We asked some of the biggest video game publishers and hardware manufactures to share with us what games and items (newly released in 2015) that they’d recommend to gamers and tech enthusiasts for the holiday season and each was allowed to submit one item. Looking for gift ideas to take advantage of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and holiday deals? We’ve got you covered.
This list includes the single most recommended game from industry leading publishers, a variety of peripherals for home consoles and PC gamers, and a variety of other home entertainment tech for casual consumers all the way up to the hardcore tech enthusiasts in your life.
Nintendo - Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash for Wii U
Nintendo’s 2015 holiday gift guide recommendation is one of their latest Wii U exclusive first party games, Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash for Wii U.
Sony - Star Wars Battlefront PlayStation 4 Bundle
When we spoke with PlayStation about what item they wanted to highlight for the holiday season, it didn’t involve an exclusive game. They want to move consoles and take advantage of the popularity of Star Wars Battlefront and the hype for Star Wars: The Force Awakens opening in theaters.
The bundle is on sale this week for the holidays if you act quickly! Click here for more.
Activision - Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
This year’s Call of Duty title is the biggest entertainment launch of the year (pre-Star Wars, anyway) and if you or you or your friend hasn’t yet picked up the futuristic shooter but is a fan of the series, it’s a must-play over the holidays (available on PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One - PS3/X360 versions do not feature campaign).
Disney Interactive - Disney Infinity 3.0: STAR WARS PlayStation 4 Bundle
Sony PlayStation wanted to promote Star Wars with their exclusive bundles and controllers, and so to is Disney Interactive using their flagship brand to target gamers over the holiday. When we spoke with Disney, we knew the family friendly toys-to-life title Disney Infinity 3.0 would be something they wanted to chat about, but they want to help their partners are Sony as well.
Ubisoft - Assassin’s Creed Syndicate
Winner of many awards in 2015 including Canadian-made game of the year, Assassin’s Creed Syndicate is a return to form for the long-running open-world action series. Read our review for more details on the London-set adventure which Ubisoft chose to promote over newer release Rainbow Six Siege. And we’re not surprised given that Ubisoft Motion Pictures is currently producing the live-action Assassin’s Creed feature film starring Michael Fassbender.
Konami - Metal Gear Solid V
One of the most talked about, and unfortunately controversial games of the year due to behind-the-scenes happenings at Konami and the shutdown of legendary developer Kojima and his studio, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is a massive must-play game.
Square Enix - Just Cause 3
Just Cause 3 may be the biggest game of the year if we’re specifically referring to digital environments. The long-awaited three-quel to Rico Rogriguez’s high-flying adventures brings the action star back to his fictional homeland to overthrow a dictator whose tyranny spreads over a map that’s 400 square miles large.
Electronic Arts - Star Wars Battlefront
EA had a challenging time picking just one product from 2015 to suggest as their top recommendation but with Star Wars: The Force Awakens on the way, they had to go with Star Wars Battlefront (available on PC, PS4, Xbox One), the long-awaited reboot of the classic Battlefront shooter series. This one is focuses strictly on the multiplayer side of things and using vehicles, weapons, scenarios and locations from the original Star Wars movie trilogy.
Blue Microphones - Yeti
Several members of our team use items from Blue Microphones and when we asked what new 2015 products podcasters, YouTubers and live streamers should keep an eye out for, the spotlight was placed on the Blackout Yeti & Whiteout Yeti, adding sleek, new all-black and all-white styles to Blue’s award-winning Yeti USB mic family.
As a favorite mic among gamers & Twitch streamers, Yeti features important direct controls including microphone gain for controlling the mic’s sensitivity so you aren’t bringing all your room noise into the game, along with a built-in headphone jack, control for headphone volume and an instant mute button for when you have to sneeze or you’re dealing with GF aggro. Featuring driverless installation, Yeti works with both PC and Mac. For console play, Yet plugs directly into PlayStation and for Xbox you can use a game capture device from Hauppauge or Elgato.
Saitek - X-55 Rhino H.O.T.A.S. System
- Price: $199.99
- Manufacturer: Saitek
- Official Website
With free-to-play flying games like World of War planes and War Thunder taking more gamers to the skies and Elite: Dangerous and Star Citizen bringing space sims back in a huge way, PC gamers need the right gear to feel the immersion (which already extends to VR for many of these titles). Saitek’s recommendation for the PC pilot in your life is the X-55 Rhino H.O.T.A.S. system which includes an advanced joystick and throttle controls with plenty of customizable options and controls for your ultimate in-cockpit flight experience.
Mad Catz - F.R.E.Q. 7.1
Need a gaming headset that works for PC as well as consoles? How about a headset that functions in LAN and tournament environments and can take smartphone calls? Mad Catz’ F.R.E.Q.TE 7.1 might be for you. It uses a 3.5mm cable that plugs directly into your PlayStation 4 or Xbox One controller and features dual microphones that help cancel out ambient noise in loud environments along with noise isolating earcups.
