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Corsair Announces Switch To Cybenetics PSU Certification For Accurate Results

[Press Release] Corsair has recognized the need for in-depth power supply information. As such, the company has decided to primarily use Cybenetics’ certification for its power supplies.

This also marks a shift away from the 80 PLUS certification that has persisted over the years. To make the transition easier, Corsair is dedicated to explaining the differences between these certifications.

Cybenetics
The Diamond Tier Will Be Used For Corsair’s Best PSUs

Like the 80 PLUS certification, Cybenetics offers a ranking system based on the same tiers up to Titanium and Diamond. However, its testing is more rigorous and leads to better results compared to the previous certification.

The new testing leads to a detailed efficiency profile for various loads and conditions to better reflect real-world testing. Moreover, Cybenetics adds a noise certification that ranks power supplies based on noise levels, another important detail enthusiasts often consider when buying a PSU.

An A++ PSU is deemed virtually silent, while one in the F tier is considered noisy. Elsewhere, testing also outnumbers the data points from the 80 PLUS testing. This, once again, ensures more accurate results.

To learn more on the subject, follow this link from Corsair. It is also important to note that the company has previously used both forms of testing, but future PSUs will rely exclusively on the more accurate results of Cybenetics.

Ultimately, the company will continue to deliver high-quality power supplies that serve your daily gaming and professional needs.

Audeze & Embody Partner For Virtual Production With Maxwell Hardware

[Press Release] Audeze and Embody have come together to present Immerse Virtual Studio Pro, offering unparalleled virtual production through the Audeze Maxwell headset.

Immerse Visual Studio Pro’s biggest strength is that it makes virtual production accessible to a larger audience by removing the entry cost. This is made possible thanks to Maxwell’s 90MM planar magnetic drivers and head-tracking.

These features enable engineers to experience mixing in A R Rahman and Alan Meyerson’s legendary Atmos Studios. Ultimately, Audeze aims to make Maxwell the spatial audio creation headphone of choice.

Audeze Embody Partnership Spatial Audio
Join The Event On August 6 To Learn More

Audeze CEO Sankar Thiagsamudram states that the company intends to put Maxwell’s hardware advantages to good use. Toward this end, Immerse Virtual Studio Pro provides audio references for formats like stereo, surround, Apple Music, and more.

Moreover, it features head-tracking for both the Maxwell and Apple AirPods, making Immerse Virtual Studio Pro a versatile tool for all your Atmos mixing requirements.

To learn more about the partnership, join CEOs Kapil Jain and Sankar Thiagsamudram at India’s biggest music trade show on August 6. Demos for the Audeze MM-100 and Maxwell headphones will also be available at this show.

Leaker Predicts End of Paid Multiplayer For Xbox Next Generation

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  • An insider expects the end of paid online multiplayer on Xbox from the next generation.
  • The gaming giant currently charges $9.99/month for access to Game Pass Core.
  • Many fans are against subscriptions for online gaming, so this would prove to be a popular move.

The next generation Xbox hardware is currently in development, and Microsoft is expected to make sweeping changes to its business. During this generation, the gaming giant has already begun to focus on Game Pass as the biggest part of its business.

Moreover, with a third-party approach and major acquisitions, the brand’s trajectory differs greatly from a few years ago. The next generation is expected to bring similar changes, and a reliable leaker predicts that one will be the removal of paid multiplayer.

Why it matters: Microsoft currently charges $9.99/month for online multiplayer access on consoles through Game Pass Core. On the other hand, Steam offers multiplayer gaming at no additional cost.

Jez Corden recently offered his expectations and predictions for the next generation of Xbox. He outlined that Microsoft would release a separate handheld and home console, but the insider also shared his thoughts on the future of paywalled multiplayer.

I’m predicting a Series X successor, a handheld, and the end of the paywall for premium multiplayer games.

