Congrats on getting a steam deck!

What's interesting is despite RDNA 2 getting massive discounts, Ampere prices are seemingly increasing, least at the top end.

It does sort of show that the market does not consider Radeon as an alternative in the top end which makes sense considering the lack of features even if you can get Radeon products for less. Because if people were buying RDNA 2 instead of Ampere due to the discounts, we should be seeing Ampere decreasing in price.

What's also interesting is various high end 30 series are actually going out of stock while Radeon products still remain in stock despite the price differences.

Congratulations, zero.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla headed to Steam Alongside other Ubisoft titles too.

https://www.eurogamer.net/assassins-creed-valhalla-headed-to-steam

You know EGS is fucked when even Ubisoft is coming back

Doesn't mean I'll be buying any Ubishat games till they get rid of Uplay tho

Patience is a virtue.

I can finally continue growing my AC collection

Oh boy... Even more expensive GPUs in the future...

Worth noting that 3nm FINFLEX doesn't seem scale that well for higher-end performance chips (the 3-2 fin configuration):

Even if GPU makers use the 2-2 configuration and the node is no more expensive than that price estimate, both big ifs, that's only a 10% increase in transistor density per $, which is really bad.

That means we'll likely enter a lull on performance improvements for quite a while since even the nodes coming beyond 2024-2026 (3nm single-fin and 2nm nanosheet) aren't much better than what you see above.

Yeah, now that it's basically only TSMC and to a lesser extent Samsung, they jack up the prices to no end.

For AMD, this is getting dangerous on the CPU side of things. Intel can produce much cheaper than AMD can acquire the chips at TSMC. So if in the future Intel would become totally dominant again, I'm not sure AMD could continue to compete over the price with these hikes unless selling at loss or intel really jacking up the CPU prices.

The Tuesday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 passes 25 million players in just 5 days
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/call-of-duty-warzone-2-0-passes-25-million-players-in-just-5-days/
Activision has announced that Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 has just surpassed 25 million players in just five days. For comparison purposes, the first COD: Warzone hit 30 million players in two weeks.

Brace yourself, Steam's Black Friday discounts will kick off with today's autumn sale
https://www.pcgamer.com/brace-yourself-steams-black-friday-discounts-will-kick-off-with-todays-autumn-sale/
It's that time of year again, by which I mean time to call my bank and assure them that, no, no one's stolen my debit card. Steam will be joining the rest of the world in the Black Friday deals apocalypse later today, when its annual autumn sale begins at 10 am PST, 1 pm EST, and 6 pm GMT (plus 4 am AEST on November 23 for people living in the future, otherwise known as Australians).
The sale will run until November 29, at which point none of us will have any money left anyway, and will run alongside the now-familiar Steam Awards voting process, giving you a chance to vote on your favourite games of the last year and—I have to assume—earning you a few trading cards in the process. You should probably sell those cards, by the way: You're gonna need every penny you can get.
>> Because of this sale, there aren't many new deals:

• There are some weeklong deals that will last until November 28. There aren't many, so it's easier for you to check them by yourselves.
• And there's also ICEY, that will be 60% off until December 1st: https://store.steampowered.com/app/553640/ICEY/

Fanatical has new deals, sales and bundles:

• The new Star Deal is God of War, 39% off during 24 hours or until they run out of keys: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/god-of-war
• The former is part of a Playstation PC LLC Games Sale, with up to 79% discounts during the next 7 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/playstation-pc-llc
• There are 14 new dollar bundles. They're too many to list so you'd be better checking them out by yourselves: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle
• And here's the usual contest, with a chance to win store coupons, money to be spent on the store, games and even a Steam Deck. Learn more here: https://www.fanatical.com/en/blog/black-friday-spin-to-win-how-it-works-what-prizes

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 & 4080 get new firmware to address blank screen launch issues
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4090-4080-get-new-firmware-to-address-blank-screen-launch-issues/
NVIDIA has released a new firmware that will address the blank screen launch issues for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 and 4080 GPUs that some users have reported.
Let’s take things from the beginning though. When NVIDIA launched the RTX 4090 and we started benchmarking it, we encountered this blank screen issue and reported our findings to NVIDIA. We were able to reproduce this issue multiple times, and we suggested the following firmware solution. And thankfully, the green team updated the Graphics Firmware Update Tool with support for both the RTX 4090 and RTX 4080.
This blank screen issue only occurs when you connect your RTX 4090 or RTX 4080 to a DisplayPort 1.3/1.4 monitor. This issue also only occurs if you have enabled Resizable Bar and disabled CSM on your motherboard BIOS. Furthermore, and despite some false reports, you CAN load your BIOS when your display is blank (and when entering the BIOS, your monitor will start working).
>> Check the article for the download link.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl Unofficial Remaster to be released on December 25th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/s-t-a-l-k-e-r-shadow-of-chernobyl-unofficial-remaster-to-be-released-on-december-25th/
Back in June 2022, we shared some screenshots from an unofficial remaster of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl. And today, we are happy to report that this unofficial remaster will release on December 25th.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl Rebuild is basically being rebuilt in the OGSR Engine, which is an evolution of the X-Ray Engine. This unofficial remaster will have higher-quality textures for select objects/surfaces. Players can also expect new sounds (from mutants to dialogs and weapons, replacing with high-quality ones, creating and adding new ones), better NPCs (also with some new NPC models), better shaders effects, and more.

