By the way, a new Steam event has launched:

https://store.steampowered.com/category/farming/

The Tuesday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Steam’s Top 10

(Click here for the Top 100)

Manor Lords shatters Steam city builder record with over 170,000 concurrent players
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/city-builder/manor-lords-shatters-steam-city-builder-record-with-over-170000-concurrent-players/
How was your weekend? Did you do anything fun? Did you watch any good movies? Did your videogame sell over a million copies and break the Steam record for a city builder with over 170,000 concurrent players within a single day of launching into early access?
Not a lot of people can answer yes to that last one, but developer Slavic Magic can. According to Hooded Horse, publisher of Manor Lords, the early access city builder had a record-breaking launch:
"Since yesterday's launch Manor Lords has already sold over 1 million copies & hit a peak Steam concurrent player count of 170k—highest ever for a city builder (or for other different genres like GSG/4x/colony sim)," the publisher said on Twitter.
>> Not only it’s a success in sales, but it also seems to be very stable.

Gray Zone Warfare tops Steam's best sellers partly thanks to disgruntled Tarkov players: 'at least it doesn't cost 250 dollars'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/gray-zone-warfare-tops-steams-best-sellers-partly-thanks-to-disgruntled-tarkov-players-at-least-it-doesnt-cost-250-dollars/
After a rather tumultuous week for the Escape From Tarkov community, where developers Battlestate Games managed to wipe out years of goodwill in one fell swoop, a new game has rocked up, and it's looking to swipe some angry fans. 
(...)
In the wake of all of this a new contender entered the playing field: Gray Zone Warfare is a rival extraction shooter with a similar unforgiving nature contrasted with a tropical setting and a less specific military contractor vibe. It launched in early access today, and so far, it has seen some impressive numbers.  Gray Zone Warfare is currently sitting at the top of
Steam's best sellers, beating the newly released city builder Manor Lords and the ever present CS2. But unfortunately that hasn't translated to user reviews very well: It has a mostly negative review score on its Steam page, sitting at 33% at time of writing. While some of the top comments are slating Tarkov, many more explain some fundamental problems with this FPS. 

GOG has launched three new sales:

• The new Weekly Sale has up to 90% discounts during 7 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20240430_weekly_deals_1_may
• The Horror Sale has games up to 95% off for 7 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20240429_horror_sale
• And the Tactical Sale has up to 95% deals during the next 7 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20240430_tactical_sale

Steam has three sales and new weeklong deals:

• Publisher CI Games puts its titles on sale with up to 90% discounts until the 6th of May: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/cigames2024
• The Koei Tecmo Golden Week Sale has up to 77% deals until May, 9: https://store.steampowered.com/developer/KOEITECMO/sale/gw2024
• The Eastern Game Fest has games up to 73% off. Many games don’t list when the deal will end, but at least one says the 13th of May: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/egf2024
• And here’s a sample of the weeklong deals:
  • Colossal Cave, that has a demo and is compatible with VR, is going to be 25% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2215540/Colossal_Cave/
  • Havendock, still in Early Access, features a 30% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2020710/Havendock/
  • Combat Mission: Final Blitzkrieg is half its usual price: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2676000/Combat_Mission_Final_Blitzkrieg/
  • PAWARUMI has a 67% deal: https://store.steampowered.com/app/610410/PAWARUMI/
  • Chernobyl: Origins is 80% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1948090/Chernobyl_Origins/
  • And Flashback has a massive 90% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/961620/Flashback/

Fanatical has a new Star Deal: SuchArt: Genius Artist Simulator will be 85% off during 24 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/suchart-genius-artist-simulator
Tomorrow, Fanatical will start its May Madness Sale. Learn more here: https://www.fanatical.com/en/blog/2024-may-madness-gaming-deals-and-more.

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Nothing-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Manor Lords VR Mod is now available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/manor-lords-vr-mod-download/
Manor Lords is a medieval strategy game featuring in-depth city building, large-scale tactical battles, and complex economic and social simulations. This game came out on Steam Early Access last week, and it was a big hit. And, from the looks of it, there is already a VR Mod for it that you can download and use.
Manor Lords is powered by Unreal Engine 4. As such, the game already supports Praydog’s UEVR. For those unaware, UEVR is a project that allows PC gamers to experience over 11,000 UE games in 6DOF VR. Basically, this mod brings VR support to a lot of games using Unreal Engine.
So, Manor Lords is currently playable in 6DOF VR. Right now, the game is currently only playable with KB&M. However, modders should be able to add support for motion controls. Now that will be amazing. VR motion controls would elevate this game to new heights. It will be like playing a medieval “Minority Report” game.
>> There’s a roughly 4 minutes video.

GAMING NEWS

Gray Zone Warfare hits Steam Early Access tomorrow
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/gray-zone-warfare-hits-steam-early-access-tomorrow/
MADFINGER Games has announced that its tactical MMO open-world FPS, Gray Zone Warfare, will hit Steam Early Access tomorrow. To celebrate this announcement, the team has also shared a new gameplay trailer that you can find below.
>> That tomorrow is today.

