Latest News - Page 311

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

Leaked screenshots of Star Wars strategy game from XCOM veterans emerge

Kosta Andreadis | Gaming | Mar 31, 2025 9:01 PM CDT

Bit Reactor, a studio formed by key Firaxis members who worked on the modern XCOM strategy titles, is developing a new turn-based tactical Star Ware game in collaboration with Respawn Entertainment. With the game announced in 2022, it's expected to be revealed next month at the Star Wars Celebration, with the game getting its panel.

Leaked screenshots of Star Wars strategy game from XCOM veterans emerge

Ahead of its debut, we've gotten our first look at the game via MP1st, which has posted screenshots from a Bit Reactor artist who posted them to an online portfolio with the codename "Star Wars Bruno." Although these screenshots are from mid-2023, they clearly show gameplay and elements reminiscent of modern XCOM-style turn-based tactics games.

One of the screenshots that you can see above shows two units with Mandalorian armor in 'Overwatch' cover formation. In these games, any enemy that enters the 'Overwatch' zone is automatically fired upon. The screenshot also shows a Jedi character, a droid, and a clone trooper, with another zooming in on a Mandalorian unit choosing to throw a thermal detonator with a UI that includes controller button icons.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Leaked screenshots of Star Wars strategy game from XCOM veterans emerge (full post)

V-color intros world's first 64GB DDR5 O CUDIMM memory: up to 9000MT/s for intensive workloads

Anthony Garreffa | RAM | Mar 31, 2025 8:17 PM CDT

V-Color Technology has unveiled the world's first 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5 O CUDIMM memory kit, with unprecedented speeds of up to 9000MT/s, specifically designed for Intel Core Ultra processors and the latest Z890 motherboards.

V-color intros world's first 64GB DDR5 O CUDIMM memory: up to 9000MT/s for intensive workloads

This new memory kit from v-color will be part of the company's acclaimed SCC lineup (Speed Booster, Colorful Makeover, Cost-Effective), delivering "unmatched capacity, speed, and reliability to empower systems for AI training, gamers, creators, and professional users worldwide".

V-color's new groundbreaking 64GB DDR5 OC memory kit represents a significant milestone for the memory industry says the company, combining ultra-high memory capacity with setting frequencies, ensuring exceptional performance and responsiveness for intensive workloads, gaming, and creative applications.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: V-color intros world's first 64GB DDR5 O CUDIMM memory: up to 9000MT/s for intensive workloads (full post)

Ubisoft stock falls by double digits, erasing any gains from new Tencent deal

Jak Connor | Business, Financial & Legal | Mar 31, 2025 7:32 PM CDT

Only days after Ubisoft announced it was spawning a new subsidiary to handle all its major IPs, such as Assassin's Creed and Far Cry, the company's stock price has fallen double digits, erasing any progress it made following the announcement of the joint venture with Tencent.

Ubisoft stock falls by double digits, erasing any gains from new Tencent deal

Ubisoft's stock price gained 11% on Friday after it announced the new subsidiary in partnership with Ubisoft investor Tencent, and as of Monday, the stock price in the US, UK, and France has taken a double-digit point hit, falling by 11.80%. As for the UK specifically, Ubisoft opened at €12.15 and is now trading at €11.19, while in France, the stock price for the company fell by 12.06% to €11.16.

The decline in stock price has completely erased any value that was gained on Friday following the announcement of the new subsidiary. As for the new deal with Tencent, Ubisoft anticipates the closure of the deal will happen before the end of 2025, and once completed, Ubisoft will retain 75% control of the new company that will manage the following Ubisoft IPs: Assassin's Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Ubisoft stock falls by double digits, erasing any gains from new Tencent deal (full post)

New RuneScape game in Unreal Engine 5 unveiled in official gameplay trailer

Jak Connor | Gaming | Mar 31, 2025 7:05 PM CDT

Jagex has officially showcased a new RuneScape game powered by the incredible Unreal Engine 5 in new gameplay and teaser trailers.

New RuneScape game in Unreal Engine 5 unveiled in official gameplay trailer

RuneScape: Dragonwilds is an all-new open-world survival crafting game powered by Epic Games' Unreal Engine 5, and will take players to the forgotten continent of Ashenfall, where dragons have awoken. Players will need to gather resources, build, improve skills, and, of course, fight the dangerous inhabitants of the continent to survive. Dragonwilds has already received a Steam listing where more details for the title can be found.

According to the listing, Dragonwilds will be a 1-4 player co-op title where progress for the party will be under constant threat from the "looming shadow of the Dragons".

