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Generative AI famously consumes large amounts of energy due to the extensive computational power required for training models and processing tasks, and this is raising concerns about its contribution to environmental issues such as increased carbon emissions and resource depletion.

Sasha Luccioni, a prominent Canadian computer scientist and AI researcher known for her work on the environmental impact of artificial intelligence, recently discussed the topic at the ALL IN artificial intelligence conference in Montreal.

"I find it particularly disappointing that generative AI is used to search the Internet," Luccioni told AFP on the sidelines of the conference, lamenting the energy costs of using AI for tasks that traditional search engines could perform.

(Image credit: Future) Thoughtful, efficient use of AI

Unlike basic search engines that retrieve existing information, AI models generate new content, requiring significant computing power to train on billions of data points and respond to user requests. Google's AI Overview feature, for example, offers AI-generated snapshots that summarize key points from multiple sources in response to complex queries.

"We are accelerating the climate crisis," Luccioni warned, calling for more transparency from tech companies and urging governments to legislate more effectively once such transparency is achieved.

Recognized by Time in 2024 as one of the 100 most influential figures in AI, Luccioni helped create a tool called "CodeCarbon" in 2020, which enables developers to measure the carbon footprint of their code. This tool has been downloaded over a million times. She is now working on a certification system to label AI models based on their energy efficiency. Comparing the system to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s energy consumption ratings for appliances, she explained: "For a specific task, we can measure energy efficiency and say that this model has an A+, and that model has a D."

While she might be perceived as anti-AI by some, Luccioni is keen to stress that her goal is to promote "energy sobriety" by encouraging users to make thoughtful, efficient use of AI technologies.

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The Rings of Power season 3: key information

- Hasn't been officially announced yet
- Showrunners are "working on it", though
- No release date set
- No trailers or other footage revealed
- Many of its primary actors expected to return
- No new cast members unveiled
- Plot details are thin on the ground, but J.R.R. Tolkien's literary works hold some clues about its direction
- Five-season plan expected to be seen through to completion

The Rings of Power season 3 feels like an inevitability at this point. Regardless of whether you like or loathe it, Amazon's Lord of the Rings (LotR) prequel series is one of its biggest TV Original hits so, in our view, a third installment is all but confirmed – especially as work is ongoing on the high fantasy show's next chapter.

Before The Rings of Power is officially renewed for another season, then, you'll want to get up to speed on everything we know about it so far. In this guide, we've rounded up the latest intel on the Prime Video show's third season, including its probable cast, likely story threads, when we think it'll air on the streaming platform, and more.

Full spoilers follow for The Rings of Power season 2. You have been warned.

The Rings of Power season 3 release date prediction

Smiling through the pain of waiting for a season 3 renewal... (Image credit: Prime Video)

The Rings of Power season 3 hasn't been greenlit by Amazon Studios, but it's in active development. In late August, showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay told TechRadar they were "working on it" alongside their fellow writers, which means script work is currently ongoing.

Updates have been few and far between since we spoke to the show's co-creators. However, in September, director and executive producer Charlotte Brändström told RadioTimes.com that "there'll be good news soon", which suggests an announcement could be made shortly.

If it's renewed for a third outing, we predict season 3 will debut on Prime Video sometime in mid to late 2026. The Rings of Power season 1 was released on September 2, 2022, while its follow-up launched on August 29, 2024. If filming begins as soon as the forthcoming chapter is announced, we'd expect those in charge of development to maintain its two-year schedule, meaning it should air in August or September 2026.

The Rings of Power trailer: is there one?

Sorry, Galadriel, there won't be a season 3 trailer for a long time (Image credit: Prime Video)

No, and there won't be one until much closer to The Rings of Power season 3's release date, either. We'll update this section once a trailer is available – but, sit tight, because it's going to be a while.

The Rings of Power season 3 cast speculation

Gil-galad and Elrond will return for season 3 (Image credit: Ben Rothstein/Prime Video)

Full spoilers follow for The Rings of Power season 2.

