I couldn’t get enough of Pokémon Champions at launch. The Nintendo Switch 2 pokémon battler was a game I’d been waiting for since its announcement and it was close to everything I hoped for— but after a couple of weeks I fell off.

Between a mixture of other games releasing, not always having my Switch 2 on me, and several real life commitments taking up my time, my quest to climb up through Mater rank petered out.

Now Champions has hit smartphones — launching on iOS and Android earlier this week — and the game feels more at home here than it ever did on Nintendo’s hardware. The quest to be the very best is back on.

There’s something somewhat surreal playing an official full-on Pokémon battling game on mobile, especially a mobile game that’s so microtransactions light compared to other Android and iOS releases from the franchise — it’s possible to spend real money on more storage space, teams and a Battle Pass for premium rewards, but nothing beyond cosmetics is exclusive to folks who pay up and the free-to-play experience is fantastic especially if you have transferred in critters from Pokémon Go or a mainline entry via Pokémon Home.

Despite this strangeness, Pokémon Champions works so well because any time your phone is connected to the internet (via wi-fi or a cell network) you can boot into a battle. I’ve battled on London’ tube while commuting to work, when kicking back in bed, while sat at a restaurant waiting for friends to arrive, and I might have snuck a game or two from my work desk….

Because this is all on a device you can slip into your pocket it’s super easier to pick up an impromptu game or two when the moment arises — there’s no prior thought or prep required compared to playing on a Switch. Wile the graphics are a little tuned down compared to what you’ll get on Switch 2, my experience so far has been very smooth on mobile.

I started out using my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 with the tablet-like inner display giving me a great view of battles even with menus sharing the screen, however I didn’t feel the experience was especially cramped when I switched to its smaller front display, or the screen of my Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

In fact, there was a strange nostalgia to using the Ultra, with the S Pen stylus making me feel like I was back in 2005 playing Pokémon Diamond on Nintendo DS.

No matter what Android or iOS device you have, the Pokémon Champions experience should feel like a delight and much more fulfilling than other free mobile games out there, but if my words so far aren’t enough to convince you to hop onto the ladder The Pokémon Company is sweetening the deal…

Let’s Go Raichu!

To celebrate the Android and iOS launch all players (who log in by September 1) will receive a free gift: Raichu and both of its Pokémon Legends Z-A DLC Mega Stones to mega evolve it into either Mega Raichu X or Mega Raichu Y.

Having fallen down the ladder in my hiatus I decided to climb back up to Master Rank using Raichu, and as some expected ahead of its debut Raichu Y and its No Guard ability is an absolute beast. A speedy special attacker with 100% accurate Zap Cannon and Focus Blast is a force to be reckoned with, and this pocket monster pairs very well into many of Champion’s biggest threats.

Life Orb Garchomp, or Raichu itself (with its un-mega evolved Lightning Rod ability), are two solid counters if you’re struggling against it on other teams, but I’ve found it’s a lot more fun to ride the Mega Raichu Y wave than try to fight it.

Mega Raichu X is nothing to sniff at, though in Champions’ current doubles meta — which is low on sleep control or future paradox pokémon — its ability to set up electric terrain isn’t super impactful. If/when the future paradoxes and threats like Amoonguss rear their head I see Raichu X finally emerging from hibernation.

That’s the joy of Champions’ approach so far. Slowly rolling out new ‘mons and items to mix things up often enough to keep the game fresh, but not yet so often to feel overwhelming for more casual fans.

If you’re still here I’m not sure what excuse you have. Go download Pokémon Champions, there’s nothing better you could be doing with your phone.

“When you start off, there’s nothing," begins Klang Games co-founder and CEO Mundi Vondi as I stare at low-poly people wandering around a little city. It's displayed on a TV in an unassuming corner of the busy Summer Game Fest 2026 Play Days show floor. He adds, “Every character belongs to a player, and the characters live in the game 24/7.”

The idea of a vast shared world without any NPCs is part of the core vision behind Seed, an ambitious player-driven life simulator MMO that’s been a decade in the making for the Berlin-based development team. He explains that your custom character, or Seedling, begins with practically nothing: “There’s just a forest, so you have to start to chop the trees."

From there, a basic society starts to develop. You can place a little tent and work towards proper permanent housing as resources are acquired. These aren’t pre-made structures either, but rather wholly designed by players using what they have on hand, complete with fully modeled interiors that you can customize as you wish.

Life finds a way

The creation of more and more homes paves the way for a fully-simulated real estate market, with prices of rent and ownership dictated by player demand. “We’re actually working on a feature we call building subdivision," Vondi adds.

Although players can already build their own towering structures, this would allow them to be broken down into individual rental units. You can create a sprawling property empire if you’re savvy enough, securing a comfortable life for your Seedling purely off rental income.

It’s not just the houses that need to be made by players. Practically every object in the game is the result of a complex player-driven production process. Place an order for a chair with your Seedling, and what arrives will be crafted using wood that’s been cut and crafted by other player characters who are employed by player-created businesses in an exceptionally innovative job system.

You can hire anyone to perform basically any task that you need done (for the right price, of course) by creating a job listing and waiting for someone to apply. Seedlings all have skills that allow them to perform better at certain roles, and you’re actually able to specify what kind of proficiencies an applicant should have. Seedlings’ abilities will improve as they complete more and more tasks — just as when you practice something in real life.

The build being shown off is a closed beta that’s currently live, meaning that it’s already populated by hundreds of real players.

When I got to play, I noticed that my character’s home was pretty dirty. Vondi eagerly explains that I can simply tap a few buttons to create a listing for a personal cleaner, who would come and tidy for me while my character was busy at their own job (the not particularly glamorous task of hauling pallets of water around an industrial site in the early hours of the morning).

“I think it’s probably the most advanced player-driven economy in any game,” he says proudly. “I mean [popular space MMO] Eve Online obviously has a very advanced economy as well. My two co-founders actually came from CCP Games, and we were basically like ‘how do we bring this to a wider audience?’”

At your own pace

Time in Seed proceeds at an accelerated rate compared to the real world, with each day in our time representing about a year of your Seedling’s life. Vondi reveals that your Seedlings last for just over three months at a time, with lives that are split up into distinct stages, ranging all the way from childhood to old age.

One of the most interesting aspects of the game is the fact that the world continues to exist while you’re away from the screen. Leave for a few hours, and your Seedlings will simply get on with things, continuing to work, developing relationships with others, and attending to their various needs. It effortlessly swerves one of the lowest points of any life simulator game—those big dead periods where your character is either busy at work or sleeping while you’re left twiddling your thumbs.

In Seed you can simply leave your character to it, but the team has still come up with a cool way to let you check in while on the go. At the booth I was shown an in-development mobile companion app that lets you see your Seedling’s key stats and even send them text messages. The messaging feature is also available directly in the desktop client, and is powered by a tweaked version of an open-source large language model (LLM) hosted on the game's servers.

Seedlings can answer questions about their current stats (like why they might be feeling sad or tired) and even respond directly to commands. I asked my minion to take a selfie, and he dutifully whipped out his phone in a flash, holding it out in front of him to take a rather fetching picture that was then viewable in-game.

Other orders, like my request for him to grab a drink or take a shower, were acted upon appropriately too—it all feels seriously futuristic, and it’s exciting to see LLM technology used to create previously impossible forms of in-game interaction, rather than to cut costs or replace artists.

I was so impressed with my hands-on time that I presented the team with one of our few Best of Summer Game Fest 2026 awards at the end of my appointment. It was an accolade they apparently told their in-game character about. I smiled when I checked my phone as I boarded my flight back from Los Angeles and spotted an email from the developers with a screenshot attached showing the Seedling still excitedly discussing the award win days later.

Seed will launch into early access on July 21 via the studio’s own PC game launcher with a Steam version to follow later in 2026. It will cost $29.99 for the base game, with a limited number of more premium founders' packs also available for those that want to support development and get their hands on some extra in-game perks.

You can also pick up a “Start a Society” Bundle with three game licences if you want to dive in with your friends. You can add it to your wishlist on the studio's website to learn more.

GameSir Pocket Taco: review

The GameSir Pocket Taco is a novel mobile controller that clips to the bottom of your phone. It’s honestly unique enough that if you’ve seen it once, you’ll definitely remember it. With it, GameSir is attempting to cater to a niche audience of retro gamers that love old 4:3 titles but hate the pillar-boxing they cause on modern screens. Sadly, this is also its biggest weakness — if it fails to 100% nail this use case, it doesn’t have the broad appeal that will encourage other gamers to grab it instead.

When it comes to its design, I’ll admit I’m totally picking up what the GameSir Pocket Taco is throwing down. The Game-Boy-aping styling — upgraded with additional X and Y buttons for later generation games — is perfectly pitched to milk my nostalgia gland. And the clickiness of the buttons and D-pad certainly feels close enough in my mind’s eye to those halcyon days bopping ants on the head in Super Mario Land 2 almost 35 years ago.

Okay, I get that clamshell form factor is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but it seems like a neat idea that’s not been covered by any of the best mobile controllers yet, allowing you to play retro games in the 4:3 format they were designed in.

Clasping your phone with just enough force that it won’t slide out, I was happy trusting my premium phone to this little clip, while the gap at the bottom allows you to charge your phone while gaming, which is a nice touch. On paper, it seems like a fun way to play your old retro titles in a format that feels more familiar — a vertical 4:3 handheld.

Unfortunately, the issue is that things in the real world often don’t work out how they do on paper. And using the Pocket Taco, I was quickly forced to confront the gap between GameSir’s ambitions for the device and the reality of what it was able to achieve.

First off, the overall user experience of the Pocket Taco is a hollow shell that quickly disintegrates when you bite into it. Pairing the device gives me flashbacks to the bad old days of Bluetooth connectivity. Adding new connections became a painful process of triggering pairing mode over and over and wondering why the device wouldn’t appear in my potential connections.

This isn’t helped by the fact that it has four different pairing modes for different operating systems — I assume this is to make switching between multiple devices quicker, but in reality makes it more of a chore than a single Bluetooth connection that pairs and unpairs smoothly.

Using the GameSir app is also a mixed experience. Even when I finally paired the Pocket Taco with my iPhone 16 Pro, the app often would claim that it was connected with a nondescript third-party controller, blocking me from accessing the Pocket Taco’s unique functions. Once I’d finally gotten it to recognize the device in the app, I was allowed to test the controls and set the screen ratio, allowing me to resize the screen to take into account the section covered by the device.

Except I have no idea what the purpose of this is. It doesn’t impact anything outside of the app — your phone screen’s aspect ratio is set at the device level, meaning the second you navigate away from this app, the screen ratio resets to its default and is once again half covered by the controller.

There’s simply no way to get native games on iOS and Android to crop to the top half of the screen or even, with many of them, play in portrait mode, which really limits the controller's utility. You can still play native games using the Pocket Taco undocked, but for a lot of people, the appeal is going to be turning their phone into an all-in-one gaming device.

Now I know some people are going to roll their eyes and say that this controller is obviously intended for emulation, not running native games. Even setting aside the ethics of emulation — we're not advocates here at TechRadar, and are all for owning your own games, and I’m not going to endorse you doing anything that could land you in legal trouble — the Pocket Taco itself seems unsure of this fact.

In the iOS app, pressing the home button takes you straight to the Games app, while on Android, you can directly link games you’ve downloaded from the Play Store to the app. So there’s clearly a bit of an identity crisis going on here.

And the added wrinkle here is that many emulators aren’t able to change the aspect ratio and positioning of the screen. While I didn’t open or play any ROMs for this review, I did try out a couple of emulator apps to test the Pocket Taco’s compatibility with them. Using one of the most popular options on Android, I found it was impossible to reposition the screen to fit the remaining portion of the display.

Fortunately, I had better luck with one iOS option, using a controller skin to nudge the display into the right position, even if it left a pretty ugly black bar between the controller and the screen. Even if it is sometimes possible, it’s not exactly elegant.

Honestly, by the time I’d been through this process of getting the Pocket Taco working, my enthusiasm had almost entirely ebbed away. And that’s a shame because, underneath it all, there’s a decent controller struggling to get out.

When I finally caved and started using the Pocket Taco undocked, it plays like a dream. I booted up the iOS version of Secret of Mana and found the Pocket Taco was pleasantly tactile to use. It’s also pretty responsive — despite a few claims I’ve read online complaining about lag, I couldn’t perceive any noticeable delay between tapping a button and Randi spanking a rabbite or mushboom with his sword. But the issue is that propping your phone up and using a separate controller is just a bit clunky — many better mobile controllers like the Backbone One 2nd Gen exist that allow you to play native games docked.

I get the feeling that the Pocket Taco dwells in a state of existential crisis, unsure exactly who it is for. Because it’s an awkward fit for native gaming, forcing you to use it undocked. And for those who are looking for a way to emulate games in 4:3, there are plenty of pocket-sized handhelds that already cater to this market without the awkward screen resizing issues you’ll encounter here. Fundamentally, that means its niche is largely going to comprise those wooed by its nostalgia-drenched concept or emulator enthusiasts that can’t quite stretch to a standalone console. Others should look elsewhere.

GameSir Pocket Taco review: price and availability

• First shipped on March 15
• List price of $34.99 / £34.99 / AU$59
• Only one colorway

Having started shipping on March 15, the GameSir Pocket Taco is available now. You can pick it up for a list price of $34.99 / £34.99 / AU$59, which is seriously cheap, even compared to other mobile controllers. By comparison, our pick for best budget mobile, the GameSir X2s Type-C, costs $44.99 / £39.99 / AU$59, so this is a very affordable device.

While some mobile controllers will give you different colorways that mimic various consoles across the ages, the Pocket Taco only comes in this GameBoy-style color palette. That’s pure catnip for someone of my age but if you're more of an OG PlayStation or GameCube fanboi, you’re not going to be catered to here.

Should I buy the GameSir Pocket Taco?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

GameSir Pocket Taco review: also consider

How I tested the GameSir Pocket Taco

• Tested over the course of a week
• Tried it out on a variety of handsets, operating systems, and games
• I play way too many retro handheld games

I used the GameSir Pocket Taco over the course of a week. Not only did I download the GameSir app and try out all of its features and settings, but I also paired the device with both an iOS and an Android-powered handset: the iPhone 16 Pro and the Nothing Phone (4a) Pro.

When it comes to software, I used the GameSir Pocket Taco with multiple native games on iOS and Android. I also set it up with several highly rated emulators to see how compatible they were with the Pocket Taco’s screen coverage.

In terms of my own experience, I’ve been testing and reviewing gadgets for many years. I’m an avid handheld gamer, regularly playing on my Steam Deck, Switch 2, and iPhone 16 Pro. I’m also a keen retro gamer — I’ve completed games like Chrono Trigger and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap more times than is strictly good for me.

• First reviewed: May 2026
• Read more about how we test

GameSir X5 Lite: one-minute review

The GameSir X5 Lite is a basic mobile controller designed to work with Android and iOS devices ranging from 105mm / 4.13 inches to 213mm / 8.39 inches long.

It has a functional and minimalist form with little fanfare. It looks more striking in its green ‘Wasabi’ guise, but this is about the only flourish the controller displays. There’s no lighting, save for a small LED ring around the GameSir button.

The build quality of the X5 Lite is quite good. The materials don’t feel as premium as those of the best mobile controllers, but they’re sufficient nonetheless. Thankfully, GameSir doesn’t seem to have skimped on the engineering of the central retractable bar; its spring mechanism is as smooth and strong as I could’ve wished for, while still being fairly easy to pull apart.

The X5 Lite provides a secure fit for your phone, thanks to the selection of silicone pads provided. The USB-C jack also provides a strong connection, and it flexes to make it easier to insert. The X5 Lite also features a USB-C port for passthrough phone charging, which is a nice touch and is positioned to allow for its use while gaming.

Speaking of which, the gaming performance of the X5 Lite is very good. The grips are ergonomic and comfortable, although they might be too small for those with larger hands. Thanks to their generous dampening, the buttons are satisfying and easy to press. The same can be said about the bumpers and triggers, although these are a little more snappy, which is ideal. The D-pad is very easy and comfortable to use, too.

The real highlight of the X5 Lite, though, is its Hall Effect analog sticks. Despite their small size, they’re smooth and precise, and rebound quickly to their starting position. They’re also very comfortable, thanks to the ergonomic caps.

It's a shame that the GameSir app doesn’t offer much in the way of adjustments or customizations, and the hardware of the X5 Lite can’t be swapped out. However, given its relatively low price, the X5 Lite is a great value mobile controller all the same.

GameSir X5 Lite review: Price & availability

• $34.99 / £34.99 / AU$44.99
• Available now in black and light green
• Budget end of the market

The GameSir X5 Lite costs $34.99 / £34.99 / AU$44.99 and is available now. It comes in two colorways: black and a light green shade called Wasabi.

This is a great price for a mobile controller of this caliber. It may lack the sophistication and customization options of more premium models, but it does the basics very well.

For a more upmarket experience, you could try the Razer Kishi V3 Pro. This has bigger grips, so more players should be able to get their hands around it. Its app also allows for far more adjustments than GameSir’s. The V3 Pro is considerably more expensive than the X5 Lite, although its antecedent, the Rishi Ultra, is now considerably cheaper, yet offers comparable performance.

If it’s hardware customization you want, but still don’t want to spend the earth, there’s the GameSir G8+ MFi. This model features swappable stick caps and face buttons, as well two extra buttons on the back of each grip.

GameSir X5 Lite review: Specs

GameSir X5 Lite review: Design and features

• Functional appearance
• Secure fit for phones
• Basic app

The X5 Lite puts function first, with its chunky, ergonomic grips standing out above all else. There’s no RGB lighting here, just a small LED ring around the GameSir button at the bottom of the right grip.

The black colorway is a little bland, but the light green version, which GameSir calls Wasabi, is certainly more conspicuous. There are also yellow accents on the bases of the analog sticks and on the inside of the central bar.

It feels quite well made, although the plastics don’t look or feel particularly upmarket. They should hold up well enough, however, and they’re a fair compromise given how light the X5 Lite is; this truly a mobile gamepad.

More impressive, though, is its sliding mechanism for the phone slot. There’s a lot of resistance, which is a positive since it provides a strong clasp for your device. A good tug or drop will likely dislodge it, but under normal usage your phone shouldn’t go anywhere. Despite this, it isn’t too difficult to prise open, since it slides very smoothly.

