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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Ben Starr from Final Fantasy and Expedition 33 wants the industry to build new IPs.
He wants the studios to move ahead of the past and focus on something fresh and new.
Starr said he would love to play new characters, and that is what we should look towards.
We are at a point in the gaming industry where studios don’t really want to experiment or take risks; instead, sequels and remasters are more prevalent. This is because the budgets have become insane, and it is difficult to generate enough revenue.
However, a renowned voice actor known for playing Verso in Clair Obscur Expedition 33 and Clive in Final Fantasy has urged the gaming industry to develop brand new IPs and stop looking back to the past.
Why it matters: This is indeed a reality as studios prefer to play it safe to avoid major losses if the game fails to take off. So, their best bet is to focus on new titles set in an already established IP or franchise.
During the recent Emerald City Comic-Con, Ben Starr spoke about a bunch of things during an Expedition 33 panel. He also mentioned how he adores the Legacy of Kain franchise, and he would love to be in a future title.
We should be building new IPs, not always looking back to the past.
But during the same discussion, Starr continued that while he loves these already established IPs, it is time for the gaming industry to stop living in the past and start building brand new IPs like Expedition 33.
Expedition 33 has been a major success
He mentioned that the Resident Evil franchise is doing so well, but even then, we would rather be part of something new, like Sandfall’s RPG. He would like to originate new characters that people can adore.
Starr has a valid point, and this is something many people would also prefer happened, but again, in today’s day and age, where the industry is so volatile, it gets difficult. However, the solution to that is lower-budget creative indie titles.
What are your thoughts on Ben Starr’s comments that studios should be building new IPs? 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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Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil reboot reportedly has ‘practically’ nothing to do with games.
This tidbit comes from a private screening that otherwise had a really positive reception.
The movie will only feature a few easter eggs and recognizable monsters from the game.
While there have been many attempts in the past, the Resident Evil franchise remains to be fully realized in the world of cinema. Zach Cregger is trying just that with the second major reboot, which aims to tell an original story with new characters set in the game world.
However, a recent private screening suggests that Zach’s new project has ‘practically’ nothing to do with games. The only connections made were a few easter eggs and recognizable monsters from the RE series, which raise alarm bells among the hardcore RE fans.
Why it matters: Despite the positive reception in the screening, hardcore Resident Evil fans are skeptical after learning the latest tidbit. It would be hard to pull off a successful video game adaptation while being mostly unrelated, after all.
A private screening of the Resident Evil movie reveals that it is not related to the games at all, besides a few nods.
As reported by World of Reel, the $20 million 90-minute video game adaptation is built entirely around tension and features an environment reminiscent of the early RE titles. The small project is adopting its own way of storytelling, different from games.
Cregger recently admitted he never watched the earlier 2000s “Resident Evil” films. […] He’s also been clear that his version won’t strictly follow the established lore.
To clarify, there is overwhelming momentum and little to no character development and worldbuilding. Attendees claimed it was far more cinematic than past RE adaptations, with monsters showing up often and practical effects everywhere to up the ante.
There are also spoilers ahead.
The story follows Bryan, played by Austin Abrams, a slightly strange ‘druggie-type’ delivery driver who finds himself in the midst of Raccoon City Hospital during a virus outbreak.
The movie is expected to be really gory and will most likely receive an ‘R’ rating.
While concerns are there, Zach has previously iterated that fans won’t be bummed out. He is aiming to tell a Resident Evil story in the game world without affecting the established narrative from the games.
Do you think the Resident Evil movie will receive a positive reception from hardcore RE gamers? 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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Intel’s CPU sector will see another price surge in May, according to a Chinese research firm.
The cost will increase by another few percent, adding to the two price hikes the company has already announced in 2026.
Compared to 2026, the CPU price tag has increased by 30%, all due to the AI sector buying up most of the CPUs.
Despite recent decreases in DDR5 RAM prices globally, the memory crisis is not showing any signs of slowing down. Most PC components are still selling at an extremely high rate amidst the AI boom, with the CPU sector suffering the most.
Why it matters: With reports suggesting that the utilisation of CPU in AI data centers is only going to increase, gaming components will get more expensive for players globally.
Intel CPUs are going to be 30% costlier compared to 2025.
