Samsung Electronics will be cutting back on memory chip production, following a worrying drop in its operational profits. Estimates for the first quarter point to a 96% year-on-year decline - the silicon mega-corporation's lowest profit result in 14 years (since the first quarter of 2009). Samsung's operating profits fell to 600 billion won ($456 million) in January to March 2023, from 14 trillion won the previous year. The company has confirmed that a slump in sales is the main cause behind the smaller margins - with a slow global economy and a drop in demand after the chip shortages of 2020 - 2022. Manufacturers of computer and server equipment have reduced expenditure on procurements of RAM and storage solutions.

In a statement released last week, the company confirmed that it was adjusting its manufacturing output in reaction to the drop in demand: "We are lowering the production of memory chips by a meaningful level, especially that of products with supply secured." Industry analysts in South Korean are foreseeing that Samsung's chip business will post heavy losses (into the billions of dollars) during the first three months of 2023. Samsung is expected to publish detailed financial results later this month. The analysts have spotted similar patterns at other South Korea-based memory chip markers - SK Hynix and Micron have recorded heavy financial losses across recent quarters.
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(PR) Report: Worldwide IT Spending in 2023 Continues to Slowly Trend Downward
or the fifth consecutive month, International Data Corporation (IDC) has lowered its 2023 forecast for worldwide IT spending as technology investments continue to show the impact of a weakening economy. In its new monthly forecast for worldwide IT spending growth, IDC projects overall growth this year in constant currency of 4.4% to $3.25 trillion. This is slightly down from 4.5% in the previous month's forecast and represents a swing from a 6.0% growth forecast in October 2022.

"Since the fourth quarter of last year, we have seen clear and measurable signs of a moderate pullback in some areas of IT spending," said Stephen Minton, vice president in IDC's Data & Analytics research group. "Tech spending remains resilient compared to historical economic downturns and other types of business spending, but rising interest rates are now impacting capital spending."
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(PR) Thrustmaster Unveils Ultra-Premium Ferrari SF1000 Direct Drive Wheel Bundle, Launching This Summer
Thrustmaster is thrilled to unveil a brand-new bundle, featuring a racing wheel base and wheel rim proudly sporting the Scuderia Ferrari colors: T818 Ferrari SF1000 Simulator. Ferrari took the opportunity to announce the new flagship product in Thrustmaster's racing lineup at the launch of the Ferrari Esports Series 2023 season. Composed of the very latest direct-drive racing wheel base - T818 - alongside the iconic Formula Wheel Add-On Ferrari SF1000 Edition wheel rim and a versatile mounting system for desks, tables or cockpits, this dream-team bundle delivers breathtaking esports-caliber performance.

T818, with its new Rosso Corsa metal plates and elegant Scuderia Ferrari logo, provides 10 N⋅m of constant torque for smooth, powerful and turbocharged Force Feedback thanks to direct-drive technology. The extensive configuration options let the most experienced drivers race with truly unfiltered power - allowing them to feel all effects being transmitted by the game as they were meant to be experienced, for absolute control of their vehicle.
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(PR) Trepang2 Set for June 21 Launch, Hailed as Spiritual Successor to F.E.A.R.
Subject 106 breaks free from his chains to unleash mayhem - June 21st on Steam! It's time to break the cycle. Trepang2 features high-octane, first-person gun-fu gunplay and puts players in the shoes of a newly enhanced super soldier on a mission of death, destruction, and revenge.

Broken out from a government black site by unknown allies and removed of their memories, they'll be hunted by their captives and an even more otherworldly foe, and will have to arm themselves with an arsenal of devastating weapons and learn how to handle their newfound superhuman abilities to survive the onslaught, all the while unravelling a deadly conspiracy.
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MSI RTX 4070 Gaming X Trio and Ventus 3X Series Leak Ahead of Launch
MSI has been rumored to have at least eight different models of the upcoming NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, and two of them, the RTX 4070 Gaming X Trio and RTX 4070 Ventus 3X, have now leaked online, ahead of the launch scheduled for next week. What makes it interesting is that this will be the first RTX 40 series graphics card that will be able to come without the 16-pin 12VHPWR connector.

MSI's Gaming X Trio, as the more premium edition, will be a 2.5-slot design with triple-fan cooler, have more RGB effects, and will feature the 16-pin 12VHPWR connector. The MSI RTX 4070 Ventus 3X as a more budget-oriented SKU, will have a triple-fan cooling system but only takes two slots, and it needs a single 8-pin PCIe power connector. While both are factory-overclocked models, it is obvious that the MSI RTX 4070 Gaming X Trio will have a higher overclocking potential.
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(PR) Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin Out Now on Steam, Square Enix Cuts Price at Launch
Jack is back… and he's punching his way onto Steam! The action RPG is now available on the platform: here's everything you need to know about it. Many of you will be familiar with STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN's Jack Garland: expert swordsman, skilled white mage, destructive black mage, deadly dragoon, powerful pugilist… and that's not even half of it. We can now add one more achievement to his impressive resume: available on Steam! Yes, get ready for some chaotic FINAL FANTASY carnage! Read on and we'll tell you everything you need to know about the game and its Steam release.

What is STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN?
Some of you unfamiliar with the game may be wondering what this game is all about. Long story short, it's about action - brilliantly brutal, fast-paced action that tests your reactions and battle strategy in equal measure. Developed by KOEI TECMO GAMES (Nioh series), STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN is a dark and visceral action RPG that presents a bold take on the FINAL FANTASY series, while celebrating its amazing 35 year legacy! You play as Jack Garland, who along with his allies Ash, Jed, Neon and Sophia, sets off from the Kingdom of Cornelia to defeat Chaos. If you're a fan of the original FINAL FANTASY game, some of those names may be ringing a bell, but we'll let you discover what it all means.
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