresh rate technology: G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync Premium Pro
Bright vivid colorsG-Sync/FreeSync compatibleExcellent response time for a 4K monitorOversaturated sRGB mode4K gaming is a premium endeavor. You need a colossal amount of rendering power to hit decent frame rates at such a high resolution. But if you're rocking a top-shelf graphics card, like an RTX 3080 or RX 6800 XT then this dream can be a reality.
The LG UltraGear is the first 4K, Nano IPS, gaming monitor with 1ms response times, that'll properly show off your superpowered GPU. Coming in with Nvidia G-Sync and AMD’s FreeSync adaptive refresh compatibility, this slick slim-bezel design even offers LG’s Sphere Lighting 2.0 RGB visual theatrics.And combined with the crazy-sharp detail that comes with the 4K pixel grid, that buttery smooth 144Hz is pretty special.
While it does suffer from a little characteristic IPS glow, it appears mostly at the screen extremities when you’re spying darker game scenes. This isn't an issue most of the time, but the HDR is a little disappointing as, frankly, 16 edge-lit local dimming zones do not a true HDR panel make.
The color fidelity of the NanoIPS panel is outstanding.
What is most impressive, however, is the Nano IPS tech that offers a wider color gamut and stellar viewing angles. And the color fidelity of the NanoIPS panel is outstanding.
LG’s default calibration is virtually faultless, with impeccable detail in both black and white scales. Beyond the strict metrics, it’s a seriously vibrant and punchy display in terms of image quality on the Windows desktop.
This screen pops.
Hop in game and it’s just as impressive. We’ll never tire of the buttery smooth goodness that is 144Hz. But combined with the crazy-sharp detail that comes with the 4K pixel grid, well, it’s pretty special.
The LG UltraGear 27GN950-B bags you a terrific panel with exquisite IPS image quality. Despite the lesser HDR capabilities, it also nets beautiful colors and contrast for your games too. G-Sync offers stable pictures and smoothness, and the speedy refresh rate and response times back this up too.
And while the lack of HDMI 2.1 and USB Type-C are a little limiting, especially looking forward, right now it's one of the best monitors going.
Read our full LG 27GN950 review.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: GIGABYTE)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: GIGABYTE)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: GIGABYTE)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: Gigabyte)3. Gigabyte G27Q
The best FreeSync gaming monitor
Screen size: 27-inch | Panel type: IPS | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Response time: 1ms | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Weight: 20.9lbs | Refresh rate technology: FreeSync Premium
Fantastic picture qualityExcellent gaming performanceLots of useful utilitiesBland designOnly rocking DisplayPort 1.2The G27Q proves that you don't need to spend a fortune for a decent IPS 1440p display. At around $330, Gigabyte's 27-incher packs in plenty of sought-after features, but more importantly, it provides rich color and smooth gameplay.
As a flat, 27-inch display with a design that wouldn't stand out in an office environment, it looks pretty pedestrian. But it's actually one of the best gaming monitors I've had the pleasure of using. Not only does it have a gorgeous, vibrant IPS panel, with 8-bit color with 92% DCI-P3 coverage, it's also HDR capable.
As someone who loves visual fidelity, I appreciate this resolution for clarity and performance. Even the humble GTX 1660 Super in my desktop is comfortably driving games at 60FPS at high settings. If you spend all your time playing CS:GO or Valorant, then the 144Hz refresh could hold you back a bit, but that 1ms response time sure helps.
The Gigabyte G27Q handles gaming with aplomb thanks to adaptive sync via AMD FreeSync Premium. It's also G-Sync Compatible so whether you are team Green or Red, the G27Q plays nice. I didn't have an AMD GPU to test but I did use an Nvidia-powered desktop and laptop. Neither had any problems running games with G-Sync enabled.
It's a bit of a plain Jane compared to other more pricey options, but it packs plenty of useful features designed to enhance your gaming pleasure.
It's also G-Sync Compatible so whether you are team Green or Red, the G27Q plays nice.
It gets eye-searingly bright thanks to its VESA Display HDR 400 Certification, but in gaming, sunny skies and other bright spots tend to blow out and lose definition at max brightness. Dark areas also sometimes get crushed.
Movies and videos on Netflix and YouTube fair a lot better though. Sadly, my Xbox One X wouldn't recognize the G27Q as HDR-capable. But even the SDR mode on the G27Q is excellent, so I didn't miss much.
