GameSir Cyclone 2: two-minute review

The GameSir Cyclone 2 is a wireless gamepad compatible with PC, Nintendo Switch, and mobile, thanks to its various connectivity options.

Its design hardly pushes the boat out, with a near-identical form and layout to the Xbox controller. However, the translucent panels and RGB lighting at least add some vibrancy.

It’s also hard to fault the Cyclone 2 for build quality. It’s light yet solidly constructed, while the plastics are refined for the most part; however, in some areas – notably the grips – the Cyclone 2 fails to match the premium feel of some of the best PC controllers around.

The buttons, on the other hand, are engineered to a higher standard. I personally liked their mouse-click-esque actuation, which eschews the heavily damped approach of more traditional gamepads – although I’m sure there will be gamers who won’t find this as desirable. Thankfully, the sticks should prove less divisive, as I can’t imagine any who wouldn’t appreciate their smooth operation and premium feel.

One aspect of the Cyclone 2 that’s less impressive, however, is the charging dock. Unlike the excellent dock included with the GameSir Super Nova, the one here is less stable, takes up more real estate, and is too difficult when aligning the charging pins, which can easily result in the Cyclone 2 failing to charge even when seated.

GameSir Connect can be used to customize the functions and features of the Cyclone 2, with a wealth of options available – more so than I’ve seen in other gamepad software, in fact. There are multiple curve profiles and deadzone settings for the sticks and triggers, as well as plenty of rebinding options; you can even substitute motion controls for mouse and joystick inputs.

The Cyclone 2 is also impressive when it comes to performance. Those clicky buttons are certainly responsive, while the D-pad offers slightly more dampening but still provides plenty of feedback – a combination that results in accurate and easy actuation.

The TMR sticks also live up to their promise with their ultra-precise and smooth inputs, while the triggers offer plenty of control despite having less travel and resistance than your typical gamepad.

I didn’t experience any connectivity issues with the Cyclone 2: it linked easily to my PC, Nintendo Switch, and Android smartphone. However, switching between devices on the fly isn’t the most seamless and requires you to memorize various button combinations to achieve this.

I wasn’t able to test the battery life to its limits during my time with the Cyclone 2, but I can say that after a couple of days of varied use, it remained green. Unfortunately, I can’t be more accurate than this, as no percentage is given for battery life in Connect, which is an oversight. GameSir does claim it can last around 10 hours, though, which is on the lower end of the spectrum.

In line with GameSir’s other offerings, the Cyclone 2 is well-priced compared to some of its rivals. It costs the same as the GameSir Super Nova, which uses the technically inferior Hall effect stick technology rather than TMR, but slightly less than the GameSir Tarantula Pro, which has the latter.

GameSir Cyclone 2 review: Price and availability

• $49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79
• Available now in two colorways
• Well-priced compared to rivals

The Cyclone 2 costs $49.99 / £49.99 / AU$79 and is available now in two colorways: Phantom White and Shadow Black. The edition that includes the charging stand is only slightly more at $55.99 / £55.99 / AU$89. All editions come with a 2.4GHz USB-A dongle and a USB-A-to-C cable.

It’s the same price as the Super Nova, another gamepad from GameSir with a similar design and feature set. This uses Hall effect joystick technology, though, which isn’t considered quite as accurate or as energy efficient as TMR.

If you’re after another TMR controller, then GameSir has another offering in the form of the Tarantula Pro. This is more expensive than the Cyclone 2, but not by much, and it has more buttons to play around with. However, it adopts a layout akin to the best PS5 controllers (despite not being compatible with the console), with its symmetrical sticks and long grips, which some gamers may balk at.

GameSir Cyclone 2 review: specs

GameSir Cyclone 2 review: design and features

• Familiar design
• Good build quality
• Many customizations available

The Cyclone 2 has a familiar look and layout, following the fashion of the best Xbox controllers (despite not being compatible with the platform), with its asymmetrical joysticks and thick body.

Two colorways are available to choose from, although I personally prefer the white option with its red and gold accents, which looks more slick than its black counterpart. Both variants feature a translucent front plate and underlying RGB strips, which add more interest to proceedings.

