The Verge’s favorite game gear

Games were already popular when the pandemic hit early 2020; with a large number of people trapped at home, it has become close to a national obsession. So, once you have your console or computer and your game (or games), what else do you need?

We ask the staff of The Verge, many of whom are avid gamers, to talk about their favorite gaming equipment. Below, we describe game controllers, mice, headsets and other useful peripherals that can take your gaming experience to an extra level (or even several levels).

Have a great time!

Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

If you have a Nintendo non-Lite switch, the Pro Controller is a necessary accessory, in my opinion. Although the regular switch comes with two Joy-Con controllers, they are small and are not particularly ergonomic.

The Pro Controller, on the other hand, is great for holding and has endured for hours of Fifteen days, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and many other games. It is not cheap, but it is worth every penny. – Jay Peters, news writer

Logitech G502 Hero gaming mouse

What can I say about the Logitech G502 line that has not yet been said? My colleague, Cameron Faulkner, thinks it’s the best and most affordable wired version of the best gaming mouse you can buy right now – and with good reason.

I play a lot of first-person shooter games on my gaming PC, so when I was in the market for a new gaming mouse (I already used Corsair’s M65 RGB Elite), I wanted something that had a good amount of programmable buttons – including one on the left side of the mouse – easy shortcuts for when I needed to aim my weapons quickly. Each macro is now assigned to a conveniently located button.

I used a fair amount of gaming mice before I switched to the G502 Hero and, honestly, I don’t think any other gaming mouse will replace it. I can buy the wireless version at some point to minimize cable management, but for $ 50, the G502 Hero is a great gaming mouse for people who prefer wired gaming mice or don’t have a lot of money to spend on its wireless equivalent. – Taylor Lyles, writer

Microsoft Xbox 360 Wireless Receiver for Windows

Fifteen years ago, Microsoft released the best dongle ever made, one that I still use every week. It’s an excessively long USB cable, six feet tall, with a small cocoon at the end that, uh, always reminds me of a Centauri tentacle. But this dongle is worth a little fear: it allows me to reliably connect four Xbox 360 wireless controllers to a Windows PC to play a wide variety of games across the room, thanks to the player’s seamless plug-and-play functionality. Windows and the robust support of Steam, all games designed for controllers work perfectly with it.

It’s an incredibly stable and inexpensive way to get sofa games for four players (like Duck Game, SpeedRunners, TowerFall, Overcooked!, Spelunky, Lance A Lotetc.) up and running quickly, mainly because Xbox 360 wireless controllers are inexpensive and easy to obtain. I wish I could say the same for the adapter itself; some of the third-party copies have compatibility issues, and tracking the original could mean a visit to eBay. That’s how I bought one for a friend the previous vacation.

If you find an officer who doesn’t light up, don’t throw it away! If you are skilled with a soldering iron, it is very easy to replace (or even reduce) the blown fuse. – Sean Hollister, senior news editor

SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless gaming headset

If you’re willing to pay a premium, you’ll have a hard time finding a wireless gaming headset better than Arctis Pro Wireless. In 2018, I pitted him against each of his competitors and he got the best marks in sound quality, microphone quality, wireless range, battery life and a variety of unusually useful features.

If I’m playing with friends and want a snack, I don’t need to stop chatting – I just walk around the kitchen and the audio is never interrupted. When a loud game drowns out my friends, I touch the dial below the headset to rebalance the audio between “game” and “chat” – this gives you two different audio devices in Windows. When the battery runs out, I can just take a spare battery out of the base station and replace it in less than 15 seconds. I also make a lot of calls with Arctis Pro Wireless, thanks to the integrated Bluetooth.

All I know is that it’s a little tight on the big heads, despite the design of the fabric band suspension that makes many other SteelSeries headphones comfortable. And be careful not to try to bend it further using the ear protectors; some buyers have found that the joints can break if you apply too much force. – Sean Hollister

Oculus Quest 2 Elite Strap

I love my Oculus Quest 2, but I’m not exaggerating when I say that I find it almost unusable outside the box. The fragile stock handle barely fits in my head and makes the headset feel incredibly heavy in the front, while the foam facial pad gets hot and uncomfortable quickly.

