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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New rumors suggest that Sony and Microsoft are negotiating to bring Returnal to Xbox consoles in the future.
Sony is negotiating tough demands with Xbox, wanting a higher than 70% cut for the port.
Sony wants Xbox to cover the port’s costs, and Xbox needs to agree on a specific advertising budget.
A new rumor suggests that Sony and Microsoft are currently in intense negotiations over bringing a port of Returnal to Xbox consoles. Sony wants Xbox to accept some tough caveats to make this port possible.
Why it matters: After Helldivers 2, Sony is now planning to bring Returnal over to the Xbox ecosystem as part of its growing multiplatform strategy. However, Sony will get most of the profit and benefits of the port if Xbox accepts the demands.
In a video, co-host of the XNC podcast MAGG claims that Sony wants a higher cut than the traditional 70% for the Returnal Xbox port. So it won’t be the usual 30/70% deal if Xbox agrees. Additionally, the PlayStation maker wants Xbox to fund the port’s development fully.
In regards to Returnal, so the word is that there is a negotiation happening that Returnal may make its way to the Xbox consoles. However, there are going to be ton of caveats put forth by Sony.
Another demand is that Sony also wants Xbox to agree on a certain amount of money for advertising, and the marketing can only be done under its intense supervision.
Many fans argue that these tough demands would only make sense for an IP like Spider-Man and not for a smaller project like Returnal; regardless, MAGG confirms that Sony still has no plans to bring any of its tentpole franchises over to Xbox.
Returnal might be next in line to launch on Xbox Series X|S. | Source: MAGG
MAGG also clarifies that these negotiations can fall apart at any time in the worst-case scenario. So, it is best to be cautiously optimistic with this rumor for the moment.
Do you think Sony will bring its exclusive shooter Returnal to Xbox after Helldivers 2? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
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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One of the designers behind the Xbox Series S|X has teased the end of this generation.
He is excited about everything that comes next from Microsoft, including handhelds, home consoles, and cloud gaming.
The gaming giant is also expected to launch new consoles next year.
The Xbox Series S|X consoles were launched by Microsoft in 2020 and immediately showed a lot of promise. In what was expected to be the gaming giant’s big comeback in the hardware market, these consoles proved to be quite capable and consumer-friendly at the same time.
Nearly five years later, however, the results have not been as great as Microsoft would have liked. The gaming giant is already preparing to move on, signalling the end of this generation in the near future.
Why it matters: Microsoft is rumored to be working on new consoles for 2026 in an attempt to gain the upper hand in the hardware department.
The Xbox Series S|X Showed A Lot of Promise From The Beginning
A new post from Carl Ledbetter on LinkedIn points to Microsoft ‘wrapping up the Xbox Series S|X’ for the future of its hardware ecosystem.
Carl Leadbetter, the Partner Head of Design for Xbox Devices, noted that both the latest Xbox systems were built to represent different areas of interest for the company. The former was focused on power and seamless integration into the living room, while the latter focused on efficiency and affordability.
Carl Leadbetter then teased what is to come from Xbox, stating that his journey is far from over. The designer is excited for what is to come.
As we wrap up this journey with the Xbox Series X and Series S, I am inspired and excited by what is ahead of us.
Although Carl Leadbetter did not say much about the future, Microsoft has already teased that the company’s future lies in an all-in-one ecosystem comprising cloud gaming, portable hardware, and home consoles.
The ROG Xbox Ally Shows What Microsoft Wants From The Future
As part of this plan, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally launches later this year. Microsoft is also rumored to be launching Xbox home consoles as early as next year, and Carl Leadbetter’s statement suggests there is some truth to these rumors.
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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The Battlefield 6 beta is officially over, but fans are still not satisfied.
Many players are asking EA to extend the beta for just one more weekend.
With the game already securing massive pre-orders and less than two months until launch, it’s unclear if EA will grant the request.
On Steam alone, Battlefield 6 has already secured over 800,000 pre-orders, an incredible milestone considering the full release is still nearly two months away. This early success highlights just how well the beta was received, but that’s only part of the story.
The beta left such a strong impression that fans are now actively asking EA to extend it, eager to spend more time with the game before launch.
Why it matters: The Battlefield 6 beta not only showcased the scale and intensity players can expect in October but also reassured the community that improvements are still on the way. While the beta period has ended, excitement is higher than ever, and players clearly haven’t had their fill just yet.
