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RTX 5090 Expected To Leave RTX 4090 In Dust With 2.9GHz Base Clock

Story Highlight
  • Nvidia is expected to unveil the GeForce RTX 5090 soon, with rumors suggesting a base frequency close to 2.9GHz.
  • The GPU is expected to feature next-gen GDDR7 memory, promising a 30% boost in gaming performance for ray tracing and rasterization.
  • Nvidia faces competition from AMD and Intel, which are also set to release new GPU platforms around the same time.

With Nvidia recently becoming the most valuable business in the world and its recent success in AI, everyone is watching to see what the tech giant has in store for us.

The company is expected to reveal the specifics of its next graphics cards soon. However, based on a new rumor, the base frequency of the GeForce RTX 5090 is expected to be close to 2.9GHz.

Why it matters: This information is encouraging since it suggests a base clock increase across the board for the GeForce RTX 50 series.

ZOTAC Gaming RTX 4080 AMP Extreme AIRO
RTX 4090 can boost over 2.5GHz (Image By Tech4Gamers)

The source of the most recent report is “Panzerlied,” a member of the Chiphell forum who has leaked information on the Nvidia Blackwell lineup in the past.

In response to a discussion on Nvidia’s clock speeds, Panzerlied stated in a post that the GeForce RTX 5090’s base frequency will land around 2.9GHz. In comparison, the GeForce RTX 4090, one of the fastest GPUs available, clocks in at 2.55GHz.

Even without overclocking, that’s a significant increase. We may see a 30% increase in performance through basic GPU clocks alone if the RTX 5090 launches with a base frequency of 2.9GHz or higher.

The RTX 5090 will also offer a huge performance boost due to Nvidia’s use of next-generation GDDR7 memory, which Micron has hinted will boost gaming performance by 30% for both ray tracing and rasterization.

The gaming giant hasn’t formally given its AIC partners any information yet, and specifics like the base clock speed might change in the future. However, based on all the information available, the GeForce RTX 5090 might become a formidable upgrade over its predecessor.

That being said, Nvidia still seems more focused on pushing performance through brute force alone. The GeForce RTX 4090 is currently rated at 450W, with some custom variants exceeding that when overclocked.

Along with the RTX 5080, the GeForce RTX 5090 is anticipated to go on sale later this year.

However, there have been rumors that Nvidia might delay it to early 2025. AMD and Intel will also release their next-generation platforms around the same time, resulting in a truly competitive and exciting GPU market.

Star Wars Outlaws Plans To Fix Ubisoft’s Bloated Open-World Problem

Story Highlight
  • Ubisoft’s recent open-world games have been criticized for being too bloated.
  • Massive Entertainment will come up with a solution to this issue in Star Wars Outlaws. 
  • It describes that the game will feature meaningful content. The planets are also smaller than expected but denser.

Many games feature forced inclusions of open worlds, leading to a bloated and filler-filled experience. Ubisoft also decided to go open world with its upcoming Star Wars Outlaws, which was concerning for the fans.

The Ubisoft open world is known for being bloated, but Massive Entertainment has recently confirmed that Star Wars Outlaws won’t fall into the same trap. The team aims to remedy this problem.

Why it matters: Fans were concerned that Star Wars Outlaws would feature another bland open world, so Massive Entertainment’s statement is encouraging.

Star Wars Outlaws Visuals Look Stunning
Star Wars Outlaws Looks Incredible, But Fans Are Concerned Over Gameplay

IGN recently brought up the common criticism of Ubisoft’s open worlds in an interview. The team asked Massive Entertainment how it would avoid a feeling of bloat because of the content on offer.

Developers Gerighty and Karlson gave a thorough reply describing how they managed to solve this issue.

We don’t want things to be just big for big sake. We need it to be contained, always fun, always proposing different activities.

-Massive Entertainment

The developer confirms that whenever you see something in the game that stands out for whatever reason, these things are likely to be more interesting than the average open-world quest.

Massive Entertainment also described how these activities will be integrated into quests to fully use the open world. Furthermore, the maps won’t be too excessive. The team states that most planets can be crossed within five minutes in a speedster.

 

Massive Entertainment also revealed that after every two or three minutes, players would notice something happening. These activities will be varied to keep the experience fresh for players.

All in all, the studio’s approach prioritizes quality above all else. Not only will Star Wars Outlaws be a visual feast, but it will also keep players busy with high-quality content.

