Intel Optane SSD 900p Makes a Secret Appearance - has PCI Express 4.0 interface

http://www.guru3d.com/news-story/intel-optane-ssd-900p-makes-a-secret-appearance-has-pci-express-4-interface.html
However as mentioned a while ago, there is something new on the horizon, the Intel Optane SSD 900p SSD which uses a PCIe 4.0 interface. News reaches us through our Dutch colleagues of HWI who noticed that 900p SSDs are on pre-order at Centralpoint with a release tomorrow.

That said, I'm not sure if it's real or a typo, because Anandtech mentions that it uses a PCIe 3.0 x4 interface (I haven't read Anandtech's review).

According to computerbase it was an error.

BTW also according to computerbase ACO scales well with up to 6 cores and 12 threads. Looking at their benchmarks it really seems to be CPU related.

Good to know... for both things.

I still think that maybe Intel and AMD will launch new mobos with PCIe 4.0. It's an easy way to make people upgrade and get extra revenue, and board partners won't complain either.

As for the new AC game, you've talked about how good it looks, but you haven't said how's the game. It's like every other AC or does it make changes that make it fresh?

Let's go with the Friday news!

SALES & "SALES"/DEALS

Get Guns of Icarus Online for free in the Humble Haunted Halloween Sale
http://www.pcgamer.com/get-guns-of-icarus-online-for-free-in-the-humble-haunted-halloween-sale/
Steam and GOG aren't the only digital storefront with Halloween sales on the go. The Humble Store has one of its own underway too, and for the first two days it's giving a free copy of the steampunk airship combat game Guns of Icarus Online to anyone who shows up.

>>Looks like every store has a Halloween sale going on. I'm surprised UPlay and Origin don't have one too.

SOFTWARE

Publishers will soon be able to send games directly to Steam Curators
http://www.pcgamer.com/publishers-will-soon-be-able-to-send-games-directly-to-steam-curators/
For the past couple of weeks PC Gamer has had access to a 'pre-beta' of Steam's upcoming new Curator features. They aren't publicly available just yet—Valve says they're coming after "at least a couple" more weeks of closed beta—but when they are they'll significantly expand the Curator program.
Another big addition is a new program, called Curator Connect, which allows developers to "search for appropriate Curators, and then send a copy of their game directly through Steam."

MODS/EMULATORS

Electronic Arts shuts down mod that re-enabled multiplayer in Battlefield 2, 2142 & Heroes [UPDATE]
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/electronic-arts-shuts-mod-re-enabled-multiplayer-battlefield-2-2142-heroes/
UPDATE: Here is the notice that EA sent to the team behind Revive Network. From the looks of it, EA only demands the team to stop distributing the game client downloads from its site. Moreover, the team should stop using EA’s trademarks, logos, and artwork on its sites. HOWEVER, the Revive Network launcher and its servers can still function. The notice does not say anything about them, so the team is free, legally, to keep the MP modes of those games alive. If the team terminates the servers, then it’s their decision and no; it was not forced by EA.

>>Wow! EA being nice, that's something we don't see that often (or maybe they have enough bad press with the closure of Visceral and are using this to calm down fans).

Open Sonic is an open-source fan Sonic game, available for download right now
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/open-sonic-open-source-fan-sonic-game-available-download-right-now/
A team of Sonic fans is currently working on an open-source fan Sonic game, called Open Sonic. According to its description, Open Sonic introduces a different style of gameplay called cooperative play. As such, players can control 3 characters simultaneously. Moreover, and unlike most similar games, Open Sonic provides a greater level of interaction between the player and the levels.

>>You can download it from here.

GAMING NEWS

New Kingdom Come: Deliverance trailer details combat mechanics
http://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-kingdom-come-deliverance-trailer-details-combat-mechanics/
Warhorse Studios has released a new Kingdom Come: Deliverance trailer. In this trailer, Creative Director Daniel Vavra and Lead Designer Viktor Bocan delve into its combat system.

Football Manager 2018 Early Access Beta is now available
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/football-manager-2018-early-access-beta-now-available/
Sports Interactive has just announced the release of the Football Manager 2018 beta. This early access beta version is available to all those who pre-ordered the game. The game will fully release on November 10th.