Afterglow - AG 9 Premium Wireless Headset
The AG 9 is a premium wireless headset available for PlayStation 4 or officially licensed by Microsoft for Xbox One from PDP, the #1 third party manufacturer of video game accessories. With no wires to the controller or console, gamers can enjoy a hassle-free and fully wireless experience with the included USB transmitter. Containing powerful 50mm Neodymium drivers, the headset offers two distinct audio modes: Pure Audio and Bass Boost. The flexible and removable boom microphone with noise and echo canceling technology allows for crystal clear communication for online play. Designed with comfort in mind, the split headband design and extra plush ear cup pads reduce pressure and fatigue during long gaming sessions. Enjoy the signature blue Afterglow lighting or switch to blackout mode to admire the headset’s hi-tech circuitry.
Rock Candy - PC Wireless Keyboard and Mouse
Color is expression with the Rock Candy Wireless Keyboards and Wireless Mice. Escape from dull and uninspired choices and express your inner personality to the world. Choose from a variety of color choices ((Pink Palooza, Lalalime, Blueberry Boom, Cosmoberry)) for a more personalized experience.
Personalize and energize your desktop with the Rock Candy Wireless Keyboard and Mouse. Featuring a waterproof and washable design, transparent colored and highly durable housing, rounded keycaps, and a USB receiver shareable with the Rock Candy Wireless Mouse, this PC and Mac compatible keyboard is designed for fun.
ASTRO Gaming - A40 Tournament Ready Headset
- Price: $250.00 - $310.00
- Manufacturer: ASTRO
- Official Website
ASTRO offers a small number of premium, high-quality gaming headsets, and finds success in its eSports appeal, branded variants of its product lines and continuous improvements to their tech. As a major expansion to their family of award-winning heads, ASTRO launched its new Tournament Ready (TR) series of gaming audio products. If there’s a hardcore gamer, a Call of Duty fantatic, or tech enthusiast you’re shopping for this holiday…
Polk Audio - Magnifi One Home Theater Sound Bar
Desire epic sound for your television, home theater, or video gaming needs but want to avoid the hassle of wiring through the walls and setting up complicated multi-speaker layouts in your entertainment area? The Magnifi One is for you, combing ease with impressive sound quality. It’s the quickest to setup soundbar and subwoofer combo on the market. Plug the soundbar into your TV via digital optical cable, plug it in. Plug in the subwoofer and… that’s it.
Turtle Beach - Ear Force Stealth 420X
- Price: $149.95
- Manufacturer: Turtle Beach
- Official Website
The Ear Force Stealth 420X is the third fully wireless gaming headset for Xbox One from Turtle Beach. There are a handful of other competitors out there who have wireless gaming headsets for Xbox One, but when they say “wireless” they are only talking about in-game audio and not chat audio. For chat audio, they still require a cable going from the headset to the controller. Turtle Beach’s Xbox One (and PS4 for that matter) gaming headsets are fully wireless for both game AND chat audio, so no wires at all.
Razer Mamba Tournament Edition
The Razer Mamba was originally released six years ago, and comes back year after year as a gold standard in high performance, high precision mouse design. The latest wired version is specifically designed for eSports athletes. Featuring the same precise gaming mouse sensor, ergonomic form factor, and advanced Chroma customizable lighting as the wireless Razer Mamba, the Razer Mamba Tournament Edition embodies the absolute best elements an eSports athlete needs to dominate in any tournament.
Razer Mamba Tournament Edition:
Logitech - Artemis Spectrum
- Price: $199.99
- Manufacturer: Logitech
- Official Website
G933 Artemis Spectrum 7.1 Surround Sound Wireless Gaming Headset is a premium comfort gaming headset, featuring customizable colors, advanced Pro-G™ audio drivers for high quality sound, customizable buttons and sound profiles.
MSI - GS40 Phantom
MSI’s CEO recommended to us the GS40 Phantom gaming laptop, a mobile machine with the power of an impressive desktop rig for the PC gamer on the go in your life. The Phantom features a keyboard made by SteelSeries, comes loaded with Windows 10 and a one-year subscription to Xsplit live broadcasting software for streamers. It can even handle dual 4K monitors.
Maingear VYBE
- Price: $999.99
- Manufacturer: Maingear
- Official Website
Looking for an affordable desktop gaming PC? Maingear has you covered this holiday with the VYBE starting as low as $999.99 with modern aesthetics, versatile build options, quality craftsmanship, and the performance you’ve come to expect from MAINGEAR. Designed for longevity, maximum upgrade capabilities, and featuring the cooling necessary for even the most hardcore configurations, the VYBE is everything you’d want out of a system designed purely for gaming, and all at a price that’s attainable for all gamers.
