Sony is finally making it possible to pair a DualSense with more than one device
Up to four devices can be simultaneously paired with a single controller, and each of them will be mapped to one of the action buttons. To switch between them, first make sure the hardware you want to start using is on, then press the controller's PS button and the corresponding action button at the same time. Hold for three seconds, and when you see blinking on the controller's light bar, release both buttons.
It's the sort of change that may not carry weight for all players. But for those of us who do like to hop between platforms, this is very exciting news. The current beta access is limited to an invite-only guest list, but Sony said it plans to roll out the feature globally "in the coming months."
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Digital Trends
5 hours ago
- Digital Trends
Everything you need to know about the PS5: Price, specs, games, and more
Both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles had a rough start to the generation. They launched under unfortunate circumstances, with both a global pandemic and supply issues making them difficult to get for months after launch. Thankfully, around five years into the generation, and with all eyes looking at what the PS6 could be, the PS5 is easily accessible and hitting its stride with amazing upcoming video games. This is the most popular console on the market, but if you don't have one yet, you might not understand why it is so popular over the Xbox or Nintendo Switch 2. I'll run down all the biggest points you should know about the PS5 if you're looking to pick one up, including the price, specs, games, and more. PS5 specs Dimensions 19.6 x 7.1 x 16.8 in or 17 x 6.5 x 13.8 in for the Slim Weight 10.54 pounds or 7.06 pounds for the Slim Color Black and white CPU 3.5GHz Custom Zen 2 GPU 10.28 TFLOPS 2.23GHz Memory GDDR6, 16GB Memory bandwidth 448GBps Storage 825GB SSD or 1TB SSD for the Slim Optical drive Yes 4K Yes HDR Yes Ports Includes USB and NVME slot Online subscription PS Plus Price Digital: $450 Disc: $500 Slim Disc: $500 Slim Digital: $450 Digital Trends review 4.5/5 There are two base versions of the PS5 on the market right now: the PS5 and the PS5 Slim. There's also the PS5 Pro, but that's such a unique case that I'm going to give that its own section later on. The Slim is basically just the newer model of the original PS5 that has no performance boosts, just a bit more memory, and a smaller form factor. There are still digital and disc versions for each to pick from, depending on whether or not you want to purchase physical games or use its Blu-Ray player. Recommended Videos In terms of raw power, the PS5 is the strongest home console on the market. You can check out all the chips and terraflops if you like, but the PS5 games with the best graphics speak for themselves. Even games that are available on both PS5 and Xbox Series X tend to look and/or run better on the PS5. And there's no competition when comparing it to the Switch 2. PS5 design There are two main design options for the PS5, depending on whether you're looking at the base unit or the Slim. There's also a slight difference if you opt for the disc vs. digital versions, but that's splitting hairs a bit. The original PS5 is ugly. Some people might like its strange aesthetic, but most people agree that it is a big eyesore and stash it away out of sight wherever they can. The revised design of the PS5 Slim is slightly better, but still not something most people would want to display. It is thankfully a good deal smaller, plus it has a nice divide in the faceplate so it isn't a solid block of color, but still has the same general shape. PS5 price You have a lot of different models and types of PS5 to pick from at various price points. The lowest you will pay right now is $450, which is the cheapest option out there for this level of power. You can get a Series S for less or a Switch 2 for the same price, but all PS5 models outclass those two in power. If you want a disc drive, you will be looking at a $500 investment for a new system. Of course, now that they have been out on the market for so many years, you should be able to find a used or discounted one fairly easily. PS5 controllers The standard DualSense controller is the best PlayStation controller yet. It has all the functionality of the old DualShock 4, plus haptic feedback and adaptive triggers that make games that much more tactile. The stick and button layout is all unchanged, including the parallel sticks. If you loved any previous Sony controller, you will love this one too. For enthusiasts, there's also the DualSense Edge. While a bit on the pricy side, it does allow for more customization options and adds back paddles. The one universal downside on the PS5 controllers is their battery life. The base DualSense lasts only around 8 hours, give or take depending on the game, while the Edge actually dies faster despite the higher price. PS5 games Every major third-party and indie game is present and accounted for the on the PS5. But it gets even better, because now most former Xbox exclusives are also on PlayStation in addition to Sony's own first-party games that can't be played anywhere else. That only leaves Nintendo exclusive games as the only segment of games missing from the library. With all that taken into account, the PS5 easily has the most robust and wide selection of games. Special mention has to go to its own exclusives, though. These are some of the best PS5 games, with games like Spider-Man 2, Death Stranding 2, and Demon's Souls all being some of the best the console has to offer. PS5 Pro PlayStation 5 PlayStation 5 Pro CPU 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ 3.5GHz 8-core AMD Zen 2 @ up to 3.85GHz GPU 10.28 TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (Variable Frequency) 16.7 TFLOPs, AMD Radeon, RDNA graphics engine Memory 16GB GDDR6 16GB GDDR6/256-bit Internal Storage Custom 1TB SSD 2TB SSD External Storage NVMe SSD slot, USB HDD NVMe SSD slot, USB HDD Video Output 4K at 120Hz, 8K 4K at 120Hz, 8K Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 7 Price $500 $700 Just like in the PS4 generation, Sony released a mid-generation upgrade called the PS5 Pro. You can compare the specs above, but the main thing to note is that it has the exact same CPU but a better GPU. What this means is that the Pro can push graphics further, but not necessarily make more complex games. What this mostly looks