Alright, I'll admit it, I've never used a compact keyboard. I'm quite particular when it comes to the precise space I expect to h??ave when maneuvering my hands across a keyboard, and the thought of having to muscle memory learn to deal with smaller real estate—even if it is just a Numpad or some extra function keys being lost—has al??ways terrified me.

Razer just dropped its Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, a wireless hot-swappable pro versi?on? of BlackWidow V4 featuring the latest Razer technology: HyperSpeed and 4K Hz HyperPolling. With all the tech in this Pro version, I figured this was as good a time as any to take the plunge into the world of compact keyboards, and boy have I been missing out.

I've always preferred wired peripherals, ?but if all peripherals came with the HyperSpeed and HyperPolling technology that the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% has, I think I'd make the switch to wireless. With a 4,000 Hz polling rate, there was never a delay. I've used wireless keyboards in the past where even the most minimal delay has been enough to make me switch back to wired. I've used the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% now in a variety of ways; gaming, working, e??ven just chilling and surfing the internet. And if I hadn't known, I'd assume it was wired. It looks like delays with wireless could finally be a thing of the past.

If you have other hardware that could make use of they keyboard, you can actually add up to three devices at a time and instantaneously toggle between them. I tried it out with my nearby PS5, an?d sure enough, I was able to quickly toggle between it and my PC without the need to go in and re-configured it each time.

The original BlackWidow V4 75% was all about customization, and that mantra continues with the Pro. The hot-swappable design is back, with the versatility for both 3 and 5-pin mechanical switches. The pre-loaded default for the Pro ??includes Razer's Orange Tactile Switches, a classic set of Razer switches that was surely a safe option overall. Most seem to prefer either the orange or green, and for me, the green is just a tad bit too loud, so I feel like pre-loaded with the orange was a solid albeit safe choice. Of course, hot-swappable means you have the freedom to change that if you disagree.

Of course, we can't talk about a Razer peripheral without talking about the RGB. As I expected, both the RGB quality and versatility via the Razer Chroma app? continue to be the best in the industry. I'm rather simple in my creativity when it comes to this sort of thing but even still I've made some pretty cool profiles. The lighting is bright, making the light show vibrant and concise no matter the profile. I hadn't messed around with the Razer Chroma app in a little while, so these may not all be new, but some of the pre-existing profiles that you can apply based on specific gaming scenarios are pretty sick. Like I said, best in the industry for a reason.

With the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, the scrollable wheel in the top right of the keyboard has been replaced with a grayscale OLED display. You can cycle through lots of pre-set options to display on the OLED such as crucial PC information including temps and speeds, detailed info about the keyboard, an audio meter, and even custom animations such as animated gifs. On the side to the right of the OLED is a scrollable whe??el knob to cycle through pre-set profiles on the keyboard as well as change things like polling rate and RBG profiles on the fly. The OLED is a nice touch, but I have to wonder why the choice to go with grayscale of color. I assume it's a cost-cutting measure, which is fair given the $299.99 price point of this BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, which is already considered a premium price.

Speaking of premium, let's talk about the wrist rest. I know I know, not typically a focal point when deciding on a keyboard. But the?? Magnetic Plush Leatherette wrist rest that co?mes with the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is exceptionally well made. It's the perfect blend of soft and cushiony, without feeling indentable or like a pillow. When I think of the right middle ground, this is what I envision.

After using the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% over the last couple of weeks, there is only one real issues I have with it: the battery life. I understand there's a lot of potential battery draw with RGB lighting, an OLED, and HyperPolling, but even with all of that dialed down a minimum the keyboard struggles to get through a normal work day without needing a bit more juice. It's quite possible that tur?ning all of that off will boost the battery life—in fact, I'm certain it will—but all the cool bells and whistles are part of the draw for the keyboard, so they should be used.

According to Razer, the built-in Power Saving Mode deactivates the OLED and keyboard backlig??hting while also pausing communication with Razer Synapse, allowing the keyboard to achieve up to 2100 hours of battery life. That's quite a formidable battery, but it seems just having any of those features enabled really ramps up on that drain.

My issue with the battery life aside, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% has been an absolute joy to use. I'm pretty particula?r when it comes to keyboards, which is part of the reason I've yet to try a compact keyboard before now. But the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% has converted me. It's officially replaced my previous keyboard and became my mainsta??y gaming keyboard. Who knows, I might even get creative and see how I like the green switches when this keyboard after all.

The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 7??5% is available now for $299??.99.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the hardware provided by the manufacturer.]}

The post Razer’s BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% has converted me to a compact keyboard enjoyer appeared first on Destructoid.

Gaming-themed peripherals have become more commonplace in recent years, giving dedicated fans the opportunity to further express themselves in the form of hardware themed around their favorite games. With Fortnite's seemingly neverending success, I was shocked to discover that developer Epic had yet to partner with a hardware company on official Fortnite-themed gear. All of that has changed, however, with the new Razer x Fortnite "Defy the Storm" collection that adds some clean Fortnite-themed visual?s to some of the most popular Razer hardware, alongside a bonus in-game item for each peripheral.

The Headset

First up in the collection is the Razer Kraken V3 X - Fortnite Edition headset. New headsets are usually the biggest hurdle for me personally because I have sensitive ears in terms of comfort. I'm admittedly probably more picky than most people even if a headset has the best audio quality in the world, if the headset is just a tad too tight or loose I can't tolerate it at all. The Razer Kraken V3 X features hybrid fabric and memory foam ear cushion?s which I'm happy to report are very comfortable. If you're the kind of person who prefers to wear headsets that you don't feel at all, that's what this headset offers.

Design-wise, the headset features Fortnite's favorite deep blue ear covers, with a black headband including the yellow construction-style striping and of course the Fortnite logo. Each of the ears features the face of the Fortnite Loot Llama that has full RGB functionality. By default, i??t will cycle through a full range of colors that light up the Loot Llama, but you can customiz??e this in the Razer Chroma settings to fit your RGB needs.

From a technical standpoint, the headset utilizes the Razer HyperClean Cardioid Mic, which through recording tests and feedback from friends and colleagues sounds like your standard-quality microphone. Nothing special, but nothing bad either. Just a solid all-around microphone. Pe?ople won't have trouble hearing you but don't use this microphone to record studio-quality recordings or anything ??like that.

The same can be said for the audio quality as well. If you're on Windows 10 64-bit (which I am), there is Virtual Surround Sound encoding available which actually worked better than I expected. Overall it sounds like natural surround sound, picking up omnidirectional sounds which is important when playing Fortnite itself, so it is certainly great that it is an?? ??added feature.

The Razer Kraken V3 X is also compatible on both PC an??d PlayStation 4 via USB Type-A connection.

Headset: Razer Kraken V3 X - Fortnite Edition

Price: $99.99

Bonus Item: Raptor Glider

The Keyboard

Some would argue that of all of the peripherals, the keyboard is the most important. For the most part, I'd agree, which is why I was happy to discover the Razer BlackWidow V4 X - Fortnite Edition is the keyboard in this collection. I've actually used the non-Fortnite version of this keyboard and think it's one of the most bang-for-your-buck keyboards currently on the m??arket.

The BlackWidow V4 X is a full-size keyboard featuring the Razer Chroma RGB lighting. This means you can go into the Razer Chroma software and customize the lighting to fit whatever style you are going for. In terms of customization, there are 6 dedicated macro keys located on the left side? of the keyboard, as well as up to five slots for hybrid onboard memory profiles.

My favorite thing about this keyboard is how quiet it is. Most modern-day keyboards fail to get that nice hybrid of responsive keys without making too much of a clickety clackety with each key press, but the BlackWidow V4 X seems to meet that happy medium. The Do??ubleshot ABS keycaps are my favorite texture for keycaps, which is what this keyboard uses.

The Fortnite edition features a deep blue color scheme with the spray-painted yellow Loot Llama in the? bottom right, just above the directional keys, and to the left of the keypad. The chroma lighting of this keyboard is strong and can?? result in some pretty slick-looking lighting when matched with the deep blue of the keyboard. There is also the Battle Bus logo in the top left above the M6 macro and Escape key.

Keyboard: Razer BlackWidow V4 X - Fortnite Edition

Price: $169.99

Bonus Item: Demon Skull Pickaxe

The Mouse and Mousepad

Rounding out the collection is the Fortnite-themed mouse and mousepad. I'm a huge fan of giant mousepads, especially as a fan of shooter games, and the Razer Goliathus? Extended Chroma - Fortnite Editi?on mousepad does not disappoint. Fully extended, the mousepad stretches out just over 3 feet wide with a total length of 36.22" and a heig??ht/width of 11.57". This will cover as much mouse real estate as you will possibly need regardless of mouse ??sensitivity and is honestly one of the bigger mousepads I've ever used.

This is an RGB mousepad that looks great with the Fortnite-branded mousepad. The bulk of the pad is the same deep blue with the yellow spray-painted-looking Loot Llama on the ??right side. On the left side whe??re the cable connects to the mousepad, we have the yellow construction-style concrete with a Battle Bus logo.

The surface of the mousepad is a micro-textured cloth that is 3mm (0.11") thick and claims to be optimized for any sensitivity or sensor mouse you throw at it. I tried it out with the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro - Fortnite Edition as well as a Logitech G502 Lightspeed ??I had and both worked wonderfully without any issues.

Speaking of the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, let's talk about the mouse itself al little bit. It's a hybrid wireless/wired mouse that boasts up to 90 hours of battery life at 1000 Hz and a still-impressive 17 hours at 8000 Hz. When you're trying to give that battery some? juice, you do so via the Speedflex USB Type C charging cable. This mouse features a max sensitivity of 30,000 DPI which let's be real, is so high you'l?l never realistically need anything more.

The DeathAdder V3 Pro is a very ergonomic and solid albeit somewhat safe mouse. There are no modern special features to the mouse like on-board memory profiles, and it only has 6 programmable buttons which while plenty for most games, can be problematic for MMORPGs or playing build-mode Fortnite. It's an ultra-lightweight ??mouse, w??eighing in at just 63 grams.

In terms of design, the base of the mouse is the same deep blue coloring with the yellow Fortnite Loot Llama where the palm of your hand rests on the mouse. The buttons themselves are a me??????????????????????????tal-looking gray with the yellow construction-paint style where the buttons reach the y??ellow and black mouse wheel. Located on the left mouse button is the white Battle Bus logo that is also visible on the other peripherals.

Oddly, the DeathAdder V3 Pro? does not have RGB support.

