AMD's China store on JD has just started accepting pre-orders for the upcoming Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition desktop processor. Priced at an MSRP of $899, this model is $200 more expensive than the launch MSRP of the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. In China, AMD's store on JD.com will also offer it at the same MSRP, but pre-orders require a deposit of 100 RMB, which counts as 300 RMB towards the final payment due to the "early bird" pre-order benefit. The final payment will be made on April 22, the planned retail launch date. Additionally, at launch, the processor will be available both as retail PIB (processor in box) packages and as part of pre-built gaming desktops by popular OEMs and system integrators. Currently, no Western stores offer pre-orders for this CPU, either in the United States or Europe. Most likely, these stores will start accepting orders on April 22. Some, like B&H, have a placeholder to notify customers when it becomes available.

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition is a 16-core, 32-thread processor built on the "Zen 5" microarchitecture and features 3D V-Cache technology, with stacked 3D V-Cache on both of its 8-core chiplets. This configuration results in an on-package L3 cache of 192 MB and a total cache (L2+L3) of 208 MB. In comparison, the 9950X3D has 3D V-Cache on only one of its two CCDs and relies on software-based OS scheduler guidance to ensure gaming workloads are directed to the CCD with 3D V-Cache. As a result, this new processor is more suited for productivity and workstation tasks, while the 9950X3D remains focused on gaming. Aside from the cache differences, the 9950X3D2 Dual Edition is mostly similar to the 9950X3D, except its maximum boost frequency is 5.60 GHz, which is 100 MHz lower than the 9950X3D, and it has a higher TDP of 200 W compared to the 170 W of the 9950X3D. While technically compatible with any Socket AM5 motherboard, support requires UEFI firmware updates from motherboard vendors.

During a media tour at Lexar HQ in China, Digital Foundry spoke with Lexar's Europe General Manager, Grace Su, who explained what gamers are buying and where they are willing to compromise. Interestingly, Lexar found that, despite the pricing of DRAM and NAND Flash, users could purchase lower-capacity RAM kits without issues, while SSDs with capacities lower than 512 GB weren't selling well. Although this is not a direct comparison, when building a new PC system, you need both a RAM kit and an SSD. Based on their budget, enthusiasts often have to decide between a larger SSD or a bigger RAM kit. However, Lexar reports that users are so committed to having larger SSD space that they are even willing to revert to HDDs rather than buy an SSD smaller than 512 GB. This is understandable, considering that modern games can take up hundreds of gigabytes of space.

Currently, high RAM prices are driving PC gamers to invest considerably more in their gaming rigs to play smoothly. As 16 GB is somewhat considered the minimum for a Windows 11 system, some games and tasks are so demanding that PC DIY enthusiasts need to invest in 32 GB kits at prices that were unimaginable just a year ago. For example, we reported on the DDR4 spot market pricing, which saw the cost of a single 16 Gb module increase by about 2,200% over the past year, with only a minor 5% correction in March. We can only hope for more corrections soon so that PC gamers can finally see signs of relief, but with AI demand projected to continue rising, that seems far from reality.

By now, the legal debacle between the founders of Subnautica developer, Unknown Worlds, and Krafton, the studio's parent company and the game's now-former publisher, is public knowledge, with the situation ultimately culminating in the ousted founder and CEO of Unknown Worlds being reinstated by a judge in a recent legal decision. Following that legal drama and a Subnautica 2 release date leak, which was heavily criticized by the returning founder Ted Gill, it appears as though Unknown Worlds has broken with Krafton as the publisher for Subnautica 2.

A quick look at the survival game's Steam Store page reveals that Unknown Worlds Entertainment is now listed as both the developer and the publisher of Subnautica 2. The same is true for the game's Epic Games Store page, where the publisher now also reads Unknown Worlds Entertainment. It's a rather curious turn of events, given the nature of the relationship between Krafton and Unknown Worlds—Krafton being Unknown Worlds's parent company—and it brings up questions about the destiny of the game developer. At this point, it's unclear who cut who loose, but it remains to be seen how Unknown Worlds will handle the launch now that there is no dedicated publisher. It probably helps that Unknown Worlds is very deep into the development process for Subnautica 2, with the studio previously commenting that the game was ready for launch in 2025 already. In March 2025, however, the studio commented that the Early Access version of the game would not be a complete experience.

It was recently revealed that NVIDIA plans to launch a version of the RTX 5050 GPU with 9 GB of VRAM—three 3 GB modules of GDDR7 over a 96-bit bus and 336 GB/s total memory bandwidth. Now, according to a new leak by Hakuitado on the Board Channels forum (via Gazlog), NVIDIA is planning to make the same move with the RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti in order to cater to budget consumers while avoiding high DRAM and BOM costs.

DRAM quantity aside, the move would also see NVIDIA decrease the bus width of the respective cards, going from 128-bit to 96-bit by using new 24 Gbit memory chips, resulting in an overall decrease in bandwidth and reduced memory performance. According to @harakuze5719 on X, the new 9 GB NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 and 5060 Ti GPUs are slated to launch sometime between May and June, with a Computex launch seemingly likely.

It seems as though God of War studio, Santa Monica Studio, is slated for a busy time in the coming months and years, with recent rumors suggesting that there is another God of War game on the horizon, some even claiming that it may be announced as soon as April 2026. Not all that much is known about the new God of War game, but according to reporting by MP1st and Tom Henderson on the Insider Gaming podcast, it will not follow Kratos. Instead, the new spin-off, which does not yet have a name, will feature Týr and Faye, the erstwhile Norse god of war and Kratos's deceased wife. This suggests that the spin-off will be a prequel to the recent God of War 2018 and Ragnarök.

The reports make mention of a talking sword, which will apparently be Merlin from English legend, as well as elements from Japanese, Chinese, and possibly other East-Asian mythologies. According to Henderson, the next "mainline" God of War game was meant to be announced at an April Sony State of Play, and it is assumed that the spin-off with Faye will be the next mainline installment in the franchise. This news comes not too long after Santa Monica Studio and Sony announced that a remake of the original God of War trilogy was in the works at Santa Monica.

Keychron may be known for its mechanical and HE keyboards, but it has also recently made a name for itself in the mouse space with wireless mice like the M6 8K and M7 8K. Now, Keychron has launched two new gaming mice under the Keychron G3 name. The G3 is an ultra-light gaming mouse with a right-handed symmetrical design and two material options for the shell—a carbon fiber top and an ABS base or a translucent polycarbonate top and an ABS bottom. Both the carbon fiber and the translucent PC version of the Keychron G3 have the same shape, weight, and internals, so potential buyers have two aesthetic choices without giving up any performance or battery life. The Keychron G3 is available on the Keychron web store at $84.99 for the translucent PC version and $109.99 for the carbon fiber version.

The Keychron G3 uses a PixArt 3950 sensor, replete with 8 kHz polling, tri-mode wireless connectivity (2.4 GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, and USB-C), and a 500 mAh battery, which Keychron says offers up to 160 hours of use on a single charge. Keychron has not specified the test configuration, but it can usually be assumed that manufacturers test battery life over Bluetooth or 2.4 GHz at something like 1,000 Hz polling rate. Unlike many modern gaming mouse, but much like Keychron's other gaming mice, the G3 uses mechanical Huano Transparent Shell White Dot micro switches for the main clicks, meaning they have a 120 million-click rated MTBF, which is a step up from the Huano Transparent Blue Shell Pink Dot switches used in other Keychron mice, which were only rated to 80 million clicks.

YMTC (Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp) is planning to significantly expand its manufacturing capacity, with Reuters reporting the Chinese NAND flash maker intends to build two additional factories on top of one already nearing completion. When all three are running at full capacity, YMTC's total output would more than double from its current 200,000 wafers per month to 400,000 wafers per month (each new plant is designed for 100,000 wafers monthly). The third fab, located in Wuhan alongside the existing two plants, has already been built and is currently being equipped. The fab is expected to start operations later this year and reach 50,000 wafers per month by 2027. Notably, over half of the equipment has been sourced domestically, including tooling for vertical layer stacking, a sign of how much YMTC has leaned into local suppliers since the US added it to the Entity List in December 2022. However, recently, the U.S. Government's Bureau of Industry and Security reportedly removed YMTC from the list of restricted Chinese companies.

The two planned factories don't yet have confirmed locations or target dates, but all three new plants will reportedly allocate some capacity to DRAM production alongside NAND. YMTC has already sent LPDDR samples to clients and expects feedback by year-end, which will shape how aggressively it pursues DRAM going forward. On the NAND side, YMTC already holds 11.8% of the global market, on par with Sandisk and not far behind SK Hynix (16%), Kioxia (15.9%), and Micron (13.3%), while Samsung leads at 30.4%. UBS expects the YMTC shares to pass 14% by early 2027. The company is pushing its Xtacking 4.0 architecture, which is considered competitive with what the industry leaders are shipping.

It's no secret that since the RTX 40-series GPUs launched, pushing the new 12VHPWR connectors to new heights, and again increasing power draw with the RTX 50-series, that premature failures have been high. However, Warranty Week has quantified NVIDIA's warranty expenses and total warranty claims, finding that the GPU maker saw a 1000% year-over-year increase in warranty expenditure in 2025. According to the analysis, NVIDIA paid out a whopping $894 million in warranty claims in 2025, compared to just $81 million in 2024. Part of the driving force behind the increased warranty payments is the recent spike in hardware prices, but much of it also has to do with increased warranty rates.

The analytics firm reports that NVIDIA's warranty claim rate rose to as much as 0.9% by Q4 2025, compared to just 0.17% in Q1. Although not quite as drastic, AMD, for its part, also saw an increased warranty rate, with rates climbing from 0.43% in 2024 to 0.68% in 2025. AMD's 2025 warranty claims totaled to $238 million, compared to $110 million in 2024, amounting to an increase of just over 100%. By the end of 2025, NVIDIA had increased its warranty reserves from $416 million to $2.59 billion, whereas AMD increased its warranty reserve balance from $310 million to $597 million.

After the success of the Forta Gaming Headset, GXTrust announces the launch of the highly anticipated Forta Wireless - an Official Licensed Product for PlayStation 5 consoles. With all of the premium features that gamers have come to expect from the Forta - immersive sound, seamless connection with their consoles, and ultra-comfortable design - this new edition gives players yet another ultimate feature: complete wireless freedom.

Designed specifically for PlayStation fans, the officially licensed Forta Wireless offers ultra-low latency lossless wireless connection via a 2.4G USB receiver, giving players the freedom to move, cheer, and enjoy with no cables getting in the way. What's more, with no lag, the Forta Wireless ensures precise actions and reactions, keeping gamers fully connected to every crucial moment.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Sony would be largely stepping away from porting its first-party games to PC, returning to console exclusives for its single-player games and only releasing multiplayer games across different platforms. Now, it seems as though Microsoft may be plotting or is at least considering a similar maneuver for its first-party Xbox Game Studios games. This is according to industry insider, Jez Cordon, on the Xbox Two Podcast. According to Corden, "there are very very very big discussions happening about the exclusivity stuff" internally at Microsoft. Corden goes on to explain that, despite Microsoft's recent moves away from platform exclusives, it recognizes the value in exclusive games—that is to say the value in keeping users largely locked into your gaming platform as opposed to being mostly a publishing and game development company.

Corden continues with a prediction that Microsoft will continue its shift away from Xbox gaming hardware—especially if it decides to move away from the platform approach and lean further into its game publishing business. Currently, the Xbox Helix is on the horizon, which is a hybrid game console that will run both PC and Xbox games, but that doesn't necessarily preclude Microsoft from launching exclusives; it just means that the exclusives would be PC and Xbox exclusives. This convergence of PC and Xbox has been echoed by other rumors that Microsoft may be combining Xbox and PC Game Pass subscriptions into one unified subscription service.

Shortly after announcing the OneXPlayer ONEXStation, powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU, OneXPlayer is apparently planning to launch the OneXPlayer X2 Mini, a new gaming handheld powered by the same powerful AMD Strix Halo APU with its Radeon 8060S iGPU. The OneXPlayer X2 Mini features many of the same features and design cues as the X1 Pro that released in 2025, but in a more compact form factor, much like the OneXPlayer Apex that we saw at CES 2026. The new X2 Mini, however, also has a few upgrades over the Apex, including a slightly larger display, an optional exclusively air-cooled version, and a modular design. Pricing has not yet been revealed, although the X2 Mini is slated to launch on May 10.

According to a video posted by Nitrix on YouTube, the X2 Mini will have an 8.8-inch, 144 Hz, OLED display with VRR and HDR. It will feature an 85 Wh battery that is user-swappable, allowing users to keep an extra battery on-hand to swap in when the battery dies. The rest of the console is modular, as well. The detachable controllers will feature user-replaceable buttons, casings, joysticks, and vibration motors, and the display will also be user-serviceable. The Joy Con-like controllers will also have a frame to join the two halves into a single mini controller, and the X2 Mini will include two d-pad configurations—the standard cross and an octagonal pad, similar to Microsoft's Xbox Series Elite controller. One point of contention that has been mentioned on Reddit is that the X2 Mini will feature micro switches for the face buttons—although notably not the d-pad—which means the buttons will have lower travel and be slightly louder than a normal membrane switch. There will also be a magnetic connection with pogo pins to attach a keyboard accessory to the bottom of the gaming handheld. The full video showing off the device follows below.

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.

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, PRAGMATA launches with path-traced effects, DLSS Multi Frame Generation and DLSS Ray Reconstruction, giving GeForce RTX gamers the definitive experience. Additionally, DLSS comes to Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss, MONGIL: STAR DIVE, and Windrose this week. And INDUSTRIA 2 launches with DLSS 4.5 this month. And a new sci-fi first-person shooter called Fragmentary Order has been announced, which will launch with DLSS 4.5.

PRAGMATA GeForce RTX 50 Series Bundle Available Now, Ahead Of April 17th Launch, Featuring Path Tracing & DLSS
Set in the near future, CAPCOM's PRAGMATA transports players to a lunar research station. In the years since the discovery of Lunam Ore, humanity has developed Lunafilament, a material capable of replicating almost anything. One day without warning, Earth lost contact with the station dedicated to this Lunafilament, as all signals went dark.

Sony Electronics Inc. expands its INZONE gaming gear lineup with two new models: the INZONE H6 Wired Air open-back headset and the INZONE M10S II 27" QHD 540 Hz OLED gaming monitor, designed for players who prioritize precision and speed. The INZONE H6 Air introduces an open-back acoustic structure that delivers a more natural and expansive sound field. Paired with custom drivers and integrated back ducts, the headset produces controlled low frequencies and detailed spatial audio that helps players better track in-game environments.

Engineered in collaboration with Fnatic, the leading esports team, the INZONE M10S II combines a next-generation tandem-structured OLED display with Dual Mode (QHD 540 Hz or HD 720 Hz), an ultra-fast 0.02 ms response time, advanced Motion Blur Reduction (MBR) and a Super Anti-glare Film—all designed to ensure peak esports performance.

STORMCRAFT PC, the Southern California gaming PC brand founded by gamers and engineers, today announced the launch and retail availability of its new Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus gaming desktop lineup. Designed for gaming, streaming, content creation, and PC upgrades, the new prebuilt gaming PC family combines the Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus processor with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5070, and RTX 5060 Ti graphics across four STORMCRAFT series: WIZARD WHITE, PHANTOM, SKYHAWK, and FALCON. With up to 24 cores, up to 5.5 GHz max turbo frequency, Intel AI Boost, DDR5 memory, Gen 4 SSD storage, and premium cooling, the lineup is built to give gamers, creators, enthusiasts, and hardcore players a stronger path to next-generation desktop performance.

"With this Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus launch, we wanted to bring customers a meaningful upgrade for better gaming and multitasking experiences," said Frank Lee, Founder of STORMCRAFT PC. "This new lineup combines the latest Intel platform with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics, giving gamers and creators more performance, faster responsiveness, and a wider range of system options across different price points. From our flagship WIZARD WHITE build to more accessible upgrade-ready desktops, every STORMCRAFT PC is built in Southern California and backed by lifetime tech support from our team."

Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH (Toshiba) has unveiled a metallic blue casing for its Canvio Flex 2.5-inch portable hard disk drive (HDD). The new color adds a fresh look to the range, alongside the original warm silver option. The new metallic blue model will be available exclusively across EMEA.

Available in 1 TB, 2 TB, and 4 TB capacities, the Canvio Flex is designed for easy storage across multiple devices. Pre-formatted with exFAT, it works seamlessly with Windows PCs and Macs, as well as with compatible Android and iOS tablets and smartphones, without requiring reformatting.

NVIDIA today announced that it is bundling "Pragmata," the new Sci-Fi action adventure game, with new purchases of GeForce RTX 50-series "Blackwell" graphics cards from its various add-in card partners, new notebooks with RTX 50-series gaming GPUs, and pre-built desktops with RTX 50-series graphics cards. From a technical standpoint, "Pragmata" is a pioneering game as it is the first to implement path-tracing with Neural Rendering for more visual realism. It also implements DLSS 4 upscaling, and multi-frame generation. The giveaway is available to select markets, select brands, and through participating retailers.

The offer is limited to one Steam code per customer (buying multiple graphics cards don't get you multiple keys). Eligible products include GeForce RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5070 on the desktop platform; and RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU, and RTX 5070 Laptop GPU, for gaming notebooks with discrete GPUs. Certain pre-built desktops with eligible graphics cards may also be part of the offer.

Kensington, a worldwide leader of desktop computing and mobility solutions for IT, business, and home office professionals, today announced the expansion of its VeriMark security portfolio with the launch of two new NFC+ hardware security keys: VeriMark NFC+ USB-C Security Key (K64739WW) and VeriMark NFC+ USB-A Security Key (K64738WW).