like is allowing you to play games without having to pick between performance or quality mode and instead getting the best of both worlds in one. It isn't a huge leap, and if you don't have a TV that supports those higher graphics anyway then it would be a moot point, but it is a solid option for the most hardcore enthusiasts. PlayStation Plus Sony's competetor to Game Pass is the three-tiered PlayStation Plus service. The Essential tier gives you three 'free' games per month, the ability to play online, and cloud saves. Extra adds in a catalogue of PS4 and PS5 games to download, and the Premium tier gives you access to PS1, PS2, PSP, and PS3 (via streaming) games on top of it all. Here's how much each one will cost at the time of writing: Essential – $80 per year Extra – $135 per year Premium – $160 per year Essential is the easiest tier to recommend, but if you're new to PlayStation or know you will take advantage of having access to all these games, even if you aren't fully in control of what is added or removed, then the Extra tier offers great value. Premium has the least broad appeal, but if you enjoy retro games or want to revisit childhood classics from the early PlayStation days, this is the easiest way to do it.
Tom's Guide
5 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I really enjoyed testing the Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II with my PS5 — but it has a few noteworthy flaws
One of my favorite things to do after making my dough for the day is to unwind by playing games on my PS5, so I know the importance of how much audio can make or break a game. That's why you need one of the best gaming headsets to truly immerse yourself. I just spent a few days testing the Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II, and it blew me away with its wide soundstage and comfortable fit. The headset is competitively priced, retailing for just under $50, and it comes with a clear unidirectional mic, too. However, the design may not be everyone's cup of tea, and the USB-A wired connection is limiting, to name a few flaws. For the complete breakdown, read my full Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II review. Specs Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II Price $49 / £59 Colors Black, Hatsune Miku Edition Platforms PS5, PS4, PC Connectivity USB-A wired Frequency response 20-20KHz Drivers 40mm Neodymium magnet Paired devices max 1 Multipoint connectivity No Microphone Unidirectional Weight 10.47oz The Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II is extremely comfortable, boasts a wide soundstage that makes games more immersive and its unidirectional mic makes you sound loud and clear. One of the most important qualities a gaming headset must possess is that it's extremely comfortable, so you can keep playing for hours and hours. The Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II is just that. Firstly, it's very light, weighing just 10.47oz, so the headset has a feeling of weightlessness to it. Aiding the weightlessness is the headset's metallic headband as well as the cushioned elastic one, which eliminates any pressure you may feel on the top of your head otherwise. The headband also adjusts itself as soon as you put it on your head, so no need to manually adjust anything. The H1 Gen II's cushioned leatherette earcups are mighty comfortable, and they create a good seal around my ears. I wore the headset for four straight hours and didn't feel any discomfort in the slightest. If you prefer memory foam earcups, though, which are more breathable and negate sweat buildup, I'd recommend the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 ($59) instead. If it's powerful audio you're after, regardless of the game you're playing, the Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II should be right up your alley. Featuring 40mm Neodymium magnetic drivers, the headset has a 20Hz-20KHz frequency response, ensuring you hear every subtle and loud noise clearly. Similar drivers are found in the pricier SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless ($109) and the 5-star SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 ($129), so rest assured you're getting best-in-class audio. The H1 Gen II also features 7.1 virtual surround sound, which, essentially, emulates the feeling of a 7.1 setup through EQ, and your ears are basically tricked into imagining a wider soundstage — and it works well, making games more immersive. I tested the H1 Gen II by playing a few games on my PlayStation 5 Slim and our shared office Windows 11 laptop. I am currently obsessed with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 (aren't we all?), so I had to test the headset while playing the game on my PS5. In Expedition 33, parrying is extremely important as it can deal extreme damage while shielding your party, and alongside seeing when an enemy is going to attack, there are subtle audio cues to help you parry. With the H1 Gen II on my head, I relied solely on audio cues and — I'm very proud to say — I didn't miss a single parry. Expedition 33 also features the best soundtrack of any game ever (in my very humble opinion), and an orchestral ballad soundtrack powers through many boss fights. The H1 Gen II balances the powerful OST extremely well with sounds of weapons and your party exclaiming every now and then. Songs never feel overpowering, and instruments don't sound muddled either. Maelle's saber slicing through Nevrons and Lune's Elemental Genesis raining down fire and thunder gelled extremely well with the music. There are a few scary moments and areas in Expedition 33, which are, again, soundtracked by equally eerie music, and you get ambushed by enemies, too. Through it all, the H1 Gen II exaggerates the horror of it all by emitting sounds and noises from various directions when virtual surround sound is enabled. Truly a thrilling experience. When I'm not sinking hours into RPGs, I like to take a leisurely drive around the block in my Koenigsegg… in Need for Speed: Heat; unfortunately, I don't actually own the car. And doing so while wearing the H1 Gen II was a fantastic experience, like I was actually behind the wheel. Every time my car switched gears, regardless of how loud the backing soundtrack was, I could hear the gears shift every time. The sound of the tires burning on the tarmac as I made donuts was also pleasing, and the sound of the Koenigsegg's engine roaring sent me into orbit. The third and final game I played with the headset