After 30 years developing Tekken games, Katsuhiro Harada has announced that he is leaving Bandai Namco at the end of the year.

It's the end of an era for fighting game fans, especially those that grew up around arcades in the 1990s: Katsuhiro Harada will step away from the Tekken franchise and will not be involved in further games in the series. With 30 years worth of releases and more than 60 million sales globally, Harada is responsible for one of the best-selling and genre-defining video game lineups in history.

"I'd like to share that I'll be leaving Bandai Namco at the end of 2025. With the TEKKEN series reaching its 30th anniversary-an important milestone for a project I've devoted much of my life to-I felt this was the most fitting moment to bring one chapter to a close," Harada wrote.

With the release of NVIDIA CUDA 13.1, the company is introducing the "largest and most comprehensive update to the CUDA platform since it was invented two decades ago." Alongside new features and performance improvements, the arrival of NVIDIA CUDA Tile is set to be a game-changer for AI programming.

The initial release is limited to the current Blackwell generation of GPU hardware (future versions will support more architectures), with CUDA Tile programming allowing users to bring their code up a layer with specific chunks of data called tiles. From there, the compiler and runtime determine "the best way to launch that work onto individual threads," including using hardware such as tensor cores.

With the new CUDA Tile programming, removing the need to define each thread's "path of execution," it reduces the effort required to write code that performs well across various GPU architectures.

If you're wondering what the NEX Playground console is, well, it's a compact, cube-shaped, affordable console with an 8-core ARM chip running Android OS and a motion-sensing camera built into the box. Circana, which tracks video game console and software sales for the United States, confirms that during Black Friday 2025, ending on November 29, the NEX Playground sold more units than the Xbox Series X|S lineup.

According to the data (via social media), the PlayStation 5 accounted for 47% of Black Friday week console sales, with the Nintendo Switch 2 coming in second with 24%, followed by the NEX Playground with 14%. Adding a bit of irony to the numbers, the NEX Playground is a Wii- or Kinect-style console aimed at younger gamers, with titles based on popular IP like Bluey, Barbie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and more.

Of course, there is some additional information that adds context to the report. Firstly, Sony's up to $100-off campaign for the PlayStation 5 lineup, combined with the lack of comparable discounts for Xbox consoles, made shoppers more inclined to go the PS5 route. Also, being the Nintendo Switch 2's first holiday season meant it was always going to be a hot-ticket item. Also, the NEX Playground was on sale from $249.99 down to $189.99.

Creative Assembly's Total War series is a PC gaming institution, from Medieval: Total War to Total War: Rome II, Total War: Three Kingdoms, and the recent Total War: Warhammer trilogy. With massive real-time battles featuring hundreds of units on-screen and a deep Civilization-style map with turn-based management and conquest, the series has been absent from PlayStation and Xbox consoles for decades.

Granted, its RTS-like presentation makes it a genre better suited to the PC's keyboard and mouse, which is why the franchise's only console appearance was the third-person action spin-off Spartan: Total Warrior for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Nintendo GameCube. With the Total War franchise currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, Creative Assembly has announced that this will change.

And it's all thanks to the studio's new "cutting edge of strategy gaming" Warcore engine that will power the Total War series for years. And with that, Creative Assembly adds that "Warcore opens the door for future Total War titles to launch on PlayStation and Xbox, bringing the scale, depth, and tactical mastery of Total War to a new generation of commanders."

It's no secret that the DRAM and memory crisis is well and truly here, as seen with the dramatic price increases for products like DDR5 memory. According to a new report (via TrendForce), memory shortages and supply squeezes are about to hit products from two of the biggest names in consumer and commercial PC products: Dell and Lenovo.

The report highlights recent comments Dell COO Jeff Clarke made to Bloomberg in November, in which he said he's "never seen memory-chip costs rise this fast." And with that, Dell has apparently issued a price-hike alert to its customers, indicating that prices will increase by "at least" 15-20% as soon as next week or mid-December 2025.

