After seeing what happened with Respawn and now Bungie, I think I'm over/will stop believing in any dev/studio that will ever claim "I want to remain free/independent", because nearly every time that's been said, they eventually get bought out/willingly take the money and merge with a pub.

Like if you wanna be free, be free, but accept that you're not gonna rake in untold millions and just deal with it. Don't give us the sob story, when we all know you just want billions like any other publisher lol. I dislike that sob story a lot now, because it seems like a bold faced lie to tell the public you wanna be free, but willingly accept the millions/billions of dollars to be bought out. 

And Microsoft now owns Crash Bandicoot, Tony Hawks Pro Skater, Doom, CoD, WoW etc etc. What a timeline.

If you told me this 10 years ago I would have laughed in hysterics, but here we are lol

Yea it's all PR. Their actions will speak louder than their words.

I doubt they'll go back to limit themselves to their own little consoles, more so because development costs keep rising every gen and they need to reach bigger audiences to make a good profit. But they could still bring us to the mud by opening their own stores outside of Steam/Epic, etc.

Also, in MSoft's case, they could start focusing on Gamepass, launching some of their games only on it to get more and more subscribers. A user that pays a monthly fee is more useful than one that pays 60$/€ every few months.

Cross-faction play announced for World of Warcraft

It's happening. ?

Cross-faction dungeons, raids, and rated PvP will begin testing soon.

? https://t.co/kz5ZvLs1aQ pic.twitter.com/85lN5v64I4

— World of Warcraft (@Warcraft) January 31, 2022

Funnily enough me and my friends were talking about this because of the faction imbalance. And how this would solve a lot of issues people have with the game.

*resist*

The Tuesday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Despite its current sale, Steam has still launched a new set of weeklong deals. They aren't many so it won't take you a lot to check them out.

Fanatical has several new deals:

• The new Star Deal is Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, 59% off during the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/horizon-zero-dawn-complete-edition
• They've launched new flash deals for the Lunar New Year Sale. They're nine9, will end in 48 hours and you can check them from here: https://www.fanatical.com/en/flash-game-sale

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

**A little head's up** From now on, I'll try to not put the links to the mods. They deserve some clicks for sharing them .

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is already playable on PC with 60fps
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/pokemon-legends-arceus-is-already-playable-on-pc-with-60fps/
Pokemon Legends: Arceus came out last week on Nintendo Switch and is already playable on PC via Nintendo Switch emulators. Now what’s really cool here is that there is already a 60fps patch for it that allows the emulated version to run at 60fps.

Bloodborne PSX Demake is now available for download on PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/bloodborne-psx-demake-is-now-available-for-download-on-pc/
As promised, Lilith Walther has released the amazing Playstation-style 32-bit demake of Bloodborne for the PC. In this demake, players will “travel to the gothic Victorian city of Yharnam, whose blood-soaked roads are filled with unspeakable terrors hidden behind every corner. ”
The Bloodborne PSX Demake features over 10 unique hunter weapons. Moreover, it features the Strategic Action Combat system via which players can vanquish their foes.

Silent Hill 2 Enhanced Edition PC gets a Project Status Update Video
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/silent-hill-2-enhanced-edition-pc-gets-a-project-status-update-video/
The team behind the amazing Enhanced Edition of Silent Hill 2 has released a new Project Status Update video. In this video, the team details some of the new features that will be coming to this project.

First look at the unofficial PC native version of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/first-look-at-the-unofficial-pc-native-version-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time/
As we’ve already reported, the source code of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was leaked back in 2020. And, as you may have guessed, some indie developers have been working on bringing this Zelda game on the PC. Alas, you can find below the first video that showcases this PC version in action.
The PC version of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will come with widescreen and upscaling support. Moreover, the team that is currently working on it aims to enable a 60fps mode.

GAMING NEWS

Shadow Warrior 3 officially releases on March 1st, gets new gameplay trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/shadow-warrior-3-officially-releases-on-march-1st-gets-new-gameplay-trailer/
Devolver and Flying Wild Hog have announced that Shadow Warrior 3 will release on March 1st. In order to celebrate this announcement, the teams have also released a new trailer that you can find below.

