Is your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller dead? Well, thanks to this post on reddit by imnotgoats that's been gaining traction this week (update note: not actually this week), you might ha?ve an option before sending it off to Nintendo for repair.

If your Switch Pro Controller is dead, try the sync button

Although Switch P??ro Controllers have a fairly good reputation, it isn't foolproof. Some folks, even after years of use, have reported that their controllers have entered a weird state where they seem completely dead. As in, the battery seems to be out of operation, and no amount of charging will work (the charging light won't even come on).

As the reddit thread points out, even swapping docks/cables might not solve the issue. However, upon pressing the sync button, the controller "sprang to life," and hasn't had the same issue. It's such a simple little fix but it's not something a lot of folks wouldn't think of in the moment. I mean logic would dictate that plugging it into a perfectly working cable and dock and not havin?g the charging light come on indicates a cr??itical battery issue, but there is one last ray of hope with the sync button.

Someone in the post even mentions they've had one that's been sitting on a shelf for at least a year with this problem! A??nother good point is that a lot of folks play with it permanently plugged into a PC, and wouldn't even think to ever press the sync button for any reason.

2024 Update: It could still actually be the battery

It's been a couple of years since this was first written, so I'd like to add to this PSA with a PSA of my own; it's getting to be about time to check the batteries in your most trusted controllers. Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries like the ones in Switch controllers (not just Pro Controllers) don't last forever. After frequent recharging and especially if it tends to ge??t hot i??n your gamer mits, the battery can start to bloat.

A bloated battery might still work. In fact, it will probably still work until it hits a certain point. H??owever, if that battery cracks or becomes pierced, it can let out the gas that is causing it to swell. It can also e?xplode or catch fire. Obviously we don't want that. So, if you've had a controller since 2017 (or whenever) and it's not working, this is something you'll want to check into.

Thankfully, the casing of a Switch Pro Controller is translucent. You can see the battery through the back. It's not the best visual, but the rows of text on it can give you a decent indication if things are starting to bloat in there. If you're not sure, then checking up close isn't too much of a chore. If you have a small enough screwdriver, the handles are held on by Phillips screws, once they're off, there are four more screws and the back battery cover will come off without needing to get too far into the controller's more sensitive parts. You can then check to see if the battery is bloated. If so, take it out, take it to a place where you can recycle batteries. Usually, Best Buy or Home Depot offers? drop-offs. You can then talk to Nintendo about repair or replace it yourself with a CTR-003 Battery.

You definitely want to try the sync button method first. Even for old controllers, battery bloat isn't a certainty. However, making a visual inspection of the battery through the casing is a good best practice. You want to catch a bloated battery before it becomes a problem.

The Switch Pro Controller is still incredible

The Switch Pro Controller might be my single favorite device of this generation, just because of how stable it is. It holds a charge for...forever, to the point where I just don't even need to think about it. Plus, the Monster Hunter Rise special edition Pro looks gorgeous,? so I get to look down every once in a while and enjoy the design. Functionality and flair: win??-win!

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Alright, I'll admit it, I've never used a compact keyboard. I'm quite particular when it comes to the precise space I expect to have whe??n maneuveri?ng my hands across a keyboard, and the thought of having to muscle memory learn to deal with smaller real estate—even if it is just a Numpad or some extra function keys being lost—has always terrified me.

Razer just dropped its Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, a wireless hot-swapp??able pro version of BlackWidow V4 featuring the latest Razer technology: HyperSpeed and 4K Hz HyperPolling. With all the tech in this Pro version, I figured this was as good a time as any to take the plunge into the world of compact keyboards, and boy have I been missing out.

I've always preferred wired peripherals, but if all peripherals came with the HyperSpeed and HyperPolling technology that the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% has, I think I'd make the switch to wireless. With a 4,000 Hz polling rate, there was never a delay. I've used wireless keyboards in the past where even the most ?minimal delay has been enough to make me switch back to wired. I've used the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% now in a variety of ways; gaming, working, even just chilling and surfing the internet. And if I hadn't known, I'd assume it was wired. It looks like delays with wireless could finally be a thing of the past.

If you have other hardware that could make use of they keyboard, you can actually add up to three devices at a time and instantaneously toggle between them. I tried it out with my nearby PS5, and sure enough, I was able to quickly toggle between it and my ??PC without the need to go in and re-configured it each time.

The original BlackWidow V4 75% was all about customization, and that mantra continues with the Pro. The hot-swappable design is back, with the versatility for both 3 and 5-pin mechanical switches. The pre-loaded default for the Pro includes Razer's Orange Tactile Switches, a classic set of Razer switches that was surely a safe option overall. Most seem to prefer ei?ther the orange or green, and for me, the green is just a tad bit too loud, so I feel like pre-loaded with the orange was a solid albeit safe choice. Of course, hot-swappable means you have the freedom to change that if you disagree.

Of course, we can't talk about a Razer peripheral without talking about the RGB. As I expected, both the RGB quality and versatility via the Razer C??hroma app continue to be the best in the industry. I'm rather simple in my creativity when it comes to this sort of thing but even still I've made some pretty cool profiles. The lighting is bright, making the light show vibrant and concise no matter the profile. I hadn't messed around with the Razer ??Chroma app in a little while, so these may not all be new, but some of the pre-existing profiles that you can apply based on specific gaming scenarios are pretty sick. Like I said, best in the industry for a reason.

With the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, the scrollable wheel in the top right of the keyboard has bee??n replaced with a grayscale OLED display. You can cycle through lots of pre-set options to display on the OLED such as crucial PC information including temps and speeds, detailed info about the keyboard, an audio meter, and even custom animations such as animated gifs. On the side to the right of the OLED is a scrollable wheel knob to cycle through pre-set profiles on the keyboard as well as change things like polling rate and RBG profiles on the fly. The OLED is a nice touch, but I have to wonder why the choice to go with grayscale of color. I assume it's a cost-cutting measure, which is fair given the $299.99 price point of this BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, which is already considered a premium price.

Speaking of premium, let's talk about the wrist rest. I know I know, n??ot typically a focal point when deciding on a keyboard. But the Magnetic Plush Leatherette wrist rest that comes with the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% is exceptionall?y well made. It's the perfect blend of soft and cushiony, without feeling indentable or like a pillow. When I think of the right middle ground, this is what I envision.

After using the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% over the last couple of weeks, there is only one real issues I have with it: the battery life. I understand there's a lot of potential battery draw with RGB lighting, an OLED, and HyperPolling, but even with all of that dialed down a minimum the keyboard struggles to get through a normal work day without needing a bi?t more juice. It's quite possible that turning all of that off will boost the battery life—in fact, I'm certain it will—but all the cool bells and whistles are part of the draw for the keyboard, so they should be used.

According to Razer, the built-in Power Saving Mode deactivates the OLED and keyboard backlighting while also pausing communication with Razer Synapse, allowing the keyboard to achieve up to 2100 hours of battery life. That's quite a formidable batte??ry, but it seems just having any of those features enabled really ramps up on that drain.

My issue with the battery life aside, the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% has been an absolute joy to use. I'm pretty particular when it comes to keyboards, which is part of the reason I've yet to try a compact keyboard before now. But the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% has converted me. It's officially replaced my previous keyboard and became my mainstay gaming keyboard. Who knows, I might even? get creative and see how I like the green switches when this keyboard ??after all.

The Razer BlackWid??ow V4 Pro 75% is available now f?or $299.99.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the hardware provided by the manufacturer.]}

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It’s no secret that Final Fantasy XIV players love getting their hands on pretty hardware that showcases their love for the game, and now HYTE has teamed up with FFXIV to give away another custo?mized piece that's, as always, limited by RNG.??

The custom hardware in this case is a very sleek-looking PC case, complete with Viper-themed full body illustrations on at least two of its transparent sides. It's complete with a Job icon and Dawntrail logo on the front. I can imagine this would look pretty impressive with some RGB LEDs backlig?hting the images. 

If you’re interested in entering the giveaway for the custom Y40 case, you’ll need to be a resident of either the USA or Canada, and there is a lengthy list of different things you can do to earn entries into the draw. In total, there are 11 ways ??to enter, providing you with 22 ent??ries total.

Each task, when completed, earns you two entries into the prize draw. They include the usual suspects, like following the brand on Twitter or other social media, or liking and?? sharing posts. However, there is one interesting task that caught my attention. 

If you’re heading to PAX West, make su??re to head to HYTE’s Display. Somewhere on their signage, according to the promotional site for? the giveaway, there will be a secret code which can then be input to get two more entries. 

