StarCraft: Remastered will let you fight the 4K swarm in August

Blizzard’s remastered version of StarCraft will go on sale on Monday 14 August, for Windows and Mac machines priced at £13 or $15 over in the US (around AU$20).

The classic RTS is up for pre-order now via Blizzard’s online store, and you get the original game plus the Brood War expansion, all of which has been brought up-to-date for contemporary gaming.

The core gameplay remains the same, but the enhancements include better graphics, support for widescreen monitors and 4K resolution, along with improved music, sound and remastered dialogue to boot.

You also get player profiles that track individual stats, a new matchmaking and leaderboard system, plus there’s now saving to the cloud (not just for your campaign, but also for replays, hotkeys and so forth).

Blizzard has also made it possible to switch between this remastered version and the original StarCraft game by simply clicking a button.

Bonus skins

All in all, it sounds like a compelling recipe with which to revisit the classic sci-fi RTS, and it’s worth bearing in mind that those who pre-order before the launch of StarCraft: Remastered will get a neat little in-game bonus.

Namely three unique building skins: the Char Hive, Korhal Command Center, and Aiur Nexus. As well as that, those who own StarCraft II will get some additional goodies in that game, including three unique portraits and the Alexei Stukov co-op commander.

And all this won’t break the bank, because as mentioned, the asking price is pitched at a palatable level.

The original StarCraft (which was made available as a free download back in April) was launched almost two decades ago, back in 1998, but it’s still played today – and will be seeing a lot more action come August, no doubt.

It was preceded by the original WarCraft RTS, of course, which first came out in 1994. Rumor has it that Blizzard seemingly looked at the possibility of doing WarCraft: Remastered, but decided that revamping this particular golden oldie wouldn’t work as well, or be much fun to play.

• These are the best PC games you can’t afford to miss

June 30, 2017 at 05:55PM
Darren Allan

StarCraft: Remastered will let you fight the 4K swarm in August

Blizzard’s remastered version of StarCraft will go on sale on Monday 14 August, for Windows and Mac machines priced at £13 or $15 over in the US (around AU$20).

The classic RTS is up for pre-order now via Blizzard’s online store, and you get the original game plus the Brood War expansion, all of which has been brought up-to-date for contemporary gaming.

The core gameplay remains the same, but the enhancements include better graphics, support for widescreen monitors and 4K resolution, along with improved music, sound and remastered dialogue to boot.

You also get player profiles that track individual stats, a new matchmaking and leaderboard system, plus there’s now saving to the cloud (not just for your campaign, but also for replays, hotkeys and so forth).

Blizzard has also made it possible to switch between this remastered version and the original StarCraft game by simply clicking a button.

Bonus skins

All in all, it sounds like a compelling recipe with which to revisit the classic sci-fi RTS, and it’s worth bearing in mind that those who pre-order before the launch of StarCraft: Remastered will get a neat little in-game bonus.

Namely three unique building skins: the Char Hive, Korhal Command Center, and Aiur Nexus. As well as that, those who own StarCraft II will get some additional goodies in that game, including three unique portraits and the Alexei Stukov co-op commander.

And all this won’t break the bank, because as mentioned, the asking price is pitched at a palatable level.

The original StarCraft (which was made available as a free download back in April) was launched almost two decades ago, back in 1998, but it’s still played today – and will be seeing a lot more action come August, no doubt.

It was preceded by the original WarCraft RTS, of course, which first came out in 1994. Rumor has it that Blizzard seemingly looked at the possibility of doing WarCraft: Remastered, but decided that revamping this particular golden oldie wouldn’t work as well, or be much fun to play.

• These are the best PC games you can’t afford to miss

June 30, 2017 at 05:55PM
Darren Allan

‘Revolutionary’ Raspberry Pi wins UK’s top engineering prize

It’s widely accepted that the Raspberry Pi has been quite the achievement in technology – you only have to look at the way that the tiny computer has flown off the shelves – but now the innovative board has been officially recognized with the UK’s most prestigious engineering award.

The device has won the Royal Academy of Engineering’s MacRobert award for 2017, meaning the creators of the Raspberry Pi took home a rather groovy-looking gold medal, along with a £50,000 (around $65,000, AU$85,000) prize, not to mention a wheelbarrow full of tech kudos.

The MacRobert organizers tweeted about the Raspberry Pi’s victory calling it a ‘revolutionary affordable computer’, and noting that all three finalists were ‘fantastic innovators’.

The other finalists included Darktrace, a cybersecurity ‘immune system’ which uses machine learning to figure out what’s normal activity for a network, allowing it to then pick up on any suspicious behavior out of the norm which might be a threat.

And there was also Vision RT, a real-time 3D body surface imaging system which allows radiotherapy to be targeted at tumors with pinpoint accuracy.

Kinect kudos

The MacRobert award has been going since 1969, and last year’s winner was Blatchford, a firm which developed an intelligent prosthetic limb. The Microsoft team that developed the Kinect motion controller has also been a previous winner.

The Raspberry Pi has sold over 14 million units to date, and is the bestselling computer that the UK has ever seen as a result. It’s now on its third iteration, with a plethora of accessories being released for the board, including most recently a kit which adds voice control capabilities via Google Assistant.

There are all manner of clever things you can get up to with the Raspberry Pi, such as turning it into a retro games console. This flexibility, coupled with the board’s affordability, is a major part of why it has been so successful.

It’s also notably been responsible for introducing coding to a fresh generation of kids, the benefits of which we may well reap for a long time yet.

Via: BBC

• We’ve got tons of ideas for cool Raspberry Pi projects right here

June 30, 2017 at 04:08PM
Darren Allan

Xbox takes on the Steam Summer Sale with its own massive deals

As the Steam Summer Sale rages on and PlayStation players enjoy Sony's Mid-Year Sale, Microsoft is getting off the sidelines to attract a few frugal gamers of its own.

For those with room left in their budget, Xbox has announced its annual Ultimate Game Sale, taking up to 65% (plus an additional 10% for Xbox Live Gold members) off the price of over 300 games across both console and PC.

The sale begins Friday, June 30, and runs all the way until Monday, July 10 — four days longer than Ultimate Game Sales from years past.

Exact deals haven't been released yet, but some discounts Microsoft has promised include contemporary Xbox One titles like Prey, Injustice 2, and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands and Xbox 360-era classics like Red Dead Redemption, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, and Skate 3.

In addition to console games, Microsoft is also cutting prices on Windows 10 PC titles like Resident Evil 7, Gears of War 4, and Halo Wars 2. Sales were also teased for select PC mice, keyboards, and headsets from manufacturers such as Dell, Alienware, Asus, MSI, Lenovo, Razer, Logitech, and Kingston.

Finally, Microsoft is running a few extra promotions during the Ultimate Game Sale, including free rubberized grips for controllers made in Xbox Design Lab and sweepstakes for in-store gift cards, gaming equipment, and more.

We have contacted Xbox to learn more about the availability of its upcoming Ultimate Game Sale, and will update this story if we learn more. Until then: happy savings!

• Expect lots of Xbox deals on Black Friday 2017

June 30, 2017 at 02:47AM
Parker Wilhelm

Mac envy seems rife as a quarter of Windows PC owners plan to switch to Apple

An astonishing amount of folks running Windows are planning to switch over to what Microsoft would consider the dark side – namely a Mac computer – according to some new research.

The survey from Verto Analytics, which encompassed 6,000 Windows PC owners in the US, found that no less than 25% of those with Windows desktop computers were planning to migrate to a macOS machine – and to do so within the next six months.

Yes, you read that right: a quarter of all folks who were quizzed by the firm.

And the figure wasn’t much smaller when it came to Windows laptop owners, with 21% saying that they intend to switch to a Mac (again within the next six months).

On the flipside, and in marked contrast, 98% of those who currently own a Mac plan to stay with an Apple computer for their next purchase. So just 2% are intending a switch to Windows.

Money, money, money…

The survey also looked at different income brackets, and unsurprisingly high earners were more likely to be switching over to a Mac. Those in the upper bracket with an income of $150,000+ were the most likely to switch, with 20% planning to migrate to an Apple computer.

