A new patent regarding the PS5 controller has been submitted on the Japanese office, showing subtle changes in the PS5 gamepad, including the removal of the light bar. READ MORE: PlayStation 5 Concept Video Reveals Specualted Console And Controller Designs The next-generation console controller seems to opt for a larger trackpad, smaller thumbsticks, bigger triggers, and a USB port - we are unsure what type at the time of writing. Tech publication, Wired, recently got hands-on with the new system, and the prototype controller set to come with the next-gen platform, which they described similarly to the patent itself. Wired described the new controller as being “an awful lot like the PS4’s DualShock 4”, with the biggest difference being the “Adaptive Triggers” which will reportedly offer greater feedback through the triggers themselves. Wired also spoke to Mark Cerny, lead architect for the PS4, who also explained that the triggers will offer different feedback in games with bow and arrow in terms of drawing and pulling back, as well as FPS where each weapon type will feel different to pull the trigger on. The PlayStation 5 is set to launch in Holiday 2020.

MSi are one of the biggest names in motherboards and graphics cards, and even their CPU cooling solutions, but few know them for their cases. We got our hands on of the higher-end premium desktop cases from MSi, the Sekira 500G, and it's a showcase as to why a high-end PC case matters - and why MSi is where you should look. Specs: I/O PORTS: 4 x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A / 1 x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C / 1 x HD Audio / 1 x MicDRIVER BAYS: 6 x 3.5" (compatible with 2.5") + 3 x 2.5"CASE EXPANSION SLOTS: 8+2MAXIMUM GPU LENGTH: 400mmMAXIMUM CPU COOLER LENGTH: 170mmPOWER SUPPLY: Standard ATXCOOLING LAYOUT: Front: Up to 3 x 120mm / 3 x 140mm / 2 x 200mmTop: Up to 3 x 120mm / 2 x 140mm / 2 x 200mm Rear: Up to 1 x 120mm / 1 x 140mm PRE-INSTALL FAN: Front: 2 x 200mm System Fans includedRear: 1 x 120mm System Fan included RADIATOR LAYOUT: Front: up to 280mmTop :up to 360mm Rear: 120mm FORM FACTOR: Mid-TowerSUPPORT MB FORM FACTOR: E-ATX / ATX / mATX / Mini-ITXDIMENSION: 530(D) x 232(W) x 545.5(H) mm WEIGHT: 19.8 KG Design and Features: First impressions of the MSi Sekira 500G out of the box are that of grandeur and opulence, with a brushed aluminium finish with a rose gold trim around the edges of the case, and a golden MSi logo in the front. Another noticeable feature is just how much space you have in the interior, opened by a tool-less tempered glass panel on each side. The front panel is also built on a swivel to allow easy access to the fans, making mounting and removal easier. MSi has included venting on the top and front panel, to allow air to pass through the case and into the chassis itself, as the front and top panel are solid rather than mesh. Rubber feet are added to the bottom to ensure the case stays firmly wherever you place it. When looking inside, we see the motherboard tray, able to fit EATX motherboards and smaller, along with a host of hard drive cages, as well as a PSU shroud. At the rear, we have traditional PCIe expansion slots, a rear fan, as well as a vertical graphics card mounting mechanism. Performance: The MSi Sekira 500G is a rather open and spacious cabin for you to work in, without needing to bend and twist your arms and hands in unfathomable ways. Opening the panels, you are met two 200mm fans in the front of the case - other models may vary - and a single 120mm fan at the rear. Both the left and right side panel are placed on a swinging hinge, with a handle for grip, and held down by magnets. Unfortunately, the handles do detract from the flush aesthetic, and making them smaller would have helped a lot. As we said, both panels are tempered glass, and while this may be down to personal preference, but being able to see cables - as the glass is not tinted - takes even more away from the spectacular aesthetic of the case. The MSi Sekira 500G offers support for a 360mm radiator at the top of the case, 280mm at the front, and a 140mm rad at the rear. For airflow fans - ha, get it? - you have space for two 200mm fans or three 140/120mm fans at the front, two 200/140mm fans at the top or three 120mm fans, and one 120/140mm fans at the rear, which is still a fantastic amount of air cooling. While testing we used a single 240mm radiator at the top, a single 120mm fan at the rear, and three 120mm fans at the front. Thankfully, MSi has recognised the challenges with radiator installation, and how frustrating it can be to attach a radiator to the case, only to realise you mounted a cable wrong, and now you need to remove it and reattach it. MSi has included a modular radiator mounting bracket, making installation and removal that much more convenient. Modular mounting brackets are becoming more popular in cases these days, and it's great to see MSi embrace this service. MSi has included a modular radiator mounting bracket, making installation and removal that much more convenient. Unfortunately, the case falters on one key aspect, which is airflow. While the popularity of solid front and top panels is rising, using side ventilation as the primary source of air coming in, it is a severe restriction on how air can pass through - imagine a tunnel that supported eight lanes of traffic, being diverted into two. While MSi has given roughly 35mm in clearing in all of their ventilation ports, which is larger than most, it still limits how much air the front fans can suck in. This extends to the top of the case, where hot air is not extracted as efficiently as it could be, leaving more than optimal levels of hot air inside the case, or circling around. The solid front and top panels do look phenomenal with the brushed aluminium finish, but it just isn't practical. In saying that, we found no other issues with case, and were thoroughly impressed with the rigidity of the vertical graphics card mounting, which also adds a unique look to any build. This extends to the case all around, as the build quality was impeccable. Expecting users to flood the case with storage, the Sekira 500G offers six 3.5” drive bays which can support 2.5” drives, as well as three dedicated 2.5” drive bays. As the case is built to be paired with the MSi X570 MEG ACE, it needs to offer as much storage solutions as possible, which they have achieved, and then some. However, we would much rather have more spaces, because we could realistically work on six drives at the same time, which made productivity monumentally better. Overall, the MSi Sekira 500G is a sensational chassis, offering great cooling support, plenty of storage, and an opulent aesthetic. However, the air flow issue is concerning, and would be better off with traditional ventilation. Though, that vertical GPU mount must just make it worth it.

