Almost managed to snag a founder's edition 3080 today for MSRP but at the last step I got a server timeout. Guess the bots win again.

i can see them start their own bitcoinfarm in the future...
""What do you mean, sell GPUS?"

Nvidia's RTX 3060 is coming out on February 25th

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/nvidias-rtx-3060-is-coming-out-on-february-25th-apparently

Alder Lake vs Zen 4. Which would win ?

The Wednesday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

GOG has launched a new We Love Games Sale, with more than 2,500 games up to 92% off until February 15. Read more here: https://www.gog.com/news/ignite_your_passion_with_the_we_love_games_sale_on_gogcom

Steam has two new daily deals, plus another 3 deals:

• The first daily deal is the Early Access title Legend of Keepers: Career of a Dungeon Master, 30% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/978520/Legend_of_Keepers_Career_of_a_Dungeon_Master/
• The second daily deal is John Wick Hex, 40% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1405790/John_Wick_Hex/
• The Naruto franchise features between 50 and 84% discounts until Friday: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/NarutoSale
• Cities: Skylines is free to try until next Monday, and 75% off (the DLCs only 50%) during the next 26 hours: https://store.steampowered.com/app/255710/Cities_Skylines/
• And Destiny 2 has put its content on sale, between 25 and 70% off until Monday 15: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1085660/Destiny_2/

The new Humble Train Sim Expedition Bundle features up to 19 items to grab during the next 13 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/train-sim-expedition-bundle

And Fanatical has two new deals:

• The new Star Deal is Frostpunk: Game of the Year Edition, 62% off for the next 24 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/frostpunk-game-of-the-year-edition
• Disney Interactive has put its games on sale during the next 7 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/disney-interactive
• And Bethesda games are up to 82% off during the next 9 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/bethesda-softworks
• And the Arkane Anniversary Collection, with four games with a 81% discount, will be available for the next 9 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/arkane-anniversary-collection

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

Steam's Chinese version is finally here, but it only has 53 games and no community features
https://www.pcgamer.com/steam-china-launch/
After years of uncertainty, Steam China is finally here. It's a version of Steam exclusive to those living in mainland China that only sells games that have been properly licensed by the Chinese government. At first glance, the main store page looks just like regular Steam (with the language set to Simplified Chinese, obviously). There's a carousel of recommended games to try and lists of best sellers or hotly anticipated upcoming games.
Look a little closer, though, and you'll see that Steam China lacks the things that, from our perspective, make Steam what it is: lots of games and a community to tie everything together.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Climate Change mod released for Cyberpunk 2077
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/climate-change-mod-released-for-cyberpunk-2077/
Climate Change is a mod for the open-world role-playing game, Cyberpunk 2077. The mod basically replaces sunny weather with several other weather types. You can choose from fog, toxic fog, pollution, clouds, overcast, and rain.
Sunny weather is the most used weather in the game. Hence, whatever you choose will become the most used weather. Keep in mind that the weather will still work as intended, and will still cycle. However, by installing the mod you will only see clear sunny weather very rarely.
Climate Change mod will not work in the north side of the map, and the same thing might happen in the Badlands, which is the desert area of the map.
Lastly, the mod is compatible with patch 1.06, which released on January 23rd. The mod will not work with the latest patch. However, the creator has already stated that he is planning on updating the mod.
>> You'll find it at Nexus Mods.

Yakuza 4 Remastered Mod restores Masayoshi Tanimura, uncensors the game
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/yakuza-4-remastered-mod-restores-masayoshi-tanimura-uncensors-the-game/
Last week, we informed you about a restoration patch for Yakuza 3 Remastered. And today, we are happy to report that a similar mod is available for Yakuza 4 Remastered.
This mod restores the original voice and likeness of Masayoshi Tanimura as portrayed by Hiroki Narimiya, brings back to the game its licensed music, adds higher quality videos from the PS3 version, and uncensors the game’s dialogue.
>> Available from Nexus Mods.

Dynamic Volumetric Lighting and Sun Shadows mod released for Skyrim
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/dynamic-volumetric-lighting-and-sun-shadows-mod-skyrim/
Dynamic Volumetric Lighting and Sun Shadows is a mod for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition. The mod basically improves shadow and volumetric lighting.
Furthermore, it fixes one of the oldest problems of the game, which is the lack of shadows and volumetric lighting from the sun during specific hours.
More specifically, the Dynamic Volumetric Lighting and Sun Shadows mod improves Skyrim’s shadow and volumetric lighting system. The mod achieves this by dynamically adjusting the “fSunDirXExtreme” game setting each frame.
In addition, the mod fades out volumetric lighting during night time, in order to reduce the shine through bug at dusk and dawn. Do note that you can disable this, though volumetric lighting at night will not be synced to the moon.
>>Head to Nexus Mods to get it.

