Well you get 16x PCIe 5.0 lanes but that doesn't mean it would be limited to the GPUs as it's up to the motherboard manufacturer on how to use them. Kind of like how Rocket Lake works:

"The second big difference is that the Z590 platform will enable the processor to use PCIe 4.0. Intel will include native CPU PCIe 4.0 support for the first time, 20 lanes of it, which will enable a full x16 link for add-in cards as well as another PCIe 4.0 x4 for storage. Vendors will be able to split that x16 as required, similar to previous mainstream motherboards, into an x8/x8 or x8/x4/x4 bifurcated solution, with appropriate muxing."

For me, the interesting part of that rumor is that the chips would beature a combination of Zen4 and Zen5 chips. Perhaps Boffer comment about AMD using undervolted and underclocked Zen3 chips for their Little parts was not too far from the truth, only with Zen4D as the little ones.

Very, very impressive results... that no one will notice in real world.

Seriously, we're at one point where storage performance exceeds what the current needs, at least in desktops.

You're missing the point, Yuri. It's Intel's special feature to keep you lap warm during winter .

Preview of Alder Lake Desktop:

Well, they did develop a Peltier cooler, right? They'll need something hot to make use of it.

*** ALERT: FREE GAME ***

If you like strategy games and don't have Company of Heroes 2 yet, Steam is giving away both Company of Heroes 2 and Company of Heroes 2 - Ardennes Assault until May 31: https://store.steampowered.com/sub/582839/

But only 4 of those 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes are on the CPU, the rest are on the PCH, which is not ideal for the GPU to run efficiently. So the only realistic option for the GPU is to use the PCIe 5.0 lanes. They could use only 8 lanes for it... but I doubt any mainboard producer would want to get attacked for gimping the GPU, so I don't expect any of them to do that.

They already do it with high end mobos but it's only active if the user chooses to do so. Like if the user has dual GPU setup or single GPU and a ton of SSDs or something. As 8x PCI-E 5.0 has the same bandwidth as 16x PCI-E 4.0, I could certainly see use cases if it takes a while for GPUs to move on to PCI-E 5.0 while storage is already there.

It's almost like Sega stopped giving a shit about my money. 

Just another game I won't be touching in this lifetime then I guess. All it's gonna take now is another 2 more games and then they'll be on the shitlist with Ubisoft/Gearbox. 

Let's do the final news!

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Among Us is available for free on Epic Games Store
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/among-us-is-available-for-free-on-epic-games-store/
Epic Games has announced that Among Us is available for free on Epic Games Store for a limited time. From today and until June 3rd, PC gamers can visit its EGS page and acquire their free copy.
>> The next free game is, again, a mystery.

The Humble Store has a Company of Heroes Sale, with up to 80% discounts during the next 6 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/company-of-heroes-sale/.

Fanatical has two new deals:

• The new Star Deal is UNO, 66% off during the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/uno
• And a new bundle has been added to BundleFest, the Slayer BYOB: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-slayer-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

Looks like this is the Steam download page's sexy new look
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/Steam-download-page-sexy-new-look/
Elements of Steam's UI appear to be set for an overhaul, and SteamDB creator and general data-sniffer Pavel Djundik has managed to access the new-look download page. Seriously big news folks, especially if, like me, you've spent a stupid amount of your life oddly hypnotised as the little lines dance up and down, as gaming magic comes down the pipes.
The new look is visually consistent with other recently overhauled elements of Steam, such as the games library. The information displayed is more-or-less as it was, just presented in a more eye-pleasing fashion. It's worth adding the caveat that this look could change when it's officially released, but the style lines up with what Valve's been doing generally.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Blizzard shuts down Diablo 2 Resurrected Offline & D2RModding Alpha Mods
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/blizzard-shuts-down-diablo-2-resurrected-offline-d2rmodding-mods/
Diablo 2 modders released some interesting cool mods for the alpha build of Diablo 2 Resurrected. Two of the most interesting, and controversial ones, were D2ROffline and D2RModding. And, from the looks of it, Blizzard has shut both of them down.
D2ROffline allowed players to play the alpha build in offline mode. On the other hand, D2RModding went one step further and allowed gamers to play with characters that were not even available to the alpha build.

GAMING NEWS

New Sonic game coming to PC in 2022, gets official teaser trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/new-sonic-game-coming-to-pc-in-2022-gets-official-teaser-trailer/
SEGA has just announced that a new official Sonic game will be coming to PC in 2022. The team behind this new Sonic will be the one that worked on Sonic Generations and Sonic Forces. Additionally, you can find below the game’s official teaser trailer.
>> That's not the Ultimate game that Yuri posted about yesterday, nor the Origins compilation.

First gameplay video released for The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/first-gameplay-video-released-for-the-dark-pictures-anthology-house-of-ashes/
Bandai Namco has just revealed the first gameplay footage for The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes. This gameplay video will give you an idea of what you can expect from this new part of The Dark Pictures Anthology.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human releases on December 7th, new gameplay footage leaked [UPDATE]
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/dying-light-2-stay-human-releases-on-december-7th-new-gameplay-footage-leaked/
While Techland plans to reveal a new gameplay trailer for Dying Light 2 later today, it appears that part of that trailer got leaked online. Not only that, but this leak reveals the game’s release date.
UPDATE: Here is the official gameplay trailer for the game.

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game releases on June 22nd
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/olympic-games-tokyo-2020-the-official-video-game-releases-on-june-22nd/
SEGA has announced that Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 – The Official Video Game will release on June 22nd. In order to celebrate this announcement, the publisher has released a new short gameplay trailer that you can find below.

Berserk Boy is a new retro 2D action platformer that is coming to PC in 2022
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/berserk-boy-is-a-new-retro-2d-action-platformer-that-is-coming-to-pc-in-2022/
Big Sugar and BerserkBoy Games have announced a new retro 2D action platformer that will be coming to PC in 2022, Berserk Boy. The game will have an authentic, lovingly crafted retro aesthetic with a visual style influenced by the classic look of Sega Genesis/Mega Drive games.

Aragami 2 releases on September 17th, gets first gameplay trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/aragami-2-releases-on-september-17th-gets-first-gameplay-trailer/
Lince Works has announced that Aragami 2 will release on PC on September 17th. In order to celebrate this announcement, the developer released the game’s first gameplay trailer.
>> It looks quite different than the first one.

Nacon officially announces Rugby 22, to be released in January 2022
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/nacon-officially-announces-rugby-22-to-be-released-in-january-2022/
NACON and Eko Software have announced the next part in their Rugby series, Rugby 22. Rugby 22 will release in January 2022 on PC, and promises to be better than its predecessor in almost all areas.