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: New RuneScape game in Unreal Engine 5 unveiled in official gameplay trailer (full post)

Korea's biggest games companies all want to make StarCraft games

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Mar 31, 2025 6:36 PM CDT

Korean game giants are currently dueling over the rights to one of the most popular video games in the region.

Korea's biggest games companies all want to make StarCraft games

Everyone wants to make a StarCraft game--At least that's what it seems like in South Korea, where four major video game companies are vying for the StarCraft franchise. Sources tell newspaper Asia Today that NC Soft, Nexon, Netmarble, and Krafton are all interested in making a new entry in the StarCraft universe.

Each has seen tremendous success in various markets and fields, with NCSoft innovating the MMORPG genre and Krafton helping mature PUBG and the battle royale genres. Reports say that each of the four companies are also leaning into their core strengths. Nexon, for example, could leverage StarCraft as a cross-platform game; NCSoft could make an RPG; Netmarble might transform StarCraft into a mobile F2P game; and Krafton could make a first-person or third-person style experience.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Korea's biggest games companies all want to make StarCraft games (full post)

CD Projekt is wary of generative AI, is not using gen AI to make The Witcher 4

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Mar 31, 2025 6:36 PM CDT

CD Projekt isn't developing generative AI tools to make new games like The Witcher 4.

CD Projekt is wary of generative AI, is not using gen AI to make The Witcher 4

AI is growing and growing--OpenAI just raised another $40 billion, leading to a $300 billion valuation--and it seems like everyone plans to use it in some way. The tech sector in particular is leveraging AI in various ways behind the scenes, with Microsoft even going so far as to create a tool that can render a third-person shooter in real-time without a developer's help.

Generative AI is on the forefront and poses many possibilities and risks for the games industry. But not everyone is on board, and Polish developer CD Projekt isn't ready to go all-in on this kind of AI.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: CD Projekt is wary of generative AI, is not using gen AI to make The Witcher 4 (full post)

Report: Embracer Group developers denied Switch 2 devkits

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Mar 31, 2025 5:35 PM CDT

Nintendo has denied Switch 2 devkits to The Embracer Group, new reports indicate.

Report: Embracer Group developers denied Switch 2 devkits

Nintendo is taking their time with distributing Switch 2 hardware development kits. Earlier today, Digital Foundry reiterated previous reports that some dev teams are waiting on Switch 2 kits: "Based on a lot of the things I've heard it also seems like many many many many developers are still without," DF's John Linnemann said.

Now there's reports that some companies have been denied devkits altogether. Sources have told games reporter Imran Khan that Embracer was one such group. The reality is that Embracer's business was seen as so volatile and unpredictable that Nintendo didn't want its precious, ultra-secret hardware to go missing should an Embracer subsidiary be shut down.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Report: Embracer Group developers denied Switch 2 devkits (full post)

US CHIPS Act is in trouble: President Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE laid off over 80% of its staff

Anthony Garreffa | Business, Financial & Legal | Mar 31, 2025 5:05 PM CDT

The US government has spent hundreds of billions of dollars on its CHIPS Act under the Biden administration, but under the Trump administration -- along with Elon Musk and DOGE -- the CHIPS Act looks to be shelved, and 80% of its staffers have been purged.

US CHIPS Act is in trouble: President Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE laid off over 80% of its staff

President Trump isn't a fan of the CHIPS Act and has referred to customers getting "Biden money" but in a new report from Korean media, over 120 employees out of the 150 from the US Commerce Department's Chip Program Office (CPO) have either been laid off, or resigned from their positions.

One of the largest names being laid off is former VP of SK hynix that joined CPO as the Chief Economist, Dan Kim, with his departure suggesting that the CHIPS Act won't be focusing on South Korean companies like SK hynix and Samsung (makers of HBM for AI GPUs).

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: US CHIPS Act is in trouble: President Trump, Elon Musk and DOGE laid off over 80% of its staff (full post)

ASUS teases ROG Ally Xbox PC handheld

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Mar 31, 2025 4:34 PM CDT

ASUS just teased the new "Xbox handheld," which is actually a Windows-powered PC similar to the existing ROG Ally.

ASUS teases ROG Ally Xbox PC handheld

Today ASUS dropped an interesting teaser trailer for a new device. Based on the footage, there's only one thing it could be: Some sort of handheld. Both Xbox and ASUS aren't being too enigmatic, either: Based on the recent leaks about Project Kennan, a lot of people are expecting an Xbox handheld of some kind. It's not exactly a surprise.

