Xbox Gaming CEO Phil Spencer praises Valve's new Steam Machine hybrid console-PC, and what he has to say lends even more credence to a next-gen Xbox PC.

Today, Valve announced its new-and-improved Steam Machine, a hybrid device that packs in the power and utility of a PC with the plug-and-play convenience of a console. The Steam Machine runs SteamOS, plays Steam games at up to 4K 60FPS with FSR enabled, and is compatible with software and accessories just like a normal PC.

If you've been paying attention to the recent Xbox rumors, this might sound familiar. Microsoft is reportedly planning on doing something similar with the next-gen Xbox, merging the console and PC environments together using Windows 11. It just sounds like Valve beat Microsoft to the punch with the Steam Machine--Xbox has been following in Valve's wake for a while, first with its PC game sales ambitions, then with the Xbox Ally handhelds and now the Steam Machine hybrid PC-console.

Valve is entering the console market once more with its new Steam Machine PC-console hybrid.

Today, Valve announced its new hardware lineup including a revamp of its Steam Machines brand. The new Steam Machine is essentially a small form factor PC in a box that runs Steam games at console-level quality, complete with the plug-and-play convenience of a console. It also borrows major quality-of-life features from the Steam Deck, including suspend/resume and the features of the SteamOS environment.

The new Steam Machine is powered by a discrete semi-custom AMD GPU that Valve says can enable 4K 60FPS gaming with FSR enabled. The console PC is 6x more powerful than a Steam Deck, features an SD card slot, and also can run "whatever software you want, and works with all your favorite desktop accessories."

Arc Raiders has sold over 4 million copies and had the biggest launch in Nexon's history, the live service games giant has confirmed.

Embark's latest extraction shooter Arc Raiders is gaming's latest breakout hit with over 4 million copies sold and 700,000 concurrent players in less than two weeks. On a rough sales basis, that's around $160 million in gross revenue from Arc Raiders (which is less after Sony, Microsoft, Epic, and Steam take their cuts).

In a Q3 press release, Nexon president and CEO Junghun Lee says Arc Raiders did so well that it helped spike the company's revenue by +61%, and that it was the biggest game that Nexon has ever launched.

Grand Theft Auto 6 isn't the only news surrounding Rockstar Games as the UK studio abruptly fired thirty-one workers over what it described as gross misconduct, but if you asked those now former employees, many of whom are veteran Rockstar developers, the studio was merely union-busting.

Those fired employees are now protesting outside Rockstar North in the UK, with many voicing their opinions on why the studio let them go, stating that Rockstar didn't provide any evidence of their alleged gross misconduct and that they were fired without due process or proper representation. According to Rockstar, the now former employees were leaking confidential information on a public forum, but the employees who were fired said they had never been shown any evidence of such leaks.

The employees and the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) allege Rockstar simply wanted to break up the union that was forming, with the employees pointing to each of the fired employees being union members and the UK currently preparing to pass the Employment Rights Bill, which will provide elevated security for workers at the beginning of next year.

It's not often that anime-inspired graphics cards with bespoke characters, a creative backstory, and a vibrant design make their way to Western markets, but that's precisely what's happening with ZOTAC GAMING's new GeForce RTX 50 Series 'APOCALYPSE' edition GPUs.

Available in two variants, ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 5070 Ti APOCALYPSE OC and ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 5080 APOCALYPSE OC are available now from ZOTAC's own US store and over at Newegg. The GeForce RTX 5070 Ti model is priced at $849.99 USD (Zotac Store, Newegg), while the GeForce 5080 model is priced at $1,249.99 USD (Zotac Store, Newegg).

Both are premium custom OC models featuring a design inspired by mechs, characterized by "aggressive, geometric lines" and a white, black, and gold finish that stands out from the rest of the company's GeForce RTX 50 Series lineup. That said, the anime girl character on the box isn't present on the GPUs, with the backplate design being surprisingly minimal compared to the front.

AMD confirms its next-gen Instinct MI400 AI accelerators for 2026 based on the new CDNA 5 architecture, with a huge 432GB of HBM4 memory, where it will compete against NVIDIA's next-gen Vera Rubin AI platform.

During its Financial Analysts Day event, the company confirmed its new MI400 series will come in multiple variants: MI455X is for training and inference, while the MI430X will be available in HPC variants.

AMD's new Instinct MI400 series feature the new CDNA 5 architecture, huge amounts of ultra-fast HBM4 memory, more AI formats and higher throughput, and standard-based rack-scale networking (UALoE, UAL, and UEC).

AMD held its Financial Analyst Day on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, where it outlined its "strategy and growth opportunities, innovative product and technology roadmaps, and long-term financial plan." For AMD's gaming division, specifically Radeon products for gaming, there wasn't a lot of information presented, but we did get a roadmap that summarized where Radeon and RDNA are headed.

This can be summarized in four letters: AI and RT. The roadmap didn't confirm the RDNA 5 or UDNA naming, so that's up in the air. However, when discussing the past and present of RDNA and Radeon graphics cards, AMD's Mark Papermaster, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, focused on these two points: upscaling and real-time ray tracing.

