Latest news with #PaulAtreides
Gizmodo
6 days ago
- Gizmodo
Intel, Not AMD, Could Be the Secret to Kickass Next-Gen Handheld PCs
Intel is an empire past its prime and is beset on all sides. Just as Paul 'Muad'Dib' Atreides of Dune monologued on the many futures he perceived, there is 'a narrow way through' for the beleaguered chipmaker. The way forward could be with a newfound gaming focus on its next-gen chips. Its desktop CPUs may be getting a gamer-centric upgrade, but the real surprise may be how it could win out in a market it has yet to truly compete in: handheld gaming. Handheld gaming PCs need Intel to shake things up. It's a thought I couldn't shake loose as soon as I saw leaked benchmark figures for the upcoming MSI Claw A8. The handheld is a sequel to the less-than-stellar MSI Claw 7 and the chunky, though incredibly powerful, MSI Claw 8 AI+. Compared to the last two Intel-based handhelds, the A8 is running on the upcoming AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme. That chip is an APU, aka an accelerated processing unit, which is a CPU that contains graphics processing capabilities. AMD first announced its flagship chip for handhelds in January this year. We have yet to get our hands on any device showcasing the chip's capabilities in the many months since then. AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme@17W (MSI Claw A8)vsIntel Core Ultra 7 258V@17W (MSI Claw 8 AI+) — HXL (@9550pro) August 3, 2025 Leaked benchmarks stemming from Chinese-language social media may explain why we haven't seen too much about AMD's latest chip. The Claw 8 AI+ used an Intel Core Ultra 258V processor made for lightweight PCs, which meant it supported Intel's ARC 140V graphics capabilities. These benchmarks show the Intel and AMD chips are nearly on par with each other in games like Far Cry 6 and Hitman 3. The Ryzen Z2 Extreme gets around five more frames per second in titles like Assassin's Creed Shadows and Monster Hunter Wilds. Sure, AMD's chip seems better than Intel's at this wattage, but it's not that much better considering the 258V wasn't explicitly built with this form factor in mind. More leaked benchmarks from the MSI Claw A8 don't give AMD much more of a soapbox to tout its capabilities. YouTuber ETA Prime showcased how the Ryzen Z2 Extreme compares to the last-gen Z1 Extreme from close to two years ago. The Z2 is running on the chipmaker's latest Zen 5 chip microarchitecture and ostensibly has more cores on the updated RDNA 3.5 GPU cores to output better graphics capabilities. While it does much better in synthetic benchmarks than the previous gen, in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the Z2 Extreme only showed an average of four or five frames per second higher than the Z1 Extreme. If you already have a handheld with the older flagship, it will be hard to justify dropping even more money on an updated device. Rumors suggest the high-end handhelds of today could be very costly. AMD's latest may be disappointing to some, but Intel may actually have a chance of beating its major competitor at its own game. For one, Intel's general manager of client AI and technical marketing—Robert Hallock—previously confirmed with Laptop Mag (RIP) that Intel plans to make handheld-centric chips. Those Intel chips mentioned before, which are part of the Lunar Lake family of CPUs, could become even more graphically capable with the next generation (codenamed Panther Lake). Leaks of a shipping manifest posted last week by leaker X86deadandback (via PCGamer) indicate the next generation of Intel's mobile chips will have 50% more of its graphics cores. The latest rumors suggest Intel will also upgrade its graphics cores from Xe2 to Xe3. We don't know what that means for practicality's sake. More cores with better rendering capabilities don't speak to the chip's architecture. If it can combine better graphics capabilities with better AI upscaling capabilities than the current XeSS 2, Intel's next mobile chips could be a far larger boon for handhelds than AMD. The only question remaining is whether we'll see a handheld with an 'Intel Inside' sticker beaming like a happy child on the side of the device. We know the Lenovo Legion Go 2, alongside the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X, will house the Z2 Extreme. The other lingering issue is that Valve's SteamOS, which is—for the time being—a better option for handhelds than Windows, only supports AMD's Ryzen Z series of APUs, not Intel. There are many mountains to climb before 'Team Blue' can make a statement, and it better make one soon before AMD can catch up.
