I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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Digital Foundry’s Alex Battaglia revealed that their Xbox-related videos failed to attract a substantial audience.
Any Xbox-related content they posted in 2025 got very few views, even for AAA titles.
Battaglia stated that this makes future coverage of Xbox on the channel hard to justify.
The lack of interest in Xbox-related products has been one of Microsoft’s biggest challenges this generation, with the Xbox Series consoles falling short of even 2017’s Nintendo Switch in relevance.
Digital Foundry member Alex Battaglia revealed that the channel’s coverage of Xbox video games in 2025 barely garnered any views, even for titles they thought could draw the Xbox audience out.
Battaglia went on to say that it is getting harder to justify covering Xbox video games on Digital Foundry from a return-on-investment perspective, as the work they put into the videos isn’t translating into views.
Under his post, journalist Jez Corden amplified the same opinion, saying that his publication primarily covers Xbox and is targeted towards that player base. However, his content related to the Steam Deck gains more traffic than anything Xbox-oriented.
Xbox is already in a financial mess, with its 2025 revenue falling by $113 million as its hardware declined by a whopping 29%. But, something worse than monetary ruin is irrelevance in the gaming community, and from the looks of it, the brand is getting there.
Despite possessing a flurry of IPs, the company has failed to create any lasting cultural impact in 2025.
Why do you think the Xbox brand has failed to capture players like PlayStation and Nintendo? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
Lead the comparison and blog writing teams at Tech4Gamers.
Oversee teams with a keen eye for detail and precision.
Ensure hands-on writing, with benchmarks and testing as guiding principles.
Guarantee the delivery of the best possible results in concise yet impactful tech tales.
Story Highlights
Modern PC games are exceeding 16GB VRAM at 1440p and higher settings.
Inefficient asset pipelines, not visual leaps, are driving memory spikes.
Console-focused development heavily shapes PC VRAM behavior.
Mid-range GPU buyers face tougher upgrade decisions than expected.
Recent PC games are forcing an uncomfortable conversation that many players hoped to avoid. The idea that 16GB of VRAM would comfortably carry mid-range GPUs through the current generation is quietly falling apart. Not because graphics suddenly look radically better, but because how games use memory has changed in ways that are not always player-friendly.
16GB VRAM Was Supposed to Be Enough
ASUS RTX 5080 Noctua – Image Credits (ASUS)
For years, 16GB of VRAM sounded like a safe bet. It was the number enthusiasts recommended with confidence. Enough for high-resolution textures, modern engines, and future-proofing at 1440p. That confidence is fading.
Recent releases have started to push past that limit with alarming ease. Players are reporting stutter, texture pop-in, and aggressive streaming even on GPUs that should be comfortably within spec. The frustration is not limited to fringe cases or poorly optimized indie ports. It is showing up in big-budget PC releases that are supposed to define the generation.
What Is Actually Happening
Diablo 4 – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
Several modern PC games are now capable of consuming more than 16GB of VRAM at 1440p when settings are pushed high or ultra. Titles like Hogwarts Legacy and The Last of Us Part I became early warning signs. For example, Diablo 4’s PC requirements show how recent titles can push VRAM budgets past 16GB even at 1440p, especially with ultra textures enabled. Newer releases continue the trend, often without meaningful visual gains to justify the jump.
The issue is not raw polygon counts or revolutionary lighting. It is asset behavior. High-resolution textures are being loaded more aggressively. Streaming systems are less forgiving. Memory budgets are inflated because developers assume large pools are available.
On consoles, that assumption makes sense. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X use unified memory architectures with large shared pools. Developers design around fixed hardware and predictable access patterns. When those designs come to PC, the translation is not always clean.
Why This Matters for PC Gamers
RTX 5070 GPU – Image Credits (NVIDIA)
For PC players, VRAM limits are not theoretical. When a game runs out of memory, the symptoms are immediate and disruptive. Sudden stutters as assets are swapped. Textures snapping between resolutions. In the worst cases, crashes.
Mid-range GPU owners feel this most. Cards like the RTX 4060 Ti 16GB or Radeon RX 6800 should be comfortable 1440p options. Instead, some players are finding themselves dialing back texture quality earlier than expected. That undermines the very reason they chose those GPUs.
It also creates confusion. Recommended specs often list 8GB or 12GB VRAM targets. Real-world usage tells a different story. The gap between marketing guidance and lived experience keeps growing.
