Members of the French video game union STJV (Syndicat des travailleureuses du jeu vidéo) at Arkane Lyon have accused Microsoft of sabotaging Marvel's Blade. In a statement published on November 4, the union claims a 19-month hiring freeze created the very delays and extra costs that Microsoft now cites as economic grounds for closing the studio. It also says work on Blade is going fine, with expected quality on par with Arkane's earlier games. Xbox hasn't responded publicly yet.

The union goes further, arguing that Arkane is profitable, "just not profitable enough for Microsoft." Apparently, the studio's cash always looks low because leftover money gets sent up to the group through cash pooling, and sales of its older games, which STJV puts in the tens of millions, don't show up in the company results. It adds that closing Arkane would probably cost more than finishing Blade. The union wants workers to have a say in picking a buyer, along with a fund that would protect anyone a new owner lays off within 24 months. If the studio does close, it is asking for a €200,000 redundancy payment and two years of Microsoft-funded redeployment support, among other demands.

Ubisoft has made an offer to buy Arkane Lyon, the French studio behind Dishonored, Deathloop and the upcoming Marvel's Blade, according to Bloomberg's Jason Schreier. At least two other gaming companies have put in offers of their own, though their names haven't come out yet. Apparently, Xbox is also weighing a sale to the studio's own management, much like how Double Fine and Compulsion Games went independent earlier this year. No deal has been agreed so far, and Xbox reportedly told Bloomberg that it is still exploring options ahead of a December deadline.

That deadline exists because of French labor law. Arkane Lyon's future was put under review in July as part of Xbox CEO Asha Sharma's "reset," and France's Florange Law required Microsoft to look for a buyer before it could close the studio. The consultation was first set to end on November 13, but Microsoft extended it by a month to December 13. Around 217 jobs are on the line. Insider Gaming, which says it confirmed the bid independently, adds that Ubisoft had been interested "for some time," even before Arkane's situation became public over the summer.

Earlier in 2026, when Microsoft announced the Xbox Reset that saw 1,600 employees lose their jobs immediately, with 1,600 more on the chopping block for later, and several game studios either cut loose or shut-down entirely, Arkane Lyon was mentioned as one of the studios at risk of closure. Now, according to a report by Le Monde, it seems as though the Dishonored and Deathloop studio has until November 13 to find a buyer before Microsoft will officially shut it down. Arkane has already been forced to cancel the Blade game it was working on, as a result of the recent layoffs, and if no agreement is reached before the projected date, 217 jobs are at risk.

According to a French union delegate representing employees at the studio, the search for a buyer has not gone well. French businesses with more than 1,000 employees are legally mandated to look for a buyer for any business they wish to close for at least three months, and that obligatory search ends on November 13. The union says it has asked for an extension on that deadline and in order to buy more time in the negotiations over the employee redundancy plan, in the hopes that the studio and its workers would be saved, although the negotiations with Microsoft have not gone well.

Xbox CTO Scott Van Vliet has shown off the classic Xbox 360 Blades dashboard running inside a web browser on a PC. It's one of the first public experiments from the newly formed Xbox Labs team. The short clip also shows the later New Xbox Experience (NXE) and the Metro-style dashboard, and all three look fully navigable. Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, who announced Xbox Labs last week with Van Vliet in charge, shared the clip with a simple question: "Blades on web. Do we like this experiment?" There's no word on Blades officially coming back to Xbox consoles, and this is very much an experiment for now.

It's not the first time Sharma has floated the idea. Shortly after taking over as CEO earlier this year, she asked fans whether Xbox should bring Blades back. Interestingly, the browser's address bar in the video appears to show FFFE07D1, the Title ID of the Xbox 360 dashboard. That hints Microsoft may be running actual 360 system software through some kind of emulation or translation layer, though Xbox hasn't said how any of this works. Xbox Labs was set up to experiment with how games are built and played, partly in response to the recent wave of AI-assisted ports, so a browser-based approach would fit that brief. Microsoft has already brought original Xbox games to PC, so a proper Xbox 360 push on PC no longer seems far-fetched.

