Gaming

Unlocking the iPad Mini’s gaming potential with the GameSir G8+ MFi

Gaming handheld feel

Published

December 22, 2025

GadgetMatch

There’s a point where mobile gaming stops feeling like a compromise and starts feeling intentional. For the iPad mini, that moment usually comes when you stop treating it like a stretched-out phone and start using it like the compact gaming console that it can be. The GameSir G8+ MFi is designed precisely for that shift.

Designed like it belongs

At first glance, the G8+ MFi looks like a premium console controller that’s been split down the middle. The gray-and-white colorway feels clean and understated, more lifestyle accessory than gamer toy.

It doesn’t scream for attention, but once your iPad mini snaps into place, it immediately reframes the entire experience. This isn’t just an add-on. It feels like a missing piece.

Plug-and-play, the iOS way

What makes the G8+ MFi instantly approachable is its official MFi certification. There’s no pairing process to fuss over, no settings rabbit hole to fall into. You plug it in through the built-in Type-C connector and it just works.

Inputs register instantly, games recognize it properly, and latency simply isn’t part of the conversation. That plug-and-play reliability is a big deal on iOS, where controller support can feel inconsistent depending on the accessory.

Built to fit more than phones

The ultra-wide stretch design is the other quiet hero here. With support for devices from 125mm to 215mm, the G8+ MFi holds the iPad mini securely without feeling overextended or awkward. It will work with any Type-C device that fits within that range, whether it’s a compact tablet or a larger smartphone.

Weight distribution matters when you’re gaming for longer sessions, and GameSir gets this right. The controller grips take the strain off your hands, so the iPad mini never feels top-heavy or uncomfortable, even after extended play.

Console-grade comfort and control

Once you start playing, the console-grade ambition of the G8+ MFi becomes obvious. The laser-textured grips add just enough friction to feel secure without being abrasive. The mechanical D-pad is crisp and responsive, especially noticeable in fighting games and platformers where precise inputs matter.

This made playing Zenless Zone Zero and NBA 2K26 Apple Arcade Edition even more engaging. Everything feels deliberate, as if the controller was tuned for real gameplay rather than quick demos.

Hall Effect precision, no drift

The Hall Effect sticks and triggers are the standout feature, and not just on paper. In use, the sticks feel smooth and consistent across their full range of motion, with none of the dead-zone uncertainty that cheaper mobile controllers suffer from.

Because they rely on non-contact magnetic sensors, stick drift isn’t something you have to worry about creeping in months down the line. The triggers mirror that same philosophy. They’re analog, smooth, and responsive, and with hair-trigger mode enabled, they snap into instant-response territory that works especially well for shooters and racing games.

Customization that actually matters

Customization is another area where the G8+ MFi leans into enthusiast territory without becoming overwhelming. The magnetic faceplate pops off easily, letting you swap ABXY layouts or thumbsticks depending on your preference.

Two rear buttons sit right where your fingers naturally rest, and they’re fully remappable for quick actions or shortcuts. It’s the kind of flexibility you appreciate more over time, especially when you start tailoring controls to specific games.

Immersion without compromise

GameSir also didn’t skimp on immersion. Dual asymmetric vibration motors provide feedback that feels purposeful rather than noisy. Explosions, collisions, and subtle environmental cues come through clearly, adding texture to gameplay without becoming distracting.

Combined with the wired connection and pass-through charging, it encourages longer sessions without the usual battery anxiety.

After spending time with the GameSir G8+ MFi, it’s hard to go back to touch controls or generic Bluetooth pads. It turns the iPad mini into something closer to a dedicated handheld console—one that feels focused, comfortable, and capable.

For anyone serious about mobile gaming on iOS, this controller doesn’t just improve the experience. It completes it.

Gaming

Call of Duty drops the PlayStation 4 starting with its next game

Is this the beginning of the end for the PlayStation 4?

Published

May 8, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

When can we declare that a console is officially dead? Is it as soon as the launch of the next generation? Is it when games no longer come out on the console? Recently, Call of Duty has confirmed that the next game will not be available anymore on the PlayStation 4, which presents an important question: Is the PlayStation 4 officially dead?

