Home Blog Page 146

Xbox Chief Says Next Xbox Will Be ‘High-End Experience’ And Shares The Philosophy Seen With Ally X

Story Highlight
  • Xbox chief has again confirmed that, despite rumors, next-gen hardware is in the works.
  • She says their next console will be a premium and high-end curated experience.
  • Bond said they can see some of their thinking for the hardware with the Ally handhelds.

Amidst all the concerns regarding the uncertain future of Xbox consoles, Microsoft cleared the air, revealing that next-gen consoles are indeed in the works. However, it might not necessarily be a home console like the previous generations. 

Xbox head recently revealed on a podcast that the next Xbox will be a ‘very premium and high-end curated experience’, suggesting that despite the low sales this generation, Microsoft still has high expectations for the next. 

Why it matters: Following the rumors that Xbox was giving up on hardware, Microsoft immediately clarified the situation and has since been actively discussing its next-generation Xbox. 

In a recent interview with Mashable, Sarah Bond went candid about the Xbox Ally, and talked about the future of the company’s hardware. She stated that we can see some of their thought process for next-gen in the Xbox Ally handhelds. 

The next-gen console will be a very premium and high-end curated experience. You’re starting to see some of the thinking we have in this handheld.

– Sarah Bond

Apart from calling the hardware a premium experience, this is a clear hint that Microsoft could indeed be going for a hybrid console next. This has already been rumored, and an AMD engineer recently suggested this, too. 

ASUS ROG Xbox Ally 2
Bond says next-gen shares the philosophy of the recent handhelds

The ‘thinking’ could refer to how the next Xbox will be a PC-console hybrid, where exclusives won’t matter at all. Or she could just be referring to it in the sense that Ally X, too, is a premium experience.

Bond stated that this is all she can say about the future as of yet. Anyhow, she praised the Ally handhelds, stating that the base model is for general users who just want some fun, while Ally X is targeted at high-end users. 

What are your thoughts on the next Xbox? Would you be interested in it? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.

Xbox Price Hikes Even Impacting Devs; May Harm Third-Party Support Moving Forward

Story Highlight
  • New reports reveal that Microsoft is raising prices for its Xbox Series S|X dev kits.
  • Developers must now pay $2000 for access to the hardware compared to the older price of $1500.
  • This price hike sets a concerning precedent for future Xbox hardware and third-party support.

Price hikes in the gaming industry have become all too common, but Xbox has been the most impacted by this phenomenon. Following back-to-back console hikes, Game Pass price uplifts, and more, the brand seems to be continuing down the same path.

The latest reports seem to confirm another set of price hikes for Xbox hardware, but these uplifts will impact developers rather than consumers.

Why it matters: Xbox’s latest set of decisions has left many scratching their heads, and this particular report has only added to the confusion.

Xbox Series X
Future Xbox Consoles Will Likely Be Even More Expensive

According to the very reliable Tom Warren, Xbox is raising the prices of its dev kits. The dev kits will now cost a whopping 33% more than before, with prices going up from $1500 to $2000.

Needless to say, this is a major bump. When asked to comment on the situation, Microsoft simply resorted to reiterating its commitment to supporting developers with high-quality tools and support.

It is said that microeconomic conditions and inflation are largely to blame for the price hike, but as seen before, Xbox seems to be raising prices more frequently than its competitors.

Moreover, this particular price hike could diminish support for the Xbox platform. Various smaller and mid-sized developers have already stated that this platform is not as big a priority today, so dev kits becoming inaccessible could lead to dwindling interest in the Xbox ecosystem.

xbox series s x price hike
Xbox Series X Now Costs As Much As $800 In The US Thanks To Tariffs

At the same time, Microsoft has confirmed plans to work on a next-generation Xbox console. With the gaming giant continuing to raise prices, it’s anybody’s guess how expensive future hardware will end up being.

