Fulqrum Publishing and Best Way revealed an exclusive teaser trailer from the upcoming sequel to the acclaimed RTS franchise Men of War II ahead of Gamescom 2022. Get immersed in the most significant battles of both the Western and Eastern fronts of World War II in this new teaser trailer and get ready to take control of the battlefield! A full-length trailer will be presented on September 1st, and before that, media can check out the game at Gamescom from August 24–26 behind closed doors.
Experience World War II real-time strategy gameplay like never before! Men of War II, the new chapter in the evolution of the top-rated RTS franchise, brings you more units with different specializations to lead, pinpoint historical accuracy, and new levels of visual and audio excellence, all combined with the series’ original heart-pounding action. Lead your troops in intense real-time battles on the Western and Eastern Fronts and overwhelm your opponents in epic narrative single-player campaigns and skirmish modes, before then diving deep into the multiplayer action.
Utilize sophisticated military strategies, lay ambushes, or use brute force to show your ability as the greatest military leader of all time. Attain full command of different roles: from Air and Armor to Infantry and Support in fast-paced battles packed with action. Men of War II brings significant visual improvements, destructible environments, and an advanced AI, to create the classic real-time strategy game fans have been waiting for.
Men of War II will be available for PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and other digital stores. For more information, visit the official Fulqrum Publishing website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and/or Steam.
Publisher Deep Silver and developer Dambuster Studios unveiled Dead Island 2 with an incredible CGI trailer showcasing the brand-new zombie adventure’s take on humor in the apocalypse during Gamescom’s global livestream event Opening Night Live.
Revealed along with the CGI trailer is the first official Dead Island 2 gameplay trailer. Including actual game footage, the trailer sets the scene for what’s to come and introduces players to the variety of stunning gore-drenched locations and a cornucopia of zombified Los Angelinos.
Dead Island 2 is a first-person action-RPG set in a glorious sun and blood-drenched setting – a hellish, yet stylish and vibrant, gore-ridden version of Los Angeles, nicknamed HELL-A. The series’ unique formula, dark humor, and over the top zombie-slaying returns, with all the swagger and charisma you’d expect from the Dead Island series.
The CGI trailer stars Jacob, one of our playable slayers, as he wakes up in a luxurious Beverly Hills villa. But nothing is what it seems. Join him as he ventures out into HELL-A and witnesses the bloody aftermath of the zombie outbreak, enhanced by the iconic track “Hollywood Swinging” by Kool And The Gang.
Pre-orders are live now and the game will release on Feb. 3, 2023 on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, PlayStation®5 and PlayStation®4, Google Stadia, and PC via the Epic Games Store.
Dead Island 2 Story:
A deadly virus is spreading across Los Angeles, turning its inhabitants into ravenous zombies. The city is under quarantine and the military have retreated. Bitten, infected, but more than just immune, you learn to harness the tainted zombie powers running through your veins. Only you, and the handful of other swaggering assholes who happen to be resistant to the pathogen, hold the future of Los Angeles (and humanity), in the balance. You were born for this.
As you uncover the truth behind the outbreak you’ll also discover just who – or what – you are. Survive, evolve, save the world – just another day in HELL-A.
Features:
Explore HELL-A – Dead Island 2 takes players across the most iconic locations of the City of Angels, stained with horror, in an exciting journey from the verdant suburbia of Beverly Hills to the quirky promenade of Venice Beach.
Brutal Melee Sandbox – Combat delivers the most intense, visceral, and gory first person experience possible, with plenty of weapons and brutally tactical options to chew your way through the zombie horde. Whether you’re slicing, smashing, burning, or ripping, we want you to truly feel it.
Be the Ultimate Zombie Slayer – There are six characters to choose from, each with their own unique personality and dialogue. You can fully customize the abilities of each Slayer, with our brand-new skill system allowing you to re-spec instantly and try out the craziest builds.
