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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A new leak from a retailer points to a $1500 launch price for the RTX 5080.
The graphics card is expected to boast performance slightly worse than that of the RTX 4090.
This leak points to even higher pricing for the RTX 5090.
The RTX 4080 saw quite the price bump over its predecessor. Launching at $1200, it cost a whopping $500 more than the RTX 3080, but Nivida returned to somewhat better pricing with the RTX 4080 Super, which launched for $1000.
It seems the gaming giant is keen on pushing pricing further with the next generation. As per a new leak, the RTX 5080 could see another price bump, launching for a whopping $1500 in 2025.
Why it matters: This price would push the 80-tier graphics card from Nvidia closer to the 90-tier pricing. For context, the GeForce RTX 3090 was sold for $1500 in 2020.
As reported by Vex, the leak comes via an Australian retailer. The retailer suggests Nvidia is currently preparing to fill store shelves with the RTX 5080, which will arrive in mid-February in Australia.
In terms of pricing, the leak points to a $2544.55 purchase price and $2,799 MSRP in Australia. When converted, these roughly translate to $1581 and $1739 in the US. However, it is important to note that prices won’t be a one-to-one match between different regions.
The RTX 5080 may not launch for $1700 or more, but it should still land somewhere around the $1500 mark if this leak is to be trusted. Recent specification leaks have also revealed other details about this graphics card.
Nvidia is expected to include the GB203-400 GPU with the RTX 5080 and 10752 Cuda Cores, in addition to 16GB of GDDR7 memory across a 256-bit memory bus. This should result in 960GB/s bandwidth, setting the stage for impressive performance that falls slightly behind the RTX 4090.
Nvidia Price Leak via Vex
However, this performance will not come without a cost. At such an exorbitant price point, users might be better off buying the last-generation flagship RTX 4090 for the extra memory.
Also, this pricing would mean that the RTX 5090 could be priced near the $2000 mark. What are your thoughts on this leak? Do you think Nvidia will sell the 80-tier card for up to $1500? Let’s discuss this in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.
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 new UE5 feature, MegaLights, massively improves the RTX 4080’s performance at 4K by up to 50%.
Introduced in Unreal Engine 5.5, the feature enhances performance and image quality over base Lumen.
It lets developers add dozens of dynamic shadow-casting lights without any limits.
Unreal Engine 5 has become the most standardized game engine in the AAA industry, causing a wave of positive and negative yields across studios. While UE5 is celebrated for delivering great visuals, it is also critiqued for high system requirements, killing creativity, and performance issues. However, Epic Games might finally be addressing the performance dilemma.
Unreal Engine 5.5 has introduced a new feature dubbed MegaLights, which promises notable performance boosts. The RTX 4080 saw a performance bump of up to 50% at 1440p and 4K resolutions using the new option.
Why it matters: The new MegaLights feature has led to a huge performance upgrade for the RTX 4080 at 1440p and 4K resolutions, suggesting that it may finally address the performance issues that plague UE5-based AAA titles.
A YouTube video by MxBenchmarkPC shows a comparison of Quixel’s UE5.5 Dark Ruins tech demo. It uses an RTX 4080 with software Lumen, hardware Lumen only, and hardware Lumen with MegaLights configurations to highlight the significant difference.
Epic Games’ new tech enhances performance while also improving visual fidelity at various high resolutions to a noticeable extent. The feature lets developers add hundreds of dynamic, shadow-casting lights without having any old restrictions.
As a result, MegaLights is expected to be a game-changer compared to the base Lumen we’ve seen so far. In other words, the micro stutters and lousy optimization issues might finally be resolved in AAA titles.
It is best to take these tech results with a grain of salt since the effect of this new feature might vary across various GPUs and other PC hardware. However, fans agree it is still a substantial improvement over the old UE5.
Do you think this performance enhancement will help more gamers enjoy 4K gaming on the RTX 40 series cards, or is it just a novelty feature? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers forum.
As Tech4Gamers’ Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I bring over 13 years of PC Hardware Reviewing and 8+ years of IT Project Management experience. Certified in Google IT Support , my focus is on providing honest product reviews and analysis and fostering a strong gaming community with 130k+ members in PPG.
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AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D boasts 16 cores, 32 threads, and a 5.65 GHz Turbo frequency.
Expected to offer significant performance gains in games and cache-intensive applications compared to the standard Ryzen 9 9950X.
