With a little over a month left before the launch of Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced, Ubisoft has given us a look at what to expect from the latest entry into the long-running game franchise, specifically the overhauled combat, parkour, and stealth. The game studio showed off a long list of features and updates to the game, but the gist of it is that Ubisoft has invested time making the combat more reactive and challenging, the parkour more responsive and fluid, and the stealth gameplay more engaging and intuitive.

Possibly the most important and exciting new mechanic coming to Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced is a combat rework that makes enemy NPCs more interesting to face off against. According to Ubisoft, the combat in Black Flag Resynced will be "more demanding," thanks to what it calls Adaptive Enemies, which will spot attack patterns and adapt to them over the course of a combat encounter. "For example, wait around too much for a Parry, and enemies will react by performing Unstoppable Attacks that cannot be parried. Abuse a Kick too much, and enemies will quickly dodge them. The trick is to alternate between offense and defense. Varying your combos helps. Rotate between Kicks, Sweeps, Rope Darts, Pistols and Heavy Strikes at the end of your attack combos to confuse enemies." Enemies will also come with different archetypes, each of which have their own strengths and weaknesses, like the soldiers, who prefer to work in pairs and coordinate attacks, or the Brute, Captain, and Demolitionist, which will require players to break their guard before going in for a takedown.

In a recent post on X, Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma, announced that Copilot on console will officially exit active development, while Copilot on mobile will also be wound down. Copilot for Gaming was previously announced in March 2025, with the feature first making its way to mobile and later announcements predicting that Copilot would be coming to Xbox Series consoles sometime in 2026. Copilot was slated to land on Xbox consoles in the form of an AI that effectively watches you game by taking screenshots and monitoring inputs and then providing suggestions and recommendations based on that data. Judging by the wording in the announcement, this appears to be another move by Xbox Gaming CEO, Asha Sharma, to earn back the trust of gamers in what she calls "a return to Xbox." It's unclear what this means for the rest of the Xbox Gaming software suite, especially when it comes to devices like the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and its Xbox Game Bar, but it seems likely at this point that those integrations may also eventually be removed.

The full post by Sharma reads:

Xbox needs to move faster, deepen our connection with the community, and address friction for both players and developers.
Today, we promoted leaders who helped build Xbox, while also bringing in new voices to help push us forward. This balance is important as we get the business back on track.
As part of this shift, you'll see us begin to retire features that don't align with where we're headed. We will begin winding down Copilot on mobile and will stop development of Copilot on console.

PassMark's MemTest86 update version 11.7 (Build 1000) has added preliminary testing for the LPCAMM2 memory type, primarily for Intel's "Meteor Lake" and "Arrow Lake" chips. This means that the latest memory form factor can now be tested using a standardized testing methodology. With the rise of LPCAMM2 appearances, it is only logical that MemTest86 adds support for this form factor, which we have started seeing on Lenovo ThinkBook 14+ and 16+ and Framework Laptop 13 Pro models, especially from major DRAM manufacturers such as CXMT and Samsung. CXMT's LPCAMM2 memory uses LPDDR5X-8533 modules, while Samsung's modules are running LPDDR5X-9600 memory stacks. Interestingly, with further support from SK hynix, Samsung, Micron, and now CXMT, LPCAMM2 is aiming to become a universal standard for memory. Since the upcoming DDR6 memory is scheduled to be the main driver behind (LP)CAMM2, having a memory testing tool is essential.Below is the list of fixes and enhancements.

Valve's highly anticipated release of the Steam Controller was so successful that the entire stock sold out in just 30 minutes. The demand has been nothing short of exceptional, even for a controller priced at $99 in the United States, €99 in European Union countries, £85 in the UK, $149 CAD in Canada, and $149 AUD in Australia. At around 17:00 UTC on May 4, the Steam Controller officially went on sale through Valve's website. The site experienced such a high volume of customers that the payment processing system froze, causing many to encounter errors before both the website and payment processor resumed functioning. To prepare, some customers loaded their Steam Wallets with funds days in advance, but the high demand still prevented them from securing a unit immediately. For those who managed to purchase one, congratulations. However, those who didn't are turning to resellers, who are charging about $300 for the controller. Valve is reassuring customers not to worry, as another stock drop is coming soon.

ValveSteam Controller ran out faster than we anticipated, and we hate that not everyone who wanted one was able to get it. We're working on getting more in stock and will have an update on expected timeline soon.

Companies like Apple are always seeking top-tier manufacturing for their Apple Silicon products, which range from the A-Series chips in iPhones and low-power MacBooks to the more powerful M-Series SoCs that power iPads and higher-end Macs. Manufacturing these custom processors has traditionally been handled by TSMC, but Bloomberg now reports that Apple has been in talks with both Intel Foundry and Samsung Foundry to manufacture some of its chips in the coming months. It has been known for some time that Apple is exploring Intel's 18A-P process design kits (PDKs). Apple has used version 0.9.1 of the PDK designed for Intel's 18A-P node. With performance, density, power, and other metrics meeting expectations, Intel could become Apple's source for advanced node production by 2027.

Additionally, Apple is reportedly waiting for Intel to release the 18A-P PDK version 1.0, which is on track to launch in the first half of 2026 or may have already been released to partners. Once available, Apple plans to start with the lowest-end M-series chip, used in MacBook Air and iPad Pro devices, as previously mentioned. This node is particularly interesting due to its performance characteristics, as the 18A-P can deliver a 9% performance increase at the same power level or achieve 18% power savings at the same performance level compared to the standard 18A. This is exactly what Apple is looking for. Coupled with better thermal conductivity, these designs should offer improved heat dissipation and performance compared to what Apple currently achieves with TSMC's 3 nm process in the M5 SoC.

Each week, new games and apps integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex, and advanced ray-traced effects are released or announced, delivering the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players. This week, Dead As Disco enters Early Access, and there are new looks at two highly anticipated, upcoming games: Star Wars: Galactic Racer, and 007 First Light.

STAR WARS: Galactic Racer Launches Worldwide On October 6th, Featuring DLSS 4.5 On GeForce RTX PCs & Laptops
Star Wars: Galactic Racer is a high-stakes reinvention of racing born in the lawless Outer Rim of the Star Wars galaxy. The Empire's grip on the galaxy has finally broken, and with its fall comes a new obsession: speed. As the New Republic struggles to rebuild, gambling, entertainment, and glory fuel a booming underground. Out of this chaos, the Galactic League is born: an unsanctioned racing circuit where syndicates sponsor pilots, fortunes are won and lost in seconds, and only the bold survive.

Mionix today announces AVIOR AIR CARBON FIBER, a limited-edition wireless gaming mouse and the first wireless gaming mouse from Mionix. Developed over more than two years, AVIOR AIR CARBON FIBER marks the comeback of Mionix with a completely new AVIOR body, handmade carbon fiber shell, and a new wireless platform built around Nordic Semiconductor's nRF54H20 chipset.

Designed as a flagship ultralight wireless FPS mouse, AVIOR AIR CARBON FIBER introduces a new rear-placed hump, back-loaded body shape optimized for claw, fingertip, and hybrid grip players. The new body replaces the previous AVIOR design, moving away from its balanced-placed hump profile to create a more specialized shape for FPS gamers who want precision, control, and fast repositioning.

Micron Technology, Inc., today announced it is now shipping the 245 TB capacity Micron 6600 ION SSD, the world's highest capacity commercially available SSD. The drive marks a major step forward in rack-scale storage density for data centers and is designed to support AI, cloud, enterprise and hyperscale workloads, including next-generation AI data lakes and cloud-scale file and object storage. The 245 TB Micron 6600 ION E3.L requires 82% fewer racks to achieve equivalent raw storage capacity compared to HDD-based deployments. Built with Micron G9 QLC NAND that is at least one generation ahead of any competing QLC used in data center SSDs, the 245 TB Micron 6600 ION redefines high-capacity data center storage. Customers can now store and process significantly more data in far less space, while reducing power and cooling demands without sacrificing the performance required for large-scale, data-intensive workloads.

"AI workloads are driving massive growth in shared data, continuing the shift of data center storage share from HDDs toward SSDs. With 245 TB in a single SSD, the Micron 6600 ION makes solid state storage the clear choice for modern data centers," said Jeremy Werner, senior vice president and general manager of Micron's Core Data Center Business Unit. "This breakthrough capacity gives data center operators a critical new lever to improve rack-level total cost of ownership, especially as power availability becomes a defining constraint for AI infrastructure scale."

In the fast-paced world of hardware, longevity is the ultimate benchmark of quality. As ADATA Technology celebrates its 25th anniversary, we reflect on a journey that transformed a visionary startup into a global titan. For the international tech community, our history is not just a series of dates - it is a 25-year track record of stability, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of reliability.

Innovation catches the eye, but reliability keeps the world moving. For a quarter-century, ADATA has served as the "Invisible Hero" behind the world's most ambitious digital breakthroughs. Whether powering professional workstations or safeguarding personal data, ADATA provides the stable foundation that makes inspiration possible. We believe that to truly inspire, technology must first be dependable.

As hybrid work continues to blur the line between productivity and entertainment, Lenovo is betting that better audio, not just better video, can make digital experiences feel more natural across the board. Ceva, Inc., today announced that Lenovo has selected its RealSpace spatial audio software for its new ThinkPad Dual-Mode Wireless ANC Foldable Headset 8550 (Aura Edition).

The 8550 headset is designed to recreate the sensation of being physically present, whether listening to music, watching a movie, or playing a game. Instead of a traditional stereo experience, audio is rendered in a virtual 3D space that remains anchored in place. As users turn their head, sound stays fixed in the environment, just as it would in the real world, creating a more natural and immersive listening experience.

Today, Bose unveils the Lifestyle Collection, a reimagined approach to home audio designed to elevate the listening experience without sacrificing convenience. The lineup includes a wireless smart speaker, an immersive soundbar, and a powerful subwoofer, all built with Bose's most advanced proprietary audio technologies and engineered to work together across flexible configurations—from a single space to multiple rooms—to deliver high-quality sound. Using Google Cast or Apple AirPlay, stream audio directly from any platform and group speakers seamlessly—including those from other manufacturers. Crafted with premium materials, the new collection comes in three timeless finishes to complement any space, and an updated Bose app enables one of the simplest setup experiences in home audio.

The Bose Lifestyle Ultra Speaker ($299), the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Soundbar ($1,099), and the Bose Lifestyle Ultra Subwoofer ($899) will be available starting May 15th and can be preordered today at Bose.com. The Lifestyle Collection comes in Black or White Smoke, and the Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is also available in limited-edition Driftwood Sand ($349), a soft beige reminiscent of fine upholstery, featuring a solid white oak base that's destined to age beautifully over time.

Microsoft recently published a note stating that gaming PCs running Windows 11 should be equipped with 32 GB of RAM as a "no worries" update for systems handling demanding tasks like Discord alongside AAA titles running in the background. However, after our post reached millions of readers online, gamers reacted negatively to Microsoft's seemingly excessive requirement amid the worst DRAM shortage ever recorded. In response, Microsoft deleted the entire blog post. Now, clicking on the old link redirects to the Windows Learning Center, which features general blog posts with tips and tricks on enhancing your Windows 11 experience, with no trace of the original post.

As readers may recall, Microsoft promised to make Windows 11 a much-improved operating system with better performance, more UI uniformity, and reduced RAM consumption. The company is reportedly using feedback from its Insiders group, user telemetry analytics, and customer focus groups to ensure that Windows 11 is efficient, thoughtfully designed, and stable. Earlier this year, Microsoft pledged to address many user complaints, such as poor memory optimization within its flagship operating system, but these fixes have yet to be implemented. In the meantime, having more RAM is the only solution to keep operations running smoothly. However, when the company began recommending 32 GB as a "no worries" upgrade, these plans seemed like empty promises, causing enthusiasts to stick around without considering alternatives. Now, Microsoft appears to have recognized the mistake and has deleted its previous blog post, indicating that the company is actively listening to user feedback online.

Combining cutting-edge ergonomic design with convenient productivity features, the latest mouse in the Trust Home & Office range - the Vyran Ergonomic Multi-Wireless Hyperscroll Mouse - is the perfect choice for professionals looking for a comfortable mouse that works as hard as they do.

Designed with user wellness in mind, the Vyran features a vertical form with an optimal 50° angle and comfortable thumb rest that naturally reduces arm and wrist strain during extended use. Ideal for those working through lengthy documents, spreadsheets, and web pages, its premium metal hyperscroll wheel with tilt function enables effortless vertical and horizontal navigation, making marathon work sessions that bit more comfortable.

Samsung Display announced today that it will participate in Display Week 2026, hosted by the Society for Information Display (SID), and showcase its latest display innovations.

The exhibition will take place from May 5 to 7 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in California. Display Week is one of the world's largest display industry exhibitions, where global companies and experts gather to share advanced technologies and research achievements. Under the theme "The Spectrum of Display Innovation with AI" Samsung Display will present its latest technologies as a leading OLED company.

Kensington, a worldwide leader of desktop computing and mobility solutions for IT, business, and home office professionals, today announced an expansion of its USB-C GaN charging portfolio with the addition of new multi-port power adapters and a 240 W USB-C fast-charging cable, designed to support fast, efficient charging across multiple devices.

The expanded lineup adds 70 W and 140 W USB-C GaN chargers that allow users to power laptops, tablets, smartphones, and accessories from a single compact adapter, reducing the need for multiple chargers and outlets.

be quiet!, the German manufacturer for premium PC components and peripherals, is proud to announce Dark Rock Pro 6 and Dark Rock 6. These high-end air coolers feature an all-new design, significantly better performance thanks to optimized heat sinks and optimized high-performance heat pipes, as well as an extended feature set for even greater ease of use and compatibility. Both coolers are built for users who demand powerful cooling performance, maximum compatibility with high-end motherboards and RAM modules, and the virtually inaudible operation that defines be quiet!'s Dark Rock series.

"With Dark Rock Pro 6 and Dark Rock 6, we have taken our high-end air cooling portfolio to the next level," says Aaron Licht, CEO of be quiet! "With improved performance and a new level of quietness through its optional semi-passive mode, the Dark Rock 6 series delivers the cooling power and elegance users expect from be quiet!, whether they are building a heavily overclocked workstation or a compact high-end gaming system."

LG Display, the world's leading innovator of display technologies, announced today that it is unveiling its next-generation OLED technologies at SID Display Week 2026, further strengthening its OLED leadership.

During the exhibition, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 5 to 7, LG Display will present OLED display solutions optimized for the AI era under the theme, "OLED Evolution for the AI Era." SID Display Week is the world's largest display event, where global companies and researchers gather to present research papers and showcase mid- to long-term future technologies and new products.

Last week, news broke that Lenovo had bought Phoenix Technologies' firmware (BIOS) technology business and now it looks like AMI—also known as American Megatrends Inc—is about to get a new owner, namely Lattice Semiconductor. That leaves Taiwanese Insyde Software as the only independent UEFI/BIOS developer in a market that at least on the desktop side has been largely ruled by AMI and is likely to continue to be so, even with AMI now being a subsidiary to Lattice Semiconductor.

Lattice is offering US$1.65 billion in cash and stock for AMI, which is a privately held company today. For those unfamiliar with Lattice, the company makes a range of FPGA solutions for a wide range of markets and is a competitor with AMD's Xilinx subsidiary and Altera, which is part owned by Intel. It's not entirely clear what the synergy is between Lattice and AMI, but a statement by Lattice CEO Ford Tamer suggests that the company thinks it might help its customers "deploy complex systems faster and with greater confidence" under Lattice's "everywhere companion chip strategy". Time will tell if this will lead to changes to AMI's current customers or not, since as the biggest UEFI/BIOS vendor out there—used by almost all mainstream motherboard makers and many other x86/x64 hardware makers—they have something of a unique position in the market.

Are you looking for esports-level performance without unnecessary weight? The SKILLER SGM70W delivers professional performance in an ultra-lightweight design - whether used wired or wireless. Equipped with the precise PixArt PAW3395 sensor, an extremely high polling rate, and ultra-smooth glass feet, it offers maximum control with minimal weight and is perfect for ambitious gamers who demand speed, precision, and flexibility.

The SKILLER SGM70W relies on the proven optical PixArt PAW3395 sensor, delivering up to 26,000 DPI to capture even the smallest movements with accuracy. This ensures the precision needed for fast reactions and exact tracking during competitive gameplay. Whether wired or wireless, the SKILLER SGM70W adapts effortlessly to any gaming situation. Both modes offer professional performance, while the wireless mode benefits from an impressive 8,000 Hz polling rate for especially responsive input.

XPG, a leading provider of high-performance products for gamers, esports pros, and tech enthusiasts, today announced the launch of its groundbreaking new memory series, NOVAKEY. As the flagship of the series, the NOVAKEY RGB DDR5 features the world's first patented "Infinity Mirror" design. Delivering speeds up to 6,400 MT/s and capacities up to 32 GB per module, it is engineered for mainstream gamers and creators who demand a perfect balance between sophisticated style and rock-solid performance.

The launch of NOVAKEY marks a significant milestone in XPG's brand evolution. The name combines "Nova," representing the brilliant energy and infinite potential of a supernova, with "Key," symbolizing the essential technology that unlocks next-level performance. Its patented "Infinity Mirror" design utilizes a futuristic geometric silhouette to create mesmerizing 3D visual depth. To complement the trend of modern PC builds with large glass panels, the XPG design team applied optical reflection principles to the heat sink, creating an "infinite time tunnel" effect from any viewing angle. The exterior features XPG's signature slanted-cut language, while the matte black metal accents and brushed aluminium finish ensure a premium, refined look even when the RGB lighting is turned off.

Global memory leader Team Group Inc. continues to advance product performance with the introduction of new high-frequency specifications for its ELITE PLUS DDR5 and ELITE DDR5 desktop memory modules. Both products deliver speeds of up to 8000 MT/s and operate at 1.1 V with CL56-56-56-128 timings, fully compliant with JEDEC standards. Designed to meet the growing demand for high-frequency operation, these modules not only fulfill performance requirements but also enhance overall system performance and computing experience, highlighting Team Group's technological strengths in high-performance memory. Both products are expected to be available soon on Amazon in North America.

As demand for high-performance computing and digital technologies continues to grow, Team Group introduces the ELITE PLUS DDR5 8000 MT/s and ELITE DDR5 8000 MT/s as new high-frequency, low-power consumption desktop memory modules. Through frequency upgrades, they are engineered to support a variety of desktop use scenarios, including learning and entertainment. Operating at 1.1 V, the modules effectively lower power consumption while extending the computer's lifespan. They are also equipped with DDR5 Same-Bank Refresh technology and an optimized IC architecture, maintaining smooth operation under multitasking conditions and improving overall system efficiency.

Logitech's HITS (haptic inductive trigger system), introduced with the G Pro X2 Superstrike gaming mouse in late 2025, made serious waves in enthusiast gaming mouse spaces, but, as is the case with many of Logitech's innovations, the mouse the tech came with was imperfect and commanded a premium price. Now, it seems as though at least two Chinese peripheral makers are lining up to challenge at least some of Logitech's capabilities with their own magnetic switch tech. First, and the one we know the least about, is Keychron, surprisingly enough who is apparently preparing a micro switch called the MagOpt. The MagOpt switch was teased by Keychron on the brand's own YouTube channel, where it showed off a switch design that looks to use a hybrid optical and magnetic sensing mechanism combined with a traditional click leaf. It seems as though Keychron's MagOpt switch will attempt to mimic some of the functionality of the HITS system—like rapid trigger, adjustable actuation, and better longevity—but without a lot of the adjustability enabled by the haptic feedback of Logitech's HITS system.

