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The RTX Spark is here and Antonline is selling laptops equipped with it

NVIDIA's RTX Spark has arrived, and tons of laptops are quickly equipping themselves with this superchip to take advantage of its NVIDIA AI, RTX graphics, and unified memory to improve their productivity and gaming performance.

Antonline is getting in on the launch-day action by offering Microsoft Surface and Lenovo laptops packed with the RTX Spark, and we've rounded up Antonline's available RTX Spark offers for your perusal.

Do note that some of Antonline's RTX Spark laptop offers are only up for pre-order, while others are not in stock yet, so check back on its website frequently for stock updates.

Surface Laptop Ultra 15": $3299.99

This 15-inch PixelSense Touchscreen laptop comes with an NVIDIA RTX Spark N1X with a 5120-core GPU and 18-core CPU, an NVIDIA Blackwell RTX 5120-core Graphics card, 32GB of Unified Memory, and 1TB Storage.View Deal

Pro 9n 15.3" WQXGA Touchscreen Notebook: $4499.99

This advanced Lenovo Pro 9n Notebook features a 15.3 WQXGA Touchscreen, 64GB RAM, 2TB Storage, and an NVIDIA RTX Spark N1X with a 6144-core GPU and 20-core CPU for improved productivity and gaming.View Deal

Pro 9n 15.3" WQXGA OLED Touchscreen Copilot+ laptop: $2999.99

This configuration of the Lenovo Pro 9n laptop features its display with an OLED Touchscreen, 32GB RAM, 1TB Storage, and an NVIDIA RTX Spark with a 5120-core CPU and 18-Core CPU to help you master its Copilot+ features when conducting research, meetings, or content creation.View Deal

What is the RTX Spark?

Lenovo Yoga laptop with RTX Spark on a wooden display table at Computex 2026

A Lenovo Yoga laptop equipped with the RTX Spark chip. (Image credit: Cale Hunt | Windows Central)

The RTX Spark is a brand-new ARM-based superchip platform designed by NVIDIA to make a PC more efficient when running high-end PC games and local AI-workflow tasks securely without compromising its performance.

The RTX Spark has an NVIDIA Grace CPU that can support up to 20 cores for boosted performance efficiency, and its Blackwell-generation RTX GPU has gaming performance rates on par with the RTX 5070 graphics card,

Additionally, the RTX Spark can support up to 128GB of unified RAM between its CPU and GPU, and it can generate up to 1,000 TOPS to boost its power when running local AI workflows.

A sleek RTX Spark Superchip graphic shows a chip above feature cards for NVIDIA Blackwell RTX GPU, Grace CPU, AI performance, unified memory, and creative and gaming tools, conveying innovation.

RTX Spark selling points. (Image credit: NVIDIA)

One of our tech experts, Zac Bowden, recently benchmark-tested the RTX Spark and concluded that, and I quote, "RTX Spark is a super interesting chipset. It's forward leaning in a lot of ways, built on the Arm64 architecture that delivers serious performance and great efficiency. While its N1X CPU is just okay, its Blackwell RTX GPU really shines.

This is the first time we've seen RTX 4070-5070 level performance in an SoC that is this small and efficient. It's optimized for AI workloads, which is its strongest workflow by far. Quantized AI models run great, and with up to 128GB of unified memory, most mainstream models will fit entirely on the GPU without a hitch."

Zac also mentions that while it's great for content creators and gamers, the RTX Spark is best recommended for workers who run AI models locally all day, develop software, crunch complex data, and manage source code using thin laptops.

So, If you're one of those hard-working data crunchers in need of a powerful productivity laptop, then laptops built with the RTX Spark are for you.

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Need a monitor upgrade? Alienware's sale offers OLED 4K or ultra-fast IPS 500Hz

If you're wondering why your favorite PC games don't look their best despite running on a monstrously powerful PC, it's probably down to an outdated monitor that can't keep up with the graphical luxuries of modern games.

