The news:

SALES & DEALS

GRID 2 available for free on Steam, The Sims 4 available for free on Origin
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/grid-2-available-for-free-on-steam-the-sims-4-available-for-free-on-origin/
Now here is a pleasant surprise. Codemasters and Electronic Arts are currently offering for free GRID 2 and The Sims 4 on Steam and Origin, respectively. These aren’t your typical “free to play” offers, meaning that you will keep these games yours forever once you acquire them.
The Sims 4 will be available for free on Origin until May 28th and you can acquire your free copy from here. On the other hand, GRID 2 will be available for free on Steam until May 22nd and you can get it from here.
>> Too bad I already have GRID 2 (tho I think I also got it for free). I didn't like neither of the first two The Sims games, so I couldn't care less about EA's deal.

Graveyard Keeper, Party Hard, and The Final Station go cheap in the new Humble Bundle
https://www.pcgamer.com/graveyard-keeper-party-hard-and-the-final-station-go-cheap-in-the-new-humble-bundle/
Most of the time, when it comes to Humble Bundles, I tell people to stop being so damn cheap and just buy the whole thing. In the case of the new Humble TinyBuild Bundle, however, I will make an exception. The full collection is a good deal, as usual, but if you're really only willing to spend a single lousy dollar, then this is the place to do it.

GOG's new Midweek Sale features Railway Empire and a lot of classic games up to 75% off: https://www.gog.com/promo/20190522_midweek_sale

Steam has two daily deals (again one real, one fake), as well as four new Midweek Madness deals:

• The authentic daily deal is a GRID franchise sale, with up to 86% discounts: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/grid/
• The Atelier franchise is the fake daily deal as it will last another 5 days and features up to 40% deals: https://store.steampowered.com/developer/KOEITECMO/list/46536
• When it comes to Midweek Madness deal, the first one is Outward, 20% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/794260/Outward/
• Just Cause 4 gets a 60% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/517630/Just_Cause_4/
• To celebrate the 20th anniversary of its Anime, the ONE PIECE games are up to 75% off: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/onepieceanniversary/
• And lastly, Cities; Skylines is 75% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/255710/Cities_Skylines/

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

Windows 10 May 2019 Update is now available for download, introduces Windows health dashboard
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/windows-10-may-2019-update-is-now-available-for-download-introduces-windows-health-dashboard/
Microsoft has announced the release of the May 2019 Update for Windows 10. According to the team, this new update introduces the Windows health dashboard; a new dashboard that provides a single page for each currently supported version of Windows so you can quickly search for issues by keyword, including any safeguard holds on updates, see the current status of each issue, and find important announcements.

Valve won't count Assassin's Creed Unity's 'reverse review bombing' against it
https://www.pcgamer.com/valve-wont-count-assassins-creed-unitys-reverse-review-bombing-against-it/
Following the devastating fire in the Notre Dame Cathedral, Ubisoft pledged €500,000 to aid in its restoration and made Assassin's Creed Unity—set in Paris during the French Revolution—free for a week. Shortly after that, hundreds of positive reviews flooded into the game on Steam. It was, as far as I know, the first high-profile instance of "reverse review bombing," in which users post "off-topic" reviews to artificially inflate a game's score.
It seems clear enough that this is the case: Unity's overall user review rating on Steam is "mixed," while recent reviews are "mostly positive." But was it actually a review bombing at all? And if so, how does it fit with the actions Valve has recently taken to lessen the effects of negative review bombs? I'll be honest, it's not something I thought about, but as seen in this lengthy new meditation on the topic, Valve really has.

MODS/EMULATORS

First nude mod released for Yakuza Kiwami 2, allowing Naked Platinum Hostesses in the Cabaret Club
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/first-nude-mod-released-for-yakuza-kiwami-2-allowing-naked-platinum-hostesses-in-the-cabaret-club/
Well, it was bound to happen. Yesterday, we informed you about a 3D model swapper for Yakuza Kiwami 2. Created by modder ‘Moonspell’, that mod replaced the Kiwami2 main protagonist Kazuma Kiryu with Takayuki Yagami from Yakuza Judgment. And today, the same modder released the first nude mod for this Yakuza game.
According to its description, this mod lets you play with real Nude Platinum Hostesses in the Cabaret Club. Moreover, all the hostesses will be naked during the cutscenes and the minigames (in which you talk with them in bars or restaurants).
>> As with all these mods, they haven't provided a link for the mod, but you'll be able to search for it at Nexus Mods.

