NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti “OpenCL” Performance Leaks Out, Faster Than The RTX 4080 SUPER & Almost On Par With RTX 5080

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5070-ti-opencl-performance-leak-faster-than-4080-super-on-par-5080/

I'd take it with a grain of salt cause openCL benchmark has always been a bit finicky. But I do expect it to match or beat the 4080 at the very least.

AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT Leak Spills Out RDNA 4 Flagship Specs: 4096 Cores on Navi 48, Up To 3.1 GHz Clock & Over 200 FPS In Monster Hunter Wilds

https://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-rx-9070-xt-gpu-specs-performance-leak-4096-cores-rdna-4-navi-48-3-1-ghz/

XFX confirms Radeon RX 9070 XT Magnetic Air graphics card

https://videocardz.com/newz/xfx-confirms-radeon-rx-9070-xt-magnetic-air-graphics-card

Very neat where because the fans are held by magnets, you can easily replace them or clean them without needing to unscrew.

RTX Cablegate update: First RTX 5080 cable melts, more 5090 cases, MODDIY changes its upgrade recommendation page

https://videocardz.com/newz/rtx-cablegate-update-first-rtx-5080-cable-melts-more-5090-cases-moddiy-changes-its-upgrade-recommendation-page

Yea I'd basically not use any third party cables or adapters. Just first party even if they are ugly.

AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ PRO 395 “Strix Halo” with Radeon 8060S graphics tested in 3DMark, outperforms RX 7600M XT

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-ryzen-ai-max-395-strix-halo-with-radeon-8060s-graphics-tested-in-3dmark-outperforms-rx-7600m-xt

Correct. But it's still the "official" adapter provided by Nvidia and it should work well.

It’s Thursday, these are the news and, after yesterday’s Playstation event, there’s lots of them:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

After more than a year and 2 million sales, Alan Wake 2 is finally turning a profit for Remedy
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/after-more-than-a-year-and-2-million-sales-alan-wake-2-is-finally-turning-a-profit-for-remedy/
Alan Wake 2, Remedy's gorgeous oddity, is finally making the developer some cash, over a year after its launch. In a financial report published today, the Finnish studio revealed that sales of the sequel had now surpassed two million units, and that "the game started to accrue royalties".

Monster Hunter: World continues to fly off the shelves as anticipation for Wilds reaches critical mass
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/monster-hunter-world-continues-to-fly-off-the-shelves-as-anticipation-for-wilds-reaches-critical-mass/
Monster Hunter Wilds is only two weeks away, but that hasn't stopped its predecessor from continuing to sell like hotcakes, shifting a whole bunch of copies even seven years after its initial release.
Yep, Monster Hunter World continues to make bank for Capcom, it seems, as Automaton Media (via IGN Japan) reports that it managed to sell over one million copies between October and December last year. It went up from a reported 27 million copies sold in September, to 28.1 million in Capcom's latest financial results call. Sales of expansion Iceborne weren't far behind, with around an extra 900,000 units shifted in the final quarter of 2024.

The Epic Store, that is running its own Winter Sale, gives away:

• F1® Manager 2024: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/f1-manager-2024-fe51bd
• The Apex Legends™: Loba Free Unlock Bundle : https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/apex-legends-season-24-epic-content-offer-f63bd1

Next week, they’ll give away Garden Story and World War Z Aftermath .

GOG has been visited by Cupid and has launched the Love At First Pixel 2025 Sale, featuring over 6300 titles on sale with up to 95% discounts until February 20: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/2025_love_at_first_pixel.

Steam offers this:

• The GTC 2025 – MADE IN JAPAN Collection has around 100 titles and, while not all of them are on sale, some are going to be up to 60% off. The event will last until the 19th, but you know how it goes with the lenghts of the deals: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/gdc2025-made-in-japan-collection
• Unknown 9: Awakening is going to be 50% off until the 26th of February: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1477940/Unknown_9_Awakening/
• And Strange Horticulture, that has a demo, gets a 70% discount until the same 26th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1574580/Strange_Horticulture/

We have two new deals at Humble:

• Humble Bundle presents the Capcom Arcade Classics & Fighters Pack, that has an impressive 70 items (69 games + 1 coupon) to get during 27 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/capcom-arcade-classics-fighter-pack
• Humble Store has the Capcom Fire Deals, featuring up to 85% discounts during 14 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/capcom-fire-deals/

