The edge’s favorite toy

Game was already popular when the pandemic occurred in early 2020; with a large number of people sitting at home, it has become close to a national obsession. So once you have your console or computer and your game (or games), what more do you need?

We have the staff of The edge, many of whom are avid gamers, to talk about their favorite toys. Below we describe game controllers, mice, headsets and other useful peripherals that can enhance your gaming experience in that extra level (or even multiple notches).

Enjoy it!

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

If you have a Nintendo Switch non-Lite, the Pro Controller is in my opinion an essential accessory. Although the standard switch has two Joy-Con controllers, it is small and not particularly ergonomic.

The Pro Controller, on the other hand, feels good to hold and has held me for over hours Fortnite, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and many other games. It’s not cheap, but it’s worth every penny. – Jay Peters, news writer

Logitech G502 Hero Toy

What can I say about the Logitech G502 line that has not been said yet? My colleague, Cameron Faulkner, believes that this is the best and most affordable wired attack on the best gaming mouse you can buy at the moment – and rightly so.

I play a bunch of first-person shooters on my gaming computer, so when I was looking for a new gaming mouse (I used Corsair’s M65 RGB Elite before), I wanted something with a good amount of programmable buttons – including one on the left side of the mouse – so easy shortcuts for when I needed to aim my weapons quickly. Now each macro is assigned a conveniently placed button.

I used a large number of gaming mice before switching to the G502 Hero, and I honestly do not think any other gaming mouse will replace it. I might buy the wireless version at some point to reduce cable management, but at $ 50, the G502 Hero is an excellent gaming mouse for people who prefer wired gaming mice or who do not have much money to brag about its wireless counterpart. – Taylor Lyles, author

Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows

Fifteen years ago, Microsoft made the best dongle ever, one I still use every week. It’s a conscientiously long six-foot USB cable with a small pod at the end that always reminds me of a Centauri tentacle. But this dongle is worth a little shrinking: it allows me to reliably connect four Xbox 360 wireless controllers to a Windows computer to play a wide variety of games from across the room, and thanks to continued plug-and-play Windows functionality and robust steam support, every game designed for controllers works perfectly with it.

It’s an incredibly stable, inexpensive way to get four-player bank games (like Duck Game, SpeedRunners, Towerfall, Overcooked!, Spelunky, Lance Baie, etc.) quickly, especially since Xbox 360 wireless controllers are inexpensive and easily available. I wish I could say the same for the adapter itself; some of the third-party results have compatibility issues, and locating the original may mean a visit to eBay. This is how I bought one for a friend this past holiday.

If you do find an official one that does not burn, do not throw it out! If you are handy with a soldering iron, it is fairly easy to replace the burnt out fuse (or even short). – Sean Hollister, senior news editor

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless Headphones

If you are willing to pay a premium, it will be difficult to find a better wireless headphone than the Arctis Pro Wireless. In 2018, I set it against each of its competitors and it has the best scores for sound quality, microphone quality, wireless range, battery life and a variety of unusual features.

If I play with friends and want a bite, I do not have to stop chatting; i just walk a few rooms away to the kitchen and the sound never cuts out. If a too loud game drowns my friends, I tap the rotary knob under the overhead to rebalance the sound between ‘game’ and ‘chat’ – this gives you two different audio devices in Windows. If the battery is empty, I can just throw an extra battery out of the base station and replace it in less than 15 seconds. I also make a lot of calls with the Arctis Pro Wireless, thanks to the built-in Bluetooth.

Just know that it’s a bit pinched on large heads, despite the material strap suspension design that makes many SteelSeries’ other headsets comfortable. And be careful not to try to bend it with the ear cups wider; quite a few buyers have found that the joints can crack if you apply too much force. – Sean Hollister

Oculus Quest 2 Elite band

I like my Oculus Quest 2, but I do not exaggerate when I say that I find it almost useless. The thin stocking strap barely fits my head and makes the headset feel incredibly pre-heavy, while the foam face pillow quickly becomes hot and uncomfortable.

