It definitely feels that way. I know there is a form of artificial demand and supply going on within the GPU space, and Nvidia has everything in their power to push for that ideal. They already know the data centers are their primary focus, so they can fully afford to fuck around with the consumer market and still make a profit from it, even if they sell to fewer people. 

Because AMD refuses to be successful and to try hard enough, they come off as if they are working alongside Nvidia like how Chinese businesses do, in which they create this fancy little illusion that the market is directly competing against one another, but in actuality they are working with each other to squeeze the same lemon dry for both their benefit. 

At this point I want AMD and Nvidia broken up, because both are now neglecting the GPU space in both a sluggish and anti-competitive manner. Both are not trying hard enough, and both are just setting their prices high, while Nvidia releases cards that either melt cables, burn up, or rely 100% on AI to create an illusion of perf gains, where there is none to be had without AI. 

Well, that one is on Asus, not Nvidia. It still sucks for him, even if GN buys it from him. Maybe he'll be lucky and will be able to buy a new one once they come back in stock at a more reasonable price.

That pisses me off. Black screens on not only the 5000 but also the 3 and 4000 series? We'll investigate. Power connectors melting/burning? We'll investigate. GPUs with missing ROPs? Oh, yeah, they're like 0.5% of them. They f*cking knew it and sold them anyway!

That's worth a lawsuit.

Dear God, that's a massive difference.

Your idea of getting a 750Ti wasn't that crazy after all. The 3050 will fly off the shelves.

Its mad how family can run 2 company's and act they are competing. Why something hasnt been done about this is beyond me as its becoming more cleare by the day whats going on.

The thing is, this isn't really unique to jensen/Lisa. There's multiple companies out there who are either run by same family members, members twice removed or cousins, even grandparents and grandkids.

The thing that gets me is why do you have to work with someone you're related to, even if they own a company that is designed to compete against you?. I know family ties and bonds can often get in the way with things like running competing companies, but in this instance it just feels like it's not that, but more of a cultural instance (Because in China, this is generally how their markets operate).

No one is ever really going to do a thing about this, because it'll be laughed out of the courts, and made into "whataboutism", or someone will call it racist that people like me are paying attention to how China operates it's own market sectors (by operate I mean not enforcing direct and brutal competition). Besides, Nvidia is just too big to be busted up and for jensen to be forced entirely out of the company, followed by extension of Lisa being forced out of AMD entirely as well (no way would that fly in the courts, but it's what I would enforce, because removing those two and any other family members severs that bond). 

AMD Radeon RX 9070 series gaming performance leaked: RX 9070XT is 42% faster on average than 7900 GRE at 4K

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-radeon-rx-9070-series-gaming-performance-leaked-rx-9070xt-is-42-faster-on-average-than-7900-gre-at-4k

Certainly sounds promising but keep in mind that RT results are skewing the 42%.

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D leaks out with ASUS Silicon Prediction rating of 120

https://videocardz.com/pixel/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d-leaks-out-with-asus-silicon-prediction-rating-of-120

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D tested two weeks ahead of launch: similar Cinebench performance to 9950X

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-ryzen-9-9950x3d-tested-two-weeks-ahead-of-launch-similar-cinebench-performance-to-9950x

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 spotted in first Geekbench tests, around 20% slower than 5070 Ti

https://videocardz.com/newz/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5070-spotted-in-first-geekbench-tests-around-20-slower-than-5070-ti

NVIDIA Is Reportedly Suppressing Inventory Levels For High-End RTX 50 Series GPUs, As a Move To “Market” Its SKUs

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-is-suppressing-inventory-levels-for-high-end-rtx-50-series-gpus/

NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4090 Takes The Number One Spot By Beating RTX 5090 In PassMark

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4090-number-one-spot-beating-rtx-5090-in-passmark/

NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5080 Added To The List Of GPUs With Missing ROPs, The First Reported Case Yet

https://wccftech.com/geforce-rtx-5080-added-to-the-list-of-gpus-with-missing-rops/

Let’s go with the Monday news!