Connection-wise, you're looking at two HDMI 2.0 ports and a DisplayPort 1.2, along with a pair of USB 3.0 Type-A downstream ports and one USB 3.0 Type-B. Oh, and it also comes with a pair of 2W speakers integrated into the monitor.
The OSD on the G27Q opens you up to a ton of profiles and monitor settings. You navigate with the little joystick on the back and I love that you don't need to press the joystick to activate menu options. There's also the OSD Sidekick, a handy Windows app that gives you the same menu access but you navigate with your mouse instead of the joystick, which is neat.
Whether you use it for work or play, the G27Q excels with a sharp, vibrant, and smooth picture.
Read our full Gigabyte G27Q review.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: Dell)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: Dell)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: Dell)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: Dell)4. Dell S2722DGM
A classic, affordable mix of 27-inch frame and 1440p resolution
Screen size: 27-inch | Panel type: VA | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Response time: 1ms | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Weight: 9.4lbs | Refresh rate technology: FreeSync Premium
1440p and 165Hz is a very nice comboStrong inherent contrast from VA panelAffordable for a gaming panelNo HDR supportAdequate rather than excellent responseMuch like the mystical ways of the Force, PC gaming is all about balance. There's little point weighting your system too heavily in one direction without paying attention to the whole package. Why bother pairing your RTX 3080 Ti with a 60Hz 1080p screen? Likewise, why spend big on a 4K monitor when you're only sporting a Radeon RX 6600?
The classic 27-inch Dell S2722DGM marries that screen real estate with a 2560 x 1440 native resolution, which gives you a great pixel pitch for fine detail. At 1440p it's also a decent resolution for getting high frame rates without the GPU demands of a 4K display. It's also capable of delivering that resolution at 165Hz, which is appreciated.
At 2ms GtG response, it's just a hair behind the 1ms and 0.5ms ratings of the best IPS panels, so you're covered when it comes to speed. That said, you can find quicker panels if you really want to chase speed. This VA panel does have a high contrast ratio, at least, given the technology's inherent strong contrast.
This Dell monitor is most importantly available at a great price.
As for picture quality, the Dell S2722DGM is a reasonably punchy and vibrant monitor considering it's a pure SDR panel. The strong inherent contrast certainly helps with that, ensuring you don't feel short-changed running games like Cyberpunk 2077, which support HDR, in SDR mode.
We'd steer clear of MPRT mode, which hammers the panel's brightness and vibrancy. 'Extreme' mode, which is rated at 2ms, does suffer from a whiff of overshoot, but that's only just visible in-game, while 'Super fast' resolves the overshoot but allows just a little smearing of darker tones.
USB Type-C connectivity doesn't feature. But the dual HDMI and a single DisplayPort connections are just fine, even if the HDMI ports top out at 144Hz rather than 165Hz.
This Dell monitor is most importantly available at a great price. Dell delivers high-quality gaming panels, with all the features you need and a few extraneous ones to bump up the price. And that makes it one of the best gaming monitors for most PC gamers today.
Read our full Dell S2722DGM review.
Image 1 of 5(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 5(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 5(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 5(Image credit: Future)Image 5 of 5(Image credit: Future)5. MSI Oculux NXG253R
The best super-fast 360Hz gaming monitor
Screen size: 24.5-inch | Panel type: IPS | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 | Response time: 1ms | Refresh rate: 360Hz | Weight: 14.26lbs | Refresh rate technology: Nvidia G-Sync
Esports-tier refresh speedNeat IPS coloursSome handy bonus featuresA lot of money for 1080pBasic bezel and standStill feels like a trade-offRefresh rate, resolution, black levels, panel size: pick two. That's been the PC monitor buyer's dilemma for several years now, since we collectively realised that yes, playing at a higher refresh rate does actually make you better at Counter-Strike. MSI's latest panel, bearing the catchy moniker Oculux NXG253R, aims to at least address the most common tradeoff in modern gaming panels: refresh rate for colour quality.
Whereas the majority of high refresh rate panels are VA or TN screens with limited viewing angle and shallow colours, MSI's latest is built around an IPS panel, with all the inky blacks and rich colours that technology brings with it. Traditionally IPS has been slower to the party since it's costlier to manufacture high refresh rate panels, but evidently enough of us are sold on 120Hz and beyond.
360Hz does look and feel smoother than 120Hz.
Way beyond, in fact. This is the first 360Hz monitor I've played on, and I must admit to being sceptical about whatever marginal gains I might see in performance. 60Hz to 120Hz is transformative, but 120Hz to 360Hz? Surely one's gaming performance doesn't increase exponentially. And don't eyes only see 60 fps anyway?
