Also, to gauge what you think about it, it looks like AMD has better drivers than Nvidia...

Third-party audit reveals AMD drivers are the most stable for gamers
http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/third-party-audit-reveals-amd-drivers-are-the-most-stable-gamers.html
Today, independent software quality assurance experts QA Consultants release a new report determining AMD has the most stable driver in the graphics industry. AMD systems passed 401 out of 432 tests while Nvidia systems passed 356—equivalent to a pass rate of 93 percent for AMD versus 82 percent for Nvidia.
QA Consultants tested six of AMD’s most popular graphics cards at the high, medium and budget price points, from both the Gaming and Workstation lineups against competing Nvidia GPUs. These include the Radeon RX Vega 64, RX 580 and RX 560 for gaming, and the Radeon Pro WX 9100, WX 7100 and WX 3100 for workstations, using drivers Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.5.1 and Radeon Pro Software Enterprise 18.Q2, respectively.
The testing was extensive – QA consultants conducted a four-hour CRASH test on each GPU consecutively, six times a day for twelve days. Completing each test was considered a pass, and the overall stability score was determined from the total number of passes divided by the total number of attempts.

So, what do you say?

Tuesday news:
**Disclaimer: Today I have a big headache, so this edition of the news will be a bit more barebones than usual**

SALES & "SALES"/DEALS

The Humble Store is having a 'Pixel Perfect Platformers' sale
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-humble-store-is-having-a-pixel-perfect-platformers-sale/
Platformers—do you like them? If your answer is "yes," and you've still got some green left over from Prime Day, then this might be a good time to turn your attention to the Humble Store. It is at this very moment holding a "Pixel Perfect Platformers" sale, with discounts of up to 85 percent.

GOG's daily deal is Jazzpunk: Director's Cut, 80% off: https://www.gog.com/game/jazzpunk

Steam has a new daily deal and the weeklong deals:

• The daily deal is the Early Access title Maelstrom, 25% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/764050/Maelstrom/
• The (in theory) 785 weeklong deals with up to 90% discounts.

At Fanatical, we have a 24 hours deal: Dying Light: The Following – Enhanced Edition is 70% off: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/dying-light-enhanced-edition

SOFTWARE

-empty-

MODS/EMULATORS

New version of The Witcher 3 Redux mod released, packs parry improvements and various fixes
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/new-version-of-the-witcher-3-redux-mod-released-packs-parry-improvements-and-various-fixes/
Modder ‘STELLAR7Project’ has released a new version of his Redux mod for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. In case you weren’t aware of, The Witcher 3 Redux is a gameplay overhauld mod that features combat tweaks, including a freeform targeting mode, combat-based stamina, ability enhancements, and an unlockable special attack.

>>You'll find the link to the mod in the article.

GAMING NEWS

Ghost of a Tale patch 7.26 released, features optimization tweaks, improves light and shadows
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/ghost-of-a-tale-patch-7-26-released-features-optimization-tweaks-improves-light-and-shadows/
SeithCG has released a brand new patch for Ghost of a Tale. According to the release notes, patch 7.26 comes with various optimization tweaks, a major upgrade of the game engine, and improves sunsets and sunrises as well as the game’s overall shadows quality.

Steam reveals the release date for Cyanide’s Call of Cthulhu
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/steam-reveals-the-release-date-for-cyanides-call-of-cthulhu/
It appears that the official Steam store page for Call of Cthulhu has revealed its release date. According to the store, Cyanide’s Lovecraftian title will be released on October 30th.

Gene Rain is a new third-person shooter, releasing in 2018, first details and screenshots
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/gene-rain-is-a-new-third-person-shooter-releasing-in-2018-first-details-and-screenshots/
Deeli Network has revealed the first details and screenshots for Gene Rain. Gene Rain is a third-person shooter game which linearly expands the plot through new human narrative structures,the game presents a new macro world to everyone by shocking visual effects.

Story trailer released for My Hero One’s Justice
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/story-trailer-released-for-my-hero-ones-justice/
Bandai Namco has released the story trailer for My Hero One’s Justice, the 3D arena fighting game based on the popular Weekly Shonen Jump manga and anime franchise, featuring the first-look at new Mission Mode.

