This week’s hardware news highlights AMD’s record Q3 2025 revenue driven by gaming and data center growth, Intel’s return to profitability despite supply constraints, and ByteDance’s early-stage development of a Steam competitor called Gametop. Additionally, Cooler Master targets the Japanese market with a new 5.25" drive-compatible PC case, Microsoft and Meta make mixed moves in AI development, and Retro Games Limited plans a modern Amiga 1200 remake for 2026.
This week’s hardware news roundup covers a variety of topics, beginning with AMD’s impressive Q3 2025 financial results. AMD reported record revenue of $9.22 billion, a 36% increase year-over-year, driven largely by strong data center and gaming CPU sales. Notably, AMD’s gaming segment saw a 73% revenue increase, attributed to record CPU sales, while their GPU segment was notably absent from strategic highlights. AMD also highlighted partnerships with OpenAI and the U.S. Department of Energy, emphasizing their growing presence in AI and data center markets despite a decline in their embedded market segment.
In China, ByteDance, known for TikTok, is reportedly developing a Steam competitor called Gametop. The platform aims to combine game distribution with social media-like engagement features such as levels, points, and medals, and may also include game creation tools. While it remains unclear how competitive Gametop will be against Steam, the initiative reflects ByteDance’s expansion into gaming and digital content distribution. The project is still in early stages, with hiring underway to build the platform.
Cooler Master has introduced a new PC case, the CM695, targeting the Japanese market where 5.25-inch optical drives remain popular. The case supports classic optical drives alongside modern features like fine mesh panels and multiple cooling fans. This move acknowledges that physical media still holds a significant niche in certain regions, despite global trends moving away from optical drives. Other manufacturers like Silverstone continue to support 5.25-inch bays in select cases, catering to this ongoing demand.
Intel reported a 3% year-over-year revenue increase for Q3 2025, reaching $13.7 billion and swinging back to profitability with $4.1 billion net income. The company credited improved execution and AI-driven demand but admitted to capacity constraints limiting supply, especially for data center products. Intel’s client computing segment remains the largest revenue source, though the company plans to prioritize data center CPUs moving forward. Despite recovery signs, concerns remain about Intel’s heavy cost-cutting measures and layoffs, which may impact long-term innovation and competitiveness.
Finally, Microsoft unveiled its new AI assistant, Mo, intended as a successor to Clippy and Cortana, though initial reception was mixed due to a silent promotional video and low-resolution animations. Meanwhile, Meta announced layoffs affecting 600 AI-focused employees, signaling potential cracks in the AI sector’s rapid expansion. EA Games partnered with Stability AI to integrate AI tools into game development, though internal feedback suggests AI-generated outputs often require correction. On a lighter note, Retro Games Limited is working on a modern remake of the Amiga 1200, blending nostalgic hardware with contemporary features like HDMI and USB, aiming for a mid-2026 release.