We're on the ground at IFA in Berlin this week, and one of the more interesting machines we walked past on the show floor was the Acer Swift Blade 14. It's a new sub-brand under Acer's Swift lineup, and the first thing you notice picking it up is just how little of it there is to hold. Acer built the Swift Blade 14 to weigh just 799 grams (1.76 pounds), making it one of the lightest 14-inch Windows laptops we've come across. The chassis pairs carbon fiber on the top and bottom covers with a magnesium-aluminum alloy keyboard deck, keeping the weight down without the machine feeling flimsy in hand. It measures 12.9mm thin on the base configuration and 13.5mm on OLED models. That's not quite as thin as a 13-inch MacBook Air, but it is significantly lighter.

Inside, the laptop runs on Intel's Wildcat Lake platform, scaling up to a Core 7 350 CPU alongside 12GB of onboard LPDDR5-6400 memory and up to 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 NVMe storage. The display comes in three tiers, topping out at a 3K OLED WQXGA+ panel running at 90Hz with 400 nits and full DCI-P3 coverage, packed into a 90% screen-to-body ratio with 4.3mm bezels. A 50Wh battery, three USB Type-C ports, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3 round out the spec sheet. Of course, thermal performance will be a concern in a chassis this thin, so we'll have to wait for independent testing to comment on that. Acer confirmed the Swift Blade 14 launches across EMEA in December, though pricing hasn't been announced yet.

Acer today announced two new thin-and-light laptops that expand possibilities for portable performance: the ultralight Acer Swift Blade 14 and the Acer Swift Air 16, both running on Windows 11.

Acer Swift Blade 14: 799 g Laptop for Mobile Productivity
Weighing only 799 g and as thin as 12.9 mm, the super-compact 14-inch Acer Swift Blade 14 (SFB14-53CF) is designed around mobile productivity and visual-driven workflows on the go. The ultra-light laptop is powered by up to an Intel Core 7 processor 350, paired with 12 GB of LPDDR5 memory and up to 1 TB of storage, delivering portable performance for work, play, and creativity. For premium visuals, the laptop offers up to a 3K OLED display with up to 100% DCI-P3 color gamut for vibrant colors and sharp details. A 90% screen-to-body ratio, 4.3 mm ultra-slim bezels, and 16:10 aspect ratio maximize screen space and deliver immersive viewing on the go.

When it was reported that Xbox Game Studios was planning on restructuring in the face of plummeting revenue, which would predictably lead to mass layoffs and studio closures, it seemed as though a handful of studios were at risk of closure. Now, according to an insider source speaking to The Verge, that number has jumped to at least five game studios, including Arkane Studios, the game studio behind Dishonored and the upcoming Marvel's Blade. Allegedly, even before the rumored studio closures and layoffs, Xbox was unhappy with how slowly Blade was being developed and was weighing its options for the future of the game and its studio.

Microsoft is supposedly using up the time leading up to the planned layoff announcement to seek potential buyers for certain studios, including Arkane Studios, although sources say that Marvel's Blade, currently in development at Arkane, would be cancelled with the studio's closure. As many as 1,000 workers will potentially lose their jobs in the upcoming wave of layoffs at Microsoft's Xbox Gaming. Currently, it seems as though the layoffs will take place on July 6, but Microsoft has yet to confirm anything regarding the layoffs.

Razer today announced the availability of two new configurations of the Razer Blade 16, expanding its flagship ultraportable gaming laptop lineup with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 Laptop GPU options paired with a new 64 GB memory tier. The new models join the previously announced RTX 5080 and 5090 32 GB configurations and are available now, exclusively at Razer.com and select RazerStores.

Pricing and availability for the new Razer Blade 16 (2026) configurations:

• Razer Blade 16 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU | 64 GB LPDDR5X-9600 MHz | $4,699.99 USD
• Razer Blade 16 with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU | 64 GB LPDDR5X-9600 MHz | $5,599.99 USD

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the 2026 evolution of the Razer Blade 16. While maintaining its iconic, industry-leading chassis as the thinnest gaming laptop in Razer's history, the new 2026 model shifts into a new gear of performance for gamers, content creators, and professionals who demand power on the go.