The secure fit is also aided by the silicone pad inserts on the inside of the grips. There are three to choose from, each with different thicknesses in order to accommodate various phone sizes and phone cases. I had no trouble finding ones that allowed my test phone — the Xiaomi 17T with a case attached — to fit inside the X5 Lite. They’re easy to replace, too.

Unlike some mobile controllers, the X5 Lite doesn’t have wireless connectivity. Instead, there’s a USB-C jack tucked inside the left grip. Thankfully, it’s flexible enough to connect to your phone easily. However, this does mean you have no choice but to orient your phone with the power and volume buttons at the bottom, which some users might find inconvenient.

There’s also a USB-C port on the bottom of the left grip to allow for passthrough charging of your phone. This is a good location as it doesn’t get in the way; my palm just managed to curve around my charging cable as I held the controller.

You can download the GameSir mobile app to adjust various settings on the X5 Lite, but the options here are limited. You can alter the deadzone of both sticks, and switch the face buttons from an Xbox to a Switch layout, but that’s it.

This pales in comparison to the number of tweaks available in other controller software. Also, there’s supposed to be a setting to let you control your phone’s UI with the X5 Lite, but I couldn’t see this option anywhere.

GameSir X5 Lite review: Performance

• Comfortable but small grips
• Satisfying button presses
• Precise and fast analog sticks

In action, the X5 Lite is excellent. The grips are a little stunted compared to more traditional gamepads, which meant I could only get my first two fingers fully around them. This wasn’t uncomfortable for me, but those with bigger hands might struggle to hold the pad securely.

The face buttons are very satisfying to press, owing to their dampening. They’re also very snappy and responsive, and are easy to hit thanks to their positioning and spacing.

This is also true of the shoulder buttons. I had no issue reaching either the bumpers or the triggers with my fingers, and their ergonomic shape makes them comfortable to rest on. The bumpers have a satisfying click to them, and although they’re slightly less damped than the face buttons, they’re certainly not harsh. Additionally, they provide enough feedback to inspire confidence that they’ve registered, too.

If anything, the triggers feel even better. Striking the ideal balance between clicky and damped, they again offer satisfying feedback and have a generous amount of travel. It’s a shame they aren’t analog, although it has to be said not many mobile games make use of such triggers.

Perhaps the highlight of the X5 Lite is its Hall Effect analog sticks. They’re much smoother than I was expecting, moving effortlessly and snapping back to the center with plenty of spring. They’re also impressively solid, with next to no play to them.

What’s more, they offer plenty of control, despite their small size. I had no problem performing complex and nuanced movements in games such as Hitman Blood Money — Reprisal or Lara Croft: Guardian of Light. In fact, they even rival those of the best PC controllers.

They’re also comfortable to use, thanks to their caps being soft to the touch and slightly indented. Like the best Xbox controllers, they’re laid out asymmetrically, which I and many others find more ergonomic.

The D-pad in the X5 Lite is very easy to use. It’s light and forgiving, with plenty of dampening and travel in all directions, which makes it more comfortable than many others I’ve experienced. Pressing multiple directions in quick succession, therefore, is a cinch, even though it’s topped with a traditional four-pronged hat, rather than a more modern circular one.

I didn’t experience any connectivity issues during my time with the X5 Lite. The USB jack maintained a secure connection and I didn’t have any concerns about it coming loose at any point.

Should I buy the GameSir X5 Lite?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if…

GameSir X5 Lite review: Also consider

How I tested the GameSir X5 Lite

• Tested for several days
• Played different games
• Plentiful gaming experience

I tested the GameSir X5 Lite for several days. I used it with two different Android phones: the Google Pixel 7a and the Xiaomi 17T. I used the different silicone pads that came in the box.

I played Hitman: Blood Money — Reprisal, Lara Croft: Guardian of Light, and Asphalt Legends. I downloaded GameSir’s mobile app to try out its various features and customizations.

I’ve been gaming for decades, and have used all kinds of systems in that time, from home consoles and PCs to laptops and other handheld systems. I also have plenty of experience with controllers, and have reviewed a number of them before, including another mobile model from GameSir, the GameSir X4 Aileron.

• Read more about how we test
• First reviewed June 2026

• Nintendo has released a new mobile game
• It's called Pictonico! and it's a minigame collection similar to the WarioWare titles
• The game is free to start and available for both iOS and Android devices

Nintendo has launched a new mobile game out of the blue, and it's pretty similar to the WarioWare series.

The game is called Pictonico! and it's a minigame collection that uses photos of people from your phone's gallery in up to 80 rather amusing minigames. These range from chomping on dragging on someone's mouth to force them to devour fruit to plucking their nose hairs.

In addition to accessing past snaps, you can take new photos to use right from within the app.

The wacky tone and aesthetic are certainly reminiscent of WarioWare titles, and, having played it for a little bit before writing this, it very much takes me back to memories messing around with the similarly camera-focused WarioWare: Snapped! on the Nintendo DSi.

If you're interested in giving it a go, a demo version can be downloaded completely for free on both Android and iOS devices. This edition includes three minigames to mess around with, but if you want more, you can purchase two extra volumes with 50 and 30 games for $7.69 / £6.99 and $5.99 / £5.39 respectively.

Buying one unlocks loads of extra features, including a selection of challenge stages to beat, a score attack mode, and more.

Purchasing both volumes also grants access to a mix mode that combines games from everything that you have purchased. The wording in the app makes me think that there will be future volumes released too, which is definitely interesting.

Oh, and if you're particularly privacy-conscious, then you'll be relieved to hear that the App Store listing specifies that none of your photos are sent to Nintendo.

Now that two of us from the TechRadar Gaming team have spent hours in free-to-play third-person action looter-shooter Tom Clancy's The Division: Resurgence - and I, as the big Division fan, am still committing hours to it - we are happy to report that it's a terrific mobile game and proof that big AAA series from console and PC can successfully make the jump over to the small screen to produce something excellent.

Every element of the core Division experience is here. The systems work and are easily navigable on a different scale, the combat is still fun and engaging, and the loot-and-improve loop is just as moreish.

Combine that with a story that’s relatively plain but one that perfectly complements the events of the first game and will be best enjoyed by existing fans, and a well-realized version of that post-apocalyptic New York City setting (complete with weather effects and a robust standard of graphical quality) as well as an intuitive and excellent control scheme on mobile, and the experience is complete.

It’s winter in NYC again

As an agent of the Strategic Homeland Division (SHD) activated after the deadly Green Poison rips through the populace after spreading on money during Black Friday, your job is to save what’s left of the civilized world, help out its inhabitants, defeat factions looking to take control, and build up the SHD’s presence.

You might not have a military background, but you do have access to weapons, gear, and specialist skills and abilities. You’ll choose the latter by picking a specialization based on some pretty typical video game archetypes: there’s a tanky one, a healer, an assault expert, and an engineer type. Familiar skills such as the shield and gun combo, turrets and drones, and an excellent pulse ability work beautifully once again as you tear up Resurgence’s streets.

It’s worth noting that the protagonist actually offers something more than those found in the main games, too: they’re fully voiced and, as such, feel like more of a character. It’s a welcome move as spending hundreds of hours in the likes of The Division 2 and its many expansions, and even the Ghost Recon games, without saying a single word felt odd. Still, it is a shame that there aren’t more character customization options for the lead in Resurgence, which may irk some used to more expansion character creation systems.

Your chatty agent can combine your preferred specialization with a host of different weapons, which provide a huge range of ways to play. From assault rifles to sub-machine guns and high-powered shotguns to marksman rifles, there are loads of combos to try out, and you’ll also have lots of opportunity to level up and improve gear, and make it your own with a variety of attachments.

Most of your time will be spent in the expansive PvE part of the New York map, which features a host of recognizable foes for returning players. There’s the Rikers and fire-crazy Cleaners, as well as a newer faction in the form of the Freemen.

As you cross the map, unlocking safe houses and new areas, you’ll carry out a lot of story missions and side missions that take place up and down the streets. Th overall story are nothing to really write home about, but one specific gripe I do have is that at multiple points in the main story (and thus overall progress) are level gated, requiring you to grind.

At least the selection of enemy nests, alcoves, and urban squares all make for fun and action-packed arenas. The world is very nicely executed on the whole, and does a great job of nailing the aesthetic and vibes of the original game.

Encounters can feel straightforward in design, but still manage to be suitably high-octane and high-tension. It’s a great mix to have, as you can settle into the rhythm of looting, but still have to sometimes get creative and tactical to get yourself out of sticky situations.

For committed looter shooter players, the extraction shooter style Dark Zone is back to provide a sterner PvPvE test, while Conflict offers a dedicated PvP mode for those who fancy testing their skills against other players directly. As someone who prefers cooperation over competition, I’ve really enjoyed the fact that the open world is shared with other players, and there are ample informal opportunities to help others or be helped by them with no matchmaking necessary.

While pouring time into the game to level up my character, I soon found that Resurgence really scratched that looter-shooter itch of needing to find more gear to improve, take down enemies more efficiently, and get even more gear in the process. The steady stream of upgrades keeps pulling you along, as does the desire for the XP gained from main and side missions.

The handful of ongoing elements in the game, such as weekly and daily tasks and plenty of fresh bounties, should also be enough to keep fans engaged over the long term, too. Adjacent to this, the series' monetization and microtransactions are, naturally, present too, and while they can largely be ignored and not engaged with, it is a looming factor.

Running the streets

While the game successfully translates the core experience established in The Division series, it’s another thing to have it perform on smaller, less powerful hardware.

With the visual settings cranked up to max, environments in Resurgence certainly look the part. It feels very faithful to the original 2016 game, thanks to its highly atmospheric snowy New York streets and a great level of environmental detail. It can achieve a mostly solid 30fps on a beefy Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-powered gaming tablet, though cracks do start to show if you want to hit a higher framerate.

Dash mostly plays on the medium pre-set in order to reach a smooth 45 fps, and the difference in quality is stark. The models of prominent objects, like abandoned cars, look slightly lower fidelity, and the textures become quite muddy. Render distance takes a bit of a hit, too, resulting in quite obvious pop-in on the horizon as you explore. The game is still perfectly playable and holds up decently well on a smaller phone screen, but it’s not as good-looking as similar AAA mobile releases like Delta Force and Once Human.

Even when it looks a bit grim, the game still feels fantastic to play as touch controls are brilliantly implemented. The layout (which includes a wealth of movement options like vaulting, diving, and jumping into cover in addition to your standard virtual thumbstick and aiming stroke firing buttons) does a commendable job of translating a The Division 2-like control scheme to a touch screen format.

Although it's no trouble for experienced touch control players, there are still loads of options to simplify the controls if you’re finding it a little too much. This includes the ability to automate entering cover, aiming down sights, climbing, or vaulting. You even have the option to aim weapons from a first-person perspective, something found in the recent Ghost Recon games but a new and welcome addition for The Division.

Mobile controller support is top-notch, too, as we tested multiple mobile pads from the likes of GameSir, Nacon, SteelSeries, and 8BitDo that all enabled the game to be played exactly like one can play The Division 2 on console.

The control scheme will be instantly familiar to existing fans and intuitive to those new to the franchise, but we think it really excels when played with a controller.

Should I play Tom Clancy's: The Division Resurgence?

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

Accessibility features

Tested as it was initially released as a mobile game, The Division Resurgence sadly doesn’t have a huge number of accessibility features. While there are a host of settings around controls that allow you to change sensitivity across touch, controller, or even mouse and keyboard inputs and gyro sensitivity, there is no way to change subtitle size or color (though you can change languages), no colorblind modes, or extra audio settings.

There are also some assists you can alter with to find the right balance of play, such as aim assists, aiming down sights settings, and things like vaulting and climbing can be toggled to become automatic.

How we reviewed The Division Resurgence

We tested The Division Resurgence in both single-player and multiplayer modes for many hours. Dash tested the game on an Honor Magic 8 Pro, while Rob used a Samsung S20 Ultra (which was only capable of running it on the lowest settings), and then an Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro combined with a Nacon MGX-Pro mobile gaming controller.

Rob also tested the game using other mobile controllers such as the 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, the GameSir G8+ Bluetooth controller, and a Stratus+ from SteelSeries. Often using the ROG Phone 8 Pro's own speakers for audio, he also tried the game through the new SteelSeries Arcits Nova Pro Omni headset.

While Dash is TechRadar Gaming’s mobile gaming expert, Rob is a longtime fan of the Division series, having committed hundreds and hundreds of hours to both main games on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 since 2018. He still plays The Division 2 regularly with friends, and is perfectly placed to know what works and what doesn’t in this mobile version.

First reviewed March-May 2026.

• The Division Resurgence players can claim exclusive in-game rewards as part of a new collaboration with Backbone
• Backbone users can claim three Superior-tier perks
• Users will need to connect their Ubisoft Connect account and redeem the bundle in the Backbone app

Ubisoft is partnering with Backbone for an exclusive The Division Resurgence collaboration by offering in-game rewards for Backbone players.

The reward bundle for the free-to-play looter shooter features three Superior-tier perks, including the Ericht Chest System, the Small Laser Pointer, and the Maxillan Respirator. Players can claim the bundle through the Backbone app, then access their rewards on mobile with Backbone controller support.

"Enter a hostile, crisis-ravaged New York and experience The Division Resurgence on mobile with the precision and comfort of Backbone controls," the blog post reads.

"Whether you are taking on missions solo or jumping into the action with your squad, Backbone gives you a more connected way to play. Backbone users can claim an exclusive set of The Division Resurgence in-game rewards.

If you're a Backbone user, here's how you can redeem your rewards:

1. Install The Division Resurgence on mobile
2. Log in to your Ubisoft Connect account in-game
3. Redeem the perk in the Backbone app - Open the Backbone app and find The Division Resurgence perk and claim it
4. Copy the code from your email
5. Go to The Division Resurgence redemption page
6. Sign in to the same Ubisoft Connect account on the redemption page
7. Redeem the code
8. Relaunch the game
9. Claim your rewards in-game by going to your Events Center, clicking the Rewards Claim tab, and pressing Claim Now. Then you can check your Stash and claim your package.

Backbone allows users to connect their mobile device for handheld play, or switch to Bluetooth wireless mode for tablets, laptops, TVs, and more.

TechRadar Gaming's gaming editor Dashiell Wood reviewed the latest Backbone Pro, calling it an excellent mobile controller that offers "several significant upgrades compared to its predecessor, delivering a much more comfortable mobile gaming experience without sacrificing portability."

In other news, Ubisoft has shared the content roadmap for The Division Resurgence, along with an August release window for the PC version, and we'll be publishing our full review of the game in the coming weeks.

GameSir G8 Galileo: one-minute review

The GameSir G8 Galileo is an excellent mobile controller that packs plenty of value for both casual and more serious mobile gamers. With full-size grips, Hall effect thumbsticks and triggers, and a pair of programmable rear buttons, it comes close to replicating a true console controller experience.

From my time with the G8, its thumbsticks are a real highlight. In testing, I found them to be smooth and precise, though they are quite sensitive and may take a little getting used to if you’re not familiar with a pro-style controller. The triggers are equally refined with configurable deadzones and a useful hair-trigger mode for instant response. The buttons are membrane yet tactile and reliable, with two more hiding around the back. It’s just a nice bundle of inputs all round.

As a die-hard fan of the Xbox Wireless Controller, it feels incredibly familiar. The grips are pleasantly sculpted with the same chunkiness as a stock Xbox controller, and they stayed comfortable through long play sessions, thanks in part to some gentle texturing on the back. It's not without its shortcomings, though.

You’ll likely need to take your phone case off, and the screenshot button lives dangerously close to the firing line. That said, at $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99, the GameSir G8 Galileo is hard to look past.

GameSir G8 Galileo: Price and availability

• List price: $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99
• Available via Amazon, GameSir, and major retailers
• Watch out for similarly named versions to ensure device compatibility

The GameSir G8 Galileo launched at the backend of 2023, but make no mistake, it’s not showing its age and still holds its own against more recent rivals. At its $79.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.99 price point, the G8 Galileo undercuts both the Backbone One 2nd Gen ($99.99 / £99.99) and the Razer Kishi Ultra ($149.99 / £149.99) by a comfortable margin, which is particularly impressive given that its feature set stacks up well against them both. No carrying case is included in the box, though GameSir does sell a bundle with a basic pouch for around $10 more.

GameSir hasn’t made things simple with naming and compatibility, so you’ll need to stay switched on when shopping. I’ve been testing the G8 Galileo Type-C, which only lists Android compatibility officially. That’s all that’s shown on the box, too, but I was able to use it natively with an iPhone 17 Pro, though it wasn’t recognized by the GameSir app. There’s also the GameSir G8+ (sometimes called the G8 Plus), which comes in both Type-C and Bluetooth forms.

GameSir G8 Galileo: Specs

GameSir G8 Galileo: Design and features

• Full-size console grips make this feel like a proper controller
• Pivoting USB-C connector for stress-free installation
• Swappable thumbsticks with three additional shapes included

The first thing you notice about the GameSir G8 Galileo is its size. Where most mobile controllers try to stay as slimmed down and portable as possible, the G8 holds its form. It has chunky, pleasantly contoured grips with a textured finish on the back.

The marketing materials proudly boast this design is laser-engraved, though I wouldn’t have known to be perfectly honest, sorry, GameSir. It feels like any other grip texturing I’ve tested, but it’s nice enough and does its job. The whole thing feels closer to holding an Xbox controller than it does any other mobile pad I've used, or any handheld console for that matter.

For anyone who's found the Backbone One a little too compact, or who just doesn't get along with flatter, Joy-Con-style mobile controllers, this could be the answer. If it weren’t for being a bit wider, you’d have convinced a blindfolded me that this was an Xbox controller.

Build quality is solid throughout, helped, I’m sure, by the choice to go with a full-height phone deck rather than a smaller bracing bar. It gives the G8 a real heft that I personally think is to its credit, but I can’t argue doesn’t make it considerably more of a lump to store in a bag.

There's no creak or flex anywhere in the chassis, the spring-loaded extending mechanism moves confidently, and the rubberized grips inside the cradle hold everything securely in place. It’s a tidy system, and I never felt like my phone was exposed or at risk of going anywhere. I tested with both a Poco X5 Pro 5G and an iPhone 17 Pro, and the camera bump sat neatly in the extended section without any issues for both.

