Update (1 October 2025) – Samsung Malaysia has reached out to us with an official statement. Statement per below:
The safety of customers is our top priority. This is an extremely rare case, and we are in direct contact with Mr. Rotar to retrieve the product and learn about the concerns.
Original Article published on September 30, 2025
Samsung’s entrance into the smart ring market with the Galaxy Ring was celebrated as a move toward unobtrusive health tracking. However, a recent and alarming incident involving a battery malfunction has highlighted a unique safety concern for this new category of wearables, one that required emergency medical intervention and caused significant disruption to the user’s travel plans.
Source: @ZONEofTECH
The incident, first reported by tech creator Daniel Rotar of ZoneofTech, details how the lithium-ion battery within his Samsung Galaxy Ring began to swell while he was wearing it. The device, which is designed to fit snugly, quickly tightened around his finger as the internal battery expanded, causing pain and making it impossible for him to remove the wearable himself. Photos shared by Rotar showed the inner part of the ring visibly bulging and separating from the case, pushing against his finger.
The situation escalated when Rotar attempted to board a flight from Hawaii. Due to the swelling and the nature of the lithium-ion battery, he was denied boarding by airport staff over concerns that the device could pose a fire hazard during the flight. With the ring stuck and causing increasing discomfort, Rotar was forced to seek emergency medical attention and missed his scheduled flight.
Update:
– I was denied boarding due to this (been travelling for ~47h straight so this is really nice 🙃). Need to pay for a hotel for the night now and get back home tomorrow👌
At the hospital, doctors successfully removed the ring. The process involved using ice to reduce the swelling in his finger, combined with a medical lubricant to gently slide the device off. Attempts made earlier at the airport to use soap and hand cream had reportedly worsened the situation, causing the swelling to increase. Images of the ring after its removal showed the device’s internal structure visibly damaged and distorted. The outer part of the ring, often made of durable materials like titanium, is rigid and does not expand, meaning any battery swelling directs all pressure inward, directly onto the wearer’s finger. This is a distinct risk factor for smart rings compared to watches or phones, where a swelling battery might only alter the shape of the casing.
In a statement provided to the media, Samsung acknowledged the issue, stating that the safety of their customers is a top priority and that they are in direct contact with the user to learn more. The company described such experiences as “extremely rare” and offered generic advice for removal, such as using soap and water or submerging the hand in cold water. Rotar, who had been using the Galaxy Ring since January 2025, surmised that factors such as the intense heat in Hawaii, exposure to saltwater, or an already faulty battery might have contributed to the failure. This incident, although reported as isolated, has sparked wider concerns about the durability of slim lithium-ion batteries under real-world conditions and the unique safety risks posed by wearables designed to fit snugly around a user’s finger.
Following Malaysian Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo’s call to action to translate Malaysia’s “AI Nation” vision into tangible results, Coursera, a leading global online learning platform, has announced significant new measures to bolster the nation’s workforce readiness. Recognising that over 600,000 Malaysian jobs are projected to be impacted by AI, digitalisation, and the green economy in the next three to five years, Coursera’s initiatives are designed to close critical national skills gaps and support the reskilling agenda.
The measures focus on two core areas: affordability and targeted skill acquisition.
Localised Pricing for More Accessible Upskilling
Coursera is directly addressing the cost barrier to high-quality education by introducing localised pricing, making its high-quality online learning content up to 40% more affordable for Malaysian learners. This financial adjustment ensures that job-relevant skills are more accessible nationwide. For instance, Professional Certificates and Specialisations now start at $29 per month (up to 40% less expensive), while the Coursera Plus Annual subscription is now priced at $239, also representing a 40% reduction in cost.
This commitment to affordability is significant, particularly as Malaysia is cited as one of Coursera’s fastest-growing and most engaged learner markets across the Asia Pacific region. Furthermore, Malaysian learners will continue to have free access to Community Impact Courses that address urgent social needs.
Skill Tracks: The Technical Blueprint for the Future
To solve the complexity of large-scale upskilling, Coursera also announced Skill Tracks, structured, role-based learning paths in high-demand fields like Software and Product, IT, Data, and Generative AI. This initiative directly responds to industry demand, as the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 found that 63% of Malaysian employers see skill gaps as the biggest barrier to business transformation.
Skill Tracks are powered by Coursera’s Career Graph, which utilises millions of labour market data points and a proprietary skills taxonomy to map the relationship between job roles, critical skills, and learning content. This data-informed approach ensures that teams are building the right capabilities at the right time.
Key features of this structured learning path include:
Tailored Learning: Content is sourced from world-class industry leaders and universities, such as Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Yale, and Stanford. Organisations can also customise Skill Tracks with their own content to align with internal workflows and business priorities.
