Hardware

Latest news

• Latest news Discord's resource-light 'Game Mode' will cut CPU/GPU use but doesn't mention memory

  PC Gamer reports Discord is rolling out a resource-light "Game Mode" that will automatically reduce animations and disable effects to lower the app's CPU and GPU usage when it detects a game. The change was first mentioned by the unofficial Discord Previews X account and, according to PC Gamer, later confirmed by Discord itself. PC Gamer noted the announcement does not specifically mention reducing Discord's memory usage. The outlet described Discord as a "notorious resource hog" and reported that many observers point to the app's underlying architecture as a related concern.

• Latest news PC Gamer poll: 31% keep RGB off, 7% use heavy RGB on gaming PCs

  PC Gamer reported that in a reader poll 31% of respondents keep RGB lighting turned off on their gaming PCs while 7% said they heavily decorate their rigs with RGB. The poll asked "How much RGB festoons your gaming PC?" and drew 1,441 responses, according to the PC Gamer article by Andy Edser published 29 September 2026. The article presents those reader poll results and author commentary but does not present additional data beyond the poll.

• Latest news GameRant: New PC action roguelike described as 'Minecraft meets Vampire Survivors'

  GameRant reported a new PC action roguelike described as "essentially Minecraft meets Vampire Survivors" in an article by Joshua Duckworth published September 28, 2026. The article noted that Vampire Survivors was released in 2022 and "took the internet by storm." GameRant wrote that other indie developers are striving to follow Vampire Survivors' success. The report frames the new game as part of that trend but does not supply further specifics in the provided excerpt.

• Latest news PC Gamer's Joshua Wolens tried the Scentbar at Gamescom and called it unnecessary

  PC Gamer reporter Joshua Wolens said he took a Gamescom appointment to see the Scentbar and wrote that "you absolutely do not need it." The account appears in PC Gamer's Weird Weekend hardware column, which highlights unusual or novelty PC accessories. Wolens framed the Scentbar alongside other PC oddities such as illuminated keyboards, lit RAM and a graphics card that "emits cherry vapour and has an anime lady on it." The article was published on 26 September 2026 on PC Gamer.

• Latest news FlyKnight on Steam gets free Enhanced Edition update

  PC Gamer reports that FlyKnight on Steam received a free "Enhanced Edition" update from its solo developer. The update adds multiple difficulty settings and, as reported, a "Miyazaki's Choice™" poison swamp that is exclusive to the Hard difficulty. PC Gamer described FlyKnight as a $6 first-person RPG in the King's Field/Lunacid mold that looks like Old School RuneScape and said it was on sale for $4 at the time of writing (the sale was running through September 30). PC Gamer also called the game an easy recommendation on Steam.

• Latest news Silent Hill: Townfall shifts to first-person and moves action to St. Amelia

  IGN reports Silent Hill: Townfall is the series' first full-length first-person experience and relocates the story to St. Amelia, a remote Scottish island abandoned by its residents. The game follows a protagonist named Simon, who begins armed only with a handheld CRTV that IGN describes as an evolution of familiar Silent Hill concepts. IGN also reports the title features a cast that includes acclaimed actors from film, television, and games and says the game continues the franchise’s psychological-horror focus. IGN’s article is presented by Annapurna Interactive.

• Latest news Path of Exile 2 is Steam Deck Verified ahead of its 1.0 launch

  PCGamesN reports Grinding Gear Games confirmed Valve has classified Path of Exile 2 as Steam Deck Verified, enabling play on Steam Deck ahead of the game's 1.0 launch. The article says Path of Exile 2's 1.0 release will conclude the main campaign, introduce swords with the Duelist class, and mark the game's transition from paid early access to full free-to-play. PCGamesN also reports the verification is timed with the wider push to make PoE 2 an approachable entry point compared with its predecessor, which has over a decade of content.

• Latest news Control Resonant lacks comfortable Steam Deck support, Rock Paper Shotgun reports

  Rock Paper Shotgun reports that Control Resonant’s previously promised Steam Deck support does not run comfortably on Valve’s handheld because the game requires too much rendering. RPS found the larger, more powerful Steam Machine runs the game capably. The article noted that, a day before release, Control Resonant had no public SteamOS hardware compatibility ratings. RPS described the game as very good on almost any modern PC that is not a Steam Deck.

