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Prior to IFA in early September, HP is looking to get ahead of its rivals with a substantial update to its PC gaming portfolio headlined by the new Omen Max 45L desktop alongside a full slate of peripherals.

While the Omen Max 45L (pricing still TBA) features a similar design to the existing , HP’s latest flagship desktop should bring even more beastly performance without sacrificing on cooling or noise levels. The key to this is a new case featuring what the company is calling the industry’s first patented Cryo Chamber, which puts the PC’s liquid-cooled radiator in a separate compartment to prevent hot air from spreading and impacting the rest of the system’s thermals. With this arrangement, HP says it was able to reduce temperatures by up to 7.5 degrees Celsius at full load. Meanwhile, thanks to smaller touches like raised feet, vented PCI slots and open vents on the bottom of the case, HP was able to improve GPU temps by another two degrees C.

But to me, the best thing about the Omen Max 45L is that HP says it’s using industry-standard components across the board instead of proprietary parts and fittings like we sometimes see in pre-built systems from major vendors. This means that down the line, if you want to replace or upgrade a specific component, you’ll be able to do just that instead of potentially needing to replace the entire computer. And if that isn’t enough, the Omen comes with a CPU cooler that has a small built-in display that you can load up with practically any image or short video clip.

Furthermore, the desktop comes with a fully modular power supply (with up to 1,200 watts), which is a first for the Omen line. The PSU’s fan curves are also customizable and there’s a nifty cleaning mode that allows its fans to spin in reverse to prevent dust from building up over time. Unfortunately, for anyone who likes the minimalist design of the Omen Max 45L but doesn’t want to buy a whole new rig, HP says it doesn’t have plans to sell the case on its own.

Naturally, as the beefiest desktop in HP’s gaming desktop family, the Omen Max 45L can be configured with top-of-the-line components including up to an AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor, an NVIDIA RTX 5090 GPU, 128GB of DDR5 RAM and 2TB of PCIe Gen5 storage.

Aside from the Omen Max 45L, HP also has a bunch of refreshed PC gaming peripherals on the way, headlined by the $300 HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 wireless headset. Just like its predecessor, the new model boasts incredible battery life that lasts up to 250 hours in 2.4GHz mode, 53mm drivers and support for dual audio inputs via Bluetooth. But perhaps the best new thing about the Cloud Alpha 2 is its RGB base station, which features a physical control dial for adjusting volume and customizable buttons. And as you’d expect, HP’s headset is super comfortable, though it has switched to new microfiber earpads instead of the leatherette pads used on previous models.

Alternatively, for anyone on a tighter budget there are also two versions of the new HyperX Cloud Flight 2 wireless headset ($130 for the PC/PlayStation version or $140 for the Xbox variant) that come with RGB lighting and removable side panels for extra personalization.

Finally, for folks in the market for a new desktop mic, HP has two offerings there as well: the $230 HyperX FlipCast and the $60 SoloCast 2. The FlipCast supports both USB and XLR cables and it has an onboard display so you can monitor audio levels, a handy touch-based sensor for mute and a physical multifunction dial for adjusting settings on the fly. Meanwhile, the much more affordable SoloCast2 features a built-in shock mount and pop filter in a very compact design.

Sadly, the Omen Max 45L and the HyperX CloudX Flight 2 headset won’t be available until the end of the year in December. But everything else will be available sooner with the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 and the FlipCast 2 and SoloCast 2 mics arriving sometime this month, followed by the Cloud Flight 2 wireless headset for PC and PlayStation in October.

Blackbird Interactive has acquired the full IP rights to Hardship: Shipbreaker from Focus Entertainment.

Released in 2022, sci-fi sim Hardspace: Shipbreaker was developed by Blackbird Interactive and published by Focus Entertainment, who had also acquired partial ownership of the IP.

Blackbird Interactive has now bought the full rights from the publisher, making it the sole owner of the IP.

The studio also revealed it has “multiple Hardspace projects” in active development, which will feature “the studio’s trademark mix of evocative worldbuilding, immersive, physics-driven gameplay, and boundary-pushing design.”

In preparation for these new projects, Blackbird Interactive has opened registration for its LYNX Pioneer Program, a community-focused initiative that allows fans to “help shape future Hardspace and [Blackbird Interactive] original IP projects through exclusive playtests, behind-the-scenes development access, and more.”

“It is rare to have an IP that resonates so deeply with millions of players,” said Rory McGuire, president and CCO at Blackbird Interactive.

