Nice, so next year is when we're gonna see the next generation of high end Noctua coolers. Not sure what else they can do to improve on the performance from the regular NH-D15, but that'll be interesting to see for sure. The thing I really want though, is that desk fan :o Seeing as they decent silent fans, I'd buy one (assuming its good).

About AMD, I think they kinda deserve it tbh. Hopefully this will give them some restraint on the pricing on next gen CPU's as the mid-end SKU's are quite poor value for money (VS Intel) unless you can catch a good deal. Wonder if Alderlake will be enough to give Zen 4 a run for its money.

Essh that's bad. PayPal has always been wonky when it comes to lewd content and their trend continues! It's one of the reasons why Steam can sometimes be weird with their policies.

At the very least, I think they will NF-A12x25 fans to the D15. I own the NH-U12A which has two of them and they are really good! But as with every year with Noctua, add another year to when they think they will release something and then you will get the actual release date! For better or for worse.

Yea pretty much. I have been very annoyed with AMD in the low to mid ranged space this generation where as in previous generations, they have had quite a lot of options. Especially when you consider that with their APUs, they are also forcing you to go with PCI-E Gen 3 where as Intel gives you PCI-E gen 4. AMD is the company that came out with PCI-E gen 4 two years prior to Intel, why do we still have PCI-E gen 3 in both their APUs and laptops? Hopefully AMD doesn't get too complacent as we all know what happened with Intel.

Repackaging with newer and higher performing fans would be one way, (like you said) they could add a couple of those and call it a day lol. And maybe optimize the fin stack to have more surface area perhaps.

True, they've gone totally complacent this gen, and tbh they shouldn't be. They might be top dog in performance now and feel like they can justify prices for their lower end stack. though Intel isn't too far behind on desktops and mobile and that's on far inferior nodes. AMD's big advantage was their smaller processes and nodes with TSMC, though with Intel are going that way with 3nm booked for next year things should get quite spicy come 2022.

I didn't know that AMD's APU's and laptops only supported PCI-E Gen 3, that's a boneheaded decision :s Way to limit your customers.

The news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

CS:GO player count dips after Valve starts charging $15 for Ranked
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/csgo-player-count-dips-after-valve-starts-charging-dollar15-for-ranked/
A recent effort to curb cheating in CS:GO may be affecting the player base of one of Steam's biggest games. In a June 3 patch, Valve issued a complete rework of CS:GO's Prime status, a designation required to play Competitive that players previously earned by playing enough of the game or buying it. From June onward, Prime status can only be bought for a flat $15, turning a soft play wall into a firm paywall.
According to CS:GO's recent concurrent player count averages as recorded by SteamCharts, first spotted by Dot Esports, the game has seen a 16.7% drop (a loss of over 100,000 average players) since the early June patch. It's worth noting that CS:GO's player base regularly fluctuates like any other multiplayer game, and perhaps moreso for one of the most popular games on PC. Still, this is the steepest month-on-month decline the game has seen since 2018.

GOG has several new sales and releases:

• In preparation for the WitcherCon, the The Witcher games are on sale, up to 85% off during the next 4 days: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210708_witchercon
• Talking about the WitcherCon, there's a HUB for it, and you can get some giveaways for checking it starting tomorrow. Learn more here: https://www.gog.com/news/start_the_celebration_of_the_witcher_franchise_early_on_gogcom
• For the release of the Panzer Corps 2: Axis Operations – 1942 DLC, other Panzer Corps games are on sale, up to 80% off until July 15: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210708_panzer_corps_sale
• The game Nemezis: Mysterious Journey III i releases on the store with a 20% discount until July 15: https://www.gog.com/game/nemezis_mysterious_journey_iii
• Ancient Enemy arribes with a 50% discount until the 24th of July: https://www.gog.com/game/ancient_enemy
• Aside from those, GOG has listed the free games on their store, in case you want to have some fun for cheap: https://www.gog.com/news/the_witcher_and_more_discover_exciting_free_games_on_gogcom

Fanatical has gone back to its usual stuff and has a new Star Deal and bundle:

• The new Star Deal is GRID Ultimate Edition, 91% off during the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/grid-ultimate-edition
• And the new VR Adrenaline Bundle comes with 6 games split in 3 tiers of 4, 5 and 6 products during the next 14 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/vr-adrenaline-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Guilty Gear Strive mod restores references to Taiwan, Tibet, and Uyghurs
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/guilty-gear-strive-mod-restores-references-to-taiwan-tibet-and-uyghurs/
Shortly after the release of the 2D fighting game Guilty Gear Strive, it was patched to remove lore entry references to Taiwan, Tibet, Uyghur, and other regions. There was no mention of the change in any patch notes and neither developer Arc System Works nor publisher Bandai Namco provided an explanation, but it was widely assumed that it came about in order to ensure the game didn't fall afoul of Chinese censors.
In lore terms, it was a relatively minor change to just two sentences, but the perceived acquiescence to pressure from China sparked a backlash, and now a "decensor" mod that brings back the removed content. The mod, available at Gamebanana, "restores the original Log 311 in GG-World's glossary, which restores mentions of Uighur, Tibet, Mongolia, and Siberia relating to the Chinese government, which was silently censored in a game patch."

