KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, in collaboration with Nixxes Software, is proud to announce that DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH is now available on PC through the Steam and Epic Games Store. Watch the brand-new launch trailer, edited by Hideo Kojima, here.

In this standalone sequel, DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH offers a new range of tools, weapons and vehicles at Sam's disposal. With his companions from DRAWBRIDGE by his side, Sam takes on a new adventure to connect Australia to the Chiral network. Beset on all sides by enemies, Sam will have to shoot, sneak, and sprint his way out of trouble, as well as survive natural disasters such as earthquakes, sandstorms and forest fires, and brave the ruinous Timefall as he strives to save humanity from extinction once again. The Social Strand System returns, connecting players from around the globe allowing you to shape someone else's world, and have their actions shape yours.

Today, the tactical roguelite RPG Valor of Man, developed by Legacy Forge and published by Numskull Games, launches on PC via Steam. Valor of Man combines tactical turn-based CRPG combat with the popular roguelite format to deliver a unique replay experience filled with meaningful choices and tactical complexity. With this 1.0 launch, the game introduces two new systems: Chaos Mode and Masteries.

In Chaos Mode, players can select from unlockable modifiers to create their own difficulty, allowing for more challenging or accessible experiences. Masteries are a collector's dream; the menu shows players which items, abilities, conditions and artifacts they've successfully beaten a run with, adding a meaningful long-term measure of achievement for all skill levels.

More than just a way to type, the KiiBOOM Phantom98 Lite is an upgrade for users' entire desktop experience. With its considered layout, keycaps design, premium typing feel, and seamless multi-device flow, this keyboard transforms everyday input into a daily joy, becoming the natural centerpiece of the workspace.

Thoughtful Colorways and Details
The Phantom98 Lite continues KiiBOOM's commitment to aesthetics, debuting with three themed colorways: Green Rainy Frog, Foggy Translucent, and Pink. Each curated color combination is designed to evoke a distinct atmosphere. Beyond the colorway, the textural contrast between the UV-glazed case and the PBT dye-sublimated keycaps adds depth to both the look and feel. Practicality is equally prioritized, with the magnetic nameplate discreetly storing the 2.4G receiver, ensuring style and function live in perfect harmony.

Opera GX is now on Linux. The gaming browser from Norwegian company Opera now brings its signature performance controls, gaming integrations, and unparalleled options for customization to the platform. Demand for a Linux version of Opera GX has hit a breaking point across gaming subreddits, Discord and Linux forums, with gamers and developers consistently asking for the browser to support the platform in public communities and other forums. With this release, Opera GX delivers what many in the community have been waiting for: a gaming browser that aligns with Linux's privacy-first mindset while still meeting the high-performance expectations of modern gamers.

"PC gaming has long been associated with a single dominant platform, but that's changing. Bringing GX to Linux users - who are renowned for the control they like to exert over their tools - means gamers and developers can manage browser resources, customize their setup, and keep their system performing exactly the way they want," said Maciej Kocemba, Product Director, Opera GX.

TrendForce's latest research on the foundry industry reveals that continued investment in the AI arms race by North American CSPs and AI startups will keep demand for AI processors and supporting ICs strong in 2026. Global foundry revenue is projected to grow 24.8% YoY to approximately US$218.8 billion, with TSMC expected to post the largest increase of around 32% YoY.

Demand for advanced nodes will continue to be driven by AI GPUs from companies such as NVIDIA and AMD. Meanwhile, North American CSPs, including Google, AWS, and Meta, and AI startups such as OpenAI and Groq, are accelerating the development of their own AI chips. Many of these designs are expected to enter volume production and begin shipping in 2026, becoming key drivers for 5/4 nm and more advanced process technologies.

During today's Future Games Show Spring Showcase, developer and publisher Nordcurrent revealed Defender of the Crown: The Legend Returns. The beloved 1986 strategy experience is coming to PC (Steam, GOG), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and will include three modes: Retro Mode, Classic Mode, and Kingdom Mode. An Amiga hallmark, the title has been rebuilt to bring the Saxon-Norman conflict to a new audience with modernized visuals, refined mechanics, and an ambitious expansion of its classic formula.

England is a land of chaos where the crown has been stolen, and the King is dead. Players must step into the boots of a Saxon lord to outmaneuver rival Normans, raise armies, and reclaim the throne. This remake preserves the design of the original, while updating the experience with cleaner systems and meaningful quality-of-life enhancements.