And Fanatical has the following:

• The new Star Deal is Monster Hunter Rise + Sunbreak Deluxe, with a 77% deal during 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/monster-hunter-rise-sunbreak-deluxe
• Today’s bundle is the BYO Bento Deluxe Bundle (BundleFest 2025), featuring 17 titles to choose for your bundles of 2+, 3+ or 5+ games during 34 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-bento-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

NVIDIA GeForce Game Ready 572.42 driver
https://videocardz.com/driver/nvidia-geforce-game-ready-572-42
Highlights
This new Game Ready Driver provides the best gaming experience for the latest new games supporting DLSS 4 technology including Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

Further support for new titles leveraging DLSS technology includes Avowed and Wuthering Waves. In addition, this driver supports the launch of Sid Meier‘s Civilization VII.

Fixed Issues
Fixed Gaming Bugs

• [Valorant] Game may crash when starting game [4951583]
• [Final Fantasy XVI] PC may freeze when exiting game [5083532]
• [Delta Force] Some PC configurations may experience performance regression when Resizable BAR is enabled [5083758]

Fixed General Bugs

• [3DMark DXR Feature Test] Unusually low score for Blackwell GPUs [5062329]
• Resolved a compatibility issue caused by version mismatches between current and updated dynamic link library files. [5081921]

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Warhorse announces official modding support for Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, turning Bohemia into a canvas for all manner of pervert ambitions
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/warhorse-announces-official-modding-support-for-kingdom-come-deliverance-2-turning-bohemia-into-a-canvas-for-all-manner-of-pervert-ambitions/
I loved Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. You can tell because I wrote like 1,500 words about loving it and then put a big 90% above them in our Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 review, but do you know what would make it even better? If I had some means to mod Henry's hands into feet. I'm just really into that at the moment.
What do you know? Warhorse must have heard my cry. The studio just came out and announced that official modding support is coming to the game. "Official modding support is coming to Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 on Steamworks," says the studio. "Stay tuned for more details on how you’ll be able to create, tweak, and expand your medieval adventure."

GAMING NEWS

PUBG: Battlegrounds Title Update 34.1 Released, Full Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/pubg-battlegrounds-title-update-34-1-released-full-patch-notes/
PUBG Corporation released today Title Update 34.1 for PUBG: Battlegrounds, and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new patch brings to the table.
Title Update 34.1 improves access to the 1v1 Arena. Players are now able to enter battles directly through Arcade mode and spawn straight into the arena. The rules remain unchanged, ensuring a seamless and competitive experience. Additionally, players can now host 1v1 duels via Custom Matches.

Here’s your first look at Assassin’s Creed Shadows PC with RTGI
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/heres-your-first-look-at-assassins-creed-shadows-pc-with-rtgi/
Ubisoft has released a new trailer for Assassin’s Creed Shadows that focuses on all the tech PC features that it will be using. This trailer also gives us our first look at the game’s Ray Tracing effects (which will be RTGI and RT Reflections).

Shadow Project is a new story-driven FPS, inspired by STALKER
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/shadow-project-is-a-new-story-driven-fps-inspired-by-stalker/
Orphic Studios has announced a new cinematic story-driven FPS, called Shadow Project. Shadow Project appears to draw inspiration from the STALKER and Metro games. So, if you are fans of them, you should at least check it out.

Shinobi Remake Gets Official Gameplay Trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/shinobi-remake-gets-official-gameplay-trailer/
SEGA has released the first official gameplay trailer for the Shinobi Remake, which will be called Shinobi: Art of Vengeance. Shinobi: Art of Vengeance is a 2D action platformer with hand-drawn graphics, and it will come out on August 29th.

Lost Soul Aside releases on PC on May 30th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/lost-soul-aside-releases-on-pc-on-may-30th/
UltiZeroGames has announced that Lost Soul Aside will be coming to PC on May 30th. To celebrate this announcement, the team shared a new gameplay trailer that you can find below.

Borderlands 4 releases on September 23rd, gets gameplay trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/borderlands-4-releases-on-september-23rd-gets-gameplay-trailer/
Gearbox has announced that Borderlands 4 will be released on September 23rd. To celebrate this announcement, the team has also shared a gameplay trailer, which you can find below.

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Remastered releases on May 23rd
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/onimusha-2-samurais-destiny-remastered-releases-on-may-23rd/
Capcom has announced that Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Remastered will be released on May 23rd. Moreover, the Japanese publisher has shared its first gameplay trailer which you can find below.

