Mojang has revealed that the Minecraft's annual mob vote (a feature that allows players to pick the next creature added to the game) tradition is coming to an end as part of a new game update structure, following TikTok war propaganda-inspired posters by players fed-up with the tradition.

On September 9, via a post on its blog, Mojang announced that its annual news livestream, Minecraft Live, is discarding the mob vote feature and is now being split up into several smaller, more-focused broadcasts, which will occur twice a year. Mojang also revealed that free content updates would be released more often, abandoning the traditional annual larger updates and sticking to smaller updates like this year's Armored Paws update.

GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY Co. Ltd, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, and hardware solutions, announced today the latest BIOS release to include TDP to 105 W option for AMD Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X processors, which can boost CPU performance up to 13%.⁠

The September latest BIOS version AGESA 1.2.0.1a provides a new option enabling users to raise the CPU TDP from 65 W to 105 W with just one click for Ryzen 9600X and 9700X on GIGABYTE 600 series motherboards. This new BIOS has been verified to show an approximately 13% multicore performance boost compared to default TDP 65 W by Cinebench R23 test results.

AMD's Ryzen processors have received a significant performance upgrade, thanks to the recent Windows 11 24H2 update. This development addresses initial disappointments with the Ryzen 9000 "Zen 5" series performance, particularly in gaming applications. The update, which improves branch prediction capabilities, has resulted in substantial gains for both the Ryzen 9000 "Zen 5" and Ryzen 7000 "Zen 4" CPU lineups. According to tests by Hardware Unboxed, Ryzen 9000 "Zen 5" CPUs have shown double-digit performance increases across multiple game titles, a boost typically seen only between generational upgrades.

Interestingly, contrary to AMD's initial claims, the performance gains are not limited to the Zen 5 architecture. The Ryzen 7000 "Zen 4" processors have also benefited from the update, with minimal performance differences observed between comparable Zen 5 and Zen 4 models after the update. This development marks a crucial turning point for AMD, addressing earlier criticisms and narrowing the gap between reported and expected performance figures. As users install the Windows 11 24H2 update, they can expect enhanced gaming experiences across a wide range of titles, highlighting the complex interplay between hardware capabilities and software optimization in modern computing. Below are the results from Hardware Unboxed benchmarks.

Multiple users have recently reported that the August 13 Windows 11 update causes issues with dual-boot Linux/Windows configurations. However, the issues are actually related to changes in UEFI Secure Boot Advanced Targeting (SBAT) policies. The issue stems from Microsoft enforcing SBAT and revoking old, exploitable certificates. Many Linux distributions use self-signed UEFI shims, which are no longer allowed due to known exploits. The new update revokes the SBAT certificates on affected, known exploitable versions of GRUB shipped with some Linux distributions. This can result in error messages like "Verifying shim SBAT data failed: Security Policy Violation" or "Something has gone seriously wrong: SBAT self-check failed: Security Policy Violation." To resolve this issue, Linux users need to update GRUB or disable the SBAT policy on the Linux side.

It's important to note that this is not primarily a Microsoft problem, but rather a necessary security update that affects some Linux distributions using outdated or vulnerable bootloaders. For more information on SBAT revocations and the boot process, users can refer to the Ubuntu Discourse here. This problem particularly impacts software developers and gaming enthusiasts who rely on dual-boot setups. As always, it's good practice for users to back up their data before performing any system updates. Considering alternatives like using virtual machines is also a good choice for users relying on older Linux distributions.

Intel has officially started shipping the "0x129" microcode update for its 13th and 14th generation "Raptor Lake" and "Raptor Lake Refresh" processors. This critical update is currently being pushed to all OEM/ODM partners to address the stability issues that Intel's processors have been facing. According to Intel, this microcode update fixes "incorrect voltage requests to the processor that are causing elevated operating voltage." Intel's analysis shows that the root cause of stability problems is caused by too high voltage during operation of the processor. These increases to voltage cause degradation that increases the minimum voltage required for stable operation. Intel calls this "Vmin"—it's a theoretical construct, not an actual voltage, think "speed for an airplane required to fly". The latest 0x129 microcode patch will limit the processor's voltage to no higher than 1.55 V, which should avoid further degradation. Overclocking is still supported, enthusiasts will have to disable the eTVB setting in their BIOS to push the processor beyond the 1.55 V threshold. The company's internal testing shows that the new default settings with limited voltages with standard run-to-run variations show minimal performance impact, with only a single game (Hitman 3: Dartmoor) showing degradation. For a full statement from Intel, see the quote below.

