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Tom's Guide
18-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
PS5 Pro 6 months later — 3 things I love and 3 things I hate
This article is part of Tom's Guide's inaugural Gaming Week, an entire week of content dedicated to all things gaming. From insights into the latest hardware, guides to the best games you can play today, to the essential accessories we can't play without. Tom's Guide Gaming Week will guide you through the world of video games in 2025. I've been using the PS5 Pro as my primary gaming machine for six months, which means it's time to reevaluate Sony's mid-gen refresh console and determine whether it's been a worthy update to the base PS5. The PS5 Pro effectively does what the PS4 Pro did for supported PS4 games. PS5 Pro-enhanced titles enjoy improved performance and enhanced graphics thanks to frame-boosting tech and better ray tracing, respectively. The console also comes with a generous 2TB of storage, allowing you to store more games. So, after using the PS5 Pro nearly every night for the past six months, do I think Sony's console is worth the $700 asking price? While the system delivers on some of its promises, its faults keep it from reaching its full potential. Here are the PS5 Pro's strengths and weaknesses, six months later. PS5 Pro is a powerful refresh of the base PS5 hardware. It's the best way to experience the PS5's large library of must-play games and the current pinnacle of console gaming. However, the eye-watering $699 price tag makes it a machine that will only appeal to the most dedicated gamers. The PS5 Pro has an upgraded GPU that allows the console to have enhanced ray tracing and AI-driven upscaling. This helps Sony's system deliver higher graphical fidelity and smoother performance. How does this translate into real-world use? As I wrote in my PS5 Pro vs PS5: The 3 biggest upgrades article, supported games like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and The Last of Us II Remastered run much smoother in their respective Fidelity Pro and Performance Pro settings. This is especially true when I enable 120Hz mode and VRR in each game. The games run at a higher frame rate but also feel more responsive. Here, the difference is very apparent. Some unsupported PS5 and PS4 games also receive a performance boost, so long as they have uncapped frame rates. Though I wish this were the case with every game, the PS5 Pro does give some titles a nice performance boost. The PS5 Pro also enhances the graphical quality of supported games. Generally, Fidelity Pro mode in games outputs at 4K resolution while Performance Pro upscales to 4K from 1440p. You'll also get some form of ray tracing and other graphical enhancements in both modes. Yes, you're still choosing between fidelity and performance modes in certain games, but they work better on PS5 Pro than on PS5. I'm extremely impressed with how ray tracing looks in games like Spider-Man 2 and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, which are both developed by the PS5's MVP developer, Insomniac Games. I've spent a long time web-swinging through Times Square in Spider-Man and enjoying the reflections on all the glass buildings. The reflections on puddles in Ratchet & Clank also look phenomenal. As I said before, you'll need one of the best TVs or best gaming monitors with a minimum 120Hz refresh rate that supports VRR to get the most from the PS5 Pro's AI upscaling, which Sony calls PSSR. If you have a TV or monitor with a high refresh rate, your eyes are in for a treat. You won't need to buy one of the best PS5 internal SSDs for the PS5 Pro since the system comes with a hefty 2TB of storage. I've been downloading games since I got a PS5 Pro and have only managed to use half of the system's storage. That's mostly because I've been downloading a lot of fighting games, so I'm sure I'd have more space if I were mostly playing games I'm reviewing. Still, it demonstrates that even if you're downloading an unusual amount of games, you won't have to worry about running out of space for a while. Games that have been optimized for PS5 Pro look and run phenomenally. The system doesn't disappoint in that regard. Unfortunately, I wish there were more supported games. At time of writing, there are only 55 PS5 Pro-enhanced games on the PlayStation Store. The game selection isn't exactly robust, and it doesn't help that almost all these titles are old, sometimes years old. Though newer games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle take full advantage of the PS5 Pro's capabilities, titles like that are few and far between. Sony mandated that all new games (at the time) had to be enhanced for the PS4 Pro. I'm not sure if the company has the same mandate for PS5 Pro, especially since brand-new games