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Hi everyone, I'm Samar, Associate Game Director at [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]. We couldn't be more excited to reveal our next project, [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], during today's State of Play. We're proud to say that, with the support of Deep Silver, for the last two and a half years we've been working to bring the post-apocalyptic world of Metro to PS VR2, Meta Quest 2+3 and Steam VR 2024. The best video games take us out of our world by putting us in the boots of someone else. They let us experience that world through their eyes. The Metro series continually strives to achieve this. Inspired by the internationally best-selling novels by Dmitry Glukhovsky, Metro 2033, Metro: Last Light, and Metro Exodus delivered immersive first-person experiences at release. These games put players in the heart of a desperate battle for survival after nuclear Armageddon. Metro Awakening is an all-new Metro game made exclusively for VR, and powered by the immersive features of PS VR2 and its Sense controllers.

It's an origins story, set before the events of Metro 2033, that both offers a whole new angle for Metro fans, and a fantastic starting point for seasoned VR players ready to put on the gas mask. Set in 2028, the all-new story is penned by series creator Dmitry Glukhovsky. You play as Serdar, a doctor searching for his wife amongst the claustrophobic, irradiated metro tunnels of post-apocalyptic Moscow. As Serdar ventures deeper into the Metro his courage and sanity will be tested by the supernatural forces he encounters, and will set in motion the events that lead to his spiritual awakening as something else entirely…[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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Intel has begun rolling out software binaries compiled with support for upcoming Advanced Performance Extensions (APX) and Advanced Vector Extensions 10 (AVX10) instruction set extensions in their Clear Linux distribution, ahead of any processors officially supporting these capabilities launching. Clear Linux is focusing first on optimized APX and AVX10 versions of foundational software libraries like glibc and Python. This builds on Clear Linux's existing support for optimized x86-64-v2, v3, and v4 code paths, leveraging the latest microarchitectural features of each Intel CPU generation. The rationale is to prepare Clear Linux to fully leverage the performance potential of next-generation Intel Xeon server processors, code-named Granite Rapids, expected to launch later this year.

Granite Rapids will introduce AVX10.1/512 instructions as well as the new APX capabilities, which are currently not well documented. By rolling out APX/AVX10 support in software now, Clear Linux aims to have an optimized ecosystem ready when the new processors officially ship. Initially, APX and AVX10 support is being added using the existing GCC compiler. Still, Clear Linux notes they will transition to using the upcoming GCC 14 release with more mature support for these instruction sets. The goal is to eventually have many Clear Linux packages compiled with APX/AVX10 code paths to maximize performance on future Intel CPUs. This continues Clear Linux's strategy of leveraging Intel's latest hardware capabilities in software.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

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Steam Next Fest is here and we're thrilled to have you join us to play the first-ever public demo of [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]! The Steam Next Fest demo includes full access to the current closed beta phase, codenamed "Elephant." (Each Stormgate playtest build is named after a classic RTS unit, in alphabetical order.) Here are some key insights into the current game state and what you can look forward to during the playtest.

How to Play With Friends
While our party system is still under construction, you can easily play with friends by creating custom games, either public or private, and sharing the Lobby ID. Crush that smack-talkin' Major Galt together in our 3P co-op map, WRECK HAVOC![Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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Sennheiser has launched its brand-new open-back HD 490 PRO reference studio headphones, purpose-built for producing, mixing and mastering. The circumaural, dynamic headphones feature highly precise sound reproduction and a very wide and realistic sound stage. This superior accuracy and range give producers, mixing and mastering engineers, as well as musicians, the transparency they need for critical mixing decisions and for confidently resolving any panning placement issues. The [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] and [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] (includes additional accessories) are available now.

"If you compare today's music productions with that of ten, 20 years ago, you will notice how the massively increased computing power and complex parameter automation have changed the way in which music is made," shares Jimmy Landry, Category Market Manager for MI at Sennheiser. "In every genre, engineers and music creators are continuously pushing boundaries, creating extremely complex mixes that can be prone to so-called 'audio blind spots'. Mixes can be crowded and muddy, with too many instruments sitting at the same position and their frequencies competing. For the engineer or musician, it becomes difficult to hear each individual instrument or voice distinctly. This goes to show the importance of a good pair of studio headphones."[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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AGON by AOC—one of the world's leading gaming monitor and IT accessories brands - expands its AOC GAMING line-up by adding a QHD model to their G4 series, successor to their award-winning G2 series. The 27" (68.6 cm) AOC GAMING Q27G4X features a Fast IPS panel, high sharpness thanks to its QHD (2560x1440) resolution, an impressive 180 Hz refresh rate, up to 1 ms GtG response time, and Adaptive-Sync for a competitive-level gaming experience. Its stealth-aircraft-inspired design, makes the recently introduced G4 line sleeker than ever. Sitting at today's sweet spot in terms of size and resolution with a great value proposition, the Q27G4X will surely attract a variety of mainstream and aspiring competitive gamers. Thanks to the Fast IPS panel with accurate colours and wide viewing angles, the Q27G4X excels at day-to-day tasks, too.

