In an impassioned end to his keynote address on the opening day of Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show in Bangkok, Dead Space creator and industry veteran Glen Schofield has declared that the games industry is in dire need of fixing, and he believes he knows just how to go about it.
“We need to fix the gaming industry right now,” said Schofield to a room of games industry professionals. “It's broken. It's beaten, it's battered, our developers are battered, they've been taking it on the chin for the last couple of years. We need to bring it back to what it was, right? Instead of all this negativity.”
The first and arguably most controversial step to take in Schofield’s opinion, is for the games industry to widely embrace the use of generative AI as a standard part of their development tool set.
“AI isn’t here to replace us,” continued Schofield. “It’s here to make us faster, better, and more efficient. And AI is for all of us, it really is. It’s not just for directors and artists, it’s for writers and marketing execs.
“So, I think [games industry] executives, owners, founders… Let's start training our people on AI. Start it as soon as you can. Who cares if I’m EA or Activision or Namco or whatever, we should be working together at least in training and training our people up. That would be a huge help because I know we’re going to start hiring people back again.”
Next up, Schofield believes that investors need to loosen their purse strings and start spending more on games development, as well as putting the right people in charge of each studio.
“Come on, investors and execs, let’s stop this madness,” said Schofield. “You want to make a AAA game for like eight million dollars? You gotta get your guts back again. If we start putting money into the industry again, we know it's going to make money.”
“To me, you picked the wrong people to run the teams, to run the games, right? In my opinion [you need] a big, creative person who’s running it. And then you put people around to help with this and that. That's the way I work these days, right? I still run my studio in ways but I have people to help now so I can be 100% or 98% on that. That’s what these games need. I saw some of the people that were chosen and they were really good people, but there's no way they were ready to direct a game.”
“So I said, let's start putting money in, do due diligence a little better on that. We know we're going to make money. But we have to make quality games, and you have to give them to the right people.”
Lastly, and perhaps most strangely given that he was presenting the opening keynote address at a rival games industry show, Schofield wished for the return of E3.
“Bring back E3,” said Schofield to soft applause. “I mean, come on. E3 is the granddaddy of them all. And I will tell you every single E3 that I went to made my games better. And I know there's no formula to show a [return on investment] on that, [but] every game got better when you went there. You talked with your friends, you talked with colleagues, everybody's thrilled to help you with the next technologies, or showing you mechanics. When the companies started going outside of E3 I knew this was the end, and I started boycotting those because [that] was not an industry that was working together, this is an industry that’s fragmented. And so now there’s no E3.”
Schofield concluded his address by reiterating that while he’s fully onboard with AI, the most important aspect of games development were the people making them, not the machines.
“Remember, ideas are the lifeblood of the industry,” said Schofield, speaking to the developers in attendance. “And those ideas? They come from you.”
How do you feel about Schofield’s plan to “fix” the games industry? Sound off in the comments below!
Tristan Ogilvie is a senior video editor at IGN's Australian office, currently attending Gamescom Asia x Thailand Game Show.
A new offline mode for Ubisoft’s The Crew 2 is available now, which will allow owners to play the racing MMO offline if desired. The functionality – dubbed Hybrid Mode – has been explained in full on the publisher’s website.
According to Ubisoft, Hybrid Mode gives us the “freedom to choose” how we want to play The Crew 2. That is, online mode (which is “the original experience as it was designed from the start, complete with multiplayer features, leaderboards, summits, and community sharing”) or offline mode (which the publisher describes as “a new experience”).
“Whether you’re looking to preserve your progression for the future or simply enjoy the freedom of playing without a connection, Hybrid Mode ensures The Crew 2 remains accessible for years to come,” explains the publisher.
To transfer progression into offline mode, players can simply select “Export to Offline Save” after a session online. Doing so will create a copy of current progression in the game’s multiplayer world stored locally on a personal PC or console. Ubisoft notes online and offline saves are separate, however, so progress made offline will not carry back over into online saves. Players will be able to re-export online saves to update offline files at any time.
Custom liveries will not transfer to offline saves.
An offline mode for The Crew 2 was announced last year in the wake of the the shutdown of the original game in March 2024. Disappointed players of The Crew (which was not a free-to-play game, but became inaccessible for its owners to play after its shutdown – even solo) were justifiably concerned about The Crew 2 suffering the same fate.
“We heard your concerns about access to The Crew games,” Ubisoft said at the time. “Today, we want to express our commitment to the future of The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest. We can confirm an offline mode to ensure long term access to both titles.”
Ubisoft was subsequently sued after the shutdown, a lawsuit the publisher responded to by insisting that buying a game doesn’t give players “unfettered ownership rights” to it, but rather only a “limited license to access the game.”
Luke is a Senior Editor on the IGN reviews team. You can track him down on Bluesky @mrlukereilly to ask him things about stuff.
The new Apple iPhone 17 is now available and as usual, the best way to score a deal on these new phones is through your preferred service provider. T-Mobile, now the best mobile network in the US (according to Ookla® Speedtest®), is already advertising a couple of promotions, including excellent trade-in values on older iPhone models. If you're porting your number over from another service, then you may not even need to trade in your existing phone.
Get up to $1,100 off the New Apple iPhone 17 Pro with Trade-In
Right now you can order a new Apple iPhone 17 Pro through T-Mobile and score up to $1,100 off in trade-in credit when you sign up for a new line on the Experience Beyond plan with AutoPay. Depending on which phone you trade in, you may be able to fully pay off a new iPhone 17 Pro 256GB phone (MSRP $1,099.99).
Here are the trade-in values T-Mobile has currently listed on its site. Note that other phones may also be eligible, but if that's the case, their values haven't been advertised yet:
iPhone 13 Pro - $1100 trade-in value
iPhone 12 Pro - $830 trade-in value
iPhone 6 - $550 trade-in value
The discount is applied in the form of 24 monthly bill credits. That means you will need to maintain your service for at least 2 years to get the maximum discount. The credits end if you terminate your contract early or you pay off your phone early. Note that there is also a $35 device connection charge and your account must remain in good standing.
The Experience Beyond plan costs $100 per month for a single line with AutoPay (plus taxes and fees). The plan gives you unlimited talk, text, and 5G premium data. Other perks include Netflix (Standard with ads), Apple TV+, and Hulu subscriptions, unlimited mobile hotspot, full-flight texting and Wi-Fi with streaming where available, phone upgrade eligibility every year, and a 5 year price guarantee. International travelers can also benefit from unlimited text and 30GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico and unlimited text and 15GB of high-speed data in over 215 other countries.
Get T-Mobile's "Apple iPhone 17 On Us" with No Trade-in Required
For those of you who don't plan on trading in an existing phone, you can still get an Apple iPhone 17 (MSRP $799.99) simply by switching over to T-Mobile from a competing service (AT&T, Verizon, Claro, UScellular, Xfinity, Spectrum, and Liberty PR) and signing up for a new line on an $85+/mo service with AutoPay. Similar to the iPhone 17 Pro trade-in promotion, the discount is paid out across 24 monthly bill credits. That means you will need to maintain your service for at least 2 years to get the maximum discount. A $35 device connection charge also applies.
