The Thursday gaming news:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

The Epic Store gives away two games:

• Botany Manor: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/botany-manor-e7c456
• Poison Retro Set: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/pixel-gun-3d-poison-retro-set-55a7dd

Next week, the free games will be Nobody Wants to Die and The Darkside Detective A Fumble in the Dark .

GOG has launched the sale that was missing from yesterday, the new Weekly Deals, featuring up t o95% discounts during 6 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20260204_weekly_deals_1_february

Steam has one new deal and four sales/events:

• Guns of Fury will be 35% off until February 11: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3099000/Guns_of_Fury/
• And these are the sales/events:
  • Oublisher/developer Creepy Jar puts its games on sale with up to 90% discounts until the 10th: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44186271/sale/CreepyJarPublisherSale26
  • The 3rd Annual Thinky Awards, about games that make you think, has revealed its winners and has some games on sale with up to 85% discounts until the 11th of February: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/3rdThinkyAwards
  • Avalanche Studios presents the Spring Festival Sale (a bit too soon, imho), with games and DLCs up to 70% off until the 19th: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/1080307/sale/AvalancheSpringFestival
  • Dyring Light Franchise celebrates its 11th anniversary with a Sale. Sadly, it launches today and the discounts aren’t active yet: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/33025758/sale/techlandanniversaryfranchisesale

Fanatical has two new deals:

• Arc System Works puts its games on sale with up to 90% discounts during the next 12 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/arc-system-works
• Platinum Collection - Build your own Bundle (February 2026) has 18 titles to choose from for your 3+, 5+ or 7+ game bundles. It will last 27 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/platinum-collection-build-your-own-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

The total conversion mod remaking the lost Fallout 3 in Fallout: New Vegas got its first trailer and a new name
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fallout/the-total-conversion-mod-remaking-the-lost-fallout-3-in-fallout-new-vegas-got-its-first-trailer-and-a-new-name/
The sequel to Fallout 2 being developed by Black Isle Studios in the early 2000s was codenamed Van Buren, and when it was shut down in 2003—after which Bethesda picked up the ball, but made a completely different game—it became a kind of lost relic for Fallout tragics.
Van Buren's the mythic could-have-been that almost-was, a Fallout RPG that would have had everything we loved about the first two games in it and none of the stuff we didn't love about the Fallout 3 we eventually got. Because it never got made it can stay perfect in our imaginations, never having to live up to reality.
That doesn't stop modders from wanting to make it real in their own ways, though. There's a mod to recreate Van Buren in Fallout 2's engine called Fallout Yesterday, and a project that's supposedly remaking the whole game as it would have been. However, since a bunch of ideas from Van Buren were eventually re-used in Fallout: New Vegas—like Caesar's Legion, the Big MT, and Joshua Graham—you can see why there would be an advantage in remaking Van Buren as a mod for the game that already has some of the relevant assets.
If this sounds familiar you may remember when the project was called Revelation Blues, the name under which it released a demo last year. It's now been renamed The New West, and the teaser trailer above released conveniently after the climax of Fallout Season 2, when interest in New Vegas is the highest it's been in years. Not that you'd know it from Bethesda's silence on the remaster front.
The trailer feels like classic Fallout and sets up the plot of Van Buren—there's a prison run by an AI called Odysseus, which you're set to escape from in the opening, and a New Plague out there in the wasteland. Half of this is soundtracked by Johnny Cash singing Wayfaring Stranger, which would make a great nickname for The New West's equivalent of The Lone Wanderer.
You can keep up with the progress of Fallout: The New West on its website, and the demo from back when it was called Revelation Blues is still up on Nexus Mods.
>> The trailer is a bit over 3 minutes long.

GAMING NEWS

Here are 12 minutes of new gameplay from Mouse: P.I. for Hire
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-12-minutes-of-new-gameplay-from-mouse-p-i-for-hire/
IGN has shared a new video, showcasing 12 minutes of brand new gameplay footage from Mouse: P.I. For Hire. This gameplay is from Vaudeville, the second mission of the campaign, and the first case Jack gets assigned.

