Thanks dude!

Congratulations and best wishes for your future together!

Hardware unboxed wasted a video.

We knew how bad the 6500XT was when it launched in Jan, 2022.

Yep.

He should have waited until the 8700G is out, so they could compare it with modern integrated graphics. That would at least have been a meaningful comparison.

Thanks a lot dude!

The first post of the Monday news, full of mods:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

GOG starts the week with three new Deals of the Day, that will last until Wednesday:

• The first one is Slay the Princess, 10% off: https://www.gog.com/en/game/slay_the_princess
• Two Point Hospital gets a 75% discount: https://www.gog.com/en/game/two_point_hospital
• And Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Grand Master Collection also gets a 75% deal: https://www.gog.com/en/game/warhammer_40000_dawn_of_war_ii_grand_master_collection

Steam has two new deals:

• Steep will be 90% off until the 14th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/460920/Steep/
• And Animal Shelter will have a 50% discount until January, the 20th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1239320/Animal_Shelter/

Humble Bundle has launched the Play Pink With Twin Sails Bundle, with up to 35 items to get during 18 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/play-pink-with-twin-sails.

And Fanatical has a new Star Deal: Dead Island Definitive Collection will be 91% off during 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/dead-island-definitive-collection.

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

This Cyberpunk 2077 Mod improves the quality of Subsurface Scattering for all characters and NPCs
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/cyberpunk-2077-mod-quality-subsurface-scattering-npcs/
Modder ‘Avallonkao’ has released a must-have mod for Cyberpunk 2077. This mod improves the quality of Subsurface Scattering for all characters and NPCs. As such, PC gamers can now improve the game’s graphics, beyond its default Max Settings. So, be sure to download it.
Going into more details, this mod has three main files. The first one improves the Subsurface Scattering for all characters and NPCs from all genders. Then we have another one that gives a more realistic and detailed skin for all characters and NPCs of all genders. And then, the third one, brings detailed normal maps for female NPCs.
>> The article has some screenshots.

Modders are working on a PC port of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/modders-are-working-on-a-pc-port-of-marvels-spider-man-2/
Last month, we informed you about a leaked PC dev build for Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. And, from the looks of it, modders are currently trying to reverse-engineer and port the entire game to the PC.
This unofficial port aims to make the full game playable on PC. And, ironically, it may be finished before even Sony announces its plans to bring the game to our platform.
What’s also incredible here is that the game already runs at 60fps on PC. Below you can find two videos that showcase its latest WIP build. The first one shows some swinging whereas the second one shows the Sandman fight.

Chrono Trigger just got an Orchestral OST Mod
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/chrono-trigger-just-got-an-orchestral-ost-mod/
Modder ‘Jinxkittyuwu’ has released an amazing musical orchestral enhancement mod for the classic JRPG, Chrono Trigger. This mod will replace the original tunes with high-quality orchestral versions. As such, we highly recommend downloading it.
Jinxkittyuwu has spent 14 hours creating it. As he noted, this new OST ‘will flood your RPG experience with plentiful emotion that wasn’t present prior.’
Unfortunately, the modder has not shared any showcase video for this OST. Thus, there is no way to preview the new music tracks. It sucks but hey, it is what it is. At least you can download this orchestral OST for free from this link.

Portal: Revolution available now for download, offering 40 new test chambers
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/portal-revolution-available-now-for-download-offering-40-new-test-chambers/
Portal: Revolution, a brand new mod for Portal 2, is currently available for download on Steam. This mod adds to the game 40 new challenging test chambers, as well as a new story with original characters.
According to the modding team, Portal: Revolution packs over 8 hours of gameplay. And, since this is a free mod for Portal 2, we highly recommend downloading it.
The mod will make use of new test elements and existing mechanics in a new way not seen in Portal 2. So, players can expect a Resurrected “Pneumatic Diversity Vent” element, a new laser cube variant, and a Gel Cleansing Field. There will also be over 15 puzzles using only the blue Portal-Gun.
>> The article has a short video of the mod, as well as the PC requirements to play it.