He specifically highlighted the current AI-powered FSR 4 technology, exclusive to the Radeon RX 9000 Series, as a game changer for image fidelity and performance, with FSR and "Next-Gen AI" technology set to play a key role in the future of Radeon.

Corsair's multi-year partnership with Activision and the Call of Duty franchise continues this week with the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 7-themed hardware and accessories. The line-up covers Corsair and its various brands, including SCUF Gaming, Elgato, and Origin PC, with the latter covering fully customizable gaming PCs.

For Corsair's line-up, you've got a complete set of peripherals covering keyboard, mouse, headsets, and mouse mat. This includes a custom version of the award-winning K65 PLUS WIRELESS 75% gaming keyboard and M75 WIRELESS gaming mouse combo, two of the company's most popular PC gaming peripherals. Throw in a Black Ops 7 themed HS80 RGB WIRELESS gaming headset and MM300 2XL mouse mat, and you've got everything you need.

Well, almost everything, as you've then got your choice of five custom Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Edition SCUF Gaming controllers, including a version of the Valor Pro Wireless that we recently reviewed. A controller featuring next-generation 'Hall Effect' thumbsticks and a comfortable ergonomic design.

AMD has updated its CPU roadmap, with the company confirming its next-gen Zen 6 processors for 2026, with the new CPU roadmap including its next-gen "Medusa" CPUs based on Zen 6.

AMD confirmed what the leaks have suggested for a while now, with more on that in the links above, with "Gorgon" and "Medusa" CPUs launching in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Gorgon Point APUs are still based on the current Zen 5 CPU, with an upgraded RDNA 3.5-based GPU like its Strix Point and Strix Halo APUs.

However, when it comes to the new codename "Medusa" chips, Medusa Point and Medusa Halo APUs will feature next-gen Zen 6 CPU cores, a next-gen RDNA 5-based GPU, and next-gen XDNA for AI workloads in 2027.

AMD has just updated its CPU roadmap at its Financial Analysts Day, confirming both the upcoming next-gen Zen 6 but also future-gen Zen 7 CPU architectures, with Zen 7 being made on a "Future Node".

Zen 6 will be unleashed in 2026, with AMD having an industry-first debut on TSMC's new flagship 2nm process node, with AMD CTO Mark Papermaster noting that both Zen 6 and Zen 6c will enjoy IPC improvements and more performance, as well as more AI features for Ryzen and EPYC families of processors.

AMD confirmed what the leaks have suggested for a while now, with more on that in the links above, with "Gorgon" and "Medusa" CPUs launching in 2026 and 2027, respectively. Gorgon Point APUs will be released in 2026 but they're still based on the current Zen 5 CPU, with an upgraded RDNA 3.5-based GPU like its Strix Point and Strix Halo APUs.

FromSoftware caps off Sony's latest State of Play stream by revealing Elden Ring Nightreign's first expansion, The Forsaken Hollows.

Just days ago, FromSoftware's owner confirmed that Elden Ring Nightreign would get DLC soon. Now it's official: The Forsaken Hollows is coming to all platforms on December 4 for $15, and it'll include two new playable classes, two new bosses, and a new shifting earth called The Great Hollow.

Anyone who purchased the deluxe or collector's edition of Elden Ring Nightreign will get The Forsaken Hollows for free, and those that pre-purchase the expansion now will get access to a digital artbook and a mini soundtrack via a special app.

The reports were right: Sony is indeed introducing a lower-cost, region-locked PS5 for the Japanese market.

Sony's latest business move should help spark PS5 adoption in Japan. The company today announced that it will offer a cheaper digital PS5 bundle that retails for 55,000 yen, or about $350. The console is region-locked, meaning it can't be played by users outside of Japan, and sees Sony directly challenging the Nintendo Switch 2's grasp on its home turf market.

"We are doing something very special for the Japan market. We are introducing a PS5 for players that can be exclusively enjoyed in the Japanese language. This PS5 Digital Edition provides strong value--its suggested retail price is 55,000 yen including tax," Sony's Hideaki Nishino said during the State of Play presentation.

Sony says that the PlayStation 5 will maintain its current sales profitability throughout FY2025, but that period ends quite soon in March, and after that period it's possible the PS5--and potentially the PS5 Pro--will be sold for less profit than it is now.

Hardware profitability is crucial for Sony and Nintendo (Microsoft never sold an Xbox at a profit, and that could be why they're now merging Xbox consoles with Windows). Right now, Sony is able to produce and sell each PS5 console at a profit, but that may change in the future due to rising storage memory costs.

Diminished hardware profitability will drag the company's margins and put more stress on software and services. This is something Sony is potentially planning for as it is now focusing on "monetizing the PS5's installed base"rather than expanding that said installed base.

Sony's new PS5 game Ghost of Yōtei was a success insofar as first-party sales, and the company has recognized Sucker Punch's latest samurai slasher as a "major hit."

