ASUS teases ROG G1000 case with “AniMe Holo” spinning LED display for CES 2026

https://videocardz.com/newz/asus-teases-rog-g1000-case-with-anime-holo-spinning-led-display-for-ces-2026

ASUS launches GeForce RTX 5090D V2 TUF Gaming, 24GB memory on board

https://videocardz.com/newz/asus-launches-geforce-rtx-5090d-v2-tuf-gaming-24gb-memory-on-board

“Intel’s Biggest Problem Is Being a Partner & Competitor At the Same Time”, Claims Ex-Board Member, Calling for a Foundry Spin-Off

https://wccftech.com/intel-biggest-problem-is-being-a-partner-competitor-at-the-same-time/

TSMC Is Now Looking to Produce Cutting-Edge 2nm Process Technology in Japan, Likely Influenced by Rapidus’ Rising Competition

https://wccftech.com/tsmc-is-now-looking-to-produce-2nm-in-japan/

China’s Tencent Gains Access to the “Banned” NVIDIA’s Blackwell B200 AI Chips by Leveraging the Rental Loophole in U.S. Export Controls

https://wccftech.com/china-tencent-gains-access-to-nvidia-blackwell-ai-chips-by-leveraging-the-rental-loophole/

Windows 11 hack: Higher SSD speeds with new Microsoft NVMe driver

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Windows-11-hack-Higher-SSD-speeds-with-new-Microsoft-NVMe-driver.1190489.0.html

Moore Threads unveils next-gen gaming GPU with 15x performance and 50x ray tracing improvement — AI GPU with claimed performance between Hopper and Blackwell also in the works

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/moore-threads-unveils-next-gen-gaming-gpu-with-15x-performance-and-50x-ray-tracing-improvement-ai-gpu-with-claimed-performance-between-hopper-and-blackwell-also-in-the-works

Welcome to a new edition of the gaming news:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

These are the new (at least to me, deals at Humble

• Humble Bundle has the Games Under 5 Hours Bundle, with up to 10 games to get during 17 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/games-under-5-hours-bundle
• Humble Store has a couple of sales:
  • Konami Holiday Sale has games up to 85% off during 11 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/konami-holiday-sale/
  • Humble Holiday Blowout is their big sale of the season with lots of games from many publishers. It features up to 90% discounts and will last 14 days : https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/humble-holiday-blowout/

Fanatical has these deals:

• The Star Deal is Digimon Story Time Stranger, 32% off. It started yesterday and will last another 24 hours or until they run out of keys: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/digimon-story-time-stranger
• The BYO Quest VR Collection (Winter 2025) has 21 titles to choose from for your 2+, 4+ or 7+ game bundles during 34 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-quest-vr-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

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MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

New comparison screenshots for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines RTX Remix Path Tracing Mod
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/new-comparison-screenshots-for-vampire-the-masquerade-bloodlines-rtx-remix-path-tracing-mod/
Modder ‘Safemilk‘ has released some comparison screenshots between the vanilla and the upcoming RTX Remix Path Tracing Mod for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines.
This RTX Remix Mod will enable real-time Path Tracing to this classic RPG. Now, contrary to other RTX Remix Mods we’ve shared, this one will use new textures and materials. As such, it will look better than most of the other RTX Remix Mods.
The bad news is that there is still no release date. However, there is a good reason why this mod is taking so long. The modder explained that every wall, window, door, and door frame in the Ocean House has three or sometimes four different versions. Now imagine how many new assets he needs to make for the rest of the game.