Deus Ex Remaster in Unreal Engine 5 gets new gameplay video
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/deus-ex-remaster-unreal-engine-5-new-gameplay-video/
In March 2023, we informed you about a project that aimed to bring the classic Deus Ex to Unreal Engine 5. And today, we are happy to share a new development video for it. This video also packs numerous gameplay sequences, as well as comparison scenes between the original and the remastered versions.
DXU24 attempts to make Deus Ex fully playable in Unreal Engine 5. This means that the mod will take advantage of some of the new graphical/tech improvements of UE5. For instance, we can expect better lighting. Plus, its ultimate goal will be to offer a first-class VR experience.
Now while the modder claims that DXU24 is not a remaster, that is not that accurate. As we can clearly see, there are numerous lighting and graphical improvements to it. I get why the modder has attempted to stay away from such terms. That’s a way to protect the project from a future DMCA letter.
So, in case you’re wondering, the mod does not recreate any copyrighted assets contained in Deus Ex. It will also require the original game to be played. However, it does feel like a remaster of this classic FPS. I mean, take a look at the comparison scenes. This feels like.
Sadly, DXU24 won’t be a free mod. Instead, it will be held behind a Patreon wall. Again, I get why its creator is putting it behind a Patreon wall. This mod most likely took him a lot of time. Still, this is something that will rub most PC gamers the wrong way.
>> There's an almost 27 minutes video of the mod.

16-Bit Demake Demo of Mega Man X8 available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/16-bit-demake-demo-mega-man-x8-download/
Mega Man fans, here is something truly special for you today. Indie developer AlyssonDaPaz has released a new demo of his 16-bit demake for Mega Man X8. Created using Godot Engine 3.5, this free PC game re-imagines Mega Man X8 as a 16-bit SNES title. So, be sure to download it while you still can.
This latest demo has the intro stage plus all eight maverick stages. Each of these stages comes with their respective bosses, weapons and secrets.
>> The article has a full playthrough video of the demake.

Take a look at this Unreal Gold Remaster in Unreal Engine 5
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/unreal-gold-remaster-unreal-engine-5/
Yesterday, we informed you about an unofficial remaster of Deus Ex in Unreal Engine 5. And earlier today, DXU24 shared a video, showcasing a remastered version of Unreal Gold in Unreal Engine 5. It looks cool, so be sure to watch it. Now as you will see, this project is in a really early development state. Unreal Gold in UE5 currently suffers from stutters and glitches. As its creator claimed, the game needs more work and polish. So, don’t expect to be playing it anytime soon.
This Unreal Remaster keeps the same cool look as the original game. As we can see, the modder has used the original art assets. However, and mainly thanks to UE5, he also used a few techniques to make the textures and lighting a bit better.
>> There is a short video.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Will Get a New Next-Gen Mod in 2024
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-will-get-a-new-next-gen-mod-in-2024/
The creator of the Nolvus modpack for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has announced that a new version of it will come out in 2024. Nolvus V6 will attempt to give Skyrim a next-gen treatment that will allow PC gamers to enjoy it with great graphics in 2024.
Skyrim came out in 2011 and thanks to mods, it can still look great in 2024. Yes, the animations are not that smooth and there are pop-in issues. However, for a 13-year-old game, it can look incredible.
To showcase this new version of the modpack, the modder released the following video. This video should give you an idea of what you can expect from it. So, be sure to watch it.