The Experience More plan costs $85 per month for a single line with AutoPay (plus taxes and fees). Like the Experience Beyond plan, you get unlimited talk, text, and 5G premium data, but not as many extra perks. Benefits include Netflix (Standard with ads) and Apple TV+ subscriptions. 60GB of mobile hotspot, full-flight texting and Wi-Fi with streaming where available, phone upgrade eligibility every two years, and a 5 year price guarantee. You also get unlimited text and 15GB of high-speed data in Canada and Mexico and unlimited text and 5GB of high-speed data in other countries.
For more info, check the math at T-Mobile.com/Switch.
For a Third Option, Skip the Bill Credits and Buy the Phone Outright, Then Sign Up for the $25 Metro by T-Mobile Plan
You might think buying an iPhone outright isn't really a deal, and technically you'd be correct, but there's a good chance that you might actually be saving money in the long run. If you're looking to purchase an iPhone 7 and don't expect to replace it in a year or two, the Metro by T-Mobile BYOD plan might end up being the best choice for you.
The Metro by T-Mobile plan offers one line of unlimited talk, text, and 5G data for $30 for the first month and $25 per month afterwards with AutoPay. Taxes and fees are already included. You're guaranteed this price for 5 years, although being a prepaid plan, you're free to opt out at any time. In addition, you get perks like Scam Shield, which enables Caller ID and blocks or redirects spam calls, and T-Mobile Tuesdays, a program that gives you access to freebies and exclusive discounts every Tuesday. Note that speeds may slow if you go over a soft cap of greater than 35GB per month.
The Metro plan only costs $25 per month, compared to $85 for the Experience More plan and $100 for the Experience Beyond plan. That's a difference of $60-$70 every month on your phone bill. If you hold onto your phone for 3 years, you're saving $2,160 to $2,520 on your bill. That's plenty of savings to afford your next iPhone upgrade down the line.
Apple recently released three iPhone models: the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max. The Apple iPhone 17 starts at $799.99 and is available in both 256GB and 512GB capacities. Major upgrades include a slightly larger 6.3" OLED display with 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, a more powerful A19 processor, higher resolution ultra-wide and selfie cameras, and longer battery life with faster charging.
The Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max start at $1,099.99 ($1,199.99 for the Pro Max) and are available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB capacities. They carry over the same 6.3" and 6.9" screens of their predecessors but the screens are 50% brighter with up to 3,000nit rating. Other upgrades include an A19 Pro processor with more RAM, higher resolution ultra-wide and selfie-cameras, and longer battery life and faster charging.
The iPhone 16 Plus has been replaced by the new iPhone 17 Air. It starts at $999.99 and is available in 256GB, 512G, and 1TB capacities. The iPhone 17 Air measures only 0.22" thin and weighs less than 6 ounces. It features a 6.5" 120Hz ProMotion display with up to 2,000nits of brightness and the new A19 Pro processor (although with fewer GPU cores than the iPhone 17 Pro model). The thin form factor limits this phone to a single 48MP ultra-wide rear camera, although you do also get the new 18MP Center Stage selfie cam.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Thank your own personal deity (possibly Raiden) it's Friday! I've gone and found some great bargains to round out your week and make your days off amazing. Whether you're hunting dragons, chasing ghosts, or assembling Hogwarts brick by brick, there's something worth snagging before these bargains vanish.
In retro news, I'm celebrating the 22nd bday of Animal Crossing. This was it, campers, the OG concept that somehow pivoted from a failed 64DD dungeon-crawler RPG to a non-linear life sim where Nintendo warned me about the soul-crush of mortgages. Be that as it may, this game delighted almost everybody at the time (personally, I was sold by the fishing and 19 [free!!!] NES games). From this blueprint, AC spawned a 6-game empire that's still going strong today with 81M copies sold, which must be an insane amount of bells.
On Switch, Cyberpunk 2077: Ult. NS2 gives Nintendo owners a taste of Night City. I played it at launch elsewhere, and it's wild seeing how well this version runs. Metroid Prime 4, meanwhile, is the long-awaited sequel fans have been dreaming about since the GameCube days, with Samus looking sharper than ever.
Cyberpunk 2077: Ult. NS2 (-18%)A$99 - A massive sci-fi RPG packed with DLC and next-gen polish. Runs impressively on Switch 2, bringing Night City chaos to handheld form for the first time.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (-23%)A$69 - Samus returns in her long-awaited first-person adventure. Expect moody exploration, alien shootouts, and a cinematic continuation of the Prime saga.
Pokémon Legends: Z-A (-23%)A$69 - Game Freak’s next big evolution of the series promises an open-world adventure in Lumiose City. Looking like huge creature variety and urban exploration.
Dragon Ball Fighterz (-46%)A$44.90 - Arc System Works nails the anime brawl aesthetic with crisp visuals and technical 3v3 combat. Still one of the finest competitive fighters on Switch.
Rune Factory 5 (-31%)A$51.90 - A cozy farming-sim and dungeon-crawler hybrid where romance and rune magic meet. A charming pick for Stardew Valley fans craving more RPG flavour.
Over on Xbox Series X, Monster Hunter Rise remains one of Capcom's best co-op grinds. I’ve spent way too many nights chasing rare carves with mates and a fridge full of energy drinks. And Alan Wake 2 is still the gold standard for psychological horror this generation. Remedy’s knack for weird meta storytelling makes this one unforgettable.
Monster Hunter Rise (-75%)A$14.20 - Capcom’s monster-slaying juggernaut goes well on Xbox with silky 4K performance. Includes Sunbreak mechanics and cross-play support for the ultimate grind fest.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (-62%)A$19 - Ubisoft’s reboot delivers fast, fluid platforming and sharp combat. A slick mix of classic Metroidvania exploration and Persian myth flair.
Hogwarts Legacy (-57%)A$47.10 - A spellbinding open-world RPG set in the Wizarding World’s golden age. Explore the castle, learn forbidden spells, and fly freely on broomstick patrols.
Fatal Fury: CotW Spec. (-67%)A$30 - SNK’s fighter revival brings back classic faces with new-age flair. A strong contender for modern 2D brawler fans who love tight combos and nostalgia.
Alan Wake 2 (-70%)A$27.20 - Remedy’s psychological thriller continues its eerie meta-narrative. Dual protagonists, moody visuals, and storytelling mastery make it unmissable for horror fans.
Xbox One
Diablo III: Eternal Col. (-67%)A$32.90 - Blizzard’s hack-and-slash classic with all expansions included. Still absurdly fun solo or in couch co-op, even years later.
Alien: Isolation (-75%)A$14.90 - One of gaming’s most terrifying experiences. This stealth survival gem still captures Ridley Scott’s horror with impeccable atmosphere and AI tension.
Mortal Kombat 11 Ult. (-85%)A$13.40 - Fatalities, friendships, and time travel chaos. Packed with DLC fighters, this is the goriest, most content-rich MK yet.
PS5-wise, The Witcher 3 Comp. still reigns as the most generous RPG package on the market. CD Projekt Red’s free upgrades keep Geralt’s adventures looking fresh. And Dead Space remains one of the most atmospheric horror remakes in years. The reworked zero-g sections are simply brilliant.
Battlefield 6 (-18%)A$89 - EA’s next-gen shooter pushes scale and spectacle. Massive maps, destructible cities, and revamped vehicles make this a big-budget adrenaline hit.
Dragon's Dogma 2 (-30%)A$75.40 - Capcom’s cult fantasy RPG returns with bigger monsters, better AI pawns, and breathtaking environments. A must-play for fans of masochists.