You can become a Warchief in this Sims 4 World of Warcraft career mod
https://www.pcgamer.com/you-can-become-a-warchief-in-this-sims-4-world-of-warcraft-career-mod/
Hop on any Sims forum like Mod the Sims or The Sims Catalog and you'll find all sorts of Sims 4 mods for decor, careers, houses—anything that isn't limited by the imagination. There's Fallout-inspired furniture, Game of Thrones clothing, even mods designed to making WooHooing riskier or let your sim to go on a murderous rampage without consequences. And now, thanks to modder N.Blightcaller, you can join the Horde army from World of Warcraft. (Move over, Sylvanas. There's a new warchief in town.)
N.Blightcaller has two different versions of this career mod, but the main one is heavier on the roleplaying and requires the Get To Work, Get Together, Outdoor Retreat, and Spa Day expansions for Baking, Dancing, Herbalism and Wellness skills. You won't need these skills when you first start off, but you will need them as you advance in your career.

GAMING NEWS

Just Cause 4 Spring Update available for download, improves lighting, adds destructible objects & more
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/just-cause-4-spring-update-available-for-download-improves-lighting-adds-destructible-objects-more/
Avalanche has released a new major update for Just Cause 4. According to the team, the Spring Update improves world lighting, with global lighting presets being tuned and materials modified to provide better visibility to players and make the world look more vibrant.

Observation 4K/Ultra Screenshots Gallery
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/observation-4k-ultra-screenshots-gallery/
Observation is a new sci-fi thriller that has just been released on the PC via the Epic Games Store. The game is powered by the Unity Engine and below you can find some 4K screenshots from the PC version on Ultra settings.

THQ Nordic acquires Piranha Bytes, also acquires the rights for Gothic, Risen and ELEX
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/thq-nordic-acquires-piranha-bytes-also-acquires-the-rights-for-gothic-risen-and-elex/
THQ Nordic announced today that the acquisition of the Piranha Bytes team and trademark and the intellectual property Gothic has been finalised. Piranha Bytes’ rights to Risen and ELEX were also acquired. The newly formed entity (Piranha Bytes GmbH, Essen, Germany) will host the entire development team and is a 100% subsidiary of THQ Nordic GmbH, based in Vienna, Austria.
>> And THQ Nordic grabs another one. You an share your opinion over at dx11332sega's thread.

First official screenshots released for GRID 2019
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/first-official-screenshots-released-for-grid-2019/
Codemasters has released a new set of screenshots for its new GRID game, alongside its announcement trailer. In GRID, players will choose their vehicle from GT, Touring, Stock, Muscle Cars, Super-Modified and more, and take part in different types of races: Circuit, Street Racing, Oval, Hot Laps, Point-to-Point and World Time Attack.

New gameplay trailer released for The Sinking City, showcasing its city environments
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-gameplay-trailer-released-for-the-sinking-city-showcasing-its-city-environments/
Frogwares has released a new gameplay trailer for The Sinking City using never before seen footage that focuses on the H.P. Lovecraft inspired horror and insanity that runs rampant through the city of Oakmont. The Sinking City is story-rich, free investigation game set in a twisted H.P Lovecraft inspired universe.

Rune Ragnarok renamed to Rune II, will be exclusive to Epic Games Store
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/rune-ragnarok-renamed-to-rune-ii-will-be-exclusive-to-epic-games-store/
Human Head Studios has announced that Rune Ragnarok has been renamed to Rune II and will be coming to the Epic Games Store this Summer. Inspired by the original Rune (2000), RUNE II is set in a dangerous Norse universe during Ragnarok, the end of days, where beasts and the last remaining humans alike struggle to survive.

Part two of the news:

Dauntless launches with cross-play on PC and consoles
https://www.pcgamer.com/dauntless-launches-with-cross-play-on-pc-and-consoles/
Dauntless, the free-to-play monster slayer, has launched on the Epic Games Store and consoles today, and the good news is that it doesn't really matter where you get the game, you'll be able to play with everyone else and keep your progress.

Fallout 76's Project Paradise takes you underground for some deadly lab tests
https://www.pcgamer.com/fallout-76-project-paradise-event/
While the various Fallout vaults in West Virginia still remain sealed up tight, there's now a different way to go underground in Fallout 76. Project Paradise is a new event that will take you into a series of subterranean laboratories to perform lab tests on presumably unwilling subjects. This event is not for greenhorns: you should be above level 50 before you begin, and Bethesda recommends you bring some friends along, too.