like Doom: The Dark Ages offer minimal enhancements. If Sony really wants to convince more folks to get a PS5 Pro, the company needs to step it up with new supported titles. When testing games on a regular PS5 and PS5 Pro to see how they compare, the thing that stood out most to me was just how good PS5 games still look and run. While that's good news for PS5 owners, it somewhat diminishes the need for a PS5 Pro. This is purely anecdotal, but I remember being more impressed with how the PS4 Pro enhanced its games. And mind you, I was impressed despite not owning a 4K TV at the time. I haven't gotten that same feeling when playing PS5 Pro games. The fact that I review the best gaming PCs and best gaming laptops, which can outperform the PS5 Pro, might have something to do with this. Regardless, if you have a regular PS5, you'll still enjoy games that look and run great. You won't miss out if you don't own a PS5 Pro. The PS4 Pro cost $399, which was the same price as the base PS4 at launch. That was a great price since you were effectively paying the same price for a better console. With the PS5 being $499 at launch, I hoped the PS5 Pro would have a similar price. Sadly, that isn't the case. At $699, the PS5 Pro is Sony's most expensive console ever. And now that Sony is considering hiking the PS5's price, that price could potentially go higher. While the enhancements the system delivers are nice, they're not transformative enough for most folks to spend $699 on. There's a reason the PS5 Pro isn't selling out everywhere. It's too damn expensive! I like the PS5 Pro for what it offers and will continue using it as my primary gaming console. Tech-wise, it's objectively the finest system Sony has released. It's certainly an indication of what we can expect from the inevitable PS6. But despite appreciating what the PS5 Pro can do, it's hard for me to recommend it to most people. Unless by some miracle you can find the PS5 Pro at a discount, you're better off with a PS5. You're not missing out on much by not upgrading.
Tom's Guide
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Capcom Fighting Collection 2 makes me nostalgic for the Dreamcast
This article is part of Tom's Guide's inaugural Gaming Week, an entire week of content dedicated to all things gaming. From insights into the latest hardware, guides to the best games you can play today, to the essential accessories we can't play without. Tom's Guide Gaming Week will guide you through the world of video games in 2025. I've been having the time of my life playing Capcom Fighting Collection 2. Like Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection before it, this latest compilation features some of the company's finest arcade games in one package. It's fantastic not just for fans of these games, but for those who are brand-new to the likes of Capcom vs. SNK or Power Stone. I've been a fighting game fanatic since the Street Fighter II days, but I didn't get to play most of the games in Capcom Fighting Collection 2. Some weren't released in North America until years later, or weren't ported at all. Except for Street Fighter Alpha 3 and the two Power Stone games, this collection packs a bunch of titles that are brand-new to me. But while I'm just now getting acquainted with games like Plasma Sword and Project Justice, I'm also experiencing nostalgia for one of my all-time favorite gaming consoles thanks to Capcom's latest collection. As you can see from this article's headline, it's none other than my beloved Sega Dreamcast. That might seem random, but there are good reasons why Capcom Fighting Collection 2 takes me back to the glorious Dreamcast days. Read on to find out! The most obvious reason Capcom Fighting Collection 2 reminds me of the Dreamcast is that most of its games were available on Sega's final main game that takes me right back to 1999 is the original Power Stone. Playing on Falco's 'Londo' stage reminds me of the countless hours my friends and I sunk into a Dreamcast demo disc featuring that level. The game's colorful graphics and unique art style, which are way more imaginative than some current titles, were and are a grand showcase for what the Dreamcast was capable of. Power Stone is as fun now as it was back in the day. Unfortunately, I can't say the same thing about Power Stone 2. I hoped that the intervening decades since I've played this sequel would make me appreciate it. But just as when I originally played it, this game is far too hectic and random for me to enjoy. I realize having four characters brawling on perilous stages is the main draw, but it's too frantic for me. Aside from its fun graphics, I still can't get into Power Stone 2. Then we have Street Fighter Alpha 3 Upper, which is the last arcade version of this game. I played the North American version of Street