Fighting game enthusiasts have long been looking to replicate the head-to-head intensity found in an arcade at home, and for a long time the best way to enjoy these games was with an arcade fighting stick. However, these large, box-like controllers are bulky, expensive, and not very portable. Thankfully, some manufacturers have taken to miniaturizing the fight stick experience and adapting it into a handheld controller, otherwise known as a fightpad. Hori’s latest iteration is tailored for PlayStation consoles and offers a great alternative to the standard DualSense controller for fighting games.

Hori Fighting Commander Octa – Design and Features

On first pickup, you’ll find the Fighting Commander Octa to be extremely lightweight, to the point of almost feeling hollow. This is partly due to its all-plastic construction and lack of rumble motors, but more so that Hori has distilled the fighting pad experience down to what matters most – blazing-fast inputs and on-the-fly customization that lets you jump right into the fight.

Similar to Hori’s Xbox Series X Fighting Commander Octa, this PlayStation 5 flavor is the first officially licensed fightpad for Sony’s latest console, while also being compatible with PlayStation 4 and PC. It features all the necessary elements of the modern DualSense controller, including the large touchpad as well as dedicated PlayStation, Options, and Share buttons. The most notable difference is the absence of the right thumbstick, something not uncommon with fight pads as most fighting games don’t traditionally require its use. It’s also wired to ensure minimal input delay.

On the left side of the controller’s face is a slightly raised D-pad, as well as a short-throw analog stick with an 8-way gate designed to increase accuracy on inputs with a bit of tactile feedback. Opposite the directional inputs are a set of six face buttons: Cross, Square, Triangle, and Circle, as well as R1 and R2. The buttons are arranged into two rows of three, allowing you to easily press the buttons with your thumb or fingers from your right hand, depending on your preference.

The six face buttons are all micro switch buttons, providing an extremely short travel distance and near-instant actuation. They have a satisfying tactile click that feels very similar to clicking a mouse, and the audio feedback ensures you know that the button has been pressed.

Along the top of the controller are two bumpers and two shoulder buttons, all with a relatively short travel distance and a clicky feel – although they don’t use the same micro switch input as the face buttons unfortunately. By default, they are labeled L3/R3 on the left side and L1/L2 on the right side. If this seems like a confusing layout at first, it is, but it allows you to theoretically press all four face buttons and both sets of bumpers and triggers all with one hand. Thankfully, the Fighting Commander Octa supports local button remapping and can be done very easily.

I will admit I had a bit of an embarrassing moment as I didn’t realize the shoulder button layout was different until I was deep into a few matches of Mortal Kombat 11. I kept trying to execute a Fatal Blow by pressing L2 + R2 simultaneously with no success, and was certain that there was something wrong with the controller. It’s not until I realized the unique layout was intentional, allowing me to perform this ability with just my right hand.

On the bottom of the controller’s face is a program button that allows you to quickly remap face buttons, bumpers, and triggers, as well as adjust the D-pad sensitivity to your liking. There’s also a mute button if you’re using a wired headset with the controller’s 3.5mm auxiliary port. On the rear of the controller there’s a toggle to change between PS5, PS4, and PC, and a separate toggle to disable the touchpad functionality, or all of the PlayStation-centric buttons at once, to ensure no accidental inputs are made in the heat of battle.

Hori Fighting Commander Octa – Software

The Hori Device Manager is an optional PC application that allows you to adjust D-pad sensitivity, remap any of the controller’s buttons, and adjust headset volume and microphone sensitivity. The app itself is pretty rudimentary, and not all that necessary since most of its functions can be done without the use of a computer.

As previously mentioned, button remapping and D-pad adjustments can be made via the program button on the bottom of the controller. That said, the Device Manager app does allow you to save up to four profiles, but switching between them still requires connecting the controller to a PC. An interesting choice, considering the Xbox version of this controller includes a profile button for on-the-fly switching.

Hori Fighting Commander Octa – Gaming

I spent most of my time testing the Fighting Commander Octa bouncing between Guilty Gear Strive and Mortal Kombat 11. Pairing the controller was simple enough, just plug-and-play. Although it isn’t able to power the PS5 on by itself, you’ll need to use your DualSense or the power button on the console manually first before it’s recognized. Swapping between console and PC is simple too – just a quick toggle on the back and you’re good to go. However, the Touchpad and 3.5mm auxiliary port aren’t compatible with PC.

While playing Guilty Gear Strive, I spent a lot of time in the practice area where you can test out combos while viewing a live list of recent inputs. I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly button presses and D-pad movements were recognized. During actual matches, the controller felt extremely responsive, too. While I much prefer the D-pad input over an analog stick for fighting games, the 8-way gate on the thumbstick gave some great tactile feedback for executing complex combos, and the shorter size made it feel extremely snappy.

The D-pad definitely feels a bit stiff, but in a good way. Mushy D-pads are always hard to work with, especially in demanding games, but every input here felt intentional and I became acclimated very quickly.