This isn’t the first FFXIV-themed gaming hardware we’ve seen in recent times, with Elsa Japan having released a couple of stunning limited edition cases back in January. In March, Xbox teamed up with FFXIV for a Sweepstakes to win an Aetheryte Xbox, which was a display piece but came with a fully functioning Xbox Series X and other goodi??es. 

Then there’s the Secret Lab chair which was released back in June and came complete with interchangeable, magnetic job icons. At this point, you could probably create a pretty impressive, fully FFXIV-t?hemed office set-up if you really wanted to and if you get lucky in some giveaways. 

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The bout continues as Nvidia and AMD butt ??heads in the arena of "Graphics Card Supremacy" (it's painfully obvious I know nothing about boxing). I mean, they're both huge tech conglomerates, so it's not as if Dr. Lisa Su and Jensen Huang fight it out school playground-style. Still, we're seeing an ongoing battle as the price of mid-range GPUs takes a dive.

As reported by Tom's Hardware, a number of products from Team Red and Team Green are becoming cheaper, to the point of being quite affordable, finally. In particular, it's those middle-of-the-road cards that may be within reach for some of us, hopefully leaving the 'mid-range GPU the price of an enthusiast GPU' behind.

For example: the Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti 16GB from MSI is as low as $419 on Newegg. Though that's after a $20 rebate and using a promo code. Same with the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT, whi?ch has been sighted as low as $409. Again, promo codes will help get you to the bottom end of the price.

How low can you go?

There's an argument to be had that these gra??phics cards �both of which are more mid-range �could stand to be a little cheaper. The 16GB variant of the RTX 4060 Ti was about $100 more expensive than its 8GB predecessor when it first launched. This is despite it being the exact same card, just with more VRAM.

A report from PC Gamer seems to agre??e that these models could fall below the $??400 mark, which would probably make them more appealing.

Anyone who's tried to build a custom PC using mo??dern hardware knows how expensive it is. Not everyone is rich enough to be lumped into the "enthusiast" category, so to see some fairly decent GPUs having their prices slashed feels like a step in the right direction.

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When I reviewed Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore, Limited Run Games sent me a press kit. It included their, er, “Retro Inspired Switch & PC Controller,�which?? is a cheeky way of?? saying it’s a reproduction of the Philips CD-i controller.

One of them, anyway. The Philips CD-i had a few controllers made for it. The one that Limited Run Games chose was the “spoon�controller. ??The �2ER9019 CD-i Wired Controller.�It could have been worse, but only barely.

The CD-i Spoon: the controller that makes you ask, “What did I do wrong in life?�/p>

The controller is Dinput. Windows recognizes it as a � axis 10 button joystick.�That’s weird for two reasons. It has 9 face buttons, but one of them is a home button, which Windows doesn’t recognize. So, it has 8 Windows-usable buttons, with 5 and 6 being nowhere to be found. There are also only two axes - X and Y. Windows knows this, but it still ca??lls it a 6 axis controller. But those are the facts. 2 axis 8 buttons. Dinput.

With Switch, it works out of the box. T??he buttons are labe?lled. However, there is no ZR or ZL, and no capture button either.

It’s not an exact replica of the CD-i Spoon. There’s an extra button on the bottom, as well as one at the top. If you hadn’t seen the controller before, you probably wouldn’t even realize that it hasn’t always been like that. To be honest, I’ve never held an authentic Spoon in my hands.? I have about two jillion controllers in my apartment, and a Spoon isn’t one. So, I can’t really confirm how authentic it feels. However, I’ve held plenty of �0s controllers, and this one is convincingly �0s quality.

None of that matters, h??owever. The control??ler is a nightmare.

Limited Run Games has such a commendable commitment to the bit. Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore is the spiritual sequel to the derided CD-i Zelda games, Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: Wand of Gamelon. The developers managed to take the pungent formula of those games and make an actually great game out of it. However, it still looks and smells like a CD-i?? game.

S??o, what better way to complete that experience than sticking one of the system’s notorious controllers into your hand?

The quality of the controller is fine. Actually using it sucks out loud. From the looks of it, you might expect that you use it with one hand, but that’s not really a great option, especially in Arzette.

Arzette has a “classic controls�mode which maps jumping to up on the, er, D-ring. That allows you to jump while moving, which is pretty important. Attacking while jumping is possible with one hand, but it’s difficult since you need to take your finger off the directions to hit the attack button. Crouch attacking is essentially impossible with one hand. Faces of Evil and Wand of Gamelon both locked your character into the crouching position so you could attack low with one hand, but Arzette didn’t borrow that detail for their classic controls, so you need a helping ha??nd.

It feels really weird to play with two hands. Working the d-pad with my left i??s fine; that’s its normal assigned duty. However, my right hand is then relegated to working, like, one button. ??My right hand deserves more than respect than that. It puts in a lot of hard work.

Regardless of what hand? you use, the D-ring just feels imprecise and awful. It’s like the Neo Geo CD controller had a disappointingly undera??chieving sibling.

The CD-i Spoon can be used with any Switch game, but I’m not sure why you’d want to. In the early �0s, there were some one-handed controllers for the SNES, for use with games like Derby Stallions and Mini Yonku Shining Scorpion. So, with that in mind, you could maybe use the Retro Inspired Switch & PC Controller for, say, Pocket Card Jockey on Switch. Or you could download the new Derby Stallion from the Japanese eShop. I?? do??n’t know; I’m just spitballing here.

However, if you want to get the CD-i experience on PC while playing, I don’t know, Space Ace, then this is an option. ?Any program that allows Dinput should be? workable on some level.

With that in mind, the Faces of Evil and Wand of Gamelon remasters that Seth Fulkerson worked on d?on’t seem to support Dinput. I know that there are programs that allow you to map a Dinput controller to Xinput, but out of the box, it doesn’t allow you to set the controls. However, you would be able to map it on alternative ways to access CD-i games.

The controller is still available for pre-order on the store page, with an estimated shipping date of November. Alternatively, if you order the Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore co??llector’s edition, you can get the control?ler in pink. Whether or not you’re going to use it, I’m not sure. 

Really, I’m impressed that Limited Run Games' “Retro Inspired Switch & PC Controller�even exists. Selling torture devices takes guts, but love to see it. Arzette is a fantastic game, but I’m not sure playing it with a Spoo?n is a superior way of enjoying it. If you really want that CD-i experience, I’m not judging. I, too, endeavor to play things the way the Gods of Thumbs intended, and I always respect the commitme?nt.

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Since Bethesda announced the studio would be teaming up with AMD prior to Starfield's release, the two have barely left each other's sides. As well as optimizing the game for Team Red's hardware, there's now a chance to?? win some PC hardware from the tech giant that's themed a??fter the game.

In a post on Twitter, Starfield has announced a giveaway, in which one lucky winner can win a?n AMD bun??dle. The prizes up for grabs include a Radeon RX 7900 XTX graphics card and a Ryzen 7 78003D CPU. Total value of these items: around $1,500.

To be in with a chance of winning, well, yo??u've seen these sweepstakes before. Simply follow the above on Twitter ??and retweet (or "repost" as we're meant to say now) to be entered.

Put a rush on that

You don't have a huge amount of time, though. The winner is being drawn at random on February 28, according to the giveaway rules. So you only have until next Wednesday. Not that there's any major rush. It literally ta???kes seconds to enter.

There is actually a second chance of winning. Another post under the main one says the giveaway is also being run on the Starfield Discord channel, speci??fically for Constellation members.

You can throw another hat into the ring by �according to the post �heading to the Discord channel (what else?) and entering the competition via the "exclusive Constellation channels." As always with these things, make s??ure you check the rules before participating, blah blah blah*.

*No seriously. Make sure you do understand the terms and conditions of these things.

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It's not always an easy decision when trying to choose a new graphics card. Nvidia alone recently launched three new SUPER models (not those kind) in its 4000? series. But if you want a GPU that sort of reminds you of what it was like to he??lp your dad with household renovations, this could be right up your street.

As spotted by Videocardz, Sycom has launched an Nvid??ia RTX 4080 SUPER. As well as mixing fans with liquid coolers, the ?cards come with spirit levels built onto the hardware itself. You know, those bubble-levels you use to make sure everything's even-keel.

And I said spirit levels...because there are two of them. Presumably added on for more accurate installation, they do seem to look quite at home, particularly on the green vers??ion.

Nope, can't think of a spirit-based pun in this context

There is one downside to this, which is it looks as though these spirit level Nvidia GPUs are only available a??s part of a complete package. The website shows them as part of the Sycom G-Master Hydro series, which means you'd have to buy a full system to get one.

It seems more of a novelty feature than anything, unless there are those who absolutely want to ensure precise installation. The obvious main advantage to a gra??????????????????????????phics card like this is the liquid cooling, whic?h is said to reduce temperatures by up to 15 degrees Celcius.