“So we are honored to have this opportunity to deepen and expand that connection through new games that explore the Hardspace universe. Shipbreaker also wouldn’t be what it is today without our friends at Focus Entertainment. We are eternally grateful for their partnership and hope to work with them again soon.”

Earlier this month, Lyrical Games, the new publishing arm of Lyrical Media, announced its launch and revealed that it will publish the next game from Blackbird Interactive.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz following the announcement, Blake Rochkind, head of Lyrical Games, further revealed that the studio’s next title will be announced at this year’s Gamescom.

Blackbird Interactive has not officially confirmed that its new game will take place in the Hardspace: Shipbreaker universe.

Words:

Nathan Chadwick

| Photography: Touring Superleggera

Say hello to the Veloce12 Barchetta – Touring Superleggera‘s drop-top follow-up to last year’s coupé variant. Touted as Touring Superleggera’s tribute to Maranello machines of the 1940s and 1950s, it’s also described as a carbonfibre evolution of its donor car.

Unveiled at The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering one year after its roofed equivalent, the Veloce12 Barchetta is not based on a 550 Barchetta – instead, each of the 30 cars will be converted from 550 Maranellos, complete with additional bracing into the car’s structure. Just like the original Veloce12, for which we brought you the inside story last year, this is done by introducing carbonfibre into the chassis to increase torsional stiffness.

“The Veloce12 Barchetta is a bold evolution of our legacy – crafted for the pilot who values purity, power and distinction,” says Touring Superleggera CEO Markus Tellenbach.

Under the skin, the 5.5-litre V12 will be fully refreshed by Touring Superleggera before the car is finished, and further optimised with a PWR cooling system and a freer-flowing Supersprint exhaust, adding around 25bhp to the standard car’s 485bhp. The six-speed gated manual remains from the donor model.

The Veloce12 Barchetta also features a suspension system developed in tandem with TracTive, which offers adaptive damping and several settings for cruising or more energetic endeavours.

Beneath the bespoke alloy wheels lie six-pot calipers and 380mm discs up front, and four-pot calipers and 380mm discs at the rear, sourced from Brembo.

The Veloce12 Barchetta has a thoroughly revised interior – the original 550 may have been a great ergonomic leap forward from the Testarossa, but some of its surfaces were not of the best quality. It’s all very different here – on this particular example there’s rose gold and lashings of leather, but almost any surface is customisable when it comes to finishes, from leather to Alcantara and beyond.

The original Veloce12 proved to be controversial when it was launched last year, but Magneto understands that sales have been strong in the year since, with just a few slots out of its 30-strong production cycle left. The first customer deliveries are due towards the end of 2025, while the first Barchetta deliveries are due in late 2026.

The key styling change of the newcomer is a more sculptured rearward design – this is very different to that of the more minimalist Pininfarina-designed 550 Barchetta. The overall car was designed as an evolution of the 550, rather than a complete re-imagination, Touring says.

“At the heart of Touring Superleggera’s philosophy is the concept of ‘superleggera’, which translates to ‘super light.’ This principle is not merely about reducing weight for the sake of performance – it is about achieving a harmonious balance between form and function, where every element of the design serves a purpose while contributing to the overall aesthetic harmony, and where beauty and innovation are inextricably linked,” explains Touring’s head of design, Matteo Gentile.

“The Veloce12 Barchetta perfectly encapsulates that ideology, carrying forward a legacy of excellence while introducing refined advancements. The great white shark served as a profound source of inspiration. It embodies a perfect balance of strength, speed and streamlined efficiency, informing our approach to aerodynamics and aesthetics. The result is a car that exudes both heritage and innovation, blending the best elements of human engineering and natural design.” 

More details on the Touring Superleggera Veloce12 Barchetta can be found here.

HP-owned HyperX is announcing a slew of new gaming headsets and streaming-friendly microphones. The HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 is the new flagship at $299.99. It uses 53mm drivers and 2.4GHz wireless lasting up to 250 hours — an impressive 10+ days of continuous use — though it drops to half that when simultaneously connected to Bluetooth. Its showiest feature is its included base station, with six customizable light-up buttons and a big old rotary volume knob.

There’s also a cheaper Cloud Flight 2 with RGB side panels that will cost $129.99 for PlayStation / PC or $139.99 for Xbox. For mics, there’s the $59.99 SoloCast 2 side-address desktop mic and $229.99 HyperX FlipCast “broadcast quality” podcast / streaming mic. The FlipCast looks a bit like Shure’s MV7 mic with RGB lighting. And like an MV7, it has both USB and XLR ports.

The new headsets and mics are due out this month, except the Cloud Flight 2 which is expected in October.