TechPowerUP NEWS

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NVIDIA today announced major updates to its GeForce NOW cloud gaming platform that turns practically any screen with a game controller into a powerful gaming platform with graphics akin to PCs. The company brought NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 performance tier to GeForce NOW in 2025, priced at $19.99 a month to be able to play on any device, at resolutions of up to 5K @ 120 FPS or 1080p @ 360 FPS, with NVIDIA Reflex low latency, and Cinematic quality streaming, with a game library spanning over 4,000. In 2026, NVIDIA is announcing a handful interesting updates.

Perhaps the biggest GeForce NOW update today is support for exotic game controller types, such as slight control, racing wheels, and newer kinds of simulator hardware. Your client device should be able to recognize the controller and let GeForce NOW use it, so you can use the controller for playing titles such as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, etc. Next up, NVIDIA announced the addition of more AAA games to GeForce NOW, including Resident Evil Reqium, 007 First Light, Crimson Desert, and Active Matter.https://tpucdn.com/img/jChLxshpnu3BfW9U_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jChLxshpnu3BfW9U.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4VcW1C7Wbhx1Nekz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4VcW1C7Wbhx1Nekz.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6VrNd0KdiaNWXXS8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6VrNd0KdiaNWXXS8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/NhcguZ7WMgwe0AJ0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NhcguZ7WMgwe0AJ0.jpg)
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NVIDIA today announced updated G-SYNC Pulsar display standard for fast-paced competitive e-sports gaming. The standard builds on NVIDIA's proven G-SYNC variable refresh-rate technology that ensures that the display and GPU are in perfect sync with output framerates and display refresh-rates, to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering. The new G-SYNC Pulsar spec calls for a standardized 27-inch QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) gaming display with refresh rate of 360 Hz on the display's side, and the capability of over 1000 Hz perceived motion clarity that works at the game rendering level to eliminate motion blur. In the example shown below, G-SYNC Pulsar in "Counter Strike 2" is shown improving effective motion clarity by 4 times.

The other new standard being introduced today is Ambient Adaptive Technology. Similar to your smartphone, which uses its front-camera to gauge ambient lighting conditions to dynamically adjust display and color temperature, this feature relies on an optical sensor on the display to analyze ambient lighting conditions, and respond to broad daylight with 100% brightness, cooler white colors (higher color temperatures); and nighttime with 36% brightness, and warmer colors (lower color temps). At CES, popular gaming monitor manufacturers are announcing their G-SYNC Pulsar capable monitors, which include Acer Predator XB273U F5, AOC AGON Pro AG276QSG2, ASUS ROG Strix Pulsar XG27AQNGV, and MSI MPG 272QRF X36. These displays will be available from tomorrow (January 7), with prices starting at $599.https://tpucdn.com/img/C8tlUQzivs0Uhn1r_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/C8tlUQzivs0Uhn1r.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ZyRzODEUsbkbZw6Y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZyRzODEUsbkbZw6Y.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/kJ2gN4FdhuG9pk5k_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kJ2gN4FdhuG9pk5k.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Ymja2uE4gNEmxlP2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ymja2uE4gNEmxlP2.jpg)

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NVIDIA today announced the new DLSS 4.5 technology at its 2026 International CES media event, to improve gaming performance and image quality, bringing higher resolutions and refresh rates within reach of PC gamers. DLSS 4.5 is a major update over DLSS 4 that debuted in 2024 with the GeForce RTX 50-series "Blackwell" graphics cards. It is designed to bring games with performance-intensive path tracing effects to a broader audience, with the fastest RTX 50-series GPU models being able to play path-traced games at 4K Ultra HD with 240 Hz.

At the heart of the DLSS 4.5 update are two key announcements—2nd Generation Super Resolution Transformer, and Dynamic Multi Frame Generation. One of the defining features of DLSS 4 is its high-quality upscaler, which replaced convolutional neural network (CNN) based AI models with a newer Transformer-based model, resulting in a significant improvement in image quality. Now, at CES, NVIDIA announced that they have updated their algorithm with an even newer Transformer-based model that has been trained on a much larger dataset. This 2nd Gen Transformer was developed using five times the compute power that went into the first-gen DLSS 4 Transformer upscaler, and leverages the FP8 data format that's supported by the Tensor cores of GeForce RTX 40-series "Ada" and 50-series "Blackwell" GPUs. DLSS 4.5 is still supported on older 30-series "Ampere" and 20-series "Turing" GPUs, however these generations lack FP8 acceleration, so the performance uplift over native wouldn't be as significant as with newer GPUs.https://tpucdn.com/img/UKMT9jBpvOk919cs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UKMT9jBpvOk919cs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jSN2aZZuTZlwBbc2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jSN2aZZuTZlwBbc2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IDPPqT0kmJx2rcS5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IDPPqT0kmJx2rcS5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AxzBYPiDj2s2Q9O2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AxzBYPiDj2s2Q9O2.jpg)
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MSI has officially unveiled the specifications of its new AI-centric mini PC line-up that is being debuted at CES 2026. The new line-up offers something for everyone—as long as you're looking to run local LLMs or similar AI workloads—whether you're looking for a hyper-compact x86 system powered by AMD's RDNA 3.5, a more powerful NVIDIA RTX 5070, or something more exotic with NVIDIA's new Arm-based DGX Spark platform.

Perhaps the most interesting mini PC that MSI is showing off at CES is the EdgeXpert, which is targeted at AI developers and is built on NVIDIA's DGX Spark (https://www.techpowerup.com/344762/nvidia-dgx-spark-and-dgx-station-power-the-latest-open-source-and-frontier-models) platform. In the EdgeXpert, which was announced earlier this year (https://www.techpowerup.com/341948/msi-edgexpert-personal-ai-supercomputer-officially-available), that means 20 Arm CPU cores and an AI Blackwell GPU as well as NVIDIA's NVLink C2C tech, which claims to offer "five times the bandwidth of PCIe 5.0," for improved data transfer and sharing between the CPU and GPU. According to MSI, the EdgeXpert is capable of a petaFLOP of AI performance. It also features 128 GB of LPDDR5x unified system memory and a vapor chamber cooling system.https://tpucdn.com/img/2pH3fh7Cbutkl66C_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2pH3fh7Cbutkl66C.jpg)
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ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) is proud to announce a collaboration with world-renowned game studio KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, as well as the launch of the ROG Flow Z13-KJP along with a new lineup of KJP peripherals. ROG and KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS are driven to create products and experiences tailored for gamers.

Cutting-edge gaming hardware meets visionary storytelling
At the heart of this collaboration is 'Ludens'—the belief that humans are not only thinkers, but also players and creators. The collaboration combines the spirit of the ROG motto For Those Who Dare with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS' vision From Sapiens to Ludens. Ludens are the ones who experiment, mod, create, and challenge what games—and gaming hardware—can be. By uniting cutting-edge ROG hardware with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS' visionary storytelling, this partnership is a tribute to that spirit: everything we build, every detail we design, is for gamers everywhere—For Ludens Who Dare.https://tpucdn.com/img/gXk0n59xnC1qJAZM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gXk0n59xnC1qJAZM.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/n2JR9KCl3RB9FXzV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/n2JR9KCl3RB9FXzV.jpg)
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Unveiled at CES, HAVN is proud to announce the latest addition to its portfolio, the HAVN XR 1000 W Platinum A++ power supply unit. From industrial design to advanced power electronics, all united under one vision. Developed in collaboration with leading experts across the industry, the XR Series represents the culmination of collective expertise.

"The XR Series represents our vision for what a modern high-end PSU should be," said Roland Gschwender, HAVN Product Manager. "It's built for absolute stability, exceptionally silent operation and platinum efficiency, giving builders total confidence even in the most demanding systems." The acoustic and power performance of HAVN's first PSU was developed and refined through a combination of internal testing at the HAVN lab and independent evaluation, with insights used to continuously optimize the final design.https://tpucdn.com/img/YRDpxmV5aukoUPeG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YRDpxmV5aukoUPeG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/JgWDUNYLrDxYIdlA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JgWDUNYLrDxYIdlA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/aWjvyvIU2zbm11YB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aWjvyvIU2zbm11YB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TAICV18cewk9tTrk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TAICV18cewk9tTrk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AWIpczKeyGT3ipCc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AWIpczKeyGT3ipCc.jpg)
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At CES 2026, Cooler Master showed off its latest PC cases from the COSMOS and MasterFrame lines, along with a range of matching add-ons. The high-end COSMOS series now includes the new COSMOS Alpha case. It is built using a modular design, curved aluminium frame and tempered glass side panels. One of its standout features is a sliding motherboard tray, which allows the internal layout to be adjusted for cleaner airflow or liquid-cooling-focused builds. Cooler Master also includes a sliding, adjustable fan bracket that supports multiple fan sizes. COSMOS Alpha can house E-ATX and EEB motherboards in addition to ATX and microATX, graphics cards up to 400 mm long, and power supplies up to 240 mm. Cooling support includes up to 15 fans, with dual pre-installed 200 × 38 mm extra-thick fans, removable dust filters, and radiators up to 420 mm.

Cooler Master also expanded its open-frame MasterFrame lineup with the new MasterFrame 360 series, built around a 360-degree display concept. The series includes three variants: MasterFrame 360 Panorama, a sealed tempered-glass enclosure designed for full visibility and protection; MasterFrame 360 Stage Mirror, an open-frame design with a mirrored base to enhance visual depth; and MasterFrame 360 Stage LCD, which integrates a 15.6-inch display for custom visuals or use as a secondary screen.https://tpucdn.com/img/LLZ88CgSdssXrH87_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LLZ88CgSdssXrH87.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ieUtl5dXyE8elMAa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ieUtl5dXyE8elMAa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KGGi2oHDKBOSwIr8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KGGi2oHDKBOSwIr8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/D0oWbWts762dnyPn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/D0oWbWts762dnyPn.jpg)
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Today, on the opening day at CES, Neurable announced it's working with HP Inc.'s HyperX gaming brand to develop an industry-first gaming headset outfitted with neurotechnology. This strategic collaboration demonstrates how AI and neuroscience can work together to help players improve their focus and accuracy by interpreting brain activity in real time.

"We've always been about empowering power players with the best technology to play, and now with our strategic collaboration with Neurable, we look forward to giving more insight into how one's cognitive skills and focus impacts their gameplay to ultimately make them as competitive as possible," said Josephine Tan, Senior Vice President and Division President of Personal Systems Gaming Solutions, HP Inc.https://tpucdn.com/img/IpZNSP3a9U1YrAcv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IpZNSP3a9U1YrAcv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Dl0U4SEbvLw8MadK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Dl0U4SEbvLw8MadK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/321OFaib1L9REZCL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/321OFaib1L9REZCL.jpg)
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Today at CES, Intel unveiled Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, the first AI PC platform built on Intel 18A process technology that was designed and manufactured in the United States. Powering over 200 designs from leading, global partners, Series 3 will be the most broadly adopted and globally available AI PC platform Intel has ever delivered.

Within the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 mobile lineup, a new class of Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 processors come packed with the highest performing, integrated Intel Arc graphics. They are purpose-built for multitaskers that handle advanced workloads like gaming, creation and productivity on the go. The top SKUs feature up to 16 CPU cores, 12 Xe -cores and 50 NPU TOPS, delivering up to 60% better multithread performance over 77% faster gaming performance and up to 27 hours of battery life.https://tpucdn.com/img/5VtkZp78qyr9lGL2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5VtkZp78qyr9lGL2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ILIr63MnV3fFcdlo_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ILIr63MnV3fFcdlo.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/EsHPIJ3Y9kHDjzLO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EsHPIJ3Y9kHDjzLO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/EokttlOfRuOaoJzg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EokttlOfRuOaoJzg.jpg)
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Open-source AI is accelerating innovation across industries, and NVIDIA DGX Spark and DGX Station are built to help developers turn innovation into impact. NVIDIA today unveiled at the CES trade show how the DGX Spark and DGX Station deskside AI supercomputers let developers harness the latest open and frontier AI models on a local deskside system, from 100-billion-parameter models on DGX Spark to 1-trillion-parameter models on DGX Station. Powered by the NVIDIA Grace Blackwell architecture, with large unified memory and petaflop-level AI performance, these systems give developers new capabilities to develop locally and easily scale to the cloud.https://tpucdn.com/img/ZzRWYzvOZgfUVzBs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZzRWYzvOZgfUVzBs.jpg)
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NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD is paving the way for large-scale system deployments built on the NVIDIA Rubin platform—the next leap forward in AI computing. At the CES trade show in Las Vegas, NVIDIA today introduced the Rubin platform, comprising six new chips designed to deliver one incredible AI supercomputer, and engineered to accelerate agentic AI, mixture‑of‑experts (MoE) models and long‑context reasoning. The Rubin platform unites six chips—the NVIDIA Vera CPU, Rubin GPU, NVLink 6 Switch, ConnectX-9 SuperNIC, BlueField-4 DPU and Spectrum-6 Ethernet Switch—through an advanced codesign approach that accelerates training and reduces the cost of inference token generation.

DGX SuperPOD remains the foundational design for deploying Rubin‑based systems across enterprise and research environments. The NVIDIA DGX platform addresses the entire technology stack—from NVIDIA computing to networking to software—as a single, cohesive system, removing the burden of infrastructure integration and allowing teams to focus on AI innovation and business results. "Rubin arrives at exactly the right moment, as AI computing demand for both training and inference is going through the roof," said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA.https://tpucdn.com/img/sJemYMuZGoeY1wMr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sJemYMuZGoeY1wMr.jpg)
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AI is powering breakthroughs across industries, helping enterprises operate with greater intelligence and speed. As AI factories scale, the next generation of enterprise AI depends on infrastructure that can efficiently manage data, secure every stage of the pipeline and accelerate the core services that move, protect and process information alongside AI workloads.

NVIDIA has expanded the NVIDIA Enterprise AI Factory validated design to include NVIDIA BlueField cybersecurity and infrastructure acceleration capabilities. This accelerates the data center services that keep AI factories running and delivers security that can operate at the same speed as AI. Leading software platforms from NVIDIA BlueField ecosystem partners Armis, Check Point, F5, Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, Rafay, Red Hat, Spectro Cloud and Trend Micro are now validated as part of NVIDIA Enterprise AI Factory, helping enterprises enhance runtime protection, streamline operations and strengthen the infrastructure that powers AI.https://tpucdn.com/img/xAwJ7SkR3JZuqcq2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xAwJ7SkR3JZuqcq2.jpg)
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Acer today unveiled four new monitors, including three premium models for gamers and a cutting-edge 6K display for creators, as well as an eco-friendly laser projector for gamers and home cinema fans. The three gaming monitors fulfill gamers' needs for speed and precision to achieve spectacular performance in every gaming match.

These models include the Predator XB273U F6 that features AMD FreeSync Premium and delivers up to 1000 Hz motion clarity, giving competitive players the split-second advantage required to stay ahead in the fastest-paced titles; the Predator X34 F3, delivering 360 Hz speed and outstanding visual quality with a brilliant QD-OLED panel; and the Nitro XV270X P, supporting crystal-clear 5K resolution and up to 330 Hz refresh rates for staying on top of a wide range of esports. The Acer ProDesigner PE320QX monitor for professional creators provides stunning 6K clarity and smooth, high-performance visuals across all major display interfaces. In addition, the Acer Vero HL1820 RGB laser projector features 4K UHD resolution visuals in an eco-friendly design for enjoying both films and gameplay.https://tpucdn.com/img/JrYv5CFr7w13RrpE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JrYv5CFr7w13RrpE.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/L5Pit6WcNIojBuOa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/L5Pit6WcNIojBuOa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gUYPsQlgoOF9DLZ2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gUYPsQlgoOF9DLZ2.jpg)
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At CES 2026, ADATA showed off its latest consumer portable SSD products. The ADATA SR800 is a combination of a portable SSD and a power bank, for smartphones and with USB-C interfaces. The drive features a USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20 Gbps) data-interface, and comes in capacities of 1 TB and 2 TB, offering sequential transfer speeds of 2 GB/s. As a power bank, it packs a 5000 mAh battery, and can deliver up to 15 W of power over wire, and 15 W over Qi-compatible wireless. It can latch onto your phone with a magnetic surface, recharge it, while you're moving stuff to its storage.

ADATA Project BulletX is a USB4 portable SSD that comes in a form-factor resembling the SE920, but much smaller. ADATA claims that this is the industry's most compact USB4 SSD. The drive fully saturates 40 Gbps USB4, offering sequential speeds of up to 4 GB/s reads, with up to 3.6 GB/s writes, and comes in capacities ranging from 1 TB to 4 TB. ADATA Project TapSafe is an upcoming secure portable SSD that features NFC smart card-based unlock mechanism, it integrates an NFC reader. The drive features a 20 Gbps USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 interface and comes in capacities of 1 TB and 2 TB, with up to 2 GB/s of sequential transfer speeds.https://tpucdn.com/img/ChPlCTEmdbKY8P9B_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ChPlCTEmdbKY8P9B.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rc6AbkLPMsn3l2rW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rc6AbkLPMsn3l2rW.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6P6s2rdjmkRqA72C_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6P6s2rdjmkRqA72C.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/s6JUAXyNbLdYVN4k_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/s6JUAXyNbLdYVN4k.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/c1QzWQqy70whsRQ2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/c1QzWQqy70whsRQ2.jpg)

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CPS PCCooler brought a large selection of new cases, PSUs, AIO and air type CPU coolers, to the 2026 International CES. Starting things off, we've come across their KN-series, YS-series, and YT-series premium ATX 3.1 PSU series, each with modern 12V-2x6 connectors, and differentiated by features such as idle fan-stop, Cybenetics acoustics ratings, body depth, and fan sizes. The SU1650 is a Cybenetics Titanium-rated 1650 W PSU (probably the most efficient PSU in its wattage-class), and puts out two 600 W 12V-2x6 connectors.

Next up, are the DA Max line of AIO CPU coolers, a revision of the DA line of coolers introduced last year, with improvements made to the pump and fan performance. The GT-M series of AIO CLCs come with rectangular true-color displays framed by large, cuboidal pump-block designs. The RZ820 Display is perhaps the first and only air CPU cooler we've come across that features a true-color display. It comes with a 5-inch IPS LCD in landscape layout, arranged along the top-plate of this dual fin-stack CPU cooler. There are two fans included, which are arranged in push-pull configuration.https://tpucdn.com/img/MXwCXCgVDBJTAVZG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MXwCXCgVDBJTAVZG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Xit8VQuoNzfFjwbG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Xit8VQuoNzfFjwbG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BUdxm6lZAN44FvpK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BUdxm6lZAN44FvpK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jTwVEP09ieGpvU2e_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jTwVEP09ieGpvU2e.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BUdxm6lZAN44FvpK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BUdxm6lZAN44FvpK.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Razer entered the AI development space at CES 2026 with the Forge AI Dev Workstation, a powerful computer built to handle AI tasks locally instead of relying on cloud services. The system supports up to four professional graphics cards, either AMD or NVIDIA, alongside workstation processors from AMD or Intel, with room for eight DDR5 memory modules and multiple high-speed SSDs. After twenty years of making gaming hardware, the company is now targeting AI developers who want to avoid subscription fees and keep sensitive data on their own machines. The workstation comes with a 2000 W power supply or even dual PSUs for quad-GPU setups and industrial-grade cooling to manage demanding multi-GPU workloads.

The launch also includes AIKit, an open-source toolkit that works with over 280,000 large language models, plus a partnership with Tenstorrent on a portable Thunderbolt AI accelerator for laptop-based development. Users can daisy-chain multiple accelerator units for more performance when needed. The Forge workstation works as a standalone tower or can be rack-mounted for larger setups, letting teams scale their computing resources locally. Additionally, for smaller local AI development, Tenstorrent's Wormhole accelerator is more than enough to run LLMs with a smaller size, but for bigger work the Forge AI Dev is needed.https://tpucdn.com/img/Yj5fLgNv0KHQW85m_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Yj5fLgNv0KHQW85m.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/qGKybziGKYwunVcY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qGKybziGKYwunVcY.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ueXF71FY1a6hcDpN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ueXF71FY1a6hcDpN.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

At CES 2026, Razer's star of the booth was its new project for more immersive gaming experience. Called "Project Madison," it is a gaming chair designed for additional "feel" coming from the system into your body. Razer achieves that by implementing haptic feedback directly into the chair made possible by six motor actuators that respond in real time to what is happening in the game. To aid the senses, Razer even integrated speakers that can output 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound to fully immerse the gamer into the scene. For additional visual help, there is Razer Chroma RGB lighting strips along the headrest which also match with the scenes from the monitor, so the immersive experience goes up a notch.

While pricing and availability is unknown, Razer's website has a form you can submit to be notified when the chair becomes available, so it is already in production with availability nearby. Below you can see some of the photos we took.https://tpucdn.com/img/3Yr9zpFTGZCmyb4n_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3Yr9zpFTGZCmyb4n.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PxY8SKwLxhz3UWBX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PxY8SKwLxhz3UWBX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/k7hA31DdJYlMW76r_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/k7hA31DdJYlMW76r.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9Yn01X7a4cJe60u8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9Yn01X7a4cJe60u8.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

At the Netac booth at CES 2026, we saw a fleet of memory and storage solutions that the company has prepared for the consumer market. Starting with its Basic memory lineup, it includes DDR5 memory running up to 4,800 MT/s with capacities of up to 32 GB per DIMM. On the other hand, its older DDR4 tops out at 3,200 MT/s with the same 32 GB max capacity (per kit). However, the company has prepared even more advanced DDR5 and DDR4 DIMMs that can reach much higher clock speeds. The Shadows series includes DDR5 running up to 6,400 MT/s, while DDR4 equivalents top out at 3,600 MT/s. Netac's highest-performing DDR5 kits come in the form of Z RGB series with 8,000 MT/s out-of-the-box speeds.https://tpucdn.com/img/7HepaNzOaq2X6CK5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7HepaNzOaq2X6CK5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mLveiPQZasP6uHlE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mLveiPQZasP6uHlE.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Znv871VuwrLTCriv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Znv871VuwrLTCriv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Kfs7SbbJAR7vRexM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Kfs7SbbJAR7vRexM.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

ATK Gear is known for its affordable gaming peripherals that still deliver a decent gaming experience. The latest to join that line-up of peripherals is the ATK Gear Ghost mouse, which is slated to launch on January 14, 2026. While at CES 2026, the TechPowerUp team visited the ATK Gear stand, where the new mouse was being exhibited. The Ghost units being shown off at CES 2026 came in four color variants, all of which had a metallic sheen to them, likely at least partially as a result of the forged carbon fiber.

The ATK Gear Ghost is a lightweight, wireless, carbon fiber gaming mouse that will supposedly weigh as little as 49 g and feature a fairly conventional symmetrical shape. Given the release date, it's safe to assume the units shown on the CES show floor were pretty much production units. In the photos the team managed to grab during the show, you can see the large white skates on the bottom of the Ghost. Exact specifications have not been officially released yet, but given the hardware in the most recent launches from the company, like the Dragonfly A9 Ultimate and the Blazing Sky Duckbill, it's safe to say we'll see some combination of a PAW 3950 sensor and a Nordic 54 series MCU. Despite the carbon fiber shell, which is often touted as being stronger and lighter than regular ABS, the Ghost still has holes both in the top and bottom of the mouse.https://tpucdn.com/img/PTFaadC7DSrLdKFF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PTFaadC7DSrLdKFF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ZCSLzjTjOqsJomfl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZCSLzjTjOqsJomfl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PWOnVgnjVYptaC66_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PWOnVgnjVYptaC66.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Acer revealed its Nitro Blaze 8 and 11 Windows gaming handhelds almost exactly a year ago (https://www.techpowerup.com/330595/acer-expands-handheld-gaming-portfolio-with-new-nitro-blaze-8-and-nitro-blaze-11), at CES 2025, but the 8- and 11-inch gaming handhelds have yet to materialize as purchasable products, nor have they shown up at CES 2026. According to recent reporting by Windows Central (https://www.windowscentral.com/acer-nitro-blaze-handheld-gaming-pcs-not-at-ces-2026), Acer has put those gaming handheld ambitions on hold, with a representative from the company telling the publication that while the handhelds are still part of the launch roadmap for the US, "launch plans are TBD." The representative goes on to effectively blame the US tariff situation for the delayed launch, saying that Acer is "focused on our core products."

While the Acer Nitro Blaze family has not yet been cancelled, although the devices were slated to launch in Q2 2025, its continued delays could result in diminished success, especially if Acer doesn't upgrade the internals before launch. After all, while 16 GB of RAM is certainly still enough for many games, especially when running at lower resolutions and frame rates as is common on gaming handhelds, premium devices like the ASUS ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go 2, and the OneXPlayer OneXFly at the very high end, have already stepped up to 32 GB and beyond. The AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS that would have originally powered the Acer Nitro Blaze devices will also soon start to show its age.https://tpucdn.com/img/IsT8e4jSv0kEUVsV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IsT8e4jSv0kEUVsV.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

FL Esports, a gaming peripherals brand mostly known for making retro-inspired gaming keyboards, made an appearance at CES 2026 to show off a bunch of new gaming gear, both from the main FL Esports brand and its TNT sub-brand. At the show, FL Esports showed off a slew of new carbon fiber gaming peripherals, including a new mouse and several carbon fiber gaming keyboards. FL Esports also showed off two new gaming mouse designs at CES 2026, both featuring carbon fiber shells. Both mice featured symmetrical right-handed designs, and one mouse matched the orange and forged carbon fiber look of the T60 HE keyboard. The other mouse seems to have a regular injection molded plastic shell and a carbon fiber outer shell with a more conventional fiber layup aesthetic. Not much else is known about the new gaming mice, but you can check out photos below for a look at what's to come.

The three new TNT keyboards shown off at CES 2026, which have been previously teased but not yet launched, are the T60 HE, T68 HE, and the T87 HE—HE keyboards with 60%, 65%, and TKL layouts, respectively. According to the information presented on the showroom floor, the T60 HE, T68, and T87 HE are all tray mount keyboards, although they ship with silicone and Poron foam sound deadening material, and they are made from injection-molded, carbon fiber-impregnated plastic. The exact resin is unclear, but the combination results in a smoky translucent look with the carbon fiber striations typical of forged carbon fiber. The keycaps on both keyboards are also translucent, but the T87 HE's keycaps are similar to the typical translucent smoky set seen on keyboards like the Iqunix EZ80 Dark Side RS or the QwertyKeys Sonic65 HE. The smaller T60 HE and T68 HE, on the other hand, have the same carbon fiber look on the keycaps as it has on the chassis. All of the new carbon fiber HE keyboards boast 8 kHz polling with a 0.1 ms input delay, as well as 0.005 mm Rapid Trigger sensitivity and 0.005-3.4 mm key travel with adjustable actuation.https://tpucdn.com/img/b4FDAd5QH5TJUnD6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/b4FDAd5QH5TJUnD6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uPn0FU8k8Rd2L0CM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uPn0FU8k8Rd2L0CM.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/97wHLJlwUZqQrmQF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/97wHLJlwUZqQrmQF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ndi1lrzLi3tlUnGK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ndi1lrzLi3tlUnGK.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

OneXPlayer first announced the OneXPlayer Super X (https://www.techpowerup.com/343929/onexplayer-introduces-14-inch-amd-ryzen-strix-halo-laptop-tablet-hybrid-with-liquid-cooling), a 14-inch AMOLED gaming tablet powered by AMD's Strix Halo APUs, in early December 2025, with a Kickstarter campaign making some bold claims about 120 W sustained performance. At CES 2026, the TechPowerUp team stopped by the OneXPlayer booth and managed to take a look at the hardware in person. The brand also revealed that the gaming tablet will be available with the newly released Intel Panther Lake Core Ultra X7 358H CPU, which should also put up almost the same GPU performance as the Radeon 8060S, thanks to the included Intel Arc B390 iGPU, but perhaps better efficiency, which will be key for a mobile gaming device.https://tpucdn.com/img/D9s1lRrkTJOH2gCc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/D9s1lRrkTJOH2gCc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ooWm3QN3Wg01G7eJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ooWm3QN3Wg01G7eJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wnYmdDzvssNFNdU9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wnYmdDzvssNFNdU9.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Gigabyte, the world's leading computer brand, announces a breakthrough introduction of the world's first CQDIMM (Clocked Unbuffered Dual In-Line Memory Module) technology at CES 2026. By leveraging the CQDIMM-supported motherboard, Z890 AORUS Tachyon ICE CQDIMM Edition, and BIOS tuning technology, Gigabyte achieves the industry-first record DDR5-7200 without compromise at full capacity with two 128 GB memory modules.

Traditionally, increasing DDR5 memory capacity has required significant trade-offs in frequency and stability. Inherent in Gigabyte's expertise in hardware and firmware design, this critical compromise is conquered. On the hardware side, Gigabyte has optimized motherboard circuit layouts to significantly reduce memory channel loading, improving signal integrity and ensuring stable operation even under heavy workloads. Complementing the hardware advancements is Gigabyte's sophisticated BIOS tuning technology. Through an optimized clock driver architecture, Gigabyte's BIOS intelligently manages timing, signal synchronization, and voltage behavior to unleash extreme performance.https://tpucdn.com/img/f2xKF87YTQmYRy6p_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/f2xKF87YTQmYRy6p.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/J9IUDK8aaAeYTZij_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/J9IUDK8aaAeYTZij.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IQ0lW2cgVNgd6rcI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IQ0lW2cgVNgd6rcI.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Witness Ork brutality and the loud and relentless ferocity that comes with it in our first in-game faction CGI sequence as Gorgutz, Ork Warboss of the Bad Moons unleashes a surprise attack against the Blood Ravens as they orbit the world of Kronus.

A grimdark universe of eternal conflict
Return to the RTS series' roots with deeply satisfying strategy gameplay. Take command of four unique Warhammer 40,000 factions, including the Adeptus Mechanicus in their series debut! Fight through 70+ epic campaign missions, as well as the replayable Last Stand, Skirmish and multiplayer modes.https://tpucdn.com/img/IOAjaVmOjIE5Zuhy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IOAjaVmOjIE5Zuhy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/defLM1gXhHhqggQZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/defLM1gXhHhqggQZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ThKNVTuu3ATXema5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ThKNVTuu3ATXema5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/53YEHQvGsOu3eKKw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/53YEHQvGsOu3eKKw.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

At CES 2026, GameSir debuted its G7 Pro 8K PC controller. Developed in partnership with Aimlabs, this is the Chinese gaming brand's first go at releasing a product that features a maximum 8000 MHz polling rate via a wired connection. TechPowerUp visited the company's booth earlier today, where two variants of the flagship G7 Pro 8K PC model were on prominent display. The fairly standard black Aimlabs Edition was positioned next to a gaudier Champion sample.

Nearby specification sheets list 2.4G wireless polling rates, proprietary Mag-Res TMR sticks, clicky hall effect micro-switch trigger stops, optical micro switch ABXY face buttons, four remappable macro buttons, and the selection of esports-grade materials. The G7 Pro controller range launched last year, in white/gray Xbox-licensed form. The latest additions do not carry any official Microsoft gaming credentials—as a result of being competitive multiplayer PC title-centric input devices.https://tpucdn.com/img/EnrweIw1sEd8AgZ1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EnrweIw1sEd8AgZ1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mOIMcmctaMoJir8F_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mOIMcmctaMoJir8F.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/iLsUfsiDi4adm2R8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iLsUfsiDi4adm2R8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3bKMK1naKwvcwgvm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3bKMK1naKwvcwgvm.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

CAN YOU HEAR THE CROWD ROAR? We are pleased to announce Speedball (https://rebellion.com/games/speedball/) will exit Steam Early Access on January 27 on January 27, following its initial launch in October 2024. Additionally, the game will launch on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 on the same day. Speedball is the revival of the iconic Bitmap Brothers franchise, first launched in 1988.

Set in the grim future of 2138, Speedball is a no-holds-barred future sport that is used by mega-corporations to distract the downtrodden masses from their miserable lives. It is the only sport that allows two cybernetically augmented teams to go head-to-head at levels of speed and violence beyond human limitations. Matches are fast-paced, explosive and unpredictable, and you will need to master high-speed passing, coordination and shooting.https://tpucdn.com/img/QZTZgObX8lrsiYa8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QZTZgObX8lrsiYa8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9Gi5EsjbqyXpCTg4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9Gi5EsjbqyXpCTg4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/O07Nposcxcj3F2GG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/O07Nposcxcj3F2GG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CuOzW3p3LZAzI1ak_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CuOzW3p3LZAzI1ak.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

An elevation of computer memory prices—throughout late 2025 and early 2026—has prompted revisits of older generation hardware. After all, cheaper DDR4 memory offers an alternative route in the current climate. Prime examples turned up last week, when Gigabyte unveiled and launched (https://www.techpowerup.com/344614/gigabyte-releases-four-new-amd-socket-am4-motherboards) four new AM4 socket-based motherboard models. At the end of December, ASUS was reportedly engaged in a bolstering of its AM4 motherboard production (https://www.techpowerup.com/344540/long-live-am4-asus-rumored-to-increased-ddr4-motherboard-production) lines. Pleasingly, AMD seems to considering similar steps with its compatible Ryzen desktop processor families. Tom's Hardware gathered relevant information during a pre-CES 2026 round-table discussion.

During an interview session, David McAfee—Team Red's VP and GM of client channel business—reportedly dropped a hint about potential revivals of AM4 CPU products. In the recent past, AMD has continued to roll out (sort of) new chips (https://www.techpowerup.com/323097/amd-outs-ryzen-5000xt-processors-for-socket-am4-an-8-year-old-socket) based on "Zen 3" architecture. Conversely, supplies of popular SKUs—like the gaming-centric Ryzen 7 5700X3D (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/ryzen-7-5700x3d.c3437) model—have dried up (https://www.techpowerup.com/339805/amd-ryzen-7-5700x3d-disappears-from-the-market). When asked about a possible older generation re-release strategy, McAfee stated that the Red Team: "(is) certainly looking at everything that (it) can do to bring more supply and kind of reintroduce products back into the (AM4) ecosystem to satisfy the demands of gamers that maybe want that significant upgrade in their AM4 platform, without having to rebuild their entire system." Elaborating a tad more, he said: "(it is) definitely something (AMD is) very actively working on." According to the TechPowerUp news archive and GPU database, Team Red's most recent new "Zen 3" desktop releases include the Ryzen 5 5600F (https://www.techpowerup.com/341100/amd-continues-am4-support-with-new-ryzen-5-cpu) (last September) and Ryzen 5 5500X3D (https://www.techpowerup.com/338001/amd-silently-releases-the-ryzen-5-5500x3d-cpu) (mid-2025) SKUs.https://tpucdn.com/img/Ptm1E5X7fEUummaa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ptm1E5X7fEUummaa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/G2GGVEwzddyJDsrv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/G2GGVEwzddyJDsrv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/S47WEO3dB5fFmn9e_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/S47WEO3dB5fFmn9e.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FYMm7OkGQzGhZyuO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FYMm7OkGQzGhZyuO.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Code Vein II (https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/code-vein-ii), launching on January 30, is the newest entry in the dramatic exploration action RPG series, Code Vein. Set in a post-apocalyptic future, it depicts the drama of Revenants and humans who fight to defy their doomed fate. Players confront relentless foes and treacherous locations alongside a trusted partner, while their choices rewrite history and shape the destinies of both the world and its characters.

The PlayStation Blog team got a chance to go hands-on with the upcoming title, and have a chat with the game's producer, Keita Iizuka, and the director, Hiroshi Yoshimura.https://tpucdn.com/img/5GPFeqRHOkPcXMfu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5GPFeqRHOkPcXMfu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vHzvFe6tk2Me4X1s_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vHzvFe6tk2Me4X1s.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/r1tlIp1eYngmGwY5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/r1tlIp1eYngmGwY5.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

A sizeable gap—not occupied by NVIDIA's heavily rumored (https://www.techpowerup.com/342778/nvidias-partners-reportedly-lack-final-geforce-rtx-50-series-super-specifications), and possibly tenuous (https://www.techpowerup.com/342705/gddr7-shortage-could-stop-nvidia-geforce-rtx-50-series-super-rollout) GeForce RTX 50 SUPER-series—has been noticed at this week's CES trade show. During kick-off hours, the North American giant's GeForce social media quietly declared that "no new GPUs will be announced" within the four-day-long event. Graphics card industry observers have seemingly become tired of pursuing mid-generation product refreshments, and have set their sights further along Team Green's timeline. Yesterday, kopite7kimi fielded a number of queries regarding a futuristic GeForce RTX 6000 graphics lineup. Logically, these next-gen designs could leverage "Rubin" GPU architecture—already previewed as a well-known property in enterprise fields.

Speculation from last September—hinging on NVIDIA's official unveiling of their "Rubin CPX" GPU, that sports CUDA cores—lead to a theory that "GR10x" dies would form the basis of truly next-wave gaming graphics cards. In early 2026, kopite7kimi has proposed the utilization of a different set of GPU dies—identified as the "GR20x" group (or "GR200" family). Specifically, the PC hardware sleuth has pinpointed an alleged "GR212" model. They surmise that NVIDIA's "Rubin" architecture-based GeForce RTX 60-series will arrive within a second half of 2027 launch window.https://tpucdn.com/img/tUnSNq6ibz04jsf3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tUnSNq6ibz04jsf3.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/eQ31IA7azX1XvOMo_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eQ31IA7azX1XvOMo.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

At the 2026 International CES, we went hands on with a new crop of ultra-premium custom-design GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards that launched in quick succession of each other this year, exactly 1 year following the RTX 5090's original launch. Earlier today, we also held the Inno3D iChill RTX 5090 Frostbite PRO (https://www.techpowerup.com/344973/inno3d-ichill-geforce-rtx-5080-frostbite-and-rtx-5090-frostbite-pro-hands-on), another such recently announced premium RTX 5090 custom-design. The GIGABYTE RTX 5090 AORUS Infinity and ASUS RTX 5090 ProArt stand out as being the first custom design implementations of NVIDIA's Dual Flow-Through cooler design that it introduced with the RTX 5090 Founders Edition graphics card, the company's de facto reference design.

This design involves placing the main PCB of the card with the GPU, memory, and VRM, as a separate, centrally located component, with heat drawn from these hot components projecting along the length of the card, and fans located at both ends, push air through the cooler and out of the backplate, through cutouts. The PCB relies on additional breakout PCBs for the PCI-Express gold fingers, and the display I/O. GIGABYTE's design sees two large 120 mm fans pump air through the heatsink, with some of it being guided through the central region of the cooler. GIGABYTE has used a similar two-tone color scheme as NVIDIA Founders Edition. We can't wait to get our hands on this card to see how the cooler fares against rival custom designs.https://tpucdn.com/img/PAZ0dNvTw54PgyZA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PAZ0dNvTw54PgyZA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wDx30VrjrdP8AJVo_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wDx30VrjrdP8AJVo.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/K1SdWn9TEqqqwhhF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/K1SdWn9TEqqqwhhF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PuFbxXveqeecyPQw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PuFbxXveqeecyPQw.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/344990/gigabyte-rtx-5090-aorus-infinity-asus-rtx-5090-proart-and-msi-rtx-5090-lightning-z-hands-on)

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[NextPowerUP]

We're sharing the first look at our Hyperpop Collection, featuring three new striking designs for DualSense wireless controllers and PS5 console covers. With glossy blacks shifting into vivid neons, each finish introduces an all-new aesthetic into your gaming setup. With the vibrant Hyperpop Collection, players can choose their track between Techno, Remix, or Rhythm.

To share more about the Hyperpop Collection's design and creative process, here's Leo Cardoso and Sae Kobayashi from our Color, Material, and Finish design team. Leo Cardoso: "we're cranking the volume all the way up with a collection that doesn't just stand out, it takes over the room. Inspired by the glow of the RGB lights of your impressive gaming setups, these new colors go LOUD in the best possible way."https://tpucdn.com/img/h4stTlGbeSOuR7Jj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/h4stTlGbeSOuR7Jj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/iglFaXppu4B6yrlB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iglFaXppu4B6yrlB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/iPFMhbwQRNkb10vS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iPFMhbwQRNkb10vS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/7BjILasdSveBqQC5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7BjILasdSveBqQC5.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/344989/sony-intros-hyperpop-collection-for-playstation-5-dualsense-controllers-console-covers)

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[NextPowerUP]

Not long after AMD's alleged confirmation (https://www.techpowerup.com/344935/amd-reportedly-hints-about-later-launch-of-ryzen-9-9950x3d2-cpu) of the "Granite Ridge" flagship 16-core Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 CPU's existence, web sleuths noticed that the not-yet-launched SKU being included in marketing material and new product descriptions. Most tellingly, Alienware China's Weibo account inadvertently mentioned a new Area-51 desktop system powered by Team Red's Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 processor. An accompanying short video was tagged with a "CES 2026" banner. As it turns out—to some online community disappointment—AMD only presented its 8-core Ryzen 7 9850X3D (https://www.techpowerup.com/344782/amd-launches-ryzen-7-9850x3d-the-worlds-fastest-gaming-cpu-gets-even-faster) model during this week's North American trade show.

Sytronix, a UK-based PC workstation and server specialist, has advertised an "all-new" NexStation product, arriving soon through pre-ordering—apparently "powered by AMD's Radeon AI PRO 9700 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-ai-pro-r9700.c4290) (GPU) and Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 (CPU)." Elaborating on the chip's vaunted dual CCD setup, Sytronix's product page states that the design: "stacks massive L3 cache directly on the CPU, boosting memory bandwidth and cutting latency. Perfect for simulation, CAD, data science, and AI inferencing; anything that needs fast access to large datasets." Slightly older leaks show preview samples of the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 being benchmarked—this pre-launch activity probably signals a rollout in the near-ish future; potentially months after the release of its 8-core sibling.https://tpucdn.com/img/s746lyMC2ZQOf6Vt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/s746lyMC2ZQOf6Vt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WXIF4Ym2oSeXNLGc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WXIF4Ym2oSeXNLGc.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA is wrapping up a big week at the CES trade show with a set of GeForce NOW announcements that are bringing more ways to play and more games to the cloud. From new native apps for Linux and Amazon Fire TV streaming sticks to hands-on throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) support for simulation fans and a new single sign-on option, GeForce NOW is expanding across devices and making it easier to jump straight into gameplay.

Topping it off, a new wave of AAA titles—including IO Interactive's 007 First Light, Capcom's Resident Evil Requiem and Pearl Abyss' Crimson Desert—is gearing up to join the GeForce NOW library for high-fidelity, low-latency streaming across the globe. Get ready with the six new games available to stream this week.https://tpucdn.com/img/u78itcX8U3VHfgZ7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/u78itcX8U3VHfgZ7.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/v3FnHLwTT0dO41vm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/v3FnHLwTT0dO41vm.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/pFs3UguNKu3VCysA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pFs3UguNKu3VCysA.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/344987/geforce-now-recaps-ces-announces-early-january-game-lineup)

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[NextPowerUP]

Intel did not include coverage of its lesser known "Wildcat Lake" mobile processor family during a main stage presentation of new-gen Core Ultra Series products. Despite talk of various "Ultra Low Power" solutions, the main focus on day one was "Panther Lake." Following the conclusion of Team Blue's big conference, a few news outlets noticed an interesting Core Series 3 "Die Package Configuration" slide; seemingly not deemed worthy of being placed alongside nearby larger "Panther Lake" chip designs (consisting of three configs). According to the loose slide, Intel's smaller "Wildcat Lake" package makes do with six processor cores (2P+4LPE) and two Xe3 iGPU cores. This information matches leaks from last year; with a next-gen chip design destined for eventual deployment in entry-level notebooks (https://www.techpowerup.com/339102/intel-to-return-to-lp-igpu-variants-with-xe3-igpu-powering-wildcat-lake-budget-cpus).

Surprisingly, a physical sample was handed over to HardwareLuxx.de on the Las Vegas showroom floor. Photos show a tile layout that does not completely align with the chipmaker's official product render. According to Andreas Schilling's news article, Intel representatives have confirmed the existence of their "Wildcat Lake" family—going under "Core Series 3" guises. The Blue Team anticipates a second quarter launch, with "Wildcat Lake" heading to edge systems and embedded platforms. In a separate report, Abhishek Yadav claims that the upcoming "Core Series 3" processor series will replace "older Alder Lake-N lineup." Going into further detail, HardwareLuxx was informed about specific "Core Ultra 5 332" and "Core Ultra 5 322" SKUs being designated as the smallest of "Panther Lake" packages (4P+4LPE & 4 Xe3 cores). Very late last year, rumors of refreshed "Wildcat Lake" products (https://www.techpowerup.com/343507/insider-claims-intel-already-planning-refresh-of-wildcat-lake-budget-cpu-family) turned up on the internet—finalized examples are likely some distance from release.https://tpucdn.com/img/BVukw1mA8KI9UEWu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BVukw1mA8KI9UEWu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lUxQnZhpeaC0rKki_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lUxQnZhpeaC0rKki.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9LYBjWoD4b4iNg0d_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9LYBjWoD4b4iNg0d.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/swFb9nVY02zUZMdr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/swFb9nVY02zUZMdr.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

QNAP Systems, Inc. (QNAP), a leading computing, networking and storage solution innovator, today introduced the QXG-100G2SF-BCM, a dual-port 100GbE network expansion card. Featuring PCIe Gen 4.0 x16, 200 Gbps total throughput, and advanced offload technologies including RDMA and SR-IOV, the QXG-100G2SF-BCM is engineered to overcome performance bottlenecks in virtualization, data centers, and I/O-intensive applications. When paired with QNAP all-flash NAS, it maximizes storage performance and unleashes new levels of productivity for demanding IT workloads.

"The demand for higher throughput and lower latency continues to grow in enterprise and data center environments," said Sean Teng, Product Manager at QNAP. "With the QXG-100G2SF-BCM, organizations can unlock the full performance of all-flash storage, accelerate virtualization workloads, and scale IT operations with ease."https://tpucdn.com/img/ROyc8WhLpxFswH1i_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ROyc8WhLpxFswH1i.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ko2kMAuKMisIXb2V_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ko2kMAuKMisIXb2V.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tXfPt1LufkGEYMJD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tXfPt1LufkGEYMJD.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345080/qnap-launches-the-qxg-100g2sf-bcm-dual-port-100gbe-network-expansion-card)

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[NextPowerUP]

Noctua's January 2026 roadmap keeps the same product lineup, but many release windows have been moved later in the year. The Antec Flux Pro Noctua Edition case remains slated for Q1, and standalone water coolers are still listed for Q2. Beyond those entries, several launches have been delayed. Specifically, the Pulsar Feinman Noctua Edition mouse and the NF-A12x25 G2 chromax.black fan have been pushed from Q1 into Q2. A 140 mm desk fan, a USB fan controller, and the Seasonic PRIME PX Noctua Edition power supply have shifted from Q2 into Q3. The Seasonic PSU delay stands out the most because the unit was announced more than a year ago and will now arrive after Computex, effectively moving its debut into the summer months.

However, a delay with proper execution isn't necessarily negative. Noctua prioritizes quality and rigorous testing and each product must survive stress-testing for thousands of hours in the lab, where different user scenarios are made. Additionally, Shipping sensitive components like PSUs also requires time for thorough testing, as they are exposed to many environmental factors, even when the Noctua edition of the Seasonic PSU only changes the fan. Even with that, consumers can expect these prolonged delays to be worthwhile. Below you can see the latest January roadmap, and older September roadmap for comparison.https://tpucdn.com/img/6LWfw9W4zTCmhdxm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6LWfw9W4zTCmhdxm.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tIwrsIb0VmUbHQpX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tIwrsIb0VmUbHQpX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Wq1ZbDkuHojPbMxj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Wq1ZbDkuHojPbMxj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/chWm81HFwpFX3YxL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/chWm81HFwpFX3YxL.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

With the cycle of DRAM and GPUs becoming more expensive just beginning, it seems the next step in the price increase trend is the most basic PC building parts like power supplies and CPU coolers. According to a VideoCardz report (https://videocardz.com/newz/power-supplies-and-cpu-coolers-may-be-next-for-price-increases-distributor-letter-claims), Guangzhou Xinhongzheng Electronic Technology Co., Ltd, a leading electronics manufacturer in China, the company has informed customer that power supply prices may rise by about 6-10%, while CPU coolers are expected to see a 6-8% increase. These products depend on raw materials like copper, silver, and tin, which are critical for both PSUs and CPU coolers, leading to an anticipated cost increase of at least 6% for manufacturers with standard contract commitments.

Guangzhou Xinhongzheng Electronic Technology advises customers that if they plan to secure significant inventory, they should do so in January, before the promotional period ends in February. The note indicates that nearly 90% of products are currently offered at discounted prices from suppliers, suggesting that most items like PSUs and CPU coolers will soon be sold at full price, likely with a higher markup for consumers. If manufacturing has long relied on discounts, the price increase might not stop at the 6-10% range but could be even higher. As these companies are adjusting pricing, we could see a massive price hike unfold in the coming weeks. However, this should be taken with a grain of salt as we have no third-party verification of these claims, so we need to wait and see what is happening across the supply chain.https://tpucdn.com/img/07vrxSyMDv5qMATB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/07vrxSyMDv5qMATB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/xCmGAJy8Wi370Pk3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xCmGAJy8Wi370Pk3.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345062/power-supplies-and-cpu-coolers-are-next-for-price-hikes-6-10-increase-expected)

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[NextPowerUP]

It'll still be another week until we start seeing some bigger game releases, which means we have another fairly slow week of new games ahead of use. This week's biggest release involves you working as a TSA agent of sorts, except you'll be screening for zombies. If that's not your thing, how about a game about getting turned green and using your tongue to get around? Still not it? What about an RPG with Minecraft style graphics? Maybe being a train conductor is more your style? How about an action JRPG? Regardless, we're ending this week with a psychological horror game, for those of you that are into that kind of thing.

Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (https://www.devolverdigital.com/games/quarantine-zone-the-last-check) / This week's major release / Monday 12 January
Armed with advanced screening tools and your own instincts, you must decide who gets through and who stays behind. One wrong choice could let the infection slip past your post. But holding the line is only the beginning. You'll need to manage scarce resources, reinforce defenses, and keep your camp alive as chaos intensifies with each passing day. Steam link (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3419520/Quarantine_Zone_The_Last_Check/)https://tpucdn.com/img/HnQUE41QOaHyTEcT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HnQUE41QOaHyTEcT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FnionJbKoPQ3n48q_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FnionJbKoPQ3n48q.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/NqYw9tdXCkpdY1rF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NqYw9tdXCkpdY1rF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/V7qA4QMWfJKLPefo_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/V7qA4QMWfJKLPefo.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345060/this-week-in-gaming-week-3)

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[NextPowerUP]

As the Consumer Electronics Show of 2026 comes to an end, our field crew has done of a lot of work to keep readers updated. However, pre-CES expectations were high for several product launches, that sadly didn't happen. In today's piece we are ranking the top five things we didn't get at CES 2026, even with hopes of a product launch occurring during the show.

1) First on our non-weighted ranking is NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 50-series "Blackwell" SUPER refresh. This mid-cycle was originally planned for late Q1 to early Q2 2026, with a possible announcement at CES 2026 (https://www.techpowerup.com/340852/nvidia-geforce-rtx-50-series-super-gpus-could-arrive-at-ces-2026). The "SUPER" treatment was planned with denser GDDR7 memory modules with 3 GB of capacity per chip, increasing the memory configuration of the standard GeForce RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5080. Initially, the RTX 5070 SUPER was planned with an upgrade to offer 18 GB, while the RTX 5070 Ti SUPER and RTX 5080 SUPER would each provide 24 GB of GDDR7 memory.https://tpucdn.com/img/MVJY4U9VrIDcBN0f_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MVJY4U9VrIDcBN0f.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lVfDMZPOV0CoHCyp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lVfDMZPOV0CoHCyp.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345051/the-5-biggest-no-shows-of-ces-2026)

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[NextPowerUP]

Intel's "Panther Lake" chips, built on the 18A node, debuted at CES 2026, featuring Arc B390 integrated graphics (https://www.techpowerup.com/344776/ready-for-next-gen-handheld-gaming-intel-arc-b390-panther-lake-igpu-arrives). This launch shows that Intel is now commited to delivering some of the best-in-class iGPU performance. Digital Foundry (https://www.digitalfoundry.net/news/2026/01/intel-panther-lake-mobile-graphics-entry-level-desktop-performance) has reported impressive performance claims from Intel. In Cyberpunk 2077, at 1080p resolution with the game set to "Ultra" and with ray-traced shadows and reflections enabled, Intel's top-tier Core Ultra X9 388H SKU achieves 28 FPS. While this may not seem remarkable at first glance, under the same settings, AMD's "Strix Point" Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 with Radeon 890M graphics manages only 14 FPS. This suggests that the "Panther Lake" chip performs twice as fast in early game results. In Intel's own testing, the "Panther Lake" chip is 73% faster with upscaling technologies and 82% faster at native resolution compared to AMD's "Strix Point," indicating an average across multiple titles. This also means there are instances where the Arc B390 outputs 100% more frames compared to the Radeon 890M.

Regarding desktop GPU performance, Intel is now comparable to the AMD Radeon RX 6600 discrete GPU, which scored 27 FPS in the same Cyberpunk 2077 game settings. Intel is collaborating with developers to integrate its latest XeSS3 multi-frame generation upscaling technology into numerous titles from the start. Cyberpunk 2077 is supported from day one, resulting in about a 3x increase in frame rates compared to XeSS2. In comparison to NVIDIA, Intel also claims to surpass NVIDIA's DLSS with the RTX 4050, particularly since XeSS3 supports multi-frame generation, which the RTX 4050 does not.https://tpucdn.com/img/utQluW8QjursxemP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/utQluW8QjursxemP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/QaJ6nK5vMOaM1P5y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QaJ6nK5vMOaM1P5y.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/QB4uuwRdHZT0QsER_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QB4uuwRdHZT0QsER.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BhJZMbKPV0XVNYCS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BhJZMbKPV0XVNYCS.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Over the past couple of years, we've seen a lot of new entries into the NAS market and another new player is Zettlab. The company ran a successful Kickstarter campaign, raising over US$1.48 million from 1820 backers. The company brought base tier D4 and D6 models to CES and these models have started to arrive with its backers about six months late, whereas the more powerful Ultra models seem to have ended up stuck in development hell, partially due to increased DRAM prices.

The D4 and D6 are based on the Rockchip RK3588 Arm SoC with four Cortex-A76 and four Cortex-A55 CPU cores, a 6 TOPS NPU and an Arm Mali G610 MC4 GPU. Zettlab has paired the RK3588 with 16 GB of LPDDR4x memory and 32 GB eMMC for the OS. Both SKUs have a 1 Gbps and a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port, one NVMe slot, and HDMI port, one Type-C and one Type-A USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, one full-size SD card slot and one microSD card slot, as well as a 3.49-inch information display around the front. As the model name suggests, the D4 has four 3.5-inch drive bays and the D6 has six. Zettlab provides its own ZettOS which is said to be an AI first OS and the company was demoing its ZettAI at CES, but outside of that, it seems like ZettOS is a fairly basic NAS OS at the moment.https://tpucdn.com/img/5fUREMrqACzZke5M_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5fUREMrqACzZke5M.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/7dzCRC9GXBpYSiRk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7dzCRC9GXBpYSiRk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IvotnGIkABLCryMV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IvotnGIkABLCryMV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/phDlQnhI3B0IndDu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/phDlQnhI3B0IndDu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gl44cbL8LOd3duLH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gl44cbL8LOd3duLH.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

j5create dedicated its CES 2026 booth to high-end connectivity solutions that enhance modern IT infrastructure, particularly in video streaming at high resolutions and refresh rates. All new products are based on the Thunderbolt 5 series, offering 120 Gbps bandwidth, which is three times the capacity of the previous generation. The JTP5172 Triple 8K60 Docking Station supports 8K at 144 Hz and delivers 140 W of power. For those in need of an eGPU, the JTD5175 enclosure is compatible with NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 5090 for gaming and AI applications. Real-time monitoring is featured in two products: the JCD3195 Dashboard Dock and JCDP3140 Powerbase Docking Station, both equipped with built-in displays for performance and power status checks.https://tpucdn.com/img/6kNOFYDPwSQCEPND_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6kNOFYDPwSQCEPND.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8wHyjNfGQtTJbJRU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8wHyjNfGQtTJbJRU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/N3aDZbhHcweRv5pU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/N3aDZbhHcweRv5pU.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345045/j5create-shows-docks-with-built-in-displays-8k-144-hz-support-and-ai-meeting-tools-at-ces-2026)

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[NextPowerUP]

At the CES 2026 International Show, Acemagic was one of the few companies to showcase mini PCs with the newly announced AMD "Gorgon Point" and Intel "Panther Lake" chips. In a Board 3 Dual-C mini PC inspired by the old retro aesthetic, Acemagic has crammed an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 chip with 12 cores and 24 threads, featuring an embedded Radeon 890M GPU with 16 compute units. With up to 64 GB of system memory, the Board 3 supports up to two 4 TB M.2 PCIe 5.0 NVMe drives, packing quite the punch in a body smaller than an ITX motherboard. At just 140x128x40.8 mm in size, the system is 0.73 liters in volume.https://tpucdn.com/img/DLhy13ugfXgVF4lm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DLhy13ugfXgVF4lm.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2ItArjQiy4kdsr1C_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2ItArjQiy4kdsr1C.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ClzLBPpDohZynvaj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ClzLBPpDohZynvaj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/stSwf9UNyYOo5tUZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/stSwf9UNyYOo5tUZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nR0uXEqxLzWyjP8L_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nR0uXEqxLzWyjP8L.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345044/acemagic-shows-amd-gorgon-point-and-intel-panther-lake-mini-pcs-at-ces-2026)

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[NextPowerUP]

Iqunix is known for its Hall effect and mechanical keyboards, many of which have a unique aesthetics or some sort of neat feature like the magnetic dongle storage and custom mounting style of the Magi65 Pro. The brand appears to be bringing these design touches to a new lightweight gaming mouse soon enough. At CES 2026, the peripherals brand showed off a new gaming mouse called the Q101, which it bills as "coming soon." Not much is known about the Q101, although Iqunix has confirmed that it will be made from an aluminium alloy.

The new mouse, which has a symmetrical shape, foregoes the typical hole pattern often used to make gaming mice lighter, instead opting for an almost chaotic asymmetrical lattice structure. The shell itself will be made of a lightweight magnesium alloy, but part of the magnesium shell can be removed by the user and replaced with a translucent plastic window, giving the mouse a solid back and an interesting visual look. Not much is known about what sensor or MCU will be used, but Iqunix claims that the mouse will have 24,000 DPI and an "ultra-lightweight body," although again no weight specs were provided.https://tpucdn.com/img/Wb2RmBxOaQyzGWEk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Wb2RmBxOaQyzGWEk.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345038/iqunix-previews-upcoming-q101-ultra-lightweight-magnesium-gaming-mouse-at-ces-2026)

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When you think of Keychron, you immediately associate them with premium keyboards. But before we got to the keyboards, their CES booth this year caught our attention with a truly unique product: the Keychron Nape Pro Wireless Trackball Mouse. This compact device is designed to sit alongside keyboards or function as a standalone trackball with macro pad capabilities. The "mouse" measures 35.2 x 34.7 mm and features a 25 mm thumb trackball, six buttons, and a scroll wheel. It uses a Realtek chip with 1 kHz polling rate and a PixArt PAW3222 sensor for tracking, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless dongle, or USB-C wired connection. The device runs the ZMK open-source keyboard firmware, enabling extensive customization with multiple layers, shortcuts, and programmable macros.

However, the key innovation is Keychron OctaShift system, which detects the device orientation and automatically remaps button functions accordingly. Whether positioned horizontally next to a keyboard like a laptop pointing system or vertically as a standalone trackball, the M1 and M2 buttons at each end adapt to serve as primary clicks (or whatever functions have been assigned). This allows the Nape Pro to switch between a precision input device and a full macro pad depending on placement.https://tpucdn.com/img/RjZjpk2bM22kxlCF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RjZjpk2bM22kxlCF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Cv0u39XVoqohNZnH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Cv0u39XVoqohNZnH.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FxDWsX9f7Vdb7ZWX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FxDWsX9f7Vdb7ZWX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/sleyxYBrvF9DxWVw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sleyxYBrvF9DxWVw.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345036/keychron-unveils-nape-pro-wireless-trackball-mouse-and-new-keyboards-at-ces-2026)

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Minisforum had a quite a presence at CES 2026 with mini PCs ranging from Intel to AMD solutions, even with a mix of Arm-based SoCs. Interestingly, the systems come in various shapes and sizes, but our focus starts with the M2 Pro mini PC. Shaped like a NUC, the mini PC is powered by top-of-the-line Intel Core Ultra X9 388H "Panther Lake" processor with 16 cores, and Arc B390 integrated GPU for new gaming performance tier in the iGPU space. The system is equipped with a maximum of 96 GB of LPDDR5X memory, which runs at the 9,600 MT/s transfer rate, making the system run incredibly fast and feeding the powerful CPU+iGPU configuration.https://tpucdn.com/img/EiZKExu2v8L7Gkqf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EiZKExu2v8L7Gkqf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2lhAbukaWjt8i2cD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2lhAbukaWjt8i2cD.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345034/minisforum-shows-intel-panther-lake-mini-pc-and-more-at-ces-2026)

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Thunderobot is well known in the Chinese market and in recent years seems to be determined to make its way worldwide with products that stand out from the usual ones. At CES 2026, Thunderobot officially unveiled its ZERO Air gaming laptop series, something the company had already teased (https://www.techpowerup.com/344114/thunderobot-teases-upcoming-intel-panther-lake-apu-based-zero-air-gaming-laptop) in the weeks leading up to the show. The new lineup focuses on thin-and-light gaming systems built around Intel Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" processors and NVIDIA RTX 50 Laptop GPUs. Measuring just 15.9 mm thick and weighing around 1.58 kg, the ZERO Air is clearly a lightweight gaming laptop. It is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H (16-core, 16-thread) CPU with boost clocks up to 4.9 GHz. For graphics, it sports the GeForce RTX 5070 GPU. As for cooling, it features a dual-fan cooling system and a vapor chamber. The laptop has a 15.3-inch QHD+ OLED display with a 165 Hz refresh rate. Memory support goes up to 32 GB of DDR5, alongside dual PCIe Gen 4 SSD slots for storage expansion.

Alongside the ZERO Air, Thunderobot also showed the ZERO 18 Pro, its high-end flagship model. This larger system uses Intel Core Ultra HX Series processors and can be configured with up to a GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. It features an 18-inch QHD display running at 240 Hz, supports up to 64 GB of DDR5 memory, PCIe Gen 5 storage up to 2 TB, and includes RGB lighting and a 99 Wh battery.https://tpucdn.com/img/l7DNh2Pob36Zc4xb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/l7DNh2Pob36Zc4xb.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/v4R8SlPOpdXfgY8O_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/v4R8SlPOpdXfgY8O.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ogDtC1MEI0pT1vQD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ogDtC1MEI0pT1vQD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BLpT9IBP3KwFJOgD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BLpT9IBP3KwFJOgD.jpg)
More pictures follow.Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345033/thunderobot-launches-zero-air-gaming-laptops-with-intel-panther-lake-at-ces-2026)

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Huion has surprised digital artists at CES 2026 with Kamvas Pro 27 and Kamvas 22, built on Huion's Gen 3 display technology. The "smaller" 22-inch Kamvas display comes with 2560x1440 resolution in 16:9 aspect ratio with 90 Hz refresh rate. The panel features 16,384 pressure levels and comes with PenTech 4.0 technology. The tablet also includes 12-color ambient lighting to make your creative work immersive. The screen has anti-glare etched glass screen. For the larger Pro 27 model, Huion bumps the screen size to 27 inches while also bumping the resolution to 4K with 144 Hz refresh rate. Finally, these tablets also have feet that help adjust the angle and point the screen toward the artists, so it becomes much easier to do drawing work at an angled screen. To help with precision drawing, Huion PenTech 4.0 delivers ergonomic hold and precise pointing.https://tpucdn.com/img/9raWSJczCZksQI9h_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9raWSJczCZksQI9h.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rSDt5SBCkIuXobTP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rSDt5SBCkIuXobTP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BwSFcgL5peXZE9TU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BwSFcgL5peXZE9TU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1a5LcJ7MAWOTy5dJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1a5LcJ7MAWOTy5dJ.jpg)

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GPD, a well-known manufacturer of mini PCs with unique form factors, showcased its entire lineup of systems powered by AMD "Strix Halo" and "Strix Point" at CES 2026. Leading the lineup is the GPD WIN 5, a handheld device featuring the AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor. It offers up to 128 GB of LPDDR5X system memory running at 8,000 MT/s, supporting the 16-core/32-thread CPU and Radeon 8060S integrated graphics. The system provides up to 4 TB of SSD storage, with ports including USB4, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, and slots for microSD and Mini SSD for additional storage. It features a 7-inch 1080p display and an 80 Wh battery.https://tpucdn.com/img/CU8f7EnOKv65IfFF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CU8f7EnOKv65IfFF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/MWZeAWiehBGjDqHW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MWZeAWiehBGjDqHW.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FbCbCsYpTj0IzhbF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FbCbCsYpTj0IzhbF.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345031/gpd-mini-laptops-and-handhelds-powered-by-amd-strix-halo-point-arrive-to-ces-2026)

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Tianma, a leading global manufacturer of flat panel displays, is introducing a 27-inch Oxide TFT-LCD display with QHD resolution (2560×1440) and an industry-leading 610 Hz refresh rate for ultra-smooth motion in competitive gaming. Leveraging advanced Oxide technology, this Tianma display reaches its ultra-high refresh rate through three core panel enhancements: positive-mode liquid crystal material; an optimized alignment layer; and a refined TFT structure.

Tianma's 27" QHD 610 Hz Oxide Display delivers 1 ms GTG response time to minimize motion blur and an anti-glare, anti-reflection design for visual comfort during extended use. This panel offers 350 nits brightness, a 1200:1 contrast ratio, and 100% DCI-P3 wide color gamut, ensuring vivid color and sharp detail for high-performance gaming.https://tpucdn.com/img/r76v6S0VFYFzSbKs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/r76v6S0VFYFzSbKs.jpg)

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GL.iNet, a leading developer specializing in OpenWrt-based networking and remote access solutions, unveiled its latest product lineup scheduled for release at Spring 2026 at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026 in Las Vegas.

"GL.iNet strives to develop innovation that solves our users' biggest challenges, and that mission guides our way forward," said GL.iNet CEO Mason Zhao. "We are constantly thinking of new ways to deliver a premium user experience, our ultimate goal is to create an ecosystem of products that will improve everyone's lives."https://tpucdn.com/img/QxOZCy1DnBuqHWZv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QxOZCy1DnBuqHWZv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gsfJzOa2OENLDUaN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gsfJzOa2OENLDUaN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3s6hcEMYdcVs4cpM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3s6hcEMYdcVs4cpM.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mYRbFVcPg7Uxzen8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mYRbFVcPg7Uxzen8.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345028/gl-inet-unveils-next-gen-travel-routers-at-ces-2026)

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KTC started out as a discount gaming display upstart from Shenzhen, but has, over the years, grown to become a major player in the space. The company now has wide market presence in the US, and brought their latest gaming monitors to the 2026 International CES. The star attraction in the booth is the Q4966REC, an ultrawide format curved display with 49-inch diagonal size, an insane 32:9 aspect ratio, along with 5120 x 1440 pixels native resolution. The display has a steep curvature of 1000R, and uses a fast VA panel that offers 240 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time, 3000:1 static contrast ratio, and 178°/178° viewing angles. Also on offer are DisplayHDR 400 and 95% DCI-P3 wide color gamut.

The KTC Q2783SXC is a fast 27-inch planar monitor with WQHD resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels), and up to 400 Hz refresh rate, with 1 ms response time. The Q2717RDC is a 27-inch, 16:9 aspect ratio monitor with 1500R curvature. It offers 2560 x 1440 pixels resolution with 200 Hz refresh rate, and uses a fast VA panel. The KTC U2720SUQ is a premium 27-inch planar monitor with 4K Ultra HD resolution (3840 x 2160 pixels), and 160 Hz refresh rate. You can use this to beam Full HD at 360 Hz. The U2767SC is a more conventional 27-inch planar monitor with 4K Ultra HD resolution at 60 Hz. Signing things off from the KTC booth is the U3282SEL, a high-end 32-inch planar monitor with 4K Ultra HD at 240 Hz, which can also be used for Full HD at 480 Hz.https://tpucdn.com/img/PghdNe97r5Mfcvtn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PghdNe97r5Mfcvtn.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/MHk4agmN8sJsGiy7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MHk4agmN8sJsGiy7.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YWTpzD6zRHxX2Y72_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YWTpzD6zRHxX2Y72.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IwFuac3ATq6XqzAh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IwFuac3ATq6XqzAh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/eLQBFyplhr8T8U0I_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eLQBFyplhr8T8U0I.jpg)

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The arcade era may be long gone, however, My Arcade continues to lean into nostalgia. At CES 2026 we visited My Arcade colorful booth filled with retro-inspired hardware aimed at collectors and fans of classic games. The new Gamestation Retro Go is a handheld console with over 200 built-in games. It features a refreshed color option and slightly revised controls compared to the original Atari Gamestation Go (https://www.techpowerup.com/340785/my-arcade-launches-the-atari-gamestation-go) released in September 2025. Pricing is expected to be around $199. Also on display was the Gamestation Retro Pro, a home console variant that also comes preloaded with more than 200 games. Unlike the original version, this model drops the arcade sticks in favor of two standard console controllers, outputs at 1080p, and is expected to retail for about $149.

For those who prefer a physical arcade feel, My Arcade showed the Gamestation Retro Mega, a compact tabletop arcade cabinet featuring Bandai Namco titles and other retro games. It uses mechanical joysticks and buttons and is expected to cost $299. My Arcade also showcased its upcoming SEGA-themed mini cabinets, first announced last year. The lineup includes titles such as Sonic the Hedgehog (https://www.techpowerup.com/343511/sega-my-arcade-unveil-sonic-the-hedgehog-retro-gaming-devices), Street Fighter II, and a Pac-Man with a special 45th Anniversary edition (https://www.techpowerup.com/343589/my-arcade-launches-pac-man-45th-anniversary-collection-of-retro-gaming-devices). These come in several cabinet formats, ranging from compact joystick-based units to more unusual designs such as the Sonic cabinet variant that features a longer control deck with full-size buttons and a full-size joystick. My Arcade rounded out its CES 2026 booth with its full range of retro gaming hardware, including compact handhelds designed for quick nostalgia hits.https://tpucdn.com/img/TuijkL4Vmj8xf5iJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TuijkL4Vmj8xf5iJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4k1YXckZP1mycDDq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4k1YXckZP1mycDDq.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AJ5MD1JDFcGxi2ky_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AJ5MD1JDFcGxi2ky.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YZ0S1hfwWRi1CoQu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YZ0S1hfwWRi1CoQu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8GasJvwoqra3fyGe_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8GasJvwoqra3fyGe.jpg)
More images follow.Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345023/my-arcade-at-2026-ces-retro-games-consoles-mini-arcade-machines-and-more)

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Hisense at CES 2026 showcased its most advanced home cinema solutions, hoping to satisfy even the most demanding users. Hisense a new flagship laser projectors called the XR10. The XR10 SKU runs an LPU 3.0 Digital Laser Engine with a pure RGB triple laser light source to output 6,000 ANSI lumens. It uses a 16-element all-glass lens system and an IRIS system that automatically adjusts aperture to achieve 6,000:1 contrast. Color coverage hits the BT.2020 gamut with speckle suppressed to 6 percent. The optical zoom spans 0.84x to 2.0x, projecting screens from 65 to 300 inches, while a 4-camera plus dual TOF sensor array enables lossless correction of side-projected images up to ±15°. The unit also features lens-shift positioning and a sealed microchannel liquid cooling system.https://tpucdn.com/img/tuMuCSR69Si2K5wc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tuMuCSR69Si2K5wc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/owCtq8JwmcQgFvNP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/owCtq8JwmcQgFvNP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/62YNYQTU4jtbRZVz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/62YNYQTU4jtbRZVz.jpg)
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TSMC (TWSE: 2330, NYSE: TSM) today announced consolidated revenue of NT$1,046.09 billion, net income of NT$505.74 billion, and diluted earnings per share of NT$19.50 (US$3.14 per ADR unit) for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2025. Year-over-year, fourth quarter revenue increased 20.5% while net income and diluted EPS both increased 35.0%. Compared to third quarter 2025, fourth quarter results represented a 5.7% increase in revenue and an 11.8% increase in net income. All figures were prepared in accordance with TIFRS on a consolidated basis.

In US dollars, fourth quarter revenue was $33.73 billion, which increased 25.5% year-over-year and increased 1.9% from the previous quarter. Gross margin for the quarter was 62.3%, operating margin was 54.0%, and net profit margin was 48.3%. In the fourth quarter, shipments of 3-nanometer accounted for 28% of total wafer revenue; 5-nanometer accounted for 35%; 7-nanometer accounted for 14%. Advanced technologies, defined as 7-nanometer and more advanced technologies, accounted for 77% of total wafer revenue.https://tpucdn.com/img/UiMcdbIBlVSsuQkd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UiMcdbIBlVSsuQkd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TcCasGRcenZNagia_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TcCasGRcenZNagia.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8HqqOrDy0bpBGPxt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8HqqOrDy0bpBGPxt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/dhEZmovSvXaYIw3O_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dhEZmovSvXaYIw3O.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345217/tsmc-reports-fourth-quarter-2025-results)

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MSI is pleased to announce support for the upcoming AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor, built on the Zen 5 architecture and powered by the latest AMD 3D V-Cache technology from AMD. Compatible with MSI motherboards supporting AMD's AM5 platform, this processor features 8 cores and 16 threads with a massive 104 MB total cache, delivering boost clock speeds of up to 5.60 GHz with a max TDP of 120 W. Designed for outstanding performance and efficiency, it effortlessly handles the most demanding gaming and content creation workloads, setting a new standard for high-performance computing.

At the same time, we also unveil the new flagship MEG X870E UNIFY-X MAX during CES 2026. It is engineered for ultra-high performance, featuring a specialized 2-DIMM layout and OC Engine for extreme overclocking enthusiasts. It is powered by a robust 18+2+1 power phase (110 A SPS) and cooled by an advanced thermal solution, incorporating a Direct Touch Cross Heat-pipe and double-sided EZ M.2 Shield Frozr II. By fully optimizing for AMD Ryzen 9000 Series Processors with AMD 3D V-Cache Technology, integrating cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 and 5G LAN to ensure peak efficiency and low-latency connectivity for data-intensive applications, MEG X870E UNIFY-X MAX is ready for the challenge. An exclusive Tuning Controller provides instant, hands-on control for enthusiasts, enabling quick access to overclocking adjustments and CMOS clearing, all with a single press.https://tpucdn.com/img/WjEKIxDl5V9ElEsX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WjEKIxDl5V9ElEsX.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345216/msi-motherboards-deliver-full-support-for-amd-ryzen-7-9850x3d-processor)

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CannonKeys is no stranger to peculiar mechanical keyboards, like the cutesy bento-themed Minimi40 we covered (https://www.techpowerup.com/342494/cannonkeys-minimi40-builds-a-tiny-wireless-keyboard-into-a-colorful-lunchbox) previously, and one of the company's upcoming releases stays true to that enthusiast nature. The Bullet Train is another small form factor keyboard, this time opting for a low-profile design and what has become known as the V4N4G0N layout—effectively a 40% layout with half a num row, 1-6, along the top left edge of the keyboard. The Bullet Train is designed (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=125805.0) to be a compact portable keyboard in a 40% form factor with enthusiast touches and a layout that works for gaming, hence the odd combination of a low-profile design with a num row and an aluminium case. The default plate will be FR4, allegedly for wireless signal integrity, but there will be optional aluminium and PC plates when extras become available.

The Bullet Train will support both wired and wireless connectivity, although the wireless protocol has not yet been confirmed. Given CannonKeys's affinity for ZMK firmware, it seems likely that the Bullet Train will be limited to Bluetooth for wireless. A wired-only version will also be available with QMK firmware, and both versions will support hot-swap switches and compatibility with Gateron KS-33 (low-profile V2) switches. One of the more interesting aspects of the keyboard is its 0° typing angle, but the split space bar with a 1.25 u middle key is also an unorthodox choice, although almost a necessity for a 40% layout. It will be available in black, dark green, lilac, pink, and silver color options, all off which will be anodized finishes. The Bullet Train will launch as a group buy on February 5, with a starting price of $170 for the wired hot-swap version and $200 for the wireless keyboard. The keyboard will be sold as a DIY kit, meaning users will have to supply both the keycaps and switches, although CannonKeys often offers discounted bundle deals on compatible keycaps and switches when launching keyboards.https://tpucdn.com/img/7L1s3faWKRvQEIfB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7L1s3faWKRvQEIfB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/W8NhfbakbSJqAZe9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/W8NhfbakbSJqAZe9.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/iUou9gTz4iEtfoCu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iUou9gTz4iEtfoCu.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345213/cannonkeys-reveals-bullet-train-40-ish-mechanical-keyboard-price-and-details)

[NextPowerUP]

Stop paying renewal fees and get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office (https://www.stacksocial.com/sales/microsoft-office-professional-2021-for-windows-lifetime-license-8?aid=a-zpm4h3er) Professional 2021 for Windows for $34.97 (MSRP $219.99). For many Windows users, Microsoft Office remains the most dependable toolkit for documents, spreadsheets, email, and presentations (https://www.stacksocial.com/sales/microsoft-office-professional-2021-for-windows-lifetime-license-8?aid=a-zpm4h3er). If you work with data, manage reports, or simply need consistent productivity tools day-to-day, having a stable version you fully own Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License (https://www.stacksocial.com/sales/microsoft-office-professional-2021-for-windows-lifetime-license-8?aid=a-zpm4h3er) can make a difference. That's where Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows comes in—a one-time purchase currently available for $34.97 instead of the usual $219.99.

Office 2021 Professional includes the core applications most teams still rely on: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams (free version), OneNote, Publisher, and Access (https://www.stacksocial.com/sales/microsoft-office-professional-2021-for-windows-lifetime-license-8?aid=a-zpm4h3er). It's built for Windows 10 and 11 and offers the familiar ribbon interface along with updated features for cleaner formatting, easier customization, and improved handling of larger files. Whether you're assembling complex spreadsheets or building client-ready presentations, the tools focus on stability, compatibility, and predictable performance.https://tpucdn.com/img/PkE2pp85DqWgKYWC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PkE2pp85DqWgKYWC.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345172/stop-paying-annual-fees-and-own-microsoft-office-2021-outright-for-just-usd-35)

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[NextPowerUP]

Monster Hunter Wilds has earned itself a reputation for poor performance and optimization, and, while successive post-launch updates have helped improve things somewhat, it appears as though part of the problem, especially when it comes to mid-range hardware, is related to how Monster Hunter Wilds checks for DLC content. According to Reddit user u/de_Tylmarande, after significant testing and comparing performance in two different Steam accounts, the user discovered that Capcom has a DLC ownership check constantly running in the background that accounts for at least some of the performance degradation. According to the redditor's testing, the more DLC registered to a user's account, the less performance degradation there is.

u/de_Tylmarande validated their testing by implementing a mod that disables the check. In their specific case, using the mod resulted in an astounding performance increase of upwards of 75%—26 FPS with the mod disabled and 46 FPS with the mod enabled in the same busy hub scene. Crucially, this mod and bug admittedly seem to have the biggest impact on performance when using mid-range hardware, since allowing for the extra CPU overhead seems to minimize the impact of the bug. It's unclear whether this is simply a bug, or if Capcom is deliberately being aggressive with the checks for some reason, but a number of performance-oriented patches have been issued for the game since its February 2025 launch, without any fixes for the aforementioned DLC check, so it seems unlikely that Capcom is unaware of a potential bug that was discovered by an enterprising redditor in their free time. More performance optimizations are promised for the game in 2026, and the Reddit user has promised to publish their mod that disables the DLC check if Capcom doesn't fix the performance problems related to the check.https://tpucdn.com/img/3Expgx1f8XcN56na_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3Expgx1f8XcN56na.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/5YDoSC538a8S975h_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5YDoSC538a8S975h.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345212/poor-monster-hunter-wilds-performance-chalked-up-to-aggressive-dlc-checks)

[NextPowerUP]

Schenker isn't exactly a household name, but the company is known for making decent enthusiast-class gaming laptops that often come with a reasonable price point and without too much fuss when it comes to design. With its latest design, the Element 16, Schenker seems to be leaning into the recent resurgence in upgradeable and repairable laptops—not unlike the Framework 16 (https://www.techpowerup.com/340349/framework-launches-its-2nd-generation-laptop-16-with-upgradable-nvidia-geforce-rtx-5070), although with less of an emphasis on customization. Schenker designed the Element 16 in collaboration with Intel, and although it has not yet launched properly, it is based on Intel's new Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 CPUs (https://www.techpowerup.com/344763/intel-launches-core-ultra-series-3-panther-lake-mobile-processors-on-intel-18a-node). This means that when it eventually launches sometime in 2026, the Element 16 will be powered by Intel's Core Ultra 7 356H CPU and up to 64 GB of RAM.

The Element 16 features the components that are typically upgradeable or replaceable in gaming laptops—RAM, SSD storage, fans, and the battery—but it makes those upgrades easier with a toolless bottom panel and minimal screws to access and replace those internal components. The Element 16 also takes things a step further with a replaceable keyboard and a modular port design not entirely unlike that of the Framework laptops but with its own twist: instead of replacing one port at a time, the side-mounted ports on the Element 16 are part of a single module that can be replaced with a different module that has different ports. Schenker also says the motherboard is designed to be replaced when necessary, as well, although it's unclear if both AMD and Intel CPUs will be supported or if those motherboard replacements will be limited to Intel CPUs. There are still questions surrounding pricing, parts availability, and just how open Schenker will be about the parts on the Element 16, but for now we know that it will be sold by Bestware (https://bestware.com/en/schenker-element-16) in the EU.https://tpucdn.com/img/7O2MrbuNW2iOA5LK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7O2MrbuNW2iOA5LK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/GjdIIBVONwBn5bqY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GjdIIBVONwBn5bqY.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nTiuniOk73KA4BFX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nTiuniOk73KA4BFX.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345207/schenker-teases-element-16-modular-gaming-laptop-slated-for-2026-launch)

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[NextPowerUP]

It was previously revealed that Forza Horizon 6 would launch sometime in 2026 (https://www.techpowerup.com/341349/forza-horizon-6-gets-official-launch-trailer-2026-launch-date), although an official launch date has yet to be revealed beyond that. However, the release date for the next instalment in the open-world racing game series has been reportedly spotted inside Forza Horizon 5, of all places. According to @XBOXF10 on X (https://x.com/XBOXF10/status/2011429719800180925), an in-game pop-up appeared in Forza Horizon 5 after leaving the garage that presented a pre-order offer for Forza Horizon 6. The aforementioned pre-order offer would grant early access to Forza Horizon 6 and allow players to "play 4 days early starting May 15," suggesting that the official release for Forza Horizon 6 is on May 19.

Incidentally, the pre-order bundle would also give players access to two post-launch expansions, a welcome pack, a VIP membership, and the Car Pass and Time Attack Car Pass. Pre-orderers will also receive an exclusive pre-tuned Ferrari J50 when Horizon 6 launches. The screenshot also reveals that Forza Horizon 6 will have a total of 550 vehicles and claims that Horizon 6 will have the biggest open world of any Forza game to date.https://tpucdn.com/img/HKtHx0XJ9bto5mlM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HKtHx0XJ9bto5mlM.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345205/forza-horizon-6-release-date-spotted-in-predecessor)

[NextPowerUP]

The ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini Core has officially been listed on Amazon at $49.99 (https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Harpe-Wired-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B0FV5DKK3F), and some of the specifications seem to have changed or been updated since ASUS announced the diminutive lightweight gaming mouse (https://www.techpowerup.com/341584/asus-intros-rog-harpe-mini-core-lightweight-wired-mouse) back in October 2025. For starters, the product page now lists the ROG Harpe Ace Mini Core at 52 g, which is 3 g (or 6% heavier than previously claimed), and ASUS has clarified that the ROG Harpe Ace Mini Core has a paracord cable. At the time of writing, the mouse is still temporarily out of stock on Amazon, although it's unclear if there was stock when the product page went live.

In addition to the aforementioned weight increase, ASUS has also revealed that the ROG Harpe Ace Mini Core is compatible with the new ASUS Gear Link web-based driver software that has also been available for the company's latest HE keyboard launches. Another specification that has been clarified is the polling rate, which remains at 1 kHz instead of the 4 kHz and 8 kHz options offered by much of the competition these days. The rest of the mouse's specifications and features remain unchanged, as does the hot-swap switch design.https://tpucdn.com/img/ZkbSBa1Dkh7xpjKy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZkbSBa1Dkh7xpjKy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FAHXh6apYlqQF2MA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FAHXh6apYlqQF2MA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ty2fyjBYSIuHzD37_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ty2fyjBYSIuHzD37.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345204/asus-rog-harpe-ace-mini-core-gaming-mouse-officially-launches-at-usd-49-99)

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[NextPowerUP]

KDE Plasma, one of the current top Linux desktop environments, has officially released version 6.6 into public beta. The new DE update features a number of user-facing and behind-the-scenes updates that should make a significant difference to end users. The first major change noted in the Plasma 6.6 update log is the addition of three new packages, plasma-login-manager, plasma-keyboard, and plasma-setup, and these new packages—except for the plasma-setup wizard—are related to KDE's move away from SDDM as the display manager. Starting with KDE 6.6, SDDM will be replaced by KDE's own Plasma Login Manager, which is slated to introduce a number of new features, including improved multi-monitor support, support for HDR, different keyboard layouts and layout switching, power profile management, and screen readers. Overall, the improvements in PLM alone are substantial, but that's not all that KDE Plasma 6.6 has in store for its users.

The full changelog is available on the KDE Wiki (https://community.kde.org/Plasma/Plasma_6#Plasma_6.6), but some of the highlights include saving a custom theme from current settings, connecting to Wi-Fi networks with a QR code, OCR in Spectacle, improved support for controllers as input devices in the KWin window manager, automatic brightness on devices with ambient light sensors, the implementation of the USB portal to allow sandboxed apps to access USB devices, and a host of accessibility options, like slow keys on Wayland and a monochrome filter. Performance and efficiency tweaks are also on the cards, with the new update promising reduced idle memory usage, a number of fixes for memory leaks, smoother animations on high refresh displays, and improved screen mirroring support. KDE Plasma 6.6 public beta can be downloaded from KDE.org (https://kde.org/announcements/plasma/6/6.5.90/). Although Plasma 6.6 is by definition an incremental upgrade, the number of changes present are promising, especially those related to the new login manager and the promised performance fixes. The full release for Plasma 6.6 is planned for February 17.https://tpucdn.com/img/OSoFbXsRaFVSOuBT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OSoFbXsRaFVSOuBT.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345203/kde-plasma-6-6-enters-public-testing-with-swathe-of-performance-and-usability-updates)

[NextPowerUP]

Intel fully unveiled its Core Ultra Series 3 (https://www.techpowerup.com/344763/intel-launches-core-ultra-series-3-panther-lake-mobile-processors-on-intel-18a-node) mobile processor family last week, just before CES 2026 kick-off time. Official press material outlined an important January 27 launch date. Team Blue's first wave of "Panther Lake-H" chips—designed for laptop/notebook and mini PC platforms—will not face much "new" competition later this month. AMD's Ryzen AI 400 series (aka "Gorgon Point") is reportedly due to arrive a few days earlier (perhaps January 22 in China (https://www.techpowerup.com/345148/asuss-amd-ryzen-ai-400-laptops-to-launch-on-january-22)), but this mild refresh of current-gen "Strix Point" and "Krackan Point" silicon is not expected to step-up in terms of deploying cutting-edge tech.

Curiously, a major prediction—courtesy of Golden Pig Upgrade—alleges that Intel is readying two separate review embargo days. The veteran tech soothsayer believes that reviews of Core Ultra X9 388H-based devices will be given the all clear for publication on January 26; the day before Team Blue's decreed launch date. Everything else from the Core Ultra "Panther Lake-H" APU series will get some attention on January 27, coinciding with relevant hardware getting released at global retail outlets. The North American giant's (rumored) two-tier launch week strategy has a whiff of micromanagement, but their supposed prioritization of the 16-core flagship makes some sense, due to past leaks suggesting that it will compete closely (https://www.techpowerup.com/343912/upcoming-flagship-panther-lake-apu-geekbenches-above-amds-best-ryzen-ai-mobile-chip) with AMD's range-topping "Strix Halo" option: the venerable current-gen Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/ryzen-ai-max-395.c3994) model.https://tpucdn.com/img/qXBnBmNITNSvFbBB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qXBnBmNITNSvFbBB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/W1LzVXKdFFIpPrL3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/W1LzVXKdFFIpPrL3.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ns0WaDgB3EFjPCbZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ns0WaDgB3EFjPCbZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/qXBnBmNITNSvFbBB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qXBnBmNITNSvFbBB.jpg)

Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345202/intel-reportedly-curating-separate-panther-lake-h-review-embargoes-prioritizing-flagship-chip)

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[NextPowerUP]

Late last month, AMD's speculated Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 and Ryzen 7 9850X3D gaming CPUs reportedly moved closer (https://www.techpowerup.com/344435/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d2-and-ryzen-7-9850x3d-are-real-coming-this-ces) to becoming a reality. A series of late 2025 leaks have pointed to an eventual introduction of expanded Ryzen 9000 series "Zen 5" desktop product range; possibly at this week's CES trade show. The Ryzen 7 9850X3D SKU has broken cover on numerous occasions, even emerging very briefly from an official source (https://www.techpowerup.com/343473/amd-lists-ryzen-7-9850x3d-cpu-with-5-6-ghz-boost-frequency) last November. Fresh sleuthing activities have focused on a French e-tailer: LDLC—as evidenced by VideoCardz receiving a tip-off earlier today. The LDLC webstore has inadvertently listed Team Red's not-yet-launched Ryzen 7 9850X3D CPU model, in retail and tray (OEM) forms. Both product pages bear the same release date: January 29, 2026.

Also, a very specific "3 PM" local launch time is mentioned. No pricing details are outlined (at the time of writing), but basic specifications seem to align with past leaks—again, we are looking at an 8-core 16-thread "Granite Ridge" processor, destined for the AM5 socket. Additionally, the two active pages outline base 4.7 GHz and turbo/boost 5.6 GHz clocks, (a total of) 104 MB of 3D V-Cache, a 4 nm node process, and a 120 W TDP rating. Mid-way through December, a Swiss shop presented a $553 price point (https://www.techpowerup.com/344188/amd-ryzen-7-9850x3d-listed-at-usd-553-slightly-above-ryzen-7-9800x3d) (by mistake)—positioning the new chip about $70 over the related Ryzen 7 9800X3D (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/ryzen-7-9800x3d.c3891) SKU (at launch MSRP). Interestingly, the LDLC site does not list the more mysterious Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 SKU.

Update: A VideoCardz follow-up report claims/re-confirms that AMD's Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor will arrive at retail outlets on January 29 (9 am EST), based on information in a leaked sales embargo document. Apparently, no pre-sales are permitted—meaning that pre-orders will not be opened up when reviews start appearing online.https://tpucdn.com/img/nNPwjiFQlWjuT8Fl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nNPwjiFQlWjuT8Fl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TRiyGxwutLqT6JxS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TRiyGxwutLqT6JxS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/LwMSnlN85Y0bMCsx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LwMSnlN85Y0bMCsx.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/344728/french-store-lists-amd-ryzen-7-9850x3d-skus-with-january-29-release-date)

[NextPowerUP]

It's time to get rid of those pesky humans once and for all! Clever Imp: "Master, it's time to sail the open seas, grab the bull by its horns, you know… finally release the game!" Ghost Keeper will launch in Early Access on January 28th, for $12.99 (USD).

