Sony has just announced its flagship Alpha 1 camera, which the company proudly says is "the most technologically advanced, innovative camera".

Sony's new Alpha 1 camera rocks a new 50.1-megapixel full-frame sensor, and can shoot 8K 30FPS and even 4K 120FPS videos all day long. If you want to shoot fast-moving objects like sports and action photographers, the 50.1-megapixel sensor lets Alpha 1 owners shoot "up to 155 full-frame compressed RAW images or 165 full-frame JPEG images at up to 30 frames per second with the electronic shutter while maintaining full AF and AE tracking performance".

The new Sony Alpha 1 camera features a high-resolution OLED electronic viewfinder with a refresh rate of 240Hz, pretty baller for a mirrorless camera. Sony claims this is a world first, and it is a big one. There's some next level Eye AF that focuses perfectly on people, pets and birds. The company says that it has "optimized algorithms ensure that tracking is maintained even if a sitting bird suddenly takes flight, or the framing suddenly changes".

Update: Intel said in a statement to me over email -- "Intel launched the Intel® Iris® Xe discrete desktop graphics card on January 26th with an article on newsroom linking to the product page where a product image was inadvertently attributed to the Colorful brand. The product page was quickly corrected".

"Intel works closely with Shenzhen Colorful Technology Development Co Ltd and their subsidiaries as an engineering partner for a range of Intel products. We apologize for the confusion this has caused. We will provide details of the second OEM partner and brand name when they are available".

Intel has finally launched its Xe DG1 discrete graphics card, which won't come anywhere near even the entry-level and mainstream GPU offerings from AMD and NVIDIA -- but it's here.

Micron is starting 2021 in a big way with the announcement that has volume shipment of its next-gen 1α (1-alpha) node DRAM products using the "world's most advanced DRAM process technology and offering major improvements in bit density, power and performance".

Scott DeBoer, executive vice president of technology and products at Micron said: "This 1α node achievement confirms Micron's excellence in DRAM and is a direct result of Micron's relentless commitment to cutting-edge design and technology. With a 40% improvement in memory density over our previous 1z DRAM node, this advancement will create a solid foundation for future product and memory innovation".

The company explained that it will use the 1α node throughout its DRAM product portfolio, which spans between mobile devices through to GPUs and right into autonomous cars and everything in between.

Intel's SVP, Chief Architecture, GM of Architecture, Graphics and Software, Raja Koduri has teased the first official photo of its new Xe HPC which is "ready for power on". Check it out in all its nerdy glory:

What you're looking at is the tile-based Xe-HPC which uses Foveros CO-EMIB packaging technology, with Intel manufacturing the new tile-based GPUs on their in-house 10nm SuperFin architecture. Koduri notes that there are "7 advanced silicon technologies in a single package" on Xe-HPC and that it is a "silicon engineers dream".

Koduri teases that the new Intel Xe-HPC is ready for power on, meaning that the GPU has been turned on at the Intel labs and it's being tested and I'm sure -- hoping -- that it's putting a smile on Raja's face.

CD Projekt has released the mod support files required for users to make their own modding tools to tweak Cyberpunk 2077, but don't expect major overhauls.

As promised, CD Projekt has made available various files and utilities that are needed to mod Cyberpunk 2077. These aren't major advanced toolsets like Bethesda's Creation Kit or GECK, but are the basic files needed to make actual mod systems. Expect to see creations like The Witcher 3's smaller-scale QoL adjustments. These files can be used to significantly improve various systems including quality-of-life improvements across UI, HUD, inventory management, and more to make the overall experience more streamlined.

Despite CDPR's move, a modding toolset for Cyberpunk 2077 already exists. Gamers have been using the Cyber Engine Tweaks tools to make pretty big changes in everything from AMD SMT game performance to changing appearances and even romancing Johnny Silverhand.

IO Interactive's big new 007 game could show a more suave video game adaptation James Bond, complete with emphasis on character development as well as action.

A recent interview with the Danish Broadcasting Corporation suggests that James Bond rights-holders aren't so happy with modern 007 video games. Reports say EON Productions' Barbara Broccoli, who controls the franchise, thinks Bond games are too violent. IO Interactive's vision will change all of that.

Hitman dev IO Interactive has spent the last two years making a demo reel to win over EON Productions. The gambit worked. After years of 007's absence in the game world, IO has been given the rights to make a James Bond game. We don't know what IO showed off to win over Broccoli and the other execs at MGM, but it's possible the experience will be more meaningful, cerebral, and have greater emphasis on stealth, subterfuge, and charm rather than the wanton FPS violence of previous game adaptations.

With its Hitman games, IO Interactive has arguably been preparing for a 007 game for a long time. But it's still not ready. That's why the team is doubling its numbers for the ambitious project.

IO Interactive has big plans for its upcoming Project 007 spy game. The studio plans to make an original Bond not seen before in movies--just like how 007's actor and likeness changes in the films, so too will it change in the game--set in a prequel timeline. The project is being built in a next-gen version of IO's proprietary Glacier engine, and luckily the team will have a few years to prepare.