What do you think about the gaming giant’s decision to make dev kits more expensive? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

TEAMGROUP Launches NV10000 M.2 PCIe 5.0 SSD With 10,000 MB/s Speeds

[Press Release] Team Group has introduced the TEAMGROUP NV10000 M.2 PCIe 5.0 SSD, delivering ultra-fast read speeds up to 10,000 MB/s for users who need top performance and reliability. Built with 3D NAND flash and the PCIe Gen5 x4 interface, it ensures smooth data transfer for large files, heavy workloads, and backups.

The NV10000 comes in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capacities and supports both Intel and AMD platforms for desktops and laptops. To maintain performance under load, it features TEAMGROUP’s patented graphene heat dissipation label, keeping temperatures stable during extended use.

With a 5-year warranty and S.M.A.R.T. monitoring software, users can efficiently track drive health and run diagnostics. TEAMGROUP also utilizes eco-friendly, recyclable packaging that meets RoHS and REACH standards, reflecting its commitment to sustainability.

The NV10000 M.2 PCIe 5.0 SSD combines speed, stability, and efficiency, making it a strong choice for gamers, creators, and professionals.

PS5 Fixed Hardware Still A Major Advantage Over PC For Developers, Says Astro Bot Dev

Story Highlight
  • The creative director behind Astro Bot has commented on the unique advantages of console gaming over PC.
  • He states that the experience can be more tuned for the former due to the fixed hardware.
  • This is also why developers go all in on making games for the PS5 without taking future PC ports into account.

Astro Bot was among the biggest PS5 exclusives last year, going on to win Game of the Year by the end of 2024. One year later, the platformer remains incredibly impressive from all angles, serving as a showcase of the various hardware features present in the PS5.

PlayStation has also showcased many of its latest PS5 titles on the PC platform recently. As gamers continue to wait for a potential Astro Bot port, the game’s creative director recently discussed the divide between developing for PC and PlayStation. He states that the PS5 still has a major edge over PC in this regard.

Why it matters: PC gaming has grown exponentially over the last few years, but it remains a challenging platform to develop for.

Astro Bot
PlayStation Wants To Focus on Family Entertainment From Now on.

In a recent interview with TheGameBusiness, creative director Nicolas Doucet was asked whether the possibility of future PC ports holds back developers from fully using the PS5’s exclusive features when making games.

This question was asked in reference to features like Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers, but the director noted that developers focus only on the PS5 when making games.

He then went on to say that the PS5 presents a key advantage over PC in this way. Because the PS5 has a single combination of hardware, two when counting the PS5 Pro, developers can fine-tune the experience better for all players.

It’s specific hardware that is absolutely set. That allows us to focus. It’s why I’ve always liked consoles. 

Nicolas Doucet noted that the same is not necessarily true of PC titles, but PC configurations today are less varied than they used to be. The director concluded his thoughts by stating that he still prefers the console approach in this instance due to the plug-and-play nature of the experience.

PS5 Slim
PS5 Developers Continue To Be Impressed By The Hardware 5 Years Later

Of course, this is not the first time developers have acknowledged the unique strengths of console gaming. Elsewhere, Nicolas Doucet praised the SSD and other features introduced during this generation of PlayStation.

What do you think about the developer’s perspective? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

AMD Cuts RX 9070 XT Prices By Up To 31%

Story Highlight
  • AMD has gradually reduced the price of the Radeon RX 9070 XT.
  • Variants like the ASUS TUF, Sapphire Pulse, and Gigabyte OC RX 9070 XT have seen as much as a 31% discount over the MSRP.
  • The company has also increased stock to ensure people are able to get their hands on the GPU.

AMD continues to receive positive feedback with RDNA 4, and while Nvidia has significantly grown its market share against its main competitor, the reds appear to be fighting back in the best way possible.

Recently, the company has cut the price for a graphics card like the RX 9070 XT while improving the stock situation to make it more accessible to a wider market. Moreover, there are currently models below the MSRP in the United States.

ASUS TUF Radeon RX 9070 XT OC Edition 16 GB

We took three graphics card models from various brands and examined what has happened since their release using data and dates.