Geek Tyrant
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
DUNE: PART THREE Officially Begins Filming – Denis Villeneuve Shares Production Still — GeekTyrant
The sands of Arrakis are stirring again as Dune: Part Three is officially in production. Director Denis Villeneuve has kicked off filming on what will be his final chapter in the Dune saga. It was also revealed that the movie will not be titled Dune: Messiah as many expected. Villeneuve shared the first production still, giving fans a familiar but haunting glimpse at the vast desert landscape that continues to define Paul Atreides' fate. This third installment won't really be a continuation of the first two films. It's something else entirely. Villeneuve previously said: 'First, it's important that people understand that for me, it was really a diptych. It was really a pair of movies that will be the adaptation of the first book. That's done and that's finished. 'If I do a third one, which is in the writing process, it's not like a trilogy. It's strange to say that, but if I go back there, it's to do something that feels different and has its own identity.' Dune: Part Three will not be a traditional sequel in the trilogy sense. It's a tonal shift. A new lens. A different beast entirely. And while Villeneuve has made it clear this is the end of his journey in the Dune universe, the franchise may still continue without him. Warner Bros. reportedly has its eyes on a fourth film and might tap Gareth Edwards ( Rogue One, Godzilla, Jurassic World Rebirth ) to take over the reins. The filmmaker previously shared some plot details saying that the subject of war would be at the center of the adaptation adding that in Dune: Part Two , 'in order to save his friends, [Paul Atredies] has to start a war.' He also confirmed that Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh, and Anya Taylor-Joy would all be returning to the sequel. Taylor-Joy's Alia Atreides was introduced very briefly in Dune 2. Villenueve said: "They have to return. They are with the main cast when it happens, and more worms. What can I say?" Frank Herbert's Dune: Messiah takes place 12 years after the events of the first book and follows Paul Atreides, now Emperor of the Known Universe. Paul's rule is marked by political intrigue, religious fervor, and the consequences of his prescient visions. As he navigates the complexities of his position, Paul faces challenges from various factions, including the powerful Bene Gesserit Sisterhood, who seek to control his bloodline. Amidst this turmoil, Paul's relationship with his wife, Chani, and his young children adds a personal dimension to his struggles. Robert Pattinson joins the film as the shape-shifting Face Dancer Skytale. Also appearing are Nakoa-Wolf Momoa and Ida Brooke as the twin children of Paul and Chani, Leto II and Ghanima. Jason Momoa also returns as a Ghola version of Duncan Idaho. Are you excited for this third chapter of Dune ?
Daily Mail
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Timothee Chalamet's fans convinced he's hiding bold new look on Kylie Jenner outing
Timothée Chalamet's fans were in for a shock after the star appeared to sport a buzzcut during an outing at Shellona Beach in Saint Tropez on Monday. The actor, 29, was pictured enjoying quality time with his girlfriend Kylie Jenner, 27, but it was his hair that had all the fans talking. The Dune star sported a Nike baseball cap with a babushka style green scarf wrapped around it to shield his head. But the nape of his neck appeared to be very closely shaven, prompting fans to believe Chalamet had cut off his luscious dark locks for his upcoming role in Dune: Messiah. Filming for the third part of Denis Villeneuve's franchise is reportedly set to begin in Budapest this week. 'IVE NEVER BEEN INTO RUMORS BUT GOD I REALLY HOPE CHALAMET DIDNT CUT HIS HAIR... WE CANT HAVE PAUL ATREIDES WITH A f*****g BUZZCUT,' one anxious fan wrote in reaction to the possible hair change. 'OMG BUZZ CUT!!??' another wondered. Someone else shared a clip of Natalie Portman getting her hair shaved in a movie and crying with the caption, 'Timothée Chalamet's prep for Dune: Messiah.' 'Not his divine locks!' another fan pleaded. 'Thats dedication,' yet another comment read. 'That's disappointing. I guess we're stuck with that for DUNE 3.' Many others joked that the transformation was due to his character, Paul Atreides, being a Harkonnen by blood - a plot twist that was revealed in Dune: Part Two (2024). In Villeneuve's film adaptations Harkonnen men are depicted as bald. 'He's gone full Harkonnen,' one fan wrote. 'Well that makes is Harkonnen,' another added. Frantic fans reacted to the possible hair change, with one writing, 'WE CANT HAVE PAUL ATREIDES WITH A f*****g BUZZCUT' Kylie's boyfriend has also appears to have shaved his mustache ahead of filming. It has not yet been confirmed what his character will look like in the upcoming Dune film, which is set one decade after Dune: Part Two. Dune: Messiah is slated for a December 2026 release. During his outing in the south of France on Monday, Chalamet and the makeup mogul sweetly held hands. The New York City native wore a Nigerian soccer jersey and a $40,000 diamond Cartier pendant necklace. Meanwhile the Kardashians star rocked a vintage Jean Paul Gaultier minidress. The mom-of-two, who shares seven-year-old daughter Stormi and three-year-old son Aire with ex Travis Scott, also wore narrow black sunglasses. Joining the couple was Kylie's older