VRAM Is Not Just About Resolution
Gaming Setup – Image Credits (Tech4Gamers)
A common misconception is that VRAM scales neatly with resolution. That 4K equals high VRAM, and 1440p is safe. In practice, texture quality, streaming behavior, and engine design matter just as much.
Ultra textures are the biggest culprit. Many modern games load massive texture sets regardless of how much of them are visible on screen. Poor compression and conservative streaming thresholds mean memory fills up quickly. Once it is full, performance falls off a cliff.
This is why some players see VRAM usage jump by several gigabytes just by toggling texture quality, with minimal visual improvement. It is not that the textures are dramatically better. It is because they are handled inefficiently.
Consoles Shape the PC Experience
Xbox Series S Console – Image Credits (XBOX)
Console-first development is not inherently bad. It delivers consistency and scale. But it does influence how PC games behave.
On consoles, memory is unified and predictable. Developers know exactly how much is available and design assets accordingly. On PC, VRAM is discrete, variable, and often more limited. When engines assume console-like memory behavior, PC GPUs pay the price.
This is compounded by GPU segmentation. Graphics card vendors have been cautious with VRAM increases on mid-range products. Performance improves generation to generation, but memory often stays flat. That mismatch is becoming harder to ignore.
Buying Advice Without the Panic
It is important to keep perspective. Not every game uses VRAM poorly. Many titles still run perfectly well on 12GB or even 8GB at sensible settings. Edge cases get amplified on social media. A look at official GPU specifications shows how VRAM capacity has lagged behind raw performance gains in mid-range cards.
That said, buying a new GPU today with only 8GB of VRAM is increasingly hard to recommend for 1440p gaming. Even 12GB is starting to feel tight if you want to avoid compromises over the next few years.
The smarter approach is balance. Prioritize texture quality over resolution when tuning settings. Use high instead of ultra. Monitor VRAM usage rather than chasing presets. And if you are building new, consider memory headroom as seriously as raw performance.
For deeper guidance, Tech4Gamers has already covered how texture settings impact performance and how to optimize PC graphics without visual loss.
The Road Ahead
This issue is unlikely to disappear soon. Engines are growing more complex. Asset sizes are not shrinking. Unless developers invest more effort into smarter streaming and compression, VRAM demands will keep creeping up.
At the same time, GPU vendors will face pressure to rethink memory configurations. The days of selling mid-range cards with minimal VRAM buffers are numbered.
For now, 16GB VRAM is not obsolete. But it is no longer the comfortable ceiling many expected. It is a line that modern PC games are already testing, and sometimes crossing. For players, awareness and informed choices matter more than ever.
Lead the comparison and blog writing teams at Tech4Gamers.
Oversee teams with a keen eye for detail and precision.
Ensure hands-on writing, with benchmarks and testing as guiding principles.
Guarantee the delivery of the best possible results in concise yet impactful tech tales.
Story Highlights
Nioh 3 launches February 6, 2026, bringing much excitement and a more open exploration style.
The switching system between samurai and ninja will bring forth much more exciting and flexible battles.
We will see a wider, more ambitious storyline spanning multiple eras.
The demo launching January 29, 2026, will allow players to try the game early and take their progress to the full game release.
After many years, there’s finally a Nioh game on the horizon. Nioh 3 launches February 6, 2026, and has much anticipation surrounding its release. This next chapter of Nioh from Team Ninja and Koei Tecmo will expand on everything fans love about the series. The game will launch for both PS5 and PC players through Steam. Releasing the game on both the PS and PC shows exactly how much the developers want this game to reach a wide audience from day one.
What makes this game different is that instead of simply increasing the difficulty, it will be more reactive, flexible, and rewarding. Nioh 3 will also introduce new features, making gameplay much more exciting. Let’s dive right into why I am so excited for this upcoming game.
A Better Combat System
Combat has always been one of the main focuses of the Nioh franchise, and Nioh 3 doubles down on it. The game will be introducing a samurai-ninja stance change system. This means that players will be able to switch between traditional samurai katana playstyle and fast, stealthy ninja-like combat.
Nioh 3 – Image Credits (Pinterest)
The game allows every fight to feel more dynamic, like how it does in Rise of Ronin. Instead of having players bound to one combat style, they can freely pick between the two. If one mission isn’t working as a samurai, switch to a ninja and vice versa. This brings flexibility to the gameplay, something which many players crave.
