AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT drops to $349 for the first time, includes $60 AMD game bundle

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-radeon-rx-7700-xt-drops-to-349-for-the-first-time-includes-60-amd-game-bundle

Intel Lunar Lake CPU Significantly Outperforms Current-Gen Gaming Handhelds, Strong IPC Gains & Great Power Figures

https://wccftech.com/intel-lunar-lake-significantly-outperforms-current-gen-gaming-handhelds-strong-ipc-gains-great-power/

Take it with salt

Intel Says Falcon Shores AI GPUs On-Track: AI Roadmap Won’t Be Affected By Restructuring Policy

https://wccftech.com/intel-falcon-shores-ai-gpus-on-track-ai-roadmap/

Here are the Thursday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

This week, the Epic Store gives away Bear and Breakfast: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/bear-and-breakfast-77c209.
Next week, the free games will be Empyrion - Galactic Survival and Outliver: Tribulation.

You know it wouldn’t be a GOG major sale without one of these, and the Autumn Sale is a big one. So let’s welcome this GIVEAWAY: Whispering Willows is free to get during 70 hours: https://www.gog.com/en/game/whispering_willows.

Steam has two new deals:

• Arctic Eggs is gong to be 30% off until October 9: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2763670/Arctic_Eggs/
• AK-xolotl: Together gets a 50% discount until the same 9th of October: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1479140/AKxolotl_Together/

There’s a new Humble Bundle for us: the Have a Warhammer Day Bundle features up to 9 items to get (7 games + 2 coupons) during the next 20 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/warhammer-day.

And Fanatical has these:

• The Warhammer franchise is on sale during the next 4 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/franchises/warhammer
• And the BYO Platinum Collection - October 2024 Bundle is live with 18 games to choose from for your 3+, 5+ or 7+ bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/platinum-collection-build-your-own-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

Unreal Engine 5.5’s MegaLights allows devs to use "orders of magnitude more" light sources—even on older hardware
https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/Unreal-Engine-5-5-Mega-Lights/
Ray tracing has been a revolution, and it’s steadily becoming the norm for triple-A games. To put it another way, it’s lighting tech you definitely feel the absence of should a rogue update take away the option. Well, lighting artists are rejoicing because Unreal Engine 5 has come in swinging with what could be the next leap forward to set screens ablaze (though hopefully not our rigs).
Revealed during Unreal Fest this week in Seattle, MegaLights is a new, experimental feature for Unreal Engine 5.5 that allows developers to play with "orders of magnitude more" shadow-casting lights than ever before without taking a costly bite out of performance.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Batman Doom 1 Overhaul Mod is a must for all Batman/Doom fans
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/batman-doom-1-overhaul-mod-is-a-must-for-all-batman-doom-fans/
Batman and Doom fans, here is something for you. A few days ago, modder ‘ddadd’ released Batman Doom 1 Overhaul. Batman Doom 1 Overhaul greatly enhances the gameplay of the original Batman Doom while keeping the original levels and art style intact. So, let’s take a closer look at it.
For those unaware, Batman Doom is a total overhaul mod for Doom. This mod lets you become Batman, and fight a lot of Batman enemies. It also replaces the default weapons with those that Batman uses. So, think of it as a cool mashup of Batman and Doom.
Batman Doom 1 Overhaul comes with better melee graphics and mechanics, including regaining health upon successful strikes. It also makes Batarangs much faster.
All hitscan enemies have been replaced with bullet projectile enemies. This will make the game play and feel much better than before. Smoke bombs will now damage on impact but also act like actual smoke. There is also a new level and villain to map33, the Riddler’s hideout.
And that’s not all. The modder has replaced Batman’s super shotgun with batclaw. Batman’s gloves are now much more fun to use. You also now have an Alt-fire kick for every weapon. Then we have the Bat-machinegun weapon which will now also disable certain enemy weapons.
Finally, the new overhauled version of the mod removes some previous stealth mechanics due to game breaking issues. It also changes some boss mechanics to offer more of an exciting fight, especially with Tally Man.
>> The article has an almost 4 minutes video.