Fortunately, Dell is offering two of its high-quality Alienware gaming monitors to satisfy your gaming standards with limited-time discounts. They include the Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED (AW3225QF) at $749.99 at Dell (was $999.99) and the Alienware 500Hz IPS (AW2524HF) at $449.99 at Dell (was $549.99).

32 4K QD-OLED (AW3225QF): was $999.99 now $749.99

"It’s hard to imagine anyone complaining about any aspect of the Alienware AW3225QF. It delivers a supremely colorful image with incredible contrast, accuracy and fidelity. Its gaming performance is as good as it gets. Once you see it, you’ll want it." ~ Christian Eberle, Contributing Editor, Tom's Hardware

Tom's Hardware review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐View Deal

500Hz IPS Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF): was $549.99 now $449.99

"If you’re willing to sacrifice the G-Sync module, Alienware’s AW2524HF can save you a bit of money in the 500 Hz monitor category. It still delivers the same incredible motion resolution and low input lag of its more expensive stablemate and boasts excellent image quality as well." ~ Christian Eberle, Contributing Editor, Tom's Hardware

Tom's Hardware review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½View Deal

Why buy these gaming monitors?

A curved Alienware monitor displays Space Marine in a ruined, smoke-filled city, with an armored warrior facing fires and towering debris. The scene feels intense and war-torn.

The Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW3225QF) (Image credit: Dell)

If you're the kind of gamer who wants to play at 4K for the most detailed graphics possible, the Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED (AW3225QF) that's now on sale for $749.99 at Dell is for you.

It can render images and videos with broad contrast and rich colors thanks to its OLED panel, and its Dolby Vision integration allows it to automatically optimize brightness and shadow details via HDR tone mapping when watching movies or streaming videos.

Plus, the Alienware AW3225QF supports a 240Hz refresh rate at full 4K resolution (as tested by our sister site Tom's Hardware), so it can achieve extremely detailed images and razor-sharp motion without compromising visual fidelity or inducing much input lag.

On top of that, it has a solid and attractively designed build, and its 1700R screen curve adds wrap-around immersion to games while keeping text and geometric layouts untouched to make them easier to read.

A desktop monitor displays the Windows 11 blue abstract swirl wallpaper, with icons along the left edge and the taskbar below; the clean setup feels modern and calm.

The Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF) on display (Image credit: Tom's Hardware (Christian Eberle) | Dell)

However, if you're more interested in giving your games the smoothest performance rates possible for frame-perfect gameplay, then you're better off with the Alienware 500Hz (AW2524HF) that's now on sale for $449.99 at Dell.

This monitor features an overclockable refresh rate of 500Hz. This destroys any trace of standard motion blur and sample-and-hold limitations in a game to create perfect-motion resolution, as our friends at Tom's Hardware similarly found.

Add on top sub-millisecond response times, and you've got a gaming monitor that can ensure you suffer absolutely zero perceptible input lag while playing games. That way, you will be able to enjoy skill-based action games at their best and not have to worry about input lag costing you a match in esports competitions.

It's also no slouch in the visuals department, as the Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF) offers excellent color saturation and contrast. Plus, it has solid build quality, so you won't have to worry about it falling to bits anytime soon.

How do I prevent Burn-in on the Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW3225QF)?

The Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW3225QF) uses Pixel Refresh and Panel Refresh features to clean up its pixels in order to prevent Image Burn-in (a nasty condition that permanently damages a screen's coloration).

Can the Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF)'s screen flicker or revert to a lower refresh rate?

It can happen if your cable connection to the Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF) is loose or if you're using cables that don't support DisplayPort 1.4 bandwitch. Also, forgetting to upgrade your computer's GPU drivers can also cause the Alienware 500Hz Gaming Monitor (AW2524HF)'s screen to flicker and revert to a lower refresh rates.

