News stories tagged with #Gaming
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition Available Before Launch – Lenovo Unveils New Legion Gaming Tablets
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition with dual 3D V-Cache is already available ahead of its official launch on April 22 on platforms like eBay and JD.com. Meanwhile, Lenovo is set to unveil two new Legion gaming tablets, the Y900 11 and Y900 13, on May 19 as successors to the 2023 Y900 model.
Metro 2039: Fourth Main Entry in Post-Apocalyptic Series Revealed on April 16
The fourth main installment of the Metro series, Metro 2039, will be officially unveiled on April 16, 2026. Developed by 4A Games and Deep Silver, the game follows up on Metro Exodus from 2019 and is co-created with Dmitry Glukhovsky. It is expected to be set in Moscow, though it remains uncertain whether protagonist Artyom returns or if a new character will take center stage.
Samsung Galaxy S26+ Review: Powerful Exynos 2600, but Battery Life Remains a Challenge
The Samsung Galaxy S26+ impresses with the new Exynos 2600 chip and Xclipse 960 GPU, delivering high and stable frame rates in demanding games. While performance significantly surpasses the Galaxy S25+, battery life remains a limitation due to the small 4,900 mAh battery and slow charging. The device is ideal for gamers and Samsung loyalists, but users prioritizing battery and camera performance may prefer the cheaper S25+ or competitors like the Oppo Find X9 Pro.
Best Graphics Cards and CPUs for Anno 117: Pax Romana – Performance and Value Compared
A comprehensive comparison of current graphics cards and CPUs reveals that the Radeon RX 9070 XT and GeForce RTX 5060 deliver high frame rates in Anno 117: Pax Romana, while AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus are ideal for smooth gameplay. Although the GeForce RTX 5060 Ti offers the best FPS per euro, it is no longer recommended due to its limited VRAM. Instead, models with 16 GB VRAM such as the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT are better long-term choices.
Intel Advances AI and Gaming Technology with Partnerships, New Compression Tech, and Quad-GPU System
Intel has announced a strategic partnership with Google to advance AI infrastructure by combining Xeon CPUs with Google’s custom IPUs. The company also introduced Texture Set Neural Compression (TSNC) to reduce memory demands in modern games and compete with Nvidia’s neural texture compression efforts. Additionally, Intel unveiled the Arc Pro B70 in a quad-GPU configuration called Battlematrix, consuming up to 720 watts, though AI inference scaling is non-linear due to PCIe-based communication.
AMD Ryzen Leads Gaming PC Market – ASUS Secures Future with 64 MB UEFI on AM5 Motherboards
The PCGH community currently favors AMD Ryzen processors for gaming, with Zen 3 and Zen 5 generation models leading the way. Meanwhile, ASUS enhances long-term compatibility of the AM5 platform by doubling UEFI flash memory to 64 MB. This move underscores the growing strategic importance of BIOS memory in a hardware ecosystem designed for longevity.
Steam Linux Market Share Surpasses 5% in Historic Milestone
In March 2026, Linux surpassed the 5% market share threshold on Steam for the first time, reaching a record high of 5.33%, up from 3.2% in December 2025. The growth was particularly strong among English-speaking users, who now account for 11.3% of Linux users on the platform, while Windows maintains dominance at 92.33%. The surge is attributed to the rising adoption of the Steam Deck and a shift in language preferences within the Steam user base. Hardware trends also show a decline in 32-GB RAM systems and an increase in 16-GB models, alongside changes in storage and graphics memory usage.
The Expanse: Osiris Reborn – Closed Beta Launches April 2026, Full Release in Spring 2027
Owlcat Games has announced the closed beta for the sci-fi RPG The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, launching on April 22, 2026. Access is restricted to buyers of the Collector's Edition or Miller's Pack via the Owlcat Store, and the beta will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Set within the universe of the Pinkwater security firm, the full game is slated for a Spring 2027 release and will be available day-one on Game Pass Ultimate for Xbox and PC. The beta will focus on testing combat mechanics and zero-gravity movement.
Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and 7 270K Plus Review: High Performance at Competitive Prices
Intel has unveiled the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and Core Ultra 7 270K Plus as refresh models of the Arrow Lake series, featuring higher clock speeds, improved core layouts, and support for DDR5-7200. Both processors outperform the Core i9-14900K in gaming and deliver superior price-to-performance ratios. The new CPUs mark a significant intermediate step in Intel’s roadmap and represent a strategic price offensive against AMD’s mid-range offerings.
The Machenike Dawn Mini-PC combines an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 laptop GPU with an Intel Core i9-14900HX featuring 24 cores, delivering powerful gaming performance in a compact form. Initially available in China, the device offers upgrade options for memory and storage. These components reflect broader trends in PC gaming performance, as demonstrated by extensive CPU benchmarks for games like Death Stranding 2, where high-end processors play a critical role in achieving top frame rates.
