^Take care.

The Tuesday news:

SALES & DEALS

Steam has a new daily deal as well as an array of weeklong deals:

• The daily deal is the Early Access title Mist Survival, 20% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/914620/Mist_Survival/
• And these are some of the weeklong deals:
  • Let's start with the Early Access title Between the Stars, 25% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/727130/Between_the_Stars/
  • Sin Slayers is 40% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/783190/Sin_Slayers/
  • SIMULACRA is half its usual price: https://store.steampowered.com/app/712730/SIMULACRA/
  • PUSS! is 75% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/719750/PUSS/
  • And finally there's CASE: Animatronics, 90% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/489360/CASE_Animatronics/

On the Humble Store, the Winter Sale has ended, but now they have the Lunar New Year Sale! The sale will last 3 days and you can check out the deals here: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/lunar-new-year-sale/

Fanatical haswo new deals:

• The new Star Deal is Supraland, 50% off for the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/supraland
• And they have also launched the new Odyssey Bundle Reloaded, with 14 games split into two tiers of 3 and 14 products: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/odyssey-bundle-reloaded

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

AMD Radeon Adrenalin 2020 Edition 20.1.4 driver released, optimized for Warcraft 3 Reforged
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/amd-radeon-adrenalin-2020-edition-20-1-4-driver-released-optimized-for-warcraft-3-reforged/
AMD has released a new driver for its graphics cards. According to the release notes, the AMD Radeon Adrenalin 2020 Edition 20.1.4 driver offers optimal performance in both Warcraft 3 Reforged and Journey to the Savage Planet.
Moreover, this driver fixes the square or blocky textures on some terrain during gameplay when using Vulkan API in RDR2. It also resolves a crash or application hang in some Vulkan games. Moreover, it makes the Integer Scaling option visible in all Windows 7 systems.
>> So much for my yesterday's post about upgrading to 20.1.1. Anyway, you can find it here.

AMD releases TressFX 4.1, featuring optimized physics simulation shaders & new rendering features
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/amd-releases-tressfx-4-1-featuring-optimized-physics-simulation-shaders-new-rendering-features/
AMD has released a new version of its TressFX tech, TressFX 4.1. In case you were unaware of, the TressFX library is AMD’s hair/fur rendering and simulation technology. Therefore, TressFX is designed to use the GPU to simulate and render high quality realistic hair and fur.
According to the press release, TressFX 4.1 features further optimization of the physics simulation shaders. It also packs new rendering features, as well as documentation and tutorials. Not only that, but it comes with an updated TressFX Exporter for Autodesk Maya.
This release also demonstrates TressFX integration with Unreal Engine 4.22. According to AMD, this is a minimal integration to improve ease-of-use with multiple TressFX components, features, and rendering and simulation materials.

Unity Technologies releases Unity 2019.3, packing more than 260 improvements and features
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/unity-technologies-releases-unity-2019-3-packing-more-than-260-improvements-and-features/
Unity Technologies today announced that the Unity 2019.3 Tech Stream is now available to download from the Unity Store. Unity 2019.3 arrives with more than 260 improvements and features. This includes the production-ready version of the High Definition Render Pipeline (HDRP), which unlocks beautiful graphics on high-end consoles and PCs.
Furthermore, Unity 2019.3 introduces a new User Interface with revamped icons, better usability, and faster performance that continues Unity’s evolution towards a leaner, more powerful, more optimized Editor experience.

MODS/EMULATORS

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GAMING NEWS

Torchlight III is coming to the PC this Summer, closed alpha testing begins on January 29th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/torchlight-iii-is-coming-to-the-pc-this-summer-closed-alpha-testing-begins-on-january-29th/
Perfect World Entertainment and Echtra Games announced today that Torchlight Frontiers will launch as Torchlight III on Steam this Summer. Furthermore, its closed alpha testing will begin on January 29th. The game will also return to the premium model adapted by Torchlight I and II. Moreover, it will now focus on linear progression.

Dying Light: Bad Blood is now available for free to all owners of Dying Light
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/dying-light-bad-blood-is-now-available-for-free-to-all-owners-of-dying-light/
Techland has announced that Dying Light: Bad Blood is now available for free to all owners of Dying Light. As such, and if you own a copy of Dying Light, a banner will inform you that you’re eligible for a free Dying Light: Bad Blood Steam code.

Rumor: A new Knights of the Old Republic game might be happening
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/rumor-a-new-knights-of-the-old-republic-game-might-be-happening/
It looks like EA is going full on Star Wars after Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order being a success. According to a rumor, EA is working on several Star Wars games and one of them might be a new Knights of the Old Republic title.

