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ADATA Chairman Chen Li-bai has disregarded talk of an AI bubble, stating it's too early to discuss and isn't relevant until 2040 at the earliest. Simultaneously, he warns that DRAM shortages will persist for another 10 years due to the seemingly endless hunger of the AI and data center sectors.

Truly, this isn't something consumers want to hear right now, especially considering how much prices have increased for desktop memory due to the global shortage as a result of AI companies gobbling up supply and luring memory manufacturers with checkbooks to produce AI memory rather than consumer DRAM.

Chen argues that the global tech market has underestimated the surge in memory and power infrastructure needs. AI compute demand is rising at an unprecedented pace, along with demand for electricity, memory, storage, and various other components. According to Chen, this demand isn't expected to stop anytime soon, and is only really the beginning.

In the generative AI era, if you're on social media, then odds are you've been seeing or watching several AI-generated videos. And with the lifelike quality of generative AI content now at a point where it can be hard to tell what's "real" or not, there's a genuine need for AI content to not only be flagged but detected to ensure transparency and minimize the spread of misinformation.

At the latest SIGGRAPH event that's currently underway in Los Angeles, NVIDIA announced the Synthetic Video Detector NVIDIA NIM microservice, which is built for media outlets, newsrooms, and enthusiasts. It's an AI-assisted detection model designed to detect AI-generated video content.

According to NVIDIA, this NIM microservice "analyzes video frame by frame to produce a classifier score of whether it contains synthetic content." And with that, individuals or teams can then review and analyze flagged clips and videos. NVIDIA notes that based on its own internal testing, the Synthetic Video Detector NVIDIA NIM microservice model's detection accuracy reached 92% on uncompressed video.

Sony's PlayStation 6 is expected to deliver a major hardware improvement over the PS5, as a newly uncovered patent outlines a redesigned cooling system, which comes only days after another patent was discovered for what appears to be the PS6 controller.

The patent, filed in June 2026, points to a more efficient heat pipe design intended to maintain standard thermal performance despite the console being positioned upright or horizontal. If the design outlined in the patent makes it to the final product, we can expect Sony to focus on its upgraded cooling system in its PS6 marketing. It's likely the result of the new cooling system is a reduction in component temperatures and noise pollution, particularly under load.

The new system appears to replace the PS5's liquid metal with a sealed heat pipe, which should translate to a general improvement in thermal stability across both orientations. The PS6 is expected to be digital-only, with Sony recently announcing it will be phasing out physical disc production by 2028, which soft-confirmed the PlayStation 6 will be launching without a physical disc drive, as it wouldn't make sense for Sony to launch a new console with a disc drive only to stop producing physical discs only a few years into that console's lifecycle.

When it comes to GPU monitoring, one of the biggest stories in recent weeks has been third parties restoring GPU Hotspot temperature readings on GeForce RTX 50 Series cards. Although unofficial, the consensus is that these readings can be beneficial in troubleshooting issues relating to cooling and performance, which is why tools like HWiNFO have now added this feature.

This week we've got another revelation for GeForce RTX monitoring, this time related to GPU memory. Thanks to the Brazilian Paulo Gomes mod team, who discovered a way to read temperature data on individual memory modules by accessing memory-mapped I/O (MMIO), which can then be mapped to physical modules surrounding the GPU die. According to the team, current memory temperature readings always show the current hotspot reading; this new mod expands this to cover individual modules.

And the good news is that this covers GDDR6, GDDR6X, and the new GDDR7 memory found on the GeForce RTX 50 Series. With the new mod, the latest HWiNFO beta includes these readings alongside the Hotspot.dll plugin for MSI Afterburner from Asder00. However, due to the different memory configurations, there is some nuance to the data. For GeForce RTX 5090 GPUs, it has 16 memory packages, but you've only got eight measurement points covering paired GDDR7 modules.

Samsung Display has announced that it has begun "full-scale" supply for its new tandem OLED panels built for laptops. These new panels stack two layers, which enhances efficiency alongside delivering higher brightness that's not possible with standard or older OLED panel technology. This is great news for laptops, as not only do you get the near-infinite contrast and premium color accuracy of OLED, but now you've got the sort of brightness suitable for bright rooms and even outdoor settings.

And when it comes to brightness, these new tandem OLED panels from Samsung can reach a peak brightness of up to 1,600 nits, which is a 40% improvement over single-layer OLED. And with that, these panels meet the requirements to achieve the new VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1400 certification for OLED displays.

This certification requires a display to reproduce black levels of 0.0005 nits or lower alongside a peak brightness of 1,400 nits across 10% of the active pixels on the screen. It's a notable and significant step up from single-layer OLED and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1000. One of the first laptops to launch with this new Samsung tandem OLED panel for laptops is the Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i Aura Edition, which earned its True Black 1400 certification earlier this month.

