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AORUS FO48U: 48-inch 4K 120Hz OLED gaming monitor with HDMI 2.1 tech
GIGABYTE has just announced 3 new high-end AORUS gaming monitors, with the introduction of the FI32U, FV43U, and FO48U gaming monitors with 32-inch, 43-inch, and 48-inch sizes respectively.
The new flagship AORUS FO48U is the big daddy of them all rocking a huge 48-inch panel, and still rocking 4K 120Hz -- meanwhile the smaller siblings crank up a bit higher to 4K 144Hz. All of the monitors have HDMI 2.1 connectivity that allows 4K 120Hz while GIGABYTE goes all-out using OLED panels on the new AORUS gaming monitors.
OLED panels deliver the best blacks, deep beautiful colors and instant response -- making them one of, if not the best choice for gamers. With the new AORUS gaming monitors coming in 32-inch, 43-inch, and 48-inch sizes all offering 4K 120Hz and HDMI 2.1 at a minimum, the huge 48-inch AORUS FO48U now joins the LG 48-inch 4K 120Hz OLED TV as an OLED-based 48-inch display with 4K 120Hz for the ultimate in gaming.
Continue reading: AORUS FO48U: 48-inch 4K 120Hz OLED gaming monitor with HDMI 2.1 tech (full post)
Red Barrels doubles its workforce for new Outlast Trials game
With the addition of four-player co-op multiplayer support, Outlast Trials is the most ambitious game Red Barrels has made yet. To make its nightmares a reality, the developer has had to double its workforce.
Red Barrels has expanded quite a bit for its new game, Outlast Trials, and now has 40 developers working on the project. The new team is a 200% increase over Outlast 2's production:
"Our amazing Red Barrels team has grown from 10 during the development of Outlast 1, to 20 for Outlast 2, and we are now over 40 teammates strong. We have adapted to keep the development of The Outlast Trials rolling while maintaining the safety and health of our entire team (above Murkoff standards of course)," reads a development update.
Continue reading: Red Barrels doubles its workforce for new Outlast Trials game (full post)
BioShock 4 to be open world systemic game with next-gen AI
The next BioShock game could be an open world FPS with strong story elements--you know, like one of Irrational's original games.
2K's new Cloud Chamber studio is making a next-gen BioShock game, and job listings might tell us what to expect from the sequel. The studio is currently hiring 17 people, and based on the positions, the game might still be in early production phases. According to a senior writer position, the game could be set in an open world:
Continue reading: BioShock 4 to be open world systemic game with next-gen AI (full post)
NVIDIA Atlan SoC: combines in-house Grace CPU + next-gen Ampere GPU
NVIDIA has been firing on all cylinders at its annual GPU Technology Conference (GTC 2021) where it has unveiled its first-ever CPU, its next-next-gen GPU architectures through to 2025, an insane new AI workstation and also a next-gen Atlan SoC.
The new NVIDIA Atlan SoC is a new AI-enabled chip for autonomous cars of the future, with NVIDIA pushing a huge 1000 trillion operations per second (TOPS). NVIDIA is using its next-gen in-house ARM-based Grace CPU, as well as its next-gen Ampere Next GPU technology for its new Atlan SoC for future autonomous vehicles.
NVIDIA is using the new LPDDR5X memory technology that offers double the bandwidth, and 10x the energy efficiency over the previous-gen LPDDR4X standard. We are told to expect Atlan SoC sampling to begin in 2023, while the chips will come off the production line and into the new waves of autonomous vehicles in 2025 and beyond.
Continue reading: NVIDIA Atlan SoC: combines in-house Grace CPU + next-gen Ampere GPU (full post)
NVIDIA's new DGX Station 320G: 4 x Ampere GPUs + 320GB HBM2e for $150K
NVIDIA has just announced its super-beast new DGX Station 320G which packs the latest and greatest NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs which in this 4-way GPU system pack an insane 320GB of super-fast HBM2e memory.
This isn't a system for gamers but for the much higher-end AI and HPC (high-performance computing) markets, which will super-speed machine learning and data science performance where it's needed. Think about laboratories, home offices, VFX studios, research facilities and everything in between.
NVIDIA's new DGX Station 320G is the fastest-ever server-in-a-box designed for AI research.
Continue reading: NVIDIA's new DGX Station 320G: 4 x Ampere GPUs + 320GB HBM2e for $150K (full post)
NVIDIA announces Grace: next-gen ARM-based CPU for giant-scale AI, HPC
NVIDIA has just announced its first-ever CPU with the introduction of Grace, a new ARM-based processor designed for AI and servers -- and not for your gaming PC.
