Press Paws! With HyperX’s Gamer Pet Toys, Your Pooch Can Be an Esports Hound

Your dog is your best friend, so why not make them Player Two, too?

HyperX, the gaming-peripheral team at HP, on Tuesday announced a partnership with P.L.A.Y. (Pet Lifestyle and You) to release dog toys inspired by some of its most popular peripherals.

Built from high-quality, sustainable materials, the Alloy Keybark (based on the HyperX Alloy 60% keyboard), the Cloud Arfa Gaming Headset (based on the Cloud Alpha headset), and the PAWdcast Microphone (based on the Quadcast S) let your backseat pup take the game into their own paws.

Dogs can be gamers, too.
(Credit: Zackery Cuevas)

Why, you might ask, glancing at your living room already strewn with dog toys? As HyperX’s marketing director, Stephanie Winkler, put it in a release announcing the new pet toys, “We’re all gamers.”

Frankie insisted on posing with his gear before starting the stream.
(Credit: Zackery Cuevas)

But is HyperX right? Can we truly all be gamers? Obviously, it’s hard for us humans to pass judgment on a dog toy, so I thought to tag in an expert—my Pomeranian, Mr. Frankie Pomodoro. The furry two-year-old knows a thing or two about being a dog, and he’s barked at enough TVs, laptops, and video games to be something of a tech expert himself.

Some Paws Are Meant to Game

Frankie, as you can see, is not a big hound. Going paws-on with the keyboard, headset, and microphone, his diminutive size made it a little difficult for him to play with the gear . The toys seem better-suited for midsize dogs, as a larger dog might just tear them to pieces in a spat of gamer-dog rage. Still, this didn’t deter Frankie from embracing both the PAWdcast Microphone and the Alloy Keybark.

Frankie opening his stream with an enthusiastic bark.
(Credit: Zackery Cuevas)

The Keybark kept him entertained, as its super-loud squeaker sent him into a frenzy. But he seemed interested in the microphone the most, though it was the hardest for him to squeak himself.

Frankie pausing his stream to address a feud in the comments.
(Credit: Zackery Cuevas)

Frankie wasn’t as much a fan of the Cloud Arfa, and was hesitant to wear it, though he was able to get used to it after we bargained with some treats, of course. A squeaker sits in each ear muff of the Arfa, so I was careful not to squeak it too close to his ears.

Yes, the dog toys are missing the wireless capabilities, USB ports, and RGB lighting that we might be used to, but their soft texture and loud squeakers more than make up for it. Plus, their bespoke design is sure to be the envy of other dogs (and maybe even their owners).

Give Me a Ruff Price?

So, my dog is finally a gamer, but at what cost? Luckily for us human owners, a dog’s gaming habit is a lot cheaper than ours is. The new dog toys will retail between $10.99 and $15.90, while a companion Pulsefur Mat will be available in either a medium or large size, at $65 or $79. Not sure which toy to buy? Perhaps your dog would like them all! You can opt for the HyperX P.L.A.Y. Toy Set, which includes the headset, microphone, and keyboard, for $37.50.

They all will be available April 11, just in time for National Pet Day. We’ll have to have a word with HyperX on behalf of PCMag’s cat contingent.