Gaming

CheckMag From simple and deeply touching to more complex and impactful, stories in indie games are diverse and unique. If you're looking forward to playing a game with a great story that might stay with you even after the credits roll, you're in the right place.

The PS5 Slim is now available for purchase, either with or without a disk drive. In addition to its more compact housing, the console also comes with a larger SSD and an additional USB-C port, but offers little added value.

CheckMag Steam's Autumn Sale is back for 2023, and it features a number of spectacular real-time strategy games at steeply discounted rates. Raid your enemies in Northgard or seize control of the most valuable resource in the universe in Dune: Spice Wars, with up to 70% off the best RTS games around.

GKD is almost ready to release the GKD Pixel, a compact gaming handheld designed to rival the Anbernic RG Nano. Arguably more playable than the Anbernic RG Nano because of its more practical display aspect ratio, the GKD Pixel also has an aluminium that Retro CN will soon sell in multiple colours.

Virtual reality is set to become even more immersive thanks to a new VR glove from Fluid Reality. This rival to Mark Zuckerberg's Meta smart glove utilizes groundbreaking technology that promises to not only make the device more compact, simpler to operate, and more effective, but also significantly more affordable. The glove is expected to have applications beyond gaming, including medicine and robotics.

Razer's online store has revealed that all of its Black Friday deals are on its Blade-series models from 2022 - however, that does include the one with a 240Hz OLED displays, not to mention other options with up to RTX 3080 Ti graphics. These persistently powerful gaming machines now start at just under US$1,800, with the occasional added freebie and gift thrown in.

One-Netbook is gearing up to release the ONEXGPU, a ONEXPLAYER-branded eGPU that houses an AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT like the GPD G1. Not only will One-Netbook's equivalent ship with an M.2 2280 slot and RGB lighting, but it will also undercut the GPD G1 with a US$599 starting price.

Besides the subpar screen that is expected from budget-oriented models, this configuration packs 16 GB DDR5-5200 RAM and 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD storage. The RTX 4070 dGPU is limited to 105 W TGP, but that is close enough to the optimal 115 W.

Included with this configuration are 16 GB of DDR5-5600 RAM, 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD storage and a 16.1-inch 1080p 165 Hz IPS screen. The RTX 4070 dGPU option is also discounted to US$1,189.99.

The MSI Katana 17 has received a hefty US$200 discount on Amazon, bringing its price down to US$1,199- the cheapest it has been listed for until now. It features a 17-inch 144 Hz screen, an Intel Raptor Lake-H processor and 32 GB of RAM.

The release of the Anbernic RG35XX Plus is around the corner. In the meantime, the company has revealed full pricing and specifications for the retro gaming handheld, which will start later this week for less than its predecessor.

RedMagic has formally introduced its industry-first flat-screen back" flagship smartphones. The new design joins other signature rarities such as integrated RGB fans, high-speed shoulder keys and class-leading screen-to-body ratios thanks to fifth-gen under-display camera (UDC) tech. The new Android smartphones have up to 24GB of RAM to go with their Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoCs for just under US$1,000.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) has recorded a juicy 23% discount bringing the RTX 4070-powered machine back to a 120-day low price. The laptop which has a customer rating of 4.6/5 is a stellar gaming machine with high performance, decent inputs, and plenty of ports.

New Linux driver patches introduce RISC-V kernel-mode FPU support for AMD's latest GPUs. The patches should soon be included as part of the Linux 6.8 kernel, offering out-of-the-box support for high-end x86 GPUs on SiFive's motherboards.

No more cheap Steam games via VPN: Valve is now charging in US dollars in countries with high inflation, such as Argentina and Turkey. In some cases, this has resulted in immense price increases of more than 4000 percent and made games extremely expensive for locals in these countries.

After the well-performing 2023 ROG Strix G17 just recently fell below the US$2,000 price mark for the very first time, Amazon is now granting a huge additional discount on the QHD gaming laptop, which features a superquick AMD Ryzen 9 7945HX Zen4 CPU as well as the RTX 4070 dGPU.

