Up next: nvidia buys intel

Delays on 7nm and big.LITTLE being the answer to Zen 4.

Intel going in for a bad time. Weird how the roles have reversed in a few years.

I think this has been a long time coming. Intel's been needing a swift, hard kick up the ass for years now. They've sat idle for far too long and allowed for security flaws within their chips over the years, so now is the time they get the smackdown.

I guess it's time to strap into the upcoming monolithic tyranny of AMD.

Nvidia needs to get more serious about CPU's for the future. With Intel down and about to get curb stomped by AMD, this would be a fairly opportune time to make big moves in the CPU space. Not that purchasing ARM would instantly or easily give them what they need to compete with AMD and Intel overall, but it would strengthen Nvidia's business as is and could help them make a solo push into the mobile/laptop space if they so choose. Intel is now dipping their toes into Nvidia's GPU space, so Nvidia would be smart to do the same or more in the CPU space where they can.

Not sure how exactly the licensing with ARM works or how Nvidia could mess with it if they wanted to or not. Though it would be quite interesting if they could at least set themselves up in certain sectors as the only or main ARM CPU/SOC supplier. Like ARM laptops perhaps, since that market now has some backing and should have room for growth, especially with Intel faltering. Maybe a push to try and become the majority supplier in mobile/handheld gaming?

A deal like this would be really intriguing.

I think Nvidia's best way to get the deal with ARM done without much trobles from watchdogs would be a hands-free approach: they own them, their licences and their profits, and can use their products at will, but ARM would still be free to do their own thing. Plus with Nvidia they're more likely to be able to develop more powerful and expensive products that an owner like Softbank, more focused on profits, wouldn't allow them to pursuit.

Regarding Intel, they can't afford another 10nm fiasco, not with a very competitive AMD that's starting to win marketshare in not only the desktop segment but also the lucrative server one.

And we really need Intel to be competitive just as much as we need AMD, to keep both of them in check and push technology forward.

Remember when Intel was touting 7nm for 2021?

Yeah, that slide is from May last year. Looks like their 7nm odyssey will last about as long as their 10nm trip.

Also interesting from the investor's report were 2 more things:

1. The fact that the Client Computing Group, so the chips that end up in consumer products like Laptops, desktops or for own rig builds, dropped by 3% from the last quarter and was only 7% higher than last year, indicating that AMD is stealing more and more market share here.
2. The fact that their Gross margin dropped to 53.3% whereas since late 2009 it was always between 60 and 70% or just outside those lines. Bob Swan says that this is apparently due to bad timing (Tiger Lake production being mostly in that quarter but no sales yet), but I don't really buy that. We'll see next quarter if it jumps back up to 60% or not...

My take: Intel has divested so much into other ventures and away from CPU in the last 10 years (thanks again, Krzanich!) that they lost their focus and drive in their core market, and are now scrambling to get back on track. But I have little hope before Granite Rapids in 2023 that Intel would get really competitive again in Desktop/Server and possibly even longer in mobile.

They can thank previous CEO Krzanich for that.

He dried up research and cranked up the prices in search for more money, believing AMD and IBM could never catch up anyway. He pretty much ruined everything Intel was good at - and made millions from it, since he's not being held accountable for his utter failure. And Bob Swan seems to follow in his footsteps so far.

Let's go with the Friday news, focused on the announcements from yesterday's conference:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Tacoma and Next Up Hero are free on the Epic Games Store
https://www.pcgamer.com/tacoma-and-next-up-hero-are-free-on-the-epic-games-store/
It's a new week of free games on the Epic Games Store, and once again it's a neat selection. From now until July 30, you can make the indies Next Up Hero and Tacoma yours forever—and you should, since none of us are leaving our homes anytime soon and games are great.
(...)
Next Up Hero and Tacoma will be free on the Epic Games Store until July 30. After that, a fresh trio of giveaways will take their place: 20XX, Barony, and Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP.

The Epic Games Store Summer Sale is live
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-epic-games-store-summer-sale-is-live/
The Epic Games Store's annual Summer Sale is now underway. Running until August 6, it's a solid selection of games at up to 85 percent off.
(...)
While Epic does not hand out £10/$10 vouchers for its Summer Sale, you can still benefit from the reduction if you didn't use yours during the sale back in May.