Mousepad: Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma - Fortnite Edition

Mouse: Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro - Fortnite Edition

Price: Mousepad: $99.99, Mouse: $169.99

Bonus Items: M??ousepad: Dauntless Dra?gon Glider, Mouse: Cliffhanger Pickaxe

The Verdict

Overall, the entire collection is a solid mostly RGB peripheral set, obviously intended for Fortnite fans. The actual Fortnite branding on all of these designs is simple yet clean and sleek looking. The deep blue color of all of the hardware fits with most PC setups, and the consistently placed yellow spray-painted Loot Llama is subtle enough to not take away from the rest of the design while still asserting "Hey, I like Fortnite, ok?"

There are a couple of important elements to the collection that I feel need to be mentioned. First off, you're obviously paying a premium for the Fortnite branding, which is to be expected. In most cases, you're paying $30-$40 more than the original base hardware in this collection for having the Fortnite branding, which is honestly a pretty fair price.

However, the added premium does put both the mousepad and the mouse in a bit of a weird spot. $99.99 feels v?ery expensive for a mousepad, even though it is a more premium mousepad with RGB lighting and is about as big as they get. I personally try to spend no more than $50 on a mousepad, so with a price that's double that, I can certainly be a bit of a tougher ask. But, the bonus in-game item for the mousepad, the Dauntless Dragon Glider, is probably the coolest one, which can make up for it.

I also feel like the same can be said for the mouse. While it's a solid and clean-looking mouse, $169.99 is a bit more on the pricey end when the mouse doesn't have any special featur?es, no on-board memory profiles, and only 6 programmable but?tons. Also, the mouse not having RGB when all of the other peripherals in the collection do feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.

Even still, the headset and keyboard are both great value for solid pieces of hardware that also have some cool Fortnite designs on them. If you opt to go for the entire collection, you're not paying too much of a premium overall to get all four peripherals. If you're trying to drop tilted in style with durable hardware at a mostly reasonable price, you'll definitely want to check out this Razer x Fortnite collab. The only actual problem I had wit??h this collec?tion was convincing my five-year-old he couldn't wear the headset around the house for fun.

The post New Fortnite-themed Razer peripheral ??lineup is great ?for forty fans appeared first on Destructoid.

This week's Discourseâ„?shines the spotlight on gaming chairs

I have a confession: I've never owned a gaming chair, nor have I ever really felt the need to get a gaming chair (well, maybe except for the Hello Kitty x Razer collab, but that's ??only because it's Hello Kitty). For one thing, they're always super expensive, and I'm trying to ball on a budget over here. I've also heard mixed things from my friends �for the most part, they say they're not super comfortable, although my roommate loves that it's nice and firm and makes them sit up straighter. As someone who prefers? soft, squishy chairs and mattresses, I'm not sold.

Yesterday I saw this TikTok come across my Twitter feed (man, what a 2022 sentence) and I thought the user @Kesswylie had a pretty good theory about why those good ol' gaming chairs? can make our backs ache after a while. His theory is that when companies started making chairs that they wanted to specifically brand as "gaming chairs," they just made them look as cool as possible. If you've seen one, you've seen 'em all, because apparently it's only a gaming chair if it comes in one shape and design.

He then goes on to argue that regular office chairs are your best bet when it comes to comfort, because "companies want to improve peak performance of employees so that they are fine sitting in their office chair for over ten hours straight without hurting their health," an idea that he calls "dystopian." @Kesswylie doesn't cite any sources that support this idea, and some people in the replies argue that if it's all about aesthetics, corporations are doing the same thing, because they're designing for what w??ill look good in an office. If nothing else it makes you think?? a bit more about what kind of chair you choose to spend a majority of your day in.

//twitter?.com/Kesswylie/status/1557764463519903744

He goes on to recommend a budget office chair option, the famous and well-reviewed FlexFit Hyken Mesh Task Chair, which is gonna run you around $200 at stores like Staples, but that's pretty good compared to a $500 Razer chair if you're going for something brand name. Of course, you can always try and hunt down a gaming chair on sale, or get the more affordable $150 version, also available at Staples.

Okay, I know ?I'm ragging on gaming chairs a lot, but they're just not my thing. To me, you're paying a lot of money for something that doesn't give you much benefit at all. Maybe I'm just getting older, but th??ese days I'm much more willing to drop cash on ergonomic items that I know will keep me feeling good.

Some people swear by them though, and I don't want to be out her??e yucking someone else's yum. More power to you if you're on the gaming chair train.

We want to know what you guys think �what kind of chair do you game in? What are your?? thoughts on gaming chairs? Let's discuss in the comments bel??ow.

The post Where do you fall in the gaming chair debate? appeared first on Destructoid.

Nothing better than the clickity-clack of a mechanical keyboard

As someone who spends a good portion of their day typing, I love a good mechanical keyboard. For a while there in the mid-2000s, it seemed like the hottest trend was to have the most minimal keyboards ever (looking at you, Apple), and for a minute I was afraid tech compani??es would lean full-tilt into touchscreen keyboards. Of course I went through one of those phases where I wanted a typewriter for no reason at all. Naturally, as I got into gaming, I was introduced to the world of mechanical keyboards, and the whole communit??y that surrounds them.

For years now, companies that make gaming peripherals have really leaned into the whole "gaming aesthetic" (which usually consists of black plastic and red LEDs) since they discovered they could make a lot of money from marketing it. Of course, more feminine designs have also made their way into the mainstream, and showing off your elaborate, custom gaming setup ??has become a way for players to express their identity and interest in games a?s a hobby or lifestyle.

[caption id="attachment_308312" align="alignnone" width="794"] _{[Image Source: Etsy seller PersonalLoot]}[/caption]The first mechanical keyboard was actually patented in the early 1700s �but the first mechanical keyboard that was built specificall??y for gaming is attributed to Razer in 2010. Now that keyboards have become a necessary part of the way a vast majority of the population works, why wouldn't we want to customize the??m to make them as fun to use as possible?

Baby's first mechanical keyboard

When one of my friends wanted to buy me a mechanical keyboard as a gift, he asked me what my favorite kind of switch was. I'll be hon?est with you, I had no idea there were different kinds of switches in the first place. This moment is what really started me down a rabbit hole.

In case you don't know, switches are the little mechanical parts that go?? under the key cap, and they determine what kind of "click" your keyboard makes. There are some that make your key presses softer and quieter, some that make them loud and sharp. I found that the brown switches were my favorite, because they had this really nice feedback when I pressed down on them.

My favorite switches I've ever come across by far, though, are called the Banana Split switches. I've never used them personally, but just? hearing audio of them was enough for me to lose my mind. I even hesitate to tell anyone about them now, because they're al?ways sold out, but they make one of the most satisfying sounds I can imagine. They're kind of crunchy, and sound almost like someone is popping bubble wrap, and I need to write an entire novel on them immediately.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZwmdU-cgY4&t=7s

I think there's a special kind of irony in the fact that as the tech??nology for keyboards got better and better, we started streamlining them �but after a while, we started emulating that weight and tactile nature of the first keyboards back in the day.

We've come so full circle that not only do we have keyboards that are sturdy and hardly ever break, but we can also customize them to feel any way we damn well please! I'm sure Christopher Latham Sholes, the inventor of the QWERTY keyboard layout, ?would be thrilled by how far we??'ve come.

The name of the game is customization

There's also the whole world of LEDs!

I can't believe that there used to be a time when I was around people who didn't have keyboards that can light up to be any color they want. There's just something about making?? my keyboard light up in rainbow colors that delights my ??inner child, and now I can never go back to having a boring, normal set of keys ever again.

Yet another layer of customization comes from key caps, which can look like pretty much whatever you want. You want caps themed after your favorite video game? You got it. How about resin ones with little dried flowers in them? Yup. A whole keyboard made of Kirby caps that are also magnetic and?? can "eat??" things? That is also something you can do.

Some people even make deliberately "hostile" keyboards just for the fun of it. I seriously cannot stress how endless the possibilit??ies are??.

[caption id="attachment_308313" align="alignnone" width="794"] _{[Image Source: Etsy seller ThatArtistMeleigha]}[/caption]If I went down that rabbit hole, there would be no coming out, and my wallet would suffer greatly. I knew I was in deep when I started following Twitter accounts of insanely talented creators who build their entire ke?yboards from scratch themselves, but a??ll I can do is look at their pictures longingly and hope that someday I can justify a purchase.

I can understand the utility of mechanical keyboards when it comes to games, but it's interesting that they really became popular because of their aesthetics and customization options. It's? just a fun piece of gaming subculture that I can really appreciate from afar, and maybe someday I can set aside enough cash to make the custom keyboard of my dreams.

What has your mechanical keyboard journey been like? Have you tricked out your set up? Let's discuss in the comments!
_{[Featured Image Source: Reddit user u/Gerardy_Im_Design]}

The post I am entranced by the world of custom mec??hanical keyboards appeared first on Destructoid.

So cute it hurts

As a gamer with more feminine taste, I'm always looking for pink gaming peripherals to break up the sea of black plastic and red LEDs. Initially released back in 2019, Razer's Quartz collection gave fans what they had been waiting for with a line of baby pink gaming accessories, including a mouse, microphones, a keyboard, and most famously, a ?headset wi?th cat ears on it. The line of peripherals flooded our social media feeds, with e-girls, e-boys, and e-nbies alike finally being able to complete their soft gaming aesthetic.

After collaborating with Street Fighter and Super Monkey Ball, Hello Kitty is back on the scene with her own Razer capsule collection. If you thought the Quartz collection was cute, just wait until you see the?? new headset, mouse, mousepad, and gaming chair that are dropping as part of the Razer x Saniro collab, each item branded with Hello Kitty and her friends.

Razer's Kraken BT headset is one of their staples, and this time it's decked out with white cat ears, complete with Kitty White's signature bow for $119.99. The mousepad and keyboard are self-explanatory, but equally as adorable, and will run you $64.99 for the set. The $499 Iskur X chair is the real star of the show here, and also has?? the option to come with a lumbar support pillow for an extra $59.99.

I am currently s?itting on a cheap IKEA desk chair that has ??been scratched to all hell by my own cats, and I can tell you that it's taking everything in my power not to buy this chair.

I don't even need a new gaming headset, but the siren song of the Hello Kitty ears is calling to me. The fact that I'm this tempted to ??drop the cash shows what a great move this was on Razer's part, because I get the feeling th?ey're going to have trouble keeping this stuff in stock.

The post I’m obsessed with the new Razer x Hello Kitty collection appeared first on Destructoid.

Project Sophia looks like something Tony Stark would cook up

Razer has made a name for themselves as one of the most reliable sources of gaming accessories out there. On top of their consistency, however, they have also been known to make some pretty experimental products over the years, from triple-screened laptops to LED air-purifying masks. For a brand that has such a hold on the peripherals market, I have to respect that they are always looking to innovate, even though some of their ventures can miss the mark. Now they've ?introduced?? us to yet another ambitious idea: a smart desk.

