15. JBL Quantum 400 Wired

Just edging in on our list is the JBL Quantum 400, so named because of its signature Quantum Surround sound. This is a great pick if you’re looking for a headset under the $100 range. It’s got pretty much everything you could ask for in a gaming headset: versatile boom mic with game/chat balance, 3.5mm jack, surround sound capability, and even some RGB lighting on the side of the cups. The memory foam cushions make this more comfortable than its price point suggests, though the plastic build is prone to breaking under heavy duress.

14. Razer Kaira Pro Dual Wireless

If you want a headset that looks like an official PS5 product, the Kaira Pro Dual fits the bill with its white and blue color scheme. Razer made this $200 headset (often on sale for less) specifically for PS5 compatibility. This headset features tactile feedback through vibrations in the earcups that can be adjusted from the Razer audio app. The detachable mic and SmartSwitch between PS5 and phone are nice when you need to multitask. What keeps the Kaira Pro Dual from being higher are common complaints about party chat audio buzzing and some occasional crackles due to tactile audio being turned high.

13. HyperX Cloud II Wired

Taking the number 13 slot is another headset under the $100 range, unless you opt for the wireless variant. I’m always one to look out for durable long-lasting headsets, so this one stood out to me with its strong aluminum frame. The HyperX Cloud also has a detachable mic, one that boasts some good noise-cancelling capability. 7.1 virtual surround sound works well with the enclosed cup design. What’s keeping these back are a lack of high-end features that other headsets include on this list, but that’s also what keeps the price so reasonable for the HyperX Cloud IIs.

12. Astro A10 Gaming Headset Gen 2 Wired

By far the cheapest headset on the list, the Astro A10s manage to include all the necessary features for a good PS5 headset experience. The boom mic has clear audio and is positioned perfectly with a convenient flippable design. There’s not much else to say about this headset’s features; it’s a basic headset that gets the job done at a low price.

11. Corsair HS65 Surround Gaming Headset Wired

The Corsair HS65 headset comes out as the 2^nd best budget headsets on the list due to its Tempest 3D audio compatibility and the overall build quality. The aluminum band will last longer than other plastic-made ones, and the memory foam cups supply comfort for larger head sizes. Like Corsair’s more expensive headset offerings, the HS65s feature their SonarWorks SoundID Technology, which allows you to customize sound settings through computer software. The big complaint seems to be the inconsistent mic quality and finicky position.

10. Sony Pulse 3D Wireless

The Pulse 3D is the most PS5-friendly headset on the list aside from the Sony Inzone H9s. Sure, the 3D buzz was a bit overblown at launch, but these headsets fine-tune the PS5’s audio in a way that few others can. There’s hardly any latency to speak of, and you’ll find that first-party games sound more immersive than ever with proprietary Tempest 3D audio design around every corner. The mic is really solid, featuring noise-cancelling and plenty of built-in chat settings. The comfort and durability are notoriously spotty with these though, so find out if your head can fit the tight cup size before forking out $100 for these.

9. EPOS H6Pro Wired

To start off, the EPOS H6Pro has a superbly designed detachable boom mic with flip-to-mute functionality that can withstand rough handling. Out of all of the headsets on this list, I like the look of this one the most. EPOS’s proprietary speaker system boasts a rich bass profile and clear vocals. Oh, and in case you haven’t heard of EPOS before, they’re reputable as the Global Audio Partner to Aston Martin’s Formula 1 team. If you can, get the Green colored ones for that exclusive Aston Martin signature style. Overall, this is a durable headset with comfort to match and is well worth its price point just under $200.

8. Logitech G535 Lightspeed Wireless

The Logitech G535s are the best budget-friendly headset on the list due to its high-quality LIGHTSPEED wireless connection found in the more expensive Astro A50s. The wireless tech here allows for 33 hours of battery life and low latency on PS5. Those wanting a light headset will want to check these out since they only weigh 236 grams and use an airy sports mesh design that sits easy on the ears. The big knock against this headset is it’s not quite as durable and feature-rich as others on this list and the cord is very short while charging.