Humble Bundle puts up a collection of Paradox's best strategy games
https://www.pcgamer.com/humble-bundle-puts-up-a-collection-of-paradoxs-best-strategy-games/
There have already been some very solid Humble Bundles drop over the past couple of weeks, but if Telltale, Games Workshop, and Daedalic don't push your buttons, maybe this one will. It's the Humble Best of Paradox Interactive Bundle, and even though there are only nine games in it, in terms of actual gameplay hours it is massive.
>> And on the Humble Store there are four new sales:

• The 2K Games week sale brings up to 80% discounts during the next 6 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/2k-week/
• Kalypso has also put its games up to 80% off for the next 6 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/kalypso-publisher-sale/
• And there's a Space Sale that, like the other two, features up to 80% discounts during the next 6 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/space-sale/
• Lastly, Paradox also has a sale here with up to 80% deals during the next 13 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/paradox-sale/

Fanatical's new Star Deal is Biped, 30% off during the next 24 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/biped

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

-empty as well-

GAMING NEWS

First gameplay details and reveal trailer for FIFA 21
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/first-gameplay-details-and-reveal-trailer-for-fifa-21/
Electronic Arts has revealed the first gameplay details for FIFA 21. Moreover, the company has announced that it will fully reveal this upcoming soccer game in August 2020. Alongside the first gameplay details, EA Sports has also released a new trailer that you can find below.

EXOMECHA is a new free to play first-person shooter, coming to PC in 2021
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/exomecha-is-a-new-free-to-play-first-person-shooter-coming-to-pc-in-2021/
TwistedRed has announced EXOMECHA; a brand new free-to-play online competitive first-person shooter. In order to celebrate this announcement, the team has released a gameplay trailer for it that you can find below.

First in-engine trailer for the next-gen Forza Motorsport game
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/first-in-engine-trailer-for-the-next-gen-forza-motorsport-game/
Microsoft and Turn 10 have released the first in-engine trailer for the next-gen Forza Motorsport game. This new FM game will be called Forza Motorsport, and will support real-time ray tracing.
UPDATE: Microsoft has shared some additional tech details about the Ray Tracing in Forza Motorsport.
>> Am I the only one intrigued by the lack of a number?

Obsidian announces its next-gen first-person RPG, Avowed
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/obsidian-announces-its-next-gen-first-person-rpg-avowed/
Microsoft and Obsidian have announced a next-gen first person RPG, Avowed. Now while the teams have not revealed any details about this RPG, they shared its announcement trailer that you can find below. We’ll be sure to update this story with more information once Microsoft reveals any. Enjoy the trailer after the jump!

Microsoft and Playground Games officially announce Fable, first CG trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/microsoft-and-playground-games-officially-announce-fable-first-in-engine-trailer/
A few days ago, we informed you about the possibility of a Fable announcement during Microsoft’s Xbox Series X first-party games event. And, it’s official. Microsoft and Playground Games have just announced the next-gen Fable game.

Square Enix announces BALAN WONDERWORLD, coming to the PC via Steam in 2021
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/square-enix-announces-balan-wonderworld-coming-to-the-pc-via-steam-in-2021/
Square Enix today revealed BALAN WONDERWORLD; an all-new action-platformer from the creators of Sonic the Hedgehog. In order to celebrate this announcement, the publisher has released a new trailer that you can find below.

Fatshark announces new 4-player co-op game, Warhammer 40K: Darktide
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/fatshark-announces-new-4-player-co-op-game-warhammer-40k-darktide/
Fatshark, the developers of Vermintide, have announced a new Warhammer game, Warhammer 40K: Darktide. Fatshark has shared the first details for this game, as well as the first screenshots and its announcement trailer.

DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition PC will be based on the Nintendo Switch version
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/dragon-quest-xi-s-echoes-of-an-elusive-age-definitive-edition-pc-will-be-based-on-the-nintendo-switch-version/
Square Enix has announced that DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition will be coming to the PC on December 4th. However, the publisher has confirmed that this will be a port of the Nintendo Switch version.

New trailers for State of Decay 3, Psychonauts 2, The Medium, CrossfireX and more
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-trailers-for-state-of-decay-3-psychonauts-2-the-medium-crossfirex-and-more/
A lot of publishers released new trailers for their games during Microsoft’s Xbox Games Showcase. And, as you may have noticed, we’ve had separate articles for the “big” ones. For all the other video-game trailers that were showcased, we’ve decided to collect and share them in one big article.
Below you can find the new trailers for Psychonauts 2, The Medium and The Gunk. There is also a trailer for the newly announced State of Decay 3. Furthermore, you can find a trailer for the campaign mode of CrossfireX that Remedy is working on.

First official in-engine trailer released for STALKER 2
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/first-official-in-engine-trailer-released-for-stalker-2/
GSC GameWorld has released the first official in-engine trailer for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. STALKER 2 will be using Unreal Engine 4, and promises to retain the atmosphere of the first three S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games.

