DF did quite a nice video with Minecraft RTX. Looks quite good! God I can't wait for Nvidia's 3000 series GPUS.

Bloody hell, 8 bounces of light - honestly, I couldn't give a rats ass about the texture resolution, polygon count or any other highend feature in next gen if the games start coming with this kind of lighting engines...well, plus full blown physics engine, of course.

EDIT: It can produce camera obscura! Mind blown...

Looking at the giant amount of lag in the lighting I guess we're still a couple of generations away from proper tracing.

That Minecraft video is very impressive. But damn that's very hardware taxing.

Since these kind of giveaways end rather soon, here's a new freebie from the Humble Store:

*** FREE GAMES ***

The Humble Store is giving a way Manual Samuel for the next 2 days or until they run out of keys: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/manualsamuel-free-game

Yay! The Friday news are here!

SALES & DEALS

Nexus teamed up with GOG, Warhorse Studios, and Bethesda for a mod competition
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/nexus-teamed-up-with-gog-warhorse-studios-and-bethesda-for-a-mod-competition/
In light of recent world events, Nexus wanted to do their part in helping their community cope with social distancing and self-isolation by giving the modders something to focus on during this challenging time. Thus, the Stay Home-Make Mods competition, where everyone is welcome to join.
Nexus teamed up with GOG, Warhorse Studios, and Bethesda to offer modders a different selection of prizes each week. The competition started on April 6th, and it will end on May 4th. The first week is over, and the second week is already underway.
You can enter the competition by uploading a new mod for any game until April 19th. Only safe for work mods will be eligible, and don’t forget to include the competition tag “Stay Home. Make Mods.”.

These are the games that will be free to keep at Steam later today and tomorrow:

• April, 17th:
  • Will Glow the Wisp will only be free for a day: https://store.steampowered.com/app/640890/Will_Glow_the_Wisp/
  • Gamecraft, still in Early Access, will be free until April 24: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1078000/Gamecraft/
  • And Polyball will be free until May 1: https://store.steampowered.com/app/368180/Polyball/
• April, 18th (note that both games are now on sale, in case you want to pay them something):
  • Drop will be free until April 27: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1076530/Drop/
  • And the Early Access title Red Gate will be free also until the 27th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1076600/Red_Gate/

The Humble Store features three new sales:

• There's a Call of Duty weekend sale where, while most games will be on sale for the next 3 days, other s will be on sale up to 9 days. The discounts go up to 75%: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/call-of-duty-weekend/
• Publisher Humongous Entertainment has put its games up to 72% off during the next 6 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/humongous-publisher-sale/
• And, to celebrate its 10th anniversary, there's a METRO sale featuring up to 75% discounts for the next 6 days. The keys are for Steam, GOG and/or Epic Store: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/metro-10th-anniversary-sale/

Fanatical has several new sales:

• The new Star Deal is Devil May Cry 5, 58% off for the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/devil-may-cry-5
• Paradox Interactive has its games up to 80% off during the next 7 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/paradox-interactive
• Publisher Raw Fury also has its games up to 80% off for the next 7 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/raw-fury
• And there's an All Stars Multiplayer Bundle, with 8 games plus 1 DLC split into two tiers of 7 and 9 products: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/all-stars-multiplayer

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-empty-

MODS/EMULATORS

This mod for Sekiro: Shadow Die Twice overhauls its Level of Detail, significantly reduces pop-ins
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/this-mod-for-sekiro-shadow-die-twice-overhauls-its-level-of-detail-significantly-reduces-pop-ins/
Modder ‘projectmelancholy’ has released a must-have mod for all Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice fans. This mod doubles the values in LodParam and GrassLodRangeParam to increase object and texture level of detail and reduce pop in.
(...)
It’s also worth noting that this mod may have a performance hit on weaker PC systems. However, and since Sekiro is not a really demanding game, most PC gamers should be fine.
>> Available from Nexus Mods.