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Microsoft will reward new Windows 11 PC buyers with 25 Xbox games worth $500+

Microsoft recently shared a lengthy roadmap detailing massive changes coming to Windows 11 over the course of November 2026. They include new Photos app features, improvements to the Search app, expanded phone integration, and enhanced performance for gaming.

Plus, Microsoft is also offering a special surprise for PC players during this time in honor of Xbox's 25th anniversary as part of these updates. Starting in November, customers who buy eligible Windows 11 PCs will be able to claim PC versions of 25 Xbox games with a total value of over $500.

This collection includes classics like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, Minecraft Dungeons, and Gears of War: Reloaded, to name a few.

Who is eligible for the free Xbox PC games?

This free collection of games (all digital, no discs) will only be valid with the purchase of select Windows devices sold from participating U.S. retailers from November 2, 2026, to December 31, 2026. Microsoft describes in its small print that offers to 'claim this collection' for your eligible device in the Microsoft Store app will be available until November 30, 2026.

You must activate your PC and claim the digital game bundle for your Microsoft account by December 2, 2027. You'll be able to check aka.ms/XBOXbundle on November 2, 2026, for game compatibility, system requirements, ratings, and full offer terms.

When you claim these titles, their PC versions will be linked to your Microsoft account and will become playable on any compatible Windows PC. Plus, some select titles will also be playable on Xbox Series X|S consoles with Xbox Play Anywhere support.

Note that some devices eligible for this giveaway will not be able to play all the games within this collection.

Christmas is coming early for Xbox fans in November

This free Xbox giveaway list is already stacked with some incredible titles from the few confirmed titles alone. We have Gears of War: Reloaded, the HD remaster of the iconic third-person shooter that still holds up today with its brutal gunplay, gritty story, and addictive multiplayer.

There's also Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, the first HD remaster of the first Halo that completely retains the gameplay of the original game while improving its graphics. Plus, unlike Halo: Campaign Evolved, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary comes with PvP multiplayer modes to keep players busy long after beating the campaign.

Then there's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition, Bethesda Softworks' magnum opus of an open-world RPG that people still play to this day for its immersive world and lore, engaging gameplay, and near-infinite modding compatibility.

We also have the cutesy Minecraft Dungeons, which is a fun, beginner-friendly ARPG that combines the hack-and-slash and looting gameplay of Diablo with the universe of Minecraft. Finally, we have Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, a full-blown remaster of the genre-revolutionizing real-time strategy game that features co-op, competitive multiplayer, mods, and full crossplay.

With such high-profile games, I can't wait to see what the rest of the free Xbox games being given away by Microsoft are as we inch closer to Xbox's 25th anniversary. Needless to say, it's going to be one heck of a birthday party.

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Golden Joystick Awards' vote time for its 'PC Game of the Year' winner closes soon

2026 is coming to an end, so it's that time again for the long-running Golden Joystick Awards show to celebrate the best games of the year we've played.

On September 25, 2026, the Golden Joystick Awards announced all the shortlist nominees for 21 game-of-the-year categories, including PC Game of the Year, Console Game of the Year, Best Indie Game, and more.

However, time for voting for the winners is running out, as it closes next week on October 23, 2026 at 4:00pm PT / 7:00pm ET / 12:00am BST.

Here is the full list of nominees for all the Golden Joystick Awards' shortlist categories, which you can vote for on GamesRadar.com, to see if your favorite games of 2026 made the cut.