By prioritizing the latest silicon breakthroughs from Intel and faster-than-ever memory clock speeds, the new Blade 16 is engineered for those who demand the latest-generation processing in a form factor that remains impossibly slim.

Supermicro, Inc., a Total IT Solution Provider for AI, Cloud, Storage, and 5G/Edge, is announcing the launch of the industry's first and highest-density blade server platform powered by the latest AMD EPYC 4005 series processors. Designed with a flexible, density-optimized blade architecture, Supermicro's new MicroBlade platform is designed for longevity and versatility. By including the latest AMD EPYC 4005 series processors, along with previous versions, the system provides seamless scalability and long-term investment protection, allowing organizations to expand and upgrade as compute requirements evolve.

"Our flexible blade architecture enables customers to mix different node types with different CPUs within a single enclosure and can incorporate up to 320 server nodes in a standard 48U rack," said Charles Liang, president and CEO of Supermicro. "Supermicro continues to lead the industry in delivering advanced, energy-efficient platforms to market that maximize scalability, lower total cost of ownership, and protecting data center investments for the long term."

HPE (NYSE:HPE) today announces the newest additions to the next-generation HPE Cray supercomputing portfolio that provide industry-leading compute density, designed to meet the needs of artificial intelligence (AI) demands while performing at-scale. This HPE Cray Supercomputing portfolio expansion includes three multipartner, multi-workload compute blades, unified management software and high-performance interconnect support, establishing one of the most powerful supercomputing architectures in the industry for research laboratories, sovereign entities and large enterprises that are increasingly turning to AI to advance their simulations and drive scientific discovery.

"Global organizations relying on supercomputing are looking for better computing performance for all of their workloads," said Trish Damkroger, senior vice president and general manager, HPC and AI Infrastructure Solutions at HPE. "Our new HPE Cray Supercomputing platform is the answer to customers' needs for higher performance density with a unified AI and HPC architecture that is engineered for groundbreaking outcomes. HPE is proud to share our unwavering commitment to AI and supercomputing as the engine of innovation and scientific discovery, advancing the way people live and work."

Giga Computing, a subsidiary of GIGABYTE and an industry leader in accelerated computing servers and advanced cooling technologies, today announced the launch of its first 3U 10-node blade servers: the GIGABYTE B343-C40, supporting AMD EPYC 4005 or Ryzen 9000 Series processors, and the GIGABYTE B343-X40, supporting Intel Xeon 6300-series processors. This new GIGABYTE B-series marks Giga Computing's entry into blade server solutions, optimized for enterprise, edge, and cloud workloads that demand scalable, power-efficient systems with centralized management.

The GIGABYTE B343 Series is also Giga Computing's first product line to incorporate post-consumer recycled (PCR) low-carbon materials, supporting the rising global demand for sustainable computing. These servers are engineered for performance and environmental responsibility, aligning with evolving carbon regulations and enterprise ESG goals.

Razer, the world's leading lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the all-new Razer Blade 14. Completely redesigned to deliver ultra-portability and high performance, the Blade 14 is the thinnest 14-inch Razer gaming laptop ever. Featuring a new thermal hood design, the Blade 14 maintains a slim form factor while maximizing performance with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU and AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor. With a stunning 3K 120 Hz OLED display, ample connectivity options, and high-quality materials, the new Blade 14 offers gamers the definitive user experience that only Razer can provide.

