While neither company has confirmed this as of yet, according to the report, anonymous sources have indicated that with Samsung’s help in making more chips for the Switch 2, Nintendo will be able to stock 20 million units of the console by March 2026. The report also points out that, with this deal with Nintendo, Samsung will be able to better invest in its chip making divisions in order to compete with TSMC – the company that has been largely behind the fabrication of most major chips in the world – on a larger scale.

Going by the report, chip manufacturing may not be where the partnership between Samsung and Nintendo ends. While the Korean company has also made memory modules for Nintendo, another source has said that Samsung is trying to convince Nintendo to go with OLED displays when it decides to release a refresh of the Switch 2 down the line.

During a recent earnings report, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa stated that the forecast for Switch 2 unit sales was set at 15 million. During a Q&A session with investors, Furukawa also spoke about how the company might decide to raise the console’s price later on depending on how the situation with the US tariffs on imported goods plays out. The priority for now, however, will be to popularise the console.

“At this time, the top priority is to quickly popularize the Switch 2 hardware,” said Furukawa. “If the assumptions regarding tariffs change significantly, we would like to consider what price adjustments we should make and implement them after considering various factors.”

Furukawa also noted that the relatively conservative sales forecast for the Switch 2 happened because the company is aware that its higher price tag over its predecessor might end up being an obstacle to wider adoption during the console’s first year in the market. “Since the Switch 2 is priced higher than the original Switch, we recognize that there will be considerable hurdles in achieving the console’s widespread adoption in the early stages,” he said.

When it comes to production runs causing stock shortages, however, Furukawa said that it was essentially a non-issue. “We’ve set projected sales for the Nintendo Switch 2 in the ongoing fiscal year at 15 million units,” he said. “This figure is based on a target comparable to sales of the original Nintendo Switch during the 10-month period from its launch in March 2017 to the end of December the same year.”

The Nintendo Switch 2 will be coming out on June 5. Industry analysis firm DFC Intelligence has gone as far as to say that it might be the most important console launch ever.

Alienware 32 4K QD-OLED Gaming Monitor

Marketed as ‘the world’s first 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor’, This Alienware powerhouse outperforms the competition in a number of ways. Alienware’s Quantum Dot technology aims to eliminate the halo effect surrounding lights and accompanies the monitor’s Dolby Vision HDR well to deepen the range of colors and clarity. And if you need something that’ll help with eye strain, this features built-in low-blue light technology. You can only get the exclusive 4K edition in the 32-inch package, but it’s worth it if you want that extra punch in visual dynamics.

SAMSUNG 49-Inch Odyssey G9 Series

Here’s our ultrawide monitor pick: the Samsung Odyssey G9. This thing manages to wrap around a full desk with a 1000R curve and still allow for complete peripheral vision. Besides the usual HDR visual flair, this monitor supplies one of the most impressive refresh rates in the business at a rapid 240Hz and 1ms response time. This thing can also be used in place of a multi-monitor setup with its built-in picture-by-picture mode allowing divided screens from two separate sources all displayed on the same monitor.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Headset

The Arctis Nova Pro is a true all-in-one headset. The multi-system connect feature allows for you to listen to different devices simultaneously through Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless. The audio itself features some of the best 360-degree spatial audio in the industry and even allows you to customize the sound yourself. This headset is intended to be used alongside SteelSeries’ Sonar equalizer software, which detects specific game sounds like footsteps and allows for custom tweaking of each parameter. The ClearCast Gen2 mic is regarded as a good mic, but the AI noise canceling needs some improvement.

Razer Viper V3 Pro Mouse

The ‘Pro’ in the name isn’t just for show; pro esports players tested and helped develop this mouse for ultimate precision. The optical sensor in this thing is quoted at providing 99.8% accuracy, with the option to adjust levels yourself in the software. The granular adjustments possible with this mouse allow for a very personalized experience, even if the base settings are lightning-fast already.

SteelSeries QcK Prism RGB Cloth Gaming Mouse Pad

SteelSeries has long been the industry standard for precision mouse pads and the QcK Prism is the creme of the crop. Gamers come to this pad for the patented QcK micro woven cloth because of its track record providing uninterrupted mouse swips. I particularly like the XL version with RGB lighting since it illuminates under and around your keyboard and not just the mouse.

Herman Miller x Logitech Embody

First off, the back position of this chair looks like it was grafted from Isaac Clarke’s suit from Dead Space, so that’s awesome. This is a cool chair, and a very high-end one at that. The sprockets on the back of the chair allow any position you take to form into a doctor-recommended lumbar position for spine support. It’s like memory foam but for gaming chairs. The tremendous H-flexor structure accounts for the lack of a headrest with its upright support. The seat cushion uses a patented cooling foam technology that keeps the cloth from getting too hot as well, allowing for unsightly hours of gameplay without too much discomfort.

Eureka Ergonomic 72″ Wing-Shaped Gaming Desk

The winged design of this Eureka desk allows for a complete PC setup with all the bells and whistles already included. The cupholder, headphone rests, phone holders, and RGB convertible shelving is icing on an already substantial cake. Don’t like how it’s arranged in promotional material? The layout is customizable to accommodate a variety of setups. This desk is going to fit any computing setup you can imagine, capable of holding 300 pounds with a 72-inch width that can sit the largest monitors out there.