Microsoft Flight Simulator Australia World Update adds 500 missing airports, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/microsoft-flight-simulator-australia-world-update-adds-500-missing-airports-full-patch-notes/
Microsoft has released a brand new free update for Microsoft Flight Simulator. According to the release notes, the Australia World Update adds 500 missing airports and improves the Airport data on 100 airports.

New gameplay trailer for Selaco, the retro shooter that is inspired by F.E.A.R. & Doom
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-gameplay-trailer-for-selaco-the-retro-shooter-that-is-inspired-by-f-e-a-r-doom/
Altered Orbit Studios has released a new gameplay trailer for its upcoming retro shooter that is inspired by F.E.A.R. and Doom, Selaco. This trailer showcases a Vac-Bot that players will be able to attach a turret to it. Its a really short trailer, but it looks sweet so be sure to watch it.

Dying Light 2 will be using the Denuvo anti-tamper tech
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/dying-light-2-will-be-using-the-denuvo-anti-tamper-tech/
Techland has updated the Steam store page of Dying Light 2, revealing that the game will be using the Denuvo anti-tamper tech. And, since we already have access to the game, we can confirm that the game does indeed use it.

Unreal Engine 4-powered Titanic Honor & Glory gets a new MegaDemo
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/unreal-engine-4-powered-titanic-honor-glory-gets-a-megademo/
The team behind the Unreal Engine 4-powered Titanic: Honor and Glory has released a brand new PC demo that you can download. This “MegaDemo” is the largest release ever, featuring over 25% of the RMS Titanic in unprecedented visual and historical detail.

The Tuesday news, the second part:

Apex Legends introduces control points and a killer Kiwi ahead of next season
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/apex-legends-introduces-control-points-and-a-killer-kiwi-ahead-of-next-season/
We've already been introduced to Apex Legends' next hero, the tooth-spittin' throat-bitin' war criminal (and space New Zealander) Mad Maggie. Now, with a week to go untiil Apex Legends' next season, Respawn has filled us in on the mayhem she'll be bringing to the games on February 8.

Resident Evil 4 VR improves controls for lefties and promises Mercenaries as a free download later this year
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/resident-evil-4-vr-improves-controls-for-lefties-and-promises-mercenaries-as-a-free-download-later-this-year/
(...) One of the recent Quest highlights is Resident Evil 4 VR, a re-working of Capcom's survival horror classic that managed to somehow capture part of the original's appeal while also being a great VR experience in its own right.
Today it's received a new update that has "overhauled mobility and comfort settings in response to player feedback, and has enhanced gameplay to give players more options. This includes new controller-directional movement so you can steer your walking direction with your hand, the ability to swap your dominant analog stick movement hand—a big boon for left-handed players—and height adjustment settings."

Risk of Rain 2's March expansion is adding a horde mode and an FPS sniper hero
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/risk-of-rain-2s-march-expansion-is-adding-a-horde-mode-and-an-fps-sniper-hero/
It's fitting for Risk of Rain 2, a roguelike all about excess, to still be stacking on new features a year and a half after launch. After a major free update last year, Risk of Rain 2's developers are almost ready to put out their first paid expansion, Survivors of the Void, on March 1. It includes an endless wave-based survival mode, but the big news is that the new Railgunner hero transforms Risk of Raina into a first-person shooter.

Totally Accurate Battlegrounds, the gag game that become a hit, is ending content updates
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/totally-accurate-battlegrounds-the-gag-game-that-become-a-hit-is-ending-content-updates/
Totally Accurate Battlegrounds, the battle royale with beatboxing and punchable cheese, has reached the end of the road. Less than a year after going free to play, developer Landfall has announced that low player numbers mean it is "unlikely" the game will receive any further content updates.

World of Warcraft clamps down on boosting but players doubt it will stop
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/world-of-warcraft-clamps-down-on-boosting-but-players-doubt-it-will-stop/
Blizzard has implemented a new policy that tightens the restrictions on World of Warcraft boosting, in which players help each other clear content and obtain rare items and achievements in exchange for in-game gold.