According to a Chinese market research firm, Intel is preparing for another CPU price increase across its entire portfolio. The company is going to raise costs by a few more percent in every CPU sector, whether it is the Core Ultra CPU or the Xeon server processor.
Overall, Intel CPUs are going up 30% in price compared to 2025, when you add the previous cost surges to the equation. Furthermore, the company is facing an issue with CPU supply that it can’t fix immediately.
Some of Intel’s CPUs rely on TSMC’s silicon, with several parts being manufactured on TSMC’s node, especially in multi-die packaging. Therefore, even though the company has a large internal CPU production base, it can’t ship the product until the parts from TSMC arrive.
Both AMD and Intel have hiked prices by more than 10% in 2026.
Data centers have also been eating up CPU supply for a while, and the ratio of CPU usage can go even higher, according to some reports. Currently, the AI server infrastructure has a 1:8 CPU to GPU ratio, but with the way AI is being used, it can go as high as 1:4, further increasing prices.
Do you think prices of memory components will come down once the AI bubble bursts, or is this now the reality of gamers worldwide? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
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 Cloud Gaming now supports a whopping 2,816 titles after the new April update.
Players can now play titles like Crimson Desert and Life is Strange: Reunion on the go if they own them.
Furthermore, first-party Xbox titles are available to stream for free on Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Ever since its introduction in November 2024, the cloud streaming feature of Xbox Game Pass has been a big hit for Microsoft. According to the company, players have already streamed titles for tens of millions of hours, and the service is growing dramatically.
Xbox Cloud Streaming lets Game Pass users play their purchased games from any compatible device, whether it’s a TV or a mobile phone. The gaming giant has been expanding the service by adding new titles every month, and the new update has brought the number of supported games to almost 3,000.
Why it matters: Xbox Cloud Gaming and its accessibility have added another layer to all the benefits Game Pass already gives to its subscribers.
Crimson Desert is now playable through the cloud gaming service| Source: TrueAchievements
Xbox has added 50 new titles to the Stream Your Own Game feature on the Game Pass, meaning that users can now play a whopping 2,816 titles on the go because of Xbox Cloud Gaming.
New additions to the catalogue include the open-world behemoth Crimson Desert and the brand-new Life is Strange: Reunion. A flurry of Microsoft-owned titles, like Absolum, Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie, and the Perfect Dark series, are also supported now in addition to big names like Resident Evil 7, MLB The Show: 26, and Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth.
This Xbox Cloud Gaming update comes just ten days after the company added dozens of new options for Game Pass Users on March 25. Xbox has been updating the streaming feature with an average of 162 new titles since its launch in November 2024.
20% of the Xbox gaming catalogue, in addition to First-Party titles, now have cloud streaming support.
Xbox Cloud Gaming now encompasses almost 20% of the entire Xbox gaming catalogue and also includes all of the gaming giant’s first-party lineup. Unlike other titles that are part of the service, which you can only stream if you own them, the exclusive titles are playable without any extra cost.
Do you think cloud gaming is the next evolution of gaming, and is Xbox doing enough to support this feature? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.
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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The first user to attain the platinum trophy in Crimson Desert spent 285 hours in the game.
With an average of 19 hours of playtime per day, the platinum trophy still took more than two weeks.
The Pearl Abyss title has been praised worldwide for its massive open-world with heaps of content available in it.
However, arguably the main reason for Crimson Desert’s success is the game’s massive open-world, with such a scale that players haven’t even completed half of the map despite putting in 200 hours. As it turns out, the title’s Platinum trophy is going to take even longer to attain for completionists.
Why it matters: Crimson Desert’s style of world building is certainly going to become the standard in the industry moving forward.
User N-A-E-C-A-B-O-N took 285 hours to get the game’s platinum trophy| Source: PSNProfiles
According to PSN Profiles, the first player to attain the platinum trophy in Crimson Desert had to play the game for 285 hours. On the website’s leaderboard, user N-A-E-C-A-B-O-N was the first person to achieve this landmark in exactly 15 days, with an average playtime of 19 hours a day.
So far, only five users on PlayStation have played Crimson Desert to 100% completion with every one of these playthroughs taking around 300 hours. Hence, if you want to attain the ultra rare Platinum trophy in the world of Pywel in under two weeks, you’ll need to play for at least 20 hours daily.