Homall Gaming Desk

If you want a more compact, cheaper solution that’s no less stylish, here’s the 44-inch $69.99 Homall Gaming Desk. If you’re sick of fake wood breaking with other desks, you might prefer Homall’s metal frame construction. This gaming desk includes a small cupholder and headphone clip along with a full-sized mousepad free of charge.

DualShock 4 with Back Button Attachment

PlayStation’s DualShock 4 has long been held as the best controller for PC use due to its durable design and precise buttons. This beats out the recent DualSense because of its ease of compatibility and lighter weight. We recommend you get the back button accessory with it because of the 16 different functions that can be programmed to the two added back buttons.

8bitdo Pro 2 Retro Controller

8bitdo makes the highest quality PC-compatible retro controllers and the Pro 2 is the most versatile of their lineup. Just read the Amazon reviews and you’ll be assuaged that you’re not getting some cheaply made product. The Pro 2 variant adds handles to the base controller, making this a kind of ode to the original PS1, as opposed to the Pro 1’s Super Nintendo paddle design. The 8bitdo is a perfect controller for classic RPGs, platformers, and other games with simple control schemes.

NZXT QUE 2 RGB Lighting Kit

Tired of shopping for a variety of accessories for your lighting setup only to find out they’re incapable with each other? This all-in-one lighting kit illuminates the back of your PC monitor with custom colors and a range of light intensity that you can adjust. Ambient mode cycles between colors, but you can also set it so each strip displays a static color of your choice.

Asus ROG Azoth Gaming Keyboard

This keyboard may look small and unassuming at first glance, but don’t let its appearance fool you, there’s some fun features here. First, I have to point out the OLED display in the upper right. You can set it to monitor various PC settings, from framerate to song info. What gets me is this display can even play custom animations. This keyboard features RGB lighting, swappable keys for lighter action, and tuned mechanical switches for fast keystrokes and durability.

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gaming Keyboard

This keyboard differentiates itself from the Asus with its esports-minded tenkeyless design. SteelSeries uses a state-of-the-art hypermagnetic switch to allow a whopping 40 levels of sensitivity that you can adjust. Keys can be programmed to contain two functions in one, and the RGB lighting doesn’t hurt either. This is your pick if you want ludicrous levels of precision in your keystrokes.

Logitech G Pro Racing Wheel

Just about every racing game fan knows about this wheel, and for good reason. It’s got the best force feedback in its price point and has everything you could want from a sim driving experience. The magnetic gear shift paddles feel so satisfying to shift through with their mechanical weight and sound. The feel and rotation of the wheel itself is durable and responsive, with tensioned resistance just like a real vehicle wheel. The Logitech G Pro comes with an ultra-sturdy mount to attach to your gaming desk, but the pedals come sold separately. Or you can save some money and just accelerate and stop using the wheel’s face buttons, I dunno it’s up to you how sim you want to go, but this wheel is a great first step.

Razer Kitsune All-Button Arcade Controller

To differentiate from last year’s list, I’ve replaced an arcade stick with an arcade leverless controller. Leverless controllers allow for faster input speeds and negates the travel time of traditional arcade sticks. Razer has made a rock-solid arcade controller here that is even tournament-friendly thanks to its negation of left-right simultaneous inputs. This is generally considered the best leverless arcade controller thanks to its precise optical switch design, outperforming mechanical switch and button competitors by a tangible margin.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

PSVR2

Sony has now officially unveiled and named PSVR2, boasting impressive techs and design improvements, along with new controllers that should enhance VR gameplay even further. An official release date hasn’t yet been confirmed, and we don’t yet know what the headset itself is going to look like either, but with leaks claiming that PSVR2 will enter production soon ahead of a Holiday 2022 launch, there’s a chance that we don’t have to wait too long for this one.

Fortnite’s release on the Android is proceeding quite unconventionally in some ways. It was rumored earlier that the game might be exclusive to a Samsung Galaxy device for some time, and this rumor has turned out to be true for the most part. The only difference is that it won’t be exclusive only to the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 as was rumored then, but will instead be a timed exclusive for quite a few Samsung Galaxy devices.

If you own any of the following Samsung Galaxy devices – the Note 9, Tab S3, Tab S4, Note 8, S9/S9 Plus, S8/S8 Plus or S7/S7 Edge – then you will be able to start playing the game’s beta right away. Furthermore, if you buy the new Note 9 or Tab S4, you will also be able to get your hands on the new in-game Galaxy outfit. However, if you don’t own a Galaxy device, you will have to wait a few more days to join the beta.

Additionally, cross-play with all platforms is fully supported as well, which is always good news. You can register for beta access on the official website.

Well, that right there is a pretty aggressive promotion- Microsoft’s Major Nelson took to Twitter today to post one hell of an impressive deal for anybody who may still be on the fence about purchasing an Xbox One- for $500, you get the Xbox One Lego Movie Videogame bundle, alongside a 40 inch Samsung LED TV.

