Facebook Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 52

Lionsgate’s AAA John Wick Game Officially Unveiled at PlayStation State of Play

Story Highlight
  • John Wick is officially getting an AAA treatment by Saber Interactive in collaboration with Lionsgate.
  • The game will be a brand-new adventure set in the events before the movies.
  • More details will be shared as the game is still expected to be early in development.

John Wick has become one of Hollywood’s biggest action franchises in recent years, starring Keanu Reeves, who has also made a name for himself in the gaming industry.

Long demanded by fans for a video game adaptation, Lionsgate has finally unveiled a reveal trailer for a AAA John Wick game.

Why it matters: An AAA John Wick could revitalize narrative-driven games, which are somewhat lacking in the recent slate of games.

Currently, this John Wick title doesn’t have a title set in place, but it will be a brand-new untold story taking place between the events of the film trilogy. We might even see John Wick’s adventures before his retirement, at the peak of his career. 

As such, expect familiar movie characters as well as new faces. This is an interesting opportunity to explore John’s past without ever making a movie, since this game is canon to the film’s events.

The voice actor appears to be Keanu Reeves himself, based on a brief line spoken at the end of the trailer.

From the start, players will be familiar with elements from the movies, including the shooting style, enemy evasion, and hand-to-hand combat.

The gun combat system will be most anticipated, given its movie-style approach and its distinctiveness from anything we’ve seen in video games. Other than that, players can expect combat takedowns and more.

john wick gameplay
This Appears To Be A Much Younger Version Of John

Also, expect familiar locations from the movie in the game, as the description says that Saber Interactive wants to make players feel as if “they are in a John Wick movie, playing the role of John Wick himself.”

Other than combat, expect vehicles in the game too, which the developers describe as “immersive driving experiences,” and in John Wick fashion, it will be nothing short of a rollercoaster.

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on the new AAA John Wick game so far? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach PC Port Sets March 19, 2026 Release

Story Highlight
  • Death Stranding 2 is finally releasing on PC almost 8 months after PS5 exclusivity.
  • It’ll feature all modern features like upscaling, frame generation, and Dual Sense support.
  • The game was critically received and had multiple GOTY nominations.

Just like the original Death Stranding, the sequel was also released as a timed PlayStation exclusive. The game has had a great reception, which led to fans anticipating when it’ll finally come to PC, and you won’t have to wait for too long. 

At today’s State of Play, it was revealed that the Death Stranding 2 PC port will be released on March 19, 2026. However, it seems like Xbox users will have to wait once more, as that port might come later down the line. 

Why it matters: The first game was praised for its uniqueness, story, and great visuals. The sequel takes everything up a notch, and even garnered a brilliant score of 89 on Metacritic includingg multiple GOTY nominations. 

Kojima Industries has taken a very similar route to the first release, as just like the original, Death Stranding 2 PC port will also release almost 8 months after the initial PS5 release. It also gets some nice PC-centric features. 

The port is being handled by Nixxes, who have a history of quite decent PC ports. It’ll feature all modern features, including unlocked frame rates, ultra-wide support, and upscaling with frame generation. 

Death Stranding 2
Death Stranding 2 is set to release on PC in just about a month

Additionally, it will also have complete Dual Sense support. The release is quite close, and it’ll come out in just over a month. It is also available to pre-purchase on PC starting now, along with a Digital Deluxe Edition. 

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on Death Stranding 2’s PC port releasing on March 19? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.

Why Jigsaw Puzzles Actually Make Sense for Gamers

Story Highlight
  • Jigsaw puzzles offer a calm way to sharpen the mind and improve visual thinking without the burnout or pressure found in competitive gaming.
  • Unlike chaotic games, puzzles build steady focus and attention to detail by removing timers and social distractions.
  • Solving puzzles reinforces pattern recognition, which helps players better understand map layouts and enemy movements.

Gamers love to upgrade gear. New mouse, faster monitor, better GPU, custom keybinds, the usual grind. We spend hours dialing in settings to squeeze out tiny performance boosts. But the one thing most players forget to train is their brains. Not in a motivational-poster way, in a practical, everyday way.

