Tech4Gamers

Review Summary The MSI MAG 1200PLS is a Platinum-rated PSU built by CWT on a brand-new platform, and its standout feature is GPU SAFEGUARD, a system that monitors each +12V pin on the 12V-2×6 connector and sounds an alarm if there’s a dangerous current imbalance, addressing the melting-connector issues that have plagued high-power GPUs. It runs quiet and efficient even at full 1200W load, but MSI cut corners with mid-tier capacitors (Teapo/ChengX) instead of top-tier brands, which hurts its...

Review Summary The Xastra ASTRA LZ360 is a high-performance 360mm all-in-one liquid cooler that distinguishes itself with a retro-arcade aesthetic featuring a bright, pixel-matrix display across both the pump and the radiator fans. The cooler also offers chart-topping thermal performance on AMD; however, it comes at a cost of a louder acoustic footprint.

Story Highlight Ben Starr is furious with Xbox for repeatedly lying to its employees before layoffs. The Expedition 33 VA said the company provided false security to its employees. They did it again recently by promoting Ninja Theory’s Senua as an Xbox-funded project. The whole Xbox Reset situation is the talk of the town right now. After thousands of layoffs, the company is being called out by many in the industry.

Story Highlight The Black Ops ports for PS4 and PS5 launched recently, and fans rushed to buy them alongside PS Plus. Fans did so despite previous vows to boycott PS Plus following Sony’s discontinuation of physical games. Both Black Ops titles are said to have surpassed Black Ops 7 despite launching on just two consoles. PlayStation’s recent physical disc announcement drew the most criticism the gaming giant has seen in many years.

Story Highlight Three PS5 emulators are currently in development, with all three making varying levels of progress. SharpEmu has shown a lot of potential, running a 2D platformer and booting Demon’s Souls Remake recently. PlayStation’s physical disc cancellation has led to even more rapid progress in this department. Over a week after the initial announcement, the frustration following PlayStation’s physical disc decision is no longer as intense.

Story Highlight Xbox is currently going through a major reset that has led to thousands of layoffs. Despite the layoffs, Blizzard Entertainment still has tons of projects in the works. These include new games in the Diablo universe, a StarCraft shooter, and more. Xbox layoffs have really hit the company hard. Multiple major studios have seen their workforce decrease by huge numbers, and 4 studios have also gone independent. However, one particular studio is still going strong with its projects.

Story Highlight A veteran Ubisoft developer has shared his thoughts on Assassin’s Creed Unity and its launch. He says that the game remains one of Ubisoft’s most underestimated titles despite its issues. The developer admits that this particular entry went through a hectic development cycle due to a focus on content and tech. The Assassin’s Creed series has several beloved entries, and with the release of Black Flag Resynced, reverence for the series is yet again at an all-time high.

Story Highlight Modders have successfully developed OpenStrike, a Counter-Strike alternative, for the PSP. The game is seen running on the PSP at 60 FPS with strikingly similar visuals. OpenStrike is currently a test project with many missing features, but it’s a strong proof of concept. Counter-Strike is one of the most popular first-person shooters in existence. In fact, Counter-Strike 2 peaked at 1,862,531 simultaneous players on April 12, 2025, a record for concurrent players on the platform.

Story Highlight Xbox One-exclusive Ryse: Son of Rome was planned to expand into a franchise exploring multiple locations. However, Crytek’s plans were thwarted when the game failed to sell well and due to IP ownership issues. Ryse games would have explored multiple eras and locations, aiming to be Xbox’s own AC-like franchise. Despite a fair share of controversies, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed has become a giant in the action role-playing genre.

Story Highlight Steam made $11.1 billion in gross revenue in H1 2026, according to data firm Alinea Analytics. This is 14.5% higher than H1 2025 and 8% higher than H2 2025, even despite the holiday season in that period. This revenue figure almost reaches the pandemic peak of 2021 ($11.4B) in just six months. Steam has consistently set new revenue records every year. The platform saw over 19k releases and enjoyed its best December last year.