This research goes against what Microsoft was claiming at the end of last year, when Surface devices racked up their best sales to consumers ever witnessed, and the company asserted that more people than ever were switching from MacBooks to Surface hybrids.

When you consider that, going by the latest PC shipment figures from Gartner for example, Apple has a global market share of around 7%, that puts some perspective on the results of this poll.

Although of course, Apple’s Mac machines have a much stronger presence in the US than other parts of the world, but we don’t think anyone would have called the percentages as they’ve emerged according to Verto.

We’ll be keeping a close eye on the desktop PC space as the rest of the year pans out, that’s for sure.

Via: 9 to 5 Mac

• For those mulling a switch, we’ve picked out the best Macs here

June 29, 2017 at 08:10PM
Darren Allan

The 10 best 2-in-1 laptops of 2017: the best hybrid laptops ranked

Convertible and detachable 2-in-1 laptops may have been around for only a handful of years now, but pretty much everyone has taken a liking to them. These tablets-that-double-as-laptops aren’t as limited in functionality as iPads and Android slates, but they’re far better travelers than traditional notebook computers, like the Surface Laptop.

Nearly every one of the top 2-in-1 laptops on the shelves in 2017 ship with Windows 10 pre-installed. Though there are some odd examples like the Cube iWork 1X that comes jam-packed with both Windows and Android, those hybrids are few and far between. The most common convertibles are transformative Microsoft machines.

Not all of the best 2-in-1 laptops are the same, however. Some are bundled with styluses as neat little designer-centric embellishments, while others are free of bells and whistles. At the same time, you’ll notice that certain 2-in-1 laptops make use of 360-degree hinges while the rest in the pack take advantage of detachable screens, independent of their physical keyboards.

Introductions out of the way, these are the best 2-in-1 laptops of 2017 so far:

• HP Spectre x360 13
• Microsoft Surface Book i7
• Samsung Notebook 7 Spin
• Asus ZenBook Flip UX360CA
• HP Pavilion x360 15
• Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1
• Lenovo Yoga 720

With Kaby Lake now ruling the roost in terms of CPUs, HP decided it’s high time to flip the switch on its Spectre 2-in-1. With an overhauled keyboard and suave new logo, the HP Spectre x360 holds its own against anything Apple can show, but it also draws from it a few influences. 

The four-speaker arrangement, reminiscent of the iPad Pro, ensures user-facing sound regardless of its orientation. Meanwhile, the new x360 dual-wields USB-C ports for faster charging and data transfers. Sound familiar? At the same time, none of this stifles the battery life, which manages to exceed 8 hours of straight use.

What’s more, the HP Spectre x360 can now be configured with a 4K screen and 1TB of SSD storage at a reasonable premium, making it even more deserving of the top spot on our list.

Read the full review: HP Spectre x360

One of the few honest-to-goodness surprises from Microsoft last year was the introduction of the Surface Book with Performance Base, also known shorthand as the Surface Book i7. It’s the same design as the original Surface Book, so don’t expect Microsoft to have done away with the controversial fulcrum hinge. However, this version of the Surface Book is not only 131% more powerful graphically than its vanilla counterpart, but the battery has improved by 20% as well. 

It’s expensive, sure, but for the price you’re getting a laptop that’s both faster and more versatile than an equally priced MacBook Pro. For creative professionals with an artistic side, the more capable GPU and extensive battery life (our movie test says 9 hours and 16 minutes) are tempting. So long as it’s necessary for your workflow, it may be worth the lofty price of admission, too, even if you’re getting the short end of the stick in memory and SSD space.

Read the full review: Surface Book i7

Though Samsung is known for its phones more than its notebooks, this is one convertible worth taking for a spin. Equipped with a Skylake i7 CPU and discrete Nvidia graphics, the Samsung Notebook 7 Spin is nearly as fashionable as a MacBook Pro, but for roughly half the cost. It has all the trackpad real estate you could ask for combined with a snazzy, full-size keyboard – number pad and all.

The difference is that the Samsung Notebook 7 Spin is equipped to flip… inside out. Though it’s confined to a 1080p display, it’s HDR-enabled, which beautifully distinguishes the Notebook 7 Spin from just about every other laptop on the market. Plus, unlike the latest round of MacBooks, it has an SD card reader and proper USB 3.0. It doesn’t exactly push boundaries on the graphics front, but the Samsung Notebook 7 still manages to succeed by offering sublime value for rather competent specs.

Read the full review: Samsung Notebook 7 Spin 

Unlike the Asus ZenBook Flip UX305 before it, the ZenBook Flip UX360 ditches the MacBook Air doppelgänger approach in favor of a hybrid design with a whole array of ports. Everything from USB-A to USB-C is present, along with micro HDMI and a micro SD card reader. At the same time, it doesn't neglect the wholly aluminum chassis of yesteryear.

Although it’s still strikingly thin, the Asus ZenBook Flip UX360 still manages to bear more weight than many other laptops in its class due in part to its reversible display. On the upside, the keyboard and trackpad, which are notably large and comfortable, also contribute to the laptop’s heft. While we’re still not sold on the practicality of Windows 10 in tablet mode, the ZenBook Flip UX360 is ultimately an excellent value.

Read the full review: Asus ZenBook Flip UX360

Somewhat inevitably, the hybrid nature of the Pavilion x360 leads to its undoing. It's underpowered compared to similarly priced laptops, and lacks the responsiveness and lightness of dedicated tablets. It doesn't do a great job of being a truly compelling example of either of these things.

But its usability, attractive and sturdy design, along with the impressive price tag mean that it shouldn't be completely dismissed – especially if you really want a machine that offers both laptop and tablet use modes.

Read the full review: HP Pavilion x360 

 Like every 2-in-1 on this list, the Dell Inspiron 13 7000 does it all. During the day it can be a laptop used for work or study, but flip that sucker inside out and it’s equally proficient as a tablet, optimal for watching movies or serving up a fresh dose of memes to your friends on Facebook. The Inspiron 13 7000 is not unwieldy nor is it overwhelmingly loud and sultry. Rather, it manages to pull of an exquisite design without any of the pitfalls that usually afflict notebooks like this. 

It’s not perfect, however, seeing as the Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1 is a tad weak in the speaker department. There’s a bit of a muffled sound dispelled from its middling speakers. This makes for a case where you’ll almost definitely want to shell out for a pair of nice headphones to go with it. Despite this, the keyboard feels great, the screen looks great and the tablet mode leaves plenty of room for procrastination. There’s nothing that particularly stands out with the Dell Inspiron 7000, but if it ain’t broke...

Read the full review: Dell Inspiron 13 7000 2-in-1

The Lenovo Yoga 720 is a rare instance of a hybrid that feels just as homely as a laptop as it does a tablet. Although it’s the kind that flips 360 degrees rather than toting a detachable hinge, the modest pricing and formidable design choices more than make up for a slight deficiency in versatility. What’s more, the Lenovo Yoga 720 shows off the pristine capabilities of Windows Hello by means of a neatly placed fingerprint scanner.

For the price, the Yoga 720 gives you a nice, crisp screen (even if the 1080p starting model isn’t ideal) as well as a nice and comfy keyboard and trackpad. The only caveat is the ports, which are limited to two USB 3.1 Type-C’s and one very pertinent USB 3.0 slot. Everything else, such as HDMI output and SD card fidgeting will have to be done using pricey adapters. Then again, if you’re living in the future and handling everything through the cloud, there’s a lot to love about the Lenovo Yoga 720. 

Read the full review: Lenovo Yoga 720

June 29, 2017 at 08:08PM
TechRadar India Bureau

Harry Potter and the EA Sports Franchise That Should Have Been

This week the Harry Potter franchise turned 20 years old and the entire world seemed to join together for a communal reminiscence (which actually sounds rather disgusting considering how magical the whole thing was). 

I feel I would be remiss in my duties as the writer of a throwback column not to take part in my own way, so buckle up Muggles – this week we’re flying to the wizarding world. 

In the 20 years since the release of the first book, the Harry Potter series has become nothing short of a phenomenon, spawning films, theme parks and, most importantly for this column’s purposes, video games. 