The Consumer Electronics Show is where Razer shows off their prototypes, and lucky for us, CES 2022 is taking place this week from January 5-7. This time around, the brand presented their newest endeavor, a prototype dubbed Project Sophia. So far all we have is a 3D render of it, as well as a short video clip, but it's certainly enough to pique my interest. Razer is calling it a "gami??ng desk concept," whatever that means, and it honestly looks like something straight out of ?a sci-fi movie.

[caption id="attachment_303178" align="alignnone" width="900"] _{[Image Source: lowyat.net]}[/caption]It basically looks like a sleek desk with a huge screen attached to it, but where it really gets interesting is on the desktop itself �it's modular, meaning pieces can be changed out. Razer says that there are thirteen different pieces that can be swapped in and out, and include everything from secondary s??creen?s to audio mixing units to pen tablets.

The prototype is said to need an Intel Processor and Nvidia GPU to operate, which are magnetically attached to the bottom of the desk. There are even more add-ons, too, like cameras and microphones, wireless charging pads, and even a cup warmer. By ??the sound of it, you'd never have to leave your desk. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Razer's sm?art desk seems like it would be an expensive toy of which I personally wouldn't be able to justify the price, but I imagine it would be a multi-tasker's dream, and could cut down on the number of different devices one would need to buy, given they're all built-in.

The post Razer’s smart desk prototype is straight out of science fiction appeared first on Destructoid.

This is a HUGE prize, y'all

In today's contest you can win a Cartel Tycoon ultimate prize pack, including a copy of the game, a Razer accessory bundle, and a chance to appear in the game!

Kiddos, we've got a doozy today! Publisher tinyBuild is gearing up for the release of their drug lord simulator Cartel Tycoon, and just dropped a surprise Uncut Earliest Access session on their site. Bold! An?d what good is a launch without giving away some free stuff on Destructoid?

Well, they really brought it with this one. tinyBuild and developer Moon Moose are offering up not only a copy of the game, but a super sweet Cartel Tycoon prize pack (complete with briefcase and goodies), a Razer accessory bundle (including a keyboard, mouse, and headset), AND a chance for you to appear in the game as an NPC! This is definitely one of the biggest prizes we've had here, so tie a rubber band around your arm ?and inject this contest into your bloodstream!

Cartel Tycoon puts players in the shoes of a fictional drug lord hellbent on taking over the drug trade in their country. Grow your crops, distribute them, and manage the business side of things while also having to worry about rival gangs and barons trying to muscle in on your turf. Take over territories, b?ribe officials, recruit lieuten??ants, and run your empire to be the biggest in the world.

Insert a lazy Breaking Bad or Scarface reference here.

Alright, to the prizes!? Five lucky runners-up will be given a copy of the game so they can live out their wildest, druggiest dreams. If you're our lucky grand prize winner, you'll receive??:

• A copy of Cartel Tycoon
• A Cartel Tycoon Kingpin Starter Kit, featuring a briefcase full of goodies
• A Razer Ornata Chroma keyboard
• A Razer Naga Trinity mouse
• A Razer Kraken Ultimate headset
• A chance to work with the developers to be featured as an NPC in the game

I told you this prize was dope! (*d??ucks incoming tomatoes*)

To enter to win, use the widget below to leave your name and email address. You can enter ??daily.? Click around for ways to earn bonus entries, and be sure to comment below telling us how awesome this prize is.

We have one ultimate prize pack t?o give away; the winner must have a United States shipping address. We also have five runner-up keys for the game, available to anyone. Winners will be drawn Friday, November 6.

Cartel Tycoon is available now in Uncut Early Access at the game's official website.

Contest: Win a Cartel Tycoon prize pac?k, Razer computer accessory bundle, and a chance to be an NPC in the game

The post Contest: Win a Cartel Tycoon ??prize pack, Razer?? computer accessory bundle, and a chance to be an NPC in the game appeared first on Destructoid.

Spending in style

Razer is no stranger to making products that are mobile. Its line of gamin?g laptops is highly regarded. A few years ago, Razer introduced its own smartphone. The newest venture will fit right alongside the phone as something people use all the time.

Razer and Visa have partnered up to introduce a prepaid payment method called the Razer Card. It functions j??ust like any other prepaid card, in that you load it up with cash in order to use it. There are three versions of the Razer Card: a digital version that makes ??use of a Razer cash app; a physical standard card; and a physical premium card that features a light-up Razer logo.

Beca??use you're all wondering (and because the easy refere??nce is there): No, it's not RGB.

There's incentive to pick up the Razer Card outside of general brand allegiance. This card offers 5% cash back on items purchased through Razer's store, and 1% cash back on all other purchases (uncapped). There's also the opportunity to earn rewards (and this is very vaguely phrased) "based on tasks and everyday transactions." It's more aggressive for beta members, as they get 10% back on store purchases along with the chance to earn $2,000 ??worth of Razer gear.

It's not the best card on the market, but it's not aimed at adults with es??tablished credit. Razer's Fintech arm is trying to establish the world's first global youth bank and the Razer Card is a major part of those plans. With that in mind, unlimited 1% cash back on a prepaid debit card is about as good as it gets.

However, this isn't something most of you can just jump into -- at least not yet. The Razer Card beta is currently only available in?? Singapore and only open to 1,337 participants. The beta is expected to last three months before the program becomes more widely available. That being said, there are no firm indications when (or? even if) the Razer Card will expand outside of Singapore. It's your best bet if you really need an ostentatious card in your wallet, though.

Razer Fintech and Visa Unveil New Prepaid Card to Transform Digital Payments Experience for Youths and Millennials in Singapo??re [Razer]

The post What’s in your wallet? It could be Razer’s light-up card appeared first on Destructoid.

Good Riddance (Time of Your Life?)

Come June 25, the final nail will be driven into Ouya's coffin. It's a coffin already riddled with nails, this la??st one more symbolic than fate-sealing. Ouya has been dead for some time now, but there's one final chapter to write. This epilogue is a closing reminder that, yeah, the Ouya sucked. Maybe that should be on its epitaph rather than in its epilogue.

Razer, who bought Ouya in 2015, has confirmed that it's closing the Ouya, Forge TV, and MadCatz Mojo game stores next month. In an FAQ post, Razer states that these three storefronts "are no longer being supported, and therefore will b??e shut down." It's all gone on June 25?.

Razer elaborates by saying "You will no longer be able to access your account, games on the server, previously purchased titles, or be able to purchase new ones." However, purchased games that are downloaded will be accessible; but, if they're ever uninstalled, it's impossible to download them again. Razer also mentions that remaining account balances can't be refunded, but you still have a month to buy some old Ouya games. Here's a list of what's available. It's mostly slim pickin', but there's a surprisingly robust suite of emulators for platforms like NES, Super NES, and Game Boy A?dvance.

Ouya remains one of the very first and most prominent examples that because something could be crowdfunded doesn't necessarily mean it should. A lot of people fell in love with ??the idea of a video game console with an Android-based operating system, and they kicked it a collective $8.5 million to make it a reality. And then everyone realized they didn't really want it. Oops.

Vaya con dios, Ouya. Than?ks for the memories, even though they weren't so great.

Razer Forge TV Support [Razer] 

The post Ouya, alrea??dy dead, will be super mega mucho dead next month appeared first on Destructoid.

Digital storefront closing doors

Hardware manufacturer Razer, best known for the range of PC gaming mice and keyboard setups, has announced that they are closing their digital software storefront, the Razer Game Store, at the end of the month.

Having opened in April of 2018, the store hasn't even been trading for a full year, but Razer has decided to pull down the blinds as part of their "company realignment" plans. "It has been a privilege for us to recommend and deliver great digital game deals to you," reads the official announcement. "Thank you for the support and making all this possible... We will be investing in other ways to deliver great cont?ent and introduce game promotions through Razer Gold, our virtual credits system."

Of course, all games purchased to date through Razer's store will still be available, and all those awaiting pre-orders can take comfort in knowing that those orders will be filled. Anyone holding unclaimed game keys should retrieve and validate them as soon as possible. Discount vouchers will be null and vo??id once the closing date passes.

Th?e Razer Game Store o?fficially closes on February 28.

The post Razer Game Store will be shutting down next week appeared first on Destructoid.

Or, will have support

The first official keyboard and mouse for Xbox One has just released (as sort of a CES stealth launch), and it comes courtesy of Razer. It's the Razer Turret, a wireless keyboard and mouse combo?? that runs a staggering $250. The Turret is designed with couch play in mind, as it features a mouse pad that slides into the keyboard -- all while maintaining a form meant to be placed on your lap.

However, there's an interesting tangential result from Razer's marketing materials for the Turret. Razer has listed games that have/will have official Xbox One keyboard a?nd mouse support. They are:

• Atlas
• Bomber Crew
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
• Children of Morta
• Day-Z
• Deep Rock Galactic
• Fortnite
• Gears of War 5
• Gears Tactics
• Microsoft Flight Simulator
• Minecraft
• Minion Masters
• Moonlighter
• Paladins
• Roblox
• Sea of Thieves
• The Sims 4
• They Are Billions
• Strange Brigade
• Surviving Mars
• Vigor
• War Thunder
• Warface
• Warframe
• Wargroove
• Warhammer: Vermintide 2
• X-Morph: Defense

Xbox had told us about some of these previously, ??but the number of games keep??s growing -- and it seems pertinent to refresh that list now that people can actually invest in Xbox One keyboards and mice.

There are a couple noteworthy inclusions here. Gears 5 supporting keyboard and mouse is hardly surprising considering developer The Coalition's approach to competitive play in Gears 4. Two years ago, The Coalition started mixing PC and Xbox One players in ranked playlists after it found there wasn't a real skill disparity between gamepad and keyboard/mouse users. It seems that mindset will carry over to Gears 5, as Gears continues to be the rare?? breed of shooter that doesn't place gamepad players at a disadvantage.

Also, Razer had initially listed PUBG as supporting keyboard and mouse on Xbox One, but PUBG Corp has c??ome out and said that information is false. PUBG seemingly has no intent on dividing?? those two pl?ayer bases -- at least not quite yet.

Fortnite, however, will separate the two. Fortnite's keyboard and mouse players on PS4 are put into lobbies that only contain other players who are using the same setup. Thi????s is apparently the plan on Xbox One as well.

As more peripheral manufacturers release their Xbox One keyboards and mice (and as time moves along), we'll undoubtedly see a glut of new games added to this list. However, at the launch of the first product explicitly designed for this purpose, there are at least 22 games signed on. Microsoft's approach to letting the developer decide whether to implement keyb?oard and mouse support feels like the right way to go abo??ut this, especially since not every game is necessarily cut out for this sort of thing.

Official Game Integration [Razer]

The post Thes?e Xbox One games have official ??keyboard and mouse support appeared first on Destructoid.