Ryzen 9 9950X3D incorporates the new Zen 5 architecture, allowing for higher frequencies and full overclocking support.
We can now know the specifications of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D. We are talking about the company’s new flagship processor with 3D V-Cache technology.
In case you don’t know, it will be in two weeks at CES 2025 in Las Vegas when it will be formally announced along with the Ryzen 9 9900X3D. Already hoping to have access to a launch date, price and the first official performance tests. So it will be very normal that in the coming days this information begins to leak.
The specifications can be confirmed thanks to the leak of a screenshot of CPU-Z. Which reveals everything from the core configuration, to the frequencies at which they operate, with their voltages, and the maximum consumption for which this CPU has been designed. As was logical to expect, we are talking about an engineering sample.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D Specifications
Without surprises in between, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D features 16 cores and 32 processing threads inside. Although of course, under the new AMD Zen5 architecture.
The new thing here is that we know that this processor is capable of reaching a Turbo frequency of 5.65 GHz. At the cache memory level, there are no surprises either. Thanks to 3D V-Cache technology, we find a CPU that offers 96 MB + 32 MB of L3 cache (128 MB L3), thus giving a total of 144 MB, a quite notable increase compared to the 80 MB of the Ryzen 9 9950X in its ‘non-X3D’ version.
The only difference is that in the new model, the additional L3 cache is integrated just below the CPU cores. This reduces latencies and improves cooling by having contact with the IHS casing attached to the CPU cooling system. This allows for this notable increase in frequencies.
The Cache Memory Is Now Also Integrated Into A Single CCD
It should also be noted that the 3D cache is integrated into a single CCD instead of spread across two CCDs, which reduces latencies and thus improves performance.
There are a few differences in specifications between the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D and the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X. Both processors run at the same speed and have the same TDP of 170W.
The only notable difference is the amount of cache memory and, of course, the price. This means that it performs like the Ryzen 9950X in all facets but with the added performance in games or applications that take advantage of the increase in cache memory.
In the past, the Ryzen X3Ds ran at lower frequencies. But now, with an AMD Zen5 architecture, that aspect is also covered, and that’s why AMD has opted for increases in TDP and frequencies.
Despite this, it must be remembered that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, after adding the data from 19 different reviews, only offers 10% more performance than the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Another thing to note is that the Ryzen 9000X3D are the first processor in this range (X3D) with full overclocking support. Thus seeking to scratch out any impossible incentive for the sale of these CPUs.
What’s your take on the specifications of Ryzen 9 9950X3D? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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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Naughty Dog character concept designer Nam Hyoung Taek has come under fire for his artwork of Eve from Stellar Blade.
Fans are calling the design ugly and manly with others saying it’s woke.
Naughty Dog has also been receiving backlash for DEI elements in its new IP Intergalactic.
Since its release at the start of the year, Stellar Blade has been a massive success for Shift Up and PlayStation, selling over a million copies. A big reason for the new IP’s success was its protagonist, Eve, who became a fan favorite for her objective beauty.
Many people praised the design of Eve created by Shift Up, and it seems that any new version of the Stellar Blade main character might not be as well received.
When Naughty Dog’s character designer, Nam Hyoung Taek, released his own version of Eve, gamers didn’t seem to like it much.
Why This Matters: Naughty Dog has been under fire recently from the gaming community for DEI elements in games, and this artwork just adds fuel to the fire.
The Naughty Dog Stellar Blade design is a far cry from the original Eve.
The official Stellar Blade account on X posted this artwork from the lead character concept designer at Naughty Dog to a hostile reception from fans. Fans in the replies called the face of Hyoung Taek’s Eve ugly, saying the concept art made her look manly.
Most of the comments under the post amplified the same opinion, calling this version of the Stellar Blade protagonist garbage and terrible.
Some replies also accused the Naughty Dog designer of making Eve “woke,” further stating that the art was revolting at best.
This seems to be a running trend for Naughty Dog. The studio has also come under fire recently for the alleged DEI elements in its newly announced IP Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet. The sci-fi adventures trailer surpassed the video game dislike record set by Concord earlier this year.
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The game’s backlash has been so bad that the studio had to turn off commenting on its posts. Intergalactic lead actor Tati Gabrielle also called out this behavior from fans, who even criticized the upcoming IP in the official holiday greeting from Naughty Dog.