Original voice of Shadow Warrior's Lo Wang, John William Galt, has died
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/original-voice-of-shadow-warriors-lo-wang-john-william-galt-has-died/
John William Galt, a voice actor known for his roles in classic FPSes such as Grandfather Enisi in Prey and Lo Wang in the original 1997 Shadow Warrior, has died. His death was announced by E1M1 Magazine and by 3D Realms, developer of the original Shadow Warrior and Prey.

Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard to be investigated by the Federal Trade Commission
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/microsofts-acquisition-of-activision-blizzard-to-be-investigated-by-the-federal-trade-commission/
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is not yet a done deal, and one hurdle it has to clear is an antitrust investigation. It's now been reported that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, rather than the Justice Department, will handle the investigation (thanks, Bloomberg). The Microsoft acquisition would be the biggest in the company's history.

Sony boss says to 'expect more' studio scoop-ups in the future
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/sony-boss-says-to-expect-more-studio-scoop-ups-in-the-future/
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan has said that the Bungie buyout won't be the last acquisition we see from the company.
>> We'll see what they'll get next.

Guild Wars 2: End of Dragons release date announced in new trailer
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/guild-wars-2-end-of-dragons-release-date-announced-in-new-trailer/
Guild Wars 2's third expansion has a release date, ArenaNet announced today. On February 28, players will be jetting off to a much different Cantha than they saw in Guild Wars 1. The trailer above introduces the expansion in the way Guild Wars 2 expansions love to be introduced: with an airship blowing up.

Battlefield 2042's first season delayed to focus on addressing player criticism
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/battlefield-2042s-first-season-delayed-to-focus-on-addressing-player-criticism/
Battlefield 2042 players have had a lot of gripes with the military FPS since it launched, and developer DICE has responded with balance tweaks, bug fixes, and the promise that it's listening. Here's the part where all that listening becomes listendoing: Battlefield 2042's first season has been pushed back from spring to early summer while the studio incorporates player feedback on the UI, squad dynamics, specialists, and the stuff coming in the upcoming season itself.

Overcooked and Going Under devs revolt against publisher Team17’s NFT plans
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/overcooked-and-going-under-devs-revolt-against-publisher-team17s-nft-plans/
(...)
Team17 is responsible for not only developing the Worms series but also publishing a load of other indie properties. This includes titles such as Overcooked and Going Under, developed by Ghost Town Games and Aggro Crab Games respectively. With the announcement of the Worms NFT collection, these two studios have come forward and spoken out against Team17's decision to engage with crypto and assure their players that they want no part in it.

Intel Needs to do Better

Asrock has started rolling out Official AMD 5000 CPU support on X370 motherboards and other manufacturers might be doing the same. This is certainly great news for 300 series owners as in doing so, it would fulfill the original promise of supporting the platform with 2020 CPUs.

As a X370 owner, AMD did leave a bad taste in my mouth when they originally decided to stop supporting 300 series motherboards even though 5000 CPUs should have worked on them. While having 3 generations of CPU support is still more than Intel, the reality is they had big talks about long term AM4 support which at the time of launch, made it seem like 300 series would support CPUs releasing in 2020 which would be 5000 series. And while Zen 2 was a pretty big upgrade over Zen 1, it was really Zen 3 that gave Intel a run for it's money in all fronts including gaming.

It is pretty clear why they are backpeddling and starting to support 300 series though. AM5 is on the horizon and they want people to upgrade and not wait. Personally I won't be upgrading right away. But I do agree with the title of the video now that AMD has provided support and that Intel does need to do better. 2 years of support is a joke.

NVIDIA GeForce Driver 511.65 WHQL Brings DLSS and Ray Tracing to Dying Light 2; Adds Support for RTX 3080 Ti and RTX 3070 Ti Notebooks

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-geforce-driver-511-65-whql-brings-dlss-and-ray-tracing-to-dying-light-2-adds-support-for-rtx-3080-ti-and-rtx-3070-ti-notebooks/

Even more acquisitions coming: