The 2 Best Gaming Hardware We Tried at PAX East

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As a gamer, the best part about discovering new games – besides actually getting to play them, of course – is finding the perfect way to experience them. I was at PAX East in Boston this year, and I was blown away by all the incredible new gaming hardware on display. It really makes a difference!

The exhibitors at PAX East 2026 were excited to present their newest creations. Everything from unique accessories like the Omara to innovative consoles such as the GameTank was on display, and many of these hardware innovations are likely to have a significant impact in the future.

The GameTank Is the Newest 8-Bit Console

The GameTank is a brand new 8-bit console designed by independent developer Clyde Schaffer. He started working on it in 2019, inspired by the rising popularity of classic gaming. The project was successfully funded through CrowdSupply, where it raised $54,945 – exceeding its original $30,000 goal with support from 103 backers.

The GameTank, as Clyde enthusiastically points out, uses genuine 6502 processors, similiar to .

Clyde explained that the system uses actual 8-bit components – genuine RAM chips and simple logic gates. He emphasized that it’s not a simulation created with FPGAs or microcontrollers.

GameTank is designed to be an open system, letting independent developers create their own games for the console using tools provided by Clyde. Distributing these games is also simple – they’re stored on small cartridges similar to memory cards, and there’s specialized hardware to easily copy games onto them.

By the time the GameTank launches in August 2026, there will be at least 40 games ready to play. Some of the titles include Accursed Fiend, a fast-paced action game set in dungeons, Ganymede, an exploration-focused adventure game, and Bad Apple, a demo designed to showcase what the GameTank’s hardware can do – similar demos have been created for other consoles.

Clyde is really excited about the idea of GameTank becoming a central place for people to find and enjoy physical copies of games.

I’m encouraging a preference for physical game cartridges, but I’m not strictly requiring it,” Clyde explained. “You could technically use a single cartridge to play many different games, but the system is really designed to work best with a collection of cartridges, letting you choose which games you want to play.

The GameTank console, including controllers, cables, and a few pre-installed games, will cost about $250. A developer kit, which adds a cartridge burner for creating your own games, will be around $300. Individual games will be sold for approximately $30 each.

The GameTank isn’t just fun and simple to use – it’s also a much more affordable option compared to today’s gaming consoles. With the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X now costing around $600, and new games often priced at $80, the GameTank offers a significantly better value.

The Omara Is Perfume for Games

The Omara, according to OVR Technology’s Sam Wisniewski, is a device that releases smells to enhance experiences. It can stand on its own or attach to VR headsets like the Meta Quest or PlayStation VR. The Omara uses replaceable scent cartridges that last around 120 hours and release different smells to match what’s happening in the virtual world.

I got to check out a demo by OVR, and it was seriously cool. They showed off how their tech can actually create smells in-game. During the 15-minute experience, this device called the Omara pumped out different scents – one moment it smelled like fresh mint, like ‘winter’, and then it switched to a salty ‘beach’ smell. It really added to the immersion!

Dave Stiller, CEO and co-founder of OVR, believes Minecraft is an ideal game to showcase what their technology can do. He envisions the ‘scent display’ not just as an added feature, but as an integral part of how the game is played.

Dave suggested that scent could be incorporated into games as a gameplay element. He used Minecraft as an example, explaining that a player might use their sense of smell to locate their next goal.

Beyond the scented mod for Minecraft, OVR is creating scent-based mods for other games. They’re also collaborating with game developers of all sizes to create new games designed to work with Omara’s scent technology.

I’m really excited about how Omara is getting integrated into a couple of games I already love! Trinket Studios’ Battle Chef Brigade is one – imagine actually smelling the food you’re cooking! And Fusion Play’s Nice Day for Fishing? They’re planning to use Omara to help you locate fish – that’s a game changer! It’s awesome to see OVR working with these developers to make the experience even more immersive.

The Omara is expected to cost around $499 when it becomes available, a fair price considering its innovative technology. Sam agrees, particularly when you factor in the cost of the scent cartridges needed to use it.

Sam explained they’re working to keep their cartridges reasonably priced, so customers won’t have to struggle with replacing the scents one by one.

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2026-03-29 04:10