Golden Joystick Awards — Shortlist nominees

Click here to expand the full list ↴

Best Audio Design

Best Early Access Game

  • Dead as Disco
  • MENACE
  • skate.
  • Slay the Spire 2
  • Subnautica 2
  • WARDOGS

Best Game Adaptation

  • Devil May Cry (Season 2)
  • Exit 8
  • Fallout (Season 2)
  • Iron Lung
  • Mortal Kombat II
  • Resident Evil

Best Game Expansion

Best Game Trailer

  • Battlefield 6 x Top Gun: Carrier Strike Cinematic Trailer
  • Big Walk - Release Date Announcement
  • Cairn - Launch Trailer
  • MOUSE: P.I. For Hire | Official Launch Trailer
  • Prove You're Human - Announcement Trailer
  • Resident Evil Requiem - Evil Has Always Had A Name

Best Gaming Hardware

Best Indie Game

  • Big Walk
  • Denshattack!
  • Esoteric Ebb
  • Mixtape
  • Mouse: P.I. for Hire
  • Order of the Sinking Star
  • REANIMAL
  • Sovereign Tower
  • Titanium Court
  • Valheim

Best Indie Game - Self-published

  • Cairn
  • Fields of Mistria
  • MECCHA CHAMELEON
  • Mewgenics
  • Mina the Hollower
  • Perfect Tides: Station to Station
  • Phonopolis
  • Rhythm Doctor
  • The Incident at Galley House
  • Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors

Best Lead Performer

Best Supporting Performer

  • Frankie Kevich - Zoe de Vera, CONTROL Resonant
  • Grace Saif - Diana, PRAGMATA
  • Lennie James - John Greenway, 007 First Light
  • Terry O'Quinn - Richard, SILENT HILL: Townfall
  • Troy Baker - Nathaniel Essex, Marvel's Wolverine
  • Vic Michaelis - Runa Blask, STAR WARS: Zero Company

Best Multiplayer Game

  • ARC Raiders
  • Big Walk
  • Marathon
  • MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls
  • MECCHA CHAMELEON
  • Valheim

Best Remake / Remaster

Best Soundtrack

Best Storytelling

  • 007 First Light
  • Dispatch
  • Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave
  • SILENT HILL: Townfall
  • The Blood of Dawnwalker
  • ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies

Best Visual Design

  • CONTROL Resonant
  • Forza Horizon 6
  • Orbitals
  • Phonopolis
  • Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy
  • SAROS

Most Wanted Game

Still Playing - Mobile

  • Balatro
  • Genshin Impact
  • Honkai: Star Rail
  • MARVEL SNAP
  • MONOPOLY GO!
  • NTE: Neverness to Everness
  • Old School RuneScape
  • Pokémon GO
  • Roblox
  • Sky: Children of the Light
  • Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Mobile
  • Wuthering Waves

Still Playing - PC & Console

Studio of the Year

PC Game of the Year

  • Big Walk
  • Crimson Desert
  • Escape from Tarkov
  • Esoteric Ebb
  • MECCHA CHAMELEON
  • Mewgenics
  • Order of the Sinking Star
  • STAR WARS: Zero Company
  • The Blood of Dawnwalker
  • Valheim

Console Game of the Year

Golden Joystick Awards — Ultimate Game of the Year

On October 26, 2026, the Golden Joystick Awards will reveal nominees for its Ultimate of the Gear award, and voting for the winner will open that day.

Additionally, journalists from GamesRadar+, PC Gamer, Future Games Show, Edge magazine, Knowledge, Retro Gamer, and Future's trusted network of freelance writers and content creators will select winners in other categories.

The winners for the following awards will be selected on the night:

  • Streamers’ Choice Award
  • Breakthrough Award
  • Critics’ Choice Award

Golden Joystick Awards — Where can we watch the show?

All of the winners will be announced during the Golden Joystick Awards ceremony on November 11, 2026, and will be hosted at Troxy, London, United Kingdom.

No start times or streaming platforms have been announced as of yet, but it is likely the show will be broadcast on major streaming platforms like YouTube, as it did last year.

Who will sweep this year's Golden Joystick Awards?

We are honored to be nominated for an incredible 5 categories at this year’s Golden Joystick Awards.🏆 Console Game of the Year🏆 Best Storytelling🏆 Best Soundtrack🏆 Best Lead Performer - Patrick Gibson🏆 Best Supporting Performer - Lennie JamesVoting is open now!https://t.co/n6fVfrXkF6 #007FirstLight #GoldenJoystickAwards #WeAreIOISeptember 30, 2026

Last year, the critically acclaimed RPG, Clair Obsur: Expedition 33, completely swept almost every major category at the Golden Joystick Awards, picking up seven awards (including the Ultimate Game of the Year award).

