In September, Borderlands 4—the next main entry in the popular first-person looter-shooter series—launches on consoles and PC. As a Borderlands sicko, I’m very excited. And if you’ve been wanting to replay the older games or check out some of the spin-offs or DLC you might have missed over the years, a new Steam sale is here to help.Suggested ReadingThe Top 10 Most-Played Games On Steam Deck: August 2023 Edition Share SubtitlesOffEnglishSuggested ReadingThe Top 10 Most-Played Games On Steam Deck: August 2023 Edition Share SubtitlesOffEnglishThe Top 10 Most-Played Games On Steam Deck: August 2023 EditionOn June 5, a totally day quiet news day with nothing big happening like, say, the launch of a new Nintendo console, 2K and Gearbox announced a big Borderlands sale on Steam. Over on Valve’s digital PC gaming storefront, you can grab almost the entire franchise for just $35. The only thing missing from this massive bundle are WonderlandsTiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep. But that’s not a big deal as Wonderlands isn’t really a Borderlands game and Dragon Keep is just a standalone version of the excellent Borderlands 2 DLC of the same name. Everything else, including Tales from the Borderlands, New Tales, and all the DLC for all the games, including Director’s Cut and Designer’s Cut for Borderlands 3, is included in this massive bundle. It’s only available for the next two weeks and then goes away on June 19, though, so don’t miss out on this great deal. Oh, and if you just want Borderlands 2, you can get that for free right now on Steam. That offer is also available until June 19. Many consider this the best entry in the series, though I’m more a fan of Borderlands 3. Either way, it’s a great game to snag for free. And if you just want one specific game or DLC, well, they are all on sale on Steam separately, too. Even Wonderlands and Dragon Keep! .

Conflux Technology, an Australian company specializing in heat transfer solutions and additive manufacturing, has announced a collaboration with Italian hypercar manufacturer Pagani to address thermal management challenges in the Pagani Utopia’s transmission. The Utopia, Pagani’s latest hypercar, uses a 6-liter twin-turbo V12 engine designed by Mercedes-AMG. Its powertrain integrates a custom seven-speed transmission developed by Xtrac, available in both automated and manual configurations, to deliver the high levels of control and responsiveness required in extreme driving conditions. The Australian-based firm developed a cartridge heat exchanger specifically for the Utopia’s transmission oil system to improve heat rejection. According to the company, this solution achieves a 30% increase in heat rejection compared to the previous heat exchanger design. This enhancement is critical to maintain optimal thermal performance during high-load operations and ensures the vehicle meets global emissions standards, including those in California. Pagani’s Utopia hypercar, powered by a 6-liter twin-turbo V12 engine. Photo via Conflux Technology. Pagani subjected the Utopia’s transmission system to extensive testing, including track and road validation as well as thermal shock trials. These tests confirmed the durability and thermal resilience of the new heat exchanger under demanding operational conditions, aligning with the vehicle’s performance requirements. Michael Fuller, Founder and CEO of Conflux Technology, said: “Our advanced heat exchangers are designed to enable new levels of effectiveness, perfectly complementing the engineering craftsmanship that Pagani is celebrated for. This collaboration showcases the synergy of precision, innovation, and excellence.” Francesco Perini, Head of the Technical Department at Pagani, emphasized: “Conflux’s advanced heat transfer technology empowers the Pagani Utopia to achieve superior heat rejection ensuring optimal thermal balance, even in severe driving conditions. In our relentless pursuit of perfection, every detail matters. Conflux’s cartridge heat exchangers are a testament to precision and innovation, playing a vital role in ensuring that the Utopia can be enjoyed for a romantic drive on the French Riviera as well as on the most demanding tracks.” Oliver Nixon, Head of High Performance Automotive at Xtrac, stated: “The innovation of Conflux’s technology has allowed Xtrac to continue to push the boundaries of transmission performance, whilst maintaining the lightweight, motorsport derived ethos of our transmission solutions.” Conflux Technology’s additive-manufactured cartridge heat exchangers. Photo via Conflux Technology. Conflux is developing its Conflux Production Systems (CPS) to scale the production of its heat exchangers, supported by an AUD 11 million Series B funding round. The company’s technology is applied across multiple sectors, including aerospace, motorsports, high-powered industrial equipment, and defense, where effective thermal management is essential. The cartridge design leverages additive manufacturing to produce complex geometries that enhance heat transfer while reducing weight, supporting the requirements of high-performance automotive applications. Xtrac, headquartered in Berkshire, UK, with additional facilities in Indiana and North Carolina, specializes in engineering transmission and driveline systems for both motorsport and automotive sectors. Engine bay featuring Xtrac’s seven-speed gearbox. Photo via Conflux Technology. Additive Manufacturing in High-Performance Automotive Design Bentley Motors recent limited-run Batur grand tourer, The Black Rose, integrates