Nintendo's latest Switch 2 system update, version 23.5.0, seems to have shut down ns2jb, the console's first software-only jailbreak. Dataminer OatmealDome says the OS exploit the jailbreak relied on is now patched, and that dumping and modding games won't be possible from here on. The one exception, he says, could be some cartridge games, and maybe game updates, released in the near future. Exploits inside individual titles, such as the SmileBASIC 4 programming app and Civilization VII, still work. However, it is no longer possible to break out of those apps into the rest of the system, so homebrew is stuck with whatever they can already do.

Nintendo's patch notes don't mention any of this. The listed changes cover accessibility options during first-time setup, groundwork for eShop gifting within family groups, and a new text-to-speech language, plus general fixes. It is also the first Switch 2 firmware since 23.0.1, the version ns2jb targeted when security researcher Sammy "pepsipu" Hajhamid released it on October 22. His exploit began with an integer overflow bug in SmileBASIC 4, a Switch 1 programming app that runs on the Switch 2 through backward compatibility. It was tethered to a PC and didn't survive reboots. Nintendo pulled SmileBASIC 4 from the eShop shortly after the release.

ASRock has posted vBIOS updates for ten of its Radeon RX 7000 series graphics cards, joining Sapphire and GIGABYTE. The new firmware, version 1.0.5, went up on ASRock's support pages on October 29 and covers the RX 7600 XT Challenger and Steel Legend, RX 7700 XT Challenger, RX 7800 XT Challenger and Steel Legend, RX 7900 XT Phantom Gaming (including the White version), and the RX 7900 XTX Phantom Gaming and Taichi, along with the Taichi White. The files are flashed through ASRock's ASRVBFlash tool on Windows. Owners of these ASRock cards are advised to check the vBIOS section of their specific model's support page before flashing.

ASRock doesn't say what the update actually changes, as the description field only lists the flash utility version. However, the timing points to the same RDNA 3 security fix that Sapphire began offering in early October. GIGABYTE later tied its own files to the AMD-SN-6023 identifier, and AMD confirmed the updates address potential security vulnerabilities, adding that it has no reports of them being exploited. AMD still hasn't published the bulletin itself, so the details remain unknown. Interestingly, ASRock's own download page still carries its standard warning that it does not recommend updating the vBIOS if the card is already running normally, which reads a little odd next to AMD's advice to update as soon as firmware is available.

Sony has seemingly paid a security researcher named Jordy $50,000 for reporting a PS5 hypervisor bug, and it looks like it's the same bug that PS5 Linux developer Andy Nguyen had found earlier and kept to himself. Jordy's HackerOne profile, under the handle 2tonejordy, lists a single resolved PlayStation report worth $50,000, paid through the bug bounty program Sony launched in 2020. He shared the payout on X on October 14, joking that he "can at least buy GTA 6 with this." The jailbreaking community, however, isn't celebrating.

Back in mid-September, Nguyen announced he was walking away from the PS5 scene and his PS5 Linux work, including PS5 Pro support planned for 2027. According to him, he asked the researchers to wait until GTA 6 launched so people could buy the game and still run Linux, and they agreed, only to report it within a day. Jordy's version is a little different. He says he did agree to hold off, but someone else found the same bug with AI a few hours later, so he reported it, and he insists nobody handed him the bug. People were quick to pile on under his post, with one user accusing him of not finding the bug himself.

Microsoft has rolled out the first firmware update for its RTX Spark-powered Surface Laptop Ultra, less than a week after the laptop started shipping on October 16. Listed in Windows Update as "System Hardware Update 200.0.7.0," the October 22 release fixes three problems spelled out in Microsoft's update history: extended reboot times, screen flickering, and unexpected restarts. It also bundles unspecified bug fixes and general performance improvements. The update is arriving in stages, so not every owner will see it right away, and like other Surface firmware, it can't be rolled back once installed.

These issues had already surfaced in early reviews and owner reports. Windows Central noted reboots long enough to roughly double the time it took to install updates, while some owners saw the Mini-LED panel flicker, in a few cases only when the display sat idle. However, the update doesn't address everything reviewers flagged. Notebookcheck measured a sluggish 57 ms black-to-white response time with visible ghosting, no local dimming, and a grayish 0.61-nit black level, and it seems unlikely that firmware can do much about those. Some owners have also reported the laptop running hot under light workloads, which Microsoft hasn't mentioned.