Based on how season 2 ended, here's who we expect to see again in The Rings of Power season 3:

• Charlie Vickers as Sauron
• Morfydd Clark as Galadriel
• Robert Aramayo as Elrond
• Benjamin Walker as Gil-galad
• Ismael Cruz Cordova as Arondir
• Owain Arthur as Durin IV
• Sophia Nomvete as Disa
• Kevin Eldon as Narvi
• Lloyd Own as Elendil
• Maxim Baldry as Isildur
• Cynthia Addai-Robinson as Míriel
• Ema Horvath as Eärien
• Trystan Gravelle as Pharazôn
• Leon Wadham as Kemen
• Tyroe Muhafidin as Theo
• Daniel Weyman as Gandalf
• Rory Kinnear as Tom Bombadil
• Ciaran Hinds as The Dark Wizard
• Markella Kavenagh as Nori
• Megan Richards as Poppy

There are a number of big-name characters who won't return next season. Charles Edwards' Celebrimbor will be the most notable absence, with Eregion's leader and the master smith dying in the season 2 finale. Unless Celebrimbor returns in a flashback sequence, as one of Sauron's disguises (the Dark Lord masqueraded as Celebrimbor during his season 2 showdown with Galadriel), or – as depicted in Tolkien's wider works – his corpse is paraded on a banner as part of Sauron's army in season 3, Edwards won't reprise this role.

Peter Mullan's King Durin III won't be back, either, after Khazad-dûm's former monarch perished in an unwinnable duel with the Balrog known as Durin's Bane. Sam Hazeldine's Adar, Robert Strange's Glûg, and Amelia Kenworth's Mirdania are also on the deceased pile. Adar was murdered by Glûg and a band of orcs after Sauron used his dark magic to turn them against their Lord Father. Meanwhile, Glûg was slain by a furious and impulsive Sauron – in the final throes of the Siege of Eregion – when a legion of Khazad-dûm's dwarven soldiers arrived in the elven city to aid the fleeing elves' escape. Lastly, Mirdania was fatally injured after she was thrown from Eregion's walls by Sauron (although it was made to look like Celebrimbor did it) in season 2 episode 7. She was beheaded by an orc moments later.

We'd be surprised if Míriel and Elendil don't return next season (Image credit: Prime Video)

As for potential newcomers, The Rings of Power season 3 should introduce new characters – those already established in LotR and original creations alike – to bolster the show's already extensive cast ranks. New faces could include Prince Durin's brother, who's set to vie with his sibling for Khazad-dûm's throne, and the nine kings of mortal men – Rhûn's Khamûl the Easterling among them – who'll surely be gifted one of the final nine Rings of Power by Sauron next time around.

Celeborn, Galadriel's presumed dead husband who's been conspicuous by his absence in the show so far, is another option. Celeborn not only plays an integral role in the elves' war to come with Sauron (more on this shortly) but also establishes the realm of Lothlórien with Galadriel in Middle-earth's Third Age, so he seems like a safe bet to appear. We'll update this section once any new characters (and the actors playing them) are announced.

The Rings of Power season 3 story rumors

What lies in store for Gandalf in season 3? (Image credit: Prime Video)

Major spoilers follow for The Rings of Power season 2, plus J.R.R. Tolkien's various literary works.

The Rings of Power season 3's story synopsis hasn't been revealed yet. However, based on what happened in its forebear's final episode – read our The Rings of Power season 2 ending explained piece for more details – and LotR's source material, we can predict what's to come.

Let's start with Sauron. Now he has Fëanor's hammer and is experienced in the art of metallurgy, Morgoth's successor is primed to forge his own ring – the legendary One Ring – next season. It's one of three big wishes that Sauron star Charlie Vickers has for season 3, too; the Australian actor telling TechRadar he sees the One Ring's creation as the "next piece of the puzzle" for Middle-earth's Big Bad.

(Image credit: Prime Video)

Sauron is also set to hand out the nine rings for mortal men, too, after finally acquiring the nonuplet in season 2 episode 8, titled 'Shadow and Flame'. These rings are the ones he's imbued with the greatest amount of dark magic – remember, his literal blood was secretly poured into them – so he'll be able to corrupt and control Middle-earth's human kings more efficiently than the elves (he didn't help to make that trio) and the dwarves (he had a hand in those rings' creation, but their corrupting influence isn't as strong as he'd hoped).

It's unclear who'll receive the nine rings in The Rings of Power. In LotR's canon, Khamûl the Easterling is the only named individual who's gifted one, so Amazon's prequel has creative freedom to distribute them to whomever they want. He's not a king, but our money is on one of them going to season 2's slimiest character in Kemen, i.e. Pharazôn's son.