Here’s the official story trailer for Styx: Blades of Greed
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/heres-the-official-story-trailer-for-styx-blades-of-greed/
NACON has released the official story trailer for its upcoming Styx game, Styx: Blades of Greed. This story trailer revisits the key events of Styx: Master of Shadows and Styx: Shards of Darkness.

MindsEye Title Update 7 Released – Full Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/mindseye-title-update-7-released-full-patch-notes/
Build A Rocket Boy has just released Title Update 7 for MindsEye and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new patch brings to the table.

Thursday gaming news, part two:

Management sim Manifesto is the first game ever without politics: Grind workers into dust under your bootheel in a carefree romp that is 'definitely not about the video game industry… stop reading into things that aren't there'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/management-sim-manifesto-is-the-first-game-ever-without-politics-grind-workers-into-dust-under-your-bootheel-in-a-carefree-romp-that-is-definitely-not-about-the-video-game-industry-stop-reading-into-things-that-arent-there/
A paradox: videogames? They're pretty good. The videogame industry? It's bad. Like, mondo bad. A brutal parade of layoffs and exploitation, where grinning execs make out like bandits and everyone else is grist for the mill. One day, of course, the revolution will come, sweep away bourgeois society like so much dust, and the era of mankind's prehistory will end.
Until then, here's Manifesto, a "management sim about burnout, layoffs, and making shitloads of money." I'm pretty sure that's what most management sims are about, on some level, but Manifesto sure seems keen to remove any gloss from the process.

Overwatch 2 drops the 2 and goes back to being Overwatch as Blizzard launches its biggest update ever next week: 'We want to gain players' confidence, we want them to have trust in the game'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/overwatch-2-drops-the-2-and-goes-back-to-being-overwatch-as-blizzard-launches-its-biggest-update-ever-next-week-we-want-to-gain-players-confidence-we-want-them-to-have-trust-in-the-game/
The last thing I expected Blizzard to do was to change the name of Overwatch 2 back to just "Overwatch" four years after it came out. But as announced during the recent Spotlight video, that is exactly what Blizzard's doing. Most of the sequel's life has been about earning that 2, so why change it now?
The reason, as Blizzard explained to PC Gamer and other press attending an event at its offices in Irvine last week, is all about the development team's confidence in Overwatch's future.
Starting next week, Overwatch is going to look a lot different—literally, with a new UI, five new heroes, and the kick off of a whole new storyline. Its 21st season—coming February 10—will instead be known as season 1 of The Reign of Talon, a year-long narrative that will be told through in-game events, cinematics, short stories, and comics. It's a season that game director Aaron Keller calls "the biggest launch we've ever had in Overwatch's history."
>> Here’s another article focused on the new heroes (link).

Mike Morhaime's Dreamhaven continues to look for a hit, this time with a 'run-based' spin-off of Sunderfolk without the phone controls
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/mike-morhaimes-dreamhaven-continues-to-look-for-a-hit-this-time-with-a-run-based-spin-off-of-sunderfolk-without-the-phone-controls/
Dreamhaven, the company unveiled in 2020 by Blizzard co-founder Mike Morhaime, has something new(ish) in the works, a "tactics roguelike game" for 1-4 players called Shadowstone that's set to launch later this year.
Shadowstone is being developed by Secret Door, the team behind the 2025 tactics RPG Sunderfolk, and you may notice a certain similarity between the two games. For a good reason, and this is why I called it "new(ish)": Stonehaven is set in the same game world as Sunderfolk and will feature some heroes from that game, although Dreamhaven says it's "a standalone experience from Sunderfolk that requires no experience with its campaign."

