peripheral
Latest
Glorious PC Gaming Race is ditching its Nazi-linked name
The peripheral maker is now called 'Glorious.'
8BitDo's Pro 2 controller drops to an all-time low in Amazon's gaming sale
Razer's Wolverine V2 Chroma also fell to its lowest price to date.
Razer Black Friday deals include huge discounts for Kishi phone controllers
Some other products have dropped to all-time-low prices, such as the Viper Ultimate wireless mouse.
Razer's first Xbox Series X/S controller promises 'superior ergonomics'
The Wolverine V2 costs $100 and it's available today.
Sony explains how PS4 accessories will work on PS5
First, let's get the old DualShock 4 out of the way: it'll work with PS4 games that are backwards compatible on the PS5, but it can't be used for next-gen video games. The reason, Sony explained in a blog post, is that many PS5 games will be using the "new technologies and features" offered by the DualSense controller, such as the adaptive triggers and 'haptic feedback' rumble.
Razer updates its BlackShark headset with THX spatial audio
BlackShark V2 and the entry-level V2 X are out now.
Amazon discounts the Xbox One controller to its lowest price in months
It's a rare sale on a popular piece of gaming hardware.
PlayStation's new Back Button accessory is a wasted opportunity
Sony's DualShock is a good controller. Its Emmy award-winning design has hardly changed over the last couple of decades. It had a run of minor refinements until the DualShock 4 added a touchpanel, some fancy lights and a grippier texture. But things have moved on. PlayStation's biggest rival, Xbox, has a high-end controller for top-level gamers, while expensive third-party options from SCUFF and Hori have proved there are better ways to play PS4. Enter the unimaginatively named Back Button Attachment, aimed at giving your six-year-old DualShock 4 a few new tricks. But just a few.
8BitDo's latest Switch controller ditches thumbsticks for dual D-pads
The latest controller from 8BitDo might pique your interest if you play a lot of 2D games on Nintendo Switch. The Lite for Switch peripheral has a striking look thanks to its dual D-pads. According to 8BitDo, it has full functionality for Switch with "all core buttons supported."
Apple's new Pencil charges wirelessly
At its Mac event on Tuesday, Apple revealed a redesigned Pencil. It attaches magnetically to the iPad Pro and can charge wirelessly, which is far better (at least aesthetically) than the old method of inserting it into the iPad's Lightning port. Tapping the screen with Pencil unlocks the iPad and launches the Notes app. Double tapping while you're in certain apps lets you switch to the tool or brush you need.
Logitech's latest no-lag wireless gear includes a mechanical keyboard
Logitech's ultra-low lag wireless peripherals are quickly expanding beyond mice. It's introducing two more peripherals that take advantage of its Lightspeed tech, including its first keyboard. The G613 (above) has the mechanical switches that many gamers prefer in a keyboard while offering the virtually undetectable 1ms latency inherent to Logitech's. If you combine this with a Lightspeed-equipped mouse, you're theoretically eliminating two wires without losing your edge in twitch-happy games. Thankfully, there's a new mouse on offer as well.
Nintendo hints at smartphone controller plans
Nintendo executives have dropped an unsubtle hint that it is working on a peripheral to enable people to play its action games on smartphones. At the firm's annual shareholders meeting, Shinya Takahashi said that his team have looked at third-party controllers on the market and "may develop something new by ourselves." Takahashi was responding to the question that playing Nintendo's more famous titles (i.e. Mario) is difficult using the virtual controls that are available with touchscreen devices. After all, it's clear that more than a few people would be happy to lay down money to play a classic Mario title on their smartphone.
Fulfill your virtual farming dreams with this $300 tractor controller
At one point or another, most of us have tried (and normally failed) to tackle a few laps in Gran Turismo or Forza Motorsport with a racing wheel. But have you ever used one to drive a tractor in Farming Simulator 15? Nope, didn't think so. Peripheral maker Saitek has designed a new, monster accessory that includes a steering wheel (with turn knob), foot pedals and a side console complete with over 25 programmable buttons and a loader stick. It's designed specifically for Windows and Mac, and the price alone means it'll only appeal to the most hardcore agriculture enthusiasts: the all-in bundle will set you back $299.99, or you can pay $149.99 for just the side panel or wheel/pedal combo.
Watch Synaptics' touch-sensitive space bar in action
Earlier today, Synaptics announced its SmartBar technology that adds a touch input area -- enabled by a sub-0.2mm-thick PET film -- onto the space bar, which then lets you perform certain tasks without having to touch the mouse or trackpad. We went over to the company's show room at Computex to check this out, and we came away impressed. In the first demo, we looked at how you can quickly select text while typing by simply swiping to the left on the space bar. We were then shown how you can scroll with two fingers on the space bar: hold down one on the left and swipe with another on the right for vertical scrolling, and vice versa for horizontal scrolling. This will take some getting used to, obviously. You can also zoom in and out by swiping both fingers inwards or outwards -- a bit like pinch-to-zoom but on a space bar.