Don't fall for this

Remember those fundraiser catalogs from elementary school, the ones where kids sell a ton of shit door-to-door with grand hopes of earning som??e overpriced plastic trinket? Razer just launched a new program that's ostensibly the same thing -- except it's cryptocurrency mining instead of candy sales. And the rewards are Razer peripherals. And it's actively bad for the environment.

Razer Softminer is an initiative to turn inactive PCs into moneymakers. It's proprietary software of Razer's that serves to harness a person's GPU power to m??ine cryptocurrency when the PC isn't running other applications. Theoretically, anyone can do this on their own, but Razer has made it particularly user-friendly.

However, it's Razer that gets to keep all the crypto profits. Razer Softminer is a loyalty program that pays out in Razer Silver. Razer states that it's possible to earn up to 500 Silver per day (presumably if you keep Softminer running for 24 hours). Silver can be exchanged for select rewards.

As someone on Twitter points out, the most expensive reward is the Huntsman Elite keyboard which costs 280,000 Silver. It norma?lly retails for $200. Earning it through Softminer (at a rate of 500 Silver per day) will take approximately 560 days. That's more than a year and a half of running your PC nonstop for $200 in value. You will far exceed that amount in increased electricity bills and wear-and-tear to your graphics card. Also, inexplicably, the Silver expires after a year which means it's functionally impossible to buy the Huntsman Elite exclusively through Softminer.

Don'??t fall for this scam. If you're going to get into crypto mining, you might as well keep the spoils. The extremely-occasional PC peripheral doesn't cut it. Razer's just hoping there are enough idiots who download the software?? without really thinking it through.

Razer Softminer [Razer]

The post Razer has a new cryptocurrency mining program and it’s an awful scam appeared first on Destructoid.

185 games for you to window shop at Razer Game Store

While Cyber Monday and Black Fri??day may be long over, this week we have a continuation of sale und??er the Cyber Week moniker. Until tomorrow night, you can still pick up tons of PC games at great prices at Razer Game Store, perfect if you slept through the Steam Store Autumn Sale.

Below, you'll find deals from 2K Games, Bandai Namco, Paradox Interactive, and WB Games. You can see the complete sale here along with their price history, or check here for the page on Razer Game Store. (Games from other publishers not listed belo?w includes 1C Online Games, Codemasters, Iceberg Int??eractive, and Studio Wildcard).

In terms of noteworthy picks, we think $13.50 is a great price for Civilization VI or South Park: The Fractured But Whole. Make sure you use the 10% off coupon listed below to get the best price from the sale. Almost every??thing listed below is a Steam key unless otherwise noted (e.g., Ubisoft titles are Uplay? keys). Sale ends at around 7 PM Eastern Time on Friday.

Use coupon: RGSCYBERWEEK

2K Games

• BioShock Infinite (Steam) — $6.75  (list price $30)
• BioShock Infinite: Season Pass (Steam) — $9  (list price $20)
• BioShock: The Collection (Steam) — $13.50  (list price $60)
• Borderlands 2: Game of the Year Edition (Steam) — $7.92  (list price $40)
• Borderlands Game of the Year Edition (Steam) — $6.75  (list price $30)
• Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (Steam) — $10.80  (list price $40)
• Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Season Pass (Steam) — $13.50  (list price $30)
• Civilization VI: Rise and Fall Expansion (Steam) — $17.54  (list price $30)
• Mafia II Digital Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $13.50  (list price $60)
• Mafia III (Steam) — $9  (list price $40)
• NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 (Steam) — $17.54  (list price $30)
• NBA 2K19 20th Anniversary Edition (Steam) — $45  (list price $100)
• Sid Meier's Civilization V: Complete Edition (Steam) — $18  (list price $50)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI (Steam) — $13.50  (list price $60)
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI Digital Deluxe (Steam) — $18  (list price $80)
• The Golf Club 2019: Featuring the PGA TOUR (Steam) — $26.99  (list price $50)
• WWE 2K19 (Steam) — $27  (list price $60)
• WWE 2K19 Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $40.50  (list price $90)
• XCOM 2 (Steam) — $13.50  (list price $60)
• XCOM 2 Collection (Steam) — $36  (list price $100)
• XCOM 2: Digital Deluxe (Steam) — $16.88  (list price $75)
• XCOM 2: War of the Chosen (Steam) — $18  (list price $40)
• XCOM: Enemy Unknown The Complete Edition (Steam) — $9  (list price $50)

Rockstar Games

• Grand Theft Auto V — $17.81  (list price $30)
• Grand Theft Auto V + Criminal Enterprise ??+ Great White Shark Card Bundle — $35.48  (list price $68)
• Grand Theft Auto V + Criminal Enterprise +?? Megalodon Shark Card Bun??dle — $71.27  (list price $120)
• Grand Theft Auto V + Crimin?al E?nterprise + Whale Shark Card Bundle — $49.89  (list price $88)
• Grand Theft Auto V Great White Bundle (Rockstar Key) — $26.99  (list price $50)
• Max Payne 3 Complete (Steam) — $9.44  (list price $35)

Bandai Namco

• .hack//G.U. Last Recode (Steam) — $13.50  (list price $50)
• Accel World VS. Sword Art Online Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $13.50  (list price $50)
• Ace Combat: Assault Horizon Enhanced Edition (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Arcade Game Series 3-in-1 Pack (Steam) — $3.60  (list price $8)
• Attractio (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Black Clover Quartet Knights (Steam) — $22.50  (list price $50)
• Black Clover: Quartet Knight??s Digital Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $29.25  (list price $65)
• Dark Souls III (Steam) — $13.50  (list price $60)
• Dark Souls III Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $22.95  (list price $85)
• Dragon Ball FighterZ (Steam) — $21.60  (list price $60)
• Dragon Ball FighterZ - FighterZ Edition (Steam) — $42.74  (list price $95)
• Dragon Ball FighterZ - Ultimate Edition (Steam) — $49.49  (list price $110)
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse (Steam) — $9  (list price $40)
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 (Steam) — $11.25  (list price $50)
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse Bundle Edition (Steam) — $14.62  (list price $65)
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse Season Pass (Steam) — $5.62  (list price $25)
• Enslaved: Odyssey to the West Premium Edition (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Get Even (Steam) — $6.75  (list price $30)
• God Eater 2 Rage Burst (Steam) — $11.25  (list price $50)
• Impact Winter (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Little Nightmares (Steam) — $7.20  (list price $20)
• Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time (Steam) — $14.40  (list price $40)
• Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja STORM Legacy (Steam) — $31.50  (list price $70)
• Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja STORM Trilogy (Steam) — $18  (list price $40)
• Naruto To Boruto: Shinobi Striker (Steam) — $26.99  (list price $50)
• Naruto To Boruto: Shinobi Striker Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $50.39  (list price $80)
• Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (Steam) — $32.39  (list price $60)
• Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom The?? Prince's Edition (Steam) — $50.39  (list price $80)
• One Piece Pirate Warriors 3 (Steam) — $9  (list price $40)
• One Piece Pirate Warriors 3 Gold Edition (Steam) — $11.70  (list price $52)
• One Piece Unlimited World Red - Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $18  (list price $40)
• Project CARS 2 (Steam) — $17.82  (list price $60)
• Project CARS 2 Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $26.73  (list price $90)
• Saint Seiya: Soldiers' Soul (Steam) — $11.25  (list price $50)
• Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet (Steam) — $18  (list price $50)
• Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $26.99  (list price $75)
• Sword Art Online: Hollow ??Realization Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $18  (list price $50)
• Tales of Berseria (Steam) — $11.25  (list price $50)
• Tales of Symphonia (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Tekken 7 (Steam) — $18  (list price $40)
• Tekken 7 Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $47.24  (list price $75)

Paradox Interactive

• Age of Wonders III (Steam) — $6.75  (list price $30)
• Age of Wonders III Collection (Steam) — $11.25  (list price $50)
• Cities: Skylines (Steam) — $6.75  (list price $30)
• Cities: Skylines - Concerts (Steam) — $3.50  (list price $7)
• Cities: Skylines - Content Creator Pack: Art Deco (Steam) — $2.50  (list price $5)
• Cities?: Skylines - Content Creator Pack: High-Tech Buil??dings (Steam) — $2.50  (list price $5)
• Cities: Skylines - Mass Transit (Steam) — $6.50  (list price $13)
• Cities: Skylines - Natural Disasters (Steam) — $7.50  (list price $15)
• Cities: Skylines After Dark (Steam) — $7.50  (list price $15)
• Cities: Skylines Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $9  (list price $40)
• Crusader Kings II (Steam) — $9  (list price $40)
• Europa Universalis IV (Steam) — $9  (list price $40)
• Europa Universalis IV Digital Extreme Edition (Steam) — $20.25  (list price $45)
• Hearts of Iron III (Steam) — $2.25  (list price $10)
• King Arthur 2 (Steam) — $2.25  (list price $10)
• Magicka 2 (Steam) — $3.37  (list price $15)
• Magicka 2 Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $5.62  (list price $25)
• Majesty 2 Collection (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Pillars of Eternity Hero Edition (Steam) — $16.19  (list price $30)
• Shadowrun Returns (Steam) — $3.37  (list price $15)
• Shadowrun Returns Deluxe (Steam) — $5.62  (list price $25)
• Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut (Steam) — $6.75  (list price $15)
• Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Steel Division: Normandy 44 (Steam) — $12.24  (list price $40)
• Steel Division: Normandy 44 - Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $16.20  (list price $60)
• Stellaris (Steam) — $14.40  (list price $40)
• Stellaris - Utopia (Steam) — $9  (list price $20)
• Stellaris: Galaxy Edition (Steam) — $25.20  (list price $70)
• Stellaris: Nova Edition (Steam) — $18  (list price $50)
• Victoria II (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Warlock 2: The Exiled - Standard Edition (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)

