Epomaker Reveals Galaxy75 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard with Aluminium Case and VIA Support
Wed, 14 Oct 2026
Epomaker has officially confirmed that it is planning to launch a 75% version of its popular Galaxy series mechanical keyboards, building on the Galaxy100, Galaxy100 Lite, Galaxy80, Galaxy70, and Galaxy68. Although pricing is yet to be confirmed, the keyboard was shown off in a recent Epomaker livestream, and there is already a product page for it on the Epomaker online store, denoting key specs and features. Speculation would put the Galaxy75 somewhere around the $80-100 price point, since the Galaxy68 and Galaxy70 are priced at $99.99 on Epomaker's website and Amazon. According to the site, the Galaxy75 will be available only with Epomaker's Creamy Jade linear switches.
Unlike the Galaxy70 and Galaxy68, the Galaxy75 follows a more traditional, no-frills 75% layout, replete with a key in the F13 position and a full four-key navigation column on the right edge of the keyboard. The construction is also fairly standard, with an aluminium chassis, polycarbonate switch plate, and five layers of sound-damping foam, all of which Epomaker says delivers a "dense thock" sound signature. The case is also gasket mounted, and the keyboard has two aesthetic touches in the sparkle in what appears to be an electrophoretic coating and in the keycap sets. The Galaxy75 will launch in three colors, each of which has a matching Cherry profile keycap set: the black keyboard comes with black and orange dye-sublimated keycaps with cityscape printing, and the lavender and pink versions come with a mix of dye-sublimated solid PBT keycaps with accent keycaps featuring opaque ABS under a clear PC layer with UV-printed legends.
Unlike the Galaxy70 and Galaxy68, the Galaxy75 follows a more traditional, no-frills 75% layout, replete with a key in the F13 position and a full four-key navigation column on the right edge of the keyboard. The construction is also fairly standard, with an aluminium chassis, polycarbonate switch plate, and five layers of sound-damping foam, all of which Epomaker says delivers a "dense thock" sound signature. The case is also gasket mounted, and the keyboard has two aesthetic touches in the sparkle in what appears to be an electrophoretic coating and in the keycap sets. The Galaxy75 will launch in three colors, each of which has a matching Cherry profile keycap set: the black keyboard comes with black and orange dye-sublimated keycaps with cityscape printing, and the lavender and pink versions come with a mix of dye-sublimated solid PBT keycaps with accent keycaps featuring opaque ABS under a clear PC layer with UV-printed legends.
New sales data shared by The Game Business suggests physical PS5 games still have plenty of buyers. According to Ampere Analysis, 35% of worldwide sales of Marvel's Wolverine in September came from boxed copies. Ampere estimates the game sold around 2.16 million copies in its launch month, which would put physical sales at roughly 756,000. Interestingly, Europe leaned even harder towards discs, with GSD data showing 51% of sales there coming from the boxed version. The split varies a lot by country, though. Two thirds of Wolverine's UK sales were digital, while in France more than two thirds were physical. Wolverine wasn't alone either, as over 45% of Silent Hill: Townfall sales were boxed, while The Blood of Dawnwalker on PS5 and Onimusha came in at 36% and 30%, respectively.
These numbers are interesting because Sony plans to stop producing discs for new PlayStation games from January 2028, and earlier data from Alinea Analytics pointed in a similar direction for Sony's biggest exclusives. Of course, these are estimates, and actual data available to Sony may be different. Moreover, these patterns can be affected heavily by factors such as pricing and availability. There have also been rumors that Sony could push its digital-only plans back, while Microsoft is asking Xbox Insiders whether its next console should support discs. For now, though, Sony's own messaging still points to a January 2028 cutoff.
These numbers are interesting because Sony plans to stop producing discs for new PlayStation games from January 2028, and earlier data from Alinea Analytics pointed in a similar direction for Sony's biggest exclusives. Of course, these are estimates, and actual data available to Sony may be different. Moreover, these patterns can be affected heavily by factors such as pricing and availability. There have also been rumors that Sony could push its digital-only plans back, while Microsoft is asking Xbox Insiders whether its next console should support discs. For now, though, Sony's own messaging still points to a January 2028 cutoff.
