Latest news with #esports
WIRED
3 hours ago
- WIRED
SteelSeries' Rival 3 Gen 3 Gaming Mice Deliver the Basics
Over the years, computer mice have become expensive. Everything has become expensive. It can be frustrating to look at a list of gaming mice and see even the cheapest options approaching $80, especially when games now cost $80 and new graphics cards regularly pass the $1,000 mark. This is where budget-oriented mice are perfect. Most high-end mice are past the point of diminishing returns for the average gamer, with most never needing the precision of a perfectly balanced, ultra-lightweight, 8,000-Hz esports-level mouse. Those are all nice-to-have features, but they aren't necessary for everyday gaming, where lag, latency, and frame rate drops will likely have more of an impact on your game than your mouse missing a millisecond of movement. Among budget mice, the SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 shines. It doesn't prioritize extreme lightness, unnecessarily high polling rates, or other eye-catching metrics. Instead, this mouse focuses on delivering rock-solid specs that are good enough for the average gamer. I tested both the wired and wireless variants of the Rival 3 Gen 2, which retail for $35 and $60, respectively. Budget Performance Photograph: Henri Robbins Both models come equipped with Pixart optical sensors capable of up to 18,000 dots per inch (DPI) and 400 inches per second—far more capable than the average office mouse, and more than enough for regular gaming. The mouse operates at a 1,000-Hz polling rate, which is pretty much standard for gaming mice today. The sensor feels snappy and responsive, and I didn't find either model to lag or miss inputs during regular use. The wired and wireless models have nearly identical shapes and sizes—the only significant difference between the two is the panel seams on the wireless model. The size of the Rival 3 Gen 2 finds a great middle ground, ideal for average-size hands but usable for nearly any size. The mouse's shape is standard but effective, and while it doesn't have quite the refined and smooth sculpt of Razer's Viper line, it's serviceable, has intuitive button placements, and feels comfortable during prolonged use. The two thumb buttons are sized well for easy access, and the center button behind the scroll wheel is short enough that I never accidentally press it, but tall enough that it can be pressed easily and quickly. The wired model weighs around 80 grams without including the cable (and around 100 with it), and the soft braided cable doesn't get caught or create friction during regular use. While it's still not as convenient as a wireless mouse, accessories like mouse bungees aren't necessary at all. The largest functional difference between the wired and wireless models is the weight: The wireless model weighs 110 grams with batteries, which is significantly more mass to move around. Despite the added weight, the Rival 3 Gen 2 wireless still feels nimble and easy to move; the large, smooth feet on the underside glide effortlessly across both desks and mousepads. The added weight from the batteries is noticeable, but they are placed higher up in the mouse instead of the very bottom. This makes it feel less like you're dragging around the extra weight, since the batteries are closer to your hand and positioned more centrally to the mouse.
Arab News
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Skateboarding icon Tony Hawk takes in Esports World Cup in Riyadh
RIYADH: From skateboarding in drained swimming pools to becoming the global face of skateboarding, Tony Hawk has been at the center of an industry he has seen grow from a backyard hobby to featuring in the Olympic Games. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport And in a similar way, gaming and esports have rapidly grown into global phenomena, capturing the hearts and minds of millions worldwide. And while the world's most famous skateboarder has seen and been part of some incredible spectacles, he has been stunned by the scale of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh. 'This is my first time ever in Saudi Arabia and in Riyadh at the Esports World Cup. I think the most surprising thing is the size of it,' said Hawk. 'I thought it would be one arena and games coming in and out. It's multiple arenas, thousands of competitors, it kind of takes over the whole city and it's very impressive.' Arriving in Riyadh, Hawk took the opportunity to tick another country off his skating bucket list, breaking out his board to carve the streets of Saudi Arabia and check out the local skate scene. 'I think there's a lot of potential here, especially in skateboarding or action sports,' he said. 'I see a growing passion for skateboarding. They could really seize the opportunity and create a thriving skate scene very quickly.' Soaking in the atmosphere and touring the Esports World Cup Festival, Hawk has garnered huge attention from local fans eager to interact with an icon of the skateboarding world. 