A new teaser trailer….for the full trailer for the next Bond film “No Time To Die” has been released and it reveals that on Wednesday we will get our first full look at Daniel Craig’s final film as 007:
Win Star Trek: Discovery: Season Two on DVD
To celebrate the return of the most iconic sci-fi television franchise in history: STAR TREK: DISCOVERY: SEASON TWO, out NOW on Blu-ray™ and DVD from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment, we’re giving you the chance to win your very own DVD copy!
“Certified Fresh” by Rotten Tomatoes, all 14 episodes of the CBS series’ latest season appear with brilliant sound and picture across four discs in both the Blu-ray™ and DVD formats. STAR TREK: DISCOVERY: SEASON TWO Blu-ray™ and DVD will include over two hours of exclusive, captivating special features, plus two episodes of SHORT TREKS that are related to STAR TREK: DISCOVERY: SEASON TWO: “Runaway” featuring Ensign Sylvia Tilly and “The Brightest Star” featuring Commander Saru.
After answering a distress signal from the U.S.S. Enterprise, STAR TREK: DISCOVERY: SEASON TWO finds the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery joining forces with Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) on a new mission to investigate seven mysterious red signals and the appearance of an unknown being called the Red Angel. While the crew must work together to unravel their meaning and origin, First Officer Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) is forced to face her past with the return of her estranged brother, Spock (Ethan Peck). STAR TREK: DISCOVERY: SEASON TWO also stars Doug Jones (“Commander Saru”), Anthony Rapp (“Lt. Commander Paul Stamets”), Mary Wiseman (“Ensign Sylvia Tilly”), Shazad Latif (“Ash Tyler”), Wilson Cruz (“Dr. Hugh Culber”), Mary Chieffo (“L’Rell”), Tig Notaro (“Chief Engineer Reno”), Rebecca Romijn (“Number One”) and Michelle Yeoh (“Philippa Georgiou”).
How to enter to win
We have two copies to give away. For your chance to win a DVD copy of STAR TREK: DISCOVERY: SEASON TWO simply enter below:
Win Star Trek: Discovery: Season Two on DVD
The closing date is 12.00am on 15th December 2019.
This contest is only open to those in the UK – sorry!
STAR TREK: DISCOVERY: SEASON TWO is out now on Blu-Ray™ and DVD.
Review: HELM Audio True Wireless 5.0 Headphones
Here is our review of the HELM Audio True Wireless 5.0 Headphones.
Specifications
- Pure HiFi Sound, Low Latency (no lag) for Music & Movies
- Industry Acclaimed Sound Quality & Heavy Hitting Bass You Can Feel
- Pick Up & Play with Auto-Pairing & Auto Charging
- 6-8 Hours Play Time +30 Extra Hrs with the Portable Charging Case.
- Secure Comfort Fit with Incredible Noise Isolation for Every Activity – Perfect for Traveling, Working Out & On the Go
- Rain, Sweat, & Mud Approved with IPX4 Water Resistance.
- Industry Leading Range of up to 60ft.
- Smart Buttons & Dual Mics for Stereo Phone Calls & Voice Assistant
What’s in the box?
The box contains the headset, charging case, USB cable, extra ear tips and a guide.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
Charging the headset was very easy – just leave them in the charging case and plug in. You get around 6 – 8 hours of battery life from the headset, but you also get an additional 30 hours of charging time from a fully charged case which should mean you are never without a charge! There are lights on the side of the case to show the status of charging along with the remaining charges left in the case.
Syncing the headset with any Bluetooth enabled device was also very simple and when you then take them out of the case they are automatically paired again.
The box contains replacement tips so that you can find the ones that best fit your ears. When you do they fit nicely and comfortably ensuring an all round pleasant listening experience.
The headset is also water resistant (IPX4 for those who want to know that sort of thing), this includes sweat. I wouldn’t recommend wearing them in the shower though, but wearing them in the rain shouldn’t cause any problems at all.
The sound quality is really very good, and you can really hear the bass coming through. Qualcomm aptX audio provides lag-free CD quality sound and that works very well.
The headphones have a diamond patterned shell which helps keep them scratch and fingerprint free.
