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After several months of various teasers, Intel is finally starting to put the band together for their first high-performance discrete GPUs and video cards. This morning the company is kicking its pre-launch marketing game into high gear by announcing a new brand name that these video cards will sold under: Arc. As well, the company is finally giving us our first real (albeit wide) launch window for the hardware. The first Arc video cards, based on the “Alchemist” generation of hardware, will be released in the first quarter of 2022, kicking off Intel’s formal foray into high-performance discrete consumer graphics for desktop and mobile.

Although it has taken a few years now to come to fruition, Intel has made it clear for a while now that the company has intended to become a viable third player in the discrete graphics space. Intel’s odyssey, as previous marketing efforts have dubbed it, has been driven primarily by developing the Xe family of GPU microarchitectures, as well as the GPUs based on those architectures. Xe-LP was the first out the door last year, as part of the Tiger Lake family of CPUs and the DG1 discrete GPU. Other Xe family architectures include Xe-HP for servers and Xe-HPC for supercomputers and other high-performance compute environments.

But perhaps the most interesting – and least talked about – of these microarchitectures is Xe-HPG, Intel’s first high-performance architecture for high-end consumer graphics. After months of speculation, the company introduced He-XPG just over a year ago, and with it the name of the first GPU from the family: DG2. Intel is far enough along that they have been testing DG2 in their labs since last fall, and now at last, they are beginning the long gear-up to bring DG2 to the market. And that process starts with names both for the product lineup and the architectures.

First off, Arc will be Intel’s new brand name for their consumer video cards, as well as the associated software and services. And while the classic i740 name still holds a special place in our hearts, Arc certainly rolls off the tongue a lot more smoothly. At this point it’s not entirely clear quite how far Intel’s branding will extend here, particularly if it’ll also be used in the future for integrated graphics or the eventual successor to the DG1 dGPU.

Meanwhile, Intel is also disclosing the codenames for the next few GPU generations that will make up the GPUs that go into the Arc brand. The first Xe-HPG architecture, which is being used for DG2, will be called Alchemist. That in turn will be followed up by Battlemage, Celestial, and Druid. It goes without saying that Intel seems to have a bit of a love affair with high fantasy here, which is certainly appropriate for gaming GPUs. Intel is also briefly confirming that, as we suspected with last year’s revelation of hardware ray tracing support, that Alchemist will be fully DirectX 12 Ultimate compliant – meaning that alongside RT, it will offer variable rate shading, mesh shaders, and sampler feedback. Which will make it comparable in core graphics features to current-generation AMD and NVIDIA hardware.

But, more importantly for Intel, disclosing so many product generations up-front is a means to showcase that Intel is this for the long haul, and that they’re already working on multiple successive generations of products. Despite their significant history with integrated GPUs, Intel is still effectively the newcomer in the discrete GPU space, so one of the battles the company will face is convincing potential buyers that they can invest in an Intel-based video card without ending up in a dead-end or having support dry up a few years later.

Moving on, we also kind of have a release date for Arc products. As part of kicking off their marketing efforts, Intel is giving us our first real launch window for their high-end desktop and mobile video cards, narrowing down the date to the first quarter of 2022. As with all Intel quarterly launch windows, we’re working under the assumption that Intel is looking at the later part of the quarter – so perhaps a March launch – promising that next spring will be an especially interesting season in the discrete graphics space. And none of this can come too soon, as cryptocurrency-fueled demand has continued to outstrip the collective video card manufacturing capabilities of AMD and NVIDIA. Right now we need more video cards, so Arc can’t get here soon enough.

Past that, today’s marketing-focused push from Intel isn’t offering too much in the way of additional technical details. For example, we still don’t know which third-party fab and manufacturing node will be used to produce the Alchemist GPUs – or even just how many different GPU configurations Intel will build (though from Intel’s promo pictures, it would seem to be at least two). With several months to go until the hardware launches, all of this is information that Intel is likely to continue trickle feeding as part of their larger marketing push for the launch of the first Arc video cards.

In the meantime, however, Intel has published some short clips from video games on their website as proof that pre-production Arc (Alchemist) hardware is up and running.

