Latest News - Page 1573

I thought it was known from previous reports, but yeah -- NVIDIA will be unveiling its new Ampere-based GeForce RTX 3000 range of graphics cards in August, with a September launch into gamers' hands.

The news is coming once again from Overclocking.com and other sources, but it's something that I revealed back in March 2020 in an article titled "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080: August 2020 reveal, launch at Computex 2020" which you can read here.

Videocardz points out that there were people after me saying that an August reveal and September launch would happen, and now even more outlets are reporting it so it seems like we're ramping right into a September launch for NVIDIA's next-gen GeForce RTX 3000 series graphics cards -- exciting times, people!

Microsoft unveiled STALKER 2 and its first official trailer during its recent Xbox Series X Games Showcase, with STALKER 2 to be a timed exclusive on Microsoft's next-gen Xbox Series X console. Check out the trailer:

The trailer doesn't show anything in the way of gameplay, so we don't know what to expect just yet -- but STALKER 2 developer GSC Game World, have created an official STALKER 2 website with some more details to go over.

GSC teases that STALKER 2 will be a "unique blend" of a first-person game, immersive sim, and horror. But the developer adds that STALKER 2 will be one of the "biggest open-worlds to date" with an "epic branching story" that would have multiple endings.

Today Microsoft revealed a number of next-gen Xbox Series X exclusives that will be skipping Xbox One, and confused gamers in the process.

The new Xbox stream was a big hit for Microsoft, but a portion of the first-party exclusives shown will be skipping the Xbox One generation. Games like the new Fable reboot, Forza Motorsport, and even RARE's new Everwild game are Xbox Series X exclusive.

This seems to countermand Microsoft's previous words about first-party games releasing on all platforms and that there won't be next-gen exclusives for years to come. But there's one catch: these games will be released outside of the promised 1-2 cross-gen period.

Halo: Infinite isn't just a game. It's a platform that will host the next 10 years of the Halo franchise.

Today 343 Industries confirmed Halo sequels are over. The developer will no longer release numbered Halo games. Instead, 343i will use Halo: Infinite as the new basis for the franchise's future. "Halo Infinite is the start of our platform for the future," 343i's studio boss Chris Lee told IGN.

"We want Infinite to grow over time, versus going to those numbered titles and having all that segmentation that we had before. It's really about creating Halo Infinite as the start of the next ten years for Halo and then building that as we go with our fans and community."

The rumors were right: A new Fable game is in development at Playground Games, but it's not Fable 4.

Microsoft today announced a new Fable that will reboot the IP under a brand new developer. We don't know much about the game, but it could be a next-gen exclusive. The official Microsoft Store page says Fable is being developed for Xbox Series X and PC. The Xbox One family isn't listed in the supported platforms.

"Fable returns with a new beginning for the legendary franchise. Explore a land of fantastical creatures and wondrous places. Developed by Playground Games for Xbox Series X and Windows 10," reads a brief snippet from Microsoft.

Halo campaigns used to be linear and straightforward experiences. All that's changed with Halo: Infinite, which effectively turns the Halo franchise into a FPS-RPG hybrid with emphasis on replayability. This is actually a tactical decision that folds perfectly with Microsoft's service-based business model for Xbox.

Back in March 2019, I asked a question: What if Halo: Infinite wasn't just a game, but a kind of platform built around engagement? I predicted Infinite could have a wide, sweeping campaign that just keeps on delivering content with a new evolved scope. My predictions were based around Microsoft's business model for Xbox, which prioritizes engagement and services, and subscription retention via content delivery. This content is specifically built to feed the business model. Halo: Infinite is one such game.

Today 343i made one thing clear above all others: Halo is no longer just a shooter. It's now an RPG, too. The question I asked over a year ago finally has an answer, and it has changed Halo forever.

Halo: Infinite has lots of new toys to play with, including an awesome new tactical rifle that's one part AR and one part DMR. We take a look at all the new guns, weapons, and equipment shown off during today's campaign reveal (the battle rifle is back!

Today we finally got to see Halo: Infinite gameplay in action, and the results were pretty surprising. As we predicted, Halo: Infinite is a huge open-ended and sprawling experience, not a linear and segmented game. You'll be exploring a huge open-world full of objectives and stuff to do. Halo: Infinite is basically and RPG now, but we'll have more on that later.