7 years after it was pulled from Steam, Poker Night at the Inventory is coming back in March, and yes, so are the free Team Fortress 2 unlockables
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/card-games/7-years-after-it-was-pulled-from-steam-poker-night-at-the-inventory-is-coming-back-in-march-and-yes-so-are-the-free-team-fortress-2-unlockables/
Poker Night at the Inventory was, for a very brief time, kind of a phenom in the world of videogames. A relatively early Telltale release, it was a poker game starring four big-at-the-videogame characters: Max from Sam and Max, Strong Bad's Homestar Runner, the needs-no-introduction Heavy, and Tycho from the Penny Arcade webcomic.
It was all a bit of a flash in the pan, though: A sequel arrived in 2013, both of them fizzled out fairly quickly, they were delisted from Steam several years ago, and honestly I don't think anyone has even thought about them in ages. I certainly haven't.
That all changed today, though, because today Skunkape Games announced that Poker Night at the Inventory is coming back in a remastered edition that's set to launch in March. Why, you ask? Well, why not, is my reply, because honestly that's all I can come up with.

Just under two weeks from its release date, devil's bargain deckbuilder The Killing Stone announces it will be launching into early access instead
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/card-games/just-under-two-weeks-from-its-release-date-devils-bargain-deckbuilder-the-killing-stone-announces-it-will-be-launching-into-early-access-instead/
"Inscryption-inspired card battler The Killing Stone gets a rad new trailer showing off voice talent from Critical Role and Baldur's Gate 3, and it's out next month," we said in January. All of that remains true, except that when it releases on February 18 The Killing Stone will now be releasing into early access rather than celebrating a full 1.0 launch.

Arc Raiders is cracking down on cheaters by targeting Steam Family Sharing: 'Restrictions or bans will apply across the entire family group tied to that license'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/arc-raiders-is-cracking-down-on-cheaters-by-targeting-steam-family-sharing-restrictions-or-bans-will-apply-across-the-entire-family-group-tied-to-that-license/
Arc Raiders, like many other games, have had to deal with its fair share of cheaters. The devs have taken to burning them in locked rooms, dishing out big bans, and handing all the loot lost to these rats back to their rightful owners. And now Embark is cracking down on cheaters even more: by going after their families.
"In our ongoing continuous efforts to make Arc Raiders a more fair experience for all raiders, we have just made changes to how Steam Family Sharing works for suspended accounts," community manager at Embark, Ossen, says in the official Discord. "Up until now, suspended accounts could exploit Steam Family Sharing to avoid account suspensions, making their way back to Speranza to continue their illegitimate play.
"This change prevents that by ensuring that if an account is suspended, all accounts associated with that account through Steam Family Sharing are also, automatically, suspended as well."

'We've never considered adding difficulty settings to the Nioh series', says Nioh 3 game director, who gives players different ways to tackle challenges instead
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/weve-never-considered-adding-difficulty-settings-to-the-nioh-series-says-nioh-3-game-director-who-gives-players-different-ways-to-tackle-challenges-instead/
I'm of two minds about difficult games like Nioh 3—one mind thinks that difficulty's a matter of accessibility, that there's really no harm in adding a setting so that someone (for any reason) is able to see a game through. The other half of me thinks that difficulty's often kind of the point, and can be a part of a game itself. I'm also one of those pretentious gits that thinks videogames don't have to be fun to be worth making or playing, though.
Very much in the 'it's the point' camp is game director of Nioh 3 Masaki Fujita, who spoke with Eurogamer on the subject this week. In case you're unfamiliar, Nioh 3 is a soulslike action game with an emphasis on skill expression and difficulty.

And here’s the third part:

'I'm a total amateur' says Stardew Valley creator and developer of one of the most iconic farming sims of the 21st century
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/im-a-total-amateur-says-stardew-valley-creator-and-developer-of-one-of-the-most-iconic-farming-sims-of-the-21st-century/

Skyrim lead says the $100 videogame may not be the best idea: 'I personally think game developers would be wise to not push the prices higher, but gamers are a special breed... they will pay for what they want'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/the-elder-scrolls/skyrim-lead-says-the-usd100-videogame-may-not-be-the-best-idea-i-personally-think-game-developers-would-be-wise-to-not-push-the-prices-higher-but-gamers-are-a-special-breed-they-will-pay-for-what-they-want/
>> Yes, he's the same guy from all the other articles, and all come from the same interview. It's amazing how much can PCGamer do with someone else's work.