additive manufacturing into its design through 18-karat recycled rose gold components. Developed by the Mulliner division in collaboration with precious metal supplier Cooksongold, the project uses up to 210 grams of printed gold in elements such as the Drive Mode Selector, air vent controls, and steering wheel insert. These components are hallmarked in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, with some also bearing the hallmark commemorating Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee. Bentley’s investment in additive manufacturing capacity since 2022 amounts to £3 million. This focus on additive manufacturing extends to high-performance vehicle engineering, as seen in McLaren Automotive’s W1 hypercar. The W1 incorporates titanium 3D printing in the production of front uprights and wishbones for its suspension system, contributing to significant weight savings and enhanced dynamic performance. McLaren reports that the W1 achieves a vehicle weight of 1,399kg, enabling a power-to-weight ratio of 911PS/tonne and supporting acceleration from 0 to 200km/h in 5.8 seconds. Central to this development is the company’s collaboration with Divergent Technologies, whose DAPS platform supports rapid design iteration and manufacturing flexibility.s. Front view of the McLaren W1 hypercar. Image via McLaren. Take the 3DPI Reader Survey — shape the future of AM reporting in under 5 minutes. Ready to discover who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards? Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and insights. Featured photo shows Pagani’s Utopia hypercar, powered by a 6-liter twin-turbo V12 engine. Photo via Conflux Technology. Anyer Tenorio Lara Anyer Tenorio Lara is an emerging tech journalist passionate about uncovering the latest advances in technology and innovation. With a sharp eye for detail and a talent for storytelling, Anyer has quickly made a name for himself in the tech community. Anyer's articles aim to make complex subjects accessible and engaging for a broad audience. In addition to his writing, Anyer enjoys participating in industry events and discussions, eager to learn and share knowledge in the dynamic world of technology.

Fans slam Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford's message to "cost sensitive" fans "We are out here struggling, Randy." Image credit: Eurogamer/Gearbox News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on June 1, 2025 Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has double-doubled down on comments about the cost of Borderlands 4, by inviting "cost sensitive" fans to download Tiny Tina's Wonderlands from the Epic Games Store for "FREE". These latest comments come after Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford made headlines when he told a X/Twitter commenter that "real fans" would find a way to get their hands on a copy of the game, even if it came with a $80 price tag. He later tried to justify it, all the while saying pricing was "not [his] call". In this latest social media post, Pitchford wrote the word "free" four times, each time in blockcaps. 9 Exciting 2025 Open-World Games We Can't Wait to Play.Watch on YouTube "For our real fans who may be cost sensitive, the very awesome and incredibly fun smash hit videogame Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is FREE this week on the Epic Games Store," Pitchford wrote. "Please enjoy this FREE gift by grabbing your FREE copy here, FREE." Aforementioned real fans were quick to respond to this comment, too. "You don't get to just walk back being incredibly tone-deaf to the world around you. We are out here struggling, Randy," said one player, while another wrote: "Dude you need to shut up already. No reason games should be $80 especially if its anything like 3 or that shit ass excuse of a movie." "I'm afraid the industry is moving in that direction and it’s just reality that we'll have to accept," Pitchford insisted. "The price for Borderlands 4 is going to get announced by the publisher soon. My wish, having worked my ass off on the game, is for as many people as possible to get to play it." When another commented: "So Randy, you think making backhanded comments towards your consumers about them being 'cost sensitive' is the plan? Wtf happened to you," he responded: "Backhanded? There are literally people who want to play great video games, have a game-ready PC, but may not be able to spend enough to buy a new AAA game for awhile and this week there’s a free offer for one of the best shooter looters to come out over the last five years…" "Saying 'cost sensitive' as the CEO of a company (In lieu of criticism of an $80 price tag for BL4) when a lot of your fan base is struggling to even pay for the roof over their heads and food on their tables is a crazy sentence to utter," said another player. Just a week before the "real fans" kerfuffle, Pitchford implored we "play the game first and understand the choices [the development team has] made" before passing judgement on changes Gearbox has made to the shooter's head's up display, including the removal of the mini-map. Borderlands 4, as we learned a couple of weeks ago, is now arriving earlier than expected on 12th September, and developer Gearbox recently shared more of its latest looter shooter in a new PlayStation showcase. It showed off a couple of new Vault Hunters, some of its new weapons, new traversal mechanics, its new planet, and more all to whip-up enthusiasm for what creative director Graeme Timmins called "hands-down our best Borderlands ever".