PlayStation's new first-party release Ghost of Yōtei has resonated with PS5 owners. Sony has confirmed that Ghost of Yōtei has sold 3.3 million copies in the 32-day period from launch until November 2, indicating a strong level of sales penetration for a first-party game despite the higher $69.99 price tag. Given Sony's latest PS5 sales numbers of 84.2 million, Ghost of Yōtei had a nearly 4% attach rate on the platform. Yōtei's forebear, Ghost of Tsushima, sold 2.4 million copies in 3 days.

"In the single-player AAA title space, following the release of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach in June, we released Ghost of Yōtei in October. Ghost of Yōtei surpassed 3.3 million units sold globally as of November 2nd, becoming a major hit like its predecessor," Sony said in its Q2'25 earnings report.

Sony could support the PlayStation 5 with a 10-year lifecycle, and it's possible the system could last until 2030.

Five years after launch, Sony has officially acknowledged the PS5 is in the middle of its lifecycle. The company is embracing a longer lifecycle for its 9th generation of PlayStation consoles, primarily due to macro-economic forces like tariffs and rising component costs. That's not to say the PS6 won't release before Sony is done supporting the PS5--we expect there to be an overlap cycle with the PS6 generation.

In today's Q2'25 earnings Q&A with media, Sony Chief Financial Officer Lin Tao commented on how the company is framing the PS5's current livelihood, saying that each console generation is lasting longer and longer--including the PS5.

New DLC for Elden Ring Nightreign has been confirmed, and it will launch sometime in the first quarter of 2026.

FromSoftware's Elden Ring Nightreign is the latest in a consecutive string of mega-hits for Kadokawa. In the company's latest Q1-Q2 earnings report, Kadokawa confirms that Nightreign significantly outperformed their expectations, with many more copies sold and revenue generated than had originally been forecasted.

Thanks to these results, and the power of the Elden Ring brand, it's no surprise that FromSoftware is working on new expansion content for the co-op multiplayer adventure game. There's been no announcement of what the Nightreign DLC will actually be, however Kadokawa did confirm that DLC is happening in the report.

During Sony's most recent earnings call, the company confirmed that Destiny 2 has fallen short of its expectations since the title developer of the game, Bungie, was acquired in 2022.

The confirmation comes from Sony's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Lin Tao who said Destiny 2's level of sales and user engagement has not reached the expectation that Sony set at the time it acquired Bungie, and as a result Sony has recorded a ¥31.5 billion (approximately $204 million) impairment loss, which is on top of the ¥18.3 billion (about $118 million) expense total for Destiny 2 that is related to the title's development cost.

The CFO said Sony has now made these adjustments to reflect the title's current performance, which Sony attributes to a changing competitive landscape, market competition, and ultimately low player engagement. For those wondering what an impairment loss is, it's essentially Sony saying the asset, which in this case is Bungie's assets (Destiny 2, etc), is no longer worth as much as what the company originally recorded it for.

Roblox has been hit by another lawsuit, this time from Ken Paxton, the attorney general of Texas, who has now joined the state of Louisiana in alleging that Roblox has perpetrated an online environment that enables child predators to thrive.

The lawsuits against Roblox came after the company banned child predator catcher and YouTuber Schlep for engaging in "simulated child endangerment conversations". The banning of Schlep caused a massive community uproar as YouTubers and other Roblox community members flocked to support the child predator catcher, who has been involved in the exposing of at least child predators on the Roblox platform.

The uproar created a spotlight that honed in on the child predator problem evolving on Roblox, and now it has caught the attention of lawyers, entire states, and Chris "To Catch a Predator" Hansen.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is only a few days away and if you are hanging out to sink your teeth into the latest Call of Duty, you can do so before everyone else by doing a very simple trick with your settings.

Black Ops 7 officially launches on Friday, November 14 in the US and Europe, but if you want to play it before everyone else in your region, you can simply change your location settings on your platform to New Zealand, along with your Call of Duty account. By doing this US and European players will be able to enjoy Black Ops 7 on Thursday, November 13 at 3AM PT / 6 AM ET / 11 AM GMT.

Below you will find steps for each platform on how to change your location to New Zealand, which includes Xbox, PC (via the Xbox App), and PS5. Unfortunately, if you purchased Black Ops 7 on Steam or Battle.net, you are out of luck as the New Zealand trick won't work on these platforms.

Sony has confirmed during its quarterly earnings call when Bungie's Marathon is expected to release, with the publisher saying it's still "fully dedicated" to launching the title.

The confirmation came from Sony's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Lin Tao, who said Bungie is still actively developing Marathon, and that players can expect a full release of the title by March 2026. Notably, Sony's fiscal year wraps up in March 2026, which means we can expect Marathon to release sometime between February and the end of March.

The road to Bungie launching Marathon has been plagued with issues, with the developer admitting to plagiarism of an independent artist, resulting in the studio having to comb through all of the game's assets to find more instances of plagiarism.