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

[JEMC]

Welcome to the news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Steam’s Top 10

(Click here for the Top 100)

One of our favorite city builders has sold over a million copies on Steam, and there's an expansion on the way
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/city-builder/one-of-our-favorite-city-builders-has-sold-over-a-million-copies-on-steam-and-theres-an-expansion-on-the-way/
Typically when you're playing a city builder, the metropolis you're constructing is meant to last a long time. In fact, making your city last the whole game is usually the entire point of the game. 
That's one of the reasons why Against the Storm stands out from the crowd. The cities you build won't last long because they simply can't. In this strange fantasy realm, a magical catastrophe has resulted in a world on the brink of annihilation from hurricanes and rainstorms, and the cities you build are doomed from the start. (...)
We really dig it here at PC Gamer—our Against the Storm review (91%) calls it a "well-designed, charming, enthralling roguelike city builder"—and now we've got solid proof we're not the only ones enjoying it. According to developer Eremite Games and publisher Hooded Horse, Against the Storm has sold over a million copies on Steam. That's a whole lotta happy builders: it's got a rating of "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam with over 21,000 reviews, too.

GOG launched four new Deals of the Day on Monday, which means that they have 22 hours left:

• Untamed Tactics is 20% off: https://www.gog.com/en/game/untamed_tactics
• The NSFW beat refle has a 30% discount: https://www.gog.com/en/game/beat_refle
• Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow Bundle is also 30% off: https://www.gog.com/en/game/daydream_forgotten_sorrow_bundle
• And the last one, Hero's Hour - Deluxe Edition, haas a 55% discount: https://www.gog.com/en/game/heros_hour_deluxe_edition

Steam has new opportunities for us, including new weeklong deals:

• Publisher Funcom puts its games up to 70% off until April, 8th: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/FuncomPublisherSale
• And TOEM: A Photo Adventure, that has a demo, gets a 75% discount until the 15th of April: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1307580/TOEM_A_Photo_Adventure/
• Here’s a small sample of the weeklong deals:
  • Malignant Survivors is 20% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2783610/Malignant_Survivors/
  • InfraSpace has a 30% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1511460/InfraSpace/
  • Sir Lovelot is half its price: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1055170/Sir_Lovelot/
  • Puddle Knights has a 60% deal: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1180540/Puddle_Knights/
  • The Wild Case, that has a demo, gets a 70% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1178230/The_Wild_Case/
  • And Hot Lap League: Deluxe Edition will be 90% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2068710/Hot_Lap_League_Deluxe_Edition/

At Humble we find several new deals:

• Humble Bundle presents the Spring Screams Bundle, with up to 8 games to get during 15 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/spring-screams
• The Humble Store has three sales:
  • The Focus Entertainment Spotlight Sale comes with up to 90% deals during 2 days:; https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/focus-entertainment-spotlight-sale/
  • The Handheld Heavyweights Sale also features up to 90% discounts during 2 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/handheld-heavyweights-sale/
  • And publisher Funcom puts its games up to 70% off during 6 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/funcom-publisher-sale/

Fanatical has a new Star Deal and a bundle:

• The Star Deal is The Ascent: Cyber Edition Bundle, 85% off during 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/the-ascent-cyber-edition-bundle
• The Fallout Bundle has an 82% discount: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/fallout-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

INTEL Arc Graphics 31.0.101.5382 driver
https://videocardz.com/driver/intel-arc-graphics-31-0-101-5382
Fixed Issues
Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products:

• Horizon Forbidden West (DX12) may experience longer than expected load times while launching into gameplay during the first run of the game.
• 3DMark Speed Way (DX12) may experience application hang while loading the benchmark.
• Starfield (DX12) may experience an application crash with High or Ultra graphics settings.

Intel Core Ultra with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:

• 3DMark Speed Way (DX12) may experience application hang while loading the benchmark.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

AMD FSR 3.0 Mods Released for Fallout 4 & Baldur’s Gate 3
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/amd-fsr-3-0-mods-released-for-fallout-4-baldurs-gate-3/
Modder ‘PureDark’ has released two AMD FSR 3.0 Mods for Fallout 4 and Baldur’s Gate 3. These mods will allow you to enable FSR 3.0 Frame Generation on all GPUs, something that will improve your performance in these two titles.
Sadly, these FSR 3.0 Mods are behind a Patreon wall. Yep, contrary to the free DLSS 3 Frame Generation Mod for Dragon’s Dogma 2, PC gamers will have to become PureDark’s patrons in order to download them.
>> There’s a video for the BG3 mod.

Take a look at Fallout: New Vegas with RTX Remix Path Tracing
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/take-a-look-at-fallout-new-vegas-with-rtx-remix-path-tracing/
YouTube’s ‘Darko P’ is currently working on an RTX Remix Mod for Fallout: New Vegas, and shared a WIP video for it. This video packs 9 minutes of gameplay, showcasing what is possible with the NVIDIA RTX Remix tools.

Here are Day of Defeat: Source and STALKER: Clear Sky with RTX Remix Path Tracing
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/here-are-day-of-defeat-source-and-stalker-clear-sky-with-rtx-remix-path-tracing/
Another day, another RTX Remix article. I guess now most of you will start wishing for some Unreal Engine 5 remake videos, am I right? Or some nude mods. Anyway, STALKER and Day of Defeat fans may be pleased to hear that there are RTX Remix mods in development for them. And below, you can find some screenshots from them.
>> The article also has a video of the Day of Defeat mod.

