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JEMC 6 days ago
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Welcome to the Monday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

GOG doesn’t have new deals but, for fans of BROK the InvestiGator, there’s a freebie you may want to check: https://www.gog.com/en/game/brok_the_investigator_natal_tail_a_new_christmas.

Steam has three new deals for us:

Humble Bundle has two short lives bundles:

And Fanatical has a couple of deals:

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

Does the NVIDIA App cripple your PC gaming performance?
https://www.dsogaming.com/articles/does-the-nvidia-app-cripple-your-pc-gaming-performance/
A story surfaced this weekend, suggesting that the NVIDIA App can cripple your PC gaming performance. As such, we’ve decided to test this on our main PC gaming system. So, can you really get over 20FPS by simply uninstalling the NVIDIA App? Let’s find out.
For our tests, we used an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D with 32GB of DDR5 at 6000Mhz, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090. We also used Windows 10 64-bit, and the GeForce 566.14 driver. The OS we used may be crucial to the results. Moreover, we’ve disabled the second CCD on our 7950X3D.
The games we tested were Path of Exile 2, Red Dead Redemption, STALKER 2 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Path of Exile 2 was running at Native 4K with Max Settings, and Red Dead Redemption was running at Native 4K, Max Settings and DLAA (I’ve also unlocked its framerate). On the other hand, both STALKER 2 and Indiana Jones were running at 4K/Max Settings with DLSS 3 Quality and Frame Generation.
As we can see, there is a small performance hit with NVIDIA App. However, it’s nowhere close to what has been reported. On our PC system, it’s around 4-6%. And that’s mostly in CPU-bound areas. For instance, in Indiana Jones which is a GPU-bound game with Path Tracing, there isn’t any performance hit at all.
In a way, this kind of makes sense. NVIDIA App is a software running in the background at all times. So yes, it will consume some CPU cycles. It makes sense. This is why I’ve been saying you need to test and play games without any program running in the background. And believe me. Discord and Chrome (with lots of open tabs) can cripple your performance even more. Hell, even OSD programs can have a negative impact. This is nothing new.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Portal 2 RTX got even better with Skurtyy’s PBR Pack
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/portal-2-rtx-got-even-better-with-skurtyys-pbr-pack/
Last month, we informed you about an amazing RTX Remix Mod for Portal 2 that added to Valve’s game real-time Path Tracing. And now, Portal 2 RTX has gotten even better with Skurtyy’s PBR Pack.
But what is Skurtyy’s PBR Pack some may ask? Well, this mod enhances Portal 2 with Physically-Based Rendering (PBR) textures, upscaled using PBRFusion by NightRaven109. It works seamlessly with Xorxor4d’s Portal 2 RTX Compatibility Mod, which reverse-engineers Portal 2 to work with the NVIDIA’s RTX Remix runtime.
Basically, it will make Portal 2 RTX look even more realistic than before. It will also greatly enhance its visuals. So, if you were planning to play Portal 2 with the RTX Remix, I highly recommend downloading this PBR Pack too. You can do so from this link.
>> The article has a 3 minutes video.

Sonic Adventure 2 Unreal Engine 5 Remake Demo Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/sonic-adventure-2-unreal-engine-5-remake-demo-released/
A few days ago, we informed you about a fan remake of Sonic Adventure 2 in Unreal Engine 5. And, as promised, a free demo of it has been released. So, if you are a Sonic fan, you should definitely download and try it.
For those unaware, Sonic Adventure 2 Redux is a ground-up reimagining of the 2001 classic in UE5. This fan remake comes with a branch of Velocity+. The Azure Framework will overhaul the physics, camera, controls, UI and much more. As its creator noted, this will provide a unique and brand new Unreal Engine 5 Sonic experience.
The demo lets you play City Escape and Metal Harbor. It also features two bosses. Those are Bigfoot and Shadow. Yep, you read that right. Shadow is in the remake.
This is one of the best fan remakes in UE5. This is exactly what a lot of Sonic fans have been asking all these years. And, since SEGA does not plan to remake Sonic Adventure 2, JeliLiam decided to do it himself. The end result is incredible. Not only does the remake improve the game’s graphics but it also retains the style of the original game. This is crazy good.
>> In the article you’ll find a shorter than 2 minutes video.