This year, it seems the only games that have a chance to sweep awards are Resident Evil: Requiem and 007: First Light, as they've been nominated in five categories thus far.

Both of these are games incredible in their own right, but will they be nominated for the Golden Joystick Awards' Ultimate Game of the Year? Even if they do, will Resident Evil Requiem or 007: First Light be able to win it, or will an unexpected, underdog entry take home the gold?

Tune in on November 11, 2026, to find out when the Golden Joystick Awards announce its winners.

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Microsoft reveals a new pocket-sized Xbox Nano Controller

Microsoft announced (via on Xbox Wire) a brand new Xbox controller called the Xbox Nano Controller, and it will be released in November 2026 for Xbox consoles, Windows PC, iOS and Android mobile devices, and select Smart TVs.

The Xbox Nano Controller is an extremely small gamepad (5 inches long and 3.5 ounces in weight) that can fit into your pocket for easier portability while still packing the form factor and standard 18-button layout of regular Xbox controllers.

Additionally, its smaller size makes the Xbox Nano Controller easier for players with smaller hands to use who struggle to use larger controllers.

Meet the XBOX Nano Controller. Smaller, lighter and shorter than most modern smartphones, and designed to fit nearly every pocket and budget. Find out more:https://t.co/reB7PdakGaOctober 14, 2026

The Xbox Nano Controller also includes a rechargeable battery, an extra reprogrammable Action Button, and Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth support.

Plus, it's designed for Xbox Cloud Gaming and casual use. It mimics a TV remote in form factor and weight, so it can sit on the sofa or coffee table without taking up space.

You can pre-order the Xbox Nano Controller right now on the Xbox website for $49.99.

It will be made available in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Czechia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Trinidad & Tobago, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with additional markets to follow.

For a limited time, Xbox is partnering with Samsung to offer a special Xbox Nano Controller with two months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership (for new users) in the US for anyone who purchases select Samsung TVs during the holiday season.

Additionally, Xbox is partnering with Meta to offer an Xbox Nano Controller with two months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership (for new users) in the US for anyone purchasing a Meta Quest.

The Xbox Nano Controller has a cool nostalgic design, but some of its spec choices and price leave it to be desired

A white Xbox-style game controller with black thumbsticks, directional pad, and colored ABXY buttons, shown alone on a clean white background.

A full render of the Xbox Nano Controller (Image credit: Microsoft)

Upon first impressions of this controller, I got a wave of nostalgia, as its design reminds me a lot of the Super Nintendo controller I used as a kid. However, my interest in the Xbox Nano controller suddenly dropped upon looking at its MSRP and specs.

$49.99 is a lot of money for a controller these days. For that price, it better have some advanced tech like Hall Effect or TMR thumbsticks to justify such a cost.

Sadly, the Xbox Nano Controller does not have any such tech. On top of that, the Xbox Nano Controller has no direct WiFi connection for Xbox Cloud Gaming and instead relies on Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth connections, which are more laggy and unresponsive by comparison.

So on paper, the Xbox Nano Controller doesn't sound like a good controller at that price point. However, that won't stop us from reviewing the gamepad in the future to see if its performance, design, and ergonomics can make up for the Xbox Nano Controller's omissions of advanced tech and its steep price.


The Xbox Nano Controller is a pint-sized gamepad built for easy portability and compatibility with Xbox Cloud Gaming while maintaining the solid form factor and intuitive button layout of traditional Xbox controllers.

• Xbox Store
• Best Buy
• WalmartView Deal

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Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 review — More cathartic carnage despite dumb enemies

Three years ago, we were graced with the release of Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, a first-person shooter inspired by classics like DOOM, Quake, and Wolfenstein 3D, set in the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40,000.

