Latest News - Page 147

MAINGEAR has just unleashed a super-limited Retro98 series of desktop gaming PCs, sporting AMD's new Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor, and so much more... inside of an unbelievably awesome chassis. Check it out:

The new MAINGEAR Retro98 gaming systems are a limited-edition gaming PC drop that is inspired by what started the company's -- and millions of PC gamers worldwide -- an old-school beige tower, but with monster PC hardware inside. MAINGEAR is using the SilverStone FLP02 tower PC case, looking like it was ripped right out of 1998.

Inside, you can option for a super-high-end liquid-cooling system that was co-developed by Alphacool, with MAINGEAR configuring its Retro98 system with up to a Ryzen 9 9950X3D, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 with 24GB of GDDR7 memory, ultra-fast Kingston FURY DDR5 RAM and SSDs, as well as modern airflow engineering, and more.

Duke Nukem 3D has just celebrated its 30th birthday, with former webmaster at Apogee and 3D Realms, Joe Siegler, uploading the shareware version of Duke Nukem 3D v1.0 to Apogee's BBS Software Creations on January 29, 1996.

This specific version of Duke Nukem 3D featured the first episode -- "LA Meltdown" -- providing gamers with an early tease of the game, after its legendary hype and feedback. A few months later, the full version of Duke Nukem 3D was released and I remember being absolutely in love with it, and pumping many, many hours into playing it with friends and family over LAN for a large period of time.

Duke Nukem launched in its original form in 1991 as a title for MS-DOS, later releasing for Windows and moving into "3D", even though it wasn't quite 3D like Quake was in 1996. Duke Nukem 3D was met with major criticism at the time for its sexual and mature themes, and I remember here in Australia, the version was edited to remove enemy blood splatters, adult magazines, and more... but there were always ways around that.

Unveiled and showcased at CES 2026, Samsung's PM9E1 M.2 22x42 SSD is the industry's first PCIe Gen 5 SSD in this ultra-compact form factor. Described as an AI-optimized storage solution, it's built for modern, compact AI supercomputers such as NVIDIA's DGX Spark and other NVIDIA GB10-powered devices.

Samsung says that the PM9E1 M.2 (22x42mm) SSD offers over double the performance of its predecessor while also increasing power efficiency, measured in MB/s per Watt, by an impressive 45%.

"While AI accelerators enable systems to harness the vast power of AI," Samsung writes. "Only pairing them with performance-optimized, purpose-built storage technology like the Samsung PM9E1 can provide the massive capacity and blazing access speeds to unleash that power that may lead to the development of tomorrow's killer AI apps."

Last year, Elon Musk took to social media to announce (or simply predict) that the xAI game studio would release a "great AI-generated game" before the end of 2026. Although the statement itself is vague, and there are already games like the popular Arc Raiders that feature AI-generated content, the assumption is that this would be a fully playable experience in which gameplay, art, level design, and so forth are all generated by AI.

It's a bold statement (or prediction) because we have yet to see even a small vertical slice of an AI-generated game that looks impressive, but one that Elon Musk is doubling down on. Responding to a post highlighting how xAI's Grok Imagine AI-video generation has grown in popularity and quality, Elon Musk is now predicting big things for AI-generated content in 2027. Specifically, stuff coming from xAI.

"Real-time, high-quality shows and video games at scale, customized to the individual, next year," the post reads. Adding that high-resolution AI-generated videos are coming this year, but they're too expensive to be mass-market. That second part does sound very likely; however, "high-quality shows" and "video games at scale" still feel out of reach.

Although recent reports indicate that Windows 10 is regaining market share in the desktop space, Microsoft's quarterly financial report highlighted a significant milestone for Windows 11. According to the company, there are now 1 billion Windows 11 users, and it took the operating system 1,576 days to reach this milestone.

That last figure is important because it took Windows 10 1,706 days to reach the 1 billion user mark. Windows 11 outpacing or eclipsing Windows 10 is good news for Microsoft; however, it's safe to assume that a big part of Windows 11's surge during the quarter ended December 31, 2025, was due to Microsoft ending support for Windows 10.