Ubisoft

• Anno 2205 (Uplay) — $9  (list price $40)
• Anno 2205 Ultimate Edition (Uplay) — $11.25  (list price $50)
• Assassin's Creed 2 Deluxe Edition (Uplay) — $6.12  (list price $20)
• Assassin's Creed 3 (Uplay) — $6.12  (list price $20)
• Assassin's Creed 3 Deluxe Edition (Uplay) — $18.36  (list price $60)
• Assassin's Creed Chronicles Trilogy (Uplay) — $7.65  (list price $25)
• Assassin's Creed Chronicles: China (Uplay) — $3.06  (list price $10)
• Assassin's Creed Chronicles: India (Uplay) — $3.06  (list price $10)
• Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia (Uplay) — $3.06  (list price $10)
• Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag (Uplay) — $7.20  (list price $20)
• Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Gold Edition (Uplay) — $14.40  (list price $40)
• Assassin's Creed Revelations (Uplay) — $7.20  (list price $20)
• Assassin's Creed Revelations Gold Edition (Uplay) — $10.80  (list price $30)
• Assassin's Creed Rogue (Uplay) — $7.20  (list price $20)
• Assassin's Creed Rogue Deluxe Edition (Uplay) — $10.80  (list price $30)
• Assassin's Creed Syndicate (Uplay) — $12.24  (list price $40)
• Assassin's Creed Syndicate Gold Edition (Uplay) — $21.42  (list price $70)
• Assassin's Creed Unity (Uplay) — $9.18  (list price $30)
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Uplay) — $7.20  (list price $20)
• Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Deluxe Edition (Uplay) — $10.80  (list price $30)
• Assassin’s Creed (Uplay) — $6.12  (list price $20)
• Atomega (Steam) — $2.70  (list price $10)
• Child of Light (Uplay) — $4.59  (list price $15)
• Far Cry (Uplay) — $3.60  (list price $10)
• Far Cry 2 Fortune's Edition (Uplay) — $3.60  (list price $10)
• Far Cry 3 (Uplay) — $6.12  (list price $20)
• Far Cry 3 Deluxe Edition (Uplay) — $9.18  (list price $30)
• Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon (Uplay) — $5.40  (list price $15)
• Far Cry 4 (Uplay) — $6.75  (list price $30)
• Far Cry 4 Gold Edition (Uplay) — $13.50  (list price $60)
• Far Cry Primal (Uplay) — $11.25  (list price $50)
• Far Cry Primal Digital Apex Edition (Uplay) — $12.37  (list price $55)
• For Honor (Uplay) — $11.88  (list price $40)
• For Honor Starter Edition (Uplay) — $6.75  (list price $15)
• Might & Magic X Legacy (Uplay) — $5.62  (list price $25)
• Might & Magic X Legacy Deluxe Edition (Uplay) — $6.75  (list price $30)
• Rayman Legends (Uplay) — $9.18  (list price $30)
• Rayman Origins (Uplay) — $6.12  (list price $20)
• Rayman Raving Rabbids (Uplay) — $3.06  (list price $10)
• Rocksmith 2014 (Steam) — $8.10  (list price $30)
• South Park The Fractured But Whole Gold Edition (Uplay) — $20.25  (list price $90)
• South Park: The Fractured But Whole (Uplay) — $13.50  (list price $60)
• South Park: The Stick of Truth (Uplay) — $6.75  (list price $30)
• Steep (Uplay) — $11.88  (list price $40)
• The Crew (Uplay) — $6.75  (list price $30)
• The Crew Ultimate Edition (Uplay) — $11.25  (list price $50)
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands (Uplay) — $22.50  (list price $50)
• TrackMania² Lagoon (Uplay) — $9  (list price $20)
• Trackmania Turbo (Uplay) — $18  (list price $40)
• Trials Evolution: Gold Edition (Uplay) — $6.12  (list price $20)
• Trials Fusion (Uplay) — $6.12  (list price $20)
• Watch Dogs (Uplay) — $8.10  (list price $30)
• Watch_Dogs 2 (Uplay) — $16.20  (list price $60)
• Watch_Dogs 2 Deluxe Edition (Uplay) — $18.90  (list price $70)
• Watch_Dogs 2 Gold Edition (Uplay) — $27  (list price $100)
• Watch_Dogs Complete Edition (Uplay) — $13.50  (list price $50)
• Zombi (Uplay) — $3.60  (list price $20)

WB Games

• Bastion (Steam) — $3.37  (list price $15)
• Batman Arkham Asylum GOTY (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Batman Arkham City GOTY Edition (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Batman Arkham Origins (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Batman: Arkham Knight Premium Edition (Steam) — $10.80  (list price $40)
• Batman: Arkham VR (Steam) — $9  (list price $20)
• F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin (Steam) — $3.37  (list price $15)
• F.E.A.R. 3 (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Gauntlet (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Injustice 2 (Steam) — $22.50  (list price $50)
• Injustice: Gods Among Us - Ultimate Edition (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• LEGO Batman (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• LEGO Batman 3: Beyond Gotham (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• LEGO City Undercover (Steam) — $14.40  (list price $40)
• LEGO Marvel's Avengers Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $6.75  (list price $30)
• LEGO Worlds (Steam) — $13.50  (list price $30)
• LEGO: Marvel Super Heroes (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Steam) — $6.75  (list price $30)
• Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens Deluxe Edition (Steam) — $9  (list price $40)
• Lego: Marvel's Avengers (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor GOTY (Steam) — $9  (list price $20)
• Mortal Kombat X (Steam) — $6.12  (list price $20)
• Mortal Kombat XL (Steam) — $8.10  (list price $30)
• Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• The LEGO Movie: Videogame (Steam) — $4.50  (list price $20)
• The LEGO Ninjago Movie Video Game (Steam) — $14.40  (list price $40)

Game deals from Dealzon. Sales help support Destructoid.

The post Cyber Week PC game deals: 2K, Ba?ndai, Ubiso??ft, and Paradox titles appeared first on Destructoid.

Better late than never

Razer (popular PC peripheral maker) and Capcom are teaming up to create the official Marvel Vs. Capcom: Infinite arcade stick. Priced at $219.99/€239.99, this PS4 exclusive piece of tech w?ill be based on the Razer Panthera and include premium Sanwa hardware. Much like the old MadCatz sticks of the last generation, this stick has been tested by eSports legends and will be fully customizable.

Here??? are the official specifications of what the stick is made with:

• 10 tournament-grade Sanwa™ Denshi buttons
• Authentic Sanwa joystick with ball top
• Easy one-touch access to internals and storage
• Fully accessible internals and storage compartments for easy modding
• Honeycomb structure on the inside for easy screw mounting
• Storage room for alternative bat top joystick (not included) and more
• 9.8 ft. / 3 m detachable screw-lock USB cable for secure connection
• Screwdriver included for modding

The stick should currently be available in Europe from the official MadCatz website and will be heading to North and South America next month. I would link to the website, but that just redirects to a 404 error. I'm guessing the excitement of something actually happening with MvC: I took down Razer's servers.

The post Razer is making some Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite a??rcade sticks appeared first on Destructoid.

Comfortable wrists, happy fingers, sad wallet

For the last couple of months, my fingers have been spoiled by using the Razer Ornata Chroma. The low-profile keycaps and satisfying tactility led to it being my keyboard of choice. But now Razer has re??leased the BlackWidow Chroma V2, t?he next iteration in their popular BlackWidow line, so I had to tear my 'tips away from the Ornata and try this one for review.

A lack of new features make it a less exciting ??endeavor for Razer's flagship keyboard, but that doesn't mean it isn't as dependable and as comfortable as the word flagship implies. It's definitely BlackWidow: The Sequel, and if you know you like this style of keyboard, you'll probably be happy with it.

Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 Keyboard
Manufacturer: Razer
Input: USB 2.0
MSRP: $169.99 

Let's start with the design and the lights and the pretties. The BlackWidow Chroma V2 is sleek with a matte finish, 16.8 million color combinations for the RGB lighting (all customizable, of course!), and contoured key-caps that remained comfortable throughout all of my testing. Size-wise, it's 475mm/18.72 in (Width) x ??171mm/6.74 in (Height) x 39mm/1.54 in (Depth). It also comes with a detachable magnetic wrist-rest similar t?o the Ornata Chroma, and my wrists are ever-so-grateful. I've had others in the house try it out and they were put off by how high it is, but it's the perfect amount of cushio?n for me. I use during both typing and gaming, and I can't really think of a time where I wanted to remove it.

The?re's a column on the far left side of the keyboard with five macro keys, which can be helpful in games that require more inputs, but I don't like having them there at all. This is absolutely due to my preference, as I've seen people swear by those extra macros, but my pinky finger can never quite get used to there being more keys past Caps Lock. Your mileage will vary of course, but there's definitely an acclimation period.

On the right side of the keyboard there's a USB pass-through and 3.5mm headphone jack, ??which is always appreciated. The less I have to root around behind my tower to find connections, the better. The only keys I ??wish had been added for convenience's sake would be a dedicated media bar with volume controls, but you can use the function keys to the same effect. 

As far as what's under the hood, BlackWidow Chroma V2 come??s in three varieties: Green, Yellow, or Orange mechanical switches. The unit provided by Razer has Green switches, which are the company's equivalent to Cherry MX Blue switches, providing an audible, tactile click. Yellow has less of a "bump" to it, making it a smart choice for people who play MOBAs and need to rapidly hit their keys. Orange is the middle ground, where you have some tactility but it's a bit quieter. 

The Green switches have that tell-tale click that most think of when conjuring up images of mechanical keyboards, and I have no complaints here. The keys themselves are rated at 80 million strokes, which means they should last you years and years, as long as you don't spill your drink in it or throw it at a wall. Or break it in half, which I'd never do. Ten key rollover and ?anti-ghosting tech ensures t?hat your keypresses will always register properly.

As ?expected for Razer, the company's Synapse software handles all of the customization you could possibly want to engage in with your keyboards. Macros, custom lighting (mine looks like fire under my fingertips!), and stats to see how and where your fingers are flying in each game are readily available. Syna??pse is simple to use and free, so there's no reason not to use it. 

So it works well, looks good, and feels comfortable. The only thing that stops me from recommending to everyone is the price. At $169.99, the BlackWidow Chroma V2 can be a tough sell. It's sort of the Lamborghini of keyboards in that it's got (almost) everything you'd want from an expensive, luxurious typer thingamadooodle, so you're definitely buying quality. I'd suggest getting your fingers on one at a PC hardware store if you can to make sure you like the feel of it before pulling the trigger. The only addition I'd want is dedicated media keys, but plenty of people don't care an awful lot about that. If the features that are here sound good, know? that they're implemented well and your money will be well-spent.

The post Review: Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 appeared first on Destructoid.

MECHA-MEMBRANE

In the year 2016, mechanical keyboards and membrane keyboards are currently embroiled in an ongoing war. Those in love with the former contend that having actual mechanical switches under their buttons gives typing and gaming a higher amount of precision, and that once you feel that tactile ka-chunk it's hard to go back to stock keyboards. Supporters of the latter say there's no need to spen?d the extra money, and that PC hardware companies are just trying to milk gamers for their cash.

With Razer's Or??nata Chroma keyboard, a new challenger has entered the fray, hoping to uni?te people who think way too damn much about keyboards, like I do.

Razer Ornata Chroma Keyboard
Manufacturer: Razer
Input: USB 2.0
MSRP: $99.99 

The Ornata Chroma uses a technology called mecha-membrane (actually not Godzilla's arch-nemesis, in case you're wondering). There's a membrane under the keys that allows for longer life duration and low-profile typing, but there are still mechanica??l parts that give that chunky? click that feels so good. Which could all be a buncha bullcrap that doesn't end up pleasing everyone, of course.

