5 gaming gadgets and accessories that seriously leveled up my setup (including a twist)

When SteelSeries announced the Arena lineup of PC speakers, I wasn’t sure if the Arena 9 would be worth its high asking price. But after about a year of using mine, I can say that it’s definitely worth the investment. Especially if you are a multi-platform gamer. 

With both Bluetooth and USB connectivity, you can set up two devices at once and easily switch between them. This is perfect for when I want to listen to music while I work and then knock out a few levels in Astro Bot on my PS5. The OLED control dial makes it easy to select one of the 4 EQ presets, enable or disable the 5.1CH upmix, adjust the volume, and turn the lighting effects on and off. It’s also touch-sensitive, so you can quickly mute when you need to.

Also: The most immersive gaming speaker system isn’t made by Logitech or Sony

Between my job and Steam library, I knew I needed a high-end keyboard that could not only hold up under daily use for writing up articles and spreadsheets but could also handle a wide variety of game genres from chill industrial simulations like Satisfactory and Dyson Sphere Project to fast-paced team shooters like Ready or Not and ARMA III. 

More: The best mechanical keyboards: Expert tested for gamers, professionals, students, and more

What I love the most about the Corsair K100 is that you can set up multiple profiles for hotkeys, which is great for transitioning from productivity to gaming, and setting up a simplified profile for communal use in the house for streaming and web browsing. The mechanical switches are nice and responsive, and have a tactile feel without being too loud.

I am a big proponent of multi-purpose technology, and I’ve been a PlayStation user since the PS1 days. While I also had an Xbox 360 in college that I shared with my brother, I preferred the PS2 since it could play both DVDs and music CDs more reliably (and it had more games that were easier to play with roommates in-person rather than online). And when the PS5 released, I chose it over the Xbox Series X|S mostly because I’m much more familiar with Sony’s multimedia capabilities. 

Read also: Own a PS5? I chanced 3 settings on my gaming console for an instant performance boost

I also prefer a disc console (you can pry my physical media from my cold, dead hands). My one complaint about the PS5 other than its price is that it does not support playback from music CDs (a media format Sony helped pioneer). I discovered this when I popped in a thrifted copy of the John Denver and the Muppets Christmas album in 2024 to play while we set up decorations, and it refused to start. I realize that streaming is the more popular way to listen to music now, but I miss the reliability of being able to play all of my physical media on one device.

I have an original LED Switch that my spouse got for me before my thyroid surgery so I could play games during my overnight stay in the hospital. That was about seven years ago, and it’s still going strong. And while I know that Joy-Con drift is an issue in OG Switch models as well as Joy-Cons in general, I’ve been lucky enough that my original pairs haven’t succumbed to it…yet. 

Also: I managed to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 – and it’s easy to see why it’s flying off the shelves

We primarily use it as a multiplayer-specific console for when we host friends at the house; we set up Mario Party or Mario Kart, play nostalgic side-scrollers on the virtual consoles, and sometimes get overly ambitious and try to play Just Dance without stepping on the cats. And while the Switch 2 is now available and offers some cool new features like live chat and screen sharing, I’m perfectly content with my LED Switch for now. 

Since I use my desktop as both a workstation and gaming rig, I like a wireless mouse that can also pull double duty. The Corsair Harpoon is a great, straightforward mouse with four buttons, adjustable sensor speed, and integrated RGB lighting to match my K100 keyboard. It features dual wireless connectivity with Bluetooth and a 2.4GHz USB receiver, and you can use it while plugged in and charging. That’s perfect for when I don’t catch the low battery notification in the iCUE app, and the mouse dies in the middle of an important work project or an S rank run in Ready or Not with friends. 

Read more: The best silent mouse you can buy: Expert tested

The rechargeable battery lasts about a week for me, and I’m at my PC anywhere from 4 to 12 hours depending on my workday (and how much free time I have for a doomed Alternate Poland run in Hearts of Iron 4). The simplified design is also lightweight and comfortable to use for long periods, which is nice for long work days researching tech or accidental all-nighters playing Plate Up with friends.

I’ve been an avid gamer since 1991 when I had finally hoarded enough loose change to buy my very own Sega Genesis (MegaDrive), and I’ve been building gaming PCs and writing about gaming tech for the better part of a decade. I also used to restore retro game consoles and PCs as a business, and I’ve handled everything from original Atari 2600 consoles in advanced states of disrepair to high-end modern PC builds for professional eSports players. I’ve built countless gaming PCs for friends, family, and clients with both Intel and AMD-based components, and I got my start in journalism with video game and PC hardware reviews.

This is one of those things where you can spend as much or as little as you want. However, keep in mind that the more features you want, the higher the price will be. A decent, solidly built gaming keyboard, whether you choose a mechanical or membrane option, shouldn’t cost you more than $50 if you’re looking for something that can handle casual gaming and office use. More high-end mechanical gaming keyboards like the Corsair K100 run upwards of $250, but offer tons of features like multiple key binding profiles, RGB lighting, and integrated media controls.

When it comes to microphones, USB and XLR refer to the type of connection your equipment uses to send audio signals to your computer. A USB microphone uses a typical USB Type A or USB-C cable as well as plug-and-play compatibility with a variety of operating systems and devices. They’re also much more affordable, making them perfect for anyone just starting out with content creation or who just needs a decent mic for Discord chats and Zoom calls. An XLR microphone uses a special three- to seven-pin connection cable and is most often found in professional recording studios because of its better audio balance and output quality. However, they also require additional equipment like a phantom power unit and preamp, as an XLR mic doesn’t draw power through the same cable.