TechPowerUP NEWS

[NextPowerUP]

As disclosed in a new press release—issued by the US Commerce Department—TSMC's North American operation has started another expansion. Last month, Taiwan's leading chip foundry committed a substantial $100 billion investment—eventually leading to a greater production footprint in Phoenix, Arizona. Reports suggest that ground has already been broken, in a low-key manner—as of yesterday (April 29)—at a planned third location, only hours after TSMC's receiving of permits—aka a "thumbs up" from the US government. According to local news outlets, key administrative representatives were in attendance to witness the initiation of construction work. TSMC's third plant is destined to pump out cutting-edge products via a 2 nm (N2) process technology, with Apple, NVIDIA and AMD confirmed as "front of the queue" customers. Despite recent fanfare and celebrations, industry analysts reckon that it will take up to a decade for the foundry's North American operation to solidify a dependable supply chain. In the interim, certain elements will require shipping to overseas locations—for packaging and finalization purposes.

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[NextPowerUP]

⁠GIGABYTE Technology, one of the top global manufacturers of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, has achieved an unprecedented accomplishment by winning Red Dot Design Awards in 2025 for all its major motherboards lineup. This exceptional achievement highlights GIGABYTE's unwavering commitment to innovation and design excellence while further cementing the company's distinguished design legacy.

Known for creating products that blend cutting-edge technology with innovative DIY-friendly design and striking aesthetics, GIGABYTE's motherboards have earned prestigious recognition across multiple categories.
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[NextPowerUP]

Recent evidence has emerged that Ubisoft may indeed be planning to—or may have been planning to—launch multiplayer game modes for Assassin's Creed Shadows. An online sleuth analyzed the Assassin's Creed Shadows website's Boostrap files and found several mentions of Multiplayer and PVP maps and training areas in the files. It may, thus, be the case that the introduction of the new Animus Hub may have been a move to facilitate multiplayer gameplay.

That said, Ubisoft recently hosted an Assassin's Creed Shadows 1 Year Roadmap on YouTube, and there was no direct mention of multiplayer gameplay in the roadmap. Ubisoft did, however, hint at the addition of what it called Special Collaborations in the regular content section and new Animus content coming in the near future. Previous leaks indicated that the multiplayer modes in AC Shadows would feature a co-op mode, akin to Assassin's Creed Unity, but the new leaks indicate that Ubisoft may be planning a PVP mode, as well, which would make it much more like Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. It's also possible that the mention of multiplayer in the site files is just left-over information from before the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Ubisoft has scrapped the idea altogether. As we reported previously, it has been a rocky road to get Assassin's Creed Shadows to launch, with Ubisoft switching up its launch strategy and delaying the game twice ahead of the official launch.
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[NextPowerUP]

Hey everyone! Here we are announcing Mycopunk. It's a game. There's a lot of cool stuff in it. We could tell you all about it, but that's a lot of work. So you should stop reading and go play the DEMO. In case you've decided to keep reading (why??) let's take a look at some of the things in Mycopunk that we're most excited about. Mycopunk was born from our desire for a fun (FUN) co-op FPS that makes players want to keep coming back without any of that FOMO shit. This mostly manifested in three ways: shooting stuff is fun, progression is interesting, and [REDACTED].

Weapons
If you've played the demo you'll know your weapons feel good to shoot and carving up enemies is fun. If you disagree, come tell us to our face in the Mycopunk discord. Most of us don't bite. Some weapons are what you'd expect. The SMG is an SMG. It shoots bullets. But from the beginning we wanted to have some really weird, cool ass weapons. One of our favorites is the Swarm Launcher—it launches a swarm (no way) of pellets that hover above the ground and will dive down on enemies when you release the trigger. Some of the Swarm Launcher's upgrades let it do some really cool stuff, but we'll get to that later. We have four guns for you to play around with in this demo, and on release you'll have many more. Those guns are SECRET. For now…
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[NextPowerUP]

More than 700 games and applications feature RTX technologies, and each week new games 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, DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation is multiplying frame rates in ARC Raiders, Deadzone: Rogue, Diablo IV Season 8, and Where Winds Meet. DLSS Frame Generation accelerates performance in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered and Mistfall Hunter Beta 2 Test. And the DOOM: The Dark Ages GeForce RTX 50 Series Bundle is available now.

