Here comes the Friday news!

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Galactic Civilizations III is free on Epic Games Store until January 28th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/galactic-civilizations-iii-is-free-on-epic-games-store-until-january-28th/
Epic Games has announced that Galactic Civilizations III is free to own on Epic Games Store for a limited time. From today and until January 28th, PC gamers can visit its EGS page and acquire the free copy.
>> Next week the free game will be "Dandara: Trials of Fear Edition".

There's a new Humble Bundle: the Humble Built to Survive Bundle, with up to 7 games to get during the next 13 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/built-to-survive-bundle

Fanatical has two new deals:

• The new Star Deal is STAR WARS Jedi Knight Pack, 85% off for the next 24 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/star-wars-jedi-knight-pack
• And the new Hidden Object BYOB comes with 15 games to make your 2, 5 or 10 games bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-hidden-object-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition 21.1.1 driver is optimized for Hitman 3 & Quake 2 RTX
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/amd-radeon-software-adrenalin-2020-edition-21-1-1-driver-is-optimized-hitman-3-quake-2-rtx/
AMD has released a brand new driver for its graphics cards. According to the release notes, the AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition 21.1.1 driver offers optimal performance in Hitman 3 & Quake 2 RTX.
Going into more details, this driver improves performance by up to 10% in Hitman 3 on an AMD Radeon RX 6800XT GPU.
Furthermore, this driver fixes a number of bugs and issues. For instance, it fixes some crashes in Doom Eternal. It also fixes some reflection issues in Grand Theft Auto V when Reflection MSAA was active. Moreover, Anisotropic Filtering in Radeon Software graphics settings will now work in all DirectX 9 applications on RDNA graphics products.
>> Available from here.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

This mod brings the main cast of The Last of Us Part 2 to Resident Evil 3 Remake
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/the-last-of-us-part-2-mod-resident-evil-3-remake/
Modder ‘Darknessvaltier’ released an amazing mod for Resident Evil 3 Remake that brings to it the entire main cast of The Last of Us Part 2.
This mod replaces Jill with Ellie or Dina (meaning you can play with either of them). It also replaces Carlos with Joel, Tyrell Patrick with Tommy, Victor with Jesse, Nicholai with Abby and Nemesis with Bloater.
Now obviously this mod does not change the voices or the moveset of these characters. Thankfully, though, this mod supports facial expressions for all characters. Moreover, the Bloater feels like a great replacement for Nemesis.
You can download this mod for RE3R from here. You’ll also need Fluffyquack’s Mod Manager in order to install it.

This Skyrim mod turns Solitude into a kaleidoscopic acid trip because why not
https://www.pcgamer.com/this-skyrim-mod-turns-solitude-into-a-kaleidoscopic-acid-trip-because-why-not/
As if it hasn't been said enough, I'll say it again—2020 sucked. It was bleak, miserable, overall just a bit crap and oh yeah, pandemic. I think that's why I've been leaving the dark broody games behind in pursuit of more colourful, wholesome experiences like Calico. But now there's a Skyrim mod that lets you experience the best of both worlds.
The Pastel Fettuccine retexture mod transforms Solitude, one of the biggest cities in the game, into an absolutely bonkers pastel paradise. Absolutely everything is pastel—the bricks, the foliage, the windows, the shop signs—everything. Even gold coins get the uwu treatment, being inscribed with 'notice me senpai.'
>> You can get it from Nexus Mods.

GAMING NEWS

Playdead is working on an Unreal Engine-powered third-person open-world game, first artworks
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/playdead-is-working-on-an-unreal-engine-powered-third-person-open-world-game-first-artworks/
According to a job listing, Playdead’s next game will be a third-person open-world game. This game will be using Unreal Engine, and will be published by Epic Games. Since Epic Games will publish it, my guess is that this new game will be exclusive to Epic Games Store.

New gameplay footage, release date and free MP Mode for Resident Evil Village
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/new-gameplay-footage-release-date-and-free-mp-mode-for-resident-evil-village/
Capcom has just released a new in-engine trailer for Resident Evil Village. Moreover, and during its latest live-stream event, the team revealed some new gameplay footage from this upcoming Resident Evil game.

Gearbox has removed Denuvo from Borderlands 3
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/gearbox-has-removed-denuvo-from-borderlands-3/
Gearbox has released a new patch for Borderlands 3 that removes the Denuvo anti-tamper tech from it. As such, PC gamers – who boycott games using Denuvo – can finally purchase this game on Steam.

First Sherlock Holmes Chapter One Q&A Developer Diary Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/first-sherlock-holmes-chapter-one-qa-developer-diary-released/
Frogwares has released a 5-minute video Q&A Developer Diary, in which the team collected and answered a few fan questions it regularly sees popping up.