With the RTX 4080 SUPER running at a TDP of 320W, those extra degrees could c??ome in handy. But, again, it shows that t??he graphics hardware market is something of a minefield when it comes to choice.

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If you've been paying attention to the world of graphics cards lately, you'll know that Nvidia released SUPER variants of its RTX 4070 and RTX 4070 Ti (link missing) GPU. Now, Team Green finishes its trilogy with the launch of the RTX 4080 SUPER, which was relea??se?d yesterday.

Much like the aforementioned products, the new 4080 dials up the juice a bit when compared to its ??predecessor. For starters, it has 10,240 CUDA cores, while the previous model has 9,728. It also boosts the clock speed, ??memory clock, and bandwidth.

Not everything's changed, though. It still retains the 16GB of GDDR6X memory that the non-SUPER RTX 4080 has. Also, the TGP is?? still at 320W and the memory bus remains the same at 256-bit.

The big change seems to be the price

As noted by Videocardz, Nvidia's latest Ada Lovelace card appears to have had a pr??ice adjustment when compared to the cost? of the 4080 on launch.

It's still $999, which pushes it more towards the enthusiast area of pricing, but given that its predecessor was priced at nearly $1200 in September of 2022, ??it feels like a good drop.

Of course, a grand is still a grand, and you can still pay upwards of RTX 4080 SUPER for $1,200 for it depending on where you shop. But at any rate, a lot of the PC hardware world is going to be watching what AMD will do next. Three new Nvidia cards in a month is quite the act to follow, even if they're not new-new, as such.

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Just over a week ago, I mentioned how Nvidia was launching three GPUs in the new RTX 4000 SUPER range. Now, ??the first one of the bunch has been released, offering a bit of a p?erformance boost compared to its predecessor.

The 4070 SUPER came out yesterday, and it already appears to be fairly popular. While sites like Newegg do have models from ZOTAC, GIGABYTE, ASUS, and more, there are quite a few that have sold out. Amazon UK appears to have limited stocks at the time of writing. A report from Videocardz points to a few bran?ds that are already out of stock, so it seems like? you might want to get in quick lest supplies run out.

Prices for the SUPER? graphics card can be as low as $549 and as high as $759 (if not more), depending on where you get it from and which model you opt for.

Compare and contrast

S??howing up to 14% improvement over the non-SUPER variant, the RTX 4070 SUPER is what you would expect from a somewhat souped-up version of a modern graphics card.

While it still retains 12GB of GDDR6X of memory �similar to the regular 4070 �it does boast more CUDA cores and a slight increase in its clock speed. It also? has a higher TGP, now requiring an additional 20W of power.

It also appears as though the RTX 4070 has been given a price drop, so if you're not in the mood for a new-new graphics card from Nvidia, you could always go for the standard variant. The RTX 4070 Ti SUPER and RTX 4080 SUPER are due to release on Ja??nuary 24 and January 31, respectively.

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While Nvidia and AMD duke it out to be supreme GPU champion in the PC gaming world, Intel is also here. Just smiling an?d waving. The chip firm entered the GPU arena back in 2022, and now it's a little closer to completing the next iteration of its Arc brand.

In an interview with PC World (as spotted by PC Gamer) at CES 2024, Intel Fellow Tom Petersen said that Arc Battlemage (the follow-up to Alchemist) "is coming.??" Around 30% of engineers are working on the GPU right now, "mostly on the software side." Ideally, this all wraps up before CES ?in January 2025.

On top of this, the hardware portion of the team is now moving onto Celestial, the next graphics card f??rom Intel. Petersen says Battlemage has "already had its first silicon in the lab," and "more good news is coming."

A story arc that perhaps needs to pick up

As for when we can expect the next line of Arc GPUs, Petersen is unable �or unwillin?g �to go into details, but is hopeful we may get to see something at next year's CES event. That's not a given, but it might give some indication of perhaps when it could be released. That's all just pure speculation, for now.

Intel doesn't seem to ??have quite found its feet in the dedicated graphics card industry. With Nvidia and AMD flexing every muscle they have, Team Blue seems to be trailing behind. This could be because the Alchemist experienced delays, but it could be because the other two hav?e just been in the game for much longer.

However, the upcoming Claw device from MSI is being powered by Intel hardware, including an Arch chip, so that's somet?hing. This time next year,?? things might be different, but it sounds like progress on Battlemage is coming along.

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We're just past the first week of the new year and it's all hands on deck for rivals Nvidia and AMD. With the former announcing three new RTX 4000 SUPER graphics cards, the latter was quick ??to unv??eil a boosted version of one of its current gen products.

Announced at CES 2024, AMD is launching the Radeon RX 7600 XT, a somewhat enhanced version of the 7600 that released last May. While it's admittedly at the lower end of the 7000 series, the XT variant does offe??r 16 GM of VRAM, double what the non-XT version has.

This sort of puts it on par with the likes of the 7800 XT and 7900 GRE, but only in t??erms of memory size. However, this does mean it will at least be a cheaper choice than the more enthusiast models, starting at $329.

Higher clock speeds as well

The double RAM ?is probably the biggest draw of the RX 7600 XT, but it offers other spec improvements as well. For example, it features boost clock speeds of up to 2755 MHz against the regular 7600's?? 2655 MHz.

The newer model will?? also have 22.57 TFLOPS. Compared to its predecessor's 21.75, it's another bit of extra juice for the XT variant.

Outside that, I wouldn't expect a huge performance difference between the two. It's also said to use a bit more power, with a TDP of 190W (versus 165W). However, what you can expe?ct is the RX 7600 XT to be available from January 24. If you are interested in it, that is.

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There have been some fairly consistent rumors lately about Nvidia possibly launching a SUPER variant of some of its RTX 4000 GPUs. Well, they've now b??een officially confirmed, and these new graphics cards are coming soon.

According to a recent post on the Nvidia website, Ada Lovelace is getting three somewhat-souped-u??p new products this month. The RTX 4070 SUPER will be launching on January 17, while the 4070 Ti SUPER and 4080 SUPER will arrive on the scene come January 24 and January 31, respect??ively.

You can check also out Nvidia's CES Special Address above, which went live recently. As well as a discussion on the future of AI technology, we ?get a flashy trailer for the upcoming graphics cards.

How do they stack up, though?

As always when it comes to hardware, Team Green wants to sell you on the idea of these SUPER variants being better than their non-SUPER counterparts. The post linked above promises the 4070 SUPER will have faster speeds than the R?TX 3090, the most ?powerful GPU of the previous generation.

There are also a number of charts showing how well the newer models go up against previous Nvidia hardware. It stands to reason that these soon-to-be-launched 4000 cards will be much better than the 3000 or 2000 series. The tech giant also promises a boost on their non-SUPER cousins, so it'll be really interesting to see how the RTX 4080 SUPER compares to the? regular 4080, for example.

As for pricing, the 4080 SUPER will be st?arting at $999, the 4070 Ti SUPER will b??e priced from $799, while the 4070 SUPER will start at $599. So that's something to think about if you're in the market for a new graphics card.

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A couple of months back, we mentioned how Nvidia was possibly readying a range of RTX 4000 SUPER graphics cards. Well, there's been some developments on that front,? and it looks as though Team Green might be launching several new products come early 2024.

According to a report from Videocardz, Nvidia is set to launch three new GPUs beginning the second week of January. An embargo list shows t?hat SUPER va??riants of the 4070, 4070 Ti, and 4080 will be releasing throughout the month.

It also appears as though the company will be releasing them in stages, starting with reviews and follo??wing this up with on?-shelf launches soon after.

A SUPER start to the year

At the time of writing, Nvidia has not confirmed whether the 4000 series S??UPER cards are indeed being launched over the coming weeks. With that, we may have to err on the side of caution and say to hold back expectations until official word comes through.

That said, an RTX 4000 SUPER range has been rumored for some? time, so many would not be surprised to see a line-up of SKUs ??coming in 2024.

These supposed new Ada Lovelace cards will likely offer a slight boost to their non-SUPER counterparts. The report f??rom Videocardz suggests they'll boast an increase in CUDA cores and maybe a little bit more RAM.

There's also said to be a 6GB version of the RTX 3060 rumored to be launching sometime in Q1 2024. Again??, it's best to wait until Nvidia gives a statement about what's actually in the pipeline.

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Nvidia is quite forthcoming about its themed hardware products. In October, Team Green launched an Alan-Wake 2-themed graphics card in honor of the horror sequel's release. Now it's Doom's turn to get the RTX 4000 treatment.

