Latest News - Page 55

AMD's new Dense Geometry Format (DGF) for modern PC game development is all about increasing geometric complexity for ray tracing, paving the way for improved performance when presenting detailed, complex, open-world environments. In a sense, it's similar to NVIDIA RTX Mega Geometry technology, with AMD's open solution breaking down an environment and compressing that data into geometry clusters.

AMD first introduced this new technology in a research paper it published back in July of 2024, and now it's matured to the point where it's available for developers to test and integrate into future games and engines, with support for Vulkan via an updated AMD DGF SDK. AMD has also confirmed that it has partnered with Samsung to bring DGF to "future mobile devices."

In addition to compressing geometric data for ray-tracing, this 30% reduction in storage costs opens the door to more detailed worlds. The compression also supports animated geometry, so it's all-encompassing. As an open-source solution, it's compatible with non-RDNA 4 or Radeon hardware, and the technology is also optimized for the next-generation RDNA 5 graphics that are set to hit PC and console markets.

Dusk is a project that longtime The Legend of Zelda fans will probably want to take note of, as it's an unofficial PC port of the classic The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, originally released on the Nintendo GameCube and Wii in 2006. This decompilation has been a passion project for the team, which began decompiling Twilight Princess back in August of 2020. In fact, the announcement of Dusk 1.0's release claims that it's the "largest decompilation project ever completed."

And it's a PC port that supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and even iOS. It's even optimized to run well on the Steam Deck handheld. Being a PC port, you've got the option to play the game at frame rates higher than 30 or 60 FPS, with the team managing to achieve this using modern game development techniques to ensure that the game doesn't break when pushing higher frames than the original's 30 FPS target.

As for the legalities of this unofficial PC port, available via GitHub, it follows in the footsteps of other recent N64-based decompilation projects, where you'll need to provide your own North American (NTSC) or European (PAL) GameCube back-up of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess to play Dusk. For fans looking to jump back into this classic Zelda game with crisp 4K visuals and overhauled textures, it also arrives with several quality-of-life (QoL) improvements.

Hitman developer and publisher IO Interactive's big cinematic James Bond action-adventure 007 First Light is out later this month, and ahead of the game's launch, we've now got the official PC requirements and specifications for the game. And interestingly, even though the game is set to launch with native DLSS 4.5 Super Resolution and DLSS Dynamic Frame Generation for GeForce gamers, the game's impressive Path Tracing or Full Ray Tracing mode isn't expected until Summer 2026.

That said, the PC hardware requirements do point to a game that could be well-optimized on day one, with the minimum 1080p 30 FPS specification asking for a GeForce GTX 1660 or Radeon RX 5700, with a GeForce RTX 3060 Ti or a Radeon RX 6700 recommended for 1080p 60 FPS. For Enthusiast-class 1440p 60 FPS performance with 'High' graphics settings, the developer recommends a GeForce RTX 4070 or a Radeon RX 7800 XT.

Although the GPU specs targeting a card that is notably more powerful than the popular GeForce RTX 3060 is concerning, the good news is that IO Interactive's PC specifications for playing the game don't include DLSS or FSR Super Resolution, so gamers can expect to unlock a lot of extra performance when enabling these technologies.

According to a new report from retailers and insiders (via VideoCardz), PC gamers in China can now pick up an RDNA 4 gaming GPU like the Radeon RX 9060 XT or the Radeon RX 9070 XT for below MSRP, or at the suggested launch price in the region. This is in stark contrast to other global markets, like in the US, where MSRP pricing for current-gen Radeon RX 9000 and GeForce RTX 50 Series graphics cards is a distant memory.

Per US retailer Newegg, the current lowest-priced and discounted new Radeon RX 9070 XT GPU is ASRock's Challenger model, which is selling for $709.99, which is still notably higher than the $599 MSRP for the card. Right now in China, you can grab several Radeon RX 9070 XT models, including premium overclocked variants like ASRock's Taichi edition for around 4999 RMB, which is the flagship RDNA 4 GPU's original MSRP.