While the recent previews have been more negative than expected, the developers remain confident. The game has been compared to Uncharted recently, which is always encouraging to see.

If it can revolutionize Ubisoft’s bland and bloated open worlds while delivering a thrilling experience in a galaxy far, far away, Star Wars Outlaws might just be the best gaming adaptation this series has ever seen.

Larian Now Kicking Off Work On New Project After Baldur’s Gate 3

Story Highlights
  • Larian Studios is holding a summit to discuss plans for its next project.
  • The project is planned to lift off soon after the planning at the summit. 
  • The team claimed that the next game would be its best work to date. 

Larian Studios has emerged as one of the best in the business with Baldur’s Gate 3. Amid Baldur’s Gate 3’s huge success, the studio is moving on from the IP, but it’s already planning a new game.

As shared by CEO Swen Vincke, work on the next game is set to start soon.

Why it matters: The team stated it wants to achieve the ultimate RPG, as Baldur’s Gate 3 still fell short of some things. Whatever the new game is, it’s great to see the team back on a new project.

Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur’s Gate 3 won multiple Game of The Year Awards in 2023

Larian Studios is holding a summit to discuss how to accelerate the development of its next project. CEO Swen Vincke revealed that the summit aims to plan the company’s approach to the upcoming title.

He further revealed that the team is in high spirits and looks forward to starting a new journey. This is hardly surprising, considering the studio did a fabulous job on Baldur’s Gate 3 and must be heading into the next one with great confidence.

However, Vincke didn’t spill the beans on what exactly Larian Studios is working on. Interestingly, the developer does not have one but two projects in the works. From what we know so far, they aren’t going to be part of the Dungeons and Dragons IP.

Baldur's Gate 3
The Baldur’s Gate 3 team is set to kick off work on their next project

As for the ultimate RPG, Larian Studios stated that it wouldn’t be possible before the PlayStation 6 generation. However, Swen Vincke also labelled his next project as the best one to date. 

Apart from making great games, the studio has recently criticized the wrongdoings in the industry and even opened positions for laid-off developers. The team believes the key to a successful game is listening to the fans and treating them right.

Pocketpair Partners with Sony To Promote Palworld Despite Xbox Exclusivity

Story Highlight
  • Pocketpair has joined forces with SME and Aniplex to create Palworld Entertainment Inc. to expand Palworld globally.
  • This collaboration seeks to expand Palworld beyond gaming, potentially into TV shows, movies, and other forms of media.
  • Palworld-themed merchandise, including trading cards and plush toys, will soon be available for pre-order.

Pocketpair has teamed up with Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) and Aniplex to boost Palworld’s global growth. Together, they’ve launched Palworld Entertainment Inc.

It’s important to note that the partnership is with SME, not SIE. However, both are subsidiaries of Sony Group. The partnership aims to expand Palworld to a franchise, potentially creating TV shows and movies based on this universe.

Why it matters: Palworld has been an Xbox exclusive since its early access launch. However, Pocketpair has teased a PS5 launch, and this partnership further suggests that a PS5 version is coming soon.

Palworld
Palworld took the gaming world by storm, selling over 19 million copies.

One aspect of this collaboration is the launch of official merchandise.

Aniplex Online will soon reveal a range of Palworld-themed products for pre-order. This lineup will feature trading cards, plush toys, and more, bringing the IP into the world of physical collectibles similar to Pokémon.

Despite Palworld’s current exclusivity to Xbox, Pocketpair has been in discussions to bring the game to other platforms, including the PlayStation 5. However, the CEO believes the game won’t be able to run on Nintendo Switch due to technical difficulties.

Although Palworld isn’t on PlayStation yet, this partnership suggests future possibilities. The game’s community manager has hinted at a potential PS5 release, which could expand Palworld’s reach to more players.

Palworld
A PS5 version is in the works, as hinted by the community manager.

The partnership with Sony goes beyond the game itself. Fans are thinking about the potential for a Palworld anime, which could rival Pokémon. This move into new media and merchandise marks a bold step in expanding the IP’s impact.

Palworld has already become a massive game. Since its early access launch this year, the game has sold over 19 million copies and made billions in profit.

Known for its unique charm as “Pokémon with guns,” the game has captured a wide audience, and the studio’s partnership with Sony will further boost its popularity. The game continues to attract players, with its recent content update shooting the player count by 700%.

Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum Review: Unbeatable Performance

Enermax, with their PlatiGemini 1200W PSU, tried to achieve the best of both worlds by not only incorporating the latest ATX 3.1 specs into their PSU (which is already quite a challenging task for all the latest PSUs) but also making PlatiGemini 1200W an ATX12VO Standard PSU! This is something that has never been done before and clearly reflects what I stated in my review of Enermax D.F 12 Revolution 850W.

Enermax has thrown away its rookie badge and dialed up the innovation level to max 11!

Why Trust Tech4Gamers
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  • 20+ PSUs tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 180+ hours spent testing different power supplies for our reviews.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we test peripherals).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.


Key Takeaways

  • The Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum is our new chart-topper that leaves all the other PSUs we have tested so far to the dust with its unparalleled performance and features.
  • You should go for the Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum if you priority overclocking-tier performance, silent operations, and good cable management.
  • The only reason to skip the Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum is if its steep pricing is out of your budget.

[toc]

Here are the specifications:

Specification Detail
80 PLUS Efficiency Platinum
Modular Fully Modular
Cable Type Mesh Sleeved Cable
Total Power 1200W
Input Voltage  100-240V
Input Current 15-8A
Input Frequency 50-60Hz
Fan Size 135 mm
Operating Temperature 50°C
MTBF >100K Hours
Protection OCP, OVP, UVP, OPP, OTP, SCP
Dimension (D x W x H) 150 x 150 x 86 mm

Packaging & Unboxing

The packaging is exactly the same as I saw in my Enermax D.F.12 Revolution 850 White Gold review. Looks like Enermax is saving some costs by using the same cardboard box with different white sleeves for individual PSU models. I love this idea, it takes out unnecessary inefficiency and makes things simpler.

The front has a picture of the PSU and some branding, including the ATX 3+1 + 12VO Ready logo (more on that later). Similarly, the back has all the key specifications and features listed.

Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum - Box Highlighted Features
Box Highlighted Features (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Here is a closer look at the features.

The box opens up to a user manual and foam packing for protection. I love that they have used black foam and a black fabric pouch to match the design, just like they did with white for the DF.12 Revolution White.

 

Design

Of all the PSUs I have tested so far, the Enermax PlatiGemini has the most industrialist design of them all. The fan grill looks very good and mature.

At the back, you’ll find the patented D.F. Switch and input power connector.

Enermax has been relying on Dual Ball Bearing fans for all of its PSUs; though such fans do have better endurance, especially under high temperatures, they seem to be not that quieter compared to Fluid Dynamic Bearing fans that many manufacturers use in their PSUs. This can most likely be due to the Enermax’s Dust Free rotation feature that allows its fan to rotate in reverse direction during every startup for a few seconds, to blow the accumulated dust out from the fan blades.

Though this is an automated feature, still Enermax provided a D.F button on the back for manually triggering their Dust Free rotation feature, which I personally think is a completely stupid thing to do unless you have your PC turned on for months or even a year and somehow you happen to invite me in your house, and seeing that you’re using Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W PSU, I will just remind you to clean up its fan by manually triggering its D.F button.

Following the simple theme that we saw in the packaging, the PSU sides also have basic chrome stickers that get the job done.

Cable & Connectors

All cables are mesh-sleeved for a premium feel and have enough length for an ATX chassis. You also get a PSU comb for cable management and a PSU jumper to use the PSU without connecting it to a PC.

PRO TIP: Don’t forget to use the cable combs to take your cable management game up a notch.

Here is the list of all connectors:

Connector Details
Motherboard 24 (20+4) pin 1x 60cm
12VO Motherboard 10pin 1x 60cm
CPU 4+4 Pin 2x 70cm
12V-2×6 12+4 pin 1x 60cm 600W
PCIe 6+2 pin 3x 60cm
SATA 2x each of 45/15/15/15cm
4P Molex 1x each of 45/15/15/15cm

The fully modular design allows for a clean build with easy cable management. Plus, the 12V-2X6 connector is the latest edition of the 12VHPWR connector with improvements made for both current handling capabilities and safety.

Teardown & Component Analysis

Out of all the PC components and peripherals, desktop or ATX PSUs still seem to always receive the least innovation and major design changes in ages! Now, if you’re like, “Hey! Haven’t we gotten the latest ATX PSU specs from Intel already in the form of ATX 3.0 and 3.1 recently? Isn’t that quite a big change?” Well, a big and necessary change is indeed there in the new specs, but in power handling capabilities only! The actual PSU design still remains exactly the same as how they were ages ago.

