A stocking full of games accessories

From headsets to controllers to memory, gaming accessories are great Christmas gifts.

Razer Wolverine V2 Wired Controller

With the launch of the next-generation Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 consoles, the first wave of third-party accessories designed to work with them have arrived as well.

While the Xbox consoles are fully backwards compatible with their predecessor’s accessories, the PlayStation 5 is less so, meaning there are not as many third-party accessories available just yet, and most them are headsets – although that will no doubt change in due course.

From headsets to controllers to memory, here is an overview of some of the peripherals available for the next-generation consoles – and just in time for Christmas, too.

Seagate Storage Expansion Card For Xbox Series X/S

Seagate Xbox Expansion Card accessory

The Xbox Series X and Series S have plenty of power to run the latest games, but games take up hard drive space and it’s a given that eventually you’re going to run out, especially if you want to keep a lot of games installed and ready to go.

The Seagate Storage Expansion Card is a 1TB SSD that plugs straight into the back of the console and integrates with the system, providing a seamless addition 920GB of storage space. Games can be installed on the Expansion Card and work exactly the same as if they were on the Xbox’s own internal SSD. It’s pricey but right now it’s the only properly integrated storage solution available – and it works exactly as the manufacturers say it will.

RPP: $359

Razer Wolverine Wired Controller For Xbox Series X/S

Razer Wolverine V2 Wired Controller

The first wired controller available in Australia that’s designed specifically for the Xbox Series X/S consoles, the Razer Wolverine features mechanical buttons, customisable and reconfigurable button mapping, and the option to enable a hair trigger mode as well, which is very helpful in some shooting and action games.

Wired controllers have the big advantage that they never need to have batteries changed or recharged, so there’s no danger of finding your controller out of juice at a critical moment. While having a 3m long cord across the lounge may not be ideal if there are children, pets or guests wandering back and forth through your gaming/living area, if you are planning to settle in for a really long and involved gaming session on an Xbox and want to adjust the controls to your liking, this is well worth considering.

RRP: $169

Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Wireless Headset for PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S

Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 Headset White

One of the first wireless headsets on the market designed to work with the next-generation consoles, the Turtle Beach Stealth 600 Gen 2 wireless over-ear closed back headset features a 15-hour rechargeable battery and a glasses-friendly design on the ear set pads, as well as good sound at a decent price.

The PlayStation 5 version comes with a small USB dongle which plugs into the front of the console to provide a wireless signal, while the Xbox version connects directly to the console over Bluetooth, the same as the controller.

RRP: $169

Astro A20 Gen 2 Wireless Headset for Xbox Series X/S or PlayStation 5

Astro A20 Wireless Headset accessory

Astro is well-known as a headset maker and the A20 is a well-established part of its line-up. The distinctive design and comfortable fit is complemented by a 15-hour rechargeable battery life, adjustable audio presets, and a 15m range.

The unit needs a USB stick (included) to connect to the console, but does provide excellent sound quality once set up. I’ve been impressed with the one I’ve tested with the Xbox Series X, and have no reason to doubt the PS5 version is equally good.

RRP: $279