Cyberpunk 2077 Ultra Cinematic V4 Next-Gen Mod Looks Stunning
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/cyberpunk-2077-ultra-cinematic-v4-next-gen-mod-looks-stunning/
Modder ‘GPC-Surgeon’ has released V4 of his Ultra Cinematic Next-Gen Mod for Cyberpunk 2077. So, let’s take a closer look at it, shall we?
The Cyberpunk 2077 Ultra Cinematic V4 Mod makes the game look much better, especially when Path Tracing is turned on. The modder says this is not just a simple ReShade preset. It is a full cinematic toolset made to turn Cyberpunk 2077 into a movie-like experience.
Going into more details, the mod will enhance the game’s weather system. It will boost the quality of volumetric fog and clouds, and it has various presets for cinematic moods. The modder has also handcrafted transitions for better realism and atmosphere.
Ultra Cinematic V4 changes the game’s lighting and visual effects to look much better. It also adds many film-style camera features. For example, it includes first-person camera shake and a VCR filter that makes the game look like real body-cam footage. It also adds HDR+ colors and a new night vision mode. Players can also use sepia and 8mm film effects, a comic book style, and a black-and-white mode.
The only downside is that Ultra Cinematic V4 is a paid mod. So, most of you won’t likely bother with it. Still, at the end of the article, you can find a video showcase. This video will give you an idea of what you can expect from it. So, be sure to at least watch it.

Unreal Engine 5.7 Demo for Unreal Tournament Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/unreal-engine-5-7-demo-for-unreal-tournament-released/
Unreal Tournament fans, here is something for you today. YouTube’s Smart Poly has ported Unreal Tournament to Unreal Engine 5.7 and has released a playable demo that you can download right now.
Before Fortnite Battle Royale launched, Epic Games was working on a free-to-play Unreal Tournament game. This was meant to be a community-driven project. Sadly, though, its team was moved to help develop Fortnite Battle Royale instead. As such, this UT game was put on ice indefinitely.
This playable demo takes advantage of the improvements that Epic Games made to Unreal Engine 5.7. As such, the demo will now run better than its initial version.
Now, while there is also support for Software Lumen, Smart Poly did not make any improvements to it. As Smart Poly noted, this Lumen solution runs really well on most PCs. The downside is the visual artifacts you can easily see in the video. The artist could improve the quality of Lumen, but that would come at a great performance cost. As such, he decided to leave it as it was.
It’s a shame we’ll never get a new Unreal Tournament game. But hey, at least we now have a playable demo of it in Unreal Engine 5.7. Sadly, the demo does not seem to have any gameplay features. I don’t see any bots you can fight, and there is no support for online play. All you can do is explore the Outpost level. And that’s it.
>> The article has an over 10 minutes video.

You can now play the canceled Game Boy Color port of Resident Evil
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/you-can-now-play-the-canceled-game-boy-color-port-of-resident-evil/
Now here is something really cool for all our retro fans. Games That Weren’t has shared a new ROM for the canceled Game Boy Color port of the first Resident Evil game. This new ROM is said to be 98% complete. As such, you can finally experience this unreleased Resident Evil game on PC.
For those who did not know, in 1999, HotGen worked on a Game Boy Color port of Resident Evil. However, Nintendo decided to cancel it, even though the port was almost finished. And now, in 2025, gamers can play it.
From what I’ve seen, Jill’s campaign can be played in its entirety, from start to finish. Sadly, though, Chris’ campaign is not fully playable. According to reports, the door, which is supposed to open with the flamethrower during Chris’ campaign, does not open. As such, you cannot progress after that point.
The Game Boy Color version of Resident Evil includes almost all the weapons from the original PlayStation game. The only missing weapon is the Bazooka. You also cannot combine Red and Green herbs. The famous Snake enemy is in this version, too. However, the first fight with the Snake does not work properly. The second fight can be played to an extent.
All in all, this is one of those “impossible” ports. As you will see in the video, it does resemble Resident Evil. In my opinion, HotGen did an incredible job here. So, I don’t know why it was canceled in the last minute. I mean, it’s WAY better than the Tigen Game.COM port of Resident Evil 2.
You can find more details about this Game Boy Color port of Resident Evil, as well as a download link for it, here. As I said, you can experience it on your PC. All you need is a Game Boy Color emulator.
>> The article has an over 30 minutes video.