Fortunately, there are good solutions to both problems. Oculus sells an official Elite Strap for Quest 2 for $ 49, which suggests that the company itself knows that the stock option is not great and, in fact, is a big improvement. It is much more resistant, with a plastic back plate that distributes the weight better and fits around the head with an easily adjustable button. Problems with cracking some previous units have been reported, but I had no problem with mine, and Oculus solved the problem with replacements and extended warranties, so I definitely recommend it. – Sam Byford, Asia editor

VR silicone case for Oculus Quest 2

The next way to update your Quest 2 experience is with a simple piece of rubber. Several companies sell alternative face protection cases, and the one I’m using is the Quest Cover silicone option from VR Cover. I used exchangeable cloth versions of VR Cover with the original Quest, which was still an improvement over standard foam, but I like hypoallergenic silicone even more. It attaches to Quest 2 easily and is much more comfortable to be pressed against your face for hours than sticky foam; in addition, you can rinse easily after an intense Beat Saber session. I don’t know why something like that doesn’t come in the box, but it’s really worth the $ 14. – Sam Byford

Mayflash W010 DolphinBar for Wii

This is a great accessory for anyone who wants to play Wii games emulated on their PC. It’s like what the Nintendo Wii console used to have, but it offers Bluetooth to connect your Wii remotes too. I bought one of these for my own PC so I can use it to emulate Wii games – and I hope I can complete Metroid Prime 3 one of these days.

Remember that you will also need to pick up a Wii Remote separately, if you don’t already have one. – Jon Porter, reporter

DualSense controller

You’ve heard of all the hype about DualSense’s vibrating motors and adaptive triggers. And, of course, these things are fantastic for the games that use them, but they are not what makes DualSense my favorite controller of all the ones I’ve used. And that has all a modern controller needs.

The DualShock 4 had a headset, but also the terrible micro-USB. The Switch Pro controller has USB-C, but it is a bit small for my taste and has no headphone jack. DualSense has USB-C and a headset, which represents an improvement in quality of life. When I need to charge it, I take the charger from my laptop and, when I want to keep the noise to myself, I grab my headphones. There is no friction between me and playing any game I want. – Mitchell Clark, news writer

Creative Bluetooth receiver BT-W3

It can be a real hassle to find the right gaming headset – one that is comfortable and compatible with most (or, preferably, all) your consoles. Few wireless solutions can do it all, but I really love using Creative’s BT-W3 USB-C Bluetooth receiver. It can be paired with Bluetooth headsets you already own, making it a smart and economical purchase for around $ 40. It works perfectly with PS5 and Nintendo Switch, and its USB-C-to-A adapter allows work perfectly on your PC. Better yet, this dongle can switch between low-latency and high-quality codecs at the touch of a button and comes with a 3.5mm microphone that you can connect to your controller to chat with friends. – Cameron Faulkner, writer

HyperX QuadCast

I like to have the best audio possible, especially playing multiplayer games like CS: GO, Valorant, or Tom Clancy’s Division 2. Since gaming headset microphones only make a limit, I wanted a separate microphone for audio output. As I mentioned before, that’s why I chose QuadCast.

For $ 140, he gives me great clarity when speaking, easy-to-use controls and a shock mount adapter for boom arms. I also like the mute button at the top of the microphone. It may be unconventional, but it is conveniently located if you are using a boom arm and it makes it easier to silence myself. It also comes with a three meter cable; I find it irritating that some companies like Blue provide a very short cable with their expensive USB microphones. – Taylor Lyles

Wall mount for Echogear Full Motion TV

Here’s a slightly unconventional entry that has significantly improved my quality of life, so I want to share it with everyone here: a full-motion TV support. I recently moved into a new, much smaller apartment. I had to find ways to maximize my space and, kidding aside, fit my pretty big PS5 somewhere. This is where montage Echogear comes into play.

The model I bought is incredibly well built and strong enough to support TVs up to 125 pounds or 86 inches diagonally. With my 55-inch LG CX, it’s easy to operate and I can move it around as needed to find the perfect angle – which I do, because another drawback of my new place is that the windows are right in front of the TV. I never thought I would use a TV wall mount so much. In addition, TVs are super cool mounted on the wall and it’s a fun little makeover project. Just don’t try to do everything yourself. – Vjeran Pavic, senior video director

Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick

I’m not a big fan of flight simulators and I couldn’t justify spending hundreds of dollars on a complete HOTAS kit. But when I heard Star Wars: Squads was coming out on the PC, I couldn’t just play on a keyboard or gamepad. I Love Star Wars and I wanted to make sure I could recreate the experience of flying an X-Wing.

I found the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick on sale and it’s really one of the best gaming peripherals purchases I’ve ever made. It has 12 programmable buttons, an eight-way button and a great grip for people who use their right hand during games. If you’re like me and just need a few titles, you can’t go wrong with this flying stick. – Taylor Lyles