Author: GizNews

  • Greek Mythology Open-World Adventure Game 80% Off on Steam

    Greek Mythology Open-World Adventure Game 80% Off on Steam

    Key Takeaway

    – On Steam sale: Immortals Fenyx Rising is $7.99 (regular $39.99) through May 20, 2026; its all-time low was $3.99 on June 27, 2024 (90% off).
    – Open-world Greek myth setting: Golden Isle with seven regions; explore by mount, Daedalus wings, and Phosphor.
    – Reception: 73% positive on Steam from 4,530 reviews; Metacritic metascore 79, user score 7.4; praised for world/story/graphics; criticisms include puzzles, repetitive combat, and platforming.
    – Buy considerations: strong exploration and visuals offer good value on sale, but puzzles and combat variety may frustrate some players.

    Since May 13, 2026, many Ubisoft games are on sale on Steam, and Immortals Fenyx Rising is one of them. Released on December 15, 2022, this action-adventure game with RPG mechanics puts you in the shoes of Fenyx, who must fight Typhon to save the gods of Olympus, and restore order.

    Sale details

    The story takes place on the Golden Isle, an open world divided into seven regions and inspired by Greek mythology. To explore this world, you’ll need to ride a mount or fly using Daedalus’s wings. You can also rely on Phosphor, a phoenix that can locate many objects on the map.

    World and travel

    However, while these lands may seem peaceful, they are inhabited by mythological creatures such as minotaurs and cyclopes. As a result, you’ll have to fight them in fierce battles and use different attacks to defeat them. Don’t forget to use your bow and various powers that you’ll unlock as you progress.

    Creatures and combat

    Immortals Fenyx Rising is appreciated by 73% of players on Steam, based on over 4,530 reviews. If we look at Metacritic, it has a Metascore of 79 despite a user score of 7.4. Players enjoy its world, story, and its graphics. But there are several flaws to consider. Indeed, the puzzles are criticized, and the combat is repetitive and lacks variety. In addition, there are many platform sequences, which have disappointed some players.

    Reception and pricing concerns

    However, Immortals Fenyx Rising is currently priced at $7.99 on Steam instead of $39.99 until May 20, 2026. But according to SteamDB, its lowest price was $3.99 on June 27, 2024, during a 90% discount.


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  • Forza Horizon 6 Reviews: Mostly Positive With Caveats

    Forza Horizon 6 Reviews: Mostly Positive With Caveats

    Key Takeaway

    – Stunning visuals, but the world feels “empty” with wide roads and sparse traffic, especially in Tokyo.
    – PC VRAM matters: 8 GB variants struggle to hit 60 FPS at 1080p with DLSS Quality + Extreme+RT; 16 GB variants are significantly faster, with ~12 GB VRAM usage at these settings.
    – Console performance is strong (Series X/S) with good visuals and smooth play, but pop-in exists and not all ray tracing features are present compared to PC.
    – Frame generation helps a lot: 4x FG can push FPS over 120, and the Extreme preset without RT + TAA gives around 64 FPS at 1080p—useful as a VRAM-friendly starting point.

    Early reviews for Forza Horizon 6 are out, and for the most part, the game looks quite promising. In our first impressions video, we compared the performance on an RTX 5060 gaming laptop and one with an RTX 5090. The game is well-optimized (check out our benchmarks), looks stunning, and is fun to play, but there are some aspects that could leave racers wanting for more.

    Initial impressions

    With the review embargo lifted, several channels have released their reviews after testing the game for a couple of weeks. In Digital Foundry’s review, John mentions that the game is “beautiful but empty,” pointing to the wider roads with minimal traffic. While Tokyo has been recreated really well in Forza Horizon 6, the streets feel empty. This was the larger community’s feedback as well after the first gameplay footage dropped.

    Community reaction

    On Xbox consoles, both the Series X and S, the game looks and runs great. Pop-in is an issue, but not as much as Forza Horizon 5, John notes. Also, consoles don’t get the full ray tracing feature set when compared to the PC version. The Japan festival seems to have the exact same presentation as Forza Horizon 5’s Mexico festival.

    Platform differences

    For a more technical preview, Hardware Unboxed tested the game on 8 GB and 16 GB VRAM versions of an RTX 5060 Ti. The results were not very surprising as the 8 GB variant struggled to reach 60 FPS at 1080p with DLSS quality and the Extreme + RT (ray tracing) preset. However, the 16 GB variant was 56% faster with average framerates in the low 70s. At these settings, Forza Horizon 6 demands around 12 GB VRAM. We found similar results with our RTX 5060-powered Lenovo Legion 7a, with the game running at around 37 FPS at these settings.

