I'll reply to JEMC's post tomorrow, but this seems quick.

He is not wrong in the sense that the industry needs to be doing more.
Games cannot come out at 100GB+ for the low end.

On the PC side:
Valve needs to do better.
Steam needs to be better.

Shadow of War and Fallout 4 having high-res texture packs is a clear indicator of Steam's shortcomings.
High-res texture packs should be something handled for the user, more or less automatically.
Valve should be working on, and communicating their plans for asset scaling / language packs.
Valve should be openly striving for systems similar to what the Xbox team has recently added.

Developers stripping all the unnecessary content from each region's version of the game isn't something that can or should be accepted as normal.
Not until the platform holders improve their download management.
If the tools are available to allow a developer to finely manage who gets the required data, and the developers don't utilise the tools: we have an issue.

I am sure the publishers would take issue with a different download for each region (I am fine with yelling at publishers).
I am more willing to blame the platform holders and publishers than the developers doing the heavy lifting (for their title).

^ You don't really need to reply me...

Anyway, I've finished Quantum Break.

The game is shorter than I thought, on my first playthrough and with little previous knowledge (only the trailers and that E3 gameplay on a bridge), I managed to finish it with a 98% completition rate while watching all the TV episodes (maybe about 2 hours in total?) in 14.5 hours. I can honestly say that I was expecting a bit more and that it felt short, althought that last part may also be because I was enjoying the game and didn't want it to end.

So what can I say about it?

+It has a very good story that's well told and has a good ending that leaves enough loose ends to not be infuriating while also giving room for a sequel.

+Acting and cinematics are top notch, and the TV shows are well made.

+The game is very linear. I don't have a problem with it, but it can be a let down for some.

+The time distortion effect is very col at first but, imho, I think that Remedy abuse its use and ends up being annoying and a bit irritating.

+Gunfight is okay and while carrying only 3 weapons isn't a big deal, the fact that you can't freely choose which 3 you carry is frustating.

+Lastly, I hate Remedy for two things:

1. For making me care, and then kill, a certain character :P. Actually, add also another character.
2. If a better received game like Alan Wake didn't get a sequel, the chances of getting a sequel for QB are basically nil. Therefore, I hate the loose ends they left.

Despite my complains, I think it's a very good, but not excellent, game. I'll play it again soon to see what happens when you choose the other options and to try to get all the collectibles.

Monday news!

SALES & "SALES"/DEALS

Steam's Top 10

1. PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
2. Slay the Spire
3. Human: Fall Flat
4. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
5. They Are Billions
6. Divinity: Original Sin 2
7. Grand Theft Auto V
8. DRAGON BALL FighterZ
9. DRAGON BALL FighterZ
10. Subnautica

Stardew Valley has sold 3.5 million copies on the PC
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/stardew-valley-has-sold-3-5-million-copies-on-the-pc/
Analyst firm ‘Superdata’ revealed that Chucklefish’s indie farming simulation role-playing game, Stardew Valley, has sold over 3.5 million copies. Stardew Valley initially hit the PC on February 26th, 2016, and came to Xbox One and PS4 on December 14th, 2016. The game also hit Nintendo Switch in October 2017.
Now while Superdata did not reveal the exact number of sold copies, we can take a look at Steamspy in order to get an idea of how many the PC sales actually are. And according to Steamspy’s data, the Steam version has sold 3.5 million copies.

Minecraft had 74 million active players in December, a new record for the game
http://www.pcgamer.com/minecraft-had-74-million-active-players-in-december-a-new-record-for-the-game/
New head of Minecraft Helen Chiang has revealed that the game had 74 million active users in December—the most in a month since it released nearly nine years ago. In total, more than 144 million copies of the game have been sold. "We just recently set a new record in December for monthly active users, so now we're at 74 million monthly active users—and that's really a testament to people coming back to the game, whether it's through the game updates or bringing in new players from across the world," she told PopSugar.

Now, as we do every Monday, it's time to see what deals are available at GOG:

• The Carmageddon Sale will run for almost 3 more days: https://www.gog.com/promo/20180118_carmageddon_sale
• To celebrate the launch of Seven: The Days Long Gone (and its demo), the game is 30% off until the end of the week: https://www.gog.com/promo/20180122_seven
• Lastly, we have the weekly sale, this time with Tycoon games. Titles like Railroad Tycoon, Rollercoaster Tycoon, Tropico, Theme Park/Hospital or SimCity, among others, are available up to 85% off: https://www.gog.com/promo/20180224_weekly_sale_tycoon

SOFTWARE

Denuvo 4.8, anti-tamper tech used in the latest triple-A games, has been cracked
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/denuvo-4-8-anti-tamper-tech-used-in-the-latest-triple-a-games-has-been-cracked/
It appears that the latest version of the Denuvo anti-tamper tech, Denuvo 4.8, has been cracked. As always, we won’t share or allow links but a certain group was able to crack Sonic Forces; a game that uses Steam and Denuvo 4.8.

