News

Intel has reportedly partnered with Taiwan’s UMC on advanced chip manufacturing, including planned work on 12nm and 3nm process technologies. The reported deal would allow UMC to move into more advanced manufacturing without spending heavily on new equipment, while Intel would gain another partner as it tries to build a stronger foundry business and compete more directly with TSMC. The reported production would take

Intel has hired former SK Hynix CEO Seok Hee Lee as executive vice president of Intel Foundry, where he will lead advanced packaging, system integration, back end technology development, and back end manufacturing. The move strengthens Intel’s foundry leadership at a time when advanced packaging has become critical for AI, high performance computing, and future chip designs. Lee will report directly to Intel CEO

ASML has denied claims that one of its banned EUV chipmaking machines may have reached China, after US officials reportedly raised concerns with the company. The Dutch semiconductor equipment giant says it has never shipped an EUV machine to China, nor any component, module, or equipment specially designed for use in an EUV system. The issue matters because ASML’s extreme ultraviolet lithography machines are

AMD and Intel are working together on new x86 AI Compute Extensions, known as ACE, to improve how future CPUs handle AI workloads. The latest ACE specification focuses on faster matrix multiplication and support for low precision data formats, both of which are important for machine learning, neural networks, and large language models. The work is part of the wider x86 Ecosystem Advisory Group,

Intel’s Core Ultra 7 270HX Plus has appeared in early PassMark results, and the first numbers show it beating the higher tier Core Ultra 9 275HX in both single threaded and multi threaded performance. The result is surprising because the Ultra 7 chip has fewer cores and threads, yet it still manages to score ahead of a more expensive model in Intel’s Arrow Lake

Intel’s entry level Core 3 304 has appeared in fresh PassMark results, where it matches Apple’s A18 Pro in multi threaded performance despite using one fewer core. The result gives Intel’s Wildcat Lake lineup another positive sign as it targets affordable, low power laptops that can handle everyday work without needing high end hardware. The Core 3 304 is part of Intel’s Wildcat Lake

MSI has launched the MAG Infinite Z 8B, a compact gaming desktop designed to deliver strong 1440p and 4K gaming performance without taking up too much desk space. The top configuration pairs AMD’s Ryzen 7 9700X processor with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, while MSI’s Silent Storm Cooling AI system is meant to manage heat and noise inside the smaller 25 liter chassis. The

Gigabyte’s X870E AERO X3D DARK Wood is a premium AM5 motherboard built for Ryzen 7000, Ryzen 8000, and Ryzen 9000 systems, with a standout wood inspired design, modern X870E features, and a $499 price. It targets PC builders who want a high end AMD platform for gaming, content creation, and long term upgrade support, while also giving their build a cleaner and more professional

AMD’s Radeon RX 9000 graphics cards may become more expensive again in the third quarter of 2026, with a reported 10 to 15 percent price increase linked to rising VRAM costs. The report is not confirmed, but it fits the wider trend in the PC hardware market, where memory and storage prices have been climbing because AI servers are consuming more supply. The possible

Intel CEO Lip Bu Tan says the semiconductor industry is not expanding fast enough to keep up with AI demand, and he believes the pressure is creating bottlenecks across memory, chip production, power, and even helium supply. His comments came while discussing Intel’s work with Elon Musk on the Terafab project, which is expected to rely on Intel’s future 14A manufacturing process. Tan said

Pimax Dream Air may be one of the most comfortable high end VR headsets for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and serious sim racing, thanks to its extremely light design, sharp Micro OLED display, and PC focused hardware. It is not a budget headset, but for players who spend long sessions flying or racing in VR, its comfort and image quality could make the price

Winhanced has received a new update that makes the Windows handheld launcher feel more like a full gaming hub. Version 0.9.8.9 adds achievement and trophy support across multiple platforms, improves streaming options, adds button remapping, and brings more visual and performance improvements to the controller friendly interface. The launcher is designed for Windows based handheld gaming PCs, including devices like the Xbox Ally X,

Dell’s XPS 13 with Snapdragon X Elite is now available for $999.99, making it one of the more attractive premium laptop deals right now. The model includes 32GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD, and a 2K 120Hz display, which is notable at a time when many laptops with far less memory are still selling near the same price. The discount cuts $400 from the

Echo Generation 2 is now available on Xbox and PC, bringing a short, nostalgic turn based RPG with new card based combat, multiple playable characters, and Xbox Play Anywhere support. The sequel builds on the original Echo Generation’s small town mystery style while adding deeper strategy and a wider story told from different perspectives. The game comes from Cococumber and keeps the first game’s

Rockstar Games has made Grand Theft Auto 5’s newer versions free for many existing owners on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, but there is one major catch. Players who own GTA 5 digitally on Xbox One can upgrade to the Xbox Series X|S version at no extra cost, while physical Xbox disc owners are not eligible for the same free digital upgrade. The free upgrade

Xbox appears to be adding a new “EXCLUSIVE” label to its console dashboard, giving players a clearer way to see which games are positioned as Xbox console exclusives. The move comes after years of mixed messaging around Microsoft’s gaming strategy, especially as the company continues to release some games across multiple platforms while still keeping certain major titles tied to Xbox hardware. The label

Valve’s new Steam Controller is already facing a long waitlist, with some reservations now expected to be fulfilled in 2027. The company says demand is far higher than what it can produce before the end of 2026, so it is using a reservation queue to manage orders and set clearer expectations for buyers. The $99 controller launched with strong interest from PC gaming fans,

Xbox Store may soon add a more transparent price history feature that helps players see whether a game or add on is actually at its lowest recent price before they buy it. A backend update spotted by a user on X suggests Microsoft is preparing lowest price indicators for the Xbox Store, potentially bringing the U.S. storefront closer to consumer friendly rules already used

Persona 4 Revival has received a new gameplay deep dive, giving players a closer look at its updated combat, story setup, and modernized systems ahead of its February 18, 2027 launch. The remake keeps the core structure of the original Persona 4, but adds new battle mechanics inspired by newer Persona games, including Baton Pass, Prime Time, and a new Send Flying system. The

Halo: Campaign Evolved has drawn a blunt reaction from former Bungie designer Jaime Griesemer, who described the upcoming remake as looking like “a very well made mod.” His comment has sparked debate among Halo fans, especially because early footage of the remake has already divided players over its visual changes, redesigned spaces, and approach to updating the original Halo: Combat Evolved campaign. The discussion