GAMING NEWS

Observer System Redux is a next-gen remake of >observer_, featuring new content
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/observer-system-redux-is-a-next-gen-remake-of-observer_-featuring-new-content/
Bloober Team has revealed that Observer System Redux is a next-gen remake of >observer_. While it looks more like a remaster, Bloober Team claims that the game has been rebuilt. This remake will feature new story content, and will come out in Holiday 2020. Moreover, you can find an official trailer below.
>> HollyGamer was the first to make a thread about this remake.

Capcom asks for player feedback for Resident Evil 3 Remake
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/capcom-asks-for-player-feedback-for-resident-evil-3-remake/
We recently informed you about Capcom announcing that Resident Evil 3 Remake has sold 2 million copies worldwide in five days. Now Capcom wants to hear our thoughts and feedback on Resident Evil 3 Remake and Resident Evil Resistance.

Crysis Remastered releases this Summer, will feature SSDO, SVOGI, Ray Tracing & HD Textures
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/crysis-remastered-releases-this-summer-will-feature-ssdo-svogi-ray-tracing-hd-textures/
Crytek has issued a press release for Crysis Remastered, revealing that it will release in Summer 2020. In addition, the team has unveiled some new tech details about it, as well as some of its new visual enhancements.

Halo 2: Anniversary beta flighting begins later today
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/halo-2-anniversary-beta-flighting-begins-later-today/
343 Industries and Microsoft have announced that the beta testing/flighting phase for Halo 2: Anniversary will begin later today. 343 Industries will send invites in a few hours and the beta phase will begin on April 17th.

Civilization-building exploration game, Before We Leave, releases on May 8th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/civilization-building-exploration-game-before-we-leave-releases-on-may-8th/
Balancing Monkey Games has announced its highly-anticipated, non-violent civilization building game Before We Leave will launch May 8th on the Epic Games Store. In order to celebrate this announcement, the developer released the game’s launch trailer that you can find below.

Streets of Rage 4 releases on April 30th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/streets-of-rage-4-releases-on-april-30th/
DotEmu has announced that Streets of Rage 4 will officially release on April 30th. In order to celebrate this announcement, the team has also released a new gameplay trailer that you can find below.

Friday news, part two:

Destiny 2's Guardian Games are basically the Olympics
https://www.pcgamer.com/destiny-2s-guardian-games-are-basically-the-olympics/
This year's Summer Olympics have been postponed due to the coronavirus, but in the far flung future of Destiny 2 they're about to kick off soon. OK, so the Guardian Games aren't exactly the same as the Olympic Games—there isn't a shot put ball or hurdle in sight—but they're close enough.

Riot Games acquires Hytale developer Hypixel Studios
https://www.pcgamer.com/riot-games-acquires-hytale-developer-hypixel-studios/
Between Legends of Runeterra, Teamfight Tactics and Valorant, Riot Games has been throwing its weight around a lot lately. Last year, it had one game under its belt, the infinitely popular League of Legends, and now it's got five, most of them in different genres. And as of today, it can now add the blocky, Minecraft adjacent Hytale to the list.

Apex Legends map rotation changed to make Season 4 easier to grind
https://www.pcgamer.com/apex-legends-map-rotation-changed-to-make-the-old-ways-event-easier-to-grind/
Last week, Electronic Arts kicked off Apex Legends event The Old Ways, featuring a Bloodhound Town Takeover, exclusive rewards, and a number of direct-purchase cosmetics. At the same time, it rolled out a map rotation, enabling players to select either Kings Canyon or World's Edge for Duos or Trios play.
But it seems that not everyone was happy with how that rotation was working out, because today it announced that Nighttime Kings Canyon has been removed from the rotation, while the standard Kings Canyon rotation timer—the length of time the map is up for play before it moves on to the next one—has been shortened. Previously, maps were playable for about an hour before switching, although according to some comments on Reddit, that time could vary; EA didn't say what the times have been changed to, but the net result is that players will have more time on the World's Edge map, where The Old Ways event is set.

