Tag Archives: Gaming

XBOX Is 25 and 7 Accessories Just Brought Back Its Most Iconic Color

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The original XBOX launched on November 15, 2001. A quarter-century later, it’s getting the tribute it probably deserves, not just a cake but a full coordinated collection of gaming accessories wrapped in the translucent green that made the first console so immediately recognizable. Seven products across five manufacturers, all designed to land before November arrives.

Razer leads the lineup with three anniversary editions spanning mouse, keyboard, and earbuds. The Basilisk V3 Pro 35K brings the translucent green shell to a wireless ergonomic mouse with a Focus Pro 35K Optical Sensor Gen-2, a four-way scroll wheel, and up to 140 hours of battery life between charges. It’s the same hardware underneath; the anniversary treatment is entirely in the aesthetic.

Designer: XBOX, Razer, 8BitDo, Backbone, GameSir

The BlackWidow V4 75% joins it as the compact keyboard option, a wired mechanical board with hot-swappable keys, Razer Chroma RGB, and a new XBOX key that launches Game Bar directly in Windows. It sits comfortably on a desk without dominating it, which is something a full-size board can’t always claim. The 75% layout keeps it portable without sacrificing the keys most gamers actually use.

Completing Razer’s contribution are the Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed earbuds, which match the translucent green look across both the earbuds and the charging case. They support low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless audio alongside Bluetooth 5.3, with up to 10 hours of standalone use and 35 hours total when the case is factored in. For anyone gaming across multiple devices, the dual-connection options make them genuinely flexible.

8BitDo brings back the transparent green with its X25 Special Edition of the Ultimate Charging Dock for XBOX controllers, compatible with XBOX Series X|S and XBOX One wireless controllers. GameSir’s X5 Lite for XBOX adds the anniversary colorway to a mobile controller that works with iOS and Android devices and carries Apple MFi certification for broad compatibility, including cloud gaming on either platform.

The Backbone Pro XBOX 25th Anniversary Edition takes a different angle on nostalgia. Instead of translucent green, it reaches into the original 2001 hardware’s full palette, offering Iconic Blue, Bold Orange, and Crystal Clear as the three available colorways. The catch is that it ships blind box style, so the color inside the package isn’t something you choose at checkout.

PowerA rounds out the collection with a sling bag built specifically for the ROG XBOX Ally and ROG XBOX Ally X handheld gaming PCs. The four-compartment bag has dedicated space for the device itself, a headset, a controller, and accessories, with a padded main compartment that includes thumbstick protectors. It carries the 25th anniversary logo on the front and matches the green zipper pulls across the bag.

The collection is available for preorder now, with most items shipping in November to coincide with the actual anniversary date. The XBOX Wireless Controller X25 Special Edition, sold separately, uses colored ABXY buttons and black-and-white bumpers as a callback to the original Duke controller’s layout. The PowerA sling bag retails for $39.99 and the GameSir X5 Lite for $44.99, with other pricing still unconfirmed.

The post XBOX Is 25 and 7 Accessories Just Brought Back Its Most Iconic Color first appeared on Yanko Design.

Asus ROG Archer suitcase 20 turns essential gaming gear into travel-ready luggage

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Gaming hardware has become increasingly portable, but carrying a laptop, accessories, chargers, and everyday travel essentials still often means juggling multiple bags. Asus is addressing this gamer’s problem with the ROG Archer Suitcase 20. This is a 20-inch carry-on designed around the needs of gamers, creators, and professionals who regularly travel with technology.

Announced under the Republic of Gamers today, the suitcase is the first model in the Archer series. Rather than simply adding gaming-inspired graphics to conventional luggage, Asus has built the case around quick access to technology and better organization. Its most practical feature is a dedicated front compartment that can accommodate a laptop measuring up to 16 inches.

Designer: Asus

The front section is double-padded and organized with individual spaces for a power adapter, mouse, and keyboard, along with a dedicated strap for a headset. This makes it possible to access frequently used equipment without opening the main suitcase compartment, which could be particularly useful at airport security or when working while in transit. The main clamshell compartment is reserved for clothing, toiletries, and other belongings, with a zippered divider and Y-shaped compression strap helping keep everything in place.

Mobility is another aspect where Asus has focused on refinement rather than simply adding gaming aesthetics. The suitcase uses four Hinomoto Miraclent 360-degree silent wheels designed for smooth, low-noise movement across different surfaces. The wheel hubs also keep the ROG Fearless Eye logo upright as the suitcase moves, adding a small visual detail to an otherwise functional component. Small hooks integrated into the upper side studs provide another useful touch, allowing travelers to hang a compact bag or umbrella while the suitcase is standing upright.

The exterior follows the understated side of ROG’s visual language, using a black finish with subtle Fearless Eye branding. Beneath it is a 100 percent Covestro Makrolon polycarbonate shell designed to withstand the bumps and impacts associated with regular travel. Both the main compartment and front compartment are secured through a single TSA 007 dual-slot lock mechanism, while additional interior padding helps protect devices and packed belongings.

Standing at 56 × 36.5 × 23 centimeters tall, the ROG Archer Suitcase 20 offers 35 liters of capacity and weighs 3.68 kgs. The dimensions place it firmly in the carry-on category, although travelers will still need to check the specific cabin-baggage limits of their airline. The construction, made out of polycarbonate with polyester, aluminum, nylon, and TPE components, ensures the luggage is still relevant many years down the line.

Asus has managed to craft a gamer’s luggage that treats gaming equipment as part of the travel load without worrying about packing things separately. Its appeal extends beyond gamers, too, as creators, developers, and professionals carrying a laptop and several accessories can benefit from the same organization and protection. Asus has not announced pricing or market availability in the launch announcement, leaving those details to vary by region.

