Western Digital has said that it has run out of HDD capacity, while its consumer share has dropped to just 5% as enterprise and AI eats up storage as if it were oxygen in a tiny room.

We all know about the insane AI demand that has been eating up all of the DRAM supply, but we've been warned for months that mechanical HDDs would be affected... where we wrote a story just a few months ago that HDD prices surged to their highest point in 2 years with demand coming out of the US and China alone.

WD CEO Irving Tan said during the Q2 earnings call: "As we highlighted, we're pretty much sold out for calendar 2026. We have firm POs with our top seven customers. And we've also established LTAs with two of them for calendar 2027 and one of them for calendar 2028. Obviously, these LTAs have a combination of volume of exabytes and price".

If you are anywhere near Norway and planning on having a baby in the next 9 months or so, then Norwegian retailer Komplett will give you a FREE copy of Grand Theft Auto 6 if your baby is born on launch day: November 19, 2026.

In a new promotional run on Instagram and in-store ads, Komplett said (translated) that: "Life hack: Lie together today, get GTA 6 free from us in 9 months", adding "this is actually not [a joke], GTA 6 is released in 9 months, and if you have a baby on the launch date, we'll give you the game for free". The retailer honoring this promotion would have to accept a birth certificate (we guess) in order to validate a customer's claim that their baby was born on GTA 6 launch day.

I can't imagine a couple talking to each other and discussing this deal, thinking that they would have a child (right now) and hopefully time it perfectly to have a baby on November 19... just to get a free copy of Grand Theft Auto 6. Stranger things have happened, but imagine being that child and going to school in the future "yeah I was born because my parents wanted a free copy of GTA 6".

Micron has started mass production of the world's first PCIe Gen6 SSD, offering an eye-watering 28GB/sec read speeds and in both air, and liquid-cooled models.

The new Micron 9650 Gen6 SSD features its in-house G9 NAND flash, aimed at high performance and low latencies for data center servers. Micron's new family of three SSDs uses vertical integration and its in-house G9 NAND, DRAM, and firmware to ensure that its new SSDs pack leading performance for servers, high capacity, high speeds, lower latencies, all while consuming less power.

Micron's new 9650 Gen6 SSD has up to 28GB/sec of sequential read speeds -- twice that of the 14GB/sec capable in Gen5 SSDs -- and up to 14GB/sec in sequential writes. This means that Micron's new 9650 Gen6 SSD has the fastest speeds out of the box, but does it with 25% improved efficiency at random writes, and up to 67% better efficiency at random reads.

Diablo 2's new Warlock class has been broken to deliver one of the most ridiculously overpowered builds ever made.

Diablo 2 recently got its first new playable class in 25 years as part of the new Reign of the Warlock expansion. The new class, the titular Warlock, can convert demons to his side and has some nifty eldritch attacks that copy his equipped weapon. And yes, the Warlock has already been broken to an absurd degree.

YouTube and Diablo 2 expert Coooley has broken the Warlock class, leading to a build that can dish out 79K damage while fully equipped, slaughtering even the hardest enemies in D2R's Terror Zones. It gets crazier, though: The build still works even if you don't have any gear equipped other than a main-hand weapon.

Xbox is paring down features that players don't use as Microsoft continues iterating on its conjunctive next-gen Xbox-Windows hybrid.

Microsoft has announced that Social Clubs on the Xbox platform will be removed in April 2026. The feature was originally introduced all the way back in 2016 as Clubs on Xbox LIVE, and transformed into Social Clubs, which are basically user-created and user-moderated mini-forums where people can gather together.

It turns out not enough people used the feature, so Microsoft is nixing it. "This update is part of ongoing platform updates to focus on the social experiences players use most today," an Xbox support post explains. The Official Clubs for individual games will remain intact.

LPCAMM2 LPDDR5X memory is on the way, with a recent 96GB kit at 9600 MT/s transfer speeds entering mass production in the near future.

The new LPCAMM2 memory form factory has been designed to save PCB space on mobile and laptop form factors, but until now, LPCAMM2 memory has used LPDDR5 memory modules, but it also supports faster LPDDR5X memory. Samsung looks to be close to starting mass production of its faster LPCAMM2 memory modules.

