Intel might find its breakthrough moment with its new 18A chip-making system. Big tech names like NVIDIA, Microsoft, and Google want to make computer chips this way. Intel showed off the 18A at its recent event as the most advanced process made in America. Their system rivals what TSMC offers with similar power use numbers. The Korean news site ChosunBiz shared this information.
Many companies are interested because Intel recently changed leaders. New CEO Lip-Bu Tan focuses on chip design tools, packaging methods, and chip-making services. He might end the old business plan called IDM 2.0, which could help Intel sell more CPUs. Another reason companies look at Intel is that TSMC has very full production lines right now.
Intel stands...
Valve stopped a team from releasing their Counter-Strike mod after eight years of work. The Classic Offensive team first received approval in 2017, but Valve changed its mind earlier this year. The creators tried asking why Valve rejected them from Steam, but received no answers. Valve sent legal papers just before the team planned to share their work through another website. They claimed the mod breaks the rules about using their game ideas.
The mod makers warned other creators about working with Valve. They said Valve takes good ideas from fans but can shut down projects without warning. The team shared all dates on their website to show how long they worked with Valve. Fans who wanted to play Classic Offensive feel disappointed...
Digital Foundry researchers found that mods claiming to fix stutters in Oblivion Remastered do almost nothing. The team tested the Oblivion BSA Uncompressor, which many players hoped would smooth gameplay. This mod requires users to change files themselves, and their tests showed less than 2% difference between fixed and unfixed game versions around Imperial City areas.
The game's choppy feel remains despite these fixes. Other popular mods change engine settings but mostly target things that matter during game making, not playing. Many changes turn off behind-the-scenes tools that are already off in finished games. Players waiting for smoother gameplay must hope the official team at Virtuos makes real fixes. Game stutters remain one of...
Mafia: The Old Country costs less than most new games when it arrives on August 8. Players will pay just $49.99 for the standard version on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The Deluxe Edition runs $59.99 with extra weapons, outfits, vehicles, a digital art book, and music. People who order early receive bonus items like special clothes, a knife, and horse gear.
The game differs from past Mafia titles by focusing more on story than open-world play. Developer Hangar 13 shared a new video showing how the game works. They plan to tell fans more during a talk at PAX East today. The company changed direction from earlier games to create a more direct story experience. Players can also stream the game through the GeForce NOW service on...
Microsoft put Black Ops 6 on Game Pass but saw mixed results. The game launched with 33.7 million players, beating Modern Warfare 3's numbers from last year. Game Pass gained more members, helping Xbox stay competitive against PlayStation. These new members kept their subscriptions, showing an 11% rise early this year compared to 2024.
Many players who came for Call of Duty left after trying it. The number of Xbox users playing Call of Duty has fallen 10% since its release. Current active players stand at 20.6 million, less than the 20.8 million from 2023. The game helped Microsoft more than it helped itself. Call of Duty remains huge but has failed to grow much despite being free with Game Pass. This matters because the series became...
NVIDIA plans to hold back drivers for the RTX 5060 until May 19, when stores start selling the card. This means buyers cannot read reviews before the purchase day. Many tech writers will attend Computex that same day, but cannot test the card without drivers. Hardware Unboxed already has test cards, but cannot show how they work without the needed software.
People who buy computer parts often check what experts say first. NVIDIA claims the card runs 25 percent faster than older models, but nobody can prove this claim yet. The card comes with 8 GB of memory, which many think might not handle new games well. The RTX 5060 Ti with 8 GB has already failed to sell well because games need more memory these days. Tech reviewers worry NVIDIA...
Nintendo wants everyone to buy the Switch 2 as fast as it comes out on June 5. The company plans to spend more money on ads but expects small profit gains because it makes less money per system sold. Nintendo leader Shuntaro Furukawa hopes people will buy many games for each console. This might happen easily since the system launches with good games. However, they need to sell lots of software per machine to see better profits.
US taxes worry Nintendo about future prices. These taxes affect how much the Switch 2 will cost in stores across different countries. Furukawa said they might raise prices later if taxes change from what they expect now. Both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X cost more today than when they first appeared in...
NVIDIA added all Mafia games to the GeForce NOW cloud service. Players can stream the original games and their updated versions through the platform. The upcoming Mafia: The Old Country will join the service when it releases on August 8. Gamers who want these titles need no special hardware if they use GeForce NOW.
Several other games arrived on the service recently. Survival Machine became available through Steam on May 7. Revenge of the Savage Planet landed on May 8 for both Steam and Xbox users. Spirit of the North 2 also came to Steam on May 8 for cloud play. Towerborne joined the platform for Steam and Xbox players. David Carcasole reviewed Revenge of the Savage Planet and found it mixed.
He liked the funny parts and pretty...
A fan makes DOOM 3 look amazing with Unreal Engine 5.5 tech. François Montagud showed off his work in a new video that caught everyone's eye. He changed how the game looks with better lights and made enemies react more to player actions. The shooting feels more real with updated sounds and effects. One part at 2:20 shows smoke moving around a dead monster in a way that looks almost real.
Players cannot download this remake right but fans have something else to look forward to soon. DOOM: The Dark Ages launches next week for computers and game systems. The new game lets players move around more freely than past games did. It keeps the fast action from DOOM Eternal, where players finish off enemies to gain health and bullets. The shield...
