Assassin's Creed Shadows PS5 Pro Details Have Been Revealed and the Biggest Difference Appears to Be 'Extended' Ray Tracing Will Be Present on PS5 Pro
Assassin's Creed Shadows on PS5 Pro will feature performance modes with varying levels of graphical fidelity, but the main draw is the inclusion of "extended" ray tracing, which promises a more immersive game world. The three performance modes - Performance, Fidelity, and Balanced - offer different trade-offs between frame rate and graphical quality. Ray tracing enhancements are notable on PS5 Pro, providing a more realistic lighting experience throughout the game.
The increased use of ray tracing technology in Assassin's Creed Shadows could serve as a benchmark for other games in the industry, pushing the boundaries of visual realism and requiring console manufacturers to invest in better hardware.
How will Ubisoft address potential performance bottlenecks in its next-generation games, given the significant computational resources required by advanced ray tracing features?
The Assassin's Creed Shadows requirements for PC and Mac have been finally revealed, outlining the necessary specs to run the game, including different levels of ray-tracing. Assassin's Creed Shadows looks to be a bold new step for the long-running action franchise with dual protagonists and dynamic systems that will affect combat and stealth. The minimum and recommended specs for each level of ray-tracing in-game are also outlined.
The varying requirements highlight the complexity of modern gaming, where individual components such as GPUs and RAM must meet specific thresholds to achieve desired performance levels.
How will Ubisoft's implementation of ray-tracing technology impact the overall graphical fidelity and player experience in Assassin's Creed Shadows?
Optimizing the graphics settings in Monster Hunter Wilds can significantly enhance the gaming experience on consoles like the PS5 and Xbox Series X. Players are presented with various modes, including Prioritize Resolution, Balanced, and Prioritize Framerate, each affecting performance and visual quality differently. By strategically adjusting settings such as motion blur and HDR, gamers can achieve a cleaner image and smoother gameplay, especially in high-action scenarios.
The emphasis on frame rate over resolution highlights a growing trend among gamers prioritizing performance in fast-paced action titles, potentially influencing future game design and player preferences.
How might the balance between graphical fidelity and performance evolve as technology in gaming consoles continues to advance?
The recently released AMD tech demo showcases advancements in the RX 9070 series' path tracing capabilities, but its effectiveness in reducing artifacts remains uncertain. While improvements have been made, the demo still reveals weaknesses, such as ghosting and blurriness in certain environments. The demo's overall performance is also being compared to that of Nvidia's RTX 50-series GPUs.
The disparity between AMD's RX 9070 series path tracing capabilities and Nvidia's RTX 50-series GPUs may be a harbinger for the long-term competitiveness of AMD in the gaming market.
Can the added cost of higher-end GPUs like the RX 9070 XT be justified by the improved ray tracing performance, or are there other factors at play that are worth considering?
The gaming landscape in 2025 is shaping up to be dynamic, with anticipated releases such as Assassin's Creed Shadows and GTA 6 generating excitement among players. Nintendo is also set to introduce the Switch 2, which will support most existing titles, further enriching the gaming experience this year. As developers navigate the complexities of delays and new launches, gamers can look forward to a diverse array of titles across platforms.
The convergence of new hardware like the Nintendo Switch 2 and high-profile game releases may redefine player expectations and experiences in the gaming community.
How will the competition between console and PC gaming evolve as new technologies and major titles are introduced in 2025?
A recent AMD tech demo showcasing advancements in path tracing effects for the RX 9070 series has left gamers and enthusiasts divided over its potential value. While the improved ray tracing capabilities demonstrate progress, they also highlighted areas where the new GPUs still lag behind Nvidia's offerings. The demo's limitations have sparked debate about whether the RX 9070 XT's raw power justifies its price tag, while the weaker RX 9070 model's $50 lower cost raises questions about its value proposition.
AMD's struggles to close the gap on ray tracing capabilities underscore the industry's ongoing shift towards high-end graphics features that cater to a niche audience, leaving budget-conscious buyers with limited choices.
Will the upcoming release of the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT series on March 6 provide sufficient evidence to sway those still hesitant about upgrading from previous-generation GPUs?
The MSI Claw 8 AI+ improves on its predecessor with surprisingly good battery life and a refreshing design. It stands tall as a high-performing gaming handheld with a vibrant touchscreen and unique design, although its large size won't be for everyone. The device's performance is on point, with smooth gameplay and decent multitasking capabilities.
