GeForce Now Upgrades to RTX 5080-Class GPUs; Battlefield 2042 Adds Iwo Jima Map and New Battle Pass
Key Takeaways
- GeForce Now upgraded to RTX 5080-class GPUs, enabling 5K/120fps streaming.
- Battlefield 2042's update 9.2.0 adds Iwo Jima map and free 60-tier Battle Pass.
- AMD's Zen 7 CPUs will retain AM5 socket compatibility, supporting up to 32 cores.
- Nvidia debuts RTX Hair in Indiana Jones, Borderlands 4 bundle with RTX 50 GPUs.
- ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5080 GPU discounted to $999.99 on Amazon in August.
Top Stories
Nvidia GeForce Now upgrades to RTX 5080-class GPUs with 5K/120fps streaming and expanded game library.
In August-September 2025, Nvidia upgraded GeForce Now with Blackwell architecture GPUs equivalent to RTX 5080, enabling 5K/120fps streaming and supporting over 4,500 games. New features include Install-to-Play, global DLSS override, Smooth Motion for RTX 40 series, and native 5K/4K streaming to LG OLEDs, enhancing PC cloud gaming.
Battlefield 2042 update adds Iwo Jima map, new weapons, aircraft, and free 60-tier Battle Pass.
On August 18, 2025, Battlefield 2042 released update 9.2.0 featuring the Iwo Jima map, new weapons, aircraft, and a free 60-tier Battle Pass with over 50 rewards, including Battlefield 6 items. The Road to Battlefield 6 event runs until October 7, preparing players for Battlefield 6's October 10 launch.
AMD plans November 2025 Financial Analyst Day; Zen 7 CPUs to retain AM5 socket.
AMD will hold its Financial Analyst Day on November 11, 2025, in New York, focusing on data center, AI, and next-gen Ryzen and RDNA products. A leak in August 2025 suggests Zen 7 CPUs will maintain AM5 socket compatibility, supporting up to 32 cores and DDR5 memory.
Nvidia introduces RTX Hair in Indiana Jones and Borderlands 4 bundle with RTX 50 GPUs.
Nvidia will debut RTX Hair rendering technology in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in September 2025, exclusive to Blackwell GPUs. Nvidia also offers a Borderlands 4 and DLC bundle free with RTX 5070 or higher GPU purchases until September 22.
RTX 5080 GPUs and Alienware PCs discounted in August 2025 sales.
In August 2025, Amazon discounted the ASUS Prime GeForce RTX 5080 GPU to $999.99, while Dell Outlet restocked Alienware Aurora R16 PCs featuring RTX 5080 and RTX 4090 GPUs at competitive prices under $2,000 and $3,000 respectively.
Game Launchpad
New game releases and previews: Mole Maiden, Sword of the Sea, Permafrost, and Cave Crave VR.
In August 2025, Mole Maiden (Sept 5 release) and Sword of the Sea (Aug 19 release) launched with unique gameplay and art styles. Permafrost survival game trailer and Cave Crave VR spelunking preview highlight upcoming PC gaming experiences.
Shenmue 3 Enhanced coming to PC, consoles, and Switch 2 with improved graphics.
Shenmue 3 Enhanced edition will launch on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2, featuring sharper textures and faster loading, with free upgrades for existing PS4 and PC owners.
Herobeat Studios announces Rewilders: The Lost Spring action roguelite.
Herobeat Studios revealed Rewilders: The Lost Spring, a third-person action roguelite with creature collection and Metroidvania elements, coming to PC, PS5, Xbox, and Switch, focusing on restoring nature in a poisoned world.
Gallipoli FPS set in WWI Middle Eastern Front announced for 2026.
BlackMill Games announced Gallipoli, a WWI first-person shooter featuring Ottoman and British forces, squad-based gameplay, and cross-play, releasing in 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Gaming Universe
Starship Troopers: Extermination adds AI Director system in Update 1.6.
On August 17-18, 2025, Starship Troopers: Extermination released Update 1.6 introducing 'The Director' AI system managing enemy spawns dynamically, plus gameplay fixes and optimizations for the 16-player co-op PC game.
Palia's Botanical Bliss update adds new plants, events, and removes inventory limits.
On August 18, 2025, Palia launched the Botanical Bliss update with 10 new plants, a Flower Bloom event, stylish planters, and removed quest bag inventory limits, celebrating its two-year anniversary across all platforms.
Hardware Arena
2025 gaming monitor guide highlights top models from AOC, Alienware, Dell, and LG.
Engadget's 2025 gaming monitor guide recommends the AOC Q27G3XMN as best overall and Alienware AW2725DF OLED for OLED gaming, with options ranging from budget to ultrawide 4K OLEDs.
Nvidia RTX TITAN ADA prototype with 18,432 cores and 48GB VRAM showcased.
In August 2025, Nvidia's unreleased RTX TITAN ADA prototype was revealed featuring 18,432 cores, 48GB VRAM, and a 900W power adapter, consuming up to 600W under overclocking.
Industry Insights
Assassin's Creed Shadows leads 2025 European game sales amid market decline.
Assassin's Creed Shadows is the top-selling game in Europe for 2025, despite a 6% overall decline in European game sales and a 9% drop in physical sales through July 28.
Review Radar
PCMag critiques Microsoft Copilot+ PC AI features as underwhelming.
A year-long test published August 18, 2025, found Microsoft Copilot+ PC AI features less compelling than cloud alternatives, with many requiring costly subscriptions and limited on-device capabilities.
Software Central
Steam updates user review scores to show language-specific ratings.
On August 18, 2025, Steam began showing language-specific user review scores for games with over 2,000 reviews and 200 in a language, improving regional relevance and translation feedback for PC gamers.
Tech Today
Nvidia enhances Project G-Assist AI and RTX Remix modding with new features and contest winners.
At Gamescom 2025, Nvidia updated Project G-Assist AI to reduce memory use by 40% and expanded RTX Remix with a new path-traced particle system launching in September. The RTX Remix modding community now has over 350 active projects and 2 million downloads.