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Anyone who games regularly knows how much having great equipment can enhance your gaming experience and performance. From high-performance consoles, premium headsets, and high-refresh-rate monitors, the right gear can make games so much more immersive and enjoyable.
Gaming equipment that’s designed to handle the demands of modern games isn’t cheap, and by the time you’ve ordered an ergonomic chair, set up a webcam and bought a gaming mouse, the costs can be pretty steep.
Although gaming can be an expensive hobby, a good tip for those starting out is to focus on one thing at a time. It’s easy to get caught up in the hype and want the latest and greatest equipment for everything, but if you are working to a budget, it’s better to prioritise.
Start with the essentials
Firstly, decide on your platform. Are you more interested in PC gaming or consoles? This is the biggest initial investment, so choose wisely based on your budget and the types of games you want to play.
Once you have your PC or console, you’ll need a way to see and hear the game. For PCs, a decent monitor and a basic headset will do. For consoles, your TV and maybe a headset for online play are enough to get started. As you play more and figure out what you like, you can start to upgrade individual components. Maybe you want a better mouse for your PC, or a more comfortable controller for your console.
By giving yourself time to discover your preferences, you’ll discover what kind of games you enjoy most and what equipment will actually enhance your experience.
Affordable gear
Another clever tip is to widen your search for gaming gear on affordable platforms such as Temu. It’s something 27-year-old DJ, online streamer, and content creator Natasa Hagenbach did, and it enabled her passions to flourish and elevate her live streaming career.
Natasa started DJing at the age of 15, driven by her deep passion for electronic music. However, in 2020, when the pandemic temporarily shut down all clubs, she delved into gaming. Encouraged by friends, she launched her Twitch channel later that year, merging her love for music and gaming. It was during this period of transition that Natasa discovered Temu and became a loyal fan.
The direct-from-factory online marketplace, is known for offering bargain prices by cutting out middlemen and their markups. Starting out in the US in September 2022, the e-commerce platform entered South Africa in January 2024 and has become popular with consumers. Last year, Temu was ranked as the top free app on Apple’s App Store, and according to the latest rankings, it’s also the most downloaded app in South Africa for 2024.
‘I tried Temu products and usually look for stream gadgets, decorations, and household items. I look for good quality products that I can’t buy in shops nearby.’
As Natasha began her streaming journey, she knew an eye-catching setup was a must and had a clear vision in mind – clean, colourful pastels that blend style and comfort. To bring her dream setup to life, Natasha turns to her go-to marketplace for furnishing a professional streaming studio that’s as functional as it is stylish.
Spending countless hours in her home studio, Natasa prioritises products that enhance both her workflow and on-screen presence. The direct-from-factory platform became her trusted source for affordable, quality items that combine style and functionality.
Natasa cleverly integrated a standing light tube, disco ball, multicolour background lights, and colour-changing bulbs to create a neon, dreamlike backdrop for her streaming room, making a visually-stunning effect.
“Aesthetics are super important to me – it has to align with my style,” Natasa explains. “I’m always on the hunt for unique items I can’t find elsewhere, and Temu consistently delivers with its wide range of affordable, high-quality products.”
If you have only started out in gaming, or have a strict budget to stick to, affordable gaming equipment is a smart way to allow you to explore different games and genres, and upgrade your equipment as your needs and budget change.
Her favourite finds include LED keyboard lights that add a dynamic ambiance, a sleek mechanical keyboard, a personalised neon sign with her name, and an ambient light tube that enhances her streams’ visual appeal. Additionally, a rectangular camera light ensures her video quality stays sharp, while accessories like pastel-themed desk organisers bring order and charm to her workspace.
From streaming essentials to decorative items, Natasa built a workspace that inspires her everyday live stream. “I always read descriptions carefully, so I can gladly say that Temu products met almost all my expectations,” she says.