Gaming

EA has launched a new premium subscription tier to its popular Origin Access gaming service. The new Origin Access Premier tier gives users access to the company's latest titles all for a single monthly payment.

The California hardware company will be reusing its SC15 design from last year with only internal CPU and GPU updates for 2018. While its chassis is strong and quite rigid, it risks looking outdated against the competition where narrow bezels and per-key RGB lighting are becoming the norm.

Dell has announced two new Alienware peripherals to give you the advantage over your opponents, among the new notebook hardware at Computex 2018. One is a mouse that looks just like the laptops and desktops it complements, and the other is Alienware's first wireless headset and their first new headset in almost a decade.

AMD unveiled the RX Vega 56 Nano during a Computex 2018 special press event, but instead a reference edition — as it usually happens — they unveiled a variant made by PowerColor. This video card features 8 GB HBM2 memory, 3584 stream processors, and the same clock speeds as the reference edition: 1156 MHz (base) and 1471 MHz (maximum).

It seems like Blizzard is feeling the pressure from games like Path of Exile, as it finally revealed that it is working on a new Diablo game through a job listing for dungeon artists. With Blizzard being so meticulous, the game could remain in development for a while, but, hopefully, it will not take another 10 years.

AMD's answer to Intel's 28-core HEDT CPU was showcased today at Computex in the form of the 32-core/64-thread Gen 2 Threadripper. These top-of-the-line HEDT chips from AMD will use all 4 interconnected dies, unlike the first gen Threadrippers that used only 2 of 4. As a bonus, AMD gave a sneak peek to its 7 nm EPYC CPUs based on the Zen 2 microarchitecture.

Dell wants the Alienware brand to be more deeply associated with competitive gaming. Instead of just eSports sponsorships like other brands, Dell will attempt to train potential pro gamers directly with the help of Team Liquid. Details are still very scarce on what the online program will involve, but we are expecting more to be revealed during Dell's E3 press conference.

The AMD line of the Dell Inspiron Gaming Desktop gets an upgrade to Ryzen Pinnacle Ridge processors. This is a VR ready PC when combined with the AMD RX 580 and up to 32 GB of RAM. Dell reuses the existing Inspiron Gaming Desktop case with blue LED lighting.

Gigabyte has added a new eGPU enclosure to its lineup. The new Gigabyte RX 580 Gaming Box is targeted at Apple MacBook users, although it will work equally well with Windows ultrabooks as well.

Red and Green in one consumer laptop without any tricks or eGPU docks. The Asus X570ZD laptop will be the first to incorporate a Ryzen 7 2700U APU with integrated Vega 10 graphics and a dedicated GeForce GTX 1050 GPU for more demanding tasks like gaming. AMD is promising the graphics switching technology to be seamless not unlike the current implementation of Nvidia Optimus on Intel-powered laptops. Prices, SKUs, and availability are all still under wraps for now.

Take a picture of yourself using any laptop outdoors for a chance to win a brand new Max-Q laptop. Max-Q technology was designed for thin-and-light gaming notebooks that can also be used on-the-go like an Ultrabook. Only four winners will be announced on July 30th with specific Max-Q models from Acer, Asus, MSI, and Gigabyte.

The Acer Predator Helios 500 is a powerful gaming laptop with an overclockable Intel i9-8950HK processor and the choice between a 144 Hz Gsync display or a color accurate 4K panel. Acer uses metal blades in their 3D fan design, which they claim improves cooling.

A logo bearing the words "HITMAN 2" appeared on WB Games' site Monday night before being promptly removed, hinting that a new Hitman game may be just around the corner. The official Hitman twitter seems to confirm this; a new tweet, bearing a blurred video of the titular Hitman's next target, teases that something is coming June 7th.

If you are searching for a 15-inch hexa-core laptop but maybe budget is not that generous, MSI has you covered with the GF63 series which should be launched soon. This sub-US$1000 model integrates the Intel i7-8750H six-core CPU coupled with 8 or 16 GB of RAM, and can pack a 256 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD storage combo. Users can also choose between the GTX 1050 or 1050 Ti GPUs.

Intel showcased the 28-core HEDT CPU right after the 40th anniversary i7-8086K presentation at Computex. The 28-core CPU was stably running at 5 GHz and overclockers will probably get the beastly chip running at more than 6 GHz. It is expected to hit the markets in Q4 this year, but the MSRP could be around US410,000.