Shoutout to whoever at GameSir came up with the pivoting USB-C connector, because it’s excellent. It tilts up and down to make the process of seating and removing your phone feel far less nerve-wracking. It's a small quality-of-life detail, but one I really appreciated and frankly hope others copy.

Where things aren’t as flexible and friendly is case compatibility. GameSir says cases under 1mm should work, but that’ll only account for the absolute thinnest of featherlight cases. I was able to connect while keeping my slim iPhone case on, but having taken a closer look at the angle it forced the USB-C connector into, I swiftly lost my nerve and took it off. If you use a case of any substance, you're almost certainly taking it off every time you want to play. Not a dealbreaker, but certainly an annoyance if you’re out and about.

GameSir includes three replacement thumbstick caps (short, tall, and dome), which are easy to swap thanks to clever magnetic faceplates. However, you only get one of each alternate option, meaning you can't run a matching pair unless you stick with the defaults.

Those default sticks are nice enough, with textured edges that look suspiciously like those on an Xbox Series X controller, but it seems like an oversight or needless cost-saving measure to include singles and not sets. The face button caps aren't swappable on this model either; you'll need to upgrade to the G8+ MFi for that.

GameSir G8 Galileo: Performance

• Hall effect sticks and triggers with app customization and hair-trigger mode
• Two programmable additional buttons on the back
• Some games need a nudge before they'll recognize the controller

I’m a relative newcomer to the kind of mobile gaming that calls for an add-on controller, but the GameSir G8 Galileo quickly converted me. It only took a few minutes of Fortnite for me to begin to forget I was actually playing on my phone. It’s a natively supported title, and that’s evident while playing, though I did often have to launch the game through the GameSir app to ensure it was recognized.

Other games rely on hardware mapping, which I found equally finicky to launch at times, though intuitive enough when I got going.

The Hall effect joysticks are excellent, buttery smooth, but I found them highly sensitive, too. For more serious players than myself, this will be a plus with loads of intricate precision on offer. For more casual players (a category I’m firmly a part of), they took a little getting used to. My unit did need calibrating out of the box to centre the left stick, but the process was straightforward in the GameSir app, and the sticks have been faultless since.

The Hall effect triggers are equally impressive. They're analog with a full range of travel, and I felt like I had plenty of throttle control while playing Forza Horizon 5 via Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming. For faster response in shooters, there’s also a hair-trigger mode, which I found was snappy and reliable. What I particularly appreciated was that hair-trigger mode still respected the deadzone settings configured in the app.

The D-pad is clicky with a short travel distance when you commit to an input, though it has a slightly mushy initial feel and quite a bit of wobble overall. More of an issue is the screenshot button placement directly below it, which sits just a little too close to the D-pad down for my liking. I accidentally fired it off mid-game a couple of times, and I can’t help but feel like it would have been better placed further out of the firing line.

Around the back of the G8 are a pair of programmable buttons, something of a rarity for mobile controller grips. I have a love-hate relationship with back buttons, but I got on well with these. They’re well-sized and perfectly placed to be easily accessible without getting in the way, and they take just the right amount of actuation force to avoid accidental misclicks. Worth noting they’re unbound by default, so you’ll need to head to the GameSir app to configure them to your liking.

The 3.5mm headphone jack at the bottom of the controller is a welcome inclusion for latency-free wired audio, particularly useful on phones that have dropped the port themselves. Passthrough charging worked reliably throughout my testing, with both phones still reporting fast charge speeds while connected through the controller and no problems with overheating.

Should you buy the GameSir G8 Galileo?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider...

Still not sold on the GameSir G8 Galileo? Here's how it compares to a couple of our other favorites.

How I tested the GameSir G8 Galileo

• I spent a few days testing across Android games, cloud gaming, and exploring the GameSir companion app
• I tested on a POCO X5 Pro 5G playing Fortnite, Call of Duty Mobile, Need for Speed No Limits, and Forza Horizon 5 via Xbox Cloud Gaming
• While it’s not officially listed as compatible, I also explored functionality with an iPhone 17 Pro

My testing covered most of the workload a controller like this will handle: native mobile games with controller support, a competitive shooter, a racing game, and cloud gaming via Xbox Game Pass. I used the GameSir companion app to calibrate the sticks out of the box, tested hair-trigger mode in Call of Duty Mobile, and tried all three replacement thumbstick caps to check out the magnetic faceplates and swap system.

I also spent time troubleshooting some hardware mapping recognition issues in Call of Duty Mobile and Need for Speed No Limits, which turned out to be a game-side requirement to complete the tutorial using touch before any hardware input is accepted.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2026

• The Division Resurgence is officially coming to PC in August, but you can play it already in early access
• Ubisoft has shared the game's roadmap for 2026
• The next phase of Season 1 begins on May 12, and Phase 3 begins on June 23

Ubisoft has shared the content roadmap for its free-to-play mobile game The Division Resurgence, along with a release window for the PC version.

As detailed in a recent blog post, the company announced that The Division Resurgence will come to PC in Season 2, which is planned for an August release, but an early access build is now available for technical testing.

"Starting today, you can play The Division Resurgence on Ubisoft Connect and enjoy cross-progression and cross-platform support so you can jump in at home or on the go," Ubisoft said. "Your game progression from early access will also carry over when Resurgence officially launches on PC in Season 2."

As for the rest of the roadmap, a new season will launch every four months, with each season introducing new phases every six weeks that deliver new content.

The next phase of Season 1 will officially begin on May 12 and bring limited-time events like the Dark Zone and Speed Run challenges, as well as new cosmetic sets including camouflage and exotic weapon skins.

The update also introduces the Classified Ops pass 1.2, which includes rewards like a Strawberry Milkshake free exotic weapon, Pyromaniac full apparel set, and Hot Rod weapon skin.

Phase 3 of Season 1 is scheduled for a June 23 release, and its Classified Ops pass 1.3 will feature a Scorpio free exotic weapon, Freemen full apparel set, and Boombox weapon skin.

As mentioned above, Season 2 arrives in August, followed by Season 3 in December, which also arrives with a "major story expansion", but details on that are being kept under wraps for now.

The Division Resurgence is canon to The Division universe and is available to play on mobile devices and now PC in early access. Executive producer Fabrice Navrez has previously said he is "very satisfied" with the touch controls, but says players can choose to play with a controller if they prefer.

• Neverness to Everness has launched for PC, PlayStation 5, and mobile
• It's a free-to-play open-world game with a huge city to explore
• It features a wanted level, customizable cars, and more

Craving some open-world action ahead of the Grand Theft Auto 6 launch later this year? This new free PlayStation 5 game should be on your radar.

Neverness to Everness launched earlier today, offering a huge and immersive world to explore. It's set in Hethereau, a fictional urban metropolis with an aesthetic reminiscent of modern American and East Asian cities, which players can freely traverse on foot or via a range of customizable vehicles.

Although it's not available right now, developer Hotta Studio has already confirmed an upcoming Porsche collab, which will add the real-world Porsche 918 Spyder to drive.

Like any good open-world game, the city is home to loads of different activities. You can go fishing to unlock skins, play a variety of mini-games like Mahjong, visit a wealth of in-game shops, and even jump into some cooperative online multiplayer modes. There are loads of collectibles, too, plus a healthy dose of side quests to keep you busy.

Although Neverness to Everness has an unapologetically anime-inspired art direction, it's elevated by some pretty impressive tech. Built on Unreal Engine 5, it features global ray tracing for realistic lighting and Nvidia DLSS support.

A modern urban fantasy

I've been dipping in and out of the game throughout the morning, and feel like I've only really scratched the surface of what's there. It looks like the game will even feature light romance options, raising an overall bond level with unlocked characters, and even the option to move in with your favorite.

There's even a basic wanted level system that punishes you for taking vehicles that don't belong to you by force or hitting others with attacks à la Grand Theft Auto.

The main story has the player step into the shoes of an unnamed Anomaly Hunter, an individual tasked with taking down sinister paranormal entities terrorizing the city.

The translation seems a bit rough so far, especially compared to the more polished writing of competitors like Zenless Zone Zero, but it still provides some decent framing for missions, which so far have involved plenty of hack-and-slash combat.

It's a gacha game, so of course has a cast of colorful characters that you can unlock through progression or by dropping some real-world cash on an in-game purchase.

In the build-up to launch, the game hit more than 35 million pre-registrations, and if you're interested in diving in now that launch day has arrived, it's available for PC, PlayStation 5, iOS and Android.

Mobile gaming is the future. At least, that’s what we’ve heard for the last decade. But it’s fair to say that plenty of us are still pretty skeptical about that notion.

It seemed that, for a while, the available technology was not making the leaps forward needed to deliver a satisfying gameplay experience in this alternative format. Console gaming excelled while mobile gaming fell behind.

However, we’ve heard a great deal recently about the incredible capabilities of the modern generation of mobile platforms; that these entertainment hubs have become legitimate consoles unto themselves. For the skeptical out there, it was important to explore that concept fully. That's why I spent six hours straight gaming on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — to really test its mettle as a legitimate rival to the best game consoles.

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is among the best phones money can buy, and its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 For Galaxy chipset and 6.9-inch AMOLED display are billed as a formidable combo for mobile gaming. But which game did I choose for my test?

Choosing the game

Selecting the right game to test out the Galaxy S26 Ultra's performance credentials was critical. The title in question needed to not only push the best Samsung phone to its limits, but also be well-known among the mobile gaming community. That’s why I settled on Genshin Impact.

Developed and published by miHoYo, with HoYoverse taking on distribution duties globally, Genshin Impact was released back in 2020 on Windows, PlayStation 4, and, critically, iOS and Android. The action RPG has proven extremely popular and has since been released on both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It's a title with critical acclaim, a firm player base, and crucially, the ability to perform cross-platform.

Genshin Impact received over 23 million downloads in its first week of release and has since become a staple of mobile gaming. Its stunning world, vibrant graphics, and fast-paced combat provide a perfect variety of tests to push the S26 Ultra to its limits.

Of course, I played the game with high SFX quality, the highest render resolution, high shadow quality, the highest environmental detailing, high motion blur, and bloom all activated.

The initial performance

Logging in to Genshin Impact was a breeze, with the game taking around 30 seconds to get through its various loading screens. Sure, a dedicated console goes through the same motions slightly quicker, but 30 seconds is significantly quicker than the minute-long wait times demanded by previous smartphone generations.

Running smoothly with a target of 60fps, I was instantly struck by the ease of traversing the game's settings and menus. The Galaxy S26 Ultra showed no signs of early stress, and jumping into the game itself, I thought it appropriate to take a minute to explore the lush landscape of Teyvat, one of the game's seven nations.

It’s a landscape full of rich greenery and ethereal man-made constructs, the complex lighting putting the phone's custom Snapdragon chipset to work. Whether it was a desert-like landscape with dry, barren vistas or a more fruitful, forest backdrop, I couldn’t help but marvel at the level of detail the Galaxy S26 Ultra captured. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset showed initial promise as it powered through some difficult moments, avoiding lag where needed.

A quick word on the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s size. We’ve seen a drive towards larger phone displays in recent years, and sitting at 6.9 inches, Samsung's latest flagship mobile display offers plenty in the way of cinematic spectacle. With a high-fidelity stereo speaker system providing a promising audio balance, I felt as though there was real depth to everything I was seeing and hearing in Genshin Impact.

For a moment, it seemed that perhaps this smartphone was genuinely giving the console world a run for its money....

Long-term play became slightly more taxing

However, after extended play, things started to look a little different. The longer I played, the more framerate imperfections I noticed. Momentary lag started to creep in, and with the phone’s gradual but managed warming, it became clear that mobile gaming is built to be a sprint, not a marathon.

Prolonged, busy set pieces began to have a visible impact on the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s performance. With combat sequences came screen cramming, as multiple enemies and detailed SFX fought for visual dominance. Inconsistencies were rare, but they were still present.

So, while the Galaxy S26 Ultra is far better for gaming than many other mobile devices I've tried, Genshin Impact still played as if it were not the phone's primary focus.

And in fairness, why should it be? This is a smartphone after all. But there's still a noticeable gap between the performance of phones and consoles.

Still, considering that the Galaxy S26 Ultra is not a stationary block of mains-powered circuitry à la the PS5, it handled the intense demands of Genshin Impact remarkably well. Mobile gaming isn’t yet a threat to major PC and console platforms, but it is a genuine alternative that can provide quick, easy, and satisfying access to the AAA titles you love.

For an even more complete experience, the best gaming phones offer extras like shoulder triggers and improved cooling mechanisms, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra gets the seal of approval for accessible, short-term play.

• Diablo Immortal is getting a new Doom: The Dark Ages crossover event
• The Slayer's Reign begins on April 15 and will run to May 13
• New Doom-inspired gameplay will reward brand new, limited-time rewards

Blizzard Entertainment has announced a new limited-time crossover event that brings Doom: The Dark Ages to Diablo Immortal.

Inspired by Diablo Immortal's Survivor’s Bane, The Slayers Reign crossover event will kick off on April 15 and run through to May 13, and transform the Sanctuary with Doom-inspired gameplay, enemies, cosmetics, and progression systems drawn directly from the Dark Ages era.

"Reign in Hell with iconic DOOM: The Dark Ages gameplay and limited-time cosmetics that are feared by Hell," Blizzard said in the official blog post. "Parry, break, and burst hordes of demons using iconic weapons like the Shield Saw, Dreadmace, and legendary Super Shotgun."

Alongside the "Slayer-inspired" arsenal, players can also utilize six unique skills, some of which work in concert to deliver maximum damage to enemies and reward aggression and momentum.

Imps will stalk the battlefield, but it's the Cyberdemon that is the main boss of the crossover event. The Ancient Elder of Hell will need to be taken down by using the Slayer skills and weapons in order to claim victory, as well as the legendary gem, The Crucible.

The Crucible is a two-star gem and "the Night Sentinels’ most legendary artifact," and deals "damage to enemies below a set maximum life causes you to Slaughter them" and increasing as the targets Life gets lower.

"Enemies slain briefly after being Slaughtered grant you Slayer's Rage, increasing your damage and Movement Speed," Blizzard explained. "Slayer's Rage stacks and slaying a player instantly grants you max stacks. Slaughter cannot occur more often than once every few seconds per enemy."

During Slayer's Regin, players can also earn Doom-inspired weapon cosmetics designed after the Night Sentinels, including the Praetor Armor of the Slayer, as well as earn the Serrat mount and the Cacodemon minion as transmogs.

More event rewards include one Legendary Crest, five emojis, six crests, 10x set gear, and 10x Sentinel Forged armory weapon cosmetic, alongside the aforementioned Crucible gem.

• A new free-to-play Borderlands game has launched on mobile
• Zynga calls Borderlands Mobile a "limited-time test" for iPhone
• The game is only available in the US at this time

Out of nowhere and with little fanfare, Zynga has launched a brand new free-to-play Borderlands game for mobile.

Borderlands Mobile was suddenly published by the mobile game company on Thursday this week, somewhat randomly, and is developed by Star Wars: Hunters studio, NaturalMotion.

The spin-off game, which Zynga is calling a "limited-time test," doesn't have a fancy title and is currently only available on the App Store for iPhone users in the US. I tried downloading the game in the UK, but encountered a region lock issue.

"We are always exploring ways to introduce Borderlands to new audiences," a Zynga spokesperson said in a statement to IGN.

"Zynga’s NaturalMotion studio is currently conducting a limited-time test for an untitled Borderlands mobile project, with Gearbox providing creative guidance on the franchise's design, history, and lore. We hope that players enjoy this new Borderlands experience and look forward to their feedback."

No trailer or gameplay has been shared for Borderlands Mobile at this time, but from the screenshots on the App Store, it does appear to feature characters from the broader Borderlands franchise, such as Tiny Tina, Moxxi, a Psycho, and Claptrap.

We do know that the game is an "action-packed looter shooter" like previous Borderlands games, features Vault Hunters, and "brings the signature chaos, art style, and gun-slinging adventure to mobile for the first time!"

"Hunt down legendary loot drops and power up your abilities to customize the way you play," the description reads. "Use everything from pistols to rocket launchers to make your enemies wish they never crossed your path! Master devastating action gameplay that's been fully optimized for mobile. Fight skags, bandits, and bosses as you battle through a variety of exciting mission types, including Campaign Missions, Tower of Terror, and Circle of Slaughter."

We'll have to wait and see if the game remains live and if it spreads to Android devices as well as other regions.

• Arknights: Endfield is proving popular with players, according to developer Hypergryph
• Its apparently down to its unique factory building mechanics
• The studio says players spent more time playing Arknights: Endfield on average than "other similar games" thanks to them

Arknights: Endfield might look similar to countless anime-inspired free-to-play gacha games, but its unique blend of base-building factory management and action role-playing game (RPG) combat is quite unlike anything else on the market.

It's basically Factorio meets Genshin Impact, and this distinct formula has won over plenty of players, according to developer Hypergryph. Speaking with GamesRadar+, lead developer Ryan argued that in other titles, "players cannot influence the world," whereas in Arknights: Endfield, "the factory building part introduced some of the experience from the sandbox games, which makes players feel different."

He added that players spent more time in Arknights: Endfield on average than "other similar games" and that it's "because of the sandbox." They are putting "a lot more time in the game than we expected," he continued, with some spending "tens of hours in the system" building virtual supply chains.

"We still think that players are expecting something new," he summarized. "For some open-world RPG gacha games, for some titles, they are so similar that players go into the game for one hour and they know what will happen in the next 20 hours."

Arknights: Endfield reached more than 35 million pre-registrations before it was released back in January 2026 and is available now for PlayStation 5, PC, and mobile phones. A spin-off title set in the popular Arknights universe, it's clearly managed to attract a decent audience in a very competitive space.

• Sea of Stars has just launched for iOS and Android phones
• The indie RPG takes more than 30 hours to beat
• It costs just $8.99, thanks to a limited-time launch discount

One of the best role-playing games (RPGs) of 2023 has just launched for iOS and Android phones with a special limited-time launch discount.

Sea of Stars is a beautiful indie RPG inspired by cult classics from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, like Chrono Trigger. On top of some absolutely stunning pixel-art graphics and a great soundtrack, it features turn-based battles that are elevated by a combat system that's easy to pick up but very difficult to master.