• Fully Redesigned: The new Razer Blade 14 is the thinnest 14-inch Razer gaming laptop, with a focus on portability and performance. Featuring Razer's innovative thermal hood design for better heat management and airflow, the Blade 14 delivers maximum performance in a compact form factor.
• Powerful New Components: Equipped with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU and an AMD Ryzen AI 9 365 processor for unmatched gaming, productivity, and AI performance.
• Stunning 3K OLED Display: The laptop boasts a 3K 120 Hz OLED display with a 0.2 ms response time and NVIDIA G-SYNC , providing a smooth and sharp visual experience.
• Expansive Connectivity and Superior Battery: Includes a large 72 Whr battery for up to 11 hours of on-screen time, UHS-II MicroSD card reader, two USB4 Type-C ports, and a full-sized HDMI 2.1 port. The Blade 14 supports BT 5.4 and Wi-Fi 7 for fast and stable connections.
• The Razer Blade Advantage: The Blade 14 is made from T6-grade aluminium and features a sand-blasted texture, anodized matte finish and focuses on environmental sustainability with plastic-free packaging.

GIGABYTE Technology, a global leader in computing innovation, will return to COMPUTEX 2025 from May 20 to 23 under the theme "Omnipresence of Computing: AI Forward." Demonstrating how GIGABYTE's complete spectrum of solutions spanning the AI lifecycle, from data center training to edge deployment and end-user applications reshapes the infrastructure to meet the next-gen AI demands.

As generative AI continues to evolve, so do the demands for handling massive token volumes, real-time data streaming, and high-throughput compute environments. GIGABYTE's end-to-end portfolio - ranging from rack-scale infrastructure to servers, cooling systems, embedded platforms, and personal computing—forms the foundation to accelerate AI breakthroughs across industries.

Officially, NVIDIA has only revealed mobile variants of its GeForce RTX 50 "Blackwell" GPU series going down to RTX 5070. At CES 2025, Jensen Huang's keynote presentation proposed a $1299 entry point for GB206-equipped gaming laptops—rated up to 800 AI TOPS. As demonstrated by recent market trends, "MSRP" recommendations are widely viewed as whimsical recommendations (at best). Pre-orders for upper crust to mid-range GeForce RTX 50-series laptops opened up on February 25, but the missing ROP (Raster Operations Pipeline) problem has seemingly spread to Blackwell's mobile offshoot. Reports suggest that necessary investigations have pushed initial customer-bound deliveries into April. Presumably, unannounced lower end products—in GeForce RTX 5060 and RTX 5050 Mobile form—are similarly delayed.

Earlier today, momomo_us—a notable source of pre-launch information—unearthed an alleged "Razer-authored" new product document. The American-Singaporean brand appears to be preparing a multitude of Razer Blade 16 (2025) SKUs, with a series identified as "RZ09-0528." The leaked MSRP guide contains a major error; Razer's forthcoming flagship model—powered by an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 "Strix Point" APU and GeForce RTX 5090 Mobile GPU—will not arrive at retail/e-tail with a $1499 price tag. Focusing on the opposite end of Razer's chart, VideoCardz highlighted the $1999 OLED-equipped SKU—featuring a Ryzen AI 9 365 processor and Team Green's unannounced GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile GPU. The speculative steep asking price is not a big surprise, given the expected tagging on of Razer "premium tax." Mid-way through last week, "lowly" GeForce RTX 5050-powered laptops were accidentally listed by retail outlets. The cheapest offering was advertised with a $1720 (including VAT) price point—based on these recent (possibly unfinalized) data points, industry watchdogs have predicted steep asking prices for even the most basic of Blackwell mobile options.

Another day, another Blackwell performance leak. As we inch closer to their official release, more and more benchmark results keep popping up on the internet. Now, a fresh Geekbench OpenCL listing seemingly sheds light on the performance brought to the table by the RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, housed in a Razer Blade 16 alongside a Strix Point APU. However, be warned - the following results depict the RTX 5090 laptop running at only 1515 MHz, which makes it significantly slower than what it is capable of when allowed to run at full tilt, likely to be somewhere around 2100 MHz.