Build quality is impressive too, considering the price of the Cyclone 2. The light yet solid chassis feels good in the hand, as does its smooth texture. There’s some pitting on the handles to aid grip, but this doesn’t feel as luxurious as the rubberized and silicone materials used by more premium gamepads.

The buttons and sticks are all generously spaced apart yet still easy to access, and feel solid with little wobble. The sticks follow suit, and their thumb pads offer sufficient levels of grip and comfort while feeling durable at the same time.

The two back buttons are similarly well-designed, and they perfectly align with my natural finger placement. Combined with their large size and ergonomic shape, they’re more practical than other back buttons I’ve experienced.

One design drawback concerns the charging dock, which is included with certain editions. It tries to adopt a more interesting form with its splayed legs, but this makes it impractical as it takes up an unnecessary amount of space.

It also fails to provide a stable platform for the Cyclone 2, as it’s all too easy to knock the controller from it. What’s more, the charging pins are awkward to align, and there were numerous occasions where I’d failed to seat the pad correctly to initiate charging. The dock included with GameSir Super Nova is far superior, and I wish the same design had been used here.

It’s also a bit of a shame that the face buttons can’t be swapped around to match the platform you’re playing on, as you can with the Super Nova, since the Cyclone 2 lacks the same magnetic, removable face plate.

The Cyclone 2 can be customized using GameSir Connect, the brand’s peripheral software for PC. There are an impressive number of tweaks available here, more so than in other tools I’ve tried. You can rebind the buttons to other controller inputs, or to mouse and keyboard inputs. There’s also a macro creator, and up to three inputs can be assigned to a single button, with Continuous Trigger and Turbo modes available.

There are curve and deadzone adjustments for the triggers and sticks as well, while motion controls have plenty of parameters to tinker with, including the ability to substitute them for joystick inputs or even mouse movements. However, this latter feature failed to work with the first review unit I received, even after troubleshooting, so another test unit was issued, which thankfully did work. Hopefully, this isn’t a pervasive issue, but it’s worth mentioning given it’s a potential cause for concern.

GameSir Cyclone 2 review: performance

• Responsive inputs
• Super smooth joysticks
• Clicky buttons won’t be for everyone

In the main, the Cyclone 2 is a joy to game with. Those clicky face buttons feel very snappy and precise, although I’m sure there will be gamers out there who’ll lament the lack of dampening and prefer the more traditional feel.

The D-pad, however, provides slightly more dampening, but still retains the snappy, tactile feel that provides plenty of feedback. It’s also very easy to use, with plenty of accuracy to avoid mispresses. When playing Tekken 8, it was very conducive to the rapid succession of directions, including quarter-circle rolls, which were comfortable to perform.

What’s more, the TMR joysticks held true to their claim, as they felt smoother and more precise than their Hall effect counterparts – although the difference isn’t massive. This was a real boon when I played FPS games such as Goldeneye 64 on the Switch.

The triggers on the Cyclone 2 are quite light and have less travel than those on other controllers. However, I didn’t have any issues performing controlled movements, such as when modulating the throttle and braking while playing Art of Rally. The motion controls proved accurate as well, as I found when aiming bows in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

Connecting the Cyclone 2 to various platforms was easy enough, even via Bluetooth, and was as amenable in this regard as the best Nintendo Switch controllers. Hot-swapping between platforms, however, is a little more onerous, as you have to remember various button combinations for changing modes; at least the Home button LED provides some indication on this front. It’s a shame the Cyclone 2 doesn’t include a handy flip switch on the back to toggle between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth modes, as the Super Nova does. But from a performance perspective, I found little wrong with its connectivity.

I didn’t manage to test the battery of the Cyclone 2 to exhaustion, and rather annoyingly, Connect relies on imprecise color codes rather than percentage points for life remaining.

I can say, though, that after a few days of play, the Cyclone 2 remained green, which seems reasonable. However, having reached out to GameSir, it estimated that the Cyclone 2 can last about 10 hours, which is disappointingly low compared to many other wireless controllers – and surprising given that TMR technology is supposed to be more energy efficient.