As Tech4Gamers’ Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I bring over 13 years of PC Hardware Reviewing and 8+ years of IT Project Management experience. Certified in Google IT Support , my focus is on providing honest product reviews and analysis and fostering a strong gaming community with 130k+ members in PPG.
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Chinese DRAM manufacturer CXMT is rapidly gaining market share, posing a significant threat to industry leaders like Samsung and SK Hynix.
CXMT’s competitive advantage stems from government subsidies, aggressive pricing, and rapid technological advancements.
The rise of CXMT highlights the increasing dominance of China in the semiconductor industry.
We said it, and it is coming true. China is going like a hypersonic plane for the DDR5 DRAM market, which is still dominated by South Korea and the US, for now. New indications and information coming from various sources paint a truly terrifying picture for the Americans and Koreans since they are going to lose an incredible amount of market share. If the trend continues like this, in a few years, they will literally be swept off the scene.
The threat has a name, some arguments, and some concrete figures that we will put on the table based on the information that is coming from various leakers and foreign media in different countries. The protagonist is CXMT, a company that, 5 years ago, barely had any cutting-edge chip production. However, before the end of this year, it has put DDR5 chips into production ahead of expectations.
China To Flood DDR5 Market With Chips By 2025
Cheap chips, cheap modules, and a massive injection of public money to artificially lower prices below costs where no one can compete without making a loss. China uses its huge population and taxes to pump public money, almost without end, into its leading companies and help the rest. The CEO of the memory chip controller manufacturer Silicon Motion, Wallace Kou, gave some very revealing clues:
“Chinese memory chip giant CXMT’s share of the global DRAM memory chip market will rise to 15% in 2025 from 2% a few years ago as it ramps up mass production of DDR5 DRAM chips. While its LPDDR5 (low-power DDR5 DRAM) will ship in volume in mid-2025.”
CXMT has also increased its production capacity from 70,000 wafer starts per month in 2022 to 120,000 WSPM in 2023 and 200,000 WSPM in 2024. This only shows that China is evolving its semiconductor memory technology at a pace that no one can keep up with. In fact, we have already seen the performance against SK Hynix chips; they are extremely close.
The Gap Has Narrowed To Almost Zero In 2 Years
It is dramatic for the rest. We indeed know that China is not evolving alone. CXMT has thousands of engineers from South Korea working in its factories, who accepted wage and conditions improvements that they could not refuse from the Chinese company. Add to this almost unlimited government subsidies.
This allows for a rock-bottom price for any customer: 10% to 50% cheaper than Samsung and SK Hynix. So, if mass production comes months earlier, if the performance of the chips is almost on par with their rivals, and if they offer prices that are impossible for the rest, it is only a matter of time before they end up destroying their competitors in the market in a matter of two or three years at most and if they continue at this pace.
It should be noted that Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron already use EUV in their chips. Still, they need more production, more speed, and more efficiency to justify the prices because no one can compete, at the moment, with China on costs, not under these conditions of almost infinite subsidies.
As Tech4Gamers’ Founder and Editor-in-Chief, I bring over 13 years of PC Hardware Reviewing and 8+ years of IT Project Management experience. Certified in Google IT Support , my focus is on providing honest product reviews and analysis and fostering a strong gaming community with 130k+ members in PPG.
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Steam broke a record in 2024 with over 18,000 games released.
Most of these releases are likely “limited” games, suggesting many may have failed to meet expectations.
Steam remains the dominant platform for PC gaming despite increased competition.
If you’re a PC gamer, you’ll surely know Steam, as it’s the leading gaming platform, considering the number of users, the thousands of games, and the options it offers.
Valve’s store usually offers discounts from time to time, and right now, Christmas is the time for sales. Although competition from Epic Games and other platforms is getting more challenging, it’s almost impossible for them to keep up with this store.
Steam has broken a new record this year by releasing 18,864 games (and counting), surpassing last year’s 14,311 games.
If you’ve bought a PC to play video games, Steam has probably become your biggest library of games. Indeed, everything we buy digitally doesn’t really “belong” to us since it’s ultimately tied to a platform, but in the case of Steam, we don’t think it will disappear in the near or distant future.
It’s too important in the gaming world if we consider that it reaches almost 40 million simultaneous players and contains some of the most played games in the world.