The footage also reflects this by flashing some not-so-subtle Xbox ABXY controller face buttons on the new ROG Ally's screen. The Xbox socials also responded to ASUS on Twitter with a perfect meme. The new Xbox-branded ROG Ally should be revealed soon with tons of info about what to expect from the handheld (and likely with the semi-disappointing realization that it's not a native Xbox handheld, but a native Windows handheld instead).

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: ASUS teases ROG Ally Xbox PC handheld (full post)

Xbox games take over global PlayStation Store pre-order charts

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Mar 31, 2025 3:38 PM CDT

Microsoft typically has more games in the PlayStation Store's global top 10 pre-order charts than Sony does, new findings show.

Xbox games take over global PlayStation Store pre-order charts

Last year, Microsoft had more first-party games on PlayStation's best-seller list than Sony did. Now the same is true for PlayStation Store pre-order charts across select geographies. This new data suggests that Microsoft's plan to break Xbox platform exclusivity and bring its first-party games to PlayStation is continuing to pay off.

To get a better idea of how Microsoft's games are performing on PlayStation when it comes to pre-orders, I simply scanned the PS Store pages for various global regions. The data shows the top 10 pre-ordered games on the PlayStation Store across 14 different locales. According to the data, there were more Xbox games in all worldwide top 10 pre-order lists than there were PlayStation games.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Xbox games take over global PlayStation Store pre-order charts (full post)

NVIDIA's next-gen GB300 AI server mass production might not happen until 2026, CSPs are worried

Anthony Garreffa | Artificial Intelligence | Mar 31, 2025 3:08 PM CDT

NVIDIA had a few hiccups with its original Blackwell-based GB200 NVL72 AI servers, with cloud service providers (CSPs) struggling to ink deals for new "Blackwell Ultra" GB300 AI servers, wanting more "mature" AI GPU solutions instead.

NVIDIA's next-gen GB300 AI server mass production might not happen until 2026, CSPs are worried

In a new report from Ctee and post on X by @Jukanlosreve, we're hearing that major CSPs like Microsoft and others are moving away from ordering GB300, and after the sour taste that GB200 AI servers left in their mouths, they're ordering mature HGX 8-card series products. Industry insiders analyzed that GB300 samples wouldn't be made available for customer testing until Q4 2025 at the earliest, meaning we could expect a delay for GB300 into 2026.

Microsoft has been rumored to cut its computing power at its data centers, with supply chain insiders reporting that Microsoft was one of the first companies to get their hands on NVIDIA's new GB200 NVL72 AI servers, but "due to poor yields, its customers are forced to join the testing process. Among them, the complexity of deploying the system was far beyond expectations. The installation process took about 5 to 7 working days, and instability and system crashes often occured".

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: NVIDIA's next-gen GB300 AI server mass production might not happen until 2026, CSPs are worried (full post)

Laptops with NVIDIA RTX 5000 GPUs have launched, but they're pricey, and good luck buying one

Darren Allan | Laptops | Mar 31, 2025 11:52 AM CDT

NVIDIA's RTX 5000 laptop GPUs have been keenly awaited by many for quite some time, but it's official - these notebooks are now on sale, although you can't actually buy one yet.

Laptops with NVIDIA RTX 5000 GPUs have launched, but they're pricey, and good luck buying one

Why not? As VideoCardz reported, breaking down the availability at Newegg in the US, many of these portables are simply out of stock, and some are available for pre-order - but it'll obviously take a while before they're shipped.

How long? Well that depends on the laptop in question as you might guess, but most models are not actually going to be out until April 30, over four weeks away (some are due to ship on April 15, mind, but not many).

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Laptops with NVIDIA RTX 5000 GPUs have launched, but they're pricey, and good luck buying one (full post)

New Windows 11 recovery tool could be invaluable in a future Crowdstrike-style disaster

Darren Allan | Software & Apps | Mar 31, 2025 11:15 AM CDT

Microsoft is working on a new feature for Windows 11 called 'Quick Machine Recovery' which is designed to help companies (or individuals) quickly recover from serious problems with their PCs.

New Windows 11 recovery tool could be invaluable in a future Crowdstrike-style disaster

Bleeping Computer spotted the revelation of this tool as one of the elements of Microsoft's Windows Resiliency Initiative, which just as the name suggests aims to make the desktop operating system more bulletproof from gremlins that can cause serious havoc with Windows 11 systems.

The Quick Machine Recovery facility is currently in testing for Windows 11 in the Beta channel (see some screenshots from a well-known Windows Insider, XenoPanther, above), and can be accessed via the Startup menu. (It's in the Advanced Options page, and is labeled as replacing the Startup Repair functionality).