It turns out that while that performance gain might not exist on a linear curve, 360Hz does look and feel smoother than 120Hz, and the decreased ghosting of any targets in your shooter of choice does make them that bit easier to connect with. If your aspirations for online competition are pretty serious, that's really all you need to know.
At enthusiast level, there's still just a sense of pure enjoyment in watching Overwatch or Quake Champions zip along. Anecdotally, I found D.Va's out-of-suit pistol combat that bit easier with frames and refresh rate way up at 300 (the game's capped there) since my targets were always where my screen told me they were. In similarly frenetic Quake Champions matches, I pulled off Ranger's tricky teleport kill with a bit more ease, too.
But something to bear in mind: you still need the GPU to get your frame rate up there in the hundreds in order to feel the benefit of that 360Hz refresh.
This being an IPS panel with typically darker blacks, it definitely looks more vivid in-game than even a good TN screen, and the colours hold up at any viewing angle. You've got a few preset brightness and color balance modes to cycle between on the OSD, arranged by genre. FPS is super-bright and saturated, racing is a bit more subdued by contrast. Out of the box, the default colour and brightness settings are easy on the eye and really sell the IPS benefit.
G-Sync itself is present here too, and although that won't be a big deal to competitive players due to the miniscule latency increase it adds to the signal chain, for the rest of us dropping this much on a 1080p monitor, it sweetens the deal. Whether or not it actually feels smoother than 300+ fps of non-v-synced gameplay is really in the eye of the beholder, but it has always been, and remains, a useful tool in one's armoury for those slower games, the Fallout 4s and Cyberpunks, who need all the help they can get to smooth it all out.
The Oculux NXG253R's mandate is sound, then, but there are still compromises made in this pricey 1080p monitor in order to optimise esports performance. The most obvious are the screen size and resolution, 24.5-inch and 1080p respectively. You could certainly argue that nobody's getting 360 fps at 4K in… well, anything outside of CS:GO or MOBAs, and quite rightly so. But spending this much on a monitor that won't even give you 1440p feels like a serious tradeoff, and that resolution dictates a smaller panel size. Nobody wants to see the individual pixels at 1080p on a 32-inch screen.
There's a real performance benefit here, and a sheer enjoyment multiplier. You just have to make peace with the idea of buying into a piece of specialist equipment, not an all-rounder.
Read our full MSI Oculux NXG253R review.
Image 1 of 6(Image credit: Dell)Image 2 of 6(Image credit: Dell)Image 3 of 6(Image credit: Dell)Image 4 of 6(Image credit: Dell)Image 5 of 6(Image credit: Dell)Image 6 of 6(Image credit: Dell)6. Dell S3222DGM
Big screen gaming without a big price tag
Screen size: 32-inch | Panel type: VA | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Response time: 1ms | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Weight: 16.4lbs | Refresh rate technology: FreeSync Premium
Awesome value for moneyDecent all-round image qualityReasonably quick and responsive"Only" 1440pNo HDR supportNot terribly punchyWe'd all love to have a thousand bucks burning a hole in our back pockets to blow on a new gaming monitor. But back in the real world, the Dell S3222DGM wants a crack at the kind of budget most of us actually have.
It's a 32-inch beast with a VA panel running at up to 165Hz and delivering 2,560 by 1,440 pixels. Yup, the tried and tested 1440p resolution, the sweet spot for real-world gaming according to many, the perfect balance between performance and visual detail. The catch is all that normally applies to 27-inch models. 32 inches? That makes for a pretty big panel for 1440p in terms of pixel density.
To put an actual number on it, you're looking at just 93 pixels per inch.
Where the low pixel density hurts most is actually in Windows. If you like crisp fonts and lots of desktop real estate, this isn’t the monitor for you. For everyone else, well, it comes down to the value proposition. There are faster monitors. There are monitors with superior IPS-powered image quality. There are monitors with all kinds of HDR support not found here. And others with far more pixels or more dramatic aspect ratios.
This is a gaming-centric monitor without any HDR support but based on VA panel technology. So, the peak brightness is 350 nits, static contrast is about as good as it gets at 3,000:1, and there's official AMD FreeSync Premium certification.
Rounding out the basics is a gentle 1800R panel curve.
Rounding out the basics is a gentle 1800R panel curve. It's a slightly odd, though not actually unique, feature for this class of display. Curvature is a more obvious and natural fit for ultrawide displays. On a conventional 16:9 panel? We still need a little convincing.
