Hands-on report: FlexStrike wireless fight stick, Pulse Elevate wireless speakers, PlayStation’s 27” Gaming Monitor

Hands-on report: FlexStrike wireless fight stick, Pulse Elevate wireless speakers, PlayStation’s 27” Gaming Monitor https://ift.tt/AzG1ras

When the original PlayStation first launched over 30 years ago, gaming was mostly about you sitting in front of an old-school CRT television, controller in hand. While that’s still the case for many, there are now more options than ever to customize your gaming environment. 

Fast forward to 2026, and PlayStation now offers a variety of controllers, headsets, and devices to give players options for the best way to play. This expansion of players’ options continues as new pricing and info for upcoming PlayStation products were just announced, and we were fortunate enough to go hands-on. Read on to learn about the FlexStrike wireless fight stick, Pulse Elevate wireless speakers, and PlayStation’s 27” Gaming Monitor with a DualSense Charging Hook.

This article includes contributions from both O’Dell Harmon Jr. and Kristen Zitani

FlexStrike wireless fight stick

Fighting game hopefuls and fanatics can rejoice, as FlexStrike is primed to be a premier fighting stick that is both beginner-friendly and tournament-ready for all skill levels. First and foremost, it can be used both wired and wirelessly, with the wireless option leveraging PlayStation Link to deliver ultra-low latency as fast as 4 milliseconds from the controller to the included PS Link adapter*.

Comfort and customization 

Understanding that players have different ways of sitting and resting their wrists, the stick is designed to be played both in your lap and on a table. The bottom is covered in a non-slip material that also grips to prevent sliding. FlexStrike stayed cool while on my lap and didn’t slide around as I tested various movements and sudden body shifts. The stick is also shorter than average and the face buttons rest on a slightly angled surface, reducing fatigue and increasing comfort and ergonomics. It performed just as well on the tabletop.

The feature I was most excited about was the toolless swappable restrictor gates for the custom-designed digital stick, which let you easily switch between square, circular, and octagonal gates. The back cover is magnetic and can be popped off, so you can switch between the gates within seconds. I grew up playing charge characters in Street Fighter, so square gates are my natural calling, but when switching to the octagonal gates I could feel each distinct corner, and I could make smooth circle motions with the circular gate.

Tools of the trade 

FlexStrike comes with a sling carry case that can be worn crossbody or on the back.The inside of the case features special sections to keep the digital stick safe and secure, along with pouches for cables and any other tools you might need. You don’t have to worry about things moving around or going out and buying any extra equipment to keep it in top condition.

The FlexStrike wireless fight stick releases on August 6, 2026 for $199.99 USD (sling carry case included) with pre-orders starting on June 12, 2026. 

Pulse Elevate wireless speakers

Audiophiles will have a new way to immerse themselves into sonic gaming soundscapes with PlayStation’s first pair of wireless stereo speakers. I had the chance to turn up the volume in person to test out its sleek but powerful features with my own ears.

Planar magnetic drivers

Like Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore before it, the studio-inspired speakers are powered by planar magnetic drivers that help reproduce sound with near perfect accuracy along the entire audible spectrum. Paired with ultra-low latency and lossless PlayStation Link technology, these wireless speakers can provide lifelike audio in a portable form factor.

In a hands-on run through of the dangerous biomes in Saros, that translated to a crisp-yet-rich mix of gameplay sound and adrenaline-pumping music. Audio cues from spawning enemies thanks to the Tempest 3D AudioTech immersed me in Arjun’s world, allowing me to weave through combat with lethal precision. The range of tones makes it easy to sink into the soundtrack’s thrumming bassline while still staying alert to incoming threats, and the ultra-low latency via PlayStation Link delivered sounds as they happened. 