When making or receiving phone calls, you can hear clear audio in both ears and the dual mics in the headset capture the audio in a variety of different noisy situations very well. You can also use Siri or Google Assistant at the tap of the headset.
My only negative comment that I can make is that the charging / carry case is actually quite bulky. If you are carrying it in a bag then you probably won’t notice it, but if you want to slip it into your jeans pocket you will feel it!
The Helm Audio True Wireless 5.0 is available now priced around $129.99 and are available in either Black or Onyx. If you are in the market for a high quality sounding set of wireless headphones with a fantastic battery life then you really want to take these out for a listen – you won’t be disappointed.
You can learn more about the Helm Audio True Wireless 5.0 Headset here.
CODEMASTERS Acquires Slight Mad Studios, Developer of Project Cars
Codemasters today announced it has agreed to acquire racing simulation specialists, Slightly Mad Studios. The acquisition will cement Codemasters’ position as a world-leading games developer and publisher of racing videogames and expands its portfolio to include the award-winning Project CARS, together with an unannounced Hollywood blockbuster title. Frank Sagnier will remain CEO of Codemasters Group plc which now includes Slightly Mad Studios and Ian Bell will retain his position of Founder and CEO of Slightly Mad Studios. Codemasters now employs c.700 people globally with offices including London, Birmingham, Southam and Runcorn.
Both companies share a rich history of creating AAA racing games. Codemasters has been a UK leader for over 30 years and is the creator of the critically acclaimed intellectual properties including DiRT, GRID and the BAFTA-winning official FORMULA 1 Series. Slightly Mad Studios has been established for 10 years and is the proud developer and owner of the Project CARS franchise which has generated both critical and commercial success. Slightly Mad Studios has also delivered high-quality racing simulations alongside its own IP including two Need for Speed titles on behalf of Electronic Arts.
“We are delighted to bring such an incredible racing game developer to the Codemasters family, and this unequivocally establishes us as a global powerhouse in the development of racing titles,” said Frank Sagnier, Chief Executive Officer at Codemasters. “We share the same passion and vision and our new partnership will accelerate our growth. With more streaming services coming to market and the next generation of games consoles due in 2020, this is the perfect time for Codemasters to take its next step.”
“Our combined racing games portfolio is the envy of the industry and this new partnership will enable us to learn from each other, share resources and take advantage of emerging platforms and technology,” said Ian Bell, Founder and Chief Executive at Slightly Mad Studios. “My team is excited to be joining Codemasters and we can’t wait to forge a relationship based on creativity, passion and the desire to create new racing experiences that excite and delight our communities.”
For future news, follow Codemasters games blog and social channels on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
Review: PDP Gaming’s Afterglow Prismatic Wired Controller for Xbox One and Windows 10
Following our review of the excellent PDP Level 50 Wireless Headsets for both PS4 and Xbox One, it is time to take a look at something else that I feel most gamers would benefit from, the PDP range of wired controllers for Xbox One. I am taking a look at the PDP Afterglow Prismatic Wired Controller for Xbox One and Windows 10 PC.
When I attended the PDP Winter Showcase for their range of products, it was the wired controllers for the Xbox One that really grabbed my attention. The Afterglow Prismatic Wired Controller stood out because it was one of the nicer RGB focused wired controllers I have seen on the market, PDP Gaming also do a similar controller for the Nintendo Switch, but for the Xbox One and Windows 10 PC, it just looked really smart and again, the focus on common sense features really made this controller jump out at me. So let’s take a look at what to expect from this controller once out of the box:
Features:
- Featuring Afterglow’s signature Prismatic LED lighting, set your favourite colour
- Hook up your headset to the 3.5mm audio jack and enjoy chat and volume controls located directly on the controller
- Enhanced gameplay with vibration feedback
- Includes a detachable 10 foot Micro USB cable for plenty of room to play with ease – easily charge other devices with this cable too!
- Compatible with Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, and Windows 10
Having a go to spare controller is really a must have for all gamers, either just to have as a backup controller or one for a younger gamer if you perhaps do not want them handling your more expensive controllers. If you are to have a wired controller, why not have that extra little element of showmanship which is where the Afterglow Prismatic wired controller comes in, offering all the benefits of a wired controller but showcasing an extra sense of flare to your gaming.