• Latest news Silent Hill: Townfall review — PC Gamer: classic horror plus new CRTV mechanic

  PC Gamer reports that Silent Hill: Townfall, developed by Screen Burn and published by Konami, combines classic psychological horror and grotesque monsters with a new CRTV puzzle-solving and stealth tool and is scheduled for release on September 24, 2026. The single-player game follows protagonist Simon Ordell as he explores an isolated Scottish island, solving puzzles and fighting monsters, PC Gamer says. PC Gamer's review lists an expected price of $50 / £45 and notes the game is single-player; the review was performed on an RTX 3070 system. The review page marks Steam Deck compatibility as "Unknown," according to PC Gamer.

• Latest news AMD and Nvidia next‑gen GPUs reportedly delayed until 2028

  PCGamesN reports that leaker Kepler_L2 claimed most of AMD's RDNA 5 lineup and Nvidia's RTX 60 series may not arrive until 2028, with a single AMD RDNA 5 card codenamed 'AT2' possibly launching in 2027. The claim appeared on an AnandTech forum thread and is presented as a rumor. PCGamesN notes ongoing supply pressure and that GDDR7 memory is being prioritised for AI accelerators, which the report says could help explain a delayed consumer rollout. The article also highlights that there has been relative official silence from AMD and Nvidia and recommends treating the timeline cautiously.

• Latest news Nvidia RTX 5090 becoming harder to find at retailers, report says

  GameRant reports the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is becoming harder to find at retailers worldwide. The article says a new report claims consumers are directly competing with AI companies that are buying GPUs “by the pallet.” GameRant notes the RTX 5090 is the flagship card of Nvidia’s Blackwell lineup, which first hit the market in early 2025. The report’s broader supply details and any official Nvidia response are not confirmed in the piece.

• Latest news Steam client beta adds Big Picture UI refresh, screensavers and fixes

  Valve published a Steam Client Beta on the Steam News Hub. The update introduces a redesigned full-screen Big Picture / SteamOS interface with new customization options and screensavers, alongside a range of bug fixes and performance improvements. Items addressed in the patch notes include game recording, in‑game overlays and better performance on Linux-based devices, with changes aimed at Steam Deck, Steam Machines and desktop Big Picture Mode. The timeline for a stable rollout and full opt-in details have not been confirmed.

• Latest news ReShade mod offloads DLSS 5 neural render to second GPU, slashes performance hit

  A modder released a ReShade add-on that offloads DLSS 5 Neural Rendering workloads to a second GPU, substantially reducing the AI filter’s performance hit. Tests show the change almost negates the heavy frame-rate cost normally associated with DLSS NR. The work mirrors earlier DLSS 5 demonstrations that ran neural rendering across two graphics cards. The mod is part of active efforts by the modding community to develop DLSS 5 implementations.

• Latest news Nvidia evangelist handed out RTX 50-series purchase codes at PAX West

  Jacob Freeman, who identifies as Nvidia’s GeForce Evangelist, attended PAX West and invited attendees on X to find him for RTX 5090, 5080, or 5070 units at MSRP while supplies lasted. He handed out purchase codes for the RTX 50-series at the event. There was no apparent Nvidia booth and no boxed Founder's Edition GPUs available for purchase at PAX West. One attendee noted it was cheaper to fly from the UK to Seattle to try to secure an RTX 5090 via the evangelist than to buy one elsewhere.

• Latest news Homebrew lets AMD GPUs run DLSS 5, but RX 9070 XT shows instability and strain

  A developer released a GitHub tool that enables Nvidia's DLSS Neural Rendering on Radeon GPUs by installing an nvngx_dlssnr.dll into game folders. Testing on an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT produced usable results in Football Manager 26 but caused a black output and instability in Cyberpunk 2077, and Windows Defender initially flagged the DLL. The DLL used was taken from an early access build of NBA 2K27, demonstrating modders can port DLSS 5 to non‑Nvidia hardware but revealing compatibility and performance limits on current Radeon silicon.

