It was just last year Sony Electronics had added the INZONE H9 II which felt like a XM6 Gaming Headset and the INZONE E9 which always kept you wired with its earbuds configuration.

With INZONE H9 II we are getting a Fnatic colorway which is their signature orange. Earcups are mostly covered in orange as well as the mic while the rest if covered in black. Fnatic branding is on top of the headband while their logo is on the earcups.

On the INZONE E9 side they are welcoming a transculent style of purple. This was also the same styling they brought to the INZONE Buds earlier this year.

Both new colors are available now on Sony’s website.

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is happening right now, and there’s plenty of Razer gear to check out if your gaming setup could use an upgrade. From keyboards and headsets to controllers and gaming chairs, the deals run today, October 6, through tomorrow, October 7.

The BlackWidow V4 Tenkeyless HyperSpeed at $99.99 stands out immediately. Down from $179.99, it gets the biggest percentage discount in this roundup, taking $80 off the keyboard. The Basilisk V3 Pro 35K at $119.99 also drops by $50, making it another deal to check if a mouse upgrade is on your list.

There are smaller purchases here, too. The Seiren V3 Mini is $39.99, while several controllers get $40 discounts. For a bigger setup change, both Iskur chairs in this roundup are at least $80 below their listed MSRPs.

Here’s the full breakdown. Product links lead to Amazon search results, where you can check the matching model and current price.

Headsets

Both headset deals take $30 off, bringing the Kraken Kitty V3 Pro to $149.99 and the PC version of the BlackShark V3 Pro to $219.99.

• Kraken Kitty V3 Pro: $149.99 — MSRP $179.99 / 17% off
• BlackShark V3 Pro (PC): $219.99 — MSRP $249.99 / 12% off

Mice

• Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: $119.99 — MSRP $169.99 / 29% off

Keyboards

Keyboards have some of the strongest discounts here. Beyond the $99.99 BlackWidow V4 Tenkeyless HyperSpeed, the Low-Profile HyperSpeed TKL gets a $60 reduction, and the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% drops by $50.

• BlackWidow V4 Tenkeyless HyperSpeed: $99.99 — MSRP $179.99 / 44% off
• BlackWidow V4 Low-Profile HyperSpeed TKL: $139.99 — MSRP $199.99 / 30% off
• BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%: $249.99 — MSRP $299.99 / 17% off
• Huntsman V3 Pro 8KHz: $208.99 — MSRP $249.99 / 16% off
• BlackWidow V4 Low-Profile HyperSpeed: $169.99 — MSRP $199.99 / 15% off

Controllers

The Wolverine V3 Pro, Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC, and Kishi V3 Pro XL each come in at $159.99. Check compatibility when choosing a model for your console, PC, or mobile device.

• Wolverine V3 Pro: $159.99 — MSRP $199.99 / 20% off
• Wolverine V3 Pro 8K PC: $159.99 — MSRP $199.99 / 20% off
• Kishi V3 Pro XL: $159.99 — MSRP $199.99 / 20% off
• Kishi V3 Pro: $125.99 — MSRP $149.99 / 16% off
• Raiju V3 Pro: $199.99–$214.99 — MSRP $219.99 / 2–9% off

Gaming Chairs

If your chair is the next thing you’re replacing, the Iskur V2 X is $219.99, while the Iskur V2 X NewGen is $259.99. Those discounts take $80 and $90 off their respective MSRPs.

• Iskur V2 X: $219.99 — MSRP $299.99 / 27% off
• Iskur V2 X NewGen: $259.99 — MSRP $349.99 / 26% off

Microphones and Webcams

At $39.99, the Seiren V3 Mini is the most affordable item in this roundup. The Seiren V3 Chroma and Kiyo V2 are also discounted if a microphone or webcam is on your shopping list.

• Seiren V3 Mini: $39.99 — MSRP $59.99 / 33% off
• Seiren V3 Chroma: $89.99 — MSRP $129.99–$139.99 / 31–36% off
• Kiyo V2: $119.99 — MSRP $149.99 / 20% off

Keypads, Docks, and Laptop Accessories

The Joro Portable Keyboard gets a $40 discount, while the USB 4 Dock 14-Port drops by $60. There are also deals on the Tartarus V2 keypad, Laptop Cooling Pad, and Chroma docks.

• Tartarus V2 Mecha-Membrane Keypad: $64.99 — MSRP $79.99 / 19% off
• Joro Portable Keyboard: $99.99 — MSRP $139.99 / 29% off
• USB 4 Dock 14-Port: $199.99 — MSRP $259.99 / 23% off
• Laptop Cooling Pad: $149.99 — MSRP $169.99 / 12% off
• Handheld Dock Chroma: $79.99 — MSRP $89.99 / 11% off
• Thunderbolt 5 Dock Chroma: $369.99–$379.99 — MSRP $389.99–$399.99 / 5% off

The BlackWidow V4 Tenkeyless HyperSpeed is the first stop here if you’re shopping for a keyboard under $100. For a smaller purchase, the Seiren V3 Mini keeps the spend under $40 before tax.

These offers run through tomorrow, October 7, during Amazon Prime Big Deal Days.

Pricing and discount percentages are based on Razer’s supplied promotion details and reflect savings against listed MSRP. Prices and availability may change. Confirm the selected model, final price, and any Prime membership requirements on Amazon before purchasing.

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days is happening right now, with discounts across AMD-powered laptops, desktops, Ryzen processors, Radeon graphics cards, and motherboards. The sale runs today, October 6, through tomorrow, October 7, giving you a short window to check off that next PC upgrade.

For anyone putting together a desktop, the Ryzen 7 7700X at $188.99 and Ryzen 5 7600X at $149.99 immediately catch the eye. The supplied offers list savings of $210.01 and $149.01, respectively. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is also $411, taking $68 off its listed comparison price.

If you’re shopping for a complete computer, the Acer Aspire 16 AI Copilot+ PC is $899.99, while the Acer Aspire Go 15 starts at $319.99. Gaming laptops and a CyberPowerPC desktop are in the mix, too.

Here’s the breakdown of the supplied offers. Product links lead to Amazon search results; match the model and processor before checking out.

Ryzen AI PCs

The Acer Aspire 16 AI brings the entry price for a Copilot+ laptop in this list just below $900. ASUS has two Vivobook S16 configurations on sale, while the HP OmniStudio 27 AI offers an all-in-one desktop option at $999.99.

Gaming Laptops and Desktops

The Acer Nitro V 16S comes in at $1,199.99, followed by the HP HyperX OMEN 15 at $1,249.99. For a desktop purchase, the Ryzen 7 8700F-powered CyberPowerPC is $1,299.99.

These systems come in multiple configurations, so check the graphics card, memory, and storage alongside the processor when comparing listings.

