The other issue is from a future stand point is it going to be harder and harder to maintain at least 60FPS with raytracing on either 3080 or 6800XT without a technology like DLSS.

We can see now that the hit to graphic quality for DLSS 2.0 is not that bad. There no guaranteed that the AMD version when it come out wont be a bad visual hit like every other attempt at this kind of technology other then version 2 of DLSS. Even version one of DLSS was meh.

This will vary person to person but from my personal perspective DLSS 2.0 is the first tech of this kind that game still look good using.

All in all, it sounds like another generation of me recommending Nvidia over AMD. But catching up to Nvidia's raster is quite an achievement none the less.

Raster performance is close
RT performance is a slaughter as 3000 is generations ahead
No DLSS competitor in sight apart from it's being worked on
AMD has had a history of bad drivers

Also gotta love with GN calls out AMD's PR BS as there is Zero stock

Yeah, AMD marketing for 6000 series been mostly good and better then in the past but it was pretty stupid of them to call out NVIDIA earlier in the year for there lack of stock when the overwhelming odds was they was going to have the exact same issue.

The news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla was Ubisoft’s top-selling PC launch ever
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/assassins-creed-valhalla-was-ubisofts-top-selling-pc-launch-ever/
Ubisoft has announced that Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has also become the top-selling Ubisoft PC launch ever, driven by all-time record Ubisoft Store sales performance. In addition, the team revealed that the game has sold through more units in its first week than any other Assassin’s Creed game sold during the same period.

Amazing Cultivation Simulator is a Rimworld-style sim has already sold 700,000 copies in China, and now it's getting an English release
https://www.pcgamer.com/amazing-cultivation-simulator-is-a-rimworld-style-sim-has-already-sold-700000-copies-in-china-and-now-its-getting-an-english-release/
Amazing Cultivation Simulator is the latest to join a growing list of ridiculously popular Steam games that are only available in Chinese. Since its Early Access launch in January of 2019, it's amassed nearly 10,000 reviews, with 84 percent of them being positive. It's pretty easy to see why: Amazing Cultivation Simulator is a fun-looking management sim like Dwarf Fortress or Rimworld but set in mythological China.

GOG's Midweek Sale features games based or inspired by borad games up to 80% off until Saturday: https://www.gog.com/promo/20201118_midweek_sale

Steam has a new daily deal and three Midweek Madness deals:

• The new daily deal is EVERSPACE, 85% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/396750/EVERSPACE/
• And these are the Midweek Madness deals:
  • Journey gets a 40% discount until Friday 20th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/638230/Journey/
  • The Tales of franchise is on sale, between 75 and 84% off until Friday: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/sale_talesfranchise/
  • And My Time At Portia is 66% off until Monday 23: https://store.steampowered.com/app/666140/My_Time_At_Portia/

There are two new deals at Humble:

• The new Humble Sweet Farm Fall Bundle brings 9 games plus an OST for the next 13 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/sweet-farm-fall
• And the Humble Store has a new Bandai Namco Sale, with up to 84% discounts for the next 26 hours: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/bandai-namco-publisher-sale/

And Fanatical has two new deals:

• The new Star Deal is Sudden Strike 4: Complete Collection, 60% off for the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/sudden-strike-4-complete-collection
• And Ubisoft has its games on sale, up to 86% off for the next 12 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/ubisoft

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

EA deactivates Failbetter's Dragon Age game The Last Court
https://www.pcgamer.com/ea-deactivate-failbetters-dragon-age-game-the-last-court/
The Dragon Age Keep was designed to allow players to create a world-state for importing into Dragon Age: Inquisition, since saves from the previous games couldn't be brought over. As a nice bonus, in 2014 Failbetter were commissioned to create The Last Court, an entire browser-based text game in the vein of Fallen London that could be played in the Keep, and which would unlock bonuses in Inquisition if finished.
(...)
As of November 17, The Last Court has been deactivated. Presumably the Dragon Age Keep is due for a refresh in advance of Dragon Age 4, but it would have been nice if The Last Court had been kept around for those who enjoyed it, or never got around to playing it. Fortunately, before it was taken offline a group of fans dedicated themselves to preserving it by screenshotting as many pages as they could. Given that The Last Court had a time-management requirement, and had to be played over the course of seven real-world days, that's not easy as it sounds. Co-ordinating on the BioWare Social Network forum and Reddit, they now have a Google Drive full of screenshots and a plan to collate them on the Dragon Age wiki. Fingers crossed they managed to grab the entire thing.

GAMING NEWS

Here are 10 minutes of brand new gameplay footage from Cyberpunk 2077
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-10-minutes-of-brand-new-gameplay-footage-from-cyberpunk-2077/
CD Projekt RED has released a brand new video, showing 10 minutes of new gameplay footage from Cyberpunk 2077. We are pretty sure that most CP2077 fans will find this video interesting, even though this gameplay footage is from Xbox One X and Xbox Series X.