Duke Nukem 3D Savior of Babes V0.98 Available for Download
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/duke-nukem-3d-savior-of-babes-v0-98-available-for-download/
VGames has released a brand new version of Duke Nukem 3D Savior of Babes. Version 0.98 brings a lot of tweaks, fixes and improvements. So, let’s dive in and see what is in store for all Duke Nukem 3D fans.
Duke Nukem 3D: Savior of Babes is a new version of the classic PC game. As the modder has noted, it’s rebuilt as a crazy, action-packed power fantasy using Eduke32. In this mod, Duke Nukem is stronger and tougher than ever. Duke will now have tons of upgrades, powerful weapons, amazing power-ups, and many other cool stuff.
Version 0.98 includes big improvements to help the game run smoother. It reduces frame rate problems by optimizing the effects for burning and poisoned enemies. It also adds a system that loads upscaled sprites and textures in advance to avoid slowing down the game. On top of that, it makes gibs and debris run better in certain parts of the E5L3 map.
The new version also brings some cool updates. It now includes more detailed textures on general gibs and adds bloody details to gibs from specific enemies. It also makes more objects destructible, meaning you can break or destroy more things in the game. And that’s not all. Version 0.98 also improves the look of some missing Duke Burger sprites by upscaling them. Plus, it adds extra explosion effects to several weapons like the shrinker, railgun, new beast drone, Megabrain, and the Almighty Lance.
>> You’ll find an almost 1 hours long video in the article.

Cyberpunk 2077 Mod remakes ALL animations in third-person
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/cyberpunk-2077-mod-remakes-all-animations-in-third-person/
Cyberpunk 2077 fans, here is something special for you. Modder ‘Tylerrrrr’ has released a brand new version of his CP2077 Mod that aims to redo/remake ALL of the game’s animations in third-person mode. As such, you can now play and experience CDPR’s title in third-person.
In Version 5.0, when you bump into people there’s an actual effect that fits third-person perfectly. This makes bumping into people on the streets feel better than before. In fact, the modder claims that these effects are better than those found in various triple-A games, like Starfield.
This latest version also fixes all the issues with climbing and vaulting. Vaulting over obstacles looks now perfect. Not only that but the modder fixed the leaning and orientation issues with walk jog and sprint. He also fixed most issues with melee combat. Melee combat is still not perfect. However, it’s way better than before.
In short, this is a must-have mod for everyone who wants to play the game via a third-person camera. For a mod, this is pretty incredible. Again, it’s not perfect. However, the game can finally be enjoyed from a third-person perspective.
>> The article has two videos.

GAMING NEWS

Starfield Title Update 1.14.70 Released, Full Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/starfield-title-update-1-14-70-released-full-patch-notes/
Bethesda has released Title Update 1.14.70 for Starfield, and shared its full patch notes. According to the team, this patch, among other things, contains fixes for Quests, the REV-8, and the ship builder. So, let’s dive in.

EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 does no longer require an Epic Games account for online play
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/earth-defense-force-6-does-no-longer-require-an-epic-games-account-for-online-play/
When it came out, EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 required an Epic Games account for online play. This requirement frustrated a lot of PC gamers, something that is reflected in the game’s Steam Reviews. So, great news everyone as SANDLOT has released a patch that removes the Epic Games account requirement.

Post Trauma and The Alters have been delayed until 2025
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/post-trauma-and-the-alters-have-been-delayed-until-2025/
Raw Fury and 11 bit Studios have announced that Post Trauma and The Alters have been delayed until 2025. The Alters currently targets a Q1 2025. On the other hand, there isn’t any release window for Post Trauma.

The second part of the Thursday news:

Larian boss Swen Vincke cruelly hints at a 2029 release for the studio's next game, only to yoink it away: 'It was just a joke'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/larian-boss-swen-vincke-cruelly-hints-at-a-2029-release-for-the-studios-next-game-only-to-yoink-it-away-it-was-just-a-joke/
Following on the runaway success of Baldur's Gate 3, which is somehow still earning awards despite having launched well over a year ago, Larian Studios has not just one but two games in the works,which of course we're all very eager to get our hands on. They're still a long way off, of course, but... maybe not that long?
As reported by IGN, Larian boss Swen Vincke very gently teased a possible 2029 release for the game during an acceptance speech for a Special Recognition Awards at the SEA Game Awards—Larian opened a studio in Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, in 2019. "We need to work hard on the next game so we can be back here in five years," Vincke said.
(...)
Well, no—or at least, don't count on it. "I knew you’d pick up on that," Larian told IGN after his speech. "It was just a joke. I don’t know, we’ll release it when it’s ready. They’re big games and it takes time, so don’t hold us to a date."