These Cyberpunk 2077 mods can significantly increase traffic density
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/these-cyberpunk-2077-mods-can-significantly-increase-traffic-density/
Modders ‘NattyKathy’ and ‘tduality’ have released two new mods for Cyberpunk 2077 that attempt to increase the game’s traffic density. As such, and by using these mods, Night City can feel more lively, especially while driving.
Going into more details, NattyKathy’s mod increases spawn range slightly, pedestrian and vehicle density on foot, and adds more traffic in various “zones” of the city. Furthermore, it increases vehicle density while driving and lowers pedestrian density to claw back some CPU cycles.
(...)
On the other hand, tduality’s mainly focuses on fixing the game’s “behind-your-back” crowd and cars density issues. In case you weren’t aware, the game lowers the crowd and traffic settings behind your back. As a result of that, the game feels empty the moment you look behind your back. Not only that, but tduality has added an optional version with 20% more cars.

Cyberpunk 2077 dips into white collar crime with this working stock market and news mod
https://www.pcgamer.com/cyberpunk-2077-dips-into-white-collar-crime-with-this-working-stock-market-and-news-mod/
For all its faults, Cyberpunk 2077 is still an impressive achievement. Night City is a glimmering nest of skyscrapers that tower above a wide ocean of social rot. But one thing has always been missing: Why can't I monetise the rot?
Thanks to a new mod from keanuWheeze and scornthegreat (and uploaded by NexusGuy999, just winner names all around), you can! Stock Market and News System finally extends the dead hand of finance capital into Cyberpunk's day-to-day. As you can probably surmise from the mod's name, it adds a "fully useable" stock market system as well as a news service, both of which respond to your actions in-game.
That means 33 stock tickers you can monitor and invest in for the likes of Arasaka, Militech, Lazarus and others, all of which will bounce and dip depending on your completion of quests. It works like the stock market in GTA 5—massacring a bunch of a corp's goons can tank its stock (and give you an opportunity to buy low), but doing the same thing for that corporation's competitors could send stock skyrocketing.
The news service, meanwhile, comes with 66 news updates that are triggered based on the completion of missions and certain player actions. At long last, you too can have your name in lights if you just commit a crime of serious enough magnitude to warrant a news slot. You can even get notifications about your heinous deeds sent to your (in-game) phone. Convenient!

GAMING NEWS

Need for Speed Unbound gets a proper gameplay trailer, focusing on Speed Race
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/need-for-speed-unbound-gets-a-proper-gameplay-trailer-focusing-on-speed-race/
Electronic Arts has released a proper gameplay trailer for its upcoming arcade racing game, Need for Speed Unbound. This trailer focuses on the Speed Race event, and finally packs gameplay sequences that are longer than 5 seconds.

Forza Horizon 5 November 21st Update released, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/forza-horizon-5-november-21st-update-released-full-patch-notes/
Playground Games has released a new patch for Forza Horizon 5. According to the release notes, the November 21st Update fixes a number of bugs that plagued the game.
Going into more details, this patch fixes five specific issues. Moreover, it packs some general stability improvements. However, it does not restore the Auction House which remains unavailable.

ONE PIECE ODYSSEY gets a new 6-minute gameplay trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/one-piece-odyssey-gets-a-new-6-minute-gameplay-trailer/
Bandai Namco has released a new 6-minute gameplay trailer for ONE PIECE ODYSSEY. In this trailer, we get to explore Water Seven and learn more about the grand adventure ahead.

Lost Soul Aside gets a new gameplay trailer, captured on PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/lost-soul-aside-gets-a-new-gameplay-trailer-captured-on-pc/
Sony has released a new gameplay trailer for its upcoming action RPG, Lost Soul Aside. This trailer features both in-engine cut-scenes and gameplay sequences, which were captured on PC. Thus, this trailer basically confirms that the game will be also coming to our platform.

Battlefield 2042 Update 3.0.0 released and here are its full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/battlefield-2042-update-3-0-0-released-and-here-are-its-full-patch-notes/
Electronic Arts and DICE have kicked off Season 3 for Battlefield 2042 by releasing Update 3.0.0, and revealing its full patch notes. This update adds a new map (Spearhead), a new Specialist (Rasheed Zain) and a new vehicle (EMKV90-TOR). Furthermore, it adds new weapons, throwing knives as a new gadget, and new vault weapons.

Tuesday news, part two:

The 40th Golden Joystick Awards to be hosted by Troy Baker and Laura Bailey
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-40th-golden-joystick-awards-to-be-hosted-by-troy-baker-and-laura-bailey/
The 40th Golden Joystick Awards will be hosted by actors Laura Bailey and Troy Baker (Abby and Joel in The Last of Us, respectively, along with appearances in countless other titles). You can watch the pair hand out the gongs, virtually speaking, when the awards ceremony is broadcast on Tuesday, November 22 on Twitch, YouTube and GamesRadar+ at 12 pm PST / 3 pm EST / 8 pm GMT. The awards are run by PC Gamer's parent company, Future.

