The Thursday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Apex Legends is crushing its concurrent player count record on Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/apex-legends-is-crushing-its-concurrent-playercount-record-on-steam/
Apex Legends is having a big week. With the launch of Season 9, a new legend and a new 3v3 Arenas mode, so many players tried to jump in yesterday that the servers couldn't handle the strain. While Apex's servers are still having intermittent issues, that hasn't stopped the game from blowing past its player record on Steam, likely making this Apex Legends' most successful week ever.
Apex Legends first launched on Steam in November 2020 and typically held steady around 100,000 concurrent players. That's a healthy playerbase, though small compared to Steam's heaviest hitters like PUBG and CS:GO, which often had more than 400,000 and 900,000 players, respectively, according to SteamDB. But Apex is on the rise: on Wednesday it set a record for its all-time peak players with 313,839. That concurrent count would likely be higher if it weren't for the ongoing server issues, which are making the numbers a bit erratic.

Steam has a new deal: DJMAX RESPECT V will be 65% off until the 11th of May https://store.steampowered.com/app/960170/DJMAX_RESPECT_V/

Fanatical has two new deals:

• Offworld Industries Ltd. has put its games on sale with 30% discounts during the next 6 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/offworld-industries-ltd.
• And the new Beastly Bundle features 8 games with a 98% discount: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/beastly-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Super Mario 64 PC with Ray Tracing is now available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/super-mario-64-pc-with-ray-tracing-is-now-available-for-download/
In May 2020, we informed you about an unofficial native DX12 version of Super Mario 64 for the PC. And today, DarioSamo released a public technical version of Super Mario 64 Ray Tracing. As the name implies, this version adds full path tracing support to the open-source Super Mario 64 port for PC.
According to DarioSamo, all GPUs that support Ray Tracing can run this special version of Super Mario 64 PC. Do note, though, that this mod is in a very early state. Thus, you’ll likely encounter plenty of visual and performance problems.
>> But, but why?

Valheim mod lets you play chess to the death
https://www.pcgamer.com/valheim-mod-lets-you-play-chess-to-the-death/
PvP has never been the focus of Viking survival game Valheim, which is far more fun if you're cooperating with other players. But it can be fun to turn on PvP from time to time for skirmishes or duels with your friends, if only to take a break from hacking up greydwarfs and draugrs.
But what about a more refined and thoughtful way to duel with other players? Well, put down your frostner and fang spear and pull up a seat at the chess table. The Civilized Duels mod lets you challenge another player to a game of chess. To the death.
The mod operates on real-life chess rules: One player must challenge another player to the chess deathmatch by slapping them with a fish. That's just standard, boilerplate chess procedure. You think Garry Kasparov got where he is without slapping a few grandmasters with a fish? That's just naive.

GAMING NEWS

Shadow Warrior 3 gets a short new gameplay video
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/shadow-warrior-3-gets-a-short-new-gameplay-video/
IGN has shared a new gameplay video for Shadow Warrior 3. This new video gives us a glimpse at the Doomsday Device level, the Gassy Obaryion enemy, and the “Double Trouble” gore weapon.

Metro Exodus – Original vs Enhanced Edition Ray Tracing Comparison
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/metro-exodus-original-vs-enhanced-edition-ray-tracing-comparison/
YouTube’s ‘Cycu1’ has released a new comparison video between the Original and the Enhanced Edition of Metro Exodus. Cycu1 enabled Ray Tracing in both of these versions, so this side-by-side comparison video will give you an idea of the graphical improvements and enhancements that 4A Games added to it.

Immortals Fenyx Rising Title Update 1.3.1 available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/immortals-fenyx-rising-title-update-1-3-1-available-for-download/
Ubisoft has released a brand new update for Immortals Fenyx Rising. According to the team, Title Update 1.3.1 fixes various bugs and brings stability and performance improvements.

New trailers for Resident Evil Village, Necromunda: Hired Gun & Hood: Outlaws & Legends
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-trailers-for-resident-evil-village-necromunda-hired-gun-hood-outlaws-legends/
Focus Home Interactive has released new trailers for Necromunda: Hired Gun and Hood: Outlaws & Legends. Additionally, Capcom has released the launch trailer for Resident Evil Village.