The real meat and potatoes of Halo is combat. And you can't have good combat without new weapon innovations. Overall the gameplay reminded me of Halo 5 with one big exception: The grappling hook. Yes, Halo 6, aka Halo: Infinite has a grappling hook and it changes the game forever.

In September of 2019, we were one of the first sites to get our hands-on the Killer AX1650. The AX1650, as most of you know, is powered by the Intel AX200 Wi-Fi chipset with additional low-level hardware controls that enable software hooks for Killer Control Center.

The initial release of the AX1650 was a 2230 m.2 solution only, meant for OEM installation into partner notebooks like the Alienware lineup from Dell. Rivet launched a module-only solution as well onto Amazon for users that wanted to move from their 1435, 1535, or 1550 Wi-Fi 5 cards to the latest. At the time of release, I questioned Rivet about the possibility of client devices for desktops. While they did hint at the possibility, nothing was shipping in the immediate future.

Rivet was recently acquired by Intel and recently dropped its first product with the Killer Wi-Fi 6 AX1650 Desktop PCIe Wireless Adapter. This is the long-awaited add-on card for system builders and PC enthusiasts that want the very best Wi-Fi now and for the future. Pictured above, this is a boxed product just like the AX58BT from ASUS with all of the special sauce that comes with Killer Control Center.

Halo: Infinite's campaign mode is a lot like we predicted, featuring open-world style exploration with a huge map and lots of battles.

Halo: Infinite isn't like other Halo games. Instead, it takes place on the biggest map in the franchise that reminds me a lot like an Ubisoft game. Halo also now has cooldowns for its equipment, a mechanic that's lifted straight out of an MMO. And yes, Master Chief now has a grappling hook to use in campaign.

Overall these Halo: Infinite features resemble something like Bethesda's RAGE 2, which used live service-style engagement tactics without actually adding in any monetization. The idea here is to create an environment of near-infinite replayability, especially in the bounds for online co-op.

Thanks to COVID-19 lockdowns helping spark game sales, Microsoft is closing the Xbox One console generation with a bang.

Today Microsoft reported its Q4'20 earnings, revealing tremendous revenue spikes in gaming software, services, and hardware. The entire Xbox gaming division's earnings rose 64% YoY by $1.3 billion. Services and software, which includes subscriptions like Xbox LIVE Gold, Game Pass, game sales and monetization, skyrocketed by 65% YoY, representing a $1.2 billion increase. Hardware likewise jumped by 49% year-over-year.

As Microsoft doesn't provide specifics on its gaming branch any more, these numbers lack context. However, Twitter data sleuths like DomsPlaying note this puts Xbox's total yearly revenues at around $11 billion, which is higher than the $10 billion it typically earns every year. For reference, Xbox gaming would've earned roughly 7% of Microsoft's total colossal $145 billion in yearly revenues.

One of the most notorious guilty pleasure foods out there has be chocolate, and while the common opinion on chocolate is to avoid it, that might not necessarily be the best advice.

According to a study published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, researchers looked at how eating chocolate influences the blood vessels supplying the heart. The researchers looked at a combined analysis of studies from the past five decades that examined the connection between chocolate consumption and coronary artery disease (the blockage of the coronary arteries).

The analysis was quite extensive and had a total of 336,289 participants who reported their chocolate consumption. What the researchers found was that eating chocolate more than once a week was associated with an 8% decreased risk of coronary artery disease.

If you have ever looked up at the Moon, you would have probably noticed the massive craters embedded in its surface.

If you have noticed that, you may have wondered what caused those craters and how long ago it happened. Every day researchers and astronomers move one step closer to understanding the age of these craters, and now Osaka University researchers have completed their work on nearly 60 lunar craters by using the lunar orbiter Kaguya.

The researchers have published a new paper in Nature Communications that details the history of the asteroid impacts on Earth and the Moon. Determining the history of asteroid impacts on Earth can be difficult as the weather erodes the evidence that would be used to date such impacts. However, the Moon doesn't experience this level of erosion, which can give astronomers a baseline for dating impacts from asteroids in the Earth-Moon system.

Microsoft is gearing up to begin cranking its hype machine for the next generation Xbox Series X launch, with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella firing out some warning shots to Sony.

In a recent earnings call with investors, Nadella said: "In content, we are delivering differentiated, first and third-party content to attract and retain gamers. Xbox Series X will launch this fall with the largest launch lineup for any console ever".

As for the launch, Bloomberg reporter Dina Bass tweeted that Microsoft CFO Amy Hood said the Xbox Series X was "still on track for the November holidays launch". I reported news back in December 2019, that Microsoft would be launching the Xbox Series X on November 22 for a rumored price of $499.