Intel: AI-based Super Sampling Tech Under Development

Alongside today’s announcement also comes a small mention from Intel that they will be throwing their hat into the ring for image upscaling technologies. As part of the Arc announcement, Intel has confirmed that the company is working on “artificial intelligence-driven super sampling”. For the last couple of years NVIDIA and more recently AMD have been making waves with their respective DLSS and FSR technologies, and it’s fair to say that Intel doesn’t want to be left out – after all, they intend to become an equal competitor in the discrete GPU space.

Unfortunately, today’s announcement from Intel is just throwing their hat into the ring, so anyone looking for a release date or information on if Intel’s in-development tech is purely spatial or spatial + temporal will be waiting a bit longer. But, for the moment, we at least have confirmation that Intel is working on their own take on the tech.

More Details to Come

Ultimately, today’s announcement from Intel is largely a branding exercise – literally. A year after first announcement Xe-HPG and DG2, Intel is now getting its marketing machine into motion ahead of the hardware launch early next year. For now, at least, it’s more of a first word than a last word, but it won’t be the final word from Intel as they get ready to launch their Arc family of video cards. So stay tuned, as the company is promissing more information later this year.

About a year ago, I wrote about a gaming mouse called the Zephyr that came with a unique feature: a built-in fan designed to cool your palm as you play games. It didn’t blow me away; the fan was loud, vibrated a lot, and didn’t really feel all that cool.

But the creators, now known as Marsback, have returned with a new “sweat-proof” gaming mouse called the Zephyr Pro. And it’s a big improvement.

The external design hasn’t changed all that much. The Zephyr Pro is a fairly unremarkable-looking gaming mouse with the requisite RGB lighting and a honeycomb chassis to reduce weight and increase airflow. The main RGB lighting strip now runs around the bottom edge of the mouse rather than around the left and right buttons.

The Pro doesn’t expand input options any more than its predecessor; there’s still a standard layout of two side buttons and one up top to control DPI sensitivity. It’s understandably lightweight by design but doesn’t feel too cheap, and it worked perfectly well for me through dozens of hours of various shooters.

The main change is in the performance of the fan itself. I often found myself switching it off on the original Zephyr because of the noise and vibration, but both have been cut down significantly with the Pro. It’s not silent, exactly, but unlike the original it’s hard to hear over the hum of a regular PC or laptop.

The quieter fan doesn’t represent a reduction in cooling power, according to Marsback. The Pro model I’ve been testing is actually much more effective at cooling, though that’s in comparison to a prototype of the original Zephyr rather than the final product. The fan now fires directly upward instead of at a 45-degree angle, which seems to make a difference. You still shouldn’t expect to feel like your palm is being blasted by an air conditioner, but I do enjoy the cooling effect overall.

The Zephyr Pro has on-board memory and software to let you customize button functionality and RGB lighting, with extensive options for both. Surprisingly, there’s no way to adjust the fan speed — you just switch it on and off with a button on the bottom of the mouse. Unlike the original Zephyr, though, there isn’t really any reason to want to turn the fan down, since it’s quiet enough at full blast.

Finally, one of the Zephyr Pro’s best new features is the price. $59 is pretty reasonable for a wired mouse like this and much more competitive than the $99 original Zephyr. Marsback also currently has an offer for $10 off your first order from its online store.

There are certainly a lot of good options at this price point that don’t come with a fan, so this mouse still isn’t going to be for everyone. But as someone who lives in a city with godawful summers, I’ve enjoyed the Zephyr Pro these past few weeks. Gaming hardware tends to run hot, so it’s refreshing to use an accessory that goes the opposite route.

Most collectors were simply “nostalgic” for their childhood games, Dillon explained in a video interview. “There was no idea that games could become artifacts of the past that we want to conserve and preserve.”

A copy of “The Legend of Zelda” became the most expensive video game when it sold for $870,000 at auction last month — but the record stood for just two days. Credit: Courtesy Heritage Auctions

The market for vintage games is rapidly evolving, with auction houses taking notice and game-grading services, like Wata Games, providing certification for the emerging market. (Wata had given the record-breaking Mario game a near-perfect score of 9.8 out of 10, based on the condition of the box, cartridge and manual). An expert nod of approval can now transform a yard sale copy of “Pokémon” into an investment worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Cultural artifacts

Collecting is not just Dillon’s hobby, it’s also part of his job. He’s the founder and curator of Singapore’s James Cook University Museum of Video and Computer Games, which charts the sector’s evolution through a 400-strong collection of game memorabilia.

