Donkey Kong Bananza is the latest 3D platformer from the team behind the critically acclaimed Super Mario Odyssey. With reviews now appearing online, it is another hit from Nintendo. With the game sitting on a score of 91 over on Metacritic, reviewers are praising the game's refreshing take on the genre, its presentation, and destructible sandbox environments.

As far as technology goes, the Nintendo Switch 2 console-exclusive makes good use of the advanced NVIDIA hardware to deliver detailed environments, physics-based destruction, and animation. However, as part of Digital Foundry's comprehensive review of the game, which covers its performance and technical achievements, we discover a somewhat surprising fact.

According to Digital Foundry, the game utilizes AMD FSR 1, and not DLSS, for its dynamic 1080p to 1200p resolution when docked (or 1080p presentation when in handheld mode), which is then paired with an older post-processing anti-aliasing technique to smooth out edges.

Ubisoft has named two members of the Guillemot family to lead its new powerhouse subsidiary, the company today announced.

Months ago, Ubisoft announced a billion-dollar deal with Tencent, a Chinese multimedia giant. Ubisoft essentially agreed to take its three biggest franchises--Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six--and put them under a new sister company specifically designed to handle the franchises. As part of the deal, Tencent will spend $1.2 billion and acquire a minority 25% stake in the new subsidiary, which has been valued in excess of $4 billion.

Now it's been revealed who will lead Ubisoft's subsidiary. The board has elected to keep management within the Guillemot family, with two of Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot's relatives being appointed as co-CEOs: Charlie Guillemot (son), and Christophe Derennes (cousin) will navigate the subsidiary. Ubisoft says it hopes this subsidiary will help Assassin's Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry earn $1 billion per year.

Intel has nothing to compete against AMD's powerful new Strix Halo APUs, but the company is reportedly cooking up its new enthusiast-class SoC dubbed Nova Lake-AX.

In a new post on X from leaker @Jaykihn, we're hearing that the preliminary name of Intel's new enthusiast-class processor is Nova Lake-AX, after rumors in 2024 that the company was working on an Arrow Lake Halo CPU which was later canceled. However, the plans continued, and now we can reportedly expect a Nova Lake-AX chip that would compete with Strix Halo.

The insider said nothing but "Nova Lake-AX" that would launch in 2026 with a full top-to-bottom stack, unlike Panther Lake, which is aimed at the laptop and mobile markets. Intel's upcoming Nova Lake CPU family will be similar to Arrow Lake, where we'll see the new chips launch in mobile and desktop form, without restrictions to a particular segment.

Final Fantasy 17 could be a turn-based game, recent reports suggest, but Square Enix's Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida clarifies that nothing has been decided yet.

The next mainline Final Fantasy game could be another action-based experience like Final Fantasy 15 and 16, or go for the more traditional ATB turn-based style. While Square Enix is undoubtedly plotting out early details for Final Fantasy 17, the company isn't ready to start talking about anything just yet.

In a recent interview with Anime News Network, Yoshi-P was asked point blank if Final Fantasy could go back to the days of turn-based combat. Yoshi-P's response wasn't straightforward--the overall goals of the game will dictate aspects like battle systems. Yoshida also says he may not be involved in FF17's development.

NVIDIA is reportedly acquiring hundreds of thousands of LPDDR-based SOCAMM memory that it'll use in future AI PC products, with demand for next-gen SOCAMM 2 memory expected to boom in the years ahead.

At its recent GTC (GPU Technology Conference) event earlier this year, the company showcased SOCAMM memory because of its superior performance and lower power consumption for AI products, with NVIDIA's new GB300 AI platform using SOCAMM memory developed by Micron. SOCAMM is very different to HBM and LPDDR5X memory used on current AI products including servers and mobile platforms.

SOCAMM memory is based on LPDDR DRAM, which is traditionally used inside of mobile and low-power devices, but SOCAMM memory is upgradable, unlike HBM and LPDDR5X memory. SOCAMM is not soldered onto the PCB, and can be secured by just three screws.