6 years after successfully crowdfunding a game about orphans in a cyberpunk warzone, the studio making it has closed: 'We've been so close to a release, several times, and there's a lot to regret after all the work done'
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/6-years-after-successfully-crowdfunding-a-game-about-orphans-in-a-cyberpunk-warzone-the-studio-making-it-has-closed-weve-been-so-close-to-a-release-several-times-and-theres-a-lot-to-regret-after-all-the-work-done/
There's a bit of unintended irony in our 2018 preview of Orphan Age, a life-sim game about orphans attempting to survive in the midst of a cyberpunk warzone. "Not sure this one will have a happy ending," we said at the time, a reference to the game's grim premise that turned out to be prescient in an unexpected way.
A demo for Orphan Age was released in 2019 but a full early access launch never happened, and now it never will. Studio Black Flag, the developer, has announced that following a split with its publisher, funding has dried up and the studio has ceased operations.

The portals to hell have legs and health bars in Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred's Season of Hatred Rising
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/the-portals-to-hell-have-legs-and-health-bars-in-diablo-4-vessel-of-hatreds-season-of-hatred-rising/
Demons can be anything they want, apparently. In Diablo 4's next season, which starts on October 7, a massive creature called the Realmwalker will stomp around Sanctuary with a portal to hell on its back. Defeating it will send you into a dungeon with more portals and new seasonal potions to help fill your inventory with loot.

A Valve engineer used ChatGPT to find a new matchmaking algorithm for Deadlock, and now it's in the game
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/valve-chatgpt-deadlock-algorithm/
A survey conducted about a year ago found that 31% of game developers were already using generative AI in some way. I'd wager that the percentage has increased significantly since then.
We know Valve is using it: Fletcher Dunn, an engineer who's been with Valve for over a decade, has been posting his "ChatGPT wins" on X, saying today that OpenAI's large language model is an "amazing" tool.
Dunn is more or less using ChatGPT as an advanced search engine, and the interaction that amazed him recently saw him describe a hypothetical kind of algorithm he wanted to use for Valve's MOBA-shooter, Deadlock, and receive an accurate recommendation for a real algorithm matching his specifications. The algorithm ChatGPT recommended is in fact now being used in Deadlock matchmaking, according to Dunn.

Not all Space Marines are created equal: Space Marine 2 dev asks players to be nice on the off chance you come across Henry Cavill
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/not-all-space-marines-are-created-equal-space-marine-2-dev-asks-players-to-be-nice-on-the-off-chance-you-come-across-henry-cavill/
The September community update for Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 included all the usual trappings like bug patches and announcements for upcoming content, but one part caught me a little off guard: one of the devs pleading for the community to be a little nicer just in case you run into Henry Cavill. 
"It has been reported that some players were displaying hurtful behaviours or comments in-game," the community update reads. "We do not tolerate that and will take action to prevent it. 

Bethesda honcho says Starfield is 'the best game we've ever made' in massive bout of amnesia
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/bethesda-honcho-says-starfield-is-the-best-game-weve-ever-made-in-massive-bout-of-amnesia/
At time of writing, Starfield's Steam review score is at an unenviable, beige "Mixed" rating, with only 59% of its total reviews coming in positive. Its first DLC, Shattered Space, is faring even worse: It's currently sitting at "Mostly Negative," with just 38% positive user reviews.
But Starfield design director Emil Pagliarulo isn't letting it dissuade him. In a recent chat with GamesRadar, Pagliarulo said that—though Starfield might not be "everyone's cup of tea"—he reckons "it's also, in a lot of ways, the best game we've ever made."

'Subconsciously, we were all ready to die': Stalker 2 developers secretly prepared for Russia's invasion
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/subconsciously-we-were-all-ready-to-die-stalker-2-developers-secretly-prepared-for-russias-invasion/
There aren't many games with a story like Stalker 2's, whose development at Ukrainian studio GSC Game World was interrupted by Russia's invasion of the country on February 24, 2022. Kyiv was bombed, devs and their families were evacuated while others enlisted in the Ukrainian military, and the studio as a whole had to be effectively rebuilt from the ground-up in Prague.
"Subconsciously, we were all ready to die," says a GSC dev named Alina in a new documentary, called War Game, put out to mark the game's tumultuous path to release on November 20 this year. In a section detailing devs' experiences of the day Russian troops rolled over Ukraine's border, we see shots of Ukrainians flooding into basements as missiles rained down from overhead. "I remember the alarm we heard in Kyiv," recalls another dev, "It was quite a scary feeling. The creepiest thing was knowing that your life would depend on this sound."