Team Ninja boss seemingly confirms Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive reboots in slide presentation
https://www.pcgamer.com/team-ninja-boss-seemingly-confirms-ninja-gaiden-and-dead-or-alive-reboots-in-slide-presentation/
Two classic Team Ninja franchises could be receiving a new lease on life, according to a translated developer talk.
Reboots of both Ninja Gaiden and Dead or Alive are reportedly in the works, seemingly confirmed by Team Ninja's president at a panel at South Korea's G-Star conference this weekend. As reported by VGC (via Ruliweb), Fumihikio Yasuda didn't provide any details on either resurrection but essentially confirmed that they were happening.

Microsoft offered Sony a 10 year deal to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation
https://www.pcgamer.com/microsoft-offered-sony-a-10-year-deal-to-keep-call-of-duty-on-playstation/
Microsoft's proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard is facing intense scrutiny from regulators around the world, with one of the main sticking points being the future of the Call of Duty series on PlayStation platforms. In an effort to help assuage those concerns and push the deal through, Microsoft told the New York Times that earlier this month it committed to a 10-year deal with Sony to keep the Call of Duty series on PlayStation consoles.

Warzone 2's scariest weapon is a flying bomb, and that's OK
https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty-warzone-2-bomb-drone-deadliest-weapon/
Call of Duty: Warzone 2's most vicious weapon might not be a gun at all, it might just be a drone equipped to blow up near targets. The bomb drones, a rare pickup on the Warzone 2 map, are quiet, can find targets through walls, and blow up with such power that an entire team at full health can be reduced to rubble in seconds. Reddit, and other social media, is littered with videos of players cackling madly as their bomb drones take down enemies.

Modern Warfare 2 players are turning into lethal orangutans with new 'G Walking' glitch
https://www.pcgamer.com/modern-warfare-2-players-are-turning-into-lethal-orangutans-with-new-g-walking-glitch/
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 players are at it again. Not content with defying both divine and natural law with MW2's superman trick, they've now developed a frustrating and nightmarish movement technique they're calling the "G Walk," which turns them into some kind of speedy, barely-targetable primate. You can see what I mean below.

Fortnite crossover gives a taste of open world Rocket League—something Psyonix once considered
https://www.pcgamer.com/fortnite-crossover-gives-us-a-taste-of-open-world-rocket-leaguesomething-psyonix-once-considered/
I'm going to wax slightly lyrical here but Rocket League is one of those games I can't imagine existing in any other form. Yes it's now accumulated many years' worth of cruft around it but developer Psyonix has never messed with that near-perfect core experience. Psyonix is now owned by Epic which has seen plenty of crossover between the game and Fortnite, but the latest stirs a dim memory of what could have been: one of the roads that these battle cars never traveled.
A new update adds the Octane, Rocket League's most recognisable car, to various Fortnite modes excluding competitive. You can hop into Octane and it behaves more-or-less as any Rocket League fan might expect: double jumps, boosts, wall-running, and dodging around, it's like playing one game in another.

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters' first DLC has Dreadnoughts aplenty
https://www.pcgamer.com/warhammer-40000-chaos-gate-daemonhunters-first-dlc-has-dreadnoughts-aplenty/
In the grim present of tactical turn-based gaming, Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters has decided there isn’t just war, but also room for big stompy coffin-robots, the stars of its first DLC: Duty Eternal. The Grey Knights are getting some reinforcements in their ongoing battle against the plague-piñata forces of Nurgle, with both playable Dreadnoughts and a new class in the form of the Techmarine.

Calling all Vikings! The Valheim Mistlands update is now live on the public test branch
https://www.pcgamer.com/calling-all-vikings-the-valheim-mistlands-update-is-now-live-on-the-public-test-branch/
It's been a long, long wait for the Valheim Mistlands update, but now it's here! Mostly. While the new Mistlands biome hasn't been fully launched or added to the base game of Valheim yet, it is accessible on the public test branch and you can check it out for yourself right now. Finally!

Suspicious: Marvin the Martian joins Multiversus just as Bugs Bunny gets nerfed
https://www.pcgamer.com/suspicious-marvin-the-martian-joins-multiversus-just-as-bugs-bunny-gets-nerfed/
MultiVersus is still technically in open beta, but in one of those senses where 'beta' doesn't really mean what it should; not least because it's been supported since launch with various seasonal content and battle passes. Season 2 has started, and the headline addition is everyone's favourite Marvin the Martian, a cartoon character with the rather dark goal of destroying Earth so it doesn't get in the way of his view of Venus.

After calling online games 'spiritual opium,' China says youth have now kicked the habit
https://www.pcgamer.com/after-calling-online-games-spiritual-opium-china-says-youth-have-now-kicked-the-habit/
In yet another sign that Beijing might be gearing up to ease its ongoing crackdown on the games industry, China's top gaming industry association released a report today declaring that the problem of gaming addiction among Chinese youth has been "basically resolved". Well, I guess that wasn't so hard, was it?
>> Wow. They're better dealing with this than COVID.