Lenovo's China manager has posted a picture of Samsung's upcoming LPCAMM2 "LPDDR5X" memory module, with the module listed with a huge 96GB of capacity in a "2D8Rx8 PC5" configuration, with speeds of up to 9600 MT/s. However, the only platform on the market that takes the new specifications and speeds is Intel's just-launched Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" CPUs, which support up to 9600 MT/s speeds.

Savvy Games Group, the interactive entertainment division owned by Saudi Arabia, is ready to make another billion-dollar gaming acquisition.

Sources tell Reuters that ByteDance is ready to sell its Moonton Technology division, and that a deal with Saudi-owned Savvy Games Group is in advanced discussions. Both companies are said to have agreed to preliminary deal proposals.

Moonton has a multi-billion dollar valuation thanks to the success of its top mobile hit, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. The acquisition is said to be worth between $5 - 7 billion. With over 1.5 billion downloads and 110 million active players logging on every month, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is among the leading smartphone games on the market today.

Xbox fans, rejoice: Metal Gear Solid 4 will finally break its decades-long exclusivity to the PlayStation 3 and release on an Xbox platform.

Konami has officially announced Metal Gear Solid Master Collection vol. 2, and predictably, the new bundle comes with Metal Gear Solid 4, the next mainline game in the series. This is noteworthy news because from 2008 until 2026, MGS4 Guns of the Patriots was exclusive to the PlayStation 3. Now it'll be available to other PlayStation consoles, and to Xbox for the first time.

The second volume will cost $50 and comes with three games: MGS4 Guns of the Patriots released on the PS3 in 2008, MGS Peace Walker which was originally launched on the PSP in 2010, and Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, an old title that Konami released on the Game Boy back in 2000.

Apple will reportedly provide a connectivity upgrade on its next-gen iPhone 18 series later this year, with its in-house C2 5G modem to support a new connectivity protocol that allows 5G satellite connectivity, treating the low-orbit satellite like it was a nearby cell tower.

In a new post by Weibo tipster Fixed-focus digital cameras, the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max smartphones will feature Apple's second-gen in-house C2 5G modem. The upgraded C2 5G baseband chip has been in development since 2025, after the iPhone 16e launched earlier in 2025, with support for mmWave and sub-6GHz networks.

However, another feature up its sleeve is that the new C2 5G modem from Apple supports NR-NTN, which is a standard that allows iPhones to connect directly to satellites for their internet connectivity. This means that future iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max users will not require an open sky to start communications, as you'll receive it when the device is either indoors, or even in your backpack.

In an announcement coming out of nowhere during the February 2026 State of Play event, Saber Interactive revealed a new AAA John Wick game, starring titular hero Keanu Reeves, and made in collaboration with Chad Stahelski, who was the director and visionary behind the four John Wick movies. Check out the teaser trailer:

We knew that Lionsgate was working on a new AAA tier John Wick game, and now it is a reality... Lionsgate has Saber Interactive working on the new John Wick game, and having both Keanu Reeves and Chad Stahelski is a huge, huge deal.

John Wick game director Jesus Iglesias said on a PlayStation Blog post: "We are working closely with Chad Stahelski (John Wick director and franchise visionary), Keanu Reeves, and Lionsgate to produce a highly anticipated, adrenaline-fueled experience that fits into the world of John Wick. This game takes place during a specific period within the John Wick timeline and contributes to the expansive and rich lore of the franchise".

AMD could release its next-generation RDNA 5-based Radeon RX series GPUs in mid-to-late 2027 says leaker, as it shares the same GPU chiplet design as the next-gen Xbox, which Microsoft will unleash in late 2027.

In a new video from leaker Moore's Law is Dead, who has had a source tell him that Microsoft's upcoming custom Xbox Magnus silicon from AMD is complete, and that test units of the next-gen Xbox are already being sent out. MLID says: "For all intents and purposes, Xbox Magnus' exact silicon is done. It is ready to be sent to manufactured test units, and that puts them well ahead of schedule. In fact, I was told that this should easily allow for a late 2027 launch".