Hearthstone is finally buffing some cards, and giving everyone a golden legendary
https://www.pcgamer.com/hearthstone-is-finally-buffing-some-cards-and-giving-everyone-a-golden-legendary/
Yesterday's announcement that Blizzard will be nerfing three Rogue cards plus Archivist Elysiana led to the inevitable online clapback: "Hey, how about you try buffing some cards instead?" But of those people complaining, I think literally nobody expected buffs to actually ever happen. But here we are, just a day later, and that is exactly what is happening. Yep, for the first time since (we think) the game left beta, Blizzard is actually making some bad cards better. What a time to be alive.

Overwatch's 2019 Anniversary event is live
https://www.pcgamer.com/overwatchs-anniversary-event-starts-next-week-brings-back-old-skins-and-brawls/
Right on schedule, the Overwatch Anniversary event for 2019 has begun. Players can take part in out-of-season Seasonal Brawls, earn Anniversary Loot Boxes, and pick up a Legendary Anniversary Loot Box, with at least one guaranteed legendary item and possible loot from past events, just for logging in between May 22 and June 11.
>> And here's the anniversary skins.

Mordhau players figured out how to sneak into the character select screen
https://www.pcgamer.com/mordhau-players-figured-out-how-to-sneak-into-the-character-select-screen/
Mordhau player MiZiikE has detailed a way to escape the bounds of the Contraband map. It's a harmless trick (which is somewhat contested in the Reddit thread, but it'll probably be patched out anyway) that wouldn't be very notable if it didn't create a beautiful opportunity to confuse unaware players.

Man of Medan, part of a horror anthology from the creators of Until Dawn, is out in August
https://www.pcgamer.com/man-of-medan-part-of-a-horror-anthology-from-the-creators-of-until-dawn-is-out-in-august/
Man of Medan, the first part of The Dark Pictures horror anthology being developed by Until Dawn studio Supermassive Games, will inflict itself upon you on August 30, publisher Bandai Namco announced today. And with that comes a new trailer teasing the game's unsettling (that is, cree-hee-heepy) style and some of the less-than-pleasant decisions you'll have to make as you try to avoid horrific death.

Creative Assembly grants dying fan's wish to play Total War: Three Kingdoms
https://www.pcgamer.com/creative-assembly-grants-dying-fans-wish-to-play-total-war-three-kingdoms/
Last week, a redditor named TheMissingLink5 posted a message about his little brother Robbie's "last dying wish:" His battle with leukemia had taken a sudden turn for the worse, and he wanted to play Total War: Three Kingdoms while he still could. TheMissingLink5 made the public appeal in an effort to get word to developer Creative Assembly, and in short order, Creative Assembly came through.

This 2006 Hungarian FMV game finally made it to Steam, and I demand you watch the trailer
https://www.pcgamer.com/this-2006-hungarian-fmv-adventure-game-finally-made-it-to-steam-and-i-demand-you-watch-the-trailer/
Above you'll find the trailer for a full motion video point-and-click adventure game called Yoomurjak's Ring. Originally released in Hungary in 2006, it was re-released in 2009 for PC with English subtitles and then again for the iPhone and iPad in 2015. And now it's on Steam.

Valve is making a standalone version of Dota Auto Chess
https://www.pcgamer.com/valve-is-making-a-standalone-version-of-dota-auto-chess/
Valve has announced it will create a standalone version of Dota Auto Chess, an astoundingly popular custom game mode for Dota 2 developed by Chinese studio Drodo Studio.

Planet Coaster: Ghostbusters DLC will haunt your park soon
https://www.pcgamer.com/planet-coaster-ghostbusters-dlc-will-haunt-your-park-soon/
Frontier has a few parks to manage now, but it's still giving Planet Coaster some attention, especially since it's become a hot spot for spectral activity. Today the developer announced a Ghostbusters DLC pack—trailer above—featuring a new narrative campaign, themed rides, new scenery pieces, and banter from Dan Aykroyd and William Atherton, reprising their roles and Dr. Stantz and Walter Peck.

Wobble Jump is a free, retro LCD game from a parallel dimension
https://www.pcgamer.com/wobble-jump-is-a-free-retro-lcd-game-from-a-parallel-dimension/
Wobble Jump, a free game made by skilled pixel artist and developer castpixel, really captures the look, feel and sound of old LCD systems, despite existing only as a digital browser game. With its anime stylings, I doubt it would have been released outside of Japan, but I can see it in a gaming shop in Akihabara in the early 1990s—and you could have done worse, in that fictional scenario, than to pick it up.
>> Try it here.

THQ Nordic has nearly 50 unannounced games in development
https://www.pcgamer.com/thq-nordic-has-nearly-50-unannounced-games-in-development/
THQ Nordic has several new projects on the docket, according to the publisher's financial report, including a unannounced big budget project from Metro Exodus developer 4A Games. By the end of March, it had 80 games in development, 48 of them unannounced.
>> They could have their own E3 conference and reveal more games than all the other conferences combined.