In addition, Lenovo has started communicating with its customers and notifying them of upcoming price increases that will take effect in early 2026. According to the report, Lenovo is telling its customers that existing quotes and prices will expire on January 1, 2026, due to memory shortages and the rapidly growing AI and cloud markets. Lenovo hasn't specified a figure like Dell's 15-20%, but it's expected that it will be in a similar region.

The Intel Arc B770, powered by the BMG-31 GPU, is commonly referred to as "Big Battlemage" and seen as the flagship mid-range desktop companion to the mainstream-focused Intel Arc B580 and Arc B570. Initially rumored to launch earlier this year, we've finally got some indication from the company that 'BMG-G31' is finally ready to launch.

As part of the latest update to the company's Intel VTune Profiler performance analysis tool for both Windows and Linux, Intel confirms support for new hardware - specifically "Intel Arc Battlemage (BMG-G31) and Intel Core Ultra 3 Processors (Panther Lake)." BMG-G31 is the larger desktop GPU variant of the BMG-G21, which powers the Intel Arc B580 and Arc B570. But even so, Intel has yet to announce or confirm the Intel Arc B770 formally.

As the flagship desktop variant of the 'Battlemage' lineup and architecture, BMG-G31 features up to 32 Xe2 cores and 16GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, with up to four SKUs reportedly in the works. Although it's great to see the BMG-G31 GPU pop up like this, the current DRAM shortage would make it a strange time to release a new 16GB GPU for PC gaming and AI.

Discord has announced that it will allow players to buy cosmetic items directly within the app.

The popular chat app Discord is changing from a community chat app into something that's better designed to make money. The maneuver makes more sense when considering that Discord is expected to go public with an IPO sometime soon. In August, Discord got a new CEO--Jason Citron resigned and former King president and CFO Humam Sakhnini took the helm. Shortly after, the company introduced interactive ads accompanied by a new virtual currency called Orbs.

Now Discord is essentially becoming a storefront for digital video game skins. Discord is adding a store that allows users to buy Marvel Rivals skins and cosmetics directly from the game's Discord server. Users can also buy and gift skins to their friends, which could end up being a powerful community-driven spark for sales.

ZeniMax's Todd Howard reiterates that the group is working on a number of different projects at once, including numerous games.

Right now, Bethesda Game Studios is full steam ahead on The Elder Scrolls VI. After that comes Fallout 5...which probably won't be out until the 2030s. BGS isn't the only division that utilizes these brands, and ZeniMax as a whole is quite busy crafting new content, remasters, and sequels (but unfortunately, maybe not new IPs).

In a recent interview with Video Games Chronicle, Bethesda's Todd Howard says that the team is "doing a bunch of games and different things," which reflects the buzzing workplace of a major publisher/developer.

Bethesda Game Studios, including Todd Howard, hold Obsidian in high esteem for their RPG prowess...especially in Fallout New Vegas.

There's a long-running belief that Bethesda is secretly bitter that Obsidian created what is, depending on who you ask, the best Fallout game. In reality, Bethesda is quite fond of Obsidian and Todd Howard in particular loves what the team at Obsidian did with New Vegas.

In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Todd Howard reminds gamers that it was Bethesda who came to Obsidian to make a Fallout game because he has huge respect for the group.

AMD's upcoming refreshed Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor performance has leaked out again, with 5% more performance than the 9800X3D, and 20% more performance than the Zen 4-based 7800X3D in new PassMark testing.

The new 9850X3D will retain the 8 cores and 16 threads of Zen 5-based CPU power that the 9800X3D has, but with 400MHz more clock speeds @ 5.6GHz, over the 9800X3D. It retains its 120W TDP and 96MB of L3 cache, too. In new PassMark testing, AMD's new Ryzen 7 9850X3D is 5% faster in both single-core and multi-core PassMark tests over the 9800X3D, while it's a much bigger 20% faster than the 7800X3D.

AMD's upcoming Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor will be a fantastic upgrade for those continuing on the AM5 platform from a CPU like the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, as you'll enjoy higher clock speeds, more performance, and second-generation 3D V-Cache. If you're using the 9800X3D then you will want to skip this upgrade, and maybe fly up to the unreleased Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 processor in 2026 with dual X3D cache stacks (and 16C/32T of power).