Everyday Laptops and All-in-One PCs

The lowest laptop price here is the Acer Aspire Go 15 at $319.99. The Ryzen 5 7520U version of the ASUS Vivobook Go 15 follows at $329.99, with additional ASUS, HP, and Dell options filling out the list.

Watch the processor names on the Vivobook Go 15 listings in particular. Several versions share the same laptop name but have different hardware and prices.

Ryzen Desktop Processors

The CPU deals give builders plenty to compare across several Ryzen generations. The Ryzen 7 7700X has the largest listed dollar reduction in this group at $210.01 off, bringing it to $188.99. The Ryzen 5 7600X lands at $149.99, while the Ryzen 5 9600X is $179.99.

There are also two X3D options: the Ryzen 7 7800X3D at $359.99 and Ryzen 7 9800X3D at $411.

Motherboards

ASUS and GIGABYTE boards are part of the sale, with prices ranging from $84.99 for the GIGABYTE B550 GAMING X V2 to $379.99 for the ASUS ROG STRIX X870E-E GAMING WIFI.

The GIGABYTE B850 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 ICE comes in at $169.99, and the X870 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 is $209. Before pairing a board with one of the processors above, confirm CPU, memory, and BIOS compatibility.

Radeon Graphics Cards

The ASUS ATS Radeon RX 9070 GRE OC Edition is listed at $529.99, with $60 off. The exact model number is ATS-RX9070GRE-O12G, which is worth matching when browsing the available listings.

Available Now Through October 7

For a component purchase, the Ryzen 7 7700X at $188.99 and Ryzen 5 7600X at $149.99 are the prices that stand out in this roundup. For a complete computer, the Acer Aspire 16 AI at $899.99 and Acer Aspire Go 15 at $319.99 offer two very different starting points depending on your budget.

These offers run through tomorrow, October 7, during Amazon Prime Big Deal Days.

Prices and savings are based on promotional details supplied by AMD’s representatives. Savings use the comparison prices in that list and are not independently verified price-history claims. Prices and availability may change; confirm the exact configuration, seller, final price, and any Prime membership requirements before purchasing.

The Huntsman V3 Pro Mini 8KHz carries much of that same feature set into a smaller, 60% layout. It is a familiar proposition with adjustments that accommodate the compact footprint, although the switch travel and physical controls make this more than a simple size change.

Specifications

• Form Factor: 60%
• Switches: Razer Analog Optical Switches Gen-2
• Adjustable Actuation: 0.1–4.0 mm
• Total Key Travel: 4.0 mm
• Actuation Force: 40 g at the default 2.0 mm setting
• Polling Rate: Up to 8,000 Hz
• Razer Rated Average Latency: 0.48 ms under its testing conditions
• Construction: 5052 aluminum alloy top case, textured doubleshot PBT keycaps
• Features: Rapid Trigger, Snap Tap, Snap Flex, Dynamic Keystroke, Dual-Keypress Priority
• Configuration: Synapse, Synapse Web, and onboard adjustments
• Connectivity: Detachable wired USB-C
• MSRP: $179.99

The Mini retains a substantial materials package: an aluminum top case, PBT keycaps, internal foam dampening, and pre-lubed stabilizers. The smaller layout frees up desk space for mouse movement, which is the practical reason this format interests me for competitive gaming.

That reduction also removes dedicated controls. Arrow functionality is available through dual-purpose modifier keys: tap for a direction, hold for the original modifier. The feature requires enabling through Synapse and is disabled on the Factory Default profile. It is a thoughtful accommodation for the layout, although dedicated arrows remain more straightforward for everyday navigation.

Optical Technology, Different Travel

The Mini continues with optical positional sensing, using light to track switch movement. The important comparison this time is between two optical implementations. Its Gen-2 switches offer 4.0 mm of travel, compared with the Low-profile model’s 2.8 mm. That gives the Mini a broader actuation range, while the Low-profile retains the shorter physical movement I appreciated previously. A smaller footprint does not make the Mini a low-profile keyboard; those are separate design choices. Rapid Trigger resets inputs according to upward key movement, while adjustable actuation lets individual commands register at different depths. Keeping movement keys sensitive and other assignments more deliberate remains a useful reason to want this technology.

The generational improvement is clearest against the older Huntsman V3 Pro Mini. Polling increases from 1,000 Hz to 8,000 Hz, with Razer listing average latency dropping from 1.7 ms to 0.48 ms. Those are manufacturer measurements, not my own benchmarks. The Low-profile TKL already offered 8,000 Hz, so this update brings the Mini into that performance tier.

Snap Tap, Snap Flex and Advanced Inputs

Snap Tap supports up to four onboard pairs, while Snap Flex joins the Mini’s feature set alongside Dynamic Keystroke and Dual-Keypress Priority. There is considerable flexibility for players who want to refine how overlapping inputs and multi-action assignments behave.

The compact layout also changes how settings are accessed. Instead of the TKL’s dial and dedicated LED array, the Mini uses keyboard shortcuts and number-row lighting for onboard adjustments. Synapse Web provides another route to essential settings without installing the desktop software. At $179.99, the Mini matches the older model’s listed MSRP while adding faster polling and expanded input capabilities. Its strongest argument is giving competitive players the familiar Huntsman feature set with more room for their mouse.

The tradeoff is everyday convenience. Secondary controls and dual-purpose keys help accommodate the smaller layout, but they still require adjustment.

REVIEW SCORE: 9/10

The Huntsman V3 Pro Mini 8KHz makes sense for players who specifically want a 60% keyboard with extensive control over their inputs. I still see the appeal of the Low-profile TKL’s shorter travel and dedicated controls, but the Mini offers a compelling alternative when desk space takes priority. Its improvements strengthen an already familiar formula while preserving the features that make the Huntsman line worth considering.

For more on RAZER and gaming, follow my socials here – I also stream Mon | Weds | Fri-Sat @9pm ET over on Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube

Rather than relying on flashy features, the AXIS concentrates on the details that matter in everyday use. It has a full aluminum alloy frame, a mechanical spring system for height adjustments, a quick-release monitor plate, and magnetic cable covers built into both sections of the arm. These aren’t features that demand attention on their own. Together, however, they make a compelling case for replacing the stand that came with your monitor.

PRESENTATION

The AXIS has a clean, angular appearance that fits naturally into a modern gaming or workstation setup. Its aluminum construction gives it a more substantial feel than the plastic-heavy designs often associated with inexpensive monitor mounts. AndaSeat also offers it in eight finishes: black, silver, white, red, brown, orange, green, and purple. It’s a welcome amount of choice for an accessory that’s usually available in only black or white, particularly if you’ve put time into coordinating the rest of your desk.

My favorite design decision is the cable management. Instead of leaving you to secure cables along the arm with clips or visible ties, AndaSeat uses magnetic sheaths on the upper and lower sections. They conceal the cables while keeping them accessible if you need to change a connection or rearrange your setup. The slide-and-lock VESA plate is another practical touch: attaching the plate to your monitor separately makes the mounting process more manageable than trying to hold an entire display in place while lining up screws. These are relatively small decisions, but they’re exactly the sort of details that make a product feel considered.