Advance Wars-inspired Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble is coming to Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/advance-wars-inspired-tiny-metal-full-metal-rumble-is-coming-to-steam/
Tiny Metal: Full Metal Rumble, a sequel to the troubled-but-eventually-released turn-based tactics game Tiny Metal that was announced in March for the Nintendo Switch, is coming to PC. Developer Area 35 said the Advance Wars-inspired game will confront players with greater challenges and tougher enemies, which they can counter using new commander powers and passive abilities.

Path of Exile: Legion introduces an eternal war between 5 armies
https://www.pcgamer.com/path-of-exile-legion-introduces-an-eternal-war-between-five-armies/
In Path of Exile's June expansion, Legion, players will trot around the world to find Timeless Monoliths that reveal battles stuck in time between the titular Legions and their ancient leaders. You'll be able to free them from their eternal brawl by beating them up and getting lots of lovely loot.

Path of Exile's massive melee update could fix the game's biggest problem
https://www.pcgamer.com/path-of-exiles-massive-melee-update-could-fix-the-games-biggest-problem/
We're big fans of Path of Exile. It's a great action RPG and one of the most generous free-to-play games in the world. However I've always found that the combat lacked impact compared to its genre stablemates, especially in close quarters. That could be about to change with update 3.7, which reworks core animation systems, adds more detailed hit detection, and boosts melee stun to make close combat snappier.

One of my favorite point&click adventures just got a lot prettier:

https://tljhd.github.io/

This new way to create high quality textures is doing a lot of good for old titles.

Oh, wow, that looks beautiful. TLJ is one of my all time favourites, IIRC the last game from the end of golden age of P&C adventures that was quite a big success.

One launcher to rule them all? https://www.gogalaxy.com/en/

^ That's interesting, but we'll see if they can succeed. Nintendo will block it for sure, and I wouldn't be surprised if others did the same.

PC Gamer has anm article about it: https://www.pcgamer.com/gog-galaxy-20-aims-to-bring-games-from-all-pc-and-console-platforms-under-one-roof/

Thursday news:

SALES & DEALS

Mortal Kombat 11 sold 1.8 million digital units, Apex Legends generated $24 million in April
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/mortal-kombat-11-sold-1-8-million-digital-units-apex-legends-generated-24-million-in-april/
SuperData Arcade has shared its monthly report, stating that Mortal Kombat 11 has sold 1.8 million digital units on all platforms, thus making it the best digital launch in franchise history. On the other hand, Apex Legends fell out of the top rankings on console and PC and both Overwatch and Hearthstone still face declines.
Going into slightly more details, Mortal Kombat 11 sold 1.8 million digital units across console and PC in May, up from 400,000 units for Mortal Kombat X in 2015, largely due to rising digital download rates on console.
Apex Legends generated $24 million in April and monthly revenue now sits at over one-quarter of the launch-month sales from February. As for Overwatch and Hearthstone, both saw a sequential bump in total digital revenue following new content releases but still declined 15% and 37% year-over-year, respectively. On a combined basis, Overwatch and Hearthstone digital revenue across all platforms is down 39% year-to-date compared to the same time period in 2018.

Total War: Three Kingdoms sets a series record for concurrent players
https://www.pcgamer.com/total-war-three-kingdoms-sets-a-series-record-for-concurrent-players/
Total War: Three Kingdoms launched today and quickly set the series record for concurrent players. Over 160,000 people are fighting over ancient China at the time of publication, making it the fourth busiest game on Steam.
Three Kingdoms has a pretty solid lead over Warframe, but above it is the triumvirate of CS:GO, PUBG and Dota 2, all with over 500,000 concurrent players. It's a significant jump from the last Total War, Thrones of Britannia, which peaked at 22,787. The record was previously held by Rome 2 with 119,240 players.