As such, the RTX 5090 Laptop managed a score of only around 91,000 points - almost half that of its predecessor's typical score of 179,000 points according to Geekbench. This likely indicates that the laptop was running on battery power, which would make sense considering the abysmal result. At least, thanks to this listing, we do get to confirm the specifications of the RTX 5090 Laptop GPU - 82 SMs, which means a total of 10,496 CUDA cores, and 24 GB of GDDR7 VRAM. The RTX 4090 Laptop, on the other hand, packs 9728 CUDA cores, putting the RTX 5090 Laptop ahead by around 7.87%. The 150-watt RTX 5090 Laptop also clocks at 1455 MHz at an 80-watt TGP, and 2040 MHz at 150 watts. This does align with what we are witnessing from the aforementioned RTX 5090 Laptop listing, confirming that it is indeed in some kind of low-power mode.

Welcome to the middle of January and a busy week of new game releases. We kick off this week with some driving, on tracks though, as these cars might not be entirely road legal. If cars aren't your thing, then how about a city builder, but in the sky? If that doesn't tickle your fancy, how about a unique looking ARPG? This is followed by something of a PC clone of recent Zelda games, just without any defined goals. This brings us a futuristic side scroller where you fight demons. We round off the week with some Chinese hack and slash action back in the feudal era.

Assetto Corsa EVO / This week's major release / Thursday 16 January
As with its predecessor, Assetto Corsa EVO will include cars from different classes spanning across years of motoring history. From road cars, classics, hypercars, and race cars. The most iconic representation of the automotive and motorsport world. Each vehicle is reproduced through an advanced system that simulates mechanical, electronic, and aerodynamic performance, combined with the fidelity of the circuits created using Laserscan technology. Steam link

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced the new Razer Blade 16, redesigned to be thinner and more mobile for on-the-go gamers but packed with the performance expected from a Razer Blade. Featuring the all-new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 series laptop GPUs and, for the first time ever, AMD Ryzen AI 9 processors, Blade 16 offers incredible levels of raw power and maximum AI performance. Equipped with a fast and vibrant QHD+ 240 Hz OLED display, a new keyboard and more speakers, the Blade 16 is more fun to play on that ever before.

Travis Furst, Head of the Notebook & Accessories Division at Razer, stated, "The new Razer Blade 16 is a game-changer, blending ultra-portable design with powerhouse performance. It's tailored for gamers who demand the best in mobility without compromising on power or features, truly embodying what the future of gaming laptops looks like."

At CES 2025, MSI is set to showcase a stunning lineup of innovations, from liquid coolers to power supplies and groundbreaking concept cases, redefining the possibilities of DIY assembly. The new MAG CORELIQUID A15 Series combines exceptional cooling performance with EZ DIY designs for a seamless installation experience. The MEG Ai1600T PCIE5 and MPG A1250GS PCIE5 power supplies, featuring dual native 12V-2×6 connectors and triple certifications, provide unparalleled stability and efficiency. Meanwhile, the flagship concept case MEG MAESTRO 900L PZ takes inspiration from stage displays, offering dual-system support and modular flexibility that revolutionize case design. In 2025, MSI continues to set new benchmarks in the DIY market—stay tuned!

Introducing the New MSI MAG CORELIQUID A15 Series Liquid Cooler, Coming Q1 2025! Designed with innovation and user experience in mind, the MAG CORELIQUID A15 Series takes the DIY assembly experience to a whole new level. Rooted in the EZ DIY concept, MSI focuses on user-friendly installation, featuring groundbreaking designs like the UNI Bracket, EZ Connect, EZ Conn-Design, pre-installed fans, and concealed cable integration for a seamless setup.

Today, Hewlett Packard Enterprise announces its new high performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure portfolio that includes leadership-class HPE Cray Supercomputing EX solutions and two systems optimized for large language model (LLM) training, natural language processing (NLP) and multi-modal model training. The new supercomputing solutions are designed to help global customers fast-track scientific research and invention.

"Service providers and nations investing in sovereign AI initiatives are increasingly turning to high-performance computing as the critical backbone enabling large-scale AI training that accelerates discovery and innovation," said Trish Damkroger, senior vice president and general manager, HPC & AI Infrastructure Solutions at HPE. "Our customers turn to us to fast-track their AI system deployment to realize value faster and more efficiently by leveraging our world-leading HPC solutions and decades of experience in delivering, deploying and servicing fully-integrated systems."