Fighter Alpha 3 on Dreamcast but didn't play Upper, which was only released in Japan. Still, since this is the same basic Alpha 3 experience, replaying it in this collection also took me back to the early '00s. The Sega Dreamcast had the same hardware architecture as the Sega Naomi arcade board. This made it easier for developers to port Naomi-based arcade games like Project Justice and Power Stone to the Dreamcast. Sure, the Naomi system had increased main memory, graphics memory and sound memory, but Dreamcast ports were virtually identical. The way Dreamcast generated polygons, textures, colors, and sound gave its games a distinct feel. If you're like me, you can likely spot a Dreamcast game from a mile away. It's for that reason that Project Justice and the Capcom vs. SNK games made me even more nostalgic for the Dreamcast, even though I've never played them. They're the embodiment of what the Dreamcast (and Naomi) could do. While on this topic, I want to single out Plasma Sword, which utilized the PlayStation-based ZN-2 hardware. While this Star Wars-inspired 3D fighter has a slightly different look than the Naomi-based 3D games in this collection, it still gives me that Dreamcast feel. Lastly, let me bring up my favorite games on this collection: Capcom vs. SNK: Millennium Fight 2000 and Capcom vs. SNK 2: Mark of the Millennium. The latter, which is overall the better of the two, features 2D sprites and 3D backgrounds like Marvel vs. Capcom 2. However, it does a much better job of melding the two. It's an excellent example of how well the Dreamcast was at generating 2D and 3D elements. The Sega Dreamcast only lasted for a year and a half in North America before Sega bowed out of the console race. Despite its untimely demise, it's a system I still cherish due to its excellent graphical prowess and library of incredible games. Playing Capcom Fighting Collection 2 takes me back to my late teens/early 20s, when things seemed simpler and purer. If you're also a Dreamcast fan or someone who just wants to play some awesome old-school fighting games, do yourself a favor and pick up Capcom Fighting Collection 2. I promise you'll have the time of your life.
Tom's Guide
16-05-2025
- Tom's Guide
I'm a PC gamer and I wish I knew about these 5 Steam apps to boost my gaming setup
This article is part of Tom's Guide's inaugural Gaming Week, an entire week of content dedicated to all things gaming. From insights into the latest hardware, guides to the best games you can play today, to the essential accessories we can't play without. Tom's Guide Gaming Week will guide you through the world of video games in 2025. There's more to PC gaming than just downloading one of the best PC games and plunging into hours of gameplay. I mean, that's what I've done for years, but there's frame rates, streaming, storage and an element of style to think about once you invest in a PC gaming setup. There's more to Valve's essential Steam than just games, as there are many tools (free and paid) that will not only give your gaming laptop or PC a makeover, but will also help improve gaming performance, save precious space, make navigation around multitasking easier and even improve streaming capabilties — and that last one's for free. We've gone through the hidden features on Steam you should know about, but what of the apps on Valve's popular gaming platform? Here are the tools you should check out if you're looking to give your gaming setup a boost. If you haven't heard of Lossless Scaling before, now's the time to learn about it. Even though there are Nvidia RTX 50-series GPUs with DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Gen, we've seen how those GPUs come at an awful high price. With this Steam app, however, you can essentially triple frame rates in PC games for less than $10/£10. Using a variety of scaling options, Lossless Scaling can enhance your native PC gaming experience and bump up frame rates for much richer, smoother gameplay. We've noted that the app's frame gen isn't as fine-tuned as other big-brand companies like Nvidia's DLSS or AMD's FSR, but for single-player experiences in massive titles like Cypberpunk 2077, there is a negligible difference here. We recommend using the 'LSFG 2.2.' frame generation option, then select the 'X2' option in the 'Mode' tab. If you're looking to seriously upgrade your desktop's look, chances are PC buffs will point you straight to Wallpaper Engine. This isn't just some basic wallpaper app; it's a powerhouse backed by a massive community of artists churning out thousands of eye-popping themes and live wallpapers. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Want to tweak them to perfection? Go right ahead. Plus, it's got all the bells and whistles to turn your favorite static pics into slick animated backdrops. While it might not be the ultimate gaming companion compared to some others out there, for anyone who loves tricking out their PC with awesome visuals, Wallpaper Engine is the way to go. If you're just getting started on streaming all the game you play, OBS Studio is a fantastic way to start. Why? Well, for livestreaming or video recording all the one-of-a-kind headshots you pull off, it's completely free. Really, it's a great way to record gameplay videos to save to your hard drive to share with anyone, but it also offers a simple way to mix and match all your captured content and share it on multiple popular platforms, whether it be YouTube, Twitch, TikTok or whatever. It's extremely versatile, with support for hardware encoders for different GPUs, audio and video mixers that can be used from multiple sources captured and it also boasts a simplistic interface to make getting to grips with it accessible for all. Who said scrolling on your mouse was just for, well, scrolling? It may be the simplest app around, but JustScroll does everything it says it does, and that's to easily control your PC's volume but scrolling with your mouse. Simple, yet effective, no? Whether you're gaming away or watching the latest shows and there's just a little too much noise coming from those speakers that your neighbours would be upset by, all you have to do is press the Windows Key and scroll. You can also hover over the Windows taskbar and scroll up or down to your heart's content. That's it. There's a demo available, and while spending $2/£2 is a tad annoying just to have the feature active, all in all, it isn't much if you're looking for an easy way to adjust your volume with ease. There's many a gaming laptop that doesn't have fast-reaching volume control buttons without pressing a function key or something of the like. But if you want to put your best gaming mouse of choice to good use, this app will do the trick. This one's for the old-school gamers. Whether I'm running Return to Castle Wolfenstein or X-Men Legends, some games (understandably) aren't well optimized for modern systems. That's where Borderless Gaming comes in, as it forces games to deliver that borderless, fullscreen experience on your PC no matter what the application. Yes, many modern games come with a fullscreen option, but not all the classics comes with this option. If in doubt, this app will help you out. It can even hide the irritating taskbar if classic titles don't get rid of it. Plus, if you're a multitasker that often uses Alt + Tab, you can lock your mouse cursor to the game window just in case you accidentally press something outside the game. Even better, there's the option to mute games in the background while you go about scrolling through the web for guides (what I do) and more. Are you always looking for extra space on your gaming PC? Well, if you play AAA gaming titles on the regular, you always will be. No matter your gaming PC and how big your storage is, there's only so much space to fit titles like Doom: The Dark Ages at 100GB, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 at 55GB and The Last of Us Part II Remastered with 150GB. That's where CompressorX comes in. This Steam app will compress gaming apps on Steam and shave off precious gigabytes on those large gaming files. I wrote about how the Steam app saved me 100GB of storage by compressing my gaming files (some better than others), but it's also come under scrutiny for just using New Technology File System (NTFS) compression that's already on Windows 11 (which is free to use). I got in touch with the developer of the app, and this is what he told me: "CompressorX is based on an earlier version of our LLM Compressor, which was developed at my AI lab in Tokyo. The model is specifically designed to minimize empirical risk across a large dataset while being lightweight enough to operate efficiently on a CPU. "For transparent compression, we apply a 'hot patch' technique to modify parts of Windows, allowing us to replace functions within the existing compression layer. If CompressorX determines that its results would be inferior to a native algorithm like LZX, it defaults to using that instead. This is achieved by running both algorithms concurrently and comparing their outcomes. You can explore a database of these results here. "An updated version of the model is currently in use by our enterprise clients for compressing data on their cloud storage. My goal is to release this improved model on Steam once I complete development of the background service functionality and add support for non-gaming applications, which I anticipate finalizing in Q3." If you want to check out CompressorX, it will save you on storage space. However, there are other ways to achieve this for free, like using compressions tools on Windows or CompactGUI.
