Should-have equipment in your Xbox console

The Xbox Sequence X and Sequence S are glorious machines straight out of the field, however there’s at all times room for enchancment. Add-on equipment just like the Elite Series 2 Controller and the Xbox Wireless Headset may also help you get probably the most out of your new gaming console, whereas others, like Seagate and Western Digital’s growth playing cards, may also help guarantee you will have ample cupboard space to stow your whole favourite video games.

Under, we’ve listed a few of the greatest equipment accessible for the Sequence X and Sequence S, a lot of which frequently go on sale at most main retailers.

The last-gen Xbox wi-fi controller from the Xbox One technology is suitable with the Sequence X / S consoles. Nevertheless, the older controller lacks a number of options solely discovered within the newer, higher model. As an illustration, the revised controller (which comes with each new Sequence X and Sequence S) has a devoted button for saving and sharing clips and screenshots, a USB-C port for wired use or charging Microsoft’s play-and-charge rechargeable battery, and an improved D-pad.

Along with working with the most recent Xbox consoles, Microsoft’s base-model Xbox controller additionally options Bluetooth assist, so you’ll be able to join it to fashionable Android telephones, Apple units, a Steam Deck (or any competing handheld gaming PC), or a PC. In case your PC doesn’t have Bluetooth, you’ll be able to simply plug in through USB.

The Xbox Wi-fi controller retails between $59.99 and $64.99, relying on the colour, however we frequently see it on sale for as little as $40. And, for individuals who need one thing actually distinctive, you’ll be able to order a customized mannequin by the Xbox Design Lab.

Xbox Elite Sequence 2 controllers

If you need the power to customise your controller to higher fit your play type, the Xbox Elite Sequence 2 controller could be a greater match.

Though it’s twice as costly because the aforementioned Xbox Wi-fi Controller, we take into account the customizable Elite Sequence 2 to be the most effective premium Xbox controller you should purchase. Its thumbsticks have adjustable rigidity (though they aren’t drift-free Corridor impact sticks, sadly), it has again paddles that assist customized button mapping, and it options hair-trigger locks that allow shorter, clickier throws of the triggers. Similar to the fundamental Xbox Wi-fi Controller, the Elite Sequence 2 gives each USB-C and Bluetooth connectivity, together with glorious battery life that ought to present roughly 40 hours of playtime on a single cost. Though the Elite Sequence 2 has an MSRP of $179.99, it’s considerably regular to see it dip to as little as $139.99.

Then there’s the Xbox Elite Sequence 2 Core, a less expensive model that comes packaged with fewer accouterments (no laborious case, no additional sticks, and no again paddles). The Core model is identical controller in two-tone white, purple, or blue — however once more, with out the equipment — and has an inventory worth of $129.99. Fortunately, it’s widespread to search out it for round $100, and you’ll at all times purchase the equipment later via Microsoft for $59.99.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller

In the event you’d fairly spend much less and don’t thoughts utilizing a wired controller, the PowerA Enhanced is a superb budget-friendly decide. It lacks wi-fi connectivity, nevertheless it works simply the identical as official controllers on Xbox Sequence X / S consoles and PC. The low-frills controller is available in a number of colours in addition to some licensed designs, and is obtainable for as little as $27 in some cases.

8BitDo Final Wired Controller

Another choice that sometimes goes for round $30 is 8BitDo’s newer Final Wired Controller. It isn’t almost as flashy because the PowerA Enhanced, nevertheless it has some options that may make it a more sensible choice — once more, as long as you don’t thoughts connecting to your console with an extended cable. What units it other than different inexpensive choices, in addition to each of Microsoft’s wi-fi controllers, is its Corridor impact joysticks and triggers. These, not like what you’ll discover in first-party gamepads from Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony, are constructed to withstand sporting down over time, thus stopping degraded efficiency.