SPECS

The AXIS supports flat or curved monitors from 17 to 34 inches, weighing between 6.6 and 24.2 pounds. It accommodates both 75 × 75mm and 100 × 100mm VESA mounting patterns, with a desk clamp and grommet mount included as installation options. The clamp supports desk thicknesses from 10 to 70mm, so checking your desktop before installing it is worthwhile. That compatibility range covers many conventional gaming and productivity monitors, but owners of larger ultrawide displays should check their screen’s dimensions, weight, and mounting pattern rather than assuming every curved monitor will fit.

Adjustment is generous for a single-monitor arm. You get 10.8 inches of vertical travel, a tilt range of 90 degrees upward and 25 degrees downward, 90 degrees of swivel in either direction, and 360-degree monitor rotation for switching between landscape and portrait orientations. Both arm sections can also rotate through 360 degrees, giving you flexibility in how you position the display over your desk. The mechanical spring and adjustable tension are designed to balance the monitor’s weight and hold its position after an adjustment. AndaSeat also lists a durability test of more than 8,000 cycles, although that is a manufacturer-reported figure rather than a measure of how long any individual arm will last in your setup.

How Does It Function

What appeals to me most about the AXIS is that its design prioritizes stability without sacrificing the ability to make meaningful adjustments. The mechanical spring system gives you control over the resistance, while the one-way torque hinge is intended to keep the screen from sagging once you’ve found the right tilt. Getting that balance right matters more than simply advertising a large range of motion. A monitor arm should let me move my display when I need to, not require constant readjustment throughout the day. The AXIS has the construction and adjustment features I’d want for a setup where the monitor stays in a preferred position most of the time but still needs to move for different tasks.

REVIEW SCORE: 8/10

I also appreciate that AndaSeat treats cable routing and installation as part of the experience rather than afterthoughts. The magnetic covers help keep the back of a desk presentable, especially when the arm is visible, and the separate VESA plate takes some of the awkwardness out of mounting a display. There are still practical limits to consider. You’ll need to dial in the spring tension for your particular monitor, leave enough slack in your cables for the arm’s full movement, and account for the space it occupies behind your desk. Most importantly, its 34-inch and 24.2-pound limits mean it isn’t a universal solution for every oversized gaming display.

The AXIS earns its place through build quality and the attention paid to features you’ll actually use. Its aluminum frame, adjustable mechanical spring, versatile mounting options, and neatly integrated cable management make it a well-rounded choice for a compatible single-monitor setup. I would have liked broader support for larger ultrawide displays, but within its intended size and weight range, the AXIS offers a strong combination of durability, flexibility, and thoughtful design. It does the job a good monitor arm should do: improve your workspace without becoming another thing you have to think about.

For more on AndaSeat and gaming, follow my socials here – I also stream Mon | Weds | Fri-Sat @9pm ET over on Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube

Set against longstanding tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the story feels ripped from the headlines as decades of geopolitical conflict come to a head. What begins as an invasion of the South quickly escalates into a global threat, pushing the Modern Warfare story into darker and more dangerous territory than ever before.

The Modern Warfare series has never shied away from controversial subject matter, and Modern Warfare 4 continues that tradition with a new setting, putting players directly on the ground as the war begins.

I knew Remedy was going to do something strange with Control Resonant, but I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this change in direction as much as I have. I loved how the original Control pulled me into a world that became more fascinating the longer I spent investigating it. Resonant gave me that curiosity again, then handed me a transforming melee weapon and turned Manhattan into somewhere I could barely make sense of. Buildings twist into impossible positions, gravity becomes something I can use, and suddenly I’m fighting through environments that make me wonder how Remedy even came up with them.

What really caught me off guard was how much I enjoyed experimenting with the combat. I went in interested in Dylan’s story of course given he’s the antagonist of Control 1 and the brother of Jesse, but I found myself thinking about how to combine summons, elemental effects, and different weapon forms far more than the overarching story to an extent. Then I would head toward an objective and get distracted by something else happening in the city. There’s considerably more here than I anticipated, and I appreciate how much of it feels worth investigating. Remedy has expanded Control in a direction that gives it a different energy while preserving the strange details that made its world so appealing to me.

Living With Dylan’s Past

I like that Remedy chose to explore this story through Dylan. Seven years after the events of Control, the Hiss has escaped the Oldest House, and Manhattan is suffering the consequences. Dylan enters that crisis carrying his own history with the Federal Bureau of Control, while searching for Jesse gives him a personal reason to keep moving. What interests me most is watching him confront the past and his place in everything that happened. Having that history hanging over him gives his involvement more weight than simply being the person powerful enough to fight back.

Following Dylan also changes how I relate to this universe. I already know parts of his story through Jesse based on Control 1, but spending time in his perspective makes me want to understand him beyond what the original game established. His connection to his sister remains important especially given the way he’s perceived by the FBC as this nuclear-level threat, and I appreciate having that relationship carry forward into a game with such a different approach to combat and exploration. Resonant feels like a meaningful continuation of Control, with enough confidence in its new direction to give Dylan an identity of his own.

The environmental storytelling is still a huge part of why I want to keep exploring. I enjoy finding documents and details that help me piece together what happened without resolving every question I have. There’s something satisfying about learning enough to understand an encounter while realizing there’s still more going on around it. The stories behind the Resonants are especially interesting. These entities already make an impression through their appearance and scale, but having some understanding of them makes their battles much more compelling.

I Didn’t Expect This Much Depth

I still have a soft spot for the original’s shooting, and part of me would enjoy giving Dylan a pistol. But I love how differently he plays once the Aberrant’s possibilities start opening up. Having separate primary and secondary weapon forms, along with a choice for the combo ender, gives me room to put together an approach I actually enjoy using. I can appreciate the weight of a hammer while also wanting the speed of blades, and the game lets those preferences become part of the same setup. The attacks connect with a satisfying physical impact, which matters when enemies are floating around and I’m moving between them with supernatural abilities. I also love how crisp the finishers look. Their variety helps those moments remain rewarding instead of becoming an animation I’m waiting to finish.

The ability interactions are what really got me excited. I can have a summon applying Mold while I’m fighting, then introduce fire and turn that buildup into an explosion. Another ally can hurl debris while I keep pressure on enemies with my own attacks. Once those effects start working together, there’s a lot happening, and I’m the one putting it into motion. Talents and passive benefits from artifacts give me more ways to support those combinations, while the detailed stats let me understand what I’m changing. Managing Power adds another consideration to using abilities without restricting every melee swing through a conventional stamina bar. That depth makes exploring worthwhile, too. Zone activities and boss encounters contribute to progression, giving me reasons to investigate beyond simply following the next story marker. The bosses themselves are wonderfully elaborate. Even after the original Control, I wasn’t prepared for how far Remedy would take some of these encounters.

