Carzy Zarx’s PC Gaming Emporium - Catch Up on All the Latest PC Gaming Related News

[JEMC]

Let's go with the Monday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

GTA 5 & Civilization 6 free EGS giveaways brought a 245% & 477% jump to PC player numbers
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/gta-5-civilization-6-free-egs-giveaways-brought-a-245-477-jump-to-pc-player-numbers/
SuperData has shared its monthly report, revealing some interesting new data about Grand Theft Auto 5 and Civilization 6. According to the team, the free Epic Games Store giveaways brought a significant boost to their PC player numbers.
Going into more details, GTA 5 saw a 245% increase in its PC player numbers. Furthermore, PC revenue more than doubled as players purchased in-game content. And this right here is the main reason publishers are giving away their games for free on Epic Games Store.
Epic Games has also given for free Sid Meier’s Civilization VI on the Epic Games Store and PC player numbers surged 477%. PC revenue grew by 52% thanks to the promotion and the release of new in-game content, including a season pass.
Additionally, May’s biggest new release, Minecraft Dungeons, attracted 1.8 million players. Still, the Microsoft title, did not earn enough to make it to the top 10 PC games of the month and was only number nine on console.
>> And I still have to try them .

GOG starts the week with two sales:

• The new weekly sale is full of classics up to 89% off: https://www.gog.com/promo/20200629_weekly_sale
• And the The Witcher sale with its 85% discounts will still last another 5 days: https://www.gog.com/promo/20200624_witcher_sale

At the Humble Store we can find a Konami Sale, with up to 75% discounts during the next 10 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/konami-sale/

Fanatical has added flash deals to its Red Hot Sale (the free game is now Valhalla Hills), and another two deals:

• The Star Deal, that started yesterday, is the Neverwinter Nights Bundle that includes the game and 4 DLCs and is 80% off for another 24 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/neverwinter-nights-bundle
• There's a new Build Your Own Strategy Bundle, with 24 games to choose your 3, 5 or 7 game bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-strategy-bundle
• And these are the two flash deals:
  • Assetto Corsa Ultimate Edition is 78% off for the next 24 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/assetto-corsa-ultimate-edition
  • The Jackbox Party Pack 5 is 60% off for the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/the-jackbox-party-pack-5

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

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MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

New STALKER Remake in Unreal Engine 4 screenshots & 4K gameplay footage surface
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/new-stalker-remake-in-unreal-engine-4-screenshots-4k-gameplay-footage-surface/
Ivan_Sorce has shared some new screenshots and a new gameplay video for his upcoming fan remake of STALKER in Unreal Engine 4. These screenshots and 4K gameplay footage showcase the current state of this fan remake.
This STALKER remake in UE4 aims to retain the atmosphere of the original game. Moreover, it appears to be using some assets from it, though I’m not 100% certain about it. From the looks of it, Sorce is planning on offering an authentic remake/remaster of the game in Epic’s engine.

Free Darkstalkers vs Street Fighter MUGEN game is available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/free-darkstalkers-vs-street-fighter-mugen-game-is-available-for-download/
Darkstalkers and Street Fighter are two of the most iconic Capcom fighting series. And while the latter has received a lot of attention, the former has been left out in the cold. Thankfully, though, PC gamers can now enjoy a game that a lot of fighting fans have been dreaming of, Darkstalkers vs Street Fighter.
In order to celebrate the mark of 9500 subs, Gui Santos released a new version of the Darkstalkers vs Street Fighter MUGEN game. Darkstalkers vs Street Fighter Version 7 brings new characters and stages, alongside various improvements and fixes.
>> Here's the download link (MEGA).

The Witcher 3 True Fires Mod overhauls fires, light sources and shadows
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/the-witcher-3-true-fires-mod-overhauls-fires-light-sources-and-shadows/
Modder ‘sw3dg1n’ has released a new mod for The Witcher 3 that aims to significantly improve the game’s graphics. As its description reads, True Fires is a complete overhaul of fires, lights & shadows of the main game and HoS including numerous fixes.
True Fires drastically increases draw distances of fires, lights and related meshes and significantly improves shadows. Furthermore, it includes most of the fires from Hyadum27’s fantastic “New Fires” mod and, additionally, adds brand new ones.
>> Available from Nexus Mods (be warned that it's one of t hose mods that brings a big performance hit)

Amnesia The Dark Descent Remaster Mod released, features 4K textures, POM, PBR materials & more
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/amnesia-the-dark-descent-remaster-mod-released-features-4k-textures-pom-pbr-materials-more/
Amnesia fans, here is something special for you today. Modder ‘florian’ has released a Remaster Mod for Amnesia The Dark Descent. This mod aims to significantly improve the graphics of this amazing horror game.
(...)
Amnesia The Dark Descent Remaster Mod features 4K textures for all objects and surfaces. The modder has upscaled all the textures by 4 times, and created some new textures from scratch. Furthermore, this mod adds many PBR materials, and a wide variety of floors and ceilings textures. It also reworks every single normal, specular and some height maps.
Additionally, this mod adds Parallax Occlusion Mapping, updates the game’s shaders and allows every light source to cast shadows. Moreover, it adds more reflections, and allows players to see through windows.
>> There's a video in the article showing it all, and you can download it from ModDB.

