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Metal: Hellsinger is a first-person rhythm shooter featuring roguelike and boomer shooter elements and set to a heavy metal soundtrack with some of the metal world's biggest names. The game follows a mysterious protagonist, known simply as The Unknown, as she battles her way through the various levels of hell on a quest to regain her voice. Today, the rhythm shooter launches an additional VR version, with some interesting new VR-specific rhythm mechanics to spice things up.

Being a rhythm game, Metal: Hellsinger gives players bonuses for performing actions on-beat with the background music—which often gets quite challenging due to the fast pace and swarming enemies—but the VR version steps things up a notch, allowing you to aim the game's dual pistols individually, physically draw and release the crossbow, and actively reload the shotgun to the beat.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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Shyborg Games, an indie developer, is launching its first game—The Art Collector—on Steam on October 22nd. The game places you in the role of an artist tasked with taking over an art gallery to help your mentor. Customize your gallery and home, befriend local artists, help them gain exposure, and master the art of selling fine art in this narrative-driven, capital management, shopkeeper RPG.

Created by a team of two brothers whom I have personally known for most of my life, it is an awesome experience seeing their passion project, which took a monumental amount of effort, reach this point. With other close friends, family, and myself contributing through playtesting and offering feedback, the game has advanced at a remarkable pace. Considering all the effort that has gone into building this unique experience, I wanted to share it with our community. A demo is available on [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], with a launch price of $12.99. You can view the full trailer, history, and all the in-game features after the break![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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It looks like Epic Games's Tim Sweeney [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] this week when he claimed that the gaming landscape is changing. According to new research by MIDiA Research, online PVP and couch co-op games are more popular than single-player games in audiences aged 16-24, with older audiences overwhelmingly preferring single-player games.

The researchers surveyed 9,000 gamers in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Sweden, South Korea, and Brazil, giving the study a pretty diverse sample, in terms of socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Regardless of age group, single-player and PVP games were always the most popular genres, although a solid 53% of the participants in the study said that single-player games were their preference.[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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[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], we got a leak about Intel's "Arrow Lake" Core Ultra 200 series CPUs official public announcement on October 10 and the review embargo and official retail launch on October 24. However, today, we are able to look at some of the upcoming motherboards powering Core Ultra 200 CPUs, based on the Z890 chipset. Thanks to [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], we can look at ASUS high-end motherboard pictures and decipher some of the common features that will be present on high-end boards, like a hefty VRM configuration, along with some new color schemes. We notice that there are new GPU slot reinforcement and M.2 release mechanisms, alongside WiFi 7 and Thunderbolt 4. Some leaked pricing also suggests that ASUS ROG Maximus boards could be retailing for more than the highest-end Core Ultra 9 285K SKU, while there are more budget "Prime" series of motherboards present as well. Here are all leaked ASUS boards:

ASUS ROG Maximus Z890 Extreme:[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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Corsair is thrilled to announce two new additions to its K70 CORE series: K70 CORE TKL and K70 CORE TKL WIRELESS. A fresh tenkeyless profile meets the smooth typefeel and premier performance of the original K70 CORE, for versatile gaming that never runs out of deskspace. Pre-lubricated Corsair MLX Red v2 switches feel silky smooth, with satisfying sounds that endure for every battle-tested keystroke, up to 80 million clicks. Within K70 CORE TKL, two layers of premium sound dampening foam reduce unwanted pings and clacks for refined typing acoustics.

With ultra-fast SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS, K70 CORE TKL WIRELESS brings the reliability and speed of a wired connection, with the convenience of a cable-free desktop. Users can play for up to 890 hours via SLIPSTREAM WIRELESS, or up to 2,400 hours over Bluetooth - which adds up to literal months between charges. Otherwise, they can switch to USB to recharge while they play. K70 CORE TKL series includes an option to enable FlashTap, a brand new SOCD system with modes that prioritize the first or last key pressed. FlashTap gives competitive gamers an advantage in skilled movements like rapid strafing and mirroring, making every move faster and easier to master.[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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ProGrade Digital, founded with a mission to provide the highest quality professional grade digital memory cards and workflow solutions, announces its new solid state drive (SSD) product line available in a 2 TB, 4 TB, and 8 TB capacities. The PG10 Pro SSD is based on the latest USB 4.0 technology which is designed to achieve speeds of up to 40Gbits/sec and provides a real-world read and write speed of up to 2500 MB/s, and a sustained write speed of 1500 MB/s (2 TB) and 2000 MB/s (4 TB and 8 TB) with no cache depletion. The PG10 is also equipped with ProGrade's patented magnetic base and comes with an adhesive metal plate that allows users to mount the reader to any work surface. The new SSD is also supplied with a high-quality certified USB 4.0 cable - assuring the maximum performance possible.