Part two of the news:

CS:GO players aren't happy about Valve's new paid analytics service
https://www.pcgamer.com/csgo-players-arent-happy-about-valves-new-paid-analytics-service/
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive's latest operation just wrapped up. But while Broken Fang's analytics tracking tool will live on as a paid subscription, CS:GO fans aren't happy about a service that's seemingly more expensive and less useful than existing third-party tools.

RIMS Racing will let you customize motorcycles down to the brake fluids
https://www.pcgamer.com/rims-racing-gameplay-trailer/
I'm not sure it's possible for me to build a PC without cutting my hand on a PCI card or heatsink, but I like fiddling with little components and screws enough to accept some blood. That's why RIMS Racing (stylized "RiMS") caught my eye when it was announced a few weeks ago. I'm not big into motorcycle racing, but I am big into swapping little parts with other little parts, and the motorcycle customization in RIMS looks comprehensive.

Hitman 3's next deadly sin is a prideful trip to Chongqing
https://www.pcgamer.com/hitman-3s-next-deadly-sin-is-a-prideful-trip-to-chongqing/
Agent 47's descent into sinful debauchery continues this month, as Hitman 3 continues its seasonal tour through the 7 Deadly Sins with Pride.
Beginning with a greedy trip to Dubai earlier this year, the second season of sin takes us to Chongqing. 47's usual handler is nowhere to be seen, replaced by a sneering new fellow who's dolled up the chrome-domed Hitman in some properly flashy fashion. Seriously, this might be the most extravagant suit Agent 47's ever slipped into.

Hardspace: Shipbreaker is getting a fully voiced campaign, act one coming May 6
https://www.pcgamer.com/hardspace-shipbreaker-is-getting-a-fully-voiced-campaign-act-one-coming-may-6/
Hardspace: Shipbreaker is one of those Early Access games that already felt more-or-less complete when it first released. (...)
But Blackbird isn't nearly done with Shipbreaker, a fact that was very clear after the team told me about the major addition coming to the game tomorrow: act one of a fully-voiced campaign. The momentous "Salvage Your Future" patch will also bring a revamped difficulty system, more ship varieties, and reworked progression.
>> That tomorrow will probably be today.

Gamescom ditches 'hybrid' plan, will stay fully digital for 2021
https://www.pcgamer.com/gamescom-ditches-hybrid-plan-will-stay-fully-digital-for-2021/
Gamescom organizers have announced that despite their best efforts to put together a "hybrid" show for 2021 that would include some form of in-person attendance, this year's event—like last year—will be fully digital. The decision was made after talks with partners and exhibitors revealed that too many of them simply aren't yet prepared to take part in physical events.

Fortnite's new performance mode gives a huge boost in frames for low-end gaming PCs
https://www.pcgamer.com/fortnites-new-performance-mode-gives-a-huge-boost-in-frames-for-low-end-gaming-pcs/
With this week's Epic v. Apple courtroom shenanigans going on, it's easy to miss out on any news coming out of Fortnite itself. While not as interesting as people shouting "free Fortnite" during legal proceedings, the release of Fortnite's performance mode, which will help players on minimum spec'd PCs get a bump in framerates, is still a pretty big deal.

Electronic Arts buys Super Mega Baseball studio Metalhead Software
https://www.pcgamer.com/electronic-arts-buys-super-mega-baseball-studio-metalhead-software/
Super Mega Baseball 3, at first glance, does not look like an overly serious baseball sim: Players are comically proportioned, and teams aren't exactly a high-fidelity recreation of MLB lineups. But looks can be deceiving: We called Super Mega Baseball 2 "the best on-field baseball sim on PC" in our 88% review in 2018, and Super Mega Baseball 3 is even better.
The series is now in the hands of Electronic Arts, which announced today that it has acquired formerly indie developer Metalhead Software.
>> How long will it take until it becomes a yearly franchise?

Create your own Mass Effect: Legendary Edition cover with this cool new art tool
https://www.pcgamer.com/create-your-own-mass-effect-legendary-edition-cover-with-this-cool-new-art-tool/
BioWare is pulling out all the stops for the Mass Effect: Legendary Edition: Better gameplay, hotter companions, and a really good looking photo mode, among other things. Today, it rolled out a very sweet "bonus content download" package including a beefy soundtrack, art books, and digital comics, and a separate online tool that enables fans to create their very own customized cover art.

