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When I recently spoke to Stellar Jockeys lead artist Jack Monahan and lead designer Hugh Monahan about Brigador Killers, a big focus for me was approachability versus depth. Most of my favorite games are super-crusty and complex RPGs or immersive sims, and the studios that made them⁠—Troika, Looking Glass, Obsidian, to name a few⁠—often found sustained financial success difficult or impossible.

You need some level of mainstream buy-in to keep the lights on, but something that's too focus-tested or homogenized won't please anyone. Stellar Jockeys' first game, Brigador, is a hardcore mech sim that initially bombed sales-wise, but is now a cult classic, so the Monahans are well-positioned to comment on the subject.

I appreciated the philosophical stance they had toward people who bounce off Brigador and Killers. "We love our games, we're very in this world," said Jack, "But you only need to have an encounter with your mom or someone else's mom to realize none of this makes sense, and we're all speaking Greek all the time."

They see getting people to buy into it all as a design challenge, but don't begrudge the ones for whom it doesn't click. "We had a vtuber recently, she streamed Brigador Killers," Jack recalled. "It wasn't quite her [thing]. She's very polite. She said, 'This is not really for me.'

"People kept asking her in the chat … And she just goes, 'I don't care about mechs! I care about the engineers! I care about the people who pilot them! Give me that stuff. All this mech stuff, it's all boy slop!'

"I think we make boy slop, but that's okay. First of all, somebody's got to do it, but I think for us, it's the willingness to get that crunchy with stuff."

Hardcore

Even if a lot of players may not pick up what they're putting down, Jack argued that there's just not enough room in the current market for games that aren't born of real passion, and that creative compromises can also have unintended side effects.

"I think the great irony is that, when you're trying to deliver what you think people want, you're actually holding a weird mirror not to them, but to yourself," he said. "It creates this weird inversion of saying, 'Actually, I think you're idiots, and I think you're idiots in this way, and so here's what I think idiots want.'"

And no matter what, Jack argued, creators can't help but leave a thumbprint on their work, whether they intend to or not. As an example, he pointed to the 50+ '90s-style, pre-rendered portraits in Brigador. Jack recalled a fan telling him "Oh, they've got your cheekbones"—without intending to, the artist had inadvertently given a similar profile of cheekbones to his own to every character in the game.

"You don't really have a choice," Jack concluded. "Be honest, be true, because it's all going to come leaking out one way or another, either in a good way⁠—which is to say, the stuff you're really into. Don't pretend like you're not into stuff, it comes out anyway."

Min spec player

Hugh Monahan told me he thinks of approachability and difficulty in a similar way to reading comprehension. He cited the influential sci-fi author Ursula K. Le Guin as someone who produced works of great depth that were approachable for a wide audience of readers, while the Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky, by contrast, was a genius who wrote extremely challenging literature.

If we take The Left Hand of Darkness as Baldur's Gate 3, I guess the Brothers Karamazov can be, I dunno, Daggerfall ? CyberMage: Darklight Awakening ? Fallout developer Tim Cain expressed a similar idea as the " minimum player spec :" What's the minimum amount of prior videogame knowledge someone needs to complete⁠—let alone enjoy⁠—a given game?

Stellar Jockeys Stellar Jockeys Stellar Jockeys Stellar Jockeys Stellar Jockeys Much as his brother feels you shouldn't dilute a creative vision to meet market demands, Hugh argued that challenge and complexity are key not only to making games more memorable, but also getting communities to form around them.

"If Dark Souls were an easier game, you would not have nearly as vociferous of a community around it," he said. "It's tough, because if there's a barrier to entry, that means people aren't going to make it through the barrier … But by making it something that is difficult to earn, if someone is willing to overcome that hump, then that's an implicit in-community.

"You actually need some of that friction in order to help build more of an identity amongst the players, and that's something I feel like I'm starting to really come to understand now after working as a designer for 15 years. But I'm sure I can look back on this in 10 years and go, 'What an idiot.' But you know, taking steps."

Stellar Jockeys' first game, Brigador, is currently $6.50 in the Steam Summer sale. Brigador Killers does not yet have a release window, but you can wishlist it and try the demo on Steam . I loved that demo , and Killers also boasts one of my favorite game mechanics: It's a mech game where you can get out of the mech .

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OXS Storm A2: Two-minute review

The OXS Storm A2 is a wireless gaming headset with support for multiple platforms, including the PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, and mobile.

It has a basic design that verges on anodyne, especially in its dark grey colorway. The X-shaped indents on the sides of the drivers do little to add interest, instead making it look dated.

Thankfully, the headband is far more sleek, and overall it’s much less bulky than many of its rivals. It’s also pleasingly light, and the drivers fold away neatly, making the Storm A2 one of the best PC gaming headsets for portability.