7. Drop+EPOS PC38X Wired

Coming in at number seven is one of the best wired headset on our list. The same sound drivers used in higher-priced EPOS GSP 500 and 600s are included here and they provide amazing depth and sonority. The PC38X are open-back headphones, which means EPOS was able to create superb locational accuracy and position-specific stereo imaging. The flippable boom mic is also worth mentioning as its one of the rare times a mic hasn’t gotten many complaints (that I’ve seen anyway). This is a phenomenal headset, but there are others on the list that boast more customization and console-specific features.

6. Sony Inzone H9 Wireless

The new Inzone H9 headset is absolutely bursting with features. The H9s utilizes PS5 Tempest 3D audio to its full brilliance with omnidirectional spatial audio capable of differentiating a hierarchy of game sounds. The proprietary Dual Sensor Noise Canceling Technology features an ambient sound mode that equalizes the soundstage depending on context. This is also Sony’s longest-lasting headset battery yet with a 32-hour battery charge. Yes, the price point is very high for the Inzone H9s and the durability is yet to be proven considering its recency, but this is an optimal headset tailormade for the PS5.

5. Astro Gaming A50 Wireless

best-of-class low latency wireless technology and the broadcast-quality mic help make the Astro A-50’s $300 price point a little easier to swallow. The high-res Dolby surround sound has an especially wide soundstage for a closed-back headset, allowing for better dynamic range than most. If you don’t like the default audio levels, it comes with command station software allowing for custom EQ parameters. The absurdly high price point is one of the only knocks against this headset.

4. Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless

The Razer BlackShark V2 Pro doesn’t constantly get named headset of the year for nothing. The reasonable sub-$200 price belies its feature-rich offerings and superb quality. Ask anyone who has used this headset and they’ll tell you it’s got some of the best noise cancelling abilities bar none. The cardioid mic is also wonderful, providing 360 movement and an ultra-focused pickup due to the foam. The audio drivers are coated with graded titanium, allowing for strong low/mid/high audio clarity. This headset would be higher if not for some reports about poor durability after the warranty period ends.

3. Beyerdynamic MMX 200 Wireless Gaming Headset

The audio masters from Germany also make some of the most impressive gaming headsets out there. Sound clarity doesn’t get much better than this, and even though this is closed-back, the soundstage is tremendous. I use Beyerdynamic headphones for just about every application myself, and the things have lasted almost a decade so far with hardly any wear on the cups. These MMX 300s use the same durable aluminum construction as their other products and are likely to outlast every headset on this list. This is also my pick for the most comfortable headset; the lightweight and premium cup pads give the illusion that you’re not even wearing anything. However, there’s an asterisk, the cable is long and cumbersome; if you rough it up, it isn’t replaceable.

2. SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7P Wireless

The top two headsets both come from the SteelSeries line, and for good reason. These Nova 7Ps are the more affordable of the group, but still maintain much of the benefits of the Nova Pro. The 360-degree spatial audio is top notch and the PS5 compatability with Tempest 3D is excellent. You can customize EQ sound settings through the Sonar software allowing for game-specific 10-band parametric sound adjustments. The battery life is longer than other headsets, averaging around 38 hours before needing a charge.

1. SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

The Arctis Nova Pro delivers everything you could want in a PS5 gaming headset. This premium headset includes all the 360 spacial audio finesse of the Nova 7P and more on top. You can hot-swap between batteries so you’re never left waiting for a charge, and the dual audio connection is great if you want to multitask simultaneously. Instead of the AirWeave foam the Nova 7P uses, the Nova Pro utilizes a new VeganLeather memory foam material that combines comfort and durability. You think such a feature-rich headset would be heavy, but this is actually lighter than the Nova 7P at only 294 grams. The combination of all these features plus the customizable audio and 360-degree Tempest 3D audio make this the most attractive PS5 headset available today.

Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor

Marketed as ‘the world’s first 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor’, This Alienware powerhouse outperforms the competition in a number of ways. Alienware’s Quantum Dot technology aims to eliminate the halo effect surrounding lights and accompanies the monitor’s Dolby Vision HDR well to deepen the range of colors and clarity. And if you need something that’ll help with eye strain, this features built-in low-blue light technology. You can only get the exclusive 4K edition in the 32-inch package, but it’s worth it if you want that extra punch in visual dynamics.

SAMSUNG 49-Inch Odyssey G9 Series

Here’s our ultrawide monitor pick: the Samsung Odyssey G9. This thing manages to wrap around a full desk with a 1000R curve and still allow for complete peripheral vision. Besides the usual HDR visual flair, this monitor supplies one of the most impressive refresh rates in the business at a rapid 240Hz and 1ms response time. This thing can also be used in place of a multi-monitor setup with its built-in picture-by-picture mode allowing divided screens from two separate sources all displayed on the same monitor.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Headset

The Arctis Nova Pro is a true all-in-one headset. The multi-system connect feature allows for you to listen to different devices simultaneously through Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless. The audio itself features some of the best 360-degree spatial audio in the industry and even allows you to customize the sound yourself. This headset is intended to be used alongside SteelSeries’ Sonar equalizer software, which detects specific game sounds like footsteps and allows for custom tweaking of each parameter. The ClearCast Gen2 mic is regarded as a good mic, but the AI noise canceling needs some improvement.

Razer Viper V3 Pro Mouse

The ‘Pro’ in the name isn’t just for show; pro esports players tested and helped develop this mouse for ultimate precision. The optical sensor in this thing is quoted at providing 99.8% accuracy, with the option to adjust levels yourself in the software. The granular adjustments possible with this mouse allow for a very personalized experience, even if the base settings are lightning-fast already.

SteelSeries QcK Prism RGB Cloth Gaming Mouse Pad

SteelSeries has long been the industry standard for precision mouse pads and the QcK Prism is the creme of the crop. Gamers come to this pad for the patented QcK micro woven cloth because of its track record providing uninterrupted mouse swips. I particularly like the XL version with RGB lighting since it illuminates under and around your keyboard and not just the mouse.

Herman Miller x Logitech Embody

First off, the back position of this chair looks like it was grafted from Isaac Clarke’s suit from Dead Space, so that’s awesome. This is a cool chair, and a very high-end one at that. The sprockets on the back of the chair allow any position you take to form into a doctor-recommended lumbar position for spine support. It’s like memory foam but for gaming chairs. The tremendous H-flexor structure accounts for the lack of a headrest with its upright support. The seat cushion uses a patented cooling foam technology that keeps the cloth from getting too hot as well, allowing for unsightly hours of gameplay without too much discomfort.

Eureka Ergonomic 72″ Wing-Shaped Gaming Desk

The winged design of this Eureka desk allows for a complete PC setup with all the bells and whistles already included. The cupholder, headphone rests, phone holders, and RGB convertible shelving is icing on an already substantial cake. Don’t like how it’s arranged in promotional material? The layout is customizable to accommodate a variety of setups. This desk is going to fit any computing setup you can imagine, capable of holding 300 pounds with a 72-inch width that can sit the largest monitors out there.

Homall Gaming Desk

If you want a more compact, cheaper solution that’s no less stylish, here’s the 44-inch $69.99 Homall Gaming Desk. If you’re sick of fake wood breaking with other desks, you might prefer Homall’s metal frame construction. This gaming desk includes a small cupholder and headphone clip along with a full-sized mousepad free of charge.

DualShock 4 with Back Button Attachment

PlayStation’s DualShock 4 has long been held as the best controller for PC use due to its durable design and precise buttons. This beats out the recent DualSense because of its ease of compatibility and lighter weight. We recommend you get the back button accessory with it because of the 16 different functions that can be programmed to the two added back buttons.

