The holidays are here, which are often a good time for gaming, but that doesn't make it any easier to shop of someone. There's such a wide variety of games and gifts that whether it's Xbox, PC, PlayStation, or more, it can be hard to find the right gift. This may go doubly for Twitch streamers and the like.
Whether the streamer is just starting up, is looking to upgrade, or wants to add some style and technical improvements to their Twitch stream, it's hard to pinpoint all the tech. As such, here's the best holiday gifts in 2020 for streamers from all walks of life.
Twitch Starter Bundle
It can be hard to know what's needed to start streaming, so for those just starting up, a good first step is to acquire a Twitch Starter Bundle. Acquiring one of these only include the basics, but it's easy enough to get someone started. This Twitch Starter Bundle comes at a decent price and includes the following:
- Soundcraft Notepad-5 Channel Podcast Mixer Podcasting Interface w/USB For Mac/PC
- Rockville RMC-XLR High-End Metal DJ Handheld Wired Microphone Mic w (2) Cables
- Rockville PRO-M50 Studio Headphones w/ Detachable Coil Cable, Case+Extra Ear Pad
- Rockville RTMS21 Desktop Tripod Microphone Stand With Pop Filter + ShockMount
Best Headphones of 2020
Gaming without headphones is a complicated matter, and a good pair of headphones goes to make a stream much more manageable as well. These aren't really necessary to stream, but they improve it in nearly every regard. Wearing some of the best headphones in 2020 is a good way to flex how far a streaming channel has come as well. With that in mind, here are the best headphones in terms of quality for streamers.
- HyperX Cloud Mix Gaming Headset
- JBL Quantum One Gaming Headset
- Razer Nari Ultimate
- GSP 601 EPOS I Sennheiser
Elgato Stream Deck
A stream deck takes everything up a notch. It allows streamers to connect to social media, send emotes, and entertain their audiences. While there's quite a few out there, it's hard to top the Elgato Stream Deck for ease of use, and it's the perfect gift to help that would-be streamer hit their next major goal.
Elgato Game Capture Cards
Any streamer worth their salt needs a quality capture card, and when it comes down to it, there's not a better gift than that of Elgato, which is compatible with Xbox Series X/S. At $399.99, the Elgato 4K60 S+ Capture Card can snag 4K60 HDR10, boot straight to an SD card, record unlimited footage, minimize file size, and benefit from zero-lag passthrough. For streamers looking for a step down, those who aren't ready for that leap quite yet, the Elgato 4K60 Pro Mk.2 traditionally runs at $249.99, with just a few less bells and whistles.
Elgato Wave:3 Microphone
If a streamer is unfamiliar with the Elgato brand, that is something that should be rectified quickly. Already, Elgato has a strong presence here because high quality is essentially its brand, and this includes basically all aspects of being a content creator. Case in point: the Wave:3 is Elgato's first microphone, but it's one of the best USB mics out there. It has some incredible features like Clipguard and a condenser capsule, while the sound quality cannot really be better. In short, Elgato is a streamer's Santa Claus, and the Elgato Wave:3 is one of the best gifts on the sleigh.
Logitech G PRO X Superlight Wireless Gaming Mouse
Engineered with esports in mind, which are a great way to get into streaming (games like Fortnite, Modern Warfare, etc.), the Logitech G PRO X Superlight is just that too: super light. This allows for speed, reliability, and precision when it comes to delivering an optimum performance. Not that Ws are going to get viewers alone, but having a few under a streamer's belt goes a long way, and the Logitech G PRO X Superlight gaming mouse can help get them.
Corsair K100 Keyboard
There's a lot of reasons to pick up a keyboard, and it's a hard gift as a result. However, when shopping for an up-and-coming streamer or someone in need of better hardware in general, it's hard to go wrong with the Corsair K100 Keyboard. It's one of the best gaming keyboards on the market, where reponsive, well-built, and customizable just aren't tag phrases but legitimate adjectives. In our review of the Corsair K100, we wrote that it's a "dream-like option complemented by a solid software experience."
GoXLR Mixer
The price on the GoXLR Mixer may be a hard pill to swallow for those just starting out, but it's a solid investment that's guaranteed to take a stream to the next level. Its motorized faders control everything from mic, game, music, and chat, while its studio quality MIDAS preamp works well when paired with the XLR mic. With a sampler, Voice FX effects, and an app to control all of it, the GOXLR Mixer is a good step up from mid-streamer to high-level streamer.
HyperX Quadcast Mic S
HyperX is another name to know and trust, and its Quadcast Mic S delivers on that name. It comes with all of the bells and whistles like its own anti-vibration mount, LED status indicator, tap-to-mute option, and a variety of RGB lighting and dynamic effects. When it comes to getting flashy in a stream, the HyperX Quadcast Mic S won't let the streamer down. It comes at a cost, but for many, the sheer style may just be worth it.
iGame 3070 Advanced OC-V Graphics Card
As one of Nvidia's partners, Colorful is a company streamers need to know. Getting one stateside can be a bit of a concern, but for those looking to upgrade their PC rigs to deliver the highest quality streams possible, there's no need to look further than Colorful's iGame 3070 Advanced OC-V Graphics Card. While it does run a little hotter, meaning cooling should be as optimized a possible, it can hit 60FPS on high settings with Ray-Tracing and DLSS. With some bonuses on top of that, it seems safe to say that it's an upgrade worth looking into.
Razer Kiyo Camera
The Razer Kiyo Camera is designed with streaming in mind, capable of capturing high-quality video while cutting back some of the more complicated work that goes into a stream. Furthermore, its attached light ring makes it easier to ensure quality lighting and everything else that goes into a good video capture.
Valera Explorer Portable Green Screen
Seeing as streamer sit in their office area, their bedroom, or wherever they stream is typically no big deal; however, it does look a bit more professional when the background isn't white walls or a clutter. This is where a green screen comes in, allowing the streamer some privacy while also taking the professionalism up a notch. The Valera Explorer Portable Green Screen makes this conveniently possible, as it's easy to set up and maneuver while including everything needed to make the stream as presentable as possible.