Start SlideshowStart SlideshowImage: Nintendo / Kotaku / Jake Randall / Burndumb, Nintendo / Kotaku, Fox / Disney / Kotaku, Sandfall Interactive, Nintendo / Kotaku, Arrowhead Game Studios / Kotaku, Screenshot: Подкаст «Пóпы и культура» / YouTube / Switch 2, a2dubai / YouTube / KotakuFrom mergers to memes, the landscape of interactive entertainment is always in motion. Here’s your cheat sheet for the week’s most important stories in gaming.Previous SlideNext SlideList slidesTarget Leaves Dozens Of Switch 2 Consoles Locked In A Cage On The Store FloorNintendo’s next big console, the Switch 2, is set to arrive on store shelves in just 10 days. So it’s not surprising to see photos showing dozens of Switch 2 consoles sitting in store warehouses and back areas. However, I wasn’t expecting a bunch of Switch 2 consoles to be sitting in a metal cage in the middle of a Target already. - Zack Zwiezen Read MorePrevious SlideNext SlideList slidesSwitch 2 Leaker Explains How He Got The Console Early And Why He's Not Afraid Of NintendoImage: Nintendo / KotakuIt was the middle of the night when Fedor Volkov found himself anxiously waiting on the streets of Moscow for a ride back home. In his arms he held a Switch 2 box and nestled within was the console fans had been waiting years to get their hands on, but which still didn’t officially go on sale for more than a week. He was too nervous and excited to remember to bring something to hide it in. - Ethan Gach Read MorePrevious SlideNext SlideList slidesSomeone Take Away Randy Pitchford's PhoneImage: Fox / Disney / KotakuSometimes you just gotta walk away. And this might be one of those times. Earlier this month, Gearbox co-founder and CEO Randy Pitchford replied to someone on social media about the studio’s next game, Borderlands 4, possibly receiving an $80 price tag. He said it wasn’t his call and then infamously added, “If you’re a real fan, you’ll find a way to make it happen.” This didn’t go over well with people online. A few days later, on May 22, he said he didn’t intend to sound like an asshole. - Zack Zwiezen Read MorePrevious SlideNext SlideList slidesSwitch 2 Startup And Menu Settings Appear Online As Early Player Shows Off Console In 'Code Red' Leak For NintendoScreenshot: Подкаст «Пóпы и культура» / YouTube / Switch 2The Switch 2 is just days away from its official June 5 launch, but already footage is beginning to spread online of people going hands-on with Nintendo’s next console. One fan based in Russia recently uploaded a nearly 10-minute video that includes the Switch 2's startup sequence and a tour through its menu settings. “Respects to this man for sacrificing his life to unbox the console a week before launch,” reads the top comment on YouTube. - Ethan Gach Read MorePrevious SlideNext SlideList slidesClair Obscur: Expedition 33 Publisher Says Fans Would Never Guess The Hit RPG's Budget: 'I'm Sure Mirror's Edge And Vanquish Cost More'Image: Sandfall InteractiveClair Obscur: Expedition 33 is one of the top-rated games of the year and has sold over 3.3 million copies. And it did it all with a very small budget, according to publisher Kelpler Interactive. How small? Portfolio director Matthew Handrahan isn’t saying, but he thinks everyone’s guesses are probably wrong. - Ethan Gach Read MorePrevious SlideNext SlideList slidesOnly One First-Party Nintendo Game Won't Work On Switch 2Image: Nintendo / KotakuThe Nintendo Switch 2 will be able to play most original Switch games without any issues when it launches on June 5. According to an update from Nintendo, most big games and all first-party titles (with one tiny exception) will work on Switch 2, though you might need an update or an old Joy-Con. - Zack Zwiezen Read MorePrevious SlideNext SlideList slidesHelldivers 2 Players Are Pulling Off Incredible Feats In A Last-Ditch Effort To Save Super EarthImage: Arrowhead Game Studios / KotakuHelldivers 2's Galactic War has come to Super Earth and it’s going very, very badly. Players have lost every major city on the planet save for