Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit Impressions
Artificial intelligence (AI) technology is abuzz these days, so let’s put it in a… (checks notes)... gaming sync box!? What does the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit have to offer? Let’s find out in this impressions piece!
First off, even if this is a purely cosmetic accessory, it’s not a cheap one. Currently, the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit retails for $235 on the official Govee product page and the following items are included in the kit:
There are three main components to this sync box kit: a 4.6 ft light strip, two light bars and rectangular sync box. They all bear the expected high-end look and feel of Govee’s products.
The light strip, which is meant to go behind your monitor frame, is easy to apply as it features adhesive tape under its whole perimeter. Govee also included handy clips to add further support and ensure the strip is held in place.
Then there are the two light bars which you place next to your monitor/screen with the illuminated side facing away from you. The power cables to each light bar meet up halfway and end up with a USB-C connection. However, I found the meeting point of the cables to be a bit restrictive as it limits how far apart the bars can be placed from each other.
Once positioned, the USB-C connections of the light strip and light bars need to be plugged into the sync box. The latter serves as a hub of sorts where you’ll also plug in your console/PC and from there relay it to your monitor via an included HDMI cable. While it offers a relatively generous 3 HDMI ports to use the kit with and you can toggle between each with the press of a button, the result is a wirefest. In our already very tangled-up tech lives, having more wires isn’t that welcome. I wish the connections were more streamlined, or even wireless.
Once set up, you can make use of the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit to add some flashy effects to your gaming sessions. From the get-go the experience is quite striking, with the light strip and light bars synching up with the on-screen colour palette. It works for games, console menus, watching movies or even browsing the web. I found the colour sync to be rather accurate and it definitely delivers a unique touch to my gaming setup.
Regarding the AI tech, it analyses images in real-time and syncs up the lighting effect as it recognises in-game actions such as item use and kills. However, for the touted AI tech to kick in, you’ll need to be playing a compatible title. At the time of writing, the titles are limited to a handful and include Apex Legends, Valorant, Overwatch, and League of Legends.
While Govee says that more compatible titles are coming soon, the current lineup is rather meagre, especially considering the price of this kit. If you’re mostly playing single-player games like myself, then the effect is mostly lighting effects that match the on-screen colours. They are indeed impressive and add a layer of immersion to gaming sessions but it comes at a steep price, especially considering the possibilities of the tech. Having in-game actions for single player titles or, better yet, irrespective of the title played being recognised would further enhance the experience.
I hope Govee opens up its AI Gaming Sync Box Kit to more titles, especially single-player ones so that the technology’s potentials can be fleshed out. As it stands, it can only really be recommended if you play those currently compatible titles and want to make your gaming sessions further immersive. If you play mostly single player games, then this might not be for you and Govee’s other products might be more appropriate.
