Elgato, a brand of CORSAIR, today announced the launch of two new capture cards, 4K X and 4K Pro. Equipped with the latest chipsets and outstanding specifications, these capture cards enable creators to give their audiences the best viewing experiences on all platforms—without compromising their top-tier gaming experience on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, high-end gaming PCs, or handheld consoles like Nintendo Switch. 4K X, a USB card, features up to 4K144 passthrough and capture. 4K Pro, a PCIe card, boasts up to 8K60 HDR10 passthrough and 4K60 HDR10 capture. Setting yet another benchmark in streaming technology, Elgato is again putting gamers at the cutting edge of content creation.

"Over 10 years ago, we revolutionized the process of capturing and sharing high-quality gameplay content for creators worldwide," said Julian Fest, SVP and GM of Elgato. "Today, we're excited to continue removing barriers for creators with the launch of 4K X and 4K Pro. Combining HDMI 2.1 connectivity, vivid HDR10, and flexible VRR passthrough up to 8K60 for the first time in a game capture card, these products will take user-generated content to greater heights."

NVIDIA has released the latest version of its GeForce graphics drivers, the GeForce 546.34 WHQL Game Ready drivers. The GeForce 546.34 WHQL Game Ready drivers bring the same game optimizations and fixes that were previously introduced with GeForce 546.33 WHQL drivers release, which include optimizations and support for DLSS 3 in THE FINALS and Squad games, as well as support for DLSS Super Resolution in Fortnite Chapter 5. The only new thing with this release is the support for the newly announced NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090D graphics card released in China.

The list of fixes include muted colors when streaming gameplay with Discord and multiplication of the NVIDIA system tray icon whenever user is switched in Windows.

DOWNLOAD: NVIDIA GeForce 546.33 WHQL Game Ready Drivers

Update: The GeForce 546.34 WHQL Game Ready drivers only support the new GeForce RTX 4090D graphics card. For other graphics cards, you can download the GeForce 546.33 WHQL Game Ready drivers.

Elgato, a subsidiary of CORSAIR, is thrilled to announce a new line of custom hardware for content creators. Made in collaboration with Bethesda Game Studios, the line celebrates some of gaming's most beloved franchises. For its first release, fans can collect limited-edition gear inspired by Starfield, Bethesda Game Studios' first new universe in over 25 years. And there are more drops to come, spanning the publisher's award-winning lineup of IPs from The Elder Scrolls to Fallout.

Officially licensed by Bethesda Game Studios, the Starfield Wave:3 microphone and Stream Deck make ideal companions for any explorer. Sporting an iconic design, Wave:3 ensures creators always sound loud and clear, whether they're directing squad fire or chatting with their crew. Meanwhile, Stream Deck empowers them to control any workflow, from piloting their starship to managing a livestream. And with a bonus digital kit, gamers can download free icons to personalize their Stream Deck in Starfield style—no matter which device or model they have at home.

Earlier this month Discord announced that they would be rolling out a new username system that removes the 4-digit discriminator at the end of the current usernames. This change enforces that each user name is unique, and no copies of a specific spelling can exist on the platform. Discord claims this change is being made in part because they've noticed that almost half of all friend requests on the platform fail to reach the intended accounts. The problems with this change are probably immediately evident to most of you, as the platform has over 200 million active accounts, and the statistical probability of multiple people wanting to claim the same name is astronomical.

Rusty Lake, an indie game studio based in Amsterdam and creators of Cube Escape and The Path Within games, experienced the primary issue with the new system first hand: username theft. While Discord gave the company an advanced reservation to pick their username, Rusty Lake found that another user had already claimed their name. On Twitter Rusty Lake posted about the issue and issued a warning to other indie developers using Discord for their communities,

We just received an email that we, as Verified Owners, could finally submit a new username and wow... 'rustylake' is already taken! If we as a server owner with 240K+ members can't even claim it… [...] Now we have a risk of impersonation + extra legal costs to file a possible trademark infringement. In any case
[Discord] was helpful enough to respond with an automatic response email to this issue and the follow up is directing us to another helpdesk.