    Technical notes

    That being said, the Extreme preset (without RT) + TAA looks pretty good and delivers a solid 64 FPS average at 1080p, so those with limited VRAM can use that as a starting point to tweak settings. Furthermore, FG (frame generation) helps greatly with 4x FG, pushing framerates to over 120 FPS.

    Performance takeaways

    Overall, Forza Horizon 6 is looking like a great addition to the series. It is releasing on May 19 on Xbox consoles and PC, and our first impressions come from Digital Foundry on YouTube and Hardware Unboxed on YouTube.

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  • Subnautica 2 hits 460K Steam players on early access release

    Subnautica 2 hits 460K Steam players on early access release

    Key Takeaway

    – Subnautica 2 achieved strong early traction with a peak of 400,000+ concurrent players within an hour of launch.
    – It ranks 3rd in Steam’s most played games and has already outpaced some 2026 AAA titles in momentum.
    – Pre-release demand was massive: over 5 million wishlists on Steam and a free gift to supporters.
    – Krafton controversy resolved with CEO reinstatement and an extended bonus window; Unknown Worlds hopes high Steam numbers help meet sales targets; game is on Xbox Game Pass and priced at $29.99.

    Data pointed to a successful debut for Unknown Worlds’ latest underwater survival game. However, on Subnautica 2 early access release date, the title may be beating all expectations. Within an hour of its launch time, it had eclipsed a peak concurrent Steam player count of 400,000.

    Early Momentum

    Subnautica 2 ranks 3rd among the most played Steam games on Valve’s site. However, it has already dethroned some of the leading AAA performers on the marketplace in 2026. With game of the year ambitions, Crimson Desert topped out at over 276,000 players about 10 days after its arrival. Meanwhile, Resident Evil Requiem reached a high-water mark of just above 344,000.

    Slay the Spire 2 is a greater challenge, with a benchmark of 574,638 players. Nevertheless, the project could yet dethrone the popular deckbuilder. More relevant to the sequel, the original Subnautica maxxed out at 51,156 players 8 years ago.

    Notable Benchmarks

    While the Subnautica 2 Steam player count impresses, there were indications of a triumphant launch. More than 5 million buyers had added the title to their Steam wishlists by its early access release date. As the most wanted game on the site, that achievement prompted the studio to hand out a free gift to supporters.

    It’s also worth noting that the oceanic survival adventure is available on Xbox Game Pass. While less expensive at $29.99 than most AAA competitors, that wasn’t the case with Crimson Desert and Resident Evil Requiem.

    With developers and publisher Krafton at odds, fans had urged gamers to buy the title before its release date. In 2025, Krafton was accused of firing the leadership of Unknown Worlds to sabotage the project. It’s suspected that if the game didn’t meet sales targets, the company could avoid paying out a $250 million bonus.

    A court has since reinstated the studio’s CEO and extended the bonus payout window. Defenders of Unknown Worlds believe a high Subnautica 2 Steam player count will help meet that goal.


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  • Asus 16-Inch Gaming Laptop With 64GB RAM North America

    Asus 16-Inch Gaming Laptop With 64GB RAM North America

    Key Takeaway

    – US launch: ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 starts at $3,699 with Core Ultra 9 386H, RTX 5070 Ti, 32 GB RAM and 1 TB; upgrading to 64 GB RAM raises price to $4,799 with no other changes.
    – US high-end pricing for other GU606 configurations has not yet been disclosed.
    – Canada top-tier pricing: RTX 5080 with 64 GB RAM and 2 TB is CAD 6,999 (~$5,099); RTX 5090 with the same RAM is CAD 7,699 (~$5,610); RTX 5090-powered models aren’t being sold in Canada at publication.
    – Canada offers RTX 5060, 5070, 5070 Ti, and 5080 variants (pricing published in CAD).

    Asus has quietly started selling the ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) in North America as a replacement for the 2025 models we have already reviewed (curr. $2,799 on Amazon). For context, the company unveiled its new 16 inch laptop in January during CES 2026. However, it waited until the end of March before confirming how much the ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 would cost in the UK.

    US market timing

    Now, it has followed suit by revealing the prices of two SKUs that will be avialble in the US. Currently, Asus states that the ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 will start at $3,699 with an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU, 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. Inexplicably, configuring the laptop with 64 GB of RAM increases its price to $4,799 while making no other changes.