Resident Evil 4 Remake Got an Amazing Tactical First-Person Mod
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/resident-evil-4-remake-got-an-amazing-tactical-first-person-mod/
Modder ‘ErwinGunsmith’ has released an amazing new mod for Resident Evil 4 Remake. This mod introduces a new tactical first-person mode, allowing you to play RE4 from start to finish with it. This is a really cool way to re-experience it. So, if you are a fan of it, you should definitely check it out.
Going into more details, the mod adds a tactical first-person mode with iron sights for every weapon. It also includes custom aiming stances and new animations. You can adjust the camera position and field of view to fit your liking. To avoid visual issues, the mod automatically hides the character’s head, hat, and accessories in first-person mode.
As said, there are iron sights for pretty much all weapons. Not only that, but you can customize everything by enabling “Advanced Customization Options”. This menu will let you adjust Iron Sight Position, Scope Offsets, and Visual Recoil. As such, you can get the ultimate first-person experience.
You can go ahead and download this mod from this link. At the end of the article, you can also find a showcase video. This video will give you a pretty good idea of what you can expect from it. So, be sure to watch it.

New Fallout 76 64GB HD Mod Overhauls Almost All Textures
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/new-fallout-76-64gb-hd-mod-overhauls-almost-all-textures/
Modder ‘Veno’ has released a must-have HD Texture Pack for Fallout 76, which weighs around 64GB in size. This mod will overhaul most of the game’s textures. As such, it’s a must-have for everyone who plays this Fallout game.
Going into more details, the modder has used AI tools to upscale the textures of Wessberg’s High Resolution Texture Pack Mod. As you will see, the vanilla version of Fallout 76 had a lot of low-resolution textures. Thanks to this mod, though, you can greatly improve their quality.
This mod comes in two versions. The first one is for those with high-end GPUs that have more than 20GB of VRAM. The second is a more optimized one for those who have less than 24GB of VRAM.
As the modder suggested, owners of 12GB of VRAM should set their in-game resolution to 1080p and download the optimized version. Owners of 16GB of VRAM should set their resolution to 1440p and download the optimized version. Those with 20GB of VRAM will be able to bump up their resolution to 4K. As for those with 24GB of VRAM, they will be able to play at 4K with the best version of the mod.
>> The article has a couple of comparison screenshots.

GAMING NEWS

Here are the PC requirements for Code Vein 2
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/here-are-the-pc-requirements-for-code-vein-2/
Bandai Namco has revealed the official PC system requirements for Code Vein 2. Also, as we’ve already reported, the game will be using the Denuvo anti-tamper tech. So, let’s see what PC system you’ll need to run it.

Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora Patch 2.5 Released & Detailed
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/avatar-frontiers-of-pandora-patch-2-5-released-detailed/
Ubisoft has released Title Update 2.5 for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new update brings to the table.

20 minutes of leaked gameplay footage from Marathon
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/20-minutes-of-leaked-gameplay-footage-from-marathon/
It appears that a few videos have been leaked for Marathon’s latest closed alpha phase. To be more precise, these videos are from the October and December test phases. In total, we have around 20 minutes of gameplay footage from these tests.
>> By the way, the Art Director of the game has left Bungie (link).

Now, I don’t know if PCGamer has hired more writers, pays its writers by article or if there’s AI involved, but the amount of articles they publish has skyrocketed this year, even in these holiday days.
So, since I have other work to do (you know, the one I’m actually paid to do), I’ll do what I did after the TGA or the June events: in this post you’ll find articles that I deemed worth sharing as usual, while the others will be on the third post with just the headline and link to it.

Also, depending on how it goes, this may be the new usual way of posting the PCGamer articles. Let me know what you think.

Anyway, here's the second part of the Monday news:

Ark 2 is now set to come out in 2028, and it may not have as much Vin Diesel as we were expecting: After years of delays, his involvement is 'an open question'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/ark-2-is-now-set-to-come-out-in-2028-and-it-may-not-have-as-much-vin-diesel-as-we-were-expecting-after-years-of-delays-his-involvement-is-an-open-question/
Ark 2 was revealed almost exactly five years ago—on December 10, 2020—with a lengthy cinematic trailer starring, for reasons I still don't entirely understand, Vin Diesel. It was initially expected to come out in 2023, and then at the end of 2024, but by 2025—the year that's about to end—we were reduced to promises that, yes, it's still happening. The most recent release target we had put Ark 2 in 2027, "if all goes to plan."
All did not go to plan, and Studio Wildcard is now aiming to get Ark 2 out the door sometime in 2028, according to an Epic Games report.