Regarding the instability of the Intel Core 14th /13th Gen desktop processors, MSI will release the latest BIOS of Intel 700 and 600 series motherboards and 14th /13th Generation Desktop PC with 0x129 microcode to mitigate the instability.

The 1st batch of BIOS releasing models are MEG Z790 GODLIKE MAX, MEG Z790 ACE MAX, MPG Z790 CARBON MAX WIFI II, MPG Z790 CARBON WIFI, MAG Z790 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI and Z790MPOWER. All BIOS of Intel 700 and 600 series motherboards and 14th /13th Generation Desktop PC will be released soon in coming weeks by the end of August. MSI will continue to update our users on the latest news. Please follow MSI's official channels and check the product pages for the latest BIOS updates.

BIOSTAR, a leading manufacturer of motherboards, graphics cards, IPC solutions, and storage devices, today is excited to announce a brand-new BIOS update for its AMD AM5 motherboards, designed to support AMD's latest Ryzen 9000 series processors, including Ryzen 9 9950X, Ryzen 9 9900X, Ryzen 7 9700X, and Ryzen 5 9600X. Incorporating the latest AMD AGESA 1.2.0.0.a Patch A BIOS update on BIOSTAR official website, BIOSTAR AM5 series motherboards consisting of X870E, X670E, B650E, B650, A620, and A620A are now primed and ready to unleash the full potential of AMD's ZEN 5 processors with superior stability.

AMD's latest Ryzen 9000 series processors, built on the groundbreaking Zen 5 architecture, represent a significant leap forward in computing performance and efficiency. These processors offer up to 16 cores and 32 threads, with clock speeds reaching up to 5.7 GHz. Featuring enhanced IPC (Instructions Per Cycle) performance and advanced Ryzen AI capabilities, the Ryzen 9000 series is engineered to handle intensive gaming, content creation, and professional workloads with ease. The new architecture also introduces improved power efficiency, ensuring cooler operation and lower energy consumption. With these cutting-edge processors, users can experience unprecedented levels of speed, responsiveness, and overall computing power.

Interesting things are happening in the gaming community, as Windows 10 operating system has seen an increase in its user base on the Steam platform, while Windows 11 has dipped below the 46% mark for the first time since its launch. According to the latest July data from Steam's hardware and software survey, Windows 10's share rose to 47.69%, marking a significant uptick that contrasts with Windows 11's decline to 45.73%. This trend highlights a growing preference among gamers for the older operating system, which is often praised for its stability and compatibility with a wide range of games and hardware. Many users have expressed concerns over Windows 11's performance and its stringent hardware requirements, which have made it less accessible for some gamers, especially those without the TPM 2.0-enhanced system.

The shift in user demographics is particularly interesting given that Windows 11 was designed with gaming enhancements in mind, including features like DirectStorage and Auto HDR. However, the adoption rate appears to be hampered by issues related to compatibility and performance, leading many gamers to stick with the more familiar and reliable Windows 10. This trend could prompt Microsoft to reevaluate its approach to Windows 11, particularly in terms of addressing user concerns and enhancing compatibility with existing hardware. Other OSes are seeing stagnation, especially with Linux-based distributions recording zero change. Apple's OSX stands at 1.37%, a +0.06% increase from last month.

Corsair Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRSR) ("Corsair" or the "Company"), a leading global provider and innovator of high-performance products for gamers, streamers, content-creators, and gaming PC builders, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2024, and its updated financial outlook for the full year 2024.

Second Quarter 2024 Select Financial Metrics

• Net revenue was $261.3 million compared to $325.4 million in the second quarter of 2023, a decrease of 19.7%. Gaming Components and Systems segment net revenue was $167.1 million compared to $246.7 million in the second quarter of 2023, while Gamer and Creator Peripherals segment net revenue was $94.2 million compared to $78.8 million in the second quarter of 2023.
• Net loss attributable to common shareholders was $29.6 million, or a net loss of $0.28 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.1 million, or a net income of $0.01 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2023.
• Adjusted net loss was $6.8 million, or an adjusted net loss of $0.07 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $9.8 million, or an adjusted net income of $0.09 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2023.
• Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $1.2 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA of $17.8 million in the second quarter of 2023.
• Cash and restricted cash was $94.6 million as of June 30, 2024.