Asus has taken the covers off a stunning dual-screen notebook of the near future it is currently calling Project Precog, in a hat tip Phillip K. Dick's 'Minority Report." The AI-driven device features a stunning laser etched finish and is expected to arrive as a shipping product next year.

Intel is celebrating 50 years of its existence and 40 years since the first x86 processor, the 8086, debuted and is introducing the 8th generation Core i7-8086K Limited Edition CPU to commemorate these milestones. The Core i7-8086K is a 6-core 12-thread part that can overclock to a 5 GHz single-core boost out of the box making it a compelling option for gamers and content creators.

The Sabre series is back with updated features and even Intel Optane support. The chassis design, however, is looking to be identical to last year's model with the only changes being exclusively internal. Gigabyte says it will be the first gaming laptop to ship with Core i7+ CPUs meaning that users can configure with Optane memory to boost HDD transfer rates.

It seems Fortnite might be making its way to another new platform sometime in the near future. The game has apparently been rated for the Nintendo Switch console by the South Korean Game Rating and Administration Committee. With the massively popular title also coming to Android soon, it seems Epic Games is leaving no stone unturned in the quest for battle royale dominance.

The Trident A is nearly three times larger than the existing Trident 3 with more lights, sharper corners, stronger cooling, and Intel 8th gen CPUs. Those hoping for a "Trident 4" will be disappointed to find out that there is still no proper successor to the venerable but aging Trident 3 form factor.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been fielding some questions about the expected GeForce GTX 11 series at a Computex 2018 press conference. Reporters quizzed Huang about when the new GPUs might be released and received the reply “it’s a long time from now.” This comment will pour cold water on the rumors that the new hardware could be released this month or next.

MSI decided to announce its high-end 17-inch GT75 Titan 8RG and mid-high GE73 Raider RGB right before Computex 2018, and the two models will be on display in Taipei. The GE73 Raider RGB comes with Intel Core i7 hexa-core CPUs and GTX 1070 GPUs, while the GT75 Titan 8RG sports the more expensive i9 hexa-cores and desktop-grade GTX 1080 GPUs. l

As previously rumored, Asus now has a proper competitor to the MSI GS65 with its ROG GL504 series. The 15.6-inch laptop offers 144 Hz IPS panels, 3 ms gray-to-gray response times, and quad-antenna ROG RangeBoost technology for the first time in a laptop that promises 30 percent wider WiFi coverage than dual-antenna configurations. The GL504 launches next quarter for 1550 Euros.

The Asus ROG Phone is the most customised gaming phone to-date. With an advanced 3D vapor chamber design, overclocked Snapdragon 845, 90 Hz refresh rate, 1 ms response time, user-customisable ultrasonic frame buttons, and a re-orientated port layout that favors horizontal usage. Asus as also announced a range of peripherals to improve the gaming experience.

The Killer xTend software turns Killer Wireless equipped computers into wireless extenders via hotspot or mesh networking. The host computer can extend the network via either wireless or LAN, and Killer's traffic prioritisation and optimisation is in effect for the host and any connected devices.

Released in South Korea back in March 2010, the action MMORPG title shortly known as Dragon Nest arrived on Android a few months ago, but it was only available in South Asia since then. Now, Dragon Nest M (from "mobile") can be finally enjoyed by Android users all over the world as a free game (with optional digital purchases, of course).

A tweet from Asus ROG can be seen as evidence that previous rumors about the planned release of an ROG gaming phone are correct. The tweet shows an unknown phone attacked to a gaming controller, which leaks suggest is equipped with a Snapdragon 845, 8 GB of RAM, and a possible 120 Hz display.

According to a leaked Dutch ad, Nvidia will bundle a copy of The Crew 2 with the purchase of a new GeForce GTX 1080 or GTX 1080 Ti. This move could be the harbinger of the return of a relic of the pre-crypto PC gaming world: bundling AAA games with a GPU purchase.

The kernel exploit for the PlayStation 4's firmware 5.05 was released earlier in the week. While it isn't stable right now, it's the most recent jailbreak for the console and supports a number of recent releases.

One of the ROG gaming laptops that will get the slim display bezels this year is the GL504 model which has not yet been officially announced, but it is very close to launch since it is up for pre-order at a Polish e-tailer. The specs include everything gamers need right now, from15.6-inch IPS screens with 144 Hz refresh rates and hexa-core CPUs, to GTX 1070 GPUs and NVMe + SSHDs. storage combos.

