There have recently been a slew of details about the upcoming Assassin's Creed Hexe, from positives, like the return of fan-favorite characters, to less positive news like the pared-back combat system, or the recent dev team layoffs that may affect the scope of the game further. Now, recent leaks by @AgaiinTx on X claim to reveal the pricing and some other details of what they call Assassin's Creed: Codename Hexe.
According to the leaker, Hexe will feature a PEGI 18 rating and will release for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Allegedly the game will use Denuvo. The leaker also claims that June 2027 has been set as the game's launch date, but it is suspected that this is likely a placeholder and will change at a later date. The base game will allegedly cost $69.99, but it will also launch with deluxe and collector's edition, both of which will cost more than the former.
ASUS today announced the US availability of the ASUS Chromebook CM15 and ASUS Chromebook CM32 Detachable, expanding its ChromeOS lineup with devices built for everyday productivity, mobility, and durability. Powered by the efficient the MediaTek Kompanio 540 processor, both devices feature long battery life, access to Google AI Pro tools, and military-grade toughness—making them reliable options for students and on-the-go professionals.
ASUS Chromebook CM15 (CM1505CM4A)
The ASUS Chromebook CM15 is a budget-friendly 15.6-inch laptop powered by the MediaTek Kompanio 540 processor, with support for up to 8 GB of RAM, up to 128 GB of storage, and up to 12 hours of battery life for smooth daily computing. Its portable, 3.2 6lbs. chassis is complemented by a 180° lay-flat hinge for flexible use, while a built-in webcam privacy shutter provides added peace of mind. The expansive FHD wide-viewing-angle display is paired with ergonomically repositioned I/O ports placed along the upper left edge—a layout that keeps cables routed away from the mousing area and reduces desk clutter for a more comfortable workspace. Connectivity includes HDMI and dual USB-C ports, ensuring easy support for external displays and accessories. The ASUS Chromebook CM15's eco-conscious construction incorporates 30% recycled plastics and sustainable packaging, and it's built for longevity with easy-service components and MIL-STD-810H military-grade durability.
Razer, the leading global gaming lifestyle brand for gamers, today unveils the Razer | Pikachu & Eevee Collection, created in collaboration with The Pokémon Company International. The collection is now available on Razer.com, at RazerStores worldwide, and through select retail partners across the United States, Latin America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Inspired by Pikachu and Eevee's playfulness, the collection brings a light-hearted, approachable touch to everyday gaming setups. Launching in Pokémon's milestone 30th year, the lineup celebrates the enduring appeal of two of the most beloved Pokémon in the franchise by pairing bright detailing with familiar Razer performance, designed to fit naturally into daily play, work, and everything in between.
It seems as though the launch of Valve's Steam Deck has resulted in an almost non-stop slew of comparisons between Linux and Windows as a gaming operating system. In one recent test, Meta PCs sought out to test the two operating systems head-to-head to get some hard numbers and potentially settle the debate, however, the results brought up an interesting debate about what makes one operating system better than another.
Benchmarks were conducted on an all-AMD system running an AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, an XFX Swift AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB, and 16 GB of RAM, with the AMD Linux drivers effectively making this a best-case scenario for Linux. The benchmarks were run on the latest version of Windows 11 and Fedora Linux 44, games were tested at the same resolution, and results were an average across three runs. All games tested were also the Windows versions running via Valve's Proton compatibility layer.
Gainward, a globally recognized pioneer in high-performance graphics hardware, today breaks cover with the new GeForce RTX 3060 Python II OC. Merging factory-tuned clock speeds with a 12 GB frame buffer and a dual-fan layout, the Python II OC delivers elite thermal efficiency and unwavering hardware stability for modern mainstream computing.
A Factory-Overclocked 12 GB Weapon
Gainward provides a massive 12 GB GDDR6 VRAM pool to ensure mainstream hardware never limits your potential. This acts as an essential accelerator for students and novice creators to unlock stable, high-resolution content creation and smooth entry-level local AI pipelines by eliminating critical memory bottlenecks.
Apricorn, the leading global provider of quantum-resistant hardware-encrypted external storage solutions, today announced the availability of the 4TB Aegis Secure Key 3 (ASK3), the highest-capacity hardware-encrypted USB drive of its kind. Built on a mini solid-state drive architecture housed in a USB flash drive form factor, the new ASK3 delivers eight times the storage capacity of comparable hardware-encrypted USB flash drives, giving organizations an unprecedented combination of portability, speed and security.
The new 4 TB model incorporates the same hardware enhancements introduced in the latest generation of the ASK3, including a new bridge controller chip for faster performance, improved data transfer speeds and an environmental protection design that helps safeguard both the device and the data it contains in demanding operating conditions.
Lenovo announced today that it will be the official power behind the 2026 edition of the Esports World Cup (EWC) in Paris, France. Recognized as the largest esports event globally, the Esports Foundation (EF) has partnered with Lenovo to provide Lenovo Legion gaming desktop PCs, gaming monitors, and everything else players need. All esports athletes will be using their Legion Tower 7i and Tower 5i desktop PCs. This event will take place from July 6 to August 23, featuring around 200 teams and approximately 2,000 esports players competing for the top spot across 24 games and 25 tournaments, with a record-breaking prize pool of over $75 million. New this year, athletes will also be using Legion monitors, not just competing on Legion desktops.
This isn't Lenovo's first involvement with the EWC. In 2025, the company's debut at the event saw over 2,000 Legion machines in use on the tournament floor, in broadcast booths, at creator activations, and throughout the festival grounds. The Legion logo was prominently displayed across all 24 games that year, with the broadcast reaching an estimated 750 million viewers worldwide. Beyond the competition hardware, this partnership has inspired Lenovo to innovate. At CES 2026 earlier this year, the company unveiled the Legion Pro Rollable Concept—a gaming laptop featuring a 16-inch rollable PureSight OLED screen that can expand to 21.5 inches or even a full 24 inches, depending on how much space esports athletes need for training on the go. EWC attendees in Paris will have the opportunity to try it out themselves at the Legion booth.
Compact embedded systems are becoming smaller, while storage requirements continue to grow. Applications such as embedded computing, medical computers, self-service kiosks, and service robots need reliable local storage for operating systems, data, logs, updates, and system files.
However, when system space is limited, adding storage is often not as simple as installing another SSD. Designers may face limited PCB space, low-profile enclosures, and a lack of available M-Key storage slots.
If you're a serious gamer or content creator and were ordering up your ideal laptop, what would it have?
A 2K OLED, 500-nit display
Workstation-caliber processing power
Up to 96 GB of RAM
NVIDIA GPU and graphics card
Light weight (3.37 pounds)
Exceptional pixel response times and motion rendering
Sharp text, high contrasts, and 1 billion colors
A flawless Linux experience - it's from System76, why ask?
You just ordered the new Adder Pro laptop, System76's most advanced, visually stunning, and powerful machine ever for gamers, developers, creators, and makers.
Today, ASML Holding NV (ASML) has published its 2026 second-quarter results.
Q2 total net sales of €9.3 billion, gross margin of 54.0%, net income of €2.9 billion
ASML expects Q3 2026 total net sales between €11.0 billion and €12.0 billion, and a gross margin between 55% and 57%
ASML now expects 2026 total net sales to be between €43 billion and €45 billion, with a gross margin between 54% and 56%
CEO statement and outlook
"Our second-quarter total net sales were €9.3 billion and gross margin came in at 54.0%, both above guidance, driven primarily by higher than expected Installed Base Management sales."
IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced IBM Power Autonomous Operations, an AI agent that can help continuously monitor Power systems and autonomously resolve issues to keep operations running smoothly. It complements the recently launched IBM Bob Premium Package for i, which brings agentic-driven software designed to accelerate application development on IBM i. These capabilities can accelerate building modern applications so enterprises can innovate at the pace required by their business. Additionally, the entry-level Power S1112 server provides a new compact, efficient option powerful enough to run AI inference locally.
IBM Power has long been IBM's platform for mission-critical enterprise workloads. As AI becomes part of that critical infrastructure, Power is built to support it. IBM introduced Power11 last year as autonomous IT for the AI era, built for availability, resiliency, and scale across on-premises and IBM Cloud environments. IBM Power Virtual Server is a fully managed cloud service on which enterprises can run AIX, IBM i and Linux workloads while offloading much of the routine management for system operations. Now, IBM is embedding autonomous IT across the Power platform, from code to runtime, with new capabilities and systems.
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced availability of the ROG Swift OLED PG27UCWM and PG32UCWM gaming monitors that feature 4K true Tandem RGB OLED technology. Bringing flagship-tier panel technology to enthusiast setups, the 26.5-inch PG27UCWM and the 31.5-inch PG32UCWM combine true RGB Stripe OLED technology with a TrueBlack Glossy coating and a versatile Dual Mode (4K@240 Hz / FHD@480 Hz) that delivers the ultimate balance of fidelity and speed. Innovative GaNFET power efficiency solution and enhanced OLED Care Pro work together to prolong panel longevity, while Dolby Vision support, VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black compliance, and DisplayPort 2.1a UHBR20 connectivity make these monitors ready for the most demanding HDR games.
True Tandem RGB OLED
Both monitors feature a 4K true Tandem RGB OLED panel with a proprietary TrueBlack Glossy coating to deliver supersharp imagery and incredibly accurate colors. True RGB Stripe OLED technology omits the white subpixel found in conventional WOLED panels, ensuring razor-sharp text edges and precise color reproduction while delivering up to 27% larger color volume—even at peak luminance levels. The versatile Dual Mode feature lets players effortlessly switch between stunning 4K@240 Hz visuals and ultra-responsive FHD@480 Hz action. Plus, a superfast 0.03 ms response time eliminates ghosting and motion blur in fast-paced games.
NVIDIA on Tuesday, formally launched its GeForce NOW cloud-gaming service in India. The service comes with attractive introductory prices specific to the Indian market under an Early Access Pass scheme that's sure to draw attention, particularly in India's tier-2 and tier-3 cities that see rapid advances in availability of high-speed, low-latency, fiber-based Internet services, and 5G. As with all markets, the "Free" tier offers 1-hour gaming sessions, and access to a library of 2,000+ games, with 1080p resolution at up to 60 FPS, and a waiting queue that can take over 2 minutes; and there are ads.
The Performance tier is the most affordable paid tier, priced at Indian Rupees 999 a month. This gives you an ad-free experience, access to a wider library of over 4,500 game titles, the ability to install-to-play, not just ready to play; longer, 6-hour gaming sessions, a higher resolution 1440p @ 60 FPS gaming experience, and priority access in the queue of under 1 minute. Then there's the Ultimate tier, which offers a gaming experience resembling a desktop with a GeForce RTX 5080 GPU. This gives you up to 5K @ 360 FPS resolution or whatever an RTX 5080 is capable of in the real world; longer 8-hour gaming sessions, and the highest priority in the waiting queue, with typically no waiting time. This is priced at Indian Rupees 1,999 a month.
Samsung on July 14 formally launched the 990, its value-segment M.2 NVMe SSD. Not to be confused with the 990 EVO, another DRAMless SSD from the company that uses TLC NAND flash, the new 990 implements QLC NAND flash, and relies on controller-level optimization to shore up performance. Built in the M.2-2280 form-factor, the Samsung 990 features an M.2 NVMe Gen 4 (PCI-Express 4.0 x4) host interface, and is driven by a Samsung Piccolo-Q DRAMless controller. It uses the company's in-house V9 series 280-layer 3D QLC NAND flash memory.
The Samsung 990 comes in two capacity variants, 1 TB and 2 TB, priced at $270 and $530, respectively. The 1 TB variant offers sequential reads of up to 7150 MB/s with up to 6450 MB/s sequential writes, with up to 700,000 IOPS 4K random reads and up to 1.1 million IOPS 4K random writes; while the 2 TB variant offers slightly higher performance, with up to 7250 MB/s sequential reads, up to 6450 MB/s sequential writes, up to 850,000 IOPS 4K random reads, and up to 1.2 million IOPS 4K random writes. Where the 990 differs significantly from the TLC-based 990 EVO Plus, is write-endurance. The 2 TB variant offers 800 TBW, while the 1 TB variant offers a paltry 400 TBW. For reference, the 2 TB 990 EVO Plus offers 1200 TBW, and 1 TB 990 EVO Plus offers 600 TBW. Both variants are backed by 3-year warranties.
Samsung Electronics today unveiled new Flex Titanium technology for the next generation of Galaxy foldable devices. Built on seven generations of foldable innovation and engineering expertise, the redesigned display structure utilizes structural and material advancements to deliver a more refined viewing experience with enhanced durability and reduced crease visibility. Made possible thanks to Samsung's accumulated display know-how, Flex Titanium technology integrates two titanium-based components - a titanium-alloy film and a titanium plate - working together to balance slimness, flexibility and strength within the foldable display structure.
"Samsung's strength in the foldable category comes from connecting user needs with our technologies that deliver tangible benefits in everyday life," said Sunghoon Moon, EVP and Senior Executive, Mobile R&D Office - H/W, Samsung Electronics. "For the next generation of Galaxy foldables, Samsung is building on years of expertise to bring display innovations into devices that enhance user experiences, anchored by exceptional viewing experiences."
PALIT Microsystems, a leading manufacturer of graphics cards, today announces the new GeForce RTX 3060 Infinity 2 OC. Combining a massive 12 GB GDDR6 memory capacity with a clean, all-black dual-fan shroud, the Infinity 2 delivers honest, dependable performance without the premium price tag.
The Reigning Legend - Trusted 1080p Gaming Performance The GeForce RTX 3060 GPU continues to stand as a reigning champion on the Steam Hardware Survey, trusted by millions of gamers worldwide. For mainstream esports titles, the GeForce RTX 3060 Infinity 2 OC provides smooth and ultra-stable framerates at 1080p resolution.
