Gaming

Best gaming monitors for the PS5 and Xbox Series X

Play at 120 FPS while having mercy on your wallet

File photo: Legion Y27gq-25 Gaming Monitor

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A new chapter is unfolding for the console wars of the next generation. In one to two weeks time, people will decide on whether they like the boxy Xbox Series X, or a massive PlayStation 5. Both consoles give you a relative game changer in playing games at 120 FPS in full 4K resolution! It’s just that, well there’s a catch to achieving that.

See, in order to achieve 120 FPS in 4K, both consoles come with an HDMI cable with HDMI 2.1 support. HDMI 2.1 is the latest version of high-definition display technology that supports high refresh rates for higher resolutions. You mostly find these in the latest TVs, but they’re just too expensive. So, the next best thing on the list are gaming monitors but you’re out of luck there.

As of writing, only two monitors currently have HDMI ports with HDMI 2.1, but still in production. One of them is by ASUS ROG, with a 43-inch gaming monitor that has no name, no price, and no release date. The other is the Eve Spectrum, a crowdfunded gaming monitor that comes in at US$ 689 (roughly PhP 33,000) for the 4K, 120Hz option.

In the meantime, which gaming monitors can you roll with that can give you that 120 FPS, but won’t break your wallet any further? Here are some monitors we have in mind:

Lenovo Legion Y27q-20 Gaming Monitor

Recently, Lenovo Legion launched gaming monitors with refresh rates greater than 120Hz. Essentially, this is a great thing to feature with the next-gen consoles coming up because most of them are capable of giving you 120 FPS gameplay. However, keep in mind that these don’t support 4K at 120 FPS. If you just want the 120 FPS, they have one monitor in mind.

The Lenovo Legion Y27q-20 is a gaming monitor with a 165Hz refresh rate, and equipped with a 1ms response rate. For most competitive PC gamers, this would be a great pickup if they want smoother gameplay at higher frame rates. This monitor comes with HDMI 2.0, which in theory supports 120 FPS gameplay at 1440p.

However, this monitor supports NVIDIA’s G-SYNC Technology which is incompatible with the next-gen consoles. If you still want to get it, you can get your hands on the Lenovo Legion Y27q-20 through your local resellers or Lazada PH.

27” ASUS TUF Gaming Monitor VG279QL1A

Apart from the ROG line, ASUS also leans on their much more affordable TUF Gaming lineup of peripherals. Some of their TUF Gaming monitors serve up the same level of performance on paper, but at a more affordable price than most ROG monitors in the market. When sifting through the monitors they’re offering, one particularly stands out suited for next-gen consoles.

ASUS’ 27” VG279QML1A TUF Gaming Monitor also comes with a 165Hz refresh rate, and comes with FreeSync support. With Adaptive Sync, it promises to bring smooth gameplay for AMD GPUs, which the next-gen consoles bring. Like the Legion Y27q-20, this monitor also comes with HDMI 2.0 ports.

For this monitor, it comes natively in FHD resolution, with support for a 120Hz refresh rate. With next-gen consoles, it’s very possible that you will achieve close to 120 FPS gameplay with this monitor. To get this monitor, you can visit your local ASUS outlet or on Datablitz PH.

MSI Optix MAG274R Esports Gaming Monitor

When you first hear MSI, the first things you think of are usually laptops and gaming peripherals. The gaming brand also has a great list of gaming monitors, mostly focused on competitive Esports players and teams. Another great thing about these monitors is that they’re relatively affordable, as well.

One of such options is the MSI Optix MAG274R Esports Gaming Monitor. Compared to the others, this only comes with a 144Hz refresh rate but with FreeSync support. Still, what stands out for this particular monitor is its support for a HDMI 2.0b port. Although it’s the same HDMI 2.0 port, it provides HDR support, which next-gen consoles accommodate.

You can purchase this monitor through MSI’s concept and affiliate stores. They also sell the monitor through Datablitz PH.

Gaming

Horizon Hunters Gathering is an upcoming co-op roguelite spinoff

If you liked Nightreign, you might like this.