It was a simple yet immensely cathartic boomer-shooter with fast-paced gunplay, satisfying weapons, and charming yet grim retro-style graphics that I gave 4/5 stars.

Fast-forward to today, and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun's sequel is here with more heretics to slay and a new, second playable character with more weapons to purge them with.

Is it as fun as, or more fun than, the first game? Let's find out as we ready our Bolter rifles and review Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 launches on October 14, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Windows and Steam. This review was made possible thanks to an Xbox Series X code provided by Devolver Digital. The company had no input nor saw the contents of this review before publication.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 — Story, setting, art

A glitchy neon-blue demon with glowing red eyes looms over a pink-purple planet dotted with shadowy figures, creating an ominous sci-fi mood.

Vashtorr the Arkifane daemon has come for your souls. (Image credit: Windows Central (Alex Cope) | Devolver Digital)

The story goes that the forces of Chaos, led by the towering Greater Daemon, Vashtorr, are wreaking havoc across worlds controlled by the Imperium of Man.

In response, the righteous Space Marine, Malum Caedo, has returned from the first Boltgun game to purge the heretical daemons out of existence. Except this time, Malum Caedo is joined by the equally zealous Sister of Battle, Nyra Veyrath, who hopes to torch the daemons to cinders in the name of the God Emperor.

Just like the first Boltgun game, the story serves as a simple excuse to go blasting Chaos cultists, Chaos Space Marines, and daemons into red mist. That's cool by me, as I was in the mood for an action game without being bogged down by endless cutscenes.

However, if you're looking for an FPS with a complex narrative and character development, you're better off looking elsewhere.

First-person shooter view of a futuristic gun aimed at towering, twisted silhouettes in yellow fog; health and ammo HUD add a tense, ominous mood.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 may be the first videogame I've played that has swamp levels that actually look cool. (Image credit: Windows Central (Alex Cope) | Devolver Digital)

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 continues to embody the series ' retro throwback art style of being a long-lost 1990s PlayStation 1 game (with 2D sprites set against 3D backgrounds and models), and it's beautifully well done.

The jagged, grotesque, and gothic scenery of Warhammer 40,000's war-torn fortresses, temples devoted to the Chaos gods, and environments slowly being corrupted into daemonic blemishes are a sight to behold at times in this game.

The 2D sprites (and sometimes 3D models) of enemies are crisp, detailed, and faithful to their Warhammer 40,000 tabletop counterparts, which makes them all the more satisfying to chop up as they explode in showers of gratifying pixelated blood and guts when you kill them.

On top of that, the performance is rock solid. The game ran at a consistent 60fps at 1080p resolution with absolutely no framerate drops, even when all kinds of chaotic explosions, gunfire, and combusting bodies were happening on-screen.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 — Gameplay

First-person shooter battle in a lush jungle: dual guns fire at a hulking armored enemy amid sparks and blood, with health and ammo HUD visible.

We're gonna need a bigger bolter for this heresy. (Image credit: Windows Central (Alex Cope) | Devolver Digital)

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2's gameplay structure has you running across multiple planets via chapter-based missions where you must reach the end of massive levels while eradicating any heretic and daemon standing in your way.

Along the way, you will come across a wide variety of weapons, hidden collectibles, and secret power-ups to give you an edge when taking on some of the game's tougher enemies.

Combat is just as chaotic, gory, and satisfying as its predecessor, while offering more variety with two playable characters with their own unique weapon loadouts and gameplay styles

Alex Cope, Windows Central

The first thing I like about Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 is that its level design is more varied than its predecessor.

Some of this game's levels will have you clearing out space ships and Imperium facilities of daemons; exploring dank swamplands mutated by the Chaos god Nurgle; storming daemonic fortresses dedicated to the Chaos God Khorne; and escaping collapsing, burning buildings before being melted by rising magma, just to name a few.