The elves are going to waaaaarrr! (Image credit: Prime Video)

Sauron won't have everything going his way in The Rings of Power season 3, though. After regrouping at what appears to be the location Rivendell will eventually be built upon, Gil-galad, Galadriel, Elrond, and Arondir rally Eregion and Lindon's remaining forces to halt Sauron's victory procession across Eriador. This marks the official start of The War of the Elves and Sauron, a centuries-long conflict where both sides trade telling blows and devastating losses as they vie for peace and world domination respectively.

Read more of our Rings of Power season 2 finale exclusives

- 'I'm still pretty shocked': The Rings of Power's Daniel Weyman hasn't come to terms with who he's really playing after The Stranger's 'exciting' name reveal
- 'There's an order of events to come': The Rings of Power's Cynthia Addai-Robinson teases 'exciting' but 'tragic' season 3 arc for Míriel
- 'I have no idea': The Rings of Power's Daniel Weyman doesn't know if The Stranger will meet Sauron in season 3, but he's open to it

As mentioned, this war is a protracted one, so we suspect one of the best Prime Video shows' writing team will considerably shorten the length of this conflict to ensure storylines involving its mortal characters – those being humans and dwarves – can still run concurrent to events playing out between the immortal elves and seemingly unkillable Sauron.

Speaking of the dwarves, two major plot threads were left dangling after the season 2 finale. The first involves finding a permanent successor to King Durin III and, while the smart money was on Prince Durin IV becoming Khazad-dûm's new monarch, his brother – Durin IV doesn't have a sibling in Tolkien's works – is also eyeing the subterranean kingdom's royal seat.

Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone... (Image credit: Prime Video)

Durin IV, though, has an ace up his sleeve in the dwarven rings. He previously promised his wife, Princess Disa, that he'd never use or wear them but, with his brother garnering support from numerous dwarf lords, Durin and Disa may need to revisit that pact to sway some of his brother's supporters to their cause. Whether that means using the rings themselves or gifting them to the other lords, is currently unclear.

Aside from the familial melodrama, there's also the ever-looming danger of Durin's Bane. It's likely that, following King Durin III's sacrifice, it'll be trapped for the rest of the show. But, as we've said before, The Rings of Power has taken creative liberties with Tolkien's works, so it could rear its ugly head in future seasons.

Nori and Gandalf parted ways in season 2's final episode (Image credit: Prime Video)

Over in Rhûn and Middle-earth's eastern regions, Nori and Gandalf have gone their separate ways. After finding his staff, learning his real name, and reuniting with Tom Bombadil, the latter is ready to master his abilities ahead of his forthcoming showdowns with The Dark Wizard and Sauron. Meanwhile, Nori has headed off for pastures new with Poppy and the Stoor community. We're not sure whether we'll see Nori, Poppy, and the Stoors (not to mention the Harfoots) again, but a reunion between Nori and Gandalf hasn't been ruled out by their actors. It's possible their storyline has been split in two and we'll follow both characters on their individual paths next season.

Moving back west, there'll be plenty of familial and civil war-based drama to come in the realms of men. Indeed, Númenor and Pelargir are set to be the stages upon which more political infighting, not to mention actual battles, will play out.

Watch your back, Kemen (Image credit: Prime Video)

Where Númenor is concerned, Elendil – with the legendary sword Narsil in hand – has fled Armenelos to rally The Faithful, i.e. those still loyal to the elves and the Valar (Middle-earth's angels, essentially), who haven't been imprisoned by the false king Pharazôn. One of those captives is Queen Regent Míriel, who's been accused of being in league with Sauron. However, we don't know yet if, as in the source material, she'll be forced to marry Pharazôn as a Hail Mary move to preserve the peace between The Faithful and The King's Men (those loyal to Pharazôn), or if things will play out differently. Oh, and let's not forget that Isildur is finally on his way back to Númenor. We wonder what he'll make of everything that's happened on the island since he was last there...

Meanwhile, Kemen and a legion of Númenórean soldiers have taken control of Pelargir and are now overseeing the production of a vast fleet of ships for his father. We won't spoil why they're being built, but let's just say it ties into Númenor's eventual downfall. Anyway, based on how this storyline ended in season 2, we don't think it'll be long before Theo, Estrid, and the rest of the Southlands' refugees – maybe with a little help from the Ents they ran into last season, too? – revolt against their newly installed superiors in The Rings of Power season 3.

Is The Rings of Power season 3 going to be the last one?

Will we see Míriel and company return in future seasons of the hit Prime Video series? (Image credit: Prime Video)

Before The Rings of Power's first season aired, Payne and McKay told Time magazine they had a five-season plan for their Lord of the Rings TV adaptation. However, discussing season 2 with TechRadar in late August, they kept referring to the show as a "multi-season" project. 