The Witcher 3 Comp. (-80%)A$15.50 - The complete Geralt saga in stunning 4K. Includes all DLC and next-gen updates for one of the best RPGs ever made.
This War of Mine: Comp. (-90%)A$4 - A bleak but brilliant survival sim about civilians in wartime. Emotional storytelling meets tough moral choices.
Dead Space (-80%)A$21.90 - The 2023 remake nails the sci-fi horror atmosphere. Dismember necromorphs aboard the Ishimura with gorgeous lighting and enhanced sound design.
PS4
Shin Megami Tensei III HD (-56%)A$31 - Atlus’ dark classic returns with modern enhancements. Expect demonic negotiations, brutal turn-based fights, and an unforgettable post-apocalyptic Tokyo.
Super Bomberman R 2 (-54%)A$33 - A chaotic party favourite with explosive multiplayer and new castle defense modes. Great for couch sessions with friends.
One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4 (-47%)A$37 - Massive musou action meets anime flair. Sail the Grand Line and annihilate thousands of foes in this satisfying brawler.
All-Timers Worth Tracking Not current, but amazing
On PC, Lost Judgment blends noir detective work with wild Yakuza brawls. I love tailing suspects one minute and then clobbering thugs with bicycles the next. Dead Cells, on the other hand, is pixel-perfect action with roguelike replayability that never grows old.
Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 (-55%)A$40.40 - Ultramarine carnage returns. Crisp visuals and visceral melee gunplay make this sequel one of 2025’s most anticipated shooters.
NBA 2K26 (-30%)A$69.90 - Visual Concepts brings new ProPLAY upgrades, smoother animations, and deeper MyCareer systems. An annual staple for hoops fans.
Metaphor: ReFantazio (-51%)A$56.90 - Atlus crafts a dreamlike RPG that fuses Persona-style combat with medieval fantasy. Stylish, surreal, and loaded with creative worldbuilding.
Lost Judgment (-75%)A$24.90 - A gripping detective action game from RGG Studio. Mix brawling, tailing missions, and schoolyard subplots in Tokyo’s neon alleys.
Dead Cells (-56%)A$15.80 - The roguelite that keeps on giving. Tight combat, endless runs, and DLC support make this one a permanent fixture on my SSD.
Adam Mathew is a passionate connoisseur, a lifelong game critic, and an Aussie deals wrangler who genuinely wants to hook you up with stuff that's worth playing (but also cheap). He plays practically everything, sometimes on YouTube.
If you're looking to upgrade your gaming PC and want to keep your budget to about $1,500, then one deal stands out above all the rest. Walmart is offering a well-equipped iBuypower Slate gaming PC for just $1,519.99 with free delivery. It features a liquid-cooled AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU, Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The Radeon RX 9070 XT is an outstanding GPU that can run games in 4K, even the latest titles such as Borderlands 4 and Battlefield 6.
iBuypower Element Pro Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming PC $1520
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is still one of the best gaming CPUs
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D has an established reputation of being one of the best gaming CPUs available. It's a slightly older model that has been replaced by the newer Ryzen 9 98000X3D, but it is still one of the best gaming CPUs you can get today. According to Passmark, the 7800X3D's gaming performance surpasses that of the latest generation Intel Core Ultra 7 265K. The 7800X3D is also more efficient than the 9800X3D, which means it will consume less power and produce less heat (and thus less noise because your fans don't need to spin as fast).
The Radeon RX 9070 XT can run most games in 4K at 60fps or higher
We rated the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT a "perfect" 10/10. Even though it costs $150 less than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, the 9070 XT beats it out in several of the games we tested. In a few benchmarks, the results aren't even close. The 9070 XT is also comparable in performance to the older $1,000 RX 7900 XTX but with better ray tracing and upscaling performance than its predecessor. It does lose out on VRAM (16GB vs 24GB), but that isn't really an issue for gaming. By "4K ready" I mean that this gaming PC can run pretty much any game at 4K resolution and at framerates of 60fps or higher. Any video card that's weaker and you'll have to compromise in order to get playable framerates.
Hardware Unboxed Benched the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT Graphics Card During the Battlefield 6 Open Beta
For those of you looking to upgrade your rig for Battlefield 6, which comes out Friday, Hardware Unboxed tested out a few different Radeon RX 9070 XT configurations in-game. At 4K and with the maximum "Ultra" preset, the RX 9070 XT rig maintained an average of 70-85fps with a 1% low of 67fps. This was tested with both lower-end AMD Ryzen 5 and higher-end AMD Ryzen 7 X3D processors and the performance difference was minimal, especially at higher resolutions (1440p and 4K) where games are typically less CPU limited. What's also impressive is that the GeForce RTX 5080 equipped PC only averaged about 8%-12% better, even though that GPU would cost you $1,000 or more.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Baseus recently released a new "ultra mini" variant of its Picogo MagSafe power banks, and it certainly lives up to its name. Right now you can save 40% off the 5,000mAh Qi2-certified model when you apply coupon code "NCC6Q5A5" in cart, dropping the price to just $29.99 with free shipping. Baseus makes solid power banks and I recommend them as a less expensive alternative to Anker.
Baseus Picogo Ultra Mini 5,000mAh Qi2 MagSafe Power Bank
The Baseus Picogo Ultra Mini 5,000mAh power bank measures 3.4" by 2.3", about the size of a standard credit card. It's about 0.5" thick making it one of the thinnest MagSafe chargers out there, however it will still add noticeably to the overall dimensions of your phone. It's also very lightweight, coming in at just under 5 ounches. There's also a handy little kickstand so you can properly angle your phone while setting it down to watch videos.
This model has been updated with the newer Qi2/MagSafe standard, which means it can deliver up to 15W of wireless charging, double the rate of the first generation's 7.5W of inductive charging. When you need even faster charging, a USB Type-C port offers up to 20W of Power Delivery.
The previous generation model is even cheaper
If you're looking for something less expensive, the previous generation Picogo is also on sale for $14.99 after coupon code "NE6FGGPA". It's also very compact and holds the same 5,000mAh battery capacity. The main difference is that this model uses the older Q1 wireless charging standard with up to 7.5W of inductive charging.
How many times can you charge your phone?
Macworld lists these power consumption specs (in Whr) for the iPhone 16:
iPhone 16: 3,561mAh 13.7Whr
iPhone 16 Plus: 4,674mAh 18Whr
iPhone 16 Pro: 3,582mAh 13.8Whr
iPhone 16 Pro Max: 4,685mAh 18Whr
A 5,000mAh power bank carries an 18.5Whr capacity. An 80% power efficiency rating (which is about standard for power banks) gives you about 15Whr of available charge. That means this power bank will extend your iPhone 16 Plus or Pro Max battery life by up to 80% and the iPhone 16/Pro by over 100%.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Knights Peak and Windup have released a new gameplay trailer for their upcoming cozy open-world adventure game, Hela. In this game, you’ll see the world through the eyes of a brave mouse in an enchanting 3D adventure. Players will explore stunning lands inspired by Scandinavia, solve puzzles, and bring hope to a world filled with … Continue reading Hela is a new open-world adventure game from the devs of Unravel→
Marc-Alexis Côté says he was offered a role at Vantage Studios, "but it did not carry the same scope, mandate, or continuity with the work I had been entrusted with."
