PC Gaming
Ongoing coverage on PC Gaming.
Latest coverage
You can save £100 on this Ryzen Z2 Extreme-powered MSI Claw A8 handheld from Cyberpower
Cyberpower is offering a £100 discount on the MSI Claw A8 handheld PC, reducing its price to £749. This model features AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip, 24GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and an 8-inch 1920x1200 IPS touchscreen. While capable of running demanding games at lower settings, it offers a more affordable entry point for high-end handheld gaming.
Do You Actually Need a 144Hz Monitor for Casual Gaming? (2026)
This article discusses whether a 144Hz monitor is necessary for casual gaming in 2026. While not essential for slower-paced single-player titles, a higher refresh rate offers a noticeable improvement in smoothness and responsiveness, especially for fast-paced multiplayer games. The author argues that the decreasing cost of 144Hz monitors makes them a worthwhile quality-of-life upgrade for most PC gamers, provided their hardware can support the higher frame rates.
'Hardcore PC enthusiasts are significantly underestimating the importance of software to the PC experience, like really, really seriously,' says Intel Enthusiast VP
Intel's Enthusiast Channel VP Robert Hallock believes PC gamers, especially enthusiasts, are significantly underestimating the importance of software to the overall PC experience. He argues that focusing solely on hardware overlooks potential performance gains achievable through better software optimization and CPU scheduling, which can account for 10-30% of performance.
Valve Wants To Know If You Disagree With Steam Deck Verified Ratings
Valve has introduced new tools for developers and players to better assess Steam Deck Verified ratings. These tools aim to collect performance data and allow users to dispute a game's certification, addressing discrepancies between official ratings and actual performance on the portable device.
"I don't think that's a good strategy for a platform holder like PlayStation," Former Sony exec opens up about the idea of PS5 games coming to PC on day one
Former Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida shared his perspective on PlayStation's strategy regarding PC releases, stating that day-one launches for triple-A titles might not be ideal for a platform holder like PlayStation. He noted that while Sony has successfully brought games like Horizon: Zero Dawn and Helldivers 2 to PC after console exclusivity, he is skeptical of an Xbox-like day-and-date release model.
Xbox ska "tänka om" angående exklusiviteter
Xbox is reevaluating its approach to game exclusivity, with new head Asha Sharma indicating a need to "rethink" the strategy. While not all Xbox games will become multiplatform, the company aims to strengthen its PC presence and provide better tools for developers and publishers.
Heroic Games Launcher Gets Steam Deck Overhaul With Big Picture Mode
The Heroic Games Launcher has received a significant update for Steam Deck users, introducing a new fullscreen interface that mimics Steam's Big Picture Mode. This overhaul aims to improve usability for handheld and couch gaming, alongside new features like GOG achievements, a deals page, an improved Wine manager, and SteamGridDB integration.
PC Gamers Ditch PS5 for Steam Big Picture Console Setup
PC gamers are increasingly opting for Steam Big Picture mode as a viable alternative to traditional consoles like the PlayStation 5. This trend is driven by the PC's superior hardware capabilities, extensive game library, modding support, and greater customization options, all at a comparable or better long-term value proposition compared to console gaming.
Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced PC Requirements Revealed - Check If Your Rig Is Seaworthy
Ubisoft has revealed the PC requirements for Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced, a remake of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, set to release on July 9. The game will be available on PC and consoles, with the PC version offering varying requirements for 1080p, 2K, and 4K resolutions. Minimum requirements include 65GB of storage, while 4K 60fps gameplay will necessitate high-end hardware like an Nvidia 4090 GPU.
Best graphics cards in 2026: These are the GPUs worth spending money in right now
This guide recommends the best graphics cards available in 2026, focusing on value and performance for PC gamers. It highlights the AMD Radeon RX 9070 as the best overall option for 1440p gaming, the RX 9060 XT for value, the Nvidia RTX 5050 for budget builds, the RX 9070 XT for mid-range, and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 for high-end performance. The article also discusses current GPU pricing trends and provides detailed performance benchmarks.
