Loll so true. Heck they even do it with their Xbox's and Windows. Original was a bit of a miss in terms of hardware sales, 360 was a success, Xbox One was a miss and Xbox Series X looks to be a success but granted very early to tell.

There is no doubt that it's gonna be a huge Upgrade compared to the gen before, I'm just skeptical of all the things that people say will have an edge even over PCs. I can only imagine that it'll be very negligible.

Yea I think the law of diminishing returns is gonna hit hard with SSDs but it is one of those things that we haven't seen to fully make a definitive judgment. I do think what's going to happen with SSDs on PCs that don't match at least Xbox's SSDs is that there's going to be I/O stutter in a lot of games once the cross gen aspect ends and games start being made specifically for the next gen consoles. Least in terms of AAA games that is and not like indies and etc.

I don't think you will need something as fast as PS5's SSD but the upcoming SSDs like the 980 from Samsung will exceed ps5's SSD speeds if you want it. You will need PCI-E 4.0 though to get those speeds. I think most standard Nvme ones that can do 2.5/3.5GB/s will be good enough since that is what the xbox has. Only time will tell.

Nah. Stutter won't be a thing.
There is actually less of a need for SSD's on the PC because the PC is a memory-rich environment... We are at a point where mid-range PC's are coming with 16GB of System memory and 8GB of Graphics memory or 24GB all up... And that could potentially increase significantly once DDR5 arrives and doubles Ram density.
It's only games that don't take advantage of all that memory and still stream assets from disk that will see big gains by moving to faster storage, but any properly ported game will take advantage of the PC's hardware.

I have had SSD's in my PC since 2009 with the OCZ Vertex 2... And the single biggest and most important advantage SSD's have over mechanical disks has been those access times, mechanical drives would have their performance tank when doing any kind of random reads/writes where-as SSD's don't suffer from such performance penalties... And that shows in some games that do allot of asset streaming because of the reduction in pop-in.

**********

Technically you can have an SSD setup today that beats the Playstation 5's SSD setup that hasn't even released yet, it would just be expensive and for most people it would be out of their technical knowledge range.

But storage is certainly less of an issue on the PC, there is less of a need for the PC to rely on it when it can load more data into memory anyway and competent developers understand this... As it's always been the PC advantage.

Yeah I don't get their line of thought. They seem to think these next gen machines are somehow going to trump every PC on the planet, and even then a smaller number believe it'll be like that for years. I don't think a lot of them realise that PC gets newer hw every year. PC always ends up stepping far ahead of consoles, because consoles remain closed off and uniform by their very design and nature. 

If they were to allow for all their parts to be swappable, then they'd stop being consoles, but then they'd also be able to keep up with other PC's over time, but that defeats the point of it even being a console in the first place. 

"It's only games that don't take advantage of all that memory and still stream assets from disk that will see big gains by moving to faster storage, but any properly ported game will take advantage of the PC's hardware."

I suppose we will see how it goes but I don't have much faith in devs to do proper porting that will scale accordingly, specially since both consoles are gonna have fast SSDs.

The latest rumor is Hopper going 5nm already. Cool if true.

*** NEW CONTEST ***

bit-tech has decided to join their sister site and are running a very similar competition:

https://www.bit-tech.net/competitions/tech/win-a-be-quiet-pure-base-500dx-chassis/1/

• 1st Prize is a Pure Base 500DX case in either black or white, your choice, plus a "special" prize (whatever that may be
• 2nd and 3rd prize will be just the case, again the colour can be choosed.

And just because we're already doing this:

*** NEW FREE GAME ***

Showdown Bandit is free until the 1st of June: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1076280/Showdown_Bandit/

Let's dive into the Thursday news:

SALES & DEALS

Battlefront 2, The Sims 4 and Titanfall 2 are all 70% off in the Origin sale
https://www.pcgamer.com/battlefront-2-the-sims-4-and-titanfall-2-are-all-70-off-in-the-origin-sale/
EA has launched another Origin sale. You'll find some hefty deals on most EA games, including Battlefield 5, The Sims 4 and, er, Anthem, as well as a selection of third-party games, including Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Far Cry 5. The sale is on from now until May 14.

