Steam sale!

Grabbed FF7 remake, GoW 2018, borderlands 2 and Tiny Tina. Might also give Deaths door a go.

Nice.

I'm still checking, I may get something, but we'll see.

Morning, guys. Fancy a new contest?

*** NEW CONTEST ***

Win 1 of 2 fantastic Corsair upgrade bundles
https://www.club386.com/win-1-of-2-fantastic-corsair-upgrade-bundles/
or https://gleam.io/mUtnm/win-1-of-2-corsair-upgrade-bundles

The prizes are:

• 1st prize: 6500D Airflow case, iCUE H150i LCD AIO cooler, and RM850x Shift PSU, in black or white, your choice.
• 2nd prize: K65 Plus Wireless keyboard, M75 Air Wireless mouse, and an HS80 Max headset

This contest is GLOBAL.

Good luck!

Time for the Monday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Pink Mercy is back in Overwatch 2, and apart from ruining years of black market accounts, it vaulted the FPS onto Steam's best-sellers list
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/pink-mercy-is-back-in-overwatch-2-and-apart-from-ruining-years-of-black-market-accounts-it-vaulted-the-fps-onto-steams-best-sellers-list/
Blizzard announced that it would be bringing Pink Mercy back to Overwatch 2 a couple of weeks ago, but since then, we've seen quite a fallout in the community, with some devastated about the skin's return while others couldn't be happier. 
(...)
We don't know yet how much money these new Pink Mercy skins will raise (back in 2018, it raised nearly $13 million), but based on other metrics, it seems pretty popular. Yesterday, the day after Pink Mercy was added to the shop, Overwatch 2 rocketed up to the fourth spot on Steam's best-selling charts: "This is the raw power of a Mercy skin," one player tweeted. 
As 100% of the proceeds of the Pink Mercy skin and the Pink Mercy skin bundle will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, it's reassuring to know the uptake has seemingly been quite successful. And while it may not be for everyone, especially if you don't play much Mercy, it is certainly a great cause, so here's hoping Blizzard manages to raise even more money this time around. 

At Humble Bundle we find the Summer Games Done Quick 2024 Bundle, with up to 7 games to get during 11 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/summer-games-done-quick-2024.

Fanatical has two new deals:

• The new Star Deal is RimWorld, 31% off during 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/rimworld
• The NeuroVoider - Deluxe Edition Bundle, with the game and DLC will be 77% off during 13 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/neurovoider-deluxe-edition

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Nothing-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Cyberpunk 2077 just got a must-have mod that enables dynamic NPC reactions; your clothes, driving, and even your past quest choices will now matter
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/cyberpunk-2077-just-got-a-must-have-mod-that-enables-dynamic-npc-reactions-your-clothes-driving-and-even-your-past-quest-choices-will-now-matter/
Modder ‘MisterChedda’ has released a must-have mod for Cyberpunk 2077 that aims to overhaul the behavior of all gangs, crowds and NPCs. This mod will make the NPCs behave more realistic, and they will now have dynamic reactions depending on your clothes, driving, and even your past quest choices.
Going into more details, NPCs will now jump out of the way if you honk at them while driving on the sidewalk. Other drivers will sometimes honk back and make comments if you honk at them. If you’re driving drunk, the police will notice you quickly, but they won’t start a fight unless you cause trouble.
Most NPCs will now react if they see a naked V, except for some, like homeless or poor NPCs. When they see you, they might make comments or walk away. The police and gang NPCs will notice you quickly, but they won’t start a fight unless you cause trouble. Also, the level of your cyberware will affect how NPCs react to your nudity.
And there is more. NPCs will now run away in fear when you have 4 or more wanted stars. And, repeatedly bumping into walking NCPD officers or Barghest soldiers can provoke combat.
NPCs will now react to your clothes based on gang or corpo affiliations. Wearing gang clothes will make it harder for their allies to notice you but easier for their rivals to spot you. Driving gang-affiliated vehicles will also affect how quickly rival and ally gangs detect you.
As said, your past quest choices will also have an effect on the game’s gangs. As such, they may provoke or directly engage in combat based on your past quest choices. Gangs also trigger combat mode directly when facing them in courier/vehicle contract missions.
And that’s not all. NPCs become aware if you persistently follow them. Civilians may also run away if you creep them out enough.
>> Sadly, there’s no screenshot or video to show all what this mod does.

