Will the xbox follow suit, will the Switch see price increases at some point do you think?

We have obviously seen it with PC gaming with components increasing dramatically in price in recent years.

Valve announces a new Steam ‘console’, controller and VR headset | VGC

WWW.VIDEOGAMESCHRONICLE.COM

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The Steam Machine, Steam Controller and Steam Frame have all been revealed…

Lots of information in the above. 

Xbox is no longer a console, it's a platform, and it's already entered a battle for control over your handheld gaming PC | PC Gamer

WWW.PCGAMER.COM

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Xbox is becoming more like PC and Windows is becoming more like Xbox... is Microsoft looking to muscle SteamOS out of the way?

Could be another interesting option especially as Valve's Steam Deck is restricted at retail-level but price will be a huge factor here.

Hands-On With the Xbox Ally X, the New Gaming Handheld from Asus and Microsoft - IGN

WWW.IGN.COM

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The Xbox handhelds are coming Holiday 2025 and they're impressive, but many questions still remain.

Expedition 33 for instance sold 1m copies in 48 hours at a price of between £33-£37 and will likely reach 5m by June even at the standard £39.99. It is one of most highly rated games of the decade and its growing success will see a decent return. If MS think charging £74.99 for absolute shite is going to make them more money, they are beyond deluded. Also charging more for machines already made, shipped and landed is not going to go down well. 

Sony will probably be next as Microsoft weren't too far behind Nintendo. 

To be released in 3 months time, the brand new Nintendo Switch 2 looks like they've initially mproved on the biggest issues from the Switch 1 (for me anyway). Controllers are a nightmare, so it looks a much better way to click and connect them.

Not seen the specs anywhere just yet but nice to get a slightly bigger screen and best news is Switch 1 games are compatible with NS2 devices. Thoughts?

Literally going the same way as the iPhone and these gimmick performance bolstering elements exclusive to cards are actually covering up bad optimisation or giving a false experience just to convince users the card is better than it is. I always turn off all this shit even if it means getting XXfps less because I know the image quality will be an accurate representation of the game and not hardware bloat. 

Nvidia announces the RTX 50-series, led by the $1,999 RTX 5090 with 'twice the performance of the 4090' | PC Gamer

WWW.PCGAMER.COM

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With more AI acceleration than ever even the RTX 5070 is claimed to offer RTX 4090-level performance for $549.

The 5070 also looks a mild improvement on the pretty lame as it is 4070 but the price isn't too bad. 

Nvidia's GeForce RTX 5070 at $549 — How does it stack up to the previous generation RTX 4070? | Tom's Hardware

WWW.TOMSHARDWARE.COM

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Same price, different architectures, and some big tech changes.

So I have had a couple of different PS5 controllers now, a second hand Dualsense Edge controller and yesterday an impulse purchase of the Nacon Revolution Pro 5 which has prompted this post.

The Edge is a definite improvement over the original controller, it feel's nicer to hold, the rubber grip and just feels better made, a more premium feel if you like. I don't however use the back buttons much really but it is just a nicer controller to use.

However we popped into game yesterday and picked up 2 items from their clearance area, the first being a christmas present from the wife that she has now put away (another thread to come) and the Nacon Revolution pro 5. I have been after a new controller as the rubber grip is coming away from the controller which is irritating me and I don't know why but stuff like that grinds my gears unnecassarily (so tips to repair it would be appreciated!) I saw this controller and it was half price so £100 as opposed to £200 and I thought it was worth a shot at that price. Turns out this controller is brilliant!

I opened the box and the first, strange thing to happen was upon opening it, there have obviously been lengths taken to make the box opening a little different. It was perfumed in some way and opening it, it actually smelt nice which was a bit odd. The controller itself is great, it feels really great in the hands and there are a number of weights that you can swap in if you want a heavier or lighter feel to the default. The controller comes in a pretty strong case with a USB-C cable, USB dongle, several weights, 2 additional thumbsticks (one higher and one a different style), and an alternative D pad button.

The controller itself has quite a number of back buttons (more so than the edge), it has the xbox layout with the thumbsticks which I have always found a little more comfortable and the default thumb sticks are reminiscent of the PS2 controllers which is quite nice. Oh and it also has what is known as hall effect thumbsticks which are meant to somewhat eliminate stick drift which is common today with modern controllers.