A major overhaul of League of Legends is reportedly coming in 2027: 'Once we're done, it should be the best time ever to get your friends into League'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/a-major-overhaul-of-league-of-legends-is-reportedly-coming-in-2027-once-were-done-it-should-be-the-best-time-ever-to-get-your-friends-into-league/
A new Bloomberg report says Riot Games is currently working on an update to League of Legends, known internally as League Next, that will be the biggest in the game's history. The overhaul of League's "visual aesthetic," as Bloomberg put it, will impact characters, battle arenas, and the interface, and is aimed at making the game more welcoming for new players.

FromSoftware just dropped an absolutely busted item in Elden Ring Nightreign that has completely shifted the meta overnight
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/fromsoftware-just-dropped-an-absolutely-busted-item-in-elden-ring-nightreign-that-has-completely-shifted-the-meta-overnight/
It's become increasingly apparent over the last few weeks that someone at FromSoftware carefully observed all the strategies players were employing before the Forsaken Hollows DLC dropped, and they were taking notes. The new map and bosses are a big middle finger to people who got comfortable with the old meta.

Stalker 2 gets a new zoning permit in its 'Stories Untold' update, adding 8 missions and 7 locations as you explore what's giving Stalkers 'headaches, nosebleeds, and even hallucinations'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/stalker-2-gets-a-new-zoning-permit-in-its-stories-untold-update-adding-8-missions-and-7-locations-as-you-explore-whats-giving-stalkers-headaches-nosebleeds-and-even-hallucinations/
Stalker 2 has already received numerous major updates since releasing in November last year. Up to this point, though, most of those code transfusions have focussed on fixing the sequel's many bugs or elaborating upon its mechanics, such as improving its A-life system or adding dynamic faction wars. But its latest update—Stories Untold—expands the Zone itself, adding new areas and new quests to give veteran Stalkers something extra to do over the holiday season.

Co-op smash hit RV There Yet? gets an 'unplanned content update for an unplanned game' as the comedy vehicle sim surpasses 4.5 million copies sold
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/co-op-smash-hit-rv-there-yet-gets-an-unplanned-content-update-for-an-unplanned-game-as-the-comedy-vehicle-sim-surpasses-4-5-million-copies-sold/
2025 has been a big year for cooperative shenanigans (shenanifriends?) games, with titles like REPO and Peak providing some of the biggest hits of the year. RV There Yet? is the latest variant of the formula to achieve viral critical mass, taking the basic idea of goofing about with your mates in a virtual space on the verge of collapsing under the weight of its own physics simulation, then applying it to the concept of driving a caravan across the kind of terrain that would give a mountain goat vertigo.
Now, developer Nuggets Entertainment has released the first major update to RV There Yet? sim since launch, which adds a whole new map for players to drive their knockoff Winnebago across. The map is set on and around the fictional slopes of Mt Yurbuttsk, a frigid jumble of ice and rock that your chain-smoking holidaymakers must pass through on their quest to find Route 65.

Abiotic Factor's 1.2 update invites you to explore the 'Holiday Cryosphere', a festive interdimensional snowglobe where everything's on fire for some reason
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/abiotic-factors-1-2-update-invites-you-to-explore-the-holiday-cryosphere-a-festive-interdimensional-snowglobe-where-everythings-on-fire-for-some-reason/
Abiotic Factor is the best survival game I played this year for many reasons, but one of those is how stupefyingly extra Deep Field Games' Half-Life-inspired adventure is. Its Black Mesa-esque research facility is so much larger and stranger than it needs to be, and that's before you get all the strange pocket dimensions you explore on the course of your adventure.
Hence, it probably shouldn't come as a surprise that its seasonal update goes the extra mile too, adding a whole new dimension that's positively aglow with lethal levels of Christmas spirit. The 1.2 patch introduces the holiday cryosphere, a gigantic snow globe that contains a frosted pine forest and a chocolate-box village. It even has its own version of the Polar Express, complete with the vaguely sinister undertones of Robert Zemeckis' CGI schmaltz-fest.