This mod adds STALKER-like anomalies to Fallout: New Vegas
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/this-mod-adds-stalker-like-anomalies-to-fallout-new-vegas/
Modder ‘Wheaton Adams’ has shared a pretty cool mod for Fallout: New Vegas that adds to it anomalies that are inspired by the STALKER games. This a great mod that a lot of STALKER fans will appreciate. So, let’s take a closer look at it.
Going into more details, this mod adds the classic STALKER-style anomalies to Fallout: New Vegas. The mod uses a mix of the Shadow of Chernobyl and Call of Pripyat logic placement. As such, you can expect small anomalies scattered around the world. There will also be larger clusters that will have artifacts to acquire. These artifacts will require detectors, and they will periodically respawn.
According to Adams, the mod adds all the staples from the main STALKER games, plus Spatial Anomalies that act as one-way fast travel wormholes (and sometimes two-way). As said, you can obtain artifacts using detectors. You can also craft or loot artifacts, usually in areas where engineering or scientific work is involved.
These artifacts can be used in an Artifact Belt to gain benefits, which can be crafted using a weapon repair kit. Moreover, artifacts that give radiation will do so passively if worn on the belt without using countering ones alongside them. Finally, the detectors are used as weapons and will beep over proximity to an artifact they can recognize.
Do note that Adams originally created this mod in 2018, and he does not plan to update it or re-visit it. So, if you don’t like its initial version (which you can download from here), you can remove/delete it.
>> There’s a roughly 1 minute video of the mod.

RealRTCW 5.0 Mod for Return To Castle Wolfenstein adds new weapon animations, a freeroam hub location, checkpoint system, realistic ballistics and more
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/realrtcw-5-0-mod-for-return-to-castle-wolfenstein-adds-new-weapon-animations-freeroam-hub-location-checkpoint-system-realistic-ballistics-and-more/
Modder ‘WolfETPlayer’ has released a brand new version of his amazing RealRTCW Mod for Return To Castle Wolfenstein. According to its description, RealRTCW 5.0 adds new weapon animations, freeroam hub location, checkpoint system, realistic ballistics and more. So, let’s take a closer look at it.
In RealRTCW 5.0, the modder has reanimated 90% of the firearms from scratch. Some of them even got multiple reloading animations with empty/non-emtpy mag.
Another cool feature is a new freeroam hub location that players can explore. Now, between every chapter you will find yourself in Malta OSA Headquarters, where you can choose your loadout and dig yourself into the archives. You can also get to the HQ to receive intel, as well as visit the local museum.
And that’s not all. At the medical bay, you can get healed up, and you can speak with numerous NPCs around the city. Moreover, you can test new guns and run through the training course at the firing range. Finally, you can take some rest at your quarters, or you can hunt for side quests and secrets.
But wait, there is more. The modder has also implemented a checkpoint save system. Throughout the game, your progress will be now saved automatically. Thus, if you die, it will automatically load the latest checkpoint.
Finally, RTCW 5.0 brings some optional mutators that you can use. One of them adds realistic movement to the game, whereas another one adds realistic ballistics. With the Realistic Movement mutator, the game will gradually lower your movement speed, and reduce your jumping ability. Additionally, your character will holster his weapon when climbing a ladder or when sprinting.
The Realistic Ballistics mutator adds a range feature to every weapon. This means each gun will be effective within a specific distance. And, if you shoot beyond this distance, the gun will do less damage.
>> The article has a 10 minutes video of the mod.

This mod revolutionizes Starfield with an advanced financial system
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/this-mod-revolutionizes-starfield-with-an-advanced-financial-system/
Modder ‘0xDezzy’ has released a cool new mod for Starfield that overhauls it with an advanced financial system. With this mod, players will experience a realistic economy where their money choices shape their adventure. So, let’s take a closer look at it, shall we?
StarFinance aims to make your gameplay more exciting with a realistic economic system. You’ll manage your money in new ways with a detailed banking system, a lively stock market, and much more. This may completely change the way you experience Bethesda’s space game.
As said, the mod adds personal bank accounts. So, players will be able to open and manage their own accounts to store their credits securely.
The mod also introduces a Loan system. Players can apply for personal or business loans with varying interest rates and repayment terms. They will also pay interest on their loans as they pay them off.
In future versions, the modder aims to add Stock Market, Mortgage and Rent Systems. You can find more details about these systems on its NexusMods page (from which you can also download it).
>> The article has no media in it.