Zero Memory Bottlenecks - 12 GB VRAM Asset for Productivity Packed with a full 12 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, this model acts as an affordable "productivity ticket" for students, video editors, and creators stepping into high resolution video editing, 3D modeling, and entry-level local AI processing without hitting hardware limits.
The Practical Essentials - Silence & Protection To enhance structural reliability, the model includes a protective backplate that prevents PCB flex. The backplate features specialized ventilation cutouts, allowing air to pass directly through the heatsink for optimized thermal distribution. Additionally, integrated 0dB Technology ensures the fans stay completely silent during light workloads like watching YouTube, studying, or office work, delivering a quiet daily environment.
XPG, the gaming brand of ADATA Technology, today announced the launch of its latest ergonomic gaming chairs, the NIMBUS and NIMBUS PLUS. As remote work continues to shape modern lifestyles and dedicated gamers increasingly require robust support for extended sitting sessions, having a chair that perfectly balances sleek aesthetics and exceptional comfort has become more essential than ever. Combining modern minimalist design with top-tier ergonomic engineering, XPG introduces two distinct seating solutions tailored to different user preferences, making pure comfort second nature.
Designed for hardcore gamers and professionals who sit for over 8 hours a day, XPG presents the NIMBUS PLUS, a flagship high-back mesh chair centered on the concept of being "Beyond Breathable." Offering extensive adjustability, it accommodates a wide range of body types and seating preferences while maintaining exceptional airflow. Its high-elasticity breathable mesh covers the entire chair, promoting continuous ventilation to minimize heat buildup and keep users cool during intense gaming sessions or long workdays.
ASML Holding N.V. (ASML) today reported that Intel Foundry is using ASML's High NA EUV technology on the Intel 18A process node to produce a subset of its Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors. This milestone marks an important step in demonstrating High NA EUV readiness in a production environment. ASML and Intel have worked closely for decades to advance lithography technology and support the continued scaling of semiconductors. The high numerical aperture extreme ultraviolet (High NA EUV) lithography process is an important next step in EUV lithography, developed by ASML to enable more precise patterning for advanced chip manufacturing.
The Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, code-named Panther Lake, are built on Intel 18A. The use of High NA EUV to pattern specific layers of these products provides ASML and Intel Foundry with helpful data to further refine system setup, up time and manufacturing implementation. This paves the way towards broader adoption, utilizing the full capabilities of the technology.
Dynabook Americas, Inc., a Sharp Company, today announced the Portégé Z40L-P, a premium Copilot+ PC, the second generation of Dynabook's advanced Portégé Z40L platform. Built for the demands of today's AI-enabled workplace, the 14-inch Portégé Z40L-P combines next-generation Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processor options, enhanced on-device AI capabilities, enterprise-grade security, Intel Wi-Fi 7 and user replaceable 56Wh Li-Polymer battery. Pricing for the Portégé Z40L-P starts at $2,170 MSRP.
Expanding the platform beyond premium business productivity, select Portégé Z40L-P configurations feature Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 processors with Intel Arc Pro B390 graphics. With up to 12 Xe graphics cores, these models deliver discrete-class performance for technical and engineering workflows in a slim mobile workstation built for AI. Purpose-built to accelerate technical drafting, engineering design and computer-aided design applications, the Portégé Z40L-P provides smooth visuals, responsive performance and professional-grade capability in a thin-and-light form factor.
Capcom's Onimusha: Way of the Sword is one of the more anticipated games of 2026, with an early 2025 gameplay preview showing off some high fidelity graphics and fast-paced melee combat. Despite this, the action game has surprisingly forgiving minimum hardware requirements, calling for just an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 6 GB or AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8 GB (for 1080p, 30 FPS gameplay on low settings). Ahead of the September 25 launch, Capcom has published a demo and a benchmark tool for Onimusha, which has subsequently been put through its paces on the Valve Steam Deck by Steam Deck HQ, once again showing off what Capcom's surprisingly well optimized RE Engine is capable of.
In Steam Deck HQ's testing, the default "Lowest" settings preset at the Steam Deck's native 1200×800 resolution and with FSR 3.1.4 in the default mode, the benchmark averaged 46.16 FPS with 20.53 FPS for the 1% Lows. Moving up to the "Low" settings preset saw the average frame rate drop to 36.28 in the benchmark, with 15.6 FPS 1% Lows. The tester noted that during demanding combat scenes with more on-screen effects, the frame rate did dip below 30 FPS, even in the "Lowest" preset, but it recovered soon after. There are also likely performance gains to be had from game and GPU driver updates further down the line, and playing with FSR and graphics quality settings may also net some performance gains, since Steam Deck HQ didn't really delve into those settings. Regardless, Onimusha delivers frame rates similar to the performance we saw in our testing of Resident Evil Requiem on the Steam Deck, suggesting that Onimusha: Way of the Sword should get the same Steam Deck "Playable" rating as Requiem.
There's an ever-growing list of games that have received notable backlash for the use of AI-generated placeholder art in games, from Pearl Abyss's Crimson Desert to The Alters, and even the award-winning Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. When the wildly popular Slay the Spire 2 launched to Early Access earlier in 2026, it was littered with roughly scrawled placeholder art. Mega Crit co-founder, Casey Yano recently explained the decision to shirk AI art in favor of the scribbles in a recent interview with GameSpot, and it mostly seems to come down to both communicating to the players that the game is in an early access state and making it obvious what the cards in the deck-builder do. He argues that generative AI also removes authorial intent, so some of the intended communication would be lost if the studio used generative AI art instead of the hastily scrawled concept sketches.
Yano explains that "If we use art that looks nearly complete, then people would think that that's going to be the final art. It has to look like shit. It's important that it looks like shit." He notes that part of that communication of the game's incomplete state is self-preservation, because "otherwise people would judge the game as if it's a 1.0, fully developed video game." He also notes that the art helps avoid confusion among both players and other artists: "Prioritization was mostly about making sure that our players have an emotional connection to the content and also recognize what content is what," he continues to say "when you draw placeholder art, there's a very high chance that when we pass it on to our artists...so I do want the [placeholder] art to be kind of like a framework, especially-especially-the art that's used in the timeline. They're the narrative beats, and I want to make sure that those kinds of compositions and colors and details [are] communicated through those drawings."
In the Warframe universe, Tau is a topic that has come up a number of times throughout the game's lore, but, as announced by Digital Extremes at TennoCon 2026, players will finally be able to experience some of the Tau solar system in 2026 when the Warframe Tau update launches. The Tau update will see players chart a course to the new solar system originally created as a utopia by the Sentient race, where players will be met with the slums of Fornax, a ring city fallen to vice and suffering, and the rest of the planets of the war-torn Tau system. Digital Extremes hasn't shared an exact date for the launch of the Tau update, but the giant humanoid vessels that will be used to transit to the new system have already been introduced, so it will seemingly be a slow addition of content leading up to the launch later in 2026. The Tau system will start with two planets at launch, but Digital Extremes has hinted that more is on the way further down the line.
The update also introduces Brysko, a new detective-themed, voiced Warframe with an internal monologue, which will be introduced in a noir-inspired quest that sees players infiltrate the criminal underworld of Tau, where Bloom—a drug of sorts—has taken hold of the citizens. Brysko also seems to be the introduction of a new type of warframe, called a chimera frame, which is distinct from the existing protoframes and original Warframes. The Tau update will also introduce a new minigame called Portau, an original card game built for Warframe. In addition to the new warframe, there will be new melee, primary, and secondary weapons for players to farm and build. The Warframe Tau trailer and announcement continue.
XPG, the gaming brand of ADATA Technology, today announced the launch of its latest ergonomic gaming chairs, the NIMBUS and NIMBUS PLUS. As remote work continues to shape modern lifestyles and dedicated gamers increasingly require robust support for extended sitting sessions, having a chair that perfectly balances sleek aesthetics and exceptional comfort has become more essential than ever. Combining modern minimalist design with top-tier ergonomic engineering, XPG introduces two distinct seating solutions tailored to different user preferences, making pure comfort second nature.
NIMBUS PLUS: Beyond Breathable - Crafting a Luxurious, Form-Fitting Seating Experience
Designed for hardcore gamers and professionals who sit for over 8 hours a day, XPG presents the NIMBUS PLUS, a flagship high-back mesh chair centered on the concept of being "Beyond Breathable." Offering extensive adjustability, it accommodates a wide range of body types and seating preferences while maintaining exceptional airflow.
When Valve launched the Steam Deck back in 2022, it generated a lot of positive publicity by partnering with iFixit to sell OEM replacement parts, but it seems as though that may be coming to an end, at least for the Steam Deck LCD. A recent Reddit post in r/SteamDeck showed a support email from iFixit explaining that the company would no longer stock the OEM replacement batteries for Valve's gaming handheld. The email states that the Steam Deck LCD batteries are out of stock and that "it is looking less likely that we will continue receiving OEM Steam Deck LCD batteries."
An iFixit representative later explained in a comment in the Reddit thread that "it's not that we're choosing to not stock these anymore. Unfortunately, Valve is just starting to sunset these parts." iFixit has, in both the original email and in the Reddit comment, confirmed that it is looking for alternatives to the OEM Steam Deck LCD battery. It seems as though the OLED Steam Deck model has not been impacted by Valve's decision, and the decision follows the recent discontinuation of the Steam Deck LCD in favor the OLED versions. Currently, there are alternatives on sites like Amazon, so it's likely a matter of time before iFixit is able to find an alternative.
MSI, a global leader in high-performance computing, has officially announced the PRO MAX OLED 271UPJW12, marking a new era in visual technology as the world's first 27-inch Inkjet-printed (IJP) OLED display. Designed as the ultimate display, it seamlessly bridges high-efficiency productivity and premium entertainment.
Unmatched Clarity and Infinite Contrast
The PRO MAX OLED 271UPJW12 features a breathtaking 27-inch 4K display with a fluid 120 Hz refresh rate. With a 164 PPI density and an optimized RGB Stripe sub-pixel layout that closely resembles the uniform RGB structure of traditional LCDs, this advanced design effectively eliminates color fringing, optimizing text and image clarity. Delivering pure color precision, the PRO MAX OLED 271UPJW12 covers 99% of the DCI-P3 wide color gamut with an exceptional Delta E ≤ 2 accuracy. Furthermore, it carries the prestigious VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification and achieves a striking HDR peak brightness of up to 1,000 nits, ensuring deep, inky blacks and infinite contrast for a truly lifelike viewing experience.
With the October 6 launch of Gears of War: E-Day fast approaching, more and more details about the game are starting to appear online, whether via official channels or leaks. The latest news is that, in addition to the previously announced Ray Traced lighting, reflections, and shadows, Gears of War: E-Day will feature NVIDIA's DLSS 4.5, as confirmed by an NVIDIA blog post. DLSS 4.5 promises better quality upscaling, temporal stability, and antialiasing.
The addition of DLSS 4.5 means that Gears of War: E-Day will also feature Dynamic Multi Frame Generation, up to 6x, and NVIDIA has also confirmed that the game will feature Reflex for latency reduction in PvP modes. The game will also feature Nanite and the latest Unreal Engine 5.8 versions of Lumen and MegaLights, which should help optimization as well as lighting accuracy. All of this means that Gears of War: E-Day should deliver on a technical and immersive level, thanks to more realistic lighting and shadows as well as more detailed objects and real-time destruction.
CPUID has just released HWMonitor version 1.65, which reintroduces the previously abandoned hotspot temperature reading for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50 series "Blackwell" GPU. When NVIDIA originally launched its "Blackwell" GPU lineup, the company removed the ability for popular utilities like GPU-Z and HWMonitor to access hotspot sensor data, even though the sensor was present on the die. We initially thought it was impossible to access this data again without using NVIDIA's internal tool, Modular Diagnostic Software (MODS), which is not publicly available. However, the latest HWMonitor update has restored this capability. Although we are unsure how the update accomplishes this without public API exposure, which NVIDIA restricted with the RTX 50 series, the software reportedly bypasses this limitation and successfully performs a normal hotspot reading.
An extreme overclocker known as "Madness" on X has already tested the latest HWMonitor version 1.65 on a shunt-modded and water-cooled RTX 5090 GPU, which is drawing over 900 W from the wall. Under the water block, the GPU's hotspot sensor measures around 68°C, while the normal temperature reporting shows a delta of about 17°C, indicating that the reported GPU temperature is around 51°C. Although this delta between the overall GPU die temperature and hotspot temperature isn't ideal, it provides overclockers with more detailed information about their GPUs.
Earlier this year, Elon Musk announced that Tesla had completed the design of its AI5 SoC. Today, we learn that the company will receive these processors from a United States-based Samsung fab located in Taylor, Texas. This means Samsung is preparing to produce the AI5 chip on its SF2 2 nm node on U.S. soil, effectively utilizing the CHIPS Act funding it received to manufacture silicon for domestic companies. As more companies push for domestic manufacturing, Tesla has been working with Samsung and TSMC to leverage their American-based facilities to align the vital parts of the supply chain with the location where the company is based and conducts most of its business.
For Samsung, this is a significant customer win, as Tesla will undertake major volume production in its Taylor fab on the SF2 node. This is one of the first major projects outside of Samsung's usual operations in South Korea, where most of its leading-edge production occurs. Regarding the AI5 chip, Tesla has designed these processors for Full Self-Driving (FSD). The CEO also mentioned that the AI5 chip will offer performance comparable to NVIDIA's "Hopper" architecture, with two AI5 units matching the power of a single "Blackwell" processor. On both the left and right sides, there are two rows of SK hynix LPDDR5X memory modules, each with three modules. This totals 12 LPDDR5X memory modules per AI5 chip. With 16 GB per module, this results in 192 GB of LPDDR5X memory per AI5 SoC. Additionally, Tesla has ambitious plans for nine-month design cycles for the AI6, which will also be part of the joint effort between Samsung, TSMC, and possibly even Intel with its advanced packaging. Musk confirmed that the AI6 and Dojo 3 projects, among other "exciting chips," are currently in progress, suggesting we could see much more custom silicon ASICs in the coming months.