A new Baldur's Gate 3 mod fills the game with origin character voice lines you probably missed
https://www.pcgamer.com/a-new-baldurs-gate-3-mod-fills-the-game-with-origin-character-voice-lines-you-probably-missed/
More Reactive Companions is one of those mods that just makes sense: it takes a huge reserve of background dialogue lines already present in Baldur's Gate 3 but exclusive to origin characters, and repurposes them as companion banter.
The fact that Baldur's Gate 3 lets you play as any of its companions instead of a custom blank slate is sick, but I think most of us are rolling with a custom Tadpoled adventurer or, better yet, the malleable Dark Urge origin.
Origin characters felt essential back in Divinity: Original Sin 2 where you had your pick of six companions but only four party slots, and whoever you didn't roll with died. With BG3's more defined class roles, expanded character creation options, and party camp for reserve buds, playing as one of those companions now feels more like a fun side thing for your third or fourth playthrough.
There's a lot of special dialogue and scenes exclusive to origin characters though⁠—I've always been jealous of how Gale players get his talking winged cat (sorry, tressym) Tara as a companion throughout the game. More Reactive Companions takes a small bit of that exclusive content and injects it into other playthroughs, replacing incidental banter or musings from your player character with lines from your companions.

GAMING NEWS

Here are 15 minutes of gameplay from Outcast: A New Beginning
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/15-minutes-gameplay-outcast-a-new-beginning/
GameInformer has shared a video, showcasing 15 minutes of new gameplay footage from Outcast: A New Beginning. In this video, we get to see the jetpack mechanics that let you fly around the alien world at high speeds. We also get a glimpse at the game’s combat mechanics.

Unending Dawn is a mix of Elden Ring, Sekiro & Genshin Impact, powered by Unreal Engine 5
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/unending-dawn-elden-ring-sekiro-genshin-impact-unreal-engine-5/
Parcaes Fate Studio is currently working on an Unreal Engine 5-powered game that appears to be a mix of Elden Ring, Sekiro and Genshin Impact, called Unending Dawn. And, surprisingly enough, it seems to work. A few months ago, the team shared a gameplay video from it. So, go ahead and take a look.

Here’s a short but sweet gameplay clip from the Micky Mouse-inspired Noir FPS
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/heres-a-short-but-sweet-gameplay-clip-from-the-micky-mouse-inspired-noir-fps/
Fumi Games has released a short but sweet gameplay clip from its upcoming noir FPS game that is heavily inspired by Disney’s Micky Mouse.

Monday news, the long second part:

There's a touching tribute in Baldur's Gate 3 to a BG2-loving dad with Alzheimer's: 'he listened to my description with a child-like glee I haven't seen in a while'
https://www.pcgamer.com/theres-a-touching-tribute-in-baldurs-gate-3-to-a-bg2-loving-dad-with-alzheimers-he-listened-to-my-description-with-a-child-like-glee-i-havent-seen-in-a-while/
Back in the early access of Baldur's Gate 3, a player by the name of Solfalia wrote a heartfelt thank-you to Larian Studios. His father had been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and it was unlikely that he would be able to play the full game: "This is more than an Early Access for me, it's another adventure I can go on with my old man and make some good memories."
(...)
What's more, Solfalia explained that after his initial post, one of the writers from the game reached out: "It turns out my message had resonated with quite a few of you, as many of us have experienced the struggle of a family member with Alzheimer's or Dementia, and superwriter"—a name he chooses to respect the writer's privacy—"was emailing me to ask if I would be open to having something included in the game to honour my father."

Okay, 'Boomer Shooter' is now an official genre on Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/okay-boomer-shooter-is-now-an-official-genre-on-steam/
PC Gamer contributor Noah Smith declared near the end of 2023 that it was another great year for boomer shooters, but he had one request: Can we call them something else now? The answer appears to be a firm no, as "boomer shooter" has now officially taken its place as a tagged genre on Steam.

After 10 years survival game Rust is finally getting backpacks, but pets 'will not be released this year'
https://www.pcgamer.com/after-10-years-survival-game-rust-is-finally-getting-backpacks-but-pets-will-not-be-released-this-year/
"How do I craft a backpack?" is typically the fifth question I ask when starting a new survival game, following "How do I craft an axe?" and "Where can I find water?" and "How do I make a campfire?" and the all-important "What the hell was that noise?"
(...)
Except in Rust, that is. The multiplayer survival game has been around for 10 long honkin' years and it's only now just getting around to adding backpacks. Which isn't to say the concept just occurred to the developers: according to Rust guru Shadowfrax, backpacks were first proposed about six years ago, it just took a while for them to actually get here.

