As much as I'd want the gov to crack down on the likes of Nvidia and co supplying miners more share of their products, I want the gov to cripple the scalper/mining markets.

As much as people on the net love to hark about digital currency, current currency is just as close to "IOU" as it has been for a few centuries, so there's no reason why a group of miners should be absolutely crippling a gamers market like this, and they don't even contribute to anything, besides taking product and copious amounts of wattage. 

The Friday news!

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

This week's free game at the Epic Store is 3 out of 10: Season Two. Next week we'll have more free games with Deponia: The Complete Journey, Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth and The First Tree.

The Humble Store has a new VR Sale with up to 95% discounts during the next 3 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/vr-sale/

At Fanatical, remember that the Easter Eggstravaganza Sale is still going on, the new Star Deal is Blood Bowl 2, 86% off during the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/blood-bowl-2

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

An indie dev is working on a Tremors game, free demo coming soon
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/an-indie-dev-is-working-on-a-tremors-game-free-demo-coming-soon/
Zona Ste90 is currently working on a Tremors fan game in Unreal Engine 4, and shared its first gameplay trailer. In addition, Zona plans to release a free demo so everyone can download and play it.
From the looks of it, this is a third-person shooter game in which you can fight some of the iconic monsters from Tremors.
Now since this is created by a single person, you should temper your expectations. Still, the fact that this project has proper gameplay mechanics is really great. In other words, it’s way better than most of the fan Unreal Engine 4 remakes/recreations we’ve shared in the past. I mean, you’ll be able to at least play it.

Fallout: Broken City is a brand new DLC-sized mod for Fallout New Vegas
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/fallout-broken-city-is-a-brand-new-dlc-sized-mod-for-fallout-new-vegas/
Dead Shock Studios has announced a new DLC-sized mod for Fallout New Vegas, Fallout: Broken City. Fallout: Broken City promises to feature 3+ different main questlines, lots of side quests, hundreds of new armours, weapons and items, and thousands of new lines of dialogue.
In short, this is a DLC-sized mod, similar to Fallout Frontier and Fallout California. Fallout Broken City also promises to be a unique experience for players both old and new. This mod will also have new gameplay mechanics such as drivable boats, fishing and an underground railway. The modders also claim that it will have incredible scripting and visual effects.
It’s also worth noting that Fallout Broken City will have a new DLC intro video. It will also have a very large worldspace in California – San Francisco. Additionally, players will get a pirate radio station “The Bay” with 2 New DJs and quest.
Lastly, it will have 10 potential human companions, 4 robot companions, and an aquatic companion available depending on player choices.
Now while this sounds excellent, the mod is currently in a really early stage.
>> If you want to give it a go, you'll find it at Nexus Mods.

Shenmue 3 mod brings back the original Ren and Lan Di
https://www.pcgamer.com/shenmue-3-mod-brings-back-the-original-ren-and-lan-di/
It took a long time for Shenmue 3 to happen, but it turned out to be mostly worth the wait. "A seamless continuation of the series that makes up for its limitations with pure heart" is how we described it in our 83% review. It wasn't quite perfectly seamless, though: Corey Marshall returned to voice lead character Ryo Hazuki, but many other actors did not, and some fans noticed.
That issue has now been at least partially corrected thanks to a new mod that brings back voice actors Erik Kelso and Paul Lucas to reprise the roles they played in previous games: Kelso portrayed Ryo's friend Wuying Ren in Shenmue 2—he was replaced by Greg Chun—while Lucas voiced the villainous Lan Di in Shenmue 1 and 2, a role that went to Kyle McCarley in Shenmue 3.
>> You can download it from here.

GAMING NEWS

First Outriders Patch aims to fix stutters, improve performance & stability
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/first-outriders-patch-aims-to-fix-stutters-improve-performance-stability/
People Can Fly has detailed the first post-launch patch for Outriders that will come out next week. According to the team, this update will aim to fix the stutters that PC gamers have been experiencing, and improve overall performance and stability.