Meet the all-new Yunzii M2 Dual 8K Custom Wireless Gaming Mouse, designed for gamers, creators, and everyday users who demand speed, accuracy, and customization. Combining a high-performance PAW3395 sensor, dual 8KHz polling rate, lightweight ergonomic design, and flexible connectivity, M2 delivers a smooth and responsive experience from intense gaming sessions to daily productivity. Whether you're chasing every frame in FPS games or building a more efficient workspace, Yunzii M2 is ready to keep up with every move.
Tri-Mode Connection
Yunzii M2 supports three connection modes, including 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth 5.2, and wired connection, allowing you to switch effortlessly between gaming, work, and travel. Enjoy ultra-low latency performance with 2.4 GHz wireless, convenient connectivity with Bluetooth for laptops and daily tasks, or a stable wired connection when every millisecond matters.
Intel's upcoming "Nova Lake-S" generation of processors is on the horizon, and the company is already making preliminary manufacturing decisions before entering high-volume production. According to a research note from investment bank KeyBanc Capital Markets, Intel initially planned to outsource the main compute tile production for "Nova Lake" to TSMC, utilizing its 2 nm N2 node. The majority of the production, about 60-70%, was to be handled by TSMC, with the remainder produced in-house by Intel Foundry on the 18A node. This meant Intel would dual-source production for its next-generation chip. However, the latest supply chain information suggests that the company now intends to bring the majority of "Nova Lake" compute tile production in-house, with about 80-90% of the tiles being manufactured by Intel Foundry.
This shift comes as Intel's 18A node yields have improved to levels that are finally reliable enough to avoid any product delays, while the company remains fully satisfied with the yield rate and the number of dies that go to waste. Intel has reportedly resolved all yield issues it experienced with its 18A node over the past few months. Our earlier report indicated that the company has addressed these yield issues, making high-volume production of its latest node sustainable from both a manufacturing yield and economic standpoint. For a mature node like 18A, defect rates are now low, around D0=0.1 or D0=0.2, and it is likely that Intel has achieved the lower end of that spectrum due to node advancements and months of high-volume production with "Panther Lake."
European semiconductor independence has been a hot topic recently, and European Union lawmakers, particularly the European Commission, have passed the Chips Act 2.0 to achieve semiconductor manufacturing independence from the rest of the world. Now, only a week after the law has been passed, a German startup has raised capital to work on power semiconductors for next-generation electric vehicles. NexiGO, a Berlin-based startup, aims to focus on Gallium Oxide (Ga₂O₃) to power most of the power electronics needed across Europe. Starting with a €2 million pre-seed funding round, NexiGO plans to tackle the challenge of charging electric vehicles. The company intends to allow much higher voltage band gaps and enable vehicle charging to occur in just 10 minutes, significantly less time than the current 60-minute average achieved with Silicon Carbide or Gallium Nitride.
Interestingly, NexiGO will produce Gallium Oxide semiconductors on epitaxial wafers that are up to 4 inches in size, which is a third of the size of traditional logic and memory wafers made in the 12-inch format. The company has likely assessed that this size is sufficient to manufacture Gallium Oxide at a scale that satisfies domestic electricity transmission needs. For example, charging stations require an ultra-wide bandgap semiconductor to handle massive power surges with little to no loss. Standard semiconductors can't sustain the large voltage, while Gallium Oxide has a bandgap of roughly 4.8 eV, allowing for much lower energy loss in power transmission.
Microsoft has finally addressed one of the biggest pain points in using the modern Windows 11 operating system—the Windows Search Box. What used to be a complicated mess filled with content you didn't care about is now becoming a usable interface, with less visual clutter. Starting with new builds being rolled out to Windows Insiders on the Experimental Channel, Windows 11 will now display fewer results when running a Windows Search, meaning that the visual clutter is mostly gone, as you can see in the picture below. Recent searches are very easy to find, and the Search Box actually does what it is supposed to do. It will now display where the search result comes from, whether it is an application, a setting, a file, a web result, or even a Microsoft Store suggestion. The aim is for the Search Box to finally give users more transparency on what their actual search result is.
Perhaps the most important part of the update is the removal of promotional content. Previously, whenever you made a search in the Search Box, Microsoft would push promotions onto the user, showing related products first. This meant your search experience felt more like an advertising marketplace instead of a genuine search. Importantly, local search matches, like those from apps, settings, or files, are shown first before the web results, tailoring your experience towards a more local indexing of results. Additionally, these search results are customizable, as going to Settings > Privacy & Security > Search allows you to turn off web searches and Microsoft Store searches entirely.
MSI today announced that its Intel 800-series motherboards are now fully optimized for DDR5 memory built on CXMT (ChangXin Memory Technologies) DRAM. Following dedicated BIOS memory tuning, MSI Z890 motherboards deliver stable DDR5-8000+ operation with CXMT-based modules, spanning from flagship overclocking designs all the way to mainstream 4-DIMM boards.
CXMT-based DDR5 modules have rapidly gained popularity thanks to their strong value proposition, but their frequency headroom has historically lagged behind established DRAM vendors, which is a gap defined less by the silicon itself than by how well motherboard firmware understands it. MSI took on exactly that challenge, developing dedicated memory training and timing optimizations for CXMT ICs and validating the results with rigorous stress testing.
After layoffs racked the studio in mid-2025, following the launch of Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, 1047 Games branched off into a Titanfall-inspired movement shooter that would launch into early access as Empulse in late June 2026. Now, three weeks after Empulse hit virtual shelves, the studio has conducted yet another round of layoffs, with news breaking via employees. One employee, Max McCoy, the principal technical sound designer who worked on both Splitgate: Arena Reloaded and Empulse, confirmed the layoffs in a LinkedIn post, stating that "I was caught up in the layoffs at 1047 Games today. It's been rough to see all of the layoffs across the industry, and to have this be my second layoff in under two years is unfortunate." The studio itself has yet to comment on or announce the layoffs publicly.
It's unclear how many employees were caught up in the latest round of 1047 Games layoffs, but it seems as though the launch of Empulse, the studio's latest shooter, has not met expectations. Despite showing promise with positive early reviews, both on Steam and from media, and a development philosophy that seemed to listen to player feedback during the early access period, Empulse peaked at 2,860 concurrent players three days after launch and has not recovered since, with daily peak concurrent players currently sitting at around 1,200-1,400. The original Splitgate, the game that put the studio on the map initially, peaked at 67,724 concurrent players in August 2021, for comparison.
Despite the recent success of both Frostpunk 2 and The Alters, 11 Bit Studio has confirmed that it is laying off 20 employees in a round of layoffs that it says is necessary for upcoming development phases of projects currently in its portfolio. This was confirmed in a recent statement to Game Developer, in which the studio explained that it had avoided larger-scale layoffs by transferring staff internally to other projects. In 2025, the studio was reported to have 299 employees, meaning this 20-employee layoff comprises around 6-7% of the studio's overall manpower. A studio representative also explained in a statement that 11 Bit Studios's financial situation was stable, but that the studio was downsizing in preparation for upcoming production cycles.
Part of the statement by 11 Bit Studios reads:
We need to adjust new project teams to current needs, manage our expenses carefully and maintain cost discipline. Regarding the transfers and numbers, we managed to ensure internal transfers for most of our employees so they could continue their careers within the company. However, for the roles that, unfortunately, could not be carried over into new projects at their early stages, we had to make the difficult decision to part ways with around 20 employees.
Wooting is one of the rare keyboard manufacturers that meets gamers in the middle, providing gamers with both a web app and an installable program to customize their gaming keyboards. Now, the keyboard maker has announced App Linking, which enables per-app profiles in a new beta version of Wootility. Now, Wooting users who have the Wootility Background Service enabled can switch keyboard profiles on the fly, depending on which window is in focus in their operating system. It supports up to eight linked apps per profile on the keyboard, and the 80HE and 60HE V2 can support up to four on-board profiles. The update also refines the RGB sleep timer control UI and allows editing profiles directly from the icon tray.
Wooting's profiles control everything from actuation points, features like RT, SOCD, and analogue input, to key mapping and RGB lighting. This means you could set up a Wooting 80HE or 60HE to act like a macro pad while something like a video editor or CAD suite is focussed, a regular office keyboard with a lower polling rate and reasonable actuation point when word processors or web browsers are open, and a high-performance gaming keyboard with 8 kHz polling, RT, and a 0.1 mm actuation point when in games. One caveat with this background service functionality is that it currently does not work with Wayland on Linux, since that display server, since apps are generally isolated under Wayland, and support for features like this is spotty at best on Wayland. The Wooting support team is engaging with the community about Wayland support on Linux, and it seems as though the development team will look into supporting certain desktop environments, like KDE.
Update Jul 13th: As of Wootility version 5.4.1, App Linking is now available in the stable channel for both the web and download versions of Wootility, although those using the web version will still need the background app running to enable functionality. Wooting has also officially added support for 14 new third-party switches, including from Gateron, TTC, Ugaming, and Wuque Studio. Full changelog available here.
It hasn't been long since Logitech launched the G Pro X2 Superstrike gaming mouse that made waves thanks to its adjustable haptic feedback and actuation distance features, but it already seems as though the peripherals maker is preparing a new iteration of the G Pro X2 Superstrike. According to a recent leak via the Pericord Discord server, shared by @jakeufps on X, Logitech will launch the new mouse at Logitech G Play in September.
It's unknown if there will be any physical changes to the mouse, and obviously, the rumors are unconfirmed, but the supposed leaker says that the mouse will not get a new sensor, at least not a full Hero 3 update, but it will get an upgraded MCU, and tweaks to the HITS haptic feedback and adjustable actuation system. Since Logitech launched the X2 Superstrike, a number of other mouse makers have entered the magnetic mouse switch market, so Logitech will have more competition than last time. At the time of writing, gamers are asking for improved skates and a redesigned shell, mostly to reduce weight and rebalance the weight so that the second-gen Superstrike isn't as front-heavy.
Following recent news that Halo Studios has canceled an unannounced Halo project, the studio has officially announced that Halo: Campaign Evolved has gone gold, meaning that, less than a year after the game was announced, initial development has officially concluded. Given how close the game is to launch, the studio will likely move on to preparing for launch and testing for any day-one patches that may be necessary. The announcement that the game has gone gold by no means indicates that it will launch in a perfect state—Borderlands 3 was famously riddled with performance and stability issues and had missing features at launch, and that game went gold nearly two months before launch.
Halo: Campaign Evolved is slated to launch on July 28, and it is meant to be a remake of the original Combat Evolved experience with nine additional weapons, the ability to hack and pilot new vehicles, more difficulty levels, and updated graphics. Campaign evolved is built on Unreal Engine 5, so there are questions about how difficult the game will be to run. The development cycle of Halo: Campaign Evolved has also hardly been drama-free, with the studio facing backlash from fans after it was reported that generative AI was being heavily used in the development of Campaign Evolved.
DropReference, a PC hardware comparison and build-planning platform attracting more than 200,000 unique visitors each month, is officially expanding to the United States. Already established among European PC builders, DropReference allows users to compare PC component prices, create complete gaming PC configurations, check price history, and estimate expected gaming performance before purchasing their hardware. The US launch introduces pricing and availability from American hardware retailers, giving US-based users access to localized offers rather than converted European prices.
PC Hardware Price Comparison for US Builders
Shopping for PC hardware often requires checking several retailers, comparing product variants, and determining whether an apparent discount is actually a good deal. DropReference brings offers from multiple retailers together on a single product page. Instead of displaying every store listing as a different product, the platform groups matching offers around the exact hardware model. This helps users compare prices without accidentally mixing different GPU variants, storage capacities, motherboard versions, or regional product references.
It's no secret that things are in a state of flux at Xbox and all of its in-house game studios, and this appears to extend to Halo Studios. Despite building excitement for Halo: Campaign Evolved, which is slated to launch in late July 2026, it seems as though projects are being cut at Halo Studios all the same. Most recently, news broke via game journalist Rebs Gaming on X that Halo Studios had officially cancelled a new Halo project known internally as Project Ekur. This information was later validated by Windows Central reporter Jez Corden, although the nature of Project Ekur is still unknown.
Palworld officially exited Steam Early Access on July 10 with a massive 1.0 update that dropped a host of new game mechanics, new areas, and new pals to collect, raise, train, or put to work. The 1.0 update, which landed on a Friday two and a half years after its Early Access launch, seems to have been very popular, with SteamDB reporting a whopping 855,459 peak concurrent players on launch weekend. Steam reviews following the update have also been immensely positive, with July 10 alone seeing a spike of 1,877 new positive reviews on Steam. Palworld's 1.0 launch success has also placed it in fourth place in the global Steam Top Sellers chart, which measures game success by revenue.
The Palworld 1.0 update addressed many bugs and added plenty of features across both the game's single-player and multiplayer gameplay modes, including new traversal modes, new crafting features, and new pal breeding and base-building options, among many more. These sweeping changes, however, have not all been received positively. Some users in the game's Steam reviews complained about new key binds that can be confusing or inconvenient, while others complained about the increased map size and lack of massive online multiplayer features making the open-world game feel empty. Despite the handful of negative reviews, player counts have remained high, even well into the Monday after the launch weekend, which is when there is usually an observable dip in player retention.
Cougar has launched the CFV220 RGB, a mid-tower ATX case first shown at Computex 2026 back in June, as we reported here. The chassis, a slightly more compact version of the existing CVF235, measures 235 x 504 x 446 mm with three tempered glass panels and a ventilated lower intake chamber with integrated ARGB lighting. The CFV220 RGB supports Mini-ITX, microATX, ATX, and back-connector motherboards. For cooling it comes with three pre-installed 120 mm ARGB PWM fans, two in the bottom intake and one at the rear. All three fans are running up to 2200 RPM with 5 V 3-pin ARGB and 4-pin PWM headers, syncing with the motherboard RGB. Users can install up to three fans, for a total of six fans, with the top supporting three 120 mm or two 140 mm fans and a 360 mm or 240 mm radiator.