Does this slight change in terminology mean that five-season blueprint has been revised down to four? With season 2 getting off to an inauspicious start – per Deadline, its three-episode premiere suffered a 50% drop in viewership compared to its forebear – there were some fears that Amazon may renege on Payne and McKay's original master plan.

However, it appears that the five-season outline hasn't been altered, with a Prime Video spokesperson telling The Hollywood Reporter that Amazon "remains committed" to it. With one billion minutes (around 16.7 million hours) streamed in the US, according to streaming experts Nielsen, in its first week on Prime Video, plus 55 million viewers globally in its first month on the platform (per Variety), it seems Amazon's LotR prequel is still popular enough to warrant more entries. Don't expect The Rings of Power season 3 to be the end of the series, then.

For more Prime Video TV show-related coverage, read our guides on Fallout season 2, The Boys season 5, and Invincible season 3.

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Octopus Arcade Stick: two-minute review

The Octopus Arcade Stick is a versatile fight stick that provides an excellent gaming experience for fighting game fans with exceptional compatibility across a range of platforms. The arcade-grade joystick and buttons from Sanwa benefit from a durable, aerospace-grade aluminum shell.

Indeed, in practice, using it does feel exactly like stepping into the ring on a brawler at your local arcade (minus the beer-soaked cabinets of course). Buttons are responsive and the joystick reliably moves with precision and purpose as you’d expect from a Sanwa stick, always snapping back correctly ready for the next combo, block, or evasion. If Sanwa doesn’t fit your playstyle, then the supplied stick and buttons are easily swapped out for alternatives.

It’s the sheer number of supported consoles and platforms that truly impresses here. Where other contenders for best fight stick can tie players into a single or limited ecosystem, the Octopus Arcade Stick is compatible with over twenty platforms out of the box. Everything from the Mega Drive and SNES, to the entire PlayStation home console family, to PC and even several niche consoles play nicely with TR Fight Stick’s debut behemoth.

Achieving this versatility does require additional cables though, with an array of 2m leads available directly from TR Fight Stick to suit consoles that feature proprietary controller connections that predate the USB standards of today. The included USB-C cable will still provide ample platform coverage across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Switch, Xbox 360, PlayStation Classic, MegaDrive Mini, NeoGeo Mini, Astro City Mini, MiSTer FPGA, RetroPie, and other Raspberry Pi apps, plus X-Input devices.

(Image credit: Future/Theo Litston)

While the Octopus Arcade Stick is happy to throw down on a range of systems, it’s clear that it was designed with Sega’s Dreamcast as its champion. The Octopus’ secret weapon is one strictly for fans of Sega’s final home console, and appears as a built-in virtual VMU (Visual Memory Unit) switcher, with a capacity for ten individual VMUs, providing easy access to more save data slots than even the most prolific Dreamcast player will ever need. 

The Octopus Arcade Stick even includes an LCD screen at the top of the unit, allowing you to see at a glance which VMU they’re using and enjoy the little animations, mimicking their appearance on the original Dreamcast VMUs. Soul Calibur fans rejoice as tiny, pixelated Ivy is alive and well.

Serious players also tend to be serious about their fight stick aesthetics, and the Octopus doesn’t disappoint here either with customization options for faceplate designs and layouts, including options to switch from the standard Sega 2P layout to Viewlix, Noir, or HitBox faceplates. Accessing the innards of the Octopus is straightforward, with the rear aluminum plate easily removed by loosening the seven Phillips head screws.

Octopus Arcade Stick: Price and availability

• List price: $399.00 / £297.24 / AU$576.06
• Premium pricing…
• …but early adopters can bag one of the first batch of units for $299

The Octopus Arcade Stick is currently only available from TR Fight Stick’s official store page. The list price of $399.00, roughly £297.24 or AU$576.06 in the UK and Australia respectively, means that the Octopus Arcade Stick comes in as one of the pricier arcade sticks on the market today, costing more than an Xbox Series S or a Nintendo Switch OLED. 

While that ticket price may cause some to flinch, remember that the Octopus Arcade Stick’s wide array of compatible consoles and platforms could remove the need for additional peripherals and provide additional value to players wishing to use fight sticks on multiple systems. Even those looking for a fight stick for a single platform should feel confident in their purchase as the quality on display in the Octopus is stellar.