This cool mod introduces dynamic stealthy takedowns to Fallout 4
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/this-cool-mod-introduces-dynamic-stealthy-takedowns-to-fallout-4/
Now here is something really cool. Modder “bp42s” has released a mod that adds stealthy takedowns to Fallout 4. This mod aims to make stealth much better in the game. As such, it’s perfect for players who want to replay Fallout 4 in a fresh, new way.
With this mod, players can sneak up on enemies with their weapon ready and take them down silently. This won’t alert other nearby enemies. To use takedowns, you must be hidden from the enemy and have the Mister Sandman perk at level 1 or higher.
What’s really cool is that the takedown animations change based on the weapon you’re using and your camera view. For example, fists and hand-to-hand weapons have normal takedown moves. Rifles use a gun bash, while pistols use a pistol whip. Knives have slashing animations. One-handed and two-handed weapons have their own unique moves. And finally, special weapons like power fists also have custom animations.
It’s also worth noting that this mod is compatible with both the original and the next-gen version of Fallout 4. As such, you won’t have to downgrade the game’s version to use it.
>> You’ll find a slightly over 5 minutes video in the article.

This STALKER 2 Mod allows you to fast-travel anywhere on the map
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/this-stalker-2-mod-allows-you-to-fast-travel-anywhere-on-the-map/
A number of players were unhappy that STALKER 2 did not have a fast-travel option. So, if you felt the same way, you’ll be glad to know that a new mod has been released to fix this problem.
Created by modder ‘lopsi’, the following mod allows you to fast-travel anywhere on the map. All you have to do is hover over any marker on the map, including your own, and press Z. And that’s it.
Now I know this doesn’t make a lot of sense for a STALKER game. However, it’s a cool QoL improvement, especially for those who want to loot enemies and return to camps to sell them.
In my opinion, a better solution would be to only teleport in specific towns/villages. But hey, this is at least an improvement for those who were put off by the lack of a fast-travel option.
Do note that depending on where you teleport to (if there are many buildings/objects around) you may get stuck. If this happens, you can use the console command “XSetNoClipGSC true 500” to get out, and then “XSetNoClipGSC false” to disable again. You can download the mod from this link. To use it, you’ll also need to install UE4SS. Otherwise, the mod will not work. You can find an installation guide on its NexusMods page.
>> The article has no media.

On the 'deathiversary' of Star Wars Galaxies, the fan team keeping the MMO alive is launching its biggest update yet, which includes five new playable species
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/on-the-deathiversary-of-star-wars-galaxies-the-fan-team-keeping-the-mmo-alive-is-launching-its-biggest-update-yet-which-includes-five-new-playable-species/
Every update must be uniquely stressful for the people behind Star Wars Galaxies Restoration, the player-led revival of the MMO that died 13 years ago. After all, Star Wars Galaxies was the game with "the most infamous patch in videogame history", according to its original developers, who ascribe its cancellation largely to the unpopularity of the New Game Enhancements update.
The team who revived Star Wars Galaxies on a fan server don't seem phased, however. They've continued supporting its original direction with updates like the one that added planetary control mechanics, and even scheduled the latest update, Expanding Horizons, for the 13-year "deathiversary" of Galaxies.
"Instead of mourning the loss of Star Wars Galaxies," they write, "which 13 years ago on December 15 closed its doors forever, we invite fans from every corner of the galaxy to rejoice in the expanding horizons of the Restoration universe with a special Life Day event, where new players will be gifted special decorations that they may place in player-city life-day trees."
The big-ticket part of the update is the addition of five more playable species: the Nautolan, Chiss, Devoronian, Mirialan, and Bith. Players don't have to create a new character to try out a new species, and can swap by visiting an Image Designer. Other changes include revamped skill trees, 4K textures and a rebuilt x64 client, an added jewelry slot for earrings, and heroic challenges that reward complete jewelry sets, "perfect for end-game adventurers seeking the ultimate prize."
Vehicle customization is another significant addition, one that will let players "Craft the ride of your dreams with the new vehicle reverse engineering system. Loot parts, tinker, and toy with vehicles like never before! Change vehicle speed, maneuverability, durability, and add new abilities to outrun, disappear, or track down your targets."
Players in the droid engineer profession will be able to perform maintenance on droids to increase their base stats, with oil baths and a diagnostic minigame as new additions. And there's a new profession coming as well, the ranger. While there was a ranger profession in the original Star Wars Galaxies before the Combat Upgrade patch, this version will combine the abilities of that profession with the Combat Upgrade's sniper and the New Game Enhancement update's spy, "offering a unique gameplay experience tailored to the most versatile players."
>> The article has some screenshots and a trailer.