Those looking to try out Diablo IV can now do so via Steam. The character levels are capped at 20, and further progression requires you to purchase the game. It is also on sale at a 40% discount.

The Acer Predator Helios 16, featuring a 16-inch WQXDA 165 Hz screen, Intel Raptor Lake-HX processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series graphics card, has received its first major discount. It can be bought on Amazon for just US$1,299.

The ASUS ROG Ally with the AMD Z1 processor has recorded a significant discount of 25% resulting in the cheapest rate ever at Best Buy. The device comes with a 7-inch FHD display that features a 120 Hz refresh rate, 512 GB of storage, and 16 GB of RAM. Additionally, the ROG Ally Z1 Extreme price has also received a nice US$80 cut.

Warner Bros. has begun allowing registrations for the Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League closed alpha test. With this, Rocksteady, the developer, is mainly planning to test out the online infrastructure of the game. However, a small portion of the campaign will also be available in the testing phase.

RedMagic very nearly got to its next major product event without the main event leaking onto AnTuTu Benchmark. However, a device with a model number linked to one of the upcoming 9 Pro series has made it onto that database after all, achieving a top-ranking score in the process. That might have been due to its top-end specs, the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor included.

The 1440p monitor pairs perfectly with the Playstation 5 as it supports both FreeSync and an integrated FPS counter. It features 576 individually-lit LEDs for HDR1000 support and a peak brightness of over two times most typical IPS alternatives.

Philips has presented the Evnia 32M2C5500W, a gaming monitor that combines a high-contrast VA panel with a backlight capable of delivering 500 nits peak brightness. The Philips Evnia 32M2C5500W also outputs at 240 Hz and has various ports, all for €549 in the Eurozone and £429.99 in the UK.

It appears that Xiaomi is about to release a new gaming laptop, possibly under its Redmi G sub-brand. Seemingly, the company has developed two 14th Gen Intel Intel Core-based models, with the Core i9-14900HX serving as a flagship variant.

The first sighting of what could be the ROG Phone 8 Ultimate has appeared online. Seemingly, ASUS has upgraded its 'Ultimate' gaming smartphone to 24 GB of RAM, which it will pair with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset.

The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 8 price has dropped by a mouth-watering 27% at B&H Photo. The laptop is highly rated as it delivers on the lofty performance that its Core i9-13900HX and RTX 4080 combo promises. Combine the performance with a wide port selection, 100% sRGB 240 Hz display, and solid build quality, and the Legion Pro 7i 16IRX8H turns into a pretty sweet deal.

Anbernic has showcased the RG35XX Plus, a revised RG35XX with a few hardware improvements. While the Anbernic RG35XX Plus retains its predecessor's design, Anbernic has made various hardware changes to make the gaming handheld capable of emulating Dreamcast, Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable (PSP) titles.

The PlayStation Portal is a somewhat peculiar gaming handheld that only works in conjunction with a PlayStation 5. A teardown now makes clear that the device hardly has enough power for games other than streaming. The case without screws looks stylish, but makes repairs difficult.

Bethesda is rolling out a new update for Starfield. The 1.8.86 patch adds Nvidia DLSS support and performance optimizations for gamers with high-end PCs.

The Asus ROG Strix G16 (2023) comes with a 16-inch 165 Hz FHD panel, Wi-Fi 6, 16 GB of RAM, a 90 Wh battery and the latest hardware from Nvidia and Intel. Amazon's Black Friday deal has driven its price down to US$1,099.

AOC has confirmed Eurozone and UK pricing for the Gaming Q27G3XMN/BK, a 27-inch gaming monitor with a 1440p VA panel. AOC has also included an overclockable refresh rate and Mini LED local dimming zones that deliver up to 1,000 nits peak brightness.

AMD is reportedly releasing the RDNA 4 GPUs in Q3 of next year. Reports have claimed that the company has scrapped the high-end RDNA 4 cards to ramp up the development of the RDNA 5. Moore’s Law Is Dead has recently alleged some more information regarding the RX 8000 GPUs including performance and pricing details.