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

After only 31 days, the breakout WarioWare-like game Mindwave has raised over $440,000 thanks to a brilliant demo, which you can still play now
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/puzzle/after-only-31-days-the-breakout-warioware-like-game-mindwave-has-raised-over-usd440-000-thanks-to-a-brilliant-demo-which-you-can-still-play-now/
Mindwave is an upcoming WarioWare-like game in which players join a giant game show. They must master various minigames and slowly climb the levels in hopes of winning the cash prize of $10 million (in the game, not real life, sadly).
Despite not being able to beat the final-level boss, I loved my time with the demo. The level that I came across was inspired by one of the other contestants in the game show, whom I had met in the lobby beforehand. All of her minigames were cute, high-octane fun, like trying to grab a cat that was dashing across the screen, attempting to catch sweets that were falling from the sky, and even beating someone else at Tetris.
But I wasn't the only one who enjoyed tackling the weird and wonderful minigames. Last month's demo received over 4,000 Overwhelmingly Positive reviews on Steam, and players enjoyed it so much that the game's Kickstarter campaign exceeded its original fundraising goal of $40,000.
The funding period lasted from January 14 to February 14, and within this time, it managed to raise $443,442. The initial goal was to raise just $40,000, but then there were stretch goals beyond that which, if achieved, would bring something new to the game. $60,000 would allow the devs to implement gamepad support. $90,000 would add an extra microgame collection, which could only be unlocked after beating the main story. Then, the higher goals of $120,000, $160,000, and $200,000 all promised to add substantial features like multiple DLCs and Steam Workshop modding.
But the top goal of $260,000 offers the most interesting new feature, an online versus mode. "A 1v1 online versus mode where you can play through your opponent's minigames," the description says. "Perform well enough to throw off their flow and win! This mode will be released post-launch as a free update." I'm not sure whether this would essentially work like Mario Maker in that players can make their own microgames, or if you can select pre-made options, but a 1v1 mode for a game as chaotic as this one sure sounds fun. The developers also outlined how the money raised via the Kickstarter will be spent. Over half will go directly to development, 29% for taxes, 10% for rewards, and 9% for fees. But while everything seems pretty well planned out, with all the upcoming content and fund allocation, the developers want to point out that things can go wrong during game development, so players need to manage their expectations.

Steam has quite a few deals/sales:

• The Forgive Me Father franchise is on sale, up to 50% off until the 28th of February: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/Forgivemefather2025
• My Child Lebensborn Remastered, that has a demo, will be 50% off until the 2nd of March: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2430730/My_Child_Lebensborn_Remastered/
• Source of Madness will have an 80% discount until the 9th of March: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1315610/Source_of_Madness/
• Here are the sales:
• The GamesAid Charity Sale comes with up to 95% discounts. The Sale will last until the 3rd of March, but some deals will end by February 27: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44589593/sale/GamesAidCharitySale2025
• I don’t know why it doesn’t have its own main sale as other times, but the Deckbuilding Carnival has everything fans of the genre want, including demos and games up to 90% off. The length of the deals vary, from the 27th of February until the 7th of March or even more: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/39565327/sale/DeckbuildingCarnival
• Assemble Entertainment puts its games on sale with up to 95% discounts. The length of the deals vary from game to game, from March 3, to the 5th and also the 9th, maybe even longer: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/assemblepublishersale2025
• The Baltic Showcase Devgamm 2025 has lots of games, and some are on sale, up to 50% off. The event will last until the 1st of March, but the length of the deals vary once again, with some lasting until at least the 8th: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/balticshowcasedevgamm

Fanatical has a new Star Deal is Kingdom Come: Deliverance - Royal Edition, with an 86% discount during 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/kingdom-come-deliverance-royal-edition

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Nothing to see-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Oblivion Remake in Skyrim, Skyblivion, gets new 40-minute gameplay video
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/oblivion-remake-in-skyrim-skyblivion-gets-new-40-minute-gameplay-video/
The team behind the highly anticipated remake of Oblivion in Skyrim, Skyblivion, has shared a new 40-minute gameplay video from it. This video will give you a glimpse at the latest build of this total conversion mod. As such, I highly recommend watching it.
Skyblivion aims to bring The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion to a new generation of gamers and welcome back longtime fans of the series. This cool mod will work with both Skyrim Legacy Edition and Skyrim Special Edition. It’s one of the most exciting mods out there, showing what modders can do when they put their minds to it. And, even in its WIP state, it looks great.
When Skyblivion comes out, you’ll be able to pick and choose what parts you want to install. You can decide to install things like Landscaping, Interiors, City improvements, and Weapons/Armor. In theory, this will allow the team to finish the mod more quickly. It’s like customizing your game the way you want it.
Skyblivion has been in the works for some time, and its team is aiming to release it in 2025. Yep, you read that right. We will finally be able to test a version of this mod in 2025.