Armored Core 6 Co-Op Mod Available for Download
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/armored-core-6-co-op-mod-available-for-download/
Modder ‘LukeYui’ has released a new cool co-op mod for FromSoftware’s latest title, Armored Core 6. As its name implies, this mod adds unofficial online co-operative multiplayer functionalities to the game.
>> There’s a video of the mod.

Deus Ex RTX Remix Path Tracing Mod Available for Download
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/deus-ex-rtx-remix-path-tracing-mod-available-for-download/
The time has finally come and so have I. Modder ‘onnoj’ has released Echelon Renderer for Deus Ex, which adds support for RTX Remix Path Tracing. Yes, you can now enjoy the classic first-person immersive sim PC game with Path Tracing. And it looks glorious.
>> There are only screenshots for this mod.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 just got a 2.2GB HD Texture Pack that overhauls 1313 environmental textures
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/dragons-dogma-2-hd-texture-pack-environments/
NexusMods’ member ‘Nvidiaforever2’ has released a 2.2GB HD Texture Pack for Dragon’s Dogma 2 that overhauls all of its environments. This pack is a must for those who want a bit more sharper environments.
>> Again, only screenshots.

Skyrim mods fix its most glaring realism error: Your disturbingly immortal food
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/the-elder-scrolls/skyrim-mods-fix-its-most-glaring-realism-error-your-disturbingly-immortal-food/
The problem with Skyrim is that it's all too permanent. Your swords, your armour, your sweetrolls, they all just hang around forever until you drop them, sell them off, or eat them (not the swords and armour; don't eat your swords and armour). It's a plastic-fantastic world where nothing ever ends, and buddy, I've had just about enough of it.
Thank goodness, then, that an enterprising modder named RavenKZP has created the Simple Spoilage series of mods, which subject all the spoilable goods in your inventory to the horrible, horrible passage of time. The modder divides each spoilage system by item type, so you have Simple Food Spoilage System, Simple Ingredient Spoilage System, and Simple Carcass Spoilage System, which collectively work to ruin basically anything you can ingest (after a suitable period of time).
>> No media to show this mod.

Stardew Valley modder challenges players with an 'everything bagel' recipe that requires 134 ingredients
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/stardew-valley-modder-challenges-players-with-an-everything-bagel-recipe-that-requires-134-ingredients/
In honor of the day of fools, the latest in extremely niche Stardew Valley modding brings us one player's vision of a more sensible world: an everything bagel that actually requires everything as an ingredient. How does it all fit into one bagel? I can only assume a blender is involved.
Stardew Valley modder SiTheGreat uploaded The Everything Bagel today with the encouraging message "Happy April :)" and "I don't know what inspired me to make this beyond a general frustration at the name of the so-called 'everything bagel.'" The mod adds a new recipe to the game, the poorly named bagel with which SiTheGreat takes umbrage, and in order to cook it you will indeed need every food ingredient in Stardew Valley. 
>> Again, no screenshots nor videos.

GAMING NEWS

The Sims 5/Project Rene Full Map Potentially Leaked
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/the-sims-5-project-rene-full-map-potentially-leaked/
In February 2023, we informed you about a leaked pre-release PC build for The Sims 5 that is codenamed Project Rene. And, from the looks of it, this build featured the entire map for this new The Sims game.
>> And here you’ll find 5 minutes of leaked gameplay.

First Alone in the Dark Patch improves level streaming to reduce stutters and fixes numerous crashes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/first-alone-in-the-dark-patch-improves-level-streaming-to-reduce-stutters-and-fixes-numerous-crashes/
Pieces Interactive just dropped the first update for Alone in the Dark. The devs have also shared all the changes via the following patch notes. This patch makes the game more stable and improves the lighting and level streaming systems. So, let’s take a closer look at all the changes.

First Dragon’s Dogma 2 Patch Released, Adds Option to Start a New Game & Improves the Quality of DLSS Super Resolution
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/first-dragons-dogma-2-patch-released-adds-option-to-start-a-new-game-improves-the-quality-of-dlss-super-resolution/
Capcom has just released the first patch for its latest action RPG, Dragon’s Dogma 2. This patch will add an option to start a new game when save data already exists. Moreover, it will improve the image quality of DLSS Super Resolution.
>> Apparently, it now “runs significantly better on PC”.

Two hours of pre-alpha gameplay from the Unreal Engine 5-powered PvEvP hardcore tactical extraction shooter, Project L33T
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/two-hours-of-pre-alpha-gameplay-from-the-unreal-engine-5-powered-pvevp-hardcore-tactical-extraction-shooter-project-l33t/
Murkl Mario just uploaded a new video, showcasing two hours of gameplay from Project L33T. Project L33T is powered by Unreal Engine 5. This is a hardcore tactical extraction shooter and has both player versus environment and player versus player elements. The footage is from the latest beta phase launched by Holmgard Games earlier this month.

Battlefield 5 will get support for EA Anticheat on April 3rd
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/battlefield-5-will-get-support-for-ea-anticheat-on-april-3rd/
Electronic Arts and DICE revealed that Battlefield 5 will get support for EA Anticheat on April 3rd. This new anti-cheat system aims to stop cheaters from ruining the game. The latest BF games already use it, and now so will BF5.

Nightdive has announced a remaster for the 1995 FPS, PO’ed
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/nightdive-has-announced-a-remaster-for-the-1995-fps-poed/
Nightdive Studios has announced a remaster for the 1995 first-person shooter, PO’ed. PO’ed: Definitive Edition will feature updated visuals, antialiasing, increased framerate and redefined controls.