Monitors can outlast many other PC components, so choosing a future-proof, attractive gaming monitor proficient for any work, study, or gaming task one can throw at it, should be a no-brainer. The AOC GAMING Q27G4X is a perfect candidate thanks to its 27" Fast IPS panel that combines high colour accuracy and a large gamut coverage with a high refresh rate of 180 Hz and low response times up to 1 ms GtG. Thanks to its 10-bit panel, the monitor achieves a large gamut by reproducing 1.07 billion colours. Certified with VESA DisplayHDR 400, the Q27G4X can receive HDR10 signal and reproduce HDR content, upping the game and video visuals with extra brightness and punchy colours. Greater clarity in text as well as sharper edges and details in games are ensured thanks to its 109 ppi pixel density. Current mainstream GPUs are already capable of achieving high refresh rates on QHD resolution for most contemporary games, allowing users to enjoy a smoother gaming experience from day one. The benefit of rich and true colours will shine when watching movies or playing games but also when producing content such as light image/video editing or whilst livestreaming.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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Officially, support for resizable BAR on the Intel platform begins with the 10th Gen Core "Comet Lake," and for AMD, the Ryzen 3000 "Zen 2." It is a PCI-SIG feature that allows the software to see the entire amount of video memory on your graphics card as a single contiguous addressable block, rather than through 256 MB apertures—a workaround for the original PCI Express specification as the industry was transitioning to it from AGP. The PCI-SIG had introduced resizable BAR way back during the PCI-Express 2.0 specification (late 2000s), although none of the GPU or platform vendors of the time bothered to implement it. Resizable BAR is known to have a positive impact on performance for modern GPUs from NVIDIA and AMD; although its most profound performance impact is on the Intel Arc "Alchemist" GPUs, which suffer a large performance penalty without it.

ReBarUEFI by xCuri0 is a UEFI DXE driver mod, which requires you to [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] modify the UEFI firmware of your motherboard. The ReBarUEFI mod calls for a motherboard that implements UEFI, the older legacy BIOS won't do. The industry transitioned to UEFI in the early 2010s, roughly around the time of Intel "Sandy Bridge." UEFI DXE drivers provide basic support for the various hardware on your system. The ReBarUEFI driver informs software that the platform is capable of resizable BAR. Some motherboards may require you to enable the "Above 4G Decode" setting. The author claims that users on platforms as old as 2nd Gen Core "Sandy Bridge" have had success in getting resizable BAR to work.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

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According to Financial Times, a regional court in Düsseldorf, Germany, created a significant setback for Intel on Wednesday, issuing an injunction prohibiting sales of some of its processors due to allegations they infringe on a patent held by R2 Semiconductor. R2, a technology firm based in Palo Alto, California, accused Intel of violating its patent related to processor voltage regulation. The ruling applies to Intel's 10th, 11th, and 12th generation Core processors, known as Ice Lake, Tiger Lake, and Alder Lake, as well as its Ice Lake Xeon server SKUs. Newer processors generations (13th, 14th, etc.) don't infringe the patent. Even though Intel noted that it plans to appeal the decision, the ramifications could extend beyond the company itself. Industry experts warn the court order could lead to a sweeping ban on products containing the disputed Intel chips, including laptops and pre-built PCs from major manufacturers like HP and Dell. R2 has waged an ongoing legal fight across multiple jurisdictions to defend its intellectual property.

After initially filing suit against Intel in the United States, R2 shifted its efforts to Germany and other European countries after its patent was invalidated stateside. Intel strongly denied R2's patent infringement claims, alleging the company's entire business model relies on extracting legal settlements through serial litigation. Intel believes the injunction serves only R2's financial interests while harming consumers, businesses, and the economy. The two firms traded barbs in official statements about the case. R2's CEO, David Fisher, rebuffed Intel's characterization of his company, saying it has only targeted Intel for infringement of its clear IP rights. As the war of words continues, the practical impact of the German court's decision remains uncertain, pending Intel's appeal. However, the preliminary injunction demonstrates the massive financial consequences at stake in battles over technological patents.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

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Retailer specific discounts are creating quite the pileup of graphics card options between the $300 to $500 mark. With enough time spent finding the right deal, you could potentially buy a much faster graphics card that you'd planned for, at a given price. Hot on the heels on a recent Best Buy deal that brought the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB down to $344, or within just $15 of the Radeon RX 7600 XT, we're hearing about a couple of Newegg deals that see the Radeon RX 7700 XT down to just $353, or $9 more than the RTX 4060 Ti, and $24 more than an RX 7600 XT.