Portal Randomized mixes up Valve's beloved puzzler by turning the floor into lava and filling chambers with a deadly neurotoxin
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/puzzle/portal-randomized-mixes-up-valves-beloved-puzzler-by-turning-the-floor-into-lava-and-filling-chambers-with-a-deadly-neurotoxin/
I would still count Portal as one of my favourite games, but truth be told I haven't been back to it for a while. Having played it countless times since it launched, I feel like I've simply wrung it dry. Sure, it's fun to drop back in to hear GLaDOS' withering putdowns or just enjoy its general atmosphere. But I know most of its beats off by heart, and I could solve its chambers with the lights turned out.
Or at least, that's what I thought.
Portal Randomized is, by Valve modding community standards, incredibly simple. It takes Valve's classic puzzler and adds a bunch of different variables that can occur in its test chambers. For example, it might fill the room with deadly neurotoxin, giving you just seconds to solve it. Or it might transform the chamber floor into a roiling lava pit that you have to cross by hopping between rocks. The one that really threw me is arguably the simplest of all, a randomiser that blinks the lights on and off every few seconds. Simply trying to get through the second chamber, which changes the exit of a fixed portal every few seconds, is incredibly difficult with this added disorienting effect.
Given Portal's famously meticulous craft, throwing in a bunch of randomisers like this might seem like sacrilege. But I think the specificity of Portal's design is precisely why it works. Much like Grand Theft Auto 5's chaos mod, adding these goofy random effects to a game that is so intensely authored and equally familiar can help you perceive it in a whole new light. I still enjoy vanilla Portal, but it doesn't excite me any more. With this though, I found myself enjoying the challenge of its puzzles all over again.
Currently, Portal Randomized is only playable as a demo, which provides the first two chambers to experiment with. But this is enough to communicate the potential in the idea. What it needs now, apart from to be finished, is two things. First, it needs a lot more variables. There are quite a few already, but maximising the number of effects is what will transform it from a fun novelty into something more essential. Second, it needs some general tightening up. One round I played spawned a zombie outside of Chell's sleeping enclosure, and the zombie managed to damage me through the glass, which wasn't ideal.
>> The article only has one screenshot, and it doesn’t help much.

GAMING NEWS

30 minutes of gameplay from Gothic 1 Remake in Unreal Engine 5
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/30-minutes-of-gameplay-from-gothic-1-remake-in-unreal-engine-5/
THQ Nordic announced that it will release a free demo for Gothic 1 Remake on February 24th. Gothic 1 Remake is powered by Unreal Engine 5, and its upcoming demo will let you explore Nyras Prologue.
What’s interesting to note is that this demo is not a part of the game. Instead, this is a special demo that aims to showcase the world, mechanics, and atmosphere of the remake.
>> Weird demo that you’ll be able to try today.

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Remastered PC Requirements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/onimusha-2-samurais-destiny-remastered-pc-requirements/
Capcom has revealed the official PC system requirements for Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Remastered. And, in case you’re wondering, yes. The game will be using the Denuvo anti-tamper tech.

Avowed Title Update 1.2.3 Released, Full Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/avowed-title-update-1-2-3-released-full-patch-notes/
In just a matter of days, Obsidian released a new update for its latest RPG, Avowed. Title Update 1.2.3 packs over 80 fixes, tweaks and changes, and Obsidian has shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what it brings to the table.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Hotfix 1.1.2 Released & Detailed
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/kingdom-come-deliverance-2-hotfix-1-1-2-released-detailed/
Warhorse Studios has released Hotfix 1.1.2 for its latest RPG, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. This update brings key stability improvements, quest fixes, and platform-specific adjustments. So, let’s take a closer look at it.

