This sound card could give gamers a competitive edge | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIPolicyNotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.NotificationsNotificationsHamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessSee all techReviewsExpandSmart Home ReviewsPhone ReviewsTablet ReviewsHeadphone ReviewsSee all reviewsScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthSee all scienceEntertainmentExpandTV ShowsMoviesAudioSee all entertainmentAIExpandOpenAIAnthropicSee all AIPolicyExpandAntitrustPoliticsLawSecuritySee all policyGadgetsExpandLaptopsPhonesTVsHeadphonesSpeakersWearablesSee all gadgetsVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee all shoppingGamingExpandXboxPlayStationNintendoSee all gamingStreamingExpandDisneyHBONetflixYouTubeCreatorsSee all streamingTransportationExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersSee all transportationFeaturesVerge VideoExpandTikTokYouTubeInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersArchivesStoreVerge Product UpdatesSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.This sound card could give gamers a competitive edgeNotificationsNotificationsComments DrawerNotificationsCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...TechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingThis sound card could give gamers a competitive edgeThe C3’s StepSense technology boosts footsteps and other sounds so you’re more aware of nearby opponents.The C3’s StepSense technology boosts footsteps and other sounds so you’re more aware of nearby opponents.by Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiMay 28, 2026, 2:55 PM UTCLinkShareGiftAndrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew Liszewski is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2006, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.Fosi Audio announced a new sound card today with a unique feature designed to give FPS players an advantage. The C3 Gaming Sound Card, which sits outside your PC or laptop and connects with a USB-C cable, includes the company’s StepSense “audio enhancement technology” powered by a model that was “trained on extensive FPS audio data.” With StepSense turned on, sounds that offer positional cues for opponents, such as footsteps or vaulting noises, are boosted so they’re not drowned out by the game’s overall audio mix.For competitive players looking for any advantage they can get, that feature alone could justify the $129.99 C3, which is now available through Fosi’s online store. But that’s not the accessory’s only feature. It also functions as an amp for headphones connected with a 3.5mm audio cable, or you can wire up speakers using its stereo RCA output. There’s an additional 3.5mm input for a microphone, and a pair of sliders. One’s a master volume control, while the controls the mic level.The C3 doubles as a headphone amp and mini mixer. Image: Fosi AudioOther features include noise-canceling for the microphone so other sounds in your gaming room will be quieted, support for 7.1 spatial audio, and both additional sound presets and an adjustable EQ that are accessible through a browser-based interface so you don’t need to install an app. In addition to PCs, the C3 is compatible with consoles including Sony’s PS5 and the Nintendo Switch.Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.Andrew LiszewskiCloseAndrew LiszewskiSenior Reporter, NewsPosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by Andrew LiszewskiAudioCloseAudioPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AudioGadgetsCloseGadgetsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GadgetsGamingCloseGamingPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All GamingNewsCloseNewsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All NewsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechMost PopularMost PopularValve raises Steam Deck prices by more than $200Sony’s first RGB TV is a statement pieceSony is offering up to 50 percent off some of our favorite PS5 gamesThe golden age of handheld gaming is already overHere’s how Google is responding to Fitbit users who don’t like the new Health appThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in TechPlayRivian’s software chief thinks you don’t need CarPlay or buttonsThese are my favorite Switch 2 accessoriesXiaomi 17T Pro arrives with the company’s biggest battery yetIntel’s first handheld gaming chip is the Arc G3, and this Acer is using itQualcomm promises $300 Windows laptops with new Snapdragon CThey’ve finally made the Oura Ring smaller and lighterPlayRivian’s software chief thinks you don’t need CarPlay or buttonsNilay PatelAn hour agoThese are my favorite Switch 2 accessoriesCameron FaulknerAn hour agoXiaomi 17T Pro arrives with the company’s biggest battery yetDominic PrestonTwo hours agoIntel’s first handheld gaming chip is the Arc G3, and this Acer is using itSean HollisterTwo hours agoQualcomm promises $300 Windows laptops with new Snapdragon CSean HollisterTwo hours agoThey’ve finally made the Oura Ring smaller and lighterVictoria Song12:00 PM UTCAdvertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop Stories6:30 AM UTCThe golden age of handheld gaming is already over12:00 PM UTCKia’s flagship EV has a battery problemMay 27Roids were all the rage at the Enhanced Games12:00 PM UTCThey’ve finally made the Oura Ring smaller and lighterMay 27The AI fight brewing inside The New York Times37 seconds agoWaymo to begin passenger rides in its new Ojai robotaxiThe VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2026 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights ReservedNotifications DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Sign in to see your notifications or create an account to join the conversation.Sign in

Fosi Audio has introduced a new sound card, the C3 Gaming Sound Card, designed to provide a competitive advantage for first-person shooter players. The core innovation of this device is the StepSense audio enhancement technology, which is powered by a model trained on extensive first-person shooter audio data. When activated, StepSense boosts positional sounds, such as footsteps and vaulting noises, ensuring that players gain heightened awareness of nearby opponents that might otherwise be masked by the game's overall audio mix. Although the StepSense feature alone could justify the device's price of $129.99, the C3 offers a broader range of functionality. It serves not only as an audio enhancement tool but also integrates several peripheral features, including an amplifier for headphones via a 3.5mm audio cable and stereo RCA outputs for connecting external speakers. Furthermore, the sound card includes a 3.5mm input for a microphone, along with physical sliders to control the master volume and the microphone level.

Beyond the core competitive feature, the C3 functions as a mini mixer and offers advanced audio controls accessible through a browser-based interface, eliminating the need for dedicated application installation. This interface allows users to utilize additional sound presets and an adjustable equalizer to fine-tune the audio experience. The device incorporates noise-canceling capabilities specifically for the microphone, which effectively quiets ambient sounds within the gaming environment. The sound card also supports 7.1 spatial audio, further enhancing the immersive auditory experience. In terms of compatibility, the C3 is versatile, supporting not only personal computers but also major gaming consoles such as the Sony PlayStation 5 and the Nintendo Switch. This multifaceted design positions the C3 as an integrated peripheral solution for serious gamers.