The other incoming contender is Snaptiq, a product by a Russian streamer (shared by @goonerfps on X), and this system appears to have much more feature parity with Logitech HITS. The sensors in Snaptiq are analogue, like those found in Logitech's implementation, but these use magnets and either Hall effect or TMR sensor in place of Logitech's inductive switches. More importantly, Snaptiq will also mimic the tactile feedback with vibration motors, similar to HITS. How this pans out remains to be seen, but Lunacy claims that it will be able to detect movement as fine as 1 micron (0.001 mm) and that the mouse clicks themselves will be completely silent. Lunatic's Snaptiq is slated to launch by the end of 2026, although it is unlikely to launch in Western markets. However, this and Keychron's implementation may be the start of a wave of Chinese brands adopting similar tech to Logitech HITS.

When NVIDIA first revealed DLSS 5 and its neural rendering, a lot of the online backlash that was leveled at the feature centered around Capcom's Resident Evil character, Grace, and how DLSS 5 changed her facial features. Now, in a recent interview with Eurogamer, Koshi Nakanishi and Masato Kumzawa, the game's director and producer, have responded to the DLSS 5 outrage and to the game's overall reception at and since launch. Addressing the DLSS 5 debacle, Kumzawa took the backlash as a positive indication, commenting that "the fact a lot of players commented they really liked the original design of Grace and didn't want to see it changed was a positive—it meant we got the design right," and that it was an indication that "Grace quickly established herself as a fan favorite." The Nakanishi and Kumzawa did not comment on previous allegations that Capcom had not involved game developers or even inform them of the potential changes to the character designs ahead of time.

[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of Resident Evil Requiem can be found here]

Just 16 days after Resident Evil Requiem launched, it had already sold over 6 million units, making it the fastest-selling Resident Evil game to date. Commenting on the overall success of the game, the pair said that "we were very happy to see the reaction of players around the world after the game launched. In particular, because we were very tight-lipped in order to maintain the surprise for players, especially about what happens after the return to Raccoon City. So, watching people's clips and online reactions, we felt not only pleased that they were enjoying it, but relieved our strategy was right to try and save that for them." Notably, the Resident Evil developer publicly asked gamers not to spoil surprises about the game when the game's plot was leaked online shortly before the official launch.

With the official launch of Forza Horizon 6 around the corner, Microsoft and Playground Games have just divulged a little more information about the upcoming driving sim, specifically its world, car line-up, and official console performance modes and expected frame rates. Firstly, and perhaps most importantly Forza Horizon 6 will feature two distinct performance modes on the Xbox Series X and S consoles. Performance Mode will allow the game to run at 60 FPS on both consoles, at 4K resolution with dynamic upscaling on the Series X and 1080p with dynamic scaling on the Series S. Quality Mode, on the other hand, will target 30 FPS on both Xbox variants, at 4K native resolution with "increased visual fidelity" on the Series X and 1440p with dynamic scaling to maintain the target frame rate. Horizon 6 will also feature a number of accessibility features, including AutoDrive, Proximity Radar, High Contrast mode, colorblind filters, and ASL and BSL interpreters for cut-scenes. There is also an option to modify the game speed in offline mode, which should make the game more accessible to kids and those with limited mobility and reflexes, especially when used in conjunction with difficulty settings.

The announcement revealed that gamers can start preloading Forza Horizon 6 on both PC and Xbox already, from the library page for preorderers and Game Pass subscribers, from the Microsoft Store, or using the Xbox app for smartphones if you're planning on buying a physical edition. Microsoft will also be giving Forza veterans login rewards in the form of free special car unlocks that will appear in players' garages after they complete the introductory mission. These cars depend on the game players previously played: 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray for Forza Motorsport; 2021 Mercedes-AMD ONE for Forza Horizon 5; 2016 Aston Martin Vulcan for Forza Horizon 4; 2016 Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4 for Forza Horizon 3; 2014 Lamborghini Huracán LP-610-4 for Forza Horizon 2; and 2013 Dodge SRT Viper GTS for Forza Horizon.

Hard Disk Drives (HDDs) and Solid State Drives (SSDs) are among the most sought-after commodities in computing today, as the expansion of AI data centers consumes everything in its path. According to Seagate, Sandisk, and Western Digital, demand is so high that customers are signing long-term supply agreements lasting up to five years. This duration is significant because customers are now planning their contracts around demand expansion, which is not only substantial but will also bring better balance to the supply chain. With customers driving steady demand, HDD and SSD manufacturers know exactly how much spinning rust or NAND Flash to produce to meet this demand. Over time, this is a positive development for a supply chain that will adapt with expanding production capacity. However, it poses a short-term challenge for PC gamers.

For example, at the start of this year, we reported that HDD prices have soared by an average of 46% since mid-September. These changes have made spinning rust an expensive commodity, but this is minor compared to NAND Flash prices, which have increased 500% in just a few months. The expansion of AI data centers has depleted any remaining inventory of HDDs and SSDs, leaving the consumer PC market to compete for the few remaining units available for gaming PCs. Interestingly, HDDs contain almost no silicon for storage purposes, so their significant price increases are a supply chain issue unrelated to the semiconductor industry. Apart from the controllers that use silicon, HDD platters are made from materials that are not currently in short supply. However, high demand keeps their prices elevated.

Even though it looks as though Valve may be preparing for some upcoming large-scale hardware shipments, and it has officially launched the Steam Controller that was slated to launch with the Steam Machine, the gaming giant has yet to even announce a price for the Steam Machine. While we know from a previous statement that this is due to the ongoing RAM shortage, Valve's Steve Cardinali and Lawrence Yang have just addressed the Steam Machine's launch again in a recent interview with PC Gamer. Yang explains that "I mean, obviously we're bummed that this is the state of things. At the very least we're not the only ones in this boat. Like, everyone's kind of figuring out how to overcome these obstacles and challenges—RAM shortages, memory shortages, price hikes, everything."

Despite this somewhat pessimistic outlook, Yang also says that Valve is still aiming for competitive pricing on the Steam Machine: "You know, it's unavoidable that it will impact basically anything we make that has any of those parts in them. So we're doing our best to make sure that we can make the product and have it still available at as good and competitive a price as we can." It also seems as though Valve didn't expect the memory price hikes and shortages to be quite so steep and severe, as Cardinali explains that "you're, like, right there, and then you have this whole challenge thrown at you last minute. It's frustrating. But yeah, we're working our hardest to get resolution there." Yang also commented that, even though it was expected that all three hardware products would launch around the same time, Valve knew that the Controller might launch ahead of the Frame and Machine, stating that "we knew that there was some chance that schedules would move, and we would just ship them when they were ready," and he again confirms that Valve was not prepared to launch the Steam Machine without launching the controller first or at the same time.

Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd., a global leader in high-performance computer hardware, is excited to announce the official launch of its Z890 PLUS series motherboards. Engineered to maximize the value and power of the new Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus series processors, this lineup, led by the high-value Z890 AORUS ELITE PLUS, delivers a significant leap in gaming performance without the premium price tag.

High-Value Performance for Every Gamer
The Z890 PLUS series is specifically designed for enthusiasts who prioritize performance-per-dollar. By focusing on models like the Z890 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 PLUS, Gigabyte provides a feature-rich platform that supports the latest high-performance processors. Internal testing against Intel 14th Gen CPUs reveals that these new processors offer up to 28% better gaming performance. In separate internal benchmarks, the series also demonstrates up to 35% better productivity performance compared to the previous generation. These distinct improvements make the PLUS series the ideal choice for both modern competitive gaming and intensive creative workloads.

It seems we are not too far from the next-generation Double Data Rate 6 (DDR6) memory for desktops and servers, as memory manufacturers are working with JEDEC to establish a new standard. According to South Korean media outlet The Elec, major memory makers such as SK hynix, Samsung, and Micron have reportedly begun designing DDR6 in their labs and are gradually coordinating module development with substrate manufacturers. This collaborative effort is taking place under the supervision of JEDEC, the industry authority that oversees standard development and ensures a common foundation for design. Manufacturers could have accessed JEDEC's first DDR6 draft since 2024, but the draft still lacks concrete specifications such as finalized voltage ranges, signal usage, power envelopes, and pinout design. However, this is expected to change as manufacturers are now accelerating standard development.

Last year, we reported that the major players mentioned above had already moved past the prototype stages and embarked on rigorous validation cycles. Perhaps the most interesting aspect is the designated throughput of 8,800 MT/s, with plans to scale up to a staggering 17,600 MT/s, nearly doubling the ceiling of today's DDR5. This increase is driven by DDR6's 4×24-bit sub-channel architecture, which requires entirely new approaches to signal integrity. It also differs from DDR5's current 2x32-bit sub-channel structure. To overcome the physical limits faced by DIMM form factors at higher speeds, the industry is betting on CAMM2 technology. Early indications suggest that server platforms will lead the change, with high-end notebooks following once manufacturing ramps up.

Intel Corporation today announced two key leadership appointments to strengthen its core product business and advance the company's innovation agenda.

Alex Katouzian Appointed to Lead Client Computing & Physical AI Group
Alex Katouzian will join Intel as executive vice president and general manager of the Client Computing and Physical AI Group. In this role, Katouzian will align Intel's client computing business with emerging physical AI systems that span robotics, autonomous machines, and other AI devices.

Intel today released its latest Arc GPU graphics drivers with the version 101.8737 Beta brining new game-ready support for two new releases, including an RPG game Heros of Might & Magic Olden Era, as well as Neverness to Everness open world title. What is perhaps the most interesting thing with this beta driver release is the series of fixed issues in the Pragmata game with DirectX 12 API, which resulted in application crashes when loading into game menu on Intel Arc GPUs. This used to occur on everything from "Panther Lake," "Lunar Lake," and "Meteor Lake" integrated graphics, all the way to discrete Arc "Alchemist" and "Battlemage" solutions. Now the problem is resolved, but some issues remain. For example, Fortnite might crash on "Wildcat Lake" systems during launch, and discrete GPUs might experience some graphics corruption in games like Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Dune: Awakening. For a full list of known issues, check out the changelog below.DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc Graphics Driver 101.8737 Beta.

The Windows 11 install base seems to be expanding, contradicting the overall sentiment surrounding Microsoft's highly controversial operating system. According to the latest Steam Hardware and Software Survey results from April, Windows 11 now accounts for 67.74% of the Steam gamer base, marking an increase of 0.89% from March. This growth comes at the expense of the remaining two operating systems noted in the Steam survey, primarily Linux and macOS. Interestingly, the April data suggests that Linux-based operating systems now stand at 4.52%, a significant 0.81% decrease from March. Most Linux distributions saw a decline in user share, with only Debian Linux, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, and Fedora Linux 43 recording a meaningful uptick. The rest experienced a decline in April, indicating some market-wide corrections among gamers worldwide.

For Windows, both Windows 11 and Windows 10, which reached end of life back in October 2025, recorded increases, and the overall share of Windows-based gaming PCs grew by 1.14% in April. Now, Windows accounts for 93.47% of all gaming PCs, meaning that Linux and macOS remain relatively small compared to the dominance of Microsoft's OS. Especially among gamers, switching to a different OS seems problematic, despite recent growth rates. Even as Windows 11 has its own issues, the majority of gamers remain on the platform because it offers the best game compatibility and the lowest learning curve of all the mentioned platforms.

Asustor Inc. today is announcing that it will unveil a range of new products at Computex 2026 in Taipei, to showcase its superior network storage prowress with numerous models in addition to its award winning lineup of network storage solutions.

Flashstor Gen3 Series - Flagship Flash NAS for Creators with Optional AI
The all-flash NAS, highly praised by professional photographers and video creators, is receiving a significant upgrade. The new Flashstor Gen3 series is equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 Pro 8640U Six-Core processor, providing 16 TOPs of AI computing power.

AMD's upcoming APU refresh with the Ryzen AI Max 400 series is divided into "Gorgon Point" and "Gorgon Halo." Today, we see one of the first "Gorgon Halo" APUs appearing in online benchmark databases. The AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 "Gorgon Halo" APU, featuring 16 cores and 32 threads based on the current "Zen 5" CPU architecture, has landed in the PassMark testing database. These cores can reach a boost frequency of up to 5.2 GHz, which is about a 100 MHz improvement over the current "Strix Halo" APU generation. Complementing the CPU setup is the RDNA 3.5 GPU architecture, now in the form of a Radeon 8065S, which appears to be an overclocked version of the current Radeon 8060S. This new Radeon 8065S iGPU runs at 3.0 GHz, while the current Radeon 8060S runs at about 2.9 GHz. No increase in cores is expected here, and the "Gorgon Halo's" integrated graphics should continue with the 40 RDNA 3.5 CUs.

In terms of performance, AMD has managed to achieve better efficiency thanks to the higher boost frequency. PassMark's comparisons now list the new Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 495 "Gorgon Halo" APU as about 4% ahead in multicore and about 3% in single-core benchmarks compared to the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ PRO 395 "Strix Halo" APU. Another significant aspect is the integrated memory configuration. With the previous "Strix Halo," the maximum memory configuration was 128 GB, while the latest "Gorgon Point" shows 192 GB of LPDDR5X memory, suggesting that AMD has updated its integrated memory controller to increase the maximum memory capacity.

Welcome to May and this month kicks off with several new games from independent developers. This week's major release is all about navigating the great white north, in more ways than one. The week kicks off with a different take on the tower defence genre, followed by a game that combines disco and beat 'em up. Next up we have an online co-op action RPG which is followed by one that isn't online and finally we round the week off with some crab evolution. Don't forget to check out some of the other games also launching this week.

WILL: Follow The Light / This week's major release / Thursday 7 May
WILL: Follow The Light is a story-driven, first-person adventure puzzle game about a perilous personal journey through the harsh northern latitudes. To find peace and reunite with his family, Will must sail across endless waters, face numerous challenges, and ultimately discover himself. Steam link

If readers recall, AMD has been trying to get the HDMI Forum, the governing body behind the development of the HDMI standard, to approve open-source HDMI 2.1 support on Linux but faced strong rejection. However, today the situation appears to be different. An AMD Linux developer hinted that the company is preparing full HDMI 2.1 support for the AMDGPU driver, bringing a complete open-source implementation after years of work. Helping this effort is Valve, whose Steam Machine runs on the SteamOS Linux operating system and uses AMD graphics. Late last year, we reported that Valve was reportedly attempting to persuade the HDMI Forum to approve AMD's efforts to bring this implementation to the open-source Linux stack, but we haven't received an update since.

Today, the situation looks a bit different as AMD has submitted the first set of Linux kernel patches, focusing on the Fixed Rate Link (FRL) feature, exclusive to the HDMI 2.1 standard. This feature enables higher bandwidth over the port, effectively supporting 4K at 120 Hz and 5K at 240 Hz resolutions on AMD GPUs running Linux-based operating systems. As these resolutions require higher data bandwidth, it is necessary to use the newer HDMI 2.1 standard over the currently supported HDMI 2.0 in AMDGPU open-source graphics drivers.

Commodore has announced the C64C Ultimate, a new variant of its well-received Commodore 64 Ultimate edition from 2025 that swaps the original 1982 "bread-bin" case for the sleeker C64C form factor introduced in 1986. The standout detail here is the case manufacturing. Commodore tracked down and reacquired the original injection molds used to produce the C64C plastic housing back in the '80s. The tooling has had quite a journey. Originally used in Japan, then at Commodore's Pennsylvania and Dallas operations, the molds were discovered at auction in 2014, survived a factory fire, and eventually ended up at Individual Computers before Commodore bought them back from IComp.de. The cases produced from these molds even carry the original subtle flow marks caused by a two-point plastic cooling pattern from the 1986 production run, an unintentional quirk that Commodore is now treating as a mark of authenticity.

Under the hood, the C64C Ultimate is identical to the existing "bread-bin" model, FPGA-based, cycle-accurate C64 emulation, bundled demos and games, and a spiral-bound user guide covering everything from basic use to BASIC programming. Three editions are available for pre-order with shipping expected in late 2026. The standard BASIC Beige is $299.99, the Starlight Edition adds a translucent case with game-reactive LED lighting at $349.99, and the Founder's Edition goes all out with PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) gold keycaps, 24k gold-plated badges, and a translucent white case at $499.99. Commodore says that this announcement is the first of several new products planned for 2026.

Microsoft has published an updated support document outlining what the company believes the best Windows 11 gaming PC systems have in common. Among the listed specifications, Microsoft makes an interesting note about the system's RAM capacity configuration. The document suggests that 16 GB is a baseline for a modern PC, describing it as a good "starting point." However, the company recommends that gamers aim to surpass this baseline, as it now suggests 32 GB as a "no worries" upgrade for gaming PCs. This higher RAM capacity makes running multiple workloads much easier, which is naturally true, but raises question about the feasibility of Microsoft's future plans to bring more optimizations to the operating system.

Most TechPowerUp readers are PC enthusiasts who understand how a RAM-limited system performs and know that more RAM is almost always better. However, in an era where the DRAM shortage is making it difficult for enthusiasts to easily buy more RAM, many are turning to more optimized operating systems like Linux-based distributions or even macOS, which is an entirely different platform. Microsoft now recommends a 32 GB capacity, stating it "helps if you run Discord, browsers, or streaming tools alongside your games." The extra memory also provides newer titles with more breathing room as memory demands continue to rise. This might also indicate that Microsoft's operating system is more RAM-hungry these days than it used to be, during a challenging time for RAM upgrades.

Arch Linux has released its May 2026 ISO snapshot, version 2026.05.01, the first Arch ISO to ship with the Linux 7.0 kernel series, version 7.0.3 to be more precise. The new kernel brings improved hardware detection, particularly useful on newer machines but also on older hardware where previous ISOs sometimes failed to detect certain components. Linux 6.18.25 LTS is still available for those who prefer to remain on the long-term support branch. The updated Archinstall 4.3 installer introduces a new "Additional Fonts" section in the Applications menu. From there, users can pick from Noto Unicode for broad language coverage, Noto Emoji for color emoji support in browsers and apps, and Noto CJK variants for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean characters. The installer now also automatically enables power management services after package installation, fixes bugs with encrypted partition selection and file copying, and adds a completed Hindi translation locale.

On the desktop side, KDE gets updated to Plasma 6.6.4 with KDE Frameworks 6.25 and KDE Gear 26.04, while GNOME is at version 50.1 across Shell, Mutter, and core components. Other environments include Cinnamon 6.6.8, Hyprland 0.54.3, and COSMIC 1.0.11. Graphics and audio come through Mesa 26.0.6, PipeWire 1.6.4 and BlueZ 5.86. Firefox 150, LibreOffice 26.2.3 and Blender 5.1.1 are among the updated apps in this new Arch Linux ISO snapshot. Worth mentioning that this is not a reinstallation situation for existing Arch users, a full system upgrade getting everything from the new ISO. The snapshot is mainly useful as a current starting point for fresh installs, with all packages updated through April 2026.

