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Tag Archives: Gaming
Edifier’s $52 gaming soundbar lets you ditch your headset without losing voice chat
Gaming soundbars became popular in the 2017s, but the trend faded; in the last couple of years, this category of audio accessories has seen renewed interest. Razer kicked off the new wave, with several mainstream brands and some offbeat makers releasing their own versions. Creative recently launched their B3 soundbar for gamers at a very affordable price, and now Edifier is upping the ante with an even sweeter deal.
The China-based audio accessories maker, known for high-end bookshelf speakers, has come up with a very cool-looking soundbar for gamers. Dubbed the Hecate G2000 Bar, the desktop audio boomer is all set to be available from 16 October onwards for a price tag of 349 yuan ($52), which is an introductory price slashed from the normal price of 387 yuan ($58).
The G2000 Bar combines a compact footprint with an angular, mecha-inspired design intended to fit into a gaming setup without taking up much desk space. It will be available in black and white, with a built-in five-degree upward tilt that directs sound toward the listener rather than across the desktop. Five interchangeable themed stickers let users customize the front panel, while 12 RGB lighting effects, including rainbow and flowing-light patterns, add some visual flair. Lighting can be adjusted via the Edifier Connect mobile app or Hecate PC software.
Under the hood, the soundbar uses two 56mm full-range drivers with copper-clad aluminum wire voice coils, paired with two 60mm passive radiators. The arrangement is designed to deliver fuller audio and reinforce low frequencies without requiring a separate subwoofer. Output is rated at 3W per channel, or 6W in total, with peak power reaching 12W. The stated frequency response spans 67Hz to 20kHz.
For gaming, the G2000 Bar supports THX 7.1.4 spatial audio processing, which aims to create a more immersive, surround-like listening experience from a desktop soundbar. Six dedicated audio presets cater to different gaming genres, including first-person shooters, role-playing games, and racing titles. These modes give players a way to tailor the sound to different types of gameplay without manually adjusting equalizer settings.
The other notable addition is a detachable microphone mounted on top. It uses AEC 2.0 acoustic echo cancellation, a dedicated digital signal processor, and AI-assisted noise reduction to limit background sounds and reduce audio feedback from the speakers. This could make voice chat more convenient for players who prefer open speakers to a gaming headset, although performance will depend on the surrounding environment.
Connectivity includes Bluetooth 6.0 and USB sound-card input, allowing the soundbar to work with compatible PCs, laptops, mobile devices, and consoles. An independent 9V DC power adapter supplies power, while physical controls on the top metallic panel provide access to volume adjustment, microphone muting, and audio-mode switching.
With its compact design, customizable lighting, spatial audio processing, and integrated voice-chat features, the Hecate G2000 Bar brings several gaming-focused conveniences to an affordable desktop soundbar. Its initial pricing makes it an interesting option for players looking to simplify their setup without committing to a separate speaker system and microphone.
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Anbernic RG DDS vs RG DS: What Changed in the Dual-Screen Handheld
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Razer Wolverine V4 Pro has four back buttons, but none have to stay
Extra buttons on a game controller can be handy, at least until they get in the way of holding it. Razer’s Wolverine V4 Pro gives players a little more say in that arrangement, with magnetic back buttons you can remove instead of simply ignoring them. Available for Xbox and PC, the wireless controller also lets you change its thumbstick caps and even take off its faceplate.
The four rear buttons come off without tools, making it possible to keep all of them, use only a pair, or clear the back entirely. Blank inserts replace the unwanted controls, following the controller’s contours rather than leaving little gaps behind. It’s a small detail, but an important one when that surface is where your fingers spend most of their time during a game.
Designer: Razer
Of course, keeping those buttons attached makes sense when you’re juggling several actions at once. Their mouse-click switches can handle commands such as jumping or reloading, letting your thumbs stay on the sticks while your other fingers do the work. Two additional shoulder buttons bring the total to six remappable inputs, giving frequently used actions somewhere to go besides the familiar face buttons.
The thumbsticks get their own set of options, changing both their height and the surface beneath your thumbs. Short convex caps provide a rounded surface, while tall concave versions give your thumb a recessed resting spot and more height to work with. Razer recommends the taller caps for precise aiming. You can mix the supplied options, but swapping caps doesn’t mean you’re replacing the sensors underneath.