PowerA Solo Charging Stand

In the event you’re eager on shopping for an Xbox wi-fi controller, you’re most likely already properly conscious of one other value related to utilizing them: batteries. These can get pricey, however PowerA’s Solo Charging Stand is a superb, cheap workaround. The useful stand features a 1,100mAh rechargeable battery, two battery covers, and a USB charging cable. Amazon, Walmart, and PowerA sometimes promote the black and white configurations for $19.99, however you would possibly discover it for much less. Alternatively, if you happen to personal two gamepads, it is best to go for a $29.99 PowerA Duo Charging Station, which might often be discovered for lower than the single-controller base mannequin.

You don’t need to miss a name when you sport, due to Microsoft’s $99.99 Xbox Wireless Headset. Once we reviewed the first-gen mannequin in 2021, we discovered it to be a snug, intuitively designed headset that’s properly well worth the worth. Along with working properly with Xbox consoles, it will possibly join to a different machine concurrently through Bluetooth. That stated, avid gamers ought to particularly search out the most recent mannequin, which appears nearly similar to the unique headset however boasts assist for Dolby Atmos, longer battery life, and improved mic efficiency.

SteelSeries Nova Professional Wi-fi

SteelSeries makes an Xbox-specific model of its Nova Professional Wi-fi, which followers of great-sounding audio ought to flock to if they’ve the funds for the $349.99 headset. It stays the most effective wi-fi gaming headsets for a variety of causes: it’s snug, it sounds nice, it options swappable batteries, and it pairs with a useful base station that permits you to fine-tune the sound to your liking. The bottom station even lets you join a second machine — whether or not it’s one other gaming console or a PC — and simply swap between audio sources.

Delegating your older video games to a slower however far cheaper storage resolution — like Seagate’s 4TB Game Drive for Xbox — is a intelligent option to let you will have your whole video games accessible with out crowding your already-limited SSD house. Nevertheless, it’s price declaring that any exterior USB drive will likely be considerably slower to load than what the Sequence X’s and Sequence S’s respective SSDs will tolerate. As such, you’ll be able to solely play Xbox One and earlier technology video games straight from it. If you wish to play a Sequence X sport, you’ll want to maneuver it over to the console’s inside SSD.

After all, you’ll be able to (and doubtless ought to) purchase quicker storage options, which is able to help you play Sequence X / S video games with out transferring video games round. That stated, the storage growth playing cards which are presently accessible will value you considerably greater than a conventional drive. Seagate and Western Digital are, to date, the one corporations that make proprietary, reminiscence card-like SSDs that may be inserted into the rear of both Microsoft console.

The SSDs can be found in a number of configurations, together with 1TB and 2TB sizes (there are 512GB configurations, however they aren’t well worth the cash). At their customary retail worth, these growth playing cards are far pricier than their M.2 SSD counterparts for the PlayStation 5, however they’re the one possibility for Xbox homeowners who need further console storage. Fortunately, they go on sale each couple of months, knocking $50 or so off the worth.

A vital subscription

Whereas not completely important, the Xbox Game Pass subscription is turning into an exquisite worth for avid gamers who need to strive a variety of video games at a hard and fast month-to-month payment as an alternative of shopping for them at full worth. It gives entry to greater than 100 video games from each small builders and powerhouse studios, together with titles from Microsoft, Bethesda, and different Xbox Sport Studios.

There are three tiers to select from, beginning on the $9.99 monthly “Core” tier, which gives the fewest video games however permits on-line multiplayer. The “customary” tier that prices $14.99 a month provides near the total suite of Sport Cross video games accessible, however not the most recent video games. Stepping as much as $19.99 a month grants you entry to Sport Cross Final, which incorporates the entire aforementioned perks, plus day one releases, the power to stream video games over the cloud, and Sport Cross entry on PC in addition to Xbox.

LG’s B4 OLED is a terrific, inexpensive gaming TV with 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, every of which helps 4K decision at as much as 120Hz. It additionally options assist for Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync applied sciences, low enter lag, and a speedy processor. It even has a “Sport Optimizer” dashboard, which is a settings pane that conveniently brings collectively game-centric settings like refresh charge and latency for faster entry.