Holiday gift buying for the tech geek and PC gamer in your life isn't always easy. If you know a special someone who prefers PC over console gaming or just loves owning the best new gadgets, this is the gift guide for you. There are as many ways to satisfy your gift-giving needs as there are ways to configure a gaming rig, and the sheer number of games that are exclusive to, or look absolutely amazing on PC is staggering. We've separated the wheat from the chaff to bring you only the best in tech and PC gift giving ideas.
Oculus Quest 2 - Advanced All-In-One VR Headset Losing yourself in virtual reality is easier than ever. Surprise the PC gamer in your life with the newly reduced Oculus Quest 2 bundle. It includes the headset and redesigned Touch controllers for one low price.
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HTC VIVE Pro 2 Full Kit This is one of the biggest and best of the virtual reality set-ups. If you're looking for a gift that will really immerse your recipient in all VR has to offer, this is the ideal headset. Thanks to wall-mounted sensors, it allows players to get up and walk around inside the game, putting the "reality" in "virtual reality."
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Acer Predator XB3 (XB273K) The age of 4K is truly dawning, with the hardware to run it and experience it finally at a comfortable consumer level. The UHD resolution is gaining rapidly, and will soon outpace 1080p as the base resolution. If you know someone looking for a monitor for the holiday season, this one is awesome.
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DJI Mini 2 Drones are the new hotness, and this one is excellent if you want an option that's cool, fun, and easy to learn. It comes with a wind-resistant 3-axis set-up with a decent range.
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Check Out More Excellent PC Gamer Hardware:
What good is a great PC if you don't have the accessories to truly achieve ascension? Surprise the PC gamer in your life with some of these excellent accessories this holiday season. We've broken them down by category to make it easier for you to land on something they'll love.
Corsair K100 RGB Optical-Mechanical Gaming Keyboard A great gaming keyboard is sure to be a hit with your PC friends and family. Corsair makes some of the best, and this K100 is a nice, mid-range keyboard with quality build and awesome styling.
Check Out More Awesome Gaming Keyboards:
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A good gaming mouse can go a long way, but it also makes a big difference when it comes to everyday tasks like browsing the web, too. Here are some that will take your point-and-clicking skills to the next level.
Logitech G Pro Wireless This wireless mouse from Logitech has a 1ms response time for lag-free play. On top of that, it features wireless charging to make it a truly unrestrained experience. Plus it looks completely awesome.
Check Out More Top-Notch Gaming Mice:
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Just because gaming mice are optical doesn't mean you still shouldn't be using a mouse pad. Gaming mouse pads are specifically designed to improve and maximize your gaming mouse's sensitivity and make everyday use a more comfortable experience.
Check Out These Must-Have Gaming Mouse Pads:
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Mouse and keyboard isn't for everyone, and some games are all but impossible to play with the tried-and-true WASD control scheme. Fortunately there's a wide selection of controllers out there from general use to highly-specific.
Xbox Series X/S Wireless Controller + Wireless Adapter The incredibly well designed Xbox controller is the go-to choice for PC games from Forza Horizon 5 to popular indies like Death's Door and Unpacking. It works right out of the box and depending on your gift receiver's PC set up, will work wirelessly too.
Check Out These Other Handy PC-Compatible Controllers:
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Modern games not only look fantastic, but they also sound amazing. And voice chat is crucial for squad-based games like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. We've gathered up some gift ideas so your PC gamer can sound their best and hear their games as they were intended to be heard.
Logitech G G935 Wireless 7.1 Surround Sound LIGHTSYNC Gaming Headset This hardcore headset checks off all the boxes and delivers a solid gaming experience in one slick package. It's wireless, has 7.1 channel surround sound, and it works with basically any console on top of PC compatibility.
Grab Another Excellent PC Gaming Headset:
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Forza Horizon 5 Honestly, what we have here is the result of a racing studio at the peak of its craft and the best open-world racing game available.
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Hitman 3 Rich, rewarding, and highly replayable, Hitman 3 is a superb instalment of IO’s idiosyncratic but much-loved stealth series. The fundamentals haven’t changed since 2016 but its collection of outstanding maps makes for a refined, reliable, and robust curtain-closer to the current Hitman trilogy.
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Deathloop Despite its seemingly endless complexities, Deathloop is one of the most confidently designed games I’ve ever played. Arkane Studios has crafted a world made of ideas linked by meaningful connections; time influences space, space influences tactics, and tactics influence loadouts.
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Steam Gift Card Not sure what game to get? Give them a Steam Gift Card. If you got a $100 card, and they stuck to Steam's frequent sales, that $100 could last a ridiculously long time.
Adam Mathew is a deals finder for IGN AU. He's never once tasted eggnog. Or any other nog.
Continue reading...
The Coolest PC Hardware
Oculus Quest 2 - Advanced All-In-One VR Headset Losing yourself in virtual reality is easier than ever. Surprise the PC gamer in your life with the newly reduced Oculus Quest 2 bundle. It includes the headset and redesigned Touch controllers for one low price.
