PC Gaming

It’s that time again — Intel just refreshed its NUC lineup of mini PCs with 11th Generation processors. Simply NUC already has two units available for pre-order, including models that have the 11700B and 11900KB processors with up to eight cores and 16 threads. What’s new this generation? Well, support for full-length dual-slot graphics cards, for one. Of course, there are the other notable improvements like Thunderbolt 4, PCIe 4.0, and others. So, let’s take a closer look at the Intel Beast Canyon NUC lineup of mini computers.

Today EA held its Play Live event that showcased some of its largest titles, including Apex Legends, Dead Space, and Battlefield 2042. From huge sandboxes where you can essentially create your own game to the reboot of a long-forgotten franchise, as well as additional information on the upcoming Legend entering the Apex Games, we have everything for you down below to read.

In today’s latest Xbox Wire post, we take a look at upcoming releases on Game Pass. While we’re still a week or so out from things like Flight Simulator 2020 launching on Xbox Game Pass, there are some titles available today as well. Whether you want to dive into Battlefield V through Xbox Cloud Gaming or take to the skies in Flight Simulator 2020, there are 12 total titles coming to Game Pass over the next week.

Apex Legends is currently in its Legacy season that introduced a few new things and brought back some old. We got Arenas as well as the return of the original World’s Edge and Kings Canyon. Now that we’re nearing the end of the season, it’s time to look at what’s next. For Season 10, dubbed Emergence, we’re getting a new Legend, World’s Edge map update, a new weapon, and Ranked Arenas. What all is coming in Apex Legends Season 10 Emergence on August 3? Let’s take a closer look.

Alongside announcing its Facecam yesterday, Elgato also released the Wave XLR and updated Stream Decks to bolster its live streaming lineup. The Wave:1 and Wave:3 microphones set themselves apart from other USB microphones by offering extremely customizable software, and Elgato has now brought that same feature set to XLR mics for those who want higher-quality audio. The Stream Deck update isn’t quite as big, though you’ll find removable USB-C cables and a redesigned face there as well. So without further ado, let’s take a closer look at Elgato’s latest products.

Today, Valve, the team behind Steam, announced the long-awaited portable gaming “powerhouse,” the Steam Deck. Sporting a 4-core 8-thread AMD Zen 2 processor and an 8-core RDNA 2 GPU, there’s plenty of power to play your favorite games on the go. There’s quite a lot to unpack here, including the fact that all models ship with the same performance spec with prices starting as low as $399. Pre-orders open tomorrow and it’s slated to start shipping by the end of the year. Let’s take a closer look.

Razer just announced that its lineup of Blade 17 and Blade 15 Base laptops will be receiving the 11th Generation Intel upgrade. With this, you’ll find the “most powerful” processor ever offered in a Razer laptop boasting eight cores and 16 threads. You’ll find up to the i9-11900H processor and NVIDIA’s RTX 3080 graphics card here, which deliver plenty of power to handle anything you throw at it. What else has changed? Let’s take a closer look.

PC gaming seems to be all the rage these days. But, there’s this…stigma…around buying a pre-built PC. As you’ll see in our upcoming review, pre-built desktops can actually be pretty great, especially in this market. But, if you’re determined to get a custom-built PC and don’t know where to start or how to assemble one, Newegg has you covered. The company recently launched a professional build service that’s just $99 on top of parts, and honestly, it’s probably the best way to get your hands on next-generation GPUs right now. Keep reading to find out more and see why you’re able to get RTX 30-series and RX 6000-series graphics cards through Newegg’s new PC building service.

When it comes to UHD displays, Sceptre offers some of the most affordable on the market. This rings true for an all-new Sceptre 4K monitor that has recently surfaced at Amazon. It’s priced at just under $280 and boasts an up to 70Hz refresh rate. This beats out many of its UHD competitors with similar pricing, which have a tendency to top out at 60Hz when used in 4K. Other notable features include integrated speakers, four inputs, Blue Light Shift, and a VESA mount-ready design. Continue reading to learn more.