Dell quotes 8ms gray-to-gray in 'fast' mode, 4ms gray-to-gray in 'super fast', 2ms gray-to-gray in 'extreme', and finally, and somewhat confusingly, 1ms gray-to-gray in 'MPRT' mode. The 'MPRT' setting is, for us, a non-starter since it crushes brightness so comprehensively. 'Super fast' it is, then, and the result is good but not absolutely great response with no overshoot. Pretty much what you’d expect given the 4ms rating for 'super fast'.
But add in the 165Hz refresh and you have a pretty convincing monitor for response-critical online shooters. To be sure, if that is your number one priority, you’d be better off with a higher-refresh 1080p IPS monitor with faster response. If you want a larger panel like this, 4K isn’t an all-around win. It comes with a huge additional GPU load and that in turn requires mega-investment levels in a good graphics card
It's worth remembering that pricing for this class of display—a 32-inch 165Hz 1440p panel—extends all the way up to $800 in the Corsair Xeneon 32QHD165. So, while the Dell S3222DGM isn't all that exciting from a technical point of view, for the money, it's pretty convincing.
Read our full Dell S3222DGM review.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: PIXIO)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: PIXIO)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: PIXIO)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: PIXIO)7. Pixio PX277 Prime
The best budget gaming monitor
Screen size: 27-inch | Panel type: IPS | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 | Response time: 1ms | Refresh rate: 165Hz | Weight: 16.3lbs | Refresh rate technology: G-Sync Compatible, FreeSync Premium
Affordable165 Hz refresh rateBarebones feature setNot the best contrastThe Pixio PX277 Prime is about as barebones as it comes in regards to gaming monitors. Designed with a sci-fi theme in mind, the base is sharp-looking, and a lot of thought certainly went into the thing's build quality. The thin bezel is always a plus in our book, too.
Here, this 27-inch panel provides frames at a stable 165Hz refresh rate, not the speediest but certainly workable for competitive gaming. The 1ms grey-to-grey response time doesn't hurt for gaming either. As a FreeSync certified monitor, AMD users can be sure of a tear-free gaming experience.
At 1440p you get a good pixel density for the size of the monitor, and the image is pretty sharp to boot. The screen itself is advertised as anti-glare and we're seen that it holds its own in most brightly lit environments, though doesn't do so well in dim spaces.
A great entry-level option for those looking for a larger screen.
The Pixio's contrast sits at 1000:1, which isn't the greatest, we admit, but the colors can be tuned to create a punchy and accurate image with a bit of fiddling. It would have been nice to see this out of the box, however.
The biggest selling point of the PX277 Prime, though, is its low price point. A great entry-level option for those looking for a larger screen with a high refresh rate and don't want to be left totally broke.
While the build quality isn't as robust as a higher-spec screen, the Pixio panel is perfect for the budget gamer who doesn't mind missing out on some of the bells and whistles of a higher-end monitor but is keen on top performance.
Best computer speakers | Best gaming headset | Best gaming laptop | Best wireless gaming headset | Best PC controller | Best capture card
Image 1 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 5 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 6 of 7(Image credit: Future)Image 7 of 7(Image credit: Future)8. Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144
The best 32-inch 4K monitor for gaming
Screen size: 32-inch | Panel type: IPS | Aspect ratio: 16:9 | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 | Response time: 1ms MPRT | Refresh rate: 144Hz | Weight: 15.3lbs | Refresh rate technology: AMD FreeSync Premium, G-Sync compatible
Stellar 4K 144Hz visualsStrong feature setGood responseOnly 16 edge-lit dimming zonesNot the best viewing anglesA lot of cash for what is ultimately an SDR panelForget 49-inch silly-wide monitors and OLED TVs, the new Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144 is where it’s at for premium PC gaming. At least, that’s what it looks like on paper. Corsair’s new Xeneon gaming panel clocks in at 32 inches, packs a full 4K pixel grid, hums a 144Hz tune, and supports HDR via local dimming. That’s an awful lot of boxes ticked.
Peer a little closer and the 32UHD144 isn’t quite the slam dunk it initially appears, especially when it comes to HDR support. But hold that thought while we run through the finer details.
As you'd expect at this end of the market, Corsair has gone for an IPS panel. Corsair rates it at 1ms Motion Picture Response Time (MPRT), so in theory, it’s not quite as quick as the fastest IPS monitors, which claim 1ms by the more demanding Grey-to-Grey (GTG) metric. But response claims can be tricksy, so we’ll see about that.