'I am surprised any time I get recognized, especially in foreign countries that are not very skate centric. It's always a shock because I never got into skateboarding to be famous; no one was famous in skateboarding, in fact it was the furthest thing from fame you could do when I started. 'All these interactions I just think are entertaining, because I get recognized but people don't expect me to have gotten older since they last saw me, which is usually from a video game, so they're like, 'it looks that guy, but he can't be that old.' And that's fine with me.' Having been at the forefront of an industry that accelerated from a niche activity to a global sport, Hawk has seen significant parallels between gaming and skateboarding. He believes esports will only get bigger, providing people around the world who have a passion for gaming with the opportunity to pursue impactful careers in the industry. 'I see a lot of parallels between skateboarding and gaming,' he said. 'Especially in the early days, you did it because you loved it. It was the furthest thing from cool, there was no future, there was no career,' Tony says. 'Mostly you were told you shouldn't be doing that. Especially by adults and especially when you become an adult. 'Gaming is the same. When playing games as a kid I'm sure parents thought you spent too much time doing it, [that] it's not productive, it's eating into your homework or your social life. Now it's a huge industry and you can become a professional, the same as skateboarding. 'I feel the people who were there in the earlier days understand it on a deeper level because they were chastised for it. These days if someone gets into skating or gaming, they know that they could make a living out of it, without question, and their parents might even encourage it. That's kind of wild to me. No parents were really encouraging skateboarding in my day.' With the gaming and esports industry thriving around the world alongside the growth of streaming and social media, pathways into the gaming and esports industry have been established, creating opportunities for young people to forge careers in the industry they love. What seemed impossible a few years ago is becoming a reality; the gaming industry continues to grow and with it comes the opportunity for those with the ability, dedication and creative spark to become professionals within the industry. 'My parents were the rare exception, that they were supportive of my skating, but they didn't think it was going to be a career either,' said Hawk. 'They wanted me to go to college. I was a professional skateboarder, I was buying a house in my senior year of high school, and they wanted me to enroll in college. So they didn't believe it was going to be my future either. 'Kids who aspire to game for a living have a chance now, and their parents may be supportive of that decision. I don't know if it's going to happen every time, but it's kind of like skateboarding in that way too. There are so many ways to do it. You can be a streamer, you can have your own niche, you can have your own brand or personality and with skateboarding it's the same. You don't have to compete. If you're making good content and you're putting it out there and you're innovative, you can still thrive at it.' On release the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series became one of the most popular video game franchises of all time, defining a generation and accelerating the growth of skateboarding and gaming culture across the world. More than 20 years later, the re-release of the original titles and updates to the franchise continue to capture the imaginations of gamers across the world, connecting them to the nostalgia of the originals, while updating them to engage with a new generation of gamers. 'Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 just came out, and it's a remake of our third and fourth games from over 20 years ago,' said Hawk. 'I think the reason that we even get to do those now is that there is a very deep nostalgia for these games. For people, I think it defines a time in their lives where they formed their taste in music, where they learned about something other than mainstream sports, skateboarding specifically, but also other fringe sports and alternative, action sports. I hear a lot of people say that it was their best days playing that game, or it's the reason I failed college, and either one I take as a compliment.' He added: 'I think what set Tony Hawk's Pro Skater apart in the early days was that it was authentic. It represented skateboarding in all its forms, the culture, the music, the fashion, the skaters, the tricks and the renegade attitude, hopping fences and everything. To bring it [back in] 2025 we had to update it in all respects. I wanted to reflect how skateboarding is now, how much more inclusive it is, how much more international it is, and I think we did that well. We chose some new skaters, brought back most of the iconic legends, and we even brought in three new levels, so I do feel we've entered a new era.'