First gameplay trailer for Onimusha: Way of the Sword
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/first-gameplay-trailer-for-onimusha-way-of-the-sword/
Capcom has released the first gameplay trailer for the next part of its Onimusha series, Onimusha: Way of the Sword. This trailer showcases the amazing graphics that this new Onimusha game will have. So, make sure to watch it.
>> If the face of the main character seems familiar, it’s for a good reason.

Hell is Us is coming to PC on September 4th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/hell-is-us-is-coming-to-pc-on-september-4th/
Nacon has announced that its third-person action-adventure game, Hell is Us, is coming to PC on September 4th. To celebrate this announcement, the publisher shared a new trailer which you can find below.

Cinematic trailer for the narrative-driven, single-player action-adventure thriller, MindsEye
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/cinematic-trailer-for-the-narrative-driven-single-player-action-adventure-thriller-mindseye/
IO Interactive Partners and Build A Rocket Boy have released a cinematic trailer for MindsEye. MindsEye is a narrative-driven, single-player action-adventure thriller that will come out this Summer.
>> If the trailer gives you vibes of GTA, keep in mind that it’s the game from former Rockstar’s producer and president Leslie Benzies.

Stellar Blade will be released on PC in June 2025
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/stellar-blade-is-officially-coming-to-pc-in-june-2025/
Shift Up has announced that Stellar Blade will be officially released on PC in June 2025. The PC version will most likely everything from the PS5 version, including the new GODDESS OF VICTORY: NIKKE DLC.

New trailers for Metal Gear Solid 3 Remake, Digimon Story Time Stranger, Directive 8020 and more
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-trailers-for-metal-gear-solid-3-remake-digimon-story-time-stranger-directive-8020-and-more/
A few new trailers were aired today during the recent State of Play 2025 event. As such, I’ve decided to collect those I haven’t shared and present them in one big article. So, let’s take a look at them, shall we?
>> There are 9 videos in the article, and some of them have their own article from PCGamer.

Tides of Annihilation is a new fantasy action adventure game
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/tides-of-annihilation-is-a-new-fantasy-action-adventure-game/
Eclipse Glow Games has announced a new third-person fantasy action adventure game, called Tides of Annihilation. Tides of Annihilation will be coming to PC alongside the PS5 version, and you can find below its debut gameplay trailer.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Update 1.212.1.0 Released, Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/marvels-spider-man-2-update-1-212-1-0-released-patch-notes/
Nixxes has released a new patch for the PC version of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. So, let’s see what this new update brings to the table, shall we?
Title Update 1.212.1.0 temporarily removes Anti-Lag 2 to improve stability on AMD GPUs. Nixxes and AMD stated that they will bring it back in the future, though there is no ETA for when this will happen.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii PC Demo Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/like-a-dragon-pirate-yakuza-in-hawaii-pc-demo-released/
Now here is a pleasant surprise. SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have released a PC demo for Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii. This demo will allow you to get a taste of this new Pirate-themed Yakuza/Like a Dragon game before it comes out.
>> Steam even has a Special Event page for this demo

Thursday news, the second part (spoiler alert, there’ll be a third one):

Designed in just a few weeks, this $5 indie game about digging a hole has journeyed to the centre of Steam's top sellers chart
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/designed-in-just-a-few-weeks-this-usd5-indie-game-about-digging-a-hole-has-journeyed-to-the-centre-of-steams-top-sellers-chart/
Many aspects of game development are variable and subjective, but there is one universal truth: games take ages to make. The average turnaround for a big-budget video game used to be four years, but lately that has grown to five, maybe even six years as games have ballooned in size, budget and visual complexity. Even for smaller indie projects, you're generally looking at two years as a minimum baseline, and I imagine there are a few exhausted indie devs who would roll their panda eyes at that.
Hence, the idea of a developer making a game and launching a game in a matter of weeks would seem utterly absurd. And that's before you ponder the brain-exploding notion of it selling by the bucketload. Yet that's exactly what German studio Cyberwave has done, with the release of A Game About Digging a Hole.
(...)
How was this miracle achieved? Well, AGADAH (I'm not sure if that's better or worse than writing out the entire name) was designed by Cyberwave's artist, known by the community simply as Ben. Ben's full-time job is working on the survival game Solarpunk, but according to AGADAH's first Steam update, he took a holiday and spent the bulk of it making this new game. "Instead of taking a break, he created this game entirely in his spare time-–in just 14 days," Cyberwave writes.
>> And people like it!

