Time for the Wednesday news:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

One of the biggest games on Steam right now is Bongo Cat, a cat with a hat who smacks your Windows taskbar like a bongo drum when you type
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/one-of-the-biggest-games-on-steam-right-now-is-bongo-cat-a-cat-with-a-hat-who-smacks-your-windows-taskbar-like-a-bongo-drum-when-you-type/
PC Gamer editor Lauren Morton wrote in February that "desktop pets are so back," and holy cow she was not wrong. One of the biggest games on Steam right now is a little doodad that puts a cute white kitty on your screen who baps an imaginary bongo drum every time you click or type.
Bongo Cat, as it's called, is really just that simple. Add it to your Steam account—it's free—install it, run it, and there he is, taking up a couple square inches of screen space. The Windows taskbar is Bongo Cat's natural home, but you can move him wherever you like. After that, he'll happily bap away as quickly as you type or click, while a counter underneath tracks your tally.
And, yeah, that's it. Yet somehow, Bongo Cat hit a peak concurrent player count of more than 101,000 today, and is currently holding the number 12 spot on Steam's most played chart, between Monster Hunter Wilds and Apex Legends.
>> Being free helps.

GOG has launched the new Fun & Casual Promo, featuring up to 94% discounts during the next 7 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20250409_casual_fun_promo.

Steam has a few new deals and sales/events:

• A Tiny Sticker Tale is going to be 50% off until the 15th of April: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2322180/A_Tiny_Sticker_Tale/
• Imagine Earth will have a 60% discount until the same 15th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/280720/Imagine_Earth/
• Ziggurat 2 will be 66% off until April 15: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1159560/Ziggurat_2/
• Trinity Fusion features a 55% discount until the 22nd of April: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1911360/Trinity_Fusion/
• And these are the sales/events:
  • The first one is the BAFTA Game Awards 2025 page, that has some games on sale. With so many different developers and publishers, each deal will end at a different date, with some ending tomorrow and others lasting until at least the 22nd: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/baftagameawards2025
  • Publisher Excalibut Games celebrates its Easter Sale and puts its games up to 75% off until the 22nd of April: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/32976461/sale/ExcaliburGamesEaster2025Sale
  • Frontier also puts its games on sale with up to 90% discounts but, oddly enough, there’s no mention of when the deals will end: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/FrontierPublisherSale2025

Fanatical has the Oddworld Complete Collection, with 6 games and 2 DLCs to get with a ridiculous 99% deal during the next 34 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/oddworld-complete-collection.

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

INTEL Arc Graphics 32.0.101.6734 driver
https://videocardz.com/driver/intel-arc-graphics-32-0-101-6734

Highlights
Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:

• Power management optimization for Intel Core Ultra 200V series (codename Lunar Lake) handheld gaming devices for improved performance and frame pacing with lower power modes.

Fixed Issues
Intel Core Ultra Series 2 with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:

• Certain games may not enumerate all supported display resolutions in the game settings on some notebook devices.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

This STALKER 2 Mod restores a quest that was cut from the game
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/this-stalker-2-mod-restores-a-quest-that-was-cut-from-the-game/
Modder ‘Volucris’ has released a new mod for STALKER 2 that restores a quest that was cut from it. This quest was present in the 2023 dev build of STALKER 2, however, the devs have removed it from the final version.
Going into more details, the mission that this mod restores is The Last Days. The modder has taken and used the scripts from the 2023 dev build as a basis. He transferred these scripts to the release version of the game and created some new custom ones. Plus, the modder has implemented some mechanics from the release version.
Apart from localization files, this mod does not affect or change existing game scripts. So, it should not conflict with any other script mods you may be using. Moreover, the mod supports all the languages ​that are ​available in the game. However, there is no voice acting for dialogues and animations.
>> The article has no media.