Just to give you an example, many of our readers won’t be aware of the fact that there’s actually a -12V voltage rail still present in all of the ATX PSUs, which isn’t even used by any PC parts or components these days. Considering the fact that during the conversion of any voltage rail, there are always a few conversion losses that add up to total PSU inefficiency. What a waste!

24-pin Connector (By iFixIt)
24-pin Connector (By iFixit)

In a 12VO (12V Only) standard PSU, the voltage from the mains (120/240V AC) gets converted to 12V only. No 5V and 3.3V minor voltage rails and not even 5V stand-by rail either. This significantly improves efficiency numbers as well as the final cost and makes it a lot easier for PSU manufacturers to get highest 80 Plus efficiency ratings in a much smaller package.

Corsair HX1200i 4 DC DC Converter for 3.3V & 5V
DC-DC Converter for 3.3V & 5V (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Ever since a few states in the US started to push mandatory efficiency numbers, especially during the Stand-by operation (when a device is on standby, it may still consume a few watts), Intel seems to wake up from the long sleep (only for changing the PSU design spec though, not for launching something good that can beat AMD, so don’t get your hopes high) and decided to introduce ATX12VO specifications for desktop/ATX PSUs.

Intel and a few PSU manufacturers have been trying really hard to make ATX12VO PSUs mainstream, but sadly, they come with the huge challenge of having absolutely ZERO Backward Compatibility! A 12VO PSU can not be fully supported on any other motherboard that’s not made for it. This is going to make it extremely difficult and nearly impossible for all the motherboard manufacturers to design and mainstream ATX12VO standard motherboards because such motherboards will have to add up for the missing 5V and 3.3V rails (for powering components like HDD, SSDs, NVME SSDs, etc directly from the motherboard itself) this will automatically increase the final cost as well.

With that said, let’s get into the teardown.

Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum - PSU Teardown Top
PSU Teardown Top (Image By Tech4Gamers)

Just like their D.F 12 Revolution 850W PSU that I tested earlier, which performed really well in our tests, Enermax went with the same OEM for their PlatiGemini 1200W PSU. ATX 3.0 & 3.1 PSUs have been mostly dominated by a single OEM these days (CWT), making PSUs for many major brands with little to no changes. Though RSY is not a new OEM, it’s still good to see other manufacturers entering and trying to flex their muscles.

The platform is densely populated but still pretty neat with the help of separate vertically mounted PCBs.

Unlike most of the PSUs, RSY mounted APFC’s Boost Diode & Power MOSFETs on a vertical PCB, keeping them all cool using two flat aluminium heatsink plates on both sides. This approach not only helps in keeping the size small, but also maintains slightly better efficiency. We already saw excellent efficiency numbers in Enermax D.F 12 Revolution 850W PSU, which was using the same topology: APFC, Full-Bridge & LLC; we hope to see better results for PlatiGemini as well.

RSY is using a beefy transformer driven by 4 SMD MOSFETs (arranged in Full-Bridge) mounted on their separate board. The transformer is directly soldered to a vertical PCB which also houses 12V rail MOSFETs. There’s a small heatsink that goes around the board, acting as a heatsink for the SMD MOSFETs and, most probably, may also prevent slight EMI build-up, helping in ripple noise reduction. We will see this in our voltage ripple test.

Enermax seems to have taken an absolutely “zero-compromise” approach with PlatiGemini 1200W by using 100% Japanese Electrolytic and Polymer capacitors. This PSU surely won’t have any issues lasting well over its 10 year long warranty period.

I don’t usually fully teardown the PSU and take the entire PCB out of the shroud unless it’s an SFX PSU which has many of its components mounted on the back of the PCB as well. But because of the Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W’s lack of heatsinks and quite a compact design for a 1200W PSU that can deliver 235% of its rated power during power excursions, I was actually hoping to see thermal pads on its back for even better thermal management, and I was right!

PSU Load Testing

Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W Platinum - PSU Testing
PSU Testing (Image By Tech4Gamers)

12V & Minor Voltage Rails Regulation

Difference In Regulation (1000W+, July Week-2 Testings)
Difference In Regulation (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Load in % 12V 5V 3.3V
20% 12.15V 5.06V 3.31V
50% 12.12V 5.06V 3.30V
70% 12.10V 5.05V 3.30V
90% 12.09V 5.05V 3.30V
100% 12.09V 5.05V 3.30V

Voltage regulation is kept extremely tight even at max 1200W, only dropping 6mV from the initial 12.15V!