Verifiable Credentials: Learners earn credentials based on real-world assessments, ensuring that skill acquisition is immediately applicable to their job tasks.
Real-time Alignment: The program provides regular tracking of learning progress and content updates to ensure it stays current with evolving market demands and connects skill acquisition directly with business performance.
The launch of these initiatives marks a major step in the national agenda to ensure industries and communities are equipped with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital economy. Coursera Skill Tracks are available to existing customers and can be purchased individually or bundled with the full catalog for new customers.
PlayStation has partnered with Klook, a leading travel and experiences platform in the Asia Pacific, to launch the “Ghost of Yōtei Hokkaido Tour.” This unique collaboration aims to bridge the gap between in-game exploration and real-world travel, allowing fans to step into the actual landscapes that inspired the upcoming action-adventure game, Ghost of Yōtei. This curated journey, available exclusively through Klook, invites gamers and travelers alike to explore Hokkaido through the eyes of the game’s developers.
Source: PlayStation
Ghost of Yōtei is the highly anticipated standalone sequel to 2020’s critically acclaimed Ghost of Tsushima, launching on PlayStation 5 on October 2, 2025. The game is set in 1603 Ezo (modern-day Hokkaido, Japan) and tells a tale of “underdog vengeance”. Players take on the role of Atsu, a wandering mercenary who is driven to hunt down the “Yōtei Six”—a group of renegade samurai who murdered her family. The title features satisfying, fluid katana combat and places a heavy emphasis on intentional environmental effects, from snow-covered mountains to vibrant forests, making the world itself a crucial character in the adventure. The game’s setting, anchored by the majestic Mount Yōtei, was chosen for its dramatic contrast of natural beauty and historical lawlessness.
An Exclusive Curated Journey
The partnership between PlayStation and Klook brings this in-game environment to life by offering a guided tour of the real-world locations that influenced the Sucker Punch development team during their reference trips. This is an exercise in experiential travel, recognizing that gaming has emerged as a significant source of travel inspiration.
The tour features four key destinations that shaped the game’s atmosphere and architecture:
Noboribetsu Date Jidai Mura: A living history village that recreates the Edo-era, offering visitors the chance to try Japanese archery or even dress as a samurai. This location directly inspired the game’s architecture and cultural backdrop.
Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley): This volcanic landscape of steaming vents and jagged cliffs directly inspired the game’s mist-shrouded fortresses and the mythos of Oni domains.
Lake Toya: Known for its tranquil waters and onsen culture, the lake inspired the game’s serene hot spring scenes, offering a moment of peaceful contrast to the brutal combat.
Mount Yōtei: The centerpiece and namesake of the game, this mountain is visible from many points on the tour, cementing its role as the constant symbol of Hokkaido that anchors the game’s scenery.
Booking for the curated day tour via Klook starts today, September 30, 2025, with the tours commencing from November 3, 2025.
Promotions and Giveaways
To celebrate the partnership, the “Experience Ghost of Yōtei Campaign” features two distinct giveaway mechanics:
Campaign Video Giveaway: Participants are instructed to watch the campaign video and follow specific instructions on the PlayStation Blog post for a chance to win one of three prizes: a Ghost of Yōtei Collector’s Edition, a Klook travel voucher (worth USD 100), or exclusive merchandise.
Photo Mode Giveaway: This campaign allows fans to showcase their creativity after the game launches. Users can share their in-game shots that capture the spirit of the Beauty and the Hunt theme for a chance to win the Ghost of Yōtei Collector’s Edition, Limited Edition Peripherals, Klook travel vouchers (worth USD 100), or a merchandise set.
How to Participate
The Ghost of Yōtei campaign provides dual avenues for engagement—one for the traveler and one for the gamer. Fans can book their spot on the curated day tour exclusively via Klook. To participate in the various giveaways, fans should visit the campaign website for full details and follow the official @PlayStationAsia channels on Facebook and Instagram for real-time updates.
Electronic Arts (EA), the global publisher behind franchises like Madden NFL, The Sims, and Battlefield, has officially announced that it will be taken private in a historic $55 billion acquisition. The all-cash deal, led by private equity firm Silver Lake Partners and the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), marks the end of EA’s 36-year run as a publicly traded company.
A Publisher at the Crossroads: Profit vs. Player Trust
The decision to go private comes at a contradictory time for the publisher. Financially, EA possesses one of the industry’s most robust portfolios, with sports franchises providing consistent, high-margin revenue. However, the period leading up to the announcement was characterised by stagnating annual revenues, which hovered between 7.4 billion and 7.6 billion over the past three fiscal years. While the company was profitable, it struggled to achieve the substantial stock growth demanded by public shareholders.