Like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, timing is extremely important, and there are offensive and defensive bonuses for pressing buttons at the right moments when you activate attacks or character skills.

Our Sea of Stars review also heaped praise on the game's witty script, which writer Cat Bussell said "has a cheeky irreverence reminiscent of indie classic Undertale."

This new mobile port features an interface that's been re-designed for touch controls, the ability to share progress between your phones, and mobile controller compatibility. iPhone users can also unlock Game Center achievements and benefit from iPhone 16 optimization.

According to the website howlongtobeatSea of Stars takes more than 35 hours to beat if you play through the main story and some of the side content (which includes a raft of fun minigames). This sounds like the perfect game to chip away at in a portable format, and for the special launch price of $8.99 (down from $9.99 until next week) pretty excellent value too!

You can find the game on either the Google Play Store or App Store today.

• Executive producer Fabrice Navrez says The Division Resurgence's gameplay was refined for mobile
• Ubisoft also did a lot of work making controllers compatible
• Navrez says The Division is a good fit for mobile because it's "more tactical" than other shooters

Tom Clancy's The Division Resurgence executive producer Fabrice Navrez is "very satisfied" with the mobile game's touch controls, but says players can choose to play with a controller if they prefer.

Speaking in an interview with TechRadar Gaming, Navrez said that the team at Ubisoft refined the mobile game's "core" touch controls through multiple playtests, while also paying attention to players that want to use a controller instead.

"The main principle is to offer what players prefer. If you prefer to play with a controller, we did a [lot of work] to make it compatible," Navrez said. "It's more or less the same control scheme as The Division 2, so if you're familiar with The Division 2, it's easy to get in.

"Coming back to the to the mobile touch control, we did a lot of iteration on that front, doing a lot of play tests, getting player feedback to make sure that you can have the same level of control with a controller, or even with a mouse and keyboard. It was all a question of first keeping the core gameplay."

The developer also believes The Division, which has predominantly been a console and PC series, belongs in the mobile gaming space because the pace is "a bit slower than a classic shooter", making it a good fit for handheld gaming.

"It's more tactical, you're going from cover to cover. You have some time to observe the situation, pick your target, etc," he added. "So that pacing is already a good basis to create a good mobile game."

The team also developed multiple iterations on the game's "cover to cover shooting mechanics", offering multiple ways for players to approach combat, including an option where they can automatically go into cover. This simplifies the number of inputs needed, making the game more approachable.

"At the end of the day, I think I'm very satisfied with the touch control we achieved," Navrez said, adding that he personally prefers playing on mobile.

"I'm playing like that, so I guess it's a good sign," he revealed. "Actually, I'm a bit faster on touch than with a game controller. Perhaps because I have hours of training now, but I think it's working quite well. As I said, what matters is player choice. And here we have a lot of options to change the HUD to what you like, changing the size of the button, opacity, etc. So that's very complete on that front."

The Division Resurgence is a free-to-play game now available on mobile devices. Ubisoft has confirmed that it's entirely canon to The Division universe, with gameplay tweaks that allow users to play for shorter sessions at a time.

• The executive producer of Tom Clancy's The Division Resurgence has described the new mobile game as "a good way to catch up with the universe"
• The free-to-play title is fully canon and set between The Division and The Division 2
• Gameplay was tweaked so players "have more options to play for five to 10 minutes"

Executive producer Fabrice Navrez described Tom Clancy's The Division Resurgence as "a good way to catch up with the universe" on the go ahead of the game's launch today.

Speaking to TechRadar Gaming, Navrez explained that the developer put in a lot of work "to make sure that the game is an extension of The Division" and that it is a fully canon instalment.

"The prologue is before The Division 1: you're a first wave agent, basically the first agents to try to save the day with New York City collapsing," he said. "Then the main bulk of the game is between The Division 1 and The Division 2."

In addition to the setting, Resurgence also features many key mechanics from both The Division games. Having played it for a few hours before release, I've certainly been impressed by how similarly it plays to the paid PC and console games.

"What I really like about The Division, and I believe really fits with mobile gaming as well, is the fact that the pace is a bit slower than a classic shooter," Navrez said. "It's more tactical, you're going from cover to cover. You have some time to observe the situation, pick your target, etc. So that pacing is already a good basis to create a good mobile game."

Still, there were some changes that needed to be made in order to bring the franchise over to mobile.

"So I think where The Division Resurgence is different from the original formula is that you have more options to play for five to 10 minutes," he revealed. Even those that are only "playing a bit every day" will still be "progressing forward," he continued. "But we know for sure already that we have players that are playing extensively already, which is doable as well."

He also argued that part of the reason for the mobile game launch is to bring The Division to "people that have, perhaps, less time to play on more classic video game platforms", whether they are long-time fans or completely new to the series.

"We believe it's a good way to catch up with the universe in a more flexible way."

The Division Resurgence is available today via the Android Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

• Tom Clancy's The Division Resurgence executive producer Fabrice Navrez has spoken on the size and graphical fidelity of the new mobile game
• "The open world is big for mobile, but it's like 60 to 70% of The Division 1's original open world," he explained
• He also said the team is "very proud" of how the game looks overall

Tom Clancy's The Division Resurgence executive producer Fabrice Navrez has discussed the scale and visuals of the free-to-play mobile game ahead of its launch today.

Speaking to TechRadar Gaming, Navrez described the process of working The Division series' formula into a mobile title as "very challenging". In addition to having to carefully consider the balance between mobile graphical constraints and "the realistic feeling of The Division," the team needed to scale down the size of the game's New York setting somewhat.

"The open world is big for mobile, but it's like 60 to 70% of The Division 1's original open world, so it's a bit smaller he revealed. A lot of work was also done to "simplify to the direction" so that it would look good on smaller screens.

"If you have texture with a lot of details, it can be very noisy because you have less space on screen," he explained. "But once again, while still keeping the realistic feeling of The Division."

"On very recent phones, the game looks super crisp, and on mid-range devices or older devices, the goal for us was to guarantee a flat 30fps because we believe having that very smooth and stable frame per second is important for the gameplay experience," he added.

"At the end of the day, you can change the options yourself depending on what you prefer. We're very proud of what we've achieved because we believe the game looks very, very good overall."

A free-to-play instalment set between the events of The Division and its sequel, The Division 2, The Division Resurgence is available today via the Android Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

• Goddess of Victory: Nikke is getting a Razer collaboration
• It includes the ability to unlock a new character skin featuring the brand's Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT headset
• There will also be pop-up events at some Razer stores

Goddess of Victory: Nikke publisher Level Infinite has revealed a new collaboration with gaming hardware giant Razer that brings one of the brand's cutest headsets to the mobile game.

Starting on March 26, 2026, players will be able to unlock the new Punky Street skin for the character Viper by working their way through the limited-time Punky Street Pass. The skin decks out Viper in trendy streetwear and a white Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT wireless gaming headset, complete with cat ears and some custom pink decals.

In addition to the unique look, the skin includes some exclusive voice lines.

The Punky Street Pass will also contain a few limited title and avatar frame cosmetic items that players can obtain for free.

For those living in China, Japan, and South Korea, a cool Nikke x Razer collab will be put up for sale. It includes a white Razer Kraken Kitty V2 BT headset (plus a set of stickers you can use to make it match the in-game skin), as well as a custom Razer Orochi V2 Wireless Mouse with an exclusive Viper design on its shell.

This is on top of an enduring anime merch staple: the acrylic standee. This depicts Viper in her new outfit. There are also two brightly-colored badges, both with Viper on them. What's more, you can even get a code for immediate access to the in-game skin.

Although that box won't be available outside of Asia, players in the West can look forward to some real-world events. This includes pop-ups at Razer's flagship stores in Los Angeles and London, England with Nikke themed decor, prizes, and professional cosplay experiences.

If you're not already familiar, Goddess of Victory: Nikke is a mobile shooter game by Stellar Blade developer Shift Up. Set in a post-apocalyptic future dominated by android characters called Nikkes, it's one of the most popular gacha role-playing games to date, and is known for its bombastic character designs.

It's available as a free-to-play title for mobile and PC.

• Fortnite will relaunch on the Google Play Store globally on March 19
• It was booted from the platform back in August 2020
• March 19 is the same day V-Buck price hikes are happening

Almost six years ago Fortnite was booted from the Google Play Store. On March 19, it’ll finally be back on the Android storefront globally.

It has been possible to download Fortnite on Android through third-party means such as the Epic Games store for mobile, or it could be streamed through services like Amazon Luna or Xbox Cloud Gaming, but this Play Store return will make the game much easier to access.

It’s the default Android app store, doesn't require you to click through any warnings of increased risk that could come with third-party installs, or to subscribe to any services.

According to the Play Store page you won’t just be returning to the Battle Royale modes — you’ll get the full experience. This includes Lego Fortnite, Fortnite OG, Festival, and all of the same creator-made multiplayer worlds that are accessible through Fortnite on PC or consoles.

It also seems mobile players will be dropping straight into the new Chapter 7 Season 2 Showdown season.

Unfortunately they’ll also be exposed to the updated higher V-Buck prices — from March 19 a standard pack of 1,000 V-Bucks will only give you 800 V-Bucks for the same price.

Epic Games is likely hoping this full-on return to Android will help alleviate player frustrations about rising costs, though if the chaotic X replies to its announcement post is anything to go a section of its audience is still hyper-focused on the higher costs – such as one on the nose comment asking Epic to “Revert V-Bucks and crew pack” with a gif showing an elephant in a room with the words “Address me.”

I for one am very excited by this news. My first ‘proper’ paid writing gig was covering Fortnite (and some other battle royales) and while I have fallen off considerably since that time where I played too many hours a day I do jump back in on occasion, and I imagine I’ll be tempted to jump back in a lot more if it’s as convenient as pressing an app icon on my Z Fold 7 or S26 Ultra.

The question remains, however, of when Epic Games’ battle royale will return in full to Apple’s App Store for iPhone users. It’s there for folks in the US, and the Epic Games Store marketplace can be accessed on iPhones in the EU, but many regions (the UK included) can’t access the game except via cloud streaming. Hopefully this is a sign that might change soon.

Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Starring Lara Croft, has launched for iOS and Android devices alongside a free new Challenge Mode update for all platforms.

As the name suggests, the update introduces a challenge mode that lets you modify the difficulty by altering health, damage, enemies, and more to contribute to an overall challenge rating. Completing higher challenge rating runs lets you unlock even more, introducing a serious amount of replayability.

The mode will offer 15 new achievements for completionists to chase and comes alongside the introduction of ten fresh outfits for protagonist Lara Croft. Each of these is tied to an achievement and offers significant stat bonuses to help you push even further in the mode.

Those who own the Nintendo Switch version of the game can now also upgrade to a native Nintendo Switch 2 version completely free of charge. It runs at a 1440p resolution at 60fps in docked mode, or a silky smooth 120fps in 1080p handheld.

The complete experience on the go

Speaking to TechRadar Gaming ahead of its reveal, Aspyr senior producer Kay Gilmore confirmed that the new mobile port is "the full Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered experience with all the same content". That means it has the three complete games and "all the expansions, secret levels, Challenge Mode, and one of [the team's] favorite enhancements to the franchise, Photo Mode."

They also revealed that this release of the game "is actually completely unique" and "based on the original game code" rather than the existing PC, PlayStation, Xbox, or Switch versions.

This approach allowed the team to optimize the user interface (UI) and control scheme for phones and tablets, as well as deal with a few enduring bugs.

"Most of the time was spent making the user experience smooth and simplifying the UI for touch controls," they said. "We also did plenty of optimization and fixed additional legacy issues for fans."

On top of the introduction of touch controls, Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered offers full mobile controller support for those who would prefer to use a gamepad for a more console-like experience.

Aspyr product manager Adam Hankins described the launch as "a testament to the enduring strength of the franchise" and explained that the Challenge Mode update shows that these old games are "still evolving".

Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered is priced at $29.99 on mobile (though a limited-time launch discount currently has it at just $14.99), which is relatively cheap for a console release, but quite expensive in the wider mobile market where free titles are the norm.

According to Hankins, this price point reflects "a growing appetite for pure gaming experiences on mobile" that aren't "interrupted by ads or microtransactions."

"We’re providing an incredible amount of value in one package: all three iconic games, all original DLC, our brand-new Challenge Mode, and a full Photo Mode," he added. "It’s a complete, high-quality console experience that you can take anywhere."

Prospective mobile buyers can also try the first three levels of each game for free, a move that Kettering believes will "lower the barrier to entry as much as possible."

"Since these games weren't originally designed for mobile, we recognize that players might want to feel how the classic mechanics translate to a touch interface before committing," he said. "By offering the first few levels for free, we’re inviting the widest possible audience to experience Lara’s legacy first hand."

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Tomb Raider franchise and is an exciting time to be a series fan. A remake of the first game by developers Crystal Dynamics and Flying Wild Hog, titled Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, is set to launch this year with an all-new instalment called Tomb Raider: Catalyst to follow in 2027.

"While we have nothing to announce today, we certainly aren't finished with Tomb Raider," Kettering teased. "We have a lot of love for this series, and our journey with Lara is far from over. I’d recommend fans stay tuned as 2026 is already looking to be a big year for the franchise."

• Free-to-play RPG Where Winds Meet is getting a massive new expansion called Hexi
• It adds a new desert region and loads of fresh content
• The whole expansion will be free for all players and drops next week

Free-to-play role-playing game (RPG) Where Winds Meet is getting a massive new expansion set in a dreamy desert.

Where Winds Meet Hexi begins on March 6, 2026, and brings not just one but three huge new desert-themed open-world maps that contain nearly 20 sub-regions. They will be released in three sequential chapters, starting with the introductory 'Jade Gate Pass' next week.

In a recent preview livestream, developer Ella shared that the focus of this expansion will be "a much more cinematic approach to storytelling" that's "quite different" from the team's previous approach.

She also revealed that the setting, Hexi, is based on a mixture of real-world history and myth. "We wanted to create something uniquely Where Winds Meet," she said. "A more poetic, romantic vision of the frontier."

The entire expansion takes place in a dream, letting the team experiment with fantastical visual elements like floating, crumbling buildings, beautiful golden trees, and parades of magical, incense burner carrying camels.

As you would expect, these new areas will be filled with things to do, ranging from the fresh story content to a barrage of side-quests and 11 terrifying new bosses to defeat.

Two new martial arts will also be added for the Umbrella and Roped Dart, respectively, introducing new traversal options and combat possibilities.

The Hexi expansion will be free for all players and offer hundreds of free rewards. It's available to pre-load now, and if you haven't experienced Where Winds Meet yet, you can pick up the base game for free on PS5, PC, and mobile.

• Neverness to Everness finally has a release date
• The PS5 console exclusive game will come out on April 29, 2026
• It's an anime RPG with a huge open-world city and plenty of minigames

Developer Hotta Studio has finally announced a release date for the highly-anticipated free-to-play open-world anime role-playing game (RPG) Neverness to Everness.

Revealed in a post to the game's official X account, it will officially release on April 29, 2026, for PlayStation 5, PC, Android and iOS. Given the lack of an Xbox version, the title will be a PS5 console exclusive at launch.

All versions of Neverness to Everness will support cross-platform progression, which is good news if, like me, you enjoy the ability to dip back into your favorite games on the go via your phone.

The game is currently up for pre-registration, with a number of milestone rewards available depending on the number of players that sign up across the globe via Google Play or the App Store.

More than 25 million have done so already, unlocking some basic goodies, but another 5 million pre-registrations will give all launch players access to the valuable A-Class character Haniel.

Neverness to Everness was announced back in July 2024, billed as a "supernatural urban open-world RPG". Developer Hotta Studio emphasized its use of Unreal Engine 5 and cutting-edge graphics technology like ray tracing.

Like the highly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, it offers an open world city, multiple playable characters, and plenty of driving with deep vehicle customization. Other features include a deluge of mini-games including fishing, delivery challenges, and more.

• Blizzard Entertainment has announced a new Overwatch game
• Overwatch Rush is a top-down hero shooter for mobile platforms
• It's currently in development and there's no word of a release date yet

Blizzard Entertainment has suddenly unveiled a new top-down hero shooter set in the Overwatch universe.

Titled Overwatch Rush, it's currently in the "early stages of development" and is being built exclusively for Android and iOS devices. It's intended to offer bite-size action with short competitive matches that see players duke it out as some of the series' most iconic characters.

Early gameplay footage suggests that existing heroes like Tracer, Soldier 76, Mercy, Reinhart, Reaper, Lucio, and more will all be featured with similar skills to their Overwatch counterparts.

The game is being developed by a group of developers that is entirely separate from the main Overwatch team within Blizzard, so it will not impact the development of the main game.

The game will be a free-to-play experience with optional in-game purchases. Blizzard has also confirmed that it currently does not support any mobile controllers, though this may be added later in development.

There is currently no official word on a release date, but you can expect updates in the game's official Discord server in the lead up to release.

The announcement of this project follows the recent rebranding of Overwatch 2 to Overwatch and a renewed focus on long-term live-service support.

Developers Feral Interactive are back with a new mobile port and, like the studio's recent efforts with Hitman: Blood Money and Grid Legends, it's another incredible showcase of just how smoothly fully-fledged console games can be brought over to a mobile format.

This time it's Tomb Raider, which was originally released for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 back in 2013. A soft reboot of the long-running action adventure series, it's one of my favorite games in the franchise and one that I've always meant to come back to over the years.

This mobile version seemed like the perfect excuse to dive back in and, after playing for almost two hours over the weekend, I can confirm that it is the real deal. For just $19.99 / £12.99 / AU$25.99, you're getting a feature-complete version of Tomb Raider with all its big single-player DLC, including bonus outfits and more.

The only thing absent from the original release is its mediocre competitive multiplayer modes, but being honest, you're not exactly missing out there.

Booting it up for the first time, it's hard not to be wowed by just how smoothly it runs. Sure, this is an older game, but it's still magical to see it running at a rock-solid 60 frames per second (fps) on the Performance graphics preset using my Snapdragon 8 Elite-equipped Honor Magic 8 Pro. My phone didn't become overly hot while playing either, which points to some great optimization.