PSU Efficiency

Average Efficiency (1000W+, July Week-2 Testings)
Average Efficiency (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Load in % Efficiency Power Factor
20% 93.75% 0.936
50% 94.90% 0.980
70% 94.44% 0.983
90% 93.58% 0.981
100% 92.95% 0.980

As if we weren’t impressed enough with the Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W! This isn’t even utilizing a super efficient Interleaved PFC design on the primary side. Still, just a conventional APFC is able to provide these insane levels of efficiency numbers. What sorcery is this RSY?

Voltage Ripple Performance

Max Ripple (1000W+, July Week-2 Testings)
Max Ripple (Image By Tech4Gamers)
Load in % 12V Ripple
20% 5.6mV
50% 6.4mV
70% 7.2mV
90% 8.8mV
100% 10.4mV

When you have a new platform especially with all the extra bells and whistles that no one has even dared to implement into their own platform, there’s a high chance that it will end up performing mediocre or even worse in the Voltage Ripple test.

But somehow, RSY and Enermax simply defy such industry norms and surprisingly beat all of the competitors with their extremely impressive ripple performance.

Extreme Overclocking enthusiasts have finally gotten a newer and much less expensive PSU option in an even smaller size. RSY and Enermax’s innovation and ingenuity have surely sent a ripple of challenges to other OEMs.

Temperatures

Maximum temperature on the back was reported to go as high as 50.6C, at the same point where we saw thermal pad in the teardown section. For a 1200W PSU running at its max rated capacity, 50.6C is pretty much like a cool breeze.

The PSU ran very cool throughout and only kicked in its fan when the load exceeded 700W, thanks to its Platinum efficiency, which wastes very little power during the conversion. Most of its users, even when running extremely high-end PCs, will have their Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W running completely silently during normal operation/use.

Should You Buy it?

Buy It If

✅YOBO- You Only Buy Once: The best and latest ATX 3.1 specification PSU with rated capacity that can not only handle even the most power-hungry hardware of upcoming generations but presumably can also last the most annoying generation i.e your kids if we ever get to see motherboards transitioning to the ATX12VO standards in future.

✅You Prefer Silent Operation: Fan only getting kicked in at ~700W, users will find this PSU absolutely quiet in normal use and even on some not-so-much demanding games.

✅You Want A PSU That Is Good In Cable Management: With its premium mesh-sleeved cables and included cable management combs, you can manage cable routings with beautiful aesthetics.

✅You Plan Overclocking To The Max: With Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W’s superb voltage regulation and voltage ripple performance with even impressive power excursion of up to 235%, extreme OCers will find it the best fit.

Don’t Buy It If

❌You Want Affordability: Expensive for all the good reasons, but if you’re not running a very high-end Gaming PC and are not going to upgrade to the latest and greatest flagship Processor and GPU, then you will be better off with just an 850W or even a 1000W Gold-rated PSU.

My Thoughts

At this point, I have tested and reviewed almost every lineup from Enermax, and with our recent reviews of Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W & Enermax D.F 12 Revolution 850W ATX3.1 PSUs, I can say with utmost certainty that Enermax has finally entered in the arena which was previously dominated heavily by only a handful well-known PSU brands.

After seeing Enermax PlatiGemini 1200W beating some of the most expensive PSUs with even better design, I have got to say, “Yes, I have been entertained!”

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Coming Next: Enermax Revolution D.F.2 1200W Review

 

Xbox Game Pass Prices Going Up Alongside New Tier In 2024

Story Highlight
  • Xbox is raising Game Pass Ultimate prices to $19.99.
  • Game Pass for consoles is being replaced with a new tier that does not offer day-one games.
  • Microsoft is also raising prices for Game Pass PC to $10.99.

Xbox Game Pass has already been through price hikes in the past, but the service continues to provide incredible value. This value is so great that it is considered unsustainable, leading to speculation about more price hikes.

As expected, the latest price uplift is coming soon. According to Windows Central, various changes are on the way to the many tiers of this service. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate prices are also going up.

Why it matters: Game Pass is at the heart of everything Xbox. Therefore, each change to the subscription can lead to big impacts on the gaming giant.

Call of Duty Xbox Game Pass
Call of Duty Is Still Not On The Service

The biggest change is that Microsoft is shutting down Game Pass for consoles.

However, this change won’t apply to existing users. For new users, Game Pass Standard is being introduced as a new service, but it won’t include access to day-one first-party titles like Doom: The Dark Ages.