Tailored soundspace

Beyond the robust tech inside, the look and feel of the speakers were right at home both beside a monitor while playing on PS5 and and stationed off their dock around the room. The built-in rechargeable battery allows for 12 hours of play, and each speaker can be tilted to your preferred angle. As someone who often works from home, I imagined all the ways I could move them across my apartment throughout the day: taking a call or listening to music while working on my laptop, then seamlessly switching to playing on PS5 after work. 

Built-in mic with AI-enhanced noise rejection

Similar to Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore headphones, the Pulse Elevate speakers can utilize PlayStation Link simultaneously with another Bluetooth audio connection, meaning I can take a phone call while gaming without any latency or interruption. But they also have a headphone-style noise-filtering feature that blew me away. 

In a demonstration on a laptop, we made a call speaking at a normal volume while music loudly flowed through the Pulse Elevate speakers. When a recording of the call played back, all we heard was the clear speaking voice. The built-in mic had cut through the noise without having to pause music or change the volume at all. A seamless experience end to end. 

The Pulse Elevate wireless speakers are set to launch later this year – stay tuned for more details on PlayStation Blog.

PlayStation’s 27” Gaming Monitor with a DualSense Charging Hook

While we moved the Pulse Elevate speakers all around our hands-on demo space, when playing on PS5 we kept them docked alongside PlayStation’s new gaming monitor. Coming to the US and Japan, the monitor opens up a world of play outside just the living room and packs a powerful punch.

Impressive visual details

The gaming monitor offers a Quad High Definition (QHD) IPS display up to 2560 x 1440 resolution,** and High Dynamic Range support that can automatically adjust HDR settings during setup on PS5 and PS5 Pro. What that meant for our demo playing Saros was the vivid and colorful world of Carcosa coming into focus, with crisp picture quality whether opening menus or activating dangerous environments of the in-game eclipse. The monitor also supports Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and refresh rates of up to 120 Hz on PS5 and PS5 Pro consoles and 240Hz on compatible PC devices for a smooth gameplay experience.

Desktop ready

With personal playing spaces in mind, the 27-inch screen is easy to imagine in my at-home office set up. Combined with the Pulse Elevate speakers and the built-in DualSense Charging Hook that let me rest a DualSense or DualSense Edge controller below the screen, I could see my future desktop gaming setup coming to life.  

PlayStation’s 27” Gaming Monitor with DualSense Charging Hook launches starting August 27, 2026 for $349.99 USD with pre-orders starting on June 5, 2026.

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*PC compatibility for FlexStrike wireless fight stick will roll out following launch, with availability expanding to more users over time.

**Features available with compatible devices and supported games, sold separately.

FlexStrike wireless fight stick, 27’’ Gaming Monitor launching in August, followed by Pulse Elevate wireless speakers later this year

FlexStrike wireless fight stick, 27’’ Gaming Monitor launching in August, followed by Pulse Elevate wireless speakers later this year https://ift.tt/6uEl85q

Last year, we provided a first look at a number of upcoming new gaming accessories coming to the PS5 console and PC. This includes our first wireless fight stick, FlexStrike, our 27” Gaming Monitor with DualSense Charging Hook, which will be available in the U.S. and Japan, and our first wireless desktop speakers, Pulse Elevate. Today, we’re pleased to share some new updates on these products. 

FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick launches globally starting August 6, 2026 

FlexStrike wireless fight stick will launch starting on August 6, 2026 just in time for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls. It’s built for PS5 and PC* and is designed with competitive play and portability in mind. With an included sling carry case and a built-in rechargeable battery, it’s easy to bring your fight stick to a tournament, meetup, or a friend’s place to jump right into the action. 

FlexStrike wireless fight stick will be available for pre-order starting June 12, 2026 for a recommended retail price (RRP) of $199.99 USD | €199.99 EURO | £179.99 GBP | ¥34,980 JPY (including tax). Pre-orders will be available at direct.playstation.com (where available) and at participating retailers. 

