Gaming
Gearbox, Developer of Borderlands Franchise, Potentially Up for Sale
Gearbox Software, the renowned game development studio famous for the Borderlands franchise, is reportedly being put up for sale as its parent company, Embracer Group, explores options to stabilize its financial situation. This information comes from a Reuters report published on September 11.
According to three individuals familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters, various external parties have shown interest in acquiring Gearbox from Embracer Group. The Sweden-based holding company is collaborating with investment banks Aream & Co and Goldman Sachs to investigate the potential sale. Among the potential buyers are undisclosed “international gaming groups.” However, the sources cited by Reuters did not provide a specific reason for why a deal may or may not materialize.
This development occurred nearly two weeks after Embracer Group closed Volition, a studio with a 30-year history responsible for games such as the open-world shooter Agents of Mayhem, the first-person shooter series Red Faction, and the open-world action game series Saints Row. The decision to shut down Volition and lay off its staff stemmed from the collapse of a $2 billion investment deal with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund in May.
As a response to the funding setback, Embracer Group announced a “restructuring program” in June, which led to the closure of Volition. In an August 31 statement, Volition explained that Embracer Group’s restructuring program involved assessing operational and strategic objectives, ultimately leading to the studio’s closure. Despite the closure of Volition and the potential sale of Gearbox Software, Embracer Group still retains ownership of several companies, including publishers like Deep Silver (known for Dead Island 2) and THQ Nordic (recognized for Biomutant), developer Coffee Stain Studios (famous for Goat Simulator), developer-publisher Saber Interactive (notable for Evil Dead: The Game), book publisher Dark Horse Comics, and game distributor Limited Run Games, among others. One of Embracer Group’s recent acquisitions occurred in October 2022 when the company acquired British anime distributor Anime Limited, although the sale price was not disclosed.
Gaming
Video: Secretlab TITAN Evo Stealth 2024 Gaming Chair – Unboxing + Installation
Ready to upgrade your gaming setup? In this video, we take you step-by-step through the assembly of the Secretlab Titan Evo Stealth 2024 Gaming Chair, renowned for its comfort, durability, and sleek design. Join us as we unpack the box, lay out all the parts, and guide you through the process from start to finish:
Whether you’re a seasoned gamer or just looking to enhance your workspace, this chair is a game-changer. Don’t miss out on our tips and tricks to ensure a smooth setup and optimal performance. Hit that play button, and let’s get started! If you found this video helpful, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more exciting content. Happy gaming!
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Gadgets
PS5 Anniversary Update Intros Retro Themes Celebrating Every PlayStation Generation
Sony has delighted gamers with a nostalgic surprise to celebrate PlayStation’s 30th anniversary. In addition to retro hardware that quickly sold out, Sony has released a software update that adds classic boot screens and themes for each generation of PlayStation console. Upon launching the update, users will be prompted to select their favourite generation, with options ranging from the PS1 to the PS4.
This update changes the PS5 dashboard’s menu colours and sounds to match the chosen console’s user interface. Additionally, players can explore other themes through the new “PlayStation 30th Anniversary” item in the settings menu.
However, these themes are available only for a limited time. Sony has not specified when they will be removed, but the decision to make them temporary has raised some eyebrows. While creating a perception of scarcity or avoiding clutter in the settings menu might be strategic, it could be seen as a missed opportunity to let users permanently enjoy the nostalgic themes.
This isn’t the first time Sony has indulged in retro charm. A decade ago, during PlayStation’s 20th anniversary, a free theme transformed the PS4, PS3, and Vita to reflect the PS1’s look and startup sound. As Sony celebrates three decades of gaming excellence, fans are once again treated to a trip down memory lane.
Components
Intel Unveils Budget-Friendly Arc B580 and B570 ‘Battlemage’ Graphics Cards
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.
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