The only thing I really dislike is how far the camera sits from Dylan. With summons, elemental attacks, and environmental destruction all happening together, it becomes too easy to lose track of him in the effects. I’m enjoying what the combat lets me do, but I want a clearer connection to the character while I’m doing it. Give me control over camera distance and its horizontal and vertical position so I can bring it closer and frame Dylan more over the shoulder. To me, the movement and physicality of the attacks already feel suited to that perspective. I understand the value of a wider view during a large encounter, but I want the option to decide how much distance feels comfortable. Being able to adjust that framing would make a meaningful difference to my enjoyment of an otherwise fantastic combat system.

A City Worth Getting Lost In

I spent a lot of time looking at Manhattan and wondering how Remedy arrived at some of these ideas. Buildings fold and reposition themselves in ways that reminded me of Inception, while enormous structures make Dylan look tiny against his surroundings. The Underpass particularly caught my attention. I loved taking in its architecture and figuring out how those spaces connected. There’s a real sense of discovery in entering another zone because I want to see what the game is going to do with the environment next. The scale is impressive, but the variety is what keeps that scale interesting.

Moving through these spaces is a huge part of their appeal. Double jumps, aerial dashes, and gravity-based traversal give me ways to engage with architecture that initially looks impossible to navigate. I like being able to reach something that seemed too far away, then reconsider the space around me from a new position. The traversal makes the city’s distortion useful as well as visually striking. Even Dylan’s sprinting afterimage adds personality to the simple act of getting somewhere. Between the world puzzles, optional encounters, and rooms to investigate, I kept finding reasons to spend more time in each area.

There’s also an impressive amount of detail beneath the larger spectacle. Physical objects and destructible environments help fights feel connected to the spaces where they happen. The fluid-like effects surrounding the Hiss look fantastic, especially alongside the different abilities filling the screen. Whenever I slowed down, I could better appreciate how much work had gone into the smaller elements of the environment. That’s another reason I want more camera control. Remedy has built a world I enjoy looking at closely, and I’d love more freedom in how I frame it during play.

REVIEW SCORE: 9/10

I’m enjoying Control Resonant more than the original, particularly when it comes to combat and exploration. I didn’t expect the melee systems to give me this much to experiment with, and I love finding ways for Dylan’s abilities to support one another. The city keeps rewarding my curiosity, while his history gives me a reason to care about the story unfolding within it. Remedy made substantial changes to Control, and I appreciate how much those changes have given me to discover.

My criticism comes down to the camera and how easily Dylan can disappear into the visual effects when it pulls too far away. Adjustable distance and horizontal and vertical offsets would go a long way toward addressing that frustration for me. Everything around it has kept me excited to play. I want to see another environment, understand another entity, and try another combination in combat. Resonant has the kind of imagination that makes me eager to find out what Remedy will do next.

For more on Control: Resonant and gaming, follow my socials here – I also stream Mon | Weds | Fri-Sat @9pm ET over on Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube

After a few years of daily use, your Mac may start to perform noticeably differently. And you might find yourself asking, “Why is my Mac so slow?”. Performance can vary as disk space fills up and as more apps run in the background. It’s also because the software you use requires more memory and processing power than it did when the computer was new. Instead of tackling every performance issue the same way, it helps to analyze the situation.

Why Does Your Mac Running Slow Over Time?

Your Mac needs free disk space for normal system operations, caches, updates, and app data. When your startup disk becomes full, there’s less space left for these processes. As a result, certain tasks may slow down. Checking System Preferences > General > Disk Space gives you a clearer picture of exactly what’s taking up disk space. You can free up usable disk space by:

• Deleting unnecessary files,
• Uninstalling programs you no longer need,
• Moving large archives to another location.

Memory requirements

A browser with many active tabs, several desktop apps, large documents, video editing, and background services can all compete for available memory. That’s why a Mac that handled older tasks with ease may seem slower when your usage patterns change. Activity Monitor can show memory usage and help identify apps that consume considerable resources.

Accumulation of background apps

Some apps launch automatically or continue to run background processes even when you’re not actively using them. Over time, users may accumulate:

• Launch items,
• Syncing services,
• Browser extensions,
• Utilities, and other software that launches along with macOS.

If your Mac is slow to respond after logging in, check System Preferences > General > Startup Items and Extensions. Remove any items you no longer need.

After a major macOS update, iCloud, Spotlight, Photos, or Mail may be indexing or syncing in the background. In such cases, slow performance doesn’t always indicate a permanent change in performance. A recent explanation of why your Mac might slow down after an update describes how indexing, cloud syncing, startup items, insufficient disk space, and app compatibility can interact after a major macOS update. This post also explains why it’s helpful to distinguish between temporary activity after an update and a persistent issue. Once these background processes have completed, the next step is to check your Mac’s normal workload rather than assuming that the update itself is the cause of the problem.

How to Speed Up Your Mac Without Guessing

Start with Activity Monitor. It’s useful when the cause of your Mac slowing down isn’t clear. CPU shows which processes are using CPU resources. Memory helps you identify apps that use a lot of memory. You don’t need to quit every process that looks unfamiliar. If you stop certain system processes that are necessary for macOS to function without understanding their purpose, it could cause other problems. Look for an app that consumes an unusually large amount of resources consistently when your Mac is running slowly.

Ensure compatibility

Software designed for the older operating system version may not always work properly after a macOS update. Newer apps versions may have higher hardware requirements than previous releases. Updating macOS and the apps you use regularly can resolve known bugs and compatibility issues. Apple lists the following as possible causes of a slow Mac:

• Insufficient space on the startup disk,
• Requirements of a high memory,
• Incompatible apps,
• Unused apps,
• Disk issues.

If the problems persist, check the disk

The Disk Utility can check a startup disk and, if necessary, attempt to repair it. Constant freezes, startup delays, errors that are unexpected, or a disk that constantly reports problems warrant more attention than a typical gradual slowdown.

When You Need More Than Just a Cleanup

Hardware limitations are more noticeable when apps and workflows hardly need more resources. An older Mac may perform flawlessly for writing, browsing the web, and performing everyday office tasks. Yet, it may struggle with workloads that involve large multimedia files, environments for development, or other resource-intensive software. If the same resource-intensive task consistently pushes your Mac beyond its processing power or available memory, you may want to adjust your workflow or, eventually, upgrade your hardware.

Final Thoughts

Mac performance may suffer from storage overflow, increased software resource requirements, and a buildup of background processes. Its performance can also be caused by changes in compatibility of the software or by the computer trying to handle workloads that exceed what it previously handled with ease. The worthy approach is to identify a particular cause. So, check your available disk space and also analyze memory and CPU usage. Don’t forget to review your startup items. Update compatible software. The steps described here will transform the vague feeling that your Mac is slowing down into a series of specific issues that you can check and fix.