Steam's daily deal is Bus Simulator 18, 40% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/515180/Bus_Simulator_18/

At Fanatical there are three (actually two) new deals:

• The new Star Deal is The Jackbox Party Trilogy, 63% off for the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/the-jackbox-party-trilogy.
• Stellaris is 75% off for the next 6 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/stellaris
• The new Uprising Bundle features 10 games with a 97% discount for the next 13 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/uprising-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-empty-

MODS/EMULATORS

Final Fantasy VII Remako HD Graphics Mod, AI Gigapixel-enhanced Texture Pack, has been fully released
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/final-fantasy-vii-remako-hd-graphics-mod-esrgan-ai-enhanced-texture-pack-has-been-fully-released/
Back in January 2019, we informed you about an AI Gigapixel-enhanced Texture Pack for Final Fantasy 7. Titled Final Fantasy VII Remako HD Graphics Mod, this pack was under a beta stage until today. Modder ‘CaptRobau’ has informed us about the release of version 1.0, something that will please a lot of FF7 fans.
As the modder noted, the mod improves the quality of among other things the pre-rendered backgrounds, battle, world textures, as well as the game’s full-motion videos (FMVs). Final Fantasy VII Remako HD Graphics Mod is also compatible with many other mods, such as The Reunion (R03C) or 3D model mods, for the ultimate Final Fantasy 7 experience.
>> Download it from its official website.

The Witcher 3 looks gorgeous in 4K with Reshade Ray Tracing/Path Tracing
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/the-witcher-3-looks-gorgeous-in-4k-with-reshade-ray-tracing-path-tracing/
YouTube’s ‘hodilton’ has shared a video, showing The Witcher 3 with Pascal Gilcher’s new alpha Reshade mod that adds path tracing/ray tracing GIobal Illumination effects to every DX9, DX10 and DX11 game.
Contrary to other videos we shared, The Witcher 3 is a newer title and we are really impressed by the visual improvement that this Reshade brings to it. As we’ve already said, there are some graphical glithes/issues with this alpha version of Reshade, however the visual improvement can be easily noticed.

GAMING NEWS

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey update 1.3.0 releases tomorrow, full patch release notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/assassins-creed-odyssey-update-1-3-0-releases-tomorrow-full-patch-release-notes/
Ubisoft has announced that a new patch for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey will be released tomorrow. Update 1.3.0 will be 6GB in size for the PC and will add in-game support for Torments of Hades as well as for the upcoming Lost Tales of Greece.
>> See that tomorrow? Well, it's today.

First gameplay trailer released for Nioh 2
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/first-gameplay-trailer-released-for-nioh-2/
Sony has released the first gameplay trailer for Nioh 2. Nioh 2 is being developed by Team Ninja and will be published by KOEI Tecmo, and from the looks of it a closed beta phase is currently planned for PS4. KOEI Tecmo has not confirmed the platforms for which Nioh 2 will release, so we might see it hitting the PC (like its predecessor did).
>> Hiku has made a thread about it.

Cyberpunk 2077 won’t have a public playable demo at E3 2019 but it will have gameplay presentations
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/cyberpunk-2077-wont-have-a-public-playable-demo-at-e3-2019-but-it-will-have-gameplay-presentations/
E3 2019 is almost upon us and CD Projekt RED has confirmed that it will be present at both the public and business areas, showcasing Cyberpunk 2077. Unfortunately there won’t be any public playable demo for the game, though CD Projekt RED stated that it will hold gameplay presentations.

Thursday news 2:

Vampire: The Masquerade—Bloodlines 2 welcomes the bossy Ventrue clan
https://www.pcgamer.com/vampire-the-masqueradebloodlines-2-welcomes-the-bossy-ventrue-clan/
Vampire: The Masquerade—Bloodlines 2's penultimate playable clan is the snobby Ventrue, a bunch of royals and suits propping up and feeding off the system. They founded the Camarilla, the largest vampire sect, and they have a penchant for bossing people around while sitting in very big chairs.

Art of Rally is a stylized racing game from the maker of Absolute Drift
https://www.pcgamer.com/art-of-rally-is-a-stylized-racing-game-from-the-maker-of-absolute-drift/
Rallying is the best kind of auto racing because it's basically a slightly faster version of bombing down fire trails to get to a big bush bash: The roads are treacherous, you don't know where you're going but your buddy's giving you directions, and if you get there before everyone else you get first crack at the refreshments. All of which is to say that even though I don't actively follow World Rally Championship or other circuits, I like the style a lot and I think the minimalist racing game Art of Rally, announced today, looks like it could be a lot of fun.

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is coming in August
https://www.pcgamer.com/ancestors-the-humankind-odyssey-is-coming-in-august/
Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey will take us back to the days of monkeying around and fighting saber-toothed tigers via the Epic Games Store this August. To help prepare you for the hefty responsibility of leading your hairy clan across millions of years, developer Panache has put together a video explaining how you can survive and expand.

Anyone play Wreckfest? Reminds me of Destruction Derby.

Also, I'm looking for more "friends" on Steam.  Not to play with or bother.  I just like looking at people's libraries and game time.  Hopefully doesn't sound too creepy...