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: New Windows 11 recovery tool could be invaluable in a future Crowdstrike-style disaster (full post)

DOOM: The Dark Ages - Hand-On Preview with 4K 60 FPS RTX 5080 Gameplay

Kosta Andreadis | Gaming | Mar 31, 2025 9:02 AM CDT

This is DOOM: The Dark Ages, the highly anticipated prequel follow-up to 2020's excellent DOOM Eternal and the third game in the modern DOOM re-imagining from id Software. With its release around the corner for PC and consoles, thanks to Bethesda, we had the chance to go hands-on with a pre-release build of the game and play close to four hours of the intense medieval dark fantasy sci-fi action running in 4K on a GeForce RTX 5080 rig.

DOOM: The Dark Ages - Hand-On Preview with 4K 60 FPS RTX 5080 Gameplay

As game director Hugo Martin describes, DOOM: The Dark Ages presents a different experience from Eternal's "run and gun" arena-style action to a more grounded "stand and fight" approach. This sees the Slayer move around like an iron tank with a speed boost as he wields a Shield Saw, Flail, Super Shotgun, and arsenal of weaponry. Unlike Eternal, you can feel the weight of each step, adding to the prequel's focus on the Slayer being this ultimate weapon - an unstoppable demon-slaying force.

We immediately noticed this when playing through the game's introductory sequence, which sees the Slayer transported into the midst of a massive battle from an orbiting battle station by some pretty incredible-looking aliens. The art direction and character design are next-level, and the well-directed cinematics present much more DOOM story and lore than we're used to.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: DOOM: The Dark Ages - Hand-On Preview with 4K 60 FPS RTX 5080 Gameplay (full post)

GMKtec Mini-PC with Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 'Strix Halo' to retail for over $2000, launches April 7

Anthony Garreffa | Computer Systems | Mar 31, 2025 1:01 AM CDT

GMKtec has announced that its new EVO-X2 AI supercomputing desktop PC will up for pre-order on April 7 in China, powered by AMD's new Ryzen AI Max 300 series "Strix Halo" APUs.

GMKtec Mini-PC with Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 'Strix Halo' to retail for over $2000, launches April 7

GMK has also revealed the pre-order pricing of its new Mini-PC, with the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 "Strix Point" APU packing 128GB of LPDDR5X memory and 2TB of Gen4 SSD storage costing CNY 14,999 (around $2066 USD or so). Inside, the new Mini-PC will feature the Strix Halo APU with the Radeon 890M GPU with 40 CUs of RDNA 3.5 GPU cores.

The new EVO-X2 AI supercomputing PC powered by the Strix Halo APU uses a dual-turbo fan, paired with a Vapor Chamber heatsink that handles up to 140W of performance. There are tons of I/O on the Mini-PC as well, with USB-C 40Gbps ports, 2.5GbE ethernet, HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, and more.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: GMKtec Mini-PC with Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 'Strix Halo' to retail for over $2000, launches April 7 (full post)

Scientists trying to merge human neurons with semiconductors, human brain to power the future

Anthony Garreffa | Science, Space, & Robotics | Mar 31, 2025 12:24 AM CDT

Scientists are working on a new level of technology that uses the neurons inside of the human brain, merging them with semiconductors (chips) to create something that's no longer constrained by the physical limitations of a microchip.

Scientists trying to merge human neurons with semiconductors, human brain to power the future

Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have showed off a single, standard silicon transistor that can function like a biological neuron and synapse when operated in a specific, unconventional way. The research team has presented its work as a highly scalable and energy-efficient solution for hardware-based artificial neuron networks (ANNs).

The human brain is an amazing piece of art as it is, with studies showing that the human brain is far more energy-efficient than electronic processors with almost 90 billion neurons that form around 100 trillion connections with each other, and synapses that tune their strength as time goes by, something called synaptic plasticity, which underpins learning and memory.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Scientists trying to merge human neurons with semiconductors, human brain to power the future (full post)

SK hynix sold out of HBM for 2025, soon taking customer orders for 2026 supply of HBM

Anthony Garreffa | Artificial Intelligence | Mar 30, 2025 11:44 PM CDT

It looks as though SK hynix has sold out of most of its HBM memory chips for 2026, with all of its 2025 supply exhausted... and with NVIDIA unstoppable with Blackwell Ultra GB300 and its HBM3E, and its next-gen Rubin R100 with HBM4, the South Korean memory leader is swamped, but in the best way possible.

SK hynix sold out of HBM for 2025, soon taking customer orders for 2026 supply of HBM

SK hynix held its annual shareholders meeting a couple of days ago, with CEO Kwan Noh-jung revealing that the company has been wrapping up sales discussions of its HBM memory chips for 2026. Kwak said: "We will finalize discussions with customers on next year's HBM volumes by the first half of this year to further strengthen sales stability".

The company recently sent out samples of its next-generation HBM4 memory chips, with mass production expected in the second half of 2025, too. Kwak added: "Despite rising uncertainties in the global economy, major tech companies are increasing investment to gain leadership in AI. Demand for HBM is expected to increase sharply due to demand for GPUs and other chips".

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: SK hynix sold out of HBM for 2025, soon taking customer orders for 2026 supply of HBM (full post)

Berkeley engineers create world's smallest wireless flying robot, fits between your fingertips

Anthony Garreffa | Science, Space, & Robotics | Mar 30, 2025 11:11 PM CDT

A team of engineers at the University of California, Berkeley, have created the world's smallest wireless flying robot that's capable of hovering, changing trajectory, and hitting small targets.

Berkeley engineers create world's smallest wireless flying robot, fits between your fingertips

The super-small flying robot is less than 1cm in diameter, weighing in at only 21mg, making it the world's smallest wireless robot that's capable of controlled flight. For a robot to fly, it might have a power source like a battery, as well as electronics for flight control, both of which can be hard to integrate into something so small and lightweight.

In order to overcome this hurdle, the Berkeley engineers used an external magnetic field to power the flying robot and control the flight path. The flying robot is shaped like a small propeller, packing two small magnets. Under the influence of an external magnetic field, these magnets are attracted and repelled, causing the propeller to spin and generate enough lift to raise the flying robot off of the ground. After that, the flight path of the robot can be precisely controlled by modulating the strength of the magnetic field.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: Berkeley engineers create world's smallest wireless flying robot, fits between your fingertips (full post)

SpaceX's new Starlink dishes are in the works, will blast 1Gbps+ speeds to users

Anthony Garreffa | Science, Space, & Robotics | Mar 30, 2025 10:10 PM CDT

SpaceX is hard at work on new Starlink satellite internet dishes that will deliver a huge 1Gbps+ download speeds to users on the ground, up from the 200Mbps average of today.

SpaceX's new Starlink dishes are in the works, will blast 1Gbps+ speeds to users

The company showed off its new 1Gbps capable Starlink dish during a recent webinar for Starlink resellers, according to someone who watched the presentation. SpaceX will not only need to ship out new 1Gbps-ready Starlink dishes, but the Elon Musk-led company will also need to roll out planned upgrades for the Starlink constellation of satellites, using a broader range of radio spectrum for the satellite internet connection.

SpaceX has plans to release new 1Gbps-ready Starlink dishes later this year, but that is dependent on SpaceX's flagship Starship rocket, which can successfully deploy third-generation V3 Starlink satellites. SpaceX President Gwenne Shotwell said back in November 2024: "Next generation, we'll have smaller beams, more capacity per beam, lower latency" with speeds of up to a blistering 2Gbps in the future.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: SpaceX's new Starlink dishes are in the works, will blast 1Gbps+ speeds to users (full post)

XPG's new LEVANTE II 360 liquid cooling solution for CPUs can handle up to 320W

Kosta Andreadis | Cases, Cooling & PSU | Mar 30, 2025 9:34 PM CDT

XPG has launched its latest AIO liquid cooler, the high-performance XPG LEVANTE II 360, which is available now. In addition to the dual-chamber pump, which features the thermal efficiency and performance to handle CPUs with up to a 320W TDP, the LEVANTE II 360 also sports a vibrant physical design with infinity mirrors on both the pump and fans.

XPG's new LEVANTE II 360 liquid cooling solution for CPUs can handle up to 320W

One excellent DIY feature of the XPG LEVANTE II 360 is that the 3-in-1 single frame ARGB fans are pre-installed, making the installation process easy and less cluttered, thanks to simple and minimal cable management. The fans are optimized for airflow and noise levels, with XPG noting that the XPG LEVANTE II 360 offers quiet cooling, with sound levels kept to around 29 dB(A) on average during intense workloads.

The new XPG LEVANTE II 360 AIO Liquid Cooler is also universally compatible with various CPUs and sockets, including Intel LGA 1851, LGA 1700, and the latest AMD AM5 sockets.

0:00 / --:--

Continue reading: XPG's new LEVANTE II 360 liquid cooling solution for CPUs can handle up to 320W (full post)

Newsletter Subscription