Gaming

Red Dead Redemption (PC) review: A faithful port

Play the original in its best available version

Published

November 15, 2024

Luigi Leonardo

Like the prequel that came after it, Red Dead Redemption is a quintessential title that typifies its generation – which, in this case, is the PlayStation 3. Now, after more than a decade, the classic cowboy game has finally arrived on the PC. But, two generations removed from the original, how does the PC port fare on today’s hardware?

Port vs. remaster vs. remake

If you were to pick, which of these three is the best for today’s hardware? The answer, of course, depends on the game. While some titles can use an overall remake, most title can make do with a simple port or remaster.

Red Dead Redemption is clearly a port. It does not have updated graphics or newly introduced gameplay mechanics. It’s the original game playable on a PC.

That said, the classic doesn’t really need a new introduction. Now, it can do with a fresh coat of paint to match up against the prequel’s more realistic graphics. What we got is enough, though. It’s the PlayStation 3 version but with unlocked graphics options. You can now play the game at higher resolutions and smoother framerates.

There’s nothing quite like playing an older game at 60 frames per second. It’s an absurdly smooth experience, especially for a dated game. Plus, if you have a large monitor, exploring the Wild West is satisfyingly immersive.

Mouse and keyboard support is mostly a win

Because it was exclusive to the PlayStation 3, Red Dead Redemption was built for controllers. One of the benefits of creating a PC port is the addition of support for mouse and keyboard. For a game that relies heavily on gunplay, a mouse makes aiming completely trivial, even without the time-slowing Dead Eye ability.

However, there are some elements that don’t translate well on a keyboard. For one, navigating menus still relies on the arrow buttons.

Also, some controls need a bit of gymnastics to pull off. For example, sprinting with a horse requires players to tap the Left Shift button repeatedly. It gives your pinky finger a workout. Thankfully, you can rebind keys immediately, but it does take some getting used to.

Alternatively, the game can seamlessly transition between a gamepad and the mouse/keyboard combo. I had both connected to my PC while I was playing: a controller for riding a horse and a mouse for aiming. I didn’t experience any input lag when switching between them.

A brief introduction

For the uninitiated, Red Dead Redemption is still one of the best series set in the Wild West. The first game puts players inside the boots of John Marston, a bounty hunter tasked with hunting down the remnants of his old gang.

Like every game in the extensive library of Rockstar Games, the title features an immersive experience in its setting. Players can wrangle cows, participate in horse races, and play poker in a saloon.

Immersing yourself in the Wild West is already a draw in itself. However, the franchise’s biggest attraction is its story. More so than the Grand Theft Auto series, Red Dead Redemption has a compelling story that can hook you after every beat in its story.

The plot starts off with John facing off against Bill Williamson, the first of his former gang. Brutally unprepared, John gets shot immediately. A passing rancher mercifully saves John before he bleeds out, leading to a long journey to fight his way back to Bill’s front door.

Is this your GadgetMatch?

Red Dead Redemption belongs in the gaming world’s hall of fame. It’s an absolute must-play. However, the only drawback is its price as a full game. Despite being more than a decade old, you still need to pay as much as a brand-new game.

Now, if you’ve never played the game in its original format or just want to re-experience it in a smoother framerate, the PC port offers the best version of the game available today.

Computers

GIGABYTE collaborates with Capcom for RE Requiem custom PC

Giveaway runs until March 31

Published

March 9, 2026

GadgetMatch

GIGABYTE and Capcom have collaborated for a limited time Resident Evil Requiem-inspired custom PC giveaway.

The setup is inspired by the title, which recently released, and includes an exclusive monitor game bundle to bring players closer to the experience.

Headlining the collaboration is the Umbrella Corporation — Level 3 Access custom rig giveaway. It is one of a kind, fully-built desktop featuring a Z890M AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE motherboard and RTX 5080 AERO OC SFF graphics.

Of course, it draws inspiration from the visual identity and atmosphere of Resident Evil Requiem. It also features a GIGABYTE C102 GLASS ICE chassis design and custom GIGABYTE MO27Q28G gaming monitor to complete the setup.