    For the time being, Asus has not confirmed how much high-tier models will cost in the US. The company charges CAD 6,999 (~$5,099) for a GeForce RTX 5080 with 64 GB of RAM and 2 TB of storage, though. Meanwhile, the ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 runs to CAD 7,699 (~$5,610) with a GeForce RTX 5090 and the same amount of RAM.

    Canadian pricing snapshot

    Asus is not selling any GeForce RTX 5090-powered models in Canada at the time of publication. Conversely, GeForce RTX 5060, GeForce RTX 5070, GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, and GeForce RTX 5080 models are available. Asus has priced these variants as follows in Canada:

    Asus Canada & Asus US

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  • ROG Zephyrus G14: Asus 14in gaming laptop in NA without RTX 5080

    ROG Zephyrus G14: Asus 14in gaming laptop in NA without RTX 5080

    Key Takeaway

    – GU405 (Intel Panther Lake) is now available in North America; GA403 (AMD) hasn’t shown up yet; US price for GU405 is $3,599.
    – No GeForce RTX 5080 variants listed in North America; UK pricing shows RTX 5080 at about 19% more than the RTX 5070 Ti-based version.
    – ROG Zephyrus G14 (2026) supports up to 2 TB of storage; exact pricing for higher-storage configurations is not disclosed.
    – Canada has its own SKU lineup and rollout notes, with GA403 still not observed in NA.

    Over a month has passed since Asus released the ROG Zephyrus G14 (2026) in Europe. Now available in places like the UK, this year’s ROG Zephyrus G14 can be purchased with AMD Gorgon Point or Intel Panther Lake processors. For reference, Asus distinguishes these with GA403 and GU405 model numbers, respectively.

    North American release

    Now, Asus has released the GU405 in North America. Currently, we cannot find any references to the GA403, which effectively replaces last year’s Ryzen 9 270 and GeForce RTX 5060-based model (curr. $1,859). For context, this model is Asus’ cheaper alternative to the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370-based models we reviewed last year. As it stands, Asus is selling the following SKUs in Canada:

    Pricing snapshot

    Also, Asus has confirmed that the latter will reach the US for $3,599. The company clarifies that the ROG Zephyrus G14 (2026) should be available with up to 2 TB of storage too, although pricing remains unknown for now. Surprisingly, Asus has not yet listed any GeForce RTX 5080 variants in North America. For reference, the company charges 19% more for the GeForce RTX 5080 in the UK compared to a RTX 5070 Ti-backe version.


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  • Xiaomi 17 Max Official Reveal: Key Flagship Features

    Xiaomi 17 Max Official Reveal: Key Flagship Features

    Key Takeaway

    – 6.9-inch OLED display (similar to Xiaomi 17 Pro Max) with 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 3,500 nits peak brightness, and 2,160Hz PWM dimming.
    – Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 flagship chipset (same as other 17-series models).
    – 200MP main camera with Leica tuning and a periscope telephoto lens offering 3x optical zoom.
    – 8,000mAh battery, the largest in the Xiaomi 17 lineup.
    – May launch in China; global availability is unclear with hints of a wider release possible.

    The Xiaomi 17 Max is set to launch in May in China. Ahead of the launch, the company has confirmed some key details of the new flagship device. A standout feature is its large 6.9-inch screen, and the company says the display will be similar to the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max.

    Display and timing

    For context the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max uses an OLED panel supplied by TCL CSOT, it comes with a resolution of 1,200 x 2,608 pixels and supports a refresh rate of 120Hz. Other display features include HDR10+, Dolby Vision, a peak brightness of 3,500 nits, and high-frequency PWM dimming at 2,160Hz.

    Tech specs and context

    The Xiaomi 17 Max is confirmed to feature Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. This is the same chipset that powers other models in the lineup, including the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.

    Camera and battery details

    While the entire lineup uses a 50MP primary camera, the Xiaomi 17 Max will feature a 200MP main camera. It will also feature a periscope telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom and Leica tuning. Notably, the device packs the largest battery in the lineup with an 8,000mAh capacity. There is no official word on the global availability of the phone. However, a recent leak suggested that Xiaomi could introduce the smartphone in markets outside China. Xiaomi on Weibo


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  • TESS Maps Nearly 6,000 Exoplanets Across the Universe

    TESS Maps Nearly 6,000 Exoplanets Across the Universe

    Key Takeaway

    – TESS detects exoplanets by monitoring brightness changes of stars over roughly month-long sky observations.
    – A set of 96 observations (2018–2025) has yielded nearly 6,000 exoplanets, with about 700 confirmed (blue) and over 5,000 candidates (orange).
    – The mission has found a wide range of planets, from Mercury-sized to larger than Jupiter, including some in the habitable zone.
    – This work advances the search for life beyond Earth, though further studies are needed to confirm and understand these worlds.