The other thing is how responsive this is, it really feels instant when gaming, like moreso than the 1st party controllers which is strange. It may just be in my head but it really does feel more responsive.

So yeah if you are looking for a new controller and can afford it I would recommend this one from my limited experience so far 🙂 

Its probably not worth the money, but my god it looks gorgeous.

Which console has been your favourite and why? This is all related to the OS and how it works, the form factor, the aesthetics of how it looks.

I have a few that excite me, the Switch we all know is brilliant and having the option to go portable really made it, the Wii really cemented itself into houses across the world and the Xbox 360 probably brought about the way we interact with modern games consoles with the internet and it's store front.

For me it's a toss up between my ROG Ally, having that power at your fingertips and being able to take it around with you (albeit the battery life is a sore point) and my PS2, I have a silver one that stands proud in my lounge, the sounds it made on start up still stick with me today.

PS5 players will soon be able to join Discord voice chat directly from their console

BLOG.PLAYSTATION.COM

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Easier access to Discord voice chat will roll out gradually over the coming weeks.

Should mean we can utilise Forever Gaming discord voice channels alongside game nights. Means crossplay really will now ramp up I reckon.

I also find Discord chat, really smooth AND even clearer than PlayStation.

Games for me have lost their way.  The lust for bigger worlds, betterererer graphics and realism.  Even sonic lost its charm in a 3D world.  Would games find their magic if they were constrained by older tech, could innovation and retro collide to make a gaming future where you don't download updates?  Multiplayer on the net only, no DLC, no payment plans.  Sounds good to me.

The switch sounds useful if you play an array of games across all platforms. Not for everyone but then again Astros aren't for everyone. Really keen to hear feedback on this to see what Logitech have done and if its worth the wait. They've been the best on the market for me for years. Still win me over the Steel Series 7P version because it doesn't take in outside sounds at all. Still costly but the previous ones were so worth the money.

Is it safe to do this, or should you open the console?

AMD Ryzen 7 2700X 3.7 GHz 8-Core Processor
NZXT Kraken X62 Liquid CPU Cooler
Gigabyte X470 AORUS GAMING 7 WIFI ATX AM4 Motherboard
Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-2666 CL16 Memory
Samsung 970 Evo 250 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive
Seagate BarraCuda 4 TB 3.5" 5400 RPM Internal Hard Drive
NVIDIA Founders Edition GeForce RTX 2070 8 GB Video Card
GameMax Graphite ATX Mid Tower Case
Corsair TX750M 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply
Asus DRW-24D5MT DVD/CD Writer

This is obviously an improvement over my aging i7 4790k and GTX 980.  I believe it has the possibilities for upgrades without major changes being needed should I be able to afford to upgrade later on.

Would you say it's a good deal? Being that I'm gaming at 1080p.

now there’s a large part of me that wants them because I will get a lot of use out of them, I use headphones a lot and have 3 separate pairs for my PlayStation (old turtle beach), my PC for D&D and when I’m at work planning lessons and then lastly the gym.

according to the stats the A30’s are compatible with Bluetooth and all hardware so I think they will work for all three activities.

can I get a review from anyone who currently owns them please, no ‘hear say’ please!

thanks

I think i'll have to save to get a 2TB one because I fear 1TB will just fill up really quickly with most of the latest games nearing 100GB or way more in some instances.

Cheers!

They originally revealed this as an April fool but it was clear it wasn't and is the real deal

https://scufgaming.com/playstation5-scuf-reflex

That said after Xbox's reveal the other day I sat and wondered if any of the consoles really jumps out at me this generation. PS5 vs Xbox seems much of a muchness, that said with the Series S it is much more easily attainable by everyone with it's entry price tag. There are a lack of AAA titles anyway and those that are tend to be on both platforms currently with the odd exception i.e. spiderman and errrm maybe Forza for Xbox

That said I think I tend to be drawn towards the Switch and even the Steam deck as being the best options this generation, portability with enough power I can slouch on the sofa of an evening and play some great games.

So is there anything that really jumps out at you this generation?

Personally...I think this is a great bit of kit and might be worth the investment.

What you guys think? 