Naturally each film had its own tie-in game and eventually Lego got in on the action with its own adorable take on the series. The title I’ve decided to focus on for Throwback Thursday, however, is Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup.

Curious release

Quidditch World Cup was released during a lull period for the Harry Potter films and sticks out as an odd game as a result. It was the end of 2003 – the Chamber of Secrets had been released at the end of 2002 but the Prisoner of Azkaban movie was not expected until mid-2004. Consequently, publisher Electronic Arts wasn’t able to release a Christmas-period movie tie-in. 

This left a big release gap in a period that must have started to look like a fairly solid gold galleon generator for EA. 

Fortunately it had a creative solution to its problem and that solution was Quidditch World Cup. As the publisher with an arm that pushed out Fifa, NFL and NBA titles every year, sports simulation wasn’t exactly a stretch for EA. Although I imagine mashing elements of all of these sports together and adding broomsticks presented some interesting challenges.

NBA takes flight

I bought every single Harry Potter video game release across multiple platforms. Sometimes I bought the same game for multiple systems. You know those people that open a trench coat and reveal a dozen gold watches to sell for a suspiciously reasonable price? That's me, but with copies of The Chamber of Secrets on GBA. Meet me on Knockturn Alley.

Because I don’t have a house elf to give me the organisational help I desperately need I still own all of them, Quidditch World Cup for PS2 included. 

To EA’s credit, Quidditch World Cup wasn't the exercise in exploitation it could have been. It actually was, and still is, a fairly well put together game with some genuinely creative elements. 

The controls are extremely basic and clearly intended to keep children enthralled but (and I’m not sure if I should be ashamed to admit this) I enjoyed them just as much now as I did in 2003 when I was their intended audience. 

I particularly enjoyed the special combination moves and goal celebration sequences that managed to keep gameplay slightly visually interesting. I say slightly. They start to repeat rather quickly and wear more thin than Voldemort's skin.

Back to basics

The game is also structurally sound (unlike those rickety looking Hogwarts viewing stands). It teaches you the basics by having you play one of the four Hogwarts houses in the school's league cup. After winning this you move rather quickly to taking control of a national team. No regional stop gap with the Chudley Cannons for you. 

Quidditch World Cup never was going to win any awards for the way it looks and far more visually impressive Harry Potter games were released both before and after it (Philosopher's Stone for PS1 was certainly not one of them, though).

However, it doesn’t look terrible – special effects are often entertaining and I really enjoyed the way each nation’s stadium had been designed to reflect it in some way. Often the design was trite, bordering on stereotypical but I would have lived in the Japanese national stadium. 

I also appreciated (and still do appreciate) that there was a genuinely good balance between male and female players across the national teams. When I was younger I had a tendency to lean towards the predominantly female French team with its frankly fabulous powder blue kits. 

The commentary is, unsurprisingly, terrible. But it didn't annoy me any more or tell me much less than real-life sports commentary. 

Quidditch World Cup was definitely a game designed with Harry Potter-loving children in mind. But it’s 14 years later and though the core Harry Potter audience is much older, this week has shown it’s no less passionate. 

No, that wasn't a Nimbus 2000, it’s the sound of opportunity retrospectively wooshing past EA. 

It’s odd to me that the publisher never explored the potential of Quidditch World Cup. It could have secured the love and repeated purchases of a different kind of sports fan. Quidditch World Cup would have been an excellent way for EA to secure a more long-lasting section of the financially lucrative Harry Potter universe and benefit from the fact that it wasn’t movie or book-dependent. 

Grand ambitions

Like Fifa, Quidditch World Cup could have had yearly releases with incremental improvements. If EA had moved away from targeting a younger audience, the game could have become more complex; including player stats could have added a strategic team construction element and it would have been nice to be able to play in one position across a whole match. 

Just imagine Quidditch World Cup on current-gen consoles with their more advanced graphics and physics engines. If EA Sports had taken the game under its Quaffle-holding arm, we could have had a Harry Potter sports franchise with cooperative and competitive multiplayer, online leagues, and a single-player The Journey mode. It could have been an eSport!

I’m still holding out – I think I’d make a great Beater. 

• Emma Boyle is taking a look back at games gone by (some of them older than she is.) Follow her time traveling adventures in her weekly Throwback Thursday column. Got any games you like to see her try? Let her know on Twitter @emmbo_

June 29, 2017 at 04:50PM
Emma Boyle

Best Nintendo Switch games: the best games to show off Nintendo’s new hybrid

Update: Another month, another pair of excellent Switch games to add to our list of the best. This time we're welcoming Ultra Street Fighter 2 and Arms into the fold, both of which offer some fantastic multiplayer gaming. 

Original article continues below...

The Nintendo Switch is finally here which means it’s time to stop worrying about hardware, and time to focus on what matters: the games. 

Thankfully the Switch’s launch has seen the arrival of a number of quality games. You’ve already got a good range of experiences from fun little puzzlers like SnipperClips, to epic adventures like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which has already become one of the best reviewed games of all time. 

We’ve had the chance to play through most of the launch lineup for ourselves, and we’ve selected our five favorite games of the bunch. If you’re picking up the new console, then these are the titles that will make you feel the best about your investment. 

Over the coming months there are a number of excellent titles on the horizon including Super Mario Odyssey, and we’ll be sure to keep this list updated. 

Even for a series like The Legend of Zelda which rarely puts a foot wrong, Breath of the Wild is an absolutely phenomenal game. 

While past Zelda games have stuck pretty closely to the formula established by Ocarina of Time (the series’ 3D debut), Breath of the Wild throws much of the established wisdom away. 

Rather than having a pre-defined order you must use to approach each major mission, Breath of the Wild opens the entire map up to you almost immediately, allowing you to approach the game in whatever order you see fit. You can spend hours just climbing trees and brewing elixirs, or you can even head straight to the game’s final boss if you’re feeling confident. 

But away from Breath of the Wild’s unique structure, it’s the puzzles themselves that make the game feel the most satisfying. While previous games rigidly allow for a single solution to each puzzle, BotW’s physics-based problem solving means that there are often multiple solutions to each challenge depending on how you combine your various skills. 

The result is a game that feels incredibly broad in scope, with so many little touches to discover that it’s hard not to fall in love with this long-running series all over again. 

• Check out everything you need to know in our Breath of the Wild tips and tricks guide

Mario Kart 8 on the Wii U was already one of the best entries in the franchise, and the Nintendo Switch version is no different.

At it's core the game offers the same excellent racing as the Wii U original, but there are also a number of new additions for this version of the arcade racer. 

You've got the return of battle mode, new characters, all the previously released DLC tracks, and the ability to hold two special items at a time to add an extra layer of strategy to your racing. 

The new game is also a great way of playing the game in multiplayer. You can play online, split-screen with up to four players or link up to eight consoles together to play multiplayer wirelessly (where you can also play with up to two players per console). 

It's a versatile release, and well worth picking up for anyone who missed out on Mario Kart 8 the first time around. 

• Get ahead of the competition with our Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tips and tricks

If ever there was a game to show off how useful the new Joy-Con controllers can be it’s SnipperClips. 

Best enjoyed in co-op mode, the game tasks you with cutting pieces out of your geometric-shaped partner in order to solve physics-based puzzles. 

Although the puzzles themselves deftly tread a fine line between approachability and challenge, the real joy in the game is the slapstick that results as you muddle your way through each level. 

You’ll never conclusively beat a level; it will always feel as though you’ve barely scraped through, but the tension this creates is fantastic fun. 

It's tough to know what genre to describe Arms as. At its core, the game is a fighting game where you attempt to land punches on your opponent using giant extendible arms. Punch-Out this is not. 

What first appeared to be a slightly gimmicky title made to show off the Nintendo Switch's motion-sensing controllers actually turned out to have a surprising amount of depth and strategy to it, leading to some frantic multiplayer battles. 

Nicely, the whole game can also be played with more traditional buttons rather than control schemes so you don't have to get caught flailing your arms around on the bus when you play it as a portable game. 

• Having trouble landing your punches? Check out our Arms tips and tricks guide

Over twenty years after its original release it's hard to know what more can be written about one of the most influential fighting games of all time. 

Ultra Street Fighter 2 is essentially the same Street Fighter 2 that's been continuously re-released on every console under the sun. Technically this version is based on Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo from 1994, which added super and air combos to the base game, but unless you're a die-hard fan this likely won't mean too much to you. 

So don't go into this expecting a wildly different game from what you've played before. This is a traditional Street Fighter experience through and through, and the console's form-factor makes it perfect for quick multiplayer sessions. 

If you want to satisfy your arcade racing itch before Mario Kart 8 Deluxe blue-shells its way onto the console in a couple of months then Fast RMX is the game for you. 

With one part Wipeout and two parts F-Zero, the game has you racing futuristic hovercraft round a series of implausible tracks at breakneck speeds. 

Fast RMX’s gimmick is that at any point your craft has either an orange or a blue polarity, which match with speed power-ups that are spread around the track. By switching your polarity as you race, you can maximize the benefits these power-ups bring. 

It’s a neat feature, but it’s overshadowed by how technically capable this game is. It looks fantastic whether you’re playing it in portable or console mode, where it will run at a solid 60 frames per second. 

It might not have the charm of its Mario-themed competitor, but Fast RMX is a great game for anyone seeking fast-paced arcade racing thrills. 

Shovel Knight is not a new game. It saw its first release way back in 2014 on the PC after it was funded on Kickstarter, and since then versions have appeared on everything from the Vita to the PS4, the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U. 

But that doesn’t make it any less of a great game on the Switch, where its 2D side-scrolling is as tight and responsive as ever. 

Chances are you’ve played Shovel Knight on one system or another in previous years, but if you’ve yet to take the game on the go, or better yet if you’re looking to try its newest expansion pack, ‘Specter of Torment’, then the Switch is as good a place as any to satisfy your Shovel cravings. 

Although it’s not a port, Super Bomberman R might as well be for all the changes it makes to the traditional Bomberman formula. 

For all intents and purposes, this is classic Bomberman. You run around a maze dropping bombs, all the while trying to avoid getting caught in the subsequent explosions caused by both yourself and your opponents. 

Super Bomberman R does try to mix up the formula a little by offering a single-player campaign, but at just a couple of hours long it’s not especially engaging. 

Nope, this is a game that’s all about that multiplayer, where you can play with up to eight players locally or online. It’s here the game feels most at home, and for the most part its every bit as good as the classic Bombermans that have proceeded it. 

The biggest problem is the game’s price, which is the same as big budget triple-A games like The Legend of Zelda. For a multiplayer-only experience that’s a little bit steep, but if you see the game discounted anywhere then this is an excellent game to have on the Switch. 

June 29, 2017 at 03:54PM
Jon Porter

Twitch vs YouTube Gaming vs Microsoft Mixer: which streaming service is for you?

Update: Twitch has updated its mobile app and added some new features that make it almost as useful as the desktop site. Read on to find out what's changes will be made to the Twitch app when its update rolls out in July. 

We have come a long way from gaming being a solitary 'best-enjoyed-in-the-dark-whilst-wearing-one’s-luckiest-pants' hobby. Now, it’s a hugely popular social experience accounting for incredible amounts of web traffic with millions of people not only playing online together, but watching other people play via online streaming services. 

Thanks to video game live streaming services, gamers can now broadcast their play sessions to those that wish to watch them and interact with them too. Live streaming is one of the biggest things happening in gaming right now alongside eSports, so big in fact that some of the most popular streamers are able to make a decent living from it. 

As video game streaming has become more popular, though, the number of services facilitating it has naturally increased. Now there’s more than one place you can go to watch and broadcast live video game action. But which is best for you?

We’ve delved into the features of three of the biggest video game live streaming services (YouTube Gaming, Twitch, and Mixer) to weigh up the good and bad points of each to help you choose the one that’s best for you, whether you’re a streamer or a viewer. 

YouTube Gaming

• Pros: Familiar layout, useful DVR functions, can stream directly from Android devices.
• Cons: No direct streaming from Xbox One, recently made it harder to become a partner.

What is it?

YouTube Gaming is essentially Google's response to Twitch. It looks and acts a lot like standard YouTube but with a darker color scheme and focuses purely on live and on-demand video game videos. 

There's a wide breadth of game-related videos to explore, ranging from simple soundtrack compilations, to walkthroughs, to cookery channels. 

Is it easy to discover new things?

The home page has Recommended, Spotlight, and Trending sections all of which draw out videos or playlists that aren’t live right at that moment but have been uploaded previously. The videos here could be anywhere from a few hours to several weeks old but it’s a great way of discovering content you may have missed.

To get the newest stuff as it’s happening you simply have to click into the ‘Live’ tab. Here you’ll be able to see the top live videos happening at that moment. It’s easy to see when a video is live considering it has a big red ‘Live’ tag in the bottom right hand corner. 

There are also sections that allow you to explore by game and by channel and they pull out the most popular titles and channels. There is, of course, a search bar to help you find something a little more specific.

Anyone familiar with the ordinary YouTube layout should find YouTube Gaming fairly easy to navigate which, naturally, makes it easier to delve in and find new videos whether they've been uploaded weeks ago or are being broadcast at that moment.

Is it easy to be discovered as a streamer?

A problem creators may face is that user subscriptions on YouTube Gaming are separate from their main account. 

When you subscribe to a channel in YouTube Gaming, it won’t be added to your subscriptions on YouTube, so though it’s good for viewers in terms of organizing their subscriptions it does mean that as a streamer your subscribers will sometimes miss a lot from your YouTube Gaming account, especially if they're more inclined to watch things on standard YouTube. 

This isn't so much a problem with being discovered as it is a problem with being re-discovered. 

That said, those who have a large following on YouTube will probably find it easier to transfer this audience to YouTube Gaming than Twitch as it's much more familiar and closely aligned.  

In addition, though subscriptions don't cross-over, any content uploaded to YouTube Gaming will also appear in search on standard YouTube but not vice versa which does make it more likely those interested in the content you're uploading are going to be able to find you via search and recommendations.

How's the viewing experience?

YouTube Gaming’s player is very similar to YouTube’s standard player, pulling up related videos and other videos from the creator you’re watching to catch your attention. Rather than underneath the videos, the comments section is to the right of the video which means you can continue watching while you read the comments (something that’s obviously essential during live streams). 

In-stream DVR is also useful for viewers as it means they can go back up to 3 hours in a live stream if they show up late to the party. You can also pick the quality you’d like to watch in, which is especially useful if you don’t have an internet connection that’s up to a high quality stream. 

You can watch on mobile, PC, and on your consoles. 

How's the streaming experience?

Streaming on YouTube Gaming is fairly simple and can be done directly through the app on your PlayStation 4 console or on an Android smartphone (this isn’t currently possible on iOS devices). Unfortunately, there’s no live streaming straight from Xbox One consoles like on Twitch and you’ll have to use a capture card for this. 

On PC you’ll need an encoder but YouTube has plenty of good suggestions for you. You don’t have to worry about frame rates and resolutions – YouTube detects the best stream resolution for you and transcodes to lower resolutions so that no matter what a persons’ internet connection is they can access your stream at a quality that suits them. 

What's the community and chat like?

Chat moderation is possible on YouTube Gaming but it’s a little less well-developed than on Twitch. You can, however, assign moderators to live chat and block the use of specific words or block specific users from taking part in your chat entirely. 

Of the three services we're comparing YouTube probably has the middle ground in terms of audience size. 

Can I monetize my content?

Once your channel is relatively successful your largest amount of money is likely to come from securing sponsorship deals. You'll find opportunities to partner with big gaming brands and publishers, work with them to make sponsored content whether that's incorporating their products into your videos in some way or having a full video centered around them.

Before you get to this stage, though, you have to start on ad revenue.

It’s fairly easy to monetize your content on YouTube from early on thanks to ad revenue. Once you’ve become a YouTube Partner and your channel has had more than 10,000 lifetime views you’re able to start making a small amount of revenue from ads on your videos. 10,000 is a much higher barrier than YouTube Gaming set originally and this has raised the ire of some streamers just starting out. 

