It looks like 2018 is shaping up to be a big year for video games. Groundbreaking games such as Dragon Ball FighterZ, Monster Hunter World and Shadow of the Colossus and Sea of Thieves are already out. And eagerly-anticipated games such as God of War, Spider-Man, Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 are coming up fast on the horizon. High fidelity graphics are getting better than ever, multi-person games are delivering faster play and gaming as a service is expanding the availability of all the games you demand.
But in order to enjoy the benefits of living in an age of gaming nerdtopia, you need to have the right technology. Here are some cutting-edge technology tools to help you get the most out of today’s top games.
Gaming-friendly Mobile Devices
The graphics quality needed for optimal enjoyment of today’s top video games typically requires the resources of a PC or console, but high fidelity games are increasingly designed for mobile play. If you want to enjoy the quality of PC gaming on a mobile device, you need the right device. This means a device with a GPU powerful enough to render 3D shapes realistically through high vertex counts, shading and high-volume draw calls. It also means a device fast enough to handle 4G and 5G connection speeds for real-time multi-player gaming. And it means a device with a screen large enough to appreciate top-notch graphics.
While today’s best smartphones for gaming can do a decent job rendering graphics, for optimal mobile quality, you’ll want a 4G laptop that fits the GPU and connectivity requirements for high fidelity mobile gaming. For instance, 4G laptops and 2-in-1s powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Mobile PC with a built-in X16 LTE modem are designed to support today’s cutting-edge graphics, including virtual reality, as well as support high-speed mobile connectivity. Look for a device that features this technology if you want to have a pain-free gaming experience. Alternatively, you could upgrade your laptop with an external graphics card and match the requirements that way.
Fast Network Connectivity
For optimal mobile, online and multi-player gaming, you’ll need a suitably fast network connection. At a minimum, this means you’ll want a connection with a download speed of at least 3 megabits per seconds (Mbps), an upload speed of at least 1 Mbps, and a ping rate under 150 milliseconds (ms).
Some 3G networks can handle this, but are more likely to experience lag. You’ll experience better mobile play with a 4G network, which has a peak download speed of 1 gigabit per second (Gbps). Upcoming 5G networks will deliver even better play, with a peak download speed of 20 Gbps. Leading telecommunications providers plan to begin rolling out 5G over the course of 2018 and into 2019 and 2020.
Virtual Reality Headsets
With new games increasingly being designed for virtual reality play, getting the most out of gaming also requires a VR headset. VR headsets come in two major types: tethered and mobile. Tethered headsets physically connect to a PC or console through a cable, delivering better quality but with limited mobility and at a higher price. Mobile headsets are designed to allow you to insert your smartphone so you can view your phone screen through special lenses. This option is less expensive and more mobile, but lacks the processing power of being connected to a PC.
Today’s best tethered VR headsets include the Sony PlayStation VR, the HTC Vive and the Oculus Rift. The best mobile VR headsets include the Google Daydream View and the Samsung Gear VR.
Gaming-friendly mobile devices, fast network connections and virtual reality headsets are three key tools to help you get the most out of today’s video gaming technology. Tapping into these tools will help improve your graphics experience, accelerate your online play and enhance your gaming enjoyment.
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