There’s a plethora of great gaming mice out there. But more so than picking out a great gaming headset, finding the right mouse has a lot to do with personal preference. Don’t get me wrong, when reviewing gaming mice, several factors make some demonstrably better than others, but you’ll want to consider things like weight, size, ergonomics, extra buttons, or even what types of games you play. Because of this, I’ve broken down my picks for best gaming mouse based on a number of categories to help you make the best choice for your needs.
For example, the Logitech G502 X Lightspeed is one of the most comfortable mice that prioritizes ergonomics, but I would recommend the Viper V3 Pro to those who want an edge in competitive rounds of Valorant. Some may even want a versatile gaming mouse that makes sense in work settings with good Bluetooth and battery life, which the Turtle Beach Pure Air fits admirably. Meanwhile, those extra buttons on the Corsair Scimitar Elite sure look nice to those who want to program all their MMO/MOBA commands off the keyboard. But if I had to just choose one mouse out of them all as a blanket recommendation, the DeathAdder V4 Pro from Razer gets my vote. Throughout this guide, I break down my hands-on experience with each of the gaming mice I recommend to showcase why I think they’re the right fit for their category.
TL;DR – These Are the Best Gaming Mice
Of course, these aren’t the only great gaming mice – products have matured over the years so features like sensor accuracy, responsiveness, and durability are better than ever, and anything worth its salt will have those bases covered. That said, there are still many aspects to consider when it comes to new technologies and features being crammed into modern mice. With that in mind, at the end of the guide I’ve outlined some important questions to ask when looking for a gaming mouse on your own. And as always, we’ll update this guide with new recommendations as we get hands on and review more gaming mice in the future, so be sure to check back whenever you need some buying advice.
Razer's Deathadder has lived high on this list for years, and each version just gets better. The V4 Pro is no exception: Razer has upgraded everything from the sensor to the scrollwheel, and although some of the changes are incremental they add up to a noticeable leap forward.
This is a light, comfortable, sturdy, competitive gaming mouse that doesn't look flashy – no RGB or obnoxious logos – but has specs you can boast about. The 45K sensor is overkill, as is the 8K polling rate, but this is the kind of mouse you could buy and keep for years as you upgrade the rest of your setup.
I gave it a 9 in my review: It performed flawlessly in every game I tried, with precise tracking and ultra-responsive clicks on both its main two buttons and the two side buttons. It's comfortable to use for hours at a time no matter what grip you favor, and I even like the USB dongle it comes with, which has three indicator lights to tell you everything you need about your mouse at a glance. The cherry on top is the battery, which will last 150 hours at 1K polling rate. That's more than I'll ever need.
It is expensive – $10 more than the Viper V3 Pro, another top-of-the-line mouse on this list – but $169.99 is by no means absurd for a mouse that feels cutting edge. It's going to take something special to knock it off the top spot.
2. SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2
Best Budget Gaming Mouse
The SteelSeries Rival's 8,500 DPI sensor is nothing special and you'll find lower latency mice on this list, but it's still more than accurate and responsive enough for competitive gaming, and its 1000Hz polling rate is plenty for most people. At only $34.99, its solid performance in nailing all the basics feels like a steal.
This is a compact USB wired mouse designed for claw or fingertip grip (if you're a palmer, look elsewhere). You get a fully programmable RGB lighting on the base, which feels and looks tasteful while still giving the mouse a bit of personality, and the Gen 2 version comes in both white and black.
The Gen 2 also upgrades this mouse in some subtle, but important, ways that I note in my review. Alongside lower click latency, it has new 100% PTFE feet, which should make it glide smoother, and an upgraded cord that should last longer and tangle less often. Those changes make it even easier to recommend the Rival 3 for anyone wanting to game on a budget.
3. SteelSeries Aerox 3 Wireless
Best Budget Wireless Gaming Mouse
Sticking with SteelSeries, the Aerox 3 is a flashy mouse that looks loud. The triangular cutouts at the palm and the bright RGB may seem over the top, but in actual use, its effects are quite nice (which you can customize through SteelSeries’ software). If you’re worried about damaging the internals, they’re guarded so it's not actuallyexposed. None of that would matter if the Aerox 3 wasn’t fit for gaming, and thankfully it’s one of my favorite wireless mice you can get on sale for around $50 to $60. That makes it a great value for an all-rounder.
In our Aerox 3 gaming mouse review, it earned a 9 for holding its own in competitive shooters with SteelSeries’ TrueMove Air optical sensor (topping out at 18,000 DPI) while not having to eat up too much battery – although battery life has evolved in brand new wireless mice, the Aerox 3 still isn’t a slouch and charges fast, if anything. It’s a bit tough to find a flashy, high-performance wireless mouse at this price range, making the Aerox 3 my current recommendation for a budget wireless mouse.
4. Logitech G403 Hero
Best Wired Gaming Mouse
The Logitech G403 has been a personal favorite for many years as I see it as the spiritual successor to my all-time favorite, the MX 518 from decades ago. Its grooves and super grippy rubberized texture on the sides make it easy to pick up and swipe around despite it being a bit on the heavier side of mice (although I will admit that the material picks up grime more so than others). I really like how large the G403 is since I have big hands, and that makes a palm grip very comfortable. However, its size is something to note if you prefer something smaller.
One thing I’ve always loved about it more than even brand-new top-line mice is the chunky and clicky side buttons – this makes them easy to use and distinguish from one another, which is helpful since I use them often. It’s outfitted with the same super-accurate Hero sensor as all of Logitech’s high-performance mice, making it a great value to get the same quality sensor in a reasonably-priced wired mouse. I also just like the simple aesthetic of the Logitech G product line, especially with this one being rounded and elegant with just the Logitech “G” and scroll wheel strip giving a bit of RGB lighting to boot.
5. Logitech G703 Hero
Best Wireless Gaming Mouse
This pick is kind of an easy one considering the praise I gave the Logitech G403 – that’s because the Logitech G703 is essentially the same mouse, but wireless. It shares the same dimensions as its wired counterpart, save that it weighs a bit more (95g) because of the battery, but you get all the same high-performance tech and ergonomic upside, just without the wire.
Despite it being ever so slightly on the heavier side of other wireless mice I’ve recommended in recent years, the G703 still feels easy to wield because its weight distribution makes it nicely balanced. The rubberized grips also help keep it secure in your hand, so it takes some of the load off of you as you’re lifting and swiping the mouse in gaming scenarios. And as I said earlier, the Hero 25K optical sensor makes Logitech mice some of the best in business in terms of tracking accuracy. It’s a bigger mouse, so again, take note of whether or not you prefer something larger (effectively making it wonderful for palm grips).
6. Razer Viper V3 Pro
Best FPS Gaming Mouse
To get the most out of the Razer Viper V3 Pro, you have to be pretty serious about competitive shooters – which I can be, at times, without getting toxic. It shares a lot of similarities with the year-old DeathAdder V3, but there are a few key differences that set it apart for those who want the absolute best performance, whether or not it be the determining factor in wins or losses.
The Viper V3 Pro is capable of a polling rate up to 8000Hz, meaning it sends inputs to your PC at a much faster rate than typical 1000Hz mice. However, that difference is very hard to notice without the right scenario. It’s much more noticeable at high resolutions and higher refresh/frame rates since the increased input rate will actually translate on screen to smoother and snappier tracking. I could feel that difference when I gave the Viper V3 Pro a 9 in my review, and while I can’t say it made me a better player, it was noticeable.