If you want to get your hands on a 4090 GPU styled after id Software's iconic shooter, Nvidia is giving you a few days to take part in a giveaway. In a recent post on Twitter, the tech giant has said it's celebrating Doom's 30th year with a? chance to win one of the most powerful pixel pushers in the land.

To enter??, all you have to do is comment under the tweet with a couple of hashtags. The competition ends at 5 pm Pacific Daylight Tim??e on December 18, so you have until next Monday. The winner will be announced on January 31.

As big as the BFG 9000

The graphics card itself is still the same $1,789 hardware that came out over a year ago. Just, now it has a custom Doom backplate. The image does look kinda cool, but you ??better be the kind of PC user who has a viewing window on their system. Not t??o mention the space to accommodate this beast.

Say what you will about the expense of the "Ada Lovelace" 4000 range, but Nvidia knows how to keep itself in the limelight with giveaways like this. While RTX 3000 graphics cards are still the prefer??red generation, according to Steam, the newer hardware is starting to make its way into gamer's rigs.

Were I in the market for a new gr?aphics card, the chance to win a free RTX 4090 is something I'd think twic??e about skipping over. If nothing else, it'll keep me warm in the new year.

The post Nvidia off??ers the chance to win?? a Doom-inspired RTX 4090 appeared first on Destructoid.

Before they offered to send me a unit for review?, I had the Analogue Duo preordered. It would have been the first of the company’s consoles that I ponied up for. Tha??t’s because, beyond just being a very nice boutique console, it solves a few problems for me.

The Turbografx-16 is a nightmare to collect for. Sketchy capacitors mean that a lot of them just die on the shelf, and the typical price of a Turbografx game is ridiculous. Pricecharting has the average price of a game for? the console at over $100. Forget the best games the console has to offer; if you want anything aside from sports titles, you’re paying out the nose. And that’s not even taking into account Turbografx-CD games.

Because of this, the Analogue Duo is a pretty strange console to produce. Someone who is curious about collecting for the console is probably going t?o get discouraged quickly. This is almost a “who is this even for?�situation, but there’s an answer to that we’ll get to. ??It’s extremely niche. The niche-est console Analogue has taken on.

“It isn't really financially viable in terms of development investment,�Analogue CEO and founder Chris Taber ??told me. Analogue didn't make the Duo to bring in a pile of money, they did it because they love the platform, and you can easily tell.

I have a modest stack of Turbografx-16 games already in my collection, but that isn’t the reason I wanted an Analogue Duo. I want to start collecting for the PC-Engine, which is the Japanese equivalent to the TG16. While the Turbografx was a tremendous flop here in North America, the PC-Engine was a hu?ge success. NEC was able to compete with Nintendo, initially outselling the Famicom before holding a firm second place in the market next to the Super Famicom.

As such, a lot more games were published in Japan, and the market, as a whole?, is a lot cheaper. It’s still kind of pricy if you want the case they came ??in, but it’s not as galling as the North American prices.

But the TurboGrafx-16 and the PC-Engine are both region-locked. I spent a lot of time considering how I was going to start collecting. Was I going to buy a core PC-Engine console and build from there? Was I going to spring for the PC-Engine Duo that comes with a built-in disc drive (and ??is also where the Analogue Duo takes its aesthetic)? I couldn’t decide on an elegant solution that would cover all my needs.

Then, the Analogue Duo came along and provided that. It can play all the games that the TG16, the PC-Engine, and their attachments can. Plus, if I was planning on springing for the PC-Engine Duo, I would already be puttin?g myself in the price range of Analogue’s offering. More than just a convenient upgrade, the Analogue Duo is exactly what I was looking for.

Out of the box, the Analogue Duo is a slick piece of kit. It’s slightly less wide than a TurboGrafx-16, but it has a lot less height. It’s flat enough that if I turn around and look at the shelf it’s on, I can barely see it. There’s also much less junk in the trunk compared to a TG16 with a Turbo-Booster. It feels sturdy, it looks?? modern, and I don’t want to touch it too much and ruin its pristine look. Spea?king of which, it comes in TurboGrafx black and PC-Engine white. I went with the black because I hate white electronics. They just don’t age as well.

If there’s one downside to the design, it’s that the controller port is on the side of the unit rather than the front. Also, it uses the PC-Engine miniDIN port, so if you have TurboGrafx controllers, you’re going to need? an adapter to plug the?m in. That’s kind of a bummer because those adapters aren’t particularly easy to find.

It’s also worth noting that the TurboGrafx-16 supported 5 players. It only had one controller port, but using a TurboTap, you could plug five controllers in. You can still do this with the Analogue Duo, but there’s a caveat: it only supports 4 wireless controllers. If you want a fifth player for something like Bomberman '93, you need to plug a controller in alongside the 4 wireless ones or plug in a TurboTap and connect all five controllers the old-fashioned way. You can’t have, say, two wireless controllers and three original through ?a TurboTap. You either have one classic controller or five. There is no in-between.

Analogue shipped two 8BitDo 2.4G PCE controllers alongside my unit. These controllers are (very) slightly smaller and sleeker than the stock TG16 controllers while maintaining the same form factor. The biggest difference is an easily missed home button and turbo buttons rather than switches. The downside to that is there is no way to control the speed of the turbo unless there's a setting that can be tweaked with 8BitDo's software. Unfortunately, the TG16 controller isn’t very ergonomic. The d-pad is smal??l and crammed in the bottom-left of the controller, too close to the edge. My thumbs would always cramp up during long sessions.

Thankfully, you can sync quite a range of Bluetooth and 2.4G controllers, as well as some USB. I have built quite a collection of 8BitDo controllers, and everything from my M30 to my Arcade Stick works great. I also tried a RetroBit Sega Saturn Pro controller, which connected without complaint. The documentation also lists common controllers like the Switch (and Wii U) Pro and Dual??Sense. You might lose some of the authentic feel??, but your thumbs will thank you.

Booting into the console gets you a quick ?walkthrough of the features of Analogue OS. I read the instructions, then promptly forgot them. I only know that Select+Down takes you to the home menu because I keep mistakenly hitting it, leaving me wanting to disable the button combo. Which I couldn't find a way to do ?so in the OS settings.

The Analogue OS is a pretty neat slice of cheese on the retro console. It keeps track of games you’ve played and for how long. You’re also able to change settings to alter the visuals to suit whatever version of the console you want. There are filters that emulate the Sony Trinitron (a CRT screen), as well as the Turbo Express and PC-Engine LT handhelds. Analogue says these aren’t “Filters�since they’re created on a hardw??are level through the FPGA, but I really don’t know what else to call them. They also say FPGA isn’t emulation, but really what they mean is it’s not software emulation. I understand why they want to make the distinction clear, because it really isn’t the same thing, but it’s hardware emulation, which is still emulation.

The “filters�are convincing. Anyone who feels that old games only look right on CRT screens will probably appreciate? them. Whether I personally prefer sharp pixels or soft glow varies?? with my mood. I find that the Trinitron mode sucks a lot of the color out of the screen. Other people working with FPGA for this sort of thing have been using HDR to boost the color, but that’s not an option right now. Perhaps it can be patched in with firmware updates, but if not, it's not a huge problem.

Speaking of firmware, the Analogue Duo touts the feature of allowing save states, but it’s not implemented yet. Chris Taber say?s that the reason is because CD games are proving to be a challenge, but it’s supposed to be added through a firmware update sometime after launch. Likewise, sleep mode is not yet implemented, which I imagine is due to the same complication.

If you don’t want to deal with the OS, there is the option to just boot directly to the HU Card or CD when it’s detected. I think it’s p??retty neat, though, even if there’s room for improvement.

In terms of running games, however, it’s flawless. The image that you get is bright and sharp at 1080p, and the screenshots here don't really do it justice whatsoever. Compatibility is also perfect, as far as I know. I have eight TG16 games, so I can only test to that ?exte?nt. Upon getting offered a review unit, I ordered some PC-Engine and CD-ROM² games in hopes that they’d arrive in time for this review, but alas, they didn’t make it.

However�/p>

The CD-ROM² and TurboGrafx-CD weren’t exactly picky about what kind of disc you put in them. It was a problem with early disc consoles and one of the reasons Nintendo stuck to cartridges for the N64. So, I put together a Little CD-R and, bam, we’ve got Super Air Zonk. The OS even recognized the game. I then tried Tengai Makyou: Ziria with the fan? translation patched into it, and while the Analogue Duo just referred to it as “CD,�it ran just fine.

While we’re on the subject, Analogue states that the Duo will run anything the original hardware would, and this includes Everdrives. I feel like buying a console for this is most valuable for people who like c?ollecting the physical software, but I’m not going to judge if you stick an Everdrive in there. It would at least help with running fan translations.