With the GeForce RTX 50 Series, MSI introduced new GPU designs alongside refreshed versions of its classic, tried-and-true models. One of the new design variants is the INSPIRE series, which features a compact form factor with a minimal, understated design best-suited for creators looking for a stylish GPU for their workflows and build. Of course, INSPIRE GPUs are still optimized for PC gaming, but deliver that with a more understated look.

And with that, when MSI introduced the INSPIRE lineup, the GPUs featured a brushed silver-and-gold finish with black fans and accents. Cut to 2026, and MSI is introducing a stealthy black variant (thanks, VideoCardz), with the product page for the new MSI GeForce RTX 5080 16G INSPIRE 3X OC BLACK now live. In addition to the black color, the revamped design also includes etching-like patterns on the front not present in the original design.

With dimensions of 288 x 112 x 50mm, the compact 2.5-slot design is compatible with ATX, M-ATX, and even ITX cases. The ZERO FROZR cooling is powered by MSI's new STORMFORCE fans with enhanced airflow via the custom core pipe and finstack design on the heatsink. It also includes a nickel-plated copper baseplate for the GPU and memory, with a vented metal backplate with MSI and GeForce RTX branding.

When it comes to portable gaming audio, over-the-ear headsets account for most of the options currently available. With the launch of Razer's new Hammerhead V3 X Hyperspeed earbuds for Xbox and PlayStation, it's a nice little reminder that there are in-ear options that can still deliver low-latency audio with chat functionality that's optimized for consoles and PCs.

And they're available in two flavors: the black and green Razer Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed for Xbox and the white Razer Hammerhead V3 X HyperSpeed for PlayStation. Outside of the different look, both offer the same hardware and features, with the Xbox variant including support for the Xbox console's custom low-latency wireless audio technology.

The low-latency "gaming-grade" audio for the Hammerhead V3 X Hyperspeed earbuds is powered by the company's Razer HyperSpeed Wireless 2.4 GHz tech found across its entire range of gaming headsets. As earbuds, they also support Bluetooth 5.3 for portable lifestyle use, including more recent low-latency BT tech for mobile gaming when paired with a smartphone, gaming handheld, or laptop. They also support Razer SmartSwitch Dual Wireless tech for seamless switching between 2.4G and BT modes.

The industry's push towards higher-priced games has apparently worked, as data suggests that gamers are more willing to buy higher-priced editions of video games when given the option.

Sony's digital PlayStation Store pre-order charts illustrate a potential trend in price tolerance. The current PS Store rankings indicate that gamers are willing to spend extra money on more expensive versions of new titles. This is especially true for Grand Theft Auto VI, whose $100 Ultimate Edition was the #1 top pre-ordered game in all nine tracked geographies--US, CA, UK, FR, ES, DE, SA, JP, and HK.

That's not the only game whose more expensive version is selling ahead of its basic SKU. Halo Campaign Evolved's Premium Edition is ahead of its cheaper counterpart, but this game is an encapsulation of multiple effects, including capitalizing on pent-up demand and the novelty of Halo's first release on PlayStation. Even still, PlayStation gamers are more willing to pay the extra $20 for Halo CE's Premium Edition due to the compelling offer of 5 days of advanced access. That's a substantial chunk of time--a full work week's worth of gaming.

As gamers brace for the eventual slow-down of physical media, teams like Bandai Namco and Rebel Wolves are making sure their new game will get preserved with a playable build on the disc.

Physical copies of The Blood of Dawnwalker will have a complete playable version of the game on the disc. Given Sony's recent decision to end physical game disc production for new games after January 2028, the games that come complete on disc become more noteworthy. Publisher Bandai Namco confirmed the news to Eurogamer: "The full game data is on disc, with a day-one patch recommended."

Rebel Wolves' stylish and brutal action RPG joins the plethora of titles that can be accessed offline and don't require a day one patch or an update in order to play--the team at Does It Play have created a repository of thousands of such titles.

Assassin's Creed Odyssey was a mixed bag when it launched. While it was successful financially for Ubisoft, it left a big chunk of the fanbase disappointed with its gameplay mechanics and story. Hardcore fans of the franchise were disillusioned by Odyssey's RPG-like style and nerfed stealth elements, and many straight-up did not like the protagonists being "mercenaries" rather than white-hooded Assassins.

Regardless of its initial reception, Assassin's Creed Odyssey is getting a surprising second wind in recent weeks, and it has Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" to thank for it. Now, I'm not much of a film guy, but even I know that The Odyssey is a huge deal. It's the first film to ever be shot entirely on 70mm IMAX, has a star-studded cast, and is expected to break all kinds of records after launch. It's fair to say that The Odyssey certainly has a tremendous amount of hype behind it.

