What are “TMR” sticks, and do you really need them in a controller?

TMR, which stands for Tunneling Magnetoresistance (and we won’t type that out again!), is a way to sense magnetic fields without physical contact, similar to Hall Effect sensors. However, TMR works by measuring changes in electrical resistance caused by magnetic fields, rather than changes in voltage. This allows TMR sensors to detect even the smallest movements and provide more accurate readings.

While the technology isn’t new – it was first used in the 1990s for hard drives and has been used in industrial and automotive applications for years – it’s recently become popular in gaming controllers. This is because the sensors have become smaller and cheaper, letting scientists miniaturize them so everyone from casual to competitive gamers can benefit.

I put this case on my Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X — It provides the slimmest handheld protection and a kickstand, but there’s a catch

I’ve tested dBrand’s Killswitch cases for the Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and ROG Ally X before, and I’ve always been impressed with how well they protect my handheld gaming devices, plus they include a useful kickstand. I was eager to see how the newest Killswitch case would fit the Xbox ROG Ally X. Because the Ally X has much longer grips than the other devices, I wondered if it would be more difficult to install.

Halo: Campaign Evolved doesn’t feature PvP multiplayer — here’s why the developers chose to focus on co-op

I understand many players are disappointed that the new Halo game won’t have multiplayer, but I can see the reasoning behind it. The developers likely want to introduce a new generation to the core Halo experience, building excitement for the next major installment.

This approach allows them to learn Unreal Engine 5 without the added pressure of maintaining a live multiplayer service. It does make you wonder about the future, though. If this remake of Halo: Combat Evolved is successful, will they revisit Halo 2 and Halo 3?

Halo 2 received the ‘Anniversary’ treatment, but Halo 3 has never been remastered. Removing multiplayer was easier this time around, but that might not be the case for future remakes. Many players have fond memories of Halo: Combat Evolved LAN parties, but the multiplayer experiences in Halo 2 and 3, especially with the launch of Xbox Live, were truly groundbreaking. Perhaps a combined multiplayer package for both games could be a possibility.

That’s just speculation, and it’s likely years away, if it happens at all. Ultimately, I hope we don’t have to wait too long for more Halo multiplayer. While post-launch support has been inconsistent in the past, Halo Infinite was excellent, and recent updates have been fantastic. I’d love to see Halo multiplayer become a global phenomenon again, and the fact that the next game will be available on all platforms makes that feel a little more achievable.

In the meantime, I recommend checking out my hands-on preview of Halo: Campaign Evolved. I was initially skeptical, but this remake seems to be addressing my concerns.

Halo: Campaign Evolved is scheduled for release in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (Steam and Xbox on PC), and PlayStation 5. It will also be available with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at launch.