Oh, i'm after COD and Hogwarts too! 

Also, do normal headsets work on the  PS5? I have a USB Turtle beach set i've had for a long time, is that going to be ok?

Thanks

Elliott

“As of January 1 2024, Steam will officially stop supporting the Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems. After that date, the Steam Client will no longer run on those versions of Windows. In order to continue running Steam and any games or other products purchased through Steam, users will need to update to a more recent version of Windows.

Here's the full patch notes below:

Version: 23.01-07.00.00

Main features in this system software update

• 1440p video output has been expanded on PS5.
• VRR (variable refresh rate) is now supported for 1440p resolution.
• More modes and HDMI devices are now supported. To check if your HDMI device supports this, go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output > Test 1440p Output. You can now transfer data between PS5 consoles.
• Easily transfer all of your PS5 data to another PS5. This process doesn't remove or modify your data on your original PS5. You can now join Discord voice chats on your PS5.
• Link your Discord account to your account for PlayStation Network. Use the Discord app on your mobile device or computer to get a Discord voice chat going on PS5. You can also let your Discord friends see when you’re online and what you’re playing. Voice Command now supports using your voice to save video clips of your gameplay.
• Say "Hey PlayStation, capture that!" to save a video clip of your recent gameplay. The default duration saved is based on your settings.
• You can also save a specific duration of your gameplay, from 15 seconds to 60 minutes. For example, to save 5 minutes, say "Hey PlayStation, capture the last 5 minutes".
• Say "Hey PlayStation, start recording" to manually start a new gameplay recording. You can then say "Hey PlayStation, stop recording" to end the recording and save the video clip.
• Currently, Voice Command (Preview) is only available in English for players with accounts for PlayStation Network in the US and UK.

Other updated features

• The following improvements have been made to the screen reader feature.
• The screen reader now gives more detailed guidance when navigating the console. It will now tell you which direction you can move from the currently selected component, as well as your current position in a component with multiple items.
• When using the screen reader in the web browser, you'll now see borders around the section that's being read aloud.
• The screen reader was updated to correctly read aloud certain key terms. The following features have been added to game hubs:
• Every game will have a timer on the game hub tracking total time played.
• Game progress will also be displayed for games that have a maximum number of story activities. A Friends Who Play tile has been added.
• You can see which of your friends own the game and who is currently online.
• By selecting the tile, you can see what your friends are doing, and you can also access your friends' profiles where you'll be given more interaction options. The trophy tile has been moved and updated so it's easier to access and displays your trophy progress. Competitive multiplayer cards can be displayed in full screen. By selecting Start Activity, you'll be taken straight to that match. The prominent placement and size of the card makes an easy option for multiplayer. The following update has been made to the cross-play feature.
• In-game session cards of cross-play games, you can now see the members who are playing on other platforms. The following features have been added to Game Base.
• You can now send a Share Screen request or start sharing your screen with a friend, directly from their profile. Select the Share Screen icon on your friend's profile.
• You can also send a Share Screen request to your friend from PlayStation App.
• On the voice chat card, a joinable icon will be displayed for party members playing a game you can join. You can join the game directly by selecting the player, and then selecting Join Game from the menu. Friends that are active on PlayStation App will now show up as online on your friends list. We made the following improvement in game library:
• You can decide the default sort order for games within gamelists. Use filters in your library to easily find PS VR- and PS VR2-compatible games. The following settings have been added to game presets.
• You can set your preferences to manage who can join and who can invite other players to multiplayer sessions you've created for supported games.
• Go to Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings > Game Presets > Online Multiplayer Sessions, and select your preferences in Who Can Join and Who Can Invite. When downloading or installing a game, the way your saved data is checked has been changed.
• If it's a PS4 game and you have no saved data in console storage, you'll now be notified if PS4 saved data is available in cloud storage.
• If it's a PS5 game that can use PS4 saved data, and you have no saved data in console storage, you'll now be notified if PS4 saved data is available in cloud storage.
• To download your saved data from cloud storage, press the PS button to expand the notification, and then select Download PS4 Saved Data. You can now select which Media Gallery files to manually upload to Captures on PlayStation App. Existing content policies still apply. The following changes have been made to the on-screen keyboard.
• When you start entering characters, suggestions appear at the top of the on-screen keyboard. If you press the R1 button, instead of entering the first suggestion, you'll now just select it. To enter the selected suggestion, press the cross button. If you see learned suggestions that you want the console to forget, you can delete them from the options menu. (Only for Japanese keyboard) The suggestions that appear while entering characters are now shown in both half-width and full-width characters. Unicode 15.0 emoji can now be displayed. The time required for performing integrity checks on downloaded data has been greatly reduced. This process is done while the [Copying...] label is displayed on the downloaded item in the Downloads/Uploads control in the control centre. The way installed games are started has been changed. If your PS5 has the download version of a game that you haven't purchased (such as those that other users on your PS5 have purchased), and if you have the disc version, you can now play the installed download version by inserting the disc (without installing the disc version). Similarly, if you've installed a game using the disc, and you've purchased the download version of the game, you can now play the installed disc version of the game without inserting the disc. The hint system has been expanded to display a list of objectives if the game provides them. Select any objective to see a more detailed video or text hint. You can now view and manage your authorized apps in Settings.
• Authorized apps are third-party apps and services that you've linked your account for PlayStation Network to. When using an authorized app, you give permission to share your account data with that app.
• To view and manage your authorized apps, go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Authorized Apps. We've updated the device software for DualSense wireless controller, DualSense Edge wireless controller, and PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers.
• The update will improve stability. You can now update the DualSense wireless controller device software with a wireless connection.
• If you have trouble updating the device software wirelessly, connect your controller to your PS5 using the USB cable to update it. You'll be able to update wirelessly for the next update. DualSense Edge wireless controller and PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers already support wireless updates for the device software. This update isn't required for performing wireless updates for these controllers. The following issues or problems have been resolved.
• An error dialog message that gave misleading information referring to parental control restrictions when using the web browser was fixed. An update was made to address an issue causing some IPS LCD monitors to flicker when VRR (variable refresh rate) is turned on. This update may help solve this issue on these monitors.