Another Hearthstone: Ashes of Outland update is coming next week
https://www.pcgamer.com/another-hearthstone-ashes-of-outland-update-is-coming-next-week/
Hearthstone's Ashes of Outland expansion was a big one, delivering both the first new class, and the fastest-ever nerf, in the game's long history. More changes are on the way next week: Senior designer Dean Ayala said on Twitter that the second Ashes of Outland balance patch will change a number of cards, and also buff Libram of Justice and nerf Milhouse in Hearthstone Battlegrounds.

OlliOlli and Laser League devs just released a new game, and it's free
https://www.pcgamer.com/olliolli-and-laser-league-devs-just-released-a-new-game-and-its-free/
If the recent avalanche of free games has disappointed for its lack of abstract puzzle games, OlliOlli and Laser League studio Roll7 has you covered. Released today on itch.io, RunMe is "an estoteric turn based puzzle game with glitch graphics, weird sounds, and a bunch of strangeness."

The new SnowRunner trailer is very emotional
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-new-snowrunner-trailer-is-very-emotional/
When I think of SnowRunner, I think of a gruelling sim about getting large vehicles through difficult terrain. I imagine this activity to be meditative, exacting, sometimes frustrating, but ultimately satisfying. One thing I do not expect of SnowRunner—or any other Spintires game, for that matter—is for it to make me want to cry. (For the record it didn't make me cry, but I think it tried).
>> They call it emotional, I call it ridiculous.

Valorant's Brimstone is an old, grouchy soldier
https://www.pcgamer.com/valorants-brimstone-is-an-old-grouchy-soldier/
Riot's back with another Valorant character reveal, if you fancy taking a quick break from watching (or potentially even playing) the closed beta. This time it's Brimstone, a gruff soldier of advanced years. Sounds familiar!

Total War: Warhammer 2 is free for the weekend
https://www.pcgamer.com/total-war-warhammer-2-is-free-for-the-weekend/
Total War: Warhammer 2 is free for the weekend on Steam, giving you a couple of days to conquer the world as a bunch of bloodthirsty rats, lizards and elves.
(...)
If you already own the original Warhammer, you'll also be able to download the Mortal Empires campaign. This is a ridiculously huge combination of both games' maps, which have been squashed together (with some cuts) to create the series' largest campaign.
>> And it's also 66% off.

And these are the weekend deals at GOG and Steam:

+GOG

• The first one is the weekly sale with its up to 80% discounts: https://www.gog.com/promo/20200413_weekly_sale
• The Midweek Sale with up to 80% discounts will last another 22 hours: https://www.gog.com/promo/20200415_midweek_sale
• The Evil Within 1 & 2 are 75% discount for almost 6 days: https://www.gog.com/promo/promo_launch_evil_within
• The first of the two weekend sales is the Plug in Digital and Dear Villagers publishers sale, with up to 90% discounts: https://www.gog.com/promo/20200417_plug_in_digital_weekend
• The second weekend sale revolves around Visual Novel and jRPG games up to 90% off: https://www.gog.com/promo/visuals_jrpg_weekend
• And finally, there's an Overcooked series sale with up to 75% discounts during the next 3 days: https://www.gog.com/promo/special_sale_overcooked

+Steam

• The first of the weekend deals is Northgard, free to try for 3 days and 50% off until April 26: https://store.steampowered.com/app/466560/Northgard/
• Jackbox Games has its titles up to 59% off: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/sale_jackbox/
• The LEGO games are up to 75% off: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/lego/
• Devolver Digital has its games up to 90% off: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/devolver
• The Overcooked franchise is up to 75% off until April 21: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/overcooked
• And, on top of that, we can't forget about the weeklong deals, of course.

Nothing else to say besides wishing you a happy and gaming weekend. And be safe!

New feature for RTX cards. The RTX Voice! It's supposed to eliminate background noise for mics when used with certain programs.