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Like Valve, the PlayStation’s tentpole franchises are allergic to the number 3. The Last of Us, the ongoing God of War arc, Spider-Man, and Horizon all don’t have a third game yet. These franchises, however, have all gotten rumors of spinoffs. Now, Horizon is getting more than just a rumor; an official co-op spinoff is happening. Say hello to Horizon Hunters Gathering!

Today, Guerilla unveiled Horizon Hunters Gathering, an official co-op roguelite set in the Horizon universe. The game will feature multiple players working to take down difficult enemies, bosses, and dungeons.

The title shares similarities with Elden Ring Nightreign. For one, players can choose between six characters with different roles. The main mode, called Machine Incursion, takes players to a wide map with powerups and roaming monsters. The map then has a shrinking ring that… well, you know what a shrinking ring does.

Horizon Hunters Gathering also has a different game mode called Cauldron Descent. Compared to the Nightreign type of gameplay, Cauldron Descent is a more traditional roguelite mode. Players enter a dangerous dungeon and choose alternate paths that vary in challenges.

Both game modes will be available through an upcoming closed playtest through the PlayStation Beta Program.

Because this is from Guerilla themselves, this is an official game. But it’s far from the only spinoff for the universe. Previously, NCSoft, a South Korean gaming studio, announced Horizon Steel Frontiers, an MMO set in the Horizon universe. Like Horizon Hunters Gathering, Steel Frontiers has an unknown launch date.

SEE ALSO: Horizon Steel Frontiers is an MMO set in the Horizon universe

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Gaming

Valve is delaying the launch of the Steam Machine

But it’s still scheduled for the first half of 2026.

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Overshadowed only by the Nintendo Switch 2, the upcoming Steam Machine was one of the most exciting gaming devices announced last year. Unfortunately, especially if you were waiting intently for the console’s launch, Valve is delaying the device by an undisclosed amount of time.

Initially, Valve anticipated a launch for the Steam Machine sometime in the first half of 2026. However, as the calendar rolls on into the second month of the year, the company has yet to announce either a price or a launch date for the console. Valve says that both should be out by now.

In a recent update, the company confirms that ongoing chip shortages have forced a reevaluation of the Steam Machine’s price and shipping date. This also goes for the Steam Controller and the Steam Frame. Valve is going back to the drawing board to figure out what is feasible for the console market.

On the bright side, Valve is still aiming to launch all three devices in the first half of the year. It’s just a matter of determining when that is.

The Steam Machine is just the latest in a growing line of devices affected by the chip shortage. Today, chipmakers are funneling their supplies to the supposed demand for AI servers. Naturally, more infrastructure means less chips reserved for regular consumers.

Also recently, NVIDIA was rumored to skip this year for a new GPU launch because of the AI “boom”. It’s the first time that this has happened in thirty years.

SEE ALSO: Valve announces its own console called the Steam Machine

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Gaming

No new NVIDIA GPUs this year, report says

Once again, it’s because of AI.

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Yesterday, AMD made the bold claim that the next-generation Xbox is coming next year. In a world drowning in manufactured hype for AI, hearing about GPUs going back to gaming is refreshing. NVIDIA, however, still has its pipelines clogged with artificial intelligence. According to reports, the company will not release new graphics cards this year.

This is unprecedented. A new graphics card is often a highlight for gamers every year. Even in recent times when prices beggar belief, a newly launched chip still generates hype.

Now, for the first time in thirty years, NVIDIA will not launch a new card in a calendar year (via The Information). Like a lot of things happening this year, AI is the culprit.

Buoyed by the dreams of billionaires, GPU companies are busy dedicating their stock of chips for AI servers. Because these servers artificially blew up the demand for GPUs, everything else that needs such a chip is projected to see a price hike this year. This includes smartphones, gaming consoles, and cars. Regular consumers have been left to deal with the aftermath of the imaginary AI boom.

According to The Information, NVIDIA’s current lineup is only partially composed of chips meant for gaming. Only around 8 percent of its revenue came from that segment in the first nine months of last year. In its defense, AI chips are much more profitable right now, but it’s still a big blow against consumers who just want to play games.

SEE ALSO: NVIDIA is the world’s first $4 trillion company

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