27” Gaming Monitor with DualSense Charging Hook, launches in the U.S. and Japan starting August 27, 2026   

We’ve continued to see more players playing games outside of the living room – especially in personal spaces and on desktop gaming setups. The 27’’ Gaming Monitor with DualSense Charging Hook is built for players who want a high-quality display experience beyond the living room TV. It features a 27-inch QHD IPS display (2560×1440) with VRR, supporting up to 120Hz on PS5 and PS5 Pro, and up to 240Hz on a compatible PC or Mac.  

Starting June 5, 2026, the 27’’ Gaming Monitor with DualSense Charging Hook will be available for pre-order through direct.playstation.com and Best Buy in the U.S., along with participating retailers in Japan, for an RRP of $349.99 USD | ¥49,980 JPY (including tax).  

Pulse Elevate Wireless Speakers, coming later this year

Pulse Elevate wireless speakers share many of the notable innovations featured in our Pulse Explore and Pulse Elite headsets – expanding our efforts to make the gameplay experience more immersive through enhanced sound. These wireless speakers will launch later this year and will pair perfectly with the 27” Gaming Monitor, creating a rich experience beyond the living room for players. We’ll have more information to share soon, including the suggested retail price and when pre-order begins. Be sure to check back for updates on the Pulse Elevate wireless speakers.  

We’re excited to bring the FlexStrike wireless fight stick, 27” Gaming Monitor, and Pulse Elevate wireless speakers to players, and to continue providing more choices in how and where they play. As always, thank you for being part of the community, and we look forward to continuing to come up with new ways to enhance your PS5 experience. 

Check out this new PlayStation Blog article for more hands-on details with the upcoming products.

direct.playstation.com Purchase Information 
 
Starting June 12 at 10:00am ET in the U.S., and 10am local time in the U.K., France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, players will be able to pre-order the FlexStrike wireless fight stick through direct.playstation.com in limited quantities.   

Starting June 5 at 10:00am ET in the U.S., players will be able to pre-order the 27’’ Gaming Monitor with DualSense Charging hook through direct.playstation.com in limited quantities.   

When ordering directly from PlayStation, enjoy free launch day delivery for eligible pre-orders. Visit direct.playstation.com for more details. 

* PC compatibility for FlexStrike wireless fight stick will roll out following launch, with availability expanding to more users over time.

EA Sports F1 25: Enhanced PSSR available alongside 2026 Season Pack

EA Sports F1 25: Enhanced PSSR available alongside 2026 Season Pack https://ift.tt/OJf1iBa

Find out how enhanced PSSR is powering the Ultimate Racing Experience in EA Sports F1 25: 2026 Season Pack, as Codemasters Technical Producer Si Lumb unpacks how the team has implemented the new system and the benefits to the on-track action.

Has special work gone into creating this PS5 Pro version, or is this a fairly straightforward implementation? Also, has the game been cleared to include a “PS5 Pro Enhanced” badge on PS Store?

F1 25 launched with a PS5 Pro Enhanced badge, building on the team’s launch day support of PS5 Pro in the previous game, F1 24. We are delighted to continue to support PSSR in the F1 25: 2026 Season Pack update and bring the latest version to our players. The team at Sony made upgrading our title to use enhanced PSSR incredibly simple and including it at launch was an easy decision.

Does the PS5 Pro version notably increase the game’s resolution or use PSSR?

At Codemasters we pride ourselves on delivering locked 60fps gameplay in our exclusive ray tracing enhanced Quality mode, the introduction of PSSR gives us more performance and a higher quality image. Players should notice a sharper image when booting F1 25 at the launch of the 2026 Season Pack.

Does the PS5 Pro version increase framerate, or add new rendering modes that address framerate?

The PS5 Pro benefits from Quality mode: our ray tracing enhanced presentation with enhanced PSSR, that is the best you can get on console hardware. Our performance mode delivers 120Hz gameplay for compatible screens, and our spectacular 8K “resolution” mode is there for those with the high-resolution televisions to enjoy it.