In Performance mode, this version is visually impressive too. The smaller screen size is likely doing it a lot of favors, but it's definitely a step up from the original PS3 release in my eyes - often looking on par with the enhanced PS4 version aside from some noticeable cutbacks to the physics of Lara Croft's hair.

While I cherished the fluidity of the Performance preset, there's also a slightly higher fidelity Graphics mode if you don't mind a more jittery 30fps frame rate cap. There's even a dedicated Battery Saver option, though I didn't feel the need to use it as it's not like Performance saw my phone's battery life tank like other demanding mobile games.

The controls are always going to be a concern on any console to mobile port, but Feral has really outdone itself here. For me, Tomb Raider controls flawlessly using the touch screen interface, and there are some different layout options if you find the standard right-handed one is not to your preference, plus the ability to create your own.

Even third-person shooting is easy thanks to a toggleable aiming mode and a dedicated firing button, making early segments like the surprise wolf ambush a breeze.

Vibration via your phone's rumble motor is supported too, though I found it rather distracting and overly strong in places, so I turned it off quickly. Your success here will likely depend on the aptitude of the motors in your phone rather than anything else, though, so I can't really fault the studio for this.

For an even better experience, you can connect a mobile controller as well, with every one that I tested functioning seamlessly. This included the classic Backbone One (which was recognized instantly) and a standard Xbox Wireless Controller connected via Bluetooth.

The touch screen controls automatically vanish when a controller is paired up, giving you a fully console-like experience, albeit on a much smaller screen.

If you want to give the game a go, Tomb Raider is available now via the Google Play Store and App Store. You can view a list of recommended Android chipsets on the Feral Interactive website to ensure that you will have a smooth experience before you buy.

• A new Call of Duty: Mobile season has arrived
• This year's Season 2 features a load of Lunar New Year inspired additions
• This includes a new battle pass and lots of new skins

The latest Call of Duty: Mobile season is here and it brings a wealth of content themed around the Year of the Horse.

Season 2 - Lunar Charge is out now, with a wealth of new content for the popular mobile first-person shooter (FPS). For me the star of the show is the new Lunar New Year themed version of Shipment, which decks the iconic small map out in festive red and gold with decorations like firecrackers.

It's joined by a barrage of seasonal events, including Fortune Fusion. It offers daily challenge missions that reward Wealth Points that you can spend unlocking valuable items such as Epic Type 25 — Emerald Prosperity Weapon Blueprint.

There's also Starlit Quest, which is intended to celebrate Ramadan. It's live now and features Ramadan themed gear that will be available until the end of the season.

Of course, this is all on top of a new battle pass which features some lovely Lunar New Year inspired skins. Some new draws are coming to the in-game store too, including the Forged in Ruin Draw which gives you the chance to get your hands on the new Mythic Lachman-556 Assault Rifle and more.

There's also the Golden Turn Draw, which contains a red and gold skin for the Call of Duty: Mobile exclusive operator Lustre.

Finally, there will be loads of other draws ranging from the Lunar New Year inspired Year of the Horse Draw to a new Legendary Gun Draw.

For more details on what's been added, including the content for the game's recently released DMZ: Recon mode, visit the official Call of Duty blog.

Call of Duty: Mobile is available now as a free-to-play title for Android and iOS devices.

• Cyberpunk 2077 is now fully playable on the RedMagic 11 Pro Android phone
• The game runs above 30fps when using FSR Frame Generation via PC emulation
• This means high-end Android phones are now capable of AAA gaming

Handheld PC gaming has come a long way over the years, with the Steam Deck placing it back on gamers' radar in 2020, and other devices like the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X providing better power and performance in 2025 — and now, we're seeing an unusual device provide performance results close to Valve's handheld.

As reported by Tom's Hardware, the RedMagic 11 Pro Android phone runs Cyberpunk 2077 above 30 frames per second via PC emulation, as demonstrated by popular tech YouTube channel ETA Prime. The PC emulation on the Android phone is made possible by using different compatibility layers, notably GameHub in ETA Prime's test.

To further clarify, this is Cyberpunk 2077 running natively on a high-end Android device, without any streaming, and it's made possible by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor powering the RedMagic 11 Pro. It's also paired with a liquid-cooled setup that enables it to run games like Cyberpunk 2077' without overheating as expected, considering the game's high system requirements.

At 720p with FSR 2.1 Balanced upscaling enabled at the low graphics preset, the game hits up to 37 fps, though it mostly stays at or just under 30 fps. Performance results get even better when using FSR 3.1 Frame Generation, as it stays within the high 40 fps range, sometimes even at 50 fps.

When using the Steam Deck graphics preset, the RedMagic 11 Pro stays just under 30 fps, and hits the high 40 fps range again when enabling FSR Frame Generation. With those settings alone, it's a massive breakthrough for a high-end Android device, and proof that Android phones are now capable of AAA gaming.

It's time to take mobile gaming seriously

While the RedMagic 11 Pro's emulation of Cyberpunk 2077 on PC isn't perfect, it's a very impressive start for what many would've considered impossible, as it runs at playable frame rates.

The image quality isn't the best, and there's still a lengthy journey to replicate the performance of a handheld gaming PC, but the tests prove it's closer than we thought. It's also worth noting that those tests were conducted solely in Cyberpunk 2077, a game that is a tough benchmark for most budget or low-end PC hardware, so the RedMagic 11 Pro's feats should be highlighted.

If this Android can run Cyberpunk 2077, then less demanding games like Hades, Street Fighter 6, or even GTA 5 should also run at playable frame rates. It's pleasing to see mobile gaming come so far, and I'm sure we'll soon see official ports of PC ports on Android once more powerful chips are utilized in phones.

• Tomb Raider has just launched on mobile phones
• This port of the 2013 game has been optimized for portable play and features multiple graphics settings
• It even includes loads of DLC and costs under $20 / £13 / AU$26

Mobile port masters Feral Interactive have released an iOS and Android version of Tomb Raider, letting you play the action-packed game on the go.

Originally released in 2013 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, it's the first fully fledged console entry in the series to appear on mobile platforms. A gritty reboot that explores the origins of the iconic heroine Lara Croft, it's the perfect introduction to the series if you haven't played any of the games before.

It's been years since I finished this instalment, but this new port seems like the perfect excuse for a replay. It's been optimized for a wide range of devices, with multiple graphical presets geared towards high-end performance or visual fidelity.

In addition to full touch-screen controls, it has support for all of the best mobile controllers. You can even play using a compatible keyboard or mouse on an iPad or Android device.

The mobile version of Tomb Raider includes all the content of the original game, plus its most significant DLC for additions like bonus upgrades, costumes, and more.

It costs just $19.99 / £12.99 / AU$25.99 via the App Store and Google Play Store, where it already has more than a thousand five-star reviews. "Perfect, simply perfect," wrote one buyer. "This is a masterpiece. Worth every cent I spent."

"This is a really outstanding port. Bravo Feral, as usual," added another. Many purchasers also make favorable comparisons to other mobile ports by Feral Interactive, which includes the likes of Hitman: Absolution and Grid Legends.

It wouldn’t even be slightly groundbreaking for me to decry that we’re looking down at our phones too much these days. Our pocket-sized computers consume us as we doomscroll through our various feeds; saving recipes we’ll never use, listening to the same sound 15 times in a row, and shamelessly gorging on brainrot content. We really are paying too much attention to phones, and in the process, we miss out on much of the beauty that life has to offer.

Recently though, I was able to break away. I was able to avert my eyes from my phone. I was able to resist the temptation of endless TikTok scrolling. I was even able to pull myself away from Instagram and Reddit. For a while, at least, I was able to feel truly free. And it was all thanks to this: an earbuds case with Flappy Bird on it.

That’s right, my attention was focused on a different screen entirely, as I dared to flap my way through some green tubes and… ah, no actually that’s all.

Anyway, allow me to introduce you to the device that freed me: the Groov-e Neo Buds True Wireless Earbuds. These are a cheap pair of wireless earbuds that come with a little display on their charging case. We’ve seen a few other models do this, such as the JBL Live Beam 3, but those buds don’t have any games at all. Not even Flappy Bird.

So, I’m here to discuss my time playing the game, and what I made of the Neo Buds more generally. Should more of the best earbuds be decked out with gaming capabilities baked into the case? Do wireless earbuds even need a display? I’ll give you my thoughts down below.

Ba-ding!

OK, so this wasn’t the actual Flappy Bird. You know, the mobile gaming phenomenon that took the world by storm back in 2013. It’s simply a knock-off, but I was still pretty excited to give the game a go.

It may not surprise you, however, to find out that the game didn’t give me all too much to be excited about after all. See, in this version, the gaps between pipes are so wide, and the bird’s motion is so slow, that racking up a high score was just far too easy. Plus, that iconic ‘ba-ding!’ sound doesn’t play when you make it through some pipes… a real tragedy.

And although you’re supposedly meant to get a star rating based on your score, I wasn’t ever able to get a single star – even when I scored well over 100! On top of all of that, the game doesn’t even save your high score. So, this is ultimately a bad version of what was a pretty addictive game back in the day… so much missed potential.

All of this got me thinking: is there really much value in an earbuds case providing gaming capabilities? Do they even need a display at all? Honestly, I think the answer to both of those questions is no. Don’t get me wrong, it made me smile to see the Flappy Bird knock-off pop up as an option, but would I realistically use this regularly? I doubt it. And although the case’s display packs in other features, such as a flashlight, timer, and access to EQ settings… I could get all of this from my phone anyway.

In the end, then, the game – as well as the display itself – felt more like a gimmick than an innovation. And as I mentioned in my review, the Neo Buds aren’t exactly the best-sounding or looking wireless earbuds on the market.

So, instead of scooping Groov-e’s buds up, I’d highly recommend an alternative from our guide to the best budget earbuds, like the JLab Go Pods ANC or the Earfun Air Pro 3. Do they have Flappy Bird? No, neither of them have a display at all. But would you really be missing out? Also no – at least, I don’t think so.

The Netease Games HQ in Hangzhou, China, feels like a well-oiled machine. Two sprawling campuses sit in the middle of the massive city, each almost its own ecosystem with thousands of employees working, grabbing meals at the mega canteen or the many ‘Netease Coffee’ branded cafes, visiting the gym for a quick workout in between answering emails, or wandering its plant-filled quads on a break.

It’s fitting that such huge grounds house Joker Studio, a team hard at work creating an equally massive virtual world in its upcoming free-to-play behemoth Sea of Remnants. It’s a project of almost unprecedented scale in the free-to-play space, featuring more than 400 named non-player characters (NPCs), each with their own unique storylines that can be directly impacted by the player, in addition to a meaty branching main story - it sounds like the promise of Fable but on steroids.

As I sit down with Sea of Remnants product lead Innis, it’s the logistics of just how all of this is going to be achieved that I’m most interested in.

All aboard

“So production-wise, our NPC pipeline, with those who are in charge of writing the narratives and branching stories for each of those NPCs, is independent from our main narrative writing pipeline,” he explains. “They do not have a shared resources pool, and are not limiting the development of each other. The NPC team are simply going to keep on working on the 400 narrative lines, even though we know that to complete it might be a very ambitious long-term target.”

Although managed by its own team, these NPC stories are still going to impact the overall world - with a range of possible outcomes and environmental styles depending on your choices. “Not just the narrative itself, but also the branching choices you make with those NPCs is going to have an impact on the world,” he adds, going on to highlight the fact that the player has the option to kill many of the game’s characters, leading to a more desolate and decaying environment.

Conversely, he reveals that there are more prosperous outcomes “if the player encourages most of the NPCs to do business out on the ocean.”

Despite this rather segmented setup, collaboration is still important and has shaped the trajectory of the project so far. “Internally we often say that each of our pipelines shall not just work on their own,” Innis says. “Whenever teams have any new ideas, they are encouraged to bring in some colleagues from other pipelines to discuss whether there are new possibilities generated from any of the new changes there, whether we should design some new branches, and so on.”

Discussions within the studio are responsible for everything, right down to the puppet pirate theme. “We didn't actually start off with the pirate theme. We started with a few keywords like ‘memory’. When discussing ‘memory’, we decided that we wanted to convey an attitude of living life to its fullest, or living in the moment, and also relaxing when facing difficulties and challenges. Those are the key points that we wanted to convey with our game, and that was far before the pirate theme was determined. Starting from those keywords, we then decided which artistic visual style we wanted and what theme we wanted to have,” he begins.

“When we do our development internally, we have a term called 'emergence'. In the process of development, especially in the initial stage, sometimes new ideas would come to the surface and emerge. That's the time when we want to add new things to the project, for example, that visual direction and the pop elements we want to put into the designs. The pirate theme was one of the things that emerged in that process.”

Sea-RPG

Given its focus on player choice and the wide-ranging impacts of decisions, undoing past decisions by having your character forget them is a major feature that emerged during development. Innis compares the Sea of Remnants experience to that of a Computer Role Playing Game (CRPG) where players “get to have lots of variety in choosing their own crew, as well as having their own builds.”

“But with CRPGs, especially single-player CRPGs, there’s a problem,” he continues. “When I play them, every time we want to try a new setup, it requires me to start the whole game over, or at least start the battle again from the beginning of it to select a new team. We wanted to solve that kind of problem, so in our design of the world and the systems with numbers, the values of stats and properties, we have designed everything in such a way that we can leverage amnesia mechanics to formulate a very unique process where you can leave imprints and an impact on the world, while still allowing players to try out new possibilities.”

For Innis, the core of any RPG is being able to experience the impossible: “Sea of Remnants is still an RPG game, and with RPG games, it's all about offering players things that they only get to experience in the game, not anywhere else, not in their real life, not in any other games.”

After more than 10 hours hands-on, I feel confident in saying that Sea of Remnants is on track to deliver when it launches for PC, Xbox and PlayStation consoles, and mobile later this year. For a run-down of how well it all works, learn why it’s shaping up to be one of the most ambitious games ever made in my full hands-on preview.

Alternatively, see my interview with another Sea of Remnants developer on building the ultimate open-world pirate playground or learn about the staggering amount of post-launch support that’s already planned.

“For our pirate culture, we wanted to create a sense of ridiculousness, of goofiness, and of romance,” explains Sea of Remnants creative director Alfie in my recent visit to developer Joker Studios’ China HQ. “I would say that some of that actually overlaps with the common definition of what pirates should be and what pirates are supposed to be, but beyond that, we still want to create something very unique."

Nowhere is this desire to stand out more apparent than the upcoming open-world RPG’s distinct puppet art direction, a natural evolution of the cutesy toy-like aesthetic of the studio’s previous release Identity V. The game also seems poised to catch eyes by pushing technological boundaries with the colorful cast of more than 400+ named NPCs, complete with their own individual daily routines and even favorite foods, that inhabit its huge main city: Orbtopia.

“We’ve been working on this very hard for many, many years,” he says. “It's very ambitious and also very challenging, from our perspective,” he adds, highlighting the creation of the fundamental technology that underpins the game’s many interwoven mechanics as a particularly tough endeavor.

Building up

“We had to lay very concrete, solid rules, or technologies; put the fundamental programming in place so that we could use it to build up the facades that you see in every individual part of the city,” he reveals. Luckily, with these systems now in place, it sounds like future expansions of the game’s world will be easy (the team has already confirmed the game will receive a deluge of post-launch content), with the creative director hinting that fans should very much “look forward” to “future creations.”

In addition to their day-to-day activities, NPCs also feature dynamic story arcs that can react to the player’s actions. An NPC that sets up a shop, for example, might find its business struggling without input from the player. You even have the ability to kill some NPCs outright, an ability that Alfie describes as “a very important feature” that he hopes players “will find interesting.”

All of your choices have the potential to affect the trajectory of the city itself, with multiple different possible states that reflect its flourishing or falling into destitution. Don’t worry about accidentally locking yourself into a terrible situation, though, as players do have the ability to go back in time and alter some of their decisions to discover new outcomes.

“This creates the power for the user to choose whether they should do something or not,” Alfie says. “At the end of the day, we don't want to burden players so as long as you can [ultimately] make a choice, that's good.”

When you’re not playing with the outcomes of their lives, NPCs offer a wide range of minigames that vary from drinking competitions to board games and outdoor activities like ring toss.

There are loads to discover, all of which are intended to reinforce the goofiness at the core of the game’s design and provide a little diversion from the main open world. “Players can still sometimes come back to very basic games,” begins Alfie. “When I play mahjong [which is featured as a minigame], I can play for hours within the game. It's just basically for the purpose of having fun, that's the language of the game.”

Piracy on the go

I’ve spent more than 10 hours with Sea of Remnants so far, and the sheer scale of everything on offer can be almost overwhelming.

The creative director is careful to clarify that crafting a compelling experience was the priority rather than pursuing sheer scale from the get-go: ‘our original intent was not to scale up for the purpose of scaling up, but to do things for the purpose of having an interesting result”

My playtime has been entirely spent on a powerful gaming PC, but the game is also set to launch for mobile phones in addition to Xbox and PlayStation, leaving me eager to find out if there have been any big hurdles in optimizing such a massive experience for portable devices.

“Of course, the challenge is very big, especially if you consider the performance of mobiles and also the different form factors of the devices. Consoles and PCs have big displays, but mobiles have limited display size, he responds.

“We have to consider the balance between viewing comfort in different mediums. As a matter of fact, when I play the game as a player, as a gamer, be it in front of the PC, or be it using my phone, I still can feel a similar level of enjoyment. I think that is quite important, and [achieving that] actually makes us strive to work harder and eliminate all the possible difficulties.”

We’ll have to wait and see just how well the experience holds up on a tiny screen when Sea of Remnants launches later this year. For a detailed look at some of the game’s biggest mechanics and to see how well it all works, learn why it’s shaping up to be one of the most ambitious games ever made in my full preview.

• Free-to-play title Sea of Remnants will feature gacha mechanics and a battle pass
• The developers have confirmed that it will not be "pay-to-win"
• The game is set to release later this year

The developers of upcoming free-to-play role-playing game (RPG) Sea of Remnants have said that the game's monetization systems will be fair.

Although it will feature 'gacha' style mechanics for obtaining characters in addition to cosmetic skins and a premium battle pass, the team at Joker Studio says that it's not going to be "pay-to-win".

"Customization is highly important," explained creative director Alfie in my recent visit to the studio's China office. "We think this is the basic need of the gamers, and we know that lots of users across the world care about the freedom and open world, but they also care about being different."