The Analogue Duo is my first console?? by the co??mpany, and I am impressed. It effortlessly does everything it says on the tin with potential to do more in the future. Save states have yet to be implemented, but the store page doesn’t list them as a feature, so I’m not certain if they were ever even announced.

You probably need to be a very specific type of person to really find value in an Analogue Duo. It’s a weird crossover of a retro-loving, TurboGrafx-appreciating, import-willing gamer. It’s such an incredible niche thing, that it’s amazing that Analogue went to such efforts to reproduce the console in such luxurious dept?h. I’m deeply impre??ssed. I’m also thankful, because it’s exactly the console I was looking for.

There’s only room for improvement because Analogue allowed it to be there. I’d still be recommending the Analogue Duo to my fellow niche-goblins even if there w?eren’t still forthcoming firmware improvements. It’s a slick modern version of the TurboGrafx 16/PC-Engine that brings the retro platform into the present with a 1080p HDMI output and other modern comforts. You can tell the team was passionate about the project because they were clearly insistent on getting it right on the first try.

The post Review: Analogue Duo appeared first on Destructoid.

The latest Steam hardware survey has shown that previous Nvidia graphics cards are still very much in vogue ??when it comes to PC gaming. However, one of the lower-end 3000 series may be getting pushed aside to make room for a GPU that could be, inexplicably, worse.

According to a report from Videocardz �which references the Chinese website Board Channels �Nvidia may be replacing its RTX 3050 card in favor of a similar one, but with less memory. It's been suggested that Team Green cou??ld opt to manufacture and sell a 3050 with 6GB of RAM instead of the 8GB it currently has.

Quite why this would be the case is not clear, but ?the report suggests it may be down to this older GPU "impacting sales of the RTX 4060 too much." If the 3050 does get replaced with a lower spec version, it could be on the market by January, according to a Board Channels quote translated by Videocardz.

The usual tempering of expectations is recommended

As always with these things, it's best to take the information at face valu??e for now. Until Nvidia confirms or denies these specula??tions, we have to assume that's what they are: just speculations.

It's believed that the RTX 3050 6GB card will still use the GA106 chip, but have a TDP of 75W. The current model has a TDP of 130W, so it's possible the rest of the hardware configurations will have a bit of a downgra??de as ??well.

As I say, these details hav??e yet to be confirmed so take them with a pinch of salt. Whatever reason Nvidia has for discontinuing an Ampere GPU and replacing it with a weaker model, it's best to hold off judgement until someone from ??the company addresses it. At the time of writing, Team Green has yet to comment.

The post Nvidia may be dropping the RTX 3050 in favor of a worse ver??sion appeared first on Destructoid.

Being born late into the �0s, the Atari 2600 was an intriguing mystery to me. By the time the N64 hit, the NES felt ??old to me, so the idea of a console even older than that was exciting. This was before you could jump onto YouTube to look up gameplay. I wanted to see it for myself.

It wasn’t unti??l college, around the time that the retro gamer identity really became a thing, that I finally found myself a 2600 Jr. Since then, I keep t??ripping into 2600 games. I own around 60, which isn’t as impressive as some of my other libraries, but considering I never actively tried to find Atari 2600 games, it says something.

A major issue with this, however, is that every model of the 2600 uses an RF output, and modern TVs hate it. Even late-model CRTs will sometimes refuse to display an Atari 2600, and those that do often do so behind a sheet of noise. I eventually modified my four-switch 2600 to compo??site video to finally get it to play nice with my modern setup. However, that’s not an option for a lot of people.

For people who want the 2600 experience without all the fuss, Atari themselves (and Plaion) have created the Atari 2600+.

Bringing back woodgrain electronics

The Atari 2600+ is based on the four-switch model of the 2600. Clone versions of the console are hardly a rarity, since the Atari Flashback has been around for nearly two decades. This o??ne is unique, however, as it accepts Atari 2600 and 7800 cartridges. But rather than just be a reproduction, it outputs through HDMI and supports widescreen. It’s also a bit smaller.

If you’re a retro enthusiast, your first question is going to be what kind of emulation it uses. A lot of modern retro consoles have switched to using field-programmable gate array (FPGA) hardware emulation rather than software emulation because it’s more accurate. The Atari 2600+, unfortunately, uses software emulation through Stella for 2600 games and ProSystem for 7800. Stella ha??s been around sinc??e 1996, so it’s damned good software emulation, but it’s software emulation nonetheless.

The major problem here is that compatibility isn’t perfect. There are games that won’t work on the Atari 2600+, but they are rare. Atari has a list of games, and there are only three fails as of writing, but there are quite a few that are untested, and a few that I noticed aren’t even listed at all. For example, one of my favorite Atari 2600 games, 1986’s Solaris?, isn’t listed. However, I can confirm that it’s a pass.

Another downside is that the system needs to load at startup. Whereas the Atari 2600 gets an image on display the moment you flip the switch, the Atari 2600+ displays a splash screen, then states that it’s loading, and then you get the image. I don’t find?? this to be that much of a nuisance, especially since you can hotswap games to avoid the initial splash, but I do feel it’s worth noting.

If looks could kill

Aesthetically, it’s pretty spot on??. From the wood panel front to the cold, dull click of the switches, it’s a good reproduction. The big new additions are a ?switch on the back that changes it from 16:9 to 4:3, and the logo on the front lights up. Otherwise, it’s basically just a smaller four-switch 2600.

The controller is also pretty exact. The CX40 joystick is one of the most iconic controller designs in video game history,?? but it also sucks. However, this is a good reproduction, as it features the rubberized stick (some aftermarkets just have a plastic stick), so long play may give you blisters. I didn’t pop it open to see if it uses the dome contacts of the original or if they changed it to carbon dot contacts. The screws are under the pads on the bottom of the controller, and I just don’t want to pry them off a perfectly good CX40.

Of course, the CX40 is an uncomfortable controller with a single? button that can’t even be reversed for left-handed people. I had the idea of plugging in a Sega Genesis controller, since both the CX40 and Genesis controller use DB9 ports. I’d swear this worked on my original 2600, but maybe I’m mistaken, because it doesn’t work with the 2600+. I tried a 3DO controller as well. Nothing.

Control freak

What’s mostly vexing about this is that the 7800 had a two-button controller. I own a single Atari 7800 game, Pole Position II (another accidental acquisition). I?t requires a two-button controller, a button for brake, and another for accelerate. The CX40 has ??one button, so it doesn’t work. The above controllers don’t work either. I tried a Sega Master System controller, and there’s not button mapped to accelerate.

Atari has announced they’re reproducing the Atari 78+ controller, which is sort of great, but also not really because it’s not the best controller. Also, you have to buy it?? separately.

If we’re using software emulation here, I’m not sure why I can’t use whatever DB9 controller I want. I get that it’s trying to be faithful to the original hardware, but I feel this could have been a place where we could have deviated enough for comfort’s sake. I’m just saying it would be nice to plug in my 8BitDo M30 and use it wireless. As it is, if you want wireless play, you’re going to have to find one of the actual 2600 wireless controllers from the �0s??. Just a warning: those get interrupted if an a??mbulance drives by or someone turns on a microwave.

I’m not sure if this can be address?ed later. The splash screen states that this is v1.00, which suggests to me that the firmware (or software layer) can be updated. However, if there’s a way to access any software settings, I can’t find it. It would have been nice if you could tweak certain things about the console if you’re savvy. Like, maybe turning off the sprite limitations to get rid ?of flicker on some games. Scanlines, maybe?

In the slot

As for games, the Atari 2600+ comes packed with a 10-in-1 cartridge. It includes some obvious entries like Adventure, Combat, Haunted House, Missile Command, and Yars�Revenge mixed in wit?h some other common games that are less well-remembered.

Interestingly, the 10-in-1 and the 4-in-1 that comes with the CX30 paddle controllers both use DIP switches on the back of the cartridge to s??elect the game you want. This is probably so they remain compatible with original hardware, as an in-game selection isn’t as easy to display. I kind of find it cool that they did it this way, but I also think that a normal home user might think it’s a bi??t intimidating.

Alongside the Atari 2600+ launch, Atari also released Berzerk Enhanced Edition and Mr. Run and Jump. 

I think for Berzerk, it’s using the homebrew hack created by Mike Mika, but I don’t see him credited anywhere. It’s mostly just the normal 2600 version of Berzerk, but with a few added voice lines. Pretty neat, consider?ing the hardware. The enemies can also shoot diagonally now, making it more in line with the original arcade version. The voices are impressive.