Unrecord is a single-player FPS that tells the story of a tactical police officer from the perspective of his body camera. As you work to solve a complex case, you'll need to use your tactical and detective skills to succeed. Unrecord is a tactical shooter where players can expect an immersive and narrative experience. Unrecord features complex dialogues, innovative gameplay mechanics, tough moral dilemmas, and a unique shooting system. The storyline in Unrecord can be compared to a detective novel or a thriller. The player will have to investigate several criminal cases and confront a diverse cast of characters. The game's plot and presentation will be central to the gameplay experience, and players can anticipate a range of gameplay sequences as well as numerous plot twists. Wishlist Unrecord now to stay up to date on the latest news and updates! Read on for a post-reveal and response to questions and concerns from players. Yes, it's a game.

1. Scam or Real Gameplay Footage?
There have been many doubts raised about the authenticity of the gameplay. The game is developed on Unreal Engine 5, and the game footage is captured from an executable and played using a keyboard and mouse. It is not a VR game. In reality, it seems rather flattering to compare the graphics of Unrecord to reality, but fortunately, we know that a game first focuses on gameplay and universe on which we primarily concentrate. Considering the high production costs of a video game and our global reputation at stake, if Unrecord were a scam, it would be a blockbuster scam. Therefore, it is logically not one. We do not use any real videos or external rendering to Unreal Engine for the creation of Unrecord. Unrecord is (un)real.

QuakeCon 2023 Returns to its Roots, Reuniting Fans with a Modern Upgrade to the Classic BYOC - It's official! After three years of digital-only events, QuakeCon 2023 will mark the return of the beloved BYOC, in-person at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas from Thursday, August 10 through Sunday, August 13.

"QuakeCon is our favorite event of the year, and we can't wait to finally see our incredible QuakeCon community in-person again, celebrate games, and frag all weekend with thousands of friends." said Marty Stratton, Studio Head, id Software. "For our first year back, QuakeCon 2023 is focusing on the fan favorite BYOC and the players that made QuakeCon the best gaming gathering for more than 25 years."

Whether it's generating a shiny new avatar or putting into words something you couldn't quite figure out on your own, new experiences using generative artificial intelligence are popping up every day. However, "tons of people use AI on Discord" might not be news to you: more than 30 million people already use AI apps on Discord every month. Midjourney's server is the biggest on Discord, with more than 13 million members bringing their imaginations to pixels. Overall, our users have created more than 1 billion unique images through AI apps on Discord. And this is just the start.
Almost 3 million Discord servers include an AI experience, ranging from generating gaming assets to groups writing novels with AI, to AI companions, AI companies and AI-based learning communities. More than 10 percent of new Discord users are joining specifically to access AI interest based communities on our platform.

The Windows app of Discord, the popular social-networking software, apparently trims the graphics card memory clock of NVIDIA GPUs by an innocuous 200 MHz, or so observe gamers. NVIDIA GeForce GPUs dynamically adjust memory clock speeds in response to load, as part of their power-management. Ideally, with gaming workloads, the GPU is supposed to hit its maximum rated memory frequency, but some keen-eyed gamers with monitoring tools noticed that with the Discord app running in the background, the memory clock tops out at T-minus 200 MHz (i.e. if it was supposed to be 7000 MHz, it tops out at 6800 MHz). Even under the infernal stress of Furmark, something that's designed to push memory clocks to the maximum rated speeds until the graphics card runs into thermal limits; the memory clock is seen falling 200 MHz short.

NVIDIA took note of this issue, and assured that a fix is on the way in a future GeForce driver update. In the meantime, it posted a DIY workaround to the problem that involves downloading the GeForce 3D Profile Manager utility, making the utility "export SLI profiles" (applicable even to single-GPU machines), editing the exported SLI profiles file as a plaintext document, and importing the profile back. This basically alters the way the driver behaves with the Discord app running. The NVIDIA 3D Profile Manager utility can be downloaded from here, and step-by-step instructions on using it to fix this issue, here.Update Feb 6th: NVIDIA released a GeForce driver application profile that automatically downloads to your driver, which should fix this issue. You don't need GeForce Experience to receive the update.

Get ready to connect with your Discord friends and communities on Xbox! Discord Voice chat is coming to your Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles. You will be able to chat with anyone on Discord via voice channels or group calls directly from your console making it easy to connect with friends across mobile, Xbox, and PC. The update will start rolling out to Xbox Insiders today and will be available soon for everyone.

Today's update enables a highly requested feature - Discord Voice on Xbox consoles allows you to talk with your friends and community while you play your favorite games. Planning a few rounds of multiplayer action in Halo Infinite with buddies on both console and PC? Exploring new biomes with your friends in Minecraft? See them already playing a game that supports cross-play? Connect to their voice channel and chat as you all play.