Official PC system requirements for Warcraft 3 Reforged, requires 30GB of free hard-disk space
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/official-pc-system-requirements-for-warcraft-3-reforged-requires-30gb-of-free-hard-disk-space/
Blizzard has revealed the official PC system requirements for Warcraft 3 Reforged. Warcraft III: Reforged is a remake of Warcraft 3 that features both the original Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its award-winning expansion, The Frozen Throne.

Ubisoft adds Vulkan support to Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege to improve graphical performance
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/ubisoft-adds-vulkan-support-to-tom-clancys-rainbow-six-siege-to-improve-graphical-performance/
Ubisoft has announced that patch 4.3 will add support for the Vulkan API in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege. This new API promises to further improve graphical performance, and help to reduce CPU and GPU cost. As such, CPU-limited PC systems will most likely see a performance boost via this API.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint Title Update 1.1.0 released, is 11GB in size, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/tom-clancys-ghost-recon-breakpoint-title-update-1-1-0-released-is-11gb-in-size-full-patch-notes/
Ubisoft has released a new major update for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint. According to the release notes, Title Update 1.1.0 is 11GB in size, brings major changes and improvements.

First Resident Evil 8 rumours; first-person camera, Chris Redfield to re-appear, new enemies & more
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/first-resident-evil-8-rumours-first-person-camera-chris-redfield-to-re-appear-new-enemies-more/
It appears that the first details/rumours for Resident Evil 8 have surfaced online. Residence of Evil has leaked these first details and Nibel has acknowledged them, stating that this matches the stuff he’s been hearing.

Tuesday news, part two:

Half-Life remake Black Mesa is almost ready for its 1.0 launch
https://www.pcgamer.com/half-life-remake-black-mesa-is-almost-ready-for-its-10-launch/
Black Mesa has been in development for so long you could be forgiven for forgetting that it wasn't already out. Originally released as a Half-Life 2 mod all the way back in 2012, it's been available in standalone form on Steam Early Access since 2015. But with the ambitious Xen chapters—which effectively serve as an expansion—pretty much finished, the full game will soon be given the 1.0 brand and released into the wild.

Metro Exodus is getting a sandbox expansion in February
https://www.pcgamer.com/metro-exodus-is-getting-a-sandbox-expansion-in-february/
Sam's Story is the second expansion for moody post-apocalyptic FPS Metro Exodus, but it's the first to follow in the base game's sandbox footsteps. Launching next month, it charts the journey of Sam, an American marine who was stuck in Russia after the end of days hit. He's trying to make his way to Vladivostok, hoping to get back to the US.

Doom Eternal won't have microtransactions or an in-game store
https://www.pcgamer.com/doom-eternal-wont-have-microtransactions-or-an-in-game-store/
Buying a pricey game these days doesn't guarantee you'll get access to everything without dipping into your wallet again, but at least in the case of Doom Eternal you'll be able to save your pennies. Creative director Hugo Martin confirmed that there would be no shop or double-dipping when it comes to cosmetics.

Torchlight Frontiers is now Torchlight 3, will release on Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/torchlight-frontiers-is-now-torchlight-3-will-release-on-steam/
It's been a bit of a rocky road for the upcoming Torchlight game—developer Runic Games, maker of Torchlight and Torchlight 2, was closed 2017, and Torchlight Frontiers, the shared-world RPG being made at Echtra Games, was delayed from a 2019 release to 2020.
It's about time for some good news, then. Torchlight Frontiers is now Torchlight 3, and it's not just a simple change in title.

Apex Legends’ new character may have just murdered its other new character
https://www.pcgamer.com/apex-legends-new-character-may-have-just-murdered-its-other-new-character/
Electronic Arts recently revealed the next Apex Legends character as the metal-armed bruiser named Forge, which came as kind of a surprise for rumor-following fans who expected it to be the Lady Deathstrike-lookin' killer robot Revenant. Today we get a proper introduction to Forge's entry into the Apex games via a new "Stories from the Outlands" trailer, and I'm not going to spoil anything but you're definitely going to want to stick around to the end before you read any further.

A Terminator is joining Ghost Recon: Breakpoint this week
https://www.pcgamer.com/a-terminator-is-joining-ghost-recon-breakpoint-this-week/
Some kind of Terminator crossover event is happening in Ghost Recon: Breakpoint this week, starting January 29. The details are fairly slim on the ground, but the trailer above confirms with typical coyness that a Terminator live event is definitely upon us.