Warhorse reveals Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 players have killed 5.4 million enemies while drunk, and I'm just surprised that number isn't higher because Drinking is the best skill
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/warhorse-reveals-kingdom-come-deliverance-2-players-have-killed-5-4-million-enemies-while-drunk-and-im-just-surprised-that-number-isnt-higher-because-drinking-is-the-best-skill/

Deadlock's newest hero, Silver, gets a soft rework just as I was getting used to her
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/deadlocks-newest-hero-silver-gets-a-soft-rework-just-as-i-was-getting-used-to-her/

Steam has a new Festival:

https://store.steampowered.com/category/typing

There's been a couple of MindsEye news again here, and... the game still has a ton of what seem like obvious AI reviews. Curiously now there's a bunch of negative AI reviews as well, maybe to make things seem more legit? The reviews read like typical AI-generated stuff, and the reviewers have a ton of games, almost all having exactly zero achievements, and most games have either dozens or hundreds or hours in them.

It’s time for the Friday gaming news:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

The Humble Store has launched its Lunar New Year Winter Sale 2026, featuring up to 97% discounts during the next 20 days (not for all the deals): https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/lunar-new-year-sale-2026/

Fanatical has three new deals to share:

• The new Star Deal is Town to City, 34% off during 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/town-to-city
• Frontier Developments puts its games on sale with discounts that go from 10 to … 13%. And there’s no mention of when the deals will end: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/frontier-developments
• And the Safe In Our World Charity Bundle (2026) features 22 games and will last 21 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/safe-in-our-world-charity-bundle-2026

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

'We’re not planning on making absolute statements in either direction,' GOG boss says about generative AI, leading supporters to make some absolute statements in one very specific direction: 'Absolutely terrible response'
https://www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/were-not-planning-on-making-absolute-statements-in-either-direction-gog-boss-says-about-generative-ai-leading-supporters-to-make-some-absolute-statements-in-one-very-specific-direction-absolutely-terrible-response/
There was a bit of a blowup in January when GOG forum users noticed a sale banner that appeared to be AI generated. In response to the initial allegations, forum member KosmicznaPluskwa, whose avatar indicates they're a senior graphics designer and member of the GOG team, confirmed that the banner "is fully AI," although they declined to go into further detail because they're not a company spokesperson and "like being employed."
Here's the banner in question, courtesy of GamingOnLinux:
*** the banner would go here, but I won’t post it***
GOG itself declined to comment officially in the immediate wake of the controversy, although a rep did say the company was "aware of the conversations happening around this topic and the assumptions that can go with it." Now it has made a statement on the matter, though, as part of an AMA on Reddit—but the company's response isn't satisfying everyone.
"We’re not planning on making absolute statements in either direction," GOG managing director Maciej Gołębiewski wrote. "AI tools are one of many technologies we test and try out, and in some contexts it genuinely helps us push the company (and the mission) forward.
"What we will change, though, is how and where those tools are used; we understand that using new technology doesn’t mean skipping human judgment."

Steam Proton will no longer forget the entire reason it exists if you have a humungous library, as of the most recent client beta
https://www.pcgamer.com/software/platforms/steam-proton-will-no-longer-forget-the-entire-reason-it-exists-if-you-have-a-humungous-library-as-of-the-most-recent-client-beta/
The thing about Linux is: it's cool, and very interesting and beautiful people use it. I've been running Fedora 43 on my main machine for a few months now and, to be honest? It's easy. Almost boringly easy. I got into all this expecting to have to wrestle the OS' peccadilloes into submission, but aside from minor tinkering to get proprietary Nvidia drivers and codecs installed, it's been smooth sailing.
Imagine my disappointment. And now, as of the most recent Steam beta update, there's even less Linux weirdness to deal with when you slip free of the shackles of Windows. As of yesterday's Steam (and Steam Deck) client beta update, Valve has put paid to a bug that meant the platform would sometimes forget it can run Windows games on Linux. Cut it some slack; it's 23 years old.
The bug in question afflicted users with especially large libraries—though Valve doesn't say how large—and would "result in Proton games showing up as 'Not valid on current platform'". Which rather defeats the whole point of Proton—Valve's fancy, WINE-based compatibility layer that lets Windows-only games run on your Linux distro of choice.
Which is rather good news. Also bundled into the beta are fixes for the client's downloads view "when moving game entries between scheduled and queued sections," gyro fixes, repairs for "an issue with Switch Pro Controller Home LEDs turning on when disabled," and those rascally ABXY button options should no longer go missing from your configs.
>> Were any of you affected?