Even if you are using this mouse at the standard 1000Hz (which is plenty fast for competitive play), it does everything else right on top. The wider surface area of the mouse feet help it glide effortlessly on my mouse pad, and the springy clicks are very responsive for rapid fire. It’s a symmetrical mouse, so it may not gel with right-handed players quite as well as the DeathAdder, but the Viper V3’s size, weight, and texture make it a fantastic fit for fast-paced shooters. The only annoying part about it is that you have to use the HyperPolling receiver to use the mouse wirelessly, and the receiver requires a USB cable for connectivity. This mouse was designed with competitive FPS games in mind, so if that’s your priority, you won’t mind this slight compromise at all.
7. Corsair Scimitar Elite
Best MMO/MOBA Gaming Mouse
I tend to stick with normal-style mice regardless of the game I’m playing, but whenever I do try out a new multi-button mouse designed for MMORPGs or MOBAs, I always compare it to the Corsair Scimitar. And with the latest iteration in the Scimitar Elite, I’ve yet to find one that can top what Corsair seems to have perfected.
It’s a tricky thing to juggle; having upwards of 12 side buttons across your thumb while still being ergonomically sensible to use like a normal mouse is no easy feat. Still, I wasn’t afraid of accidentally activating one of the side buttons because they have a necessary firmness to them, which is what makes the Scimitar Elite so good. Those side buttons also have a nice tactile surface to them. By alternating the texture type of each column of buttons, it’s easy to distinguish which set of buttons you’re touching, and in turn, pressing down. It’s a simple and smart design, and I’d be hard-pressed to think of a way a new model or different brand can improve on what the Scimitar Elite already does.
Granted, this is a heavy mouse given all the buttons and additional internals required to make it all work, but this isn’t a mouse you’ll be swiping frantically for lining up flick shots in a Counter-Strike match. Although we’re here to focus on gaming, the 12 side buttons also come in handy in video production, photo editing, or data management since you can map shortcuts to them. It's a pretty hyper-specific niche to fill, but after hands-on testing of the Corsair Scimitar Elite is an easy recommendation if you prefer this style of mouse and can benefit from its features in MMOs or MOBAs,
8. Turtle Beach Pure Air
Most Versatile Gaming Mouse
I’ve found Turtle Beach mice to be a little hit-or-miss, but the Pure Air is a definite hit for me. It strikes a nice balance of being good for gaming while being a great work-style mouse thanks to its long battery life, light weight, ergonomic shape, and Bluetooth connectivity. The deep thumb groove lets the mouse fit like a glove, and because it’s more compact than most gaming mice, it’s easier to wield with limited space.
And even if I want to squeeze in some game time in Final Fantasy XIV or make progress in a single player game, it can still perform at a high level. I used it extensively while raiding in FFXIV while testing it out for review, and realized I hadn’t skipped a beat in terms of keeping up with how hectic that game can get. Granted, all of my critical actions are mapped to my keyboard, but at least the Pure Air was comfortable for long sessions. The only noticeable drawback during that time was the side buttons, which are fairly thin and tough to distinguish since they don’t have a gap to feel between them. Otherwise, it’s my favorite mouse to take on the go when I’m traveling and have work to do, since its Bluetooth connectivity adds versatility. And when I’m not on the go, I know that the 2.4GHz dongle means I can game without much compromise.
9. HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini
Best Small Gaming Mouse
It’s a bit tough to find compact versions of popular gaming mice, which helps the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini stand out and shine bright. The original Pulsefire Haste 2 is a great mouse to begin with (and oddly enough, its larger size was one of my favorite aspects about it), but shrinking that down to something noticeably smaller is more than just a novelty as I found in my review. It still sports a sleek look with a bit of RGB flair and still has a grippy material necessary for a fingertip-style grip, which is how I use a mouse this small. However, the reduction in overall height and depth (or rather, vertical length) make it easier to wield.
Those with smaller hands might not have fun with the likes of the larger Logitech G703 or Razer Viper V3 Pro, but with something like the Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini, they don’t have to make many (if any) compromises when it comes to gaming performance. You can find mice even smaller or lighter, but HyperX is able to include the high-performance Precision 26K sensor and long battery life, which are key features for a proper gaming mouse. It also includes Bluetooth connectivity which adds some versatility as a mouse to take on the go for work. So, beyond just being the shrunken counterpart, the Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini is a solid all-rounder as well.
10. Asus ROG Keris II Ace
Best Lightweight Gaming Mouse
On paper, the Asus ROG Keris II Ace roughly shares the same weight as other “lightweight” branded counterparts, but the reason why I’d recommend it if you’re prioritizing lightness specifically is because of its weight distribution. Even as I’m typing this, I’m switching between the DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed and the Keris II Ace to make sure that I’m not misremembering the time I reviewed these mice – and yes, Asus’ mouse has the slight edge in this regard. It contours specifically for right-handed use, which makes it fit gracefully into my hand, making both palm and claw grips comfortable.
It wouldn’t be a proper gaming mouse if it also didn’t perform, and not only does it come with the AimPoint Pro sensor with a whopping 42,000 DPI, it's also capable of a 8000Hz polling rate. As I mentioned when talking about the Viper V3 Pro, higher than 1000Hz polling rate is only going to be beneficial, let alone noticeable, under specific circumstances (high refresh rate and frame rate at high resolutions). And with all those factors accounted for, I was noticing smoother mouse tracking, so not only are you getting the best in the lightweight category, it’s also a pro-level mouse in terms of performance. In my ROG Keris II Ace review, I gave it an 8 due to a few shortcomings like the texture being a tad bit slick and clicks having a slight squish, but it excels in every other aspect.
11. Logitech G502 X Lightspeed
Best Ergonomic Gaming Mouse
If you want a true ergonomic gaming mouse you'll need an upright mouse or a trackball, but if you want a comfy mouse that will both cradle your hand and track your movements accurately, then the Logitech G502 X Lightspeed is a good pick. Its deep thumb groove and curvy body suit any grip, and when I tested it for my review I used it for multiple long gaming sessions without any aches or pains.
It has far more extra buttons than most gaming mice, with three on the side for your thumb and two on top, next to your main left click. Mapping controls to those buttons – or even commands outside of games – will help keep your keyboard hand rested, too. And although it's slightly larger and heavier than most mice, it's not as big and hefty as you might think by looking at it. If you've got slightly smaller-than-average hands, or bigger, you'll be absolutely fine. My one gripe is that if you use a palm grip, you might find it tricky to reach one of the side thumb buttons, but that's not a big enough flaw to stop me recommending it.
As a mouse from 2022, it's starting to show its age: It only goes up to 1K polling rate, lower than many of its competitors, and none of its buttons feel quite as satisfying as the best more contemporary mice. But the benefit is that it's often on sale, and you can regularly find it for around $100. It's solid value at that price.
The X Plus is the version with RGB, but the Lightspeed has better battery life, is slightly lighter, and has a lower retail price.
Gaming Mouse FAQ
How do you determine what makes a good gaming mouse?
Much of what makes a good gaming mouse comes down to your personal preferences or what exactly you want to get out of a mouse. For example, I wouldn’t recommend the Viper V3 Pro to someone who wants a compact versatile mouse that’s still good for gaming – but I would for an aspiring Valorant pro! While I certainly have my own preferences, testing and reviewing a wide variety of mice over the years has opened me up to the intricacies between different models, giving me the opportunity to experience first-hand what makes one better than another.
