All this is going to do is get more devs to come out of the woodwork to bitch at customers as to why they're going for the 100% cut and give us some sappy sob story as to why "fuck you customer". 

I've seen what happened with Ooblets and other games, where Timmy has congratulated the bad behaviour towards customers and fans.

I guarantee you, any game that goes exclusive for each of those 6 months is never getting a sale from me, even when they hit Steam. I have never bought a game that was a timed EGS excusive, even when it hits Steam, I just slapped them onto ignore, and I've 0 intentions of ever changing that, simply because Epic stuck to their  guns, so they've no real intention to change, thus I'm going to stick to mine.

This feels a lot like what MS did back in the day. Sure MS have gotten better with PC over time, but I still to this day, do not trust them at all, and I'm still pissed that thanks to their shitty GFWL system, a number of my games are just fucked forever. I am a guy that is very hard to regain trust with. if you do me wrong numerous times, it will take a decade if not a lifetime to make it up (because if you've done it numerous times, it means you aren't learning to do better or not do wrong, and it also means you don't care, so the scorn is rightfully earned if you keep doing the wrong moves).

Also on a side note:, I'd love if Epic would stop getting devs to enforce their EoS "crossplay", because no one on Steam is asking in the millions to play with EGS users, and this form of "crossplay" is rendering my games into always online titles, and that is pissing me right the fuck off, that I'm now having to uninstall the games and block the studios on Steam (because fuck buying from a dev doing Epic's shitty dirty work of fucking over a client I use). 

The Friday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

The Humble Store has launched the Capcom Summer Spotlight, with up to 83% discounts during the next 13 days. All the keys are for Steam: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/capcom-summer-spotlight/.

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

INTEL Arc & Iris Graphics 31.0.101.4669
https://videocardz.com/driver/intel-arc-iris-graphics-31-0-101-4669
Highlights
Intel® Game On Driver support on Intel® Arc™ A-series Graphics for: Armored Core 6

Fixed Issues
Intel® Arc™ Graphics Products:

• Shadow of The Tomb Raider (DX11) may experience an application crash after loading to game menu.
• Some Intel® Arc™ A380 products may incorrectly report a higher value than expected for default clock frequency value

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind Rebirth 6.4 available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/the-elder-scrolls-iii-morrowind-rebirth-6-4-available-for-download/
Modder ‘trancemaster_1988’ has released a brand new version of the Rebirth Mod for The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. According to its changelog, Morrowind 6.4 fixes numerous bugs and issues that plagued it, and it adds new content to it.
In case you weren’t aware, Morrowind Rebirth is a complete overhaul of Bethesda’s classic RPG. This mod adds countless new details, weapons, armors and much more for you to see and do. Basically, this is a must-have mod for those who want to replay this classic TES game.
>> The article has a detailed changelog, but no screenshots nor videos.

GAMING NEWS

Baldur’s Gate 3 Patch #1 released, fixing over 1000 bugs, gameplay, balance & flow issues
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/baldurs-gate-3-patch-1-released-fixing-over-1000-bugs-balancing-flow-issues/
Larian Studios has just released Patch #1 for Baldur’s Gate 3, which fixes over 100 bugs, balancing and flow issues. The studio has also stated that Patch 2, which is right around the corner, will feature significant performance improvements.

Forspoken and Immortals of Aveum will be the first games using AMD FSR 3.0
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/forspoken-and-immortals-of-aveum-will-be-the-first-games-using-amd-fsr-3-0/
Although AMD will hold its Gamescom 2023 Gaming Festival in a few hours, a slide from its presentation was leaked online, revealing the first games that will use its FSR 3.0 tech.
>> The source is Videocardz, so Jizz will likely post the original, and more detailed, article.

Here are 14 minutes of gameplay from Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 Gamescom 2023 Demo
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-14-minutes-of-gameplay-from-warhammer-40k-space-marine-2-gamescom-2023-demo/
IGN has shared a new video, showcasing 14 minutes of gameplay from the Gamescom 2023 Demo of Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2.

Friday news, part two:

Survive a zombie outbreak and screw over other players in The Walking Dead: Betrayal's open beta
https://www.pcgamer.com/survive-a-zombie-outbreak-and-screw-over-other-players-in-the-walking-dead-betrayals-open-beta/
The Walking Dead: Betrayal is a third-person survival-and-murder sim in which a group of eight people must work together to survive a zombie outbreak somewhere in rural Canada. It sounds, and looks, a lot like the outstanding 2019 survival-deception game Project Winter—which makes sense, it's being developed by the same studio—but with one intriguing twist: Roaming hordes of zombies means there's not always time to think about your next move.