Clever Imp: "the game will launch with seven characters to control, six unique locations and a sandbox mode of gameplay. This is of course is not the end of this epic story, the Overlords will continue to develop the project past this date, but they want to do it alongside you. A Demonic Cooperation Programme is how they frame it—you play the game Master, provide your feedback and the Overlords shall try to make those wishes a reality, whilst at the same time they will continue expanding on the amount of maps, characters and the narrative. Neat deal, right?"https://tpucdn.com/img/oW7dNozeUo1AWj8Y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oW7dNozeUo1AWj8Y.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/VvosZvtzHWmygp37_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VvosZvtzHWmygp37.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YV3LDjcFxEVE6icq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YV3LDjcFxEVE6icq.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/JPbTMNMLTJPXJBUU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JPbTMNMLTJPXJBUU.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345200/ghost-keeper-early-access-version-due-on-january-28)

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[NextPowerUP]

Many portable PC enthusiasts welcomed Dell's very recent restoration of familiar XPS (https://www.techpowerup.com/344860/dell-brings-back-its-xps-laptops-from-retirement) model naming convention; replacing generically confusing "Premium" monikers. Unfortunately, back-dated leaks still mention the latter—as evidenced by one of Olrak29's latest shipping manifest discoveries. A November 20 entry lists a Dell 16 Premium model powered by NVIDIA's still-in-progress N1X system-on-a-chip. According to leaks from last year, this "Grace Blackwell" APU utilizes twenty Arm CPU cores (https://www.techpowerup.com/339336/nvidia-n1x-pc-processor-features-20-arm-cpu-cores-and-48-igpu-streaming-multiprocessors) and an iGPU specced with 48 compute units. Hopeful Team Green supporters looked forward to a possible official unveiling at last week's CES trade event, but an eventual non-showing (occupying second place (https://www.techpowerup.com/345051/the-5-biggest-no-shows-of-ces-2026) on TPU's top five) led to much disappointment.

Apparently, the GB10 Superchip forms the basis of N1 and N1X SoCs—the same tech has been deployed in NVIDIA's extremely expensive DGX Spark (https://www.techpowerup.com/344762/nvidia-dgx-spark-and-dgx-station-power-the-latest-open-source-and-frontier-models) AI mini desktop PC. For the moment, Qualcomm's mainstream Snapdragon X chips are keeping Arm-based solutions alive on Windows 11 Arm with Copilot+. A July 2025 rumor posited that teething problems had prompted a major delay of the N1-series project, with a revised launch period supposedly marked down for late 2026 (https://www.techpowerup.com/338938/nvidias-n1x-cpu-hits-new-roadblock-launch-pushed-to-late-2026). The November shipping manifest mentions an "ES2" designation, likely implying that Dell was playing around with N1X engineering samples.https://tpucdn.com/img/M6siapzbViG0WUq0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/M6siapzbViG0WUq0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BzVFnhHdHBWNpdOU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BzVFnhHdHBWNpdOU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/yCT4suIDIXNXiuAB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/yCT4suIDIXNXiuAB.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345198/shipping-document-lists-unreleased-dell-16-premium-laptop-with-nvidia-n1x-es2-soc)

[NextPowerUP]

MSI introduces the Roamii BE Pro Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System, crafted to deliver seamless, high-speed connectivity for modern homes. Designed with both performance and aesthetics in mind, Roamii BE Pro ensures smooth streaming, gaming, and smart home experiences across every corner of the house.

Powered by the latest Wi-Fi 7 technology, Roamii BE Pro combines tri-band support and advanced features like MLO and 4K-QAM to deliver ultra-low latency and exceptional stability. MSI's FortiSecu provides 24/7 protection for all connected devices, while content filters help keep children safe online.https://tpucdn.com/img/Ys12kbkgOnTRVOSV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ys12kbkgOnTRVOSV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9WcUEzxwfGbVjVkO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9WcUEzxwfGbVjVkO.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345199/msi-introduces-the-roamii-be-pro-wi-fi-7-mesh-system)

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[NextPowerUP]

HI, WE'RE THE ENCLAVE. The GRAND REVEAL is here! We kept our promise, we cooked and now is the time to unveil our "new" project: the dream-like big brother of BLACKSHARD (https://www.blackshard-game.com/). HYPNOS is a first-person adventure and exploration game set within a new megastructure described in the Maze Chronicles, a Black Shard of Onyx, hidden beneath the roots of the Forest of Destiny. The Enclave is at work, supported by Redlock Studio (https://redlock-studio.com/) and once again featuring the talents of ALT236 and AL9000.

This time, you play as a man named Choron, an Other on his quest to the edges of Dream. Those who have not played BLACKSHARD need not worry, as you will be transported to a new world, allowing you to grasp the entire plot. However, walkers of the Labyrinth will recognize the signs, concepts, some characters and intertwined patterns. After all, some of you are already walking the Path of the Eternal Return.https://tpucdn.com/img/sDGq7kH5liZOcMbC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sDGq7kH5liZOcMbC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/sqqxbZ3MxVFaNJH0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sqqxbZ3MxVFaNJH0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/EhN1TUBzSy5Spi7G_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EhN1TUBzSy5Spi7G.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/O4N86Ys99ZnONM0c_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/O4N86Ys99ZnONM0c.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345197/the-enclave-intros-hypnos-the-dream-like-big-brother-of-blackshard)

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[NextPowerUP]

Days after the conclusion of CES 2026, ASUS has presented a brand-new workstation motherboard design on social media. Today's mid-morning teaser claims that company representatives had already introduced their behemoth EBB format product in Las Vegas—furthermore, they describe their next-gen board as being "built for pros who demand serious performance and rock-solid stability." An included photo shows a demonstration sample sitting on top of a black plinth, emblazoned with the ASUS logo and a customary "in search of incredible" slogan. TechPowerUp and several other PC hardware media outlets did not manage to inspect this particular unit during visits to the Taiwanese brand's showroom space. The ASUS social media account hinted that "the future of workstations" is arriving soon, and included a cryptic link to their ExpertCenter Pro ET900N G3 workstation product page. It should be noted that this specific system is powered by NVIDIA's GB300 "Grace Blackwell" ultra desktop superchip.

It is possible that an Intel-based ExpertCenter workstation variant will emerge in the near future. The teased new-gen W890 Pro WS mainboard could succeed the company's current Pro WS W790E-SAGE SE (https://www.asus.com/uk/motherboards-components/motherboards/workstation/pro-ws-w790e-sage-se/) design. The lone ASUS preview shot shows an LGA 4710 socket. This format will host Team Blue's upcoming Xeon "Granite Rapids-WS" HEDT processor family. Coincidentally, the supposed 86-core flagship "Xeon 698X (https://www.techpowerup.com/345176/flagship-intel-xeon-698x-granite-rapids-ws-with-86-cores-and-336-mb-l3-cache-appears)" SKU has made an appearance this week. Forthcoming compatible motherboards are expected to utilize the W890 workstation platform (https://www.techpowerup.com/343200/intel-w890-workstation-platform-details-leak-ahead-of-granite-rapids-ws-launch) chipset. The gigantic new ASUS Pro WS layout sports eight DDR5 DIMM slots, seven PCIe x16 slots, and four Gen 5 x4 slots. Various large heatsinks and two active cooling fans temper crucial elements on this feature-rich board. Naturally, pricing information is not available at this point in time. Given that the Pro WS W790E model goes for $1600+, we expect its successor to launch with a price tag closer to $2000.https://tpucdn.com/img/ZwmJ2BsY9kVZx70j_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZwmJ2BsY9kVZx70j.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/l9s9GGOV9bROYZmw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/l9s9GGOV9bROYZmw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/R7bARSXQoT51xT4r_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/R7bARSXQoT51xT4r.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345196/asus-apparently-unveiled-next-gen-w890-pro-ws-ebb-motherboard-at-ces)

[NextPowerUP]

Keychron has officially announced the P3 HE under its gaming sub-brand, Lemokey. The Lemokey P3 HE is a new TKL gaming keyboard with an aluminium case and toolless disassembly. The case is also stuffed with the standard sound absorbing foams, both between the PCB and aluminium plate and between the PCB and the bottom case. The case, which comes in black or white with matching keycaps, is finished with an electrophoretic coating and has a silicone bean gasket mount to cut out unwelcome reverberation between the plate and case. Unlike Keychron's newer Q HE 8K series keyboards, which user north-pole HE switches—meaning wider compatibility with other HE switches, like the Gateron Jade Pros and Wooting Lekker Tikkens—the P3 HE still relies on the Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula switches, which limits switch compatibility to other Gateron KS-37 magnetic switches. On a more positive note, the Lemokey P3 HE is priced at $169.99 (https://www.lemokey.com/products/lemokey-p3-he-wireless-magnetic-switch-custom-gaming-keyboard), which is significantly less than the $239.99 you'd pay for an equivalent HE keyboard from Keychron.

While the Lemokey P3 HE is somewhat similar in many ways to the Keychron Q3 HE, there are some distinct differences. For starters, that quick-release toolless disassembly feature is only found on the Lemokey keyboard, and the P3 HE uses Cherry profile double-shot PBT shine-through keycaps instead of the KSA and OSA profile keycaps that Keychron usually opts for. There is also a double-shot PBT option without shine-through legends, for those who prefer the more subtle look. The backlighting on the P3 HE is north-facing, for improved compatibility with regular shine-through keycaps. Unlike the 75% and 65% P1 HE and P2 HE, the P3 HE doesn't have a customizable rotary encoder. The Lemokey P3 HE has both wired and wireless connectivity, with the 2.4 GHz and USB-C connections offering 1,000 Hz polling, while the Bluetooth 5.2 connection is limited to 125 Hz and can connect to up to four devices. Being an HE keyboard means that Lemokey Launcher offers features like customizable actuation point, SOCD, rapid trigger, DKS, and analog input in addition to the standard remapping and macro capabilities.https://tpucdn.com/img/lYXPcrHIBEekGKnv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lYXPcrHIBEekGKnv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HdqMDc4ixvX4GSZf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HdqMDc4ixvX4GSZf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/O6PmeMzR5nG30me1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/O6PmeMzR5nG30me1.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Nintendo, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Microsoft continue to collaborate to improve player safety across our platforms. We believe gaming is for everyone and strive to provide experiences that are positive and enjoyable for all, especially for our youngest players. We work to accomplish this by pursuing a multidisciplinary approach, integrating advanced technology, research-driven insights, supportive community efforts, and skilled human oversight.

Since first announcing our shared commitment in 2020 (https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/12/14/shared-safety-principles/), we've partnered behind the scenes with Nintendo and Sony Interactive Entertainment on these efforts because we can accomplish more when we work toward the same goal. As we continue to invest in, adapt, and amplify our approaches to player safety, we have also evolved our shared principles to ensure they represent our constant efforts to keep our communities safe. Our latest shared principles reflect new innovations in player safety that have evolved with technological advancements, and new ways in which we collaborate through key industry initiatives and with trade associations.https://tpucdn.com/img/xNIEOJ5Uw8jsWrGL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xNIEOJ5Uw8jsWrGL.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345195/xbox-nintendo-sony-partnership-continues-to-support-safer-gaming-initiatives)

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[NextPowerUP]

Earlier this week, another example of AMD's next-gen Ryzen "Medusa Point" mobile chip design was put in the spotlight. Olrak29 has discovered an interesting entry (dated from late last year) within NBD shipping manifests, that reaffirms information from a previous "Zen 6"-related leak. A "Medusa 1 A0" integrated microprocessor is described, along with an apparent 28 W TDP and FP10 socket type. An early December 2025 report (https://www.techpowerup.com/343682/amd-zen-6-based-medusa-point-apu-comes-in-28-w-and-45-w-tdps) was based on similar information, also outlining the alleged existence of a more potent 45 W TDP-rated APU design. As mentioned above, the speculated 28 W "Low TDP" variant has emerged again, albeit with a revised silicon stepping—now A0. This designation signals that Team Red was still examining samples for validation purposes, at least towards the end of last year.

Olrak29 pointed out that "4C4D"—as seen in their screenshot—indicates a "classic 4-core and dense 4-core" layout for the 28 W TDP configured "Medusa Point" chip. An older leak proposes (https://www.techpowerup.com/340282/leaked-amd-roadmap-hints-at-zen-6-for-mobile-but-not-until-2027) the presence of two additional low-power cores. This processor core configuration (4C + 4D + 2LP) could materialize in futuristic Ryzen 5 and 7 APUs. Details of the "Medusa Point 1" integrated graphics solution are not present on the aforementioned NBD listing. The usual soothsayers posit that AMD will leverage "RDNA 3.5+" iGPUs for this class, instead of pulling in truly next-gen architecture (RDNA 4, RDNA 5 or UDNA). "Zen 6"-based mobile chips are not expected to arrive until 2027 (https://www.techpowerup.com/340282/leaked-amd-roadmap-hints-at-zen-6-for-mobile-but-not-until-2027). In the interim, Team Red is prepping "Gorgon Point" (Zen 5/RDNA 3.5) for an imminent launch (https://www.techpowerup.com/345148/asuss-amd-ryzen-ai-400-laptops-to-launch-on-january-22).https://tpucdn.com/img/yOVFLh21FO6PS9oD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/yOVFLh21FO6PS9oD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/kt841SDJMSorDOyC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kt841SDJMSorDOyC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Kph7BSZTKmzTu4NX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Kph7BSZTKmzTu4NX.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345194/amd-ryzen-medusa-point-ao-stepping-seen-in-shipping-doc-basic-spec-includes-28-w-tdp-rating)

[NextPowerUP]

Quadric, the inference engine that powers on-device AI chips, today announced an oversubscribed $30 million Series C funding round, bringing total capital raised to $72 million. ACCELERATE Fund, managed by BEENEXT Capital Management, led the round. Uncork Capital returned with one of the largest insider commitments through its opportunity fund, joined by insider Pear VC. New investors include Volta, Gentree, Wanxiang America, Pivotal, and Silicon Catalyst Ventures. The funding comes as Quadric hits a revenue inflection: product revenues more than tripled in 2025 vs. 2024. Quadric is entering 2026 with accelerating design-win momentum, driven by growing adoption of the General Purpose NPU (GPNPU) processor IP across edge LLM, automotive, and enterprise vision applications.

"We've been deeply impressed by Quadric's innovative architecture, its disruptive approach to AI inference at the edge, and their strong market traction particularly in Asian markets," said Hero Choudhary, Managing Partner at BEENEXT. "Those attributes indicate a very clear path for further growth with a strong potential to be a generational business. We believe Quadric is poised to revolutionize the edge AI hardware sector, and we look forward to supporting their journey as they continue to push the boundaries of what is possible."https://tpucdn.com/img/H3kb4V8wd8vee0nG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/H3kb4V8wd8vee0nG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/cQI2IFRPZSyT27La_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cQI2IFRPZSyT27La.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345192/quadric-inference-engine-attracts-usd-30-million-series-c-funding)

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[NextPowerUP]

AMD creates the top X670E and X870E chipsets by joining two AMD "Promontory 21" FCH chips at the hip. Each of these takes in a PCI-Express 4.0 x4 connection, and puts out 8 PCIe 4.0 lanes and four SATA 6 Gbps ports that can be re-configured as four additional Gen 3 lanes. The X870E/X670E chipset hence has a total of 12 PCIe 4.0 lanes and up to eight SATA 6 Gbps ports on the platform. A company decided to put one of these chips on an add-on card, so you could upgrade your single-FCH platform, such as B650, B850, or X870, with more PCIe lanes wired out as additional M.2 slots, and some SATA ports.

PC enthusiasts in China decided to install this card on an Intel motherboard to hilarious results—utilities such as AIDA64 are confused, thinking these Promontory 21 chips are the platform's main chipset. This gives the appearance of an Intel processor on an AMD chipset motherboard. The card has four M.2 slots, two on each side, and four SATA 6 Gbps ports. At least two of these are Gen 4 x4, while the others could be Gen 3 x4 and M.2-SATA, used when none of the SATA 6 Gbps ports is connected. There's no word on how to get one of these cards.https://tpucdn.com/img/sDXNAgQZndxUc0PM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sDXNAgQZndxUc0PM.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FGiGRABZWUBN8Ege_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FGiGRABZWUBN8Ege.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345307/interesting-amd-fch-on-a-stick-addon-card-gives-the-appearance-of-intel-cpu-on-amd-chipset)

[NextPowerUP]

Despite no-showing at CES 2026 (https://www.techpowerup.com/345051/the-5-biggest-no-shows-of-ces-2026), leaks still predict that Intel will launch the Arrow Lake Refresh mobile CPUs (https://www.techpowerup.com/345190/new-acer-predator-laptop-benched-powered-by-flagship-arrow-lake-hx-refresh-cpu) sometime in March or April 2026, and one of the CPUs slated to launch then is the mobile flagship Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, which has incidentally showed up in a recent PassMark CPU benchmark (via X86isdeadandback on X (https://x.com/x86deadandback/status/2012279349936881824)). According to the PassMark listing, the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, which was supposedly tested in an MSI laptop equipped with an RTX 5090 and 32 GB of Samsung DDR5-5600 memory, the upcoming CPU will handily outpace the former flagship mobile CPU by around 7.5% in single-thread performance and a healthy 12.8% in the multicore benchmark. If the Core Ultra 9 285HX is anything to go by, there may still be some performance on the table with faster DDR5-6400 memory.

The Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus scored 66203 in the multicore benchmark and 5009 in the single-core benchmark. This performance puts it less than 2% away from the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K desktop CPU (which scored 67430 and 5093, respectively), which is certainly an impressive feat. Of course, all the usual caveats apply when it comes to early CPU benchmarks—especially leaked benchmarks. For starters, the official launch is still a while away, and clock speeds and microcode may not be entirely dialed-in yet. This is also a sample size of one, and CPU performance can often vary greatly between different configurations. The new CPU first appeared in a previously leaked Geekbench benchmark of an Acer Predator laptop (https://www.techpowerup.com/345190/new-acer-predator-laptop-benched-powered-by-flagship-arrow-lake-hx-refresh-cpu), which also revealed that the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus will use the same P-core and E-core layout as the older 285HX, meaning eight P-cores and 16 e-cores.https://tpucdn.com/img/hgMAxxdAVMcHrHu8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hgMAxxdAVMcHrHu8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6o75MLMJJBbUgDKK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6o75MLMJJBbUgDKK.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345305/intel-core-ultra-9-290hx-plus-in-msi-laptop-stomps-285hx-in-leaked-passmark-run)

[NextPowerUP]

Logitech announced the Pro X2 Superstrike gaming mouse back in September 2025 (https://www.techpowerup.com/341098/logitech-g-drops-a-wide-array-of-new-products-and-innovations-at-logitech-g-play-2025), claiming to be an industry-first gaming mouse with haptic feedback and adjustable click actuation distance, the latter achieved via induction switches. However, while the price was revealed at $179.99, an exact availability date was not revealed. Now, though, Logitech has finally announced that the Pro X2 Superstrike will be available for pre-order on January 19 on the Logitech online store (https://www.logitechg.com/en-us/shop/p/pro-x2-superstrike-mouse).

There is still no official shipment date, despite the pre-order announcement date, although there have been supposed leaks (https://www.reddit.com/r/MouseReview/comments/1pyi6a7/logitech_pro_x2_superstrike_release_date_is_24th/) that claimed the mouse would be available as of February 24. Given that that's about a month away from the pre-order opening, it seems reasonable that this could be the official launch date. It seems as though pre-orders will only be available on the Logitech site, but it would not be surprising to see sites like Amazon or Best Buy offer pre-orders, as well.https://tpucdn.com/img/qwihgOMQTkvANH5g_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qwihgOMQTkvANH5g.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ANndgnspmuKOu0Ib_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ANndgnspmuKOu0Ib.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345304/logitech-pro-x2-superstrike-gaming-mouse-gets-official-pre-order-date)

[NextPowerUP]

Valve previously implemented a rule (https://store.steampowered.com/news/group/4145017/view/3862463747997849618) that forced developers to disclose their use of generative AI in any games published on Steam. This new guidelines required developers to disclose generative AI use when it resulted in AI-generated content in the game itself—AI-generated images, textures, or 3D models, for example—or when the game was actively using AI to generate new content during gameplay. Now, Steam has apparently updated its generative-AI disclosure system (via Simon Carless on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/posts/simoncarless_interestingly-pc-video-game-platform-steam-activity-7417944215675908096-OGNg/)) to be clearer and to add nuance to the discussion, especially given the rise in popularity of AI code helpers and similar tools. Developers will still need to disclose all AI-generated content in their games, and Valve will still display the disclosure on the game's Steam Store page.

The Steam AI disclosure form now specifically makes reference to AI efficiency tools, stating that "efficiency gains through the use of these tools is not the focus of this section," and goes on to explain that it is only concerned with AI-generated content that is directly consumed by players. This means in-game content, like artwork, sound, narrative, localization, and other in-game assets, and anything that appears on the Steam Store, such as marketing assets and content on the Steam Community page. Notably Valve still calls out the use of live generative AI and all the potential safety and copyright risks involved in that. It still also makes it clear that developers are responsible for any AI-generated content in their games or on their Steam Store pages.https://tpucdn.com/img/UibsuHa2F0gC4lIv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UibsuHa2F0gC4lIv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/iTVCDyFgdnmLQdEZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iTVCDyFgdnmLQdEZ.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345302/steam-ai-disclosure-gets-clarification-for-ai-in-dev-tools)

[NextPowerUP]

The WLMouse Huan is a premium, lightweight magnesium alloy gaming mouse with a solid shell that takes after the Razer Viper Mini and weighs in at just under 50 g (48 g ±2 g) and features flagship internals. As a celebration for Chinese New Year, WLMouse has announced a limited edition Year of the Horse colorway (https://x.com/wlmouseofficial/status/2012140276387819529) of the Huan mouse. The Huan Year of the Horse mouse will officially become available for purchase on February, although pricing has not been announced yet. There also appears to be a matching mousepad for the Huan Year of the Horse edition, and it will ship with all the typical accessories, like extra wide skates and dot skates, a USB-C cable, and likely two sets of grips.

The Huan Year of the Horse Limited Edition mouse will have a striking red body with a custom graphic on the shell, and it will include a matching red base station and included grips with intricate printing. The internals will likely remain unchanged compared to the regular Huan (https://www.wlmouse.com/products/huan), which means the Year of the Horse mouse will be built around a Nordic 54HM MCU and a tuned PixArt PAW3950HS sensor with an optional 20K FPS lock. The main click switches are Omron Optical switches, and the mouse uses a TTC Silver Dust-Proof encoder for the scroll wheel. If the $155 pricing of the original WLMouse Huan is anything to go by, potential buyers should prepare to drop a pretty penny on the limited edition variant. The Nekko colorway, for example, increases the price to $169, and that isn't a limited edition.https://tpucdn.com/img/ZJRfuHGQRxpgxBp9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZJRfuHGQRxpgxBp9.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lIRhu4HBmUno5ieC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lIRhu4HBmUno5ieC.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345294/wlmouse-teases-bright-red-limited-edition-huan-year-of-the-horse-wireless-gaming-mouse)

[NextPowerUP]

GIGABYTE, the world's leading computer brand, strengthens its strategic partnership with NVIDIA by unveiling a new generation of flagship products built on NVIDIA's latest platform at CES 2026. The lineup spans new GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards, powerful GeForce RTX laptops with built-in NVIDIA Studio, and G-SYNC Compatible gaming monitors, leveraging NVIDIA's cutting-edge GPU, RTX AI, and display technologies. Building on this foundation, GIGABYTE layers its own advanced cooling, system-control, and display innovations to deliver a uniquely powerful and polished experience for both gamers and creators.

Leading the graphics card lineup, the AORUS GeForce RTX 5090 INFINITY (https://www.techpowerup.com/344990/gigabyte-rtx-5090-aorus-infinity-asus-rtx-5090-proart-and-msi-rtx-5090-lightning-z-hands-on) is powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, leveraging GeForce RTX 50 Series capabilities to power next-level RTX gaming and AI computing. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio. To support the GPU in performing at its full potential, GIGABYTE reinforces the design with the WINDFORCE HYPERBURST Cooling System, combining a separated PCB design, patented Hawk fans, and an additional Overdrive Fan for extra cooling headroom under heavy loads. The result is more sustained peak performance, wrapped in a premium showcase design featuring a circular heatsink, a die-cast metal backplate, and iconic RGB Halo lighting.https://tpucdn.com/img/WL5laOB3fb8HF6xc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WL5laOB3fb8HF6xc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/21oqsmIkZCZaoxui_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/21oqsmIkZCZaoxui.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345300/gigabyte-nvidia-strengthen-partnership-driving-innovation-in-ai-powered-gaming)

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[NextPowerUP]

Today we want to share that Julian Gerighty, executive producer on the Tom Clancy's The Division franchise is heading off on to a new adventure at Battlefield Studios. While we will miss him, his mark will live on at Massive and we'll continue to bring the world he's been part of creating to our players for years to come. Julian, your legacy is part of this studio and remember: once an Agent, always an Agent.

For our players, don't worry, Agents. Our teams who built this world with Julian are still here, carrying it forward with an ambitious, unchanged commitment for the future with The Division 2, The Division 2: Survivors, The Division Resurgence and The Division 3 (https://www.techpowerup.com/313949/tom-clancys-the-division-3-in-early-stages-of-development).https://tpucdn.com/img/fz8QOk0aklTvQHdc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fz8QOk0aklTvQHdc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jQhwGBLxg9LJOw1B_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jQhwGBLxg9LJOw1B.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/fzSr7AWvpMjPqjvb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fzSr7AWvpMjPqjvb.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345299/tom-clancys-the-division-executive-producer-starting-new-role-at-ea-dice)

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[NextPowerUP]

Hello, fellow bikers, this is Paolo Bertoni, Game Director of Ride 6 (https://milestone.it/games/ride-6/). As we rev things up ahead of the game's release on PC and home consoles, planned for February 12, 2026, I'd like to take you behind the scenes to explore the brand-new career mode we've been crafting, and share how it brings our vision to life. The goal of a project like Ride is to immerse virtual riders in the same thrills that every real biker seeks when they open the garage door and hop on their bike. So we asked ourselves: what fuels that passion? It wasn't hard to figure out, considering that for much of our team, motorcycles aren't just a job, they're a way of life. Over the years, the Ride franchise has built a huge roster of bikes and tracks to give players as many choices as possible. With Ride 6, we wanted to go further. We wanted to capture the very essence of being a biker, an experience we called Ride Fest.

Ride Fest is much more than a career; it's a motorcycle festival that plunges players into the love of riding, freedom, and the sense of camaraderie that defines the biker spirit. It replaces the traditional championship format with a more open approach, offering a horizontal progression system based on chapters. You will get to choose which events to tackle, from single races and endurance challenges to championships and time attacks, all organized into themed areas based on criteria such as bike category, manufacturer, circuit type, weather conditions, or legendary champions.https://tpucdn.com/img/wkTl6h8WcEYxiL9t_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wkTl6h8WcEYxiL9t.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jb7rjaxXos0Gq9yI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jb7rjaxXos0Gq9yI.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/DKz6axwsH1OW5idv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DKz6axwsH1OW5idv.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345298/ride-6-career-mode-detailed-by-games-director)

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[NextPowerUP]

Samsung Display's "Cinematic Experience" OLED experience could make its way to premium Apple laptop pastures. According to fresh inside track info—courtesy of a yeux1122 blog post—the South Korean behemoth's Asan site-based 8.6-generation OLED production line has kicked into high gear. Projections from last year allegedly outlined a mass manufacturing phase starting by the second quarter of 2026, but the yeux1122 post claims that an adjusted production timeline has just come into effect. Reports from last year outlined a significant $3.1 billion investment at this display-oriented fabrication campus; paving the way for mass manufacturing of "8.6G IT OLED" panels—targeting next-gen computer monitors, laptops, tablets and other small-to-medium-sized devices. Apparently, improved yield rates and cost benefits are the result of Samsung's 8.6-generation—taking advantage of larger glass substrates, where differing panel sizes can be cut and extracted from a single sheet.

The first commercial examples of the company's 8.6G OLED panel tech could debut on higher-end MacBook devices. One of Samsung Display's main customers is Apple; industry insiders believe that futuristic 14/16-inch M6 MacBook Pro and Max models—likely arriving early next year—will feature advanced tandem OLED tech, instead of single-stack structures. A double-stack design is said to consist of a rigid OLED layer and an oxide TFT backplane; both elements are light emitting. This combination is ideal for laptop applications, due to offering higher brightness levels, superior power efficiency, and improved longevity. Noted Apple sleuth Mark Gurman (of Bloomber fame) and tech industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo—in parallel agreement—predict touchscreen displays being fitted on the first wave of OLED MacBook Pro products.https://tpucdn.com/img/ZUQ78317AaB18FHT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZUQ78317AaB18FHT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/kquWGovnVoAuCAPb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kquWGovnVoAuCAPb.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3gho9yNw5DliepqS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3gho9yNw5DliepqS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/dPwi1wuiHKwJM9B3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dPwi1wuiHKwJM9B3.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345297/samsung-reportedly-ahead-of-schedule-with-m6-macbook-pro-max-oled-panel-production)

[NextPowerUP]

Craftlings (https://store.steampowered.com/app/1771110/Craftlings/) is OUT, and I wish you Happy Wusseln! I really hope that you enjoy it, and if you do, leave an early review and tell your friends about Craftlings. This will help a lot in establishing a safe and positive environment for further development. Thank you!

I had a short first night following launch. After releasing the game, I stayed up late to fix a bug and push a patch for Steam Deck users. But I'm really happy and proud that so many of you are playing Craftlings, and enjoying it. I truly appreciate all your warm comments and messages! If you could do me a favor and write a review on Steam, it would really help. This way, people interested in buying the game can better understand what to expect from it—what Craftlings is, and what it is not.
That would be awesome!https://tpucdn.com/img/U5mMbY1AXKyxNqfq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/U5mMbY1AXKyxNqfq.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/g3zHK2fP5X3Y8MED_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/g3zHK2fP5X3Y8MED.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TOc1SXhc84vgeLcm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TOc1SXhc84vgeLcm.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/QgVPOV8SW9wfI114_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QgVPOV8SW9wfI114.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345295/craftlings-available-now-on-steam-ariano-games-issues-first-patch)

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[NextPowerUP]

Intel's "Bartlett Lake-S" (Performance) P-Core-only processor design has made a surprise appearance, after a long period of developmental silence. Earlier, today X86 is dead&back put a spotlight on the intriguing entry of Team Blue's unreleased "Core 7 253PE" SKU within PassMark's CPU benchmark database. The keen watcher of not-yet-released PC hardware believes that this particular unit is possibly the first sample of Team Blue's 10-core "Bartlett Lake-S" variant to appear in the wild. This further refinement of 14th Gen "Raptor Lake Refresh (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/?f=codename_=Raptor%20Lake-R)" tech popped up a few times last year, but the TechPowerUp news archive shows a dry period during third and fourth quarters. An August report (https://www.techpowerup.com/340023/intel-bartlett-lake-s-steppings-suggest-third-rebrand-of-raptor-lake-as-bartlett-lake-hybrid) alluded to an embedded market target, the existence of a flagship 12 P-core model, and a potential launch under the "Intel Core Series 2" banner—minus an Ultra tag, due to lack of onboard NPUs.

All "Raptor Cove" P-Core configurations could appeal to budget-conscious PC gamers. Efficiency-oriented (E and LPE) units are considered superfluous for these purposes. X86 is dead&back was pleased to find PassMark data that signalled improved multicore performance over the related Core i5 14400 (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/core-i5-14400.c3449) "Raptor Lake-R" processor. They exclaimed: "Core 7 253PE (has) more MT performance than Core i5 14400 (6P + 4E)!" Their comparison shows a 20.6% uplift here, but a slight regression in terms of single-core scores (-2.73%). The sole "Core 7 253PE" sample's PassMark multi-thread rating, of 31802, closes in on the 14-core (6P + 8E) Core i5-14500 (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/core-i5-14500.c3448) model's tally (31121). According yesterday's PassMark diagnostic, the newer chip utilizes Intel's UHD Graphics 770 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/uhd-graphics-770.c3844) integrated solution (akin to Core i5-14500), whilst the Core i5 14400 makes do with the UHD 730 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/uhd-graphics-730.c3765) iGPU. There are apparent differences across the various levels of cache, but the "Core 7 253PE" SKU seems to enjoy a larger overall pool—36 MB—when cross-examined with its older relatives.https://tpucdn.com/img/YngfJVeffRIAuNtS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YngfJVeffRIAuNtS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WXYjW8UzgxbJi7XJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WXYjW8UzgxbJi7XJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/cqSHr0ze1NTSAk1Y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cqSHr0ze1NTSAk1Y.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/j3NR9eUbw2azrZzZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/j3NR9eUbw2azrZzZ.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

When it first launched the Q-Release Slim PCIe mechanisms on its high-end gaming X870 Gaming motherboards, the new connector ended up causing scratches on the PCIe contacts of GPUs after repeated insertion and removal cycles. The connector was later quietly revised in March 2025 (https://www.techpowerup.com/334113/asus-revamps-pcie-q-release-mechanism-notorious-for-scratching-gpus) to remove the metal bracket that was blamed for the scratched contacts. Now, ASUS has once again revised the Q-Release Slim PCIe mechanism design for the latest Neo series motherboards, once again requiring a button to release PCIe cards from the motherboard.

In a video previewing (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKRwSv2ZyCM&t=763s) the updated 2026 motherboard line-up, ASUS North America explains that the Q-Release mechanism was revised because "some users were confused" by the connector, which didn't require any intervention beyond pulling the GPU out of the slot to remove it, while others simply wanted a button to be present—likely those who had heard about the aforementioned scratched PCIe connectors and didn't want the added risk. The new motherboard PCIe retention mechanism will be present on all of the new NEO motherboards ASUS announced for 2026, which includes more affordable gaming motherboards, like the ASUS TUF Gaming B850-Pro WiFi7 Neo and the creator-focused ProArt B850-Creator WiFi Neo and goes all the way up to the premium ROG Crosshair X870E Glacial motherboard.https://tpucdn.com/img/8n08VeqcQpJDclJA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8n08VeqcQpJDclJA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Tsxsa21EEMEFp6oW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Tsxsa21EEMEFp6oW.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Hello, survivors! We hope you've been keeping busy bracing for the nightmares ahead in Resident Evil Requiem (https://www.residentevil.com/requiem/). Launch day is just around the corner, so be sure to pre-order the game now to receive Grace's Costume: Apocalypse as a bonus outfit, ensuring you are fully prepared to tackle a new era of survival horror on February 27. The Resident Evil Showcase has just concluded, giving us heaps of new details to sink our teeth into. Director Koshi Nakashi offered us a deep dive into gameplay for both Grace and Leon. Grace's gameplay is brimming with tension and terror whilst Leon's gameplay segments are characterized by suspense and exhilaration. These contrasting gameplay styles will stir up players' emotions more than any other entry in the Resident Evil series to date. The broadcast is jam packed with information, including glimpses of early scenes from Resident Evil Requiem.

Two Fates Intertwined
Experience terrifying survival horror with FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft and dive into pulse-pounding action with legendary agent Leon S. Kennedy. In Resident Evil Requiem, both protagonists' journeys and unique gameplay styles intertwine into a heart-stopping, emotional experience that will chill you to your core. One single detail will forever tie Leon and Grace's fates together, linking them to the unforgettable horrors of the Raccoon City incident in 1998…https://tpucdn.com/img/Jo3KVrFUMhR8apNf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Jo3KVrFUMhR8apNf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/RGeU08mU7usLaPkt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RGeU08mU7usLaPkt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/S35E6fHUS758JwhN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/S35E6fHUS758JwhN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/RhoiEMRxY4O6A3aq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RhoiEMRxY4O6A3aq.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

A fresh Qualcomm teaser trailer has dropped a major hint about Snapdragon X2 Elite chips breaking away from expected portable PC formats. The official Snapdragon YouTube channel's January 13 upload description stated: "next‑gen desktops are here. Snapdragon X Series processors build on the breakthroughs that reshaped laptops—bringing speed, intelligence, and power efficiency to desktop PCs so creators, developers, and gamers can do more, faster." Eighteen seconds into Qualcomm's minute-long video, a clumsily-phrased "these flexible PCs bring what legacy desktops don't" declaration is made. Additionally, some "real life" examples are shown in the short video—where a few folks are typing away on wireless keyboards.

Presumably, these demo peripherals are linked up to generic-looking black or metallic silver compact desktop PC systems—in turn connected/wired to curved office monitors. A VideoCardz report concludes that the "next‑gen desktops powered by Snapdragon X Series" trailer delivers misleading messaging, since Qualcomm has only showcased passively-cooled mini PC prototypes (in-person) at past promotional events. Most notably, red "drinks coaster" and "hockey puck"-shaped samples appeared at last September's Snapdragon Summit 2025 (https://www.techpowerup.com/341335/qualcomm-snapdragon-x2-elite-extreme-pictured-with-on-package-lpddr5x-memory) in Hawaii. The semantics of what qualifies as a small desktop Windows PC system can be argued over in infinitum—we hope that Qualcomm, and involved manufacturing partners, clarify matters once finalized hardware nears retail release time.https://tpucdn.com/img/LxxoONYbFzpRWTK0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LxxoONYbFzpRWTK0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/N5mR49reH4RXVTsy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/N5mR49reH4RXVTsy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/a3hMjyL5gsTFrIDz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/a3hMjyL5gsTFrIDz.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CRXkphHRPsxWGcSG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CRXkphHRPsxWGcSG.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Sonic the Hedgehog, one of the most iconic and beloved brands in the industry, is thrilled to announce its 35th anniversary this year! Since his debut in 1991, Sonic has defined generations with his signature speed, attitude, and style, expanding far beyond his innovative video game origins into new characters and worlds, blockbuster films, animated television, music, merchandise, and more. To commence the festivities, SEGA released a new anniversary trailer to build hype and rewind through Sonic's best moments over the last 35 years.

Throughout the upcoming year, SEGA will roll out a high-energy slate of anniversary programs designed to celebrate Sonic's legacy while bringing fans together around the world. Planned activities include digital content highlighting Sonic's evolution across the decades, fan meet-ups and community gatherings, exclusive brand and retail partnerships featuring limited merchandise, museum pop-ups and art exhibits, live concert celebrations, and a brand-new narrative podcast.https://tpucdn.com/img/AFWxGTFhiqrIC3I1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AFWxGTFhiqrIC3I1.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Alistair McFarlane, the COO and director of Facepunch Studios, the game studio behind survival shooter Rust, has seemingly offered Amazon $25 million to buy New World: Aeternum after Amazon announced that the MMO would be decommissioned (https://www.techpowerup.com/345255/amazons-new-world-aeternum-to-shut-down-in-january-2027) on January 31, 2027. The executive made the offer in a short public post on X (https://x.com/Alistair_McF/status/2011890710468071708), but he seems to be serious about it, with a follow-up post simply stating that "Games should never die." Given that Amazon is still planning on keeping New World alive for nearly a year, it seems unlikely that we'll get any updates about any potential IP transfers before then.

The post was, expectedly, followed up by questions from Facepunch and Rust fans, and in response to one fan, McFarlane said that "As with everything we do at Facepunch, empower the community. Give them control, make servers publicly hostable. A game will live forever in the hands of a dedicated community," seemingly stating that if Amazon took him up on his offer, Facepunch would take over development and turn the game into a community-driven MMO following the classic self-hosted model.https://tpucdn.com/img/BYlI0igyIXKhFsCm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BYlI0igyIXKhFsCm.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/UMXkg1j3gWE8d7FF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UMXkg1j3gWE8d7FF.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Hi everyone, I'm Light Zhong, co-founder and director at Hypergraph. With Arknights: Endfield (https://endfield.gryphline.com/en-us) launching on January 22 on PC and PS5, today we're excited to share more gameplay details on the game. Over the past few years, our team has been working to create a new kind of experience set in the Arknights universe, one that blends real-time squad combat, exploration, and large-scale industrial systems into a single, interconnected adventure, where every decision you make helps shape humanity's next frontier.

Welcome to Talos-II
Talos-II is a world of striking beauty and constant danger. More than 150 years ago, pioneers endured war and catastrophe to carve out the first "civilized zones." But beyond those borders lies a vast, untamed wilderness, unexplored, unclaimed, and filled with lingering threats from the past and new dangers yet to emerge. In Endfield, you take on the role of the Endministrator, tasked with leading Operators to protect, expand, and redefine the boundary of civilization. Exploration and development go hand in hand here. As Oripathy engines roar to life across the wasteland, automated production lines and industrial facilities rise alongside your growing foothold on the planet.https://tpucdn.com/img/gIxfK6dUoetEZY5d_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gIxfK6dUoetEZY5d.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3Z6ljAfVwNEB7eGu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3Z6ljAfVwNEB7eGu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BszonPLILOtDfeah_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BszonPLILOtDfeah.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8SJf0S1XEFH9lwNq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8SJf0S1XEFH9lwNq.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345284/arknights-endfield-heading-to-pc-playstation-5-on-january-22)

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[NextPowerUP]

Yesterday morning, an allegedly new Nintendo Switch 2 model was highlighted by a Bluesky social media account. Members of the gaming community and media outlets quickly picked up on sky :3's discovery of an unused "OSM" identifier within Nintendo's Account Portal. Apparently, a simple/generic Switch 2 illustration appears when a visitor requests the "OSM" model. The current Nintendo Switch 2 SKU is still identified as "BEE," since launching last June—the true meaning behind this acronym remains a mystery. One commenter's Wayback Machine-based investigation indicates that the "OSM" entry first popped up around mid-September, last year. The use of a three letter system is a long-running tradition for the Japanese gaming giant—lately, web detectives have referred back to first-gen Switch designations: HAC ("Handheld And Console") for the OG launch variant, HDH for Lite, and HEG for the premium OLED model.

Pre-release leaks suggested an "Ounce" codename for the second-gen Nintendo hybrid console; resulting in theories that OSM stands for "Ounce Small Model". This elaborate breadcrumb trail could lead to a potential Switch 2 Lite model. After all, the original Lite design turned up in September 2019; roughly a year and a half after the standard version's launch. Famously, Nintendo's previous portable mode-only spin-off featured a smaller screen, a more compact profile, an integrated control layout (no detachable Joy-Cons), and a lower price point. Naturally, present day discussions have also turned to a possible Switch 2 OLED variant—a few participants reckon that Nintendo's selection of an 8 nm NVIDIA "T239" SoC (https://www.techpowerup.com/336485/full-die-shot-analysis-of-nintendo-switch-2-soc-indicates-samsung-8-nm-production-origins) is impractical for a theoretical "Lite" off-shoot, footprint-wise—an eventual die shrink would be required for a proper slimline design.https://tpucdn.com/img/IDYUGmJlqtY5Yo0r_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IDYUGmJlqtY5Yo0r.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/NskQ7kEL9OTEW05x_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NskQ7kEL9OTEW05x.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/14sC84JGdza2Bqq6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/14sC84JGdza2Bqq6.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc. has released the official overview trailer highlighting the exciting new game play systems coming in CODE VEIN II (https://www.bandainamcoent.com/games/code-vein-ii). The trailer offers a deep dive on character creation tools, Revenant combat, and an expanded look into the different environments that players will discover on the frontier. Developed by Bandai Namco Studios Inc., CODE VEIN II sends players on an epic narrative-driven journey where they wield time as a weapon, explore past and present versions of a collapsing world, and join forces with companions through the game's dynamic Partner System. The title will launch on January 30, 2026, and is available now for pre-orders on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. An upcoming CODE VEIN II Character Creator demo is available for free on January 23, letting eager Revenants use the game's deep customization to create characters they can transfer into the final game after purchase.

The overview trailer spotlights key features that players will utilize to survive the post-apocalyptic world in CODE VEIN II. Combat in the game has been expanded, introducing new depth and strategy through enhanced Drain Attacks, Formae, and the Partner System. Drain Attacks are offensive maneuvers used to extract Ichor, an essential resource that fuels the player's most powerful abilities. Using this Ichor allows players to unleash powerful attacks called Formae, which includes Weapon Formae that modify attacks and grant buffs, Bequeathed Formae that summon unique weapons for devastating strikes, and Defensive Formae that offer critical blocks, counters, and evasive maneuvers. Jails are specialized artifacts worn on the player's back and further shape combat by altering stats, modifying Drain Attacks, and providing tactical advantages based on the encounter.https://tpucdn.com/img/RKSmcPQMLLDkzyk6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RKSmcPQMLLDkzyk6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9Ce3bnBk35VDUEJU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9Ce3bnBk35VDUEJU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ZlPwgrfSeU8nxfZY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZlPwgrfSeU8nxfZY.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/sBpX4SLJ0GB0weuo_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sBpX4SLJ0GB0weuo.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

We're at a critical moment in education. New research and emerging technologies, such as Generative AI, have the potential to reshape how we teach and learn. With decades of leadership in education technology, Dell Technologies is supporting schools in this transformation - equipping students and educators with tools and programs designed for the AI era, ensuring they are prepared for the opportunities ahead.