Samsung Electronics' GDDR7 memory dies have won presidential recognition this week, as Samsung's continued technological competitiveness gains industry respect after its huge turnaround earlier this year.

In a new report from the Korea Times, we're hearing that at the recent 2025 Korea Tech Festival in Seoul, which was hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Resources, the South Korean government awarded a presidential honor to Samsung's world-first 12nm-class, 40Gbps, 24Gb GDDR7 memory.

This isn't the first time for Samsung either, as it's the 12th time that the memory giant has received the presidential commendation, which is the highest number awarded to a single company. It previously received presidential recognition with its 14nm-class DDR5 memory in 2022, and the 64-layer 3D V-NAND flash back in 2017.

Philips has just unveiled a monster new gaming monitor with the introduction of the new EVNIA 27M2N5500XD, which sports a 27-inch panel with a native 1440p resolution @ 500Hz refresh rate, but with its Dual-Mode function, it can switch to 720p at an incredibly fast 1000Hz refresh.

Philips' new EVNIA 27M2N5500XD gaming monitor was recently shown off at an event in China, where it was shown off alongside AOC's new AGON AGP277QK -- which uses a similar dual-mode panel -- with both of the gaming monitors designed for competitive PC gamers who want motion clarity and input lag over image detail (resolution).

The 27-inch panel on its regular setting will provide 1440p @ 500Hz, which is great for most people, but for the bleeding-edge users and gamers who want nothing but speed: 720p @ 1000Hz is going to feel incredibly smooth. Chinese media reports that the new Philips EVNIA 27M2N5500XD gaming monitor features a 1ms GtG response time, and a 2000:1 static contrast ratio, meaning we're looking at an IPS panel (OLED would be great in the future).

ASUS has just announced the ROG CES 2026 event, where it will have an exclusive showcase of "legendary gaming gear, laptops, displays, and motherboards".

One of the biggest ROG unveilings will come from an earlier launch from Intel and its next-gen Core Ultra 300 series "Panther Lake" laptop processors, where ASUS will unveil a slew of new ROG gaming laptops powered with Intel's new Panther Lake CPUs. We should expect new ROG STRIX and ROG Zephyrus laptops, which we'll be going hands-on with at CES 2026.

Intel will be launching its new Core Ultra 300 series "Panther Lake" CPUs on January 5 at 3pm PST, with ASUS planning its ROG CES 2026 unveiling for the same time, but it also has a separate AI PC event for non-ROG products on January 6, but we all know that most people don't care about AI PC junk... ROG on the other hand, that'll be exciting to see.

Apple will (finally) release its foldable iPhone next year, and in order to save as much space inside of the foldable smartphone, the company is reportedly removing as many non-essential items as it can... and this includes a dedicated SIM card tray.

Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone will reportedly be an eSIM-only handset, with Chinese tipster Instant Digital echoing previous comments by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and insider Ming-Chi Kuo, predicting an eSIM-only design for Apple's foldable iPhone.

Instant Digital has said that Apple's new foldable iPhone would be an eSIM-only affair, with Kuo previously stating that the ultra-thin design of the foldable iPhone doesn't leave much room for things like a dedicated SIM tray. The leaker said: "there is a high probability that the iPhone folding screen does not have a SIM card slot version and only supports eSIM. It's hard to say a word. I hope mainland China can improve the user experience as soon as possible!"

Microsoft's overseas suppliers are ready to produce Xbox consoles in Vietnam, which should improve the negative profit margins for the company's games hardware.

Xbox consoles are produced at a loss, meaning Microsoft loses money by selling the hardware. Thanks to tariffs and rising manufacturing costs, Microsoft is now losing more money on each console produced than they ever have before. The company tried to stabilize costs by increasing prices for consumers, and Xbox Series consoles faced two separate MSRP hikes in 2025 alone. At the time of writing, there exists an $800 Xbox Series X variant.

Now it seems that Microsoft could pull another lever to help reduce console production losses. According to a new report from Reuters, EV Foxconn is ready to produce up to 4 million Xbox consoles at its Vietnam plant. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have all been moving key parts of their console hardware production cycles to Vietnam in an effort to avoid steep US tariffs on China-made products. This economic disruption has led to each of the Big 3 revising their production orders.