Crimson Desert has been praised around the globe for the depth of content in its game world that still has more than enough to offer after 200 hours-plus of playtime. Pearl Abyss even said before its launch that the open-world title is so big that even they couldn’t figure out how long it will take to beat.
Only 5 players have achieved the game’s platinum trophy so far.
For sure, Crimson Desert might have missed a beat on the story and narrative, which Pearl Abyss even admitted. But, its humongous world more than makes up for it and sets new standards.
Do you think Crimson Desert is worth playing for its massive open-world alone? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discusssion.
At Tech4Gamers, I mainly cover new gaming news, leaks, and rumours. Aside from that, I love to write features about my favourite games while inserting my opinion about their different aspects.
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Sony seems to be scaling back PC releases for first party single player exclusives, shifting focus back to PlayStation consoles.
Many PC players on platforms like Steam say they do not care if PlayStation exclusives stop coming to PC.
Discussions on Reddit and NeoGAF show most players would not buy a console just for a few exclusives.
This goes without saying that more people have access to a PC than a console. So, it makes sense for publishers to release their games on PC along with consoles to reach a wider audience. However, for consoles to sell, they still rely heavily on exclusive titles, as those exclusives push players to buy a particular console.
However, recent reports and statements suggest that Sony is now shifting its strategy again. The company is expected to scale back PC releases for its first party single player exclusives and focus more on keeping those titles on PlayStation consoles. Because of this shift, some players are now wondering what PC users think about PlayStation exclusives potentially no longer coming to Steam.
A couple of threads and polls have revealed that PC players do not really care about PlayStation exclusives being released on Steam.
Why it matters: Steam already has a massive library, so PlayStation not bringing its first party games to the platform may not make much of a difference for most players.
On NeoGAF, a user named Fess asked PC players what they would do if they could no longer play PlayStation games on PC. The majority of players voted for doing nothing, showing that this does not bother them much.
This suggests that PC players are not really willing to buy a PlayStation console just to play a few exclusive titles. A thread on Reddit shows a similar reaction, where users openly stated that they are not concerned about missing out on PlayStation exclusives.
“IMO, their loss. I am not interested in buying some console for its exclusives, especially with a lot of good titles already being available on PC.”
This comment reflects a common mindset among PC players.
Another Reddit thread includes multiple users saying that they are not going to buy a PlayStation 5 just to play exclusives. Some are even joking about Sony’s strategy and questioning whether scaling back PC releases is the right move.
Overall, while PlayStation exclusives remain popular, current discussions suggest that a large portion of PC players are not heavily dependent on them, mainly because of the already massive selection of games available on PC.
As a Hardware Expert at Tech4Gamers, I blend my Computer Science expertise with a love for technology. Through comprehensive reviews and comparisons, I guide our audience in making informed tech decisions.
Zain Rao
Zain is our hardware expert, known for deep-dive reviews and round-ups on motherboards, CPUs, RAM, GPUs, and cooling systems. He focuses on performance and value, skipping the marketing hype to give you honest, no-nonsense advice.
Who would not want to show the beauty of graphics card in a vertical mount! The market has been filled with many options ranging from the universal designs to the proprietary ones. Once this was a rare commodity and the lack of riser cable from the bundle made it even more challenging. But it is a thing of the past.
Why Trust Tech4Gamers
Zain Rao is a hardware reviewer at Tech4Gamers. From CPUs and graphics cards to motherboards, coolers, and RAM, Zain makes the most of his years of experience to offer valuable insights.
65+ graphics cards tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
1100+ hours spent testing different GPUs for our reviews.
At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.
Lian Li has recently released a new universally compatible PCIe bracket named 4-slot Vertical GPU Kit V4 (VG4v4). It has quite a long name though! It is available in black and white colors. This kit is highly versatile as it offers following features and functions:
Height Adjustment
Tilt Feature
GPU Support Arm with holding capacity of up to 10Kg
ARGB Lighting
Anchoring Mechanism
PCIe 5.0 Riser Cable
As you can see not all brackets offer these features and functions. This is first of its kind to offer all-in-one solution. It is compatible with any ATX case that has bridgeless PCIe slots. Its MSRP is $81.40.
[toc]
What Makes The Lian Li Vertical GPU Kit Different?
