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December 4
- NVIDIA's new Thor chip for smart EVs picked up by BYD, SAIC Motors, other Chinese EV companies➀ NVIDIA is developing the Thor chip for future EVs, partnering with Chinese EV companies like BYD and SAIC Motors. ➁ The Thor platform, with five versions, aims for a full transition by late 2025 or early 2026. ➂ NVIDIA is moving into the automotive market with its new Drive Thor chip.
- MSI MPG 322URX gaming monitor: 4K 240Hz QD-OLED confirmed with DisplayPort 2.1a UHBR20 support➀ MSI's upcoming MPG 322URX 4K 240Hz QD-OLED gaming monitor supports DisplayPort 2.1a UHBR20 with 80Gbps of bandwidth; ➁ It features higher Power Delivery through USB-C, up to 98W; ➂ While not a major upgrade over the 2024 model, it aligns with NVIDIA's next-gen GeForce RTX 50 series GPUs.
- Ubisoft sunsets first-person shooter XDefiant due to unprofitability➀ Ubisoft has decided to sunset XDefiant, a free-to-play first-person shooter, due to its unprofitability. The game is no longer available for download or new registrations, but servers will remain online until June 2025. ➁ The game failed to meet internal expectations and struggled with performance. ➃ XDefiant attracted over 15 million players but was not popular enough to turn a profit at the desired rate.
- FromSoftware doesn't deny Elden Ring 2, but studio isn't actively working on it➀ Despite Elden Ring's success, no sequel is currently in development; ➁ Multiple projects are underway, showcasing a diverse range of genres and new creative directions; ➂ Hidetaka Miyazaki confirms no active development on Elden Ring 2, but the IP is not abandoned.
December 3
- Intel announces XeSS 2 with new Frame Generation and Low Latency tech➀ Intel XeSS 2 is an AI-driven technology that enhances gaming performance with Super Resolution, Frame Generation, and Low Latency; ➁ It significantly boosts FPS and reduces latency, as shown in F1 24; ➂ XeSS 2 requires game integration and will be supported in titles like Assassin's Creed Shadows and Dying Light 2.
- Elon Musk has priority access to NVIDIA GB200 AI GPU delivery in January 2025, costs $1.08B➀ Elon Musk's xAI startup has ordered NVIDIA GB200 AI servers for $1.08 billion, seeking priority access. ➁ The servers are to be delivered by January 2025 and are expected to enhance xAI's Colossus supercomputer capabilities. ➂ The order is a significant upgrade for xAI's AI computing power.
- ASUS will have X870 BTF motherboards + Ryzen 9 9000X3D processors on show at CES 2025➀ ASUS will showcase its new X870-based BTF motherboards at CES 2025; ➁ The motherboards will launch alongside AMD's Ryzen 9 9000X3D processors; ➂ AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D processors will also debut at the event.
- AMD Radeon RX 8800 XT rumor: flagship RDNA 4 GPU is 45% faster in RT gaming than 7900 XTX➀ AMD's Radeon RX 8800 XT, the top RDNA 4 GPU, is set for mass production in December with 25% less power consumption and 45% better ray tracing performance than the 7900 XTX; ➁ NVIDIA's upcoming GeForce RTX 5070 is expected to surpass the RDNA 4 stack at CES 2025; ➂ The RX 8800 XT is the last RDNA 4 card before UDNA, with performance and power consumption rumors suggesting significant improvements.
- Corsair is working on Vengeance DDR5 CUDIMM memory, ready for Z890 motherboards➀ Corsair is developing the new Vengeance DDR5 CUDIMM memory modules; ➁ The modules will feature RGB lighting and be available in black and white; ➂ The kits will offer speeds up to 10,000MT/s and are compatible with Z890 motherboards.
- Apple won't use TSMC 2nm chip for M5 chip over high costs, will use SoIC packaging in late 2025➀ Apple has ordered next-gen M5 chips from TSMC for iPad Pro and Macs, with production in 2H 2025; ➁ Apple will use TSMC's 3nm process and SoIC technology for the M5 chips; ➂ The new M5 chips are expected to enhance AI capabilities in consumer devices and cloud services.
December 2
- Windows 11 spikes in popularity with PC gamers, with biggest increase we've ever seen on Steam➀ Windows 11 usage on Steam has surged, now leading Windows 10 by nearly 10%; ➁ The November 2024 hardware survey shows a significant rise in Windows 11 usage, up by 4.18% to 52.98%; ➂ Windows 10's market share dropped by 4.15% to 43.31%.
- Nearly 3 years after Intel Arc graphics cards arrived, they're finally on Steam's top GPU list➀ Intel's Arc brand has entered Steam's GPU rankings with a 0.18% share; ➁ The ranking includes all Alchemist laptop GPUs; ➂ The integrated graphics solutions are grouped under one label.
- Gaming monitors, AMD CPUs, SSDs, laptops, and more discounted for Cyber Monday➀ Cyber Monday on Amazon offers significant discounts on PC gaming items; ➁ AMD Ryzen 7 5700X CPU is 59% off; ➂ Gaming monitors up to 48% off
- InWin's full-tower futuristic motorized 'Infinite' PC chassis weighs over 100 pounds➀ InWin's 11th-generation Infinite chassis is a 103.6-pound unit with a futuristic design featuring 180-degree curved glass and an aluminum shell; ➁ The case offers vertical or tilted positioning for easy access and includes a unique serial number for exclusivity; ➂ The curved glass is a 6mm thick engineering feat, making it a standout feature of the InWin Infinite case.