Jumping between games was a breeze, too, thanks to the remappable buttons. Being able to quickly configure the controller to each specific game without needing to go into individual settings menus was a welcome addition. I only wish there was a way to switch between profiles without the use of a Windows PC, as many people using the controller with a PS5 may not have access to one.

While the controller does theoretically work with games other than the fighting variety, the lack of a second analog stick certainly limits your options, so I’d recommend sticking to 2D platformers that favor D-pad inputs.

Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption publisher Take Two Interactive has announced its "unwavernig support" for its employees in the aftermath of the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, the historic 1973 judgment used to secure abortion rights across the United States.

As reported by Eurogamer, a statement was shared on Take-Two subsidiary Zynga's Twitter (below) that announced the publisher is expanding its employee travel and lodging benefit programmes across the U.S. and is also adopting the Maven benefits platform, which "provides critical support across fertility, pregnancy, adoption, parenting, and pediatrics".

Message from Take-Twohttps://t.co/WbdY06Xy4z pic.twitter.com/vWHYtQUFzm

— Zynga (@zynga) July 19, 2022

Take-Two said it "acknowledges that the United States Supreme Court ruling regarding Roe vs. Wade is a significant event" and it "would like to affirm our unwavering support for all our colleagues in the U.S. and around the world.

"As always, our people are the heart of our company, and we remain dedicated to protecting their health, wellbeing, and safety," it added.

Bungie was the first studio to speak out against the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe vs. Wade when its intensions leaked back in May.

"By creating a divide between those who posses the fundamental right to make healthcare decisions that are right for them, and those who do not posses that same freedom, this decision, should it become final, will have far-reaching consequences that will be felt for generations across socio-economic lines," the Destiny developer said.

Since then, various other companies including Double Fine, ArenaNet, and Outerloop Games have publicly spoken out against the decision. Sony and Insomniac Games also reportedly donated $50,000 each to the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project.

When you think about Nerf projectiles, you probably picture the company’s typical foam darts. With the Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic Blaster coming out this year (see it at Amazon), the company is trying something new. Instead of foam, this toy blaster deploys “Gelfire” rounds. They’re little hydrated gel balls that, when they hit their target, burst on impact, allegedly leaving no cleanup at all. It’s a cool concept. The Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic Blaster is out November 1, but it’s available for preorder now for $79.99.

Preorder Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic Blaster

• Get it at Amazon
• Get it at Walmart
• Get it at Hasbro Pulse
• Get it at Target

About those projectiles. The blaster comes with 10,000 tiny dehydrated Gelfire rounds. To prepare for your Nerf war, you first have to hydrate the rounds, which makes them grow into “soft, super absorbent polymer projectiles.” Then you dump them in the hopper (it can hold 800 rounds) and fire them at will. They fire at a high speed and burst upon impact, leaving nothing to clean up, according to the company.

The Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic Blaster has two modes, semi-automatic and full-automatic. When turned to fully automatic, it can fire 10 rounds per second, peppering your opponents with a ruthless barrage.

It definitely a little pricy, but a lot of stuff comes in the package. You get 10,000 Gelfire rounds, protective eyewear, and a USB-A to USB-C cable to recharge the included battery. It also has a removable barrel and an 800-round capacity hopper.

So if you could use a new way to wage pretend war on your group of friends (and who among us couldn't?), you might want to pick up the Nerf Pro Gelfire Mythic blaster to see what kind of good-natured trouble you can get yourself into. Just don't be surprised when your gel-hydrated friends retaliate.

Chris Reed is a deals expert and commerce editor for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @_chrislreed.

Discord announced today that it is finally adding voice chat integration to Xbox consoles.

The addition means that Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One owners will be able to talk to their friends on Discord Voice chats from their consoles, rather than having to use other devices.

In a press release, Discord notes that Xbox Insider will be able to use its voice chat feature on their consoles, starting today. The feature coming at a later date for all users. As Discord notes, the feature has been widely requested by users. Previously the company allowed Xbox owners to connect their accounts, but could only be used to display information, like Gamertags.

Discord also confirmed that Discord Voice chat on Xbox will allow users to transfer their voice call from the app (Desktop or mobile) directly onto their consoles using the Xbox mobile app. As you can see from the image below, the transfer process looks pretty straightforward.

Discord integration announcement for Xbox came roughly seven months after the company announced that it was finally allowing PS4 and PS5 owners to connect their PSN accounts to their Discord profile.

Taylor is the Associate Tech Editor at IGN. You can follow her on Twitter @TayNixster.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness may not be based on any one, particular comic book storyline, but it does draw heavily from the comics in one area. The superhero costumes seen in the movie look like they’ve jumped right off the page and into live-action.

Now that the sequel is about to hit Blu-ray and DVD and it’s safe to talk about all the cameos in the movie, let’s dig deeper into the costumes of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and why this MCU movie literally wears its comic book influences on its sleeve. We’ve even got creator commentary from the film’s costume designer, Graham Churchyard, who reveals some surprising details about the inspirations behind these MCU suits.