I still remember watching the Mad World trailer and wondering how I was going to get my hands on an Xbox 360. I was 16 when the original Gears of War launched back in 2006, and everything I’d seen had me fascinated with its world. Seeing Marcus navigate this destroyed monolithic architectural ruins because of these lizard monsters inside graphics that surreal-looking was unlike anything I was playing at the time. My brother helped make getting the console possible, and we ended up playing on this enormous bulky cabinet 16:9 60-inch rear-projection television from Rent-A-Center, and I loved every minute of that experience. I went to the midnight releases all through Gears 3, cut class to play online, and tried to stretch whatever two-week Xbox Live Gold trials I could find considering that a yearly membership wasn’t something we could casually afford.

I’ve completed every Gears since, and its world has always fascinated me. The combination of ’90s retro futurist technology, Greco-Roman influences, and an oppressive military culture gave Sera a personality I loved exploring. I still loved what we got with Gears 4 and 5, but something about them gave me a sense of yearning fot Gears of War to innovate once again—and I wondered if Gears of War: E-Day would give that to me. After 25hrs of immersing myself into its campaign, I am glad to say that I came away astonished by the care The Coalition put into this campaign; there is no sugar coating this, Gears of War: E-Day is by large and wide the BEST game I’ve played this year so far, and the absolute best in the franchise without question.

Fenix’s Dark Past

What I appreciated immediately about E-Day was getting to spend time with Marcus and Dom before the Locust changed their lives. We’re fourteen years before the original game, and these two are already carrying plenty of pain. During the opening military ceremony, Marcus is visibly struggling with the loss of Carlos Santiago, while Dom finds pride in his brother having died a hero. That difference caught my attention. They’re grieving the same person, but you can feel how differently they’re processing it. Then Emergence Day happens, and suddenly we’re running through Kalona while civilians are being slaughtered by creatures nobody understands. Knowing what eventually happens to Sera did very little to prepare me for how this game presents those opening moments. You play as a squad of 4, with Lucas Reyes and Mags Carter as new members to the franchise—thankfully they were equally important to the campaign’s emotional weight, with Lucas being a delightful addition in my opinion. There are moments in the game where we get a glimpse of their past which doesn’t take away from the tension of the overarching plot; learning about their regrets became one of its highlights for me though because it was thoughtfully written and exceptionally acted. Those scenes arrive at the right time which actually benefitted the immaculate pacing this game delivered. The entire cast’s performances are phenomenal, supported by expressive facial animation and cinematography that knows when to let a moment breathe.

I’m especially staying vague with the plot because although we know the outcome of this war, the story has a slew of surprising moments that I guarantee leave you on the edge. E-Day repeatedly dismantled whatever security and hope I thought the squad had found; these moments and set pieces left me audibly wowed by the sheer level of spectacle and scenarios that genuinely left me wondering how they’re going to survive. For the most part it worked out for the plot even if some moments were like, “of course that was there.” The quality of the character work reminded me of what I admire in The Last of Us Part II, particularly how much an expression can communicate. It’s just so viscerally rich unlike any other performance I’ve seen in gaming this year—this is truly the best Gears has ever been.

Next Level Gameplay

I know I’m going to upset some veteran fans with this, but I never liked the Roadie Run. I always thought that hunched sprint looked goofy, so seeing E-Day move toward a more upright, natural animation was something I appreciated immediately. There’s still a brief crouched start that acknowledges the original, but once Marcus gets moving, the difference looks and feels fantastic. Add jumping and sliding, and suddenly I’m moving through a Gears firefight with a freedom I’ve wanted for years. The new control scheme sits melee on B, sliding on A, jumping on Y, and sprinting moved to the left stick—that took some getting used to after so many games, but I enjoyed having something new to learn. Once those controls clicked, I became much more confident moving around the larger encounters and taking advantage of their verticality. I still had to respect cover and be deliberate about pushing enemies. I just had more options when I decided to make that push, and the shooting felt as good as ever. Every Lancer round connects with that meaty impact I expect from Gears.

I ended up loving the new weapons so much that I spent a considerable portion of the campaign using them. The MK1 Lancer, chainsaw-equipped Prototype, and Gnasher were there when I wanted something familiar, but the Ripper had my attention. It’s Locust-made double-barrel light machine gun that builds its fire rate, and once I started experimenting with the game’s mod system, I had a hard time putting it down. Gears of War isn’t entirely new to mods of course, but it was never really in the mainline games; E-Day comes full force with the number of mods thrown at us, over 100+ available across 10+ weapons makes a tremendous difference. You have three attachments per weapon, three armor mods, and tactical equipment such as the Disruptor to work into your setup. I built around close-range kills granting healing and a Perfect Active Reload benefit, then added another mod that healed me when I performed a Perfect Active Reload. My Ripper burned enemies through sustained hits and fired both barrels for increased damage after a perfect reload. You can probably see where this is going. Wretches, Tickers, and charging Drones were practically feeding the build, allowing me to keep fighting aggressively on Insanity with far fewer interruptions. Finding another mod became exciting because I wanted to see what else I could get these systems to do together. Between that, the devastating Incinerator, and the charged Striga revolver, I had plenty of reasons to keep experimenting.

Gears of War: E-Day is a very wide linear experience—what I mean by that is, this game is practically open-world. The game has several open sections to explore and backtrack in this campaign which, thanks to its tight controls and immaculate presentation, gave me reason to wander away from the main objective. I’d find myself taking in an apartment building or a parking structure because I couldn’t get over how much detail was packed into these spaces—and thankfully there are things to do in them. Hospitals, police station, a town square, and train stations all in its dilapidated state, gives a sense of immersive environmental storytelling rarely found in games today. That’s exactly what I wanted from a game about Emergence Day. Let me see the civilization we’re fighting for while it’s being torn apart around us—granted there are very few sections of repeated assets, but you would have to really dig into the scenes to find them as I did. The semi-open sections reward that curiosity with collectibles that are physically rendered, side missions, encounters, new weapons, and Hard Cases containing mods, so exploring feeds right back into the combat. Four-player online campaign co-op also returns, something we previously had in Gears 3. The fights themselves can become wonderfully chaotic, especially when a Drone tackles you and a teammate pulls you out of its grip with a brutal rescue animation. Familiar Locust share those spaces with strange new creatures that kept me paying attention to what was coming next. I’ve spent a couple decades learning how Gears plays, and E-Day had me excited to learn again. The Coalition accomplished a lot here without losing the weight and violence that made me fall in love with the series.