24 years later, you can finally pet the dog in Deus Ex thanks to its all-encompassing Randomizer mod
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/24-years-later-you-can-finally-pet-the-dog-in-deus-ex-thanks-to-its-all-encompassing-randomizer-mod/
Deus Ex's Randomizer Mod has always been more than just a randomizer: its QoL features, mod compatibility, and customization options make it a one-stop shop for keeping Ion Storm's classic fresh. The Randomizer's 3.0 update, released just ahead of Deus Ex's 24th birthday, has even more features that will appeal to anyone, not just challenge runners.
Yes, now you can pet the cyberpunk RPG's delightfully low-res dogs, as well as cats and pigeons out there on the mean streets of New York, Hong Kong, and Gay Paree. I haven't had a chance to load up the new update myself and see if this love fest extends to Deus Ex's many rats as well, but you can always just rotate one around in your mind to help focus.
A real sleeper benefit of the 3.0 update is the quality of life improvements it offers for Steam Deck users: an "Augmentation Tree" similar to the weapon wheels of console FPSes will even pause the game while you're using it, which makes up for the Deck's lack of function keys in selecting your aug powerups. I can see it also being useful for anyone out there with a 70% keyboard or smaller⁠—hell, it's probably more comfortable than selecting them off the function row even if you do have a full keyboard. God put those keys there for quicksaving and loading.
>> There’s an almost 6 minutes trailer of the mod.

After a Shadow of the Erdtree-induced hiatus, Elden Ring's Seamless Co-op mod is already back with support for the expansion
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/after-a-shadow-of-the-erdtree-induced-hiatus-elden-rings-seamless-co-op-mod-is-already-back-and-it-now-supports-hostile-invasions/
After being briefly borked by the release of Shadow of the Erdtree, Elden Ring's Seamless Co-op mod is now ready to use in the expansion. Passing a message from mod creator Luke Yui yesterday, Seamless Co-op Discord moderator Dalvik wrote that "While not perfect, it has reached a state where it can be used to play Elden Ring and the DLC in co-op."
>> There’s no media in this article.

Modders have uncovered an extended version of The Witcher 3's ending where Yennefer pulls off a shocking betrayal of her sorceress friends
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/modders-have-uncovered-an-extended-version-of-the-witcher-3s-ending-where-yennefer-pulls-off-a-shocking-betrayal-of-her-sorceress-friends/
Witcher 3 YouTuber xLetalis and Brothers in Arms mod contributor glassfish have come out with a bit of a bombshell about the game's ending a full nine years after CD Project Red's opus first released: a cut portion of the final sequence where Yennefer would have betrayed the Lodge of Sorceresses to Emperor Emhyr.
Glassfish and xLetalis were able to make the discovery after all this time thanks to CD Project Red's new REDkit modding tools for the game, which allowed them to not only access the files but reimplement them in a debug mode for demonstration purposes.
>> You’ll find a long video with that ending in the article.

GAMING NEWS

Here’s how you can fix the PC crash issues in Hogwarts Legacy
https://www.dsogaming.com/articles/heres-how-you-can-fix-the-pc-crash-issues-in-hogwarts-legacy/
Earlier this month, Avalanche Software released a new update for Hogwarts Legacy. However, many players have reported that this update caused a lot of stability and crash issues on PC. So, if your game crashes every 5-10 minutes, here’s how you can fix it.

Dying Light 2: Stay Human Tower Raid Open Beta Launched
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/dying-light-2-stay-human-tower-raid-open-beta-launched/
Techland has launched a new game mode for Dying Light 2: Stay Human, called Tower Raid, in Open Beta on PC. From now until July 18th, players can explore the new game mode and provide feedback to help shape the future gameplay experience.

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is officially coming to PC in 2025
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/phantom-brave-the-lost-hero-is-officially-coming-to-pc-in-2025/
NIS America has announced that Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero will be officially coming to PC in 2025. To celebrate this announcement, the publisher shared a new trailer that you can find below.

Monday news, part two:

Damn Yoshi-P wasn't lying, Final Fantasy 14's servers really are beefed up and Dawntrail-ready
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/final-fantasy/damn-yoshi-p-wasnt-lying-final-fantasy-14s-servers-really-are-beefed-up-and-dawntrail-ready/
Despite Naoki Yoshida's assurance to me—and no doubt countless other journalist and content creators during the Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail media tour—that servers were jacked and ready to tackle the horde of players coming in at launch, I was admittedly still apprehensive. 
(...)
So forgive me for being a little cynical, but thank goodness I was proven wrong as I dove into Dawntrail the exact minute it launched. I held my breath for how many players were ahead of me, and at the time my heart sank a little seeing the number: 1,059 in queue. Not a giant number by any means, but one that could still take a hot sec if the servers were on fire as I patiently waited my turn to sail to Tural.
Yet 10 minutes later with zero fuss and there I was, stood outside my house and ready for adventure. Only 10 minutes! This would have been a far-fetched dream two-and-a-half years ago. (...)