Grasshopper drops another hint at No More Heroes coming to PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/grasshopper-drops-another-hint-at-no-more-heroes-coming-to-pc/
In its latest April 2021 broadcast, Grasshopper Manufacture used NVIDIA Shadowplay in order to capture footage from No More Heroes. This could indicate two things. That a) a Nintendo Switch emulator was used to run No More Heroes, or b) Grasshopper is already working on a PC version of No More Heroes.

First gameplay trailer released for Hot Wheels Unleashed
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/first-gameplay-trailer-released-for-hot-wheels-unleashed/
Milestone has released the first gameplay trailer for Hot Wheels Unleashed. This gameplay trailer will give you an idea of what you can expect from this upcoming arcade racing game.

Path of Exile 2 gets a brand new gameplay trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/path-of-exile-2-gets-a-brand-new-gameplay-trailer/
Grinding Gear Games has released a brand new gameplay trailer for Path of Exile 2. This gameplay trailer will – among other things – give you a glimpse at the game’s improved graphics and visuals.

Square Enix’s NEO: The World Ends with You will be exclusive to Epic Games Store
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/square-enix-neo-the-world-ends-with-you-exclusive-epic-games-store/
Square Enix has announced that NEO: The World Ends with You will be coming to PC in Summer 2021. In order to celebrate this announcement, the publisher has shared a brand new gameplay trailer that you can find below.

The Smurfs – Mission Vileaf is coming to PC at the end of 2021
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/the-smurfs-mission-vileaf-is-coming-to-pc-at-the-end-of-2021/
Microids has announced that The Smurfs – Mission Vileaf will be coming to PC at the end of 2021. In addition, Microids announced a partnership with IMP regarding the development of four new Smurfs video game adaptations. These games will explore different genres and will gradually launch over the next five years.

New Diablo 2 Resurrected Original vs Remake Graphics Comparison Video
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-diablo-2-resurrected-original-vs-remake-graphics-comparison-video/
The Technical Alpha phase for Diablo 2 Resurrected has begun and Cycu1 has released a side-by-side graphics comparison video between the remake and the original versions. This comparison video will give you a glimpse at the graphical improvements that this remake brings to the table.

Friday news, the second part:

Elite Dangerous: Odyssey's next alpha phase introduces 24-player deathmatch
https://www.pcgamer.com/elite-dangerous-odysseys-next-phase-introduces-24-player-deathmatch/
Between listless combat, lifeless NPCs and a tedious transit system, we've been a little down on the Elite Dangerous: Odyssey alpha so far. But while phase 2 arrives with a heavy focus on first-person shooting, I'm optimistic that opening up more of the galaxy will finally give the land-loving expansion room to breathe.

Become a giant VR god and smash tiny non-VR players
https://www.pcgamer.com/become-a-giant-vr-god-and-smash-tiny-non-vr-players/
Watching someone play VR is often a pretty boring affair. There they are, strapped into hundreds of dollars of expensive equipment, while you sit and watch them on an awkwardly placed monitor. Davigo, a work-in-progress multiplayer arena from Davigo Studio, wants to let you to whip out your laptops and start a virtual fight with your VR-wearing pal.

Streets of Rage 4 is getting new characters and a survival mode
https://www.pcgamer.com/streets-of-rage-4-is-getting-new-characters-and-a-survival-mode/
Streets of Rage 4 is getting new characters and a new game mode in an upcoming paid DLC.
Co-developers Dotemu, Lizardcube and Guard Crush Games announced the new Mr X. Nightmare DLC earlier today. Three new characters are coming, one of them being boss character Estel Aguirre. The other two were left as a mystery, though apparently hints lie throughout the reveal trailer as to who they may be. The paid DLC also includes a new survival mode, the details of which are yet to be revealed, as well as a character customisation mode allowing for unique play styles and movesets.

Here are the Diablo 2: Resurrected graphics settings
https://www.pcgamer.com/diablo-2-resurrected-graphics-settings/
Diablo 2: Resurrected overhauls the 20-year-old game's graphics, bringing it up to modern, 4K standards. I've got early access to the technical alpha happening this weekend (we're raffling off some keys for it here, too), and as the first order of business, I popped open the graphics menu to see what the settings look like.