Working from home has caused many of us to become very creative in the realm of productivity. Since clear audio and video is something everyone can appreciate, the last year has caused many folks to upgrade their webcam, microphone, and more. For anyone that has yet to do this, an upcoming 4K document camera from IPEVO could be the perfect way to address several issues. In addition to scanning documents, IPEVO V4K Pro also functions as a dedicated webcam with an onboard microphone. It is upheld by an adjustable aluminum arm, ensuring you can find a great viewing angle for meetings, document captures, and more.

Today, Logitech is expanding its collection of gaming accessories with an upcoming wired headset that comes in a bright new color. Entering as a more affordable yet capable offering in the Color Collection, the new Logitech G335 Gaming Headset debuts with a wired design, lightweight form factor, and comes in a mint colorway for the first time. Head below for all of the details.

Over the weekend, Microsoft and Bethesda announced a slew of new games, updates, and more for its Xbox consoles. Well, buried in a blog post recapping the event, Microsoft detailed plans to release the Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) app on Xbox One, enabling “millions of players” to enjoy next-gen games like Flight Simulator without having to buy a new console. What all does this mean for Xbox One owners and how can you take advantage? Let’s take a closer look.

The world of gaming monitors is packed with what can feel like a never-ending list of options. Commonly used resolutions range from 1080p to 4K, but many agree that 2K (or QHD) is the sweet spot as processing too many pixels often leads to sluggish performance. This is precisely where the latest Monoprice Zero-G monitor lands while also wielding a 144Hz refresh rate, 1500R curvature, HDR support, and Adaptive Sync. Pricing for this unit is quite competitive, undercutting other displays with similar specifications by around $40 or so. Continue reading to learn more.

During Microsoft’s E3 event this past Sunday, we got our first look at Flight Simulator 2020 on Xbox Series X/S. Honestly, I was blown away by how good the game looks on console and can’t wait to get my hands on it. I recently tried out Flight Sim 2020 on PC and found that it’s a fantastic game that’s quite fun, though playing with a keyboard is a bit cumbersome. Heck, playing with a controller won’t be the easiest thing. That’s why Turtle Beach prepared its VelocityOne Flight system that’s designed specifically to be used with Xbox Series X/S and Windows 10 PCs for flying around in Flight Simulator 2020. What all does the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight System do? Let’s take a closer look.

As we close out E3 2021 this week, we’ve already seen quite a few announcements from several of the larger brands, including Square Enix’s launch with Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers, and much more, as well as the Xbox and Bethesda show, which showcased Elder Scrolls 6, Starfield, Halo Infinite, and even Forza Horizon 5. That’s far from all though, as yesterday the Gearbox show detailed Borderlands and more, as well as Ubisoft Forward with information on Rainbow Six Extraction, Far Cry 6, and Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope. Just yesterday, we also got a glimpse at the PC Gaming Show and the Capcom event earlier today. Now, it’s Razer’s turn to take centerstage. What all did Razer’s E3 2021 showcase include? For one, there’s now an AMD-powered Razer Blade 14, but let’s take a closer look at everything announced.

We first looked at the wired version of the Model D back in March of last year and then the wireless Model O in February of this year. Well, it’s time to take a look at the Model D Wireless, a newcomer to the scene. With 71 hours of battery life and a price of just $80, it’s easy to say this could be the mouse that changes you, just like the Model O changed Jordan earlier this year. What all does the Glorious Model D Wireless bring to the table? Let’s take a closer look.

Razer is kicking off the summer season with a new battlestation upgrade fit for a captain, the Iskur X Ergonomic Gaming Chair. Whether you’re an established eSports pro, up-and-coming Twitch streamer, or just have a love for the sport, this chair was made for you. The Iskur X is crafted from steel and plush, velvety smooth synthetic leather. And it’s ergonomically designed to keep you in command through hours of intense play. We’ll be going over all the details below, so hit the jump to see if this one-of-a-kind throne can lead you to victory down below.