NZXT, a leader in PC gaming hardware and services, today announces its first step into streaming with two external capture cards-the Signal 4K30 and HD60, as well as a coinciding chat cable. The NZXT Signal capture cards help creators to get into streaming without a large investment. Simply plug it into a USB gen 3.2 port and any HDMI device such as a game console, camera, or computer, and you are ready to stream with any video-capturing software such as OBS. Both the Signal 4K40 and HD60 capture cards have all the features you need in order to have great streaming and capturing experience, and full NZXT CAM validation of each capture card's settings.

-Leading gaming accessory maker Turtle Beach Corporation today revealed the Company's all-new Turtle Beach Recon Air Wireless Chat Communicator headset is now available at participating retailers worldwide. The Recon Air is designed for gamers who have a killer home entertainment system for game audio and need a headset to hear and talk to other players, and it's perfect for anybody who wants a sleek Bluetooth wireless chat headset that can be used for audio and video conferencing and a variety of daily needs. Turtle Beach's Recon Air delivers high-quality inbound and outbound chat with friends and teammates and is a great tool for congratulating the other team on their epic loss. The Recon Air's microphone is tuned for gaming to pick up voice chat loud and clear and is also noise-cancelling to minimize background distractions. A rechargeable 10-hour battery powers the headset throughout the day, while a reversible ear hook and swappable ear tips ensure comfort. The Designed for Xbox Recon Air delivers crystal-clear chat on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, and there's also a version for PS5 and PS4. Both models are also compatible with Windows PCs, Mac, and Bluetooth-enabled iOS and Android mobile devices. Recon Air is available at www.turtlebeach.com and participating retailers worldwide for a $39.99 MSRP.

"The Recon Air is an affordable chat headset designed for gaming, as well as for staying connected with friends, family, and co-workers and making sure your voice sounds great while you talk," said Juergen Stark, Chairman and CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. "It's now my go-to headset for meetings on Teams and Zoom when I travel."

Leading gaming accessories provider Turtle Beach Corporation (NASDAQ: HEAR) today announced the Designed for Xbox Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX as an all-new entry to the best-selling brand's Stealth 700 series of premium wireless gaming headsets. By simply flipping a switch, the Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX offers players the ability to connect lag-free via wireless USB or Bluetooth to more gaming systems, including Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, PS5 and PS4, plus Nintendo Switch, Windows PCs and Mac, and compatible iOS and Android mobile devices. Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX also increases battery life to 40+ hours, with 15-minutes of charge delivering over eight hours of playtime.

The Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX continues delivering the superior high-quality audio with powerful 3D spatial surround sound and ultimate comfort that have made it the best-selling and highly acclaimed premium wireless gaming headset. IGN recently included the Stealth 700 Gen 2 in its latest Best Gaming Headsets 2022 story, naming it the Best Xbox Series X|S Gaming Headset. The Stealth 700 Gen 2's premium features like large and powerful 50 mm Nanoclear drivers, Aerofit cooling gel-infused memory foam ear cushions, ProSpecs glasses-friendly comfort, Superhuman Hearing, a metal-reinforced headband, as well as Bluetooth for talking on Discord, taking calls, listening to music, and connecting to the mobile companion app - all make a return with the Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX. The Designed for Xbox Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX is available for pre-order today from www.turtlebeach.com and at participating retailers worldwide. Available in Black or Cobalt Blue, Stealth 700 Gen 2 MAX for Xbox launches globally on May 8, 2022 for a $199.99 MSRP.

HyperX, the gaming peripherals team at HP Inc. and brand leader in gaming and esports, today announced the release of the Cloud Core Wireless gaming headset. The latest addition to HyperX's extensive headset lineup, Cloud Core Wireless features DTS Headphone:X spatial audio and offers signature HyperX comfort and durability engineered to elevate gaming sessions.

Designed for immersive in-game audio experiences, Cloud Core Wireless is equipped with DTS Headphone:X spatial audio and 53 mm drivers to deliver clear and accurate positional sound for gaming. This new gaming-grade wireless headset broadcasts at 2.4 GHz and offers up to 20 hours of battery life and 20 meters of wireless range.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced an all-new gaming peripherals lineup that channels the minimalist feel of monochrome through a striking Moonlight White color scheme. The ROG Strix Scope NX TKL 80%, tenkeyless mechanical RGB gaming keyboard, ROG Strix Impact II ambidextrous gaming mouse, ROG Strix Go Core gaming headset and ROG Cetra II Core in-ear gaming headphones are all now available in North America in this stunning colorway.