Forget 49-inch silly-wide monitors and OLED TVs; the new Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144 is where it’s at for premium PC gaming.
As we said, the 32-inch panel rocks 3,840 by 2,160 pixels and runs at up to 144Hz. For the record, it can hit that refresh rate over all three input options—DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB Type-C running in DisplayPort Alt Mode. So, your connectivity options are amply covered. That USB interface, incidentally, supports power delivery so you can charge a laptop while driving the display. The catch is that it only supplies 15W, which isn’t even close to enough for even a moderate gaming laptop.
Getting back to that panel, it’s rated at 400nits for SDR brightness and 600nits HDR, the latter being required for the screen’s DisplayHDR 600 certification. HDR 600, of course, also demands some kind of local dimming. Unfortunately, Corsair has gone for the most basic of local dimming in the form of 16 edge-lit zones. Given this is a conventional IPS monitor with a mere 1,000:1 inherent panel contrast, that doesn’t bode well for the HDR experience.
Sticking with SDR performance, jump into your favorite game and you’ll find the pixel response is plenty fast enough. Corsair provides three levels of user-configurable overdrive in the OSD menu for accelerating pixel response, plus a dynamic setting.
In both the dynamic and the fastest conventional settings, some overshoot, and inverse ghosting is visible. But knock the overdrive back from “fastest” to “fast” and the result is really zippy response with no obvious ugliness. Add in the glorious detail of that 4K pixel grid and the 144Hz refresh and it’s one heck of a gaming experience. We like.
Read our full Corsair Xeneon 32UHD144 review.
Image 1 of 2(Image credit: ACER)Image 2 of 2(Image credit: ACER)9. Acer Predator X38
The best widescreen curved gaming monitor
Screen size: 37.5-inch | Panel type: IPS | Aspect ratio: 24:9 | Resolution: 3840 x 1600 | Response time: 1ms | Refresh rate: 144Hz (175Hz overclocked) | Weight: 21lbs | Refresh rate technology: G-Sync Ultimate
Expansive resolutionQuality, responsive IPS panel175Hz refresh ratesWeak HDRIf your mantra for displays is 'go big or go home,' Acer hears you, and its Predator X38 is a massive 38-inch curved screen that looks stunning. It features a not-quite-4K QHD ultrawide panel with a 3840x1600 resolution. With an aspect ratio of 24:9, the IPS panel looks great, and the size means you have a lot of screen real estate for gaming.
This 37.5-inch display is expansive. It simply isn’t possible to take it all in without moving your head slightly. That means immersion, of the maximum variety. The skinny little bezels are just 2mm wide and blend into invisibility in use.
It’s curved a little, with a relatively relaxed 2300R bend, and comes with a sturdy, pre-fitted big metal stand—one that tilts back a full 35 degrees, exposing its display and power ports underneath for effortless, no-fumble plugging in.
The display also features G-Sync technology with up to 175Hz variable refresh rates. That's a huge boost over lower refresh rate curved gaming monitors, and Acer has overcome the big IPS downside of typically high response times, too. This beast has a 1ms GtG response, which is truly IPS coming of age and doing it all without the compromises of old.
With its DisplayHDR 400 certification, it’s good enough to deliver what you want in HDR effects, but it’s not dazzling like the HDR 1000 screens you can now buy, like the Asus PG43UQ.
Pushing the overclock to 175Hz yielded a perfect result with no ghosting visible.
Banding was pretty much non-existent and the backlighting was even, though with a faintly noticeable glow coming from the edges in dark scenes, but nothing to be troubled about and not noticeable at all while gaming.
Pushing the overclock to 175Hz yielded a perfect result with no ghosting visible. Small details like text were rock solid, too, with no shimmering. At such a huge resolution your graphics card will obviously be taxed in many games, and for me while testing this I generally left it at 144Hz, though for several days I used it on 175Hz for everything – including boring work, and it was rock solid and crisp all the time.
It's a big, bold, and beautiful-looking display. If you're looking for something to turn heads, this is one of the best widescreen gaming monitors out there.
It's taller than the 27-inch 16:9 displays and nearly half again as wide, but the higher resolution means the dot pitch is slightly lower than, the lesser panels. And for games that properly support ultrawide resolutions, the surround effect of the XR382CQK is incredibly immersive—sitting at your desk, the 38-inch panel will fill your field of view.
Read our full Acer Predator X38 review.