AMD previewed its Ryzen AI Halo mini-PC during the CES 2026 showcase, and the machine is set to be released as soon as June arrives. According to a Reddit user, AMD presented a Ryzen AI Halo box during AMD AI Dev Day, showcasing the system in its full glory. This machine is powered by a Ryzen AI Max 395+ APU, featuring a 16-core/32-thread "Zen 5" CPU, a large integrated GPU based on the RDNA 3.5 graphics architecture with 40 compute units, and a Microsoft Copilot+ ready NPU with 50 TOPS. It supports up to 128 GB of unified LPDDR5X memory, is compatible with Windows 11 and Linux, and comes with pre-loaded AI models optimized for the hardware. At the AI Dev Day, AMD demonstrated the device running on the Ubuntu operating system, which is likely to be the preferred OS for many AI developers targeted by this system.

AMD has developed an innovative cooling solution for the "Strix Halo" SoC, which includes a baseplate, a network of direct-touch flat heatpipes, an aluminium channel heatsink, and two lateral airflow blowers. AMD stated that the Ryzen AI Halo AI developer platform will be available from Q2 2026 which matches this supposed June launch. Interestingly, the price of this 128 GB model remains unknown, which is the biggest mystery, but don't expect it to come cheap. Below are some of the first real-life pictures, showcasing the design illuminated by a programmable RGB strip surrounding the box.

Chinese Board Channels now confirm that NVIDIA's upcoming resurrection of the GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB edition will take place in June, with many of NVIDIA's existing add-in-card (AIC) partners assisting in relaunching this five-year-old GPU. Interestingly, there are rumors that the recently integrated GALAX within the Palit group will be among these partners. Other AIC partners include NVIDIA's usual launch partners like ASUS, Colorful, and MSI. It will be interesting to see whether these AIC partners design new PCBs for the GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB relaunch or use their older designs, which they probably stopped producing years ago. We have already reported that NVIDIA is reintroducing the GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB SKU with a 192-bit wide memory bus.

For this, NVIDIA will once again use Samsung's 8 nm DUV node, as it has in the past. The entire NVIDIA "Ampere" architecture lineup was produced on the 8 nm DUV node, and its return after several years was unexpected. We also reported that the rumored RTX 5050 9 GB edition is reportedly on hold, as NVIDIA is pausing the transition from its 8 GB RTX 5050 "Blackwell" version to a 9 GB model due to the reintroduction of the GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB "Ampere" GPU. Since both of these GPUs compete in the budget segment, the company will reportedly only release the older GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB SKU as its primary entry-level design.

Austrian fan maker Noctua has published a technical blog explaining why it sometimes takes a long time for the company to release the dark-edition chromax.black fans after the initial beige and brown design is out. The company compares the level of engineering required for a new color code to painting a Formula 1 car, rather than a simple color change like you would typically do with a wooden fence. Noctua is known for its scientific testing, rigorous performance evaluations, highly detailed lab experiments, and more, which make its fans worthwhile. This has created a massive fan base within the enthusiast community over the years, who now eagerly await each new product release. When it comes to manufacturing, the company applies that same rigor everywhere, and a simple color change is not taken lightly. For example, Noctua produces its fans using injection molding, where plastic is melted and forced into a steel mold. However, when a new pigment is used, the entire calculation can be disrupted.

Noctua designs its fans with high precision to maximize airflow performance. This means that blade impellers have a tip clearance before hitting the fan frame of only a few tenths of a millimeter, about 0.5 mm for 120 mm fans and about 0.7 mm for 140 mm fans. Introducing any third-party pigment into this process could disrupt the structure of this fan tip clearance and potentially interfere with Noctua's Sterrox liquid-crystal polymer (LCP) material used in its fans. Specifically, color pigments have particles that directly affect how the injection mold behaves, as they carry their own particle imperfections. This negatively impacts the hundreds of thousands of performance tests that Noctua conducts in the lab and significantly delays the chromax.black product launch.

Brad Lynch, the same VR industry insider who revealed that Valve was preparing for the Steam Controller launch just two weeks before the controller actually launched, has just revealed in a post on X that Valve may be preparing to launch the Steam Machine in the coming weeks. Like last time with the Steam Controller, it seems as though Valve has been receiving "a ton of 'Game Consoles'" in the US in recent weeks, according to recent shipping manifests. According to Lynch, Valve is stocking its US distribution warehouses, indicating that it is preparing whatever it is importing for an imminent batch of orders.

Admittedly, the shipping manifests simply list the imported hardware as "Game Consoles," so it could also be referring to something like the Steam Deck. However, there are no upcoming large-scale shopping, holidays, or regular discount periods, like Black Friday, that Valve would need to increase Steam Deck supply in order to prepare for. It's also entirely possible that this is around the time Valve had originally planned to ship the Steam Machine, and it is simply following the plan to make logistics and storage cheaper by keeping the hardware in its own warehouses where it already pays for space.

A new looter shooter set in an alternate timeline Wild West, titled "Far Far West," launched on Steam in Early Access, and, but a day after launch, the game has rocketed to second place in Steam's Top Sellers chart, which measures game performance based on revenue earned. That is in spite of its $19.99 launch pricing and 10% launch discount—or maybe it's because of the fairly aggressive pricing. According to SteamDB, the game has peaked at 30,288 concurrent players the day after it launched, which is solid performance for a mid-week launch of a new indie IP from a small studio. Far Far West also seems to sit well with gamers, with an Overwhelmingly Positive 98% review rating on Steam.

The game mixes traditional Western aesthetics and co-op looter shooter mechanics with fantasy elements, like magic and monsters. The game sees players, in teams of up to four, take on bounties to hunt down dangerous foes in the Far Far West. The game offers in-depth customization of weapons, spells, and abilities, and the developer's Early Access roadmap promises a healthy helping of new content in the coming months. The plans include new spells, weapons, melee weapons, in-game events, new objectives, improved replayability, and weekly challenges, among others.

With retail leaks revealing a new MSI Claw handheld slated to arrive soon with Intel's Arc G3 Extreme dedicated handheld CPU onboard, it's no surprise to see the CPU, and its Arc B380 iGPU, appear in early benchmarks. According to a recent PassMark run, the Intel Arc G3 Extreme will put up impressive numbers in terms of both CPU and GPU performance, with multicore CPU tests resulting in 29,622 points and single-core tests coming in at 4,288 points.

In comparison, the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme that has become ubiquitous in the handheld gaming space, manages 23,649 in multicore CPU testing and 3,964 points in single-core tests—just over 20% slower than Intel's upcoming chip. To be fair, the TDP of the 14-core Intel chip during the test is unknown, and performance at lower power has been one of Intel's weaknesses when it comes to gaming handhelds. GPU tests have not yet been recorded by PassMark, but the Arc B380 is slated to be built on the same 12-core Xe3 silicon with a minor 200 MHz decrease in GPU clock, so performance is expected to be quite similar to the Arc B390, which we tested to be significantly faster than AMD's Radeon 890M.

Microsoft has officially announced a Spring 2026 Game Dev Update event scheduled for May 7 at 18:00 UTC. This is a new event by Microsoft—likely part of its new initiative to make Xbox more welcoming to developers, as promised by CEO Asha Sharma recently—and the company will show off a host of updates to projects like DirectX, DirectStorage, Xbox developer tools, and the future of the Xbox Marketplace. Most importantly for consumers, though, Xbox will give us our next look at the upcoming Xbox Helix game console, slated to launch somewhere around late 2027 to 2028.

The Xbox Helix update will cover "details shared at GDC, offering a closer look at Project Helix and what it represents for the future of Xbox," so we may find out more about how Microsoft plans to integrate the more PC-centric features of the Xbox Helix. It seems unlikely that we'll hear anything material about pricing or exact hardware or performance at the event though. Further, Xbox may provide more details about how it plans to handle things like Xbox exclusives in future console generations. The event will be streamed on the Microsoft Game Dev YouTube channel.

Microsoft has so far been mum on the prospect of new Surface hardware featuring Intel's Panther Lake CPUs, although leakers have started reporting that that's exactly what is on the horizon, mere weeks ahead of the supposed launch date. Now, we have two Geekbench listings backing up those early leak and revealing two versions of an upcoming Microsoft Surface Pro 12 and a new Surface Laptop 8 (via Notebookcheck). The two Surface Pro 12 variants, which will be thin-and-light convertible devices, be available with both the Intel Core Ultra 5 325 and Core Ultra 5 335 CPUs, which are both eight-core chips with a small 100 MHz difference in clock speed. It also looks as though the Pro 12 will be available with up to 32 GB of memory.

According to the leaks, the new Surface Laptop 8 will follow the standard 13-inch laptop form factor we've come to expect from Microsoft and come with both the Intel Core Ultra X7 368H, with Intel's Arc B390 iGPU, and the Core Ultra 7 366H CPU, which features the much less powerful four-core iGPU. The now-removed Geekbench listing lists a single-core score of 2,833 points and a multicore score of 16,368 points, and the new Laptop 8 will feature 32 GB of LPDDR5-8532 memory. The same spec options are expected for the 15-inch version of the 8th-gen Surface Laptop 13. An exact release date has not yet been declared, but a mid-May launch seems likely, according to WinFuture.

Microsoft has just announced a new set of features coming to the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming PCs, addressing game quality, docked mode quality-of-life, Game Bar improvements, and more. The most notable improvement coming to the ROG Xbox Ally is Auto Super Resolution, or Auto SR, which is now in Preview in the Xbox Game Bar. Auto SR, as the name suggests, is a similar to AMD and NVIDIA's FSR and DLSS, allowing game upscaling to increase frame rates without losing image quality. On the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X, Auto SR is only available in docked mode for now, where it will automatically upscale the game's image to deliver a sharper image, fit for a bigger screen, when docked to something like a TV. This should effectively make for a smoother transition between gaming on the TV and in handheld mode, since you won't have to change resolution or upscaling settings when plugging the ROG Xbox Ally in. Microsoft has an in-depth blog explaining Auto SR in more detail.

[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X is now live]

Aside from Auto SR, the ROG Xbox Ally also gets the gamepad cursor we previously covered, streamlined controller pairing for docked play, a display widget in Game Bar, where you can quickly adjust display settings, and a handful of automatic enhancements for smart TVs. For starters, when players connect to an external display or TV, the ROG Xbox Ally will now turn off the built-in screen and default to the TV for output. If the connected TV happens to be a smart TV from Samsung, LG, or Vizio, the ROG Xbox Ally will automatically enable certain features on the TV, like Auto Low Latency Mode, Auto Game Mode, or Game/PC Mode. The library consolidation features we previously covered have also officially been added to the Xbox PC App, allowing you to use the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally in handheld mode exclusively if you would like to.

Not long after Subnautica 2 studio, Unknown Worlds, ditched Krafton as its publisher, the development outfit has officially announced the Early Access release date for Subnautica 2. According to a new Early Access release cinematic trailer, Subnautica will officially launch on May 14, 2026 in Early Access on Steam and Epic Games and in Preview on the Xbox Game Store, and pricing is set at $29.99 during the Early Access period, with regional pricing applicable, too.

The release date trailer also gives us a glimpse at some of the alien life that players will encounter in Subnautica 2, including giant carnivorous clams and airborne molluscs that hang in the air somewhat eerily. The announcement follows a long legal battle after Krafton attempted to wrest control of Unknown Worlds away from its CEO and founders, seemingly as part of a bid to avoid paying the studio a bonus for hitting its target launch date. So far, this legal battle has culminated in Unknown Worlds's CEO, Ted Gill, being reinstated and taking over the Subnautica 2 announcement. The Subnautica 2 Early Access Release date trailer follows.

Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2026 second quarter ended March 28, 2026. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $111.2 billion, up 17 percent year over year. Diluted earnings per share was $2.01, up 22 percent year over year.

"Today Apple is proud to report our best March quarter ever, with revenue of $111.2 billion and double-digit growth across every geographic segment," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "iPhone achieved a March quarter revenue record, fueled by such extraordinary demand for the iPhone 17 lineup. During the quarter, Services achieved yet another all-time record, and we were excited to introduce remarkable new products to our strongest lineup ever. That included the addition of the iPhone 17e and the M4-powered iPad Air, along with the launch of MacBook Neo, which is captivating customers all around the world."

PMM, the mouse mod company, has announced the latest iteration of its Razer Viper V3 Pro mod, which replaces the shell of the Viper V3 Pro with a 3D printed, carbon fiber-reinforced nylon shell in order to bring the weight down. Like the original Zen mod, Zen 2.0 brings the weight down to as little as 33 g if you opt for the wireless version, but with the pre-built version of the Zen 2.0, the mod is also available with three different lightweight batteries, offering wireless connectivity for an additional 3-5 g. The PMM Zen 2.0 mod itself—that is to say, just the 3D printed shell with PTFE skates, grip tape, tools, a 150 mAh battery, and two carbon fiber reinforcement rods—comes in at $132, while the pre-built version starts at $317. The pricing obviously makes this something that appeals almost exclusively to enthusiasts and highly dedicated esports gamers.

[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of the Razer Viper V3 Pro is now live]

The Zen 2.0 mod kit replaces the original Zen on the PMM store, and PMM claims to have addressed many of the shortcomings of the original Zen with the new version, including click quality, sturdiness, and platforms for the mouse skates. Zen 2 is also only available with the smooth, grippy UltraGrip 3.0 coating and with either solid sides and holes in the rest of the body or as an entirely solid shell, which again increases the weight by 2 g. This means that if you want a solid shell with a 150 mAh for wireless connectivity, you're looking at somewhere in the neighborhood of 38 g total weight, which is still an improvement over the Razer Viper V3 Pro's original 60 g weight.

Sandisk Corporation (Nasdaq: SNDK) today reported fiscal third quarter financial results.

"This quarter marks a fundamental inflection point for Sandisk—where our technology leadership is enabling a deliberate shift in our mix toward the highest-value end markets, led by Datacenter," said David Goeckeler, CEO of Sandisk. "We are also advancing to a new business model built on multi-year customer engagements backed by firm financial commitments. Together, this transformation is driving structurally higher and more durable earnings power," continued Mr. Goeckeler. "With a zero-debt balance sheet, strong cash generation, and a recently authorized share repurchase program, we are positioned to deliver substantial long-term value creation for our shareholders."

Western Digital Corporation (Nasdaq: WDC) today reported fiscal third quarter 2026 financial results for the period ended April 3, 2026.

"WD started calendar year 2026 with great execution, driving strong sequential and year-over-year revenue growth in all our end markets, while expanding gross and operating margins. Gross margin exceeded 50%, reflecting our continued delivery of innovation across an expanding set of customers. Given our confidence in the durability of our business, we are also announcing a 20% increase in the quarterly cash dividend on the company's common stock to $0.15 per share," said Irving Tan, CEO of WD. "The demand drivers are clear: Virtually every AI workload, from training, inference, agentic AI to physical AI, creates data that is stored persistently and cost-efficiently on HDDs."

Remedy Entertainment revealed Control Resonant near the end of 2025, later revealing that the sequel to the atmospheric, sci-fi, third-person action-adventure shooter would launch around Q2 2026. Now, presumably in the lead-up to the official launch of Resonant, Remedy has shown off some of what's to come in the game's New Game Plus gameplay. According to the PlayStation Blog post, Remedy will rely on more than just more power and increased damage counters for the New Game Plus gameplay, instead giving players more control over their builds in order to face off against more challenging enemies.

Instead, in Control Resonant, when players have finished the game and start a new playthrough in the same save, the game changes how the player and enemies interact, but players keep many of the upgrades they've earned—Aberrant upgrades, health improvements, supernatural abilities, talents, and artifacts will all still be there. "One of the goals for New Game Plus is to give players more room to experiment with builds that weren't possible during the first playthrough, as you cannot unlock everything in your arsenal in one go," Remedy explains. For starters, the player character has an extra artifact slot that allows for both increased damage output and more build diversity, and players will be able to equip more than one combat ability from the same boss for new synergies. The game also unlocks more artifacts and crafting options, making it easier to adapt builds to different scenarios and tougher enemies.

JEDEC Solid State Technology Association, the global leader in standards development for the microelectronics industry, today announced milestones from its JC-40 and JC-45 Committees for Logic and DRAM Modules: the publication of a new DDR5 multiplexed rank data buffer (MDB) standard; progress toward a multiplexed rank registering clock driver (MRCD) standard; and continued work on the DDR5 multiplexed rank DIMM (MRDIMM) Gen 2 roadmap to enable higher-bandwidth DDR5 MRDIMM designs.

• Published: JESD82-552 (DDR5MDB02) Multiplexed Rank Data Buffer
• Expected soon: JESD82-542 (DDR5MRCD02) Multiplexed Rank Registering Clock Driver
• In progress: MRDIMM Gen 2 module standard nearing completion
• In development: Gen 2 DDR5 MRDIMM raw card designs targeting 12,800 MT/s and MRDIMM Gen 3 module standard development, with the underlying memory interface logic nearing finalization

After rumors swirled, Spiders, the French game studio known for making GreedFall and its successor, GreedFall: The Dying World, has officially announced that it will close down under liquidation. The studio made the announcement in a recent post to Bluesky, confirming that the company will "cease our functions immediately," and that Nacon, the studio's former parent company, would be responsible for any future support inquiries for Spiders's games. Spiders also confirmed that Nacon would be releasing the final planned Peren's Black Mass DLC for GreedFall: The Dying World on May 14, but there will likely be no other development or content added to GreedFall: The Dying World after that. The full announcement by Spiders reads:

Hello everyone,
First off, we apologise for the silence over the past month - it's been a while.
We're going to cut straight to the chase so you're not left wondering: After a long period without clear answers, we have received confirmation that Spiders is being liquidated.

What does it mean? This means the company as a whole no longer exists. We'll cease our functions immediately. The planned DLC will release via Nacon, and then-- well, that's it.

We're sorry that it's come to this and would like to thank each and every one of you for your support over the years. If you have any questions or run into issues with your games, please contact Nacon directly as we'll no longer be able to reply.

One of the biggest pain points of the Nintendo Switch 2 is that it still uses the drift-prone conventional analogue joysticks in the Joy-Cons. Now, GuliKit has revealed that it is working on a set of replacement joysticks for the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons, utilizing TMR (tunnel magnetoresistance) tech instead of traditional potentiometers. GuliKit already makes joystick upgrades for the likes of the PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series, and Switch Pro controllers, as well as for the original Switch Joy-Cons. The benefits of TMR include reduced wear, resistance to drift, and improved sensing accuracy. Pricing and a launch date for the upgrade kit have not yet been revealed, but GuliKit says that the upgrade kit is "coming soon."

Like the old Joy-Con upgrade kits, you will need to disassemble the Switch 2's Joy-Cons to install the upgraded TMR sticks. Fortunately, it will be a drop-in kit, meaning it will not require any soldering or specific tools other than what is necessary to tear down the Joy-Cons. Judging by the iFixit teardown of the Switch 2 Joy-Cons, you will need at least an opening pick and an electronics screwdriver set to open and install the GuliKit upgrade kit.

MSI's Claw line-up of gaming handhelds has gone from being overpriced and underperforming in the original Intel-powered Claw 8 A1M to being widely regarded as solid performers in both the new AMD- and Intel-powered variants. Now, however, an Italian retail listing on Ollo Store has tipped an updated version of the Intel-powered Claw handheld, this time appearing as the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ for a price of €1,599, which is €300 more than the current-gen Claw 8 AI+ A2VM with the same memory and storage specs on the same site.