Mercifully, those aforementioned additional cables carry a reasonable $14.99 price tag so won’t break the bank for players looking to wield the Octopus on older systems.

The Octopus Arcade Stick is scheduled to launch sometime in October, and early adopters can snap up a unit in either black or white for $299 while TR Fight Stick’s initial stocks last.

(Image credit: Future/Theo Litston) Octopus Arcade Stick: Specs

(Image credit: Future/Theo Litston) Octopus Arcade Stick: Design and features

• Striking visuals with a range of changeable faceplates
• Fantastic build quality with high-end materials
• Bulky and heavy

Probably the first thing that’ll catch your eye on the Octopus Fight Stick is the artwork. TR Fight Stick has produced a series of faceplates, dubbed ‘OctoPlates’, allowing users to change the appearance of their arcade sticks. The majority of the OctoPlates include artwork featuring the titular cephalopod in a number of graphic styles, with designs inspired by everything from street graffiti to Grecian mosaics. If tentacles aren’t your thing, however, there is also a transparent OctoPlate which shows off the units’ inner workings, and even a limited edition plate featuring Ryo Hazuki from Dreamcast classic Shenmue.

There’s no avoiding the octopus in the room though, no matter how it's dressed, the Octopus Fight Stick is a hefty unit. The chassis size is a significant increase over the prototype I tested back at the start of the year, measuring almost 17.7in / 45cm across its width and 10.2 / 26cm deep. After opening the back of the unit to inspect modification options, I gleamed that there exists plenty of free space internally, meaning that TR Fight Stick could potentially slim this design down without greatly impacting its overall visage. 

It's not just the size of the Octopus either, but the weight, that may dissuade some would-be buyers. Tipping the scales at around 7.7lbs / 3.5kg, the Octopus Arcade Stick definitely falls into the heavyweight category alongside other sticks such as the Nacon Daija and the Victrix Pro FS. Personally, I don’t mind the weight resting on my lap during a gaming session, as it feels secure and unlikely to move around during play, however, its weight may be off-putting to some.

(Image credit: Future/Theo Litston) Octopus Arcade Stick: Performance

• Exceptionally responsive buttons and stick
• Switching between platforms is a little fiddly yet forgivable
• Fantastic for arcade games and retro titles as well including a well-implemented turbo function

When you’re in the heat of battle the last thing you want to worry about is an unresponsive controller, and the Octopus Arcade Stick uppercuts those concerns into oblivion. The sturdy metal case eliminates any flex you might experience with a plastic shell, with the buttons and stick feeling purposeful and reliable during heated online exchanges. 

A far cry from ‘the claw’ I often use when playing the best fighting games with something like one of the best PC controllers, the Octopus’ size affords a comfortable space for players to rest their wrists during gameplay, with the ergonomic layout putting every button at my fingertips, ready to engage at a moment’s notice. I found using the Octopus left me feeling less fatigued following a long play session, no doubt thanks to not needing to unnaturally wrap my digits around a pad.

The joystick offers similarly high levels of responsiveness, with dashes, blocks, and circle movements all feeling immediate while delivering that satisfying clicky feedback one only gets with an arcade stick. Special moves quickly become second nature and the experience of inputting button and directional sequences truly captures that arcade machine feeling.

(Image credit: Future/Theo Litston)

The majority of my review time was spent online in Tekken 8 on PS5, however, I was pleasantly surprised to see how easy it was to move between the various platforms the Octopus Arcade Stick supports.

TR Fight Stick provided me with a range of cables, allowing me to connect to all manner of systems. Plugging the fight stick into each one for the first time does require a bit of dexterity though. The first step is to connect the cable to the console or PC, before holding either a single-button or a two-button combo while inserting the other end of the cable into the Octopus Arcade Stick. It’s not the most elegant of methods for connecting, but with so many platforms supported it feels like TR Fight Stick has achieved a relatively painless process.

Similarly, the VMU switching on Dreamcast is vastly improved from the prototype model I’ve tested previously. Flicking between memory cards on Dreamcast now requires you to hold a single, dedicated button labeled ‘VMU’ before flicking the joystick left or right, whereas the prototype required me to contort my fingers unnaturally and enter a sequence of prompts to achieve the same thing.