You can change the look of the game's wooden puppet protagonist with two body types in addition to a range of options for hairstyles, eyes, lips, ears, and more. While it appears that some items will be paid for, lots will be available to all players.

"We're not going to go down the road of pay to win or trapping you to buy monetized products in our games," he added. "You can already get some cosmetics, and also good characters [for free]."

'Gacha' monetization systems, which tie in-game rewards to randomized 'pulls', and paid battle passes are ubiquitous in the free-to-play space, and are already present in hugely popular titles like Genshin Impact and Wuthering Waves.

Although some prospective players will undeniably be disappointed by their presence here, the creation and maintenance of such huge games requires a vast investment that needs to be recouped somehow, so it shouldn't come as too much surprise.

Sea of Remnants is set to launch later this year for Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and mobile phones. With its massive world and hundreds of unique NPCs, you can learn why it's already shaping up to be one of the most ambitious games ever made in my full preview based on more than ten hours of play time.

Recently, I had the chance to try out Resident Evil Requiem on a Nintendo Switch 2, and despite my initial concerns, I was seriously impressed by how capable the hybrid console is at tackling such a demanding survival horror game.

During my demonstration, I played the same short demo featuring series newcomer Grace Ashcroft that we tried last year at Summer Games Fest, so I won’t spend too long on the contents of the game itself. However, I have to say I’m suitably impressed with how well Nintendo’s second-generation Switch can handle the game, based on what I’ve seen so far.

Being an absolute wimp with horror games, I was more than happy with the idea of significant drops in quality and performance; perhaps it would be janky enough for me to move past my fear of realistic gore and jumpscares. Alas, I was sorely wrong; Resident Evil Requiem runs pretty darn well on the Switch 2.

A master class in optimization

Let’s tackle the elephant in the room first, and hopefully put a pause to those of you heading straight to the comments section to yell at me. No, Resident Evil Requiem will not run as well on the Switch 2 as it will on more powerful hardware like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. If that’s a surprise to you, I’m sorry to break the bad news, but it really shouldn’t be.

I played using a Switch 2 Pro Controller in docked mode during my demo, navigating an abandoned, ghoulie-ridden hospital as the defenseless (and painfully slow) Grace. Both first-person and third-person perspectives were clear and crisp, cutscenes are smooth and suspenseful, and the controls felt natural and comfortable; a good start.

Of course, we can’t have nice things in the world of Resident Evil, so the aim of the game is to avoid the lank-haired creature chasing Grace through the hospital’s harrowing halls. Periodically, this creature will erupt through a ceiling or wall during a chase sequence, spraying chips of wood and dust; environmental effects that the Switch 2 delivered with ease and solid fidelity. I was so immersed that, in a room full of my peers and with a healthy level of latent social anxiety, I squeaked like a mouse and cried out for divine intervention while fleeing for my life in-game. Not my finest professional moment.

In general, I didn’t notice any frame drops or performance issues at all in the demo; an impressive feat that’s a testament to the Switch 2’s capabilities, provided games have been well-optimized. The majority of the credit, therefore, goes to Capcom for its ability to do said optimization, as well as its impressive RE Engine.

Naturally, there are some graphical compromises, most noticeable in textures like hair and skin, as I found in my recent playthrough of Assassin's Creed Shadows on Switch 2 and many other triple-A games on the console. It’s far from egregious, but from some hands-on time with both, I’d say the graphics are closer to playing the Resident Evil 4 remake on the PlayStation 4 than anything I’ve tried on the PlayStation 5. Far from unplayable, but if you prize visual fidelity and/or want to play mostly on a big screen, you’d naturally be better off playing on more powerful hardware.

Make or break moment

That leads me to the second elephant in the room: handheld mode. The main reason I see most people citing for sacrificing the quality of big-budget games is the Switch 2's portability. If I were to pick up a horror game like Resident Evil Requiem, I’d certainly prefer the ability to bundle up under my bed sheets and play (read: hide) there.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to try handheld mode during my demo, but that’ll be the deciding factor on whether the concessions made to performance pay off. Brightness, glare, and clarity naturally present a challenge for the smaller screen, though if you’re playing any Resident Evil game under bright lighting, you’re probably doing it a disservice regardless.

If I were Capcom, I’d have prioritised cross progression for this launch, giving players the full freedom of choice to play handheld on the Switch 2 or another portable console like the Steam Deck. However, the fact that the Switch 2 is getting a same-day release of Resident Evil Requiem alongside the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and PC is a pretty big deal as it is.

That being said, if Capcom and Nintendo have been able to stick the landing here, it could prove to be a big moment for the Switch 2, bringing it ever closer to being a viable, versatile option for triple-A gaming with solid performance – and a whole lot less waiting around for ports to land.

For the once close (and exclusive) partners, Resident Evil Requiem on the Switch 2 looks to be a pretty big deal, too. Capcom and Nintendo have announced a variety of exciting launch bundles and branded accessories, from the exciting, albeit presently UK-exclusive, Resident Evil Requiem Generations bundle (which also includes Resident Evil 7 Biohazard Gold Edition and Resident Evil Village Gold Edition) to the Resident Evil Requiem Special Edition microSD Express Card for the Switch 2. You can also preorder Resident Evil Requiem now ahead of its release on February 27, 2026.

A few months ago, my list of hotly anticipated games for 2026 consisted predominantly of Triple-A franchises like Fable, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Pokopia, and 007 First Light, as well as a few smaller releases like Hela and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. That has been turned entirely on its head since trying Pragmata at a recent Nintendo Switch 2 demo event.

Part action, part puzzle, and entirely arcade-esque, Pragmata follows Hugh, a human sent to investigate disruptions on a space station, and Diana, a child-like android with the ability to hack into the station’s systems.

This proves useful quickly, because as it turns out, the rest of the androids unboard are far less friendly, and she’ll need to weaken them with her technical abilities so that Hugh can blast them to smithereens.

It’s a surprisingly easy system to get your head around and great fun to play, but most notably, it feels right at home on the Nintendo Switch 2.

Papa, can you hear me?

We're pretty used to seeing games featuring a father-child (typically daughter) relationship; The Last of Us, Death Stranding, and The Evil Within 2 all spring to mind. None of the games listed there are presently available on the Switch 2, however, and the classic sad dad formula is turned somewhat on its head by what we know so far of Pragmata’s protagonists, Hugh and Diana.

Instead of a surrogate for some loss the male protagonist has experienced, Diana appears to more immediately take on an equal role to Hugh, functioning as a nerf machine for the oncoming waves of android attackers. From her tactical piggyback position, she can target robots and hack them via simple pathfinding puzzles, ready for Hugh to blast them. We’ve covered the same demo experience during Summer Games Fest last year, and now it's available to the public, so make sure to check that out if you want the full ins and outs of its gameplay.

What I’m far more impressed and intrigued by is how well it runs on the Switch 2. I played the short demo through twice, playing in docked mode with a Switch 2 Pro controller, and I was immediately impressed with the visual fidelity.

Much like Resident Evil Requiem, which I tried on the same day, there’s an unavoidable concession when playing on the Switch 2’s less powerful hardware, but it’s negated by Capcom’s optimization and RE Engine. Textures are stiffer and less detailed, with hair and light more closely resembling graphics from later last-generation games played on the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, but it ran smoothly and was a delight to play, enough so to sell me on a game I hadn’t had any particular interest in beforehand.

Naturally, the graphics are going to drop even further when you play in handheld mode, but I think that’s absolutely the sacrifice anyone excited to play Pragmata should make.

I wanna hold your hand(held mode)

There are a lot of games I love in handheld mode, and a vast majority of them are arcade-like in nature; the form factor really lends itself to short, engaging gameplay loops with relatively simple controls and less reliance on attention to detail. By proxy, a lot of what I play in handheld mode comes from indie developers, but Pragmata is set to break that mold.

From what I’ve played so far, its gameplay loop feels like it could really lend itself to portable play, and it’s all down to pacing. As Pragmata director Cho Yonghee said in an interview with Eurogamer, there’s a real rhythm to it as you hack, dash, and shoot at oncoming enemies, and I can easily imagine myself whiling away a long and dull train journey with Pragmata in hand.

The “Sketchbook” demo mechanic may well have no real bearing on the final game, but it’d feel doubly well-suited for handheld mode if the gameplay loop is similar to the 15-minute cycle with unlockable endings.

Plus, the brightness of the spaceship environment, the white lighting, and more dynamic visuals of Pragmata feel far better suited to a handheld Switch 2, and doubly so when compared to Resident Evil Requiem, which I fear may struggle in its dimness.

Overall, and if early rumors and updates about its development prove true, Pragmata could well create a genre in itself – another trait it stands to share with Death Stranding. It feels really exciting to have a game like that, with such potential to completely dominate my free time, due to release on a console I can play wherever I please – and to top it all off, there’s no delay on the port, as it releases alongside the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC on April 24.

• Sea of Remnants will have over 400+ non-player characters (NPCs)
• Many will have their own name and daily routine based on the time
• Player interactions can also influence personal outcomes for NPCs

Sea of Remnant's open world will feature 400+ named non-player characters (NPCs) with individual story arcs that can be influenced by the player's actions.

In Joker Studios' pirate role-playing game (RPG), players will be able to explore the sprawling city of Orbtopia, where they'll be able to meet more than 400 unique NPCs, each with their own name and daily routine.

More than that, these NPCs will have their own dynamic storylines, and according to the developer, "player interactions influence their personal outcomes", for better or worse.

"Every interaction players have with characters in the main city gradually advances the final outcomes of NPCs and companions, with over 400 residents, each featuring their own individual progression path and multiple possible endings," Joker Studio explained in a visit by TechRadar to the studio's office in Hangzhou, China.

Town residents will follow their own daily life routines based on real-world time, meaning on weekdays, they'll go to work, and during leisure time, they may engage in their individual hobbies, like attending the backstreets to watch underground arena fights.

NPCs also have their own personal lunch preferences and can even be involved in the rival factions within the city.

In our Sea of Remnant's hands-on preview, gaming editor Dashiell Wood explained how relationship building works between the player and NPCs, writing, "With the right support, a character could establish a successful business – or one that’s doomed to fail thanks to your inaction."

Players can also seemingly sabotage NPCs and even choose to kill them if they don't like them very much.

"Some can be recruited as companions, while you have the freedom to kill others if they get on your nerves," he wrote. "Be careful with your choices, cautioned the development team ahead of my hands-on, as each can affect the fabric of Orbtopia in interesting ways."

Sea of Remnants launches this year for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and mobile.

While the game doesn't have a specific release date just yet, Joker Studio has already outlined its live service plans, which include regular content after launch, including new seasons every 10 weeks.

• Logitech has revealed a new wireless gaming headset, the G325 Lightspeed
• It costs $79.99 / £69.99 and offers high resolution 24-bit audio
• It's available now via the Logitech website and other retailers

Gaming hardware brand Logitech G has unveiled its latest wireless gaming headset, the Logitech G325 Lightspeed.

Retailing for just $79.99 / £69.99, it's a surprisingly affordable new model that's intended to deliver premium features at a relatively modest price. Its most significant specs include high resolution 24-bit audio and seamless built-in microphone.

It's designed to let you "play and chill anywhere" according to the brand, with a comfortable and stylish design that looks more like a pair of music listening cans than you average gaming gear. It's available in three colorways too: lilac, black, and white.

In terms of battery life, you can expect more than 24 hours of continuous use from a single charge. This is far behind the staggering 300+ hours offered by more premium alternatives like the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless, but certainly not bad for the price.

It supports multiple platforms including PC, consoles, and mobile via the Lightspeed wireless dongle or Bluetooth 5.2. On-headset controls should allow you to switch between the dongle and Bluetooth effortlessly, letting you quickly swap between a gaming session and unwinding with music.

“We want all gamers to have premium experiences,” said Logitech G general manager Ujesh Desai on the launch. “That's why we packed so much into the new G325 headset. It's got a super comfortable design, long battery life, great audio, and works across PC, console, and mobile. It's designed for gamers who love to play across a variety of platforms.”

You can buy the Logitech G325 Lightspeed now via the Logitech website, or at Argos if you're in the UK.

Great value, but competition is strong

The $79.99 / £69.99 price tag is certainly on the lower end by Logitech G standards, but it does mean the G325 Lightspeed will be up against some pretty stiff competition in the gaming headset space.

Favorite wired models like the HyperX Cloud III or Razer BlackShark V2 X come in around that price, and are easy to find for substantially less on sale if you're willing to give up wireless connectivity.

Logitech's own G435 Lightspeed is also a viable alternative, as it's wireless and frequently discounted to around the $50 / £30 mark. You lose a significant chunk of battery life compared to the G325 Lightspeed, but still get a similarly attractive design and the multi-platform compatibility.

I'm certainly keen to spend some time with this new arrival to see how it stacks up against its peers.

• Developer Joker Studio has outlined its live service plans for Sea of Remnants
• The game will receive regular content after launch, including new seasons every 10 weeks
• Map expansions are also planned for "approximately" every 20 weeks

Developer Joker Studio has outlined some of its live service ambitions for the upcoming free-to-play pirate RPG Sea of Remnants.

As confirmed in a recent visit of mine to the developer's office in Hangzhou, China, the game will receive multiple content additions post-launch. This includes plans for a new live-service season "every 10 weeks" according to the team.

Each season will include one major update, and one minor update. These will be bridged by smaller interlude chapters, which will be released steadily in between.

If that wasn't enough, the developer is planning a "world expansion" approximately every "20 weeks" - which would presumably involve new regions being added to the game's already large open-world map for players to explore.

Although Sea of Remnants will have a battle pass, the team were careful to explain that it will not feature any pay-to-win elements. There will also be gacha mechanics, though these will solely offer cosmetic skins for your characters.

Sea of Remnants is set to launch later this year for Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and mobile phones. In addition to seeing the studio, I had the opportunity to go hands-on with the game for roughly ten hours.

With its massive world and hundreds of unique NPCs, you can learn why it's already shaping up to be one of the most ambitious games ever made in my full preview.

Don’t be fooled by its cutesy-puppet art direction – pirate RPG Sea of Remnants is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious free-to-play games ever made.

Hailing from Identity V developer Joker Studio, it’s centered around the open-world city of Orbtopia, a sprawling privateer metropolis populated by more than 400 unique non-player characters (NPCs). Each is individually named, with their own daily routines that have them doing everything from traveling to the local market to pick up their favorite snacks to enjoying evening drinks in a nearby tavern.

This isn’t all just for show either, as individual NPCs offer dynamic storylines with multiple outcomes to discover. With the right support, a character could establish a successful business – or one that’s doomed to fail thanks to your inaction. Some can be recruited as companions, while you have the freedom to kill others if they get on your nerves. Be careful with your choices, cautioned the development team ahead of my hands-on, as each can affect the fabric of Orbtopia in interesting ways.

Go on a bloodthirsty rampage killing everyone you encounter, for example, and you should expect empty streets, struggling businesses, and an overriding atmosphere of decline and decay.

The life aquatic

Although I haven’t experienced such long-term dire consequences in my time with Sea of Remnants so far, I have been getting to grips with the truly vast selection of minigames on offer. Almost every NPC has some form of associated activity, ranging from mahjong matches and board games to drinking competitions and even a Rhythm Heaven-esque challenge that has you mashing buttons in time with a catchy beat.

It’s safe to say that you wouldn’t really be a pirate if you always played fair, so many minigames give you the option to cheat via a set of magical on-screen dice. A high roll gives you a glimpse of your opponent’s move ahead of time in rock-paper-scissors, for example, or silently transforms a mahjong tile in your hand to a more advantageous piece. You can only do this once or twice in each game, and there's a surprising amount of strategy involved in deciding exactly when to use them. I’m also fairly sure that your rivals can cheat too; that, or I’m somehow even more hopeless at mahjong than I previously thought.

It already feels like there’s more than enough here to occupy you for countless hours in Orbtopia alone, but the core gameplay loop of Sea of Remnants involves venturing out into a surrounding sea brimming with possibilities. As an amnesiac puppet sailor, with a range of charming customization options rendered in exquisitely stylish detail, your ultimate objective is to uncover your lost memories and Orbtopia's mysterious secrets, with each excursion edging you a little closer to that goal.

These excursions play out like little roguelike runs, and see you assembling a team from your available crewmates and exploring the high seas freely in a highly customizable galleon. Naval combat is frequent – you exchange cannon fire with enemy ships to whittle down their health bars before plundering any available loot from the ensuing wreckage.

The controls here are significantly more approachable than those found in the likes of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag and, while some might lament the apparent lack of depth, I personally appreciate the opportunity to focus on the pirate fantasy, rather than fiddle around with raising or lowering sails and switching between multiple types of cannon.

Land ahoy

Islands litter the ocean, all of which can be visited by you and your crew. They can be surprisingly large, and with quite a lot going on, be that countless enemy camps to clear, seemingly endless hidden chests, or a variety of fresh NPCs to befriend. The bigger islands also have their own unique currencies that you can spend on special unlocks or useful gear, so you have a good reason to hang around and engage with the activities on offer.

While ocean fights play out in real time, combat on land is turn-based, with you queuing moves and trying to chain attacks on vulnerable enemies. There are crewmates that roughly fulfil all the traditional RPG roles, be that healers, ranged fighters, or tanks, each with flashy special moves and plenty of voicelines. The dice from the minigames are important here too, with enemies often displaying a numeric value before you attack. Choose up to three dice to roll and, if you manage to beat that number, you’ll inflict massive damage with the potential for a follow-up strike.

It’s all incredibly stylish, with slick animations that incorporate elements of street art and graffiti for added visual flair. Some standard, but nevertheless appreciated, quality-of-life options, like an auto-combat toggle or the ability to instantly kill enemies that are much weaker than your party, help ensure that the system doesn't become grating even after hundreds of hours of play.

If you die outside of Orbtopia, you’ll return to it without all the loot that you’ve accumulated in that specific run, adding an almost extraction shooter-like degree of tension to each encounter. Luckily, there is an insurance service introduced earlier on which can preserve your most valuable acquisitions, though uses of it are limited.

It’s all very promising, especially when you consider that this PC, consoles, and mobile game will be entirely free to play, with only cosmetic microtransactions. Still, my experience wasn’t perfect, and it’s clear that the localization needs a bit of extra polish.