If you're wondering if this is a precursor to global prices for PC gaming GPUs dropping in the weeks or months ahead, this situation looks to be regional, or, best-case, a "wait and see." According to the report, the main reason for the price drop is weak demand for Radeon GPUs and a DIY PC market currently under inventory pressure.

Following the publication of its full-year financial results, Nintendo has confirmed it will raise the price of its new Nintendo Switch 2 console. For gamers in the United States, Canada, and Europe, the new pricing will take effect on September 1, 2026, with the console's MSRP in the US increasing by $50, from $449.99 to $499.99. In Canada, it's set to increase from $629.99 to $679.99, and in Europe, the price will increase from €469.99 to €499.99. In the company's homeland, the price increase is set to kick in on May 25, 2026, alongside price increases for all original Nintendo Switch hardware.

This news follows recent rumors and reports that Nintendo was planning on raising the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 globally. The announcement cites "changes in market conditions" that are expected to "extend over the medium to long term" as the reason for the price increase, indicating that the current memory, chip, and storage crisis affecting the wider industry isn't expected to end anytime soon.

"We sincerely apologize for the impact these price revisions may have on our customers and other stakeholders, and we deeply appreciate your understanding," the statement reads. And although this news arrives after Nintendo's financial results showed the Nintendo Switch 2 console sold in record numbers, it's now forecasting a second-year decline in Switch 2 hardware sales.

In a recently released corporate strategy presentation, Hideaki Nishino, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, detailed the company's approach to using AI in game development. Nishino described AI as a "powerful tool" to support Sony's mission to become the best place to play and publish.

The presentation specifically mentions automating workflows, improving productivity, and accelerating tasks such as quality assurance, 3D modeling, and animation. One example highlighted is Mockingbird, an AI-powered tool that animates 3D facial models using performance capture data.

Nishino revealed that Sony's studios are already adopting this AI animation tool and have used it to remaster Horizon Zero Dawn. Real-world video footage of hairstyles was converted into detailed 3D models, significantly reducing the time required to build them by hand. The Last of Us developer Naughty Dog and San Diego Studio were among other PlayStation studios already using similar tools.

Sony is teaming up with chip manufacturing giant TSMC to form a joint venture to build a sensor fabrication facility in Japan for next-generation image sensors. The two companies announced a non-binding memorandum of understanding to form a strategic partnership to co-develop and co-manufacture these sensors.

The proposed joint venture would have Sony as the majority and controlling shareholder, leading the project at its newly constructed fabrication facility in Koshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, while leveraging TSMC's manufacturing expertise to produce sensors with enhanced performance compared to what is available today.

The move comes as part of CEO Hiroki Totoki's plan to shift the company away from its physical assets and toward IP. That strategy has already seen Sony pull out of TV manufacturing, handing TCL a 51% stake of its Bravia division. Beyond manufacturing, the two companies are also eyeing opportunities in physical AI applications, specifically automotive and robotics, where high-performance sensing is becoming increasingly critical.

Fans of the franchise are evidently ecstatic about Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, as the response to the reveal has been overwhelmingly positive. Ubisoft seems to have taken the right approach in revitalizing the 2013 classic, staying true to its core tenets while modernizing it for 2026. However, it seems like there might be a bit of bad news on the horizon for fans who wanted to relive the beloved Assassin's Creed game in all its glory.

Apparently, one of the core mechanics of the original Assassin's Creed games, the Hidden Blade, is going to take a back seat in Black Flag Resynced. The blades will not be a selectable weapon in Resynced. Rather, Edward's main weapons will be his trusty dual swords, as confirmed by Creative Director Paul Fu on a Reddit AMA on the Assassin's Creed subreddit.