Destiny 2's latest nerfs hit The Lament, Felwinter's Lie, Falling Guillotine, Frenzy, and more
https://www.pcgamer.com/destiny-2s-latest-nerfs-hit-the-lament-felwinters-lie-falling-guillotine-frenzy-and-more/
Another season of Destiny 2 is almost upon us, and that can only mean one thing: I need to book a day off to sift through all the new gear to work out which weapon rolls I'm going to spend the remainder of this pandemic grinding lovelessly for day in, and day out, never stopping even though I have now acquired enough guns to shoot Neptune out of the sea.
It also means that we're due another major sandbox rebalance, which the dev team has begun detailing in the latest This Week at Bungie post.

The Dusk April Fools’ gag is actually a real game and it’s listed on Steam now
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-dusk-april-fools-gag-is-actually-a-real-game-and-its-listed-on-steam-now/
On April Fools' Day, Dusk developer David Szymanski revealed his new project on Twitter. "Very excited to announced Dusk '82!" he tweeted. "Dusk '82 re-imagines Dusk as an adventure/puzzler in the style of Chip's Challenge and Sokoban. Use classic Dusk items like shotguns, exploding barrels, and even The Soap to dispatch enemies and make your way to the exit!"
The idea of a Sokoban-style take on the intense retro-FPS Dusk was absurd, of course, but Szymanski was committed to the bit, going so far as to make up some fake screens for it.
But it turns out that the screens weren't fake, and neither is the game. Szymanski and publisher New Blood Interactive announced today that Dusk '82 is real, and pretty much exactly as it was initially presented: Players will maneuver through "bite-sized levels" from a top-down perspective, evading and eliminating enemies, collecting keys, and battling through to the exit.

D&D game Solasta: Crown of the Magister will exit Early Access with its next update
https://www.pcgamer.com/dandd-game-solasta-crown-of-the-magister-will-exit-early-access-with-its-next-update/
We won't be able to call Solasta: Crown of the Magister the other RPG based on Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition currently in Early Access for much longer, as developer Tactical Adventures has announced that the next update will bring it to version 1.0.

Apex Legends closes out this season with five wild new modes
https://www.pcgamer.com/apex-legends-closes-out-this-season-with-five-wild-new-modes/
Things are about to get weird on the butt-sliding battleground of Apex Legends, as five wild new War Games replace the game's unranked queue later this month.

Second Sight gets a second chance on Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/second-sight-gets-a-second-chance-on-steam/
One of gaming's forgotten gems, Second Sight, has returned to Steam after being unavailable for nine years. Developed by the Nottingham-based Free Radical Design, best-known for the Timesplitters series before it was driven to bankruptcy by Lucasarts, Second Sight is a 2004 third-person adventure that is built around fancy telekinetic abilities.

And here are the deals from GOG and Steam:

+GOG

• The first one is the Weekly Sale with its up to 80% discounts: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210405_weekly_sale
• The Bethesda Sale and its up to 67% discounts will last another 7 days: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210405_bethesda
• The Midweek Sale and its up to 90% discounts will last another 22 hours: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210407_midweek_sale
• The Weekend Sale comes with up to 90% discounts: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210409_weekend_sale
• The Special Indie Cup Sale will last the next 3 days: https://www.gog.com/promo/indie_cup
• And there are two new releases:
  • The classic Siege of Avalon: Anthology arrives with a 20% discounts until April 15: https://www.gog.com/game/siege_of_avalon_anthology
  • And Everhood lands with a 20% discounts until the 16th of April: https://www.gog.com/game/everhood

+Steam

• The new daily deal is Riddle Joker, 20% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1277930/Riddle_Joker/
• ASTRONEER will be 35% off until Monday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/361420/ASTRONEER/
• Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition is 40% off until the 12th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1151640/Horizon_Zero_Dawn_Complete_Edition/
• The Dark Souls franchise is up to 75% off until Monday 12th: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/darksoulsfranchise/
• Publisher Xbox Games Studios offer its games up to 75% off during the weekend: https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/XboxGameStudios/sale/xboxgamestudios2021
• The SpellForce franchise is also on sale, between 34 and 80% off until the 12th: https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/THQNordic/sale/SpellForceFranchiseWeekend
• Publisher SCS Software has its games up to 81% off during the weekend: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/scs2021
• The Elder Scrolls Online is free to try during the next 3 days and 60% off until April 15: https://store.steampowered.com/app/306130/The_Elder_Scrolls_Online/
• Spyro Reignited Trilogy features a 60% discount until April 19: https://store.steampowered.com/app/996580/Spyro_Reignited_Trilogy/
• And of course, there's also the weeklong deals.