    If life exists on Earth, no one know if it exists elsewhere in the universe. To answer this question, several missions have been launched over the years, like NASA’s TESS satellite, which recently released an image showing nearly 6,000 exoplanets.

    Mission scope

    This satellite has powerful instruments, and to detect these new worlds, it observes large regions of space for about a month, letting astronomers detect changes in the brightness of various stars.

    Observation cadence

    As a result, astronomers combined 96 observations made by this satellite between April 2018 and September 2025, allowing them to discover nearly 6,000 new worlds. Thus, in this image, the blue dots represent approximately 700 confirmed exoplanets. Each of these worlds is unique, and some even orbit two stars. As for the orange dots, they represent more than 5,000 potential exoplanets. In addition, the Milky Way is also visible at the center of this image.

    Attribution and numbers

    Therefore, the work of TESS is very important, as Rebekah Hounsell, a TESS associate project scientist at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, notes.

    Expert perspective

    Over the last eight years, TESS has become a fire hose of exoplanet science. It has helped us find planets of all different sizes, from Mercury-like ones to those larger than Jupiter. Some of them are in the habitable zone, where liquid water might be possible on the surface, an important factor in our search for life beyond Earth.

    Impact and outlook

    Thus, the discovery of these new worlds could shed light on an important mystery. However, further studies will be needed to find answers.

    NASA Science

    Image source: NASA Hubble Space Telescope, Unsplash, NASA/MIT/TESS and Veselin Kostov (University of Maryland College Park)


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  • New Microsoft Xbox Controller Debuts in Two Colours

    New Microsoft Xbox Controller Debuts in Two Colours

    Key Takeaway

    – Microsoft is reportedly developing a non-traditional Xbox controller intended as a cloud-gaming companion, not primarily accessibility-focused.
    – It retains asymmetrical sticks and a concave D-pad, but uses short-throw triggers to shrink the controller’s size.
    – Leaked details point to a Realtek RTL8730E modem (Bluetooth 5.3, Wi‑Fi 6) and a dual-core ARM Cortex-A7 CPU at 1.2 GHz.
    – Pricing, availability, and color variants (black/white) are unknown, and there’s no confirmation on simultaneous releases.

    Tecnoblog has discovered that Microsoft is developing a new style of Xbox controller. In the last decade or so, all Xbox controllers have stuck to a familiar form factor. However, Microsoft have departed from that design in the past, as with the Xbox Adaptive Controller in 2018 and the Xbox Adaptive Joystick a few years later, which was presented alongside the 8BitDo Lite SE (curr. $44).

    Design shift

    By the looks of things, the two controllers pictured below has not been designed with accessibility in mind. Instead, they are expected to serve as an Xbox Cloud gaming companion. To that end, the controller retains asymmetrical analog sticks and a concave d-pad. Also, it seems that Microsoft has adopted short-throw triggers to minimise the controller’s size.

    Tech specs teased

    Technoblog claims to have seen documentation showing a Realtek RTL8730E modem and a CPU with two ARM Cortex-A7 cores running at 1.2 GHz. Unfortunately, it has not published this document yet. Nonetheless, the Realtek RTL8730E offers Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. Pricing and availability remain unknown at this stage. Likewise, the leak does not reveal what Microsoft intends to call the controller. Seemingly, the company plans to launch black and white variants. Whether these receive simultaneous releases is unclear at this stage, too.


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  • HP EliteBoard G1a Launches in North America; Global Rollout Soon

    HP EliteBoard G1a Launches in North America; Global Rollout Soon

    Key Takeaway

    – HP EliteBoard G1a keeps the Raspberry Pi 400/500 form factor but is significantly more powerful, broadening its PC-like capabilities.
    – After a limited March rollout, the G1a is now available in North America (Canada and the US); Europe launch date remains unconfirmed.
    – Pricing and SKUs vary: Canada CAD 2,609 (Ryzen AI 5 Pro 340, 24 GB RAM, 512 GB); US retailers show roughly $1,534–$2,269 (Ryzen AI 5 Pro 340 or 7 Pro 360; 16–24 GB RAM; 256–512 GB storage); all include a 3-year warranty and Wolf Pro Security.
    – Key sale channels include HP’s US/Canada listings, B&H Photo Video, and Amazon.