When it comes to Lian Li 4-slot Vertical Graphics Card Kit V4 (VG4v4), it has more to it than meets the eye. Lian Li has raised the bar in this niche market segment by providing a feature rich vertical graphics card that is highly versatile and the last nail for the competition is its universal compatibility with ATX PC Cases.
Packaging And Unboxing
Unboxing Experience
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The bracket is shipped inside a cardboard box finished in a black color theme. The bracket and accessories are placed inside a bubble wrap sheet. The accessory container was torn and we found the accessories scattered in the main box. The following are provided:
1x Vertical Bracket with 20mm PCIe 5.0 Riser Cable
1x Tool for standoffs
2x Screws
2x M3 M6-32 Standoffs [Our sample came with 4 and two of these were not compatible]
1x GPU Support Arm for ATX Motherboard
1x GPU Support Arm for E-ATX Motherboard
1x Mylar Sheet
1x Supporting Bracket for E-ATX Motherboard
2x Black Spacers
User manual
Design
Let’s take a closer look on the bracket.
Bracket Design
The bracket is what seems like any other ordinary one but don’t get fool from the looks. This one has much more to offer than the ordinary ones and most of the magic is on its rear. This bracket supports 4-slot cards making it compatible with any of the high-end graphics card in the market at present. Its dimension is 168.63×147.5×234.86mm (LxHxW). The model of white edition is VG4-5-V4W where 5 implies the PCIe 5.0 protocol.
Bracket Design
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Lian Li has provided a steel reinforced PCIe slot with plastic locking latch. I generally prefer sliding latch on these brackets for locking/unlocking simply due to the fact that sliding feature is user friendly. Lian Li has provided a properly EMI shielded PCIe 5.0 riser cable that has length of 200mm which is more than enough for any ATX case. The cable has 7x ribbons. The PCIe connector uses gold connection pins and is full x6 length. This brackets sits 31mm approximately inside the case so make sure your case has more area available.
I am showing the base view of the bracket. This is nothing spectacular here except an opening from where the ARGB cable comes out from the side. Lian Li has provided a Mylar sheet to cover this opening. However, this sheet was missing from our sample.
Bracket Design
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Lian Li has integrated an LED strip under a diffuser on the side frame of the bracket. This sits right under the graphics card and it would augment the overall looks of the solution. Lian Li has used standard 3-pin, 5V, ARGB connectors for the LED strip making it compatible with RGB Sync technology of the motherboard manufacturers.
The tip on the forward area of the bracket which I refer to as anchor is another key feature. This anchor rests on the anchor point provided on the GPU Support Arms. This way the complete weight of the card is shifted towards the PC Case from two points of contacts; from the rear where the bracket is attached to the case and from the front where the GPU Support Arm is attached to the PC Case.
Magic Area
Now, let’s shift our focus on the rear of the bracket where two major functions are being achieved using only two thumb screws. These are:
Height Adjustment
Tilt Mechanism
This solution is provided using two-piece brackets on the rear which is genius. The inner bracket rotates on the axis of the main external bracket providing tilt mechanism. Similarly, this bracket can also be moved upward/downward providing height adjustment. This is something that has never been addressed before.
GPU Bracket – Support Frame
GPU Bracket – Frame Removed
I have removed the rear bracket just to show it. You don’t need to remove it anyway. You can see four curved cutouts all across. This is where the tilt function is provided on.
Height Adjustment
Let me show you the height adjustment mechanism on this bracket.
By default the bracket is in the middle area. You can see four cutouts each with a screw holder. You don’t need to handle these screws anyway. You can see a thumb screw on the far left with ↕ symbol. This screw needs to be removed so that you can adjust the height of the bracket to adjust the height of the graphics card. The middle position provides 10.16mm elevation compared to the level1 which is bottom position.
Remove the screw and pull the inner bracket towards right. This will release the bracket so that you can move it up or down as per the requirement. Once you have decided the desired position, simply push the inner bracket and install the thumb screw to lock the position. That simple!
This is a top position that provides 20.32mm elevation compared to the level1 which is the bottom position.
This is the bottom position that has 0 elevation as it sits on the surface of the main bracket base.
The benefit of height adjustment is to make room for large CPU coolers or providing enough lift to the graphics card to provide more clearance for base mounted fans and radiator on the PC Case.