This commitment is reflected in Dell's expanded education portfolio - including new Dell Pro Education and Dell Chromebook devices - alongside programs that help prepare students for the future. These new PCs are purpose-built for modern learning environments: durable enough to withstand the school day, serviceable enough to maximize institutional investment and powerful enough to support the curricula.https://tpucdn.com/img/OT7OEGCSodYyXeGw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OT7OEGCSodYyXeGw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/X0it1RwtX7XaonmO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/X0it1RwtX7XaonmO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/SP3JpD9rgp22aRJH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SP3JpD9rgp22aRJH.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Y3B6yomuvNx1AEqP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Y3B6yomuvNx1AEqP.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

ASUS today announced the ASUS Chromebook CZ series of laptops tailored for K12 students, which offer a portable and durable design for enduring value and empower engaged learning—anywhere. The ASUS Chromebook CZ Series, powered by MediaTek Kompanio 540 processor, features a 180° lay-flat or 360°-flippable design and an 11.6-inch (CZ1104C/F) or 12.2-inch (CZ1204C/F) 16:10 WUXGA display or touchscreen. With TÜV-certified eye-care technology, the series not only enhances the visual experience but also prioritizes eye protection. Supporting up to Wi-Fi 7 and optional 5G connectivity, the series ensures smooth and uninterrupted performance both inside and outside the classroom. ASUS Chromebook CZ series laptops are built for easy IT maintenance, with a modular design that minimizes downtime. The series boasts an extended battery life for uninterrupted use throughout an entire day of classes, empowering students to extend their learning beyond traditional limits.https://tpucdn.com/img/VDLhp1olSNSi2Hxq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VDLhp1olSNSi2Hxq.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/j0psIsnhA1W0XIOp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/j0psIsnhA1W0XIOp.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/OGoh5Mqeb15F3Jbb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OGoh5Mqeb15F3Jbb.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/epaE40QSLNE1umy7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/epaE40QSLNE1umy7.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Ej9uQiXC4UbPQ1JW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ej9uQiXC4UbPQ1JW.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the ROG Strix GS-BE7200, a next-generation dual-band Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) gaming router designed for players who demand fast, stable and intelligently optimized connectivity. Leveraging Multi-Link Operation (MLO), ultrawide 160 MHz channels, and 4K-QAM modulation, the GS-BE7200 maximizes efficiency and overall wireless capacity, delivering wireless throughput of up to 7200 Mbps to enable ultra-smooth online gameplay, low-latency streaming, and high-speed data transfers - even in congested environments.

The GS-BE7200 features six internal antennas, including an enhanced 5-antenna 5 GHz (5T5R) system that improves long-range throughput by up to 15%, compared to traditional 4T4R designs. This architecture strengthens stability across multiroom setups and ensures that competitive gamers enjoy fast, uninterrupted connections from anywhere in the home.https://tpucdn.com/img/6qyspX25DjoCuM57_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6qyspX25DjoCuM57.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/qknY5KMtjLQc2KpU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qknY5KMtjLQc2KpU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FAOR8bYJHpbtUPr4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FAOR8bYJHpbtUPr4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/OYxkw6xFI8UEaACL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OYxkw6xFI8UEaACL.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) today announced the appointment of KC McClure to its board of directors. McClure most recently served as a senior advisor to Accenture and was previously Chief Financial Officer of Accenture from 2019 to 2024. Throughout her more than 37-year tenure at Accenture, McClure held multiple finance and accounting leadership roles, including overseeing financial operations and investor relations.

"We are delighted to welcome KC to AMD's Board of Directors," said Dr. Lisa Su, AMD chair and CEO. "KC is a proven finance leader whose operating expertise and global perspective will be an asset as we execute our strategy and extend AMD's leadership in high-performance and AI computing." McClure holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and business administration from Pennsylvania State University's Smeal College of Business. She currently serves on the Smeal College of Business Board of Visitors and on the board of Goldman Sachs.https://tpucdn.com/img/7047Tf7RNUHKX1lN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7047Tf7RNUHKX1lN.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Acer today unveiled the Acer Chromebook Spin 311 and Acer Chromebook 311, its first two education Chromebooks powered by the newly available MediaTek Kompanio 540 processor. The new Acer Chromebooks have the features and performance technology students need to embrace a tech-forward curriculum and develop crucial 21st-century skills. Packaged in durable designs that can handle challenging school environments, the two new Acer Chromebooks help extend school districts' budgets and deliver a reduced total cost of ownership.

"Acer Chromebooks are acclaimed as a foundational technology to prepare K-12 students for a lifetime of learning," said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, Acer Inc. "Their durability, flexibility and ease-of-use help students collaborate and embrace new concepts with enthusiasm. Plus, they help teachers more effectively implement personalized learning strategies for their students, while IT departments can effectively manage Chromebooks to ensure sustainable operation and uninterrupted student learning."https://tpucdn.com/img/iYBMOZcKMC3h0TWH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iYBMOZcKMC3h0TWH.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ShDZBtjRLMny9zfY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ShDZBtjRLMny9zfY.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

The ICY DOCK ToughArmor EX MB491V5K-B is a robust U.2/U.3 NVMe SSD mobile rack enclosure designed specifically for mission-critical military, industrial, and in-vehicle computing systems. Constructed with heavy-duty full-metal housing, the MB491V5K-B is inherently compliant with flammability requirements and offers superior durability under extreme conditions. Its removable drive tray with metal barrel keylock and thumbscrew secures the SSD in place, preventing unauthorized access and protecting the drive against shock, vibration, and accidental ejection during transit.

With support for PCIe 5.0 and up to 128 Gbps transfer speeds, the MB491V5K-B delivers the bandwidth needed for real-time analytics, aerospace data logging, AI model training, and other high-performance applications.https://tpucdn.com/img/RBeNZvfDclRhi6nt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RBeNZvfDclRhi6nt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FFrI41eAe7KcUg2F_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FFrI41eAe7KcUg2F.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/epCQmPPyk1jN6rD6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/epCQmPPyk1jN6rD6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jScOu4VHvvf2R8mq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jScOu4VHvvf2R8mq.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/S6WKgNI54tmboOiW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/S6WKgNI54tmboOiW.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of edge computing solutions, industrial motherboards, graphics cards, and storage devices, today introduces the EdgeComp MS-1335U, a compact fanless embedded PC designed to bring smart, reliable performance closer to the edge. Built to meet the growing demands of smart cities, intelligent retail, and industrial automation, the EdgeComp MS-1335U delivers flexible edge computing capabilities in a space-efficient, energy-conscious, and completely silent platform. Powered by Intel Raptor Lake Core i5-1335U 10-core processors, the system provides enhanced computing performance while maintaining low power consumption, making it well-suited for long-term, continuous operation in both commercial and public infrastructure environments.

Designed with versatility in mind, the EdgeComp MS-1335U supports up to four simultaneous display outputs, enabling advanced multi-screen applications across a wide range of edge scenarios. With HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, the system is ideal for smart factories, digital signage deployments, traffic control centers, and healthcare terminals. In addition, dual USB Type-C display support allows flexible integration into AI vision systems, portable edge gateways, robotics platforms, and mobile inspection units, expanding deployment possibilities where mobility and adaptability are required.https://tpucdn.com/img/TuOcvNXjDBe6R40q_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TuOcvNXjDBe6R40q.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

33 Immortals, the 33-player co-op action-roguelike has spent nearly a year in early access on Epic Games, is officially coming to Steam in 2026. This is according to a new unlisted trailer published on the developer's official YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj2GcJV35Co), which quotes "summer 2026" as the official launch date. Until now, 33 Immortals has only been available from the Microsoft Store (https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/33-immortals-game-preview/9p8lr42ptrgj), Xbox Game Pass, and the Epic Games Store (https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/33-immortals-9873a2). While the trailer makes no mention of it, it seems likely that this will also be the game's 1.0 launch, since it has been in early access since March 2025, and it has received several updates during that time.

In a previous blog post (https://thunderlotusgames.com/blog/33-immortals-2026-roadmap/), the developer, Thunder Lotus, all but confirmed that the game's Steam launch will coincide with the 1.0 launch of the game, also citing Summer 2026 as the launch date. That same blog post also revealed that the 1.0 update will also feature a host of new content, including a new weapon, a secret dungeon, the addition of random weapon bonuses, achievements, and new cosmetics. This is aside from two other updates planned before the 1.0 release, which will also add everything from new weapons, enemies, and bosses to community-requested features, like dynamic difficulty, and a whole new world.https://tpucdn.com/img/1uihDSyv8EKUSu91_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1uihDSyv8EKUSu91.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YBrMk7jASvY4WC39_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YBrMk7jASvY4WC39.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gj7oNutICSF4L0DY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gj7oNutICSF4L0DY.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Splitgate: Arena Reloaded is meant to be the culmination of 1047 Games's efforts in both the original Splitgate and Splitgate 2, having launched (https://www.techpowerup.com/344193/splitgate-arena-reloaded-emerges-as-reworked-splitgate-2-after-disastrous-may-launch) shortly after the latter was received exceedingly poorly and taken offline. Since that relaunch, Splitgate: Arena Reloaded has seen a number of updates mostly centered around adding content, expanding the player base, and retaining existing players. The latest in the game's update cycle, Update 2.2, continues on this trend (https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/2918300/view/88516316549352974), reintroducing the battle royale mode that was axed from Splitgate 2, although with significant changes, community maps, two new arena maps, and rewarding players with a new weapons mastery skin.

According to the update notes, the new Arena Royale battle royale mode aims to keep the intense, fast-paced gameplay Splitgate is known for while also expanding the map and scale of the matches. Arena Royale is a 24-player game mode made up of six teams of four players, and it is designed to have the same pace as a regular Splitgate arena match. 1047 Games says the core philosophy with the Arena Royale rework is "Less looting. More shooting," and that is emphasized by the design of the game mode. Each Arena Royale game mode will take place in one of four biomes—drought, glacier, fracture, and the newly introduced urban Outskirts biome—and players will start in a new warm-up space instead of in a drop-ship. Players then vote on which map the round will take place in, and they are then dropped into the map. Like most other games in the genre, the Arena Royale game mode allows for players to be revived as long as there is one player remaining in their squad, but as the match progresses, the playable area shrinks, and once players are in the final circle, revivals are disabled in an effort to keep gameplay fast-paced and snappy. Arena Royale will feature on-the-fly weapons upgrades in the inventory, which players can access at any time during the match to spend cash they earn during the match.https://tpucdn.com/img/5CN4M8klGEPKkbvi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5CN4M8klGEPKkbvi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6UgwWVAbTyZDAckq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6UgwWVAbTyZDAckq.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Pulsar Gaming Gears, a leading developer of high-performance esports peripherals, has announced a landmark collaboration with NEXON Games to launch a special product line based on the highly popular tactical role-playing game, Blue Archive. This exclusive collection introduces three customized Pulsar X2 CrazyLight gaming mice, each designed around a beloved student from the academic city of Kivotos: Shiroko, Hoshino, and Nonomi. The products are designed to bridge the immersive world of the game with the speed and precision demanded by competitive gaming, allowing the player, or "Sensei," to bring their favorite students to the desktop.
"We collaborated with Pulsar on this collection to bring Blue Archive closer to the daily lives of Senseis. Featuring a limited-edition design inspired by the Abydos concept, we expect the X2 CrazyLight mouse to provide great satisfaction to Senseis with its unique aesthetic and high gaming performance," said YongHa Kim, EPD of IO Division, NEXON Games.

"One of our goals at Pulsar is to blend high-performance gaming technology with compelling culture. Blue Archive's stunning art, unique characters, and immense community passion is perfect as an IP collaboration with our X2 CrazyLight. We've poured the unique aesthetic of the game into the designs, and even included a custom light-up dongle to give fans a fun little extra piece of Kivotos for their setup," said Stuart Chan, CMO of Pulsar Gaming Gears. The line features medium-sized X2 CrazyLight mice, renowned for their ultra-lightweight performance, and includes a special, new light-up USB dongle that showcases the respective character's design.https://tpucdn.com/img/V14RGRbhLLCtgr38_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/V14RGRbhLLCtgr38.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/sWrBjTgh2xQ0OzoD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sWrBjTgh2xQ0OzoD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/QeCxkA6aqHqsCEWU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QeCxkA6aqHqsCEWU.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

After a lengthy delay involving a trip back to the drawing board (https://www.techpowerup.com/342816/bungie-extraction-shooter-marathon-gets-new-release-date-after-months-long-delay), Marathon is finally headed for release on March 5 (https://www.techpowerup.com/345368/marathon-launches-on-march-5-new-gameplay-footage-shown-in-pre-order-trailer). Shortly after the release date was announced, Marathon's minimum and recommended PC hardware specifications appeared on the game's Steam store page (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3065800/Marathon/), revealing an impressively low barrier to entry. There's no word about whether gamers will need to enable TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot for anti-cheat compatibility reasons, but the minimum specifications call for low-end GPUs dating back to nearly a decade ago.

At minimum, those looking to play Marathon will need an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti 4 GB (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-gtx-1050-ti.c2885), AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-rx-5500-xt.c3468), or Intel Arc A580 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/arc-a580.c3928), the latter of which requires ReBar to be enabled. This needs to be paired with 8 GB of RAM and an Intel Core i5-6600 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600. Meanwhile, the recommended specifications call for an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 6 GB, AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 8 GB, or an Intel Arc A770 16 GB, again with the latter calling for ReBar. The CPU required to meet the recommended specifications is an Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3500 paired with 16 GB of RAM. There are no target frame rates or resolutions mentioned in the minimum and recommended specifications tables, but it's generally assumed that minimum specifications should get you somewhere around 60 FPS at low quality settings. This also means that gamers on handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally and others with similarly powerful iGPUs should be able to get playable frame rates at slightly lower resolutions.https://tpucdn.com/img/Ce10XIshBj5ANCTC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ce10XIshBj5ANCTC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Z3zphqUoNPSfodoG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Z3zphqUoNPSfodoG.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Late last week, semiconductor industry trackers were astonished by Intel's fresh recruitment of Eric Demers. Until very recently, the seasoned GPU architect had spent almost fourteen years at Qualcomm—ending this spell as senior vice president of engineering. On Friday (January 16), Devers announced this major change—a short story mentioned multiple meetings (in 2025) with Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. He confirmed, in a private LinkedIn message (sent to CRN), that he would be starting work at Intel within the next week. Complete details of his new job description—chez Team Blue—were not shared with the American computer publication. Instead, a small hint was dropped—according to the CRN article, Devers expects to "lead GPU engineering with a focus on AI." Looking back in the TechPowerUp news archive, one historical section of Dever's career trajectory was brought forth. In early 2012 (https://www.techpowerup.com/160511/graphics-cto-eric-demers-leaves-amd), he moved on from his Corporate VP & CTO role at AMD's graphics division.

At the time, official statements did not mention his intention to join Qualcomm's Adreno GPU department. Prior to his tenure at ATI/AMD, Devers spent time at Silicon Graphics (SGI), Matrox, and then joined a team of former SGI-ers at start-up ArtX. ATI Technologies acquired ArtX almost three years after the latter's founding date. One of Devers' final projects at Qualcomm seems to be the Windows PC-focused Snapdragon X2 Series. Industry experts anticipate the ex-"other Red Team" engineering executive becoming a key figure at Intel's fairly new "AI Group"—this independent entity could be chasing major enterprise rivals; most notably NVIDIA. Team Blue introduced its "Crescent Island" AI data center accelerator (https://www.techpowerup.com/341894/intel-unveils-crescent-island-data-center-gpu-with-xe3p-architecture-and-160-gb-of-memory) a few months ago. A next-gen successor—dubbed "Jaguar Shores (https://www.techpowerup.com/342129/intels-jaguar-shores-ai-accelerator-expected-to-finalize-design-by-mid-2026)"—is reportedly expected to be "design complete" by the middle of 2026.https://tpucdn.com/img/Vv56apbManQyukMs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Vv56apbManQyukMs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/QFrRJFD5SJcJPzRl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QFrRJFD5SJcJPzRl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/csq1UcLFNybLXIZC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/csq1UcLFNybLXIZC.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Max and Chloe changed my life. It's the end of March 2015. Life is Strange Episode 2 has just dropped, to a groundswell of press and player excitement. The shocking, determinant fate of Kate Marsh on the Blackwell rooftop reverberates far and wide. Curious, I pick up the game. The exquisite blend of everyday life, supernatural powers, small-town mystery and indie needle drops enchants me immediately. I fell hard for Life is Strange—and haven't stopped falling since.

I was working at Titan Comics then, and after the first game came to an end, I didn't stop pitching a comic continuation until we launched "Life is Strange" #1 in November 2018—the further adventures of Max and Chloe, down one particular timeline. Max and Chloe changed my life again. From that comic, I unexpectedly got the chance to join Square Enix itself, becoming part of the Life is Strange Brand team, getting to work on the series alongside countless colleagues, developers, and talent from all over the world—some of whom have been on the journey since the very beginning. Many, including the wonderful developers at Deck Nine Games (https://deckninegames.com/about-us/), had a similar story to mine: they met Max and Chloe and were forever changed.https://tpucdn.com/img/vd7Ofg5fITyniXZX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vd7Ofg5fITyniXZX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3n3gjaD94L5febXo_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3n3gjaD94L5febXo.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/995139xoZ9Oj0eEB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/995139xoZ9Oj0eEB.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345425/life-is-strange-reunion-launches-march-26-max-chloes-saga-concludes-on-pc-consoles)

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[NextPowerUP]

Despite having what can only be considered an effective monopoly as far as game storefronts go, Steam doesn't seem to be resting on its laurels, with new features popping up for Valve's game store every so often. The latest feature to show up on Steam is "complete the set" gifting, which allows players to gift parts of a game bundle to friends. If you're buying a game bundle as a gift, Steam will now automatically detect which whether the intended recipient already owns part of the bundle and remove that item from the bundle. The bundle price will change in accordance with the removed content, and a small notice will appear telling you that the price has changed since you viewed the item.

Curiously, there is no further explanation regarding the price drop to tell buyers that their friend already has the item in their Steam library. There are also a few caveats to this system. For starters, and whether this is unintentional behavior or not is unclear, Steam does not remove the item from your cart if your friend has their library or that specific item in their library set to private. If that is the case, it seems as though it will be on the intended recipient to reject the game when they receive it. This update to Steam's gifting functionality is conceivably useful if you know someone likes a game, and you want to gift them the DLC for a special occasion without letting them know your plans.https://tpucdn.com/img/EtZf4AX0C0zgosbV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/EtZf4AX0C0zgosbV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/XFbgi50ILtJltq9U_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XFbgi50ILtJltq9U.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Just before Christmas, Samsung fully unveiled its brand-new Exynos 2600 (https://www.techpowerup.com/344259/samsung-unveils-the-exynos-2600-without-fanfare) application processor (AP). The firm's Semiconductor division started teasing this next-gen smartphone chip around late 2025, with pre-launch details being shared via teaser trailers and sparsely populated splash pages. During the winter holiday period, the South Korean giant's foundry business detailed its pioneering "Heat Path Block" (HPB) technology. This intriguing aspect of the Exynos 2600 SoC's design was leaked (https://www.techpowerup.com/343992/samsungs-proprietary-heat-path-block-tech-could-be-adopted-by-apple-qualcomm) mid-way through December; when industry moles started whispering about HPB tech being shopped to Apple and Qualcomm. Samsung's FoWLP_HPB (Fan-out Wafer Level Package with Heat Path Block) technology could address the problems faced by rival chip designers—in particular, it is believed that Qualcomm's next-wave Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile SoCs would require more potent heat dissipation solutions.

According to fresh inside track information—courtesy of the "Fixed-focus Digital Cameras" Weibo blog—HPB tech is now adopted by "many chip manufacturers that commonly use Android chips." The leaker believes that stronger heat dissipation will lead to greater overclocking capabilities on (non-Samsung) next-gen mobile chips. According to official descriptions, the development of FoWLP_HPB has improved the thermal resistance: "of the (Exynos 2600) AP die by reducing the size of the DRAM that obstructs the heat dissipation path and attaching Heat Path Block to facilitate heat release. Additionally, High-k EMC is applied to ensure that heat is efficiently transferred toward the HPB direction...With these packaging innovations, Samsung's mobile packaging technology enables efficient outward heat dissipation, resulting in up to a 16% reduction in thermal resistance compared to previous packages and delivering enhanced performance." Current-gen flagship smartphone chips can operate at impressive frequencies, but thermal considerations have set certain limits. The now "old school" placement of a wider DRAM layer—that restricts heat being drawn away from the CPU die—could be considered a major obstacle, going forward.https://tpucdn.com/img/yF1by6yto4rwkyyC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/yF1by6yto4rwkyyC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/oHGOynl8b8YRQkUN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oHGOynl8b8YRQkUN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Of6kkrtcPOf5olqq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Of6kkrtcPOf5olqq.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Hello, everyone! A week ago, we launched our first game ever—Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (https://www.quarantinezone.game/)! Never had we thought when we—Brigada Games (https://brigada.games/)—started this journey a little over a year ago, that we would receive such support from all the players who tried our game, creators who've covered the game on their social media, and from all the people we've gathered around the game since we announced it.

Since its launch on January 12th of this year, Quarantine Zone has sold over 500,000 copies! From the entire development team—thank you! We wouldn't be here if it weren't for all of you. As we continue our development on QZ, we're tackling all the bugs reported to the Steam Bug Report sub-forum (https://steamcommunity.com/app/3419520/discussions/3/?snr=1_2108_9__2107), our Discord server (https://discord.com/invite/quarantinezonegame), as well as issues highlighted in reviews. Since launch, we've released multiple hotfixes and intend to continue making the game run even more smoothly for all players. We will continue to do so at a steady pace!https://tpucdn.com/img/NzSNNa4VCtmttl9U_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NzSNNa4VCtmttl9U.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/s020m1GYtrwYYbSK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/s020m1GYtrwYYbSK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/XBWHgqbdqTTAdh7A_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XBWHgqbdqTTAdh7A.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/RyPxAdWRwHpMmFWv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RyPxAdWRwHpMmFWv.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345422/quarantine-zone-the-last-check-hits-500-000-copies-sold-milestone-one-week-after-launch)

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[NextPowerUP]

Minisforum's US webstore has listed the new AtomMan G7 Pro model—starting at a special launch price, $1359.90, for the barebones package. By tacking on an extra $320, prospective buyers can order a configuration that is pre-fitted with 32 GB RAM of system memory, and 1 TB SSD of internal storage. TechPowerUp inspected a demonstration unit (https://www.techpowerup.com/345034/minisforum-shows-intel-panther-lake-mini-pc-and-more-at-ces-2026) at the recently concluded CES trade event. Sat nearby was the AMD Ryzen APU-powered AtomMan G1 Pro SKU. Minisforum's Las Vegas booth was definitely very "Panther Lake-H" heavy, but the Chinese compact PC specialist continues to release systems based on older Intel chip designs. Akin to its "Ti" relative (https://www.techpowerup.com/325888/minisforum-announces-new-g7-ti-mini-pc-with-core-i9-14900hx-and-rtx-4070), the much newer AtomMan G7 Pro gaming model dips back into the "Raptor Lake-HX Refresh" generation. Team Blue's flagship 14th Gen Core i9-14900HX (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/core-i9-14900hx.c3471) mobile processor remains in place, but the Minisforum engineering team has moved on from deploying NVIDIA's past-gen "Ada Lovelace" GPU family within this product tier.

The latest AtomMan entrant features a discrete GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-5070-mobile.c4237) 8 GB graphics card. The AtomMan G7 range's "ultraslim" profiles likely cannot fully accommodate desktop-grade hardware. Recently, Zotac engineers managed to cram a GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-5060-ti-16-gb.c4292) custom card into their highly-compact ZBOX MAGNUS EN275060TC (https://www.techpowerup.com/343918/teardown-shows-zbox-magnus-mini-pcs-hybrid-pcie-powered-geforce-rtx-5060-ti-desktop-card) pre-built desktop system. The AtomMan G7 Pro compact tower can be switched between gaming and office modes, via a physical button present on the outer chassis. Entertainment and productivity modes have been stressed test, according to the manufacturer's promotional material. They claim that a maximum 200 W-rated profile (comprised of max. 85 W CPU and 115 W GPU ratings) delivers flagship-grade gaming performance, without any compromises. The North American Minisforum webshop anticipates first AtomMan G7 Pro shipments going out on January 23.https://tpucdn.com/img/DHLxdIrs53aWHqJR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DHLxdIrs53aWHqJR.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/XbU5sxzbuOHXLzSv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XbU5sxzbuOHXLzSv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4YFlqN5LdqJwsC5F_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4YFlqN5LdqJwsC5F.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/MCN9rwSsxjqNB4ON_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MCN9rwSsxjqNB4ON.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

We've already seen lots of amazing projects based on Arduino UNO Q come up since its launch in early October - but we're doubling down anyway! Today, we are launching a new Arduino UNO Q variant with 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB of eMMC storage, allowing all of you to dream bigger and go further, while still enjoying the same Arduino UNO Q form factor and ease of use.

4 good reasons to choose 4 GB
In this 4 GB variant, Arduino UNO Q still leverages a unique combination of powerful Qualcomm Dragonwing QRB2210 microprocessor and real-time STM32U585 microcontroller, but can now better meet the needs of developers who require a more ample memory configuration.https://tpucdn.com/img/19FF5kk5PSgXUWxd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/19FF5kk5PSgXUWxd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BToeKGrEJuwnmTL6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BToeKGrEJuwnmTL6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nAgy4FppFqKvREC8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nAgy4FppFqKvREC8.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345421/arduino-uno-q-is-now-available-with-4-gb-ram-and-32-gb-storage)

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[NextPowerUP]

Market research firm Niko Partners is indirectly encouraging consumers to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 before prices rise. Their 2026 forecast report highlights ten significant trends, warning that the console's current pricing is under pressure to increase. The research indicates that Nintendo may stop offering its $449 base model and instead sell only bundles priced at $499 or higher, effectively raising the price by at least $50. This projection is based on several ongoing issues: U.S. tariff pressures, rising memory component costs, and broader economic instability, which have already led Sony and Microsoft to increase their console prices after launch.

While Nintendo has kept the console's launch price stable, accessory costs have quietly increased, suggesting suppliers are already passing on higher expenses. According to Niko's analysis, the combination of tariffs, rising memory component prices, and general economic instability will likely compel Nintendo to follow Sony and Microsoft in raising hardware prices post-launch. Last December (https://www.techpowerup.com/343969/nintendo-switch-2-hardware-hit-by-41-price-jump-in-dram-nand-up-8), Nintendo faced a roughly 41% increase in the cost of the 12 GB LPDDR5X modules used in the Switch 2, while the price of 256 GB of NAND flash rose by about 8%. A price increase will be necessary for Nintendo to maintain the viability of the Switch console, as the company cannot absorb all these costs alone. As DRAM and NAND prices continue to rise, these console price hikes may only be the beginning, and the coming weeks will likely show if this news is manifested in the market.https://tpucdn.com/img/BtyF8eUsz2nCi2bI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BtyF8eUsz2nCi2bI.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Hello everyone! We're so excited to announce that…On-Together (https://gigapuff.co/) is OUT NOW!!! Virtual co-working with friends or strangers all over the world! Digital pals hang out at the bottom of the screen while you work, study, and get stuff done. Includes productivity tools, hangout spots, break time games, and more!

A note on the Demo...
We have been listening and working hard behind the scenes to see if it would be possible to carry saves over from the demo into the full game, but the changes we've made based on demo feedback has meant the versions are now too different to be able to do this. We want to make sure everyone gets as much value from the game as possible and these changes give the game more longevity and give you incentive to lock in on your tasks for longer! We hope you understand as we would love to see you all enjoying the full game as much as you did the demo!!https://tpucdn.com/img/fuVuQylTjlfZBX05_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fuVuQylTjlfZBX05.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/pLPOyA3Xcx70vygz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pLPOyA3Xcx70vygz.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jxER3IggzHvexTSP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jxER3IggzHvexTSP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vrJ8XRb5uERkXi6b_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vrJ8XRb5uERkXi6b.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Control Resonant was previously revealed (https://www.techpowerup.com/344021/remedy-entertainment-reveals-control-resonant-launching-in-2026) as the sequel to the acclaimed Control narrative action game. While a 2026 launch was previously confirmed, with Remedy and Annapurna co-financing and co-producing the game, an exact release window was not announced. However, as spotted by Insider Gaming (https://insider-gaming.com/control-resonant-release-window-set-for-q2-2026/), in late 2025 investor filings (https://www.inderes.dk/en/research/remedy-release-of-control-resonant-marks-turning-point-in-investment-story), Remedy revealed that Control Resonant will launch "at the end of Q2'26," suggesting a release date around May or June. It will launch simultaneously on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PC via Steam and Epic Games, and macOS via Steam and the App Store.

Remedy also predicts impressive sales for Control in 2026, with the game studio projecting around 1.8 million copies in 2026 and 2.2 million copies in the following year. Remedy also reported that Resonant's predecessor, Control, has sold 5 million copies since its launch in 2019. The next installment in the franchise branches off the main story, following Dylan Faden, brother of Control's protagonist, Jesse, after he is deployed by the Federal Bureau of Control to a supernatural crisis in Manhattan to fend off a reality-warping cosmic entity that threatens the fabric of reality. Resonant was specifically designed so that newcomers to the franchise can hop in without having to play through the first game, and it will feature an evolution of the storytelling, combat, and exploration of the first game.https://tpucdn.com/img/35VFsvChdcmFpzYB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/35VFsvChdcmFpzYB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9N4lINVIiYwhGkx1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9N4lINVIiYwhGkx1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/5Ph0UFf6JEba4eiz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5Ph0UFf6JEba4eiz.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Nexus Mods is one of the more prolific mod sites on the internet, housing mods for everything from Skyrim and Fallout New Vegas to Stardew Valley and Subnautica. While the mod platform has a native Windows application, called Vortex, the development team behind Nexus Mods recently confirmed in a 2026 development roster (https://www.nexusmods.com/news/15433) that, as part of an effort to modernize Vortex, the mod application, it will get support for the Valve Steam Deck and Steam Machine in 2026. The blog post announcing future Linux support explicitly states that Nexus Mods will only be focusing on "vanilla Steam hardware," and that it will not be officially supporting any other Linux distributions. Currently, Linux users have to download and manually install mods, the traditional way, usually by moving the mod files into the correct game library folders. Official Linux support in Vortex would not only make mods easier to install, but it may streamline the modding experience altogether and make mods easier to maintain on Linux or SteamOS.

While Vortex will not officially support any other Linux distributions, the development team notes that Vortex is open-source and invites Linux developers and gamers to add support for their distribution of choice. According to Nexus Mods, Vortex is used by over 1.4 million users every month, so there is likely to be at least one passionate developer who will add support for other major distributions. Other priorities for 2026 also include improving malware protections, specifically scanning files before they are downloaded onto user PCs and have a chance to do harm; reducing friction for creators on the platform, including streamlining the mod upload form and developing a new mod upload API. Vortex will also get a new UI, with the aim of "streamlining navigation, simplifying game management, and introducing more intuitive controls for load orders."https://tpucdn.com/img/MA9BcO99Twjd7OmK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MA9BcO99Twjd7OmK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/f2Ko3oJulV6EPft1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/f2Ko3oJulV6EPft1.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

GoDeal24 is here with the Winter Software Super Sale! Get deep discounts on genuine, globally valid software you need to set up your PC or business IT, minimizing software costs to make room for pricier hardware. Get Genuine Office 2021 Professional at just $31.55, and its Home and Business for Mac edition for $48.99. Get the latest Windows 11 Pro at just $13.55, and save big when you order multiple PC deals. Save even more with bundles of your preferred Windows and Office editions. Have a small-medium business or organization with dozens of PCs? Save even more with our large volume deals!

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[NextPowerUP]

CannonKeys has just announced (https://cannonkeys.com/collections/pff-keycaps) upcoming availability of a new low-profile keycap profile for custom keyboard enthusiasts. The PFF profile—Penguin Flat Foot—designed by prolific designer, Matt3o and commercialized by CannonKeys, and manufactured by Keyreative (https://keyreative.store/), is, for all intents and purposes, a low-profile spin on the previously released PBS (Penguin Belly Slide) profile. Much like PBS, PFF prioritizes ergonomics, although, as Matt3o explains in his blog about the new profile, he opted to redesign the keycaps in order to work within the space constraints of low-profile switches.

The design itself features cylindrical front and back edges—like Cherry keycaps—with a spherical scoop on the top—like SA or Keychron's KSA profile—which will likely result in a more distinctive separation between each key than typical cylindrical keycaps. Like PBS, PFF is universal height, which allows a great degree of freedom for those who enjoy custom keyboard layouts, like Dvorak, Workman, and Colemak. Matt3o showed off PFF (https://matt3o.com/introducing-pff/) with the Aperture Priority design, which previously showed up on PBS and on the Bullet Train keyboard (https://www.techpowerup.com/345213/cannonkeys-reveals-bullet-train-40-ish-mechanical-keyboard-price-and-details), but the only PFF sets currently available on CannonKeys are WoB (white on black) and Verdant Retro. Both keycap sets have 1.5 mm wall thicknesses and dye-sublimated printing. The stems on the available kits are MX-style, meaning they will be compatible with Gateron Low-Profile and Kailh Low Profile Choc V1 switches. Pricing has not yet been announced for either PFF keycap set, but the creator notes that they will be cheaper than PBS, which retail for anywhere between $40 and $80, depending on the set and size.https://tpucdn.com/img/jY7hqAvi3bfTVdmx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jY7hqAvi3bfTVdmx.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/I0epkWTxlHIT25ec_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/I0epkWTxlHIT25ec.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rR76QxXfbNbnQTkB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rR76QxXfbNbnQTkB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/bPMBdMS7WZXZfSOb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bPMBdMS7WZXZfSOb.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Abxylute is known for its mobile gaming controllers, with models often featuring TMR joysticks and triggers, and the company's latest projects (https://abxylute.com/products/abxylute-n6-n9c-nintendo-switch-controller), which are yet to launch, bring its designs and tech to the Nintendo Switch 2. The N9C is a retro-themed game controller based on the design and layout of the Nintendo GameCube. It features a wired USB-C connection that plugs into the bottom of the Switch 2, and it has traditional capacitive joysticks and mechanical micro switches for the face buttons, Alps tactile switches for the shoulders, and mechanical micro switches for the triggers. There are also two customizable rear buttons on the back of each controller side, and it has a 9-axis gyro input. Interestingly, the N9C has a built-in stand and BLE, although it has no built-in battery. That's because the BLE is designed to be used exclusively for customization and reprogramming. It also features on-board macros and customizable vibration and mapping for the rear and face buttons.

The N6 is a more modern take on a Switch 2 controller. It also connects to the Switch 2 via the same bottom USB-C port, but this time the focus seems to be on comfort and customizability rather than the retro looks of the N9C. The N6's grip design is reminiscent of the Steam Deck, although Abxylute has opted for a more traditional Xbox-style layout, with the offset joysticks. While the N6 is also fully customizable, it only features one rear button per side instead of the dual rear buttons of the N9C. The N6, however, uses Hall effect sticks, which are resistant to drift, and the joysticks have an anti-friction ring around the joysticks to avoid sticky movements. The ABXY face buttons on the N6 are silicone rubber domes, which are likely to feel somewhat softer than the Alps switches in the N9C, and the D-pad uses tactile switches. The triggers, meanwhile are digital triggers. The N6 has a solid tray back panel, but Abxylute has designed the back panel so that it redirects the sound from the Switch 2's down-firing speakers directly towards the user's face. Anxylute claims the audio chamber delivers "10% stronger bass," than the stock Switch 2 configuration. Both the Anxylute N9C and the N6 are launching on Kickstarter "soon," and pricing is not yet available for either controller. You can follow along on the shared Prelaunch page (https://prelaunch.com/projects/abxylute-n6-n9c-deck-controllers-compatible-with-switch-2) if you're interested.https://tpucdn.com/img/kBiVU1lkEMQHOOeC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kBiVU1lkEMQHOOeC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/xdEWPPioFr13SCw8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xdEWPPioFr13SCw8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/D9hz1tKxVqi13Z7Y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/D9hz1tKxVqi13Z7Y.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2KBDcPbKTBg8g7i7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2KBDcPbKTBg8g7i7.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Sony Electronics Inc. has announced its latest wearable audio innovation: the LinkBuds Clip Truly Wireless Open Earbuds, new truly wireless open-clip earbuds that let users enjoy their music and the real world at the same time, redefining how people experience entertainment.

LinkBuds Clip offer a natural listening experience that keeps listeners aware of their surroundings, making it easy to hear traffic, conversations, and announcements without removing the earbuds. The socially friendly design allows users to keep listening while conversing naturally with people nearby, with reduced ear fatigue thanks to improved airflow and the absence of ear canal pressure. Designed for everyday use, they provide a secure fit, enhanced situational awareness, and long-lasting comfort.https://tpucdn.com/img/B37ElxryFz0RLT3t_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/B37ElxryFz0RLT3t.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Ojcqkg8GeTQUyyl6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ojcqkg8GeTQUyyl6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/OHbNkmyjSMfwfhA1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OHbNkmyjSMfwfhA1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Gt3QB92Bw7p8MeQi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Gt3QB92Bw7p8MeQi.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Earlier in the week, rumors emerged regarding multiple project cancellations across Ubisoft's international footprint. An official company statement seemed to confirm some of the information presented in news articles. In addition, the French video game giant confirmed that several of its development studios had been shuttered (https://www.techpowerup.com/345472/ubisoft-axes-prince-of-persia-sands-of-time-remake-delays-assassins-creed-black-flag-remake-and-more)—likely part of a strategy to speed up their three-year roadmap that was formulated to reduce costs. A company-wide restructure included the creation of Ubisoft's "CH4" creative house—according to official blurb this group is "dedicated" to making "immersive fantasy worlds and narrative-driven universes." Several fan-favorite franchises were listed within this branch—most notably, "Beyond Good & Evil" IP's inclusion drew particular attention from members of the press. Followers of Beyond Good and Evil 2's progress (or lack thereof) have got used to long stretches of radio silence. Many had assumed that Ubisoft's various modern-day re-strategizations had finally put the kibosh on the Montpellier-based teams' grand endeavors.

Ubisoft's dedicated Beyond Good and Evil 2 webpage has not been updated with any progress reports since the summer of 2020. A pre-production phase started all the way back in 2007, under Michel Ancel's leadership. The veteran video game developer—of Rayman series fame—conceived and directed the original title (2003) earlier on in the decade. By September 2020, Ancel had exited Ubisoft—consequently transferring control of the BG&E 2 project to another set of "capable hands." This week, Eurogamer took the time to investigate the much-anticipated sequel's present-day status. According to today's news article, a company spokesperson has responded with an encouraging statement: "Beyond Good and Evil 2 remains part of our portfolio and our roadmap and fits with our strategy of focusing on Open World Adventures." According to Eurogamer, the Ubisoft PR staffer believes that the "the fantasy genre is underserved" within the current open world gaming market. They seem confident that Beyond Good and Evil 2 will be a "unique proposition" upon release. Hopefully, the BG&E/Montpellier team will provide an in-depth update in the near future, once Ubisoft's "CH4" umbrella settles into place.https://tpucdn.com/img/IL9wBJC7IImphuJn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IL9wBJC7IImphuJn.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9yrO1fO6oWzbgq2m_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9yrO1fO6oWzbgq2m.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TYGf1ZNUsaAvYFj4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TYGf1ZNUsaAvYFj4.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Focus Entertainment (https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/games/mio-memories-in-orbit) and Douze Dixièmes are today celebrating MIO: Memories in Orbit's critical success with a brand-new trailer. Distinguished by its striking art direction and an equally remarkable original soundtrack, this French‑crafted metroidvania has resonated strongly with international critics, securing a Metacritic score of 83/100.

MIO: Memories in Orbit (https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/games/mio-memories-in-orbit) launched on January 20 and is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch (both generations), and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store. The game is also playable day one on Xbox Game Pass and runs seamlessly on Steam Deck. Composed by Nicolas Gueguen, the game's original soundtrack is now available across all major streaming platforms—including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Bandcamp (https://kidkatanarecords.bandcamp.com/album/mio-memories-in-orbit-original-game-soundtrack), and more.https://tpucdn.com/img/PCD0zpAZyCHCUHaN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PCD0zpAZyCHCUHaN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/sEoG6WDIOMnB6qea_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sEoG6WDIOMnB6qea.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Y0XUoro8esg4gZ5H_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Y0XUoro8esg4gZ5H.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/T9M857aYzEFEAiKt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/T9M857aYzEFEAiKt.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Yesterday, Microsoft used the fourth edition of its regular Developer_Direct showcase to promote Fable's path to release. The comedy-heavy fantasy open world experience (https://www.techpowerup.com/345526/xbox-developer-direct-dives-deep-into-fables-open-world-comedic-elements) is projected to launch this autumn on PC platforms, as well as Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 consoles. Certain industry observers have questioned the validity of this broad (Q3/Q4) timetable—weighing in with theories of Playground Games' PS5 port arriving at a later date. A simultaneous launch across multiple rival hardware systems is a tall task, especially for a studio more accustomed to making racing games on primary Xbox and PC platforms. A first try (https://www.techpowerup.com/333327/forza-horizon-5-coming-to-ps5-on-april-29-playground-reveals-multi-platform-realms-festival-event)—2021's Forza Horizon 5—successfully headed over to PlayStation 5, last year. Instead of opting into using Epic's popular Unreal Engine 5, the British development outfit's Fable team has stuck with in-house ForzaTech engine tech. This week, senior Playground Games staffers have engaged with members of the press—many journalists have asked about the UK-based team's approach to getting Fable ported over to PS5.

Bravely, a select few interviewers have broached the subject of a possible Switch 2 version. Late last night, Jez Corden disclosed that he was informed about a potential conversion onto Nintendo's latest hybrid console, but this future prospect: "isn't 100% definite for now, but under consideration for the future." The Windows Central scribe/executive editor elaborated further in social media exchanges—he mentioned that "decision-making" was in the hands of "logistics," as of January 22. Corden believes that development of a speculative Switch 2 port has not started yet, but rates its chances of approval in the near future. A small selection of former Xbox exclusives have turned up on Switch 1 in the recent past. Last October, Phil Spencer—Microsoft Gaming's CEO—mentioned that Nintendo had provided "excellent support" of in-progress Xbox-to-Switch 2 titles. Weeks later, former NoA boss—the ever-dynamic Reggie Fils-Aimé—expressed surprise about the current lack of first-party Xbox games on Switch 2.https://tpucdn.com/img/4F6FJyKzip4SXat6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4F6FJyKzip4SXat6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/R1joGJQaQwct4dhr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/R1joGJQaQwct4dhr.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/j4gCbwdXmKi1wIuL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/j4gCbwdXmKi1wIuL.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Seismic Squirrel is thrilled to announce that Aether & Iron will launch on PC (Steam) in Spring 2026. This narrative-driven RPG invites players to step into the shoes of Gia, a smuggler navigating the dangerous underworld of an alternate 1930s New York City, featuring turn-based vehicular combat and storytelling from writers with credits on Mass Effect, Far Cry, and Sovereign Syndicate.

Aether & Iron takes place in an alternate 1930s New York transformed into a vertical city after the discovery of "aether" - a key component to newfound anti-gravitational technology. Customize and upgrade your fleet of aether-powered vehicles with weapons and armor, and recruit unique companions to watch your back, each armed with talents that can make all the difference. Your choices shape not just your path, but the city's fate as well.https://tpucdn.com/img/lbIyewfBxtu8O339_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lbIyewfBxtu8O339.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IE0TtQWARrupLy4a_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IE0TtQWARrupLy4a.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YuyPlcuSLa2II8Q5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YuyPlcuSLa2II8Q5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ke2PUbQAOgV1LFGw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ke2PUbQAOgV1LFGw.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

As industries accelerate toward digital and connected operations, cybersecurity has become critical to maintaining trust and reliability at the edge. ASRock Industrial, the trusted pioneer in Secure Edge AI Platforms, today announced the launch of AiSafeguard, an intelligent device isolation solution designed to strengthen endpoint protection and ensure continuous, secure operations in industrial and enterprise environments. Built on ASRock Industrial's security vision of Secure Device, Secure Deployment, and Secure Operation, AiSafeguard leverages Honeypot Sandbox technology and a zero-trust architecture to seamlessly integrate with ASRock Industrial Robust Edge AIoT Platforms.

The solution automatically detects, classifies, and isolates external devices in real time, allowing trusted peripherals to access host resources securely while containing untrusted devices for behavioral analysis. With adaptive isolation, trusted access control, and centralized management, AiSafeguard establishes a robust, self-defending cybersecurity framework at the edge.https://tpucdn.com/img/8gvG7mqwhuGQeAHH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8gvG7mqwhuGQeAHH.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Ne8qRFrpE34QK1Mn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ne8qRFrpE34QK1Mn.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345557/asrock-industrials-new-aisafeguard-bolsters-device-security-with-honeypot-sb-zero-trust)

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[NextPowerUP]

According to an unreleased slide leaked by VideoCardz (https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-claims-ddr5-4800-is-within-1-fps-difference-of-ddr5-6000-on-ryzen-7-9850x3d), AMD has prepared a section for its upcoming Ryzen 7 9850X3D CPU about difference in memory speeds affecting FPS performance. In AMD's own testing, going from DDR5-6000 to DDR5-4800 memory yield less than 1% drop of FPS, meaning that the memory selection isn't very important for this gaming CPU. The slide aims to demonstrate that even with cheaper DDR5 memory, priced around $400 for a 2x16 GB kit running at 4,800 MT/s, performance remains largely unaffected. AMD noted that a more expensive 2x16 GB DDR5 kit running at the "sweet spot" of 6,000 MT/s is priced at about $470. This means spending 17.5% more on memory does not provide significant real-world benefits. Gamers can instead to allocate their budget elsewhere and consider more affordable memory options, while keeping frame-rate in check.