But from my time with this keyboard, I find it to be a satisfying compromise. It has mid-sized keys between the shape of bulky keyboards and Mac chiclets that feel like you don't have to press down quite as far. There's still a textured clack to each press, providing feedback and letting you know that you did indeed press the key in time, and that you died because that other dude is just better at sniping than you are. Especially appreciated is the included detachable cush??ioned wrist rest that prevents fatigue. I use it for both gaming and typing, and I've found this to be the most comfortable keyboard I've used since I began reviewing hardware. The magnets that hold the rest to the keyboard are bit weak, but that only matters if you're particularly violent with your keypresses.

There aren't dedicated media keys, so the function key is necessary for that as well as changing backlight brightness, turning?? on game mode (to prevent accidentally hitting the Windows key), and the like. This is a?? smaller keyboard, so it's nice and compact for both gaming and typing.

It's also attractive: clean, crisp lines and angles mean that it doesn't have the garish Transformer look that is strongly associated with PC hardware. Razer's Chroma technology allows for 16.8 million color combinations through the included Synapse program, which also can be used to create macros or see the heat map of your keyboard use. I generally have it on a setting where waves of color ripple out from the keys I press, whic?h is probably annoying as hell to passers-by, but I'm just happy it looks like I'm weaving purple lightmagic.

There aren't a ton of extra features here, like USB pass-throughs and media keys, but it doesn't feel lacking. It's too satisfying to use. Though I'm generally an ardent supporter of Cherry Blue mechanical switches, this mecha-membrane combination is my favorite keyboard to use right now due to its low-profile keys and enticing clicks. This is all largely subjective, so if possible, I'd go to a store and try to test one out to see if you like it first. I was expecting a mushiness to it that simply isn't there, but your mileage my vary. If you're uninterested in the pretty colors, there's a $20 cheaper version that?? functions identically minus the RGB lights. Either way, it's a solid outing by Razer, and my wrists thank the company.

_{[This review is based on retail?? hardware provided by the manufacturer.]}

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This can't be cheap

Project Valerie, a concept laptop Razer is showing off at CES 2017, almost seems like retrofuturism. It's like a what-if scenario of how technology coul?d have developed, only p?redicted way too soon.

This "mobile desktop" has three 17.3" 4K screens in total, two of which can slide out with an automated system not unlike something you would've seen on MTV Cribs. Resolution-wise, that's 11520 x 2160, with a GeForce GTX 1080 crammed in for good measure. This video demonstration features Titanfall 2 -- a fairly good showcase for multi-screen gaming -- but the real draw of Project?? Valerie, I think, is the sheer screen real estate for multi-tasking and, as boring as it sounds, work purposes.

Pricing and release details are big question marks right now, but if you're genuinely curious (and have several thousand dollars, at a minimum, reserved for this sort of purchase), there's an email signup.

Between this and Acer's $9K laptop with a curved screen, it's been a lap-crushing week at CES.

Project Valerie [Razer]

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Deals on Razer accessories and systems

While Cyber Monday and Black Friday are long gone (thank the gods), select retailer are still continuing with sales via "Cyber Week." Razer is no exception. As of writing, select bundle deals are still available at the Razer Store with most of them not requiring any promo code for instant disc?ounts on accessories and systems.

Which brings us to the rarer deals as Razer's pricey systems are hardly ever discounted. Currently there are four decent picks. The New Razer Blade Stealth Ultrabook with Kaby Lake now comes with a free Leviathan Mini ($179 list price). If you step up the game to the bundle with the Razer Core (which lets you stuff a GPU and use it with the Blade Stealth), you'll receive both ??the free Mini along with a free $100 Steam credit.

Personally we think Razer should just apply that $100 Steam credit towards the laptop itself, but its a product with a price premium so ?this isn't a surprise.

If you don't mind refurbish units, you can pick up either the Stealth or a regular Blade with a price cut. For example, the last-generation Blade Stealth is now priced only at $879.99 while the Razer Blade with GTX 970 is "discounted" to $1,699 and comes with a free mouse and pad combo.

Razer Cyber Week Deals

• Razer Store: Cyber Week Sale: discounts on mouse/keyboard/headset bundles from 19% to 4% off

New Blade systems deals

• New Razer Blade Stealth i7-750??0U, 128GB + Razer Core? + Leviathan Mini + $100 Steam Credit — $1,399.98  (list price $1,680)
• New Razer Bl??ade Stealth 1440p U??ltrabook, i7-7500U, 8GB/128GB + Leviathan Mini— $999.99

Refurb Blade system deals

• Razer Blade Stealth 1440p Ultrabook, Core i7-6500U, 8GB RAM??, 128GB SSD (Refurb) — $879.99
• Razer Blade i7-6700HQ, GT?X 970, ??1800p, 256GB + Mouse + Pad (Refurb) — $1,699.99  (list price $2,140)

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That familiar feel

While the Razer Kraken 7.1 V2 Gaming Headset sat atop my head for the last few weeks, the DeathAdder Elite mouse has been under my right palm, clicking away to navigate both virtual battlegrounds and web pages alike. It's the next iteration in the DeathAdder line, last seen in Chris' review of the DeathAdder Chroma. There are a few small differences that set this mouse apart from past incarnations, and while I'd be hesitant to recommend?? upgrading if you already have a unit from this line, the DeathAdder is popular for a reas??on.

Between the Elite's comfortable design, chunky thumb buttons, and pleasant-to-the-touch matte plastic and textured rubber, I'm not surprised that people keep returning to the Dea?thAdder series.

Product: Razer DeathAdder Elite
Manufacturer: Razer
Input: USB 2.0
MSRP: $69.99

Like most gaming mouses, the Elite is built for your right hand. Though Razer has made left-handed DeathAdders in the past, for now you'll have to adjust to using your non-dominant hand if you're a witch. It's got a nice low profile so that you can use either a claw grip or a palm grip comfortably, and the smooth material atop just feels nice underneath my hand. Both the sides (where your thumb, ring finger, and pinky rest) ?have a rubberized texture, as does the scroll wheel for extra grip. But that's all stuff that's been in this particular series of gaming mice for some time.

As far as what's new, there's a better sensor that has a high of 16,000 DPI (dots per inch) and two additional buttons under the scroll wheel, bringing the mouse to a total of seven buttons. Those new switches default to on-the-fly sensitivity adjustments, which esports players especially have been using as of late for situational aiming changes. Those are the only major changes, which is why you may not want to upgrade if you already have a DeathAdder. Unless, of course, you're an esports player who needs that extra D??PI to make hundreds of thousands of dollars, in which case I hate you a little bit. Don't w?orry, I'm just jealous. Moving on...

Using Razer's Synapse software, you can create different profiles and allocate different actions to each button, from macros to Windows shortcuts. You can also change polling rate, acceleration, and tune to whichever surf?ace your mouse is on for best performance. This is also the place to adjust your pretty pretty RGB lighting, which can be configured to 16.8 million different colors and sync up with your keyboard (my headphones and mouse are a lovely shade of pink as we speak).

There aren't really any issues with the Elite. Given how well made it is, whether you'll like it or not entirely comes down to preference and what you're going to play with it. While it skews towards action games by having fewer buttons, it still performs admirably in other genres. However, if you're the type of player who likes to have a million keys in your right hand for macros and to offload most of the action off of your keyboard, there are better choices, including the Naga Chroma. While the Naga is $30 more expensive, it might be more up your alley depending on ??what you play. Personally, seven buttons is all I'??ll ever need for games.

At $69.99, DeathAdder Elite may seem pricey for a mouse that d??oesn't have any kind of revolutionary "look at me!" feature, but it's well-constructed, comfortable, and nice and understated compared to most gaudy PC hardware. If you're ready to upgrade from something basic, this is a strong choice. If you already have a similar unit, I'd recommend sticking to what you have as the Elite is an iterative upgrade in the DeathAdder line.

_{[This review is based on retail hardware provided by the manufacturer.]}

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You'll look like Princess Leia, but they sound good

Right after I got back from Poland almost a month ago, I received a package with all sorts of Razer goodies inside, including the Ornata keyboard, the Death Adder Elite mouse, and the Kraken 7.1 V2 Gaming headset. I'm still working on reviewing those first two (Spoiler: I'm rather happy with them), but I've been using the headset for the past few weeks both in numerous matches of Killing Floor 2 and Battlefield 1 and for listening to music whil??e I conjure up more words for you fine folks to read. 

It's gonna be hard to tear?? these off my head the next time I have to do another hea?dset review.

Product: Razer Kraken 7.1 V2 Gaming Headset
Manufacturer: Razer
Input: USB 2.0
MSRP: $99.99

Let's start from the outside and work our way in. The Kraken 7.1 V2 is large, but it's more comfortable?? than ??I initially expected. At 346 grams, it doesn't feel particularly heavy, and the large cups sit comfortably over my ears. While the cups do protrude a couple inches and have the potential to make you look quite ridiculous, it allows for 50 mm audio drivers, meaning better sound quality.

Since the Kraken is connected via USB, I generally wouldn't be using them outside of home anyway, but aside from the large cups, the set looks sturdy and sleek. I'm glad Razer gave up on the awful mid-'90s punk band vomit font it had been using on so many of its products up 'til now. With nice RGB lighting on the side of the cups and the clean new Razer logo, I wouldn't be emba?rrassed to take these into a coffee shop to get some writing done. Also, a nice bonus is that I've worn these for five hours at a time and my ears never get sore. That's highly subjective, and I don't know your ears, but these worked well for me.

The microphone is attached to the left cup, and is conveniently retractable for whenever you want to use the phones exclusively for listening. Whenever you'd like to mute yourself, you simply pinch the tip of the mic down (there's a sneaky little button on it) and you'll be nice and silent. Quality-wise, I was surp??rised to find that my voice sounds crisp and clear in? comparison to most of the other gaming headsets I've used in the past. Through Razer's Synapse software, I was able to tweak volume normalization, ambient noise reduction, and active mic noise cancellation, allowing squad mates to hear my voice despite whatever cacophony was surrounding me. Curiously, no matter what I adjusted, people that I played with told me they could hear my breathing a little too easily. This means that either the mic is a wee bit too sensitive, or I need to start doing breathing exercises.

But these are primarily for your ears, so the most important aspect is the sound. If Razer is going to tout 7.1 digital surround sound, the Kraken had better tickle my eardrums and fill them with sweet, honeyed compliments. There's an ongoing debate as to whether or not digital 7.1 is true surround sound because the speakers are too close to your ears, yada yada yada you can Google it. What's important to me is that the illusion of surround sound is here, and I can already hear the benefits in Battlefield 1. I've heard other players coming around corners behind me and taken them dow?n even though they should have had the drop on me.

