Steam Stats update!

I'm keeping it short this month:

One third of the Steam hardware base has now a Pascal GTX GPU (low level GT 1030 not included), another third of the Steam hardware base has now a Maxwell GTX GPU (no low level "GeForce GT" crap included).

I like how these charts perfectly show the clientele of each of them. While Nvidia buyers are at most one generation away, AMD has all the people who don't like to spend money, which means they upgrade rarely and stay with their old cards as long as possible.

^That's one way to look at it. The other is that AMD cards age better than the Nvidia ones .

Those numbers are sad to see, with AMD doing so bad. And I know that it would be easy to blame miners for monopolizing all the stock, but the truth is most consumers don't see AMD as a good investment.

Yeah, all these casuals with their 5 year old cards really care about AMD's driver maintenance :P

Well. Buy the Ram second hand for cheap. 6GB would be borderline these days IMHO. :P

That's because they aren't a good investment. They are overpriced for the performance they offer and the power they consume.

Mining has seen AMD's GPU division post some impressive profit numbers though, but it's a bubble and it will have to end eventually.

AMD really needs to improve their efficiency levels... and a microcode update or something similar to make their cards less attractive to miners would be welcome too.

Ok, I a few days ago we talked about HDDs and reliability. Well, Backblaze has made public its Q4 2017 stats: https://www.backblaze.com/blog/hard-drive-stats-for-2017/

Also, if any of you is after a new PSU, there's a new contest at HEXUS: http://hexus.net/tech/features/psu/114365-win-quiet-straight-power-11-upgrade-bundle/

First Prize: Straight Power 11 750W + Silent Loop 280 + Surprise Package
Second Prize: Straight Power 11 650W + Surprise Package
Third Prize: Straight Power 11 550W + Surprise Package

^^^
Seagate worst - as usual.
Hitachi kicks ass - as usual.
WD, you never know with them - as usual.

Suprised by Toshiba's 0%, though it's quite small sample.

Let's go with the news!

SALES & "SALES"/DEALS

PUBG tops premium PC digital market with $714 million in 2017
https://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-tops-premium-pc-digital-market-with-714-million-in-2017/
Videogame research firm Superdata recently released its 2017 Year in Review report, which among other things breaks down how much money we spend on our games, and which ones we most like to throw it at. The big winner among premium PC games last year was, unsurprisingly, Playerunknown's Battlegrounds, which pulled in an estimated $714 million.

Dark Souls 3 is $12 in the new Humble Monthly Bundle
https://www.pcgamer.com/dark-souls-3-is-12-in-the-new-humble-monthly-bundle/
The Humble Monthly Bundle for February is the Dark Souls of Humble Bundles (sorry, Austin), because Dark Souls 3 is this month's featured game. For $12, you get it, the Ashes of Ariandel DLC, and a bunch of other games that will be revealed at the beginning of March.

Pick up Alien: Isolation plus 5 DLC packs for £8/$11, a whopping 77% discount
https://www.pcgamer.com/pick-up-alien-isolation-plus-5-dlc-packs-for-811a-whopping-77-discount/
Alien: Isolation, arguably the best horror game of all time (and one of the top 10 games on PC), is available on the cheap for the next three days. Over at Fanatical you can buy the base game plus all the season pass DLC for a lick over £8/$11. That's 77% off—not quite a historic low but still a damn good deal, and cheaper than it's ever been on Steam.

Pick up excellent racer Dirt Rally for $10, its lowest ever price
https://www.pcgamer.com/pick-up-excellent-racer-dirt-rally-for-10-its-lowest-ever-price/
You can pick up a Steam key for $10 at Chrono.gg. As I said, it's a historic low price, and the game is more than $50 on most stores at the moment. Grab it while you have a chance.

>>I've never heard of this store before. Anyone here knows if it's reliable or not?

That's a lot of sales/discounts, but there's another one: GOG's weekly sale. It's dubbed "Get, Play, Love" and you'll be able to find games from a lot of genres, from Gothic to System Shock, Don't Starve to Turok, etc. and up to 90% off.