• Latest news PCB, capacitor and Wi‑Fi module costs rise up to 50%, pressuring motherboard prices

  Upstream raw material costs for motherboards have jumped, with PCB prices up 15–50%, capacitors about 50%, and Wi‑Fi modules 10–20%. Supply disruptions tied to the Strait of Hormuz crisis and an April attack on SABIC's Jubail plant have constrained petrochemical supplies used in PCB production. Manufacturers say the higher component costs add at least 10% to motherboard production expenses. August saw modest retail adjustments (~3% overall), with MSI raising prices broadly and Asus and Gigabyte applying small increases to select models.

• Latest news Switch Star Wars Zero Company to Linear ability UI for a more XCOM-like feel

  Star Wars Zero Company lets players choose between Radial, Linear and Hybrid ability selection modes. Change the setting at Gameplay > General > Ability Selection Style to move abilities from the circular radial menu to a numbered row at the bottom of the screen. Linear places move, shoot, overwatch and other actions in a horizontal bar, keeping the camera clear for lining up attacks and generally working better with mouse and keyboard. The radial menu remains available and is more controller-friendly.

• Latest news Panic will pass Supreme Court-ordered tariff refunds to Playdate buyers

  Panic, maker of the crank-powered Playdate handheld, is forwarding tariff refunds that the Supreme Court ordered returned. The company will pass those reimbursements directly back to customers who paid tariffs on Playdate units. Panic is handling the administrative process of returning the money rather than retaining the refunded amounts.

• Latest news DLSS 5 files found in NBA 2K27 early build; fans apply it to other games

  Files for Nvidia's DLSS 5 real-time neural rendering model were discovered inside an early-access build of NBA 2K27. Enthusiasts extracted the model and ran it in other PC games, producing visible upscaling improvements over prior DLSS versions that tended to over-smooth pixels. DLSS 5 has not been officially released for Nvidia's RTX 50-series GPUs, so the community use demonstrates the model is already functional outside an official rollout.

• Latest news Buyer pays €2,433 for Razer Blade 18 with RTX 5090 after factory labelling error

  A European buyer who ordered a Razer Blade 18 configured with an RTX 5080 paid €2,433 (about $2,800) but received a higher-end unit with an RTX 5090, 64 GB RAM and a 2 TB SSD. The laptop's physical label and invoice matched the original order, indicating a mislabelling at the Razer factory rather than a shipping mix-up. The received machine retails around €6,600 (about $7,700), so the buyer saved roughly €4,167 (~$4,900); the mistake appears to be a rare factory error but yields a large pricing discrepancy.

• Latest news Alienware AW3926QW review: 39-inch 5K2K OLED packs big specs but draws complaints

  Dell's Alienware AW3926QW is a 39-inch 5K2K ultrawide OLED using LG Tandem WOLED with RGB-stripe subpixels, 1500R curvature and dual-mode high refresh rates, priced at $1,099 / £999. Early adopters reported issues including green tinting, vignette dimming and adaptive refresh flicker. The monitor's combination of flagship features, competitive pricing and reported panel problems matters for buyers and Alienware's reputation.

• Latest news Playdate maker Panic refunds US tariff fees to affected customers

  Panic, maker of the Playdate handheld, is refunding US tariff fees that were charged to customers during a specific window earlier this year. The company added a clearly labeled tariff line at checkout after briefly trying to absorb the extra cost, then filed paperwork with the US government to reclaim those fees. Panic built a system to issue the refunds, returning money to buyers and underscoring the administrative and financial strain US tariffs place on small hardware makers.

• Latest news Blood Dungeon: Messhof's sidescrolling 'bullet heaven' roguelite arrives Aug 26, 2026

  Messhof (creators of Nidhogg) has released Blood Dungeon, a sidescrolling take on the autoshooter or 'bullet heaven' roguelite that launches on August 26, 2026 for PC (Steam) and runs well on Steam Deck. Gameplay uses auto-fire in scrolling arenas, with short rounds (usually under ten minutes) and level-ups that offer two to three randomized perks to escalate damage and chaos. The game pairs globular 2D art, polished animations, and a frenetic 'dungeon drum 'n' bass' soundtrack with tight platforming controls. While the build is a sleek, well-crafted example of the subgenre, the progression loop becomes increasingly repetitive and hollow over extended play.