sister, 29-year-old model Kendall Jenner. The catwalk queen looked runway-ready in a figure-hugging little black dress that grazed her thighs. The French holiday comes days after eagle-eyed fans noticed that the billionaire reality television star recently started following Timothée on Instagram. The notoriously private couple had previously not shown any signs of their romance on social media. For his part, the Call Me By Your Name star does not follow anyone on Instagram, where he boasts 19.7 million followers. Insiders revealed earlier this year that Jenner and Chalamet have agreed to a set of stipulations regarding their relationship. While the twosome have started attending public events together, they do not post each other online. And Timothée will not appear on Kylie's family Hulu series The Kardashians. Jenner and Chalamet began dating around April 2023, but did not make their red carpet debut until the 70th David Di Donatello Awards in May 2025. A source revealed to Us Weekly around the same time that the lovebirds are 'practically living together.' 'Kylie's really happy and relieved they finally made their debut. It was time and she wanted to publicly support him and show how proud of him she is,' the insider shared. 'She and Timothée have gotten really serious, and this was a big step.' The person close to the stars also divulged, 'They are practically living together at this point, as he stays at her house often when he is not working. He has been fully integrated into her life.'
The Star
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
A new battle for Arrakis: Should 'Dune' fans play 'Dune Awakening'?
BERLIN: It is one of the greatest science fiction works of our time: In Dune , various noble houses fight for supremacy on the desert planet Arrakis. The game Dune: Awakening from developer Funcom rewrites the history of the Dune universe. In this alternative timeline, protagonist Paul Atreides has never been born. Players embark in multiplayer mode with hundreds of others on the hostile planet where they have to survive in the heat and sandstorms and explore the open world. The goal is to control the resource known as Spice, which only grows on Arrakis, and to secure power for your own faction. One of the biggest dangers are the sand-worms, which can swallow characters whole. Any item or vehicle consumed by one of the giant worms is lost forever. Fans of the Dune films will certainly enjoy exploring the planet we saw in the Hollywood blockbusters, but overall Dune Awakening is an intense mix of MMO games best suited to fans of World Of Warcraft and survival games like Valheim . You expand your base with resources and technological advancements, while at the same time, there are quests to complete and new regions to discover. The custom characters improve with experience and equipment. The release model is somewhat unusual. The game itself costs around US$50 (RM211) and future content will be added through free and paid downloadable content and not financed by in-game purchases or subscriptions. The game is available for Windows. Versions for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are planned for 2026. – dpa
Geek Culture
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Culture
'Dune: Awakening' Smashes Funcom Record With Over 1 Million Copies Sold
Let the spice flow, and the yield will come. Two weeks after its initial launch, Dune: Awakening has sold over one million copies, making it the fastest-selling game ever from developer Funcom. 'Dune: Awakening launched 10 June and 1,000,000 players have awakened!' the studio said. 'It's now Funcom's fastest-selling game ever. To put it into perspective, it took Conan Exiles one year to reach this number. We're truly humbled and thankful for this reception. It must also be noted that you certainly don't live up to your title, because you have been busy since launch. 'Launch has been a Coriolis storm, and we're still riding that mighty gale. We have seen so many amazing things from all of you — the bases, the close calls with Shai-Hulud, the epic vehicle jumps, the struggles, discoveries, victories, heroic deaths, and so much more… We salute you, Sleepers.' The milestone was announced alongside an infographic detailing several statistics about how the game has grown since launch, including 816,720 deaths to Shai-Hulud (otherwise known as the sandworm), six million grams of spice consumed, 25 million square kilometres of area surveyed, and the split of starting mentors chosen. The survival RPG also recorded an all-time peak of 189,333 players, smashing its previous record of 142,000 concurrent players. Set in an alternate timeline in which Paul Atreides was never born, Dune: Awakening centres on an Arrakis caught in a civil war between House Atreides and House Harkonnen, while the Fremen have mysteriously vanished. The player character assumes control of an undercover agent working for the Bene Gesserit who must find the Fremen and 'awake the Sleeper'. The title, which draws heavily from the original novels by author Frank Herbert, was launched earlier in June following a slight delay. It features both PvE and PvP elements, with the developer 'currently formulating a plan' to improve PvP in the Deep Desert, where griefing continues to be commonplace. Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth's theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia's greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really. Dune Dune: Awakening Funcom