Both models are FIDO2 Level 2 certified and support the latest FIDO CTAP 2.1 protocol, delivering enterprise-grade, phishing-resistant multifactor authentication (MFA) and passwordless login protection across modern cloud and web-based services.

Endorfy expands its lineup with the brand's first-ever showcase-style cases, featuring tempered glass panels (a flat side panel and a curved front). Inspired by 1960s design, the Aquarius 8000 series combines a distinctive look with extensive configuration options, from gaming setups to modern workstations. The lineup includes the Aquarius 8000 Corona and Aquarius 8000 Flex. Both stand out with a slim profile and broad compatibility, supporting graphics cards up to 450 mm, radiators up to 420 mm, and up to ten fans. This level of flexibility allows you to build advanced cooling systems tailored to different use cases. The Aquarius 8000 Corona variant comes equipped with four of the latest Endorfy Corona 120 ARGB fans: three Reverse and one standard which launch alongside the cases and are also available separately. The designs support motherboards in SSI-CEB (E-ATX up to 280 mm), ATX, microATX, and Mini-ITX formats.

The Aquarius 8000 series sets a new standard for showcase PC case design, combining its signature form with the ease of installation known from classic layouts with a bottom-mounted PSU. The design is built around a balance of form and function: large, perforated surfaces and fans work together to deliver both efficient airflow and a striking visual effect. Additional space in the lower section is dedicated to a tool-free drive mounting system with vibration damping; ideal for users who value refined acoustics and thoughtful design.

Blackmagic Design today announced DaVinci Resolve 21, a significant update introducing the new Photo page, which enables colorists and photographers to use Hollywood's most advanced color tools for still photos. Other updates include new AI tools such as IntelliSearch for fast content searching, CineFocus for focal point adjustment, tools for facial refinement, and more. The Krokodove toolset adds over 70 new graphics to Fusion, Fairlight folders simplify audio track management, plus there are improvements to keyframing, MultiMaster trim passes, layer list node graphs and more. DaVinci Resolve 21 public beta is available for download now from the Blackmagic Design web site.

DaVinci Resolve's powerful post-production workflow now fully integrates photo image editing. The new Photo page lets customers import and manage photographs, integrating with the color page for node based grading. Now colorists and photographers can use Hollywood color grading tools on still images. Use primary color correction, curves, qualifiers, power windows and node editor to adjust color in artistic ways across an entire project. Plus, customers can use a DaVinci color panel to adjust multiple parameters at once.

A new Full HD gaming monitor joins the Philips Evnia 5000 series with a focus on high refresh performance, motion clarity, and an immersive lighting experience.

Philips Evnia adds the 27M2N5201P to its line-up, targeting competitive gamers who want high frame rates without moving beyond Full HD. The monitor features a 27-inch Fast IPS panel with a refresh rate of up to 260 Hz. With up to 1 ms GtG response time and 0.3 ms Smart MBR, it ensures maximum visibility during high-speed action. The feature set is completed by HDR10 support, AdaptiveSync, Low Input Lag, and the Philips Evnia Precision Center software.

The industrial world is transforming fast. As AI moves from the cloud to the edge, demand is rising for high-performance, low-latency computing that can operate reliably in real environments—powering everything from real-time defect detection in smart factories to advanced patient monitoring in healthcare. Edge AI needs hardware that's both intelligent and resilient. To meet this shift, GIGAIPC introduces a versatile lineup of motherboards based on Intel Core Ultra desktop processors (Series 2), enabling flexible system designs across diverse industrial scenarios and helping businesses deploy AI-ready solutions at scale.

Accelerating Industrial AI with Intel Core Ultra Series
Built around the Intel Core Ultra desktop processor (Series 2), this platform brings higher efficiency, stronger performance, and expanded connectivity to industrial and edge applications. This new architecture reduces package power by up to 58% in typical workloads, enabling IPC and embedded system developers to build more energy-efficient, thermally optimized, and reliable products for space-constrained and demanding environments. At the same time, performance improves over the previous generation, with up to 6% faster single-thread and up to 14% faster multi-thread performance to support real-time control, edge analytics, and multitasking workloads. Furthermore, the Intel 800 Series chipset extends platform compatibility with up to 24 PCIe 4.0 lanes, 8 SATA 3.0 ports, and 10 USB 3.2 ports, empowering industrial systems with superior scalability for I/O expansion, storage, and diverse connectivity.

ADATA Technology Co., Ltd., a leading global provider of memory and storage solutions, today announced the launch of the URBAN TAPSAFE External SSD, marking the debut of its new URBAN series. Inspired by the rhythm of modern urban life, the URBAN series is designed to deliver flexible, efficient storage tailored to today's mobile users. The URBAN TAPSAFE combines high-speed performance with an intuitive NFC tap unlock mechanism, integrating powerful data protection into a compact and lightweight design. It enables users to securely access and manage important data with ease across a wide range of on-the-go scenarios.

Intuitive and Secure Sharing: NFC Tap Unlock and Multi-User Management
As mobile work and real-time content creation continue to grow, the need for both data security and seamless access has become increasingly critical. The URBAN TAPSAFE uses a dedicated companion app to transform your smartphone into a personalized security key. Users can unlock the drive with a simple tap, eliminating the hassle of passwords and streamlining workflows. It also supports multi-user management for up to nine people, with customizable 'Read-Only' or 'Read/Write' permissions. Whether for personal use or team collaboration, it ensures both convenience and data protection. For added security, the device automatically locks when disconnected from the smartphone, effectively preventing unauthorized access.

Yesterday, SemiAccurate posted a rumor that NVIDIA was planning to acquire a large PC maker, which would have reshaped its position within the PC space. However, it turns out the rumor is not true. NVIDIA issued a statement to CNBC saying, "The media report is false; NVIDIA is not engaged in discussions to acquire any PC maker." This brief statement effectively shuts down the rumors, suggesting that NVIDIA does not plan to go through with such an acquisition, even if it might have been considered in the past. Large corporations, especially with NVIDIA's $4.6 trillion market capitalization, are always looking to expand their business in areas where they are dominant and enter new markets where they could capture a significant share. NVIDIA holds a strong position in the dedicated GPU market, with about 94% market share among AIB GPU shipments.

The company is also looking to enter the laptop space with the upcoming N1/N1X SoCs, which would allow NVIDIA to tap into a completely new segment among PC users. In this context, acquiring a PC company would be a logical move, but it would present significant regulatory hurdles, as the company might not get approval from market regulators in the United States, European Union, and other regions. Now that we know the rumor is not true, we are waiting to see if any more rumors emerge about which company might have been the potential target. For now, we are refraining from making definitive claims or pointing fingers at any specific company.

Intel's upcoming Core Ultra 400 Series "Nova Lake-S" desktop processors are set to launch in the second half of this year, marking what seems to be the company's most ambitious lineup yet. Recently, new rumors have emerged suggesting that Intel is also working on a "Nova Lake-S" desktop APU featuring 12 Xe3P graphics cores. This configuration is expected to deliver graphics performance similar to the Arc B390 integrated GPU found in "Panther Lake," albeit with a slight twist in the overall GPU core design. We've already covered a recent leak detailing the entire Core Ultra 400 Series "Nova Lake-S" desktop lineup, but it seems Intel is developing and testing more in its labs than initially anticipated. Readers may recall brief rumors about a variant called "Nova Lake-AX," which was rumored to feature a single compute tile with eight "Coyote Cove" P-cores and 16 "Arctic Wolf" E-cores, along with a four-core LPE island, totaling 28 cores. The iGPU configuration for this variant was said to include 48 Xe3 cores, potentially making it one of the most powerful APUs ever.

However, since the "Nova Lake-AX" appears to be on hold, Intel is preparing other solutions with less powerful GPU configurations. According to a post by Jaykihn on X, the new desktop APU would feature four "Coyote Cove" P-cores, eight "Arctic Wolf" E-cores, and four LPE-cores. This 4+8+4 configuration would be paired with 12 Xe3P cores, which are slightly different from the regular Xe3 cores used in the standard "Nova Lake-S" desktop processors. Intel's lineup is becoming somewhat confusing, but it seems the main lineup will consist of standard desktop series split into several SKUs with high core counts and bLLC, or the newly rumored SKU with more Xe3P cores and fewer CPU cores, similar to AMD's Ryzen G-Series of desktop APUs. Do note that the image below is just an illustration, and not the actual render.

We've already seen large swathes of the PC hardware market get drastically affected by the ongoing DRAM and general hardware crisis, from Valve's upcoming Steam Machine to pre-built desktop PCs. Now, it seems as though it's Microsoft's turn with its Surface device line-up, which has seen a price increase of anywhere between $200 and $500, depending on the exact model. The price increases mean that the 13-inch Surface Pro with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X SoC, 16 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of storage increases by $300 to $1,499; while the 12-inch Surface Pro with the Snapdragon X, 16 GB RAM, and 256 GB of storage increases from $799 to $1,049; the 13-inch Surface Laptop with the Snapdragon X Plus, 16 GB RAM, and a 256 GB SSD increases from $899 to $1,199; the 13.8-inch Surface Laptop with the same SoC and RAM but 512 GB of storage increases from $1,199 to $1,499; and the Surface Laptop 15-inch with the Snapdragon X Elite SoC, 16 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of SSD storage sees a price hike from $1,499 to $1,599.

Microsoft confirmed in a statement to Windows Central that the price increases were a direct result of the current hardware constraints, with a Microsoft representative stating "Due to recent increases in memory and component costs, Surface is updating pricing on Microsoft.com for its current‑generation hardware portfolio. We remain committed to delivering value to customers and partners while upholding our standards for quality and innovation." This news comes just after we reported that DDR4 spot prices have seen a marginal decrease. Microsoft's Surface line-up has never been the best value when it comes to Windows laptops, and they'll likely be an even tougher sell after the price hikes, especially with Apple's recent introduction of the hyper-popular $600 MacBook Neo and with the somewhat limited app and feature support that comes with Qualcomm's Snapdragon SoCs and Windows on Arm.

Since the new Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma, took up her new position, she has signalled a number of changes coming to Microsoft's gaming division, including ditching the maligned "This Is an Xbox" campaign, and, while she hasn't said it in so many words, it seems as though her next steps will include introducing a new, cheaper Xbox Game Pass subscription. This is according to an internal memo from Sharma to her team, seen by The Verge, that says that "Short term, Game Pass has become too expensive for players, so we need a better value equation. Long term, we will evolve Game Pass into a more flexible system which will take time to test and learn around."

This isn't the first time we've seen mention of a cheaper Xbox Game Pass subscription on the horizon. Recently, there was a separate internal document leak that suggested a new tier was coming, and even more recently, a list of first-party Xbox Game Studios games appeared in a software update with a new subscription tier associated with the games. There has also been talk of Microsoft merging Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass into a single subscription, which would echo Microsoft's move towards a hybrid gaming experience, as is expected with the Xbox Helix console slated to launch around 2028.

Honor may not be a household name in the gaming laptop space, but the company is apparently attempting to innovate on gaming laptop design with the new Honor Win H9 gaming laptop, which the brand claimed in a recent Weibo post would feature an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti with a total CPU and GPU TDP of 270 W. While powerful internals are great, the Win H9 gaming laptop's cooling solution may be the most interesting part of the whole package. In the new gaming laptop, Honor is debuting a six-fan cooling solution consisting of dual bottom intake fans, similar to the typical blower fans found in a gaming laptop, and an array of six exhaust fans on the back of the laptop to aid cooling.

According to Honor, the Win H9's cooling solution results in an increase of 10% in total air volume and a total 57% increase in internal airflow. Honor claims that, during gaming loads and in Quiet mode, the Win H9 runs at under 38 dBA and with a surface temperature under 40° C on the left palm rest. The H9 will be available in two configurations: with an Intel Core i7-14650HX, RTX 5060, and 16 GB of DDR5 memory and up to 1 TB of SSD storage or an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. Pricing and availability has not yet been revealed, but is slated to be announced in China on April 23.

An Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake has long been rumored, with recent news out of the rumor mill indicating an April launch for what will apparently be called Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced. More recently, it has been revealed by a game description scraped from the Indonesian Game Ratings System scraped by IGRSDB that Black Flag Resynced will also include new characters and stories compared to the new game. The game will also have an 18+ rating in Indonesia, and it also lists PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series platforms, suggesting Ubisoft will stick with its previous day-one cross-platform launch strategy. Curiously, there is no mention of the Nintendo Switch 2, but given the launch of AC: Shadows on Nintendo's handheld, it seems reasonable to assume it will launch there as well.

The full game description reads:

This title breathes new life into a fan favourite while remaining carefully faithful to the spirit of the original. It follows the story of charismatic pirate and Assassin Edward Kenway as he adventures through 18th Century Caribbean with parkours in cities, and battles at seas, in search of fortune and glory. Modernized in 2026, the new game includes a cast of new characters and stories.

ASUS has introduced the TUF Gaming B850I WiFi Neo motherboards, marking the first time the TUF Gaming brand has appeared in a Mini-ITX 17 x 17 cm form factor. The board is an AMD AM5 platform built around the B850 chipset and supports Ryzen 7000, 8000, and 9000 series processors. The two memory slots support up to 128 GB DDR5 modules, with speeds varying by CPU: up to DDR5-8200 with Ryzen 9000, DDR5-9600 with Ryzen 8000, and DDR5-8000 with Ryzen 7000. Both EXPO and ASUS AEMP profiles are supported. The PCIe x16 slot runs at Gen 5 with Ryzen 7000 / 9000 chips and at Gen 4 with Ryzen 8000. The motherboard features two M.2 slots and two SATA 6 Gb/s ports. Worth noting that ASUS labels both M.2 slots as PCIe 5.0, but the spec sheet tells a different story: the first slot is CPU-attached PCIe 5.0 x4 on Ryzen 7000 and 9000, while the second is chipset-attached PCIe 4.0 x4 regardless of CPU.

Power delivery is handled by an 8 + 2 + 1 phase VRM rated at 80 A and built on a 10-layer PCB. The rear came with a pre-mounted I/O shield and offers a USB 20 Gbps Type-C port, two USB 10 Gbps Type-A, one USB 5 Gbps Type-A, two USB 2.0 ports, DisplayPort 1.4, HDMI 2.1, 2.5 GbE via Realtek, Wi-Fi 6E, three audio jacks, BIOS FlashBack, and Clear CMOS. Internally, there are two ARGB Gen 2 headers, front panel USB headers, and the usual fan connectors including an AIO pump header. Audio is powered by a Realtek 7.1 HD codec with dedicated PCB layers and shielding, supporting up to 24-bit/192 kHz playback.

Since Valve announced the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and new Steam Controller, gamers have been clamoring for the launch of the updated hardware—especially the Steam Controller. While Valve has yet to announce the release date or even the price, it seems as though the gaming giant is preparing for the launch of the new controllers in the US. According to industry insider, @SadlyItsBradley on X, recent shipping documents indicate that Valve has just received its "first large quantity imports" of a "Wireless PC Controller," suggesting that the company may be stocking up warehouses in preparation for the Steam Controller's launch.

Steam had originally planned to launch the Steam Machine, Controller, and Frame as soon as Q1, 2026, but the announcement and launch of all three products were delayed due to the ongoing hardware shortages and dramatic DRAM price increases. Valve still plans on releasing all three hardware products in 2026, but it is no longer promising a specific launch window, seemingly in the hopes that DRAM pricing will cool or stabilize before the Steam Machine's launch. Despite the original plans to launch all three new hardware products at the same time, it doesn't seem as though Valve is preparing for the Steam Machine or Frame launch with imports the same way it is for the Controller.

PXN, leader in sim racing hardware, today unveiled the PXN GT ONE Steering Wheel, a feature-rich GT-style racing wheel engineered to deliver premium control, deep customization, and exceptional value for sim racers stepping into more advanced setups. Designed for hobbyists transitioning from casual racing to more immersive simulation experiences, the GT ONE combines professional-grade design, expansive input control, and open ecosystem compatibility, making it a powerful upgrade for modern racing rigs.

Built with versatility in mind, the GT ONE's quick release system means it integrates seamlessly with PXN's growing direct drive ecosystem, for maximum performance with PXN's VD Series wheelbases, while also supporting broader setup configurations through USB connectivity and quick release solutions. With a robust control layout, customizable telemetry lighting, and compatibility with both PXN SimRacing software and SimHub, the GT ONE delivers a professional racing experience without the premium price tag.

Apple has informed its supply chain that the company now aims to produce a total of 10 million first-generation MacBook Neo laptops, as consumer demand has been phenomenal. Initially, with the MacBook Neo launch, Apple expected consumers to purchase between 5 and 8 million units throughout the lifecycle of the first generation. However, since demand has exceeded initial expectations, Apple is significantly increasing production to meet this demand. As the Cupertino-based company has access to a wide network of manufacturing partners, ramping up production is straightforward, provided the main component—the A18 Pro SoC—is consistently supplied by TSMC.

Additionally, Apple is already planning a second-generation MacBook Neo with major upgrades to the overall system, primarily due to the new A19 Pro SoC, which will come with 12 GB of RAM. The current MacBook Neo features the mobile A18 Pro chip and is limited to 8 GB of RAM. According to recent rumors, Apple may upgrade the MacBook Neo's internals in 2027, equipping it with an A19 Pro, the same SoC found in the latest iPhone 17 Pro smartphones. Inside the MacBook Neo, Apple has opted to reuse the iPhone 16 Pro's chip, which is produced by TSMC and includes 8 GB of LPDDR5X memory. This memory is directly attached above the A18 Pro SoC using Integrated Fan-Out Package on Package (InFO-PoP) technology, creating a 3D wafer-level fan-out package.