Zombie Infestation – Ready to experience the most advanced dismemberment system in games? HELL-A is crawling with zombies that look and react realistically. These mutated wretches are the reanimated, rotten heart of Dead Island 2, coming in dozens of distinct zombie types, each with their own mutations, attacks, and hundreds of visual LA-themed variants. Our monsters are relentless, challenging, and true Los Angelinos. Will you be able to survive?
A Cinematic Co-op Adventure – As a proper RPG experience, Dead Island 2 offers plenty of exciting quests, a crazy cast of characters, and a thrilling story packed with dark comedy to truly immerse you in its twisted universe. Re-playability is guaranteed. Add an over-the-top co-op mode for up to three players, and you’ll stay in HELL-A for a very long and gory trip.
Unique to players in North America, Dead Island 2 will also feature Alexa Game Control which allows players to use their voice to seamlessly interact with zombies, change weapons, navigate the world of HELL-A, and more. For more information about Alexa Game Control, visit http://www.amazon.com/alexagamecontrol.
“We are excited to debut Alexa Game Control in Dead Island 2,” said Steve Bernstein, Director, Alexa Games. “Gamers will enjoy a more immersive gaming experience by using their voice to goad zombies, ask for help, activate special abilities during combat, and more, without having to say “Alexa,” use an Echo device, or purchase any special hardware.”
“We are committed to building immersive games that people can play wherever and however they want to play them,” said Klemens Kundratitz, CEO at PLAION Group, developer and global publisher of Dead Island 2. “This means that people should be able to play games however they want. With physical media, digital editions, controllers, and now voice.”
For more information on Dead Island 2 follow us on Twitter and Instagram @DeadIslandGame and on Facebook at @DeadIslandGameUK.
Warner Bros. Games revealed an all-new trailer for Hogwarts Legacy, the upcoming open-world, action role-playing game in development by Avalanche Software, scheduled to launch Feb. 10, 2023. The “Sebastian Sallow’s Dark Legacy” gameplay trailer showcases some of the darker elements players will encounter, including a closer look at the game’s more dangerous locales, sinister foes and fearsome magical creatures lurking in the shadows. Focusing on one of Hogwarts Legacy’s optional companion questlines with Sebastian Sallow, the trailer also provides a glimpse at the Unforgivable Curses and difficult dilemmas players will face as they learn more about the Sallow family’s mystery and decide whether to engage with, or even embrace, the Dark Arts.
Starting August 25, Hogwarts Legacy will be available for pre-order on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One consoles and PC via the PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, Steam and Epic Games Store. The Nintendo Switch pre-order date will be revealed soon. All players that pre-order will be able to obtain the exclusive Onyx Hippogriff Mount upon completing the relevant quest.
The Hogwarts Legacy Standard Edition will be available for PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™ and PC for $59.99 (SRP) and for PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S for $69.99 (SRP).
The Hogwarts Legacy Deluxe Edition will be available for PlayStation®4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch™ and PC for $69.99 (SRP) and for PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S for $79.99 (SRP). It includes 72 hours Early Access to the game starting on February 7, 2023, as well as the Dark Arts Pack. The Dark Arts Pack provides access to an exclusive wardrobe via the Dark Arts Cosmetic Set, a flying Thestral Mount players can ride, and access to the Dark Arts Battle Arena where players can test their mastery of the Dark Arts against waves of challenging enemies.
The Hogwarts Legacy Digital Deluxe Edition will be available for $79.99 (SRP) across all platforms and includes the Deluxe Edition content as well as the Dark Arts Garrison Hat and cross-gen digital upgrade for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles.
The Hogwarts Legacy Collector’s Edition will be available for PlayStation®4, Xbox One and PC for $289.99 (SRP) and for PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X for $299.99 (SRP) and includes the Deluxe Edition content, Dark Arts Garrison Hat, as well as a physical Life-Size Floating Ancient Magic Wand with Book Base, Steel Case, and in-game Kelpie Robe.
For fans wanting a first look at the contents of the Hogwarts Legacy Collector’s Edition, Avalanche will be unboxing it on YouTube at https://youtube.com/HogwartsLegacy on August 24 at 6:00 a.m. PDT.
