Asha Sharma has faced her fair share of criticism since stepping into the role of CEO of Microsoft Gaming earlier in 2026, but she has repeatedly made statements that she would try to guide the company in what she calls a "return to Xbox," with a focus on in-house hardware. According to a new report by The Information, one of Sharma's first moves as CEO of Microsoft Gaming will be to introduce a new lower-price tier of Game Pass in order to attract new gamers to the service and to make the service inticing to a broader range of consumers.

This comes shortly after Microsoft renamed the Windows Full Screen Experience to Xbox Mode, perhaps a rebranding in the name of unifying Microsoft's gaming offerings—a mission that is clearly part of Microsoft's plan, given that its next-gen console is confirmed to be a PC-console hybrid. Previously, there were rumors of an ad-supported tier for Xbox Cloud Gaming, but Microsoft also increased the price of Game Pass across the board as recently as October 2025. A Microsoft executive previously confirmed that Game Pass was profitable as a service, but that Xbox had to emphasize flexibility in its strategy, and introducing a cheaper Game Pass tier may be a viable way to draw in new Game Pass gamers, some of whom will presumably hop over to the more premium tiers, depending on Microsoft's implementation of the new entry-level tier.

Xiaomi's upcoming Book 14 laptop has leaked online, revealing the expected specifications for the upcoming thin-and-light productivity laptop. According to Digital Chat Station on Weibo, the Xiaomi Book 14 will feature Intel's Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 CPUs, specifically the Core Ultra 5 325 and Core Ultra X7 358H, with either 24 GB or 32 GB of memory and 1 TB of storage. This means that the Xiaomi Book 14 will be available in at least one configuration with Intel's impressive new Arc B390 iGPU, which has proven itself in both gaming and creative workloads aside from the usual productivity fare.

Following DCS's post, Aura Pig also posted on Weibo about the upcoming MacBook competitor, stating that the both the build quality and battery life of the Xiaomi Book 14 were impressive. The 14-inch display is also touch-enabled, although the laptop is purportedly squarely in the premium category, suggesting a high price. The current-gen Xiaomi Book 14 tops out at 16 GB of memory and is only available with Intel's 12th-Gen CPUs and up to 512 GB of storage, so the new model will be a significant upgrade in terms of performance and convenience if the leaked specifications are any indication. Weight on the new Book 14 will be slightly lower than the old model, at around 1 kg compared to the 1.37 kg in the current Book 14.

At MWC 2026, Lenovo builds on the momentum from CES and Tech World to highlight its latest portfolio of AI-powered business devices, intelligent form factors, and enterprise-ready platforms, designed to help organizations scale AI with confidence. From modular AI PC concepts and rugged frontline tablets to the trusted ThinkPad portfolio and human-centric AI companions, Lenovo's MWC showcase highlights how innovation, reliability, and repairability come together to support modern work.

The new announcements reflect a continued focus on delivering democratized AI that is productive, adaptable, and protected, addressing the real-world needs of professionals, IT leaders, and enterprises operating across increasingly distributed environments. By combining AI-ready devices with strong repairability, platform choice across leading silicon partners, and enterprise-grade security and services, Lenovo is enabling businesses to adopt AI-powered computing without added complexity.

Corsair acquired Drop in December 2023 in an effort to expand its peripheral business beyond the basic gaming keyboards and audio gear it offered at the time, and it has since adopted some of Drop's keyboard expertise into its new Corsair MAKR 75 DIY keyboard kits. Now, Drop has announced that Corsair will be fully absorbing Drop, closing down the online storefront and turning Drop.com into a showcase for all of the collaborations Drop has done in its time making premium peripherals.

The announcement makes it clear that Drop.com will no longer be an operational storefront by March 31, and anyone looking to place an order on Drop will need to do so by March 25. The announcement states that "many Drop products will continue to be offered directly from Corsair and partner channels," and while Drop says that buyers can "expect exclusive announcements, limited runs, and products shaped by partnerships and creativity," it seems like Drop's operations will be scaled back as a result of the change—by how much is unclear, though.