At Razer, innovation is in our DNA. We consistently push boundaries to create features that not only enhance the gaming experience but also often set new industry standards. Today, I'm excited to share an update on one of our latest innovations—Razer Snap Tap—initially introduced on the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro line, is now extending across more devices, including the now-available Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%.

Innovation at the Core of Razer
Razer has always been at the forefront of gaming technology, introducing features ahead of their time. These innovations typically stir robust debates but ultimately pave the way for new standards within the gaming industry. Razer Snap Tap is no exception. Following its successful introduction, we've observed others in the industry follow and implement similar technology, validating our leadership in gaming innovation, and cementing the Razer Advantage.

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today unveiled the Razer Blade 18 (2024) - the pinnacle of high-performance gaming laptops. Building on the success of the award-winning Blade 16 and Blade 14 unveiled at CES 2024, the Blade 18 sets a new benchmark for gaming and creative work with its unrivaled desktop-grade performance, housed within a sleek anodized aluminium unibody form factor.

"The Blade 18 embodies Razer's relentless drive to push the boundaries of what a gaming laptop can be, with a host of world's first innovations," says Travis Furst, Head of Notebook & Accessories Division at Razer. "We are excited to deliver the Blade 18 as it ushers in a new era of Razer products equipped with Thunderbolt 5, including upcoming cutting-edge Thunderbolt accessories. With these innovations, the Blade 18 blurs the line between desktop performance and mobile convenience, ensuring our users are equipped with nothing but the absolute best to dominate in gaming and creativity."

At CES 2024, Razer has updated its Blade laptop family spanning across various sizes, and even got a chance to present a "world's first" feature in a gaming product. The star of the Razer booth is the company's flagship Blade 16 laptop, which now supports 240 Hz refresh rate in its 16-inch OLED display format. Being the first to get there, Razer offers a high refresh rate at 2560 x 1600 QHD+ resolution. In addition to 0.2 ms response time and DCI-P3 100% color gamut, the display had VESA ClearMR 11000 and DisplayHDR True Black 500 certifications. At the center of the laptop is the 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900HX processor, paired with up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 GPU with 175 Watt TGP. Pricing starts at $2999 for lower-end configurations and is available now.

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today debuts a dream collaboration with Automobili Lamborghini - the Razer Blade 16 x Automobili Lamborghini Edition. This revolutionary gaming laptop showcases unrivaled design and performance credentials. Limited to just 150 individually serialized units that are exclusively available in the US, it offers a visual spectacle with a custom CNC-milled chassis drenched in Automobili Lamborghini's signature Arancio Apodis orange and matte black finish. Combined with powerful hardware that challenges every gaming frontier, this gaming laptop is a limited-edition symbol of unmatched superiority.

"Uniting the iconic design language of Automobili Lamborghini with Razer's gaming pedigree, this new edition of the award-winning Blade 16 pushes boundaries in aesthetics and performance," said Travis Furst, Head of Laptop Division at Razer. "This collaboration reflects Razer's dedication to offering top-tier experiences to gamers."

In Win Development Inc. (InWin), a leading innovator in PC enthusiast gaming hardware, has introduced its new AN120/140, DN120/140, and DN120/140 PRO case fans. These silent, high static pressure fans are ideal for air or liquid cooling.

Key Features
Neptune AN, DN, and DN PRO fans feature InWin's signature Turbine Blade design that angles the blades to channel more concentrated airflow. The fan is molded to the frame to prevent air leakage and noise pollution that standard models tend to emit. The results offer an impressive static pressure of up to 2.95 mm/H2O (DN140 PRO), while operating at a mere 20.3 dBA (DN120 PRO). Get great performance without sacrificing your peace. Control with PWM via a dedicated IC chip (for DN PRO), which can produce as little as 17.2 dBA at 900 RPM (AN120).