Image 1 of 4(Image credit: Future)Image 2 of 4(Image credit: Future)Image 3 of 4(Image credit: Future)Image 4 of 4(Image credit: Future)10. Samsung Odyssey Neo G9
Super-super-wide PC gaming
Screen size: 49-inch | Panel type: VA | Aspect ratio: 32:9 | Resolution: 5120 x 1440 | Response time: 1ms | Refresh rate: 240Hz | Weight: 32lbs | Refresh rate technology: AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Nvidia G-Sync Compatible
Stupendous 49-inch, uber-curved VA panelOutrageous peak brightnessSuper-fast pixel response and refreshMini-LED backlight implementation is clunkyPreposterously expensive compared with big screen TVsThe best just got a whole lot better. That’s surely a foregone conclusion for the new Samsung Odyssey Neo G9. After all, the original Odyssey G9 was already Samsung’s tip-top gaming monitor. Now it’s been given the one upgrade it really needed. Yup, the Neo G9 is packing a mini-LED backlight.
Out of the box, it looks identical to the old G9. Deep inside, however, the original G9’s single most obvious shortcoming has been addressed. And then some. The Neo G9 still has a fantastic VA panel. But its new backlight is what counts here—it offers far more than just edge-lit dimming.
It packs a cutting-edge mini-LED tech with no fewer than 2,048 zones. This thing is several orders of magnitude more sophisticated than before. As if that wasn’t enough, the Neo G9’s peak brightness has doubled to a retina-wrecking 2,000 nits. What a beast.
The problem with any backlight-based rather than per-pixel local dimming technology is that compromises have to be made. Put another way, an algorithm has to decide how bright any given zone should be based on the image data. The results are never going to be perfect.
Visible halos around small, bright objects are the sort of issue you expect from full-array dimming. But the Neo G9 has its own, surprisingly crude, backlight-induced image quality issues. Admittedly, they’re most visible on the Windows desktop rather than in-game or watching video.
Graphics-heavy titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 or Witcher III are what the G9 does best.
If you position a bright white window next to an all-black window, the adjacent edge of the former visibly dims. Or let’s say you move a small, bright object over a dark background. The same thing happens. The small, bright object dims. Even uglier, if something like a bright dialogue box pops up across the divide between light and dark elements, the result is a gradient of brightness across the box.
All this applies to both SDR and HDR modes and, on the Windows desktop, it’s all rather messy and distracting. Sure, this monitor isn’t designed for serious content creation or office work. But at this price point, it’s surely a serious flaw.
Still, that 1000R curve, huge 49-inch proportions, and relatively high resolution combine to deliver an experience that few, if any, screens can match. Graphics-heavy titles such as Cyberpunk 2077 or Witcher III are what the G9 does best. In that context, the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 delivers arguably the best visual experience on the PC today.
In practice, the Neo G9’s mini-LED creates as many problems as it solves. We also can’t help but observe that, at this price point, you have so many options. The most obvious alternative, perhaps, is a large-format 120Hz OLED TV with HDMI 2.1 connectivity.
Read our full Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 review.
Best gaming monitor FAQ
Should I go for an IPS, TN or VA panel?
We would always recommend an IPS panel over TN. The clarity of image, viewing angle, and color reproduction are far superior to the cheaper technology, but you'll often find a faster TN for cheaper. The other alternative, less expensive than IPS and better than TN, is VA tech. The colors aren't quite so hot, but the contrast performance is impressive.
Should I go for a FreeSync or G-Sync monitor?
In general, FreeSync monitors will be cheaper. It used to be the case that they would only work in combination with an AMD GPU. The same went for G-Sync monitors and Nvidia GPUs. Nowadays, though, it is possible to find G-Sync compatible FreeSync monitors if you're intent on spending less.
Should I buy a HDR monitor?
With a High Dynamic Range monitor, you can take advantage of the ever-growing list of games and apps that feature HDR support. It offers more vibrant colors and greater contrast but is going to drive up the price a little. Windows' native HDR function also leaves a lot to be desired, and you may find you have to fiddle in the settings to get HDR looking like it should.
What aspect ratio should I go for?
Today's movies and games are best enjoyed in a widescreen format at a 16:9 aspect ratio or above. In 4:3, those cinematic moments will look stunted with black strips along the top and bottom. There are a host of minute variations on each ratio, but at the end of the day choosing between these depends entirely on your personal preference.
And the very far-out option, if you have a little extra cash to blow, is ultra-wide aspect ratios like 21:9 and 32:9 and their variants. These will provide a much more immersive, encompassing experience. Or literally, encompass yourself with a curved monitor, up to you.