New Record That Surpasses The 14,311 of 2023
While we’ve seen massive layoffs in the gaming industry this year, it’s also true that this is when most games have been developed, at least if we take Valve’s store statistics into account. No less than 18,825 games were released on Steam in 2024, exceeding last year’s figure by more than 4,000 games and thus setting a new record. These are divided into 3,946 normal games and 14,918 limited games.
Steam Game Releases Doubled Since 2017
Valve Founder Gabe Newell
Limited games are described as those that have restricted profile customization features due to not meeting specific requirements such as player count or sales. This means that most of these games released this year are below expectations, and many will have failed. We already know the video game industry, and it is tough to become popular with so much competition.
This leaves us with around 4,000 games that fall within the spectrum of titles with some success and have all the customization features available according to the SteamDB database. We can see that over the past few years, the total number of games has increased significantly. If we compare 2017 with 2024, we have received more than double the number of games than 7 years ago.
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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Fans have been highly anticipating the GTA 6-second trailer, but Rockstar has been pretty silent.
Due to the silence, the fandom has been making many theories regarding when the trailer will be dropped.
The most recent one claims that it will be released on 27th December, and Ned Luke, Michael’s voice actor, seems to support the theory.
GTA 6 is arguably the most anticipated title in the history of gaming, but fans are losing their sanity due to way too few updates from Rockstar. It has been over a year since the first trailer was released, and ever since then, fans have been patiently waiting for the developer to reveal some new information.
The fandom was expecting it to announce and release the second trailer before The Game Awards 2024 to steal the glory, but it didn’t. Ever since then, the fans have been cooking up weird yet interesting theories about when the gaming giant will launch the trailer.
The latest theory claims that Rockstar will release the trailer on 27th December, and while it sounds wild, Michael De Santa’s voice actor may just have confirmed it.
Why it matters: It has been over a decade since the last GTA was released, so fans are losing patience. Now, Ned Luke’s comment on the theory could mean a trailer is coming tomorrow.
Ned Luke, Michael De Santa’s Voice Actor In GTA 5, Has Either Confirmed The GTA 6 Second Trailer Fan Theory Or Is Just Trolling | Source: Twitter
Ned Luke, the voice actor of Michael De Santa in Grand Theft Auto 5, recently tweeted ‘December 27th’ with a five-star emoji. This could mean that Rockstar Games is indeed planning to surprise the fandom and give them a trailer on a theory they developed, as they have been doing for a while now.
So, the fans deserve a little treat from the giant. However, Ned Luke could very well be trolling the fandom, as he can be like that sometimes. Luke using only five emojis also raises suspicions, as he should have gone with six, but again, the previous GTA has only five wanted stars.
Everyone getting excited but the fact you tweeted this makes me think nothing is happening now.
Some Fans Are Hyped Over Ned Luke’s Tweet, Claiming Him To Be Their Leader
Some fans think he is straight-up trolling, so they have lost all hope, while others believe tomorrow is finally the day we get to see something crazy from the developer.
ou posting this means nothing is happening tomorrow, thanks.
We hope that Luke isn’t just trolling the fandom and that Rockstar really plans to release the second trailer. Releasing the highly anticipated trailer at the end of 2024 would be a banger way to close the year.
What do you think about the 27th December theory? Do you think Ned Luke is just trolling, or is there really something coming up tomorrow? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers forums.
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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Microsoft has published a new patent that wants to bring movable and tunable haptic motors to Xbox controllers.
It wants to add haptic motors that can automatically move inside the controller to produce organic vibrations.
Small motors can be used to have a similar or better effect to current haptic tech while saving costs and space.
The Microsoft vs. Sony console arms race might have been concluded—at least officially—but the competition between the two giants certainly has not ended yet. Sony’s haptic feedback tech has become the hallmark of the industry, with Xbox controllers still trying to catch up. However, a new tech patent published by Microsoft might just be Xbox’s answer to surpass the DualSense controllers.
We’ve found a new Microsoft patent that wants to bring highly innovative and cost-effective haptic motors to Xbox controllers. These haptic motors can move inside the controllers instead of staying fixed in a single place to produce more organic vibrations.
Additionally, the haptic motors can be tuned in real-time by the players using tuners for further optimization.
The concepts [Describe] a haptic response of a device by incorporating haptic subcomponents into a moving or flexible mechanical architecture of the device that allows for the haptic motor to move relative to a housing of the device.
Why it matters: The new Microsoft patent could be its response to Sony’s highly popular haptic tech. Allowing movable and tunable haptic motors in controllers could revolutionize the technology.