This news is a bit of a downer for many Assassin's Creed fans who turned away from the series once RPG elements were introduced and the Blades became less important. The Hidden Blades were a core part of Assassin's Creed combat in the earlier games. They were available to be equipped as separate weapons and were a lethal one-shot assassination tool for critical situations. It looks like that won't be the case with Resynced.

Chinese board manufacturer MaxSun has expanded its lineup with two new Mobile on Desktop (MoDT) motherboards: the MS-MoDT 230H D4 WIFI and the MS-MoDT 205H D4 WIFI. The company is promoting both boards globally as compact MoDT options for SFF systems, workstations, edge systems, and value-focused desktop builds.

For those unfamiliar, MoDT motherboards are specialized desktop-form-factor boards with laptop-grade processors soldered directly onto them. They typically come in Micro-ATX or Mini-ITX sizes and offer a more affordable alternative to traditional socketed CPU and motherboard combinations, though you do have to sacrifice the ability to upgrade your processor later.

Coming back to Maxsun's boards, the Core 200H branding is more misleading than MaxSun probably intended. These are not Arrow Lake boards. Intel lists the Core 7 230H and Core 5 205H under Raptor Lake, meaning these are previous-generation mobile chips that Intel quietly rebadged as part of the Core 200H line during Q1 2026.

AMD recently reported very solid Q1 2026 earnings, thanks in large part to the AI boom and rising semiconductor demand. Of the $10.3 billion in revenue for the first quarter of 2026, $5.8 billion was data center revenue driven by sales of AMD EPYC processors and Instinct GPUs. That is a staggering 55.9% of AMD's total revenue in Q1 2026, and 57% higher than its data center revenue in Q1 2025.

In the process, AMD has overtaken Intel in data center revenue and achieved a new milestone. According to a DigiTimes report, this is the first time AMD has generated more revenue from its data center division than Intel in the first quarter of the year. Although AMD had previously surpassed Intel in other quarters (Team Red has been ahead since the third quarter of 2025), this is the first time they have taken the lead in Q1 as well.

AMD generated $4.3 billion from its data center division in Q3 2025, compared with $4.1 billion from Intel. The same trend continued in Q4 2025, with AMD generating $5.4 billion, while Intel managed $4.7 billion. Of course, the Q1 2026 results did not alter this pattern. However, looking at the data compiled by DigiTimes, this might be the start of AMD's long-term dominance that Intel might not be able to shake for some time.

ASUS has launched a new gaming monitor that is a little smaller than usual. The ROG Strix XG129C is a secondary display built for system monitoring, chat windows, streaming controls, and desktop shortcuts. At just 12.3 inches, it feels more like a touchscreen panel, but it still carries the name of a full-fledged gaming monitor.

The ROG Strix XG129C is a 1920x720 IPS screen with a 24:9 aspect ratio, making it a natural sidekick under your main monitor, similar to the second screen on the 14.1-inch ASUS ROG Zephyrus DUO 15. ASUS says this format provides more vertical space than 32:9 panels and reduces black bars for 16:9 content.

The panel supports 10-point capacitive touch for precise multi-finger inputs and runs at 75Hz. ASUS says it covers 125% of the sRGB color gamut and 90% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, which is strong color performance for a secondary display. The surface is glossy and rated for 176-degree viewing angles.

It seems Google has decided that your PC needs a hefty dose of AI, whether you asked for it or not. Security researcher Alexander Hanff, also known as "That Privacy Guy," has published a new report claiming that Google Chrome silently downloads a roughly 4GB AI model onto users' machines without notice or consent.

The file in question is called weights.bin, and it is part of Google's on-device Gemini Nano AI model. Chrome stores it inside a folder called OptGuideOnDeviceModel, located deep in your system's Chrome User Data directory. On Windows, that path is C>Users>AppData>Local>Google>Chrome>User Data. The model is used to power AI features like scam detection locally on your device, rather than sending your data to the cloud.