Latest patch for Middle-earth: Shadow of War removes Market and micro-transactions
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/latest-patch-for-middle-earth-shadow-of-war-removes-market-and-micro-transactions/
Warner Bros today released a free game improvement update for Middle-earth: Shadow of War, featuring a host of new enhancements and content to provide existing players and newcomers.

Part two of the news:

System Shock remake shares screens, concept art, and 'Adventure Alpha' details
https://www.pcgamer.com/system-shock-remake-shares-screens-concept-art-and-adventure-alpha-details/
Nightdive Studios has shared a handful of System Shock remake screenshots, some concept artwork and assets, and details on its upcoming 'Adventure Alpha'.

Overwatch endorsements and 'looking for group' features are already working
https://www.pcgamer.com/overwatch-endorsements-and-looking-for-group-features-are-already-working/
It's only been a few weeks since the "looking for group" feature and endorsements were rolled out to Overwatch, but they're already having a positive effect. Game director Jeff Kaplan shared some early stats in a brief forum post indicating that abusive behavior has gone down dramatically in the Americas and Korea since the features went live.

Check out all of the big changes coming to World of Warcraft in tomorrow's patch
https://www.pcgamer.com/check-out-all-of-the-big-changes-coming-to-world-of-warcraft-in-tomorrows-patch/
World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth is still a month away, but patch 8.0 arrives tomorrow at around 3 pm PDT (when the scheduled server maintenance ends). This update is going to finally turn the lights off on several major Legion features but also significantly change how World of Warcraft plays, laying the groundwork for Battle for Azeroth when it arrives on August 13 in North America.

PUBG adds new weapon, vehicle, limited-time Deadmau5 crossover crate
https://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-adds-new-weapon-vehicle-limited-time-deadmau5-crossover-crate/
As part of its PC 1.0 Update #18, PUBG has also added a Sanhok map-exclusive weapon and vehicle to its test servers. The QBU is a DMR that takes ten rounds of 5.56mm ammo. It comes with a bipod, and is thus most effective when engaged in the prone position. It replaces the Mini 14 on the tropical 4x4km arena.

Cyberpunk 2077 frame by frame trailer series examines that weird, mouthless cyborg
https://www.pcgamer.com/cyberpunk-2077-frame-by-frame-trailer-series-examines-that-weird-mouthless-cyborg/
The trailer series' episode seven first looks at the makeup-applying robot that's missing the lower portion of its face. The scene features in the trailer above around the 49 second mark.

Saudi Arabia will reportedly ban 47 videogames following alleged suicides of two children
https://www.pcgamer.com/saudi-arabia-will-reportedly-ban-47-videogames-following-alleged-suicides-of-two-children/
The Associated Press reports Saudi Arabia will ban a list of videogames following the alleged suicide of two children. It is thought the children had been encouraged to do so after playing the 'Blue Whale' social media game.

>>I'm more surprised by them allow videogames at all, tbh.

'We avoid the word survival, those comparisons are not really accurate,' says Todd Howard on Fallout 76
https://www.pcgamer.com/we-avoid-the-word-survival-those-comparisons-are-not-really-accurate-says-todd-howard-on-fallout-76/
Everything we know about Fallout 76 so far suggests it's an online multiplayer survival game. That's quite a shift from what we're used to, but Bethesda director Todd Howard says he's keen avoid the word 'survival' as he feels it fails to capture what the game is.

No Man's Sky 'Next' trailer teases third-person perspective, multiplayer, visual overhaul
https://www.pcgamer.com/no-mans-sky-next-trailer-teases-third-person-perspective-multiplayer-visual-overhaul/
No Man's Sky's 'Next' update is its "largest update so far", so reckoned developer Hello Games earlier this year. It's due next week—Tuesday, July 24—and has a new trailer. Feast your eyes on that above first, and we'll discuss what's new below.

I say...fuck them...for now.