Hardware clearances cover GPUs up to 420 mm, CPU coolers up to 170 mm, and PSUs up to 160 mm. For storage the case has one 3.5-inch bay and one 2.5-inch bay, with a second 2.5-inch bay available if you convert the 3.5-inch one. As with many mid-tower cases, it sports seven expansion slots. The front I/O panel has a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 Type-C at 20 Gbps, two USB 3.0 Type-A ports, a combo audio jack, and an RGB button. A removable sliding dust filter covers the intake section. The CFV220 RGB case is available in black and white. Cougar hasn't announced its pricing.
TSMC's revenue reached an impressive 442.68 billion NTD in June 2026, which is about 13.75 billion USD (at the time of writing) for a single month of net revenue. This represents a remarkable 67.9% growth compared to the same month last year, driven by the record AI data center expansion. Month over month, TSMC's revenue increased by 6.2% from May 2026. These figures are impressive, considering that such high double-digit growth for a company already generating billions in revenue is one of the best performances in modern history. Additionally, TSMC generated revenue of 2,404.48 billion NTD, equivalent to about 74.66 billion USD, in the first six months of the year. This marks an increase of 35.6% compared to the first half of 2025, indicating that the trend is expected to continue.
In June, TSMC successfully began high-volume manufacturing of the N2 process. AMD has partnered with TSMC to manufacture its EPYC "Venice" on the 2 nm N2 process, alongside the CoWoS packaging that TSMC's facilities offer. AMD is now a top-tier client at TSMC, utilizing the latest nodes that were typically adopted first by Apple, followed by others. Apple is following AMD with its A20 SoC for iPhones and M6 SoC for MacBooks. TSMC's revenue target for the full year 2026 is expected to significantly surpass the 2025 figures, as the company encourages customers to adopt more advanced built on pricier wafers.
AMD's mid-range Radeon RX 9070 GRE edition graphics card is now available for $499 on Newegg, offering an attractive deal for 1440p gamers. Newegg provides a special discount when you enter your email address, reducing the listed price from $549 to $499, a 9% price cut. This is a good deal considering how expensive GPUs have become recently due to memory shortages driving up prices. Originally launched on June 2nd this year outside of China, AMD set the MSRP at $549, which is still the case for some SKUs at certain retailers. However, prices often exceed this, depending on the location and country.
The Radeon RX 9070 GRE features a Navi 48 XL GPU with 3,072 stream processors across 48 RDNA 4 CUs, paired with 12 GB of GDDR6 memory running on a 192-bit bus. This positions it below the Radeon RX 9070 non-XT, which uses a Navi 48 XT GPU with 3,584 stream processors. Interestingly, this GPU was initially intended as a China-only version, as is typical for the GRE family, but AMD released it worldwide at the beginning of June. With the current discount, the value proposition has improved compared to our earlier reviews. Check out the Newegg link here. Do note we don't have an affiliate program, this post serves as a heads-up for enthusiasts for a good deal.
Chinese memory giant CXMT has been expanding its capacity so rapidly that the company is now able to compete with one of the largest memory manufacturers in the world—Micron. According to analysis from Citrini Research and their proprietary data, CXMT is projected to produce about 350,000 DRAM wafers per month by the end of 2026, assuming all current projects are completed on schedule. This is an impressive figure, especially considering that Micron, one of the "big three" DRAM manufacturers, is currently estimated to produce about 375,000 DRAM wafers per month by the end of 2026, assuming their capacity expansions are fulfilled. Micron has been a memory supplier for decades, while CXMT is a relatively new player that emerged to meet China's domestic needs.
A particularly surprising discovery is that CXMT is constructing its cleanrooms—where the actual silicon is produced—in just around 12 months, whereas the rest of the DRAM manufacturing industry typically takes 21-24 months, nearly a full year longer. The biggest challenge for Chinese memory makers like CXMT is acquiring advanced lithography solutions from around the world, as the United States government has imposed sanctions on the company and placed it on a blacklist, preventing access to modern EUV scanners. Instead, CXMT relies on older DUV lithography tools and uses multi-patterning techniques to work around the lack of EUV technology. Despite this, CXMT is matching Micron's output this year with nearly the same number of DRAM wafers, which is impressive for such a new market entrant.
It seems as though Criterion Games has officially addressed the questions about the future of Need for Speed that arose after its 30th anniversary rebranding as "a Battlefield studio." In a recent interview with IGN, Vice President of Battlefield Studios Europe, Rebecka Coutaz, has basically confirmed fans' fears that Need for Speed is all but dead. When asked about the potential future of its racing games following the rebranding, the VP responded that "We are solely focused on Battlefield," indicating that, 2022's Need for Speed Unbound would likely be the last entry into the studio's racing IP. This comment likewise spells doom for the Burnout franchise, which hasn't had a new entry since 2018 with the Burnout Paradise Remaster, if you can even call that a new entry.
The absence of Burnout and Need for Speed leave a notable gap in the racing game market that games like Forza and the DiRT series don't necessarily fill, thanks to the combination of street and track racing and stunt driving. A quick gander at SteamDB reveals that, aside from the live-service push, the reason for moving away from Need for Speed as a franchise may be due to declining player interest. On Steam, Need for Speed Unbound peaked at a disappointing 14,063 concurrent players at launch and has since plateaued at around 1,000-1,500 peak concurrent daily players. Battlefield 6, on the other hand, currently sits at around 50,000 daily concurrent players, previously peaking at an all-time high of over 740,000 concurrent players.
JEDEC Solid State Technology Association, the global leader in standards development for the microelectronics industry, today announced the publication of JESD330-4: Standard Package High Bandwidth Memory (SPHBM4). SPHBM4 uses the same DRAM dies as HBM4, commonly used in artificial intelligence accelerators, with a new interface base die that enables mounting on standard organic substrates rather than silicon substrates. JESD330-4 is available for download from the JEDEC website.
JESD330-4 SPHBM is architected to operate at the same aggregate data throughput as HBM4 using fewer pins by operating at a higher frequency. Where the HBM4 interface has 2048 data signals, when published, SPHBM4 will define 512 data signals with 4:1 serialization to achieve the same bandwidth. This change allows the relaxed bump pitch required for connection to organic substrates.
Edifier International, the award-winning audio electronics designer, announces the launch of its latest studio monitor, the MR4.5. Whether you're producing music, editing content, or simply enjoying your favorite playlists, the MR4.5 is designed to deliver accurate, balanced sound throughout every part of your day. Combining professional-grade audio performance with versatile functionality, the latest addition to Edifier's award-winning MR Series is equally at home in the studio, at your desk, or in your living space.
Hear Every Detail
Engineered for accurate sound reproduction, the MR4.5 lets you hear every detail with clarity and precision. Its bi-amplified design, Hi-Res Audio certification and wide frequency response deliver balanced, natural sound for music production, video editing, content creation and everyday listening.
Cooler Master, a global leader in innovative thermal solutions and PC hardware today announced the HAF II 500, a new high-end airflow case designed to push cooling performance forward while delivering a quieter, more flexible building experience. HAF II 500 is available now for $199.99 in North America from Amazon and Newegg. Availability, pricing, and purchase options vary by region. Please refer to your local Cooler Master website for details.
The HAF II 500 uses Cooler Master's thermal authority to bring together two benefits that often compete in a PC case: stronger cooling and lower operating noise. With a purpose-built thermal architecture powered by oversized extra-thick fans, and a layout designed to support high-performance hardware and cleaner internal routing, the case helps users get more from modern gaming, creative, and compute-intensive systems.
Valve is making a fortune, as confirmed by the latest data from Alinea Analytics, which estimates Steam has generated an impressive $11.1 billion in revenue in the first half of the year. These numbers are not only record-setting for Valve but also highlight the significant influence Steam has within the gaming community. As a privately-owned company, Valve's revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. However, analysis from Alinea Analytics estimates that the gross revenue for the first six months of the year is $11.1 billion, nearly matching the entire year of 2021 ($11.4 billion), when the COVID pandemic significantly boosted the gaming community as people stayed home for extended periods.
Interestingly, the majority of Steam's revenue comes from older games. The report notes that only 21% of the revenue stream has come from 2026 game releases, while the rest is supported by a catalog of older titles. Perhaps gamers have been saving up to purchase older games or simply waiting for new releases to resolve the initial bugs and issues that often accompany major game launches. The top-selling games in the first half of 2026 include Forza Horizon 6, generating $197.7 million since launch, Resident Evil Requiem with $194.5 million, and Crimson Desert with $190.1 million from game sales. A complete chart with more games is included below.
GameSir, a global gaming peripherals brand renowned for combining high-performance engineering with distinctive design, today announces the launch of the GameSir T7 Pro W Retro Green Wired Controller. Combining dependable wired performance with a nostalgic translucent aesthetic, the T7 Pro W Retro Green delivers modern gaming technology in a design inspired by the iconic transparent hardware of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The GameSir T7 Pro Retro Green is available now, priced at £55.99 / $49.99 / €59.99 on the GameSir website, with Amazon availability expected at a later date.
Featuring a striking translucent green shell, the T7 Pro W Retro Green pays tribute to one of gaming's most recognizable design eras while introducing subtle RGB lighting that adds a contemporary touch. The result is a controller that blends retro character with modern style, making it equally at home on a desktop setup or alongside an Xbox console.
According to a display industry analyst from South Korea, Nintendo is considering releasing a Switch 2 handheld console with an OLED display. While there has been speculation that Nintendo will announce a Switch 2 OLED version, the company is currently evaluating whether this option is financially feasible. If Nintendo determines that it makes financial sense, the company plans to start development towards the end of this year, with mass production targeted for the end of 2027. This would set an early 2028 goal for the market launch. If the decision is made to proceed, it is likely that Samsung Display will supply a rigid OLED panel for the Switch 2 OLED version. However, there is a significant price difference between the current 1080p LCD panel and a potential rigid OLED touchscreen display, with the LCD version reportedly being much cheaper.
The current situation with tight memory and storage supply isn't helping either, as Nintendo has been forced to increase the Switch 2 cost by about $50, depending on the configuration. NAND Flash and DRAM pricing have been rising, forcing Nintendo to raise costs, which will take effect on September 1st of this year. Additionally, Nintendo would have to pass the extra costs of the OLED panel to consumers, which could range from double to triple digits by the time the Switch 2 OLED version hits the market. If the memory and storage shortage persists, we could see another price hike for the regular LCD version, and the OLED SKU might not make financial sense. Hence, the company is currently debating whether to start development or not.
Intel today announced a €5 billion ($5.7 billion) capital investment at its Leixlip campus in Ireland, marking the next phase in the site's capacity expansion. Global demand for AI and high-performance computing is driving the need for advanced silicon to power AI Factories, and Intel is scaling capacity in Ireland to deliver Intel Xeon 6 and next gen Intel Xeon built on its Intel 3 node. This strategic investment expands current production output, advances research and development activities and utilises capacity across existing cleanroom space, strengthening Europe's semiconductor supply chain and serving industry need.
The expansion involves upgrading existing fabrication facilities and the installation of leading-edge manufacturing equipment. Key infrastructure enhancements include the expansion of the automated track system to integrate disparate campus modules into a singular, high-velocity production environment.
Previously, we reported that Valve's Steam Machine featured a "red line of death" (RLOD) that was mistakenly flagged as a system problem. This issue was actually a simple BIOS glitch that was resolved quickly. Valve has since updated its Q&A and the Steam Machine BIOS to enhance the functionality of the LED strip surrounding the Steam Machine. In their latest communication, Valve confirmed that they are working on a BIOS update that will cause the LED strip to turn red if the CPU or GPU reaches 100°C. At this point, the system will automatically reduce the performance of the CPU or GPU, depending on which component is affected, to protect the system's health. This process, known as thermal throttling, will only occur once the system reaches the 100°C threshold.
Earlier reports indicated that the RLOD appeared on systems with CPU temperatures of 95°C and GPU temperatures of 90°C. However, since the silicon can handle more heat without issues, Valve has been updating the LED strip behavior with the new BIOS update. Because Valve uses a customized AMD processor, the TJ Max, or maximum safe temperature before shutdown, is likely 105°C. Beyond this point, the system will shut down to prevent damage. Under normal operation, the LED light will remain blue, indicating that the RLOD is a serious warning sign when conditions are about to change. Interestingly, Valve's internal Steam Machine cooling system, which includes a heatsink and a fan, is sufficient to keep the Steam Machine running normally. However, factors such as room temperature and the placement of the Steam Machine can affect performance. If the device is placed in a cramped space with limited air circulation, overheating issues may be more persistent. Below is the current setup of the LED light bar, which will get updated soon.
MSI announced that its EdgeXpert AI Supercomputer is now supported by Racknex professional Rack Mount solutions, enabling enterprises to deploy high-performance AI computing resources in standard 19-inch rack environments. Designed specifically for MSI EdgeXpert, the Racknex UM-MSI-201 Rack Mount Kit provides a flexible and standardized deployment option for enterprise AI, edge computing, smart manufacturing, and data center applications.
As generative AI and enterprise AI applications continue to expand, organizations are increasingly seeking AI computing platforms that deliver high performance, low latency, and secure local AI processing. Beyond computing capability, enterprises also require efficient deployment, system integration, space optimization, and simplified management within existing IT infrastructures.
Intel's 18A node is officially space-grade, according to documentation on Intel's website. A document that initially went unnoticed has been published, detailing a new "Starfire" generation of processors built on the 18A node and designed for space operations. Intel has designated two SKUs for orbital computing, each equipped with four P-Cores and four LPE-Cores, resulting in an eight-core SoC design. One is optimized for low-power operations with clocks adjusted for efficiency, while the other is designed for performance. The Low Power edition tunes its four P-Cores to 1.0 GHz, while the four LPE-Cores run at 850 MHz. For the Performance version, Intel has increased the frequency of P-Cores to 3.1 GHz, with LPE-Cores reaching up to 2.1 GHz.