The image shows a controller with haptic motors coupled to the ends of connectors that allow them to move.
The Microsoft patent dubbed ‘TUNING HAPTIC FEEDBACK OF A DEVICE’ talks about the benefits of using a movable and tunable haptic feedback motor inside the controller, like it can produce two resonance peaks. It basically means that the device can produce two different types of vibrations to add more depth to the haptic feedback.
The patent also argues that the current haptic motors used in controllers are expensive, heavy, and huge. Similar or even better results can be achieved using smaller motors that can move instead of staying fixed. In comparison, Sony DualSense and other controllers use rigid voice coil actuators that create vibrations by moving internal components instead of the entire motor.
This allows for a lower cost, weight, size, and energy consuming haptic component to perform similar to a larger haptic component, or to enhance the haptic response of the larger haptic component.
The images show mechanical and electromechanical tuners to tune haptic feedback in controllers.
All in all, Microsoft might integrate these movable haptic motors in its future lineup of Xbox controllers. The ability to tune the haptic feedback will also make each controller feel more personalized.
Do you think adding movable and tunable haptic motors in Xbox controllers will help Microsoft dominate this field? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers forum.
Currently serving as a News Reporter at Tech4Gamers, I have the privilege of combining my love for gaming with the art of storytelling. My role involves crafting engaging narratives that keep our audience abreast of the latest developments in the gaming world.
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Despite a bad start to the current console generation, Xbox has slowly started to catch up and is ending 2024 on a good note.
Activision’s merger paid off well for Xbox, as Game Pass is finally profitable since the launch of Black Ops 6.
If Xbox plays its cards correctly, it is only set to win more victories with the next console launches and future first-party games.
Ever since 2013, Xbox has experienced many ups and downs. While the gaming giant was expected to bounce back with the current console generation, the Xbox Series X|S didn’t turn out to be special for the majority of players.
The start of the console generation was rough, and over the past couple of years, Xbox has seen many controversial changes, which even caused panic in the internal team. However, the tough decisions have finally started to pay off for them.
The second half of 2024 proved to be a huge success for them, and it was just the start of a new era for the brand. Xbox has finally moved past competing with PlayStation and decided to build a proper brand.
Why It Matters: Xbox fans have been waiting for this moment for over a decade now, with PlayStation taking the console lead meanwhile. However, Xbox has finally gotten up on its feet, which will only make the gaming environment even more exciting in the future.
Microsoft’s Acquisition Of Activision Blizzard Finally Paid Off
Call Of Duty Raised Game Pass Sales Substantially
The gaming industry was in turmoil between 2022 and 2023 after Microsoft and Activision announced a merger. Naturally, the merger raised a lot of criticism from gamers and obstacles from regulators; some even tried to stop it.
Despite all odds, Microsoft emerged victorious, and the $69 billion merger finally succeeded. Combining the earlier Bethesda acquisition, Microsoft spent a whopping $100 billion on acquisitions and wanted more out of Xbox.
Still, Xbox’s financial earnings weren’t looking quite good, but that was just a matter of time. This wasn’t until Call of Duty Black Ops 6’s release, which was the biggest the franchise had ever seen. Xbox has now also become a lead platform for Call of Duty.
Most of the game’s success is attributed to Game Pass since more than 50% of PC players were on Game Pass. Despite that, the game sold well on Steam, too. It’s safe to assume that the addition of Call of Duty has finally made Game Pass beyond profitable, and Microsoft is certainly pleased with Xbox.
Xbox Finally Has A Decent First-Party Catalog
Xbox Now Actually Has A Decent First-Party Lineup
One of the reasons why PlayStation took yet another victory over Xbox at the start of this generation was the first-party catalog. Xbox barely had any games to compete with the likes of Spider-Man Miles Morales, and God of War Ragnarok. Even their biggest launch, Halo Infinite, was quite underwhelming.
However, these setbacks were only temporary, and Xbox has finally started to catch up. Indiana Jones And The Great Circle was a massive victory for the gaming giant, and it has silenced critics who have complained that the platform lacks cinematic games.
With no major Sony release this year, Xbox took the spotlight with the showcase earlier this year. Sony’s only major upcoming release is Marvel’s Wolverine, and the game’s development has not exactly gone smoothly.