New details and screenshots revealed for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/new-details-and-screenshots-revealed-for-stalker-2/
Following the release of a new in-engine trailer, GSC GameWorld revealed some new screenshots and details for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2. According to the developers, STALKER 2 is a unique blend of FPS, immersive sim and horror, with a really thick atmosphere.

tinyBuild officially announces Hello Neighbor 2
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/tinybuild-officially-announces-hello-neighbor-2/
tinyBuild has revealed Hello Neighbor 2; the highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling horror franchise. Taking place directly after the events of the original, players will explore the open world of Raven Brooks and search for the missing Mr. Peterson (the Neighbor), while being stalked by a creature controlled by self-learning AI.

Free to play cross-platform Unreal Engine 4-powered MMORPG, V4, is now available
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/free-to-play-cross-platform-unreal-engine-4-powered-mmorpg-v4-is-now-available/
Nexon has announced that its newest cross-platform MMORPG, V4, is now available on the PC. Powered by Unreal Engine 4, V4 challenges players to save Syllunas; a once paradisal land that is now being threatened by demonic forces led by the villainous Guardion and the once-mighty Scoria Knights.

First single-player gameplay video for Halo: Infinite, showing 8 minutes of in-game footage
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/first-single-player-gameplay-video-for-halo-infinite-showing-8-minutes-of-in-game-footage/
The moment a lot of Halo fans have been waiting for has just arrived. Microsoft has released the first official gameplay video for Halo: Infinite, packing 8 minutes of in-game footage.

Halo Infinite Single-Player Campaign Demo was running on the PC and not on Xbox Series X
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/halo-infinite-single-player-campaign-demo-was-running-on-the-pc-and-not-on-xbox-series-x/
Yesterday, Microsoft and 343 Industries showcased a single-player campaign demo for Halo: Infinite. This new Halo game will be coming out on Xbox One, PC and Xbox Series X. And, with Xbox Series X right around the corner, you’d expect 343 Industries to showcase the game on this new console. However, the developers have confirmed that this demo was running on the PC and not on Xbox Series X.

Here are the official PC system requirements for The Medium
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/here-are-the-official-pc-system-requirements-for-the-medium/
Bloober Team has revealed the official PC system requirements for The Medium via its Steam store page. The Medium is a tension-fueled, psychological horror game that focuses on a central motif: how your perspective changes your perception.

Next-gen Fable won’t be an MMO, though it may have some online elements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/next-gen-fable-wont-be-an-mmo-though-it-may-have-some-online-elements/
Yesterday, Microsoft revealed that Playground Games is working on a new Fable game. And, apparently a new rumor surfaced, suggesting that this Fable game will be an MMO. However two industry insiders have debunked this rumor, claiming that the next Fable game won’t be an MMO.

Friday news, part two:

The Outer Worlds' first DLC expansion will add 'a substantial amount of content'
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-outer-worlds-first-dlc-expansion-will-add-a-substantial-amount-of-content/
Obsidian's Nebula Award-winning sci-fi RPG The Outer Worlds will its first big DLC expansion in September with the release of Peril on Gorgon, announced today during Microsoft's big Xbox Games Showcase event.

Take a look at the tiny, deadly, bug-filled world of Grounded
https://www.pcgamer.com/take-a-look-at-the-tiny-deadly-bug-filled-world-of-grounded/
We enjoyed (and were terrified) by the build of Grounded we played in June. The game imagines Honey I Shrunk the Kids as a four-player co-op survival game. As you make your way through the grass forest, you have to work your way around enormous insects. Not all are hostile, but spiders really, really are.

The first chapter of Dontnod's Tell Me Why arrives August 27
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-first-chapter-of-dontnods-tell-me-why-arrives-august-27/
Shown at the Xbox Games Showcase, a new trailer for Dontnod's upcoming adventure game Tell Me Why gives us another glimpse at the mystery, drama and Alaskan setting of the game. We also get a release date: August 27 is when the first "chapter" will arrive.

New 'ultimate incarnation' of Tetris Effect adds co-op and multiplayer, but only on the Microsoft Store
https://www.pcgamer.com/new-ultimate-incarnation-of-tetris-effect-adds-co-op-and-multiplayer-but-only-on-the-microsoft-store/
Tetris Effect is already the best version of Tetris, somehow making the experience of combining blocks powerfully emotional with its art and its music and thousands of dancing particles. Later this year, with the launch of Microsoft's new console, it's going to get even better with Tetris Effect: Connected, an updated version that adds online support for 1-3 players. The unfortunate catch here is that this version of Tetris Effect is exclusive to "Microsoft platforms," meaning the Xbox consoles and, in our case, the Microsoft Store.

As Dusk Falls is a new game from the designer of Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls
https://www.pcgamer.com/as-dusk-falls-is-a-new-game-from-the-designer-of-heavy-rain-and-beyond-two-souls/
At Microsoft's Xbox Showcase today, we saw a reveal trailer for As Dusk Falls, an "interactive drama" from Interior Night, a new studio led by Caroline Marchal, formerly of Quantic Dream. Marchal acted as lead designer on Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls.