According to Microsoft, Windows 11's growth for the quarter can be attributed to this, as there was an overall decline in Windows 'Devices' revenue. Although public sentiment surrounding Windows 11 is far from positive, on the plus side, this 1 billion milestone does make it much more of a success than previously maligned Windows 8 and Windows Vista - two operating systems that failed to crack the 1 billion global user mark.

Announced earlier this year, NVIDIA has just released a native GeForce NOW app for Linux PCs (Ubuntu 24.04 and later). Available now in beta, the app provides full access to NVIDIA's impressive streaming platform, delivering up to 5K 120 FPS cloud gaming performance powered by the GeForce RTX 5080. GeForce NOW also supports DLSS 4, Reflex, and even G-Sync over the cloud, making it the most impressive cloud gaming platform in 2026.

NVIDIA says the app "transforms compatible Linux systems into high-performance GeForce RTX-powered rigs." It's also different from the native app released for Valve's Steam Deck, which is powered by the Linux-based SteamOS, as that targeted the handheld's 1200p (super-sampling for the 800p display) and 90 Hz refresh rate. NVIDIA confirms that the new native Linux app works on desktop PCs and notebooks and offers functionality similar to the GeForce NOW apps on Windows and macOS.

In addition to the Linux app, GeForce NOW is expanding its library with 10 new titles, including the new releases The Midnight Walkers and Cairn, both listed as GeForce RTX 5080-ready. Here's the full list.

It was one of the most impressive PC gaming peripherals we went hands-on with at CES 2026, and now Corsair's GALLEON 100 SD gaming keyboard is shipping worldwide. What separates the GALLEON 100 SD apart from other high-performance gaming keyboards is simple: in place of the NumPad, you've got a functioning and fully customizable Elgato Stream Deck.

This is something many gamers and creators have been wanting to see from Corsair, so its CES debut had a sense of "finally!" That said, it all comes down to the execution, and the GALLEON 100 SD is more than a Frankenstein-like combination of two great products. The twelve LCD keys, versatile display, and twin dials feel like a natural extension of the rock-solid gaming keyboard that makes up the bulk of the GALLEON 100 SD's physical real estate.

We've been hands-on with a unit for a little while now (stay tuned for our full, in-depth review of the Corsair GALLEON 100 SD), and so far, we have been highly impressed by how much versatility and functionality the Stream Deck component brings to the experience. It also doesn't hurt that the overall build quality and responsiveness of the pre-lubed MLX Pulse keyswitches feel fantastic.

The general consensus among PC enthusiasts is that Windows 11 and the Windows Experience is in its worst state in years. From bloatware to OS-breaking bugs, performance issues, unwanted Copilot AI features, pop-ups, ads baked into the UI, system instability, frequent Blue Screen crashes, and more - it's not hard to see why.

According to a new report from The Verge's Tom Warren, citing sources close to Microsoft, the company is reportedly redirecting engineers to "urgently fix Windows 11." Apparently, Microsoft is aware just how badly the Windows experience has deteriorated, which has directly affected public perception and trust in the company's ability to deliver a functional and stable operating system.

The Verge's report says Windows is at a "breaking point," which is why Windows engineers are apparently all hands on deck to fix the core issues as soon as possible. This will take place over the next few months (or longer), with Microsoft referring to this endeavor as "swarming."

The ARPG specialists at Moonbeast Productions have finally revealed Darkhaven, a new Diablo-like isometric click-and-loot game with a new interesting feature.

Diablo fans, keep this one on your radar: Three of the OG Blizzard North creators behind Diablo 2 are making a new action RPG that utilizes everything they've learned about making games in the past. It's called Darkhaven, and based on the newly-revealed footage, it has a very Path of Exile-style world design with destructible environments for deeper exploration, combined with some very Diablo 4-like UI design.

What makes Darkhaven unique, though, is the kind of world that Moonbeast promises to deliver; the game will have a "dynamic and destructible world" to explore, which sees players breaking out of the map confines of other ARPGs. Moonbeast will bring Darkhaven to early access via a Kickstarter campaign, but that hasn't launched just yet, however the Steam page is currently up.

A new version of the RPG classic Final Fantasy 7 will soon be available on Steam, and the current version will be delisted and discontinued, Square Enix today announced.