Meanwhile, Xbox’s lineup is pretty much stacked for the next couple of years with releases like Fable, Avowed, Outer Worlds 2, OD, Elder Scrolls 6, and more. Xbox has finally built a decent first-party catalog, which will certainly cause a shift in the competition.
Beyond 2024
Xbox To Debut 2 New Consoles In 2026, Including A Handheld
The majority of fans were displeased with Xbox’s decision not to release a mid-gen refresh this time around, and they said that Xbox Series X is already their mid-gen refresh console.
However, with the underwhelming launch of PS5 Pro, an expensive console with the lackluster hardware power to actually provide a major gaming output difference, many thought that Xbox really took the right path.
The bigger news is that Xbox is fully focused on launching the next-gen consoles, which are expected to arrive in 2026, 2 years earlier than the typical hardware lifecycle. They’re also expected to launch a handheld console for the first time.
If Xbox plays its cards correctly, we can expect a huge impact on the gaming industry, and it all relies on the next-gen console releases. Right now, I’m seeing a somewhat similar pattern to the Xbox 360 release era, and hopefully, the gaming giant will enjoy a similar success akin to that time period.
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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Despite multiplayer gaming becoming the face of gaming, most games still don’t support crossplay, preventing players from playing together on different platforms.
Games like Fortnite thrive with crossplay, while titles like Dragon Ball Sparking Zero and Elden Ring Nightreign frustrate players by lacking it.
While some argue crossplay creates an imbalance, most games offer the option to disable it, highlighting the missed potential when developers prioritize microtransactions instead.
The face of video games has significantly changed over the past couple of decades, and multiplayer is the face of gaming. Even the biggest games currently are multiplayer games, which have become a way of socializing with people ever since the pandemic.
However, with video games’ increasing popularity, a huge issue still hasn’t been addressed. Most gamers are on different platforms, which makes it impossible for them to enjoy certain games together.
Crossplay has no downsides if implemented correctly. I’m surprised that most video games nowadays haven’t followed the example of big titles like Fortnite, which already have crossplay implemented, a huge factor contributing to the game’s longevity.
Why It Matters: Every gaming platform has its ups and downs, and while it may be subjective which one is better, there should be no reason for different players not to be able to play together since they’re playing the exact same game.
The FOMO Is Real
Dragon Ball Sparking Zero Not Supporting Crossplay Is A Huge Downside
While I do own an Xbox and a PC, most of my friends are on a single platform only, and playing games together can get tough. Sparking Zero was one of the most awaited games for me this year, and no crossplay was actually going to be a dealbreaker for me.
Sadly, I can only see the rest of my friends play together on PlayStation while I sit on the PC playing solo. However, with the new update supporting all maps on couch co-op, I can still enjoy game nights, but not everyone lives so close.
It even took big titles like EA’s FC (formerly FIFA) and NBA 2k years before they really implemented crossplay, and before that, I even stopped bothering to buy those games.
As a diehard Souls fan, it was disappointing to learn that the upcoming Elden Ring Nightreign also doesn’t support crossplay.
Crossplay Contributes To A Game’s Longevity
Fortnite Still Amasses Millions Of Players 7 Years Since Its Launch
With so much diversity within the video game platforms, players are divided, and it’s no wonder why video games tend to die so early due to a lack of cross-play. Take this: Dragon Ball Sparking Zero lost 90% of its player base within a couple of months.
On the other hand, games like Fortnite and Call of Duty Warzone are still prevalent due to their crossplay features. I’m not even a huge Fortnite fan, but I still play the game because it’s one of the few titles that can be played alongside, no matter what the platform and I must admit that every time I play it, I have a good time with my friends.
I’m sure that millions of other players feel just like me. Finding games shorter with crossplay means I get to interact with people on different consoles; there just isn’t any downfall aside from the competitive aspect, which I will address.
Is There Really A Downside To Crossplay
The Controversy Surrounding Crossplay Doesn’t Make Sense
I’m sure that not everyone is a fan of crossplay, and that’s completely understandable. It’s been a huge debate in games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, and the latest Marvel’s Rivals, all of which have a huge competitive aspect to them.
Controller players argue that Mouse and Keyboard players have the luxury of better aim, FPS, and visuals, while Mouse and Keyboard players argue that Controller players have aim assist.
This shouldn’t even be a problem since most games have the option to disable crossplay, so you’re just restricted to playing with players on your own platform if you want to. Moreover, this is only an issue with shooter games.