On the other hand, the publisher is facing consistently negative gamer sentiment, stemming from a long-standing perception that EA prioritises revenue generation over delivering quality player experiences. This is primarily due to the company’s aggressive push of the live-service model into franchises best known for narrative and single-player depth.
The Star Wars franchise is a defining example of this conflict. While titles like Jedi: Fallen Order were well-received, the brand’s reputation was severely damaged by the 2017 launch of Star Wars Battlefront II. That title sparked massive consumer outrage by integrating a “pay-to-win” system using randomised loot boxes, forcing a major public overhaul of the monetisation strategy.
More recently, the company fueled further criticism following the release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard. Despite achieving critical acclaim, CEO Andrew Wilson suggested that the game’s financial failure stemmed from a lack of live-service components, ignoring the community’s primary desire for better story execution and deeper role-playing mechanics. Such executive focus on recurring spending, rather than addressing community concerns about core creative vision, has solidified the perception that EA’s decisions are fundamentally misaligned with its audience.
The Technicalities and Strategic Outlook
The acquisition valued the deal at USD$210 per share for EA stockholders, which was a notable 25% premium. The transaction is funded by a combination of equity and approximately USD$20 billion in debt financing.
Andrew Wilson will remain at the helm in his role as CEO, ensuring leadership continuity. The investor consortium, which includes PIF rolling over its existing 9.9% stake, plans to use its global networks and capital to unlock new growth opportunities.
The primary strategic benefit of going private is the freedom to escape quarterly scrutiny and invest through multi-year development cycles. The new ownership plans to accelerate the integration of AI tooling to potentially reduce development costs and enhance content creation. This provides EA with the space to restructure and pursue complex long-term goals.
Ultimately, the privatisation is a massive bet on EA’s intellectual property, but the outcome for gamers remains the central question: will this freedom be leveraged to deliver superior product quality, or will the 20 billion in debt necessitate an even more aggressive monetization strategy?
Narwal has launched three new devices in Malaysia: the Narwal Freo Flow, the Narwal Freo X10 Pro robot vacuums, and the Narwal S30 Wet Dry Vacuum. The latest releases are a culmination of years of research and development back by big names like Sequoia Capital and ByteDance.
Narwal Freo Flow: The Silent Powerhouse
The Narwal Freo Flow is designed for households that value both sophisticated style and uncompromising substance, offering a powerful cleaning companion that minimises user interaction. This robot boasts a sleek, low-profile build, allowing it to effortlessly glide under beds, sofas, and other low furniture—areas where most conventional vacuums simply cannot reach.
Behind its elegant design lies serious power: the Freo Flow delivers a remarkable 22,000 Pa of suction strength, making it highly effective at lifting dirt, crumbs, and pet hair from both carpets and hard floors. However, this strength is balanced with serenity; the unit operates at under 60 dB, which is barely louder than a soft conversation, making it an ideal companion for busy homes with children or pets who value a peaceful environment.
What truly elevates the Freo Flow is its integrated, intelligent base station, which takes care of all the messy upkeep. The all-in-one system eliminates the need for constant maintenance by the user, handling everything from hot-water mop washing (ranging between 45°C–80°C depending on the cycle) to thorough scrubbing and warm air drying to prevent odour and mildew. The dock also features auto-refill and drain capabilities, and can conveniently hold dust for up to 120 days before requiring user attention. A robust 6,400 mAh battery powers extended cleaning runs, and the robot’s adaptive technology automatically adjusts suction power, height, and mop pressure depending on the surface or spill, ensuring it’s always in tune with the home’s unique needs.
Narwal Freo X10 Pro: Deep Cleaning Without Compromise
Where the Flow excels in aesthetic integration and minimal maintenance, the Narwal Freo X10 Pro is built for homes that demand deep, consistent cleaning power. This robot is a focused cleaning machine, delivering 11,000 Pa of ultra-strong suction power, capable of easily lifting pet hair, dust, and debris from every surface. Like its sibling, it maintains consideration for the home environment, operating at a whisper-quiet level of less than 57 dB.
The X10 Pro introduces specialized tools to tackle the most stubborn cleaning challenges. Its Zero-Tangling Floating Roller Brush and Anti-Tangle Side Brush work to keep maintenance to a minimum by preventing hair wrap. Furthermore, the EdgeReach Mop Extension combined with EdgeSwing Technology ensures that even the tightest corners and baseboards receive thorough attention, eliminating missed spots. Powered by a 5,200 mAh battery, the X10 Pro can clean for up to 219 minutes on a single charge while simultaneously vacuuming and mopping. Its self-cleaning dock is also highly capable, drying the dust bin, auto-emptying after runs, and warming mops at 40∘C–45∘C to actively prevent odor and bacteria buildup.