8bitdo Pro 2 Retro Controller

8bitdo makes the highest quality PC-compatible retro controllers and the Pro 2 is the most versatile of their lineup. Just read the Amazon reviews and you’ll be assuaged that you’re not getting some cheaply made product. The Pro 2 variant adds handles to the base controller, making this a kind of ode to the original PS1, as opposed to the Pro 1’s Super Nintendo paddle design. The 8bitdo is a perfect controller for classic RPGs, platformers, and other games with simple control schemes.

NZXT QUE 2 RGB Lighting Kit

Tired of shopping for a variety of accessories for your lighting setup only to find out they’re incapable with each other? This all-in-one lighting kit illuminates the back of your PC monitor with custom colors and a range of light intensity that you can adjust. Ambient mode cycles between colors, but you can also set it so each strip displays a static color of your choice.

Asus ROG Azoth Gaming Keyboard

This keyboard may look small and unassuming at first glance, but don’t let its appearance fool you, there’s some fun features here. First, I have to point out the OLED display in the upper right. You can set it to monitor various PC settings, from framerate to song info. What gets me is this display can even play custom animations. This keyboard features RGB lighting, swappable keys for lighter action, and tuned mechanical switches for fast keystrokes and durability.

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gaming Keyboard

This keyboard differentiates itself from the Asus with its esports-minded tenkeyless design. SteelSeries uses a state-of-the-art hypermagnetic switch to allow a whopping 40 levels of sensitivity that you can adjust. Keys can be programmed to contain two functions in one, and the RGB lighting doesn’t hurt either. This is your pick if you want ludicrous levels of precision in your keystrokes.

Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel

Just about every racing game fan knows about this wheel, and for good reason. It’s got the best force feedback in its price point and has everything you could want from a sim driving experience. The magnetic gear shift paddles feel so satisfying to shift through with their mechanical weight and sound. The feel and rotation of the wheel itself is durable and responsive, with tensioned resistance just like a real vehicle wheel. The Logitech G Pro comes with an ultra-sturdy mount to attach to your gaming desk, but the pedals come sold separately. Or you can save some money and just accelerate and stop using the wheel’s face buttons, I dunno it’s up to you how sim you want to go, but this wheel is a great first step.

Razer Kitsune All-Button Arcade Controller

To differentiate from last year’s list, I’ve replaced an arcade stick with an arcade leverless controller. Leverless controllers allow for faster input speeds and negates the travel time of traditional arcade sticks. Razer has made a rock-solid arcade controller here that is even tournament-friendly thanks to its negation of left-right simultaneous inputs. This is generally considered the best leverless arcade controller thanks to its precise optical switch design, outperforming mechanical switch and button competitors by a tangible margin.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

PSVR2

Sony has now officially unveiled and named PSVR2, boasting impressive techs and design improvements, along with new controllers that should enhance VR gameplay even further. An official release date hasn’t yet been confirmed, and we don’t yet know what the headset itself is going to look like either, but with leaks claiming that PSVR2 will enter production soon ahead of a Holiday 2022 launch, there’s a chance that we don’t have to wait too long for this one.

It’s been rumored and speculated for a while now, but it’s finally official- popular peripheral manufacturer Razer has purchased troubled Android based microconsole Ouya. The company has acquired Ouya’s software assets, including the company’s games and online retail platform, in addition to the technical team and developer relations.

While Razer has no interest in the current Ouya hardware, it confirmed that it will publish and distribute Android content under the Ouya name.

And what of the present Ouya owners?

“In the near future, Razer will be providing existing Ouya users with a clear path of migration to the more advanced Forge TV micro-console and Serval controller bundle. Razer’s intention is to allow Ouya users to bring their games, controllers, and accounts to the Cortex TV platform on the Forge microconsole, advancing the experience of Android gaming on TV that they have previously enjoyed. Additionally, Razer is planning deep product discounts for incoming Ouya users to purchase Razer hardware, and a spate of freebies, giveaways, and promotions to enjoy on their new Forge consoles.

