And here's an extra, that explains why we deserve what happens to us:

Sega files trademark for Sega NFTs
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/sega-files-trademark-for-sega-nfts/
In November 2021, Sega's Q2 results mentioned that the Japanese publisher planned to team up with Microsoft to develop cloud-powered 'super games' as well as making "investment in new fields such as NFT." It didn't take too long for Sega president and CEO Haruki Satomi to sound a more, cautionary note, however, saying "if it is perceived as simple money-making, I would like to make a decision not to proceed."
Today comes the news that Sega filed two trademarks with the Japanese Patent Office in December 2021 for 'Sega NFT' (thanks, VGC). The first says 'Sega NFT' while the second is for the 'Sega Classics NFT Collection.' The latter will probably be similar to what Konami recently did with Castlevania but the bigger question is whether this indicates a wider move on Sega's part.
>> But I'm sure those NFT games won't be "simple money-making" games like they promised...

Troy Baker faces powerful backlash over AI voice NFT promotion
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/troy-baker-faces-powerful-backlash-over-ai-voice-nft-promotion/
Prolific voice actor Troy Baker, best known for BioShock Infinite's Booker DeWitt and The Last of Us's Joel, found himself in hot water with his fans after tweeting about a partnership with a "Voice NFT" company. The backlash was spurred not only by Baker's decision to get into the notoriously sketchy NFT game, but in the tone of his message, in which he told followers, "You can hate. Or you can create."
>> In this case, I'm in the hate group.

And then, we find this:

Konami made over $150,000 from that bloody Castlevania NFT auction
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/konami-made-over-dollar150000-from-that-bloody-castlevania-nft-auction/
To celebrate the 35th anniversary of Castlevania, a videogame about a man who thinks the best weapon to use against enemies who can only be killed by piercing their hearts with wood is a metal whip, Konami held an auction for 14 bloody NFTs.
All the items in the Konami Memorial NFT collection have now been sold, with one of them, the Dracula's Castle Pixel Art, going for $26,732. The grand total for the lot came to over $162,000, though as VGC points out, the OpenSea marketplace they were sold through takes a cut of every transaction, which still leaves Konami with over $157,000 from the auction.
>> *sigh* It doesn't matter how much we complain, there'll always be f*cking dumbasses that will follow their game, like with the DLCs and that bloody horse armor crap.

Will PCIe x4 Cripple the Radeon 6500 XT? PCIe Bandwidth Test

Absolutely shameful from AMD

Lenovo is vendor locking AMD Ryzen CPUs to their system via PSB. The CPU can never be used outside of a Lenovo system, neither can any new CPU put into the system

God of War Devs Call DLSS an Amazing Tech, Say the Internal Studios Pushed Sony to PC

https://wccftech.com/god-of-war-devs-call-dlss-an-amazing-tech-say-the-internal-studios-pushed-sony-to-pc/

Hopefully this means future Sony ports will continue to implement DLSS

E3 (digital event) most likely cancelled according to Jeff Grubb - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yjg4n6gL44&t=15s

GTA V PS5 and Series X re-release date to be missed (rumor) -https://wccftech.com/grand-theft-auto-v-ps5-xbox-series-x-development-issues-delay-possible/

These guys used to release a GTA game or two every generation and they've managed to milk GTA V through three generations. At this rate GTA VI will be out by next next gen lol.

E3 getting cancelled is expected. As long as Covid/restrictions are around, e3 ain't happening.

The funny thing about GTA V on PS5/Series X is that we can already play GTA V on PS5/Series X thanks to BC mode. GTA V on PS3/360 to PS4/One I can understand due to no BC mode and the visual improvements were pretty big. But this just feels dumb.

@BasilZero Will miss the live events, though with the Covid and everything its obvious its not going to happen anytime soon. But yeah, E3 has been irrelevant for the last few years now.

The one thing I'm not really looking forward to having events scattered and spread out throughout summer. Lest we have Geoff Keighley's Summer Games Fest. If E3 fails to show I hope Nintendo and Microsoft will do events during that time.

True I don't think many people expected it to happen. Even the digital event.. which takes an enormous effort from all the companies to make one of these shows. Tbh maybe its for the best as the last E3 was pretty bad outside of a couple of showings.

Yeah its dumb. The re-release didn't even look like an upgrade in any sense. I think they even reused to the same cinematic on the original trailer lol. Just a shameless cash in. I just wish GTA Online would go away and people would stop funding this nonsense. And Rockstar can actually work on a proper games.