The developer plans to make the most of that preparation. IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak says the team will double its numbers to help with the game. This is a vital move considering IO is fully independent now and doesn't have the backing of Square Enix any longer. Project 007 may be the start of a brand new trilogy of titles if partners MGM and EON Productions are confident in a long-lasting future. IO has a lot to prove, and they're currently gearing up for massive expansion.

Battlefront II was recently free on the Epic Games Store, and was downloaded 19 million times. This is monumental for EA and represents a new way to supercharge monetization potential in years-old games.

EA is a master of monetization and engagement. They make billions every year from live services, microtransactions, and finely-tuned gameplay loops. Sometimes, though, EA breaks new ground with business tactics that elongate a game's earning potential.

That's exactly what happened with the recent Battlefront II freebie. The game was offered free on the Epic Store for a limited time, and 19 million gamers took advantage and downloaded the sequel. These are astronomical figures for any live game and the strategy gives EA another low-risk avenue to spark revenues in older games.

Jagex, the UK-based developer behind the popular MMO Runescape, has been acquired by the world's second-largest investment firm.

The Carlyle Group has acquired Jagex in a sweeping mega-deal that sets up Runescape's future. The news was confirmed in a press release, and although exact terms of the deal haven't been announced, it's implied the group paid more than the $530 million that the previous owner Macarthur Fortune Holding paid for Jagex in 2020.

The Carlyle Group manages over $230 billion of financial assets and will provide substantial funding for Runescape's future, Jagex CEO Phil Mansell affirms the partnership will help fill out Runescape's long-term content roadmaps.

The Skyblivion team gives us a closer look at an actual gameplay quest arc, displaying advancements in animations, environments, exploration and combat.

Modders are trying to do something huge: They want to recreate the entirety of Oblivion using Skyrim's in-game engine, complete with in-game areas, quests, and content. It's an ambitious total-conversion mod called Skyblivion, and the project has been in development for some time. Now the mod is starting to take a more finalized shape. It's not done just yet, but the creators are releasing gameplay footage that showcases the progress they've made.

The latest gameplay clip gives us our first look at a playable questline. It's the smaller Revenge Served Cold questline that takes players into the Exhausted Mine. You're basically killing goblins to avenge a farmer's wife. The mine has some alterations from the vanilla version, though; there's multiple layers and areas to explore, complete with new dotted treasures. The combat looks pretty good, the interior animations are all fluid, and the dialog matches up nicely.

According to a new Dragon Age artbook, the next game in the series, Dragon Age 4, will be set in the Tevinter Imperium.

The new game dev grimoire BioWare: Stories and Secrets from 25 Years of Game Development confirms that the new Dragon Age game is set in a realm of slavery, cruelty, and mythical blood magic. We're talking about the Tevinter Imperium, of course--the ancient Rome-like empire nestled in Theda's northern regions.

The book hints the playable landmass could include the Imperium as well as parts of the bordering Nevarra to the south, and Antiva to the east. For comparison, Dragon Age Inquisition featured areas set in southern Thedas; Orlais, Ferelden, and parts of the Free Marches were explorable and playable.

Technology is beginning to turn reality into science fiction. Valve is working on brain-computer interface (BCI) technology that will be available soon, and Gabe Newell said it would allow you to edit your mood.

If you thought virtual reality and augmented reality were science fiction technologies, wait until you try a BCI system that allows software to interact directly with your brain. If this sounds like science fiction to you, I've got surprising news for you: this technology exists in research laboratories today, and it's not far away from becoming a consumer product.

Gabe Newell recently sat down with 1 News in New Zealand to discuss his company's work in the BCI space, and what he said may shock you. Newell explained that BCI technology would enable you to alter your personality as you see fit. Software developers will be able to create applications that can change your mood to your liking, such as dialling up your motivation when you're having an off day. Newell expects that one of the earliest applications would be a sleep-improvement tool that ensures you get proper REM sleep and that you sleep for set durations.

Konami today announced it has dissolved three production teams in its digital entertainment gaming branch, but it's not closing down total game creation.

Konami is a somewhat confusing company. Today's corporate announcement didn't do much to outline or clarify the company's future plans, but from what we can gather, Konami is consolidating its digital gaming branch into one leaner and more concise group. In theory, this is similar to how Square Enix combined 11 separate teams into four game dev divisions in 2019.

So what does this mean?

Konami's latest internal reports reveal why the company hasn't invested strongly into Metal Gear Solid since 2015's MGSV.

Today Konami announced it's dissolving three of its production divisions in an effort to become more lean, reduce spending, and adapt to the new digital-based COVID-19 market. The truth is Konami has been doing this for a while, and it's a big reason why certain franchises like Metal Gear Solid have lapsed.