This handheld represents a significant shift in the gaming industry's approach to portable devices, where power, display quality, and user experience are becoming increasingly important factors.
As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, how will manufacturers balance the need for high-performance hardware with the increasing demand for more versatile and user-friendly devices?
The AMD Radeon RX 9070 series has surpassed Nvidia's RTX 5070 with faster performance and more memory, positioning itself as a top contender in 1440p gaming. The Radeon 9070 XT offers comparable performance to Nvidia's high-end RTX 5070 Ti at $150 less, making it an attractive option for gamers on a budget. The improved ray tracing capabilities and AI accelerators also make the RX 9070 series a compelling choice.
This significant leap in AMD's gaming performance is more than just a fleeting trend – it signals a potential paradigm shift in the balance of power between AMD and Nvidia in the graphics market.
What will happen to Nvidia's dominance when its competitors, like Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), enter the high-end GPU fray with their own RDNA 4-powered offerings?
Sony now pools all beta programs on one website to simplify participation. Those wanting to try out new PS5 and PC games, PlayStation app features and PlayStation 5 firmware updates in advance are advised to try out the new PS5 beta program, which gives much easier access to all beta programs. Sony has announced a new beta program for the PlayStation 5 on the PlayStation Blog, which is intended to consolidate all future beta programs.
By streamlining the registration process and providing a centralized hub for beta testing, Sony is attempting to democratize access to its latest features and games, potentially reducing the influence of early adopters who have previously benefited from exclusive beta access.
Will this move also lead to a more diverse pool of testers, or will it still be dominated by enthusiasts who are willing to spend hours providing feedback on often buggy software?
AMD's recent demo of the RX 9000 series graphics cards has revealed shortcomings in its path tracing capabilities, particularly when compared to Nvidia's RTX 50 series, raising concerns among gamers regarding price-to-performance. Critics have noted issues such as blurry textures and visual artifacts that detract from the overall viewing experience, suggesting that AMD's offering may not meet the expectations set by its pricing. This situation opens a broader discussion about the performance standards expected from mid-range graphics cards in an increasingly competitive market.
The contrasting reception of AMD's RX 9070 compared to Nvidia's offerings highlights the challenges the company faces in re-establishing itself as a leader in graphics technology, particularly in the realm of path tracing and AI enhancements.
Will AMD's focus on value over raw performance ultimately hinder its ability to reclaim market share from Nvidia in the high-end gaming segment?
AMD FSR 4 has dethroned FSR 3 and Nvidia's DLSS CNN model, according to Digital Foundry, offering significant image quality improvements, especially at long draw distances, with reduced ghosting. The new upscaling method is available exclusively on AMD's RDNA 4 GPUs, but its performance and price make it a strong competitor in the midrange GPU market. FSR 4's current-gen exclusivity may be a limitation, but its image quality capabilities and affordable pricing provide a solid starting point for gamers.
The competitive landscape of upscaling tech will likely lead to further innovations and improvements in image quality, as manufacturers strive to outdo one another in the pursuit of excellence.
How will AMD's FSR 4 impact the long-term strategy of Nvidia's DLSS technology, potentially forcing Team Green to reassess its approach to upscaling and rendering?
The system requirements for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater have been revealed, confirming that players will need significant hardware to run the game smoothly. Konami recommends an RTX 3080 GPU for optimal performance and at least 100G of free space on PC players' systems. The minimum requirements suggest a more modest setup, but still indicate a substantial investment in graphics power.
The gaming industry's shift towards more realistic visuals has led to a surge in demand for high-end hardware, underscoring the need for consumers to reassess their computing needs and budgets.
As games like Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater continue to push the boundaries of graphical fidelity, will the market become saturated with overpriced, feature-bloated systems that prioritize style over substance?
FSR 4, a more advanced upscaling technology than its predecessor, uses AI to maximize framerates with minimal quality loss, requiring games to be updated to utilize the new features. Several high-profile titles, including Kingdom Come: Deliverance II and Civilization 7, are expected to demonstrate FSR 4 capabilities, potentially offering a generational leap in performance for gamers. Early footage suggests that FSR 4 upscales without significant artifacts or loss in graphical fidelity.