Both SKUs feature a GPU tile built on the Intel 3 node, which includes 4 Xe cores with 64 EUs. On the Low Power SKU, these Xe cores operate between 800 MHz and 1.0 GHz, while the Performance SKU boosts this to 2.0 GHz. The total package for the Low Power version remains at 10 W TDP, while the Performance SKU is capped at 35 W TDP. Additionally, Intel includes an NPU on both versions, with a compute capability of 45 TOPS on the Low Power version and up to 75 TOPS on the Performance SKU using INT8 precision. Beyond specifications, "Starfire" can operate within a T-Junction range from -55°C to 125°C. This range, alongside TID, SEL, and SEE radiation hardening certifications, introduces the first 18A silicon to space, ideal for orbital computation. Intel targets this quarter, Q3, for samples.
GIGABYTE today introduced the B850M AORUS Stealth, a Socket AM5 motherboard based on the AMD B850 chipset that offers backside connectors for better cable management and aesthetics. This is among the first of the company's motherboards in the microATX form-factor to feature backside connectivity. The board draws power from a combination of 24-pin ATX and a single 8-pin EPS connector. It uses an 8+2+2 phase CPU VRM design. The socket is wired to four DDR5 DIMM slots, the board's sole PCI-Express 5.0 x16 slot, and two M.2 NVMe slots, one of which is Gen 5 x4, and the other interestingly is Gen 4 x4 even though it comes from the CPU. There is a third M.2 Gen 4 x4 slot that's wired to the B850 chipset. Other storage connectivity includes two SATA 6 Gbps ports.
USB connectivity of the GIGABYTE B850M AORUS Stealth includes four 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 1 type-A on the rear panel; four USB 2.0 type-A, also on the rear panel; two 10 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2, one of which is type-A and the other type-C, on the rear panel; two 5 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports from a header; and a 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 port from header. Network connectivity includes a Wi-Fi 7 160 MHz and Bluetooth 5.4 provided by a Realtek RTL8922AE WLAN module; and a 5 Gbps wired Ethernet interface driven by a Realtek RTL8126 series PHY. The onboard audio solution is driven by a Realtek ALC1220 HDA codec. The company didn't reveal pricing.
Apple has recently overhauled its entire M-Series chip plans, scrapping the launch of the M6 Pro and M6 Max processors and jumping straight to the M7 series. While the base M6 SoC is expected to launch, Apple is moving into the M7 series without the M6 Pro/Max variants, with plans to offer some of the most powerful computing solutions in the market. Apple is testing the M6 SoC in the base MacBook Pro model, featuring many improvements in CPU microarchitecture and NPU performance for local AI processing. Reportedly, memory is also being upgraded for higher bandwidth, now targeting around 200 GB/s, up from 123 GB/s in the current base M5 SoC. The integrated GPU will see a 20% increase in core count, featuring 12 GPU cores in the M6, which will be a noticeable improvement from the current 10-core configuration in the M5.
However, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, in the PowerOn newsletter, confirmed that Apple's plans for the M7 Ultra chip include much faster local AI with more CPU, GPU, and NPU power, as well as a total memory capacity of 1.5 TB, a configuration only seen on the Mac Pro desktop systems. Next year's base M7 processor is expected to arrive in the first half of 2027 and will also upgrade memory bandwidth to about 240 GB/s. This is supposed to be the first Intel-manufactured Apple Silicon design, utilizing the 18A-P node. The M7 Pro and M7 Max will arrive in late 2027 with much higher bandwidth and performance. An M7 Ultra version will follow in 2028 for Mac Studio, which will be a 1.5 TB DRAM machine. With that unified memory, local model development and heavier tasks will be supported without hassle.
MSI Afterburner has been experimenting with a voltage/frequency curve editor that includes a heat map. This feature helps users understand the exact frequency their GPU achieves when given a certain voltage level. According to MSI Afterburner developer "Unwinder," the next beta release of this popular utility will allow users to record and visualize the V/F heat map by pressing "M" on their keyboard while in the editor. Once recorded, users can observe the NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPU Boost algorithm in action and see how the GPU switches to different voltage points based on frequency scaling. This process follows the pre-defined V/F curve set for GPU frequency scaling and boosting when needed.
The developer also noted that starting with the "Blackwell" architecture, NVIDIA improved its dynamic voltage frequency scaling (DVFS) within the GPU Boost algorithm. In older architectures, GPU Boost would jump between target V/F points without intermediate values. However, starting with "Blackwell," the curve is much more gradual, and the V/F targets switch up to 1,000 times faster than before, thanks to the DVFS improvements. In the MSI Afterburner beta, this can be seen with a heat map that uses gradients of yellow to indicate the most frequently hit GPU V/F curve points. Below is the GeForce RTX 5090 boosting pattern recorded by the MSI Afterburner beta.
AMD has reportedly been testing a new and highly anticipated FSR multi-frame generation (MFG) technology for its Radeon RX GPUs. This information comes from a third-party software called RadeonTuner, which allows access to Radeon driver settings without using the AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition application. RadeonTuner has revealed that AMD is already incorporating preliminary support for multi-frame generation into its Radeon drivers, though the feature remains hidden until the software is finalized. According to the tool's developer, AMD often places placeholders for features like this well in advance of their release, indicating that the company is extensively testing the multi-frame generation feature with options for 1x to 8x variants, which are expected to be available once the feature is fully developed.
One user attempted to enable the multi-frame generation feature using the latest driver installation and a Radeon RX 9060 XT graphics card to see if it could work with any game. However, the user discovered that the feature is currently non-functional, as AMD has not yet released the necessary model to support multi-frame generation at any setting. This suggests that only the placeholder for the feature has been included, with no underlying driver support to make it operational. Even when testing games that frequently receive FSR updates, such as Forza Horizon 6, Pragmata, Resident Evil 9, Crimson Desert, and Death Stranding 2, the feature could not be activated. It seems we are still months away from the final release of multi-frame generation support.
It seems that NVIDIA's removal of the hotspot temperature sensor from the GeForce RTX 50 series "Blackwell" GPUs is not permanent, as the sensor data can still be accessed and the actual sensor is physically present. However, this is only possible with NVIDIA's internal tool called Modular Diagnostic Software (MODS), which isn't available to the public. According to Brazilian repair specialist Paulo Gomes, NVIDIA's MODS tool can still access the hotspot sensor. Readers may recall that back in January 2025, when the GeForce RTX 5090 GPU was reviewed, it was confirmed that NVIDIA had indeed removed the hotspot sensor reading API from "Blackwell." However, the company has kept access to "GPU Temperature" and "Memory Temperature" features for measuring the overall GPU temperature and its memory, making up for the absence of the hotspot sensor by keeping other features available.
For those who want to access the hotspot sensor on NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50 series, Paulo Gomes shows that it is possible through the use of MODS, which is an internal tool available only to NVIDIA employees in testing labs. Some builds have been circulating among repair technicians. The tool requires a bootable Linux drive and likely specific packages, making it difficult for the average enthusiast to set up. By connecting the tool from a remote server, the repair crew discovered that NVIDIA's thermal limit of 107°C had been reached five times in some hotspots on the GPU die, despite the average GPU temperature of the tested GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 5070 Ti being around 68°C.
Welcome to the middle of July and we're right back to the slower pace of new game releases. This week's major release brings some Lovecraftian co-op action set in a time of gunpowder and muskets. We kick off the rest of this week's releases with a fast-paced action-rougelike bullet-hell where you can stop the time, followed by an old-timey mystery. Then we take a left turn onto the Japanese metro, but the train is a skateboard, a turn-based strategy game with floating islands and finally you get the chance to drive a train in the fog.
The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu / This week's major release / Wednesday 15 July
In up to four player co-op, form a group of explorers searching for treasure. In this cursed jungle, danger is everywhere and monstrous creatures alter reality. Stay clear-headed and tame the jungle before it devours you. Steam link
Following the recent confirmation that layoffs related to Asha Sharma's Xbox reset have resulted in significant layoffs at ZeniMax-run studios—amounting to 50% of Id Software's workers and 25% of Bethesda's—OneBGS, the CWA-affiliated Bethesda Game Studios Union, has announced that its workers has organized marches outside Bethesda's studios in Montreal, Canada; Austin and Dallas, Texas; and Rockville, Maryland. CWA representatives said in an email seen by Game Developer that the layoffs have affected as many as 440 unionized workers at Bethesda and ZeniMax, and the union says that the protest will start on July 15 to fight for the rights of its workers.
"Microsoft and ZeniMax leadership have made the devastating decision to slash over 440 positions across BGS, ZOS, id, ZWU (QA) and ZeniMax corporate (including CTO and CSUR). Because we organized and certified our unions, we have hard-won legal rights and protections that non-unionized studios simply do not have. The company wants us to accept this as a done deal and quietly disappear. We won't let that happen. Our next steps are to mobilize. We need every single member visible and unified."
Following the recent launch of the Keychron K4 Ultra and K10 Ultra, the accessory maker has officially launched the new K5 Ultra 8K, a low-profile wireless mechanical keyboard with a full 100% layout and sleek cherry wood accents. The K5 Ultra is the latest version of the low-profile K Ultra-series, which means it uses the same ZMK firmware and has the same 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth 5.2 wireless connectivity as the previously announced K3 Ultra had. The K5 Ultra has launched with an MSRP of $114.99, and is available in black on the Keychron online store or on Amazon. The K5 Ultra is also capable of refresh rates of up to 8 kHz over both the wired USB Type-C connection and the 2.4 GHz connection. Wireless connectivity is powered by a 2,400 mAh battery, and Keychron cites 370 hours of use from a single charge with the backlighting disabled and the keyboard running at an 8 kHz polling rate.
The Keychron K5 Ultra uses a proper full-size layout and includes both a programmable knob above the backspace key and a macro row above the num pad. The K5 Ultra is available with Keychron's relatively new Milk POM low-profile switches—which follow the Gateron Low-Profile 2.0 pin layout—in three switch flavors. Milk POM Reds are linear with a 45 gf actuation force, while the Milk POM Browns are tactile with a 50 gf actuation force, and the Milk POM Banana switches are a strong tactile switch with 57 gf actuation force. All three switches have 3.1 mm of total travel, but the Reds have 1.3 mm of pre-travel, while the two tactile varieties have 1.7 mm pre-travel. The K5 Ultra measures in at 436.6 x 128.29 mm and has a 15.55 mm front height. It also features two-stage flip-out feet for different typing angles.
Thermaltake CAPO X is one of the more unusual cases we've seen at Computex this year, and now it has been officially launched. CAPO X is a full tower designed to house two completely independent microATX systems in a single enclosure. The interior of the case is split into two separate motherboard compartments. Both offer support for standard microATX boards as well as rear-connector designs such as ASUS BTF, MSI Project Zero, and Gigabyte Project Stealth. Each of those compartments gets five expansion slots, GPU clearance up to 420 mm, CPU cooler height up to 180 mm, ATX PSU support up to 250 mm and 360 mm radiator mount for independent cooling. Dedicated 2.5-inch storage mounts in each section mean both systems run completely separately, including their own operating systems.
Front I/O is also independent per system, the upper compartment's panel sits near the top-left, the lower one toward the front-bottom, each with a USB Type-C 10 Gbps port and two USB Type-A 5 Gbps ports alongside power, reset, and audio headers. The case is made from 1 mm SPCC steel, measures 691 x 305 x 448 mm and has a single 4 mm curved tempered glass side panel spanning both compartments. The use cases are fairly niche but make sense, a gaming and dedicated streaming setup, an AI inference system alongside a primary workstation, or simply saving desk space by running two systems in one chassis. Thermaltake CAPO X is available in black and white and has a price of 1270 yuan (around $187).
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has seemingly managed to turn things around following a wave of negative reviews on launch day. Not only has its Steam review rating swung from "Mixed" to "Mostly Positive"—with 77% of the game's 3,555 English reviews now positive—Ubisoft has also announced that Black Flag Resynced has sold over 2 million copies in just over 24 hours since its launch. This at least matches but possibly exceeds the day-one performance of 007 First Light, which sold 1.5 million units in 24 hours.
Previously, reviews on Steam frequently complained about the game's microtransactions, which totaled to more than the $69.99 price of the Deluxe Edition. It's not entirely surprising that the game has reached such heights, given that its day-one Steam peak player count, as reported by SteamDB, was 99,451 players, beating out every other Assassin's Creed game to date—the previous record belonged to Assassin's Creed Shadows with 64,825 peak concurrent players.
Jsaux, the maker of a smorgasbord of functional and decorative Steam Deck accessories, has just provided an update on its previously announced Steam Machine faceplate project, which it has revealed to potentially be coming in three separate iterations. On the brand's Discord, it recently held a poll asking for community feedback on three separate versions of the faceplates: one with a large monochrome e-ink display akin to Valve's initial prototype, another with a smaller color e-ink display with a knob and additional buttons on the front, and another with a large color dot matrix display.
It's unclear whether Jsaux will release all three versions of the display, but judging by the response on Discord, both versions of the e-ink faceplate were popular, although the full-size monochrome e-ink display ended up winning the popular vote with 49% of the votes preferring that version. It's worth noting that Jsaux's Discord poll simply asked which version of the display faceplate the accessory maker should launch first, and not which version it should launch at all, suggesting there is at least some intention to launch all three versions.
As promised previously, Palworld 1.0 has officially launched on Steam, bringing with it an absolutely gargantuan list of updates, features, and fixes. The update officially launches the game out of Early Access and adds 72 new pals to the game, bringing the total to 287—over 50 more than in the latest Pokémon Legends Z-A game. Palworld 1.0 also adds a new area, a floating island called The World Tree, and it expands the original world with new points of interest, Ancient Ruins with minigames, new islands with new volcano, desert, and ruin biomes, and new NPC settlements in four regions, each with their own NPCs and quests. There are several other gameplay changes, new mechanics, and systems overhauls that appear to largely be focused on increasing the fun of late-game and high-level gameplay, base building, combat, and life sim activities.