Jargon buster - gaming monitor terminology
Refresh Rate (Hz)
The speed at which the screen refreshes. For example, 144Hz means the display refreshes 144 times a second. The higher the number, the smoother the screen will appear when you play games.V-Sync
Graphics tech synchronizes a game's framerate with your monitor's refresh rate to help prevent screen tearing by syncing your GPU frame rate to the display's maximum refresh rate. Turn V-Sync on in your games for a smoother experience, but you'll lose information, so turn it off for fast-paced shooters (and live with the tearing). Useful if you have an older model display that can't keep up with a new GPU.
G-Sync
Nvidia's frame synching tech that works with Nvidia GPUs. It basically allows the monitor to sync up with the GPU. It does by showing a new frame as soon as the GPU has one ready.FreeSync
AMD's take on frame synching uses a similar technique as G-Sync, with the biggest difference being that it uses DisplayPort's Adaptive-Sync technology which doesn't cost monitor manufacturers anything.Ghosting
When movement on your display leaves behind a trail of pixels when watching a movie or playing a game, this is often a result of a monitor having slow response times.Response Time
The amount of time it takes a pixel to transition to a new color and back. Often referenced as G2G or Grey-to-Grey. Slow response times can lead to ghosting. A suitable range for a gaming monitor is between 1-4 milliseconds.TN Panels
Twisted-nematic is the most common (and cheapest) gaming panel. TN panels tend to have poorer viewing angles and color reproduction but have higher refresh rates and response times.IPS
In-plane switching, panels offer the best contrast and color despite having weaker blacks. IPS panels tend to be more expensive and have higher response times.VA
Vertical Alignment panels provide good viewing angles and have better contrast than even IPS but are still slower than TN panels. They are often a compromise between a TN and IPS panel.HDR
High Dynamic Range. HDR provides a wider color range than normal SDR panels and offers increased brightness. The result is more vivid colors, deeper blacks, and a brighter picture.Peak Brightness
This refers to the maximum brightness of a monitor or television and is measured in nits.Ultrawide
Shorthand for monitors with aspect wider aspect ratios like 32:9 or 21:9Resolution
The number of pixels that make up a monitor's display, measured by height and width. For example: 1920 x 1080 (aka 1080p), 2560 x 1440 (2K), and 3840 x 2160 (4K). -
MultiVersus' characters are one of the best things about the game. Since it draws fighters from across totally different franchises, there's a lot of potential in terms of weird matchups, and fun character designs to play around with. Where else could you watch Arya Stark repeatedly stab Shaggy?
Since MultiVersus is free-to-play, there is a rotating selection of characters that you can try out right from the start, and Warner Bros are already adding plenty more, including Rick and Morty, as well as the upcoming additions of Black Adam and Stripe. That said, there are even more characters set to arrive in future seasons.
In this MultiVersus character list, I'll run through all of the characters that are currently available in-game, how you get them, new fighters set to arrive, and the leaked characters that have been datamined over recent months, and are likely to make an appearance before long.
Every MultiVersus character
(Image credit: Warner Bros Interactive)There are currently 18 MultiVersus characters to play as:
- Arya Stark
- Batman
- Bugs Bunny
- Finn
- Garnet
- Harley Quinn
- The Iron Giant
- Jake
- LeBron James
- Reindog
- Shaggy
- Steven Universe
- Superman
- Taz
- Tom and Jerry
- Velma
- Wonder Woman
- Morty
Aside from the free characters, you can unlock each of these with Gold, Gleamium, or by using a character ticket. You get Gold by finishing the starter missions, toasting other players, levelling your rank, or winning a daily match. Gleamium and character tickets, on the other hand, are both things you'll have to buy with your hard earned money.
Free MultiVersus characters
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)The four free MultiVersus characters you can play rotate every two weeks, letting you try out different fighters without having to unlock them. As of September 1, the current four are:
- Harley Quinn
- Bugs Bunny
- Shaggy
- Velma
You'll also unlock Wonder Woman at the start of the game by completing the main tutorial.
Upcoming MultiVersus characters
(Image credit: Warner Bros Interactive)There are currently three characters that are supposed to be arriving MultiVersus soon: Rick, Stripe, and Black Adam. Morty released at the start of season one and Rick is expected to arrive some time in September. MultiVersus also recently posted a teaser for Gizmo from Gremlins, saying "a fluffy surprise is headed your way on Tuesday". There's no telling if Stripe and Gizmo will be officially released on September 6 at the same time, or if we're just getting a look at the Mogwai. Either way, they should arrive in season one.