Does the PS5 Pro version improve ray tracing or enhance ray tracing features such as global illumination?

We feature Ray Traced reflections, dynamic diffuse global illumination, and ray traced global illumination in our PS5 Pro quality mode.

Are there any other areas where PS5 Pro stands out from other versions of the game?

All these enhancements come together in spectacular fashion in the 2026 Season Pack, particularly with the new Madring circuit, the first track built from the ground up with all these new features in mind. This crazy new high-speed street circuit is the perfect location to experience enhanced PSSR and all our Ray Tracing features at their very best.

What is included in the F1 25: 2026 Season Pack?

The F1 25: 2026 Season Pack introduces the full 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship experience to EA Sports F1 25, featuring updated rules and regulations, new teams Audi and Cadillac, refreshed driver line-ups, and the brand-new Madring circuit.

Players will experience a new era of F1 gameplay with active aerodynamics and the new Overtake mode, delivering more tactical and action-packed racing. The pack also expands Career and My Team, allowing players to forge their racing legacy or become the 12th team on the grid with fully customizable team management.

If I don’t own F1 25, how can I play the DLC?

The F1 25: 2026 Season Edition is the game for you. Not only does this include all of the 2026 Season Pack content, but you will also get F1 25 featuring a revamped My Team mode, the thrilling third chapter of Braking Point and more.

When does it launch?

The F1 25: 2026 Season Pack and F1 25: 2026 Season Edition launch worldwide on June 3, 2026 on PlayStation 5!

Players’ Choice: Vote for May 2026’s best new game

Players’ Choice: Vote for May 2026’s best new game https://ift.tt/X6reawA

Last month was filled with spies, detectives, and rebels! Some big new releases included 007 First Light, Directive 8020, LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, and Mina the Hollower. Which game was your favorite?

How does it work? At the end of every month, PlayStation Blog will open a poll where you can vote for the best new game released that month. After the polls close we will tally your votes, and announce the winner on our social channels and PlayStation.Blog. 

What is the voting criteria? That’s up to you! If you were only able to recommend one new release to a friend that month, which would it be? Note: re-released games don’t qualify, but remakes do. We define remakes as ambitious, larger-scale rebuilds such as Resident Evil 4 (2023) and Final Fantasy VII Remake.

How are nominees decided? The PlayStation Blog editorial team will gather a list of that month’s most noteworthy releases and use it to seed the poll.

Share of the Week – LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

Share of the Week – LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight https://ift.tt/nuqFEe1

Last week, we put up the Bat Signal for heroic shares from LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s highlights:

thefrostysm shares Batman gliding down a fiery tunnel

sirevanztheduke shares Batman throwing a Batarang 

CheezecakeNinja shares an upside down POV of Batman approaching a flipped car

 ErfanManavi shares Batman and Catwoman riding on a motorbike

PhikkySixx shares Batman swooping into a museum graffitied by the Joker

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call_me_xavii shares Batman standing on a building roof corner against the moon

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme, or be inspired by other great games featuring Photo Mode. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME: Star Wars Outlaws
SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on June 3, 2026 

Next week, explore the galaxy in Star Wars Outlaws, available now in PlayStation Plus Game Catalog. Use #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured. 

Play NBA The Run open beta on PS5 this weekend

Play NBA The Run open beta on PS5 this weekend https://ift.tt/rYOMusp

We’re excited to be giving PlayStation players their first chance to go hands-on with NBA The Run in our open beta this weekend. One of our core design pillars from the beginning was to make a game that feels like butter on the sticks. So when you’re pulling off a 720 with Ant, splashing a Steph stepback 3, or snatching a block out of midair with Giannis, it feels smooth, fluid. We can’t wait to get your feedback before the game drops on June 9 on PS5.

Today, we wanted to share more about the other players in our game who have been with us since the beginning of  development – the Street Legends. They’re fictional (except for one, keep reading on), larger-than-life characters we’ve built from the ground up.