Should I buy the GameSir Cyclone 2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

GameSir Cyclone 2 review: Also consider

If you're after some great alternatives to the Cyclone 2, then take a look at these recommendations:

How I tested the GameSir Cyclone 2

• Tested for several days
• Used on various platforms
• Plentiful gaming experience

I tested the Cyclone 2 for several days, during which time I used it on PC, Nintendo Switch, and Android.

I played a variety of games, including Tekken 8, Art of Rally, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and GoldenEye 64, all of which provide a thorough test for the various inputs of controllers.

I’ve been gaming for over two decades, and during that time, I’ve experienced many different gamepads across many different platforms. I’ve also reviewed a number of controllers previously, including other GameSir models.

• First reviewed April 2025
• Read more about how we test

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition: One-minute review

The Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition is designed for mid-level racing sim enthusiasts, promising a smooth and precise experience.

The leatherette steering wheel has a thick, squared-off design, which I personally prefer. It feels premium and smooth to the touch, sliding through the hands with ease. The paddles also feel excellent, responsive, and easy to tap.

All the other buttons are of a similarly high standard and are positioned well to make for easy access, just like those of the best racing wheels. The dial switch is also a nice touch, although it can only flick toward its two available directions rather than remain on them, which might limit its usability for some.

The pedals are metal and have a high shine, which makes them seem as though they’re made from plastic. They feel great under the foot, though, and the pedal base is stable even on hard floors.

Attaching the wheelbase to a desk is easy enough, if a bit awkward thanks to the weight of the servo and its clamp design. However, it remains firmly in place once attached. Once you power on the TX, take care to keep your hands well away from the wheel, as the autocalibration is quite vigorous.

The TX requires you to download a driver and software in order to get the latest firmware updates and tweak various settings. It’s not the most elegant tool in the world, but it’s stable to run for the most part and offers the usual force feedback settings with plenty of scope for tailoring the experience to your liking, with individual settings for spring and damper configurations, for instance.

In action, the TX is pleasantly smooth and accurate, imparting a strong sense of connection between you and the car. The pedals are also a pleasure to use, being easy to press while offering plenty of feedback, especially the brake pedal. The throttle might be a bit too loose for some, but I found it was still informative enough for controlled inputs.

I did have a few gripes with the TX, though. While the pedals offer plenty of adjustments, the throttle and brake were a little too close for me – although this is a problem I have with many pedal sets. Also, while playing American Truck Simulator, the calibration seemed to go awry, with wheel turns no longer syncing up with those in-game. Whether this is a fault with the wheel or the game is hard to say, but it’s worth mentioning all the same.

However, for the price, the TX is certainly a capable wheel, offering great feel and decent build quality in the main. Depending on your territory, it’s cheaper than the Thrustmaster T300RS, and I think it performs considerably better than this wheel.

Conversely, the Thrustmaster T248 is cheaper than the TX, and is our pick as the best racing wheel overall, thanks to its ease of use and great force feedback. And if you’re looking specifically for the best Xbox racing wheels, then the Logitech G923 is hard to beat. Nonetheless, the TX is a great wheel for those starting out on their racing sim journey.

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition review: Price and availability

• $369.99 / £309.99 (about AU$588)
• Available now with various accessories
• Some rivals are cheaper

The Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition costs $369.99 / £309.99 (about AU$588) and is available now. It can be configured with various wheels and pedal sets, as well as handbrakes and shifters.

It’s slightly more expensive than the T300RS in the US, although quite a bit cheaper than that wheel in the UK. Regardless, the TX performs better in my view, thanks to the smoother steering, better paddles, and greater feedback from the pedals. The button placement is also better, and the T300RS lacks a dial switch.

However, the Thrustmaster T248 is cheaper than the TX, but it’s the best racing wheel overall in our view, thanks to its ease of use, brilliant pedals, and generally excellent performance for its relatively low price. The Logitech G923 is also one of the best around, although this is more expensive than the TX in the UK but cheaper in the US.