PS5 homebrew developer Gezine has shown a working exploit on firmware 14.10, the latest PlayStation 5 software, just a month before GTA 6 launches. In a short video posted on X with the caption "Hello 14.10," Gezine opens the console's debug settings, and apparently it gets past the protections Sony added with the 14.10 update on October 1. The jailbreak is private for now, and there's no word on whether Gezine plans to release it. The timing is what makes this interesting. Sony's 14.00 update in mid-September disrupted the Relapse exploit that had been working on firmware 13.60, and 14.10 followed with more security fixes. Players are also reporting that Sony now requires 14.10 to sign in to PSN.

On top of that, datamining account PlayStation Game Size found that GTA 6 needs firmware 14.10 to run, though neither Rockstar nor Sony has confirmed this. However, this doesn't mean pirated copies of GTA 6 are around the corner. The hypervisor bypass that the scene uses to dump and run game backups doesn't work on 14.10 yet, and Gezine reportedly said a separate hypervisor exploit may be needed. Until then, backups, and by extension apps like Overdrive that allegedly hand out free games and DLC, seemingly aren't an option on the latest firmware. Some people in the community have asked Gezine to hold off on a release until after GTA 6 launches, since going public now would likely prompt Sony to patch it.

AMD Radeon RX 7000 series RDNA 3 graphics cards today received a new vBIOS security update. According to AMD's add-in card partner Sapphire, the update is now available for Sapphire's own Radeon RX 7600, RX 7600 XT, RX 7650 GRE, RX 7700 XT, RX 7800 XT, RX 7900 GRE, RX 7900 XT, and RX 7900 XTX models. This update covers all the desktop graphics cards that AMD released for the RDNA 3 lineup and marks one of the rare occurrences of GPU vBIOS updates in recent times. Typically, these vBIOS updates are reserved for security patches, and Sapphire confirms that the company has been working to address a security issue identified in partnership with AMD.

Before updating the GPU firmware, ensure that the AMD Adrenalin Edition graphics driver is installed and that you have about 15-20 minutes to complete the update. To update the GPU firmware, Sapphire provides links to the specific GPU model affected. Once downloaded, run the updater as an administrator, choose a folder to save the executable files, and locate that folder. Once inside, run the program as an administrator again, and the AMD Radeon Firmware Updater tool will start. This tool will detect any AMD GPU present and indicate if there is a new firmware update. As shown in the example below, select the GPU and run the update, which will prompt a reboot once it is finished. Note that for the Radeon RX/PRO 7000 Series, the tool automatically runs twice: once in regular mode and a second time in safe mode to complete the process.

The ElmorLabs Power Management Device 2 (PMD2) is a discrete power management device that allows tinkerers and hardcore overclockers to monitor their system at a hardware level and on a per-device basis. The latest update to the PMD2 is the PMD2X, which adds per-wire current, power, and voltage monitoring to the device's 12v-2×6 and 12VHPWR monitoring. The product's software component now also allows users to set up an audible alarm when individual wires exceed maximum thresholds, effectively allowing it to fulfil the role of something like a Cooler Master GPU shield.

In addition to the new audio alarm and granular GPU power connector monitoring, the PMD2X also features compatibility with Seeed Studio XIAO boards, allowing for wireless connectivity, although this will require more than a little additional work to set up. This effectively turns the ElmorLabs PMD2X into a safety tool that can be used in a daily driver capacity as well as for the hardcore overclocking and tinkering that it was originally designed for. The ElmorLabs PMD2X is available for $109 on the ElmorLabs official store.

Raspberry Pi has confirmed its boards are firmware-locked to their factory RAM configuration, closing off a popular DIY upgrade path. The disclosure came from PhilE, a Raspberry Pi engineer and forum moderator, responding to a user who couldn't get a newly soldered-in 4 GB chip to register on a Compute Module 5. Apparently, the lock isn't new. According to the forum thread, it has been in place for some time, just not spelled out this plainly before. The lockdown reportedly dates back to late 2024, before this year's RAM price surge, so it's not a reaction to the current memory crunch either. That part obviously doesn't sit well with the repair and modding crowd, a community Raspberry Pi has usually supported.

PhilE explained the reasoning candidly. Apparently, some resellers were buying boards with cheaper RAM, swapping in higher-capacity chips "of dubious origin," and reselling them as factory 8 GB units. Those boards were never tested by Raspberry Pi, so when buyers ended up with unreliable hardware, support headaches landed on the company. Locking devices to their original RAM size removes that incentive, PhilE said. The firmware also reads other device attributes tied to the RAM part, so even a same-capacity swap from another board may not work, thus complicating repairs. It seems the tinkerer culture Raspberry Pi built its reputation on has unfortunately run into a hardware lock.