Bossa Studios ended 2023 by laying off one-third of its staff
https://www.pcgamer.com/bossa-studios-ended-2023-by-laying-off-one-third-of-its-staff/
UK-based Bossa Studios, the developer of games including Surgeon Simulator, I Am Bread, and I Am Fish, has confirmed the layoff of 19 people at the end of 2023. According to a GamesIndustry report, the cuts represent roughly one-third of Bossa's total number of employees.

Valorant is getting its first new gun in 4 years, a 'high impact, double-barreled sniper rifle'
https://www.pcgamer.com/valorant-is-getting-its-first-new-gun-in-4-years-a-high-impact-double-barreled-sniper-rifle/
When new guns appear in Call of Duty, it's an occurrence so regular that you'd be forgiven for not even noticing. When Valorant gets a new gun, it's the biggest thing to happen in Riot's competitive FPS since launch. After almost four years, a new sniper rifle is on the block: the Outlaw, a double-barreled sniper that can two-shot enemies to the chest. It costs 2,400 credits, placing it between the economical Marshal (950) and the one-shot-kill Operator (4,700).

Excellent 4X strategy game Old World drops its fourth DLC, adding a boatload of historical figures and wonders
https://www.pcgamer.com/excellent-4x-strategy-game-old-world-drops-its-fourth-dlc-adding-a-boatload-of-historical-figures-and-wonders/
Character-based historical 4X Old World will release a fourth DLC on January 11th, Wonders and Dynasties, bringing a whole, whole lot of new historical characters to the dynastic politics of your ancient empires. Something like 120 new characters, in fact, ranging from Hannibal and Caesar to Khufu and Stateira. That alongside 21 new character traits for those historicals and 100-some new events related to the politics of your imperial dynasty.

Farming adventure Tales of Seikyu invites you to entertain monsters in your inn, and become one
https://www.pcgamer.com/farming-adventure-tales-of-seikyu-invites-you-to-entertain-monsters-in-your-inn-and-become-one/
An upcoming farming sim will take place in a magical world of spirits and monsters where you restore a deteriorating countryside inn and explore the town and region populated by people, monsters, and more. The game plans to launch with cooperative play, and it'll also have a neat-looking twist: By wearing ancient masks, you can use the power of creatures and monsters—one example is using the rooting power of a boar to till fields.

Rhythm shooter Metal: Hellsinger just got a free DLC with music from FPS favorite Dusk
https://www.pcgamer.com/rhythm-shooter-metal-hellsinger-just-got-a-free-dlc-with-music-from-fps-favorite-dusk/
We seriously dug 2022's headbanging shooter Metal: Hellsinger, and that rhythm based FPS just got some love from its boomer shooter brethren by way of a free DLC featuring nine tracks from Andrew Hulshult's excellent Dusk soundtrack.

Here's the full trailer for FF14 Dawntrail, including an adorable chinchilla
https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-the-full-trailer-for-ff14-dawntrail-including-an-adorable-chinchilla/
Square Enix has debuted a full trailer for Final Fantasy 14's upcoming expansion Dawntrail at Final Fantasy Fan Festival 2024. The trailer shows off a look at the new world continent and its inhabitants interacting with a diverse lineup of FF14 classics.
>> Some new additions to the game are Paint wizards and female catfolk.

FF14 director says there's no firm release date for new expansion because he wants to avoid another Endwalker-style delay
https://www.pcgamer.com/ff14-director-says-theres-no-firm-release-date-for-new-expansion-because-he-wants-to-avoid-another-endwalker-style-delay/
Final Fantasy 14 producer Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida has said that the reason there's no firmer release date for expansion Dawntrail than summer 2024 is because he would rather not give one than give one that has to be delayed. Fans were expecting a release date at the Japanese Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest 2024 this weekend, as has become tradition.