two, but are making a triumphant last stand against the Illuminate as fans from across the real world band together to hold the line. - Ethan Gach Read MorePrevious SlideNext SlideList slidesSomeone's Unboxing A Switch 2 But Claims It Needs A Day-One Patch To WorkScreenshot: a2dubai / YouTube / KotakuSwitch 2 hardware appears to be officially out in the wild, but it doesn’t sound like anyone will be able to play the console early. A day-one patch is needed for it to fully work, according to someone who uploaded a brief unboxing video of the new Nintendo console to YouTube. - Ethan Gach Read MorePrevious SlideNext SlideList slidesGameStop Doubles Down On Crypto With Massive Bitcoin Purchase As Stores CloseGameStop Doubles Down On Crypto With Massive Bitcoin Purchase As Stores Close Share SubtitlesOffEnglishThe company continues its pivot away from selling games and toward doing anything else to stay afloatPrevious SlideNext SlideList slidesPlayStation’s Days of Play Brings Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, NBA 2K25 & More To PS PlusPlayStation’s Days of Play Brings Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, NBA 2K25 & More To PS Plus Share SubtitlesOffEnglishBomb Rush Cyberfunk is hitting PS Plus alongside NBA 2K25 and a Destiny 2 takeover in June

Weekend PC Game Deals is where the hottest gaming deals from all over the internet are gathered into one place every week for your consumption. So kick back, relax, and hold on to your wallets. The Humble Store's latest bundle is for fighting game fans. The Badass Brawlers bundle begins with Final Vendetta, Full Metal Furies, and Double Dragon Neon for $6. Going up a tier gets you River City Girls and Young Souls, with the price jumping up to $10. The complete bundle costs $16, and it adds River City Girls 2 and Dawn of the Monsters to all the previous games. The bundle has a three-week counter before it goes away. The Epic Games Store's mystery freebies promotion continued this week. The double giveaway was revealed earlier this week to be Tiny Tina's Wonderlands and Limbo. From the duo, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands comes from Gearbox Software. The title is a spin-off from the Borderlands franchise, adding in RPG elements, magic, and a fantasy storyline into the mix. Next, the award-winning puzzle platformer Limbo puts you into the shoes of a nameless boy looking to find his missing sister, with plenty of env Limbo and Tiny Tina's Wonderlands giveaways are slated to run until Thursday, June 5, which is when the next round of mystery freebies will be revealed. Free Events A single free event is running this weekend for any PC gamer to jump into, and it's coming from Ubisoft's coffers. The cooperative third-person shooter The Division 2 is currently available to try out from the Ubisoft Connect client, letting you jump into the complete edition of the looter shooter RPG until June 2. Big Deals Massive specials from series like The Elder Scrolls and Dragon Quest are currently having discounts, which are joined by zombie festivals, an Activision publisher sale, and more. With highlights from those and more, here's our hand-picked big deals list for this weekend: Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 – $38.49 on Steam Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 – $35.99 on Steam DayZ – $24.99 on Steam DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS 2 – $24.99 on Steam Dying Light 2 Stay Human: Reloaded Edition – $23.09 on Steam They Are Billions – $20.99 on Steam DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age™ - Definitive Edition – $19.99 on Steam My Time at Sandrock – $19.99 on Steam Call of Duty: Modern Warfare® – $19.79 on Steam Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1-2 Remastered – $18.84 on Indiegala Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy – $15.99 on Steam Tony Hawk's Pro Skater™ 1 + 2 – $15.99 on Steam Warhammer 40,000: Darktide – $15.99 on Steam Football Manager 2024 – $14.99 on Steam The Talos Principle 