Published by Warner Bros. Games under the Portkey Games label, Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, action, open-world role-playing-game set in the 1800’s wizarding world. Beginning as a fifth year, players will embark on a journey through new and familiar locations, explore and discover magical beasts, craft potions, master spell casting, upgrade talents and customize their character to become the witch or wizard they want to be.
Hogwarts Legacy is scheduled to launch worldwide for PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC on Feb. 10, 2023. The Nintendo Switch release date will be confirmed at a later time.
Join the Hogwarts Legacy conversation on Facebook (https://facebook.com/HogwartsLegacy), Twitter (https://twitter.com/HogwartsLegacy), Instagram (https://instagram.com/HogwartsLegacy) and YouTube (https://youtube.com/HogwartsLegacy).
A new Homeworld 3 trailer featuring never-before-seen gameplay debuted today at Opening Night Live 2022. It provided the deepest look yet at Homeworld 3, the highly anticipated new chapter in the award-winning sci-fi strategy series. Homeworld 3 brings the series’ innovative 3D strategy gameplay into the modern era through groundbreaking graphics and technology, reimagining the scale of combat in deep space while adding new layers of strategy to every moment. Arriving in the first half of 2023 on PC and published by Gearbox Publishing, fans can wishlist Homeworld 3 on Steam and the Epic Games Store and pre-order the physical Collector’s Edition.
Blackbird Interactive, the title’s developer, raised the stakes of Homeworld’s iconic scale and artistry by fully realizing their original vision, 20 years in the making, of elegant cinematic combat in space. The epic scale and grandeur of Homeworld has returned with even bigger environments to contend with new mechanics that expand the gameplay experience, and a dramatic story full of the compelling emotional resonance the series is known for.
Homeworld 3 takes advantage of the latest technology to add a new element to the series’ familiar 3D RTS gameplay including Cover-based Tactics, massive strategic terrain and considerable improvement to overall UI and UX design. Players must form new strategies and use new environmental obstacles like colossal ancient megaliths, dangerous asteroid fields, and massive derelict wreckage as cover or to hide movements from enemies. Homeworld 3 also offers up fresh strategic challenges with its physics-based ballistics simulation that makes the space combat feel more real than ever before.
“Our team has been hard at work creating the Homeworld experience we’ve always dreamed of and we hope after watching this trailer, fans will believe we are making THEIR game,” said Rob Cunningham, CEO of Blackbird Interactive and original art director on Homeworld and Homeworld 2. “Homeworld 3 will deliver deeper strategy and decision making with easier controls. Players will explore ancient megalithic structures and experience space at an extraordinary level of detail while following an epic narrative fit for the biggest sci-fi fans. We have a lot more to showcase along with some fun surprises as we head into launch in 2023.”
Homeworld 3’s campaign explores an all-new story in the Homeworld series that takes place long after the golden age of galactic trade and exploration was unlocked by Karan S’Jet upon the discovery of an ancient hyperspace gate network. A new threat to the galaxy known as The Anomaly has started to spread its darkness and has begun to swallow gates and planets alike. Now Imogen S’Jet, Karan’s successor, is the only one who holds the key to solving the mystery threatening the galaxy’s future. In addition to the campaign, Homeworld 3 also features a robust multiplayer experience as well as the new cooperative roguelike mode which fuses Homeworld’s strategic gameplay with roguelike challenge and progression.
For more information on Homeworld 3, please visit Homeworld Universe or follow the official Homeworld Twitter. Homeworld 3 can be added to Wishlists on Steam and the Epic Games Store.
In addition, Homeworld Mobile developed by Gearbox Publishing and Stratosphere Games, tells a unique story set in the Homeworld universe, and will launch on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and Google Play for Android devices this fall. Homeworld Mobile is a real-time strategy MMO featuring totally redesigned gameplay built from the ground up for mobile devices.
Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the Basilisk V3 Pro, a next-gen customizable wireless gaming mouse built for performance and complete customizability. Being Razer’s most advanced gaming mouse to date, the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro sets a new standard for the enthusiast gaming community with a Razer HyperScroll Tilt Wheel, Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3, 10+1 programmable buttons, Razer Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor, wireless charging with Razer Mouse Dock Pro and Wireless Charging Puck (both sold separately), and more.
“The Basilisk V3 Pro is our most feature-rich gaming mouse to date, with all the bells and whistles to blow the competition out of the water,” said Chris Mitchell, Head of the PC Gaming Division at Razer. “Essentially, the Basilisk V3 Pro gives gamers every feature they could ever want, and more customization options than ever before.”
Customizability on a New Level
Powered by Razer Chroma™ RGB, the Basilisk V3 Pro features 13-Zone Chroma Lighting with Full Underglow, giving gamers the ability to customize each zone from over 16.8 million colors and countless lighting effects, while experiencing greater immersion as they react dynamically with over 200 Chroma-integrated games. With the use of the award-winning Razer™ HyperScroll Tilt Wheel, players can either speed through content in a free spin until stopped, or switch to tactile mode for more precision and satisfying feedback that is ideal for cycling through weapons or skills.
Favored by millions worldwide, the mouse’s signature shape and iconic form with 10+1 Programmable Buttons perfectly supports different grips, while its numerous easy-access buttons allow for an endless combination of commands and macros for cutting-edge ergonomics and control.
Incomparable Performance
Best-in-class precision, high-intensity low-latency gaming, improved durability, and speed are all features that perfectly sum up the next-gen capabilities of the Basilisk V3 Pro. Achieving a complete resolution accuracy of 99.8%, the Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor offers a powerful sensor solution equipped with AI functionality such as Smart Tracking, Motion Sync and Asymmetric Cut-off – for ultimate performance at the highest levels of play. With the Smart Tracking feature, the Basilisk V3 Pro auto-calibrates across different surfaces so that it is able to maintain a consistent lift-off distance no matter what surface it’s used on, allowing gamers greater control and accuracy, even on glass.
In addition, the Basilisk V3 Pro sports Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 for absolutely zero double-clicking issues and no debounce delay while still featuring a more tactile feel, and an even longer click lifespan. These switches are rated for a click lifecycle of up to 90-million clicks, increasing durability by over 25% compared to the previous switch generation.
Wireless Connectivity with Multi-Device Support
The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro also incorporates Razer HyperSpeed Wireless for a 2.4 GHz connection so that gamers can enjoy an ultra-responsive experience with speeds 25% faster than other wireless tech. Thanks to multi-device support, gamers can streamline their setup and free up a USB port by connecting both a compatible wireless Razer keyboard and the Basilisk V3 Pro to a single dongle. Also boasting Bluetooth connectivity as well as a Type C connection, this allows for more versatility and seamless device switching. The Basilisk V3 Pro is also compatible with Razer’s newly released 4K Hz HyperPolling Wireless Dongle to allow gamers to achieve absolute control with a true 4000 Hz wireless polling rate.
Upgrade to Next-Gen Wireless Charging
Along with the Qi-certified Basilisk V3 Pro (when Wireless Charging Puck is attached), today Razer also announced the new Razer Mouse Dock Pro with an Integrated 4K Hz Transceiver. Offering Magnetic Wireless Charging for a seamless, convenient experience, charging has never been more intuitive. Gamers can replace the regular mouse cover puck with the wireless charging puck (included with Mouse Dock Pro) in a compatible Razer mouse and charge the mouse by placing it onto the dock – which has a magnetic fit that stays secure while charging.
The Mouse Dock Pro also features an integrated Razer HyperPolling 4K Hz Transceiver for true 4K Hz wireless polling rate, and 8 Razer Chroma RGB Lighting Zones, with the ability to choose from 16.8 million colors for customizable style and greater game immersion.