Finally, this slide leaked just six days before AMD's official launch on January 29, with a suggested retail price of $499. This 8-core/16-thread processor features the "Zen 5" microarchitecture, enhanced with 3D V-Cache technology, and offers a 400 MHz speed boost over the current 9800X3D. The chip has a base frequency of 4.70 GHz and a maximum boost frequency of 5.60 GHz. Some samples have even been observed running at a 5.75 GHz (https://www.techpowerup.com/345363/amd-ryzen-7-9850x3d-cpu-sample-reaches-5-75-ghz-on-all-cores) boost frequency, indicating that enthusiasts might achieve even higher frequencies even under typical home conditions. As memory selection isn't a big differentiator, the 400 MHz boost increase from its sibling—Ryzen 7 9800X3D—will be the topic of discussion for third party review.https://tpucdn.com/img/er2XCgkkVCkZ0RtK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/er2XCgkkVCkZ0RtK.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

A savvy DIY-er has acquired an AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/ryzen-7-9850x3d.c4301) desktop processor one week in advance of the official January 29 launch day (https://www.techpowerup.com/345503/amd-officially-confirms-ryzen-7-9850x3d-msrp-usd-499-launching-on-january-29). This triumph was shared with the PC Master Race (PCMR) community. Earlier today, the lucky owner's subreddit thread gained extra attention due to prominent PC news outlet coverage of the embargo-busting purchase. The buyer—dobum—did not go into great detail when describing their major scoring of the should-not-be-out-yet desktop microprocessor product. Apparently a "local reseller" listed available stock at some point this week, and dobum seized the moment: "(they) made a mistake...and I managed to get one out of curiosity...(it will replace) a Ryzen 7 7800X3D (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/ryzen-7-7800x3d.c3022), which goes into another PC."

They mentioned paying 450 Swiss Francs (likely including VAT) for the upgrade, reflecting similar price tags tracked by VideoCardz—when examining pre-launch conditions across Europe. dobum's own currency conversion—to USD—shows an additional $71 tacked on top of Team Red's MSRP ($499). Their post did not include a breakdown of possible delivery charges, or a customary Value Added Tax charge. Photographic evidence did not provide a look at the product's OPN, so it is not clear whether dobum picked up a boxed retail or tray OEM unit. In a follow-up reply, they stated that their newly updated PC system had booted up with the "latest MSI BIOS (from December)." A commenter, kronoseedlc, added their own findings—in the form of screenshots (see CPU-Z grab below) accompanying a story about attempts to get their own early Ryzen 7 9850X3D sample to surpass 5700 MHz (https://www.techpowerup.com/345363/amd-ryzen-7-9850x3d-cpu-sample-reaches-5-75-ghz-on-all-cores) on some sort of MSI MPG CARBON WIFI mainboard.https://tpucdn.com/img/stozGPF1dAKK9hQN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/stozGPF1dAKK9hQN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/kCswzWofR5iEja3c_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kCswzWofR5iEja3c.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/dlmshslTddj62SJ6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dlmshslTddj62SJ6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/q0tHzHNlNoORsAP1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/q0tHzHNlNoORsAP1.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

The Code Vein II Character Creator Demo launches today on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2362060/CODE_VEIN_II/). As the start of players' time-travelling adventure approaches, the demo allows them to build and fully customise their own Revenant Hunter character with dozens of fun and creative options.

Even better, characters can be saved and transferred into the full game at launch on 30 January 2026. Players can also explore the MagMell Institute or strike a pose with their brand-new Revenant Hunter in Photo Mode. Thousands of styles. Endless possibilities. Recognize any of these looks?https://tpucdn.com/img/nIGuVkhiz28jJ0ab_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nIGuVkhiz28jJ0ab.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vWLWTx0DgUPRpNYc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vWLWTx0DgUPRpNYc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lgY2Bm2xDBldq6V0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lgY2Bm2xDBldq6V0.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345552/bandai-namco-announces-launch-of-code-vein-ii-character-creator-demo)

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[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA N1 and N1X mobile processors could be deployed in brand-new premium laptops and notebooks in the coming months. Earlier in the week, a DigiTimes article outlined a possible first quarter launch (https://www.techpowerup.com/345386/nvidia-n1-and-n1x-laptop-chips-scheduled-for-this-quarter). This more positive prediction seemingly quashed older whispers (https://www.techpowerup.com/338938/nvidias-n1x-cpu-hits-new-roadblock-launch-pushed-to-late-2026) of major developmental issues causing postponements into late 2026. Tellingly, NVIDIA and involved manufacturing partners missed a grand opportunity (https://www.techpowerup.com/345051/the-5-biggest-no-shows-of-ces-2026) to unveil N1-series-powered devices at the recently concluded CES trade show. Earlier today, promising signs of pre-launch activity were sniffed out by the Huang514613 social account. In a now deleted post, the PC hardware detective outlined six Lenovo-made options, utilizing N1 or N1X APUs, destined to bolster the "Windows on Arm" initiative.

Since the publication of news reports, offending items have been removed from the Chinese manufacturer's Legion Space support page. Two pairs of unreleased IdeaPad Slim 5 and Yoga Pro 7 models are reportedly specced with the more mysterious N1 processor. Potentially, this non-X part could be a cut-down variant. The N1X processor is a better known property, with leakers linking it to Team Green's "GB10 Superchip"—this very capable package forms the basis of costly DGX Spark AI mini desktop PCs. A shipping manifest—sporting November 2025 publication date—suggested Dell's recent-ish evaluation of N1X SoC engineering samples (https://www.techpowerup.com/345198/shipping-document-lists-unreleased-dell-16-premium-laptop-with-nvidia-n1x-es2-soc). Lenovo has inadvertently announced that forthcoming NVIDIA-based Lenovo Yoga 9 2-in-1 16-inch and Legion 7 15" designs will feature N1X processors.https://tpucdn.com/img/g7HZPNhT4P5d2dKa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/g7HZPNhT4P5d2dKa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lmHf1nLcjM9thgpQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lmHf1nLcjM9thgpQ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/trfiJB4VkZmcA0nk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/trfiJB4VkZmcA0nk.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/cKvmJAd7AlzLDhcI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cKvmJAd7AlzLDhcI.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345551/lenovo-inadvertently-confirms-existence-of-new-laptop-models-with-nvidia-n1-x-apus)

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[NextPowerUP]

Modern AI workloads demand more than raw compute—they require a tightly integrated software stack that can extract maximum performance, scale efficiently across systems, and operate reliably in production environments. With the latest ROCm 7.2 release, we're delivering a broad set of optimizations and software enhancements designed to improve developer productivity, runtime performance, and enterprise readiness.

In this blog, we highlight the latest ROCm 7.2 enhancements for AMD Instinct GPUs, designed to boost AI and HPC performance. Learn how hipBLASLt and GEMM optimizations, FP8/FP4 support in rocMLIR and MIGraphX, and topology-aware communication with GDA and RCCL deliver higher throughput and lower latency. We also cover AI model tuning for AMD Instinct MI300X (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-instinct-mi300x.c4179) and MI350 (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-instinct-mi350x.c4308) GPUs and Node Power Management (NPM) for efficient multi-GPU operation—together enabling faster, more scalable, and reliable AI workloads.https://tpucdn.com/img/UZGG1v83ISWLKYVn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UZGG1v83ISWLKYVn.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KJkhsJwPKv82bAfT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KJkhsJwPKv82bAfT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/cQeWv6JpV8NAkZJS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cQeWv6JpV8NAkZJS.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Around mid-September of last year, Intel and NVIDIA announced (https://www.techpowerup.com/341127/nvidia-buys-usd-5b-worth-of-intel-rtx-igpus-coming-to-x86-shares-up-25) a somewhat surprising joint venture. At the time, the two partners teased an eventual deployment of unspecified GeForce RTX iGPU designs within futuristic Intel x86 System-on-Chips (SoCs). We have not heard much about this mainstream project since autumn time—in the meantime, Team Blue has gone all in on hyping up next-gen "Panther Lake-H" mobile processors, that utilize in-house Arc Xe3 graphics architecture. Lately, Lip-Bu Tan—CEO of Intel—has mentioned the existence another co-development with the Green Team. In a recent earnings call, regarding Q4 2025 results, the boss slipped in a brief teaser about an in-progress enterprise-grade processor design.

When discussing his company's ongoing simplification of server product roadmaps, Tan disclosed that: "we also continue to work closely with NVIDIA to build a custom Xeon fully integrated with their NVLink technology, to bring best-in-class x86 performance to AI host nodes." He swiftly moved onto talking about the Xeon division being laser-focused on getting 16-channel (https://www.techpowerup.com/342969/intel-drops-8-channel-diamond-rapids-xeon-7-in-favour-of-16-channel-skus) "Diamond Rapids" out into the wild. Naturally, it is too early to tell whether the latest Intel + NVIDIA collab will leverage sixth or seventh generation Xeon technologies. The further out "Coral Rapids" family is expected to resurrect Hyper-Threading for datacenter workflows (https://www.techpowerup.com/341573/intel-details-core-options-for-nova-lake-desktop-and-diamond-rapids-xeon-7-processors). Tan stated that another main goal is the acceleration of Xeon "Coral Rapids" series' introduction to market. Prior to publication of Intel's Q4 '25 financial results, the semiconductor industry rumor mill proposed a second half of 2027 release window.https://tpucdn.com/img/UGRRmFQl01wJFCOc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UGRRmFQl01wJFCOc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/iestRREsgbCrOFGS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/iestRREsgbCrOFGS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HnWTYDH2teiBCeMG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HnWTYDH2teiBCeMG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CiHqKBb8Mik1OYpX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CiHqKBb8Mik1OYpX.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

We are aware of recent reports concerning AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/ryzen-7-9800x3d.c3891) CPUs and ASUS AMD 800-series motherboards, and we have initiated an immediate internal review. Our teams are conducting preventive checks on product compatibility and performance, working closely with AMD to validate reported cases and ensure ongoing stability and quality. We are looking to provide timely solutions to ensure our products and services meet expected standards.

Users are also advised to update their ASUS AMD 800-series motherboard to the latest BIOS via ASUS EZ Flash or BIOS Flashback to help ensure system stability; we provide an official technical support FAQ (https://www.asus.com/support/faq/1044348/) with detailed instructions. Customers who are affected or have concerns are encouraged to contact ASUS customer service (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/executivecare@asus.com) for direct assistance. We take this matter seriously and value our customers' trust, and we remain committed to transparency and to ensuring our products can be used with confidence.https://tpucdn.com/img/4BE3mWjzmbcHaMIK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4BE3mWjzmbcHaMIK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jx86S8q24bKUyD3T_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jx86S8q24bKUyD3T.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wEbGdDtx7jTe9vdw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wEbGdDtx7jTe9vdw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/aR3MzVfSgr6Fa5QA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aR3MzVfSgr6Fa5QA.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Yesterday, a major leak outed AMD's alleged forthcoming refresh of "Strix Halo" (https://www.techpowerup.com/345514/amd-gorgon-halo-linked-to-rumored-refresh-of-ryzen-ai-max-400-series) silicon. According to VideoCardz's anonymous industry contacts, Team Red's codename for this new mobile processor family is "Gorgon Halo." A specific "Ryzen AI Max+ 495" SKU was brought up as an example; highlighted as a potential range-topper and successor to the current-gen Ryzen AI Max+ 395 (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/ryzen-ai-max-395.c3994) model. Almost a day later, an HKEPC report has listed the aforementioned top ""Gorgon Halo" option, and four other options. The Hong Kong-based publication understands that the five identified "Ryzen AI MAX 400" products will utilize familiar architectures: Zen 5 for CPU cores, RDNA 3.5 for integrated graphics solutions (Radeon 8060S (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-8060s.c4270) or 8050S (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-8050s.c4271)), and XDNA 2 for the NPU aspect.

Naturally, these technologies form the basis of readily available "Strix Halo" APUs. HKEPC claims that the freshly-leaked "half-generation upgrade" will be the result of "enhanced chip quality." Elaborating further they propose that "Gorgon Halo" models will maintain the same TDPs as preceding equivalents, but with clock speeds increased—most notably improving multicore performance. A close-up shot of a possible engineering sample provides the "100-000002127" serial code. This OPN seems to refer to "Gorgon Halo's" least potent member—Ryzen AI Max 485. The HKEPC article anticipates a launch happening around October of this year.https://tpucdn.com/img/kNPPPngbkGb1IPre_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kNPPPngbkGb1IPre.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/aP9acIJVomo5cnIQ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aP9acIJVomo5cnIQ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Bbsma61jjpqY4N2R_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Bbsma61jjpqY4N2R.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

To all adventurers: The upcoming demo for The Eternal Life of Goldman will go live on February 19 and will be available throughout Steam Next Fest, which runs from February 23 to March 2! In this breathtaking platformer adventure, explore a vast hand-drawn Archipelago, inspired by ancient fables and depicted in classic frame-by-frame animation, and defeat a mysterious Deity.

Players will be able to experience an early playable version of The Eternal Life of Goldman (https://goldman.thqnordic.com/) starting ahead of Steam Next Fest, with the demo remaining live during the entire festival. The demo will also stay available for a limited time beyond the end of Steam Next Fest before being taken offline at a later date.https://tpucdn.com/img/lzKYXTHpopiP43Cz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lzKYXTHpopiP43Cz.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/9XQ4TVjfhXUexSsH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/9XQ4TVjfhXUexSsH.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1MM8uKquOI2zOzzV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1MM8uKquOI2zOzzV.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/b281ruXXzUX3oRzm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/b281ruXXzUX3oRzm.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Intel has released its latest 32.0.101.8425 and 32.0.101.8362 WHQL drivers as launch drivers for the new Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" processors, featuring Arc B390 and Arc B370 integrated graphics (https://www.techpowerup.com/344776/ready-for-next-gen-handheld-gaming-intel-arc-b390-panther-lake-igpu-arrives). Alongside day-one support for these iGPUs, the latest GPU drivers introduce Intel's XeSS 3 multi-frame generation technology, which can insert up to three generated frames between two rendered frames to boost FPS by a 3:1 ratio of generated to rendered frames. Intel promises a significant performance boost for its Arc B390 and Arc B370 iGPUs on "Panther Lake," making these SoCs ideal for handheld gaming devices. In addition to new features, these drivers fix issues such as game crashes found in the demo version of Capcom's PRAGMATA SKETCHBOOK running DirectX 12. Some issues persist, which you can find in the logs below. We are updating our driver page, so be patient for the release.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.8362 WHQL (https://www.techpowerup.com/download/intel-graphics-drivers/)https://tpucdn.com/img/5bOABi1Ljt8bnSbf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5bOABi1Ljt8bnSbf.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

AMD has introduced a new low-latency video decode solution for Radeon GPUs on Linux with the RadeonSI Gallium3D driver as part of the Mesa 26.1 release. This Linux patch, utilizing Video Core Next (VCN), is designed to maximize the performance of AMD Radeon hardware-accelerated multimedia decode and encode. The patch aims to deliver a high-performance decoding kernel that reduces video decoding latency, although it requires more power consumption from the GPU, trading off some efficiency.

For users of the RadeonSI Gallium3D driver, this option can be enabled with the AMD_DEBUG=lowlatencydec environment variable. By default, this option is turned off due to its more aggressive power profile. The default setting is a higher-latency mode, which is more power-efficient. This distinction is particularly important for AMD laptops running Radeon GPUs on Linux, as they must balance performance and efficiency. While desktop users might benefit from having the new low-latency mode enabled by default, laptop users will need to consider the trade-off between reduced battery life and faster video decoding.https://tpucdn.com/img/gDUzGQ8E8DnD2kdf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gDUzGQ8E8DnD2kdf.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Micron Technology, Inc. broke ground today on an advanced wafer fabrication facility located within the company's existing NAND manufacturing complex in Singapore. This new facility represents a planned investment of approximately US $24 billion (SG $31 billion) over 10 years and is designed to ultimately provide 700,000 square feet of cleanroom space. Wafer output is scheduled to begin in the second half of calendar 2028, helping Micron address growing market demand for NAND technology driven by the rapid expansion of AI and data-centric applications.

The groundbreaking ceremony for this facility, Singapore's first double-story wafer manufacturing fab, was marked by the attendance of Gan Kim Yong, deputy prime minister and minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore, Dr Beh Swan Gin, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Jermaine Loy, managing director of the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and Jacqueline Poh, CEO of JTC Corporation.https://tpucdn.com/img/RZEzjHBshN87Bavn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RZEzjHBshN87Bavn.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company, Inc., a world leader in memory products and technology solutions, announces today its award-winning Kingston IronKey Keypad 200 series (KP200 and KP200C) hardware-encrypted USB flash drives have received NIST FIPS 140-3 Level 3 validation. This certification brings the KP200 series in line with IronKey D500S, which has already achieved this prestigious security standard, further reinforcing Kingston's commitment to providing robust, certified data protection solutions.

The KP200 series are keypad drives that are OS-independent and thus are usable on standard Windows, macOS platforms, as well as Linux, ChromeOS, even iOS and Android via USB-A or USB-C connector. These drives are ideal for users who need encrypted storage to protect software that can be loaded or unloaded from medical, scientific, industrial, and other machinery with USB interfaces. For Operational Technology (OT) infrastructure companies, NIST recommends enhanced USB drive security through its new Special Publication (SP) 1334 guidance.https://tpucdn.com/img/H7xTeeIauw940MVE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/H7xTeeIauw940MVE.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345666/kingston-ironkey-keypad-200-series-achieves-nist-fips-140-3-level-3-certification)

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[NextPowerUP]

The perfect introduction to fast and furious matches! The SKILLER SGB15 set combines a stylish rubber dome keyboard with a precise gaming mouse. The keyboard has a full 3-block layout while the mouse is equipped with a 1,000 Hz polling rate and up to 4,200 DPI in six levels. And the crisp RGB illumination with cool effects will ensure that your new equipment is an eye-catching highlight, not only when gaming. Thanks to the full 3-block layout of the keyboard, you will always have full control in the game, while the rubber dome keys provide a pleasantly quiet typing experience.

With up to 4,200 DPI in six levels, the gaming mouse adapts to your gaming style, whether it's MOBA or first-person shooter. And for games which require precision and quick responses, there is, of course, a polling rate of 1,000 Hz on board. The stylish RGB illumination of the SKILLER SGB15 mouse and keyboard will provide your setup with stylish highlights. Various colors and effects can be selected according to your style and without the need of a software.https://tpucdn.com/img/naS0TruLozFBPDch_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/naS0TruLozFBPDch.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/D0kxLxq3Eqg4ozYu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/D0kxLxq3Eqg4ozYu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8myhl7lN0W1ngaUf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8myhl7lN0W1ngaUf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CLlRllhW0KtpT6Ap_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CLlRllhW0KtpT6Ap.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FmCtETWeFnuUd78Y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FmCtETWeFnuUd78Y.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA's integration of AI systems now extends beyond GPUs with generic Arm CPUs. The company is introducing its high-performance "Vera" CPUs as a standalone product, marking its first entry as a competitor to Intel Xeon and AMD EPYC server-grade CPUs. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang confirmed this new venture in an interview with Bloomberg, stating, "For the very first time, we're going to be offering Vera CPUs. Vera is such an incredible CPU. We're going to offer Vera CPUs as a standalone part of the infrastructure. You can now run your computing stack not only on NVIDIA GPUs but also on NVIDIA CPUs. Vera is completely revolutionary... Coreweave will have to act quickly if they want to be the first to implement Vera CPUs. We haven't announced any of our CPU design wins yet, but there will be many."

The "Vera" CPU is equipped with 88 custom Armv9.2 "Olympus" cores that utilize Spatial Multithreading technology, allowing it to handle 176 threads through physical resource partitioning. These custom cores support native FP8 processing, enabling some AI workloads to be executed directly on the CPU with 6x128-bit SVE2 implementation. The chip offers 1.2 TB/s of memory bandwidth and supports up to 1.5 TB of LPDDR5X memory, making it ideal for memory-intensive computing tasks. However, with the CPU now being offered as a standalone solution, it is unclear whether there will be any classic memory options like DDR5 RDIMMs, or if the CPU will rely solely on SOCAMM LPDDR5X. A second-generation Scalable Coherency Fabric provides 3.4 TB/s of bisection bandwidth, connecting the cores across a unified monolithic die and eliminating the latency issues common in chiplet architectures. Additionally, NVIDIA has integrated a second-generation NVLink Chip-to-Chip technology, delivering up to 1.8 TB/s of coherent bandwidth for external "Rubin" GPUs.https://tpucdn.com/img/efaofUtfMbnGNsRi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/efaofUtfMbnGNsRi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/b65n0nwBw5x3x73G_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/b65n0nwBw5x3x73G.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Part of Ubisoft's recently announced organizational reshuffle, which saw a slew of game projects cancelled (https://www.techpowerup.com/345472/ubisoft-axes-prince-of-persia-sands-of-time-remake-delays-assassins-creed-black-flag-remake-and-more), included a commitment to save at least €200 million in fixed costs over the five years following the news. According to VideoGamesChronicle (https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-proposes-to-cut-18-of-workforce-at-france-headquarters-as-part-of-major-reset-plan/), the early stages of this plan include laying off nearly 18% of its staff, or 200 workers, at its Paris head office. Apparently, the news broke via an internal staff email, which explained that Ubisoft had entered into a voluntary mutual termination agreement with the French union representing its employees.

The voracity of this information was confirmed by an Ubisoft spokesperson, who said that "Ubisoft International has initiated discussions regarding a potential Rupture Conventionnelle Collective (https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F37509) (RCC), a voluntary mutual termination agreement that could involve up to 200 positions at its headquarters in France." The spokesperson goes on to clarify that this only affects French teams working under Ubisoft International, and that it would have "no impact on other French entities or Ubisoft teams worldwide." While the reshuffle resulted in the cancellation of a number of games across multiple IPs, there were a number of projects that survived the culling, including Beyond Good and Evil 2 (https://www.techpowerup.com/345561/beyond-good-and-evil-2-project-survives-latest-ubisoft-reshuffle).
More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345662/ubisoft-reshuffle-may-see-up-to-18-of-staff-laid-off)

[NextPowerUP]

As previously reported, Rockstar and Take-Two are taking every precaution to avoid leaks of the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI, with the pair having already fired staff allegedly associated with leaking confidential information (https://www.techpowerup.com/342495/messy-rockstar-firings-ahead-of-gta-6-accusations-from-gross-misconduct-to-union-busting-and-unjust-layoffs). According to a new leak published by Polish news site, PPE (https://www.ppe.pl/news/397290/gta-6-a-wersja-pudelkowa-sprzedawcy-zwiastuja-smutna-wiadomosc-dla-fanow-fizycznych-wydan.html), video game vendors are claiming that GTA VI will be a digital-only launch. In 2026, it's almost expected for games to be digital-only on PC, but this will apparently be true for both the console and PC versions of the game. Supposedly, the digital-only launch strategy is to avoid the possibility of leaks via retail employees. It should be noted, though, that GTA VI will eventually become available in physical form, but there will be a short delay between the digital-only launch and the physical launch.

In order for games, and other physical products to be available at launch, retailers have to have stock ready ahead of time, and it's not uncommon for retail workers or even store owners to sneak an early look (https://www.techpowerup.com/344728/french-store-lists-amd-ryzen-7-9850x3d-skus-with-january-29-release-date) at the game and, for example, post a picture or even footage of the packaging, or even of the gameplay itself, to the internet. Presumably, the thinking is that, by staggering the physical release, retailers won't have access to the game ahead of launch, so they won't be able to leak anything. The retailer claims to not know when the physical release will happen, but unless Take-Two really wants to make physical game buyers hurt for their chance to get at the game, it seems likely that the delay between the digital and physical releases won't be much longer than a few weeks, at most. After numerous delays, GTA VI is currently expected to launch on November 19, 2026 (https://www.techpowerup.com/342689/rockstar-confirms-gta-vi-delayed-again-to-november-2026), so it wouldn't be surprising to see the physical edition launch before Christmas.https://tpucdn.com/img/u1APRlC0aGoyUpBD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/u1APRlC0aGoyUpBD.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Highguard, the debut free-to-play PvP "raid shooter" from Wildlight Entertainment, recently surprise launched across Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation (https://www.techpowerup.com/345652/highguard-gets-surprise-launch-todays-release-build-previewed-by-xbox-wire), after much hype, owing to the new studio's veteran leadership. However, that hype was seemingly misplaced, as, despite peaking at over 95,000 concurrent players little over an hour after launch, Highguard has already earned itself a "Mostly Negative" review rating on Steam. According to SteamDB (https://steamdb.info/app/4128260/charts/#reviews), 78.2%, or 8,383 players left negative reviews on Steam, with only 2,333 of the 10,716 total reviews praising the game. So far, the studio behind the game has not made any comments about initial performance or player sentiment, but it looks like it might be another case similar to that of Splitgate: Arena Reloaded, which is now effectively on life support (https://www.techpowerup.com/345432/splitgate-arena-reloaded-update-2-2-brings-slew-of-new-content-and-game-modes), despite its predecessor's loyal player-base and a very recent launch.

Most of the criticism of the game seems to be centered around a lack of direction—the developers seemingly trying too hard to appeal to everyone instead of making a focused experience—poor map and interaction design, discordant pacing and mechanics, and lackluster performance. Some players also took issue with the fact that it was essentially a 3v3 shooter with a sizeable map and tedious mining and looting that don't seem to fit in with the game's stated goal of fast-paced gunplay. Many of these sentiments were echoed by players on r/PS5 on Reddit, where players also expressed frustration about the game's poor image quality, or "fuzziness" and with what seems like a never-ending flood of MOBAs and shooters.https://tpucdn.com/img/FdQceFRFukV4yJyh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FdQceFRFukV4yJyh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ydyNm80peBwdEMAG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ydyNm80peBwdEMAG.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/QwDEp5G7AaulpHRG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QwDEp5G7AaulpHRG.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Sony looks to be planning a State of Play event in February 2026, according to notable insider, NateTheHate2 on X (https://x.com/NateTheHate2/status/2015679942957138341). The leaker goes on to say in a reply that the State of Play is scheduled for the first half of February, specifically the 12th, although he didn't expand on what he expects to launch or show up at the event. The confirmation of the State of Play has expectedly led to a lot of speculation over what may be announced. For one, many are expecting word on that Horizon MMO that was previously leaked (https://www.techpowerup.com/342877/sonys-horizon-series-is-getting-an-mmo).

The list of 2026 launches that Sony has officially acknowledged is also quite large, including Marvel's Wolverine, Dune: Awakening, Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and Saros, which is currently already available for pre-order—just to name a few. It's likely that there will be some additional gameplay or showcase of these games, as well as the upcoming Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls 4v4 fighting game. It has also been previously leaked (https://x.com/kiwitalkz/status/2015523023701659724) that Rockstar is working on a next-gen Red Dead Redemption 2, and there has been no shortage of speculation about that revisit potentially showing up at the February State of Play.https://tpucdn.com/img/dKecg2K5tNyZ6TFA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dKecg2K5tNyZ6TFA.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

The intriguing "GFX13" identifier has turned up again, after many months (https://www.techpowerup.com/338165/amds-next-gen-udna-based-radeon-gpus-to-use-80-gbit-s-hdmi-2-2) of silence (https://www.techpowerup.com/336721/amd-radeon-gfx13-target-found-in-code-update-linked-to-udna-rdna-5-architecture). Late last Friday (January 23), Kepler_L2 highlighted a public-facing LLVM Project update that defines initial support of Team Red's "gfx1310 target." One team member comment points to this new property being identical—as a temporary arrangement—to the RDNA 4 generation's "GFX12" and "GFX1250" IDs. Prior to 2026, a bunch of AMD patch notes mentioned early "GFX13" commitments, alongside next-gen "RDNA 5" or "UDNA" (https://www.techpowerup.com/326442/amd-to-unify-gaming-rdna-and-data-center-cdna-into-udna-singular-gpu-architecture-similar-to-nvidias-cuda) graphics architectures.

It is believed that last week's LLVM 23 compiler release only refers to "RDNA 5," leading to speculation about a forthcoming theoretical "Radeon RX 10000" discrete graphics card family. This next wave is not expected to launch any time soon; industry observers posit a vague mid-2027 launch window—maybe coinciding with unleashings of next-gen home consoles (https://www.techpowerup.com/341887/console-wars-next-generation-xbox-could-outperform-playstation-6), although present-day market conditions could spoil Microsoft and Sony's best laid plans. Phoronix's founder and Editor-in-Chief, Michael Larabel, is looking forward to the August/September arrival of AMD's LLVM 23.1 stable release—by that time "GFX13" support could have advanced to another stage of development, thus providing further insights.https://tpucdn.com/img/Mxmivpep9jMdQ04u_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Mxmivpep9jMdQ04u.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vRQaNF1SzoLgQuXK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vRQaNF1SzoLgQuXK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/d9o8SUilOobRzHCm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/d9o8SUilOobRzHCm.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/UjzVJtYB6YTr8g8s_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UjzVJtYB6YTr8g8s.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Lots of games offer intense, competitive, squad-based action, but I can't think of any besides Highguard (https://playhighguard.com/) where I can sling spells and bullets from the back of a majestic, galloping bear as I charge in to destroy an enemy fortress. Highguard turned a lot of heads with its flashy reveal at the end of the Game Awards last month, but many were left wanting to know more about this mysterious debut from Wildlight Entertainment (https://www.wildlight.gg/who-we-are), a new studio of Apex Legends, Titanfall, and Call of Duty veterans.

The developers are first to admit that the intervening month has been quiet, but are confident that the game they've toiled over in secret for four years will speak for itself on release today. I spent a whole day playing the game and interviewing its lead developers and studio founders last week, and I am here to tell you exactly what we're all about to play with Highguard.https://tpucdn.com/img/uI2IgQp5US8TXZls_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uI2IgQp5US8TXZls.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uDrsQKBSd3cTMbiF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uDrsQKBSd3cTMbiF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gmvEr3PtLbocq9Pi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gmvEr3PtLbocq9Pi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Spl3DjfQaejWhNfG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Spl3DjfQaejWhNfG.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Last week, AMD revealed further (post-CES) Ryzen 7 9850X3D (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/ryzen-7-9850x3d.c4301) details—namely an officially confirmed $499 MSRP, and January 29 launch date (https://www.techpowerup.com/345503/amd-officially-confirms-ryzen-7-9850x3d-msrp-usd-499-launching-on-january-29). This 8-core 3D V-Cache-augmented gaming desktop processor's arrival has not been timed to perfection; as evidenced by a leaked Team Red marketing slide (https://www.techpowerup.com/345555/amd-claims-1-fps-difference-on-ryzen-7-9850x3d-going-from-ddr5-6000-to-ddr5-4800). The ongoing computer memory supply crisis has caused many "rethinks" at affected manufacturers, with a handful of key players dipping back into older product lines. Extraordinary circumstances have led to the resurgence of DDR4 memory products—currently, this older—still viable—standard has experienced price hikes, albeit not to the extent of newer DDR5 sticks. In China, AMD and involved hardware partners have taken the unusual step of bundling the brand-new Ryzen 7 9850X3D OEM(?) model with a 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5 kit, and a CPU air cooler.

Photos of a boxed retail example were uploaded to JustBuy's Bilibili blog, showing a likely region-exclusive package that is advertised as including Team Red's newest member of "Granite Ridge" processor family, V-Color Manta XFinity+ OLED DDR5 memory, and a white Cooler Master HYPER 612 APEX (https://www.techpowerup.com/331553/cooler-master-launches-the-hyper-612-apex-cpu-cooler) Pro tower cooler. The exact specifications of V-Color's bundled-in kit were not visible, or described by the JoyBuy previewer—apparently this partnership-produced combo was unveiled during a recent Cooler Master event in China. In a joking assumption, UNIKO's Hardware proposed lowly 4800 CL58 credentials—clearly riffing on the AMD marketing team's reported claim that "DDR5-6000 to DDR5-4800 memory yields less than a 1% drop of FPS." Several PC hardware news outlets have assumed that V-Color has supplied Manta XFinity+ OLED DDR5-6000 CL26 kits, leading to a total price estimate of sub-$1100 for the snazzy Cooler Master ($79.99) x AMD ($499 MSRP) x V-Color (~$509) box and contents.https://tpucdn.com/img/N22X2ps53kO7IGii_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/N22X2ps53kO7IGii.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lz8vQuh5lItgnTDS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lz8vQuh5lItgnTDS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/xUOiQOdUX8XSHMVv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xUOiQOdUX8XSHMVv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tAhdpsDOL54yxahP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tAhdpsDOL54yxahP.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA and CoreWeave, Inc. today announced an expansion of their long-standing complementary relationship to enable CoreWeave to accelerate the buildout of more than 5 gigawatts of AI factories by 2030 to advance AI adoption at global scale. In addition, NVIDIA has invested $2 billion in CoreWeave Class A common stock at a purchase price of $87.20 per share. The investment reflects NVIDIA's confidence in CoreWeave's business, team and growth strategy as a cloud platform built on NVIDIA infrastructure.

"AI is entering its next frontier and driving the largest infrastructure buildout in human history (https://www.techpowerup.com/345510/jensen-outlines-largest-infrastructure-buildout-in-human-history-during-wef-q-a)," said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. "CoreWeave's deep AI factory expertise, platform software and unmatched execution velocity are recognized across the industry. Together, we're racing to meet extraordinary demand for NVIDIA AI factories—the foundation of the AI industrial revolution."https://tpucdn.com/img/OYp978VkAzMoQxxd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OYp978VkAzMoQxxd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BIFqPwZxV8PHxYih_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BIFqPwZxV8PHxYih.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1GLQ2SbXXuh30P1Y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1GLQ2SbXXuh30P1Y.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

If you're wondering where the big "Battlemage" GPUs are, they are reportedly being shipped, but primarily for the professional visualization sector and AI builders. According to a leak from VideoCardz, Intel's upcoming Arc Pro B70 and Arc Pro B65 GPUs (https://www.techpowerup.com/345631/intel-arc-pro-b70-big-battlemage-dgpu-could-come-out-in-q126) are part of this release, using the long-rumored BMG-G31 GPU die that Intel has prepared for the higher-end GPUs. Starting with the higher-end Arc Pro B70, Intel plans a BMG-G31 configuration with 32 Xe2 cores and 32 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus. This will equal to about 4,096 FP32 cores in its full configuration, which is exactly twice the core count of the Arc Pro B60, and twice its memory capacity on a single-GPU version. For its smaller sibling Arc Pro B65, Intel has cut BMG-G31 die to support 2,560 FP32 cores, with 20 Xe2 cores in total. This is the same core configuration as the Arc Pro B60, but this card comes with 32 GB of GDDR6 memory out of the box, 8 GB higher than the Arc Pro B60.

Intel will launch both GPUs in the first quarter of this year. With January almost over, a February or March release seems likely. For local AI LLM development and workstations needing more computational power, Intel is gradually entering this market to address the gap left by AMD and NVIDIA, offering high memory capacities and a good price/performance ratio. However, the situation is different for gaming GPUs. According to VideoCardz, Intel's board partners have received the BMG-G31 dies for testing and integration into customized designs, but only for the Pro SKU. No gaming chips have been shipped. Intel is reportedly delaying the larger Arc B770 gaming GPU to focus on the Pro-Viz segment. As a result, no near-term launch is planned for the gaming version, leaving the release of the B770 uncertain.https://tpucdn.com/img/nISLZYgjrfvqHnay_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nISLZYgjrfvqHnay.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jbihv7jQ7RJtXPaS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jbihv7jQ7RJtXPaS.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Lately and supposedly, the Samsung Foundry has "stabilized" yields of its cutting-edge 2 nm GAA node process (SF2); enough to qualify as being "mass production"-worthy (https://www.techpowerup.com/345239/samsung-foundry-supposedly-achieves-50-yields-with-2-nm-gaa-node-process). Despite rumors of a yield rate hovering around the 50% mark, the South Korean semiconductor specialist seems to be proceeding with high-volume manufacturing of Exynos 2600 application processors. This next-gen smartphone chip (https://www.techpowerup.com/344259/samsung-unveils-the-exynos-2600-without-fanfare) is expected to become the foundry service's SF2 "proof of concept," as finalized silicon gets released within upcoming Galaxy S26 and S26+ devices. A fresh Chosun Daily article cites recent research done by KB Securities—with head analyst, Kim Dong-won, projecting a return to profit—in 2027—for the Samsung's chip making business. Prior to the early success of SF2, the megacorp's foundry division has been "recording trillions of won in losses since 2022," but new deals could lead to much better fortunes in the next financial year. KB Securities reckons that "performance is expected to turn a profit next year from a loss of 7 trillion won last year, thanks to an increase in operating rates following the expansion of Tesla AI chip supply (https://www.techpowerup.com/345369/tesla-completes-ai5-chip-revives-dojo-3-with-intel-packaging-deal)."

One industry insider commented on present-day goings-on with company leadership: "they are accelerating order intake with the goal of turning a profit next year. In addition to the stabilization of yields in advanced processes below [URL="https://www.techpowerup.com/328680/samsungs-second-gen-3-nm-gaa-process-shows-20-yields-missing-production-goals"]3 nm (

[NextPowerUP]

Intel apparently has no plans to compete with the high-power iGPUs in AMD's Strix Halo APUs. This is according to Intel's Tom Petersen, who recently spoke to Club386 (https://www.club386.com/intel-no-plans-amd-strix-halo/) about the potential for a Panther Lake Halo, as it were, explaining that there are many factors currently preventing Intel from going down that route. While Intel's Arc B390 iGPU currently appears to only be outmatched by AMD's Radeon 8060S (https://www.techpowerup.com/345053/intel-core-ultra-x9-388h-panther-lake-igpu-doubles-amd-strix-point-performance-in-cyberpunk-2077?cp=4) in the Ryzen AI Max+ 395 and similar, it seems as though that's where Intel will stop for now, with Petersen reportedly saying that that sort of performance segment is "primarily discrete," and that those looking for that sort of performance "would be better served by a small, discrete GPU that's going to be provided by third parties."

He goes on to explain that AMD's Strix Halo APUs (https://www.techpowerup.com/345642/amd-to-use-rdna-3-5-igpu-until-2029-rdna-5-only-on-premium-skus) aren't as efficient, stating that "AMD's current product is not that competitive either, on a power or a performance-per-watt basis," and that Intel is "focused on integrated graphics performance, primarily for gaming." Much like AMD, Intel produces both integrated and discrete graphics solutions, with the latest Arc GPU rumors pointing to a workstation-grade Battlemage BMG-G31 GPU, which is supposed to arrive later this year in the form of the Arc Pro B70 GPU with 32 GB of VRAM. Currently, the Intel Arc B580 is Intel's most powerful gaming GPU, and that delivers markedly better performance than the AMD Radeon 8060S (https://www.techpowerup.com/332500/amd-ryzen-ai-max-395-strix-halo-apu-benched-in-3dmark-leak-suggests-impressive-igpu-performance), depending on the specific workload.https://tpucdn.com/img/w0t2p4qGSq1Q75lF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/w0t2p4qGSq1Q75lF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/s5owSdqUfjv17k7K_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/s5owSdqUfjv17k7K.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

AMD's RDNA 3.5 integrated graphics is poised to become one of the company's longest-running iGPUs. A slide generated by AI and shared on the Chinese Weibo forums by Golden Pig Upgrade suggests that AMD plans to use RDNA 3.5 until 2029, making it one of the most enduring versions of RDNA GPUs. Although this slide is not an official roadmap, it provides insight into the company's future plans. Golden Pig Upgrade is known for accurate information from various industry sources, lending credibility to this illustration of AMD's product strategy. According to this roadmap, most consumers buying laptops in the coming years will experience the same integrated graphics capabilities as those found in today's Ryzen AI 300 and 400 series processors.

AMD seems to be reserving architectural updates for high-end "Halo" products, potentially equipping the rumored "Medusa Halo (https://www.techpowerup.com/340216/amd-medusa-halo-apu-leak-reveals-up-to-24-cores-and-48-rdna-5-cus)" lineup's premium variants that use separate GPU tiles with the next-generation RDNA 5. However, standard "Medusa Point" chips are expected to maintain the existing RDNA 3.5 architecture. This approach effectively halts progress in integrated graphics for most of AMD's product line, leaving office laptops and midrange machines without significant visual performance improvements until the end of the decade. The only expected advancements in the coming years are at the CPU level, making the future "Zen 6" architecture the main attraction for midrange laptops. AMD's only chance to boost iGPU performance in the near future would be by increasing the number of compute units, either through a larger die area or a more advanced manufacturing process that allows for a denser package. However, with RDNA 5 anticipated for "Medusa Halo" and other products, this seems less likely.https://tpucdn.com/img/mUJvbdzKSQY0TzRr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mUJvbdzKSQY0TzRr.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345642/amd-to-use-rdna-3-5-igpu-until-2029-rdna-5-only-on-premium-skus)

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[NextPowerUP]

Crisol: Theater of Idols (https://www.blumhouse.com/games/crisol-theater-of-idols) will be launching on February 10th, 2026 for $17.99. The island of Tormentosa beckons you, filled with religious fanatics and terrifying monsters, all inspired by real statues found throughout Spain. Today you can read previews from dozens of global media outlets and creators who were able to play the game early. You'll notice that many found the "blood as your weapon" balancing act to put the "survival" back in "survival horror."

Crisol: Theater of Idols is a first-person horror/action game set in Hispania, a twisted version of Spain. Play as Gabriel, a soldier who uses blood as both weapon and lifeline. Explore the cursed island of Tormentosa, uncover dark secrets, and battle horrifying enemies. Will you survive? Crisol is developed by Vermila Studios (https://vermila.com/) and published by Blumhouse Games (https://www.blumhouse.com/games).https://tpucdn.com/img/jZxzecZVDkRGYCHD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jZxzecZVDkRGYCHD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2NIlarVoITFWUaHl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2NIlarVoITFWUaHl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/pVG7Pzdv5v4qaQYL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pVG7Pzdv5v4qaQYL.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ahLiubYKsU1ilKxi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ahLiubYKsU1ilKxi.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Asthenia is a dark fantasy adventure set in a decaying otherworld plagued by a mysterious corrupting disease. Players step into a bleak dimension ruled by ancient entities, shaped by loss, and slowly collapsing under the weight of an endless war.

You play as Adam, an ordinary man cast into this world alongside other humans. To survive, Adam must confront distorted foes, uncover tainted artifacts, and navigate hostile environments ranging from abandoned towns and industrial ruins to forgotten temples. Resources are scarce, danger is constant, and every decision carries weight as Adam searches for answers, and a way back to the one he loves.https://tpucdn.com/img/ZJUuVmdE4KW8hxAa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ZJUuVmdE4KW8hxAa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/NcCSxn2TilDfbrrE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NcCSxn2TilDfbrrE.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PqkwBsgbp9xzv31v_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PqkwBsgbp9xzv31v.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nG0ojkyUuv75hEwa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nG0ojkyUuv75hEwa.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Retro Games Ltd., in partnership with PLAION REPLAI, today confirm that THEQUICKSHOT II is available now, bringing one of the most iconic joysticks in home-computer gaming back into players' hands. This new joystick has been faithfully recreated and precision-engineered for modern retro play. Originally launched in the early 1980s, the QuickShot II became a staple of home-computer gaming. Now, THEQUICKSHOT II has been rebuilt to deliver the same unmistakable feel players remember, while addressing the limitations of vintage hardware with modern reliability and responsiveness.

Designed to be played, not just displayed, THEQUICKSHOT II features an all-microswitch internal design, delivering immediate, reliable inputs with distinct click points for every direction and fire button. This ensures precise eight-way control with no dead zones or vague movement, even during the most demanding arcade-style gameplay.https://tpucdn.com/img/jpTKWobMvEBZ2N9p_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jpTKWobMvEBZ2N9p.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KG84Rh4ivINIIgvg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KG84Rh4ivINIIgvg.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/aMMp2iCUSbRCSRy2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aMMp2iCUSbRCSRy2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/HmeIx6l44JgsZGEJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HmeIx6l44JgsZGEJ.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

GOG recently announced its New Year sale, and fans immediately noticed something was off about the site banner advertising the event, with Liam Dawe from GamingOnLinux (https://www.reddit.com/r/gog/comments/1qoigy5/removed_by_moderator/) taking to Reddit to question whether or not the banner was AI-generated. The post generated a range of responses, mostly ranging from outrage to apathy, but a handful of redditors also pointed out that this wasn't the first time GOG used AI art in its marketing images, and that it had recently specifically mentioned proficiency with AI tools in a recent job listing for a developer to work on the Linux version of GOG Galaxy (https://www.techpowerup.com/345716/gog-plans-first-party-linux-support).

The topic of the AI-generated banner was also brought up on the GOG forum (https://www.gog.com/forum/general/5000_gog_patrons_and_an_ai_banner?staff=yes), where a GOG employee, who is involved in graphic design in the marketing department, commented at length on the post. The artist confirmed that the artwork is completely AI generated, although they deny that it was their work and decline to comment further on the company's internal AI use. However, they do expand on their personal opposition to AI at length, lamenting how ubiquitous it has become and how, around five years ago, "everything you'd see was something someone had spent time on...so it was worth being looked at," while this is not the case anymore. The full comment speaks to what appears to be an internal divide on the use of AI art, and this is a divide we observed in a recent State of the Gaming Industry survey as well (https://www.techpowerup.com/345810/state-of-the-game-industry-survey-game-workers-united-on-unionization-divided-on-gen-ai?amp), where many game industry workers admitted to using AI but most still thought it was harmful to gaming.https://tpucdn.com/img/th9KEQlmeFQseOpz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/th9KEQlmeFQseOpz.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345821/gog-takes-flak-for-ai-art-in-sale-banner)

[NextPowerUP]

Intel's Core Ultra 356H (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/core-ultra-7-356h.c4307) is an upcoming 16-core (4 P-cores, 12 E-cores) mobile Panther Lake CPU. Although official review embargoes for the rest of Intel's Panther Lake CPUs are said to be right around the corner (https://www.techpowerup.com/345202/intel-reportedly-curating-separate-panther-lake-h-review-embargoes-prioritizing-flagship-chip), supposed performance benchmarks for Intel's latest have already started to leak, with Cinebench R23 and 3DMark Steel Nomad Light results coming by way of @realVictor_M on X (https://x.com/realVictor_M/status/2017054155144413393). The results indicate strong multicore performance but stagnant single-core scores compared to Intel's last-generation chips. The iGPU is also notably slower, since the Arc 140V iGPU in the outgoing Core Ultra 7 255H has significantly more cores than the new Intel Graphics 4 Xe3 iGPU in the Panther Lake chip.