A Bigger And Better Story
Another major shift that we will see is in narrative scope. Nioh 3 will span multiple historical eras. This will introduce new settings, characters, and open a wider view into the supernatural world of Nioh. The early impressions of the game suggest that it will be more character-driven, cinematic, and will have a much deeper story than earlier games of the franchise.
For a franchise that has previously focused mostly on gameplay, this is a major shift. It is similar to how Nioh 2 strengthened its storytelling but on a wider scale. The overall graphics and cinematic appeal as seen in the trailer are something I am personally looking forward to.
Nioh 3 Cinematic Style – Image Credits (Steam)
A Demo That Actually Matters
The demo for the game will be released on January 29th. One of the most fan-favourite bits about the last game was a demo that actually contributed to the final game. In Nioh 3, Team Ninja is doing it again, but with a much bigger upgrade. Gamers who purchase the demo will be able to carry their progress into the full release.
What this means is that players with the demo can get ahead of the crowd with optimised builds and by having already mastered the stance-switch system. This instantly makes the demo feel as if it were part of the game and not just a disposable teaser.
Improved Co-op Experience
Team Ninja has expanded the co-op and multiplayer options to help players tackle the parts of the game with the most difficult encounters. While the Nioh franchise has always offered co-op, it felt secondary. In Nioh 3, however, the multiplayer experience will finally feel like a core pillar of the overall gameplay.
Gameplay Design – Image Credits (Pinterest)
This is significant because part of the game’s identity is the challenge and difficulty it poses. Bringing a friend into the game allows players to mix both the samurai and ninja playstyles, making the difficult parts a bit easier. Similary players can also mix and match buffs and debuffs, different weapons, and make coordinated builds.
The return of Nioh was one worth waiting for. It feels like Team Ninja is passing a statement with Nioh 3. The upcoming game signals growth, confidence, and willingness to revisit what made fans fall in love with the franchise in the first place. The game will feature better combat mechanics and a narrative that will captivate many. If the developers deliver on what the early details promise, February 6th could be the start of a new chapter for the series.
At Tech4Gamers, I’m a Senior Error Fix Writer specializing in troubleshooting problems. Each article results from deep research, testing fixes and providing solutions.
Story Highlights
VPNs act as protection from DDoS attacks and privacy risks that are common in online gaming.
They help gamers with better matchmaking by avoiding unstable server routes.
Streamers and most competitive gamers rely on VPNs to help mask their IP and remain safe.
Gamers relying on Cloud-gaming and public internet connections need VPNs for secure connections.
This is box title
The multiplayer gaming industry has become far more complex than it was in the past. Gamers now deal with fast-paced online matchmaking and constant online communication. This evolution, however, comes with some issues, such as lag spikes, cyberattacks, unfair lobbies and more. Considering the ever-growing problems in the online multiplayer gaming industry, VPNs have quietly become an essential tool utilised by many. Let's dive right into why VPNs are a must-have for online multiplayer gaming.
The Security Risk
One of the primary reasons most competitive players use VPNs is the fact that they protect them from DDoS attacks. Many competitive games these days still expose your IP address, especially when peer-to-peer connections are involved. This opens the door for cyber threats. A VPN ensures that when gaming online, if a cyberattack occurs, it hits the VPN server, not your home connection.
Using VPN at Home - Image Credits (Pinterest)
Through the VPN, the user's data is encrypted, meaning that all user data is converted into gibberish, thus allowing safety and masking the player's location. For streamers, ranked competitive gamers and YouTubers, this acts as a basic layer of protection.
Smoother Matchmaking and Stability
Online matchmaking depends heavily on how your ISP routes your traffic. Sometimes your game connects to a crowded server, or the data takes a longer path, which leads to longer waiting periods, lag and inconsistent ping. By using a VPN, gamers can route their internet traffic through a less-busy server in a different region, which may offer better performance. Through this method, a VPN delivers an experience free from jitter, thus accommodating better gaming.
No Content Restrictions
Another issue common amongst today's gamers is region locking. Games are released earlier in some regions, and content is blocked due to censorship or licensing rules. VPNs allow gamers to access a region where the game or update is already available, eliminating the wait. This is very helpful in the case of large live-service games, where even a few hours of delay could mean that competitors could rise above you in a short time.