Retro video games have become a kind of modern relic, Dillon said — one intertwined with nostalgia, pop culture and technological history.

“They really show us how technology evolves with the kinds of tastes that we had years ago in gaming,” he said.

A customer buys newly released “Pokemon” games in 1999 in Tokyo. Credit: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP/Getty Images

But not everyone who held onto their old Nintendo or Sega titles will be sitting on a fortune. Many factors dictate the value of a video game, from the number of units produced and the region the game was released in, to whether the cartridge comes in its original box with all the manuals intact.

The “holy grails” are unopened, shrink-wrapped early editions of iconic titles. “If you open it, the value of the game halves,” Dillon explained.

The emergence of professional grading and classification has transformed the space, making it easier for buyers to assess the condition of their purchases. And while game collecting was, in the past, a hobby confined to eBay, Reddit, Facebook groups and forums, interest from high-profile auctions houses is helping boost prices by opening the market to new collectors, from traditional art investors to comic book and trading card enthusiasts.

“Recently, we have seen a surge in more eclectic requests from our clients looking for unique and rare collectibles,” she said over email, adding: “We believe people will always invest in traditional assets such as stocks and real estate, but alternative assets are exactly that.”

Rather than games with limited production runs, it is classic titles from the most popular franchises that attract the highest bids. Dillon said this may be partly because new collectors are more willing to invest in well-known characters that appeal to their sense of nostalgia, such as Mario, Cloud Strife from “Final Fantasy VII” or “Zelda” protagonist Link.

The $1.5 million copy of Super Mario 64. Credit: Courtesy Heritage Auctions

The future of collecting

With today’s games industry moving toward digital-only sales — either via third-party platforms like Steam or directly through PlayStation Network and Nintendo Direct — owning physical games may eventually become a thing of the past.

As digital sales become the norm, Dillon envisions these limited-edition physical games becoming the next big collectibles. “Twenty years from now, today’s kids will have disposable income and they (will) want to recreate a collection of games from when they were young … they look for the collector’s editions that were launched back in the day, but they didn’t own.”

But Dillon won’t be selling his games anytime soon. “I still hope that I can pass my collection to someone, somewhere, and that someone will appreciate it,” he said.

In the wake of very public examples of two of their power supply units failing spectacularly, Gigabyte have offered replacements to anyone affected, while simultaneously casting doubt on the methodology used by those raising the issue in the first place.

In a statement issued on the company’s site, Gigabyte gives an explanation as to what’s going on—two power supply models, the GP-P850GM and GP-P750GM, have been found dead on arrival or sparking themselves to death—saying “there can occasionally be instances where the peak wattage can exceed the intended usage range”.

The company then moves on to directly address the Gamers Nexus video from last week that so publicly highlighted the problem in the first place, seemingly blaming them for putting the units under so much pressure:

GIGABYTE, appreciates and takes into consideration any feedback and suggestions from our media partners and PC hardware professionals. We were made aware by third parties of concerns regarding potential issues of the GP-P850GM and GP-P750GM tripping at high wattages when tested via DC Electronic Load equipment for extended lengths of time repeatedly close to the 120% to 150% OPP trigger point. This level of extended testing could severely reduce the lifespan of the product and components of the GP-P850GM and GP-P750GM.

That’s not what happened though! The Gamers Nexus video showed that the units would sometimes arrive dead in the box before they were even used, or would die after only a few minutes use, not Gigabyte’s claimed “extended lengths of time”.

Which might explain why despite this, and repeated assurances that all their power supply units have been safety certified, Gigabyte also points out that these models have since had changes made to them, and that anyone who has purchased any of the affected units can have them exchanged, with users asked to contact their local Gigabyte customer service centre.