The specific models are the ASUS TUF Gaming Radeon RX 9070 XT OC Edition 16 GB, which has three fans and an oversized PCB with military-grade components, the Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB Dual, which is the best-selling model in the brand’s entry-level range, and the GIGABYTE Radeon RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16 GB, which is similar to the Sapphire.

The ASUS first appeared in March, although it was not widely available until mid-April. Its price during that month exceeded €900, specifically €935. By the end of May, ASUS dropped its price to €790, then surged beyond €800 until mid-September, when it stood exactly on the border between the two figures.

The price reduction for the RX 9070 XT came at the conclusion of that month and the beginning of this one, when ASUS reduced it to the current €739.90. This implies AMD and ASUS have lowered their prices by nearly 21%.

Sapphire RX 9070 XT Gaming 16 GB

Sapphire reached €820 at the beginning of the year and remained that way until mid-August, when it was out of stock on Amazon for a month and a half. At the end of the summer, it arrived with many more units, suggesting that AMD was making a move and that more sales would take advantage of the lower prices.

That is why, in early September, Sapphire hit the table and fell to €649.90, a price it has held to this day. And it sold out last week, which was understandable given the price and model.

GIGABYTE RX 9070 XT Gaming OC 16 GB

As for Gigabyte, the same thing is repeated with ASUS and Sapphire, with much higher prices at launch, a sharp drop in mid-April to €857 from €1,052, and by mid-June it was already at €752. The price drop comes out to about 31% if we take the total average since it went on sale.

Starting in the summer, with a little reduction at the end of August and another last week to an unbelievable €670, the price has settled at €716.

In the case of Sapphire, the results are completely identical to those of ASUS, as the price has dropped by over 21%, with a difference of only 0.1% between the two, a tiny margin between the two brands.

WB Games Parent Company Up For Sale Following Shaky Few Years In Gaming Industry

Story Highlight
  • Warner Bros Discovery is now eyeing sales offers for the entire company.
  • This move will be part of a broader plan to restructure the entire company, including the gaming division.
  • Recent games, including Suicide Squad and Multiversus, have failed to live up to Warner Bros’ expectations.

Warner Bros Discovery has faced more than a few challenges in recent years. Between an uncertain focus in the film and television department and various flops in the gaming industry, the studio’s financial situation has been concerning for a while.

Amid rumors of a potential buyout, Warner Bros Discovery has finally confirmed that it is now ready to be acquired.

Why it matters: A major gaming giant like EA was recently purchased by Saudi Arabia. It would not be shocking to see Warner Bros’ gaming division falling into the hands of a similar investor.

Warner Bros Wonder Woman
Warner Bros Cancelled Wonder Woman Amid Turmoil Within Gaming Division

According to Warner Bros Discovery’s latest announcement, the company is now considering its options for a potential buyout. The entertainment giant is currently said to be reviewing unsolicited interest from various parties.

It is said that Netflix, Comcast, and Paramount are among the parties most interested in a potential buyout. For context, Warner Bros Discovery previously rejected a similar offer from Paramount.

The decision largely comes from Warner Bros’ failure to adapt to the new era of streaming. Recent films and television releases from the company have seen varied degrees of success, but the company is on the right track following James Gunn’s plans for the DCU.

On the gaming front, failures like Suicide Squad, Multiversus, and Gotham Knights have led to major financial losses for Warner Bros. Big games like Wonder Woman have also been cancelled over the last year.

Even big releases like Mortal Kombat 1 have seen support being withdrawn sooner than expected. Fortunately, Hogwarts Legacy was a major success for the gaming division in 2023.

Superman
Suicide Squad Failed To Live Up To Warner Bros’ Expectations

As such, it will be interesting to see what a potential buyout entails for the gaming division.  It is even speculated that Warner Bros Discovery could sell out individual studios like NetherRealm and Rocksteady, or license its biggest IPs for future games.

At the time of writing, the company is said to be working on new games for Batman, Harry Potter, and other famous IPs.