2 – $14.99 on Steam HUMANITY – $14.99 on Steam The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim VR – $14.99 on Steam Red Dead Redemption 2 – $14.99 on Steam Spyro Reignited Trilogy – $13.99 on Steam Project Zomboid – $13.39 on Steam Tiny Glade – $12.74 on Steam Ravenswatch – $12.49 on Steam Detroit: Become Human – $11.99 on Steam Escape Simulator – $11.99 on Steam Jurassic World Evolution 2 – $11.39 on Gamebillet Viewfinder – $11.24 on Steam Gas Station Simulator – $10.99 on Steam Boxes: Lost Fragments – $10.49 on Steam Superliminal – $9.99 on Steam The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition – $9.99 on Steam Unpacking – $9.99 on Steam TimeShift – $9.99 on Steam World War Z – $9.89 on Steam Singularity – $9.89 on Steam Dorfromantik – $9.79 on Steam Dying Light – $8.99 on Steam Storyteller – $8.99 on Steam The Evil Within 2 – $7.99 on Steam Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege – $7.99 on Steam The Wolf Among Us – $7.49 on Steam A Little to the Left – $7.49 on Steam The Evil Within Bundle – $6.24 on Steam Back 4 Blood – $5.99 on Steam The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Game of the Year Edition – $5.99 on Steam FEAR Complete Pack – $5.49 on Steam Zombie Army 4: Dead War – $4.99 on Steam Beyond: Two Souls – $4.99 on Steam The Pedestrian – $4.99 on Steam The Elder Scrolls Online – $4.99 on Steam The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition Deluxe (2009) – $4.99 on Steam Sticky Business – $4.99 on Steam Prototype – $4.99 on Steam Pharaoh + Cleopatra – $4.99 on Steam Gorogoa – $4.94 on Steam Graveyard Keeper – $3.99 on Steam Heavy Rain – $3.99 on Steam Streets of Rogue – $3.99 on Steam FEZ – $3.99 on Steam Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura – $3.89 on Steam Caesar 3 – $3.89 on Steam Plague Inc: Evolved – $3.74 on Steam SUMMERHOUSE – $3.74 on Steam Ryse: Son of Rome – $3.49 on Steam 20 Minutes Till Dawn – $3.49 on Steam Death Road to Canada – $2.99 on Steam Killing Floor 2 – $2.99 on Steam SpeedRunners – $2.99 on Steam Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 – $2.99 on Steam An Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire – $2.39 on Steam The Elder Scrolls Adventures: Redguard – $2.39 on Steam Portal – $1.99 on Steam Left 4 Dead 2 – $0.99 on Steam DRM-free Events The GOG store's own DRM-free sales are going strong too, including discounts for big Atari classics. Here are some highlights from its weekend specials: System Shock - $14.79 on GOG Alpha Protocol - $13.39 on GOG Terra Nil - $12.49 on GOG Cold Waters - $9.99 on GOG Streets of Rage 4 - $9.99 on GOG Overcooked! 2 Gourmet Edition - $9.71 on GOG Weird West: Definitive Edition - $5.99 on GOG The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind GOTY Edition - $5.99 on GOG The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Game of the Year Edition Deluxe - $4.99 on GOG Assassin's Creed: Director's Cut - $4.99 on GOG Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen - $4.79 on GOG Tomb Raider GOTY - $2.99 on GOG Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition - $2.99 on GOG Far Cry - $2.99 on GOG Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Director’s Cut - $2.99 on GOG I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream - $2.69 on GOG Blade Runner - Enhanced Edition - $2.49 on GOG Blood: Fresh Supply - $2.49 on GOG SiN Gold - $1.99 on GOG The Wheel of Time - $1.49 on GOG RollerCoaster Tycoon Deluxe - $1.19 on GOG Pirates! Gold Plus - $1.19 on GOG Sid Meier's Colonization - $1.19 on GOG Keep in mind that availability and pricing for some deals could vary depending on the region. That's it for our pick of this weekend's PC game deals, and hopefully, some of you have enough self-restraint not to keep adding to your ever-growing backlogs. As always, there are an enormous number of other deals ready and waiting all over the interwebs, as well as on services you may already subscribe to if you comb through them, so keep your eyes open for those, and have a great weekend.