Tilt Mechanism
Now, let’s take a look at the tilt mechanism. If you remember from above about two thumb screws. The one on the top right side is for the tilt adjustment. Just unscrew it and then rotate the bracket towards the left or right providing different angled positions.
Tilt Mechanism
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The above pictures show the graphics card installed in default position straight upward with no tilt.
Tilt Mechanism
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The forward tilt is a position in which the focus is shifted towards the top of the graphics card or its cooler as the fans are tilted downward.
Backward tilt is a position in which focus is shifted towards the fan side of the graphics card by exposing this area compared to other tilt areas as you can see in the above pictures.
Editor`s Note
Please keep in mind that tilting the graphics card forward or backward will obstruct one output port on the graphics card rear IO. The detail is as under:
Backward tilt with top height obstructs the top IO port and some portion of PCIe slot area of the card.
No tilt with top height obstructs the top IO port.
Forward tilt with top height obstructs the top IO port.
Backward tilt wit medium height has no IO port obstruction.
No tilt with medium height has no IO port obstruction.
Forward tilt with medium height obstructs the top IO port.
Backward tilt with bottom height has no IO port obstruction.
No tilt with bottom height has no IO port obstruction.
Forward tilt with bottom height obstructs top and bottom IO ports.
– Zain Rao
GPU Support Arms/Brackets
Let’s take a look at the GPU support arms that are provided with this bracket.
This arm or bracket is required for ATX and mATX form factor motherboards. These are installed on the PC Case using long standoff screws. Follow the user manual before installing the bracket. You can adjust the height of the anchoring frame according to the height adjustment on the main bracket.
This black bracket is required for E-ATX motherboard and low-profile arm support is provided to be used with this black bracket. One key note is that black frame needs to be installed before installing the E-ATX motherboard.
Each support frame provides three anchor points. The middle point is used when no tilt is used. The outermost point is used with forward tilt and the inner most point is used with reverse/backward tilt.
Installation
Let’s go through the installation process. I strongly advise to read the user manual before installing this bracket. It is complex as it sounds and user manual will help you fully understand the bracket and its setup.
I have used GIGABYTE X870 Aorus Stealth Ice motherboard inside the MSI MAG PANO 100L PZ case. I have used the 2-7 slots in this case for the installation of this bracket for which I left the first and eight slot cover intact.
You need not to use the screws on motherboard standoffs on the right side at position 2 and 3. Instead install the M6-32 long standoff screws provided in the box of Lian Li bracket on these positions as shown.
Installation
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Next, prepare the GPU support arm/bracket as per the height requirement and install this arm on the extended standoffs.
Editor’s Note: The X870 Aorus Stealth Ice motherboard uses full length cover on the lower section that covers the chipset and M.2 NVMe ports. This cover also sits over the third standoff screw position on the right side of the case. Due to this, I could not install the full-length cover otherwise the GPU support arm would not be installed.
Editor`s Note
The X870 Aorus Stealth Ice motherboard uses full length cover on the lower section that covers the chipset and M.2 NVMe ports. This cover also sits over the third standoff screw position on the right side of the case. Due to this, I could not install the full-length cover otherwise the GPU support arm would not be installed.
– Zain Rao
While this is ok since the vertical graphics card will hide the exposed motherboard, it is not ok since the M.2 NVMe drives would be without aluminum heatsink cover. This is not an issue where the cover does not sit on the third right most standoff or where the motherboard does not have a full length cover.
Installation
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Now, install the bracket. I connected the PCIe riser cable first and then secured the bracket. The anchor seems a little upward which was addressed later.
Install the graphics card and you are good to go. Alternatively, you can install the graphics card out of the PC Case on the bracket and then install the assembled bracket in the case.
Nvidia driver version 595.97 is used for the testing. Microsoft Windows 11 x64 24H2 is used. We have tested the games with graphics card installed on the motherboard and second time using the Lian Li bracket. All the games were tested on 1440P resolution.
Results
First, I tested the thermals of the graphics card in both configurations using 3DMARK Time Spy Extreme Stress test and recording the sensors using GPU-Z.
I saw no change in the thermal performance.
Next, I ran the PCIe Feature Test for PCIe 4.0 (I don’t have PCIe 5.0 card at moment). We saw a marginal lower bandwidth when the graphics card was tested on the bracket. This is understandable and well within the acceptable margin.