If you wanted to be the coolest kid at school, then you should get your parents -- or if you are the parent, you should go and check out these new PlayStation sneakers.

Firstly, I'll refer to them just once by their official name -- PLAYSTATION SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT SNEAKERS, which I will refer to as 'PlayStation sneakers' from now on. The new PlayStation sneakers are exclusive to Zara and cost $50.

There's nothing really special here, with the Zara website explaining: "Sneakers with sock-style construction with PlayStation print and details. Front and back pull tabs for ease. Elastic strap ay front to ensure fit. Fabric interior lining and memory foam insole. Lightweight soles with decorative air chamber".

ASUS unveiled its beefy new gaming smartphone today with the introduction of the new ROG Phone 3, but the company also unveiled a new ROG Strix XG16 portable gaming monitor.

The new ASUS ROG Strix XG16 is a 15.6-inch IPS monitor with a native 1080p resolution and a super-slick 144Hz refresh rate, but it's completely portable. It has an internal battery and USB-C connectivity to get you up and running and gaming on the go, whether you're plugging it into your smartphone, console, gaming laptop, or PC.

ASUS includes a large 7800mAh battery that the company says is good for 3 hours of use, while it also rocks two front-facing speakers and a 3.5mm audio jack. ASUS does something a little more special with its ROG Strix XG16 though: gives it a built-in multi-angle kickstand.

Herman Miller teamed with Logitech G on their new gaming chair that was just revealed, coming in the form of the Herman Miller x Logitech G Embody Gaming Chair -- it costs $1500 and you can read about it here.

But another interesting announcement was the new Herman Miller Motia Gaming Desk, something that the company is selling for $1300. It is a new motorized standing desk that is capable of taking 200 pounds of gaming weight (we needed this back in the CRT monitor days) and more.

Herman Miller is using a matte finish on its Motia Gaming Desk, something that should keep away those fingerprints and greasy stains. One of the highlights of the new gaming desk from Herman Miller is the way you make the desk rise up, by pressing a glowing button under the right hand side of the table.

The much anticipated gaming chair from the collaboration between Herman Miller and Logitech is here, with the introduction of the Embody Gaming Chair.

The new Herman Miller x Logitech G gaming chair is an insanely-priced, radically-looking chair that seems to redefine the upper echelons of the gaming chair market. Herman Miller and Logitech G explain that they designed the new Embody Gaming Chair after consulting with 30 physicians.

This gives the Embody Gaming Chair a great foundation on something you can sit on all day and night, without breaking your back and posture. The chair even cools you while you're sitting down through the padding with its "copper-infused particles" while "pixelated support" helps distribute the weight of your body across the chair better.

ASUS has just made its new ROG Phone 3 gaming smartphone official, with some of the most insane specs we've seen in a gaming smartphone yet.

The new ASUS ROG Phone 3 stands out with its large 6.6-inch 1080 x 2340 144Hz display, and powered by Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 865+ processor. We have 8GB, 12GB, and 16GB RAM offerings depending on the version you buy.

ASUS has used a 6.59-inch AMOLED panel with HDR 10+ support on the new ROG Phone 3, with a super-fast 144Hz refresh rate and 25ms touch latency. This means the ASUS ROG Phone 3 should be the fastest, smoothest gaming smartphone on the planet.

If you've been waiting for the first official video of Mars, you'll be waiting a while -- but we have the next best thing. Check this out:

ElderFox Documentaries worked with NASA on the 4K "video" of Mars, explaining that the US space agency made color adjustments to help the team out with identifying rock formations, and more. It doesn't look too bad at all.

Still, it's a beautiful look of Mars in the glorious 4K resolution.

I have a feeling this is how it's going to be for the next few months: leak after leak, drip after drip of information on AMD and NVIDIA's next generation graphics cards.

The first one I'm writing today is some new details on AMD's upcoming Big Navi aka RDNA 2 but aka as an NVIDIA killer. AMD's upcoming flagship Big Navi graphics card is expected to make its big debut with a huge 16GB of VRAM -- but we don't know if it's GDDR6, or HBM2 / HBM2e memory.

AMD's new flagship Big Navi card should have 16GB of VRAM on a 384-bit bus according to leaker 'Wjm47196' suggesting AMD will go with GDDR6 over HBM2 or the newer HBM2e standard.