There's a deep bass to these that audiophiles would probably frown at, but I find it works pretty well for getting a nice, grounded sound in the games I've been playing. With the bass boost in the Synapse software, running through explosions is particularly pleasant (as nice as something so traumatic can be), though the Kraken does struggle with the boost maxed out on the highest volume. That's not good for your ears anyway, but if you're nigh-deaf and need to have it that loud, be aware that there is a loss of consistency at that point. You can also adjust sound normalization and p??resence level, for when you want to reduce loudness variation and better hear your friends.

When it comes to listening to music, the Kraken performs admirably. There's a nice balance to the lows and highs that doesn't feel as compromised as I'm used to with gaming headsets. For the best possible musical experience,?? you're still better off with dedicated headphones from a company like Audio-Technica or Sennheiser. But if you're like me and don't want to switch your earhuggers every time you change from gaming to music, the Kraken sounds good, warm, and balanced compared to other gaming headsets. Don't @ me, as the kids on Twitter say.

The Kraken 7.1 V2 is a great overall package; it's comfortable on my big dumb head, has a surprisingly high-quality microphone, and the sound quality is more generous than I expect from the often compromised category of gaming headsets. As someone who both plays games?? and writes constantly, I find them to be a good alternative to switching to more appropriate headphones every five minutes. Even if this isn't the case for you personally, the Kraken is a good choice if you want a high-quality headset for a decent price.

_{[This review is based on retail hardware provided by the manufacturer.]}

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Just gotta buy stuff first

Coupons and Razer go together like ketchup on ice cream. You don't see them together very often. Three Razer coupons popped up today, and while they are not discount coupons, they do get you free Razer acc??essories if you spend the right amount.

Razer Coupons/Deals for Holidays

• Free Razer Nabu Watch for Orders $249+ — Code: NOVNWUS
• Free Razer Nabu X for Orders $109+ — Code: NOVNXUS
• Free Razer USB Thumbdrive — Code: WIYBNOV16

Edit: free USB thumbdrive is when you purchase the Tactical Pro backpack or Hammerhead V2. Nabu Watch/X deal excludes Razer Blade systems.

Not all the coupons at Razer have the same expiration d??ate. The free Nabu Watch and Nabu X fitness tracker are only valid from now through November 22. The free 8GB USB thumb drive is valid through December 8.

The higher up the dollar amount, the bigger the value of the Razer accessories. Take the Razer Nabu Watch. Spend $250 ??and the watch is yours, which may seem trivial if you didn't know the value of the Razer Nabu Watch is priced at $150 everywhere. That's a pretty decent?? bonus. So if you were going to pick up something from Razer in the next few days, you may as well get a free watch or activity tracker out of it.

The post New Razer coupo?n deal for the holidays gets you free accessories appeared first on Destructoid.

I appreciate the effort, but...

Not to be confused with the couple-of-weeks-off PlayStation 4 Pro, Sony has announced a pair of third-party "pr?o" controllers coming to PlayStation 4 this year from Razer and Nacon.

"To give our competitive and pro players more choice, we invited Razer and Nacon to use their knowledge and expertise in developing eSports peripherals to design two unique pro controllers for PS4," says Sony, writing on the European PlayStation Blog. "Through? close collaboration we've been able to help optimise each controller for PS4 – incorporating innovative DualShock 4 controls and ensuring gamers can enjoy a plug ?& play experience with any model of PS4."

This is the Razer Raiju, due out this holiday season (price TBA).

• Two extra bumpers and two extra detachable triggers
• Built-in control panel on the front of the controller
• Trigger-stop switches and hair trigger mode for ultra-fast trigger responses
• Two custom profiles which you can instantly switch between and modify
• 3.5mm headset jack and dedicated headset volume and mic mute controls
• Detachable analog stick rubber caps which provide extra grip during intense gaming sessions
• Compatibility with all PS4 systems via the braided 3m-long USB cable – detachable for easy storage

This is the Nacon Revolution, also due later t??his year, and also with an as-yet-announced price.

• 46° amplitude dual analogue sticks, enhanced with innovative firmware for advanced eSports accuracy and reach
• Four extra shortcut buttons
• Eight-way directional pad
• Four custom profiles – all configurable via the companion PC application, enabling players to: re-map buttons, assign macros to the four shortcut controls and adjust analog and trigger sensitivity
• Two internal compartments with six additional weights – for a tailored balance and feel
• Compatibility with all PS4 systems via the 3m-long secure connection USB cable – detachable for easy storage

Give??n the lackluster build quality of the standard DualShock 4, there is undoubtedly a demand for a higher-end gamepad. But third-parties? And wired controllers, at that? Yeah, I'm going to have to pass. Hold the snakes! (Look closer: both of these pads have snakes baked into thei??r design.)

Earlier this year, Chris and Brett talked me into begrudgingly getting an Xbox One Elite controller, and I did, after holding out for a sale. The thing is wonderful. I'd love a first-party PS4 counterpart.

First look at two new licensed pro c?ontrollers for PS4 [PlayStation Blog EU]

The post If Sony won’t make a pro controller for PS4, Razer and Nacon will appeared first on Destructoid.

You know the one

When I think of THX, I think of its logo, that distinct before-the-movie "Deep Note," and also this wide-eyed creature. But, going forward, maybe I'll think about R?azer, too.

The gaming hardware maker has acquired THX for an undisclosed amount, though the company will operate as an "independent startup" with its existing management and "have discretion to seek agreements with other product makers, service providers??, and financial partners apart from Razer."

According to Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan, "This acquisition will allow us to reinforce Razer's leadership in gaming and extend the brand into broader areas of entertai??nment, while at the same time empowering THX to develop into a global powerhouse, independently."

"With Razer," says THX CEO Ty Ahmad-Taylor, "we can now continue to strengthen our c??ore lines of business while delivering excellence for our customers' ever-changing needs. As a standalone company, THX will work with Razer but will primarily continue to service our partners in the industry in order to deliver great products to consumers."

I'm unsure how this will specifically play out longer-term, but for now, I'm just surprised by the move. I guess I didn't realize Razer was in a place to pick up THX, or THX was looking to sell. Ahmad-Taylor elaborated on the decision in a blog post, noting that the ?sale gives them a "roc??k-solid foundation" and that he "wouldn't be surprised if we launched a few joint products with Razer."

???There's also virtual reality to consider. "As gaming bridges into VR, we expect to play a leadership role in the audio portion of that experience, which is crucial for completion the immersion into virtual worlds."

A New Beginning for THX?: Why I Sold My Company in My First?? Year [THX]

The post Razer buys audio-visual company THX appeared first on Destructoid.

Also a location-based messenger app from Razer

While all the reports of people hooking up thanks to Pokemon Go are real and true and good, those who want to grease the wheels of fuck without putting their b-hole on Craiglist, good news: PokéDates, re?plete with artwork str?aight from an American-drawn "How to draw manga" art book.

It's not a new service, but built off of 2012's Project Fixup, which is basically an old-school matchmaker where you're "fixed up" with someone by hand, rather than by how drunk and horny you are when you see four pictures of them and a bio that reads, "Looking for a pa??rtner in crime!"

Here's th?e rub (no, the other kind): only your first fix up is free. Then it's $20 per date. Still, maybe it's worth creating an account, answering some questions, and getting handed a date with no other work involved on your end.

On the other hand, if you want to pretend that you're not tryna get the pipe, Razer has just announced RazerGO, a "location-based chat messenger" that can put you in touch with Pokemon Go players within 3, 60, or 600 miles. There's public chat, chat between members of Go's three factions, and a private option for when you need to make sure someone know you're DTF. RazerGO will have its own Android/iOS apps, which should be out by July 25, as well as a web version going live tonight ahead of a Pokemon Go crawl in San Francisco that Razer hopes to capitalize on to lure players into the Razer Store? downtown.

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Two new Xboxes, announced an hour apart

While E3's generally all about the games, this year we saw a pretty big turnout f?or hardware too: video cards, new consoles, and of course more virtual reality than we really know what to do with.

So here's a roundup of all?? things physical and kinda expensive we saw this year:

• Microsoft off??icially ann?ounces the Xbox One S, starts at $299
• Microsof??t unveils its new, more ?powerful Xbox One 'Project Scorpio'
• Make your Xbox One?? controller look pretty with the Xbox Design Lab
• AMD unveils its newest, Polaris-ba?sed graphics cards, new Zen CPU, and a VR backpack
• PlayStation VR is out on October 13, '50 games' still t??he ??goal this year
• The OSVR HDK 2: a $400 VR headset with Ri?ft & Vive-like ??specs
• There's a brand n????ew Pip-Boy Bluetooth Edition with only 5,000 units worldwide

Honestly, I'm surprised VR didn't have a bigger showing this year now that it's out there in the open. I had a gut feeling Microsoft ??would announce something to compete with PS VR (maybe Oculus Rift support for the Scorpio?), so them not mentioning it at all was a bit of ?a shock.

The post Here’s all the hardware news out of E3 2016 appeared first on Destructoid.

Oh, and it's coming out next month. Surprise!

Razer and Sensics have teamed up to announce the?? Hacker Development Kit 2, or HDK 2, virtual reality headset.

T??he?? HDK 2 is part of the companies’ Open Source Virtual Reality consortium, which aims to “democratise” VR and allow for developers to more easily make games that work on multiple VR platforms, as Christopher Mitchell, Razer’s OSVR lead, explains:

The HDK 2 allows us to meet the needs of VR fans and gamers and provide developers with affordable open-source hardware to innovate with. With the HDK 2 being able to deliver a visual experience on par with industry ?leaders, we will now be able to represent hardware agnostic VR media and games in all their glory for future headsets to adopt through the open source ecosystem.

The HDK 2 itself has specs that are on-par with the HTC Vive and the Oculus R?ift, featuring the same resolution (2160x1200), refresh rate (90Hz), and field of view (110 degrees) as both other devices. It also includes image-enhancing technology, which Razer claims will hel?p reduce that annoying screen door effect that plagues a lot of VR devices.

While it doesn’t come with dedicated controllers like the Vive, it will be compatible with any hardware that’s made to work with OSVR (such as Neurodigital Technologies’ Gloveone motion tracking gloves), plus any standard PC game controller.

The most important thing, though, is that the HDK 2 will be much che?aper than either the Rift or the Vive, being priced at $399 when it is released only next month (July 2016). That’s still the price of a brand new console, but it’s?? less likely to be sell-your-kidneys expensive for those who've been eager to give VR a try.

Maybe the wait for affordable,? enthusiast-grade VR isn’t as far away as we may have thought? You can see pictures of the HDK 2, plus a specs comparison chart to the Rift and the Vive, in the gallery below. 

The post The OSVR HDK 2: a $400 VR headset with Rift & Vive-like specs appeared first on Destructoid.