Google has just announced its upcoming Made by Google 2025 event, which takes place on August 20. We should be introduced to the new Pixel 10 family of smartphones, next-gen Tensor G5 processor, and more.

Normally, we have Apple hosting its iPhone unveiling event in September and Google unveiling its new Pixel smartphones in October, but the US search giant is leaping Apple this year with its Made by Google event in August, getting ahead of the new iPhone 17 family announcement.

Google is also moving its event from Mountain View to New York City, where hand-picked media will be invited to the event, where we'll see the introduction of the new Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and Pixel 10 Pro Fold smartphones unveiled. It won't just be smartphones, but their new Tensor G5 processor for the Pixel 10 family, and the new Pixel Watch 4 wearable.

NVIDIA has been rumored to launch its new GeForce RTX 5090 D V2 graphics card into China, but fresh reports suggest that won't be happening as US restrictions are slowly easing.

The ban on NVIDIA's H20 AI GPU is expected to be lifted soon, raising doubts about the launch of the RTX 5090 D V2 in China, according to a new post by leaker "MEGAsizeGPU" on X. NVIDIA has reportedly not shipped its new RTX 5090 D V2 graphics cards to AIB partners, and with the US government easing its restrictions, the company could now resell its RTX 5090 D.

The RTX 5090 D has been selling in China for many months now, with NVIDIA having quite the inventory of RTX 5090 D cards still, we are to expect the RTX 5090 D V2 to not appear for now. The supply chain is still expecting the RTX 5090 D V2 to be released, so it could be a few more months before release so that the company can get rid of its RTX 5090 D inventory.

Razer has just introduced two new PC accessories powered by the ultra-fast Thunderbolt 5 standard, with the new Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock and Razer Core X V2 external GPU enclosure.

Thunderbolt 5 offers a new benchmark for docking stations with high-speed connectivity, with speeds of up to a blistering 120Gbps -- 12x faster than USB 3.0 -- with the next-gen Thunderbolt 5 standard driving high-speed peripherals, ultra-high-speed storage, the ability to drive multiple high-res, high-refresh rate displays, and more.

The new Razer Thunderbolt 5 Dock can run triple 4K 120Hz displays, up to 8TB of SSD storage with ultra-fast speeds, and an included 250W power adapter that can deliver up to 140W to laptops, ready for whatever you want to plug into it. If you want a new Thunderbolt 5-ready external graphics enclosure, the new Razer Core X V2 offers desktop-class performance to Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 5, and particular USB4 gaming laptops and handhelds.

NVIDIA is still cooking up its new Arm-based N1X processor, with new reports suggesting that the company has run into severe design flaws that have pushed production timelines, and its launch into 2026.

In a new report from insider Charlie Demerjian from SemiAccurate, we're hearing that NVIDIA's previous issues with its new N1X processor were a "big one" which the company fixed without a silicon update. NVIDIA blamed Microsoft for another delay, after which the new N1X was reportedly in "full production". But now, NVIDIA has run into another (bigger) issue with its new Arm-based AI PC processor.

The original issue saw NVIDIA's new N1X processor pushed into early 2026, then the launch moved later into the year, then back to early 2026 once the first big issue was resolved. The early 2026 release was still in play, that is, until NVIDIA ran into these new issues with its upcoming N1 and N1X processors.

Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone is still over a year away, but we've got some spec comparisons between other flagship foldable smartphones, including Samsung's just-launched Galaxy Z Fold 7 smartphone.

In a new report from analyst firm UBS spotted by insider @Jukanrosleve on X, we have Apple's new foldable iPhone launching with Apple's new in-house A20 Pro chip made on TSMC's new 2nm process node, as well as Apple's new C2 5G modem.

We're to expect the foldable iPhone to launch with 12GB of RAM and have 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options, while the inner screen is expected to span 7.8 inches, while the cover screen will be 5.5 inches. When folded, the foldable iPhone is expected to measure in at between 9.0 and 9.5mm, while when unfolded we are to expect 4.5 to 4.8mm thickness.

