dont get me started this fucking writer and his obsession with sylvanas, i wouldn't mind seeing her get offed next expansion because her story is done, finito

The Friday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Elden Ring has reportedly sold 10 million copies on PC in a week
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/elden-ring-has-reportedly-sold-10-million-copies-on-pc-in-a-week/
A couple of days ago, we informed you about Elden Ring surpassing 5 million sales on PC. And yesterday, SteamSpy updated its data, revealing that the game has sold over 10 million copies on Steam in just a week.
>> Insane.

No new sales at the Humble Store, but you can still check out the ones running (Assassin's Creed, Female Hero, Talos of, etc.)

Fanatical has two new deals:

• The new Star Deal is Torchlight II, 90% off during the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/torchlight-ii
• And the new bundle is the BYO Anime Bundle 4, with 22 games to choose for your bundle of 2, 3, 6 or 10: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-anime-bundle-4

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Nothing-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Elden Ring gets an unofficial Photo Mode that also removes Chromatic Aberration
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/elden-ring-gets-an-unofficial-photo-mode-that-also-removes-chromatic-aberration/
Modder Otis_Inf has just released an unofficial Photo Mode for FromSoftware’s latest action RPG, Elden Ring. As its title implies, this mod will add a Photomode to Elden Ring, allowing you to capture some truly amazing screenshots.
Now what’s really great about this mod is that it can also remove Chromatic Aberration. I’m pretty sure that other similar mods will pop up. However, and since this is the first one, we highly recommend using it.
Additionally, this Photo Mode offers free unlimited camera movement and rotation, allows you to pause the game, and enables higher LODs. Furthermore, it allows you to control the sun light direction, and can remove pillarbox/letterbox in custom aspect ratios.

GAMING NEWS

Ubisoft has delayed The Settlers, does not have any new release date
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/ubisoft-has-delayed-the-settlers-does-not-have-any-new-release-date/
Ubisoft has announced a delay for its upcoming Snowdrop-powered strategy game, The Settlers. According to the publisher, this extra time will allow its development team to further polish it. Unfortunately, though, there isn’t any ETA on when the game will now release.

No Man’s Sky Sentinel 3.84 Update released, fixes numerous bugs, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/no-mans-sky-sentinel-3-84-update-released-fixes-numerous-bugs-full-patch-notes/
Hello Games has released a brand new update for No Man’s Sky. According to its release notes, the Sentinel 3.84 Update fixes a lot of bugs and glitches that plagued the game. Moreover, it resolves a number of crashes.

Friday news, part two:

Observer developer halts sales in Russia and Belarus
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/observer-developer-halts-sales-in-russia-and-belarus/
Bloober Team, the developer of games such as Observer, Blair Witch, Layers of Fear, and the Medium, has pulled its games from sale on Steam in Russia and Belarus. "This action is not meant as a retaliation against the people of these regions, but as a statement against the war," the company said.

This interactive Elden Ring map is extremely useful
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/elden-ring-map/
The scale of Elden Ring is one of the biggest talking points post-release: people can barely believe how big it is. (...)
If that's you, or you just don't care about spoilers and want to know everything, this Elden Ring map is a brilliant resource. Hosted by Mapgenie, it marks the location of everything from dungeons and sites of grace, through to bolstering materials, smithing stones and more.

Madmind Studios says anyone whose copy of Agony Unrated was taken away will get it back as free DLC
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/madmind-studios-says-anyone-whose-copy-of-agony-unrated-was-taken-away-will-get-it-back-as-free-dlc/
In February, players who previously received Madmind Studios' adults-only horror game Agony Unrated as a free bonus for purchasing the original, censored version simply called Agony were surprised to find it had gone missing from their Steam libraries.
(...)
While the developer tried to sort out the situation, Agony Unrated was put on sale for the lowest possible discount in each region (which can be anywhere from 65% to 95%), by way of apology. The latest update from Madmind, posted on the games' Steam forums, suggests that a more permanent solution has been found: "in a couple of days we plan on releasing a DLC version of UNRATED which will allow Agony owners to download this adult-only expansion without payment."
>> Finally a good solution.

Star Trek Online ships now canon after Picard Season 2 reveal
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/star-trek-online-ships-canon-picard-season-2/
Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard is finally here and sharp-eyed Star Trek Online fans will have noticed a few familiar ships in the premiere episode. Arc Games confirmed that four Star Trek Online vessels are now canon, with a few more from the animated series Lower Decks.