Narwal S30: Instant Mess Cleanup
Addressing the need for quick, effective cleanup of everyday spills and accidents, the Narwal S30 Wet Dry Vacuum is designed for the fast pace of modern living. This lightweight device takes the stress out of daily messes, whether it’s spilt cereal, pet accidents, or muddy footprints, by vacuuming and mopping in one go, leaving floors instantly refreshed.
The S30 features a powerful 20,000 Pa suction that tackles both wet and dry messes with ease. A standout technical feature is the Cut & Comb De-Tangle System, which actively slices and combs hair before it can wrap around the brush, maintaining peak performance over time. For edge-to-edge cleaning, the S30 utilises TripleEdge Precision, effectively handling walls and baseboards with minimal gaps. Its convenience is further enhanced by a self-cleaning function for the brush, efficient water cycle systems to keep mop water continuously clean, and a bright, easy-to-read display providing real-time cleaning status updates.
Pricing & Availability
The new Narwal lineup, including the Freo Flow, Freo X10 Pro, and S30, is now available for purchase in Malaysia through the Narwal Official Stores on Shopee, as well as Aihome outlets at Sunway Velocity, Plaza Low Yat, and IOI City Mall.
The standard Recommended Retail Prices (RRP) are as follows:
Narwal Freo Flow: RM5,499.
Narwal Freo X10 Pro: RM2,699.
Narwal S30: RM1,699.
Customers can take advantage of a limited-time Pre-Sale Offer running from 26 September 2025 to 12 October 2025, with discounted Early Bird Prices and a range of complimentary gifts.
For the Freo Flow, the Early Bird Price is RM5,099 (RM400 off the RRP), and the purchase includes a Flow Gift Bag and a 1-Year Extended Warranty. The Freo X10 Pro is available for an Early Bird Price of RM2,399 (RM300 off), and comes with an X10 Pro Gift Bag, 1x 930ml Cleaning Solution, and a 1-Year Extended Warranty. Finally, the S30 has an Early Bird Price of RM1,499 (RM200 off), bundled with an S30 Roller Brush, a Disposable Filter Bag, 3x Cleaning Solution, and a 1-Year Extended Warranty. Pre-sale gifts are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Another special edition DualSense controller is coming! This time, it’s a special Kratos-inspired design. Revealed during the recent State of Play, the DualSense Wireless Controller – God of War 20th Anniversary Limited Edition is a tribute designed to embody the legacy of Kratos, the Ghost of Sparta, who has anchored the series across two decades of console generations and groundbreaking titles.
This new accessory is a celebration of the God of War franchise reaching its 20th anniversary this year, spanning Kratos’s journey from the Greek mountains to the Norse Nine Realms.
The design of this limited-edition DualSense controller is remarkably focused, aiming for a visual simplicity that reflects the legendary Spartan warrior himself. Santa Monica Studio’s Associate Art Director, Dela Longfish, explained that the team wanted the controller’s form to perfectly lend itself to Kratos’s signature appearance.
The controller primarily features a light grey hue that directly evokes Kratos’s iconic ashen skin. This grey base is starkly contrasted by a blood-red marking which covers the entire right-hand grip and runs across the action buttons and the right shoulder/trigger area. This red mark is a deliberate homage to the shape of Kratos’s scarlet omega tattoo, an element that has remained iconic throughout both his Greek and Norse sagas. The design is minimalistic but immediately recognisable, ensuring that the controller authentically pays homage to the defining elements of Kratos’s visual identity.
Finishing the aesthetic, the back of the controller proudly features the text “God of War 20th Anniversary”, marking it as a definitive collector’s piece.
Pricing & Availability
The DualSense Wireless Controller – God of War 20th Anniversary Limited Edition will be available in limited quantities across all markets.
For Southeast Asia, the recommended retail price is SGD$119 in Singapore and RM419 in Malaysia. Globally, the controller is priced at USD$84.99, EUR€84.99 EUR, and GBP£74.99.
Pre-orders are scheduled to begin on October 3, 2025, at 10 AM local time. Fans can secure their unit through direct.playstation.com (where available) as well as participating global retailers. The official launch date for the controller is October 23, 2025, although availability may vary by region.
Sony’s Pulse audio lineup is getting larger with its first wireless speakers. The Pulse Elevate is designed for players who want a truly lifelike and immersive sonic experience without being permanently attached to a headset. Edwin Foo, VP of Product Development at SIE, stated that the speakers adapt powerful technologies like planar magnetic drivers and PlayStation Link into a new form factor that players can experience with their favourite games. The speakers’ aesthetic immediately catches attention with a distinct vertical silhouette and clean lines that echo the futuristic, spaceship-inspired design cues of the PlayStation 5, ensuring they complement a modern gaming setup.