ABOUT THE RAZER BASILISK V3 PRO
4-way Razer™ HyperScroll tilt wheel with electronically actuated notched and free-spinning modes
10+1 independently programmable buttons
Razer™ HyperSpeed Wireless (with Multi-Device Support), Bluetooth, and Wired support via Razer™ Speedflex Cable Type C
13 Razer Chroma™ RGB lighting zones with full underglow and true 16.8 million customizable color options
Razer™ Focus Pro 30K Optical Sensor
Up to 750 inches per second (IPS) / 70 G acceleration
Razer™ Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3
Up to 90 hours Battery Life (HyperSpeed)
On-board memory (4+1 profiles)
Approximate size: 130 mm / 5.11 in (Length) x 75.4 mm / 2.96 in (Grip Width) x 42.5 mm / 1.67 in (Height)
ROCCAT, Turtle Beach’s (Nasdaq: HEAR) award-winning PC gaming peripherals brand, today announced the worldwide retail availability of the new Kone XP Air Wireless RGB Customizable Gaming Mouse with Rapid Charge Dock. The Kone XP Air is the wireless version of the Kone XP – the culmination of 15 years of research and development to produce an industry-leading multi-purpose gaming mouse. The wired version of the Kone XP has not only turned heads with its stunning RGB effects but has also impressed when it comes to performance.
Like its wired counterpart, wireless the Kone XP Air features meticulously perfected ergonomics, multiple buttons, and 29 assignable functions to make it one of the most customizable wireless PC gaming mice on the market. Adding a stylish AIMO-enabled RGB Rapid Charge Dock, ROCCAT’s Stellar Wireless technology, and Bluetooth® connectivity make the Kone XP Air even more versatile.
ROCCAT’s Kone XP Air is the perfect blend of design and technology. Coming from a long line of iconic gaming mice, the Kone XP Air offers stunning 3D RGB lighting, as well as ROCCAT’s precise Owl-Eye 19K DPI optical sensor, and ridiculously fast Titan Optical Switches. Expertly crafted ergonomics deliver supreme comfort for extended hours of play, while multiple buttons and the Kone XP Air’s 4D Wheel expand the mouse’s capabilities to 29 programmable functions thanks to ROCCAT’s Easy-Shift [+] technology. The Kone XP Air’s translucent shell not only offers a view of its vibrant RGB lighting zones, but also allows the wireless mouse to achieve a weight of just 99g.
In addition to the reimagined AIMO RGB lighting, the Kone XP Air boasts ROCCAT’s incredibly reliable 2.4GHz Stellar Wireless technology, as well as Bluetooth connectivity allowing the mouse to be paired with multiple devices.
At the heart of the Kone XP Air is ROCCAT’s smooth and precise Owl-Eye 19K DPI optical sensor that perfectly tracks every movement, and at all speeds, for gamers who always want to have the upper hand over their competitors. Additionally, outstanding heat-treated PTFE feet make for a smooth glide across desktops. Inside the Kone XP Air PC gamers will find none other than some of the fastest switches available – ROCCAT’s Titan Optical Switches. The ridiculously fast Titan Optical Switches deliver unprecedented response speed and incredible durability, with a 100 million click life cycle.
The Kone XP Air comes complete with a stylish AIMO-enabled RGB charging dock. The Kone XP Air is part of the AIMO eco-system allowing the mouse and its charging dock to display up to 16.8 million colors and to communicate with other AIMO-enabled products, such as the Vulcan TKL mechanical RGB gaming keyboard to guarantee a unique lighting experience across gamers’ set-ups. The Kone XP Air’s Rapid Charge Dock provides up to five hours of playtime with just 10 minutes of charge. Fully charged, the Kone XP Air provides up to 100 hours of gameplay. As a backup for gamers who might have forgotten to recharge their mouse, the Kone XP Air also comes with ROCCAT’s PhantomFlex™ USB-C cable.
For more information on the latest ROCCAT PC gaming products and accessories, visit ROCCAT.com and be sure to follow ROCCAT on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
James Cameron’s Academy Award®-winning 2009 epic adventure “Avatar,” the most successful film of all time, returns to theaters September 23 in stunning 4K High Dynamic Range. Check out the new trailer and new poster art to celebrate the rerelease of the 2009 film.