Ray Tracing & Non-RT PC Requirements for Lost Soul Aside
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/ray-tracing-non-rt-pc-requirements-for-lost-soul-aside/
Sony and Ultizero Games have revealed the official Ray Tracing and non-RT PC requirements for Lost Soul Aside. Lost Soul Aside will be powered by Unreal Engine 4, so let’s see what kind of PC you’ll need to run it.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Official PC Requirements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/metal-gear-solid-delta-snake-eater-official-pc-requirements/
Konami has revealed the official PC system requirements for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater via the game’s Steam page. So, let’s see what PC system you’ll need to run it.

Monday news, part two:

I got murdered by the ancient Swiss in this life sim about being Julius Caesar's top guy
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/i-got-murdered-by-the-ancient-swiss-in-this-life-sim-about-being-julius-caesars-top-guy/
As a man who has listened to one third of Mike Duncan's History of Rome podcast and seen James Purefoy absolutely tear it up as Mark Antony in HBO's Rome, I'm something of an expert in Roman history. So, naturally, when Alessandro Roberti's new RPG Never Second In Rome came out in early access a couple of days ago, I leapt right on it.
The premise is you're a centurion in the army of one proconsul Julius Caesar, recently minted governor of Gallia Cisalpina, and your goal is claw your way up in the big guy's esteem, keep your men (and yourself) disciplined and trained up and, oh, don't die. This is hard, because bossman Caesar absolutely loves doing wars in Gaul. He's ape for it, and as one of his men—one of his top men, if you play your cards right—you're part of the gang who does that for him.

XCOM's creator wants to know where XCOM 3 is just as badly as you do: 'I'm sure there's an audience for it'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/xcoms-creator-wants-to-know-where-xcom-3-is-just-as-badly-as-you-do-im-sure-theres-an-audience-for-it/
I'm sorry to do this to you, but XCOM 2 came out nine years ago. The world was young, my passport said "European Union" on it, and I had a full head of hair (I still do, but I also did then).
Not only did XCOM 2 come out nearly a decade ago, but it was really good. So good that a sequel seems like a total no-brainer. But here we are, collectively lost as we wait for an XCOM 3 that may never come. No, Chimera Squad doesn't count.
But you and I aren't the only ones waiting. The actual creator of original XCOM, Julian Gollop, is just as keen to play it and just as perplexed by its absence. In a chat with PCG about his new game, Chip 'n Clawz vs The Brainioids, Gollop said that, though there's been "A resurgence of RTS games" in the recent past, he doesn't know what's happened to XCOM 3.

Inzoi is really trying to eat The Sims 4's lunch by including seasons in its base game instead of locked behind a DLC
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/inzoi-is-really-trying-to-eat-the-sims-4s-lunch-by-including-seasons-in-its-base-game-instead-of-locked-behind-a-dlc/
As has become Friday tradition leading up to the launch of the new life sim Inzoi, its creative director Hyungjun "Kjun" Kim has revealed some more features coming to the game at launch to fans on Discord. This time: Seasons. Oh, and the possibility of your Zois dying of exposure if underdressed.

Peter Jason, the voice of Fallout 2's famous drill sergeant and Dizzy in the Gear of War games, has died
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/peter-jason-the-voice-of-fallout-2s-famous-drill-sergeant-and-dizzy-in-the-gear-of-war-games-has-died/
A Variety report says character actor Peter Jason, known to gamers as the gruff, put-upon Drill Sergeant Dornan in Fallout 2 and Dizzy in the Gears of War series, has died.

Marvel Rivals was reportedly almost cancelled because the CEO of NetEase didn't want to pay Disney for the licenses
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/marvel-rivals-was-reportedly-almost-cancelled-because-the-ceo-of-netease-didnt-want-to-pay-disney-for-the-licenses/
Marvel Rivals is a big hit, but there was a time when its very existence was in doubt. That's according to a new Bloomberg report on developer NetEase and its CEO William Ding, which says that before the game was released there were discussions about cancelling it outright. NetEase has denied the claim.
The problem, according to a source cited by the report, was that Ding didn't like paying Disney, which owns Marvel, for the right to use its characters in the game. At one point, Ding reportedly asked artists to replace the Marvel superheroes with their own designs, which would've saved a few bucks on licensing fees but ended up costing NetEase millions because of the time and energy wasted on the effort.

