At Tech4Gamers, I contribute as a Senior News Reporter, combining my skills and gaming enthusiasm to keep our audience updated on the latest developments.
Story Highlight
The Steam Deck is no longer able to keep up with recent AAA titles.
Testing shows that it struggling in games like Final Fantasy 16, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, and Silent Hill 2 Remake.
Valve is in no rush to make a successor to the handheld.
The Steam Deck is an impressive handheld from Valve that often punches above its weight class. This handheld can run many AAA games on the market, albeit with dialed-back settings.
The likes of Red Dead Redemption 2, Spider-Man, and many other last-gen titles run shockingly well, but testing has shown that cross-gen releases are more challenging. As such, fully next-gen titles are even more troublesome for the Steam Deck, and a new analysis determines that it is now incapable of running the most recent AAA releases.
Why it matters: The Steam Deck successor has been a big talking point in recent months, but Valve is adamant about waiting for a bigger hardware jump before committing to a proper successor.
The latest analysis from Digital Foundry discusses titles that are overly ambitious for Valve’s portable gaming system.
While recent titles like Lego Horizon Adventure, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, and more are still playable, they require major visual sacrifices. However, many AAA games prove too much for the Steam Deck, even with various visual compromises.
These include titles like Final Fantasy 16, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, and Silent Hill 2 Remake. In Space Marine 2’s case, the game’s CPU-bound nature stresses the Steam Deck’s 4-core Zen 2 CPU a bit too much, leading to various drops below 30FPS during the most action-packed moments.
Similarly, Final Fantasy 16’s frame rate drops into the low 20s, even with the lowest possible graphical settings. The same can be said of Unreal Engine 5 titles like Stalker 2 and Silent Hill 2 Remake, which barely reach the 30FPS target, even when rendering at 25% of 720p with low settings.
Digital Foundry’s testing shows that other titles like Star Wars Outlaws and Indiana Jones outright fail to launch on the handheld, making the situation grim for those looking to enjoy AAA experiences on the go.
Valve Needs New Hardware If It Wants To Keep Up With AAA Gaming
Fortunately, the Steam Deck has a lot more to offer than just AAA experiences. With nearly 10,000 playable games, there is hardly a shortage of choice on Valve’s portable gaming machine.
What are your thoughts on the testing? Do you enjoy playing AAA releases on the Steam Deck? Let us know in the comments, and visit the Tech4Gamers Forums for more discussions.
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
Atomfall’s reviews are finally out, earning a modest review of 75 on Metacritic.
The game offers a challenging survival experience with open-ended quests and a unique setting of 1960s post-apocalyptic Britain.
However, the game is harder to get into, and the combat aspect falls short compared to its world-building.
2025 has already seen several great RPGs, and Atomfall may be another unexpected banger. While still a solid release from Rebellion Developments—the studio behind Sniper Elite—it serves as a decent take on Bethesda’s Fallout formula.
Reviews for the game are finally out. As a survival action game, Atomfall is quite challenging and harder to get into, but it has been praised for its depth and the freedom it offers players. Atomfall has now earned a generally favorable score of 75 on Metacritic.
Why it matters: Coming from the developers of Sniper Elite, Atomfall carried high expectations, particularly in expanding the studio’s expertise in player freedom within a survival-action genre. Atomfall does that, delivering on a few fronts while falling short on others.
Atomfall Has Received A Generally Favorable Score Of 75 On Metacritic
Here are some notable reviews from major media outlets:
Eurogamer 3/5
TheGamer 4/5
IGN 8/10
WindowsCentral 4/5
VG247 3/5
GamingTrend 80
Hey Poor Player 3/5
Set in a post-apocalyptic alternative timeline in Britain, Atomfall embodies its inner Stalker 2 with gameplay mechanics similar to Fallout’s. The never-seen-before Northern side of Britain and its intriguing characters will keep players engaged throughout its 25-hour main campaign.
Critics appreciate the open-ended quests, even comparing it to Fallout New Vegas. That said, Atomfall doesn’t hold your hands and will challenge players with no specific chain of quests or even a proper map to keep track of players’ locations.
If you can get over a difficult start and fancy a lean take on the survival genre, Atomfall delivers an intriguing tale worth discovering – Eurogamer
If there’s one aspect where the game falls short, it’s the combat. Being developed by the studio behind Sniper Elite, their previous experience and expertise seem to be missing with Atomfall.
Regardless, Atomfall’s narrative and world-building make up for these flaws. Every choice, major or minor, is just as important as players can risk altering the entire landscape of the world’s population, adding to the game’s replayability.
