Accessory reviews

Coming from KontrolFreek, purveyors of items to stick onto your Xbox controllers, come a new set of performance thumbsticks. These are branded with some glorious Call of Duty: Vanguard ideas, and promise to turn even an ageing old duffer like me into some kind of FPS god.

For as good as the Elite controller is, there’s certainly room in the market for other third parties to deliver their own take, with much of these coming in at a more reasonable price point. One of those is the PowerA FUSION Pro 2 Wired Controller - whilst it’s not perfect, it’s definitely one to consider.

As you may or may not be aware, Pac-Man turned 40 years old in 2020. Well, it appears that the Pac-Party had only just got started, as now a new book has appeared on the market to celebrate the life and times of that most unlikely of video game hero - Pac-Man: Birth of an Icon.

In more recent times, the actual desk that has been used has also changed, with that of the ‘standing’ desk coming into vogue, allowing workers - and gamers - the opportunity to find the optimum setup at will. It is here where EZ Shopper are coming to market with the EZ Desk Carbon Edition Adjustable Gaming Standing Desk. 

The LucidSound LS15X headset for Xbox is a decent addition to the sub-£100 headset market. The styling is great, the colour even more so and the feel is absolutely fine. More than capable of getting as loud as you need, it sounds fairly decent too and whilst it’s not able to find a place as a daily driver for us, it’ll certainly appeal to many - particularly those who are looking for a well-priced wireless option. 

The PowerA Spectra Infinity Enhanced Wired Controller is an Xbox branded option for those gamers who just need a whole ton of colour in their lives. Set-up and laid out pretty much exactly as that of the official Xbox Wireless Controller from Microsoft, this wired controller feels great in the hand. I mean, really great in the hand. 

Unless you’re willing to start dropping triple figures sums at your headset of choice, you really can’t go wrong with what Turtle Beach have provided with the Recon 200 Gen 2 headset. Don’t let the plastic feel put you off - this is a headset capable of much more than it initially lets on. In fact, it’s one that is pleasantly surprising to use.

The EKSA E910 sounds good, feels really nice on the head and is able to do what you need of a wireless headset. That is, until the 'wireless' capabilities are properly considered. 

The Victrix Gambit Wireless Gaming Headset for Xbox is a decent solution for anyone looking for a new wireless headset. Just about running as a viable upgrade on PDP’s LvL 50 headset, if you're ready for some seriously beefy bass and brilliant ease of use, it's certainly one to stick on the wishlist.

I haven't got a bad word to say about the EPOS H6PRO headset. If you're in the market for a wired option, have the cash to splash and want some of the best comfort, stylings and audio you can get, you should be going out and buying the H6PRO immediately. It's that good.

Created in order to allow eSports specialists and pro gamers the chance to get one up on their opposition, the Victrix Gambit Dual Core Tournament Controller - Designed by Xbox is a stunning option to have. Highly customisable, well priced and supremely comfortable to use, there's little to dislike about what has been created.

Rotor Riot know what you need from an easy to use product, and you shouldn’t let the cheap feel of the Rotor Riot Wired Game Controller put you off too much.

If you can handle a cable, you’re probably going to like what Nacon have done with the rest of the Revolution X Pro Controller - Designed for Xbox.

When you’re settling down for a gaming session, no matter which platform is preferred, you need to be sat comfortably and the equipment used to play – like monitors, consoles, keyboards etc. – must have a place to call home too. After honing in on their AndaSeat Mask 2 Gaming Desk, possessing an RRP of £299.99, I decided to see if it’s worth paying a premium for and whether the quality could actually enhance the gaming experience.

It’s well worth considering the NACON MG-X controller to power your mobile gaming sessions, especially those which you take in via Xbox Game Pass and cloud gaming. Positives come in the ease of use, the 20-hour battery life and overall simplicity. Just be aware of those triggers.