Zelda-inspired pixel-art adventure RPG, Ocean’s Heart, is now available on PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/zelda-inspired-pixel-art-adventure-rpg-oceans-heart-is-now-available-on-pc/
Nordcurrent and Nordcurrent have announced that their Zelda-like pixel-art adventure RPG, Ocean’s Heart, is now available on Steam and GOG. As the press release reads, Ocean’s Heart pays homage to the genre classics, enriching tried and true roleplaying concepts with a modern flair.
>> "Inspired" by Zelda... You'll be forgiven if you confuse parts of it with Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Friday news, part two:

Puzzle Quest 3 is finally happening, will be out later this year
https://www.pcgamer.com/puzzle-quest-3-is-finally-happening-will-be-out-later-this-year/
It's been more than a decade since the arrival of Puzzle Quest 2, a mix of isometric roleplaying and match-3 gameplay that we described as "brain-tickling puzzling in a fantasy wrapper" in our 86/100 review. That's a long time to wait for a sequel to such a well-received game, but that wait is almost over: 505 Games announced today that Puzzle Quest 3 is in development and expected to be out later this year.

Hearthstone's Darkmoon Races mini-set is live, China-themed bundles and hero portraits on the way
https://www.pcgamer.com/hearthstones-darkmoon-races-mini-set-is-live-china-themed-bundles-on-the-way-with-new-hero-portraits/
It looks like Blizzard may soon be celebrating the Chinese New Year in Hearthstone. The new Darkmoon Races mini-set is now live, and hidden within the update are four new hero portraits, each of which makes references to a previously-unknown "Three Kingdoms Bundle."

Resident Evil Village will include a 6-player deathmatch game called RE:Verse
https://www.pcgamer.com/resident-evil-village-will-include-a-6-player-deathmatch-game-called-reverse/
During a livestream today, Capcom showed off the first substantial Resident Evil Village gameplay footage, and also announced something new: a multiplayer mode called RE:Verse (pronounced 'are-ee-verse,' not 'reverse') that'll come free with Village.

Hitman 3's banana is one of the best weapons in the game
https://www.pcgamer.com/hitman-3s-banana-is-one-of-the-best-weapons-in-the-game/
You'd think by Hitman 3 I'd stop being surprised at Agent 47's capacity to turn anything into a weapon, but my jaw hit the floor last night as I knocked out a guard with nothing but a banana. A banana! The notoriously soft fruit with non-threatening vibes that occasionally masquerades as a telephone. Clobbering someone with a banana is fine and all, but thanks to a little-used Hitman mechanic you can unlock the full power of its slippery peel.

The Terminator and Sarah Connor are in Fortnite now
https://www.pcgamer.com/fortnite-terminator-skin/
Fortnite season 5 continues to roll on with a ludicrous list of tie-in skins from various Hollywood and gaming universes. Previously, we saw Arnold Schwarzenegger's alien nemesis the Predator arrive, and now Arnie himself (or at least his exoskeleton) is joining the fray. Yup, you can now buy a Terminator skin in the Fortnite item shop.

Apex Legends sends its Season 8 launch trailer out with a bang
https://www.pcgamer.com/apex-legends-sends-its-season-8-launch-trailer-out-with-a-bang/
Apex Legends has pulled the pin on next month's new season with an explosive new launch trailer.
Respawn's battle royale enters its eighth season, Mayhem, next month. With it comes new hero Fuse, an Aussie punk with a slick moustache and a deep love for golden hand grenades—and while we're still no clearer on how he'll play in action, it seems likely (as leaks suggested) that his ultimate will be a good old fashioned rocket launcher. What the short does do is handily set the table for the carnage preceding the next season of the Apex Games.

Indie studio claims that Apex Legends 'rips off' one of its characters
https://www.pcgamer.com/indie-studio-claims-that-apex-legends-rips-off-one-of-its-characters/
Apex Legends developer Respawn recently introduced a new character, Fuse, who will join the futuristic battle royale game on February 2 with the kickoff of its eighth season. Shortly after that reveal, indie studio NOWAA told Nintendo Life that it believes the character is a knockoff of Hunter, a one-eyed "space bandit" who stars in its upcoming hero shooter BulletVille.

Endless Legend, Space and Dungeon are free to try all weekend
https://www.pcgamer.com/endless-legend-space-and-dungeon-are-free-to-try-all-weekend/
Endless Legend, Endless Space 2 and Dungeon Of The Endless are free to try out this weekend, with 75% off most of the developer's catalogue if you decide to keep 'em.
Taking over from the studio's Endless Day birthday tradition, Amplitude kicked of an Amplified 10-year anniversary weekend with a wave of announcements for its broad, genre-spanning "Endless" series of games—starting with definitive editions containing new original soundtrack releases and a small helping of DLC.

Take a look at BioWare's cancelled Jade Empire successor, Revolver
https://www.pcgamer.com/take-a-look-at-biowares-cancelled-jade-empire-successor-revolver/
For the past few weeks, BioWare art director Matt Rhodes has been dusting off long-buried concept art for Revolver—a cancelled parkour RPG that promised to be a spiritual successor to Jade Empire.
Last November , we saw an illustrated peek at the next Mass Effect thanks to BioWare's 25th anniversary art book. But contained within that same book was a final look at Revolver, a near-future urban RPG that was never formally announced before its cancellation in the late-2000s. Now, Rhodes has gone all out in sharing the slick comic-style concept pieces he penned for the game on Instagram.

Dead by Daylight announces colorblind mode following controversial comments by designer
https://www.pcgamer.com/dead-by-daylight-announces-colorblind-mode-following-controversial-comments-by-designer/
Dead by Daylight developer Behaviour Interactive has announced it will shortly be introducing colorblind accessibility options to the game, following some controversy over comments made by one of the game's designers during a livestream last week.

And here are the weekend deals at GOG and Steam:

+GOG

• The first one is The Grand RPG Sale, with up to 90% discounts: https://www.gog.com/promo/grand_rpg_sale_2021
• The Midweek Sale features up to 90% discounts for the next 22 hours: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210120_midweek_sale
• The Weekend Sale brings challenging games up to 80% off: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210122_weekend_sale
• And there's a special publisher sale featuring Sekai Project, with up to 80% discounts for the next 6 days: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210122_sekai_publisher_sale

+Steam

• CODE VEIN, that has a demo, is 60% off for the weekend: https://store.steampowered.com/app/678960/CODE_VEIN/
• The game Genesis Alpha One Deluxe Edition is 66% off until Monday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/712190/Genesis_Alpha_One_Deluxe_Edition/
• The The Blue King Collection features up to 80% discounts until Monday: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/bluekingcollection
• The Resident Evil franchise features up to 87% discounts until the 25th: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/REFranchiseSale
• Publisher Dovetail Games brings the Festival of Rail Sale, with up to 90% discounts until Monday 25: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/dovetailgames
• And the publisher Kongregate puts its games on sale, up to 60% off until January 28: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/KongregatePublisherSale
• Last, but not least, there's also the weeklong deals.

Nothing else to add, except wishing you a happy and gaming weekend.

So after randomly running into this, I think I might just go with the SN850 and return my 980 Pro as I have not opened the 980 Pro yet.

https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/getting-slow-nvme-write-speeds.274572/

980 Pro series SSDs seems to be running into a situation where after a certain % of the drive being loaded up with data, the write speeds drop from 5000 MB/s to 1000 MB/s. Now while it's "Normal" for SSDs to do that in large file transfers as SLC cache runs out, what's not normal is the fact that it stays at the low write speeds for a long period of time afterwords, especially when it's not close to being full. Some users are saying that it doesn't go away until they do a full secure erase. Going by the thread and others, it sounds like it should be fixable once Samsung releases a firmware update since the issue seems to be the drive not clearing the cache.

Also be aware that no one knows if this affecting every 980 Pro or just some but if you google 980 Pro slow writes... There's a good number of threads throughout the internet about this. I can't find any similar issues with SN850 yet though.

That's pretty bad. Tbh most users won't notice a difference in real word applications unless used for work. Though Samsung/AMD needs to fix that.

Just ran Crystalmark on my Gen3 Sabrent Rocket (2TB) after reading that thread.. and phew looks my SSD seems fine.

Looks like Samsung's first PCIe 4.0 NVMe drive wasn't ready and they rushed it. Even if they fix it soon, it's something that people, and reviewers, will keep in mind when Samsung launches the next drives.

Yea the SSD should perform close to normal unless it's near full or doing large file transfers, specifically writes. Of course, none of these issues affects gaming since that's all about reads. Still, a bit lame. Hopefully Samsung comes out with a firmware update soon to fix it.

My 980 pros seem to be doing fine.





(The waifu edition makes the test faster)

RDNA 3 rumours:

AMD Navi 31 rumored to be dual 80CU chiplet design, up to 10240 cores?

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-navi-31-rumored-to-be-dual-80cu-chiplet-design-up-to-10240-cores

RedGamingTech is claiming 2.5x over RDNA 2

https://youtu.be/dq9_wMMS7ac

All of it is a rumour for now so take it with grains of salt. But while I do think RDNA 2 was a bit meh overall, I think RDNA 3 might really bring it. If Nvidia doesn't up something up their sleeve, AMD might take the Raster crown at every resolution this time around. We shall see though!

Intel rumored to announce 12th Gen Core Alder Lake-S in September [Rumour]

https://videocardz.com/newz/intel-rumored-to-announce-12th-gen-core-alder-lake-s-in-september

Ok, let me start with this: RDNA 3 rumors? Already? C'mon, give me a break!

Ok, with that out of the way, let me say that I don't belive it. At least not unless AMD is stupid, insane or the MCM design doesn't really work well. After all, the whole concept is to break down the monolythic chips into smaller parts that make it not only more scalable, but also cheaper to produce because you can get more of them from each waffer, right?

Well, if that's the case, why, oh, why, would they go with a chiplet the size of the full Navi 21 chip? Where's the benefit of that? How can you scale it down from there to the x600 and x500 series?

As I said, it doesn't make sense to me. Therefore, and until someone proves me wrong, I'll think that this is false.

ofc its redtechgaming jezus the man simps more for AMD than hus did for sony