Start SlideshowStart SlideshowImage: FromSoftware / CD Projekt Red / Bethesda / KotakuWith this weekend comes the close of another month in 2025. We’ve had a few ups and downs this past week. For us fans of CD Projekt Red’s adaptation of Cyberpunk, we just got a little bit closer to its sequel. That’s exciting! But, if you were eagerly anticipating the Black Panther video game, sadly that project’s been killed and the studio has been closed. Awful stuff. But on a more positive note, there’s a new console out next week! The Switch 2 arrives on June 5, but we’ve already seen consoles hanging out in Target aisles while unboxing videos have sprung up on the internet. We even had a chat with someone who got his hands on a unit already. Until the Switch 2 arrives, however, all of us are stuck with our old consoles and PCs. Luckily, those still work, so we’ll be playing some games this weekend. If you’re looking for a few recommendations to fill up your next couple of days, why don’t you have a look?Previous SlideNext Slide2 / 8List slidesCyberpunk 2077List slidesCyberpunk 2077Image: CD Projekt RedPlay it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PCs (Steam Deck: “Verified”) and soon, Switch 2Current goal: See if Night City can seduce meGenerally, here in the Weekend Guide, we write about games we already know that we like, that we’re looking forward to spending more time with, and that we can enthusiastically recommend. But this weekend, what I’ll be doing is enthusiastically revisiting, with fresh eyes, a game I didn’t care for much the first time I finished it: Cyberpunk 2077. That experience was back around launch, and though I’ve returned to CDPR’s much-revised open-world role-playing game a few times in the years since then to replay its excellent first few hours, and I even visited the new district of Dogtown when the Phantom Liberty expansion arrived, I have not actually given the full game another proper chance. What’s compelling me to do this now, of all times? Well, the fact that it’s landing on Switch 2 next week alongside the console itself, in a version that looks mighty impressive for running on handheld hardware. There’s little doubt that Mario Kart World will absorb the bulk of my time on the new device in those first few weeks after launch, but I also have an itch to pick up another impressive game or two. And I do greatly appreciate that Cyberpunk 2077’s physical release will be an actual cart with the game on it, none of this “Game-Key Card” nonsense. But before I shell out another $70 for a game I already own elsewhere just so I have something else to play on my shiny new console, I want to be sure I actually feel Night City calling to me. There was some mystery and poetry to be found on its streets at launch, but also a lot I didn’t care for, and I don’t just mean glitches and other technical issues. Still, I’m open to being seduced by the game after all these years, and I think revisiting a game years later can often be an immensely fascinating and rewarding experience. So if you’re looking for me this weekend, look no further than The Afterlife. — Carolyn Petit Previous SlideNext Slide3 / 8List slidesElden Ring NightreignList slidesElden Ring NightreignImage: FromSoftwarePlay it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PCs (Steam Deck: Playable)Current goal: Defeat the Gaping JawI’m prepping for a gaming all-nighter with the boys tonight. I somehow convinced my Rocket League crew to go all-in on Elden Ring Nightreign, and after trying to insulate them as much as possible from all of the current criticisms swirling around about FromSoftware’s messy new multiplayer experiment, they have it installed and ready to go. It’s the first time in years we’ve managed to get everyone together for a new multiplayer launch. Even though I’ve been playing the game for review prior to release I’m excited to finally experience the magic of navigating its battle-royale-infused Elden Ring horrors with the proper level of laughter, anguish, and friendly negging. Despite its flaws, I feel an incredible rush every time I drop into a new Nightreign run, and the boss fights have the aura at times of mini-raids. I can’t wait to play it all weekend. I will not let my crew abandon Limveld before our work is done. — Ethan GachPrevious SlideNext Slide4 / 8List slidesBalatroList slidesBalatroImage: LocalThunkPlay it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, Windows PCs (Steam Deck: “Verified”), MobileCurrent goal: Break 1 billion in a single handI’ve fallen back into Balatro hard. Almost every night this week I’ve snuck in a run or two before bed. Encouraged by the card-playing prowess of PS5 architect Mark Cerny I’ve decided to try to go for the platinum trophy now that it’s free with PS Plus. Progress has been decent so far. I’ve been able to complete most decks in a single run, though Ante 12 when things quickly scale into the hundreds of millions continues to elude me. Things were going decent the other night when I got a deck full of Kings, a Barron Joker that gives 1.5X for each one held, and the Blueprint Joker that mimics that effect a second time. Unfortunately, some critical miss plays left me unable to break 500,000,000 for the small blind. But the constant churn of new unlocks and achievements has me, for now at least, feeling buoyed by my obsession. — Ethan GachPrevious SlideNext Slide5 / 8List slidesProject Warlock IIList slidesProject Warlock IIImage: Buckshot SoftwarePlay it on: Windows PCs (Steam Deck: “Playable”)Current goal: Complete more levels and get more powerfulProject Warlock II is a boomer shooter that recently left early access. It is also a retro-inspired FPS that feels like it’s always terrified that you might get bored and stop playing. So the fast-paced shooter is filled with weapons to find, achievements to earn, collectibles, big fights, power-ups, stats to boost, perks to unlock, challenges to complete, things to upgrade, and much more. And I’m here for it. The combat in Warlock is punchy and satisfying, while moving around levels feels smooth and buttery. There’s something really wonderful about killing a giant horde of imps and skeletons