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

[JEMC]

Time for the Monday gaming news:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

Humble Bundle presents the Close Combat Collection, with up to 8 games to get during 18 days, It’s worth mentioning that the games are not related to the Close Combat franchise: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/close-combat-collection.

Fanatical has a couple new deals:

• The Star Deal is Indika, 56% off. It started yesterday and will last another 24 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/indika
• CI Games Publisher Sale will have games on sale with up to 96% discounts during 6 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/ci-games

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Here’s another trailer for the fan remaster of the first Unreal game, Unreal Redux
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/heres-another-trailer-for-the-fan-remaster-of-the-first-unreal-game-unreal-redux
It’s been over two years since our last look at Unreal Redux. Well, today we have another new trailer for it. This trailer shows off its latest build. And, while it’s not indicative of the final version, it can give you an idea of what you can expect from it.
Unreal Redux is a remaster of the first Unreal game. This isn’t meant to be a remake. Instead, think of it as what Nightdive Studios would achieve with it.
Unreal Redux promises to bring a lot of quality-of-life improvements while staying true to the classic game. The mod will add new features, like using “grab” as “use” with a pulsing overlay on the screen. Players will also be able to loot dead human bodies and interact in new ways with the Nali species. On top of that, modder Krull0r will add some cool new NVIDIA PhysX decorations to make the game feel more alive.
Players can also expect new enemy projectile effects, as well as new stunning player weapon effects and new explosion effects. The mod also promises to have immersive new sound effects, and it will feature footstep sounds based on the ground material.
Unreal Redux has been in development for over seven years. We first reported on this project back in May 2018. And, unfortunately, there is still no ETA on when it will come out.

Massive 169GB Final Fantasy 7 Remake Mod Replaces All Textures with 4K and 8K Versions
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/massive-169gb-final-fantasy-7-remake-mod-replaces-all-textures-with-4k-and-8k-versions
Final Fantasy 7 fans, here is something for you today. Modder ‘f80h’ has released a 4K/8K collection mod that replaces all of the game’s textures. This is a must-have for everyone who hasn’t played FF7 Remake or plans to replay it.
This collection comes in 20 parts. In total, we are looking at an HD Texture Pack that weighs around 169GB in size. It’s a massive pack, meant only for those who want to get the best of it.
Going into more details, the modder up-scaled the color and normal textures using AI to 2X, and sometimes 4X, resolution. This includes logos, posters, objects, and more. Most eyes/irises have not just been up-scaled but enhanced. The same applies to most of the hair textures. They have not been up-scaled. Instead, they were recreated.
Not only that, but some environment textures, like bricks and walls, have been replaced with ambientCG real 3D scan textures. This is an optional file for those who want a bit more detail from those textures. Plus, almost all logos, texts, graffiti, posters CG art textures have been upscaled. These are probably the most noticeably upscaled textures of all, as they benefited a lot from it.
>> The article has some screenshots.

Zelda: Ocarina of Time Unreal Engine 5.7 Fan Remake Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/zelda-ocarina-of-time-unreal-engine-5-7-fan-remake-released
YouTube’s ‘CryZENx’ has just released a new demo for his amazing Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake project in Unreal Engine 5. This demo will let you experience the Lake Hylia and Zora Fountain areas. Moreover, it’s using the latest version of UE5, Unreal Engine 5.7.
This free demo version is locked at 30FPS. Moreover, it only lets you play the Lake Hylia and Zora Fountain areas. CryZENx has a 60FPS version of his mod, however, that version is behind a paywall. My guess is that the paid version will also have all of the other chapters that the modder has recreated.
CryZENx has added a lot of new improvements to this demo. First, he created a custom water shader with interactive caustics — those cool, moving light patterns you see on the bottom of lakes. The water has been completely redone and now reacts naturally to the environment.
The 3D model for Link has also been improved. He now uses new shaders that make him fit better with the realistic world, giving him a next-gen look while keeping his classic charm. There’s even a dynamic hair shader, so his hair moves more realistically and reacts to light, making him look more alive.
The Great Fairy model has also been updated with a stunning new design that matches the high-quality environment, giving her a magical and impressive look at her fountain.
Lastly, the input system has been fully fixed, so controls now feel smoother and more responsive. Overall, this new demo should be much more stable than the previous versions.
>> The article has an over 40 minutes video.

Explore World of Warcraft’s Azeroth in Skyrim Special Edition
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/explore-world-of-warcrafts-azeroth-in-skyrim-special-edition
Skyrim and World of Warcraft fans, get ready for a treat. Modder ‘Taryl80’ has released Azeroth Reborn, a mod that will let you explore World of Warcraft in Skyrim Special Edition.
Azeroth Reborn is basically a port of the Azeroth Mod that came out for Skyrim Legacy Edition in 2014. It was one of the coolest mods for Skyrim LE. So, now, you will be able to enjoy it in Skyrim Special Edition and the Anniversary Edition.
Azeroth Reborn has eight regions/areas from WoW. These are Blasted Lands, Duskwood, Forest of Elwynn, Redridge Mountains, Stranglethorn Vale, Stormwind, Swamp of Sorrows, and Westfall.
The mod also has some special buildings for players. For instance, you can find the Mage Tower in Stormwind. This is a teleporter interior for easier travel between the different areas of the mod. There are also some banks in Stormwind and in Booty Bay. These serve as item containers. You can put your items there and they won’t disappear.
>> The article has two videos.