Skyrim got a 112GB mod that remasters all 32,000 textures to 8K
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/skyrim-got-a-112gb-mod-that-remasters-all-32000-textures-to-8k/
Modder ‘Xzandiel’ has just released a new mod for Skyrim, called SkyTex, that overhauls all of its 32,000 textures to 8K. This is a pack that contains everything. Moreover, since it uses AI tools, it manages to retain the game’s art style.
Going into more details, SkyTex is a complete 8K texture remaster of Skyrim Special Edition. The goal of this project was to enhance the entire game visually without altering its original art style.
As such, the modder has faithfully upscaled every texture using a combination of custom RealESRGAN models, Topaz Gigapixel AI, and Topaz Photo AI. The end result is a sharper, cleaner, and more immersive Skyrim experience.
Moreover, the modder upscaled colormaps to 4X their original resolution (up to 8K). He also doubled the normal maps to preserve lighting and depth detail.
Now the reason I’m sharing this is because it contains everything. So, instead of searching and downloading different packs, you can find these 8K textures in one single page. Thus, it should be easier to download and install them.
You can go ahead and download SkyTex from this link. At the end of the article, you can also find some comparison screenshots. The vanilla screenshots are on the left, whereas the modded screenshots are on the right.
Personally, I don’t see major improvements. Sure thing, the modded textures look better. But, for an 8K Texture Pack, I was expecting something a bit better. Still, those who want to play Skyrim with 8K textures should definitely get it. Just keep in mind you’ll need a GPU with enough VRAM. The modder suggests using a GPU with 16GB or more of VRAM, especially for gaming at 4K.
>> The article has some screenshots.

GAMING NEWS

MEDAL EDEN PC demo is now available for download
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/medal-eden-demo-is-now-available-for-download/
Reikon Games and Deep Silver launched a free public demo for METAL EDEN on PC via Steam. To celebrate this announcement, the teams have also shared a new trailer that you can find below.

PUBG: Battlegrounds Update 35.1 Released, Full Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/pubg-battlegrounds-update-35-1-released-full-patch-notes/
KRAFTON and PUBG Corporation have released Title Update 35.1 for PUBG: Battlegrounds, and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new update brings to the table.

The news, the sequel:

Team Ninja says 'we sincerely apologize' for Rise of the Ronin's PC version being a mess, promises imminent fixes
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/team-ninja-says-we-sincerely-apologize-for-rise-of-the-ronins-pc-version-being-a-mess-promises-imminent-fixes/
The ambitious ARPG Rise of the Ronin released on Steam a few weeks ago and, from the get-go, proved to be yet another terrible PC port from Team Ninja. The game has undeniable qualities but they're buried beneath a myriad of performance issues, and user reviews are "Mixed" with every negative relating in some way to how it's running.
(...)
Team Ninja has now issued an apology to players, and announced that a patch will be released on 10 April addressing performance issues.

Diablo 4's roadmap reveals this year our console brothers and sisters will finally get keyboard-and-mouse support
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/diablo-4s-roadmap-reveals-this-year-our-console-brothers-and-sisters-will-finally-get-keyboard-and-mouse-support/
(...)
Their anguish will end during Diablo 4's July–September season, as revealed by the newly published roadmap for 2025. This roadmap details the year's four seasonal updates, as well as the permanent additions that will be released alongside each one.
>> I almost skipped this article from the news because of the headline. This is about PC, after all. In any case, the new roadmap has been shared.

Half-Life 2's 2003 beta reveals the mystery behind a City 17 river that once led players to the foot of the Citadel
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/half-life-2s-2003-beta-reveals-the-mystery-behind-a-city-17-river-that-once-led-players-to-the-foot-of-the-citadel/
There are various unfinished versions of Half-Life 2 that have come to light over the years, all of which reveal interesting things about how Valve's plans changed over time as it painstakingly refined and pruned one of the PC gaming greats.
A new video by YouTuber and Half-Life 2 obsessive CMDR RileySV delves into the 2003 beta, and specifically one of the finished game's little mysteries: "The elusive City 17 river." This is a river that can be seen at a couple of points in the final game, but the player never travels to it. Yet at one point it was intended to play a much greater role in the lead-up to the game's climax.

YouTube is conducting a 'platform-wide review' after mistakenly hitting Balatro videos with an age restriction for gambling content
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/youtube-is-conducting-a-platform-wide-review-after-mistakenly-hitting-balatro-videos-with-an-age-restriction-for-gambling-content/
YouTube is conducting a "platform-wide review" of videos and channels on its platform to ensure age restrictions are being properly applied—and, for the record, says Balatro gameplay videos should not be rated 18+ unless they actually violate its gambling policy or other community guidelines.
The problem came up over the weekend when Balatro creator LocalThunk took to social media to say that Balatro videos "are being rated 18+ on YouTube now for gambling."