Sony has filed a patent for an AI system that would let its devices, including PlayStation consoles, diagnose and fix software problems on their own. As reported by TweakTown, citing patent aggregator Patentlyze, the filing describes a cloud server that monitors connected hardware, uses a large language model to write a diagnostic program tailored to whatever issue it detects, and then either pushes a fix automatically or logs the issue for an engineer to review later. The patent covers Sony's broader electronics lineup, not just PlayStation, and also names TVs, cameras, and headphones as possible targets.

If something like this ever ships, it could potentially mean fewer support calls and error screens for PlayStation owners down the line. The bigger question is safety, since handing an AI model the ability to write and push its own firmware to millions of consoles sounds risky if the generated code isn't verified. AI models also have a big hallucination problem, which is a huge risk when firmware-level tweaks are being offloaded to AI. It's worth noting that the filing has already received a rejection from the USPTO examiner, so there's no guarantee it clears the patent office in its current form, let alone becomes a real product.

AMD's long-rumored RDNA 4m architecture is reportedly nearing its final launch as the company has started pushing firmware binaries to the Linux Firmware repository. According to Phoronix, AMD's RDNA 4m GPU IP, also known as GFX 1170, has been added to the Linux Firmware repository, indicating that AMD is seriously preparing for the launch of this GPU IP. Typically, AMD publishes firmware binaries to the Linux Binaries repository at the launch date or shortly afterward. In some recent releases, the company has even begun pushing these firmware patches slightly ahead of the launch, suggesting that the first wave of products containing RDNA 4m IP is imminent.

Regarding the positioning of RDNA 4m, we know that this GPU IP sits between RDNA 3.5 (GFX1150) and RDNA 4 (GFX1200). This means it is not a true RDNA 4, as it borrows some elements, but not exactly a true RDNA 3.5 either, as it has some upgrades. Some expected capabilities include support for INT8 data types and native FSR 4 technology. However, since AMD announced that older RDNA generations are now getting FSR 4 upscaling, the true purpose of RDNA 4m remains unclear.

Keychron already has a number of wireless gaming mice available, including both affordable productivity mice and high-performance gaming peripherals. The latest gaming mouse launch from Keychron appears to be the G6 HE UltraLight. The new G6 HE is a wireless gaming mouse that comes in at 46 g and uses the PixArt PAW 3955 sensor and Nordic 54LM20A MCU. It will be available in seven colors in total, many of which have that translucent retro tech charm.

The G6 HE was recently reported on by Gizmodo Japan, where it appears to be launching soon, but Keychron also responded to that Gizmodo post confirming that the mouse would be launching globally at "around $90." There are two standout features, in particular, that are particularly relevant in the 2026 gaming landscape, those being magnetic switches and a swappable battery.

The LVFS (Linux Vendor Firmware Service) is a firmware update project that's been gaining traction in recent years, especially with distributions like Bazzite and SteamOS serving as simplified operating systems for devices like gaming handhelds, and manufacturers like Framework and System76 releasing Linux-first hardware. While Dell and Lenovo have previously allowed firmware updating for a number of their devices, it was just announced by Richard Hughes, a Gnome developer and maintainer, that both Dell and Lenovo have recently become premier sponsors of LVFS, meaning they each donate in excess of $100,000 annually to keep the project sustainable and fund development.

Becoming a premium sponsor of the LVFS also means that Dell and Lenovo will be able to implement several custom features, allow for 1,500 monthly uploads and 10,000,000 monthly downloads, and more closely collaborate with the LVFS developers. The LVFS previously announced a sustainability plan, which sought to secure $400,000 in additional annual donations to fund development and a $30,000 annual budget for hosting costs.

Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) (together with its subsidiary, "Lenovo" or the "Group") today announced it has completed the acquisition of Phoenix Technologies' firmware (BIOS) technology business registered in Dublin, Ireland, including its related intellectual property and expertise. The acquisition brings firmware development and additional core software expertise in-house, enhancing Lenovo's ability to manage critical firmware across its entire PC portfolio and, over time, across other AI-enabled devices.

"This transaction is a strategic step forward for Lenovo," said Luca Rossi, President of Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo. "By bringing firmware development in-house, we are strengthening our core engineering capabilities and gaining greater control over one of the most critical layers of the computing experience. This will enable us to accelerate innovation, enhance security, and deepen our vertical integration, while also unlocking meaningful cost efficiencies. With its strong heritage and leadership in firmware, Phoenix Technologies brings differentiated expertise that will further strengthen our portfolio."