At Tech4Gamers, I contribute as a Senior News Reporter, combining my skills and gaming enthusiasm to keep our audience updated on the latest developments.
Story Highlight
Devil May Cry director Hideaki Itsuno is now working on a brand new action game franchise.
He states that this project aims to do things that have never been done before.
This news is encouraging since the entire action games genre is going through a resurgence.
Following the release of Dragon’s Dogma 2, Hideaki Itsuno left Capcom last year. Best known for his work on the Devil May Cry franchise, the director left behind a rich legacy at the Japanese gaming giant.
As part of studio Lightspeed Japan, he is now working on a brand new project, and recent details about this game confirm that Hideaki Itsuno is returning to the action games genre.
Why it matters:Action games are currently going through a major resurgence, with IPs like Ninja Gaiden returning after a long period of irrelevance.
Devil May Cry 5 Remains A Highlight For Hideaki Itsuno
The latest information on Lightspeed Japan’s next project comes via GDC 2025, where director Hideaki Itsuno shared a small glimpse at the team’s current efforts.
He highlighted that the new project is aiming to offer an innovative experience for action game fans. As per his words, the new IP is quite ambitious and intends to show players things that have never been done in the industry before.
Our focus is on developing gameplay elements that offer players new experiences and make players say ‘I’ve never seen that in a game before.’
He also confirmed that the project will have a massive budget to utilize cutting-edge technology. All in all, it seems the director is looking to deliver a franchise that rivals Devil May Cry and all the other established greats of the action games genre.
Devil May Cry 3 Might Be Getting The Remake Treatment Soon
Meanwhile, Capcom is expected to be working on a Devil May Cry remake, making the future of action games quite interesting. Perhaps Hideaki Itsuno’s next project will also go head-to-head with Capcom’s future Devil May Cry releases.
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.
Story Highlight
In the latest episode of Kinda Funny Gamescast, host Andy Cortez revealed that Phantom Blade Zero is pretty challenging.
However, the action RPG is not a Souls-like experience, but it features an extreme mode that removes preset combos.
For players who want to take things easier, the story and normal mode feature a more balanced experience.
New gameplay impressions by Kinda Funny Gamescast host Andy Cortez confirm that Phantom Blade Zero will be challenging but not your run-of-the-mill Souls-like experience. The game will still be fun for all, even for those who prefer extreme difficulty.
Why it matters: New impression feedback reveals that Phantom Blade Zero will be fun to play despite being difficult. The game will feature three game modes to let players enjoy the action RPG at their own pace.
During the podcast episode, Andy says that Phantom Blade Zero is more of a hack-and-slash action RPG. However, that doesn’t mean that the gameplay will be a walk in the park.
It’s leaning way more towards the action RPG than […] the normal punishing Souls-like. It’s still tough, it’s still challenging. But they are not trying to really go for that experience.
The game will feature three modes: story mode, normal mode, and extreme mode. The extreme mode will take things up a notch by disabling combo presets and making enemies react more to your attacks.
enemies will start to kind of react more to your moves if you’re starting to spam stuff.
Phantom Blade Zero features 8 different endings for the players to experience. Andy also claims that the game’s performance has already improved massively since his Summer Game Fest impression.
Phantom Blade Zero is being worked on by over 100 developers and is expected to launch late next year with a modest $55 million final budget. It will take you around 30 hours to complete, with an assortment of over 30 primary weapons and 20 secondary ones.
Will Phantom Blade Zero scratch that action RPG itch that has grown in the era of Souls-likes? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
As a Hardware Expert at Tech4Gamers, I bring my decade-long expertise in electronics design, embedded solutions, and prototyping. My knack for exposing misconceptions in the tech world finds a perfect outlet here.
Having been reviewing PSUs for well over 5 years and seeing the same PSU designs and topologies with ever so slight changes from a handful of OEMs kind of made things dull and uninteresting to talk about for me. But quite surprisingly, Intel changed everything when they threw down the gauntlet of newer ATX 3.0/3.1 PSU specs which eventually made things great again (I wish I could say the same for Intel’s processors segment).
When I received MSI MEG Ai1600T (which is now the 5th one from MSI that we have received and reviewed within less than a year) I was only excited for the word “T” in Ai1600T (sorry for their marketing team for not getting hyped about “Ai”) which stands for Titanium. I have previously reviewed MSI MEG Ai1300P which performed well in our test and just like Ai1600T, it was also made by CWT (Channel Well Technology), a very reputable OEM for the PSUs, so it will be interesting to see how MSI and CWT have both worked together to create an even more efficient platform.