using two super shotguns. Or mowing down a giant pig demon with a machine gun. I’m not sure Project Warlock II is going to land on my game of the year list, but I’m diggin’ it. – Zack Zwiezen Previous SlideNext Slide6 / 8List slidesBorderlands 3List slidesBorderlands 3Image: Gearbox SoftwarePlay it on: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Windows PCs (Steam Deck: Playable)Current goal: Replay the campaign ahead of Borderlands 4Yeah, yeah, I know some people don’t like Borderlands 3 as much as 2, but I’m not one of those people. I agree that 2’s Handsome Jack is a much better villain, but I prefer basically everything else in Borderlands 3 over the earlier sequel. Combat is better, moving around the world feels nicer, and the larger levels and various planets provide perfect places to explore and loot. My wife and I have jumped back in and are running through the game with new characters ahead of Borderlands 4’s arrival. I’m curious to see how many of the jokes land, and I will be very curious to see how the upcoming sequel compares. If we finish this entry with enough time, we might go back and play Pre-Sequel, which is one of my favorite games in the series. — Zack Zwiezen Previous SlideNext Slide7 / 8List slidesThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion RemasteredList slidesThe Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion RemasteredDid you know the horses smile??Screenshot: Bethesda / Claire Jackson / KotakuPlay it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PCs (Steam Deck: “Verified”)Current goal: Avoid violenceYou know, the problem I have with Bethesda games is that I usually take the premise of “play however you want” a bit further than the games are actually designed to support. Such was the case when I tried to resist violence in Starfield. While I enjoy rolling the dice on these games by developing a unique character concept and trying to see just where adhering to it will take me, the games are typically designed in favor of violent playthroughs, which means my less violently inclined characters have a really rough time. It’s a shame when an open-world game promises so much, but then it turns out I can’t just chill there and experience things other than swinging swords and using explosive spells.Apparently not having learned my lesson, I’m gonna try for yet another low-combat Bethesda run, this time in Oblivion, knowing full well that violence will show up whether I want it to or not. Maybe it’ll work in a narratively satisfying way for me this time around. Whether I’ll pivot my existing Oblivion character to this or just make a new one, I’m not sure, but the plan is to roleplay as either an alchemist or some kind of really obsessed botanist. I just wanna stroll through these fantasy landscapes, collecting herbs that I’ll use to brew potions and sometimes even sell back at market. But I’m sure there’ll be some damn dog, or fish, or demon from hell that’ll show up to wreck my day. Maybe I’ll have enough potions to make it through the forests alive. In any case, as frustrating as it can be, that challenge of trying to resist what a game wants me to do often makes it worth playing all on its own. — Claire JacksonAnd that wraps our picks. Happy gaming!

From large language models (LLMs) to reasoning agents, today’s AI tools bring unprecedented computational demands. Trillion-parameter models, workloads running on-device, and swarms of agents collaborating to complete tasks all require a new paradigm of computing to become truly seamless and ubiquitous. First, technical progress in hardware and silicon design is critical to pushing the boundaries of compute. Second, advances in machine learning (ML) allow AI systems to achieve increased efficiency with smaller computational demands. Finally, the integration, orchestration, and adoption of AI into applications, devices, and systems is crucial to delivering tangible impact and value. Silicon’s mid-life crisis AI has evolved from classical ML to deep learning to generative AI. The most recent chapter, which took AI mainstream, hinges on two phases—training and inference—that are data and energy-intensive in terms of computation, data movement, and cooling. At the same time, Moore’s Law, which determines that the number of transistors on a chip doubles every two years, is reaching a physical and economic plateau. For the last 40 years, silicon chips and digital technology have nudged each other forward—every step ahead in processing capability frees the imagination of innovators to envision new products, which require yet more power to run. That is happening at light speed in the AI age. As models become more readily available, deployment at scale puts the spotlight on inference and the application of trained models for everyday use cases. This transition requires the appropriate hardware to handle inference tasks efficiently. Central processing units (CPUs) have managed general computing tasks for decades, but the broad adoption of ML introduced computational demands that stretched the capabilities of traditional CPUs. This has led to the adoption of graphics processing units (GPUs) and other accelerator chips for training complex neural networks, due to their parallel execution capabilities and high memory bandwidth that allow large-scale mathematical operations to be processed efficiently. But CPUs are already the most widely deployed and can be companions to processors like GPUs and tensor processing units (TPUs). AI developers are also hesitant to adapt software to fit specialized or bespoke hardware, and they favor the consistency and ubiquity of CPUs. Chip designers are unlocking performance gains through optimized software tooling, adding novel processing features and data types specifically to serve ML workloads, integrating specialized units and accelerators, and advancing silicon chip innovations, including custom silicon. AI itself is a helpful aid for chip design, creating a positive feedback loop in which AI helps optimize the chips that it needs to run. These enhancements and strong software support mean modern CPUs are a good choice to handle a range of inference tasks. Beyond