ROG has a long history of weaving Aura Sync into a huge ecosystem of devices to let gamers shine a light on their personalities through their gear - but many players also seek a minimalist look. That's why the ROG color palette is expanding to include the Moonlight White series, providing a commanding counterpart to the signature red-and-black color scheme.

EKSA, the leader of the best performing headsets for gaming, is pleased to announce the launch of their next generation line of gaming headsets. Today marks the release of the all new E910 5.8 GHz Wireless Gaming & Music Headset. Nothing on the market even comes close to the features incorporated into this new headset.

Founded by hardcore gamers for hardcore gamers, the EKSA R&D Team spent two years researching the market and put together the best elements into their headsets. A company spokesperson explains, "Besides 7.1 surround sound gaming headset for immersive gaming audio (Especially for FPS games), we have also developed the ultralight gaming headset and the ENC headset with advanced AI (Artificial Intelligence) algorithm & Deep Learning speech de-noising technology."

Immerse in the action like never before, without wires to get in the way. Meet the JBL Quantum 350 wireless gaming headset, the latest addition to the JBL Quantum Series. Designed to bring together the most accurate audio experience with gamer-grade lossless connectivity and comfort for epic gaming sessions, this headset is a must-have for gamers looking for an upgraded set-up.

When every sound matters and split-second timing is key, never miss a moment with lossless 2.4G wireless connectivity. Optimized for PC or PlayStation gamers via a wireless USB dongle, the JBL Quantum 350 delivers the ultimate competitive advantage during gameplay. From the quietest footsteps to the loudest laser blasts, JBL's QuantumSOUND Signature provides cinematic-quality audio from 40 mm drivers, and the immersive JBL QuantumSURROUND puts the player in the center of the game. The headset is also compatible with the JBL QuantumENGINE PC software, letting gamers customize the EQ, sidetone, mic and more.

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers (Hong Kong Stock Code: 1337), today announces the Barracuda X Wireless Multi-platform Gaming and Mobile Headset, for gaming on multiple devices at home or outdoors. Offering true versatility and freedom backed by long-lasting comfort, powerful drivers, and a crystal-clear mic, the Barracuda X is an all-purpose, 4-in-1 wireless headset compatible with PC, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and Android devices.

Many modern wireless headsets are designed for use either at home or on-the-go, and switching between devices can be a time-consuming process, with unpairing and pairing over Bluetooth often leading to connection issues. The Barracuda X has been designed with ease of use and versatility in mind - with its reliable ultra-low latency wireless connection combined with a comfortable, sleek, and ergonomic design, powerful Razer TriForce drivers and a detachable, Discord-certified Razer HyperClear Cardioid microphone, it is the perfect all-in-one-solution for multi-platform gaming.

Sony Interactive Entertainment has acquired a minority stake in Discord as part of their latest Series H funding round, this comes after talks with Microsoft for a complete acquisition failed. Sony hopes to integrate Discord with the PlayStation Network ecosystem on consoles and mobile starting early next year to allow for a more seamless experience. This recent news helps explain Sony's decision to retire the PS4 communities feature which boasted tens of thousands of active users. The complete press release from Sony Interactive Entertainment can be found below.

Discord has reportedly ended acquisition talks with Microsoft after they rejected a 12 billion USD bid according to people familiar with the matter. Microsoft was not the only company interested in buying Discord, other interested parties included Twitter and some valuations but the company at 15 - 18 billion USD. Discord raised 100 million USD in its latest private funding round with a valuation of 7 billion USD from Greenoaks Capital and Index Ventures. Discord is now focused on increasing revenue from its 140 million users which sat at 130 million USD in 2020. The company is also preparing for an initial public offering sometime in the future.