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Quake 3 Arena RTX Remix Mod V1.2 Remasters Three New Maps
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/quake-3-arena-rtx-remix-mod-v1-2-remasters-three-new-maps/
Modder ‘woodboy90’ has released a new version of his RTX Remix Path Tracing Mod for Quake 3: Arena. According to the release notes, Version 1.2 remasters three more maps for id Software’s classic multiplayer arena shooter.
Going into more details, Patch 1.2 remasters the q3tourney1, q3dm3, and q3dm17 maps. So, this means that the mod now has improved six maps in total.
Moreover, Update 1.2 brings improvements to the normal and height map textures, as well as to the lighting. It also improves the quality of four new character models. In total, the mod has improved eighteen character models. Furthermore, it improves the quality of eight weapons.
It’s also worth noting that it’s now easier to install the mod. All you have to do is copy all original Quake III .pk3 files ( pak0.pk3 – pak8.pk3 ) from your Quake III Arena installation into the baseq3 folder. Then, you’ll have to run q3rtx.exe once, and that will be it.
You can go ahead and download the latest version of the Quake 3: Arena RTX Remix Mod from this link. At the end of the article, you can also find a trailer for it.

Half Life 2: Raising the Bar REDUX Update 3.1 Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/half-life-2-raising-the-bar-redux-update-3-1-released/
The Raising the Bar Redux Team has released Update 3.1 for Half Life 2: Raising the Bar REDUX, which brings over 100 fixes. So, let’s take a closer look at it.
For those who don’t know, Half-Life 2 – Raising the Bar: Redux is a mod that brings back content that was cut from the original game. The team behind it mixes different versions of Half-Life 2’s early development with their own ideas, creating a unique and fresh take on the cut content.
Patch 3.1 fixes a bunch of small visual issues. Some custom Combine metal textures were way too shiny, so that’s now fixed. The update also corrects the surface properties of certain sand textures and tones down the cubemaps on the Depot model.
It also fixes broken UVs on the Cremator tank and the strange-looking GR9 world model. Missing cubemaps have been repaired as well. And good news for AMD users – this patch also fixes some rendering issues that could happen on AMD hardware.
Update 3.1 also brings some nice gameplay improvements. The Bullsquid AI has been updated so they will now back off when they have no attacks left. The Sandbarnacle’s idle behavior has been improved too. It will no longer glue you to the floor if it dies right before grabbing you. It also has extra effects when it kills prey, and its grab range has been increased. The patch also raises the max FOV to 105. Egg clutches in the Antlion caves can now be thrown farther with the gravity gun, and Combine power batteries can finally be picked up without using the gravity gun.
Those interested can download Half Life 2: Raising the Bar REDUX V3.1 from this link.
To install it, you’ll first need to download Source SDK Base 2013 Singleplayer. Once you have installed it, you’ll need to right-click in your library and select properties. Navigate to the “betas” tab and select the branch as “upcoming”. Unzip the downloaded zip file. Drag the RaisingTheBarRedux_Release folder and its contents into your Sourcemods folder in your root Steam directory (i.e., the drive where Steam is installed, not a SteamLibrary folder). Restart Steam and the mod should now appear in your Steam library.
>> The article has an over 5 minutes video.

GAMING NEWS

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection PC Demo Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/monster-hunter-stories-3-twisted-reflection-pc-demo-released/
Capcom has just released a PC demo for Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. This demo will let you play the beginning portion of the game for free. It will also let you test the game and see whether your PC can run it.