Bethesda's fix for stolen Fallout 76 inventories is generous and complicated
https://www.pcgamer.com/bethesdas-fix-for-stolen-fallout-76-inventories-is-generous-and-complicated/
A number of Fallout 76 players found themselves stripped down to their skivvies last month, courtesy of a hack employed by unscrupulous Wastelanders that enabled them to swipe entire inventories from other players. Bethesda was able to fix the exploit fairly quickly, but restoring lost gear was another matter entirely.
For one reason or another, Bethesda wasn't able to simply put replacement gear into players' packs, and so it promised that it would figure out how to compensate players for their losses at some point down the road. The solution was revealed late last week by redditors including JedediahJedi and Boavisteiro (via Kotaku), and it's honestly quite a bit more complicated than I would have expected.

Hypercard returns in free adventure Madness of the Coastal Structure
https://www.pcgamer.com/hypercard-returns-in-free-adventure-madness-of-the-coastal-structure/
Interactive fictioner Porpentine has released a new adventure that feels a lot like an old one. You're familiar with Hypercard, of course, the '80s/'90s Mac development tool that did hyperlinks before the World Wide Web. Well, Madness of the Coastal Structure looks and feels like a Hypercard game, but with some playful Infocom-style writing mixed in as well.

Resident Evil Resistance has connections to the series but isn't canon
https://www.pcgamer.com/resident-evil-resistance-has-connections-to-the-series-but-isnt-canon/
Resident Evil has made a few surprise detours over the years, but Resident Evil Resistance, which pits a group of Raccoon City teens against the likes of Mr. X, is one of the more unusual ones. It doesn't quite fit with the rest of the games, and according to Capcom it's not actually canon.

Frog Fractions will be getting weird on Steam this year
https://www.pcgamer.com/frog-fractions-will-be-getting-weird-on-steam-this-year/
Frog Fractions, the 2012 browser game, is an enduring oddity that's packaged as an edutainment romp designed to teach your mites about the wonderful world of fractions. It absolutely isn't that. It is, however, brilliant and weird, and soon to arrive on Steam.

Battlefield 5 heads Into the Jungle next week
https://www.pcgamer.com/battlefield-5-chapter-6-release-date/
Battlefield 5 is heading Into the Jungle with its sixth Tides of War chapter, and you can get a taste of the lush new warzone in the just-released Into the Jungle overview trailer above.

Kentucky Route Zero's last episode is finally out today
https://www.pcgamer.com/kentucky-route-zeros-last-episode-is-finally-out-today/
I bought Kentucky Route Zero years ago as a result of pretty much everyone telling me I needed it in my life. They weren't wrong. But after playing a bit and loving it, I decided to put it down until the launch of the final episode. Now it's the End of Days and my hair is grey, but at least Act V is almost upon us. It's coming today, seven years after the first episode launched.

"Kentucky Route Zero's last episode is finally out today"

Bloody hell, I thought that would never happen. It's very weird, yet really enjoyable experience, but I guess I would need to play it all from the beginning, it's been quite a while since the last episode, 2016 or something like that,

I've bought it and been playing Temtem for two days already. Best Pokémon game in decades :P

The news:

SALES & DEALS

Steam has two new daily deals (both of the same franchise) as well as two new Midweek Madness deals;

• The first daily deal is The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Game of the Year Edition is 70% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/22320/The_Elder_Scrolls_III_Morrowind_Game_of_the_Year_Edition/
• The other one is The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition, also 70% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/22330/The_Elder_Scrolls_IV_Oblivion_Game_of_the_Year_Edition/
• And these are the Midweek Madness deals:
  • Return of the Obra Dinn is 30% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/653530/Return_of_the_Obra_Dinn/
  • And Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is 50% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/560130/Pillars_of_Eternity_II_Deadfire/

Fanatical has a new bundle: the Tower Defense Bundle with 3 games at an 81% discount for the next 7 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/tower-defense-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