A cruel Apex Legends bug is dropping players into matches alone
https://www.pcgamer.com/a-cruel-apex-legends-bug-is-dropping-players-into-matches-alone/
A particularly mean Apex Legends bug is mistakenly dropping players into trios, duos, and even Arena matches without any teammates when the "Fill Teammates" box is checked before matchmaking. After three drops into Olympus all by my lonesome, I'm starting to think the game hates me.

Here's when Resident Evil Village unlocks in your timezone
https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-when-resident-evil-village-unlocks-in-your-timezone/
The village awaits. Resident Evil Village is just hours away from release, with an official release date of Friday, May 7. But depending on your timezone, you may well be able to play it before then.
Here's the breakdown of when you can play Resident Evil Village on PC or console, depending on your timezone.

Tencent is negotiating with US authorities to keep Riot and Epic stakes
https://www.pcgamer.com/tencent-is-negotiating-with-us-authorities-to-keep-riot-and-epic-stakes/
A new Reuters report reveals that Tencent Holdings has been in talks with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States since late 2020, in order to ensure it can keep its stakes in Riot Games and Epic Games. Depending how the talks play out, the CFIUS has the power to force the China-owned corporation to divest from both companies.

Outriders' inventory wipe restoration is finally rolling out
https://www.pcgamer.com/outriders-inventory-wipe-restoration-is-finally-rolling-out/
The Outriders inventory wipe bug was one of several hugely annoying problems with People Can Fly’s divisive looter shooter at launch, but now, a little over a month later, it looks like affected players will get their stuff back. Not everything will be returned, but most of the gear that counts should be accounted for.

Magical door-kicker Tactical Breach Wizards enters closed beta
https://www.pcgamer.com/magical-door-kicker-tactical-breach-wizards-enters-closed-beta/
Tom Francis' strategy spell-slinger Tactical Breach Wizards has entered limited beta testing on Steam—and the developer has released a new gameplay trailer to show off more of its arcane tactics puzzles.

Please protect Destiny 2's hideous Fallen babies
https://www.pcgamer.com/please-protect-destiny-2s-hideous-fallen-babies/
Despite appearing for barely a second in Season of the Splicer's new trailer, the Destiny community has rallied around a trio of slimy alien babies.
Destiny 2 has slowly been enamouring us to The Fallen, a civilisation of four-armed, four-eyed bug aliens that until recently served as fodder for our magical space wizards. Last year's expansion let us fight alongside one of them in a kind of Fallen civil war—and in the game's next season, we'll join another in fending off a Vex invasion.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla may be heading to the fiery realm of Muspelheim
https://www.pcgamer.com/assassins-creed-valhalla-may-be-heading-to-the-fiery-realm-of-muspelheim/
Assassin's Creed Valhalla may be preparing to leave the chill breeze of ancient Britain for an altogether more hellish landscape, after datamining efforts found mentions of Muspelheim in the game's files.

After 9 years, Activision has won a patent lawsuit over 3D multiplayer games
https://www.pcgamer.com/after-9-years-activision-has-won-a-patent-lawsuit-over-3d-multiplayer-games/
Activision Blizzard has won a nine-year lawsuit brought against it by Worlds Incorporated.
The self-described "leading intellectual property developer and licensee of patents related to 3D online virtual worlds" originally sued Activision Blizzard back in 2012 for allegedly infringing on five of their patents. These patents covered a "system and method for enabling users to interact in a virtual space," essentially claiming in their lawsuit that they had invented avatars, 3D multiplayer and the ability to interact with other players in a 3D space (thanks, PCGamesN).

Call of Duty: Warzone embraces the '80s with a Rambo cameo
https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty-warzone-embraces-the-80s-with-a-rambo-cameo/
Call of Duty: Warzone just nuked itself back into the '80s. And while that mostly means Verdansk has gone back in time a few decades, it looks like Activision is embracing the hair-metal decade by bringing Rambo into the battle royale.

That is a surprising amount of alt accounts.

As far as Apple vs Epic goes. Apple is so far winning by a mile and Epic looks dumb for even starting this entire thing. But we will see how it turns out.

AMD High-Performance Computex 2021 Keynote Featuring CEO Dr. Lisa Su Confirmed For June 1st, Will Focus on PC Enthusiasts & Gamers

https://wccftech.com/amd-high-performance-computex-2021-keynote-featuring-ceo-dr-lisa-su-confirmed-june-1st/

This should be fun. I hope they show off Super Resolution.