That’s where jigsaw puzzles come in. Not as some “brain hack” trend or productivity gimmick, but as a chill, low-effort way to keep your mind sharp without burning out. Free jigsaw puzzles aren’t going to turn you into a pro overnight, but they do something a lot of games don’t: they slow your brain down in a good way.

And to be honest, most gamers could use more of that.

Better Focus Without the Pressure

CS2 Player Count Decline
Games like CS2 and Valorant can be very stressful.

Competitive games train reaction speed, but they don’t always train focus. Most sessions are loud, chaotic, and overstimulating. Jigsaw puzzles are the opposite. You’re scanning shapes, matching colors, and thinking visually, but without timers, ranks, or someone screaming in voice chat.

It’s a different kind of brain work. You’re still problem-solving, still paying attention to detail, still staying engaged, just without stress attached to it. Over time, that kind of calm focus actually carries over into gaming.

You get better at spotting patterns, noticing small details, and staying locked in without mental fatigue.

Pattern Recognition Is a Real Skill

Gaming is basically pattern recognition in disguise. Enemy movement, map layouts, recoil patterns, cooldown timing, it’s all pattern-based. Jigsaw puzzles train that same skill loop: scanning, matching, predicting, adjusting.

You’re not learning mechanics or aim, but you are training how your brain processes visual information. That’s useful in everything from FPS games to strategy titles. It’s not flashy, but it’s real.

A Perfect Cooldown Activity

Puzzles serve as a productive “cooldown” to help players manage frustration and avoid “tilt”.

Every gamer knows tilt. Lose a few matches, play worse, get frustrated, queue again, repeat. Jigsaw puzzles work surprisingly well as a mental reset. They keep your hands and brain busy without adding pressure.

Instead of doom-scrolling or rage-queuing, doing a quick puzzle between matches gives your head space to cool off. It’s still “gaming energy,” just without competition. Think of it like a cooldown instead of a warm-up.

Easy Access, Zero Setup

The best part? No setup, no downloads, no system requirements. You can open a puzzle in a browser, go full screen, and just chill. No installs, no storage waste, no performance hit.

Some sites even let you customize visuals and themes, including things like free jigsaw puzzles skins, which makes it feel more like a game than a random brain app. It’s small stuff, but it helps keep it fun instead of feeling like “training.”

Let’s be real: puzzles won’t replace practice, aim training, or game sense. But they’re a good mental habit. They help with focus, patience, visual thinking, and stress control, all things that actually matter in gaming long-term.

Latest Updates

Think of them as mental maintenance. Like stretching for your brain. Taking 10 minutes to do something that keeps your mind sharp without stress just makes sense. Not everything that improves gaming has to look like a gaming tool. Sometimes the low-key stuff helps the most.

Fortnite Upgrades Anti-Cheat With Secure Boot, TPM, and IOMMU for Tournaments

Story Highlight
  • Fortnite players must enable Secure Boot, TPM, and IOMMU in their BIOS to participate in competitive matches.
  • The addition of IOMMU specifically blocks external devices like the Cronus Zen that manipulate memory and recoil.
  • Players who don’t meet these standards will be barred from participating in competitions.

Epic Games is enhancing the competitive integrity of Fortnite with new, stronger security requirements for all PC-based tournaments, effective February 19, 2026. Designed to make the playing field fairer for all competitors, this policy requires Secure Boot, TPM, and IOMMU to be enabled on participating systems. With this, Epic aims to ensure that skill, not cheating, determines the outcome, ultimately giving the more dedicated players greater confidence in every tournament.

Epic Gaming has previously required a system compatible with the TPM 2.0 module and Secure Boot enabled for certain “high-level” tournaments. An account level of 350 or higher is required for these tournaments, which is typically the only level that grants access to cash prizes. This requirement became effective on February 27, 2025. They’ve now chosen to tighten security further.