The beta even managed to surpass the all-time peak player count of Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, a remarkable achievement on its own. This milestone signals a major shift, showing that fans are beginning to place their trust back in EA despite the initial wave of “no to pre-orders” chants. That sentiment quickly changed after the multiplayer reveal and the beta’s release.
I’ve had more fun playing this Beta than the whole of 2042 combined. Please don’t take it away.
Same here. I am not kidding myself. I will end up buying it at full retail price anyways.
-Fans
With the game likely already surpassing 1 million pre-orders across all platforms, it’s clear the momentum is only building. What’s even more surprising is the community’s reaction.
Fans are practically begging EA to extend the beta, despite the full release being just around the corner. It seems the beta delivered an experience that was simply too good to walk away from.
What are your thoughts on this? Did you enjoy the beta? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or join the official Tech4Gamers forums for discussion.
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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Assassin’s Creed Shadows is Europe’s best-selling new release of 2025 so far, outselling games like Oblivion Remastered and Monster Hunter Wilds.
Overall, the RPG ranks second among top-sellers, right behind 2024’s EA FC 25.
The Claws of Awaji DLC will release next month, alongside more content and a possible Switch 2 release later this year.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows was meant to be a defining moment for Ubisoft, as the publisher’s entire future seemed to depend on it. While a Tencent subsidiary was still formed for the franchise, fans remained skeptical about whether the game was truly successful or not.
Now, it has been revealed that Assassin’s Creed Shadows was the best-selling new release in Europe this year. The game outsold other massive releases such as Oblivion Remastered, Monster Hunter Wilds, and others.
Why it matters: Assassin’s Creed Shadows had one of the biggest budgets in the entire series, alongside an extensive development period. As such, it needed to be successful for Ubisoft, especially after the losses the company had faced.
According to The Game Business, GSD shared new data for all game sales in Europe so far this year. Assassin’s Creed Shadows was the best-selling new release, but overall, it placed second behind 2024’s EA Sports FC 25.
Previously, it was also reported that the RPG was the second-best-selling game of 2025 within the US.
Still, it’s a massive victory for Ubisoft regardless, as all the rumors and speculation about Assassin’s Creed Shadows being a failure have now been debunked.
The report further reveals that 71 million PC and console games were sold across Europe as of July 28, which is a 6% decrease YoY. This may be due to rising game costs and inflation.
For Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft has a full year of content mapped out already. The first DLC expansion, Claws of Awaji, is set to release next month. Moreover, a Switch 2 release is also rumored to be in development and expected later this year.
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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Death Stranding launched nearly two full months ago, but not much has been said about the game’s commercial performance.
Estimates reveal the game sold around 1.3 million units at launch, but these estimates may have been overly generous.
The game likely needs to sell at least a few million units to be considered a success due to its ambitious AAA nature.
Death Stranding 2 launched to excellent reviews in June, and with Hideo Kojima’s name backing the title, many expected the game to become an instant success. After all, the original had reached about 16 million players before the sequel arrived.
Death Stranding 2 has been out for nearly two full months, but PlayStation and Kojima Productions have remained silent about commercial reception. As it stands, all signs point to disappointing sales for the title.
Why it matters: Ahead of its release, there was a lot of excitement for Death Stranding 2. PlayStation and Kojima Productions also went all out with the marketing.
The studio’s latest project launched on June 26, and the game will be two months old in just over a week from now. As mentioned earlier, not much has been said about the game from PlayStation till now.
Firm Ampere Analysis previously estimated around 1.3 million sales for the title in June, but the lack of official word suggests that this estimate may have been too generous. Moreover, the sales may have seen a sharp decline in the days that followed the launch week.
PlayStation is typically quick to announce sales milestones for its exclusives shortly after release. PS5 exclusives like Final Fantasy 16 sold 3 million copies within a week, while Spider-Man 2 sold 2.5 million units in the first 24 hours. As such, the radio silence raises concerns about Kojima Productions’ latest release.
Admittedly, Death Stranding 2 is a more niche release than the likes of Spider-Man or Final Fantasy, but even smaller PS5 exclusives like Astro Bot eventually managed to sell 1.5 million copies in two months.
As it stands, Death Stranding 2 may mirror Astro Bot’s commercial performance, but the latter likely had a much smaller production budget, so the same performance would not mean much for Death Stranding 2.