ATK Introduces the Blazing Sky Phantom, a 44g Carbon-Fiber Wireless Gaming Mouse With Dual 8K Polling
Wed, 14 Oct 2026
ATK GEAR has expanded its Blazing Sky mouse lineup with the new ATK Blazing Sky Phantom Hollow Carbon Fiber Composite Wireless Gaming Mouse, a lightweight esports-focused model built around a composite carbon-fiber shell, an open cutout structure, and ATK's latest in-house wireless performance platform. The Phantom is aimed at competitive FPS players who want a small-to-medium symmetrical shape, low click latency, and a high-end sensor package without moving into an oversized chassis.
The Phantom is available through ATK's official store.
The Phantom is available through ATK's official store.
Sony's "Midnight Black" PS5 Digital Edition Launches November 19, Exclusive to Japan
Wed, 14 Oct 2026
Sony has announced a Midnight Black version of its Japan-only PS5 Digital Edition through the Japanese PlayStation Blog, and it goes on sale on November 19 for ¥55,000 (roughly $350) including tax. That's the same day GTA 6 launches, and Sony mentions the game right alongside the console in its announcement. Pre-orders open on October 20 at PlayStation retailers and online stores in Japan. The new model, CFI-2200B02S, comes with the same catch as the white Japan-only version from last November: the system language is locked to Japanese, and the console only works with PlayStation accounts registered to Japan. Other than that, it's a regular PS5 Digital Edition with an 825 GB SSD. A matching Midnight Black disc drive also launches on November 19 for ¥11,980 (about $76).
The pricing is the more interesting part. When Sony raised PS5 prices worldwide in April, the Japan-only model stayed at ¥55,000 (~$350), while the standard Digital Edition in Japan jumped to ¥89,980 (~$570). In the US, the Digital Edition now sells for $599.99, so the region lock seems to be there mostly to stop these units from being exported. Sony also used the announcement to repeat that new PlayStation games will be digital only from January 2028. That's a slightly awkward message to pair with a brand-new disc drive, especially since physical copies still bring in a sizeable share of revenue for its biggest exclusives. There's no word about a release outside Japan, and with US console prices sitting at record highs, it's reasonable to expect that this cheaper black PS5 stays a Japan-only affair.
The pricing is the more interesting part. When Sony raised PS5 prices worldwide in April, the Japan-only model stayed at ¥55,000 (~$350), while the standard Digital Edition in Japan jumped to ¥89,980 (~$570). In the US, the Digital Edition now sells for $599.99, so the region lock seems to be there mostly to stop these units from being exported. Sony also used the announcement to repeat that new PlayStation games will be digital only from January 2028. That's a slightly awkward message to pair with a brand-new disc drive, especially since physical copies still bring in a sizeable share of revenue for its biggest exclusives. There's no word about a release outside Japan, and with US console prices sitting at record highs, it's reasonable to expect that this cheaper black PS5 stays a Japan-only affair.
Cooler Master GPU Shield Gets Lower Price and Warranty Period in EU
Wed, 14 Oct 2026
A month after Cooler Master launched its GPU Shield 12v-2×6 power cable monitoring solution in the US, it has finally released the safety accessory in the EU, where it received a €29.99 price tag—compared to $49.99 in the US.
Along with the lower price, however, Cooler Master has also reduced the warranty period on the GPU Shield adaptor cable from three years in the US and China to just two years in the EU—just barely covering the minimum threshold for legally mandated warranties in the EU, but still longer than the one-year warranty granted for the international version of the GPU Shield. The GPU Shield adaptor cable is available via Cooler Master directly, and it does not appear to be available on sites like Amazon just yet.
Along with the lower price, however, Cooler Master has also reduced the warranty period on the GPU Shield adaptor cable from three years in the US and China to just two years in the EU—just barely covering the minimum threshold for legally mandated warranties in the EU, but still longer than the one-year warranty granted for the international version of the GPU Shield. The GPU Shield adaptor cable is available via Cooler Master directly, and it does not appear to be available on sites like Amazon just yet.