silicon-based processors, disruptive technologies are emerging to address growing AI compute and data demands. The unicorn start-up Lightmatter, for instance, introduced photonic computing solutions that use light for data transmission to generate significant improvements in speed and energy efficiency. Quantum computing represents another promising area in AI hardware. While still years or even decades away, the integration of quantum computing with AI could further transform fields like drug discovery and genomics. Understanding models and paradigms The developments in ML theories and network architectures have significantly enhanced the efficiency and capabilities of AI models. Today, the industry is moving from monolithic models to agent-based systems characterized by smaller, specialized models that work together to complete tasks more efficiently at the edge—on devices like smartphones or modern vehicles. This allows them to extract increased performance gains, like faster model response times, from the same or even less compute. Researchers have developed techniques, including few-shot learning, to train AI models using smaller datasets and fewer training iterations. AI systems can learn new tasks from a limited number of examples to reduce dependency on large datasets and lower energy demands. Optimization techniques like quantization, which lower the memory requirements by selectively reducing precision, are helping reduce model sizes without sacrificing performance.  New system architectures, like retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), have streamlined data access during both training and inference to reduce computational costs and overhead. The DeepSeek R1, an open source LLM, is a compelling example of how more output can be extracted using the same hardware. By applying reinforcement learning techniques in novel ways, R1 has achieved advanced reasoning capabilities while using far fewer computational resources in some contexts. The integration of heterogeneous computing architectures, which combine various processing units like CPUs, GPUs, and specialized accelerators, has further optimized AI model performance. This approach allows for the efficient distribution of workloads across different hardware components to optimize computational throughput and energy efficiency based on the use case. Orchestrating AI As AI becomes an ambient capability humming in the background of many tasks and workflows, agents are taking charge and making decisions in real-world scenarios. These range from customer support to edge use cases, where multiple agents coordinate and handle localized tasks across devices. With AI increasingly used in daily life, the role of user experiences becomes critical for mass adoption. Features like predictive text in touch keyboards, and adaptive gearboxes in vehicles, offer glimpses of AI as a vital enabler to improve technology interactions for users. Edge processing is also accelerating the diffusion of AI into everyday applications, bringing computational capabilities closer to the source of data generation. Smart cameras, autonomous vehicles, and wearable technology now process information locally to reduce latency and improve efficiency. Advances in CPU design and energy-efficient chips have made it feasible to perform complex AI tasks on devices with limited power resources. This shift toward heterogeneous compute enhances the development of ambient intelligence, where interconnected devices create responsive environments that adapt to user needs. Seamless AI naturally requires common standards, frameworks, and platforms to bring the industry together. Contemporary AI brings new risks. For instance, by adding more complex software and personalized experiences to consumer devices, it expands the attack surface for hackers, requiring stronger security at both the software and silicon levels, including cryptographic safeguards and transforming the trust model of compute environments. More than 70% of respondents to a 2024 DarkTrace survey reported that AI-powered cyber threats significantly impact their organizations, while 60% say their organizations are not adequately prepared to defend against AI-powered attacks. Collaboration is essential to forging common frameworks. Universities contribute foundational research, companies apply findings to develop practical solutions, and governments establish policies for ethical and responsible deployment. Organizations like Anthropic are setting industry standards by introducing frameworks, such as the Model Context Protocol, to unify the way developers connect AI systems with data. Arm is another leader in driving standards-based and open source initiatives, including ecosystem development to accelerate and harmonize the chiplet market, where chips are stacked together through common frameworks and standards. Arm also helps optimize open source AI frameworks and models for inference on the Arm compute platform, without needing customized tuning.  How far AI goes to becoming a general-purpose technology, like electricity or semiconductors, is being shaped by technical decisions taken today. Hardware-agnostic platforms, standards-based approaches, and continued incremental improvements to critical workhorses like CPUs, all help deliver the promise of AI as a seamless and silent capability for individuals and businesses alike. Open source contributions are also helpful in allowing a broader range of stakeholders to participate in AI advances. By sharing tools and knowledge, the community can cultivate innovation and help ensure that the benefits of AI are accessible to everyone, everywhere. Learn more about Arm’s approach to enabling AI everywhere. This content was produced by Insights, the custom content arm of MIT Technology Review. It was not written by MIT Technology Review’s editorial staff. This content was researched, designed, and written entirely by human writers, editors, analysts, and illustrators. This includes the writing of surveys and collection of data for surveys. AI tools that may have been used were limited to secondary production processes that passed thorough human review.