Hello Director! We're happy to announce that all owners of will be receiving a free content update. The update is hitting PC players (Steam and Epic Games Store, GOG to follow later) today, including several improvements to support newer hardware. In the near future we will release this same update for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S platforms. We have a small team working on these updates so we want to space them out to give us time to fix potential issues that might come up. We appreciate your patience! Keep an eye on our social channels for the exact date and time, as well as update notes.

Control Ultimate Edition contains the main game and all previously released Expansions ("The Foundation" and "AWE") in one great value package. A corruptive presence has invaded the Federal Bureau of Control…Only you have the power to stop it. The world is now your weapon in an epic fight to annihilate an ominous enemy through deep and unpredictable environments. Containment has failed, humanity is at stake. Will you regain control?

The upgrade for Grand Theft Auto V on PC is now available to play from the Rockstar Games Launcher, and also via Steam or Epic Games. Introducing features previously only available on the latest generation of consoles, this upgrade also optimizes the game experience and performance on modern PCs. Players who already own GTAV on PC can upgrade to this new version for free, with the ability to migrate your Story Mode and Online progress, while anyone jumping into GTAV and GTA Online on PC for the first time will get this new version (GTAV Enhanced) along with the original version (GTAV Legacy) when purchased.

GTA ONLINE FEATURES
Get access to powerful new vehicles, stunning Chameleon Paints, high-performance modifications, and much more—all from Hao's Special Works. Newly added vehicles for PC include the Pegassi Weaponized Ignus and Coil Cyclone II supercars, the Karin S95 sports car, the Imponte Arbiter GT muscle car, and the Pfister Astron Custom SUV, which join a fleet of 20 vehicles already available in GTA Online, and all are now available for tuning from HSW. Plus, GTA+ Members can claim a Principe Deveste Eight (Super) for free through May 28 as part of a special Classics Collection to commemorate GTA+ arriving on PC. Anyone looking to take in the fauna can also now relish in the animal ecosystem, with Ambient Animals encounters and a daily Wildlife Photography Challenge available from the LS Tourist Board at Chiliad Mountain State Wilderness.

In a world where most of us work, communicate, play, explore, and make purchases online nearly every day, cybersecurity is more important than ever. Yet it's also a world where it's increasingly hard to know who to trust. Perhaps you've seen recent news reports that call into question the security practices of companies that you might rely on for the network for your home or small business. At ASUS, we're working to show you that not every networking company has the same level of commitment to cybersecurity. Recently, we joined FIRST, a longstanding and renowned organization that brings together a variety of computer security incident response teams from around the world. Our membership in FIRST enables us to take enterprise-level experience, security protocols, and incident response tactics and integrate them into the consumer market.

35 years of coordinating responses against cyberattacks
When you're the victim of a cyberattack, your priority is to re-secure your own hardware, data, and account access. But the incident response teams dedicated to cybersecurity have to take a larger view. What vulnerability made the cyberattack possible? What other systems could be affected? How quickly can a fix be deployed, and how might this fix affect other vital systems and functions? Answering these questions in today's connected world requires not just on-the-ground incident response teams, but international communication and coordination between these groups. Since 1990, this layer of coordination has been provided by FIRST—the Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams. Consisting of members from government agencies, educational institutions, military divisions, and the private sector, FIRST works to ensure a safe internet for everyone by creating channels for incident response and security teams across the globe to work together.

AGON by AOC - the world's leading gaming monitor brand - announces the new G42 series of gaming monitors under the mainstream AOC GAMING category, comprising the 23.8-inch (60.5 cm) 24G42E, 24.5-inch (62.2 cm) 25G42E, and 27-inch (68.6 cm) 27G42E. These new models are equipped with the latest-generation Fast IPS panels, which can deliver 180 Hz refresh rates and up to 1 ms GtG response times, making competitive-grade gaming performance more accessible than ever before. Today, thanks to the G42 series, gamers shouldn't settle with monitors below 180 Hz, triple of the common 60 Hz standard.

Making high performance the new standard
Building upon the success of AOC GAMING's G4 series, which includes the fully ergonomic G4X models and the pared-down G4XE variants, the new G42 series further streamlines the formula to bring 180 Hz gaming to an even broader audience.

The European Commission has paid Intel €515.55 million ($536 million) in interest following the partial annulment of a 2009 antitrust fine. The payment comes after the General Court of the European Union overturned most of the original €1.06 billion penalty in 2022, leaving only €376 million of the fine intact. The court's ruling found significant flaws in the Commission's economic analysis of Intel's market practices between 2002 and 2007. At issue were Intel's volume-based rebates to computer manufacturers, which the Commission had claimed prevented fair competition with AMD in the x86 processor market. The General Court determined that regulators failed to adequately demonstrate the anti-competitive effects of these pricing strategies. EU antitrust commissioner Teresa Ribera confirmed the interest payment, which reimburses Intel for capital held by regulators during the 13-year legal proceedings.