Considering Samsung TVs are usually considered to be really good, and go for a whole lot more, and the fact that this is a 40 incher (so pretty big), and an LED TV (so pretty good), this entire deal is simply amazing- I’d jump on it right now, if I were you.

I can see this one being a bit hit with college students- for not a lot of money, they get a TV in their dorm room, and a console which plays Halo, Call of Duty, and FIFA as well. I guess Microsoft could have bundled a better game, but I’m sure most people won’t really care about that in the long run.

Rumours are beginning to circulate around the possibility of an impending redesign of the PlayStation 4 into a new PlayStation 4 Slim. This all came to be following Samsung’s announcement that the were beginning to mass produce the first 8 gigabit [1GB] GDDR5 DRAM Memory Chips.

Rumours were compounded further when vice president of memory sales and marketing, Joo Sun Choi said “We expect that our 8Gb GDDR5 will provide original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with the best graphics memory solution available for game consoles as well as general use notebook PCs.”

Naturally, this is just a rumour and is in no way a confirmation of such developments, this is especially worth mentioning as the new hardware could quite literally be related to hundreds of other forthcoming devices, as mentioned by Mr Choi.

The only reason these rumours are gaining such rapid traction is that Sony are well known for releasing slim builds of their consoles and the fact that the PS4 is the only gaming console that is currently making use of GDDR5.

[Source]

AMD, of course, knows the console market- currently, it provides the SoC solutions for all three consoles on the market, and given each console manufacturer’s newfound insistence on hardware continuity, it is likely that it will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Therefore, when AMD talks about how it is providing hardware solutions for another, as of yet unreleased console, you have to sit up and take notice.

Speaking of future opportunities for AMD, Devinder Kumar, chief financial officer of AMD said, “I will say that one [design win] is x86 and [another] is ARM, and at least one will [be] beyond gaming, right. But that is about as much as you going to get out me today. From the standpoint [of being] fair to [customers], it is their product, and they launch it. They are going to announce it and then […] you will find out that it is AMD’s APU that is being used in those products.”

What is interesting is that this implies that the new console that he is talking about will be a real game console, as opposed to the recent dirge of Android powered microconsoles that we have gotten. Given that obvious players like Google and Amazon have already announced products in those categories, this rules all of them out.

It could be either Apple or Samsung, but honestly, the games console market, which is fiercely competitive and contracting sharply, is not an attractive proposition for a newcomer to the market, which means this console is probably by one of the big three already invested in the market. Given that the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One just released and are already rather successful, as opposed to the older Wii U which is a commercial failure, it is likely that AMD is talking about the new Nintendo console, which is expected some time in late 2016 at the earliest.

Whatever it is, hearing about new hardware makes me giddy.

Speaking to OXM, Mattrick stated that, “I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment on Sony’s vision. I think they are one of the competitors inside the space, Nintendo’s another… Apple, Google, Samsung. There’s multiple people who will bring things into the market.

“What we’re trying to do is be the premium, all-in-one device. We’re starting with the focus on core games, great gaming experiences, great graphical capabilities, and we’re tying all those things together to bring innovation that I think will be better than everyone else, all companies – insert whatever company.

“So, it’s not just Sony, it’s everyone that we’re trying to compete with, and ultimately we’re trying to bring the best product to market for consumers around the globe.”

The problem with such an approach is that it dulls the focus of what Microsoft was pretty damn good – that is, bringing high quality gaming, particularly exclusives to the market. Though the publisher/manufacturer has been under fire since the Xbox One reveal, we have been assured of E3 2013 focusing on games. So stay tuned.

Hitman: Absolution has received it’s own free companion app, Square Enix announced today. The companion app “Hitman: ICA” allows players to purchase and upgrade weapons, queue up contracts and get in-game hints.

Hitman: ICA is now available on both iOS and Android stores/devices. This app packs achievement info, stats on assassinations and even shortcuts to the YouTube channel.

Launch trailer has also been released and you can watch it below. The video is a whopping of two minutes long and it demonstrates how the features work in Hitman: ICA. This app track’s players progress throughout the game and unlocks in-game rewards.

Hopefully, this will games feel what it’s like to be a hitman in real life.

Stay tuned to GamingBolt for more news and updates.

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

From a new report by the IDC, Samsung has had a 263 percent year-on-year sales growth for Android and Windows 8 tablets and their market share grew to 15.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012. This is more than double of Q4 2011’s market share of 7.3 percent.

Apple also had a major victory with its iPad range shipping 22.9 million units. The competition however meant that the market share was down from 52 per cent in the same quarter the year before to 44 percent in 2012’s fourth quarter.

Microsoft’s Surface tablet didn’t perform so well however, shiping 900,000 units. IDC’s Ryan Reith stated that “We believe that Microsoft and its partners need to quickly adjust to the market realities of smaller screens and lower prices.

“In the long run, consumers may grow to believe that high-end computing tablets with desktop operating systems are worth a higher premium than other tablets, but until then ASPs on Windows 8 and Windows RT devices need to come down to drive higher volumes.”

Source: GIBiz