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ZDNET's key takeaways
- Neurable and HyperX unveil a partnership at CES 2026.
- Neurable's BCI tech is coming to HyperX gaming headphones.
- It can boost focus, accuracy, and reaction times for esports athletes.
Neurable, the company behind the brain-computer interface (BCI) technology capable of integrating into consumer headphones, announces a new venture at CES 2026 last week: gaming headphones.
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Two years ago, Neurable debuted with the MW75 Neuro in partnership with Master and Dynamic, and now unveils a collaboration with HyperX, integrating its BCI technology into the brand's gaming headphones.
Still a prototype
The gaming headset is still a prototype, as specific details regarding model information, pricing, and availability are not yet available. Still, we tested the companies' early take on the product and took an interesting peek into the future of combining these technologies. Here's what you need to know.
I'm not a serious gamer. My gaming prowess begins and ends with titles suitable for children, such as Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga, and It Takes Two. Still, it didn't take long for me to see Neurable and HyperX's vision come to life through their technological partnership.
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Neurable is a neurotechnology company that develops AI-powered technology to capture, read, and translate brain signal information. The first physical manifestation of Neurable's technology is in the MW75 Neuro headphones, which incorporate Neurable's technology into Master and Dynamic's high-end consumer headphones.
EEG monitors
In this case, the headphones' earcups are fitted with electroencephalogram (EEG) monitors to track brain waves and measure metrics such as focus and stress, thereby “training” the brain to improve reaction time and concentration. It should help gamers, especially those who competitively play first-person shooters (FPS), determine when their focus is at its peak and how to best prepare.
I brought my colleague, Kyle Kucharski, with me to my demo so I could watch him complete an FPS training exercise with the headphones. The Neurable team had him perform a practice round in Aimlabs, shooting at targets for one minute without any mental priming. CES week is hectic and stressful, and Kyle was already feeling pressured and stressed from the events of the week. Perfect.
In his first exercise, Kyle earned 33,333 points, with a 75.5% accuracy rate, a 478ms reaction time, and 126 targets hit. Then, the Neurable team directed Kyle to complete its Prime brain exercise, which was designed for gamers to focus their attention, clear their minds, and prepare for a high-stress, high-stakes gaming competition.
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During the simulation, the Neurable team presented a group of white dots on the computer screen. Hundreds of dots, positioned like a school of fish, were unorganized and flurrying around the display, simulating Kyle's scattered attention and focus.
The Neurable team then instructed Kyle to find a way to center his attention and clear his mind, whether that involved closing his eyes and thinking a relaxing thought or staring at the screen and zoning in.
AI-powered algorithm
The EEG sensors woven into the headphones then capture his brain waves and use an AI-powered algorithm trained on multiple brain wave models to determine when his focus was centered and his mind was clear. As he did so, the school of dots grouped into a larger, solid dot, visually signaling that he was focused and fully attentive.
After completing this exercise, Kyle was instructed to repeat the Aimlabs exercise. This time, he scored 39,405 points, with an 83.3% accuracy rate, a 437ms reaction time, and 138 targets hit.
According to Neurable, Kyle's performance after the Prime brain exercise demonstrates the effectiveness of its technology. The team told me that this exercise is designed to help esports athletes understand how to “lock in” before a high-stakes competition. With visual cues, they know when their mind is ready to perform under pressure.
I likened the scenario to all athletes before a big game. How many times have you watched your favorite athlete or sports team perform at their peak all season, then “choke” in the playoffs, finals, or championship game when the pressure is incredibly high?
In situations like these, mental fortitude is equally, if not more important than, physical performance. However, harnessing your mental strength in a high-stakes situation is arguably more challenging than being in optimal physical shape.
Help for esports athletes
The Neurable team informed me that Neurable's technology, integrated into HyperX headphones, will help esports athletes and their coaches understand their mental aptitude on any given day, informing them of how well or poorly they may perform.
The Neurable app captures and reproduces insights that inform wearers when their attention is slipping, prompting them to take breaks, how well their brain handles stress, their mental recovery, and cognitive strain.
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Additionally, exercises like Prime act as mental strength training, establishing a stronger mind-to-muscle connection, except that, unlike your biceps, your brain is both the mind and the muscle.