'These kids do not care about romance': Game devs want to know what today's teens want, and surveys say sex and romance isn't it
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/game-development/these-kids-do-not-care-about-romance-game-devs-want-to-know-what-todays-teens-want-and-surveys-say-sex-and-romance-isnt-it/
Surveys say that today's youth are more interested in stories about platonic friendships and social groups than romance and sex, and game developers are taking note of that and other trends in teen media consumption.
To a crowd of games industry professionals at D.I.C.E. Summit last week, TV executive turned game studio founder Sharon Tal Yguado and Roblox VP of civility and partnerships Tami Bhaumik spoke about "what teens want," presenting recent research and their observations.
>> Teens aren’t interested in sex? Press X for doubt.

No More Room in Hell 2's 'biggest update yet' introduces weapon attachments, new level scenarios, and ensures players no longer spawn 'without a body'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/no-more-room-in-hell-2s-biggest-update-yet-introduces-weapon-attachments-new-level-scenarios-and-ensures-players-no-longer-spawn-without-a-body/
Zombie survival shooter No More Room in Hell 2 shambled onto Steam early access late last year, and proved to have a few more bits missing than its audience could reasonably cope with. Debuting to a 'Mostly Negative' rating on Steam as players cited a litany of flaws, from bugs to performance issues to the experience generally feeling undercooked. However, developer Torn Banner has continually tinkered with the game since then, with this latest addition described as its 'biggest update yet.'
Titled the 'Nightmare' update for reasons that will soon become clear, the patch expands the game's open-ended survival scenario in numerous ways. The headline addition is weapon attachments, letting players customise their guns with sights, flashlights, and perhaps most importantly, silencers, which seem like a major advantage in a game where noise is as much of a threat as the undead shambling in the dark. One notable omission Torn Banner admits to is "magnifying scopes" though the team assures players these will be "coming in a future update along with more attachment options".

Need to relax? Grab a coffee, kick back and submerge yourself in the sound of Hades 2's narrator reading the patch notes for its latest massive update
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/need-to-relax-grab-a-coffee-kick-back-and-submerge-yourself-in-the-sound-of-hades-2s-narrator-reading-the-patch-notes-for-its-latest-massive-update/
While I need little extra motivation to read patch notes, bugfix sicko that I am, I admire the additional effort Supergiant has gone to in guiding players through Hades 2's second major update. Not content with throwing the update's voluminous changelog on Steam (though it's done that too), Supergiant enlisted Hades 2's narrator Logan Cunningham to growl through 27 minutes of new features, system adjustments, UI refinements, and much more.
>> The article has the video, in case you’re into it.

Atomfall dev says Rebellion's open world shooter has 'some experimental stuff' that can have a 'huge influence' on the game world: 'It might work out. It might not'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/atomfall-dev-says-rebellions-open-world-shooter-has-some-experimental-stuff-that-can-have-a-huge-influence-on-the-game-world-it-might-work-out-it-might-not/
Rebellion's upcoming Atomfall already draws strong comparisons with Stalker, what with it being an open-world shooter set in a cordoned off zone in the aftermath of a nuclear disaster. But it seems the latest game from the Sniper Elite devs may also be taking a leaf out of Dying Light 2's book, if the words of lead designer Ben Fisher are anything to go by.

Skyrim was 'personally rebalanced' by producer Jeff Gardiner just 2 weeks before launch: 'Well, I hope this is good'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/the-elder-scrolls/skyrim-was-personally-rebalanced-by-producer-jeff-gardiner-just-2-weeks-before-launch-well-i-hope-this-is-good/
Skyrim was getting ready to launch—it was mere weeks away—but former Bethesda producer Jeff Gardiner and the designers were in the midst of a disagreement over balance. This led Gardiner, who also had years of creative and design experience, to take matters into his own hands.
>> Another tibdit of Skyrim: a dev broke the game before launch by making ants cast shadows.

An autobattler designed by Magic: The Gathering creator Richard Garfield is coming in March
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/an-autobattler-designed-by-magic-the-gathering-creator-richard-garfield-is-coming-in-march/
The latest game from Magic: The Gathering designer Richard Garfield is coming to early access on March 11, says development studio The Tea Division. Vanguard Exiles is a collaboration between Garfield and the studio, an autobattler that it says is "revolutionary" in the genre and will be "a competitive strategy gameplay experience unlike any other, offering new scenarios in each round ensuring no two turns are ever alike."

