Latest News - Page 128

ASRock's DeskMeet mini PCs are powerful, versatile, and configurable, and can also double as portable gaming PCs. With the launch of Valve's Steam Machine delayed until later this year, ASRock has come out to say that if you take one of its DeskMeet mini PCs, like the DeskMeet B660 that we've previously reviewed, and pair it with the Intel Arc A380 Challenger ITX 6GB OC GPU, you've got an affordable alternative.

Intel's first-generation Arc graphics cards have come a long way since their debut; however, the recent release of XeSS 3 has breathed new life into the Intel Arc A380. With new, updated AI-powered upscaling (Super Resolution), Frame Generation, and now Multi-Frame Generation, the Intel Arc 380 can deliver decent 1080p gaming performance that could theoretically compete with the Steam Machine.

According to ASRock, the arrival of XeSS 3 sees the Intel Arc A380 perform more in line with the Radeon RX 6600, with better image quality than AMD's FSR. Of course, as a 6GB GPU, the Intel Arc A380 Challenger ITX won't be able to render games at Ultra settings, but at a price of only $139.99 USD, it's worth considering.

ASRock's flagship X870E Taichi OCF motherboard for AMD's Ryzen AM5 platform is built for extreme overclocking, with premium power delivery for those who want to tweak and push their CPU and DDR5 memory to their limit. And with that, professional overclocker Alex2305 has set a new CPU world record by pairing the X870E Taichi OCF with AMD's flagship Ryzen 9 9950X3D, running the popular PCMark10 Express benchmark.

The 14,290 score was enough to take the crown in this highly contested space, achieved by pushing the CPU clock speeds to 6,370 MHz. Naturally, as a world record, plenty of liquid nitrogen cooling was also involved to keep CPU temperatures in check. However, even with liquid nitrogen, the HWBOT listing for this world record confirms that the load temperature still reached 100 degrees Celsius.

For the 16-core AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, this is an impressive result, as it takes the crown from overclocker Doomed83, who previously held the top two entries with an Intel Core i9 14900K and an Intel Core i5 14600K back in October 2025. It'll be interesting to see how long this new world record stands, as only 10 points separate the top two entries.

At the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, NVIDIA and ComfyUI announced new updates that will streamline AI video generation on RTX GPUs and the DGX Spark for game developers. Although the use of generative AI in game development is somewhat controversial, these tools are all about 'concept development and storyboarding.' Plus, with the new simplified App View interface from ComfyUI, 4K video generation will work on any rig with GeForce RTX 5090.

ComfyUI App View is designed to be a simple, easy way to generate video, with users only needing to enter a prompt, adjust settings and parameters, and then generate the video. This will sit alongside the more detailed, AI enthusiast-friendly Node View, with users given the option to switch between the two. Optimized for RTX hardware, NVIDIA confirms that performance has been improved by 40% since September 2025, with expanded native support for NVFP4 and FP8 formats.

That part is key because it opens the door to 2.5X faster performance and reduces VRAM requirements by 60% on GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards when using NVFP4. And with NVIDIA RTX Video Super Resolution support, AI-generated videos can be upscaled to 4K in a matter of seconds. If you've got a powerful GeForce RTX GPU and are looking for a powerful local AI video generation, then the following NVIDIA Studio Sessions video is for you.

Turtle Beach has announced a pair of new Nintendo-themed peripherals for the Nintendo Switch 2, just in time to celebrate Mario Day. The Mario & Luigi Rematch Wireless RGB Gaming Controller and Mario Star Airlite Fit Wired Gaming Headset have been designed and built specifically for Nintendo's latest console, and they go a lot further than simply slapping images and art from the iconic Super Mario franchise on the hardware.

Mario & Luigi Rematch Wireless RGB Gaming Controller not only lets Switch owners access GameChat features intuitively with the C Button placement, but it also has integrated motion controls to match the functionality you get with Nintendo's first-party offerings.

However, with TMR (Tunneling Magnetoresistance) technology on the analog sticks, Turtle Beach is delivering pro-grade anti-drift hardware that will go the distance. And with that, the wireless connectivity is good for up to 30 feet. One cool feature of the controller is the RGB mode, which includes four dynamic lighting presets that showcase hidden glow-in-the-dark style Super Mario items and power-ups.

