Intel is gearing up to launch its next — and potentially final — lineup of desktop graphics cards in just 10 days. Announcing the budget-friendly Arc B580 at $249 and Arc B570 at $219, Intel has positioned these cards as the “best-in-class performance per dollar” in the GPU market. The B580 is set to ship on December 13th, while the B570 will follow on January 16th.

The new cards are built on Intel’s Xe2 “Battlemage” GPU architecture, the same technology found in Intel’s Lunar Lake laptop chips, but significantly enhanced for desktop performance. With more than double the graphics cores, up to 12GB of dedicated video memory, and up to 190W of power, the B580 boasts the capability to outperform Nvidia’s $299 RTX 4060 and AMD’s $269 RX 7600 in certain benchmarks, though it still faces stiff competition.

Intel’s benchmarks show the B580 running 10 percent faster on average than the RTX 4060 across various games at 1440p and ultra settings when paired with Intel’s high-end Core i9-14900K CPU. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, Returnal, and The Witcher 3 achieve an average of over 60fps with this setup, surpassing the RTX 4060’s performance. However, Nvidia’s card still leads in games such as Starfield, Gears 5, and certain Assassin’s Creed titles, demonstrating the competitive landscape of GPU performance.

Compared to the previous generation A750, which originally retailed for $289 but is now available for $180, the new B580 runs 24 percent faster on average. This performance boost is more evident in scenarios where memory constraints are an issue, thanks to the B580’s 12GB of video memory compared to the 4060’s 8GB. For instance, in Forza Motorsport, the Nvidia card outperforms the Intel one, 86fps to 77fps, but with ray tracing enabled, Intel’s B580 takes the lead with 64fps to 57fps.

Intel’s own Arc B580 Limited Edition card will feature two fans, and a single 8-pin power connector, and promises “whisper quiet” performance. Additionally, manufacturers such as Acer, ASRock, Gunnir, Sparkle, Maxsun, and Onix will produce their versions of the card.

In addition to the new hardware, Intel is rolling out upgrades to its XeSS technology. The new XeSS 2 will offer frame generation, significantly boosting frame rates by creating new frames between existing ones, and an Xe Low Latency mode aimed at eliminating the latency penalty of frame generation. This new technology will be integrated into various upcoming games, including F1 24, Marvel Rivals, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and more.

Intel’s budget-friendly approach with the Arc B580 and B570 is a refreshing addition to the GPU market, providing more memory and bandwidth at competitive prices. However, the future of Intel’s discrete graphics cards remains uncertain, following recent comments from former CEO Pat Gelsinger. For now, Intel’s latest offerings are set to make a significant impact in the market as they roll out in the coming weeks.

More than 600 games and applications feature RTX technologies. New games integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex, and advanced ray-traced effects are released weekly, delivering the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX players. This week, Void Crew has officially launched with support for NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution. War Thunder has added new hardware-accelerated ray-traced effects that take full advantage of GeForce RTX Ray Tracing Cores.

Fresh out of early access, Hutlihut Games and Focus Entertainment’s Void Crew, a co-op roguelite, allows gamers and friends to join the ranks of METEM’s chosen clone warriors, embarking on a pilgrimage into the unknown. The 1-4 player game’s mission is to stand against the mysterious HOLLOW, an alien force like no other, to restore order while trying not to panic. GeForce RTX gamers can accelerate performance using NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution.

First released in 2013, War Thunder is back with hundreds of high-fidelity, accurately rendered tanks and other ground military vehicles, planes, warships, and more, with new technologies, effects, and enhancements, including NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution and NVIDIA Reflex. In War Thunder’s latest update, Gaijin Entertainment has introduced support for a suite of new hardware-accelerated ray tracing effects, further enhancing the fidelity of the game’s vehicles and environments.

Now, players can enable options for ray-traced ambient occlusion, ray-traced opaque reflections, ray-traced transparent reflections, ray-traced water, and ray-traced shadows in-game, each with quality settings to ensure effects scale across a wide range of PC configurations. Players can also activate NVIDIA DLAA for maximum graphical fidelity on rigs where performance is already high.

Explore an open world in the Towers of Aghasba filled with majestic creatures and quirky characters where players can create vibrant ecosystems, flex their creativity, and build a thriving island civilization in balance with nature. This multi-player game allows players to craft, harvest, and hang with friends on a fantasy island. GeForce RTX gamers can accelerate frame rates with NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution for a faster experience.

PUBG MOBILE, one of the world’s most popular mobile games, reveals thrilling new enhancements in its Version 3.5 Update. Available until January 7th, players can prepare to brave the cold, conquer the Frostborne Dragon, and uncover hidden treasures as they explore the vast landscapes of the new Icemire Frontier. Discover icy new updates to Home Mode, World of Wonder enhancements, new legendary items in Cycle 7 Season 21, alongside a new enemy, collectables, and improvements in Metro Royale.

