Welcome to the Monday gaming news:
SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS
Yet another Pokémon-inspired game is popping off on Steam, with over 160,000 concurrent players for Aniimo
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/yet-another-pokemon-inspired-game-is-popping-off-on-steam-with-over-160-000-concurrent-players-for-aniimo/
Step aside Palworld, you are now merely the second most-played pastiche of the world's highest-grossing multimedia franchise on Steam. You've been overtaken by none other than Aniimo, the Genshin Impact-esque but non-gacha open world RPG, according to SteamDB. The numbers are climbing as I write this, with the game currently sitting at over 166,000 simultaneous players.
That's a lot! For reference, it's sitting ahead of likes of Rust, Delta Force, and Slay the Spire 2, with only the mighty Bongo Cat and its lessers (Apex Legends, Dota 2, etc) making up the list of eight games with more players on Steam right now. At the very top is, as always, Counter-Strike 2. Just imagine the numbers it'd enjoy if it also had cute little creatures that only say their own name.
GOG has the Daedalic Publisher Sale, with games up to 90% off during the next 7 days: https://www.gog.com/es/promo/20260921_daedalic_publisher_sale
Steam has three new deals and one sale:
Humble has several new deals:
- There are two new Humble Bundles
- The Humble Store also has two new sales:
Fanatical’s Star Deal is Tales of Graces™f Remastered, with a 78% discount. It started yesterday and will last another 24 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/tales-of-gracesf-remastered
SOFTWARE & DRIVERS
-Empty-
MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS
Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis Got an Amazing RTX Remix Path Tracing Mod
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/jurassic-park-operation-genesis-got-an-amazing-rtx-remix-path-tracing-mod/
Modder ‘BudgieGames’ has released an amazing RTX Remix Path Tracing Mod for Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis. So, if you’ve always wanted a remake or remaster of this classic Jurassic Park builder, you can now get a taste of it with this mod.
The first version of this mod came out last month. However, a couple of days ago, the modder released a brand-new version of it. Moreover, he released an optional pack that overhauls a lot of the game’s assets.
What’s really interesting here is that the mod adds a weather system and a day/night cycle to the game. These features were not in the original version. So, I’m pretty sure many Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis fans will find them cool.
To prove how transformative this RTX Remix Mod can be, BudgieGames shared the following comparison screenshots. These will give you a pretty good idea of the graphical enhancements you can expect from it. And just look at them. The RTX Remix version looks miles better than the vanilla. This is a huge visual improvement.
Those interested can go ahead and download the mod from this link (ModDB). You can also download the optional pack that replaces a lot of the in-game assets from here (ModDB).
>> Besides the screenshots, the article also has an almost 11 minutes video.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Just Got a Massive Fan Expansion for Act Two
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/baldurs-gate-3-just-got-a-massive-fan-expansion-for-act-two/
Baldur’s Gate 3 fans, here is something for you today. Modder ‘SquallyDaBeanz’ has released a fan expansion for the second Act of Baldur’s Gate 3. This fan expansion adds new free content to the game. So, let’s take a look at it.
Act Two Expansion adds a large new region called the Chionthar Wilds. It takes place after the Shadow-Cursed Lands and before Baldur’s Gate. The new area is made for level 8–10 parties and focuses on exploration and combat.
The expansion adds new quests, dungeons, NPCs, cutscenes, stories, lore, puzzles, secrets, and custom creatures. It also adds more than 70 new items and over 30 combat encounters. New dialog and story choices are also included.
What’s cool here is that you can play the mod with an existing save. The main version adds the new region between Acts 2 and 3. There is also a QuickStart version that starts a new game in the expansion. It gives you gear, party XP, and hirelings so you can jump in right away. Not only that, but the mod also supports multiplayer if every player has the same files.
There are a few things to know before playing, though. The mod is still in beta and may have bugs. The modder suggests saving frequently to avoid any major game-breaking issues. Some camp events can also cause a softlock at the end, so finish them before starting the finale.
The mod is built around the Shadow Curse being lifted in Act 2. Its story choices do not change Act 3. XP rewards are also reduced, with a full clear giving about 30,000 XP.
There is a point of no return before Act 3. After it, you cannot return to the Shadow-Cursed Lands or the Chionthar Wilds.
Finally, version 1.0 plans to add better writing, more dialog, new lore, improved combat and bosses, more Legendary Actions, item balance, bug fixes, and more polish.