[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of the MSI Claw 8 AI+ A2VM can be found here]

The new Claw 8 EX AI+ will feature Intel's new Arc G3 Extreme CPU, which has been reported to be a 14-core (2× P-Core, 8× E-Core, 4× LPE-Core) CPU. The G3 Extreme's graphics will rely on the Intel Arc B380 iGPU, which is slated to have 12 Xe3 cores at 2.3 GHz. The only real difference between the B390 and the B380 is the GPU core clocks, which are 200 MHz lower on the B380, so performance shouldn't be too far off what we've seen on the flagship Intel Core Ultra X9 388H in our recent Intel Panther Lake review. The rest of the Claw 8 EX AI+ looks to be pretty standard fare for MSI's gaming handhelds these days, with 32 GB of RAM, an 8-inch, 16:10 IPS display with 500 nits of brightness and 100% sRGB coverage, an 80 WHr battery, Wi-Fi 7, and an included carrying case.

Razer today announced the availability of two new configurations of the Razer Blade 16, expanding its flagship ultraportable gaming laptop lineup with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 Laptop GPU options paired with a new 64 GB memory tier. The new models join the previously announced RTX 5080 and 5090 32 GB configurations and are available now, exclusively at Razer.com and select RazerStores.

Pricing and availability for the new Razer Blade 16 (2026) configurations:

• Razer Blade 16 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU | 64 GB LPDDR5X-9600 MHz | $4,699.99 USD
• Razer Blade 16 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU | 64 GB LPDDR5X-9600 MHz | $5,599.99 USD

LIAN LI Industrial Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of chassis and PC accessories, announces the VECTOR V150 INF, a compact microATX chassis featuring a tempered glass infinity-mirror front panel, two pre-installed 140 mm ARGB PWM front fans, and a 120 mm rear fan. The V150 INF delivers both visual impact and effective cooling out of the box. A built-in hub enables fan and lighting control via standard motherboard software or Wireless mode, which, when paired with an L-Wireless controller (sold separately), allows full customization through L-Connect 3. Inside, a customizable side bracket offers a choice between additional cooling or expanded storage, while a pre-installed adjustable GPU anti-sag bracket ensures stable support for modern graphics cards. With support for standard and back-connect microATX motherboards, 400 mm of GPU clearance, and clean cable management, the V150 INF provides a refined and visually striking platform for compact gaming builds.

Infinity Mirror Design with Precision Airflow
The VECTOR V150 INF features a tempered glass front panel with a built-in infinity mirror, creating a strong, immersive visual effect. The panel includes precision-cutouts for the two pre-installed 140 mm front fans, ensuring direct airflow intake. These intakes are protected by removable mesh filters that can be easily detached by turning them left and pulling away, making maintenance simple and tool-free

StarTech.com, a global provider of performance connectivity solutions for IT professionals, announces the launch of its Driverless Dual 4K USB4 Universal Docking Station (208N-USB4-DOCK), an industry-first solution designed to deliver driverless dual-display support for MacBook users while enabling seamless compatibility across Windows and Linux laptops.

The new dock gives IT teams a single solution to standardize across their entire fleet. Native driverless compatibility removes the need for software installation, eliminating common deployment challenges and ensuring consistent performance across Mac, Windows, and Linux environments.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer, the high-stakes, runs-based Star Wars racing adventure, will be inviting budding pilots to shunt, slam, and takedown their rivals when the game launches on October 6th, 2026. Pre-orders open today, with digital Standard and Deluxe Editions, as well as a physical Collector's Edition, available across PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Physical Standard and Deluxe Editions will also be available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Pricing begins at an SRP of $59.99/£49.99/€59.99 for the Standard Edition.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer invites race fans to join the Galactic League, an unsanctioned racing circuit born in the lawless Outer Rim of the Star Wars galaxy. Step into the cockpit as mysterious pilot Shade in a thrilling singleplayer campaign where alliances will be forged, rivalries reignited, and old grudges will be settled. Experiment with your build strategies across three distinct styles of repulsorcraft to create your ultimate vehicle. Get behind the controls of podracers and put your skills to the test in this iconic vehicle class. Take your talents online in exciting multiplayer races to prove yourself as an elite racing pilot. No Force. No prophecy. Just skill, strategy, and the will to rise.

Hooded Horse, Unfrozen Studio, and Ubisoft are excited to share that the highly anticipated turn-based strategy game Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era is out now in early access for PC via Steam, the Microsoft Store (via Game Preview), and PC Game Pass.

The first new Heroes of Might and Magic game in over ten years, this next entry is made for series veterans and newcomers alike, built on the familiar foundations of one of the most critically acclaimed strategy series of all time. Engage in strategic empire building, epic turn-based tactical battles, and in-depth RPG mechanics, all while exploring a vibrant land brimming with secrets and dangers.

The trumpets of war ring out with praise for the latest instalment of the WWII real-time strategy game, Sudden Strike 5. Following the global release on April 23, the first wave of critics has hailed the game as a worthy successor, commending the development team at Kite Games for faithfully carrying forward the spirit of the series. Publisher Kalypso Media and Kite Games are proud to share these early reactions as players across the globe experience the game firsthand.

DualShockers commends the newest iteration of the franchise for preserving the Sudden Strike experience and carrying forward its long-standing tradition - "the Sudden Strike series has established itself as one of the best real-time strategy titles available, and Sudden Strike 5 keeps this legacy alive and well."

AV Access, a global leader in Pro AV and conferencing devices, proudly unveils the iDock B23, the newest flagship model in its iDock series. Engineered for competitive gamers and streamers who demand uncompromising visual performance, the iDock B23 delivers 8K @ 60 Hz output, triple-monitor support, and a 12-in-1 docking design—making it an all-in-one solution for high-refresh-rate gaming, live streaming, and seamless switching between devices.

"Professional gamers and creators often struggle with complex setups, cable clutter, and the need to switch between multiple systems," said Bill Liao, CTO of AV Access. "The iDock B23 solves these challenges by combining triple-monitor output, 8K clarity, and a full docking station into one streamlined device."

Today, HP Inc. announced new additions to its HyperX portfolio, designed to give players control, personalization, and comfort. Built for how you play, the new lineup introduces the HyperX Clutch Talon Controller, the HyperX Cloud Stinger 3 headset family, and enhanced HyperX NGENUITY software -empowering gamers to fine-tune their setup and perform their best across platforms.

HyperX solutions prioritize combining player experience and machine performance to unlock maximum potential. With a continued focus on performance, personalization and play, NGENUITY software and the latest peripherals deliver precision, flexibility, and reliability players need to stay competitive and connected.

LG Electronics USA today announced U.S. availability for its 2026 LG gram laptop lineup. All four new series of laptops—LG gram Pro, LG gram Pro 2-in-1, LG gram and LG gram Book—are now available at LG.com and LG-authorized retailers. To celebrate the 2026 lineup launch, LG is offering a 1-year Premium Care service plan on select LG gram laptops for only $1 until May 10, 2026.

Powered by next-generation Intel Core Ultra and AMD Ryzen AI processors, the 2026 gram lineup combines ultra-light portability, military-grade durability and Dual AI capabilities for professionals, creators, students and everyday users.

Samsung Electronics today introduced Galaxy Book6 Enterprise Edition, the first Galaxy Book designed specifically for an enterprise environment. Powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors with Intel vPro, Galaxy Book6 Enterprise Edition combines the reliable performance, security and manageability required for modern enterprise environments.

"Galaxy Book6 Enterprise Edition marks an important step in expanding the Galaxy Book series into enterprise computing," said Andrew Chun, CVP & Head of B2B NPC Group, Mobile eXperience (MX) Business at Samsung Electronics. "We're excited to bring the connected Galaxy experience to enterprise IT environments to help enable seamless workflows across devices and businesses."

Samsung has reported a record quarterly profit for Q1 2026, with chip division operating income jumping to 53.7 trillion won ($36.15 billion), a 49% increase from the 1.1 trillion won ($745 million) posted in the same quarter last year. That figure accounted for 94% of the company's total operating profit of 57.2 trillion won ($38.7 billion), which itself was up from 6.69 trillion won a year prior. Overall revenue rose 69% year over year to 133.9 trillion won ($90.6 billion). Its record profit came mostly from the AI data center sector that pushed demand for advanced memory well beyond what Samsung and its peers can supply. The company has signed multi-year binding supply contracts with customers looking to lock in capacity, though it hasn't disclosed names or terms. Samsung's memory chief Kim Jaejune told analysts that supply is already falling well short of demand, and that based on orders already received, the gap in 2027 is expected to be even wider than in 2026.

On HBM specifically, Samsung said it began mass-production sales of HBM4 for NVIDIA's Vera Rubin platform in February and is on track to more than triple HBM revenue this year versus last. However, rising memory prices are affecting the profit of other Samsung businesses. Mobile and network division profit fell 35% to 2.8 trillion won, due to higher component costs, and the display division saw operating profit drop 20% to 400 billion won ($270 million). Reuters also reports the risk of a strike, with unions representing a large portion of Samsung's South Korean chip workforce considering work stoppages over pay disputes. For the rest of 2026, Samsung expects that increasing demand will keep pushing memory, foundry, and display businesses.

As data sovereignty and compute performance become strategic differentiators for enterprises adopting AI, the demand for private, on-premises AI infrastructure continues to grow. In response to this shift, QNAP Systems, Inc., a leading innovator in computing, networking, and storage solutions, today introduced the QAI-h1290FX, a next-generation Edge AI storage server designed to empower private deployment of large language models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) search engines, and generative AI applications.

Built with server-grade AMD EPYC processing, with support for NVIDIA RTX GPU acceleration, and twelve U.2 NVMe/SATA SSD slots, the QAI-h1290FX delivers a high-performance, on-prem AI infrastructure for organizations that demand low-latency inference, full data privacy, and operational control—without relying on the cloud.

Alphacool International GmbH from Braunschweig is a pioneer in PC water-cooling technology. With one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry and over 20 years of experience, Alphacool is once again expanding its portfolio with the new Apex Grip Fittings & Adapter. The new Alphacool Apex Grip Fittings are based on a modular system that enables flexible and customized connection solutions for modern custom water-cooling setups. Combined with the refined Apex design, high-quality workmanship, and user-friendly handling, the series is ideal for demanding systems.

A key feature is the integrated silicone surface on the outer grip area of each fitting. It provides improved grip when tightening by hand and makes installation easier, especially in confined spaces. This gives users greater comfort and control during assembly. Made from high-quality brass, the fittings offer excellent stability and long-term durability. A premium coating helps prevent paint chipping while emphasizing the elegant appearance of the series.

Clean lines, powerful cooling, uncompromising looks: With the Steel Shark, Sharkoon presents a stylish dual-chamber ATX case that combines modern design with an especially clean interior layout. Tempered glass on the front and side panel, four pre-installed ARGB PWM fans, extensive cooling options, and BTF support make the Steel Shark the ideal foundation for powerful and visually impressive gaming systems.

Neat Dual-Chamber Design
Thanks to its well-thought-out dual-chamber design, the Steel Shark clearly separates the hardware area from the power supply and cable management. This results in an extra tidy look in the main chamber, while cables, drives, and the power supply can be discreetly housed at the rear.

Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, today announced an unprecedented achievement: the X870 AORUS STEALTH ICE, X870E AORUS XTREME X3D AI TOP, X870E AORUS MASTER X3D ICE, and X870E AERO X3D WOOD winning Red Dot Design Awards 2026 in Product Design—one of the most coveted international distinctions in design excellence—across its major motherboard lineup. This milestone underscores Gigabyte's unwavering commitment to innovation and design excellence, further cementing its distinguished legacy in product design.

These four award recipients each received recognition for their unique fusion of bold aesthetics, precision engineering, and user-centric innovation. From the connector-reverse minimalism of the STEALTH ICE to the organic warmth of the AERO X3D WOOD, these four boards demonstrate that performance hardware and inspired design are not a compromise—they are one and the same.

LG Electronics (LG) is rolling out its new UltraGear evo GM9 5K gaming monitor (model 27GM950B) powered by Hyper Mini LED technology. First unveiled at CES 2026, the 27GM950B reinforces LG's commitment to delivering high-performance gaming monitors combining next-gen display technology with advanced gaming features.

LG's latest UltraGear evo model meets growing demand for 5K gaming monitors offering precise, dynamic visuals. The 5K resolution (5,120 x 2,880) comes together with the company's Hyper Mini LED technology to supply greater clarity, depth and realism, making gameplay more immersive and lifelike.

Gigabyte Technology Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, today announced a comprehensive BIOS update rollout for its Intel 800, 700, and 600 series motherboards, adding full support for the newly introduced HUDIMM (One Sub-channel DDR5) memory standard. The move reflects Gigabyte's ongoing commitment to empowering users at every budget level, particularly as global DDR5 memory prices remain elevated amid continued supply constraints.

Lowering the Cost of Building on DDR5
One Sub-Channel is a new DDR5 memory specification that utilizes a single 32-bit sub-channel instead of the dual 32-bit sub-channels found in standard UDIMM modules. By adjusting the DRAM chip count per module, HUDIMM (One Sub-channel DDR5) enables memory manufacturers to provide DDR5 sticks at significantly lower price—making modern DDR5 platforms more accessible to mainstream users, system integrators, and entry-level builders who have previously been priced out of the DDR5 ecosystem.

MSI IPC announces the launch of the MS-CF27, a compact 3.5" single board computer designed to deliver reliable computing performance, wide voltage power input, and versatile connectivity for industrial and embedded solutions.

The MS-CF27 is a newly introduced 3.5" single board computer from MSI IPC that integrates Intel Alder Lake N, Twin Lake N, and Amston Lake processors to deliver efficient performance for industrial computing. Designed for fanless and ultra low power environments, the platform supports processors such as Intel Alder Lake N97, Intel Alder Lake N305, Intel Twin Lake N150, and Intel Amston Lake x7433RE, offering performance levels suitable for both PC client and embedded applications.

ASRock, the global leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, mini PCs, gaming monitors, power supply units and AIOs, today announced the launch of the X870E Taichi White, the first pure-white motherboard in its flagship Taichi series. Featuring a futuristic, digital-inspired white design, the X870E Taichi White introduces a bold new look to the Taichi family. In addition to its eye-catching appearance, it is built with flagship-level hardware to deliver both refined aesthetics and outstanding performance. Designed to pair perfectly with the newly launched AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition processor, the X870E Taichi White reflects the growing popularity of white PC builds while redefining flagship style and performance in a pure-white form.

The X870E Taichi White introduces a futuristic, all-white design inspired by a digital sci-fi aesthetic. While staying true to the Taichi series' philosophy of balance, it reinterprets that identity through a more modern and refined visual language. Blending premium craftsmanship with an elegant new look, it brings a fresh dimension to the Taichi flagship.

Following a rather successful launch in mid-April, the development studio behind Windrose, the co-op pirate survival game, has announced an early roadmap to give players some sense of what to expect from the game in the next few months. The first order of business, and likely the most important for most players, is the announcement that Kraken Express will be focusing on improving the experience and delivering quality of life updates for the foreseeable future. Specifically, the developer has an update planned for sometime in early May that will improve connectivity issues, reduce CPU usage on idle clients and servers, address SSD load during gameplay, and improve performance and stability. The update will also introduce over 40 new building pieces and over 50 other fixes and quality of life changes.

In addition to the announcement of the bug fixes and minor changes, Kraken Express also revealed that it will start actively working on the game's first major content update as soon as the aforementioned fixes have shipped, but it also asked the community for patience because it will take "at least six months to deliver" the new content update. The upcoming update will introduce the game's first additional biome, called Ashlands, which will likely feature new enemies and crafting opportunities, but other than that, not much is known about the new content planned. Regarding the update, the developer says that "Our philosophy now is to enrich the current gameplay systems, instead of only adding new biomes with the respective content, so even before we have the full details, it's safe to say the game will not just grow in size - it will also evolve." Kraken Express was also careful to reiterate on the game's official Discord server that it does not plan to do wipes at any point in time, so no progress will be lost with the introduction of major content updates, like Ashlands.

The Linux community's response to the advent of LLMs and generative AI has been very mixed, but Ubuntu has more or less made its stance clear in a recent project discussion thread about the future of AI in Ubuntu. The gist of it is that, starting with Ubuntu 26.10 Stonking Stingray in October 2026—the next major release after 26.04—Ubuntu will start to get new AI features scattered throughout the operating system. The project's technical lead, Jon Seager, states that in 2026, Ubuntu has started encouraging its developers to use AI internally, incentivizing engineers to "go deep" and effectively figure out what works and what doesn't by measuring output. As internal adoption increases, Canonical will be integrating AI into the OS, but he notes that "responsibility and transparency are at the core of our approach."

This approach means that, instead of stuffing ChatGPT into every nook and cranny of Ubuntu, Canonical will prioritize open source models and offline, local inference wherever possible. Canonical will also pay special attention to the terms of the model, as opposed to simply considering whether the weights are open. The AI implementations will come in the form of what Seager describes as implicit and explicit features—implicit being features that integrate directly into the OS and enhance its standard operation, like speech-to-text and OCR, while explicit features are AI-centric features, like agentic and AI-automated workflows. "Implicit AI features will improve what Ubuntu already does; explicit AI will be introduced as new features." The full statement on how Canonical will implement AI in Ubuntu follows.

Thick as Thieves, an upcoming stealth co-op game from Deus Ex creator, Warren Spector, has been out in the open for a while now, with a release date set for May 20, and it was revealed long ago that it would be a stealth PvE co-op experience, but OtherSide Entertainment and Megabit Publishing, the studios behind the game, have just divulged more information about the game. First off, the price has been set at a very inoffensive $4.99/£4.99/€4.99, although it's likely that there will be regional pricing at play in other markets. Secondly, a gameplay walkthrough has been published to Megabit Publishing's YouTube channel, giving players a fairly in-depth look at the stealth, traversal, and progression mechanics, among others. Thick as Thieves is designed to be played as a single-player game or in a team of two players, and the game is set in an alternate history version of the early 20th century that features everything from magic and early technological innovation to eldritch horrors. The game will launch on Steam on May 20, 2026.

Thick as Thieves will drop players into Kilcairn as a stranger just joining the thieves' guild and looking to make a name for themselves. There are two playable characters, each with their own specific abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, although only one will be available to players with the other hidden behind an in-game unlock. The core gameplay, as you may have already guessed, revolves around players taking on and completing heists in the town of Kilcairn. In order to complete these heists, players will need to sneak through highly patrolled areas, solve environmental puzzles, and pick locks to gain access to forbidden areas. The gameplay walkthrough showed off a number of interesting mechanics, like the dynamic stealth and detection systems that force players to think on their feet and avoid making too much noise, and the various ways players can manipulate their surroundings and enemy NPCs to misdirect and trick them in order to get past—including distracting guards and shrouding the room in darkness by turning off lights, or using gear to lure the guards away entirely. The gameplay is designed to be highly replayable, with each heist offering players different choices and routes to explore. The Thick as Thieves gameplay walkthrough follows.