“Moving forward, Razer plans significant development of the Forge TV micro-console, controllers and software solutions to enhance the home entertainment experience. The company also intends to bring myriad additional games to the Android platform it purchased, through increased investment in developer and publisher programs, and with complementary technology partner initiatives.”

I guess given how messy the situation was, this was really the best case scenario.

Once upon a time, Ouya was a promise- a promise of a new, open source console featuring a haven for smaller and mid tier games, a paradise for homebrewers, a new kind of hacker culture for gamers, the kind that the Xbox Live Arcade had hinted at, but never quite realized.

That never happened- the console, when it launched, was a dismal flop, becoming the poster child for the failure of Android based microconsoles at large. However, according to a new report from GamesBeat, it now appears that there may still be some out there who value Ouya- supposedly, PC gaming giant Razer (best known for their gaming optimized keyboards and mice) is in advanced talks to buy the struggling console startup for the price of $10 million.

The rumor is a bit confusing, since Razer has announced its own Android based microconsole, Forge. What Razer is planning to do with Ouya in this case is unknown- maybe IP and patent rights?

Regardless, we will keep you posted. Stay tuned.

Gaming laptops have always occupied an uncomfortable space- who exactly do they aim at? They are too expensive and bulky for the casual customer, and, because of their closed up nature as well as weaker mobile chipsets, not appealing to the hardcore, build your own rig PC gamer either.

That has never stopped anyone from trying, however, and now Razer has announced the Blade Laptop- billed to be the world’s thinnest and lightest, the laptop features a staggering 16GB of RAM, as well as the Nvidia GTX 970M card, with 3GB of VRAM. The screen is 14″, and all of this will set you back by a pretty penny too, as it costs $2,200.

Razer also tried to get in a word for the laptop’s general purpose utility- apparently it’s faster hard drive and memory speeds makes it better and faster at handling all tasks in general, and boot up times are affected especially positively.

“We continue to listen as gamer needs evolve and the new Razer Blade again sets the industry standard by which gaming laptops are measured,” Razer co-founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan said in a statement.

I mean, I think it’s a very nice piece of hardware, and I’d get it, but $2,200 is a lot. How about you guys?

Everybody and their mother is jumping aboard the VR hype train these days, with the Facebook backed Oculus Rift, the Sony backed Morpheus, the Glyph, and now, it seems like well known PC gaming peripheral maker, Razer, is releasing its own VR initiative. It will be called Open Source VR, with the flagship product being the OSVR Hacker Dev Kit, which will cost $200.

However, the VR space is not the only crowded segment that Razer is planning on getting into, as it also announced a brand new Android powered microconsole, the Razer Forge TV, which will cost $100, and be coming soon. No seriously, when will these companies get the hint?

In better news, Razer is also working on bringing PC controls to the living room, with the Razer Turret package, selling for $130, trying to bring ergonomical keyboard and mouse usage to your couch.

Hopefully it all works out for Razer.

Razer Experience Trailer from NinjaTheory on Vimeo.

Ninja Theory just announced their new project at Gamescom last week during Sony’s conference- an upcoming new action game, called Hellblade, which is totally not a spiritual successor to their first project Heavenly Blade, you guys, even though it looks pretty much exactly like it.

But that was not the only game that the indie studio with a penchant for interesting takes on action games had been working on all along. They just released a few new videos, which show off what is meant to be a trailer for another game that they were developing- Razer- and they offer a glimpse at what might have been a pretty interesting title if they had gone through with it.

“We always create trailers like this for our games and they are never intended to be shown to the public. They serve to get a feel for the gameplay, story and the way you might play it. They are always entirely produced in-house and this one features our own staff as actors. The trailer was created in Unreal Engine 4 and After Effects,” Ninja Theory said.

“Because you will fight in countless missions, we needed to create a way to procedurally generate landscapes. We developed a procedural tech within UE4 and created this art style test,” they said, specifically referring to the second trailer above.