MSI Ai1600T PCIE5 PSU boasts about some of the impressive features that we rarely get to see being marketed in ATX PSUs and this fits well as the Ai1600T is from the MSI’s high-end enthusiasts lineup.
MSI was the very first brand that adapted to ATX 3.0 PSU and with the pace at which MSI continues to produce their new PSUs, I am quite concerned about their engineering team (send me an email if you’re being forced to work overtime). Jokes aside, it’s really impressive seeing rapid innovation and adaptation from a reputable brand like MSI.
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20+ PSUs tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
180+ hours spent testing different power supplies for our reviews.
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Key Takeaways
The MSI MEG Ai1600T Titanium ATX 3.1 is an expensive but premium PSU with 1600W capacity. It has an exceptionally low noise profile and high-quality internals.
You should buy the MSI MEG Ai1600T if you want to future-proof your build with a 1600W PSU, you plan to run a multi-GPU setup, and you like monitoring all the statistics of your system.
You should not buy the MSI MEG Ai1600T if it is overkill for you, which it is for most mid-range to even high-end gaming PCs, as a 1000W to 1300W PSU is enough for them.
The MSI MEG Ai1600T is a premium power supply, and the experience starts right from the packaging itself. First of all, the box is quite heavy, I didn’t weigh it exactly, but I would say it is well over 4KGs. The box has a black design with gold accents. At the front, you will find badges about the PSU’s 80 PLUS Titanium and Cybenetics certification. Similarly, the back has info regarding the PSU’s power specs, cable, and some key features like SiC MOSFET, dual PCIe 5.1 connectors, and Gaming Intelligence.
Box Open 1
Box Open 2
I have to say, this is one of the best unboxing experiences I have ever had. MSI has really gone above and beyond to give the PSU a premium feel. Upon unboxing, you will first find an envelope, below that is the main power supply wrapped in a soft felt outer wrap. The same goes for the cables and accessories bag, which also feels very soft to the touch. Both of them are set in their own compartments which are cut out in high-quality foam.
Included Envelope (Image By Tech4Gamers)
The envelope has a shout-out flyer and some text about MSI.
Design
PSU Front (Image By Tech4Gamers)
As you can guess from the packaging, the PSU itself is also quite heavy and massive (at 190mm depth). However, since the rest of the dimensions are fairly standard, the PSU should have no problems fitting into a traditional ATX chassis. The gold accents from the packaging follow here as well, with the top of the PSU having a MEG logo in gold with some accents around the borders.
PSU Side
PSU Side ARGB
While one side is fairly normal with MEG logos, the other has an A-RGB panel at the top half which displays a nice-looking pattern when lit up.
MSI MEG Ai1600T ATX 3.1 ARGB Side Panel
This is how the ARGB pattern looks when you enable it.
PSU Mains Power Input
PSU Back
Looking at the power side, there is a Zero Fan button that you can use to toggle the Zero Fan Mode. When enabled, which it is by default, the fans will stay still as long as the PSU stays under a certain load. This way, you get minimal noise.
Cable & Connectors
Cables & Accessories Bag
Cables & Accessories
MSI has included the cables and accessories in a very high-quality, soft bag. Most of the included cables are braided and soft, and even the ones that are not still feel good quality. As for the lengths, you shouldn’t face any issues in getting the PSU set up in a standard ATX build. The peripheral connectors are spaced by 150mm, so all is good in this regard as well.
12VHPWR Cables
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Two 12V-2x8 Cables for GPU Power
PC Link Cable - Type-C
Pre-installed Cable Organizer
The cables come with pre-installed cable organizers, which is one step above just including cable combs in the accessories. This eases the overall cable management and routing, which is always appreciated.
The PSU features two 12V-2×8 cables, and each of them is rated for 600W. This is great for those who want a multi-GPU setup for AI and other GPU-intensive workloads. You can easily use this PSU with two high-end RTX 50-series cards and not worry about stability. The 12V-2×8 cables have a yellow connector, which shouldn’t be visible upon insertion. As such, if you see even a little bit of the yellow color after inserting the connector, it means the cable is not fully plugged in.
Lastly, the PSU also comes with a PC Link Cable (Type-C). This allows you to have even more control over your PSU. You can use MSI Center to monitor stats like which component (like CPU/GPU) is taking how much power in real-time, along with the percentage of total wattage capacity being utilized. Similarly, you can use MSI Center to control the fan’s speeds manually and also customize the A-RGB lighting on the side panel.
