It does give Nintendo tons of room to make some massive improvements in the refreshed console... Hopefully we see a 1080P, 120hz, OLED -with- 10bit HDR or better... The HDR on the LCD isn't true HDR.
Thankfully I still kept my OLED Switch which is my preferred way to play mobile... Better display and longer battery life.

On the TV however... The Switch 2 is the better console.

NVIDIA Says GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop Uses GDDR7 For Higher Efficiency While GDDR6 Is Best Choice For Desktop GPU]

https://wccftech.com/nvidia-says-geforce-rtx-5050-laptop-gddr7-higher-efficiency-gddr6-best-choice-desktop/

Intel’s Ousted CEO Pat Gelsinger Says He Wasn’t Allowed to Finish What He Started, Claims Decision to Step Down Was Forced by External Powers

https://wccftech.com/intel-ousted-ceo-pat-gelsinger-says-he-wasnt-allowed-to-finish-what-he-started/

Samsung launches three 4K 32-inch Smart monitors: M9 gets QD-OLED panel and $1599 price tag

https://videocardz.com/newz/samsung-launches-three-4k-32-inch-smart-monitors-m9-gets-qd-oled-panel-and-1599-price-tag

Here come the Thursday gaming news:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

Peak has now sold 2 million copies in just 9 days, as the devs reveal what's next for this co-op climbing game: 'Let's talk about what we're cooking'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/peak-has-now-sold-2-million-copies-in-just-9-days-as-the-devs-reveal-whats-next-for-this-co-op-climbing-game-lets-talk-about-what-were-cooking/
Peak is the wonderful offspring of developers Landfall and Aggro Crab best known for Content Warning and Another Crab's Treasure respectively. It all started as a mere Jam game that was made as a way to recover from burnout but quickly snowballed into something huge as it sold one million copies in six days, and by the looks of things, there's no sign of that hype slowing down.
"It's been a wild time since launch," a dev blog says. "Peak managed to exceed our expectations of player count and hype by like… a lot. We just hit two million copies sold in nine days. We seriously cannot thank you enough for all the love and support we've had on this game." For the record, that's an extra one million copies sold in just three days.
The first major update is still in its infancy as Landcrab has been "noting down as many of the suggestions that we've received from the community as we can. We just know that the community is excited to see what we'll do next, and so are we. Possible updates might range from quality-of-life features to new content and all the funny additions that we wished to make real from the start." All of these will be accompanied by bug fixes which is currently the priority for Peak.

We've outgrown the need for BioShock, but you can get the whole trilogy plus Mafia 1, 2, and 3 for a mere $18 right now
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/weve-outgrown-the-need-for-bioshock-but-you-can-get-the-whole-trilogy-plus-mafia-1-2-and-3-for-a-mere-usd18-right-now/
We are tantalisingly close, at time of writing, to the release of Nightdive's long-awaited remaster of System Shock 2. When it happens, I think we can put the BioShock era behind us. We all had a whirlwind time in Rapture and also that one in the racist sky hamlet, but between the System Shock 1 Enhanced Edition (and remake) and System Shock 2's remaster, the true kings of the horror-tinged imsim are home and alarmingly playable.
But if you want to relive all the magic of late-aughts BioShock discourse, Humble Bundle is currently selling the whole set as part of its 2K Classic Trilogies bundle, alongside the Mafia trilogy too. For $18 (£13.44), you get:

• Mafia: Definitive Edition (that's the remake of the first game)
• Mafia 2: Definitive Edition (that's the slightly prettied-up version of the second game)
• Mafia 3: Definitive Edition (that's Mafia 3 with its DLC packed in, but they added on the Definitive nomenclature so it wouldn't feel left out)
• BioShock Remastered
• BioShock 2 Remastered
• BioShock Infinite

You can also fork over $10 (£7.46) for just the BioShock games.

This week, the Epic Store gives away Sable: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/sable
Next week, the free games will be Backpack Hero and Figment.