DS2 Came Out In June
Anyhow, Hideo Kojima himself seems happy with the release so far. He has now begun shifting his focus to projects like Physint and OD.
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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PlayStation has cancelled a total of 10 big games this generation compared to Xbox’s 5 titles.
The former’s cancellations include titles like The Last of Us 2 Factions and Twisted Metal, while Xbox shut down Perfect Dark, Everwild, and more.
Both gaming giants have also shut down various studios this generation.
Both PlayStation and Xbox have seen their fair share of layoffs recently. The latter most recently let go of thousands of developers, while PlayStation has had bursts of layoffs and studio closures since its major job cuts in early 2024.
This also means that various games have been cancelled by both gaming giants this generation, but PlayStation is in the lead so far. The former has cancelled twice as many games as Xbox.
Why it matters: Xbox’s cancellations have drawn a lot of criticism over the past month, but the gaming giant’s track record is not as bad as it may initially seem.
PlayStation’s Live-Service Push Has Disappointed
Many of PlayStation’s cancellations are directly related to its failing live-service ambitions, but the gaming giant has also cancelled a few single-player projects.
These cancellations span across major studios like Bungie, Bend Studio, Naughty Dog, and Bluepoint Games. Meanwhile, partner studios like Deviation Games were also impacted by the job cuts and abandoned projects. The following are the games PlayStation has cancelled since the beginning of this generation:
The Last of Us 2 Factions
Payback From Bungie
Twisted Metal
New IP From Deviation Games
New IP From London Studio
Spider-Man: The Great Web
God of War Live Service Project
Bend Studio Live Service Project
Days Gone 2
Bend and Naughty Dog Partner Project Expected To Be Uncharted 5
Reports of the last two projects have recently surfaced from a Bend Studio developer’s LinkedIn profile. As per his portfolio, the studio cancelled a total of three games after it launched Days Gone, one of which was the sequel to this title.
Over on Xbox’s side, most of the cancellations are quite recent. In addition to Blizzard’s Odyssey, which was cancelled shortly after Microsoft completed its purchase of Activision Blizzard, the gaming giant has cancelled four other games. The full list is mentioned below.
Perfect Dark
Contraband From Avalanche Studios
Everwild From Rare
Unannounced MMORPG From ZeniMax Online Studios
Odyssey From Blizzard
Therefore, PlayStation has 10 cancellations to its name compared to Xbox’s 5.
Concord Was Also Shut Down Days After Its Release
As mentioned earlier, both gaming giants have also closed plenty of studios. On Xbox’s side, the likes of Arkane Austin and Tango Gameworks were shut down last year. Meanwhile, PlayStation has closed teams like Japan Studios, PixelOpus, and Firewalk Studios.
What do you make of the games cancelled this generation? Do you think some of these games deserved to see the light of day? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
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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Black Myth: Wukong has sparked a wave of creativity among Chinese developers.
Many new projects have been announced, with the standout being CrisisX.
CrisisX is an ambitious survival game featuring a 1,200 km² map spread across 12 distinct biomes.
Now, another Chinese developer has revealed a trailer for an ambitious survival game, CrisisX, which boasts a massive 1,200 km² map and servers capable of supporting up to 5,000 players.
Why it matters: China’s gaming industry is rapidly evolving and making significant waves on the global stage. With such large-scale and innovative projects, Chinese studios may soon challenge Western developers for the industry’s top spot.
This game is truly ambitious, boasting a colossal 1,200 km² map, even larger than DayZ’s biggest terrains. The trailer highlights engaging survival mechanics like tree chopping, base building, zombie combat, and PvP encounters.
But this world isn’t big just for the sake of scale. CrisisX features 12 distinct biomes, ranging from dusty Western-style towns and hidden laboratories to snow-capped peaks and rushing rivers, each offering unique flora, fauna, resources, and hazards.
As a survival game, the arsenal is impressive: expect everything from melee weapons and pistols to sniper rifles, RPGs, grenades, and even armored vehicles like M2 Bradleys or WWII-era Sherman tanks. Foraging, resource gathering, and crafting feel grounded too, with environments affecting your hunger, thirst, muscle mass, and overall vitality as you strive to stay alive.
CrisisX Will Feature One of The Largest Open Worlds In Gaming History.
Players can form guild-style groups, teams, or communes to compete for territory and strategic resources. This group warfare element promises faction conflicts on a grand survival MMO scale.
