It’s not just new consoles that gamers hope for at Christmas, as GameCentral highlights some of the best PC components and streamer gear.
2023 was definitely the year everyone got excited about handheld gaming again, at home and on the move. The release of the ASUS ROG Ally, Logitech G Cloud, PlayStation Portal, and Steam Deck OLED, as well as indie offerings such as the Analogue Pocket, means there’s plenty of choice for those who want video games at their fingertips, especially with rumours of a Switch 2 coming next year.
If you didn’t find anything appealing on Black Friday don’t worry, there’s still plenty of time to get some great gaming gear before Christmas. From the casual gamer to the dedicated streamer, we’ve highlighted a variety of gaming tech options that promise to elevate the gaming experience of every gamer.
There’s plenty of cool new headsets, with sound quality that can transport you inside a game; as well as controllers that offer unprecedented precision, and gaming furniture that marries comfort with the iconic flair of your favourite superheroes and video game characters.
Razer Edge and Razer Wolverine V2 Pro mobile controllers
You can always rely on Razer to bring some bling to Christmas and this year they have outdone themselves with a gold-plated Dolce & Gabbana Christmas crossover but if that’s out of your price range then there are some slightly cheaper options. The Razer Edge is basically an Android tablet designed specifically for gaming, although of course you can use it for the usual; tablet-based stuff like Netflix, web browsing, email, and so on.
It’s like a very serious version of the Nintendo Switch. The Edge comes with a Kishi V2 Pro, which is the clip-on controller unit, compatible with any Android device. The Kishi V2 Pro works with any Android game that has built-in controller support and, additionally, features haptic feedback for supporting games such as Diablo Immortal.
But what we really love about this combo is the Nexus software app. This works in conjunction with the Kishi V2 Pro and Android device. What Nexus does, is to emulate your fingers tapping on your phone screen for a virtual controller mode, so when you push a button on the Kishi, your phone thinks that you’ve tapped on the screen. What this means is that pretty much every game you can play on Android is now playable via controller even if they are not natively supported. So no more thumbs and fingers in the way of the screen, no more miss-hitting tiny buttons close together – sausage fingers be gone!
But for a top of the range mobile controller the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro is hard to beat, even with its hefty price tag. It’s super responsive across console and PC, with a lot of programmable extra buttons, which make it ideal for action/shooters as you can program extra functions for the buttons.
The Wolverine V2 Pro offers some good feedback with its Razer Mecha-Tactile Action Buttons and D-pad and the controller also features interchangeable thumbsticks and a hair-trigger mode with trigger stop-switches for quick-firing action. It’s a professional-grade controller with a price to match but if you’re looking to get professionally competitive this Christmas it might just be worth the investment.
Razer Edge: £449.99
Razer Wolverine V2 Pro: £249.99
Steelseries Ghost Collection
The SteelSeries Ghost Collection embodies something of the festive spirit, with a touch of glowing white winter magic but, alas, no mince pies. The collection features a sleek, icy design with elegant white and light blue accents. The subtle LED lighting adds a gentle glow, much like the soft twinkle of Christmas lights – so you won’t need to make an extra trip to Aldi. This isn’t just a gaming setup; it’s holiday decor.
Functionality-wise, SteelSeries has outdone itself. The Apex 7 TKL Ghost Edition boasts ultra-responsive keys, perfect for those intense gaming sessions while ignoring the relatives in the next room.
The Aerox 3 Wireless Ghost Edition, with its ergonomic design and adjustable DPI settings, offers precision and comfort; who needs Rudolph to lead Santa’s sleigh when this mouse could more easily light the way. Nova 7X headphones in white, with their crystal clear audio and noise-cancelling features, immerse you in your gaming world, ensuring that even the loudest festive fight won’t interrupt your play.
Apex 7 TKL Ghost Edition: £159.99
Aerox 3 Wireless Ghost Edition: £99.99
Nova 7X headphones in white: £174.99
Corsair HS80MAX wireless headset and K70 CORE mechanical keyboard
The Corsair HS80MAX in white is a marvel of auditory precision and comfort, offering a solid hassle-free experience for immersive gaming. The wireless range is insane, with a 50ft range with no dropouts. 20+ hours of battery life is no problem and while it has very little to offer RGB-wise, if you want comfort and an amazing microphone this headset is a winner. The comfort factor is unparalleled, with memory foam ear cushions that feel like Santa’s beard against your ears.