Releasing PlayStation games day one on PC isn't "a good strategy" for its AAA titles, former Sony head says, but he hasn't seen proof its abandoning the platform altogether
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida believes releasing Sony's AAA titles day-one on PC is not a good strategy for a platform holder. While he hasn't seen proof of Sony abandoning PC releases, he suggests that launching games on PC after a couple of years helps recoup investment and fund new projects.
Leak suggests solid pricing for Steam Machine, but even that might be too high to save it
A leak suggests Valve is targeting a $650 to $750 price range for the Steam Machine, influenced by fluctuating RAM prices and the AI market. This pricing places it competitively against the PlayStation 5 Slim but potentially above other consoles and custom PCs, raising concerns about its market viability. The article speculates that Valve should instead focus on iterating the Steam Deck.
I asked you lot one of the most important PC gaming questions, and only 37% got it right
A poll of PC Gamer readers revealed that only 37% keep their gaming PCs on their desk, with a significant portion placing them on the floor. The article also touches on reader usage of AI technologies like DLSS and FSR, noting that many do not use them.
£520 for this Asus Prime RTX 5070 GPU and a free copy of Pragmata feels like a solid deal at the moment
A deal offers the Asus Prime RTX 5070 graphics card for £520, including a free copy of Pragmata. While performance is similar to the previous generation's RTX 4070 Super, the RTX 5070 features improved DLSS 4 technology with Multi-Frame Generation. This makes it a strong mid-range upgrade option for 1440p PC gaming in the current market.
New DDR5 HUDIMMs Cut Gaming Performance by 50% in Single Channel
New DDR5 HUDIMMs (Hybrid Unbuffered DIMMs) are being introduced as a budget-friendly option but come with a significant drawback: a 50% performance reduction in single-channel configurations due to a compromised internal architecture. While using two HUDIMMs restores performance to that of a single standard DDR5 stick, this creates a complex value proposition for budget builders, especially considering potential upgrade limitations and the decreasing cost of regular DDR5 memory.
We still have no word about the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, but a Steam Controller unboxing video has emerged that could point to Valve's new gamepad launching soon
A leaked unboxing video for Valve's Steam Controller, discovered on SteamDB, suggests the gamepad may launch soon, despite ongoing delays for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR headset. Valve has faced manufacturing and pricing issues for its new hardware, originally slated for an early 2026 release.
Morning Postmortems/Retrospectives
Valve's Steam Deck has significantly impacted PC game development, enabling developers to consider new design approaches. A retrospective video celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Metal Slug franchise.
Dave Oshry, CEO of New Blood Interactive, will never uninstall Doom from his PC, and has over 488 hours in Fallout 76:…
New Blood Interactive CEO Dave Oshry discusses his PC gaming habits, highlighting Doom as a game he'll never uninstall and Fallout 76 as the game he has the most hours in. He shares his passion for CRPGs and FPS games, and details upcoming updates for titles like Fallen Aces and Gloomwood.
Steam’s Hidden Chrome Extension Support Changes Everything
Valve's Steam client, built on the Chromium engine, now supports Chrome Web Store extensions, allowing users to enhance their experience with tools like SteamDB and 'Is It On Game Pass'. This hidden functionality, while unofficial, significantly expands Steam's capabilities beyond a simple game launcher, turning it into a more integrated web browser. Users are advised to exercise caution and stick to trusted extensions due to potential security and performance implications.
Help! The Millennium Bug made all the robots in my mansion go berserk, and only Homer Simpson can save the day
Y2K: The Game is a peculiar PC adventure released in 1999 that tasks players with fixing the Millennium Bug in a robotics genius's mansion. Despite a nonsensical premise and a slow protagonist, the game features detailed environments, strong voice acting, and an exceptionally accomplished soundtrack. The article reflects on the game's charm and the broader anxieties surrounding the Y2K bug at the time.
