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VRAM (Video RAM) Concerns
The main point of contention among gaming enthusiasts is the 8GB of VRAM.
Modern Game Demands: Some recent, poorly optimized titles can struggle with only 8GB of VRAM, even at 1080p resolution, often requiring users to lower texture quality and disable features like ray tracing to maintain smooth performance.
4K Goal vs. Reality: Valve marketed the Steam Machine as a console capable of 4K gaming at 60fps using upscaling technologies like AMD's FSR 3. However, many believe the 8GB VRAM allocation means that achieving consistent 4K 60fps will necessitate significant compromises in graphical settings, as the system needs enough raw frames to upscale effectively.
Affordability Compromise: Valve engineers stated that the 8GB VRAM amount was a choice made to control costs and keep the price down. This mirrors a common industry trend with mid-range GPUs.
System RAM Details
The Steam Machine comes standard with 16GB of DDR5 system RAM, which is generally considered the sweet spot for modern gaming and multitasking.
Adequate for System Needs: This amount of system RAM is sufficient for SteamOS and running most games without performance bottlenecks related to general system memory.
User Upgradeable: Unlike the VRAM which is part of the integrated GPU, the 16GB DDR5 system RAM is on standard laptop-style SODIMM sticks and can be upgraded by the user (as can the SSD storage).
In summary, the "deficit" is specific to the dedicated VRAM pool for the GPU, which can be a limiting factor in some demanding scenarios, rather than a lack of system RAm
____^^ Google
Interesting. So is the 16gb pool of normal RAM too slow for modern AAA gaming? Sound like a weird thing to cheap out on when they could just bump the VRAM to 12gb
That's a more powerful cpu but with reduced vehicles and a few less on screen character models it could look fine. Or smart changes to character model complexity. Hitman WOA Switch 2 has literally hundreds of moving on screen character models.
I wouldn't say the gta character models are that far above Cyberpunk main leads.
The city itself looks great on Switch 2 and the Phantom Liberty looks even better than that, albeit with a wavering framerate when driving in that specific area.
These are all switch 2 user screencaps from Gamefaqs
Wtf, a video just popped up in my feed for Tomb Raider, the 360 reboot one, on Switch 2 as a definitive edition.
I was kinda enjoying this game till the extended gunplay became a wall I didn't want to push over. With gyro I'd give any shooter a... shot.
Is this real though? Or the video mis labelled?
Oh shit, its real.
Really enjoyed the rebooted Tomb Raider trilogy. Cool to see them bringing them to the Switch 2.
Seems the Switch 2 version of Tomb Raider isnt based on the PS4 definitive edition and looks more like the OG version at a higher resolution and running at 60fps.
The PS4 version has more polygons and much better shadowing and more vegetation.
The switch 2 version still looks good on its own terms, but seems to be a higher resolution and higher framerate version of the Switch 1 version.
Also gyro controls seem broken at this point but mouse control works.
Aspr ported it, they do weird stuff like porting Wii Force unleashed to switch rather than the 360 version. I think switch 1 was their priority for Tomb Raider as switch 1 version wouldn't look as good as ps4 as its much lower spec.
PSA there's no upgrade path if you buy the Switch 1 version.
Ubisoft warns: Many new games flop because players switch to subscriptions, live service and free-to-play
18.11.25 - Ubisoft reports in a British financial announcement of falling revenues and a noticeable change in gaming behavior: Many new games no longer reach the attention of previous years because the preferences of players have shifted. This is reported Cityam.com.
Ubisoft points out that classic full-price games worth €60 to €70 are losing importance. Instead, users are increasingly spreading their spending between subscription offers, long-running "Games As A Service" titles, free-to-play models and cloud offers. According to Ubisoft, players fall back on a smaller portfolio, while only a few individual titles continue to achieve high sales figures.
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I think what they fail to also point out is that there's a gluttony of great, cheap indie games out there and older AAA games at lower prices.
We don't have that huge focus on one big game as we aren't game starved anymore. One thing they could do is make smaller cheaper games people are more likely to buy at launch over a $80 game.
Sony leadership ignored shrinking PlayStation market in Japan
11/18/25 - According to a report by TV Tokyo, Sony under the previous management had an attitude of indifference to the shrinking PlayStation market in Japan. The executives at the time considered it acceptable if the domestic market continued to lose importance, as they concentrated mainly on the strong global sales figures.
Although PlayStation sales expanded globally, Japan emerged as a weaker region for the brand, increasingly losing ground to Nintendo. Now Sony is making a change in strategy and is planning to reconquer the Japanese home market: In response, a new PS5 model produced exclusively for Japan will be released on 11/21/25.
The console will go on sale at an aggressive Yen 18,000 discount and will cost Yen 55,000, indicating a possible significant loss of sales. It is limited to the Japanese language and the distribution is strictly local.
According to TV Tokyo, the turnaround began when Sony IE executives learned that Nintendo was preparing a Japan-exclusive version of the Switch 2: Spurred on by this competition, Sony approved the new, Japan-focused PS5 model within just four months.
The new president, Hideaki Nishino, is considered the main driver of these measures, as he sees the ongoing decline in PlayStation's domestic presence as a major crisis. Another aspect is the Chinese market, where unrestricted Japanese PS5 consoles are resold at high markups due to strict local content regulations.