CD Projekt Red has just wrapped up the REDstreams for the new Cyberpunk 2077 update, slated to add a bunch of new features to the open-world RPG.

The Cyberpunk 2077 update 2.3 arrives tomorrow, and it isn't just a bunch of quality of life improvements, as CD Projekt Red is adding frame-generation support across all major GPU brands. The developer revealed the update will add AMD FSR 4, FSR 3.1 Frame Generation, Intel XeSS 2.0 with XeSS frame generation, along with Intel HDR10+ and VRR support for consoles.

These are extremely welcome updates as now any PC gamer can take advantage of frame-generation technologies for improved gameplay, regardless of what brand of GPU they are running. In addition to better performance for a wide range of gamers, CD Projekt Red is also introducing a bunch of new vehicles for players to enjoy, a new Autodrive system to make cruising from destination to destination much easier, and a Delamain taxi service.

Subnautica 2 is a highly anticipated game that has recently found itself in hot water, as it was discovered that the franchise owners, Krafton, may have had to pay a $250 million bonus payout to its subsidiary company and the developers of the title, Unknown Worlds.

Approximately 40 employees were eligible to share a $25 million bonus that was hinging on the studio hitting a specified amount of revenue by the end of 2025, with the possibility of an extension being given on the bonus duration. Krafton announced at the beginning of the month that it wanted to delay the release of Subnautica 2, resulting in Unknown Worlds employees being concerned that the franchise owner was making it impossible for the bonus targets to be hit.

The issues between Unknown Worlds and Krafton date back to 2021 when Krafton purchased the studio for $500 million with an additional $250 million to be paid in 2026, dependent on the company's performance. Of that $250 million, 10% was pegged to go to studio employees, which around 40 received checks when the deal closed for the studio. However, the employees were slated to receive upwards of $25 million if the company managed to reach those revenue targets. Releasing Subnautica 2 in early access was a big part of hitting those performance targets.

Valve has updated Steam's "Rules and Guidelines" for Steamworks Documentation, which are the rules of the road if a developer wants to upload their game to Steam. The new update adds a new 15th clause that prevents a specific type of game from being listed on the biggest PC gaming storefront.

Before the update Valve listed fourteen clauses that developers have to adhere by to get their game listed on Steam, and now there's a new 15th clause, which states that developers are not allowed to have their game contain any "Content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam's payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers. In particular, certain kinds of adult-only content."

Following this change, many games and DLCs have been removed from Steam as they are now in violation of Steam's new guidelines. Screenshots have been provided below of a selection of titles removed, and notably, the majority of the titles that have now been deleted from Steam are in violation of the adult content policy.

Windows 11 is now giving people the ability to let Copilot peer into their desktop and help them with whatever task might be in progress, if only in testing for now.

In a blog post, Microsoft announced that the Copilot app is getting this new ability via an update from the Microsoft Store for Windows Insiders.

The new feature is called 'Desktop Share' for Copilot Vision, and it allows you to share your desktop with the AI, or a single browser or app window if you prefer.

GTA 6 could make $7.6 billion in revenue just two months after launch, venture capitalist firm Konvoy predicts.

GTA 6 is expected to be so big that it will collectively raise the games industry. Gamers will buy new PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles to play GTA 6, Rockstar is expected to sell tens of millions of copies, and the game will boost digital spending across consoles.

But how much will GTA 6 actually make? One gaming VC, Konvoy, has laid out some pretty generous predictions. The firm estimates that GTA 6 will make a combined $7.66 billion in revenue in 60 days after launch, which includes game sales, GTA Online spending, and GTA+ subscription sign-ups. The numbers are staggering to say the least; one expert in the field, Joost van Dreunen, expects GTA 6 to make a more conservative $2.7 billion at launch.

On a recent episode of the BBC's morning show in the UK, a segment explored the growing popularity of the retro gaming market in Britain. Primarily focusing on older console hardware and games from the 1980s and 1990s, retro gaming boasts a vibrant global community centered on nostalgia, community, and video games from a bygone era.