Earlier this week we reported that the memory shortage was going to persist until late 2028, but news out of Korea now suggests it might stick around all the way until 2030. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won is quoted by The Korea Times saying that "The shortage stems from a lack of wafer capacity, and securing additional wafers takes at least four to five years," continuing "We expect the industry-wide supply shortfall to persist at over 20 percent through 2030."

The company is apparently looking at ways to stabilise pricing, but as to when this will happen, is anyone's guess at this point in time. In this specific case, it's down to SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung to try and resolve the immediate situation. SK Group doesn't seem interested in building fabs outside of South Korea either, as Chey also told The Korea Times that "Korea already has the infrastructure in place, allowing for a much faster response. That is why we are concentrating our efforts here." There is at least some good news here, as it doesn't seem like SK hynix will put its entire focus on HBM memory, as the company is aware that might lead to further shortages of DRAM, which will affect the broader tech industry.

Echo Foundry Interactive, an independent game studio focused on building the next generation of music and rhythm experiences and founded by industry veterans behind the Guitar Hero, Rock Band, and DJ Hero franchises, today announced that Sound System, the highly anticipated next-generation rhythm game, will launch on Steam on October 16, 2026 for $24.99.

Sound System revives the rhythm game genre with intense gameplay, built-in creator tools, and a community platform for artists and players to share music-driven creativity. Shred guitar, play bass, or sing vocals using keyboard, controller, compatible guitar controllers, or microphone. Enjoy local split-screen or online modes, including co-op band performances with shared multipliers and effects, and head-to-head competitive modes for stage control battles.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) is proud to launch the 2026 ROG Strix G16 and Strix G18, two incredible gaming laptops featuring the latest hardware and technology to deliver incredible performance to gamers everywhere. Boasting the all-new Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, these machines are built from the ground up for enthusiast gamers. Both the ROG Strix G16 and G18 feature the latest ROG displays, cooling, and tool-less chassis designs that allow gamers to seamlessly upgrade critical components. Later this year, the flagship ROG Strix SCAR 18 will also be unveiled, delivering flagship performance in an incredibly sleek ROG chassis.

Elite performance for every arena
The 2026 Strix G16 and G18 gaming laptops are engineered for players and creators who demand uncompromising performance across competitive esports titles, visually rich AAA games, and intensive content‑creation workflows. Both models feature the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor, delivering exceptional multi‑threaded power and next‑generation AI capabilities.

MSI today announced the launch of XpertStation WS300 on NVIDIA DGX Station Architecture, a next-generation deskside AI supercomputer built to support the accelerating demands of large language models (LLMs), generative AI, and advanced data science workflows. Powered by NVIDIA GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Superchip, supporting up to 748 GB of large coherent memory and dual 400GbE networking, the platform extends advanced AI infrastructure capabilities into a compact deskside deployment model and is available for order starting today.

"MSI has a strategic vision to advance AI-first computing," said Danny Hsu, General Manager of MSI's Enterprise Platform Solutions. "With NVIDIA, we are defining the next era of AI infrastructure, bridging centralized performance and distributed innovation, and enabling organizations to move from experimentation to production with greater speed, scale, and confidence."

NACON and developer Eko Software are pleased to announce that Dragonkin: The Banished, the new Hack'N'Slash from the French studio, is now available on PC (Steam), as well as for all owners of the Digital Deluxe Edition on consoles in its final version. It will be available for all other players on March 19.

Developed by the Parisian studio Eko Software, known for its work on titles like Warhammer: Chaosbane and the How to Survive series, Dragonkin: The Banished benefited from a one-year early access period, launched on March 6, 2025, which allowed for the integration of community feedback. With 85% positive reviews on Steam since the game's last update, players can now access the ravaged world of Dragonkin: The Banished in its definitive version.

Cyber Acoustics, a trusted provider of technology solutions for education and business, today announced the WC-1000 webcam, engineered for high-quality video while eliminating features that create security risks and IT support challenges for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies, enterprises, and remote teams.

The WC-1000 is a purpose-built, video-only camera with no built-in microphone. By eliminating the mic entirely, Cyber Acoustics reduces common challenges for distributed teams and working professionals that already rely on dedicated headsets or speakerphones for audio.

Apple today announced AirPods Max 2, bringing even better Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), elevated sound quality, and intelligent features to the iconic over-ear design. Powered by H2, features like Adaptive Audio, Conversation Awareness, Voice Isolation, and Live Translation come to AirPods Max for the first time. The new AirPods Max also unlock creative possibilities for podcasters, musicians, and content creators, with useful features like studio-quality audio recording and camera remote. AirPods Max 2 will be available to order starting March 25 in midnight, starlight, orange, purple, and blue, with availability beginning early next month.