They differ from their NBA counterparts in having three elite, high-impact skills but also clear weaknesses across the board in other places. I like to think of them as x-factors who factor into the risk/reward gameplay strategy in NBA The Run. There will be times where you may be at a disadvantage because of a ruleset or opposing team’s squad comp, but there will also be games where you might be running the court. 

Here’s a more in-depth look at each of our five Street Legends.

 

Spin cycle

Born in Philly, Spin Cycle learned the game between work shifts delivering laundry. That grind shows, as does his attention to detail. If you look closely, his home court, Spring Garden, was modified to reflect his name. Elite handles and elite hands, Spin Cycle lives off turnovers. His Pickpocket Zone Ability makes him a nightmare for ballhandlers. He has limited finishing skills at the rim, but his ability to disrupt plays every time is underrated.

Shen Tong

Shen Tong is China’s next streetball phenom at 14years old, spending countless hours practicing under the blinding sun of the Dongdan Sports Complex in Beijing. He’s only 5’3, but has huge hops. He’s fearless, finishing at the rim with signature dunks and controls tempo with his elite passing. His In the Zone Ability, Dropping Dimes, boosts both his passes and his teammates’ shot success. Just don’t ask him to lock down or muscle up. Defense and power are where he gets exposed.

If you get to level 5 in the beta, you’ll unlock Shen.

DJ

Destiny Jackson, aka DJ, is Harlem royalty who calls Rucker Park her home court. Basketball runs in her blood, as her father was also a famous street legend in the area. She is a walking bucket as her midrange and deep ball are all elite, and when she gets In the Zone, her Deep Threat ability stretches the floor even further. But above the arc is where she lives. Don’t expect her to attack the rim or crash the boards.

If you play the beta this weekend, you’ll get to try DJ.

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El Gigante

We like to think of him as the OG unicorn. The 7’7 El Gigante owns the paint with rebounds, blocks, and vertical dominance at the highest levels in the game. The Spaniard’s Paint Control ability turns the rim into his territory into a no-fly zone. This unicorn is not built for speed. If he commits and misses, his recovery time isn’t great. Venice Beach is his home court.

Bobbito Garcia

Bobbito Garcia, aka Kool Bob Love / DJ Cucumber Slice,  is the legendary voice of NBA The Run and the energy behind every knockout run. Known for iconic calls like Donqueooo and butter biscuits, he brings that same smooth rhythm to the court. When he’s on the mic, you can say every court is his homecourt.

Deadly from deep, silky with the ball. When In the Zone activates, his Ankle Breaker makes defenders go viral for all the wrong reasons. Just don’t ask Bob to defend, even he would tell you his offense more than makes up for his in-game skills on that side of the ball.

Why choose a Street Legend over an NBA star? Simple: raw power in specific skills. Most players cap out at one or two 6-star attributes. Street Legends break that rule with three 6-star ratings, making them the best-in-game specialists for their roles. If you want peak performance for a playstyle, you’re going to want to consider at least one on your squad. They’re rarer, powerful, and designed for players willing to take strategic risks for elite upside.

Take this example: El Gigante anchors defense while offensive stars like Brunson and Mitchell cook on the perimeter. Gigante protects the paint, triggers Paint Control, and turns stops into momentum swings. That’s a squad built to punish mistakes.

Ready to play?

So the question is simple: Which Street Legend are you running with? Will squads of all Legends take over the courts? We’ll see soon enough.

NBA The Run launches soon on June 9 for PS5 for $29.99. Join us in our Open Beta this weekend starting on May 30. Wishlist now on PlayStation Store and nbatherun.com.

We’ll keep evolving NBA The Run with community feedback beyond release. Join our Discord, bring your voice, and we’ll see you on the court very soon!