>>It's always a matter of time and effort.

MODS/EMULATORS

Fans remake Silent Hills P.T. for the PC, and you can download the prototype versions
http://www.dsogaming.com/articles/fans-remake-silent-hills-p-t-for-the-pc-and-you-can-download-the-prototype-versions/
Back in November we informed you about a Silent Hills P.T. remake in Unreal Engine 4. Created by SmoggyChips, this project is still in WIP. However, SmoggyChips has released a prototype version of this project that you can download right now and play.
As its creator noted, this version is an early access build and alot more levels will be added along with fixes during this early access phase. Still, we are pretty sure that P.T. fans will appreciate it so those interested can download it from here.

New version of Skyland, triple-A HD quality landscape texture pack for Skyrim, available for download
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/new-version-of-skyland-triple-a-hd-quality-landscape-texture-pack-for-skyrim-available-for-download/
Modder ‘Johnrose81’ has released a new version of Skyland. Skyland is a triple-A quality landscape texture package consisting of individual handcrafted materials generated from programmatic textures.

>>You can download it from Nexus Mods.

GAMING NEWS

Nightdive Studios hints at a Forsaken re-release or remaster
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/nightdive-studios-hints-at-a-forsaken-re-release-or-remaster/
Nightdive Studios has just released some screenshots for Forsaken, hinting at a possible re-release or a remaster. Forsaken is a 3D first-person shooter similar to Descent. The game came out in 1998 and was one of the few games that showcased what 3D graphics accelerators were capable on the PC.

We Happy Few delayed, full release now planned for Summer 2018, unconditional refunds now available
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/we-happy-few-delayed-full-release-now-planned-for-summer-2018-unconditional-refunds-now-available/
Compulsion Games has announced that the full release of We Happy Few has been delayed from April to Summer 2018. Furthermore, the team is now offering unconditional refunds to all players that were disappointed by the Early Access content of the game.

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana has been delayed once again due to low framerate & memory leaks issues
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/ys-viii-lacrimosa-of-dana-has-been-delayed-once-again-due-to-low-framerate-memory-leaks-issues/
NIS America has announced that Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana has been delayed, once again, on the PC. According to the team, the PC version suffers from performance issues that have not been addressed yet.

>>Well, at least they're trying to fix that before release, unlike other studios.

Strangely Interactive is the third dev publicly admitting server issues due to Spectre/Meltdown fixes
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/strangely-interactive-is-the-third-dev-publicly-admitting-server-issues-due-to-spectre-meltdown-fixes/
Earlier this month, Epic Games and Housemargue publicly revealed major server performance issues due to the Spectre and Meltdown security fixes that were released. And from the looks of it, Strangely Interactive, is the third developer that has publicly admitted it.

Dragon Ball FighterZ gets a launch trailer
http://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/dragon-ball-fighterz-gets-a-launch-trailer/
Bandai Namco has released the launch trailer for Dragon Ball FighterZ, as well as a trailer dedicated to Android 21. Dragon Ball FighterZ promises to feature a Story Mode that will surprise and delight fans with its LINK System. This system will allow them to embody different characters, share their minds and even discuss with them while they live in the same body.

Monday news, the long part two:

Sea of Thieves' gorgeous world looks ripe for exploring in latest dev diary
http://www.pcgamer.com/sea-of-thieves-gorgeous-world-looks-ripe-for-exploring-in-latest-dev-diary/
As much as I fancy the idea of treasure hunting, storm-weathering, and drunken sea shantying, I'm most looking forward to exploring Sea of Thieves' vibrant world when it docks later this year. Call me a scaredy cat if you will, but while you're off getting your head kicked in by some belligerent console swashbuckler, I'll instead be visiting some of the gorgeous sights that feature in the game's latest developer update.

The No Man's Sky ARG is back in action
http://www.pcgamer.com/the-no-mans-sky-arg-is-back-in-action/
It appears that things are once again happening in the No Man's Sky 'Waking Titan' ARG that began way back in May 2017. As noted by Game Detectives (via Eurogamer), the Atlas Passes that were promised in an earlier stage of the ARG have begun to arrive, and rather than answering questions they are deepening the mystery.