The segment included Nick Poole OBE, the CEO of Ukie, the trade body for the UK's video games and interactive entertainment industry. He was there to discuss retro gaming; however, the online discussion and feedback on the segment were focused squarely on a decision made by the BBC's breakfast team.

As part of a visual display of retro gaming hardware and games for the segment, the BBC thought it would be a good idea to put an NES cartridge for Super Mario Bros. in a Super Nintendo. Can the 16-bit SNES play 8-bit NES games? No, which is why it caused some viewers to call it a crime.

A new GIGABYTE motherboard vulnerability has been discovered that affects the BIOS or UEFI firmware. The vulnerabilities are severe, as they allow attackers with local or administrative privileges to execute code in System Management Mode (SMM), which is separate from the operating system.

This allows the code to bypass traditional security on affected devices, as discovered by Binarly, which assigned a high-severity score of 8.2. The good news is that GIGABYTE has posted a security bulletin covering the vulnerabilities, which also lists the affected platforms. However, the vulnerabilities affect hundreds of motherboards covering the Intel 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 series platforms.

As these vulnerabilities affect motherboards for the popular 10th and 11th Gen Intel Core processors, which many are still using, Eclypsium has published a list of the affected motherboards in PDF format, which can be found here.

NVIDIA's RTX Remix Mod Contest, which is offering $50,000 in cash prizes to the best RTX Remix mods for classic games, is wrapping up this week. Need for Speed: Underground RTX Remix is one of the mods that we've been following for a while, and as part of the contest, Version 0.5 of the project has been released.

The update introduces over 500 new textures, further enhancing the visuals of this classic racing game from 2003. And as we're talking about a game that is now over two decades old, the update also replaces some of the models found in the game with new, highly detailed versions that add more detail to the world of nighttime racing.

The star of the show is the new path-traced lighting, which adds full ray-tracing to the game, dramatically improving the look and feel of races. It's transformative stuff, and a game-changer for what is widely considered to be one of the best entries in EA's iconic racing franchise.

NVIDIA's latest DLSS 4 weekly round-up is a little light on brand-new titles, but it does feature three popular titles in the PC gaming community. First up is hero shooter Marvel Rivals, which has just kicked off Season 3 with a new map and X-Men's Jean Grey as the latest playable superhero.

Season 3 of Marvel Rivals arrives with DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation support, alongside NVIDIA Reflex, which boosts performance by up to 5X at 4K. With DLSS Super Resolution, Multi Frame Generation, and Reflex, everything from the GeForce RTX 5070 and higher can achieve a smooth 230+ FPS in 4K with max settings, with the flagship GeForce RTX 5090 hitting an impressive 451 FPS in NVIDIA's benchmarks.

Drop the resolution to 1440p, and the GeForce RTX 5060 achieves 199 FPS with DLSS 4, with the RTX 5070 now reaching 300 FPS. Interestingly, NVIDIA's charts don't include the recently released entry-level GeForce RTX 5050 - though we expect it to perform just fine at 1080p with DLSS 4.

The Seagate Exos M and IronWolf Pro drives, built on the company's Mozaic3+ platform with HAMR technology, are now widely available in 28TB and 30TB capacities. With the AI boom, Seagate is positioning its new high-capacity HAMR (Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording) drives as the solution for the increasing demand for scalable storage in data centers and on-premises systems.

HAMR technology, which opens the door to larger-capacity magnetic drives (the traditional platter variety), incorporates new cooling features for its powerful laser to maintain low operating temperatures without compromising a drive's reliability. Having access to 30TB on a single drive is fantastic for AI, as the more complex an AI system becomes, the more memory and storage it requires.

Seagate has confirmed that it has shipped over one million Mozaic drives, with the milestone attributed to the AI boom and the fact that its Seagate Exos M and IronWolf Pro drives represent the highest density drives offered in the market today.