This dystopian free-running sim is set in a brutalist megacity is being codeveloped by one of the designers of last year's best FPS
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/this-dystopian-free-running-sim-is-set-in-a-brutalist-megacity-is-being-codeveloped-by-one-of-the-designers-of-last-years-best-fps/
Anything involving the creators of Straftat is going to be on my radar. The lo-fi 1v1 shooter was crowned the best FPS of 2024, brilliantly condensing '90s style deathmatch into hyper-quick rounds across dozens of creatively designed maps. But Straftat is also one of the best shooters of 2025, too, thanks to the immense amount of support the Lemaitre brothers have poured into, essentially doubling the map count since launch.
Now, one half of Straftat's developers, Léonard Lemaitre, has announced a new game called Vholume, a Mirror's Edge style first-person platformer set in a vast, dystopian city.

Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy shows off equal helpings of sleuthing and smashing in its new trailer, as its first playable alpha test goes live
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/warhammer-40-000-dark-heresy-shows-off-equal-helpings-of-sleuthing-and-smashing-in-its-new-trailer-as-its-first-playable-alpha-test-goes-live/
I'd somehow completely forgotten that Owlcat Games is making another Warhammer 40,000 RPG, assuming that the developer was all-in on Mass Effect style action-roleplayer The Expanse: Osiris Reborn. But not only does the studio have another string to its bow in Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy, its follow-up to 2023's Rogue Trader is already heavily into development, with Owlcat dropping a brand new trailer and a playable alpha test this week.

There's a Transformers XCOM-like on Steam, and it's on sale for 90% off before it gets delisted
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/theres-a-transformers-xcom-like-on-steam-and-its-on-sale-for-90-percent-off-before-it-gets-delisted/
The latest game to announce that it's being delisted from Steam is Transformers: Battlegrounds, which is the victim of a licensing agreement coming to an end. To soften the blow, it's on sale for 90% off until it gets removed at the end of the month.
>> Rhonin likely already shared the news, but this one could serve as a reminder.

Fortnite has quickly pulled its latest accolades trailer after letting a saucy foreplay reference slip through the cracks
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/battle-royale/fortnite-has-quickly-pulled-its-latest-accolades-trailer-after-letting-a-saucy-foreplay-reference-slip-through-the-cracks/
Less than an hour ago I lived in a world where I did not know what frotting was. It was not too long ago that Epic was also living in that same world, if its most recently pulled trailer is any indication.
As reported by TheGamer, the developer has pulled an accolades trailer for Fortnite Chapter 7 after fans pointed out that one unassuming word had slipped through the rest of its attempt to be edgy with censored quotes pulled from social media. It featured fake joke quotes like "**** the Dark Voyager" from "the bus driver" (understandable, since the Dark Voyager attacked and was presumed to have killed the bus driver at the beginning of the chapter) and less fake quotes such as "Like a ******* fever dream" from X account FN Posting.
Then, the post in question. Its message in keeping with the trailers tone: "The best ******* game ever man". Its issue, however, lies within the one saying it: Jonesy Frotting over on X.

Over 30 years since release, this classic PC platformer built with the tech that led to Doom just got a remaster
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/over-30-years-since-release-this-classic-pc-platformer-built-with-the-tech-that-led-to-doom-just-got-a-remaster/
It's strange to think that first-person shooters—and arguably the PC's arrival as a major gaming platform—emerged from an attempt to create the PC's equivalent of Super Mario Bros 3. John Carmack's reproduction of the smooth scrolling effect seen in Nintendo's platformer ultimately led to the founding of id Software and the creation of Commander Keen. In turn this led to Wolfenstein 3D, and ultimately to Doom.
Yet as id Software prepared to revolutionise PC gaming, its publisher, Apogee, took the tech id had developed for Commander Keen and made its own take on the 2D platformer. The result was Bio Menace, a platform shooter in which you battle through a city infested with mutants as all-American action hero Snake Logan. Bio Menace was created almost entirely by programmer Jim Norwood, who worked on the Duke Nukem Trilogy and, later, the original Shadow Warrior and its 2013 reboot.
Apogee released Bio Menace as freeware in 2005, and it can be played online in various places. But the original has, understandably, aged quite a bit. Fortunately, a remaster just released on Steam, sprucing up this classic blaster for modern players.
>> It’s interesting that they’ve decided to make this article now when this remaster launched days ago on GOG.