After a short period of teasing a Crimson Desert collaboration product, Sapphire recently revealed a fantasy adventure themed spin-off of its RDNA 4 flagship NITRO+ Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB custom graphics card. The sudden appearance of this special edition model roughly coincided with the launch of an AMD Ryzen/Radeon hardware + Pearl Abyss software promotional campaign. So far, Sapphire's marketing campaign—of the NITRO+ RX 9070 XT OC Crimson Desert Edition SKU—has not set a firm release date or confirmed day one pricing, although a (February 10) VideoCardz report proposed a "within February" window. The freshly-introduced card's EAN code (4895106297623) and manufacturing number (11348-10-20G) turned up online not long ago, and web searches—as of today—involving this info leads to several fresh e-tail listings in Germany and Austria.

Surprisingly, a couple of these shops state that they have Sapphire's latest top-end product "in stock," although the remainder outline about a week's worth of lead time. According to a regional price aggregator, Alternate.de offers the best deal—€919.99 (including VAT and delivery), which converts to ~$1093 USD. The additional Crimson Desert livery—consisting of an elaborate backplate print and distinctive fan stickers—seems to demand a significant premium, when compared to the vanilla Nitro+ design. For reference, Alternate has the standard SKU stocked for a total of €842.99 (~$1002 USD). The least appealing Crimson Desert Edition price tag comes in at €1109.40, via Kaufland.de's marketplace. Alternate GmbH's eBay store advertises stock at €773.10 (per unit), but this initial figure is deceptive—VAT gets added on in the checkout process, aligning with the aforementioned "best" €919.99 price point.

Alphacool International GmbH from Braunschweig is a pioneer in PC water-cooling technology. With one of the most comprehensive product portfolios in the industry and over 20 years of experience, Alphacool is now expanding its portfolio with the Core Distro Plates V.2.

The Core Distro Plate V.2 is the ideal solution for custom water-cooling systems, featuring a revised design that provides greater installation flexibility and simplifies the planning, setup, and maintenance of even complex cooling loops. Chrome-plated brass G1/4" fittings, directly embedded into the acrylic, ensure maximum leak protection and a premium appearance. The reduced depth, optimized port arrangement, and integrated drain port enable short, clean tubing runs and convenient system draining.

The custom mechanical keyboard scene is known for high prices and exotic materials, but CannonKeys's latest announcement, a wood Bakeneko65 keyboard, takes this one step further with a $380 starting price for a bespoke wood case and PCB kit. The Bakeneko65 is an existing model from CannonKeys—and one of the more affordable kits, mind you—but the Wood Bakeneko65, as it's called on the site, is a collaboration between Seattle-based workshop, Functional.co, that adds a premium touch to an otherwise simple keyboard design. The design sticks to the traditional tray-mounted design of the Bakeneko65, but CannonKeys will include O-rings for mounting, and it will have an FR4 plate, and the wood will be finished with a Rubio Monocoat Pure 2C oil with a hardener. The keyboard will also come in a "custom wooden box."

The Wood Bakeneko65's case will be a two-part design, with an outer case and an inner case, the latter of which is sort of a bezel or frame for the keyboard itself. The outer case is made from maple, but users can choose between maple, walnut, purple heart, and paduak wood for the inner case. It will be available with both the wired and wireless Bakeneko65 PCB, and the kit will come in at $380 for the maple or walnut inner case or $410 for the purple heart or paduak inner case. Adding wireless functionality also brings the aforementioned prices up by $10. The Wood Bakeneko65 has not yet launched properly, but it will be available as a group buy on the CannonKeys website "soon."

MSI's most powerful GPU—the GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z—will come with an extreme price tag to match, as the company has listed its GPU for NT$165,000, which works out to about $5,200. The company noted this pricing in a 24-hour giveaway scheduled to begin on Monday, February 9, at 10:00 AM Taiwanese time, lasting until Tuesday, February 10. The listing has revealed that the card we previewed at the 2026 International CES show is not only a premium design but also a premium-priced product, as the supply is limited to only 1,300 samples. MSI advertises a factory boost clock of 2,730 MHz and an "Extreme Performance" OC profile of 2,775 MHz. Additionally, the GPU is capable of reaching 3,742 MHz, which is the fastest LN2 GeForce RTX 5090 GPU ever.