Here are the included cables along with their quantity and length:
Connector Type
Quantity
Motherboard cable (24-pin)
1x (600mm)
EPS 12V CPU connectors (4+4-pin)
2x (750mm)
PCIe 5.1 connectors (12+4-pin) Dual Color
2x (600mm)
PCIe connectors (6+2-pin)
9x (600mm)
4-pin Peripheral connectors
8x (500mm)
SATA 15-pin connectors
8x (500mm)
PSU Modular Side (Image By Tech4Gamers)
The modular bay has clearly labeled connectors in gold accents. You can also spot the PC Link Type-C port at the right.
Dual Native 12V-2×6 Connectors
Type-C PC link Port
With its 1600W capacity, the MSI MEG Ai1600T has enough horsepower to properly power two power-hungry beasts like RTX 5090 from its native 12V-2×6 power connectors. It is important to highlight this detail because, in my previous review of MSI MPG A1000GS, I was surprised to see MSI’s decision to have two native 12V-2×6 connectors on a mere 1000W PSU.
Being a Digitally controlled platform, CWT has designed it to be user-configurable for features like Power Monitoring/Recording and Fan Profile Adjustment on a real-time dashboard. Real-time recording (logging) features can be very handy in monitoring the power requirements especially when running multiple GPUs and also when you have extreme OC on this PSU.
Teardown & Component Analysis
PSU Teardown (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Now this is where things get interesting not just for you guys but for me personally as for the first time I am witnessing a refreshing view of CWT’s latest platform in which they have even redesigned their transformer design which was one of the key elements in recognizing whether the platform is from CWT or not. MSI seems to be having enough confidence in CWT this time, as they are the only brand I have seen as of yet incorporating this platform from them.
The platform looks fairly clean with a lot fewer heatsinks on board for a 1600W power brick, thanks to the highest available Titanium efficiency in an ATX PSU which makes the power losses much less, resulting in cooler and quieter operation.
Bridge Rectifier & 4x MOSFET for Bridgless Topology (Image By Tech4Gamers)
MSI MEG Ai1600T uses a superior design than MSI MEG Ai1300P by utilizing Bridge-less topology via 4x MOSFETs. The traditional way of converting mains AC to DC is achieved by using a Bridge Rectifier which is based on 4x Diodes. Because diodes are very inefficient, and slow and result in more power losses, achieving Titanium level efficiency was only possible by incorporating MOSFETs as Bridge Rectifiers in the design.
Furthermore, MSI asked for SiC-based MOSFETs to be used for the Interleaved PFC section for even more added efficiency. Going with a non-traditional and more advanced design requires the use of Digital Controllers because analog controllers can not keep up with fast switching and instant circuit feedback. This makes MSI MEG Ai1600T a Semi-digital PSU as it still uses analog controllers to control minor voltage rails.
5VSB Vertical Daughter Board (Image By Tech4Gamers)
You can still see a single Bridge Rectifier which is used only for powering the 5VSB section.
Full Bridge LLC MOSFETs 1
Full Bridge LLC MOSFETs 2
For the main voltage rail conversion (12V rail), the LLC Resonant converter is being paired with 4x MOSFETs configured as Full-Bridge MOSFETs that are mounted on a tiny MEG-branded heatsink.
Teardown
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Dual Flat Spring Coil 12V Rail Transformer 1
Dual Flat Spring Coil 12V Rail Transformer 2
12V Rail MOSFETs_ Heatsinks 1
12V Rail MOSFETs_ Heatsinks 2
As far as I can recall, CWT for the very first time, to minimize the size, has used flat spring coil-based Transformers. Before that, I have only seen such Transformers in Server PSUs and in a few SNR-based designs that I have reviewed in the past. Dual Transformers equally, effectively, and properly dissipate the heat with only one side effect of a slightly increased voltage ripple (which I will test later).
12V rail MOSFETs are mounted on the front PCB with soldered heatsinks and MSI is likely using a small thermal pad underneath the PCB, to allow the actual PSU chassis to act as a heatsink for these MOSFETs (we will see this in our temperature test).
Teardown
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Bulk Electrolytic Capacitors from Rubycon
Electrolytic Capacitors from Nippon Chemi-con
Polymer Filtering Capacitors
The PSU uses 100% Japanese capacitors throughout, from reputable brands like Rubycon, Nippon Chemi-Con, and FP-CAP. The combined capacitance of Bulk electrolytic capacitors is more than enough to exceed ATX 3.1 hold-up time specs.
It would have been great had MSI implemented 12 years of warranty on this unit (as provided by Seasonic & XPG for their extremely high-end PSUs).
135mm FDB ZIC Fan (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Similar to MSI MPG A1000GS which I recently reviewed, this PSU uses exactly the same 135mm FDB (Fluid Dynamic Bearing) fan from ZIC which seems to be getting more popular these days and giving a tough time to Hong Hua fans, which was the longest running choice for many brands.