Though a little more expensive than the main range of PDP Gaming wired controllers such as the ‘Stealth Series Phantom Black’ that I reviewed previously, the Afterglow Prismatic controller still retains the same extra tier of common sense functionality that is central to their range both visually and in how it functions, to make them your next purchase. The transparent casing lets you see all the inner workings which is something I have always been a fan of when I look back and get all nostalgic over the fact my first ever Xbox console was the White Crystal OG Xbox bought alongside HALO 2 on its launch. Which ever able you look at the controller, it just looks lovely and fresh.
It is a very light controller due to not having all the technical hardware for Bluetooth and wireless as well as not having a traditional battery pack due to being a wired controller. This can take a little while to get used to if you have not used a wired controller before. This is something I think makes this a great controller for a younger gamer in your household potentially but it can feel a little fragile in an adult’s hand. The 10m cable is very generous allowing use quite far away from the actual console as well but of course, not as wide ranging as a wireless controller. Simply plug the cable into any USB port on your Xbox One OG/S/X console and the controller is ready to go with the profile you have signed in as on the console. The Xbox button on the controller will bring up the guide for normal Xbox guide button service though I did find I had to mash down a little hard to get it to respond. The thumbsticks feel really great as well as do the face buttons on the controller. Triggers and shoulder bumper buttons also felt very responsive and didn’t have that cheap springy feel or sound that other wired controllers can suffer from.
Where this controller does stand out is how it allows the user to customise the RGB lighting to give it a very personal colour scheme. The same button that allows users of headsets to utilise added functionality for audio controls via the controller which is placed Just below the right thumbstick is a clever little button, tapping it twice will mute your headset, holding it down and pressing left or right on the D-Pad will raise or lower volume levels or by pressing up and down it will adjust game and chat voice mixer levels. But holding down the button and moving the left stick will change the colour of the prismatic RGB lights inside the controller, and by simply releasing the button, the controller will remember that colour choice and even if you power down or unplug the controller from either an Xbox One console or Windows 10 PC/Laptop, the controller will remember the colour that was chosen.
It just makes this wires controller look stunning, especially if played in the dark and I really found the extra ability to give audio controls for a headset, to be a nice sensible addition to the controller features, especially as someone who for a good portion of the time when I game, I am using a set of earbuds instead of a headset, which just happen to have no inline controls on them, which now with this wired controller, I actually can. PDP Gaming’s focus on common sense features is something that impressed me with their range of headsets and by including it with their wired controller range really does help and offer something extra that other brands do not.
The full-on PDP Gaming Hub app that you can download on both your Xbox One console and Windows 10 device will allow you to do a variety of things with the controller. This is a free app to download and it allows you to not only calibrate the thumbsticks to a setting you prefer but also to remap buttons as well as running diagnostics in case you fear something has gone wrong with the controller allowing you to get the help you need from support much faster by actually being able to test the controller yourself with the hub. The App will even auto detect the controller you have and after using it to test and set up the Phantom Black Wired controller, just plugging in the Afterglow Prismatic controller immediately came on screen with the app which proceeded to update the controller firmware. The App also allows you to set the colour scheme of the controller as well as all the other settings for those really looking to fine tune the colour of the RGG lights a little more. Being able to set a profile of sorts by setting the audio levels I want from my headset with the controller, to remapping the buttons should I need to is something I would never have expected to be able to do with a simple wired controller.
I really liked the Afterglow Prismatic wired controller, visually it looks great and performance wise it held up really well with the heavy-duty games I play on Xbox One from Borderlands 3 to COD Modern Warfare to fighting games like Mortal Kombat 11, actually quickly setting its colour scheme to match my favourite fighters Sub-Zero and Scorpion. While like the Phantom Black wired controller, it will not replace my main controller but as a backup and spare, this is fantastic to have alongside your console or Windows 10 laptop or PC.
This would also make a superb stocking filler for any gamer you know approaching the holidays, with the functionality and build quality you get for the price, the PDP gaming range of wired controllers really stand out for me with the Afterglow Prismatic wired controller just jumping out with a level of style and flare any gamer would appreciate to have and use.