-Jez Corden

It’s no secret that most people aren’t fans of having to buy a subscription for what is a basic gaming feature. These subscriptions help compensate for hardware that is often sold at a loss, but they typically cost hundreds of dollars by the end of a console’s lifespan.

This is why many gamers favor console manufacturers doing away with this practice. If Xbox were to make this decision, it would be a huge change for the gaming giant.

It’s also important to note that Xbox is the most likely to make such a move out of the three gaming giants. This is mainly because of its smaller console user base. Many of Microsoft’s gaming users are already on PC, a platform with no such limitation.

Xbox Series S|X Controller
The Xbox Series X|S Require Game Pass Core For Multiplayer

Whether Jez Corden was merely speculating or making a guess based on other knowledge remains a secret. However, we know that most people would be glad to see paid multiplayer going away.

This could even become a unique selling point for future Xbox hardware since Microsoft is currently struggling to compete against PlayStation and Nintendo.

PS5 Pro To Feel 2x Faster Than Base Model Due To PSSR Upscaling

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  • Plenty of details about the PS5 Pro have already been leaked.
  • A developer states that the console will feel 100% faster for developers than the base model, thanks to PSSR upscaling.
  • The powerful GPU may also allow some games to implement a 120Hz mode to offer a smoother experience.

While nothing has been officially announced about the PS5 Pro, much of its details have already been revealed through various leaks.

Although the PS5 Pro is said to offer a 50% performance boost over the base console, it will also come with PSSR upscaling. It has been said that this will effectively make the console feel 2x faster than the base model.

Why it matters: Recent leaks about the hardware haven’t been as encouraging as fans expected. Therefore, the community’s expectations aren’t too high.

In the latest episode of the Broken Silicon podcast, Matthew Cassells, the founder of Alderon Games, talked about the anticipated PS5 Pro.

Talking about how PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution upscaling will improve games on the upcoming pro version, he says that the PS5 Pro could easily run the studio’s title with ray tracing that already ran at 60FPS on the base model.

He further discussed the console’s resolution; Matthew stated that games would be less blurry on the PS5 Pro. This would be made possible by the more powerful GPU, enabling higher resolution outputs compared to the original PS5.

According to the developer, the PS5 Pro will also feel 100% faster than the base model for developers because of its PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). This upscaling will be a game-changer for the console when combined with the raw hardware improvements.

PS5 PRO
The PS5 Pro Is Expected To Release Later This Year

As previous leaks suggested, the PS5 Pro won’t see many improvements to the RAM and CPU, but Matthew believes this won’t be a problem because of the primary GPU bottleneck in most games.

This is why he finds the GPU improvements in the new model to be substantial. For instance, the developer states that games running on medium settings could be upgraded to ultra with the latest hardware.

He even suggested we could see more 120Hz modes after Sony releases its new console.

Overall, the developer is quite enthusiastic about this launch. Still, others have argued that Sony didn’t need a hardware refresh this generation. Therefore, seeing what developers think about the PS5 Pro once it finally arrives will be interesting.

GameMax Releases GX-1050 Pro 80+ Plus Platinum ATX 3.1 Power Supplies

[Press Release] GameMax is slowly making a name for itself in the PC components market. Its latest power supply, the GX-1050 Pro, boasts compliance with both ATX 3.1 and PCIe 5.1 standards.

It also ships with a native 12V-2×6 connector, making it compatible with high-end PCs that sport the latest Nvidia graphics cards. GameMax is offering black and white power supply options, including modular cables for minimal clutter.

GameMax GX-1050 Pro
Image via GameMax

Equipped with a 135mm Silent FBD Turbo Axial fan, these power supplies strike a balance between noise and cooling. Even when cooling at higher temperatures, the noise levels are kept under control.

Moreover, intelligent temperature control enables silent operation at lower loads. Other defining features include Japanese Nichicon capacitors, multi-layer protection, and 80 Plus Platinum certification.

Starting at $159.99, the power supply units are now available through Amazon and other resellers. You can also learn more about the GX-1050 Pro on the official GameMax website.