It's also worth noting that anyone running mods on Palworld has been instructed to remove the mods ahead of the 1.0 update in order to avoid game-breaking bugs. However, Pocket Pair explains that this advice is merely a precaution, due to the massive gameplay changes that have come as a result of the Palworld 1.0 update. Pocketpair has expressed its support for modding and its appreciation for the work done by its modding community, but it notes that mods that have been installed on Palworld "since around 2024" may result in crashes at launch or during gameplay, corrupted save data, or quests becoming impossible to complete. The studio advises only reinstalling mods once the mod creator has specifically confirmed that the mods will work on Palworld 1.0. The full release notes, available on Steam, span several pages, but some of the other update highlights follow.
The reception of PlayStation's recent decision to stop producing physical games media in early 2028 has been heard far and wide across the internet, with fans even going as far as to start the "Don't Kill the Disc" petition on Change.org. More recently, a survey on Push Square, a publication that largely serves PlayStation enthusiasts, found that 45% of 6,454 respondents were "seriously considering" switching to PC gaming as a result of the announcement, while 23% were firm in their decision to stick with PlayStation going forward, and 15% said they had already thought about it. Of those who responded to the survey, 41% cited Sony ending physical games as their reason for moving to PC. Although there hasn't been a massive outcry about it just yet, Xbox is apparently also planning on moving away from physical media, with rumors claiming a disc-to-digital attestation system coming to the Xbox Helix console.
Another point of contention in the next-gen console line-up is pricing, with some rumors placing the PS6 BOM cost at near $1,000. Only 14% of 5,664 respondents in the same survey said that they would buy a PS6 at launch if it cost $1,000 or more, while 29% said they would buy or build a gaming PC instead, and another 29% said they would skip the PS6 console generation altogether. Up-front hardware cost is one area where console gaming usually has an edge on PC gaming, and, while the PS5 console generation saw Sony an Xbox embrace multi-platform game launches from their in-house studios, it seems as though both companies are prepared for at least some backlash for the upcoming console generation. For its part, Xbox appears to be approaching things a little differently by more or less treating PC and Xbox gaming as a monolith, especially with the next-gen Xbox Helix console all but confirmed to be a PC-console hybrid.
The new Nexus family is available in two configurations Ryzen AI and Threadripper AI ranging from high-performance systems to uncompromising professional workstations engineered for Local AI development and deployment.
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we develop software, analyze data, and create new products. At the same time, an increasing number of professionals, businesses, and enthusiasts are choosing to run AI models directly on their own machines, keeping full control over their data, reducing reliance on cloud services, and taking full advantage of the power of modern hardware.
Following the launch of the Steam Machine, Valve has finally rolled out its compatibility rating system for its living room gaming experience in Steam, with a new UI that shows both Steam Machine and SteamOS compatibility ratings. The new UI is only available in SteamOS in the Steam Deck client or in Big Picture mode, which makes sense, since the update is more than likely targeted around the launch of the Steam Machine. It's unclear if Valve will add a similar SteamOS compatibility indicator to the desktop and web clients, although it does display SteamOS and Steam Deck compatibility in the library on both desktop and the web, so it seems likely that the feature is planned for later.
Currently, the SteamOS and Steam Machine compatibility ratings are hidden in a fly-out window under a UI block called "SteamOS compatibility." The window shows three tabs, for the Steam Deck, Steam Machine, and then general SteamOS, all of which have their own specific compatibility requirements. While the Steam Machine tab shows information relating to the Steam Machine Verified program, the SteamOS tab simply notes whether the game will run on SteamOS via the Proton compatibility layer and whether it needs an internet connection for initial setup or gameplay. The SteamOS rating is likely to apply to most other modern Linux distributions, so it is a welcome addition to Valve's Linux gaming feature set.
LIAN LI Industrial Co., Ltd., a leading manufacturer of chassis and PC accessories, introduces the UNI FAN FLEX Series, a new generation of UNI FANs designed for more flexibility over fan speed, lighting, and LCD customization. Powered by the new FLEX Receiver, the series supports control via L-Wireless, USB, or direct motherboard PWM/ARGB sync. Available in four models: TL FLEX, TL LCD FLEX, SL-INF FLEX, and SL-INF LCD FLEX.
The UNI FAN TL LCD FLEX and SL-INF LCD FLEX increase personalization with an integrated 1.8-inch LCD screen. The display features a 400 x 400 resolution, 60 Hz refresh rate, and 500 nits of brightness. Each LCD fan includes 512 MB of onboard flash memory, allowing pre-loaded screen backgrounds and system monitoring presets to be controlled wirelessly through L-Connect 3 without requiring a USB connection for basic display functions. For users who want full customization, USB mode unlocks advanced media uploads, including GIF and MP4 support, giving builders more freedom to match the fan display with the rest of their system theme.
NVIDIA is readying the new GeForce RTX 5090 SE graphics card, according to a report by GameGPU. This SKU could fill the gap between the current RTX 5080 and the flagship RTX 5090. Unlike the RTX 5090D and RTX 5090D V2, the RTX 5090 SE isn't a region-specific SKU aimed at complying with U.S. AI accelerator export controls, but is rather a mainline gaming GPU product. It is based on the same "GB202" silicon as the RTX 5090, but is cut down from it, featuring fewer streaming multiprocessors (SM), and a narrower 384-bit wide GDDR7 memory interface. The memory size is still 32 GB, achieved using a mixed density of 24 Gb and 16 Gb memory chips.
NVIDIA is carving the RTX 5090 SE out of the "GB202" by enabling 110 out of the 192 SM physically present on the silicon, resulting in 14,080 CUDA cores, 110 RT cores, 440 Tensor cores, 440 TMUs, and an unknown ROP count, probably 144. Meanwhile, the TGP of the RTX 5090 SE is expected to be around 500 W, down from 575 W of the RTX 5090. NVIDIA is looking to target a launch MSRP of $1,500, but you can be sure that the street price will be much higher.
GIGABYTE, the world's leading computer brand, demonstrates how AI TOP ATOM four-node clustering scales local AI computing for increasingly complex workloads. As AI models, scientific simulations, and enterprise applications continue to grow in size and complexity, standalone systems are increasingly insufficient to meet rising memory and compute demands. AI TOP ATOM clustering removes that constraint, enabling memory-intensive workloads to run locally without compromising on data security.
Each AI TOP ATOM node delivers 1 PFLOP/s FP4 AI performance and 128 GB unified memory. Through a Race-capable 200 GbE switch, four interconnected nodes, each with 128 GB of unified memory, enable memory-intensive workloads to scale beyond the limits of a standalone system. The modular architecture allows organizations to scale from one node to four nodes as workload requirements evolve while maintaining local deployment and full data sovereignty, providing a scalable foundation for larger AI and scientific computing workloads.
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the ROG Gjallar premium gaming soundbar designed to deliver impactful, cinematic surround sound, clear in-game communication, and multi-platform compatibility to streamline any setup. It immerses gamers in a realistic 3D soundstage via 2.1.2 Dolby Atmos surround sound with left and right full-range speakers, tweeters, up-firing channels and a powerful 5G wireless subwoofer.
The Gjallar includes an all-in-one audio control hub that provides convenient access to EQ settings, playback controls, input source selection, and RGB lighting. The audio control hub also houses the built-in Acoustic Echo Cancellation (AEC) microphones for seamless communication. The Gjallar offers versatile multi-device, multi-platform connectivity via USB-C, HDMI 2.1 (eARC), optical and AUX input, along with Bluetooth 5.3. In addition, a built-in USB hub on the side of the soundbar allows for easy device connections via USB Type-A. ASUS Aura RGB lighting offers up to 16.8 million colors and four preset effects for a complete, cohesive gaming setup.
ASUS Republic of Gamers today announced the ROG Raikiri II Pro PC—the ultimate gaming controller with a competition-grade 8K polling rate, extensive customization options including hot-swappable joysticks for a tailored feel, and industry-leading battery life. The ROG Raikiri II Pro PC provides gamers with unparalleled precision control to dominate gaming arenas.
The ROG Raikiri II Pro PC controller boasts an 8000 Hz polling rate and 2.4 GHz wireless performance enhanced by ROG SpeedNova technology for incredibly responsive control and ultra-low latency. All buttons—D-Pad, ABXY, and rear buttons—and bumpers feature micro switches for instant actuation and crisp, tactile feedback. In addition, the Dual Mode Triggers feature lets gamers seamlessly switch between short-travel, micro-switch and TMR sensor triggers with full travel, allowing for a tailored feel based on game genre.
The hype has been building for the launch of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced for a good long while, and it seems as though sales have been strong, with SteamDB reporting a peak of 99,451 concurrent players in the first 12 hours after launch on Steam alone. However, it seems as though player impressions could be better, with the Steam review rating currently sitting at an underwhelming "Mixed" rating. Many reviews praise the quality of the remake, but Steam gamers have taken issue with the monetization of Black Flag Resynced.
During the first 12 hours since the game's launch, it has managed to accrue 2,778 reviews, and only 62% of those reviews are positive. For the most part, negative reviews on Steam are taking Ubisoft to task about the inclusion of over $80 worth of microtransactions and DLC that show up repeatedly in the game's menus. This is true for players of both the $59.99 standard version and the $69.99 Deluxe Edition. The majority of the positive reviews of Black Flag resynced defend the cosmetics, saying that the inclusion of microtransactions for cosmetics is unimportant in a single-player game, but others argue that the perks offered by certain cosmetics, like shorter cooldowns, change the gameplay in meaningful ways. Others have complained that it's not merely the presence of microtransactions, but the fact that Ubisoft is seemingly using Black Flag and its link to Assassin's Creed Shadows to push players to buy the latter game.
MOZA today announced its most ambitious expansion of its flight simulation ecosystem to date. Building on its success in force feedback flight controls, the company is introducing a new family of cockpit displays, avionics panels, and flight management systems designed to bring professional-grade immersion and functionality to sim pilots around the world.
The new product lineup includes the MA3F Electronic Flight Control Modules (EFCM), MA3F Flight Computer Display, MB7F Flight Computer Display, MGX1000 Instrument Panel, and FMP18 Panel Bundle.
It's no secret that Xbox is undergoing massive changes, including everything from mass layoffs to studio closures, but it seems as though studios and developers are starting to feel the less obvious repercussions to the recent hardships at Xbox. According to a recent report by IGN, the layoffs at Bethesda may result in delays or crunch during the development of Elder Scrolls 6, which was announced as far back as 2018. One Bethesda worker commented to IGN that "their [the workers] loss will have a substantial and cascading effect on the game and morale of this studio," while another said that "it's been a mix of every discipline: programmers, artists, and designers." Overall, it seems as though morale is low at Bethesda following the recent layoffs and the subsequent removal of a memorial set up to commemorate workers who were caught up in the layoffs.
One worker expressed concerns over how the workload will be handled with fewer workers around, saying "There is a fear that we are going to be replaced by cheaper, contracted labor, or we will hire folks to replace them that will need to be onboarded (our tools are proprietary, other devs aren't going to know how they work) resulting in more delays, and we'll need to crunch to make up the time," adding that the Elder Scrolls 6 developers "were already running a tight ship and are worried about this delaying the game (though a final release date was not yet chosen as far as we know)."
Alphacool International GmbH from Braunschweig is a pioneer in PC water cooling technology. With one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry and more than 20 years of experience, Alphacool is expanding its lineup with the new Eisblock Arc Pro B60 Creator GPU cooler. The Alphacool Eisblock Arc Pro B60 Creator combines strong cooling performance with an elegant design and was developed specifically for ASRock Intel Arc Pro B60 24 GB graphics cards. The GPU water block is precisely matched to the card's PCB layout.
The fin structure is based on the proven cooling technology of previous Eisblock generations and has been specifically optimized for the Arc B60 GPU. With 0.4 mm thick fins and a fin spacing of 0.4 mm, it ensures excellent coolant flow and high heat absorption. An optimized jet plate and the revised inlet design further improve water pressure distribution and increase efficiency.
AMD CTO Mark Papermaster has confirmed that EPYC "Venice," the company's first Zen 6 server CPU, will be officially introduced at AMD's Advancing AI event on July 22nd and 23rd. In a recent interview, Papermaster described the upcoming CPUs as optimized for traditional x86 enterprise workloads, noting that enterprise customers aren't moving away from x86. EPYC "Venice" is built on TSMC's 2 nm process, making it the first high-performance computing processor to reach production on that node. Currently, manufacturing is ramping in Taiwan, as AMD announced back in May, with future production planned at TSMC's Arizona facility. The flagship configuration goes up to 256 Zen 6 cores, a 33% jump over the current 192-core EPYC "Turin" lineup. AMD claims over 70% higher performance and efficiency compared to the Zen 5-based predecessor.
On the platform side, "Venice" moves to the new SP7 socket with 16-channel memory support delivering up to 1.6 TB/s of bandwidth, and adopts PCIe Gen 6 for improved CPU-to-GPU communication. This is mostly relevant for the AI accelerator workloads that the EPYC "Venice" Zen 6 CPUs are targeting alongside traditional x86 tasks. These CPUs when installed in Helios racks, will be paired with new AMD Instinct MI455 GPUs. If you're wondering about the mainstream Zen 6 desktop and mobile chips, those are a separate story. Related to those, there's no shortage of rumors and leaks, whether we are talking about the confirmed Ryzen Threadripper TR6 "Mustang Peak", the Ryzen 10000 series "Olympic Ridge" or the "Medusa Point" APUs. However, consumer parts aren't expected before the end of the year at the earliest, with CES 2027 in January being the most likely debut window.
Minisforum showed off a range of new hardware at Computex 2026 earlier this year, and one of the new products it announced there was the MS-03 workstation mini PC, a new small form factor workstation PC designed for productivity, NAS, and local AI workloads. The MS-03 is based on the Intel Panther Lake Core Ultra 9 386H, a 25 W (80 W max Turbo) mobile CPU with four P-Cores, eight E-Cores, and four LP E-Cores, and four Arc Xe3 cores, meaning it's not going to be an outstanding gaming, content creation, or rendering workstation.