Fortnite with AMFM (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Epic Games’ most major move here is to include IOMMU as the third necessary component to safeguard Fortnite from cheats. This tool is essential for preventing the introduction of hardware-based cheats. IOMMU enables the operating system to govern how hardware devices access memory, thereby protecting the game’s memory from cheat hardware. Of course, this includes blocking devices such as the Cronus Zen.

It’s worth noting that Electronic Arts began prohibiting the use of this controller in Battlefield 6 last October, citing that it changes gameplay and gives players a competitive advantage.

Currently, the IOMMU requirement only applies to PC users participating in sanctioned competitions. In practice, if you want to enter a tournament but do not meet the eligibility requirements, the game will block you from participating. For now, these accounts will not be banned; they will be unable to participate in the tournament until all three security elements are enabled.

Furthermore, Epic Games is attempting to allay concerns about these protective mechanisms. They claim that if your computer is compatible with Windows 11, you probably already meet the requirements or can activate it without altering any hardware. In fact, 95% of Fortnite gamers on PC already use Windows 11.

Battlefield 6 Cronus Zen

Secure Boot and TPM aim to enhance boot integrity and make it harder for certain forms of malware or cheats to bypass Fortnite’s anti-cheat system before it engages. Epic Games defines Secure Boot as a measure that prevents malicious malware from inserting itself into the boot process.

However, IOMMU provides an entirely different approach, restricting “cheats” that rely on hardware memory access. According to Epic, IOMMU protects game memory against hardware hacks. Controllers like the Cronus Zen are especially disruptive in shooters like Fortnite.

They can assist with everything from targeting other players to reducing weapon recoil. To enable IOMMU, the user must enter the BIOS and select the option labeled Intel VT-d or AMD-Vi, depending on the user’s hardware.

How Smarter Gaming PC Builds Are Expanding Further In Europe

Story Highlight
  • Smart PC building tools like DropReference make tracking prices and putting together a solid PC build as easy as it can be.
  • Such platforms also offer support through a thriving community, in addition to price-tracking during the current RAM shortages.
  • All of this is now heading to the UK, signalling good news for gamers and PC fanatics.

DropReference initially began life as a tracking tool for graphics cards during the pandemic, but it has now evolved into something great.

For those in Europe, this tool has now turned into an entire ecosystem of building, upgrading, and optimizing PCs. DropReference has also expanded to the UK, and let me tell you why that’s so exciting.

Why it matters: Putting together the ideal PC build may seem daunting or too complex, but this should no longer be a problem.

Smarter Way To Build PCs

DropReference
DropReference Helps You Find The Best PC For Your Budget

It’s no secret that building a PC can sometimes be overwhelming. I believe it’s crucial to do your research before jumping in to avoid common mistakes like missing compatibility issues, RAM support, PSU requirements, etc.

With DropReference, all of these things are automatically covered since the platform creates balanced builds tailored to specific needs. The platform avoids both costly mismatches and unneeded expenditures.

Community Support For All

DropReference PC Building Tool
The DropReference Community Is Quite Helpful

As mentioned earlier, PC building has many intricacies that first-time builders might initially miss. This is where DropReference’s community comes in.

The platform offers a strong community based in Europe that supports its users with feedback, sample builds, benchmarks, and all sorts of discussions. With the community now reaching the UK, this support will become even more extensive.

Precise Price Tracking

Drop Reference Tracking
Price-Tracking Has Never Been Easier

I appreciate that DropReference is now tracing RAM prices, especially due to the ongoing shortages and price hikes.

The platform offers users the ability to keep an eye on different elements of the current DDR4 and DDR5 market, including regional availability, frequency tiers, pricing, and a lot more.

This price tracking can also come in handy during new GPU or CPU releases, when prices can change in a heartbeat. Needless to say, this tracking is DropReference’s forte.

AI Tools

For more versatile services, DropReference has recently introduced AI-assisted laptop selection. I remember when I was looking through hundreds of gaming laptops, and at the time, a tool like this would’ve been a lifesaver.