Blue Prince is currently the best-reviewed game of 2025
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/puzzle/blue-prince-is-currently-the-best-reviewed-game-of-2025/
In our Blue Prince review, Chris Livingston called the run-based room drafter one of the best puzzle games in years—a work of "incredible craftsmanship and elegance" that's worthy of all the fevered notebook scribbling required to unravel the mystery of its shifting mansionscape. And by the looks of things, Chris isn't alone.
So far, Blue Prince is the best-reviewed game of 2025.
>> Even Balatro’s creator LocalThunk praises it.

Battle royale interest is shrinking but Fortnite has a larger slice of the pie than ever, according to new industry report
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/battle-royale-interest-is-shrinking-but-fortnite-has-a-larger-slice-of-the-pie-than-ever-according-to-new-industry-report/
According to a new report from game industry research firm Newzoo, interest in the battle royale genre is on a downward slope.
That might seem like a counterintuitive observation when Fortnite, Warzone, PUBG, and Apex Legends are still huge games, but it probably has more to do with their competitors calling it quits. According to Newzoo's Game Performance Monitor (which includes official and estimated data from 37 markets excluding China and India), battle royales ate up 19% of total hours played in 2021 but just 12% in 2023 and 2024.
People aren't playing battle royales as much as they did a few years ago, but interestingly, Fortnite's share of that playtime has exploded from 43% in 2021 to 77% in 2024. That makes sense when you consider that Fortnite got a big player boost from its Fortnite OG event in 2023 and quickly followed that up by expanding into non-battle royale spinoffs played inside Fortnite, like Lego Fortnite, Rocket Racing, and Fortnite Festival. Presumably, Newzoo is lumping all of Fortnite's audience into its share of the battle royale genre, not just those actually playing the battle royale modes.

'There is no lawsuit' against Schedule I: As negative Steam reviews pile up, Drug Dealer Simulator publisher makes a public plea for peace
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/there-is-no-lawsuit-against-schedule-i-as-negative-steam-reviews-pile-up-drug-dealer-simulator-publisher-makes-a-public-plea-for-peace/
As the negative Steam reviews continue to pile up, Drug Dealer Simulator publisher Movie Games SA has addressed the controversy surrounding its investigation into the indie hit Schedule I with a simple, straightforward message on the DDS 2 Steam page: "There is no lawsuit."
>> There is no lawsuit… yet. In any case, Schedule I players are now busy breaking the physics of the game and exploring the sky.

Big Rigs, a strong contender for any 'worst games of all time' list, currently has a Mostly Positive user rating on Steam because democracy is broken
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/racing/big-rigs-a-strong-contender-for-any-worst-games-of-all-time-list-currently-has-a-mostly-positive-user-rating-on-steam-because-democracy-is-broken/
Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing was misnamed. It should have been called Big Rigs: Through the Road Racing, or possibly Through the Nearby Buildings and Also Bridges. The 2003 truck racing game infamously lacked collision, meaning you could drive through anything, including your competitor.
I say competitor, but in the launch version of the game your rival wouldn't actually move, remaining stationary while you complete the race, at which point a cheap trophy would appear on the screen along with the now-legendary text "YOU'RE WINNER !"
This semi-trailer-themed semi-game was recently released on Steam, where the irony-poisoned have already given it a flood of glowing reviews. One references the fact that in Big Rigs you go faster backwards than you do forwards by writing, "Got addicted to driving backwards, did it for roughly an hour straight just to listen to the literal ear-piercing engine of the truck revving." Another simply states, "At least someone finally tells me that I'm winner once in my life".

'Rocket Raccoon is now the goat healer': Marvel Rivals devs have finally caved and given Rocket Raccoon's ultimate the ability to heal
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/rocket-raccoon-is-now-the-goat-healer-marvel-rivals-devs-have-finally-caved-and-given-rocket-raccoons-ultimate-the-ability-to-heal/
Marvel Rivals Season 2 is introducing a lot of new features, including new heroes, Emma Frost and Ultron, new maps, new Team-up abilities, and, as per usual, a ton of hero changes. Most of these are pretty straightforward and expected, like a nerf for Winter Soldier and a small buff for Loki. But the best change, by far, has to be the fact that Rocket Raccoon's ultimate now heals teammates.