Symmetry is a 'survival management' game about a crashed spaceship and an alien horror
http://www.pcgamer.com/symmetry-is-a-survival-management-game-about-a-crashed-spaceship-and-an-alien-horror/
The trouble with deep space exploration is that it's awfully easy for the people doing it to die. That, simplistically, is the situation in the retro-future sci-fi survival management sim Symmetry, which publisher IMGN Pro announced today will be released on February 20: Your research vessel has crash-landed on a desolate planet, and now you have to get as much of the crew as you can back home.

Final Fantasy 14's next update brings back Kefka, one of the series' best villains
http://www.pcgamer.com/final-fantasy-14s-next-update-brings-back-kefka-one-of-the-series-best-villains/
Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy 14: Stormblood's 4.2 update will be arriving January 30, and it's bringing some heavy nostalgia with it. Fans of the MMO will know what to expect by now as the update, titled Rise of a New Sun, brings the usual host of a new raid wing, dungeons, and smaller features. But it's the special tease at the end of the trailer that's really exciting: Kefka, the maniac wizard from Final Fantasy 6, is back.

Old-school RPG Tower of Time will leave Early Access in April
http://www.pcgamer.com/old-school-rpg-tower-of-time-will-leave-early-access-in-april/
Tower of Time, a "new take on classic RPGs" about a shattered land, a mysterious tower, and a gang of champions who decide to venture inside and see what's cooking, was expected to trade Early Access for full release by the end of 2017. A quick trip to Steam will reveal that it did not happen. It will (hopefully) happen soon, however, as developer Event Horizon now says that it will be ready for release in April.

Pretty dungeon crawler Tangledeep shoots out of Early Access on February 1
http://www.pcgamer.com/dungeon-crawler-tangledeep-shoots-out-of-early-access-on-february-1/
I've had my eye on Tangledeep for a while: it's a roguelike dungeon crawler where you start underground and your goal is to reach the surface, which is a decent twist on an age-old formula. It entered Early Access in July and developer Impact Gameworks has just announced that its full release will be shooting out on February 1.

Free-to-play MMO Rift is adding a new subscription server free of loot boxes
http://www.pcgamer.com/free-to-play-mmo-rift-is-adding-a-new-subscription-server-free-of-loot-boxes/
MMO Rift went free-to-play in 2011, opening its gates to more players but also ushering in loot boxes and a store packed with items you could buy with real money to make the game a lot easier. After a long think (and no doubt influenced by player pushback against microtransactions), developer Trion Worlds is going back to its roots by introducing a paid subscription model for a server free of loot boxes.

Call of Duty: WW2 is adding prop hunt and the classic Demolition game mode for a limited time
http://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty-ww2-is-adding-prop-hunt-and-bringing-back-the-demolition-game-mode-for-a-limited-time/
Call of Duty: WW2's free community event ahead of the release of its Resistance DLC map pack hands players new weapons, a new division and plenty of XP boosts, but two time-limited game modes are the most interesting additions. For just over a month from Tuesday (January 23), you'll be able to log on and play silly party game Prop Hunt, where one team has to hide from the other by disguising themselves as background items in a map, like a table or a battered chair. I've had a lot of fun with it in other games, and I can't see why this would be any different.

Metal Gear Survive has microtransactions and requires constant online connection—report
http://www.pcgamer.com/metal-gear-survive-has-microtransactions-and-requires-constant-online-connectionreport/
Metal Gear Survive, Konami's Kojima-less game about staying alive in a zombie-infested desert, will offer players stat-boosting microtransactions and will require a constant internet connection to play, even in single-player, according to a report.

Battlefield 1's Apocalypse DLC out next month, adds five maps and aerial combat mode
http://www.pcgamer.com/battlefield-1s-apocalypse-out-next-month-adds-five-maps-and-aerial-combat-mode/
Battlefield 1's next DLC, Apocalypse, will fly out next month with five maps and a new game mode centred on aerial combat, developer DICE has announced. Three of the maps—Passchendaele, Caporetto and the River Somme—are made for the usual mix of infantry and vehicle combat, while London Calling and Razor’s Edge are designed "exclusively for aerial combat" in the new Air Assault game mode.