(Image credit: Future/Theo Litston)

All initialization fumbling is quickly forgotten however once you’ve booted up your game of choice. A handy rocker switch on the unit's far side allows you to quickly toggle the joystick function between left and right analog sticks or a d-pad input, making navigating menus a breeze. Whether playing on PlayStation, PC, Mega Drive, Dreamcast, or Switch, the button and stick inputs remained sharp and responsive, with no noticeable lag present at all.

As a big retro-head, I was keen to take the Octopus Arcade Stick out of its natural brawler habitat and throw some stone-cold classics its way. Far from a one-genre master, the Octopus delivered a fantastic gaming experience across puzzle games like Dr. Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine on the Mega Drive and even excelled on the challenging platforming of Disney’s Aladdin. The Octopus’ performance in the latter even led to me reaching the penultimate level of the game in a single life, something I’ve never achieved on a control pad. 

Should you buy the Octopus Arcade Stick? Buy it if...

You’re serious about fighting games
The premium parts and materials warrant the premium price tag. This a serious piece of kit for hardcore beat ‘em enthusiasts and even features a tournament lock switch to avoid accidental disqualification during competitions.

You play on a variety of platforms, both old and new
Looking for a stick to play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Switch, Mortal Kombat 1 on the PS5, Killer Instinct on PC, Soul Calibur on the Dreamcast, and Street Fighter 2 on the SNES? The Octopus supports over twenty gaming platforms. 

You love customization
With a range of OctoPlates available, a variety of button layout options, and the ability to swap out buttons and joysticks, you can make their fight stick a truly unique peripheral. 

Don't buy it if...

You’re looking for a lightweight fight stick
If you’re anticipating long play sessions or having to regularly move your fight stick around the house, then the Octopus’ 7.7lbs / 3.5kg weight and large form factor may make it a little too cumbersome. 

You plan to play on Xbox Series consoles
If you primarily play on Xbox Series X or S then you’ll need an alternative fight stick, as despite the Octopus’ long list of supported platforms, Microsoft’s latest consoles didn’t make the cut.

Also consider...

If you’re in the market for a premium fight stick but not completely sold on the Octopus then here are two other similar arcade sticks for your consideration. It’s worth highlighting however the list of compatible platforms on these alternatives is much smaller than the Octopus Arcade Stick, however, that may not be an issue if you’re only looking to play on modern PlayStation or PC hardware.

Victrix Pro FS
This is a great alternative because just like the Octopus Fight Stick, the Victrix Pro FS comes with Sanwa parts as standard. While it doesn’t feature customizable faceplates like the Octopus, it is available in a variety of stylish colorways across its stunning design.

For more information, check out our full Victrix Pro FS review. 

Nacon Daija
This is a great alternative because of its premium build quality and highly responsive inputs. Officially licenced from PlayStation, this stick was designed in collaboration with eSports legend Kayane and features profile support in addition to customisation options.

For more information, check out our full Nacon Daiji review. 

(Image credit: Future/Theo Litston) How I tested the Octopus Arcade Stick

• Tested for a week on PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PS5, PC, Mega Drive, Dreamcast, and Nintendo Switch
• Tested with multiple beat ‘em ups, arcade and retro titles
• Competed in online tournaments

As somebody who indulges in online battles of Tekken 8 daily, I replaced my PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller with the Octopus Arcade Stick for the duration of my week-long review period, clocking in roughly ten hours of ranked, online gameplay in Namco Bandai’s seminal beat ‘em up. I’ve also become accustomed to entering PS5 tournaments in Tekken 8 so again used the Octopus Fight Stick for my daily humbling with some of the best players on the platform.

I also explored Tekken’s history on PlayStation using the Octopus, connecting the unit to my PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4. I also took this opportunity to play an hour or so of the wonderful Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, fighting through various arcade modes and in the online lobbies. 

Moving away from PlayStation, I took several of my favorite Mega Drive classics for a spin during my regular retro game day. In addition to the aforementioned Mean Bean Machine and Aladdin, I used the Octopus Arcade Stick to play through the first half of Sonic 2 and hopped my way through to Pizza Planet in Toy Story.

I tested Nintendo’s platforming pedigree next, firing up several classic titles from the Mario series on Switch before diving headlong into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate for some competitive local multiplayer with my partner and friends.

Those same friends kindly provided me with a Dreamcast and some games, including a copy of Soul Calibur, so I could put the Octopus’ VMU features through its paces.

Lastly, on the PC side of things, I enjoyed bouts of Killer Instinct and Multiversus, before throwing myself back into Cuphead and making generous use of the Octopus’ turbo functions.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed October 2024

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