Welcome, to the Monday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

GOG's new Weekly Sale is full of point'n'click games up to 90% off: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210208_weekly_sale

At Steam, Warhammer: Chaosbane will be 60% of until February 11: https://store.steampowered.com/app/774241/Warhammer_Chaosbane/

Fanatical has several new deals:

• The new Star Deal is Assassin's Creed Odyssey: Ultimate Edition, 80% off for the next 24 hours. The keys are for UPlay: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/assassin-s-creed-odyssey-ultimate-edition
• The Lunar New Year Sale is now live!.
• Also, when spending $10 or more, you'll get a chance to win some prizes. Learn more here: https://www.fanatical.com/en/blog/how-to-get-lunar-new-year-free-gift-what-you-can-find
• Finally, there's a new contest with the chance to win a $500 shopping spree. Learn more here: https://www.fanatical.com/en/blog/contest-chance-win-lunar-new-year-sale-500-shopping-spree

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

NVIDIA’s DLSS 2.0 can be easily integrated into Unreal Engine 4.26, provides huge performance gains
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/nvidia-dlss-unreal-engine-4-26/
As you may already know by now, NVIDIA’s DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is an AI rendering technology that takes the visual fidelity to a whole new level using dedicated Tensor Core AI processors on GeForce RTX GPUs. DLSS taps into the power of a deep learning neural network to boost frame rates and generate beautiful, sharp images for your games.
(...)
Recently, Tom Looman, a game developer working with Unreal Engine shared his thoughts and findings on how DLSS 2.0 can be easily integrated in Unreal Engine 4.26, and the performance and quality benefits it brings to the table. For testing this tech feature, Tom Looman has used the open-source SurvivalGame (available on GitHub), and Dekogon Studios’ City Subway Train assets.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

SilentPatch for Yakuza 3 & 4 Remastered improves performance, reduces CPU usage
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/silentpatch-for-yakuza-3-4-remastered-improves-performance-reduces-cpu-usage/
CookiePLMonster has released a must-have fan patch for Yakuza 3 Remastered and Yakuza 4 Remastered. According to its changelog, this unofficial patch improves performance by reducing overall CPU usage.
As the modder noted, this patch cuts down the CPU usage as much as reasonably possible. Yakuza 3 CPU usage has been cut down drastically. On the other hand, Yakuza 4 sees smaller gains, though the difference should still be noticeable.
Additionally, this SilentPatch removes a low-level keyboard hook potentially causing issues with slow typing speed. It also works around a crash occurring occasionally after finishing battles with a Heat Action.
>> You can grab it from here.

This 5.6GB Mod for Skyrim overhauls all of its dungeon textures
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/this-5-6gb-mod-for-skyrim-overhauls-all-of-its-dungeon-textures/
Modder ‘Iconic’ has released a new HD Texture Pack for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition. According to the modder, this pack overhauls all of the game’s dungeon textures by using AI-enhancing techniques.
As with all of Iconic’s previous packs, Project Clarity – Dungeon Textures Redone upscales the original Bethesda textures. As such, the quality doesn’t come close to retextures made from scratch. However, these new textures are still better than the original ones. Moreover, modders can use this mod as an excellent base for building new textures off of.
>> Available from Nexus Mods.

This 11GB Mod for Cyberpunk 2077 overhauls 800 audio files
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/this-11gb-mod-for-cyberpunk-2077-overhauls-800-audio-files/
Modder ‘Floyd Nexus’ has released an interesting audio overhaul mod for Cyberpunk 2077. According to the modder, this mod overhauls around 800 audio files, and it’s a must-have for those that want a better audio experience.
(...)
Now as the title suggests, this is a huge mod (around 11GB in size). So yeah, if you are not annoyed by the game’s poor audio mix, you can simply skip it. On the other hand, if you want a better audio experience, you can go ahead and download it from here. It’s also worth noting that the modder has limited himself to 4db to keep the game’s vanilla feel.