Steam only has two deals before chaos begins later today (there are also two sales, but they’ve launched too soon and the few deals available will end by today’s refresh):

• GUNDAM BREAKER 4 will be 30% off until the 9th of July: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1672500/GUNDAM_BREAKER_4/
• We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie will have a 75% discount until the same 9th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1730700/We_Love_Katamari_REROLL_Royal_Reverie/

For some reason, Fanatical’s current Star Deal will end two hours later than usual, so I’ll update it later ot just wait until tomorrow. The new Star Deal is Sid Meier's Civilization VII, 27% off during roughly 46 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/sid-meiers-civilization-vii

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Stalker 2 artist kickstarts the Zone Kit modding scene with a flood of glorious nonsense mods featuring Shrek, CJ, and—you guessed it—Thomas the Tank Engine
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/stalker-2-artist-kickstarts-the-zone-kit-modding-scene-with-a-flood-of-glorious-nonsense-mods-featuring-shrek-cj-and-you-guessed-it-thomas-the-tank-engine/
It's a big day for Stalker 2, which saw the return of A-Life in the big 1.5 patch as well as the addition of the absolutely massive (as in, bigger than my whole entire primary SSD) Stalker 2 Zone Kit, a modding toolkit that will enable users to "modify existing content or create new experiences—animations, weapons, mechanics, and even wonders of the Zone."
Even though the Zone Kit has been out for less than a day, there are already dozens of new Stalker 2 mods available on Mod.io, and for much of that early rush you can thank Sanekum, a prolific modder who appears to be Aleksandr Silantev, a self-described "senior brick artist" who is more formally credited as an architecture artist and outsource art manager at GSC Game World.
It's cool that GSC is putting the effort in to kickstarter the Stalker 2 modding scene, but what I really enjoy here is the work Silantev has chosen to share with the world. These are classic mods, baby.
>> The article lists several mods and has pictures of two of them.

GAMING NEWS

Little Nightmares III Releases on October 10th, Gets PC Requirements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/little-nightmares-iii-releases-on-october-10th-gets-pc-requirements/
Bandai Namco has announced that Little Nightmares III will be coming to PC on October 10th. To celebrate this, the publisher shared a 10-minute gameplay video, as well as the official PC system requirements. So, let’s take a look at them.

Super Woden: Rally Edge is a dream come true for all fans of SEGA Rally and Neo Drift Out
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/super-woden-rally-edge-is-a-dream-come-true-for-all-fans-of-sega-rally-and-neo-drift-out/
ViJuDa is making a new racing game for PC called Super Woden: Rally Edge, and there’s already a demo you can try. This game is inspired by old-school arcade racing games like SEGA Rally and Neo Drift Out. So, if you liked those, you’ll definitely want to check this one out.
>> The article has the link to a Steam demo of this game.

Palworld Title Update V0.6.0 Released, Full Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/palworld-title-update-v0-6-0-released-full-patch-notes/
Pocketpair has just released Title Update V0.6.0 for Palworld, which adds new content to the game, and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new update brings to the table.

The First Berserker: Khazan – June 26 Patch Adds Support for AMD FSR 4.0
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/the-first-berserker-khazan-june-26-patch-adds-support-for-amd-fsr-4-0/
NEOPLE has released the June 26th Update for The First Berserker: Khazan, which adds support for AMD FSR 4.0. From what I can see, the patch also packs a number of balance tweaks and QoL improvements. So, let’s take a look at them.

Dying Light 2 Title Update 1.23 Released, Full Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/dying-light-2-title-update-1-23-released-full-patch-notes/
Techland has just released Title Update 1.23 for Dying Light 2: Stay Human and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new update brings to the table.

Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 – Update 8.0 Released, Adds Siege Mode, RTAO, DLSS 4 (Full Patch Notes)
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/warhammer-40k-space-marine-2-update-8-0-adds-siege-mode-rtao-dlss-4-full-patch-notes/
Saber Interactive has just released Title Update 8.0 for Warhammer 40K: Space Marine, which adds a new Siege Mode. Moreover, this patch adds support for Ray Tracing Ambient Occlusion and for NVIDIA DLSS 4.

*Edited to add Fanatical's new Star Deal*

The second part of the Thursday gaming news:

Stalker 2's 1.5 mega-patch just dropped and GSC says A-Life is back, baby
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/stalker-2s-1-5-mega-patch-just-dropped-and-gsc-says-a-life-is-back-baby/
As you may have discovered earlier while reading about its modkit requiring almost a full terabyte of space, Stalker 2 got a pretty gargantuan patch today. GSC is calling it the "Guns and Looting update," which I feel undersells it a little, and the rest of us are calling it patch 1.5. It's a doozy, folks.
The headline item is, uh, the item in the headline: GSC claims that Stalker's A-Life system is more-or-less back in action with this update. If you're not familiar, that's the system that's been the Stalker series' secret sauce since the very first game, Shadow of Chornobyl. It's the name GSC gives to the fact that the Zone's NPCs have lives of their own: they wander around, pursue goals, get in fights, die messily, and it's often you who stumbles across the aftermath or gets swept up in the carnage.