One of the big draws for NAS and server use cases is undoubtedly going to be the ample storage options and networking. Not only does the MS-03 have three M.2 slots that support up to 8 TB per slot, it also includes an adaptor to support U.2 SSDs, for up to 15 TB of enterprise storage, and the full-size PCIe ×8 slot can be used for additional storage expansion. The MS-03's chassis is made of aluminium and features a slide-out motherboard tray for easy upgrades. Although the CPU is soldered, it uses DDR5-7200 SODIMMs. Minisforum says that it offers up to 128 GB of memory, but it's unclear if it will only sell as a barebones kit or as a pre-built PC as well.
Back in March, I wrote a detailed editorial on how hardware-accelerated audio is possible in Windows 11, and it's possible for sound card manufacturers to put native audio stack processing on the card to overcome issues with DPC latency spikes. Today, I'll talk a bit about USB-based onboard audio codecs, and how the Intel platform is better suited to handle them than the AMD platform, particularly given how motherboard designers handle the latter. The Intel "Azalia" high-definition audio (HDA) bus, introduced in the early-2000s, laid the foundation for high-quality onboard audio, offering consumers high-resolution 24-bit/192 kHz audio. This is a low-latency interface designed to ensure the quickest possible movement of audio data between the system and the DAC. On Intel platforms, the HDA bus tends to be wired out from the PCH (the chipset), whereas on the AMD platform, the HDA bus is located on the SoC (the processor), and not the FCH (the chipset). This was a deliberate choice by AMD, and has to do with the chipset bus the company uses.
Unlike Intel, AMD's platform designers adopted a "SoC first" strategy. Modern Ryzen client-segment processors are fully-fledged SoCs in their own right; while the chipset only serves to increase downstream platform connectivity. Ryzen SoCs put out not just PCIe lanes, but also certain platform connectivity, such as USB and SATA; while the FCH puts out additional USB and SATA connectivity. Traditionally, on the Intel platform, the processor only puts out PCIe lanes, while the PCH handles all other forms of connectivity, including USB and SATA; and of course the HDA bus. Intel is able to place the HDA bus on the chipset, while AMD avoids this. The HDA bus is instead put out by the SoC.
AMD has quietly expanded its processor lineup with 11 new "Hawk Point" APUs by adding seven SKUs to the Ryzen 200 series and four to the Ryzen 100 series. In the Ryzen 200 series, the seven new models feature six- and eight-core configurations: Ryzen 3 205, Ryzen 5 216, Ryzen 7 217, Ryzen 5 224, Ryzen 5 225, Ryzen 7 249, and Ryzen 7 253. The lineup combines standard Zen 4 cores and hybrid Zen 4/Zen 4c designs, paired with Radeon 740M, 760M, or 780M integrated graphics. AMD also added four processors to the Ryzen 100 series: Ryzen 9 180, Ryzen 7 165, Ryzen 7 155, and Ryzen 5 125. The new Ryzen 100 processors offer four, six and eight CPU cores with integrated Radeon 740M, 760M, or 780M GPUs.
Although the existing Ryzen 100 family was initially associated with Zen 3+, these new models are based on "Hawk Point", featuring Zen 4 CPU cores, a 4 nm process, and Radeon 700M integrated graphics, indicating AMD's earlier website listing was incorrect, as Videocardz noticed. As with previous "Hawk Point" releases these are expected to appear primarily in upcoming OEM laptops and Mini-PCs. This "Hawk Point" lineup expansion from AMD follows the recent addition of "new" processors based on older Zen2 and Zen+ architectures, namely Ryzen 7 4700LE, Ryzen 5 3501U and Ryzen 3 3100U.
Forging a new era of PC craftsmanship, MSI unveils its ultimate flagship ecosystem: the MEG MAESTRO 900R full tower case and the MEG CORELIQUID E15 360 AIO liquid cooler. United by premium aluminium craftsmanship, signature diamond-cut detailing, and sophisticated finishing techniques, both products elevate high-performance hardware into a form of industrial art.
Honored with the 2026 Red Dot Design Award, this flagship ecosystem is designed for elite enthusiasts, creators, and premium PC builders who view their systems as expressions of personal taste and craftsmanship. Its refined, furniture-inspired aesthetic blends naturally into modern gaming rooms, studios, and premium workspaces.
Micron Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: MU) today announced it is accelerating its planned U.S. fab and technology investments and increasing its expected spend to more than $250 billion through 2035, driven by surging demand for memory in the AI era. Micron anticipates that the increase in investments will support its long-term goal of producing 40% of its DRAM in the U.S. while creating additional good-paying direct and indirect jobs. The expanded investment reflects Micron's confidence in its technology leadership and continued demand for its leading-edge memory products.
The announcement comes as Micron celebrates the first concrete pour milestone at its Clay, New York site, which occurs more than one quarter ahead of the original plan and marks the transition from site preparation to vertical construction. As announced earlier today, Micron also plans to invest up to $3 billion to develop the domestic semiconductor supply chain ecosystem in support of its U.S. manufacturing footprint.
The XMG APEX 17 is the first laptop in XMG's lineup to feature the 2026 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 with 12 GB of VRAM, up from the previous 8 GB. This new configuration, first announced at Computex 2026, complements the existing APEX 17 with AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX and RTX 5060, which remains available as the entry-level option. All other specifications - including the chassis, 17.3-inch display, and connectivity - remain unchanged. For a limited time, customers can take advantage of a 5% early-bird discount. In addition, XMG's partner store, bestware.com, is running its major summer sale, offering up to 20% off on select laptop models.
The XMG APEX 17 (M25) now offers an upgrade to the long-awaited NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 with 12 GB of GDDR7 memory, while retaining the same model designation. Both the previously released RTX 5060 version, introduced in November 2025, and the new RTX 5070 version share the same chassis, display, and specifications - only the GPU differs.
Global shipments of desktops, notebooks, and workstations in 2Q26 declined 3.6% year-over-year to 65.7 million units according to the latest research from Omdia. Shipments of desktops (including desktop workstations) hit 13.9 million, falling 1.3% annually, while notebook (including mobile workstations) shipments landed at 51.7 million units, representing a 4.2% decline.
"The sharp increase in memory and storage prices during the first quarter of the year had a significant impact on product pricing in the second quarter," said Ben Yeh, Principal Analyst at Omdia. "It also prompted consumers and IT decision makers to bring forward their PC purchases to mitigate the risk of further price increases. Although sales volumes were maintained at a stable level, the risk of a subsequent downturn remains."
In Win Development Inc. (InWin), a global innovator in PC hardware design and engineering, proudly introduces the L50 BREEZE. Moving beyond the aggressive styling and vibrant RGB effects traditionally associated with gaming systems, the L50 BREEZE embraces modern home décor influences. Featuring a reeded glass front panel and AWWA PureTone ambient lighting, BREEZE redefines the PC as a seamless part of everyday living spaces.
Inspired by contemporary interior architecture, the L50 BREEZE showcases a distinctive reeded glass front panel that diffuses lighting into soft, layered reflections, adding both texture and visual depth. A tinted tempered glass side panel provides a clear view of internal components, striking a balance between elegant lifestyle aesthetics and hardware presentation. Tool-free removable panels streamline installation, upgrades, and maintenance.
It has been known for a while that, as part of the new Xbox reset strategy under new CEO, Asha Sharma, Xbox would be leaning into Xbox exclusives more and more going forward, with it being understood that "Xbox exclusive" referred to both PC and Xbox Series consoles—given that the upcoming Helix console is a console-PC hybrid. Now, a new report out of Bloomberg claims that Microsoft will take Sony's approach to exclusives by releasing single-player titles, especially its AAA first-party and high-budget games, as Xbox exclusives. Meanwhile, multiplayer games will remain multi-platform, as many of Xbox's games have been for years. When Sony recently made a similar switch, it was widely criticized, even by former Sony execs, because the timed exclusives had little to no impact on console sales.
Allegedly, the goal of the strategy shift is to strengthen Xbox's platform sales, after the gaming giant's focus on Game Pass failed to deliver meaningful results. Reportedly, Game Pass subscriber numbers peaked around 30 million at the end of the 2026 financial year, which is 47 million behind the 77 million goal that was set in 2017 when the subscription was launched. The recent changes at Xbox and Microsoft have also led to mass layoffs, the loss of a number of studios, which will either be bought out or go independent, and cancelling a handful of unannounced games. It was also recently revealed that Xbox Game Pass contracts and negotiations with external studios had been placed on hold, although there's no clear indication whether those negotiations and contracts have since been resumed.
Crimson Desert reportedly initially started out as an MMO but later pivoted to a single-player open-world game, although it still has much of its MMO DNA, even though it launched as a single-player title. According to Pearl Abyss CEO, Heo Jin-young, at a recent corporate briefing, the studio is currently evaluating the possibility of an online mode for Crimson Desert.
Jin-young commented that it is still too early to make any conclusive statements about what form a multiplayer Crimson Desert will take, with the CEO clarifying that, although he has noted significant interest in multiplayer, the studio is conducting technical and gameplay feasibility studies to determine if multiplayer is possible and how to implement it. Jin-young expressed that he thinks there is room for a multiplayer mode, and he notes that online gameplay could increase player retention and the game's longevity on the market.
Recently, new Intel Nova Lake-S iGPU IDs were added to the Linux kernel driver stack, revealing that Intel may be planning to launch as many as seven SKUs in the Core Ultra 400 desktop CPU series. Until a new rumor by leaker @jaykihn0 on X, however, little was known about the upcoming Nova Lake-H and Nova Lake-S CPUs and their iGPU configurations. The leaker claims that Intel's Nova Lake-S desktop line-up will feature at least one SKU with a 12-core Xe3P iGPU configuration.
A 12-core Xe3P iGPU solution would conceivably be a worthwhile entry-level dGPU replacement, given the performance observed in tests of the current Xe3 B390 iGPU. The leaker also tips that Nova Lake-H, the upcoming mobile CPU line-up, will feature several 12-core Xe3P configurations, similar to the current Core Ultra X7 358H and Core Ultra X9 388H SKUs which both feature 12 Xe3 cores, while lower-end Nova Lake-S and -H parts will fall back to 4 Xe3 or 2 Xe3 configurations. There is no word on whether there will be a 10-core Xe3 or Xe3P iGPU SKU as there is with the Arc G3 handheld gaming CPU family. These leaks come not too long after another rumor revealed that Intel's Xe3P iGPU architecture is expected to be significantly faster than even the current Arc B390 iGPU that has taken the crown for high-performance integrated graphics from the likes of AMD's Radeon 890M.
Obsidian has famously been caught up in the recent Xbox reset, with the game studio losing as much as 25% of its staff to layoffs. According to recent insider reports out of Bloomberg, one of the consequences of the headcount reduction appears to be a narrower focus, which in this case has resulted in the effective cancellation of Avowed 2. The publication's sources say that the studio made the decision to cancel Avowed 2 due to the lackluster commercial performance of the first game in the series. The studio had previously hoped to build the Avowed franchise by rapidly developing the game's sequel on top of tech it already had.
In lieu of Avowed 2 and the other canceled projects, Obsidian will now begin development on a new Fallout game led by Josh Sawyer, who previously worked on Obsidian's Fallout: New Vegas, which would go on to become a fan-favorite Fallout game. The success of New Vegas is likely the reason that Sawyer and Obsidian have been tasked with developing another Fallout game, and insiders claim that Sawyer had been working on a separate game that was structurally and thematically similar to Fallout.
Rambus Inc. (NASDAQ: RMBS), a premier chip and silicon IP provider making data faster and safer, today announced its complete DDR5 9600 Client Memory Module Chipset for high-performance CUDIMM, CQDIMM and CSODIMM modules in future generation AI PCs. The chipset includes the new Gen 2 Client Clock Driver (CKD02), delivering breakthrough performance with support for PC memory module operation of up to 9600 MT/s, Power Management IC (PMIC5120) and Serial Presence Detect Hub (SPD Hub).
With the rise of agentic AI, PCs now plan, execute, and adapt workflows in real time. These workloads require persistent context, concurrent processing, and continuous data movement between the processor and system memory requiring significant increases in both bandwidth and capacity. At the same time, scaling DDR5 memory beyond 6400 MT/s introduces new technical challenges, including signal degradation, clock jitter, and timing instability. To address these challenges, the industry is transitioning to clocked memory modules, including CUDIMM and CQDIMM for desktops and CSODIMM for laptops, which incorporate an on-module client clock driver (CKD) to condition and redistribute the clock signal.
Another Geekbench entry for AMD's Medusa Point APU has been spotted by a well-known hardware leaker, HXL. This time, the submission lists the identifier 100-000001713-33_N on the Plum-MDS1 FP10 platform and is a step up from the previous leak in terms of performance, despite the chip reportedly running at just over 2.0 GHz. What we have there is listed as a Ryzen 9 part with 10 cores and 20 threads, 10 MB of L2 cache and 32 MB of L3; however, the L3 is likely misreported. The core layout is believed to follow a 4 + 6 configuration based on Zen 6/6c. Scores indicate 3,174 single-core and 15,092 multicore, roughly 29% and 22% higher than average Ryzen AI 9 365 Strix Point results, which is interesting given the low clock speeds in play. Engineering samples at this stage typically run below final frequencies, so the actual performance gap at launch could look quite different.
