Here come the Friday news!

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Win this SteelSeries headset and Neverwinter goodies on the PCG forums
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/win-this-steelseries-headset-and-neverwinter-goodies-on-the-pcg-forums/
Right now you can mosey on down to the PC Gamer forums to get the chance to win a SteelSeries headset and some Neverwinter content thanks to SteelSeries and Perfect World Entertainment.
(...)
If you want to be in with a chance to win any of these prizes, you can head to this forum thread and follow the instructions on this competitions page. You have from January 27—February 16 to enter so you better hurry. Note that the physical items will be limited to residents of North America, the United Kingdom and Europe, who are 18 years of age and older as of January 20, 2021.
>> Good luck.

The Humble Store is having its New Year Sale, and this will be its last weekend. Check it out if you still haven't.

Fanatical

• The new Star Deal is Total War: WARHAMMER II, 73% off during the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/total-war-warhammer-ii
• The new BYO Elite VR Bundle 2 comes with 16 games to choose foryour 3, 5, 7 or 10 games bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-elite-vr-bundle-2
• And Fanatical has a new contest with a prize of $500 shopping spree! Learn more here: https://www.fanatical.com/en/blog/contest-your-chance-to-win-a-500-shopping-spree-during-the-lunar-sale

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

The Epic Store will keep giving away games in 2022
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/the-epic-store-will-keep-giving-away-games-in-2022/
The Epic Games Store gave away over 765 million free games in 2021—even more than it handed out in 2020—and in its new year-in-review roundup, Epic confirmed that it will continue with the freebies through 2022.
>> Good to know.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Mod makes Kratos the God of dad jokes
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/mod-makes-kratos-the-god-of-dad-jokes/
The excellent God of War has been out in the wilds on PC for a few weeks, which means that the mods are starting to get more interesting than the (always welcome) saves and shader packs. Step forward God of Dad Jokes which restores a bunch of jokey audio recorded by Christopher Judge, Kratos' voice actor, that for tonal reasons wasn't included in the final game.
There's not a whole treasure-trove of material here: But what there is, is good. The mod adds the unused lines and edits the localisation files to keep it consistent. It is also English language only. You can see it in action below and, even if you're not that interested in installing the mod yourself, the second line is very funny indeed.

Doom 3 Hi Def 3.0 Mod is now available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/doom-3-hi-def-3-0-mod-is-now-available-for-download/
Modder ‘y2keeth’ has released a brand new version of his Hi Def Mod for id Software’s horror first-person shooter, Doom 3. According to the modder, this latest version is compatible with both Resurrection of Evil and SIKKMOD.
Going into more details, Doom 3 Hi Def 3.0 improves the quality of all textures by four times. Moreover, it brings custom zombies and zsec from the BFG version. Additionally, it packs full shadow map files and NG shaders.
You can download the mod from here. Do note that this mod is for the original version of Doom 3. For the BFG version, you can download this mod. Below you can also find some screenshots that showcase the improved textures.

GAMING NEWS

RF Project may be THE game that most Anthem fans have been looking for
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/rf-project-may-be-the-game-that-most-anthem-fans-have-been-looking-for/
Netmarble has shared a gameplay teaser trailer for RF Project, a game that feels like a better version of Anthem. RF Project is basically a reboot of RF Online; an MMORPG that came out in 2004.

Martial Arts Action RPG, Bloody Spell, has been fully released on Steam
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/martial-arts-action-rpg-bloody-spell-has-been-fully-released-on-steam/
Elong Games has released its martial arts action RPG, Bloody Spell, on Steam. The game hit Early Access in 2019 and after three whole years, it has been fully released.

Solo Leveling is a brand new action RPG that is coming to PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/solo-leveling-is-a-brand-new-action-rpg-that-is-coming-to-pc/
Netmarble has announced that it’s working on a new action RPG that will be based on the web novel, Solo Leveling. In order to celebrate this announcement, the team released a gameplay trailer that you can find below.

Horizon Zero Dawn PC Patch 1.11.2 released, full patch notes revealed
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/horizon-zero-dawn-pc-patch-1-11-2-released-full-patch-notes-revealed/
Guerilla Games has released a brand new update for the PC version of Horizon Zero Dawn. According to the release notes, Patch 1.11.2 fixes some tech issues, and improves VRAM management when changing resolution or upscale mode.