Pre, post and mid-video ads will all make you some money, bearing in mind that the more impressions or views the ads get the more money you make, so having more regular viewers will generate more income though it will still be a small amount. 

YouTube has also introduced the ability to add cards to your live videos. This means that when you’re live streaming you could have a Fan Funding card appear on the screen. This would allow your fans to donate to donate money to your channel as they watch. Of course, this is really only a good way to monetize if you’re already a popular and established content creator.  

Twitch

• Pros: Large audience means it's easier to grow a following, good chat moderation, bringing in new ways to monetize content, can stream straight from both Xbox One, PS4, and mobile.
• Cons: Can be easy to get lost as a new streamer, no DVR.

What is it?

Twitch is the live streaming platform owned by Amazon and it's been around since 2011. It's the biggest and oldest service on here, boasting around 10 million daily active users.  

Here you'll find everything from walkthroughs, to tips and tricks and cosplay tutorials. Most large gaming events and companies have dedicated Twitch channels and you'll find it's the place to watch official events. 

Is it easy to discover new things?

Twitch’s UI is fairly neat and it’s easy to find your way around the site. Big names are featured at the top of the home page, and you can also find streams broadcasting live at that moment by game, console, and channel. And, of course, there’s a search bar if you’re looking for something more specific. 

The community is so large and diverse that you're likely to find a new channel every day and perhaps even a new interest/title. 

Is it easy to be discovered as a streamer?

Twitch is a funny one. Being so filled with well-established streamers and newbies it can be hard to get your foot on the first rung and get noticed. However, once you do start building something the potential for growth is much higher than on YouTube Gaming purely because there are so many more people watching and looking for gaming content. 

If you already have an established presence on YouTube, you may find it more rewarding to stream via YouTube Gaming rather than try to move all of your fans over to Twitch. But if you’re starting out fresh, Twitch is probably the service with the most potential if you're willing to push hard.  

How's the viewing experience?

Twitch offers a good viewing experience and the area around the video player isn’t too cluttered – you just have the chat off to the right and you can hide that if it becomes too distracting. 

You can watch on Roku, Chromecast, FireTV, on Xbox, PS4, PC and mobile. 

Something that’s a nice touch is that the video you’re watching is pulled into a smaller window when you decide to explore for something else to watch, meaning you don’t have to miss anything from the stream you’re currently watching. For some reason this is something YouTube does on its mobile app but not online. You also have control over what quality you watch the video in. 

Twitch's mobile app has recently had an update that makes it more pleasant to use and brings it more in line with the desktop experience – you might find yourself watching more on mobile than you have before. 

The Pulse discovery feed and the notification center are now in the app and the interface improvements mean it'll be easier to find and use these features. Swipe-based controls have improved navigation across the app and dark mode will be ideal for when you're watching in the evening.

Something it’s lacking, though, is DVR capabilities. Although you can pause a stream you’ll still miss things from it as when you play again it jumps straight to the present rather than catching up. If you miss something in a stream you have to wait for it to be archived before you can go back through it. 

How's the streaming experience?

Streaming on Twitch is much the same as on YouTube Gaming. It’s possible through console apps and PC. 

A recent update to the mobile app has brought Twitch's app much more in line with YouTube Gaming by making it possible to stream directly from iOS and Android devices. Add in the fact that you can stream directly from your Xbox One to Twitch (which you can't do on YouTube Gaming) and Twitch certainly looks like the more egalitarian service from a streaming perspective. 

The service is able to tell you how well your internet connection is performing and what quality you’re able to stream in and will adjust automatically meaning there’s very little for you to worry about other than being entertaining. 

What's the community and chat like?

Chat moderation is pretty good on Twitch. It uses a tool called AutoMod which combines machine learning and natural language processing to identify messages that are inappropriate and will either block them entirely or flag them for later human moderation.  

Streamers are also able to ban specific words links and phrases from appearing in their stream chats as well as employ community moderators or limit chat accessibility to their subscribers. There are also official support staff available 24 hours a day. 

Can I monetize my content?

Once your channel is relatively successful your largest amount of money is likely to come from securing sponsorship deals. You'll find opportunities to partner with big gaming brands and publishers, work with them to make sponsored content whether that's incorporating their products into your videos in some way or having a full video centered around them. 

Before you get there, though, you have to start small.

Like YouTube Gaming, Twitch has a partner program that allows streamers to make money from ads. There are no hard and fast numbered requirements when it comes to becoming a partner and applications are determined on a case by case basis. The ad revenue is generally similar to YouTube Gaming’s though the overall revenue of Twitch streamers is generally higher than for those who use YouTube Gaming.

Twitch users who have achieved partner status can also make money from paid subscriptions and merchandise. With subscriptions, users choose to pay between $4.99 and $24.99 to have more access to their favorite streamers, with higher subscription fees naturally bringing bigger perks.

Merchandise sales is an interesting one. Twitch has partnered with an apparel company and if you'd like to start selling your channel's brand you can post an image of a branded T-shirt or hoodie to your channel dashboard. If someone chooses to buy one the apparel company handles everything from selling to manufacturing to shipping and you make the largest amount of the profit. 

The new affiliate program offers an easier way to make money for those just starting out and haven't reached partner levels but whose channels look promising. The threshold to access this is much lower and at the moment the money-making opportunity only takes the form of something called Bits to Cheer, though other revenue streams such as advertising and subscriptions are due to be added in the future. 

This allows viewers to pay to offer support in a streamer’s chat with the streamer getting a share of the revenue. The affiliate program will expand in future and it looks like Twitch will soon be the streaming site of choice for those hoping to make money from live streaming. 

Mixer

• Pros: Creative interactivity features are fun for viewers and streamers, integrated PC and Xbox streaming, low latency means next to no lag for viewers, co-streaming can't be found anywhere else
• Cons: Much smaller audience, no integrated streaming for mobile (though mobile is coming) or PS4, no DVR, can be hard to find non-live content.

What is it?

Mixer is the youngest competitor here, having been launched in early 2016 and acquired by Microsoft later that year. 

Like the other services, you'll find live streamed and previously broadcast gaming-focused content but Mixer stands apart from the rest by being a much more interactive experience for viewers. It's also the service that's likely to appeal most to Xbox and Windows 10 players as it becomes fully integrated into Microsoft's cross-platform plans. 

Is it easy to discover new things?

Mixer's interface isn’t drastically different from YouTube Gaming and Twitch. There are featured streamers, streams happening at that moment and you can search by game or by a specific channel. It’s much harder, however, to find older content that’s been broadcast previously. 

You'll also find the content on Mixer is less diverse than on YouTube Gaming and Twitch. Where the other services are large enough that you'll now find more left-field things like Cosplay guides or gaming-inspired cooking channels, Mixer is still much more focused on pure livestreaming gameplay. 

In changing the brand to Mixer, Microsoft is making some improvements to search that will be implemented soon. Viewers will now have a couple of new ways to find the most popular content on the service, firstly through a moderated channel of content called ‘Channel One’ and secondly through a new page on the Xbox One Dashboard. 

Is it easy to be discovered as a streamer?

Compared to Twitch, Mixer's audience isn’t impressive so you’ll probably find it hard to become the world’s biggest game streamer if you’re only using Mixer purely because you’re reaching less people. However, a caveat is that being slightly quieter, Mixer is a less crowded space for those just starting out and you could build a more solid audience.

How's the viewing experience?

You can watch Mixer streams on Xbox, your PC,  iOS, Android, Kindle, AppleTV, and through Google Chromecast from iOS and Android apps. 

Low latency should mean that you won’t experience any delays but if you decide not to watch in low latency you’ll also be able to select what quality you want to watch the stream in.

Being a viewer on Mixer is a much more interactive experience than with other services. This interactivity ranges from bringing sound effects into the game or voting on what actions the player should take or what weapons they should use. Interaction is rewarded and further interaction options can be unlocked.

There’s no DVR functionality like YouTube Gaming for live streams but you can access previous broadcasts like on Twitch, it's just not as easy. 

How's the streaming experience?