Epic Games launched its Epic Games Store in 2018 to challenge the dominance of Valve's Steam platform in the PC gaming space. Known for its promotions and free games, the storefront has attracted a large gamer base that quickly adopted the platform. However, two former Epic Games employees claim that the Epic Games Store saw only an initial spike in active users during the free game promotions, with gamers eventually returning to Steam. Many gamers find switching between multiple storefronts to be a cumbersome experience. While free game deals are an excellent way to attract customers initially, the Epic Games Store needs to make further improvements to retain those gamers.

Meanwhile, Valve's Steam platform continues to break records for concurrent gamers. Just a few weeks ago, the platform reached 42,318,602 players on Sunday, March 22 of this year. This set a new record, surpassing the previous impressive 42 million concurrent players on January 11 earlier this year. At the time of writing, Valve's Steam platform has 37,053,591 active players, indicating that a large majority keep returning, with no signs of slowing down.

Emeet today announced the launch of the Emeet C960 Ultra, the latest addition to its C960 lineup, a series that has achieved over 2 million units sold worldwide. Designed for professionals, streamers, and content creators, the C960 Ultra builds on this proven foundation with upgraded imaging performance and a refined, minimalist design.

What's new about the Emeet C960 Ultra?
At the heart of the C960 Ultra is a Sony 1/1.5" large-format image sensor, paired with 4K ultra-high-definition video and fast, precise PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus). This advanced imaging system enables sharper detail, faster focusing, and more stable performance across dynamic environments, making it well-suited for professional video communication, live streaming, and content production.

PIODATA today announced the launch of the SecureX Security Flash Drive, a next-generation USB storage solution engineered for professionals who require uncompromising data protection and backup with immediate, offline accessibility. Designed for high-stakes environments—including medical, military, and technology sectors—SecureX delivers a secure, portable alternative to cloud storage that is always within reach and ready to perform.

In an era where critical files often live in the cloud, access and security aren't always guaranteed. Network outages, restricted environments, hackers, or login failures can derail presentations and workflows at the worst possible moment. SecureX eliminates that risk by ensuring your most important files are physically with you, instantly accessible on virtually any device with a USB connection, including PCs, Macs, smartphones, and tablets.

Nanya Technology Corporation ("NTC", TWSE: 2408), today announced its results of operations for the first quarter, ended March 31, 2026. Nanya's quarterly sales revenue was NT$49,087 million, a 63.1 percent increase compared to that in the fourth quarter of 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, average selling prices (ASP) increased by more than seventy percent and bit shipment decreased by mid-single digit percent quarter over quarter.

Gross profit of the quarter was NT$33,316 million; gross margin was 67.9 percent, an 18.9 percentage points improvement from that in the previous quarter. Operating income of the quarter was NT$30,111 million; operating margin was 61.3 percent; a 22.2 percentage points improvement from that in the last quarter. Non-operating income of the quarter was NT$1,607 million. The Company had net income of NT$26,058 million, with net margin of 53.1 percent. Earnings per share (EPS) was NT$8.41 (based on weighted average outstanding shares of 3,099 million). Book value per share was NT$62.25 at the quarter end. All numbers are unaudited.

CPU core configurations of Intel's next-generation Core Ultra Series 4 "Nova Lake-S" desktop processors were leaked to the web by VideoCardz. These processors will remain disaggregated, tile-based chips, much like current Core Ultra Series 2 "Arrow Lake-S," but Intel will probably rearrange components around the various tiles. These chips will also introduce low-power island E-cores (LPE-cores) to the socketed desktop platform. The new processors will be designed for Socket LGA1954, which will be significantly different from the current LGA1851, while retaining cooler compatibility.

Intel intends LGA1954 to have longevity spanning several processor generations lasting till the end of the decade. The Core Ultra Series 4 will span a wide range of price-points, starting with Core Ultra 3, having the least core-count, going all the way up to Core Ultra 9 (probably X9). Perhaps the most interesting bit of news is the introduction of dual-die processors. These are SKUs with two Compute tiles connected to the SoC tile. This allows Intel to achieve extremely high CPU core counts. Since this is essentially the same approach to high core counts as AMD, both Compute tiles have equal access to memory and PCIe.

Valve's Linux developer, Natalie Vock, has introduced a new method for handling memory management on GPUs with 8 GB or less VRAM. Since a large part of the gaming community uses systems with limited resources, improving performance and VRAM allocation is an excellent way to maximize frames per second. According to Vock's solution, GPUs with 8 GB of VRAM or less on Linux will now benefit from better background VRAM management, allowing more free space for games. Several Linux kernel patches have been submitted to guide how Linux manages resources when a game is loaded. Previously, when a game used too much VRAM on a low-VRAM GPU, the Linux Graphics Translation Table (GTT) would move data to system RAM to prevent the game from crashing. Since Linux doesn't prioritize programs, it could sometimes move the actual game from VRAM to system RAM to make space for something like a browser or another third-party app.

In Vock's testing before these new patches, running Cyberpunk 2077 resulted in the system using only 6 GB of the 8 GB of available GPU VRAM, with about 1.37 GB spilling over to GTT and being allocated in system RAM. This could lead to game stuttering and frame-pacing issues. Now, Vock has developed a real-time dmemcg-booster, which stands for Device Memory Control Groups, to inform Linux when a program running on the GPU VRAM needs to stay there without being moved to GTT and then to system RAM. With the new patch, running Cyberpunk 2077 now uses almost the entire available system VRAM, reaching 7.4 GB, while GTT allocation has been reduced to 650 MB, cutting usage by more than half. In the picture below, you can check the "GameThread" behavior before and after the patch is applied.

Attack Shark, a gaming peripheral brand specializing in affordable, high-performance mechanical keyboards, gaming mice, and accessories, has put the spotlight on its newly launched flagship X11 ULTRA carbon fiber gaming mouse, alongside details of its upcoming 2nd anniversary sale, running from April 15 to 27 on its official website.

Positioned as an upgraded version of the brand's best-selling X11 series, the X11 ULTRA features a full-body injection-molded carbon fiber design with a proprietary forged texture, delivering a distinctive look and enhanced durability. The mouse is powered by the latest Nordic 54L15 chipset, providing improved performance.

Welcome to the middle of April and this week, we really have too many potentially popular games releasing, with a AAA title in the mix as well. This week's AAA release involves an android riding on your shoulder as you fight your way through a lunar facility. The week kicks off with Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing a game where your typing skills brings you victory, followed by pirates, lots of pirates and then we quickly move on to being stuck in a parallel universe. We round off the week with a mouse that's not from Disney and finally with you trying to save the last ember in a dying world. We also have a bunch of other games that didn't quite make the list.

Pragmata / This week's AAA title / Friday 17 April
At a remote lunar research facility, humanity discovers a new ore—one that, when properly refined, can be used to create almost anything using 3D printers. When the facility suddenly falls silent, Hugh and his team are dispatched to investigate...but then disaster strikes. Hugh is saved by Diana, a lone android wandering the complex. The two of them must join forces to find a way off the moon while working their way through an AI-controlled facility bent on stopping them. Steam link

Traditionally, Microsoft has included AA batteries with its Xbox game controllers as a way to help users get right into the game as soon as possible. However, apparently since at least December, Microsoft has accidentally been packaging and shipping its controllers without batteries. This is according to a post on X by @XboxSupport, which acknowledges the error and advises users how to proceed. This applies both to Xbox Wireless controllers and Xbox Design Lab controllers.

Microsoft says that affected users should reach out to support via a dedicated support page and register a service request, at which time Microsoft will send out a pack of rechargeable batteries and a USB-C cable to correct the issue and perhaps serve as something of an apology. Buyers who were sent controllers without batteries should be able to confirm eligibility with their controller serial numbers, although there have apparently been a few issues with that system, with two users reporting on X that they were unable to view the requisite available service option to be able to take advantage of the corrective action.

The latest in a recent flurry of AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 mini PCs is OneXPlayer's ONEXStation—a new AI mini PC that should be just as capable at everything from gaming to workstation and creative workflows. Aside from the already known benefits of the massive AMD APU, with its Radeon 8060S iGPU and 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus, the new mini PC boasts a decent selection of I/O ports in an impressively compact aluminium chassis, measuring in at just 186 × 193 × 62 mm. By default, the ONEXStation will be equipped with a single 1 TB PCIe Gen 4×4 M.2 SSD, but there is a second M.2 slot easily accessible for up to 8 TB total storage.

With 13 ports in total, the ONEXStation's front I/O features dual USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports, a USB4 port, a UHS-II SD card slot, and a 3.5 mm audio combo jack. There's also a turbo button that presumably boosts the fan speed for improved thermal capabilities at the cost of noise. Around back, the ONEXStation has a DC power barrel plug, a 3.5 mm audio combo jack, a 2.5 GbE RJ45 port, one USB 3.2 Type-A port, a USB4 Type-C port, one DisplayPort, an HDMI port, and dual USB 2.0 ports—the latter presumably for peripherals. It also features both Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 onboard. Cooling is handled by a custom solution with three heatpipes and a tri-fan ventilation system, and OneXPlayer says the TDP can be configured to 55 W, 85 W, or 120 W from within the mini PC's software. The launch price is $2,999, but the MSRP will seemingly increase to $3,599 after the launch offer. It's worth noting that, due to current market conditions, pricing and availability of systems like those based on Strix Halo and similarly powerful SoCs, like Intel's recent Panther Lake chips, is highly volatile, with Ayaneo already having suspended pre-orders for its Strix Halo-powered Next 2 handheld and Khadas having recently bumped up the price of its Panther Lake mini PC.

It was recently leaked that Epic Games was planning a host of new game modes for Fortnite, following a brutal round of layoffs that saw as many as 1,000 workers lose their jobs. However, if a recent Bloomberg report is anything to go by, one of the game modes mentioned in the Fortnite leak may be its own game entirely. The report cites conversations with four current and former Epic employees, who say that the game company will use its partnership with Disney to build a game featuring Disney characters in an Arc Raiders-like extraction shooter format.

According to the insiders, Epic Games is planning to launch the new Disney game as early as November 2026, although the game has been through some internal review, and there are concerns that the gameplay loop and mechanics are "not very original." In a recent statement addressing the Fortnite layoffs, Epic Games CEO, Tim Sweeney revealed that Epic Games was struggling to consistently deliver "Fortnite magic," every season and said that, alongside other cost-cutting measures, the company would be looking for ways to deliver "fresh seasonal content, gameplay, story, and live events."

HYTE, a leading manufacturer of cutting-edge PC components, is proud to share that its latest collaboration with hololive, represented by the COVER Corporation from Japan, starring Sakura Miko - one of hololive's longest-running VTuber talents with over two million subscribers and nearly one billion views on her channel - is now available for pre-order on HYTE.com.

Known worldwide as the "Elite Shrine Maiden", Sakura Miko is a Japanese Vtuber affiliated with hololive and is part of their "Generation 0" group of talents, which includes one of HYTE's past collaboration subjects Hoshimachi Suisei. As part of Sakura Miko's recent outfit debut for her character, a new HYTE product line was announced, with the Official HYTE Y70 Sakura Miko Case in separate Black and White colorways acting as the heart of the lineup. Both variants feature the talent's name and custom designs across the Y70's trim, a customized serialized plate on the case's back panel, and a full custom illustration across all three of the Y70's glass panels drawn by professional illustrator Rosuuri.

Philips has introduced the Evnia 27M2G5800, a 27-inch gaming monitor built around a dual-mode Fast IPS panel that can switch between 5K resolution and high-refresh QHD operation. The panel runs at a native 5120 x 2880 (5K UHD) with a pixel density of 217 PPI, right where you'd normally find it on a 27-inch gaming display. In 5K mode, the refresh rate tops out at 165 Hz, or 180 Hz with overclocking enabled. Switching to 2560 x 1440 (Quad HD) unlocks up to 330 Hz, no overclocking option here. Brightness is rated at 500 nits with a 1000:1 contrast ratio while the panel has DisplayHDR 400 certification. On the responsiveness side, Philips rates the panel at 1 ms GtG, with a 0.5 ms MPRT mode for motion-heavy content. Adaptive sync is supported, including G-SYNC compatibility, and the monitor comes with a handful of gaming-oriented extras: Shadow Boost for better visibility in dark areas, Smart Crosshair, and motion blur reduction.

For connectivity, it features two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 2.1 (supporting the 5K at 180 Hz), a headphone jack and a USB hub with two downstream USB-A ports and a USB-B upstream. According to IT Files, the Evnia 27M2G5800 is priced at 4999 yuan, which is about $730 USD however, pricing and availability for markets outside Hong Kong haven't been announced. The 5K model expands the Philips Evnia 27M2 lineup, which already includes more unconventional high-refresh options. Notable examples include the Evnia 27M2N5500XD, capable of up to 500 Hz at 1440p and 1000 Hz at 720p, as well as the more affordable Evnia 27M2N3800A, offering 4K at 160 Hz or Full HD at 320 Hz.

Soulmask, an open-world, base-building, survival-craft game, launched to Steam Early Access almost two years ago, and after many iterations, CampFire Studios and Qooland Games have officially released the 1.0 version of the game, calling it a "complete reinvention of the game itself." The update notes on Steam list a number of revolutionary changes, including a new onboarding flow, refreshed combat, a new tribal AI system, and new settlement management. The game also now includes an encyclopedia, called the Mask Knowledge Base, so that players no longer need to leave the game to check a Wiki for information about a system or item.

There is also more endgame content, thanks to the new Mask Mimicry Ascension system, which expands the capabilities of the game's masks beyond previous limits. More importantly, players now have access to three distinct game modes: Survival, the original, classic, challenging struggle; Tribe Mode, which is designed for players to enjoy building and developing their civilizations and facing off against other political threats and enemy invasions; and Warrior Mode is there for players who like Soulmask for the combat, with tougher enemies, less forgiving combat mechanics, and weapons that don't take damage or break. The Soulmask 1.0 trailer follows.

Blending accessible flying mechanics with deeper management systems, Legendary Pilots invites players to step into a vibrant aviation world where every flight is just one part of a bigger journey. From planning routes and transporting passengers to maintaining aircraft and climbing the ranks of a competitive airline ecosystem, the game offers a refreshing take on the flight sim genre-one that prioritizes experience, progression, and personality over strict realism.

With its distinctive retro-inspired visuals and a focus on turboprops and regional jets, Legendary Pilots delivers a grounded yet stylized aviation fantasy. It's a world where smart decisions, efficient flying, and long-term planning matter just as much as what happens in the cockpit.

DDR4 pricing is finally showing signs of easing, as DDR4 16 Gb spot prices experienced a 5% correction in March after a more than 2,200% increase over the past year. The massive demand for AI data center expansion absorbed all available DDR production, making DDR4 and DDR5 pricing widely discussed topics among enthusiast communities. This has impacted PC DIY enthusiasts, laptop makers, PC OEMs, and everyone in between. Over the past year, the rapid price increase has effectively priced out many consumers from upgrading or installing new systems with larger RAM capacity. However, there are signs that the situation might improve as spot pricing has started to decrease.

First, readers need to understand the difference between spot and contract pricing in DDR memory. Contract pricing is what memory makers like Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron agree on with large buyers, such as PC OEMs like Apple, HP, or Dell, or even server makers who purchase DRAM in large quantities. On the other hand, spot pricing is an "on-the-spot" deal that provides immediate pricing without any contract. This spot pricing is typically reserved for smaller DRAM volumes and is usually bought by DRAM distributors and supply chain logistics. In the spot pricing market, DDR4 has fallen about 5% in March compared to February pricing, and the same applies to DDR5 memory spot pricing.

Gateron, now ubiquitous in the world of mechanical, Hall-effect, and TMR gaming keyboards, has officially announced a new magnetic switch that promises a unique switch feel with an effectively perfectly linear switch weight. With a traditional mechanical or magnetic keyboard switches, the key gets progressively more difficult to press as you go through the travel, but Gateron claims that the new Magnetic Jade Attraction HE switches have both initial and bottom-out operation force values of 30 gf, making them a perfectly linear switch. Incidentally, the method Gateron used to make this force chart possible also seems to have reduced the standard deviation of the actuation force to ±2 gf, instead of the usual ±5 gf.

Gateron's new switch design is an iteration of the recent Dual-Drive stem design it showed off previously in the Gateron Magnetic Spark switches, which should make the stems stable and make reading the travel very accurate, but the Jade Attraction adds three small permanent magnets in the bottom of the switch housing. Those magnets in the bottom housing help compensate for the increase in spring rate that occurs when you typically compress a spring, giving it that uniquely linear switch feel. The Gateron Magnetic Jade Attraction HE switches are available for pre-sale on the Gateron online store for $47.60 for a pack of 70 switches.

Following the recent news of the $80 Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition for Switch 2 showing up on Amazon, Gematsu has reported that Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy 2 may be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 sooner rather than later, based on a recent age rating by the Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee. According to a screenshot of the rating, it will be PG-12, and it is explicitly rated for the Nintendo Switch 2.

There is no launch date approved for the game just yet, so, while this is evidence that a launch is incoming, it may still be a while before it's available. Notably, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is already playable on the original Nintendo Switch, but it's a cloud-only title, meaning none of the game is processed locally. The fact that the Switch 2 version is explicitly rated for the Switch 2 suggests that it will not have the same cloud-only limitation, likely as a result of the Switch 2's more powerful internals.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Cloud Version is currently $59.99 on the Nintendo eShop, but pricing for the new version may be higher, especially for the physical version.