Second Features Trailer for Crimson Desert Highlights Combat and Progression Systems
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/second-features-trailer-for-crimson-desert-highlights-combat-and-progression-systems/
Pearl Abyss has released the second Features trailer for Crimson Desert. This new trailer focuses on the game’s combat and progression systems. It covers how you’ll unlock skills, upgrade equipment, face the threats of Pywel, and grow into a formidable fighter.

Another Eden Begins is a new time-travelling JRPG from the writer of Chrono Trigger and Xenogears
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/another-eden-begins-is-a-new-time-travelling-jrpg-from-the-writer-of-chrono-trigger-and-xenogears/
Wright Flyer Studios has announced that its new time-travelling JRPG, Another Eden Begins, will be released in Summer 2026. To celebrate this announcement, the team shared the game’s debut trailer, which you can find below.

Echo Isle is a Game Boy Color Zelda-like game for PC – Demo Out
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/echo-isle-is-a-game-boy-color-zelda-like-game-for-pc-demo-out/
Josh Koenig Games has released a demo for his upcoming Game Boy Color Zelda-like game for PC, Echo Isle. This demo will let you experience the early parts of the game before purchasing it.

Here’s the second part of the gaming news:

Nioh 3 director says Lies of P was a major source of inspiration while crafting the samurai soulslike's yokai bosses: 'It was great stimulation'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/nioh-3-director-says-lies-of-p-was-a-major-source-of-inspiration-while-crafting-the-samurai-soulslikes-yokai-bosses-it-was-great-stimulation/
Less than a day away from the launch of Nioh 3, critics have been raving about Team Ninja's open world entry in its Sengoku soulslike series. In our Nioh 3 review, we called it "joyfully over the top" thanks to its maximalist take on style-swapping combat mechanics, gluttonous loot density, and wide variety of monstrous enemy yokai.
In an email interview with PC Gamer, Nioh 3 director Masaki Fujita said the threequel incorporates lessons learned from the ARPGs Koei Tecmo has released since Nioh 2. But Nioh 3 wasn't only informed by Team Ninja's own work. According to Fujita, Neowiz's Pinocchio soulslike Lies of P was a source of creative inspiration for Nioh 3's boss and combat design.
>> Other Nioh 3 articles: an easy-to-find upgrade that helps with the art of the Ki Pulse (link); a reminder to trade your old weapons instead of throwing them away (link) and two skills you should learn to fight bosses (link).

Automatons speak! Helldivers 2 nemesis hacks Super Earth channels in desperate plea to save Cyberstan: 'WE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED FREEDOM'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/automatons-speak-helldivers-2-nemesis-hacks-super-earth-channels-in-desperate-plea-to-save-cyberstan-we-have-never-experienced-freedom/
Super Earth's greatest nemesis has penetrated the network. In what appears to be a widespread hack carried out by the socialist Automatons, official Helldivers 2 social media channels and its Discord server have been inundated with cryptic binary communications.
Only through cunning codebreaking skills (googling a binary translator) were we able to decode the messages.

Embark heard your feedback, so finishing Arc Raiders' second Expedition will be cheaper by the millions
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/embark-heard-your-feedback-so-finishing-arc-raiders-second-expedition-will-be-cheaper-by-the-millions/
For many who played so much Arc Raiders that the only thing left to do was wipe their progress and start over, that last Expedition didn't quite hit the mark. "Honestly, it wasn't worth it" argued our own Sean Martin upon completion. The requirements were a grind and the rewards only so-so.
So, Embark is doing things a little differently for its second Expedition project that departs on March 1.

Sony's co-op Horizon game is real, it's coming to PC day one, and you can sign up for playtests that start this month
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/sonys-co-op-horizon-game-is-real-its-coming-to-pc-day-one-and-you-can-sign-up-for-playtests-that-start-this-month/
Guerrilla Games' long-rumored Horizon co-op game has finally been unveiled as Horizon Hunters Gathering, a tactical action game for up to three players who will step into the roles of powerful hunters to defend the world from an onslaught of deadly machines.
Horizon Hunters Gathering, in case it's not abundantly clear, isn't the conclusion of the Horizon trilogy that some fans have been hoping for. "It's something new," Guerrilla studio director Jan-Bart van Beek said in today's announcement video. "It stands on its own." Aloy, hero of the mainline games, makes a cameo appearance in the video, but the game itself will feature a roster of different hunter heroes, each with unique abilities: tank, sniper, stealth, and so forth.