Next, 4x games were tested with graphics card installed directly on the motherboard and then on the Lian Li bracket. You can see consistent results across the test suite except for a game with marginal drop in FPS.
Should You Buy It?
Buy It If
✅You are looking for a complete Vertical solution: The Lian Li VG4v4 is not just a vertical bracket kit but a complete solution for all possible needs.
✅You want a durable solution: Lian Li has provided a GPU support arm in addition to the bracket providing extra level of safety giving you a peace of mind.
✅Looks are your thing in vertical graphics card mount: The feature rich bracket provides tilt and height adjustment features.
✅You are light show freak: Lian Li has provided ARGB LED lighting on the bracket as well fulfilling your dream.
DonBuy It If
❌You need clearance for case: Bracket shift the graphics card 31mm further ahead inside the case. Length of the case needs to be checked beforehand.
❌Compatibility with certain motherboards: Certain motherboards with full length covers are not fully compatible with this bracket since you might need to remove the cover to install the GPU support arm.
Conclusion
I have tested a unique vertical bracket from Lian Li with rather a long name; 4-slot Vertical GPU Kit V4 (VG4v4). This is a kit implying it has many parts and this is indeed where Lian Li has excelled in the design department. This is a highly versatile kit which also added complexity in handling. But once you grasp the basic design aspects, you will simply love the kit for what it offers.
This bracket supports 4-slot graphics cards. It offers height adjustment mechanism as well as a tilt mechanism. Height is a much-needed function that has been missing from other brackets but tilt is a pure augmentation which is not related to the performance but the overall look.
Lian Li has hide the complexity of these features and provide two thumb screws at the user’s disposal making it a super convenient to adjust the height of the card or achieve tilt. Kudos to the design team! To make this happen, this bracket moves the graphics card 31mm ahead or forward inside the PC Case meaning you need to work out the length of the graphics card in the PC Case.
This bracket also comes with GPU Support Arms dedicated for ATX/mATX and E-ATX motherboards. These arms provide anchor points and are rated to hold up to 10Kg weight. The anchor on the front of the main bracket rests on the anchor point of the arms getting additional safe installation.
Lian Li has not forgotten the RGB lovers and has implemented an ARGB LED strip on the base and provided standard connectors. The bracket comes with 200mm PCIe 5.0 riser cable which is well shielded for EMI interference.
This is a first bracket in my testing experience where the test results have shown almost no performance loss which is incredible and unlike the brackets and cables that I have tested so far. This is another win for the Lian Li.
This is one true product where form meets the function and vice versa. The kit has MSRP of $81.40 and is available in black and white colors. It is compatible with ATX PC Cases not just the Lian Li PC Cases.
As Tech4Gamers’ Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I bring over 13 years of PC Hardware Reviewing and 8+ years of IT Project Management experience. Certified in Google IT Support , my focus is on providing honest product reviews and analysis and fostering a strong gaming community with 130k+ members in PPG.
Story Highlight
Developers of the RPCS3 emulator achieved a 5% to 7% frame rate increase across all games by optimizing how the software replicates the console’s unique Cell processor.
These performance gains are especially noticeable in hardware-intensive titles like Twisted Metal, which now delivers frames more consistently.
The update benefits a wide range of hardware, allowing even low-end or older processors to achieve improved performance in demanding games.
The PlayStation 3 is about to hit an incredible milestone: 2 decades old. This console was released in early November 2006 and was regarded as “Next Gen” at the time, offering enough power to play games at 720p and even 1080p with more realistic shaders and HD textures than the PlayStation 2.
For some, this was the last generation to see a substantial graphical leap, as comparing PS3 games like The Last of Us or God of War III to their PS2 equivalents displays a huge difference.
Fortunately, we can play all of these games on emulators such as RPCS3, which is constantly improving its performance by increasing FPS in demanding titles, thereby advancing the emulation of the PS3’s Cell CPU.
We have achieved a new breakthrough on emulating PS3's Cell CPU!
Elad discovered new SPU usage patterns and coded ways to generate more optimised PC code from them – benefitting all games!