Nyko unveils Data Bank hard drive upgrade kit for PS4
Peripheral manufacturer Nyko unveiled its upcoming Data Bank accessory at CES this week, promising users a cheap and easy way to upgrade their PlayStation 4's storage capacity using a standard 3.5-inch desktop computer hard drive. A year into the console's lifespan, PlayStation 4 owners may find themselves running short of space on the platform's included 500GB hard drive. While the PS4's stock drive can be swapped out with a larger-capacity 2.5-inch hard drive intended for laptops, upgrading can prove costly, given the increased price of 2.5-inch drives compared to 3.5-inch models. Nyko's Data Bank sits atop the PlayStation 4 after partially removing the console's casing, and draws on the PS4's AC adapter to power an attached 3.5-inch hard drive. Nyko tells IGN that it's aiming for a "$30-$40 price range" for the peripheral. Compatible hard drives are sold separately. [Image: Nyko)
Bring thermal vision to your phone with this camera add-on
For the most part, smartphone peripherals can make your mobile devices even more powerful than they already are. A new add-on, dubbed Seek Thermal, aims to do just that by bringing extra imaging features to your handset. The tiny gadget can be attached to an iPhone or Android smartphone (via Lightning port and microUSB, respectively) and, thanks to a companion app, turn that otherwise common device into one with a thermal camera. Seek Thermal notes it wants to help users across different scenarios, such as being aware of what's around them at night time or, why not, look at clogged pipes throughout the household, just to mention a couple. If you're interested, be ready to pay a premium -- both the iPhone and Android models are priced at $199 a piece. While you think about it, check out the demo past the break, courtesy of Android Police.
Xbox One Digital TV Tuner coming to Europe in October
Xbox One owners in Europe will soon be able to view live TV broadcasts through their consoles with the Xbox One Digital TV Tuner, a USB peripheral that offers an alternative way to view channels normally accessed via cable or a satellite set-top box. The accessory supports Xbox One dashboard features while active, letting users view TV content in Snap Mode while using other Xbox One applications. The Xbox One Digital TV Tuner additionally enables live TV pausing, TV listings via OneGuide, and voice-controlled channel navigation using Kinect. The Xbox One Digital TV Tuner will be available in the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Spain in late October for €29.99. [Image: Microsoft]
Solidoodle's latest 3D printer is friendly to newcomers
As much as 3D printers have evolved in their short history, they still tend to look like they were made for hobbyists, by hobbyists. You'll see boxy frames, sometimes with exposed parts -- and you may have only limited help if something goes awry. Solidoodle isn't happy with these intimidating designs, so it's launching a fifth-generation peripheral (the Press) that's kinder to first-time users. The 512-cubic-inch printer comes in a friendlier, enclosed design that looks more like a mini fridge than the raw machinery of Solidoodle's previous models. The spool is protected to prevent plastic filament jams, and the printing bed automatically calibrates itself -- you won't have to adjust it every time it's uneven.
Mad Catz Ultra Street Fighter 4 stick to feature PS3/PS4 toggle
You'd expect an Ultra Street Fighter 4 arcade stick to support the PlayStation 3 - the game debuted there yesterday - yet Mad Catz's latest peripheral also features seemingly inexplicable support for the PlayStation 4. Once this news emerged, fans were quick to assume that this feature stands as a guarantee that Ultra Street Fighter 4 will soon appear on the PlayStation 4, though Mad Catz community manager Mark Julio was quick to crush those hopes. "Just because the stick is compatible with PS4 as well, does NOT mean there is PS4 USF4! We just implemented the feature as a benefit!" Julio tweeted. When asked why the similar Ultra Street Fighter 4 stick for the Xbox 360 does not also feature an Xbox One toggle, Julio's response was more succinct: "No USFIV on Xbox One!" Despite Julio's claims to the contrary, it seems unlikely that Ultra Street Fighter 4 will remain exclusive to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Capcom has a long history of issuing Street Fighter sequels to every platform under the sun, and the company needs to create a strong foothold on the new generation of consoles. For a growing segment of the gaming audience, there's no better way to do that than with a new, highly-anticipated Street Fighter entry. [Image: Mad Catz]
GameStop raises price of PS4 Camera as supplies dwindle
GameStop has raised the price of the PlayStation 4's Camera peripheral, seemingly in response to supply shortages across multiple retailers. Available at the PlayStation 4's launch last year for $59.99, GameStop now lists the accessory at $69.99. Retailers Best Buy, NewEgg, and Target report that the item is currently out of stock. Amazon has also exhausted its supply, leading to third-party resellers listing the peripheral at $99 or more. The PlayStation 4 Camera enables voice-controlled navigation, and allows players to stream live video footage via Twitch during gameplay. Sony's free PS4 application The Playroom requires the peripheral to function. Speaking to Polygon, a Sony representative declined to comment on a speculated shortage, but confirmed that the PS4 Camera is in high demand. "While we do not comment on the sales figures, shipment or monthly production quantity, PlayStation Camera remains in high demand, and we've been pleased with the camera's popularity among PlayStation 4 owners," the spokesperson said. "We continue to control our production according to market demand and increase the production as necessary to meet the needs." We've reached out to GameStop for comment regarding the price increase, and await a response. [Image: Sony]