The new NVIDIA Grace processor has 500GB/sec of memory bandwidth thanks to the use of next-gen LPDDR5X memory, which is attached to the GPU through Cache Coherent NVLink to the GPUs at 900GB/sec, with CPU to CPU communications having up to 600GB/sec of bandwidth.
Huang explained: "Leading-edge AI and data science are pushing today's computer architecture beyond its limits-processing unthinkable amounts of data. Using licensed Arm IP, NVIDIA has designed Grace as a CPU specifically for giant-scale AI and HPC. Coupled with the GPU and DPU, Grace gives us the third foundational technology for computing, and the ability to re-architect the data center to advance AI. NVIDIA is now a three-chip company".
Continue reading: NVIDIA announces Grace: next-gen ARM-based CPU for giant-scale AI, HPC (full post)
Why did Sony deny Days Gone 2? High budget was likely a big reason
Days Gone 2 was never in production, and it wasn't actually greenlit by Sony. At a time where Sony is doubling-down on safer bets and bigger franchises, it's likely Days Gone 2 was shelved due to budgetary concerns.
In a recent interview with God of War creator David Scott Jaffe, Days Gone director Jeff Ross gives valuable insight on the games industry and discusses the game's development process. Ross also indicates that it was budget, not necessarily Days Gone's Metacritic scores or reception, that led to Sony scrapping Days Gone 2.
Shortly after shipping Days Gone in 2019, Sony Bend pitched a sequel to Sony. The team wanted to make a second chapter to fit in everything that wasn't possible in the first game. "When you're making tough decisions when making a game, you go, 'oh, the sequel,' this thing we can't get to this time we'll put in the next one," Ross said. The sequel was meant to be a kind of definitive Days Gone experience that carried over the learnings from the first game.
Continue reading: Why did Sony deny Days Gone 2? High budget was likely a big reason (full post)
NVIDIA teases Ampere Next GPU for 2022, Ampere Next Next GPU for 2024
NVIDIA hasn't teased its next-gen GeForce RTX 40 series graphics cards, but it has just teased its next two GPU architectures codenamed Ampere Next and Ampere Next Next.
Yeah -- Ampere Next should be the Lovelace GPU architecture we've been hearing about and drops in 2022 meanwhile NVIDIA's next GPU architecture after that is codenamed Ampere Next Next and could be the MCM (multi-chip module) or GPU chiplet-based Hopper GPU architecture.
During the GTC 2021 keynote NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang explained that the company will focus on x86 architecture one year, while the next year they'll focus on ARM -- with NVIDIA having a "2-year rhythm with a kicker in-between".
Continue reading: NVIDIA teases Ampere Next GPU for 2022, Ampere Next Next GPU for 2024 (full post)
NVIDIA's new A30 Tensor Core GPU: up to 24GB of HBM2, PCIe 4.0 tech
NVIDIA has just announced its new A30 Tensor Core GPU which the company calls its "most versatile mainstream compute GPU for AI inference and mainstream enterprise workloads".
The new NVIDIA A30 Tensor Core GPU was built for AI inference at scale, packing an Ampere GPU with 24GB of HBM2 memory with 933GB/sec of memory bandwidth available. NVIDIA includes third-gen NVLink support here with 200GB/sec of bandwidth available between GPUs in multi-GPU situations.
We have peak FP32 performance of 10.3 TFLOPs, peak FP64 performance of 5.2 TFLOPs and peak FP64 Tensor Core performance of 10.3 TFLOPs -- all within a 165W low-power TDP. Not only that, but the NVIDIA A30 Tensor Core GPU runs on a regular PCIe 4.0 card which will slot into mainstream servers.
Continue reading: NVIDIA's new A30 Tensor Core GPU: up to 24GB of HBM2, PCIe 4.0 tech (full post)
Check out this rumored first map from the next-gen Battlefield 6
I don't think we're too far from an official reveal or teaser trailer to the new Battlefield, or Battlefield 6 -- with industry leaker Tom Henderson teasing a drawing of a new map inside of EA DICE's next instalment to Battlefield.
Henderson notes that the map is a "literal storm" or tornado is flying towards the island, taking things to the next level in the new Battlefield. Henderson teases to "refer to old tweets to theorise what happens next" where if we combine what we know: next-gen destruction physics + natural disasters = storm damaging the island and building, changing the environment thus the map and the way you play once that happens.
I'd dare say that most of that jungle would be gone, visibility would suck (snipers, long distance weapons rendered useless) and if you took shelter in the building then the walls would possibly be destroyed. This would change the way you'd approach the game, with an actual tornado flying into the island and changing the entire environment, inside and outside -- all upside down and destroyed.