Unmatched at the Highest Degree

There were too many moments in E-Day when I had to stop moving because I couldn’t believe I was actually playing something that looked this good. I’ve spent time with Cyberpunk 2077 pushed hard with path tracing, and I still found E-Day more impressive as a complete visual experience. That’s my preference, of course, but the sheer density of Kalona is astounding—now, I did play this game on PC so I can’t speak on the console version, but suffice to say on Ultra settings, the game is a sight to behold. I’m looking at these enormous environments, then getting close enough to appreciate details that could easily have been overlooked, and I’m constantly flabbergast. The character models and facial animation hold up just as well, which makes the transition into a cinematic feel remarkably natural. Unreal Engine 5’s MegaLights gives artists room to work with far more dynamic, shadow-casting lights, while RTX Mega Geometry helps detailed Nanite geometry appear more accurately in ray-traced shadows and reflections. You see the value of that technology in how convincing the environments become. Some scenes have that CGI-like quality I used to associate with trailers showing what a future game might look like. Being able to move through them, explore, and then fight at this scale is incredible.

I played on my RTX 4090 desktop with an Intel Core i9-12900K (I know, a bit dated) and 64GB of RAM at 4K, along with my ROG Strix SCAR 18 at 2560 × 1440. The laptop has an Intel Core Ultra 9, an RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, and 32GB of RAM. Both were running Ultra settings with all available ray-tracing options enabled—it is buttery smooth. Unfortunately though, when frame-gen is set to off, those larger open sections did have frame-pacing issues, and they persisted through my playthrough. The laptop handled them significantly better, but even above 60fps, I could feel that the motion wasn’t consistently smooth. I noticed it on the desktop while targeting 4K60 with dynamic DLSS as well. Of course, this is before any day one patches so I suspect some proper driver updates to rectify these issues rather quickly. Outside those sections, the game ran beautifully, which made the inconsistency more apparent whenever I entered a larger area.

I eventually enabled Frame Generation alongside NVIDIA Reflex, and I was surprised by just how good the experience became. The improvement in smoothness was substantial, and the controls still felt highly responsive for me to enjoy the combat comfortably. That combination made a real difference in how I experienced the rest of the campaign. I still want the underlying frame pacing addressed, particularly given the hardware I was using because I don’t want to rely on artificial input latency for competitive gaming. In addition to that, I mostly found myself wishing I could clear more of the interface away. Give me more control over objective markers and let me shrink the HUD and reticle. The environments are so rich that I wanted as much of my screen devoted to them as possible.

REVIEW SCORE: 10/10

I finished E-Day feeling excited about Gears in a way I hadn’t felt in years. I cared about what Marcus and Dom were going through, and Lucas and Mags became characters I wanted to spend more time with. The ending delivered, the combat kept giving me reasons to experiment, and I genuinely enjoyed adjusting habits I’d carried through almost two decades of these games. Across 25 hours, I never felt like the campaign had run out of things worth showing me. I was invested in the people, fascinated by Kalona, and constantly impressed by what The Coalition had built.

The frame-pacing issues still deserve attention, even with how much Frame Generation and Reflex improved my experience. They were a frustration in a campaign that otherwise gave me so much of what I wanted from this franchise. When I think about finishing E-Day, though, I think about how eager I was to see what came next and how satisfying it felt to play. I remember being 16, staring at Gears on that enormous rented television, wondering what games could eventually become. E-Day gave me a moment to appreciate how far we’ve come. I absolutely loved this campaign.

For more on Gears of War: E-Day and gaming, follow my socials here – I also stream Mon | Weds | Fri-Sat @9pm ET over on Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube

The Next Evolution: AI at the Edge and Total Modularity

The headline innovation behind these new devices isn’t just their ability to handle drops and harsh weather—it’s bringing artificial intelligence and flexible customization straight to the edge. Both models feature AI-ready Intel Core Ultra processors equipped with Copilot+ PC capabilities, enabling crews to execute complex diagnostic software, smart noise reduction, and automated field tasks locally without relying on a cloud connection. Equally game-changing is their modular versatility. Equipped with user-replaceable expansion areas (known as xPAK areas), organizations can adapt each device’s hardware on the fly—adding barcode readers, native serial ports, second LAN connections, or smart card readers without replacing the entire unit. Backed by Wi-Fi 7, 5G private cellular support, and Red Hat Device Edge certification, these machines offer frontline teams complete digital independence in the field.

TOUGHBOOK 34: Unmatched Visual Space for Detailed Field Work

Designed specifically for workers who rely on complex data and multi-window software, the TOUGHBOOK 34 boasts a spacious 12.4-inch display with a 3:2 aspect ratio. That extra screen real estate means far less scrolling and quicker navigation during fast-moving operations.First responders and public safety commanders can view high-resolution incident maps, dispatch records, and reports side-by-side. Federal personnel can coordinate command-and-control operations or direct unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ground systems in rugged conditions. Additionally, the TOUGHBOOK 34 could be deployed by utility crews managing power grid outages to review complex schematics on-site using glove-touch controls. Automotive technicians can utilize the device as a heavy-duty diagnostic hub for vehicle repairs. With up to 18 hours of battery life via an optional second hot-swappable battery, crews can work uninterrupted through double shifts.

TOUGHBOOK G3: Compact Agility for Fast-Moving Mobile Roles

For workers operating on foot or in tight spaces, the TOUGHBOOK G3 offers a sleeker, lighter 10.1-inch form factor that delivers ultimate portability without sacrificing rugged protection. For logistics and warehouse applications, the TOUGHBOOK G3 could be an ideal companion device. Floor operators and forklift drivers can easily manage inventory, scan shipments using integrated barcode or RFID xPAKs, and dock the device seamlessly into space-constrained rigs. Patrol officers in smaller emergency vehicles and federal agents carrying gear into remote locations get a lightweight tablet built for long shifts. Featuring three configurable battery sizes delivering up to 23 hours of runtime—plus a bridge battery for hot-swapping without powering down—the G3 is tailored for non-stop mobility.

Built for Work, Designed for Scale

One of the biggest hurdles for IT teams servicing the men and women who literally keep our lights on is having dependable, serviceable devices that can grow as their organizations’ needs change. The latest TOUGHBOOK series of laptops feels like a perfect mesh of hardware capability with the certifications that allow it to be deployed in the most demanding situations. Whether mounted on a dashboard or carried into a storm, the TOUGHBOOK 34 and G3 deliver an ideal blend of intelligence, adaptability, and durability to keep essential personnel connected and productive. You can learn more about the TOUGHBOOK 34 and G3 on Panasonic’s site. 

CONTROL Resonant has just launched a few days ago to great reviews thus far. But if you haven’t played it NVIDIA is provided you with a way to play it and for free at that.

Like they have done with 007: First Light and Resident Evil: Requiem before that, you could get a free copy of the CONTROL Resonant when purchasing a 12-month GeForce NOW Ultimate membership. This was till Sept 27th so hopefully you took advantage. If you already have the title you can utilize the capabilities of GeForce NOW and stream the game at a high perfomance such as GeForce RTX 5080, ray tracing, DLSS 4, etc.