It helped keep the gameplay fresh, so it didn't feel like I was constantly running and gunning through linear hallways. Plus, Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 has alternating chapters you can only select once per playthrough, which sometimes unlocks secret optional chapters where you can find more hidden collectibles, increasing its replay value.

On a side note, Boltgun 2 manages to fix my biggest problems with the first Boltgun game (at last on the Xbox version): remappable controls. You can now keybind all your actions to any button you want to fit your playstyle instead of its default layout, making its controls feel more natural and enjoyable.

A first-person shooter battle: a horned demon boss looms in a crimson dungeon as the player fires a blinding weapon blast; tense game HUD visible.

Be cleansed by the Melta gun, daemon! (Image credit: Windows Central (Alex Cope) | Devolver Digital)

Anyway, it's time to talk about the meat and bones of Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2: its combat. Combat is just as chaotic, gory, and satisfying as its predecessor while offering more variety with two playable characters with their own unique weapon loadouts and gameplay styles.

Malum Caedo is a slow-but-durable walking tank who can endure tons of gunfire while retaliating twice as hard with Bolters, Shotguns, and heavy ordnance. Malum can smash enemies to paste with a shoulder-tackle charge, lunge at enemies with homing Chainsword attacks, and throw grenades that will blow weaker enemies in an instant.

Meanwhile, Nyra Veyrath is a squishy but extremely mobile warrior who cuts down enemies with a sword while annihilating them with Bolters, Flamers, and Meltas. Nyra can also perform slide moves to dodge certain attacks while piercing enemies with her sword, and chuck slow-detonating but devastating Melta Bombs that even the heaviest armored daemon won't be able to survive,

While they're both fun to use, I ended up enjoying Nyra the most. Her fast, hit-and-run playstyle is so fitting for the boomer-shooter sub-genre; her chargeable melee attack is useful for knocking back aggressive melee fighters, and I love seeing heretics screaming in agony as I burn them to pixelated ashes with Nyra's flamethrowers and Meltas (which shoot scorching laser beams the size of cars).

First-person shooter gameplay shows a flaming gun firing at a towering Bloodletter demon in a dark stone arena, amid blood, sparks, and fire.

Burn in holy fire! (Image credit: Windows Central (Alex Cope) | Devolver Digital)

Nyra's abilities and weapons proved very helpful for the enemies ahead because Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 has a greater rogues' gallery of enemies to fight this time. You will be fighting heretical cultists, iconic Chaos Space Marines devoted to every Chaos God (Khorne, Nurgle, Tzeentch, and Slaanesh), daemon hordes, massive Greater Daemons, and other hidden surprises.

They're all fun to fight, and especially challenging on harder difficulty modes where you must keep on running to survive getting shredded in a few hits. However, I did notice some enemies and bosses had some really dumb AI where they would get stuck in the terrain, leaving them helpless for me to gun them in an unsatisfying manner.

It didn't happen too often, but often enough for it to be noticeable, and it's probably the only major gripe I have with this game. The only other issue I have is the lack of Xbox Play Anywhere support, as this game would've been a killer app to play on the go with an Xbox Ally.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 — Conclusion

A first-person fantasy shooter erupts in a red, pixelated explosion amid dense foliage; a blue-and-gold weapon and game HUD fill the foreground.

There's nothing that can withstand the might of the iconic Chainsword. (Image credit: Windows Central (Alex Cope) | Devolver Digital)

Once again, the Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun series provides sweet catharsis to players yearning for arcade shooters light on story and heavy on pure video game violence. Compared to the first game, Boltgun 2's gameplay was more fun and varied thanks to its multiple playable characters and weapons, improved level design, and a wider bestiary of enemies and bosses.

Not to mention, it has plenty of easter eggs and cheeky references to the vast lore of the Warhammer 40,000 universe for hardcore fans like me to geek out over.