Intel could be fabbing the chips that will go into Apple's new iPhone 21 smartphone in 2028, extending its partnership with Apple beyond just Mac processors.

In a recent report from insider Ming-Chi Kuo, who claims that Intel has signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Apple to use its new Intel 18A-P process node, GF Securities analysts Jeff Pu and Evan Lee reiterate their expectation that Intel will indeed make Apple M-series chips on its new 18A-P process node starting in 2027.

However, the GF Securities analysts are now looking further out, predicting that Intel's momentum will continue with a win for Apple's "non-Pro smartphone SoC" in 2028. These new chips would be fabbed on the Intel 14A process node, with the firm expecting "firm visibility" on this huge deal by the end of 2025.

Samsung has posted a new teaser for its Exynos 2600 mobile processor, with the company saying its next-gen Exynos 2600 has been "Refined at the Core". Check out the teaser trailer:

Samsung's next-gen Exynos 2600 processor has been not just "Refined at the Core", but it has been "optimized at every level" and "the next Exynos is coming. It's time to express the exceptional. Coming soon". Personally, I really don't like the PR crap these companies push out, and Samsung isn't the only one, Qualcomm does it massively, AMD, Intel, all of them.

However, underneath... Samsung's next-gen Exynos 2600 processor is being fabbed on the company's new in-house 2nm GAA "SF2" process node. Samsung's new Galaxy S26 smartphones in 2026 will feature the new Exynos 2600 processor, but only the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus variants, while the flagship Galaxy S26 Ultra will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor.

RAM prices aren't slowing down, with skyrocketing costs seeing things like a 256GB kit of DDR4 memory now retailing for over $3000... with RAM shortages here to stay until 2028, and high prices for DDR5 and DDR4 throughout 2026 and 2027.

If you thought there would be a magical fix for the DRAM shortages and price increases, you're out of luck... this is like a triple-storm all at once. DDR5 and DDR4 memory shortages will likely stay until at least Q4 2027 (two years from now), so don't expect cheap RAM prices until 2028 most likely.

Why is this happening? AI, we can all blame AI. AI is gobbling up all of the DRAM and NAND that it can get, where just a couple of days ago we had Micron dive out of the consumer SSD and RAM business with the closure of its Crucial brand, as the company goes all-in with AI. This leaves South Korean memory manufacturers SK hynix and Samsung to provide all of the DRAM and NAND for both AI and consumer products.

GIGABYTE has just introduced its new X870E AERO X3D WOOD motherboard, which is a new statement piece for your PC that has been designed for the "discerning connoisseur" with actual wood for a totally different aesthetic. Check it out:

GIGABYTE announced the new motherboard, explaining that the new X870E AERO X3D WOOD "brings comfort and harmony to your space through thoughtful design that honors the quiet presence of natural materials. Every detail has been meticulously considered, from the premium leather pull tab-a tactile delight that brings luxurious warmth to your fingertips-to the natural wood aesthetic that evokes the warmth and authenticity of home".

We'd agree with that, as there's never been anything quite like a wood-themed motherboard for PCs before, with GIGABYTE also including a comprehensive thermal solution for the X870E AERO X3D WOOD motherboard. We have the VRM Thermal Armor Advanced with superior heat pipes, M.2 Thermal Guard L, M.2 Thermal Guard Ext., and a PCB Thermal Plate providing 14% thermal improvement and reinforced stability, ensuring optimal performance under demanding workloads while maintaining the board's elegant aesthetic.

PSSR2 is set to be a really exciting upgrade for gamers with a PS5 Pro next year, going by the grapevine.

YouTuber Moore's Law is Dead covered the usual gamut of tech topics in his latest video, with a PSSR2 leak being the nugget that'll be of most interest to many gamers out there.

The source is a game developer who notes that Sony is aware that visual glitches are a real problem with PSSR upscaling on the PS5 Pro currently, and has provided a debugging app to game makers to help smooth over such bugs.