AMD has introduced Fluid Motion Frames 2 (AFMF 2), an upgraded version of its frame generation technology designed to improve gameplay smoothness and frame rates. This new iteration brings several enhancements and expanded compatibility across Radeon RX 6000 and 7000 series graphics cards. AMD debuted Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF) in September 2023 introducing frame generation capabilities across a broad spectrum of GPUs, including those from NVIDIA, and Intel. This technology was compatible with all DirectX 12 and DirectX 11 games, potentially doubling performance when frame generation was activated.

Following its initial release, AMD addressed major concerns such as stuttering and frame-pacing through substantial driver improvements. The refined version of AFMF was officially incorporated into AMD's driver package in January of this year. Now, AMD is offering Fluid Motion Frames 2 as a technical preview using a special driver to convince gamers that they can have an even faster and smoother gaming experience.

Intel has released its latest version of Arc GPU Graphics drivers for A-series discrete GPUs and Arc Graphics iGPUs, version 101.5762 Beta. The new drivers bring Game On Driver support on Intel Arc A-series GPUs and Intel Core Ultra with Intel Arc GPUs for Once Human and Zenless Zone Zero games, as well as improve performance in Diablo IV under DirectX 12 by up to 35 percent at 1440p resolution and by up to 30 percent at 1080p resolution with Ray Tracing Ultra settings.

The new drivers also fix the issue seen in Plants vs. Zombies Game of the Year Edition when 3D acceleration is enabled on Intel Arc A-series GPUs and Core Ultra CPUs with Intel Arc GPUs, as well as issues with Endurance Gaming in games on Intel Core Ultra CPUs with Intel Arc GPUs. Intel also fixed an issue With Intel Arc Control where it may report incorrect Shader Model version in System Capabilities.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5762 Beta

Microsoft has unexpectedly halted the rollout of the upcoming Windows 11 24H2 update to Windows Insiders on the Release Preview Channel. The pause was quietly announced through an update to the original release blog post, which had initially touted the preview's new features like Wi-Fi 7 support, Sudo for Windows, Rust in the Windows kernel, and various UI enhancements. Microsoft has not provided an official reason for hitting the brakes on the 24H2 preview rollout. Brandon LeBlanc, the Windows Insider Senior Program Manager, simply stated, "We are working to get it rolling out again shortly."

However, a glimpse at the Microsoft Feedback Hub reveals a multitude of issues reported by Insiders testing the 24H2 build. Complaints range from application freezes and performance degradation to VPN connectivity problems. Some users have even taken to social media to voice their frustrations, with one describing the Arm version as a "disastrous, worst 'release' preview I can remember." The Release Preview Channel is typically recommended for commercial users and those wanting to test upcoming Windows releases before general availability. Meanwhile, the Dev Channel caters to users who are comfortable with instability and rough edges. As The Register notes, the current situation echoes Microsoft's troubled rollout of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, which contained a data deletion bug.

Intel released the latest version of Arc GPU Graphics Drivers today. The latest version 101.5522 WHQL brings mostly game ready support for titles like Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, Starfield May Update, Wuthering Waves, and XDefiant. With the support for Starfield May Update, Intel has prepared performance improvements when the game runs on DirectX 12 API. This brings up to 8% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Ultra settings and up to 7% average FPS uplift at 1440p with High settings, which is a notable improvement coming only from the driver. You can download the drivers from the link below.DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.5522 WHQL.

AVerMedia Technologies, a leader in digital audiovisual solutions, today announced a firmware update for its well-received HDMI 2.1 USB Capture Card, Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1. The update gives users three new features - including 5.1 multi-channel audio pass-through and capture - fulfilling some highly wished-for upgrades of the capture card, making it even more powerful.

"We're constantly listening to our customers to ensure that we're bringing nothing but the best to the table," said Michael Kuo, President and CEO of AVerMedia. "Now, with the three added features, creators can take their content creation and gaming experience to greater heights."

Bethesda had already promised a big update for Starfield, and yesterday, it announced all the goodies to come, including the May 15th launch date. The May Update, as it is called, will bring detailed surface maps, new gameplay difficulty options, new display settings, new features for ship customizations, and more, as well as an extensive list of bug fixes.