The MSI GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z will come with an 800 W power limit out of the box, while the "Extreme" power preset mode gives it a 1000 W power envelope on the 360 mm AIO water cooling. The extensive engineering involved in the PCB design along with a 40-phase VRM allows the GPU to sustain multi-kilowatt loads. The card uses 28 Gbps Samsung GDDR7 memory, which can be overclocked to 36 Gbps on LN2. Additionally, only LN2 is capable of taming the XOC BIOS, which comes with 2.5 kW of power load and will require extensive PCB modifications. For a product that costs $5,200, only extreme overclockers would dare to modify the card. For the rest of us mere mortals, MSI recommends a power supply with a capacity of 1600 W, providing ample room for basic overclocking without ruining the card.

NVIDIA briefly updated its online marketplace with the latest stock of GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 Founders Edition SKUs, available at MSRP pricing. However, the entire stock was depleted in just minutes after the initial listing, suggesting that gamers have been trying to get their hands on MSRP-priced GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 GPUs but were able to do so only for a few minutes as the listing disappeared shortly thereafter. The flagship GeForce RTX 5090 Founders Edition was listed at its Euro-designated MSRP of €2,099, while the high-end GeForce RTX 5080 Founders Edition GPU was listed at its €1,059 MSRP. Both GPUs were listed at 10:01 am, but the RTX 5090 FE was gone by 10:08 am, just seven minutes after listing. For the RTX 5080 FE, the listing disappeared at 10:20 am when the stock was gone. The mid-range RTX 5070 FE was also listed but stayed online for a few hours before disappearing.

For buyers interested in purchasing these GPUs at MSRPs, there is virtually no option besides the NVIDIA Marketplace. Any third-party storefronts, where NVIDIA's official AICs are listing these GPUs, are posting listings that go well above €3,000. The card rarely dips below that price, and the median price listing, according to ComputerBase, suggests that the number now floats at €3,566. Any listing near MSRP is a definite premium for gamers who want to get their hands on an already expensive GPU, meaning that they don't have to pay for inflated pricing caused by the GDDR7 memory shortage and NVIDIA's current production tactics. There haven't been any NVIDIA Marketplace updates since the beginning of December, meaning that nearly two full months have passed since the last "drop."

GIGABYTE, the world's leading computer brand, proudly announces the availability of its flagship X870E AORUS XTREME X3D AI TOP motherboard after its debut alongside the X3D series in September. This model is designed to level up performance for AMD Ryzen X3D processors, featuring X3D Turbo Mode 2.0, powered by a built-in dynamic AI overclocking model and hardware chip, and equipped with GIGABYTE's D5 Bionic Corsa to unleash DDR5 performance. By leveraging advanced AI technology, XTREME cooling solution, and enhanced DIY-friendly design, as the flagship, the X870E AORUS XTREME X3D AI TOP integrates the newest, industry-defining capabilities to deliver uncompromising performance for PC enthusiasts.

At the core of this motherboard, X3D Turbo Mode 2.0, is powered by a dynamic AI overclocking model and hardware chip to adjust voltage, frequency, and temperature in real time. Resulting in a up to 25% significant performance enhancement for AMD Ryzen X3D processors in gaming and multi-tasking. While equipped with the revolutionary D5 Bionic Corsa, integrating software, hardware, and firmware to boost DDR5 memory performance up to 9000+ MT/s, pushing performance boundaries even further.