It’s possible the latest installment in the incredibly successful Assassin’s Creed franchise may have just been leaked. French website JeuxVideo-Live has posted an image of a promotional keychain that features the title “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey” on the packaging. Both the title and the keychain style suggest that the next game in the series will be based in Ancient Greece.

Although Computex 2018 doesn't kick off in Taipei until June 5, Zotac is already out of the blocks showcasing its latest range of Mini PCs. The lineup includes the ZBOX CI660 nano, which is the first Mini PC to be powered by an 8th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU.

The refreshed Omen 15 gaming laptops gets a slightly smaller chassis and, consequently, thinner bezels on the display. users will be able to choose 4K@60 Hz and even Nvidia G-Sync enabled ones. CPU support was extended to Intel's hexa-core models, while the Max-Q GPUs get upgraded to the GTX 1070 variant.

Samsung has issued a press release to announce its new range of small outline dual in-line memory modules (SoDIMMs). The modules are based on 10 nm-class process technology and offer 32 GB of double data rate 4 (DDR4) memory. Future high-end gaming-oriented laptop releases are the target devices for the new modules.

The pre-order goal for the Atari VCS console on crowdfunding website Indiegogo has already been eclipsed on the first day of the sale. The original flexible goal for the device was US$100,000, but the total amount had already reached US$1.76 million at the time of writing. Full specifications for the box have also been listed on its Indiegogo page.

Valve has removed the controversial game Active Shooter from the Steam software distribution platform. The first-person shooter had been scheduled for release on June 6 but Valve has now taken steps to also ban the game’s developer and publisher, too. Active Shooter offered an option for a player to attack civilians in a school setting.

Gamers in the market for a new gaming laptop can purchase a budget Intel 8th gen system with the Core i5-8300H and get nearly the same CPU performance as a pricier Intel 7th gen system with the Core i7-7700HQ. The i5-8300H introduces Hyper-Threading to the series whereas the older i5-7300HQ was limited to only half the threads for measurably slower CPU performance.

Intellivision Entertainment has issued a press release announcing that a new video game console is under development. The planned device is being designed and created by a team that has members who worked on the original console that bore the renowned Intellivision brand name. Details of the new platform are expected to be made available on October 1.

Capcom has revealed the release date for the latest installment in the Mega Man franchise. Mega Man 11 will be made available on October 2 on the PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. A pre-order trailer for the game gives viewers an insight into the gameplay of the Blue Bomber’s latest adventure.

Huawei seems to be ready to join the gaming smartphone craze with its upcoming Honor Play model. The latest smartphone teaser posted by the Chinese company on Weibo emphasizes the AI functionalities that should bring a "groundbreaking" 4D gaming experience. However, it looks like the Honor Play might have been spotted at TENAA, but the specs are mid-range at best.

Announced for Japan back in March, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth is finally available for Android and iOS smartphones in the US. This cult classic is more than 12 years old, but the mobile version has been refreshed with HD graphics, a wide voice cast, partial gamepad support, as well as save and autosave capabilities.

An article from English-language newspaper The Korea Times has revealed that PUBG Corporation has filed a lawsuit in the Seoul Central District Court against Epic Games, the developer of battle royale rival Fortnite. PUBG Corporation, which is a subsidiary of the South Korean company Bluehole, apparently filed the lawsuit back in January.

A game scheduled for unlocking on Steam on June 6 has started to amass considerable media attention due to its controversial theme. Active Shooter is currently listed on Valve’s software distribution platform and is described as an action simulation. The game has been heavily criticized because it allows the player to act as a shooter killing civilians in a school setting.

In just two days after the global release of the State of Decay 2 Standard Edition open world zombie survival game for Windows and Xbox One, over one million players enjoyed it. Other figures revealed by Microsoft for the given period include six million combined hours of gameplay and almost 3.5 million hours streamed via Mixer, YouTube Gaming, and Twitch.

A new trailer for the shooter game World War Z has been posted online, and it looks like a must play for any fan of the zombie genre. The game is inspired by the 2013 film, which was based on the famous 2006 novel by Max Brooks. The title has been developed by Saber Interactive and is scheduled for release on PC, PS4, and Xbox One later this year.

A new PlayStation 4 jailbreak exploit is in the works. The exploit is for the console's firmware 5.05 and is highly anticipated due to its compatibility with newer titles like God of War.