Further PlayStation Deals Announced for Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2019
That time of year has quickly come around again as bargain hunters are set to strike an amazing Black Friday deal! PlayStation have announced additional bargains to watch out for and you can check out some of their offers below:
Starting from now, Playstation are temporarily dropping the recommended retail price for shoppers who will have the chance to purchase PlayStation 4 at a great discount until the 2nd December. Deals included:
- 500GB PS4 plus a selected game for £199.99, highlights include:
- 500GB FIFA 20 PS4 Bundle
- 500GB Call of Duty Modern Warfare PS4 Bundle
- 500GB Fortnite Bundle (includes additional DS4)
- 500GB PS4 + Death Stranding
- 1TB PS4 with a selected game for £249.99, highlights include:
- 1TB FIFA 20 PS4 Bundle
- 1TB PS4 + DEATH STRANDING
- PS4 500GB HDD FIFA 20 Bundle, and an additional DUALSHOCK 4 Wireless controller for £219.99
A great selection of PlayStation exclusive games on Blu-ray Disc, highlights include:
- Days Gone, £34.99
- Marvel’s Spider-Man, £15.99
- Concrete Genie, £15.99
- God of War, £11.99
- GT Sport, £11.99
- Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, £11.99
- Detroit Become Human, £11.99
- The Last of Us Remastered, £11.99
- Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, £11.99
Starting from today, Sony PlayStation are also temporarily dropping their recommended retail price of PlayStation VR Starter Pack (includes PS VR Headset, a PS Camera and voucher for PlayStation VR Worlds) to £179.99 and PlayStation VR Mega Pack 2019 (which comes with five PS VR titles: Astro Bot Rescue Mission, Skyrim VR, Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Everybody’s Golf VR and PlayStation VR Worlds) to £209.99.
There are also deals on DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controllers (all colours) which will be available at an RRP of £34.99 or £20.00 RRP when purchased with a PlayStation 4 console.
All promotional offers end at 2nd December at 23:59 unless otherwise stated. Check www.playstation.com/blackfriday for a list of all deals
GAME Black Friday Deals and ’12 Days of Christmas’ Giveaway News
Fans can get their hands on some amazing Black Friday deals as GAME confirm their final discounts. And if thats not enough, why not try and win yourself a bumper load of gaming goodies in the GAME 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway.
Going live on Sunday 1st Dec, customers can enter a daily competition via the GAME Reward App for a chance to win a variety of gaming consoles, accessories and more! To be in with a chance of winning simply download the GAME Reward App from your phones’s app store and enter via the competition section. New prizes will be revealed every day for 12 days, so there’s even more chances of winning! And thats not all, 1 lucky GAME Elite customer has the bonus chance to win all the 12 days prizes! For more details go to www.game.co.uk/prizedraws
BLACK FRIDAY DEALS
XBOX ONE
- Xbox All Digital V2 (Sea of Thieves, Minecraft and Fortnite DLC) £129.99 SAVE £70 Lead deal
- Xbox One S with Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order + Now TV – £179.99 SAVE £70
- Xbox One S with Forza Horizon 4 + Lego Champions + McLarren Senna LEGO Toy + Now TV – £179.99 SAVE £70 Tertiary deal
- Xbox One X with Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order + Now TV – £299.99 SAVE £150 Secondary deal
- Xbox One X Forza Horizon 4 LEGO® Speed Champions Bundle + McLarren Senna LEGO Toy + Now TV – £299.99 SAVE £150
- XBOX ONE X 1TB HYPERSPACE SPECIAL EDITION CONSOLE + NOW TV – £299.99 SAVE £150 – Retail EXCLUSIVE
PS4
- PS4 500GB Fortnite + Now TV £249.99
- PS4 500GB COD + Now TV £249.99
- PS4 1TB FIFA+ Now TV £299.99
- PS4 500GB Fortnite + Now TV £199.99 SAVE £50 Tertiary deal
- PS4 500GB COD Modern Warfare + Now TV £199.99 SAVE £50 Lead deal
- PS4 500GB FIFA 20 + Now TV £199.99 Tertiary deal
- PS4 1TB FIFA 20 + Now TV £249.99 SAVE £50
- PS4 Pro FIFA 20 + Now TV £299.99 SAVE £50 Secondary deal
- PS4 Pro COD Modern Warfare + Now TV £299.99 SAVE £50
- PS4 Pro Death Stranding Limited Edition £329.99 SAVE £50
GAMES
All Black Friday deals for PlayStation here, Xbox here and Switch here.