ARC Raiders Tech Test 2 Starts Today With Support For DLSS Multi Frame Generation
Embark Studios' THE FINALS is a much-loved team-based first-person shooter that's loaded with the full suite of DLSS technologies, plus Reflex and NVIDIA-enhanced ray tracing. Now, the Embark team is readying ARC Raiders, their new multiplayer game, for release with a new tech test that starts today. This extraction shooter sees you enlist as a Raider and thrive in a desolate future Earth. Shape your legacy as you scavenge the lethal surface, and build your home in the underground neighborhood of Speranza. But beware of the machines, and beware of Raiders praying on others. Build relationships with traders as you carry out quests and return from the surface with valuable loot. Trade it for gear and crucial upgrades to your den. But nothing worth having is for free.
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[NextPowerUP]

PC hardware watchers continue to pore over official AMD repositories and adjacent databases, in the hopes of finding unannounced next-gen technologies. Olrak29 and InstLatX64 have presented their latest Team Red-related findings; apparently reaching across futuristic desktop, mobile, and workstation product families. As outlined and interpreted by VideoCardz, several of these next-gen branches are already somewhat "known" properties—namely AMD's allegedly Zen 5-based Ryzen Threadripper "Shimada Peak" 9000WX (workstation) processor series. Following almost two years of leaks, an official introduction is expected to happen during Computex 2025. The Ryzen 9000G "Gorgon Point" desktop (Zen 5 + RDNA 3.5) APU series has turned up again; now "fully" linked to the AM5 socket platform (not a big surprise). The two leakers have also uncovered another rumored AM5-bound product lineup—"Grado" chips could be based on existing "Granite Ridge" foundations, but elevated to commercial/enterprise levels. These speculated basic/entry-level "EPYC 4005" processors are floated as natural successors to currently available 4004 forebears (related to Ryzen 7000 "Raphael" architecture).

Olrak29 and InstLatX64 have also found multiple mysterious FP8 socket-related Ryzen AI Mobile SoCs. "Krackan2" could be a cheaper refresh of current "Krackan Point" APUs—Tom's Hardware proposes smaller designs that sport fewer cores, and not configured with NPUs. Kepler_L2 has weighed in on the matter of three listed "Gorgon Point" IPs—he reckons that the third variant ("Gorgon Point3") will be a spin-off (aka refresh) of a "Krackan2" design. As suggested by insider knowledge, Team Red's convoluted scheme points to "Gorgon Point" being the sequel to "Strix Point." An FF5-based "Soundwave" processor design has appeared alongside the aforementioned futuristic Ryzen AI Mobile chipsets—industry whispers propose that AMD will be leveraging Arm architecture within a lower product tier. InstLatX64 pulled additional compelling information from AMD's Technical Information Portal—providing further insight into Ryzen AI "Medusa Point" APUs (Zen 6 + RDNA 3.5) being dreamt up, with a matching "larger footprint" FP10 platform.

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[NextPowerUP]

Intel is exploring a new way to cool its hottest chips by weaving tiny water channels into the processor package itself. At its Foundry Direct Connect showcase, via HardwareLuxx coverage, the company revealed working prototypes for LGA desktop CPUs, BGA servers, and AI modules. Rather than flood the bare silicon, a slim copper block sits on top of the package, its microchannels precisely etched to carry coolant directly over the hottest areas. Intel engineers cooled Core Ultra desktop chips and high-end Xeon processors in live demonstrations. The system moves standard liquid-cooling fluid through those channels at a rate fast enough to whisk away up to 1,000 watts of heat. In the lab, that level of thermal performance isn't standard for everyday PC use, but it matches the demands of AI training, scientific computing, and professional workstations.

This design stands out because of its attention to every layer between the chip and the coolant. Intel carefully controls the thickness of the silicon die, the solder or liquid-metal thermal interface material, the integrated heat spreader, and the water block itself. By reducing or removing traditional barriers, thermal resistance falls, and engineers report roughly 20% better cooling than a standard water block mounted on a delidded die. Those copper blocks measure only a few millimeters in height yet still deliver strong flow rates. During chip layout, teams space out power-hungry blocks or flag-tight clusters so the cooling channels can target critical hotspots. This co-design of package and cooler goes much deeper than any off-the-shelf solution. While the basic research dates back nearly two decades, Intel has been refining the method for years. Still, with processors growing more powerful and densely packed, package-level liquid cooling could move from laboratory demo to essential tool for data centers and enthusiast rigs.