Close Combat: Wacht am Rhein launches at GOG with a 50% discount until May 14: https://www.gog.com/game/close_combat_wacht_am_rhein

Steam has a new daily deal, Ash of Gods: Redemption, 70% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/691690/Ash_of_Gods_Redemption/

Fanatical has two new deals:

• Codemasters has put its games up to 90% off: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/codemasters
• And there's a new Platinum Build your own bundle, with 17 games to choose your 3 game bundle for a great price: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/platinum-collection-build-your-own-bundle-may-2020

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-empty-

MODS/EMULATORS

Version 1.6.0 for the best Playstation 2 emulator, PCSX2, is now available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/version-1-6-0-for-the-best-playstation-2-emulator-pcsx2-is-now-available-for-download/
After almost four years, the team behind the best Playstation 2 emulator has released a brand new version. PCSX2 1.6.0 is now available for download and comes with a number of tweaks, fixes and improvements.
Going into more details, version 1.6.0 brings numerous accuracy enhancements. For instance, it implements Software Sprite Renderer feature which allows to CPU emulate (SSE accelerated) certain sprite draws directly from the HW renderer. It also has a new version of the TFX shader on Direct3D10/11 to match OpenGL code and its’ accuracy for certain effects.
Furthermore, it adds dedicated fixes for Big Mutha Truckers and Sonic Unleashed. Additionally, True Crime: Streets of L.A. is now playable in this latest version of PCSX2.
Lastly, the team has updated its GameDB with hundreds of new changes. These changes contain added or removed gamefixes that can be enabled with Automatic Gamefixes. According to the team, this should greatly improve and ease configurations for our users as they don’t need to trouble themselves with searching and manually applying gamefixes and patches for the games that require them.

10GB Ultra HD Texture Pack released for Fallout 76, overhauls weapons and most workstations
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/10gb-ultra-hd-texture-pack-released-for-fallout-76-overhauls-weapons-and-most-workstations/
Modder ‘incognitank’ has released an Ultra HD Texture Pack for Fallout 76. This pack uses AI techniques in order to overhaul the game’s textures, offering 4K and 2K versions of them. So far, the modder has improved the textures of most workstations and weapons.
Going into more details, the textures of workstations four times better now thanks to the AI upscale techniques. Moreover, thrown weapons, blunt melee weapons, edged melee weapons and unarmed weapons are four times better than before. Additionally, this pack has 8K textures for the M2 50 Cal Machine Gun.
Now the good news here is that the modder is currently uploading Ultra HD Packs for various objects (like binoculars/drill/camera), standard weapons, heavy weapons, energy weapons and all clothing. Furthermore, he plans to upscale the textures of all non-powerarmor and power armors, as well as those for all monsters.
>> It's available from Nexus Mods.

PC gamers can already experience Mass Effect Trilogy HD Remaster thanks to these mods
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/pc-gamers-can-already-experience-mass-effect-trilogy-hd-remaster-thanks-to-these-mods/
According to VentureBeat’s Jeff Grubb, EA is currently working on a HD Remaster of the Mass Effect Trilogy. And while this is great news for most console Mass Effect fans, PC gamers can already enjoy such a remaster thanks to the following mods.
First things first. A couple of hours ago, Jeff Grubb claimed that EA’s unannounced HD game is Mass Effect Trilogy HD Remaster. While there isn’t any release date yet, we can assume that this remaster will be coming on current-gen consoles and the PC.
However, PC gamers can already overhaul the graphics of all three Mass Effect games. And, to be honest, these modded versions may be better than what EA is currently working on. After all, I don’t expect the publisher to significantly overhaul and remake these three games.
>> Check the article for the different mods.