A deep South Fallout sequel with a 'guerilla warfare' vibe was planned, but then Interplay bit the dust
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/a-deep-south-fallout-sequel-with-a-guerilla-warfare-vibe-was-planned-but-then-interplay-bit-the-dust/
The Fallout lineage roughly splits into pre-Bethesda and post-Bethesda, but there are byroads. One of the most notable is 2001's Fallout Tactics, a Brotherhood of Steel RPG developed by Micro Forté. (...)
Jeremy Peel recently sat down with Fallout Tactics' lead designer, Ed Orman, about the game's breakneck and somewhat troubled development, including the hairy deathclaws. Towards the end of this chat they get onto Fallout Tactics 2: a sequel that was discussed and even planned-out, before publisher Interplay imploded and it became an irradiated Dodo.

The sources said that Nintendo offered the lead of the project "an offer he could not refuse". I hope it involved money or a job.

That's actually a great deal, And we don't know if the second game in the bundle is good or bad, but Space Marines 2 is an excellent title, if you like that genre, of course.

Out of curiosity I checked how the 7700XT is priced here, and the cheapest I've seen is the same card, but at 399 €. Not great, but not bad all things considered.

Well, the image quality difference between FSR quality and DLSS balanced is even smaller than between FSR + DLSS both quality (or both balanced) "during normal gameplay".

The image quality difference between FSR balanced and DLSS performance is even smaller than between FSR + DLSS both balanced (or both performance) "during normal gameplay".

The image quality difference between FSR performance and DLSS ultra performance is even smaller than between FSR + DLSS both performance (or both ultra performance) "during normal gameplay".

So with DLSS compared to FSR you can reach the same (or sometimes even slightly better) image quality with a lower render resolution and enjoy the additional fps... with some rare exceptions, of course.

No, they can use one of the other two roads:

Or are 20 - 25 additional miles detour insurmountable?

Tbh I'm not entirely sure how much of the remaining area is damaged. I know Asheville has been crippled severely, and the remaining people are waiting for aid.

One story I'm hearing is that there's going to be some form of gov land grab?, but I always thought the gov had control of most US mines (land and all that).  

AMD Radeon RX 7000 GPUs Witnesses “GPU Deal” Frenzy; RX 7700 XT $349, RX 7900 XT $649 & RX 7900 XTX $849

https://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-rx-7000-gpus-deal-frenzy-rx-7700-xt-349-rx-7900-xt-649-rx-7900-xtx-849/

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 stock dwindling amid high-end RTX 40 GPU discontinuation rumors

https://videocardz.com/newz/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4090-stock-dwindling-amid-high-end-rtx-40-gpu-discontinuation-rumors

AMD wants game developers to experiment with their drivers: Driver Experiments now available

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-wants-game-developers-to-experiment-with-their-drivers-driver-experiments-now-available

NVIDIA To End GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER GPU Supply By November As RTX 5090 & 5080 Expected To Launch Simultaneously

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-end-geforce-rtx-4080-super-gpu-supply-november-rtx-5090-5080-launch-simultaneously/

One of them stops making cards and wait until supply runs out to launch the new ones. The other does the same but has to put them on sale to try to sell them.

Let’s go with the Friday news!

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

The Humble Store has two new sales:

• The Warhammer Day Sale 2024 brings up to 90% discounts during 6 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/warhammer-day-sale-2024/
• The Week of Terror Sale has games up to 95% off during the next 6 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/week-of-terror-sale/

Fanatical’s new Star Deal is Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream Ultimate Edition, with a 60% deal during 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/atelier-sophie-2-the-alchemist-of-the-mysterious-dream-ultimate-edition.

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Starfield just got a must-have mod based on the Stargate franchise
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/starfield-just-got-a-must-have-mod-based-on-the-stargate-franchise/
Stargate fans, here is something that will put a smile on your face. Modder ‘Tealcjohnston’ has released a new cool mod for Starfield that adds stargates to 120 planets. As such, you can now teleport to these planets through the use of the Stargate and explore like never before.
Starfield – Road to the Stars, bringing the iconic Stargate universe to Starfield. Players will be able to travel across a vast selection of hand-picked worlds. Plus, each has its own unique address, accessed through the Stargate network.
Players will also have access to the DHD. The DHD, also known as the Dial Home Device, is a fully operational and immersive way to dial a gate address. You can use it by pushing 6 symbols on the DHD followed by the point of origin and then dialing the gate with the Large red button in the center of the device.
And that’s not all. The iconic Stargate Command (SGC) will be your base of operations. The SGC has a fully functional dialing computer, allowing you to explore new worlds. Moreover, you’ll have at your disposal a remote dialing device This device will allow you to activate the Stargate remotely. However, you’ll need to be within ~20 meters of the gate for it to work.
>> Cool, indeed. Anyway, the article has a less than 2 minutes video.

