Streaming games all day sounds like a dream job, right? However, in addition to perseverance and a strict schedule, those looking to step into this online ring will need to get their hands on quite a lot of equipment too. Webcams, capture cards and more can make streaming an offputtingly expensive prospect. If you know of a budding streamer in you life, why not help them out by picking up some streaming starter kit as a gift this holiday? Don’t worry if you’re not sure where to begin, as we're here to help. Just keep on reading to find our streamer starter kit holiday guide for 2022! And if you want a handy link to a collection of great HyperX streamer gift ideas, here's the perfect gift!
Streamer starter kit holiday gift guide 2022
© HyperX
Streaming is a pricey hobby or career to get into, so in our streamer starter kit holiday gift guide we’ve aimed to find gifts that won’t weigh too heavily on your wallet but still produce the quality you need. A fancy Canon camera might deliver the highest quality cam footage, but it’ll also cost you an awful lot too. There’s plenty of solid equipment out there to get started with, so let’s get gifting!
Headset: HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset
© HyperX
The first thing any would-be streamer will need (besides a PC and some games) is a quality headset. Not only will a decent headset grant the edge in many online games, it’s also a fantastic investment to help any streamer enjoy music and chat to viewers with ease! Streaming is a lengthy process, which means comfort is crucial as well. To that end we recommend HyperX’s Cloud line of headsets. The Cloud II Headset requires some investment (around $80) but trust us, it’s worth it. This headset will deliver superb quality for gaming, music, and communication! And if your giftee prefers to live life without cables, there's also a wireless version available if your balance stretches a touch further. Check out what's available for streamers at the HyperX streaming gear collection.
Webcam: Logitech HD Pro C920
© Logitech
If your starting streamer is comfortable showing their face, grabbing a webcam is a solid way to help interactions with their viewers, and also leaves plenty of room to play with camera angles and have fun. There are loads of expensive cameras out there, but for an affordable starting point, the Logitech HD Pro C920 is a solid choice. Providing HD footage at a good framerate, this webcam will let your streamer show their talk to the camera and show reactions in crisp quality. Find it on Amazon by clicking here.
(Hey! Does your gift target love their music as much as their gaming? Click here to view our holiday gift guide for the music-loving gamer)
Monitor: HyperX Armada
© HyperX
A boom arm monitor is the perfect upgrade for streaming setups this holiday season, offering unmatched flexibility in screen positioning for your ideal chat setup. The HyperX Armada can be just the boom arms themselves, to attach to your existing monitors with standard VESA attachments, or bundled with a rock-solid 25/27-inch IPS panel with 1ms response times and 165Hz refresh rates. Check it out on the HyperX store here.
Capture card: Elgato HD60 S
© Elgato
If your gift target plans to stream on console, the first step is buying a capture card. Elgato has been in the business for a long while, and by now they’ve got their products down to a smallscale package that’s as close to plug and play as you can get. The Elgato HD60 S capture card is built for streaming, letting you play and record in 1080p at 60 frames per second. If you’re not a tech-savvy sort, that essentially means that — provided your internet connection is good enough — the footage will look smooth and clear, which is of paramount importance for any modern streamer. Click here for the Amazon link.
Microphone: HyperX Quadcast
© HyperX
Want to help someone step up their streaming to the next level? Owning a quality microphone is a huge part of streaming. It’ll not only make sure viewers can hear the streamer’s voice clearly, it also opens the door to all kinds of new content like interviews, podcasts or even ASMR. The HyperX Quadcast is designed to support pretty much any style of recording you can think of.
It also comes with an anti-vibration mount that’ll cut out any table bumps, and has a built-in pop filter to smooth out the harsher sounds. Equally important, the mic can be muted easily with a simple tap, and has an LED display to show when it’s activated. When you’re streaming your whole day, it’s important to be sure conversations with housemates, colleague or loved ones are kept private.
If you're after a slightly less expensive option, the SoloCast still delivers pristine quality with a small reduction in the number of settings and extra features. And if you want to go all out for the streamer who already has everything, the ProCast is a professional-grade XLR hookup that will need even more bits of kit, like a mixer. Perfect for buying even more presents in the future. Check them all out at the HyperX streaming gear collection page.
Green Screen: Chromakey Green Screen
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Though it’s far from essential, including a green screen for your webcam footage can give the entire affair a far more professional look. It’s possible to build your own out of green fabric and a support system, but you can also purchase some simple arrangements off Amazon as well. These Chromakey Backdrops are an affordable option to quickly set up and take down behind any game space and are far more affordable than some of the dedicated gaming green screens on the market. Click here to to see it on Amazon.
Controls: Elgato Stream Deck
© Elgato
With all the core equipment purchased, it’s time to get things a little flashy. The Elgato Stream Deck is built to make the life of a streamer that much easier, allowing for easy transitions between scenes and cameras so that there’s no need to tab out of the game you’re playing. There’s plenty of extra functionality in here too, from sending Tweets to playing media. In short, give the gift of an Elgato Stream Deck and you’ll help bring that extra level of shine to a polished streaming set-up. Here’s the Amazon link.
Background details: Amiibos
© Nintendo
The sad truth of streaming is that it’s an expensive world to enter, but if all the tech above is sounds a touch too pricey for a gift, you can always contribute by supplying some cool gaming props for the background of their webcam shot! Amiibos are a fantastic purchase for any Nintendo fan as they’re cheap yet come in excellent quality. The Link’s Awakening Amiibo is an adorable choice, and the new Metroid Dread amiibos are seriously stylish. But if your giftee is a Pokemon fan then you can also grab them Squirtle and Ivysaur, figures from Amazon as well. Nintendo is also offering Breath of the Wild's Mipha, Revalli and Urbosa this holiday season.
That's it for out Streamer Starter kit gift guide but we have plenty of other gaming present suggestions! Click here to see them all, including our musical gift guide, gaming cookbook guide, and more!
