The Nvidia Control Panel, a longstanding PC software utility since 2006, has been officially retired with the release of the GeForce Game Ready driver version 610.47. Nvidia has transitioned all control panel features into their newer Nvidia app, which offers a more modern, faster, and consolidated interface for graphics, display, color, and video settings. The app eliminates the need for the old control panel and GeForce Experience, unifying driver updates, game settings, and overlays into a single, streamlined utility without mandatory login requirements. While some users may miss the familiar control panel interface, the Nvidia app is now feature-complete and is the exclusive platform for newer technologies like DLSS overrides and AV1 video recording.
In other news, the recently released game 007 First Light has a problematic implementation of AMD’s FSR upscaling technology. The developers integrated FSR 3.1.5 directly into the game code rather than using the supported FidelityFX DLL, preventing driver upgrades to FSR 4.1 and leaving Radeon users stuck with an inferior version. Despite suspicions that this might be intentional due to Nvidia sponsorship, benchmarks show that Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling also performs poorly in the game. Additionally, frame generation is limited to Nvidia GPUs, with no support for AMD’s FSR frame generation or Intel’s XeSS, and the native TAA implementation has been criticized for poor quality. The game also lacks ray tracing at launch, with a patch planned for later.
AMD is reportedly preparing to release the Ryzen 7700X3D, an 8-core, 16-thread CPU with 96 MB of L3 cache clocked up to 4.5 GHz. This model sits below the Ryzen 7800X3D in clock speed but shares the same core configuration and cache size. The release is likely motivated by binning, using chips that cannot reach higher clock speeds but still meet performance standards. Pricing will be critical for its success, with expectations that it should be priced below the 7800X3D’s typical $380 US price point. The 7700X3D would add to AMD’s expanding Zen 4 and Zen 5 X3D lineup, providing more options for consumers seeking high-performance CPUs.
Rocket League is set to transition to Unreal Engine 6, as teased during the Rocket League Championship Series 2026 Paris Major. This upgrade promises improved graphics such as better grass quality, reflections, and shinier cars. However, the choice of Rocket League as the first game to showcase Unreal Engine 6 is puzzling given its arcade-style gameplay and already solid visual appeal. There are concerns about whether the engine upgrade will impact the game’s renowned performance and wide hardware compatibility. Epic Games, which owns Psyonix, may leverage their experience with Fortnite to maintain performance while enhancing visuals in Rocket League.
Finally, the market is seeing the introduction of native 1,000 Hz gaming monitors from LG and AOC, featuring 24.5-inch 1080p panels capable of ultra-high refresh rates without dual-mode tricks. The AOC model uses a new BOE panel with fast gray-to-gray response times, black frame insertion, and eye strain reduction technology, while LG’s model also claims motion blur reduction features. Neither monitor has a confirmed release date or price yet, and there are questions about whether LCD technology can effectively support such high refresh rates compared to OLED alternatives, which are pushing past 500 Hz with superior response times. Overall, these monitors represent a significant step in gaming display technology, pending real-world performance evaluations.