- MSI Claw 8 AI+ specs and pricing revealed, up to Intel Core Ultra 7-258V and 32GB of memory➀ The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is revealed with specs including Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor and 32GB LPDDR5X memory; ➁ Priced at $899, it features an 8-inch 1080p display, 1TB SSD, and 80 WHr battery; ➂ It is the second portable PC gaming handheld from MSI built on Intel hardware running Windows 11.
- SEGA reveals exactly why it cancelled Hyenas, its live service Super Game➀ SEGA cancelled its FPS game Hyenas to focus on more viable titles like an Alien Isolation sequel; ➁ The cancellation was due to high costs associated with live games and the need to prioritize profitability; ➂ SEGA's decision was based on quantitative information and a review of the title portfolio.
- Intel launching two Battlemage GPUs - Arc B570 with 10GB and Arc B580 with 12GB of VRAM➀ Intel is launching two new Battlemage GPUs, the Arc B570 with 10GB VRAM and the Arc B580 with 12GB VRAM; ➁ The B570 has 18 Xe2 cores and 10GB VRAM, while the B580 has 20 Xe2 cores and 12GB VRAM; ➂ Both GPUs feature PCIe Gen 4.0 x 8, DisplayPort 2.1, and HDMI 2.1 connectivity.
- Sony's first Spider-Man game has made $3.8 billion in sales revenue➀ Sony's original Spider-Man game has generated nearly $4 billion in revenue within two years; ➁ The game sold 20 million copies worldwide; ➂ Sony could have spent around $300 million on Spider-Man 2.
- Intel Arc Battlemage is official, full reveal coming December 3➀ Intel is set to announce its next-generation Battlemage graphics card, the Arc B580, on December 3rd; ➁ The card is expected to compete with GeForce RTX 4060 and Radeon RX 7600, offering 12GB VRAM at around $250; ➂ Intel will need to showcase its value proposition against competitors like GeForce RTX 3060, RTX 4060, and Radeon RX 6600 and RX 7600.
- Intel is not allowed to sell its Foundry business even if it wants to➀ Intel faces significant challenges, including stock price drops, layoffs, and CPU controversies. ➁ The company plans to spin off its Foundry division but will need to maintain control due to the $7.86 billion CHIPS Act deal with the U.S. government. ➃ Intel's CHIPS Act deal includes a 'change of control' restriction requiring Intel to retain 50.1% control or ownership of its Foundry business.
November 30
- Top five Black Friday Amazon deals on ASUS gaming laptops, graphics cards, and monitors➀ ASUS is offering significant discounts on various products for Black Friday and Cyber Monday; ➁ Notable deals include the ASUS Chromebook CX1, RT-AX86U Pro gaming router, and ROG Swift and Strix gaming monitors; ➂ Discounts range from 21% to 48% off.
- Apple products heavily discounted for Black Friday, savings of up to 23%➀ Apple products are heavily discounted on Amazon for Black Friday, with savings up to 23%; ➁ MacBook Air models and Apple Watch Ultra are among the discounted items; ➂ Discounts include up to $319 off the Apple Studio Display.
November 29
- Australia passes law to ban under 16-year-olds from TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat➀ The Australian Senate has passed a law banning under 16-year-olds from using social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram; ➁ The law requires platforms to implement age verification; ➂ The government plans to use biometric and behavioral data for age verification trials.
- Panasonic resurrects its founder as an AI trained on thousands of recordings➀ Panasonic has developed an AI of its founder Kōnosuke Matsushita using 3,000 recordings and writings. ➁ The AI is designed to embody Matsushita's management philosophies and assist in business decisions. ➂ The project aims to preserve Matsushita's legacy and provide insights into his management style.
- Tencent unveils what Palworld is to Pokemon but for Sony's Horizon Zero Dawn➀ Tencent's subsidiary, Polaris Quest, has announced 'Light of Motiram', an open-world survival crafting game inspired by Guerilla Games' Horizon Zero Dawn; ➁ The game is listed on Steam and Epic Games Store but has no release date yet; ➂ The game faces potential legal challenges from Sony due to its similarities.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon X-based AI PC laptops flop: only 720,000 laptops sold, 0.8% of market➀ Qualcomm's Snapdragon X laptops have sold 720,000 units globally, capturing only 0.8% of the AI PC market; ➁ Despite a 180% growth in Q3 2024, they remain niche with less than 1.5% market share; ➂ Microsoft leads in shipments, followed by Dell, HP, Lenovo, Acer, and ASUS.
- Nintendo Switch 2 rumor - console to launch in March 2025, big reveal in January➀ Rumors suggest a January 2025 reveal and March 2025 launch for the Nintendo Switch 2; ➁ The source is a credible Weibo forum user with a history of accurate leaks; ➂ Nintendo has confirmed a next-gen console reveal by the end of March 2025.
- GeForce NOW Black Friday Deal - 50% off new Ultimate or Performance subscriptions➀ NVIDIA's GeForce NOW Black Friday Deal offers 50% off the first three months for new Ultimate and Performance memberships; ➁ Ultimate users get access to RTX 4080 GPUs, streaming up to 4K at 120 FPS; ➂ Both plans have a 100-hour monthly limit, with options to continue on a free tier or pay extra.
- Intel plans to release more desktop GPUs after the first Arc Battlemage card debuts in December➀ Intel is expected to release the Arc B580 Battlemage GPU around December 12, priced at approximately $250; ➁ Intel plans to continue developing desktop GPUs with future Arc Celestial and Arc Druid models; ➂ Intel's focus is shifting towards budget desktop GPUs.
November 28
- Scientists unveil breathtaking 100 mile per pixel photograph of the Sun➀ The Solar Orbiter, launched by the European Space Agency, captures high-resolution images of the Sun; ➁ The images are stitched together to form a breathtaking 100-mile-per-pixel photograph; ➂ The orbiter is on a mission to study the Sun and its environment.