The first thing you’ll want to consider is your preferred grip style: palm, claw, or fingertip. Generally, a bigger mouse is a better choice for palm grips while lighter and smaller mice are better suited for fingertip grips. Do you like having a more ergonomic feel with deep-set grooves for your thumb and pinky to help hold onto the mouse? Does using something super lightweight matter more for when you’re whipping the mouse around during clutch moments in Counter-Strike 2? For me, I gravitate towards the latter since I’m most comfortable with a claw grip.
Again, it comes down to preference, but reviews will illustrate the way different mice contour to the user’s hands and how weight factors into whether or not it is easy to wield. Some mice are ambidextrous/symmetrical, which should work just fine for right-handed users while giving lefties out there a viable option. However, mice built specifically for right-hand use may fit more like a glove for, well, right-handed players.
Button feel is a tough thing to suss out when researching mice, but I make it a point in my mouse reviews to determine the squishiness or springiness of mouse clicks since that’s an important factor for both comfort and performance. Manufacturers tend to differ on the kinds of mechanical switches used from mouse to mouse, but the more firm and tactile the clicking feels, the better, since it helps with rapid firing in shooters or repeated clicks in MMOs/MOBAs.
Another feature that’s become standard is programmable side buttons. Most mice offer two around the thumb area, but they come in all shapes and sizes. Comfortable positioning and being easy to actuate in a moment's notice are things we account for when determining whether or not a mouse’s side buttons are good. You may also be interested in mice that go the extra mile with additional buttons, such as the ergonomic-minded Logitech G502 or the MMO/MOBA powerhouse that is the Corsair Scimitar Elite – they’re nowhere near as nimble as other mice, but that’s the compromise they make to offer those unique benefits.
Another variable to account for is the sensor, which tracks movement. Almost every brand name gaming-grade mouse today is equipped with an accurate and fast optical sensor that’s more than enough to line up shots in a competitive shooter. A higher maximum DPI (dots-per-inch, which is one variable that affects sensitivity) used to be shorthand for a mouse’s performance ceiling, but it has gotten to the point of diminishing returns.
What’s the deal with high polling rate on gaming mice?
Gaming mice come standard with a 1000Hz polling rate nowadays, which means your mouse updates your PC with movements and inputs every millisecond (1 ms). That’s plenty fast for most gamers, but a recent trend born out of the esports world is equipping mice with higher polling rates – up to 8000 Hz. Pro-grade mice such as the Razer Viper V3 Pro and Asus Keris II Ace are capable of this, offering polling rates of 1000Hz, 2000Hz, 4000Hz, and 8000Hz. It’s technically impressive, but does it really affect performance? It can, under specific circumstances.
Polling Rate
Response Time
Battery Life*
1000Hz
1ms
100 hours
2000Hz
0.5ms
70 hours
4000Hz
0.25ms
40 hours
8000Hz
0.125ms
20 hours
* General range using the Razer DeathAdder V3 HyperSpeed as an example.
Polling rate doesn’t necessarily reduce latency, rather it increases the frequency at which your mouse movements are read. This can lead to an increase in smoothness since your PC is picking up and tracking the more incremental movements. Basically, polling rate is the measurement of how often the mouse sends data to your device (see chart above).
However, you won’t be able to actually reap the benefits if the rest of the input pipeline isn’t up to snuff. Two things to keep in mind are the resolution you’re playing at and the refresh rate of your screen. With higher pixel density (and screen space), the more those incremental movements matter. But also, higher refresh rates (such as 144 Hz and above) are important too. To benefit from those high refresh rates, your PC needs to be powerful enough to produce the high frame rates to match. In other words, there’s a lot that goes into PC gaming before you can start to notice the advantage of a mouse’s higher polling rate.
Part of me thinks of it as tech simply striving for higher numbers, but I must admit I feel a difference when using a higher polling rate (when the aforementioned conditions are met). And in the esports scene, those seemingly negligible differences can certainly help. Which is to say, don’t go out and get a 8000 Hz mouse and think you’ll reach Radiant in ranked Valorant without putting in the work.
Should I go wired or wireless for a gaming mouse?
Similar to optical sensors with fast and accurate tracking, wireless technology has gotten to the point where it’s very much imperceptible to tell the difference in input latency between wired and wireless mice. The standardization of the 2.4 GHz wireless receiver makes mouse performance consistent across several brands and models, so it’s not something you’ll need to account for when looking for a good gaming mouse. Various brands will put fancy names on proprietary tech, like Razer’s HyperSpeed or Logitech’s Lightspeed, but those are wireless technologies that are legitimately high-performing. Some mice also come fitted with Bluetooth connectivity, which makes them versatile in work or casual settings, but under no circumstances should you use a mouse in Bluetooth mode for intense gaming scenarios.
Another feature that has evolved substantially over the years is battery life on wireless mice. Plenty of variables go into battery life, and usually the rating you get from a manufacturer’s website is likely under the best conditions. But even with RGB lighting and sophisticated sensors and wireless technologies, you can get decent battery life that’ll last for a few days of constant use before having to charge. Every modern gaming mouse is chargeable through USB-C and can be used like a wired mouse when plugged in, too. As indicated in the chart above with regards to polling rate, the higher it is, the more power it’ll drain since you’re essentially asking your mouse to work much harder.
Many flagship mice have wired and wireless versions available – such as the DeathAdder V4 or the Scimitar Elite, for example – and of course, the wireless ones are more expensive. So if you don’t really care much for having wireless capabilities, you can save some money by opting for the wired mice. Note that if you’re interested in higher polling rates, it’s currently restricted to wireless mice, which also tends to tack on a few extra bucks onto the price tag.
Michael Higham is the tech reviews editor at IGN and has been very particular about his gaming mice since rocking a Logitech MX 518 like a decade ago. Having grown up playing Counter-Strike 1.6, and now keeping up with the Valorant competitive scene, having the right mouse has been important in his mind, even though he should just get good first.
Full spoilers of Season 3 of The Diplomat, now streaming on Netflix, ahead.
The highest praise I can give the new season of The Diplomat – Netflix’s gripping, propulsive, and often hilarious political thriller starring Keri Russell and Rufus Sewell – is that that it blends the ingredients of the best political TV shows of the past 25 years (The West Wing, Veep, and House of Cards to name a few) into something comfortingly familiar yet wholly unique.
The series follows Kate Wyler (Russell), the United States’s Ambassador to the UK, as she navigates intrigue and political turmoil in what is normally a stress-free post. When a British warship is attacked and scores of sailors are killed in Season 1, Wyler and her sometimes-estranged husband / fellow diplomat Hal (played by Sewell) are drawn into a web of life-and-death political stakes involving everyone from the British Prime Minister to the President of the United States.
Season 2’s big twist revealed that Vice President Grace Penn (Allison Janney in a delicious, scene-chewing performance) masterminded the attack in an effort to prevent Scotland from seceding from the UK (which would have jeopardized the United States’s ability to dock their nuclear submarines in Europe). Season 2 ends with the American president William Rayburn suddenly dying and Penn assuming office.
Season 3 begins right where Season 2 left off, with Penn elevated to the presidency and the Wylers left scrambling to figure out where they fall in the new world order. In an early twist, Kate – who in Season 1 was thrust into the role of ambassador in part as an audition to replace Penn as VP – is passed over for the job, which goes to Hal instead. Kate decides to stay in London while Hal moves to Washington, adding a literal ocean to the metaphorical one already dividing their marriage.