The widespread adoption of FSR 4 by major game developers could significantly narrow the performance gap between RDNA 4 and Nvidia's RTX 40 series GPUs, making Radeon GPUs a more competitive choice for gaming.
Will AMD's aggressive marketing efforts and promising early results be enough to overcome the current stock shortages and limited availability of RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT GPUs?
Sony has introduced a new beta program aimed at streamlining the process for gamers to participate in testing updates and features for the PS5 and PC. By signing up just once, players can express their interest in accessing various beta tests, including games, new console features, and enhancements to the PlayStation App. This initiative represents a significant shift from previous beta sign-up processes, which required multiple registrations for different tests.
This move could enhance community engagement by making it easier for players to contribute feedback on new features and improvements, potentially leading to a better overall gaming experience.
What implications will this beta program have on the quality and speed of updates released for the PS5 in the future?
Roblox players on Chromebooks are set to experience faster performance, with the company rolling out an x86 version of the game optimized for Chromebooks. This update promises "up to 2x faster performance" across all games and experiences, leading to smoother gameplay, quicker load times, and a better overall Roblox experience. The changes will also bring new in-game perks, including a special Chrome jetpack for avatars and exclusive items.
As the gaming landscape continues to shift towards cloud-based and browser-based platforms, it's fascinating to see how tech companies like Roblox are leveraging this trend to enhance user experiences.
What implications might these updates have on the broader concept of "gaming" itself, as more casual players and younger audiences become increasingly immersed in online worlds?
For smooth visuals in games, enabling G-Sync is a simple yet effective way to resolve choppy gameplay issues. G-Sync matches your frame rate with the refresh rate of your monitor, eliminating screen tearing and stuttering. By doing so, it reduces input lag and creates a more immersive gaming experience.
The benefits of G-Sync are undeniable, but the real question is how this technology will impact the overall gaming landscape, particularly in terms of hardware requirements and competition between manufacturers.
As gamers become increasingly demanding, it's essential to consider whether G-Sync will remain a game-changer or if new technologies will emerge to outdo its capabilities.
This innovative project showcases the ease of creating a versatile electronic component for simulating steering wheels in gaming setups. The Raspberry Pi Pico-powered protractor module uses a rotary encoder and displays measurement data on a 4-digit 7-segment display, offering precision-tuned sensitivity to suit various use cases. By leveraging the PIO on the Pico, Yaluke developed software with comprehensive USB support.
This DIY protractor project exemplifies the makers' community's ability to repurpose electronics for novel applications in gaming, highlighting the growing demand for custom controller solutions.
Will this innovation inspire a wave of similar projects that integrate IoT technology and precision engineering into gaming peripherals?
GTA 5 Enhanced is introducing unexpected issues for PC gamers migrating to the new version, including error messages related to unapproved hacks and untransferred mods. The launch also lacks several popular features, such as text chat and the in-game benchmark tool. Rockstar has acknowledged these concerns and promises that all eligible players will be able to download GTA 5 Enhanced.
The frustration among PC gamers highlights a broader issue of accessibility in the gaming industry, where some players may feel forced into using cheats or mods that can lead to account issues.
What measures should game developers take to ensure fair access for all players, particularly those who rely on mods and community-created content to enhance their gaming experience?
Honor has unveiled a new strategic realignment as it enters the age of AI, introducing highly useful enhancements for its Magic7 Pro camera system and other features. The company's Alpha Plan also includes interoperability with Apple's iOS for data sharing and the industry's first all-ecosystem file sharing technology. Honor's AI Deepfake Detection will be rolled out globally to Honor phones starting in April, while AI Upscale will restore old portrait photos and become available soon on the international release of its Snapdragon 8 Elite flagship.
This new strategy marks a significant shift for Honor as it aims to bridge the gap between Android and iOS ecosystems, potentially expanding its user base beyond traditional Android users.
As phone manufacturers continue to integrate more AI capabilities, how will this impact consumer expectations for seamless device experiences across different platforms?
The new Photoshop for iPhone app finally delivers on its promise of offering powerful pro features, including layer masking and blending, as well as generative AI features, making it a worthy successor to the desktop version. After hours of tinkering and prodding, this author found that the app is easy to learn, has all the core features, can handle big files and tasks, and even includes Adobe Camera Raw. However, there are still some tools missing compared to the desktop version.