"ProGrade Digital is embarking into a new category of professional SSDs (Solid State Drives) with a product offering that aligns with all of the core values of our brand," said Wes Brewer, founder, and CEO of ProGrade Digital. "We have recognized for years that there is an opportunity to expand further into the professional workflow with a high capacity, high performance SSD but were waiting for just the right time to enter with a truly new and defining product that offers unique features and value. Our introduction of capacity points from 2 TB to 8 TB, and a USB 4.0/Thunderbolt 4 interface, allows us to provide industry-leading sustained performance and reliability for professionals that have traditionally had to settle for much slower and less reliable solutions. Our uniquely designed housing and internal heat-sink provide unmatched sustained write and read speeds ideal for long, multi-TB data file transfers".[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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Microsoft has officially ended production of its HoloLens 2 mixed-reality headset, according to sources confirmed by The Register. The tech giant recently notified its partners that the HoloLens 2, introduced in 2019 as an enterprise-focused augmented reality device, is no longer available for purchase. This marks a significant shift in Microsoft's AR strategy, with the company stating, "Support for HoloLens 2, including security updates, will end on December 31, 2027." Despite aggressive marketing efforts, the HoloLens 2 struggled to gain widespread adoption, reflecting broader challenges in the AR/VR market where high-end headsets like HoloLens 2 and Apple Vision Pro retail for around $3,500, limiting their appeal. Some Microsoft employees reportedly expressed surprise that the project continued as long as it did, suggesting internal doubts about its viability.

Rather than continuing as a hardware provider, Microsoft plans to pivot its role in the mixed reality space, focusing on "first-party software solutions and services, partnering with the broader mobile phone and mixed reality hardware ecosystem." This decision aligns with the current state of the AR/VR industry, where the ecosystem is still in its early stages, and companies like Meta are heavily investing in its development. Microsoft's shift from hardware production to ecosystem investment mirrors trends in the broader tech industry and could position the company for future opportunities as the mixed-reality market matures. As the ecosystem develops and more use cases emerge, Microsoft's investment in software and services could prove valuable despite the current challenges in justifying investments in a field that's still searching for compelling widespread applications.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

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The mid-range graphics card segment is seeing some interesting moves by board partners of AMD and NVIDIA in recent times, making it possible to get a 1440p-class contemporary graphics card under $400. AMD markets the Radeon RX 7700 XT as a 1440p-class GPU, and [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] agrees with this notion. VideoCardz spotted the card going for as cheap as $349, a $100 (22%) drop in price from its $449 launch price. The card in question is a PowerColor RX 7700 XT Fighter, the company's affordable custom-design based on the GPU, which is listed on Newegg for $349. The card comes with a triple-slot cooling solution with a triple-fan setup. It sticks to AMD reference clock speeds for the RX 7700 XT. Here's the kicker, even at this price, you are eligible for a game bundle worth $60 with this card, the [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...] includes copies of both "Warhammer 40000: Space Marine II," and "Unknown 9 Awakening."[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]

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Amazon's popular Fire HD 8 lineup is getting an upgrade. The new Fire HD 8, which starts shipping today, features a vibrant 8-inch HD display and lightweight, portable design that customers love, now with enhanced performance, for high-quality HD entertainment on the go. And just in time for Prime Big Deal Days, the new Fire HD 8 tablets will have introductory pricing with savings of up to 50% through October 9, with prices starting as low as $54.99.

We're also adding new generative AI-powered features to compatible Fire tablets to help customers be more productive and creative throughout their day. Here's what you need to know about the new Fire HD 8 tablets, and the new features coming to the broader Fire tablet family.[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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Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and Epic Games today announced the deployment of Unreal Engine pre-integrated and optimized for the Snapdragon Cockpit Platform, a key platform of Qualcomm Technologies' Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions, to create an out-of-box solution that empowers global automakers to deliver immersive user experiences. With the cohesive human machine interface (HMI) solution, automakers will be equipped to develop high-quality digital cockpit systems that are customizable and scalable across all vehicle types, and tiers.

The collaboration marks the first time Unreal Engine is being directly integrated into Snapdragon automotive platforms. Through the technology collaboration, global automakers who utilize Snapdragon Digital Chassis solutions will have exclusive access to Unreal Engine tools with optimized features, providing powerful, never-before-seen, in-cabin visualization capabilities, which includes fully customizable 2D and 3D visuals to set new industry standards for in-cabin environments.[Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...]
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Intel has announced the release of an updated version of its AI Playground application, now optimized for the new Intel Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake" series of processors. This latest iteration, version 1.21b, brings a host of new features and improvements designed to make AI more accessible to users of Intel's AI-enabled PCs. AI Playground, first launched earlier this year, offers a user-friendly interface for various AI functions, including image generation, enhancement, and natural language processing. The new version introduces several key enhancements. These include a fresh, exclusive theme for 200V series processor users, an expanded LLM picker now featuring Phi3, Qwen2, and Mistral models, and a conversation manager for saving and revisiting chat discussions. Additionally, users will find adjustable font sizes for improved readability and a simplified aspect ratio tool for image creation and enhancement.

One of the most significant aspects of AI Playground is its ability to run entirely locally on the user's machine. This approach ensures that all computations, prompts, and outputs remain on the device, addressing privacy concerns often associated with cloud-based AI services. The application is optimized to take advantage of the Xe Cores and XMX AI engines found in the Intel Core Ultra 200V series processors, allowing even lightweight devices to perform complex AI tasks efficiently. Intel has also improved the installation process, addressing potential conflicts and providing better error handling. The company encourages user engagement through its [Only registered and activated users can see links. Click Here To Register...], helping the community around AI Playground's development and use. Although the models users can run locally are smaller in size, usually up to 7 billion parameters with 8/4-bit quants, having a centralized application to help run them locally is significant for slowly embedding AI in all aspects of personal 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...]

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