Mr. Run and Jump is an actually new 2600 game. It was created by John Mikula of Graphite Lab and was converted into a modern title that was released this past July. It’s an extremely basic platformer, but it’s surprisingly slick for the 2600, which didn’t see many games of the genre. I have to note that neither John Mikula nor Graphite ??Lab is listed on the packaging or in the game itself (unless there are end cr?edits, which wasn’t common on the console). I suppose that’s very faithful to Atari’s classic way of doing business.

Credits might have been included in the manuals for these games, but surprisingly, there are no manuals. This is especially weird for Berzerk Enhance Edition because it has a number of different game modes that you choose using the Game Select lever on the console. However, without the manual, the only way of ??knowing what these are is by looking it up onl?ine. Further, Evil Otto doesn’t appear in the default game setting, so�What the hell?

You get what you get

You mostly get what you get with the 2600+. It’s an Atari 7800 in a smaller Atari 2600 casing that is powered by USB-C and o??utputs with HDMI. It’s not impressive. If you’re familiar with 2600 games and don’t like them, this isn’t going to change your mind. However, if you’re already somewhat invested in the console and want one that doesn’t use RF without having to mod it, then this is probably for you.

I mentioned that it does widescreen, but i?t’s just 4:3 stretched to 16:9. I know there a??re people who like filling their screen with a stretched image, but not in this house.

That era of home consoles is far from my favorite. Each game is a short experience that usually can only keep you entertained for about five minutes?? before you’re slotting in the next cartridge. It can be enjoyable with friends, especially if you’re willing to compete for high scores. On the plus side, the entire catalogue of the console is still reasonably cheap. If you want to build up a stack of games, it isn’t expensive to do so.

And that’s that. If you know what you’re getting into, the Atari 2600+ will suit your needs. It does what it says it does and not much else beyond that. It might be a good starting point if you want to build a 2600 collection. It’s definitely a good way to get the full physical Atari 2600 experience. But that’s it. It’s exactly what I expected an??d nothing more.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the hardware purchased by the reviewer]}

The post Review: Atari 2600+ appeared first on Destructoid.

It doesn't feel th??at long ago since Nvidia launched its RTX 4000 "Ada Lovelace" range. In fact, the 4090 only came out last October. However, there's a chance that Team Green may be halting production of two of its products.

That's according to a post on Board Channels (as spotted by Videocardz), which?? states that Nvidia has allegedly "discontinued" the RTX 4070 Ti and RTX 4080. The information goes on to say that the "last distribution of goods in th??e 2023Q4 quarter has ended."

While the rumor has not been confirmed, one reason behind this could be so Nvidia can concentrate on newer models in the 4000 range. This could be in relation to the alleged RTX 4080 SUPER as well as a potential 4070 Ti SUPER.

Something could be lost in translation

As the report fro?m Videocardz notes, there's no real way to verify w?hether this information is 100% accurate or not. There may be some miscommunication going on here. It's possible that what's being said is referring to a temporary hold on mass production of the RTX cards, as opposed to fully discontinuing the SKUs.

As ?always with these things, it's best to temper any immediate judgements you may have. Nvidia will hopefully come forward with official word on what's true and what isn't.

This current generation of graphics cards ?is only a year old?? (or just over) so it probably wouldn't make sense for a tech firm to completely discontinue products. More stock may be put into some SUPER variants, but it doesn't seem likely that Nvidia would cease production of two of its graphics cards at this point.

The post Nvidia report?edly stops mass production of two RTX 4000 cards appeared first on Destructoid.

Valve has just announced the Steam Deck OLED, due to release in very short order on November 16. Effectively an upgrade to the baseline Steam Deck model, the OLED variant will even have a substantially ?upgraded battery, making the device that much more appea??ling.

What's particularly interesting here is that as the OLED model of the Steam Deck rolls in, Valve is phasing out the 64 GB and the 512 GB variants of the original device. As of right now, these version of the Deck are only going t?o stay in stock while supplies last (with an appropriate price drop), and new buyers will be able to purchase the following versions of the device in the future:

• 256 GB LCD version of the Steam Deck at $399
• 512 GB OLED version of the Steam Deck at $549
• 1 TB OLED version of the Steam Deck at $649

This is quite the revamp of the official D??eck lineup, but what makes it particularly exciting is that the OLED versions of the de??vice deliver substantial improvements to its core concept in all the ways that matter.

Steam Deck OLED specifications and upgrades

Aside from the obvious boon of a 7.4" OLED display with HDR support which is "designed from the ground up for gaming," according to Valve's?? press release, the device also features?? the following upgrades compared to the previously available model:

• 6nm APU for improved gaming efficiency
• Wi-Fi 6E for better download speeds
• 50Whr battery delivering up to 12 hours worth of gameplay

The top-spec 1 TB version of the Deck comes with its own set of exclusive boons, including the premium anti-glare etched display that was previously reserved for the 51?2 GB version, a special carrying case with removable liner, an exclusive startup movie, and an exclusive virtual keyboard theme. All in all, quite the bundle of goodies.

Something worth considering here is that the Steam Deck OLED will also have a special Limited Edition of? the device featuring a unique transparent chassis. The downside, however, is that this version of the device is only going to be deployed in very limit??ed quantities, and only on the territories of the US and Canada. The regular OLED version of the Deck should, however, be availalbe as per usual.

The post Valve announces the Steam Deck OLED appeared first on Destructoid.

We’ll be getting a deeper look at the future of Playdate in an upcoming live stream. The company announced that it will be hosting a 12 minute showcase via YouTub??????????????????????????e on November 8 at 9a.m. PST. 

The showcase is set to introduce developers working on the next slate of Playdate games and to offer some insight into “more fun stuff on the horizon.�In a follow-up message, Playdate teased what that fun stuff might look like. The company wrote, “No big hardware news, but keep an eye out for something blue & new.�/p>

Save the date

Playdate was first announced back in 2019, and the littl??e handheld console made its way into gamers' hands for the first time in April 2022. The console’s games follow a bit of a strange release schedule. The first “season�contains 24 different games, which become available two-per-week after you first get your device. Those are the flagship titles, and other games can be bought through Playdate's Cat??alog service or sideloaded onto the device.

Thanks in part to the handheld’s unique approach, Playdate has skyrocketed in popularity. A year after its launch Playdate had sold over 50,000 units. That’s more than double what developer Panic had projected and orders were backlogged into late 2023. Currently it’s possible to pre-order a Playdate for when the next batc?h of devices arrives. 

The November 8 showca??se could shed some light ??on when Playdate will be more readily available. It will also finally give owners and people with a pre-order waiting in the wings a peek at what Playdate’s second season of games will look like. 

The post A new Playdate update airs soon appeared first on Destructoid.

The Steam hardware survey is a chance for Valve to get an idea of the kits PC gamers are using. Not long ago, the likes of Nvidia's RTX 4000 series wa?s hardly being used, but it seems Team Green's ??latest generation is starting to find its audience.

The most recent Steam survey �specifically the graphics card results �shows that previous generations of Nvidia products are s??ti?ll the preference for Steam users. For example, the RTX 3060 is at the top spot, while the even older 2060 remains in second.

However, you can see that the 4000 series is now on the rise. According to the table, the RTX 4070 saw a jump of 1.19% between September and October. Additionally, the 4060 �which only ca?me out this summer �saw an increase of 1.25%. On the other hand, the RTX 4090 struggles, with a 0.11% decrease.

Why the general increase?

According to an October report from Digital Trends, AMD and Nvidia graphics cards have been seen at th??eir RRPs or cheaper. This could well explain why more PC users are starting to make the leap to the Ada Lovelace range.

Of course, while the Steam hardware survey is useful, it's worth pointing out that?? participation is completely optional. Therefore, not all users will have taken part, which may or may not skew the results. In any case, it certainly looks like Nvidia's cur??rent generation GPUs are finding their way into gamers' systems at last.

For what it's worth: I did decide to take part in the survey. I'm not ashamed of my GTX 960M. You can see it right there near the bo??ttom of the table, with a loss of 0.05%. On second thought, if I ever needed a bigger indicator that I could do with an upgrade, this is probably it.

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I’m a bit strange with my keyboards. I spend more time touching one than I do touching absolutely anythin??g else. However, I couldn’t tell you what makes one mechanical keyboard better than the other.

Until now, because wi?thout hyperbole (okay, with some), the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is the one I want to be touching until I die. And that’s not because of ergonomics, reliability, or how hardcore the key mechanics are; it’s because of its look.

Gosh, it’s gorgeous.

Keyboard dilettante

I’m a bit of a weird choice to review a keyboard, but I wasn’t going to say no when I was offered one for review. I only know the general details about what makes one ke??yboard better than the other. I worked in IT for nearly 10 years, and the only thing that lawyers and engineers cared about was if it put letters on the screen. Some people wanted weird ergonomic models, but that was rare. I didn’t even care about how they sounded.