One of Final Fantasy 14's easiest raids accidentally goes turbo hard mode thanks to a bug wiping the entire group
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/final-fantasy/one-of-final-fantasy-14s-easiest-raids-accidentally-goes-turbo-hard-mode-thanks-to-a-bug-wiping-the-entire-group/
Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail has just been released, bringing the start of a new narrative arc, increased level caps, and an accidental savage raid of one of the game's easiest duties. 
Er, yeah, so it turns out a bug has transformed Syrcus Tower—a level 50 raid with 24 players, meant to handle players with kiddie gloves—from a simple 15-minute bulldoze into a near-impossible feat that's caused players to strategise unique bypasses to try and work it.
>> Yoshi-P has already apologized for the technical problems.

Palworld's newest major update Sakurajima adds tons of new Pals and buildings, but you won't be able to kidnap tower bosses anymore
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/palworlds-newest-major-update-sakurajima-adds-tons-of-new-pals-and-buildings-but-you-wont-be-able-to-kidnap-tower-bosses-anymore/
We've been expecting Palworld's first major update, Sakurajima, for some time now. At the beginning of the month, Pocketpair released a short trailer for it, which was part of the early access roadmap that it uncovered at the start of this year.
One of the biggest additions is, obviously,  the new island named Sakurajima. This location introduces a new faction called "The Moonflowers," which you have to fight to free the island from their control. It's also inspired by historical Japanese architecture and there's cherry blossoms aplenty, so it's sure to be very pretty. 

Less than a month after joining work on the Sands of Time remake, Ubisoft Toronto lays off 33 employees 'to ensure it can deliver on its ambitious roadmap'
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/less-than-a-month-after-joining-work-on-the-sands-of-time-remake-ubisoft-toronto-lays-off-33-employees-to-ensure-it-can-deliver-on-its-ambitious-roadmap/
The plague of layoffs that's gripped the videogame industry since the start of 2023 continued today as Ubisoft confirmed that 33 employees at its Toronto studio have been let go.
"Ubisoft Toronto has decided to conduct a targeted realignment to ensure it can deliver on its ambitious roadmap," a company representative said in a statement provided to PC Gamer. "Unfortunately, this will impact the roles of 33 team members who will be leaving Ubisoft. We are committed to providing comprehensive support to them, including severance and career assistance, to help through this transition."

A new action-RPG inspired by Dark Messiah of Might and Magic looks almost too good to be true, and some people are worried it's The Day Before all over again
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/a-new-action-rpg-inspired-by-dark-messiah-of-might-and-magic-looks-almost-too-good-to-be-true-and-some-people-are-worried-its-the-day-before-all-over-again/
There are two kinds of gamers in the world: Those who think Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is a brilliant immersive sim that laid the foundation for the genius of Arkane's later work on Dishonored and Prey, and those who haven't played it yet. So when a game claims to draw inspiration from Dark Messiah, I—as someone who played and loved it—immediately want to know more. Alkahest is one such game, and it's attracting some real curiosity, but also a little bit of doubt.

Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree claws its way back to a 'Mostly Positive' rating on Steam: 'Don't listen to the negativity. Big sword still go brrr'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-claws-its-way-back-to-a-mostly-positive-rating-on-steam-dont-listen-to-the-negativity-big-sword-still-go-brrr/
While Shadow of the Erdtree might've sold five million copies in less than a week, that didn't translate into 5 million happy Tarnished for Elden Ring's DLC. A day after its release, Shadow of the Erdtree sat at a "Mixed" rating on Steam thanks to an early influx of negative reviews, many of which complained that its new bosses felt excessively, arbitrarily difficult. But a week later, Shadow of the Erdtree's managed to scrape back some of Steam's public sentiment, and has climbed to a "Mostly Positive" rating.

Player laments the fall of Soulcalibur, Tekken director Harada responds with a literal essay about it: 'I don't think the fire of Project Soul has been extinguished'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fighting/player-laments-the-fall-of-soulcalibur-tekken-director-harada-responds-with-a-literal-essay-about-it-i-dont-think-the-fire-of-project-soul-has-been-extinguished/
Soulcalibur 6 released in 2018 to a decent reception, though it's fair to say it didn't set the world alight. The best thing about it was a ludicrously impressive character creator, though on PC even further treats would await thanks to modders: how about a fight to the finish between Bernie Sanders and Geralt?
Things have gone quiet on the Soulcalibur front since then, while stablemate Tekken's star has continued to rise. Bandai Namco has developed these two very different flavours of fighting game simultaneously since the late 1990s, but with no new entry seemingly even planned some fans are beginning to worry that the success of Tekken will see Soulcalibur fade away.