Deals available on the following titles and more – FIFA 20 GEN 4, PLANTS VS ZOMBIES BATTLE FOR NEIGHBOURVILLE, NEED FOR SPEED HEAT, STAR WARS JEDI FALLEN ORDER DELUXE EDITION, FORZA HORIZON 4, Spider-Man and God of War – Hits.
ACCESSORIES
All Black Friday deals for accessories are here. Deals available on the following titles and more – Turtle Beach Recon, G332 SE Wired Gaming Headset, G502 SE Hero Gaming Mouse, G512 SE – UK Gaming Keyboard, CTRL XONE, DS4 Fortnite and DS4 Blue Camo.
Ghost Recon: Breakpoint First Raid Launches with ‘Project Titan’ Update
Ubisoft has announced that Project Titan, the first raid in the history of the Ghost Recon franchise, will be available from 20:00 GMT today. The raid will be free for all Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint players on the Xbox One family of devices including the Xbox One X, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC. Additionally, Project Titan will be available on Stadia, the new generation gaming platform from Google, later in 2019.
Project Titan is the toughest end-game challenge. The project introduces a four-player raid, which will test the teamwork and ability of the most experienced players as they take on The Titans, the most advanced Skell Technology drones.
Project Titan takes place on Golem Island, an entirely new location off the coast of Auroa, featuring unique environments full of sulphur, ashes and an active volcano. A faction of the Wolves, called the Red Wolves, has taken over the island and refactored the AI to work on new lethal prototype drones. Ghosts will need to gather intel to find these drones, and push their skills to the limit to take them down.
To successfully complete a raid, players will need to destroy four bosses – Baal, Quantum Computer, Gargoyle and Cerberus – each with their own unique design and mechanics that will require tactical co-ordination and communication to overcome.
Players will need to assemble a full squad of four players with a Gear Level over 150 to access Project Titan. The raid will initially be available to play on Normal difficulty and will reward players with some of the best loot and gear in the game. The raid will be reset weekly, providing a fresh challenge to players by introducing objectives, enemy setups and rewards. Easy and Heroic difficulty modes will be introduced in early 2020.
Project Titan is the first major content addition since the launch of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint and follows a series of free updates which brought major improvements to the game. The latest patch, TU 1.03.1, introduced improvements on adaptive magazine pouches on tactical vests, gender and face selection at any time, as well as a variety of important bug fixes. Patch notes can be found here. The game will continue to receive regular updates in the coming months, in line with the commitment made in the Moving Forward letter to expand and improve the game based on player feedback.
For the latest news about Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint, please visit ghost-recon.ubisoft.com.
For the latest news about other Ubisoft games, please visit news.ubisoft.com.
EGX Rezzed 2020 Tickets Now on Sale!
Tickets are now available for gamers to gain the opportunity to play the very best pre-release games and hundreds of other breakthrough indie titles, all being showcased alongside many iconic game developers, each sharing their unique insight into the gaming industry.
Much loved gaming personalities from the likes of Outside Xbox and Dicebreaker are already confirmed for the 2020 show, with Outside Xbox bringing their ever-popular Oxventure Dungeons & Dragons show on both Friday 27th and Saturday 28th.
Tickets are available now from the official EGX Rezzed website priced from £20.
EGX Rezzed is where indie games shine – an essential event for both creators and players.
Find a packed schedule including many inspiring panelists, who will be there to share invaluable knowledge and career advice – as well as covering new and exclusive updates on upcoming titles.
Many game designers and well-known names will be ready to greet attendees and answer any questions about the industry; whether that’s during a portfolio review, Rezzed sessions or Fringe Theatre presentation, EGX Rezzed is the place for anyone wanting to get the latest insights in gaming.
Review: PDP Gaming Wired ‘Phantom Black’ Controller for Xbox One and Windows 10
Following our reviews of the excellent PDP Level 50 Wireless Headsets for both PS4 and Xbox One, it is time to take a look at something else that I feel most gamers would benefit from, the PDP range of wired controllers for Xbox One. I am taking a look at the PDP Stealth Series: Phantom Black Wired Controller for Xbox One and Windows 10 PC.