Apple is planning to hold multiple events this fall, which will collectively include the launch of new iPhones, Apple Watches, updated AirPods, revamped iPad mini, and the redesigned MacBook Pros, according to respected Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman.

In his latest weekly Power On newsletter, Gurman says that much like last year, Apple will hold multiple events this coming fall, with the first likely being in September for the iPhone 13. Last year, due to the global health crisis and production constraints, the iPhone 12 lineup was not announced until October. The 2020 September event, rather than focusing on new iPhones, showcased new Apple Watches, iPads, and services.

This year, Apple is expected to return to its tradition of announcing its flagship yearly iPhone update in September, according to multiple reports. In today’s newsletter, Gurman reiterated his reporting from earlier last week, setting expectations for the ‌iPhone 13‌ to include updates to the camera focused towards professional users, more advanced displays, and a smaller notch.

Alongside the new iPhones, Gurman, as previously reported, says that Apple can be expected to launch the third-generation AirPods featuring an updated design, an updated iPad mini with a larger display, thinner borders, and improved performance, as well as the Apple Watch Series 7 with flatter and improved displays, and performance.

As for the highly anticipated MacBook Pros featuring mini-LED displays, updated designs, and the M1X Apple silicon chip, Gurman says they will be available by the time the current 16-inch MacBook Pro, powered by Intel, will celebrate its second anniversary. The 16-inch MacBook Pro was last updated in November of 2019.

I bought my MacBook Pro in 2019, and it’s still the latest model. I realized while writing this that the 16-inch MacBook Pro launched in November 2019 is Apple’s newest high-end MacBook Pro. Unfortunately, some hiccups have led to production delays for the revamped 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M1X chips. But they should still go on sale by the time the current MacBook Pro hits its two-year anniversary.

The first event of the fall in September will likely include the new iPhones, Apple Watches, and ‌AirPods‌, while the new iPads and possible updates to some of the company’s services could be reserved for a second event, with the final event of the season being focused on Apple silicon Macs.

If you’re still on the hunt for an Xbox Series X/s restock, we’ve got some retailers to watch between August 16-22.

So far, August has been a little disappointing when it comes to Xbox Series X/S restocks. Thankfully, we’ve got some news about another week of Xbox drops for you, to help you find that next-gen console.

In case you missed it, there’s a new Limited Edition Aqua Shift Xbox controller on the way. And this is more than just a simple gamepad – it needs to be seen to be believed!

What’s more, it’s been a big week for Halo fans, as every gun weapon & grenade in Halo Infinite is here! On top of that, we’ve got new images of the never-seen-before Halo Infinite Multiplayer maps for you too!

In the past, Microsoft has claimed that the Xbox Series X/S shortage is almost over! But with a lack of drops so far this month, that certainly doesn’t seem to be the truth.

Find all of last week’s Xbox Series X/S restocks here!

All Xbox Series X/S Restocks August 16-22

Walmart Xbox Series X/S Restock

Walmart Xbox Series X/S Restock Date: This Week (Rumored)

If there’s one retailer guaranteed to drop Xbox Series X/S stock this week, it’s Walmart. Every week, Walmart appears to go live with more Xbox stock – but think twice before locking in your purchase.

It appears that Walmart is restocking Xbox and PS5 consoles without shipping past orders! And because of this, the store is selling consoles that it doesn’t have just yet.

Some buyers are only just getting their orders from June, and many units are still waiting to ship from back in July. However, we’re also seeing reports that Walmart is secretly restocking Xbox consoles in-store for select U.S. locations.

Read More: Leaked Battlefield 2042 Gameplay Might Get You Banned Forever

Best Buy Xbox Series X/S Restock

Best Buy Xbox Series X/S Restock Date: August 17-19 (Rumored)

It’s been a staggering 4 weeks without a Best Buy Xbox Series X/S restock and we’re ready to see the retailer return to form. Before the last month though, Best Buy was one of our most regular restockers.

If the store has Xbox stock to sell, expect the drop between Tuesday and Thursday this week. We’ll update you with more details as they arrive.

Read More: When Will Xbox One Support End? Xbox Boss Reveals New Details

Antonline Xbox Series X/S Restock

Antonline Xbox Series X/S Restock Date: This Week (Rumored)

This one is almost a sure thing, as Antonline seems to go live with new Xbox Series X/S stock with every passing week. However, the online store doesn’t like to keep things consistent when it comes to days of the week, so be sure to hit the notification bell on the company’s Twitter.

Last week, Antonline only had Series S stock once again, and it’s becoming a trend. However, the online retailer does occasionally have Series X units too, for those after the more powerful gaming device.

Thankfully, Antonline is at least one of the easiest retailers to buy from, provided you get there early. Plus, selling consoles exclusively in bundles is a great way to stop scalpers from grabbing the Xbox first.

Read More: Xbox Reports Incredible Sales on Steam, Despite Game Pass Success

GameStop Xbox Series X/S Restock

GameStop Xbox Series X/S Restock Date: This Week (Rumored)

Somehow, GameStop is killing it with PS5 restocks and struggling with Xbox Series X/S. It’s been some time since our last Xbox restock here, but we’re hoping that GameStop brings us a new drop as we head into the second half of August.

If GameStop gives us notice that it’s going live, we’d recommend signing up for the company’s PowerUp Rewards Pro membership. Doing so will always net you a better chance at the Xbox Series X/S restock.

We’d also note that LordOfRestocks on Twitter confirms that Apple Pay is “GameStop’s weakness” and that using the payment method will certainly give you an advantage at checkout.

Read More: Leaker Draws First GTA 6 Concept Image, Revealing New Details

Microsoft Xbox Series X/S Restock

Microsoft Xbox Series X/S Restock Date: This Week (Rumored)

In recent weeks, Microsoft has been as reliable with Xbox Series X/S drops as Antonline has! The publisher had a week off a couple of weeks back, but it’s been smooth sailing otherwise.

Last week, however, Microsoft only had Series S units on offer, so we hope the Xbox Series X returns this time around. After all, the best place to purchase your next-gen console is directly from the company that makes it!

Read More: Get Big Discounts on Bethesda Games on Xbox and PC

Target Xbox Series X/S Restock

Target Xbox Series X/S Restock Date: This Week (Rumored)

In case you hadn’t seen at this point, Target recently revealed that it’s making big changes to its Xbox Series X/S restocks.

Now, Xbox units will no longer get restock waves at Target. The consoles will just appear when they arrive in stock, proving that we’re truly coming to the end of the Xbox shortage.

Read More: Splitgate Developer Bans Players Using ‘Queue Skip’ Software

Amazon Xbox Series X/S Restock

Amazon Xbox Series X/S Restock: This Week (Rumored)

It’s been quite some time since Amazon last went live with an Xbox restock – but the online retailer is seemingly impossible to predict.

Given that the last Xbox restock took place on Amazon Prime Day, we’re certain that another drop is coming soon. But if it is, we certainly don’t have a way of predicting a more precise date.

All we can do for now is wait and be quick on the mark if stock does go live at the world’s biggest online retailer.

That’s all we know about the Xbox Series X/S restocks from August 16-22 right now, but be sure to stay tuned for updated information as it arrives.

Excitingly, Xbox just confirmed that it’s working on more story-based games than ever! If you’re a fan of a strong narrative, it’s worth keeping your eyes on the platform’s upcoming line-up.

After all, Bethesda’s upcoming space RPG Starfield is an Xbox exclusive now.

And Phil Spencer is already teasing future Xbox acquisitions, meaning that more big exclusives could be coming soon.

About to buy a new iPhone? Don’t. We expect Apple to announce new models sometime next month, as it does every year. And even if you aren’t interested in the latest and greatest, the company generally drops the price of some older models along with the new crop.

Apple is, of course, hush-hush on what’s to come. A company spokeswoman declined to comment on future products. But iPhone production tends to be a leaky business, and I asked analysts who monitor Apple’s sales and supply chain to weigh in on the next iPhone.

First, what will it be called? The iPhone 13? It’s a likely bet, since Apple skipped the iPhone 11S and went right to the 12.