According to previous leaks, AMD's upcoming Medusa Point lineup could scale up to 22 CPU cores on the flagship Ryzen 9 model by combining a 10-core APU die with a 12-core desktop CCD. Integrated graphics are expected to have eight RDNA 3.5+ (RDNA 4m) compute units, with the lineup remaining unchanged despite the higher CPU core count. Another interesting new detail in this Geekbench submission is that we can see listed the FP16 AVX-VNNI support for a Zen 6 chip, pointing to expanded FP16 instruction handling in AMD's next-generation architecture. This is mostly relevant for AI and machine learning tasks. However, as with any early ES benchmark, take the numbers with a grain of salt. Pretty much everything from clock speeds, firmware, and platform tuning is a work in progress at this point. AMD Medusa Point is expected to arrive sometime next year with a likely initial launch at CES 2027 in January.
The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) today announced DisplayHDR True Black 1400, a new flagship performance tier in its DisplayHDR True Black specification that certifies the latest generation of OLED displays for professional HDR content creation and premium HDR content consumption. The new tier recognizes advances in OLED display technology that enable significantly higher luminance performance while preserving the deep black levels, exceptional contrast and visual fidelity that define the DisplayHDR True Black program. The first products certified to the DisplayHDR True Black 1400 specification will be showcased at Bilibili World 2026 in Shanghai, China, July 10-12.
DisplayHDR True Black 1400 is VESA's highest-performance DisplayHDR True Black tier to date, requiring certified displays to achieve at least 1400 cd/m² peak luminance while maintaining black levels as low as 0.0005 cd/m². The new tier also raises full-screen luminance performance to at least 700 cd/m², representing a significant advancement in sustained HDR brightness while maintaining the exceptional black-level performance associated with emissive display technologies such as OLED.
Cooler Master, a global leader in PC components and thermal management solutions, today launched V8 ACE 3DHP, its flagship single-tower CPU air cooler built around Cooler Master's patented 3D Heat Pipe technology. Designed for high-performance processors, premium workstations, gaming systems, 3D rendering, video production, and AI development workloads, V8 ACE 3DHP brings a new heat pipe architecture to desktop air cooling.
Cybenetics, an independent hardware testing and certification lab, has added third-party validation to Cooler Master's single-tower cooling approach. The ranking is especially significant because the V8 ACE 3DHP AMD leads all single-tower air coolers in Cybenetics' database and ranks second overall even when tested against larger dual-tower designs.
Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the Razer Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed for Xbox and the Razer Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed for PlayStation wireless gaming earbuds. Designed for competitive console play and everyday use, the lineup combines gaming-grade 2.4 GHz Razer HyperSpeed Wireless with Bluetooth 5.3, delivering fast, stable performance across consoles, mobile devices, handhelds, and PCs.
Ultra-Low Latency, The Ultimate Immersion.
Built for high-stakes gameplay, the Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed wireless gaming earbuds help players stay perfectly in sync with every moment, delivering responsive audio for competitive gaming experiences. Powered by Razer HyperSpeed Wireless, the earbuds deliver gaming-grade, ultra-low-latency 2.4 GHz audio—providing near-instant audio feedback where it matters most. This helps players react faster to footsteps, gunfire, abilities, and in-game events during competitive matches.
Apple today announced a new multiyear commitment with Broadcom to design and produce custom silicon components and cutting-edge wireless connectivity technologies for a wide range of Apple products. The new agreement, expected to exceed $30 billion, will lead to the production of more than 15 billion U.S.-made chips and support hundreds of American jobs. Apple has been working with the administration and businesses across the U.S. to help create an end-to-end silicon supply chain in America, and today's announcement advances those efforts.
Broadcom is part of Apple's American Manufacturing Program (AMP), launched last year to accelerate manufacturing in the U.S. This new agreement, which marks Apple's largest AMP commitment to date, will enable Broadcom to expand and modernize its manufacturing facilities in Fort Collins, Colorado, with a $1.5 billion capital expenditure investment. Broadcom will produce advanced radio frequency components—including FBAR filters—and advanced wireless connectivity technologies at the Fort Collins facility.
Level up from the celebrated G7 lineage - introducing the G7 Pro. Not only does it inherit the exceptional performance of the G7 series, the G7 Pro also brings exciting new upgrades: the first Xbox controller with TMR sticks, Hall Effect & clicky trigger stops, extra mappable mini bumpers, and enhanced low-latency input and output - all working together to deliver a smoother, more precise gaming experience, born for esports. Additionally, it goes beyond Xbox and PC with full Android support through tri-mode connectivity: wired for Xbox, 2.4G & wired for PC, and Bluetooth for Android. A true next-gen upgrade, crafted for gamers who demand more. Now officially licensed by Aimlabs.
In collaboration with Aimlabs, this controller combines the iconic teal design with pro-level performance that meets their standards, making it an officially licensed Aimlabs accessory trusted by competitive gamers.
Patriot Memory, a global leader in performance memory and storage solutions, today announced the upcoming launch of its Viper Steel 5 Infinite DDR5 memory kit. Designed for high-end gaming, professional content creation, and PC modding, the new series features a patent-pending "Infinite Mirror" RGB light bar alongside tested overclocking speeds reaching up to 8000 MT/s. As the successor to the highly successful Viper Steel 4 series—which established a strong reputation for reliability and performance in the DDR4 era—this new lineup shifts from traditional flat lighting layouts to a 3D optical design engineered to fit standard hardware constraints.
Patent-Pending 3D Lighting Design
Traditional infinite mirror layouts require deep physical layers that cannot fit within the narrow space of standard memory slots. Patriot Memory's design team overcame this limitation by developing a compact, solid-media optical structure. This allows the modules to project a deep 3D tunnel effect and smooth, hot-spot-free RGB lighting. The lighting integrates with proprietary Viper software, SignalRGB, and major motherboard ecosystems, including ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, and ASRock.
KAMRUI is currently running a July promotion on Amazon US, offering discounts of up to 34% on its AK1PLUS and Pinova P1 mini PC lineup. The promotion covers three configurations, with prices starting at $230.84 after promo code. Deal validity runs from July 5 through July 31, 2026 (PDT), depending on the model.
KAMRUI AK1PLUS (N5095, 16 GB/256 GB)—$230.84 (34% off)
The AK1PLUS is the entry-level option, powered by an Intel Celeron N5095 processor (4 cores/4 threads, up to 2.9 GHz), paired with 16 GB of LPDDR4X memory and a 256 GB M.2 SSD. It is well suited for web browsing, office productivity, media playback, and 4K video streaming.
KAMRUI Pinova P1 (Ryzen Embedded R2544, 16 GB/256 GB)—$287 (29% off)
For users looking for additional performance, the Pinova P1 is powered by AMD's Ryzen Embedded R2544 processor (4 cores/8 threads, up to 3.7 GHz, 28 W TDP), paired with 16 GB of DDR4 memory, a 256 GB M.2 SSD, and Windows 11 Pro.
KAMRUI Pinova P1 (Ryzen Embedded R2544, 8 GB/256 GB)—$269.10 (28% off)
Powered by the same Ryzen Embedded R2544 processor, this configuration comes with 8 GB of socketed DDR4 memory and a 256 GB M.2 SSD. Unlike the 16 GB model, the memory can be upgraded to as much as 32 GB in a dual-channel configuration.
Promo codes and hardware details follow after the break.
Intel today released the latest version of its Arc GPU Graphics drivers. Version 101.8861 Beta comes with optimization for "Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced," "DOOM: The Dark Ages Revelations," "Echos of Aincrad," and "Halo: Campaign Evolved." The optimizations are provided for Intel Arc A-series "Alchemist," and B-series "Battlemage" discrete GPUs, and Intel Core Ultra processors with Intel Arc branded integrated graphics solutions. The drivers don't include any game- or application-specific bug fixes. Grab the drivers from the link below.
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a global leader in advanced memory technology, today announced mass production of PM1763, the company's PCIe 6.0-based enterprise solid state drive (SSD) optimized for next-generation AI and HPC server environments. As the volume of data required for AI training and inference continues to grow rapidly, enterprise SSDs (eSSDs) capable of delivering data quickly and reliably are becoming increasingly essential to AI infrastructure.
Featuring high-speed data transfer and an optimized controller architecture, PM1763 is expected to serve as a key storage solution for high-performance AI platforms. "Built on industry-leading performance, PM1763 has successfully completed validation for next-generation AI platforms and is well positioned to support evolving AI infrastructure requirements," said Jangseok Choi, Vice President and Head of Memory Product Planning at Samsung Electronics. "As AI models continue to grow in size and complexity, PM1763 will serve as a key solution that enables customers to efficiently scale memory capacity and optimize AI operations."
The KeyBoy Advance, a new 50% mechanical keyboard designed by PromoType (Galo), has just entered a group buy. The design, as the name suggests, is heavily inspired by the aesthetics of the Nintendo Game Boy Advance, achieving its retro looks with a case made of either anodized or e-coated aluminium or translucent PC, reminiscent of the classic translucent cases Nintendo was known for at the time. It is a small form factor keyboard that uses an unorthodox 50% HHKB layout, keeping the main alpha cluster and a 10-key number row while providing optional split space layouts, and it is fully remappable in VIAL, the open-source browser-based keyboard remapping utility.
The KeyBoy Advance is a barebones kit, meaning buyers will need to supply their own keycaps, switches, and stabilizers, but the PCB and plate feature options for both ANSI and ISO Enter keys, and buyers can choose between an MX switch-compatible soldered PCB, a wired-only hot-swap PCB, or a hot-swap PCB with wired, Bluetooth, and 2.4 GHz connectivity. Prices vary by vendor, but at Unikeys the soldered PCB with an anodized aluminium case is the cheapest option, at $275. Supposedly, the group buy is selling at a 20% discount off the RRP, which suggests that the KeyBoy Advance will eventually become available as an in-stock item. The group buy expects to ship in Q4 2026, although the date is not guaranteed, and will be available until Jul 22, 2026.
The collateral damage from the recent "Xbox reset" continues, with recent reports confirming layoffs at both id Software, the studio behind Doom: The Dark Ages, and Obsidian Entertainment, the studio responsible for The Outer Worlds, resulting in workforce losses of around 50% and 25%, respectively, at the ZeniMax-led studios. According to a Kotaku report, around 60-70 workers will be let go at Obsidian, with layoffs not limited to one particular department. The publication's insider source says that there has been no communication about how the studio will redistribute the workload from a "huge list of projects" among the remaining staff. Additionally, most of the affected staff have already been informed, with many of the layoffs taking place on July 6. Other staff were informed that they would be laid off later this year in Xbox's 1,600 eliminations that are planned for financial year 2027.
Id Software has been hit much harder, losing around half of its workforce, or over 90 workers, across multiple disciplines and departments. Reports indicate that certain departments, like quality assurance, have been "decimated" by the layoffs. According to an internal email obtained by IGN, Jill Braff, CEO of Bethesda Softworks, an Id Software sister company, says that "by working more closely across the organization, sharing expertise and capabilities, and by focusing our investments on the opportunities with the greatest potential, we believe we can better support our franchises and IP with meaningful long-term potential," suggesting that smaller studios like Id Software may become support studios after the mass layoffs, and both Xbox and Bethesda have indicated that studios will be reorganized to ensure the success of their biggest franchises.
Update Jul 9th: Derek Best, former Principal VFX Artist at id Software, commented in a post on LinkedIn that "the VFX team was eliminated down to one single artist with no lead or producer," resulting in a massive loss of institutional knowledge and an uncertain future for the studio's in-house id Tech 8 engine. His full statement follows.
If your PC needs a new operating system license, this is one of the lowest prices you'll find on Windows 11 Pro. Through July 19, a lifetime license is available for $9.97 (MSRP $199). This version is intended for PCs that require a new Windows license and already meet Microsoft's Windows 11 hardware requirements. Before purchasing, it's worth checking compatibility with Microsoft's PC Health Check tool. If your Windows 10 PC isn't eligible for Microsoft's free Windows Update upgrade, this license won't bypass those hardware requirements.
Windows 11 Pro includes everything found in the standard Windows 11 experience, along with additional features aimed at professionals, developers, and business users. That includes BitLocker for full-disk encryption, Hyper-V for running virtual machines, Windows Sandbox for safely testing software, and Azure AD support for workplace identity management.
Large file transfers are still more complicated than they probably should be. Many services limit upload sizes, require subscriptions, or offer little visibility into whether a file was actually received. Transfr Pro takes a different approach by combining unlimited file transfers, delivery tracking, and security features into a browser-based platform with a one-time lifetime license.
Transfr Pro is designed for freelancers, creative professionals, agencies, and teams that regularly send large media files, documents, or client deliverables. There are no transfer size limits, and shared files can be stored for up to 60 days. Instead of simply sending a download link, users can create professional transfer pages with custom branding for a more polished presentation.
According to a new review of the ThinkBook 14 G9 from Notebookcheck, Lenovo has started shipping its German laptop configurations with SSDs made by YMTC for the first time. This is significant news, considering that SSD prices have been skyrocketing in recent months due to a massive shortage of NAND Flash storage modules. These modules have traditionally depended on a few manufacturers like Samsung, SK hynix, Micron, Kioxia, and others. However, Chinese company YMTC has entered the market and begun volume production of its Xtacking 4.0 technology, offering 1 TB TLC or 2 TB QLC storage modules, which is disrupting the balance in the global NAND Flash supply chain.
Previously, Lenovo used DRAM from another Chinese supplier, CXMT, only for Chinese laptop models. This marks the first time YMTC-made NAND Flash has been included in a laptop sold outside mainland China. YMTC has achieved performance that is decent enough for NAND Flash, with sufficient capacity for major laptop OEMs like Lenovo to start shipping this NAND Flash without waiting for capacity from other storage module makers. In Notebookcheck's testing, the ThinkBook 14 G9 SKU uses a 512 GB NVMe PCIe 4.0 M.2 2242 SSD, with sequential read speeds of 3,950 MB/s and write speeds of 2,514 MB/s. While this is considered below average for an office laptop, it is adequate for getting the job done and helps ease the global supply chain shortage slightly.
Update July 14, 12:45 UTC: Lenovo contacted us to clarify that the only laptop SKUs getting the YMTC SSD are models sold in Germany, with the configurations made for the United States continuing with regular, non-YMTC SSDs.
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