Mixer has a distinct advantage for PC owners in that it doesn’t require any third party broadcasting software or a capture card. Like the Twitch and YouTube apps for console, you just click a button to get started. It also works with popular third-party broadcasting apps such as OBS and XSplit, though, for those that prefer those services. 

This is the same for Xbox One owners, though there’s no app available for streaming through your mobile device or PS4 console just yet. Considering Mixer is a Microsoft service, it’s unlikely that we’ll see PS4 integration any time soon but mobile has been confirmed to be on its way. 

Mixer is also extremely low latency, meaning that interaction between streamers and viewers is almost instantaneous. This is particularly important because one of Mixer's big USPs is a higher level interactivity between streamers and viewers than any other service. According to Mixer itself there’s only ever under one second of delay.

Mixer also has an interesting new feature that allows for multiplayer co-streaming. Now, up to four streamers who are playing the same multiplayer game can stream simultaneously on one page and viewers can easily swap between them. 

What's the community and chat like?

Mixer's chat is much more interactive than the chats of YouTube Gaming or Twitch and it’s extremely fast. However, its moderation is fairly limited. Like YouTube it allows for user banning and reporting and users can also use moderation bots to keep an eye on the language used in their chats though Microsoft has said it plans to introduce ways to help streamers build a moderation staff for their channel. 

Can I monetize my content?

Once your channel is relatively successful your largest amount of money is likely to come from securing sponsorship deals. You'll find opportunities to partner with big gaming brands and publishers, work with them to make sponsored content whether that's incorporating their products into your videos in some way or having a full video centered around them. 

At its current scale, sponsors may be less inclined towards Mixer streamers for sponsorship as the audience is smaller, but this could easily change and it's important to remember that being tied to Xbox, Mixer partners may get priority when it comes to Xbox sponsorship.

When you're starting at the bottom, though, monetizing on Mixer is very similar to YouTube Gaming and Twitch. It involves becoming a partner, and to become a partner you should have more than 750 followers, a registered viewer count consistently in the 50s through whole stream for at least 2 months, a marked sign of growth and be streaming at a resolution of 720p or better. 

Once you become a partner you’ll then receive benefits like a portion of the subscription and synthesized ad revenue, priority feedback & support, test access to new features, a special forum and chat room, monthly codes to give away, and access to promotional opportunities with Xbox on its partners. 

Less users does, of course, mean that the amounts you'll get from ad revenue will be less than those you'd get from other sites. Compared to the other services, there's also a much lower barrier to entry – that's an opportunity to reap the benefits of the service before the masses join in. 

• This is the best free screen recorder you can get

June 29, 2017 at 03:49PM
Emma Boyle

Twitch’s app gets a major redesign with live streaming

Twitch announced today several new changes coming to the livestreaming platform's mobile app, to include user-demanded features like the ability to livestream directly from the app and a new interface.

While the update won't let streamers broadcast games from their phone just yet (sorry, any on-the-go Hearthstone players) but it will allow live broadcasts from your device's camera.

Twitch on mobile will also receive a major overhaul to its UI to function more like its big brother desktop counterpart, to include newly added navigation bar, a Dark Mode for easier-on-the-eyes nighttime viewing, Instant Playlists, and a Pulse feed for content recommendations.

The app update is just one of many initiatives led by the Amazon-owned streaming service to boost its audience. Other changes of late include opening its own game store, offering free in-game goodies to Twitch Prime subscribers, and encouraging content beyond gaming — such as cooking programs or even woodworking streams.

Twitch's new app rolls out starting today for iOS and Android devices, but isn't expected to be available to everyone until "early July." In the meantime, consult our guide to using Twitch so you can get a headstart on your streaming career.

• How to stream Nintendo Switch games on Twitch

June 29, 2017 at 07:37AM
Parker Wilhelm

PlayStation's Mid-Year Sale slashes prices across PS4, PS3, PS Vita, and even PSP

This year's Steam Summer Sale may have all the attention (and wallets) right now, but Sony is putting up its own Mid-Year Sale to give PlayStation owners a chance for save some green for themselves.

From now until July 11, the PlayStation Store is holding a sale on a massive swath of games spanning not just the PS4 and PS3, but also the oft-forgot PS Vita and even the ancient PSP.

The deals cut prices by up to half-off on dozens upon dozens of different titles, though subscribers to PlayStation's premium PS Plus service can boost some of those savings to up to 75% off.

You can check out a detailed roster of discounted games on the PlayStation Blog.  This post is our preferred way of combing through the 100+ games on sale, since you can easily CTRL+F your way through it to find the right games/platforms/price points you want.

While there's certainly a little something for everyone on sale, some of the standout bargains include 40% off of GTA V (plus another 10% off with PS Plus), Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor Game of the Year Edition and God of War III for under $6 apiece, and 65% off the Vita-compatible PSP port of the classic rapping dog simulator, Parappa the Rapper.

Finally, Sony is also discounting a few of its movies during the Mid-Year Sale —  though the selection and deals aren't as enticing, unless you're really jazzed to save a buck or two on a season of American Dad! or your third copy of The Big Lebowski.

• Here are the free games you get with PS Plus this month

June 29, 2017 at 02:23AM
Parker Wilhelm

Trying to buy an SNES Mini reminds me of everything I love (and hate) about Nintendo

PlayStation Plus July 2017: these are the free games you can get this month

One of the biggest perks of being a PlayStation Plus subscriber is that each month you’re given a range of free games across the PS4, PS4 Pro, PS3, and PS Vita platforms.

This is a great way to try games you might not otherwise have played, whether because they're indie titles that slip under your radar or simply because you don’t have the funds to buy several games a month.

Even if you don’t plan to play them straight away, or you’re not sure if they’re your kind of game, we’d say it’s always worth claiming them while you can get them for free. 

You'll then have access to them for as long as you have an active PS Plus account. 

Since this is a monthly event, we’ve decided to create a one-stop shop where you’ll be able to find the newest free games, as well as scroll back and see which games were featured in previous months. That way you’ll know whether it’s worth holding out for a game to appear in an upcoming PlayStation Plus haul or if it's already been offered. 

So without further ado, here are the free PlayStation Plus games in North America, Europe and Australia for July 2017, which will be available to download within the next few days.

July 2017

Until Dawn – PS4 – (usually £29.99/ $19.99/ AU $47.95)

Until Dawn is an exclusive PlayStation horror title in which eight friends are staying together in a remote mountain retreat. Though that alone is enough to justify the game's place in the horror genre for some, the actual scary part is that they're trapped there and they're not alone.  Through the game you get to play as each of the eight characters and make decisions that could mean the difference between life and death. 

Game of Thrones – PS4 – (usually £19.99/ $19.99/ AU $33.60)

Game of Thrones is one of the popular narrative and player choice-driven episodic series from Telltale. This month you can get all six episodes of the first series which follows House Forrester as they try to get through the War of the Five Kings in one piece. 

Tokyo Jungle – PS3 – (usually £9.99/ $14.99/ AU $19.45)

Tokyo Jungle is an animal survival game where you play in a post-apocalyptic world without humans. There are more than 50 playable animals that you can choose from in either story mode or survival mode. It's then up to you to find your next meal and survive the game's incredibly confusing and unrealistic food chain. 

Darkstalkers Resurrection – PS3 – (usually £11.99/ $14.99/ AU $17.95)

Darkstalkers Resurrection brings two classic Japanese fighting games together as one release: Night Warriors: Darkstalkers and Revenge and Darkstalkers 3. This update keeps the classic gameplay and unique characters from the games but adds a few new features including HD visuals and 8-player online modes.  

Element4l – PS Vita – (usually £6.49/ $9.99/ AU $11.95)

Element4l is a reflex-challenging platform game in which you control four elements who are bound together on a journey to shape life. Your only hindrances are nature and the sun.

Don’t Die, Mr. Robot – PS Vita (Cross Buy on PS4) – (usually £2.89/ $3.99/ AU $5.25)

This is a cute, colorful and frantic arcade style game that's all about dodging danger and eating fruit.

Launch of PlayLink

This month's PS Plus lineup also sees the launch of PlayStation's new smartphone-controlled social gaming series PlayLink. From July 4 to October 24, PS Plus subscribers will be able to get the first game in the lineup called That's You! for free. 