    The EliteBoard G1a has taken a few months to come to market. To recap, HP presented its keyboard-cum-PC in January during CES 2026. While the EliteBoard G1a maintains the form factor of the Raspberry Pi 400 or Raspberry Pi 500, HP’s offering is considerably more powerfull than Raspberry Pi’s existing alternatives.

    Initially, the company claimed that it would begin selling the device in March. However, that was only the case in select markets. As we covered at the time, HP only listed the EliteBoard G1a in Hong Kong and Japan. That has now changed though, with the device’s release across North America.

    Market Availability

    Currently HP is selling the EliteBoard G1a in Canada for CAD 2,609 with an AMD Ryzen AI 5 Pro 340 chipset, 24 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage. By contrast, the US has received seven SKUs with the following specifications:

    All these SKUs come with a 3-year warranty and Wolf Pro Security included. Moreover, B&H Photo Video is selling three SKUs, priced between $1,539 and $2,269 with the Ryzen AI 5 Pro 340 and Ryzen AI 7 Pro 360, respectively. Similarly, the EliteBoard G1a currently starts at $1,534 with the Ryzen AI 5 Pro 340, 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage.

    Pricing Snapshot

    Meanwhile, HP is yet to confirm when the EliteBoard G1a will reach other markets like Europe, despite showcasing the device across its German and UK websites. In the meantime, please see our detailed review for full details and impressions of HP’s unusual PC.

     


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  • Epic Games Store Reveals First May 2026 Free Mystery Games

    Epic Games Store Reveals First May 2026 Free Mystery Games

    Key Takeaway

    – Freebies: Sunderfolk (co-op turn-based RPG with ability cards) and Telltale Batman Shadows Edition (bundle of Batman: The Telltale Series + Batman: The Enemy Within with Shadows Mode and remastered visuals); free until May 21, 2026.
    – Sunderfolk highlights: tabletop-inspired, approachable rules, party-cohesion focus, supports local and online co-op; campaign is relatively short; Steam shows ~1,600 reviews with 94% positive.
    – Batman Shadows Edition highlights: adds noir Shadows Mode and remastered textures; includes two DLCs; content-rich package; Telltale Batman is narrative-driven with limited puzzles, Enemy Within has stronger villains and spicier combat but still limited variety.
    – Value and caveats: estimated retail value $79.95; deal subject to time restrictions and availability; price changes may occur.

    Epic Games Store has kicked off the May 2026 mystery free game giveaway event, and the first two freebies are now available to claim. These two were hidden under banners before, and the platform had previously shared hints, but almost all guesses were far from what has been revealed.

    May Freebies Spotlight

    Among the first two are Sunderfolk, a turn-based RPG built for co-operative play. Each of the players gets to control a character class, and they get to use ability cards in each turn. It has both local and online co-op modes, and it emphasizes party synergy.

    Sunderfolk Overview

    The clever tabletop principle adaptation of this Epic Games Store free game is well praised, and the rules are very approachable. However, the campaign is relatively short, and players often point out occasional balance issues. On Steam, it currently has over 1,600 reviews, of which 94% are positive, which is not a bad rating for a 2025 release.

    Reception & Steam Stats

    As for the second free game, it’s mostly a game collection: Telltale Batman Shadows Edition. It combines Batman: The Telltale Series and Batman: The Enemy Within into one package, and includes two DLCs as well. So, it goes without saying that there’s a good amount of content available.

    Shadows Edition Bundle

    This bundle also adds a new noir-style “Shadows Mode,” which gives the game a darker theme, and the remastered textures with hand-recolored visuals make it worth revisiting for those who have already finished the two games.

    Shadows Mode & Visuals

    Regarding the games themselves, Batman – The Telltale Series is known for its strong, character-driven narrative with accessible detective segments. However, the gameplay depth is limited, and it’s light on puzzles. Since its 2016 release, it has received over 7,600 reviews on Steam, with 86% of them being positive.

    Batman Telltale Series Details

    Batman: The Enemy Within – The Telltale Series, is darker and is praised for its stronger villain dynamics. The combat is also spicier than the first iteration, but the mechanical variety is still limited. It was released in 2017, and currently, it has over 4,200 reviews on Steam, with 94% of them being positive.

    Batman Enemy Within Details

    Value-wise, this giveaway is worth $79.95 if the retail value is considered. Epic Games Store will offer the two as free games until May 21, 2026. Check out the videos below to learn more about these two freebies.

     

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