Test Drive Unlimited 2 gets a must-have Multiplayer Mod
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/test-drive-unlimited-2-multiplayer-mod/
A team of modders is currently resurrecting the online mode of Test Drive Unlimited 2. After Atari shut down the TDU2 servers, the TDU World team decided to revamp its online services via a Multiplayer Mod.
TDU World is an Online Server and Mod Pack Project for Test Drive Unlimited 2 that is currently available for download. This Multiplayer Mod aims to bring the game back to life, by completely revamping it.
The team’s main goal is to bring back the Multiplayer in all of its glory, then to further expand the game with a revolutionary Mod Pack. This pack promises to bring the game up to the standards it was originally destined to be.
>> You can get it from its website.

Tomb Raider 2 Fan Remake V1.2 adds Photo Mode, Volumetric Lighting & more
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/tomb-raider-2-fan-remake-photo-mode-volumetric-lighting/
Last month, we shared some new screenshots from the Tomb Raider 2 Fan Remake, Tomb Raider The Dagger Of Xian. And today, we are happy to report that a brand new version of it is available for download.
According to Nicobass, Version 1.2 adds new water simulation rendering, as well as new volumetric lighting. Moreover, the game now uses Unreal Engine 4.21, and features a Photo Mode.
It’s also worth noting that this new version of this Tomb Raider remake in Unreal Engine 4 comes with a number of performance improvements. It also allows for more foliage interaction, adds new dead body models, brings small improvements about Lara’s animations and more.
>> You can find it here.

Among Us mod mixes things up with four new roles
https://www.pcgamer.com/among-us-mod-mixes-things-up-with-four-new-roles/
So, you've mastered the Among Us mind game. You can tell who's an imposter just by the twitching of a keyboard or the baited hesitation in the voice call. About time, then, that you throw some chaos into the mix with four new roles thanks to a new Among Us mod.
Hunter101's Extra Roles mod (available via Github, thanks Eurogamer) mixes up the crewmate/impostor dynamic by throwing four new classes into the mix. The medic can give any player an invincibility shield, and gains extra insight into the cause of death. Officers can cut to the chase and execute suspected imposters, though will die themselves if attempting to murder an innocent.
Engineers, meanwhile, can remote fix one emergency per game from anywhere on the map, and can access those sneaky vents. The star, however, has to be the Joker—an agent of chaos who instantly wins the game if they can convince the rest of the crew to boot them off the ship.

He Came From Beyond is a Doom 2 mod made out of post-it notes
https://www.pcgamer.com/he-came-from-beyond-is-a-doom-2-mod-made-out-of-post-it-notes/
Wondering what to do with a few dozen loose sticky notes in your desk drawer? How about using them to sketch up an entirely new take on Doom?
Modders have done some remarkable things with the limited palette of Id Software's early Doom games. Now, one creative artist has given their mod a sickly glow by doodling all the game's textures on yellow post-it notes.
First appearing on ModDB late last year, He Came From Beyond is a striking first-person adventure where every surface, sprite, and font was "hand-drawn on post-its". I only noticed it this weekend thanks to a new video, above, that shows this simple sketched style wrangled into a stunning forest scene.

GAMING NEWS

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake has been delayed
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/prince-of-persia-sands-of-time-remake-has-been-delayed/
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake is the upcoming action-adventure game from Ubisoft. The original title was released back in 2003, and received mostly positive reviews. Ubisoft recently announced that the game is being delayed indefinitely.