On your Windows PC, the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) uses Secure Boot certificates to ensure that only trusted software initiates the startup sequence. The certificates currently in use were originally issued in 2011 and are set to expire in late June 2026. To address this, Microsoft has been quietly rolling out updated certificates through Windows Update. Starting in April 2026, users can check their device's status via a new indicator in the Windows Security app. By navigating to Device security and then Secure Boot, a color-coded badge will show whether your device is fully updated, awaiting an update, or requires immediate attention.

The badge system is simple yet significant. A green checkmark indicates that the new certificates are installed and no further action is needed. A yellow caution badge, which will start appearing in May 2026, means the update is either pending or has been blocked by a hardware or firmware limitation. A red stop icon is the most serious state and could appear as early as June 2026, once older certificates start expiring. When this occurs, the device will no longer be able to receive critical boot-level security updates. The same status is reflected in the Windows Security system tray icon, so warnings are visible even when the app is closed.

MSI's "built to be perfect" GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z design was heavily showcased at CES 2026, with press material referring to an unusual 2500 W "Extreme Performance OC" (XOC) BIOS. At the time, it was rumored that an official file had been issued exclusively to professional overclockers. Weeks later, said XOC BIOS has seeped out onto the net—as of this afternoon, the TechPowerUp VGA BIOS collection contains this release (also leaked on the Overclock.net forum). As outlined during the January Las Vegas trade event (and since), experts surmised that LN2 (liquid nitron)-based cooling would be essential in tempering the card's supposed extreme modes of operation. TechPowerUp's resident graphics card reviewer, W1zzard, did not delve into world record-breaking activities when evaluating MSI's ultra flagship model. The card's "800 W out of the box" power limit should be sufficient for most mortals who can afford the audaciously official $5090 MSRP. Fresh news reports have tracked wild fluctuations in price; going as high as $14,000.

Jonathan Alva, an Indonesian extreme overclocker and YouTuber, has run several GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z experiments. A past weekend video upload mentions a consulting role as part of the MSI Lightning Z model's development. Unfortunately, a recent session—involving the aforementioned 2500 W XOC BIOS—has resulted in the cracking of the first sample's "Blackwell" GB202-300-A1 GPU die. Despite the leveraging of a custom LN2 solution, in collaboration with the ARX (arxidmedia) lab, a probable thermal shock incident ended the GPU's existence. It is suspected that an outdated version of the firmware caused too much voltage to be sent within a short frame of time. Thankfully, Alva can continue his "just an average overclocker" adventures with another prototype board, as well as three finalized retail units.

Thermal Grizzly is pleased to announce the official launch of the first public software suite for the GPU power monitoring tool WireView Pro II, as well as the release of the first official firmware update. Both the software and the firmware update are optional. However, when used together, they enable full functionality of the WireView Pro II, including data logging and device configuration via PC.

The software primarily allows additional functions to be configured on the WireView Pro II:

• Access to logged data
• Fine-tuning of settings
• Setting the display start page

Last autumn, AMD provided an update regarding developmental progress of its openSIL open-source project. According to Raj Kapoor's presentation at last year's OCP Global Summit, the Red Team intends to publish its sixth-generation "Zen 6"-based EPYC "Venice" CPU openSIL sources at some point in 2026. The company's lead firmware architect reiterated that the newer silicon-initialization stack will eventually replace the familiar legacy AGESA firmware line. As of last summer, only one section of AMD's "Zen 5" family has received openSIL support—the EPYC 9005 "Turin" server processor product range. Earlier this week, a 3mbdeb blog entry detailed a compelling experiment that involved the initial "enabling (of) AMD AM5 'Phoenix' support in Coreboot." In the past, this Polish open-source consulting company has experimented with unusual ports of OpenSIL and Coreboot (via the Dasharo distribution). NLnet Foundation funding provided a secure base to start 3mbdeb's Gigabyte MZ33-AR1 porting project, leading to present-day tinkering with MSI's PRO B850-P consumer-grade mainboard design.