The case began in 2009, with the Commission ruling that Intel had used its market position to restrict competitor access through targeted rebate programs in years prior. Intel challenged this decision in 2014, leading to multiple appeals before the 2022 judgment. The resolution establishes new parameters for proving anti-competitive behavior in the EU's tech sector oversight. The court's emphasis on rigorous economic analysis impacts ongoing and future competition cases, particularly regarding evaluating complex pricing mechanisms in the technology sector. The payment concludes one of the EU's longest-running competition law cases, though Intel continues to face regulatory scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions. The case's outcome has prompted discussion about the Commission's approach to economic evidence in competition proceedings and the duration of EU antitrust investigations. At the time of financial issues, more than half a billion US Dollars will help Intel resolve internal crises significantly.

Pimax, a global leader in high-performance VR technology, debuted its Crystal Super headset on the world stage at CES2025, letting global media get their first taste with the 29 million pixel VR headset.

The world meets the Crystal Super
The Crystal Super is Pimax's latest flagship headset, featuring a resolution of 3840x3840 per eye, meaning it's the first VR headset reaching retina levels of clarity. Glass aspheric lenses provide 57 PPD at over 120° horizontal field of view, with an incredible brightness of 280 nits.

ASUS today announced an innovative lineup of high-quality and versatile mainstream display options designed for gaming, content creation, hybrid work, entertainment, and more at CES 2025. These include a superfast ROG Strix gaming monitor, versatile ASUS ZenScreen monitors, and cutting-edge ProArt displays. ROG Strix gaming monitors are designed for gamers who demand the best in terms of image quality, refresh rate, response time, and overall performance—and the new ROG Strix XG32UCG ticks all of the above. This exceptional gaming monitor features a 31.5-inch 4K Fast IPS panel with dual 4K @ 160 Hz and FHD @ 320 Hz modes.

The ASUS ZenScreen range is represented by three versatile displays at CES 2025: ZenScreen Smart MS32UC, ZenScreen MB27ACF, and ZenScreen MB169CK. ZenScreen Smart MS32UC boasts embedded Google TV and the latest AI features to put productivity and entertainment front and center, making it perfect for small-space living by giving users everything they need on a single screen. Meanwhile, the 27-inch ZenScreen MB27ACF includes a host of accessories that enable users to configure it to suit various work setups. Perfect for those working remotely or from a co-working space, this innovative monitor allows users to create their own productivity corner. For flexibility, the ultra-lightweight ZenScreen MB169CK portable screen offers rich connectivity options, making it great for on-the-go productivity.

AGON by AOC - one of the world's leading gaming monitor and IT accessories brands - expands its professional gaming arsenal with the AGON PRO AG276FK, a 27-inch (68.6 cm) Full HD gaming monitor with a Fast IPS panel, featuring an impressive 520 Hz refresh rate. This latest addition to AGON PRO's ultra-high refresh rate family complements the high-performance esports models AG246FK (540 Hz) and AG256FS (390 Hz), providing competitive gamers with another powerful tool in their quest for victory.

Engineered for tournament excellence
The AGON PRO AG276FK showcases a state-of-the-art Fast IPS panel, delivering Full HD resolution (1920x1080). With its remarkable 520 Hz refresh rate and swift response times of up to 0.5 ms GtG and 0.3 ms MPRT, the AG276FK ensures crystal-clear motion clarity and minimal input lag - essential features for professional esports players who compete at the highest levels. The Full HD resolution is strategically chosen to enable competitive players to achieve and maintain the ultra-high frame rates needed to fully leverage the 520 Hz refresh rate with current-gen GPUs.

NVIDIA today announced incoming changes to its GeForce Now game streaming service, some of which are not likely to sit well with gamers. The biggest, and likely most controversial change coming to GeForce Now is the addition of monthly playtime caps for all GeForce Now users, regardless of which plan they're on. According to the blog post announcing the changes, GeForce Now gamers will be limited to 100 hours of gameplay per month in addition to the daily playtime caps. NVIDIA will allow gamers who don't use their whole monthly cap to roll 15 hours of game time into the following month.