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/geforce/guides/nvidia-rtx-voice-setup-guide/

Those Tensor Cores sure are doing cool things.

Nvidia is really trying to find ways to use those Tensor cores in gaming cards.

Anyway, for those that have or plan to buld a mini-ITX PC, here's a contest for you:

*** NEW CONTEST ***

bit-tech has joined forces with FractalDesign and have come with a contest with three prizes:

https://www.bit-tech.net/competitions/tech/EU-competition-win-fractal-design-goodies/1/

• 1st prize: 1x Era (any color), 1x ION SFX 500W PSU, 1x Celsius S24
• 2nd prize: 1x Era (any color), 1x ION SFX 500W PSU
• 3rd prize: 1x Era (any color)

The contest will remain open until May 15 and is open to UK and EU residents.

Monday news:

SALES & DEALS

Narrative platformer GRIS has sold one million copies on the PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/narrative-platformer-gris-has-sold-one-million-copies-on-the-pc/
Nomada Studio has announced that its narrative platformer, GRIS, has sold one million copies worldwide on the PC. GRIS is a serene and evocative experience, free of danger, frustration or death. The game looks absolutely gorgeous, and it’s good knowing that it found a big audience on the PC.
>> Congratulations to the studio... but the game has sold 1 million copies across both PC and Switch.

GOG enters a new week with three sales (two of them new):

• The sale that comes from last week is the one with the The Evil Within games and its 75% discounts, that will run for another 3 more days: https://www.gog.com/promo/promo_launch_evil_within
• The new weekly sale features lots of RPG games up to 85% off: https://www.gog.com/promo/20200420_weekly_sale
• And publisher Raw Fury has its games up to 80% off for the next 3 days (apparently, it started late Friday or Saturday): https://www.gog.com/promo/20200418_raw_fury_sale

Steam has two new daily deals:

• Judgment: Apocalypse Survival Simulation is 50% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/455980/Judgment_Apocalypse_Survival_Simulation/
• Yoku's Island Express, that has a demo, is 80% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/334940/Yokus_Island_Express/

The Humble Store has an Anno 1800 Sale, with up to 50% disconts for 4 days. The keys are for UPlay: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/anno-1800-sale/

And finally, there's Fanatical, that has a new Insanity Sale with a constant flow of flash deals (most of them lasting 48 hours). There are currently 9 deals active, with more to come every hour. You better go check it out!

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-empty-

MODS/EMULATORS

Animal Crossing: New Horizons is now also playable on the Yuzu Nintendo Switch Emulator
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/animal-crossing-new-horizons-is-now-also-playable-on-the-yuzu-nintendo-switch-emulator/
Last month, we informed you about Animal Crossing: New Horizons running on the PC via the Ryujinx Nintendo Switch emulator. However, we know that some of you prefer the other Nintendo Switch emulator, Yuzu. So, we are happy to report today that this latest Animal Crossing game is also playable on it.
>> The article contains instructions to make it run.

There is now a Dino Crisis Mod that you can download for Resident Evil 3 Remake
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/there-is-now-a-dino-crisis-mod-that-you-can-download-for-resident-evil-3-remake/
Dino Crisis is a game that would significantly benefit from a remake. And while Capcom is not currently working on such a project, its fans can now get a taste of such a remake via this mod. As the title suggests, Dino Evil 3 is basically a mashup of Dino Crisis with Resident Evil 3 Remake.
This mod transforms all zombies into dinosaurs (or to be more precise, into small T-Rexes). Moreover, it replaces Jill’s default outfit with the one for Regina from Dino Crisis.
Now while this is a cool concept, the mod is still in a really early stage. For instance, the dinosaurs may sometimes get stuck in the environment. Moreover, their skin looks weird and glossy. It doesn’t feel right and the modder should definitely work on the textures. Hit detection also appears to have minor issues.
>> Available from Nexus Mods.