Twisted Metal, one of the most SPU-intensive games, sees a 5-7% Average FPS improvement. pic.twitter.com/x29X4C5JnV
Emulation is not a problem with today’s powerful PCs. In reality, if you have a smartphone with a high-end Qualcomm processor, you can replicate practically all console and PC games. Back to the topic of emulation, we have great news for all those who use the PS3 emulator RPCS3: its developers have revealed a major breakthrough that will increase game FPS by 5-7%. This is a new achievement in replicating the PS3’s Cell CPU, since contributor “Elad” uncovered new SPU usage patterns and improved performance.
The good news is that the 5-7% increase in average FPS extends across all titles, indicating a general improvement in emulation. We’ll see the largest difference in demanding titles like Twisted Metal, which require a lot of SPU.
In the video provided to X, we can observe that the FPS increases by more than 7% (e.g., from 47.85 FPS during one pause to 52.17 FPS thereafter), and that SPU usage is marginally lower while RSX usage increases.
The framerate in the current version of Twisted Metal has fewer spikes, making it more stable. James Stanard revealed in X that he wrote 90% of the PS3 Twisted Metal SPU code starting in 2012 and that it is extremely intensive, constantly maxing out the SPU, PPU, and RSX. He is relieved to learn that they have discovered a technique to boost performance while pushing the console to its limits.
Another piece of great news is that this performance boost applies to all PC CPUs, from entry-level to high-end. In fact, one user saw a performance improvement in Gran Turismo 5 on a dual-core AMD Athlon 3000G, which is at the bottom end of the 2019 range.
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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The Mass Effect TV show is going through rewrites to help it reach a wider audience.
The scripts are being rewritten in a way to make them more accessible for non-gamers.
Amazon’s show is reportedly set after the events of the games.
TV shows and movies based on games have had a mixed reception over the years. We’ve had stuff like Fallout that is universally adored by the fans, and then we have others like Resident Evil and Halo that completely diverge from the source material.
A Mass Effect TV show is currently in the works at Amazon, and fans are excited for it. However, the show is reportedly going through major rewrites to make it more accessible for non-gamers, which could be an issue.
Why it matters: As mentioned earlier, the shows that diverge from source material aren’t received too well. Another example of that is The Witcher adaptation; if Mass Effect show does the same, it might not sit well with the fans.
The TV show is going through rewrites to make it accessible for non-gamers
A report from The Ankler reveals that the Amazon show is very near to being greenlit for production, but they are currently waiting for rewrites to make the show easier to understand for people who haven’t played the games.
So, basically, they are targeting a much wider audience than just the fans of the games. This doesn’t normally end well, but the show is still in very early phases, so it will be too early to judge it for now.
The show is reportedly set after the events of the games
A few details about the show have been revealed, like it’s been set after the events of the games, so sticking to the source material was already a huge question. Nonetheless, Amazon has a solid track record with Fallout, so expectations are there.
What are your thoughts on the Mass Effect TV show being rewritten to reach non-gamers? 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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Valve is working on a framerate estimation tool for Steam to make performance transparent.
The new tool will predict how well a game runs on your PC based on hardware specifications.
The new feature could especially benefit Steam Deck users, as it’s clearer than verified badges.
Gaming performance has always been a huge deal for users, and knowing if a title will run smoothly can make or break a purchase on online stores like Steam.
Last month, Valve revealed that it was collecting framerate data from users who opted into the program ‘to improve Steam.’
New datamining now reveals that the company has been working on a Steam ‘framerate estimator’ tool that aims to predict how well games will hold up on your system before you buy them.
Why it matters: System requirements provide rudimentary data, but they alone do not provide enough clarification these days. Valve’s new feature could make gaming performance more transparent than ever.
Steam is reportedly getting a new FPS estimator tool to determine performance in games before you buy them.
As discussed by @LambdaGen on X, Steam will predict the FPS you can get on games based on your hardware specifications, including GPU, CPU, and other data. You could select pre-saved PC configs or make new ones to see estimated performance.
The feature will allegedly gauge FPS using saved data from other users with the same specifications as you. This feature could significantly benefit Steam Deck users, as it’d provide more clarification than the verified badges used by Valve.
Future Steam Machine users could also observe similar benefits. However, a lack of information also raises a lot of caveats about the new framerate estimator tool. As we know, gaming performance can vary significantly based on in-game graphical and other settings.
Valve continues to make smart decisions about Steam and its hardware lineup.