It's not all bad news, however, as NVIDIA also announced that it will be increasing the resolution and image quality of the GeForce Now Performance tier—previously Priority—from 1080p to 1440p. The Ultimate and Basic tiers remain unchanged in both name and feature set. NVIDIA says the playtime limit was necessary in order "to continue providing exceptional quality and speed—as well as shorter queue times." Of course players can buy extra playtime at a rate of $2.99 for 15 hours of GeForce Now Performance and $5.99 for 15 hours of GeForce Now Ultimate. The playtime limits will come into effect on January 1, 2025, and anyone that signs up for a paid GeForce Now subscription before then won't be subjected to the new playtime limits until January 2026.

Nikon Corporation (Nikon) is developing a digital lithography system with resolution of one micron (L/S) and high productivity for advanced semiconductor packaging applications. This product is scheduled to be released in Nikon's fiscal year 2026.

The rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is driving demand for integrated circuits (ICs) for data centers. In the field of advanced packaging, including chiplets, the size of packages is increasing with the miniaturization of wiring patterns. This will lead to heightened demand for panel level packages that use glass and other materials suitable for larger packages, requiring exposure equipment that combines high resolution with a large exposure area. To meet these demands, Nikon is developing digital exposure equipment that combines the high-resolution technology of its semiconductor lithography systems, which has been cultivated over many decades, along with the excellent productivity made possible with the multi-lens technology of its FPD lithography systems.

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (SSS) today announced the upcoming release of the ECX350F, a 0.44-type Full HD resolution OLED Microdisplay that combines the industry's smallest 5.1 µm pixels (approximately 5,000 ppi) with the industry's highest brightness of up to 10,000 cd/m².

The ECX350F is an OLED Microdisplay designed for use in augmented reality (AR) glasses, an application which demands a thin, lightweight form factor without compromising visibility. Adopting a novel OLED structure and microlenses, the microdisplay enhances pixel light emission despite its diminutive size. This innovation allows for Full HD resolution within a compact 0.44-inch panel while delivering a peak brightness of 10,000 cd/m² — approximately double that of the conventional model. This new product represents a breakthrough that addresses the longstanding challenge of delivering high brightness with small pixels.

Samsung Electronics is set to make a significant leap in semiconductor manufacturing technology with the introduction of its first High-NA 0.55 EUV lithography tool. The company plans to install the ASML Twinscan EXE:5000 system at its Hwaseong campus between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025, marking a crucial step in developing next-generation process technologies for logic and DRAM production. This move positions Samsung about a year behind Intel but ahead of rivals TSMC and SK Hynix in adopting High-NA EUV technology. The system is expected to be operational by mid-2025, primarily for research and development purposes. Samsung is not just focusing on the lithography equipment itself but is building a comprehensive ecosystem around High-NA EUV technology.

The company is collaborating with several key partners like Lasertec (developing inspection equipment for High-NA photomasks), JSR (working on advanced photoresists), Tokyo Electron (enhancing etching machines), and Synopsys (shifting to curvilinear patterns on photomasks for improved circuit precision). The High-NA EUV technology promises significant advancements in chip manufacturing. With an 8 nm resolution capability, it could make transistors about 1.7 times smaller and increase transistor density by nearly three times compared to current Low-NA EUV systems. However, the transition to High-NA EUV comes with challenges. The tools are more expensive, costing up to $380 million each, and have a smaller imaging field. Their larger size also requires chipmakers to reconsider fab layouts. Despite these hurdles, Samsung aims for commercial implementation of High-NA EUV by 2027.

Over 500 games and applications feature RTX technologies, and barely a week goes by without new blockbuster games and incredible indie releases integrating NVIDIA DLSS, NVIDIA Reflex, and advanced ray-traced effects to deliver the definitive PC experience for GeForce RTX gamers.

This week, we're highlighting the release of DLSS 3-accelerated release of Outpost: Infinity Siege, and the launch of Alone In The Dark and Lightyear Frontier, which both feature DLSS 2. This batch of great new RTX releases follows the release of Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition, which boasted day-one support for NVIDIA DLSS 3, NVIDIA DLAA, and NVIDIA Reflex. Additionally, Diablo IV's ray tracing update is out now—learn more about each new announcement below.

Hi everyone, we're thrilled for our PC community to join Aloy on her journey as she braves the Forbidden West—a majestic but dangerous frontier that conceals mysterious new threats. That's right, Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition has launched on PC. Horizon Forbidden West continues six months after the events of the critically acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn. Vicious superstorms rage. The land is dying. Machine hunter Aloy has traveled west to investigate the source of a mysterious blight that ravages the remnants of humanity. In these uncharted lands, she will meet strange new tribes and face ever more deadly colossal machines. Together with old friends and new companions, she must brave this awe-inspiring frontier to find the answers she needs, halt the biosphere's imminent collapse, and save life on Earth.

