So. November will soon come to a close and Christmas is coming soon. You know what that means: the Secret Santa Event.

I can already hear the crickets chirping as the only response I'll get from this question but... is there any volunteer to take care of it?

I won't be able to but that's because I am actually getting married in February so I am increasingly becoming preoccupied with other things lol

Reckon their sales from their last few deals didn't really do much (like FFVIIR P1).

Still, SE is likely gonna roll with Denuvo and a stupidly high price point. 

Wow, the lengths some you go to avoid doing it .

Congratulations, man.

Thanks lol

Dunno if anyone here follows or cares much about AI development, but RIP OpenAI:

Win for Microsoft. Hopefully this doesn't hurt the open source end of the industry too much.

They were basically owned by Microsoft already, I'm surprised the Board was that late to realize the deal with the Devil they had made. Also, LOL if they had no NCCs in place.

OT - the last fan is here and now I consider the new rig complete for the time being. Woop de doo. Playing Returnal now, but for some reason isn't working in DX12, which sucks because no RT. But 144 fps at 1440p and just 50% GPU use is... quite insane.

^Nice.

The Tuesday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Steam's Top 10

(Click here for the top 100)

Styx: Shards of Darkness is free to keep on GOG
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/styx-shards-of-darkness-is-free-to-keep-on-gog/
Nacon is currently offering for free Cyanide’s stealth game, Styx: Shards of Darkness, on GOG. Until November 24th, PC gamers can visit its GOG store page and acquire their free copy.
>> Here's the link to get the game: https://www.gog.com/en/game/styx_shards_of_darkness

And that's part of what GOG was working on: it's Black Friday Sale, with over 6000 items on sale featuring up to 90% discounts until November, 28th. Learn more here: https://www.gog.com/en/news/black_friday_sale_uncharted_release_over_6000_offers_up_to_90_giveaway_and_more
Also, there's a Microids BYOB, that will last the same as the Sale: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/byob_microids_2023_black_friday.

Steam has three new deals:

• Black Book will be 60% off until the 27th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1138660/Black_Book/
• Settlement Survival gets a 40% discount until November, 28th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1509510/Settlement_Survival/
• Project Hospital will feature a 66% deal until the 28th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/868360/Project_Hospital/
• Technically, there are some weeklong deals, but given that they're less than ten, you can check them out by yourselves.

Keep in mind that Steam has so few deals because later today it will launch its Black Fr... I mean, Autumn Sale

.

Fanatical has four new Flash Deals and several bundles:

• These are the new 24h Flash Deals:
  • Hi-Fi Rush Digital Deluxe is 41% off: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/hi-fi-rush-digital-deluxe
  • Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered has a 49% discount: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/marvel-s-spider-man-remastered
  • Klonoa Phantasy Reverie Series features a 79% discount: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/klonoa-phantasy-reverie-series
  • The last one is Dead Island Definitive Collection, 91% off: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/dead-island-definitive-collection
• And there are 16 one dollar (or euro) bundles. Not all of them have games, but it's better if you check them out by yourselves: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

INTEL Arc & Iris Graphics 31.0.101.4972 driver
https://videocardz.com/driver/intel-arc-iris-graphics-31-0-101-4972
Fixed Issues
Intel Arc Graphics Products:

• Starfield (DX12) may experience lower than expected performance with Update 1.8.86

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gets a must-have UltraCam Mod, featuring FreeCam, Dynamic FPS, FOV & QoL Improvements
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/zelda-tears-of-the-kingdom-gets-a-must-have-ultracam-mod-featuring-freecam-dynamic-fps-fov-qol-improvements/
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom now has an awesome UltraCam Mod, but it’s only for PC players. This mod lets you use a free camera to make cool cinematic videos. Plus, it has a FOV option to make the game look even better on PC.
The UltraCam Mod also makes the game smoother. It improves the resolution scaling and makes it run at a smooth 60FPS without getting too fast or too slow. You don’t even need another mod to unlock the framerate because the UltraCam Mod has its own DFPS (dynamic FPS). According to the modder, it’s way better than DFPS 1.5.5 beta3 and can reduce the annoying stutters that are present when using DFPS 1.5.5.
(...)
Here’s another awesome mod for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. This one adds a first-person camera, giving you a totally new way to play the game. I really think you should check it out, especially if you prefer playing games in first-person mode.
>> There's a slightly over 11 minutes video of the first mod, and nothing for the second.