Intel Xe-HPG GPU Powered Gaming Graphics Cards Launching Soon, Company Rep States ‘DG2 Is Right Around The Corner’

https://wccftech.com/intel-xe-hpg-dg2-gpu-powered-gaming-graphics-cards-launching-soon/

The source is a twitter reply and we know how long Intel's "Right Around the Corner" can take but still, if true, that would mean more gaming GPUs on the market

[Rumour] PlayStation 5 Redesign Featuring New Semi-Customized 6nm AMD CPU Will Go Into Production Next Year – Rumor

https://wccftech.com/playstation-5-redesign-new-cpu-amd/

Could be just a ps5 Slim

Epic Games spent more than $1 billion on launch exclusives

https://www.pcgamer.com/epic-games-has-spent-at-least-dollar1-billion-on-exclusives/

Game Pass is not profitable yet - Tom Warren

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/game-pass-is-not-profitable-yet-tom-warren.1604171/

Which makes sense as Netflix wasn't profitable for quite a few years as well

I just started the download of the new version... will take a few hours.

He can't just ignore his family needs either, which in turn has torn him between his family and the 50 employees.

Linus doesn't come across as the type of guy that can manage both and not resort to mass ads and click-baity content that isn't entirely truthful.

I can see Europe siding with Epic once this is over. If Epic lose in the US, they will most certainly take it to Europe, and if Europe side with Epic, then they're also siding with the mass stupidity (Considering all the shit that's happening in Europe, this wouldn't surprise me, especially Brussels). 

Yea probably. It will be interesting to see what the results will be. If this can force Apple to allow side loading of apps on their iPhones... Hell I might even get one! Using an iPad feels so stupid with how limiting iOS is but sideloading would allow so much stuff.

Didn't AMD cancel its 6nm plans because the node wasn't good enough, being that one of the reason why we won't get a Zen3+ refresh by the end of the year? I find it surprising that they'll try to use it for the console chips, unless they already had som production booked and they're using it for that instead of "wasting" it.

In any case, it's way to early for a PS5 Slim.

Here's a perfect example of what happens when you're too smart for your own good... or at least you think you're smart:

Research scandal sees Linux Kernel ban 'all future contributions' from University of Minnesota
https://www.pcgamer.com/linux-kernel-minnesota-university-research-ban/
Anyone sporting a University of Minnesota email has been banned from posting on the open-source Linux Kernel Archive

s after a group of researchers from the institution knowingly submitted buggy patches in order to gauge community reactions for their research. 

Brought to our attention via a LinusTechTips forum post, it seems it all began with some researchers from the university utilising the Linux Kernel site to gauge its level of security. The way they went about this research, however, has been considered somewhat unethical by the site's standards, resulting in the blanket ban of future contributions from the university at large.

The researchers had been posting what the maintainer of the site, Greg Kroah-Hartman, identified as 'known-buggy' patches, after which—and without owning up to their machinations—they went on to publish a paper on the topic.

When the site maintainer confronted them, their response was gold:

"I respectfully ask you to cease and desist from making wild accusations that are bordering on slander."

They go on to claim the patches were sent in the hopes of getting feedback, and end with: "Obviously, it is a wrong step but your preconceived biases are so strong that you make allegations without merit nor give us any benefit of doubt. I will not be sending any more patches due to the attitude that is not only unwelcome but also intimidating to newbies and non experts."

Rather than admitting to their somewhat questionable methods, they managed to spin it back around. But Kroah-Hartman's response takes them down a notch, calling them out on a public admission to "sending known-buggy patches to see how the kernel community would react." 

Kroah-Hartman criticizes their "continuing to experiment on the kernel community developers" after the group submitted "a new series of obviously-incorrect patches." He notes that, rather than asking for help as most users would in the instance of being unsure about a patch, the group claimed these were legitimate fixes which they "KNEW to be incorrect."

Kroah-Hartman then denotes a ban on "all future contributions" from the University, as well as a pull of the researchers prior posts, due to their being "obviously submitted in bad-faith with the intent to cause problems."

The article goes on, with the University doing the previsible move of distancing from the people involved and trying to fix the broken relationship.