Latest News - Page 303

Learn about how TweakTown tests and reviews hardware. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. TweakTown may also earn commissions from other affiliate partners at no extra cost to you.

Stay Updated

Follow TweakTown for breaking tech news, reviews, and daily updates.

Add TweakTown as a preferred source on GoogleFind TweakTown on Apple News

Nintendo may sell Switch 2 at loss in US, analyst predicts

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Apr 10, 2025 6:36 PM CDT

Nintendo will sell the Switch 2 at a loss in the United States even before any potential effect from tariffs, one analyst firm has estimated.

Nintendo may sell Switch 2 at loss in US, analyst predicts

With its new custom NVIDIA Tegra chip, built-in faster storage, upgraded RAM, and other peripheral upgrades, the Nintendo Switch 2 is much more advanced than its predecessor. It's also expected that the Switch 2 is a lot more expensive make than the Switch 1. It's even possible that Nintendo will sell the Switch 2 at a loss in some global markets, including the U.S.

Analyst firm Toyo Securities estimates that the Switch 2 costs at least $400 to make, and that selling Switch 2 consoles with the effects of a 10% tariff (these units would have been made in Vietnam, and US tariffs against Vietnam are at 10% right now) would still be incurred at a loss. Conversely, the Switch 1 was sold at a profit on day one. Nintendo had previously said that the Switch 2 would be priced with profitability and foreign exchange rates in mind.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Nintendo may sell Switch 2 at loss in US, analyst predicts (full post)

Nintendo clarifies how Switch 2 Edition games will work, confirms code-in-a-box option

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Apr 10, 2025 4:42 PM CDT

Nintendo confirms that physical, cartridge-based Switch 2 Editions of games do not require extra downloads.

Nintendo clarifies how Switch 2 Edition games will work, confirms code-in-a-box option

A bit ago, Nintendo confirmed that Switch 2 Digital Game-key Cards can be shared and resold like any other cartridge. Now the company has answered another burning question, this time regarding Switch 2 Editions of games. Rumor has it that Switch 2 Editions were essentially the original Switch 1 game + a next-gen upgrade pack that had to be downloaded.

Nintendo has clarified that this isn't the case: The Switch 2 upgrade pack is built right into the cartridge and comes pre-loaded on the Switch 2 Game Card.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Nintendo clarifies how Switch 2 Edition games will work, confirms code-in-a-box option (full post)

Apple's huge 18.8-inch foldable rumored for mass production in late 2026, joins foldable iPhone

Anthony Garreffa | Mobile Devices | Apr 10, 2025 1:01 PM CDT

Apple could release its huge 18.8-inch foldable device alongside, or close to the reveal of its 7.8-inch foldable iPhone Ultra that we've been hearing about, sooner, rather than later.

Apple's huge 18.8-inch foldable rumored for mass production in late 2026, joins foldable iPhone

In a new research note covering all things post-tariff scenarios for Apple, investment firm GF Securities' lead analyst Jeff Pu says both the 18.8-inch and 7.6-inch foldable devices have seen development progress, and should enter mass production in Q4 2026.

Pu said last month that Apple had two foldable devices that had recently entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at manufacturer Foxconn, and if mass production is expected in Q4 2026, then we could see the foldable iPad and iPhone in late 2026 and if not, 2027 for sure.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Apple's huge 18.8-inch foldable rumored for mass production in late 2026, joins foldable iPhone (full post)

AMD confirms security vulnerability in every Zen 1 to Zen 5 processor

Jak Connor | Processors | Apr 10, 2025 12:04 PM CDT

AMD has confirmed a flaw within its signature verification for microcode updates within Zen 1 to Zen 5 CPUs. This security flaw has been dubbed "EntrySign" and enables attackers to gain kernel-level access.