GAMING NEWS

Industry insider dismisses the latest Mass Effect Trilogy Remaster rumors
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/industry-insider-dismisses-the-latest-mass-effect-trilogy-remaster-rumors/
Some new rumors regarding a possible remaster/remake of Mass Effect Trilogy surfaced last week. However, industry insider “Shinobi602” dismissed them, claiming that they are as fake as they can get.
>> In case some of you had hopes. At least there are mods for those games that improve and fix a lot of things.

First official gameplay footage for The Dark Pictures: Little Hope released
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/first-official-gameplay-footage-for-the-dark-pictures-little-hope-released/
Bandai Namco has released a new official video for The Dark Pictures: Little Hope, featuring 7 minutes of gameplay footage. According to the publisher, this gameplay footage is compressed in order to aid streaming quality. Thus, the final game may look slightly better.

New screenshots for Dontnod’s upcoming adventure game, Tell Me Why
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/new-screenshots-for-dontnod-upcoming-adventure-game-tell-me-why/
Dontnod Entertainment has released a new set of screenshots for its upcoming adventure game, Tell Me Why. These screenshots showcase some of the game’s characters, as well as some of its environments.

Tokyo Game Show 2020 will go digital this September as an online-only stream event
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/tokyo-game-show-2020-will-go-digital-this-september-as-an-online-only-stream-event/
Japan’s biggest gaming show is still going to happen this September as a digital-only online stream, as reported by Famitsu. The online show will be held from September 23 to 27th. New game titles will be announced by both major and indie Game developers.
>> Back in the day, the TGS was important for this site and this article, from Saturday, would have a matching thread. Not anymore.

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 releases on July 10th, gets new trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/bloodstained-curse-of-the-moon-2-releases-on-july-10th-gets-new-trailer/
Last week, INTI CREATES officially announced the next part in the Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon series. And today, the team revealed that Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 will release on July 10th. In order to celebrate this announcement, INTI CREATES has also released a new gameplay trailer that you can find below.

Call of Duty 2020 Multiplayer Details reportedly leaked, targets Q3 release date
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/call-of-duty-2020-multiplayer-details-reportedly-leaked-targets-q3-release-date/
Back in June, we shared some multiplayer gameplay footage from a WIP version of Call of Duty 2020. And even though Activision has not officially announced yet this new Call of Duty game, some multiplayer details about it have been leaked online.

Fable and Perfect Dark Twitter accounts discovered, registered to Microsoft emails [UPDATE]
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/fable-and-perfect-dark-twitter-accounts-discovered-registered-to-microsoft-emails/
It appears that Microsoft will reveal a new Fable and Perfect Dark game at its July event. Earlier today, two Twitter placeholder accounts were discovered. One is for Fable while the other one is for Perfect Dark. Not only that, but both of them are registered to Microsoft email addresses.
UPDATE: Aaron Greenberg, Xbox Games Marketing at Microsoft, claimed that these registrations were made in order to secure social handles for Microsoft’s IPs.

NVIDIA details Cyberpunk 2077’s Ray Tracing effects, releases new RTX screenshots
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/nvidia-details-cyberpunk-2077s-ray-tracing-effects-releases-new-rtx-screenshots/
As we reported last year, Cyberpunk 2077 will be one of the few triple-A games that will support real-time Ray Tracing effects at launch. At that time, we knew that CD Projekt RED would be using Ray Tracing for ambient occlusion and diffused illumination. However, NVIDIA has recently revealed all of the Ray Tracing effects that Cyberpunk 2077 will feature.

Full-length Cyberpunk 2077 preview 2020 gameplay video + first-person screenshots
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/full-length-cyberpunk-2077-preview-2020-gameplay-video-first-person-screenshots/
A few days ago, we shared a 15-minute gameplay video for Cyberpunk 2077. And today, we are happy to present you the full-length gameplay video from the preview 2020 build of Cyberpunk 2077. This is the full video that CD Projekt RED sent to numerous journalists.
>> It's 25 minutes long, and Zombie9ers has made a thread about it..

EA slightly changes the CPU PC requirements for Star Wars Squadrons
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/ea-slightly-changes-the-cpu-pc-requirements-for-star-wars-squadrons/
A couple of weeks ago, we shared the official PC system requirements for Star Wars Squadrons. However, it appears that Electronic Arts has made some changes to the CPU requirements for both Intel and AMD platforms.
>> And has also increased the storage required.

Resident Evil 4 Remake will have expanded story content and areas
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/resident-evil-4-remake-will-have-expanded-story-content-and-areas/
Back in April 2020, we reported on Resident Evil 4 Remake, which is currently under development. And while Resident Evil 4 Remake will not come out anytime soon, industry insider Dusk Golem has shared some minor details about it.
>> The game hasn't been confirmed yet, to take this with caution.

Here are some new screenshots for the upcoming co-op RPG shooter, Outriders
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/here-are-some-new-screenshots-for-the-upcoming-co-op-shooter-outriders/
People Can Fly has released a new set of screenshots for its upcoming co-op shooter, Outriders. Furthermore, Square Enix has announced the second Outriders Broadcast. Thanks to this special broadcast, players will learn about the game’s visceral powers, brutal combat and enthralling environments.