NZXT, a leader in the gaming PC scene, just announced its latest motherboard: the N7 Z590. With support for Intel’s latest 10th and 11th Generation Core processors, there’s quite a bit to like about this motherboard. Namely, you’ll find next-generation features like WI-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.1, and much more here. So, should you use the NZXT N7 Z590 motherboard in your next build? I think so. Keep reading to find out why.

Today at Computex, NVIDIA announced its latest graphics cards, the RTX 3080 Ti and 3070 Ti. Dubbing the RTX 3080 Ti the new “gaming flagship” of its 30 series lineup, you’ll find that it’s 1.5x faster than the RTX 2080 Ti at 4K gameplay, and the 3070 Ti “supercharges” the company’s most popular 30 series card, as it’s 1.5x faster than the RTX 2070 super. What do these numbers mean, and how easy will it be able to pick up these cards? Well, let’s take a look at the founders editions, as well as third-party board partner cards below.

After releasing the SN750 and SN850 NVMe SSDs in 2019 and 2020, respectively, WD_BLACK is back with the SN750 SE. This solid-state drive is designed for those on tighter budgets who still want the best performance their computer can muster. So the company made the SN750 SE. This drive is designed using PCIe Gen 4 technology and features up to 3.6GB/s transfer speeds. Remember how we mentioned that these were budget-focused? Well, pricing starts as low as $55, making it an easy buy for any system. So, let’s take a closer look at the SN750 SE as well as the other products that WD_BLACK is launching today.

While ROCCAT may not be as well-known as Logitech G or Blue Microphones, the company has been cranking out reputable computer accessories since it was founded in 2006. The latest offering to join the company’s portfolio is ROCCAT Torch. It’s touted as being a studio-grade microphone with 24-bit audio that’s paired with cardioid, stereo, and whisper pick-up patterns. Users will also benefit from contactless mute, which is activated by lightly waving your hand over the top of this microphone. RGB lighting and boom arm compatibility are a couple of other notable features. Continue reading to learn more.

Destiny 2 just entered its latest season, which included a little cross-play bug that allowed players on various platforms to join each other’s Fireteams before the official launch in Season 15. Well, that bug was quickly squashed, and we were back to being locked into our own platform for multiplayer. That all changes on May 25, as Bungie aims to launch an official cross-play beta that day to test out the servers in a more prepared capacity. Also, we’ll be entering the Vault of Glass tomorrow, along with other updates in the latest Bungie Destiny 2 blog.

While we got a glimpse as to what’s to come this summer for The Sims 4, June 1 will be the start of upcoming content for the game. It’s starting with the The Sims 4 Dream Home Decorator Game Pack, which will allow you to become the interior decorator that you’ve always wanted to be. The latest Sims 4 blog was translated from Simlish and is written by Patina Wainscot, an interior designer inside of the Sims 4 game, so let’s take a look at what she has to say.

NVIDIA’s DLSS, or Deep Learning Super Sampling, is available on RTX graphics cards. It’s an AI rendering technology that allows the dedicated Tensor Core AI processors in NVIDIA’s latest graphics cards to boost frame rates while still delivering “beautiful, sharp images” for your games. Well, until now, DLSS has only been available for those who were playing standard games, and not inside of VR, which can arguably be more demanding. That’s officially changed, and NVIDIA gave us a hands-on impression with just what enabling DLSS in VR can do by playing No Man’s Sky. The results? A substantial performance increase across the board, including with the RTX 2060.

Elite Dangerous: Odyssey is the latest step in Frontier’s long-term vision for the game. We first wrote about it in June of last year, as the expansion that would let players take their first steps off a ship in the game’s history. Well, that update is finally here, and we now have our first trailer to showcase just what Elite Dangerous: Odyssey will consist of.

Framework is launching its first modular laptop with an unusual method to encourage sustainability. You can get a hold of a couple version of the laptop at varying price levels, but the most affordable one comes without memory, storage, Wi-Fi, or even an OS. This DIY laptop comes unassembled so that you can customize it to your satisfaction. Laymen-friendly tutorials can be found on the frame.work website, as well as those for basic repairs and upgrades. Hoping to spark a trend in the tech industry, you can find out how to cop your own build-a-laptop set and more down below.