Overwatch 2 is getting radical changes that might finally help that '2' make sense, starting with a third-person mode and over 160 hero perks
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/overwatch-2-is-getting-radical-changes-that-might-finally-help-that-2-make-sense-starting-with-a-third-person-mode-and-over-160-hero-perks/
Two months ago, the internet gathered around and informally crowned Marvel Rivals as the new popular hero shooter of note. I'm having lots of fun with it, but its rule-breaking heroes and experimental abilities have kept a question nagging in my noggin: Why isn't Overwatch 2 trying anything like this?
Well, now it is. In a 34-minute Overwatch 2 "Spotlight" video that premiered today, Blizzard laid out the next year of Overwatch, which includes the biggest shakeups and additions the FPS has seen since Blizzard slapped a '2' on it. It's safe to say this is a bigger deal than 5v5 ever was.
>> One of the new things is a new third-person Stadium mode, and also ...

Overwatch 2 is bringing loot boxes back from the dead
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/overwatch-2-is-bringing-loot-boxes-back-from-the-dead/
It's a big week for Overwatch 2 fans, new and old—there's a ton of new content to sift through, including hero perks, a new third-person game mode, and the return of loot boxes, something I'm particularly excited about.
"Season 15 also features the return of loot boxes," a press release says. "You will be able to earn a variety of cosmetics when collecting loot boxes. They will be available from weekly and event rewards." You'll also be able to earn one loot box via the free battle pass and an additional two in the Premium battle pass.

The Alters is altered again: 11 Bit Studios' survival game about creating alt-universe versions of yourself on a hostile alien world is delayed
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/the-alters-is-altered-again-11-bit-studios-survival-game-about-creating-alt-universe-versions-of-yourself-on-a-hostile-alien-world-is-delayed/
The Alters, 11 Bit Studios' weird-looking game about recruiting alt-universe versions of yourself to survive on a hostile alien world, has been altered again. Following a delay in 2024 that pushed it into the first quarter of 2025, it's now been delayed again to an unspecified 2025 release.

With Adventure mode squared away, Dwarf Fortress is entering a 'new era of development' as its devs shift focus toward future features
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/with-adventure-mode-squared-away-dwarf-fortress-is-entering-a-new-era-of-development-as-its-devs-shift-focus-toward-future-features/
Last month, the Steam version of Dwarf Fortress received the long-awaited addition of its absentee roguelike Adventure Mode after a lengthy beta period. The fan-favorite feature from the game's ASCII era allows players to venture the vast, procedural wilderness as a lone, probably doomed wanderer. Today, Dwarf Fortress publisher Kitfox Games announced via a Steam news post that Adventure Mode's return signalled a "new era of development," detailing the plans that Dwarf Fortress's creators have for its future now that they've brought its past to the present.

Jeff Minter is remaking another Atari classic, and yeah, it is definitely a Jeff Minter game
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/jeff-minter-is-remaking-another-atari-classic-and-yeah-it-is-definitely-a-jeff-minter-game/
Jeff Minter, the legendary indie developer who's been doing his own weird thing since the early 1980s, has a new weird thing in the works: a remake of I, Robot, an arcade shooter originally released by Atari in 1984.

Diablo 4's second expansion won't be out until 2026
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/diablo-4s-second-expansion-wont-be-out-until-2026/
Diablo 4's plan for annual expansions seems to have gone mildly awry, as franchise general manager Rod Fergusson said during a DICE panel today that the game's second expansion won't be out until sometime in 2026.

Civilization 7 patch 1.0.1 addresses 'key areas of player-reported issues' including UI and tooltip improvements
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/civilization-7-patch-1-0-1-addresses-key-areas-of-player-reported-issues-including-ui-and-tooltip-improvements/
It's not the strongest start for the seventh game in the most celebrated PC series in history. Civ 7 hasn't exactly received glowing reviews from critics and is currently struggling to shake off its "Mixed" user rating on Steam: only 51% of its 14,000 Steam reviews are positive. A lot of people are playing Civ in its first week of global release, but only about half of them are enjoying it.
Firaxis has heard the complaints and is working to address them. The third post-launch patch arrived today, and it "focuses on addressing key areas of player-reported issues that we can act on most quickly," Firaxis says.

