Latest News - Page 355

More speculation continues to bubble in the rumor pot regarding the possibility that the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion remake is set for release in April - and it looks like the game could be out in two weeks' time.

On top of a bunch of other rumors already floated on X, we've got a clarification from Detective Seeds, who previously told us that the Oblivion remake might come out last week (which obviously didn't happen) or this week.

The leaker admitted that they were wrong in this, but as you can see from the new post on X above, they seem very confident the remake will debut during the week of the Elder Scrolls Online anniversary event.

A species of wolf that became extinct approximately 12,500 years ago has now been resurrected by researchers who used ancient DNA samples of the species and combined that with bioengineering.

The achievement has been made by Dallas-based biotech company Colossal Biosciences who created three dire wolf pups by using ancient DNA of the species and advanced technologies such as cloning and gene-editing tools. The researchers took the ancient DNA and by using the aforementioned tools they combined it with the genes of a gray wolf, which is the dire wolf's closest living relative. The result is a hybrid of both species that has an extremely similar appearance and structure to its extinct ancestor.

Cyber Streets is a new Unreal Engine 5.5.3 tech demo from lighting artist Pasquale Scionti that was created to showcase a Blade Runner and Cyberpunk-inspired scene using dynamic lights. This means no Lumen (Unreal Engine 5's in-built ray-tracing), path tracing, ray-tracing, or baked lighting.

This version of the Cyber Streets tech demo, which you can watch above, runs on a GeForce RTX 5080 and is impressive in presenting a complex scene with many dynamic lights. It leverages Unreal Engine's Nanite system with distance field meshes and added screen space reflections to show an interactive scene that looks impressive even without any RTX or Lumen action.

This week, the creator has posted an updated version of the Cyber Streets tech demo that uses Lumen for ray-traced global illumination, with ray-traced shadows, ambient occlusion, and reflections. It turns the tech demo into a Cyberpunk 2077-style scene where you can instantly tell the difference, even though the non-Lumen and non-RT versions still look fantastic.

GameChat is one of the big new features of the Nintendo Switch 2. It is a Discord and Twitch-like video chat, multiplayer, and screen-sharing system that uses the Switch 2's new microphone and USB-C camera functionality. With voice chat support for up to 12 people and game screen sharing with video chat for up to four people, GameChat was one of the first features Nintendo highlighted during its big Nintendo Switch 2 Direct last week.

For those who have seen the broadcast, you'll probably note that the overall image quality of the camera and the low frame rate of the streamed game capture isn't broadcast quality or what you'd expect from a premium service. Still, it is impressive to see background removal and how Nintendo is even incorporating this system into Mario Party for mini-games that include the camera for multiplayer.

Although Nintendo or NVIDIA haven't disclosed the full specs of the custom chip powering the Switch 2, we know that Nintendo is leveraging the GPU's Tensor Cores for AI-powered face tracking and background removal, similar to RTX Broadcast.

Last year, we reported on the world's smallest GeForce RTX 4070 with the Zephyr GeForce RTX 4070 ITX Sakura Blizzard graphics card, which instantly sold out in China. With a GPU length of only 172mm and a single fan for cooling, the ITX-ready card was - at the time - an ideal option for small form-factor ITX builds. It's so tiny that it wouldn't be cramped even in a mini-ITX case.

Well, Zephyr is back - with another tiny GeForce RTX 4070. The new Zephyr GeForce RTX 4070 ITX Sakura Snow X looks to be an improved version of what we saw last year as it includes a full CNC shroud and casing with the aluminum shell including the I/O bracket as part of the design. Although slightly longer at 178mm with a height of 128mm, the larger 105mm fan and aluminum should deliver better thermal performance.

Zephyr notes that the redesigned RTX 4070 runs up to 6 degrees cooler than its previous single-fan model, which is impressive. Interestingly, the company is sticking with the GeForce RTX 40 Series for this design and not moving to the newer GeForce RTX 5070.

Following the official unveiling and close-up look at the Nintendo Switch 2, both Sony and Xbox are looking into new handheld devices, potentially for a release sometime in the future.

Xbox has long been rumored to be working on its own first-party handheld, with rumors pegging its release to be sometime in 2027. As for Sony, there have only been rumors based on patents that have become public, with no date mentioned as to when the company could release a PSP 2-esque device.

However, with Nintendo's recent Switch 2-focussed Direct it has both Sony and Microsoft stirring the handheld development pot, as Sony is currently probing its PlayStation gamers with questions about their favorite aspects of the Nintendo Switch 2 device and launch, in what seems to be an effort to gather as much intelligence as it can on what gamers like about the console for its own handheld.

Nintendo Switch 2 developers have sat down for an interview to discuss the upcoming console's hardware capabilities and what game developers will have at their disposal when it comes to building games for Nintendo's latest platform.