HTC took the world by storm when it launched the original HTC Vive back in 2016 and has come a long way since. We’ve covered the Vive Cosmos, Vive Pro, and more from the company in the past, but it’s time to step it up to the big leagues now once again with the Vive Pro 2. This VR headset aims to deliver “next-level graphics and sound” for a “riveting PC VR” experience. Each eye now has a 2.5K display in front of it for a combined 5K viewing experience, and the field of view has also been increased to 120 degrees. This all combines to create an awe-inspiring experience, so without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the HTC Vive Pro 2.

Destiny 2 Season 14, Season of the Splicer, launched today. With it comes quite a bit of new content, but there’s one thing that’s working for some that we’ve been waiting for: cross-play. Now, it’s not in full swing, and it doesn’t work in every scenario, but multiple people have reported being able to cross-play with PC and Xbox in Season of the Splicer. This feature wasn’t set to roll out until Season 15, which launches this fall, but it’s awesome to see it already working. So, let’s take a closer look as to why cross-play is seemingly working, as well as the other changes that Destiny 2: Season of the Splicer brings to the table.

Razer is lifting the veil on its latest and arguably most popular portable gaming machine: the all-new Razer Blade 15 Advanced. Offering improved performance and decked out touchscreen capabilities, the Blade 15 Advanced also touts itself as the thinnest 15-inch RTX gaming laptop available. And lest we forget the unprecedented 360Hz 1080p display, or 4K60 quality for those who favor a lifelike picture quality. We’ll be going in-depth on all this and more, so hit the jump to find out how you can cop this zenith of gaming machinery.

RAM is a crucial aspect of any desktop, and with more and more cases featuring transparent side panels, how your memory looks is becoming just as important. Because of this, PNY’s latest XLR8 lineup of EPIC-X RGB RAM features a beautiful design as well as high-end specs, like a 4000MHz clock speed.

Today, MSI is releasing a number of gaming laptops that have some killer features. You’ll find the latest 11th generation Intel processors here alongside RTX 30-series graphics cards, Thunderbolt 4, Wi-Fi 6E, 2.5GbE, and much more in MSI’s new computers. With a wide range of options available in all budgets, let’s take a look at the latest that MSI has to offer with 11th gen Intel processors and RTX 30-series graphics cards.

We first heard about Mass Effect: Legendary Edition back in February. With fresh information being released over the past few months, the game is set to launch on console and PC this Friday. Featuring brand-new 4K visuals, enhanced performance, and HDR, there’s quite a bit to explore in Mass Effect: Legendary Edition. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the game and where you can pre-order it.

Turtle Beach just announced its latest headset, the Recon 500. While it’s an addition to the popular Recon lineup of headsets, there’s something that this specific model brings to the table that no other pair before it did: 60mm Eclipse Dual Drivers. These are a “first-of-their-kind” patented tech that offers “separate high and low frequencies” for “ultra-detailed gaming audio across a massive soundstage.” This is far from the only improvement being made here, so keep reading to find out more.

GIGABYTE, a leader in PC gaming hardware, just announced its first prebuilt desktop rigs. These new flagship computers offer the latest and highest-end parts from Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA built exclusively with GIGABYTE components. But that’s not the only thing that makes these computers stand out, as GIGABYTE has a unique function they’re doing with the latest AORUS desktops. So let’s dive in and take a look at what makes the new GIGABYTE AORUS gaming desktops unique.

Hardspace: Shipbreaker is in Early Access on Steam, allowing you to “experience daily life as a shipbreaker.” You’ll join the ranks of the Lynx corporation and “live the dream right away.” Though there were some aspects of a campaign at launch, the game will be getting updated tomorrow, May 6, with the first act of a fully voiced campaign. So, what will that include? Let’s take a closer look.