This Red Dead Redemption 2 Mod restores dialogue that was cut from the game
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/this-red-dead-redemption-2-mod-restores-dialogue-that-was-cut-from-the-game/
Modder ‘Milferino’ has released a new mod for Red Dead Redemption 2 that restores unused voice lines for Arthur and John. These dialogue lines were cut from the game, meaning that they have not been created with any AI tools. In other words, this is a restoration mod.
Now if you’ve been regular, you may remember a similar mod we shared for RDR2 in August 2023. Milferino notes that his mod includes everything that was in there and restores many more lines. It was also made with “updated natives and my own framework that I built specifically for this mod.” Thus, you might want to give this one a go.
Also note that each line, like “LAW_COMPANION_REPLY_NEG,” can have more than 10 different versions. This results in a large amount of restored content. So, you won’t hear Arthur or John saying the same line often in a short time.
>> There are no screenshots nor videos of this mod.

Monster Hunter World gets an HD Mod that improves over 130 textures
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/monster-hunter-world-gets-an-hd-mod-that-improves-over-130-textures/
Modder Ridog8 just dropped a new HD Mod for Monster Hunter World. This mod revamps more than 130 textures and actually has better ones than the official HD Texture Pack. So, if you are currently playing this game, you might want to check it out.
My guess is that Ridog8 uses AI tools in order to enhance the original textures. Or at least that’s my assumption after watching his comparison video. This basically means that this Texture Pack retains the art style of the game. At the same time, the visual improvement does not appear to be that great. Yes, the new textures are slightly better. However, this isn’t anywhere close to what the HD Reworked Projects for Cyberpunk 2077 or Starfield have achieved. In short, make sure to temper your expectations
>> There's an almost 4 minutes video of the mod.

Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 Unreal Engine 4 Remake Version 1.02 Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/star-wars-dark-forces-2-unreal-engine-4-remake-version-1-02/
In February, we informed you about a fan remake of Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 in Unreal Engine. And today, we are happy to report that a new version of it has been released. Yeap, you read that right Star Wars fans. You can experience this classic Star Wars FPS with modern graphics.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 Unreal Engine Remake Version 1.02 features 3 official levels from the original game and 4 Survival levels. It also comes with a Sandbox mode and a 3D model viewer. Oh, and there is also a bonus level for testing.
In order to celebrate this release, Ruppertle has also shared a new trailer for this fan remake. This trailer shows off the new 3D models for the enemies, as well as the recreated environments. It looks incredible so be sure to watch it.

GAMING NEWS

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League Closed Alpha Test begins on November 30th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/suicide-squad-kill-the-justice-league-closed-alpha-test-begins-on-november-30th/
Warner Bros has announced that the closed beta testing for Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League will begin on November 30th. This beta testing will last until December 4th, and it will allow you to play for the first time this Games as a Service (GaaS) title.

Tuesday news, part two:

League of Legends' most iconic map is getting a huge makeover, ridable monsters, and an infestation of gross alien insects
https://www.pcgamer.com/league-of-legends-summoners-rift-season-14-changes/
Summoner's Rift, the core map in League of Legends, is one of the most iconic maps in all of gaming, existing in largely the same form for years. But nothing stays the same forever, and Riot has decided that for Season 14, it deserves a major shake-up.

Popular Diablo 4 streamer reckons 'you're not really supposed to finish the last tier' of the upcoming Abbatoir of Zir event
https://www.pcgamer.com/popular-diablo-4-streamer-reckons-youre-not-really-supposed-to-finish-the-last-tier-of-the-upcoming-abbatoir-of-zir-event/
At this year's BlizzCon event, Blizzard revealed a formidable new endgame event coming to Diablo 4 called the Abbatoir of Zir. Set to go live on December 5 as part of patch 1.2.3, this event sees players tackling a set of dungeons designed to push your character to the limit, offering "permanent and evergreen endgame challenges."
The challenging nature of Abbatoir of Zir was reiterated by popular Diablo 4 streamer Wudijo, who visited Blizzard to check out the endgame event. According to Wudijo, Abbatoir of Zir is difficult to the point that "you're not really supposed to finish the last tier".

WoW's telegraphs are so cluttered that even the best guild in the world is using darkening potions during raids so they can fight more effectively
https://www.pcgamer.com/wows-telegraphs-are-so-cluttered-that-even-the-best-guild-in-the-world-is-using-darkening-potions-during-raids-so-they-can-fight-more-effectively/
World of Warcraft: Dragonflight has its fans and detractors, but on one point a huge number of players agree: the game's telegraphs, the visual and audio cues that show what a given character is about to do, have become harder than ever to see. Some abilities have similar colours to the environment, while with others the hitbox behind the visual pizazz isn't clear at all. Conveniently enough, however, Dragonflight arrived with a new kind of consumable that the world's best players are using to see through the fog.

Two years after FF14's botched distribution of an 'eat pizza' emote that sold on eBay for hundreds of dollars (yes, really), you can finally buy it for $7
https://www.pcgamer.com/two-years-after-ff14s-botched-distribution-of-an-eat-pizza-emote-that-sold-on-ebay-for-hundreds-of-dollars-yes-really-you-can-finally-buy-it-for-dollar7/
A couple of years back, Final Fantasy 14 had a major drama involving a pizza emote, GrubHub, and a promotional campaign some unlucky souls spent over $30 dollars on. Yes, this really was a big deal. Let me explain why.