This version of the subscription will cost $14.99 and come with online access for multiplayer. It will also include various already existing games from Microsoft’s current catalog.

Game Pass Ultimate is set to receive a price increase, as well. Now priced at $19.99, this service will continue to offer the same set of perks as it did. Similarly, the PC-exclusive service will now cost $11.99 instead of $9.99.

These price increases are set to impact all parts of the world and represent a major shift in Microsoft’s strategy.

Microsoft Xbox
Game Pass Standard Will Take Away Day-One Titles

The biggest takeaway here is that Microsoft is making major changes. The new prices will take effect in September as the gaming giant prepares to launch titles like Fable, Indiana Jones, and more.

For existing users, not much will change. However, fans may want to stack up their subscriptions before these changes take effect to ensure they get the best deal possible.

Fallout 5 Concept Looks Spectacular In Unreal Engine 5

Story Highlight
  • Fallout 5 is still many years away as Bethesda continues work on The Elder Scrolls 6.
  • A new fan-made prototype based on Unreal Engine 5 shows fans what Fallout 5 could look like on Unreal Engine 5.
  • The gameplay looks spectacular, showing a glimpse at a next-gen Fallout experience.

The Fallout series captured everyone’s attention recently after Amazon’s smash hit TV series. This also sparked demand for Fallout 5, but Bethesda is currently too focused on The Elder Scrolls 6 to do much about these demands.

While recent games have seen a remarkable resurgence, they don’t fill the void left by the lack of a new entry. As Bethesda struggles to come up with a plan to meet demands, a fan has created an Unreal Engine 5 prototype that teases the future of this IP.

Why it matters: Unreal Engine 5 is Epic Games’ latest engine that has been adopted by various AAA studios.

Milwaukee Games shared the video, stating that the prototype is playable and can be shared with audiences if they wish to test it.

The two-minute video showcases gorgeous visuals and familiar elements like the iconic Pip-Boy, the vault, and the wasteland from the series. The lighting immediately stands out as a highlight.

The assets are also quite high-quality, showing what Fallout 5 could actually look like on Bethesda’s next-generation engine. As the vault opens and the character steps out into the wasteland, the Unreal Engine 5 demo seems to capture this IP’s sense of scale and wonder quite well.

According to Milwaukee Games, he will soon create a new video explaining how this prototype was created.

Fallout 5
Xbox Plans To Launch Fallout 5 Before 2030

While Bethesda is unlikely to use Unreal Engine 5 for Fallout 5, it might be able to offer a similar experience with the Creation Engine eventually. This engine was most recently used in Starfield, and the team is currently adjusting it to meet the vision for the ultimate open world for The Elder Scrolls 6.

Regarding Fallout, it has been confirmed that Bethesda plans to release multiple future entries, but the team is in no rush. However, the latest success may have encouraged the team to try and get out Fallout 5 sooner rather than later.

Wolverine Development Nears Completion As Various Devs Move On

Story Highlight
  • Marvel’s Wolverine was first announced in 2021.
  • The team working on the game has seen multiple departures recently, including the former associate narrative director and art director.
  • This likely means that development has reached a new phase and is nearing completion.

Marvel’s Wolverine is Insomniac’s next big project. Following leaks, it’s known that the team aims to launch this title in the coming years, though no official information has been shared since the initial reveal.

There’s no telling when Insomniac will share more on this project, but one interesting development has been spotted. Multiple developers have departed the project to focus on new games.

Why it matters: Developers typically move on from projects once their work is done. Therefore, Insomniac may have hit important milestones in Marvel’s Wolverine’s development.

 

According to her LinkedIn post, Mary Kenney has just started working at CDPR today.

Mary Kenney was the associate narrative director on Marvel’s Wolverine, and she previously helped bring games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart to life.

Her new role will see the developer pitch story beats for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel. She will also be responsible for quests, dialogue writing, and more. However, what’s more interesting is that she isn’t the only developer to have left Insomniac recently.

A while back, Aaron H also left the team. He worked as the art director of Marvel’s Wolverine and has now joined CDPR. These departures suggest that the team has made more progress than anticipated.

This is also great news for fans who have been looking forward to learning more about the game. Perhaps PlayStation will share an official gameplay preview very soon.

Not too long ago, CDPR also hired Fable’s lead writer.

Needless to say, the team has gathered quite a talented group of developers for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel. While this game is still early in development, the studio may eventually create something very special.