The BioWare layoffs include the writer responsible for Dragon Age's best character
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-bioware-layoffs-include-the-writer-responsible-for-dragon-ages-best-character/
BioWare is laying off 50 employees, studio manager Gary McKay announced yesterday. No mention of what roles were being made redundant was made at the time, only that the studio's "commitment remains steadfast" when it comes to the upcoming Dragon Age: Dreadwolf. That's hard to believe now, in light of the fact that writer Mary Kirby, who gave the world the hairy-chested Varric, is among those looking for new employment.

Starfield's starter ship has been tested in Kerbal Space Program, and the poor thing won't stop exploding
https://www.pcgamer.com/starfields-starter-ship-has-been-tested-in-kerbal-space-program-and-the-poor-thing-wont-stop-exploding/
Bethesda's mega RPG Starfield looms on the horizon, arriving planetside in September—and the excitement for some fans has reached a fever pitch. One such fan by the name of SWDennis on Youtube decided to try and contain this excitement by recreating the game's starter ship—the Frontier—in Kerbal Space Program (KSP) and, in typical KSP fashion, the poor thing cannot land to save its life.

Pete Hines can't even put a number on how long Starfield takes to complete: 'I'm at 150-160 hours on my current playthrough and I haven't even come close'
https://www.pcgamer.com/pete-hines-cant-even-put-a-number-on-how-long-starfield-takes-to-complete-im-at-150-160-hours-on-my-current-playthrough-and-i-havent-even-come-close/
It's the final days of Starfield's run-up to launch, and Bethesda has arrived at Gamescom in full force to promote it. Game director Todd Howard teased unannounced Starfield surprises at Opening Night Live, head of publishing Pete Hines told players not to skip Starfield's "activities," and now Hines is talking hour counts.

Starfield has a New Game+ mode with 'unique and exciting twist,' in case the sheer size of the game isn't enough to keep you playing for hundreds of hours anyway
https://www.pcgamer.com/starfield-has-a-new-game-mode-with-unique-and-exciting-twist-in-case-the-sheer-size-of-the-game-isnt-enough-to-keep-you-playing-for-hundreds-of-hours-anyway/
To hear Bethesda tell it, Starfield is very much like space as perceived by Douglas Adams: You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to Starfield. In light of that, a New Game+ mode might seem like a bit of a waste, and yet according to a new GQ feature on the game, it will have one—of some sort.
>> Unfortunately, there's no word on what this mode offers.

You can launch Starfield as early as August 31, its global release times confirm
https://www.pcgamer.com/you-can-launch-starfield-as-early-as-august-31-its-global-release-times-confirm/
The big RPGs of 2023 just keep coming and it's nearly time to fasten your spacebelt for Starfield's launch. Bethesda has distributed the official itinerary for takeoff today so we can all be on the same page about exactly when this game actually comes out. It's either September 1 or September 6, depending on how you view early access for premium edition purchasers.
As several big games have done recently, Starfield is muddying the meaning of "early access" and consequently "launch date" as well, but Bethesda's global (galactic?) release times infographic should mostly sort things out.

Todd Howard kinda wishes he hadn't announced The Elder Scrolls 6 the way he did
https://www.pcgamer.com/todd-howard-kinda-wishes-he-hadnt-announced-the-elder-scrolls-6-the-way-he-did/
We've been talking an awful lot about Starfield over the past few weeks, but hey, what about Bethesda's other upcoming mega-RPG, The Elder Scrolls 6? It's been a full five years since the next great adventure in Tamriel was announced, and we still know absolutely nothing about it. That's unlikely to change anytime soon, judging from a new interview with GQ, in which game director Todd Howard admitted that if he had to do that reveal all over again, he might handle it a little differently.

WoW Classic's hardcore servers have launched, giving Blizzard fans a whole new way to punish themselves
https://www.pcgamer.com/wow-classics-hardcore-servers-have-launched-giving-blizzard-fans-a-whole-new-way-to-punish-themselves/
World of Warcraft Classic's hardcore servers—which have been available on its PTR for some time—have officially launched on its live realms, alongside an official trailer which you can watch below.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is coming to Game Pass on day one, and will be inspired by Cowboy Bebop and Firefly
https://www.pcgamer.com/citizen-sleeper-2-starward-vector-is-coming-to-game-pass-on-day-one-and-will-be-inspired-by-cowboy-bebop-and-firefly/
I played Citizen Sleeper right before moving to a new city on my own this year, and the experience of coming to a foreign, terrifying space—only to build a home there against all odds, finding reasons to stay—was one of those irreplaceable indie gaming moments that changed the way my brain's wired. To say I'm excited for Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is an understatement, even if I'm sure it'll make me bawl my eyes out all over again.