AMD confirms security vulnerability in every Zen 1 to Zen 5 processor

Last month, AMD confirmed the flaw impacts the first four generations of its Zen CPUs, which include everything from desktop processors to the company's server-based EPYC chips. Now, AMD has confirmed its latest Zen 5 generation is also affected by this security flaw. The crux of the problem can be traced back to AMD's signature verification for microcode updates, which are critical updates AMD rolls out to fix any bugs, improve the stability of the chip, optimize performance, or provide security fixes to vulnerabilities.

The typical order of process is that an operating system or firmware loads the microcode that AMD has signed off on as secure and safe by running it through its verification process, but EntrySign is a vulnerability that enables attackers with ring 0 or kernel-level access to bypass safeguards. What is reassuring is that AMD has already rolled out a fix for the vulnerability to motherboard vendors via the ComboAM5PI 1.2.0.3c AGESA update.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: AMD confirms security vulnerability in every Zen 1 to Zen 5 processor (full post)

NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti GPU rumor causes disappointment, suggests it's just 15% faster than 4060 Ti

Darren Allan | Graphics Cards | Apr 10, 2025 11:43 AM CDT

NVIDIA's RTX 5060 Ti GPU is supposedly ready to roll and be released next week, so it comes as no surprise that we're seeing a leaked benchmark.

NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti GPU rumor causes disappointment, suggests it's just 15% faster than 4060 Ti

As is typical for the initial leaks for a graphics card, this isn't one of the better metrics by which to judge gaming performance. Yes, you guessed it, this is a piece of spillage from Geekbench as flagged up by BenchLeaks on X (via Wccftech).

As ever, these are results from the Vulkan and OpenCL tests in Geekbench where the RTX 5060 Ti (with 16GB of VRAM) is shown achieving 140,147 and 146,234 respectively, as you can see in the above and below posts.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: NVIDIA RTX 5060 Ti GPU rumor causes disappointment, suggests it's just 15% faster than 4060 Ti (full post)

58% of all PC gaming revenue in 2024 came from the one thing a lot of gamers hate

Jak Connor | Gaming | Apr 10, 2025 11:41 AM CDT

PC gaming revenue throughout 2024 has grown by 0.1%, amounting to a staggering $37.3 billion in total revenue, according to the 2025 PC and Console Gaming Report from Newzoo.

58% of all PC gaming revenue in 2024 came from the one thing a lot of gamers hate

According to the report, 58% of all PC gaming revenue generated throughout last year came from microtransactions, and the three games that led the rankings in terms of how much revenue they made were: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Roblox, and Fortnite. Microtransactions are quite a contentious topic for PC gamers, as well as console gamers, as in some cases they can border on predatory, such as Diablo Immortal, which locked late-game chests behind paywalls.

Additionally, some gamers have problems with microtransactions in the form of loot boxes, which have been argued as a form of gambling that underage players can take part in. Despite the aforementioned concerns and many others voiced in the community, microtransactions are a massive part of PC gaming and its revenue, with the 2025 PC and Console Gaming Report stating microtransactions have grown by 1.4% year-over-year and account for $24.4 billion of the total $37.3 billion.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: 58% of all PC gaming revenue in 2024 came from the one thing a lot of gamers hate (full post)

NVIDIA can still sell H20 AI GPUs to China after CEO Jensen Huang has dinner at Mar-a-Lago

Anthony Garreffa | Artificial Intelligence | Apr 10, 2025 10:10 AM CDT

The US government has just reversed its plans to restrict exports of NVIDIA's H20 AI GPU to China, after CEO Jensen Huang had dinner at Mar-a-Lago with President Trump and his administration.

NVIDIA can still sell H20 AI GPUs to China after CEO Jensen Huang has dinner at Mar-a-Lago

In a new report from NPR that cites two sources, the newly-tweaked US export controls on the H20 AI GPU had been in the works for a few months now, and that the change in plans kicked off after NVIDIA promised the Trump administration that it would be investing around $200 billion into new US investments in AI data centers.