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've seen the numerous issues Windows users have faced, from poor performance to experience-breaking bugs and updates, and AI oversaturation in the OS. While Microsoft has previously announced that it intends to address many of these complaints levelled by Windows users, a new report out of Windows Central purports to have insider information about what the publication calls "Windows K2." K2 isn't a specific version of Windows or a new update that's on the horizon; instead, it's a new initiative within Microsoft that fundamentally changes how the software giant develops Windows and its features.

According to inside sources, Windows K2 is based on three core tenets: performance, craft, and reliability, and it will effectively serve as a reboot for the user experience and the development standard operating procedures. Going forward, Microsoft will be using Insider feedback, user telemetry analytics, and customer focus groups to ensure that Windows 11 is performant, thoughtfully designed, and stable. The biggest shift, however, is away from a focus on agility, which used to be a top priority for Windows development, to an emphasis on quality. Effectively, this means users may see fewer updates and fewer features in those updates, but also fewer bugs. One of the other main driving forces behind K2 is chasing the performance of SteamOS, and the K2 team believes that "foundational changes" that are being made to Windows in the coming months will be able to put Windows on par with SteamOS within the next year or two. File explorer is another major focal point where Windows K2 seeks to improve navigation, search, and file processing performance.

Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced results for its fiscal second quarter ended March 29, 2026.

"We are pleased to deliver results in line with our guidance, reflecting solid execution as we navigate a challenging memory environment," said Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated. "We are in a period of profound industry transformation—the rise of AI agents is reshaping our roadmap across every platform we develop. We are equally excited by our entry into the data center, where a leading hyperscaler custom silicon engagement is on track for initial shipments later this calendar year. We look forward to providing an update on our growth initiatives, including opportunities in Data Center and Physical AI, at our Investor Day on June 24."

Microsoft Corp. today announced the following results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, as compared to the corresponding period of last fiscal year:

• Revenue was $82.9 billion and increased 18% (up 15% in constant currency)
• Operating income was $38.4 billion and increased 20% (up 16% in constant currency)
• Net income was $31.8 billion and increased 23% on a GAAP basis, and increased 20% (up 18% in constant currency) on a non-GAAP basis
• Diluted earnings per share was $4.27 and increased 23% on a GAAP basis, and increased 21% (up 18% in constant currency) on a non-GAAP basis
• Non-GAAP results exclude the impact from investments in OpenAI, explained in the Non-GAAP Definition section below

"We are focused on delivering cloud and AI infrastructure and solutions that empower every business to eval-max their outcomes in the agentic computing era," said Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft. "Our AI business surpassed an annual revenue run rate of $37 billion, up 123% year-over-year."

Microsoft PowerToys is an oft-recommended utility that makes Windows 11 much more user-friendly by adding new features and UI tweaks to Microsoft's desktop OS. In an update not too long ago, PowerToys got a nifty dock, and before that a Command Palette, just like KDE's Krunner and macOS's Spotlight. Now, in an April update, version 0.99, Power Toys is getting a handful of new features that make Windows a little more like Linux and macOS. The first notable feature is Grab and Move, which allows you to hold Alt and left click to grab and move a window without having to aim for the border. Holding Alt and right click lets you resize a window from the nearest edge. If you're not familiar with Linux, this is exactly how most Linux desktop environments, like KDE Plasma and Gnome, work, except they generally use the System or Windows key as a modifier.

The other new addition to PowerToys 0.99 is Power Display, which allows you to change external display settings, like the source, power state, brightness, and contrast, from a taskbar fly-out menu. Users can also create specific display profiles that can be displayed and selected from the task bar menu. There are also minor changes to the keyboard layout editor, which now has support for selecting keys that are not physically available on your keyboard when setting up shortcuts and chords. The Command Palette also now features a compact dock option for those with limited screen space, and it has received several new features, including persistent calculator history and options for how applets pin to the dock and how the dock interacts with windows—you can choose to keep the dock above all windows, and there is a new dialogue to choose where apps pin to the dock.

Not long after EA announced that it was being acquired by a group of private investors, the company's new management announced an AI pivot that would see the company cut operating costs significantly. As it turned out, though, workers at EA would later reveal that the company had been pushing AI hard internally long before the takeover, and that the AI push was causing more harm than good and ultimately costing them time. Now, EA CEO, Andrew Wilson, has pushed back on this notion during a recent talk at the Iicon gaming event in Las Vegas.

According to Wilson, "almost all, like 85%, of our quality assurance is done with some kind of machine learning or AI-driven algorithm." However, he also adds that EA's QA hiring is at an all-time high. His argument is that AI has been "almost entirely augmentation," and not a replacement for human workers. According to the CEO, AI is doing mundane checks, like "turn the box on, turn the box off, boot it up, shut it down, does it crash, all these things." Despite these claims, there is evidence of AI-generated assets in Battlefield, and the company has partnered with Stability AI to work on generative AI tools.

According to sources close to MacRumors, Apple is abandoning the development of the next-generation Vision Pro headset after the product failed to capture significant market share. With sales of "only" 600,000 units, Apple has not seen this product line take off as its other products have. Launched in February 2024, the Vision Pro headset debuted with a steep $3,499 price tag. In October 2025, about a year and a half later, Apple updated the Vision Pro with its latest 3 nm M5 SoC, typically used in MacBooks, but even this refresh failed to generate significant interest and orders from users. Although the system offers a technically impressive solution, the market has reacted poorly, particularly due to the high price point Apple set.

Technically, the headset features a micro-OLED 3D display system with 23 million pixels and weighs between 750-800 grams, depending on the headband choice. However, users have complained about the device's weight and distribution, especially around the nose area, which often feels heavy on a single pressure point. No headband choice has been able to completely alleviate this issue. Additionally, the price point is too high for consumers, especially for a technology that is relatively new to the Apple ecosystem. As a result, MacRumors tipsters suggest that Apple is close to completely abandoning the project.

Intel and SoftBank, through their subsidiary Saimemory, have been developing an alternative technology to the popular high-bandwidth memory (HBM) to provide more bandwidth and capacity for memory modules used with powerful AI accelerators. At VLSI 2026 in June, Saimemory is scheduled to present a paper on the newly developed HB3DM memory, which is based on Z-Angle Memory (ZAM) technology. This name refers to the vertical (Z-axis) stacking of dies, similar to traditional HBM. However, Intel aims to achieve impressive results using state-of-the-art manufacturing technology. The first generation of HB3DM will feature a total of nine layers, stacked using a hybrid bonding technique for 3D chip placement. At the base will be a logic layer that manages data movement within the chip, with eight DRAM layers on top for data storage. Each layer will include about 13,700 TSVs for hybrid bonding.

In terms of capacity, HB3DM will offer about 1.125 GB per layer, translating to 10 GB per memory module. Intel can achieve approximately 0.25 Tb/s of memory bandwidth per mm², and for a 10 GB module with a 171 mm² die area, we can expect around 5.3 TB/s per module. These impressive figures could quickly overshadow competing HBM4 memory, as HB3DM offers much higher bandwidth. HBM4 provides speeds of around 2 TB/s per stack, less than half of what HB3DM will deliver. However, HB3DM is limited by capacity, with only 10 GB available, whereas HBM4 can reach up to 48 GB per stack. Intel may increase the number of layers in production as HB3DM progresses, but for now, it is emerging as a bandwidth leader.

Motorola is expanding its connected ecosystem in North America with the launch of the moto buds 2 plus: premium earbuds designed for consumers who expect more from their audio experience. With Sound by Bose technology, Dynamic Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), long-lasting battery life and smart audio functions, every note, beat and voice comes alive.

The moto buds 2 plus produce pure sound and zero distractions
Built for users who are constantly pivoting between their personal and professional lives, taking work calls on the go, exercising at a moment's notice or unwinding at home, the moto buds 2 plus have what they need to maximize every activity. These earbuds keep users engaged through Sound by Bose technology and tuned into their environments with Dynamic ANC and smart audio functions.

Intel's next-generation 18A node is ready, and the company has tested it, showcasing some impressive results. At the VLSI 2026 Symposium in Honolulu, Hawaii, Intel will present its new research on the capabilities of the upcoming 18A-P node. According to the paper, the 18A-P node can deliver a 9% performance increase at the same power level or achieve 18% power savings at the same performance level compared to the standard 18A. However, there is more to this than meets the eye. Typically, node generations show similar performance and power improvements across generations. What would be expected in terms of power and performance improvements when transitioning from 18A to 14A is now already available with the 18A-P node, but without any density improvements. This makes the 18A-P node a very attractive option for external customers who expect the transistor density of the 18A node found in "Panther Lake," but with significantly better characteristics.

For reference designs, Intel uses an Arm core sub-block to test frequency and power scaling. The new 18A-P node can yield much better results on paper, but one of the most interesting improvements is in manufacturing, specifically in something called skew corners. When a node is manufactured, no two transistors are identical due to the inherent physics of the manufacturing process, especially at today's scale. These variations are measured between fast and slow "corners," meaning faster and slower transistors. The skew refers to how wide the performance and power gap is between these transistors. Intel has managed to improve the skew corners on the 18A-P node by 30% compared to the standard 18A, meaning that power and performance characteristics are now more predictable, especially for parametric yields. This means that chip functions are now more predictable, and Intel has to deal with far fewer variations with the new node.Below is Intel's paper abstract about the 18A-P node.

Intel's stock is one of the best-performing semiconductor-related names in 2026, with the company's share price reaching a new all-time high of $94.10 per share at the time of writing. This is remarkable news, considering that about a year ago, Intel's stock hit a decade-low of $17.67 per share. This marks a growth of more than 400% in a single year for a company that is one of the most strategically important in the United States' sovereign semiconductor manufacturing. Intel's rise began with investment from the United States government, aimed at supporting the only company left in the U.S. conducting R&D and advanced silicon manufacturing. Since then, Intel has been on an upward trajectory, and the share price shows no signs of slowing down.

Contributing to this success is the revival of Intel's Foundry business, which is on track to attract many external customers. Intel Foundry recently achieved a significant milestone by improving yields across all major foundry nodes currently in high-volume manufacturing. This includes the Intel 4, Intel 3, and 18A nodes, which power the majority of Intel's product portfolio. In the latest Q1 2026 earnings call, Intel CFO David Zinsner noted that the company continues to improve yields on its older nodes, such as Intel 4 and Intel 3, while refining the yield of the current top-performing 18A node to reduce waste and increase the number of functional chips, even in larger dies. Additionally, Tesla signed on as Intel's first major 14A customer for Elon Musk's Terafab AI chip complex in Austin, indicating that the foundry's success in attracting external clients is just beginning.

Following the official release of Fedora 44, Bazzite's lead developer Kyle Gospodnetich has announced the release of Bazzite 44, the atomic gaming-focused distribution based on Fedora, which brings Gnome 50 and KDE Plasma 6.6, as well as many of the same improvements as the workstation OS. However, there are some notable differences for the atomic distribution—namely, the Linux kernel is still on version 6.19.x. Other notable changes and updates to Bazzite 44 include an update to the KDE Plasma Login Manager for KDE versions, a new version of the Bazaar app store, improved image security for ISOs, built-in support for Elgato 4K capture cards, and the removal of QEMU and ROCM, Bazzite 44 also includes the latest ASUS Linux patches for ASUSCtl, which provides access to LED customization, fan control, and various BIOS, boot, and power settings.

While the desktop images of Bazzite 44 are already available, the handheld versions have been delayed, with the developer stating that "we are slow-rolling this update due to the nature and amount of changes present in it to ensure that the vast majority of our existing users have a good experience." He also indicates that there will be more news about Bazzite 44's handheld images "in the coming weeks," so it seems like the delay will be more than just a few days. While this may be somewhat disappointing to hear, it also means that the developers will have more time to test and validate Bazzite 44 ahead of release, hopefully delivering a more stable OS as a result. Bazzite's development team has also promised to ship the new VRAM management patch that recently made a buzz in the Linux gaming world when it releases kernel version 7.

The SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) reported today, in its quarterly analysis of the silicon wafer industry, that worldwide silicon wafer shipments increased 13.1% year-on-year to 3,275 million square inches (MSI) from the 2,896 MSI recorded during the same quarter of 2025. Sequentially, shipments declined 4.7% quarter-over-quarter from the 3,437 MSI recorded during the fourth quarter of 2025 in line with typical seasonality.

"Silicon wafer demand related to AI data centers continues to be strong, including advanced logic and memory, and also now extending to power management devices," said Ginji Yada, Chairman of SEMI SMG and Managing Executive Officer, General Manager, Sales and Marketing Division at SUMCO Corporation. "Overall, silicon wafer demand has improved, but the recovery is not uniform. Many device companies have noted improvements in the industrial semiconductor segment, and this is creating a more broad-based recovery as wafer inventory is absorbed. Weaker smartphone and PC shipments in the first quarter of this year may show the impact of tighter supply of memory due to AI high bandwidth memory (HBM) allocation decisions."

Announcing Pop 2 Vision, a new addition to the Pop 2 series, combining panoramic design with a sleek dual-chamber layout. Pop 2 Vision is crafted to provide a clean, uncluttered view into its refined interior. With support for graphics cards up to 412 mm, top-mounted radiators up to 360 mm, and compatibility with reverse connector motherboards, it offers flexibility for modern gaming components. Out of the box, it features four pre-installed reverse-blade fans, integrated with hidden cables and frames to make achieving a clean build effortless.

On the outside, Pop 2 Vision offers easy access through removable glass panels, together with a ventilated right-side panel and magnetically attached top mesh filter. Inside, dedicated cable routing space, a large cable grommet, and modular power supply mounting help create a smooth building experience. A top-mounted I/O provides quick connectivity with two USB ports and an audio jack, while RGB versions also include integrated controls for effortless lighting adjustments.

[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of the Fractal Design Pop 2 Vision is now live]

Philips Evnia is expanding its ambient lighting ecosystem for gamers who use lighting to enhance atmosphere, pace, and immersion beyond the screen. Building on its established AI-Enhanced Ambiglow technology and Windows Dynamic Lighting support, Evnia now introduces AmbiScape; a new feature designed to extend synchronized lighting from the display into the surrounding room.

Together, Ambiglow, AmbiScape, and Dynamic Lighting integration enable a more unified setup where on-screen action can influence both the monitor's ambient lighting and compatible devices across the gaming environment. The experience is enabled via USB upstream and configured through the Philips Evnia Precision Center.

Back in February, ComputerBase conducted a large blind test comparing in-game screenshots generated using the latest upscaling technologies: AMD's FSR 4.0 and NVIDIA's Deep Learning Super Sampling 4.5. The testing has since been updated, and community votes have been processed, revealing that AMD's updated upscaling technology, FSR 4.1, shows significant improvement over FSR 4.0. However, it still trails behind NVIDIA's DLSS 4.5 in visual quality. In the latest ComputerBase testing, the following games were upscaled using FSR 4.0, FSR 4.1, and DLSS 4.5: Year 117 - Pax Romana, ARC Raiders, Assassin's Creed Shadows, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Kingdom Come 2: Deliverance, Resident Evil Requiem, and The Last of Us Part I. In all of these games, the ComputerBase review concluded that DLSS 4.5 was the top performer, a view confirmed by the community in a separate blind test vote.

Similar to the previous test, the ComputerBase team conducted the comparison using videos labeled with three options, without revealing which rendering method was used, to ensure a fully blind test. This resulted in a community verdict with two notable outcomes. First, NVIDIA's DLSS 4.5 remains the leader in image quality, with 6 out of 7 games showing the best results using DLSS 4.5. The only game where AMD's FSR upscaling came out on top was Resident Evil Requiem, where DLSS 4.5 placed second behind FSR 4.1. Overall, DLSS 4.5 is seen as providing sharper visual details and more consistent frame generation compared to AMD's FSR upscaling.

Today, we reported that GALAX is ending its operations as an independent company and integrating into its parent company, Palit. However, users were left wondering whether Palit would stop offering GALAX-branded products, which have significant recognition among gamers. The official company response is that the branding will continue to be active. This means that GALAX-branded Hall-of-Fame (HOF) GPUs for extreme overclocking, the KFA2 brand for Europe, and other GALAX-branded products will remain available on the market. In simple terms, this is just a corporate structure change, with Palit consolidating its ventures under one roof as the parent company. Ongoing customer commitments, including RMA, warranty claims, and general support, will now be handled by Palit, while the design and development of new GPUs under the GALAX brand will continue.Below is a complete statement from Palit, followed by a statement from GALAX.

Milestone and MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group today announce the release of MotoGP 26, the latest instalment in the official MotoGP videogame franchise. Featuring the full official 2026 season, it combines reworked physics with Dynamic Rider ratings and deeper career management mechanics to deliver a more immersive and authentic gaming experience.

MotoGP 26 refines its physics through a rider-based handling system where control is more closely tied to how players move and position the rider on the bike. Body shifts and weight transfer now have a tangible impact on stability, cornering, and braking, resulting in a more natural and responsive riding experience. Supported by new rider animations, this model significantly changes the overall gameplay feel, offering finer control and a wider range of motion in both Pro and Arcade modes.

Ready to rekindle the fire? With the FIREGLIDER One, a classic returns - but this time, faster, lighter, and more precise than ever before! The dual-mode gaming mouse combines uncompromising technology with a minimalized design that is totally committed to good performance. Whether in competitions or for everyday gaming, the FIREGLIDER One delivers lightning-fast reactions and maximum control for heating up any game to exactly the right temperature.

Two Modes, One Goal: Victory
The FIREGLIDER One can be operated both wired and wirelessly and is always ready for use, whether you need a stable connection for a tournament or if you prefer wireless freedom for everyday gaming.

The legendary maker of Hall of Fame (HOF) GeForce GPUs, known for their exceptional overclocking capabilities, GALAX, is officially closing its operations after 30 years in business. GALAX, along with its KFA2 brand for the European market, will now be closed, with existing product inquiries managed by Palit—one of the largest GPU add-in card (AIC) manufacturers and a significant NVIDIA partner. Founded in Hong Kong in 1994, GALAX distinguished itself by creating high-performance designs with NVIDIA GeForce GPUs, particularly known for its HOF series. These iconic white-themed designs feature massive VRM circuitry for overclocking and higher-binned dies suitable for LN2 extreme overclocking scenarios. Over the past few generations, multiple world overclocking GPU records were achieved with GALAX HOF cards, and the brand has maintained that design language throughout the years.

After more than 30 years in business, GALAX is closing its operations, and these will be transferred to Palit, which will take full responsibility for "all activities and commitments related to the brand." This includes RMA services, warranty claims, product launches, and more. Interestingly, the announcement does not mention that the GALAX branding will be phased out. Only the actual company operations will be integrated into Palit. It's possible that Palit will retain the GALAX branding and its HOF name, which is well-known for high-performance overclocking among enthusiasts. It's worth noting that GALAX and its sister brand KFA2 have been operating for years with Palit's support as the parent company, so it's uncertain if the brand will continue its market presence under different management. GALAX and KFA2 have been sub-companies of Palit, and management claims that now is the time to unite all of Palit's brands under one roof.

Update 11:05 UTC: Palit confirmed that the current GALAX branding will continue to be present on the market.