I've been with ATI/AMD for a long, long time (my last nVidia card prior to them was GeForce4 Ti4400), and I finally decided last year to go back to nVidia. Once AMD get their shit together (when it comes to GPUs) and makes something actually worth buying again, I'll reconsider my decision.

Here's a couple of news that could be of interest. Conina, you should pay attention to the first one:

VirtualLink USB-C Alt Mode Announced: Standardized Connector for VR Headsets
https://www.anandtech.com/show/13088/virtuallink-announced-standardized-connector-for-vr-headsets
While PC VR headsets are fun, no one has especially enjoyed the number of cables required to hook one up. With separate video, power, and data cables, the end result has been that manufacturers have used somewhat unwieldy cables or breakout boxes. However as part of the generalized push towards the second generation of VR headsets, a new industry consortium is coming together today to reduce the requirements to a single cable. Backed by NVIDIA, AMD, Oculus, Valve, and Microsoft, the new VirtualLink standard is a USB Type-C alternate mode that will be able to supply all of the necessary power, video information, and data over a single Type-C cable and connector.
USB-C is the natural choice here, as the wider industry is already consolidating around the port for external connectivity, and the port + cable is designed to carry multiple lanes of data along with significant amounts of power. In fact I was a bit surprised that this required a new alternate mode at all – we already have the DisplayPort alternate mode – but after checking with the consortium, there is a good reason for this.
The official VirtualLink standard calls for 6 lanes of high speed data – 4 DisplayPort HBR 3 channels for video, and a single USB 3.1 Gen 2 channel (2 lanes) for data – along with 27W of power.

>>The problem with this is that all future VR helmets will need a GPU with a USB-C port, meaning that all existing GPUs won't be capable of powering them. Conina, one day you'll have to start that section of your charts from zero.

Intel Z370 Chipset Motherboards Get 8-core CPU Compatibility BIOS Updates
https://www.techpowerup.com/246038/intel-z370-chipset-motherboards-get-8-core-cpu-compatibility-bios-updates
A variety of motherboards based on Intel Z370 Express chipset began receiving the first BIOS updates that add compatibility with upcoming Intel 8-core processors. The updates are flagged "beta" by the manufacturers. Given that only Z370 (and not other 300-series chipset models) have such updates, it's possible that Intel could restrict the first socket LGA1151 8-core processor SKUs (which could be unlocked "K" variants with higher TDP) to Z370 chipset, as the chipset has stronger VRM requirements than other chipset models that don't support CPU overclocking.

That's... a bit aggressive. And also has nothing to do with the story, that's about drivers, not capable GPUs.

But I echo the sentiment, the AMD GPU division needs to get their shit together and start making GPUs that can compete with Nvidia, if only with the xx60 to xx80 family of cards.

Perhaps...yet they fully deserve it.

Anyway, this audit was commissioned by AMD and only one test is used (CRASH from Microsoft Windows Hardware Lab Kit), so I'll take this as pure PR, not how much those actual cards are prone to crashing in real games.

Link to actual paper:

https://www.amd.com/system/files/documents/graphics-driver-quality.pdf

Interesting that the expensive "professional" cards (Radeon Pro + Nvidia Quattro) are failing that hard while the consumer cards run much more stable.

I didn't realize it was a PR move from AMD. I noticed that the Nvidia cards weren't disclosed, but I took that as the authors (I've seen this story in more than one site) of the articles not wanting to start a war.

Shame on me.

"NVIDIA mentioned that the Xavier SOC is built on a TSMC 12nm process node and houses 9 billion transistors crammed underneath a 350 mm2 die area."
You're going to need to do more than slightly tweak this to be able to put it into a Switch 2 type device.

https://www.gamersnexus.net/news-pc/2820-official-nvidia-gtx-1080-ti-specs-announced
Compare the die size and/or transistor count to a high end desktop GPU and you get a chip somewhere in-between a 1080 and a 1080Ti.

The CPU portion of the SoC would likely blow the Xbox One and PS4 out of the water.
It'd probably be close to a console generation's worth of power ahead of the CPUs in the 8th gen machines.
Though I've not seen any benchmarks.