Square Enix plans to re-release Final Fantasy 7 on PC with a bunch of new improvements, but ahead of the launch, the publisher prepares users on what to expect. When the new version is released, the current version of FF7 will be delisted from Steam, however owners of the original 2013 version of FF7 can still access and play the game.

Unfortunately, saves aren't compatible between the two versions. That means your epic 1,000 hour playthrough with all the ultimate weapons on the 2013 version is, well, stuck to that version and can't cross over to the new updated release. There's no info on what the new release actually does, or what changes that it makes over the previous one.

Apple has quite the span of new MacBook laptops and desktops to roll out this year, with new MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs, a refreshed MacBook Pro with an OLED screen and touch support, a new Mac mini and Mac Studio, a new low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone-grade processor, and even a new Apple Studio Display for 2026.

But in a new Power On! newsletter, Bloomberg writer Mark Gurman says that the new MacBook Pros, MacBook Air, and Mac Studio systems are due out in the first half of 2026, while the revamped MacBook Pro "should be hitting" towards the end of 2026.

Gurman writes that Apple's next-generation M6 processor is "potentially coming sooner than people anticipate" and that it might not release in the coming laptops, but "still in the near future" in some configurations. He notes that Apple released its M5 processor in three devices last October, and that "it might seem soon" for an M6, there was only a 5-month gap between the M3 and M4 chips.

Google is looking to make its Gemini AI platform a key part of its popular Chrome browser. As detailed in a new blog post titled 'Putting Gemini to work in Chrome' by Chrome Vice President Parisa Tabriz, the browser is set to receive a new "side panel experience" that is effectively an AI assistant powered by Gemini 3. Plus, new agentic AI features.

The new side panel is set to arrive in Chrome for macOS, Windows, and Chromebook, allowing users to access Gemini while their main tab or browser window remains open. Naturally, the Gemini panel can be used to do all of the things you'd expect from the AI platform, from summarizing the content on a page to helping you manage your calendar appointments.

Gemini in Chrome also supports Google's 'Connected Apps,' integrating Gmail, Calendar, Maps, YouTube, and more. In one example of how this might work, asking Gemini to book a flight to a conference will see it find the event details from an email, check your Calendar, and then use Google Flights to offer recommendations. Integrating Gemini with other Google apps is optional, so it's not required.

In a recent earnings call with investors, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg spent a few moments discussing how AI will become the next big thing in social media. That is, AI-generated personalized content that includes text, photos, and video.

"We started with text, and then moved to photos when we got phones with cameras, and then moved to video when mobile networks got fast enough," Mark Zuckerberg said. "Soon, we'll see an explosion of new media formats that are more immersive and interactive, and only possible because of advances in AI."

And when it comes to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Meta's various apps, AI will apparently "understand" users in a way current algorithms don't, and this AI will apparently "generate great personalized content" just for you. Not only that, but users will be able to create worlds, games, and interactive content they can share with friends and family, and remix or "jump into" this content to experience it more meaningfully.

The Intel Arc B580, with its second-generation Battlemage architecture and 12GB of VRAM, is an affordable mainstream GPU that can still be purchased for around $300 in the US. Although it's a notable increase over its original $249 MSRP, with performance that beats the GeForce RTX 4060 in most titles, it's a definite option given how the current memory crisis is affecting GeForce RTX and Radeon RX pricing.

And the Intel Arc B580 is set to get a feature next month that was previously exclusive to NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50 Series in the desktop space. Speaking with Tom's Guide, Intel has confirmed that the Arc B580 is getting Xess 3 with Multi-Frame Generation support next month. Like with DLSS, Intel's frame generation is AI-powered, and Xess 3 with Multi-Frame Generation is already available and supported by Intel's new Panther Lake processors.

Like DLSS 4's Multi Frame Generation, the XeSS version leverages AI to create and insert up to three additional frames alongside the XeSS Super Resolution frame. In supported games, this can increase the overall performance (or smoothness) from 60 FPS to 200+ FPS.

Geoff Keighley hyped up the release of Highguard at The Game Awards 2025 (TGS) in December, saying sixty-one developers who previously worked on Apex Legends and Titanfall are behind the release, and that the debut is right around the corner. Well, the launch has happened, and the results aren't looking good for developer Wildlight Entertainment.