Crimson Desert developer and publisher Pearl Abyss has released the full PC specs and hardware requirements for the game's upcoming March 19, 2026, launch, and the good news is that it's a massive AAA-style open-world game that will be playable on a wide range of rigs. In fact, based on what we're seeing here, aside from unforeseen bugs or other performance-related issues, it's shaping up to be an optimized day-one release.

As expected for a game that will feature a 60 FPS Performance mode (with AMD FSR 3) on the ROG Xbox Ally X, the minimum PC GPU requirement for 1080p at 30 FPS (upscaled from 900p) is a GeForce GTX 1060 or a Radeon RX 5500 XT. Bump that up to running the game natively at 1080p with Low settings, and the GPU requirement changes to either a GeForce GTX 1660 or a Radeon RX 6500 XT.

Yes, even though the game ships with DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation support, and supports real-time ray tracing, it'll run just fine without upscaling. However, when it comes to playing at 1080p 60 FPS or 4K 30 FPS with Medium settings, the 'Recommended' spec, you'll need a GeForce RTX 2080 or Radeon RX 6700 XT.

Pixelpaw Labs is a new startup, and its first gaming peripheral, simply called 'Phase', is a PC gaming mouse that can split in two to become a game controller. A literal mouse of two halves, the magnetic split design turns the PC gaming input device into a JoyCon-style controller with access to traditional dual analog sticks, as well as face and shoulder buttons familiar to all gamers.

Compatible with Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile platforms, with Bluetooth and low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity, it's certainly a versatile peripheral - and one that will also let you seamlessly switch between three devices. Pixelpaw Labs plans to launch the Phase via a Kickstarter campaign but is already accepting pre-orders on its own site ahead of crowdfunding.

With an introductory price of $115 USD for the Phase, there's also a planned Phasegrip add-on that will connect the controller half of the mouse's design to a smartphone, similar to devices like the Backbone or Razer Kishi. With its unique two-in-one design, here's a quick breakdown of the Phase's specs and features.

GeForce Game Ready Driver 595.79 WHQL is now available for GeForce gamers, and it brings day-one support for a big PC game release on March 19, 2026. The highly anticipated open-world action-adventure Crimson Desert from Pearly Abyss and legendary game creator Hideo Kojima's latest opus, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.

Both games are set to debut with full DLSS 4 support with Multi Frame Generation for GeForce RTX 50 Series owners, with access to the new and improved DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution powered by NVIDIA's powerful new Transformer model via the NVIDIA App. And when it comes to the NVIDIA App, it's getting a major 'Beta' update on March 31.

This update will add DLSS Override support for the new DLSS 4.5 Dynamic Multi Frame Generation update, which is designed to intelligently max out your display's refresh rate and includes a new 6X mode. This update also includes an updated DLSS 4.5 Frame Generation for GeForce RTX 40 and RTX 50 Series gamers, improving image quality and performance.

With 25 years behind it, Xbox is targeting the "future of play" and is using deep analysis of player behaviors to help define the next generation of its gaming business.

At GDC 2026, Microsoft today revealed tons of new details about the future of its Xbox business. Starting with Project Helix, its next-gen hardware, the company revealed advanced tech upgrades like a high-end AMD chip with AI built right into the silicon, enabling new functionalities like GPU-generated workloads, potential reductions or eliminations of CPU bottlenecks, raytracing that's an "order of magnitude" better than current tech, and powerful new DirectX optimizations like Deep Texture Compression.

Throughout the keynote speech, Xbox VP of Next Generation Jason Ronald asserted that Microsoft is focusing on the "future of play," saying that gamers don't really attach their identities to a platform any more. "The days of people defining themselves as a console, PC, or mobile gamer don't really exist any more," Ronald said, as per IGN.

Xbox's Full Screen Experience (FSE) has been renamed, and it's coming to all Windows 11 PCs starting next month.

Released first on the ROG Ally and Ally X handhelds, the Full Screen Experience was a window into Microsoft's so-called "future of play," a vision that unifies Xbox and Windows together. While the hybrid Project Helix next-gen Xbox will be the physical manifestation of this plan, Microsoft is still rolling out its simulated Xbox environment to all Windows 11 users, likely in a bid to test and tweak the software in preparation for Helix.