Co-op horror game Lethal Company costs $10 and is outselling Call of Duty on Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/co-op-horror-game-lethal-company-costs-dollar10-and-is-outselling-call-of-duty-on-steam/
One of my favourite things about modern PC gaming is when the bubbling microbial soup of Steam unexpectedly spits out a preposterously successful game. It happened this summer with BattleBit Remastered. It happened with Phasmophobia a couple of years back. It arguably happened with Baldur's Gate 3, although that one has a fair amount more pedigree behind it.
Lethal Company is the most recent contender to leap up the Steam sales charts like a cross between a gazelle and a mountain goat. Released last month into Steam Early Access, it currently sits in third place on Steam's global top sellers list, with over 20,000 "overwhelmingly positive" Steam reviews, and almost 30,000 people playing it right now. It's beating out Baldur's Gate 3, PUBG, and even Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 to claim that position on the top sellers list (which is sorted by total revenue), and the only products higher than it are the Steam Deck and Counter-Strike 2.
>> I'll save you the hassle, it was 4th in last week's Steam top 10.

Epic admits Fortnite's new age ratings 'didn't hit the mark,' says a new system is coming soon as part of a 'big in-game event'
https://www.pcgamer.com/epic-admits-fortnites-new-age-ratings-didnt-hit-the-mark-says-a-new-system-is-coming-soon-as-part-of-a-big-in-game-event/
Epic Games has admitted that the new island-based age rating system in Fortnite "didn't hit the mark," and now it's working on something new that will hopefully make things a little more equitable for everyone.

This upcoming indie game about mining asteroids and fighting aliens might be the new Homeworld-style experience I've been waiting for
https://www.pcgamer.com/this-upcoming-indie-game-about-mining-asteroids-and-fighting-aliens-might-be-the-new-homeworld-style-experience-ive-been-waiting-for/
I'm not really a strategy guy, but I'll put up with it if the vibes are right: That's why, for instance, I loved Homeworld even though RTS games are normally a quick "no" from me. Starminer, a sort-of-new game announced today by persuasively-named Slovenian studio CoolAndGoodGames, might just fit into that specific niche: For a game about working a blue collar job, it looks very slick.

'Segregating high skill players from the population at large, forcing long wait times on them, is a form of discrimination': former Halo multiplayer lead on the 'failure' of SBMM in modern games
https://www.pcgamer.com/segregating-high-skill-players-from-the-population-at-large-forcing-long-wait-times-on-them-is-a-form-of-discrimination-former-halo-multiplayer-lead-on-the-failure-of-sbmm-in-modern-games/
If you ever want to toss a discourse grenade into a room and watch the sparks fly, bring up skill-based matchmaking. How much or little developers should factor player skill into who you're permitted to play against in multiplayer games is an evergreen debate of our hobby, but it's not everyday that an expert on the topic chimes in.

Players discover the Dark Urge of Baldur's Gate 3 has one crucial weakness: capitalism
https://www.pcgamer.com/players-discover-the-dark-urge-of-baldurs-gate-3-has-one-crucial-weakness-capitalism/
Baldur's Gate 3 is flooded with little secrets and hidden dialogue. Despite the fact the game's been out for months, I'm still seeing players discover hidden exchanges, tucked behind weird progression orders and specific origin stories. Spoilers for the true identity of the Dark Urge lie below.

Modern Warfare 3's loathed 'Groot' skin is getting yanked and nerfed following widespread player backlash
https://www.pcgamer.com/modern-warfare-3s-loathed-groot-skin-is-getting-yanked-and-nerfed-following-widespread-player-backlash/
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's not-so-happy tree friend is set for a nerf. Players have been in an uproar about the Gaia skin—which turns MW3's Nova into a kind of arboreal sleep paralysis demon that some people liken to Groot—ever since it was introduced as part of the game's season 6 battle pass. But now Sledgehammer says not to worry: The studio is going to temporarily disable the skin soon while it works on a nerf.

Devs from The Simpsons Hit & Run say the game could've had four sequels, but the publisher said nah: 'The stars [were] aligned … and then it was just: huh, I guess we're not [making them]'
https://www.pcgamer.com/devs-from-the-simpsons-hit-and-run-say-the-game-couldve-had-four-sequels-but-the-publisher-said-nah-the-stars-were-aligned-and-then-it-was-just-huh-i-guess-were-not-making-them/
The Simpsons Hit & Run—a GTA-style send-up that somehow managed to be actually pretty dang good—came out in 2003 to some stirring commercial success. I have some fond memories of romping around Springfield as an accident-prone Homer, and while I'm certainly not alone, the game never had a sequel. Turns out, it very nearly had four.