They're gonna let us kill Conor McGregor in Hitman
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/theyre-gonna-let-us-kill-conor-mcgregor-in-hitman/
The latest addition to Hitman's roster of Elusive Targets is a notorious figure indeed: He's called The Disruptor, but you might know him better as multi-time MMA champion Conor McGregor.

Space Marine 2 public beta test is cancelled so developers can focus on 'optimization, polish and fixing remaining issues'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/space-marine-2-public-beta-test-is-cancelled-so-developers-can-focus-on-optimization-polish-and-fixing-remaining-issues/
Saber Interactive has cancelled a planned public beta test for the upcoming shooter Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, saying it wants to stay focused on "preparing for the full launch."
>> Not a great sign, but we’ve also seen in the past how some people don’t know the difference between a beta and early access, so it also makes sense that they want to keep it safe.

It would take a lot to get OG Fallout lead Tim Cain to return to the series: 'The very first question out of my mouth is 'What's new about it?''
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fallout/it-would-take-a-lot-to-get-og-fallout-lead-tim-cain-to-return-to-the-series-the-very-first-question-out-of-my-mouth-is-whats-new-about-it/
With Fallout back on everyone's minds after the success of the new show, the original game's lead developer Tim Cain has been weighing in on different aspects of the series over on his YouTube channel. While Fallout clearly still means a lot to him, Cain didn't seem keen to return to the series when responding to his viewers' frequent queries.
"There's a lot of different questions being asked there," Cain said. "Would I want to remake Fallout as a 3D game? Are you asking if I would like to make a Fallout offshoot like Fallout: New Vegas is… Do I want to make Fallout 5?" Whatever he thinks of those respective possibilities, Cain was clear that he's not worried about authority, creative freedom, or even pay⁠—within reason, of course. Cain explained that his primary motivator, especially now that he's semi-retired, is his own interest in a project.

And here's a shorter third part of the news:

I already thought Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree's new throwing weapons were sick, but at least one of them also seems to have near-infinite range
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/i-already-thought-elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtrees-new-throwing-weapons-were-sick-but-at-least-one-of-them-also-seems-to-have-near-infinite-range/
As shared by fan account Elden Ring Media on X, "The Everything App," Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree's new throwing weapons are even cooler than we thought, with box art boss Messmer's Spear of the Impaler seeming to have near-infinite range that allows for some gnarly open world trick shots.

Check out this visual novel that blends 3D and 2D visuals in a story about teens who've (mostly) avoided the end of the world
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/check-out-this-visual-novel-that-blends-3d-and-2d-visuals-in-a-story-about-teens-whove-mostly-avoided-the-end-of-the-world/
New visual novel Until Then is getting pretty dang positive reception not only for its story and characters, but also its distinctive visual style that blends 2D characters with 3D environments, as well as a unique use of social media as a plot element. 

Check out City Bus Manager, which lets you set up routes in your hometown using real world map data
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/check-out-city-bus-manager-which-lets-you-set-up-routes-in-your-hometown-using-real-world-map-data/
After a few years in Early Access, niche sim-management game City Bus Manager has released its full 1.0 version, adding a ton of new scenarios and a big increase in scale to its simulation of running a bus company pretty much anywhere in the world. Buying buses, hiring staff, and upgrading your HQ are one half of the gameplay—the other half is all about setting up routes on maps that reflect real-world road layouts.

Get a taste of automated, voxelated terraforming in the free preview of Eden Crafters
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/get-a-taste-of-automated-voxelated-terraforming-in-the-free-preview-of-eden-crafters/
Upcoming open world automation-crafting-survival game Eden Crafters has a free demo out now called Ocean World: Eden Crafters, showing an in-development slice of the upcoming game set on a couple of small islands on a vast oceanic planet—complete with a full-on giant wave from that one planet near the black hole in Interstellar that comes by and wrecks all the most fragile buildings in your base every once in a while. Which absolutely rules, honestly.

Drop blocks to make your own maze in the demo for tower defense game Emberward
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/drop-blocks-to-make-your-own-maze-in-the-demo-for-tower-defense-game-emberward/
A cute tower defense game launched last week that has you use tetromino blocks in order to DIY a tower defense maze. Emberward, the debut title from indie studio Refic Games, is a creative little game that makes you use your head to puzzle out ideal layouts for your maze before using a suite of towers you've chosen yourself to defend the bonfire at its center. There's a demo out now that lets you play through the first area with a slightly limited set of abilities.