The impact of Denuvo on Total War: Warhammer 3 is still being investigated
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/the-impact-of-denuvo-on-total-war-warhammer-3-is-still-being-investigated/
Denuvo has become a recurring PC gaming villain, frequently blamed for launch issues and problems with performance. Even when it's working as intended DRM is never good for players, but time and time again Denuvo has been accused of making otherwise good games quite awful to play. This is currently the case with Total War: Warhammer 3, and Creative Assembly has been investigating its impact.

New Haven update lets you play as a same-gender couple
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/new-haven-update-lets-you-play-as-a-same-gender-couple/
Romantic RPG-slash-visual novel Haven will now let you journey through the mysterious dystopian planet Source as a same-gendered couple in a free update.

Game Dev Story leads Kairosoft's irresistible sim-lite games onto Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/game-dev-story-leads-kairosofts-irresistible-sim-lite-games-onto-steam/
Kairosoft is a Tokyo-based developer of sim games that are so distinct in style they're almost their own genre: and it's hard to articulate just why they work so well. Its most famous title is Game Dev Story, which believe it or not first appeared in 1997 on Windows, before becoming a global smash 13 years later when it was ported to mobile devices.

New World suspends Russian localisation amidst Ukraine invasion
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/new-world-suspends-russian-localisation-amidst-ukraine-invasion/
Amazon Games has pressed pause on plans for a Russian localisation of New World following the country's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking to TechRadar, Amazon Games vice president Christoph Hartmann said: "We were looking into localising New World for Russia, and we stopped that." Following Hartmann's comments, a spokesman confirmed that it was due to the ongoing invasion. Amazon has also promised to match any employee donations made to Ukrainian relief organisations. While the team has put a stop to a Russian localisation, it appears that the game will still be available to purchase and play in the country.

Finally, here are the GOG and Steam deals for the weekend:

+GOG

• The flash deal is BATTLETECH, 80% off during the next 70 hours (the season pass is 60% off): https://www.gog.com/en/game/battletech_game
• The Weekly Sale features up to 80% discounts: https://www.gog.com/promo/20220228_weekly_sale
• And there's also a new Focus Home Interactive Sale put its games up to
• The Midweek Sale features up to 90% discounts until Monday: https://www.gog.com/promo/20220302_midweek_sale
• The Weekend Sale also features up to 90% discounts: https://www.gog.com/promo/20220304_weekend_sale
• For the launch of the season 2 of Picard, the Star Trek games are up to 85% off during the weekend: https://www.gog.com/promo/20220303_star_trek_picard
• And there's the Special Sale with Daedalic, featuring up to 90% discounts until Wednesday: https://www.gog.com/promo/2022_daedalic_publisher_sale

+Steam

• The first daily deal is Haven, 40% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/983970/Haven/
• The second daily deal is Cube Escape Collection, 66% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1292940/Cube_Escape_Collection/
• The first Weekend Deal is Medieval Dynasty, 25% off until Monday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1129580/Medieval_Dynasty/
• Next is Loop Hero, 67% off until the 7th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1282730/Loop_Hero/
• Risk of Rain 2 is going to be 50% off until March 8: https://store.steampowered.com/app/632360/Risk_of_Rain_2/
• Remember that the Remote Play Together Sale will last until Monday 7: https://store.steampowered.com/remoteplay_together
• And of course, there's also the weeklong deals.

That's all when it comes to gaming news. Until next time, I wish you a happy and gaming weekend.

Halo Infinite Mid-Season Patch: What's Improved and What Still Needs Fixing?

Majority of the performance issues with the campaign is still there. At this rate, by the time 343 fixes the campaign of Halo Infinite, From software will have fixed Elden Ring's performance issue, released Elden Ring 2 with shitty performance and fixed that too.

Nintendo Is Removing Switch Emulation Videos On Steam Deck

https://exputer.com/news/nintendo/switch-emulation-steam-deck/

The SSD Edition: 2021 Drive Stats Review

https://www.backblaze.com/blog/ssd-edition-2021-drive-stats-review/

ASRock Is Really Making An ‘NFT’ Motherboard, Teases Soon To Launch Z690 PG Riptide NFT Edition

https://wccftech.com/asrock-is-really-making-an-nft-motherboard-teases-z690-pg-riptide-nft-edition/

ONEXPLAYER Mini handheld gaming console now available with AMD Ryzen 7 5800U processor, starts at $840

https://videocardz.com/newz/onexplayer-mini-handheld-gaming-console-now-available-with-amd-ryzen-7-5800u-processor-starts-at-840

The main problem with these handheld PCs other than being more expensive is the fact that they are still using Vega which gives you half the gaming performance of the Steam Deck. Like what is the purpose of having 8 cores on a power limited handheld PC?