You can go ahead and download the mod from this link (Nexus Mods).
>> There’s a 1:30 video.
Canceled SNES Kid Kirby Game From the Creators of GTA Has Been Recreated on PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/canceled-snes-kid-kirby-game-from-the-creators-of-gta-has-been-recreated-on-pc/
Here is something really special for our Nintendo fans. Back in the 90s, Nintendo contracted DMA Design, the creators of Grand Theft Auto, to work on a Kirby game for the SNES. That game, called Kid Kirby, was never released. However, a fan was able to fully recreate it on PC, and you can play it right now.
The PC version has eight levels and one boss fight. Each level adds new mechanics to keep the gameplay fresh.
(***seven parageaphs describing the game mechanics***)
You can go ahead and download Kid Kirby from here (itch.io). Below, you can also find a trailer for it.
>> There’s an over one minute trailer of the game.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess PC Update 2.0 Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess-pc-update-2-0-released/
The team behind Dusklight, the unofficial PC port of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, has released a new major update for it. Patch 2.0.0 brings new features to the game. So, let’s take a closer look at it.
Dusklight 2.0.0 adds mod support, a built-in mod browser, and a new randomizer. You can now install gameplay mods, texture packs, and asset replacements as .dusk files. The new browser lets you find, download, and update mods without leaving the game.
The built-in randomizer also adds many new options. You can shuffle items, dungeon entrances, boss rooms, caves, and other areas. You can also pick starting gear, skip parts of the game, and change the rules for reaching Hyrule Castle. A built-in cosmetics mod lets you change Link’s look, Wolf Link, Epona, Midna, and HUD colors.
Mod support has also been expanded for creators. Mods can add new actors, stages, game modes, items, dialogue, sounds, menus, cameras, and more.
Dusklight 2.0.0 also adds Japanese GameCube disc support and support for more Wii discs. A new Save Manager lets you import, export, and back up saves. It also fixes several save and memory card issues.
And that’s not all. The update improves high-frame-rate play with smoother menus, effects, weather, and animations. It also adds faster scene changes, more letterbox options, UI scaling, aiming reticles, touch targeting, and other quality-of-life features.
Performance has been improved with better texture streaming and caching. The update also fixes several graphics and Vulkan issues. And finally, audio received a major upgrade. Dusklight now supports 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound, 48 kHz audio, and a separate music volume setting. Several audio bugs have also been fixed.
You can go ahead and download this new version of Dusklight from here (Github). Below, you can also find a new trailer for it.
>> The article hasa shorter than two minutes video.
GTA Infected State Is a New Story-Driven Total Conversion Mod for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/gta-infected-state-is-a-new-story-driven-total-conversion-mod-for-grand-theft-auto-san-andreas/
The Infected State team has released a demo for GTA Infected State. GTA Infected State is a new story-driven total conversion mod for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. So, let’s take a closer look at it.
The story of GTA Infected State follows two FBI agents who find themselves at the center of a deadly outbreak. A strange infection is spreading across the country. It turns normal people into bloodthirsty monsters. You will follow the two agents as they fight to survive and uncover the truth behind the outbreak. Every choice you make can change the story and shape the final outcome.
GTA Infected State adds many new features to Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. The mod includes a full inventory system, deep character progression, and a leveling system. You can also improve your stats as you play.
The mod also adds a standalone Free Survival mode. This will give you another way to play outside the main story. The dialogue system also includes choices that can change how the story plays out.
Combat has been fully reworked. The new gunplay aims to be faster and more satisfying. You can also play the game in first-person mode. Plus, the mod features large boss fights that will test your skills.
Exploration also plays a bigger role. You will find puzzles and brain-teasers to solve. The mod adds new looting and lockpicking systems, too. Custom ragdoll physics also make combat and deaths look more realistic.
Your choices can also affect your relationships with other characters. The mod features a dynamic relationship system that can change as you play. There is also an in-game achievement system for players who want extra goals.
Finally, the mod includes high-quality voice acting. It also has full localization for English, Spanish, and Russian.
Now, as with any total conversion mod made by a small team, I suggest keeping your expectations in check. GTA Infected State will likely be rough around the edges. So, don’t expect it to be as polished as a AAA game. I’m saying this because some people have unrealistic expectations for projects like this.
But anyway. Those interested can download the mod from this link.
>> The article has two videos.
GTA 5 Enhanced Gets Major Next-Gen Graphics Upgrade With NaturalVision Enhanced Update #3
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/gta-5-enhanced-gets-major-next-gen-graphics-upgrade-with-naturalvision-enhanced-update-3/
Razed Mods has just released Next-Gen Graphics Update #3 for the incredible NaturalVision Enhanced Mod for Grand Theft Auto 5 Enhanced. This is one of the best graphics mods for GTA 5 Enhanced. So, if you’ve been playing it, I highly recommend trying it.
The NaturalVision Enhanced Mod is a complete visual upgrade mod that takes full advantage of the new ray tracing features. According to the modder, it reworks the game’s weather, lighting, ambient colors, world textures, models, and vegetation. What’s cool here is that Natural Vision Enhanced allows all light sources to cast shadows. This is something that the vanilla game did not feature. As such, it will further enhance the game’s ray-traced shadows. In short, all objects will now cast RT shadows.
NaturalVision Enhanced Next-Gen Graphics Update #3 brings a major visual upgrade to GTA 5 Enhanced. It improves lighting, shadows, water, clouds, vehicles, characters, roads, and more.
The update adds several ray-tracing improvements. These include better lighting, longer light bounce distances, a third light bounce, ray-traced sky lighting, contact shadows, and micro shadows. It also improves ambient occlusion and adds new lighting options to the NVE Graphics menu.
The sky and weather also get big changes. The update adds new volumetric clouds with realistic lighting and shadows. These clouds can also reflect on cars and water. The moon gets a new shading system, lunar phases, and god rays. Sun and sky lighting have also been improved.
Water now has better shading, ripples, refraction, and reflections. Underwater areas also get a new lighting system and better effects.
Vehicles now have better paint, clearcoat, reflections, and lighting. Emergency sirens can also cast shadows and reflect on nearby surfaces. Pedestrians get improved skin, cloth, and material shading.
Roads and the world get several new effects. These include parallax mapping, retroreflective signs, glowing road markings, road glints, and heat haze. The update also adds new hedges and improves vegetation across Los Santos.
Finally, the update adds HDR support and a new G7 tonemapping option. It also includes many bug fixes, performance tweaks, and other small improvements.
Those interested can download the update from its official website. At the end of the article, you can also find a trailer for it.
Burnout Revenge, Ace Combat 5 and Midnight Club: Los Angeles Get Unofficial PC Ports
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/burnout-revenge-ace-combat-5-and-midnight-club-los-angeles-get-unofficial-pc-ports/
It appears that three console-exclusive titles have been unofficially ported to the PC. These are Burnout Revenge, Ace Combat 5, and Midnight Club: Los Angeles. So, let’s take a closer look at them.
Burnout Revenge and Midnight Club: Los Angeles are part of the Xbox 360 Native Ports initiative. These appear to be simple ports, without any major graphical improvements. They come with a Vulkan renderer, a native audio path, and a small GUI.
Since Burnout Revenge and Midnight Club: Los Angeles never came out on PC, some of you may be interested in them. From what I know, both of these games are playable with the Xenia Canary. So, it will be interesting to see some performance comparisons between them.
Regarding Burnout Revenge, another unofficial PC port is also in development, called FreeBurn.
FreeBurn is a decompilation of the PlayStation 2 version of Burnout Revenge. The goal is to create a high-quality PC port with many new features. The project has now surpassed the Xbox 360 version in some areas. It uses a modern renderer to load the game’s assets. It also adds ambient occlusion, dynamic lighting, and dynamic shadows. These new features also allow for a new time-of-day system.
There is currently no ETA for when FreeBurn will come out. Naturally, though, I’ll be sure to keep you posted.
Finally, we have the unofficial PC port of Ace Combat 5. As its creator has stated, the game’s main CPU code is not emulated. Instead, a Python tool reads the original game files and turns each function into C code ahead of time. GCC then compiles this code with a runtime that replaces the rest of the console.
This runtime handles the GS through Vulkan, the VU vector units, SPU2 audio, the IPU for movies, IOP modules, memory cards, and controllers. The end result is a normal ac5.exe file that runs on PC.
The graphics are also native. The 3D graphics, including aircraft, cockpits, terrain, objects, sky, and clouds, do not use an emulated Graphics Synthesizer. The game’s VU1 code for model transforms and lighting has been rewritten as native code. The geometry is then drawn as real GPU meshes. It uses vertex shaders, mipmapped textures, and anisotropic filtering. The flight HUD, radar, and radio captions are also rendered at your display’s resolution.
You can go ahead and download these unofficial PC ports from here, here, and here.
>> All three posts are available from Github and the article has a video about Freeburn, but no these ports.
This unofficial engine patch for Thief: The Dark Project adds a huge new feature that won't be in Nightdive's upcoming remaster
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/this-unofficial-engine-patch-for-thief-the-dark-project-adds-a-huge-new-feature-that-wont-be-in-nightdives-upcoming-remaster/
Thief: The Dark Project is one of my favourite games of all time, so naturally I am very excited for Nightdive Studios' upcoming remaster. But it's worth remembering that the community has done an excellent job supporting the game up until this point. Unofficial patches like NewDark (systemshock.org) have ensured that Looking Glass' landmark stealth game can run in high resolutions and with support for widescreen and multi-monitor functionalities for years.
And if you thought an official remaster might put such efforts to an end, think again. Not to be outdone by Nightdive, NewDark's creator just released a new version of the overhaul which adds a radical new feature to Thief—dynamic shadows.
Yep, NewDark 1.29 introduces hardware transform & lighting to the Dark Engine, opening the door to GPU-driven effects in Thief's gothic steampunk world. Chief among these is shadows that are dynamically cast by moving objects—guards, doors, even master thief Garrett himself.
The update's effects were shown off in a YouTube video by Thief fan Bentraxx. What's particularly interesting about the dynamic shadows is not simply how they look, but the mechanical implications they have. For example, opening a door between a dark corridor and a well-lit room will flood the former with light, while opened doors create shadows behind them, meaning Garrett can now use doors to create hiding spaces.
At the same time, shadows can be a hindrance to Garrett too. According to Bentraxx, NPCs now have awareness of Garrett's shadow, meaning they might spot him skulking round a corner if he happens to be backlit. In the comments of his video, Bentraxx further notes that Garrett's shadow only appears humanoid in Thief 2. In The Dark Project, it is "a simple box shape", due to the fact that Garrett's character model in the first game is a six-foot tall, poo-coloured cuboid.
>> The article has the less than three minutes video mentioned in it.
Elden Ring Nightreign is dead, but modders are dabbing on its corpse, with one porting an entire Dark Souls 2 DLC zone as a playable map
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/elden-ring-nightreign-is-dead-but-modders-are-dabbing-on-its-corpse-with-one-porting-an-entire-dark-souls-2-dlc-zone-as-a-playable-map/
Modder Doneda has released a particularly funky and exciting mod for Elden Ring Nightreign, porting Dark Souls 2's Frozen Eleum Loyce and Frigid Outskirts as a standalone map. They also have a trailer up for the project on YouTube. Doneda's a bit of a Dark Souls 2 expert—they previously restored the remains of a cut sewers map to the sequel for demonstration purposes.
(***some blah, blah***)
Doneda's new map is already available for download on the Nightreign Nexus. You'll need to install Mod Engine 3 beforehand to run it—most, if not all Nightreign mods require the utility. Doneda seems intent on making more modded Nightreign maps, and you can follow their work on YouTube or support them via Ko-fi.
>> The article has the linked trailer in it.
GAMING NEWS
Assassin’s Creed: Mirage’s Denuvo Has Been Fully Cracked
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/assassins-creed-mirages-denuvo-has-been-fully-cracked/
Now here is a pleasant surprise. These past few months, we’ve been receiving Denuvo cracks from voices38. These cracks were, in actuality, bypasses, as Denuvo was still running in the background. But now, the cracking group RUNE has released a crack for Assassin’s Creed: Mirage that completely removes it.
Alongside Denuvo, RUNE has also completely removed VMProtect. This is big news, as it may help the group crack the remaining Assassin’s Creed games. This is said to be a “Proof of Concept” crack. So, I’m curious to see if RUNE will crack some other Denuvo games.
>> Not only that, but he has tested Mirage with and without Denuvo+VMProtect (link), and the result in performance is… basically no change at all.
Here Are Almost 3 Hours of Gameplay From Silent Hill Townfall
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-almost-3-hours-of-gameplay-from-silent-hill-townfall/
YouTube’s ‘CohhCarnage’ got early access to Silent Hill: Townfall and shared three videos, showing almost three hours of gameplay. These videos cover the early parts of the game. As such, they may contain some early spoilers. At the same time, they can give you a pretty good idea of what this new Silent Hill game is all about.