Arab News
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Arab News
GCC Esports League wraps up second event
RIYADH: The Saudi Esports Federation has concluded the second event of the GCC Esports League. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Held at the SEF Arena in Riyadh and presented by Korean automotive brand, Genesis, the league saw competition between elite players and esports clubs from across the Gulf Cooperation Council. Turki Al-Fawzan, CEO of the Saudi Esports Federation, said: 'Congratulations to all the incredible players who participated in the second edition of the GCC Esports League. This event has been instrumental in fostering the next generation of talent and showcasing the remarkable depth of quality among players from across the GCC. Saudi Arabia's unwavering commitment to the gaming and esports sector is not only transforming our region but also solidifying our role as a global hub for this dynamic industry.' This year's league featured competition across two fan-favorite titles: EA Sports FC 25 and Street Fighter 6, with a total prize pool of SR100,000 ($26,600), split evenly between the games. Representing their nations and highlighting the depth of emerging talent across the GCC, players from Gulf countries showcased their skills and talents in front of passionate fans at the SEF Arena and a global online audience. Seven clubs representing six GCC countries competed in the EA Sports FC 25 tournament: Team Falcons from Saudi Arabia, TriForce from Kuwait, Al-Nasr Club from the UAE, KHK Esports from Bahrain, Al-Seeb and Al-Nahda from Oman, and Alrayyan from Qatar. In a highly anticipated all-Saudi grand final, Abu Makkah took on Falcon Msdossary7, both from Team Falcons. With a dominant 12-3 victory, FalconMsdossary7 secured the title and reaffirmed his place among the top esports athletes in the region. Nine clubs from six GCC nations participated in the Street Fighter 6 competition, including The Vicious and Twisted Minds from Saudi Arabia, TriForce from Kuwait, Al-Ain Chess and Mind Games Club from the UAE, KHK Esports from Bahrain, Al-Seeb and Al-Nahda from Oman, and S-City and Team Mana from Qatar. The grand final featured a thrilling showdown between Twisted Minds' Latif and Al-Ain Chess and Mind Games Club's GTR. Latif secured a decisive 3-1 victory, marking an emotional and inspiring return to professional play after a seven-year break. 'Winning this tournament means a lot to me,' Latif said. 'Coming back after seven years away from professional competition and proving that I can still compete and win against the best players in the region is an incredible feeling. This special win reminded me that age is just a number when you have the drive and determination to succeed.' Beyond the competition, the 2025 GCC Esports League marked a significant step toward deeper regional collaboration, as the Saudi Esports Federation signed five memoranda of understanding with esports governing bodies from Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and the UAE. 'These memoranda of understanding with our GCC counterparts mark a pivotal moment for the region's esports ecosystem,' Al-Fawzan said. 'Strategic collaboration is paramount to fostering talent development, launching impactful education initiatives and strengthening grassroots growth across the GCC, ultimately elevating the gaming and esports ecosystem on the global stage.'
Arab News
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Emmy Award-winning director praises ‘mind-blowing' esports growth in MENA region
RIYADH: Emmy Award-winning director R.J. Cutler is no stranger to esports. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport As part of the inaugural Esports World Cup in Riyadh in 2024, the American filmmaker showcased the competition's athletes and their stories in the five-part documentary 'Esports World Cup: Level Up,' streaming on Prime Video. Cutler's series delves deep into the lives of these elite players, revealing the dedication, skill and passion that drive them, offering a platform to connect with a global audience. During his visit to Riyadh, Cutler discussed the significance of the Esports World Cup. 'The Esports World Cup is incredibly impactful because esports is still new and emerging on the global stage,' Cutler said. 'To see the way Saudi Arabia and the Saudi people have gathered around the Esports World Cup is amazing, to see the infrastructure that's been built is extraordinary, and everything around it is mind-blowing.' By highlighting the human stories and showcasing Esports World Cup Foundation's significant investment in the gaming and esports industry, Cutler believes the series is able to reach new audiences and showcase how the Esports World Cup is changing people's lives. 'One of the things we hoped to do, and we were successful in doing, was making the show accessible to everybody whether you were a fan of esports, or not. 'It's a human sport and that's what we wanted to show (the audience), we wanted to reflect exactly what we experienced ourselves first-hand in Riyadh.' Growing from a niche sport to a global phenomenon, the Esports World Cup had elevated the esports and gaming industry, added prestige, provided a global platform for teams and players to thrive, while fostering a community of passionate fans from across the world. 'The cliche of what a gamer is, is totally defined by the Esports World Cup, it's as broad a sport as any sport there is and with every single player you have a different extraordinary story, that's what we see in Level Up,' Cutler said. 'Humanizing the esports industry was our whole objective, we tell human stories and we're making real films. We want the audience to connect with other people and to project themselves into the scenario so that anybody playing games at home can think that 'I could be there, that could be me.' 'The series showcases a full range of human stories, it's character-driven, it's emotional, it's dramatic; we want you to laugh, cry and stomp your feet and in season one that was definitely happening.' The Esports World Cup is a key pillar of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 initiative, and a significant part of the Kingdom's national gaming and esports strategy, which aims to foster talent development, establish a world-class gaming and esports ecosystem, and support economic diversification. The goal is to create 39,000 jobs and contribute $13.3 billion to Saudi Arabia's economy by 2030. The inaugural Esports World Cup was a watershed moment, as the world's best players converged in Riyadh to compete across the most popular games and win their share of a record-breaking prize pool, but in 2025 things are bigger, better and bolder. Competing for a $70-plus million prize pool, the largest in esports history, more than 2,000 players, from 200 clubs, representing more than 100 countries, have returned for the Esports World Cup 2025, competing across 25 tournaments and 24 games including Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, League of Legends, EA FC 25, Rocket League, and PUBG Battlegrounds. The event runs until Aug. 24, and is held alongside the Esports World Cup Festival, a celebration of esports and gaming culture that features interactive experiences, live performances, competitions and global cuisine, facilitating cultural exchange and showcasing Saudi Arabia's cultural heritage to global visitors. For 2025, the prize pool has grown, ticket sales and visitor numbers have swelled, and its global appeal has increased exponentially, bolstered by the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo as the global ambassador and a live performance from Post Malone at the opening ceremony. 'There was a $60 million prize pool last year, more than $70 million this year, this incredible infrastructure has sprouted up around it, the passion of the audiences and those following all of the teams is amazing,' Cutler said. 'The Esports World Cup is something that you really have to experience to believe it.'