The best part? CrisisX is free to play, though specific models for monetisation (such as cosmetic microtransactions or optional DLC) haven’t been clarified yet. A release window is set for 2026, with plans to launch across PC (via Steam), Android, and iOS platforms.
So far, CrisisX has only been confirmed for PC and mobile platforms (iOS and Android), with no official word yet on console versions. Additionally, Hero Games is showcasing the title at Gamescom 2025, where attendees can get hands on experience.
What are your thoughts on this game? Share them with us in the comments section below or join the Tech4Gamers forums 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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A Newzoo report reveals that RPG is the most successful genre in terms of generated revenue worldwide.
The list is followed by the shooter and strategy genres, with battle royale coming in fourth spot.
Shooter is the dominant genre in North America, specifically, with sports taking over the European genre instead.
Many video game genres have emerged over the decades, but a dozen or so have cemented themselves as the most prevalent and recognizable across the scene. A select few of these categories have also been the most successful in terms of revenue and longevity.
As one may have guessed, RPG is the most revenue-generating genre worldwide in 2025, with the genre boasting a slew of established franchises and some new heavy-hitters like Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
Why it matters: While some video game genres have fizzled out over the years, some of them have proven pretty lucrative because of the established franchises and innovative releases over the years.
The new Newzoo report reveals the top revenue-generating genres globally.
As per the new Newzoo report, the second and third spots for the most lucrative genres are held by shooters and strategy. Both these genres have had a strong presence since the early gaming era.
The Call of Duty and Battlefield franchises have done a lot of heavy lifting to push the FPS genre to the second place. Meanwhile, the strategy genre is dominated by the likes of Age of Empires and Civilization.
And despite the massive impact of Fortnite and PUBG, the live-servicebattle royale genre is only at the fourth spot this year, with the puzzle genre coming in last place. Puzzle games have dominated the mobile gaming space and are popular among certain demographics.
The RPG genre has seen some of the most impressive releases in the past few years.
Certain regions also have a liking for different genres, with shooters dominating North America, specifically, and sports being the most lucrative in Europe instead.
The Newzoo report also reveals that Europe and North America boasted only 20% of gamers but nearly half of the entire global gaming spend this year.
Do you think RPG will continue to hold the dominion over the gaming industry as the most revenue-generating genre in the next decade, or will it be inevitably surpassed? 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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A new report reveals Nvidia cancelled a 6x 8-pin connector for the RTX Titan Ada.
The connector was capable of delivering up to 900W with a much higher quality cable.
Based on how ambitious the connector was, it could be used for future Nvidia cards.
Recent Nvidia graphics cards have been notorious for connector issues. While the company did launch a new single 12VHPWR connector for the RTX 4090 and 5090, supporting up to 600W, they had plans for an even more powerful connector.
A renowned tech YouTuber has revealed that Nvidia originally planned to introduce a new 6x 8-pin connector supporting up to 900W with the RTX Titan Ada GPU. However, both the GPU and the connector were later shelved.
Why it matters: The RTX Titan was supposed to be the most powerful graphics card of its generation, but it was cancelled by Nvidia due to its extremely high power requirement. However, its working prototypes still exist.
Der8auer has showcased a look at the dual 12VHPWR connector meant for RTX Titan Ada. It is clearly much bigger than what came to the market, and also seems to be of much higher quality with a stiffer cable.
While the RTX Titan was measured to draw around 450W and 600W with overclocking, the connector gave it a lot of additional headroom. These are similar numbers to the RTX 5090, but initially, the Titan was supposed to draw much more power.
Considering how much power margin the connector gave, it might even have fixed the burning issue with the current-gen flagship RTX cards. However, it was very expensive to make, and the prototypes lacked safety components.
The RTX Titan connector had a much thicker, longer, and higher-quality cable
Nonetheless, this might be something that could resurface in the future. The connector is still a very ambitious and remarkable piece of engineering, and we might see it used in one form or another with future Nvidia GPUs.
What are your thoughts on Nvidia shelving the 6x 8-pin connector for RTX Titan Ada? 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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The Metal Gear Solid series producer says a new mainline entry is now absolutely possible, even if the original staff is not involved.
He argues that Konami still has gaps that were left after the original staff members left, but the new team is now confident.
Developing the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake has prepared the new team to aim for a mainline game.
Now, series producer Noriaki Okamura agrees that Konami indeed has holes the original staff left behind, which remain to be filled. However, MGS 3 remake voice actor David Hayter believes it is now ‘absolutely possible’ to develop a new mainline entry after the remake.