GeForce NOW has been known to run everything from your PC, MAC, TV, and even your mobile phone. NVIDIA is now bringing support over to Google newest laptops called Googlebooks. More details will follow as the product releases later this Fall.

New titles joining GFN:

DragonSword: Awakening leads a pack of nine games joining the cloud this week.

Roadside Research (Steam)

Dune: Awakening (New release on Xbox, Sept. 22), available on Game Pass

Stick It to the Stickman (New release on Steam, Sept. 23)

CONTROL Resonant (New release on Steam, Sept. 24)

Wild West Pioneers (New release on Steam, Sept. 25)

DragonSword: Awakening (Steam)

Everything Is Crab (Steam)

LEGO Batman: Legacy of The Dark Knight (Steam)

Over The Top: WWI (Steam)

Just when we thought the end of wired headphones was near, Bose is taking it back with their newest Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds. Interestingly enough, while some have been cutting the cord there are those that are still attached.

We are seeing wired earbuds in a modern form thanks to Bose and here are the features:

• USB-C powered ANC: Bose QuietControl technology delivers Quiet, Aware and ANC-Off Modes, powered directly through the connected device with no battery or charging required
• Plug it in and press play: the earbuds’ USB-C compatibility provides instant connection to source devices with no pairing, app or charging required. You plug it in, and it works!
• Lossless wired audio: using the USB Audio Class 2 protocol, the earbuds play back audio at 24bit/48kHz, along with low-latency performance that keeps audio closely in sync
• Easy controls: an in-line remote puts volume, playback, calls and noise cancellation modes within easy reach, with a dedicated microphone for clear voice pickup
• Designed to wear: listeners can mix and match eartip and stability wing sizes to find a fit that feels both comfortable and secure

They will be available for $99 with three colors of Black , White Smoke, and Dewdrop Mint on October 15th. Bose Noise Cancelling Wired Earbud are rated IPX4 for water resistance and come with a zippered carry case for storage and protection. Pre-orders start today.

DESIGN

When you look at the current wave of AI productivity gear, most devices fall into a few predictable boxes: bulky pendants you clip to your shirt, magnetic card attachments for your phone, or standalone desktop audio pucks. The Flowtica Scribe completely sidesteps that trend by looking and feeling like a premium, heavy-duty pen. Clocking in at a neat 34.5 grams with a solid aluminum body, it has enough heft to feel like a high-end pen without weighing down your pocket. But the real design win isn’t just the materials, it’s the form factor’s psychological advantage. Placing a phone or a dedicated recording puck on a table can instantly make people tighten up or second-guess what they say. A pen, on the other hand, is completely invisible in plain sight. It lets you stay entirely locked into the conversation, keeping eye contact and writing down physical notes on actual paper, while the built-in microphone array quietly handles the heavy lifting of room-scale audio capture.

When you step up to the Complete Set, the hardware story gets even better thanks to the custom charging case. Wrapped in premium vegan leather, it looks like a sleek case you would toss into a backpack or briefcase, but it pulls double duty by stretching the pen’s battery life from a modest 30 hours up to a massive 100 hours of continuous recording. It charges over a standard USB-C connection, meaning you do not have to lug around yet another proprietary cable. Flowtica even baked Apple’s Find My network support right into the case itself, so if you happen to misplace it at a coffee shop or leave it behind in a conference room, tracking it down is just as straightforward as finding your keys.

EXPERIENCE

When it comes to putting the Scribe into action, the workflow is straightforward. You don’t have to fiddle with complex pairing sequences every time you sit down; a simple physical press on the pen starts or stops your recording offline using its 32GB of onboard storage. When you want to capture a specific highlight live without breaking your train of thought, a single tap on the pen’s body flags the moment, while a double-tap automatically earmarks a follow-up item.

Getting those audio files off the pen and onto your phone is where things move fast. If you are on an iOS device, the companion app uses FlowTran technology to move data seamlessly without manual Bluetooth hassles. Transferring a dense 45-minute meeting recording takes roughly 170 seconds.

For Android users, things work a bit differently since you use standard Bluetooth pairing to sync your offline audio files over to your phone. It doesn’t hit that blazing 170-second iOS speed benchmark, but once the file successfully makes the jump, the app experience is identical.

Once the data hits the phone app, the backend software takes over. It processes the audio through multi-speaker identification, tagging up to 15 different voices, and runs it against your field’s specific vocabulary to keep jargon and names accurate. Instead of staring at a massive, unstructured wall of raw transcript text, you get clean visual summaries, automatically pulled to-do lists that can push straight to your Google or Apple calendar, and an Ask Flowtica search feature that lets you query past sessions using natural language to pull up a specific decision or weekly recap in seconds.

FINAL THOUGHTS

When it comes down to the bottom line, the Flowtica Scribe definitely commands a premium price tag, starting at $159 for the pen alone, or bumping up to $209 for the Complete Set with the vegan leather charging case. Compared to other AI note taking devices or cheap software-only subscriptions, it sits on the higher end of the market. But for anyone who lives and breathes tech, you are paying for superior hardware execution.

The Scribe delivers exceptional aluminum build quality, a discreet form factor that completely changes the social dynamic of recording, a massive 32GB of onboard storage, and an ecosystem that just works without friction. If you value a tool that bridges the tactile satisfaction of pen-and-paper writing with smart, seamless AI organization, the Scribe justifies its price tag by quietly transforming how you capture your day.

Specifications

• Design: Over-ear, open-back
• Drivers: 50mm dynamic
• Frequency Response: 20Hz–20kHz
• Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, USB and 3.5mm wired options
• Microphones: Built-in microphone and detachable ENC boom microphone
• Surround Sound: Virtual 7.1
• Battery: 2,000mAh
• Rated Battery Life: Up to 70 hours with RGB off; 30 hours with RGB on
• Weight: Approximately 320g
• Headband: Seven adjustment positions
• Price: $49.99

Gaming Style, Practical Design

The GX1 combines padded earcups and an adjustable headband with illuminated outer grilles. The lighting gives it a recognizable gaming aesthetic, although the physical design matters more to me. A headset needs to make sense once it is on your head, and the ability to adjust the fit deserves more attention than the RGB.

I also appreciate the practicality of a removable boom microphone. Having the option to detach it when it is unnecessary makes the design more adaptable to general listening. These are straightforward features, but together they help make the asking price attractive. My experience with the GX1’s sound has been exceptionally positive considering what it costs. Over these two weeks, audio quality has become the strongest reason I would recommend it. An affordable headset still needs to deliver an enjoyable listening experience, and that is where this one earns my attention.