Epomaker's voyage into the world of Hall effect keyboards has been ongoing for a little over two years, now, and, while the peripheral maker oft manages to hit a reasonable price point, the results can be a little mixed. Now, it has shown off a revised version of the HE75 Mag that launched in 2025, bringing some new enthusiast-grade design touches to the affordable Hall effect gaming keyboard. The HE75 V2 has not yet officially launched, but Epomaker has shown it off in a recent livestream on YouTube and published the product page with all the specifications ahead of the official launch. From that product page, we can see that the HE75 V2 has an ABS plastic case with a gasket mount and an FR4 plate. Curiously, neither the PCB nor the FR4 plate have flex cuts, which is generally valued by the enthusiast community, since it prioritizes sound. Pricing has not yet been divulged, but if it is anywhere close to the original HE75 Mag, it should come in at around $100.

As the name suggests, the HE75 V2 follows a 75% layout, keeping both the num row and F row, although it makes use of a reduced, three-key navigation column on the far right edge, making it a solid, if somewhat compromised, all-round option. There is also modular programmable volume knob that can be removed and replaced with two key switches, much like on the original HE75 Mag. Unlike the original, the HE75 V2 comes in either an all-white or all-black aesthetic, both with color-matched translucent PC keycaps—smokey on the black version and frosted on the white keyboard. The translucent keycaps obviously allow a lot of RGB shine-through, and Epomaker has accented that with edge lighting that shines through a faceted diffuser seemingly meant to look like crystals. If the Epomaker livestream is any indication, the HE75 V2 and its Creamy Jade Magnetic switches will have a poppy sound signature typical of an FR4 plate and POM switches. The HE75 V2 will feature tri-mode connectivity, with Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz, and USB-C, and 8 kHz polling over 2.4 GHz and wired connections.

News recently broke about a new DRM system Sony had seemingly silently implemented in the PS5 that would make buyers of digital games go online every 30 days to validate a license or potentially be locked out of their games until they could access an internet connection. Now, according to some research done by andshrew on the ResetEra forums, it seems as though it's not quite as simple as that. As it turns out, going online to validate the DRM license may only be a requirement for the first 14 days as an attempt to avoid users buying a game and then refunding the game and playing it anyway in offline mode using some exploit—at least that is the current speculative explanation, since Sony is yet to address this debacle publicly.

The explanation in the ResetEra forum post details the full methodology, but essentially, what the user found by comparing two copies of the same game purchased on two separate PSN accounts, once before the new requirement and once after, is that Sony is now issuing a 30-day license for the first 14 days and swapping that license out for a perpetual license after the refund period has lapsed. This would mean that, after Sony's DRM server has been able to validate the license once after the 14-day refund period is over, there will be no restrictions on offline play, as is usually the case with console games. This somewhat resolves some of the issues that have been brought up surrounding this DRM feature, but it still may present issues for those who are not able to connect to the internet more than 14 days after purchasing a game—this is especially true, since there is no clearly visible notice about this DRM feature on Sony's site at the time of writing.

Hot on the heels of the news of Sony's new DRM that earned significant community backlash, Andy Nguyen, the developer who previously showed off running a full Linux installation on a PlayStation 5, has officially published their methodology and necessary steps to get the open-source operating system running on Sony's console. The hack requires a PS5 disc version running firmware version 3.00, 3.10, 3.20, 3.21, and 4.00, 4.02, 4.03, 4.50, 4.51, and there is only support for the M.2 drive in the 4.XX versions at the time of writing. There are supposedly ways to downgrade the PS5 firmware to one of the versions that still supports the hack, but those may not always work reliably. If you've followed the jailbreak steps, injected the payload and rebooted back into Linux, you should be greeted by a full Ubuntu 26.04 Resolute Raccoon installation, replete with the Linux kernel 7.

Interestingly, the PS5 Linux installation is quite full-featured, replete with custom VRAM allocation, fan control, and a boost mode toggling—all from within the terminal or a text file, of course. There are some caveats, and driver development is still ongoing—wireless networking, for example, may require you to manually restart the WLAN adaptor to work. The Sony DualSense controllers also don't currently work via the built-in dongle, although they do with an external dongle. The output refresh rate is also limited to 60 Hz across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K resolutions, although 120 Hz may be added later. The biggest limitation, however, is that it is a soft mod, meaning that if you restart the PS5 while in the Linux desktop, it will not boot back into the environment unless you apply the same jailbreak again. The upside of that is that the PlayStation 5's base OS isn't affected by the Linux installation, so if you want to go back to using it as a regular PS5, you can just reboot.

Since the launch of the Steam Deck, Valve has poured a lot of effort into not only developing SteamOS but also making the Steam Store and client more user-friendly on handheld devices. Valve's latest Steam Deck Client update builds on this, introducing a number of small changes that make the Steam Deck all the more useful as a console-like gaming experience. Some of the highlights in this latest update include a new optional "Switch to Desktop" button on the login screen—a change that should make the Steam Deck that much easier to user as a docked workstation when necessary. The update also adds a wireless gamepad battery indicator and a low battery level toast notification.

In addition to the aforementioned new UI features, the Steam quick access menu now also houses Steam chat, making in-game socials easier, and there is now a new quick chat feature in Steam Deck and Big Picture mode. Users can access user-configurable quick chats by holding down the view button and selecting the appropriate response. The Steam Deck also now supports Remote Downloads management, allowing you to manage, for example, the downloads on your gaming desktop from the comfort of a couch across the room or the discomfort of an airport across the country. The update also includes a number of bug fixes and UI changes to features like the Steam Input controller customization settings, which can all be viewed in the full update changelog.

Capcom has been fairly open about the fact that there is a Resident Evil Requiem DLC coming at some point this year, but an exact launch date was unclear. Now, according to a hint from the game's director, Koshi Nakanishi, and producer, Masato Kumazawa, in an interview with Denfaminico Gamer, that DLC is still under development. The pair did not outright confirm the release date, but they confirmed that there is a combat-based mini-game DLC coming in May, following up that statement by suggesting that players interested in playing the mini-game DLC complete the game's main quest during Japan's Golden Week holidays.

"So, if you're planning to play it, clearing the main story during Golden Week would be just right for you to be able to play it," said Kumazawa. Golden Week is one of Japan's largest holiday periods and runs between April 29 and May 6, so the implication here is that the Resident Evil mini-game DLC will launch sometime shortly after May 6. The comment to Denfaminico also confirms that the mini-game will only be accessible once players have completed the main quest in the Resident Evil Requiem base game.

Just on time, according to the recent launch date announcement, Fedora 44 has officially left the gates, with both Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop 44 and Fedora Linux 44 Workstation (with Gnome), seeing significant user-facing and behind-the-scenes updates. The biggest changes come by way of the addition of Gnome 50 on Fedora Workstation and KDE Plasma 6.6 on Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop 44. Both versions can now be downloaded from the Fedora website, and existing users can perform in-place upgrades following the official guidance. The full Fedora Linux 44 patch notes are available here.

While Gnome 50 and KDE 6.6 both feature neat UI tweaks, bug fixes, and accessibility and performance improvements, Fedora Linux itself also saw a few notable changes. For starters, Fedora 44 now includes the NTSync driver, and it is enabled by default, enabling some impressive performance and stability improvements in certain games and with the most recent Proton and Wine versions, as we covered previously. All Fedora KDE versions will now all use the same out-of-the-box experience, making initial setup feel more familiar and enabling hardware vendors to sell hardware with Fedora KDE pre-installed with a proper user greeting and setup wizard. Fedora Atomic Desktops have also dropped FUSE2 library support, which may be of import to some users using AppImage applications. Both Fedora Workstation and Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop use Wayland by default, but in the case of Fedora Workstation, Gnome 50 no longer includes any code for X11 compatibility. X11 can still be installed, but it is not officially supported and may result in issues. Fedora KDE Plasma Desktop 44 also switches to KDE Plasma Login Manager by default, which may be unfamiliar to some users and may actually have fewer features.

Mouse comparison website, EloShapes has long been an indispensable tool for gamers—and productivity users—to compare shapes when shopping for a new mouse, but it has previously only worked with the outlines of the mice in its database. This was a good solution, but as of a recent announcement, the developer behind EloShapes has started providing 3D models for shape comparison, making it far easier to spot small differences in contours and complex geometry that would have otherwise been hidden in the silhouette view. In the EloShapes search drop-down, you can see which mice models have 3D models available with a simple little icon that appears next to the mouse's name. At the time of writing, there does not seem to be a way to download the 3D models to 3D print a mock-up shape to test ergonomics and fit, but there is a lot of demand for it in the responses to the announcement of the feature.

The new 3D model comparison feature in EloShapes is based on 3D scans of real production units of gaming mice, and it allows you to very quickly compare two or more mouse shapes by overlaying the models over one another. It's a surprisingly complete tool for comparison. It allows you to switch between solid and shaded views to see how the shapes compare when superimposed over one another; there's a built-in ruler to measure features; and it allows you to change the alignment, position, and rotation of the mice to compare based on different datums or reference points. The model even indicates the sensor location, so that you can see if there is going to be any weirdness in the way the mouse feels to aim. The creator of EloShapes said in the announcement on X that there are a number of mice available on the comparison site, and that the collection would grow consistently over time.

Seagate Technology Holdings plc (NASDAQ: STX) (the "Company" or "Seagate"), a leading innovator of mass-capacity data storage, today reported financial results for its fiscal third quarter ended April 3, 2026.

"Seagate delivered outstanding March quarter results, exceeding the high end of our revenue and EPS guidance, achieving record margin performance, and generating close to $1 billion in free cash flow," said Dave Mosley, Seagate's chair and chief executive officer.

Framework, known for its repairable and upgradeable gaming and productivity laptops, has officially released a Laptop 16 graphics upgrade module with the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB. Framework's original Laptop 16 graphics expansion module, which upgrades the original $350 AMD Radeon RX 7700S, is based on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 8 GB and costs $699. Now, the RTX 5070 12 GB upgrade comes in at a whopping $1,199—a 72% price increase for a 50% increase in VRAM. It's unclear where the drastic price increase comes from, but some of it can likely be explained by the low volume Framework has to contend with, and some of it can be attributed to the ongoing DRAM crisis wracking the PC hardware market.

A Hypervisor bypass recently appeared giving game crackers an alternative way to circumvent protections like Denuvo DRM. The bypass is so effective that popular game repacker, FitGirl, has declared that "all single-player/non-VR Denuvo games are now cracked/bypassed." The announcement comes after four Hypervisor bypasses were released for EA Sports games. The Hypervisor bypass appears to rely on installing a new Hypervisor driver in Ring -1, granting it very low-level access, which present significant security concerns, as acknowledged by FitGirl themself.

The announcement of this universal Denuvo bypass has prompted Denuvo to implement a new workaround: require a regular DRM check with an online server every two weeks, according to recent reports from players online. This updated check has seemingly been applied to games published by 2K, namely NBA 2K25 and 2K26 and Marvel's Midnight Suns. Irdeto, the company behind Denuvo, has also spoken out about the issue, stating that "We're already working on updated security versions for games impacted by hypervisor bypasses. For players, performance will not be compromised by these strengthened security measures." Notably, Denuvo also said that whatever workaround is released will not operate in Ring -1, as has been theorized.

Bandai Namco and Rebel Wolves have officially released full system requirements, new story trailer, and the release date for the upcoming The Blood of Dawnwalker. Built in Unreal Engine 5, The Blood of Dawnwalker is a single-player open-world action RPG game developed by studio which is co-founded by Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, director of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. The game is set in an alternative 14th century, where feudal lords have been overthrown by a clique of powerful vampires, and follows Coen, a young man turned into a Dawnwalker.

In addition to the story trailer, which reveals a bit more details about the game, Rebel Wolves have also released full PC system requirements for the game, and you will need at least an Intel Core i5-10400F or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X CPU, 16 GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, an AMD Radeon RX Vega 56, or Intel Arc A580 graphics card with at least 6 GB of VRAM. This will run the game at 1080p resolution at 30 FPS with low quality preset. The recommended PC system requirements, which target 1080p at 60 FPS or 1440p at 60 FPS with high quality preset, include an Intel Core i5-13600 or an AMD Ryzen 9 7900X CPU, 16 GB of RAM, and NVIDIA RTX 5060 or AMD RX 6800 XT for 1080p and NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti or AMD RX 7800 XT for 1440p resolution.

NVIDIA has released the GeForce 596.36 WHQL Game Ready driver for Conan Exiles Enhanced game, launching on May 5th with support for DLSS Multi Frame Generation, DLSS Super Resolution, and NVIDIA Reflex. The new driver also adds support for the recently announced GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB Laptop GPU, as well as fix some gaming and general bugs.

As detailed by NVIDIA, Conan Exiles Enhanced is built in Unreal Engine 5 and packs eight years of post-launch content, as well as brings improved visuals, enhanced performance, and modern rendering technology. In addition to the game launch support from day one, the new GeForce 596.36 WHQL Game Ready driver also adds support for the recently introduced GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB Laptop GPU that will feature 24 Gb GDDR7 memory. According to the release notes, the new driver also fixes issues in God of War: Ragnarok, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and The Crew Motorfest games, as well as blocky artifacts issue seen in when playing H.264 content with DXVA 3.0 and issue with Blender 5.0.1 EEVEE.

DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 596.36 WHQL Game Ready

Fanatec, a brand of Corsair (NASDAQ: CRSR) and global leader in sim racing hardware, presented a series of product announcements and platform updates during its Spring Showcase event, introducing new hardware and software updates designed to expand flexibility across its ecosystem.

ClubSport Formula V3 launched
Fanatec introduced the ClubSport Formula V3, a reworked version of its iconic Formula-style steering wheel. The new model is a direct replacement for the Formula V2.5 and features a larger display with Intelligent Telemetry Mode, allowing drivers to switch between layouts such as lap times and deltas, tire temperatures, and other telemetry. The diameter increases to 290 mm, with revised ergonomics suited to a wider range of race cars.

Logitech G today announced the new Logitech G512 X TMR Analog/Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. Designed for players who view their setups as living, breathing ecosystems, the G512 X marks a shift from static hardware to a modular, performance-driven system built to be tuned, tweaked, and mastered. The G512 X is the first keyboard engineered to adapt to the nuance of your unique playstyle, rather than forcing you to adapt to your hardware.

"At Logitech G, we see a player's setup as something that grows with them as they improve," said Robin Piispanen, Vice President and General Manager of Logitech G. "With the G512 X, we combine craftsmanship with performance. This keyboard isn't just a tool—it's an extension of the gamer, giving you the control and precision to play at your best."

The European Union has officially imposed a new rule for selling laptops with a power rating of 100 W or less, requiring them to use a USB-C port for charging. This rule takes effect today, April 28, Tuesday, as the European Commission has been exploring ways to reduce electronic waste and has been planning this since imposing a similar rule on smartphones in 2024. As readers may recall, modern smartphones have largely been shipping with USB-C ports since the European Commission mandated that all newly sold smartphones must have a unified connection, instead of multiple connectors that create a significant amount of e-waste across Europe. With laptops, the EU legislation now aims to address this issue in the laptop sector, as they contribute significantly to the problem.

However, there are exceptions to this rule. The traditional USB-C power delivery mechanism can deliver 240 W through a single port, but gaming laptops sometimes require more power. Gaming laptops can continue to use the typical barrel power connector on models that exceed 100 W of power, whereas any laptop model with a power rating of 100 W or less must adopt USB-C as its primary charging connector. From today, it is illegal to sell laptops that do not meet the European Commission's standards across the European Union. However, this rule does not apply to computers sold on the second-hand market; only new devices entering the EU zone must comply.

Your desk has evolved. Sharper displays, better keyboards, devices designed to work together across a full Apple ecosystem—your workspace already looks like the future. Now picture a charger built to match. Meet the Satechi ChargeView 140 W Desktop Charger: a charging station with a live digital display, four USB-C ports, and 140 W of GaN-powered output, engineered to be a working part of your desk setup.

Power You Can See
Charging used to be a guessing game. ChargeView ends the guessing, in real time. Each port shows its current wattage at a glance, so you know exactly what's flowing where. No more cable-swapping just to figure out what's charging. No more wondering whether your MacBook Pro is at full speed or barely sipping. No more guessing whether the cable is the problem, or the port.

French developer and publisher DON'T NOD has today released Aphelion on PC (Steam), Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. It is an Xbox Play Anywhere title and is available on Game Pass. Aphelion is a cinematic sci-fi adventure game at the edge of our solar system.

Standard, Deluxe, & Day One Editions
The Standard Edition, containing the game alone, is 29.99€/$ on Steam and 34.99€/$ on consoles. There is a 10% launch discount for Steam and Xbox users. Xbox and PlayStation players can get the Day One Edition at 10% off on both platforms (only for PS+ users on PlayStation), exclusively within the first day of sale. The Day One Edition contains the game and a cosmetics pack with 2 spacesuit variants and 6 backpack accessories: 3 stickers and 3 keychains. The stickers and keychains reference the ESA collaboration and fan-favorite DON'T NOD games, Jusant and Lost Records: Bloom & Rage.

Microsoft has released the Shader Model 6.10 preview, included in the new AgilitySDK 1.720-preview build. This preview introduces a compelling feature related to GPU-dedicated AI engine control. According to the developer blog, Shader Model 6.10 features a new, streamlined algebra matrix API that reveals all known matrix operations for popular gaming GPUs from AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA. This means that modern GPUs have dedicated hardware for processing AI workloads, typically involving matrix multiplication and accumulation. Modern machine learning-based upscaling relies on this hardware, whether it's Tensor cores from NVIDIA, XMX cores from Intel, or AI accelerators in AMD GPUs, each with its own communication method. To unify access, Microsoft is introducing a new API from the class linalg::Matrix, which will expose all matrix operations to the shader language. This allows neural rendering operations to be executed across multiple GPUs with a single programming effort.

As the developer behind the DirectX 12 API, Microsoft is observing a significant increase in graphics features utilizing neural network-based rendering techniques to enhance user graphics. This will require more matrix units in modern gaming GPUs. To provide a unified layer of abstraction for programming and executing neural rendering operations, Microsoft hopes that Shader Model 6.10 will become the standard for every GPU maker. Interestingly, this feature is supported across all NVIDIA RTX hardware, as it includes Tensor cores. Intel support is planned for an upcoming release, with B-series GPUs expected to be compatible. Only AMD's RDNA 4-based Radeon RX 9000 series GPUs support this feature, with no support planned for older models like the RX 7000 series and below.

Developer Impeller Studios is thrilled to announce that In The Black, an intense, skill-driven space combat simulator that has been in development for ten years by an extraordinarily passionate team, will officially launch on May 5th in Early Access on Steam.

Set 200 years in the future within our own solar system, In The Black puts players in the role of private military contractors navigating the shadow wars of ruthless megacorporations featuring realistic space combat with a serious respect for science.

SAPPHIRE Technology unveils the revolutionary PhantomLink connectivity feature in the distinctively special Polar edition on the SAPPHIRE NITRO+ AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT PhantomLink Edition Graphics Card and SAPPHIRE NITRO+ X870EA PhantomLink Edition Motherboard for the ultimate SAPPHIRE NITRO+ ecosystem in a glacial white-color themed pairing.