The post Asus ROG Archer suitcase 20 turns essential gaming gear into travel-ready luggage first appeared on Yanko Design.

Arcade2TV-XR MAX is a 3-in-1 gaming machine tailored for enjoying arcade and pinball in immersive VR spaces

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The love for arcade gaming will never lose its spark, no matter how many decades pass by. The nostalgic element of playing your favorite titles from yesteryear brings back old memories, and the tactile controls to take hold of your favorite game character still remain the best way to enjoy gaming.

We’ve seen quite a lot of retro arcade machine revivals, as well as those hardcore machines simulating the golden era of flipping on the way to glory in Pinball frenzy. None, however, comes closer to Xgaming’s Arcade2TV-XR MAX gamer’s deck. The two-player arcade plus Pinball control system built for PC, Mac, consoles, Steam Deck, and even current-gen VR headsets like Meta Quest 3 is an arcade gaming controller cabinet that’ll never leave you bored for years to come.

Designer: Xgaming

This 3-in-1 arcade machine is the real deal for retro gaming fans, and it improves on the earlier Arcade2TV-XR. There are 3 flipper buttons on each side compared to the one on the predecessor; the Nudge accelerometer, front-mounted spinners, and the Pinball plunger now come built-in compared to the add-on kit on the XR. For power users, the new version brings a physical rear panel to make mode switching seamless, and the three–way– Bluetooth, wireless, and wired options make things a lot sweeter.

Beyond the new-age features lies the endless treasure of enjoying games the way you want. The machine turns into an arcade cabinet, ergonomically set up for the most revered titles all these years, while the setup completely takes an overhaul if you are in the mood for some pinball action. The auto-driven SSF haptic shakers bring every in-game action to life, whether you’re punching the guts away in a Street Fighter boss level or flipping the controls frantically to keep the fast-paced action alive. Beyond these two modes lies the real treasure chest of playing games in VR using your preferred headset. With the push of a button, the setup toggles between the familiar arcade setup from the 90s or the retro feel of enjoying Pinball back when gaming meant the world.

The MAX’s redesigned flipper-button solenoid brings every Pinball session to life, with the mechanical kick of a real table. One can choose to go wired, connecting to the gaming rig for long hours of gaming, or go wireless for shorter sessions. Web-based key remapping allows players to set up the machine to their preferred settings. Of course, a gaming machine needs to look as good as it feels to play. XGaming had this while designing the rig; therefore, the blacked-out pattern, contrasting white inserts, and the chrome finish for the button rings and the joystick make complete sense.

Arcade2TV-XR MAX comes with two pre-loaded games – Arcade Ranger and Pinball FX VR. In VR mode, players can enjoy titles such as Quantaar, Age of Joy, and Arcade Time Capsule. In the arcade mode, the options are quite versatile, with games for PC, Steam Deck, and consoles that are classic arcade stick-based. These can be anything from shooters, spinner classics, fighters, or even modern-day titles built for arcade-style gaming. The versatile gaming machine can be pre-ordered right away for $649, with a controller and pedestal included in the initial deal window.

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Mattel’s 1:1 brick-built Xbox is a 3,509-piece tribute to gaming’s early 2000s era

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The original Xbox is turning 25, and Mattel is marking the occasion with a collector’s piece that transforms Microsoft’s first gaming console into a 1:1-scale building set. Created under the premium Mattel Brick Shop, the Microsoft Xbox Building Toy Kit recreates the chunky 2001 console from 3,509 pieces, complete with its oversized Duke controller and a surprisingly elaborate interior.

At first glance, the model is designed to look remarkably close to the original hardware. The familiar black rectangular body, recessed side grilles, front controller ports, X-shaped top panel, and central green Xbox logo are all recreated in brick form. The accompanying Duke controller is also buildable and connects to the console, with working buttons, a D-pad, and movable analog sticks. It is a display model rather than a functional gaming machine, but the physical interaction is part of what makes the set more than a static replica.

Designer: Mattel

The set also follows a growing interest in turning gaming hardware into physical building objects. A few years ago, we covered a LEGO Xbox Series S concept that treated the console itself as a customizable canvas for brick-built artwork. Mattel’s new creation takes a detour from the conventional brick-building approach, though, as it employs bricks to personalize a console, using thousands of them to recreate an entire piece of gaming history.

The more interesting details are hidden inside the console. Opening the model reveals three removable dioramas inspired by some of the original Xbox’s most recognizable games: Halo: Combat Evolved, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, and Psychonauts. Each scene comes with small NanoWorld figures representing characters from the games, with 12 figures included across the set. The dioramas can also be removed and displayed independently, giving the enormous console a modular quality rather than making its interior purely decorative.

Mattel has also given the model a modest interactive layer. Pressing buttons on the connected Duke controller activates four different light-and-sound sequences, including the original Xbox opening sequence and effects associated with the three game-inspired scenes. A concealed button combination triggers an additional lighting sequence, adding a small Easter egg for builders who spend time exploring the finished model.

The choice of games is particularly evocative. Halo helped define Xbox as a gaming platform, while Morrowind and Psychonauts represent different sides of the console’s early library. Rather than simply reproducing the hardware, Mattel has effectively turned the console into a compact museum of its formative years, with the games physically embedded into the machine they helped make memorable.

For anyone who remembers the original Xbox as a piece of hardware rather than simply a platform, that distinction is significant. The finished model is essentially a life-size nostalgia object, one that preserves the proportions and visual language of Microsoft’s first console while hiding miniature worlds from its games inside.

The set is intended for builders aged 17 and above and is positioned firmly as a premium collector display rather than a conventional toy. It is currently available for preorder through select retailers, with a US price of $324.

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