Leaked Multiversus characters
Since Stripe and Black Adam were both datamined characters who turned out to be planned additions for the game, it's likely that some of the other characters on the original list will arrive in MultiVersus over the next few seasons.
Here's a list of some of the characters you can likely expect:- The Joker (Batman)
- Robin (Batman)
- Poison Ivy (Batman)
- Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones)
- The Hound (Game of Thrones)
- Fred Flintstone (The Flintstones)
- Gandalf (Lord of the Rings)
- Legolas (Lord of the Rings)
- Wicked Witch of the West (The Wizard of Oz)
- Eleven (Stranger Things)
- Godzilla
- Harry Potter
- Ron Weasley (Harry Potter)
- Raven (Teen Titans)
- Static Shock
- Mad Max
- Marvin the Martian (Looney Tunes)
- Daffy Duck (Looney Tunes)
- Scorpion (Mortal Kombat)
- Sub Zero (Mortal Kombat)
- Nubia (Wonder Woman)
- Johnny Bravo
- King Kong
- Neo (The Matrix)
- Emmet (LEGO Movie)
- Samurai Jack
- Ted Lasso
- The Powerpuff Girls
- Ben10
-
Hello mayelifius,
Welcome to UnityHQ Nolfseries Community. Please feel free to browse around and get to know the others. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
mayelifius joined on the 09/02/2022.
Today's Wordle 441 answer and hint: Saturday, September 3
in Gaming News
Posted
I can offer you a hint for today's Wordle, some general tips to make the daily challenge that little bit easier, and if you'd simply like the answer to the September 3 (441) Wordle in plain text you'll find that just below.
Sometimes the biggest problem with Wordle is me. I get caught in a rut, picking a word that the answer "must" be and then fruitlessly typing out similar alternatives as a follow-up, when the real solution's something very different—and often far more obvious—than the word soup I'm descending into.
Wordle hint
Today's Wordle: A hint for Saturday, September 3
Anything from a fast-flowing trench of water to a small valley can be called today's word. '90s children may remember a movie with a fern-covered one of these too. There's a repeating consonant in here, so watch out for that.
Wordle help: 3 tips for beating Wordle every day
If there's one thing better than playing Wordle, it's playing Wordle well, which is why I'm going to share a few quick tips to help set you on the path to success:
There's no time pressure beyond making sure it's done by midnight. So there's no reason to not treat the game like a casual newspaper crossword and come back to it later if you're coming up blank.
Wordle answer
What is the Wordle 441 answer?
Sometimes you've almost got it, but there just aren't enough guesses left. The answer to the September 3 (441) Wordle is GULLY.
Previous answers
Wordle archive: Which words have been used
The more past Wordle answers you can cram into your memory banks, the better your chances of guessing today's Wordle answer without accidentally picking a solution that's already been used. Past Wordle answers can also give you some excellent ideas for fun starting words that keep your daily puzzle solving fresh.
Here are some recent Wordle solutions:
Learn more about Wordle
Every day Wordle presents you with six rows of five boxes, and it's up to you to work out which secret five-letter word is hiding inside them.
You'll want to start with a strong word like ALERT—something containing multiple vowels, common consonants, and no repeat letters. Hit Enter and the boxes will show you which letters you've got right or wrong. If a box turns
️, it means that letter isn't in the secret word at all. 
means the letter is in the word, but not in that position. 
means you've got the right letter in the right spot.
You'll want your second go to compliment the first, using another "good" word to cover any common letters you missed last time while also trying to avoid any letter you now know for a fact isn't present in today's answer.
After that it's just a case of using what you've learned to narrow your guesses down to the right word. You have six tries in total and can only use real words (so no filling the boxes with EEEEE to see if there's an E). Don't forget letters can repeat too (ex: BOOKS).
If you need any further advice feel free to check out our Wordle tips, and if you'd like to find out which words have already been used you'll find those below.
Originally, Wordle was dreamed up by software engineer Josh Wardle, as a surprise for his partner who loves word games. From there it spread to his family, and finally got released to the public. The word puzzle game has since inspired tons of games like Wordle, refocusing the daily gimmick around music or math or geography. It wasn't long before Wordle became so popular it was sold to the New York Times for seven figures. Surely it's only a matter of time before we all solely communicate in tricolor boxes.
View the full article