Super Mario Odyssey 64, Super Mario Odyssey romhack for Super Mario 64, is available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/super-mario-odyssey-64-super-mario-odyssey-romhack-for-super-mario-64-is-available-for-download/
Kaze Emanuar, best known for the Super Mario Bros remake in Super Mario 64 and the VR mod for The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, has released a new romhack for Super Mario 64. This romhack brings the gameplay mechanics and levels of Super Mario Odyssey to Super Mario 64.
Naturally, this romhack only works with the Nintendo 64 emulators on the PC. Thus, Super Mario Odyssey 64 is a game that only PC gamers can experience.
Players will have to patch the downloaded file on their Super Mario 64 US.z64 rom in order to make this work. You can download the Super Mario Odyssey 64 Patch from here. You can also download the patcher from here.

Doom Reborn, Doom 1 & 2 Remakes in id Tech 4, Pre-Beta Version 1.65 available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/doom-reborn-doom-1-2-remakes-in-id-tech-4-pre-beta-version-1-65-available-for-download/
Modder ‘gamehacker’ has released a new pre-beta version of Doom Reborn. Doom Reborn is a total conversion of the original Doom Series, aiming to remake the original Doom & Doom 2 in the id Tech 4 Engine.
Doom Reborn features new textures and new models of the original weapons and monsters. From what we can see, these models are from Doom 3. Moreover, this TC Mod features re-imagined maps that are as close to the original levels as possible.
>> Isn't a pre-beta an alpha? Anyway, if you want to try it, you'll have to go to ModDB.

This Divinity: Original Sin 2 total overhaul mod has me itching to play it all over again
https://www.pcgamer.com/this-divinity-original-sin-2-total-overhaul-mod-has-me-itching-to-play-it-all-over-again/
Even when my co-op partners and I had to retry Divinity: Original Sin 2's buggy final boss fight three times to get it to work right, it was still easily 2017's game of the year. What an RPG! I loved it, even when it was buggy or unbalanced, because the freedom it gave you to play how you wanted was always worth it. So when I look at the Divinity Unleashed total overhaul mod, which promises that "every community complaint about the world's greatest RPG has been converted into one mod that fixes it all," I'm not thinking finally, Divinity OS2 was bad but this mod will make it good. Instead, I'm thinking could this be different enough to lure me back in for another hundred hours?
>> The answer to his question is... no, at least for him.

Here’s a Bannerlord mod to add 21 new minor factions with unique troops
https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-a-bannerlord-mod-to-add-21-new-minor-factions-with-unique-troops/
One of the cooler features of the new Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord is the minor factions that roam the land, which vary from bandits to mercenaries and secret societies. Unfortunately the feature isn’t that fleshed out in Bannerlord’s current Early Access build, and those factions don’t have a ton of interaction with the rest of the world beyond mercenary work—and some would argue there just aren’t enough of them. Parts of the map can feel empty at times, aside from the occasional merchant caravan. Enter Calradia at War, a mod for Bannerlord by Anopey that adds 21 new minor factions and unique troops to go with many of them. It also makes some of those new factions follow the rules for upgrading, so if they meet with success their troops will upgrade faster. For modders, Calradia at War also serves as a framework to add your own custom factions, including an API from the creator.

GAMING NEWS

No Man’s Sky Exo Mech Update 2.42 fixes gameplay, performance & stability issues, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/no-mans-sky-exo-mech-update-2-42-fixes-gameplay-performance-stability-issues-full-patch-notes/
Hello Games has released a brand new patch for No Man’s Sky Exo Mech. According to the release notes, Update 2.42 fixes a number of gameplay and stability issues. Moreover, it resolves some bugs that could cause performance issues.

Borderlands: Game of the Year will be free to play for a week
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/borderlands-game-of-the-year-will-be-free-to-play-for-a-week/
Borderlands: Game of the Year is currently available to play for free on Steam. The GOTY version is an enhanced Ultra HD remaster of the original shooter-looter. This version also includes all four of the DLC add-ons.
(...)
The event will end on April 23rd 9:59 AM PDT.