Background applications running on your PC can put a great toll on game performance, with apps like Discord and browsers often consuming a huge chunk of memory. It’s unclear if the FPS estimator would take these factors into account.
Regardless, relying on hardware specifications alone could offer a decent performance analysis and save gamers from making any purchases they’d regret later.
Do you think the new Steam FPS estimation tool can accurately forecast performance in games, or would these figures just turn out to be a rough guesstimation? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the 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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There were rumors that a new Prototype game featuring Alex Mercer was in development.
However, a renowned insider has claimed that there are currently no plans for a new game.
Even years after the last game released, the franchise still remains popular.
Prototype games are a classic that brought thrilling action and fun gameplay. However, the franchise hasn’t been revisited in a very long time, and despite recent rumors, it doesn’t seem to be making a comeback any time soon.
An insider has confirmed that, despite all the recent reports that a Prototype 3 could be in the works, there are currently no plans for a new Prototype game at Microsoft or Activision, to the disappointment of many fans.
Why it matters: Studios sometimes neglect some of their most popular franchises, despite massive demand, and Prototype is one of the biggest examples of it, as it still holds a massively loyal fan base to date.
There are no plans for a new Prototype game for now
There were reports that Prototype 3, featuring Alex Mercer, is in active development, but that seems unlikely now, as Jez Corden has confirmed via the Discord server of the XB2 podcast that there are no current plans.
This is a major bummer and seems like a huge missed opportunity, as reintroduction of Prototype won’t only deliver the fan demand but could also be a huge financial success based on how popular the franchise is.
Don’t expect a new title in the franchise any time soon, despite recent rumors
Even the older games haven’t received similar love as some other titles that got remakes or remasters, so a Prototype game is long overdue. Nonetheless, most will hope that the studio looks into reigniting the franchise.
What are your thoughts on a new Prototype not being in development despite rumours? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.
As Tech4Gamers’ Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I bring over 13 years of PC Hardware Reviewing and 8+ years of IT Project Management experience. Certified in Google IT Support , my focus is on providing honest product reviews and analysis and fostering a strong gaming community with 130k+ members in PPG.
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US efforts to block Chinese AI chips have backfired by creating a shortage of essential electrical infrastructure that China primarily manufactures.
Nearly 50% of planned American AI data centers are facing cancellation because the country cannot source enough basic electrical components.
Current US data center power capacity is at 4 GW, falling significantly short of the 12 GW needed to meet industry goals.
The United States aimed to stay ahead in artificial intelligence by restricting China’s access to advanced chips and chip-making technology. While they have succeeded in doing this, they are now suffering the consequences. Half of the AI data center construction projects in the US have been canceled, as China produces most of the necessary equipment and electrical components, but the overwhelming demand is causing shortages and delays.
A huge amount of money is being invested in AI than ever before, with companies such as Meta planning to build nuclear power reactors to power more than 6 GW of data centers. Everything appears to be going well, but it is worth noting that the United States does not want to rely on China, and China does not want to rely on the US.
This is problematic because China is the leading producer of electrical equipment and components for data center infrastructure, suggesting the United States will be unable to complete all its data center development projects.
According to Sightline Climate by Bloomberg, the United States expects to consume 12 GW of energy in AI data centers, but has only reached 4 GW (33%), with plans to exceed this limit as the year advances.
The issue is not the chips themselves, as previously thought, but meeting these electrical demands, which they cannot do without components obtained from China. Transformers and batteries account for only 10% of the entire cost of an AI data center, but without them, the centers cannot function.
Further, we saw that Donald Trump wants to reduce the United States’ reliance on other countries by imposing tariffs that raised costs across the board, intending to stimulate domestic companies. However, they are unable to meet demand since they rely on China for basic electrical equipment and components.
Demand is so great that they are experiencing shortages, and their manufacturing capacity is not keeping up. They now have to wait 5 years in 2026 to acquire electricity transformers, up from 2 to 3 years in 2020.
Delays in the construction of AI data centers may result in project cancellation or postponement, despite a three-year deadline. According to Bloomberg, the United States increased its transformer imports from 1,500 in 2022 to more than 8,000 in 2025, with China accounting for more than 40% of battery imports.
This situation does not appear to be improving anytime soon, and tensions between the United States and China must be considered, as they will affect the supply chain.
