27 tricks to level up your video gaming

Each game console has its own unique features. Whether you are playing Sony PlayStation 4, Microsoft Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, or a combination of these three, you can find some tips to improve your gaming experience. We've collected 9 suggestions for each console, from improving legacy PlayStation games to streaming Xbox games to Windows computers, to extending Switch's battery life. Experienced players and novice players can find skills to improve their game.

PlayStation 4 Tips

1. Mobile-changing remote control: Entering text and scrolling menus using the PS4 standard DualShock handle can be very time-consuming. Therefore, it is recommended to install Sony's Second Screen app (for Android and iOS). This program allows you to navigate the host menu from your phone and enter text (such as username and password). Some games even provide extra material through the app, such as maps.

2. Private Listening: You may have noticed the built-in headphone jack on the PS4 DualShock handle. However, when you plug in the headset, the host does not automatically transfer all gaming audio to the headset. By default, only in-game chats will be played through headphones. However, if you want to avoid disturbing your roommate, you can adjust the settings to listen privately to all sounds, including sound effects and music from the host. To do this, press and hold the PlayStation button until the menu appears on the screen. Then select Sound/Device > Headphone Out and change the option to All Audio.

3. Custom Wallpapers: Of course, PS4 offers many free and paid wallpaper themes. But what if you want to make your own wallpaper? To create a custom wallpaper, first insert the USB drive into your computer. Create a new folder called "IMAGES" at the top level of the portable drive and put some pictures into it. On the standard PS4, these wallpapers require 1920 x 1920 pixels resolution, while the PS4 Pro requires 3840 x 2160 pixels. Insert the USB drive into the PlayStation host, wait for a moment, and then go to Settings > Theme > Select theme > Custom > Select picture > USB storage device . Select your image from the drive, select an accent color for the menu, and enjoy your custom wallpaper.

4. Extra Storage: Thanks to this year's new update, you can get more storage without replacing the host's built-in hard drive. PlayStation 4 now allows you to save games and apps to a standard external drive as long as it can handle USB 3.0 and has a capacity of between 250GB and 8TB. Once the appropriate hardware is found, plug it into the host. Open Settings > Devices > USB Storage Device, select your drive, and click Format as Extended Storage. The newly formatted drive will become the default location for PS4 to save applications and game progress. You can change the default settings back to the host's internal storage in Settings > Storage .

5. Double-click to switch games: This is a good trick to quickly switch between games. On the DualShock controller, double-click the PlayStation button to switch back to the previously opened app or game. This works for most games, but not all games. However, this feature will not work when you switch between two programs that both rely on an internet connection.

6. Enhanced old game performance (PS4 Pro only): The new PlayStation 4 Pro has additional processing power to generate improved visuals at higher frame rates. But this only applies to newer games optimized for this feature. This is where the enhancement mode comes in. It can push some unoptimized old games to higher frame rates more stably. Enable it in Settings > System > Enhanced Mode. Sony itself admits that the results of this model may vary. Still, if it starts to have problems while you play the game, you can always turn it off again.

7. Download content in hibernation mode: When you turn off PS4, its internet connection will also be disconnected—which means that any updates that occur in the background must be paused until you restart the host again. However, you can keep the internet connection active by putting the host in low-power sleep mode instead of turning it off completely. To enable this mode, go to Settings > Power Saving Settings > Set the functions available in sleep mode . In addition to keeping Hibernation Mode network connected, you can also tell it to continue powering its USB port (recharge your controller) and pause apps and games so you can quickly recover them when you restore the host to run. After one or more of these features are enabled, the next time you press and hold the PlayStation button to turn off the host, you will see the option to turn off the host or put it in hibernation mode.

8. Reconfigure gamepad: Many PS4 games allow you to remap the controller buttons so that you can set custom shortcuts. If the game does not provide this option, you can make similar adjustments through the console's system settings. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Button Assignment > Enable Custom Button Assignment > Custom Button Assignment . On this screen, you can reconfigure the handle buttons. These customizations will be applied to all games until you disable them again. However, they are associated with the currently active username, so other users can restore the default configuration without resetting the handle.