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[NextPowerUP]

Far Cry 4 (2014) will now run at 60 frames per second on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PS5 Pro, thanks to a free update deployed this week. Whether you're wingsuiting out of a gyrocopter for an aerial incursion, or wielding a rocket launcher atop an elephant as you charge into battle—the beautiful scenery and unbridled chaos have never been so inviting on console. Far Cry 4 will be coming to Game Pass for Xbox, PC, and cloud very soon. Alternatively, you can grab it for a big discount at one of these current sales: PlayStation Store (April 23-May 7), Xbox (April 20-May 5), and Ubisoft Store Legendary Sale (April 29-May 20).

Hidden in the towering Himalayas lies Kyrat, a country steeped in tradition and violence. You are Ajay Ghale. Traveling to Kyrat to fulfill your mother's dying wish, you find yourself caught up in a civil war to overthrow the oppressive regime of dictator Pagan Min. Explore and navigate this vast open world, where danger and unpredictability lurk around every corner. Here, every decision counts, and every second is a story. Welcome to Kyrat.
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[NextPowerUP]

Last Saturday, Scythe Group announced the closure of its European branch. This followed mid-April reports of unusually low stock numbers in Germany—at the time, ComputerBase.de and its community highlighted the complete absence of the manufacturer's flagship Mugen 6 CPU air cooler at regional retail outlets. The site published an investigative article on April 22; presenting an important Consumer Protection Forum filing. Apparently "economic difficulties" have warranted the initiation of "preliminary insolvency proceedings"—as a result, Scythe EU GmbH faced an uncertain future. Looking back in TechPowerUp's news archive, the last official introduction of brand-new products—Mugen 6 standard and Black Edition coolers—happened around early February. Also within the same month, TPU's crazyeyesreaper reviewed the brand's "highly-recommended" Fuma 3 model. Despite releasing consistently high-grade and top-performing products; Scythe has faced aggressive competition across Europe—Chinese brands have flooded regional markers with cheaper alternatives. In particular, Thermalright has gained plenty of attention and uptake—due to a rapid cadence and wide variety of highly-acclaimed new releases.

Scythe's April 26 official notice stated: "To All Valued Clients, we deeply regret to inform you that SCYTHE EU will be ceasing operations. Moving forward, SCYTHE-branded products and customer support will remain available through our European distributors and online e-commerce platforms. During the transition period with our distributors/e-commerce channels, there may be some unfinished matters, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. SCYTHE will continue to uphold the principles of responsibility and integrity, ensuring consumer rights are protected in accordance with the law. We sincerely thank you for your support and loyalty to the SCYTHE brand over the years."
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[NextPowerUP]

Towerborne is available now in Xbox Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Cloud, Game Pass, and as an Xbox Play Anywhere title. It's a big moment for all of us at Stoic (Banner Saga Trilogy), and we wanted to take a moment to talk about our journey so far—and where Towerborne is going next. At its core, Towerborne is a new kind of Looter Brawler—side-scrolling, pick-up-and-play combat fused with deep ARPG progression. You take on the role of an Ace, a spirit-forged hero sworn to defend the Belfry, humanity's last refuge. Venture solo or squad up in online co-op (or couch co-op on Xbox!); every swing, every loot drop, and every Umbra companion you recruit pushes back the darkness beyond those tower walls.

Our release via Xbox Game Preview marks a watershed moment in Towerborne's journey, a game we started building years ago. That early spark of imagination grew into the world you're stepping into today. Yesterday's release also brings a sizable update that deepens progression through the new Class Mastery system, reshapes the world map with dozens of handcrafted missions, and introduces fresh Umbra, legendary gear, and a formidable new foe.
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[NextPowerUP]

Just over two weeks ago, NVIDIA officially outlined a vague May launch window for GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile 8 GB dGPU-based partner-produced laptops/notebooks—"starting at $1099." Industry watchdogs reckon that a comprehensive product reveal will happen at Computex 2025. Team Green's mid-April PR article mentioned that models "are coming from every major OEM"—an included promotional image showcased devices built by Acer, ASUS, Dell, GIGABYTE, HP, Lenovo, MSI, and Razer. The ever watchful Olrak29 has unearthed two unannounced COLORFUL devices; listings have appeared within the Geekbench Browser database. A next-gen "P15 Pro" entry—published on April 20—posted an OpenCL score of 109431 (in Geekbench 6.4).