F1 24 gets new video, featuring 13 minutes of raw gameplay
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/f1-24-gets-new-video-featuring-13-minutes-of-raw-gameplay/
Electronic Arts has released a new video for F1 24, featuring 13 minutes of raw gameplay footage. This video features a number of stages in various weather conditions, and it will give you an idea of the game’s graphics and driving mechanics.

Commandos: Origins gets a gameplay teaser trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/commandos-origins-gets-a-gameplay-teaser-trailer/
Kalypso Media has released a gameplay teaser trailer for its upcoming Commandos game, Commandos: Origins. This teaser trailer features a few gameplay sequences. As such, it can give you a glimpse at what you can expect from this new strategy game.
>> Yup. Looks like a Commandos game.

Dune Awakening Closed Beta In-Game Screenshots Leaked Online
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/dune-awakening-closed-beta-in-game-screenshots-leaked-online/
Dune Awakening will be powered by Unreal Engine 5, and it will take full advantage of both Nanite and Lumen. In March 2024, Funcom shared its first gameplay trailer which gave us a look at its art style and graphics. And, from the looks of it, some new in-game screenshots from its ongoing Closed Beta phase have been leaked online.

Unreal Engine 5-Powered Life Simulation Game, inZOI, Gets Official Roadmap Overview Gameplay Trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/unreal-engine-5-powered-life-simulation-game-inzoi-gets-official-roadmap-overview-gameplay-trailer/
Gamespot has shared the official roadmap overview gameplay trailer for KRAFTON’s answer to EA’s The Sims, inZOI. In this trailer, the game’s developers share some new details about their game. Moreover, we get to see some new gameplay footage from it. So, if you are a fan of the genre, I highly recommend checking it out.

Tuesday news, part two:

Helldivers 2 devs explain why solo missions have more patrols, now: 'the intention is that one player has 1/4th of the patrols … they had 1/6th'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/helldivers-2-devs-explain-why-solo-missions-have-more-patrols-now-the-intention-is-that-one-player-has-14th-of-the-patrols-they-had-16th/
Helldivers 2 just had a major balance patch—and, naturally, there's already an entire orbital payload of doom and gloom smattered in with the constructive criticism and feedback. One particular upset has reared its head today: solo missions are considerably harder now.
>> Players are also arguing about the ricochet changes and that’s what’s killing them or if it’s The Eruptor..

Today in Helldivers 2: Super Earth admits those Termicide towers we turned on last month actually made the bug population explode overnight, and guess whose job it is to clean this mess up
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/today-in-helldivers-2-super-earth-admits-those-termicide-towers-we-turned-on-last-month-actually-made-the-bug-population-explode-overnight-and-guess-whose-job-it-is-to-clean-this-mess-up/
Helldivers 2 players were served another switcheraroo today as Super Earth declared that the Terminid Control System is a failure. Instead of controlling the population of the Terminids as planned, the towers previously activated by players in March have actually caused an explosion in bug population.
"The Terminid control system has failed. Meridia has turned into a supercolony," the official Super Earth communique reads. "Termicide may be causing faster reproduction. The TCS must be deactivated immediately."

'No Rest for the Wicked is like our Lord of the Rings,' Moon Studios boss says: 'We won't be making Ori 3 anytime soon'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/no-rest-for-the-wicked-is-like-our-lord-of-the-rings-moon-studios-boss-says-we-wont-be-making-ori-3-anytime-soon/
If you're holding out hope that Moon Studios will quickly wrap things up with the action RPG No Rest for the Wicked and get on with making a third Ori game, studio CEO Thomas Mahler has some bad news. The new game "is our Magnus Opus," Mahler said on Twitter, and Moon is going to be working on it for a very long time to come.

The creators of one of the best detective games ever are back with a new 'open world mascot management crime drama' and I could not be more ready
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/the-creators-of-one-of-the-best-detective-games-ever-are-back-with-a-new-open-world-mascot-management-crime-drama-and-i-could-not-be-more-ready/
Four years after making the best adventure game of 2020 (and one of the best detective games ever), the indie team behind Paradise Killer are back, and their new game is simultaneously exactly what I expected and something I never could've predicted. The offbeat look, irreverent humor and blend of 2D visual novel-style dialogue and 3D environments feel pure Paradise Killer, but the concept is somehow even stranger than Paradise Killer's "exiled detective named Lady Love Dies investigates murder on an island that exists outside reality populated by immortal gods." Here's how the opening moments of the trailer describe the premise.

Jackbox Games' first-ever M-rated game promises to put the 'jack' back in Jackbox
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/puzzle/a-new-naughty-pack-promises-to-put-the-jack-back-in-jackbox/
In retrospect, given the series' title, it's a little surprising this didn't happen sooner. Jackbox is making its "first foray into the world of mature gaming" with the Jackbox Naughty Pack, a collection of three "adult-themed experiences" that promise "laughter, wit, and a touch of irreverence."