Battlefield 6 rumored to feature fully destructible buildings, Levolution “on steroids”
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/battlefield-6-rumor-fully-destructible-buildings-levolution/
(...)
Recently a well-known leaker and YouTuber @TheLongSensation, Tom Henderson has shared some details on Battlefield 6’s gameplay elements, coming via Reddit.
First off, Battlefield 6 is going to feature fully destructible buildings. According to the info shared by Tom, BF6 is going to have Levolution “on steroids.” What this basically means is that you can destroy almost every building in the game, except for ones that are important for completion of the main objectives.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War February 6th Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-war-february-6th-patch-notes/
Earlier this week, Treyarch launched the Season 1 Update for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. And today, the team issued a brand new patch for this latest COD game.
According to the release notes, the February 6th Update improves stability by fixing a rare crash related to Gunfight. It also fixes multiple crashes related to Jump Pads, Assault Rounds, Essence Traps, Tombstone Soda, Hellhounds, and the Mimic in “Firebase Z.”

Monday news, part two:

Valheim patch adds more surtling cores for all you Viking smelters
https://www.pcgamer.com/valheim-february-4-patch-notes/
If you've been playing co-op Viking survival game Valheim, you're probably keen to graduate from crafting weapons and clothing out of basic wood and leather. Metal is where it's at, and to start melting down tin, copper, and iron ore for crafting, you're going to need a smelter and a kiln to create coal to power it.
(...)
The new Valheim 0.142.5 patch thankfully addresses that issue, adding more surtling cores to burial chambers, meaning you hopefully won't battle your way through the inky, skelly-filled tombs and come away with nothing but a handful of bones.
>> And one player has reached the edge of the map.

Randy Pitchford says Gearbox acquisition will allow it to 'take a risk' on new things
https://www.pcgamer.com/randy-pitchford-says-gearbox-acquisition-will-allow-it-to-take-a-risk-on-new-things/
The first, and quite possibly only, game that comes to mind when you think about Gearbox Software is almost certainly Borderlands. There have been others, of course, but we haven't seen a Brothers in Arms game in well over a decade, and neither Duke Nukem Forever nor Aliens: Colonial Marines left a positive impression. In an interview with VentureBeat, though, Gearbox co-founder Randy Pitchford said the studio actually has a lot of other ideas it would like to pursue, and its recent acquisition by Embracer Group will finally enable it to do so.
>> Unless they really, really suck at managing money or making publishing deals, I don't think money was the issue that stopped them from making other games in recent years.

The indie Chinese RPG that suddenly became one of Steam's most popular games may get an English translation
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-indie-chinese-rpg-that-suddenly-became-one-of-steams-most-popular-games-may-get-an-english-translation/
Tale of Immortal is one of Steam's most popular games right now. After launching just last week, the Chinese indie RPG rocketed to the top of Steam's global top sellers list and most popular games by concurrent viewers. Around 176,000 players are playing during peak gaming hours in China—making Tale of Immortal more popular than familiar mainstays like Grand Theft Auto 5, Team Fortress 2, and even Apex Legends.
(...)
Judging by the 20,000 positive user reviews on Steam, players like it a lot, and those of us who don't read Chinese may eventually get a chance to see why: An English translation is in the plans according to a forum response from one of the developers back in December.

There are more Epic Store exclusives coming over the next 2 years than have released so far
https://www.pcgamer.com/there-are-more-epic-store-exclusives-coming-over-the-next-2-years-than-have-released-so-far/
There haven't been many Epic Store exclusivity announcements recently, which got me wondering if Epic might be winding down that part of its strategy. Nope. According to Epic, the opposite is the case.

Hitman 3's location import function will be live by the end of February
https://www.pcgamer.com/hitman-3s-location-import-function-will-be-live-by-the-end-of-february/
Hitman 3 is a spectacular finish to the World of Assassination trilogy (...)
The only thing marring the game, in fact, is IO Interactive's promise that Hitman 3 players would be able to import their Hitman 2 ownership, unlocking those maps at no extra charge.
(...)
It's been out for more than two weeks now and there's still no sign of that functionality, but a new update to the "Known Issues" list on the Hitman forums says that it will be released by the end of this month.