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Popular PC DIY enthusiast tools like CPU-Z and HWMonitor were briefly compromised during the night between April 9 and April 10. This left anyone who downloaded these tools from the CPUID website vulnerable to malware they thought was a normal software tool. What actually happened was that multiple users on Reddit noticed their downloads from CPUID for both CPU-Z and HWMonitor were flagged multiple times by Windows Defender for security concerns. During that night, users attempting to download these popular utilities found the website pointing to a different host where the modified .exe files were stored. After realizing what was happening, users started removing these compromised .exe files and waited for CPUID to issue a statement. One of the owners of CPUID published a statement on X, explaining that attackers had replaced the original download links with malware-infected file links, resulting in a widespread security vulnerability. Thankfully the website is now back up and safe to resume downloads.

Hi,
Investigations are still ongoing, but it appears that a secondary feature (basically a side API) was compromised for approximately six hours between April 9 and April 10, causing the main website to randomly display malicious links (our signed original files were not compromised). The breach was found and has since been fixed. Sorry for the inconvenience. I did my best to fix that mess as soon as possible :-/
Sam.

Microsoft's Copilot AI has generated significant negative sentiment among Windows 11 users, to the extent that even Microsoft has recognized the need to scale back some of the Copilot functionality it has long promoted. According to Windows Latest, Microsoft has updated core Windows applications such as Notepad and Snipping Tool. In March 2025, Microsoft added Copilot to Notepad, updating the note-taking application to integrate Copilot AI for rewrites, summaries, and other AI-related text features. However, as users grew weary of the persistent AI push, Microsoft put these integrations under review earlier this year. In response to strong backlash from the enthusiast community, Microsoft has removed the Copilot AI icon from the latest versions of Notepad and Snipping Tool, restoring them to their regular look. However, Microsoft now calls these Notepad features like rewrite and summarize as "Writing tools."

This change is a significant positive step by Microsoft. Additionally, the forced inclusion of the Copilot AI button in every application has been paused, as there has been minimal interest from users in utilizing these features. The TechPowerUp Forums have been a consistent source of criticism against Microsoft's forced AI integration, with a large community of PC enthusiasts opposing the "AI everywhere" approach. The Redmond-based company is also working on numerous performance, security, and other enhancements for Windows 11, and we are already beginning to see some of these changes. Considering that Microsoft has 80 Copilot apps and services, this is not a thing to take lightly.Below is the before and after comparison with the Copilot AI removed, courtesy of Windows Latest.

A cake keyboard isn't complete without a choco flavor. Meet the all-new YUNZII C75 Cake Keyboard in its Choco colorway—blending rich chocolate tones with refreshing blue accents to bring both energy and sweetness to your desktop setup.

Cute Cake Keyboard 75% Layout
The new YUNZII C75 cute mechanical keyboard is a delightful addition to any desk. Featuring a compact 75% layout, it combines functionality with a playful, colorful design. With wireless, Bluetooth, and wired connectivity, plus a creamy typing sound, it's perfect as a gift or for elevating your home, office, or gaming setup.

ASUS today announced ZenMouse MD202, a refined wireless mouse that features a Ceraluminum top cover that provides a unique tactile surface offering exceptional aesthetics and durability.

Dual-mode Bluetooth and wireless 2.4 GHz connectivity allows for seamless workflows, enabling ZenMouse to support up to four devices simultaneously. In addition, the Track-on-Glass sensor ensures smooth, pinpoint control on almost any surface. A built-in rechargeable battery delivers long-lasting performance and offers USB-C fast-charging. Users can also use the MyASUS app to create personalized control shortcuts and adjust mouse sensitivity levels to adapt to various workflows.

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the Razer Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed, gaming earbuds engineered for players who move between devices and demand uncompromising audio performance wherever they play. Designed for modern gaming setups, the Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed lets gamers switch between ultra‑low‑latency 2.4 GHz Razer HyperSpeed Wireless and Bluetooth 6.0, delivering a streamlined experience across compatible mobile devices, PCs, handhelds, and more - all without sacrificing speed, stability, or immersion.

Ultra Low Latency Audio. Wherever, Whenever.
Powered by Razer HyperSpeed Wireless, the Hammerhead V3 HyperSpeed delivers gaming‑grade 2.4 GHz audio with fast response and reliable performance, keeping sound perfectly in sync during intense gameplay. For everyday use or Bluetooth‑enabled devices, Bluetooth 6.0 offers lower latency, improved power efficiency, and greater stability in crowded wireless environments - ideal for seamless transitions between gaming and daily listening.

MSI has officially announced the Cubi NUC TWG Series, a compact mini PC designed to deliver reliable performance and versatile connectivity for modern workplaces. With a 0.55-liter chassis and a thickness of just 40.1 mm, the Cubi NUC TWG provides essential computing power in a space-efficient design, making it ideal for offices, retail environments, kiosks, and digital signage. Powered by the Intel Processor N Series, the Cubi NUC TWG Series offers energy-efficient performance for everyday business workloads while maintaining a small footprint for space-constrained environments.

Keychron recently launched the K3 Ultra and K3 HE wireless, low-profile mechanical and TMR keyboards on Kickstarter, both featuring the same plastic, metal, and wood construction and slated for a full launch around June. However, if you're looking to get in on the low-profile action and don't mind losing some of the specialty features of the K3 HE and Ultra, Keychron has just announced the K3 Max SE, a new QMK-powered keyboard that features a nearly identical design to the K3 Ultra. Unlike the K3 Ultra and HE, the K3 Max SE is available as of the time of writing for a relatively affordable $104.99 on the Keychron store, which is $5 cheaper than the pre-order price of the K3 Ultra and $15 cheaper than the HE.

Obviously, the K3 Max SE doesn't have the same analog input features as the K3 HE, but it is nearly identical to the K3 Ultra but for one small distinction—the battery life and firmware. The K3 Max SE is a traditional QMK keyboard, like Keychron's traditional Max keyboards have long been, while the K3 Ultra is part of Keychron's move to ZMK firmware, which is known to be significantly more efficient than QMK. The end result is that, while the K3 Ultra and K3 Max SE have the same battery capacity of 1,550 mAh, the K3 Ultra is rated for 550 hours on a charge, and the K3 Max SE is only rated for 120 hours. The other measurable difference between the two is that the K3 Ultra has 8 kHz polling, where the K3 Max SE tops out at 1 kHz—not that this is particularly important on a mechanical keyboard, anyway.

Like many single-player games, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has been playable on the Steam Deck since it launched on PC, earning itself a Gold rating on ProtonDB, however, there have been user complaints on ProtonDB about poor text legibility, UI scaling issues, and performance and stability. According to the game's latest patch 1.3 notes published on the game's Steam Store page, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is now verified for Steam Deck. Players have tools like XeSS, FSR 3, and the proprietary Pico upscaler, as well as frame generation, in order to improve motion smoothness in the game.

[Editor's note: Our in-depth performance review of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is now live]

The other update notes include performance improvements, stability and bug fixes—specifically hitching and frame drops when using the sniper rifle—and minor graphics related bugs. The update notes also mention implementing "various input and user interface related improvements and bug fixes," some of which may be responsible for the game's Steam Deck Verified status, along with a number of changes that have been mentioned in prior game updates. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach's "Portable Mode" is designed for systems like gaming handhelds, but tests still reveal that the game dips below 30 FPS in some situations.

This year's Triple-I Initiative has already seen the Early Access launch date announcement of Windrose, an ambitious co-op pirate survival game, but now, joining Windrose is SpaceCraft, an open-world indie space exploration sim in development at Shiro Games. SpaceCraft will officially launch into Steam Early Access on May 20, and it features a combination of co-op survival, exploration, and base-building mechanics. Players will be able to explore space and distant planets, exploit planets for resources, and research and craft different materials, spaceships, bases, and weapons. The base-building systems extend to mechanics like automation and logistics, allowing players to set up multiple outposts across the galaxy for resource extraction, production, and research.

SpaceCraft hosted a demo event in early 2026, with over 70,000 players hopping into the game to check it out, and ultimately resulting in 300,000 wishlists by the end of the event. The game's ProtonDB listing also claims a Platinum rating, and the lightweight system requirements—8 GB of RAM, an Intel Core i3-8350K and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060—mean that SpaceCraft will seemingly be reasonably playable on handheld game consoles like the Valve Steam Deck, Legion Go S SteamOS, and ASUS ROG Xbox Ally.

We recently reported on Nintendo's pricing changes for physical and digital game media on the Switch 2, with Yoshi and the Mysterious Book coming in at $59.99 on digital and $69.99 for the physical edition. While that price difference was a bit of a shock to the system for many Nintendo fans, but, according to a recent post by u/mason2393 on Reddit, showing off an Amazon listing for Elden Ring Tarnished Edition for the Switch 2, that game may come as even more of a shock to players, with the listing showing an apparent retail price of $79.99 for the physical edition game key card.

Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition has not yet launched, with the Amazon listing showing a December 31, 2026 release-day delivery option, but it will feature the base game as well as the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion, new weapons, armor Torrent skins, and other additional content, according to the Nintendo eShop. At the time of writing, the Shadow of the Erdtree expansion costs $39.99 on Steam, alone, with the base Elden Ring game coming in at $59.99.

The development team behind Windrose, the co-op pirate survival game that went viral as Crosswind, has just announced the game's release date and simultaneously dropped a new trailer for the game on YouTube. The Early Access launch date announcement comes shortly after the studio asked players to "let us cook more," after murmurings of a release date announcement were causing increased anticipation in the community. According to the latest announcement, Windrose will launch to Steam Early Access on 14 April, 2026 at 8 AM UTC.

Pricing has also been revealed, with the base game coming in at $29.99 alongside a $39.99 Supporter Bundle, which includes the game's soundtrack, a few sea shanties recorded by Seán Dagher, and game wallpapers for your desktop. The developer plans to use player feedback during the Early Access period to shape gameplay on the way to the full 1.0 release, but there's no prospective 1.0 release date just yet. The Early Access launch date trailer follows.

Aside from SteamOS being more tailored to the gaming handheld form factor, one of the Steam Deck's major differentiating factors is its trackpads, which make navigating desktop mode significantly less painful than it would otherwise be. While this trait is shared by the likes of the Lenovo Legion Go, it is not present on the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X, making navigating Windows more challenging. Finally, though, as spotted by ROG Ally Life, the Xbox Game Bar has introduced an option to use the left thumb stick as a mouse cursor in desktop mode.

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

For the time being, this feature is limited to the Xbox Game Bar Insider Program, but it should make it to the mainline release version soon enough if no major bugs are spotted. After the toggle is enabled in Game Bar, players can move the cursor with the left analog stick and click with the A button on the controller. This is also only the latest in Microsoft's recent efforts playing catch-up with the competition on the Windows front, with the company recently announcing both a new initiative to improve the quality of Windows 11 and beginning to implement better RAM management across the operating system.

ASUS has introduced the ROG Equalizer, a new 12V-2×6 PCIe power cable designed to improve power delivery stability for modern GPUs. The cable is compliant with ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards and will be bundled with the company's upcoming ROG Thor III and ROG Strix Platinum power supplies. The ROG Equalizer targets ongoing reliability issues around 16-pin GPU power connectors by focusing on load balancing across all pins. According to ASUS, the cable is designed to distribute power more evenly across all the wires, this reducing the risk of hotspots caused by uneven load. The cable supports up to 17 A per wire, compared to standard 12V-2x6 cables, which are rated at 9.2 A per wire (per pin).

ASUS also claims the design keeps operating temperatures around 73°C even when some wires aren't under full load, a situation where standard cables can run noticeably hotter due to uneven current distribution across the conductors. The exact internal engineering hasn't been provided by ASUS, but the likely approach is equalizing the impedance across all conductors (wires) to spread the load more evenly. The cable itself is 750 mm long, braided in a dual-tone finish, and ships with cable combs for tidier routing. It follows a GPU-first wiring layout and is built with high-power delivery in mind. No information regarding pricing yet.

A timeless story of grit, faith and rebellion takes center stage as Samson: A Tyndalston Story joins the GeForce NOW library today. The highly anticipated release from Liquid Swords can now be streamed on nearly any device with GeForce NOW bringing cinematic intensity and mythic storytelling to the cloud. Catch it as part of four new games in the cloud this week.

Stream the Power
Tyndalston is a city built on debt, muscle and memory. Samson: A Tyndalston Story from Liquid Swords follows Samson, a former enforcer pulled back to the streets that made him. Violence is currency as every fight is personal, every hit carries history and every escape feels earned in a city that never forgives. Gameplay blends cinematic melee action with choice-driven narrative progression. Every confrontation - from shadowed alley brawls to large-scale set pieces - feels purposeful, reflecting Samson's internal struggle between vengeance and redemption. Brawls hit fast and close. Cars aren't set pieces - they're weapons. Momentum and terrain decide if the player walks away or falls harder. Every job, debt and decision cuts toward freedom or collapse.

ASUS introduced the Prime GeForce RTX 5080 EVO OC Edition, its most affordable custom-design RTX 5080 offering. The Prime RTX 5080 EVO OC Edition is a variant of the Prime RTX 5080 OC Edition with a key change to its cooling solution: the original Prime RTX 5080 OC Edition uses a vapor chamber plate to pull heat from the GPU and memory chips; while the newer Prime RTX 5080 EVO OC Edition lacks the vapor chamber plate. It's not clear what the cooler uses in its place, whether it's a heatpipe direct-touch design, or a solid nickel-plated copper baseplate. Thankfully, it retains the high-performance phase-change thermal pad to transfer heat from the GPU die to the cooling solution.

All other features of the Prime RTX 5080 EVO OC Edition are identical to those of the original Prime RTX 5080 OC Edition. The card features dimensions that meet NVIDIA's SFF-Ready specification, and uses a trio of axial airflow fans. The OC Edition card offers a mild factory overclock of 2655 MHz boost compared to 2617 MHz reference. There is a regular variant of this card without the "OC Edition" badging, which offers this reference frequency.

Intel Foundry has been delivering some interesting research lately, and the newest installment is the world's thinnest gallium nitride (GaN) chiplet, with the base silicon measuring just 19 micrometers in thickness. The company manufactured a 300-millimeter GaN-on-silicon wafer, which is one of the first combinations of GaN with traditional silicon logic on a single chip. In traditional manufacturing setups, GaN is reserved for power electronics and is not mixed with silicon-based computational logic. However, Intel has managed to combine GaN semiconductors for power delivery with silicon-based compute logic, meaning that power chips can now perform basic computations and actions on their own, without needing a separate chip to dictate behavior.

Intel manufactured the GaN wafer with silicon combined on the 30 nm process, which reportedly demonstrated excellent properties. This includes stable current carrying, very low power loss, and the ability to block voltages up to 78 V without leakage. What is fascinating is that GaN is usually used for wide bandgap applications, with high radio frequency performance exceeding 300 GHz. GaN also provides much better power delivery due to its superior material properties and operates more stably at higher temperatures. This is especially significant for workloads like electric vehicles or data center point-of-load delivery, where space is limited, temperatures can reach about 150°C, and stability is crucial.

Thermalright, generally known for making cooling hardware and DIY PC gear, has just announced the AI HydroNous R1, a 2.6 L mini PC powered by AMD's mighty Strix Halo Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU and cooled by a custom closed-loop water cooling system, which is said to be able to handle up to 176 W of TPD, thanks to a 180 mm radiator. Thermalright has so far revealed the mini PC (via IT Home), but it doesn't seem as though it is commercially available just yet, at least not outside of China.

The Thermalright HydroNous R1 has a fully CNC-machined aluminium chassis decked out with a full-color 4.6-inch LCD on the front for system monitoring. The IT Home post makes mention of dual USB4 ports and 10 Gb Ethernet, but no other ports are visible in the teaser images shared by the publication. Presumably, the rest of the I/O is on the back of the tower, which itself is designed to stand upright in a vertical orientation, sucking cold air in from below and from the left side and exhausting via the right side panel, where the radiator is located.

NVIDIA's upcoming N1 SoC, designed for gaming laptops, has officially appeared for the first time alongside its motherboard intended for a laptop. Featuring 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory running at 8,533 MT/s, the SoC is paired with SK hynix modules. NVIDIA's OEM partners for this launch, including Dell and Lenovo, have confirmed that the new NVIDIA laptop platform will be available this year, and we have seen early benchmark submissions of the N1 SoC. As NVIDIA prepares to enter the gaming laptop market, the company initially released its GB10 SoC for the DGX Spark mini workstation. This chip allowed NVIDIA to test its collaboration with MediaTek on developing new low-power SoCs that offer unusually high-performance graphics for AI applications, as well as very high RAM capacity.

In the latest images that appeared on Goofish, we see a laptop motherboard equipped with the NVIDIA N1 SoC and 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory closely packed in a specialized PCB area. This area might be designated for the cooler, which could potentially also cool the LPDDR5X memory modules. NVIDIA plans to introduce its N1/N1X SoCs with Arm-based CPU cores around Computex 2026. These will offer consumers 20 CPU cores, consisting of 10 Cortex-X925 and 10 Cortex-A725 CPU cores based on the Armv9.2 ISA, along with a "Blackwell" GPU optimized for low power settings with up to 6,144 CUDA cores in the higher-end form. You can also see the port selection on the side of the PCB, which seems to be USB-C or Thunderbolt 4/5, USB-A, and an HDMI connection. Since we don't know which laptop model this is, we have to wait a bit more before getting final details.

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, Samson has launched with ray tracing, DLSS Ray Reconstruction, and DLSS Multi Frame Generation. Additionally, Gaijin Entertainment's Enlisted and War Thunder have both introduced support for DLSS Ray Reconstruction when using each game's ray-traced effects, and DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution for those playing with FPS-maximizing rasterized visuals. And Dawn of Defiance recently introduced DLSS support, which you can upgrade to DLSS 4.5 using the NVIDIA app.