That’s Youis a social quiz game that you can play with up to five others and find out what you really think about each other. You can read more about PlayLink here. 

Make sure to check back next month for the free PlayStation Plus games of August 2017!  

To make it easy to keep track of what titles are coming up, we’ve rounded up the last few months of PlayStation Plus titles as well as current prices on the PlayStation Store. 

June 2017

Life is Strange – PS4 – (usually £13.99 / $19.99/ AU $25.95) 

First released in 2015, this five-part episodic adventure game that follows the story of time turning teenager Max was a runaway hit. If you enjoy your games with great stories with an element of choice in the vein of Telltale then this is one you should check out. Developer Dontnod has confirmed that a sequel is in the works so if you've yet to play Life is Strange now is the greatest opportunity you'll have to do so. 

Killing Floor 2 – PS4 – (usually £29.99/ $39.99/ AU $54.95)

Killing Floor 2 is a first-person shooter than can be played alone or cooperatively online with a team of up to 12. Its story follows directly on from the events of the first game, in which a disease outbreak from a biotechnology lab results in a zombie infection spreading across Europe. 

This time the infection has spread beyond Europe and players must fight waves upon waves of zombie enemies with a well-balanced team of different classes.

Abyss Odyssey – PS3 – (usually £11.99/ $14.99/ AU$22.95) 

Looking for a side-scrolling action adventure platformer? You might be interested in Abyss Odyssey. This game has a gorgeous Art Nouveau style and allows you to work alone or with a friend to fight through procedurally generated levels with a crew of three heroes.

WRC 5: World Rally Championship – PS3 – (usually £29.99/ $39.99/ AU $49.95)

The premise of WRC 5 is simple – it's a rally racing simulator. Hone your driving skills, perfect them in career mode alone or compete against up to 7 other drivers online. 

Neon Chrome – PS Vita/ PS4 – (usually £11.99 / $14.99/ AU $22.95)

Neon Chrome is a cyberpunk-style top down shooter than allows players to fight through a variety of procedural levels. Cooperative play means that you can also play with 2 to 4 other people to make things more chaotic and fun. 

Spy Chameleon – PS Vita/ PS4 – (usually £3.99/ $4.99/ AU $7.55)

Spy Chameleon is an arcade path finding puzzle game. What do chameleon's have to do with puzzles, you ask? Well, in this game the player must use the chameleon's color changing abilities to avoid being seen by enemies across 5 missions and 75 levels. 

May 2017

• Abzu (US only) – PS4 (usually $19.99)
• Alienation (EU and AU only) – PS4 (usually £15.99 / AU$29.95)
• Tales from the Borderlands – PS4 (usually $14.99 / £15.99 / AU$26.60)
• Blood Knights – PS3 (usually £11.99/ $9.99/ AU$22.95)
• Port Royale 3: Pirates and Merchants - PS3 (usually £15.99/ $19.99/ AU $29.95)
• Laser Disco Defenders - PS Vita / PS4 (usually £7.99/ $9.99/ AU$14.95)
• Type:Rider – PS Vita / PS4 (usually £11.99/ $14.99/ AU$22.95)

April 2017

• Drawn to Death – PS4
• Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime – PS4 (usually £9.99/ $14.99/ AU$22.95)
• 10 Second Ninja X – PS4 / PS Vita (usually £7.99/ $9.99/ AU$14.95 )
• Curses ‘n Chaos - PS4 / PS Vita (usually £7.99/ $9.99/ AU $14.95)
• Invizimals: The Lost Kingdom - PS3 (usually £24.99/ $4.99/ AU$24.95)
• Alien Rage – PS3 (usually £11.99/ $14.99/ AU$22.95)

March 2017

• Tearaway Unfolded – PS4 (usually $19.99 / £15.99/ AU$29.95)
• Disc Jam – PS4
• Under Night: In-Birth - PS3 (usually $39.99 / £15.99/AU$24.95)
• Earth Defense Force 2025 - PS3 (usually $49.99 / £9.99 / AU$19.45)
• Lumo - PS Vit / PS4 (usually $19.99 / £14.99 / AU$26.95)
• Severed - PS Vita (usually $14.99 / £11.99 / AU$22.95)

February 2017

• LittleBigPlanet 3 – PS4 (usually £15.99/ $19.99/ AU $29.95)
• Not a Hero – PS4 (usually £9.99/ $12.99/ AU $19.45)
• Starwhal – PS3 / PS4 (usually £9.49/ $11.99/ AU $17.95)
• Anna Extended Edition - PS3 (usually £7.99/ $9.99/ AU $14.95)
• Ninja Senki DX – PS Vita / PS4 (usually £4.99/ $4.99/ AU $8.95)
• TorqueL – PS Vita / PS4 (usually £8.99/ $9.99/ AU $16.45)

 January 2017 

• Day of The Tentacle Remastered – PS4 / PS Vita (£11.99/$14.99/AU $22.95)
• This War of Mine: The Little Ones –PS4 (£24.99/$29.99/AU $39.95)
• Blazerush – PS3 (usually £7.99/ $9.99/ AU $14.95)
• The Swindle – PS3 / PS4 / PS Vita (£11.99/ $14.99 / AU $22.95)
• Azkend 2 – PS Vita ( £6.49 / $7.99/ AU $11.95)
• Titan Souls – PS Vita / PS4 (£11.99/ $14.99 / AU $22.95)

December 2016 

• Invisible, Inc. – PS4 (£15.99/ $19.99/ AU $29.95)
• Stories: Path of Destinies – PS4 (£8.99/ $14.99/ AU $16.45)
• Hyper Void – PS3 (£6.19/ $9.99/ AU $11.25)
• Tiny Troopers Joint Ops – PS3 / PS4 / Vita (£5.79/ $7.99/ AU $10.45)
• Color Guardians – PS Vita / PS4 (£5.79/ $14.99/ AU $10.45)
• VVVVVV – PS Vita (£6.49/ $7.99/ AU $11.95)

November 2016 

• Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture – PS4 (£15.99/ $19.99/ AU $29.95)
• The Deadly Tower of Monsters – PS4 (£11.99/$14.99 / AU $22.95)
• Dirt 3 – PS3 (no longer available)
• Costume Quest 2 – PS3 (£11.99/ $14.99/ AU $22.95)
• Letter Quest Remastered – PS Vita / PS4 (£9.49/ $9.99/ AU $14.95)
• Pumped BMX+ – PS Vita / PS4 / PS3 (£7.99/ $9.99/ AU $14.95)

October 2016 

• Resident Evil – PS4 (£15.99/ $19.99/ AU $29.95)
• Transformers: Devastation – PS4 (£39.99/ $39.99/ AU $49.95)
• Mad Riders – PS3 (£7.99/ $9.99/ AU $14.95)
• From Dust – PS3 (£11.99/ $14.99/ AU $22.95)
• Code: Realize Guardian of Rebirth – PS Vita (£28.99/ $39.99/ AU $52.95)
• Actual Sunlight – PS Vita (£4.49/ $4.99/ AU $8.25)

September 2016 

• Lords of the Fallen – PS4 (£7.99/ $19.99/ AU $14.99)
• Journey – PS4, PS3 (£11.99/ $14.99/ AU $22.95)
• Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands – PS3 (£7.99/ $19.99/ AU $12.95)
• Datura – PS3 (£6.49/ $9.99/ AU $11.95)
• Badland – PS Vita, PS4, PS3 (£3.99/ $11.99/ AU $7.55)
• Amnesia: Memories – PS Vita (£7.99/ $29.99/ AU $14.95)

August 2016 

• Tricky Towers – PS4 (£11.99/ $14.99/ AU $22.95)
• Rebel Galaxy –PS4 (£7.99/ $19.99/ AU $14.95)
• Yakuza 5 – PS3 (£32.99/ $39.99/ AU $59.95)
• Retro/Grade – PS3 (£7.99/ $9.99/ AU $14.95)
• Patapon 3 – PS Vita (£6.49/ $14.99/ AU $11.95)
• Ultratron – PS Vita, PS3, PS4 (£7.99/ $9.99/ AU $14.95)

June 28, 2017 at 11:25PM
Stephen Lambrechts,Emma Boyle

Best gaming mouse to buy in India

Why do you need the best gaming mouse? Because when you’re defending your team in Overwatch, there’s no time for the middling latency of a standard office mouse. Because in League of Legends and Dota 2, custom macro buttons are core to your success, not just in the short-term, but for your entire gaming career.