Final Fantasy 14's next expansion is Endwalker, coming fall 2021
https://www.pcgamer.com/final-fantasys-next-expansion-is-endwalker-coming-fall-2021/
Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker was announced during a special Square Enix livestream, and it's coming fall 2021. We don't know much, other than the story is a direct continuation of the events of Shadowbringers, with the players waging war against the Garlean Empire which recently crowned a new emperor, the infamous Zenos Yae Galvus.
>> But before that, the FF14 5.5 update will launch, in April 13.

Final Fantasy 14's next expansion will end its 10-year-story and start a whole new one
https://www.pcgamer.com/final-fantasy-14s-next-expansion-will-end-its-10-year-story-and-start-a-whole-new-one/
The next Final Fantasy 14 expansion Endwalker is due this fall, but this one's going to hit a little different. During the FF14 announcement showcase, game director Naoki Yoshida and translation director Michael Christopher Koji Fox made it clear that Endwalker represents a major milestone for the long-running story of Final Fantasy 14, wrapping up the current arc spanning from A Realm Reborn (2013) through Shadowbringers and its post-launch patches (present).

Meet the Sage, a rad new healer coming with Final Fantasy 14: Endwalker
https://www.pcgamer.com/meet-the-sage-a-rad-new-healer-coming-with-final-fantasy-14-endwalker/
Final Fantasy 14's latest expansion Endwalkers is coming in Fall 2021, confirmed during today's showcase. New jobs were rolled into the announcement, two of which are arriving with Endwalkers, but we only got a close look a the new healer class, the Sage.

Pretty soon Final Fantasy 14 will let you visit friends on different data centers
https://www.pcgamer.com/pretty-soon-final-fantasy-14-will-let-you-visit-friends-on-different-data-centers/
During a Final Fantasy 14 expansion reveal livestream, director Naoki Yoshida revealed that the development team is working on a system that will let players visit their friends on entirely different data centers. This effectively means that players will be able to play with friends regardless of what server they are on, even if they're in a different region.

Final Fantasy 14 5.5 update detailed: will pave the way for Endwalker's story
https://www.pcgamer.com/final-fantasy-14-55-update-detailed-will-pave-the-way-for-endwalkers-story/
The latest patch for Final Fantasy 14 is due to arrive on April 13, wrapping up the story in preparation for Endwalker. The patch was previously announced at the Final Fantasy 14 showcase, where CEO Yosuke Matsuda 'accidentally' let slip the patch's release date, but with no additional details.
Patch 5.5, dubbed Death Unto Dawn, will be split into two parts, with the second half arriving in May. Across the two parts, patch 5.5 will release new Main Scenario Quests tying up the Shadowbringers storyline and paving the way for Endbringer's release sometime this autumn. The first half also brings the third chapter of the Nier crossover alliance raid, YorHa: Dark Apocalypse.

Apex Legends' bunker pass is once again a deathtrap, thanks to Fuse
https://www.pcgamer.com/apex-legends-bunker-pass-is-once-again-a-deathtrap-thanks-to-fuse/
That's right, Apex Legends' (most?) infamous room is once again in the spotlight with the release of Season 8 and new character Fuse. The nice cutthrough a mountain has a room with once entrance, which you should definitely know better than to go inside in an FPS. It's infamous for being a trap where character Caustic's gas clouds will kill you. Now it's even deadlier.

Do some tactical mech vs kaiju battles in Mech Armada
https://www.pcgamer.com/do-some-tactical-mech-vs-kaiju-battles-in-mech-armada/
Mech Armada is a turn-based tactical game coming this summer that pits mechs and giant monsters against each other in turn-based battles for the fate of humanity. The game's all about strategic decisions and force composition, incorporating elements of deckbuilding and roguelike games.