Written and directed by Academy Award® winner James Cameron, “Avatar” stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez and Sigourney Weaver. The film was produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau. Nominated for nine Academy Awards® including Best Picture and Best Director, the film won three Oscars®, for Best Cinematography, Production Design and Visual Effects.
Publisher Kalypso Media are thrilled to announce that two new sequels will be making their debut at Gamescom 2022 in Cologne, Germany. Railway Empire 2, the successor to the award-winning railway management simulator; and Dungeons 4, the newest addition to the popular tactical dungeon management game series – both developed by Kalypso Media’s in-house development studios. Kalypso Media will be offering the press an exclusive first look at both titles at the Gamescom Business Centre in hall 4.2, booth number B021/C022. Please reach out to the Kalypso PR team to book an appointment.
Railway Empire 2 – Enjoy traveling by train? Railway Empire 2, the highly anticipated successor to the award-winning Railway Empire, is in development by Gaming Minds Studios (Gütersloh) and will be arriving at the station in 2023. Railway Empire 2 is an exciting addition to the series in which players can experience the railway management simulator better than ever before. Take over a small train company during the 19th century in Europe or in North America and commence your journey to establishing the greatest railway corporation on the continent. Players will experience huge, realistic maps, 60 detailed historic steam engines, and improved track construction with real-time terraforming. Whether it’s relaxed model-making or intricate transport simulation, Railway Empire 2 has gameplay options that will appeal to calm conductors and savvy railway business owners alike. All aboard for 2023, when the title will be released with Xbox Game Pass for console and PC and will be available on Xbox Series X|S consoles, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch™.
Kalypso Media is also delighted to announce that the long-awaited Dungeons 4, developed by Realmforge Studios, will be invading the overworld in 2023. The Absolute Evil’s quest is not yet complete, and with Thalya, the dark elf sorcerer, still by his side, it’s time to continue spreading chaos and destruction. In this impending new addition to the popular dungeon management series, players can control even more despicable creatures in even larger dungeons. Take on the 20-mission long, fully narrated campaign, or use two-player co-op multiplayer to double the destruction and manage your dungeon with a fellow evil friend. Dungeons 4 will emerge from the darkness in 2023 when the title will be available with Xbox Game Pass for console and PC and will be released on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch™.
The Brighton Police Department is getting plenty of reinforcements, because soon console gamers will also be able to go on virtual patrol. Police Simulator: Patrol Officers by developer Aesir Interactive and publisher astragon Entertainment will be released on 10 November 2022 for PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. The PC version will leave the Early Access phase on the same day and will then also be available as a full version in stores and on Steam™. But fans can also look forward to new content even after the release.
The announcement trailer shows what everyday life looks like for the Brighton police officers on the console.
But the journey is far from over with the release of the game. Police Simulator: Patrol Officers will continue to be provided with free updates and content as well as new DLCs in the time after the release, some of which are:
A brand-new powerful vehicle: The Urban Terrain Vehicle will be available to anyone who pre-orders the game for PC and consoles or who bought or will buy the game during the Early Access phase. From release, the additional patrol vehicle will be available as DLC at a price of 2.99 Euro/2.49 GBP/2.99 USD.
An additional alternative to stop fleeing suspects: By aiming or using a stun gun or by aiming the police gun, fleeing suspects can be made to stop. With one of the free updates, stopping by physical force will also be possible.
Hand out multiple tickets: When Brighton residents commit offences, virtual enforcement officers can ask them to pay a fine or warn them. A free update will bring the possibility to charge all amounts cumulatively into the game.
Even more co-op fun: When patrol officers go on patrol together in co-op mode, the communication between them must work perfectly. A free update will implement helpful command shortcuts into the game with which they can communicate even better and in a more targeted manner. Only through perfect teamwork will they be able to keep law and order in Brighton.