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition review: Specs

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition review: Design and features

• Great feeling wheel
• Stable pedal base
• Unglamorous but stable software

The Thrustmaster TX follows a rather typical design. The steering wheel is relatively thick and flatter than perfectly cylindrical designs, which I prefer. It’s finished in a leather material that feels very smooth and makes for seamless slides whenever the wheel self-centers.

The T3PA pedal set features pedal heads made from metal with a high shine, although they feel more like plastic under the foot and are quite light. The base is pleasingly stable, even on hard floors, which I didn’t find with the T300RS. An optional conical stop for the brake is also included but uninstalled by default.

You can adjust the spacing, height, and incline of all pedals, and the process involves unscrewing the pedals with the included Allen key, which is simple enough, if a little time-consuming.

Installing the wheelbase is also quite straightforward, if not the most seamless experience. The screw and thread for fixing the clamp isn’t the smoothest, and the clamp itself tends to rotate out of place while screwing, which is a little frustrating. Also, the handle for turning the screw frequently gets in the way of the base, further adding to the awkwardness.

What’s more, the front-heavy weight distribution of the wheelbase means it won’t stay on the table without falling off, so I had to lean it on my chest while I attached the clamp to my desk with both hands. Ultimately, though, these are minor grievances, and it didn’t take long to get set up.

Once installed and powered on, you should take care to keep your hands well clear of the wheel, as the autocalibration of the TX – and other Thrustmaster wheels – is quite violent.

If you’ve owned a Thrustmaster wheel before, you should find software setup quick and easy. If you haven’t, you will have to download drivers and a configuration tool via Thrustmaster’s website, which took me a couple of attempts to get working correctly the first time, requiring a restart of my PC. It’s also a little awkward to open the configuration tool, since it’s integrated with Windows’ controller control panel, and it uses a rather dated-looking UI, but it at least functions well.

You’ll find the typical racing wheel adjustments, with options to change the steering angle, with a maximum of 900 degrees, and force feedback options for the periodic and constant forces, as well as those for the spring and damper parameters.

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition review: Performance

• Smooth and accurate steering
• Great brake pedal
• Experienced a one-time calibration issue

The overall performance of the TX is hard to fault. Steering feels much smoother and more connected than on the Thrustmaster T300RS, for instance – lacking that wheel’s notchiness, especially at the start of turns. This meant that making slow and small movements was a more pleasant experience, and was especially noticeable when playing American Truck Simulator, which largely calls for this style of driving. However, steering is still responsive enough for rapid turns and corrections, as I found when racing in Assetto Corsa.

Tracking is also accurate and precise; however, when playing American Truck Simulator, I did experience an instance of desynchronization, with the game lagging well behind my inputs. It’s hard to say whether this is an issue with the game or the wheel, but it’s worth pointing out. Thankfully, the rest of the time it was faultless.

The paddles are quick and provide enough feedback – another area of improvement over the T300RS. The same is true of the buttons, which are tactile and satisfying to use, with many positioned towards the edge of the center, which makes them easy to reach with the thumb. Despite how they feel, though, they’re still no match for those adorning the best PC controllers.

Pedal response, though, is more impressive. The throttle might be too light for some, but I adapted quickly and found it still offered enough control. The brake pedal is a real highlight, as it’s super smooth and offers the ideal amount of progressive resistance, which in turn imparts plenty of feedback to let you know how hard you’re braking.

However, my one gripe with the pedals is that the brake and throttle are too close together for my liking, even after I adjusted their spacing to their furthest points. I will admit, though, that this is a problem I usually experience with pedal sets in general, so others may not have an issue in this regard.

As with other Thrustmaster wheels, the force feedback can be extremely strong, and I found it borderline unusable on its maximum setting. Thankfully, there are plenty of adjustments you make to it, so getting the right balance between ease of use and immersion is simple. The other force feedback parameters, such as those for the spring and damper, offer noticeable changes too, allowing for greater degrees of steering weight and rebound.

Should I buy the Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition review: also consider

The Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition faces some stiff competition, namely from these alternatives.