I say it time and time again; a good monitor is integral to any gaming experience. While gaming monitors have come a long way since the days of 1080p 60Hz, we aren't quite at perfection just yet. A perfect example of this is the MSi MPG27CQ gaming monitor. Specs: PANEL SIZE: 27" (69cm)PANEL RESOLUTION: 2560 x 1440REFRESH RATE: 144HzRESPONSE TIME: 1msPANEL TYPE: VABRIGHTNESS (NITS): 400 cd / m2VIEWING ANGLE: 178°ASPECT RATIO: 16:9CURVATURE: 1800RCONTRAST RATIO: 3000:1DCR: 100000000:1ACTIVE DISPLAY AREA (MM): 596.736 (H) x 335.664 (V)PIXEL PITCH (H X V): 0.2331 (H) x 0.2331 (V)SURFACE TREATMENT: Anti-glare DISPLAY COLORS: 16.7 millionDCI-P3 / SRGB: 90% / 115%VIDEO PORTS: 1 x DP(1.2)2 x HDMI(2.0) USB PORTS: 2 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type A1 x USB 3.1 Gen1 Type B (PC to monitor) AUDIO PORTS: 1 x Headphone out1 x Mic in 1 x Audio combo jack (PC to monitor) KENSINGTON LOCK: YesVESA MOUNTING: 100 mm x 100 mmCONTROL: 5-way OSD navigation joystickPOWER TYPE: External Adaptor 20V 4.5APOWER INPUT: 100~240V, 50~60HzPOWER CONSUMPTION: 90WSIGNAL FREQUENCY: 70.56 to 214.56KHz(H)48 to 144Hz(V) ADJUSTMENT (TILT): -5° ~ 20°ADJUSTMENT (SWIVEL): -40° ~ 40°ADJUSTMENT (HEIGHT): 0 ~ 120 mmDIMENSION (W X H X D): 612mm x 555.8mm x 379.3mmWEIGHT (NW / GW): 7.6kg / 10.6kgNOTE: Display Port: 2560 x 1440 (Up to 144Hz)HDMI: 2560 x 1440 (Up to 144Hz) The color gamut follows the CIE 1976 testing standard. Design and Features: The MSi Optix MPG27CQ features a 27” screen, sporting a 2560 x 1440p, 144Hz VA panel, with an 1800R curvature. The panel itself is, as we said, a VA panel type, with a 1ms response time, 400 cd/m2 nits of brightness, a viewing angle of 178 degrees, as well as a 3000:1 contrast ratio. The monitor has a sturdy build quality, with an almost bezel-less viewing experience, as well as brushed aluminium finish on the thicker bottom bezel. The three-pronged stand and thick supporting arm ensures that there is no wobble, and provides an edgy aesthetic overall. At the rear, we have a plastic moulded custom design cutting diagonally through the centre, with a brushed aluminium-finish plate just above that. To the bottom left of the rear, is the 5-way OSD joystick, while the connections are found at the bottom right. Finally, we have the five-part RGB LED strip at the bottom, which links to the SteelSeries GameSense integration, as well as the RGB lighting zone at the rear for ambience. The MSi Optix MPG27CQ offers a single DisplayPort connection, as well as two HDMI 2.0 connections, alongside two USB 3.1Gen1 Type A and 1 USB 3.1 Gen1 Type B connections. For audio, there is a single 3.5mm headphone out port, a single Mic in, as well as an audio combo jack. Performance: The Optix MPG27CQ has the perfect size-to-resolution ratio, as anything bigger than 27” requires you to move more than 1.5-2 metres from your screen, which is further than most standard set-ups. Combining the impeccably well sized 27” screen with the deep 1800R curvature of the panel, gives you an impressively immersive experience. The Optix MPG27CQ not only creates a fantastic gaming experience through the curved panel design, but it actively reduces eye strain, giving us a tonne more game time per session. The 144Hz, 1ms response time of the monitor made competitive gaming a breeze, as well as bringing fluidity to non-competitive titles. The refresh rate is variable with AMD's FreeSync, and is also compatible with Nvidia’s G-SYNC, offering a practically tear-free gaming experience. There was no noticeable blur behind fast-moving objects on-screen, and thanks to the flicker-free backlight, our eyes were not destroyed after extended play times. The QHD resolution made any 1440p content displayed look crisp and clear, while preventing any blur or pixelation in 1080p content. The excellent contrast ratio gave us deep blacks but we felt that the addition of local dimming could’ve made it even better, as there was some evidence of light bleeding and clouding. However, this was only truly noticeable in really dark rooms, so a well-lit environment will nullify this. There was no noticeable blur behind fast-moving objects on-screen, and thanks to the flicker-free backlight, our eyes were not destroyed after extended play times. The colour gamut in the Optix MPG27CQ is excellent, with a 115% coverage of the sRGB spectrum, making colours brighter, clearer, and richer, but the out-of-box calibration is not the greatest. We suggest taking some time to tune the monitor to your individual preference. However, there was no colour bleeding, no image retention, and reflections were diffused spectacularly. Unfortunately, the