Why it matters: The franchise producer believes that the new team is capable of delivering the next mainline Metal Gear Solid game after the remake comes out.
The last mainline Metal Gear Solid game came out in 2018 and saw mixed reception.
Speaking in the new issue of the PC Gamer Magazine, the franchise producer explains that developing the remake has made the new team more confident and competent in creating a new mainline game.
Through the development of Metal Gear Solid Delta, we have also gained a new sense of what our team is capable of.
-Noriaki Okamura, Series Producer .
The voice actor notes that Hideo Kojima’s trademark quirkiness will be absent, but the new game will still deliver a fantastic experience true to Metal Gear Solid’s essence.
At the moment, Konami is entirely focused on the Metal Gear Solid 3 remake.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is aiming to launch on 28 August 2025, for PC and consoles. The previews have already pointed to a great and faithful remake, giving fans much to be excited about.
Do you think a new Metal Gear Solid game could be on Konami’s next agenda? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
At Tech4Gamers, I take on the role of Hardware Reviewer with pride. My responsibilities involve a thorough examination of essential hardware components like motherboards, graphics cards, processors, PC cases, and CPU coolers, among others, focusing on their complexities and functionalities.
So far, I have tested two PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSDs from Teamgroup: the Z540 2TB and the GC Pro 2TB. These two models represent different classes of Gen5 drives based on their controllers. In addition, there is another category of Gen5 drives rated for up to 10,000 MB/s sequential read or write speeds. This class is primarily DRAM-less, which makes sense since Gen5 drives are still expensive, and DRAM-less models are relatively more affordable.
Now, meet the GA Pro series from Teamgroup under the T-Force branding. This is also a PCIe Gen5 NVMe SSD, but it belongs to the more affordable Gen5 class, yet with a key difference. The GA Pro includes a dedicated DRAM cache chip, setting it apart from the DRAM-less drives in this category. One competitor in this space is the Corsair MP700 Elite, which follows a DRAM-less design. Despite featuring DRAM, the GA Pro series is still priced lower, and this cost efficiency is its main selling point.
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Nauman Siddique is the most senior hardware tester at Tech4Gamers. He brings an ocean of knowledge to the table, including unmatched expertise in PC cases.
20+ SSDs tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
80+ hours spent testing different SSDs 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.
The T-Force GA Pro 2TB NVMe SSD, being PCIe Gen5-based, is rated for sequential transfer speeds of 10,000 MB/s read and 8,500 MB/s write. The series is available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities, with or without a Graphene pad.
These SSDs are powered by the InnoGrit IG5666FAA controller, which is also used in the GC and GE series drives. The TLC 3D NAND appears to be from Teamgroup, though I don’t have confirmation on that. The DRAM is an SK Hynix DDR4-3200 chip.
The SSD also comes with a 0.5mm Graphene thermal pad for efficient heat dissipation. The 2TB variant is listed at USD 179.99 and includes a five-year warranty.
The key specifications are:
Capacity
2TB
Form Factor
M.2 2280
Interface
NVMe 2.0 PCIe Gen 5×4
Controller
InnoGrit IG5666FAA
NAND
3D TLC NAND
DRAM Cache Size
2GB
NAND Cache Size
Dynamic SLC
TBW
1200
MTBF
1,600,000 hours
Sequential Read
Up to 10,000MB/s
Sequential Write
Up to 8500MB/s
4K Random Read
N/A
4K Random Write
N/A
Dimension
80x22x3.9mm with Graphene Pad
[toc]
What Makes It Different?
The T-Force GA Pro 2TB NVMe SSD has its strength in DRAM-enabled Gen5 drive that costs less and runs cool while utilizing the same efficient cooler as on the other latest offerings. You have nothing to lose with this drive.
Packaging And Unboxing
The drive is shipped inside a paperboard black themed packing box. The drive and other items are packed inside a transparent container. The following are provided:
1x SSD
1x Graphene Pad
Design
The Graphene pad does not come pre-installed, hence the components are visible on the top of the PCB. This SSD has a dimension of 22x80x3.9mm with the Graphene thermal pad. This SSD has components on one side, hence it is a single-sided storage solution.
The SSD is compatible with the Sony PlayStation 5 as its height is less than 11.25mm, which is supported by the console. This is a PCIe Gen 5×4 drive using NVMe 2.0 interface. The drive has an M.2 2280 form factor using M Key Type.
