Key Points
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If you play video games a little or a lot, you understand that gear often makes or breaks the experience.
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Top-level players get to where they are through laborious practice and deliberate decision-making, not because they have the greatest keyboard.
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Monitors are a huge selling point for PC play, many offering better visuals and refresh rates than even 4K TVs.
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Ergonomic and lumbar support in your chair is an absolute must — don’t mess up your spine!
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Players with the best gaming accessories at their disposal have a greater chance of enjoying their playtime and competing at a higher level.
Only the best equipment suffices when it comes to dominating high levels of play and maximizing enjoyment. Vital gaming comes in all shapes and sizes. Players understand that gear often makes or breaks the experience, but it’s not always necessary to break the bank when you can settle for “good enough.” This guide gives you options, no matter your intentions for playing.
A common misconception with gaming accessories is that if you have the “best” available and buy at the highest price, your gameplay instantly improves, and you'll dominate the competition. While it's true that top-level players like FormaL and StelluR in the Halo Championship Series (HCS) run some expensive gear, they’re top players through fundamental play and an absurd amount of practice, and painstakingly developed skill. They must remain on top of trends as the meta develops and prepare for this season’s Majors.
After FaZe Clan overcame a 3-1 deficit to win the tourney held at Dreamhack Dallas between June 2 and June 4, 2023, the next HCS Major hosted by OpTic Gaming will be held in Arlington, TX, running June 30 through July 2, 2023.
If you’re not a professional player, however, this guide caters to all. Players play for a multitude of reasons. Whether it’s a headset to help you connect more deeply with the worlds you play or a mechanical keyboard that boasts superior functionality, this comprehensive guide explores what vital gaming gear and gaming peripheral devices every player needs to enhance their experience.
Read on for tips and tricks on illustrious audio, response times for productivity, and laser accuracy to make Spartan Jun-A266 envious.
Gaming Headset
Like the Master Chief, a quality gaming headset functions as a helmet, helping you embody the character and role of whatever you love to play. Whether you want to command legions in story-rich real-time strategies or have a pension for gunsmithery in story-rich first-person shooters, a headset transports you to the heart of the action, separating you from the demands of your life outside the game.
The HyperX Cloud II or SteelSeries Arctis 7 are examples of gaming headsets that catapult you into the rich soundscapes of The Elder Scrolls, enable you to hear enemy positions in Escape from Tarkov, and communicate crystal-clear with teammates. Don’t settle for less.
Mechanical Keyboard
When you play a game, every keystroke matters. It’s hard to match the precision and durability of a mechanical keyboard.
Gaming mechanical keyboards, like the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum or Razer BlackWidow Elite, offer faster response times and improved durability for an enhanced gaming experience. They push you to level up with satisfying tactile feedback while you scramble for Power Weapons in Halo Infinite. All in all, a gaming mechanical keyboard is the preferred choice for input on PC.
Gaming Mouse
Need a high-precision tool to rain pain and destruction on your enemies? You need a gaming mouse with detailed tracking and customizable buttons for optimal in-game control. A mouse like the Logitech G502 HERO or Razer DeathAdder V2 offers pinpoint precision, boosts your response time, and empowers you to pick your spots and dominate the battlefield.
Customizable buttons on more complicated mice help you map even more commands, giving you quick access for high-intensity situations. You’re going to need them.
Mouse Pad
A mouse gets you a long way, but the right gaming mouse pad gets you over the hill and into the Golden Circle of Pristine Play. A gaming mouse pad, like the SteelSeries QcK or Razer Goliathus, is an ideal surface for your mouse, eliminating inconsistencies and replacing them with smooth gliding, precision tracking, and a more satisfying playing experience.
If you want to focus on gameplay rather than making sure your desk is clean enough to play on, put some money down on a mouse pad.
Controller
It doesn’t matter if you play on PC or console; a gaming controller is a surefire way to improve your experience, even if it’s only for a handful of games. Gamepads, like the Xbox Wireless Controller or DualSense PlayStation 5 Controller, enhance comfort and give you precise control during gameplay for satisfaction or competition.
Beloved indies like Outer Wilds and Hades sometimes play better on a controller, even if you built a PC to run at 120 frames per second at 4K resolution. While playing with mouse and keyboard is the preferred input option for many Halo players, it remains a gaming controller-centric experience.
Gaming Monitor
Not to be confused with a Halo Monitor, a high-refresh-rate gaming monitor captivates with visuals, reduced input lag, and spectacle that is sometimes missing when you play solely on TV. Should your system be up to the challenge, experience subtle movements, high-paced action, and ray-tracing with the right display.
The ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM or the Acer Predator XB271HU deliver smooth visuals and reduced input lag for satisfying gaming visualization. Both have incredibly fast refresh rates and reduced blur, bringing you that much closer to the action. Every pixel becomes a brushstroke when paired with a display that does it justice.
Comfortable Gaming Chair
Ergonomic gaming chairs provide proper support and comfort during extended gaming sessions. Ergonomic chairs are essential, no matter how much time the player spends playing.
Licensed occupational therapist Brittany Ferri spoke highly of Secretlab Omega in terms of ergonomic and lumbar support: “A lot of chairs that are traditionally marketed as gaming chairs don’t often have the best ergonomics,” she told CNN.
“Many of them offer large, curved pieces next to the headrest that may make the chair look cool, but they don’t really offer any other purpose. The SecretLab Omega is definitely one of the best right now. It offers adequate lumbar and upper back support with a thick seat cushion, and armrests. These are all very good components for extended computer use.”
Another gaming chair option is the DXRacer Formula, which also caters to style, comfort, and lumbar support. Take care of your tush and spine when you buckle in for long sessions, and remember to drink plenty of water and take stretch breaks!
Bringing It All Together
Players with the best gaming accessories at their disposal have a greater chance of enjoying their playtime and competing at a higher level. Whether you enjoy the battles of galactic proportions, the survival and creative aspects of Minecraft or Roblox, or the simplicity of farming sims like Stardew Valley, there’s one thing players agree on: A good controller and chair go a long way toward a great time, whether solo or alongside your favorite Player Two.
As the gaming sphere grows and changes, accessibility, customization, and utility for gaming gear change too. Gaming peripheral devices now provide excellent utility, should you be looking for options like a one-handed keyboard or alternative control schemes for comfort. You deserve to play your way, and there are options out there built for you.
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