Angry Miao, the peripherals brand typically known for its premium mechanical gaming keyboards, has announced a new version of its first wireless mouse. The Angry Miao AM Infinity .97 is a smaller version of the company's first gaming mouse, the AM Infinity, which launched in March 2025. Aside from the magnesium shell, the original AM Infinity mouse's claim to fame is its hot-swap battery system that Angry Miao markets as "infinite battery life." As was revealed in a recent X post, with the Infinity .97, Angry Miao has shrunk down the original design by 3%, which has resulted in a minor reduction in weight as well as size. The main goal of the smaller version of the Infinity mouse seems to be comfort for players with slightly smaller hands who otherwise like the shape of the Razer Viper V3 Pro. A previous project log published by Angry Miao explained that almost half of the people the design team polled preferred the smaller size, while those who had hands measuring 17.5-18.5 cm in length found it to be the ideal size. The new design also reduced discomfort caused by the hump design of the previous model.

After the reduction, the AM Infinity .97 weighs in at 47 g, which is around 2 g less than the original Infinity mouse, and it seems to be using the same capacity battery as the original, meaning 340 mAh, which should deliver 43 hours of use at 1000 Hz polling or 17 hours at 8000 Hz polling while used wirelessly. If you're striving for even more weight reduction, you can run it wirelessly, which should drop another 10 g. It will feature the same PixArt 3950 sensor as the original version, as well. It also stands to reason that the Infinity .97 will use the same TTC Optical Micro switches as the original. One of the other changes coming to the .97 mouse is the addition of a transparent plastic panel that covers the large hole in the rear of the mouse and provides a little more support for palm and claw grip players. In a similar vein, the sides of the .97 version will also be solid, instead of honeycomb. The Angry Miao AM Infinity .97 mouse is slated to officially launch on February 26 on Kickstarter. Pricing is as-yet unknown, but the original AM Infinity mouse starts at $129 with the 2.4 GHz receiver and two battery packs.

AMD is reportedly shifting its production strategy to focus more on the Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics cards instead of the non-XT version. According to PROHARDVER, AMD is reallocating internal capacity towards the higher-end Radeon RX 9070 XT, which has a higher MSRP of $599. This decision is driven by the fact that the production costs for both GPUs are the same, as they both use the Navi 48 die and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. With memory pricing being the main bottleneck, AMD aims to concentrate on a SKU that offers a better profit margin and justifies the engineering efforts invested in the series. Although both SKUs have the same memory configuration, the non-XT version uses a Navi 48 XT die, likely a lower-bin version of the Navi 48 XTX die. As a result, production costs are similar, but the Radeon RX 9070 XT has a slight 9% price premium over the non-XT model.

PROHARDVERThis does not make the Radeon RX 9070 a very good alternative for manufacturers, and according to our information, its production is not stopped, but the focus is largely on the Radeon RX 9070 XT, so they may produce more of this model in the future at the expense of its smaller brother. On paper, this could help minimize the need for price correction, since the fastest Radeon model is already more expensive, so it is less affected by the increase in memory prices.

The WLMouse Huan is a premium, lightweight magnesium alloy gaming mouse with a solid shell that takes after the Razer Viper Mini and weighs in at just under 50 g (48 g ±2 g) and features flagship internals. As a celebration for Chinese New Year, WLMouse has announced a limited edition Year of the Horse colorway of the Huan mouse. The Huan Year of the Horse mouse will officially become available for purchase on February, although pricing has not been announced yet. There also appears to be a matching mousepad for the Huan Year of the Horse edition, and it will ship with all the typical accessories, like extra wide skates and dot skates, a USB-C cable, and likely two sets of grips.

The Huan Year of the Horse Limited Edition mouse will have a striking red body with a custom graphic on the shell, and it will include a matching red base station and included grips with intricate printing. The internals will likely remain unchanged compared to the regular Huan, which means the Year of the Horse mouse will be built around a Nordic 54HM MCU and a tuned PixArt PAW3950HS sensor with an optional 20K FPS lock. The main click switches are Omron Optical switches, and the mouse uses a TTC Silver Dust-Proof encoder for the scroll wheel. If the $155 pricing of the original WLMouse Huan is anything to go by, potential buyers should prepare to drop a pretty penny on the limited edition variant. The Nekko colorway, for example, increases the price to $169, and that isn't a limited edition.