When I attended the PDP Winter Showcase for their range of products, it was the wired controllers for the Xbox One that really grabbed my attention. At first, I genuinely thought they were actual full-bodied Xbox One controllers, visually they looked almost identical to the normal wireless controllers you would be used too but to my surprise, I learned they were actually wired controllers all be it with some additional PDP Gaming common sense functionality. So let’s take a look at what to expect from this controller once out of the box:
Features:
- 5 mm headset jack with onboard audio controls
- Dual textured trigger and shoulder buttons
- Compatible with Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, and Windows
- Dual rumble motors
- Detachable 8’ cable
I have always believed that all gamers should have a go to spare controller, either just to have as a backup controller or one for a younger gamer if you perhaps do not want them handling your more expensive controllers or in my case, having a spare controller you can let that one friend of yours who happens to rage at every game they lose be it FIFA at 3am after a night out or those fighting games that can really grind down your favourite controller of choice.
For me, this is where wired controllers are perfect as they are considerably cheaper than a full controller, great to have as a spare whenever you need one plus having the nice piece of mind that a backup controller is just close to hand. Where I think PDP Gaming has taken this to another level is that they have really added an extra tier of common sense functionality to their range both visually and in how it functions, to make them your next purchase. Starting with their Stealth Series of wire controllers, the ‘Phantom Black’ has a nice combat camouflage look to it, something that mirrors the official Xbox One wireless controllers to a tee. You can feel the raised pattern if you run your fingers across the surface and it looks great when you move the controller and catch the light with it.
It is a very light controller due to not having all the technical hardware for Bluetooth and wireless as well as not having a traditional battery pack due to being a wired controller. This can take a little while to get used to if you have not used a wired controller before. This is something I think makes this a great controller for a younger gamer in your household potentially but it can feel a little fragile in an adult’s hand. The 8’ cable is very generous allowing use quite far away from the actual console as well but of course, not as wide ranging as a wireless controller. Simply plug the cable into any USB port on your Xbox One OG/S/X console and the controller is ready to go with the profile you have signed in as on the console. The Xbox button on the controller will bring up the guide for normal Xbox guide button service though I did find I had to mash down a little hard to get it to respond.
The thumbsticks feel really great as well as do the face buttons on the controller. Triggers and shoulder bumper buttons also felt very responsive and didn’t have that cheap springy feel or sound that other wired controllers can suffer from. The attempt to add some extra grip to the triggers and shoulder buttons with the “dual textured” design is noticeable but for me, didn’t really add anything extra to avoid “sweaty finger” slippage when in the middle of a chaotic game of COD MW for example but the feel does match the overall texture of the controller with the camouflage design on the front.
Where this controller does stand out is how it does a nice extra little trick for those who use headsets by adding some additional functionality for audio controls via the controller. Just below the right thumbstick is a clever little button, tapping it twice will mute your headset, holding it down and pressing left or right on the D-Pad will raise or lower volume levels or by pressing up and down it will adjust game and chat voice mixer levels. I really found this to be a nice sensible addition to the controller features, especially as someone who for a good portion of the time when I game, I am using a set of earbuds instead of a headset, which just happen to have no inline controls on them, which now with this wired controller, I actually can. PDP Gaming’s focus on common sense features is something that impressed me with their range of headsets and by including it with their wired controller range really does help and offer something extra that other brands do not.
What I did find to be a big surprise with this controller was in discovering that there is a full-on PDP Gaming Hub app that you can download on both your Xbox One console and Windows 10 device, that will allow you to do a variety of things with the controller. This is a free app to download and it allows you to not only calibrate the thumbsticks to a setting you prefer but also to remap buttons as well as running diagnostics in case you fear something has gone wrong with the controller allowing you to get the help you need from support much faster by actually being able to test the controller yourself with the hub. Being able to set a profile of sorts by setting the audio levels I want from my headset with the controller, to remapping the buttons should I need to is something I would never have expected to be able to do with a simple wired controller. The hub works with a wide range of PDP Gaming controllers and just elevates it to another level for me.