The quality of the materials is also quite good, with most feeling smooth and solid. The padding on the earcups and headband also appear strongly attached.

This padding is reasonably plush and comfortable, too. The headband is more comfortable than many others I’ve experienced, although it’s not quite plush enough to prevent fatigue after long sessions.

The same charge can be leveled at the earcup padding. It’s reasonably soft, but it’s not thick enough to prevent the insides of the drivers from pressing into my ears, which causes aches after a while. However, these aches are quite minor, and I’ve certainly tested more uncomfortable headsets than this.

More impressive is the sound of the Storm A2. There’s plenty of crispness and balance to all frequencies, which makes it a great headset for both gaming and listening to music.

(Image credit: Future) The surround sound feature is also a must in my opinion: not only does it create a more immersive sense of space, but it adds a much-needed low-end fullness as well.

The ANC function is quite rudimentary, seeming merely to reduce the bass frequencies of ambient sound rather than masking it entirely. This is effective to an extent, but it certainly doesn’t rival the ANC of the best headphones .

It’s also a shame that there’s no software to tweak the sound of the Storm A2 further. This means that you won’t be alerted to firmware updates, either — if any at all were to appear for the Storm A2.

The mic quality is poor, mired as it is by crackling and a low resolution. What’s more, there were times when it seemed to stop working altogether until I powered the headset on again.

Connectivity is mostly good, although Bluetooth pairing can take a little longer than is typical. At least hot-switching between devices is quick and easy.

The battery life of the Storm A2 is also quite good, seeming to live up to OXS’ claim of 70 hours. You can also charge and use the headset at the same time, although the included USB cable is a bit too short to make this practical for many setups.

At just over $100, the Storm A2 represents good value considering its multiple connectivity modes and platform support, as well as its ANC and surround sound modes. Its lack of software and long-term comfort mar its appeal slightly, but if you’re looking for great sound without spending ungodly amounts, you could do worse than the Storm A2.

OXS Storm A2 review: Price and availability

(Image credit: Future) $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$169

Available now in black and white colorways

Decent price for an ANC wireless gaming headset

The OXS Storm A2 costs $129.99 / £129.99 / AU$169 and is available now in two colorways: black and white. It comes with a USB cable, a 2.4GHz USB dongle (with Type-A and Type-C connections), a detachable microphone, and a leather pouch for storing the headset.

This is a reasonable price for a wireless headset with multiple connectivity modes and ANC. The absence of companion software for further customizations tweaks does put a slight dent in its appeal, though.

For those on an even tighter budget, there’s the OXS Storm G2 . This is a much bulkier wireless headset, but it’s still quite light and reasonably comfortable, although the sound is inferior.

For a more premium experience with a host of tweaks at your disposal, consider the Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 . Aside from all the customizations available via its software and onboard controls, this headset also has the heaviest bass I’ve ever experienced, which can be great when you’re in the mood for it.

OXS Storm A2 review: Specs

OXS Storm A2

Price

$129.99 / £129.99 / AU$169

Weight

10.3oz / 293g

Drivers

40mm full-range Dynamic Drivers

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile

Connection type

Wireless (2.4Ghz via dongle, Bluetooth 5.4), Wired (USB-C)

Battery life

Up to 70 hours, play-while-charging function

Features

5-mic ENC detachable gooseneck mic, ANC, Passthrough, OXS Xspace 7.1 spatial algorithm

Software

None

(Image credit: Future) OXS Storm A2 review: Design and features

Impressive build quality

Light and very portable

Uncomfortable for long sessions

In terms of aesthetics, the Storm A2 isn’t particularly noteworthy. The grey colorway of my review unit was a little dour, while the X-shaped indents on the sides of the drivers look a little dated.

There are some nice touches to its design, though. It’s a lot more sleek in its white colorway, and the minimalist design of the headband, which neatly hides the adjustment mechanism, is rather fetching. This mechanism can be a little difficult to slide, but it's not too onerous, and once set in place, it stays put.

The Storm A2 is uncluttered in terms of its controls, too. There are no fancy dials here, just four buttons: three on the left driver for volume and power, and a button on the right for toggling ANC, Passthrough, and surround sound functions. All buttons are quite small, but they’re easy to locate by touch and press while wearing the headset.

Build quality is also quite good. The various materials feel smooth and premium, and the joins are solid. The fabric padding of the earcups and headband is neatly and strongly attached, too.

(Image credit: Future) The microphone is also well made. It has a gooseneck design, which means it can be bent into any shape you like. It’s easy to bend yet stable once in place, although there are certain positions that it refuses to adopt. It’s also relatively short, which does limit its versatility; you’ll struggle to get it dead in front of your mouth, for instance.

The whole headset is very light with a slender profile. You really could wear it out and about, while the agile folding design makes it easy to pack away into a bag.