And these are the GOG and Steam deals for the weekend:

+GOG

• GOG only has new Deals of the Day, and the first one is RimWorld, 20% off: https://www.gog.com/en/game/rimworld
  • And the RimWorld - Royalty DLC gets a 10% discount: https://www.gog.com/en/game/rimworld_royalty
• The GOG-Opera GX Platformer Bundle, with three games, gets a 72% discount: https://www.gog.com/en/game/gogopera_gx_platformer_bundle
• And the last DotD is Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation + Chronicles, 86% off: https://www.gog.com/en/game/tomb_raider_the_last_revelation_chronicles

+Steam

• The Icarus Relaunch Sale features up to 50% discounts until August, 31st: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/icarus
• Tormented Souls, that has a demo, will be 50% off until the 31st: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1367590/Tormented_Souls/
• Saints Row has launched on the store and will be 67% off until the 31st: https://store.steampowered.com/app/742420/Saints_Row/
• Clanfolk, still in Early Access, gets a 25% discount until the 4th of September: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1700870/Clanfolk/
• Destiny 2 has some of its content of sale with up to 67% discounts until the 5th of September: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1085660/Destiny_2/
• Planet of Lana gets a 25% discount until September, the 7th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1608230/Planet_of_Lana/
• And the last one is For The King, that's going to be free to play during the weekend and 75% off until the 7th of September: https://store.steampowered.com/app/527230/For_The_King/

And that's it. Now go, go have a good and gaming weekend.

AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution 3 (FSR3) is “coming soon” to Forspoken and Immortals of Aveum

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-fidelityfx-super-resolution-3-fsr3-is-coming-soon-to-forspoken-and-immortals-of-aveum

Still no confirmed date but hopefully it will be "soon" so we can see how it looks and feels against DLSS 3. Nvidia of course has one big input latency advantage and that is with Reflex which Radeon still does not have an alternative to.

They also said it will work on all GPUs but I get the feeling it will be no where near as good as DLSS 3.

AMD announces Radeon RX 7800 XT 16GB and RX 7700 XT 12GB graphics cards

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-announces-radeon-rx-7800-xt-16gb-and-rx-7700-xt-12gb-graphics-cards

We will see if those performance claims are actually legit against 4070. But the 7700XT should no doubt beat the 4060 Ti. The prices aren't too bad though but like, why would anyone get a 7700XT? lol. $50 more and you get the 7800XT...

Ara: History Untold is shaping up to be something special in the 4X genre. The way they're handling combat is something I've dreamed of. In Civilization, you used to have 1v1s to have you picture armies dueling. In the latest game IIRC, there were.....4v4 or 5v5, it's been years since I've played Civ 6 lol, and while better, you never got the feeling that these were supposed to be epic battles happening. 

But with this top-down camera overlooking the battlefield, it looks more like Total War! I love it!!

Well, that confirms I'm switching to Team Red for my next build I was honestly expecting the 7800XT to be around $700 minimum considering the 7900XT is $900. What a drop down in price!

I dunno why you wanna wait and see how FSR 3 turns out, we all know AMD won't be catching up to Nvidia overnight. I fully expect less than stellar results and another "meh" slideshow.

Nvidia has all of this on lockdown for at least another 5 or more years until AMD magically gets great engineers, a new CEO and those below said CEO, as well as a crap ton more money.

I'm just going by history here, because FSR 1 was blurry, 2 was still meh, still a bit blurry, so I'm naturally not going to expect 3 to be some DLSS 3.5 blow for blow output.

Additional news

- FSR 3 is targeting early fall
- As shown previously, Starfield will not include FSR 3 and Bethesda is also not a partner for FSR 3 implementation
- FSR 3 is recommended for RDNA 1 and newer and RTX 20 series and newer
- FSR 3 will also have a motion interpolation driver level toggle that will work in every game kind of like how FSR 1 has a driver level toggle. (likely will be bad tho just like the FSR 1 toggle and Nvidia's SIS)
- Anti-Lag Plus is a new feature Exclusive to RDNA 3. It is enabled at a driver level. It sounds like Reflex but Reflex is in an in-game vs Anti-Lag Plus is at a driver level once again. Anti-Lag Plus is separate from FSR 3s own latency reducing tech.
-Anti-Lag Plus uses some proprietary technology that is only on RDNA 3 hence the exclusivity.
- FSR has a new Native Anti-Aliasing mode similar to DLAA
- Hypr-RX is a single toggle that enables Radeon Boost + Anti-Lag Plus +  Radeon Super Resolution + Fluid Motion Frames. In game implementation will use FSR while driver toggle will use  Radeon Super Resolution (FSR 1). You can customize which of them features is enabled and disabled. Hypr-RX is also Exclusive to RDNA 3.

Well a 7800XT should be around the performance of a 6800XT judging by those specs so they really couldn't price it any higher than a 4070 which costs $600 or even a 6800XT which costs around $530. Still a $100 less than a 4070 is a good price. I'd still wait for the reviews because I get the feeling it will be slower than 4070 but at $500, you can't go wrong either way.

Cool, I guess my 1080ti is officially left in the dust with FSR 3 lol.