That hype has benefitted Ubisoft's 2018 Assassin's Creed entry too. Many gamers saw this as the perfect opportunity to jump back on the game, just to get a feel of the Greek islands once again. Furthermore, the official Assassin's Creed X handle also fed into the hype, reminding players that this might be the perfect time to "begin their Odyssey."

Ayaneo has unveiled the Next 2 in an Indiegogo campaign, which received a substantial amount of funding, but the launch of the new gaming handheld was suspended due to production costs increasing. However, it appears the Next 2 is coming back to market, but it is going to cost up to $5,299.

The company had already suspended pre-orders in March due to soaring storage prices, but it looks like the cost issue hasn't gone away and has actually driven prices even higher. The Next 2 sports an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 APU, and arrives in three configurations. The top-tier 128 GB + 2 TB model, which is now listed at $5,299 on the Ayaneo website, was previously priced at $4,299.

The 64 GB + 1 TB variant was $2,699, and the 32 GB + 1 TB version was $1,999. However, according to the listing prices on the Ayaneo website, the 128 GB + 2 TB model has now increased to $5,299, the 64 GB + 1 TB variant to $3,699, and the 32 GB + 1 TB to $2,999.

Valve has confirmed that its highly anticipated Steam Machine will not launch with a new exclusive title, which has indirectly thrown a wet blanket on theories that Valve was planning to launch the highly anticipated Half-Life 3 on the PC/console hybrid.

Valve recently began shipping the expensive hybrid PC, and now Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais has spoken to Bloomberg about the launch strategy around the new device, and whether players can expect Valve to take the traditional route with a console launch, or to expect something else. According to Griffais, Valve won't be following in the footsteps of Sony, which debuted a new console alongside a brand new AAA game in order to attract customers.

Typically, this new game is exclusive to the new PlayStation platform. However, Griffais has said that restricting where players can access games doesn't align with Valve's goals. Instead, Valve wants the entire PC game catalog to serve as the platform's "launch exclusive" rather than an individual title.

Popular YouTuber and enthusiast Der8auer has created a new conversion kit for the $7,000 RTX 5090 Lightning that removes the card's integrated AIO liquid cooling system and replaces it with a waterblock capable of being hooked up to a custom loop while preserving the Lightning's built-in screen and shroud. Der8auer showed off the new waterblock in a YouTube video and found the new watercooling system is capable of running the RTX 5090 GPU well below 60C while drawing 800W of power.

Der8auer showed his process of tearing down the RTX 5090 Lightning and modifying the original waterblock to work with a custom loop. During the teardown, the YouTuber showed off the pump inside the integrated AIO and the integrated waterblock, which Der8auer believes was made as cost-optimized as possible based on the waterblock's design.

The waterblock itself features a copper coldplate attached to an aluminum cover on top. The mod involved replacing the aluminum cover with a stainless steel plate featuring the necessary fittings and terminals to hook the GPU up to a custom loop. Furthermore, making the cover stainless steel was critical to ensuring any coolant a customer might use in the modded waterblock will not corrode.

Someone on Bilibili decided their RTX 4060 needed a cooling solution roughly the size of a small radiator, and the result is somehow both ridiculous and kind of beautiful. The build straps a gigantic 2.5kg block of finned aluminum directly onto the card, ditching the stock fans entirely in favor of pure passive cooling.

For scale, that heatsink weighs more than twice as much as the graphics card itself, and it towers over the tiny mini-ITX motherboard the RTX 4060 is socketed into. The fins are spaced wide apart on purpose, giving hot air room to rise and escape without any help from a fan. Even the CPU sitting next to it got the passive treatment, so the whole rig runs in total silence.

The project first surfaced on Chinese platform Bilibili before FanlessTech picked it up, and it made the rounds online. Nobody outside the build seems to have shared official load temps, so treat this one as a proof of concept and a crazy one-off, rather than something to copy this weekend.

The same Reddit modder who turned a PS4 Slim into a working handheld earlier this year is back with round two. Posting under the handle wewillmakeitnow, they built a second version of their DIY console, and this one is noticeably more compact than the original.

The new build, called the PS4P v2, still runs on a cut-down PS4 Slim motherboard, but the modder says this version draws less power, which helps with battery life. It keeps the same 7-inch 1080p OLED screen and pairs it with six 21700 cells rated at 5000mAh each, good for 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the game. It can also run off external power, and it supports HDMI output plus a real PS4 controller if you'd rather hook it up to a TV.