Xbox Mode, aka FSE, will start to roll out to Windows 11 users starting in April, Xbox exec Jason Ronald says: "After debuting an early version with the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, today I'm excited to share that we are bringing the same innovation to Windows 11 with Xbox mode that begins rolling out in April, starting with select markets."

Valve is being sued by New York Attorney General Leticia James on allegations that in-game lootboxes break the state's gambling laws. Now the company has issued a lengthy response letter that presses back against the AG's allegations.

The NY Attorney General's lawsuit against Valve, whose press release loudly proclaims "Attorney General James Sues Game Developer for Promoting Illegal Gambling Through Video Games," seemed to come out of left field and caught the gaming world off guard.

It's been weeks since New York made the lawsuit public, and Valve has now published a statement refuting some of the claims and providing interesting context on the interactions that preceded the legal complaint.

Project Helix's earliest alpha versions won't be out until 2027, Microsoft has confirmed at GDC 2026.

Microsoft has revealed key technical details about its next-gen Xbox console, codenamed Project Helix, at this year's Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. The company has re-confirmed the hardware hybrid was designed to play both Xbox console and Windows PC games in one device, and that it is powered by next-gen AMD silicon with advanced ML neural rendering as well as powerful new DirectX technologies like Deep Texture Compression.

It's also been revealed that Project Helix's earliest hardware iterations won't be sent out to developers until next year.

Microsoft's Jason Ronald reveals new details about the next-gen Project Helix console at GDC 2026, as per a recent live stream.

Microsoft confirming key details about its next-generation Project Helix console PC to game developers at this year's GDC event. During the keynote stream, Xbox hardware VP Jason Ronald highlighted some of the new features of Project Helix, revealing a high-end device that seems to empower developers with new hardware-based efficiencies and tools to craft their worlds.

Ronald confirmed that Project Helix would have next-gen raytracing performance, powered by a new AMD SoC that was co-designed from the ground up specifically with new, forward-thinking versions of DirectX in mind. Project Helix's main goals seem to be alignment on a hardware, API, and software level, complete with attractive features like Windows 11's powerful DirectStorage alongside Project Helix's new Deep Texture Compression technology--a combination that could be the key for true next-level texture streaming and loading times.

Microsoft has taken to its official X account to share three photos of what could be the next Xbox, and paired these images with the caption, "Xbox at GDC 🔥 Sneak peek".

The images showcase a shell of an Xbox console, which has the letters "XDK" embossed on the side. It's assumed these letters represent the "Xbox Developer Kit," which is a locked version of the Xbox console that is given to developers so they can design their game to the specific hardware specifications. Notably, users have pointed out that the images and the Xbox within them appear to show a console that's very similar to the Xbox One developer kit.

To add to the mystery, and what could perhaps make fans lean toward this being a tease of the next-generation Xbox console, new Xbox CEO Asha Sharma teased last week that Microsoft's new Xbox, codenamed Project Helix will be discussed at "GDC next week". Additionally, Sharma said the new Xbox will "lead in performance and play your Xbox and PC games."

It was only in September last year that NVIDIA and Intel officially partnered to create custom x86 processors for data centers and x86-RTX SoCs (system-on-chips) for PCs, and now we are hearing that an unveiling of one of these processors may be just around the corner.

It was expected to take some time to produce the first chips, as most collaborations within the fabrication industry do. But, Jukan, an analyst for Citrini, wrote in an X post that some "sell-side analysts are expecting that NVIDIA may unveil an x86 CPU developed in collaboration with Intel at GTC 2026," which is scheduled to take place in just one week. Additionally, Jukan wrote, "I think that too".

If those rumors are true, we could see the unveiling of a new x86 chip born of a collaboration between NVIDIA and Intel, which would head straight into devices across the following markets: laptops, handhelds, mini PCs, and maybe even full desktops, depending on performance.

Valve published its 2025 review, and in the large article, it outlines a variety of ways the company improved the platform, including some interesting stats on what it's now nearly 50 million peak concurrent users are getting up to.