The SAPPHIRE NITRO+ AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT PhantomLink Polar Edition Graphics Card and the SAPPHIRE NITRO+ X870EA PhantomLink Polar Edition Motherboard were designed conjunctively to be used together for a premium SAPPHIRE NITRO+ ecosystem. For the first time, this ecosystem has been created in a silver-white aesthetic for powerful systems where innovative cooling meets enthusiast performance on an icy-metallic and elegant backdrop.

Acemagic has launched the F5A, a mini PC built around AMD's Ryzen AI 9 HX 470, a 12-core, 24-thread chip combining Zen 5 and Zen 5c cores with boost clocks up to 5.2 GHz. Graphics come from the integrated Radeon 890M (RDNA 3.5, 16 compute units), and the XDNA2 NPU is rated at 55 TOPS, pushing total platform AI performance to up to 86 TOPS. Memory is fixed at 32 GB of LPDDR5X-8000, paired with a PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD. Storage expansion is a strong point since Acemagic F5A mini PC features three M.2 2280 slots giving you up to 12 TB of total capacity. Networking covers Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and dual 2.5 GbE LAN ports.

For a system this compact (130 x 132 x 62 mm) the connectivity is solid. You get HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 2.1, and dual USB4 ports with DisplayPort output and 40 Gbps transfer speeds, plus an OCuLink port for eGPU or high-speed storage expansion. Multiple 8K display outputs are supported. Cooling is handled by a dual-fan setup with a vapor chamber, rated up to 65 W. The F5A is available as a barebones configuration at $759 or as a preconfigured 32 GB / 1 TB model at $1,299, however, availability seems limited at launch.

NVIDIA has officially launched its new GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB laptop edition GPU, featuring higher-capacity GDDR7 memory. This confirms earlier rumors about an upgraded memory configuration. In a quiet release, NVIDIA announced its decision to use 24 Gb (3 GB) GDDR7 memory modules, which offer a 50% increase in memory capacity compared to the current 16 Gb (2 GB) GDDR7 configurations. As demand for GPU memory remains high, NVIDIA can balance the supply of 16 Gb GDDR7 modules by utilizing a new batch of 24 Gb GDDR7 modules from partners like SK hynix, Samsung, and Micron. The company describes this move as a way to ensure a sufficient supply of 16 Gb GDDR7 memory for the remaining GeForce RTX 50-Series "Blackwell" GPUs, maintaining healthy supply levels. The new GPU SKU complements the existing RTX 5070 8 GB Laptop Edition model, providing gamers with more laptop configurations to choose from.

NVIDIADemand for GeForce RTX GPUs remains strong, and memory supply is constrained. In order to maximize memory availability, we are releasing the GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU 12 GB configuration with 24 Gb G7 memory. This gives our partners access to an additional pool of memory to complement the 16 Gb G7 supply that currently ships with most GeForce GPUs. The 12 GB configuration will exist alongside the current 8 GB configuration, and allows our partners to bring a broader range of GeForce RTX 5070 laptops to consumers.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today opens pre-orders for the all-new ROG Zephyrus Duo, the world's first 16-inch dual-screen OLED gaming laptop. Powered by the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and paired with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU running at 135 W TGP, enabling flagship gaming and content creation. This ultra-premium machine is housed in a CNC-milled aluminium chassis with a stunning Stellar Grey colorway and comes complete with a detachable magnetic keyboard to keep users gaming and creating wherever life takes them.

The world's first 16" dual-screen gaming laptop
The Zephyrus Duo is the world's first 16-inch dual-screen gaming laptop. Boasting two 3K ROG Nebula HDR OLED touchscreens, with over 21 inches of total diagonal screen space available on one laptop, the Duo reimagines what a portable personal workstation is capable of. Both panels offer a 0.2 ms response time, paired with a 120 Hz refresh rate, and the main screen supports NVIDIA G-SYNC, bringing crisp motion and nearly zero ghosting in games. With 1100 nits of peak HDR brightness and a VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1000 certification, HDR games and content looks spectacular. For the creators out there, a color accuracy of Delta E < 1i and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space offers twin professional-grade screens right out of the box.

Super Micro Computer, Inc. , an AI, Enterprise, Storage, 5G/Edge Total Solution provider, today expanded its Data Center Building Block Solutions (DCBBS) portfolio with new Arm -based server platforms powered by the new Arm AGI CPU, and new Open Compute Project (OCP) ORv3-compliant rack offerings. Supermicro leads the industry with over 20 OCP Inspired systems, which incorporate various OCP technologies and form factors, to simplify open data center deployments.

"Supermicro continues to advance its DCBBS with an expanded portfolio of Arm-based platforms and OCP systems for next-gen AI and HPC," said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro. "With high-density, liquid-cooled systems and energy-efficient Arm architectures, we enable scalable, flexible data centers that maximize performance-per-watt and accelerate AI adoption across cloud and enterprise environments."

FinalWire Ltd. today announced the immediate availability of AIDA64 Extreme 8.30 software, a streamlined diagnostic and benchmarking tool for home users; the immediate availability of AIDA64 Engineer 8.30 software, a professional diagnostic and benchmarking solution for corporate IT technicians and engineers; the immediate availability of AIDA64 Business 8.30 software, an essential network management solution for small and medium scale enterprises; and the immediate availability of AIDA64 Network Audit 8.20 software, a dedicated network audit toolset to collect and manage corporate network inventories.

The latest AIDA64 update introduces AIDA FPS, a new module that captures real-time frame rate data in DirectX 11 and 12 games. It also adds support for Adaptec RAID controllers and the latest Turing-based external displays, along with expanded support for the newest graphics and GPGPU technologies from AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA.

DOWNLOAD: FinalWire AIDA64 v8.30

Corsair (Nasdaq: CRSR) is proud to announce the launch of ThermalProtect, a 12V-2x6 GPU power cable featuring innovative technology that monitors the temperature of a GPU's power cable in real time to help prevent damage to the GPU.

Corsair ThermalProtect
ThermalProtect enables additional Over Temperature Protection (OTP) for GPUs by actively monitoring the 12V-2x6 cable. Housed discreetly inside a cable comb 30 mm from the connection point, the hardware offers a clean, unobtrusive appearance. If the sensor detects extreme temperatures, ThermalProtect activates, causing the GPU to shut down to prevent potential damage.

ASUS today announced the TUF Gaming Platinum series of power supplies, available in 850-watt, 1000-watt and 1200-watt versions. These PSUs feature a next-generation GaN MOSFET, military-grade durability, flagship fan design, and PCB protection for efficient and consistent power delivery. Compared to traditional silicon-based MOSFETs, the GaN variety delivers advanced energy efficiency, faster switching speeds, lower heat generation, and higher voltage resistance, positioning it as a server-grade material for demanding applications such as AI development, high-end gaming, and video editing. This MOSFET's compact size also enables a streamlined layout with larger heatsinks and enhanced airflow for additional heat dissipation.

GaN MOSFETs for maximum efficiency and cooler operation
Gallium Nitride MOSFET technology has been instrumental in making premium ROG Strix Platinum PSUs and ROG Thor III PSUs efficient powerhouses, so ASUS is excited to bring this tech to a range of TUF Gaming Platinum PSUs.

LincPlus has officially unveiled LincStation E1, a compact and versatile 4-bay network-attached storage (NAS) solution designed for creators, home labs, and modern households. The device will launch soon on Kickstarter, giving early supporters access to exclusive early-bird offers.

As subscription fatigue grows and concerns around data privacy increase, more users are reconsidering traditional cloud storage services. LincStation E1 aims to provide a compelling alternative by allowing users to build their own private cloud while maintaining full ownership of their data. "LincStation E1 is built to give users the freedom of the cloud with the control of local storage."

ASRock, the global leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, mini PCs, gaming monitors, power supply units, and AIO liquid coolers, today officially announced the launch of its latest gaming monitor, the PG27QFW2A, featuring a combination of 400 Hz ultra-high refresh rate and a 2K QHD IPS panel. Designed to strike an optimal balance between speed and visual fidelity, it delivers a distinct experience beyond conventional gaming displays.

In the high refresh rate segment, many monitors continue to rely on TN panels. By adopting Fast IPS technology, the PG27QFW2A maintains 400 Hz fluidity while delivering accurate color reproduction and wide viewing angles, ensuring consistent and clear visuals even during fast-paced gameplay.

EarFun, a leading innovator in wireless audio technology, today announced the launch of its groundbreaking EarFun Clip 2 earbuds, setting a new standard for comfort, performance, and affordability. Packed with cutting-edge features including AI translation, Hi-Res audio, and a groundbreaking ergonomic design, the EarFun Clip 2 earbuds redefine the wireless listening experience.

Unlocking Language Barriers with Instant AI Translation
Breaking down language barriers has never been easier with the EarFun Clip 2 earbuds' groundbreaking AI translation feature. According to EarFun, the innovative Clip 2 by EarFun isn't just about passive listening but about engaging the world around you. Supporting over 100 languages, these earbuds empower users to connect with individuals from other places and cultures with seamless real-time translation. EarFun offers this feature in their companion EarFun Audio app, where you can also select a host of other customization features for how you use the Clip 2.

One of the often-touted benefits of console gaming is how physical media enables access to games, even when there is no internet connection for the DRM to verify the game's license. Now, it seems as though the Sony's PS5 will start locking players out of digital-only games if the console has been unable to connect to PSN servers within the last 30 days. This is according to testing done by Hikikomori Media, who found the issue with Wild Arms 4 and Vampire Crawlers, both of which were purchased as digital-only titles in April 2026.

The content creator simulated an offline PS5 by disconnecting it from the internet, resetting the internal clock by removing the CMOS battery, and then booting up the PS5 without an internet connection. Effectively, he tricked the PS5 into thinking that it had been offline for an extended period of time. The end result is that both Wild Arms 4 and Vampire Crawlers were unable to launch after the reboot. It's notable that games purchased before March 2026 would still launch without a hitch. Based on this testing and further testing with a PS4, which revealed a timer showing how long it had been since the console could call home, it seems as though games purchased after March 2026 will need to connect to PSN servers at least once every 30 days in order to be playable.

Valve confirmed not too long ago that it had delayed announcing the pricing of the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller because of the ongoing DRAM shortage and price volatility crisis that has plagued the PC hardware industry in recent months. Eventually, the gaming giant caved and announced the Steam Controller ahead of the rest of the hardware that was meant to ship alongside it, and in a recent interview with Polygon, Valve confirmed what we all suspected: The Steam Machine and Steam Frame are still being held back by the DRAM crisis. As Valve hardware engineer, Steve Cardinali, explained about the early launch of the controller: "This doesn't have RAM in it, and it's not as complicated to start getting out the door for us. We're ready for it. We wanted to build up quantity so that we could try to address everybody who wants one at launch, but it's possible that the demand for it far exceeds our expectations."

He goes on to explain that there was never a hard-and-fast rule that the Controller, Frame, and Machine had to launch together, although he confirmed that Valve would not launch the Machine ahead of the Controller. It's safe to assume, then, that the Steam Machine and Steam Frame were originally meant to launch around May as well—Cardinali says that the Controller and Machine are "a pair made in heaven," so it only makes sense to try to launch them around the same time, even if "there's no point in holding it back while we work through the other stuff." According to VR industry insider, Brad Lynch on X, the Steam Machine is more severely affected by the memory supply issues than the Steam Frame, since it relies on on-package RAM and on mobile RAM, which doesn't appear to be as severely impacted by the shortages. Reading between the lines, it seems entirely possible that the Steam Frame may launch ahead of the Steam Machine as long as RAM prices remain elevated and unstable.

Keychron has been steadily updating its mechanical keyboard line-up with ZMK firmware and its new Silk POM mechanical switches. One of the more recent updates is the Keychron P6 Ultra, which features a full-size layout, 8 kHz polling, and an understated design with a neat party trick. The hallmark feature of the P6 Ultra is its quick-disassembly ball-catch closure mechanism, which allows for toolless disassembly of the aluminium case. This is becoming more common in mechanical keyboards, because it allows you to more easily get at the internals for modifications, although it does introduce a drawback in that it makes the front height slightly taller—the P2 Ultra measures in at 22.25 mm as a result. Aside from the quick-release closure, the P6 Ultra also features a programmable knob, and the entire keyboard is customizable and programmable in Keychron Launcher, the brand's VIA-like web driver.

The P6 Ultra is available on Keychron's online store for $199.99 and on Amazon for $179.99, and it can be purchased with the Silk POM Red (linear), Brown (tactile), and Banana (early-bump tactile) switches. It is only available in black, and it comes with black Cherry profile double-shot PBT keycaps with gray and orange accent keys. Keychron says the 4,000 mAh battery in the P6 Ultra is capable of keeping it going for 660 hours on a single charge, at least without the backlighting disabled. With the backlighting on its lowest brightness, that drops to 200 hours per Keychron. It features both 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity for convenience and broad compatibility. Unlike many of Keychron's other mechanical keyboards, this seems to be based on a design similar to that of the Lemokey P2 HE, which also features the same silicone bean gasket mount and quick-disassembly feature.

Colorful Technology Company Limited, a leading brand in gaming PC components, gaming laptops, and HiFi audio products, today announces the launch of its refreshed BATTLE-AX motherboard series, now updated with Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and a range of enhancements over previous generations. The new lineup includes the BATTLE-AX B860M-PLUS S WIFI7 and B760M-PLUS S WIFI7, giving users the choice between next-generation DDR5 performance and cost-effective DDR4 compatibility.

The BATTLE-AX B860M-PLUS S WIFI7 is built to support the latest Intel Core Ultra 200S series processors, positioning it as a forward-looking option for new builds, while both models introduce improved power delivery, enhanced connectivity including Wi-Fi 7, and more user-friendly installation features compared to their predecessors.

With Valve today officially announcing pricing and availability for the Steam Controller, it was only a matter of time before people started asking questions about the Steam Machine and even the Steam Deck 2. Fortunately, in a recent comment to IGN, Valve developer, Pierre-Loup Griffais, has addressed the latter right off the bat. Griffais commented that the Steam Deck 2 is actively being worked on at Valve, although neither he nor the gaming giant can divulge any more concrete information about the upcoming gaming handheld, let alone a potential release window. He does note that the Steam Deck 2 will be a culmination of the lesson Valve learned during the development of its previous hardware projects.

Given prior comments that the Steam Deck 2 would need to be a sizeable performance leap over the current Steam Deck, it would not be surprising to see Valve wait until something like RDNA 4 or 5 reaches sufficient efficiency, performance, and pricing figures to be stuffed into a handheld APU without severely impacting the battery life. At that point, the Steam Deck 2 may have more serious competition to contend with, specifically from the likes of Sony. It has recently been rumored that the Steam Deck 2 would not use a semi-custom AMD APU but would launch in 2028 like the original Steam Deck, instead being powered by an off-the-shelf unit—a move that may offer Valve more flexibility to react to different market conditions and new mid-cycle CPU refreshes.

To call Noctua popular in PC building enthusiast circles would be an understatement, but the company may have just scored even more points among its fans by publishing free 3D models of all its fans. According to the post on X announcing the 3D models, Noctua intends for makers, designers, and engineers to use these models for "mechanical design, renderings, or animations," and the actual license on the Noctua page states that the models "may not be used, in whole or in part, for the manufacture, reproduction, or commercialization of the products they represent or any substantially similar products." At the time of writing, a number of fans are not available on the 3D downloads site, but a substantial number are available as STEP files, which makes them almost universally compatible with CAD software.

Aside from using the models themselves as visual references, the CAD files should make it significantly easier for case designers to accurately design mounting points and plan cooling routes using Noctua fans. From poking around in the CAD models, it's notable that Noctua has published the products with separate bodies, which is useful if you want to, for instance, print a missing rubber corner for noise damping. Noctua notes that certain geometry, like the fan blade curvature, has been adjusted to protect the company's IP and to avoid users doing airflow simulation with the 3D models. Publishing 3D models for end-user use is becoming more and more popular, with companies like Keychron and ZSA doing the same for their keyboards. Cooler Master also famously has several case series for which it has released 3D models for users to design and print their own accessories.

GPD has officially announced its Box mini PC and its G-series eGPUs, which both now feature faster external PCIe interfaces for gaming and AI use cases. The GPD Box itself is a fairly standard Panther Lake mini PC, although not too much has been revealed about the Box aside from its new eGPU interface. The GPD Box swaps out the traditional USB4 or Thunderbolt 5 port with an MCIO 8i (Mini Cool Edge IO) port, which is capable of full PCIe 5.0 ×8 bandwidth. MCIO 8i aside, the Box looks to have a healthy assortment of ports, with dual USB Type-A and Type-C ports, alongside a 3.5 mm audio jack on the front and two USB Type-A ports, DP and HDMI for display, and dual Ethernet ports on the back of the mini PC. That MCIO ×8 port is theoretically capable of bidirectional bandwidth of up to 512 Gbps, although there are legitimate concerns about rated insertion cycles and wear on the ports, given that MCIO was initially designed for server applications, where hardware would be plugged and unplugged far less frequently than in consumer applications. It should also be noted that it is limited to PCIe ×8, even on PCIe Gen 5, meaning it will be limited to 256 Gbps bidirectional bandwidth on PCIe Gen 5.

The GPD G2 itself is the eGPU enclosure launching alongside the Box mini PC, and it is capable of connecting either over USB4 v2.0 or MCIO 8i, making it useful for more than just the GPD mini PC. GPD claims that the G2 can run an NVIDIA RTX 4090 with only 2% performance loss, which is a level of throughput that neither Thunderbolt 5 nor OCuLink can achieve. The G2 eGPU dock itself has dual USB Type-A ports for peripherals and a USB4 port with 100 W PD charging, and there's a built-in PCIe SSD expansion slot in the eGPU dock for extra storage. The G2 also has its own on-board PSU that connects to the GPU with an externally routed 12v-2×6 cable—GPD has not yet revealed the output of that unit, but presumably, it will at least be enough to power an RTX 4090 if that's what the company is staking its performance claim on. Availability and pricing have not yet been announced, but the Weibo announcement post lists 2026 as the release date, so we will likely find out more, including more specifications, later this year.

Kyocera Corporation (President: Shiro Sakushima; "Kyocera") today announced that it is commercializing a new multilayer ceramic core substrate for advanced semiconductor packages, such as xPUs and switch ASICs, which are rapidly scaling in complexity as AI data center architectures evolve. The new product will be unveiled at ECTC 2026, an international conference on semiconductor packaging technologies, in Orlando, Florida, USA, May 26-29, 2026.

Built from Kyocera's proprietary Fine Ceramic materials, the new core substrate is engineered for high‑density wiring and exceptional rigidity. According to the company, these characteristics dramatically reduce deformation (warpage) in high-performance semiconductor packages, a key challenge as demand for greater device integration and higher processing speed continues to rise.

Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes, an innovative tactical video game inspired by one of the most beloved sci-fi franchises of all time, will immerse you in a tense, ever-changing roguelite-style fight for their fleet's survival when the game launches May 11. Publisher Dotemu (Absolum, MARVEL Cosmic Invasion) and developer Alt Shift (Crying Suns) in collaboration with Universal Products & Experiences announced the launch date today, via an all-new gameplay trailer featuring a fresh look at the Cylons, Battlestar Galactica's iconic sentient robot antagonists and the fearsome force striving to hunt you down in Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes.

In Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes, every decision matters as you manage your fleet in the shadow of relentless Cylon pursuit. Allocate your crew's time wisely between critical repairs, internal conflicts and exploration, where new resources, items, and survivors may tip the balance. But danger is never far—hidden Cylons and mounting crises threaten your fleet from within.

The Orbital Pathfinder is one of the more unique gaming mice out there, owing to its modular, highly configurable design and high-performance internals. Now, more than a year after the mouse first launched, Orbital has announced an updated version of the Pathfinder with refreshed internals, additional modularity and shapes, and an updated scroll wheel in a new special edition clear shell. The new Pathfinder: Ghost also gets a lower starting price, retailing for $149 instead of $189 for the base mouse and exploration kit, with a $29 expansion kit, starting on April 30—however, it will be a made-to-order one-time production run. The brand has also confirmed that the expansion set will be available separately for the black version, suggesting that the improvements will be brought forward into the mainline Pathfinder base kit as well.

[Editor's note: Our in-depth review of the Orbital Pathfinder is now live]

The new Pathfinder operates on the same modular philosophy as the original version but with new materials and additional options. Orbital has introduced four new shapes—the interchangeable attachments that allow you to change the shape of the Pathfinder—thereby expanding the number of configurations to over 5,000. The brand has also updated the PCB, which now supports modular switches and is based on the Nordic nRF54L15 MCU, and the mag-alloy scroll wheel has also been redesigned, although it's unclear what exactly the changes there are. To celebrate the launch, Orbital has also created a Special Edition version of the Pathfinder that's made from a "clear plastic alloy," likely composed of some mixture of polycarbonate.

Valve has officially confirmed that its highly-anticipated Steam Controller will go on sale globally on May 4. It will be priced at $99 in the United States, €99 in European Union countries, £85 in the UK, $149 CAD in Canada, and $149 AUD in Australia, marking a truly global launch. Designed as a universal control device, the Steam Controller aims to be a versatile gamepad for the broader Steam ecosystem, supporting PCs, laptops, Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and even the Steam Frame VR headset. While maintaining familiar core controls, Valve is clearly focusing on additional inputs, including dual trackpads, a gyro, Grip Sense, and four rear grip buttons, all of which can be customized through Steam Input.

Interestingly, Valve has revealed more details about some of the core technology behind the Steam Controller, with perhaps the most intriguing being magnetic thumbsticks built around TMR technology. Valve claims they offer a better feel, improved responsiveness, and much greater durability. They also add capacitive touch support for motion-based controls, meaning your commands can now be expressed in multiple ways. There is also a new puck accessory that handles both wireless connectivity and charging, snapping onto the controller magnetically to serve as a dock and transmitter in one.

Update 17:00 UTC, May 4: Steam Controller is now officially available!

We have been reporting on the intense demand in the CPU sector currently sweeping the industry. AMD and Intel have sold out their inventories, and lead times are now weeks long. However, Intel, which manufactures a large part of its CPU portfolio, has been handling the situation differently. According to Intel and confirmed by industry analyst Ben Bajarin, the company is repurposing some of the dies found on the very edge of the silicon wafer, which would have otherwise become silicon scrap, into products that customers are eager to buy. This approach allows even some SKUs, which may have been flawed due to various effects like silicon node yield, to find new life through repurposing. Intel's customers are so eager for CPUs that higher-end parts, which would typically be discarded, are now being sold as independent SKUs. No silicon is left behind.

For example, when Intel produces a Xeon 6 "Granite Rapids" CPU on the Intel 3 node, the CPU compute die can accommodate up to 44 cores per die, but some are disabled for yield and power reasons. When the yield fails, these compute dies are repurposed into SKUs with lower core counts, as it costs Intel money to manufacture the die, and wasting it would be a significant loss of resources. However, when the die doesn't achieve satisfactory yield on the Intel 3 production line, the company would usually discard it if it can't extract a reasonable number of working cores. Amidst one of the highest-ever recorded CPU shortages, Intel is doing the opposite. The company is using these defective or scrap dies and packaging them into lower-class SKUs to sell to its customers, as any CPU availability is crucial, and customers are eagerly purchasing them. Imagine a wafer edge, which is round, having only a few working P-Cores, and that being packaged into a CPU that a hyperscaler would integrate into their offering.

Fedora 44 was meant to be launched today, April 14, 2026, but a gander at the Fedora developer mailing list reveals that the workstation Linux distribution will be delayed to April 21 at the earliest. Adam Williamson, the Fedora QA developer who made the announcement clarified in the email that the reason for the delay is a long list of outstanding blockers—bugs or broken features that are big enough to break the experience or prevent the launch of the OS—that nobody is willing to waive. These bugs include issues with KDE's plasma-setup network setup, the NVIDIA Mesa driver setup, KDE keyboard layout selection, the systemd-oomd.service, and Grub breaking booting to Windows systems with BitLocker enabled.

On the one hand, this means that gamers and workstation users on Fedora, and all of its various iterations, like Bazzite, Nobara, and Rocky Linux, will have to wait a longer for the new version, along with all of its bug fixes, the new kernel version 6.19, and promised new features. On the other hand, the delay will give the project's developers extra time to iron out those experience-breaking bugs and deliver a working operating system. Some of the highlights of Fedora 44 are a move to Gnome 50 and KDE Plasma 6.6, a streamlined install process, finalizing the move to Plasma Login Manager on KDE spins, and adding support for Budgie 10.10.

Update Apr 27th: It has been officially confirmed during a go/no-go meeting that Fedora 44 will launch on April 28, and users can already download RC-1.7 for testing.

The last time Assassin's Creed Hexe made news, it was revealed that the combat had been scaled back significantly—after nearly four years in development, at that. Now, an Insider Gaming report, citing internal sources, claims that Ubisoft has removed as many as 50 developers from the project. The developers who have been removed from Hexe have supposedly been assigned to what is known internally as the "Interproject team," where they have up to three months to find a new project to work on or potentially be laid off. It's currently unknown whether this will have an impact on the eventual state of the game, but the move appears to be just the latest in Ubisoft's efforts to cut costs, although less forcefully than previously.

It seems as though the development of Assassin's Creed Hexe may not be going as smoothly as Ubisoft would like, which may be problematic given the expected 2027 launch date. It may also be Ubisoft taking a cautious approach, which would echo what has been reported about the future of Assassin's Creed remake projects. The rumor of a smaller dev team on Hexe comes shortly after Ubisoft officially confirmed that Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced would launch in July of 2026, and leaks revealed that an Assassin's Creed 1 remake is likely also in the works. It was also revealed that the as-yet unannounced cozy life sim, Alterra, was cancelled in a recent cost-cutting measure, which is what the Hexe downsizing seems to be as well.

Although originally announced back in January, Gigabytes GO27Q24G is now available in retail, at least in Europe for around €400. It's built around a 27-inch, 2560 x 1440 resolution WOLED panel from LG Display and it comes with LG Display's MLA+ technology, as well as a RealBlack glossy coating. MLA+ is said to boost the typical brightness to 275 nits, with peak brightness hitting 1300 nits. The RealBlack glossy coating is said to minimise reflections for enhanced visibility.

Other features include a 240 Hz refresh rate, a 0.03 ms response time and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification, as well as support for AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible. Connectivity consists of two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DP 1.4, one USB Type-C with DP Alt mode and one 3.5 mm headphone jack. The stand supports height, tilt, pivot and swivel adjustments and comes with a 2 mm thick metal base. Gigabyte also throws in a three year warranty that includes burn-in coverage.

Super Micro Computer, Inc. (NASDAQ: SMCI), an AI, Enterprise, Storage, 5G/Edge Total Solution Provider with optimized Data Center Building Block Solutions (DCBBS), today announced its largest US location with the advanced DCBBS campus and a significant expansion of its Silicon Valley operations with a new state-of-the-art business complex near its headquarters in San Jose, California.

The latest addition—spanning approximately 32.8 acres and more than 714,000 square feet—marks Supermicro's fourth Bay Area site and brings its regional footprint to nearly 4 million square feet. The facilities will support a full range of domestic operations, including advanced system design, manufacturing, testing, and service, as well as global distribution of the company's DCBBS for AI infrastructure.

Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) (together with its subsidiary, "Lenovo" or the "Group") today announced it has completed the acquisition of Phoenix Technologies' firmware (BIOS) technology business registered in Dublin, Ireland, including its related intellectual property and expertise. The acquisition brings firmware development and additional core software expertise in‑house, enhancing Lenovo's ability to manage critical firmware across its entire PC portfolio and, over time, across other AI‑enabled devices.

"This transaction is a strategic step forward for Lenovo," said Luca Rossi, President of Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo. "By bringing firmware development in-house, we are strengthening our core engineering capabilities and gaining greater control over one of the most critical layers of the computing experience. This will enable us to accelerate innovation, enhance security, and deepen our vertical integration, while also unlocking meaningful cost efficiencies. With its strong heritage and leadership in firmware, Phoenix Technologies brings differentiated expertise that will further strengthen our portfolio."

Tronsmart, a brand dedicated to delivering premium audio, today announced the launch of the OpenFly Clip 2, a new pair of open ear clip-on earbuds designed for sports lovers and everyday listeners who value both comfort and stability. Featuring an innovative ear-bridge design that attaches securely to the ear, the OpenFly Clip 2 offers a comfortable, lightweight fit.

Never Compromise, Even with an Open-Ear Design
The OpenFly Clip 2 bridges the gap between situational awareness and high-fidelity audio. Unlike standard open-ear models, the earbuds are Hi-Res Wireless Audio Certified and support the LDAC codec, presenting richer detail and near-lossless sound reproduction that captures every detail of the music. Powered by an 11 mm dual-magnetic dynamic driver and Tronsmart's proprietary SoundPulse technology, the earbuds produce deep, resonant bass, bringing balanced sound to open-ear listening.

The Professional storage brand TerraMaster today officially introduces the all-new rugged portable SSD enclosure—D1 SSD. Designed for users who demand both data security and high-speed performance, the D1 SSD features an aircraft-grade all-metal chassis, IP67 water and dust resistance, and 1.2-ton crush resistance. Combined with high-speed data transfer, silent cooling, and broad platform compatibility, it becomes an ideal storage companion for photographers, outdoor professionals, and mobile workers.

Three Layers of Protection Build an Unbreakable Data Shield:
1. Solid All-Metal Chassis for High-Intensity Work Environments
The D1 SSD adopts a unibody aircraft-grade aluminium alloy construction. The full-metal enclosure offers excellent scratch resistance and corrosion protection, making it well-suited for long-term, heavy-duty usage. Whether facing extreme temperature differences outdoors or constant wear from mobile work, the enclosure ensures stable operation, extended lifespan, and reliable storage performance for professional users.

Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, today announced the launch of the Kingston DC3000ME Gen 5 U.2 NVMe SSD with a new high-capacity 30.72TB1 option, expanding the DC3000ME family to address the growing storage density and performance demands of modern data centers.

The DC3000ME leverages a high-speed PCIe 5.0 NVMe interface, delivering sequential read speeds of up to 14 GB/s and random read performance of up to 2.8 million IOPS, enabling faster data access for compute intensive applications. Full backward compatibility with PCIe 4.0 allows organizations to deploy DC3000ME across mixed server environments while preparing for future platform upgrades. Designed with enterprise class reliability in mind, DC3000ME utilizes 3D eTLC NAND and includes on-board power loss protection (PLP) to safeguard data in the event of unexpected power loss. The drive also supports AES 256-bit encryption and TCG Opal 2.0 self-encrypting drive (SED) capabilities to help organizations meet stringent security and compliance requirements.

Intel recently unveiled its "Wildcat Lake" Core 300 series of laptop processors, designed for the entry-level market with excellent CPU and GPU capabilities to meet basic needs. By combining two "Cougar Cove" P-cores with four LPE "Darkmont" cores, these processors should provide sufficient CPU power for basic tasks in the entry-level segment. Especially when paired with the NPU 5, Xe display and media engine, and a GPU featuring up to two Xe3 cores, this SoC should handle tasks with ease, including some very light entry-level gaming. Today, the first benchmarks appeared, showcasing what this CPU is capable of and how it compares to industry-leading solutions in this price range, such as Apple's newest MacBook Neo, thanks to the initial PassMark benchmark results.

In the latest benchmark, PassMark recorded the Intel Core 5 320 "Wildcat Lake" with two P-cores running at up to 4.6 GHz and LPE cores with a maximum turbo frequency of 3.4 GHz. This SoC scored about 4,047 points in the single-threaded rating and approximately 15,222 in the multithreaded rating in the PassMark evaluation benchmark. This places its rating just above Apple's first-generation M1 SoC in both single and multithreaded results. Additionally, the design surpasses Apple's A18 Pro SoC in the current MacBook Neo and the A19 Pro SoC that is expected to be included in the second-generation MacBook Neo design scheduled for 2027. Technically, both are based on different architectures, but they serve the same purpose: providing customers with an affordable SoC/laptop design that delivers solid computing power for all basic tasks.

JBL Tour ONE M3 headphones and JBL Tour PRO 3 earbuds, delivering improvements in audio performance and user experience to new and existing listeners, as well as a fresh new color drop.

The combination of premium design, high-quality sound and class-leading features has made the flagship Tour over-ear headphones and TWS standout performers since their introduction. But JBL isn't standing still. Subtle yet meaningful changes reimagine the JBL sound curve for clearer, more accurate audio than ever before. This joins a powerful user-interface update transforming how you interact with the Smart Charging Case and JBL SMART Tx.

Valve's Steam Controller is reportedly just a few days away from launch, as the company is preparing for a May 4 release in Japan. According to a now-deleted post by 4Gamer, the Japanese launch is expected on May 4, with a price of $99. This price includes the controller, a charging cable, and a 2.4 GHz dongle for wireless connectivity to a PC. The removed 4Gamer post mentioned the exact launch time as May 4 at 15:00 local time in Japan, which means the launch timing will differ for the Western hemisphere. This effectively sets the launch date exactly a week from the time of writing, confirming rumors of an imminent release. As a reminder, Valve's Steam Controller will feature elements that justify its $99 price point, including four programmable buttons, dual touchpads, a hall effect sensor, HD rumble for haptic feedback, decent battery life, and connectivity options that include Bluetooth and a separate 2.4 GHz dongle.

Below are some pictures from the 4Gamer article, which has now been taken down.

Intel's Arc gaming GPU roadmap is in a weird state, as the company has reportedly been reshuffling a significant portion of its dedicated Arc desktop GPU launches for the upcoming quarters. Currently, Intel offers its second-generation "Battlemage" architecture, based on the Xe2 IP, as a dedicated desktop gaming GPU in the form of the B580 mid-range graphics card. For those interested in Xe3-based "Celestial" or Xe3P-based "Crescent Island" dedicated GPU variants, Intel leaker Jaykihn has confirmed that there won't be an update anytime soon. Even the next-generation Xe4 "Druid" is being reconsidered for dedicated gaming GPUs. Intel has previously confirmed that it will continue GPU development, but desktop gamers might not be the primary focus, leaving notebook users in a better position.

Intel currently offers new GPU IP through integrated graphics, such as the Arc B390 iGPU found in "Panther Lake" processors, which use Xe3 IP. However, desktop dedicated GPUs are still using Xe2, and even for a maxed-out "Battlemage" configuration, Intel only offers the Arc Pro B70 and Arc Pro B65 graphics cards. These cards maximize the BMG-G31 Xe2 silicon but are intended for professional users. A recent driver update added the ability to play games on these cards, but they are still primarily designed for AI workloads and professional visualization, and they are priced higher than what the average gamer would want. Gamers are still seeking clarity about future updates, and the lack of recent rumors regarding an additional Arc gaming discrete GPU is concerning. Below are older roadmaps, and we expect to see an updated version sometimes in the near future as Intel confirms changes.

Microsoft is... giving users exactly what they want? In the latest Windows Insider preview for Windows 11, Microsoft is rolling out an updated Windows Update experience that gives users more control over their update process. This includes the option to skip updates entirely during the out-of-box experience (OOBE) menu, allowing you to set up a PC without applying updates first. Previously, new PC configurations and installations might have been several months behind on Windows 11 updates, and Microsoft would force users to apply these updates immediately. This led to prolonged OS setup times and user frustration. Now, for those who need to move to a new desktop quickly and apply updates at a later date, Microsoft is finally offering an option during OOBE to install the OS first and apply updates later.

Additionally, Microsoft is now allowing users to pause Windows 11 updates in the settings with a dedicated calendar that extends up to 35 days. This ensures you have ample time to schedule an update session without disrupting your workflow. However, the 35-day mark is not a hard stop, as users can re-pause updates for another 35 days even after the original period has expired, essentially allowing updates to be paused indefinitely. There are no limits on how many times you can reset this pause date, giving you full control over the entire update process. This could be especially useful when a new update series arrives, and you want to wait and see if there are any OS issues or known problems before applying the update. For example, in the latest Windows 11 April update, some PCs might experience a BitLocker trigger, but this will be resolved in a future fix. Users can wait a few days for a fix to arrive and then install updates all at once without being forced to do so immediately.

With Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced now officially confirmed and virtually around the corner, a new leak from @xjØnathan on X, Ubisoft is also working on a remake of Assassin's Creed 1. The leak allegedly stems from someone within Ubisoft, although not much else is known about the AC1 remake. The Black Flag remake was a collaborative effort between Ubisoft Singapore, Barcelona, Bordeaux, Belgrade, Chengdu, India, Kyiv, Montpellier, Philippines, Quebec, and Shanghai.

This recent leak corroborates a recent rumor that Ubisoft already had at least one Assassin's Creed remake in the works, however, future remakes will hinge on the success of Black Flag Resynced. It remains to be seen what approach Ubisoft takes with the Assassin's Creed 1 remake, but, given the way the gaming giant has handled Black Flag Resynced when it comes to features like DLC and multiplayer gameplay, or the absence of those features, it's safe to assume Ubisoft will be taking the same cautious approach with the Assassin's Creed 1 remake. There seems to be a decent amount of interest in Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced, which has garnered nearly 30,000 followers on Steam since its announcement just two days before the most recent leak.

Rosewill, a trusted brand in PC components and server hardware since 2004, today announced the launch of the HEARTH NAS and the HEARTH NAS PRO, two new server chassis designed to bring enterprise-level storage density and thermal performance to home users, enthusiasts, and small business builders. Both chassis are built from SECC steel and support E-ATX motherboards up to 12" x 13", as well as standard ATX and Mini-ATX configurations. Each offers 10 expansion slots, front-panel USB 3.2 Type-C connectivity, and a robust cooling system featuring five 120 mm PWM fans with support for 360 mm AIO liquid coolers—giving builders the thermal headroom needed for demanding always-on workloads.

Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 is currently available for $34.97 (MSRP $499.99), but only through May 17. The release continues Microsoft's focus on improving performance, collaboration, and AI-assisted development within its flagship integrated development environment (IDE). Visual Studio 2026 is built on a 64-bit architecture, allowing it to handle larger codebases and more complex projects more efficiently than earlier versions. This is particularly relevant for developers working with enterprise-scale applications or multi-project solutions.

The platform supports development across multiple environments, including Windows, Linux, and container-based systems. Developers can build mobile and desktop applications using.NET MAUI, as well as web interfaces with frameworks like Blazor. Integrated debugging and testing tools are included for both.NET and C++ applications.

Get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for $34.97 (MSRP $499.99) through May 17.

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