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
This E-Sports-Inspired Gaming Mouse Left Me Wanting More
You'd be forgiven for thinking that every computer mouse is just like every other computer mouse. It clicks things on your screen and lets you move your cursor around. Believe it or not, there are quite a few ways companies can differentiate their mice from each other, especially when it comes to gaming. Gaming mice can range from just a few dollars to well over a hundred dollars, but you don't always get what you pay for. That's why I'm here. You might recognize Cherry as the company that's dominated the mechanical keyboard switch market for decades, but it also makes great mice. The top-tier, e-sports-inspired M64 and M68 mice are very well designed, with the basic gaming features you need, but don't quite live up to their asking price. What I like about the Cherry M64 and M68 CNET / Jason Cockerham The M64 is an ergonomic, right-handed mouse while the M68 is symmetrical. Even though I have small hands, I prefer the feel of the M64 since it just sits a bit better in my grip. With that in mind, I focused mostly on the M64. Both versions come in black and teal, blue and orange and white and teal. Sadly, there's no RGB lighting. The soft-touch plastic on the M64 feels really nice to use. It's cool to the touch and softer than a lot of the hard plastic you see on other mice. I much prefer it over Logitech's mice and many other mice I've used. I appreciate that my hand never got sweaty or felt sticky during long periods of use, even in the warm Texas weather. It doesn't feel cheap either, though I would hope not given the price tag. The buttons are responsive and clicky, even if they aren't the strongest I've used. The two-tone color scheme is subtle, but I like it. It's also impressively lightweight for not having any holes in it, only 53 grams. Personally, I hate those honeycomb-style mice, so I'm very happy Cherry was able to keep it so light without making it look like Swiss cheese. Solid, yet limited performance I enjoyed using the M64 and never experienced any performance issues. It was effortlessly smooth and great for both gaming and daily use. Cherry claims you can get up to 75 hours of continuous use between charges, but your mouse would probably be at settings that would be far too slow to be usable. I never had an issue with battery life though. While using it as my primary mouse for work and play for about a month, I only had to charge it once. The sampling rate tops out at 1,000 Hz on the base M64 I reviewed, but there is a Pro version available for $30 more that goes up to 8,000 Hz if you need that. For me, the performance was spot on. What I don't like about the Cherry M64 and M68 CNET / Jason Cockerham There are absolutely no software controls available for the M64 or M68. It doesn't connect to Cherry's Utility software, which means you have to manually adjust all the settings. Worst of all, the design team went full Apple and put the adjustments on the bottom of the mouse. Not only do you have to interrupt what you're doing to change the settings, but you have to memorize or lookup how to change them every time you do. It's just extremely poor design, especially on a mouse that costs $100. Can't use it while charging If the button and switch on the bottom wasn't bad enough for you, Cherry also followed Apple's footsteps in the placement of the charging port. It's not on the bottom, thankfully, but it is on the side and sticks out in such a way that makes it extremely annoying to use the mouse while charging. Sure, it's technically possible, but you constantly feel the cable pulling at the mouse while in your hand, so much so that it was too distracting for me to use it. CNET / Jason Cockerham Give me Bluetooth It doesn't seem like Cherry intends for this mouse to ever leave your desk, yet it's small and lightweight enough to be a perfect travel companion. However, there's no Bluetooth connectivity or storage for the 2.4GHz dongle. That's likely a minor problem for most, but it's a big annoyance for me. Since I can't use the mouse while plugged in, that means I need to be extra diligent keeping track of the dongle whenever using the mouse away from home so I don't lose it. Should I buy the Cherry M64/68? For me, the M64 and M68 are a tough sell, especially at $100. If it was $50 or $60, it'd be a no-brainer. But considering there are several other mice with similar specs, better features and more robust software support available, it's hard to recommend the M64 and M68. The design is fantastic, but except for those of us who are most hardcore gamers, this mouse doesn't outweigh the cons for me. But hey, if you can find it on sale, go for it.