Perhaps more concerning is what happens if you try to get rid of it. According to Hanff's research, deleting the file does nothing, as Chrome simply re-downloads it automatically. The only way to stop this is to disable the feature through Chrome's settings, which Google reportedly made available in February 2026. Once turned off, the model will no longer download or update.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple and Intel have reached a preliminary agreement for Intel to manufacture some chips for Apple devices. According to the Journal, talks between the two companies have been ongoing for more than a year, with discussions intensifying in recent months. The current scale of the agreement remains unknown, with no details on which Apple products or chip families would be involved, nor whether production would use Intel's existing 18A process or a future node like 14A.

This follows Bloomberg's recent report that Apple held exploratory discussions with both Intel and Samsung about having them manufacture Apple processor chips in the US. The Journal adds that over the last 12 months, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has repeatedly met with Apple leadership, including outgoing CEO Tim Cook, to revive the relationship with Intel.

Apple currently relies solely on TSMC for its most advanced chips, but supply chain realities are pushing the iPhone maker to look beyond its long-time manufacturing partner. During a recent earnings call, outgoing CEO Tim Cook explicitly cited a lack of advanced chips as a reason for Apple's inability to meet iPhone demand, with the Mac lineup also feeling the impact.

Apple is becoming a victim of its own success with the MacBook Neo. Demand is outstripping the supply of binned A18 Pro chips that power the Neo. As a result, Apple has tapped chipmaker TSMC for a dedicated production run. However, rising silicon and DRAM prices in the past two years may jeopardize the device's aggressive $599 price point.

The MacBook Neo is emerging as a disruptive force in the laptop market, posing a serious threat to budget Windows and Chromebook devices. Contrary to expectations, the Neo brought in more users than any Mac device during launch week. It uses a binned variant of the A18 Pro SoC, which is the same silicon found in the iPhone 16 Pro.

Specifically, Apple is repurposing chips that didn't meet the full six-core GPU specification, instead utilizing them as five-core units for the Neo. This inventory likely dates back to production runs from late 2023 through 2024, aligning with TSMC's N3E node entering volume production in late 2023.

It's been over a month since the 5th iteration of Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) was introduced to the world. To say that the response to the new technology was polarizing would be an understatement. As a reminder, DLSS 5 was described by NVIDIA as the first real-time neural rendering technology that brings photorealism to games. When the sample photos and videos were dropped, the response from gamers was overwhelmingly negative.

Now, TechPowerUp has published a new poll asking readers to share their opinions on the technology. The premise was simple: there were four options, and readers could select one. The readers were to choose from "AI shouldn't be altering games", "Actually better than native," "Need to see real game results", and "Only if it boosts FPS." The poll gathered 20,000 answers, and the breakdown is rather interesting.

The largest answer by far was "AI shouldn't be altering games," with 58% of the votes. This is the expected winner, and the reasons behind it are pretty self-explanatory. However, perhaps more interestingly, the second-place winner was the "Need to see real game results" answer, with 28% of the votes. This is a sizable chunk of a rather tech-savvy audience waiting for real-world results before making a decision. The other two options received 6% and 8% of the votes, which doesn't significantly affect the ratio.

It seems Microsoft is steadily implementing its Windows 11 improvement plan by gradually adding new features and improving the user experience. With Project K2, Microsoft plans to address the major pain points its core audience has with Windows 11. As part of that initiative, Microsoft is testing a new feature that aims to improve the user experience by speeding up app load times.

According to Windows Central, Microsoft is testing a new Windows 11 feature called "Low Latency Profile." This feature will speed up app launches by boosting the CPU to its maximum frequency for a short duration, therefore increasing performance for that particular launch sequence. This is a unique approach that has not been seen in Windows before, but, in theory, it works without major downsides.

Apparently, the feature boosts CPU speed for only 1-3 seconds, so it only hits its boost frequency for a very short time. Such a short duration should have no significant effect on the CPU's temperature; however, the same cannot be said for power spikes without proper testing. Moreover, laptop users may experience increased battery drain due to frequent spikes, and these may even have a long-term impact on the quality of the CPU silicon.