Microsoft releases new beautiful screenshots for Flight Simulator Alpha
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/microsoft-releases-new-absolutely-beautiful-screenshots-for-flight-simulator-alpha/
Microsoft has released a new set of beautiful screenshots from the Alpha phase of Flight Simulator. These screenshots showcase the amazing, and sometimes next-generation – graphics that this upcoming flight sim will feature.

Saber Interactive’s Tim Willits hints at Crysis Remastered featuring both Crysis and Crysis Warhead
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/saber-interactives-tim-willits-hints-at-crysis-remastered-featuring-both-crysis-and-crysis-warhead/
Last week, Crytek revealed that it’s working on Crysis Remastered. Crytek is co-developing this remaster with Saber Interactive and according to Tim Willits, the remaster will feature more than one single-player campaigns.

New Black Mesa update tweaks HECU, fixes bugs and improves stability, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/new-black-mesa-update-tweaks-hecu-fixes-bugs-and-improves-stability-full-patch-notes/
Crowbar Collective has released the first post-launch update for Black Mesa. According to the release notes, this patch tweaks HECU, fixes a number of bugs and issues, and improves overall stability.

Medieval Dynasty is an open world medieval game – First details, screenshots & gameplay footage
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/medieval-dynasty-is-an-open-world-medieval-game-first-details-screenshots-gameplay-footage/
Now here is a game that has completely passed under our radar. Medieval Dynasty is an open world medieval game that uses Unreal Engine 4. The game is currently being developed for the PC, and targets a 2020 release on Steam Early Access.

The rest of the Monday news:

Put synthetic brains on pizzas in The Norwood Suite developer's next game, out May 15
https://www.pcgamer.com/put-synthetic-brains-on-pizzas-in-the-norwood-suite-developers-next-game-out-march-15/
Tales from Off-Peak City Vol. 1 is coming to Steam on May 15, instantly making it my most anticipated release of next month. It's the next game from Cosmo D, creator of offbeat narrative adventures The Norwood Suite—already a proud inductee into PC Gamer's Top 100—and the free Off-Peak.

Blizzard details the next round of Hearthstone: Ashes of Outland nerfs
https://www.pcgamer.com/another-hearthstone-ashes-of-outland-update-is-coming-next-week/
The details on what's coming in the 17.0.2 patch have now been revealed on the Hearthstone forums. A date still hasn't been nailed down, but Blizzard re-stated that it's expected to arrive early next week.
According to our resident Hearthstone obsessive, the change to Kael'Thas doesn't go far enough, as delaying the degenerate OTK combos the card enables by a single turn isn't a big deal. Likewise, it seems very questionable that the damage from Altruis still hits the enemy hero in the face. Otherwise, it's a solid set of changes.

World of Warcraft is changing its character creation screen for the first time in a decade and I hate it
https://www.pcgamer.com/world-of-warcraft-is-changing-its-character-creation-screen-for-the-first-time-ever-and-i-hate-it/
It's been over 15 years since World of Warcraft first launched and it's starting to show its age. The character creation screen, for example, hasn't changed much through that entire time despite the addition of new playable races, classes, and a ton of expanded ways to customize your appearance. But yesterday, the closed alpha test client for this summer's Shadowlands expansion was updated to add some minor new features, including this unexpected change to how character creation works. You can see the new version in the image above. I really don't like it.

World of Warcraft's double XP event just got extended to the summer
https://www.pcgamer.com/world-of-warcrafts-double-xp-event-just-got-extended-to-the-summer/
Just days before it was supposed to end, Blizzard has extended World of Warcraft's double XP event in response to outcry from players. The event, called Winds of Wisdom, was initially supposed to end this Monday, but players were so disappointed to see it go that Blizzard is now saying it will take place right up until the pre-patch for the upcoming Shadowlands expansion.