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MODS/EMULATORS

The Last of Us, God of War 3, LittleBigPlanet 3 and more run significantly faster now on the PC via RPCS3
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/the-last-of-us-god-of-war-3-littlebigplanet-3-and-more-run-significantly-faster-now-on-the-pc-via-rpcs3/
A few days ago, we shared a video in which the RPCS3 showcased a number of games running on the PC via the Playstation 3 emulator, RPCS3. And today, we are happy to report that this PS3 emulator can run various games faster than before.
Whatcookie, one of the RPCS3 contributors, has managed to significantly improve performance in a lot of games that use Morphological Anti-Aliasing (MLAA). This Anti-Aliasing method made use of the PS3’s CELL SPU cores to take load off the weak PS3 GPU to give it more time to push impressive visuals and was first used in God of War 3 back in 2010.
Whatcookie’s recent changes allow the RPCS3 team to patch SPU ELF’s directly. This allows them to patch multiple games, various game regions and versions without having to do them separately on a game-by-game basis. Sadly, the patch doesn’t work with every game that uses MLAA as some games load it in a way that cannot be patched yet.
For instance, the patch for The Last of Us, is actually one of those titles which cannot be patched with the new SPU Elf method. However, Whatcookie went ahead and patched the game specifically as well.
The following video showcases most of the PS3 games known to use MLAA that work with the patch. Some of the missed games include Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, which did see SPU usage decrease, however frame-rates didn’t change much. Motorstorm Apocalypse also saw a small performance improvement and probably a few more we missed.

You can now play as Geralt from The Witcher 3 in Resident Evil 2 Remake
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/you-can-now-play-as-geralt-from-the-witcher-3-in-resident-evil-2-remake/
A few days ago, we informed you about a mod that allowed you to play as Ciri from The Witcher 3 in Resident Evil 2 Remake. And today, we are happy to report that Wiwilz released a new mod, allowing you to play as Geralt in Capcom’s third-person horror title.
Contrary to the Ciri mod, it appears that there are facial animations for this Geralt mod. However, I’m not certain whether the lip-syncing is perfect here. For what it’s worth, the modder may add facial animations to the Ciri mod in a future version.
Furthermore, the mod will remove Leon’s head. This basically means that this mod is not compatible with the other DLC costumes, except Arklay Sheriff. Also, Geralt’s swords will stay on his back while wielding the knife.
You can download this The Witcher 3 Geralt mod for Resident Evil 2 Remake from here. Do note that you will need fluffyquack’s mod manager in order to install it.

GAMING NEWS

Here are 87 minutes of gameplay from System Shock Remake
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-87-minutes-of-gameplay-from-system-shock-remake/
System Shock Remake and System Shock 3 have both been in development for quite some time. These are completely different projects from two completely different development teams. Nightdive Studios, the developers of the remake, had a demo stream where they played through the demo. This is a special demo of a different pre-alpha build.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare January 28th Update released, fixes exploit, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-january-28th-update-released-fixes-exploit-full-patch-notes/
Infinity Ward has released a brand new update for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. According to the release notes, the January 28th update fixes an exploit in Ground War via ATV. Moreover, it brings some weapon balance tweaks.

Destiny 2 Update 2.7.1 released, improves performance, fixes bugs, combat tweaks, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/destiny-2-update-2-7-1-released-improves-performance-fixes-bugs-combat-tweaks-full-patch-notes/
Bungie has released a brand new update for Destiny 2. According to the release notes, Update 2.7.1 improves performance when receiving certain messages from the server. Moreover, it improves performance in both PIT OF HERESY and GARDEN OF SALVATION.
>> Sadly, it also brought a nasty problem. You can read more on the second news post.

The creative director of Watch Dogs: Legion talks to BBC
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/the-creative-director-of-watch-dogs-legion-talks-to-bbc/
The game’s creative director Clint Hocking has given an interview to Journalist Marc Cieslak inside the game. Both of them were digitally scanned into the game’s engine as you can see in the video at the end of the article.

Part two of the news:

Sea of Thieves launches the Affiliate Alliance to help you find a crew
https://www.pcgamer.com/sea-of-thieves-launches-the-affiliate-alliance-to-help-you-find-a-crew/
I'm lucky enough to have a regular Sea of Thieves crew, but not every pirate is blessed with a winning personality that sees people just flock to them. That's where the new Affiliate Alliance, just introduced today, comes in.

Oops! Destiny 2's newest update is deleting rare enhancement materials
https://www.pcgamer.com/oops-destiny-2s-newest-update-is-deleting-rare-enhancement-materials/
Destiny 2 update 2.7.1 rolled out a little earlier today, making the usual sort of tweaks, bug fixes, and miscellaneous changes that come in hotfixes—it improved performance in the Chamber of Suffering part of the Pit of Heresy dungeon, for instance, and added a fix for a bug that was enabling Sunbreaker Titans to gain stacks of Roaring Flame by destroying Telesto projectiles. The full patch notes are here, if you want to dig down into it.
But it's also apparently doing more than just that. A seemingly substantial number of players are reporting on Reddit (here, and here, or this whole thing here, just to get you started) and Twitter that after the maintenance period ended, their glimmer, ascendant shards, enhancement prisms, and other materials were missing.
Update (6:30 pm ET): Bungie has shared more information about the upcoming fix, which will see all player accounts rolled back to the state they were in at around 8:30 am PT/11:30 pm ET on January 28.
Update (9:45 pm ET): Bungie has confirmed that rollback for player accounts is complete, and that the game will be back online at 7 PM PST (10 pm ET).