A sticker can be seen on the backside showing the part number and serial number of the drive, along with its capacity, which is 2TB (2000GB). The drive is made in China.
The drive supports S.M.A.R.T., TRIM, E.C.C., and 4K LDPC features. The provision of TRIM, advanced full equalization mode, and active garbage collection helps in providing durability. This drive comes equipped with a data security isolation mechanism.
The Graphene thermal pad has T-Force branding and shows the model of the drive.
Internal Components
Teardown
1 of 3
DRAM Chip
Controller
NAND Flash
The SSD is driven by an 8-channel controller from InnoGrit, which is IG5666FAA. This is a PCIe Gen5 controller fabricated on a 12nm process node. The two 1GB 3D NAND Flash packages seem to be from Teamgroup, and there is a 2GB SK Hynix DDR4 DRAM chip operating at 3200MHz speed. Besides, this SSD also uses SLC for caching, which helps in sustained bursts of writes.
Thermaltake Core P6 TG Snow Edition in an open frame layout
Microsoft Windows 11 24H2
I ran CrystalDiskInfo after installing the disk. The firmware version is 050g0554. This is the same as I saw on the GC Pro 2TB NVMe drive. The interface is listed as NVM Express using 2.0 as standard. It also confirmed that the drive is operating at PCIe 5.0 at x4 speed link. The supported features are S.M.A.R.T., TRIM, and VolatileWriteCache. Unlike Biwin NV7400 and X570 Pro drives, which show 0 Power On hours, the drives from Teamgroup have a non-zero value.
Test Results
CrystalDiskMark
CrystalDiskMark Results
1 of 3
Let’s start with three different runs of CrystalDiskMark. This drive easily managed over 10,000 MB/s in sequential read and over 8500 MB/s in sequential write speeds.
The other Gen5 drives in the test result are rated for over 12000MB/s. In that sense, the T-Force GA Pro 2TB is sitting comfortably between those Gen5 drives and the other Gen4 drives.
ATTO Disk Benchmark
The maximum read speed on the GC Pro 2TB was 9.58GB/s in read and 8.4GB/s in write. Again, this drive is sitting on the border between high-performance Gen4 drives and Gen5 drives.
Anvil Storage Utilities
Next, I ran the Anvil Storage Utilities benchmark to test the performance of the drive. This is the first test in which the GA Pro 2TB NVMe SSD falls behind two PCIe Gen4x4 drives.
Threaded IO Write QD64
Threaded IO Write QD32
I also ran Threaded Writes in queue depths of 32 and 64. The SSD passes the 1000K speeds.
Threaded Reads
1 of 3
Threaded IO Read QD128
Threaded IO Read QD64
Threaded IO Read QD32
Next, I ran the Threaded Reads in queue depths of 32, 64, and 128 threads. The drive came closer to the 1000K IOPS.
3DMark Storage Test
3DMark Storage test is relatively a new test bench measuring the gaming-only performance of the given drive using three games. It measures the load time of the games, recording the gameplay, saving the game, and moving the game. The overall score is given in the bandwidth and access time.
This is another test where the drive falls behind the Gen4x4 drives.
PCMARK10
We ran two tests from the Storage benchmarks in this suite. These are Data Drive Benchmark and Quick System Drive Benchmark.
PCMARK10 Results
1 of 2
The T-Force GA Pro 2TB NVMe drive has performed quite well in these two tests.
Blackmagic Disk Benchmark
We have used Blackmagic Disk Benchmark as well. This is a critical benchmark from the point of view that it monitors the three video compression coders against multiple formats and checks if the drive in hand supports that format, and if it does, then at what speed.
Real World Testing
Now, it is time for a real-world use. For that, we have used DiskBench in multiple scenarios to check the real-world data transfer rates. We prepared a data set of mixed files and folders, including compressed files.
A 97GB-sized compressed file was copied to the T-Force GA Pro 2TB NVMe SSD. The file was then read from the DiskBench. This SSD has performed quite well with 3572MB/s, taking 26.72 seconds.
Next, I copied the same compressed file from one folder to another on the same drive. The transfer rate was 3489MB/s, and it took 27.363 seconds to complete this operation.
Next, we copied a folder of 220GB size containing multiple compressed files, sub-folders, and mixed files. The main folder was copied from the same drive to a destination drive on the same drive. The transfer rate was 3007 MB/s, and it took 1.23 minutes to complete this operation.
