Opera launches world's first gaming web browser

Opera GX lets gamers control their computer’s CPU and memory usage. Photo: Opera. 

With E3 2019 in full swing, Opera Software has thrown its hat in the gaming ring with a web browser that’s specifically geared for gamers. On Tuesday, the company said it is offering early access to Opera GX for Windows users.

Opera GX lets gamers control their computer’s CPU and memory usage to make gaming and streaming smoother – these settings can be controlled from a new feature called GX Control panel, where users can specify how much percent of the computer’s CPU and RAM should go to the browser. The idea is to prevent gamers from shutting down their web browser before starting a game, as modern web browsers, especially Chrome can be extremely memory hungry. 

The web browser also features Twitch integration - gamers can log into their Twitch account directly from the sidebar. Other touches include easy access to websites frequented by gamers - Discord, YouTube and Reddit.

Opea GX has other cosmetic touches – such as sounds and animation effects. You can also expect it to have all the standard features present in the standard version of Opera – including messenger sidebar integration, Video Pop Out function, built-in ad blocker and VPN.

According to Statista, Opera is the sixth most popular web browser, trailing Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, and Edge with a 2.43 percent marketshare. 

A final version of the Opera GX is planned to launch later this year.