Unconventional fantasy MMO Crowfall gets a funding boost as it nears release
https://www.pcgamer.com/unconventional-fantasy-mmo-crowfall-gets-a-funding-boost-as-it-nears-release/
Amazon's New World is one of the most anticipated MMOs in recent memory, and in part I think that's because it hasn't been extensively documented in backer updates and years long alpha tests. The lack of a crowdfunding campaign (which Amazon obviously didn't need) lends it more mystery than competitors such as Crowfall, which was Kickstarted in 2015 and has been in various stages of pre-alpha testing for the past five years.
But if gangs of fantasy settlers building and defending forts interests you, Crowfall is worth your attention. On top of its millions in crowdfunding support, the game has recently drawn another $11.7 million from investors to support its final push into release. That'll start soon with a beta, which will be open to all backers, as well as non-backers who will be invited in waves (you can register on the official site).

Rockstar is giving away in-game cash and items in GTA Online and Red Dead Online
https://www.pcgamer.com/rockstar-is-giving-away-in-game-cash-and-items-in-gta-online-and-red-dead-online/
Take-Two Interactive announced today that Grand Theft Auto 5 is the best-selling game of the past decade, according to the NPD Group, while Red Dead Redemption 2 is the best-selling game of the past four years. (...)
To celebrate the big numbers, Take-Two is giving away some pretty hefty bonuses in both games: GTA Online players will earn GTA$1 million for playing between January 30 and February 5, and another $GTA 1 million for playing between February 5 and February 12. Just show up and it's yours.

Stylish horror-tactics game Othercide is looking for closed beta testers
https://www.pcgamer.com/stylish-horror-tactics-game-othercide-is-looking-for-closed-beta-testers/
Othercide is a mostly-monochromatic XCOM-style horror game about mystical warriors called the Daughters, who are holding the line against extra-dimensional terrors bent on humanity's destruction. I thought it looked potentially very cool when it first came to our attention last year, but unfortunately the Steam Early Access release expected for later that year didn't materialize.

Important: you can now hit things in Monster Hunter: World with a giant meat hammer
https://www.pcgamer.com/important-you-can-now-hit-things-in-monster-hunter-world-with-a-giant-meat-hammer/
Until February 13, Monster Hunter: World is running its 2nd anniversary festival, a chance to unlock some special sparkly armor and do a whole load of rare event quests that are only available a few times a year. There's a lot to do, but only one of these limited-time event quests is truly important. It's called Beef is Never a Mi-Stake, and the reward for completing this quest is a giant turkey leg masquerading as a hammer. If there's any must-have weapon in Monster Hunter right now, surely it's this one.

Latest Rainbow Six Siege patch rolls out big changes, Ubisoft says a Lesion nerf is coming
https://www.pcgamer.com/latest-rainbow-six-siege-patch-rolls-out-big-changes-ubisoft-says-a-lesion-nerf-is-coming/
After a few weeks on the Rainbow Six Siege test server, Ubisoft has officially released patch Y4S4.3. The patch brings a nice bundle of nerfs to overpowered operators like Maestro, Echo, and Jäger, but some players were surprised to see one dominant defender dodge the nerf hammer: Lesion.

The Division 2 takes a trip to Coney Island next month
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-division-2-takes-a-trip-to-coney-island-next-month/
What better way to brighten up a post-pandemic wasteland than with a trip to Coney Island? That's where The Division 2 is going next month when Episode 3 of its ongoing free story DLC releases. It's not going to be a walk in the park (well, some of will be, this being Coney Island), because you're going there to retrieve a doctor who may hold the secret to solving the virus that has destroyed America.

Take a hike in a strange desert in free wild west adventure Red Desert Render
https://www.pcgamer.com/take-a-hike-in-a-strange-desert-in-free-wild-west-adventure-red-desert-render/
There's a big ol' desert to escape to in Ian MacLarty's Red Desert Render, a game of Wild West exploration and secret-snuffling inspired by the developer's out-of-bounds adventures in Red Dead Redemption 2 Online. This pay-what-you-want desert hike is pretty glitchy, but that seems to be intentional. How will reality distort as you trudge and roll your way around a pleasingly enormous and largely empty tract of land?