Halo MCC Plagued With Hackers Banning Players From Multiplayer

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  • Halo Master Chief Collection was released back in 2014, and it recently reached the end of its lifecycle after 343 Industries ended support.
  • The game is now being disrupted by hackers who are banning players from online gameplay.
  • 343 Industries has also responded to the situation.

The Halo franchise seems to have been very quiet for the last few years, with the latest release of Halo Infinite in 2021. However, fans still continue to adore the Master Chief Collection, a decade-old platform that combines the best of this IP.

While multiplayer support for the older games was cut recently, these titles still boast an active player base. Unfortunately, this player base is being threatened by hackers, with recent reports pointing to online bans from hackers.

Why it matters: Hacking is already a huge problem in most multiplayer games. However, for games with limited players, this problem is even bigger.

Halo
The Halo Trilogy May Be Remade Soon

As reported on Twitter, hackers are running wild in the Master Chief Collection.

A user shared a clip where they were randomly banned from multiplayer. The user was then unable to find another match since in multiplayer. This is also not the first time hackers have caused this problem, so fans already know who is behind the issue.

Since 343 Industries is no longer supporting the title, this issue persists and could cause people to move on from the Master Chief Collection, eventually ending the era of classic Halo as we know it.

However, 343 Industries has also responded. The team is currently looking into the issue and will take immediate action if it considers the hacking a big enough threat.

Halo Infinite
343 Industries Is Busy Supporting Halo Infinite

343 Industries is currently supporting Halo Infinite and working on a new project. The studio is also said to be remaking the older trilogy, which could explain the lack of support for Halo Master Chief Collection.

Nonetheless, there’s still time to save this classic collection of Halo experiences. Many fans still enjoy everything the developer has done with the Master Chief Collection, so they are looking forward to 343 Industries dealing with these hackers as quickly as possible.

Industry Insider Expects Separate Xbox Handheld And Console Next Gen

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  • Xbox might be planning to enter the handheld market during the next generation.
  • A reliable insider suggests that Microsoft won’t offer a hybrid device like the Nintendo Switch.
  • He states that Microsoft will also release a traditional console along with the handheld.

The current generation of Xbox hasn’t been doing great, as sales have constantly been declining, and the company is now relying more on Game Pass.

Following the poor sales of the consoles, Microsoft has recently decided to go multiplatform and released four of its titles on Nintendo and PlayStation platforms. However, it appears that Microsoft is working hard on its next-gen consoles.

As rumors suggested, Xbox seems to be planning a separate handheld and a home console for the next generation.

Why it matters: The company has already performed poorly during the last two generations, and if things go like this, Xbox might end up repeating the pattern. Therefore, it needs to make a change in order to improve this situation.

During the recent XB2+1 podcast, Jez Corden talked about Xbox’s plans to go with a handheld next generation. Phil Spencer has already teased a handheld recently. He hinted that the company intends to make a completely different one since this market is already quite saturated.

This led to speculation that Xbox would potentially try to merge the console and handheld market to go the Nintendo Switch route since the hybrid model is still somewhat underused.

However, Jez Corde believes the handheld will replace the Xbox Series S, while Microsoft will also offer a traditional Xbox Series X successor.

I’ll tell you now there’s going to be a separate handheld, and there’s going to be a series X successor.

-Jez Corden

All in all, it appears that Xbox might be planning to release both a traditional console and also plans to enter the handheld market.

Xbox Controller
Xbox’s Next Console Is Expected By 2026

However, fans can still expect close integration of the two pieces of hardware. This will likely lead to Game Pass support, cross-saves, and more.

Based on the rumors, the future seems exciting for Xbox hardware. The first handheld from Microsoft could hold a lot of promise, while the Xbox Series X successor should prove to be yet another formidable hardware release.

Leakers have pointed to a 2026 launch for the latter, though it remains to be seen if Microsoft will launch its hardware before rivals like Sony.