Larian jumped to improve Karlach's ending in Baldur's Gate 3 right away, with voice actor Samantha Béart saying it was nigh-on immediate: 'As soon as it was out, I got a call'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/baldurs-gate/the-fans-had-no-influence-on-karlachs-improved-baldurs-gate-3-ending-says-voice-actor-samantha-beart-larian-had-to-dodge-starfield-but-it-was-very-much-planned/
Baldur's Gate 3 was one of the best RPGs of the decade when it came out—and that accolade was only polished and shined in the ensuing months as Larian added patches to stitch up its wobbly ending. The biggest of these is, naturally, the epilogue—but there were a couple of minor additions before Patch 5, too. Update - 25/06/2025: Larian's reached out to confirm that Karlach's ending was, in fact, made in response to the game's playerbase, with Michael Douse additionally clarifying on X that "Karlach's final ending was indeed in response to fan feedback, with conversations starting around August 2023." Presumably late August, given the game's initial release date of August 3.

Hearthstone's first in-game pet is only available via a gacha mechanic that will cost most players a whopping 158 bucks
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/card-games/hearthstones-first-in-game-pet-is-only-available-via-a-gacha-mechanic-that-will-cost-most-players-a-whopping-158-bucks/
One of my favorite and most-used memes is an image of William Hurt, taken from the film A History of Violence, expressing disbelief that a simple, straightforward task could be utterly botched by someone who is presumably a professional in his field. The facial expression is so clear and definitive that I often like to share it without any accompanying text, because it conveys the message so well entirely on its own.
(...)
It comes to mind in this moment because Blizzard unleashed the first "interactive pet" for Hearthstone yesterday, and hoo boy, it is not going well. The problem isn't the pet itself: King Krush chomps and roars, he reacts to actions and emotes, and he's just all around cute. Aesthetically, I have no notes. The trouble is with how he's acquired, and more specifically the cost involved.
>> The article has the William Hurt image, in case you’re curious.

That was quick! Funcom is already testing a version of Dune: Awakening where the Deep Desert is only 50% PvP
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/that-was-quick-funcom-is-already-testing-a-version-of-dune-awakening-where-the-deep-desert-is-only-50-percent-pvp/
PvP is the most controversial part of survival MMO Dune: Awakening, and players haven't been shy about airing their grievances. The massive endgame zone, the Deep Desert, is the only place to find spice in large quantities and endgame-tier resources, and some players aren't happy that it's dominated by PvP combat that mostly takes place via ornithopters armed with rockets.
Earlier this week, in response to negative player feedback about the PvP-dominated endgame, Funcom creative director Joel Bylos announced that changes were being made, saying "some areas of the Deep Desert will now be flagged as 'Partial Warfare (PvE)' areas"—which would allow players to harvest spice and tier 6 resources without fear of other players ganking them via chopper.
By "some areas," Bylos may have undersold it. On Dune: Awakening's new public test client, which Funcom announced today, the Deep Desert has been heavily overhauled: the endgame zone has gone from being about 90% PvP to a mere 50%.

Bullying works once again: Jurassic World Evolution 3 is ditching its AI-generated scientist portraits after receiving backlash for sparing the wrong expense
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/bullying-works-once-again-jurassic-world-evolution-3-is-ditching-its-ai-generated-scientist-portraits-after-receiving-backlash-for-sparing-the-wrong-expense/
Jurassic Park was a story about the dangers of using technology to manufacture the beauty and majesty of life so it can be turned around for a profit. Frontier Developments, publisher and developer of the upcoming Jurassic World Evolution 3, seems to have relearned that lesson, announcing earlier this week that it would remove AI-generated art assets before the game's October launch after finding itself on the receiving end of public outcry.

FTC issues $126 million in Fortnite refunds, gives eligible players an extra 2 weeks to apply for their money back
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/ftc-issues-usd126-million-in-fortnite-refunds-gives-eligible-players-an-extra-2-weeks-to-apply-for-their-money-back/
The US Federal Trade Commission has issued a new wave of refunds totalling $126 million to Fortnite players who were charged for unintentional purposes, and reopened the claims process to allow people who missed it the first time around another chance to get their money back.