Source: PlayStation
The core appeal of the Pulse Elevate lies in its high-end audio engineering. The acoustic quality is derived from studio-inspired planar magnetic drivers, which are the same advanced technology found in the Pulse Elite and Pulse Explore accessories. This driver technology allows the speakers to reproduce lifelike sound across the entire audible spectrum, delivering incredibly rich, subtle details so players can hear games exactly as developers intended. To complement the pristine clarity of the planar magnetic drivers, each speaker features built-in woofers that provide a range of rich bass tones, creating a fuller, more varied soundscape that delivers impact to every epic in-game encounter. When used with the PS5 console, this technology is designed to integrate seamlessly with Tempest 3D AudioTech, which enhances immersion by positioning audio cues with pinpoint accuracy.
Ultra-Low Latency and AI-Enhanced Voice Chat
Connectivity is handled by PlayStation Link technology, Sony’s proprietary wireless standard that guarantees ultra-low latency and lossless wireless connectivity. This is a crucial technical necessity for competitive gaming, ensuring audio is transmitted at lightning speed without losing detail, eliminating lag, and maintaining perfect synchronisation with on-screen action. A dedicated USB-C adapter is included for PlayStation Link, allowing seamless connection to PS5, PC, and Mac desktops.
Source: PlayStation
Source: PlayStation
The speakers also include Bluetooth compatibility, providing true multitasking flexibility. Players can run game audio through PlayStation Link while simultaneously streaming music or managing voice chat applications from a connected smartphone via Bluetooth.
Addressing a common pain point for desktop players, the Pulse Elevate introduces a sophisticated headset-free voice chat solution. A high-quality microphone is built directly into the right speaker and is enhanced by AI-enhanced noise rejection technology. This AI capability automatically identifies and removes unwanted background sounds, such as keyboard clicks and fan noise, to ensure the user’s voice is transmitted clearly to teammates.
Designed for Desk and Portability
The Pulse Elevate’s design prioritizes flexibility. It is built for dedicated desktop use but also incorporates a built-in rechargeable battery, allowing players to undock the units and use them on the go with a PlayStation Portal remote player or a smartphone via Bluetooth. This portability makes the audio investment versatile across various gaming scenarios.
The speakers ship with dedicated charging docks to ensure they are always powered up for stationary use. Furthermore, the design supports flexible positioning with built-in tilt adjustment, allowing users to optimise the angle for sound delivery. Players can personalise their audio experience on the PS5 or PC with the option to adjust EQ, sidetone, volume, and mic mute settings directly via system menus. The speakers will be available in two colourways: Midnight Black and White.
Pricing & Availability
The Pulse Elevate wireless speakers are scheduled for release in 2026. Sony Interactive Entertainment has not yet announced the official price, stating that further details on the release date and pricing will be announced shortly.
PlayStation recently held a State of Play just ahead of the Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2025. The tightly packed 35-minute showcase of first-party updates, major third-party reveals, and a significant amount of content driven by Japanese developers. This is what you need to know about the announcements that defined the latest PlayStation State of Play.
The State of Play kicked off and concluded with massive reveals that underscore PlayStation’s global ambitions in action and open-world RPGs.
The State of Play started off strong, ending a long period of quietude surrounding Marvel’s Wolverine. It delivered the game’s first extended gameplay reveal and confirmed a highly anticipated release window. Insomniac Games’ take on Logan is scheduled to arrive on the PlayStation 5 in Fall 2026.
The footage immediately established a tone darker and more brutal than the studio’s Spider-Man franchise, fully embracing the raw, visceral violence the character demands. The narrative will be a “global thriller” centred on Logan’s personal mission to uncover secrets from his elusive past. Players will journey across diverse, destructive locales, including the island nation of Madripoor, the frosted wilderness of Canada, and the narrow city streets of Tokyo. Confirmed key characters for Logan’s journey include the shapeshifting Mystique and the brutish Omega Red, alongside the hostile Reavers faction and a menacing Sentinel prototype. Insomniac confirmed that actor Liam McIntyre voices Logan and promised a substantial showcase for the title in Spring 2026.
On the open-world front, Pearl Abyss finally locked in the launch date for the sprawling action-adventure RPG, Crimson Desert. The game is set to launch on the PS5 on March 19, 2026, with pre-orders now live. The new trailer shifted focus from the previously seen freeform combat and boss battles to the narrative heart of the journey. Players will guide the protagonist, Kliff, through the vast and brutal continent of Pywel as he attempts to reunite the Greymanes and fight the Black Bears, a gripping saga of survival and conflict.
Another major global title was Battlefield 6, which chose the State of Play to debut a first look at its single-player campaign. The military thriller will put players in the boots of Dagger 13, an elite Marine Raiders unit determined to stop a private military corporation known as Pax Armata, with the full game launching on October 10.