--------------------
HTC VIVE Pro 2 Full Kit This is one of the biggest and best of the virtual reality set-ups. If you're looking for a gift that will really immerse your recipient in all VR has to offer, this is the ideal headset. Thanks to wall-mounted sensors, it allows players to get up and walk around inside the game, putting the "reality" in "virtual reality."
--------------------
Acer Predator XB3 (XB273K) The age of 4K is truly dawning, with the hardware to run it and experience it finally at a comfortable consumer level. The UHD resolution is gaining rapidly, and will soon outpace 1080p as the base resolution. If you know someone looking for a monitor for the holiday season, this one is awesome.
--------------------
DJI Mini 2 Drones are the new hotness, and this one is excellent if you want an option that's cool, fun, and easy to learn. It comes with a wind-resistant 3-axis set-up with a decent range.
--------------------
Check Out More Excellent PC Gamer Hardware:
The Best PC Accessories
What good is a great PC if you don't have the accessories to truly achieve ascension? Surprise the PC gamer in your life with some of these excellent accessories this holiday season. We've broken them down by category to make it easier for you to land on something they'll love.
Gaming Keyboards
Corsair K100 RGB Optical-Mechanical Gaming Keyboard A great gaming keyboard is sure to be a hit with your PC friends and family. Corsair makes some of the best, and this K100 is a nice, mid-range keyboard with quality build and awesome styling.
Check Out More Awesome Gaming Keyboards:
- ASUS ROG Claymore II Wireless Keyboard
- Fnatic Streak Pro Gaming Mechanical Esports Keyboard
- Logitech G Pro X Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
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Gaming Mice
A good gaming mouse can go a long way, but it also makes a big difference when it comes to everyday tasks like browsing the web, too. Here are some that will take your point-and-clicking skills to the next level.
Logitech G Pro Wireless This wireless mouse from Logitech has a 1ms response time for lag-free play. On top of that, it features wireless charging to make it a truly unrestrained experience. Plus it looks completely awesome.
Check Out More Top-Notch Gaming Mice:
- Razer Basilisk Ultimate Hyperspeed Wireless
- HyperX Pulsefire Haste – Gaming Mouse
- Razer DeathAdder Elite Gaming Mouse
- Razer Naga Pro
- Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro SE
- Mad Catz B.A.T. 6+
- Razer Viper Ultimate Hyperspeed
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Just because gaming mice are optical doesn't mean you still shouldn't be using a mouse pad. Gaming mouse pads are specifically designed to improve and maximize your gaming mouse's sensitivity and make everyday use a more comfortable experience.
Check Out These Must-Have Gaming Mouse Pads:
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USB/Wireless Controllers
Mouse and keyboard isn't for everyone, and some games are all but impossible to play with the tried-and-true WASD control scheme. Fortunately there's a wide selection of controllers out there from general use to highly-specific.
Xbox Series X/S Wireless Controller + Wireless Adapter The incredibly well designed Xbox controller is the go-to choice for PC games from Forza Horizon 5 to popular indies like Death's Door and Unpacking. It works right out of the box and depending on your gift receiver's PC set up, will work wirelessly too.
Check Out These Other Handy PC-Compatible Controllers:
- DualSense Wireless Controller
- Steam Controller
- Razer Wolverine Ultimate Edition Chroma
- Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog Flight Stick
- Tobii Eye Tracker 5
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PC Gaming Headsets
Modern games not only look fantastic, but they also sound amazing. And voice chat is crucial for squad-based games like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. We've gathered up some gift ideas so your PC gamer can sound their best and hear their games as they were intended to be heard.
Logitech G G935 Wireless 7.1 Surround Sound LIGHTSYNC Gaming Headset This hardcore headset checks off all the boxes and delivers a solid gaming experience in one slick package. It's wireless, has 7.1 channel surround sound, and it works with basically any console on top of PC compatibility.
Grab Another Excellent PC Gaming Headset:
- Razer BlackShark V2
- Logitech G Pro X Wireless Headset
- Razer Nari Essential Wireless 7.1
- Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Headset
- JBL Quantum 800 Wireless
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Must Have PC Games of 2021
Forza Horizon 5 Honestly, what we have here is the result of a racing studio at the peak of its craft and the best open-world racing game available.
--------------------
Hitman 3 Rich, rewarding, and highly replayable, Hitman 3 is a superb instalment of IO’s idiosyncratic but much-loved stealth series. The fundamentals haven’t changed since 2016 but its collection of outstanding maps makes for a refined, reliable, and robust curtain-closer to the current Hitman trilogy.
--------------------
Deathloop Despite its seemingly endless complexities, Deathloop is one of the most confidently designed games I’ve ever played. Arkane Studios has crafted a world made of ideas linked by meaningful connections; time influences space, space influences tactics, and tactics influence loadouts.
--------------------
Steam Gift Card Not sure what game to get? Give them a Steam Gift Card. If you got a $100 card, and they stuck to Steam's frequent sales, that $100 could last a ridiculously long time.
Adam Mathew is a deals finder for IGN AU. He's never once tasted eggnog. Or any other nog.
Continue reading...