VPN Allows Global Gaming Access - Image Credits (Pinterest)
Better Gamer Privacy
When it comes to online gaming, your IP address acts as your identity. This IP address reveals more about you than you realise, including your city, ISP name and network details. If you ever find yourself in the midst of an online feud or a heated match, this may become somewhat of an issue.
People online can misuse the information your IP address provides and can harass you or make targeted cyberattacks. By using a VPN, a gamer can hide their online identity. This is done by encrypting your data and routing it through a remote server instead of your local one. For streamers and gamers with a big audience, this is of much use.
Data Privacy Through VPN - Image Credits (iTop VPN)
Improved Matchmaking
The degree of high-skill players varies from region to region. Some areas have lobbies with highly skilled players, whereas others have casual lobbies. A VPN can be used to reach an area with fairer matchmaking that fits the user's skill level and where the ping is more stable. It is important to note that this is not cheating; it is simply choosing a better environment when the default matchmaking system doesn't cooperate.
Cloud Gaming and Public Wi-Fi Safety
Many gamers use cloud gaming services, including GeForce NOW, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and PlayStation Remote Play. Most of these gamers connect to the cloud using free public Wi-Fi to game on the go. This is not safe, as people on the same network as you can potentially access your data and misuse it. A VPN prevents this by encrypting the entire connection, ensuring that no one spies on your data.
The modern gaming industry is faster, more competitive, wider and also more vulnerable. If you are not careful, your data can be easily accessed and misused. ISPs cannot guarantee stable routes, developers cannot protect from every DDoS attack and region locking isn't going anywhere.
A VPN helps address all these issues in one swoop. Whether you need to protect your information online, need to access region-locked content or need to protect yourself from DDoS attacks, VPNs can be a great help.
At Tech4Gamers, I contribute as a Senior News Reporter, combining my skills and gaming enthusiasm to keep our audience updated on the latest developments.
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Vince Zampella, the co-founder of Infinity Ward and Respawn Entertainment, has sadly passed away at 55.
The developer was recently involved in a car crash that left him unable to escape.
This is an incredibly sad day for the industry, marking the loss of the talent behind iconic titles like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Titanfall, and more.
Vince Zampella needs no introduction to fans of first-person shooters, particularly those familiar with earlier Call of Duty titles and Titanfall. As the Head of Respawn Entertainment, the developer pioneered several iconic IPs in recent years, even helming the successful revival of Battlefield.
Amid all this success, very unfortunate news regarding the veteran developer has just surfaced. Vince Zampella has passed away in a car crash.
Why it matters: Vince Zampella has left an incredible impact on the gaming industry, pioneering games such as Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Titanfall.
Vince Zameplla Was The Leader of Multiple Iconic First-Person Shooter IPs
Reported by TMZ, Vince Zampella was involved in a car crash on Sunday at 12:45 PM. Sources say that Zampella was behind the wheel when the car struck a concrete barrier after losing control, leaving him trapped in a fire.
The crash also led to the passenger, whose identity remains unknown for now, ejecting out as a result of the impact before eventually passing away at a hospital. No other fatalities have been reported in the incident, but no matter how you put it, this is extremely sad news for the entire industry.
Vince Zampella was just 55 and was continuing to produce excellent games one after another as the leader of Respawn Entertainment. He was also a father of three children, and our hearts go out to everyone impacted by his loss.
Respawn Entertainment Instantly Became Famous After Titanfall
In the past, Vince Zampella helped lead the Call of Duty franchise, laying much of the groundwork for the series’ latest titles. His presence at the studio helped the Modern Warfare IP soar to never-before-seen heights, clearly evident by the fact that the reboot based on this series is going strong to this day.
At Respawn Entertainment, he helped pioneer a wave of sci-fi shooters through the excellent Titanfall and its sequel. During his time at the studio, the team also worked on the Star Wars Jedi games.
Therefore, it can’t be overstated how big an impact he had on the larger industry, and this news is indeed an incredibly sad note to end 2025 on for gaming enthusiasts around the globe.
At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered.
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A huge majority of games are now using generative AI in their development.
Games with disclosed AI use have now grossed over $660 million to date.
Almost 8% games from the overall Steam library have disclosed use of gen AI.
The use of generative AI has become a new normal in game development. Everyone has their opinions on it, but the fact is that the technology is here to stay as more and more studios adopt it. We’ve also come across a very interesting stat.