Any of the lines with existing voice acting were perfect, but much of the flavor text and tutorial interface was either grammatically incorrect, somewhat confusing, or completely incomprehensible.

Given the frequent appearance of obvious placeholder text, I’m optimistic that this is because I've been playing with a build that’s still in the middle of development. We’ll have to see how all the translation fairs when it launches later this year; but, either way, Sea of Remnants is one to keep an eye on.

• GameSir has revealed a new collaboration product with Hyperkin
• The new GameSir x Hyperkin X5 Alteron is billed as "the world's first, fully modular mobile gaming controller"
• It's a telescopic mobile controller that offers a range of interchangeable modules

Gaming peripheral brand GameSir has just revealed a new collaboration with retro accessory maker Hyperkin in the new GameSir x Hyperkin X5 Alteron.

Billed as "the world's first, fully modular mobile gaming controller," it's a mobile gamepad with interchangeable components that seem geared towards either modern mobile games or retro emulation.

It shares a similar telescopic design to many of the best mobile controllers, with an extending arm, that can fit a wide range of devices from Android phones and iPhones to the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and iPads. Thanks to its Bluetooth connectivity, it can even be used with a PC if you wish.

It boasts interchangeable button modules that allow you to do everything from switching between a symmetrical and asymmetrical layout to adding dedicated GameCube, Nintendo 64, or fighting game controls.

One option even involves the addition a dedicated track pad, similar to the trackpads of the Steam Deck, which could be a game-changer for first-person shooters.

The controller also sounds compelling from a durability standpoint. It uses drift-resistant capacity thumbsticks, clicky tactile buttons, and Hall effect triggers.

There's no word on price (though with these kinds of high-end specs I wouldn't be surprised if we're looking at something over the $100 mark) or an official release date yet, but the X5 Alteron is currently on display at CES 2026.

Hopefully we'll hear more about the product soon.

Audiophile brand Audeze has announced its new Audeze Maxwell 2 wireless gaming headset, and it's out now.

Firmly aimed at the high-end premium-grade audio part of the gaming headset market, this follow-up to the much-lauded original Audeze Maxwell is an "inside-and-out upgrade" according to Audeze, so "serious competitors and immersion-seeking enthusiasts alike" will benefit and enjoy top-class audio.

Audeze states that powering the Maxwell 2 and its improved audio performance under the hood is the brand's patent-pending "SLAM technology". This tech "produces heightened spatial immersion and precision along with punchier bass response" - though the proof will be in the pudding when we get our hands on one to test, of course.

All in, taking this kind of tech behind the headset, and combining it with Audeze's 90mm planar magnetic drivers, and the brand's Fluxor magnets and Fazor waveguides, is an exciting proposition for those looking to get the very best out of their games' audio in 2026. Audeze is known for its sizable drivers, and the results are often spectacular, but bigger doesn't automatically mean better, as others prove with smaller drivers.

Elsewhere, the new Audeze Maxwell 2 will feature a microphone with a new and upgraded AI noise removal functionality with twice the bandwidth. The hypercardioid boom mic is removable, as it was with the OG Maxwell.

Connectivity-wise, you're well covered, with a USB-C dongle to plug into your console or PC, as well as Bluetooth 5.3 that features LE Audio and LDAC. The brand claims the Maxwell 2 will also offer "over 80 hours" of battery life.

There's also new improvements to the design and build with Audeze upgrading the suspension strap to be wider and now having ventilation holes, and a new earpad design that offers "increased space to the over-ear closed-back fit" - the earcups do look pretty massive and chunky in some of the images, so I'm interested to see what they are like in real life.

There will be a PlayStation-focused variant and an Xbox version, but both will work across Nintendo Switch consoles, PC, Mac, and mobile. The PlayStation Maxwell 2 will launch at $329 / AU$569, and the Xbox one will be slightly more at $349 / AU$629. There's no exact word on whether the Xbox variant will work on PlayStation; a trend we've seen from all major brands more and more in recent years.

In the audiophile gaming headset space, the competition is getting stiffer and has seen a big new addition in 2025 in the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite, which we absolutely love and is the best gaming headset we've ever tested.

Could the Audeze Maxwell 2 take the Elite on and shake things up at the top-end of the headset spectrum?

• 8BitDo has announced the FlipPad mobile controller
• It's designed with retro gaming on your phone in mind
• It'll be compatible with iPhone and Android devices, and is launching this year

Controller manufacturer 8BitDo has just announced a brand new gamepad tailor-made for your smartphone.

Known as the 8BitDo FlipPad, it was revealed by the brand on its official X / Twitter account via a short teaser video.

Compatible with iPhone and Android smartphones, the FlipPad is slotted into your phone's USB-C port. You can then move its swivel to magnetically attach the controller to the bottom of your device's display.

8BitDo says the FlipPad is launching in "Summer 2026" - so likely somewhere between the months of June and September - and will be on show for the first time at CES 2026, which is taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Center from January 6 - 9.

The FlipPad appears to be a pretty simple controller, featuring a d-pad, four primary face buttons, start and select buttons, as well as six ancillary buttons, which will likely be for screenshots, quick menu access, or remappable secondary inputs.

The lack of thumbsticks of any kind positions the FlipPad as a retro-centric controller. As such, you'll likely want emulation apps like Delta to get the most out of it.

There's no word on pricing just yet, but some of the brand's best gamepads, like the 8BitDo Ultimate 2, trend to an affordable mid-range rate. It seems reasonable to expect something similar for the FlipPad, though we'll have to wait and see there.

Razer Kishi V3 Pro review: Two-minute review

The Razer Kishi V3 Pro is a very capable mobile controller that comes with reliable and remappable inputs, a comfortable form factor, great software, and a very high price tag. It’s a top choice for those who want a console-style experience on the go thanks to its great analog triggers, full-size thumbsticks, and intuitive design, but doesn’t quite feel as sturdy as a dedicated standalone controller.

With that said, the Kishi V3 Pro is reliable enough that it disappears into your hands once you get a game going, either from the home screen or the brilliant Razer Nexus app, which serves as a launcher as well as a home base for settings and calibration. It’s precise enough to give you a real edge in games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Mobile, and also works well in platformers like Dadish 3D as well as 2D classics like Jetpack Joyride. It also supports a variety of remote play, streaming, and emulation solutions, so however you like to play the Kishi V3 Pro has you covered.

The Kishi V3 Pro costs as much as the outgoing Razer Kishi Ultra did at launch – that is to say more than most mobile gaming controllers and nearly as much as a Nintendo Switch Lite. That said, the Kishi V3 Pro is a way to access a console-like gaming experience for less than a dedicated gaming handheld, so long as your phone is powerful enough to run your favorite titles.

Razer Kishi V3 Pro review: Price & availabiltiy

• $149.99 / £149.99 / AU$269.95
• Available from Razer and third-party retailers
• More expensive than many mobile and standalone controllers

The Razer Kishi V3 is a rather expensive bit of kit. In fact, it’s more expensive than any of the options on our list of the best mobile controllers except the outgoing Razer Kishi Ultra, which comes in at the same RRP. With that said, the Kishi V3 Pro offers more functionality than many of its rivals, with additional shoulder buttons and paddles on the grips.

The Kishi Ultra has been relegated to the ‘Classic Models’ section of Razer’s website, but can still be had at a discounted price in the UK and US as stock is cleared to make way for the new Kishi V3 Pro, and considering that the two controllers offer nearly the exact same functionality, it could be worth checking for deals on the older model before looking for the Kishi V3 Pro.

You should have no issues getting your hands on the Razer Kishi V3 Pro, as Razer is one of the most popular and widely distributed gaming brands - it just depends on how much money you’re willing to spend. As was the case for the Kishi Ultra, the Nintendo Switch Lite comes in at just $50 / £50 / AU$60 more than the Kishi V3 Pro, which offers a more dedicated handheld gaming platform with a large library of exclusive games.

However, I’d argue that the Kishi V3 Pro unlocks handheld-style gaming for the phone you probably already have, for a bit cheaper than a dedicated console. Through this lens, I think the Kishi V3 Pro offers decent value for money.

Razer Kishi V3 Pro review: Specs

Razer Kishi V3 Pro review: Design and features

• Resembles the Razer Kishi Ultra
• Extends up to eight inches
• Can fit small tablets

The Razer Kishi V3 Pro is an extending mobile controller that closely resembles a Razer Kishi Ultra, just without the RGB light strips in the handles.

It’s composed of a regular controller that’s been split down the middle by a spring-loaded extending spine with a maximum length of eight inches. That means it can accommodate any phone, so long as it has a USB-C port to connect to the controller, as well as the iPad mini. The controller comes with three pairs of rubber cushions which you can mix and match between to suit your handset, or eschew entirely if your phone is too bulky.

The two controller halves use the asymmetrical design that Xbox and Nintendo Switch fans will be used to, but even as a PS5 player I found the Kishi V3 Pro very comfortable to hold and use. The grips are rounded but substantial, and while the whole thing is made of plastic the textured panels on the grips themselves are a welcome addition and add valuable traction to what is overall a compact control surface – with that said, the Kishi V3 Pro is large enough to need a bag if you’re taking it out and about.

The construction of the Kishi V3 Pro isn’t quite as robust as a standalone controller, though, and the controls themselves are a mixed bag in terms of feel.

I love the resistance in the adaptive shoulder triggers (an impressive feature on its own), but the adjacent bumpers have no travel at all – similarly, I love the dish-like design of the D-pad but not its clicky action. I was, however, impressed with the smoothness of the full-sized thumbsticks and encountered no sticking or drifting in my 10 or so hours with the Kishi V3 Pro. The sticks are reasonably tall and feel very precise during gameplay.

On that note, the best thing about the Kishi V3 Pro is just how much control it offers. As well as your standard layout, the Kishi V3 Pro sports assignable back and shoulder buttons, which can be mapped to mirror any other button on the controller via the free Razer Nexus app. These buttons are thoughtfully placed and genuinely useful, allowing you to, say, reload without having to stop aiming in Call of Duty: Mobile, or quickly open the map in Fortnite. I never experienced any issues in-game that I’d blame on the controller – it’s very reliable and responsive. There are also some bespoke controls in the small hom escreen, screenshot, and Razer Nexus buttons, all of which are welcome additions.

As mentioned, the Razer Kishi V3 Pro connects via USB-C, and sports a handy LED that lights up when a connection is made. As well as connecting your phone or tablet to the controller, this USB-C connection allows for pass-through charging via another USB-C port and audio via a dedicated 3.5mm jack – a rare sight on any phone accessory and holy grail for headset users. That USB-C port can also be used to connect the Kishi V3 Pro to a PC to use as a standalone wired controller.

And if you’re an Android user, you’ll get to experience Razer’s Sensa HD haptics. The Kishi V3 Pro offers an impressive amount of rumble, with more precision than I expected to feel from a mobile controller – but because the haptics respond to in-game audio, there is a bit of a delay between on-screen action and feeling the aftershock. This feature is unavailable on iOS, but since most of the best gaming phones are Android models anyway, I’m sure this feature will find many fans.

Razer Kishi V3 Pro review: Performance

• Console quality gaming on the go
• Fantastic Nexus software
• Hit and miss virtual controller mode

As someone who has only gamed seriously on dedicated consoles up until this point, I was surprised by just how immersive using the Kishi V3 Pro felt.

The frame holds your phone in place sturdily and lets you focus on the important stuff – the games themselves. Like all the best controllers, the Kishi V3 Pro is so reliable that it disappears into your hands and makes you feel connected to the game – inputs are always accurate and responsive.

That unlocks a lot of potential for mobile games like Red Dead Redemption, which is playable on a touch screen, but offers a much better experience when you can aim accurately and take in the gorgeous visuals with an unobstructed view. Having spent a good amount of time riding through the deserts of New Austin in Red Dead Redemption 2 for PS4, I was surprised at how similar the two experiences felt.

I spent plenty of time with the Kishi V3 Pro in the newly released Fortnite: Chapter 7, running and gunning in Zero Build Battle Royale. I was able to get a competitive edge thanks to the precision of the thumbsticks for moving and aiming, as well as the mappable multi-function buttons (I assigned the map and pickaxe to the shoulder bumpers and slide and weapon select to the back buttons).

Again, I was quite amazed at how close the experience felt to playing on an actual console, and was clocking up Victory Royales like it was nobody’s business. What’s more, I was able to play for hours at a time without so much as a sign of cramp – if you’re looking for a mobile controller that’s comfortable enough for marathon sessions, the Kishi V3 Pro is a great pick. I’d even suggest that it’s more comfortable than my original Nintendo Switch.

The Kishi V3 Pro, like other Razer mobile controllers, supports and is supported by the Razer Nexus app, a launcher and hub for your compatible mobile games. Nexus also lets you toggle XInput and audio haptics before jumping into your game of choice, set favorite games, and browse popular Kishi-compatible titles, with easy links to the Google Play Store or App Store.

The app also offers the inventive Virtual Controller mode, which allows you to overlay controls on unsupported titles, effectively allowing you to play games that don’t support the Kishi V3 Pro natively.

However, Virtual Controller didn't always respond well when I tested the mode on Brawl Stars, despite Razer Nexus highlighting the game as a great candidate, and I couldn't figure out how to get Alto's Adventure (also highlighted) to respond either. TechRadar's Gaming Editor Dashiell Wood had Virtual Controller up and running during testing for our Kishi Ultra review, so I know the potential is there, but I didn't find it too effective.

As someone who typically avoids tacked-on software, I’m happy to report that Nexus is anything but an afterthought – in fact, it’s a thoughtfully laid-out and feature rich companion that helps you get the most out of the Kishi V3 Pro.

I used its settings to remap the multi-function buttons and increase the polling rate of the thumbsticks, but there are also settings for things like the input range for the triggers or setting thumbstick deadzone size. It’s a great app that elevates the Kishi V3 Pro from a peripheral to an experience of its own.

Should I buy the Razer Kishi V3 Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

Consider these alternatives if the Razer Kishi V3 Pro isn't quite the right mobile gaming controller for you.

How I reviewed the Razer Kishi V3 Pro

• Tested for approximately 8 hours of game time
• Tested on Android and iOS with a range of games

• Almost ten hours of game time
• Tested with a variety of games
• Tried a range of devices too

Though I wasn't counting closely, I estimate that I clocked in for approximately 8 hours of game time with the Razer Kishi V3 Pro across a variety of games.

I tested the controller with an iPhone 15 and Oppo Find X9 Pro to ensure it works well across both iOS and Android, as well as with the Xiaomi Pad Mini Android tablet. I played a variety of games, from demanding console ports like Fortnite and Red Dead Redemption to staples like Call of Duty: Mobile and Jetpack Joyride. I also tried out platformer Dadish 3D and horror side-scroller Carrion, and tested the Virtual Controller mode with Brawl Stars.

I focused on first and third-person games to get a good sense of the thumbsticks’ performance, and played competitive online games to test how the controls held up in high-pressure scenarios. I also tested the 15W pass-through charging and headphone jack, and dove deep into the Razer Nexus app to activate features like the multi-function buttons and audio haptics.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2025

Fortnite Winterfest 2025 skins are here, adding Hogwarts-themed Outfits to the Item Shop, and free Holiday skins to the Fortnite Winterfest Cabin. There a paid-for items, as well as free rewards to claim, and new skins will be added over time.

As Winterfest 2025 arrives in Fortnite, there are new snowy areas on the map. Players can log into the Winterfest Cabin each day, too, to open presents and claim rewards. This Holiday update gives us plenty to round out the year, before the next season of Fortnite arrives in 2026.

Here's the Fortnite Winterfest 2025 skins released so far, as well as a breakdown of how to get each one. Some are paid-for items, so I'll list the cost in V-Bucks for each.

Fortnite Winterfest 2025 skins

The Fortnite Winterfest 2025 skins can be found in the list below:

• Celebration of Hogwarts: Bundle (3200), Dynamic Dreamer (1500), Hallway Hero (1500), Radiant Rebel (1500), Creature Caretaker (1500), Story Seeker (1500), Mischief Maker (1500), Prank Prodigy (1500), Fearless Friend (1500), Audacious Adventurer (1500), Knowledge Keeper (1500)
• The Winterfest Bandit (800)
• Blinky (1200)
• Glimmer (2000)
• Snowdancer (1200)
• Froststorm Bomber (800)
• Glacial Dummy (free Cabin reward)
• Cheeks (free Cabin reward)

Fortnite Winterfest Harry Potter skins

Fortnite Harry Potter Winterfest skins are here. There are ten different base skins to choose from, and from there they can be customized with each house: Griffindor, Ravenclaw, Slytherin, and Hufflepuff. There's also a Celebration of Hogwarts Bundle, which gives you all ten skins, as well as the Snowy Owl Back Bling, the Firebolt Pickaxe, and the Peppermint Imps Emote.

Fortnite Winterfest free skins

There are two free skins to claim as part of Fortnite Winterfest 2025. This includes the Glacial Dummy, which is unlocked after you've opened seven presents in the cabin, and then the Cheeks Outfit, which is rewarded after you've opened 13 presents. You can see both of these skins in the image above.

Will there be more Fortnite Winterfest skins?

New Fortnite Winterfest skins will arrive over time, and we already know that Hatsune Miku, and a Christmas Sabrina Carpenter skin will be released soon. Unfortunately, release dates for upcoming skins haven't yet been announced. I'd expect new skins to line up with the weekly updates, so December 19 and then December 26.

With more than fifteen million pre-registrations and counting, Ananta is easily one of the most anticipated upcoming releases. This free-to-play adventure wowed with its most recent gameplay trailer, which showed off more than seven minutes of in-game footage set against the backdrop of its huge, colorful open world.

Featuring glimpses of everything from Watch Dogs-style drone piloting and Yakuza beat-em-up combat to Marvel’s Spider-Man-esque aerial traversal and stealth, it looks like a complete smorgasbord of fun mechanics that I simply can’t wait to master.

Urban fantasy

Ananta has also drawn plenty of comparisons with Grand Theft Auto 6, with fans pointing out the apparent similarities in its driving mechanics, the way in which you switch between its range of playable characters, and the overall concept of a life-like virtual world. “Legend has it that GTA 6 was postponed out of fear of competing with Ananta,” reads one of the highest-rated comments on its memorable State of Play appearance.