Most ad blockers protect one browser on one device, and covering a whole household usually means paying for several subscriptions. An AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription covers up to 9 devices, and it's on sale for $14.97 (reg. $169.99) during Deal Days.
AdGuard removes banners, pop-ups, and video ads, so pages load without the clutter. A separate privacy module hides your data from trackers and activity analyzers. AdGuard also protects against malware and phishing websites. Parental controls let you restrict adult and inappropriate content on your kids' devices. One plan works on Windows 7 and later, macOS 10.15 and later, iOS 12 and later, and Android 7 and later, so a household with a mix of PCs, Macs, and phones can share it.
AdGuard removes banners, pop-ups, and video ads, so pages load without the clutter. A separate privacy module hides your data from trackers and activity analyzers. AdGuard also protects against malware and phishing websites. Parental controls let you restrict adult and inappropriate content on your kids' devices. One plan works on Windows 7 and later, macOS 10.15 and later, iOS 12 and later, and Android 7 and later, so a household with a mix of PCs, Macs, and phones can share it.
HP EliteBoard G2a Keyboard Computer Launches with Eyewatering Price and AMD Ryzen AI 400 APUs
Tue, 13 Oct 2026
HP revealed the EliteBoard G2a keyboard PC at CES 2026, promising "next-generation local AI power in a keyboard-sized form factor." Now, 10 months later, HP has released the updated EliteBoard G2a, revealing pricing and some of the keyboard and underlying PC specs, in the process. The G2a features either the updated AMD Ryzen AI 7 Pro 450 APU or its smaller Ryzen AI 5 Pro 435 counterpart. The cheapest version of the HP EliteBoard G2a, which packs a Ryzen AI 5 Pro, 16 GB of DDR5-5600 memory, and 512 GB of PCIe Gen 5 SSD storage, comes in at $3,028, while the SKU with the Ryzen AI 7 Pro 450 APU paired with 32 GB of memory and a 512 GB SSD, comes in at $4,167.
The small form factor PC is capable of drawing 65 W over USB Power Delivery, and the only I/O it features is a single USB4 port and a single USB Type-C 10 Gbps port. The EliteBoard G2a also features built-in dual speakers and comes bundled with an HP 675M wireless mouse. The keyboard component of the mini PC is a membrane keyboard, not mechanical, and it follows what appears to be an 1800 layout, and it has white backlighting. Fortunately, the EliteBoard G2a uses SODIMM RAM, so it's upgradeable in the event that you want 32 GB of RAM but don't want to pay HP's upgrade cost.
The small form factor PC is capable of drawing 65 W over USB Power Delivery, and the only I/O it features is a single USB4 port and a single USB Type-C 10 Gbps port. The EliteBoard G2a also features built-in dual speakers and comes bundled with an HP 675M wireless mouse. The keyboard component of the mini PC is a membrane keyboard, not mechanical, and it follows what appears to be an 1800 layout, and it has white backlighting. Fortunately, the EliteBoard G2a uses SODIMM RAM, so it's upgradeable in the event that you want 32 GB of RAM but don't want to pay HP's upgrade cost.
Xbox Responds to AI-Powered Game Mods and Projects with "Xbox Labs"
Tue, 13 Oct 2026
In the weeks leading up to publication, a number of software engineers and modders have decompiled and recompiled games, unlocked mods, and accelerated game emulation, resulting in everything from a browser-based Fallout: New York game to full PlayStation 5 game ports using AnyPS5. It seems as though Microsoft has now taken notice of the uptick in these AI-accelerated game mods and unofficial port projects and launched Xbox Labs in response.
In a recent email shared by Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma, she explains that the rapidly accelerating pace of game and mod development that has been a result of these AI "experiments challenge long-held assumptions about our industry," and that "it is easy to see the possibilities in making great games easier to access, giving old games new life and allowing more players to become creators and co-creators." The motivation behind Xbox Labs appears to be to get out ahead of these AI projects and "turn emerging ideas into things our players and developers can experience."