Ultimate Performance Tests
Next, I prepared a heavy dataset of 529GB and 945GB repeated the copy operation.
The drive did 1537MB/s in 5.87 minutes in copying a data set of 529GB.
I wanted to see the impact on the data copy speeds, particularly the write speeds, with the drive filling up to full capacity. For that, I prepared 945GB of heavy data and repeated the copy operation.
It took 9.79 minutes to complete this operation at an average speed of 1484 MB/s. The lowest in read department was 67.55MB/s in read, and it was 36.509MB/s in write. Despite filling the space near full capacity, the drive maintains over 1400MB/s write speed, which is good.
Gaming Load Time
This is the time when gamers are using NVMe SSDs for their games for faster loading. This is why we also test the game load times. This is done using the Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers Benchmark using High settings.
It took 5.681 seconds in total to load the game, making GC Pro the winner here, though it is marginal.
Thermals
I have used the T-Force Dark Airflow I cooler for this testing. The same has been used for other Gen5 NVMe drives testing.
65ᵒC was the maximum temperature recorded when the simultaneous read and write operation of 945GB of data was done on this drive. This drive does not run hot, and this is another positive of this class NVMe drive.
Final Words
The GA Pro is my third Gen5 NVMe drive from Teamgroup in a row. So far, I have tested the Z540 2TB and GC Pro 2TB, which are different-class drives. The GA Pro 2TB features the same controller as the GC Pro, but its main selling point is that it competes in the Gen5 NVMe drive class that doesn’t use DRAM chips due to cost considerations. However, the GA Pro does include a DRAM chip and still costs less.
This series is available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities and is available with or without a Graphene heatsink. The drive uses the InnoGrit IG5666FAA controller and comes equipped with a SK Hynix 2GB DRAM chip based on DDR4-3200. It also features two 1TB 3D NAND Flash chips.
The SSD includes a Graphene thermal pad. Unlike the Z540 and GC Pro series drives, the GA Pro does not run hot and, as such, does not require an active cooling solution—another advantage of this series. The drive has dimensions of 22x80x3.9mm, making it compatible with the Sony PlayStation 5. It also features TRIM, S.M.A.R.T., E.C.C., and 4K LDPC.
This drive is rated for 10,000MB/s sequential read and 8,500MB/s sequential write. It has a 1200 TBW rating with 1.6M MTBF. The TBW rating is relatively low.
In our testing, this SSD surpassed 10,000MB/s in sequential read and 8,500MB/s in sequential write speeds. The overall performance of this drive is quite impressive, making it a good option for budget-conscious users. Since it doesn’t require an active cooling solution, you’ll save some additional money there as well.
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.
Story Highlight
Battlefield is reportedly moving to an annual release schedule in the next 5-6 years.
There will be three different studios, each having a 3-year cycle to make the Battlefield games.
EA is potentially setting itself up for failure with this decision.
The Battlefield franchise has undergone significant changes and will continue to evolve in the next few years. EA has had ample time to analyze the issues with the series over the past couple of entries, and they aim to rectify those mistakes.
One of the biggest changes the franchise is set to see is in becoming an annual release, following in COD’s footsteps.
Why it matters: One year is just a short amount of time to get a $70 game’s worth. Going for annual releases could backfire for EA.
As per industry analyst Michael Patcher, he had a conversation with the General Manager of the Battlefield franchise, who revealed that the annual release for the franchise could happen in the next 5-6 years.
EA would assign three different studios for the franchise, with each new game having a 3-year cycle. A 3-year development cycle has never worked for the series, and Battlefield 2042 is a testament to that regard. Battlefield 6 shows that, in comparison to COD, the series is bigger and needs more time to cook thoroughly.
However, we advise readers to take this claim with a grain of salt, given Patcher’s recent credibility.
That said, the annual release could be to compete with COD directly, as they’ve fallen behind the competition. This year’s Battlefield 6 will ”boot stomp‘ Black Ops 7 in comparison, but it may not guarantee success in the long run.
In other news, this year’s Battlefield 6 is shaping up to be fantastic, but EA shouldn’t get ahead of itself as it has a long path of redemption to win back the fans. Moreover, COD fans are already fatigued with yearly releases, and the last thing EA wants to do is reduce another of its flagship IPs to nothing.