DropReference effectively finds the best laptop for users based on budget, performance targets, gaming resolution, etc. The platform even tracks Amazon deals to guarantee the best savings during deal season.

Towards that end, it can also identify clever techniques like conveniently inflated prices before a discount is applied. 

Latest Updates

Ultimately, all of this makes DropReference’s arrival in the UK quite exciting. Those in the region can expect broad coverage and extensive price tracking, in addition to an ever-growing feature-set.

7 Common PC Building Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

Story Highlight
  • PC building is a treat for first-time builders, but it can become even better when avoiding a few common errors.
  • Picking the right motherboard-case combo, appropriate power supply, etc., is extremely important.
  • Factors like cable management must also be taken care of to ensure upgrades and disassembly are made easy for future use.

PC gaming’s recent popularity has pushed millions to build brand new setups for the very first time. However, this process can be slightly tricky, especially for those going in with minimal knowledge of the process.

Most mistakes that happen during PC building are avoidable quite easily, and here’s a list of what you should keep an eye out for.

Why it matters: With the lines between consoles and PCs being blurred in recent years, many newcomers have taken an interest in PC gaming.

Choosing An Incompatible Motherboard and Case

Custom PC Build
Custom PC build (Image by Tech4Gamers)

Motherboards can be purchased in different form factors, including ATX, Micro-ATX, and Mini-ITX. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to cases supporting these form factors.

For instance, a small form factor PC needs a Mini-ITX board and a compatible case. Ideally, you want to have perfect compatibility between the two since a small case won’t work well for a large motherboard and vice versa.

Skimping on Power Supply

The power supply is one component you should never cheap out on. Saving some money on the power supply might seem smart at first, but it can do long-term harm to the entire PC setup.

Ideally, you want to consider factors like 80 Plus Gold certification. Also, make sure to calculate the requirements of your specific PC and leave some headroom for potential upgrades in the future. As a rule of thumb, a 750W PSU should work for most mid-range setups.

Installing The I/O Shield

The I/O shield goes into the PC case before anything else and takes little effort to put in. However, it’s common for first-time builders to forget the I/O Shield’s installation.

If this happens, you might have to partially disassemble your PC. Moreover, the I/O Shield is essential in protection against dust, and it serves the purpose of grounding your PC. This is why it should be installed immediately after your case is unboxed.

Mishandling Thermal Application

Careful thermal paste application is among the first few steps of building your PC. Make sure you apply just the right amount of paste to cool your PC.

Typically, it’s recommended to apply a pea-sized drop of thermal paste. Setting the cooler on the CPU then evenly spreads out the thermal paste. Doing anything more is needless, and you run the risk of overapplying the thermal paste.

Ignoring Cable Management

Cable management
Cable Management (Image Credits Tech4gamers)

Nobody likes a mess, and as tempting as it may be to quickly tug tables behind components to get started with using your PC, poor cable management can become a nightmare later on.

Because modern cases offer routing channels behind the motherboard tray, there is no real excuse not to manage cables efficiently. Moreover, Velcro ties can further keep things clean, something that you will likely appreciate your past self for when upgrading components in the future.

Not Updating BIOS Before CPU Installation

This one can confuse new PC builders if it comes up out of the blue. Newer CPU generations often require the latest BIOS firmware to run on various motherboards, so the system might not even post despite you doing nothing wrong.

The good news is that certain motherboards support USB BIOS flashback for updating the BIOS before installing a CPU.

Overlooking RAM Speed And Compatibility

RAM compatibility should not be ignored since not all memory is created equal. You need to keep in mind the maximum frequency your motherboard supports when buying DDR4 or DDR5 memory.

Similarly, enable the correct EXPO or XMP profile in the BIOS to actually have the RAM run at its advertised speed.

Latest Updates

This list doesn’t cover every mistake new PC builders can make, but it does go over many of the ones that immediately come to mind. Keep in mind that it’s never a bad idea to consult a guide or video when you’re stuck.