10 years after it launched, one of the best roguelikes of all time gets a surprise update on Steam with quality of life improvements and a new controls menu
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/10-years-after-it-launched-one-of-the-best-roguelikes-of-all-time-gets-a-surprise-update-on-steam-with-quality-of-life-improvements-and-a-new-controls-menu/
It was 2015—10 years ago—that we called Nuclear Throne "a crowning achievement for Vlambeer, and one of the finest action-roguelikes ever made" in our 90% review. Seven years later, in 2022, we said it was still the best roguelike around. And now, in 2025, eight years after its last update, Nuclear Throne has suddenly sprung back to life.
"Good news for (future) Nuclear Throne fans: there's an updated beta build on Steam with many quality of life improvements like 120fps support, different aspect ratios, and a new controls menu!" Vlambeer wrote in a surprise announcement on Bluesky. "Oh, and a new melting loading screen tip.

Rematch players are flopping about like schools of flying fish because—and I tested this—it's actually faster
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sports/rematch-players-are-flopping-about-like-schools-of-flying-fish-because-and-i-tested-this-its-actually-faster/
Rematch is doing great for Sloclap, and with good reason. It's a gorgeous-looking footie game that blends the studio's penchant for fighting game glory with some proper tekkers. Minor issues with lag and netcode aside, I've been having a good time.
However, if you've been playing, you might start to notice some strange natural phenomena. Schools of players flopping about like schools of majestic flying fish, a hivemind of spaghetti-limbed madlads that turn Sloclap's lovely presentation into something altogether sillier. Here's an example from the game's subreddit.
While this might look like a meme at first, it turns out that it's actually significantly more efficient. No, really, I tested it. Booting up Rematch and heading into freeplay, I went ahead and did some runs—horizontally, across the field, using the halfway line as a guide. I recorded five times with a stopwatch, then snagged the average. Here are my findings.

Jagex CEO breaks glass, hits PR emergency button by promising an end to a 'tainted RuneScape 3' via microtransaction overhaul
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/jagex-ceo-breaks-glass-hits-pr-emergency-button-by-promising-an-end-to-a-tainted-runescape-3-via-microtransaction-overhaul/
RuneScape hasn't had the best month—but Jagex seems keen to start walking some of that bad PR back in a bombshell video, one that promises to completely overhaul RuneScape 3's microtransactions (MTX).

I don't know if he talks about it in the video (haven't watched it yet), but Nvidia is also insisting on its BS claims:

Nvidia marketing goes into overdrive mode with claims that the new RTX 5050 is over 6000% faster than the GTX 1050 thanks to DLSS
https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/graphics-cards/nvidia-marketing-goes-into-overdrive-mode-with-claims-that-the-new-rtx-5050-is-over-6000-percent-faster-than-the-gtx-1050-thanks-to-dlss/

I might start playing the odd game or two on Steam in the future once I get an ROG Xbox Ally X, I'll likely start with Sony ports and smaller titles that aren't available on Xbox to build a library up, I'll still use Game Pass though for anything on Game Pass and probably for franchises that I've already started on my Xbox profile, so Borderlands 4 on Xbox/Xbox PC but a new IP (not on Game Pass) maybe on Steam, mix things up a little because I love Game Pass and I also have a lot of achievements I worked hard for and don't want to throw away, Lmao.

But anyway my question is, what is a good platform which combines your achievements/stats across all platforms? I don't really pay attention to Xbox GS on the platform itself anymore, I exclusively use TrueAchievements because the layout is a lot better and I like that it doesn't count un-played DLC towards 100% of a title. Anything like TrueAchievements but combines all platforms?

Trophies Hunter vs Exophase vs Playtracker?

I'd guess that Conina and Basil, whenever he decides to visit us again, will be able to answer your questions, given how they game on other platforms and use platforms to keep track of all the time they spend on each game and platform (that's especially true for Basil).

Unfortunately, I don't pay much attention to achievements or trophies.

Anyway, it has begun:

https://store.steampowered.com

Remember, there's time and you're in no need to rush to buy anything. With that said, happy deal hunting!

I'm waiting for the eventual comparison between the 100W version of the Laptop RTX 5050 with GDDR7 versus the desktop RTX 5050 with GDDR6. 

I've been using Exophase a bit, and it's OK, but I mostly care about having a place to easily check out the achievements I've earned anyway. I'm not a fan of the UI though, so for trophies, I actually use PSNProfiles anyway... It's very nice, but sadly it's only for trophies. Anyway, coming back to Exophase, its playtime tracking for Steam seems bugged at times, but luckily that's not something I really care about there anyway. I tried Playtracker as well, but keeping track of what I've done seemed less clear there than I wanted, so I deleted my account. I think the focus of Playtracker is on community stuff, challenges etc. anyway, so I probably wasn't among its target audience anyway. As for Trophies Hunter, I have no idea.

tl;dr: Exophase seems OK for my purposes, but it's not perfect.