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang recently attended a dinner at Mar-a-Lago, with the Trump administration reversing its restrictions on the H20 AI GPU entering China. Not only that, but the Trump administration also had planned to roll out additional restrictions, but they too have been put on hold according to "two sources with knowledge of the plan who were not authorized to speak publicly" adds NPR.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: NVIDIA can still sell H20 AI GPUs to China after CEO Jensen Huang has dinner at Mar-a-Lago (full post)

Nintendo Switch 2 new cartridge policy could kill mid-sized physical releases

Jak Connor | Gaming | Apr 10, 2025 9:10 AM CDT

One of the more controversial announcements surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 was the unveiling of Game Key cartridges, which are physical game cartridges that don't contain any data of the respective game, just a key for a player to unlock and download it once it's plugged into the system.

Nintendo Switch 2 new cartridge policy could kill mid-sized physical releases

Game Key cartridges are essentially physical access codes to digitally unlocked game, which, for collectors of physical copies of games, is an antithesis, and to those who enjoy the simplicity of plugging in a game cartridge to dodge what could be a nasty download time, a prudent annoyance, especially if the game they are after isn't getting a physical cartridge release. Well, now we may have an explanation as to why Game Key cartridges even exist in the first place, and according to one source, Nintendo could be to blame.

Physical Paradise recently posted a video where he said he has heard from a source that Nintendo is giving fewer cartridge options to publishing partners, with there only being a "smallish cartridge, or a full-fat 64GB cartridge, and nothing really in between". Why does this matter? It doesn't for the bigger games that will use most of that 64GB capacity, or the really small games that are only a couple of gigabytes. It only matters for the games in the middle, possibly between 16GB and 64 GB.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Nintendo Switch 2 new cartridge policy could kill mid-sized physical releases (full post)

Nintendo floods US with Switch 2 units breaking the 6 month record by double

Jak Connor | Gaming | Apr 10, 2025 7:47 AM CDT

Nintendo, along with every other country besides China, can take a much-needed breath of fresh air after being drowned in President Trump's newly implemented tariffs, after it was announced that a 90-day reprieve has been implemented.

Nintendo floods US with Switch 2 units breaking the 6 month record by double

This pause on tariffs has given Nintendo a chance to get as many Nintendo Switch 2 units to the United States as it possibly can before the 90-day reprieve is lifted and the tariffs are reinstated. That is, if nothing the levy doesn't change between now and then.

Notably, Nintendo manufactures approximately a third of its Nintendo Switch 2 systems in Vietnam, which, before the 90-day reprieve, was subject to a 46% levy. But now the levy is 10%, meaning Nintendo has an opening to get more Switch 2 units on US shores before the console launches in June, and it appears the company has already begun ramping up its efforts.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Nintendo floods US with Switch 2 units breaking the 6 month record by double (full post)

Facebook whistleblower claims Meta exploited depressed teens with targeted ads

Jak Connor | Business, Financial & Legal | Apr 10, 2025 4:15 AM CDT

The former director of Global Public Policy for Facebook has told US senators that Meta actively targets teens with advertisements based on their emotional state, with data acquired through their online activity.

Facebook whistleblower claims Meta exploited depressed teens with targeted ads

Meta whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams spoke to senators on Wednesday and said during her time at the company, Meta actively targeted teens with advertisements when they were feeling down or depressed. The claim, which was first made during Wynn-Williams' book "Careless People," documents the time she spent at Facebook and the lack of concern top executives at the company had for children using its platform.

More specifically, Wynn-Williams said Meta, then known as Facebook, targeted teens between the ages of 13 and 17 with advertisements when they were feeling "worthless or helpless".

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Facebook whistleblower claims Meta exploited depressed teens with targeted ads (full post)

GALAX GeForce RTX 5090D HOF OC Lab tested under LN2 cooling: new 3DMark record king

Anthony Garreffa | Graphics Cards | Apr 10, 2025 2:02 AM CDT

GALAX's new mega-custom GeForce RTX 5090D HOF OC Lab Edition graphics card has broken multiple 3DMark world records, with the new GB202 "Blackwell" GPU cooled with LN2 cooling, and pushed 1GHz+ over stock GPU clocks. Check it out:

GALAX GeForce RTX 5090D HOF OC Lab tested under LN2 cooling: new 3DMark record king

The Chinese-exclusive RTX 5090D HOF OC Lab Edition GPU was designed from the ground up to be pushed to its limits and punished on LN2-cooled bench systems, breaking world records with ease. Now we've got pro overclockers "OGS" and "Rauf" who have pushed GALAX's new RTX 5090D HOF OC Lab to its limits, using LN2 cooling and pushing the GB202 GPU to an insane 3.5GHz.