Larian CEO and founder Swen Vincke thinks he's cracked the first act of his next game, but 'it's not what you think and this is not an teaser for an announcement'
https://www.pcgamer.com/larian-ceo-and-founder-swen-vincke-thinks-hes-cracked-the-first-act-of-his-next-game-but-its-not-what-you-think-and-this-is-not-an-teaser-for-an-announcement/
Swen Vincke, the CEO and founder of Larian Studio (developer of Baldur's Gate 3) has taken to Twitter to share some progress on his next game—namely, he thinks he's got a solid draft going.

Former Activision-Blizzard employee sues the company for none of the reasons you'd expect by now, accuses Bobby Kotick of saying it had 'too many old white guys'
https://www.pcgamer.com/former-activision-blizzard-employee-sues-the-company-for-none-of-the-reasons-youd-expect-by-now-accuses-bobby-kotick-of-saying-it-had-too-many-old-white-guys/
Activision-Blizzard has been the centre of a lot of controversy over these past few years. After a lawsuit went public, detailing "numerous complaints about unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation" and a "frat boy" culture, plus claims from former CEO Bobby Kotick that the whole thing was just an "aggressive labour movement," the company finally settled last year.
(...)
As reported by Law360 (thanks, GamesIndustry.biz) a plaintiff (a 57-year old tech executive who worked for several years under Kotick) has alleged that the company discriminated against him on the grounds of age. The suit mentions a conference where Kotick allegedly joked that there were "too many old white guys" at the company. It then states that two other white colleagues left due to "ageist remarks".

NVIDIA launches GeForce RTX 40 SUPER series: $999 RTX 4080S, $799 RTX 4070 TiS and $599 RTX 4070S

https://videocardz.com/newz/nvidia-launches-geforce-rtx-40-super-series-999-rtx-4080s-799-rtx-4070-tis-and-599-rtx-4070s

AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT 16GB launches January 24 at $329, same core count as non-XT model

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-radeon-rx-7600-xt-16gb-launches-january-24-at-329-same-core-count-as-non-xt-model

AMD Ryzen 8000G Zen4 APU series launch January 31, Ryzen 7 8700G competes with desktop GeForce GTX 1650 in gaming

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-ryzen-8000g-zen4-apu-series-launch-january-31-ryzen-7-8700g-competes-with-desktop-geforce-gtx-1650-in-gaming

I have a hard time believing that it will be as fast as a 1650 when 780M was slower than a 1650 mobile in independent tests. But we will see.

Idk why anyone wouldn't pay extra $50 for 4070 Super...

4080 gets $200 discount + extra performance. 4070 Ti Super is the golden gpu to get outside of the 4090.

RTX Remix Open Beta to Launch on January 22, NVIDIA Confirms

https://wccftech.com/rtx-remix-open-beta-to-launch-on-january-22-nvidia-confirms/

NVIDIA Collaborates With Top Gaming Developers Including Ubisoft To Bring ACE, Lifelike & Interactable AI NPCs, To Next-Gen Games & Apps

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-collobrates-with-top-gaming-developers-including-ubisoft-to-bring-ace-lifelike-interactable-ai-npcs-to-next-gen-games-apps/

GeForce NOW Is Getting Diablo IV and Overwatch 2 Soon; Cloud G-SYNC and Day Passes Coming, Too

https://wccftech.com/geforce-now-is-getting-diablo-iv-and-overwatch-2-soon-cloud-g-sync-and-day-passes-coming-too/

DLSS 3 Is Coming to Horizon Forbidden West, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Pax Dei and More

https://wccftech.com/dlss-3-is-coming-to-horizon-forbidden-west-dragons-dogma-2-like-a-dragon-infinite-wealth-pax-dei-and-more/

You know, for a company that was supposed to have abandoned gamers for Ai by now, they are continuing to bring quite a lot of innovation to the pc gaming market. That demo of ACE was actually impressive even if a bit gimmicky.