According to the leaker, whose results are so far unverified, the Core Ultra 7 356H scored 2013 points in the Cinebench R23 single-core benchmark and 20,721 points in the Cinebench R23 multicore test. For reference, this is slightly ahead of the outgoing Core Ultra 7 255H, which features two more P-cores and two fewer E-cores and averages around 18,679 points in the Cinebench R23 multicore benchmark. Single-core scores, for their part, are about dead even, with the 255H averaging around 2060 points in the R23 single-core benchmark. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad Light test, the Panther Lake iGPU scored 2,110 points. By comparison, its predecessor's average score in the same benchmark ranges between 3,279 and 3,532 points, depending on whether the benchmark is running in DX12 or Vulkan mode. The upcoming laptop CPUs will have to contend with AMD's new Ryzen AI 400 APUs (https://www.techpowerup.com/344730/amd-announces-ryzen-ai-400-series-gorgon-point-mobile-processors), which have already started showing up in laptops and have shown to perform admirably (https://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Ryzen-AI-400-Performance-Analysis-Gorgon-Point-debuts-with-only-minor-improvements.1211982.0.html#c15458555) in comparison with current-gen Intel CPUs.https://tpucdn.com/img/gHXRBW3aPo3dA4Zn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gHXRBW3aPo3dA4Zn.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WfODxG1B9SFjoIl3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WfODxG1B9SFjoIl3.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Sandisk Corporation (Nasdaq: SNDK) today reported fiscal second quarter financial results.

"This quarter's performance underscores our agility in capitalizing on better product mix, accelerating enterprise SSD deployments, and strengthening market demand dynamics, all at a time when the critical role that our products play in powering AI and the world's technology is being recognized," said David Goeckeler, CEO, Sandisk. "Our structural reset to align supply with attractive, sustained demand positions us to drive disciplined growth and deliver industry-leading financial performance."https://tpucdn.com/img/8QM7IkzwPjLEqbv4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8QM7IkzwPjLEqbv4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CO0zWE24ng1eU4NO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CO0zWE24ng1eU4NO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Rxuu64oc1vLUEyGT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Rxuu64oc1vLUEyGT.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345819/sandisk-reports-fiscal-second-quarter-2026-financial-results)

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[NextPowerUP]

Kioxia Corporation, a subsidiary of Kioxia Holdings Corporation (TOKYO: 285A), and Sandisk Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK) today announced the extension of their joint venture agreements at Kioxia's Yokkaichi Plant for an additional five years. Originally set to expire on December 31, 2029, the agreement will now run through December 31, 2034, marking another significant milestone in the companies' remarkable partnership spanning more than 25 years.

This extension underscores the deep collaboration between Kioxia and Sandisk, as they continue to leverage AI-enabled smart manufacturing and economies of scale to ensure stable production of advanced 3D flash memory. Their advanced 3D memory products are critical for addressing the growing demand driven by generative AI applications. Furthermore, the joint venture agreement for Kioxia's Kitakami Plant is aligned with the Yokkaichi agreement through December 31, 2034.https://tpucdn.com/img/MIMeNDUoBXS5mOT3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MIMeNDUoBXS5mOT3.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gPzvwzW3GR2wSh9p_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gPzvwzW3GR2wSh9p.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/g5fkrLd7nZriZze6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/g5fkrLd7nZriZze6.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345818/kioxia-and-sandisk-extend-yokkaichi-joint-venture-agreement-through-2034)

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[NextPowerUP]

Flashing alternative vBIOS versions onto GPUs is a common practice used by modders to increase power limits on GPUs, and it has only become more common since NVIDIA started clamping down on overclocking options available to users via software tools. The recently announced ASUS ROG Matrix Platinum has become an attractive source for one such high-wattage vBIOS, although it has proven difficult to get the aforementioned vBIOS onto certain cards. One user on the HardwareLuxx (https://www.hardwareluxx.de/index.php/news/hardware/grafikkarten/68095-geht-doch-matrix-vbios-mit-modifikation-auf-astral-karten-bringen.html) forum, however, has managed to get the 800 W vBIOS from the Matrix Platinum GPU onto an ASUS ROG Astral GeForce RTX 5090 (read our review of the latter here (https://www.techpowerup.com/review/asus-geforce-rtx-5090-astral/)), although the mod only seems to be necessary on the black version of the card.

It turns out that in order to flash the Matrix vBIOS onto the black Astral 5090 required physical modifications to the GPU PCB itself—this is due to the rear-mounted fan being wired with the front middle fan on that particular version of the card, as opposed to on a separate header as it is on the white version. The modification in question involves swapping a pull-down resistor in the serial in signal line of the EEPROM to a pull-up resistor. Obviously, this mod alone requires more than a little bit of soldering experience, but there's also the question of cooling. The stock version of the ROG Astral is designed with a 600 W power limit, and the Matrix vBIOS lifts that to 800 W, so realistically, any overclocking attempts made with the modded card requires an aftermarket cooling solution to handle the increased power and corresponding heat.https://tpucdn.com/img/hNuqf8fR1P352lHX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hNuqf8fR1P352lHX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/bwV7c7L1pYGlpbFh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bwV7c7L1pYGlpbFh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/XbDl7BZrE7UBPN7u_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XbDl7BZrE7UBPN7u.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Apple today announced financial results for its fiscal 2026 first quarter ended December 27, 2025. The Company posted quarterly revenue of $143.8 billion, up 16 percent year over year. Diluted earnings per share was $2.84, up 19 percent year over year.

"Today, Apple is proud to report a remarkable, record-breaking quarter, with revenue of $143.8 billion, up 16 percent from a year ago and well above our expectations," said Tim Cook, Apple's CEO. "iPhone had its best-ever quarter driven by unprecedented demand, with all-time records across every geographic segment, and Services also achieved an all-time revenue record, up 14 percent from a year ago. We are also excited to announce that our installed base now has more than 2.5 billion active devices, which is a testament to incredible customer satisfaction for the very best products and services in the world."https://tpucdn.com/img/k93PC1aQdbKPi4bc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/k93PC1aQdbKPi4bc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/JxSy3RZdjUKC6EBa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JxSy3RZdjUKC6EBa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1nnbWUi6a6BseOaS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1nnbWUi6a6BseOaS.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/qlreR5ny5UlV7m18_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qlreR5ny5UlV7m18.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Western Digital Corporation (Nasdaq: WDC) today reported fiscal second quarter 2026 financial results for the period ended January 2, 2026.

"Western Digital's strong performance this quarter reflects our disciplined execution to meet demand in the AI-driven data economy, and the confidence our customers place in our ability to deliver reliable, high-capacity HDDs at scale," said Irving Tan, CEO of Western Digital. "In our fiscal second quarter, we delivered strong revenue growth and gross margin expansion. During the quarter, free cash flow generation continued to be strong, and we returned over 100% of our free cash flow to shareholders in the form of share repurchases and dividend payments."https://tpucdn.com/img/RNGUTPErBVKkygY8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/RNGUTPErBVKkygY8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/U433zQhoibd6tIrF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/U433zQhoibd6tIrF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2rooLXvF1jXZn52h_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2rooLXvF1jXZn52h.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vvG9WoniNlpdFIMI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vvG9WoniNlpdFIMI.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345816/western-digital-reports-fiscal-second-quarter-2026-financial-results)

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[NextPowerUP]

The 2026 State of the Game Industry survey report (https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260129438528/en/2026-State-of-the-Game-Industry-Report-Reveals-Widening-Effect-of-Layoffs-Broader-Perspectives-on-Generative-AI-Unionization-Tariffs-and-More), conducted by the GDC Festival of Gaming, has revealed a number of interesting insights in to the current state of the game development landscape. The report showed that US game industry workers have a strong inclination towards unionization, with 82% of workers surveyed supporting unionization, while 13% were unsure, and only 5% opposed the idea. Up-and-coming talent, specifically those aged 18-24, were overwhelmingly in support of unionization, with zero respondents opposing the idea. This report comes shortly after unions representing Ubisoft workers in France called for a massive three-day international strike (https://www.techpowerup.com/345770/ubisoft-reshuffle-debacle-continues-as-workers-plan-strike) after the studio's ill-received cost-cutting measures and recent game cancellations.

On the topic of Generative AI, game workers were somewhat divided. 36% of industry workers reported using generative AI in their daily work, although it was far more common amongst those working at publishing companies (58%) than workers at development studios (30%). Despite moderate use of generative AI tools across various disciplines and workloads, like research and brainstorming (81%), email and code assistance (47%), and prototyping (35%), most professionals in the gaming industry think that generative AI is having a negative impact on the industry. 64% of visual and technical artists, 63% of game and narrative designers, and 59% of programmers think share their negative outlooks on the impact of generative AI on the industry, while only 7% of surveyed workers generative AI is having a positive impact on gaming.https://tpucdn.com/img/3YgMumyz4XgLzcp6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3YgMumyz4XgLzcp6.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345810/state-of-the-game-industry-survey-game-workers-united-on-unionization-divided-on-gen-ai)

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[NextPowerUP]

Maingear has officially announced its latest retro-themed pre-built desktop PCs, the Retro98 (https://maingear.com/collections/retro98). The new pre-built desktops are built in SilverStone FLP02 chassis (https://www.silverstonetek.com/en/product/info/computer-chassis/flp02/), replete with a functional turbo button—for setting PWM-controlled fans to max speed—and a big red power toggle switch, and they can be had with either a 360 mm AIO or open-loop liquid cooling designed in collaboration with Alphacool. The entire build looks rather authentic, with classic ketchup and mustard cables and classic 5.25" drive bay covers for the HDD bays tying the look together. The open-loop version is called the Retro98α, and the version that features AIO cooling is just the Retro98. Both versions of the Retro98 are limited edition, though, with only six units of the Retro98α and 32 units of the Retro98 available—by the looks of it, each specific SKU is limited to these quantities, not the series as a whole. Prices start at $2,499 for the Retro98, with the Retro98α topping out at $9,799.

Internally, the Retro98 series starts with the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K paired with 32 GB DDR5-6400 RAM, a 2 TB NVMe Gen 5 SSD, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070, with the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and RTX 5080 available from $3,499. Stepping up again to $4,999 gets you an RTX 5090, a Ryzen 7 9850X3D, and the $9,799 Retro98α coming equipped with an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D, 64 GB of RAM, a 4 TB SSD, and an RTX 5090. All versions of the Retro98 also come with onboard Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, and the cooling configuration consists of dual 120 mm front intakes, a single 120 mm rear exhaust, and three top-mounted 120 mm exhaust fans for the radiator. The Intel variant ships with an MSI Z890 Gaming Plus WiFi motherboard, while the AMD versions are all built around the MSI X870E Gaming Plus WiFi, and they all come with appropriately sized 80+ Gold-rated PSUs ranging from 650 W to 1600 W.https://tpucdn.com/img/Ti4sgoW485PtLQU8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ti4sgoW485PtLQU8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uYCQ8V3ox6DXpL98_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uYCQ8V3ox6DXpL98.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/sC8m0M6MzRhLb6Uu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/sC8m0M6MzRhLb6Uu.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

iBUYPOWER, a leading system integrator of gaming and content creation PCs, announced today that AMD's latest flagship gaming CPU, the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D, is now available as an option when purchasing a custom PC through iBUYPOWER's custom configurator, or through its recently launched PC Lab service on iBUYPOWER.com. Each computer built with the 9850X3D will also be backed by iBUYPOWER's extensive three-year labor and two-year parts warranty for additional peace of mind.

By boosting clock speed to up to 5.6 GHz for faster single-threaded performance and responsiveness, AMD's Ryzen 7 9850X3D CPU is the new king of PC gaming processors that is backed by unrivaled longevity thanks to the CPU being designed for AMD's Socket AM5 platform. Built on 2nd Gen AMD 3D V-Cache technology, the 9850X3D has been re-engineered to give direct cooler access to the processor cores, and is fully enabled for overclocking out of the box. This enables accelerated performance for everyday productivity tasks and even higher gaming performance.https://tpucdn.com/img/8TD92jSMrhuQizty_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8TD92jSMrhuQizty.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/eXRBb5qbT2uSmNk8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eXRBb5qbT2uSmNk8.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/8HdrOwGd5qvDq2Zm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8HdrOwGd5qvDq2Zm.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345807/ibuypower-introduces-amds-ryzen-7-9850x3d-desktop-processor-to-its-high-performance-custom-and-prebuilt-gaming-pcs)

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[NextPowerUP]

Corsair, a leading maker of performance gaming peripherals, announced that its innovative GALLEON 100 SD, winner of a CES 2026 Innovation Award and multiple Best of CES 2026 awards, is now shipping worldwide. This frequent community request is now a reality and is available to streamline setups of gamers across the globe. The GALLEON 100 SD empowers gamers to stay focused on their game while simultaneously expanding their control capabilities with the intuitive might of the customizable, integrated Stream Deck.

"The GALLEON 100 SD stole the show at CES 2026, and we couldn't wait to get this into the hands of our fans and newcomers alike," said Tobias Brinkmann, Vice President and General Manager of Gaming Peripherals at Corsair. "This is a product that only Corsair and Elgato could deliver, and this unique solution will transform how modern gamers manage all aspects of their gaming life. We're eagerly looking forward to seeing all the creative ways they customize and optimize their GALLEON 100 SDs."https://tpucdn.com/img/8A1iGvXgem1zK6jL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8A1iGvXgem1zK6jL.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/NvsjRwcxTZiSoMB6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NvsjRwcxTZiSoMB6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/OLctqYfHnN52VGpi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OLctqYfHnN52VGpi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6TVsqrg4y4UndQI3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6TVsqrg4y4UndQI3.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/xhDMBgHy2YoYnkMS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/xhDMBgHy2YoYnkMS.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Darkhaven is a new, upcoming dark fantasy ARPG developed by gaming veterans who previously worked on genre legends, such as Diablo and Torchlight. The game was officially announced on January 29, 2026, with a launch trailer that gave us a glimpse of what to expect from the new game. The main draw of Darkhaven is that it takes place in procedurally generated, fully destructible dynamic environments. The developer also promises dynamic exploration and a high degree of freedom in that exploration. As with classic ARPGs, it features an isometric view, and interactions are highly dependent on mouse clicks. There will also be online co-op and PvP game modes, and the trailer makes mention of "massive events that threaten your entire world," suggesting that the game borrows elements from the MORPG genre. Darkhaven's main premise is that you, and perhaps your party, must step up to save a "dying world" being preyed upon by malevolent forces, facing off against all manner of monsters and otherworldly horrors. The studio also touts its combat as being tactical, and its movement as "truly open," granting users the freedom to fly, swim, climb, and jump to get around, through, and over obstacles and even enhance combat.

Darkhaven is "coming soon" to Steam via Early Access (https://store.steampowered.com/app/3571870/Darkhaven/), although an exact launch date is unclear, and it will seemingly be at least partially funded by a Kickstarter campaign. The developer and publisher, Moon Beast Productions, specifically calls itself an ARPG developer, so it seems as though the Darkhaven will be the newly formed studio's main focus for the time being. The studio was started by ex-Blizzard talent, Erich Schaefer, Philip Shenk, and Peter Hu, who worked, in various capacities, on Diablo 1 and 2, and it features artists, designers, and devs who worked on the likes of Diablo 4, Marvel Heroes Online, Torchlight 1 and 3, and Nox.https://tpucdn.com/img/VRGYHFDO6Lu8SnP0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VRGYHFDO6Lu8SnP0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/e06fCZrut28E5S3a_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/e06fCZrut28E5S3a.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/bb1h129ELsFmwK4Q_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bb1h129ELsFmwK4Q.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Microsoft is actively working to repair the broken trust it has created within the Windows community. Sources close to The Verge report that the Redmond giant is focusing on enhancing the core functionality of the Windows 11 operating system and its underlying services. These have become so problematic that each new update introduces a slew of issues, disrupting many systems and undermining the confidence of PC enthusiasts. Through a process known as "swarming," Microsoft is deploying its massive engineering resources to address these problems swiftly, aiming to make Windows 11 a benchmark for performance and stability. However, this is a challenging task, as trust has significantly eroded in recent months due to the consistent issues with Windows 11. Pavan Davuluri, president of Windows and devices, has commented for The Verge:
The feedback we're receiving from our community of passionate customers and Windows Insiders has been clear. We need to improve Windows in ways that are meaningful for people. This year you will see us focus on addressing pain points we hear consistently from customers: improving system performance, reliability, and the overall experience of Windows.https://tpucdn.com/img/b8TtkQ8wsLqF2Z5G_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/b8TtkQ8wsLqF2Z5G.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

French indie developer Irregular Shapes and publisher Firesquid launched today City Tales - Medieval Era via Steam. The creative and relaxing kingdom builder is available with a 35% discount to celebrate the launch (Full price without discount: €22.99/$22.99). City Tales - Medieval Era is a relaxing kingdom builder that has been in Early Access for nearly a year, with the developers actively listening to the community when building the game, and adding new content along the way.

Version 1.0 marks a major milestone for City Tales - Medieval Era, bringing the full story to its conclusion for the first time, with both acts now available. Players can also pursue 11 masterworks, designed as the game's ultimate endgame objectives, alongside 10 companions, 3 handcrafted maps, a complete economy with 48 resources, 18 civil buildings, and more.https://tpucdn.com/img/MTAe5f8pUXkOvb1h_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MTAe5f8pUXkOvb1h.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Jv1xr1MZbNYPVzXK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Jv1xr1MZbNYPVzXK.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2rPYPRsJBwGNSH6S_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2rPYPRsJBwGNSH6S.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/I2jSwdDD9rPaF2HG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/I2jSwdDD9rPaF2HG.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Indie developer The Game Bakers (Haven, Furi) are excited to release their highly anticipated survival climber Cairn today on PlayStation 5, Steam, GoG and EGS. The new launch trailer reveals more of the journey that awaits pro climber Aava as she attempts the first ascent of Mount Kami, and presents Cairn as more than a climbing game: a gripping adventure rich in exploration and suspense for anyone ready to follow a climber on the verge of legend.

With over 700,000 wishlists and a demo rated 99% on Steam after 600,000 downloads, Cairn has resonated with players ahead of today's release. Cairn's regular edition is priced $29.99 and launches with a 10% launch discount. A Deluxe Edition, featuring a Kami travel guide by comic book artist Mathieu Bablet and exclusive keepsakes from Aava's journey, is also available for $36.99 on both platforms.https://tpucdn.com/img/3l0Nm75pOvJZu44N_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3l0Nm75pOvJZu44N.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ih4MA0FihxYymVuy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ih4MA0FihxYymVuy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uYFAXC2EuBhwG3CX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uYFAXC2EuBhwG3CX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wyE1l0Dl5FdaV1o3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wyE1l0Dl5FdaV1o3.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

QCY has introduced H3S, the latest update to its H3 over-ear headphone series, reinforcing the brand's commitment to making advanced noise-canceling audio more accessible to everyday users. Building on the strengths of the H3 line—strong noise cancellation, immersive sound, and all-day comfort—the H3S brings meaningful improvements in ANC performance, audio tuning, endurance, and ergonomics, shaped around practical listening scenarios.

Over-ear active noise-canceling headsets are becoming an integral part of modern life. From daily commutes and remote work to study sessions and moments of leisure, expectations for audio products have evolved beyond functionality alone—toward experiences that blend seamlessly into everyday living. Guided by long-standing user insight and a consistent product philosophy, QCY has responded to this shift. H3S embodies that vision: an over-ear active noise-canceling headset designed for real-world use and built to fit naturally into daily life.https://tpucdn.com/img/TC9Y7MSOsQNeaTSa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TC9Y7MSOsQNeaTSa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hFd03TbgQ2xDAIas_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hFd03TbgQ2xDAIas.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KthtIA9NFnZYNtfl_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KthtIA9NFnZYNtfl.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/djkzep3uG2dJo8sv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/djkzep3uG2dJo8sv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/atk9cz4Pr2ieRa0x_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/atk9cz4Pr2ieRa0x.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

The Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era demo has been live for a while now, and we hope that you've had a fantastic time experiencing everything new in the lands of Jadame! We are currently working tirelessly to improve the game based on your invaluable feedback. However, while our devs have been busy polishing the code, we've also been preparing a massive surprise behind the scenes.

We are incredibly honored to announce that the founder of New World Computing and creator of the Might and Magic franchise himself—Jon Van Caneghem—has returned once more to contribute to the universe so many have come to love and embrace! We have invited Mr. Caneghem to join us as a Creative Advisor at Unfrozen, offering his deep knowledge and insight of early Might and Magic games for Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era! It will be the first time since Heroes of Might and Magic IV that he's participated in the series' creation! He will also share his experience that he has acquired over the years since Might and Magic: Book One.https://tpucdn.com/img/DPtEnxJJgZwZGwyq_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DPtEnxJJgZwZGwyq.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/LldEH3ddArQdGXBI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LldEH3ddArQdGXBI.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/pow29qSqwrydLW9G_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pow29qSqwrydLW9G.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Get ready to game - the native GeForce NOW app for Linux PCs is now available in beta, letting Linux desktops tap directly into GeForce RTX performance from the cloud. Alongside the expansion comes ten new games, including The Bard's Tale IV: Director's Cut and The Bard's Tale Trilogy for a leveled-up gaming weekend. And operators can squad up in Team Jade's Delta Force when it deploys in the cloud on February 3, bringing high-stakes tactical action to nearly any device with no downloads required.

Linux Just Got RTX
Starting with support for Ubuntu 24.04 and later, the new app delivers a seamless native experience that fits right into Linux desktop workflows. It transforms compatible Linux systems into high-performance GeForce RTX-powered rigs, streaming supported PC titles directly from the cloud at up to 5K resolution and 120 frames per second, or 1080p at 360 FPS. This new desktop-focused app goes beyond the earlier Linux experience that was tuned specifically for Steam Decks, which targeted handheld-friendly resolutions and up to 1200p at 90 FPS. The beta Linux app is built for PCs and notebooks, offering an experience similar to the existing GeForce NOW app on Windows and macOS.https://tpucdn.com/img/XwuQ4Rsp3CYb6fEB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XwuQ4Rsp3CYb6fEB.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/BsnU1VTNerDRE6QE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/BsnU1VTNerDRE6QE.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ncEUSrbbjdVhNWRp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ncEUSrbbjdVhNWRp.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Intel is reportedly mandating OEM integrators of the latest "Panther Lake" SoCs to use LPDDR5X memory starting at 7,467 MT/s and beyond, with an interesting software differentiator between adequate speeds or those below. According to Golden Pig Upgrade, LDDR5X memory running below the 7,467 MT/s threshold will force the software to display a generic mark of "Intel (R) Graphics," while configurations with that exact memory speed or higher will display the full name of "Intel (R) Arc (TM) Graphics B390" or "Intel (R) Arc (TM) Graphics B370" marking in Windows 11 Task Manager. Reportedly, Intel is doing this to stop OEMs from cutting corners with their "Panther Lake" laptop configurations, where they could bundle a lower-speed LDDR5X memory out of the Intel specification.

Without the required memory, Intel's Arc B390/B370 iGPUs would likely be left starving for bandwidth, as the whole SoC is being powered by that memory. At higher speeds, memory can do the data transfer faster, resulting in a boost of the overall system performance, and most importantly, the frame rate that these chips can push out. Especially for single-package systems like "Panther Lake" is, faster memory is a great way to get extra performance boost. Intel's flagship SKUs are advertised as capable of running with LPDDR5X memory at speeds up to 9,600 MT/s, which is where the LPDDR5X technology tops out. Interestingly, there are lots of options from Intel's OEM partners that integrate top-end memory, which is a positive sign for the ecosystem.https://tpucdn.com/img/QQp550wUTwM2A81Y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QQp550wUTwM2A81Y.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/yhd65A35tPkUsnzb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/yhd65A35tPkUsnzb.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/UYpYqrNIjSGh9cTz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UYpYqrNIjSGh9cTz.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KD30AiwwcHhUgyl3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KD30AiwwcHhUgyl3.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Intel XeSS 3 with multi-frame generation (MFG) is expected to be available this month (https://www.techpowerup.com/345742/intel-arc-b580-will-receive-xess-3-multi-frame-generation-support-next-month) for the Arc B580 "Battlemage" graphics cards. However, some Redditors suggest there's a workaround to enable XeSS 3 and gain the FPS boost from MFG through a simple file swap. Gamers using Intel's Arc B580 have discovered that by installing Intel's driver package for "Panther Lake" (https://www.techpowerup.com/345670/intel-arc-gpu-graphics-drivers-101-8362-whql-released)—which includes XeSS 3 with MFG—and renaming certain dynamic link libraries, the drivers for Arc B580 can use libraries intended for Arc B390 and Arc B370 integrated graphics. The process is straightforward, allowing gamers to download, extract, rename, and activate XeSS 3 on their non-PTL systems without issues. This raises the question of why Intel chose not to officially support the discrete "Battlemage" GPUs for XeSS 3 on the new driver release day. Possible reasons could include marketing strategies or additional beta-testing before the official release.https://tpucdn.com/img/hGgY2XK1qM0xE6TS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hGgY2XK1qM0xE6TS.jpg)
Here is a complete step-by-step solution.Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345896/intel-xess-3-runs-on-arc-b580-before-official-support-lands)

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[NextPowerUP]

Samsung Electronics today announced that its 2026 OLED TV lineup and next-generation Odyssey gaming monitors are NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible, delivering smoother gameplay to meet the needs of gamers and display enthusiasts alike

NVIDIA G-SYNC technology enables the display's refresh rate to synchronize with the NVIDIA GeForce GPU's frame rate, reducing screen tearing and stuttering for a more seamless visual experience. Models that are G-SYNC Compatible include the OLED S95H, S90H and S85H, as well as the new Odyssey G6 (G60H, G61SH) gaming monitors.https://tpucdn.com/img/l7a2tcvLgo6VqZth_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/l7a2tcvLgo6VqZth.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

TrendForce's latest memory industry survey indicates that persistent AI and data center demands in 1Q26 are further worsening the global memory supply and demand imbalance, thereby increasing suppliers' pricing power. As a result, TrendForce has significantly raised its 1Q26 price forecasts for both DRAM and NAND Flash products. The quarter-over-quarter increase in conventional DRAM contract prices has been revised upward, from a previous estimate of 55-60% to now 90-95%. Similarly, NAND Flash contract prices are now expected to rise from 33-38% to 55-60%. Further upward adjustments may still occur.

TrendForce reports that PC shipments in 4Q25 exceeded expectations, resulting in a widespread shortage of PC DRAM. Even tier-1 PC OEMs with secured allocations from memory suppliers are experiencing declining inventory levels. In a market dominated by sellers, which is driving contract prices higher, PC DRAM prices in 1Q26 are projected to increase by over 100% QoQ, setting a new record for a quarterly surge.https://tpucdn.com/img/rgyCoNmjtzwaqz11_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rgyCoNmjtzwaqz11.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

If you're tired of seeing Microsoft's AI features like Copilot, agentic workloads, and Recall forced into their products, you're not alone. Microsoft has finally confirmed that it will be stepping back from its "AI everywhere" strategy. According to an exclusive report by Windows Central, the internal Windows 11 teams at Microsoft are now focusing on reducing forced AI integration. Instead, they aim to address what truly matters to consumers, such as fixing the bug-prone operating system and enhancing core features for a smoother user experience. The integration of Copilot into basic apps like Notepad and Paint is reportedly under review, and Microsoft may remove these features to restore the basic functionality users have come to appreciate. This includes features like basic text formatting (https://www.techpowerup.com/337581/microsoft-enriches-notepad-with-basic-text-formatting) and tables (https://www.techpowerup.com/343249/microsoft-adds-tables-to-notepad-in-windows-11-insider-update) in Notepad, which are nice additions to a core application.

Additionally, forcing Copilot AI button in every application has been paused, as there has been very little interest from users in actually using these features. TechPowerUp Forums has been a constant source of criticism for Microsoft's forced AI integration, among the remaining large crowd of PC enthusiasts who have been fighting the "AI everywhere" approach for a while. Microsoft's telemetry records usage of these AI buttons and additions, likely showing that only a few percent of Windows 11 users are actually interested in having AI access every application layer, especially with the recent ambition to shape Windows 11 into "agentic OS (https://www.techpowerup.com/343059/windows-11-agentic-features-are-security-nightmare-microsoft-confirms)." The company confirmed that these features are a security nightmare to maintain, so thankfully these efforts are now cancelled.https://tpucdn.com/img/eRSEV0Z72goyF6ue_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/eRSEV0Z72goyF6ue.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

The AI arms race is now in full swing, and corporate espionage is reaching levels beyond what we previously imagined. According to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), former Google software engineer Linwei Ding has been convicted of economic espionage and theft of confidential AI technology, specifically related to Google Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). An FBI investigation revealed that the ex-Googler was suspected of stealing information about the entire infrastructure surrounding TPUs, including chip architecture, external connectivity, and more. The DOJ concluded that Linwei Ding was acting for the benefit of the People's Republic of China (PRC), with the primary goal of stealing sensitive intellectual property that Google has spent years and billions of US Dollars developing. Naturally, Google collaborated with the FBI to protect its intellectual property and found the former employee guilty of stealing as many as two thousand pages of confidential information.
U.S. Department of JusticeThe trade secrets contained detailed information about the architecture and functionality of Google's custom Tensor Processing Unit chips and systems and Google's Graphics Processing Unit systems, the software that allows the chips to communicate and execute tasks, and the software that orchestrates thousands of chips into a supercomputer capable of training and executing cutting-edge AI workloads. The trade secrets also pertained to Google's custom-designed SmartNIC, a type of network interface card used to facilitate high speed communication within Google's AI supercomputers and cloud networking products.https://tpucdn.com/img/chCuPbHK4wpM4OD1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/chCuPbHK4wpM4OD1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/a20aIah9UB56xG0R_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/a20aIah9UB56xG0R.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Welcome to the month of February and this month kicks off with a pretty packed week of new releases. This week's major release brings Command & Conquer to mind, but on an alien planet and turn-based. The week kicks off with a retro style 2D RPG, which is followed by a magical horror co-op game and an island full of cats. Next up we have a re-imagined version of a Square Enix game and we round off the week with some samurai vs. ninja action. There's also a bunch of other games launching this week, so check out those too.

Menace (https://www.hoodedhorse.com/games/menace) / This week's major release / Thursday 5 February / Early access
Command a strike force of marines, mercenaries, and criminals in a distant system, cut off from the Core Worlds. At the lawless frontier, the Wayback system is controlled by pirate warlords, questionable corporations, and fractured planetary governments who struggle for a new order. Though you initially lead your strike force of marines from aboard the strike cruiser TCRN Impetus, you'll quickly need to unite the disparate locals under your leadership to defeat an unknown threat. Fielding tanks, walkers, and infantry squads with a massive selection of equipment to choose from, you'll train your troops, plan out operations, and engage in deadly tactical battles. Steam link (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2432860/MENACE/)https://tpucdn.com/img/MQSDb721Na7F9wDt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MQSDb721Na7F9wDt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hqUMMUkeK78haGKp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hqUMMUkeK78haGKp.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/IJgnJb0eJcoZ51bm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IJgnJb0eJcoZ51bm.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tZWvk2SJU2Q9hcWb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tZWvk2SJU2Q9hcWb.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

It was previously revealed in leaks that the Apple M5 Pro and M5 Max-powered MacBook Pros are expected (https://www.techpowerup.com/345682/apple-macbook-pro-with-m5-max-pro-chips-expected-to-launch-in-first-half-of-2026) to launch sometime in the first half of 2026, but a new rumor from Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo (https://m.weibo.cn/detail/5261074292801699) has revealed that the M5 Max and Pro SoCs themselves may launch as early as March 2026. Apple generally announces new SoCs alongside at least one new product that will sport the new SoC, so either we will see new MacBooks launch alongside those chips or Apple will launch something like an M5 Max Mac Studio at the same time.

The leaker also claims that Apple will be using TSMC's advanced SoIC (System on Integrated Chip) packaging to bring down production costs for the SoC slightly. Supposedly this is one way that Apple will fight the high DRAM (https://www.techpowerup.com/345717/ddr4-prices-skyrocketing-amid-dram-shortage-crunch?cp=3) costs after it allegedly slipped from TSMC's priority customer list (https://www.techpowerup.com/345470/jensen-huang-believes-that-nvidia-is-tsmcs-premiere-customer-foundry-reportedly-deprioritizes-apple). The slip from the priority list was supposedly accompanied by a significant production price increase for Apple, and it is thought that the AI boom is to blame for that price increase.https://tpucdn.com/img/jv2dGZDkYpLSxTmo_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jv2dGZDkYpLSxTmo.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345863/apple-m5-pro-and-m5-max-to-launch-in-march-with-new-soic-packaging-to-cut-costs)

[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA briefly updated its online marketplace with the latest stock of GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 Founders Edition SKUs, available at MSRP pricing. However, the entire stock was depleted in just minutes after the initial listing, suggesting that gamers have been trying to get their hands on MSRP-priced GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs but were able to do so only for a few minutes as the listing disappeared shortly thereafter. The flagship GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition was listed at its Euro-designated MSRP of €2,099, while the high-end GeForce RTX 5080 Founders Edition GPU was listed at its €1,059 MSRP. Both GPUs were listed at 10:01 am, but the RTX 5090 FE was gone by 10:08 am, just seven minutes after listing. For the RTX 5080 FE, the listing disappeared at 10:20 am when the stock was gone. The mid-range RTX 5070 FE was also listed but stayed online for a few hours before disappearing.

For buyers interested in purchasing these GPUs at MSRPs, there is virtually no option besides the NVIDIA Marketplace. Any third-party storefronts, where NVIDIA's official AICs are listing these GPUs, are posting listings that go well above €3,000. The card rarely dips below that price, and the median price listing, according to ComputerBase, suggests that the number now floats at €3,566. Any listing near MSRP is a definite premium for gamers who want to get their hands on an already expensive GPU, meaning that they don't have to pay for inflated pricing caused by the GDDR7 memory shortage and NVIDIA's current production tactics. There haven't been any NVIDIA Marketplace updates since the beginning of December, meaning that nearly two full months have passed since the last "drop."https://tpucdn.com/img/uDJlbBh9UdXSdFSv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uDJlbBh9UdXSdFSv.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/SK1RPUWF75zhUvdc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SK1RPUWF75zhUvdc.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345864/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5090-5080-fe-skus-sell-out-in-few-minutes-on-company-marketplace)

[NextPowerUP]

Xiaomi has officially released the G Pro 27Qi (2026) gaming monitor for the global market. The G Pro 27Qi is a 16:9, 1440p e-sports gaming monitor with AMD FreeSync support and a 180 Hz refresh rate. The G Pro 27Qi features an IPS panel with a mini LED backlight. According to Xiaomi, the G Pro 27Qi is capable of 2000 nits peak brightness and a 1000:1 contrast ratio. It has 1152 local dimming zones, sports a VESA DisplayHDR 1000 certification, and it uses a custom engine for scene recognition, and the local dimming features three levels and can be disabled if you like. The display is currently available from Xiaomi's global online store for AUD475 (around USD330) (https://www.mi.com/au/product/xiaomi-mini-led-gaming-monitor-g-pro-27qi/), although it looks like the price may go up to AUD699 at some point. It currently does not seem to be listed on the US storefront, with the G Pro 27i coming closest (https://www.mi.com/us/product/xiaomi-mini-led-gaming-monitor-g-pro-27i/), although with half the peak brightness.

Xiaomi also claims a 1 ms GTG pixel response time as well as 100% coverage of the sRGB color gamut, and 99% coverage of the Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 color gamuts. The display includes a calibration report, and Xiaomi says each display is calibrated to have delta-E values below 1, which makes it adequate for certain creative tasks alongside gaming. Physically, the G Pro 27Qi features a height-, tilt-, and swivel-adjustable stand with a portrait mode as well. It has a bit of that gaming design language on the back, with an RGB ring on the back panel, although overall the stand doesn't look too garish. For input, it features dual HDMI 2.0 ports and dual DisplayPort 1.4 ports as well as a 3.5 mm audio combo jack. It also has a built-in flip-out headphone holder in the top right corner, which is a nice touch.https://tpucdn.com/img/rLU9fnmB9Q5kZm20_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rLU9fnmB9Q5kZm20.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/UKMwNyzFuyD4LldJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UKMwNyzFuyD4LldJ.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345861/xiaomi-g-pro-27qi-1440p-mini-led-180-hz-gaming-monitor-goes-global)

[NextPowerUP]

Xbox made waves not too long ago with the hyper-customizable Adaptive Controller that features remappable physical buttons, 19 3.5 mm jacks for additional accessories, and switchable profiles for different games and use cases. With its latest patent, Sony looks to at least be considering going in a different direction with its adaptive controller design. A new patent (https://sudoku-online.pro/pdfs/buttonless-sony-ps6-controller.pdf), spotted by Insider Gaming (https://insider-gaming.com/sony-patents-adaptive-controller-with-virtual-button-layouts/), details a controller design with virtually no physical inputs, where players can configure their own layouts—no more arguments about offset vs in-line thumb sticks—and the layouts could potentially adapt to the user's needs.

The prospective controller's main objective would be to replace physical buttons with touch surfaces and optical sensors, which would be able to sense when the player interacts with the controller, but also when the player's hand, thumb, or finger approaches the controller. The controller would use user-defined profiles dictating the layout of the face buttons, D-Pad, and even virtual analog sticks—there is even mention of automatic user identity detection to access those profiles. Sony also explains that you could combine multiple control schemes on the same side of the controller and even adjust the size of each of the button groups to better suit different hand sizes, shapes, and levels of dexterity. Owing to the touch-sensitive control surfaces, the controller would also be able to recognize gestures like swipes, pinches, and slides. It's unclear whether this controller design will make it into a future PlayStation controller design, although given many gamers' aversion to non-tactile inputs in video games, interest is likely to be low aside from the obvious accessibility benefits.https://tpucdn.com/img/beJXTyIhQ24kLk6F_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/beJXTyIhQ24kLk6F.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/SJzaDWSIi0ihBbap_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SJzaDWSIi0ihBbap.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345858/sony-patents-buttonless-adaptive-controller-with-customizable-layouts)

[NextPowerUP]

The Finalmouse Centerpiece is a 65% Hall effect keyboard with transparent keycaps and a display under those keycaps, and it captured the imagination of many a gamer and keyboard nerd when it was first announced back in 2022. Since then, the keyboard has been affected by multiple delays, and even since production has been underway, there have been plenty of complaints about the speed at which the company can get out pre-orders. Those same complaints have just been met with a response that effectively calls customers impatient and appears to dismiss their concerns.

In a recent Discord message, shared by @Cager_CA on X (https://x.com/Cager_CA/status/2016960494683185662), Finalmouse effectively confirms that production of the Centerpiece keyboard is slow, telling buyers who have expresses concerns over the pace of delivery that Finalmouse "was not founded to chase calendars, appease impatience, or shave meaning from creation in order to meet an arbitrary date," explaining further down that "each unit is completed and shipped only when it meets the standard we set—not the standard demanded by noise, deadlines, or convenience." He also goes on to say that there will likely be further delays thanks to the imminent Chinese New Year celebrations, which routinely result in production line shutdowns across large swathes of the Chinese production industry as workers head home to celebrate the festivities. This response was largely met with skepticism, with many calling out the focus on quality and craftsmanship, alleging that Finalmouse has a reputation for delivering gaming mice with poor QC.https://tpucdn.com/img/j6Aqj4VC8PvnjJCs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/j6Aqj4VC8PvnjJCs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/csBXDROPfRhfLN6v_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/csBXDROPfRhfLN6v.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345857/finalmouse-dismisses-concerns-over-further-centerpiece-keyboard-delays)

[NextPowerUP]

Apex Legends is currently free to play on all major gaming platforms, but that will apparently change later this year. EA and Respawn Entertainment just announced (https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/apex-legends/news/update-on-nintendo-switch-support) that Apex Legends will officially end support for the Nintendo Switch 1 on August 4, 2026. The announcement goes on to clarify that Season 29 will be the final update for the aging handheld gaming platform. All features, including premium currency purchasing and spending will be available until the Switch 1 servers shut down on August 4.

EA says that any progress, in-game items, and premium currency balances will continue to be tied to individual player accounts, and those same accounts will be accessible via the Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game. Apex Legends will also continue to receive the same content updates as the rest of the game's platforms until the servers are taken offline. Players can also transfer all of their game progress—except for premium currency—to another platform via the Cross Progression hub (https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legends/apex-legends/news/cross-progression). Apex Legends has been playable on the Nintendo Switch since March 2021, and it has been available on the Switch 2 since August 2025.https://tpucdn.com/img/Zigvg0y0FjFoycdC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Zigvg0y0FjFoycdC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/oRDsBWLi4519kVsW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oRDsBWLi4519kVsW.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345854/apex-legends-to-drop-nintendo-switch-1-support-in-august)

[NextPowerUP]

Highguard launched less than a week ago (https://www.techpowerup.com/345658/highguard-off-to-rough-start-with-mostly-negative-review-rating-despite-high-player-counts), with the PvP raid shooter rapidly earning itself a reputation for its underwhelming gameplay that was riddled with pacing issues and more than a few performance issues. One of the biggest complaints about Highguard's gameplay was that the 3v3 gameplay format combined with the looting mechanics and the vast map meant that gameplay felt stagnant. Fast-forward to the end of the launch week, and the developer, Wildlight Entertainment, has announced an update (https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/4128260/view/538877446766724427) that it hopes will assuage complaints from those who prefer a more action-packed game.

The new 5v5 queue is still an experimental playlist, and it will be available for testing for the weekend following the update. Players will have four additional lives in 5v5 mode, and respawn times are slightly longer. It will not replace the 3v3 playlist, and the developer notes that the game's performance will likely take a hit in 5v5 mode. On the topic of performance, the patch also adds optimizations to animation performance, projectiles, draw submission times, and more for both console and PC. Overall framerate should be improved across the board to varying degrees depending on the system hardware. In addition to the new mode, the aforementioned performance tweaks, a motion blur toggle for PC and console, and an anisotropic materials toggle for consoles, there is also a new base construct for players to take advantage of. The Soul Well, a mysterious, "dark relic from a lost age," is an ancient temple with two generators, a rear keep, an underground fortress, and a tall central altar for a better vantage point to defend all of it from enemies. Soul Well will be added to all gameplay rotations as of the January 30 update. A short gameplay overview for the Soul Well follows.https://tpucdn.com/img/23KLNvXBXc9KvE3G_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/23KLNvXBXc9KvE3G.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/J7Il6k6Ha48FbjWi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/J7Il6k6Ha48FbjWi.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345848/highguard-gets-5v5-mode-performance-fixes-and-a-new-base)

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[NextPowerUP]

Even though the 12vHPWR connector problem was ostensibly somewhat corrected by the introduction of the 12v-2x6 revision to the standard, meltdowns (https://www.techpowerup.com/340193/melting-12vhpwr-connector-claims-its-first-amd-rx-9070-xt-victim) of both connectors have continued, with the latest documented case coming by way of an X post (https://x.com/jessickyeah/status/2017155311577289100) by streamer @jessickyeah. The GPU in question was an MSI NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Gaming Trio, and in the video, you can see the top-most right wire in the GPU power cable smoking and bubbling. The meltdown happened mid-game, and the excess heat generated by the unbalanced load seems to begin affecting the connector on the GPU as well. The outcome of the event was never made public, but it's safe to assume the GPU would have eventually been taken out of commission if the PC had not been turned off.

Judging by previous posts on the streamer's account, the RTX 4090 seems to have been in use since at least March 2025, confirming once again that just because a card-cable combo have been working just fine for extended periods (https://www.techpowerup.com/344543/sapphire-amd-radeon-rx-9070-xt-nitro-melts-connector-after-almost-a-year-in-use), that doesn't mean that a meltdown isn't possible. Currently, NVIDIA's recommendation to avoid potential issues is to avoid third-party extension cables and ensure that GPU power cables are properly seated. Some cable, GPU, and PSU brands have started addressing the issues with the connector by adding indicators to ensure proper cable insertion or by actively monitoring the cable itself for abnormal power balance.https://tpucdn.com/img/GgoNuIG1QdjPnUD7_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GgoNuIG1QdjPnUD7.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/oQwYV0hhrwPGkmsY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oQwYV0hhrwPGkmsY.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345845/streamers-msi-rtx-4090-gaming-trio-takes-a-smoke-break-as-12vhpwr-nearly-claims-another-victim)

[NextPowerUP]

Believe it or not, NVIDIA launched its first SHIELD TV in 2015, marking nearly a decade of continuous support for the platform. In an interview with Ars Technica, Andrew Bell, NVIDIA's senior VP of hardware engineering, reassured the company's loyal fan base that they have no plans to abandon the SHIELD TV anytime soon, promising ongoing updates in the years to come. Bell expressed frustration with the limited updates typically provided for phones and tablets, saying, "Early on when we were building SHIELD TV, we decided we were going to support it for a long time." He recalled a conversation with CEO Jensen Huang about the duration of support, to which Huang responded, "For as long as we shall live."

As NVIDIA enters the second decade of supporting the SHIELD TV, they continue to produce the 2019 version, featuring the NVIDIA Tegra X1+ processor, 3 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of storage. There was once talk within the gaming community and among NVIDIA engineers about venturing into making a gaming console. "Pretty much everybody who worked at NVIDIA in the early days really wanted to make a game console," Bell confirmed. However, the complexity of building a console, which requires not just a GPU but also a CPU, an OS, games, and a user interface, deterred the company from pursuing this path.https://tpucdn.com/img/HRxA8ev35gY6aqEa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/HRxA8ev35gY6aqEa.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345846/nvidia-keeps-shield-tv-updated-a-decade-later-promising-more-updates)

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[NextPowerUP]

Ahead of the game's official launch,it was revealed (https://www.techpowerup.com/338350/borderlands-4-photo-mode-delayed-to-post-launch-update-despite-confidence-and-early-release) that Borderlands 4 would go live without a built-in photo mode, with the game's creative director promising that the feature would ship "in an update after the game launches." Now, nearly five months after the game's original launch, Gearbox has finally delivered on that promise (https://borderlands.2k.com/en-GB/borderlands-4/update-notes/), along with a slew of new content in what is being called the game's first major update. The photo mode feature allows players to reposition the camera, change the FoV and DoF, and add a variety of visual filters before taking their snapshot. Additionally, players can make tweaks to the scene itself, like changing the time of day, adding or removing player characters, summons, and NPCs, and a toggling damage numbers on or off to taste.