Blue Prince is 'the result of 8 years of development, fuelled my imagination and creativity' not AI says publisher
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/puzzle/blue-prince-is-the-result-of-8-years-of-development-fuelled-my-imagination-and-creativity-not-ai-says-publisher/
2025 has been a rather heated year for genAI and its ever-increasing use in videogames. Most recently, the year's awards darling Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was disqualified from the Indie Game Awards for making use of generative AI during development and Larian's admission of using genAI "to explore ideas" at the studio has caused ripples of discourse throughout social media.
Among all of this, it seems like Blue Prince—which won the Indie Game Award's Game of the Year and also Best Design in our PC Gamer 2025 Game of the Year Awards—ended up caught in the crossfire. That's thanks to a since-edited article from The Escapist which suggested that generative AI was used in the game and was still present in the final product.
The now-retracted statement had the game's publisher Raw Fury coming out to defend developer Dogubomb by saying one thing loud and clear: it is 100% human-made. "For people that need confirmation: There is no AI used in Blue Prince," an X post from the Raw Fury account read.

I am desperately trying to wrap my head around this upcoming heterosexual omegaverse game
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/visual-novel/i-am-desperately-trying-to-wrap-my-head-around-this-upcoming-heterosexual-omegaverse-game/
Despite being blissfully unaware of what frotting was until earlier today (cheers for that Fortnite), I am more knowledgeable in the ways of the omegaverse—the subgenre of speculative fiction built around the idea of a human dominance hierarchy similar to that often attributed to pack animals like wolves—than I would like.
(***Here’s a paragraph describing what omegaverse is about***)
Its position as mostly homoerotic fiction, then, makes it difficult to envision such a thing told through a more heterosexual lens. But it seems like that's exactly what Idea Factory is trying to do with its upcoming Otomate Verse Project, according to Automaton Media.

An indie dev worried about being seen as a ripoff after discovering a game similar to the one they were making, but then the original dev responded: 'Don't be discouraged'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/an-indie-dev-worried-about-being-seen-as-a-ripoff-after-discovering-a-game-similar-to-the-one-they-were-making-but-then-the-original-dev-responded-dont-be-discouraged/
One of the most amazing things about modern games is that if you can think of a game you want to play, it probably exists somewhere. Yet while this is great for players like me, I can understand why it might be disheartening if you're a developer trying to stand out.
One indie developer recently found themselves in such a moment of crisis, to the point where they considered abandoning their project over its perceived similarity to another game. Fortunately, they were pulled out of the spiral, by none other than the creator of the game they'd worried about in the first place.
This all transpired over on the subreddit r/IndieDev, on which neophyte indie designer Sbibble relayed his concerns in a post titled "The game I've been working on for months is exactly the same as a game I just discovered today. What do I do?"

And here’s the third and final post:

The likelihood of another Battlefield: Bad Company is slim, but its former lead designer thinks Battlefield boss Vince Zampella could make it happen: 'He knows his sh*t'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/the-likelihood-of-another-battlefield-bad-company-is-slim-but-its-former-lead-designer-thinks-battlefield-boss-vince-zampella-could-make-it-happen-he-knows-his-sh-t/

Epic ritually humiliates another Fortnite fraudster who was stealing and selling accounts
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/epic-ritually-humiliates-another-fortnite-fraudster-who-was-stealing-and-selling-accounts/

Painkiller's creator isn't a fan of its recent co-op reboot: 'I disagreed with every single thing they've done in it'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/painkillers-creator-isnt-a-fan-of-its-recent-co-op-reboot-i-disagreed-with-every-single-thing-theyve-done-in-it/

Nobody can agree what an 'immersive sim' is, but OG Fallout lead Tim Cain has his own definition: 'The very elements that make something an immsim are the ones that I also think make good RPGs'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/nobody-can-agree-what-an-immersive-sim-is-but-og-fallout-lead-tim-cain-has-his-own-definition-the-very-elements-that-make-something-an-immsim-are-the-ones-that-i-also-think-make-good-rpgs/

Blizzard's focus is on existing properties, president Johanna Faries says: 'We have iconic IP and in many ways it still has a lot of room to scale'
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/blizzards-focus-is-on-existing-properties-president-johanna-faries-says-we-have-iconic-ip-and-in-many-ways-it-still-has-a-lot-of-room-to-scale/