was Lies of P on Windows. I've played this game through to the end, and I'm well aware that it features subtle and soft sounds that can help determine where enemies are positioned. The H1 Gen II excels here. I could clearly hear raindrops and water leaking from old buildings, which added to the game's dystopian atmosphere, and each step my character took was pronounced. When peaking around corners, I could hear the heavy footsteps of the mechanical policemen, which helped me gauge their location better and strategize how to approach a heavily guarded area. In combat, the titular character's grunts were loud and clear, and I loved hearing the sound of my sword sharpening against the Grinder, identical to revving a car as it got louder and louder. Anyone who plays games online knows the importance of having a loud and clear mic, and the Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II has a great one. It can't be detached or retracted like mics can on the likes of the Cherry XTRFY H3 ($99) or the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, but it can be moved out of the way with the flexible gooseneck arm. The H1 Gen II's mic is unidirectional, which is generally better for gaming as it only picks up sounds from the source — the player's mouth, in this case. To test it, I recorded myself speaking into the mic without anything playing in the background. In the clip above, I sound clear with every word enunciated well. I then put an episode of 'Schitt's Creek' on in the background to see if the headset isolated my voice as the only source. While you can hear the characters speaking in the background, it's my voice that takes center stage, and it's loud and clear, which is what matters most. Rest assured that your online lobby will still be able to hear you cuss at them even while there is other commotion around you in your physical space. The Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II is one of the cheapest gaming headsets I've had the pleasure of reviewing. The black model retails for $49 / £59 at Amazon, while the Hatsune Miku Edition costs more and is available in the U.S. only for $99 at Best Buy. The reason the base model is so cheap is because it's a wired-only headset, and you usually need to spend upwards of $70 on wireless cans. The Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II sports a divisive design and frustrating in-line controls, and there's no companion software for customization. I have used and reviewed many gaming headsets in my time, but I can't say I've ever seen a headset like the Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II, which I can best describe as divisive. If, like me, you love a minimalist colorway, I'd recommend grabbing the all black model. But if, unlike me, you're a (mega) fan of anime, then get the Hatsune Miku Edition. I'll be honest, I didn't know who this character was until I laid eyes on our review unit. I spent a few minutes looking into this, and it turns out it's a Vocaloid software voicebank represented by a 16-year-old girl with long, turquoise twintails. Unlike the black version of the H1 Gen II, the Hatsune Miku Edition is pink and turquoise, so a lot more colorful. Her silhouette is imprinted on the left earcup, and it lights up in a shade of teal, which I'm personally not a fan of because I don't consume this kind of content. I would still go for the black model because I prefer darker colors (and non-Anime themes), but to each their own, I suppose. Many gaming headsets are accompanied by companion software that lets you adjust the headset's equalizer, update its firmware, remap buttons, adjust mic settings and more. The Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II is not one of them. When you visit the headset's help page, Asus says: 'We don't currently provide a software utility or drivers for this model.' This may change in the future, and if it does, I will update the review accordingly. Meanwhile, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 1 utilizes the brand's Sonar Audio Software for customization, which may meet some users' needs more. Unfortunately, the Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II is a wired headset, which means you can't use it over a wireless connection. The non-removable cable is 2 metres long, and since it's a USB-A connection, I had to plug it into the back of my PS5 Slim. This proved annoying as the distance between my TV and couch is over 2.5 metres, so I had to sit on a chair to test the headset. I'd recommend this headset only if your couch and console are positioned close together, or if your console or PC sits on an office or gaming desk. The thing is, you won't find many wireless gaming headsets that cost as cheap as the H1 Gen II, but there are some sub-$100 options available. If you want a wireless gaming headset that doesn't break the bank, I'd recommend spending a little more on the Turtle Beach Stealth 500 ($79) or the Cherry XTRFY H3 ($99). This may not be an issue for everyone, but I found the Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II's controls frustrating. There are no buttons on the earcups. Instead, an in-line remote (which resembles an IV drip flow regulator, honestly) is used to change the headset's volume, turn RGB lighting on and off, mute and unmute the mic, and enable 7.1 virtual surround sound. The buttons aren't what I have an issue with — it's the placement of the remote. It's located at the halfway point, so around a metre down, and I found myself struggling to reach it every time I wanted to adjust something as simple as the volume. I would have much preferred having the buttons on the earcups within easy reach. There's no denying the fact that the Asus TUF Gaming H1 Gen II is a good gaming headset. Its wide soundstage and 7.1 virtual surround sound make even the dullest of games sound exciting. The unidirectional mic works like a charm and isolates voices well, and the headset, being extremely comfortable, is beneficial for long gaming sessions. But this isn't to say the headset is perfect. Personally, I'm not a fan of the anime-themed design, and I'd rather go for the all-black colorway. There's also no companion software for customization, and the lack of a longer cable limits the headset's use. I don't like the in-line controls either, which are rather frustrating. All in all, I believe a few tweaks to the H1 Gen II could have taken it from being a good headset to being absolutely fantastic. I'll stick with SteelSeries for now.