For Honor Sequel Hinted At By Ubisoft Job Lisitng

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  • It has been seven years since For Honor was released, and there is still no news about the sequel.
  • Ubisoft is hiring a Game Director for an unannounced “For Honor Project,” which seems to be a hint at a sequel.
  • The developer also wants someone to handle the marketing for this project, providing further evidence for a sequel.

For Honor was released by Ubisoft in 2017, and since then, there hasn’t been any news regarding its sequel. The game has received plenty of praise in the past, but the title has its fair share of critics.

Many fans also agree that a sequel is long overdue since there is potential to explore the unique hero-based melee combat further. Considering the demand for a sequel, we have good news.

CindieStarLight, an insider on the Tech4Gamers Forums, has spotted a job listing that is hinting toward a For Honor sequel.

Why it matters: This move would align with Ubisoft’s current live service ambitions. Between Skull and Bones, Assassin’s Creed, and more, the publisher is trying to expand further into multiplayer gaming.

For Honor 2
For Honor Project Job Listing Description via Tech4Gamers Forums

As spotted by CindieStarLight, Ubisoft is hiring a Game Director for this project. The Game Director would aim to create an engaging experience for players to enjoy. They will provide the team with guidelines on designing features for the game.

Work with the creative director and other core team members to define the game and unify your visions.

-Ubisoft Job Posting

Some could argue that Ubisoft might be hiring a Game Director for a new content update, but given how Ubisoft is talking about this project, it seems unlikely. As CindieStarLight points out, the job listing calls for post-launch support.

Moreover, Ubisoft is currently striving to break into the live-service market. As such, For Honor 2 could be a huge deal and serve toward accomplishing this goal. It should also be noted that Ubisoft recently hired a product manager to market this project.

This means that the gaming giant is also gearing up for the marketing, leading us to believe that it is a sequel.

For Honor
Fans Have Been Longing For A For Honor Sequel Since 2017

Overall, this job listing provides hope for a revival. While For Honor is still being supported, the title isn’t nearly as popular as releases like Rainbow Six Siege. Therefore, Ubisoft has reason to create a new entry here.

Despite the exciting job listing, it would be best to wait for more information from Ubisoft. Perhaps the studio will share more on the IP’s future very soon.

AMD Officially Confirms Ryzen 9000 Pricing; CPUs Go On Sale Tomorrow

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  • The AMD Ryzen 9000 CPUs will be released in two phases on August 8th and 15th, priced between $279 and $649.
  • The launch was delayed from July 31 due to unspecified manufacturing issues, possibly a typo on the processor.
  • The Ryzen 9000 Series is priced lower than the previous generation, offering savings of $20 to $50, which could boost AMD’s market position.

The Ryzen 9000 CPU family was briefly delayed in its release, but AMD is now prepared to disclose the price it will charge for its newest processor. The lineup will include a total of four variants launching on August 8th and August 15th, respectively.

First to market will be the Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X. The Ryzen 5 9600X is priced at $279, while the 9700X will set you back $359. The high-end variants like the Ryzen 9 9900X and 9950X will go on sale on August 15 for $499 and $649, respectively.

Why it matters: Previous rumors already revealed these prices about the company’s processors. Nonetheless, it is good to see official confirmation.

Image via AMD

The Ryzen 9000 series was originally scheduled to launch on July 31 by AMD.

However, because of some manufacturing issues, the company had to postpone its launch. The reason for the delay is still quite vague. However, some believe it to be a typo on the integrated head spreader of the processor.

The Ryzen 9000 series is set to be cheaper at launch than the 7000 series. Users opting for the high-end Ryzen 9 variants will save $50 compared to the last generation. Meanwhile, the entry-level variants are also priced lower, saving you $20 on the Ryzen 5 9600X and $40 on the Ryzen 7 9700X.

While it’s surprising to see a price cut compared to the last generation, it will surely work in AMD’s favor, especially with the instability issues that Intel has been having for quite some time.