GIGABYTE, the world's leading computer brand, strengthens its strategic partnership with NVIDIA by unveiling a new generation of flagship products built on NVIDIA's latest platform at CES 2026. The lineup spans new GeForce RTX 5090 graphics cards, powerful GeForce RTX laptops with built-in NVIDIA Studio, and G-SYNC Compatible gaming monitors, leveraging NVIDIA's cutting-edge GPU, RTX AI, and display technologies. Building on this foundation, GIGABYTE layers its own advanced cooling, system-control, and display innovations to deliver a uniquely powerful and polished experience for both gamers and creators.

Leading the graphics card lineup, the AORUS GeForce RTX 5090 INFINITY is powered by the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture, leveraging GeForce RTX 50 Series capabilities to power next-level RTX gaming and AI computing. Equipped with a massive level of AI horsepower, the RTX 50 Series enables new experiences and next-level graphics fidelity. Multiply performance with NVIDIA DLSS 4, generate images at unprecedented speed, and unleash creativity with NVIDIA Studio. To support the GPU in performing at its full potential, GIGABYTE reinforces the design with the WINDFORCE HYPERBURST Cooling System, combining a separated PCB design, patented Hawk fans, and an additional Overdrive Fan for extra cooling headroom under heavy loads. The result is more sustained peak performance, wrapped in a premium showcase design featuring a circular heatsink, a die-cast metal backplate, and iconic RGB Halo lighting.

When you think of Keychron, you immediately associate them with premium keyboards. But before we got to the keyboards, their CES booth this year caught our attention with a truly unique product: the Keychron Nape Pro Wireless Trackball Mouse. This compact device is designed to sit alongside keyboards or function as a standalone trackball with macro pad capabilities. The "mouse" measures 35.2 x 34.7 mm and features a 25 mm thumb trackball, six buttons, and a scroll wheel. It uses a Realtek chip with 1 kHz polling rate and a PixArt PAW3222 sensor for tracking, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless dongle, or USB-C wired connection. The device runs the ZMK open-source keyboard firmware, enabling extensive customization with multiple layers, shortcuts, and programmable macros.

However, the key innovation is Keychron OctaShift system, which detects the device orientation and automatically remaps button functions accordingly. Whether positioned horizontally next to a keyboard like a laptop pointing system or vertically as a standalone trackball, the M1 and M2 buttons at each end adapt to serve as primary clicks (or whatever functions have been assigned). This allows the Nape Pro to switch between a precision input device and a full macro pad depending on placement.

EXO 626 is a premium concept chassis that blends the freedom of open-frame architecture with the refinement of a fully enclosed system. Inspired by exoskeletal design, it presents the PC as an architectural object that is minimal, intentional, and visually striking.

The chassis features separated compartments for GPU, PSU, and AIO cooling, combined with passive-focused airflow for quiet, efficient performance. Mesh panels support optimal airflow while maintaining a clean, streamlined form. EXO 626 supports large, high-end GPUs and AIO solutions, offering a layout that balances performance with visual impact.

XGIMI introduced its latest products at CES 2026, featuring the Titan Noir Max projector and a new pair of MemoMind AI glasses. The projector is a taller, squarer version of last year's Titan, with a grille-like pattern on the front for a more substantial look. XGIMI is marketing it as a versatile device for both home theater enthusiasts and professional users, thanks to a dynamic iris system that enhances contrast to 10,000:1 and a redesigned chip architecture that manages more light power without overheating. However, the actual brightness remains unspecified, as XGIMI has not provided ANSI lumen figures, despite claiming the new thermal system supports sustained brightness. The company also withheld details on color accuracy, even though it promises "color-critical" performance for studio work. Pricing is still unknown, but since the previous Titan launched at $3,999, the Max is expected to be in a similar premium range when pre-orders begin in Q1 2026.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) is proud to announce a collaboration with world-renowned game studio KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS, as well as the launch of the ROG Flow Z13-KJP along with a new lineup of KJP peripherals. ROG and KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS are driven to create products and experiences tailored for gamers.