The open-back design deserves particular credit. It feels like a deliberate choice that adds something meaningful to the product, especially in a price bracket where I would not normally expect it. For me, that is a more interesting selling point than simply adding another feature to the specifications. There is a practical tradeoff, however. Open-back headphones allow outside sound in and some of your audio out. A quieter room makes more sense for this design than a noisy shared space. That does not diminish what I like about the GX1, but it does influence who I would recommend it to.

Wireless Flexibility and Voice Chat

The connection options give the GX1 usefulness beyond a single setup. Being able to choose between a wireless dongle, Bluetooth, and a cable makes it easier to accommodate different devices. Xbox Series users should note that support is wired only; EPOMAKER lists dongle connectivity for PC, Mac, PlayStation and Switch. Platform compatibility The detachable microphone includes environmental noise cancellation for outgoing voice audio. That is separate from headphone noise cancellation and does not change the open-back listening experience. Sound quality and the earcup design remain the parts of this headset that stood out most to me.

EPOMAKER rates battery life at up to 70 hours with lighting disabled, dropping to 30 hours with RGB enabled. Those are advertised figures rather than my own measured results, but they make the lighting switch worth considering. I would prioritize longer use between charges over an effect I cannot see while wearing the headset. The broader value is what brings everything together. Connection flexibility helps, but the sound is what makes the package worth considering in the first place.

REVIEW SCORE: 8/10

The EPOMAKER GX1 is a great headset for the money. After more than two weeks, its exceptional sound quality for the price and thoughtful open-back design are the qualities I keep coming back to. Limited isolation and wired-only Xbox support narrow its suitability, but for a player with the right setup, this is an easy recommendation at $49.99.

For more on Epomaker and gaming, follow my socials here – I also stream Mon | Weds | Fri-Sat @9pm ET over on Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube

Some of the discourse surrounding Wolverine has felt forced to me. I get the impression that people are arriving with an argument against Sony already prepared, then fitting the game into it. PlayStation has legitimate issues worth discussing, including concerns around digital ownership and its business decisions. I have my own frustrations with the company. Those concerns deserve scrutiny, but individual studios should have their work judged on what they actually made. Developers deserve that consideration regardless of whether their projects turn out well. Criticism loses its usefulness when a game becomes another opportunity to settle an unrelated argument with its publisher.

Wolverine has specific shortcomings that are worth discussing. Repeated animations, drawn-out boss fights, and limited interaction during certain sequences left me wanting more from the mechanics. I also found compelling character writing, satisfying combat, and an impressive visual presentation. None of those qualities disappear because I disagree with something Sony is doing. I enjoyed this game considerably, and there is room to say that while still expecting better from PlayStation.

Logan’s Altered Past

Logan is exceptionally well written—and even better acted by Liam McIntyre. Wolverine has always carried a tragic history, and the game understands how that history affects his relationships and decisions. The voice acting does a great deal of work here. There is enough conviction in the performances to keep the emotional moments grounded alongside some outrageous action. Wolverine has an immaculate assortment of mutants to see here, considering this is the start of the X-Men universe—expect to see Mystique, Sabertooth, Mr. Sinister and of course Jean Grey, who is as awesome as you’d expect as a comic lover. I enjoyed her characterization and the story involving her and Logan, which left me curious about where their relationship could go next—because while I won’t spoil anything here, the ending left me wondering how far the MGU is willing to go. I also appreciated details such as Logan speaking Japanese during the sections set in Japan for example, hinting at a possible Feudal’verine vs Silver Samurai. I would have liked more opportunities to interact with the supporting cast, particularly the mutants you encounter and rescue towards the beginning of the game. They deserved additional conversations and time outside the main story beats.

The campaign’s length worked in its favor. I never needed Wolverine to become an enormous RPG with branching outcomes or dozens of hours of optional objectives—if a studio could produce incredible quality in these parameters, then yeah—but with Its mostly linear structure, it kept the attention on the characters and the situations they are moving through. More open sections provide opportunities for side activities before continuing, and those breaks add some welcome space between the larger encounters. My interest in spending more time with these characters came from enjoying their writing, rather than feeling that the campaign ended before it had delivered.

Viscerality (if that’s even a word) at its Finest

The claws are Wolverine’s primary weapons naturally, but there is considerable flexibility in how you use them. Lunging, blocking, parrying, dodging, and countering all contribute to combat. Techniques expand your combinations and give you ways to stun enemies or support recovery while fighting. Throwing an opponent into another enemy or through destructible scenery is especially satisfying. Perfect dodges and well-timed parries also reward attention, allowing you to turn a defensive response into an aggressive counterattack. The Adaptations system gives you limited slots to work with, so choosing benefits that suit your playstyle becomes part of developing your build. I found enough options here to keep encounters engaging when I used the systems together.

I still wanted more utility during fights. Being able to grab an enemy’s gun, fire it briefly, and throw it at someone else would have added another useful interaction. More grappling options could have helped as well. Certain grapple animations repeat across very different opponents, and seeing a similar sequence against Sabretooth and larger robotic enemies becomes noticeable. Boss health also felt excessive at times on the hardest difficulty. Several fights change their cadence without substantially changing their moves, leaving you to repeat a response you have already learned. The final boss was fantastic, and I wanted more encounters to offer that level of variety.

The sections outside regular combat could have asked more of me. I would have enjoyed environmental puzzles closer to what Uncharted offers, particularly when dealing with the Hand. The motorcycle sequences also needed more freedom. An early sequence already lets you move between trucks, so I wanted the game to expand on that with opportunities to leap from the motorcycle onto another vehicle and fight its occupants. Taking control of that vehicle afterward could have made the chase more involving. The action looks exciting, but I wanted a greater role in how those moments played out.

Insonmiac’s Best Presentation Yet

I played on PS5 Pro using Fidelity Pro, with VRR and 120Hz enabled. The visual presentation was one of the strongest parts of the experience for me. Character models are highly detailed, and the cinematics give the performances room to register. Logan’s appearance and expressions support the writing, especially when the game slows down enough to let a scene breathe.

The combat is wonderfully visceral. Dismemberment, blood effects appear to have some form of physics involved, and the way scenery breaks apart give Wolverine’s attacks the physical impact I wanted. Throwing enemies through the environment is enjoyable partly because the destruction sells the force behind it. I also appreciated the selection of roughly 25 skins. There is plenty of room to change Wolverine’s appearance while working through the campaign.

REVIEW SCORE: 8.5/10

I came away pleased with how much Wolverine delivers within its focused structure. The writing, combat depth, and visual detail made this a game I wanted to keep playing. Repeated grapple animations and bosses that overstay their welcome on the hardest difficulty are the most noticeable shortcomings. More substantial puzzles and interactive chase sequences would have improved the variety, too. Even with those limitations, this is a strong Wolverine adventure that captures both the violence and the sadness of the character.

For more on Marvel’s Wolverine and gaming, follow my socials here – I also stream Mon | Weds | Fri-Sat @9pm ET over on Twitch, TikTok, and YouTube