And today, our new NVIDIA app update has exited beta, bringing the full suite of DLSS 4.5 updates to every user of our essential application.

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) and Google today announced a multiyear collaboration to advance the next generation of AI and cloud infrastructure, reinforcing the critical role of CPUs and custom infrastructure processing units (IPUs) in scaling modern, heterogeneous AI systems.

As AI adoption accelerates, infrastructure is becoming more complex and heterogeneous, driving increased reliance on CPUs for orchestration, data processing and system-level performance. Through this collaboration, Intel and Google will align across multiple generations of Intel Xeon processors to improve performance, energy efficiency and total cost of ownership across Google's global infrastructure.

According to the latest research from Omdia, total shipments of desktops, notebooks, and workstations in 1Q26 increased by 3.2% year-over-year to 64.8 million units. Notebooks (including mobile workstations) saw a modest year-over-year increase of 2.6% in Q1 to 50.8 million units. Meanwhile, desktops (including desktop workstations) performed slightly better, up 5.4% to 14.0 million units. Growth was supported by vendors and channel partners pulling orders forward ahead of a widely anticipated increase in component costs, the continuation of the Windows 10 replacement cycle that is still driving commercial refresh budgets, and by a heavier than usual slate of spring product launches across both Windows OEMs and Apple.

"With supply-chain pressures still building, Q1's modest growth is likely to mark the high point for the year," said Ben Yeh, Principal Analyst at Omdia. "Memory and storage costs are expected to rise further and more steeply than previously assumed from Q2, squeezing PC vendor gross margins and forcing them to pass costs through to channel partners and end-customers. AI data center build-outs are crowding consumer categories out of memory and storage supply, which have already seen roughly five-fold and three-fold cost increases respectively since Q1 2025. CPU prices are a smaller but compounding pressure, with Intel and AMD projecting increases of 10-25% into Q2."

EIZO Corporation (TSE: 6737) today introduced the ColorEdge CS3200X - a 31.5‑inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) color management monitor joining the ColorEdge CS Series lineup. The CS3200X combines core ColorEdge technologies with added value for diverse workflows, supporting the shared needs of videographers, photographers, designers, and other visual storytellers who rely on consistency, precision, and dependable color.

As visual creation spans a broader range of practices and continues to shift toward higher resolutions, tools capable of supporting diverse needs have become essential to modern creative workflows. As the first 31.5-inch 4K model in the ColorEdge CS Series, the CS3200X provides a workspace designed for these requirements. Its generous screen size keeps timelines, layers, and tools comfortably in view, while the detailed 4K resolution renders images and video with crisp detail, allowing creators to discern fine textures and tonal transitions with greater precision.

The K5 Pro TMR Compact takes CHERRY XTRFY's popular K5 keyboard to a new level. This gaming keyboard, featuring CHERRY MK Crystal Magnetic switches and TMR sensing technology, combines precise input and ultra-fast response times with a compact, stylish design.

"The K5 has become an iconic keyboard in the CHERRY XTRFY range, and with TMR, we're taking it even further. As the next evolution in magnetic keyboards, TMR delivers higher precision and greater flexibility, while 8000 Hz polling brings you a faster, more responsive gaming experience than ever. With full customizability for every keypress and the features gamers need for a competitive advantage, the K5 Pro TMR is built for those who play for the win", says Joakim Jansson, Director of Product Management at CHERRY.

In the latest series of leaks about Intel's upcoming "Nova Lake" chips, we learn that the desktop "Nova Lake-S" designs will feature a new socket mounting and independent loading mechanism (ILM). According to exclusive information from VideoCardz, the NVL-S desktop designs on the LGA-1954 socket will include a new 2L-ILM socket mechanism to improve contact with CPU coolers. Given that Intel's upcoming NVL-S desktop processors will have up to 52 high-frequency, power-hungry cores, a better mounting mechanism is definitely needed. This 2L-ILM is a two-level independent loading mechanism, using one lever on each side of the CPU to secure it into the LGA-1954 socket. Applying pressure on both sides of the socket ensures improved flatness while the locking mechanism does its job.

Intel categorizes its desktop sockets in various forms. One of the most basic is the Default-ILM, along with the RL-ILM. As seen with "Arrow Lake," Intel's motherboards divide the socket locking mechanism into the ILM and RL-ILM designs, applied depending on the sector. For the lower-end sector, the Default-ILM socket is used, while the RL-ILM is applied to higher-end overclocking motherboards, providing better pressure and ensuring a flatter surface contact for a cooler. Noctua and Cooler Master already differentiate these two in their CPU coolers, but the mounting hardware is generally the same for both. The RL-ILM is simply a better design for overclocking due to the improved surface contact it provides.

Chieftec today introduced the DT-10B-300, a slim form-factor microATX case, with a volume of 8 liters. The case offers room for microATX (or smaller) motherboards, and even comes with a slimline optical disc drive bay. The case includes a pre-installed 300 W ATX 2.53 PSU that meets 80 Plus Bronze efficiency rating. Front panel connectivity includes three 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1 type-A, and a USB 3.2 type-C port. The case has vents along the front and rear panels, and a prominent intake along the left side panel that lets top-flow CPU coolers up to 70 mm in height take in air.

A detachable flexible storage caddie lets you mount a 2.5-inch SSD, a 3.5-inch HDD, and a 5.25-inch slimline optical drive. The case enables low-profile (half height) add-on cards of up to 14 cm in length, with this drive caddy out of the way. You get four such low-profile expansion slots. The case measures 294 mm x 92 mm x 341 mm (DxWxH), and is made of 0.7 mm-thick SGCC steel. The company didn't reveal pricing.

Apple's MacBook Neo, MacBook Air, and the latest MacBook Neo series of laptops are now susceptible to a significant performance drop if they remain powered on for 49.7 days without a reboot. Specifically, after exactly 49 days, 17 hours, 2 minutes, and 47.296 seconds of continuous operation, the entire TCP/IP networking stack shuts down and stops establishing new connections. This unusual bug stems from a kernel-level issue in Apple's XNU kernel involving tcp_now, a 32-bit unsigned integer that tracks elapsed milliseconds since boot for the TCP stack. When it reaches its maximum value of 4,294,967,295, the counter stalls instead of resetting, disrupting the arithmetic macOS uses to expire and discard closed connections.

These inactive connection sessions accumulate quickly, increasing CPU usage as the system struggles to handle an ever-growing backlog. Once the available port pool, typically around 16,384 ports, is fully used, no new connections can be opened. Applications that rely on network access begin to fail, although already-established sessions continue to function, and the machine still responds to pings, albeit much more slowly. This initially delayed the diagnosis of the bug. A reboot resets the counter and restores normal operation, but the issue will recur on the same schedule after another 49.7 days of continuous use. There are potential solutions to fix the bug by using larger 64-bit integers, but this would require more extensive code changes, performance testing, and additional work compared to a simple fix.

Ahead of its April 22 retail availability, AMD confirmed the U.S. MSRP (pre-tax) pricing of its upcoming flagship desktop processor, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition. The chip comes with an AMD MSRP of $899, or $200 higher than the launch MSRP of the Ryzen 9 9950X3D. This doesn't necessarily mean that the processor will be available to buy at $899, retailers could mark the chip further up, and taxes could push its street price above the $1,000-mark. At launch, the processor will be sold both as retail PIB (processor in box) packages, as well as part of pre-built gaming desktops by popular OEMs and systems integrators.

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition is a 16-core/32-thread processor powered by "Zen 5" microarchitecture and 3D V-Cache technology, with stacked 3D V-Cache on both its 8-core chiplets, resulting in an on-package L3 cache of 192 MB, and a total cache (L2+L3) of 208 MB. In comparison, the 9950X3D only has 3D V-Cache on one of its two CCDs, and relies on software-based OS scheduler guidance to ensure gaming workloads are directed to the CCD with 3D V-Cache. Besides cache, the 9950X3D2 Dual Edition is mostly similar to the 9950X3D, except its maximum boost frequency is 5.60 GHz, or 100 MHz lower than the 9950X3D; and it comes with a higher TDP of 200 W, compared to 170 W of the 9950X3D. While technically compatible with any Socket AM5 motherboard, support requires UEFI firmware updates from motherboard vendors.

Ad blocking tools have become increasingly common as online advertising, tracking scripts, and pop-ups continue to expand across websites and apps. The AdGuard Family Plan is one such option, offering a combination of ad blocking, privacy protection, and basic security features in a single platform.

Currently priced at $15.97 for lifetime access (MSRP $169.99), the Family Plan supports up to nine devices under one license. It is available to new users only and must be redeemed within 30 days of purchase.

AdGuard's primary function is filtering out ads before they load. This includes banner ads, pop-ups, autoplay video ads, and other common formats. By blocking these elements at the network level, the app can help reduce page clutter and improve load times.Get lifetime access to the AdGuard Family Plan for just $15.97 (MSRP $169.99) for a limited time.

Nexon subsidiary, Neople, launched The First Berserker: Khazan on 27 March, 2025, and despite the game's impressive critical reception, it seems as though the ARPG never quite managed to reach the commercial heights expected by Nexon. According to a recent report by Korean news outlet, Yonhap News, the development team that was responsible for supporting The First Berserker: Khazan has been reassigned by Neople, due to the game's poor commercial performance. The development company says the project is in "completion stage" and the reallocation of workers is in the name of efficiency. The workers previously responsible for the ARPG will be working on other projects that require additional human resources.

According to SteamDB, The First Berserker: Khazan peaked at 32,929 concurrent players on Steam around the game's initial launch, but that number quickly fell to around 2,000 daily concurrent players, dipping to as little as 1,013 concurrent daily players more recently. Despite the low player counts, The First Berserker: Khazan still has a "Very Positive" 90% rating on Steam, and it generally scored well with critics, with a 78 Metacritic score and a user score of 7.9 on the same site.

It has long been rumored that an Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake is in the works at Ubisoft, and those rumors have continued to surface, despite the recent shake-ups at the French gaming giant. The latest rumor out of Insider Gaming and a certain ResetEra user, BlackBate, who say that Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced would launch at an event on April 16, with the official retail launch not too long after that. That said, a recent online art book retail listing suggests that Black Flag Resynced was already pushed back from an initial launch date of March 31. It may be the case that the recent turmoil at Ubisoft has resulted in Black Flag Resynced being pushed back further to mid-April.

Despite having a rather rough launch period, No Man's Sky has since earned a loyal fan base thanks to consistent updates that have dramatically increased the quality of the game. The game's latest update steps things up again, introducing a whole new gameplay loop for players to get into. The No Man's Sky Xeno Arena update allows players to collect the myriad alien creatures they encounter on their travels throughout the universe, raise, train, and battle them in turn-based combat arenas. The No Man's Sky Xeno Arena update is already available on all platforms, and Hello Games seems to have put a decent amount of thought and depth into the new game mode's mechanics.

Much like Nintendo's Pokémon, the creatures in No Man's Sky will have a specific type, which will here be dictated by the creature's native habitat and climate and their species. Abilities include attack, support, healing, and even the ability to transmute opponent creatures into more vulnerable forms. Players will also be able to see and augment their creatures' genetic profiles and breed different creatures to prioritize certain traits. The update also increases the number of creatures a player can tame from 18 to 30, allowing players to build a sizeable roster of battle monsters. Players will also have access to daily battle challenges with an online leaderboard, and players will also be able to survey wild creatures' battle capabilities with creature survey mode ahead of capturing them.

Valve seems to be incorporating more AI integration into its Steam gaming platform to assist gamers with various aspects of their experience. In the latest development of this AI integration, Valve is reportedly developing the SteamGPT AI system to assist with customer support queries, while also integrating many additional features into the system. As you know, Valve's Steam platform receives thousands of support questions daily, ranging from refunds and platform issues to payment processing problems and many other inquiries. Valve's support staff is often overwhelmed, especially during major sales events. If Valve creates a customized AI system for chatting, support, and other infrastructure tasks, the company could alleviate a significant portion of the daily issues.

Additionally, recent source code leaks mention some connection to Valve's Trust systems, which enhance matchmaking quality by grouping players with similar levels of trustworthiness in games like Counter-Strike 2. This is an algorithmic process where an AI system could improve grading, as AI can naturally solve these tasks by grouping players more effectively than any custom algorithm. Furthermore, it could also detect cheating patterns performed by players and activate the anti-cheat system. However, while an AI system can assist with customer support queries, it may still make errors, necessitating human oversight to ensure the validity of support resolutions.

It seems as though Epic Games is working on a way to increase player time and interest in Fortnite, following a massive round of layoffs at Epic Games that was blamed on a downturn in spending in the battle royale shooter. In the announcement of the layoffs, Epic Games CEO, Tim Sweeney, said that the studio would be looking to deliver "Fortnite magic" in upcomig updates, and shaking up the game with a handful of new game modes to see what sticks, and potentially diversifying the player base in the process, may be one way of doing that. According to frequent leaker @Loolo_WRLD on X, who data-mined a recent Fortnite update and discovered references to at least seven new game modes coming to Epic Games's flagship game.

The references, which are codenames, include "WickedSmoke," a social-first game mode similar to the previously available Delulu game mode that relied on proximity chat and on-the-fly co-operation or rivalries; UnableRoman, a team deathmatch game mode; Rivalry, a Lego mode with mechs; CurioBox, another Lego game mode; MatchMist, a new map or mode for the fast-paced Reload game mode; BabyCorgi, a new game mode seemingly related to the tactical FPS, Fortnite Ballistic; and Bulldog and Husky, which is related to Disney mode. It's unclear when these new game modes are slated to launch, if at all, but it stands to reason that if they're already in the Fortnite update logs, they should be making their way to the mainline game at some point soon.

NuPhy has completed its Air V3 lineup by adding two new low-profile mechanical keyboards, the Air 65 V3 in a 65% layout and the Air 100 V3 as a full-size option joining the 75% model that launched earlier last year. Both keyboards use low-profile Gateron x NuPhy MX-style switches with 3.5 mm total travel, available in 42 gf light linear (Blush nano), 45 gf linear (Red nano), and 50 gf tactile (Brown nano) variants. Construction is aluminium on top and PC (Polycarbonate) on the bottom, with a PC plate and gasket mount for a softer typing feel. Keycaps are double-shot PBT, and both keyboards are hot-swappable with N-key rollover and north-facing RGB with 20 backlight modes. Connectivity covers all three modes, 2.4 G and wired USB-C both at 1000 Hz polling, and Bluetooth 5.0 at 125 Hz.

The NuPhy Air 65 V3 measures 318.9 x 109 x 13.2 mm and weighs 635 g, with plate-mounted stabilizers and a 2500 mAh battery rated for 15 to 67 hours with lighting on and up to 761 hours with no lighting. The Air 100 V3 has a 380.6 x 133.6 x 13.2 mm footprint at 950 g and features a 4000 mAh battery good for 24 to 73 hours lit up or up to 1000 hours with lights off. Both offer three typing angles at 4°, 8°, and 10°, and come in Nova White and Nebula Dark color variants. A few weeks after announcing the Air75 V3, NuPhy faced some criticism over its decision to ship the keyboard with only a tall rotary knob by default. The company has since revised the bundle, with pre-orders now including both a high-profile knob and a low-profile variant with a translucent ring, along with the knob base. All components are color-matched to the selected keyboard finish. The Air 65 V3 is priced at $129.95 and the Air 100 V3 at $149.95.

Lenovo has announced the ThinkPad X13 Gen 7 in Japan, featuring updated processors while keeping the same external design. It's the smallest and lightest ThinkPad in the lineup, starting at 936 g with a 13.3-inch screen. For this refresh of the X13 Gen 6 from last year Lenovo is offering Intel Core Ultra 300 (Panther Lake) and AMD Ryzen AI PRO 400 series processors, keeping the same dual-platform approach of the Gen 6. The Intel side gets the bigger upgrade here. The last year model was limited to Arrow Lake and missed out on Lunar Lake entirely, so using Panther Lake processors should bring a notable efficiency step forward. AMD's Ryzen AI 400 is also a generational move up from what the Gen 6 offered. Beside the new chips, not much has changed. The port layout, keyboard, and overall chassis design carry over from the Gen 6 unchanged. Battery options are 41 Wh or 54.7 Wh, and both 4G and 5G connectivity will be available.

Intel models are expected in mid-May, with the AMD variant following in late May. No pricing has been announced. Worth noting this is the standard clamshell X13, not the ThinkPad X13 Detachable 2-in-1 that Lenovo showcased at MWC. Lenovo did announce at MWC that the ThinkPad X13 Detachable would start at €1,949. Meanwhile, the X13 Gen 6 starts at $1,469 with a Core Ultra 5 225U, providing some context for where the X13 Gen 7 may land.

SambaNova today announced the next phase of its collaboration with Intel: a heterogeneous hardware solution that combines GPUs for prefill, Intel Xeon 6 processors as both host and "action" CPUs, and SambaNova RDUs for decode to deliver premium inference for the most demanding Agentic AI applications. The design will be made available in H2 2026 to enterprises, cloud providers, and sovereign AI programs that want to run coding agents and other agentic workloads at scale.

"Agentic AI is moving into production - and the winning pattern we're seeing is GPUs to start the job, Intel Xeon 6 to run it, and SambaNova RDUs to finish it fast," said Rodrigo Liang, CEO and co‑founder of SambaNova Systems. "Together with Intel, we're giving customers a blueprint they can deploy in existing air‑cooled data centers, with broad x86 coverage for the coding agents and tools they already use today."