The cavalry

Overwatch is nearly here, and as is the case with any Blizzard game, a suite of hardware is coming along with it. While SteelSeries had the honors last time around with Heroes of the Storm, Razer is up with several new additions to their lineu??p.

Due to ??numerous requests from readers, I pinged? Razer to see what the newest set on the block is all about.

Overwatch Razer BlackWidow Chroma keyboard ($180 MSRP)

I have a weird relationship with mechanical keyboards. When it comes to gaming, I love them. But when I'm writing up hundreds of words per day, that clicking sound, even the muted version from some of the more modern keyboards, is painful to me. I know a lot of people who don headphones to alleviate it, but sometimes I like to just hunker down in silence (well, it would be silent if I whipped out my traditional set of keys). Alas, the BlackWidow Chroma has convinced me to stick around -- at? least until I have a nervous breakdown.

It took a few days to get used to a mechanical setup again, but lo and behold, I did it. The general feel of striking each individual key is jarring at first, but the conceit really does help when it comes to precision -- especially if you're having latency issues. With mechanical buttons every single key has a switch, ensuring that when you press that button, it actually initiates the required action. This has been the case, flawlessly, for every game I've played with it, and it's especially useful for twitch-based first-person shooters (like Overwatch) and MOBAs.

In terms of frills, the Chroma packs in a few decent extras (which is just as well, for the price). A function key can trigger a selection of OS-related niceties, like volume and playback controls, as well as an instant-on for "gaming mode" -- a setting that restricts the use of Alt + Tab, Alt + F4, ??and the Windows Key (all of which can be toggled individually).

The Synapse software that comes with the unit also allows for backlight customization (4?0 base colors along with a slider) and a brightness setting, which can be turned off entirely (in general, or when a display is turned off). Users can also click on any key within the software and alter it with another key or mouse function, or cause it to trigger an application launch or a macro.

Multiple profiles can be saved, and swapped with one of 10 function key-li?nked shortcuts. I only ended up using two myself, but long term I'm ready for a lot more.

Overwatch Razer DeathAdder Chroma mouse ($80 MSRP)

I've gone back and forth when it comes to mice for years. Ages ago I was partial to a really good Microsoft unit, which is usually backed up by a trusty Logitech model. Every so often depending on the titles I play I go back to gaming mice from either SteelSeries or Razer, both of which have treated me well as a general rule. So naturally, going back to a DeathAdder in the form of the Overwatch Chroma was an easy switch.

I really like the scroll wheel in particular, which is stocked with a rubber grip. It's easy to get overzealous when it comes to scrolling, and I've found that the DeathAdder has a great balance overall. The custom lighting on the scroll wheel is cool, but ultimately forgettable as it's so muted -- though the Overwatch logo is neat looking, ?and can be turned off at will. Comfortable grips on the sides also help make it more bearable for prolonged use.

Button-wise the DeathAdder isn't all that complicated, so I wouldn't use it for hardcore MMO raiding or even more complicated shooters, but for Overwatch, it's perfect. Two buttons on the side (which can be linked to abilities or melee) can be assigned or macroed, along with the standard left/middle/right-click options. Both ancillary buttons are located on the left s?ide, so the muscle memory requirement is fairly light.

Just like the BlackWidow, the DeathAdder also plays nice with the Synapse software. I was a??ble to create a custom profile for each game, adjusting DPI sensitivity rates (100 to 10,000) and mouse accelerat??ion at will. Its cloud-save capabilities also worked great when transferring my hardware over to my laptop for testing.

Overwatch Razer Goliathus Speed pad ($34.99 MSRP)

Initially I th?ought that I could throw it on the "things I don't need" pile, but I really got used to it over time. In short, it's a giant pad that's meant to accompany both a mouse and a keyboard, and at 36 inches wide, you'll need a bigger desk to take advantage of it. On my end I have a tri-monitor setup, so it's pretty much perfect.

Razer boasts an? "anti-fraying stitched frame" (which I tested by beating the mat on a rough service) and an anti-slip rubber base, which I've found to be accurate. What I really liked about the base in particular is how sturdy it is from just about any angle. Sometimes I like to move my k?eyboard up a bit off the edge of the desk, and even if just part of it is on the mat, it stays put.

In terms of aesthetics I dig the black color scheme, which features a small Razer logo in the bottom left-hand corner along with the Overwatch title, with a logo on the right. It's minimal enough without feeling like you're repping a brand, and I think I'm starting to really cozy up to the idea of using this monstrosity for the near future. This is such a me thing, but since I practically live at my desk I also tried to see what would happen if hot soup warped the surface at all, and within a ?week of testing, I haven't noticed any damage.

The benefit of testing this suite altogether is that everything works in tandem. There's an option to ins??tantly sync lighting color choices to both devices, and an extra sensitivity option for when you're using the Goliathus pad or a desktop. While I've had mixed results in the past with some Razer devices, there's very little in?? the way of downsides here outside of a lack of complexity on the mouse.

_{[These hardware reviews are based on a retail equipment provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Overwatch Razer BlackWidow, Deathadder Chroma, & Goliathus Speed appeared first on Destructoid.

I totally forgot

Man, the Ouya!

It feels like just yesterday they were killing it on Kickstarter and fumbling their way to securing multiple investments, much to the ire of their backers. You could see the writing on the wall at that point, when they announced annual hardware revisions before backers even had their first kits. Also, they released one of the worst commercials of all time, which was a bummer. In any case, it was interesting to see this pretty cool idea crash and burn under Julie Uhrman (who is now with? JauntVR, a "premium" VR expe?rience company).

Because it was all a blur, I totally forgot that Razer swooped in any acquired all of their ?assets, and plan to revive the platform under their own umbrella.

One of the next steps after promoting That Dragon, Cancer is Mimic Arena, which is out today on the Razer Forge TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, and the NVIDIA Shield ??from "Ouya Publishing." It's a neat looking arena game, and seem?s to fit the pick up and play nature of the platforms well.

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My new favorite mouse

The last wireless mouse I used was an ancient Toshiba with a battery life of about thirty seconds. The colours on the plastic had all faded, my fingerprints had been permanently imprinted into the buttons, and I’m pretty sure it had a mind of its own. I died many times in Call of Duty: World at War because of that thing.

The experience put me off of wireless mice for a very lon?g time, but now that I’ve had the chance to try out the Razer Mamba Chroma, I’m absolutely back on board. ??I’d even go as far as to say this might just be the best mouse I’ve ever used.

Product: Razer Mamba Chroma
Manufacturer: Razer
Input: One USB 2.0+ Port
MSRP: $149.99

The Razer Mamba Chroma is a right-handed mouse that is incredibly comfortable to use. If you’re a leftie, this will be entirely unsui?table. But for everyone else it’s just a dream to hold; it has the vertical profile and overall chu?nkiness needed to allow for a great palm grip, and the actual face of the mouse is tilted to the right to allow for a really nice holding experience. It is a bit on the heavy side, weighing a hefty 125g, but in normal use I haven’t found it any harder to throw around than other mice I’ve used.

While Razer does have a reputation for its peripherals sometimes lacking in build quality, the premium price of the Mamba Chroma definitely gets you that premium quality. The textured flanks and matte face, the braided cable, the bright lights, and the stylish charging dock-cum-receiver all just ooze q??uality. Oh, and it all comes in a really nice padded tin case, too. It’s the little things in life.

Under the hood things seem good too. While the mouse itself doesn’t boast any more features than something like the CM Storm Recon or the Cougar 450M, it feels a hell of a lot more pleasant to use. The buttons themselves are great and not at all squishy, with each giving a nice solid click when pressed. Time will tell as to whether this lasts, but so far I’m ??happy with the quality.

As you’d expect from even a mid-budget gaming mouse, the Mamba Chroma has a full configuration suite to let you change anything from the polling rate and DPI to the lighting scheme of the charging dock. It all works nicely, but it is at the end of the day your standard configurations s?uite that doesn’t do anything more than something like Cougar&rsq??uo;s UIX.

The most impressive inclusion is a physical key to adjust the force required to press the Omicron Micro switches under the buttons. It’s fiddly as all hell to do, requiring you to jam the key into a whole and then twist it with very little leverage, but it’s still a great feature for people who play twitch-based shooters or other games where minimising ??the already tiny travelling?? distance to fire would be beneficial. It’s not a feature most users will have to bother with, but for those wanting to eek every little advantage they can get out of the mouse it’s a nice inclusion.

The big difference between the Mamba Chroma and its little cousin the Mamba Tournament is that the Chroma is a wireless/wired hybrid mouse. If you plug in the inc??luded charging dock the mouse will work wirelessly. However, you can also plug the cable straight into it to turn it into a wired device.

I personally don’t really see the point in using it as a wired mouse, though, because the battery life is immense. While Razer advertises 20 hours of continuous play on one charge, I’ve found that you’re l??ooking at more around 30-35 hours of use. While there is a lengthy charging time (about 10 hours), in the 24+ hours I’ve been using it as my primary mouse, I’ve never seen it drop below 50%. Every couple of days jus??t remember to stick it into the charging dock while you sleep or at work, and you’ll probably never have to worry about it running out of charge mid-game.

With a hilariously impractical maximum DPI of 16,000 (which can be lowered usi??ng the configuration software or the on-the-fly switch buttons) and a max polling rate of 1000 Hz, the Razer Mamba is an incredibly responsive mouse. There’s also a nice feature in the configuration software to let you control sensitivity for each axis individually, which admittedly I don’t really see the point in. It’s nice that it’s there, though!

Your mouse could?? have a polling rate of a bajillion hertz and be crafted from the ball sweat of Zeus himself, but if a wireless mouse has latency problems, the entire thing can fall apart and become a frustrating, unusable piece of tech. Fortunately, the Razer Mamba doesn’t seem to have any issues in the latency department and has remained just as steady and smooth as any wired mouse I’ve used.

I’m keeping the receiver only inches away the mouse itself, but even when stood on the other side of the room I didn’t noti??ce any notable drop in accuracy or responsiveness. It is worth noting that wireless range is very dependent on the sort of environment you're in, and I have read about others not getting great range at all from?? the Mamba. It isn't a problem I've had, but it's worth keeping in mind.

I don’t think I’ve ever been as impressed with a m??ouse as I was with the Mamba. It’s on the expensive side, which is going to be a prohibitive factor for a lot of people, but in this case y?ou absolutely get what you pay for.

It’s ??a high-quality piece of kit that looks great, is comfortable to use, has a ridiculously long battery life, and has enough options to make sure things work just how you’d like them to. My trusty wired mouse I’ve used for the past 18 months has now been relegated to my emergency backup, because there’s no way I’m going back after trying this thing.

_{[This review is based on hardware provided by the manufacturer.]}

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