9. Close notifications: PlayStation will send you notifications when a friend goes online or downloads a patch available. But sometimes, you just want to focus on the game or video. In these cases, you can suppress the alarm in the settings > notification . On this screen, you can use the checkbox to customize what you receive. You can choose to avoid notifications of trophys, invitations, and other events, or you can choose to disable pop-ups when playing videos for an uninterrupted viewing experience. Or simply close all notifications.

Xbox One Tips

1. Stream to Windows 10 PCs: Microsoft has developed both Windows 10 and Xbox One, so the tech company makes it quite easy to stream games from the latter to the former. First, connect your host and computer to the same wireless network. Then open your Xbox and go to Settings >Preferences >Xbox App Connection. Under this Xbox, enable to allow streaming games to other devices , and under Other devices, enable Allow connections from any device >

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   >>>>>>>>>>>> >. Next, pick up your laptop or desktop computer, click on the taskbar to search for "Xbox", and then launch your computer's Xbox app. On the left side of the screen, click Connect and select the Xbox that appears. Now you can start one of your games and start streaming. Reconfigure the handle: This trick (we have already covered in the PS4 DualShock handle) also works on Xbox One. From the home screen go to My Games and Apps >Apps > Xbox Accessories. Here you will see the connected handle on the screen. To remap the handle buttons for any of them, select Configuration > Button Mapping . Although these changes will apply to all your games, they will not affect other user accounts.

3. Get new features ahead of time: The Xbox Insider plan allows you to preview the pre-release version of the Xbox One software. These versions may have a little more buggy than usual, but they give you the opportunity to access cool new features and settings before they are officially launched. Anyone can sign up for this free program, but it rewards long-term users: the longer you sign up, the more types of preview software you can try. To start, go to the Store tab, search for "Xbox Insider Hub", and select from the page to get/install. Once the application is installed, open it and select any preview from the Insider Content section.

4. Insert the keyboard: Given the shared heritage of Xbox One with Windows, it is no surprise that you can plug a wired keyboard into one of the USB ports of your host and start typing. While you can't play games through this peripheral connection, this makes typing text and chatting much easier. Microsoft has also discussed providing mouse and keyboard support for games. There is no official news on this regard, but please pay attention.

5. Talk with Cortana: Microsoft recently added support for its digital assistant Cortana on Xbox One. So, if you prefer to talk to the console rather than clicking the handle, pick up the connected Kinect or headphones with a microphone. Then say "Hey Cortana" and issue the command. For example, say "Hey Cortana, play [game name]" to start any game, "Hey Cortana, go home" to return to the home screen, "Hey Cortana, record that" to save the last 30 seconds of game screen, "Hey Cortana, Screenshots” to quickly capture static images. Microsoft has a list of more Cortana commands on Xbox One.

6. Trip your clips: Xbox One makes it easy to record your game videos: Just select Capture from the in-game menu. The same menu lists recent recordings so you can easily share them to the platform of your choice. However, you can also use Microsoft's editing software to get better control over captured clips. Go to the Store section from the Xbox dashboard and install the free Upload Studio app. After running, select a stored clip and select Edit . You can then choose Skin to add top visuals, trim to cut the cut parts, and upload to share with the wider world.

7. Disable movie autoplay: By default, the movie starts playing when you place the Blu-ray disc onto the console. If you've seen a part of the movie before, it will also continue to play from where you last watched it. This is convenient if you're ready to watch, but it can become inconvenient if you just want to load the disc and then save it for later viewing. To prevent the Blu-ray disc from starting immediately after you insert it, go to Settings > Discs and Blu-ray and uncheck the box marked Autoplay Disc. If you don't like the CD to continue playing from where you last watched, uncheck Resume playback.

8. Set Xbox to match your monitor: If you know the exact specifications of the monitor you are using, you can set the resolution and refresh rate of the Xbox One for the best image. First, set the refresh rate to a fast 120Hz in Settings > Display and Sound> Video Output> Refresh Rate . Next, visit Settings > Display and Sound> TV Resolution and set the resolution to 1440p, which is a useful intermediate value between 1080p and 4K. If this is the resolution your monitor uses natively, it should produce a sharper image.