I'm completely new to this stuff. I have a capable laptop, playstation 2 and a decent monitor. Just need to know what else I need to get started.

Thanks for any help in advance.

I got a $500 gift card from some work stuff, and spent a few days looking for crap to buy and couldn't come with anything that wasn't just spending to spend.  My son is pretty into PC gaming and has a bunch of friends on discord that play together.  Currently our setup is a rig that I built about 10 years ago - i7-2600k, GTX 480, 8gb, a few SSDs and SATA drives, Sabertooth p67 board, dual monitors.  Not anything fancy in today's terms but it was a big chunk of money 10 years ago and thankfully it's still working really well.  I had the store build it for me originally but I've taken it apart and cleaned it a couple of times so I'm not opposed to buying everything separate and building it with my son so he can learn.  

Given all he knows is that 10 year old rig, I don't see any reason to go crazy on budget and buy top of the line stuff so I'm thinking a max budget of like $1k USD.  I would think I could get at least the same specs as my current setup 10 years later for that budget amount.  I think I spent around $2500 for the original setup and hopefully Moores law gets me better than that for this budget.  I do want to future proof this a little bit but I don't know how much is too much in terms of device specs and I don't want to go overboard for no reason.  He can use his own money later on to upgrade this as he wants.

I don't know anything about todays current standards for gaming requirements, so just looking for advice on what you would buy if I handed you $1k.  Everything he plays now has zero issues on our current setup but thats mostly minecraft and he's getting into mods and fancy stuff.  If the budget needs to go up that's fine, I just figured this was a good starting point and with the gift card it would only cost me $500.  I'm not including monitors in this, I have a bunch of good ones collecting dust and we can make that birthday presents or he can buy them if he wants.

Appreciate any suggestions!

So I've bought an LG C2 OLED TV. With a £75 Ebay voucher I got one for £874 (I only got 42" as I sit a couple of feet from my TV). 

So pretty soon I'll be able to look down on all the peasants with TVs that are merely 60hz 🧐

Interesting.  Will it be PC AAA games streamed?  I think for a casual gamer, there won't be an issue, but having played remote play, I can tell you there is lag.  I can't see hardcore gamers going for it.

WHAT THE FUCK SHOULD I BUY?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?