Xbox President: Next Xbox to be more powerful and allow full library portability
11/18/25 - According to Xbox President Sarah Bond, the next Xbox will offer a powerful gaming experience and allow access to existing content across multiple devices. Bond told Fortune.
In the interview, she explains how Xbox has evolved from a pure console to a comprehensive offering that combines different platforms and business models: Younger users are switching between PC, mobile devices, cloud and console more often.
Therefore, Microsoft is pursuing the approach of simplifying access to games and enabling them to be used across different devices. Bond refers to programs such as Play Anywhere, multiplayer functions across platform boundaries and cloud offerings - despite this expanded strategy, Microsoft retains its own hardware as the core of the brand.
According to Bond, the upcoming console will offer technical advances while ensuring that purchased content, identities and social connections are preserved across PC, cloud and mobile devices
AMD/NVIDIA Could Halt Budget GPU Production As Memory Shortages Force Them to Reallocate Capacity
It appears that DRAM shortages are going to affect gamers on a much larger scale than just being confined to RAM supply, as according to a report by the Korean media outlet Hankyung, it is rumored that AMD and NVIDIA are looking to "discontinue" budget-oriented GPUs, since their BOM (Bill of Materials) has risen dramatically with higher GDDR module prices. The report doesn't specifically mention which SKUs could be affected by this move, but our best guess is that NVIDIA's '60-class' and '50-class' models would most likely be the victims here.
There's no doubt that memory prices have risen 'shockingly' in the span of just a few weeks, which has given the supply chain no time to adjust at all. Companies are experiencing a 'panic buying' phase, primarily since most of the DRAM production capacity is being allocated towards the global data center buildout. In such desperate times, it is imminent that manufacturers will prioritize segments that are generating higher ROIs for them, which is why the consumer GPU production is expected to take a step back, especially for models that have 'slim' profit margins.
It is indeed unfortunate to see the state of the industry with memory shortages onboard, as they have dramatically affected the prices of individual components, with RAM modules experiencing an aggressive rise. With this report, it would not be incorrect to say that GPU prices could also 'skyrocket' within the upcoming weeks, especially for more mainstream models. Vendors like ASUS have already expressed concerns about potential price increases for consumer devices if DRAM shortages persist, and the situation appears to be worsening moving forward.
Ubisoft acting like they are not part of the problem. They have a subscription service, too!
To be fair, I don't think anybody working at Ubisoft has a clue what they're doing. And I think it's been that way for a solid 10 to 15 years.
I was just talking to a good friend yesterday who mentionned he was going to buy a new GPU. Just messaged him this so he'd know to quickly buy before stock dries up.
Apparently new smartphones are shipping with 16gb RAM so memory prices have shot up. They said memory costs can be like $92 cost per device.Yeah, I know. Just found it interesting that they released this statement when I subscribed to their service for a month and was able to play Outlaws and the latest PoP. I guess they thought " If you can't beat them, then join them."
They aren't the latest films, but there's some good stuff.
Like Netflix basic membership there's ads. Although YouTube isnt charging me.
Maybe for old games they could do a free with ads model? I'm sure people would be likely to play games if they're free.
And the advertising pays the publisher, not us.
Siliconera - I knew I'd like Kirby Air Riders, since I enjoyed the GameCube original, but I didn't expect this game to feel stronger than Mario Kart World. It's so enjoyable and robust. There's room for both racers on the Switch 2, of course. But if I had to pick a favorite and never touch the other game again, I'd pick Kirby Air Riders every time. 100
Screenrant - For me, Kirby Air Riders manages to stand head and shoulders above Mario Kart World as one of the definitive racing games on the Switch platform. 90
Atomix - For those feeling nostalgic for the GameCube version, I promise you'll have an amazing time; it's the same concept, but executed almost to perfection. 90
Vandal - It's a video game that might initially seem off-putting due to a lack of understanding: it's difficult to grasp what's happening if you just walk past the screen without having played the game before. Even in the first few matches, it might seem simple or chaotic . 88
Gamesurf - Kirby Air Riders is pure adrenaline! It's the return that few expected but many longed for. A game that combines accessibility, style, a good level of customization, numerous challenges to tackle, and an infinite amount of content. The game's spirit and numerous game modes offer variety and a fun-filled experience. 85
Gamespot - Kirby Air Riders is an impressive package that makes the most of its deceivingly simple mechanics. Air Ride delivers a solid kart racing experience; Top Ride is a fun--albeit a bit straightforward--distraction; City Trial is chaotic in the best way possible; and Road Trip ties it all together with its creative encounters and satisfying progression. 8
IGN - I'm not sure what's crazier: the fact that Kirby Air Riders exists, or the fact that it's this great. It's a blast in local or online multiplayer during its traditional races and unique battle mode, and its frankly absurd amount of fun achievements to chase, meaningful unlockables, and deep customization makes it great for solo players, too. 8
Metro GameCentral - The most baffling Nintendo release of recent years, with a quasi-remake of one of the GameCube's worst games, that seems specifically designed to irritate and confuse would-be players. 4/10