Tom's Guide
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I test gaming devices for a living — here are 7 peripherals I recommend right now
This article is part of Tom's Guide's inaugural Gaming Week, an entire week of content dedicated to all things gaming. From insights into the latest hardware, guides to the best games you can play today, to the essential accessories we can't play without. Tom's Guide Gaming Week will guide you through the world of video games in 2025. While you don't need much beyond a gaming machine and a low-latency monitor or TV to really get starting with gaming, you can seriously enhance your experience with the right accessories. I'm a tech journalist and a lifelong gamer, so I'm always testing the latest gaming gear. To that end, one of my goals is to help readers — and fellow gamers — find peripherals, such as the best gaming monitors, best PC game controllers and best gaming headsets out there. And since it's Gaming Week here at Tom's Guide, I wanted to devote an article to serve that purpose. If you own one of the best gaming PCs or consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X, I can help you find the best gaming gear. Below are the seven gaming peripherals I recommend to help take your gaming to the next level. The Alienware AW3425DW QD-OLED is a worthy successor to my beloved Alienware AW3423DWF. This updated model now offers a faster 240Hz refresh rate and a lower 0.03ms response time for smoother gaming. It also has a more space-saving design thanks to its flat stand. You get all that with the same 34-inch 1440p QD-OLED curved display we've come to love. The fact that this monitor is $799 makes it a must-have for any gaming setup. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P is compatible with PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC, Android, iOS and Meta Quest. Sound quality is incredible, and the 360° spatial audio makes games feel more immersive. With intuitive controls, an elastic headband and adjustable memory foam earcups, the Arctis Nova 5P is extremely comfortable. It also boasts an outstanding battery life of up to 60 hours, and a 15-minute charge gives you about 5 hours of playing time. Note that you'll need the Arctis Nova 5X to use with your Xbox. The Scuf Valor Pro packs many features you'd expect from Scuf, including an ergonomic design, responsive controls, remappable buttons and custom face plates. Though it lacks wireless connectivity and customization software, its relatively low cost for a pro controller makes it enticing. This 55-inch Furmax gaming desk is perfect for both work and gaming. It's spacious enough to accommodate your peripherals and even a medium-sized desktop. The desk has a sturdy build that can hold up to 140 pounds. Best of all, it's easy to assemble and relatively affordable for all it provides. The Corsair K65 Plus Wireless is an excellent 75% gaming keyboard thanks to its smooth switches, sound-dampening and programmable RGB lighting. It's also hot-swappable for good measure. Though we wish it had an aluminum frame and more distinguishing features, its $159 price tag is cheaper than the competition. The Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 is an incredible mouse for gaming, boasting a maximum DPI of 32,000 and a 4,000Hz polling rate so you never miss a shot. It's a no-frills mouse without any RGB lighting, a premium matte finish, and a light-as-air construction. It builds on its predecessor's strengths and delivers the ultimate gaming experience for the competitively-minded. The Secretlab Titan Evo is one of the best gaming chairs available. Not only is it well-built and exceedingly comfortable, but it also comes in multiple sizes and materials that accommodate all buyers equally. Though it's more expensive than its competitors, it occupies the top of our best gaming chairs list for a reason. It's just that good.
Tom's Guide
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
I thought blockbuster gaming on iPhone was a gimmick — until I tried Death Stranding
This article is part of Tom's Guide's inaugural Gaming Week, an entire week of content dedicated to all things gaming. From insights into the latest hardware, guides to the best games you can play today, to the essential accessories we can't play without. Tom's Guide Gaming Week will guide you through the world of video games in 2025. With Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launching in late June, I figured it was high time for yet another playthrough of its predecessor. But I couldn't just replay Death Stranding (now for the third time running) on a mere PlayStation — that would be far too easy. Instead, I put the iPhone 16 Pro Max to the test, running the 2019 sci-fi horror masterpiece on-the-go, just as Hideo Kojima would have intended. There's something to be said about playing a game set in a post-apocalyptic world as the real one rattles on all around you, oblivious and unaware of what could be. It's made all the more interesting in a time wherein handheld gaming PCs (and the Nintendo Switch 2) are ever on the rise. That's why it felt most befitting to re-experience Death Stranding, a video game riddled with themes of loneliness, on one of the most social devices ever designed. Here's how it went down. I was one of the first to drop $5 to ensure I got my hands on Valve's Steam Deck as fast possible, excitement brimming at the chance to see what the future of handheld gaming could look like. True to its name, the Steam Deck came out swinging with serious promise, but is it the end-all-be-all platform we all dreamed of? There's already a sophisticated device we keep on our