What do you make of the situation? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

Microsoft Has Begun Advertising All Windows 11 Systems as ‘AI PCs’

Story Highlight
  • Windows 11 is now being advertised to provide an AI PC experience with Microsoft’s new Fall update.
  • Copilot Voice and Copilot Vision are available to all users and assist in virtually every task.
  • Most users are taking a dislike to this change, with Microsoft being bombarded with negative comments on X.

With support for Windows 11 discontinued, Windows 11 is Microsoft’s main OS platform, and the tech giant is now aiming to deliver a full, modernized experience.

As such, the latest Fall update for Windows 11 aims to transform systems with the OS installed into a full AI PC

Why it matters: The AI push has left no field untouched, and it was only a matter of time until Microsoft, a leading tech giant, would completely deliver an AI experience to Windows 11.

windows 11 ai pc brand
Windows 11 Systems Being Advertised As AI PCs || X

Copilot Voice and Copilot Vision are finally available to all users with the update, with the first tool being an AI voice assistant that can help out with any task or engage in a conversation with — something akin to Apple’s Siri but in a much broader context.

Copilot Vision, on the other hand, aims to ease interaction and analyzes every interaction with your cursor, whether it’s in apps or on the web. The tool aims to guide you in forms of text, voice, and more.

Every Windows 11 PC is now an AI PC – with Copilot at the center of it all.

Furthermore, Copilot Actions has also been significantly revamped to provide support from local files, too. For those not familiar, Copilot Actions helps make decisions on the user’s behalf. The Copilot Assistant will also be placed in the center of the taskbar for better exposure.

Windows 11
Nearly 200 Million Users Ineligible For A Windows 11 Upgrade

All these experiences combined will make your Windows 11 PC the ultimate AI setup. That said, users haven’t been taking this branding kindly, with most rebelling against this change.

Due to the strict hardware requirements and other reasons, most people aren’t upgrading from Windows 10 to 11 either; instead, they’re migrating to Linux

What are your thoughts on this new update? Do you think this change will benefit you? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

Splinter Cell Remake Appears To Be In Trouble As Ubisoft Begins Hiring New Director

Story Highlight
  • Ubisoft appears to be hiring a new director for Splinter Cell Remake.
  • The game was first announced several years ago and has not yet shown up at any recent events.
  • The studio also lost the Assassin’s Creed director amid ongoing management changes recently.

Splinter Cell Remake is set to be one of the many ambitious Ubisoft re-releases in the coming years. Despite recent rumors pointing to a potential cancellation, the project is said to be moving forward, with a potential release target set for 2026.

However, Tech4Gamers has found a new job listing that suggests the remake is going through turmoil. Ubisoft Toronto is looking to hire a Game Director for Splinter Cell Remake, signalling that it has lost the previous director.

Why it matters: Developers leaving projects before completion is almost always a troubling sign.

Splinter Cell Remake
Ubisoft Is Hiring A Game Director For Splinter Cell

According to the listing, the Game Director will handle all crucial aspects of the remake, including the moment-to-moment gameplay, gadget implementations, and NPC behaviors.

Moreover, the director will lead Sam Fisher’s stealth gameplay and environmental interactions. This job ad comes from Ubisoft Toronto, so the same studio still appears to be leading development despite this major change.

As a Game Director on Splinter Cell, you are responsible for moment-to-moment gameplay.

Following our coverage, the listing has been deleted by Ubisoft, but this is not the first time Splinter Cell Remake has lost its director.

Back in 2022, David Grivel departed Ubisoft after a decade-long career and left the remake without a director. At the time, Splinter Cell Remake had only been known to the public for a few months, but it seems history is repeating itself.

Because there were reports of the remake facing turbulent development, Ubisoft’s ad for a director is certainly cause for concern. Splinter Cell Remake has not appeared in a major trailer or gameplay video for a very long time now, and this job ad has only raised further eyebrows regarding the project’s current state.

splinter cell remake
Splinter Cell Has Received An Anime Recently

Ubisoft has also gone through major structural changes recently, thanks to a deal with Tencent. Following this deal, the Assassin’s Creed IP has lost its director after several years.