Destiny 2's new element will let you create platforms, shatter enemies
https://www.pcgamer.com/destiny-2s-new-element-will-let-you-create-platforms-shatter-enemies/
Destiny 2's next expansion, Beyond Light, may be taking a couple of extra months to reach us, but at least now we've got some concrete details to look forward to. Shown at the Xbox Games Showcase, a new trailer provides our first proper look at the upcoming Stasis element in action.

Jack Black sings a psychedelic tune in the latest Psychonauts 2 trailer
https://www.pcgamer.com/jack-black-sings-a-psychedelic-tune-in-the-latest-psychonauts-2-trailer/
A new trailer for Double Fine's Psychonauts 2 debuted during today's Xbox Games Showcase, showcasing Jack Black's role as a singing mote of light. The song accompanies Raz's journey through a level we haven't seen before, a bright, swirling, psychedelic area ruled over by musician with an eyeball for a head. There are hands with faces, massive tongues lolling out of walls, and all sorts of strange flora and fauna.

The Gunk lands us on an alien planet overtaken by, you guessed it, gunk
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-gunk-takes-us-to-an-alien-planet-overtaken-by-you-guessed-it-gunk/
The makers of the SteamWorld games showed off their next project at the Xbox Games Showcase today: The Gunk. That's a really good name for a videogame.
"Lead a duo of outer space explorers that chance upon a dangerous planet plagued by a corruptive gunk," reads the official site. "Explore, gather, craft… and survive."

343 calls Halo Infinite 'the start of the next 10 years for Halo'
https://www.pcgamer.com/343-calls-halo-infinite-the-start-of-the-next-10-years-for-halo/
It's taken five years for 343 Industries to make Halo Infinite, and by the sounds of it, we won't be seeing a Halo Infinite 2, or a Halo 7, or whatever you want to call it, in the years after its release in late 2020.

Here's some new footage of Sable, the Ghibli-inspired adventure now coming in 2021
https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-some-new-footage-of-sable-the-ghibli-inspired-adventure-now-coming-in-2021/
It's been a while since we've seen anything new on Sable, the gorgeous open world adventure game inspired by the art of Studio Ghibli and French cartoonist Moebius. Originally scheduled to release in 2019, it was then delayed to 2020. Now it's been delayed again, to an unspecified date in 2021. That's ok though, because the new footage above is very promising.

Apex Legends Developer leaves negative Glassdoor review of at-home working conditions
https://www.pcgamer.com/apex-legends-developer-leaves-negative-glassdoor-review-of-at-home-working-conditions/
In a review on Respawn Entertainment's Glassdoor page, a current developer anonymously detailed his mostly negative experience of working on Apex Legends. On Glassdoor, current and former employees as well as job interviewees can post public reviews of what it's like to work or interview for a company.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest is an RPG with tabletop mechanics, coming 'Q4 2020'
https://www.pcgamer.com/werewolf-the-apocalypse-heart-of-the-forest-is-an-rpg-with-tabletop-mechanics-coming-q4-2020/
After its initial announcement during the Future Games Show, Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest moved further out of the shadows today. On Twitter, developer Different Tales posted a new trailer offering a brief glimpse of the game in action, including the vague release date of Q4 2020.

Time for the weekend deals at GOG and Steam:

+GOG

• Let's start with the weekly sale with up to 90% discounts on indie games: https://www.gog.com/promo/20200720_weekly_sale
• The Midweek Sale, based on multiplayer games up to 90% off will last another 22 hours: https://www.gog.com/promo/20200722_midweek_sale
• The first of the weekend deals revolves around Paradox Interactive, with up to 80% discounts: https://www.gog.com/promo/paradox_interactive_weekend
• The second one is a System Shock sale with 80% discounts on both games: https://www.gog.com/promo/system_shock
• Lastly, The Uncertain: Last Quiet Day launches on the store with a 90% discount until the 31st of July: https://www.gog.com/game/the_uncertain_last_quiet_day

+Steam

• The first of the two daily deals is Monster Sanctuary, still in Early Access, 33% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/814370/Monster_Sanctuary/
• The other one is Quest Hunter, 60% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/487000/Quest_Hunter/
• The first of the weekend deals is FOR HONOR, free to try for two days and 60% off until Monday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/304390/FOR_HONOR/
• Mortal Kombat 11 also has a 60% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/976310/Mortal_Kombat11/
• Pertfect World starts in the weekend publisher sale, with up to 70% deals on its games: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/PerfectSummer
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is free to try and 75% off during the whole weekend: https://store.steampowered.com/app/289070/Sid_Meiers_Civilization_VI/
• And of course, there's also the weeklong deals.

And with that, we've finished another week of news. Until next time, have a happy and gaming weekend.