Continue reading: Check out this rumored first map from the next-gen Battlefield 6 (full post)
Hasbro's new Transformers toy transforms on its own, costs $700
If you're a huge Transformers fan then this new $700 "toy" is for you.
Hasbro has announced a huge new 19-inch tall Transformers Optimus Prime Auto-Converting Programmable Robot - Collector's Edition that costs $700 and actually transforms from a car, into a robot -- it packs a huge 5000 components, 27 patented servo motors, and 60 connected microchips. Hasbro has 80 sound effects you can play around with, while you can control your new Optimus robot through the ROBOSEN Optimus Prime app on your smartphone.
Optimus Prime can be programmed to walk around, punch, blast, drive, and convert at just a swipe of your finger -- even better, you can control your Transformers robot with your voice, too. Insider you'll have a Battle Axe and Blaster for your new Transformers 'toy' Optimus Prime, too.
Continue reading: Hasbro's new Transformers toy transforms on its own, costs $700 (full post)
Global chip shortage is now affecting routers: 60-week order delays
If you've been finding it hard to buy a new AMD Radeon RX 6000 series graphics card of one of NVIDIA's new GeForce RTX 30 series graphics cards, or one of the next-gen consoles then you're not going to be happy about this news.
We're now hearing that the global chip shortage is having an affect on the router market, with Bloomberg reporting that their sources have said that carriers are being told there is a 60-week wait on new router orders. That's over an entire year, double the normal waiting time of around 30 weeks (just over 6 months).
Taiwan-based router maker Zyxel Communications has chimed in, with head of European regional business Karsten Gewecke saying that they haven't run out of routers just yet but "it could still happen".
Continue reading: Global chip shortage is now affecting routers: 60-week order delays (full post)
Noctua: yeah, you can use our coolers on Intel's next-gen LGA1700 CPUs
Intel will release its next-gen Alder Lake-S processors later this year with the new LGA1700 socket, DDR5 memory support, and so much more -- but what about your existing Noctua CPU cooler? You'll be fine.
Noctua confirmed the news on Twitter, when they were asked if Intel's new LGA1700 socket and Alder Lake-S processors would work with Noctua coolers. The company replied, tweeting that "We cannot disclose any details yet due to NDA, but we're working on it and you should definitely be able to keep using your NH-U12A via a upgrade kit!"
The new LGA1700 socket is the same width, but it is taller -- and will require some tweaks to coolers which usually come in the form of upgrade kits. Noctua is infamous for that, with the company all but confirming that their NH-U12A upgrade kit will give you the ability to use your Noctua CPU cooler (how good do the new all-black models look!) with your next-gen Intel Alder Lake-S processor.
Continue reading: Noctua: yeah, you can use our coolers on Intel's next-gen LGA1700 CPUs (full post)
Samsung's new Odyssey G9 monitor: Mini LED + DisplayHDR 2000 tech
Samsung is about to unleash a monster new gaming monitor, with the new Odyssey G9 gaming monitor looking to be the first with VESA DisplayHDR 2000 certification.
We are still to expect the huge 49-inch super-ultra-wide Quantum Mini LED technology panel, with a native resolution of 5120 x 1440 and a refresh rate of a super-smooth 240Hz. But the big upgrade here is the DisplayHDR 2000 support, which is a big upgrade over the DisplayHDR 1000 certification on Samsung's original Odyssey G9 gaming monitor.
The bigger upgrade will be the fact that Samsung is using Mini LED technology that will be infused with the upgraded VESA DisplayHDR 2000 certification, the first monitor with this certification -- it should be a big, beautiful gaming monitor when the Odyssey G1 2021 is released.
Continue reading: Samsung's new Odyssey G9 monitor: Mini LED + DisplayHDR 2000 tech (full post)
Third-party sales might've generated $795 million total on Epic Store
Third-party game sales may have generated upwards of $795 million on the Epic Games Store since the storefront opened in late December, new Apple court documents suggest.
As the Apple vs Epic Games court case heats up, Apple today published a document that reveals tons about Epic's notoriously private business. According to the filing, Epic has paid out over $700 million to third-party studios in revenue shares since the store launched.
Since third-party developers keep 88% of revenues, and Epic keeps 12%, a quick bit of math shows that third-party game sales on the Epic Store have generated roughly $795 million to date. If the numbers are right, Epic has kept about $95 million of revenues.
Continue reading: Third-party sales might've generated $795 million total on Epic Store (full post)
Report: Total Epic Store losses to reach $593 million by 2021
New court documents filed by Apple reveal the Epic Games Store has yet to turn a profit, and the Fortnite titan could lose over half a billion dollars in total storefront investments by 2021.