Serious Sam Siberian Mayhem Patch 1.01 released, fixes micro-stuttering issues
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/serious-sam-siberian-mayhem-patch-1-01-released-fixes-micro-stuttering-issues/
Timelock Studio and Croteam have released the first post-launch update for Serious Sam Siberian Mayhem. According to the teams, Update 1.01 fixes a bug that was causing regular micro-stutters on some machines.

Friday news, the second part:

Apex Legends' flying city is getting a violent relocation next season
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/apex-legends-flying-city-is-getting-a-violent-relocation-next-season/
Olympus has been conspicuously absent from Apex Legends during Season 11. But while we're all excited to return to the fan-favourite floating city, it's looking a wee bit worse for wear in the new launch trailer for Season 12: Defiance.

Rainbow Six Siege adds in-game memorial to caster and ex-pro KiXSTAr
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/rainbow-six-siege-adds-in-game-memorial-to-caster-and-ex-pro-kixstar/
Rainbow Six Siege has added an in-game tribute to Michael 'KiXSTAr' Stockley, a popular caster and ex-pro who died in October 2021. A plaque in the Plane map marks the spot where KiXSTAr pulled off a very impressive 8-second ace back in 2016, during his time as a Siege pro. Stockley played for Team Orbit before transitioning into broadcasting as a commentator, and won Esports Colour Caster of the Year 2020.

Path of Exile's new expansion lets you build your own endgame
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/path-of-exiles-new-expansion-lets-you-build-your-own-endgame/
Path Of Exile, like football, is a game of two halves—its lengthy main story campaign and its sprawling, non-linear Atlas Of Worlds endgame. I’d probably watch more football if the first half involved deicide on a massive scale and the latter was a dimension-hopping hunt for loot and glory, but I digress: the important thing is that Path Of Exile’s latter half is due for a shake-up, and Grinding Gear Games aim to deliver that with the free Siege of the Atlas expansion, landing on February 4th.

You too can be chased by a possessed pirate cannon in this weekend's Midnight Ghost Hunt beta
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/you-too-can-be-chased-by-a-possessed-pirate-cannon-in-this-weekends-midnight-ghost-hunt-beta/
Few things bring me greater joy than suppressing cackles as I chase down my friends in a prop hunt game, cornering them despite their best efforts at camouflage and trickery. Midnight Ghost Hunt has that feeling in spades, plus layers of weapon loadouts and special skills and twists on top. It's headed into another closed beta this weekend, which you can sign up for if you'd like to try a bit of ghostly inanimate object shenanigans yourself.

The Elder Scrolls Online: High Rock explores 'The Legacy of the Bretons'
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/the-elder-scrolls-online-high-rock-explores-the-legacy-of-the-bretons/
Following a tease about a journey to a "never-before-seen world" in 2022, Zenimax Online Studios has revealed the next expansion coming to The Elder Scrolls Online: High Isle will take players to the previously unexplored Systres Archipelago, a playground for society's elite and the location of diplomatic talks aimed at ending the Three Banners War.

Here are the things that actually make your Buddy Meter move in Hearthstone Battlegrounds
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/here-are-the-things-that-actually-make-your-buddy-meter-move-in-hearthstone-battlegrounds/
According to a survey last summer, just over one in four American men has six or more close friends. So as you can imagine, I was absolutely delighted to receive 75 new Buddies this week when the latest patch for Hearthstone dropped. Buddies are the new attraction in the Battlegrounds mode, where these units are earned over the course of a match. Each Hero has its own bespoke Buddy, and that Buddy has an ability designed to synergise with its Hero's expected game plan.

Two Point Campus pencils in May launch
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/two-point-campus-pencils-in-may-launch/
Two Point Campus is the long-awaited follow-up to Two Point Hospital, except you'll be operating a college instead of a morbidly funny clinic. The Two Point Studios DNA is definitely intact: this isn't a sober-minded simulator. You'll be training Don Quixotes, hosting cheeseball tournaments, and instructing in the best way to make ginormous pizzas, among lots of other things. All very funny, but none of it undermines what is, at heart, a detailed and robust management sim.
>> Ryuu96 made a thread about this announcement (without success, apparently).