Remasters, Action Games & RPGs
The showcase also delivered significant news across various genres, ensuring a dense lineup for early 2026.
Housemarque, the studio behind Returnal, led the way with Saros, which received an extended five-minute gameplay demonstration and confirmed a release date of March 20, 2026. While not a direct sequel, the game shares the studio’s technical prowess, placing protagonist Arjun Devraj on the shape-shifting planet Carcosa. Gameplay highlighted a projectile-absorbing ability called the Soltari Shield, adding a unique defensive mechanic to the frantic action.
For fans of the Souls-like genre, Koei Tecmo confirmed the highly anticipated Nioh 3 will launch on the PS5 on February 6, 2026. This was followed by news of Code Vein II, the action RPG sequel where vampires and humans coexist, which is set to launch slightly earlier on January 30, 2026.
Japanese developers also catered to nostalgia, announcing the resurrection of two classic franchises. Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered will be reborn on the PS5 on March 19, 2026, leveraging Unreal Engine 5 for a visual overhaul and including content from the Xtreme Legends expansion. Furthermore, the classic cyberpunk immersive sim Deus Ex Remastered will launch on February 5, 2026. Aspyr is collaborating with Eidos Montreal to modernise the controls and infuse the futuristic thriller with new lighting, dynamic shadows, and rebuilt character models.
Unexpected Ports, Updates, and Unique Ventures
The State of Play also provided a handful of surprises and important updates, ensuring the PlayStation calendar is filled with diverse experiences well into 2026.
A major surprise for console players was the announcement that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is soaring onto the PS5 on December 8. This highly detailed and ambitious simulation title, previously confined to PC and Xbox ecosystems, brings its global photorealistic rendering and dynamic weather systems to a new audience. The PS5 version promises to leverage the DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback to simulate the feeling of flying various aircraft, from single-engine planes to commercial jets and helicopters. Additionally, the launch will include all previously released World Updates and a new career mode focused on aerial firefighting and search-and-rescue missions.
The action-RPG genre received two significant reveals. The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin, an open-world action RPG based on the popular anime and manga, confirmed its launch date of January 28, 2026. Unlike previous Seven Deadly Sins titles, Origin is set to feature a massive, non-linear open world where players can explore the mythical continent of Britannia and interact with iconic characters from the series. Furthermore, the popular PC action-RPG Last Epoch is officially coming to the PlayStation 5 and will launch alongside its major Orobyss expansion. This launch gives console players access to the game’s deep character customization, complex skill tree system, and robust end-game content, immediately integrating the console version with the new storyline, boss encounters, and gear introduced in the Orobyss content.
The showcase also revealed unique, narrative-driven projects that push creative boundaries. Zero Parades for Dead Spies, the highly anticipated mind-bending spy RPG from ZA/UM, the studio behind Disco Elysium, unveiled its first gameplay footage and is expected in 2026. The title retains the studio’s signature deep, text-heavy dialogue systems and unconventional visual style, putting players in the shoes of a defunct spy trying to navigate a surreal, politically charged world. Meanwhile, Chronoscript: The Endless End presented itself as a new kind of sci-fi adventure, confirmed to arrive on the PS5 in 2026. The game mixes time-manipulation puzzles with third-person action, tasking players with repairing the fabric of causality across a collapsing timeline.
Updates to established titles rounded out the segment. For the dedicated Monster Hunter community, Monster Hunter Wilds Title Update 3 is set for launch on September 29. This update is massive, notably including content derived from the Final Fantasy XIV collaboration, introducing a new elder dragon, two new weapons, and the ability to ride a Chocobo as a mount in the game’s open world. Finally, Sony announced new hardware designed to enhance the physical experience of gaming: the Pulse Elevate wireless speakers for desktop gaming, and a limited edition God of War 20th Anniversary DualSense wireless controller, both scheduled for release in October. The controller, in particular, features a unique gold-on-white finish inspired by Kratos’s Spartan armor.
The Snapdragon 8 series has, for years, served as the ultimate performance benchmark for premium mobile devices, specifically when it comes to Android devices. It has become the foundational platform that dictates what flagship smartphones can do, from gaming performance to camera quality and, increasingly, on-device artificial intelligence. Now, Qualcomm has pushed the boundaries once again, announcing the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform, which the company is calling the world’s fastest mobile system-on-a-chip.
According to Qualcomm, the 8 Elite Gen 5 is purpose-built for the age of personal, contextual AI, delivering a massive upgrade across state-of-the-art performance, sheer efficiency, and intelligent processing. The platform is poised to feature in forthcoming flagship devices from major global manufacturers, including Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor, OnePlus, OPPO, and more, with new devices expected to launch in the coming days.