SHADOW MAN: REMASTERED – Original vs Remaster Comparison Screenshots
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/shadow-man-remastered-original-vs-remaster-comparison-screenshots/
Nightdive Studios has released new comparative screenshots of the upcoming SHADOW MAN: REMASTERED; their remastered edition of the classic action-adventure video game SHADOW MAN. These screenshots compare the upgraded graphical fidelity of SHADOW MAN: REMASTERED with that of the original 1999 game.

The news, the sequel:

Destiny 2: Beyond Light players find an exploit that instakills bosses
https://www.pcgamer.com/destiny-2-beyond-light-players-find-a-shadebinder-exploit-that-instantly-kills-bosses/
Since Beyond Light's launch, Bungie has had its hands full with a variety of bugs. From guns that had to be removed for being too good at killing people to strikes that players couldn't complete, the new expansion is off to a slightly rocky start.
Now players have found a spectacular exploit for the powerful new Shadebinder Warlock subclass.

Immortals: Fenyx Rising will get a season pass and free in-game events post-launch
https://www.pcgamer.com/immortals-fenyx-rising-will-get-a-season-pass-and-free-in-game-events-post-launch/
In a new video, Ubisoft outlined its post-launch plans for its upcoming action-adventure Immortals: Fenyx Rising, making it look as if there is quite a good spread of content waiting for players.

Call of the Sea is an adventure inspired by Lovecraft, but it's no horror game
https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-the-sea-is-an-adventure-inspired-by-lovecraft-but-its-no-horror-game/
Stepping onto Call of the Sea's gorgeous and mysterious island for the first time, I'm grateful to know I won't get the crap scared out of me. We've just run through October's spooky Halloween gauntlet, and Amnesia: Rebirth and Phasmophobia are still fresh in my mind, so I've had my fill of horror for a bit. I'm down for some intrigue, some mystery, and even some unsettling sights, but I'm happy that Call of the Sea, while inspired by Lovecraft, isn't a horror game.

Blizzard apologizes for Hearthstone rewards mess, says changes are coming
https://www.pcgamer.com/blizzard-apologizes-for-hearthstone-rewards-mess-says-changes-are-coming/
In the wake of widespread unhappiness over sweeping changes to Hearthstone's reward system, Blizzard has promised to make adjustments to the new Tavern Pass that will swap out card packs for more gold in the the later stages of the reward track. It also reassured players that there will be more opportunities to earn rewards tied to events, and apologized for the "confusion and disappointment we have caused."

Earn an epic Overwatch skin and more in Symmetra's Restoration Challenge
https://www.pcgamer.com/earn-an-epic-overwatch-skin-and-more-in-symmetras-restoration-challenge/
Blizzard released a new Overwatch short story yesterday called Stone by Stone that reveals more about Symmetra's past and her first encounter with Zenyatta. (...) Today it unveiled a new associated event, Symmetra's Restoration Challenge, that gives players the opportunity to earn new sprays, a player icon, and the Marammat Symmetra epic skin. The formula is basically the same as what we've seen in previous events like this, most recently Tracer's Comic Challenge: Win three games in Quick Play, Competitive, or the Arcade, and you'll get the player icon; win six games, and a new spray is yours; make it to nine, and voila, you've got the epic skin.

After five years of memes and mockery, Rainbow Six Siege's worst operator is now reborn as a firebombing maniac
https://www.pcgamer.com/after-five-years-of-memes-and-mockery-rainbow-six-sieges-worst-operator-is-now-reborn-as-a-firebombing-maniac/
After more than a month on the test server, the long-memed Rainbow Six Siege defender Tachanka is returning to action today with a military makeover that includes new weapons, a new voice, and a new disdain for doorways.

CoD: Black Ops - Cold War's default SMG is outclassing sniper rifles and ARs
https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty-black-ops-cold-wars-mp5-is-dominating-every-match/
There is nowhere to hide from Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War's MP5. After only a few days in Cold War's multiplayer, it's clear this standard SMG unlocked at Level 1 is the only gun I need for any situation. And if the weapon's proliferation in every match I've played since launch is any indication, I'm thinking the MP5 is just a bit overpowered.

The next Gwent expansion will be Way of the Witcher
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-next-gwent-expansion-will-be-way-of-the-witcher/
This year's second expansion for Gwent, following on from Gaunter O'Dimm vehicle The Mirror Master, has been announced. It's called Way of the Witcher, and it releases on December 8.

Spelunky 2 multiplayer is expected to arrive in early December
https://www.pcgamer.com/spelunky-2-multiplayer-is-expected-to-arrive-in-early-december/
A rough start for Spelunky 2 multiplayer on the PlayStation 4 meant that it was absent from the game when it went live on PC. And absent it remains to this day—but hopefully not for too much longer. Developer Mossmouth said today that two of the three planned "major improvements" are now complete, and it hopes to have online play ready to go in early December.

Sea of Thieves will see its 'biggest year yet' in 2021
https://www.pcgamer.com/sea-of-thieves-will-see-its-biggest-year-yet-in-2021/
Sea of Thieves executive producer Joe Neate has promised 2021 will be the "biggest year yet" for the treasure hoarding pirate sim, which as of July boasted 15 million players. Neate made the claim on Twitter, in concert with a new November dev update for the game, which proclaims roughly the same thing.