Unlocked frame rates, ultra-wide support up to 48:9 resolutions and performance-enhancing technologies including NVIDIA DLSS 3 AI-powered upscaling and frame generation allow PC players to experience Aloy's journey in its full glory on compatible hardware. NVIDIA DLAA is available to help maximize image quality. The game also comes with NVIDIA Reflex, reducing system latency and improving gameplay responsiveness. Intel XeSS and AMD FSR 2.2 upscaling is also supported. The team at Nixxes is working on an update to add AMD FSR 3 with frame generation.

The colors of the illustrations look serene and dreamy on paper, leading us into a realm of fantasy. Such experience can hardly be replicated on LED screens. However, thanks to the advances in ePaper technology, it's now possible for us to relive such wistful reverie in a digital way. And what makes it happen is Kaleido 3.

What is Kaleido 3？
Kaleido 3 is E Ink's latest generation of print color display technology for ePaper products. Compared with conventional black-and-white E INK displays, Kaleido uses an RGB Color Filter Array (CFA) to present colors on the screen. With a color filter on top, red, green, and blue can be mixed or with black and white to create a total of 4,096 colors.

Digital Foundry organized an AI Visuals Roundtable earlier this week, with Alex Battaglia (Video Producer) acting as host—the main topic being a recently visually upgraded version of Cyberpunk 2077. Guests included: Bryan Catanzaro (NVIDIA's Vice President Applied Deep Learning Research), Jakub Knapik (VP Art and Global Art Director at CD Projekt RED), Jacob Freeman (GeForce Marketing Evangelist) and Pedro Valadas (PCMR Founder). Team Green, naturally, advocates its newly released DLSS 3.5 and Ray Reconstruction technologies—brute force rendering techniques are considered passé, and no longer an ideal solution for upcoming GPU generations. Valadas was curious enough to ask whether NVIDIA had any plans to target reasonable performance levels—minus DLSS—at native resolutions.

Catanzaro focused on the benefits introduced in Update 2.0 and Phantom Liberty: "I think that DLSS 3.5 actually makes Cyberpunk 2077 even more beautiful than native rendering...that's my belief. The reason being that the AI is able to make smarter decisions about how to render a scene...and I think that's going to continue to develop." He half jokingly states that rasterization is a "bag of fakeness." A combination of DLSS and path tracing is preferred over old hat methods—thus attaining the most realistic visual results. He summarizes with his own slogan: "Native rendering is fake frames." Catanzaro predicts that real-time graphics industries will become increasingly reliant on AI-processed image reconstruction and rendering technologies in the future. He hopes that AAA game environments will become cheaper to make in due time—with a shift to neural rendering. DLSS 10 could interface with game engine technology at a higher level, with a possible outcome being the creation of more "immersive and beautiful" experiences.

CL CSOT, a company focused on developing new technologies and innovations in the display industry, today unveiled over 30 of its latest products and advanced technologies, including more than ten firsts in the world, at Display Week 2023 organized by the Society for Information Display (SID), held from May 21 to 26 in Los Angeles, California.

Guided by the vision of "Display A Better Future For All", TCL CSOT showcases its expertise and capacity in providing complete display technology solutions across a range of sizes, categories, and forms - spanning IJP OLED, Mini LED, Micro LED, medical displays, vehicle-mounted displays, light field displays, as well as consumer electronics displays. Among them, six core exhibits include:

Bethesda tweeted out an information update directed at Xbox Series console owners - and it has caused a stir within the fanbase - Redfall will be locked to "Quality Mode" upon launch in early May. PC gaming enthusiasts will have plenty to laugh about with these newly announced graphical performance restrictions, set for the green team's pair of current generation consoles. The frame rate will be capped at a maximum of 30 frames per second on both Xbox Series X and S, under the "Quality" performance mode. The version tuned for Series X will be able to output at the 4K UHD resolution standard (3840 x 2160), and the pixel count will be reduced for Microsoft's weaker console offering, at 1440p QHD (2560 x 1440).

Bethesda states that a 60 frames per second "Performance Mode" for Xbox Series X|S will be added at a later (unspecified) date, presumably via an online patch issued through Xbox Live. No further details were provided regarding the decision to cap frame rates, all the more strange given that Redfall is due to launch very soon. Arkane Studios (the Austin, TX branch) declared last month that it was also working on a removal of the always online requirement for the game's single player element - again, no time period for release has been established for this reversal. Redfall has attracted mounds of controversy over the past two months - including Sony's attention through litigation.