Microsoft is reportedly in talks with Discord Inc. for an acquisitions that sees Redmond pay $10 billion, sources tell Bloomberg. Discord is a major chat and collaboration platform popular with gamers, e-sports athletes, PC enthusiasts, and the tech community at large. The platform currently has over 100 million monthly active users, and has grown in utility as a collaborative work and learning platform owing to its free service model, providing not just text, but also group video. Discord has, in the past, been in acquisition talks with Epic Games and Amazon, so it remains to be seen if the Microsoft offer goes through.Many thanks to DeathtoGnomes for the tip

SteelSeries, the worldwide leader in gaming and esports peripherals, today announces the newest member of the award-winning Arctis line - the Arctis 9, a high performance, dual wireless gaming headset for PC and PlayStation. The Arctis 9 will be compatible with the PlayStation 5 at launch. The Arctis 9 features SteelSeries' proven ultra-low latency 2.4GHz lossless wireless connection for high fidelity audio, so gamers can enjoy a lag-free gaming experience on both PC and PlayStation. Like the Arctis Pro Wireless and Arctis 9X, the Arctis 9 also features a simultaneous Bluetooth connection to mobile devices for calls, music and VoIP chat while listening to game audio with lossless 2.4GHz clarity.

The Arctis 9 continues the Arctis family tradition by using the same Discord-certified microphone and critically acclaimed signature Arctis soundscape as the rest of the Arctis line. The ClearCast microphone uses a bidirectional design for superior noise cancellation and natural-sounding clarity, while the signature Arctis soundscape emphasizes both subtle and critical in-game sounds, allowing gamers to hear every in-game detail.

Discord has recently announced that they will be rebranding with a new "Your Place to Talk" campaign as they work towards making the platform more inclusive to non-gaming fans. Discord has overhauled their landing page to emphasize the platforms various uses such as for "school clubs, gaming groups, or the worldwide art community", the landing page now also prominently features the "Your Place to Talk" slogan throughout.

Specific changes to the Discord platform include the streamlining of user sign up, the introduction of server video support, server creation simplification with templates, and a 200% increase in overall voice/video capacity. Discord is also planning to make the "jokes and references within the app less gaming-specific" which may upset some. The recently launched Discord Safety Center forms a vital part of this transformation helping improve transparency and reduce misuse.

Epic Games today announces the launch of Epic Online Services, unlocking the ability to effortlessly scale games and unify player communities for all developers. First announced in December 2018, Epic Online Services are battle-tested and powered by the services built for Fortnite across seven major platforms (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, iOS, and Android). Open to all developers, Epic Online Services is completely free and offers creators a single SDK to quickly and easily launch, operate, and scale their games across engines, stores, and platforms of their choice.

"At Epic, we believe in open, integrated platforms and in the future of gaming being a highly social and connected experience," said Chris Dyl, General Manager, Online Services, Epic Games. "Through Epic Online Services, we strive to help build a user-friendly ecosystem for both developers and players, where creators can benefit regardless of how they choose to build and publish their games, and where players can play games with their friends and enjoy the same quality experience regardless of the hardware they own."

Ubisoft's latest entry to its smash-hit open-world tactical combat sim "Ghost Recon" is getting its latest chapter "Breakpoint," bound for an October 4 release. Breakpoint builds on the open-world presentation of "Wildlands," and transports you to the fictional world of Auroa, across its diverse landscapes and drone-patrolled wilderness. Ubisoft today posted the system requirements for "Breakpoint." Nothing serious, the average gaming desktop should comfortably run it at 1080p thru 2K resolution, as detailed in the slide below.

Ghost Recon Breakpoint appears to be closely developed in collaboration with AMD, which means a high-level of optimization for AMD Ryzen processors and Radeon graphics cards. In particular, the game supports AMD FidelityFX image-quality enhancement introduced with "Navi." The PC version has texture-resolution suited for 4K Ultra HD, supports ultrawide monitors, has uncapped frame-rates, tobii eye-tracking support, and Discord integration. It's available for pre-order on UPlay and Epic Games Store.

The launch of the new Epic Games store for the PC has created many an aftershock in the gaming industry, including Steam updating their revenue share model, but the games press and media alike were quick to discuss implications more so for the equally new Discord store that understandably is more in line as far as breaking into the market goes, and impact from competition accordingly. In a series of moves that no doubt pleases game developers and publishers alike, Discord announced that they are going to offer a 90/10 revenue distribution with 90% in favor of developers- an increase over the industry leading "up to 88%" from Epic Games until then.

There is a small catch in that Discord is allowing developers to self-publish the games if they so desire, which in turn is how they will get that 90% revenue share, so it remains to be seen how user friendly that process is. Discord in their blog post made a big point about how it does not cost 30% to distribute games in 2018, a move that will no doubt be examined throughout not only the gaming industry but every single online app distribution platform where a 70/30 split is the current industry standard. As long as this move enables the store to break even and churn out a profit, we would like to see more of this happening to where game developers get more money and do not feel compelled to work ridiculously long hours.