The giveaway runs from March 2 to March 31 via the official campaign website. Fans can enter for a chance to win the custom rig, with no purchase necessary. The only caveat is that they have to be a United States or Canada resident.

Such experience is designed to invite players and PC enthusiasts alike to engage with the collaboration while highlighting GIGABYTE’s premium hardware craftmanship and attention to detail.

In addition to the giveaway, GIGABYTE is also offering a Resident Evil Requiem game bundle with select gaming monitors. Included are AORUS brand monitors, ranging from 27 to 55 inches in size.

This bundle is available until March 31. Customers who purchase eligible models can redeem a digital game code through GIGABYTE’s official redemption platform.

The featured monitor is the MO27Q28G, which has fourth generation WOLED panel with 280Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time. It is an ideal monitor to experience the spine-chilling terror and death-defying action of the title.

Gaming

Project Helix is Xbox’s next console, and it plays PC games

It might be as powerful as a modern PC.

Published

March 6, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

Among all the platforms in today’s generation of consoles, the Xbox has to be biggest loser. Compared to the PlayStation 5 and the Switch 2, the Xbox Series X|S isn’t as memorable. To rectify its position in the rankings, Xbox is heavily teasing its next console codenamed Project Helix.

As was hinted before, Xbox is trying something different with its next-generation console. Rather than just a simple iteration over the current-generation console, the upcoming one will reportedly double as a PC. Today, the company itself has confirmed that this is the case for Project Helix.

Through a post on X, Xbox CEO Asha Sharma said that the console will “lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games.”

Great start to the morning with Team Xbox, where we talked about our commitment to the return of Xbox including Project Helix, the code name for our next generation console.

Project Helix will lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games. Looking forward to chatting about… pic.twitter.com/Xx5rpVnAZI

— Asha (@asha_shar) March 5, 2026

There are two things to unpack here. Firstly, Project Helix will aim to bridge the perilous divide between console players and PC players. Unlike the past, there will be a way to play both platforms on both devices… except for games exclusive to the PlayStation and the Switch, that is.

Secondly, a “lead in performance” seems to indicate that this isn’t just a mini-PC. Most recently, Valve announced the Steam Machine. Though it offers a convenient way to play Steam games in one device, it doesn’t have the best specs. Project Helix, if Sharma’s words are to be believed, might be as powerful as a modern PC.

Xbox won’t wait long before revealing more details about the console. Sharma, who only recently started her post as CEO, will be at next week’s Game Developers Conference to explain Project Helix more.

Gaming

Ubisoft confirms Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag remake

It’s officially called Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced.

Published

March 5, 2026

Luigi Leonardo

If you ask an Assassin’s Creed fan what their favorite game of the series is, Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag will likely be one of the top contenders. Because of its reputation, gamers are constantly asking for a remake of the popular pirate simulator. Now, the dream is finally here. Ubisoft has confirmed that a remake, called Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced, is coming.

Released in 2013, Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag saw the journey of Edward Kenway, a vagabond pirate haplessly thrust into life as part of the Assassin Brotherhood against his will. The critically acclaimed game was something that all gamers have been clamoring for since Sid Meier’s Pirates: a true pirate simulator. It was no surprise that the game got as popular as it did.

Today, through an official roadmap shared by the company, Ubisoft has confirmed that Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced is real, and it might launch later this year. The company also released the first concept art for the remake.

Currently, there’s no official word as to how Ubisoft is remaking the game. At the very least, we can expect significant graphical upgrades to put it up to par with the modern games. We wouldn’t be opposed to more stories and missions too.

Now, though the Black Flag remake is already a big deal, the same roadmap also emphasizes that Codename Hexe, the next mainline title, is still coming. Ubisoft hasn’t confirmed the actual timeline yet, but the game will depict “a pivotal moment in history.” With post-launch development for the ongoing Shadows winding down, efforts to launch Codename Hexe should be ramping up soon.