Nvidia didn't send the Monster Hunter Wilds devs any RTX 5000 cards before their CES reveal, so official DLSS 4 support is still in progress
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/nvidia-didnt-send-the-monster-hunter-wilds-devs-any-rtx-5000-cards-before-their-ces-reveal-so-official-dlss-4-support-is-still-in-progress/
With Monster Hunter Wilds likely to be one of the biggest new games of 2025, I thought there was a chance that Capcom and Nvidia would be teaming up to ensure that the PC version of Wilds was an absolute showstopper. Typically Nvidia and AMD collaborate with developers to test games before release and ensure that their drivers are ready for launch day; surely they also sometimes seed their new hardware with major developers ahead of release too, right? When I spoke with Monster Hunter Wilds director Yuya Tokuda back in January, just a week after the announcement of the RTX 5000 series, I asked if his team had gotten to play with the new hardware yet—and if we could expect to see DLSS 4 support in Wilds on day one.
Somewhat surprisingly, no and no.
>> The 5000 series cards are so rare that Nvidia can’t even send them to developers.

Monster Hunter Wilds' first free title update DLC will add Mizutsune and 'additional updates' and event quests
https://www.pcgamer.com/monster-hunter-wilds-roadmap-dlc-title-update/
During Sony's State of Play livestream on Wednesday, Capcom debuted the final launch trailer for Monster Hunter Wilds, which ends with a tease of what we can expect after launch. We now know the first monster we'll get to face after greatswording our way through high rank: Mizutsune, a serpentine leviathan that debuted back in 2015 in Monster Hunter: Generations. Mizutsune skipped Monster Hunter World, but did make an appearance in 2021's Monster Hunter Rise.

I told you there was a third part of the news:

Sonic Racing CrossWorlds looks like a return to the over-the-top arcade fun of All-Star Racing Transformed, and we'll get to play it this month
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/racing/sonic-racing-crossworlds-looks-like-a-return-to-the-over-the-top-arcade-fun-of-all-star-racing-transformed-and-well-get-to-play-it-this-month/
Announced last year, Sonic Racing CrossWorlds is the latest in Sega's ongoing kart racing series starring Tails. At Sony's State of Play presentation today, we saw some gameplay footage along with the news that a network test will kick off on February 21.

Lies of P: Overture will take Pinocchio back in time to the beginning of the Puppet Frenzy
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/lies-of-p-overture-will-take-pinocchio-back-in-time-to-the-beginning-of-the-puppet-frenzy/
Lies of P fans will go back to where it all began in Lies of P: Overture, a new prequel expansion revealed today during Sony's State of Play showcase. Expected to launch this summer, the DLC will be set at the beginning of the Puppet Frenzy, giving players an opportunity to explore the events leading up to the original game.

An all-new Five Nights at Freddy's game is coming in June
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/an-all-new-five-nights-at-freddys-game-is-coming-in-june/
An all-new Five Nights at Freddy's game is coming this summer: Secret of the Mimic, the 11th mainline FNAF game and fourth to be developed by Steel Wool Studios, is set to launch on June 13.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater finally has a confirmed release date: August 28
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/sony-just-accidentally-announced-when-metal-gear-solid-delta-snake-eater-is-coming-out/
The thing about Naked Snake is: he's right there when you least expect it. He's a shadow in a treeline. A rustling in a locker. A thick forearm crushing your windpipe. He's also, apparently, an unexpected surprise on Sony's PlayStation network—the console maker seems to have accidentally uploaded a release date trailer (spotted by users on ResetEra) for the upcoming release of Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater right there on its digital storefront, with zero fanfare.
That's the spiffy UE5 remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, if you've lost track, and it looks like it's set to come out August 28, 2025, barring a delay. The trailer only shows the PS5 logo, but I'd be shocked if that didn't extend to us over here on PC too.
Update, Feb 12: During Sony's State of Play livestream, Konami released a new trailer for Metal Gear Solid Delta, confirming the leaked release date: August 28. You can watch the trailer above. Original story continues below.