Avowed could have been Obsidian's Redfall, with a Destiny plus Skyrim co-op multiplayer vision scrapped early in a grueling 6-year development
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/avowed-could-have-been-obsidians-redfall-with-a-destiny-plus-skyrim-co-op-multiplayer-vision-scrapped-early-in-a-grueling-6-year-development/
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Avowed director Carrie Patel shed some more light on what seems to have been a challenging development cycle for the venerable RPG studio. Not only was Avowed initially supposed to be a seamless open world, it was going to have a co-op or even live service multiplayer component, and had to be rebooted after two years of preproduction. The end result is pretty fantastic though, and DLCs or even a full sequel already seem to be on the table.

There's a free beta on for the mech game by the World of Tanks creators
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/theres-a-free-beta-on-for-the-mech-game-by-the-world-of-tanks-creators/
As part of a Steam Publisher Weekend, World of Tanks and World of Warships developer Wargaming is having a playtest of Steel Hunters, its upcoming fusion of mech-hero shooter with extraction battle royale. The four-day beta is going until February 24, and is free to participate in via Wargaming's website or on Steam.
>> You may be able to play some of it if you’re fast.

Void Martyrs is 'Grimdark survival horror about a nun in a space suit' so sign me up
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/void-martyrs-is-grimdark-survival-horror-about-a-nun-in-a-space-suit-so-sign-me-up/
Do you like the Sisters of Battle from Warhammer 40,000? How about the birdseye sci-fi survival horror of Signalis? The roguelite progression of Void Bastards? The whole vibe of Event Horizon? If at least three of those things seem like your cup of recaf, then sit down and let me tell you about Void Martyrs.

Hasbro is working with Saber Interactive on a 'tentpole' IP using Space Marine 2's swarm tech
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/hasbro-is-working-with-saber-interactive-on-a-tentpole-ip-using-space-marine-2s-swarm-tech/
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 was a big hit for both Games Workshop and Saber Interactive, with players proving highly receptive to its old-school, linear third-person action. As such, I've been curious as to how the Space Marine 2 team would follow up Titus' 8-hour tyranid butchery course. Would they roll straight into Space Marine 3, or move on to something else entirely?
Well, it seems the cat is now (partially) out of the bag thanks to an unlikely source, Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks. Speaking in an earnings call on Thursday (via Polygon), Cocks said the company was collaborating with Saber's Space Marine 2 team on a new title based on one of the toy manufacturer's "tentpole IPs".

And here’s the third part of the Monday news:

Nested Lands is a 'brutal' survival city-builder about guiding villagers through a plague-infested world, and you can play its open alpha right now
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/city-builder/nested-lands-is-a-brutal-survival-city-builder-about-guiding-villagers-through-a-plague-infested-world-and-you-can-play-its-open-alpha-right-now/
No city builder is complete without a healthy dose of misery. That's been true since SimCity, where constructing your virtual metropolis came with the understanding it could be wiped out by an earthquake or tornado at any second. It's become a heavier theme within the genre of late, however, thanks in no small part to the popularity of 2018's Frostpunk. Now, the ominously titled Nested Lands further doubles-down on grimdark settlement simulation, and you can see for yourself just how nasty things can get through the open alpha which is playable right now.

A month into early access, Hyper Light Breaker has already added a new playable character, with a perk designed for players who like to 'shoot fast and shoot a lot'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/a-month-into-early-access-hyper-light-breaker-has-already-added-a-new-playable-character-with-a-perk-designed-for-players-who-like-to-shoot-fast-and-shoot-a-lot/
Hyper Light Breaker may not have enjoyed the smoothest early access launch, but developer Heart Machine has been diligent in listening to feedback and striving to update the game since its initial release last month. The studio issued numerous hotfixes in the wake of launch, addressing players' most grievous complaints, and provided a more thorough roadmap of its future plans for the action roguelike last week. Now, it has debuted the first "monthly update" for the game, which among other things introduces a whole new playable character.

