This makes Nintendo being 136 years old and still thriving that much more impressive.

For Piranha Bytes' Gothic fans (there's few of us around here), something potentially interesting to keep an eye out on:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3892510/Asterfel/

Also German developers (Mysteria Studio) like PB, from footage, I'd say, directly inspired by Gothic 1 (and probably Risen 1).

ASUS Teases ROG RTX 5090 Matrix, Featuring Circular Shroud On The End With Infinity Mirror RGB Lighting

https://wccftech.com/asus-teases-rog-rtx-5090-matrix-featuring-circular-shroud-on-the-end-with-infinity-mirror-rgb-lighting/

Intel Unveils ‘USAI’ Narrative, Emphasizing Its Patriotic Mission and Positioning Team Blue as America’s Sole Option for Advanced Chip Manufacturing

https://wccftech.com/intel-unveils-usai-narrative-emphasizing-its-patriotic-mission/

AMD Ryzen 5 5500X3D First Benchmark Surfaces Online: Offers 6% Better Multi-Threaded Performance Than Ryzen 5500 And Similar Single-Core Prowess

https://wccftech.com/ryzen-5-5500x3d-benchmarked-on-passmark/

GPD Win 5 Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 handheld announced, official gaming benchmarks released

https://videocardz.com/newz/gpd-win-5-ryzen-ai-max-395-handheld-announced-official-gaming-benchmarks-released

MaxSun Arc Pro B60 Dual with 48GB memory reportedly starts shipping next week, priced at $1,200

https://videocardz.com/newz/maxsun-arc-pro-b60-dual-with-48gb-memory-reportedly-starts-shipping-next-week-priced-at-1200

MSI Claw 8 AI+ gains 10% to 30% performance after software update

https://videocardz.com/newz/msi-claw-8-ai-gains-10-to-30-performance-with-after-software-update

Time for the Thursday news:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

This week, the Epic Store gives away two games:

• Hidden Folks: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/hidden-folks-239d16
• Totally Reliable Delivery Service: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/totally-reliable-delivery-service

Next week, they’ll give away Kamaeru and Strange Horticulture.

GOG has four new promos:

• The Craft Away Promo comes with gamse up to 90% off during 6 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20250813_craft_away_promo
• New Weekly Deals have arrived, featuring up to 95% discounts during 6 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20250813_weekly_deals_3_august
• The Git Gud Promo will test you with games up to 95% off during 7 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20250814_git_gud_promo
• And the Role-Playing Games Promo has games with up to 90% discounts on sale during 9 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20250812_rpg_promo

Steam brings these new deals:

• BROK the InvestiGator is going to be 60% off until the 27th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/949480/BROK_the_InvestiGator
• Transport Fever 2 has a 75% discount until the same 27th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1066780/Transport_Fever_2
• And these are the two sales:
  • Arc System Works presents the Gamescon Sale with games up to 80% off until August 26: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/33025239/sale/arcsystemworks_summer
  • Publisher/Developer Strange Scaffold puts its games on sale with up to 50% discounts until the 27th of August: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/strangescaffoldpublishersale

Humble Bundle presents the Point Blank Bundle, with up to 7 games to get during 20 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/point-blank-bundle.

And Fanatical has another round of 24h Flash Deals:

• RimWorld is 30% off: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/rimworld
• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii - Digital Deluxe Edition features a 43% discount: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/like-a-dragon-pirate-yakuza-in-hawaii-digital-deluxe-edition
• And the deal on Terminator Dark Fate – Defiance is 48%: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/terminator-dark-fate-defiance

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

Steam payment headaches grow as PayPal is no longer usable for much of the world: Valve hopes to bring it back in the future, 'but the timeline is uncertain'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/steam-payment-headaches-grow-as-paypal-is-no-longer-usable-for-much-of-the-world-valve-hopes-to-bring-it-back-in-the-future-but-the-timeline-is-uncertain/
Hassles with credit card processors over adult content isn't the only payment headache Steam is facing these days. Valve is also getting grief from PayPal, which is no longer being accepted as a form of payment in much of the world.
Going by posts about the problem in the Steam subreddit, the issue was first reported about a month ago: Users attempting to pay for purchases in countries including Switzerland, Poland, Norway, and Mexico received a message saying Steam is "temporarily unable to process transactions with this payment method at this time," with no further explanation.
(...)
Some in the Steam subreddit theorized that the Paypal problem was connected to the crackdown on NSFW games, and maybe it is, but Valve has now clarified that the issue isn't game content, but the specific currencies being used: Redditor jeeg123 shared a popup message that's being displayed when Steam rejects PayPal as a payment system:
"In early July 2025, PayPal notified Valve that their acquiring bank for payment transactions in certain currencies was immediately terminating the processing of any transactions related to Steam. This affects Steam purchases using PayPal in currencies other than EUR, CAD, GBP, JPY, AUD and USD," the message states.
>> I honestly fail to see the reasoning behind PayPal’s actions here, other than maybe bank commissions. Why create a global platform for online purchases, only to not accept most currencies?