This Alien-themed Doom mod pits you against androids, predators, and xenomorphs
https://www.pcgamer.com/this-alien-themed-doom-mod-pits-you-against-androids-predators-and-xenomorphs/
Aliens: Eradication, created by Kontra_Kommando, gives classic Doom an Aliens makeover. But it's more than just Doom with xenomorph sprites, adding character classes and even new systems, including deployable auto-turrets. If you ever played PlayStation shooter Alien Trilogy you'll notice that this conversion has borrowed a few of its enemies and weapons.
The classes, and how they change the way the game plays, are the most intriguing thing here. As a colonist you can recruit and command any fellow colonists you encounter, although you are particularly vulnerable to surprise facehugger attacks. Even in pixel form they're still terrifying.
>> You can get it from ModDB.

GAMING NEWS

Here are 3 minutes of gameplay footage from the cancelled Prince of Persia Redemption game
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-3-minutes-of-gameplay-footage-from-the-cancelled-prince-of-persia-redemption-game/
Yesterday, we informed you about the registration of a new domain for Prince of Persia. While this registration now appears to be bogus, Ubisoft had been working on a Prince of Persia game back in early 2010s. This PoP was called Prince of Persia Redemption, was cancelled in 2011, and you can find below 3 minutes of gameplay footage from it.

CD Projekt RED re-clarifies: There are no micro-transactions or in-game purchases in Cyberpunk 2077
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/cd-projekt-red-re-clarifies-there-are-no-micro-transactions-or-in-game-purchases-in-cyberpunk-2077/
ESRB rated yesterday Cyberpunk 2077, giving it a Mature rating. However, ESRB has claimed that there are in-game purchases in Cyberpunk 2077. Naturally, this confused a lot of gamers. After all, CD Projekt RED stated that the game would not feature any micro-transactions. Therefore, the team felt the need to clarify what these “in-game purchases” actually mean.
As CD Projekt RED’s Fabian Döhla claimed, Cyberpunk 2077 will not feature any microtransactions or in-game purchases. However, the game will have some expansions, similar to those of The Witcher 3. As such, ESRB’s “in-game purchases” description is, in actuality, these expansions.

First screenshots released for NieR Replicant Remaster, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/first-screenshots-released-for-nier-replicant-remaster-nier-replicant-ver-1-22474487139/
Square Enix has released the first screenshots for its upcoming remaster of NieR Replicant, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139. These screenshots will give you an idea of what you can expect from this upcoming HD remaster in terms of graphics.

First-person sci-fi shooter, Disintegration, releases on June 16th, gets a story trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/first-person-sci-fi-shooter-disintegration-releases-on-june-16th-gets-a-story-trailer/
V1 Interactive has released a story trailer for its upcoming first-person sci-fi shooter, Disintegration. Disintegration combines FPS and real time strategy elements. Moreover, the team revealed that the game will release on June 16th.

Thursday news, part two:

The new Sims 4 Eco Lifestyle expansion pack is out June 5
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-new-sims-4-eco-lifestyle-expansion-pack-is-out-june-5/
In a live stream today on YouTube, Electronic Arts announced that the next expansion for The Sims 4 will be the Eco Lifestyle expansion pack, due to release on June 5. The expansion will have a bunch of new eco-friendly items, a new world called Evergreen Harbour, and new options that will enable your sims to reduce their carbon footprint.

Weaving Tides is a gorgeous knitted adventure with a free demo
https://www.pcgamer.com/weaving-tides-is-a-gorgeous-knitted-adventure-with-a-free-demo/
Weaving Tides is an adventure puzzle game set in a world that looks like it was made from fabric and textile. On the back of a flying dragon, you can explore the magical woven landscape using different stitching techniques to solve puzzles as you go.

Terraria's Journey Mode will let you play with item duplication, God mode and more
https://www.pcgamer.com/terrarias-journey-mode-will-let-you-play-with-item-duplication-god-mode-and-more/
The Terraria: Journey's End update will bring a hefty amount of new content and features to the nearly decade-old sandbox game, including items, enemies, mini-biomes, and two new difficulty levels: Master Mode and Journey Mode. Master Mode seems obvious enough—it's going to be tough—and we've speculated previously that Journey Mode might be a creative mode of some sort.