Intel Core Ultra 200S Plus: Performance Gains in Gaming and Efficiency, but Minimal Edge Over AMD
Intel has officially launched the Core Ultra 200S Plus series with the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus and Core Ultra 7 270K Plus, delivering significant performance improvements over their predecessors, even surpassing the Core i9-14900K in gaming. However, internal benchmarks show only minimal gains of 0 to 4 percent compared to AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series, with notable advantages in applications like Blender. The processors are priced starting at around €220, with the 270K Plus available for about €320, though availability remains limited for certain SKUs.
Crimson Desert: After Intel Arc Support Backlash, Pearl Abyss Works on Fixes
The open-world action game Crimson Desert faced backlash for initially lacking support for Intel Arc graphics cards. Intel emphasized that it had offered years of hardware optimization, drivers, and technical support to developer Pearl Abyss. Following public criticism and a controversial FAQ recommending refunds, Pearl Abyss apologized and confirmed ongoing work to improve compatibility and performance. While the game now launches on Arc GPUs, issues such as missing textures and black screens remain unresolved.
Crimson Desert: Mixed Reviews, Rising Expectations, and Determined Improvements
Crimson Desert received a Metascore of 78 on Metacritic but faced criticism for inconsistent controls, weak storytelling, and lack of comfort features. Despite its impressive visuals and open world, the game drew mixed reactions, with over 40% negative Steam reviews and a disappointing IGN 6/10 rating. Developer Pearl Abyss responded with major patches, addressing player feedback on controls, storage, and combat. The game’s troubled development, including a toxic work environment and last-minute narrative changes, also contributed to financial and reputational setbacks.
Sony Plans Native Frame Generation from 2027 – ASUS Unveils New ROG Cetra Open Wireless Earbuds
Sony has confirmed the introduction of native frame generation for future PlayStation consoles, set to launch in 2027 in collaboration with AMD and based on FSR 4 with machine learning. The technology will boost frame rates using artificial intelligence and marks a strategic shift toward shared platform solutions. Meanwhile, ASUS unveiled the ROG Cetra Open Wireless Earbuds, wireless earbuds with open-ear technology designed for gamers, emphasizing comfort and high audio quality during extended use. Previously, Sony surprised players with automatic refunds for microtransactions in Highguard following the game’s server shutdown in March 2026.
NVIDIA DLSS 5: Revolution or AI Slop? New Technology Sparks Controversial Reactions
NVIDIA unveiled DLSS 5 at GTC 2026, a new technology described as 3D-guided neural rendering that enables fully AI-driven image generation. The system uses 2D color data and motion vectors to create photorealistic lighting and materials in real time, set to launch in autumn 2026 on the new GeForce RTX 5000 graphics cards. While praised for its technical innovation, DLSS 5 has sparked intense criticism for altering developers' artistic vision and creating a uniform, often unexpected visual style.
Anbernic Launches New Gaming Handhelds RG Vita and RG Vita Pro in PlayStation Vita Design
Anbernic has unveiled the new gaming handhelds RG Vita and RG Vita Pro in the design of the PlayStation Vita. The devices run on Android and feature improved specifications, including larger screens, higher resolutions, and modern features such as WiFi 6. The RG Vita is priced at $109.99, while the more powerful RG Vita Pro costs $149.99. Combining retro aesthetics with contemporary technology, the handhelds aim to appeal to fans of classic portable gaming.
Corsair has unveiled the Vanguard Air 99 Wireless, a compact wireless gaming keyboard featuring optical OPX switches, a slim profile, and an integrated LCD display. The keyboard offers a 99% layout, 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, and six programmable Stream Deck keys for streaming functions. With a battery life of up to 55 hours and a sampling rate of up to 8,000 Hz, it targets professional gamers and streamers. While the keyboard delivers innovative technology, its layout feels unconventional and the keycaps are weaker due to the low-profile design.
Pearl Abyss's open-world action RPG Crimson Desert launches on March 19, 2026, with an impressive 400,000 pre-orders and $20 million in revenue on Steam alone. The game will support Sony's new PSSR upscaling technology on PlayStation 5 Pro at launch, enhancing graphics and performance. PC reviews highlight stable performance at high settings, though the game's difficulty is described as extremely challenging. The PSSR tech, similar to FSR 4, is also being adopted by other major titles including Silent Hill 2 and Cyberpunk 2077.
Nvidia has unveiled DLSS 5, a groundbreaking AI-driven technology that combines traditional rendering with neural rendering to deliver more realistic lighting, materials, and resolutions in real time. Available starting autumn 2026 for RTX 50-series GPUs, the technology aims to bridge the gap between real-time and cinematic graphics. Developers retain full control over visual effects while AI significantly enhances image quality and frame rates. The goal is to usher in a new era of photorealistic gaming visuals.
AMD has officially released FSR 4.1 with the Adrenalin Edition 26.3.1 driver for the Radeon RX 9000 series. The update delivers significant image quality improvements, especially at lower upscaling settings, and includes Day-0 support for Crimson Desert and Death Stranding 2. Early analyses reveal that FSR 4.1 offers sharper visuals and better detail fidelity compared to FSR 4, with nearly unchanged performance, and comes notably closer to NVIDIA’s DLSS 4.5 quality in Death Stranding 2.