Built for Efficiency and Performance
At the core of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is the 3rd Gen Qualcomm Oryon CPU, which immediately establishes itself as the fastest mobile CPU in the world. The performance leap is immediate and impactful: the CPU boasts a 20% performance boost over the previous generation. This raw power is delivered through a sophisticated 64-bit architecture featuring two Prime cores clocked up to an aggressive 4.6 GHz and six Performance cores running up to 3.62 GHz.
For the user, this means lightning-fast app launches, instantaneous multitasking, and seamless app switching are now standard, fundamentally upgrading the experiences they expect from their mobile devices.
The speed of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is matched by a focus on power management, a detail that often separates a good SoC from a great one. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is fabricated on the advanced 3nm Process Technology. This technical foundation allows the CPU to achieve up to 35% better power efficiency, resulting in a 16% overall SoC power saving.
On-Device AI That Thinks With You
The true strategic direction of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 lies in its on-device artificial intelligence capabilities. Qualcomm has engineered a shift from a reactive voice assistant to an agentic AI collaborator that learns, adapts, and initiates decisions on the user’s behalf.
This leap is powered by the Qualcomm Hexagon NPU, which now boasts even more AI accelerators and delivers a 37% faster performance than the previous generation. The Hexagon NPU is bolstered by the Qualcomm Oryon CPU with dedicated hardware-based AI acceleration and features like Micro Tile Inferencing and support for advanced precisions (INT2, INT4, FP8).
The practical benefit of this immense power is personalisation. The Qualcomm Sensing Hub and Qualcomm Personal Scribe work in tandem with the NPU to create a personal knowledge graph on the device. This means the AI assistant understands the user’s routine, preferences, and conversations in real time, enabling proactive recommendations and situation-based prompt enhancements—all while user data stays securely on the device. This tailor-made intelligence is the heart of the platform.
Console-Grade Gaming and Immersive Visual Processing
For the mobile gaming and graphics enthusiast, the Qualcomm Adreno GPU sees a significant architectural overhaul, resulting in a 23% increase in overall performance alongside a 20% reduction in power consumption. This leap is achieved through technical advancements that bring console-quality visuals and immersive gameplay to mobile for the first time.
A key innovation is the introduction of Adreno High Performance Memory (HPM), which provides 18 MB of dedicated memory for revolutionary efficiency in visual rendering. Furthermore, the platform offers full support for demanding next-gen gaming features like Unreal Engine 5, hardware-accelerated Ray Tracing with Lumen (including Global Illumination), and Nanite Virtualized Geometry. These features are complemented by the AI-enhanced Wi-Fi 7 connectivity, which achieves up to 50% lower gaming latency, ensuring players game smarter, not harder.
Professional Camera and Limitless Connectivity
Qualcomm is touting the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 as the ultimate instrument for creatives, essentially placing the power of a film crew in the user’s pocket. The claim is largely backed by the Qualcomm Spectra ISP that features Triple 20-bit AI-ISPs. It is also the world’s first mobile platform to record in the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec. The APV codec captures high-bitrate footage, enabling professional-level post-production workflows that were previously impossible on a smartphone. The camera also features a fully computational video pipeline, Context-Aware 3As (autofocus, autoexposure, and auto-white balance), and supports stunning multimedia capture, including 320-megapixel photo capture and 8K HDR video playbackat 60fps
Connectivity, the bedrock of any mobile device, is handled by the Qualcomm X85 5G Modem-RF System. This system delivers a new standard in 5G technology, combining the latest Release 17 and 18 capabilities and achieving downlink speeds of up to 12.5 Gbps. The platform also integrates the Qualcomm FastConnect 7900 Mobile Connectivity System, bringing in Wi-Fi 7 with up to 40% power savings. Furthermore, the innovative Qualcomm AI-Powered Data Traffic Engine dynamically identifies and prioritises data patterns to improve mobile gaming and clear voice and video calls, ensuring the user is always living in the moment.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 is making its way to new flagships in 2026. We should be seeing a few launch in the coming months.
Qualcomm has long been a foundational force in setting the standard for mobile computing, and its foray into the PC market with the Snapdragon X Series has been anything but conventional. The goal was never to simply match existing PC processors, but to fundamentally redefine the laptop experience by prioritising efficiency and connectivity—the twin pillars that define the modern computing workflow. The Snapdragon X Series represents the company’s most direct challenge yet to the incumbent x86 architecture, promising to unlock thinner designs, always-on connectivity, and battery life measured in days, not hours.
Now, Qualcomm has officially announced the next step in this evolution: the Snapdragon X2 Elite. Positioned as the engine for premium Windows 11 PCs, this platform is engineered for powerful, efficient multitasking across the resource-intensive workloads that define productivity, creativity, and entertainment today. The message is clear and direct: the X2 Elite intends to deliver industry-leading performance that can truly last for days, even in thin and light devices.