Call of Duty is one of the most persistent gaming franchises today. The last entry, Black Ops 7, is still available for the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Both consoles were launched over twelve years ago. (If that doesn’t make you old, the current generation was launched almost six years ago.)

As such, the franchise is one of the last stalwarts keeping the past generation alive. This week, Call of Duty, via a post on X, confirmed that the next game will not arrive on the PlayStation 4. Presumably, this also means the Xbox One.

Not sure where this one started, but it’s not true. The next Call of Duty is not being developed for PS4.

— Call of Duty (@CallofDuty) May 4, 2026

Currently, we don’t have details about the upcoming game yet. But a new entry is confirmed to arrive later this year.

With the departure of the Call of Duty franchise, it’s fair to ask what will become of the old generation moving forward. Over the years, developers have started shying away from the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One. Since the franchise still maintains a steady fan base today, a lot of PlayStation 4 users might be forced to make an upgrade to play the latest entry.

Gaming

Stranger Than Heaven is a Yakuza prequel with Snoop Dogg

The story spans different eras and regions across half a century in Japan.

Published

May 7, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

In my review of Yakuza Kiwami 3, I groaned about how every new entry in the Yakuza and Like a Dragon franchise — original and remake — looked identical with each other. I ended that playthrough hoping desperately for a new era. Thankfully, those hopes did not fall on deaf ears. In its first trailer, the upcoming Stranger Than Heaven showed off an interesting reimagining of the Yakuza universe. Oh, and Snoop Dogg is in it.

First announced back in late 2024 as Project Century, Stranger Than Heaven has now confirmed itself as a prequel to the prequel to the Yakuza games. It didn’t start that way, though. When it was announced, there was hope that the then-untitled game featured a new story disconnected from Yakuza. It looks like the final game is making the best of both worlds.

Stranger Than Heaven chronicles the rise of the infamous Tojo Clan. Unless this is decidedly different from the Tojo Clan in the Yakuza series, this is the clearest sign that this is, in fact, a prequel.

Makoto Daito, a Japanese boy living in Chicago, escapes America to forge a new life in Japan. Along the way, he meets Orpheus, a smuggler played by Snoop Dogg, who drags Makoto into the criminal underworld. Eventually, Makoto decides to do things his own way by creating a new crime family called the Tojo Clan.

Unlike other games in the series, Stranger Than Heaven spans different eras and regions in Japan, starting with Fukuoka in 1915 and ending with Kamurocho in 1965. It will also have different fighting mechanics by mapping the left and right bumpers/triggers to left and right attacks.

Off the bat, Stranger Than Heaven looks like a new era for the series. It launches winter this year for all major platforms.

Gaming

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches October 6

Pre-orders now live

Published

May 4, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

Star Wars: Galactic Racer is set to launch on October 6, 2026, bringing a new high-speed twist to the Star Wars universe. The game is published by Secret Mode and developed by Fuse Games. It arrives on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC with support for up to 12 players.

Pre-orders are now open across Standard, Deluxe, and Collector’s Editions. Pricing starts at $59.99 for the Standard Edition, with both digital and physical versions available depending on platform.

A different kind of Star Wars story

Set in the lawless Outer Rim, the game introduces the Galactic League—an unsanctioned racing circuit where skill matters more than destiny. You play as a mysterious pilot named Shade, navigating a single-player campaign built on rivalries, alliances, and unfinished business.

There’s no Force or prophecy here. Instead, the focus is on build strategy and racing mastery. Players can customize three types of repulsorcraft and even take on classic podracers, blending familiar Star Wars elements with a more competitive, arcade-style edge.

Multiplayer supports online races where players can test their builds and driving skills against others.

Pre-order bonuses and editions

All pre-orders include a bonus livery usable across vehicles, with platform-specific colors, plus a Player Banner background for multiplayer.

The Deluxe Edition adds three extra vehicles, exclusive Arcade events, a livery pack, and cosmetic upgrades like new player banners and insignias. It also includes a digital art book featuring early designs of characters, locations, and vehicles.

Collector’s Edition for dedicated pilots

For collectors, the physical Collector’s Edition bundles a model of the Kor Sarun: Darc X landspeeder, themed patches, a printed art book, and a steel case housed in premium packaging. It also includes all Deluxe Edition digital content.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on October 6, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, with pre-orders now available.