Photo mode isn't all that landed in the January 29 update, including a number of fixes to make quest and challenges track accurately and communicate progress more clearly. The major update also ushered in a sizeable rework to Harlowe's Zero-Point action skill and increased dedicated drop levels for Ultimate Vault Hunter mode. The changes made to Harlowe's Zero-Point action skill are in the name of making it "feel more satisfying and better balanced relative to Harlowe's other trees," and the change amounts to the base skill getting the benefits of the previous inertia augment and increasing the slam damage, status effect chance, and status effect damage from the Inertia augment. Amon and Vex also received small tweaks to make them deal slightly more damage in certain situations and behave more predictably overall.https://tpucdn.com/img/7m6bHIIpKiV1glCN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7m6bHIIpKiV1glCN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/wzJa8hGxvdUZrUCe_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wzJa8hGxvdUZrUCe.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345842/gearbox-finally-delivers-promised-borderlands-4-photo-mode-with-major-update-and-2026-roadmap)

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[NextPowerUP]

In light of the at-the-time recent success of the Steam Deck, Sony's PlayStation Portal handheld remote game streaming device seemed less than inspiring to much of the gaming community. However, it seems to have been successful enough that Sony is planning a refreshed version of the gaming handheld. According to notable industry insider and frequent leaker, KeplerL2 on the NeoGAF forum (https://www.neogaf.com/threads/intels-panther-lake-igpu-is-really-worth-considering-for-a-handheld-amd-fell-asleep-at-the-wheel.1692741/post-271210464), the updated version of the Sony PlayStation Portal will launch at some point in 2026, and the leaker later clarifies that the new handheld will feature an OLED display (https://www.neogaf.com/threads/intels-panther-lake-igpu-is-really-worth-considering-for-a-handheld-amd-fell-asleep-at-the-wheel.1692741/post-271213714), instead of the LCD screen found on the current version.

The leaker also had some insights about the upcoming standalone PlayStation 6 Portable handheld (https://www.techpowerup.com/339417/playstation-6-leak-reveals-orion-and-canis-apus-for-home-console-and-handheld-system) that will ostensibly compete with the likes of the Valve Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Xbox Ally, with a comment in the thread indicating that the standalone gaming handheld will be powered by AMD's upcoming RDNA 5 GPU architecture (https://www.techpowerup.com/345642/amd-to-use-rdna-3-5-igpu-until-2029-rdna-5-only-on-premium-skus), as opposed to RDNA 4 from the current RX 9000 GPUs and RDNA 3.5 found in Strix Halo and other iGPUs. Additionally, the leak also verifies previous information that indicated the portable game console would have fewer than 40 CUs, with claims pointing to as few as 16 CUs (https://www.neogaf.com/threads/intels-panther-lake-igpu-is-really-worth-considering-for-a-handheld-amd-fell-asleep-at-the-wheel.1692741/post-271213826) for the upcoming handheld.https://tpucdn.com/img/3vcH8rS2gZOvnWkx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3vcH8rS2gZOvnWkx.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gpSrcAgAT8mtyCpx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gpSrcAgAT8mtyCpx.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345840/leak-tips-playstation-portal-oled-for-2026-launch-confirms-rdna-5-for-standalone-sony-handheld)

[NextPowerUP]

Windows 11 may not be the most beloved version of Microsoft's OS to date, but Microsoft's PowerToys is a favorite UI tweaking tool among power users, and for good reason. The latest feature to debut in PowerToys is a docked top bar—called the Command Palette Dock—which is part of the Command Palette feature set. The Command Palette Dock is an optional, configurable dock that can be pinned to any screen edge and be used to display a number of extensions and widgets. In the feature announcement on GitHub (https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/issues/45201), the PowerToys team shows off features like a system monitor, file browser, and a clipboard history—all of the existing PowerToys Command Palette extensions should work in the Command Palette Dock, according to Microsoft. The dock functions similarly to that of the Windows Task Bar, in the sense that it shows a small shortcut icon, with more information available via a pop-up when clicked.

The Command Palette Dock is part of the previously introduced Command Palette, which is effectively Windows's version of KDE's Krunner or macOS Spotlight, and the Command Palette Dock is, likewise, a feature on many Linux distributions and on Apple's macOS. It's also unclear if the PowerToys Dock will become quite as customizable as the docks in KDE, which allows you to add secondary docks to different screen edges and change the icons and display styles of each of the extensions in the dock. PowerToys has previously played host to features that eventually made it to Windows 11, like the updated window tiling UI, for example. It's thus entirely possible that some version of the top bar and command palette may become part of Windows itself in the not-too-distant future. As for now, though, the feature is still in the testing and hasn't even been added to PowerToys yet. It will likely be launched soon after feedback is gathered by development build testers.https://tpucdn.com/img/67KNIL7wWz4qaYP2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/67KNIL7wWz4qaYP2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/TXZb0qMrltcfkXGx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/TXZb0qMrltcfkXGx.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345832/windows-powertoys-to-get-command-palette-dock-a-top-bar-la-macos-and-linux)

[NextPowerUP]

The standard CPU complex die (CCD) chiplet based on AMD's next-generation "Zen 6" microarchitecture is poised to feature a 50% increase in CPU core counts. This would be the first time that AMD has increased core-counts of its CCDs containing full-sized CPU cores capable of sustaining high clock speeds. It had developed CCDs with high core counts using compacted cores with lower clock speed limits until now. The standard "Zen 6" CCD is expected to come with a similar die-size to the current "Zen 5" CCD, with a rumored die size of 76 mm², which is slightly larger than the 71 mm² of the "Zen 5" CCD.

The "Zen 6" CCD is expected to pack 12 CPU cores, all part of a single CPU core complex (CCX). All twelve cores share a 48 MB L3 cache. Both the CPU core counts and L3 cache size hence see a 50% increase over "Zen 5." AMD is building the "Zen 6" CCD on TSMC N2 (2 nm nanosheet) process node, which evidently offers a massive increase in transistor densities over the current TSMC N4P (4 nm FinFET) on which the "Zen 5" CCD is made. With an eye on Intel's pivot towards a cache rebalancing in favor of large last-level caches on some of its premium Core Ultra 400 "Nova Lake-S" desktop processors, AMD is expected to give the "Zen 6" CCD full 3D V-Cache capability, and the company's next X3D processors could come with L3 caches of 144 MB per CCD for up to 288 MB of L3 cache on the desktop AM5 socket.https://tpucdn.com/img/YbS5eKZ7KRlBt9Tm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YbS5eKZ7KRlBt9Tm.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345839/amd-zen-6-ccd-packs-12-cores-48-mb-l3-cache)

[NextPowerUP]

AutoFull, a leading brand in the esports peripheral equipment industry known for its professional-grade gaming furniture and player-driven design philosophy, has launched the new and upgraded AutoFull M6 Ultra 2.0 gaming chair, the latest evolution of its flagship ergonomic gaming throne designed for gamers, creators and hybrid workers seeking uncompromising comfort and performance. The AutoFull M6 Ultra 2.0 gaming chair is available now from AutoFull US website at $599.99 (RRP $899.99) and £599.99 (RRP £999) on the UK website.

The AutoFull M6 Ultra 2.0 builds on the success of the original M6 Ultra with next-generation comfort technology and extensive adjustability, positioning it as a premium solution for long gaming sessions, competitive esports, professional streaming and everyday work. Designed to transition seamlessly between gaming, work and leisure, the chair delivers precision support across the entire body while maintaining a luxurious, stable and durable construction.https://tpucdn.com/img/m5GXHOoJ41wvEc0q_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/m5GXHOoJ41wvEc0q.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AxYeGVh2X67Of80s_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AxYeGVh2X67Of80s.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/o9zrMOXCixKvTcT0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/o9zrMOXCixKvTcT0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CkRvG253sAfpHSAj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CkRvG253sAfpHSAj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/XEmMhUWFwDZe2m5F_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XEmMhUWFwDZe2m5F.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345999/autofull-introduces-the-new-and-upgraded-m6-ultra-2-0-gaming-chair)

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[NextPowerUP]

ASRock is closely monitoring recent discussions regarding the performance and behavior of AMD Ryzen 9000 series processors on ASRock AMD platforms. In response to these reports, we have implemented comprehensive internal reviews and rigorous verification processes. We have been working in seamless coordination with AMD continuously to further validate system performance across a wide range of hardware configurations, while optimizing BIOS and enhancing overall system stability.

ASRock deeply values user feedback as a cornerstone of our continuous improvement. Customers experiencing technical difficulties or seeking further assistance are encouraged to contact the ASRock Technical Support Department. We remain committed to delivering high-performance products that meet the highest standards of quality and performance.https://tpucdn.com/img/5X3LqG2P0ge9expv_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5X3LqG2P0ge9expv.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

MelGeek (https://www.melgeek.com/) has officially entered the gaming mouse market with the Horus Lightweight Esports Gaming Mouse (https://www.melgeek.com/products/melgeek-horus-lightweight-esports-gaming-mouse), signaling a technically focused expansion following the brand's recent innovations in mechanical keyboard design.

Weighing approximately 49 grams, the mouse maintains structural rigidity without aggressive shell perforation. Its internal layout is tuned to a 50:50 balanced weight distribution, helping preserve sensor alignment during rapid hand movements.https://tpucdn.com/img/hAmQyRUNJaOFtFQ6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hAmQyRUNJaOFtFQ6.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345995/melgeek-debuts-horus-with-paw3950-sensor-and-true-8000hz-wireless-polling)

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[NextPowerUP]

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced the ROG Strix Aiolos SSD Enclosure, a premium external SSD enclosure built for gamers and creators who demand top-tier performance, seamless device management. Engineered for next-generation NVMe M.2 storage, the ROG Strix Aiolos delivers lightning-fast transfer speeds, enhanced thermal efficiency, and an exclusive ROG SSD Dashboard, which provides real-time drive status updates. Designed for life on the move, it also incorporates a durable metal hook with a fabric tag to ensure convenient and secure portability.

Ultra-fast transfers and smarter storage management
The ROG Strix Aiolos delivers high-speed portable performance with USB-C 3.2 Gen 2x2 connectivity supporting transfer speeds of up to 20 Gbps, enabling users to move large media files or entire game libraries with ease. Its versatile dual M.2 interface, compatible with both NVMe PCIe (2242/2260/2280) and SATA SSDs, offers flexible upgrade and expansion options for a wide range of user needs. For effortless oversight, the enclosure features the exclusive ROG SSD Dashboard, which features a custom UI that provides users with a complete real-time overview of SSD status, performance, and other key metrics. Tailored for ROG enclosures, it makes storage management simple and intuitive.https://tpucdn.com/img/etuue1lnKkehETvt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/etuue1lnKkehETvt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6YaiO89qrFunMRBJ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6YaiO89qrFunMRBJ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/klMNclAb5nCUnGfP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/klMNclAb5nCUnGfP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/OTKTsw8mp2OLVmS0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/OTKTsw8mp2OLVmS0.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345997/asus-announces-rog-strix-aiolos-20-gbps-usb-3-2-gen-2x2-ssd-enclosure)

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[NextPowerUP]

ZOTAC GAMING, a global leader in PC gaming hardware, is launching the ZOTAC GAMING ALLOY microATX computer case in select Asia Pacific regions.

ALLOY is The Brand's first-ever Computer Case catered to DIY PC enthusiasts looking for a relatively compact microATX (mATX) form factor and optimized cooling performance. Designed to match the distinctly robust and elegant design language of current generation ZOTAC GAMING products, the ALLOY is made with today's flagship GPUs in mind, enabling enthusiasts to build high-end, high-performance gaming PCs with ease.https://tpucdn.com/img/5uFjh8U1upJhNzLt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5uFjh8U1upJhNzLt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3mXLxdPECRa0Akeh_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3mXLxdPECRa0Akeh.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/LlGhgjEef0hMUfmI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/LlGhgjEef0hMUfmI.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/53A92wQ8dzWZxggm_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/53A92wQ8dzWZxggm.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lUBoCHrgYUYuG3kd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lUBoCHrgYUYuG3kd.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Alphacool International GmbH from Braunschweig is a pioneer in PC water cooling technology. With one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry and over 20 years of experience, Alphacool now expands its lineup with the Apex Thermal Putty X1. The Alphacool Apex Thermal Putty X1 is a high-performance alternative to conventional thermal pads. As a non-curing, electrically non-conductive silicone gel, it adapts perfectly to uneven surfaces and varying gap heights with minimal contact pressure. No need to choose pad thickness, no compromises, lower temperatures.

A key advantage of the Apex Thermal Putty lies in its optimal consistency for handling and shape stability. Under light pressure, the material adapts ideally to different gap heights while remaining dimensionally stable. This reliably compensates for unevenness and tolerances between the cooler and the component, ensuring optimal contact between the heat source and the heatsink at all times. This is especially important for modern graphics cards and other sensitive electronic components, as delicate parts such as memory chips or voltage regulators are effectively protected from damage.https://tpucdn.com/img/N6yHSyPklgJL5rg9_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/N6yHSyPklgJL5rg9.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uW6HQtXcQbaVOl7y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uW6HQtXcQbaVOl7y.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/bnJiw0kGiHgtVjpy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bnJiw0kGiHgtVjpy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/G7JHX853MS86iWQu_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/G7JHX853MS86iWQu.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/udJYr7UMMiMxgQK4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/udJYr7UMMiMxgQK4.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 last year, and if your computer is still running it, then your data is at risk. If you want an easy way to upgrade, right now, you can get Windows 11 Pro (https://www.stacksocial.com/sales/microsoft-windows-11-pro-7?aid=a-zpm4h3er) on sale for only $12.97 (reg. $199). Windows 11 Pro adds security tools that help protect your files and accounts in ways Windows 10 simply doesn't. BitLocker can encrypt your drive so someone who gets your laptop can't just pull the data off it. Smart App Control can block unknown or suspicious programs before they run, which is helpful if you download software from different places. Windows Defender works in the background to scan for threats without a separate antivirus subscription.

There are also changes that make it easier to work on a crowded desktop. Snap layouts let you click a layout and drop apps into neat side-by-side or grid views instead of dragging windows around. Virtual desktops help you keep work, personal tasks, and side projects in separate spaces on the same computer. When you plug back into a monitor or dock, Windows 11 Pro does a better job of putting windows back where they were instead of stacking them on one screen.

Right now, it's only $12.97 to get Windows 11 Pro (https://www.stacksocial.com/sales/microsoft-windows-11-pro-7?aid=a-zpm4h3er), but it won't stay that way.https://tpucdn.com/img/QtyLYNoGCFNal3Ic_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QtyLYNoGCFNal3Ic.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345912/computers-running-windows-10-arent-safe-but-windows-11-pro-is-only-usd-13-right-now-reg-usd-199)

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[NextPowerUP]

When Valve announced the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and updated Steam Controller late in 2025, it did not reveal pricing, but the gaming giant said that the hardware would launch in early 2026. That launch window is still on the cards (https://www.techpowerup.com/345960/amd-confirms-steam-machine-in-early-2026-xbox-soc-powered-by-rdna-5-in-2027), but according to a recent announcement by Valve (https://store.steampowered.com/news/group/45479024/view/625565405086220583), it is still unable to announce pricing or specific launch dates for any of the hardware. As the announcement explains, "the memory and storage shortages you've likely heard about across the industry have rapidly increased since then. The limited availability and growing prices of these critical components mean we must revisit our exact shipping schedule and pricing (especially around Steam Machine and Steam Frame)."

The Steam hardware is hardly the only hardware launch said to be affected by the current memory crisis, with even laptops (https://www.techpowerup.com/344445/dram-shortage-predicted-to-cause-launch-delays-for-major-brands) and potentially the upcoming console generation rumored to see delays (https://www.techpowerup.com/344514/ram-crisis-may-result-in-next-gen-console-delay) as a result of the RAM shortage caused by the AI boom. For Valve's part, the company promises that the actual release dates have not been affected, but it just needs to find a concrete launch price that makes sense. That could mean that the Steam Machine will launch at higher prices than the $700-800 initially predicted (https://www.techpowerup.com/343433/valve-steam-machine-may-cost-less-than-anticipated) by many. Valve has previously said that the Steam Machine would be priced more like a PC than a console, meaning the prospective price increase will still likely be in line with what you'd expect from a similarly equipped PC. Valve also demystified some other aspects of the upcoming Steam hardware, confirming once again that the Steam Machine is able to reach 4K 60 FPS with FSR enabled, although the team admits that some games may need to be upscaled from 1080p with VRR enabled in order to guarantee a smooth gameplay experience. Valve also confirmed that it plans to make CAD files and specs available for the Steam Machine's faceplate so that gamers and third-party manufacturers can build accessories for the PC. Both the SSD and memory will also be upgradeable and easily accessible.https://tpucdn.com/img/NxcSr4BNSmUL8w0h_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NxcSr4BNSmUL8w0h.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

News recently broke that Borderlands 4 may not ever launch on the Nintendo Switch 2 (https://www.techpowerup.com/345968/gearbox-shelves-borderlands-4-switch-2-port-development), but, as 2K recently announced via the official Borderlands account on X, the looter shooter is officially verified for the Steam Deck. While Borderlands 4 has been playable on the Steam Deck basically since launch, the numerous performance issues it exhibits led us to recommend against playing it on Valve's handheld in our in-depth handheld performance review (https://www.techpowerup.com/review/borderlands-4-handheld-steam-deck-rog-ally-x-fps-performance-benchmark/1.html). There were signs that Gearbox was preparing Borderlands 4 for Steam Deck Verified status, specifically the updated menu screens that came to the game around a month ahead of the announcement.

Importantly, Valve's requirements for Steam Deck verification (https://www.steamdeck.com/en/verified) include functional controller input, seamless compatibility with the Steam Deck hardware and software with no compatibility warnings, support for the default Steam Deck Display resolutions, with good default settings, and full support for Proton. Notably, performance doesn't really enter into the equation, and that has become the main focus of many online users, who pointed out on sites like X (https://x.com/Eldonchorizo_/status/2019116552122167391) and Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/Borderlands4/comments/1qvudv6/borderlands_4_is_verified_for_steam_deck/) pointing out that the game still doesn't run well on the Steam Deck, even after numerous performance patches nearly six months after the initial launch. Most users who have tested the game say that they still struggle to maintain a solid 30 FPS in the looter shooter on the Steam Deck's iGPU.https://tpucdn.com/img/SvzNwx2NUgECNblf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SvzNwx2NUgECNblf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1xu3Sxx3ILtcX1Xt_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1xu3Sxx3ILtcX1Xt.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/i4WNqudffKp3R0Ka_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/i4WNqudffKp3R0Ka.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Despite the success of the first game in the series, Overwatch 2 has had a rough time of it, with reviews on Steam rating the game "Mostly Negative," with 34% of its reviews being of a positive nature. It seems as though Blizzard is trying to change this. In one of the multiple developer-led showcases scheduled for early February, Blizzard announced (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moRmc0a8NI8) that Overwatch 2 is becoming just "Overwatch," and, more importantly, receiving a number of changes that aim to make gameplay more dynamic and attract more players to the game. The change also marks a number of changes to Overwatch's structure, which will see the game feature an annual story in a system that will officially go into effect with the new Season 1 on February 10. The story will be told across six seasons throughout the year, after which a new story will kick off with a new Season 1 in the following year. The first season in the revamp is called "Reign of Talon," and the plot kicked off with an animated cinematic at the start of the Overwatch spotlight on YouTube, but the rest will be told through various in-game events, animated hero trailers, short stories, and comics released throughout the year.

Blizzard also announced 10 new characters and an all-new class system. The first five characters will launch on February with the start of Season 1, and the rest of the line-up will follow throughout the year. It seems as though the heroes released throughout the year will all somehow be related to the plot being told in that particular year and also enter the game when each respective season launches. The five heroes coming in Season 1 include Domina, a new tank, Emre, a damage hero, Mizuki, a new support, Anran, another damage who will be available to trial from February 5-10, and Jetpack Cat, a stray cat serving aerial support that will be able to move allies around the battlefield from the air. The new update also sees Overwatch's class system get an overhaul, with the main tank, damage, and support roles now divided into three or four subclasses each—initiator, bruiser, and stalwart fall under the tank class; specialist, flanker, recon, and sharpshooter fall under damage, and medic, tactician, and survivor fall under support. Each role also comes with its own set of buffs and perks to consider. Blizzard also revealed that it would be reworking some classic Overwatch heroes later in 2026, although it did not reveal which heroes would be getting reworked.https://tpucdn.com/img/77hCY875AdT3cQBw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/77hCY875AdT3cQBw.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/pHC5c6Yo6CiJOg09_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pHC5c6Yo6CiJOg09.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345980/blizzard-rebrands-overwatch-2-to-overwatch-adds-10-new-heroes-and-revamps-game-systems)

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[NextPowerUP]

Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 28, 2025.

"We are pleased to deliver strong quarterly results, with record total company revenues," said Cristiano Amon, President and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated. "Our momentum across personal, industrial and physical AI is growing, as evidenced by recent product announcements at CES and customer traction. While our near-term handsets outlook is impacted by industry-wide memory supply constraints, we are encouraged by end-consumer demand for premium and high tier smartphones, and remain on track to achieve our fiscal 2029 revenue goals."https://tpucdn.com/img/PBSXblX6WhytouvH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PBSXblX6WhytouvH.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/JcMFQhumIZGA17ar_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JcMFQhumIZGA17ar.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/NPXDL3OfXdWH3DxK_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/NPXDL3OfXdWH3DxK.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345982/qualcomm-announces-record-revenues-of-usd-12-3-billion-for-q1-2026)

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[NextPowerUP]

Today (Feb. 4, 2026) Arm (NASDAQ: ARM) published a letter to its shareholders containing the company's results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 ended December 31, 2025. The infographic below provides the key highlights:

Here are what the results mean and how they were achieved:

Revenue grew 26% year-on-year to $1.24 billion, representing Arm's fourth consecutive billion-dollar revenue quarter.
Royalty revenue grew 27% year-over-year to a record $737 million, driven by growth across Arm's target end markets, including AI and general-purpose data center, smartphones, physical AI and edge AI.
License and other revenue of $505 million increased 25% year-over-year, as more leading companies sign high-value licenses for next-generation Arm technologies.
Demand for Arm Compute Subsystems (CSS) continues to exceed expectations as adoption grows in light of increasingly complex chip designs. This represents a significant tailwind to royalty growth, as Arm expands both the value delivered and economics captured per chip.

During the quarter, Arm signed two CSS licenses for use in both edge AI tablets and smartphones, bringing the total number of CSS licenses to 21 across 12 companies.
Additionally, five customers are now shipping Arm CSS-based chips, including two shipping its second-generation platform, while the top four Android smartphone vendors are all shipping Arm CSS-powered devices.


https://tpucdn.com/img/4YVIRKuWOJDd9JK3_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4YVIRKuWOJDd9JK3.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/B5248oq155sYAeNc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/B5248oq155sYAeNc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/a0dLVfIUBTnLI9CI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/a0dLVfIUBTnLI9CI.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Despite previously taking a very pro-generative AI stance, advocating for AI protagonists in games (https://www.techpowerup.com/343085/ceo-of-gta-vi-publisher-wants-ai-npcs-for-more-natural-conversations?cp=2), Take-Two Interactive's CEO, Strauss Zelnick, recently commented in an interview with Gameindustry.biz (https://www.gamesindustry.biz/strauss-zelnick-generative-ai-has-zero-part-in-what-rockstar-games-is-building-with-gta-6) that generative AI was not used in the development of Grand Theft Auto VI. The CEO is quoted as saying "Specifically with regards to GTA 6, Generative AI has zero part in what Rockstar Games is building. Their worlds are handcrafted. That's what differentiates them. They're built from the ground up, building by building, street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood. They're not procedurally generated, they shouldn't be. That's what makes great entertainment." He also clarifies that he doesn't think that AI can or will be able to build "great entertainment properties" by themselves, suggesting that Take-Two might think twice about putting AI assets into its games.

He does also mention, however, that he is enthusiastic about AI, and that Take-Two's "products have always been built with machine learning and artificial intelligence," and that "right now we have hundreds of pilots and implementations across our company and within our studios. And we're already seeing instances where generative AI tools are driving costs and time efficiencies." Notably, this isn't the first time we've seen similar rhetoric or AI applied similarly in game studios, despite game workers generally opposing the idea (https://www.techpowerup.com/345810/state-of-the-game-industry-survey-game-workers-united-on-unionization-divided-on-gen-ai) of generative AI in gaming. Embark, the studio behind Arc Raiders, used generative AI (https://www.techpowerup.com/342412/embark-addresses-gen-ai-use-arc-raiders-in-no-way-uses-generative-ai-except-where-it-apparently-does) to speed up the work on voice acting, while Ubisoft is exploring (https://www.techpowerup.com/343287/ubisoft-demos-ai-powered-teammates-with-voice-control) AI-generated teammates, and EA has announced (https://www.techpowerup.com/342202/eas-ai-tools-reportedly-cost-game-devs-time-even-after-a-year-of-use) a pivot to generative AI tools across multiple applications.https://tpucdn.com/img/qy5CiX5BcHSm47CO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qy5CiX5BcHSm47CO.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Tenstorrent, a startup focused on designing high-performance AI accelerators and led by the renowned computer architect Jim Keller as CEO, has announced significant hardware updates to its existing Blackhole P150 accelerators, which include the P150a and P150b models. In the latest documentation change, the company notes that its Blackhole P150 accelerators will now work with about 14.3% fewer cores than originally advertised. In the official documents, the P150 accelerators are now shipping with 120 working "Tensix" cores instead of the previously advertised 140 cores. The reason for this change is unknown, as the company provided a vague explanation: "To present a unified interface to metal and other system software, firmware v19.5.0 and later will change the core count on all existing cards to 120. Typical workloads show a non-material (~1-2%) performance difference."

The Blackhole P150 accelerators featured 140 "Tensix" cores and 32 GB of GDDR6 memory, operating at up to 300 W in an actively cooled form factor designed for desktop workstations, and the P150a model includes four passive QSFP-DD 800G ports. However, as the number of cores is reduced by approximately 14%, TeraFLOPS take a nosedive as well. In the older documents for the 140-core SKUs, the BLOCKFP8 8-bit floating point performance was listed at 774 TeraFLOPS, while the new 120-core version reduces that number to 664 TeraFLOPS at the same precision level. Why this sudden change is happening is still a mystery. However, the HPC community with a lot of knowledge in the industry suggests a few reasons.https://tpucdn.com/img/dpzJTPP1WJfZGgIb_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dpzJTPP1WJfZGgIb.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WmOdHsMknVmBzBQZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WmOdHsMknVmBzBQZ.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/jt5m2stL8gwNO5FE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/jt5m2stL8gwNO5FE.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345977/tenstorrent-cuts-20-cores-from-already-shipping-blackhole-p150-cards)

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[NextPowerUP]

Silicon Motion Technology Corporation (NasdaqGS: SIMO) ("Silicon Motion," the "Company," "we" or similar terms) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2025. For the fourth quarter of 2025, net sales (GAAP) increased sequentially to $278.5 million from $242.0 million in the third quarter of 2025. Net income (GAAP) also increased sequentially to $47.7 million, or $1.41 per diluted American depositary share ("ADS") (GAAP), from net income (GAAP) of $39.1 million, or $1.16 per diluted ADS (GAAP), in the third quarter of 2025.

For the fourth quarter of 2025, net income (non-GAAP) increased sequentially to $42.7 million, or $1.26 per diluted ADS (non-GAAP), from net income (non-GAAP) of $33.8 million, or $1.00 per diluted ADS (non-GAAP), in the third quarter of 2025. All financial numbers are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted.https://tpucdn.com/img/7ex98q1oiiCEqTd2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7ex98q1oiiCEqTd2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/botYJ9m7rykMvnPa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/botYJ9m7rykMvnPa.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345975/silicon-motion-announces-results-for-the-fourth-quarter-and-year-ended-december-31-2025)

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[NextPowerUP]

Saber Interactive and Focus Entertainment premiered a Gameplay Overview Trailer for 80s action-horror-inspired game John Carpenter's Toxic Commando. This new IP from the creators of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, World War Z and SnowRunner shows what it is made of - from story and missions to weapons and classes. Zombie addicts and fans of 80s silly gory action horror can finally gear up ahead of John Carpenter's Toxic Commando releasing March 12 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Get ready for non-stop zombie destruction
The trailer introduces the highly trained team of mercenaries you'll be cleaning the zombie mess as in this 4-player co-op action survival shooter, taking on multiple missions through a semi-open world infested with Sabers hellish Swarm technology, sending endless, simultaneous waves of mutated monstrosities straight at your face.https://tpucdn.com/img/p077eDcuQUANjQHF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/p077eDcuQUANjQHF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/KWaNSsB3ynyH1UMx_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KWaNSsB3ynyH1UMx.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/qNP5U8Nb3fiIR5Kf_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/qNP5U8Nb3fiIR5Kf.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/16TXo0UaeYV7JZGV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/16TXo0UaeYV7JZGV.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345974/john-carpenters-toxic-commando-gets-a-new-gameplay-overview-trailer-and-sets-a-demo-date)

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[NextPowerUP]

As February has just started, Valve finished processing data for the January edition of the Steam Hardware and Software Survey. One of the few interesting takeaways is that for the first time in months, Intel's share of consumer CPU usage has seen an uptick, instead of the slow decline it has been experiencing. According to the January update, Intel's CPU share among Steam platform users has grown to 56.64%, representing a small but pleasant increase of 0.25% over the December data. On the other hand, AMD recorded a slight decrease of 0.19%, now standing at 43.34% of the market. This means that Intel's market share has increased for the first time in months, as data from September reported a market share of 58.61%, then October showed 57.82%, 57.30% in November, and 56.39% in December. The chain of declining share has finally stopped, suggesting that Intel could have a chance to rebound in the consumer market section.

On the contrary, AMD's CPU market share has been rising for months, moving up from 41.31% in September to 43.53% in December, with a small correction now standing at 43.34%. This indicates that many new CPU purchasing decisions were made in favor of AMD, driven by the massive popularity of its Ryzen 9000X3D series, which has been well-received by PC enthusiasts. In contrast, Intel's latest "Arrow Lake" launch has faced some initial challenges with less-than-expected gaming performance, but besides discounts and firmware updates improving the situation, the community is now anticipating the launch of the "Arrow Lake Refresh" scheduled for March or April, which is expected to address these issues (https://www.techpowerup.com/345907/intels-core-ultra-9-290k-plus-shows-10-performance-boost-over-core-ultra-9-285k) by shipping with higher out-of-the-box frequencies and additional tuning.https://tpucdn.com/img/mBQWMoRIbU2gqjks_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mBQWMoRIbU2gqjks.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/rkBDQZW9ADPCFZ6R_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/rkBDQZW9ADPCFZ6R.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345972/intel-cpus-record-first-period-of-growth-on-steam-survey-after-months-of-decline)

[NextPowerUP]

Borderlands 4 can't seem to escape its reputation for poor performance and demanding hardware requirements. Although the game was meant to launch on the relatively low-power Nintendo Switch 2 shortly after it launched on PC and console, the handheld port of the game was delayed (https://www.techpowerup.com/341277/borderlands-4-switch-2-launch-delayed-with-no-new-date-in-sight), with the development team declaring that it needed more time to "deliver the best game possible" for fans of the series. Now, as of February 3, the development of Borderlands 4 for the Switch 2 has officially been put on hold. This is according to a new announcement by 2K Interactive in a recent earnings call. The gaming giant instead says that it wants to focus on optimizing Borderlands 4 for the devices on which it is already available. It's unclear whether the development will be picked up again at a later stage or if the port is effectively cancelled.

The full statement by 2K reads: "We made the difficult decision to pause development on that SKU. Our focus continues to be delivering quality post-launch content for players on the ongoing improvements to optimize the game. We're continuing to collaborate closely with our friends at Nintendo. We have PGA Tour 2K25 coming out and WWE 2K26, and we're incredibly excited about bringing more of our titles to that platform in the future." No official explanation was provided for the halt in development, but speculation has gone two ways. While some think 2K put the Switch 2 port on hold over performance concerns—Gearbox's Randy Pitchford previously promised (https://www.techpowerup.com/339195/borderlands-4-to-target-just-30-fps-on-nintendo-switch-2-with-some-dips) that the game would run at 30 FPS "with some dips" on the Switch 2, which didn't give gamers much hope for performance—while others suspect that sales numbers simply didn't justify the increased development costs for the Switch 2. The fact that the Switch 2 version had already been indefinitely delayed lends credence to the theory that performance concerns and optimization difficulties could have had something to do with the cancellation.https://tpucdn.com/img/WG0DUpwDPBIDH2GM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WG0DUpwDPBIDH2GM.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/345968/gearbox-shelves-borderlands-4-switch-2-port-development)

[NextPowerUP]

Texas Instruments (Nasdaq: TXN), a global semiconductor company that designs, manufactures and sells analog and embedded processing chips, and Silicon Labs (Nasdaq: SLAB), a leader in secure, intelligent wireless technology, today announced they have signed a definitive agreement under which Texas Instruments will acquire Silicon Labs for $231.00 per share in an all-cash transaction, representing a total enterprise value of approximately $7.5 billion.

The acquisition will create a global leader in embedded wireless connectivity solutions by combining Silicon Labs' strong portfolio and expertise in mixed signal solutions with Texas Instruments' leading analog and embedded processing portfolio and internally owned technology and manufacturing capabilities. The combined company will accelerate growth by better serving existing and new customers through enhanced innovation and market access.https://tpucdn.com/img/oCipxotJJpp8Ri5Y_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/oCipxotJJpp8Ri5Y.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nT2Cp657QD5Ngh75_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nT2Cp657QD5Ngh75.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345964/texas-instruments-to-acquire-silicon-labs)

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[NextPowerUP]

AMD posted its record fourth quarter revenue of $10.3 billion in 2025, and during the earnings call, the company issued some guidance on the upcoming product portfolio. During the call, AMD confirmed that Valve's Steam Machine is on track and shipping early this year, while its custom SoC division that designs processors for PlayStation and Xbox consoles will deliver an RDNA 5-based SoC for the next-generation Xbox console. While the Steam Machine specifications (https://www.techpowerup.com/342866/valve-announces-steam-machine-steam-frame-and-steam-controller) are confirmed, Xbox "Magnus" (https://www.techpowerup.com/341887/console-wars-next-generation-xbox-could-outperform-playstation-6) SoC is still largely a collection of rumored specifications. The "Magnus" SoC is rumored to feature the largest APU ever designed for a consumer console, with a 408 mm² chiplet design. Of this, 144 mm² is dedicated to the SoC built on TSMC's N3P node, while the GPU occupies 264 mm². The AMD chip is expected to include up to 11 CPU cores—three Zen 6 and eight Zen 6c—alongside a substantial GPU setup with 68 RDNA 5 compute units, four shader engines, and at least 24 MB of L2 cache. Memory might expand to 48 GB of GDDR7 on a 192-bit bus. A dedicated NPU is rumored to offer significant on-device AI performance, with reports suggesting up to 110 TOPS.
Dr. Lisa SuFor 2026, we expect semi-custom SoC annual revenue to decline by a significant double-digit percentage as we enter the seventh year of what has been a very strong console cycle. From a product standpoint, Valve is on track to begin shipping its AMD-powered Steam Machine early this year, and development of Microsoft's next-gen Xbox featuring an AMD semi-custom SoC is progressing well to support a launch in 2027.https://tpucdn.com/img/JdOyld79NHzgBQ1E_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JdOyld79NHzgBQ1E.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/345960/amd-confirms-steam-machine-in-early-2026-xbox-soc-powered-by-rdna-5-in-2027)

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[NextPowerUP]

Welcome to the second week of February and another packed week of new releases, even though none of them are AAA titles. The major release this week comes from the creators of Little Nightmares and to no surprise, we're talking a co-op horror adventure. The week kicks off with a bad bout of the Monday's, followed by some artifact hunting and a trip to Japan. Next up we have some motorcycle racing, followed by a sequel of a rather crazy game in space. This week we also end up with a Saturday release, which we decided to include. On top of all of that, we have a few extra games that didn't quite make the list, but that we reckon some of you might be interested in.

Reanimal (https://reanimal.thqnordic.com/) / This week's major release / Friday 13 February
The original creators of Little Nightmares & Little Nightmares II have returned to take you on a more terrifying journey than ever before. In this co-op horror adventure game, you play as a brother & sister who go through hell to rescue their missing friends. Exploring by boat and on land, you must use your wits to survive, work together to escape the hellish island, and the dark secret that haunts you. Steam link (https://store.steampowered.com/app/2129530/REANIMAL/)https://tpucdn.com/img/XbQ8cXANa9Mm8m4q_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/XbQ8cXANa9Mm8m4q.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hKUnzFb4nD9PtEp0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hKUnzFb4nD9PtEp0.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/PBapRxzq3MC0e9jU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/PBapRxzq3MC0e9jU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/I9eBcIxriq2La73o_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/I9eBcIxriq2La73o.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346087/this-week-in-gaming-week-7)

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[NextPowerUP]

The company that started the entire wave of AI infrastructure and development is now enjoying the fruits of its work. NVIDIA has deployed generative AI tools across its company to an astonishing 30,000 engineers. In a partnership with San Francisco-based Anysphere Inc., the company is getting a customized version of the Cursor integrated developer environment, which focuses on AI code design. This is important to note as NVIDIA's engineers are now reportedly producing as much as three times the code compared to the previous development pipeline, and we are now probably using NVIDIA's products or services that have been designed by AI guided by humans.

NVIDIA offers a range of mission-critical products that cannot afford to be as error-prone as most AI-generated code tends to be. This includes GPU drivers that support everything from basic gaming to large-scale AI training and inference operations. The company is likely enforcing strict guidelines for its newly generated code, with an extensive range of tests required before the code is deployed in production. This isn't the first time NVIDIA has utilized AI-assisted workflows in its products. The company has already implemented a dedicated supercomputer that has been continuously enhancing DLSS (https://www.techpowerup.com/331235/nvidia-reveals-secret-weapon-behind-dlss-evolution-dedicated-supercomputer-running-for-six-years) (Deep Learning Super Sampling) for several years, and some chip designs have been optimized (https://www.techpowerup.com/296699/nvidia-prefixrl-model-designs-25-smaller-circuits-making-gpus-more-efficient?cp=2) using the company's internal AI tools.https://tpucdn.com/img/QirbHJm1mTuUmwUU_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/QirbHJm1mTuUmwUU.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ETAxVTaYGYvqFkBy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ETAxVTaYGYvqFkBy.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346079/30-000-nvidia-engineers-use-generative-ai-for-3x-higher-code-output)

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[NextPowerUP]

In an exclusive report for VideoCardz, Intel is reportedly targeting an LPDDR5X memory speed of 8,533 MT/s for its upcoming Core Ultra G3 series of "Panther Lake" chips (https://www.techpowerup.com/346007/intel-core-ultra-g3-panther-lake-handheld-gaming-chips-to-come-in-q2-of-2026) arriving in the second quarter for handheld gaming devices. After we learned that Intel is imposing certain memory mandates on its OEM partners (https://www.techpowerup.com/345897/intel-mandates-7-467-mt-s-memory-for-panther-lake-arc-b390-b370-integrated-graphics), it seems like the Core Ultra G3 will face similar mandates from the company to prevent OEMs from "cutting corners" and implementing slower LPDDR5X memory. For the new handheld-tuned Core Ultra G3 and G3 Extreme, that specification is now set to 8,533 MT/s, which is slightly below its flagship "Panther Lake" Core Ultra X SKUs that can support LPDDR5X memory running at 9,600 MT/s.

Presumably, Intel will require OEM partners and makers of the next-generation handheld consoles to use this 8,533 MT/s memory on both SKUs. These chips will feature a 14-core CPU configuration, including two P-Cores, eight E-Cores, and four LPE-Cores. A key selling point of these SoCs is the Arc integrated graphics, with the G3 Extreme offering 12 Xe3 cores and the standard G3 featuring 10 Xe3 cores. The G3 Extreme plans to run the Arc B380 iGPU with 12 Xe3 cores at 2.3 GHz, just 200 MHz below the flagship Core Ultra X9 388H's Arc B390. Essentially, G3 Extreme handhelds can expect gaming performance similar to that of the flagship SKU, albeit with two fewer P-Cores and a slightly lower GPU clock speed. The regular G3 maintains its CPU capabilities, but the GPU is reduced to a 10-core Xe3 IP called Arc B360, with a GPU boost frequency of 2.2 GHz, resulting in a notable decrease in both gaming performance and TDP.https://tpucdn.com/img/VLqrpNZo1u98n2ai_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/VLqrpNZo1u98n2ai.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CJUuBAWig564dK8N_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CJUuBAWig564dK8N.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346076/intel-targets-lpddr5x-8533-for-core-ultra-g3-panther-lake-handheld-gaming-chips)

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[NextPowerUP]

Noctua has earned itself a reputation in the enthusiast space not only for its highly efficient air coolers, but also for its free mounting upgrade kit policy, which allows buyers of Noctua coolers to request a new mounting kit when a new motherboard socket from AMD or Intel launches, even years after they've purchased their original cooler. The company recently announced that it has shipped 500,000 of these free mounting upgrade kits since the project started way back in 2006 with the AMD AM2 socket. Noctua also promises that "as new sockets and architectures appear, we will continue to provide free mounting or upgrade kits where technically feasible."

Noctua explains that the ethos behind the program is to "ensure that a quality product remains useful for many years," and, in the blog post celebrating the achievement, it explains that change in approach meant rethinking the design of its coolers. New coolers designed by Noctua from 2006 onwards would need to be modular and standardized to maintain support across different platforms and generations. Noctua elaborated that part of the justification for the past and ongoing commitment to the free upgrade program is as much about the environment as it is about customer service and technical compatibility. Theoretically, 500,000 mounting kit upgrades means that up to 500,000 perfectly functional CPU coolers were kept out of the e-waste pile, conserving raw materials and cutting down on waste.https://tpucdn.com/img/AoAxIOBf7V8ZotxY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AoAxIOBf7V8ZotxY.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/1tLwcwgkl5dDDP8i_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1tLwcwgkl5dDDP8i.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/346065/noctua-has-shipped-half-a-million-cpu-cooler-mounting-upgrade-kits)

[NextPowerUP]

Intel's Arc graphics solutions initially had a rough start to life on the Linux side of things, but it seems as though the tide is changing. Phoronix recently tested (https://www.phoronix.com/review/intel-arc-b390-panther-lake-linux) the new Panther Lake Intel Arc B390 iGPU in the Intel Core Ultra X7 358H (https://www.techpowerup.com/cpu-specs/core-ultra-x7-358h.c4304), comparing the new iGPU to the venerable Radeon 890M (https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/radeon-890m.c4224) in the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, and, surprisingly, Intel's iGPU consistently outpaces the Radeon iGPU, which isn't a surprise if you've been keeping track of early benchmarks on Windows. The publication tested the new Xe3 integrated graphics in an MSI Prestige 14 running the latest Mesa 26.0 drivers on Linux Kernel version 6.19 on Ubuntu 26.04.

When it comes to gaming, the only games in which the Xe3 iGPU was bested by the AMD competition were Counterstrike 2, running at 1920×1200, and Quake II RTX. In every other game, the Intel Arc B390 beat both the AMD competition and the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H and Core Ultra 7 258V significantly. Depending on the game and in-game settings, the Arc B390 was anywhere between 15% and upwards of 50%. Hitman 3 was a particularly impressive outlier, with the B390 managing to get over 50% more FPS than the nearest competitor and 64% more FPS than the Radeon 890M at 1920×1200 and low settings, with similar gains at medium quality settings, and a slightly less impressive performance improvement when bumping up to ultra settings.https://tpucdn.com/img/5eGptzLPspc3Q8F6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5eGptzLPspc3Q8F6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/pdEOuQj7Ym89krwG_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/pdEOuQj7Ym89krwG.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346061/intel-arc-b390-panther-lake-igpu-impresses-in-linux-performance-tests)

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[NextPowerUP]

Intel's "Arrow Lake Refresh" has not even been released, but the company has already canceled its flagship SKU planned for this refresh cycle, according to a report from VideoCardz (https://videocardz.com/newz/intel-reportedly-cancels-core-ultra-9-290k-plus-but-keeps-270k-250k-arrow-lake-refresh-skus). Two sources close to the media note that Intel's flagship Core Ultra 9 290K Plus might not roll out at all, despite the massive hype and leaked benchmarks indicating that Intel is releasing this CPU SKU as part of the "Arrow Lake Refresh" generation expected to arrive in March or April. Reportedly, Intel will instead focus on delivering value with its Core Ultra 7 270K Plus SKU, which carries 8 P-Cores and 16 E-Cores and a 5.5 GHz maximum turbo boost. For individual boosting frequency, P-Cores top out at 5.4 GHz, while the base runs at 3.7 GHz. For E-Cores, the boost frequency is set to a maximum of 4.7 GHz, while the base is set at 3.2 GHz.