Cutting-edge gaming hardware meets visionary storytelling
At the heart of this collaboration is 'Ludens'—the belief that humans are not only thinkers, but also players and creators. The collaboration combines the spirit of the ROG motto For Those Who Dare with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS' vision From Sapiens to Ludens. Ludens are the ones who experiment, mod, create, and challenge what games—and gaming hardware—can be. By uniting cutting-edge ROG hardware with KOJIMA PRODUCTIONS' visionary storytelling, this partnership is a tribute to that spirit: everything we build, every detail we design, is for gamers everywhere—For Ludens Who Dare.

MMX 150 wireless: A headset for gaming and everyday use
While developed for focused gaming sessions, the MMX 150 is equally suitable for casual party games, listening to music, or binge-watching your favourite series. Its wide-ranging soundscape can be customised via the beyerdynamic app.

Inside the headset, a 40 mm premium dynamic driver forms the foundation of an immersive sound experience. Gamers benefit from precise spatial reproduction, allowing them to detect even the subtlest in-game sounds. Latency is just 30 milliseconds when used with the included dongle. Alternatively, the headset can connect via Bluetooth 5.3. LC3 codecs ensure energy-efficient transmission, extending battery life to up to 50 hours.

UK-based seating specialist, Boulies, today announces the launch of its newest ergonomic model, the OP180 Ergonomic Desk Chair, engineered to deliver a supportive, breathable and fully customizable seating experience for home offices and professional environments alike. With a focus on long-term comfort, premium materials and adaptable ergonomics, the OP180 is designed to accommodate users of varying heights, workloads and working styles. Able to hold a weight limit of 160 kg with its heavy-duty mechanism and featuring a forward tilt for a focused sitting position, it is comfortable and can be used by all.

Designed with comfort at its core, the OP180 features a plush, pressure-relieving cushioned seat that strikes an ideal balance between softness and structured support, making it suitable for extended periods of sitting—particularly those working 8 hours or more each day. This is paired with a high-tension mesh backrest that delivers firm, breathable support and efficient airflow, keeping the user cool and comfortable through changing workloads, extended calls or intense focus sessions.

Sycom has added another highly-customized GeForce RTX 50-series graphics card to its arsenal of ultra-premium gaming hardware offerings; in liquid-cooled form. Unlike other AIBs, the tech firm only bundles their over-engineered offerings with build-to-order (BTO) gaming rigs. Mid-way through 2025, the Japanese system integrator released its NVIDIA "Blackwell" GPU-powered generation of Silent Master products—consisting of RTX 5070 Ti 16 GB, the RTX 5070 12 GB, and 5060 Ti 16 GB options. Custom cooling solutions utilize Noctua's trademark brown high-end fans. Sycom's business model is exclusive to Japan, but international news outlets continue to cover the company's fanciest gizmos.

Two PC systems are now available with the just released Hydro LC Graphics Plus GeForce RTX 5090 32 GB model. Sycom's Lepton Hydro Extreme WSX870A G-Master (Intel) and Hydro Extreme X870A (AMD) pre-builds are eye wateringly expensive prospects; both priced tagged at over 1,000,000 yen ($6400+ USD). An early morning social media outlined revised methodologies for a new generation: "dual water cooling takes things to the next level with newly designed, original water-cooled PCs featuring Hydro LC Graphics Plus and a GeForce RTX 5090 32 GB GPU. The traditional hybrid system, which uses water cooling for the GPU and air cooling for the video memory and power supply, has been completely redesigned to adopt a full water-cooled system—water-cooling the GPU, video memory, and power supply (via LYNK+)." Mirroring upper-tier Silent Master component selections, Sycom has opted for a trio of Noctua 120 mm NF-A12x25 (25 mm-thick) fans, albeit mounted onto a 360 mm radiator.