I really liked the Phantom Black wired controller, visually it looks great and performance whise it held up really well with the heavy-duty games I play on Xbox One from Borderlands 3 to COD Modern Warfare to fighting games like For Honor and Dragon Ball FighterZ. It will not replace my main controller but as a backup and spare, this is essential to have alongside your console or Windows 10 laptop or PC.
This would also make a superb stocking filler for any gamer you know approaching the holidays, with the functionality and build quality you get for the price, this really stands out for me as a wired controller.
PS Plus Titles for December Revealed
PlayStation have revealed the PS Plus free titles for December 2019 on PS4:
Kicking off with Titanfall 2 – become a mech-piloting, parkour-ing hero, boasting a very celebrated single player campaign and Multiplayer mode.
Then prepare to race in the dirt with Monster Energy Supercross The Official Videogame – show off your wheelie good motorbike skills on this challenging racer.
PS Plus titles are valid for all accounts with a valid PlayStation Plus subscription.
Xbox Games with Gold Lineup for December 2019 Announced
December’s Games with Gold Line up has been revealed by Xbox and oh it is a gooden to end the year on:
In December on Xbox One, play the unique card battler Insane Robots and then bring the wonder and majesty of dinosaurs to life in Jurassic World Evolution. On Xbox 360, and Xbox One via Backward Compatibility, unleash your imagination in Toy Story 3 then continue the fight against Dracula in Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate HD.
All games will be available exclusively for Xbox Live Gold members for a limited time as part of Games with Gold.
A Closer Look at Halo Phone and Controller Holder from Cable Guys
We take a closer look at the Halo Phone and Controller Holder from Cable Guys.
Cable guy styled on Master Chief From Halo Clsssic – our original IP 8” tall and coming with a 2 metre USB C cable for charging your device. Compatible with Playstation controllers, Xbox controllers and most smartphones.
A Closer Look
The Cable Guy Halo Holder costs £19.99 from Zavvi.
Review: PDP Gaming’s LEVEL 50 Wireless Headset for Xbox One
Following up my review of the PDP Gaming LEVEL 50 Wireless Headset for the PlayStation 4, now comes the review of its twin, the LEVEL 50 Wireless Headset for Xbox One. I was hugely impressed with the PS4 headset with its simplicity and focus on performance and common-sense features over something with more bells and whistles, the LEVEL 50 Wireless Headset instantly became my favourite mid-tier headset for PS4, but can the Xbox One version do the same
I should start off by what you actually get in the box itself, so unsurprisingly you will find the Level 50 Wireless Headset itself, the USB Wireless Dongle and a rather generously long 12-meter USB cable for charging. The packaging itself certainly does the job as the box is branded to Xbox One traditional green. As with the PlayStation 4 LEVE 50 Wireless Headset, it would have been nice if the interior holder was painted in the same box colour instead of the generic brown cardboard but that is just a personal niggle with the presentation as it would have popped a lot more when opening the box to have something that grabs your attention rather than a very bland and cheap looking internal packaging but with that in mind, let us take a look at the specs of the Level 50 Wireless headset.
Specs:
- 50mm Neodymium Drivers
- Breathable mesh ear cushions
- Easily Accessible Volume Dial on right ear cup
- Audio Mixer for Game/Chat on left ear cup
- Bi-directional noise cancelling microphone with passive noise filter
- Quick Flip Mute: Microphone is Muted when the Mic Boom is flipped up
- Officially licensed, meaning arduous testing to meet first party quality standards.
Being almost identical to the PS4 version, I am still hugely impressed by the build quality for this mid-tier gaming headset. The big focus on simplicity is still the best way to describe this headset and it begins with the full-on plastic feel to the headset. It does feel especially ‘plasticky’ as well to the touch but what I also was surprised about was just how light this headset really is which I find to be incredible in a wireless headset. The inner ear cups are coloured in branded Xbox green and as with the PS4 version, am still a little disappointed that there is no Xbox brand logo or imagery on the actual headset or inner ear cushions, again not a big deal and is still just my pickiness for presentation being a little triggered. The surprise aspect to the build of this headset that I really like is the headband bar between the ear cups is designed to be bendy, making it very hard to snap this headset, something other headsets that are simple pieces clipped together can do. Showcasing this during a live stream to viewers in chat and the reaction to me bending the headband surprised a good number of them. The extreme durability of the Level 50 because of this unique feature is a great example of the common sense design over adding flashy aesthetics.