Pairing perfectly with the headset, the K70 CORE is a beast for the price. The tactile feedback and responsiveness of the keys are satisfying and precise, making every keystroke feel impactful with each clickety-clack. You can light it up with the great iCue software, for dynamic RGB lighting, including customisable Christmas colours that can sync with the beat of your game.
However, it would have been nice to see this in a TKL version (i.e. no number pad) for a smaller set-up, and the keycaps could do with some grain. The durability is good though and we liked the curbed corners and aluminium backplate, which promises to withstand even the most intense gaming session.
Corsair HS80MAX Wireless headset: £169.99
K70 CORE gaming keyboard: £89.99
Logitech Litra Beam LX LED Light and Yeti GX
The streamer set-ups from Logitech embody minimalist designs with sleek curved edges and tactile economy of design. The Litra Beam LX LED Light is the comforting beacon that every aspiring streamer needs. It’s designed to provide a natural, radiant glow with its edge-lit LED panel that diffuses light softly, reducing shadows and harshness to welcome those new subs to the fold.
The adjustable colour temperature ensures that streamers can set the perfect festive mood for their content, while the intuitive desktop app allows for precise control over brightness and colour levels. With the Litra Beam, gamers and content creators can achieve studio-quality illumination that’s suitably flattering the morning after the Christmas party.
The Logitech Yeti GX is a high-end microphone that offers unparalleled sound quality; ideal for streaming, podcasting, or crisp in-game communication. Featuring Blue VO!CE technology and customizable LED lighting, the Yeti GX adds a sophisticated touch to any gaming setup and has significantly reduced in size from older versions. Although smaller, it’s just as sturdy and it’s plug-and-play with USB connectivity, making it super easy to use right out of the box on Christmas Day.
Logitech Litra Beam LX LED Light: £149.99
Yeti GX: £139.99
Turtle Beach Pixel React-R controller and Turtle Beach Stealth Pro headset
A gift that keeps on giving in florescent green, the Turtle Beach Pixel React-R controller is so responsive it might just start playing games on its own. Even in the most hulk-ish hands you can appreciate the super responsive triggers and the customisable analogue sticks are highly versatile. Whether it’s a delicate touch for strategy games or a more robust grip for action-packed adventures, this controller adapts seamlessly.
If you’re happy to jump up a price category you can pair the controller with the Stealth Pro headset. It features active noise cancellation and crystal clear audio, with no wires at all. The battery life is great for a wireless headset, so you’re definitely getting what you pay for here.
Turtle Beach Pixel React-R Controller: £29.99
Turtle Beach Stealth Pro: £229.99
Logitech A30 The Mandalorian Edition headset
Star Wars and Logitech have had a lot of crossovers recently, including a new Millennium Falcon mouse, that’s coming to the UK next year.
The Logitech A30 is a bit more subtle though, with a silhouette of Mando and the Clan Mudhorn signet on the ear cups, as well as ‘Beskar Steel’ highlights. No matter what picture is on the cups though, the A30s are always a reliable piece of kit, with the versatility of both wireless and wired modes.
Logitech A30 The Mandalorian Edition Headset: £249.00
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU
Time to upgrade your PC rig? While the top-of-the-line 4090 GPUs are currently to expensive for most mere mortals, the newly discounted 4070 are still very powerful and, optionally, come with three months of Game Pass and GeForce NOW’s Priority Membership.
Nvidia’s DLSS technology ensures smooth, high frame rate gaming even at Ultra settings, as well as advanced ray-tracing capabilities for more realistic lights and shadows. An efficient cooling system ensures the 4070 runs whisper quiet, so you won’t scare Santa coming down the chimney. The GeForce RTX 4070 might just look like a boring box of components under the tree but it’s a perfect present for gamers looking to upgrade their PC set-up.
RRP: £549.99
noblechairs Spider-Man Edition
Web-sling your way into your loved one’s good books with what is the ultimate throne for gaming and superhero enthusiasts. It’s a marvel of design, crafted with an iconic Spider-Man design but still featuring the same high quality build quality and adjustable settings as the rest of the line.
With The HERO Warhammer 40,000 Edition also released last month it’s almost a shame these chairs are so well built, or otherwise you could justify getting a different one every year. You know, if if it wasn’t for how expensive they are.
noblechairs Spider-Man Edition: £299.99