"With the incredible performance of H2, AirPods Max are upgraded with up to 1.5x more effective ANC for the ultimate all-day listening experience," said Eric Treski, Apple's director of Audio Product Marketing. "The sound quality is remarkably clean, rich, and acoustically detailed—and when combined with capabilities like Personalized Spatial Audio, AirPods Max 2 deliver a profoundly immersive experience."

Creative Technology today announced the Sound Blaster Audigy FX Pro, the newest addition to the Audigy FX series. Designed for PC builders and desktop users looking to move beyond standard onboard audio, it combines high-resolution playback, discrete 7.1 surround sound, built-in headphone amplification, and the debut of the all-new Creative Nexus app.

A Clear Upgrade for Modern Desktop Audio
In many desktop setups, audio remains one of the most overlooked upgrades. Users invest in graphics, displays, and peripherals, yet often continue relying on standard motherboard sound.

Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU) today announced it has completed the acquisition and assumed ownership of Powerchip Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation's (PSMC) P5 site in Tongluo, Miaoli County, Taiwan, under the acquisition agreement previously announced on January 17, 2026.

The new site will complement Micron's existing operations in Taiwan as an extension of the company's vertically integrated mega campus in Taichung, located approximately 15 miles away. The site includes approximately 300,000 square feet of existing 300 mm cleanroom space and will support Micron's efforts to expand supply of leading-edge DRAM products, including HBM, to meet growing AI-driven demand.

Welcome to week 12 and a jam cram packed week of rather big new releases. We kick off this week with a AAA release which is an open-world action-adventure that supposedly takes place in a desert, yet apparently not at all. This is followed by a very blocky looking RPG, several deadly sins, a cube of some kind, a walking simulator that apparently takes place on a beach and finally an ARPG that takes place after an asteroid destroyed the world. There are some additional games this week as well, as there were just too many releases this week.

Crimson Desert / This week's AAA release / Thursday 19 March
On the continent of Pywel, the rival factions of Pailune maintained a tense balance. At Kliff's side stood his steadfast Greymane comrades, but a devastating ambush in the deep of night by their sworn enemies the Black Bears leaves members of the Greymanes dead or scattered across the continent. Kliff—having lost his family in all but name—is determined to reunite with the survivors and rebuild the faction. Steam link

The journey begins today as Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is now available on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Players can dive into the latest installment in the beloved RPG series, featuring the vibrant world of Monster Hunter shaped by the bonds between Riders and monsters.

A Tale of Two Kingdoms and Twisted Fates
Set two centuries after the Rift War, the kingdoms of Azuria and Vermeil stand divided. Twin Rathalos unexpectedly hatch from a single egg, igniting a story of forbidden lands and twisted destinies. A mysterious Crystal Encroachment emerges, threatening ecosystems and habitats across the land and causing conflicts between monsters. Along the journey, players will meet companions including vice-captain Gaul, monster expert Ogden, Ranger Squad co-founder Kora, the protagonist's best friend and confidante Simon, the brand-new member of the Rangers Thea, and Eleanor the Princess of Vermeil. As the protagonist, players take on the role of Prince/Princess of Azuria, and captain of the Ranger Squad to protect endangered eggs, restore ecosystems, and confront powerful monsters. Players can also customize their protagonist's appearance to fully step into the roles.

Red Thread Games and Megabit Publishing today shared some fresh details about their highly anticipated survival mystery Hello Sunshine at the Future Games Show Spring Showcase. This latest look at Hello Sunshine focuses on the systems that drive the players' journey through a scorched, war-torn world and the relationship that they'll build with their giant robot companion along the way.

In Hello Sunshine, there is one simple rule: stay out of the sun. Step outside the robot's shade during the day and players will find that the punishing heat will eventually kill them; remain close, and they might last until nightfall.

To overcome the thermal barriers limiting AI performance, Frore Systems today unveiled LiquidJet Nexus, a new integrated liquid cooling system designed for the AI era. As AI compute densities surge, heat is emerging as a primary constraint, elevating what experts are calling the "AI Thermal Stack" - the infrastructure responsible for extracting heat from advanced computing systems and rejecting it into the atmosphere. The AI Thermal Stack is increasingly determining the compute density, system efficiency, and overall performance of AI Data Centers.