The Rust Naval Update is here with base boat building and an optional plank meant to 'settle minor disagreements' with friends
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/the-rust-naval-update-is-here-with-base-boat-building-and-an-optional-plank-meant-to-settle-minor-disagreements-with-friends/
We've been able to swim around just off the coast of Rust's murder island for years now, but I'm absolutely terrified of the sharks most players seem to shrug off, so I keep myself parked on land watching from a safe distance. After today's Naval Update, I'm thinking that may change as Rust adds buildable seafaring boats, among other things.

Highguard is adding a new hero who turns into wolf, and a new wolf mount that everyone else can ride around on (but no, they're not the same guy)
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/highguard-is-adding-a-new-hero-who-turns-into-wolf-and-a-new-wolf-mount-that-everyone-else-can-ride-around-on-but-no-theyre-not-the-same-guy/
A major update to Highguard is rolling out tomorrow on Steam, bringing with it a new hero, a new map, a new mount, and of particular note to people who just can't get enough competitive action, ranked play.
>> It will go live today.

All Honkai: Star Rail 4.0 livestream codes
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/honkai-star-rail-4-0-livestream-codes/
The Honkai: Star Rail 4.0 livestream codes have arrived, giving you some extra Stellar Jade you can use for pulling characters as we venture to Planarcadia in the next major update. We don't know all that much about Planarcadia, apart from that it's got ties to Aha and the Path of Elation, effectively making it a party destination for the Astral Express crew.

Guild Wars 2 finally gets the long-awaited option to create fashion templates, so why is the community so angry?
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/guild-wars-2-finally-gets-the-long-awaited-option-to-create-fashion-templates-so-why-is-the-community-so-angry/
Guild Wars 2's Raids and Wardrobe update launched this week, bringing two features that—based on description alone—should have made players very happy. The big tentpole additions are a new raid quickplay option +and a major wardrobe update, the latter introducing a fashion template system that, on paper, lets players quickly and easily change their looks.
This is the first major update of the Visions of Eternity expansion cycle, one that—in a tweak to how previous annual expansions worked—features very little in the way of new stuff. Due to complaints around how limited the updates were in previous expansions, ArenaNet is saving new maps and story chapters to the second and third major updates. This one, then, is all about the quality-of-life additions.
So how much quality of life have these two new features actually brought? Let me take a big sip of coffee and check in with the game's community…

Time for the third part:

The PC Gaming Show returns to heat up your summer once again
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/events-conferences/the-pc-gaming-show-returns-to-heat-up-your-summer-once-again/

After 3 years of negotiations with Microsoft, Blizzard QA workers win a new contract guaranteeing 'better working environment with increased pay, benefits, and layoff protections'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/world-of-warcraft/after-3-years-of-negotiations-with-microsoft-blizzard-qa-workers-win-a-new-contract-guaranteeing-better-working-environment-with-increased-pay-benefits-and-layoff-protections/

World of Warcraft producer says Chris Metzen sometimes wishes Blizzard hadn't called it Warcraft because 'it sounds intimidating,' and some fans are not taking it well
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/world-of-warcraft-producer-says-chris-metzen-sometimes-wishes-blizzard-hadnt-called-it-warcraft-because-it-sounds-intimidating-and-some-fans-are-not-taking-it-well/

Deadlock's next hero is Venator, a special agent of the Vatican who has 2 guns—also a grenade, a bear trap, and a crossbow that shoots holy stakes
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/deadlocks-next-hero-is-venator-a-special-agent-of-the-vatican-who-has-2-guns-also-a-grenade-a-bear-trap-and-a-crossbow-that-shoots-holy-stakes/

And these are the Steam deals for the weekend (nothing new from GOG):