Highguard was released on Steam for free on January 26, 2026, and shortly after its debut, it almost reached 100,000 concurrent players. However, less than two days after its launch, Highguard has lost nearly 90% of its player base, despite there being no price tag attached to the title. Currently, the user review rating on Steam is sitting at "Mostly Negative" with a 36.67% rating.

In a recent interview with Wildlight Entertainment co-founder Chad Grenier, it was revealed that the developers intended Highguard's "surprise release" until Geoff Keighley wanted to put the title into The Game Awards 2025 showcase. The co-founder explained that Wildlight Entertainment was going to do a "shadowdrop," and that was the plan since the first days of developing the title, as it "worked well" with Apex Legends.

Google's new desktop operating system has been leaked ahead of its official debut, with 9to5Google spotting recordings of Aluminum OS running on an HP Elite Dragonfly 13.5 Chromebook. The screen recordings were found on a bug report on the Chromium Issue Tracker, with the operating system reportedly running on x86 architecture.

Aluminum OS, like other operating systems, features a centralized taskbar at the bottom of the screen. In the recording above, you can see icons for various Google apps, including Chrome, Gmail, YouTube, and Gemini AI. There's also a status bar at the top right of the screen, with a layout similar to that on mobile and tablet devices, showing notification icons, Wi-Fi signal strength, battery level, and the time.

Running smoothly on x86 architecture, presumably, Google's Gemini AI features and open-source models will run locally on processors with NPUs. Aluminum OS is effectively an extension of ChromeOS and Android 16's desktop mode for PC, with this leak showing the UI and some split-screen multitasking. Check out the second video below.

SK hynix has just announced plans to establish a US-based "AI solutions" firm that will be called "The AI Company" that will look for opportunities in the future of data center clients in the US.

The company will continue making strategic investments in and working with AI companies to strengthen their competitiveness in memory chips, while providing a range of AI data center solutions. SK hynix hasn't provided many concrete details about its US-based "AI Company" but the South Korean memory giant has $10 billion USD ready to fund its AI Company operations.

SK hynix said in its press release that it's: "leveraging its unparalleled chip technologies, such as HBM, the memory chipmaker will try to play a pivotal role in delivering optimized AI systems for its customers in the AI data center sector. The company will also continue making strategic investments in and collaborating with AI firms to strengthen its competitiveness in memory chips and provide a range of AI data center solutions".

GOG has posted a job advert for an engineer to join the team working on its Galaxy client in which it makes a clear statement about the importance of Linux gaming.

The ad for a senior software engineer was highlighted on X by The Lunduke Journal, as noticed by VideoCardz.

The key part of the job description blurb regarding Linux runs as follows: "GOG Galaxy is our desktop client and ecosystem hub - the place where players manage their libraries, connect with the community, and access features that go far beyond a store. Today, it delivers experience on Windows and macOS, but Linux is the next major frontier."

A modder has built their own handheld PlayStation 4 and showcased the impressive results on Reddit for all to see.

Tom's Hardware spotted the project from Redditor 'wewillmakeitnow' who posted the portable creation - built from a PS4 Slim - across various subreddits, including r/handheld.

How do you fit a PS4 inside a 3D-printed handheld shell? Well, it isn't easy, and as you might guess, there's some shrinking required, primarily with the motherboard which was cut back to make it more compact, but obviously without removing anything critical to its functionality.

PlayStation appears to be directly sending reminders to PS4 owners to upgrade to the PlayStation 5 in order not miss out on the latest game offerings

The images began appearing on social media earlier today, with one showcasing the entire message that appears to be sent directly from PlayStation. The message says whether the user wants to catch up on big hits of 2025, such as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, ARC Raiders, and Ghost of Yotei, or prepare for the most anticipated games of 2026. "Now is a perfect time to upgrade to a PS5 console." The message then directs the user to a QR code to view the latest deals on PS5 consoles.

Notably, PlayStation 5 equalled the PS4 user base in 2024, and the PS4 was released in 2013. That statistic just shows how long some users stay on a platform, and given that Sony is now preparing to release the PS6, with the current dominating rumors and speculation pointing to a debut at the earliest end of 2027.