Edgecore Networks, a leader in innovative network solutions for enterprises, data centers, and telecommunication service providers, is thrilled to announce the launch of the EAP115, a Wi-Fi 7 dual-band wall-plate access point designed to deliver reliable, high-performance, and cost-effective connectivity for in-room deployments.

Built for environments such as multi-dwelling units (MDUs), hospitality, dormitories, and shared office spaces, the EAP115 is engineered to meet the growing demand for scalable, per-room connectivity while enabling seamless integration of IoT services.

SK hynix has started shipping its PQC21 cSSD, the first product built on its 321-layer QLC NAND flash technology. The product is available in 1 TB and 2 TB capacities, with Dell as the first customer starting this month. QLC (Quad-Level Cell) stores four bits per cell, which maximizes storage density per unit area but has historically come with a write performance penalty compared to TLC (Triple-Level Cell). SK hynix addresses that with SLC caching, frequently accessed data is written to faster SLC-mode regions first before being transferred to the QLC cells, smoothing out the performance gap for typical workloads.

According to market research from IDC (International Data Corporation), the QLC NAND is expected to go from 22% of the global cSSD market in 2025 to 61% by 2027, so the timing of this launch makes sense. SK hynix says it will expand beyond Dell to other major customers as production scales up.

The next evolution of tactical RPGs has arrived. Annulus is available now across Steam, the App Store, and Google Play, bringing a bold new entry to the modern strategy RPG landscape. Blending innovative battlefield design, deep strategic gameplay, and striking visual direction, Annulus sets out to redefine the genre with a fresh, art-driven approach to tactical combat.

Reinventing Tactical Combat from the Ground Up
At the heart of Annulus lies a distinctive battlefield system - a bold departure from traditional design. This new structure transforms how players approach positioning, movement, and control, turning every encounter into a dynamic tactical puzzle. Rather than relying on static strategies, players must constantly adapt—anticipating enemy actions, optimizing spatial advantage, and executing carefully timed decisions. The result is a combat system that feels both intuitive and deeply strategic, rewarding foresight, creativity, and precision at every turn.

Liquid Swords, the studio founded by Christofer Sundberg and led by the senior team whose past work helped create genre-defining action experiences like Just Cause and Mad Max, released SAMSON: A Tyndalston Story on Steam and the Epic Games Store. It costs $24.99 and delivers a brutal, and succinct, story where every choice matters and the city always remembers.

Samson McCray comes back to Tyndalston after spending time in jail, to find the city taken over by a new designer drug called White Whisper. For dealers, it's a lucrative business, and for the customers, it's a slow death. Tyndalston's a city built from equal parts ambition, decay, and deeply personal grudges, with a debt that grows every single day and a sister being used as leverage by the people he owes. In Samsons' hunt, he uncovers something bigger and more gruesome than he could ever imagine.

Arctic today released the Xtender Black (clear glass), a spacious ATX mid-tower case, and a new variant of the Xtender series that the company launched in August 2025. The case features a pillarless front-left corner, and clear tempered-glass panels along the front- and left side panels. Black SECC steel makes up the overall sheet metal component of the case. The case comes with or without a pre-installed vertical GPU mount, and includes five of Arctic's latest ARGB LED fans pre-installed: that's two P12 Pro (120 mm), and three P14 Pro Reverse (140 mm).

The case supports motherboards up to E-ATX dimensions, with room for graphics cards up to 48.2 cm in length. There's room for up to two 420 mm (420 mm x 140 mm) radiators—along the top panel, and along the front-right panel; the rear panel has room for two 120 mm fans, or a 240 mm radiator. The Xtender Black (clear glass) is normally priced at $159.99, but is up on Amazon at an introductory price of $119.99. Its VG (vertical GPU) variant is priced at $189.99 (introductory price of $142.99). The Accelero Vertical GPU Mount can be separately purchased at $51.99 (introductory price of $38.99).

Microsoft is working on stripping out the last vestiges of the classic Win32 user interface in Windows 11, and the company could completely remove the classic Win32 Control Panel in a future update. March Rogers, partner director of design at Microsoft, in a post on X, said that his team is working on migrating all the old controls from the Win32 Control Panel over to the modern Settings app. This will be a long-drawn-out process as the company wants to ensure the lack of the old Control Panel doesn't break any critical functionality, particularly with control panel applications that are part of device drivers, such as those provided by printer and network adapter manufacturers.

"We're working our way through migrating all the old control panel controls into the modern Settings apps. We're doing it carefully because there are a lot of different network and printer devices & drivers we need to make sure we don't break in the process," Rogers said. Control Panel is a classic Win32 shell application, technically "control.exe," with various software and device drivers including their own applications with the extension *.cpl which run under control.exe. The modern Settings app, on the other hand, is based on UWP (universal Windows platform), and the latest one conforms to Microsoft's WinUI 3 architecture, also known as "fluent design."

MSI, a world leader in gaming hardware, today unveiled the MAG Infinite S AI 2nd, a gaming desktop built for players who want dependable performance, smart cooling, and clear upgrade paths. Featuring processors up to Intel Core Ultra 7 265 and graphics up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti. The new MAG Infinite S AI 2nd pairs DDR5 memory and M.2 Gen 5 SSD storage slots to deliver fast load times, smooth gameplay, and headroom for future gaming titles.

Uncompromising Performance: Intel Core Ultra 7 & NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti
The MAG Infinite S AI 2nd is meticulously engineered to push gaming performance to its limits, powered by the Intel Core Ultra processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series graphics. Intel's advanced hybrid architecture delivers the raw processing muscle required for the most demanding modern titles, while the Blackwell GPU architecture of the RTX 50 series graphics unlocks unprecedented frame rates and visual fidelity that were previously out of reach.

Intel has released its latest Arc GPU Graphics Drivers, version 101.8629 WHQL, introducing the gaming world to its newest Arc Pro B70 and Arc Pro B65 discrete GPUs. These new WHQL drivers primarily focus on providing gaming support for these professional-grade GPUs, which means the drivers include minimal game optimizations and retain some existing issues. Since no extensive optimization was necessary, the recently announced BMG-G31-based GPUs only required a simple driver enablement rather than the lengthy optimizations typically needed. The "Battlemage" architecture has been around for a while, so previous optimizations have already been implemented. The performance of the new GPUs is now achieved by linearly scaling the Xe2 cores within the GPU. When workstations take a break from their usual AI development or inference tasks on Arc Pro B70 GPUs, they can seamlessly transition to gaming. Interestingly, with gaming now an option, the Arc Pro B70 becomes Intel's largest discrete GPU for gaming tasks.DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc Graphics Driver 101.8629 WHQL

Yesterday, Qualcomm introduced its Snapdragon X2 Elite series of chips to consumers in partnership with major OEMs like ASUS and HP. On the same day, ASUS released additional laptop models based on Intel and AMD SoCs. However, just a day after some media outlets published their reviews, ASUS increased the prices of its products through its launch partner distributor, Best Buy, significantly affecting some reviewers' conclusions. Reportedly, ASUS raised prices by $100 to $350, depending on the laptop model and configuration, regardless of the platform. This is a substantial change; for example, a $350 increase on a $1,000 model like the Zenbook 14 represents a one-third increase in the device's advertised price. Reviewers, such as those at TechPowerUp, evaluate the model based on its value. If a model is aimed at budget users, the perspective of a budget user is applied, and if a model is aimed at workstation users, a small price increase may not be a dealbreaker. However, in the $1,000 range for a laptop, ASUS is now pushing these laptops into a completely different category.Below is the price change, broken down by model. On the left is the launch pricing listed by ASUS, and on the right is the new pricing from Best Buy as of today.

With the early access launch of Morbid Metal, an indie-developed hack-n-slash roguelite, just around the corner, the game's lead developer, Felix Schade, has taken to X to confirm that players will not need an Ubisoft+ account or the Ubisoft launcher to play the game, despite the game being published by Ubisoft. Apparently, it had been a frequent question asked of the developer, given that the game is being published by Ubisoft.

Third-party launchers can be a pain at the best of times, but they tend to be particularly maligned when combined with an online account requirement. They also potentially hamper a game's compatibility with Linux devices, which is a particular sticking point for Valve's Steam Deck. At the time of writing, Morbid Metal has a Platinum rating on ProtonDB, suggesting that Linux compatibility will not be an issue at launch.

Since the launch of Marathon, there have been a number of reports and complaints about cheating in Bungie's PvPvE extraction shooter, and in response to these complaints, Bungie has taken to social media site X to detail its anti-cheat systems and explain what the development team plans to do to improve the situation going forward. Bungie starts off by reiterating its zero-tolerance policy for cheating in Marathon, confirming that once a cheater is detected, they will be banned from the game forever, but it goes on to explain that cheating is a "continuous cycle of monitoring, improving, and responding."

Bungie goes on to say that it has already implemented some improvements to its anti-cheat systems, but that the development team is working on several new features that will make it easier to report cheaters and easier to provide evidence of that cheating. For starters, it is making it easier to report cheaters both in-game and with web tools, and it is working on tools to give players feedback when their reports result in actions from the anti-cheat system. Bungie is also working on tools, like username privacy options, that will make tactics like stream sniping in competitive matches more difficult. The studio encourages players to report cheaters and toxic players with as much evidence as possible, including clips and VODs. The increased complaints of cheating in Marathon come despite the game's use of BattlEye anti-cheat, which has incidentally locked out Steam Deck and Linux users from playing the game.

The Apple MacBook Neo has been a bit of a shock to system in the laptop world, thanks to its low barrier to entry and surprisingly solid performance for everyday tasks. However, one of the biggest criticisms levelled against the MacBook Neo is its mobile A18 Pro chip and limited 8 GB of RAM. According to recent rumors, though, Apple may upgrade the internals in the MacBook Neo in 2027, bumping it up to an A19 Pro, which is the SoC featured in the latest iPhone 17 Pro smartphones.

The A19 Pro is still a mobile SoC, and it is slated to use the same 5-core GPU configuration as the A18 Pro in the current MacBook Neo, but that SoC upgrade also means that the MacBook Neo would no longer be limited to just 8 GB of LPDDR5X. Instead, as the rumors suggest, the MacBook Neo 2027 will see a 50% memory increase to 12 GB total memory. So far, the MacBook Neo seems to have been such a hit in sales that the Cupertino giant has already started increasing production of the laptop.

It's no secret that prices for electronics are skyrocketing across the board, and shortly after it seemed as though there may be some hope on the horizon, it has been revealed by VideoCardz that the ASUS AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT GPUs have seen a significant price increase in US markets. All three ASUS RX 9070 XT models listed on PCPartPicker have seen a substantial price increase in recent days, with the average increase coming out to around 17%.

The ASUS Prime OC Radeon RX 9070 XT saw its price go from $819.99 to $959.95 at both B&H and ASUS's own online store. It currently retails for the same $959.95 at Amazon, too. Similarly, the black version of the Prime OC RX 9070 XT and the ASUS TUF Gaming OC Radeon RX9070 XT have increased from $799.99 to $939.99 and $849.99 to $989.99, respectively. Curiously, the ASUS Prime OC RX 9070 XT can still be had at Newegg and Amazon for its lower $799.99 price, suggesting that this is effectively a pricing change that was implemented by ASUS when new GPUs were sent out to retailers.

When Blizzard rebranded Overwatch 2 to just Overwatch, it also announced a slew of new characters coming in 2026. One of those character designs, Anran, sparked upheaval in the community over her design being generic and a stark deviation from the character previewed in cinematics leading up to her introduction. Blizzard acknowledged the community feedback, announced an upcoming redesign, and has now subsequently shown off Anran's final design ahead of her launch in Season 2 on April 14.

The character's new look features a number of changes, mostly focussed on the facial shape, in order to make her design match her personality, which Overwatch game director, Aaron Keller, describes as "confident, determined, fierce, and a natural-born leader." The changes include giving her a more focussed expression, darkening the shading on her face, giving her a more defined jawline and a wider mouth and smile, and changing her posing to make her appear more confident. In general, critics of Anran's initial design seem to be appreciative of the changes, although, as is the case with anything related to gaming, there are still complaints about her looks.

UK publisher Kwalee and independent studio Out of the Blue are pleased to announce that the Lovecraftian narrative puzzle adventure Call of the Elder Gods will launch on May 12, 2026. The game is coming to PC (via Steam), Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and is available day one with Xbox Game Pass. A sequel to 2020's award-winning Call of the Sea, Call of the Elder Gods is a single-player, first-person puzzle adventure with a strong narrative focus.

Players step into the roles of Professor Harry Everhart and newcomer Evangeline Drayton, solving intricate puzzles driven by logic, observation, and environmental interaction.Together, they journey from New England to the Australian desert, the frozen Arctic and the ancient city of Pnakotus, searching for missing loved ones while confronting personal grief.

A little over a year after the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows, Ubisoft has shipped the Title Update 1.1.10, which, aside from the usual bug fixes, adds PSSR 2 support to the game for PS5 Pro players and a number of quality-of-life updates and gameplay changes across all of the game's platforms. The full changelog is available via an Ubisoft news post.

Ubisoft has not detailed the exact visual upgrades wrought by the addition of PSSR 2, but we can likely expect smoother, higher frame rates with sharper upscaling, as has been seen in other games, like Resident Evil: Requiem and Cyberpunk 2077. As of the new update, all players will be able to access the Bo staff, which was previously locked behind the Claws of Awaji expansion. The Switch 2 version of Assassin's Creed Shadows also now features mouse and keyboard support, and the laundry list of bug fixes include UI fixes for damage indicators, a fix for an unintentional +100% stat cap in some cases, issues with fast travel points not being available, and progression getting stuck at 97.89% despite all content being completed.

Cyberpunk 2077 has been out since 2020, but it seems as though CD Projekt Red's dedication to the game has not waned, with a new April 8 update bringing enhancements to the game on the PS5 Pro. As detailed in a new PlayStation Blog post, Cyberpunk 2077's PS5 Pro update will bring a slew of visual changes to the game on PlayStation 5 Pro. The biggest change is that it will now use PSSR to upscale the game to 4K, and it will feature ray traced lighting, shadows, and reflections on PS5 Pro. It will be a free update that will be available for players playing on a PlayStation 5 Pro.

Cyberpunbk 2077 PS5 Pro Enhanced version will feature three gameplay modes, giving gamers the choice to optimize their gameplay experience for visuals or the best performance. Ray Tracing Pro mode will enable all RT features, including RT reflections, ambient occlusion, skylight, shadows, and emissive lighting, with a frame rate target of 40 FPS on VRR displays or 30 FPS without VRR. Performance mode will feature the highest frame rate target, at 90 FPS with "high image fidelity," although it isn't specified which features are enabled in Performance mode. Meanwhile, Ray Tracing mode will target 60 FPS with "select ray tracing enhancements" enabled, although CDPR again doesn't specify resolution or RT enhancements for this mode.

2026 has thus far been a busy year for gaming mice releases, with hits like the Razer Viper V4 Pro and VXE's upcoming Logitech G305 alternative launching already. Now, SteelSeries seems to be making something of a come-back in the gaming mouse game, with an as yet unreleased Rival Pro and Rival Pro Mini, which have shown up on Reddit in what appears to be an accidental early leak. If the retail packaging shown off in the Reddit post is anything to go by, the mouse will have a couple of nifty features to set it apart from the rest of SteelSeries's line-up.

Despite the Rival moniker, the Rival Pro Mini looks a lot more like the SteelSeries Prime wireless mouse than the rest of the SteelSeries Rival gaming mice. The Rival Pro Mini will weigh in at 49 g and use the PixArt PAW 3950 sensor that has become ubiquitous in flagship gaming mice in recent years. The Rival Pro Mini's main clicks will be optical switches with a 100 million-click MTBF rating. One of the standout features is the "Infinite Power" swappable battery system, which is similar to those used by Angry Miao in the Infinity AM series and Glorious in the Model O3 Wireless. The Rival Pro and Pro Mini will also have 8 kHz wireless connectivity and 100% PTFE skates.

Late last week, we reported on a new series of rowhammer bit-flip attacks targeting GDDR6-based NVIDIA GPUs. Most of these attacks can be mitigated by enabling IOMMU through the BIOS, which restricts the memory regions the GPU can access on the host system, thereby closing the primary attack path. However, researchers from the University of Toronto have introduced "GPUBreach," which can bypass IOMMU and enable CPU-side privilege escalation, unlike the previous "GDDRHammer" and "GeForge" attacks. In most typical server, workstation, and even PC configurations, IOMMU restricts the GPU's access to the CPU's physical addresses, preventing direct memory access. These are the typical DMA-based attacks that the Input-Output Memory Management Unit protects users from. However, the new "GPUBreach" operates differently.

For example, "GPUBreach" exploits memory-safe bugs in the actual GPU driver and corrupts them. When IOMMU confines the GPU's direct memory access to driver-assigned buffers, the new exploit corrupts metadata within these permitted buffers. This causes the driver, which has kernel privileges enabled on the CPU host, to perform out-of-band writes to the buffer, effectively bypassing any protection IOMMU can offer. This logic is built into the kernel by default, as the GPU driver is one of the most trusted components of the operating system. Hence, IOMMU bypass is possible when the metadata is corrupted. Since "GPUBreach" grants an attacker full root privilege escalation, the attack differs significantly from previous rowhammer attacks.

Intel has officially announced its participation in Elon Musk's "Terafab" project, which aims to reimagine chip manufacturing. Specifically, Intel Foundry plans to join this ambitious initiative, leveraging its significant manufacturing capabilities as one of the strategically important companies in the U.S. However, the specifics of Intel's involvement remain unclear, as it is not yet known how Intel will officially contribute to the Terafab project. The company has stated that since Terafab aims to produce 1 terawatt per year of compute power for AI and robots serving xAI, SpaceX, and Tesla. Intel will assist in designing silicon, manufacturing it, and providing some of the world's most advanced packaging technologies, such as EMIB. It is likely that some of Intel's facilities, which are currently being expanded, will become part of the network needed for the Terafab project, while the Terafab facility itself conducts custom work guided by Intel.