Metal Gear Survive Single Player will Require an Internet Connection
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/metal-gear-survive-single-player-will-require-internet-connection/
Metal Gear survive is split between a single-player and co-op experience but according to the games official website an internet connection is required for both.

>> . This game is gonna flop so hard...

RUGBY 18 is now available on Steam
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/rugby-18-now-available-steam/
Bigben and Eko Software announced today the release of RUGBY 18 on Steam. In order to celebrate this announcement, Bigben has also released the game’s launch trailer, and you can watch it below.

Launch trailer released for Spintires MudRunner
http://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/launch-trailer-released-spintires-mudrunner/
Focus Home Interactive has released the Spintires MudRunner launch trailer. Spintires is an incredible off-road vehicle simulator, taking players on hostile roads and harsh environments. Focus Home Interactive has also revealed that the first edition has sold over a million copies on PC.

Call of Duty: WWII PC requirements revealed, will require 90GB of free hard-disk space
http://www.dsogaming.com/news/call-duty-wwii-pc-requirements-revealed-will-require-90gb-free-hard-disk-space/
Activision and Sledgehammer Games have revealed the official Call of Duty: WWII PC requirements for the final build. According to the specs, the game will require 90GB of free hard-disk space. PC gamers will need at least an Intel Core i3 3225 3.3 GHz or an AMD Ryzen 5 1400 and 8GB of RAM.

Part 2, and final for this week, of the news:

You can ride a unicorn in Assassin's Creed: Origins, just like the ancient Egyptians did
http://www.pcgamer.com/you-can-ride-a-unicorn-in-assassins-creed-origins-just-like-the-ancient-egyptians-did/
While skulking around ancient Egypt looking for people to neck-stab in Assassin's Creed: Origins (our review in progress is right here), you'll note that most people's transportation of choice are either horses or camels. Well, there's no need to succumb to peer pressure. You've already got a magical eagle, why not a mythical unicorn mount, too?

>>And it looks like you can also pet cats.

Fortnite Battle Royale adds new potion and character customisation in Halloween update
http://www.pcgamer.com/fortnite-battle-royale-adds-new-potion-and-character-customisation-in-halloween-update/
Fortnite has been given the customary Halloween once over in an update that adds some ghoulish cosmetics including a pumpkin rocket launcher, but the more substantial changes come in the popular (and completely free) Battle Royale game mode. Developer Epic Games has added a new potion called Slurp Juice, which regenerates one point each of health and shields per second for 25 seconds, and can get you back up to full health. Previously, knocking back the game's only potion would boost your shields by 50 points instantly.

Crusader Kings 2 and Europa Universalis 4 expansions will arrive side-by-side next month
http://www.pcgamer.com/crusader-kings-2-and-europa-universalis-4-expansions-will-arrive-side-by-side-next-month/
The next expansions for Paradox Interactive's grand strategy games Crusader Kings 2 and Europa Universalis 4 are charging out together next month—CK2 is getting a Chinese-themed update while EU4 is revamping the Middle East and Central Asia. Both will arrive on November 16.

Absolver update adds prestige system which allows players to respec
http://www.pcgamer.com/absolver-update-adds-prestige-system-which-allows-players-to-respec/
One of the toughest things for new Absolver players to figure out is where to spend ability points. It isn't perfectly clear what's going to benefit you the most later, especially since you might switch fighting styles, and some attributes have diminishing returns after a certain level. Finally, we have a way to respec.

Blizzard warns Hearthstone players over fake Fireside Gatherings
http://www.pcgamer.com/blizzard-warns-hearthstone-players-over-fake-fireside-gatherings/
Nemsy Necrofizzle, as Tim explained earlier this month, is a new Warlock-class Hearthstone skin that Blizzard is offering exclusively to participants of Fireside Gatherings, the fan meet-up events that bring players together for some face-to-face card-throwing. It's a really fun idea, and of course it's gone terribly wrong. Disgruntled players have taken to Reddit to complain about fake events that leave them without the skin, sometimes after traveling long distances, and at least one guy claims he ended up in actual physical danger.

