Now that the Steam Deck is starting to show its age, gamers are searching for upgraded handhelds that can fill the void of a not-yet-realized "Steam Deck 2." For me, the Legion Go S is that handheld, and it's just generally a great platform for on-the-go PC gaming.
I love organizing my workstation, and my PC gaming setup isn’t immune to getting 3D printed upgrades. From keeping my graphics card from sagging to organizing my USB drives and even holding my controller, here are my top four 3D prints that took my setup to the next level.
The numbers on Linux installations are finally starting to show some life, and despite what some people might say, it's not all down to just one or two major moves. But, undeniably, the rise of Linux gaming has something to do with it.
After Valve announced its upcoming Steam Machine living room box earlier this month, some analysts suggested to Ars that Valve could and should aggressively subsidize that hardware with “loss leader” pricing that leads to more revenue from improved Steam software sales. In a new interview with YouTube channel Skill Up, though, Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais ruled out that kind of console-style pricing model, saying that the Steam Machine will be “more in line with what you might expect from the current PC market.”
Griffais said the AMD Zen 4 CPU and RDNA3 GPU in the Steam Machine were designed to outperform the bottom 70 percent of machines that opt-in to Valve’s regular hardware survey. And Steam Machine owners should expect to pay roughly what they would for desktop hardware with similar specs, he added.
“If you build a PC from parts and get to basically the same level of performance, that’s the general price window that we aim to be at,” Griffais said.
© Valve
Since RGB software entered the PC market many moons ago, it’s been a disorganized mess. Every company that makes hardware with RGB has its own software to control it. Few of these utilities, if any, can sync with one another. So you might have Corsair RAM, an Asus GPU/motherboard, and an NZXT CPU cooler, all with RGB. Good luck getting any synced-up lighting pattern going between those components.
This fractured RGB software ecosystem has been the bane of bling-loving gamers for years. Additionally, the software is usually unintuitive and crash-y. At least, that’s our experience with utilities from Gigabyte, Asus, MSI, and Corsair. Now Microsoft is stepping into this quagmire with what could be a divine solution: integrating RGB control directly into Windows 11.
News of Microsoft’s plans was revealed in a recent Insider build. It shows a new section named “Lighting” listed under the Personalization area in Settings. Twitter user @albacore posted screenshots showing various RGB devices listed in the menu. They include a mouse, an Asus CPU cooler, a Steam Deck, and a generic keyboard. This still leaves out memory, mousepads, and GPUs, but it does seem to include all RGB devices connected to the system. This isn’t the case with most current RGB software, which usually only shows devices from the software manufacturer.
(Image: @albacore on Twitter)
A second panel allows you to tweak each device’s lighting. The options are limited; instead of getting about a dozen presets to choose from, there’s just a handful. The lighting effects seem limited to a solid color, blinking, or a rainbow. That’s quite pedestrian, at least compared with our personal experience using Corsair iCue. This software presents myriad options and also allows you to download custom profiles.
(Image: @albacore on Twitter)
What’s interesting is the source also posted a link to a request made by a Microsoft employee to create this in 2018. The technical paper clearly states the problem: a wide range of devices have “lamps” with no universal location to control them. According to OP, it was thought that work on this feature was cancelled, which apparently isn’t the case. It now appears in Insider Build 25295, even though Microsoft didn’t mention it in the release notes.
Even the most jaded Windows user would welcome this addition to Windows. In fact, this feature alone could be enough to convince people to “upgrade” to Windows 11, in our opinion. It’s been such a long-running national nightmare that a lot of users have given up on the dream of ever unifying all of their RGB lighting. There are alternatives like OpenRGB, but it’s not easy to use in our experience. Plus, in addition to making it easier to control lighting, you’d no longer have to install four or more separate utilities to change the lighting on something. If you’re reading this, Microsoft, please bring this to the masses as soon as possible.
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Why spend your free time vying for a Valentine’s Day reservation at an expensive restaurant when you could cozy up on the couch with some takeout and your new favorite game? These five co-op titles require that you and your partner (or pal, or situationship—I don’t judge) work together as you make some cozy, at-home memories.
(Credit: Coldwood Interactive/Electronic Arts)
Unravel
Where to play: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Unravel is a beautifully detailed puzzle platformer. You and your partner will play as a pair of fuzzy Yarnys connected by a single thread. As you navigate a lush landscape, you’ll use that thread to swing over obstacles, pull each other onto platforms, and otherwise support each other, making Unravel a touching fit for an evening with the one you cherish most. If you fall in love with this title, make sure to check out its sequel, Unravel 2, which is said to be even more responsive and charming than the original. (Only the sequel is available on Switch.)