Russell and Sewell are the dual heartbeats of the show. Their characters are wholly unique and together consistently exhibit a portrait of a marriage under fire – often figurative, sometimes literal. Every scene they share is filled with both tension and understanding – they’re the only people in the world who truly understand each other, but most of the time they can’t stand to be in the same room, much less the same bed.
The Wylers’ relationship stands in relief to President Penn’s marriage to her husband Todd (played in a brilliant casting move by Janney’s old West Wing costar Bradley Whitford). Todd is supportive of his wife’s new role as president even as he’s left wondering how to step into the role of what he jokingly refers to as “First Lady.” Janney infuses Penn’s morally questionable motives with a sense of determination and strength that constantly drives the plot. The acting here is so good that when Janney gets to share scenes with Whitford, you completely forget they ever played affable colleagues on The West Wing.
Whitford and Janney’s on-screen chemistry is on full display during a late-season scene that shows why The Diplomat may be the only true successor to the iconic comedy Veep. In the scene, the Wylers come to dinner and Whitford’s character cuts his hand while preparing oysters. Todd bleeds all over the appetizer, capturing the banal idiocy of the people central to our modern politics. Here are four of the most powerful people in the world (the president, the vice president, the American ambassador to the UK, and the first gentleman) squinting at a plate of oysters wondering if they’re looking at blood or cocktail sauce.
Season 3’s plot is exciting if not particularly groundbreaking. Hal’s elevation to VP creates so much tension in his relationship with Kate that they decide to officially separate, leaving Kate to start up a romance with a British political operative (The Hobbit trilogy’s Aidan Turner) midway through the season.
Turner’s character draws Kate into a new mystery involving a disabled Russian nuclear submarine stranded in British waters. The action is more of what Diplomat fans love, even if the show spins its wheels a bit after a burst of energy in the first few episodes. A mid-season time jump ramps the excitement back up and propels the remaining episodes to a stunning finale.
A motley cast of the Wylers’ colleagues and adversaries— including British Foreign Secretary Austin Dennison (David Gyasi), CIA Station Chief Eidra Park (Ali Ahn), Deputy Chief of Mission Stuart Heyford (Ato Essandoh), White House Chief of Staff Billie Appiah (Nana Mensah), and British Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge (Rory Kinnear)— breathes life into on-screen conflicts both big and small and makes you want to pay close attention to nearly every scene of the season.
While The Diplomat at times suffers from a bit of political TV-itis (a character who probably would never get a cabinet-level job has one now! A fantastical excuse is made for why something is going down in an international location instead of at the White House!), incredible performances and a unique perspective on the political thriller genre make every episode of Season 3 a veritable feast of acting, writing, scenery, and laugh-out-loud comedy.
The November 17 release date on Steam and Xbox PC for action RPG Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE is quickly approaching, and to celebrate, it will have a booth at TwitchCon in San Diego this week where players can try out a new demo and win special merch.
Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE lets you step into the world of the massively popular Solo Leveling franchise, centering on protagonist Sung Jinwoo. It’s been built for PC and console (it’s scheduled to release on consoles in 2026) and includes the original story along with new adventures that are exclusive to the game.
If you’re not familiar with the series, it takes place in a world where people with supernatural abilities known as Hunters must protect mankind from a never-ending onslaught of monsters. Usually, Hunters’ abilities and strength level are determined when their powers first manifest. But Jinwoo gets a unique ability: he can level up. So even though he starts off as a low-tier Hunter, he can grow more powerful the more foes he defeats. And now he’s on a personal quest to become the world’s strongest Hunter.
It should be pretty obvious why this premise lends itself to a game, it basically already has RPG progression systems baked in. Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE builds on that base with a skill tree that branches into eight different job advancements. Through the course of the webtoon, Jinwoo transforms into the Ultimate Monarch of Shadows, and now you can experience his evolution for yourself.
As you can see in the video above, Jinwoo can switch between weapons and combine basic attacks with flashy special abilities to build up combos. But you can’t just mindlessly attack, you need to keep an eye on enemies and respond to their strikes and AoE attacks. You can execute perfectly timed parries or dodges to cancel out damage and unleash powerful counterattacks to keep the fast pace flowing and combo meter climbing.
However you defeat enemies, they’ll drop loot that you can use to craft new weapons, including ones pulled directly from the original webtoon, like Kasaka’s Venom Fang and the Demon King’s Daggers. There are several weapon types available, and your combat style will be determined by your weapon and skill tree choices. That makes for a variety of styles, like in the original story, giving you the opportunity to try out different options and figure out what works best for you.
You’ll face off against a ton of enemies and bosses solo, but some are too strong for even a leveled-up Jinwoo to deal with. That’s where multiplayer comes in. You can team up in four-player co-op raids to take on commanders that series veterans will recognize, and you can play as Jinwoo or one of the other available Hunters with their own set of unique skills.
If you’re interested in seeing more, don’t miss TwitchCon, which starts Friday, October 17 and will be open until Sunday, October 19. The Solo Leveling: ARISE OVERDRIVE booth is open to the public, so any in-person attendees can come by and try out the demo. And there will be some popular streamers playing the game at the booth (iiTzTimmy, RDCGaming, EsfandTV, Agent00, ExtraEmily, and more). The booth will also have activities available, and people who complete them can earn exclusive merch.
If you’re not able to attend in person, no worries. There will also be streamers dropping by the in-booth streaming room to play the demo and share gameplay with their channels. The game releases November 17 on Steam and Xbox PC, with a planned release on consoles next year.
It’s available for pre-order now, and the story, boss raids, and multiplayer content are included. If you want to stay up to date on the latest info, you can check out the official website or follow on Twitter, YouTube, or Discord.
I've had my hands on a lot of fancy mice in recent years – the Razer Viper V3 Pro, the Turtle Beach Kone II, and the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 to name a few. They're packed with top-of-the-line features and performance suited for pro-level play, but they're quite expensive. Not everyone needs or wants that, though, and not everyone has $100-plus to spend on a peripheral. In exploring more budget-minded mice, I find that the updated SteelSeries Rival 3 hit a sweet spot between cost and performance, because while I do notice a difference between it and the best gaming mice out now, the gap isn't quite as large as pricing would suggest. So, if you just want a simple, inexpensive gaming mouse that can also keep up in competitive scenarios, SteelSeries might just have what you're looking for.
SteelSeries Rival 3 (Gen 2) – Design and Features
This new Rival 3 largely maintains the design principles of the original one, using a symmetrical, ambidextrous shape with shallow grooves along the side and through the left and right mouse buttons. While I do wish the side grooves for my thumb and pinky were a bit deeper for better grip, the mouse's modest 77g weight keeps it easy to whip around in intense games and use comfortably throughout the work day. And the six-foot braided USB cord doesn't drag or create friction at any moment.
Since it's a somewhat lower-profile mouse, the Rival 3 is mostly fit for claw and fingertip grips, which I both found comfortable during gaming and normal usage. It doesn't sport a notable hunch on its body so there's a lot of room left to fill when trying a palm grip – if you absolutely need to go with a palm grip, you'll want to look elsewhere. Otherwise, it's an easy mouse to swipe quickly and accurately, which is also a credit to the slick PTFE feet on the bottom that glide well across my SteelSeries QCK+ Balance mouse mat.
The Rival 3 delivers the kind of performance most PC gamers need.