That flexibility continues with the triggers, which can switch between a short mouse-click action and a full analog pull using rear-mounted locks. The shorter setting suits firing in a shooter, while the longer travel lets you ease onto the throttle in a racing game. Through Razer Synapse, you can also adjust each trigger’s activation point to suit how you play.
Even the exterior is open to a little tinkering, thanks to a magnetic faceplate that lifts off without tools. Personalize that panel, or leave it off entirely to reveal the translucent housing underneath. The working components remain enclosed, so you’re changing the controller’s outer appearance rather than exposing its electronics. It’s an option for people who prefer seeing a bit of machinery.
The software takes care of the changes you can’t make with magnets. Four onboard profiles hold different button assignments and sensitivity settings, so a racing setup doesn’t have to overwrite your shooter preferences. You can also adjust thumbstick dead zones, deciding how much movement registers as input. That said, greater sensitivity can pick up tiny thumb movements you didn’t intend.
At $199.99 in the US, this level of customization doesn’t come cheap, and there’s no included carrying case to keep the removable pieces together. You’ll have to find your own place for spare caps and unused buttons. After spending that much on a controller you can rearrange, a dedicated home for the bits you’ve removed would have been rather welcome.
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Evercade Nexus vs EXP-R: What Changed and Price
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Anbernic’s next dual-screen handheld has the perfect aspect ratio for 3DS games
The RG DDS's main display has a 5:3 aspect ratio while its bottom screen will be 4:3.
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Anbernic RG DDS brings 3DS-inspired design and Snapdragon power to dual-screen gaming
Following the success of RG DS and the more recent RG DS Plus, Anbernic is taking its dual-screen handheld lineup in a more powerful direction with the new RG DDS (Dream Dual-Screen). The clamshell console draws inspiration from the Nintendo New 3DS, combining its familiar design with modern hardware, higher-resolution displays, and a few practical additions aimed at retro gaming enthusiasts.
The RG DDS features two custom IPS displays: a 4.7-inch top screen and a 4-inch bottom screen. The upper panel offers a 1200 × 720 resolution in a 5:3 aspect ratio, while the lower display uses 960 × 720 in a 4:3 aspect ratio. Both deliver a pixel density of 300 PPI and peak brightness of 500 nits. More importantly, their resolutions allow Nintendo 3DS games to run at 3× integer scaling, potentially delivering sharper visuals while preserving the original games’ proportions.
Designer: Anbernic
Under the hood, the handheld uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon G2 Gen 2 processor, an octa-core chipset also found in the Retroid Pocket G2. Paired with an Adreno A22 GPU, which is comparable to the Adreno 735, it gives the RG DDS considerably more processing power than Anbernic’s earlier dual-screen models. The hardware should make it better suited to demanding 3DS emulation, although real-world performance will depend on individual games and software optimisation. Anbernic has not confirmed the final RAM configuration, but footage of the interface suggests that the device could offer at least 8GB.
The design stays close to the New Nintendo 3DS, including its rounded clamshell body, familiar button arrangement, and front-facing speaker grilles. However, the RG DDS replaces the original system’s small C-stick with a full-sized right analogue stick and includes two recessed thumbsticks for broader game compatibility. It also comes in black, blue, and white, with the colour options adding the nostalgia of Nintendo’s older handhelds.
An integrated, retractable stylus sits alongside the touchscreen, making it easier to interact with menus, maps, and inventory screens without relying entirely on physical controls. Unlike the earlier RG DS Plus stylus, the redesigned accessory extends after removal and features a mesh tip. Other additions include front-firing stereo speakers, a new Z-axis linear vibration motor, active cooling, and a 6,000mAh battery. The device also has a dedicated AI button, although its intended functions have not been clearly explained.
The two-screen arrangement is central to the RG DDS handheld’s appeal. Rather than squeezing both displays into one screen or repeatedly switching between them, players can keep a game’s main action and secondary interface visible simultaneously. This makes the device highly relevant for Nintendo DS and 3DS libraries, where touchscreen interaction and separate menus are integral to the experience.
Anbernic has not yet announced the RG DDS’s price or release date, but I’m eager to check out its real-world performance. The combination of modern processing power, higher-resolution displays, and a familiar handheld design makes it a lucrative alternative to dual-screen competitors such as the Retroid Pocket Duo and AYN Thor. Whether it delivers better value will ultimately depend on its retail price, software support, and performance in actual gameplay.
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