This lightness helps with comfort, too, as the Storm A2 doesn’t weigh your head down. Its fit is quite snug and stable, while the earcups and headband are sufficiently padded to provide short-term comfort.

For long sessions, though, the thinness of the padding in these areas can cause minor aching. And in the case of the drivers, the thin padding failed to prevent the insides of the drivers from pressing against my ears, making the Storm A2 feel more like an on-ear rather than over-ear headset.

There’s no companion software or app for the Storm A2, which is a shame. Many other gaming headsets feature this, allowing you to adjust certain settings and tweak the sound. Such software usually delivers firmware updates as well, which makes its absence here even more concerning.

(Image credit: Future) OXS Storm A2 review: Performance

Surprisingly crisp and clear audio

Lacks the immersion of fully enclosed headsets

Poor mic quality

The Storm A2 offers impressive audio. All frequencies are clear and balanced, while the bass is full and punchy without being overbearing or causing distortion. This makes the Storm A2 great for gaming, listening to music, and watching movies.

Audio effects and atmospheric sounds in Resident Evil Requiem , for instance, came through clearly, while the surround sound feature helped to impart a greater sense of space. It also made the overall sound noticeably fuller, adding far more low-end, so I always had this mode enabled. When I played Counter-Strike 2 , gunshots were rendered with plenty of punch, while reloads were crisp and the direction of footsteps was easy to discern.

However, since the drivers don’t enclose your ears as much as other headsets, owing to that aforementioned thin padding, audio is less immersive than it otherwise would be, as if sound is leaking out of them a little.

There’s a slight background hiss at all times as well, regardless of whether I had ANC enabled or not. This was most noticeable when playing on the PS5, but it was also present on the Switch 2. Fortunately, this isn’t game-ruining since it’s easily masked by in-game audio most of the time, and I didn’t notice it at all when connected to my Android phone via Bluetooth.

(Image credit: Future) The ANC feature does a reasonable job of negating outside sound, although it seems to merely cut the lower frequencies of ambient sound. More sophisticated ANC technology that's included in premium headsets and headphones does a better job of masking all kinds of frequencies and sounds from the listener’s environment. The Passthough function fares better, allowing outside sound to come through clearly.

Perhaps the worst aspect of the Storm A2, though, is its mic. The quality is poor, with audible crackles and a low resolution. Also, it failed to even register on my PC as an input on one occasion, while the toggle for turning the mic on and off (achieved by double-tapping the power button) seemed to stop working. Thankfully, a simple restart of the headset seemed to fix these issues, but they’re concerning nonetheless.

I didn’t have any connectivity issues with the Storm A2, though. In addition to my PC, it connected to my PS5 with the same ease as the best PS5 gaming headsets . Pairing with my Android phone and Switch 2 took a little longer than is typical for Bluetooth headsets and headphones, but not long enough to be a problem.

Hotswitching between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections was also quick and easy, merely requiring the holding of the ANC button for a second to cycle between them. You can also connect to devices over USB, which also charges the Storm A2 at the same time, something that can prove very useful. The included USB cable is quite short, though, so you’ll need your device close by. What’s more, neither ANC nor surround sound works with a wired connection.

OXS claims that the Storm A2 has a battery life of 70 hours. Based on my testing, I’m inclined to believe this figure, since I managed to use it for several days straight without charging.

Should I buy the OXS Storm A2?

Buy it if…

You want versatile connectivity

Multiple connectivity options allow you to connect to numerous platforms, while hotswitching between them is quick and easy.

You want clear sound

Whether you’re gaming, listening to music, or watching videos, the Storm A2 is clear and full, especially with surround sound enabled.

Don't buy it if…

You want the best mic

The mic on the Storm A2 is perhaps its greatest weakness, sounding low res and sometimes failing to function correctly.

You want to customize the sound

Aside from ANC and surround sound, there aren’t any adjustments for the audio, since there’s no accompanying software.

OXS Storm A2 review: Also consider

If you don’t like the sound of the OXS Storm A2, try these alternatives instead:

OXS Storm A2

OXS Storm G2

Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720

Price

$129.99 / £129.99 / AU$169

$79 / £62 (about AU$123)

$269.99 / £229.99 / AU$449.99

Weight

10.3oz / 293g

9.9oz / 282g

0.78lbs / 354g

Drivers

40mm full-range Dynamic Drivers

50mm full-range dynamic drivers

40mm

Compatibility

PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, Mobile

PlayStation, PC, Nintendo Switch, Mobile

PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS

Connection type

Wireless (2.4Ghz, Bluetooth 5.4), Wired (USB-C)

Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-A),

Bluetooth, Wired (USB-C, 3.5mm AUX), 2.4GHz wireless (USB-A dongle)

Battery life

70 hours

40 hours

48 hours

Features

5-mic ENC detachable gooseneck mic, ANC, Passthrough, OXS Xspace 7.1 spatial algorithm

Three EQ modes, detachable mic

THX Spatial Audio, Crusher bass enhancement, eight-band EQ, 4 sound presets, Sidetone mode, plug-in mic

Software

None

None

Skull-HQ (PC), Skullcandy mobile app (Android and iOS)

OXS Storm G2

An even more affordable wireless headset, the G2 is a lot larger than the Storm A2, but it still manages to keep the weight down. It doesn’t sound as good, either, but it still offers an enjoyable sonic experience.