The goal of Terafab is to consolidate the entire chip manufacturing process under one roof. The plant is expected to integrate several stages of semiconductor production at a single site, including logic fabrication, memory, packaging, testing, and mask production. This setup is unusual, as these steps are typically spread across multiple specialized facilities and companies. The original idea behind Terafab is that consolidating these processes could accelerate development by enabling engineers to design, test, and revise chips with fewer delays, essentially allowing for rapid prototyping. This contrasts with the traditional, lengthy process of manufacturing chips at one site, packaging them at another, and testing them in-house. Elon Musk visited Intel's CEO Lip-Bu Tan over the past weekend securing a deal.

Major suppliers are continuing to phase out production of mature products below DDR4, according to TrendForce's latest research on the memory industry. As supply tightens structurally, DRAM prices have already posted significant cumulative increases in recent months.

TrendForce forecasts that consumer DRAM contract prices will continue to rise by 45-50% QoQ in 2Q26 after taking into account ongoing supply reductions, order transfers, and the slower pace of capacity expansion among Taiwanese suppliers.

StarTech.com, a global provider of performance connectivity solutions for IT professionals, announced the release of its next-generation Driverless Multi-monitor USB-C Docking Stations for Windows environments utilizing multi-stream transport (MST) with HDMI and DisplayPort compatible models. Built for enterprise Windows environments, the docks support enterprise mixed hardware platforms including Intel, AMD and Snapdragon-based systems while enabling driverless deployment and up to 100 W of power delivery.

Key features include:

• Dual 4K 60 Hz display support or Dual 4K 60 Hz + one 4K 30 Hz with the triple display dock.
• Driverless deployment for faster rollout and less troubleshooting.
• USB ports up to 10 Gbps.
• Mountable design with integrated security lock slots.

Introducing GHS Eternal and GHS Eternal RGB, wired gaming headsets that prove great gear doesn't have to cost a fortune. GHS Eternal and GHS Eternal RGB are the first entry into the new Gaming Headset line, and round out the Glorious product portfolio, covering keyboards, mice, accessories, and now gaming audio.

GHS Eternal and GHS Eternal RGB add to the Glorious Eternal product lineup alongside Model O Eternal, to bring high-quality and affordable gear to gamers around the world. The Eternal lineup exists because great gear shouldn't cost a fortune, and GHS Eternal and GHS Eternal RGB extend that ethos into the world of gaming audio.

ASUS today announced the U.S. availability of its latest Zenbook lineup, headlined by the all-new Zenbook A16. Setting a new standard for groundbreaking performance, the Zenbook A16 debuts as the fastest Snapdragon -powered laptop on the market, equipped with the top-of-the-line Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processor for unprecedented local AI capabilities. The new Zenbook series—which also features the Zenbook A14, Zenbook S16, and Zenbook S14—is unified by Ceraluminum, an ASUS-exclusive material that combines the refined touch of ceramic and strength of aluminium to offer a unique tactile experience and lasting durability. As fully certified Copilot+ PCs, these devices are built to harness the full potential of local AI, furthering ASUS's commitment to deliver future-ready computing today and beyond.

ASUS Zenbook A16
ASUS Zenbook A16 (UX3607)—featuring the latest Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processor, which combines 18 cores and up to 80 TOPS NPU performance to unlock the next era of AI-enhanced computing—bridges the gap between ultra-portability and uncompromised performance. With a remarkable leap in CPU and GPU performance, while also optimized for superior battery efficiency, Zenbook A16 delivers fluid, lag-free performance across every scenario including media editing and rendering as well as productivity tasks. The laptop also features a vibrant 16-inch 3K 120 Hz ASUS Lumina OLED display, six super-liner speakers, and a comprehensive array of full-size I/O ports. Despite its expansive display, the laptop's sleek, all-Ceraluminum 2.65lbs.

Every year, the moto g stylus stands apart as the only smartphone in its price tier to offer a true stylus experience, giving users a precise, intuitive way to capture ideas the moment inspiration strikes. This year, Motorola builds on that foundation with the new moto g stylus - 2026, now featuring a built-in active stylus, and marks an important expansion of its portfolio with the moto pad - 2026. Together, these devices are designed to support creativity, productivity, and play across screens.

moto g stylus - 2026: Active pen within reach
From focused study sessions to well-earned downtime, today's devices need to move as fast as inspiration does. The integrated active stylus on the moto g stylus - 2026 delivers next-level precision for note-taking, gaming, and creative expression. The new active stylus responds to tilt and pressure in supported apps, enabling broader shading, finer lines, and more natural strokes, bringing a pen‑on‑paper feel to everyday tasks.

Corsair is proud to unveil the newest additions to the modular FRAME Series Case family; the FRAME 4000X RS and the FRAME 4000D WOOD RS. The FRAME 4000X features an all-new ventilated front panel with built-in RGB lighting and 64 RGB LEDs for a customizable light show, while the FRAME 4000D WOOD sports a front panel made with real wood for great airflow and a natural look. Both cases deliver new aesthetic options to the FRAME 4000 Series lineup while offering excellent cooling performance and easy upgradeability.

The all-new FRAME 4000X RS was created for DIY PC builders who want a great looking PC with RGB lighting and excellent airflow. It includes the new RGB Flow front panel that features 64 built-in RGB LEDs for a customizable light show with effective airflow. The RGB lights on the front panel can be connected to the motherboard's +5V RGB header for easy lighting management via motherboard software.

ZOWIE, a leading global esports brand and part of BenQ Corporation, has been named by Riot Games as the official monitor for the VALORANT Champions Tour Americas (VCTA). This collaboration is grounded in a shared commitment to competitive performance and player-first standards. Trusted by professional FPS players worldwide, ZOWIE monitors are engineered for precision, responsiveness, and consistency under tournament conditions, delivering a performance benchmark that meets the demands of top-tier competition.

ZOWIE's best in class XL2566X+ Gaming Monitor will be used on stage during VCT Americas competitions, giving pro players elite performance when it matters most. The XL2566X+ features a 400 Hz Fast TN Panel with native FHD and DyAc 2 technology to deliver industry-leading motion clarity, and clear, sharp visuals with enhanced color modes. Designed specifically for FPS games, ZOWIE monitors provide stable, predictable performance, empowering players to Strive for Perfection.

LG Electronics, the #1 OLED Gaming Monitor Brand in the USA, today announced pricing and availability for two new additions to its 2026 UltraGear Evo gaming monitor lineup: the LG UltraGear Evo GX9 (model: 39GX950B-B), the world's first 39-inch 5K2K curved OLED gaming monitor, and the LG UltraGear Evo GM9 (model: 27GM950B-B), a 27-inch 5K Hyper Mini LED gaming monitor. Both monitors bring next-generation display performance and AI-powered features to competitive and immersive gaming, giving players sharper visuals, faster response times, and smarter connectivity than previous generations. Both monitors are available for pre-order today at LG.com - The LG UltraGear GX9 at $1,799.99 and the LG UltraGear Evo GM9 for $1,199. Pre-orders placed through May 3 include the option to add LG Premium Care, extending the standard warranty by two years, for only $1.

LG UltraGear Evo GX9—World's First 39-Inch 5K2K Curved OLED
From the #1 OLED Gaming Monitor Brand in the USA the LG UltraGear Evo GX9 brings impeccable OLED picture performance to a size and scale not previously available, with near-instant 0.03 ms (GtG) response time and a 39-inch 5K2K canvas. As the world's first 39-inch 5K2K (5120×2160) curved OLED gaming monitor, its 21:9 ultrawide format with 1500R curve and 143 PPI pixel density, offering a wider, more panoramic view and crisp text clarity that pulls players deeper into the action.

Zyxel Networks, a leader in delivering secure and AI-powered cloud networking solutions, today announced the launch of the WBE665S BE22000 12-stream Wi-Fi 7 Triple-Radio NebulaFlex Pro ruggedized access point. The new solution presents MSPs and installers with an opportunity to address the rising demand for fast, reliable wireless connectivity within industrialized and challenging environments. Combining a durable IP67-rated weatherproof design and AI-powered cloud management, the WBE665S is designed for professional installers deploying networks in demanding locations.

In warehousing and distribution, manufacturing, cold storage, large-scale retail and other sectors, Wi-Fi is now being extended into zones that were once considered too harsh for wireless connectivity. Forklift trucks run connected tablets, while IoT sensors track the movement of consignments and goods, and handheld barcode scanners are used to drive greater efficiency and accuracy. In these environments, hazards such as extreme temperatures, humidity and dust are common and dropped connections, downtime and hardware failures can disrupt operations.

Sonnet Technologies, a US-based long-time provider of connectivity solutions for Mac, Windows, and Linux systems, has released two new Thunderbolt 5 docking stations: the Echo 20 SecureDock and Echo 21 SuperDock. Both target professional users looking for high-speed I/O, with the key difference being built-in storage support on the higher-end model. The two docking stations are mostly identical in terms of connectivity. Both feature three Thunderbolt 5 ports, a host connection capable of up to 140 W of power, and two downstream ports for peripherals and daisy-chaining. There are also nine USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports split between Type-A and Type-C, a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port with backward compatibility, and dual display outputs via HDMI and DisplayPort. Depending on the host system, the docks can drive up to four displays, with support reaching 8K at 60 Hz on Windows systems.

The Echo 21 adds an internal M.2 NVMe slot taking drives up to 8 TB, with transfer speeds reaching 3,300 MB/s. This makes it suitable for local media storage or backup use cases without requiring external drives. Both models feature high-res audio I/O at up to 24-bit/192 kHz, plus full-size SD and microSD card readers. Compatibility covers Apple M-series Macs, older Intel Macs with Thunderbolt 3, and Windows or Chromebook machines with Thunderbolt 4, 5, or USB4. The Echo 20 SecureDock is available now at $449.99, with the Echo 21 SuperDock following in late May at $499.99.

IBASE Technology Inc., a leading manufacturer of embedded and edge computing solutions, launches the MBB1002, a powerful AI-ready eATX motherboard engineered to accelerate next-generation edge AI and data-intensive applications. Powered by AMD EPYC Embedded 8004 series processors, it delivers exceptional multi-core performance and outstanding power efficiency, enabling faster AI inference, real-time analytics, and high-throughput computing at the edge.

Built for scalability and performance, the MBB1002 supports up to 576 GB DDR5-4800 ECC memory for reliable, high-speed data processing. Five PCIe Gen 5 x16 slots unlock unmatched flexibility for integrating GPUs and AI accelerators, empowering system integrators to scale performance based on evolving workload demands. With dual 10GbE LAN and high-speed NVMe storage support, the platform ensures ultra-fast data transfer and seamless system responsiveness for mission-critical deployments.

ASUS today announced the ProArt Router PRT-BE5000 and ProArt Switch PQG-U1080, introducing networking solutions into the ProArt family of Creator-First devices designed for modern studios. Joining the existing ProArt lineup of laptops, displays, graphics cards, motherboards, and other creator-focused products, these new devices help build a more complete studio infrastructure for creators. Combining dual-band Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, intelligent traffic prioritization, and high-speed multi-gigabit wired expansion, the ProArt Router PRT-BE5000 and ProArt Switch PQG-U1080 enable quick file transfers, cloud collaboration, and stable connections across multiple creative devices.

The ProArt Router PRT-BE5000 delivers dual-band Wi-Fi 7 with throughput performance of up to 5000 Mbps plus Multi-Link Operation (MLO), and dual 2.5G WAN/LAN connectivity for flexible, high-speed wired connections. Creator-First adaptive QoE intelligently prioritizes creative traffic in real time, helping to ensure fast file transfers, smooth cloud collaboration, and streaming across connected devices, in harmony with other network activity. ASUS Smart Home Master software further simplifies network segmentation through dedicated SSIDs for IoT devices and VPN connections, enabling more intuitive management across studio and personal environments.

As the previously leaked launch date of Sony's upcoming PlayStation 6 approaches, leaks and rumors abound, with many claiming that the upcoming gaming console will launch later than initially expected. Now, reputable leaker, KeplerL2, has taken to the NeoGAF forums to dispel some of the doom and gloom surrounding the launch date and potential delays of the PS6. The leaker's reasoning stems not from some insider information, but rather from a simple application of logic, asking a fellow commenter "What copium? You think AMD is gonna waste resources doing validation on something they think will get delayed?"

The reasoning seems to be that, based on information like prior leaks, that AMD has already been working on custom APUs for both the living room version and the handheld model of the PlayStation 6, and that AMD would not continue validation of those APUs if it thought there were supply constraints that would lead to a delay ahead of the console family's expected launch date. It's also possible that AMD and Sony signed the supply contracts for the Canis and Orion APUs before the current DRAM crisis was in full swing, effectively making a launch delay impossible or at least less likely. However, this would mean that the console makers would have a batch of hardware ready for launch followed by intermittent or delayed supply—at least as long as the DRAM shortage holds. There have also been rumors that Sony will be drastically increasing the price of the PS6 consoles compared to the PS5 generation, although this appears to be at least somewhat contingent on Microsoft's Xbox Helix pricing strategy.

Microsoft has been addressing the recent wave of "Microslop" criticism that has emerged online in response to the forced integration of AI into its products. Specifically, Microsoft has been promoting its Copilot applications, products, and even Copilot-branded hardware like Copilot+ AI PCs to consumers. However, this is just the scratching the surface, as the actual number of Copilot variants is much higher than what the average PC enthusiast might consider. If you've ever wondered how many Copilot applications exist, the official count stands at 80 Copilot applications, products, services, and hardware that the Redmond giant has developed. Across every Microsoft vertical, there is a Copilot icon in some form, even present on Copilot+ PCs with its own dedicated Copilot key. This represents the biggest branding overhaul in Microsoft's history, as the company traditionally distinguished products with unique features and names.

However, the popularity of its ecosystem is at an all-time low, particularly within the PC community, which interacts most with the Windows 11 operating system and the Microsoft 365 suite of applications, formerly known as the Office package, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and others. Regular consumers are largely unaware of the extent of the Copilot branding, as Microsoft has extended its AI narrative to consumer and business chatbots, developer tools, desktop applications, Copilot applications within other applications, enterprise platforms, hardware, and business software serving the enterprise sector. At some point, the community narrative suggests that the branding is being pushed a bit too aggressively, as Windows 11 users, who interact daily with the world's most widely distributed operating system, have openly discussed the drawbacks of the forced Copilot integration.

Intel's upcoming "Nova Lake" CPU generation, part of the Core Ultra 400 series, will be a major refresh of the company's P and E-core hybrid design. While many specifications have been largely leaked, the exact integrated GPU configuration remained a mystery until now. One of the most reliable Intel leakers, Jaykihn, has revealed that Intel plans to use the Xe3 generation of graphics, which is found in the current "Panther Lake" Arc B300 series of integrated GPUs. The display and media engine will come from the Xe3P "Crescent Island." Previously, we reported the source's claim that the "Nova Lake" display and media engine would incorporate some IP elements from the Xe4 "Druid" generation of graphics. However, the actual underlying hardware is not related to Xe4 and instead borrows IP from Xe3P.

Intel's plans for "Nova Lake" are focused on late 2026, with the entire lineup expected to roll out in early 2027. The platform will support DDR5 memory at 8,000 MT/s out of the box, without any overclocking. This indicates an improved integrated memory controller on the Nova Lake platform, which seems ready to handle those speeds even before XMP or factory-overclocked modules are considered. It also suggests that Intel is pushing memory support further than its current controller, which reaches DDR5-7200 on the current "Arrow Lake Refresh," alongside the new core IP and updated configuration.

Intel has quietly added the Core Ultra 7 251HX to its Arrow Lake HX lineup, skipping any formal announcement. The chip simply appeared on the Intel website a few weeks after it surfaced in Lenovo Legion 5i 2026 and MSI Raider 16 HX listings. The 251HX is an 18-core, 18-thread part with 6 Performance cores and 12 Efficient cores, slotting between the Core Ultra 5 245HX and the Core Ultra 7 255HX. Compared to the 255HX, it drops two P-cores and loses two threads, but keeps the same 12 E-cores and 30 MB of Smart Cache. TDP range stays identical at 55 W base and up to 160 W maximum turbo power. Max Turbo comes in at 5.1 GHz, 100 MHz below the 255HX, but the E-core base clock actually jumps 700 MHz to 2.5 GHz, and the P-core base is up 500 MHz as well at 2.9 GHz. Memory support goes up to DDR5-6400.

The integrated graphics drop to three Xe3 cores clocked up to 1.8 GHz, down from four on the 255HX, which also trims AI performance from 33 TOPS to 30. Not a dramatic difference, but worth noting if NPU performance matters for a specific workload. As an endnote, the Core Ultra 7 251HX sits between the Core Ultra 5 245HX with its 14 cores in a 6P+8E layout and 24 MB of cache, and the 20-core Core Ultra 7 255HX and 265HX sitting above.

Steam is reportedly in the process of adding a "Frame Estimator" tool that can estimate your PC's performance before you purchase a game. As you know, Valve's Steam platform is the largest gaming platform in the world, with access to millions of PCs. The Steam Client application offers an option to include your PC in Valve's telemetry system, which processes data such as your PC's specifications and game information, including your library. Using these data points, Steam will estimate how many frames per second your PC can generate in any game, depending on your configuration. For example, for a specific CPU, GPU, and available system memory, the Steam Client will indicate whether a game can reach 60 FPS at 1440p using high settings, or whatever your preference is. We can only speculate at this point about what the feature will look like, as Steam is still refining it before the public beta release.

