We’re living in an era of gaming upgrades, with iterative hardware releases now not only limited to PCs and their constant stream of GPUs, CPUs, bloop-de-bloops and tigglywigs, but even consoles getting in on the act over the course of the past few months.
As such, we’re now far removed from the days of worthless peripherals, with plenty of hardware being released that actively improves our time spent playing video games. From the recent announcement of the PS4 Pro during Sony’s PlayStation Meeting, allowing 4K TV owners to finally experience their games in the Ultra HD resolution they’ve paid for, to the virtual reality headsets that are giving us whole new ways to play, there’s never been a better time to be invested in this hobby.
While the internet has ensured that there has never been more complaints leveled at the gaming industry, we’re arguably living in a golden age of video games which encompasses everything from the fantastic current console generation, through to the strong technological strides being made on PC. But regardless of the system you prefer to play on, manufacturers are routinely coming up with new hardware to enhance your gaming experience. Unfortunately, there’s only a limited amount of money in this world, so you’re going to want to know which of these gaming gadgets are most worthy of your hard-earned cash.
With that being said, here’s what you should seriously consider owning…
The Top 10 Cool Tech Gadgets for Gaming:
Cool Tech Gadgets For Gaming
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Nintendo Classic Mini
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The Nintendo Classic Mini is basically the plug-and-play equivalent of the NES, offering 30 built-in games from the classic 8-bit console for the low price of $59.99.
Looking like a shrunken version of the NES, the Nintendo Classic Mini comes with an old-school NES controller to heighten its authenticity, while housing legendary games from Metroid, through to The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros. and Pac-Man.
For those who want to revisit the games that helped shape the industry we have today, the Nintendo Classic Mini is a neatly presented package that does the trick for an affordable price.
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NVidia GTX 1070
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If the super-powered Nvidia GTX 1080 is out of your price range, then the GTX 1070 presents a fantastic alternative that's easier on the wallet while still offering the ability to play games at a high level of performance in 1440p.
Incredibly overclockable, the GTX 1070 is the successor to the company's previous flagship the 970, with it running on its Pascal GPU architecture, boasting 8 GB GDDR5 RAM along with a memory speed of 8 Gbps. For those who want to jump into virtual reality with the Oculus Rift or HTC Vive, or simply want to play their games in a gorgeous higher resolution complete with improved anti-aliasing and improved performance, the GTX 1070 is a great option in a more affordable price range than its sibling.
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Xbox One S
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The Xbox One S is Microsoft's budget version of the Xbox One, with it putting its PS4 equivalent - the lightweight PS4 Slim - to shame.
Offering UHD Blu-ray support, something which the PS4 Pro isn't even capable of, along with HDR gaming at a low price of $299, the Xbox One S isn't a console to be sniffed at despite Microsoft readying itself for its major Xbox One upgrade next year, codenamed the Xbox One Scorpio.
For Xbox One owners there are plenty of reasons to make the upgrade to the Xbox One S, and for those who have yet to jump on board with Microsoft's latest console then there's no reason to buy the original Xbox One over its lighter, better-looking successor.
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Razer Stargazer
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The Razer Stargazer is a depth-sensing high-definition camera that uses Intel RealSense technology to introduce 3D scanning, facial/gesture recognition and dynamic background removal, with the latter eradicating the need for green screens.
Designed with game streamers in mind, Razer has branded the device the "world's most advanced webcam," with it capturing video at 60fps at 720p along with its 1080p max resolution, and also boasting a built-in noise-cancelling microphone. Whether you're a veteran streamer or looking to just start out on Twitch, the Razer Stargazer will offer you all the tools you need for your face cam right out of the box.
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SteelSeries Siberia 350
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In order to prevent your neighbors from thinking you're in a war zone whenever you play an intensive game of Battlefield, you're going to want to nab yourself a decent pair of gaming headphones. SteelSeries have you covered in this regard, with the popular Siberia 350 model packing a serious punch in the audio stakes, along with looking pretty handsome, too.
Regarded as one of the best gaming headsets on the market, and retailing at a very reasonable price point, the Siberia 350 provides a comfortable set of headphones that are easy to set up and feature an excellent audio range. Suitable for both PC and console use (though preferable when combined with the former), if you're in the market for a new headset then you shouldn't need to look much further than these.
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PS4 Pro
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The PS4 Pro is the 4K-ready upgrade to the PS4, increasing the vanilla console's processing power along with providing it with a GPU upgrade that allows for gaming in a 4K resolution, along with the addition of High Dynamic Range (HDR).
While the PS4 Pro's affordable $399 price point means its GPU isn't exactly the best on the market, with graphically intensive games appearing on the console in upscaled 4K rather than native, for 4K TV owners this boost to their games will make it a great purchase.
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Oculus Rift
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If you're looking to get serious about virtual reality, then many will point you in the direction of the HTC Vive. However, while the Vive may be the more powerful option on paper, in reality the Oculus Rift is the first-generation VR headset that is more worthy of your money.
The Rift boasts the more impressive line-up of the two headsets, with the likes of Elite: Dangerous and Chronos offering excellent, diverse experiences in VR, while fun oddities such as Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, in which your friends are tasked with successfully guiding you through a complicated procedure in order to defuse a bomb. If you want to play the best VR games that are currently available, then the Rift is the VR headset for you.
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SteelSeries Apex M500
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SteelSeries' Apex M500 keyboard provides an uncomplicated and minimalist gaming keyboard for a low price of
$99$76, fitting responsive and professional-grade Cherry Red switches into a relatively slim keyboard that is "eSports ready."The M500 may not be as flashy as other, pricier keyboards, but its lack of fancy features are easy to overlook considering just how well it works. If you're in the market for a new gaming keyboard but aren't necessarily interested in it also being capable of initiating a laser light show, then the Apex M500 is the one for you.
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Xbox One Elite Controller
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The Xbox One controller was arguably the best gaming controller ever, and the Xbox One Elite Controller only improves upon its accomplishments by refining what made it great, and adding in a bunch of cool new stuff, too.
With a slew of customization options, an improved D-Pad and metal analog sticks, if you spend large amounts of time on your Xbox One then the Elite Controller should be considered an excellent purchase. Although its $149 price point may prove to be off-putting for some, for those who take their gaming very seriously this controller will enhance their experience, alongside providing them with a tactical edge over those using the standard controller.
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Madcatz Tournament Edition 2
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We've already seen the release of two major fighting games this year, with Street Fighter V and King of Fighters XIV having both made their way to the PS4. Next year will also see the release of Tekken 7 to the PS4, Xbox One and PC, making it a good time to invest in an arcade stick for the current generation.
The Madcatz Tournament Edition 2 is a great option for those on the lookout for a high-quality fighting stick with customization options, with its premium components ensuring that it will have plenty of longevity for fighting game veterans.