According to Bethesda, the Starfield May Update comes with improved surface maps, new gameplay options which allow fine-tuning for those looking for an extra challenge or want to make certain aspects of the game a bit easier, and a new Ship Decoration mode for the interior of ships that now allows players to decorate the ship in the same way as outposts. The update also adds tabs to container menus for easier inventory management, adds an ability to change traits and appearance after entering the Unity, a new Dialogue camera toggle in settings, and new display settings for the Xbox Series X.

To enhance user experience, Microsoft has rolled out a significant update to the web version of its Microsoft Store, simplifying the process of downloading and installing applications. This move aims to minimize the number of steps required, making it more convenient for users to access their desired apps. Previously, the process of installing apps from the Microsoft Store website involved multiple steps, including navigating through deep-linked dialogues and mini-window popups before the actual download could commence. While this approach was implemented as a security measure to prevent malicious scripts from executing, it was deemed cumbersome by many users. With the introduction of the "undocked version" of the Microsoft Store, the app installation process has been streamlined. Users can now download an app for their Windows system with just two clicks.

The first click initiates the download of the app package, and the second click launches the application itself. Early feedback from testers and developers has been overwhelmingly positive, with reports indicating a 12% increase in app installations and a remarkable 54% surge in the number of applications launched after installation. This update not only improves the user experience but also holds the potential to boost app adoption and engagement on the Microsoft Store platform. While not all apps currently support this new lightweight installation process, with some still directing users to the dedicated Windows app or requiring additional downloads during installation, Microsoft is committed to expanding the availability of this feature across its app catalog. This update underscores Microsoft's ongoing efforts to enhance the efficiency and user-friendliness of its services.

MSI, a leading brand in gaming, content creation, and business and productivity laptops, is proud to announce that its gaming handheld, Claw, has achieved a significant boost in gaming performance, with an increase of up to 150% through new BIOS and GPU drivers. Moreover, the updated BIOS and GPU drivers enable the Claw to smoothly play the top 100 popular games on the Steam platform, providing an excellent mobile gaming experience.

The new E1T41IMS.106 BIOS (referred to as 106) and 31.0.101.5445 GPU driver (referred to as 5445) for the MSI Claw have significantly enhanced gaming performance according to internal tests. For instance, the performance of the well-known open-world horror game "7 Days to Die" increased by up to 150%. Other popular games such as "Monster Hunter World" and "Cyberpunk 2077" also saw performance improvements of over 50% with the new BIOS and GPU drivers, providing a smoother gaming experience.

As promised earlier, Capcom has released a new Dragon's Dogma 2 patch for PC and consoles, and while it does not bring any performance improvements to the game, which still lacks NVIDIA DLSS 3 support, it brings some much-needed gameplay tweaks and fixes.

The April 25th Update, as it is called, mostly improves the game's Pawns, allowing users to zoom in on the faces of the Arisen and Pawns, as well as their general behavior and dialogue. The update also adds several fixes, including fixes for issues in escort quests and fighting monsters in town which results in jail time. Capcom did say it also fixed some crashes and freezes in specific circumstances, as well as other miscellaneous bugs, but no further details were given.

Lords of the Fallen got a new big update that is now live for both PC and consoles, and brings several new features, improvements, and fixes, as well as support for AMD FSR 3. Called the Master of Fate, the new version 1.5 update is the culmination of over 30 updates released since launch and should significantly improve performance, stability and optimization, as well as bring difficulty balancing based on the feedback from gamers.

According to the full release notes released over at Steam, the biggest update is the new Advanced Game Modifier System, which will be available to both new and old players, and brings several content and quality of life enhancements. In addition, the new Version 1.5 update also adds support for AMD FSR 3 and fixes several issues, including a multiplayer issue where the player can fall through the elevator, a fix to increase the maximum stack count of Vestige Seeds from 5 to 99, and a fix for a rare crash caused by AI.

Today, ASML Holding NV (ASML) has published its 2024 first-quarter results.

• Q1 total net sales of €5.3 billion, gross margin of 51.0%, net income of €1.2 billion
• Quarterly net bookings in Q1 of €3.6 billion of which €656 million is EUV
• ASML expects Q2 2024 total net sales between €5.7 billion and €6.2 billion, and a gross margin between 50% and 51%
• ASML expects 2024 total net sales to be similar to 2023

CEO statement and outlook
"Our first-quarter total net sales came in at €5.3 billion, at the midpoint of our guidance, with a gross margin of 51.0% which is above guidance, primarily driven by product mix and one-offs. We expect second-quarter total net sales between €5.7 billion and €6.2 billion with a gross margin between 50% and 51%. ASML expects R&D costs of around €1,070 million and SG&A costs of around €295 million. Our outlook for the full year 2024 is unchanged, with the second half of the year expected to be stronger than the first half, in line with the industry's continued recovery from the downturn. We see 2024 as a transition year with continued investments in both capacity ramp and technology, to be ready for the turn in the cycle," said ASML President and Chief Executive Officer Peter Wennink.