Valve revealed that Steam has been steadily growing for the past five years, with growth being estimated at around 3.4 million additional users per year. Five years ago, Steam crossed the 25 million concurrent user mark, and in 2025, it reached 42 million peak concurrent users. With so many PC gamers now adopting the platform, Valve is required to provide those games with a steady stream of new titles they can download at maximum speed. Valve is and has been doing that, and the stats on those downloads are quite eye-watering.

According to Valve, in 2024, Steam users downloaded 80 exabytes of data, which quickly rose to 100 exabytes in 2025. To put that number into perspective, Steam users are averaging 274 petabytes of installs and updates per day, which equates to 11.42 petabytes per hour of downloads, or approximately 190,000 gigabytes of data per minute. Additionally, if you were wondering how many 1TB SSDs in gaming PCs 100 exabytes would fill up, it's approximately 100 million 1TB SSDs.

NVIDIA's CEO Jensen Huang has penned a new blog post where he gives his view on the future of AI from 20,000 feet, which includes him making an analogy to creating a 5-layer cake.

In the blog Huang describes the future of AI being a 5-layer cake, and each of these layers being a critical part of what makes up AI, with each of these layers being one key focus of the underlying infrastructure, yet independent from each other. Each of these layers are evolving exponentially, with Jensen writing the bottom layer categorized as "energy" is the "binding constraint" for intelligence and monetary figures. Given that AI cannot run without electricity that makes perfect sense, and above "energy" is chips, infrastructure, models, and then finally, applications.

Jensen goes on to write that around the world we are seeing the largest infrastructure buildout in human history with factories producing AI chips being constructed by various companies around the world, in order to get their own slice of the expanding cake. The NVIDIA CEO writes that "AI is one of the most powerful forces shaping the world today," and that "it is not a clever or a single model; it is essential infrastructure, like electricity and the internet."

Long-time TweakTown editor Anthony Garreffa is recovering in hospital after a serious stroke in late February.

On Monday, February 23, 2026, Anthony suffered a stroke and has since been receiving care in the hospital stroke ward. There were additional complications in the days following the event, further complicating the situation.

Thankfully, Anthony has begun making gradual progress in his recovery. Recently, he has been able to speak a little, understand communication, and regain some movement on his right side. However, the recovery process is expected to be long and will require significant rehabilitation.

On the heels of what was considered to be a very positive change for the long-time-running MMORPG RuneScape, the removal of microtransactions, developer Jagex has found itself in hot water after announcing a price hike for its membership subscription.

Jagex outlined that it will raise RuneScape's monthly subscription price from $14 to $15, which will, in turn, increase the yearly subscription price from $99.48 to $131.88. Notably, this price hike comes just two months after Jagex announced it would remove microtransactions from the game, and less than two years after it previously announced a membership price hike. The new membership price will be announced on April 9, and it won't affect players who are already paying the previous membership price.

With the emergence of AI-powered tools, there have been genuine concerns about their misuse for nefarious purposes, such as impersonating public figures to sell a product or pushing a specific message online.

These AI "deepfake" videos, which are essentially AI-generated content designed to impersonate an individual, are a real problem that social media platforms will need to tackle. Now YouTube has announced it's upping its defences against AI deepfakes by expanding its likeness detection technology.

YouTube has outlined in a new blog post that creators in the YouTube Partner Program can now submit a short video of themselves along with a government ID to teach the system what they look like.

After Galaxy Studios fueled speculation that they are working on a remaster of Fallout 3 by sharing an image from an internal pitch deck of the iconic "Please Stand By" loading screen, more leaks have popped up about a Fallout 3 remaster.

Unfortunately, Galaxy Studios shut down rumors that it was working on a remaster of the classic Bethesda title, saying the image of the loading screen was nothing more than a slide in a deck and that it has "nothing to do with anything Fallout being worked on."

However, that doesn't mean a Fallout remaster isn't being worked on somewhere else. A new figurine listing from McFarlane Toys has suggested there is a Fallout 3 remaster currently in development somewhere, as McFarlane Toys has listed the "ELITE EDITION 7IN - FALLOUT 3 REMASTERED - #13 T-45B NUKA COLA".