Both of these overclockers now hold the first and second positions on 3DMark FireStrike Extreme, TimeSpy Extreme, and other benchmarks, taking a lead over the regular RTX 5090 non-D. NVIDIA's fleet of in-house GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition through to custom AIB partner models, all use a single 12V-2x6 power connector, but GALAX takes power draw to another level with the RTX 5090D HOF OC Lab Edition with dual 12V-2x6 power connectors with the card designed to take up to 1000W of power.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: GALAX GeForce RTX 5090D HOF OC Lab tested under LN2 cooling: new 3DMark record king (full post)

Apple, NVIDIA, Tesla stock surge by double digits after President Trump pauses US tariffs

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Apr 10, 2025 1:01 AM CDT

President Trump has announced a 90-day pause on Reciprocal Tariffs for most countries, while nailing China with a 125% tariff effective immediately.

Apple, NVIDIA, Tesla stock surge by double digits after President Trump pauses US tariffs

Right at the same time, stocks of the biggest companies that saw multiple trillions of dollars wiped away in market cap over the last few days, bounced right back... and better than ever. Tesla stock is at $272, up 22.69% today, while NVIDIA stock is at $114, up 18.72% today (at the time of writing).

President Trump wrote on his Truth Social post: "Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World's Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America to 125%, effective immediately. At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the U.S.A., and other Countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable".

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Apple, NVIDIA, Tesla stock surge by double digits after President Trump pauses US tariffs (full post)

GIGABYTE listing shows five different RTX 5060 Ti models coming versus just one for the 9060 XT

Kosta Andreadis | Graphics Cards | Apr 10, 2025 12:36 AM CDT

NVIDIA and AMD are set to release their latest mainstream GPUs in the coming weeks and months, with the GeForce RTX 5060 Series and the Radeon RX 9060 XT. The first card set to arrive (rumors are pointing to a launch as early as next week) is the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, which will come in 8GB and 16GB variants.

GIGABYTE listing shows five different RTX 5060 Ti models coming versus just one for the 9060 XT

AMD's Radeon RX 9060 XT is also set to arrive in 8GB and 16GB variants but with slower GDDR6 memory than the RTX 5060 Ti's faster GDDR7. AMD's mainstream RDNA 4 offering looks to be around the corner, too, thanks to new product registrations via the South Korean Radio Agency (RRA) for GIGABYTE cards covering both RDNA 4 and RTX Blackwell models.

As spotted by @harukaze5719 on X, GIGABYTE is choosing to go all in on the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti while playing it safe with the Radeon RX 9060 XT. For the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti, Gaming OC, Eagle, Windforce, Aero, and AORUS models are coming.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: GIGABYTE listing shows five different RTX 5060 Ti models coming versus just one for the 9060 XT (full post)

OpenAI sues Elon Musk over a pattern of harassment, asks judge to hold him responsible

Jak Connor | Business, Financial & Legal | Apr 10, 2025 12:16 AM CDT

OpenAI has countersued Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk over what the company claims to be a pattern of harassment in various forms.

OpenAI sues Elon Musk over a pattern of harassment, asks judge to hold him responsible

The company wrote in a filing within Musk's existing lawsuit against OpenAI in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California that Musk has launched several forms of harassment against the company, such as "press attacks," and "malicious campaigns broadcast to Musk's more than 200 million followers on the social media platform he controls." Additionally, filing the states Musk has demanded "corporate records," sent "harassing legal claims, and a sham bid for OpenAI's assets." Adding, "Musk has tried every tool available to harm OpenAI."

For those who don't know, Musk and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman co-founded OpenAI in 2015, but Musk left after losing a bid with the board of directors to helm the company. Musk has repeatedly claimed he helped fund the early days of OpenAI, and conceived the company as a counter-weight to Google, with the premise being OpenAI would be a non-profit open-source company. Musk has also said he came up with the name.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: OpenAI sues Elon Musk over a pattern of harassment, asks judge to hold him responsible (full post)

Apple bleeds $700 billion, surrenders crown as world's most valuable company

Jak Connor | Business, Financial & Legal | Apr 9, 2025 11:50 PM CDT

Apple has just been knocked off its perch as the most valuable company in the world following Trump's tariffs on imports, which target many of the countries where Apple sources parts and manufactures its products.

Apple bleeds $700 billion, surrenders crown as world's most valuable company

The world's most valuable company has lost a staggering $700 billion since Trump announced the new tariffs. Some of the hardest-hitting tariffs are aimed at China, where Apple produces approximately 90% of its products. Trump's additional taxes against the country ranged between 11% and 104%, but only recently were they increased to 125% in response to China's retaliatory additional tariff on American goods - an 84% levy.

The trade war between the US and China is in full swing, and Apple, being the biggest tech company on the planet in terms of value, is bleeding because of it, with investors experiencing fear, uncertainty, and doubt over how Apple will combat the new tariffs and if it will mean iPhone prices will have to increase, or Apple having to eat into its own profit margins to maintain the price of its products.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Apple bleeds $700 billion, surrenders crown as world's most valuable company (full post)

Star Citizen has now raised over $800 million in crowdfunding and microtransactions

Kosta Andreadis | Gaming | Apr 9, 2025 11:33 PM CDT

Star Citizen, which launched its crowdfunding Kickstarter campaign in 2012, has now raised over $800 million - with the most recent $100 million raised in the last 11 months. Developed by Cloud Imperium Games, alongside the star-studded single-player Squadron 42, Star Citizen is still one of the most ambitious (and impressive looking) sci-fi space MMO games out there.

Star Citizen has now raised over $800 million in crowdfunding and microtransactions

After 12 years of crowdfunding and raising money through in-game microtransactions that sell custom ship packs for tens of thousands of dollars, Version 1.0 of Star Citizen is still nowhere in sight. A year ago, Roberts Space Industries boss and Wing Commander creator Chris Roberts said that the full release of Star Citizen "twinkles on the horizon," though there's no firm release date right now.

The Alpha version of the game continues to receive regular updates, adding new features and elements. Back in 2023, we also got a look at the game's impressive new StarEngine with a 20+ minute tech demo showcasing an entire 1:1 universe in stunning detail with a single continuous in-engine shot.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Star Citizen has now raised over $800 million in crowdfunding and microtransactions (full post)

Samsung forms 1nm development team, 'dream semiconductor process' aims mass production in 2029

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Apr 9, 2025 10:10 PM CDT

Samsung Electronics has reportedly kicked off the development of its next-generation 1nm process node, something the South Korean giant calls the "dream semiconductor process".

Samsung forms 1nm development team, 'dream semiconductor process' aims mass production in 2029

In a new report from Korean media outlet SEDaily and its industry sources, Samsung Electronics Semiconductor Research Institute recently started the development process of its 1nm process, with some of its researchers who worked on the development of its cutting-edge 2nm process node, were transferred to the new 1nm project, something it calls the "dream semiconductor process".

Samsung's next-gen 1nm process node aka the dream semiconductor process, requires totally new technologies that break the mold of existing designs, as well as the use of next-gen High-NA EUV lithography machines. Samsung is reportedly aiming to have its 1nm chips hitting mass production in 2029, still lagging behind TSMC.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Samsung forms 1nm development team, 'dream semiconductor process' aims mass production in 2029 (full post)

Analyst says Intel will make the custom NVIDIA chip on its Intel 18A node for Nintendo Switch 3

Anthony Garreffa | Gaming | Apr 9, 2025 9:27 PM CDT

Nintendo is ramping up into the launch of its Switch 2 handheld, and now we're hearing rumors that the future-gen Nintendo Switch 3 will feature an upgraded chip from NVIDIA... but made by Intel on its brand new Intel 18A process node.

Analyst says Intel will make the custom NVIDIA chip on its Intel 18A node for Nintendo Switch 3

KeyBlanc analyst John Vinh wrote in his new "Sector Platform" rating for Intel shares, noting that "we believe Intel has won the GPU gaming socket for the Nintendo Switch 3 on 18A". This is massive news, as it means Intel will be making tens of millions of semi-custom SoCs from NVIDIA inside of the world's best-selling gaming handheld.

The analyst also noted that "Intel 18A is on track to ramp Panther Lake in 2H25 with KPIs including yields and defect densities trending in the right direction and are at acceptable levels". Vinh also said that Intel has reduced the prices of its Lunar Lake CPUs by 20-40% resulting in only small market gain shares.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Analyst says Intel will make the custom NVIDIA chip on its Intel 18A node for Nintendo Switch 3 (full post)

DLSS 4 comes to Wild Assault, THE FINALS, and The Last of Us Part II

Kosta Andreadis | Gaming | Apr 9, 2025 9:01 PM CDT

Powered by the latest Unreal Engine 5 technology, Wild Assault is a new 20 vs. 20 third-person multiplayer shooter with a cast of anthropomorphic animals like pandas, tigers, and rabbits with hair and clothing. It's launching into Early Access this weekend and supports NVIDIA DLSS 4, including Multi Frame Generation with Reflex.

DLSS 4 comes to Wild Assault, THE FINALS, and The Last of Us Part II

It looks like another hardware-intensive Unreal Engine 5 title that needs DLSS Super Resolution and Frame Generation to hit triple-digit performance on most cards. Playing in 4K, with DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation, GeForce RTX 5090 performance increases from 93 FPS to 415 FPS, while GeForce RTX 5070 Ti performance increases from 52.9 FPS to 276.5 FPS.

Dropping the resolution down to 1440p, you'll need a GeForce RTX 5080 to hit 100+ FPS natively. Here, the recently released GeForce RTX 5070 achieved 79.2 FPS natively, increasing to 301 FPS with DLSS 4 and Multi Frame Generation. On the plus side, as it supports DLSS 4's new transformer AI model, image quality improves with DLSS Super Resolution enabled.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: DLSS 4 comes to Wild Assault, THE FINALS, and The Last of Us Part II (full post)

Latest Intel Arc graphics driver is all about improving MSI Claw handheld performance

Kosta Andreadis | Graphics Cards | Apr 9, 2025 8:34 PM CDT

Intel Graphics Driver 32.0.101.6734 (WHQL Certified) is here, and if you've got an MSI Claw gaming handheld, you should download and install it. The latest Arc Graphics driver improves handheld gaming device performance with the 'Lunar Lake' Intel Core Ultra 200V Series processor and fixes an issue with some games on Lunar Lake notebooks not showing all supported display resolutions.

Latest Intel Arc graphics driver is all about improving MSI Claw handheld performance

This is interesting because there's nothing here for desktop Arc owners, no support for new games, and no fixes for the growing list of issues with the latest 'Battlemage' architecture in games like Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. It's also interesting because the MSI Claw 8 AI+ and MSI Claw 7 AI+, released earlier this year, are the only two PC gaming handhelds we know of using Intel Core Ultra 200V Series processors with integrated Arc graphics.

Most handhelds, from the Steam Deck to the ROG Ally and Legion GO, use AMD Ryzen technology with integrated RDNA graphics. That said, the new MSI Claw 8 AI+ feedback has been positive, with the portable Arc Graphics handheld offering competitive performance in a wide range of games. This update is very cool to see, as the improved power management will translate to performance gains.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Latest Intel Arc graphics driver is all about improving MSI Claw handheld performance (full post)

Newsletter Subscription