SOFTWARE

Windows 10 update includes a Spectre fix that plays nice with AMD systems
https://www.pcgamer.com/windows-10-update-includes-a-spectre-fix-that-plays-nice-with-amd-systems/
Microsoft has begun pushing out a Windows 10 update that includes a Spectre fix for AMD systems. Unlike the previous patch, however, this one will not cause older AMD rigs to become unbootable.
The new update brings the Windows 10 build number to 16299.214. It is being delivered automatically, though users can kickstart the download by going into Windows Update and selecting "Check for updates."
There are several fixes in the newest update, which you can read about in the patch notes.

AMD Radeon Adrenalin Edition 18.2.1 is now available, optimized for Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/amd-radeon-adrenalin-edition-18-2-1-is-now-available-optimized-for-final-fantasy-12-the-zodiac-age/
AMD has released a brand new driver for its graphics cards. According to the release notes, the AMD Radeon Adrenalin Edition 18.2.1 is optimized for Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age. Moreover, this driver addresses some corruption issues on some terrain in Need for Speed Payback, and some launch issues on Hybrid Graphics system configurations when using the DirectX9 API in Sid Meier’s Civilization V.

>>You can download them from here.

Assassin’s Creed Origins “VMProtect + Denuvo” protection has been cracked
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/assassins-creed-origins-vmprotect-denuvo-protection-has-been-cracked/
Back in January, a certain group was able to crack Denuvo 4.8. Normally we wouldn’t be interested in newer games being cracked, however, Assassin’s Creed Origins is a very special case. And that’s because Ubisoft has used VMProtect on top of the Denuvo anti-tamper tech in an effort to further protect it. And from the looks of it, this combination has also been cracked.

>>It's always a matter of time. Always.

MODS/EMULATORS

This mod for Mafia 2 lets you free roam right from the start and change the time of day at will
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/this-mod-for-mafia-2-lets-you-free-roam-right-from-the-start-and-change-the-time-of-day-at-will/
ModdedGames has released a really interesting mod for the second Mafia game. As its title suggests, the Free Ride 2.2 mod makes free roam possible in Mafia 2 without even starting the campaign story mode.

>>Available from moddb.

This Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain mod lets you play in first-person mode
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/this-metal-gear-solid-5-the-phantom-pain-mod-lets-you-play-in-first-person-mode/
Real_Mindmaster has shared an updated version of MXMSTR’s first-person mod for Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. This mod works with the game’s latest version (v1.0.12.0) and lets you experience the whole game from a first-person perspective.

>>You can download this mod from Nexus Mods.

Doom/Overwatch crossover mod adds D.Va's mech to Doom
https://www.pcgamer.com/doomoverwatch-crossover-mod-adds-dvas-mech-to-doom/
For every Bart Simpson meets Jack Bauer, there's a Murder She Wrote meets Magnum P.I. When crossovers work, they're wonderful. When they don't, you wind up with things like Ehrgeiz: God Bless The Ring. And the less said about that, the better.
On looks alone (I'm yet to take it for a spin), MyNamels' OverDOOM belongs to the former camp. Built for the original monster-blasting shooter, this mod combines Overwatch and Doom by introducing hero D.Va's auto-firing, Fusion Cannon-wielding, projectile-dismantling mech to the underworld and beyond.

>>Interested in it? Head to moddb to download it.

GAMING NEWS

Square Enix will keep investing in single-player games
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/square-enix-will-keep-investing-on-single-player-games/
n an interview with GameCentral, Square Enix’s president and CEO Yosuke Matsuda reassured fans that Square Enix will keep investing in single-player games. Matsuda has also explained what the term ‘Games as a service’ means to Square Enix.

Final Fantasy XV benchmark GameWorks Hairworks effects seem to be bugged
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/final-fantasy-xv-benchmark-gameworks-hairworks-effects-seem-to-be-bugged/
A few days ago, Square Enix released the official PC benchmark for Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition. And while this benchmark uses some NVIDIA GameWorks effects, it appears that the GameWorks Hairworks effects are currently bugged, resulting in a noticeable performance hit even when there aren’t on-screen any characters that benefit from them.