only downside in an otherwise stunning screen, is the use of the VA panel. At both a horizontal and vertical viewing angle, the colour angle started to dip, which is a problem in any VA panel. The horizontal angle was a bigger culprit at losing colour accuracy, though, while the vertical angle caused images to wash out quite quickly. While the monitor can be adjusted to reduce these effects, it does mean you will be shifting it around quite often. The horizontal angle was a bigger culprit at losing colour accuracy, though, while the vertical angle caused images to wash out quite quickly. The SteelSeries GameSense integration gives you in-game alerts through the RGB lighting strip at the bottom of the screen, such as health, ammo, or amour, in competitive titles - such as CS:GO. Furthermore, you can customise each individual RGB LED through the SteelSeries Engine desktop app, or you can use MSi’s proprietary MysticLights app to customise the basic lighting of the monitor. Thankfully, MSi has brought their Gaming OSD to mobile, allowing you to control and change settings through an app on your phone, rather than fiddling with a joy-stick. This makes on-the-fly changes so much easier, and even allows custom profiles to be saved, for one-click changes. Overall, the MSi Optix MPG27CQ is a magnificent gaming monitor with a low response panel and high refresh rates. It is convenient through the Gaming OSD mobile app, offers an immersive gaming experience thanks to the 1800R curve, and features the perfect-sized screen for most users. The only let down in this otherwise powerhouse panel is the colour wash out and colour accuracy loss at a horizontal or vertical viewing.

TVs are a pretty integral part of our everyday lives, whether we care to admit it or not. A TV has not only become a staple in our households, but have started to become a centrepiece of living rooms - as they should, considering we use them for both passive and active content consumption. Hisense has always been a major player in the TV space, and the new Q8600 has proven why. Specs: Screen: 55", ULED, 4KRefresh Rate: 120HzResolution: 3840x2160pxNative Contrast Ratio: 5000:1HDR Support: HDR10, Dolby Vision HDRDolby Atmos: YesPreinstalled Apps: Netflix,YouTube,Showmax, DSTV Now, Amazon PrimeAudio: 10WScreen Mirror: Anyview CastDimensions (with stand): 1233×779×242Connectivity: 4 x HDMI supporting 4K@60Hz with HDCP version 2.2Wall Mount: Yes Design and Features: The Hisense Q8600 features an ultra-slim bezel design, offering a frameless viewing experience. The incredibly thin panel is mounted atop an aluminium-finish stand featuring a modern design aesthetic that will fit with most living room decor. On the face of it, it is a minimalist design, with a simple Hisense logo on the slightly larger bottom bezel. The Hisense Q8600 features an ultra-slim bezel design, offering a frameless viewing experience At the rear of the unit, we see a slightly chunkier portion of the otherwise ridiculously thin Quantum Dot display, which houses the processing internals, connections, as well as the integrated soundbar. The Hisense Q8600 offers four HDMI ports that are all 4K@60Hz compatible with HDCP version 2.2, integrated WiFi as well as LAN connections, HDR10 display, Dolby Atmos, amongst other high-end features. Excitingly, this is the first time we got to see Hisense’s patented Quantum Dot image colouring in action, which offers a colour spectrum of over 1 billion colours, as opposed to the standard 16.7 million colours in sRGB panels. Hisense's Smart OS, VIDAA, is used in the Q8600, but there are other models in the Hisense range that feature standard Android OS. Lastly, the Q8600 also features true HDR10 capability, along with Dolby Atmos HDR sound, taking advantage of the integrated soundbar, to bring audio to life. Performance: Taking it out of the box, the TV itself and the stand it rests on are separate, and we recommend you bring a friend along to help you out - even just carrying the box from the car into your house could be a challenge. However, assembly is as easy to screwing the two easy-to-fit stands into the bottom, and setting it where you want it in your space. Thankfully, the stands cannot be attached incorrectly, as the shape of them slots them into the TV, making things a little easier. Once on for the first time, the TV will take you through a quick and easy-to-navigate setup menu. This includes connecting to the internet, adjusting basic settings, and getting you acquainted with the smart VIDAA OS. Setup takes less than five minutes, which is when you can then explore your new TV to your