Samsung is readying two distinct versions of its upcoming Exynos 2800 SoC in a bold bid to challenge Apple across both mobile and desktop tiers, claims leaker Schrödinger. Per the leak, Samsung is developing a mobile-first variant aimed at the A21 Pro, alongside a high-performance laptop chip designed to compete directly with Apple's M7 family.

However, these early claims should be viewed with skepticism. While Schrödinger says the Exynos 2800 will use Samsung's 1.4nm process, mass production for that node has reportedly been delayed until 2029. Apple's A21, which may power the iPhone 19 family, is expected to be released by late 2027, potentially ditching TSMC for the base variant. The same schedule applies to the MacBook M7.

In any case, the Exynos 2800, referred to as 'Next-gen Exynos' in one of the leaker's blogs, is reported to have a 10-core configuration split across three core types. The processor is also listed with a massive 96MB SLC (System Level Cache). For reference, the current-gen Exynos 2600 has 16MB of SLC.

Xbox Mode on PC aims to provide a "no compromises" gaming experience, putting all of your games in front of a controller-friendly full-screen interface mimicking Steam Big Picture mode. However, there is one compromise that Windows gamers have discovered: Xbox Mode does not support multi-monitor PC setups. User "Kidsmoove" on X posted a video showing Xbox Mode working on just their main screen, with their secondary screen completely blacked out.

Microsoft did not officially confirm whether or not Xbox Mode would support multiple displays, but the concept of the full-screen gaming mode alone somewhat implies that multiple monitors would not be supported. Microsoft also added performance optimizations baked into Xbox Mode at startup that stop programs from starting automatically, further suggesting that the lack of multi-monitor support was a conscious decision by Microsoft and not an afterthought. Having multiple monitors active does steal away system resources from games, even if the displays are showing nothing but the desktop.

One of the perks of PC gaming is the fact that you can have multiple monitors at your disposal, even while you have a game running. Having a YouTube video, music, Discord, a web browser, and many other apps visible on other monitors can be handy while you're gaming.

GeIL has announced what it describes as the industry's first DDR5-8000 memory fully compliant with JEDEC standards. These new modules will be on show at Computex 2026 and will not require XMP, EXPO, or manual BIOS tuning on supported platforms. The memory is optimized for the latest Intel systems, including Z890 and B860 motherboards.

Unlike older high-speed DDR5 kits, these JEDEC DDR5-8000 modules do not rely on BIOS adjustments or overclocking profiles. Instead, the speeds are built directly into the modules' JEDEC SPD profiles, allowing supported systems to boot at DDR5-8000 with no additional configuration required.

In other words, these modules aim to deliver a true plug-and-play experience on compatible platforms, eliminating the need for manual tuning. The memory runs at JEDEC-standard CL64-64-64-128 timings at 1.10V, offering high bandwidth and improved efficiency for gaming, content creation, and AI-related workloads.

Sony wrapped up its fiscal year 2025 with a broadly solid performance across the company, though a painful write-down tied to its Bungie acquisition cast a long shadow over an otherwise encouraging report. The Japanese tech giant posted roughly $82.8 billion in total sales from continuing operations, a 4% increase year-over-year, while operating income climbed 13% to approximately $9.6 billion. The company's operating margin ticked up a percentage point to 11.6%.

Within its Games and Network Services segment, revenue totaled approximately ¥4.69 trillion, essentially flat year over year, while operating income rose 12% to a new all-time high. Sony noted that, had it not been for the Bungie-related charges, operating profit growth would have been closer to 45%.

Those charges were substantial. Sony recorded a total of ¥120.1 billion in impairment losses against Bungie's assets across the full fiscal year, including ¥31.5 billion in the second quarter tied to Destiny 2's continued slide, and a significantly larger ¥88.6 billion hit in Q4. At current exchange rates, that's roughly $766 million wiped from the value of a studio Sony acquired for $3.6 billion back in 2022.