Fortnite patch 2.4.1 is now available, adds 3D Resolution slider, MiniGun and Cozy Campfires
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/fortnite-patch-2-4-1-is-now-available-adds-3d-resolution-slider-minigun-and-cozy-campfires/
Epic Games has released a brand new patch for Fortnite. According to the release notes, the Fortnite patch 2.4.1 adds a MiniGun, Cozy Campires at which players can heal themselves, a 3D resolution slider, and makes some adjustments to the Suppressed Pistol.

Final Fantasy XV will support cross-play co-op between Xbox One and Windows 10
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/final-fantasy-xv-will-support-cross-play-co-op-between-xbox-one-and-windows-10/
Final Fantasy XV releases next month on the PC and according to its official Windows Store page, it will support cross-play co-op between Xbox One and Windows 10. And as you may have guessed, the cross-play platform support will only be exclusive to the Win10 version (meaning that the Steam users won’t be able to play with the Xbox One players).

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy may come to the PC in 2018
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/crash-bandicoot-n-sane-trilogy-may-come-to-the-pc-in-2018/
Back in 2017, we informed you about a rumour for a PC release of Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy. And… well… here is another rumour suggesting that this new Crash Bandicoot title will be coming to the PC platform in 2018.

Monday news, part two:

'Kinetic arcade action game' Violet Cycle launches from Early Access
https://www.pcgamer.com/kinetic-arcade-action-game-violet-cycle-launches-from-early-access/
Violet Cycle creator Marek Budik told us its eclectic style was influenced by the likes of Hyper Light Drifter, Transistor, Bastion and Nuclear Throne when we spoke with him last month. He also said that while Violet Cycle's stay in Early Access had been fruitful, he wanted to keep it as short as possible. That incubation comes to an end today as Violet Cycle officially launches on Steam for $10—discounted to $7.50 through February 9.

Far Cry 5 season pass includes zombies, Mars, the Vietnam War, and Far Cry 3
https://www.pcgamer.com/far-cry-5-season-pass-includes-zombies-mars-the-vietnam-war-and-far-cry-3/
The Far Cry 5 season pass will take players to some unusual places, and I'm not talking about deep-fried testicle festivals or forbidden bovine love. (Sorry, James.) I mean it in a very literal sense. It will include three separate adventures, each with a "unique Far Cry twist," featuring time travel, zombies, and a journey to another world.

Gunpoint, Heat Signature dev teases XCOM-like battlemage strategy game
https://www.pcgamer.com/gunpoint-heat-signature-dev-teases-xcom-like-battlemage-strategy-game/
Gunpoint and Heat Signature creator Tom Francis recently revealed the bones of what could be his next game: Tactical Breach Wizards. It's still a work in progress and subject to change, but I dearly hope that title sticks.

The Overwatch 'Year of the Dog' event is coming next week
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-overwatch-year-of-the-dog-event-is-coming-next-week/
Last year, Blizzard marked the coming of the Lunar New Year with the Year of the Rooster event in Overwatch. It's returning for 2018, but this time it's all about the dogs.
Blizzard said it will share more information on what's coming in the Year of the Dog "soon," but we can probably get a good idea of what's in store by looking at what happened last year. The Rooster delivered unto us new cosmetic items including skins, emotes, victory poses, voice lines, sprays, highlight intros, and icons, a Lunar New Year-themed reskin of the Lijiang Tower map, and a new CTF brawl in the Arcade called Capture the Rooster.

Battalion 1944 studio lead apologizes for launch problems
https://www.pcgamer.com/battalion-1944-studio-lead-apologizes-for-launch-problems/
Battalion 1944 is a competitive multiplayer FPS set in the Second World War. (...) The game's launch on Early Access yesterday almost immediately drew in more than 16,000 players, which is good news but also bad, because the player count quickly overwhelmed server capacity.
In a video apology, studio lead Joe Brammer accepted sole responsibility for the issues, saying he made the wrong call when estimating the server capacity required for the Early Access rollout.