Turns out the reason Total War: Warhammer 3's campaign AI sometimes played too defensively was a bug that made it overreact to the presence of even a single hero
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/turns-out-the-reason-total-war-warhammer-3s-campaign-ai-sometimes-played-too-defensively-was-a-bug-that-made-it-overreact-to-the-presence-of-even-a-single-hero/
Creative Assembly has announced that improvements to Total War: Warhammer 3's campaign AI are about to go into testing, with a beta due to kick off on February 13. The changes are all about making the campaign AI more active, and the blog post explaining this highlights a fascinating bug the team discovered: "a fundamental problem with how the Campaign AI detects foreign forces and how it reacts to them."

You can get Marvel Rivals' new Mister Fantastic and Invisible Woman Valentine's Day skins for free—the only catch is that you need to find a streamer first
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/you-can-get-marvel-rivals-new-mister-fantastic-and-invisible-woman-valentines-day-skins-for-free-the-only-catch-is-that-you-need-to-find-a-streamer-first/
Valentine's Day may be just around the corner, but instead of spending time with loved ones, Marvel Rivals has a better deal for you: Party with a few streamers so you can snag some free in-game cosmetics.

Assassin's Creed Shadows will let you take your pick from the frame gen and upscaling buffet as 'a mix and match approach is possible'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/assassins-creed/assassins-creed-shadows-will-let-you-take-your-pick-from-the-frame-gen-and-upscaling-buffet-as-a-mix-and-match-approach-is-possible/
It's on the lips of every PC gaming hardware enthusiast of late, whether it's spat out with vitriol or whispered with a twinge of desire: "frame generation". Whether those words give you shudders of the good or bad kind, get used to them because GPUs and games are leaning ever more in the direction of AI-aided rendering. Case and point: Assassin's Creed Shadows, which will offer a veritable variety of frame gen and upscaling goodness.
In a recent tech Q&A, Pierre F, technology director of Assassin's Creed Shadows, explained that the upcoming game will offer the full cornucopia of frame gen solutions (minus DLSS 4 Multi Frame Gen, it seems). And more than this, you'll be able to mix and match it with your upscaler of choice for quite the non-native buffet.

Well there it is. There are a lot of ways they can fuck this up and a few ways they can't. I hope the go the right direction.

Maybe we should work on a Bingo card with all the ways they can screw it up and the ways they can do it right, so we can keep track of them.

Anyway, roughly two weeks to find out if the cards will be worth it or not.

Nvidia faceplanting with the RTX 50 Series has given them a chance to make some headway. Initially AMD was the biggest screw up this gen. Between the meh uplift, iffy drivers, cable issues, and the lack of stock. Nvidia has been trying their damndest to step on every rake they can. Too bad AMD didn't produce at least a 96CU die though. They could have edged out the 4090 and beaten every 50 Series card except the 5090.

I don't mind them not releasing a big gpu if it means they can focus on getting it together with the mid-low end markets. I really hope they price it right and it performs well. Nvidia has basically given them a shot at a easy win, especially with 5070 being on 12GB of vram. If they don't capitalize on this, they should ask themselves why they are even in the dgpu space.

Steam has revealed the themes and dates of the sales for the second half of the year.

These are those in the first half:

• Real-Time Strategy Fest: January 20 – 27 (Completed)
• Idler Fest: February 3 –10 (Completed)
• Couch Co-Op Fest: February 10 –17
• Steam Next Fest - February 2025 Edition: February 24 – March 3
• Visual Novel Fest: March 3 – 10
• 2025 Steam Spring Sale: March 13 – 20
• City Builder & Colony Sim Fest: March 24 – 31
• Sokoban Fest: April 21 – 28
• Wargames Fest: April 28 – May 5
• Creature Collector Fest: May 12 – May 19
• Zombies vs. Vampires Fest: May 26 – June 2
• Steam Next Fest - June 2025 Edition: June 9 – 16
• Fishing Fest: June 16 – 23
• 2025 Steam Summer Sale: June 26 – July 10

And here are those in the second half:

• Automation Fest: July 14 – July 21
• Racing Fest: July 28 – August 4
• 4X Fest: August 11 – August 18
• Third Person Shooter (TPS) Fest: August 25 – September 1
• Political Sim Fest: September 8 – September 15
• 2025 Steam Autumn Sale: September 29 – October 6 (Please note this is a different time frame compared to previous Autumn Sales)
• Steam Next Fest - October 2025 Edition: October 13 – October 20
• Steam Scream 4: October 27 – November 3
• Animal Fest: November 10 – November 17
• Sports Fest: December 8 – December 15
• 2025 Steam Winter Sale: December 18 – January 5