The holidays can be a perfect time to relax and unwind and enjoy quality time with family and friends. But if you’re a gamer, the holidays may come at a time when you’re already 50 hours old Starfield Play through or if you are so close to complete this Halo Infinite Battle Pass. Luckily, thanks to the power of Game Pass and Xbox cloud saves, traveling while traveling doesn’t mean you have to take a complete break for a week or two. Since I rarely stay home over the holidays, I’m happy to share my tips for staying in the game even when I’m far from my home gaming setup.
Connect Xbox Series S to a UPspec xScreen for ultimate portability
One of the easiest ways to enjoy your Xbox on the go is to simply take it with you. The small but big one Xbox Series S Easily slips into carry-on luggage; Mine hitchhiked repeatedly across the country to my parents’ house, securely secured in the laptop compartment of a standard-sized backpack. If your people don’t have a spare TV ready to play or your hotel blocks external devices (why do they do that?), here’s a great option: UPspec xScreena portable one Designed for Xbox Screen specifically for the Xbox Series S.
This cleverly designed LCD display connects directly to your console via HDMI; Together they create a portable gaming setup that can be played anywhere. Even better, the xScreen draws power directly from the console – no separate power cable required. I’ve even seen players activate the Series S/xScreen combination on the seatback tray of an airplane. Just make sure they don’t sit back in the middle of the game!
Handheld PCs like the new Lenovo Legion Go
For almost all of gaming history, portability has required compromises. Handheld games were often streamlined experiences or simplified ports of their console or PC brethren – something to tide you over until you were back in front of your home setup. This is all starting to change; One of the most exciting developments in PC gaming in recent years is the growth of powerful, portable handheld PCs. Smaller and lighter than gaming laptops, newbies like that Lenovo Legion Go, Asus ROG Ally And Ayaneo water Allow gamers to enjoy virtually any Windows PC game anywhere, from a device that fits right in their pocket. With native PC Game Pass compatibility, you can access hundreds of games on the go and even pick up where you left off at home.
I’ve been spending a lot of time lately with the new Lenovo Legion Go, which advances the handheld PC form factor in several ways. Its 8.8-inch 2560 x 1600 resolution screen is nothing short of stunning, making it a pleasure to immerse yourself in a visually vibrant title like Persona 5 Tactics, but the small print in the menus is still easy to read. The expansive display paired with detachable TrueStrike controllers with Hall effect joysticks and a sturdy, fully adjustable stand allow the Legion Go to shine in detachable mode, allowing players to sit back and play in comfort. What is innovative is that the right controller is plugged into the included base and is practically transformed into a vertical mouse with a scroll wheel. Lenovo calls it FPS mode, which allows for precise aiming in shooter titles, but I also found it handy for navigating Windows. When controllers are connected, the Legion Go also features a convenient touchpad beneath the right joystick for precise pointing and clicking.
While the devices mentioned are designed for gaming, they fully run Windows 11, meaning you can connect an external display, a mouse and keyboard via USB-C or Bluetooth, and the handheld you were playing on Starfield You can use it to check email, work on a presentation, or do pretty much anything else a PC can do. Although it’s great for travel, I find myself using my Legion Go and ROG Ally more and more at home. Handheld gaming PCs are a perennial favorite.
Play on powerful yet portable gaming laptops
One of the easiest ways to enjoy your games while traveling is with a laptop designed for PC gaming, equipped with powerful processors, high-end graphics cards, and storage that rivals powerful desktop PCs. Many gaming laptops also feature high-resolution, fast-refreshing displays, mechanical keyboards, and impressive speakers, making them suitable for use at home or on the go.
But lugging a high-end laptop around crowded airports and train stations can cause a bit of panic; I know all too well how one clumsy move can send your beloved play structure crashing to the ground at deadly speed. The folks at ASUS seem to understand this: they’re putting their TUF gaming line through a series of MIL-STD-810H testing to ensure reliability in falls, moisture and cold.
I tested them TUF Gaming A15 in recent weeks; Powered by an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and an Nvidia Geforce RTX 4060 GPU, I’ve enjoyed a number of recent titles from Forza Motorsport To Baldur’s Gate 3 at high graphics settings and well over 60 FPS, which is always a treat on your kitchen table. With a PC Game Pass membership you can access hundreds of games. Be sure to select “Offline Permissions” in the Xbox app on PC before you travel, and you can continue playing most single-player games even in airplane mode.
Game Pass also syncs your Xbox saves via the cloud, so you can seamlessly continue your game progress and even switch between devices. With an Xbox controller connected and a pair of noise-canceling headphones, you can spend some intense time with me wherever you can find a chair.
Of course, when you have something to do, these laptops can handle almost anything, from simple office correspondence to intensive video editing. I’ll be traveling for almost two weeks this holiday, including some long flights, and I’ll have the ASUS TUF gaming laptop with me. I haven’t dropped it yet, but that’s one less thing to worry about.
Play via Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)
We get it; Your suitcase is full, your budget is not as flexible as you would like… There are many reasons why buying something new this vacation is out of the question. That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on gaming over the holidays. As long as you have a stable internet connection, Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) is the easiest way to enjoy your games while traveling. This will allow Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to stream games from the cloud to a phone, tablet, Samsung TV, and just about any PC that can run a browser. You don’t need to download or install anything. Launch the Xbox app or go to xbox.com/play and start playing new releases, e.g Forza Motorsport or Like a Dragon: Gaiden.
While many titles support touch controls, for more precise control you have the following options: Connect one Xbox Wireless or Elite Series ControllersDualShock 4, or any of this list via Bluetooth, and almost any computer or tablet with a browser is now your Xbox on the go. There are even more options available on your phone: Mobile controller accessories such as: backbone And Razer Kishi You can turn your Android device or iPhone into a portable Xbox with all the buttons where you expect them. Several companies produce clips even more cost-effectively (like this one) to connect your phone to the controller you already have.
Happy gaming holidays!
The days of having your games connected to your TV are clearly in the past. No matter your budget or luggage space, I hope these tips help you enjoy both your gaming and your travels at the same time. Have fun playing and happy holidays!
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