Nonetheless, it remains to be seen what the future holds for Splinter Cell Remake and other re-releases currently in the works at Ubisoft.

What do you make of this job ad? Do you think the series is in trouble? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

Steam Research Shows Indie Games Have Very Low Wishlist-To-Sales Ratio

Story Highlight
  • According to new research on Steam, indie titles underperform the average wishlists-to-sales ratio.
  • Franchise titles like NBA 2K and EA FC overperform by 5x, as most casual gamers buy them directly.
  • Overall, the median conversion rate on Steam was higher than expected.

Steam is the beating heart of the PC gaming ecosystem. Valve’s online platform made over $10 billion in revenue through game sales just last year and hit a new player peak of a whopping 41 million concurrent users this month.

Hence, the digital store is arguably the best case study to define trends in the gaming world, and according to new research, franchise titles are ruling Steam.

Why it matters: Casual gamers purchasing franchise titles instead of buying unique indie games they have wishlisted highlights an underlying issue in the industry.

Steam Wishlists
The top 20 titles on Steam with respect to the highest wishlist-to-sales ratio.

According to GameDiscoverCo, unique indie titles tend to underperform when it comes to translating wishlists to sales, while franchise titles like NBA 2K exceed expectations.

The study revealed that titles that go viral outdo their wishlists by as much as 30x, with games like R.E.P.O. and PEAK almost a million copies with only 30K-50K wishlists.

On the other hand, indie titles with a unique premise do get many wishlists but don’t get many sales, as the player intrigue is not enough to purchase the title due to a lack of wider appeal.

Even though AA/indie titles like Clair Obscur and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 made it to the top 20, most other indie titles underperformed compared to the median.

steam wishlists
Steam wishlists ratio hasn’t dropped.

More interestingly, sequels always tend to underperform in the wishlists-to-sales conversion, as players have higher expectations, and older games also get discounted. Furthermore, the median ratio hasn’t dropped in 5 years, but it hasn’t seen a sharp increase either, as there are too many games to buy.

Unsurprisingly, reviews also play a big part in this metric, with games scoring lower than 70% ending up in the bottom 20 of the research list.

Do you buy most of the games you wishlist on Steam? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.

Final Fantasy 7 Director Wants To Continue The Series With A 4th Game or A DLC

Story Highlight
  • Final Fantasy 7 director has confirmed plans to expand the Remake series further.
  • He says they are exploring possibilities of a 4th game or a DLC as fans would want it.
  • Originally, it was supposed to be released as a trilogy, with part 3 being the conclusion.

The Final Fantasy 7 games have been in development for quite some time. The first remake was released back in 2020, and now we’re gearing up for Part 3. However, for the fans of the franchise, there is some great news.

The game director has confirmed that Final Fantasy 7 won’t end with the third instalment, rather they are open to continuing the series with the 4th game or a DLC in the future. So, they want to expand the story further.

Why it matters: Part 3 was deemed the conclusion of Final Fantasy 7 Remakes; however, it seems that Square Enix wants a lot more for the franchise and has already decided more for the future.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake
There are already plans to expand the remake series further after Part 3

Talking to Wccftech, Naoki Hamaguchi talked about the future of the series. He was asked if there were any plans to connect with the Rebirth series using a DLC, which he denied, but revealed plans for something else.

Once we release the third installment, there is the possibility of having a DLC for that third installment (or a full title).

– Naoki Hamaguchi

He said they do want to expand the Final Fantasy 7 games further, but whether it will be an expansion or a full title is yet to be decided, as they’ll decide it after the release of Part 3. So, there is still plenty of time.

Final Fantasy Remake Part 2Final Fantasy Remake Part 2
They want to release either a DLC or a full title.

Hamaguchi stated that he still considers Part 3 the conclusion of the series; however, after that, there will be a wider audience for the series, and they will want more. Therefore, they want to cater to them.