MLID says he's been told that the CPU and GPU dies have been completed, and that the GPU chiplet for the next-generation Xbox is "literally the same chip" that will be used in the Radeon RX 9070 XT successor in 2027. Don't go expecting the same GPU inside of the next-gen Xbox to be the full-fat RDNA 5 chiplet, as it would be more of a mid-range GPU.

SK hynix will be showcasing its latest 16Gbit (2GB) LPDDR6 SDRAM design at International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) 2026 next week.

The new 16Gbit LPDDR6 memory is aiming for 14.4Gbps per I/O pin, aligning with the fastest transfer speed for the LPDDR6 standard, with SK hynix saying its 16Gbit LPDDR6 memory design is built on its new 1c DRAM process, its latest 10nm-class node. The upcoming ISSCC 2026 preview also notes that the paper will be focusing on power saving and signal handling changes to hit 14.4Gbps operation on the new LPDDR6 modules.

Samsung has also reportedly started providing early LPDDR6X memory samples to Qualcomm according to The Bell, with the new standard not detailed yet, but we know that LPDDR6X commercialization will happen in the second half of 2027.

Announced and shadow-dropped during Sony's recent State of Play broadcast, God of War: Sons of Sparta from Mega Cat Studios and Santa Monica Studio is a new 2D action platformer that serves as an origin story for series protagonist Kratos. Set during his youth, the story will present a tale of "duty, honor, and brotherhood," narrated by original voice actor TC Carson, as Kratos finds his place among the Spartans.

With an old-school, pixelated art style, detailed environments, and impressive animation, the game also features Kratos' brother, Deimos. As this is a 2D side-scroller set in the God of War universe, the game will be as much about combat as it will be exploration and platforming. Kratos wields a spear and shield in the game and can also wield the Gifts of Olympus while encountering enemies, mythical creatures, and bosses.

A 2D God of War spin-off has been rumored for a while, with Sony choosing to go the surprise shadow-drop route for its release, making it available now on PS5 for $29.99 USD. Unfortunately, there's no PC version. Sony didn't stop there as it had another major God of War-related announcement to make during its recent State of Play broadcast.

COLORFUL's new EVOL P15 gaming laptops have been unveiled, with two models set to launch in Q1 2026. The COLORFUL EVOL P15 Carbon Grey with 14th Gen Intel Core i7-14650HX processor and GeForce RTX 5060 graphics, and the COLORFUL EVOL P15 Cloud White with Intel Core i5-13420H processor and GeForce RTX 5050 graphics - two laptop GPUs with 8GB of VRAM.

COLORFUL is positioning both as laptops for gamers and creators, featuring 15.6-inch IPS displays with 100% sRGB color accuracy and performance built for multitasking and high-refresh-rate PC gaming. The flagship EVOL P15 Carbon Grey with a GeForce RTX 5060 GPU sports a 15.6-inch QHD IPS display, with a 2560x1440 resolution and 165Hz refresh rate, while the more affordable EVOL P15 Cloud White with a GeForce RTX 5050 GPU sports a 15.6-inch FHD IPS display, with a 1920x1080 resolution and 144Hz refresh rate.

Both laptops also feature up to 16GB of DDR5 5200MHz memory, 512GB of PCIe Gen3 M.2 SSD storage with an additional M.2 expansion slot, and COLORFUL's custom Ice Cooling System. The more powerful RTX 5060 model includes dual fans and five thermal heatpipes, while the RTX 5050 model's cooling is limited to four.

GAMEMAX has launched two new panoramic PC cases: the NEX C51 and NEX C31. The pillar-free, dual-tempered-glass front and side panel design offers builders a case that showcases their hardware, cooling, and lighting with 270-degree views.

The key difference between the two is that the GAMEMAX NEX C51 Panoramic PC Case is designed for full-sized ATX motherboards and components, while the GAMEMAX NEX C31 Panoramic PC Case is designed for compact mATX builds. That said, both models support up to 360mm top radiators, air coolers up to 175mm, graphics cards up to 410mm in length, and ship with three pre-installed 120mm ARGB fans.