The Tuesday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Steam’s Top 10

(Click here for the Top 100)

Valve's new top-played chart for the Steam Deck shows that people really, really like both Hades and Hades 2
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/valves-new-top-played-chart-for-the-steam-deck-shows-that-people-really-really-like-both-hades-and-hades-2/
Valve's Steam charts now have a new live category exclusively for the Steam Deck, letting you view the "Top Played" games for the Deck in the past week, month, and year. The list, which tracks changes in rank compared to the previous time period, also shows prices and whether the game in question is verified for Steam Deck. It's a great way to see what other people are playing—and pretty dang good at highlighting deals, since the prices show current sale prices for the 2024 Steam summer sale.

Team Fortress 2's player count doubles after fan pressure sees Valve step in with a bot-demolishing banwave and a firm line on appeals: 'No'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/team-fortress-2s-player-count-doubles-after-fan-pressure-sees-valve-step-in-with-a-bot-demolishing-banwave-and-a-firm-line-on-appeals-no/
Team Fortress 2's bot problem is an ongoing drama in PC gaming land: the issue seemingly went into overdrive when developer Valve stepped back from major work on the game in 2017. To be clear, whatever some in the community may say Valve has never abandoned TF2, and continues to periodically release bug fixes and community-authored expansions for the 17-year-old game. But the bots… the bots have definitely gotten out of hand. 
(...)
It seems to have finally got some results. Over the weekend a new FAQ page has appeared on Steam, and it's dedicated entirely to players banned from Team Fortress 2. It opens with the line, and you really have to imagine this delivered in the Heavy's voice, that "Team Fortress 2 game bans are permanent, non-negotiable, and are not removed by Steam Support."
(...)
Big words, but the appearance of this new page on Steam was accompanied by the kind of bot banwave that instantly had the fanbase reaching for the celebration gifs. The estimates based on SteamDB activity are that about 16,000 bots lurked among the humans until June 27 when, all of a sudden, that portion of the player population disappeared in an instant.

GOG has a new Deal of the Day, the Early Access title Quasimorph, 20% off during 22 hours: https://www.gog.com/en/game/quasimorph.

Despite running its Summer Sale, Steam has launched new weeklong deals. There’s so few of them that I’ll leave it to you to check them out.

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Nothing-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Nerf Arena Blast RTX Remix Path Tracing Demo Mod Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/nerf-arena-blast-rtx-remix-path-tracing-demo-mod-released/
Modder ‘Kralich/David’ has released an RTX Remix Demo Mod for Nerf Arena Blast. This mod will allow you to play the game’s Twister Arena Mode with RTX Remix Path Tracing effects. So, let’s see what improvements this mod brings to the table.
For those unaware, RTX Remix is a tool that can add full Ray Tracing/Path Tracing effects to older titles. If you are regular here, you certainly have seen some of the mods we’ve shared.
In Nerf Arena Blast Twister Arena, almost every texture has been remastered, with a combination of AI upscaling, hand-painting, and PBR texture generation using Materialise. Since the mod uses PBR materials, it looks better than the first RTX Remix Mods that appeared online a couple of months ago.
Moreover, the mod adds Emissive Neon effects. Emissive textures are textures that give off light. In older games, this was faked by putting a separate light source near the texture. But with RTX Remix, modders can do it the modern way. Now, all the neon lights in the arena now give off light and volumetric effects.
And that’s not all. PC gamers can also look forward to Parallax Occlusion Mapping. This technique makes surfaces look more 3D-ish by using heightmaps. It creates a realistic depth effect without needing to model everything in 3D. In this RTX remaster, the modder used this technique on many things like doors, neon strobe lights, and walls to make them look better and more detailed.
Finally, you will get some cool path-traced glass effects. The modder has replaced the game’s fake mirrors with realistically-simulated glass that reflects the world behind it.
>> The article has a less than 2 minutes video.

Dark Souls 2 will soon support DLAA/DLSS via a mod
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/dark-souls-2-will-soon-support-dlaa-dlss-via-a-mod/
Modder ‘Ganaboy’, creator of the DS2LightingEngine Mod for Dark Souls 2, is currently working on implementing support for both DLAA and DLSS. This will allow all RTX owners to replace the game’s TAA with DLAA and DLSS, something that will bring better performance and image quality.
To showcase the improvements that DLAA can bring to the table, Ganaboy shared the following video. In this video, we can see DLAA resolving the shimmering issues that were present in the terrain when using the game’s default TAA.
For those unaware, DS2LightingEngine is one of the best graphical mods for Dark Souls 2. This mod enables modern-effects like Volumetric Fog, High Quality Ambient Occlusion using GTAO and Adaptive Tessellation.
Not only that, but it allows many light sources to cast shadows. Players can also enjoy a new Distant Geometry system, as well as improved material rendering for metals/non-metals. The mod also allows placing new meshes and texture overriding and has an improved postprocessor.
>> There’s a short video of this mod.