Star Trek Online’s Legacy update lets you live your Star Trek: Picard dreams
https://www.pcgamer.com/star-trek-onlines-legacy-update-lets-you-live-your-star-trek-picard-dreams/
Fair play, Star Trek Online, you’ve got me. Since watching Star Trek: Picard, I’ve been yearning to be papa Picard himself, and its new Legacy update is letting me pretend I am. I can feel my hair falling out now.

All your Warcraft 3: Reforged custom games belong exclusively to Blizzard
https://www.pcgamer.com/all-your-warcraft-3-reforged-custom-games-belong-exclusively-to-blizzard/
With the arrival of Warcraft 3: Reforged there was hope that the original game’s thriving custom game scene would be revived. It was through Warcraft 3’s custom games that the idea for what would become Dota 2 and League of Legends was born, after all. But any kind of big revival of that scene looks pretty unlikely.

Thursday news:

SALES & DEALS

Bethesda is holding a 24-hour sale for Australian fire relief
https://www.pcgamer.com/bethesda-is-holding-a-24-hour-sale-for-australian-fire-relief/
Bethesda Softworks is holding a 24-hour sale on Bethesda.net and the Humble Store to raise funds for bush fire relief efforts in Australia. From 10 am PT/1 pm ET on January 30 until the same time on January 31, Bethesda games on both sites will be offered at a 33 percent discount, with net proceeds going to the Australian Red Cross.
Separately, Bethesda is also offering a Fallout-themed Responders Australia Charity Tee for $25, with all profits raised going to the Australian Salvation Army. The shirt, featuring the Vault Boy holding (and not doing anything terrible to) a koala on the front, is up for preorder now and expect to ship in March.

Steam has two new deals:

• The new daily deal is Terraforming Mars, 50% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/800270/Terraforming_Mars/
• And The Vagrant is 60% off for the next 11 days: https://store.steampowered.com/app/598700/The_Vagrant/

On the Humble Store there are two new sales:

• The EA Super Bowl Sale brings up to 50% discounts for the next 7 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/ea-super-bowl-sale/
• And Konami has its games up to 75% off for the next 10 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/konami-publisher-sale/

Fanatical has two new deals:

• The new Star Deal is Outward, 63% off for the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/outward
• And there's also the All Stars 12 Bundle, with 8 games at a 98% discount: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/all-stars-12-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

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MODS/EMULATORS

Half Life 2 HD Remastered HD Texture Pack V2.1 released, featuring 3.56GB of 2K textures
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/half-life-2-hd-remastered-hd-texture-pack-v2-1-released-featuring-3-56gb-of-2k-textures/
Modder ‘johnyonghwang1’ has released a new version of his HD Texture Pack for Half-Life 2. Half Life 2 HD Remastered HD Texture Pack V2.1 is 3.56GB in size, features plenty of new 2K textures, and you can download it right now.
According to the modder, version 2.1 fixes the Highway 17 gravel and some road textures. Moreover, it introduces new Episode 2 bunker textures and new Yblood textures. It also fixes the impact holes bug, and adds smaller and unobtrusive lens flares. Not only that, but it adds new plaster textures, new brick textures, and fixes the grass blend textures. Also, and as the title suggests, it adds plenty of new 2K Textures.
>> Available from ModDB.

Putting Garfield in The Elder Scrolls: Arena was a mistake
https://www.pcgamer.com/putting-garfield-in-the-elder-scrolls-arena-was-a-mistake/
If you've played an Elder Scrolls game you probably know about the Khajiit. They're a cat-like people. Essentially large cats standing on two legs. Fur, tail, the lot. But in The Elder Scrolls: Arena, the first game in the series, the Khajiit look like humans. Unless you install a certain mod.
If you wanted to make the Khajiit in The Elder Scrolls: Arena look more like cats, you have a huge selection to choose from. Cats are all over the internet because they're cute. But the maker of the mod All Khajits are 1978 Garfield chose not to go for one of the obvious images of a cat.
Instead, we get the lasagne-loving Garfield from the original comics. Specifically, his smug and fat-cheeked head, plopped on top of the game's original Khajiit model. That's already quite the sight, a cartoon cat's head on an athletic human-like body, but the modder went further. The finishing touch is making the Khajiit's skin colour the same carrot sick orange as Garfield's fur. There's something disturbing about seeing Garfield with pecs.