We are thrilled to share that over the next few weeks, the EA app will officially replace Origin as our primary Mac platform. A faster, more reliable, and more streamlined experience - it's the best place for you to experience EA's incredible games, services and content. With the new streamlined design you will easily find the games and content you're looking for and discover your new favorite games. With automatic game downloads and background updates you can ensure that your games are ready to play when you are.

For existing Origin players, we've worked hard to make the transition to the EA app as simple as possible. When you get there, all your games and content, including games already installed on Origin, will be ready and waiting for you. Your local and cloud saves will transfer forward ensuring you can pick up where you left off. New players will start by downloading a new favorite game and jump into the action with our optimized experience. Players on unsupported macOS devices can continue to enjoy their favorite games on Origin.

We have an important announcement for our players and fans. With an external investor, Relic Entertainment will become an independently-run development studio. This is a huge change for us, but one thing does not change: we want to create amazing experiences for our players. To our fans, we want to assure you we will continue to support our titles, including Company of Heroes 3—we are looking forward to the 1.6 Update in April, loaded with new content and features requested by our community.

We want to thank SEGA, whose support over the years and guidance during this transition have been instrumental to our success. We may be out of the SEGA business, but we remain friends and colleagues. We are excited about this next chapter for Relic, and we hope you will all join us in creating new experiences for our fans worldwide.

Capcom has released the newest update for Dragon's Dogma 2 on PC and PlayStation 5, while Xbox will get it in next few days. On the PC, the update improves quality when DLSS Super Resolution is enabled, and fixes various bugs. Earlier, Dragon's Dogma 2 Devs have already announced an investigation for PC performance and stability issues, specifically frame rate and various crashes, bugs and the option to start a new game, which has been addressed with this update.

According to the release notes release by Capcom, PC specific updates include improved quality when NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution is enabled and a fix for an issue related to the display of models under some specific settings. On both PlayStation 5 and the PC, the update adds the option to start a new game when save game data already exists, changes the number of "Art of Metamorphosis" items available in Pawn Shops to 99, makes the "dwelling quest" available earlier in the game, as well as fixes various bugs and text display issues. On the PlayStation 5, the update also adds the option to switch on/off the Motion Blur and Ray Tracing, as well as to set the maximum frame rate to 30 FPS. Capcom also notes that motion blur and ray tracing options should not affect frame rate significantly, and that improvements to frame rate are planned for future updates. The release notes also say that updates to Xbox Series X/S version of the game are planned in the next few days.

Hey everyone, today's update for Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition on PC includes crash fixes, various bug fixes, and improvements based on player feedback. Since the launch of the game last week, we've been closely monitoring our crash reporting system and investigating crashes submitted through our support channel. This patch includes several crash fixes and changes to further improve stability.

We've also fixed several bugs, including one that prevented players from claiming rewards at the Hunting Grounds when using mouse and keyboard controls. This patch also fixes the HDR Max Luminance slider and enables DLSS 3 Frame Generation during cutscenes. Check out the release notes below for more details. The teams at Nixxes and Guerrilla continue to closely monitor player feedback. We are aware of other issues raised by the community and are actively working on future patches with further bug fixes and optimizations.

Hey Xbox Insiders! We have a new Xbox Update Preview releasing to the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring today. It's important we note that some updates made to these preview OS builds include background improvements that ensure a quality and stable build for Xbox consoles. We will continue to post these release notes, even when the noticeable changes to the UI are minimal or behind the scenes, so you're aware when updates are coming to your device. Details can be found below!

New Features and Experiences
We have exciting news! Alpha Skip-Ahead users can expect something new coming to their Xbox Update Preview.

Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)
Xbox Insiders can preview Mouse and Keyboard support while playing via cloud gaming on supported browsers (Edge and Chrome) and the Xbox App on Windows PCs for users enrolled in the PC Gaming Preview. Note: Users on browser will need to enable Preview features on their browser to gain access to the feature. This is done by clicking on your profile picture at xbox.com/play and then select Settings and then enable "Preview features."