And that's it. Until next time, have a happy and gaming weekend.

You do realize that we're talking about Intel, using a more advanced TSMC node than the one AMD is using, and using the same amount of VRAM, right? They may not charge their usual high margins in an attempt to enter the market, but I dount it will end being cheper than its counterparts.

It will be a monster upgrade!

Yea waiting till next generation to upgrade is probably the best choice at this point since we will have crazy improvements from Nvidia, AMD and Intel for all their products because of how competitive the landscape is. Especially since Nvidia now knows they can't pull another 2000 series or else they might end up like Intel.

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang to deliver GTC 2021 keynote from his kitchen

https://videocardz.com/newz/nvidia-ceo-jensen-huang-to-deliver-gtc-2021-keynote-from-his-kitchen

Last time we were in his kitchen, he announced the 3090, 3080 and 3070... Maybe he will announce the 3080 Ti, 3070 Ti and 3050 Ti? But do be aware that GTCs aren't generally about consumer stuff so most likely, it will be all workstation gpus.

Gamers Nexus benchmarks Intel iGPUs against GT 1030 DDR4 and GDDR5 models in esports titles

They did this test to see if you were to buy a Intel CPU while waiting to get a GPU, how well it would do for gaming vs alternatively getting a GT 1030 as a stop gap measure. While the UHD 750 iGPU found in rocket lake is pretty competitive against the super gimped 1030 DDR4 model, GDDR5 1030 model can give you more than double the performance. Kinda lame that while iGPU can beat the DDR4 version, they are still behind the real GT 1030 from Pascal era. 

Another SE game going EGS exclusive, wow, I totally didn't see that coming.../s

Not like SE give a shit, with how their PC ports of their japanese games usually are...
Just gonna wait and see what happens with VIIR and XVI, because if either of those go exclusive or both, then I'm just going to not bother with SE, like I stopped bothering to buy from Gearbox and Ubisoft.

There will be like half a dozen of these available in the first year or so, so the retail price doesn't matter.

Well here's some good news for you

"New court filing shows Epic has lost more than $450 Million on the EGS in the past 2 years and other interesting fact"

https://www.resetera.com/threads/new-court-filing-shows-epic-has-lost-more-than-450-million-on-the-egs-in-the-past-2-years-and-other-interesting-facts.407391/

"Currently EGS has more than 160 million registered users and more than 56 million monthly active users

• EGS has 400 games published by more than 200 developers
• EGS currently supports 29 different currencies and has pricing in more than 190 countries and 30 regions
• EPIC expects EGS to become profitable in 2023
• At present, EGS has not yet achieved profitability because it has increased a lot of costs in order to gain market share
• The 12% distribution amount charged by EGS is sufficient to cover the operating costs of EGS
• EPIC lost approximately US$181 million on EGS in 2019, approximately US$273 million in 2020, and estimated losses of approximately US$139 million in 2021
• Apple uses the application review process to give priority to its own applications to pass the review, and use this to compete against competitors
• Apple does not use all its own rules for its own apps"

This means games on EGS ain't selling well since EGS has to pay the difference for the games that don't meet the minimum sales guarantee.

They have to have something up their sleeve to make this all worth it in the long-run. no one in finances can be that stupid to think Fortnite can print them dosh forever. 

People rag all the time about Valve making "no games", but here's Epic, still relying on a BR mode for the past 4 years now, to print them the biggest payroll.

This now makes me wonder how much they've been paying SE for these exclusives, because I doubt it's going to stop at KH and WewY. I imagine if they nab VIIR & XVI exclusivity, it'll be in the 100m.

Makes me wonder if SE is thinking it'll even make money from these a year later on Steam, let alone expecting a decent price discount of KH collection a year later (fat chance with Jap devs/publishers, because I've seen them expecting the West to pay full even when a console port hits PC years later, a storefront difference isn't likely to massively reduce the price).