Early Black Friday deals have already slashed some gaming laptops to eye-catching prices. This time, it’s time for the Gigabyte G5 KF. The variant equipped with Intel Core i5-12500H and Nvidia RTX 4060 is currently enjoying a 32% discount, reducing its price from US$1099 to US$749.99.

AYANEO is now selling the SLIDE, a 6-inch gaming handheld powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U APU. Available with up to 64 GB of RAM and a 4 TB SSD, the AYANEO SLIDE has plenty of tricks up its sleeve, including a hidden five-row keyboard.

Sony and Naughty Dog have officially announced The Last of Us Part II Remastered for PS5. It will be available for PlayStation 5 on the upcoming January 19 with a brand-new "rougelike" game mode. PS4 owners who already own the game can upgrade to the sequel by paying an additional US$10.

The coveted 16-inch version of the 2023 Legion Slim 5 has now hit its lowest price point yet as a well-known electronics retailer grants a big 33% discount on the wallet-friendly RTX 4060 configuration of Lenovo's sleek gaming laptop.

CheckMag November 2023's top 5 Android games deliver a mix of horror, strategy, and adventure, each game standing out with its unique narrative and immersive gameplay. Perfect for gamers seeking new worlds to conquer and stories to experience.

Minixpc has showcased the TerransForce Handle 5, a new AMD Ryzen 7 7840U-powered gaming handheld. To be available from around US$650, the TerransForce Handle 5 also features a 120 Hz display, PCIe 4.0 storage, LPDDR5 RAM and a 50 Wh battery, among other hardware.

A new, alternative casing for the ROG Ally promises better cooling. According to the manufacturer, this is reflected in higher performance, as the APU reportedly requires less throttling.

ZOTAC has started its Black Friday/Cyber Monday 2023 event with deals on cards based on more or less up-to-date NVIDIA graphics. They include an RTX 4070 Ti AMP AIRO with a Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse customization kit, not to mention a 12GB Twin Edge based on the RTX 3060 for under US$270.

Thermaltake has announced its "early Black Friday and Cyber Monday extravaganza" with discounts of up to 40% off some of its pre-built Liquid Cooling Gaming System (LCGS) PCs, even one with the latest Intel 14th-gen platforms. The brand has also put a selection of its cases, cooling solutions and PSUs up for sale.

This TUF A15 version also packs 16 GB of DDR5-4800 RAM and a 512 GB PCie 4.0 SSD, as well as a 15.6-inch display with 1080p resolution and 144 Hz refresh rate. At this price point, it is among the few models to include a USB4 connector.

Valve has now started selling the Steam Deck OLED, an updated Steam Deck that is more than just a display upgrade. To coincide with the new gaming handheld's release, SteamOS has received no fewer than four new builds, as well as an extensive new Client update.

While the latest app update comes with Xbox Game Syncing alongside other improvements, GeForce Now subscribers can also get a Guild Wars 2: Heroic Edition freebie. On top of these, every six-month Ultimate membership also includes three months of PC Game Pass, currently priced at US$30.

Viewsonic has launched the LX700-4K, a new projector designed for Xbox. The gadget has a laser light source delivering up to 3,500 ANSI lumens brightness and a maximum recommended image size of 300-in (~762 cm). Gaming features include a 240Hz refresh rate, a 4.2ms input lag and HDMI 2.0b/HDCP 2.2 ports.

CheckMag Most gaming laptops have extravagant and eye-catching designs, something that isn't necessarily welcome in the workplace. If you want one single laptop for gaming and taking to the office, the 16-inch Lenovo Legion Pro 5 might just fit the bill thanks to its discreet looks and powerful components.

CheckMag If you own an iPhone running the iOS operating system with its many outstanding features, then the following games are perfect choices for you. This guide is tailored to introduce you to some of the best free games for iOS, offering the most satisfying gaming experiences on the iPhone.

TrendForce's research on the third-party SSD space has found that Kingston was its #1 brand in 2022. The company had weathered the supply storm of 2021 to remain a market leader. It attributes its success to the ability to offer both cost-effective and high-end drives for both gaming and non-gaming use-cases, and to the continuing demand for PCIe 4.0 NVMe.