GAMING NEWS

DayZ Update 1.07 available for download, adds new content, fixes numerous bugs, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/dayz-update-1-07-available-for-download-adds-new-content-fixes-numerous-bugs-full-patch-notes/
Bohemia has released a brand new update for the standalone version of DayZ on the Public Test Server. According to the release notes, patch 1.07 adds new content, fixes numerous bugs, and brings a number of tweaks.

Here are four new screenshots for the first-person dark fantasy shooter, Witchfire
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/here-are-four-new-screenshots-for-the-first-person-dark-fantasy-shooter-witchfire/
The Astronauts has released four new screenshots for its upcoming first-person dark fantasy shooter, Witchfire. These screenshots showcase some of the game’s locations, as well as some of its enemies.

Kojima Productions is planning to work on multiple projects
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/kojima-productions-is-planning-to-work-on-multiple-projects/
Hideo Kojima and Yoji Shinkawa have recently given an interview to Famitsu magazine for the studios’ fourth year anniversary. They talked about several things, including Death Stranding’s development.

New trailer for the hybrid voxel/vertex-based space MMO, Starbase, showcases its key features
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-trailer-for-the-hybrid-voxel-vertex-based-space-mmo-starbase-showcases-its-key-features/
Frozenbyte has released a new trailer for its upcoming hybrid voxel/vertex-based space MMO, Starbase, that focuses on its key features. The game will feature a fully destructible and infinitely expanding universe, with a focus on building and designing spaceships and stations.

Thursday news, part two:

Dwarf Fortress introduces interrogations and lets dwarves have multiple partners
https://www.pcgamer.com/dwarf-fortress-introduces-interrogations-and-lets-dwarves-have-multiple-partners/
You better make sure your artefacts in Dwarf Fortress are locked away somewhere safe. Don't listen to my advice if you want, but don't come crying to me when a villain sneaks into your fortress and steals your precious goods.

The return of Trials of Osiris to Destiny 2 in Season 10 has been datamined
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-return-of-trials-of-osiris-to-destiny-2-in-season-10-has-been-datamined/
Dataminers have discovered key details on Destiny's next big seasonal update. The new season will arrive on March 9, seemingly under the 'Season of the Worthy' moniker. In addition to some new community events, it sounds like Season 10 will bring back Destiny's hardcore PvP mode, Trials of Osiris, as has been heavily hinted.

Stoneshard launch trailer shows off the Diablo-meets-Darkest Dungeon roguelike
https://www.pcgamer.com/stoneshard-launch-trailer-shows-diablo-meets-darkest-dungeon-roguelike/
We got our first look at the turn-based roguelike Stoneshard back in 2017, when it was still very early in development. It appeared to be a retro-styled cross between Diablo and Darkest Dungeon, blending loot-focused hack-and-slash through randomized isometric dungeons with a complex injury system ("profoundly punishing" is how Austin described it) and a need to manage pain, intoxication, phobias, and sanity.

Dead Cells' first paid DLC, The Bad Seed, is coming in February
https://www.pcgamer.com/dead-cells-first-paid-dlc-the-bad-seed-is-coming-in-february/
After 16 free updates following its Early Access debut in 2017, most recently the Legacy Update that brought back the good old days of earlier versions, the Metroidvania-inspired roguelike Dead Cells is about to get its first paid DLC. Set to arrive on February 11, The Bad Seed will add two new early-game biomes filled with distinctive creatures, and a "conceptually unique armory" to help deal with them (including the game's fist double-slot weapon), and a new mushroom companion.

Free survival horror Alisa is Resident Evil with murderous dolls
https://www.pcgamer.com/free-survival-horror-alisa-is-resident-evil-with-murderous-dolls/
If Resident Evil were set in a doll's house, it might look something like Alisa—The Awakening, which swaps zombies for murderous life-size dolls, but keeps the shooting and the puzzling, and is set in a very similar creepy mansion.

Halo Forge on PC is making 'great progress,' gets first screenshot
https://www.pcgamer.com/halo-forge-on-pc-is-making-great-progress-gets-first-screenshot/
Since Halo: Reach landed by drop pod on PC back in December I've been hankering for one particular missing feature — Forge mode. I spent hours in it as a teenager, piecing together absurdly dangerous gauntlets, which I'd watch my friends run through from afar, laughing darkly with my hands steepled. I was undoubtedly the Jigsaw Killer of my Halo clan. Every group had one, surely?

Public sign puzzler The Pedestrian is out on Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/public-sign-puzzler-the-pedestrian-is-out-on-steam/
My experience with public signage is limited. Either I'm ignoring signs at my own expense, or imagining the fright of being the road worker who has to place the 'Lane Closed' sign in front of oncoming motorway traffic. But now The Pedestrian is out I have another, much safer way to interact with signs.