Police Simulator: Patrol Officers by developer Aesir Interactive and publisher astragon Entertainment will be available on 10 November 2022 for PlayStation®4, PlayStation®5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S for 39.99 Euro/34.99 GBP/39.99 USD. In addition to the release on consoles, Police Simulator: Patrol Officers will also leave Steam™ Early Access and be subsequently available as a full game for PC for 29.99 Euro/24.99 GBP/29.99 USD.
I have been a big fan of the Razer Huntsman line since its initial offering in 2018, even giving it our official Seal of Excellence – something we rarely award items. These futuristic new key switches having the benefits of both optical and mechanical keys was brilliant. That was several years ago and, since that time, Razer has gone on to refine the design even more – offering variations of the Huntsman to suit different types of gamers. In 2020, they introduced the Huntsman Mini – a 60% size version of the Huntsman meant for gamers needing a compact gaming keyboard. Now, in 2022, Razer has unveiled the Hunsman Mini Analog. This 60% sized keyboard features its new analog optical key switches. These allow not just on/off functionality from those keys but a gradient of control similar to an analog stick on a gamepad. But why would you want this – what benefit does it have for the gamer? Read on to find out!
From a design standpoint, the Razer Huntsman Mini Analog is nearly identical to its Huntsman Mini sibling. Its measurements are 13.35 inches long by 6.61 inches wide by 1.97 inches high. This is one slim little keyboard and certainly lives up to the “mini” moniker. The keyboard has a USB-C port on it and connects to your PC via an adapter USB cable that is included with the box. The body of the keyboard itself has an aluminum exterior that feels durable and well-built, despite its small size. When shrinking a full-size keyboard down to roughly 60% size, some cuts have to be made and, in the case of the Razer Huntsman Mini Analog, that means they removed the arrow keys, numeric keypad, and media control keys. However, as much as I miss them coming from the bigger keyboard world, they simply aren’t needed for the use cases imagined for the Huntsman Mini Analog.
Here is a video from Razer explaining the design and function of their Analog Optical key switch:
This keyboard is portable with a small footprint, meaning it’s a terrific choice for bringing to tournaments or cramped office environments. When I was working on my degree, I spent many late nights crammed into a dorm on a small desk. Having a larger keyboard would have just taken up too much space. Also a great selling point for the Huntsman Mini Analog is its full compatibility in the Razer Synapse software suite. Within Synapse, you can configure the analog keys, setup macros, and even set up to 5 different keyboard profiles. Even better is that these can be stored on-board the keyboard so you can use it in a plug-and-play fashion!
Another cool feature of the Huntsman Mini Analog’s Synapse integration is the ability to automatically set the WASD keys to “joystick” mode with the click of a button. There is a secondary button to configure the ‘Q’ and ‘E’ keys to the left and right shoulder buttons of this virtual joystick. When in this fully analog mode, the QWASDE keys are acting as a gamepad of a sort. You’ll actually configure it as a gamepad in your game’s control settings (unless it is able to automatically recognize the Huntsman Mini Analog). Razer does warn that there may be some games that disable any keyboard input when a gamepad is selected but your mileage may vary. I did not encounter any of those situations when testing out this keyboard.
If you are not looking to use the Huntsman Mini Analog in its analog mode, there are other options for these cool new key switches. You can set them to what Razer calls “Dual-Step Actuation” mode. What this means is that you can assign two different actions or key presses to the single key. These activate in two stages as you depress said key. The example Razer lists for this is that on the first stage you could have the key ready a grenade and the second stage to be throw it. But, you could also set it to be mini macros of a sort where you mix and match tactical options based on your needs. Say throwing up a shield followed by drinking a health potion, etc. The choice is really yours and I am sure you’ll find a lot of use in the dual-step mode.
Another cool feature of these analog optical keys is that the actuation point is no longer static. You can set the actuation point within Razer Synapse. If you prefer to only have to lightly press on the key in order to get it to fire, you can do so! If you prefer the full length of the key press, that’s fine too. Personally, I didn’t use this feature a lot as I found the keys to have a pretty short actuation distance already. But I digress…
The Razer Huntsman Mini Analog gaming keyboard is available now for $149.99. You can find it online at Razer’s website as well as many other retailers.