MSI MEG Ai1600T also has Zero Fan mode, which in my testing started to spin at around 850W of load.
PSU Load Testing
PSU Testing (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Here are the test results.
Voltage Regulation
Voltage Regulation (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Load in %
12V Rail
5V
3.3V
20%
11.93
5.04
3.3
50%
11.89
5.03
3.29
70%
11.88
5.03
3.28
90%
11.85
5.03
3.28
100%
11.83
5.03
3.28
MSI MEG Ai1600T’s voltage regulation is quite impressive, especially because almost all the PSUs we have tested so far that were >1200W tend to start with a slightly lower voltage level on the 12V rail. Still, this could have been well controlled as this part of the voltage rail is digitally controlled, unlike other PSUs that control their main 12V rail using slower analog controllers.
PSU Efficiency
Average Efficiency (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Load in %
Efficiency
Power Factor
20%
93.56%
0.961
50%
95.10%
0.981
70%
94.59%
0.987
90%
93.74%
0.988
100%
93.40%
0.989
With an average efficiency of 94.08% and 95.10% at half of the load, MSI MEG Ai1600T’s efficiency is exceptionally good. Most of the users, even when rocking high-end CPU paired with RTX 5090, will be reaching around half of its max power output, meaning they will be running at max 95% efficiency levels most of the time.
Voltage Ripple Performance
Max Ripple (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Load in %
12V Ripple
20%
17.6
50%
24.8
70%
28
90%
31.2
100%
32.8
I have been seeing ATX 3.0/3.1 spec PSUs, especially from CWT performing exceptionally well in the voltage ripple test: which reflects the peak supremacy in terms of design, component selection, and performance, beating or matching the performance of the top contenders like Seasonic and Corsair.
But sadly, MEG Ai1600T couldn’t impress me that well as I was expecting a much lower ripple performance. It is important to note that 32mV is still well within Intel’s ATX specifications (which states the max ripple to go as high as 120mV) but every professional reviewer discourages these very loose tolerances from Intel, hence why even OEMs these days try their best to keep it <30mV.
It’s still very good, but I expected better.
Temperature
Thermal Test Results
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Hottest Temp @ Back
Hottest Temp @ Connector Side
Hottest Temp @ Exhaust
Thanks to its Titanium efficiency, the PSU not only remains fairly quiet, only letting the fan spin when the load reaches about 850W (though we turn off Zero/Hybrid fan mode in our test for consistency), but the PSU’s hottest point at the back goes to a mere 60.4C at 1600W due to the 12V rail MOSFETs’ thermal pad contact on the body of the PSU.
Should You Buy it?
Buy It If
✅You want to future-proof your build: 1600W power brick with dual native 12V-2×6 GPU power connectors can last you many more next Gen GPUs from Nvidia, even if they decide to launch their next Gen power-hungry monsters with two 12V-2×6 power connectors (which I am absolutely certain they will).
✅You want extreme efficiency: Titanium efficiency is the max you can get at the moment from ATX-based PSUs and MSI MEG Ai1600T surely achieves it well.
✅You prefer a quiet experience: Thanks to its max efficiency and Zero Fan mode, the PSU operates whisper quiet.
✅You want to monitor everything: You can monitor the power levels of individual voltage rails and also adjust the custom fan profile as per your sound level comfort.
✅You like easy cable management: Soft braided and pre-installed cable organizer makes the cable management really neat.
Don’t Buy It If
❌You are building a mid-range to high-end PC: I will not recommend anyone buying this PSU for an extra 12V-2×6 connector and 1600W if they are only planning to run their system with not-the-greatest-and-latest hardware. A 1000W-1300W PSU will be enough for many gaming enthusiasts.
My Final Thoughts
After spending a good amount of time with the MSI MEG Ai1600T, I can confidently say this PSU is nothing short of a beast. From noise output and efficiency to build quality, it nails it all. MSI and CWT have clearly gone all in on this one, and while it didn’t quite blow me away with the ripple performance, everything else about this unit is top-tier.
From the sheer power capacity and Titanium efficiency to extras like soft braided cables with pre-installed organizers and real-time monitoring via MSI Center — it feels like MSI genuinely tried to make this PSU stand out. The design is clean, the ARGB panel adds a nice touch of flair, and the attention to detail in packaging and presentation makes you feel like you’re getting something premium.
That said, this is definitely not a PSU for everyone. If you’re running a typical high-end gaming PC or even a single high-end GPU setup, this is probably overkill. But if you’re planning on running dual GPUs, pushing overclocks, or just want something future-proof that won’t break a sweat no matter what you throw at it — the Ai1600T is a solid investment.