Check out the videos for yourself, and tell us what you think. Is this a game that you would have wanted to play?

The “BMX Spine Battle” takes place on Aug. 16 to Aug. 19 and takes place on mini spine-ramp within the exhibition hall. The 12 best riders 1,000 Euros, and maybe the extra “in your face” to the losers. Remaining riders, audience members and the jury will assign scores with BMX meister Zack “Catfish” Yankush hosting the event.

For the more vertically challenged attendees, there are still plenty of things to do. Razer is organising featured matches and prizes for the winners. Show acts between the battles have also been promised to further the Razer atmosphere. This means insanity and irreverent fun, if the above wasn’t enough of an indicator (come on, BMX. Isn’t that enough to say so?).

Check it out, if only to witness how extreme mouses and bike riding could possibly coexist.

Razer has been releasing top of the line gaming peripherals that are no doubt great products and really answer the call of what gamers really want.  This is on top of them releasing some pretty unique designs that are like nothing else.  They intend to do the same with an Arcade Stick for the Xbox 360 but this time, they will being using the help of the community to help decide what will make the ‘Ultimate Arcade Stick’.  The news comes from TGS, and Razer is launching a major closed beta program to get feedback from the community on the design of a highly-customizable/programmable arcade stick, only for the Xbox 360.  Want in on the Beta?  Head over here or check out the full press release below for more info regarding the project.

Tokyo Game Show, Japan – September 15^th, 2011 – Razer™, the world leader in high performance gaming hardware, just announced a program to co-develop the ultimate arcade stick for the Xbox 360® together with the arcade stick community.  The arcade stick, developed with pro-gamer feedback, is currently at the prototype stage.  For the finishing touches, up to 200+ specially selected top-seed Street Fighter™ IV pro-gamers, influential modders, and members of the arcade enthusiast community will each be given a Razer arcade stick to test and provide feedback to further improve it to perfection, whereupon the final design will then proceed to production.

 

Since the company’s beginnings in ’98, Razer has continually taken pro-gamer feedback and validation during the product development phase to ensure that the design for every gaming product shipped is the absolute best for the competitive edge in tournament-grade play.  But in an unprecedented move in the gaming hardware space, Razer is now reaching out to the entire arcade stick community to help make this yet-to-be-named product the best arcade stick in the world.  Their feedback will be a huge influencing factor in the design of the final product.

“Razer is for gamers, by gamers.  We’ve been taking feedback from our professional players on products for years and now we want to open it up to the community. That’s why we want every arcade enthusiast and modder’s input in the development of this special arcade stick,” said Robert “RazerGuy” Krakoff, President, Razer USA.  “In this way, it’s not just our arcade stick; it’s the community’s arcade stick. Together, we will create a weapon that delivers the best fighting performance for every gamer and allows modding to the individual’s exact specifications. We’re not just asking people for input on the paint job, we’re after serious hardware feedback.”

Members of the arcade community worldwide interested in participating in this beta program are encouraged to contribute ideas at www.razerzone.com/bredtofight, along with a short description as to why they should be selected for prototype testing.  Registrants can also nominate other people to the program.  Up to 200+ successful applicants worldwide will receive an arcade stick prototype delivered directly to their homes.

Razer will be launching this non-retail arcade stick closed beta community program at Tokyo Game Show, the heart of the professional console fighting scene.  Select pro-gamers and key modders will also be approached very soon to begin beta testing the prototype.

For more information on the arcade stick or the community program and how to get involved, please visit www.razerzone.com/bredtofight

About the Razer Group:

Razer™ is the world leader in high performance gaming hardware. Founded in 1998, with its headquarters in Carlsbad, California, the company has offices in nine cities around the globe.  Used by the most demanding professional gamers who compete in global tournaments, Razer provides gamers with the unfair advantage of cutting-edge technology and award-winning design. We live by our motto: For Gamers. By Gamers.™