About 8% of the games on Steam now have disclosed generative AI use, but more importantly, those titles have made a massive $660 million on Steam to date, suggesting that the general audience doesn’t care that much.
Why it matters: A recent survey revealed that 63% of gamers have negative views about gen AI in gaming; however, this new data suggests that it isn’t as big a deal as it may seem.
Games with disclosed AI-generated content have made $660 million (data was compiled in November)
According to data from Totally Human Media, there is a total of 10,258 titles with disclosed AI use. Out of them, 12 have grossed 8 figures, 33 grossed 7 figures, and 170 made 6 figures, while the rest are below that.
The list doesn’t count ARC Raiders, as the data was compiled before its release. But, since these other games have also revealed a bit of AI usage, including Battlefield 6, which recently came under fire.
Studios use the tech the most for in-game artwork
The data sites that areas where gen AI is majorly used include in-game art, followed by voiceover, pre-production, localization, and other marketing-related things. But some major titles are now using it and will use it in the future.
Multiple reasons have been listed as to why studios use it, like budget constraints, faster prototyping, and improved quality. So, while people have extreme views about it, it seems they aren’t much bothered in the grand scheme of things.
What are your thoughts on games with generative AI labels grossing $660 million? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered.
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Microsoft says the reports of it targeting a 30% profit margin with Xbox are false.
It was reported that the tech giants were charging more than the competition.
The average profit margin in the gaming industry ranges from about 17% to 22%.
The usual profit margin in the gaming industry ranges from about 17% to 22%, so you can imagine the uproar it created when it was reported that Microsoft is now targeting a 30% profit margin on Xbox; however, the company has now spoken out on it.
Microsoft has debunked the report of 30% profit margins. It says that it does set ambitious goals, but this report is incorrect. For context, the highest margins are usually associated with studios and companies doing extremely well.
Why it matters: Fans were furious that Microsoft was charging this much, considering they had laid off several developers, cancelled many anticipated projects, and raised the prices of Xbox consoles as well.
Fans were calling out Microsoft for targeting these much higher profit margins
The tech giants told CNBC that the report of the 30% profit margin was, in fact, incorrect. In legal court documents during the FTC trials, it was revealed that the company targets around 12% margins, in line with the rest of the industry.
Microsoft hasn’t commented on how much exactly they target right now, but it’s safe to assume that it isn’t 30% and maybe somewhere closer to the industry standard. But growing prices suggest it could be a bit higher.
The company’s hardware sales have significantly declined in recent years
The recent years haven’t been too forgiving for Xbox as it company reportedly sold just 1.8 million Series X|S units in 2025. Even this year’s Black Ops 7 wasn’t too big a revenue generator, so it has to rethink its policies.
2026 and beyond are quite important for them as they expect the Xbox Series sales to get a final boost thanks to GTA 6’s arrival. In addition, it is also expected to drop its next-gen PC-hybrid Xbox Magnus in 2027.
What are your thoughts on Xbox debunking that it charges 30% profit margins on Xbox? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.
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PC average selling price to increase as much as 8% in 2026, firm estimates.
Sales are expected to get reduced by 4.9-8.9%.
The global memory crisis will make PC market condition even worse and right now is the best time to either buy a new PC or upgrade your existing one.
Global memory shortage has hit the electronics sector pretty hard, but the PC market even more so. Based on current conditions, things are only expected to get worse going into 2026, and it isn’t RAM and SSD costs that are expected to take a step up.
In fact, the entire PC selling prices will potentially climb up by a whopping 8% and that’s considering the worst-case scenario. This prediction is almost twice the initial analysis, which would’ve been considered a moderate scenario.
Why it matters: Even aside from gaming, regular PCs will become hard to buy soon enough due to these high prices. Unfortunately, the PC market will remain unstable for at least a couple of years.
This data comes from International Data Corporation (IDC), and the average PC selling price is expected to increase by 6-8% in a ‘pessimistic’ scenario and by 4-6% in a moderate one. However, given how bad the electronics market can get with scalping and other tactics, it’s safe to assume we’re looking at the worst-case scenario.
The firm furthermore anticipates a moderate 4.9% reduction in PC sales, and an 8.9% reduction in the bleakest case. However, it’s likely sales will be stopped, and as tradition goes, PC buyers pay even the highest prices for the items they want to get their hands on.