As a Senior Hardware Reviewer at Tech4Gamers with over a decade of hands-on experience, I dive deep into benchmarking GPUs, CPU coolers, and motherboards, pushing hardware to its limits. Passionate about overclocking and fine-tuning performance.
Story Highlight
NVIDIA’s latest Game Ready Drivers 572.83 are causing issues while playing Assassin’s Creed Shadows, specifically limiting GPU core clock speeds.
Testing on an RTX 5080 revealed that the new drivers caused the GPU to downclock tremendously, impacting performance, even under high load.
This problem is not isolated to a single GPU model, as users with RTX 5090 and RTX 5070Ti cards have reported similar downclocking issues.
The latest NVIDIA drivers are not “Game Ready” for Assassin’s Creed Shadows. Several users report that the latest drivers have limited the core clock on their GPUs; we have tried to simulate the same issue and found it is indeed an issue.
Game Ready & Studio Driver 572.83
Assassin’s Creed Shadows launched with over 1 million players within 24 hours. However, it’s disappointing that NVIDIA did not polish the driver for one of the year’s most anticipated games.
Ubisoft provided us with the review copy, and we have been testing the game on the Hotfix drivers 570.75 version. As reported by other tech outlets, the game had other optimization issues with NVIDIA GPUs, as it did not scale properly with the DLSS presets. However, this driver has bigger issues, which make the game unplayable.
We tested it on Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5080 and found an issue. RTX 5080 was downclocking to 700-780 MHz + Ryzen 7 9700X system. We used Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) multiple times and reinstalled the latest drivers each time, but the issue persisted until we reverted to the previous stable driver version for this game.
GeForce 572.75 Drivers (Old)
We’re using GeForce 575.75 HOTFIX (Based on WHQL) 572.70 drivers, and the game runs as intended. The GPU was running at 98% load, and the clocks were boosting properly.
GeForce 572.83 Drivers (Game Ready)
When the driver was released, we promptly updated it to check for any optimization improvements. However, it ended up breaking the game. Our GPU, the RTX 5080, is now locked at 780MHz.
Surprisingly, despite the clock speed being capped, the GPU is still running at 98% load, indicating it’s being heavily utilized even with the restricted performance.
Several Users Also Reported:
RTX 5090 Downclocking, Source: NVIDIA Forum
This user has reported the game-ready drivers are also downclocking on GeForce RTX 5090 on the NVIDIA forum.
This Reddit user has also confirmed that the driver is causing the GPU clock to lock at 772/780MHz on the GeForce RTX 5070Ti with freshly installed Windows 11.
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the NVIDIA RTX 50 series had issues when the core voltage slider was unlocked, which could lead to downclocking. While NVIDIA appears to have addressed this problem in the hotfix driver version 572.75, it seems the issue has not yet been fully resolved.
If you’re planning to update your drivers, please be cautious. You might encounter similar issues in AC Shadows, especially if you own an RTX 50 series GPU. We suggest you roll back to the previous stable drivers until NVIDIA releases another hotfix driver.
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.
Story Highlight
Silent Hill Remake 2 studio Bloober Team has unveiled new behind-the-scenes footage for Cronos: The New Dawn.
The video also included juicy combat gameplay snippets for the survival horror entry, and more gameplay reveal is planned for later.
The developers also confirmed that the game will feature dismemberment but differ from Dead Space.
Against all odds, Bloober Team proved itself with the Silent Hill 2 remake. So, everyone is eyeing the team’s next project, Cronos: The New Dawn, which is an original IP. The studio has revealed many new gameplay details for the survival horror in a new video.
In the footage, the studio unveiled combat gameplay snippets for the first time, with moments including the protagonist squaring up with the most grotesque horrors one can imagine. Cronos will also feature enemy dismemberment, but it will be different from Dead Space.
Why it matters: Cronos: The New Dawn appears to be the next massive horror hit to grace the gaming scene, judging by the combat gameplay snippets and highly aesthetic visuals we have seen.
In the game overview, the co-directors also confirm that melee is a major part of combat, with punches and stomps included. Cronos: The New Dawn is inspired by movies like The Thing, Dead Space, and even Dark Souls are named in terms of balancing and difficulty.
We can expect huge walls of flesh, heavy body horror elements, possibly aliens and enemy bosses, and a flamethrower. And for players worried about this being a Dead Space copy, the developers assure fans that Cronos has its own take on combat.