In a recent email shared by Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma, she explains that the rapidly accelerating pace of game and mod development that has been a result of these AI "experiments challenge long-held assumptions about our industry," and that "it is easy to see the possibilities in making great games easier to access, giving old games new life and allowing more players to become creators and co-creators." The motivation behind Xbox Labs appears to be to get out ahead of these AI projects and "turn emerging ideas into things our players and developers can experience."
Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 Is Only $29.97
Tue, 13 Oct 2026
Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 is currently available for $29.97 (MSRP $499.99) through Oct. 11. The 64-bit integrated development environment combines cross-platform development capabilities with AI-assisted coding, collaboration tools, and support for demanding development workloads.
Visual Studio 2026 supports several approaches to application development. Developers can use.NET MAUI to build cross-platform mobile and desktop applications or Blazor to create web interfaces in C#. The IDE also supports building, debugging, and testing.NET and C++ applications targeting Windows, Linux, and containers.
Hot Reload allows developers to apply code changes to.NET and C++ applications while they're running. Visual Studio also integrates with Azure, GitHub, and other DevOps workflows.
Visual Studio 2026 supports several approaches to application development. Developers can use.NET MAUI to build cross-platform mobile and desktop applications or Blazor to create web interfaces in C#. The IDE also supports building, debugging, and testing.NET and C++ applications targeting Windows, Linux, and containers.
Hot Reload allows developers to apply code changes to.NET and C++ applications while they're running. Visual Studio also integrates with Azure, GitHub, and other DevOps workflows.
An open-source app called DroidDeck is letting Snapdragon-powered Android devices run Valve's Steam client and Windows PC games on the device itself, with no streaming from a PC or the cloud involved. As VideoCardz reports, YouTuber ETA Prime tested it on a RedMagic 11 Pro with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and 16 GB of memory, where Cyberpunk 2077 ran at around 60 FPS on medium settings. Skyrim Special Edition hit a similar figure at 720p, while Hogwarts Legacy was tougher on the phone and sat around 40 FPS even with lower settings and FSR.
Other solutions like Steam Link stream games from another PC, whereas DroidDeck runs them on the device itself. It loads Valve's ARM64 Linux Steam client in Big Picture mode as a regular Android app, and Windows games go through Valve's ARM64 Proton with x86 translation. Projects like Armada instead replace Android with SteamOS entirely, and DroidDeck needs neither that nor root access. It also handles GPU driver switching, AMD FSR and Snapdragon GSR upscaling, and frame generation through Lossless Scaling.
Other solutions like Steam Link stream games from another PC, whereas DroidDeck runs them on the device itself. It loads Valve's ARM64 Linux Steam client in Big Picture mode as a regular Android app, and Windows games go through Valve's ARM64 Proton with x86 translation. Projects like Armada instead replace Android with SteamOS entirely, and DroidDeck needs neither that nor root access. It also handles GPU driver switching, AMD FSR and Snapdragon GSR upscaling, and frame generation through Lossless Scaling.
Despite launching in early access in 2013, RimWorld's developer, Ludeon Studios has just started a switch away from the Unity game engine to its own in-house Waylith engine with update 1.7. In a new blog post, the developer notes that the switch away from Unity could result in performance improvements of "2-4×," while claiming an identical gameplay experience.
In the studio's in-house testing, game load time, startup time, world and map generation, and general tick-per-second performance all saw significant performance improvements. A stress test with a "late game colony" saw a performance improvement of 2.2×, although the studio didn't exactly share test parameters beyond that. Load times of a mod pack with 1,500 mods also improved from 14 minutes to 6 minutes. The studio notes that individual performance improvements on the new engine will depend on PC specs, but those are promising improvements if scaling holds up.
In the studio's in-house testing, game load time, startup time, world and map generation, and general tick-per-second performance all saw significant performance improvements. A stress test with a "late game colony" saw a performance improvement of 2.2×, although the studio didn't exactly share test parameters beyond that. Load times of a mod pack with 1,500 mods also improved from 14 minutes to 6 minutes. The studio notes that individual performance improvements on the new engine will depend on PC specs, but those are promising improvements if scaling holds up.