Just recently, Micron, one of the largest RAM producers, closed its retail stores and decided to focus on making high-performance AI chips. With the DRAM shortage expected to persist even beyond 2026, manufacturers and retailers have already begun taking countermeasures.
Paradox Giving Buyers Option To Source Their Own RAM || X
Paradox Customs, a brand known for making DIY PCs, recently announced on social media that it will offer an option to exclude RAM from its pre-built PCs. Even ASUS has announced it will make a DDR4-to-DDR5 RAM adapter.
A 64GB DDR5 kit will put you around the same price as a PS5 today, but that’s still not the highest it’s reached. We recommend upgrading or buying a new PC ASAP, as it will get even tougher to do so in the next few months.
At T4G, my task is to cover the latest news around the gaming globe ASAP and with the utmost precision. I adore all the games and respect all the devs behind the amazing games that we get all year. So, whether it’s a PC or a Console game, I got it all covered.
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A user ordered a DDR5 RAM kit on Amazon but got a disguised DDR4 stick.
The notches on the RAM didn’t match the motherboard, which raised suspicion.
These antics could become more common as RAM prices surge due to shortage.
It is no secret that memory prices are going out of hand due to the recent AI boom. DDR5 RAM, especially, is being sold for over 150% the price of its MSRP. And in desperate times, come desperate measures, which lead to scams.
GPU and CPU scams are quite recurring in the industry, but the latest culprit of this fraud is RAM sticks. A user has reported that they ordered a kit of 2 DDR5 RAM sticks from Amazon, but instead got DDR4 disguised as DDR5.
Why it matters: The inflated prices are leading to scams even in RAM sales, which was previously unheard of. What’s interesting is that the purchase was directly from Amazon and not a third-party seller.
User gets scammed by Amazon as they get DDR4 Ram disguised as DDR5
Reddit User Leading-Growth-8361 posted to r/pcmasterrace to alert users about the latest scam. His ordered Corsair Vengeance DDR5 RAM kit was, in fact, a DDR4 kit, disguised with fake heatsinks to say otherwise.
When they got the kit, the heatsinks were a bit loose as if taken out by someone, but they ignored that and proceeded with the build. However, whenthe user tried to put the RAM on the motherboard the notches didn’t align.
Increased DRAM prices are leading to scams in memory sales
On the DDR5 kits, the cutouts are towards the middle, whereas on DDR4, it’s a bit different. When the user removed the heatsink, they discovered that it was an unknown stick and not the Corsair one that was ordered.
What’s more worrying is that the order came directly from Amazon, and not a third-party seller, which rings alarm bells for users, as even official sources aren’t trustworthy anymore. Anyhow, this is the current reality, and we must be careful.
What are your thoughts on buyers getting scammed on Amazon while buying DDR5 RAM? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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A reliable analyst says it would be a smart move for Take-Two to increase GTA 6’s price.
The game’s scope and hype would certainly justify such a decision despite expected setbacks.
Other industry developers and experts have also expressed a similar opinion in the past.
Despite the overwhelming backlash of gamers, the new $80 pricing standard is slowly being adopted by the AAA gaming industry. However, GTA 6 is expected to push the mantle even further, a topic that has generated a lot of discussion among gamers and experts so far.
A credible analyst in the gaming scene now claims that Take-Two pursuing a price hike for GTA 6 would not only be expected but also a smart move given the game’s massive hype and the alleged unmatched scope.
Why it matters: GTA 6 having a higher price tag, such as $100, could slow down sales and the migration of players from the current GTA Online to the next multiplayer mode. It would also cause an uproar among gamers.
In an interview with GamesIndustry, analyst Vic Bassey of Video Game Insights also adds that a price increase is likely on the table, but the $100 threshold might be going too far. We are most likely to see a middle ground between the two extremes.
For those not in the know, some developers have also agreed on a similar stance in the past, including the original Saints Row developer Chris Stockman. Meanwhile, the Ori director Thomas Mahler argued that anything beyond $69 is simply unacceptable for GTA 6.
Based on the level of hype surrounding the game, it would be prudent for Take-Two to pursue a price increase – although reaching $100 might just be a threshold too far.
-Vic Bassey, Video Game Insights.
Regardless, Vic does acknowledge that Take-Two would have to carefully weigh all the pros and cons, since the impact of any GTA 6 price tag would be immense.