Performance That Lasts for Days
The cornerstone of the X2 Elite’s performance claim is a singular focus on power efficiency. The processor is built on the cutting-edge 3nm process node, a crucial technical detail that translates directly to a cooler, faster, and longer-lasting user experience. This advanced node technology allows the platform to achieve impressive performance gains—up to 31% faster performance at ISO power—while demanding significantly less energy, requiring up to 43% less power than its previous generation counterpart. For the average user, this isn’t just a spec bump; it means genuinely working all day, or even for multiple days, without being tethered to a power outlet.
The central processing unit at the heart of the platform is the 3rd Gen Qualcomm Oryon CPU. The Snapdragon X2 Elite (specifically the X2E-80-100 SKU) features a total of 12 cores, intelligently split between performance and efficiency, a standard practice for balancing workloads. This configuration includes six Prime Cores and six Performance Cores. The Prime Cores offer a maximum multi-core frequency of 4.0 GHz, with the capability to boost up to 4.7 GHz in single-core loads. The accompanying Performance Cores run at a brisk 3.4 GHz. This core architecture, paired with a substantial 34 MB of total cache, ensures that resource-intensive applications run smoothly and quickly, making effortless multitasking a reality.
80 TOPS of Hexagon NPU Power for AI Workloads
If efficiency is the foundation, artificial intelligence is the future, and Qualcomm is taking a decisive lead here. The Snapdragon X2 Elite platform is a fully-fledged Copilot+ PC engine, built to handle the intense concurrent AI experiences now hitting the Windows environment
The platform features the Qualcomm Hexagon NPU with a massive 80 TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second) of AI processing power. This raw number is significant, positioning it as one of the world’s fastest NPUs for laptops. This leap in AI hardware is critical for enabling the next generation of applications, including on-device AI agents, multimodal content generation, and media editing acceleration. The 80 TOPS NPU operates with a 64-bit architecture and increased memory access, providing the bandwidth necessary to run the latest large language models (LLMs) with blazing responsiveness and minimal latency.
Graphics, Memory, and Unrivaled Connectivity
For graphics performance, the Snapdragon X2 Elite features an upgraded Qualcomm Adreno GPU. This new architecture is designed not only for stunning visuals but for industry-leading performance per watt, meaning creators and casual gamers can maintain frame rates and image quality while working off the battery. The GPU supports modern standards like DirectX 12.2 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4, and OpenCL 3.0.
Memory and storage are equally aggressive in their pursuit of speed. The platform supports LPDDR5x memory with a transfer rate of 9523 MT/s and a bandwidth of 152 GB/s. For storage, it supports both NVMe via dual PCIe 5.0 and the latest UFS 4.0 standard. This ensures that data access is never a bottleneck, whether launching a massive game or loading an intricate media project.
When it comes to connectivity, the platform supports up to the Snapdragon X75 5G Modem-RF System, enabling lightning-fast cellular connections with peak download speeds of up to 10 Gbps. On the Wi-Fi front, it integrates the Qualcomm FastConnect 7800 System, bringing support for Wi-Fi 7 with High Band Simultaneous (HBS) and peak speeds of 5.8 Gbps, alongside advanced Bluetooth 5.4 LE audio. This advanced connectivity means the promise of a truly mobile, always-on PC is finally fulfilled.
Multimedia and Security
The X2 Elite is a platform built for the entire computing experience, including professional multimedia work and robust security. The Qualcomm Adreno VPU (Video Processing Unit) is capable of encoding and decoding video up to 8K at 60 FPS, a crucial detail for content creators working with high-resolution footage. Furthermore, the platform can drive the display across a complex setup, supporting up to three external displays at resolutions up to 5K at 60 Hz or 4K at 144 Hz. The Qualcomm Spectra ISP (Image Signal Processor) delivers dual 18-bit processing for crystal-clear web conferencing and photo capture, ensuring professional image quality in any light.
Finally, security is handled from the ground up. The X2 Elite features the advanced Qualcomm SPU, which supports Microsoft Pluton, providing state-of-the-art security from the chip to the cloud. For IT management and end-user peace of mind, the new Snapdragon Guardian Technology introduces out-of-band management, allowing businesses and users to remotely manage, find, lock, and wipe their PC from virtually anywhere via Wi-Fi and 5G.
The Snapdragon X2 Elite, with its combination of a power-sipping 3nm process, the mighty 80 TOPS NPU, and multi-day battery life, is set to redefine the Windows PC category, enabling the kind of intelligent, always-connected experiences consumers have been demanding. Devices powered by this new platform are expected to be available in the first half of 2026.