Slay the Spire fans should jump aboard Monster Train
https://www.pcgamer.com/slay-the-spire-fans-should-jump-aboard-monster-train/
Monster Train is familiar until you find out where its battles are held. It takes the card shuffling, dungeon dashing challenge of games like Slay the Spire and Griftlands, and throws it all aboard a fast-moving train. Choo choo!

Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders is coming soon to PC
https://www.pcgamer.com/kingdom-under-fire-the-crusaders-is-coming-soon-to-pc/
It took ten years for Kingdom Under Fire 2 to come to PC, and it was almost worth the wait. We won't have quite that much of a wait for Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders: Developer Blueside announced today that the action-RTS, first released in 2004 for the original Xbox, is coming soon to PC.

Iron Danger is an RPG that lets you rewind time to avoid death
https://www.pcgamer.com/iron-danger-is-an-rpg-that-lets-you-rewind-time-to-avoid-death/
Imagine if Diablo let you rewind time to dodge or block the attack that killed you. That seems to be the elevator pitch for Iron Danger. This new tactical RPG being published by Daedalic Entertainment is coming to Steam on March 25, and the trailer above makes it look worth a punt.

The Friday news:

SALES & DEALS

Farming Simulator 19 is now free to own on Epic Games Store until February 6th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/farming-simulator-19-is-now-free-to-own-on-epic-games-store-until-february-6th/
Focus Home Interactive and Epic Games are currently giving away Farming Simulator 19 for free. From today and until February 6th, PC gamers can visit the game’s Epic Games Store page and acquire their free copy.
>> And next week Epic will offer three tabletop games: Pandemic: The Board Game, Ticket to Ride and Carcassone.

Fanatical has two new sales:

• Square Enix has put its games up to 90% off for the next 7 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/square-enix
• And Days of War: Definitive Edition is 20% off for the next 13 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/days-of-war

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

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MODS/EMULATORS

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GAMING NEWS

The next Battlefield game will come out in fiscal 2022, The Sims 4 passes 20 million unique players
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/the-next-battlefield-game-will-come-out-in-fiscal-2022-the-sims-4-passes-20-million-unique-players/
Electronic Arts has announced that the next Battlefield game will come out in its fiscal year 2022. What this ultimately means is that we can expect this new Battlefield game sometime between April 1st, 2021, and March 31st, 2022.

Electronic Arts plans to release 14 games in fiscal year 2021, is working on remasters of fan favorites
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/electronic-arts-plans-to-release-14-games-in-fiscal-2021-is-working-on-remasters-of-fan-favorites/
During its latest financial call conference, Electronic Arts stated that it plans to release 14 games in its fiscal year 2021. This basically means that these games will be coming out sometime between April 1st, 2020, and March 31st, 2021.

Borderlands 3 latest hotfix activates Rare Chest Riches event, addresses drop rates and more
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/borderlands-3-latest-hotfix-activates-rare-chest-riches-event-addresses-drop-rates-and-more/
On January 30th 3:00 PM PST Gearbox released a hotfix for Borderlands 3. This specific hotfix activates the Rare Chest Riches event, addresses drop rates and implements permanent scaling for Takedown at the Maliwan Blacksite.

Overwatch Patch 1.45 arrives in early February, adds new content, will beef up anti-cheat efforts
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/overwatch-patch-1-45-arrives-in-early-february-adds-new-content-will-beef-up-anti-cheat-efforts/
Blizzard has outlined the major content that will be coming with Overwatch Patch 1.45 in early February. According to the team, this update will beef up its anti-cheat efforts. It will also bring Workshop quality of life improvements.

Here are the launch trailers for Wasteland Remastered, Days of War & Here Be Dragons
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-the-launch-trailers-for-wasteland-remastered-days-of-war-here-be-dragons/
RedZeroGames, inXile Entertainment and Graffiti Games have released the launch trailers for Here Be Dragons, Wasteland Remastered and Days of War. As such, we’ve decided to include all three of them in one big article.

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot Update 1.04 released, improves load times, patches sub-stories, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/dragon-ball-z-kakarot-update-1-04-released-improves-load-times-patches-sub-stories-full-patch-notes/
Bandai Namco has released a new update for Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot. According to the release notes, patch 1.04 further reduces load times when traveling from one area to another.
Furthermore, this update patches/fixes some sub-stories. For instance, it addresses issues regarding the The Longest Three Hours and Goten’s Growth stories.