For fighting games like Tekken, nobody really has an upside to playing on any platform.
I’m sure that implementing cross-play isn’t as easy as it sounds; developers have to push simultaneous updates, depart from the conventional PSN and Xbox Live architecture, and deal with other problems.
Only if developers looked into these aspects instead of microtransactions and other useless additions to the game; maybe I expect too much because we don’t even get finished releases at launch. If anything, crossplay will only prove beneficial for publishers in the long run, considering the game is actually good.
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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Delta Force: Black Hawk Down’s story campaign will be full of action-packed gameplay and fewer cutscenes.
The gameplay is not a purely single-player experience, as other players can also join you during the campaign.
The campaign, a reboot and retelling of the original story, is set to launch sometime next month.
This year, the Delta Force series saw the release of its first game in over a decade. It is a highly addictive, team-based, modern tactical shooter that serves as a strong refreshment in the exhausted FPS genre—a perfect homage to the olden franchise for many players. However, the Chinese developer Team Jade is not done, as it is now also working on a new Black Hawk Down campaign.
Now, Team Jade has confirmed that the campaign will also be a gameplay-centric experience that makes players feel like they are on an actual battlefield. There won’t be as many cinematics as we’re used to seeing nowadays.
Why it matters: Delta Force: The Black Hawk Down’s first campaign’s deeper focus on gameplay instead of cinematics matches the FPS genre and players’ demands. Although it is not a purely single-player experience.
In an interview with PCGamesN, Ricky Liao noted that the Black Hawk Down campaign is not a ‘typical RPG narrative.’ Instead, the narrative goals will be achieved through an addictive FPS experience, where players will play the game instead of watching cutscenes.
We want to make Delta Force players feel really immersed and engaged with the universe we are trying to build, and feel like they are really on the battlefield.
The game director also emphasizes that the upcoming Delta Force campaign is not a purely single-player experience, as players can team up with friends and plow through the campaign based on their skills and playstyle.
All in all, the upcoming Delta Force: Black Hawk Down campaign is more of a reboot and retelling of the original nostalgic story instead of a faithful remake. It is set to drop in January 2025, although the date is unclear.
Do you think after the multiplayer experience, the Black Hawk Down paid campaign will be able to meet everyone’s expectations? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the official Tech4Gamers forum.
At Tech4Gamers.com, I cover the latest news and rumours in the gaming industry, from new game releases to hidden gems and video game leaks. Furthermore, I occasionally write tech articles about video game consoles, providing insights into the hardware and software that powers our gaming experiences.
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The 0x114 microcode specifically addresses performance issues previously identified in Intel’s Core Ultra 200 series CPUs, particularly during gaming.
ASUS’s own testing indicates performance gains of up to 27% in overall gaming performance.
The update also yields a 40% improvement in the 1% lows metric.
ASUS has rolled out BIOS updates for its Intel Z890 motherboards, featuring Intel’s 0x114 microcode to improve gaming performance.
These updates include two new optimized profiles: 1203 XMP I and 1203 XMP Tweaked. The XMP Tweaked profile aims to lower latency, providing smoother frames and better efficiency, while the XMP I profile prioritizes system stability.
Why it matters: The 0x114 microcode update was released to fix performance issues in Intel’s Core Ultra 200 series processors, especially in gaming.
1203 XMP Tweaked profile provides up to 27% performance gain while gaming. | Credit: ROG Forum
ASUS conducted internal tests using the ROG Maximus Z890 Hero motherboard, an ROG STRIX RTX 4090 GPU, and an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K processor.
The results showed that the 1203 XMP Tweaked profile provided up to 27% performance gains in gaming and yielded up to 40% improvement in the 1% lows performance metric.
To take advantage of these improvements, ASUS suggests updating your motherboard BIOS to the latest version that supports the 0x114 microcode.
You should also choose the right XMP profile in the UEFI BIOS and install the Intel Dynamic Tuning driver and Intel Application Optimization (APO) from the Microsoft Store.
ASUS’s internal tests show performance improvements, but independent reviews have shown mixed results. For example, some tests didn’t see much of a performance boost with the 0x114 microcode update.
1% lows saw an improvement of up to 40% across various games. | Credit: ROG forum.
Intel had previously mentioned that the 0x114 microcode update could boost performance by 3% to 8%, depending on the hardware and system settings.