Overall, the Ryzen 9000 series paired with last-generation discounted motherboards would make an excellent combination for anyone who wants to invest in AMD.

80% of PlayStation’s Sales In Q1 2024 Came From Digital Downloads

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  • The majority of PlayStation’s sales in Q1 2024 were digital compared to the 20% physical sales.
  • The digital sales were mostly led by network services, especially PlayStation Plus.
  • Sony reported an overall growth in operating income despite low hardware sales.

Sony has released its latest financial report for Q1 2024, highlighting PlayStation’s performance in FY2024. With overall decent results, an interesting highlight from the report is that over 80% of PlayStation’s sales were digital in the first quarter of 2024.

Why it matters: Digital media is becoming more popular than physical discs. While Sony still launches physical copies of all its games, stats show that fans prefer the digital media over physical releases.

Sony PlayStation
The majority of PlayStation sales this year were digital.

For context, digital titles accounted for 70% of all sales in FY2023, so they have seen a 10% increase in Q1 of 2024. Also, this puts the physical sales at a mere 20%. This is yet another instance of how the digital media is taking over.

There is no denying the ease of digital distribution, especially now with services like PlayStation Plus. Sony has stated that the increase in sales is mostly from network services, mainly PlayStation Plus, their subscription service equivalent to Game Pass.

By the sounds of it, PS Plus is thriving. It is still one of Sony’s main sources of revenue in this quarter. The service has certainly improved quite a lot in recent years.

PS5 sales declined this year.

Overall, Sony has reported a 12% increase in sales with their gaming division year-on-year, with operating income increasing by 32%. However, the company has also revealed a decrease in hardware sales despite solid results overall.

In Q1 2024, Sony sold 2.4 million units of the PS5 compared to 3.3 million in Q1 2023. Despite having a rather flat 2024 with not many first-party games to offer, Sony has delivered surprisingly good results.

Sony has the PS5 Pro lined up for later this year, which could help them with the hardware sales. Astro Bot is also planned for 2024, which could also lead to many sales. Overall, Q1 2024 has been decent for Sony despite lower hardware sales.

Ex-Arkane Boss Teases Next Game; Says Dishonored Fans will Like It

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  • The former Arkane boss is working on a first-person retro sci-fi RPG.
  • He has now revealed that more information about the project will be revealed in a few days.
  • Furthermore, he said that Dishonored and Prey fans would love this game.

Arkane has made some great games in the past. Dishonored and Prey are among those games, and fans are quite fond of them. That said, the studio recently developed Redfall, which was an utter failure.

Due to that, Arkane Austin faced closure, and fans were disappointed. However, there is good news for fans, as the former boss of Arkane Studios has teased that his next project would be something that Dishonored and Prey fans would like.

Why it matters: Arkane Lyon’s next official project is Marvel’s Blade. This title was just announced last year, so it’s still quite far from release.

Dishonored
Dishonored Is One of the Old Classics That Still Holds Up Well Against Today’s Titles

Raphael Colantonio, the creative director and ex-president of Arkane Studios, has revealed on Twitter that his current team at WolfEye Studios will reveal more about the upcoming RPG in the next few days.

He also said that a certain fandom will appreciate the game more.

Fans of the previous 1st person games I was involved with (Dishonored and Prey) will be happy.

-Raphael Colantonia

It seems like this upcoming game from the WolfEye Studios is going to be worth it for the Arkane fans. Prey, despite being underrated, attracted a dedicated fandom, and Dishonored is an old-time classic that received love from almost everyone.

Prey 6 Years Ago
Prey Was Nominated For Best Action Game

For reference, the first entry in the series has 97% positive reviews on Steam. That isn’t what you get to see for every release. So, this claim made by the former president of Arkane is a pretty bold one, and we look forward to seeing what the studio comes up with.

So far, we know that WolfEye Studios is currently working on a first-person retro sci-fi RPG. It seems like some people got an early look at the title. However, this is all we know about the title so far.