Currently, we can’t really guess what the future project will be about, considering the upcoming part will conclude most character arcs. There are always some loose ends that need to be tied up, so let’s wait and see.

What are your thoughts on a Final Fantasy Part 3 sequel or DLC? Will you be interested in it? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.

Former PS Boss Says PlayStation Hardware Has Hit A Roadblock

Story Highlight
  • Former PlayStation boss says that the PlayStation hardware has now reached its limit. 
  • He said the visuals are so good now that he can’t tell the difference between AAA releases.
  • He wants PlayStation to do something new because the previous approach won’t work.

The gaming industry is in a weird spot right now. There’s plenty of strong hardware both with PCs and consoles, even in-game visuals are starting to hit their peak, the only thing holding back is optimization, which is primarily an issue for the Unreal Engine

Amid all this, a former PlayStation boss has also shared his two cents on the topic, saying that even the PlayStation hardware has now hit a roadblock. Sony used to bump graphics and power with every release, but they can’t do it now.

Why it matters: The sentiment is often shared across the industry, as other veterans, including the PlayStation designer Mark Cerny himself, stated that ray tracing and lighting have reached a limit. 

Talking to the Skill Up podcast, Shuhei Yoshida spoke about the current state of PlayStation’s gaming hardware. He said he can’t really tell any difference in terms of visuals anymore, whether it’s with ray tracing or whatever. 

Clearly they just cannot do the same thing they have been doing, (that) is increasing the graphics power and providing high-end experiences.

– Shuhei Yoshida

So, the graphics have pretty much reached a limit. Previously, PlayStation used to bump power and graphics with each release, but this time, it has hit a roadblock because that is no longer what is required. 

PlayStation 5 Pro
Former PlayStation boss says gaming hardware has reached its limit.

The PlayStation 5 is plenty powerful, and you can’t do much to make a console more powerful. He praised the console’s SSD, stating that including that was a game-changer and almost like a miracle.

However, optimization still remains a huge issue. However, recent PlayStation releases like Death Stranding 2 and Ghost of Yotei prove they can do it well, too. So, naturally, Yoshida wants to see more innovation going forward. 

What are your thoughts on Yoshida saying PlayStation hardware has hit a roadblock? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.

Konami Says It Announced Silent Hill f and SH2 At The Same Time To Show Commitment To The Series

Story Highlight
  • Silent Hill producer has revealed why Konami announced multiple games at once.
  • He says they wanted to show that they are committed and serious towards the franchise.
  • This paid off as both the releases have since gone on to make millions in profits.

The Silent Hill franchise has seen a massive revival with its recent releases. Konami’s horror franchise was on a long break, after which the company finally revealed multiple Silent Hill games right at the same time. 

Konami says that announcing Silent Hill 2 Remake, Silent Hill f, and Townfall was a strategic move as it wanted to make sure that the audience knows that they’re serious about the franchise, and it is quite visible now. 

Why it matters: Both the recent releases have been hits, selling millions of copies. This shows that fans are committed to the franchise, and Konami wants to capitalize on it. 

Silent Hill Producer
Silent Hill’s producer has explained why they announced multiple games at once.

In a recent X post, Silent Hill producer, Motoi Okamoto, reflected on the time when they announced the return of the franchise. He wrote that they announced all of them at once because they wanted to show their commitment. 

He continued that if the users don’t foresee a future for a series, they won’t be engaged by it. The decision really helped the studio, as many old fans and new players also became interested in the Silent Hill games after the remake’s release. 

Silent Hill f
The recent Silent Hill releases have resonated well with the fans

The move paid off big time based on the success of Silent Hill f and Silent Hill 2. Moreover, they have already revealed even more plans, including the first Silent Hill remake and experimental new projects going forward. 

This seems to be a general approach Konami is taking for its older franchises, as it did the same for Metal Gear Solid as well. As long as the fans remain interested and the games are great, there won’t be any complaints. 

What are your thoughts on Konami announcing multiple Silent Hill games at once? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum