Gaming Through Thought: Neuralink Patient Takes on Counter-Strike 2

A Neuralink patient named Alex has become the second person to receive a brain implant from Elon Musk’s company, Neuralink. After a spinal injury left him unable to move his limbs, this implant has allowed him to do something remarkable—play the video game Counter-Strike 2 using his mind.

The implant was placed in Alex’s brain last month at Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona. The surgery went well, and Alex’s recovery has been smooth. The Link is designed to help people with quadriplegia, like Alex, regain control of digital devices. To move his character in the game, Alex uses a mouth-operated joystick called a Quadstick, which is designed for people with limited mobility. But what’s truly impressive is that he aims his weapons in the game just by thinking about it.

The Link implant isn’t just for gaming. Alex has also been using it for creative projects. He’s learning to use CAD software to design 3D objects. His first creation was a custom mount for the Link’s charger, which he designed and 3D-printed. This shows that the Link can help users do complex tasks, giving them more independence.

Neuralink learned a lot from its first patient, Noland Arbaugh. After his implant surgery, some of the device’s wires retracted, causing issues. Neuralink has since made improvements. For Alex, they reduced the gap between the implant and the brain’s surface and minimized brain movement during surgery. These changes have helped keep Alex’s implant working properly.

Looking forward, Neuralink plans to make the Link even more powerful. Future updates could include full mouse control and more advanced gaming features. They also want to develop ways for users to interact with the physical world using robotic arms or powered wheelchairs. Alex’s experience with the Link is a big step forward for Neuralink.