We will hear more from the studio in just a few days. Fans are speculating that a first-person sci-fi Dishonored-like game would look cool. However, we would recommend keeping the expectations in check until the reveal.

How SoloQ Matchmaking Works Against You

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  • The 30/30/40 rule is a theory in League of Legends that says 30% of your matches are wins, 30% are losses, and 40% are decided by your own skill.
  • The rule may not be fully accurate, but it helps players focus on what they can control and avoid wasting time on unwinnable games.
  • There is also a theory that Riot assigns players to lower-skilled teammates if they perform well, making it harder for them to climb the ranked ladder.

If you primarily queue up solo, you must have thought at one point or another: “Is the matchmaking working against me?” After all, it seems like every single match puts a baboon piloting a computer for the first time in its life in your team, whereas the enemy gets a Korean smurf walking over your entire team.

A lot of the time, the issue is exaggerated, but it’s true that soloq matchmaking works against you in a plethora of ways!


The Golden Ratio

katarina pentakill
Sometimes, games are a breeze (Image by Tech4gamers)

While the origin isn’t clear, the League of Legends community has largely accepted the 30/30/40 (or sometimes 40/40/20) rule of matches that was originally proposed by Trevorius in a now-deleted YouTube video. This goes against Riot‘s claim of 50% +/-1%.  

The rule goes like this: 30% of all your matches are in your favor, where you’d win even if you play poorly. 30% of them are matches that are pretty much unwinnable, even if you clutch. The remaining 40% are games decided entirely by your own skill.


Explaining The Rule

Throwing out words like unwinnable and fair games is easy, but what exactly are the criteria? It differs between people, but the gist is this:

  • Unlosable games: These are games where there’s either a troll in the enemy team or someone has disconnected or gone AFK. Games with a rank mismatch and your team’s higher than the enemy team also come here. Lastly, having an enemy that’s tilted or a game where a lane snowballs pretty heavily can also be called an unlosable game.
  • Unwinnable games: No matter how good you play individually, the chances of winning are extremely low. These can be called unwinnable games. These are games where someone AFK or disconnected in your team, the enemy team has higher ranks, or an enemy lane has snowballed tremendously and can now 1v5. You can still win these games, but it’d take a miracle rather than your own skills.
  • Fair Matches: Remember that no match is ever truly fair; there is still bias, just not extreme enough to cause an issue. These are matches where there isn’t anyone trolling or AFK. The average rank of the two teams is similar, and the average recent win rate is as well. Playing your best can be the difference your team needs in these matches to win.

Is It Really Accurate?

katarina pentakill 2
I got Pentakills twice here, but still lost the match (Image by Tech4gamers)

Well, not really. Reddit user Nusensei did a test on 100 games, and they got a result similar to 20/20/60, showing that they were in control of most of their games. This also fits in with the surf accounts of pros still having around an 80% winrate at most, despite being good enough to win 1v9. 

There are certain nuances like rank and what server you play in, but in the end, it doesn’t matter how accurate it is. The rule’s main purpose is not to hyper-analyze games but to explain what kind of mentality you need to rank up in solo.

The thing to learn is that instead of putting in all your brain juices trying to win a game with 2 AFKs, it’s better to chill out and play normally. This doesn’t mean you give up. Rather, you should save your mental fortitude for where it matters instead of spending it all prematurely.


Further Factors 

League Screenshot
Even good players can make mistakes (Image by Tech4gamers)

Players commonly accept that their own performance also affects the kind of players they get matched with. If you play better than your current rank, the system may put those who play below the rank’s level in your team. This may also explain why smurfs still only have 80% winrates.

Thousands of tests and accounts of players getting matched with better players exist. For example, user 00Spartacus got matched against diamond players on his 11th match after a winning streak, despite the previous matches being against silvers and platinums.

Riot has denied any such system, but I don’t fully trust them. They already hide the player’s MMR because it’d create a negative outlook on games, so hiding a system that actively punishes good performance may lead to players trolling intentionally.