Prepare for Battle! The Essential Gear for Any Top Gaming and Streaming Station
Rocks crunch beneath your feet as you breathe heavily, chasing down an enemy.
“SNIPER IN THE TOWER!” you shout through your mic as you hear a bullet whiz by on your headset. You crouch your character behind a burned out tank to avoid a kill shot. Your teammate dives behind a doorway just in time to avoid being taken out herself. In the corner of your screen, you see the relief etched across her face in her camera feed. You pull out an HDR of your own, reload the clip — KA-CHUNK — and wait for the sniper to break cover, watching intently through the scope. Finally, he makes a run for it. BOOM! The bullet finds its mark as the shell clinks to the ground. “Nice shot,” your teammate says before you continue the assault.
When you’re playing online with friends — or strangers — clear communication is as key to survival as is a lightning fast core processor, giant 4K monitor, or ultra-responsive keyboard when you’re setting up your ultimate battle station. You’ll definitely want your teammates to hear your tactical instructions clearly, and your enemies to make out every last word of your trash talking. Plus, if you’re planning to go live on Twitch or YouTube, it’s imperative to have equipment that delivers broadcast quality sound and video, or your viewers will quickly click on another channel that does.
But don’t take my word for it, look at the way these jaw-dropping setups combine top-notch video and audio to create personalized spaces that would make any gamer drool. Hopefully you’ll get some ideas on how to set up your very own comprehensive rig.
IG: @lvlupduo
This sweet, color-coordinated tandem setup is perfect for a couple who enjoy playing together as a team — or competing against one another in head-to-head combat. Hey, a round of “Fortnite” sounds like a much more fun way to decide what to have for dinner than Rock Paper Scissors. All of the equipment — which comes in matching, soothing blue and white — offers everything you’ll need for professional-level streaming. The cool blue track lighting underscores the calm vibes emanating from the battle station’s color accents — and the Logitech G733 Lightspeed Wireless RGB Gaming Headsets ensure they won’t disturb the neighbors! These ultra-lightweight headsets provide unbeatable comfort plus surround sound, voice filters, and advanced lighting to help you look, sound, and play with more style than ever.
IG: @AKA_ART_
YouTube/AKAARTOFFICIAL
Everything about this elite gaming setup oozes class, making this station a podcaster or streamer’s dream. The modern, uncluttered white desk and large window overlooking tall greenery offer a Zen-like den where Art can shut off from the world to concentrate on his craft. The Blue Baby Bottle XLR microphone might remind you of a vintage radio mic, but it’s anything but old-fashioned when it comes to sound quality, delivering classic warm audio that even a professional musician would envy.
TW: @DanHall_1
This battle station really maximizes a minimal amount of space. The thin wooden desk combined with triple curved monitors make you feel like you’re in the cockpit of a fighter jet preparing to save the world rather than in the corner of a bedroom or office. Combining the Compass Premium Boom Arm with the Yeti X USB mic is also a smart way to set up your station when you don’t have a lot of desk space because there’s one less thing sitting in front of you, and it opens up more room for the mouse and keyboard. Plus, his Logitech StreamCam, which records in full HD 1080p at 60fps, also lets him create content in portrait mode, which is ideal for mobile devices and Instagram.
IG: @Itzame_UK
Never take your eyes off the prize, which in @Itzame_UK’s case, is clearly his Instagram followers. With his five-digit Instagram follower counter front and center, he’s able to see how his content is performing in real-time when it comes to growing his audience. The wraparound desk with monitors on each side is a handy way to compartmentalize games and/or streams. His Yeti X USB mic and boom arm are also good choices for this setup, because they allow him to switch back and forth between monitors with ease. Because the mic only has one cable, there’s not much that can get tangled up with all that movement.
IG: @jreneegames
A battle station fit for a modern samurai, embracing the past and finding joy in the present. The Japanese lanterns and artwork harken the old Bushido Code, or “Way of the Warrior,” while the Funko pops lining the desk are a reminder that it’s OK to be a fanboy and have some fun while playing video games. Because @Jreneegames has opted for mood lighting reminiscent of a darkened shrine in feudal Japan, his Logitech Brio webcam, which captures every move in 4K resolution at 30fps, or in 1080p at 60 fps, is the perfect choice for this low-light environment.
IG: @havokharakiri
Big. Massive. Gargantuan. Honestly, there aren’t enough adjectives to describe the scale of @Havokharakiri’s epic rig, which envelopes your senses with sights, sounds, and pure energy. If the triple monitor setup wasn’t enough, he’s also got a wall-mounted flatscreen to complete the experience. Also on the wall, his subwoofers amplify the bass, while the acoustic paneling ensures the sound traveling through his Yeti mic is devoid of echo, reverb, and ambient noise. Honestly, he could probably host a rave without missing a beat. Meanwhile, his G502 Hero high-performance gaming mouse, which looks like a sleek battlecraft ready for an interstellar assault, features the most accurate gaming sensor ever created, not to mention the fastest frame-rate processing available. Its 11 programmable buttons also allow you to lock in your favorite commands and power moves.
IG: @tiinytriix
This dual setup is a shrine to high performance, offering the total package when it comes to an all-around high-intensity gaming experience. The focus here is all on the equipment, with @Tiinytriix eschewing a cluttered space filled with toys and art in favor of clean lines and symmetrical arrangement. For starters, she’s got the top-of-the-line Brio webcam, as well as two wireless G915 TKL Gaming Keyboards — one in black and the other in white to suit her mood. Speaking of mood coloring, the TKL’s Lightsync RGB technology allows for fully customizable lighting across all its keys which will really pop in this mostly white space.
IG: i_am_milkes
TW: @IamMilkes
This battle station is an audiophile’s dream that doesn’t break the bank. @IamMilkes opted for the budget-friendly Yeticaster pro bundle, which is perfect for the streamer just getting into the game and building an audience while delivering professional-quality content. It comes with the aforementioned Yeti USB mic, Compass Premium Boom Arm, and a Radius III Custom Shockmount, which isolates the Yeti from movement and ambient vibration, which could come in handy if you’re broadcasting in tight quarters or sharing a room with someone else. The classic-yet-affordable Logitech C922 webcam also allows him to stream in 1080p at 30 frames per second or hyperfast HD 720p at 60fsp.
IG: wolf_mav
If the stacked triple monitors, companion vertical monitor, and mounted subwoofers don’t convince you that @Wolf_Mav takes gaming ultra-seriously, perhaps the huge “Gears of War” lancer mounted above this high-caliber battle station will do the trick. It’s clear from his monitor setup that he was looking to create an all-immersive visual environment that takes you right inside the action, and the G733 headset’s precise and full-range surround sound compliments that effort perfectly when it comes to audio.
IG: @fluxgamess
No, you’re not looking at the set of an Apple commercial. This is @Fluxgamess’ ode to white minimalist design. From the sleek modern desk to the plush carpet, whiteout Yeti mic, and white G915 TKL Gaming Keyboard, the equipment and furniture exude a sense of peaceful calm that many gamers find beneficial. The keyboard also lets him create his own animations or choose from a selection of preset effects to really add to the ambience. The only break from the aesthetic is the brick wall, which offers a nice reminder that it takes hard work and grit to build a streaming empire. But don’t worry, the keyboard will make sure you don’t injure your hands along the way. Its keys are also super responsive and low-profile, meaning they’re half the height of traditional keys. There are also three different types of keypads to choose from depending on how smooth you prefer your keystrokes.