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 — Campaign, Multiplayer, and DMZ launches October 23

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 — Campaign, Multiplayer, and DMZ launches October 23 https://ift.tt/rYOMusp

Developer Infinity Ward reveals Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 for PlayStation 5, the long-awaited next chapter in the iconic FPS.

Witness the unfolding of a new war with global consequences in the gripping single-player Campaign, experience grounded, precise combat in Multiplayer, and drop into the definitive Call of Duty extraction mode with the return of DMZ.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches October 23.

Warfare without limits

War erupts on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea launches a full-scale invasion that threatens to destabilize the world. On the collapsing front lines, a young squad of South Korean soldiers struggle to survive against impossible odds, while half a world away a vengeful Captain Price wages a personal war from the shadows as he stays one step ahead of those hunting him. As Price’s off-book mission collides with the forces behind the invasion, the war spreads beyond anyone’s control. 

Campaign

The Modern Warfare 4 Campaign puts players in the boots of Private Park, a young South Korean soldier facing live combat for the first time alongside his squad.

Beyond the front lines, the story reunites players with operator-turned-outlaw Captain Price, now operating outside the system he once served. A hunt for revenge draws him toward a weapon powerful enough to shift the balance of power, setting in motion a conflict far greater than he ever anticipated. Forced into uneasy alliances and covert operations, Price is pulled deeper into consequences he can no longer escape.

Fight through trench warfare in Korea, survive close-quarters combat in New York, race through high-octane chases across Paris, and join SAS night raids in Mumbai. From large-scale battles and covert missions to combined-arms warfare and cinematic set pieces, Modern Warfare 4 delivers grounded combat across a war that spreads far beyond the front lines.

Multiplayer

On day one, Multiplayer features 12 core 6v6 maps set in visually distinct locations around the world, alongside dedicated Gunfight maps and multiple Big War maps built for large-scale vehicle and infantry combat. Also launching day one, Kill Block is a brand-new Multiplayer experience set inside a live-fire training facility where the battlefield reconfigures between rounds, creating new routes, sightlines, and tactical decisions as the fight unfolds.

Modern Warfare 4 introduces Ballistic Authority, a new weapon-first technology stack that unifies precision aiming, physical handling, realistic audio propagation, enhanced visibility, and smarter combat perception, providing the most authentic Modern Warfare gunplay yet. Bullet trajectory, weapon motion, Operator stance, camera, audio, FOV, and target visibility all line up in one highly-tuned combat fidelity system. The promise is simple: no bloom, no guesswork, no doubt. Every shot tells the truth.

Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer delivers grounded, precise combat built around fluid movement that provides greater control in every fight. Players can move more naturally through combat, flank opponents, gain new vantage points, and keep momentum through every engagement. Every movement system is designed to preserve the physicality and combat intensity of Modern Warfare while delivering the fluid, cinematic feeling of operating as an elite soldier in the field.

DMZ

Deploy solo or with a squad into a volatile conflict zone in DMZ, a fully realized extraction experience built for both newcomers and veteran operators alike. Assume the role of an off-the-books asset tasked with recovering advanced military technology left in the wake of war. The conditions in the exclusion zone are always shifting, with changing weather, dynamic military objectives, and hostile forces moving throughout the zone. 

Loot, fight, negotiate, betray, and extract with whatever you can carry. Push deeper into the conflict for greater rewards, but know that every decision can cost you. Every deployment is a risk, every encounter is unpredictable, and no two deployments play out the same way.

Pre-Order Modern Warfare 4 today

Pre-order Modern Warfare 4 on PlayStation 5 today, launching October 23.

Pre-order loyalty discount for previous Call of Duty owners: eligible players can get 10% off the Modern Warfare 4 Vault Edition*.

*Based on MSRP. At participating platform digital storefronts. To qualify, must own and have played a Call of Duty title released in 2019 or after on the same platform account as being used for pre-order, excluding free-to-play or mobile games. Offer subject to change, applies to pre-orders only. Offer valid until October 23 2026.