Mid-way through their post, they detail a handful of problems, including: "some issues may arise when parsing combo images for AM5 desktop platforms. The desktop images are more complex than server ones. A single PSP (Platform Security Processor) directory may support multiple CPU families, whereas on servers, each CPU family required separate PSP directory. This adds complexity, a need to distinguish PSP directories from each other, and determine the supported CPUs by given directory." So far, the MSI B850-P Pro-based tests have reached a phase of development that is "just enough to (achieve) boot." When outlining a next major milestone, 3mbdeb intends to: "add basic support for desktop AM5 'Phoenix' platform to distinguish mobile CPUs from desktop CPUs in Coreboot. This will serve as a base to cover the differences between the mobile and desktop Phoenix SoCs/APUs." They stress that their 'Phoenix' OpenSIL project is still in a "Proof of Concept" stage, so "not intended for production use." In summary, 3mbdeb's firmware engineer (Michał Żygowski) recommends that external testers wait for the arrival of "exciting" future releases.

In our previous reviews of Zowie gaming mice, like the EC3-C, we praised the company for its low click latency, but the company recently released a firmware update to its DW-series wireless gaming mice, adding an optional performance mode to the relevant gaming peripherals. Performance mode can be enabled by holding down the left mouse button while turning the mouse on, and by all accounts, there are measurable improvements to click latency thanks to the new firmware.

AimAdept, a popular mouse reviewer, tested the new firmware mode on his Zowie ZA13-DW in 4 kHz polling mode with an Xlat latency tester and measured a click latency as low as 0.468 ms compared to 3.898 ms on the previous firmware with "Fast response" mode enabled. Whether this will make a measurable improvement to in-game performance is questionable, but at least Zowie users will know that it's not their mouse click latency causing them to miss headshots. This new firmware comes shortly after Logitech officially released the new G Pro X2 Superstrike, which uses inductive switches that can reduce click latency by a claimed 30 ms compared to traditional mechanical switches.

On your Windows PC, the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) firmware has a Secure Boot Certificate that mandates only verified software starts the boot-up sequence. Microsoft is preparing to refresh these certificates, and the company announced that millions of Windows PCs in circulation will receive new Secure Boot Certificates in an industry-wide gradual rollout to replace aging certificates that are expiring soon. According to the latest Windows Blog, the original Secure Boot Certificates introduced way back in 2011 are reaching the end of their planned lifecycle, with the expiration date set for late June 2026. This not only mandates updating but also requires a massive staged rollout from OEMs and Microsoft's partners to ensure that all Windows devices stay secure.

According to Microsoft, this is one of the largest industry collaborations that spans the Windows ecosystem, including servicing, firmware updates, and countless device configurations from OEMs and other hardware makers. Firmware makers are at the center with their UEFI BIOS patches, which will now have to replace their aging Secure Boot Certificates. The blog also states that OEMs have been provisioning updated certificates on their new devices, with some devices from 2024 and almost all PCs from 2025 updated to support the new certificate. Interestingly, older PCs and devices that were shipped prior to these years will also be taken care of, with major OEMs providing their own guidance on updating the certificate. If you don't see your OEM offering an update, be patient as the rollout is gradual.

Many Team Blue enthusiasts were looking forward to a potential unveiling of a larger "Battlemage" gaming graphics card model at CES 2026, but keynote presentations and showroom floor exhibitions were devoid of fresh "Xe2 dGPU" content. Past weekend TechPowerUp reportage positioned the heavily speculated Arc "Battlemage" B770 design as the fifth greatest "no-show" at the recently concluded Las Vegas-based trade event. The "BMG-G31" GPU die codename has popped up regularly—via official sources and leaks alike—in recent times; leading to theories of an imminent product reveal. Late last week, web sleuths stumbled upon a downloadable folder that contained a "BMG-G31" firmware update. Apparently, an Intel driver package—relating to an HP-made "Panther Lake" laptop—was thoroughly examined.

Several PC hardware news outlets have broached the "B770" topic with Team Blue contacts at CES 2026, but no further details—of a notable unreleased product—were disclosed during the busy work week. Within the first half of January, Intel's "Panther Lake" mobile chips have taken precedence, although the adjacent "Wildcat Lake" APU was introduced in an extremely low-key way. The latest leak indicates the readying of drivers for some sort of consumer-level "BMG-G31" graphics product. The fourth quarter 2025 rumor mill pointed to a possible 300 W TDP-rated "B770" mainstream gaming card, leveraging 32 Xe2 cores and 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM—a significant step-up from the over-a-year-old Arc B580 12 GB model.

