Nyko unveils PS4 Intercooler, double-capacity DualShock 4 battery pack

In an effort to address gaps left by Sony when designing the PlayStation 4, accessories manufacturer Nyko has unveiled two new peripherals for the console which should keep it running cooler, longer.

One of the most salient gripes against the PS4 is that the DualShock 4 controller runs out of juice very rapidly, especially when compared to the Xbox One's controllers. To combat this, Nyko has revealed a new version of its PowerPak replacement battery that boasts a 1,000mAh cell. While independent tests of the as yet unreleased battery are still a ways off, that much stored charge should provide about twice as much power as the DualShock 4's native battery.

For those worried about their new machine overheating, Nyko also unveiled a new generation of its Intercooler accessory. Like earlier models, the Intercooler automatically senses temperature changes in the PlayStation 4 and ramps up the speed of its fans to compensate for the increased heat. Helpfully, Nyko has designed the Intercooler (pictured above) to be as sleek as possible, so while it will add a bit more bulk to the back end of your PS4, the system's stark aesthetic remains uncompromised.

Both the Intercooler and the PowerPak are slated for release later this year. The former will feature a $25 price tag, while the latter is priced at $20.

Meet Christine, Razer's modular gaming PC

Tucked away in a shrouded corner of Razer's booth at CES 2014 lies Project Christine, a stackable, customizable PC that looks unlike any gaming machine you've ever seen.

The idea behind Project Christine is simple: Remove the hassle and expense of constantly upgrading a computer by making each of its crucial parts modular and self-contained. Instead of opening a tower and slotting more memory or a new graphics card into your computer, Project Christine allows users to simply snap a new module containing any desired upgrades on to their current configuration. As a result, Project Christine should have a far longer lifespan than conventional computers, as modules containing your desired upgrades can simply be swapped in as necessary.

Helpfully, Razer's design negates most of the configuration issues you'd encounter when building your own traditional PC. Project Christine isn't just physically modular, it also divides the motherboard into components which are spread across the system's various modules. Instead of having to match your new components to the specifications of your old motherboard, each new module includes all of the technology it needs to function, save the power it will draw from the rest of the system.

Each Project Christine module features a mineral oil cooling system which should come in handy, as Razer promises configurations of the device featuring up to four graphics cards aligned in a quad-SLI array as well as factory-overclocked components. Every module also comes equipped with noise cancelling insulation, preventing your fancy new gaming machine from driving you mad with incessant noise.

While Razer will be the sole manufacturer of Project Christine modules, the company is still debating which business model to adopt for this new take on the PC. "We're really looking at other models," Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan told Engadget. "Perhaps to say a subscription model of sorts, that we could interchange modules when they come in. Users don't have to worry about a huge bump every time there's new architecture out there."

Though Project Christine is still in the early stages of development, Tan hopes support for the idea will be strong enough to convince Razer to begin manufacturing modules at some point during 2014.

Sony on controller requirements for PlayStation Now

It looks like you'll need a DualShock 3 controller to use PlayStation Now game streaming on most devices, excluding the Vita and PlayStation 4. The newly-unveiled service will stream previous-gen PS games onto the PS4, PS3, Vita, and Bravia TVs, and further down the line other "internet-connected devices" such as smartphones and tablets.

Whenever it does reach tablets and smartphones, users will need a DualShock 3 to play, according to SCEA VP of Marketing John Koller.

"It needs to go through the DualShock," Koller told CVG. "The DualShock remains the key ingredient. So that controller experience needs to go perfectly. We didn't want to utilise touch screen or anything like that because the games are best played with a DualShock."

That said, as the above vid shows you can control PS Now on Vita using the handheld. We've double-checked that with a Sony representative, who also confirmed you can use a DualShock 4 to use it on PS4, while a DualShock 3 is needed on PS3 and with Bravia TVs.

PS Now is due for a full rollout in the summer, and it's coming to PS3 and PS4 first - a PS3 closed beta begins in the US towards the end of this month. You can either rent games individually or purchase a PS Now subscription, and in case you're wondering, you won't be able to stick a PS3 disc in a PS4 and unlock a game that way.

"Sony is saying no to that right now," is the negatory from Koller.