An expansion for Factorio is in development
https://www.pcgamer.com/an-expansion-for-factorio-is-in-development/
Absorbing factory-building game Factorio has an expansion in the works, per the folks at Wube Software. With the newest release, 1.1 out in the wild, Wube has decided that 1.1 will be the final release of the base game. (1.1 is quite impressive, with big UI improvements and blueprint flipping.) After weighing the options, Wube has decided that "one big expansion pack" is the best choice to grow Factorio.

Transport management classic OpenTTD is coming to Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/transport-management-classic-openttd-is-coming-to-steam/
Management and business simulation game OpenTTD is coming to Steam in April, an expandable and beloved classic of the tycoon genre. In OpenTTD players run a transport business, moving passengers and cargo via water, rail, air, and road from place to place to develop a world and get rich. It first started in 2004 as an open-source remake of the 1995 game Transport Tycoon Deluxe and has been maintained and expanded ever since on account of its open-source nature and simple moddability.

XCOM 2012 was pitched as a real-time game
https://www.pcgamer.com/xcom-2012-was-pitched-as-a-real-time-game/
The fantastic XCOM: Enemy Unknown upended the strategy space when it came out in 2012, taking the well-worn turn based tactics genre and adding more stringent rules and less simulation in favor of a dynamic, manipulatable battlefield and soldiers with special roles and powers, rather than just equipment and numbers. Designer Jake Solomon has tweeted a picture of his very first pitch document for the reboot of the tactics series, from 2005, and it's very different from what was eventually released.

ZA/UM details extra quests and other content in Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
https://www.pcgamer.com/zaum-details-extra-quests-and-other-content-in-disco-elysium-the-final-cut/
Disco Elysium, which topped our list of the best videogames you can play today, is debuting on consoles this year in a Final Cut version that's also coming to PC as a free upgrade. Some of its additions are more significant for console players—controller support, for instance—but there's also plenty for those of us on PC, as Studio ZA/UM writer and narrative designer Justin Keenan explained to Push Square in a recent interview.

Total War: Warhammer 3 preorders remain top of the charts in China
https://www.pcgamer.com/total-war-warhammer-3-preorders-remain-top-of-the-charts-in-china/
Total War: Three Kingdoms became the fastest-selling entry in Creative Assembly's strategy game series thanks largely to its popularity in China, selling a million copies in its first week. Based on how the preorders are going, Total War: Warhammer 3 might repeat the trick.

There's always something new around the corner.

But well, at least we'll be able to get a 3000 or a 6000 series at their MSRP or less.

I think the lesson here is that the game has changed. It is no longer about being able to go to a random website or a random store and being able to purchase a newly released pc hardware... The only way I was able to get a Strix 3080 (I even managed to get a Strix 3090 before returning that) all the way back in October is due to a bot server. Eventually the mining craze will die down, the supply will meet up with demand and people will be able to get a new gpu.

But for next time... The lesson is to join a bot discord server and have your trigger fingers ready. And.... Don't be picky with the GPU model, just buy which ever GPU pops up with maybe Zotac being an exception.

Also try and backorder every gpu you can day one

Guess it's my turn now... TIME TO BUILD THIS HOE!

CPU: 5950x 16 Cores 32 Threads
GPU: Nvidia Strix 3080
RAM: 32GB 3600MHz CL16 Trident Z
Storage: 2TB SN850 SSD, 2TB Sabrent Rocket 4 SSD, 4TB Western Digital Black HDD
Cooler: Noctua NH-U12A
Case: Lian Li 011 Dynamic XL
PSU: Corsair HX1000i 1000Watt
Cost: Everything

I mean there are still plenty of 3070s out there, but I might as well set my PC on fire.

There is also maybe a chance to grab a 3080ti. And I cannot wait for the 3050 ti either.

Nothing can stop him now...

https://coub.com/view/1td80v

(Fucking VGC still badly supports video uploads)

Wishful thinking, I know. But hey, both Nvidia and AMD have said that they'l meet demand in the second half of the year, and I talked about winter. Be positive!

Motherboard done!

Now time for the beast of a case!