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Thief 2014 got an HD Texture Pack that overhauls 3,438 textures
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/thief-2014-just-got-a-hd-texture-pack-that-overhauls-3438-textures
Modder ‘FartPluser’ has released a new HD Texture Pack for Thief 2014. This mod uses AI techniques to upscale and enhance around 3,438 textures. As such, it’s a must-have for everyone who wants to replay it.
Going into more details, the mod includes two separate mods. The first one is the HD Textures Pack. The second is the HD Grass Mod. This mod enhances the textures for leaves and select grass scatter assets. You can use both of them, and I highly recommend doing so.
Sadly, the modder did not provide a lot of comparison screenshots. We have one in which you can clearly spot the improved textures.
It’s also worth noting that the mod is only 4GB in size. As such, you won’t have to download a big pack like those we’ve shared for other titles. It should also work even on GPUs with 8GB of VRAM.

A modder has fixed what NVIDIA and Leenzee couldn’t – DLSS 4 Frame Gen now works like a charm in WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers.
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/a-modder-has-fixed-what-nvidia-and-leenzee-couldnt-dlss-4-frame-gen-now-works-like-a-charm-in-wuchang-fallen-feathers
All hail modders. One of my biggest issues with WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers was that you couldn’t use DLSS 4 Frame Gen. For some weird reason, the game turned it off during cutscenes or certain in-game events. But now, thanks to a modder, you can finally turn it on and enjoy higher framerates.
This mod comes from modder ‘mmike0913’. As the title suggests, it fixes what NVIDIA and Leenzee couldn’t fix. With this mod, the game will never turn off DLSS 4 Frame Gen. As such, you will get a more consistent experience when using it. This means fewer stutters, too.
Right now, the mod is compatible with the Steam version. You might also be able to use it with the GamePass version, though the modder has not tested it with it. Moreover, the mod needs to be updated whenever a new patch comes out. So, if you are using an older version, you may not be able to use it.
>> There is no media for the mod.

GAMING NEWS

-Sadly, none from DSOGaming-

The second part of the Thursday news:

Former DayZ lead thinks survival games should let players tinker with every variable: 'Here's the keys. Have fun'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/former-dayz-lead-thinks-survival-games-should-let-players-tinker-with-every-variable-heres-the-keys-have-fun/
Brian Hicks, former DayZ creative director, co-creator of the whole battle royale genre, and current creative director of 775 Interactive, wants players to have more control over their games.

'This year seems shakier than ever,' BioWare veteran Mark Darrah says, and live service games are a big part of the reason—but Grand Theft Auto 6 might force the industry to change
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/this-year-seems-shakier-than-ever-bioware-veteran-mark-darrah-says-and-live-service-games-are-a-big-part-of-the-reason-but-grand-theft-auto-6-might-force-the-industry-to-change/
Former BioWare stalwart Mark Darrah began his career at BioWare as a programmer on the original Baldur's Gate, and finished more than 20 years later as executive producer on Dragon Age and Anthem. He's been around, in other words, he's seen some things, and he has some thoughts on the current state of the videogame industry—the most pointed of which is that as bad as 2024 was, 2025 is even worse.

I think Dungeons and Dragons peaked in 1982 and that's why I can't wait to play this 'hand-drawn black and white dungeon crawler' coming next year
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/i-think-dungeons-and-dragons-peaked-in-1982-and-thats-why-i-cant-wait-to-play-this-hand-drawn-black-and-white-dungeon-crawler-coming-next-year/
Every now and then I run across a game that looks like it will be my thing—not that it necessarily will be my thing, but the vibe is undeniable. The Secret of Weepstone, revealed today, is one such game: "A hand-drawn black and white dungeon crawler RPG inspired by classic D&D of the '80s" that's set to come out in 2026.

Pity poor Capcom: Monster Hunter Wilds' latest patch introduced a new crash bug, developers are working on it and 'will provide further updates when we have them'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/pity-poor-capcom-monster-hunter-wilds-latest-patch-introduced-a-new-crash-bug-developers-are-working-on-it-and-will-provide-further-updates-when-we-have-them/
Capcom's efforts to make Monster Hunter Wilds better have, for some players, instead succeeded in making it worse. The studio says it's aware of a bug introduced in the new 1.021 update that's causing crashes, and it's now working on a fix.

This game about channel surfing surreal alien broadcasts used to be exclusive to a 1-bit console with a crank—but now it's coming to Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/puzzle/this-game-about-channel-surfing-surreal-alien-broadcasts-used-to-be-exclusive-to-a-1-bit-console-with-a-crank-but-now-its-coming-to-steam/
Playdate received an oddity called Blippo Plus earlier this year. It turns the handheld console into a strange little television, so that twisting the crank feels akin to switching channels on an old analog TV dial. Sometimes you'll find a cryptic animation, or else a live action musical performance. Some channels show a mysteriously static logo, whereas others might feature a full-blown variety show. It all plays out in real time, so you can't rewind and fast forward it. You just have to watch it like ye olde TV.
(...)
This bizarre game made for a bizarre console is on its way to PC, and as you might expect from software making the jump from a crank-controlled 1-bit device to big screens, it's probably going to be a different experience. For starters, it's in color, which lets the studio lean heavier into woozy CRT stylings. There's also a program guide, which I don't think is in the Playdate version, though channels still air whether you're watching or not.