According to Apple's lengthy new court document, the Epic Games Store hasn't been profitable since it launched in late 2018. Epic has reportedly sunken hundreds of millions of dollars into the storefront to secure publishing deals, payouts bonuses for developers, and timed exclusivity--not to mention the store's 88-12 revenue split that favors game developers.
The doc actually puts a total figure to the Epic Games Store's losses, which total up to about $593 million by the end of this year. The company spent many millions more on content deals than the storefront actually made; Storefront losses were $181 million in 2019, $273 million in 2020, and projections say losses will hit $139 million in 2021, the report states.
Continue reading: Report: Total Epic Store losses to reach $593 million by 2021 (full post)
Report: Epic Games made $3.85 billion in 2020, $1.54 billion in profit
New court documents filed in the Apple vs Epic lawsuit show that Epic Games made over $9.5 billion in total revenues last year.
Apple's new court filings reveal interesting tidbits on Epic's business. Although the games titan isn't publicly traded, Apple reveals potential earnings figures for the giant. According to the documents, Epic Games made $3.85 billion in revenues in 2020 at a 40% profit margin.
Assuming this is accurate, a quick bit of math shows Epic Games made about $1.54 billion in total profits in 2020. Total business costs were around $2.31 billion, which leaves $1.54 billion left over for profits. This revenue puts Epic Games in the #8 slot in gaming's top 10 best-earning games companies of 2020, behind EA.
Continue reading: Report: Epic Games made $3.85 billion in 2020, $1.54 billion in profit (full post)
CD Projekt has been removed from Steam anti-trust lawsuit allegations
CD Projekt RED is no longer being accused as part of the anti-trust lawsuit against Valve, the company today announced.
In January, five gamers banded together and sued Valve for allegedly creating an environment that suppresses competition. The allegations surround a specific clause in the contracts that developers sign to put their games on Steam--the Most Favored Nations clause, which essentially requires devs to sell their games for the same price as they do on Steam. If a game is $19.99 on Steam, it needs to be $19.99 on PS4 and Xbox One. The suit alleges that the MFN clause restricts other storefronts and inhibits competition:
"If this market functioned properly-that is, if the Steam MFN did not exist and platforms were able to compete on price-platforms competing with Steam would be able to provide the same (or higher) margins to game developers while simultaneously providing lower prices to consumers," the lawsuit says.
Continue reading: CD Projekt has been removed from Steam anti-trust lawsuit allegations (full post)
President Biden wants GPUs and next-gen consoles in your hands ASAP
President Biden unveiled a huge $2 trillion infrastructure package back in March, inside of which were plans to build domestic (US-based) chip manufacturing plants with $50 billion of investment into the sector.
The White House has asked for new funding to get through the continued semiconductor shortage, with the Biden administration requesting $150 million in funding for two new manufacturing programs. On Monday, the White House and cabinet officials will be hosting a virtual CEO summit on on semiconductor supply chain resilience.
President Biden and his team will talk with companies including Alphabet, AT&T, Ford, General Motors, Intel, and Samsung.
Continue reading: President Biden wants GPUs and next-gen consoles in your hands ASAP (full post)
Xiaomi's new 4K 120Hz TV with HDMI 2.1 can't actually do 4K 120Hz
Xiaomi announced its new Mi Q1 TV using HDMI 2.1 connectivity to drive what would've been a pretty good budget 4K 120FPS gaming TV -- but the TV will be limited to just 60Hz.
Sure, Xiaomi is using HDMI 2.1 which enables 4K 120Hz support -- but the company is using an on-board display controller that uses MEMC (Motion Estimation, Motion Compensation) which is in laymen's terms is totally shit and limits the TV to 60Hz. This means people are going to see "4K 120Hz" and "HDMI 2.1" and instantly think -- rightfully so -- that Xiaomi's new Mi Q1 TV will support 4K 120Hz, but nope.
Xiaomi is using a MediaTek MT9611 SoC and Mali G52 MP GPU that should be able to drive 4K @ 120Hz, but it seems you'll be hitting a 60Hz wall with the Mi Q1 TV. You might have 3 x HDMI 2.1 inputs, but they're all useless as they don't support 4K 120Hz -- alright, not useless but false advertising as there's some funky stuff going on here with Xiaomi limiting the TV to 60Hz.
Continue reading: Xiaomi's new 4K 120Hz TV with HDMI 2.1 can't actually do 4K 120Hz (full post)






