An average playthrough on Normal difficulty will take you around 6-10 hours depending on if you're looking for collectibles, and possibly more if you try to beat it on harder difficulty modes.

So, if you have some spare time to kill over the weekend as we await the next DOOM game, then I recommend giving Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 a go for all your boomer-shooter FPS lovers out there.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun artwork shows armored Space Marines battling monstrous aliens amid fire and smoke, in a dramatic, fiery orange sci-fi scene.

Xbox version
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 irons out some of the issues from the first game while refining its satisfying gunplay with multiple playable characters, more varied level design, weapons, and enemies, and gorgeous 2.5D graphics that perfectly capture the over-the-top and grimdark aesthetic of WH40K.

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Elgato releases new Wave Go wireless microphone — here's how it works

Elgato, the tech company that prides itself on high-quality accessories for streaming, content creation, and gaming, has launched its first wireless microphone called the Elgato Wave Go.

This extension of Elgato's 'Wave ecosystem' is a combined clip-on and handheld microphone system that allows its users to record audio any time, anywhere, on their terms, with studio-level quality, processing, and routing.

Here's everything you need to know about how the Elgato Wave Go works, which you can buy right now on Elgato's official store for $99.99.

The Elgato Wave Go has a convertible design that allows users to record audio in two ways while being connected to a phone via a USB-C receiver.

While in Clip-on Mode (which is a 7g transmitter the size of a coin), it can mount magnetically onto clothing with custom tuning that restores clarity and audio presence quality at chest distance.

In Handheld mode, Elgato Wave Go's transmitter fits inside a Smart Handle to become a full-sized interview mic with integrated controls, charging, and a sound profile that's been tuned for warmth and presence audio levels when used close up.

This microphone also features toggleable noise cancellation to block out annoying background noise, automatic EQ Shift and Auto Gain systems to apply different sound profiles and audio gain levels depending on its position and mode (without needing to mess around with its settings), and compatibility with the free Wave Go app on iOS and Android for users to customize these aforementioned features to their preference.

A man interviews a woman outdoors, holding a microphone as she speaks in a stone courtyard with café benches; the scene feels relaxed and conversational.

The Elgato Wave Go in Handheld mode. (Image credit: Elgato)

On top of that, the Elgato Wave Go will last you for a good long session, as its transmitter can run for up to 8 hours on a single charge or a full day while recording audio.

Its Smart Handle can be recharged alongside the transmitters when it's docked inside (even while recording), and it can store up to 5 full recharges so it can operate for at most 48 hours. The Elgato Wave Go can have all its components recharged while inside its carrying case, which can connect to USB-C chargers.

Its USB-C receiver also has pass-through charging, so you can recharge the Elgato Wave Go while connected to your phone.

Close-up of a person wearing a cream jacket over a teal shirt, with a small black wireless microphone clipped to the collar; the scene feels polished and professional.

The Elgato Wave Go in Clip-On mode. (Image credit: Elgato)

Lastly, the Elgato Wave Go can integrate with Elgato's free mixing software called Wave Link. When this mic is used in tandem with the app, users can route audio, apply effects, control its settings via Stream Deck, and unlock Voice Focus, which cleans up reverb and background noise while recording audio indoors.

If this lightweight, convertible microphone with expert sound quality, portability, and customization sounds appealing for your content creation needs, you can buy the Elgato Wave Go on Elgato.com for the MSRP of $99.99 (other retailers will sell it shortly after). The Elgato Wave Go will be available in 40 countries and regions.

Elgato is also offering a Sky Blue variant of the Elgato Wave Go for a limited time on its website. Plus, the microphone will have a second transmitter sold separately for an MSRP of $29.99 (or $14.99 when bought together with the Elgato Wave Go).

Wave Go Convertible wireless mic: $99.99

Let your voice be heard in your content with the Wave Go wireless microphone. It can be used in hand or clipped onto your shirt collar, convey and record your voice with pro-level quality, and last you over 48 hours before needing to recharge.View Deal

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