+Steam

• ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON is going to be 35% off until the 12th of February: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1888160/ARMORED_CORE_VI_FIRES_OF_RUBICON/
• HELLDIVERS™ 2 gets a 25% discount until the 15th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/553850/HELLDIVERS_2/
• My Café Manager Simulator will be 50% off until February 19: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3078950/My_Caf_Manager_Simulator/
• The Last Spell celebrates its latest update and DLC with a 70% discount until the 19th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1105670/The_Last_Spell/
• Hard West 2 will be 80% off until the same 19th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1282410/Hard_West_2/
• And now the sales/events. I don’t have time to share them as usual but here’s the sumary: there is one Festival, Game Anglia, and 8 sales, including franchises like The Sims and Harry Potter; publishers like GSC, 2K, astragon and Dovetail with its trains; and there is also one with Chinese games and one with NSFW titles. You can check them all here: https://store.steampowered.com/specials

That will be it for this week. Until the next time, I wish you a happy and gaming weekend.

AMD GFX1170 “RDNA 4M” spotted in Linux patches, possible RDNA3 APU refresh

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-gfx1170-rdna-4m-spotted-in-linux-patches-possible-rdna3-apu-refresh

I really hope it's not another RDNA 3 refresh

Intel Arc B390 iGPU beats AMD Radeon 890M by 23% in Phoronix Linux gaming tests

https://videocardz.com/newz/intel-arc-b390-igpu-beats-amd-radeon-890m-by-23-in-phoronix-linux-gaming-tests

Intel XeSS 3 Multi Frame Generation works on entry-level Arc A380 “Alchemist” GPU and Claw 8 “Lunar Lake” handheld

https://videocardz.com/newz/intel-xess-3-multi-frame-generation-works-on-entry-level-arc-a380-alchemist-gpu-and-claw-8-lunar-lake-handheld

Intel is certainly laying the groundwork to become the underdog that Radeon should have been but we will see what happens. Hopefully they keep this up and not revert to the Intel that we really know.

HP, Dell, Acer, and ASUS reportedly test Chinese DRAM supply amid shortages

https://videocardz.com/newz/hp-dell-acer-and-asus-reportedly-test-chinese-dram-supply-amid-shortages

Intel is moving into GPUs and has hired a chief architect, CEO Lip-Bu Tan says

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/02/03/intel-gpu-chief-architect-ai-lip-bu-tan.html

Reviewer shows minimal OLED burn-in after 3,000 hours, limited mostly to Overwatch UI

https://videocardz.com/newz/reviewer-shows-minimal-oled-burn-in-after-3000-hours-limited-mostly-to-overwatch-ui

Alphacool to raise prices 5% to 10% by end of February on rising copper costs, Be Quiet also warns of raw material pressure

https://videocardz.com/newz/alphacool-to-raise-prices-5-to-10-by-end-of-february-on-rising-copper-costs-be-quiet-also-warns-of-raw-material-pressure

MSI Taiwan Confirms ~$5200 Price Tag For GeForce RTX 5090 Lightning Z In A Lottery Event

https://wccftech.com/msi-taiwan-confirms-5200-price-tag-for-geforce-rtx-5090-lightning-z-in-a-lottery-event/

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Has Reportedly One Of The Lowest RMA Rates In Ryzen 9000/7000 Series

https://wccftech.com/amd-ryzen-7-9800x3d-has-reportedly-one-of-the-lowest-rma-rates-in-ryzen-9000-7000-series/

Intel and AMD CPU Shortages Continue to Worsen as Delivery Times in China Exceed Six Months, Driving Widespread Price Hikes

https://wccftech.com/intel-and-amd-cpu-shortages-continue-to-worsen/

The year of "can't buy shit"

If it really is based on RDNA3, I really hope it has several features of RDNA4 included, for instance the ability to use FSR4. RDNA4 is quite bit larger than RDNA3, so I can understand that the full version might be simply too much for integrated and entry-level GPUs, but such a mix between the two might work out for both AMD and customers.

And it also beats the Xbox series S by a hair in Alan Wake 2:

https://www.digitalfoundry.net/news/2026/02/another-panther-lake-milestone-better-than-series-s-performance-in-alan-wake-2