This cursed Skyrim mod flips the entire game horizontally like Mario Kart's mirror mode and it's weirdly very upsetting
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/this-cursed-skyrim-mod-flips-the-entire-game-horizontally-like-mario-karts-mirror-mode-and-its-weirdly-very-upsetting/
Mirroring an image is one of life's secret horrors. Ever flipped a photo of yourself to see how you look to everyone else, had an existential crisis, then done everything in your power to scrub the image from your brain bank? No, just me? Okay, what about flipping the entire world of Skyrim like it's Mario Kart's mirror mode? If that doesn't give you the heebie-jeebies, I don't know what will.
That's exactly what NexusMods user MontyBellroy has done though, taking beloved locations I've come to know so well and fliperoo'd them on the x-axis. My beloved Breezehome now lies to my left, all the guards now sheathe their blade on the right, and everything simply looks very, very wrong. 
It's deeply unsettling in a way that I wasn't quite anticipating—everything is correct but also not, everyone is normal except not really. It doesn't help that MontyBellroy has gone to the effort to make sure that all the text and menus are the correct way around, further sinking this mod into the uncanny valley.
"I find this quite disturbing, good work," one commenter on the mod page wrote, while another said "This is actually kind of great. I've played Skyrim so much over the years that I can essentially auto-pilot my way through most of the game, especially the more common areas. Now? I JUST GOT LOST WALKING THROUGH WHITERUN! Having to constantly pay attention to where I'm going with every step sorta makes the game feel new again."
There are a couple of issues with the mod, MontyBellroy points out. One is the fact that the positions of icons on the map don't line up with where your mouse needs to be to click on them. Icons on the left need to be clicked on the right, and vice versa. It's the same case for the console menu too, so both probably need a bit of mental mapping to figure out.
The game's audio also isn't mirrored, so noises coming from your left in-game will still play out from their unflipped side. "Equalizer APO or another third party application should be able to reverse your left and right audio channels," MontyBellroy helpfully points out. "Or you could just wear your headset backwards like the cool kids are doing."
>> There are only a couple of screenshots in the article.

GAMING NEWS

LEGO Horizon Adventures Official PC Requirements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/lego-horizon-adventures-official-pc-requirements/
Guerrilla Games and Studio Gobo have revealed the official PC system requirements for LEGO Horizon Adventures. LEGO Horizon Adventures tells the story of Aloy in the form of LEGO. The game will come out on November 14th on PC. So, let’s see what kind of a PC system you’ll need to run it.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Official PC Requirements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/sid-meiers-civilization-vii-official-pc-requirements/
Firaxis Games has revealed the official PC system requirements for its upcoming strategy game, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII. Sid Meier’s Civilization VII will be released on February 11th, 2025, and it will be using Denuvo. So, let’s see what PC system you’ll need to run it.

Star Wars Outlaws Title Update 1.2 released with over 100 fixes, tweaks, improvements and changes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/star-wars-outlaws-title-update-1-2-released-with-over-100-fixes-tweaks-improvements-and-changes/
Ubisoft has just released Title Update 1.2 for Star Wars Outlaws, and shared its full patch notes. This patch is around 5.6GB in size on PC. So, let’s take a closer look at what its fixes, tweaks and changes.

The First Berserker: Khazan just got a cool cinematic trailer, focusing on the Viper Boss
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/the-first-berserker-khazan-just-got-a-cool-cinematic-trailer-focusing-on-the-viper-boss/
NEXON has just released a new cool cinematic trailer for The First Berserker: Khazan. This new trailer focuses on the Viper Boss that players will fight in it. Moreover, a Technical Closed Beta Test will begin soon.

Saber is working on a Triple-A Action RPG in the Avatar Legends universe
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/saber-is-working-on-a-triple-a-action-rpg-in-the-avatar-legends-universe/
Paramount Game Studios and Saber Interactive, in collaboration with Avatar Studios, have announced that they are developing a new AAA game based in the Avatar Legends universe.

Gravity Forge is a new third-person indie action game with hordes of enemies that will remind you of Xbox 360’s WET
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/gravity-forge-is-a-new-third-person-indie-action-game-with-hordes-of-enemies-that-will-remind-you-of-xbox-360s-wet/
Indie dev Relay is currently working on a third-person action game with hordes of enemies in Unreal Engine 5, called Gravity Forge. And, in a really bizarre way, this indie game will remind you of Xbox 360’s WET.