It’s an amusing, tongue-in-cheek remark, but it got me thinking: does developer Naked Rain truly envision these two titanic experiences living side by side when other studios have reportedly been shifting schedules around to avoid competing with Rockstar’s next release?

“We really appreciate the comparison to GTA 6,” the team told me in a recent written interview. “We believe they can certainly coexist. Although both [Ananta and GTA 6] fall into the urban open-world genre, there are still very many key differences between us, from the art style and character stories to many other aspects.”

Perhaps one of the most obvious points of divergence is the design of Anata’s world. It’s set in a modern city too, but one of a particularly East Asian bent. “We noticed that many city-themed games currently on the market are modeled on American cities like Los Angeles or New York,” the developers explained.

“Since there are still very few games set in Asia, we wanted to create a game that captures the essence of modern Asian urban life and share it with the world.”

Right now, there’s just one city in the game, they say, which “remains incomplete” in its current incarnation but will be expanded “gradually” over time. There’s also the possibility of new maps being added, which are set to include renditions of “more iconic locations across Asia.”

While the Grand Theft Auto series has always pursued photorealism, Ananta is substantially more stylized with cel-shaded visuals reminiscent of animation. The reasoning behind this is simple and, according to Naked Rain, “many members of the team are fans of anime. So there may be a desire to bring these anime-style worlds to life and deliver them to a global audience.”

Hustle and bustle

Don’t be fooled by the cartoony aesthetic, though; the world in Ananta is far from artificial. One of the most interesting moments in the game’s trailer shows the player assuming control of a different character - the camera pans out overhead before smoothly zooming back in to reveal the other protagonist cruising onto the scene in a flashy sports car.

It feels reminiscent of the character select system in GTA 5 that would play short cutscenes with each switch, giving the impression that you were interrupting the character’s everyday life. It’s taken further in Ananta, however, where the developers explain that “when you switch to a different character, your original character continues to live their own life.”

“As you transition between characters, you’ll witness the progression of their lives and can pick up from where they left off,” they add. “Our goal is to design a system that is unique compared to other RPGs, where diverse people and professions coexist in cities.” It comes as part of a commitment to create “distinct personas rather than just simple characters for players to control.”

This ties into the studio’s overall intentions for the project, too. “Since the beginning, our vision has remained unchanged,” the team reveals. “Our goal is to create a game that surpasses players' imaginations, allowing them to experience a virtual, fantastical life in an open world.” With this in mind, it’s not just important but “essential” that players are able to “fully engage with the lives” of each character as they “face different kinds of challenges.”

You might be concerned that a free-to-play business model could compromise the integrity of this vision, but the team is careful to assure me that they “do not plan to implement character gacha mechanics” and that while “Ananta will operate as a free-to-play game,” the “monetization will primarily focus on character skins.”

“At the heart of this game is the experience of ‘living a character's life.’ While reality limits us to one life, here you can enjoy as many unique lives as there are characters to embody,” they reiterate. “To fully embrace this [...] we want players to freely choose characters and explore diverse life paths - this is precisely why we designed character acquisition without gacha.”

Other “customization elements” will include upgrades for your character’s homes and vehicles, which can all be “acquired using in-game currency”.

Although there’s no firm release window yet, Ananta is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and mobile. I’ll certainly be watching closely for updates as its development progresses; hopefully, there won’t be too long a wait.

• Where Winds Meet is set to launch on December 12 for both iOS and Android
• It follows a successful PC and PS5 release back on November 14
• The game is a huge, free-to-play open-world RPG in a historical China setting

Massive free-to-play open-world role-playing game (RPG) Where Winds Meet is heading to mobile platforms next week.

Following a successful PC and console launch that saw the game surpass more than nine million total players and an impressive 250,000 concurrent users on Steam, developer EverStone Studios has confirmed that a mobile version is set to launch on December 12.

Coming to both Android and iOS devices, this edition of the game will feature a brand-new user interface that's been designed to support mobile play. This isn't a stripped-down port, though, and it will feature full cross-platform progression and cross-play with friends.

Set in a fictionalized vision of the historical Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, Where Winds Meet is one of the most ambitious games that I've ever played.

I visited the studio in Hangzhou, China, earlier this year to learn about the production process behind the game, gaining insight into everything from its unique art direction to its many mechanics.

As a free-to-play package, it's shockingly expansive, with more than 150 hours of content to dive into that ranges all the way from meaty Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice-style combat with magical abilities in carefully constructed dungeons to puzzles, fishing, mahjong, and even a surprisingly addictive rhythm minigame.

It's a fantastic experience on both PlayStation 5 and PC, so I'm certainly interested to see how it translates over to a more portable format next week.

• Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.4 is just days away
• The update drops on November 26 and adds two new playable heroes
• This includes a cute panda girl with a unique telephone motif

A deluge of details regarding the upcoming Zenless Zone Zero Version 2.4 update, or 'On the Precipice of the Abyss', has been released by developer Hoyoverse.

Set to drop next week on November 26, it introduces a major new story chapter and two playable characters. This most interesting of these is Dialyn, a customer service rep with a cute panda-like black and white design.

True to her punny name, she carries around an old-fashioned telephone and wears clothing adorned with adorable iconography that combines both pandas and telephones.

She's armed with a razor-sharp metal disk that she throws around the battlefield like a chakram.

The other agent on the way is Banyue, a powerful cybernetic martial artist with abilities that combine two distinct combat techniques.

Also coming in the update are two new Bangboos: Birkblick and Bild N. Boolok. The former is equipped with a sensor array that can transform into a floating cannon on the battlefield, bombarding enemies with energy, while the latter is a toy-themed companion with a big brick hammer.

Of course, no update would be complete without a wealth of in-game events, including the return of the popular Bangboo auto chess mode (with a load of new stages to master) and much more.

Want to dive into the world of Zenless Zone Zero in time for this next batch of content? The game is available now as a free-to-play title for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, and mobile phones.

Xbox Game Pass subscribers can also dive in without the need for a download via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

• Backbone has just unveiled a new version of its Pro mobile controller
• The Backbone Pro Xbox Edition is available today
• It seems perfect for Xbox Game Pass

Popular mobile accessory maker Backbone has just unveiled a new officially licensed Xbox controller, and it might be a better choice than the Elite Series 2 if you love cloud gaming.

The Backbone Pro Xbox Edition is available today for $179.99 via the Backbone website, Amazon, and Best Buy. It's a bright green Xbox-branded version of the existing Backbone Pro, which is packed with specialist features that make it perfect for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

It's compatible with your phone via its USB Type-C connector, so you can plug it in to play native mobile titles like Zenless Zone Zero or Call of Duty: Mobile in addition to countless streamed games via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The controller boasts Bluetooth functionality too, with more than forty hours of battery life. In wireless mode you can hook it up to your Smart TV, PC, laptop, or tablet and dive right back into your streamed Xbox games. The peripheral is fully compatible with Xbox Remote Play allowing you to stream directly from your Xbox console instead of Microsoft's servers if you prefer.

On top of this, it shares a few features with the premium Elite Series 2 pad such as remappable rear inputs. The compatible Backbone app allows you to access a wealth of settings, plus a universal game launcher that puts all your available games in one place for easy access.

Every Backbone Pro Xbox Edition also comes bundled with a code for one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, so you can dive into hundreds of titles right out of the box.

I was impressed with the standard version of the controller in my recent Backbone Pro review, where I praised the impressive level of comfort that it offers and high quality build, so this new model seems like a winner.

• Backbone has revealed a limited edition Death Stranding 2: On the Beach controller
• It's a special version of the Backbone One with a unique design and carrying case
• It costs $159.99 and will be limited to just 1,350 units

If you were disappointed by the rather plain Death Stranding 2 DualSense Wireless Controller that released earlier this year, then the maker of one of the best mobile controllers might have a compelling alternative.

Backbone has just unveiled a new limited edition version of its popular Backbone One mobile controller inspired by the game. Set to release on November 6, it's made in collaboration with developer Kojima Productions and is limited to just 1,350 units.

It features a distinct translucent blue and yellow colorway, complete with special blue triggers and buttons. It comes packaged with a special individually numbered case to help you keep it safe while you're on the go and a commemorative tag.

This is not the first time that Backbone has collaborated with Kojima Productions, having previously released a limited edition Backbone One based on the first game.

However, this new model stands apart as the brand's first limited edition collaboration with PlayStation, the publisher of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. The controller features DualSense style button markings, and is compatible with the PlayStation Remote Play app.

This special design does not come cheap, though, retailing at a whopping $159.99 (around £119.99) via the Backbone website, Best Buy Drops, or the Kojima Productions Store. That's $60 more than the standard Backbone One model and substantially more than the $84.99 / £74.99 DualSense.

Still, it's a neat looking design and given that it is strictly available in such limited quantities, I suspect that it will sell out quickly.

Weighing up the Backbone One vs Backbone Pro matchup is a pretty straightforward decision, as while both products are among the best mobile controllers right now, they still have clear advantages and disadvantages.

The Backbone One is the better pick if you want something more portable, as its smaller overall form factor makes it much easier to stow in a bag or a pocket. It’s also a good choice if you’re trying to save some cash, as it comes in at $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.99, which is substantially lower than the $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95 price tag of the Pro.

Both products offer USB-C connectivity and will fit a wide range of mobile devices, but unlike the Backbone Pro, the Backbone One is also available in a Lightning connector variant, which makes it compatible with older iPhones too.

There’s also a licensed PlayStation Edition version of the Backbone One, which comes in White and offers familiar button markings for fans of the DualSense Wireless Controller.

With that said, there are still plenty of reasons to go with the Pro. Its larger size means that it offers bigger grips, thumbsticks, and buttons, which are more comfortable to use. The original Backbone One is by no means uncomfortable, but the Pro is still a better choice if you know that you will be having lots of long mobile gaming sessions.

The Pro also offers some additional button inputs in the form of two remappable rear buttons, which are not present on the One. It has a wealth of cloud gaming features too, including an in-built battery that allows you to use it wirelessly with your Smart TV or PC for up to forty hours.

If you’re searching for an all-in-one gamepad that can be used both with your phone and as a cloud gaming controller, then the Backbone Pro is well worth the added cost.

Backbone One vs Backbone Pro: Price and value

Price is likely going to be a big decider when you’re choosing between the Backbone One and Backbone Pro.

The Backbone One is the cheaper option, coming in at $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.99. It’s a great value at this price, as you’re going to struggle to find other mobile controllers in the same price range with similarly high-quality buttons and materials.

The Backbone Pro is more premium, as it costs $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95 - a whopping $70 / £70 / AU$119.96 more than the One. Despite its similarly high build quality, it faces plenty of strong competition at this price range, with other high-end mobile gamepads like the Razer Kishi Ultra being slightly cheaper at $149.99 / £149.99 / AU$269.95.

Whether or not the Backbone Pro is a good value compared to the One is going to depend heavily on how much you want the increased level of comfort that it offers. You should also weigh up how much you need its wireless connectivity or extra button inputs. If you know that you’re going to be using it a lot as a cloud gaming controller, then the added expense is fair.

You should also be on the lookout for any potential discounts. The Backbone One is frequently on sale for just $69.99 / £69.99, which makes it an even better deal. The Pro hasn’t received quite so many price cuts as it came out much more recently, but I’ve still seen it for around $10 / £10 during major sales events.

Backbone One vs Backbone Pro: Specs and performance

To help inform your decision, here’s how the specs of the Backbone One and Backbone Pro stack up.

Aside from the price, the main spec differences between the two controllers are their physical dimensions and weight. The Backbone Pro is larger and heavier, coming in at 0.44lbs / 203g compared to 0.30lbs / 138g.

The devices also offer differing connectivity options. The Backbone Pro features a battery and can be used as a wireless Bluetooth controller. This means that it’s compatible with a wider range of devices, as it can be used with a PC, Smart TV, or even Nintendo Switch. In my testing, it was instantly picked up as a controller on Steam and worked with other devices like tablets too.

While there is only one version of the Backbone Pro at the moment, there are a few versions of the Backbone One to choose from. This includes a Lightning connector variant that’s compatible with older iPhones. If you own a phone that needs a Lightning connector, then you should purchase the One. PlayStation fans will also likely appreciate the Backbone One PlayStation Edition, which comes in white and has DualSense-inspired button markings.

Both controllers perform very well and work with a wide range of games, including big hits like Minecraft, Genshin Impact, Zenless Zone Zero, and Call of Duty: Mobile. The Backbone Pro does benefit from its larger form factor, though, as it allows for larger thumbsticks with a better range of motion. Although the Backbone One is by no means uncomfortable to use, the chunky grips of the Pro are less fatiguing over long play sessions and would also be a better fit for those with larger hands.

Both the Backbone One and Pro are compatible with the same Backbone app, which offers a range of decent features. This includes the ability to easily search for compatible games or launch those that are already installed. Some features like video capture and in-app voice chat are locked behind a subscription, though, which is a shame.

Backbone One vs Backbone Pro: Design and dimensions

The Backbone One and Backbone Pro have a similar overall design, though there are some key differences. Both controllers look like two sides of a traditional gamepad joined together by an extending mechanism where you can place your phone.

They both offer your usual controller inputs too, with two thumbsticks, four face buttons, a D-pad, two triggers, two shoulder buttons, and so on. The Backbone Pro does have those two extra rear inputs, plus an extra Bluetooth pairing button.

Despite looking similar, they feature subtly different-feeling buttons. The buttons on the Backbone One are louder and clickier, almost like a mechanical keyboard, whereas the buttons on the Pro are softer and more spongy. Both types feel fantastic to use, and which you prefer is ultimately going to come down to personal preference. I personally like the softness of the buttons on the Pro, and appreciate the fact that they’re a bit quieter.

The Backbone Pro is visibly much larger, with thicker grips that put it more in line with the Xbox Wireless Controller in terms of scale. Without a phone fitted, the Pro is 7.1 x 11.1 x 2in / 181 x 281 x 50mm while the One is just 6.93 x 3.70 x 1.34in / 176 x 94 x 34mm.

Both controllers feature the same ports: a USB-C port for pass-through charging (or a Lightning port, if you buy the Lightning version of the One) so that you can keep your phone battery topped up while you play, and a 3.5mm audio jack for a pair of gaming headphones.

Backbone One vs Backbone Pro: Verdict

Whether you should choose the Backbone One or Backbone Pro ultimately comes down to your individual needs. If you want a compact controller that’s lightweight and easy to bring around, then the Backbone One is the clear winner. It’s also the one to pick if you want the cheaper option, or the exclusive PlayStation Edition and Lightning variants.

The Backbone Pro is the better choice if you are willing to spend more for its extra features, be that the wireless connectivity or additional remappable buttons. It’s larger than the One, which hurts its portability, but this makes it more comfortable to use.

Whichever you pick, you are getting a high-quality controller, though, with premium materials and a strong companion app.

I’ve tested both models extensively and personally lean towards the One. I find that the small size means that I’m much more willing to chuck in my bag before a trip, which is the kind of situation that most mobile players will be buying a peripheral for in my eyes.

For mobile gamers, nowhere has better games than iOS.

Though almost all of the best gaming phones are Android handsets, Apple's mobile platform has the best selection of triple-A (big-budget) games, console ports, and creative mobile originals. Furthermore, Apple Arcade sits leagues above Google’s Play Pass service, thanks to the curation and quality of the titles on offer.

I grew up in the early days of the iPhone, and during that time my gaming console of choice was often my iPod Touch or the iPhone 5S that replaced it: I’ve always seen iOS as a unique home for some truly excellent titles.

That’s truer than ever today. iOS and iPadOS are the only mobile operating systems with a proper selection of console-class titles – I’m talking Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Death Stranding, Sniper Elite 4, Control, and Resident Evil 4 Remake, among others. We’ve come a long way from the days when Jetpack Joyride was the most advanced game in the App Store (though Halfbrick's infinite scroller is still totally brilliant).

And even more recently, iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 saw Apple finally gave the iPhone and iPad a dedicated Games app and Game Mode overlay with specific controls and optimizations for gameplay. To me, this suggests a renewed and open dedication to iOS as a gaming platform, which gets me thinking about what could come next.

Folding iPhone intrigue

According to every credible tech leaker, tipster, and rumor aggregator, Apple is working on a folding iPhone.

What’s more, it could be a real oddity, with a wide iPad mini-style display and a squat passport-style cover screen. The latest rumors point to an inner screen of around 7.7 inches and an approximate aspect ratio of 14:10, which is just a bit squatter than the iPad mini’s 3:2 panel.

Most of the best folding phones – at least those with a booklet form factor – tend to emulate typical slab phone displays with their cover screens, with a large square-ish inner display, so this suggests Apple could be taking a different approach.

Those conventional booklet-style folding phones are great for reading, multitasking, and taking photos and videos, but aren’t that well suited to certain games – particularly console titles originally developed for TVs and monitors, or first-person games that rely on the player having a wide field of view. I’m sure Call of Duty Mobile runs well on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, but you’re at a practical disadvantage if you use the inner display over the wider cover screen, because of the hemmed-in visual field.

A wider folding screen, alongside a powerful A-series chipset and a healthy battery capacity, could make the folding iPhone an excellent mobile gaming machine. At its rumored screen size of about 7.7 inches, it’d offer a similar display size to the Nintendo Switch 2 while folding down to a size just a little bit larger than the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7. That’s a mix of power and portability that other gaming phones – nearly always slabs with large screens – don’t quite match.

Huawei ahead of the curve

Naturally, we can look to China to see that this general concept has already been attempted. Huawei released the Pura X earlier this year, around the time that iPhone Fold rumors were beginning to heat up. The Pura X sports a 6.3-inch inner display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, with a square 3.5-inch cover display.

Since the Pura X is a China exclusive, I’ve not had a chance to get any hands-on experience with it – but I appreciate its style from afar. The key here is the inner display, which at 16:10 is well suited to gaming, so this type of form factor combined with iOS’ superior selection of games could make for a really enticing combination.

Now, I’m not expecting Apple to centre its rumored folding iPhone around gaming – in fact, I’d expect any Apple folding phone to be aggressively marketed as a general purpose device, in contrast to Samsung’s focus on performance and productivity. I just hope Apple goes for the weird and wide design to make the most of this speculative phone’s gaming potential.

How should Apple design the rumored iPhone Fold? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

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