Steam Machine Could Go As High As $1000 As Valve Is Forced Into A Corner, Analyst Says

Story Highlight
  • An analyst says Valve may price the Steam Machine as high as $1000.
  • It may price the device lower if it eats up the costs.  
  • Many loyal Valve fans would buy the Steam Machine, but the momentum depends on the price point.

The ongoing memory crisis is not only affecting gamers, but it has also proven to be a bane for Valve. Its upcoming Steam Machine has been delayed because the company is still in the process of figuring out the most effective price point.

A notable industry insider now shows gratitude for not having to decide a price for the Steam Machine since choosing a higher price tag would greatly upset gamers. 

Circana’s Mat Piscatela says that Valve has been forced into a corner and can’t expect to satisfy both gamers and the current market conditions together.

Why it matters: The Steam Machine could turn out to be a seamless choice for high-end gaming or a platform that fails to break into the mainstream market. The outcome depends on how Valve prices the device amid ongoing market conditions.

next gen console price increase
The Steam Machine could put up a nice competition against future consoles.

In an interview with GamesRadar+, Mat says that Valve may have to price the Steam Machine at something absurd, like as high as $1000.

The only other choice Valve has is to go ‘nuts’ and price the device under $700. This would force the company to eat some of the costs with every sale instead of earning profits.  

I’m glad I’m not responsible for picking. I could see $1,000. I could see them going nuts and going under $700 if they want to eat some of those costs.

-Mat Piscatela, Circana’s Executive Director.

Valve boasts a huge fan base due to its popular games, Steam, and its ‘customer-first’ approach over the years. Therefore, many gamers will support the Steam Machine from the get-go, but Mat argues it all boils down to the price point and how many units they produce. 

Steam Machine
It will run demanding titles at 4K 60 FPS with FSR.

Regardless, the Steam Machine is still expected to launch in the first half of 2026 despite the memory shortage. 

Latest Updates

Do you think the Steam Machine would be priced near $1,000, given the current market conditions? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.

Wildlife Entertainment Has Laid Off Most of Its Staff Following Highguard’s Failure

Story Highlight
  • Wildlight Entertainment has laid off most of its staff following the terrible launch of Highguard.
  • The studio has only kept a core group of developers to continue working on the hero shooter.
  • Highguard launched to overwhelmingly negative reviews on Steam after its reveal at The Game Awards.

Despite Wildlight Entertainment claiming they were not scared of making another Concord, Highguard’s aftermath hasn’t turned out any better. The game lost the entirety of its player base in merely two days after launch, debuting with only negative reviews on Steam and becoming the worst-rated title of 2026 on Metacritic.

The studio has been hit hard by the negativity surrounding Highguard, and, as it turns out, Wildlight Entertainment has laid off most of its employees, leaving only a core group of developers.

Why it matters: The culture in the gaming industry needs a reset, as even minor failures can lead to studio closures or staff layoffs.

Highguard
Source: LinkedIn

As Alex Garner revealed on LinkedIn, most of the team at Highguard developer Wildlight Entertainment was laid off. The level designer disclosed that a lot of unreleased content for the shooting title is still in the pipeline, which makes losing the job hurt even more. 

Many other developers took to social media to post about the layoffs, including Josh Sobel, who corroborated Garner’s statement that most of the staff were let go, underscoring the sheer scope of the layoffs. 

In a statement to Kotaku, the studio confirmed that they have kept only a core group of developers to continue working on and improving Highguard for players invested in the hero shooter.

Highguard
Highguard lost its entire player base in just two days.

According to Wildlight Entertainment, a single-player mode is currently in development, so this makes sense. However, the studio’s treatment of its employees is an indictment of current gaming culture, as only a few days ago, Wildlight claimed that player counts don’t really matter for Highguard. 

Latest Updates

Do you think Highguard will ever find its way back into the limelight, or is the game now dead for good? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.

Sony Patents To Shrink Size Of 100GB AAA Games To Only ~100MB By Streaming Assets

Story Highlight
  • A new Sony patent wants to greatly reduce the size of AAA games by streaming high-quality assets.
  • This will allow games to run without latency because the logic runs locally during gameplay.
  • The games can run locally with limited functionality, even without an internet connection.

