Category: Gaming

At the end of September, a video showing the OneGX1 Pro in action surfaced online and the gaming performance revealed looked quite impressive considering the fact that we are talking about a 7-inch laptop with an integrated Intel Iris graphics processor that features 96 execution units and clock speeds of up to 1.1 GHz. However, we weren’t expecting the starting price to be much higher than the US$839 price tag of the OneGX1. Sadly, we were wrong.

For a whopping US$1,359 (this price seems to be available only on GeekBuying and for a limited time) or US$1,399, the OneGX1 Pro comes with the Intel Core i7-1160G7 processor, 16 GB of memory, and a 512 GB SSD. The hardware setup upgrade choices include the following:

16GB/512GB/WiFi + 4G LTE for US$1,439

16GB/1TB/WiFi for US$1,470

16GB/512GB/WiFi + 5G for US$1,729

In addition to the configurations above, the potential buyer should also consider a small budget bump for the controllers, which come for US$50. Quite a hefty sum for what is, after all, a mini laptop with integrated graphics that doesn’t have much to show when facing modern games. While the OneGX1 Pro can surely run Crysis, I wouldn’t throw Cyberpunk 2077 at it.

The Xbox Series S is by far the weakest console of the current generation, but there’s a new trick up its sleeve that may entice some gamers, particularly those interested in emulating retro consoles.

Thanks to the console’s Developer Mode, some intrepid coders have gotten the popular emulator frontend Retro Arch to run on the console. After setting the Xbox Series S into Developer Mode, users can install the Unified Windows Platform (UWP) version of Retro Arch through the console’s web browser. Once Retro Arch is installed, it’s a simple matter to configure controls and add ROMs. 

YouTuber Modern Vintage Gamer tested several emulators on his Xbox Series S via Retro Arch. Highlights include the Dolphin emulator (for Nintendo GameCube and Wii games), the Beetle emulator (for Sega Saturn games), the Reicast emulator (for Sega Dreamcast games), and more. The Xbox Series S runs several notoriously difficult-to-emulate games like Star Wars: Rogue Squadron 2 (GameCube), Panzer Dragoon Zwei (Sega Saturn), and Skies of Arcadia (Sega Dreamcast) fluidly. There are some hiccups (like GoldenEye 007 for the Nintendo 64), but it seems that most titles run at a steady framerate without issue.

There are some major caveats. First and foremost, getting an Xbox Series S into Developer Mode isn’t straightforward. Users must register their console with Microsoft and pay a one-time fee of US$20. Additionally, a console in Developer Mode cannot play retail Xbox games. While it is fairly easy to switch the console back and forth between its Developer and Retail Modes, both modes cannot be active at the same time. As such, gamers that want to play retro games through emulation and current-gen titles will have to regularly flip their console between the modes, which is cumbersome. 

What are your thoughts on the emulation capabilities of the Xbox Series S and Series X? Let us know in the comments. 

Although the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X come with 1TB hard disk, it will not be enough in the coming years. Recently, we found out that the Xbox Series S comes with a pitiful 364GB of usable solid-state storage, but at the very least, it can be expanded. PlayStation 5 users, on the other hand, won’t have the privilege until much later in the release cycle.

A Sony spokesperson has told The Verge that the PlayStation 5’s memory cannot be expanded upon launch and that the feature will be enabled via a future update. The console’s teardown showed us that it comes with a free NVMe slot, which can bolster its memory. While Microsoft forces users to buy a proprietary US$220 hard drive, installing it is a whole lot easier, as it plugs right into the console. However, installing a solid-state drive on the PlayStation 5 requires some minor disassembly work, which may prove to be a daunting task for less tech-savvy users.

At the very least, the PlayStation 5 users will be able to play PlayStation 4 games off a USB hard drive. It will come as a boon to many enthusiasts as the current PlayStation 5 library isn’t particularly large now. It’ll be interesting to see how Sony addresses the expandable storage conundrum. Sony may or may not let will let users install just about any PCI-e Gen4 NVMe SSD into the console, as its needs to check a lot of boxes like high memory bandwidth, compatibility with Sony’s I/O controller, and more, before it can run on the console. In all likelihood, Sony may be waiting for faster, more power-efficient NVMe SSDs to hit the market before allowing users to chuck one in the PlayStation 5.

First impressions of the PS5 DualSense controller have started appearing online, and they seem to be almost universally glowing. Marques Brownlee (MKBDH) stated that the DualSense “feels more next gen than any other piece” because of the large haptic motors that are contained inside the accessory. Tom Warren of The Verge took to Twitter to equally laud the merits of the PS5 controller after testing out the haptic feedback and the response of the adaptive triggers: “I still can’t get over how good the PS5 controller is. It’s truly mind blowing”. The DualSense’s purpose is to help immerse the user deeper into the gameplay, such as being able to hear and feel the rumbling feedback in a racing game when a vehicle is moving over rough terrain.

YouTuber Dave Lee was also effusive about the DualSense, settling for a punchy “The PS5 controller is AMAZING” as the title for his video preview of the next-gen accessory. Lee also explained how a special motor is incorporated into the device to offer resistance for certain situations when a gamer needs to use the trigger buttons for more-complicated tasks; he calls it “controllable tension”. Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier didn’t hold back with his praise either, saying that the controller was “wild” and “feels more ‘next-gen’ than any graphical improvements we’ve seen yet”, thanks to the combination of the haptics, triggers and rumble.

Sakis Karpas of Unboxholics was also impressed with the DualSense’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, and he classified the controller as a “game changer”. However, Karpas also pointed out that the battery was “a bit disappointing”, but other sources have also praised the improvement in battery life that the DualSense controller (1,560 mAh) offers over the DualShock 4 (1,000 mAh). YouTube resident Skill Up wore a look of amazement on his face when he held the PS5 accessory and said “the controller blew me away”. The video’s hosts were particularly enamored with the additional gaming properties the controller can provide, such as adding extra resistance in the triggers when a weapon becomes jammed and using the touchpad to move a zip, with the DualSense also offering audio feedback to match the action on the screen.

It’s a flying start for the PS5 and the DualSense in particular. The controller is bustling with features (light effects, built-in microphone, the Create button, etc.) that add extra entertainment value to those long and intense gaming sessions. It seems every component of the DualSense has been carefully considered, even down to the tiny PlayStation symbols that decorate the grips and underside. Although back buttons would certainly have been a welcome inclusion, the DualSense has still successfully delivered a next-gen experience according to these initial reviews.