As a player, if your aim is to reach new heights, you’ll need to be equipped with only the best gaming mouse. That’s where we come in. We’ve tested mice that are ergonomic, ambidextrous, backlit by 16.8 million color variants and even those chock-full of buttons we didn’t know what to do with. And, like the MSI Clutch GM70, some are even modular.

• The best mouse of 2017: Top computer mice compared

To further complicate, different gaming mice have different strengths. MOBA players, for instance, may feel more at home with a Razer Naga Hex V2, with its oblique arrangement of seven mechanical, quick-access buttons. Other players will find convenience in the Logitech G703 and G903 that are just as wireless while charging as they are while gaming.

Whether you want wired or wireless, right-handed or ambidextrous, this list is tailored to those who want only the best gaming mouse for their daily routine but don’t know where to start. For that reason, we’ve gone ahead and thoroughly tested each of the gaming mice listed prior to its inclusion, even if they haven’t all been fully reviewed. These are the best gaming mice of 2017.

It’s obvious from the moment you look at the price tag that the Corsair Glaive RGB mouse was designed to go head to head with the Razer DeathAdder Elite. And while Corsair has had a ton of luck with its PC cases, keyboards, RAM, power supplies and cooling systems, a Corsair mouse is automatically a tough sell due to a lack of history alone. Luckily, the company’s latest gaming mouse effort is built for comfort, featuring a coating of soft touch paint and interchangeable thumb grips that augment ergonomics even further. At that point, the nearly perfect three-zone backlighting system and high-DPI Pixart sensor (not to mention the niftily included DPI status lights) are a mere bonus.

Read the full review: Corsair Glaive RGB

You know what you're getting with a Razer DeathAdder mouse, and this year's Elite model is one of the most responsive yet thanks to a new eSports-grade sensor that makes it easier than ever to keep enemies firmly in the center of your crosshair.

Razer's refreshed rodent features the same right-handed ergonomic design as its predecessor that moulds into your hand, all while adding two new buttons beneath the mouse's scroll wheel to change DPI (or dots-per-inch) on-the-fly. 

While the DeathAdder Elite misses out on more advanced features such as the free-spinning scroll wheel that you'll find on Logitech's Proteus Core, the Razer's pretty RGB lighting (customizable lighting with 16.8 million color options through Razer's synapse software), big and accessible left-mounted buttons and grippable scroll wheel make it the best mice available in the price tier below.

SteelSeries has ventured where few gaming mouse makers dare by adding a black-and-white OLED display to its Rival 700. It can either be a useful tool for three currently supported games – Dota 2, Counter Strike: Global Offensive and Minecraft – or can instead be used to loop animated GIFs. There's a high level of customization on offer here thanks to the Rival 700's modularity. Users can snap covers on and off and even switch between a three- or six-foot cable. Tactile alerts are also in place, which trigger vibrations to indicate when health, mana and other in-game resources are replenished in the aforementioned games. Overall, a distinct piece of equipment.

In recent years, wireless gaming mice have cultivated a rather adverse reputation, mainly in response to their perceptible lag. With the G900 Chaos Spectrum, however, Logitech seeks to change your mind. Using some form of wizardry, the company somehow managed to get its polling rate down to 1 millisecond on a 2.4GHz connection. Accompanied by accelerated coverage of the entire DPI range, zero smoothing and filtering, this gaming mouse is prepared for everything from your next game of Hearthstone to tournament level Heroes of the Storm. That goes without mentioning an ambidextrous design ideal for left-handed players in addition to a modular button layout.

Featuring a grippable leather texture down the left-hand side, using the Corsair Harpoon is light slipping into a comfortable car with leather upholstery. Not a very expensive one, mind you, as the Harpoon is a budget offering that looks and feels cheaper than mice twice its price. Which is to be expected, of course, and with a snappy optical sensor and six programmable buttons including a center DPI switch and forward and back buttons on the side of the mouse,  you have everything you need to game in any genre. Its average size makes it a good fit for both small and large hands, and Corsair's RGB-lit logo on the back makes it look rather cool when rested on your desk.

Logitech's gaming mouse makes heavy-handedness seem like a good thing. Its hexagonal core can be customized with up to six 3.6 gram weights, giving you a lighter or heavier mouse to wield. Adjusting the mass and balance isn't the G502's only trick: its surface-turnable gaming sensor packs Logitech's Delta Zero tech, which lets you use it on a wide variety of surfaces beyond your regular mouse mat.

Clicking a middle mouse button lets the G502's scroll wheel spin freely, which helps prevent knuckle strain when navigating long webpages and forms. Add to that 11 customizable buttons including four on the left-hand side, a three-speed DPI shift under the scroll wheel and a logo that lights up 16.8 million colours in the dark using RGB backlighting, and you have one attractive, tech-stuffed gaming mouse.

Razer's refreshed Naga Hex gaming mouse has once again been refreshed, this time with MOBA and MMO players in mind. If you need your mouse to do the job when it comes to timely spellcasting, it could be a great addition to your setup. The Naga Hex 2 positions a thumb grip alongside seven quick-access buttons arranged in a circle that, with a bit of muscle memory training, allow you to fire off spells and perform other actions in a snap. There's also two buttons along the top for adjusting dots-per-inch (DPI) sensitivity on-the-fly, accompanied by two rubber plates on the sides help with grip. In addition to offering a wealth of different buttons, the Naga Hex V2 is lightweight and looks great thanks to Chroma RGB lighting that adds a dash of color to the side-mounted buttons, mouse wheel and Razer logo. Lighting behaviour is configured using Razer's Synapse software, and you can jump right into the action by downloading its League of legends and DOTA 2 profiles.

Another impressive mouse from Corsair, the Sabre is comparatively stripped down compared to the M65 Pro leaving just the essentials for a reasonable price. The first thing you notice is how light the mouse is. Its lightweight body combines excellently with its fast and accurate optical sensor to feel like a durable mouse you can wield in your hand for playing games of any genre. Corsair's CUE software is a little fiddly to get to grips with, but once figured out can be programmed to cycle colors around the Sabre's four RGB-lit zones.

June 28, 2017 at 07:29PM
TechRadar India Bureau

I used the Xbox Design Lab to (almost) make a GameCube controller

It seemed like such a good idea at the time. After all, wasn't the GameCube a modern design classic, an example to the rest of the industry that you didn't have to make a gaming machine look like a slightly edgy DVD player to have it sell well?

To celebrate the Xbox Design Lab finally making its way to the UK I had been given a code to make one controller of my choice, and I was in the process of making a complete hash of it. 

Xbox Design Lab is a Microsoft service that allows you to customize your own Xbox One controller. As well as adding optional extras like a rubberized grip and metallic D-pads and triggers, you can also completely change the color of all of the controller's key components.  

An inspired choice

Rather than try and forge my own design path, I decided to keep it safe and stick to imitating a classic controller design. 

The only problem was that, when you think about it, most of the controllers out there have a fairly boring color scheme. The PS2? A black controller with grey and black buttons. The SNES? Colorful button, but still a grey shell. The PS1? Pretty much the same. 

The GameCube was different. By default it came with a bright purple controller, featuring a yellow C-stick. It was perfect for the Xbox Design Lab. 

But whether it was the somewhat limited customisability options of the Design Lab configurator (no option to have two different colored analogue sticks? Come on Microsoft!) or simply the fact that my body remained staunchly on Californian time despite being back in the UK, the controller didn't quite turn out how I'd expected. 

My controller is, to put it bluntly, completely hideous. 

Still, at least I'll be able to know it's my controller while in couch co-op scenarios, because there's not a chance in hell that anyone else is going to imitate its style any time soon. 

• How to create your own custom Xbox One controller with Design Lab

June 28, 2017 at 06:41PM
Jon Porter