On paper, the TrueMove Core 8.5K optical sensor may not blow you away considering many top-level mice boast 25K to 35K sensors – these ratings indicate the maximum DPI (dots-per-inch) setting for the sensor. Technically speaking, higher resolution tracking gives you a more accurate mouse, but at a certain point, there are diminishing returns especially when most users don't come close to going with the max DPI. All you need to know is that for a budget mouse, 8,500 DPI is more than enough.
Budget products need to get the fundamentals right, and the Rival 3 delivers on most fronts. The left and right click switches are firm and responsive, making them fantastic for rapid tapping which is a necessity in games. While they boast a 60 million-click durability and a short 1.35ms response, the bottom line is that the feel and performance is up there with the best. There are two side buttons that are also responsive upon actuation, but they're quite thin and it’s a bit hard to distinguish between the two because of their positioning and shape. The Rival 3 isn't a bulky mouse so there isn't a ton of room to work with, but I wish the side buttons were larger and more distinct.
The scroll wheel is indicative of the Rival 3 as a whole; nothing fancy, but perfectly suited for the task at hand. Each notch is distinct enough for incremental scrolling, but smooth enough blaze through pages of PDF documents. And the scroll wheel click button is slightly firm without feeling too stiff to reliably use as a key action in games you’d want to map it to. Below the scroll is the DPI switch, and it stays out of the way while being easy to locate in case you do fancy DPI switching mid-game.
Other than the SteelSeries logo at the palm, the only real visual flair is the five-zone RGB lighting that beams along the base of the mouse. It creates a vibrant underglow that remains tasteful, and if you're the type of person who switches DPI on the fly for specific in-game situations, you can tie each DPI setting to the RGB lighting as a clear visual cue.
SteelSeries Rival 3 (Gen 2) – Software and Customization
As with most SteelSeries products, the Rival 3 is customizable through the SteelSeries GG software suite. It's a bit of a headache to navigate depending on what you want to customize – while you can do some pretty intricate things with RGB lighting on the Rival 3 with color patterns and effects, the app's interface could be more intuitive.
However, when adjusting other features like DPI, angle snapping, button assignments, and acceleration, the graphs and sliders laid out to show the settings are quite clear. If anything, I'm just thankful that SteelSeries GG isn't as bloated as other software suites from its contemporaries and that there isn't much to customize with a mouse as straightforward as the Rival 3.
SteelSeries Rival 3 (Gen 2) – Gaming and Performance
I quite enjoyed my time testing the Rival 3 in stressful gaming situations, because as with most of my previous mouse reviews, I was working with state-of-the-art tech that had the expectation of justifying its price point. But trying to maintain high-level gaming when evaluating something that's a fraction of the cost puts their perceived performance gap into perspective. That little bit of advantage you get from a more sophisticated mouse can make a difference in the right hands – however, it's not as wide as the spec sheets would indicate.
In games of precision and split-second actions, those things are important, yet great performance is still achievable with something like the Rival 3, though. In my main competitive games of Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant, I do notice a slight improvement in tracking with a higher polling rate, like using 4000Hz or 8000Hz on my current favorite in the Razer Deathadder V4 Pro – also because I am playing at 4K resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate, which creates a higher ceiling for a high polling rate mouse. But even at those graphics settings, I quickly settled into the performance capabilities of the Rival 3 and its 1000Hz polling rate (which is the standard for gaming mice these days). As someone who takes ranked matches quite seriously, but isn't anywhere near pro-level play, the Rival 3 was never really the thing holding me back.
Holding my corners, taking well-timed shots after peaking, and maintaining my aim along with recoil patterns all felt natural when using the Rival 3. And in the few moments I had to pick up sniping, I was able to land my shots with enough confidence. I think the more one-size-fits-all symmetrical shaping of the mouse itself makes it feel less like an extension of my hand, so it’s not my preferred option if I have the choice, but by no means is SteelSeries’ budget mouse a slouch.
Ahead of the holiday season, Dell is offering an Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop equipped with the GeForce RTX 5080 graphics card for under $2,000 with free delivery. Most RTX 5080 prebuilts you'll find elsewhere, including the more affordable brands you find on Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, are priced closer to $2,500 and up. That's impressive considering Alienware usually commands a higher price premium. Such a system would have cost as much as $3,000 at the beginning of the year, but Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 prices have been trending downwards lately.
Alienware Aurora RTX 5080 Gaming PC From $1,960
This $1,960 configuration system is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 265F CPU, GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, 16GB of DDR5-5600MHz RAM, and a 1TB M.2 SSD. The Intel Core Ultra 7 265F has a max turbo frequency of 5.3GHz with 20 cores and a 36MB L2 cache. It's cooled by a 240mm AIO liquid cooling system. The system is run off a 1,000W power supply.
This system is customizable and the CPU, RAM, and storage can all be upgraded. For example, you can choose the more powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor, which boasts a higher clock speed and core count, for an extra $300. Another reasonably priced upgrade is a 2TB SSD (from the stock 1TB) for an extra $50.
The GeForce RTX 5080 GPU will run any game in 4K
Performance-wise, the RTX 5080 is no slouch. It's one of the fastest cards on the market, bested only by the $2,000 RTX 5090 and the discontinued $1,600 RTX 4090. This is a phenomenal card for playing the latest, most demanding games in 4K resolution at high settings and ray tracing enabled. The RTX 5080 supports DLSS 4 with multi-frame generation, which means you can push even more frames out of games that support the technology with minimal visual compromise. Recent games that support it include Doom: The Dark Ages, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Borderlands 4, Stellar Blade, and Battlefield 6. Check out our Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 FE review for our hands-on impressions.
Eric Song is the IGN commerce manager in charge of finding the best gaming and tech deals every day. When Eric isn't hunting for deals for other people at work, he's hunting for deals for himself during his free time.
Apple has announced a new refresh of the iPad Pro that’s set to release October 22, starting at $999 (see it at Amazon). You can get the new tablet in either 11-inch or 13-inch options. It’s powered by the new M5 chip, which also drives the newly announced 14” MacBook Pro that’s releasing the same day. If you want to know where you can pick up these new tablets and what kind of power to expect from them, keep on reading.
The iPad Pro is the most powerful tablet Apple sells. And if you’re looking for that kind of power in a tablet form factor, this new M5-powered model is absolutely the one you should get. The 11-inch model starts at $999, while the $13-inch one starts at $1,299. That’s for the Wi-Fi-only model with 256GB. For more money, you can get a Wi-Fi + Cellular model with up to 2TB of storage, depending on your needs.
The M5 chip is the main new piece of tech in this iPad Pro refresh, offering a particularly noticeable boost to the tablet’s AI performance. Apple says it’s 3.5x faster than the M4 chip and 5.6x faster than the M1. Aside from that, the new N1 networking chip offers support for Wi-Fi 7, while the C1X modem on new cellular-capable iPad Pros offers up to 50% faster performance.
The new M5-powered iPad Pros are available in two colors: silver and space black. You can also choose between a standard glass display and nano-textured glass (which is only available in certain models). The nano-textured glass is designed to reduce glare and reflections.
It sounds like a solid update for anyone in need of a new top-of-the-line tablet. But without any changes to the design, I get why Apple announced the new M5 iPad Pros with a press release rather than a presentation.
"Hybrid Mode," as it's properly known, lets players choose between online and offline play, or just automatically loads the game into offline mode when no connection is available.
Connexion
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