As for a possible reason why Intel would cancel this SKU, the sources close to VideoCardz note that product overlap is the main issue, as the flagship Core Ultra 9 290K Plus would have the same core configuration as the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, just with slightly higher clock speeds. Additionally, Intel already maintains a Core Ultra 9 285K SKU from the regular "Arrow Lake" family, meaning that the company would have three similar SKUs at the very top of the stack. This way, it would only have to maintain two products, which would simplify manufacturing and supply chain logistics, allowing Intel to spend more time preparing for the next-generation "Nova Lake" launch later this year.https://tpucdn.com/img/Kg4A1PFNu6ZXPc7Q_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Kg4A1PFNu6ZXPc7Q.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346056/report-intel-cancels-flagship-core-ultra-9-290k-plus-arrow-lake-refresh-but-keeps-other-skus)

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[NextPowerUP]

AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX HEDT processor with 96 cores and 192 threads comes with a default TDP of 350 W. However, heavy overclocking can bring the CPU to 1,300 W and requires a custom integrated heat spreader (IHS) that serves as a direct-die waterblock. In the latest endeavor by Geekerwan, the enthusiast created a custom fin structure inside the Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX IHS that serves as a direct-die waterblock to achieve an impressive overclock of 5.325 GHz, drawing an astonishing 1,340 W during load, with the entire system drawing around 1,700 W. According to Geekerwan, he contacted ASUS China regional manager Tony Yu to experiment with different IHS designs before "ruining" the IHS of a $12,000 HEDT CPU. He then proceeded with trying a straight fin structure common in commercial waterblocks, but also conducted computer simulations that showed a curved, wavy S-shaped fin structure is the most efficient in capturing heat, as the coolant flows over a longer distance with minimal obstruction, resulting in 20% better cooling than the straight fin structure.

The IHS of the AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9995WX processor is 4.1 mm thick, which left Geekerwan with about 2.0 mm of fin depth and about 2.1 mm for the structural integrity of the IHS, which is subject to a lot of water pressure. After a heavy 19-hour session of CNC milling, the result is a CPU that ran between 30-50°C, which is an amazing temperature under Cinebench 2026 load. The system also placed 7th in Cinebench R23, just behind an LN2-cooled AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 7995WX running at 6.2 GHz. Impressive heat dissipation and the massive 5.325 GHz clock on a 96-core system are also made possible with an industrial chiller, two Bosch water pumps from cars, and a 37-gallon water tank. You can check out the entire process below.https://tpucdn.com/img/Mh8qMCBpGynwlODH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Mh8qMCBpGynwlODH.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/5fVqZ6tiiI5YnoM6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5fVqZ6tiiI5YnoM6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/A0UsY4a7F9cezj9s_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/A0UsY4a7F9cezj9s.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/aBzDcdsamZxsLvDL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/aBzDcdsamZxsLvDL.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346050/amd-ryzen-threadripper-pro-9995wx-oc-draws-1-300-w-under-direct-die-watercooling)

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[NextPowerUP]

MSI's most powerful GPU—the GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z—will come with an extreme price tag to match, as the company has listed its GPU for NT$165,000, which works out to about $5,200. The company noted this pricing in a 24-hour giveaway scheduled to begin on Monday, February 9, at 10:00 AM Taiwanese time, lasting until Tuesday, February 10. The listing has revealed that the card we previewed at the 2026 International CES show (https://www.techpowerup.com/344738/msi-geforce-rtx-5090-lighting-z-hands-on-40-phase-vrm-and-2-500-w-xoc-bios) is not only a premium design but also a premium-priced product, as the supply is limited to only 1,300 samples. MSI advertises a factory boost clock of 2,730 MHz and an "Extreme Performance" OC profile of 2,775 MHz. Additionally, the GPU is capable of reaching 3,742 MHz, which is the fastest LN2 GeForce RTX 5090 GPU ever.

The MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z will come with an 800 W power limit out of the box, while the "Extreme" power preset mode gives it a 1000 W power envelope on the 360 mm AIO water cooling. The extensive engineering involved in the PCB design along with a 40-phase VRM allows the GPU to sustain multi-kilowatt loads. The card uses 28 Gbps Samsung GDDR7 memory, which can be overclocked to 36 Gbps on LN2. Additionally, only LN2 is capable of taming the XOC BIOS, which comes with 2.5 kW of power load and will require extensive PCB modifications. For a product that costs $5,200, only extreme overclockers would dare to modify the card. For the rest of us mere mortals, MSI recommends a power supply with a capacity of 1600 W, providing ample room for basic overclocking without ruining the card.https://tpucdn.com/img/vHjzPZ5eZMvafl54_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vHjzPZ5eZMvafl54.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/4k5lboPLf3zpzeGL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/4k5lboPLf3zpzeGL.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/GF4YhESi6WDjSywc_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GF4YhESi6WDjSywc.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/DPVK4BciTmaKi6sp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DPVK4BciTmaKi6sp.jpg)

More... (https://www.techpowerup.com/346047/msi-geforce-rtx-5090-lightning-z-gpu-listed-at-usd-5-200-in-taiwan)

[NextPowerUP]

NVIDIA's upcoming "Vera Rubin" AI systems are scheduled for late summer shipping (https://www.techpowerup.com/345358/first-shipments-of-nvidia-vera-rubin-ai-servers-expected-around-late-summer) in the form of VR200 NVL72 rack-scale solutions that will power the next generation of AI models. However, not every memory maker of HBM4 qualified for a design win, as Micron has reportedly fallen out of the equation, with only Samsung and SK hynix left to supply the precious HBM4 memory. According to leaked institutional notes from SemiAnalysis, which tracks the supply chain in great detail, SK Hynix will represent about 70% of the HBM4 supply for VR200 NVL72 systems, with Samsung getting the remaining 30% of the supply. For a major memory maker like Micron, there is reportedly zero commitment for the supply of HBM4 memory.

Interestingly, this is not the end of Micron's share of memory in NVIDIA VR200 NVL72 systems. Instead of HBM4, the company will supply LPDDR5X memory for "Vera" CPUs, which can be equipped with up to 1.5 TB of LPDDR5X, making up for the lost share with the HBM4. It is possible that Micron didn't qualify for the significant system upgrade (https://www.techpowerup.com/345388/nvidia-upgrades-vera-rubin-memory-bandwidth-ahead-of-amd-instinct-mi400-launch) that NVIDIA performed for VR200 NVL72, which went from the initial system target of 13 TB/s in March 2025 to 20.5 TB/s in September. However, at CES 2026, NVIDIA confirmed that the VR200 NVL72 system is now operating at 22 TB/s of bandwidth, marking a nearly 70% increase in system bandwidth, all derived from aggressive memory specification scaling that the company demanded from the memory makers.https://tpucdn.com/img/UmoPbtyZuG0shmdY_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UmoPbtyZuG0shmdY.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/MHDtTIa7gYfGUg3J_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/MHDtTIa7gYfGUg3J.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346044/nvidia-to-use-sk-hynix-and-samsung-hbm4-for-vera-rubin-without-micron)

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[NextPowerUP]

Intel and AMD have reportedly warned customers in China about tightening server CPU supplies, with delivery times stretching significantly and prices already moving higher. According to Reuters, average prices for Intel server processors in China have increased by more than 10%, depending on contract terms, while delivery times for some Xeon models have extended to as much as six months. The situation appears most severe for Intel's fourth and fifth-generation Xeon processors, where backlogs are reportedly building fast. AMD is facing similar, though less extreme constraints, with some server CPU orders now quoted at eight to ten weeks for delivery. China remains a major market for both companies, accounting for over 20% of Intel's total revenue, and includes customers such as large server OEMs and cloud operators like Alibaba and Tencent. The supply crunch is being driven by a mix of factors, including surging demand tied to AI infrastructure and so-called "agentic AI" systems, which significantly increase CPU requirements alongside GPUs.

Manufacturing limits are also having a negative effect with Intel admitting supply issues linked to manufacturing and yield problems, while AMD relies on TSMC, which now gives priority to high-profit AI chips. Rising memory costs in China have put more pressure on the market, with buyers rushing to buy CPUs to avoid paying more for complete systems later. Both companies say they are working to improve supply. Intel told Reuters its inventory hit a low point in Q1 but expects gradual improvement through 2026, while AMD stated it remains confident in its ability to meet demand based on supplier agreements and its partnership with TSMC. For now, however, customers may still be facing higher prices and longer waits for server CPUs.https://tpucdn.com/img/B0luVDeC4EVXLsNI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/B0luVDeC4EVXLsNI.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Simon Lin, the chairman of Wistron, has gone on record to say that AI is not a bubble and that the growth of AI-related orders for the company will be higher in 2026 than those it had in 2025. Reuters is quoting him saying "We believe AI really does help all industries, so I don't think it's a bubble; I think it will mark a new era. A new AI era is arriving." Wistron is expecting AI-related orders to see them through all the way into 2027 and this year's growth is expected to be "significant."

Wistron is expecting to open its new US manufacturing facility this half of 2026, where the company will be producing AI servers on behalf of NVIDIA. Wistron is said to have a four-year contract with NVIDIA that is valued at as much as US$500 billion. The question here is if the industry is trying its best to make as much profit out of the current market trend, or if this really is a long-term business for companies such as Wistron. We've seen past bubbles where company leadership has denied it being a bubble, until it was, but maybe it's different this time around.https://tpucdn.com/img/mcAUf6ckByeN3Vb8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mcAUf6ckByeN3Vb8.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

GALLOP INNOTEK today unveiled a new generation of silicone-free thermal gap pad, the GTP160-NS. This GTP160-NS is engineered to solve silicone out-gassing or silicone bleeding in sensitive electronics, optical systems, satellite technology, and medical devices.

With the non-silicone formulation, GALLOP INNOTEK uses different materials like acrylic or urethane polymers to solve the siloxane compatibility problem. This marks a major milestone in GALLOP's efforts to provide thermally conductive pads for silicone-sensitive applications.https://tpucdn.com/img/KsNTA1rtPIBOYgFe_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/KsNTA1rtPIBOYgFe.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/lie3BmPJFJmZgCTN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/lie3BmPJFJmZgCTN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tKxoE0t0tpNoBIRr_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tKxoE0t0tpNoBIRr.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

According to Nikkei Asia, some of the biggest PC makers like ASUS, Acer, Dell, and HP are exploring alternative memory suppliers amid industry-wide memory shortages, which are forcing PC OEMs to seek supply even from Chinese memory maker CXMT. Late last year, CXMT (https://www.techpowerup.com/343185/chinese-cxmt-shows-homegrown-ddr5-8000-and-lpddr5x-10667-memory) unveiled its homegrown DDR5-8000 and LPDDR5X-10667 memory modules at the 2025 China International Semiconductor Expo. This has likely prompted many OEMs to start finding alternatives to the traditional triad of SK Hynix, Samsung, and Micron, whose supply has been very limited outside AI accelerator workloads.

CXMT offers 12 Gb and 16 Gb LPDDR5X capacities, while DDR5 scales to 16 Gb and 24 Gb module formats. The 16 Gb DDR5 chips from CXMT measure 67 square millimeters, with a density of 0.239 Gb per square millimeter. The G4 DRAM cells are 20% smaller than CXMT's previous G3 generation. Reportedly, CXMT manufactures these chips using a 16 nm node, which is three years behind Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron in manufacturing capabilities. However, CXMT is progressing quickly, and its DRAM modules adhere to the official JEDEC specifications and even exceeding the specification, making them ideal for OEM PCs depending on the use case.https://tpucdn.com/img/WPOGBUk6uKaEMLhL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WPOGBUk6uKaEMLhL.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346035/major-pc-oems-reportedly-exploring-chinese-cxmt-memory-amid-shortages)

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[NextPowerUP]

At Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 in Barcelona, Akasa showcased its latest solutions that embed LCD screens in passively-cooled cases. There are three versions, including "Kepler," "Maxwell Pro Plus," and "Euler CMX," all of which come with an LCD screen for monitoring or providing a visual interface that a user might need. First on the list is the new "Kepler" chassis, which is a 2U rack-mountable design with support for microATX and Mini-ITX boards, compatible with either Intel LGA1851 or LGA1700 sockets, capable of running anything from 12th to 14th Generation Intel Core processors, or Core Ultra in the latest 15th Generation "Arrow Lake." The system limits the CPU TDP to 35 W, which makes sense since it is a completely passively cooled enclosure. Kepler includes a 150 W AC-to-DC converter to power the system, and there is the possibility to install up to four single-slot low-profile PCIe cards or anything that fits within four slots of low-profile PCIe space.https://tpucdn.com/img/Egq7xqt9NVkmJ7dp_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Egq7xqt9NVkmJ7dp.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/kIymHCZEPqfPZroF_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kIymHCZEPqfPZroF.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/SiUm0wTd0LMkFCU2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/SiUm0wTd0LMkFCU2.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346031/akasa-shows-first-fanless-enclosures-with-lcd-screens)

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[NextPowerUP]

ASUS IoT, a global leader in AIoT solutions, today announced PE1000U, a compact DIN-rail-mountable edge computer powered by an Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processor. Measuring just 63 x 110 x 160 mm, PE1000U features extensive I/O connectivity to address the growing demand for real-time intelligence at the edge. Housed in a fanless, rugged IP40-rated chassis that's been subjected to US MIL-STD-810H testing for 5Grms vibration, PE1000U is able to operate in environments with temperatures ranging between -25°C to 70°C. It accepts a wide 9-36 V DC power input and includes built-in ignition control, making it suitable for on-vehicle deployment. PE1000U is also ideal for collaborative robots, AMR, industrial vision equipment, and other space-constrained deployments where reliability is paramount.

Performance and connectivity in a palm-sized package
PE1000U is powered by either an Intel Core Ultra 265U or 235U processor paired with hybrid cutting-edge CPU, GPU, and NPU acceleration for high single-thread responsiveness for motion control while simultaneously accelerating AI inference and graphics workloads. Front-access I/O connectors include four USB ports, up to four COM ports, and up to four Ethernet ports (two 2.5G by default) to simplify sensor, camera, and network integration. Onboard dual CAN Bus and an isolated DIO module enhance deterministic control, while DisplayPort and HDMI outputs support up to two 4K displays for HMI or machine-vision monitoring.https://tpucdn.com/img/cVTqc6c6NSzLDoA6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/cVTqc6c6NSzLDoA6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/5Ga707i50R6wfyO1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5Ga707i50R6wfyO1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/W6vKVeeFJqZQZhoW_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/W6vKVeeFJqZQZhoW.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/faMb1lvuVnbcvXkj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/faMb1lvuVnbcvXkj.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/dLHgdlxN1XnNodGZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dLHgdlxN1XnNodGZ.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346030/asus-iot-introduces-pe1000u-rugged-fanless-din-rail-industrial-pc)

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[NextPowerUP]

According to HardwareLuxx (https://www.hardwareluxx.de/index.php/news/software/anwendungsprogramme/68148-mfg-und-g-sync-pulsar-ausprobiert-dynamic-mfg-und-6x-erscheinen-im-fruehling.html), NVIDIA has confirmed that Dynamic Multi Frame Generation (MFG) and Multi Frame Generation 6x mode are scheduled for release in April. HardwareLuxx visited NVIDIA's Munich office in Germany and obtained some exclusive information from the company. This includes the exact release date for NVIDIA's latest Dynamic Multi Frame Generation and Multi Frame Generation 6x mode, which are bringing NVIDIA DLSS 4.5 technologies to the public. With DLSS 4.5, NVIDIA can get the GPU to draw up to 5 frames following each traditionally rendered frame, made entirely using generative AI. Using the new MFG 6x mode results in a 6x performance uplift, where a game that traditionally runs at 60 FPS can now run at 360 FPS.

However, for setups where a monitor is maxed out at 240 Hz or 144 Hz, like many gaming panels are, using 6x MFG would be overkill. This is where Dynamic MFG comes into play. This technology will determine which MFG multiplier is needed based on the display's refresh rate capability that is used for the MFG target and the input framerate from the upscaler. The company calls this "automatic transmission" for MFG, making a parallel to modern vehicle automatic transmission systems that also switch gears based on the need. For example, in demanding game scenarios, the MFG multiplier could be 4x, 5x, or 6x, while less demanding game sections like the settings menu or some static scenes will require only a 2x multiplier to achieve the FPS goal. HardwareLuxx tested this and reported smooth transitions while keeping the FPS stable.https://tpucdn.com/img/ckHM23pYLu6fQq3R_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ckHM23pYLu6fQq3R.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/YafHNz8fi9K3YsdV_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YafHNz8fi9K3YsdV.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346029/nvidia-confirms-dynamic-multi-frame-generation-and-6x-mode-arrive-in-april)

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[NextPowerUP]

There have been previous rumors that Guerrilla games was working on a new multiplayer game in the Horizon (https://www.techpowerup.com/342877/sonys-horizon-series-is-getting-an-mmo) universe, but it was thought that the game would be an MMO. Instead—or maybe in addition to the MMO—Sony has just announced (https://blog.playstation.com/2026/02/05/announcing-horizon-hunters-gathering-guerrillas-new-co-op-action-game/) Horizon Hunters Gathering, a co-op PvE game with teams of three players. It seems like Hunters Gathering will largely follow a similar formula to the Monster Hunter series, where parties take on missions to hunt monsters. At launch, there will be three playable characters to choose from, each with their own weapons, abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, and there will be two mission types to choose from during the first playtest, scheduled for late February. Machine Incursion sees players defend an area from a machine attack, replete with a tough boss fight at the end. Cauldron Descent is a dungeon crawling-style affair, where players mount an assault on a machine base, exploring a multi-stage dungeon and fighting enemies along the way and tackling environmental puzzles. Hunters Gathering will also have a campaign mode at launch, which can be played through single-player or in co-op mode.

While the Hunters Gathering announcement trailer details much of the gameplay, it does not confirm if players will stick with one class throughout various missions, but there is no mention of progression, so it seems as though players will choose a character at the start of each mission queue. Guerrilla Games also confirmed that more hunters will be added to the game at a later stage, adding credence to this theory. Horizon Hunters Gathering is set in the American West, 1,000 years into the future and after the collapse of civilization. The premise is that the hunters are the last line of defense against the machines that roam the wilds and threaten human tribes. The machine designs will feel familiar to anyone who's played the original single-player Horizon games, but the visual style is now much more stylized and cartoon-like. The game will launch on PC and PlayStation 5 and cross-play will be available at launch, although an exact launch date has not yet been announced.https://tpucdn.com/img/6y7oRkUozLOb3wcy_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6y7oRkUozLOb3wcy.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/CsIPFixsxu3mNAPi_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/CsIPFixsxu3mNAPi.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6gzCr5ZYKU1Ya51K_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6gzCr5ZYKU1Ya51K.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346021/horizon-hunters-gathering-new-3-player-co-op-game-in-horizon-universe-coming-to-pc-and-ps5)

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[NextPowerUP]

Keychron has announced two new low-profile wireless keyboards, the K3 HE and K3 Ultra, both set to launch on February 12. The pair builds on the company's recent HE and Ultra designs, combining a slim form factor with gaming-focused features and wood accent details. Similar to the K2 HE (https://www.techpowerup.com/343699/keychron-launches-k2-he-all-wood-special-edition-wireless-mechanical-keyboard), the upcoming K3 HE keyboard uses Lime low-profile hall effect magnetic switches, so users will be able to adjust actuation points, trigger and reset behavior, and configure multi-action or analog inputs. The Keychron K3 HE is also expected to support third-party low-profile Hall effect switches, including Gateron Magnetic Jade Pro and TTC KOM, avoiding a fully proprietary ecosystem. By contrast, the K3 Ultra sticks with traditional mechanical switches, using pre-lubed low-profile Milk POM switches with a high 8,000 Hz polling rate. This puts input latency as low as 0.125 ms, targeting competitive gaming scenarios where response time is a priority. The keyboard runs on ZMK firmware and is rated for up to 550 hours of battery life in 2.4 GHz wireless mode.

Both models emphasize portability and are expected to use an ABS bottom case with metal and wood frame similar to earlier HE Special Edition keyboards. The keyboards will be available in black and white versions. Keychron has not yet disclosed final pricing, though early access requires a $3 reservation fee.https://tpucdn.com/img/gYgohnZiyL5LSMif_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gYgohnZiyL5LSMif.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/kACeb2Qoa8w5vCXA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kACeb2Qoa8w5vCXA.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/08r9Vl9v3j4x6FH2_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/08r9Vl9v3j4x6FH2.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/hBRVZT4JaFQOK6yH_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/hBRVZT4JaFQOK6yH.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

BenQ, a global leader in display and collaboration solutions, today announced the InstaShow VS25, a wireless conferencing system built to make hybrid meetings easier and smoother. Designed for corporate meeting rooms and executive spaces, the VS25 delivers app-free, hardware-based wireless conferencing with ultra-low-latency performance for easy in-room and remote collaboration.

As more organizations adopt hybrid work, modern conference rooms must support easy in-room collaboration and reliable participation for remote attendees. While wireless presentation has become standard, many wireless conferencing solutions still rely on CPU-intensive Bring Your Own Meeting (BYOM) apps layered on top of popular video conferencing platforms. This creates performance bottlenecks, security exposure, and friction for guests.https://tpucdn.com/img/8mTxJEIc0zTnKm8V_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/8mTxJEIc0zTnKm8V.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/AU4sZg61VS5razSC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/AU4sZg61VS5razSC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/mMp6DfhC0D9SiUdN_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mMp6DfhC0D9SiUdN.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/5Ji11S9r2Xq1BMrd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/5Ji11S9r2Xq1BMrd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/tDj2jUF4GzbjaYoT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tDj2jUF4GzbjaYoT.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of edge computing solutions, industrial motherboards, graphics cards, storage devices, and memory solutions, is excited to introduce its latest DDR5 16 GB UDIMM memory, available in 4800 and 5600 MT variants. Designed with a focus on stability, efficiency, and broad system compatibility, the new DDR5 memory delivers reliable performance across everyday computing and professional applications.

Designed to support a wide range of computing environments, BIOSTAR DDR5 16 GB UDIMM memory offers a balanced and dependable solution for every day and professional use. From home entertainment and office productivity to HTPC systems, NAS deployments, system integration projects, content creation, and casual to mid-range gaming, this memory delivers smooth multitasking and consistent system responsiveness across diverse workloads.https://tpucdn.com/img/kVtoJCMvmKCLKWOa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/kVtoJCMvmKCLKWOa.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/y04aHLjVesRhc0qL_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/y04aHLjVesRhc0qL.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/accQMTOjcl0wMWk4_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/accQMTOjcl0wMWk4.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/DeWmVjpIVsPsoAt1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DeWmVjpIVsPsoAt1.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346238/biostar-introduces-ddr5-16-gb-udimm-4800-5600-mt-memory)

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[NextPowerUP]

Microsoft's Windows 11 26H1 (https://www.techpowerup.com/342753/windows-11-26h1-focuses-on-new-silicon-support-not-new-features) update, initially expected to offer only new silicon support without a host of new features, is now dedicated exclusively to new and upcoming Arm-based processors like the Snapdragon X2 Elite/Plus. This marks a significant shift in Windows 11's development path—a first divergence in Windows deployment in the recent timeline, and a first for Windows 11. As a result, regular PC users with x86-64 and older Arm-based platforms will continue to use the Windows 11 25H2 as a feature update. According to the latest Windows IT Pro Blog, "Windows 11, version 26H1 is not a feature update for version 25H2," indicating that a different version will serve as the next feature update for Windows 11, rather than the anticipated 26H1.

Microsoft is concentrating on providing full support for the new Windows-on-Arm platforms, some of which are already available. These platforms include Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite processors and NVIDIA's N1 and N1x SoCs. This new hardware requires optimization from Microsoft to ensure the best experience on Windows 11, so the company is dedicating most of its efforts for the 26H1 update to this task. Since new silicon requires fine-tuning, such as specific power profiles and hardware optimizations to extract maximum performance, Microsoft is separating Windows 11 into another branch to make sure that servicing and updates are easier, and also that shipping customized power/performance settings doesn't end up corrupting the build for non-Arm CPUs.https://tpucdn.com/img/mhScQXHGIhrLLDCz_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/mhScQXHGIhrLLDCz.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/p6h1j1hzCAl6uhi0_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/p6h1j1hzCAl6uhi0.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346237/windows-11-26h1-limited-to-new-arm-based-processors-other-pcs-remain-on-25h2)

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[NextPowerUP]

Intel is preparing to launch its next generation Core Ultra Series 4 "Nova Lake" processors in the second half of 2026. We have some hint on what the sizes of the Compute tiles of these chips could measure. "Nova Lake" remains a tile-based disaggregated chip, just like the current "Arrow Lake," with the most advanced foundry node being allocated only to the components that can benefit the most from it, the CPU cores. The CPU complex of the processor is located in the Compute tile, while low-power island E-cores are located on the SoC tile that's built on a slightly older foundry node.

Intel is building the Compute tile of "Nova Lake" on the TSMC N2 (2 nm nanosheet) foundry node. There will be different types of Compute tiles based on the CPU core count and cache sizes. The two most popular ones for the desktop platform will be the mainstream tile with 8P+16E core configuration and a standard L3 cache size shared among the eight P-cores and four E-core clusters. The second, more premium Compute tile type will be 8P+16E with bLLC, or big last-level cache. bLLC is an enlarged L3 cache that's estimated to be 3-4 times the size of the regular L3 cache. This is Intel's answer to AMD's 3D V-Cache. Estimates put the regular Compute tile to measure around 110 mm², while the premium variant with bLLC is estimated to measure over 150 mm². This 36% increase in die-area is entirely from the enlarged last-level cache.https://tpucdn.com/img/1GYULemXXyoafRBk_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/1GYULemXXyoafRBk.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346236/intel-nova-lake-compute-tile-die-sizes-surface)

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[NextPowerUP]

BenQ, global innovator of visual display technology and digital lifestyle devices, today premiered MA270S and MA320UG, new MA Series flagships that redefine what a Mac display can be, bringing a sense of ease, clarity, and thoughtful design to modern Mac lifestyles. Designed for those who expect more than what's built in, the 2026 BenQ MA Series delivers the effortless simplicity Mac users love, now with BenQ's decades-long display expertise. With Mac-tuned colour, smoother motion, and design language that feels native to the Apple ecosystem, the MA Series expands creative freedom and everyday efficiency beyond familiar limits.

"We designed the new MA Series with Mac users in mind - something that doesn't just connect, but enhances," said Peter Huang, President of BenQ Corporation. "These monitors bring true Mac colours to life with smoother motion and smarter workflows, helping users work and create with greater freedom than ever before."https://tpucdn.com/img/tGJ2OohdKQqB14r5_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/tGJ2OohdKQqB14r5.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/t86gLkq15ZG931wd_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/t86gLkq15ZG931wd.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/g55kACUEEBLh7JkB_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/g55kACUEEBLh7JkB.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346234/benq-announces-new-ma-series-flagship-monitors-with-glossy-panels)

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[NextPowerUP]

TrendForce's latest smartphone industry research predicts that soaring memory prices are set to weigh heavily on global smartphone production in 2026. Total output is forecast to decline 10% YoY to approximately 1.135 billion units. With memory prices showing no clear signs of easing, the growing gap between higher retail prices and consumer price tolerance is expected to further dampen end demand.

Under a bear-case scenario, TrendForce warns that the annual contraction in global smartphone production could widen to 15% or more. The extent of the impact, however, will vary by brand, depending on differences in product mix and regional exposure.https://tpucdn.com/img/bv8PV2KIeVxOpU3j_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/bv8PV2KIeVxOpU3j.jpg)
Read full story (https://www.techpowerup.com/346233/memory-price-surge-intensifies-retail-pricing-pressure-putting-global-smartphone-production-at-risk-of-a-sharp-decline-in-2026)

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[NextPowerUP]

GAMEMAX, a rising innovator in PC gaming hardware, today announced the launch of the NEX C51 and NEX C31, two new panoramic PC cases designed to combine premium showcase aesthetics, advanced cooling support, and modern connectivity at an accessible price point. Built for gamers and PC builders who want their hardware on full display, the NEX C51 and NEX C31 feature a pillar-free panoramic design with dual tempered glass panels, delivering a clean and uninterrupted view of internal components. With strong hardware compatibility and pre-installed ARGB cooling, the new NEX series is engineered to deliver exceptional value without compromise.

The GAMEMAX NEX C51 Panoramic ATX PC Case is designed for builders seeking a spacious, high-impact chassis that highlights premium components while maintaining excellent airflow. Its internal layout separates major heat-generating components from the power supply and cables, improving airflow efficiency and simplifying cable management.https://tpucdn.com/img/V8bGqttF1b9GxPlD_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/V8bGqttF1b9GxPlD.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Yhsr6cz9JpBHI6sP_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Yhsr6cz9JpBHI6sP.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/uqLg3dMlDmKFfZDE_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/uqLg3dMlDmKFfZDE.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

TSMC just reported its January 2026 revenue results, with a net revenue of NT$401.26 billion (about $12.763 billion), an increase of 19.8% from December 2025 and an increase of 36.8% from January 2025. While these results are impressive, TSMC will have to spend more to keep customers coming back, and its board has just approved a $44.962 billion package to expand and upgrade its semiconductor facilities in 2026. This is a record capital expenditure for TSMC, indicating that the AI boom and sustained demand from its mobile customers are enough to keep the capital expenditure increasing every year. Originally, the plans included spending about $17.141 billion in Q1 of 2025, $15.247 billion in Q2, $20.657 billion in Q3, and $14.981 billion in Q4. However, most of these funds will actually be spent in 2026. Less than the new $45 billion figure was spent in 2025, making the new 2026 CapEx target the largest one to date.

TSMC's plans for this massive figure include expanding production capacity with hundreds of thousands of wafers per month, distributed across mature, current, and next-generation advanced nodes. Interestingly, mature node capacity is as important as maintaining the current node production, as entire industries like the automotive industry rely on TSMC's production and advanced packaging to satisfy all market needs. The current plan is to allocate about 70-80% of the new $45 billion package towards advanced nodes, with about 10-20% going to advanced packaging and mask making. The remaining 10% will be used for specialty technology expansion, likely including silicon photonics and other technologies.https://tpucdn.com/img/UjWHpghamnwUD5ln_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/UjWHpghamnwUD5ln.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/ubeFqwTN2FdbTZx6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/ubeFqwTN2FdbTZx6.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Blizzard recently announced a bunch of new heroes alongside a slew of structural and gameplay changes (https://www.techpowerup.com/345980/blizzard-rebrands-overwatch-2-to-overwatch-adds-10-new-heroes-and-revamps-game-systems) coming in a new update at the start of 2026's season 1. One of the characters announced to be landing in the season 1 update, Anran, received some backlash from the community (https://www.reddit.com/r/overwatch2/comments/1qxdh19/one_face_fits_everything/), who called her design generic and samey. Compared to a previous appearance (https://youtu.be/ytZnOGwEq9s?&t=67) in the character trailer for her younger brother, her character design had objectively been softened from the blunter, bolder facial features shown—a change that was criticized by the character's voice actor, who posted a video on X (https://x.com/AskFareeha/status/2020291256279089431/video/1) in which she said the character's design "Ozempic chic" and said that it had let down an audience who was expecting a character who breaks the mold.

In a recent response (https://x.com/PlayOverwatch/status/2021058375337791653) to the community backlash, Overwatch game director, Aaron Keller, has said that Blizzard would be working on Anran's design to make her "look and feel more like the fierce older sister that we all envisioned her to be." Keller clarifies that he believes Blizzard can make the character even better than she is in her current iteration, but he does not have any specific details regarding what changes will be made until testing has been done. While many celebrated the commitment to community feedback, not all Overwatch fans were pleased by the announcement, with some users on X (https://x.com/PlayOverwatch/status/2021058375337791653) saying that the move is capitulation to manipulative culture and that the announcement of a redesign has caused them to lose interest in the game.https://tpucdn.com/img/wyI9R1jWp09bQQND_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/wyI9R1jWp09bQQND.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/WbmfPYgLCOSJ3Zu8_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/WbmfPYgLCOSJ3Zu8.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Applied Materials, Inc., the leader in materials engineering for the semiconductor industry, today introduced new deposition, etch and materials modification systems that boost the performance of leading-edge logic chips at 2 nm and beyond. The technologies supercharge AI compute through atomic-scale improvements to the most fundamental electronic building block - the transistor.

The transition to Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistors is a major industry inflection and a critical enabler of the energy-efficient computing needed to deliver more powerful AI chips. As 2 nm-class GAA chips ramp to volume production this year, Applied is introducing new material innovations to enhance next-generation GAA transistors for angstrom nodes. The combined impact of the new chipmaking systems contributes a significant portion of the total energy-efficient performance gains of GAA process node transitions.https://tpucdn.com/img/DJhR626uzGBPZIno_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/DJhR626uzGBPZIno.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Pm4idRzhhHfBC5rA_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Pm4idRzhhHfBC5rA.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Marathon is slated to launch on March 6 (https://www.techpowerup.com/345368/marathon-launches-on-march-5-new-gameplay-footage-shown-in-pre-order-trailer), 2026, but a handful of influencers in China have apparently already been testing the game out ahead of the official launch, according to a post on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/Marathon/comments/1r0y128/hands_on_impressions_from_marathons_china_event/) and UCG on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ld6VPndX1jQ). The post and YouTube review detail some of the reports from the hands-on testing, revealing both in-game content and some first impressions about gameplay. First off, it's notable that the game has received a massive visual overhaul in terms of assets and UI, which is something the Marathon dev team has already shown off in previews and gameplay teasers, but the game world is overall much darker and more mysterious. The first-hand experiences in the post claim that there is deep world-building with a focus on the narrative and personalities in the game. The PvE is reportedly "extremely challenging," with enemy AI proactively calling in reinforcements to keep up the pressure, offering players little rest between combat encounters.

That's not to say players should expect to be getting buddy-buddy with other players, since the loot game pushes players to see each other as an easy way to grab loot. The reviewer also suggests that Marathon will seemingly emphasize the late game experience rather than encouraging early PvP and combat. Players are instead encouraged by the game systems to focus on completing missions, levelling up base stats, and upgrading gear before heading into combat situations. According to the reviewer, there will be decent variety when it comes to weapons and skills, and the skill balance is well tuned between the seven different character classes we know of so far. There are apparently 28 guns in the game, each with at least two skins, and the ability to change the gun model in some cases. Some additional information posted in the comments from the Chinese game event claim that there will be "more verticality than players expect," and that completing faction quests can unlock permanent map shortcuts between zones. There is also apparently an in-game creature called the Anomaly, which will be able to reshape the map mid-game. One source also claims that, in one game, there were three teams of six players each, bringing it up to 18 players per match.https://tpucdn.com/img/s8KRS6FR8FvQYUdg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/s8KRS6FR8FvQYUdg.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Trust announces the launch of the new Seron Slim Multi-Wireless Hyperscroll Mouse - combining a portable design with ultimate productivity, this wireless mouse is the ideal companion for professionals who work across multiple devices and locations.

At just 31 mm in height, the Seron's ultra-thin design easily slips into any bag, whilst its premium metal hyperscroll wheel with tilt function makes navigating through lengthy documents and spreadsheets effortless. Whether scrolling vertically through reports and webpages or horizontally across data tables, users can work more efficiently throughout the day.https://tpucdn.com/img/dFx92X1cVSvQMcMO_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/dFx92X1cVSvQMcMO.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/GDBMOORg8hVR2Kia_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/GDBMOORg8hVR2Kia.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/JtZwgeKCuhHB98rX_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/JtZwgeKCuhHB98rX.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/3bbo0x1nrcABP2ix_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/3bbo0x1nrcABP2ix.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/vAXjF4Lm3DNoItpa_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/vAXjF4Lm3DNoItpa.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

SilverStone has quietly expanded its comprehensive range of CPU cooling solutions with a myriad of brand-new designs, across both air and liquid cooling lines. A pair of 2U small form factor server/workstation CPU cooling solutions have gained the most media attention. As expected, the Taiwanese manufacturer has not issued any press material for this pair of freshly introduced AMD-oriented products. The SST-XE02-AM5B cooler's naming scheme clearly states that it is intended for deployment on Team Red's AM5 socket, although SilverStone's specification sheet mentions compatibility with the older AM4 platform. The SST-XE02-TR5B SKU's credentials list support of AMD's sTR5, SP6, TR4, and SP3 socket types.

The newest AM5B and TR5B models share similar traits; mainly a provision of five 6 mm heat-pipes combined with aluminium fins—marketed as offering "excellent heat conducting efficiency"—and a centrally-positioned 60 mm PWM dual ball bearing fan. This fan model's specification sheet lists an RPM range of 2000 to 14,000, a 72.8 CFM maximum airflow rating, and max. air pressure of 47.18 mmH2O. Mean Time To Failure (MTTF) is estimated at 70,000 operational hours. Despite featuring the same fan, the two low-profile SST-XE02 models deviate in terms of CPU TDP ratings—the AM5/AM4 compatible cooler is rated up to 170 W, while the ever so slightly larger/heavier sibling (sTR5/SP6/TR4/SP3) is capable of tempering up to 350 W. Naturally, the more capable unit is tasked with handling (for example) EPYC 8004 and Ryzen Threadripper 7000 processors.https://tpucdn.com/img/f7yw5F9exv3E7L7c_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/f7yw5F9exv3E7L7c.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/6MRVMcUZil05xFCT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/6MRVMcUZil05xFCT.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2LQx9ciryCkjRFYn_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2LQx9ciryCkjRFYn.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/2vFidxhcCIiqrn7r_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/2vFidxhcCIiqrn7r.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

On February 28, Monster Hunter Wilds will celebrate its first anniversary, and Capcom will be marking the occasion with a sizeable new content update that will introduce performance improvements and a slew of in-game events throughout February and March. Update 1.041, which lands on February 18, delivers the new missions, monsters, weapons, and rewards, alongside the aforementioned anniversary events. Monster Hunter Wilds producer, Ryozo Tsujimoto, announced (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_NjU8O6qSQ) the new update in a video posted on the official Monster Hunter YouTube channel. Tsujimoto also announced that Capcom is working on a new expansion for Monster Hunter Wilds that is on the same level as Iceborne and Sunbreak for Monster Hunter Worlds and Rise. Given the direct comparison, it's likely that this will also be a premium paid expansion coming in at around the same $39.99 price point as the aforementioned Worlds expansions. Aside from sharing that more details will arrive "this summer," meaning between June and August, no details have been shared about the contents of the new update, but the comparison also suggests we will see it launch with a new locale with a new hub, missions, and enemies.

The February 2026 update will add a new boss, the Arch-tempered Arkveld, a monster available to hunters above rank 100, in its own 10-star event quest alongside special 10-star quests featuring all four previous Arch-tempered monsters and rare rewards. Completing the Arch-tempered Arkveld quest will unlock a special optional hunt-a-thon quest pitting players against all four Arch-tempered monsters in a single quest. The update also makes the winning sword and pendant from the weapon design contest available to everyone as a special event quest reward. There will also be a collaboration with Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection (https://www.techpowerup.com/346134/capcom-releases-free-trial-of-monster-hunter-stories-3-twisted-reflection), and the anniversary events will make all previous time-specific event rewards available again through a weekly rotation of previous seasonal events. The anniversary events and collaboration will feature new and fun twists on existing quests to match the Festival of Accord vibes, with matching Stories rewards. The event festivities will last for a month, from February 18 to March 19, and there will be special one-time event rewards. The development team has also analyzed game data and prepared a special limited-time event featuring a buffed version of the least-hunted monster in the game, with the quest again delivering special cosmetics and rewards. Tsujimoto says that Capcom still has more in-store for Monster Hunter fans that it will reveal closer to the anniversary event start date.https://tpucdn.com/img/i4GCF5wSA9ThDlDR_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/i4GCF5wSA9ThDlDR.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/FivENofUj0e5OO2L_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/FivENofUj0e5OO2L.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/fj4GT02wxoiHLHEZ_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/fj4GT02wxoiHLHEZ.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Hello everyone! The twenty-something devs at Vermila Studios (https://vermila.com/#aboutus) would like to thank you very much for your interest in Crisol: Theater of Idols (https://www.blumhouse.com/games/crisol-theater-of-idols). Today is an incredible day because, after more than five years under development, we can see everyone experiencing the game. Do not hesitate to leave a review, they are very encouraging and help us improve the game within our abilities. We hope Tormentosa surprises and terrifies you equally, and that your blood will protect you from all evil. Go for it, good luck!

Crisol: Theater of Idols is a first-person horror/action game set in Hispania, a twisted version of Spain. Play as Gabriel, a soldier who uses blood as both weapon and lifeline. Explore the cursed island of Tormentosa, uncover dark secrets, and battle horrifying enemies. Will you survive? Crisol is developed by Vermila Studios, and published by Blumhouse Games (https://www.blumhouse.com/games).https://tpucdn.com/img/b9hM8FqfJXiq4ad6_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/b9hM8FqfJXiq4ad6.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/p3UeilGlZxPrx2h1_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/p3UeilGlZxPrx2h1.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/nRgDvVnRR3KX6QAM_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/nRgDvVnRR3KX6QAM.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/61z1lAXI2j1p8Tvw_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/61z1lAXI2j1p8Tvw.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

According to fresh news reports ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) has just announced the initiation of HBM3 module mass manufacturing activities. The Chinese computer memory maker is slowly catching up with more mainstream international rivals—most notably, South Korean companies started full production of fourth-generation high-bandwidth memory (HBM3) products back in 2023. Over the past year, CXMT has demonstrated improved capabilities across a promising range of (mostly) commercial lines—for example, their proprietary DDR5 and LPDDR5X designs (https://www.techpowerup.com/343185/chinese-cxmt-shows-homegrown-ddr5-8000-and-lpddr5x-10667-memory) were showcased in preview form, last November. By early February (2026), the likes of ASUS, Acer, Dell, and HP were reportedly weighing up the sourcing of CXMT consumer-grade memory products (https://www.techpowerup.com/346035/major-pc-oems-reportedly-exploring-chinese-cxmt-memory-amid-shortages).

The first signs of CXMT's diversification into the development of "homegrown" HBM3 modules were divulged by industry insiders, last May (https://www.techpowerup.com/337380/cxmt-reportedly-diversifying-manufacturing-footprint-with-hbm3-could-expand-ddr5-production). By early autumn, a joint venture—involving YMTC—seemed to pave the way for an acceleration of the Chinese industry's overall HBM manufacturing footprint. Huawei's newest/futuristic Ascend AI accelerator (https://www.techpowerup.com/344062/huawei-ascend-950-ai-accelerator-pictured) relies on "in-house" HBM tech, due to global sanctions preventing the supply of cutting-edge Micron, Samsung, SK Hynix components to Chinese firms. An MK South Korea reports cites recent information disclosed by an anonymous source, regarding a secret partnership: "Huawei, which is leading the development of AI semiconductors in China, is developing HBM together with CXMT. It is expected to enter mass production despite (talk of) low yield(s)." Further inside track info posits that CXMT is planning a per month output of 60,000 wafers for "HBM3 production." This impressive guesstimate allegedly accounts for about 20% of the memory maker's total manufacturing capacity of 300,000 wafers per month, at least for 2026.https://tpucdn.com/img/Ugo9qjsvPkMcTrju_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Ugo9qjsvPkMcTrju.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/gXNI0QUPVnIHAfgj_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/gXNI0QUPVnIHAfgj.jpg)

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[NextPowerUP]

Intel and Google published the results of a significant joint security review of Intel Trust Domain Extensions (Intel TDX). The five-month engagement between Intel's INT31 research team and Google Cloud Security focused on hardening Intel TDX Module 1.5, the core software responsible for managing confidential virtual machines. The review identified five vulnerabilities and 35 other weaknesses or areas for improvement. According to Intel, all five vulnerabilities were patched in the latest code version released to partners.

Intel TDX represents a shift in data center security. Unlike traditional virtualization, where the hypervisor has full access to guest data, TDX creates "Trust Domains" (TDs), or hardware-isolated virtual machines. These are cryptographically isolated from the hosting infrastructure using Intel's Secure Arbitration Mode (SEAM). The system relies on the Intel TDX Module, a digitally signed software shim running in SEAM. It enforces security policies that hardware alone cannot handle. Because a compromise of this module could theoretically bypass the system's isolation guarantees, it is a critical verification target.https://tpucdn.com/img/IJ4VguK5LiKsNyaI_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/IJ4VguK5LiKsNyaI.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Each week, new games and apps integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex, and advanced ray-traced effects are released or announced, delivering the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players.

This week, both High On Life 2 and Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties are launching with support for DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation. And Reniamal launches February 13th with DLSS Super Resolution. And our Resident Evil Requiem GeForce RTX 50 Series Bundle is available now.https://tpucdn.com/img/b2k5X9pAiBVVgSdg_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/b2k5X9pAiBVVgSdg.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/R2Fl2z8slxT7hNRC_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/R2Fl2z8slxT7hNRC.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/Rj1HDmjVRq5K2uMs_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/Rj1HDmjVRq5K2uMs.jpg) https://tpucdn.com/img/7o7ojSWiH1gadApS_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/7o7ojSWiH1gadApS.jpg)
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[NextPowerUP]

Intel's upcoming Core Ultra Series 4 "Nova Lake-S" could be the company's first desktop processor series to offer Microsoft Copilot+ native acceleration capability. The NPU of "Nova Lake" offers throughput of 74 TOPS, far exceeding the 40 TOPS required by Copilot+. Intel already met this with its "Lunar Lake" mobile processors, but its current "Arrow Lake-S" and upcoming "Arrow Lake-S Refresh" processors only do 13 TOPS as they implement an older generation NPU carried over from "Meteor Lake."

This is not to say that all desktop processor models of "Nova Lake-S" offer 74 TOPS, some could offer lower throughput, but there's plenty of product segmentation room for Intel to ensure that even its cheapest retail model offers at least 40 TOPS to meet Copilot+ requirements. AMD might end up beating Intel to the title of first socketed desktop processor with a Copilot+ capable NPU. The company could launch its Ryzen AI 400 series "Gorgon Point" Socket AM5 APUs sooner than Intel's rumored late-2026 debut of the Core Ultra Series 4 desktop processors.https://tpucdn.com/img/YMGAU3G7Klui0xjT_thm.jpg (https://www.techpowerup.com/img/YMGAU3G7Klui0xjT.jpg)

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