PUBG MOBILE Version 3.5 Update is bringing the heat to its Icy theme with exciting new vehicles and in-game items! Adding to the thrill, PUBG MOBILE teamed up with Falcons to promote PUBG MOBILE’s latest version update through an action-packed Lazer Tag Challenge. The event, filmed at the PUBG MOBILE x Spacetoon site in Riyadh, skyrocketed to the top of YouTube Trends last week.

Icemire Frontier brings a unique, chilling challenge across the Erangel, Livik, and Vikendi maps in the Version 3.5 Update. Journey to Frostheim for intense battles in Chieftain’s Stronghold or venture into the Beast-Taming Grounds. In the Magic Crystal Mines, players can also discover hidden rewards, and unlock Magic Crystal Crates that contain game-changing supplies.

For those who seek a challenge, the Dragon’s Lair, available only in Erangel, offers an exciting opportunity to face off against the ferocious Frostborne Dragon. With the help of an Ice Portal key, up to three teams of players can enter the Lair in the hopes of defeating the Frostborne Dragon and unlocking the special treasure vault. Being knocked down in the Dragon’s Lair does not count as an elimination, providing players with the opportunity to bounce back, secure the loot, and emerge victorious.

Icemire Frontier also introduces several unique items, including the Frostsoul Spear, which allows players to teleport and create slowing ice fields, and the Frostsoul Warhammer, a melee weapon that generates defensive ice walls. Players can experience two new mounts; the Mammoth, a large mount capable of carrying up to four players with exposed weak points for strategic targeting, and the Sabertooth Tiger, a nimble two-player mount that supports mounted firing, drifting, and jumping – perfect for high-speed escapes or chases.

The Version 3.5 Update also introduces an array of exciting classic mode updates and enhancements. In Erangel’s Spawn Island, a vibrant Dance Stage invites players to engage in a Victory Dance while waiting for matches to begin. Players can also enjoy the permanent addition of horses, two-person mounts capable of traversing complex terrains, swimming, jumping, and engaging in mounted combat, to classic mode across multiple maps, whilst tactical options are expanded with the introduction of the M79 Smoke Grenade Launcher. In celebration of the upcoming PMGC 2024, special PMGC Photo Spots have also been added in both Erangel and Livik, offering players a chance to capture memorable moments. Several classic gameplay elements have also been transformed with a PMGC theme in anticipation of the upcoming 2024 event.

A host of features and enhancements arrive in World of Wonder with the Version 3.5 Update. Breakable walls open up fresh tactical advantages in 1v1 matches, whilst the new Multiplayer Arena mode map Destructible Town features destructible walls, buildings, and structures, turning the town into an ever-shifting battlefield where players can reshape their surroundings mid-fight. Elsewhere, The Dorm Sniper Battle map offers thrilling sniper duels between breakable buildings, challenging teams to leverage breakable cover and adapt quickly for the chance to secure victory. A new Trending Tab showcases lesser-known creations, and the Smart Generator: Buildings feature enables players to quickly create warehouses and residential buildings with ease, whilst new tutorial stages guide World of Wonder newcomers. The update also introduces themed mounts and vehicles – the Sabertooth Tiger, Mammoth, and Fighter Jet – alongside the Frostsoul Warhammer-themed weapon, offering fresh and exciting gameplay possibilities within the World of Wonder environment.

Alongside new collectables, Metro Royale welcomes a fierce new PvE enemy in the Version 3.5 Update, as the Sabertooth Tiger roams Misty Port and Arctic Base. Winter Crates, packed with valuable items, also appear in Misty Port and Arctic Base maps, and players can utilise the newly optimised Lock Box to store items strategically, enhancing coordination with the marking feature for supply crates.

An array of exciting additions to Home mode also arrive in the Version 3.5 Update. Arctic-themed music sets the mood for winter, and players can now meet Lily, the charming new Home Butler, who comes with exclusive emotes and outfits. Players can also enjoy the winter-themed Lavish Northern and Bay Cove Winter Castle Styles, available for purchase or via Home Lucky Spin on specific dates. Players can now merge identical furniture to increase Prosperity and Style Points, adding a strategic layer to Home management, and the introduction of Item Recommendations in Editing Mode makes it easier to find new styles and bestsellers that players don’t yet own. For even more winter fun, the Frost Festival Event invites players to transform into snowballs for the Snowball Showdown. Collect Frost Points, earn snow-building materials, and raise the Snowman Ranking to claim exclusive rewards.

The Version 3.5 Update also introduces Cycle 7 Season 21, featuring a lineup of new legendary items including C7S21 Glasses, C7S21 Set, C7S21 Mask, C7S21 Cover, and C7S21 – MG3. Additionally, the Season Token Event Shop has been updated to include the C7S21 Parachute and new tier rewards have been added for both the Classic and Casual Season.