'Most ambitious' Vampire Survivors update yet features 'immersive door opening action' and 'world premiere train mechanics'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/vampire-survivors-1.10-patch-notes/
A free Vampire Survivors update called "Laborratory" released by surprise this week, adding a new challenge stage, bonus stage, weapon, and "holiday-themed" character. A trailer shown at today's ID@Xbox Showcase (embedded above) also promises "immersive door opening action," "world premiere train mechanics," "genre-defining cart racing," and "fully rendered running animations." 

Palworld reveals 4 of the 'many more' new Pals coming in its summer update
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/palworld-reveals-4-of-the-many-more-new-pals-coming-in-its-summer-update/
Palworld, the survivalcraft sensation from earlier this year, has just revealed a bit more of what's coming in that summer update it's been planning. During today's ID@Xbox showcase, Pocketpair revealed four new Pals that are coming this year. It isn't a long trailer, but it does include about 20 solid seconds of new Pal and weapon reveals.

Starfield's first expansion, Shattered Space, will be out this fall
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/starfields-first-expansion-shattered-space-will-be-out-this-fall/
We've been waiting for word on when Shattered Space, the first Starfield expansion, will arrive, and now we have it—or at least a somewhat narrower release window. During an interview with Kinda Funny Games today, Todd Howard revealed that the big add-on is expected to be out this fall.

Manor Lords dev concedes that archers aren't strong enough but promises changes: 'This will surely take a while to get right'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/city-builder/manor-lords-dev-concedes-that-archers-arent-strong-enough-but-promises-changes-this-will-surely-take-a-while-to-get-right/
Developer of Manor Lords Gregg 'Slavic Magic' Styczeń has confirmed that there are still a couple of kinks to work out, the biggest of which comes from lacklustre archers who don't seem to be as effective as you'd think. 
>> And players have found a villager with a funny name in the game.

Manor Lords is at its best when 'players craft their own stories' and don't rely on a dev-made tale, which 'quickly became repetitive'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/city-builder/manor-lords-is-at-its-best-when-players-craft-their-own-stories-and-dont-rely-on-a-dev-made-tale-which-quickly-became-repetitive/
If you've experienced the dramatic highs and lows of Manor Lords, then you'll understand just how nail-biting this city builder and management game can really be. But instead of relying on a set story, the real drama comes from letting players live their best lives and create catastrophic situations all by themselves. 
The developer of Manor Lords, Greg "Slavic Magic" Styczeń, told players via Reddit that he "experimented with a story, but it quickly became repetitive, just like Tropico was for me as a player (subjective personal preference). My hope is a sandbox where the players craft their own stories via gameplay." 

Tomorrow, there'll be no news.

NVIDIA H100 AI GPUs See 10% Price Drop In Chinese Black Market Ahead of H200 Launch

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-h100-ai-gpus-price-drop-chinese-black-market-ahead-of-h200-launch/

NVIDIA RTX Remix gets DLSS 3.5 Ray Reconstruction support

https://videocardz.com/newz/nvidia-rtx-remix-gets-dlss-3-5-ray-reconstruction-support

Intel Core Ultra 5 240F “Arrow Lake-S” CPU to use either 8+16 or 6+8 core tiles

https://videocardz.com/newz/intel-core-ultra-5-240f-arrow-lake-s-cpu-to-use-either-816-or-68-core-tiles

Funny how the chinese black market is getting ready for H200 despite the US block.

Kinda insane that GPUs are even considered a "black market" product

Well, any banned or blocked product becomes an opportunity for those involved in those business.

Seems like every week there's a new modded Cyberpunk video one upping the last, but this one in particular looks next level:

Some moments are nearly indistinguishable from reality. Gonna be crazy when this level of fidelity becomes normal.

NVIDIA Unveils Revamped ChatRTX With Improved LLM Support, Image Search & Speech Recognition

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-chatrtx-improved-llm-support-image-search-speech-recognition/

NVIDIA Calls RTX The “Premium” AI PC Platform, NPUs Only Good For “Basic” AI PCs

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-calls-rtx-the-premium-ai-pc-platform-npus-only-good-for-basic-ai-pcs/

AMD Ryzen 8000F APUs Hit Retail In US: Ryzen 7 8700F For $299 & Ryzen 5 8400F For $189

https://wccftech.com/amd-ryzen-8000f-apus-retail-ryzen-7-8700f-299-usd-ryzen-5-8400f-189/

AMD reaffirms Zen5-based “Strix Point” APUs on track for 2H 2024 launch

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-reaffirms-zen5-based-strix-point-apus-on-track-for-2h-2024-launch

I remember seeing some jaw-dropping videos of modded Crysis a long, long time ago, and if we ever got to those graphics, I'm sure it took a long time. I'm personally quite wary with my expectations. That said, proper path-tracing can be pretty much photorealistic, but it's also very demanding computationally. My quick guess is that computational power will start getting there in about two more console generations. That said, the best-looking games, at least with sufficient  hardware, can probably get fairly close even sooner.

I feel like path-tracing is also a great example of why I'm been more interested in lighting etc. more than resolution, textures etc. for many years now. I guess you still need sufficiently good textures for a realistic look, but good textures without good lighting to back them up just look uncanny to me: it's great, but you know something doesn't fit the big picture.