Mass Effect's telepathic jellyfish needed more nipples, apparently
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/mass-effects-telepathic-jellyfish-needed-more-nipples-apparently/
From Thane's rippling bug-like form to the mysterious Asari consort, sex appeal in Mass Effect is usually restricted to the humanoid races. But surely, in the vast expanse of the galaxy, there must be at least one person who finds the enigmatic allure of the jellyfish-like Hanar irresistible. Right?
As spotted by Game Informer, Mass Effect modder Grixdale reckons our tentacled friends just need a little help. The Sexier Hanar mod dolls up our interstellar Portuguese Men o' War with "100% more nipples" and splashes the word 'Juicy' across that curvy pneumatophore.
It's knowingly daft, and comes as a jab back at players who criticised a previous mod correcting the nipples and panty-lines on Shephard's bodycon dress.
>> But why?

GAMING NEWS

DICE LA renamed to Ripple Effect Studios, currently working on Battlefield 2042
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/dice-la-renamed-to-ripple-effect-studios-currently-working-on-battlefield-2042/
Electronic Arts announced that DICE LA, the Los Angeles-based studio led by Christian Grass, has a new name: Ripple Effect Studios. As the press release reads, Ripple Effect Studios is currently working with DICE to develop Battlefield 2042.

Closed beta for the stunt-based FPS, Severed Steel, begins on July 14th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/closed-beta-for-the-stunt-based-fps-severed-steel-begins-on-july-14th/
Digerati and Greylock Studio have announced that a closed beta phase for their stunt-based FPS, Severed Steel, will begin on July 14th. This closed beta will last until July 21st, and PC players can sign-up now via the Severed Steel Discord.

Tails of Iron releases on September 17th, gets a brand new gameplay trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/tails-of-iron-releases-on-september-17th-gets-a-brand-new-gameplay-trailer/
United Label and Odd Bug Studio have announced that their upcoming RPG adventure, Tails of Iron, will release on September 17th. In order to celebrate this announcement, the teams released a new gameplay trailer that you can find below.

New Lost Ark gameplay trailer showcases the Warrior class
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-lost-ark-gameplay-trailer-showcases-the-warrior-class/
Amazon and Smilegate released a new gameplay trailer for their Diablo-like F2P MMORPG game, Lost Ark. This new trailer focuses on the game’s Warrior class.

Cyberpunk 2077 will soon get its biggest update to date, with “more to come”
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/cyberpunk-2077-will-soon-get-its-biggest-update-to-date-with-more-to-come/
It appears that a new marketing campaign video for Cyberpunk 2077 got leaked online. According to this video, Cyberpunk 2077 will soon receive its biggest update to date. Moreover, this video hints at “more things to come.”

Part two of the Thursday news:

Bungie will reveal Destiny 2's The Witch Queen expansion next month
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/bungie-will-reveal-destiny-2s-the-witch-queen-expansion-next-month/
On August 24, the mildewed veil will be drawn back on Destiny 2's The Witch Queen expansion. Although not entirely clear from the teaser posted today, the showcase will almost certainly take place on Bungie's official Twitch and YouTube channels.

Red Dead Online's Blood Money update adds 'a series of daring robberies' next week
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/red-dead-onlines-blood-money-update-adds-a-series-of-daring-robberies-next-week/
Red Dead Online receives a major update, Blood Money, on July 13. It includes a bunch of new missions, as well as the usual Rockstar plethora of rewards and bonuses across various elements of the game, and comes with the above lovely trailer set to the track 'Letter from Bluewater Man' performed by Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram. Yes, Rockstar's production values and music choices remain the best in the business.

Fallout 76: Steel Reign releases today with legendary crafting and Brotherhood of Steel story finale
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/fallout-76-steel-reign-releases-today-with-legendary-crafting-and-brotherhood-of-steel-story-finale/
Bethesda has launched its 28th update for Fallout 76 today with Steel Reign, bringing an end to the Brotherhood of Steel storyline and introducing legendary crafting.