Fortunately, there are good solutions to both problems. Oculus is selling an official Elite Strap for the Quest 2 for $ 49, which indicates that the company itself knows that the stock option is not good, and that is indeed a huge improvement. It is much firmer, with a plastic back plate that distributes the weight better and rotates around your head with an easily adjustable knob. Problems have been reported with some early units cracking, but I did not have a problem with mine, and Oculus addressed the issue through replacements and extended warranties, so I definitely recommend it. – Sam Byford, Asia Editor

VR Cover Silicone Cover for Oculus Quest 2

The next way to upgrade your Quest 2 experience is with a simple piece of rubber. Several companies sell alternative face covers, and the one I used is the Quest 2 silicone option from VR Cover. I used interchangeable cloth versions of VR Cover with the original Quest, which was still an improvement over the foam, but the hypoallergenic silicone is even better. It attaches easily to the Quest 2 and is much easier to press against your face for hours than moist foam; In addition, you can easily flush it out to a hardcore Klop Saber session. I do not know why such a thing does not come in the box, but it is absolutely worth the $ 14. – Sam Byford

Mayflash W010 DolphinBar for Wii

This is an excellent accessory for anyone who wants to play Wii games on their computer. It’s similar to the ones the Nintendo Wii console used to have, but offers Bluetooth to connect your Wii Remotes as well. I bought one of these for my own computer so I could use it to track Wii games – and hopefully complete the Metroid Prime 3 one of these days.

Just remember that you also need to grab a Wii Remote separately if you do not already have one. – Jon Porter, Reporter

DualSense Admin

You’ve heard all the hype about the DualSense’s vibration motors and adaptive triggers. And to be sure, these things are great for the games they use, but that’s not what makes DualSense my favorite controller of the ones I’ve ever used. This is what it has everything needs a modern controller.

The DualShock 4 has a headphone jack, but also the terrible micro-USB. The Switch Pro Controller has USB-C, but it’s a bit small for my liking and has no headphone jack. The DualSense has both USB-C and a headphone jack, and it’s just such an improvement in quality of life. If I have to charge it, I grab my laptop and if I want to keep the noise to myself, I grab my headphones. There is no friction between me and playing the game I want to play. – Mitchell Clark, news writer

Creative BT-W3 Bluetooth receiver

It can be a lot of effort to find the right game chapter – one that is comfortable and compatible with most (or ideally) all your consoles. Few wireless solutions can do it all, but I really like using Creative’s BT-W3 USB-C Bluetooth receiver. It can be paired with Bluetooth headphones you already own, and it’s a smart and inexpensive purchase for around $ 40. It works seamlessly with PS5 and Nintendo Switch, and the USB-C-to-A adapter leaves it perfect working on a computer. Even better, this dongle can switch with low-latency and high-quality push-button codecs, and it comes with a 3.5mm microphone that you can plug into your controller to chat with friends. – Cameron Faulkner, author

HyperX QuadCast

I like to have the best sound possible, especially playing multiplayer games like CS: GO, Brave, or Tom Clancy’s The Division 2. Because microphone for game chapters will do just as much, I wanted a separate microphone for audio output. As I mentioned before, I chose the QuadCast.

At $ 140, it gives me a lot of clarity when I talk, user-friendly control panels and a shock adapter for boom frames. I also enjoy that the mute button is on top of the microphone. It may be unconventional, yet it is conveniently placed when using a tree arm, and it makes it easy to dampen myself. It also has a three-meter cable; I find it annoying that some companies like Blue give you a cable that is too short with their expensive USB microphones. – Taylor Lyles

Echogear Full Motion TV wall bracket

Here is a slightly unconventional entry that has significantly improved my quality of life, which is why I want to share it with everyone here: a complete TV montage. Recently I moved to a new, much smaller apartment. I had to find ways to maximize my space and, albeit jokingly, fit my pretty big PS5 somewhere. This is where the Echogear container comes into play.

The model I got is incredibly well built and strong enough to hold TVs at an angle. With my 55-inch LG CX, it’s flexible to use, and I can move it as needed to find the perfect angle – which I do, because another downside of my new location is that the windows are across the TV. I never thought I would use so much of a TV wall bracket. On top of that, TVs look very nice on the wall, and this is a fun little home improvement project. Just do not try it alone. – Vjeran Pavic, senior video director

Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick

I’m not a huge fan of flight simulators and can not justify spending hundreds of dollars on a complete HOTAS kit. But when I heard Star Wars: Squadrons would come out on a computer, I could not limit myself to playing on a keyboard or gamepad. I love Star Wars and wanted to make sure I could recreate the experience of flying with an X-Wing.

I got the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick for sale, and it’s really one of the best peripheral game purchases I’ve ever made. It features 12 programmable buttons, an eight-way hat switch and a nice handle for people using their right hand while playing games. If you’re like me and only need it for a few titles, you can not go wrong with this flight stick. – Taylor Lyles