The theme of common sense continues into the features of this headset as well. Normally on a wireless headset, a lot of the basics such as volume control and mic mute button, are tiny buttons located on one of the ear cups making it quite often a fiddly and cumbersome process to do simple basic things like volume. The Level 50 for Xbox One does three very simple common-sense things as a headset which I feel does make it stand out even more. First the mic itself has a long boom arm attached to the left ear cup and while at first it does look a little too long, the arm allows you to position the mic exactly where you want it to be and never once feeling like you are over doing it or that the mic arm could break.
The mic itself is great quality, both streaming and in gaming party chat, my viewers and teammates could hear me clearly during chaotic games like Borderlands 3, CoD Modern Warfare. Muting the mic is also another great common-sense design feature with the simplicity of simply raising the mic arm fully until you can hear an audio cue but can only feel it click into an upright position to know it is locked and muted meaning no more looking for that red light that normally shows that the mic is actually muted and no tiny button to try and quickly locate to activate it. I simply love this aspect to the Level 50 and no longer would suffer the missed button or “forgot to mute the mic” moments either on stream or during MP sessions with friends. The headset power button is situation behind the mic arm on the left ear cup with the EQ Mode button next to it which can switch from a more balanced audio level to a more bass focused level, the sound did sound great with either mode but I found using the more bass focused mode serving better with the bombastic games I tested the Level 50 with.
Volume control is another example of the common sense approach to the Level 50 with a volume dial placed on the right ear cup which uses the old school style of a “dial knob” instead of a button system. I have always found managing volume on a wireless headset to be pretty annoying when having to find the volume control buttons. Instead, this dial brilliantly does exactly what you need it to do and its basic granted but, sometimes if basic gets the job done, basic will do. Unlike the PS4 version, this Xbox headset has an additional Game to Party mixer dial on the left ear cup which works incredibly well and is a really great extra features as usually you would have to go into the Xbox audio settings to make adjustments which is time consuming especially when in a frantic MP game. All these features scream simplicity at me which is exactly how I feel about this headset for both the PS4 and Xbox One consoles, it gets the job done at a level that is huge value for the price tag without forking out more just for bells and whistles.
This brings me nicely to the main feature of this headset, the Wireless connection. Like the Level 50 for PS4, this Xbox headset uses a USB dongle to serve as the wireless transmitter for the console, it Is quite a large dongle which will be very visible on the console itself particularly if you use the front USB port on the Xbox One X. But the beauty of this method is that plugging in the dongle to the console makes it detect the headset wirelessly once turned on. The plug and play aspect to this headset is really impressive and just so efficient, removing the need to faff about syncing the headset to the console, each time I used it, it simply connected first time every time. I was again really impressed with the headset charging wise, the 12m USB cable that comes with the headset is brilliant for just connecting and putting away the headset to the console or any available USB port on a device on standby. It took only a few hours to fully charge the headset out the box, and just as I tested the PS4 version, I left the headset on and idle for a full day and it still had a good charge for a 3 hour COD MW session the next day. The range of the wireless signal is also very good, I live in a flat and from my gaming room I was able to go to my kitchen and bedroom on opposite sides of my gaming room and did not lose signal which is impressive because I can lose Bluetooth connection just going into my kitchen.
Final Thoughts
The Level 50 Wireless Headset is a brilliant bit of kit for those looking for the benefits of a wireless gaming headset on a sensible budget for users of both PS4 and Xbox One consoles. There is a wired version that has the same features other than being wireless for a cheaper price but I was really impressed with the wireless model. Sound is great and it does exactly what you need it to do with simplicity at its foundation and an excellent battery and charge life to ensure this headset is good to go whenever you need it. The LEVEL 50 Wireless Headset is a superb example of PDP Gaming making a large enough statement to stand in the middle of a crowded gaming headset market with a headset that punches above its weight and is definitely worthy of being checked out for its reliability and common-sense features.
As we approach the holiday season, the LEVEL 50 Headset for both Xbox One and PS4 is something any console gamer would appreciate and though visually it might not grab your attention right away, the quality in the performance will make a statement right away.