I'll miss E3 if it gets cancelled. Sure, last year was a far cry from the event we all know, but it still gave us new games and details of the games to come.

Creators of Call of Duty, Warcraft, Candy Crush, Tony Hawk, Diablo, Overwatch, Spyro, Hearthstone, Guitar Hero, Crash Bandicoot, StarCraft and more join Team Xbox

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2022/01/18/welcoming-activision-blizzard-to-microsoft-gaming/

The Tuesday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Monster Hunter Rise has sold over 8 million copies worldwide
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/monster-hunter-rise-has-sold-over-8-million-copies-worldwide/
Capcom today announced that Monster Hunter Rise for Nintendo Switch and PC (Steam) has shipped 8 million units worldwide. Unfortunately, though, Capcom did not reveal the exact sales per platform.

GOG has two new sales:

• Publisher Akupara Games launches three new games and puts them up to 80% off until January 24: https://www.gog.com/promo/20220117_akupara_releases
• For a similar reason, Sekai Project puts all its games on sale, with up to 75% discounts during the next 7 days: https://www.gog.com/promo/sekai_project

Steam has four new sales, and the weeklong deals:

• The daily deal is the Toge Productions Anniversary Sale, with up to 90% discounts: https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/togeproductions/sale/togesale
• Frostpunk will be 75% off until Friday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/323190/Frostpunk/
• Ys IX: Monstrum Nox, that has a demo, will have a 20% discount until January 27: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1351630/Ys_IX_Monstrum_Nox/
• The Outer Worlds will be 67% off until the same 27th of January: https://store.steampowered.com/app/578650/The_Outer_Worlds/
• And here are some of the weeklong deals:
  • Rebel Inc: Escalation is 30% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1088790/Rebel_Inc_Escalation/
  • Golf Club Wasteland is half its usual price: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1556870/Golf_Club_Wasteland/
  • The VR Only title Narcosis has a 66% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/366870/Narcosis/
  • Battle Chasers: Nightwar sports a 75% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/451020/Battle_Chasers_Nightwar/
  • And Redeemer: Enhanced Edition is going to be 90% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/447290/Redeemer_Enhanced_Edition/

Fanatical has three new deals:

• The new Star Deal is Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire - Obsidian Edition, 81% off during the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/pillars-of-eternity-ii-deadfire-obsidian-edition
• The former is part of a Versus Evil Sale, with up to 92% discounts during the next 5 days. https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/versus-evil
• And the new BYO Fantasy Bundle comes with 18 games to choose for your 1, 5 or 10 games bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-fantasy-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Blood – Extra Crispy Mod released, packing more weapons, gore & gameplay enhancements
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/blood-extra-crispy-mod-released-packing-more-weapons-gore-gameplay-enhancements/
VGames has released a new graphics overhaul mod for Nightdive Studio’s latest KEX engine remaster of Blood, called Blood – Extra Crispy. Blood – Extra Crispy adds more weapons, more fire modes, more gore, as well as gameplay enhancements.
Inspired by Brutal Doom, Blood – Extra Crispy also adds some execution/finishing moves. Additionally, it adds some new kill animations for almost all enemies.
Version 1.0 also optimizes the blood splatter from explosives, reducing the lag when blowing up lots of enemies at once. Moreover, it adds new blood spurt impact effects for HITSCAN damage on flesh material types. Furthermore, it adds a new debris system that will create material-specific debris when explosions impact surfaces that last for a maximum of 1 minute before being removed. Not only that, but it adds new sprites for various particle effects for blood, explosions, fire, souls, and adds lots of new map object voxels.
>> You'll find it at ModDB.

GAMING NEWS

Shadow Warrior 3’s Microsoft Store page hints at a March 1st release date
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/shadow-warrior-3s-microsoft-store-page-hints-at-a-march-1st-release-date/
Microsoft Store may have leaked the release date for Shadow Warrior 3. According to its official MS store page, this highly anticipated first-person shooter will release on March 1st.

Here are more than 20 minutes of new gameplay footage from Elden Ring
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-more-than-20-minutes-of-new-gameplay-footage-from-elden-ring/
YouTube’s ‘Xolara’ has shared four videos, showcasing more than 20 minutes of new gameplay footage from Elden Ring. These videos are from the game’s latest Closed Network Test, and showcase some of its NPCs. Needless to say that we suggest avoiding them if you want to experience the entire game yourselves.