The Doctors Strange

Benedict Cumberbatch plays no fewer than four versions of Doctor Strange in this sequel. While the main character’s costume is similar to the versions we’ve seen in past movies, it has been upgraded with a slightly brighter, comic book-ier color palette.

We also see this Strange and his “Sinister Strange” counterpart manifest a third eye on their foreheads. In the comics, that third eye represents the power of the Eye of Agamotto, but in the MCU, it’s a telltale sign that Stephen Strange has been corrupted by dark magicks.

Then there’s Defender Strange, the version we meet in the film’s opening, and who returns in the climax as a zombie puppet. His costume is very closely based on Marvel’s 2012 Defenders comic, when Stephen Strange ditched his Cloak of Levitation and rocked a distinctive red and blue look. Even he wasn’t brave enough to go full ponytail, though.

Finally, while we only briefly see the Earth-838 version of Strange in the movie, it’s worth pointing out that this character has a very coiffed, ‘70s-inspired hairdo, evoking the work of classic Doctor Strange artists like Gene Colan and Marshall Rogers. In fact, this version of Strange was originally planned to wear a blue cloak inspired by the original Stan Lee/Steve Ditko Doctor Strange comics.

Scarlet Witch

Until Wandavision, Wanda Maximoff settled for wearing a functional costume that only loosely recreated the character’s comic book suit. Not so anymore. Not only is she wearing the iconic headdress and robes now, Doctor Strange 2 adds to that new look with a black undersuit. That color scheme hearkens back to the 2015 Scarlet Witch series and the striking cover art of David Aja.

America Chavez

Actress Xochitl Gomez definitely dresses the part in her role as America Chavez. America’s costume is practically 1:1 with the comic book incarnation, right down to the custom-painted denim jacket and the star-shaped portals she forms with her powers. The one difference is that the MCU America has a slightly grungier look, denoting the fact that she’s a multiversal refugee constantly on the run from the Scarlet Witch.

Rintrah

We’ve reached the point in the MCU when even talking green minotaurs are fair game. The movie introduced Rintrah as one of the many sorcerers defending Kamar Taj from the Scarlet Witch. But whereas the movie version wears traditional robes denoting his status as a magical trainee, in the comics Rintrah tends to wear a cloak… if he chooses to wear anything at all.

Professor X

X-Men fans got a big treat when Multiverse of Madness introduced the MCU’s first mutant – none other than Patrick Stewart’s Charles Xavier. But this wasn’t any version of Xavier we’d seen before, as his costume proved. The combination of the olive green suit and the yellow hoverchair call back to the ‘90s-era X-Men comics and the art of comics superstars like Jim Lee.

But this look is also meant to pay homage to the Lee-inspired X-Men: The Animated Series, hence the needle drop of that iconic theme song.

Black Bolt

The Inhumans TV series gave us one version of Black Bolt and his royal family, though at this point it’s anyone’s guess whether that series is still part of the MCU canon (or really, if it ever was). But Doctor Strange 2 shows us a different version of Black Bolt wearing a much more comic book-accurate costume, tuning fork and everything. Jack Kirby would be proud.

Captain Marvel

One of the many differences on Earth-838 is that Maria Rambeau, not Carol Danvers, became Captain Marvel. In the comics, Maria’s daughter Monica has shared the Captain Marvel name with Carol. But rather than adapt one of her costumes, the series draws from a short-lived Carol Danvers costume introduced in the build-up to 2015’s Secret Wars. At the time, Carol was wearing a black and silver variant of her traditional red and blue suit, and that costume has now made its live-action debut. It makes sense to pay homage to that storyline, as the Incursions referenced in Multiverse of Madness are a huge part of the plot in Secret Wars.

Mister Fantastic

After months of rumor and speculation, John Krasinski made his MCU debut as Mister Fantastic in Doctor Strange 2. And while Reed Richards’ rugged costume hearkens back more to past FF movies than anything else, his beard is definitely straight from the comics. Reed’s beard is another look that debuted in Secret Wars, and it’s stuck around ever since.

Captain Carter

Hayley Atwell voices a version of Captain Carter in Marvel’s What If…? And Doctor Strange 2 gives her the chance to play another version in live-action, one who wears basically the same exact costume. The idea of an alternate universe Peggy who becomes a super-soldier was introduced not in the comics, but in the mobile game Marvel’s Puzzle Quest. Marvel has since given us Captain Carter in the comics too, though that version is currently wearing a brand new costume we hope to see in live-action one day.

Clea

Multiverse of Madness saves its biggest cameo for last, with Charlize Theron’s Clea popping up to recruit Stephen Strange to save the multiverse. More than any other character in the film, Clea looks like she walked right off the page of a Steve Ditko Doctor Strange comic, between her stark white hair and flamboyant purple costume.

Not every actress could pull off such a bold look, but we like to think there’s a reason they cast Theron in the role.

What's your favorite costume from the Multiverse of Madness? Let us know in the comments below.

Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on Twitter.