Until I watched the 1995 film Hackers.

That film features some of the clickiest ke?ys I have ever heard, and I knew that my current keyboard wasn’t enough. I need something louder. I have to have that aesthetic for when I play the hacker games that make me feel smart. I need my neighbors to be able to hear my WPM from down the hall.

Initially, I was going to try?? and find a keyboard from the �0s ??before I discovered the audible greatness of mechanical keys.

The 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard ??has some great key sounds. If you’re not down with the particular key switches, the PCB is hot-swappable, so you can fit in something that suits your needs. Built-in is Kailh Box White Switches V2, which means absolutely nothing to me. However, I immediately fell in love with the sound. It has a lot of click, but less sharpness than my old Razor Blackwidow Ultimate (which uses Razor Green Switches).

Until it's gone

What I really love is the aesthetic, which comes in two flavors. There’s one that is based on the grey/darker grey color scheme of the NES, and another that lifts the red/beige look of the Famicom. Unfortunately, they didn’t use a metallic gold plate for the marquee, but otherwise, it looks f?antastic.

On top of the 87 keys, they put the 8BitDo touch to it with two knobs and three buttons, which grace many of the controllers, including my beloved arcade stick. The left knob is for switching between BlueTooth and 2.4Ghz, while the off position is used when you’re using USB. The other knob is volume, and rather than a tri-direction switch like the input method knob, it revolves freely but has a little click so you can feel each ???unit of volume you increase or decrease. You can adjust how much this unit is in the control panel.

The?? only drawback is the fact that it doesn’t have a numpad, but I think that’s because they wanted to keep it slightly portable, hence the wireless connections. I’m planning on eventually buying a separate numpad bec??ause it’s sometimes used in retro PC games. Also, I use it when entering numbers into a spreadsheet and sometimes hit the right Enter key. Right now, I keep hitting the right key blindly, thinking I’m reaching for Enter.

I did that just now.

I was initially planning on showing pictures of the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard in its home as ?part of my PC setup, but I decided that cleaning up my desk would be too much of an undertaking. Listen, it’s sometimes said th??at a messy desk is a sign of a creative mind. It could also be laziness, sure, but I refuse to admit that.

So, instead, I’m just using the press shots of the keyboard, and you’ll have to take my word for it; ??it looks great.

The stress test

I also don’t know how to test a keyboard or even w?hat I would be testing for. Is there a latency for keystrokes? Should I just press a button a few million times to see if it reaches the estimated lifespan (60 million, apparently)?

That sounds like a lot of work, so instead, I fired up Sega’s 1999 megahit Typing of the Dead. How far can I make it?

As it turns out, I made it to the last chapter using the default settings, which I don’t think is that bad since I haven’t played it in �my gosh �15 years. For many of the chapters, I ranked at the top of the prepopulated leaderboards. I’m not sure how well a normal human would do in the game. ?I’m clocked at somewhere over 80 WPM with high accuracy. Please be impressed. I’d really like to excel at something.

So, now we know that the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is capable of handling Typing of the Dead. I’m not sure what else we’d n??eed it for. I suppose it also does the other things I ?do, like playing text adventures, complaining about video games, and writing erotica. I’m even using it to “pen�this article, so that’s pretty cool.

Suffer like G did?

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard also comes with two “Super Buttons�which are�hm. Well, you can map them to other keys, macros, or common shortcuts. I haven’t fully decided what I’m going to use them for, but I’ve currently got the one set closest to me a??s “mute.�I think I might set the other one to my video driver’s screenshot button. There are spots to connect more Super Buttons �four sets, for up to eight buttons. I’d really like to see that.

I imagine they’re more for streamers who need somethi???ng mapped to somewhere easy to reach. I don’t watch streamers, so I have no idea, but I guess one could be mapped to do a fart sound. Do streamers�use fart sounds?

There are also two mappable buttons on the keyboard marked “A�and “B.�They’re called the Supper Buttons, and I am absolutely not making that up. I don’t think that’s a mistake, either, so someone has my exact sense of humor, which is to say, one informed almost entirely by Homestar Runner. I set one Supper Bu??tton to work as the Fn key, but when I have mute and volume right on m??y keyboard, I don’t know what I’d use it for. I’m just compounding my decision issues.

Th-This is my keyboard! It was made for me!

But the fact is that the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard is the keyboard for me. I have a lot of nostalgia for the beige electronics of yesteryear, but in ??particular, I love the Famicom. The lock screen on my phone is a Famicom controller (it unlocks to an NES controller home screen). It’s this weird intersection between a toy and a computer.

I’m not using hyperbole, and I don’t intend to gush. But the fact is, ?it’s a keyboard that aesthetically suits me better than anything else possibly could. This is for me. This is my keyboard.

My only concern is that the beige keys will eventually become yellowed from constant use, and I’ll eventually—begr??udgingly—have to part with it someday. I’m already thinking I should buy a compatible replacement PCB for it, if this one gives out after 80 million keystrokes. I want this keyboard to last forever. It may sound dramatic, but I’m hoping that I go out before it does, and if that happens, make sure to bury me with it.

Don't actually do that. That would be wasteful.

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We seem to be getting closer and closer to knowing whether Nvidia is pl??anning ?a SUPER variant of the RTX 4080. While it's not yet been confirmed to be in development, the supposed new model has been seen on an ID repository site.

As reported by PC Gamer, the unannounced RTX 4080 SUPER is now listed on PCI ID, a third-party database that lists hardware info. This particular entry was uploaded a few days ago, showing not only that it'll be a SUPER rather than a Ti, but that it'l?l utilize the AD103 chip.

Obviously, details about it are scarce at the moment. With speculations hotting up for this slightly souped u?p 4080, Nvidia may want to make a statement about it soon.

A (Ge)force to be reckoned with

Until we know for sure what's going on with the refreshed card, we can only go off leaks and rumors. It was suggested recently that the alleged Nvidia RTX 4080 SUPER would sport 20GB of VRAM. It also said that it would use th??e full AD102 chip, the same one the 4090 is built on.

However, if what the repository says is true, then it may be the AD103 instead, which is in-line with the ??current RTX 4080 model. The report from PC Gamer goes on to say ??that the SUPER could contain around 5.3% more shaders, based on hardware knowledge.

If it does come to fruition, it will likely offer a bit more juice than its regular RTX 4080 counterpart. However, if past experience is anything to go by �looking at ?you, RTX 3090 Ti �Nvidia may mark it up beyond what its specs suggest it's actually worth.

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While details are scarce at the moment, there's a possibility that Nvidia may unleash a SUPER variant of its RTX 4080 graphics card ?that has 20GB of RAM. That's if rumors from a number of sources are to be believed.

Speculations were shared by Videocardz (which originally came from Benchlife as well as a source on Twitter/X). It appears as though some information has fallen into the hands of lea?kers who assert th?at the boosted RTX 4080 is in the works.

Nvidia hasn't confirmed any of this at the time of writing. Suffice it to say, many grains of salt should be consumed ??while chewi?ng this latest information.

Either a SUPER or a Ti

It's also looking like this elusive new model could sport the full AD102 chip, the same one used in the RTX 4090. The current 4080 uses AD103, so �as V?ideocardz says �the potential SUPER variant would need the AD102 GPU if it hopes to squeeze in 20GB of memory.

It's also worth noting t??hat sources have not specifically said that it will be part of the SUPER series, so it could even? be a Ti. In any case, temper expectations for now until Nvidia makes a formal statement about these rumors.

Speculations about the potential Nvidia graphics card were doing the rounds recently. We also kn?ow that Team Green had to "unlaunch" a 12GB version of the RTX 4080 about a year ago.

The 4000 series �named "Ada Lovelace" after the 19th century English mathematician �kicked off in October 2022. We've had a number of product launches since then, includin??g a couple of Ti models. However, we've yet to have a SUPER, so it could be h??igh-time for one.

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As discovered by Liliputing and picked up by The Verge, a handheld PC company is toying with a rather f??amiliar-looking screen configuration for one of their upcoming products: the Ayaneo Flip DS and its sibling, the Ayaneo Flip KB. The KB just flips open to a mini-keyboard, while the DS has an upper and lower screen, similar to a particularly well-known lin??e of Nintendo handhelds.

The handheld PCs ar?e both powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7840U CPU and Radeon 780M integrated graphics. They have a primary display size of 7 inches and a refresh rate of 120hz. That’s all that has really been “leaked�by Ayaneo, and I emphasize those quotes because Liliputing does.