LiquidJet Nexus is designed for liquid cooling ½ U compute trays like NVIDIA Kyber, directly cooling GPUs, CPUs, DPUs, NICs, DC-DC power converters, and VRs. It integrates multiple multi-stage 3D short-loop jetchannel liquid cooling LiquidJet coldplates into a unified system. LiquidJet Nexus delivers 75% higher heat transfer efficiency, keeps components 8°C cooler, eliminating hoses, connectors, and manifolds, and reducing thermal stack weight by 65%. This unified system addresses the thermal demands of next-generation AI hardware.

Turtle Beach Corporation (Nasdaq: TBCH), a leading gaming accessories brand, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2025 and provided full year 2026 guidance for net revenue and Adjusted EBITDA.

"Our team operated with strong discipline in 2025, executing our strategic initiatives to sharpen our competitive edge," said Cris Keirn, Chief Executive Officer of Turtle Beach Corporation. "Although our fourth quarter and full-year results were below guidance due primarily to softness in North American gaming accessories markets and a lighter holiday sell-through environment, we took steps to manage costs, protect our brand position, and prepare the Company for renewed growth."

The widespread adoption of AI inference workloads in 4Q25 significantly raised requirements for data storage systems, according to TrendForce's latest findings on the enterprise SSD market. Meanwhile, enterprises accelerated upgrades to their general-purpose servers, while shortages in HDD supply pushed some demand toward SSD solutions. These factors together drove combined revenue for the world's top five enterprise SSD vendors up 51.7% QoQ to more than US$9.9 billion.

Among leading vendors, Samsung retained its top position, reporting nearly $3.66 billion in revenue in 4Q25, up 49.7% QoQ. The company demonstrated the strength of its vertically integrated business model. As concerns grew over potential DRAM shortages, many customers turned to Samsung because it can rely on its own DRAM and NAND Flash production to ensure stable SSD supply.

Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment are proud to unleash the official Launch Trailer for John Carpenter's Toxic Commando, available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, on Steam and Epic Games Store. Built on Saber's cutting-edge Swarm Engine—the technology powering World War Z: Aftermath and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2—this co-op shooter throws players headfirst into waves of grotesque zombie hordes and towering bosses ripped straight from the nightmares of a grindhouse legend. Fans of over-the-top '80s action-horror have been waiting for this one. Welcome to the apocalypse!

"The game is finally out. Play it," said John Carpenter. "It's good and it's fun. You may not be ready for these ghouls to attack you but when they do you better learn fast! They will overwhelm you. These ghouls are out for business! Time to kick ass!"

JBL is redefining the party experience and transforming any song into a seamless karaoke experience with the expansion of its AI-powered EasySing technology across the new JBL PartyBox On-the-Go 2 Plus, JBL EasySing Mics & JBL EasySing Mic Mini. By integrating real-time AI vocal removal, pitch support and intelligent vocal enhancement directly into the brand's latest PartyBox speaker and microphones, JBL is putting fans at the center of the music they love like never before.

From a powerful party speaker to ultra-portable microphones, JBL's EasySing ecosystem uses advanced on-device AI to separate vocals from any track in real time, giving listeners the freedom to reduce or remove original vocals at the touch of a button. Combined with Voice Boost high-pitch support, natural reverb, echo and noise suppression, new EasySing technology gives users the power to effortlessly customize their experience, putting them at center stage.

JBL announces the JBL Live 780NC over-ear and JBL Live 680NC on-ear headphones, built for all-day listening without compromise. The new JBL Live series makes its official debut at SXSW inside the JBL Livebrary at 3TEN at Austin City Limits Live, a reimagined library concept designed around headphone-first listening. Within the space, guests can explore curated artist collections and dedicated demo stations that put the JBL Live series at the center of the SXSW experience.

A soundtrack for the day-to-day
Featuring 40 mm dynamic drivers for excellent audio performance, the new Live headphones bring any playlists and podcasts to life with clearer, more detailed sound. Listen uninterrupted with True Adaptive Noise Cancelling 2.0. Real-time noise filtering and upgraded processing power deliver improved noise reduction, turning down even more distractions than before.

