EDITOR’S PICK

Christian Guyton, Staff Writer

OPERA GAMING BROWSER

Just a few short days before I sat down to write this, freeware browser Opera opened the early access phase of its latest product: Opera GX, billed as the world’s first “gaming browser.” Yes, you read that right. Opera GX is a Chromiumbased web browser, with a sleek, customizable design and all the bells and whistles that Opera includes. That means a free VPN, Chrome extension support, and a built-in ad blocker.

Then there’s the gaming features, and I’ll admit that I was intrigued. Discord and Twitch integration are unsurprising inclusions, but there’s also WhatsApp, Instagram, and more. Opera GX goes deeper than that, too; the GX Control panel contains limiters for CPU, RAM, and network resources, enabling you to keep your browser from guzzling system resources while you’re gaming. Smart tab-killer tools let you see exactly which open tabs are taking more than their fair share of resources, and the GX Corner includes news on free games and timed deals.

It doesn’t really run better than regular Opera (which is to say, Chrome and Edge Chromium both feel a bit smoother to use), but it looks and sounds better. I never thought I’d want to turn up my browser’s sound effects, but with sound design from the BAFTAnominated band Berlinist, Opera GX genuinely does sound amazing.

There’s something to be said for a browser that has been built from the ground up specifically for gaming. If you’re not a gamer, I can’t really recommend GX at all, but for any budding streamer or YouTuber, it’s at the very least worth a look.

$FREE, www.opera.com