As for Marvel’s Wolverine, leaks have pointed to various details, including a focus on battle damage, 60FPS gameplay, and a 15-hour playtime target. However, official information remains sparse for now.

PS3 Emulation Potentially Coming To Xbox Series S|X Before PS5

Story Highlight
  • The Xbox Series S developer mode has received a new update.
  • This update brings OpenGL/Vulkan support, leading to the possibility of PS3 emulation in the near future.
  • Microsoft’s latest hardware might also be able to support Nintendo Switch emulation soon.

While Sony is seemingly working on PS3 backward compatibility for the PS5, there’s a chance of Xbox receiving PS3 emulation support before the PS5.

A recently released video hints that Xbox has been working on its developer mode, and its recent update could eventually lead to PS3 games support on Xbox Series S|X consoles.

Why it matters: PS3 emulation is quite challenging, even on PC. PlayStation only offers streaming for the PS3 library, making potential emulation on Xbox hardware quite exciting.

Modern Vintage Gamer recently returned with another analysis of Xbox’s emulation capabilities. For the unaware, these consoles can easily emulate fan-favorite consoles like the PS2, making them different from everything else on the market.

It was suspected that Xbox had moved on from its developer mode after emulation took a hit last year when Microsoft blocked unsupported UWP apps. However, the YouTuber has reported that things have gotten much more interesting.

Xbox recently released a new update with OpenGL/Vulkan support. Moder Vintage Gamer states that this could make PS3 emulation possible on the console eventually. Nintendo Switch games could also become playable on the hardware.

For further proof of this progress, the Nintendo 3DS emulator Citra can already run on the Xbox Series X|S.

The door is definitely open now for other emulators, such as PlayStation 3 emulation.

-Modern Vintage Gamer

PS5 And Xbox Series X
The Xbox Series S|X Offer Much Better Backward Compatibility Than The PS5

Although it would be exciting and strange to see the Xbox Series X|S running PS3 titles before PS5, it would give Xbox a significant edge over PlayStation for gamers who adore the PS3 library.

While nothing is confirmed for now, the Xbox Series S is a great emulation machine for just $300. Whether it be the PS2, GameCube, Sega’s Dreamcast, or the Wii, this console offers emulation for all these systems.

These benefits aside, PS3 support would be a huge win for fans who have been waiting for years to enjoy these older titles. At the same time, Sony’s official implementation holds the promise of making PS3 games accessible to an even wider audience.

Apex Legends Faces Review Bombing Amid Poor Battle Pass Changes

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  • Apex Legends has been review-bombed on Steam following EA’s unpopular announcement yesterday.
  • The Steam rating has gone down to ‘Mixed’ after thousands of negative reviews were added.
  • Fans are not in favor of recent changes to the battle pass system and are planning to abandon the game.

Apex Legends has been one of Respawn Entertainment’s most successful releases. Ever since its launch, the game has been one of the most-played titles on Steam. However, the game’s microtransactions have always been criticized.

Making matters worse, EA recently announced that it is changing the battle pass system. While this should have been good news, Apex Legends has been facing great backlash for it. Following the news, fans have started review-bombing the title.

Why it matters: The new battle pass system is worse in nearly every way, making the experience worse for everyone involved.

Apex Legends Steam
Apex Legends’ Recent Reviews Have Been Negative. (Source: Steam)

As seen above, the game’s recent reviews are now mixed. Out of 12K reviews, 52% have been negative, suggesting that the title has received over 6K negative reviews in the last 30 days.

The number will likely increase as the battle pass system was announced just yesterday, and fans have started using this tactic to force developers into changing mechanics they don’t agree with.

Many have threatened to delete the game on Steam, stating that this new system is not worth the money.

Now with the new battle pass system, I’m deleting the game, as well as most players, bye.

-Steam Review

Players are also leaving similar comments on the Apex Legends Reddit page, saying that the developers have great audacity for charging this much for a bunch of skins.

The audacity of trying to charge you 10 bucks per split for a bunch of crappy blue gun skins, trackers, and other cosmetics is pure insanity.

-Reddit User Narukami_7

The biggest problem with the new system is that players can no longer use in-game currency to buy battle passes. This was an option in the past, but EA is changing it next month.

Players will also be required to buy two battle passes each season instead of just one.

Apex Legends
Apex Legends Remains Respawn Entertainment’s Most Succesful Release

Respawn Entertainment has yet to react to this situation, as the developers have gone quiet following the recent announcement. However, the community is hoping to see the team making changes immediately.