Prompted by a post on ResetERA, I took a look at Konami's company profile data and found sales data for the stealth espionage series. So far, Metal Gear Solid has sold 56.5 million copies worldwide since 1987, more than other IPs like Capcom's Street Fighter (which sits at 45 million). Even still, Metal Gear pales in comparison to Konami's real breadwinning IP, the billion-dollar titan Pro Evolution Soccer. To date, PES has sold through 110.4 million in its 25-year span. It's easy to see why Konami is playing favorites.

ASUS is about to launch its slick new ROG RYUJIN II 240 CPU cooler, its new flagship dual-fan cooler for your new Intel or AMD CPU with a gigantic 3.5-inch LCD display.

The new design of the ASUS ROG RYUJIN II 240 CPU cooler was shown off by ASUS Technical Marketing Manager Juan Jose Guerrero III, showing off the new cooler installed into an ASUS Z590 ROG Maximus HERO motherboard. Check it out:

The ASUS ROG RYUJIN II 240 CPU cooler is an upgrade over its predecessor that featured a smaller 1.77-inch LiveDash OLED display, while the ROG RYUJIN II 240 CPU cooler packs a huge 3.5-inch display that as VideoCardz aptly points out... is the same size as the Apple iPhone 4 smartphone display.

NVIDIA has just announced that it will be powering gamers in Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey with GeForce NOW "later this year".

In an announcement on the official NVIDIA blog the company explained that it has signed new telcos into the GeForce NOW Alliance with Turkcell, Zain KSA and Pentanet, these new companies join current GeForce NOW Alliance members in Softbank, KDDI, LG Uplus, Taiwan Mobile and GFN.RU.

NVIDIA reminds us that GeForce NOW brings real-time ray tracing to some of the biggest games in the market to underpowered PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, Android and iOS devices. The company adds: "It also offers an opportunity for the world's leading telecommunications firms to deliver high-quality, low-latency PC gaming to nearly any device from the cloud. These partners form the GeForce NOW Alliance, a partnership of operators using RTX Servers and NVIDIA cloud-gaming software to expand and improve cloud gaming globally".

We are now getting some totally nerdy nudes of the new GALAX GeForce RTX 3090 HOF graphics card, which was first teased at GALAX's virtual expo back in November 2020.

The new GALAX GeForce RTX 3090 HOF graphics card is now posing for the camera in the nude, with its beautiful white PCB and gargantuan VRM design. GALAX is using 26-phase VRMs on the GeForce RTX 3090 HOF graphics card, which is the highest VRM count for any RTX 3090 on the market.

GALAX is hiding the 26-phase VRMs under the heat sink you see in the photo here, but VideoCardz -- who has the scoop on the GALAX GeForce RTX 3090 HOF graphics card says that they were told that the heat sink on the GeForce RTX 3090 HOF graphics card will be changed for the final product.

Intel teased its next-next-gen 12th Gen Core CPUs at the all-virtual CES 2021 not too many days ago now, but it seems the 12th Gen Alder Lake platform could be coming much sooner than anticipated. September 2021, soon.

In a new tweet, Uniko's Hardware said that Intel would be launching its 12th Gen Core CPUs and new 600-series chipset motherboards in September 2021. As to what we should expect here: LGA 1700-based motherboards and the new Intel 600-series chipset that should support DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 support.

As for the 12th Gen Core CPUs themselves, the new Alder Lake platform will be built on an "enhanced" 10nm SuperFin architecture, and will tap Intel's Hybrid Technology which will see the pairing of high-efficiency and high-performance cores under a single chip.

We've been hearing about AMD's next-gen Navi 31 design for a while now, but it appears the MCM (multi-chip module) GPU is gearing up for a big 2021 reveal. But how much of a beast is Navi 31? It could be huge.

AMD's next-gen Navi 31 would be an MCM-based design that would see a chiplet-based GPU -- the first ever on desktop -- similar to the chiplet design used in the Zen-based Ryzen CPUs. Rumor has it Navi 31 will pack 80 CUs and the top SKU has 2 of them for a total of 160 CUs which means up to 10240 cores -- 2 x Navi 31 MCM GPUs... that sounds so good.

The new RDNA 3 architecture will be coursing through the veins of Navi 31, which should have a huge injection of power into ray tracing performance over the Radeon RX 6000 series and its new RDNA 2 architecture. It's nowhere near NVIDIA and its ray tracing prowess with the Ampere architecture, but an MCM-based RDNA 3-powered GPU could do the trick.

A new Knights of the Old Republic RPG is reportedly in development, but unnamed sources say neither EA nor BioWare are involved.

Sources tell podcaster Bespin Bulletin that a new KOTOR game is happening, but BioWare won't be making it. The game is instead being crafted by a not-so-obvious studio as part of Lucasfilm Games' new Star Wars initiative.

Bloomberg's Jason Schreier, who has a close ear to the goings-on in the games industry, said in December 2020 that "nobody's going to guess right" about who's developing the sequel.