Additionally, Valve has already started asking users for anonymous FPS data collection about a month ago whenever they run a game. With this data pool, likely involving millions of participants, Valve aims to build a system that estimates your FPS output based on your specific PC configuration, without needing to run a game first. Reportedly, this feature will appear in the Steam Client and show how much performance your PC can deliver before you even purchase a game. This is a classic recommendation system that will indicate what your configuration typically delivers at specific game settings and resolutions.

Intel will continue to ensure production of its 14th Gen Core "Raptor Lake Refresh" desktop processors, 700-series motherboard chipset, and ensure continued availability of the Socket LGA1700 platform. In an interview with Club386, Intel's VP and GM of client segment technical marketing, Robert Hallock, said that Raptor Lake remains a big part of Intel's client segment strategy, and that these processors will continue to be "abundantly available." Hallock also hinted that Intel could get motherboard vendors to innovate boards with both DDR4 and DDR5 memory slots, so consumers can choose between the two memory types, picking cheaper DDR4 memory, and upgrading to DDR5 down the line.

"Raptor Lake is a big part of our strategy - I want to be very clear about that," says Hallock. "It's still really, really good, even with multiple generations of hardware from other vendors coming after it, so it's not going anywhere. I want people to understand that Raptor Lake will continue to be abundantly available," Hallock said. "You've also seen some new motherboard announcements that support both DDR4 and 5 on Raptor Lake, as kind of like a bridge between worlds for people," he added. "That is reflective of our overall confidence and expectations." Companies like ASRock are already innovating such boards, and we could expect more such products in 2026.

Seasonic teased the Japan-exclusive FOCUS ATX 3.1 Sakura Limited Edition power supplies. These are design variants of the FOCUS ATX 3.1 line of PSUs that feature a white housing with cherry blossom printed design, Sakura-pink lettering, and a matching white 135 mm cooling fan. The PSU includes white, individually-sleeved modular cables. The PSU offers 80 Plus Gold switching efficiency, and meets both ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1CEM specifications, a native 12V-2x6 connector, Seasonic's innovative OptiSink cooling design, and a segment-leading 10-year product warranty. The company didn't reveal pricing or availability information, the PSU is likely to be Japan-exclusive.

Canadian online retailers have started putting up early listings of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition desktop processor, which was launched earlier this month, but without a price announcement. The processor will start selling from April 22, 2026. Ahead of this date, Canadian retailers, ShopRBC and PC-Canada, listed the processor. ShopRBC listed it for CAD $1,375, while PC-Canada had it up for CAD $1,374. It so happens that these prices convert to approximately USD $990, confirming the popular theory that AMD could give the 9950X3D2 Dual Edition an MSRP of $999, making it the Ryzen-branded desktop processor with the highest launch price, not counting Threadripper HEDT SKUs.

The Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 is designed to be a flagship 16-core/32-thread Socket AM5 desktop part with 3D V-Cache memory on both its 8-core "Zen 5" chiplets, for a combined L3 cache of 192 MB, and total cache of 208 MB. The chip should, in theory, offer better gaming performance than the regular 9950X3D, since game workloads could be executed on either of the two CCDs. Multithreaded productivity workloads that are heavy on streaming data should benefit from the large caches, too. The chip comes with a feisty TDP of 200 W.

Intel has recently released a new video showcasing its latest Texture Set Neural Compression (TSNC) technology, which delivers textures up to 18 times smaller while maintaining visual quality with little to no noticeable difference compared to the industry-standard compression. Using AI-based neural networks, Intel's graphics team processes input data from industry-standard BCn textures. These textures are compressed through an AI model encoder, encoded in the latest space values, and then decoded by a network decoder to decompress the textures. The result is output data textures that are up to 18 times smaller, with some quality loss at maximum compression settings. As with any neural technology, TSNC is trained on millions of standardized textures to create an AI model that can replace traditionally compressed textures in the BCn format. This results in new, much smaller game textures that load faster, use less VRAM, and perform better thanks to modern GPU technology.

There are several ways to apply TSNC neural compression, depending on the desired outcome, whether it's saving game installation size, reducing VRAM usage, or improving performance. Variant A, as Intel calls it, can achieve up to 9 times compression of the standard texture set, with little to no difference in visual quality—almost an unnoticeable drop. However, when the goal is maximum efficiency and requires up to 18 times texture compression, Intel offers Variant B of the TSNC neural network. This variant provides a significant performance boost, with the trade-off being a modest visual change. Using NVIDIA's FLIP tool to measure quality drop in generated images, Intel notes that Variant A experiences a 5% visual quality drop, while Variant B sees up to a 7% quality drop, which is noticeably more.You can judge for yourself by viewing the comparison images below.

Intel has unexpectedly discontinued the official XeSS plugin for the Unity game engine, leaving the Unity ecosystem without XeSS frame generation, temporal super sampling, and antialiasing technology. This decision comes just a month after Intel released its official XeSS 3.0 software development kit for game studios, which includes features like multi-frame generation and the ability for XeSS 3.0 to use external memory heaps for GPU memory allocated by the game engine. This allows XeSS and the engine to operate on the same VRAM blocks instead of each reserving separate ones. However, it is unclear if XeSS 3.0 works with the latest Unity 6 engine, as official support has been withdrawn and the repository now serves as a public archive on GitHub. Similarly, AMD abandoned the Unity platform years ago, leaving only FSR 2.0 support since the last update. The focus now seems to be on other game engines like Unreal Engine 5 and its future versions, which are receiving all the latest advancements from both Intel and AMD.

Intel on GitHubIntel will not provide or guarantee development of or support for this project, including but not limited to, maintenance, bug fixes, new releases or updates. Patches to this project are no longer accepted by Intel. If you have an ongoing need to use this project, are interested in independently developing it, or would like to maintain patches for the community, please create your own fork of the project.

Sapphire introduced two new China-specific graphics cards, the Radeon RX 9070 GRE Pulse Pro, and the Radeon RX 9060 XT Pulse S. The two feature a price-performance ratio that's highly optimized for the Chinese market, banking on the success of China-specific products from previous generations. The RX 9070 GRE Pulse Pro features a board design that's similar to that of the RX 9070 series Pure brand from the company, but colored black overall. The card appears high-end when installed, with a meaty triple-slot cooling solution, and a board length of 32 cm. It uses a pair of 8-pin PCIe power inputs. Sapphire has given this card a Game clock of 2920 MHz boost, and 2340 MHz Game clock. Display outputs include two each of HDMI 2.1b and DisplayPort 2.1a.

Carved out from the 4 nm "Navi 48" silicon, the RX 9070 GRE has 48 RDNA 4 compute units, for 3,072 stream processors. It gets 12 GB of 20 Gbps GDDR6 memory across a 192-bit wide memory bus. The RX 9070 GRE is hence positioned between the global RX 9070 and RX 9060 XT 16 GB. Next up, is the Sapphire Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB Pulse S. This is a compacted version of the global RX 9060 XT 8 GB Pulse. While the global card has a 24 cm board length with 12.4 cm height, the China-specific Pulse S card is just 20 cm in length, with 12.2 cm height. Both cards are 2 slots thick.

Happy Easter to those of you that celebrate and for whatever reason, Wednesday this coming week is crammed full of new releases. We kick off the week with a Finnish hardcore post-apocalyptic survival game, which is unlikely to be everyone's cup of coffee. Monday kicks off with what might end up becoming a lawsuit with Nintendo, followed by a dark fantasy dungeon crawler and by Wednesday we take a hard left with an action adventure game that also includes racing. Thursday we veer right with a tree city builder and the week ends with trying to end humanity. We got a few more games that didn't quite make the list, of which most are early access games.

Road to Vostok / This week's major release / Early access / Tuesday 7 April
Road to Vostok is a hardcore single-player survival game set in a post-apocalyptic border zone between Finland and Russia. Survive, loot, plan and prepare to cross the border into Vostok, a permadeath zone where one mistake can end it all. Steam link

Microsoft is now force-installing the latest version of Windows 11, the 25H2, for users of the older 24H2 version of the operating system. Through what Microsoft calls a "machine learning-based intelligent rollout," the company is automatically updating 24H2 users to Windows 11 25H2 when their devices are ready. This forced update is part of a staged update plan for Windows 11, where Microsoft is gradually updating systems worldwide to phase out the 24H2 version, as support for this operating system will officially end on October 13, 2026. It makes sense to upgrade users to an operating system with a longer support period. However, Windows 11 users might be frustrated with the constant forced upgrades that Microsoft is pushing, which seem to offer little real-world benefit beyond regular security maintenance.

Regarding Windows versions, the situation has been a bit confusing recently. Microsoft has dedicated the 26H1 update exclusively for Windows-on-Arm devices, supporting new silicon, including the Snapdragon X2 Elite and X2 Plus platforms, as well as the potential launch of NVIDIA's N1/N1X laptop SoCs. The latest feature and security updates have been delivered through both the 24H2 and 25H2 versions, which have been the primary focus for x86-based PC systems. However, as support for 24H2 is coming to an end, the focus is gradually shifting to 25H2. There is still time before October of this year, and Microsoft is using AI for a staged rollout. Importantly, users cannot refuse this update. They can only schedule the restart for the update to be applied or postpone it slightly before it is finally installed.

NVIDIA has released more details about its Neural Texture Compression (NTC) technology, which significantly reduces GPU VRAM usage by up to seven times. In a technology demo presented during one of the GTC 2026 sessions, NVIDIA revealed that its Neural Texture Compression can reduce VRAM usage from 6.5 GB to just 970 MB in certain scenes. This was demonstrated in a video comparing a Tuscan Villa and its interior. With virtually no difference in texture appearance, Neural Texture Compression represents a major advancement in maintaining graphics fidelity while freeing up GPU memory for more game content. For instance, in both the exterior of the Tuscan Villa and the interior demo showcasing detailed tableware, NTC technology provides users with high-quality textures while maintaining excellent material quality.

NTC technology is an AI-driven texture output that allows games to feature high-quality complex materials without a performance penalty. Games can benefit from the substantial VRAM reduction that NTC offers while maintaining the same texture quality. Traditionally, games use block-compressed formats like BCn, such as BC5, BC6, or BC7, which are commonly applied in 4x4 pixel formats and rendered by the GPU. However, NVIDIA has trained small neural networks that can produce the desired pixel format and texture appearance at a fraction of the size of traditional texture compression formats. Instead of using gigabytes of VRAM for textures, NTC drastically reduces VRAM usage by emulating textures, allowing for either much lower VRAM consumption or significantly enhanced material appearance, depending on the game developer's goals. This enables games to incorporate much more complex scenery without any performance penalty, relying on NVIDIA's AI technology to handle the workload. Below is the demonstration of Tuscan Villa, which shows just how the scene looks.

Intel's long-awaited gaming CPU king, the Core 200 "Bartlett Lake-S," is an intriguing CPU generation that isn't actually meant for gaming. The top version, the Core 9 273PQE, is a 12-core, 24-thread processor launched exclusively for commercial and industrial PC OEM markets as an edge/embedded design, and it's not available for the DIY PC crowd. Intel didn't plan for these CPUs to run on commercial motherboard chipsets, and major motherboard manufacturers have confirmed this. However, a modder has achieved something remarkable by booting Intel's "Bartlett Lake" Core 9 273PQE processor into the Windows operating system on a standard Z790 motherboard. Previously, these chips could only reach the POST stage on consumer LGA 1700 boards, but they couldn't run a fully functioning operating system.

Built on the Intel 7 node and designed for Socket LGA1700, "Bartlett Lake" is a non-hybrid chip featuring up to 12 "Raptor Cove" P-cores without any E-core clusters. It was not intended to be compatible with consumer Intel Z790 chipset motherboards. However, main issue was never the socket itself. "Bartlett Lake" shares the same physical LGA 1700 layout as Intel's "Raptor Lake" chips, but that doesn't automatically make it compatible with consumer boards. Typically, the absence of official BIOS and microcode support prevents proper CPU initialization. Earlier attempts usually resulted in startup failures, blank screens, or error codes before progressing further. This recent success changes that narrative. By modifying the motherboard firmware to accept the processor during early boot, the modder overcame the hurdles that had previously caused failures. Once the system accepted the chip at initialization, Windows loaded successfully.

Lightbulb Crew is thrilled to announce that Ex Sanguis, their blood- and strategy-rich game, will release on Steam in Early Access on May 21st! So what's Ex Sanguis all about? You're here to lead elite warriors, called Stillae, to save a dying world from the forces of stasis. And how do you do that? Through many blood-filled turn-based battles, of course!

While engaging in turn-based combat, you'll be able to strategically trigger a chain of events across the battlefield to turn the tide. Use Timeline Effects that can hasten, delay, or swap time positions to impact the turn order in a way that favors you and disadvantages foes.

Intel is reportedly preparing yet another CPU price hike, adding to the previous increases implemented in February and March. According to the latest research and channel checks from Chinese market research firm Minutes Logic Society, Intel plans to add another price increase to its existing ones. In February, Intel implemented a first round of CPU price increases ranging from 10% to 15%, depending on the segment and SKU. Just a month later, the company introduced another increase in March, around 15%, with earlier reports suggesting a 10% hike for the consumer CPU sector, like the Core Ultra family of CPUs. This time, we are expecting another increase in May across the overall CPU portfolio, meaning that Intel will again raise prices by a few more percent, depending on the CPU sector, whether it is a Core Ultra CPU or a Xeon server processor.

The total cumulative goal for the price hike is about 30% higher compared to 2025 pricing. Interestingly, Intel is facing a significant problem with CPU supply that it can't address immediately. While a large portion of CPU production is internal, with Intel Foundry handling a bulk of orders, some CPUs require TSMC's silicon for Intel to ship these CPUs. Especially with multi-die packaging, where some parts are manufactured on Intel's node and others on TSMC's node, shipping is impossible until every part arrives and Intel assembles it with its advanced packaging.

GMKtec has launched the NucBox K17, a compact mini PC featuring an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor, a Lunar Lake chip built on TSMC 3 nm process with 8 cores, a 2.1 GHz base clock, and up to 4.5 GHz boost on the performance cores. Total AI compute comes in at 97 TOPS across the CPU, Arc 130V iGPU, and dedicated NPU, with the NPU alone rated at 40 TOPS. The Intel Arc 130V handles graphics, clocking up to 1.85 GHz and supporting ray tracing and XeSS upscaling. Triple display output is available via two HDMI ports and a USB4 port, with support for resolutions up to 8K. That same USB4 port runs at 40 Gbps and supports eGPU connectivity, Power Delivery, and display output simultaneously.

For memory, it features 16 GB of LPDDR5X at 8533 MT/s, soldered and non-upgradeable. Storage ships as a PCIe 4.0 M.2 2280 SSD in 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB, and there's a second M.2 slot that accepts a PCIe Gen 5 x4 drive for a total expandable storage of 16 TB across both slots. Note that SATA SSDs are not supported. Networking covers Wi-Fi 6E at up to 2.4 Gbps, Bluetooth 5.2, and a 2.5G Ethernet port via an Intel i226-V controller. The Mini PC measures 127.5 x 127 x 44.5 mm, weighs around 460 g, and is powered by a 100 W adapter.

Rowhammer attacks exploit vulnerabilities in DRAM hardware by causing targeted bit-flips, allowing attackers to bypass memory isolation and gain control over a device. These attacks were initially focused on CPUs and their associated DDR memory, such as DDR4. However, recent research indicates that NVIDIA GPUs are also vulnerable due to the fragile nature of the GDDR6 memory they use, which directly compromises the CPU host. Two independent research teams have discovered ways to exploit this decades-old memory vulnerability against modern graphics hardware, with trouble extending beyond the GPU itself. The "GDDRHammer" and "GeForge" groups have each developed functional exploits that use Rowhammer bit-flips in NVIDIA GPUs with GDDR6 memory to gain complete control over the host CPU's memory. This attack can perform bit-flips on some NVIDIA GPU models, ranging from the "Ampere" to "Ada Lovelace" families of cards.

An attacker who succeeds in this can read and write anything stored in the machine's main memory. Both teams have also introduced new Rowhammer techniques specifically designed for GPU architecture, achieving a significantly higher rate of bit-flips on GDDR6 memory than previous methods. The critical step in both exploit chains involves targeting the GPU's memory allocator, using controlled bit-flips to corrupt the GPU's page tables. Once these page tables are compromised, the attacker gains arbitrary read and write access to CPU memory, breaking down the security boundary between the graphics subsystem and the rest of the machine. The end result is a full system compromise, as the attacker can manipulate memory at will and gain root access, achieving total control without interacting with privileged software paths. The affected GPUs include the GeForce RTX 3060, which experienced 1,171 bit-flips, and the RTX 6000 "Ada" GPU, which saw 202 bit-flips from the attack.

MSI today introduced the Herald BE9400, a PCIe network adapter that provides Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity to any PC with a vacant PCIe slot and USB 2.0 header. The card supports 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7), 802.11axe (Wi-Fi 6E), 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), and older standards, across the 6 GHz, 5 GHz, and 2.4 GHz radio bands, with a peak Tri-Band bandwidth of 5764 Mbps. The adapter offers a channel width of 320 MHz. Other features include MLO (multi-link operation) and 4K QAM. Under the hood, the Herald BE9400 appears to be based on the MediaTek MT7927 controller, with a PCI-Express 4.0 x1 host interface. MSI includes an antenna module with a magnetized base that sits firmly on top of your PC case. The company didn't reveal pricing information.