As ransomware attack methods become increasingly sophisticated, the traditional 3-2-1 backup rule faces new challenges. With this in mind, we here at ASUSTOR are changing our messaging to actively promote the new 3-2-1-1-0 backup principle for increased data security. With 3-2-1-1-0, you still need at least three copies of data, on two different types of media with one offsite, but additionally, one copy must be offline or immutable while ensuring backups are verified with zero errors. With MyArchive, easy backup methods, WORM immutable storage technology, forward-looking post-quantum cryptography technology, and advanced RAID configurations, your ASUSTOR comes with maximum hardware resilience to keep your data safe. ASUSTOR helps you implement the latest and greatest cybersecurity standards, ensuring the safety of digital assets even in extreme environments.

To achieve the extra one and zero in 3-2-1-1-0, ASUSTOR provides strong hardware support. For those who require high end performance, the Lockerstor R Pro Gen2 series prioritizes performance and security. New to ASUSTOR is support for RAID 50 and RAID 60 configurations for combining efficient transmission and even higher or dual protection. This ensures stable and uninterrupted operation even in extreme situations involving massive data transfers.

TrendForce's latest research on the semiconductor foundry industry reveals that advanced-node demand remained strong in 4Q25, driven by the tight supply of AI server GPUs and Google TPUs. Furthermore, the launch of new smartphones boosted wafer orders for mobile application processors (APs), supporting solid shipment performance.

On the mature-node side, PMIC orders related to servers and edge AI continued to keep 8-inch fabs running at high utilization rates, with some suppliers even considering price increases. Meanwhile, utilization rates at 12-inch fabs remained largely stable. Together, these factors pushed the combined revenue of the world's top ten foundries up 2.6% QoQ to nearly US$46.3 billion in 4Q25.

SolidRun, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance system-on-module (SOM) solutions, single-board computers (SBC) and network edge solutions, announced its new P100 COM Express Type 6 module family, powered by AMD Ryzen AI Embedded P100 processors. Designed for real-world edge deployments where systems don't sit still, the P100 COMx6 series targets mobile platforms as well as harsh, mission-critical environments across industrial automation, transportation, medical systems, and robotics.

"Edge AI is moving out of controlled environments and into the real world, like mobile platforms, harsh industrial sites, and mission-critical deployments where serviceability, and longevity matter as much as raw compute," said Dr. Atai Ziv, CEO of SolidRun. "Our new P100 COM Express Type 6 modules are built to deliver powerful AI performance at the edge while improving the mechanical durability and serviceability product developers need to deploy confidently in demanding environments."

Minisforum's to-be-launched AI NAS N5 MAX, has been confirmed to successfully run the built-in OpenClaw in local AI LLMs. Equipped with AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, the self-developed MinisCloud OS unleashes full power of integrated AI NAS, fulfilling diverse user needs running data locally.

With more safety handling personal data on private platform, N5 MAX is the first AI NAS in the world to integrate OpenClaw with local computing, marking a revolution in the industry.

Sonos today introduced Sonos Play and Sonos Era 100 SL, two new speakers that reflect a renewed focus on strengthening the Sonos system. Designed to deliver powerful, room-filling sound, they make it easier than ever to start and expand it room by room—creating a connected listening experience that grows with you over time.

"Much of consumer tech promises innovation, yet too often delivers isolation—new devices replacing old ones instead of building on what already works," said Tom Conrad, Chief Executive Officer of Sonos. "We believe a great sound experience shouldn't reset every time you add something new. It should get better. Sonos Play and Era 100 SL are a clear expression of what Sonos does best—creating products that feel simple on the surface, but are deeply powerful because of the system behind them."

NACON and the Spiders studio are pleased to announce that the narrative RPG GreedFall: The Dying World is now available on PC (Steam), as well as for all owners of the digital Deluxe Edition on consoles. A new video also shows players everything they need to know in under two minutes. The title will be officially released on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S this Thursday, March 12.

The story of GreedFall: The Dying World takes place three years before the events of the first opus. The Old Continent of Gacane is in agony, ravaged by a mysterious disease and incessant conflicts. Torn from your native island of Teer Fradee and taken prisoner, you must navigate this world of rival factions to regain your freedom. Use cunning, diplomacy, or combat, explore vast lands, and forge alliances with companions who can become friends, lovers, or rivals. Your choices will shape the course of your adventure and seal the fate of two worlds.

Two Cakes Studio announced that Tactical Turn-based RPG Fight Life: Vanguard in a pixel-art dark fantasy world developed by StartImpulse, is coming on Steam April 10, 2026. In honor of this, the final playtest is launching with expanded content and invites players to participate. The playtest will be available until April 1, 2026.