AAA games have certainly come a long way in the last decade, but so have their storage requirements. Some high-profile titles now require a whopping 100GB of your SSD, but Sony has found a viable solution to significantly reduce game sizes. 

We have identified a new patent that discusses changing how games use storage. It aims to strike an ideal balance between local downloads and cloud hosting, reducing 100 GB downloads to as small as 100MB without latency penalties.

Sony discusses streaming space-hungry texture and audio assets, while a small launcher and critical core logic files are downloaded. This way, games can run locally without facing any latency.

There would be no input lag or frame delays since technical files used during gameplay remain on the system.

[The Executable] may be as part of a package comprising core assets […]. Such a package may be on the order of 100Mb, for example, rather than the order of 10Gb or 100Gb as may be more common for large-scale games.

Why it matters: Sony wants to optimize how games consume storage by streaming high-quality assets while logic runs locally. This will address the latency issues cloud gaming faces while significantly reducing storage requirements.

The flowchart describes the working logic of the asset streaming system.
The flowchart describes the working logic of the asset streaming system.

The patent called ‘ASSET STREAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD’ mentions that a bad connection affecting the streaming of high-quality assets may cause degraded visuals at best, instead of the latency issues currently seen in cloud gaming.

The game can just use downloaded low-quality textures or stream enough assets for a level or area in advance to keep the game running smoothly. Without the internet, however, a game may run only on low-quality assets or face other limitations.

Cloud-based gaming can bring its own problems. For instance, a user’s internet connection may be limited (such as a mobile network connection) so as to cause a significant degree of latency to be experienced.

These flowcharts also describe how a game is executed under the new system.
These flowcharts describe how the assets are fetched during gameplay. 

Sony also previously secured a patent with a similar end goal, though using a different technical approach. This new corroborative legal document further implies that the publisher is seriously exploring the most optimal method to shrink the size of AAA games.

Latest Updates

Sony has previously patented several other unique concepts, including one that reveals a generative AI system to create personalized podcasts for gamers and another that describes a next-gen chat system to enable real-time lip-sync control in games.

Do you think Sony reducing game sizes to such an extent is even possible? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.

GAMEMAX NEX C51 and NEX C31 Bring Panoramic Design to Affordable PC Builds

[Press Release] GAMEMAX has introduced the NEX C51 and NEX C31, two new panoramic PC cases designed for gamers seeking clean aesthetics, robust cooling, and modern connectivity at a budget-friendly price. Both models focus on showcase design while maintaining broad compatibility with today’s high-performance hardware.

The standout feature is the pillar-free panoramic layout with dual tempered glass panels. This creates an uninterrupted view of internal components, making RGB lighting, GPUs, and cooling setups the focal point. The internal structure also separates major heat sources from the power supply area, helping improve airflow and cable management.

The NEX C51 is designed for full-size ATX builds. It supports graphics cards up to 410 mm and CPU air coolers up to 175 mm, making it ready for flagship GPUs and large tower coolers. It also supports a 360 mm top-mounted radiator and flexible fan configurations for high-airflow systems.

Three 120 mm ARGB fans come pre-installed. The front I/O includes a 20 Gbps USB Type-C Gen2×2 port and dual USB 3.0 ports for fast connectivity.

The NEX C31 delivers the same panoramic design in a compact micro-ATX form factor. Despite its smaller size, it supports GPUs up to 410 mm, CPU air coolers up to 175 mm, and 360 mm top radiators.

It also includes three pre-installed 120 mm ARGB fans and the same modern front-panel connectivity with USB Type-C Gen2×2 and dual USB 3.0 ports.

The NEX C51 is priced at $54.99 (Black) and $59.99 (White). The NEX C31 comes in at $49.99 (Black) and $54.99 (White). Both cases are backed by a one-year limited warranty.

HP Now Renting Gaming Laptops Via Subscriptions To Tackle Memory Crisis

Story Highlight
  • HP is now offering gaming laptops via a monthly subscription amid the ongoing memory shortages.
  • The subscription starts at $50, but pricing increases based on the device.
  • The subscription includes perks such as expert 24/7 live support.