Quake's third Brutalist Jam now has a whopping 75 maps, and its organiser is working on a hub to stitch them all together: 'this is going to be an insane challenge'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/quakes-third-brutalist-jam-now-has-a-whopping-75-maps-and-its-organiser-is-working-on-a-hub-to-stitch-them-all-together-this-is-going-to-be-an-insane-challenge/

Dishonored co-creator says it was 'a shock' when Microsoft closed Arkane Austin after Redfall's release: 'We were working on something really cool'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/dishonored-co-creator-says-it-was-a-shock-when-microsoft-closed-arkane-austin-after-redfalls-release-we-were-working-on-something-really-cool/

Fallout: New Vegas lead writer worries Caesar's argument for authoritarianism 'was done a little too well,' but still believes 'you can't just make your tyrants cardboard villains'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/fallout-new-vegas-lead-writer-worries-caesars-argument-for-authoritarianism-was-done-a-little-too-well-but-still-believes-you-cant-just-make-your-tyrants-cardboard-villains/

You might think reimagining Washington DC as a nuclear hellscape for Fallout 3 would have been grim, but it made the lead designer want to set the next game in his hometown: 'It's just kind of fun to blow things up'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fallout/you-might-think-reimagining-washington-dc-as-a-nuclear-hellscape-for-fallout-3-would-have-been-grim-but-it-made-the-lead-designer-want-to-set-the-next-game-in-his-hometown-its-just-kind-of-fun-to-blow-things-up/

Roguelite city builder Super Fantasy Kingdom has been a big success, and now its developer can afford a luxury he's always dreamed of: 'A real winter jacket'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/roguelite-city-builder-super-fantasy-kingdom-has-been-a-big-success-and-now-its-developer-can-afford-a-luxury-hes-always-dreamed-of-a-real-winter-jacket/

Hideo Kojima says MGS2 was never about AI 'but rather a future I didn't desire' of data gaining a will of its own and 'unfortunately we're heading there'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/hideo-kojima-says-mgs2-was-never-about-ai-but-rather-a-future-i-didnt-desire-of-data-gaining-a-will-of-its-own-and-unfortunately-were-heading-there/

FYI, due to Christmas holidays, I'll probably be slowing down my hardware news reporting from December 25th to January 4th. Happy Holidays everyone!

I'm sorry to hear that. I'd love to help but, when it comes to troubleshooting on PC, I'm usually on the side of looking for help, not giving it.

Perfectly understandable. We do this because we want, not because we have to, and sometimes there are other (better) things to do.

In my case, because my family is half Spanish and half Catalan (part of Spain, yes, but with some cultural differences), I'll spend three days this week eating a lot, and I won't be around neither Thursday nor Friday.

Just use this time to have fun.

I forgot to put in the news the latest free game at the Epic Store: Paradise Killer https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/paradise-killer-c3ea1c

It turns out that they've shared more info about this monitor: it's a 32" monitor running at 4K@165Hz or 1080p@330Hz and features an impressive 4788 dimming zones.

https://www.guru3d.com/story/hkc-m10-ultra-debuts-rgb-miniled-backlight-with-4788-local-dimming-zones/

If the processor is powerful to handle all those zones ithout lag, this monitor could be a great alternative to OLEDs, tho I think it may end being more expensive than the newer and relatively cheap OLED monitor that have launched this year.

Yea I don't use sleep mode at all on Windows and thankfully, SSD makes sure pc boots up quite rapidly. If you shutdown your computer and then power it back up and it takes time to bring it back, it could be due to memory training nonsense that DDR5 introduced assuming you have a DDR5 system. To disable it, least on Asus motherboards, you have to enable "memory context restore" in the BIOS if I remember correctly and optionally disable "Memory Power Down" function in the BIOS.

It's not even that long, but I tend to put my PC to sleep mode and wake it up quite often. I think I have the settings set correctly (it's much better than it was at some point), but it's the combination of the actual boot time and how long it takes for all the apps to start that adds up when using sleep mode as often as I do. Even if starting everything from scratch takes only a minute (and it's probably somewhat longer, although I haven't measured it), it's still much longer than the mere seconds it takes to start up from sleep mode.