One of the more interesting changes is the cooling setup. The modder mounted a fan pulled from an old GTX 750 graphics card to the back of the unit, with a removable guard over it. Take the guard off for better airflow, or leave it on to shield the fan from dust and knocks. For me, the fan on the back also adds to the industrialist aesthetics of the build, but that can be subjective.

Sony has filed a patent for a modular gamepad that replaces the DualSense's touchpad with a small touchscreen. The patent describes a controller built around a four-by-seven magnetic grid that allows individual input modules, including thumbsticks, directional controls, and the touchscreen itself, to be repositioned anywhere on the controller.

The touchscreen module would handle notifications, quick menu access, settings navigation, and messages, controlled through a rotating dial built into the module. The patent also mentions phone pairing, with incoming calls potentially appearing on the controller display, though it remains unclear how these features would work in practice.

The modular design could also set Sony's next-generation controller apart from others on the market. Rather than a fixed layout, players could theoretically rearrange inputs to suit their grip, the game they're playing, or their accessibility needs. Sony has already explored similar ideas with the PS5 Access controller, and this patent appears to bring that philosophy to a more mainstream gamepad.

Marathon game director Joe Ziegler has left Bungie as the studio adapts to industry-wide disruption, including layoffs and major cost reductions.

Following mass layoffs, Bungie loses another senior-level developer. This time Marathon's game director Joe Ziegler has departed the group, leaving the highly-artistic live service shooter in the hands of Del Chafe III and Marathon creative director Julia Nardin.

"I'll be heading to something new, somewhere else, and will update you on where and what soon. I just want to say a deeply heartfelt thank you to all of you for supporting me and Marathon in our windy mission to bring a dark and terrifying space survival frontier to your screen," Ziegler wrote on Twitter, shortly after announcing his departure.

Todd Howard may not stop making Elder Scrolls or Fallout games any time soon.

Xbox is resetting its business, laying off 3,200 workers this fiscal year alone--half of which are being let go now. To distract from the massive industry culling from one of gaming's Big 3 platform-holders, Bethesda revealed its project roadmap, confirming four new Fallout games are in development. We've seen senior staff take voluntary retirement packages as part of Xbox's layoffs, but it sounds like Bethesda's Todd Howard is here to stay and has no plans to actually retire.

As part of the press junket for the new Fallout announcements, Bloomberg's Jason Schreier interviewed Todd Howard about the topic of retirement. Howard essentially says that he used to think about what that would look like, but no longer does, presumably because he's so absorbed in the world of gaming (and also possibly because Xbox really needs him right now).

NVIDIA's professional Quadro graphics cards are not what you would typically think of as gaming graphics cards. But a YouTuber has discovered that NVIDIA's Maxwell-based Quadro M4000 from 15 years ago makes for one of the most potent used bare-minimum entry-level gaming GPU buys in 2026. YouTuber Budget-Builds Official benchmarked the card, with an overclock, and found the GPU regularly outperforms the GTX 970 and RX 580 4GB thanks to its 8GB memory capacity, allowing the card to approach GTX 1060 performance. Best of all, he picked up the card for just $30 on the used market.

The YouTuber benchmarked the M4000 (with a hefty manual overclock) in a variety of games, including GTA V, Counter-Strike 2, Arc Raiders, Oblivion Remastered, Samson, Cyberpunk 2077, Fortnite, PUBG, Baldur's Gate 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, S&Box, BeamNG, Fallout 4: Anniversary, M&B Bannerlord, and Crysis Remastered.

The 15-year-old card couldn't play all of these games at a perfect 60 FPS, but all the aforementioned games were at the very least capable of achieving 30 FPS, including the aforementioned titles running on Unreal Engine 5. Oblivion, a title that demands 8GB of VRAM at a minimum, was able to run at 30 FPS using a 900p resolution.

A UK buyer had their Steam Machine stolen after a Royal Mail courier left the £1,000 package unattended outside their home. Valve agreed to send a replacement, and the incident has sparked calls for the company to require signatures when delivering such expensive items.

The story comes from Reddit user mdumtshali, who was at work when the delivery arrived. Doorbell camera footage shows the Royal Mail courier first attempting to place the package in a designated safe location, but it did not fit. The courier left it on the ground instead and took a photo of the delivery. By the time the buyer returned home, the £1,000 Steam Machine had been stolen. The doorbell camera did not capture the theft because it was set to record only after detecting someone lingering for a set period.

Steam Support initially asked the buyer to check whether a neighbour had collected the package, but that led nowhere. Valve then said it would send a replacement rather than issue a refund. The buyer praised Steam Support for its handling of the situation and said they plan to either work from home for the second delivery or have it redirected to a collection point.