This playtest will include the latest demo build, additional content, and a continuation of the story of the squad that accepted the challenge of a powerful Necromancer, offering 60-90 minutes of gameplay. This gives you enough time to master the combat system, experience the tactical depth, develop strategies around character abilities, and get genuinely invested in the story.

Dynabook Americas, Inc., the gold standard for long-lasting, professional-grade laptops, today announced the new Portégé X45W, a premium 14-inch 2-in-1 convertible laptop designed to deliver productivity and flexibility across modern work environments. The Portégé X45W expands Dynabook's AMD-powered portfolio of mobile computing products, giving customers more choice with AMD Ryzen processing and integrated AMD Radeon graphics.

"Portégé X45W reflects Dynabook's commitment to delivering professional-grade devices that people can count on, while continuing to expand AMD processor options across our portfolio," said James Robbins, General Manager, Dynabook Americas, Inc. "With a versatile 2-in-1 design, strong everyday performance, and a security-forward foundation, Portégé X45W is built to help organizations standardize on a flexible device that supports productivity and collaboration across business, education, healthcare and public sector environments."

ASUS today announced ExpertCenter P700 Mini Tower (PM700MG) with AMD Ryzen AI 400-series processors, a refreshed 15-liter business desktop designed to deliver exceptional performance, scalability, and reliability for professional creators, engineers, and small businesses. With cutting-edge hardware, business-grade security, and comprehensive manageability, ExpertCenter P700 Mini Tower is engineered to be the trusted backbone of business-critical workloads.

Blending next-generation AI performance with whisper-quiet thermal design, P700 Mini Tower is built to tackle modern professional tasks with ease—from generative AI and content creation to advanced data analysis. As Copilot+ PCs, these new desktops bring intelligence and creativity to the forefront of everyday business, while the exclusive ASUS MyExpert all-in-one AI platform boosts productivity in multiple innovative and flexible ways. They also benefit from ASUS ExpertGuardian, providing all-around protection for sensitive data, plus military-grade durability to ensure long-term reliability.

ASRock, the global leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, mini PCs, gaming monitors, power supply units and AIOs, proudly announces a new overclocking World Record achieved with its flagship X870E Taichi OCF motherboard.

Professional overclocker Alex2305 successfully pushed system performance to a new level using the ASRock X870E Taichi OCF paired with the powerful AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor, achieving an incredible PCMark 10 Express score of 14290 marks, securing the World Record 1st Place on HWBOT.org.

ASRock, a global leader in motherboards, graphics cards, gaming monitors, small form factor PCs, power supply units, and AIO liquid coolers, today highlights the gaming performance potential of the DeskMeet Series platform when paired with the Intel Arc A380 Challenger ITX 6GB OC graphics card.

As GPU and memory prices continue to fluctuate, gamers are looking for smarter ways to build high-performance systems without exceptional value. ASRock recommends the DeskMeet Series platform paired with the Intel Arc A380 Challenger ITX 6GB OC graphics card, delivering a balanced configuration that achieves strong performance and outstanding value for mainstream gaming.

MSI is proud to announce a new collaboration with Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, unveiling an exclusive line of limited-edition products inspired by the anime's themes of companionship, memory, and the enduring journey. The collection includes the GeForce RTX 5070 Ti 16G FRIEREN EDITION OC, FORGE TKL WIRELESS FRIEREN EDITION, VERSA WIRELESS FRIEREN EDITION, and AGILITY FRIEREN EDITION.

Through refined design and powerful performance, MSI brings the emotional depth of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End to Life—crafting hardware that resonates with modern adventurers. From the moment the system powers on and the lights come alive, the experience evokes a quiet sense of magic, inviting users to begin a new chapter of their own journey.

MSI, a global leader in gaming and high-performance computing, has won four prestigious 2026 iF DESIGN AWARDs through AI integration and material innovation. These achievements highlight MSI's ability to redefine tech aesthetics and elevate the digital user experience. Outperforming over 10,000 entries from 68 countries, MSI's success—determined by a jury of 129 international experts—reinforces its unwavering leadership in design excellence across the business, gaming, and hardware sectors.

"Winning the iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 validates MSI's dedication to balancing extreme performance with intuitive user connection," said Sam Chern, MSI Vice President of Marketing. "Design is about solving problems and creating value. Whether through AI-driven user optimization or exquisite craftsmanship that grants hardware its unique identity, our goal is to integrate technology into life in an elegant and functional manner. MSI will continue to push traditional boundaries to create innovative solutions that offer both sustainable value and aesthetic excellence."