Here's a mod that gives Skyrim Special Edition its own Witcher-style bestiary
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/heres-a-mod-that-gives-skyrim-special-edition-its-own-witcher-style-bestiary/
Some mods fill obvious gaps. Others, you don't know you need until you discover they exist. For instance, I had no idea I needed a mod that gave me a randomized psychedelic experience every time I drank skooma until I learned it existed, and now it's an essential part of every playthrough.
The Dragonborn's Bestiary is in the same category. It's a mod that adds a new menu you bring up by pressing K, which keeps track of every creature you've encountered. Kill your first mudcrab or skeever and a pop-up appears telling you that you've unlocked the relevant entry, which contains info on what kind of loot they're likely to drop and any resistances or weaknesses they have.
Killing creatures isn't the only way to add them to the bestiary, however. You won't need to murder a dog just to complete your Skyrim Pokédex. Interacting with pets adds them to the bestiary, and you can also fill it out by summoning certain creatures, transforming into them, or reading books about them.
It's not the kind of mod that overhauls Skyrim in a drastic way, but it's a subtle addition that enriches the experience. There's a little counter keeping track of the number of each creature you kill too, so if you needed more motivation for your mudcrab murder spree, here it is.
>> There is a single screenshot.

This mod brings Screen Space Global Illumination to Skyrim
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/this-mod-brings-screen-space-global-illumination-to-skyrim/
Skyrim fans, here is something cool for you today. ProfJack and the CS Team have released a new mod for Skyrim which simulates ambient occlusion (AO) and indirect lighting (IL) using screen space information. This mod aims to greatly improve the game’s visuals. So, let’s see in more detail what it does.
This mod requires the Community Shaders for Skyrim, and adds support for both SSAO and SSGI. SSAO stands for Screen Space Ambient Occlusion, whereas SSGI stands for Screen Space Global Illumination.
AO produces the darkening effect around objects that occlude ambient light. In exteriors, it applies only to ambient light sources and not to direct light sources like sunlight. In interiors, it applies to everything to compensate for the lack of shadowed interior lights.
SSGI simulates lights bouncing on diffuse surfaces, and emitted from emissive objects. It includes a very rough specular IL that approximates the indirect lighting on specular material from True PBR or Dynamic Cubemaps.
Since we’re talking about an SS solution, the mod utilises what is available on your screen. This means that AO/IL may pop in and out depending on your view, or be occluded by objects closer to the camera.
For those wondering, this appears to be a similar solution to what we’ve already seen with ENBSeries and Reshade. However, if for some reason you did not like them, you can try this one.
>> Not only is the article informative, but it also has three comparion gifs showing the base game with the modded one.

GAMING NEWS

New trailers for Solasta 2, Den of Wolves, The Outer Worlds 2, Catly & more
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-trailers-for-solasta-2-den-of-wolves-the-outer-worlds-2-catly-more/
A lot of new trailers were released during the TGA 2024 event. As such, I’ve decided to collect those I haven’t posted in separate articles and share them in one big article.
>> Some of them were posted Friday, but not all of them. There are 16 videos in the article.

DEEPEST FEAR, sci-fi horror FPS with a retro-future aesthetic, gets a 7-minute gameplay trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/deepest-fear-sci-fi-horror-fps-with-a-retro-future-aesthetic-gets-a-7-minute-gameplay-trailer/
Variable State has released a 7-minute gameplay trailer for its upcoming sci-fi horror FPS, DEEPEST FEAR. The game has a retro-future style, and the trailer shows off its intense action, scary monsters, and the tight, creepy setting of a deep-sea facility. So, let’s see what it’s store for us.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Update 1.004 Released, Full Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/final-fantasy-7-remake-update-1-004-released-full-patch-notes/
Square Enix has just released a new update for Final Fantasy 7 Remake. According to the team, Patch 1.004 adds a brand new start mode, as well as a fast-forward function for event scenes.

Shiver is a new indie survival horror game using Unreal Engine 5
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/shiver-is-a-new-indie-survival-horror-game-using-unreal-engine-5/
Team Nocebo has announced a new great-looking survival horror game that will be using Unreal Engine 5, called Shiver. The game promises, among other things, to have weather and inhospitable environments. So, let’s take a closer look at it.

Pearl Abyss has shared the PC requirements for Crimson Desert
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/pearl-abyss-has-shared-the-pc-requirements-for-crimson-desert/
Although Crimson Desert targets a late 2025 release date, Pearl Abyss has shared its official PC system requirements. So, let’s see what PC system you’ll need in order to run it.



Please excuse my bad English.

Currently gaming on a PC with an i5-4670k@stock (for now), 16Gb RAM 1600 MHz and a GTX 1070

Steam / Live / NNID : jonxiquet    Add me if you want, but I'm a single player gamer.