Kouchi Kawamoto and Takuhiro Dohta from Nintendo's Entertainment Planning and Development Department, and Tetusya Sasaki from Nintendo's Technology Development Division spoke with IGN, who asked several questions about what is under the hood of the Switch 2. Nintendo was asked if the Switch 2 is running a NVIDIA Tegra SOC (System on Chip), and what graphics architecture the chip is based on. Nintendo slightly deflected from the question by saying that "a lot of details" will be discovered in "NVIDIA's information they've shared."

Additionally, Nintendo was asked what kind of upscaling the system uses, and if it's AI upscaling. Nintendo responded by saying, "I think probably the main kind of easiest upscaling to use is the DLSS that NVIDIA provides. So from that standpoint, I guess you could say this AI." Nintendo added that its planning on rolling out "other options of upscaling through software" that include both AI-based and non-AI-based upscaling.

Although it's exclusive to the Chinese market and features a design partially inspired by what looks like generic anime characters, GALAX's new GeForce RTX 5090D Boomstar series, available in white Luna and black Nox, features an impressive design. This is because the shroud (essentially the top plate with three fans) is magnetically detachable.

Without any wires or screws, being able to remove the shroud and fans via a magnetic system is an impressive feature for those that might want to perform some maintenance (cleaning) down the road. Naturally, you wouldn't remove the shroud when the GPU is in use, but this form of 'partial disassembly' has the added benefit of not voiding warranties.

GALAX's Boomstar series also includes a magnetic backplate sticker system for customization, making the GPU more or less anime-infused. The GeForce RTX 5090D Boomstar OC variants include a 2452 MHz boost clock, higher than the RTX 5090D's 2407 MHz reference spec.

Switch 2's Game-key Cards will not be account bound upon use, Nintendo confirms.

Nintendo Switch 2 will have a more formalized version of its predecessor's code-in-a-box format called Game-key Cards. These are cartridges that don't have the game on them but instead have a key to unlock a digital download of the game. Now Nintendo has clarified that these Game-key Cards work like any other cartridge, meaning they can be shared with friends and presumably sold second-hand.

"So key cards will start up on the console or system that it is slotted into, so it's not tied to an account or anything," Nintendo's Tetsuya Sasaki told GameSpot. Sasaki worked primarily on the Switch 2's system software environment.

A new report at PC Games Hardware has shown that you can flash the BIOS on a Radeon RX 9070 non-XT GPU with the BIOS for the Radeon RX 9070 XT to achieve higher boost clock speeds, raise the power limit, and boost performance. Of course, there are still some key hardware differences between the two cards - the Radeon RX 9070's GPU features 56 Compute Units compared to 64 in the Radeon RX 9070 XT.

By flashing the ASUS PRIME Radeon RX 9070 with the BIOS from the ASUS PRIME Radeon RX 9070 XT, the lower-tier RDNA 4 offers saw its boost clock speed increase from around 2.5 GHz to 3.1 GHz, with the power limit (TGP) increased to 317W from 220W. With that, the Radeon RX 9070 "XT" can outperform a Radeon RX 9070 XT with stock settings in various 3DMark benchmarks.

This is a pretty impressive bit of modding, as it boosts the performance of the non-XT RDNA 4 variant by around 15%. However, modding or changing the vBIOS will always be risky, and no official tool automates the process.

Chinese AI companies have reportedly placed orders for a hefty $16 billion worth of NVIDIA's new H20 AI GPUs, according to a new report from The Information.

In a world where US sanctions are meant to be stopping China from getting their hands on some of the most advanced AI chips made, Chinese tech companies like Baidu and TikTok parent company ByteDance, are speeding up their data center building and model training to keep up with the West.

This shouldn't come as a surprise at all, with recent stories -- in the links below -- had us reporting that NVIDIA could experience more Chinese GPU export restrictions from the Trump administration, as well as Chinese AI firm DeepSeek using 50,000 NVIDIA H100 AI GPUs, even with US restrictions in place. In 2024, we reported that the US government was asking NVIDIA how its advanced AI chips were getting into the hands of Chinese companies, which skirted US sanctions.

SK hynix is the leader in AI memory with its next-gen HBM4 and even next-gen-er HBM4E memory is being promised for later this year, with mass production of its new 12-layer HBM4 promised at the same time.

Choi Jun-yong, Vice President of the HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) Business Planning at SK hynix, recently said: "We will further solidify our HBM leadership by not only mass producing (6th generation HBM) HBM4 12-layer this year, but also timely supplying (7th generation) HBM4E".

In an interview with VP Choi that day in the SK hynix newsroom, the executive said: "In parallel with the development of new HBM, we will provide optimal solutions to various customer needs through custom HBM that meets the specialized needs of customers".

Apple will launch the iPhone 17 later this year without many changes to the design, and while the new iPhone 17 Air will be an ultra-thin experience, from the front it shouldn't look any different... but the company has a major design overhaul teased for the iPhone 18.

In a new post by Bloomberg insider Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, we're learning that Apple is reportedly preparing a "major shake-up" for the iPhone and its huge 20-year anniversary in 2026. Gurman says that we can expect a foldable iPhone -- something that has been rumored as the iPhone Ultra recently, with more on that here -- but a "bold new Pro model" that makes more "extensive use of glass".