This new development signifies a significant shift in the way photographers approach their work on-the-go, leveraging the capabilities of AI-driven editing tools to streamline their workflow and improve image quality.
How will the growing adoption of generative AI-powered editing apps impact the future of creative software development and the role of human editors in the industry?
The Google Pixel 9 Pro and Apple iPhone 16 Pro face off in a battle to capture the essence of travel photography as they take on the iconic streets of London, yielding varying results depending on the scene. The camera showdown tests the prowess of each device's optics, revealing distinct strengths and weaknesses in low-light conditions and fast-paced street photography. Ultimately, it comes down to which smartphone delivers sharper images with more nuanced colours.
The outcome of this comparison highlights the importance of mastering the subtleties of light and shadow in travel photography, skills that only the most adept photographers possess – but can smartphones really keep up?
Will future advancements in camera technology on these high-end smartphones bridge the gap between professional-grade image quality and consumer-level capabilities?
Sony has announced a new initiative named Beta Program at PlayStation, which aims to offer a convenient hub to keep track of any and all pre-release tests for upcoming games on PS5 and PC as well as new features. This centralized platform allows users to express interest in gaining beta access to test participating games, with only one registration required. The program's benefits include streamlining the process of tracking multiple betas and making it easier for fans to participate.
By standardizing the process for accessing pre-release tests across both PS5 and PC, Sony's Beta Program at PlayStation may help level the playing field for indie developers and smaller studios.
How will this new initiative impact the business models of game developers who traditionally rely on early access and beta testing as a means to generate revenue?
Retroid has clarified ongoing display issues affecting the Pocket Mini by confirming that the problems with shaders rendering incorrectly is a 'behaviour of the screen', rather than a software issue, resulting in filters and scan lines appearing distorted and uneven. The company initially aimed to resolve this through collaboration with Qualcomm, but now acknowledges the hardware limitation, necessitating an adjustment to return policies for users dissatisfied with their devices. This development marks a shift from software-based solutions to acknowledging the underlying hardware capabilities of the Pocket Mini.
The announcement highlights the complexity of resolving display issues in portable devices, where the interplay between hardware and software can be intricate, often leading to challenges in identifying the root cause of problems.
Will Retroid's new return policy and acknowledgment of hardware limitations set a precedent for how companies handle similar product issues in the future?
A recent review highlights four top-performing televisions ideal for bright rooms, emphasizing their capacity to combat screen reflections and enhance viewing experiences. The Samsung QN90D and Hisense U8N stand out for their impressive brightness and rich colors, making them excellent choices for daytime viewing, while the Samsung S95D introduces an innovative 'OLED Glare Free' screen, challenging the typical limitations of OLED technology in bright environments. This guide not only outlines the best options available but also provides insights into their gaming capabilities and overall performance.
The emergence of these advanced TVs illustrates the industry's response to consumer demand for high-quality viewing experiences in various lighting conditions, potentially reshaping purchasing trends.
What innovations will manufacturers introduce next to further enhance TV performance in challenging lighting environments?
CP+ 2025 turned out to be a real treat for new camera gear, with the latest models and lenses showcasing cutting-edge technology. The event saw significant advancements in mirrorless cameras, compact vlogging cameras, and high-end full-frame lenses. Panasonic's Lumix S1R II and Canon's PowerShot V1 stood out as flagship products, while Sigma's radical BF mirrorless camera stole the show with its minimalist design.
The growing trend of minimalism in camera design is poised to revolutionize the industry, challenging traditional notions of what a camera should look like and how it should be used.
As camera technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, will we eventually reach a point where cameras become so advanced that they surpass human intuition and creativity?
Recent testing reveals that the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 experiences a notable performance dip when equipped with eight fewer Render Output Units (ROPs), with some games showing performance losses exceeding 10%. While performance differences vary across titles, certain games like Dying Light 2 and Total War: Warhammer 3 reveal significant regressions, affecting the RTX 5080's competitiveness in the GPU market. This situation raises concerns for gamers who may encounter inconsistent gameplay experiences depending on the specific titles they choose to play.
The findings highlight the critical role that hardware specifications play in gaming performance, emphasizing the need for consumers to be aware of potential discrepancies when purchasing GPUs.
How will Nvidia address these performance inconsistencies in future graphics card designs to ensure better reliability and user experience?