The game has been delayed multiple times since its initial reveal.
A low price could boost player sales and migration over to the GTA 6 ecosystem, but profits may have to take a hit in the process. The analysts also expect a reversed scenario with a $100 price tag.
Do you think Take-Two will pursue a price hike with GTA 6, or would it favor gamers’ sentiment with a traditional pricing structure? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
I’ve previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, I love to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games and breaking exclusive stories. Besides my passion for gaming journalism, I love spending my leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited my articles.
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Xbox Series X|S only sold 1.8 million units around the globe this year.
The company’s hardware sales declined by 70% year-on-year this November.
PS5 and the Nintendo handhelds also suffered, but their sales numbers are more respectable than Xbox.
2025 has been a difficult year for Xbox and Microsoft across multiple fronts. However, the biggest setback has come from hardware. Revenue from Xbox console sales dropped by a staggering 29% this year, marking one of the company’s steepest declines in recent memory.
In addition, the company has also alienated a large section of its fanbase by hiking the price of the Xbox Series X|S twice in 2025. When you take all of that into account, it isn’t all that surprising to find out that 2017’s Nintendo Switch outsold Xbox hardware this year.
Why It Matters: Xbox had already lowered expectations for Series console sales, yet the numbers still came in far worse than anticipated.
As can be seen above, the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles have only sold 1.8 million units globally in 2025. To put this into context, 3.4 million Nintendo Switch handhelds have shipped this year, despite it launching almost a decade ago and its sequel coming out in June.
The sales of Xbox Series consoles have taken a massive hit, as statistics show a 70% decrease in sales year-on-year when comparing the November timeframe. No doubt, the PS5 has also declined in performance, dropping 40% compared to its sales in November last year.
However, the Sony starlet has still managed to sell over 9 million units worldwide, giving a healthy boost to its already high numbers. Moreover, Nintendo also suffered less of a setback thanks to the launch of Nintendo Switch 2, as it only fell 10% in sales year-on-year.
With Valve’s Steam Machine around the corner, Microsoft’s target PC/console market already has competition in the next-gen.
Microsoft has its sights set on next-gen, with Phil Spencer teasing full PC integration for the upcoming Xbox. However, Xbox is dead last in the console rankings, and with Valve launching its own home console next year, competition is only going to get tougher, even in the console/PC hybrid market.
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Battlefield 6 has come under fire by gamers for using an AI-generated sticker of a gun with obvious flaws.
The M4A1 gun sticker has two unnatural barrels and no trigger, raising suspicion in the community about AI use.
Fans are frustrated with the developers for using AI in multiple instances, calling for a boycott.
However, despite early promises of not using gen AI in BF6, it appears that developers have started relying on it to create stickers and other art. This has led to the studio facing severe criticism online, as players call for a boycott.
Why it matters: Battlefield 6’s use of Gen AI could prove to be a massive controversy for the game, given that Black Ops 7 also suffered a boycott due to its use of AI.
M4A1 with Two Barrels?
Battlefield 6 Gen AI Use Controversy
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Battlefield 6 is under bombardment by players for using AI-generated M4A1 gun sticker.
Players are quite upset with Battlefield 6 devs for going back on their words about gen AI use.
Many of the players are either refunding the game or deciding to do a boycott unless the studio addresses the situation.
There is apparently more than one instance of AI-generated art use in Battlefield 6.
As pointed out by users on Reddit and Twitter, the player card sticker of an M4A1 gun was found with obvious flaws that suggest gen AI was used. The gun has two barrels that make no sense and lacks a trigger. The hands on the sticker also look awkward.
Players are also taken aback by how off-putting the sticker looks because their own attempts at generating AI images of the M4A1 gun look miles better in comparison.
Additionally, a separate art found in the game about RPGs vs. golf carts also seems to be AI-generated, according to the players. While some players see no issue, others have pointed out that AI art is generated based on stolen artworks that take jobs away from real artists.
Battlefield 6 is a step up from the previous games.
Therefore, the controversy has grown to a significant margin, with some players refunding and others attempting to boycott the developers.
We have already seen the devastating consequences of gen AI use in Black Ops 7, which caused a boycott and damage to the game’s reputation.
Do you think Battlefield 6 using AI-generated art is as big a deal as the community is making it out to be? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
