Gaming in Hand: The Latest Innovations from Hori and Dragon Age

As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, handheld experiences have never been richer. Two of the most exciting developments this month involve Hori’s new Steam controller and Bioware’s Dragon Age: The Veilguard, both promising to push the boundaries of portable gaming.

Hori’s new controller brings innovative features to portable gaming.

Hori’s Official Steam Controller Launch

Hori is preparing to launch its officially licensed Steam controller in the US, available for preorder at $60. The gamepad promises a seamless gaming experience with dedicated buttons to access Steam menus directly and touch sensors on its joysticks, bridging the gap between console and handheld gaming. The controller is set to hit shelves on December 16th, allowing players to dive into their gaming libraries with ease.

Initially launched only in Japan earlier this year, the Wireless Horipad for Steam emphasizes connectivity with both Bluetooth support and a USB-A receiver, making it versatile for various setups, whether on a PC or Steam Deck. Hori claims a battery life of up to 12 hours on a full charge, with the pragmatic option to plug in when power runs low.

Despite its appealing features, there are a few drawbacks. Users looking for a robust experience might be disappointed to find the absence of rumble packs, a headset jack, and a trackpad. Nevertheless, for those seeking a streamlined controller that enhances their experience on the Steam Deck or similar setups, this product seems like a welcome addition to the portable gaming market.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Shines on Steam Deck

Switching gears to the realm of RPGs, Dragon Age: The Veilguard has made a fantastic entry into the portable gaming scene. As tested on the Steam Deck, the game runs smoothly, garnering a Verified medal from Valve, which underscores its high performance on handheld platforms. This is particularly noteworthy for a game that thrives on rich storytelling and intricate gameplay.

In performance tests combining low settings with dynamic resolution and AMD’s FSR upscaling, players can expect to maintain over 30fps for most of their gaming sessions. It’s a testament to how developers can leverage technology to optimize performance for handheld systems, pushing boundaries without sacrificing visual quality.

Navigating Battery Life Challenges

While The Veilguard provides a rewarding gameplay experience, battery life remains an inevitable concern for gamers on the go. A gaming session at moderate settings can drain the Steam Deck in just over one and a half hours. To enhance battery efficiency, players can tweak settings including resolution, graphics quality, and other performance metrics, maintaining an enjoyable experience without undue frustration.

Optimizing Your Experience

Here are some recommendations for optimizing gameplay on the Steam Deck:

• Set display resolution to 1280x800.
• Choose AMD FSR’s Performance mode for upscale settings.
• Adjust graphics options as follows:
  • Texture quality: Low
  • Lighting quality: Low
  • Ambient occlusion: HBAO
  • FullScreen reflections: On

By following these adjustments, players can enjoy the rich world of Dragon Age while ensuring their handheld device lasts through extended gaming sessions.

Optimizing settings can enhance gameplay performance while maintaining visual integrity.

Conclusion: The Future of Handheld Gaming

Both Hori’s controller and Dragon Age: The Veilguard reflect a broader trend toward enhancing the handheld gaming experience. With the influx of high-quality titles and innovative peripherals designed for mobile platforms, enthusiasts are poised for an exciting future filled with unparalleled portability and performance.

For avid gamers, this is a call to action: explore new adventures with Dragon Age, elevate your gameplay with Hori’s latest controller, and embrace the remarkable world of handheld gaming.

Additional Resources

For those looking to dive deeper into the intricacies of gaming technology or the Dragon Age universe, consider exploring further resources:

• Proton GE for optimizing your gaming performance.
• Read more about the topic to stay up to date with the latest trends and updates in the gaming world.

Gaming peripherals are continuously evolving to meet player demands.