• Latest news Most PC Gamer readers willing to pay high GPU prices as GDDR7 shortage drives costs

  PC Gamer asked readers how much they'd pay for a new graphics card; 56% said they'd spend over $600 and 19% would spend over $1,000. Mid-tier Nvidia RTX 50-series cards have seen sharp retail increases, with the cheapest RTX 5060 Ti 16GB now costing more than the cheapest RTX 5070 and both near $800. GDDR7 memory shortages and increased demand from AI users seeking high‑VRAM cards are pushing prices up, putting pressure on PC gamers' upgrade budgets.

• Latest news Leaked unboxing videos reveal Steam Frame design, accessories, and setup steps

  Leaked footage from an ARM Steam Client update shows full unboxing, fit, and setup flows for Valve’s Steam Frame VR headset; Valve removed the files but they were reposted online. The clips show a cushioned rear comfort plate, a removable internal faceplate for glasses, a focus-adjustment wheel, two wireless controllers and a large USB wireless dongle. Videos demonstrate Steam mobile app sign-in, controller pairing, and a Steam Machine linking workflow. These clips provide the first clear public look at the Frame’s hardware, included accessories, and user setup process, which matters for buyers and developers ahead of launch.

• Latest news Epic developer signals native Epic Games Launcher for Linux 'soon'

  An Epic Games developer responded with an emoji of “soon” to a Discord user asking about a native Linux Epic Games Launcher. A staff member on the Epic Games Store Discord said the launcher will not be ready for the preview release and that more work is needed than simply building a native executable. The exchange was posted to Reddit and comes as other clients like GOG Galaxy prepare Linux builds and Valve expands SteamOS support, increasing momentum for native Linux storefronts.

• Latest news Redditor GinoWT sells hand-finished marble faceplates for the Steam Machine

  Reddit user GinoWT is producing hand-finished marble faceplates for Valve's Steam Machine, using 5–6 mm stone bonded to a 3D-printed backing with embedded magnets. GinoWT identifies the marble as coming from the Carrara quarry basin — the same region Michelangelo worked from — and says they normally cut stone for superyacht interiors. Each plate is finished by hand and offered through a website signup for first small batches; no retail prices are listed.

• Latest news Steam Boy: Steam Deck squeezed into a Game Boy‑sized 3D‑printed case

  Reddit user PhyFawkes has built a work‑in‑progress Steam Boy that fits a Steam Deck motherboard, battery, cooling and speakers inside a Game Boy‑style 3D‑printed PETG shell. The handheld's footprint is under half the size of an original Steam Deck and could fit in a large jacket pocket, but its internals are stacked and thicker. Controls are reduced to a D‑pad, four face buttons, two system buttons, one thumbstick and one touchpad, and shoulder triggers remain unfinished. The chosen 1200×1080 90Hz OLED screen is not yet connected and requires an adapter board and a BIOS mod to work.

• Latest news Big Walk review: co-op island puzzle game that teaches non‑verbal teamwork

  Big Walk is a first-person, co-op-only puzzle game from developer House House and publisher Panic that emphasizes non-verbal communication between players. Teams explore a large island to solve environmental puzzles using emergent gestures—a single motion like wiggling both arms can convey multiple meanings. The reviewer played for roughly a dozen hours; the game launches August 4, 2026 for $20/£16 and is verified on Steam Deck. Its relaxed, exploration-first design removes explicit tutorial endpoints and directional prompts, making teamwork and communication the core gameplay loop.

• Latest news RX 9070 XT used as eGPU on Steam Machine via NVMe–Oculink, delivers 100+ FPS

  A modder connected an AMD RX 9070 XT to a Steam Machine as an external GPU by using the NVMe slot with an NVMe-to-Oculink adapter and booting the NVMe drive from a USB-C NVMe adapter. The card became the system's primary GPU on startup and ran Crimson Desert at over 100 fps on High settings. The build required removing the Steam Machine backplate and only functioned with the Steam Machine connected to a TV to avoid a black screen, but the installer says the arrangement could be made permanent with case modifications. This demonstrates a practical way to add high-end GPU performance to compact Steam Machines without replacing the whole system.