Call me short of imagination, but I have no idea what else you’d use the second screen for. To show a slideshow of your anime waifus while you play Doom (2016)? I’m fairly certain that it’s intended for the crowd looking to emulate Nintendo DS games, which I find funny because I think the best platform to emulate Nintendo DS games is a Nintendo DS. It has the form factor and screen resolution and everything. They’re also super cheap. They just don’t let you play modern PC games, so I guess if you’re short on pocket space�/p>

However, I feel like pointing out that it won’t be a very good DS surrogate unless that second screen is a touch display. Try playing Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland without one. I feel like, give??n its obvious purpose, it has to be??, but that hasn't been confirmed.

Meanwhile, The Verge reporter Sean Hollister sounds practically exasperated with Ayaneo’s hijinks. They say: “The company also announces new designs faster than it can ship them �by the time I’ve received one of the company’s products for testing, it’s almost always already moved on to a newer, more desirable model.�/p>

The isn’t for me, but it might be for you. I, on the other hand, have a sudden desire to play Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland again.

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Analogue has announced the next in their line-up of FPGA-powe?red console recreations. This time, they’ll be revisiting a personal favorit??e of mine, the Nintendo 64, with the Analogue 3D.

Analogue is playing it pretty coy with the Analogue 3D. The only thing I have in terms of news is some shadowy images of the hardware and controller and the promise that it will be 100% compatible through t?he use of FPGA hardware emulation.

This is sort of big news because the N64 has been notoriously hard to emulate accurately. Even Nintendo’s own attempts at software emulation through the Virtual Console or Nin??tendo Switch Online haven’t been perfect. Through the use of FPGA they can emulate the hardware, ?rather than the software environment, ensuring maximum compatibility.

The Analogue 3D will output at 4K via HDMI, and supports both Bluetooth controllers as well as Nintendo’s ??original T-rex feet.?? They’re also collaborating with 8BitDo to create an N64 style controller. While the controller is also occluded by shadow, it looks to be similar to their “Ultimate�style controller but with the six face buttons of the N64.

Signature blur

While I recognize all of the N64’s faults, it’s still one of my favorite consoles. However, its native video output leaves a lot to be desired. I’ve modified mine to support RGB and run it through an upscaler, but I don’t think it’s even possible to make it look good on modern displays. Analogue says that the Analogue 3D will have filters to replicate CRT and PVM displays, which may help, but I’m wondering if they’ll go furth??er and have the option to remove the system’s blurry filtering.

We’re waiting for more information, like what the console looks like in action. I’m very interested, but if it simply outputs in 4K with filters, then it might not be for me. I’d probably just stick with my modified N64 and run it through the upcoming Retrotink 4K, which would yield essentially the same result.

Nonetheless, for anyone without the setup (or time to create the set-up), the Analogue 3D will be the best, easiest way to play N64 games. As with their other consoles, the Analogue 3D? will only run games through cartridge, though that would likely include Everdrives if you’re not keen on having a collectio??n.

The Analogue 3D will be coming sometime in 2024.

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PS Plus Premium members are getting a neat extra perk for their subscription. Sony announced on PlayStation Blog that cloud streaming is coming for select PS5 titles later this month.

These titles range from ones available on the PlayStation Plus catalog to digital purchases already in users' libraries and Game Trials. Supported titles range from the Resident Evil 4 remake to free-to-play games like Genshin Impact. In-game purchases are als?o available for?? streaming, which Sony compares to purchases from downloaded games.

Some PS5 cloud streaming fea??tur??es include playing at up to 4K with HDR and access to the console's audio capabilities. Video capture is also available for up to 3 minutes along with screenshots.

PS5 cloud streaming will launch worldwide in phases based on the region. Japan will receive the feature first on October 17 before reaching Europe ??on October 23. North America has the latest launch on October 30. The feature will only be available on PS5 consoles at launch.

Cloud streaming their games is a neat perk to the service for anyone with PS Plus Premium and is low on storage. Even with the PS5 Slim's 1TB of storage, many modern games are exorbitantly big, so being able to stream them could potentially mitigate storage issues at l??east a bit.

Whether PS5 cloud streaming adds substantial value to PS Plus Premium is up to the individual player. Game Trials potentially benefit from this since they are more or less extended demos, meaning far les??s time investment. Even so, PS cloud streaming can be spotty even with great internet.

Hopefully, any benefits from streaming PS5 titles will outweigh the cons that come with it. Its use will vary with each subscriber's internet speed, but idea?lly, it helps avoid lengthy download times.

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Alan Wake 2 is almost upon us. After 13 years, fans will soon experience the sequel to th??e cult horror Xbox 360 hit. If you're excited about the game, would you be interested in a free copy? Let me rephrase: would you be interested in a free copy if you're already purchasing a new graphics card?

That's what Nvidia is currently offering, at least. If you're in the market for some current-gen graphical firepower, and you want some survival horror goodness to go with it, you can get Alan Wake 2 free with purchases of select GPUs.

According to the Nvidia website, you??'ll be eligible if you buy an RTX 4070, 4070 Ti, 4080, and 4090 (if you feel like splashing out). It's not just PCs, either. A ?laptop powered by the mobile versions of the 4070, 4080, and 4090 graphics chips also qualify.

T's and C's apply

Nvidia is offering this bundle until November 13, so you have a couple of weeks after the game comes out to take advantage of it. Of course, not everyone can afford brand-new hardware right now, but if you are looking to upgrade, this might be an enticing offer. Do check the site for full terms and c??onditions, though.

Alan Wake 2 is also one of the few games t??hat features version 3.5 of Nvidia's DLSS upscaling tech. As such, it kind of makes sense that Team Green would want to partner with developer Remedy Entertainment.

As for the game itself, we're fast approaching spooky season, so horror is going to be everywhere by the time Halloween rolls around. Fans of the original are no doubt looking forward to the much-anticipated sequel. Hell, even I'm keen to check it out, and I wasn't a huge fan of Alan Wake to begin with.

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Sony has finally announced the production of a slimmer PS??5 model after years of rumors and speculation. It’s sent to launch “this holiday season,�which, judging from the seasonal stock in most department stores, started sometime in July.

I can’t believe it’s been nearly three years since the launch of the PlayStation 5. For the longest time, it was hard to even get your hands on one. If yo?u were someone who persevered and got a launch model, here’s the inevitable spit in your eye.

It’s not that bad, though. The slimmer PS5 model doesn’t have any more horsepower and is coming fitted with the same size hard drive (1TB). The reveal trailer doesn’t really show off any comparison between the two models, which is because there’s not tremendous difference. It’s describ??ed as having reduced “more than 30%, and weight by 18% and 24%.�So, it’s definitely leaner in line with the PS4 or PS3 redesigns. The launch model PS5 was a pretty chonky beast, so I’m sure your shelves will thank you.

It comes in both disc and all-digital versions, though the digital version will now have?? an option to add an Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc Drive. The vertical stand is sold separately?? for some reason. 

The slimmer model PS5 will start showing up in stores “this holiday season.�The price remains $499.99 USD for the disc mode?l, and 449.99 USD for the discless one.

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We can't be certain just yet, but it's possible that Nvidia may be w?orking on a Ti version of the RTX 4080 graphics card. If so, it could offer a more powerful piece of kit than the regular 4080 that's? currently on the market.

The information comes from known hardware leaker MEGAsizeGPU (as spotted by Videocardz). A recent po??st on Twitter/X says a new 4080, which could bear the ?suffix S (as in "SUPER") or Ti, might be in the pipeline.

The post goes on to say that, if true, the card could use the fully enabled AD102 chip, have a TGP below 450W, and be the same price a??s its RTX 4080 cousin. On top of that, the leaker suggests the GPU may be with us "early 2024."

Temper expectations, for now

Of cours??e, it goes without saying that these are just rumors and speculations. At the time of writing, Nvidia �or any other official party �hasn't confirmed whether t?his new Ti graphics card is currently in development.

So far, the 4080 and the beastly 4090 are the only (non-laptop) Nvidia graphics cards in the Ada Lovelace range to not have a Ti eq??uivalent yet. No doubt ?the latter will get one at some point. However, if it's anything like the 3000 series, it could arrive late into this generation.

On top of that, Nvidia had to 'unlaunch' its RTX 4080 12GB card around this time last year. At the time, the tech company cited the name similarities between this prod??uct and the already released RTX 4080 as the reason for the cancellation.

If the 4080 Ti does become a reality, it's likely to offer better performance than its predecessor. The fact that we haven't had an Nvidia 4000 launch since July (the 4060 Ti) d??oes suggest we're due one, so Team Green could well be preparing something.

The post A beefier Nvidia RTX 4080 may be in the pipeline, ?acco?rding to leaker appeared first on Destructoid.