Dress up your plane like a pizza with this free, silly Microsoft Flight Simulator livery
https://www.pcgamer.com/dress-up-your-plane-like-a-pizza-with-this-free-silly-microsoft-flight-simulator-livery/
You may not have known this, but today, February 9, is National Pizza Day. I'm not making that up: It's included in Wikipedia's "List of Food Days," and the National Day Calendar acknowledges it as well, saying, "February 9th celebrates one of America’s all-time favorite foods. Whether it is thin crust, Chicago-style, deep dish, or anything in between, pizza is an American favorite."
To mark the big day, Microsoft is giving away a pizza livery mod for the X-Cub single-prop plane in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Created by community member Matt987123, it's basically an opportunity to write "PIZZA" down the side of your plane in big block letters, while adorning the fuselage and stabilizer with a stylized cheese-and-pepperoni motif—the sort of thing you might expect from a Domino's delivery plane, if they had such things.
>> There's a day for every thing.

GAMING NEWS

Marvel’s Avengers Update 1.4.2.4 released, full patch notes revealed
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/marvels-avengers-update-1-4-2-4-released-full-patch-notes-revealed/
Crystal Dynamics and Nixxes have released a brand new update for Marvel’s Avengers. According to the release notes, Update 1.4.2.4 increases the resource caps. Moreover, it packs a number of fixes for the game’s Reassemble Campaign and Avengers Initiative mode.

Little Nightmares 2 gets a launch trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/little-nightmares-2-gets-a-launch-trailer/
Little Nightmares 2 is a platformer horror adventure game from Tarsier Studios, creators of the LittleBigPlanet series. This is a direct sequel to the 2017 game Little Nightmares. The game will launch on February 11th, and will be available for purchase through Steam and GOG.

Project ILL looks like a stunning horror game with amazing dismemberment and gore effects
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/project-ill-looks-like-a-stunning-horror-game-with-amazing-dismemberment-and-gore-effects/
Clout Games is currently working on a new horror game, called Project ILL. Project ILL will be using Unreal Engine, and promises to have some of the best dismemberment and gore effects we’ve seen in a video-game.

Persona 5 Strikers PC System Requirements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/persona-5-strikers-pc-system-requirements/
SEGA and ATLUS have revealed the official PC system requirements for Persona 5 Strikers. According to the specs, PC gamers will at least need an Intel Core i5-2300 or AMD FX-6350 with 6GB of RAM and an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon HD 7870.

Part two of the news:

Tencent buys a piece of Arma developer Bohemia Interactive
https://www.pcgamer.com/tencent-buys-a-piece-of-arma-developer-bohemia-interactive/
Tencent's latest investment in Bohemia Interactive has given the publishing giant a minority stake in the Arma and DayZ developer.
Bohemia announced the news in a press release earlier today, noting that the renewed investment won't affect its ability to operate independently—nor will it change any seats on the studio's management team.
>> Aaand another one.

The Outer Worlds may get its next expansion surprisingly soon
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-outer-worlds-may-get-its-next-expansion-surprisingly-soon/
Obsidian's spacefaring RPG The Outer Worlds is jetting off on another DLC expansion before the end of March, publisher Take-Two announced this week.
During the publisher's quarterly financial results this Monday, Take-Two revealed that Murder on Eridanos, the game's second DLC following last September's Peril On Gorgon, will release before the firm's financial year ends on March 31st (via VGC).

Apex Legends celebrates its second birthday by handing everyone an awful shotgun
https://www.pcgamer.com/apex-legends-celebrates-its-second-birthday-by-handing-everyone-an-awful-shotgun/
It's been a good two years, Apex Legends. But eight seasons, two new maps and a dropship full of new heroes later, we can all agree that the Mozambique is still a comically terrible shotgun.
Which is why I adore that the wimpy firearm is taking centre-stage in this year's Anniversary Collection Event, running February 9th through 23rd. Headlining the festivities is a new "Locked & Loaded" limited-time mode. Replacing the standard mode, this new gametype kits everyone out with a full loadout of level-1 gear—white armour, syringes, shield cells, and a Mozambique kitted out with basic attachments. Basic is hip.

Ubisoft says we'll 'see more on The Division' coming later this year
https://www.pcgamer.com/ubisoft-says-well-see-more-on-the-division-coming-later-this-year/
Almost immediately after Disney resurrected the Lucasfilm Games brand as the official home of Star Wars games, signaling the coming end of Electronic Arts' exclusivity deal, Ubisoft revealed that it was working on a new open-world Star Wars game, headed up by its Massive Entertainment studio. It's a pretty big deal—you might say it gives us new hope for Star Wars games.
It's reasonable to assume that Massive will be all-in on the project, but what does it mean for the future of its other open-world shooter series, The Division? During a quarterly conference call today, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said that taking on a major new Star Wars game will not force it to halt work on The Division.

Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen buffs rocket launchers and raises mouse recoil
https://www.pcgamer.com/destiny-2-3.1-patch-notes-seasons-of-the-chosen/
Bungie is kicking off Destiny 2: Season of the Chosen today with the introduction of a new story, a new PvE mode called Battlegrounds, and a very attractive exotic bow that can track several targets at once. But behind the headlining content is also an accompanying patch that fixes a bunch of bugs and cements some significant balancing changes to weapon archetypes.

Hearthstone is getting a big shakeup with a new 'Core Set' and Classic Format
https://www.pcgamer.com/hearthstone-is-getting-a-big-shakeup-with-a-new-core-set-and-classic-format/
Some big changes are on the way to Hearthstone, which will replace Basic and Standard cards in the Standard format with a new Core Set of 235 cards, free for all players, that Blizzard says is "intended to provide a modern collection of starting cards to players of all types and make Hearthstone even more approachable for newcomers."

Call of Duty: Cold War's new competitive mode bans over a third of its guns
https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty-cold-wars-new-competitive-mode-bans-over-a-third-of-its-guns/
If you're jumping into Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War's brand new competitive mode, don't get too attached to your favorite loadouts. League Play, a new ranked mode based on the Call of Duty League, launched yesterday with a stringent ruleset that bans over a third of Cold War's arsenal.
>> And, for some reason, the Pros are at the lowest bracket.

Riot Games CEO sued for sexual harassment
https://www.pcgamer.com/riot-games-ceo-sued-for-sexual-harassment/
Last month, former Riot Games employee Sharon O'Donnell filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against both the company and its CEO, Nicolo Laurent. A copy of the complaint was obtained by Vice Games.

Here's a decent amount of Warhammer: 40,000 Battlesector gameplay footage
https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-a-decent-amount-of-warhammer-40000-battlesector-gameplay-footage/
Slitherine announced it's publishing another 40K strategy game, and this one is being developed by Black Lab, creators of Battlestar Galactica Deadlock. (...)
As is the nature of reveal trailers it didn't show much of ye olde gameplay footage. If that's what you want to see, Slitherine uploaded a livestream in which executive producer David Sharrock breaks down a solid amount of footage.

Rainbow Six Quarantine's title may be overdue a rethink
https://www.pcgamer.com/rainbow-six-quarantines-title-may-be-overdue-a-rethink/
Ubisoft is confident Rainbow Six Quarantine will still release this year, but admits that now may be a bad time to launch something called "Quarantine".
In yesterday's financial results call (via VGC), the publisher reassured investors that the long-elusive Rainbow Six Siege spin-off was still set for release before Ubisoft's financial year ends on September 31st. This comes following delays to both Quarantine and Far Cry 6, attributed to the struggles of adjusting to life under Covid-19.

Microsoft forms new subsidiary 'Vault' to handle its ZeniMax acquisition
https://www.pcgamer.com/microsoft-forms-new-subsidiary-vault-to-handle-its-zenimax-acquisition/
In preparation for its $7.5bn acquisition of Fallout owner ZeniMax, Microsoft has created a new subsidiary handily named "Vault".
As spotted by Eurogamer, a European Commission filing revealed that Microsoft intends to absorb ZeniMax by way of a merger with the newly-formed subsidiary. The document itself is an invitation to interested parties to comment on or challenge the acquisition by February 15th—though at this stage the deal is all but sealed.

Too bad. You'll have more luck the next time.

It's a ridiculous situation. Even more now with those crypto miners buying hundreds of laptops to put them into farming.

AMD and Nvidia will have to end doing something drastic about it, either forcing partners to control where their GPUs go or by limiting hoe effective their cards are for mining by some kind of software/BIOS update.

It's hard to guess, but given the limited info we have thanks to the leaked info, both architectures will bring big improvements.

Coming out of the factory straight into the bitcoin mines.

Intel’s discrete Xe HPG gaming GPU has been tested with 3DMark Mesh Shader Test

https://videocardz.com/newz/intels-discrete-xe-hpg-gaming-gpu-has-been-tested-with-3dmark-mesh-shader-test

So... Assuming the performance is decent... How mamy of you are desperate enough to try Intel gpus?


TSMC to raise $9 billion for expansion, open Japan subsidiary

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-tsmc/tsmc-to-raise-9-billion-for-expansion-open-japan-subsidiary-idUSKBN2A91FR


Intel 16C/24T “Alder Lake-S” CPU engineering sample is faster than Core i9-9900K

https://videocardz.com/newz/intel-16c-24t-alder-lake-s-cpu-engineering-sample-is-faster-than-core-i9-9900k

NVIDIA is now resupplying 4-year old GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Pascal GPUs to AIBs

https://videocardz.com/newz/nvidia-is-now-resupplying-4-year-old-geforce-gtx-1050-ti-pascal-gpus-to-aibs

At this rate, even Kepler will make a come back

RIP GPU's of 2021. Miners have won. Can't wait for the bubble to burst on BTC.

Might try get a hold of Alderlake for a system rehaul.. AMD has dicked around too much for my liking.