Cronos: The New Dawn takes place in an alternate timeline in which an apocalyptic event changes the world in the 1980s. The protagonist is a time traveler from the future who encounters different enemies during his missions.
Bloober Team also confirms that more of the gameplay will be revealed soon. Cronos: The New Dawn is set to launch later this year for consoles and PC, but a release date remains unconfirmed.
Do you think Cronos: The New Dawn is the next big horror game the industry will witness? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
At Tech4gamers, I cover all sorts of gaming news. Whether it’s a leak of any upcoming game or an update, an announcement, or a rumour, I like to write about it all. Over the weekend, I sit and write features where I talk about games that I miss or want to see return.
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Astro Bot won the GOTY Award last year.
The game’s director believes that developers should create more small games.
He further stated that players already have a huge backlog of games.
Astro Bot was among the biggest titles released last year. The game dominated, winning over 90 awards and even the GOTY Award.
While the title proved that developers should make smaller games again, the Astro Bot director recently stated that there should be more small games as players already have a backlog.
Why it matters: Even though players have a huge backlog of titles and prefer smaller games, major developers are still focused on developing massive titles.
Astro Bot Is Creativity At Its Peak.
As reported by GamesRadar+, during the Game Developers Conference, the head of Team Asobi, Nicolas Doucet, stated that the goal to make Astro Bot was to develop a title that could be finished in a reasonable time.
From the start, we were in the mindset that it’s OK to make a compact game … it’s OK to make a small game
-Nicolas Doucet
He further stated that the decision to make Astro Bot a small game was not based on development, but the team was also aware that players have a backlog of games and cannot complete them.
we all know that players today have a backlog of games and cannot complete their games
-Nicolas Doucet
Astro Bot Was The Biggest Release of Last Year
Therefore, it’s great that Team Asobi went for a small game that received such a great reception. It looks like the director is also in favor of it, as he believes more developers should try releasing smaller games.
It’s hard to tell what the gaming industry’s future holds. Some developers still take years to release a title, while titles like Astro Bot take less time to develop and offer a creative experience.
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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Assassin’s Creed Shadows has already reached 1 million players.
This makes it one of the most successful entries of the series already.
The figure includes players from PlayStation, Xbox, PC, and Ubisoft’s subscription service.
Ubisoft has continued the streak of good news with its latest announcement, confirming that the RPG has now reached 1 million players.
Why it matters: Ubisoft could be gearing up for a major comeback following this success. If Assassin’s Creed Shadows sustains its current momentum, the gaming giant might not have to sell off its biggest IPs.
As per Ubisoft, the game achieved 1 million units before 4 PM in Canada. This means that the milestone was achieved around 12 hours after the title was available across every platform, including Steam.
Following this milestone, the French gaming giant has thanked the fans for making this achievement possible. The official Twitter account has even shared a few game keys to commemorate the occasion.
While this achievement is incredible, it should be noted that Assassin’s Creed Shadows has not sold 1 million units yet. The game is currently available as part of Ubisoft’s subscription service, so a large chunk of the player base likely came from this service.
Still, it would not be surprising if Ubisoft did announce an even bigger sales figure in the coming days.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is One of The Better Rated Entries In The Series
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is also set to receive post-launch support from the gaming giant. This success only guarantees that post-launch content will arrive in a timely manner as the team continues to work toward long-term success.
What are your thoughts on this milestone? Are you one of the 1 million Assassin’s Creed Shadows players? Let us know in the comments, and head over to the Tech4Gamers Forums for more discussions.
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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Phil Spencer says fans can expect future live-action adaptations for Xbox games.
He also said they’ve learned from past mistakes, like the Halo TV show.
Currently, more seasons for Fallout are in the works, alongside a Gears of War and Minecraft film adaptation.
Xbox’s venture into Hollywood hasn’t borne fruit for the gaming giant, unlike its rival PlayStation, which is enjoying back-to-back box office hits. Still, Xbox has had a few successes, such as the Fallout TV show, which has made the company more eager to enter the film industry.
Xbox is doing exactly that and has teased more and better adaptations moving forward.
Why It Matters: Years ago, film adaptations of video games were considered a massive failure. However, they’ve only recently started gaining traction, and it’s only right that Microsoft doubles down on the bandwagon.
Halo’s TV Show Adaptation Was Quite Disappointing
Talking to Variety, Phil Spencer, head of Xbox gaming, talked about the trials and errors that the gaming giant had to go through before landing the right mark.
We’re learning and growing through this process.
Moreover, he admitted that Xbox learned a lot from Halo’s TV adaptation, which was widely seen as a failure. He added that they learned from Fallout, which could be noted as having a more positive impact.