Intel released a new CPU microcode yesterday, accompanied by 30 new security advisories. The new microcode update—version 20251111—covers processors from 12th to 14th Generation Core and Core Ultra mobile lines, as well as multiple Xeon Scalable families (fourth through sixth generation), and focuses on functional fixes. However, the most interesting announcement is the new cohort of security advisories, where the count goes up to 30. For example, things like The Intel PROSet/Wireless WiFi Software Advisory (INTEL-SA-01398) closes a high-severity flaw that could disrupt wireless connectivity, so update WiFi drivers to version 23.160 or later. The Intel Graphics Advisory (INTEL-SA-01356) patches privilege escalation and stability issues in Arc B-series and Iris Xe drivers, where installing driver version 32.0.101.6913 or newer is recommended.

The Intel Rapid Storage Technology Advisory (INTEL-SA-01362) addresses a medium-severity escalation vulnerability affecting RAID and NVMe caching, and users should move to RST version 20.0.1021 or later. The Intel Killer Software Advisory (INTEL-SA-01377) covers security fixes for networking utilities often bundled with gaming systems, so check for updates if your PC uses Killer networking software. Finally, the Intel Server Configuration Utility Advisory (INTEL-SA-01400) is primarily targeted at server and home lab administrators, but it is worth applying if you manage such systems. Keeping these drivers and utilities up to date reduces both stability problems and exposure to potential exploits.

AMI, the global leader in Dynamic Firmware for modern computing, is proud to announce that it has been selected by Fujitsu as the firmware supplier and development partner for its exciting new FUJITSU-MONAKA next-generation Arm-based processor. This collaboration will bring together a truly global set of industry leaders to realize a new high-performance server platform with unmatched computational power and efficiency.

"By adopting AMI as an independent firmware vendor, the FUJITSU-MONAKA project will benefit from AMI's decades of firmware leadership and innovation, as well as its key status as an Arm Total Design ecosystem member. This partnership will ensure that the firmware integration for this groundbreaking project achieves its essential goal of delivering high performance, sustainable hybrid AI and HPC computing infrastructure," said Naoki Shinjo, Head of Advanced Technology Development Unit of Fujitsu.

Razer, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced expanded availability for its breakthrough 4000 Hz wireless HyperPolling technology. The Razer HyperPolling Wireless Dongle now powers select BlackWidow keyboards with true 4000 Hz wireless polling, delivering lightning-fast input and unmatched control for competitive play.

Previously introduced with the BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, 4000 Hz HyperPolling is now available on:

• Razer BlackWidow V4 Tenkeyless HyperSpeed
• Razer BlackWidow V4 Low-profile HyperSpeed
• Razer BlackWidow V4 Low-profile Tenkeyless HyperSpeed

A new set of patches has hit the "coreboot" project, an open-source UEFI/BIOS alternative, adding another Intel "Panther Lake" stepping to our portfolio of leaks. This time, it is the PTL_B0_3 C06C3 stepping, a new version Intel could be preparing for shipment to clients. Silicon revisions typically begin at A0 and increment as the design evolves. It is rare to see any silicon shipping with the A0 stepping, as later modifications and refinements are made to meet the original specification. Hence, this B0 stepping indicates that this is likely the final revision Intel has prepared for Panther Lake, which is expected to start shipping by the end of 2025, with more SKUs in 2026.

As a reminder, the low-power PTL-U models are designed for a 15 W TDP and are expected to come in 6-core and 8-core versions. Some SKUs will feature four high-performance P-cores paired with four LPE-cores, while others will have only two LPE-cores complementing four P-cores. Both families will utilize Xe3-based integrated graphics, with entry models featuring four GPU cores. The more powerful PTL-H line will scale up to around 16 CPU cores, comprising four P-Cores, eight E-cores, and four LPE-cores. Some H-series parts might include up to 12 GPU Xe3 cores for integrated graphics, but the final configurations will be revealed when Intel officially launches the Panther Lake product family.

With the launch of Battlefield 6, we started to see a move towards anti-cheat implementations that require BIOS-level security features like Secure Boot and TPM in order to verify system trust. The next confirmed game launching with anti-cheat that requires both Secure Boot and TPM 2.0 is Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. While Battlefield 6 gives users an error if they try to launch a game without these features enabled, and Call of Duty will likely do the same, Steam appears to not want to leave this to chance.

The latest Steam client beta update adds capability to detect whether Secure Boot and TPM are enabled. For the time being, this will be limited to the System Information dialogue in the Help menu, but it will likely start to be featured somewhat more prominently if the anti-cheat requirements become more commonplace. Steam will also collect this information in the Steam Hardware and Software Survey. It's also unclear when the feature will arrive in the mainline Steam client.