The Battlefield 6 beta probably is running worse for you this time around: 'We'll follow up with additional updates as soon as possible'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/battlefield-6-beta-dlss-dlaa-performance-issues/
Last weekend, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the Battlefield 6 open beta was holding up. The series has repeatedly fallen into the trap of launching in an unoptimised state, only getting tidied up months or even a year later. Battlefield 6 has, seemingly, bucked this trend, as I was getting silky smooth FPS and virtually no server issues.
When I loaded up the Battlefield 6 open beta today, which just came back with new content as part of the Weekend 2 trial, I was slapped in the face by low framerates and feared the worst: the first weekend was all a mirage. I ventured into the settings menu and noticed two issues: my refresh rate had been capped at 60Hz (instead of my usual 144Hz), and DLSS upscaling had completely vanished.
>> And judging by this new closed beta, it looks like they aren’t all that serious about supporting closed weapons.

WoW's Legion Remix won't make you choose between transmogs and gear—adds harder world content, Mythic+ style dungeons, and enough cool stuff to make me almost forget about Mage Tower
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/world-of-warcraft/wows-legion-remix-wont-make-you-choose-between-transmogs-and-gear-adds-harder-world-content-mythic-style-dungeons-and-enough-cool-stuff-to-make-me-almost-forget-about-mage-tower/
One of the hubbubs surrounding WoW's upcoming Legion Remix is the fact that Mage Tower—an incredibly popular piece of content that Blizzard has never brought back (in full, anyway, there was a stint without the same rewards) for fools like me who missed it—likely won't be making a return. Bare minimum, it's not been mentioned yet, and we're coming close to the deadline.
But a recent blog post and YouTube video is promising enough cool stuff that I'm not sure I mind all that much, really.

Borderlands 4 has, like, so many guns, 30 billion guns, so many they had to put 'em on a 'wall of guns' like the Matrix, say devs
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/borderlands-4-has-like-so-many-guns-30-billion-guns-so-many-they-had-to-put-em-on-a-wall-of-guns-like-the-matrix-say-devs/
One of the most known marketing lines in videogame history is the absolutely ludicrous promise that Borderlands has 87 bazillion guns. Obviously this is hyperbole—the guns are randomised. It has a lot, but a bazillion is not a real number and thus should not be taken seriously. It was a goof, a gaff.
Well, that tagline now has a competitor. Borderlands 4 has 30 billion guns. Apparently. That's per an Epic Games store post that quotes art director Adam May.
>> Don’t they get tired of using the same marketing stunt every single time?

Konami fumbles the ball ahead of MGS Delta's release, says the Fox Hunt multiplayer mode won't have crossplay with zero explanation
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/konami-fumbles-the-ball-ahead-of-mgs-deltas-release-says-the-fox-hunt-multiplayer-mode-wont-have-crossplay-with-zero-explanation/
We're just a couple weeks away from 2004: part 2, when Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater hits this August 28. If you've just bolted awake from a 9-year coma, that's the UE5 remake of Metal Gear Solid 3 that marks Konami's first real attempt to prove to fans it can be trusted to steward the franchise in a post-Kojima world (more on that in this month's PCG magazine).
Based on my time with it last August, it's a fanatically faithful remake of the OG game, but bad news: Konami said that Fox Hunt—the MGSD's stealthy multiplayer mode—won't launch until autumn. Now it's rubbing salt in the wound: when it gets here it won't have crossplay.
>> I mean, it’s Konami. They have practice when it comes to fumble things up.

Thanks for sharing it. Neitehr DSOGaming nor PCGamer had an article about it.

Let's see: it's Asus, a 5090, Matrix and an anniversary edition. That thing will cost at least $3500 if not closer to $4000. 

Impressive gains. It also shows that, when it launched, it wasn't a finished product.

Not the first NVidia 5000 series that's shit. Remember the FX series?

Indeed I do.

There were a couple of good price/performance cards in the FX series though.

I did own a Geforce FX 5700LE for my Tualatin rig... Which was only slightly more expensive than the FX 5200.
Took that pissy 250mhz Core clock and pushed it to 540mhz and the memory from 200mhz to 275mhz, still ran like an FX card, but outperformed the FX 5700/FX5750 and often, even beat the Radeon 9600XT.
Impossible to beat the value out of that GPU.

Actually made a good test bed for working on pixel shaders for games like Oblivion/Fallout, because the FX series was extremely sensitive to bad or complex shader code.

GPU space was far more interesting back then...

Yeah, I remember, my dad bought a pre-built PC back then with an FX 5800 and a socket 754 Athlon 64 3000+ without PCIe.

5800 got later replaced by a Gainward 6800 Golden Sample as it broke less than 2 years in (just made me realise that the only NVidia I had that didn't die within 3 years was the 1050Ti in my old laptop. The 5800 lasted 2, and My Riva TNT, TNT2 M64 and GeForce 6800 all died 3 years old) and finally an ATi X800XL (second hand, dunno the exact model)