Here’s another look at the Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell RTX Remix Path Tracing Mod
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/heres-another-look-at-the-tom-clancys-splinter-cell-rtx-remix-path-tracing-mod/
In May 2024, we shared the first WIP video for an upcoming RTX Remix Mod for Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell. And, a few days ago, modder ‘skurtyyskirts’ shared another video for it, showcasing its WIP Path Tracing effects.
As I said, this is still a WIP video. This means that there are still numerous graphical glitches and issues. So, be sure to keep that in mind while watching the video.
Now the good news here is that once – and if – the mod is complete, this may be the best way to re-experience this classic Splinter Cell game. Yes, Ubisoft is working on an official remake of it. However, the team aims to make changes to it for a modern audience. We can also expect some gameplay changes. So, for all die-hard Splinter Cell fans, this mod may turn out to be a better “remake” than the official one.
It’s also worth noting that Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell had a lot of dynamic lights that players could destroy. In the original game, Ubisoft also used fake lights to keep the environments lit. So, I’m curious to see how the modder will address this. My guess is that he might need to place some new lights to the environments (something that RTX Remix allows you to do).
>> The a rticle has a 4 minutes video.

Evil Soul is a new horror-themed mod for Grand Theft Auto 5
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/evil-soul-is-a-new-horror-themed-mod-for-grand-theft-auto-5/
Now here is something for our GTA5 fans. Modder ‘AlexDevilish’ has released a horror-themed mod for Grand Theft Auto 5, called Evil Soul.
In this mod, an evil entity will be watching you from 00:00 until 03:00. During that time period, people around you will be dying, lights will be flickering and objects will be floating. Your goal is simple. Survive the night.
As the modder noted, the evil entity will randomly attack players. Then, after she weakens you, she will bring you to the old mine shaft to end you there.
Moreover, if you try to escape with a vehicle, she will burst your tires. So, there is no way to escape her.
This is a cool mod. From what I’ve seen, though, it’s a bit short. Still, it’s something that may please a lot of horror fans.
>> There’s a 6 minutes video in the article.

GAMING NEWS

Black Myth: Wukong just got a new 7-minute 4K gameplay video
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/black-myth-wukong-just-got-a-new-7-minute-4k-gameplay-video/
VGC has released a new video, showcasing 7 minutes of brand new gameplay footage from Black Myth: Wukong. From what I can see, this gameplay footage is from the same preview build that Game Science provided the media in early June.

Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster will have Denuvo, PC system requirements revealed
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/dead-rising-deluxe-remaster-will-have-denuvo-pc-system-requirements-revealed/
Capcom has launched the Steam store page for Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, revealing its official PC system requirements. Moreover, the Japanese company has confirmed that the game will be using the Denuvo anti-tamper tech on PC.

Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess PC demo is available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/kunitsu-gami-path-of-the-goddess-pc-demo-is-available-for-download/
Now here is a pleasant surprise. Although Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess will be using Denuvo on PC, Capcom has just released a free demo for it.

Tuesday news, part two:

'Is this supposed to be rigged?' Helldivers 2 players fatigued as bugs leapfrog across supply lines like a bunch of dirty cheaters
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/is-this-supposed-to-be-rigged-helldivers-2-players-fatigued-as-bugs-leapfrog-across-supply-lines-like-a-bunch-of-dirty-cheaters/
Helldivers 2 has some major problems with its major orders. We saw a little of this discontent earlier in the year with the Menkent Line, where the futility of setting up a faux defence, only to see it crumple out of nowhere, sent players into a malaise.
Things were looking up later on when a separate order saw a planet permanently turned into a "black hole" which, I'm told once more by my democracy officer, is absolutely not a wormhole with the Illuminate on the other side. It seemed to be a great way to make the playerbase's hustle feel like it had an impact, aside from some glitches that plagued the order's early hours.
Unfortunately, things appear to have taken a downturn with the most recent major order, "Operation Jin Xi-Falstaff Lockdown", which sees players attempting to defend a set list of planets before the major order expires.