After a decade in development, this massive Skyrim mod adds a whole new region, 50 new dungeons and 'the biggest main quest you've ever played in Skyrim'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/after-a-decade-in-development-this-massive-skyrim-mod-adds-a-whole-new-region-50-new-dungeons-and-the-biggest-main-quest-youve-ever-played-in-skyrim/
2025 continues to be the year that gives Elder Scrolls fans everything they could possibly want—except for The Elder Scrolls 6. We've already had one Oblivion remaster with a second potentially on the way, while Morrowind's premiere modding team delivered a massive new chunk of the province the vanilla game only explored a fraction of. Now the Skyrim modding community has gotten in on the action with the release of a truly massive unofficial expansion that has been in development for more than 10 years.
Lordbound transports Skyrim adventurers to the all-new valley of Druadach, a wartorn region that has recently reestablished its connection to the provinces of Skyrim and High Rock. The mod sees you embroiled in a conflict between the Imperial Legion and a band of Orcs holed up in a mountain fortress, one that just so happens to be smack in the middle of a trade route between High Rock's capital Jehanna and Skyrim's largest city, Solitude.
The mod mainly adds what you'd expect from a fan-made expansion. A big chunk of land to explore, two new cities, multiple smaller settlements, fifty new dungeons, forty more quests, twenty new creatures, extra weapons, armour, potions, spells, etc. The modders estimate this adds up to more than sixty hours of additional adventuring, equivalent to one Death Stranding or half a Baldur's Gate 3.
There are a couple of more specific features worth highlighting though. First, the mod team claims that Lordbound includes "the biggest main quest you've ever played in Skyrim" with a branching narrative where your choices will "change the state of the valley." You can choose to assist the Imperial legion in ousting those pesky fortress-dwelling orcs, for example, or help the Orsinium natives turn the castle into a new home.
Alongside this, some of the dungeons in Lordbound are pretty ambitious, at least according to a review recently posted on Lordbound's ModDB page. "I personally loved the concepts for some of the dungeons," writes Mr.Picklebum (don't we all love the Internet?). "Just seeing how far Skyrim can be stretched with a creative look—I can highly recommend!"
>> There’s an over 2 minutes video about the announcement of the release date of the mod in the article.

As if doing a low honour run in Red Dead Redemption 2 didn't make you feel guilty enough in comes a mod that gives NPCs memories for you to watch before murdering them
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/as-if-doing-a-low-honour-run-in-red-dead-redemption-2-didnt-make-you-feel-guilty-enough-in-comes-a-mod-that-gives-npcs-memories-for-you-to-watch-before-murdering-them/
When I first played Red Dead Redemption 2, I vowed to myself that I would not kill any innocent bystanders. I was so determined to complete a high honour run, and while that did largely happen, I can't deny the fact that there were a few casualties along the way. Sometimes you accidentally hit the wrong key and end up quickly firing your gun, or perhaps someone caught you doing something you shouldn't. I don't have the money to keep paying my bounty, so unfortunately, some lives were lost in the name of convenience.
It can be easy not to feel bad about offing a few characters when all they really are to you is a slight inconvenience. As long as you don't get caught, chances are you can escape with no consequences. Besides a slight ding to your honour level, there's no real impact on your character or psyche. Until now, that is.
YouTuber Blurbs has created a truly evil mod that'll trigger a tragic cutscene of NPC memories as you murder them—represented by a slow motion closeup of the deceased before a fade to an incredibly brief animation of the events before jumping back to real time and letting you carry on. As shown in the YouTube video, this can be anything from gazing lovingly at a pet dog, or watching the sunset on a boat from the middle of a lake. For the most part, they're by no means dramatic, in-depth cutscenes that will cause emotional damage. But they do bring characters you'd probably ignore to life in a way that would definitely make me feel some guilt.
To lighten the load, some of these memories have been tagged with phrases like "you have to have a very high IQ to understand Rick and Morty" and "One day I'm going to find the greatest treasure of all. I'm going to become the pirate king. I'm going to find the One Piece" which definitely takes away some of the emotion and probably won't leave you wondering why you did that in the first place. Especially not in comparison to the memories of things like writing a letter to your daughter begging to meet for the first time, or the wedding with your beloved.
This feature isn't just limited to humans either. Blurbs has ensured these memories work for things like horses and bears, but rather than having flashbacks linked to their species, the same rotation of human memories plays. Such as a bear holding their very human newborn, or a horse attending a wedding with a human woman. You know, all those completely realistic memories to get you right in your feelings.
>> The over 10 minutes video linked above is also in the article.

GAMING NEWS

Borderlands 4 October 2nd Update Released – Full Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/borderlands-4-october-2nd-update-released-full-patch-notes
A couple of days ago, Gearbox released the October 2nd Title Update for Borderlands 4. So, let’s take a closer look at it and see what it brings to the table.

PvPvE Extraction Shooter, HUNGER, Gets New Gameplay Trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/pvpve-extraction-shooter-hunger-gets-new-gameplay-trailer
GOOD FUN CORPORATION has released a new trailer for its upcoming PvPvE extraction shooter, HUNGER. This trailer shows 12 minutes of gameplay footage from its pre-alpha version. So, if you are a fan of this genre, you should definitely check it out.

Kingmakers, the action/strategy sandbox game with thousands of enemies on screen, has been indefinitely delayed
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/kingmakers-the-action-strategy-sandbox-game-with-thousands-of-enemies-on-screen-has-been-indefinitely-delayed
Redemption Road has announced that Kingmakers, its action/strategy sandbox game with thousands of enemies on screen, has been delayed indefinitely. The game was supposed to launch on Steam Early Access on October 8th, but at the last minute, the release was pushed back. Right now, there is no new release date.
The devs stated that this delay is so that they can further optimize the game. Kingmakers will have A LOT of enemies on screen. The team aims to push Unreal Engine 4 to its limits. And, instead of relying on Frame Gen and other techniques, it wants to provide a 60FPS experience, even on mid-tier PCs.