We Were Here Too is a co-op escape game that aims to keeps the players apart
https://www.pcgamer.com/we-were-here-too-is-a-co-op-escape-game-that-aims-to-keeps-the-players-apart/
We Were Here Too is a first-person co-op adventure game in which two players have to work together to escape an abandoned castle filled with puzzles and traps. The catch is that the players are separated: Neither can see what the other sees, so the only way to coordinate their actions—which is the only way out—is to talk their way through it.

Frostpunk's Automatons are helpful machines that probably won't kill anyone
https://www.pcgamer.com/frostpunks-automatons-are-helpful-machines-that-probably-wont-kill-anyone/
Automatons are massive, steam-driven machines that can replace entire manual labor crews, working without rest (except for minor breaks to refuel) and without concern for the harsh environment or many dangers that can result in lost human lives. "They’re an example of pragmatic and authentic steampunk technology, used to endure cold and ensure humanity’s chances of survival," art director Przemyslaw Marszal said.

Treadnauts brings its multiplayer flying tank battles to Early Access
https://www.pcgamer.com/treadnauts-brings-its-multiplayer-flying-tank-battles-to-early-access/
Bouncy tanks that can drive up walls, strap on jetpacks and fire rockets? Yes please. Treadnauts, which has just hit Early Access, doesn't look particularly deep but I reckon it would be a lot of fun if you had friends over. It's a four-vehicle fight to the death with short rounds that will fill your screen with explosions. You fire rockets, rocket jump, squish your opponents, and drive up the walls with your sticky treads.

Space Engineers releases visual update that was a year in the making
https://www.pcgamer.com/space-engineers-releases-visual-update-that-was-a-year-in-the-making/
Co-op build 'em up Space Engineers, one of the best space games on PC, just received a major new update that overhauls the graphics and changes the way that surface vehicles work. A video for the update, above, shows that the game indeed looks better than ever, with lots of new particle effects and a freshly polished colour palette.

Friday the 13th Kickstarter backer rewards were stolen by staff at game distribution partner and sold on eBay (Updated)
https://www.pcgamer.com/keys-meant-for-friday-the-13th-kickstarter-backers-sold-on-ebay-publisher-confirms-theft-at-distribution-partner/
Keys for items intended exclusively for Friday the 13th Kickstarter backers were stolen from one of publisher Gun Media's distribution partners and then sold on eBay for more than $100 each, the company has confirmed.
Update: Friday the 13th publisher Gun Media originally said that keys for in-game rewards intended exclusively for Kickstarter backers had been stolen from one of its distribution partners and sold on eBay. It did not say which distributor, but Limited Run Games—which distributed the Kickstarter rewards—has since been in touch to confirm that the keys were likely stolen by one of its temporary contract workers. The culprit is not known, but the company no longer uses temporary contract workers.

Squad alpha version 10 out tomorrow, overhauls player movement and weapon handling
https://www.pcgamer.com/squad-alpha-version-10-out-tomorrow-overhauls-player-movement-and-weapon-handling/
The tenth alpha version of military sim Squad is due out tomorrow (February 5), and will make substantial changes to the way players move around its 50vs50 multiplayer matches.

Dynasty Warriors 9's open world is huge
https://www.pcgamer.com/dynasty-warriors-9s-open-world-is-huge/
Enthusiastic guitar riffs, flashing lights and officious armour fitting can only carry opening cinematics so far. And let's face it: last week's Dynasty Warriors 9 intro footage was a bit dross.
Far more entertaining is the folks at Dengeki's latest look (via Siliconera) at DW9's sprawling open world, wherein we see the player weaving through forestland, tiptoeing around enemy garrisons, and swimming across a gorgeously still body of water.

PUBG banned over 1 million players in January, new anti-cheat measures block ReShade
https://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-banned-over-1-million-players-in-january-new-anti-cheat-measures-block-reshade/
That's according to Battleye, the anti-cheat analysis software that governs the battle royale shooter's servers. Taking to Twitter, it said: "We have banned over 1,044,000 PUBG cheaters in January alone, unfortunately things continue to escalate."