Cyberpunk 2077 features customizable genitals
https://www.pcgamer.com/cyberpunk-2077-features-customizable-genitals/
Surprising no one, Cyberpunk 2077 was rated 'M' for Mature by the ESRB. What is surprising, though, is what elements contributed to that rating: customizable genitals and a quest that sure sounds like the main character crucifying some poor soul.

Deadmau5, Steve Aoki, and Dillon Francis to headline the Fortnite Party Royale premiere
https://www.pcgamer.com/fortnite-party-royale-premiere-deadmau5-dillon-francis-steve-aoki/
Fortnite's no-combat Party Royale mode debuted last week, giving players the opportunity to fool around with new social hub activities like skydiving and leaping boats over ramps. Today, developer Epic Games finally confirmed the details on the official Party Royale premiere party, because of course there's going to be one: The kickoff event promises a bunch of famous musicians, free cosmetics for attendees, and the usual slate of hangout activities.
>> Question: Do you want me to keep posting news about this Fortnite mode or not? I ask because it doesn't look like it's very game-"ish".

Riot confirms that increased internet usage due to COVID-19 is affecting pings
https://www.pcgamer.com/riot-covid-19-game-ping-valorant-latency/
I rarely have latency problems in games, but lately I've noticed 100-plus pings and red Discord bars more often. I can't prove the exact cause—Comcast just sucks sometimes—but an obvious hypothesis is that increased internet usage caused by COVID-19 stay-at-home orders is having an effect. In a Valorant blog update today, Riot gives that hypothesis some weight.
>> It's all your fault .

Valorant producer: harassment is 'not a status quo I'm comfortable accepting'
https://www.pcgamer.com/valorant-producer-harassment-is-not-a-status-quo-im-comfortable-accepting/
In April, Valorant executive producer Anna Donlon said on Twitter that she doesn't solo queue in her own game because of the harassment women invariably face in competitive games. And whenever the topic of harassment is raised, a chorus of 'get over its' appears to declare that it's not a problem.

Sid Meier's memoir is called Sid Meier's Memoir! and it's coming this September
https://www.pcgamer.com/sid-meiers-memoir-is-called-sid-meiers-memoir-and-its-coming-this-september/
Sid Meier probably doesn't need any introduction around these parts, but just in case: he's the mind behind a whole bunch of classic PC games ranging Sid Meier's Civilization, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, Sid Meier's Railway Tycoon and Sid Meier's Pirates! to name a few. He co-founded legendary studio MicroProse, and also founded Firaxis, which continues to make Civilization and XCOM games.
He has quite the legacy, so it's no surprise that he's got a book in him: Sid Meier's Memoir! publishes this September through WW Norton. Based on the book's description it won't be a straight biography or anything: Meier will reflect on his career, but he'll also offer "his perspective on the history of the industry, the psychology of gamers, and fascinating insights into the creative process, including his rules of good game design."
>> Fitting name for his book.

RoboCop is coming to Mortal Kombat 11 in new Aftermath expansion
https://www.pcgamer.com/robocop-is-coming-to-mortal-kombat-11-in-new-aftermath-expansion/
Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath is a newly announced expansion that will continue the main game's story, with a particular focus on characters like Sheeva, Fujin and Nightwolf. That's pretty cool, but the coolest thing about Aftermath is RoboCop. Yes, RoboCop is joining the Mortal Kombat 11 roster.

A brutal war between the High Elves and Greenskins is the next DLC for Total War: Warhammer 2
https://www.pcgamer.com/a-brutal-war-between-the-high-elves-and-greenskins-is-the-next-dlc-for-total-war-warhammer-2/
Total War: Warhammer 2 is getting a new piece of DLC that centres around an epic battle between the Greenskins and the High Elves. The campaign will feature two new legendary lords for each side, the bloated warlord Grom for the Greenskins and the ethereal Eltharion, Prince of Yvresse for the High Elves. It's due out on May 21 and you can check out the cinematic trailer above.