Meet Haze – Console Gaming with a PC Punch

I have been a console gamer all my life. The first system I ever owned was a Sony PlayStation when I was about four years old and as the years went on I had different console brands such as Nintendo and Xbox, but I didn’t get a PC that I could play games on until I was in college and then I decided purchased myself a laptop to see what all the hype was about. After getting my own PC, I couldn’t believe what I’ve been missing out on in terms of scope. The sheer number of games that are available for a PC is staggering as Steam itself houses over 130,000 games on the platform with new titles being added daily. However, I still prefer to play games on my console because I prefer the comfort of playing games in my living room with a controller. We at AVADirect started thinking and we decided that shouldn’t stop anyone.

The "Living Room" Dilemma

For a long time there has been a literal and figurative wall between the "PC Master Race" and "Console Gamers." PC gaming offered the power, the mods, and the massive libraries, but it usually required a desk, a high-back chair, and the greatest roadblock (temporarily) and that being the lovely Windows updates. No, I don’t want a free trial of Office 365.

So we thought, “What can we do to negate all of those things above, and more?”. Well, ladies and gentlemen allow us to introduce you to our newest configurator: AVADirect’s HAZE.

What is HAZE?

Console gaming, by contrast, is about the experience of the "den." It’s the ability to collapse onto a couch after a long day, hit one button on a controller, and be in a world of adventure within seconds. For many of us who grew up with a controller in our hands, the desk feels like work, while the couch feels like play. The preference for comfort is exactly why many of those 130,000+ Steam titles go un-played by the very people who would love them most. We realized that the issue wasn't the games or the hardware, but more so the environment.

Performance Meets Simplicity

When we sat down to design HAZE, we looked at the specific reasons why PCs fail in the living room. Usually, it’s because the cases are too large, the fans are too loud, or the interface is too clunky to navigate without a mouse. We wanted to eliminate every single one of those hurdles. Here is how we did it.

First, we focused on the Small Form Factor (SFF). A living room PC shouldn’t look like a glowing monolith that dominates your entertainment center; it should blend in. HAZE was engineered to pack enthusiast-grade components into a chassis that mirrors the footprint of a modern console, without sacrificing the cooling necessary for high-end performance.

Second, we addressed the interface. One of the biggest "vibekillers" of living room PC gaming is having to always keep a wireless keyboard by your side. This is why we chose to preinstall Bazzite, a Linux distro that has gamers at the forefront first and foremost. By utilizing this Linux-based operating system designed specifically for gaming, HAZE boots directly into a "Game Mode" that will feel instantly familiar to anyone who has used a Steam Deck or a modern console and out of the gate you get the library of a PC with the UI of a console.

Performance Without Borders

The beauty of HAZE is that while it acts like a console, it thinks like a powerhouse. Traditional consoles are often locked into specific hardware cycles that can feel dated within a few years. With HAZE, we are utilizing the latest architectures to ensure you aren't just keeping up with modern games, but to make you feel like you’re leading the pack.

By integrating Zen 5 processing power and RDNA 4 graphics technology, we’ve created a system that handles 4K gaming with ease. Whether you’re looking for the efficiency of the base version or the raw, unbridled power of the max version, which features the legendary 3D V-Cache technology for unparalleled gaming frames, you are no longer tethered to the limitations of "standard" hardware. You get the mods, the higher frame rates, and the massive sales that PC gamers enjoy, all while keeping your feet kicked up on the ottoman.

HAZE is a powerful mini gaming computer that we designed so that you can have the power of a gaming PC but with the comfort of console gaming. With both the base and the max version, you gain a great alternative to both modern consoles and gaming PCs. If you're interested in getting yourself a Haze, or want to create your own custom configuration, then click here to get started.