ASUS today announced NUC 16 Pro Mini PC, a compact Copilot+ PC offering versatile AI-accelerated performance to handle a wide range of needs. Powered by up to the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 Series 3 processor and boasting onboard LPDDR5x memory, the NUC 16 Pro delivers up to 1.5X faster 3D graphics processingi, 20% faster performance, and 50% less power consumption over previous-generation NUC models. Built-in Intel WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 wireless connectivity, along with dual 2.5G LAN ports, make the NUC 16 Pro ideal for hyper-connected workspaces. In addition, select models include fTPM for enterprise-grade security and management.

Next-generation Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors with built-in Intel Arc GPU
The NUC 16 Pro Mini PC easily tackles AI workloads. Featuring up to an Intel Core Ultra X9 processor with built-in Intel Arc B390 GPU and a 50 TOPS NPU delivering up to 180 Platform TOPS for real-time Edge AI inference and machine learning tasks. This compact Copilot+ PC is an Edge AI-ready system that enables secure, low-latency on-device intelligence to support AI-driven applications for videoconferencing, analytics, language translation, and enhanced team collaboration.

Worldwide shipments of desktops, notebooks and workstations in 2026 are expected to decline by 12% to 245 million units, according to the latest outlook from Omdia. This forecast is grounded in sharp increases in memory and storage prices - particularly the expected minimum 60% rise in 1Q26. Further upward price pressure is anticipated throughout the remaining quarters of the year, though subsequent increases are expected to be more moderate. Since 1Q25, the costs of mainstream memory and storage configurations have risen by between US$90 and US$165, placing substantial financial pressure on PC vendors and forcing them to reduce promotions, raise product prices, and adjust configurations. The impact across PC product categories is expected to be broadly consistent. Desktops are set to decline by 10% to 53.2 million units, while laptops will decline by 12% to 192.2 million units.

Considering how quickly the situation is evolving, Omdia has conducted a multi-scenario analysis of the impact. Based on the latest available information and market signals, the forecast carries a higher downside risk, namely a widening of shortages for both memory and storage and increasingly steep price hikes. This could further suppress consumer demand and tighten PC vendors' supply, pushing PC shipments toward a 15% decline or potentially worse. In addition, the recent outbreak of conflict in the Middle East has introduced substantial uncertainty for international transportation and regional market growth, although it remains to be seen whether this situation will persist.

Cooler Master, a global leader in PC components and tech lifestyle solutions, today announced that four of its products have received the iF DESIGN AWARD 2026, one of the world's most respected design honors presented annually by iF Design in Hamburg, Germany. The award recognizes outstanding achievement in product design, innovation, and user experience. For Cooler Master, the recognition highlights a design philosophy that combines engineering performance with builder-focused creativity.

The award-winning products include the COSMOS Alpha, MasterFrame 360 Panorama, Custom GPU Fan Cooling Kit, and MasterFan A120, each representing a different dimension of Cooler Master's design approach, from modular chassis architecture to advanced thermal engineering.

The global notebook market is expected to face dual pressures from weak demand and rising component costs in 2026, according to TrendForce's latest research on the notebook industry. In addition to rapidly rising memory prices, CPU pricing has also begun to move higher. TrendForce estimates that to preserve existing margin structures for both notebook brands and distribution channels, the retail price of a mainstream notebook with an original MSRP of US$900 could rise by nearly 40%.

TrendForce notes that since the start of 2026, supply for notebook DRAM and NAND Flash has tightened significantly. Prices have surged, and shortages of certain components have become more pronounced, increasing uncertainty for notebook brands as they plan their procurement strategies.

Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe today announcedEchoes of Aincrad, a new action RPG set in the breathtaking floating castle of Aincrad from the Sword Art Online universe where every battle could be your last. Players will get to create their own hero and dive into the game, facing the many challenges ahead by mastering dodges, parries and well-timed attacks. Echoes of Aincrad will launch on 10 July 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam.

Echoes of Aincrad invites adventurers into a dynamic and vibrant world filled with challenges and unforgettable encounters, becoming a "player" in the game through an extensive avatar customization will place them as the true hero of this story. As the story progresses through quests and missions, players will be able to adapt and upgrade their equipment, weapons, and attributes, and select special skills to match their preferred playstyle while growing stronger as they level up. But they will not journey alone, the outcome of real-time combat will also rely on the chosen partner for each outing, deciding the stance they should take during fight, more aggressive or supportive, and as that bond deepens, players will unlock their partner's powerful abilities.