heart's content, and plug in your home entertainment systems. The 55” 4K ULED screen is beautiful to look at, even in the menus. Obviously, no one buys a TV to stare at the wonderful menu system, so we booted up Netflix using the pre-installed application directly from the TV, using the featured Netflix button on the remote. Using Stranger Things as our initial content, blacks and dark areas are displayed phenomenally, thanks also to the QuantumDot colour technology. There were no areas of grey around the edge of the panel, and there was no faded or murky dark areas across the entire screen. Furthermore, areas of bright light were contrasted, and displayed, incredibly well against completely black backdrops, and there was no white light bleeding into dark areas, which is the role of Local Dimming, meaning each area of the TV is controlled independently. To truly put the Quantum Dot colour technology through its paces, though, we played David Attenborough’s Our Planet, particularly episodes that featured vivid jungle vistas, with dense and dramatically colourful wildlife. Tropical birds, as anyone knows, are typically bright with blues, greens, yellows, and reds, along with some featuring polar opposite colours, such as toucans. The Hisense Q8600 handled all of the rapidly changing colour palettes remarkably well, offering breathtaking and mesmerising visuals. No matter what 4K content we threw at the Hisense - aside from YouTube - was made even more magnificent by the inclusion of Dolby Atmos Sound and HDR10. In passive content consumption, we hard birds chirping on the other side of our room, and in some cases, behind us as well, offering a truly immersive sound experience. In active content, such as gaming, we heard bullets flying past our heads, gunshots behind us, and - if you are a horror fan - we had a heart attack when something came flying at us, screeching in our ears. The availability of HDR10 is more common in today’s smart TV’s, but the addition of Dolby Atmos for supported content is just astoundingly immersive. Displaying the same content using a media box or a console, even a PC, was exactly the same as it would be if using the integrated applications through the VIDAA operating system, which shows that Hisense has kept media entertainment systems in mind, as opposed to favouring their integrated systems. In terms of gaming, we used a PS4 Pro as well as a high-end gaming notebook - the ASUS Strix Scar II GL504W. The TV features a 120Hz panel, allowing us to take advantage of the high-refresh rates in competitive games. While it was odd at first, playing titles such as CS: GO and Overwatch at such a high refresh rate, on a 55” TV was pretty impressive. We also tested DOOM at 4K Ultra settings, as well as The Division 2, and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, and while the frame rate was much lower - roughly 45 - 60fps - there was still no evidence of lag, no ghosting on the screen, and the visual quality was impeccable. On console, we stress-tested the viability of a TV such as this for fighting games, as well as couch co-op titles. When we performed our initial testing, everything appeared to run smoothly - there was no lag in the fighting games we tested (in this case Street Fighter V and Tekken 7), and couch co-op was absolutely perfect. However, after a system software update, there was a tremendous amount of delay between controller input and screen output, which we replicated using similar titles. Unfortunately, it appeared that the software update had introduced lag where there was none, but we are hoping that Hisense is aware of this and are currently fixing it. Thankfully, however, this was not a hardware issue. The VIDAA OS by Hisense is fairly easy to navigate, much easier than other proprietary operating systems in smart TVs. VIDAA has a number of applications for you to download as well, including Amazon Prime as well as YoutTube - both of which have dedicated buttons on the remote - as well as Showmax and DSTV Now. VIDAA will also throw up recommendations based on the type of content you consume, which is linked through Netflix, and you can customise the layout of your apps, to make your favourites easier to get to. Overall, the Hisense Q8600 4K ULED TV is an incredible smart TV, offering a marvellous and sensational experience across both gaming and passive content consumption. We were slightly disappointed in the lag issues cropping up with the software update, but the superlative display of dark blacks, and rich textures, along with preventing lighting from shining through and colour bleeding, makes this a stellar smart TV.