In Win Development Inc. (InWin), a leading innovator in PC chassis design, proudly announces the launch of the DLITE, a premium, precision-engineered ATX chassis. Embodying the perfect harmony between aesthetics and functionality, the DLITE exhibits a graceful presence, while blending exceptional cooling and build versatility, catering to discerning PC enthusiasts and PC gamers.

Elegant Craftsmanship, Functional Design
The DLITE's distinctive wave-pattern front panel is accentuated by InWin's signature hair-brushed strip, exuding refined sophistication. Its spacious interior supports full-size components, including 380 mm GPUs and the trend of back-connect ATX motherboards, ensuring both beauty and practicality. The DLITE's 8-slot expansion offers flexibility for several high-performance GPUs, while clean cable management channels create a clutter-free build environment that complements its minimalist design and uninterrupted airflow.

GPU prices are finally coming down. After we saw AMD's Radeon RX 9070 and Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics cards have finally dip below their MSRPs, it seems that NVIDIA cards are now in order. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti slipped below its MSRP this week after Newegg applied a rebate that brought widely available listings to $729.99, under the $749 MSRP tied to this "Blackwell" SKU. The new pricing may not instantly alter the narrative around the 5070 Ti, but rather give this GPU some price breathing room for card that carried persistent price premiums, turning some buyers away.

The SKU in question is MSI Ventus 3X OC BLACK edition, which apparently has not been listed on MSI's official site, meaning that retailers are now the exclusive place to get this GPU. We had a pleasure of reviewing the non-BLACK MSI RTX 5070 Ti Ventus 3X OC GPU, which stood out as a sensible and well-rounded offering. Its factory overclock, strong headroom for further tuning and efficient gaming power draw make it especially attractive to 1440p high refresh gamers, compact-system builders and overclocking enthusiasts. Taking performance, features and price into account we awarded the Ventus 3X OC a "Recommended" badge. It is a very good value for its audience, but it missed our Editor's Choice due to the thermal and noise trade-offs. However, at the time the actual retail price was a bit higher than MSRP at launch. Now, PC builders can get this GPU at prices below MSRP from the Newegg listing here.

TrendForce's latest research indicates that the global client SSD market experienced a price low in 2023, followed by gradual stabilization of supply and demand and a price rebound in 2024. However, retail SSD sales face challenges due to ongoing weak consumer electronics demand and notebook SSD attach rates reaching 100%. This has led to reduced shipments from SSD module makers. Channel SSD shipments for 2024 are projected at 101 million units, reflecting a 14% YoY decrease.

TrendForce has released its 2024 rankings for SSD module makers based on shipment data of their own-brand SSDs in the channel market. The top five companies now control over 80% of the market, signaling ongoing consolidation. Kingston remains the leading brand with a 36% market share, supported by its extensive channel presence and product reliability. ADATA ranks second with 13%, driven by aggressive marketing of gaming and premium consumer products, along with the quick deployment of PCIe 4.0 and 5.0 SSDs.

New World: Aeternum (formerly just New World) launched four years ago, leaving a trail of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 GPUs in its wake, and the MMO has since grown to around 35,000 active daily players on Steam alone. Unfortunately for those players, that doesn't seem to be enough for Amazon Games, which just announced that "it is no longer sustainable to continue supporting the game with new content updates," indicating that the game would no longer receive any active development. The most recent update, Nighthaven, and the Season 10 content update will be the final update New World: Aeternum, but the game's servers will supposedly remain online "through 2026," indicating the potential complete shutdown of New World after the end of the same year.

It's not all bad news, though: seemingly in preparation for the game's gradual decommissioning, Amazon made the Rise of Angry Earth expansion free for PC players earlier in October. Curiously, Amazon will continue selling New World: Aeternum on all platforms "until further notice," and it will continue to be playable via Sony's PlayStation Plus subscription service. The studio has declined to provide refunds to those who recently purchased the game unaware of the imminent closure. Amazon has also clarified that it will continue to provide bug fixes and server maintenance for New World, presumably until, the game is taken offline completely, although the exact end date for support on that front is unclear. There are also no changes to the availability and use of premium in-game currency in New World: Aeternum.