person at almost all times of the day. The smartphone not only proves a melting pot of interactivity in terms of social media and productivity, but plays host to an ever-thriving market that, according to Xsolla, wrangled an estimated $98.7B in revenue last year. But mobile gaming isn't for everyone. The pastime can easily sink its teeth into most players, but not every gamer's going to stick around forever. Major console experiences, from the likes of Cyberpunk 2077 to Red Dead Redemption 2, make the more middling Flappy Birds and Clash Royales look like high school art projects. It's why consoles will always reign supreme, even in the face of some of the best handheld gaming consoles (and best phones to boot). Times are changing, though. More and more AAA titles — Death Stranding main among them — are launching on modern smartphones, like the iPhone 16 Pro Max. You might not think of Apple's device as a proper Steam Deck replacement at first, especially in the face of its lackluster touch-based on-screen control scheme, but given the latter's bulkier design, it serves as an ample-enough replacement. The best part? It fits snugly right inside my pocket. I can fulfill all the mailman haunts as Sam Porter Bridges wherever I please, feeding my insatiable delights even as the world keeps moving on around me. That's how gaming on the iPhone feels and, more specifically, what playing Death Stranding is like on such a device. It's rather odd playing a game that's as quiet and close to nature as Death Stranding is on a device that screams for constant, moment-to-moment social interaction. But that's the breath of fresh air only evocative from this kind of experience, one wherein the sounds of nearby waterfalls are punctuated by the crunching of Sam's constantly-moving feet on the ground. And who needs accompanying music through something like Spotify or Tidal when Death Stranding's soundtrack is packed with bangers from the likes of Low Roar and Silent Poets. That's not to mention the ambient tracks led by the ever-talented Ludvig Forsell, whose "Chiralium" and "BRIDGES" still give me chills to this day (and will remain in all of my playlists). The music of Death Stranding is at the heart of the experience. Few moments in gaming match the emotional impact of that first foray, as you lug the body of Sam's deceased mother on your back to an incinerator with "Bones" by Low Roar slicing through the quiet stillness of your adventure. To be able to just stop in the middle of my day, bust out my iPhone and escape into this world is totally unmatched. It's fascinating, largely because Death Stranding isn't exactly home to a world we'd all want to live in, yet it's still a place I find totally enrapturing (even on just a mere 6.86-inch screen). Of course, it's not a perfect experience against the PS4 or PS5 by any means. You lose a lot of the more intensive textures, and water just doesn't look as good on the iOS build. Plus, it's capped at a mere 30fps. But Death Stranding's serviceability on this device is praiseworthy, as despite the fact that it might not look as good as the console version, it still looks absolutely incredible. And that's pretty commendable for the iPhone. Say what you will about Death Stranding, too. Mailman simulator, walking simulator — however you want to look at it, the game definitely isn't for everyone. But, at a certain point in the story, it touches your soul in a way that's hard to put to words. It's those moments of quiet revelry that prove the most endearing. When it's just you and Lou trudging through the mountains, the vast world in view (decrepit yet still totally breathtaking), Low Roar playing in the background, you get this sense of absolute serenity. Even on the brink of total annihilation, everything will be alright. That's so surreal in all the right ways, and makes it all the easier for me to ignore the world around me even as texts and various alerts attempt to pull me out of my daze. It's an unrivaled feeling, one I feel can only be captured on an inherently social device like the iPhone. One of the biggest complaints I have for playing Death Stranding on my iPhone was load times. The 16 Pro Max, in particular, runs on an NVMe drive, which stands for Non-Volatile Memory Express. It's flash storage that works in much the same way an SSD would, but isn't quite on the same level as those found in handheld gaming consoles, much less some of the best gaming PCs. In the same notion, you aren't able to directly play games through an external SSD over USB-C, which is a huge letdown. Every game downloaded via the App Store stays strictly on the iPhone's internal storage, which means you'll always be stuck with rather long load times (and limited phone storage space). I could also go into a rant about the poor on-screen controller support, which is essentially useless for something like Death Stranding. But with products like the Razer Kishi and the Backbone Pro, you can turn your phone into a full-fledged handheld console (minus the larger screen real estate). I highly recommend getting one of these devices, or even just using a conventional controller. For the most part, I'd find myself running Death Stranding with my DualSense Edge — even on the go — but that's not ideal for everyone. It's just one more thing to carry, which goes against the extreme portability on offer when gaming on iPhone. It's by no means a perfect system, but AAA gaming on the iPhone is still in its infancy. If you don't have a PlayStation and are itching to dive into the world of Death Stranding, it's a prime place to start — especially as its highly anticipated sequel draws ever closer.