(Credit: Hazelight/Electronic Arts)
It Takes Two
Where to play: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
I’m hesitant to include It Takes Two since it already gets enough hype, but it’s popular for a reason, so I’d be remiss to leave it out. This co-op adventure game requires that you and your partner move your characters collaboratively as you traverse toy boxes, wintry landscapes, and mysterious gardens—all while unfolding an incredibly heartwarming story. If you’re looking to get teary-eyed, this is the one for you.
(Credit: Foam Sword Games)
Knights and Bikes
Where to play: Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Knights and Bikes allows for both couch and online co-op play, making it a perfect match for long-distance valentines. You’ll play as BFFs Nessa and Demelza, busy tackling puzzles, navigating hazards, and upgrading their bikes as they explore a colorful island with their pet goose. As with It Takes Two, you’ll have to work together to traverse complex terrain and solve some mild brain-teasers. Knights and Bikes’ charming animation style and humor will have you laughing in no time.
(Credit: Ghost Town Games/Team17 Digital)
Overcooked! (1 or 2)
Where to play: Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, PC/Mac
The Overcooked! franchise gets a lot of hate on social media—like Monopoly, it creates more arguments for some couples and families than it solves. Both games test how well you communicate and work together, especially in frantic, time-sensitive scenarios. Overcooked! 1 and 2 are great for duos skilled in the communication and banter departments, but if you’re not quite there yet, you might be best leaving these for an occasion that isn’t Valentine’s Day.
(Credit: SFB Games/Nintendo)
Snipperclips
Where to play: Nintendo Switch
Snipperclips is a good fit for couples who are short on time or in need of a quieter gaming experience, as each of the game’s at-your-own-pace visual puzzles are just a few minutes long. That said, these puzzles are like potato chips—it’s hard to stop at just one! You’ll snip away at each other’s characters and hop across sheets of grid paper to launch balloons, shoot hoops, and complete other tasks in this 2D title.
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For 2022, Intel earned $63.1 billion in total, a 20% decline from its 2021 earnings. Its Q4 revenue was $14 billion, a precipitous 32% drop from the same quarter last year. One analyst notes this is the largest year-over-year decline in the company’s history. It posted a net loss of $664 million for the quarter, which almost matches its worst quarterly loss in history: In 2017, it reported a loss of $687 million in the fourth quarter.
Though Intel ended 2022 with $8 billion in profit, last year it made $19.1 billion. That’s a remarkable 60% reduction, which is why the word “collapse” is being thrown around. Its gross margin for Q4 of 39.2% is the lowest in decades as well. Intel used to get 60% margins not that long ago.
As far as where the hits came from, it’s in both data center and client computing. It earned $6.6 billion on the client side, which is down 36% from last year’s Q4. Total revenue for client computing in 2022 dropped 23% compared with 2021. Its Data Center and AI (DCAI) group’s revenue fell 33% YoY, and 15% for the year as a whole. The only bright spots were gains in Mobileye, Intel Foundry Services, and its graphics division. All three divisions posted increases, with its foundry services posting a surprising 30% improvement for the quarter.
Despite the grim report, Intel says it’s still on target to achieve its long-term goals. It notes it’s still pursuing its “five nodes in four years” strategy laid out by CEO Gelsinger upon his arrival in 2021. This will theoretically allow it to achieve industry leadership in both transistor performance and efficiency leadership by 2025. To that end, Gelsinger says it’s looking to begin its ramp for Meteor Lake in the second half of 2023. If that occurs, we’ll be surprised as it’s been rumored to be delayed. Instead, we may see a Raptor Lake refresh.
“We are at or ahead of our goal of five nodes in four years,” said Gelsinger in the earnings report. “Intel 7 is now in high-volume manufacturing for both client and server. On Intel 4, we are ready today for manufacturing and we look forward to the MTL (Meteor Lake) ramp in the second half of the year,” he said.
Unfortunately for Intel, it doesn’t anticipate a quick rebound from its financial nadir. Its CEO predicted continuing “macro weakness” through the first half of 2023. However, he noted there’s a possibility of an uptick later this year. Given the uncertain economic conditions though, Intel is only providing guidance for Q1 of 2023 and nothing beyond that. That guidance is even more brutal than this report: It predicts YoY revenue will be down 40%, with gross margins hitting 39%.
Intel’s earnings report follows news this week that it has canceled a planned $700 million R&D facility in Oregon. It was also announced this week that it was laying off 544 employees in California as it begins to tighten its belt. It’s stated it plans on reducing expenses by $3 billion in 2023, with that number increasing to $10 billion by 2025.
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