Microtransactions are already quite disliked in the industry, and big publishers like EA resorting to such tactics is only making things worse. Fortunately, players are fighting back, so all hope is not lost just yet.

PS5 Is The Only Platform With Access To Top 20 Best-Selling Games Of 2024

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  • Sony’s PS5 is the only platform that offers all the top 20 best-selling titles of the year.
  • This is mainly due to exclusives like Rise of the Ronin, Stellar Blade, and Spider-Man 2.
  • Xbox’s Sea of Thieves is also on the list, but it arrived on the PS5 recently.

The PS5 is one of the most highly sought-after gaming platforms today. Thanks to its advantages in the hardware department and a strong first-party library, more than 50 million people have already purchased the console.

While exclusivity is less important to PlayStation today, it still continues to be a part of the business. It’s no surprise, then, that this year’s top 20 games are only playable on PS5.

Why it matters: Despite the lack of major first-party PS5 releases, Sony’s careful strategy of third-party exclusivity has resulted in a strong lineup for the console.

Top 20 Best-Selling Premium Games In The US
Top 20 Best-Selling Premium Games In The US Year-To-Date via Twitter

As reported by Circana’s Matt Piscatella, the top 20 best-selling games of 2024 consist of mostly third-party releases so far. The list is dominated by games like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Tekken 8, and more.

Several PlayStation exclusives show up on the list. Helldivers 2 has remained at the top after selling 12 million copies, even though it is available on both PS5 and PC. However, Stellar Blade, Spider-Man 2, Rise of the Ronin, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth are currently exclusive to the PS5.

Xbox also has a few notable first-party entries. Both Sea of Thieves and Minecraft are big titles from internal studios. Modern Warfare 3 is also considered a first-party title now, but all three games are available on PlayStation after Xbox’s third-party push.

Looking at the list, both Xbox and PC lack a few games. As such, those looking to experience everything in the top 20 have no option but to pick the PS5 since it provides access to every single game on this list.

Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 Has Sold 12 Million Units

Moving forward, big games like Black Myth: Wukong are expected to make quite a difference in the sales charts. However, this title won’t be available on Xbox at release, giving PlayStation another edge.

Xbox also intends to release more first-party games on PlayStation, making the PS5 experience even better for Sony fans.

Still, it’s important to acknowledge that PlayStation’s own first-party slate is quite light for the rest of the year. Apart from Astro Bot, there isn’t much to anticipate from first-party teams at the moment.

Xbox Says You Don’t Need To Buy A Console To Play Xbox

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  • Xbox is bringing streaming through Game Pass Ultimate to Amazon’s Fire TV Stick.
  • An advertisement for this feature states that you don’t need an Xbox to play Xbox.
  • It shows the transformation of the gaming division from a console-centric business to an all-encompassing ecosystem.

Xbox has repeatedly shown that its console is no longer at the heart of the business. While the Series S|X are impressive pieces of technology, they are falling behind the competition.

Microsoft also expects losses in the hardware division, mainly due to its negligence in the segment. The gaming giant’s latest ad further emphasizes this point, stating that you don’t need an Xbox.

Why it matters: Many still look back fondly on iconic consoles like the Xbox 360, which raised industry standards. However, Microsoft has completely shifted away from this approach today.

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick now allows access to cloud streaming for Xbox games. This method still needs an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription but removes the barrier of purchasing a separate console.

While the ad promotes Microsoft’s play anywhere push, one statement caught everyone’s attention.

You don’t need an Xbox to play Xbox.

-Microsoft advertisement

This statement fits the context, but it also points to Microsoft’s overarching plan for the gaming division.

The company has moved beyond trying to compete with Sony and Nintendo to become the dominant console platform. This is why Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves, and more have appeared on rival consoles.

Phil Spencer confirms that more games will also go multiplatform in the future. Xbox has essentially turned into an ecosystem. While it began as a console, steps like day-one releases on PC, Game Pass streaming, and more have pushed it toward an open ecosystem.

This advertisement only confirms these suspicions.

xbox series s image
The Xbox Series S Aimed To Be Microsoft’s Biggest Console This Generation

Fortunately, Microsoft is still working on at least one more generation of consoles. The next console is expected to expand Xbox further, with Phil Spencer teasing a handheld.

The future seems quite interesting. While PlayStation and Nintendo are interested in everything Microsoft is doing, neither has fully committed to the strategy. Therefore, Xbox seems to be leading the charge, but it remains to be seen if this approach will pay off in the long run.