The ongoing memory crisis has made gaming extremely expensive, with some even resorting to dumpster diving or stealing memory sticks out of rigs placed in stores. Unfortunately, conditions are expected to worsen over the next few years before they improve.

HP has seemingly found a solution that is helping it adapt to the apocalypse while also helping users. The company offers a monthly rental service that lets gamers use high-end gaming laptops at a fraction of the cost.

Why it matters: HP’s gaming laptop rentals make it easier for gamers to enjoy the hobby at a lower cost. However, many argue that this is a step in the wrong direction, as the entertainment industry is slowly becoming a subscription model.

As per the official site, the cheapest subscription starts at $50. It includes an HP Victus 15-inch laptop with a Ryzen 7 8845HS, an RTX 4050, 16 GB of RAM, and a 1 TB SSD. The same laptop costs about $950, which is about 19 months of continuous subscriptions.

The most high-end product currently available is the Omen Max 16, which will cost $130 per month. It boasts an Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, an RTX 5080, 32 GB RAM, and a 1 TB SSD. The laptop costs $2,110, equivalent to 16 months of $130 payments.

The retail service includes several perks: expert 24/7 live customer support, the option to upgrade to a higher-tier device after a year, and a free replacement the next business day if the device can’t be repaired.

Unfortunately, HP states that paying the MSRP price for these laptops does not make them your property. There’s also a substantial cancellation fee if you opt out of the subscription after 30 days, depending on the gaming laptop rented.

Latest Updates

Do you think HP’s gaming laptop subscription service is something that more companies should adopt worldwide? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.

CD Projekt Red Brings in Veteran Mass Effect Director for The Witcher 4 and Cyberpunk Sequel

Story Highlight
  • Dorian Kieken, a former Mass Effect director who worked at BioWare for 8 years, has now joined CD Projekt Red.
  • Kieken is now the Polish-based video game company’s new AI Director.
  • His role mainly relies on machine learning, and the studio itsef says that Generative AI can’t replace developers.

CD Projekt Red currently has around 100 open roles, drawing a large pool of talent from across the gaming industry as they fast-track the development of their upcoming titles.

The latest veteran to join the company is Dorian Kieken, a former veteran Mass Effect director who has worked at BioWare for nearly 8 years.

Why it matters: With the hiring of so many experienced developers, CD Projekt Red is aiming for the highest quality in its upcoming releases, which further increases the likelihood of delivering more masterpieces.

mass effect director cdpr
CD Projekt Continues To Expand || Source: X

On social media, Dorian Kieken announced that he’ll be joining CD Projekt Red as their AI Director, now overseeing the company’s AI vision and strategy. 

During his time at BioWare, he was a co-founder for the developers’ Montreal office and served as a development director on Mass Effect 2 & 3, as well as 2 DLCs for the third game. Later, he was appointed Project Development Director for Mass Effect: Andromeda.

On LinkedIn, Kieken’s profile mentions the following:

Responsible for the company’s AI vision and strategy. Leveraging the best of Machine Learning to deliver revolutionary RPGs.

It is worth noting that here, the developer refers to machine learning, not generative AI. Machine learning has been used in video games for years to enhance decision-making across expansive RPG environments.

In the comments under his post announcing this new role, he was also asked his thoughts on Google’s Genie3, a new AI model capable of creating entire worlds with just a few prompts.

cdpr director thoughts on AI
AI Unlikely To Replace Developers Anytime Soon || Source: X

The same tool that recently caused video game stocks to collapse is now declared not a threat by Kieken, who believes that Genie can’t really fill the gap in creating such a massive world in a heavy RPG experience like the ones CD Projekt Red offers.

Even CD Projekt Red has dismissed any concerns of the company using Generative AI, which has become a hot topic in the industry lately. 

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on more veteran gaming industry developers joining CD Projekt Red? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

1...515253...84Page 52 of 84