Better than the leaked prices we got before (the 16GB 5060Ti at $499 was ridiculous) but, with tariffs and everything that's going on, it's as Matt says, we won't know how much they'll cost until we see the retail price.

And the same will be true for AMD's 9060s cards.

Gaming GPUs Might Not See a Price Hike Under The New Trump “Reciprocal” Tariffs, As The Administration Has Apparently Left Them Out

https://wccftech.com/gaming-gpus-might-not-see-a-price-hike-under-the-new-trump-reciprocal-tariffs/

NVIDIA Refutes The Rumor About Its VPA Program: The Program Is Still Active For Purchasing RTX 50 GPUs

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-refutes-the-rumor-about-its-vpa-program-the-program-is-still-active-for-purchasing-rtx-50-gpus/

Razer Disables Purchase Option For Blade 16 And Blade 18 Gaming Laptops In The US Amid Looming Tariffs

https://wccftech.com/razer-disables-purchase-option-for-blade-16-and-blade-18-gaming-laptops-in-the-us-amid-looming-tariffs/

ASUS releases GPU Tweak III update with Power Detector+ warning for ROG Astral RTX 50 GPUs

https://videocardz.com/pixel/asus-releases-gpu-tweak-iii-update-with-power-detector-warning-for-rog-astral-rtx-50-gpus

Doug Bowser - "some people...may not be able to afford [the Switch 2's] price point. That's why we wanted to make the other Switch platforms available"

https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/nintendo-switch-2-price-tariffs-1.7503598

Very Don Mattrick of them lol

Not the smartest thing to say. At least it has some truth to it, and more importantly people actually want a Switch 2 so PR won't affect it much.

The whole 'we have a system for people who don't want the NSA knowing everything they do' angle (I'm exaggerating), was so bad it almost seems like intentional self-sabotage. Always-online dominated all discussion about the Xbox One, meanwhile the system itself was junk with a mandatory camera no one wanted.

Doug is just being honest (too honest) that some people may not be able to afford Switch 2 right now. Nintendo probably wants to squeeze more juice out of Switch 1 while they can, during the early adoption period where Switch 2 will still sell well regardless.

Not the smartest statement to make from Nintendo, but it goes to show how history repeats itself. We'll have to wait and see how the Switch 2 sells to find out if the whole history repeats or if it's just smart people saying dumb things.

And I don't know if GPUs will be spared from the new tariffs. From those two articles, it kind of feels a bit like wishful thinking more than anything else, but we'll see.

The guy is named Bowser. It was only a matter of time before he took vengeance on the House of Mario.

Yeah, those are MSRP, so probably some fo the first batch cards will be at that price, never to show up again afterwards.

Probably will end up at least at that leaked $499. Still interesting to see they are, at least a little bit, concerned for that segment.

Given the rumored/sugested/hinted performance we've seen of those cards, it's hard to beileve that they care about the segment. Barely any improvement again.

Honestly, anyone with a 3060 or 4060 who were thinking about upgrading would be better saving that money and wait for another gen. Maybe next time they'll be able to afford a xx70 class card and actually be able to notice the performance jump.

That post seriously needed a Goldberg picture

Depends, really.

I was just checking out the availability of current-gen cards on my local e-tailer and not only were there many GPUs available (over 50 Blackwell and RDNA4 GPUs combined), but some prices have really come down quite a bit already, especially on the NVidia side:

• The 5070 was generally available for 649€ (The original European MSRP if I'm not mistaken before it got reduced slightly), with several models at that price
• The 5070Ti was now below 1000€, at 939€ for the cheapest one and hardest to find Blackwell card.
• The 5080, which until shortly was hovering around 1500€ for the cheapest one, is now available for 1349€ and one model for 1229€ is sold out
• The 5090, where all models were north of 3000€, are now available for 2849€
• The 9070 meanwhile hasn't really budged and is still available for 674€
• The 9070XT, the card with the biggest availability issues right now, is also not moving in price and thus still at 789€

So yeah, with the availability improving, NVidia's other blunders with Blackwell weighing them down and AMD making some serious competition, the prices are now slowly coming down.