Faeland is a good-looking Metroidvania coming to Kickstarter soon
http://www.pcgamer.com/2d-platformer-faeland-looks-beautiful-coming-to-kickstarter-soon/
Faeland looks gorgeous, in my opinion (although I am a sucker for this sort of thing). It's a pixel art Metroidvania with role-playing elements that's coming to Kickstarter "soon"—and yes, I know, there are more pixel art Metroidvanias on the horizon than you can shake a short sword at, but give the teaser trailer a chance before you dismiss it.

Kursk, the game based on a 2000 Russian submarine disaster, will be out this year
http://www.pcgamer.com/kursk-the-game-based-on-a-2000-russian-submarine-disaster-will-be-out-this-year/
Kursk is a game about a nuclear-powered Russian submarine that was lost along with its entire crew in the year 2000. Developer Jujubee first mentioned it in 2015 and then went quiet, but in a blog post this week it revealed more details about what type of game Kursk will be and confirmed a 2018 release date for PC.

>>Personally, I find it of bad taste, and I hope the game becomes a failure.

Memories of Mars is a multiplayer, open-world survival game landing in Early Access this Spring
http://www.pcgamer.com/memories-of-mars-is-a-multiplayer-open-world-survival-game-landing-in-early-access-this-spring/
I can't wait for Surviving Mars, the colony builder from the makers of Tropico, but it's worth remembering a couple of other red planet games that are coming out this year. Occupy Mars, another colony builder, is one, and now there's also Memories of Mars, a multiplayer open-world survival game releasing in Early Access this Spring.

Esteemed cover artist Bob Wakelin has passed away
http://www.pcgamer.com/esteemed-cover-artist-bob-wakelin-has-passed-away/
Bob Wakelin, the artist behind some of the most iconic videogame cover art of the 1980s, has passed away.
And while Wakelin may not be a household name, if you're at all familiar with videogames in the '80s then you'll almost certainly be aware of his work. Perhaps best known for his creations at Ocean Software, Wakelin lent his artistic expertise to everything from Parasol Stars: Rainbow Island 2 to Operation Wolf and Superbowl.

>>D.E.P.

Ex-Sonic Team head joins Square Enix
http://www.pcgamer.com/ex-sonic-team-head-joins-square-enix/
Yuji Naka, the former head of Sonic Team and one-time lead programmer of the original Sonic the Hedgehog, has joined Square Enix. Since parting ways with his former employer in 2006, Naka has led his own outfit Prope—since releasing a number of mobile games—however joins Square Enix as a developer.

>>Xxain has made a thread about it.

Resident Evil 2 director trusts remake team, says 'do as you like'
http://www.pcgamer.com/resident-evil-2-director-trusts-remake-team-says-do-as-you-like/
As if mid-January Mondays weren't difficult enough, I'm about to make you feel old. Resident Evil 2 celebrated its 20th anniversary yesterday, debuting on PlayStation consoles in the US on January 21, 1998. And while Leon and Claire and the trench coat-donning Mr X wouldn't arrive on PC for another year after that, I hardly feel comforted by the fact it's been 19 years since we first fumbled around the RCPD headquarters on Windows 95-powered desktops.
What is more reassuring, though, is original sequel director Hideki Kamiya's faith in the upcoming and much-anticipated remake. When asked via Twitter if he felt the team in charge of the RE2 remake would do the first game justice, Kamiya spoke positively about a conversation he had with the new game's director last year.

>>Feeling old?

So, after finishing Quantum Break I'm in the mood for something lighter and less linear. The two options I'm considering are Watch Dogs and Black Flag.

Of those two, I think I'll go with WatchDogs because it's the less good of the two (to be polite) and I prefer to leave the good one for a time where I can enjoy it more.

What do you think?

I'd choose neither tbh.

I've quit Watch Dogs after one sitting - it was too much of...I don't know...soulless Ubi collectathon...and I guess, trying to play it right after Sleeping Dogs (which I liked more than GTA V) didn't help at all.

I managed to play Black Flag for few days - but to be honest, apart from first AC, I don't really like AC - that and I absolutely hated arcadey naval battles, since I prefer way more realistic models (often found in older PC games).

I feel that it's rather random to have a question about the devs optimising their game, then having this completely random user, with a locked profile, no avatar or name change history, coming in and getting super aggressive with me. I wouldn't at all be surprised if it was one of the devs using a blank profile to piss off users.

http://steamcommunity.com/app/471010/discussions/0/1620599015874991670/?ctp=3

That was pretty much my sentiment. Haha
Ubi certainly has a formula which is predictable with it's games these days.

Don't even waste your time.

I wondered if that was you in the thread =P.

I blocked and reported her for multiple acts of harassment.