SteelSeries, a company known for its computer peripherals, is getting into the software game. Today, the company announced SteelSeries Moments, an all-new free software that runs in the background on your computer to make sharing game clips “easier and faster than ever before.” This software allows you to clip, edit, and share within one program, making it easier to capture crazy moments while playing online with friends.

ROCCAT is introducing two new keyboards aimed at gamers today with the membrane-based Magma and mechanical Pyro. Featuring fully illuminated AIMO RGB lighting, and pricing as low as $60, you’re bound to find an enjoyable experience offered here. Both models feature detachable palm rests, convenient media controls, and the ROCCAT Easy-Shift+ technology to allow you to easily assign a secondary function to frequently used keys. So, without further ado, let’s take a closer look at the ROCCAT Magma and Pyro RGB gaming keyboards.

We’ve been talking about Apex Legends Legacy for the past few weeks now, taking deeper dives into the Arenas mode and overviews of all the changes coming with the update. Today, the patch notes dropped for the incoming expansion starting on May 4, so let’s take a look at the changes we can expect to see in Apex Legends Legacy.

ASUS, who launched its first 4K144 HDMI 2.1 monitors in January, is now introducing an all-new contender to the high-end display race: the ROG Swift PG32UQX. This new 32-inch monitor features a 4K resolution, 144Hz refresh rate, 1,400-nit brightness, and mini LED technology. ASUS claims the “world’s first” mini LED monitor title with this release, so let’s dive into all that’s included here.

Razer has just dropped the newest gaming mouse for tournament-ready players: the ultra-light Orochi V2. Touting the longest battery life of any of Razer’s previous mouses, a 60-gram form-factor, and ergonomic engineering for optimal play, it’s sure to make a splash with PC gamers and enthusiasts. Hit the jump for all the info you need on this one-of-a-kind gaming tool.

Last week, we got our first look at the upcoming Apex Legends Season 9 update, dubbed Legacy this time around. Centered around Valkyrie and her legacy, this update was also rumored to bring an all-new game mode. Well, it’s rumor no more. Apex Legends Arenas is official as of this afternoon, and will be a part of the upcoming Legacy update. So, what will this 3v3 game mode bring and how will it play? Let’s take a closer look.

One of the perks of working from home is that in many instances you can set your office up just the way you like. Not just with your favorite furniture, but also sleek-looking hardware and peripherals. For some, new Forest and Arctic Camo styles of the Microsoft Bluetooth Mouse styles could prove to be a visual upgrade for their workspace. Features are in line with the lineup of Microsoft’s standard and vibrant Bluetooth mouse variants, meaning users can expect 12-month battery life, a modern shape, and more. Continue reading for additional details.

Apex Legends is about to enter its ninth season on May 4, and with it, we’ll be getting a new Legend, weapon, and even map rendition. Valkyrie is joining the team this time around featuring a “bold, brash, fiery, and fierce” personality. She grew up in the shadow of her father’s legacy, but it’s time for her to step out on her own. Olympus is getting its first makeover in a way we’ve never seen before. Oh, and don’t forget about the new Bocek Bow, the first stringed weapon to enter the Apex Games. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect in Apex Legends Season 9 Legacy launching on May 4, 2021.

inXile entertainment just announced that Wasteland 3 is getting its first story expansion, The Battle of Steeltown. Releasing June 3, you’ll explore the “towering factory complex” of Steeltown that manufactures all of the tech that keeps Colorado running, as well as the Patriarch in power. Delivers have stopped, and all that’s going around are excuses. What happens in Wasteland 3 The Battle of Steeltown? Well, let’s take a look at the trailer as well as information released by inXile on the expansion.

ViewSonic has taken the wraps off four new monitors. Each display is aimed squarely at satisfying the modern needs that require many folks to be able to work from anywhere. Two units wield a built-in webcam, one USB-C powered model features a “featherlight” design, and there’s even a massive 34-inch ViewSonic UltraWide monitor with a Type-C hub and 90-watt passthrough charging. Spanning three display categories, ViewSonic’s new monitor portfolio goes all-in on a future where the thought of working remotely is fully embraced. Continue reading to learn more.