Steam your own hams, LucasArts style in this fan-made Simpsons adventure game
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/steam-your-own-hams-lucasarts-style-in-this-fan-made-simpsons-adventure-game/
It might be a little behind the curve, but a free indie adventure game has proven there's still plenty life to be found in 2018's hottest meme.
Developed by neodement and inspired by games like Day of the Tentacle, Steamed Hams: The Graphic Adventure reimagines the classic Simpsons short as a LucasArts-style adventure. Answer the door, ruin your roast, and perform isometric exercises in period-appropriate low-res stylings. It's a loving rendition, too, compressing the show's dialogue and tweaking the pacing to give it that perfect, stilted, early-90s feel.
>> You'll find it at Gamejolt.

New Mortal Kombat game teased, movie sequel confirmed, and creator Ed Boon gets a gong
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/new-mortal-kombat-game-teased-movie-sequel-confirmed-and-creator-ed-boon-gets-a-gong/
The next game in the Mortal Kombat series has been teased by a producer at NetherRealm, a sequel to the recent film has been confirmed, and series creator Ed Boon is to be honoured by The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Quite a day for fans of blood-soaked spinal ruptures and elemental ninjas.

Let's end the news with a quick look at GOG and Steam:

+GOG

• GOG launched its New Year Sale. Remember that you only have until January 31!
• There are also two new flash deals, the first of which is El Hijo - A Wild West Tale with a 75% discount during the next 70 hours: https://www.gog.com/en/game/el_hijo_a_wild_west_tale
• The second one is Mad Max, 80% off until Monday: https://www.gog.com/en/game/mad_max

+Steam

• Steam started yesterday its Lunar New Year Sale.
• Despite that, there's also a few weeklong deals.

And that's it. Until next time, I wish you a happy and gaming weekend.

It has lasted less than 2 years so yes, Ubi has killed it quite soon.

Then again, I doubt most of us knew or remembered about this game so it isn't much of a surprise.

Spanish authorities discover cryptomining farm instead of suspected marijuana plantation

https://videocardz.com/newz/spanish-authorities-discover-cryptomining-farm-instead-of-suspected-marijuana-plantation

This is both funny and sad at the sametime


XMG announces Intel Arc based XMG Fusion laptop is coming in late Q2 2022

https://videocardz.com/newz/xmg-announces-intel-arc-based-xmg-fusion-laptop-is-coming-in-late-q2-2022

"Update: XMG released a new roadmap that no longer mentions Intel ARC GPU. The company requested the following short statement to be published:"

Intel really is going to miss their free lunch at this rate...

Yea for me it depends on how it does. Crytek isn't the same Crytek that made Crysis 1 but Crysis never really felt like bad games for me. Even Crysis 2 which was very consolized was still fairly fun if you go in not expecting Crysis 1. While I am not expecting Crysis 1 from them ever again, I am certainly interested in what they do with it. If they goof it or make it EGS exclusive, then I'll skip. If they make it a good game and release it on Steam, then I'll probably buy it.

You may find this gif being choppy but that's the experience you get with many of the switch cloud games in the video.

Nobody expect the Spanish Inq... I mean, the crypto farm!

F*ckers.

If you are a fan of Myst, you might want to check out the Myst and More bundle.

https://www.humblebundle.com/games/myst-more-bundle

Microsoft Flight Simulator - Developer Q&A (DLSS Support coming later this year with DX12 Mode, World Update 8: Iberia is coming in late March and more)

https://www.flightsimulator.blog/2022/01/26/developer-interview/

It's about time Microsoft gets on board with the DLSS hype train. Now that both Sony and MS are embracing DLSS and other Nvidia features, all we now need are RTX GPUs!

Looks horrible. Even worse than most other competitors and 720p/30FPS max with high macro-blocking. Yikes, that's going to look so bad when blown up on a big TV. When John says its like watching a bad stream instead of playing the game.. pretty much sums up my experience with cloud gaming so far.

Watching this does make me think that the Switch is in dire need of an upgrade. I don't really understand why people don't want a Switch successor any time soon. Even Nintendo's first party are reaching the limits on whats possible on the hardware.