How I tested the Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition

• Tested for a few days
• Played various driving games
• Decades of experience

I used the Thrustmaster TX Racing Wheel Leather Edition for a few days, during which time I tried to make as many adjustments as possible to the pedals and force feedback settings in order to experience the full extent of its capabilities.

I played Assetto Corsa in order to test its fitness for serious sim racers. I also played American Truck Simulator to see how well the wheel handles slower and smaller pedal and steering inputs.

I have been gaming for decades, with arcade and sim racers being among my favorite genres. I have used various racing wheels in the past, and have previously reviewed the Thrustmaster T300RS, a similar wheel to the TX.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed February 2025

RIG M2 Streamstar: One-minute review

The RIG M2 Streamstar is a baffling product. Despite being billed as a premium microphone for streamers and more general gaming, it’s about as simple as they come with plug-and-play functionality and no included software.

You just need to slot the included cable into a free USB port, select it as your preferred recording device in the likes of OBS or Audacity, and you’re ready to go in a matter of seconds.

This, on top of its impressively compact size, could make it a decent pick if you’re looking for a portable microphone that you can easily use with a gaming laptop to keep up with your streams when on the move.

Sadly, its actual feature set is highly limited with just a basic gain dial, mute functionality, and sidetone to play around with. On top of a standard 3.5mm headphone jack it does offer the option of Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity for that side tone monitoring, with Qualcomm aptX HD codec compatibility for 24-bit hi-res audio.

This is quite innovative, and the world's first in a wired microphone according to Nacon, but ultimately doesn’t seem like the most useful thing to have. It works very well and is extremely responsive overall with no noticeable delay, but I can’t imagine that most streamers wouldn’t already have a decent pair of wired gaming earbuds, or similar, on hand for microphone monitoring.

With a unique angular appearance, the design of the microphone is quite striking and refreshingly subtle for a gaming product and this helps set it apart. Unfortunately, though, the materials used feel disappointingly cheap for the price.

It’s plasticky in the hands, with flimsy dials that even wobble slightly while being turned. This is hard to stomach when you’re dealing with a $129.99 product and when countless other options all the way from the cheaper Blue Yeti and HyperX DuoCast to more expensive SteelSeries Alias are considerably more premium and better built.

As for the performance, it’s decent but nothing to write home about. The microphone offers a 24-bit resolution with sample rates of up to 192kHz, so is proper studio quality, but can sound rather muffled and is hard to position properly without a boom arm.

The lack of software also means nothing in the way of any substantial noise cancellation, so avoid this model unless you already have a quiet recording space or software solution in place.

RIG M2 Streamstar: Price and availability

• Priced at $129.99
• Available via Amazon
• Value is questionable

The RIG M2 Streamstar costs $129.99 and is available via Amazon in the US. This price puts it towards the more premium end of the market, but, beyond its 24-bit audio and 192kHz sample rate, it really doesn’t have much to show for it. The HyperX DuoCast is just one example of a cheaper competitor that benefits from a robust set of included software, great audio performance, and a more premium design.

As for more expensive options, the JBL Quantum Stream Studio and SteelSeries Alias offer significantly more features. Thnd play compatibility, plus more strong optioe JBL Quantum Stream Studio has a variety of pickup patterns to choose from, making it a better fit for many setups, and, again, some great software. As for the SteelSeries Alias, you get a comparatively luxurious design, equally good plug and play software.

The sample rate of the RIG M2 Streamstar is considerably higher than the competition though (with most models capping out at 48 or 96kHz), so might make that high cost a little easier to stomach if that’s important to you. There’s also the unique Bluetooth side tone functionality which, depending on your peripherals and setup, could prove useful and perhaps worth the price of admission.

RIG M2 Streamstar: Specs

RIG M2 Streamstar: Design and features

• Unique look, but feels cheap
• Very basic set of features
• No included software

The RIG M2 Streamstar has quite an attractive design. The capsule has an angular shape, with a distinct blend of smooth rectangles and trapezoids. It looks almost futuristic and is very compact to boot, coming in at roughly 6.5in / 165mm tall when using its included stand.