Both models also feature similar front I/O panels with a 20 Gbps USB Type-C Gen2x2 port and dual USB 3.0 ports. And really, there's not much separating the two in terms of the hardware and cooling they support, aside from different-sized motherboards. Here's a closer look at the different cooling configurations.

The new MSI GeForce RTX 5090 LIGHTNING Z isn't just another GeForce RTX 5090; it's a brand-new liquid-cooled GPU and design from the company that is built for extreme overclocking and unmatched PC gaming performance. And with that, it's a limited-edition release of 1,300 units worldwide, shipping with a default 800W OC profile and a 1000W Extreme Mode for serious overclockers, drawing power from two 16-pin power connectors.

For those who have been tracking GeForce RTX 50 Series pricing over the past year, you've probably noticed that not many cards have been made available at the $1,999 USD MSRP. And with shortages, the AI boom, and the current memory crisis, the 32GB graphics card has seen its price in the US climb to well over $3,000 in recent months.

As a custom GPU, the MSI GeForce RTX 5090 LIGHTNING Z is in a class of its own in build quality, engineering, power delivery, and thermal performance, so a premium price is to be expected. Still, it almost feels like a meme when a GeForce RTX 5090 is being sold for $5,090. Or, $5090.99 to be exact.

Samsung has been fighting hard on its semiconductor and HBM memory business over the last few years, but now it has officially started commercially deploying its next-gen HBM4 memory, ready for NVIDIA's new Rubin AI chips.

The company explained in a press release that its new HBM4 memory has transfer speeds of 11.7Gbps, but when overclocked like NVIDIA needs it, Samsung's new HBM4 is capable of 13Gbps. Its new leading-edge DRAM is based on a 4nm logic die for maximum performance, fabbed in-house at Samsung Foundry, with its 1c DRAM also in play.

Sang Joon Hwang, Executive Vice President and Head of Memory Development at Samsung Electronics, said: "Instead of taking the conventional path of utilizing existing proven designs, Samsung took the leap and adopted the most advanced nodes like the 1c DRAM and 4nm logic process for HBM4. By leveraging our process competitiveness and design optimization, we are able to secure substantial performance headroom, enabling us to satisfy our customers' escalating demands for higher performance, when they need them".

Konami has announced a new official 2D Castlevania game that continues decades after the events of Castlevania III Dracula's Curse.

Dead Cells developer Motion Twin is helming the development of a new Castlevania sidescroller. It's called Belmont's Curse, and it takes place 20+ years after Dracula's Curse, the old-school NES classic.

"Set 23 years after Castlevania Dracula's Curse - follow a young Belmont's journey in an all new 2D Action-Exploration title from KONAMI, Evil Empire and Motion Twin, will be released in 2026!"

When building a new gaming rig or upgrading a PC, that moment you press the power button for the first time is always a little stressful. Will it turn on? Will there be an error code? These are probably the main concerns, with 'Will my GPU spark and catch on fire?' likely far down the list as a true nightmare scenario.

When it comes to modern high-end enthusiast and flagship PC gaming GPUs, specifically the GeForce RTX 4090 and the GeForce RTX 5090, you can add 16-pin power connector issues to the list based on ongoing reports and cases of cables and connectors melting. However, this report (via Videocardz) of a Chinese gamer's MSI-branded GeForce RTX 5090 catching fire the moment they fired up their upgraded rig for the first time is a little different.

According to the report, the issue appears to be with the GPU itself and is not related to the power connector or the 12V-2x6 PCIe 5.0 cable. The user posted a five-second clip on the Chinese social media platform BiliBili, which quickly gained nearly 100,000 views. And yes, it's an alarming thing to see a GPU on fire.

Bungie has announced an open stress test for Marathon that begins later this month, allowing the devs to gauge critical data and feedback before official release.

Marathon is launching on March 5, and to prep for the big day, Bungie is holding open server tests for the game across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The test will be open to everyone, however you'll still need to have an active online subscription in order to play--multiplayer access isn't free for all platforms.

"Marathon's Server Slam, our open preview weekend*, runs from February 26 at 10 AM PT to March 2 at 10 AM PT," Bungie said in the announcement.