Tom's Guide
13 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
Is Steam Deck 2 secretly the next-gen PlayStation handheld? Valve and Sony's rumored partnership could make it happen, and I'm all for it
Rumors of Valve's most-wanted Steam Deck 2 are heating up, with the next-gen gaming handheld tipped to be in the works. But there's another conversation that's caught my attention — and it involves a rumored partnership between Sony and Valve. Gaming handhelds are picking up steam, with Microsoft teaming up with Asus to deliver a ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X this year, the Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS acting as a spiritual successor to the Steam Deck and the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme in the MSI Claw A8 expected to pack some serious power. Oh, and not to mention the Nintendo Switch 2. Then there's Sony with its PlayStation Portal. Streaming PS5 games on what is basically a DualSense controller with a screen slapped in the middle has its merits, but it's not exactly the next-gen PlayStation handheld fans have been waiting for. But what if the rumored Steam Deck 2 could act as the next PlayStation handheld? Well, considering speculation surrounding a subtle but clear Sony and Valve partnership (as per YouTuber Moore's Law is Dead), it isn't out of the realm of possibility. In fact, considering Sony's support of its own first-party titles on Steam already, the Steam Deck 2 could be Sony's answer to a next-gen PlayStation handheld. There's now a good selection of the latest PlayStation-first games on PC, with God of War Ragnarök, Ghost of Tsushima, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Helldivers 2, Returnal, Spider-Man and the recent Stellar Blade making their way over to Steam. Much of this is thanks to Sony's own Nixxes Software, who take on porting PS games to PC (and masterfully, too). The developers were behind bringing The Last of Us Part II to PC, and it was Naughty Dog who told me that TLOU Part II is "perfect" for Steam Deck. And yes, it is Steam Deck verified, with the developers prioritizing this to make sure Deck owners could play this graphically demanding game on the go. But that's not the only title that's been verified, and you'll find nearly all PS games are fit to be played on Steam Deck — and it shows Sony's support. Of course, Sony would want its games to work well on PC, as a terribly optimized game wouldn't go down well. But it's clear PlayStation offers big support for its games on Valve's Steam Deck, and on Steam in general, since it's the only other platform that delivers PlayStation exclusives. With this in mind, having a more powerful Steam Deck 2 to play the latest PlayStation titles would be hugely beneficial, and it makes Valve's rumored gaming handheld somewhat of a de facto next-gen PlayStation handheld. Plus, with the now-leaked AMD "Magnus" Zen 6 APU tipped to power the rumored PS6, and possibly a form of this chip on the Steam Deck 2 or Valve's rumored Steam Box, there's a lot of crossover to allow PlayStation games to run more easily on Steam platforms. For now, this is all just wishful thinking, but there have been murmurs of a next PlayStation handheld coming. And apparently, it's set to launch alongside the PS6. I'm all for a Steam Deck 2 being the way to play PS titles, but if Sony has another PS Vita up its sleeve that can run games natively, then I'll welcome it with open arms. Rumor has it that it may even support AI upscaling tech, similar to the PS5 Pro's PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution). As noted by leaker KeplerL2, the next PlayStation handheld is expected to arrive with 16GB of DDR5X RAM, a third of the base PS5's memory bandwidth (4MB of L2 cache but with 16 MB of MALL cache) and will be powered by an AMD chip. That's yet another nod to AMD's upcoming chipsets. Now, there's no official word on Sony bringing out another handheld, and we may not end up seeing one after all. But if that's the case, perhaps the Steam Deck 2 could fill its shoes instead. And with Valve making sure its next hardware release offers a big enough performance leap (via The Verge), playing PlayStation games on a Steam Deck 2 is sure to be a treat. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