The front of the microphone is dominated by a large metallic grille, which sits just above two dials. The top dial controls your headphone settings when a compatible pair is connected via the 3.5mm jack or Bluetooth. Twisting the dial increases or decreases the overall headphone volume, while pressing it once mutes the headset. Holding the button enables Bluetooth paring mode, indicated by a flashing ring light around the base of the button.

The other dial controls the microphone gain, though it’s a little tricky to adjust. It’s hard to tell your current level unless you’re using the side tone. Normally, I would simply boot up a microphone’s software to change my current settings to the precise level that I wanted - but as there isn’t any of that here you just need to do it by ear.

The lack of software also means that simple actions like enabling the side tone or changing the sample rate are convoluted and require you to fiddle around in your system settings. The included Quick Start Guide is filled with screenshots of an older version of the Windows sound settings tab, which makes it unhelpful for those on Windows 11. Simplicity is a good thing and I generally love plug-and-play functionality, but there comes a point where not having quick access to important settings is just annoying.

Pressing the gain dial quickly mutes the microphone, which is standard at this price but nevertheless a handy feature to have. Both dials are constructed from plastic and feel very cheap, even wobbling slightly when they’re being adjusted. The action of rotating the dial also leads to a lot of audible feedback, which is going to be a problem if you’re used to using a model where you can quickly adjust your settings on stream.

The included stand is basic and underwhelming, effectively a two-part lump of plastic with a rubberized underside that doesn't feel particularly sturdy and is held together by cheap screws. The microphone is compatible with most boom arms via a standard 5/8 thread though, which is good and gives you more options to work with.

One little detail I do appreciate is the fact that the microphone has a small plastic panel on its rear that is held in place by magnets and can be removed easily. This is intended to be a place where you can display your own branding, which is a cute and novel idea.

RIG M2 Streamstar: Performance

• Easy to get set up
• Sounds good when properly positioned
• Prone to background noise

The setup process is very easy, but I quickly found that the RIG M2 Streamstar tends to sound quite muffled unless you’re careful about positioning. I'm used to testing lots of different cardioid mics, but my usual spot just didn’t seem to work this time around. Instead, the microphone needed to be right below mouth in order to pick up speech reliably so it’s definitely worth investing in a boom arm if you don’t already have one.

Everything that I did manage to record once I found that position sounded good, at least. The high-fidelity recordings I produced in Audacity were very detailed and captured my voice well - at least when there wasn’t any background noise. On that note, the RIG M2 Streamstar picks up background noise easily, with everything from the click of my mouse to passing cars coming across in life-like detail.

This wouldn’t be an issue in a studio environment, but if you’re a streamer or content creator you’re going to need a separate software solution for noise cancellation in the likes of OBS. This isn’t the end of the world, but almost every gaming model from major brands at this price comes with its own noise-cancellation features out of the box.

The side tone features perform well when the microphone is connected to either a wired or wireless audio device. There’s no noticeable latency at all over Bluetooth, which is very impressive. I tested the microphone with a few different pairs of wireless headphones (both gaming and more general consumer models) and every model paired easily. As connected headphones can be used as audio output devices, this could double as a way to enable Bluetooth 5.4 audio on your PC if it doesn’t support it.

Should I buy the RIG M2 Streamstar?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider...

After some other options? These two models give the RIG M2 Streamstar a run for its money.

How I tested the RIG M2 Streamstar

• Tested for a week
• Compared to other gaming microphones
• Used in a variety of scenarios and use cases

I tested the RIG M2 Streamstar for a week, putting it through its paces in a number of scenarios using my home PC with an RTX 3060, I5-11400F, and 32GB of RAM. This time included a number of work meetings and gaming sessions with friends, in addition to testing its compatibility with popular streaming software OBS. I also evaluated its audio quality with a number of recording tests, most notably recording several samples in Audacity in a variety of different conditions.

Throughout my time with the microphone I compared my experience with my hands-on testing of countless other models ranging all the way from reliable budget options such as the Blue Snowball to more premium alternatives like the Blue Yeti and Steelseries Alias and SteelSeries Alias Pro.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2025.