GTA Online adds a quality-of-life feature players have wanted for years then upsets everyone by paywalling it: 'One of the slimiest things they've done in a while'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/grand-theft-auto/gta-online-adds-a-qualify-of-life-feature-players-have-wanted-for-years-then-upsets-everyone-by-paywalling-it-one-of-the-slimiest-things-theyve-done-in-a-while/
There's one quality-of-life feature that GTA Online players have wanted pretty much since the game came out, and Rockstar's just got around to implementing it—behind a paywall. GTA Online's latest event is called Bottom Dollar Bounties and focuses on letting players live that Dog the Bounty Hunter life in Los Santos, but it also adds the new Vinewood Club app to in-game phones.
This app "lets you easily request vehicles, claim all outstanding business safe earnings, and replenish ammo on your in-game phone." Collecting cash from your businesses in GTA Online has always been a bit of a pain, and being able to do it from your phone instead is obviously a massive improvement. The catch, of course, is that it's only available to GTA+ subscribers paying $8 a month (thanks, GamesRadar+).

Team Fortress 2 players are not loving the announcement of TF2 DLC for Funko Fusion instead of, y'know, TF2: 'Genuinely would rather bots continue to overrun the game than this happen'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/team-fortress-2-players-are-not-loving-the-announcement-of-tf2-dlc-for-funko-fusion-instead-of-yknow-tf2-genuinely-would-rather-bots-continue-to-overrun-the-game-than-this-happen/
As Team Fortress 2 players continue begging Valve to take a more active role in dealing with the game's botting problems, it is maybe not a good look that the first new Team Fortress 2-related DLC announced in years is for another game entirely (via Wario64). And not just any other game: it's Funko Fusion, which answers the question "What if you made something like Lego Star Wars but out of garbage?"

Trust me, you should rewatch the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree cinematic trailer after beating the expansion
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/trust-me-you-should-rewatch-the-elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-cinematic-trailer-after-beating-the-expansion/
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree's cinematic trailer dropped exactly a month before the expansion's release, and the collective response was about what you would expect: "This is rad, but I have no idea what's going on." Now, though? Well I have kind of an idea what's going on after spending 80 hours or so in the DLC, and it's all about as grim and unsettling as you'd expect.
Spoilers for Shadow of the Erdtree ahead.

Capcom announces the next mainline Resident Evil is in development, and the great news is it's being helmed by Resident Evil 7's director
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/resident-evil/capcom-announces-the-next-mainline-resident-evil-is-in-development-and-the-great-news-is-its-being-helmed-by-resident-evil-7s-director/
Capcom finally gave us a shred of information about the next Resident Evil during the Capcom Next Summer 2024 stream, and while it's not much to go off, it sounds promising if you read between the lines. 
"It was really difficult to figure out what to do after [Resident Evil 7]," director Koshi Nakanishi says during the livestream. "But I found it, and to be honest, it feels substantial. I can't share any details just yet, but I hope you're excited for the day I can."

Elon Musk’s xAI Using 100,000 NVIDIA H100 GPUs To Train Grok 3 AI Model, Grok 2 To Launch By August

https://wccftech.com/elon-musk-xai-100000-nvidia-h100-gpus-train-grok-3-ai-model-grok-2-launch-august/

AMD Ryzen 9000 CPUs To Introduce “Curve Shaper” Add-On For Curve Optimizer For Enhanced Overclocking

https://wccftech.com/amd-ryzen-9000-cpus-curve-shaper-add-on-for-curve-optimizer-enhanced-overclocking/

Intel Arrow Lake & Lunar Lake I/O Configurations Revealed Along With LGA 1851 Socket Pinout Plan

https://wccftech.com/intel-arrow-lake-lunar-lake-io-configurations-along-lga-1851-socket-pinout-revealed/

Noctua NH-D15 G2 CPU Cooler Official: Next-Gen Flagship With New Design & New Fans For $150

https://wccftech.com/noctua-nh-d15-g2-cpu-cooler-official-next-gen-flagship-new-design-new-fans-150-usd/

Intel’s next-gen LGA-1851 socket pinout leaks out, Core Ultra 200 platform I/O support detailed

https://videocardz.com/newz/intels-next-gen-lga-1851-socket-pinout-leaks-out-core-ultra-200-platform-i-o-support-detailed

Intel 800-series platform for Arrow Lake-S LGA-1851 CPUs leaks in a new diagram

https://videocardz.com/newz/intel-800-series-platform-for-arrow-lake-s-lga-1851-cpus-leaks-in-a-new-diagram

AMD Ryzen 9000 preorders start in Europe: 9950X at €660, 9600X at €310

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-ryzen-9000-preorders-start-in-europe-9950x-at-e660-9600x-at-e310