9. Cam the movie to your Xbox now: We first introduced the tips for streaming Xbox One to your Windows 10 device, and you can also send locally stored video files to the opposite direction. Connect two devices to the same home network. Then, on your computer, open File Explorer and right-click on the video file. Select Cast to device and select your Xbox to stream the video to the host.

Nintendo Switch Tips

1. Bring your screenshots with you: The Switch has a dedicated screenshot button that easily captures images of the game you are playing. What you may not know is that you can save these images to the inserted SD card. This is a much simpler way to transfer files compared to the Switch’s built-in sharing options, especially if you want to collect a large number of images to share online, create screenshot montages, or edit images on your desktop computer. To set it up, go to System Settings > Manage Save Data/Screen Shots > Manage Screenshots > Save Location and change the location to your SD card. Then, after saving the required pictures, remove the card and insert it into the card reader on your computer.

2. View your time playing the game: How much time did you spend playing with Mario, Zelda and the rest of your friends? To track the time you spend in each game, go to the home screen, select the avatar in the upper left corner, and scroll down the Profile page to see your behavior. Select the Friend List option on the left to explore your friends' gaming habits. Once you have used the Switch for at least 10 days, these statistics will start to display.

3. Set time limits for children: We have mentioned how you can track your own game time, but Nintendo can also help you limit the time your kids spend on the Switch. To get the full control suite, download the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app (for Android and iOS). Log in with your Nintendo credentials and you can see what games your kids are playing and how long they have been playing. The app can also turn off game time remotely when kids spend too much time sticking to the screen. Based on age rating, it can even limit the games your child can access.

4. Use Joy-Con with other devices: This host connects its Joy-Con handle via standard Bluetooth. This means you can use your Switch controller to control Joy-Con-enabled games on other Bluetooth-enabled devices, whether they run on Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS. On the side where the Joy-Con connects with the Switch, you will find a small black pairing button. Press the button to sync the Joy-Con with your non-Switch device. When you reinsert the Joy-Con into the Switch, it will automatically reconnect.

5. Invest in Pro Handle: The Nintendo Pro Handle ($68 for Amazon) is not cheap, but it has many benefits. The embedded NFC chip reader allows it to interact with Nintendo's Amiibo characters, bringing these real-world toys into your videos; it supports motion control, so your body movements affect the game; it provides you with touch with vibration support feedback. When you use a more advanced handle, your Joy-Con can stay connected to the Switch, where they will be charged until you are ready to go.

6. Open your TV automatically: When your Switch is docked and connected to your TV, you may want to turn on both the large screen and the gaming console. To make sure this happens, go to the home screen and navigate to System Settings > TV Settings . Then set to match the TV power status to turn on . Now, turning on the Switch will activate your TV, turning off the large screen will also turn off the host. To turn off this behavior, change match TV power status back to off . One caveat: While most modern TVs allow this setting, not all TVs allow it – make sure they support HDMI CEC connections.

7. More accurate measurement of battery life: Want to know how much battery is left in the battery? The Switch can display percentage readings next to the standard battery icon in the upper right corner of the screen. Go to System Settings >System > Host Battery % to display this information.

8. Extend battery life: Nintendo has built a Switch for portable, anywhere and anywhere, meaning it relies on the battery. To extend the game time as much as possible, you need to try some power saving tips. First, turn the brightness down by clicking the Home button in the lower right corner, go to the Quick Settings menu, and then slide the brightness bar down. In an emergency, activating flight mode from the same Quick Settings menu disables the Switch's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, both of which drain the battery. Finally, if you are ready to spend money, you can invest in a USB-C portable power pack. You need a power package with an output of 5V-3A or higher, and it is explicitly mentioned that it is Switch-compatible, such as the Anker PowerCore 20100 ($66 for Amazon).

9. Looking for friends: Generally speaking, adding friends on a Switch is still a complicated process. But it has become a little easier since Nintendo added the ability to link your Facebook and Twitter accounts, allowing you to quickly scan your network for friends with Switch. To do this, please open your profile page (select your avatar from the list in the upper left corner of the screen), select Friends Suggestions from the list on the left, and then select Facebook or Twitter. Follow the instructions to connect your account and find friends who can play the game together.

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