Phil also teased that the gaming giant isn’t stopping anytime soon, and fans can expect more adaptations in the near future.
You’re going to see more, because we’re gaining confidence and we’re learning through this.
Fallout has been renewed for another season following the success of the first one. Gears of War is also getting a promising film with WWE star-turned-actor Dave Bautista as the lead.
Minecraft May Not Be The Perfect Pick For A Live-Action Adaptation
A Minecraft movie is currently in the works, but fans haven’t responded well. Still, its results will prove whether or not the Xbox has learned anything from its trials and errors.
With tons of IPs under Xbox’s name, the sky is the limit for their Hollywood approach. Still, if any IP deserves the live-action treatment, it would be The Elder Scrolls.
Do you think Xbox has learned from its past mistakes? What adaptation would you prefer from them in the future? Let us know in the comments below, or head to the official 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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The Last of Us Part 2 will be released for PC next month, and PlayStation has officially revealed the game’s system requirements.
This PC port requires an RTX 3060 at 1080p, an RTX 3070 at 1440p, and an RTX 4080 at 4K.
It also asks for 150GB of SSD storage for the best results.
The Last of Us Part 2 is next in the long list of PlayStation games heading to PC, and with just two more weeks to go, PC gamers are excited to pick up where the first game left off.
Alongside the game, PlayStation is gearing up to release season 2 of the critically acclaimed TV series based on the franchise. This has created plenty of buzz for the IP, and the excitement has been heightened further by promising PC specifications of The Last of Us Part 2.
Why it matters: The Last of Us Part 1 continues to stand out as PlayStation’s worst PC port to this day. It seems the gaming giant will not repeat the same mistake.
The Official System Requirements Are Quite Modest | Image via PlayStation
As per the requirements, an RTX 3060 and Intel Core i5-8600 combo is enough to run the game at 1080p 60FPS with the medium preset. Those looking at a more premium experience at 1440p 60FPS must use a GPU like the RTX 3070 or RX 6800.
Even at 4K, The Last of Us Part 2 asks for an RTX 4080, praised with an Intel Core i7-11700 or Ryzen 7 5700X. Needless to say, these requirements are quite modest, especially considering Naughty Dog’s exceptional work on this title.
It should be noted that this port is based on last year’s remaster, which brought a few visual enhancements to the title. This is likely why the storage requirements are so high at 150GB, with PlayStation recommending an SSD.
The Second Game Of The Series Concludes Ellie’s Story
Elsewhere, The Last of Us Part 2 is receiving new content alongside its PC release. The new content includes a new skin based on Naughty Dog’s recently announced Intergalactic, four new No Return maps, and more.
What are your thoughts on these specification requirements? Do you plan on playing The Last of Us Part 2 on PC? Let’s discuss this in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
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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Assassin’s Creed Shadows is now outselling every other game on Steam.
The peak player count is rising steadily, with over 40K players currently active in-game.
Ubisoft’s latest title has accumulated thousands of positive reviews on Steam already.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows has proven to be a huge critical hit so far. Ubisoft has been praised for delivering on the promise of a large Japanese open world, and the game’s technical side has also impressed analysts.
While the latest Assasin’s Creed RPG has yet to prove its commercial success, the game is currently showing positive signs and has already become Steam’s top-selling title.
Why it matters: Following multiple large-scale disappointments, Ubisoft would be more than happy to see its latest AAA release performing above expectations in every way possible.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows Steam #1 Global Top Seller
As per SteamDB, Assassin’s Creed Shadows is dominating every other title on Steam at the moment. This includes free-to-play games like Counter-Strike 2 and even those that are heavily discounted for now.
What makes the situation so interesting is that Ubisoft’s latest blockbuster has only recently climbed the charts. Ahead of its release, the game was nowhere to be found at the top of this list, but this changed after the positive press from the media.
It seems Steam users bought Assassin’s Creed Shadows in droves following more positive than expected review scores. At the time of writing, the game has also reached 40K concurrent players, a major improvement over the player count of less than 30K from a few hours ago.
It should be noted that Assassin’s Creed Shadows marked the return of Ubisoft’s focus on Steam as a platform. This return can be considered a major success, as the game currently boasts a nearly 80% positive rating after receiving nearly 2,000 reviews.
Ubisoft Finally Took The Series to Japan This Year
Elsewhere, the title was recently seen in the best-sellers list of Amazon’s PS5 games. It was also topping the charts on the PlayStation Store, setting the stage for a major commercial success for Ubisoft.
What are your thoughts on Assassin’s Creed Shadows’ launch so far? Have you played it? Let us know in the comments, or discuss more on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