Apple's next-gen iPhone 18 Pro could be a single piece of glass, with its compute stick at the bottom, and cameras on the rear... something that has been rumored since the iPhone 8 in 2016.

WarnerBros. has mined gold with its adaptation of Mojang's voxel indie hit with over $300 million in opening box office sales.

It's official: The Minecraft movie is a mega hit. The film has had the best opening in the history of video game movie adaptations, beating out Nintendo's Super Mario Bros. Movie, which earned a thunderous $204 million.

According to figures from The Hollywood Reporter, the Minecraft picture raked in $163 million in domestic sales, and $150 million globally, closing the weekend with $313 million earned total.

Xbox gaming CEO Phil Spencer once again mentions his excitement for handhelds, and drops a surprising factoid on Xbox's ever-growing cloud gaming business.

In a recent interview with iJustine, Xbox gaming CEO Phil Spencer briefly reiterated Microsoft's core game plan for interactive entertainment: Games everywhere, for everyone, at any time.

In the interview, Spencer said that it was the consumer that was at the center of the products and services, not the other way around. This means delivering content and services on devices that people already own--or maybe newer ones introduced in a nascent hardware market. ASUS and Microsoft have teamed up to make what's believed to be an Xbox-themed PC handheld, but the device hasn't been revealed yet. It will be a Windows 11 device and not an "Xbox handheld" that runs native Xbox console versions of games.

Microsoft has released a playable version of Quake II that was created entirely by its generative AI technology.

A bit ago, Microsoft announced Muse generative AI, technology that could create gameplay on-the-fly. Now the tech has been updated and is able to push 10 FPS thanks to training data from an old-school PC classic: Quake II.

Anyone can play an AI-generated, very janky and fever dream-like version of Quake II via Copilot Labs right in their browser. Be forewarned: There's a time limit, and there's not a lot of consistency. Don't expect this to be like an emulator.

The president of Nintendo of America has spoken to Wired about the recent sweeping trade tariffs implemented by President Trump and how they may affect the price of the newly announced Nintendo Switch 2.

Nintendo only recently wrapped up its close-up look at the Nintendo Switch 2, where it gave buyers many reasons to purchase the notable upgrade over the original Switch for a price of $449. However, only days after Nintendo set the price, Trump unveiled tariffs aimed at many countries that Nintendo sources its manufacturing/components for the Switch 2, causing Nintendo to postpone pre-orders for the new console as the company deliberates on how it wants to address the new situation.

Now, Nintendo of America president Doug Bowser has spoken to Wired admitting the tariffs "weren't factored into the pricing" of the Nintendo Switch 2, and that Nintendo is "actively assessing" the situation and how it will impact the market. Bowser added, "It creates a challenge. It's something we're going to have to address."

In an unconventional deployment of AI tools, a defendant in the New York Courts has attempted to use an artificial intelligence avatar to represent himself in a legal dispute.

The defendant in question, 74-year-old Jerome Dewald, appeared in the New York Supreme Court on March 26 regarding an employment matter. During the hearing, Dewald attempted to submit footage of an AI-generated avatar, which appeared in front of the judges and uttered a few words before being quickly shut down by the judge.

It's been a month since Battlefield Labs kicked off, implementing player-driven playtesting for every game aspect, including movement, combat systems, and new maps. The game has been no stranger to leaks, and most recently, data miners have uncovered traces of a free-to-play Battle Royale game mode that's expected to launch with Battlefield 6.

The first traces of a Battle Royale for Battlefield 6 were reported in February 2024, and it has since been confirmed that related files were identified in the a build of Battlefield Labs.

Per Insider Gaming, the new mode reportedly features solo, duo, trio, and squad matches. Along with conventional Battle Royale features such as armor systems, loot rarity, call-ins, and a shrinking zone. It's highlighted that the core experience will be made free-to-play, with an additional mode entitled Gauntlet referenced in the game files.

The success of the original Nintendo Switch wasn't just profitable for Nintendo, but created a whole new genre of gaming handhelds, with the original console moving as many as 150 million units throughout its 9-year life cycle. That success was undoubtedly closely watched by the company's direct competitors, Sony and Microsoft.

Rumors have been circulating for quite some time about a Microsoft handheld being in the works, but what about Sony? The PlayStation owner had the PlayStation Portable (PSP) series and the Vita, with the last time Sony released a handheld device in North America being 2014. Since then, Sony has been awfully quiet on any new handheld releases, with only rumors based on patents becoming public causing rumblings about a portable device being in the works.

However, it appears Sony is really looking into the handheld market once again, following the success of the original Switch, and the slew of other devices in its form factor that came after it (Steam Deck, ROG Ally, etc). Leaker eXtas1s has shared an image of Sony asking select PlayStation gamers their thoughts on the Nintendo Switch 2 with a new survey.