Read our full OXS Storm G2 review .

Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720

This is a lot more expensive than the Storm A2, but it has a lot more features, better levels of comfort, and a bass response that’s stronger than any headset I’ve experienced before. It’s certainly a lot bulkier than the Storm A2, and its open-backed design means people around you will hear everything you’re doing.

Read our full Skullcandy Crusher PLYR 720 review .

How I tested the OXS Storm A2

(Image credit: Future) Tested for several weeks

Used for gaming and other tasks

Extensive gaming and audio experience

I tested the Storm A2 for several weeks, during which time I used it for gaming, watching streams, and listening to music. I used all of its features, too.

I connected it to my PS5 via the 2.4GHz dongle and to my Android phone via Bluetooth. For the Switch 2, I used a mixture of both these connections, and I connected to my PC via the dongle and via the USB cable. I played a variety of games, including Counter-Strike 2 on PC, Resident Evil Requiem on PS5, and Super Mario Bros. Wonder on Switch 2.

I’ve been gaming for decades, and have used multiple headsets with multiple platforms during that time. I’ve also delved into the world of audio production, so I have experience with monitor and hi-fi headphones. I’ve reviewed other gaming headsets before, including another OXS model, the Storm G2.

First reviewed: June 2026

Read more about how we test

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Here at TPG, we love our transferable credit card points and miles . You can use them to book award travel with various airline and hotel partners, even if you're not loyal to said airlines and hotels.

For instance, Rachel once transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards points to World of Hyatt and redeemed them for a weeklong stay in Hawaii — even though she'd never set foot in a Hyatt.

You might be planning to transfer credit card rewards once you've earned a lucrative welcome bonus . Or, if a great redemption option comes up, you could find yourself transferring points or miles unexpectedly. In this case, you'll want to do this as quickly and painlessly as possible, so it's worth doing a little bit of setup now to save yourself time later.

Your point transfers could be slowed down if your partner loyalty account is relatively new, which can affect your redemptions. Here's why we recommend setting up loyalty accounts as soon as possible, even if you don't have any transfers planned.

Related: How (and why) you should earn transferable credit card points and miles

Why transfer times matter

Hana-Maui Resort. ETHAN TWEEDIE/HYATT Even the most well-planned redemption can fall through if award availability gets snapped up while you're waiting for your points to appear in your airline or hotel account.

Transfer times range from a few seconds to several days, depending on the type of credit card rewards and the transfer partner. See our guides to transfer times for American Express Membership Rewards , Bilt , Capital One miles , Chase Ultimate Rewards , Citi ThankYou Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards to learn more.

But remember, these transfer times can be longer if you recently opened your partner account. The longer you have to wait for the transfer, the more likely award space will disappear before your points or miles make the journey.

Former TPG director of content Andrea Rotondo experienced this when she transferred Chase Ultimate Rewards points to her Air Canada Aeroplan account — which she had opened five days earlier — for a business-class redemption on Swiss .

Although Chase points typically transfer to Aeroplan instantly , Andrea's points took around 36 hours to reach her Aeroplan account. Thankfully, the seats she was trying to book were still available when the transfer was finally completed. If they hadn't been, she would have been stuck with no tickets and thousands of Aeroplan points that she may or may not be able to use.

Related: Who are the Chase Ultimate Rewards airline and hotel transfer partners?

Why you should register for loyalty accounts now

United Polaris business class. ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY You can minimize your transfer times (and save yourself a step in the transfer process) by setting up loyalty accounts in advance. If your hotel or airline partner loyalty account is already established before you link your accounts and initiate a transfer, you can expect transfer times to be on par with our guides, and there won't be any added stress or complexity when you are ready to book that dream redemption.

This has the added benefit of helping you search for award availability , since some airlines and hotels make it harder or even impossible to search award rates if you're not logged into an account.

Bottom line

We recommend joining the loyalty programs of all the major U.S. carriers (or the most prominent airlines in your location) and hotel chains now. It's free to sign up, it can help you search for award availability and it will ensure your points or miles transfer as quickly as possible when you're ready to redeem them.

Just keep track of your login info to avoid getting locked out of any loyalty accounts.

Related: The 4 best Chase credit cards to apply for right now

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.