PC Building Simulator is gaining the ability to benchmark your proposed build
http://www.pcgamer.com/pc-building-simulator-is-gaining-the-ability-to-benchmark-your-proposed-build/
PC Building Simulator, a game about building a PC from scratch that was developed by an 18-year-old student in Romania, is growing up fast. While rough around the edges when first unveiled earlier this year, the project has since been picked up by an indie developer that is working on polished release with the help from Corsair and NZXT, and now Futuremark.

Warframe developer 'hits the pause button' on its hero shooter, The Amazing Eternals
http://www.pcgamer.com/warframe-developer-hits-the-pause-button-on-its-hero-shooter-the-amazing-eternals/
Digital Extremes, the developer behind the massive free-to-play hit Warframe, has announced that it is halting development on its new shooter The Amazing Eternals. First teased back in May and then officially announced in August, The Amazing Eternals was supposed to be a Overwatch-style hero shooter with a collectible card game twist, where players would collect and play cards that fundamentally alter their abilities during a match.

Try the demo for this 2D platformer about defending your dungeon from adventurers
http://www.pcgamer.com/try-the-demo-for-this-2d-platformer-about-defending-your-dungeon-from-adventurers/
Skelattack is not about the many brave adventurers plundering a dungeon's depths. It's about Skully, an enchanted skeleton who doesn't want adventurers poking around his dungeon. It's a fittingly spooky 2D platformer with an anti-hero twist, and you can try it for yourself via the free demo available on GameJolt.

D&D-inspired roguelike Soulblight is all about role-playing
http://www.pcgamer.com/dd-inspired-roguelike-soulblight-is-all-about-role-playing/
Polish developer My Next Games hates to see players obsess over grinding experience in RPGs. In lieu of bigger numbers, they reckon the genre could use a shot of good old-fashioned role-playing, and they intend to give it one with Soulblight, a top-down roguelike that's fundamentally about writing and playing a character. It's currently on Kickstarter, with My Next Games asking for $US11,729 to bring it to life. At the time of writing, its campaign has earned $US3,311 and will run for another 30 days.

Destiny 2 update explains how Bungie intends to improve the endgame
http://www.pcgamer.com/destiny-2-update-explains-how-bungie-intends-to-improve-the-endgame/
With Destiny 2 finally out on the PC and looking pretty fantastic, Bungie has put up a blog post and developers update video looking ahead to the future of the game. The post also includes at early look at the upcoming 1.0.6 patch, scheduled to drop next week, and a list of known issues that have come up since the PC release.

Survarium update 0.50 adds long-awaited PvE mode
http://www.pcgamer.com/survarium-update-050-adds-long-awaited-pve-mode/
Earlier this year, online survival shooter Survarium dropped its update 0.47. With it, came a "story-driven tutorial mission" that offered the game's first taste of PvE. Update 0.50 has now dropped, adding fully-functioning PvE for the first time by way of a new story mission.

Earn $400,000 of free GTA Online money when you log in during the next week
http://www.pcgamer.com/earn-400000-of-free-gta-online-money-when-you-log-in-during-the-next-week/
To celebrate GTA Online's fourth anniversary—when you remember that it was first released on PS3 and Xbox 360 back in 2013—Rockstar is giving every player GTA$400,000 for logging in to the game up until the 6th of November. The cash will then be deposited straight into players' bank accounts between 6-13th November, so there are no worries about someone running you over and taking your lovely pile of money.

Injustice 2 welcomes Hellboy into its star-studded superhero fold
http://www.pcgamer.com/injustice-2-welcomes-hellboy-into-its-star-studded-superhero-fold/
This week, NetherRealm Studios and Warner Bros. announced Injustice 2 for PC. Due at some point "this Autumn/Fall", the brawler boasts an impressive roster of heroes and villains—the latest of which is The Beast of the Apocalypse himself aka Hellboy.

And now, time to check out GOG and Steam:

+GOG

There are two deals at GOG:

• The first one is the weekly sale, featuring games from Team 17's catalog: https://www.gog.com/promo/20171023_weekly_sale_team17
• The second one is, of course, its Halloween Sale, with more than 200 games/bundles on offer: www.gog.com

+Steam

Here we have more things to talk about:

• Let's start with the Halloween Sale: http://store.steampowered.com/sale/halloween/
• HELLDIVERS is free to try, and 50% off if you want to keep it: http://store.steampowered.com/app/394510/HELLDIVERS/
• Bayonetta is 33% off: http://store.steampowered.com/app/460790/Bayonetta/
• Planet Coaster is 45% off: http://store.steampowered.com/app/493340/Planet_Coaster/
• ARK: Survival Evolved is 50% off: http://store.steampowered.com/app/346110/ARK_Survival_Evolved/
• Rust is also 50% cheaper: http://store.steampowered.com/app/252490/Rust/
• And another one with a 50% discount, GTA V: http://store.steampowered.com/app/271590/Grand_Theft_Auto_V/
• Finally, there's Rise of the Tomb Raider, which is 60% off: http://store.steampowered.com/app/391220/Rise_of_the_Tomb_Raider/

And we're done. I hope you have a happy and gaming weekend.

Combat feels fresh. Though I won't see a lot of it because I'm gonna be an archer, like usual. Archery feels very smooth and even has different types of bows that all handle completely different.

It certainly does not feel like an "action adventure" anymore and has become a full fledged open world RPG. A very high focus on XP, crafting and exploration. It basically takes the best from both worlds of AC and Far Cry. Enemies and quests have levels now and  you can't just one shot everything. You need proper stats and skills. The original was never really stat based but this one is, which is probably the biggest departure from the series. It has a complete skill tree now like Far Cry, but even more customized as it's devided into 3 different sections for different play styles.

The menu is very well designed and it should because you will be spending some time in there for the quest log, map, crafting, gear and skill tree. Almost everything has useful tooltips and it's all very smooth and polished.

The world is absolutely huge and there is shit to do. One major improvement is looting, which is now instant for most things instead of holding a button for 3 seconds. Everything feels incredibly polished. I haven't played much yet but in terms of content and gameplay I don't see how anyone could rate this game anything less than a 9.

Though I may be a bit biased because I have been an AC fan since the first game. I just love the free roaming and exploration as well as the stealth mechanics. Since AC3 the games have been hit and miss with me. ACO is certainly a great one again.

The only negative points so far very minor things. For example within the world maps there are photos placed from other users and if there is one thing I hate is seeing other people in my game.  It's also quite spoilery when you accidentally hover over a photo of an area where you haven't been yet. I haven't seen a way to remove the photos from my map other than manually selecting every single one and deleting it.

The game has micro transactions(and pretty stupid ones), but it won't shove it in your face during gameplay. Also all items are ingame so there is no need to ever spend any money on them.

As a Far Cry and AC fan this game is heaven for me, though I'm not sure if I'll be able to finish it. I might get open world fatigue very soon.

BTW I found the key rebind now.

Sounds very good! I played, and ejoyed, every Assassin's Creed game from 1 to Revelations, but then came AC 3... I couldn't finish it, and except for Black Flag (which I still have to play) I've stayed away from the series.

It looks like Origins could bring me back to the series.

Pretty much the same for me as well. So you should really like it. Especially since the setting is so close to the first AC.

I updated my driver because AC told me so. Now Rocket League stutters like hell. Rolled back the driver and everything works fine. Gonna have to see how AC runs now.

Unlike most on this site, I actually enjoyed the first AC game, in part because of its setting, which was great. The cities of the Ezio games were also mesmerizing.And, again, then came 3 ...

Anyway, Nvidia launched a hotfix for their latest driver, but it had something to do with Wolfenstein, not AC.

I am saying second hand sales entices people to do that, pirated games generally do not.

It's definitely your CPU. One thread is pegged at 100% and another is near that too.
Overclocking should fix that.

If you want to know if your GPU is holding you back, find out how much GPU utilization you have... But a Geforce 1080 generally should not be held back at 1440P.

I played the first game for a few hours... But could never really sink my teeth into the franchise despite multiple attempts. I'll likely get this game when it's in the bargain bin.