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TEAM UP FOR SUMMER GAMES! continued

GAMING FEATURE

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GETTING CONNECTED TO A TV No matter which games console you opt for, getting it connected to your TV and then off and gaming has never been easier. Thanks to the standardised format of HDMI, all you need to do is connect one end of an HDMI cable – most systems come with a suitable one in the box – to the console, and the other end to a spare HDMI port on your TV. Plug the console’s power in, turn it on, set your TV to the right input, and off you go!

PlayStation While the PS5 is the absolute in-thing when it comes to PlayStation consoles, there’s still plenty of life left in the now legendary PS4. Plus, if you have the latter and upgrade to the former, you can take your game collection with you thanks to the PS5’s backwards compatibility. Best of all, with PlayStation’s rich history, both systems offer up a wealth of options for online play, both locally and online. If you’re partying together with friends you’ll just need enough controllers to go around – DualSense on PS5 and DualShock on PS4 – and then you’re set. Your mates can even log in to their PlayStation Network online accounts as guests on your machine. Speaking of online, you’ll need a PlayStation Plus subscription in order to access online multiplayer, which comes with the big bonus of some free games each month while you remain a member.

TOP PLAYSTATION MULTIPLAYER GAMES Sackboy: A Big Adventure Don’t let the cute looks deceive you, this is a wicked fun platformer for two to four players. Elden Ring One of the games of the year, this action RPG features local co-op and cool online PvP options. GranTurismo 7 Want to race head-to-head locally? Do it in style with the latest in this classic racing series. NBA 2K23 After some brisk basketball action? Up to three players can go co-op locally, or hit up 5v5 online. Call of Duty: ModernWarfare II The latest in the shooter series offers three player local co-op, and up to 64 player battles online.

PARENTAL CONTROLS If you’re introducing younger ones to the many joys of video games, whether local or online, you’ll obviously want to exercise some caution as to what they’re exposed to – after all, toddlers and bloody first-person shooters really don’t mix. Whether you’ve opted for Switch, PlayStation, or Xbox, all systems have simple to set up parental controls. From monitoring game time to setting limits on what sort of games can be played by rating or whitelist, and, of course, purchasing restrictions, they can be tailored to your requirements, and offer great peace of mind. Nintendo and Xbox even offer handy dedicated smartphone apps.

TOP XBOX MULTIPLAYER GAMES Minecraft Dungeons Whether playing local or online, up to four brave souls can tackle this blocky adventure together. Cricket 22 Join in all of the fun of the summer staple, with two to four players able to go the tonk locally or online. Forza Horizon 5 Super car hijinks in Mexico, with local co-op, up to 12 drivers in online convoys, or 50 in The Eliminator. FIFA 23 It’s the final release of the legend, offering up to four participant local play, as well as online options. Halo Infinite The legend continues, with up to four players locally, and various 4v4 and 12v12 online options.

Xbox The latest generation of Xbox consoles offers two very cool options. For a good allrounder machine the Xbox Series S delivers plenty, but if you step it up a notch to the Xbox Series X then you’ll really be letting some serious power loose. Packing more processing oomph, 4K graphics, and many more handy features, it really is the way to go if you’re serious about your Xbox gaming. Whichever one that you play with, multiplayer options abound. As is now customary, if you’re playing locally the only requirement is that you have enough controllers. Meanwhile, to get online multiplayer happening, you’ll need an Xbox Live Gold subscription. As a cool bonus it delivers two new games completely free each month, so it really does offer top value.

46 JANURY 2023

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