Some have hypothesized Apple might steer clear of the number because of superstition, the way some skyscrapers skip a 13th floor. A survey of 3,000 Apple users by Sell Cell, a used-electronics vendor, found that 18% would be put off by an iPhone 13. But Apple hasn’t shied away from naming software iOS 13 or selling a 13-inch MacBook.

Whether it’s iPhone 13, iPhone 12S, iPhone 2021 or even iPhone (15th generation), there will be several new models this year. Here’s what you can expect from the coming device:

A few days after it released some new design changes meant to make it more accessible, Twitter is going back to the drawing board, and for a very good reason. The design choices were literally hurting some users’ eyes and giving them headaches.

Twitter on Friday announced that it was making changes to the contrast on its new buttons to accommodate people with sensory sensitivities. The company has received various complaints from users about how the new design choices—which include its new Chirp font, high contrast colors and buttons, fewer gray backgrounds, and less divider lines—have impacted them over the past couple of days.

One autistic user told the company that removing the divider lines and making its colors and buttons high contrast made the site “extremely uncomfortable.”

“As an autistic person, removing lines and shifting to high-contrast makes using the site extremely uncomfortable now,” Twitter user @MxKelsieSkye said. “Also the font appears fine when I look closely, but for some reason it’s making my vision blurry the longer I use the site. This is a bad beta I hope.”

Another user said he could not read the Chirp font at all and didn’t know what he would do when his phone updated the app with the new design. Others stated they had medical conditions and now couldn’t read Twitter without getting a headache.

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“The new typeface worsens my astigmatism. I cannot read without having a headache. My systems typeface is tailored for my eyesight,” Twitter user @_psot wrote.

Earlier in the week, the company asked users to let it know if they were experiencing headaches, migraines, or eye strain due to its new font. At that time, Twitter also acknowledged that it was experiencing some display bugs and was working to resolve them.

The company has maintained that is listening to user feedback about the design updates and tracking comments.

“We’re making contrast changes on all buttons to make them easier on the eyes because you told us the new look is uncomfortable for people with sensory sensitivities. We’re listening and iterating,” Twitter said via its Twitter Accessibility account on Friday.

Alex Haagaard, founding member of the Disabled List, pointed out that Twitter’s new design changes are an example that accessibility is not one-size-fits-all. In fact, as TechCrunch notes, experts state that customization, such as allowing users to change the contrast and font to suit their needs, is the best way to make websites accessible.

“This is a great example of how some access needs routinely get centered over others within ‘accessible’ processes!” Haagaard said. “High contrast is notoriously NOT accessible for many photosensitive & chronically pained folks.”

Gizmodo reached out to Twitter for additional comment on its announcement to make design changes on Saturday, but we did not receive a response by the time of publication. We’ll make sure to update this blog if we hear back.

In a statement to TechCrunch, Twitter said that it had sought feedback from people with disabilities throughout the process of creating a new design.

“However, people have different preferences and needs and we will continue to track feedback and refine the experience,” the company said. “We realize we could get more feedback in the future and we’ll work to do that.”

The first part of the Harada’s Bar episode featuring Smash Bros. director Masahiro Sakurai has been uploaded. A lot of focus was on Sakurai as a person, rather than his work.

In one section of his chat with Katsuhiro Harada (also known as the director of Tekken), Sakurai addressed the memes on the internet featuring him, and how he’s not always a fan of some of them. He’s also over people using his “icon” on social media to make jokes. Here’s exactly what he had to say:

“I feel like… I want them to stop using my face or icon to say what they want to say. Even if it’s a joke. You shouldn’t use other people’s power for your own principles.”

One example Harada showed (as can be seen below) was a meme featuring Sakurai’s face with the text “never ask me for anything ever again” – with Sakurai clarifying he’s never actually said this before.

Harada also described how Sakurai’s fans often have the habit of latching onto every single piece of information about Sakurai and not letting it go. Sakurai had one simple response to this:

“Give me a break.” [laughs]

Although Sakurai isn’t a fan of this kind of behaviour, he also understands it can’t really be helped when he appears in the public space:

“It’s about the role of each person. Some people have to appear in the media because it’s their role. And if you do, it’s important to do your best. I’m like that too.”

You can see the see the first episode of Harada’s chat with Sakurai over on his YouTube channel.