Dota 2 remembers water is very important, adds more, in latest map shakeup
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/dota-2-remembers-water-is-very-important-adds-more-in-latest-map-shakeup/
Dota 2 has had a firecracker few years, consistently remaking the game and shaking things up when players least expect it with map and hero changes coming fast and furious. The developers have, frankly, slipped the leash. Valve's got no control of them anymore. They can't, as evinced by the latest update: 7.38, Wandering Waters.
They just added a bunch of water. For decades there's been a fixed amount of water on that Dota map, one little river in the center and honestly it's just aesthetic gloss for the lowest point on the map. Now the map's river is no longer alone. Two new waterways traverse Dota 2's jungles, each flowing toward a low wetland on the map's north and south.

Remedy's Sam Lake and Papers, Please creator Lucas Pope will receive major achievement awards in March
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/remedys-sam-lake-and-papers-please-creator-lucas-pope-will-receive-major-achievement-awards-in-march/
Two high-profile developers will be honored at the 25th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards at this year's Game Developers Conference in March. The Lifetime Achievement award will go to writer and creative director Sam Lake, whose work on Max Payne, Alan Wake, Quantum Break, and Control has been hailed as some of the industry's finest. Lake has previously won over 200 industry awards, says the GDCA.

23-year-old Dungeons & Dragons RPG Neverwinter Nights just got a new, official expansion that continues its original story in a 'love letter' to the game and its community
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/23-year-old-dungeons-and-dragons-rpg-neverwinter-nights-just-got-a-new-official-expansion-that-continues-its-original-story-in-a-love-letter-to-the-game-and-its-community/
It's not every day that you see an expansion for a 23 year-old game, but thanks to its undying community, Neverwinter Nights isn't just any game, with a level of support and fanmade content that calls to mind the likes of Doom or Thief. With the blessing of Wizards of the Coast, fantasy author, RPG developer, and Neverwinter Nights enthusiast Luke Scull has released Doom of Icewind Dale, the first act of a sequel campaign to Neverwinter Nights, as an official $10 expansion.
>> The article only lists the Steam links, but it’s also available at GOG.

Obsidian CEO reveals it's just half the size of many triple-A studios, even as it prepares to launch its 4th game in 5 years
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/obsidian-ceo-reveals-its-just-half-the-size-of-many-triple-a-studios-even-as-it-prepares-to-launch-its-4th-game-in-5-years/
As reported by Windows Central, Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart revealed the extent of the studio's expansion since it was acquired by Microsoft in a recent interview with IGN. Since 2018, Obsidian has grown to nearly 300 employees, which is still pretty lean in the triple-A space.
"When we came on with XGS and Xbox , we were about 170, 180 people," Urquhart told IGN. "And through the course of the last five or six years, we've not only grown the studio to about 285 people, but we also have a lot of really good co-dev partners with Heavy Iron and Beamdog."

There's hunger at Obsidian for a Pillars of Eternity Tactics game after Avowed, says studio design director Josh Sawyer, but it doesn't sound like it'd get that Baldur's Gate 3-size budget he was fantasizing about
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/theres-hunger-at-obsidian-for-a-pillars-of-eternity-tactics-game-after-avowed-says-studio-design-director-josh-sawyer-but-it-doesnt-sound-like-itd-get-that-baldurs-gate-3-size-budget-he-was-fantasizing-about/
Here's the thing: people don't talk enough about Pillars of Eternity. It's all 'New Vegas' this and 'KOTOR 2' that. Those games are incredible, sure, but Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire is an all-time classic of a CRPG, if you ask me, while PoE1 is a damn good revival of the genre that deserves a lot more praise than it gets.
I'm not the only one who thinks so, of course, and in a recent Twitch livestream of Avowed, Obsidian studio design director (and lead on PoE 1 and 2) Josh Sawyer chatted about the possibility of any of us living to see another isometric Pillars game. Maybe that Pillars: Tactics idea he's discussed before?

So far so good. And someone bored could split those results between raster and RT improvements given that Videocardz has been kind enough to list them all and label which ones are which.

But well, even if those are true, they're still AMD's own results that need to be verified by reviewers, and price is still an important factor, because the leaked pricing is a tad too high for this level of performance.

Honestly thats a good thing. The closer they get RT performance parity with Nvidia, the less excuses they'll be for consumers to skip over them. The fact that they're comparing both cards to the 7900GRE makes me think they're pricing them around it's $550 MSRP. $500 9070 and $600 9070XT maybe?