At $353, the RX 7700 XT changes the game, as it is a firmly 1440p-class GPU, compared to the 1080p-class RTX 4060 Ti and RX 7600 XT. In our testing, the Radeon RX 7700 XT is an incredible 17% faster than the RTX 4060 Ti at 1080p for just $9 more; and 19% faster than it at 1440p. Compared to the RX 7600 XT, the RX 7700 XT is a staggering 39% faster at 1080p, and 44% faster at 1440p. Even with ray tracing enabled, the RX 7700 XT dominates the RTX 4060 Ti. At 1080p with ray tracing enabled, the RTX 4060 Ti averages just 2% faster than the RX 7700 XT, but at 1440p, the RX 7700 XT in fact ends up 14% faster than the RTX 4060 Ti thanks to its much heavier SIMD engine, and 50% higher memory bandwidth. The Newegg deal doesn't even cover a cheap custom design, but the mighty PowerColor RX 7700 XT Hellhound and Fighter.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

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ZOTAC USA Inc., a leading manufacturer of innovative gaming hardware solutions, is thrilled to announce the market launch of three new MEK HERO pre-built Gaming PCs: the MEK HERO A7647S, A7647STI, and A7748S built using the latest ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER Twin Edge OC, ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER Trinity OC White Edition, and ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER Trinity Black Edition Graphic Cards. These are teamed up with AMD Ryzen 5 7600 and Ryzen 7 7700X processors, offering stunning 4K graphics for unprecedented gaming performance with AI-accelerated DLSS 3.5 and Real-Time Ray Tracing, bringing gamers an immersive gaming experience. This new series of MEK HERO offers 3 years of warranty coverage, specifically for the included ZOTAC GAMING GeForce RTX 40 SUPER Series Graphics Card component.

The MEK HERO A7647S, A7647STI, and A7748S Gaming PCs feature 16 GB DDR5 system memory and NVMe M.2 SSD storage, elevating PC gaming and the visual content creation process to new heights. Each MEK HERO Gaming PC undergoes meticulous assembly and hand-testing in the United States, ensuring the highest build quality. Crafted for optimal performance, durability, and an unmatched experience, MEK HERO Gaming PCs with GeForce RTX 40 SUPER Series Graphics Cards are tailored to meet the demands of hardcore gamers and content creators alike.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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The World AI Cannes Festival (WAICF) is set to be the epicenter of artificial intelligence innovation, where the globe's top 200 decision-makers and AI innovators will converge for three days of intense discussions on groundbreaking AI strategies and use-cases. Against the backdrop of this premier event, GIGABYTE has strategically chosen to participate, unveiling its exponential growth in the AI and High-Performance Computing (HPC) market segments.

The AI industry has witnessed unprecedented growth, with Cloud Service Providers (CSP's) and data center operators spearheading supercomputing projects. GIGABYTE's decision to promote its GPU server portfolio with over 70+ models, at WAICF is a testament to the increasing demands from the French market for sovereign AI Cloud solutions. The spotlight will be on GIGABYTE's success stories on enabling GPU Cloud infrastructure, seamlessly powered by NVIDIA GPU technologies, as GIGABYTE aims to engage in meaningful conversations with end-users and firms dependent on GPU computing.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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The games industry rumor mill has been generating plenty of Microsoft Xbox conjecture over the past week or two—it all kicked off when Tango Gameworks/Bethesda's [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] and Rare's Sea of Thieves [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] on Sony's PlayStation 5 home console. High profile tipsters—including Giant Bomb's Jeff Grubb and Game File's Stephen Totilo—have produced plenty of noise about the Xbox Game Studios catalog going multiplatform. Bethesda's open-space action RPG Starfield (2023), upcoming [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] game (courtesy of developer MachineGames), and The Coalition's Gears of War series are counted as another set of big first party titles on the alleged "offering table." Microsoft Games chief, Phil Spencer, responded to all of the noisy chatter with a February 5 [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]: "We're listening and we hear you. We've been planning a business update event for next week, where we look forward to sharing more details with you about our vision for the future of Xbox. Stay tuned."

This declaration prompted noted leakster, [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], to reveal his own deck of insider cards: "People are making wild assumptions that EVERY first party Xbox game is going multiplatform—which is not the case. Nor is Microsoft going to exit the (home console) hardware industry. The (rumored) multiplatform approach is a slight shift in strategy, in which SOME titles go multiplatform. Microsoft will keep high profile games exclusive." Wccftech noted that Nate has a solid Xbox leak track record—concentrating mostly on his history of revealing Starfield information (pre-official announcement). The highly-prized Call of Duty series will [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] for the next decade—involved parties agreed on a legal stipulation that was presented during Microsoft's hard fought acquisition battle, for the Activision, Blizzard + King group. Additional "big" IPs could be introduced on rival hardware during next week's Xbox "business update" event, but Nate the Hate's latest claim has tempered expectations somewhat.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

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