Ahead of Embedded World, Arduino announced the upcoming launch of its newest platform to democratize edge AI, Arduino VENTUNO Q. Named after the Italian word for twenty-one, VENTUNO Q builds on the iconic legacy of the popular Arduino UNO family and embodies the company's coming of age as it prepares to celebrate its foundation's 21st anniversary, later this month.

At the Edge of Intelligence: Where AI Takes Action
VENTUNO Q unites high‑performance AI compute with deterministic real‑time control, enabling systems that don't just interpret the world—they interact with it.
The board builds upon a dual-brain architecture similar to Arduino UNO Q, yet significantly upgrades capabilities leveraging the Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ8 Series for both traditional and generative AI workloads, supported by NPU acceleration delivering up to 40 dense TOPS, as well as a dedicated STM32H5 microcontroller for low‑latency actuation and motor control. In addition, VENTUNO Q comes with 16 GB RAM—able to handle concurrent inference and complex multitasking—and an expandable 64 GB of storage.

The GEEKOM A5 Pro 2026 Edition arrives as one of the most compelling compact desktops to date, earning its position as the best $600 mini PC in 2026 thanks to a rare blend of high performance that breezes through all daily tasks, solid build quality that withstand at least 5 years of intensive use, and a 3-year warranty for long-term peace of mind. Its launch further strengthens GEEKOM's reputation the global leader in small-form-factor computing.

At the heart of the A5 Pro 2026 Edition is AMD's Ryzen R5 7530U, a 6-core, 12-thread processor capable of boosting up to 4.5 GHz. Paired with Radeon graphics, dual-channel memory, and fast SSD storage, the system delivers smooth performance across daily office tasks, home entertainment, creative workloads, and even light gaming.

Global high-performance computing and industrial embedded platform leader MSI will showcase a complete Edge AI ecosystem at Embedded World 2026, integrating edge computing platforms and vertical industry solutions to demonstrate industrial-grade Edge AI computing and on-site deployment capabilities.

As artificial intelligence applications increasingly extend from the cloud to field environments, MSI leverages industrial-grade reliability and platform integration expertise to help enterprises build intelligent systems with long-term operational stability, accelerating digital transformation across transportation, manufacturing, retail, agriculture, and UAV applications.

Following Sandisk's new naming scheme for NVMe SSDs, it now looks like Seagate is ready to announce a shift to a new naming for some of its SSDs as well. In a leak that at least in part appears to be thanks to a spec sheet uploaded by Best Buy, Seagate's upcoming FireCuda X series has leaked and the first model in the new series looks to be the X1070. That's a pretty big jump in model numbers, as Seagate's current top of the range FireCuda NVMe SSD is the 530R. Unlike the Barracuda 540, the FireCuda X1070 isn't a PCIe 5.0 drive and it does in fact not even trump the FireCuda 530R in terms of performance, despite the new model name suggesting it would.

The X1070 offers a max sequential read speed of 7200 MB/s, down from 7400 MB/s for the 530R and max sequential write speed of 6000 MB/s for the 1 TB SKU and 6500 MB/s for the 2 and 4 TB SKUs, where the 530R ranges from 6800-7000 MB/s. The random IOPS are also lower at around 900k vs. 1.3 million. The TBW rating is also about half that of the 530R, somewhat depending on the SKU, but Seagate still offers a five year warranty. The only good news is that the power usage is down by around 3-4 W, again depending on SKU, but this suggests we might be looking at a DRAM-less model here. We'll have to wait for the actual launch to find out the pricing, but it looks like the current FireCuda 530R is a better option over the X1070, unless you need an SSD that is more power efficient and hopefully produces less heat.

As we enter the second week of March, we got plenty of new games launching once again. We kick off the week with a John Carpenter game that doesn't include vampires as this week's major release. As for the other games, we kick off the week with a friendlier theme where you have to make a dead planet alive again, followed by taking on the job as a park ranger. Next up we have a game about a wolf and princess, which is followed by a magical, turn-based tactical RPG. Next up you get to hunt some monsters and finally we have a Saturday release that puts you in charge of a tank. We also have a couple of additional games at the end that didn't quite make the list.

John Carpenter's Toxic Commando / This week's major release / Thursday 12 March
Pick a character and team up with three friends 'cause it's time to save the world. Experience intense FPS action as you obliterate hordes of terrifying monsters! You may not be on the best team of mercenaries, but you are… a Toxic Commando. Steam link