This leak lists a Intel Core i9-13900HX "Raptor Lake" CPU and an "NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU." A more modern specced "iGame M15 Origo"—powered by Team Blue's Core Ultra 9 285HX "Arrow Lake" APU—option was also put through the Geekbench 6.4 wringer; this sample produced an OpenCL score of 102564 (on April 27). As observed by VideoCardz, the lower end "Blackwell" GPU beats its "Ada Lovelace" predecessor—GeForce RTX 4060 Mobile—by roughly 18% in overall OpenCL Geekbench gauntlets. Naturally, Vulkan-based scores would be better indicators of gaming performance. Early evaluators recorded maximum GPU clocks—of 2025 MHz and 2212 MHz (respectively)—on their GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile subjects.

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[NextPowerUP]

Publisher Good Shepherd Entertainment (Monster Train, Dicefolk) and developer Violet Saint have officially released Moroi, a dark fantasy hack-and-slash adventure inspired by Romanian folklore, heavy metal and the profound works of David Lynch, on Steam.

Explore the theater of torment unfolding around you within the depths of Moroi's Cosmic Engine, a personalized hellscape of twisting corridors, rusted gears, and rotting flesh. Brave the surreal horrors ahead without any knowledge of your name, your sins, or your past. Claw your way through this realm and encounter grotesque inhabitants whose morbid humor offers the only flicker of light in this dark world. Cling to your sanity in an otherwise deteriorating existence styled as grimdark fantasy, a subgenre of fiction distinguished by bleak, dystopian settings and scenarios.
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[NextPowerUP]

We're so thrilled to be able to say this—Skin Deep is out now on Steam. The response to our Steam Next Fest demo was really special, and it's such a pleasure to now share the full game with you all! Now that Skin Deep is available (Now! Did we say that already?), you can enjoy the full offering of starships, knick-knacks, creative chaos, and the entire roster of loveable cat personalities that color Nina Pasadena's sometimes wonky but always wonderful world.

Skin Deep combines immersive sim staples (stealth, multiple solutions to every problem) with a slapstick sense of humor. Play as Nina Pasadena and learn to defeat pirates with toilets, flammable deodorant, and laundry detergent. Suffer through one or two existential crises. Rescue your friends, who are talking cats. It's also another game fully developed in the id 4 Engine, and continues to push the boundaries of what we can achieve with that technology.
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[NextPowerUP]

GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards—whether in Founders Edition or AIB custom form—are still in very high demand; certain buyers are even flying into nearby nations to take advantage of even the slightest favorable conditions. This was apparent during launch week—three months ago—with so-called "tourists" queuing up alongside locals in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. Day one anti-scalping measures were implemented, but launch stock of GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 graphics cards was rapidly depleted. According to the latest reports, (mostly) Chinese buyers have been making regular visits to Japan's big electronics retail hub, in Osaka. Up until fairly recently, tax-free circumstances—for non-natives—have made the purchase of flagship NVIDIA "Blackwell" GPU-based gaming GPUs worth the trip, even with the added expense of plane tickets and other overheads.

Additionally, certain outlets actually had units readily available on shelves or behind shop counters. Eventually, stores dropped the whole tax-free thing. This measure did not cause much discouragement; tourists were still willing to pay the extra cost—still reasonable, compared to escalated (global) card prices. As disclosed in a MyDrivers news report, multiple Osaka-based retailers have bolstered their anti-tourist sales methodologies—one visitor spotted an updated placard that stated: "GeForce RTX 5090/RTX 5080 cards are only sold to customers who use it in Japan. If the purchased product is to be taken out of Japan, it will not be sold." VideoCardz believes that this newer "symbolic" countermove will be tricky to enforce; are shop workers going to be tasked with performing "Japanese citizen tests" on a regular basis? Chinese ultra high-end GPU seekers could continue to source units from abroad; the latest rumblings suggest a potential forthcoming ban of NVIDIA's region-exclusive GeForce RTX 5090D model.

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[NextPowerUP]

Acer today announced the launch of two new cutting-edge gaming monitors - the Predator XB323QK V4 and Acer Nitro XV240 F6. Designed to offer enhancements to gaming visuals and performance, the new monitors set a high standard for gaming displays in the market, delivering exceptional refresh rates, stunning visuals, and advanced features tailored to meet the demands of competitive players and enthusiasts.

Predator XB323QK V4: Expansive 4K Gaming
The Predator XB323QK V4 brings an exceptional 4K UHD (3840x2160) resolution, offering gamers the clarity and details needed for a truly immersive gaming experience. Whether exploring expansive open worlds or engaging in high-intensity action sequences, the stunning visuals of the XB323QK V4 bring every game to life in breathtaking detail.
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