Pope Simulator promises a 'realistic' depiction of life as the Supreme Pontiff
https://www.pcgamer.com/pope-simulator-promises-a-realistic-depiction-of-life-as-the-supreme-pontiff/
Did you ever say to yourself when you were young, "When I grow up I want to be the Pope?" No? Well here's your big chance anyway, sort of: Pope Simulator, a new addition to the menagerie of weird, ultra-niche sims on PC that promises to immerse players in a "realistic" depiction of life as the Pontiff.

The trailer for DCS World's free month on Steam shows that fighter jets can be sentimental too
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-trailer-for-dcs-worlds-free-month-on-steam-shows-that-fighter-jets-can-be-sentimental-too/
The Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) series is, as we said in 2018, one of the prettiest things you can play on PC. It's also extremely realistic, which means it's extremely complex, and in case there's any doubt, have a look at this 16-minute tutorial video on cold-starting the A-10C. Literally, just starting it, no flying involved—this is clearly not the sort of game you just jump into and run with.
To help potential pilots ease into the cockpit, DCS publisher The Fighter Collection is holding a free-for-all month in DCS World Steam Edition, beginning on April 19 and running until May 19. DCS World is normally free to play, but only includes access to the Su-25T Frogfoot and TF-51D Mustang. During the free month, all DCS products (and there are a lot of them) except campaigns will be available for anyone to play without limit.

Riot offers big 'bug bounties' for finding security flaws in Valorant's anti-cheat system
https://www.pcgamer.com/riot-offers-big-bug-bounties-for-finding-security-flaws-in-valorants-anti-cheat-system/
Earlier this week, Riot posted an explanation of what Vanguard is and why people don't need to worry about it, in Riot's view. Today, it followed that with a new message talking more about its approach to security in general and its "philosophy" toward Vanguard in particular, which it says will "help us achieve the vision of competitive integrity while enabling us to continuously adapt our arsenal in the war against cheaters."

Fortnite's new X-Force bundle drops in some classic Marvel heroes
https://www.pcgamer.com/Fortnite-item-shop-update-x-force-bundle-cable/
The X-Force Fortnite skin bundle has officially arrived in Fortnite, continuing the battle royale game's tradition of increasingly bananas brand tie-ins. We've been waiting for good ol' Deadpool and can finally get his classic red skin, as well as his silver X-Force outfit, but what about Cable, Psylocke, and Domino?

The new Doom Eternal skin makes the Archvile into a barista
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-new-doom-eternal-skin-makes-the-archvile-into-a-barista/
Doom Eternal's newest in-game event lets you earn what is in fact one of the most absurd video game skins I have ever seen. The skin is for "Hipster Archvile," which makes the archvile into a coffee-slinging barista straight out of 2014. It is very strange and I love it. Salvador Dali would look at this and say "Yep, that’s surreal as heck. That's one of ours, right there. We'll take it."

Two indie devs are pitching a Seinfeld adventure game
https://www.pcgamer.com/two-indie-devs-are-pitching-a-seinfeld-adventure-game/
Seinfeld's peak popularity coincided with that of the point-and-click adventure game. And yet there was no officially licensed LucasArts Seinfeld game, or even a Telltale version after the fact. This injustice will not stand, at least if Jacob Janerka and Ivan Dixon have anything to do with it.

Paul Haddad, voice of Leon Kennedy in the original Resident Evil 2, has died
https://www.pcgamer.com/paul-haddad-voice-of-leon-kennedy-in-the-original-resident-evil-2-has-died/
Voice actor Paul Haddad, best-known for originating the character of Leon Kennedy in 1998's Resident Evil 2, has died. Invader Studios, who he worked with on a tribute to classic survival horror called Daymare: 1998, confirmed his death on Twitter, saying, "Paul Haddad, our dear friend and an icon among the RE community, has passed away recently. We've been truly honored to have the chance to meet and work with such a great man and a brilliant professional that He was."