I only just recently found out who that is, and I'm actually quite assmad as to why Sylvanas has become a typical Mary Sue, because the lead writer is nothing more than someone who likes to make those up. 

I think she's likely to be gone by the end of this expansion, because we've already seen Garrosh sacrifice his entire soul to save us, Arthas has now been unmade, and that leaves our fight with the Jailer, which Sylvanas seems keen to join in, so my guess is that she's gonna want to take a crack at him, which may involve her dying, but at this point I've stopped caring, because the lore doesn't matter anymore.

Unmaking a character ppl have liked and seen as an icon for years and years, is just straight up insulting. he didn't even get a conclusive and redeeming end, no, he just got deleted from the entire world and now lore, because he's "best left forgotten". 

I swear the lead writer is still a teenager inside, and hasn't grown the fuck up.

It should be GTA Online, not GTA V .

Seven different games, Not too bad.

Radeon RX 6000 and GeForce RTX 30 GPU prices reach record low since January 2021

https://videocardz.com/newz/radeon-rx-6000-and-geforce-rtx-30-gpu-prices-reach-record-low-since-january-2021

Stolen NVIDIA certificates are now used to sign malware

https://videocardz.com/newz/stolen-nvidia-certificates-are-now-used-to-sign-malware

Chinese Motherboard Maker, ONDA, Releases H610M+ Board With Both Single-DIMM DDR5 & DDR4 Memory Support

https://wccftech.com/onda-releases-h610m-motherboard-features-both-ddr5-ddr4-memory-support/

New Samsung USB-C Flash Drives (upcoming release)

https://semiconductor.samsung.com/consumer-storage/usb-flash-drive/type-c/

With speeds up to 400MB/s, flash storage getting pretty fast in such a small form factor

The Monday news!

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Elden Ring nears a million concurrent players on Steam, placing 6th all-time
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/elden-ring-nears-a-million-concurrent-players-on-steam-placing-6th-all-time/
If video games have anything like box office charts, it's starting to be concurrent player counts. Elden Ring is the latest to set record numbers, with the latest From Software release rocketing to more than 950,000 players in the second weekend after release. It peaked at 953,426 concurrent players, according to SteamDB.

Humble's Boomer Shooter bundle is one of the best FPS collections I've seen
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/humbles-boomer-shooter-bundle-is-one-of-the-best-fps-collections-ive-seen/
Humble Bundle has released what I personally think is one of the best cheap game collections it's put together in a very long time: The Best of Boomer Shooters Bundle, which packs together 10 really good shooters including Dusk, Amid Evil, Ultrakill, and Ion Fury for just $12.
>> That's at Humble, because when it comes to the Humble Store...

• The Fall Guys franchise is up to 60% off for the next 4 days. The keys are for Steam: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/fall-guys-franchise-sale/
• The Rockstar Publisher Sale features up to 65% discounts during the next 4 days. There are keys for Steam, EGS their own launcher: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/rockstar-publisher-sale/
• NIS America puts its games up to 80% off during the next 4 days. All the keys are for Steam: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/nis-america-publisher-sale/
• And the Pixel Perfect Platformers Sale features up to 90% discounts for 4 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/platformer-sale/

GOG has three three sales:

• The new flash deal is Phoenix Point: Year One Edition, 50% off during the next 46 hours: https://www.gog.com/en/game/phoenix_point_year_one_edition
• The Daedalic Sale from last week, featuring up to 90% discounts, will last another 50 hours: https://www.gog.com/promo/2022_daedalic_publisher_sale
• The new Weekly Sale comes with titles featuring female protagonists up to 90% off: https://www.gog.com/promo/20220307_weekly_sale
• Also, there women of GOG have selected a few titles for the Girl Power Collection (not e that this is not a sale, just a collection of games): https://www.gog.com/partner/girl_power_collection

Steam has two daily deals:

• The first daily deal is Lords and Villeins, still in Early Access, 20% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1287530/Lords_and_Villeins/
• The second one is Barn Finders, that has a demo, 50% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/991170/Barn_Finders/

Fanatical has some surprises as well:

• Fanatical's Spring Sale is now live! Check it out for thousands of deals.
• As part of the above, there are new Flash Deals: MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries (44% off) and World War Z: Aftermath (50% off) will last 24 hours while Control Ultimate Edition (77% off) will be available 48 hours.
• There's one new bundle: BYO All Star Bundle 4, featuring 20 games to choose your 1, 5 or 10 games bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-all-stars-bundle-4
• Finally, as with every sale, there's a way to get rewards and prizes. Check out how from here: https://www.fanatical.com/en/blog/spring-sale-spin-to-win-how-it-works-and-what-prizes-can-you-win

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

Nvidia's stolen data is being used to disguise malware as GPU drivers
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/nvidias-stolen-data-is-being-used-to-disguise-malware-as-gpu-drivers/
Because of leaked data linked to an Nvidia hack by a group calling itself Lapsus$, stolen code-signing certificates are being used to gain remote access to unsuspecting machines, and otherwise deploy malicious software.
According the Techpowerup, the certificates are being used to "develop a new breed of malware," and BleepingComputer lists Cobalt Strike beacons, Mimikatz, backdoors, and Remote Access Trojans (RATs) as just some of the malware being deployed by this means.
>> Be careful.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Half-Life 2 Overcharged has been released, available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/half-life-2-overcharged-has-been-released-available-for-download/
Back in January 2022, we informed you about a new graphical overhaul mod for Half-Life 2. And today, we are happy to report that Half-Life 2 Overcharged has been released, and is available for download.
Half-Life 2 Overcharged is a mod that aims to fix, improve and enhance numerous features and gameplay elements of Valve’s classic shooter.
The mod features completely reworked gunplay, extended maps, uncut locations and over 50 weapons. Moreover, it has accurate player screen movement, and will allow players to slow-down time.
Players can also expect a tweaked AI combat logic, which will make enemies a bit tougher. Furthermore, the duo has added some new combine units that players will fight. Additionally, there will be a “Fire Mode” feature, and over 300 gameplay options.

Cyberpunk 2077 mod adds vehicle combat and intense police chases
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/cyberpunk-2077-mod-adds-vehicle-combat-and-intense-police-chases/
The bevvy of futuristic vehicles in Cyberpunk 2077 are mostly just there to help you get from place to place. Sure, they look plenty cool, but you get the sense sometimes that maybe they could play a role in more than just traversal.
The Vehicle Combat mod by Scissors over on NexusMods looks to address that. The mod's primary feature, as its title suggests, is allowing players to aim and fire weapons while driving Cyberpunk 2077's rigs. In Scissor's own words, "There was some functionality in the game's code to enable the player to use weapons while driving. It looks like it was disabled, but thanks to some workarounds, it has now been mostly restored."
>> There's a video of the mod... that kind of explains why it was left out.

Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines fan patch has hit version 11.1
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/vampire-the-masquerade-bloodlines-fan-patch-has-hit-version-11/
Perennially topical cult classic RPG Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines has a thriving mod scene, and the one essential addition is the VTMB Unofficial Patch, a community-driven effort that's truly impressive in scope. Just this year it hit version 11.0 and, now, 11.1.
>> The article doesn't explain what changes does this update bring.

23 years later, someone made the game from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' Californication video
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/23-years-later-someone-made-the-game-from-the-red-hot-chili-peppers-californication-video/
The Red Hot Chili Peppers' Californication will always be a first-class earworm and, at the time of the song's release, was so successful as to be ubiquitous. One adjacent element of its appeal was the music video, directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, which features a made-up series of videogame levels with each of the band members undertaking some sort of activity in a virtual California. It's by far the group's most popular video with, at the time of writing, just under 920 million views.
"I wanted to play that game so bad!" says developer Miquel Camps Orteza. "It's 2022 and I haven't seen anyone made the game so I challenged myself to create it. I have selected some epic moments from the video and turned into 7 levels each one with different game mechanics, I hope you like this game."
>> The article features the Californication video, to please your ears and show you what could you expect from the game.

GAMING NEWS

Grand Theft Auto 5 – PC Max vs PS5/Xbox Series X Comparison Screenshots
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/grand-theft-auto-5-pc-max-vs-ps5-xbox-series-x-comparison-screenshots/
Two days ago, Rockstar revealed some technical details about the Enhanced Edition of Grand Theft Auto 5 that will be coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. This upgraded version will pack some visual enhancements, as well as support for Ray Tracing. From what we know so far, this new version will not be coming to PC at launch. And below, you can find some comparison screenshots between the original 2015 PC and the new PS5/Xbox Series X versions.
>> I wonder what excuse they'll use to explain why this update is coming later to PC... or why it won't come at all.