Driving horror game Beware shows off a spooky map and killer trucks
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/driving-horror-game-beware-shows-off-a-spooky-map-and-killer-trucks/
We've had our headlights pointed at driving horror game Beware since way back in 2016, and we tried a demo in 2018 that proved to be incredibly creepy and alarming. In Beware, you drive a car through a dark, foggy world at night. That alone is unsettling, but it gets worse because there are other cars full of creepy, faceless goons that eventually start pursuing you. And if they catch you, bad things happen.

Turn-based FPS Lemnis Gate begins beta testing on July 22
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/turn-based-fps-lemnis-gate-begins-beta-testing-on-july-22/
Lemnis Gate is a strange looking thing. It's a turn-based strategy FPS on a time loop, a counter-intuitive mashup of genres if there ever was one, but it also somehow seems to work: We were "really impressed" by our recent preview session, saying the game "feels like it borrows just enough from each [genre] to create a unique, yet fast-paced experience where there's always room to improve."

Job ads suggest a new Ubisoft studio is opening in Australia
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/job-ads-suggest-a-new-ubisoft-studio-is-opening-in-australia/
Ubisoft is currently recruiting for game development positions based in Australia, suggesting the founding of a new—and yet to be formally announced—Sydney-based studio. Ubisoft already has a Sydney-based office focused on servicing the Australian market, but until now it hasn't been involved in game development.

Apex Legends is getting a toasty new arenas map next week
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/apex-legends-is-getting-a-toasty-new-arenas-map-next-week/
Apex Legends' Genesis throwback is coming to a close. But Respawn's battle royale is barely taking a second to catch its breath before kicking off a fresh three-week-long Thrillseeker's event, bringing with it a brand new bespoke map for the game's 3v3 Arenas mode.

Tend and grow a garden full of naked festival-goers
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/tend-and-grow-a-garden-full-of-naked-festival-goers/
We Dwell in Possibility is a free gardening sandbox from Robert Yang, a queer game developer (and previous PC Gamer contributor) whose work is best summed up by Hard Lads—a pixel-perfect recreation of iconic viral video British lads hit each other with chair. Working with cartoonist Eleanor Davis, his latest is a bit more gentle but no less interested in the politics of naked bodies.

Among Us translated into Gaelige in 'a cultural victory for the Irish community'
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/among-us-translated-into-gaelige-in-a-cultural-victory-for-the-irish-community/
Innersloth's Among Us has become the first major title to be officially translated into Irish, following the developer's incorporation of what began as a fan project into the game. The team of Úna-Minh Kavanagh, Brian C. Mac Giolla Mhuire, Cormac Cinnsealach and Mike Drinkwater had been working on a mod that translated the game, before they were approached to make it official.

Modders do what Devs don't!

[Rumour] AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT Reportedly Launching in August, Rumored To Be On Par With NVIDIA GTX 1080 Ti For Around $399 US

https://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-rx-6600-xt-launch-august-399-us-price-nvidia-gtx-1080-ti-performance-rumor/

If true...

A 3060 Ti is also $400 MSRP and that would smoke this in everything. Remember, a 3060 Ti is faster than a 2080 Super. I hope it's not true...

Acer Predator XB323K Listed with 32″ IPS Panel, 4K, 144Hz Refresh Rate and HDR 600

https://www.tftcentral.co.uk/blog/acer-predator-xb323k-listed-with-32-ips-panel-4k-144hz-refresh-rate-and-hdr-600/

Now this is pretty much the sweet spot of 4k monitors for PC gaming that don't want to go 48 inch OLED... Least in terms of Specs... It even has HDMI 2.1! Now the question will be price!

Sony Group (Nextorage) to release M.2 SSD at 7GB/s, PCIE 4.0 (1TB~£165 // 2TB~£320)

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/sony-group-nextorage-to-release-m-2-ssd-at-7gb-s-pcie-4-0-1tb-%C2%A3165-2tb-%C2%A3320.1612625/

" Nextorage Co., Ltd. 　, a memory / storage business under the Sony Group , will release the NVMe M.2 SSD "NEM-H" series with PCI Express 4.0 x4 connection on Amazon on the 21st. The price is an open price, and the estimated retail price is 25,190 yen for the 1TB model and 48,560 yen for the 2TB model."

This has to be for the PS5 as well as PC is what I am thinking. Maybe they will finally update the ps5 to enable that secondary ssd slot at the same time this releases. £320 for 2TB Gen 4 is actually quite good pricing as it's slightly cheaper than a 980 Pro. It is in some ways amusing that Sony is making PC hardware.

I won't be expanding my PS5 storage until it becomes problematic (if ever), but I may end up putting something like this in my next PC. Should cost around the same price my current 2TB SATA SSD did a few years ago.