Phantasy Star Online 2 finally gets a PC release next month in North America
https://www.pcgamer.com/phantasy-star-online-2-finally-gets-a-pc-release-next-month-in-north-america/
A little over a year since we heard that it was finally coming to a Western release, Phantasy Star Online 2 is set to debut on the PC in North America late next month. The game is already launching on Xbox One, and will immediately feature cross-play when it launches on PC. A press release from Sega said that “PSO2 will make its North American debut on PC in late May, exclusively in the Microsoft store.” The game is free on both console and PC, though there are perks and goodies and the like if you’re an Xbox Game Pass subscriber.

Play 69 spooky free games from the Haunted PS1 Wretched Weekend game jam
https://www.pcgamer.com/play-69-spooky-free-games-from-the-haunted-ps1-wretched-weekend-game-jam/
Spooky, low-poly 3D games are the new frontier for indie aesthetics, and the latest evidence of that is the Haunted PS1 Wretched Weekend. (...)
The completed entrants are now available to play, and there are 69 of them. Included in that number is Rottenwood Lake, which is oddly not the first combination of fishing game and horror I've played. After you catch some ugly fish in the fog you're sent off to track down three skulls in the creepy lake, while being pursued by a beast of the deep. Fortunately the skulls can be tracked because they emit a noise like Tuvan throat singing. It's an unusual one.

A new project is tracking predatory microtransactions in games
https://www.pcgamer.com/a-new-project-is-tracking-predatory-microtransactions-in-games/
There’s a new category on PCGamingWiki now: Microtransactions. A post today by PCGamingWiki founder Andrew Tsai takes aim at microtransactions in games, adding that category of material to what the wiki covers. “Many PC gamers don’t have a clue what they are getting into before they install the latest ‘free-to-play’ game,” says Tsai’s post. He later continues, “These games could contain manipulative loot boxes, hopelessly unfair grinds, or game imbalancing pay-to-win unlocks.”

Call of Duty cheaters on PC are pushing console players away from crossplay
https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty-cheaters-on-pc-are-pushing-console-players-away-from-crossplay/
Last week, Infinity Ward said they'd "issued over 70,000 bans worldwide" to cheaters in Call of Duty: Warzone. And yet, as Eurogamer reports, players are still encountering aimbots and wallhacks in both Warzone and Modern Warfare. Here's just one blatant example of cheating.
>> HollyGamer made a thread about it.

OtherSide is 'still here' and working remotely, but the fate of System Shock 3 is still unknown
https://www.pcgamer.com/system-shock-3-devs-otherside-say-theyre-working-remotely-and-still-here/
After recent layoffs at OtherSide Entertainment put the future of their System Shock sequel in doubt, vice president of marketing and business development Walter Somol posted on their forum to say the following:
Update: Somol is part of OtherSide Boston, not the Austin-based team working on System Shock 3, so the fate of both the team and the sequel are still unknown. OtherSide still hasn't addressed the rumours from February that claimed development had been shut down.

Star Citizen players aren't pleased with recent roadmap changes
https://www.pcgamer.com/star-citizen-players-arent-pleased-with-recent-roadmap-changes/
Game development roadmaps are rarely set in stone, but some recent changes to Star Citizen's has ruffled the feathers of its community of interstellar pilots.
A roadmap roundup, posted late last week, highlighted some of the notable changes to the upcoming Alpha 4.0 update, expected in June, including a few items that have been pushed back or removed until a later date.

Doom Eternal's official soundtrack wasn't mixed by its composer, and you can tell
https://www.pcgamer.com/doom-eternals-official-soundtrack-wasnt-mixed-by-its-composer-and-you-can-tell/
Doom Eternal is quite the looker, if you're a fan of heavy metal hellscapes, but its your ears that get the biggest treat. Composer Mick Gordon's monster of a soundtrack is the perfect accompaniment to all the demonic carnage, but there's something not quite right about the newly released OST.