War Thunder gets a brand new engine and prettier graphics in its big 'New Power' update
https://www.pcgamer.com/war-thunder-gets-a-brand-new-engine-and-prettier-graphics-in-its-big-new-power-update/
War Thunder got its long-awaited 'New Power' update today, updating the game's engine and vastly improving its graphics in the process. According to the update notes, the skies will look prettier and more realistic, as will bullet contact, explosions and fire. Aircraft destruction has been revamped, as well.

Epic is bringing Houseparty's video chat to Fortnite
https://www.pcgamer.com/fortnite-is-getting-built-in-video-chat-with-the-houseparty-mobile-app/
If you've ever wanted to see the faces of the people you're shooting and screaming at in Fortnite, you'll be happy to hear that it's now an option. Epic Games anounced today that Fortnite on PC and PlayStation consoles now has integrated video chat courtesy of the Houseparty chat app.

Gears 5 adds more WWE wrestlers because they basically look like Unreal characters anyway
https://www.pcgamer.com/gears-5-adds-more-wwe-wrestlers-because-they-basically-look-like-unreal-characters-anyway/
Fans of burly men real and virtual: rejoice! WWE's Austin Creed today announced that he, Kofi Kingston, and Big E — who make up the wrestling stable The Next Day — will soon be arriving in Gears 5 as playable DLC characters.

Former EA boss Patrick Söderlund's new studio is making a PVP shooter
https://www.pcgamer.com/former-ea-boss-patrick-soderlunds-new-studio-is-making-a-pvp-shooter/
Embark, a studio founded by former EA Games boss Patrick Söderlund, has begun work on a competitive first-person shooter.
Writing for the first time since July 2019, the former Battlefield executive penned a blog post covering the studio's year under the pandemic and gave updates on the team's first project (a free-to-play military action game). But after receiving questions regarding job listings at the company, Söderlund announced that Embark has a second game in the pipeline—an as-yet-unnamed team-based shooter.

Pac-Man: Mega Tunnel Battle turns the gaming icon cannibal
https://www.pcgamer.com/pac-man-mega-tunnel-battle-turns-the-gaming-icon-cannibal/
Bandai Namco has announced the release of Pac-Man: Mega Tunnel Battle, but don't get too excited: for now, it's exclusive to Stadia. The game sounds absolutely crackers, and is the latest example of the battle royale genre inexorably swallowing the classics.
>> Let's hope it launches out of Stadia soon.

New World will have fishing, like all good MMOs should
https://www.pcgamer.com/new-world-will-have-fishing-like-all-good-mmos-should/
Earlier this week, Amazon Game Studios invited me into a special alpha build of its upcoming MMO, New World, so I could slosh around in a new zone called Reekwater and try my hand at a new feature to the game: fishing.

This World Of Warcraft player is using an in-game plague to drive away botters
https://www.pcgamer.com/this-world-of-warcraft-player-is-using-an-in-game-plague-to-drive-away-botters/
The world of World Of Warcraft is currently under siege from the undead—and one crafty player is manipulating the necromantic plague to mess with the MMORPG's own mass of unthinking bot-controlled adventurers.

In my case, switching between characters means that I don't feel connected to any of the characters and, as a result, I don't care about them or their stories.

I think I may be over GTA, and I'm glad I got it for free at the EPS, because I'd be very disappointed if I had to pay for it.

So all I need now is a 5800X + Asus Dark Hero since I have my Strix 3080.

Where you at ASUS

Looks like there is really no point going for a 3090 or 6900. Both are gonna be easily outshone by next gen's 8 series cards. I'll have to assume Nvidia will have something ready to compete with SAM by then too. So really no reason to sway AMD right now. In fact I don't think there will be a reason to go with AMD within the next 10 years. I doubt AMD will ever have a 30% lead on Nvidia in the foreseeable future like Nvidia had on AMD.

Yeah, if there is indeed a 3080Ti coming in only a couple of months, this is bound to be close to a 3090 in performance, but it needs to be priced to compete with a 6900. Seeing as how it'll have more and arguably better features and probably vastly improved RT capabilities compared to 6900 (which is no small part of why one would shell out that much for a GPU right now), AMD is a no-go for me. Seeing them launch without a DLSS alternative, downplaying its relevance, while they're simultaneously actually working on one shows us that AMD isn't as prepared and steeled as we might think. Their very own products appear to have been a bit hasty (especially since the driver issues seemed to be pretty bad right now), probably just as much so as Nvidia's frantic avalanche of new cards they can't really deliver.

I'm still curious how Nvidia will solve the conundrum of not alienating 3090 and 3080 buyers though if they launch a 3080Ti with decent pricing and performance so soon after the first batch came out, it's bound to piss someone off. I expect quite a few canceled 3090 and 3080 orders after new year's if this is the case, there will probably still be a bunch of people who haven't gotten their cards yet after Christmas (stores here are basically telling us that the next two-three shipments are already gone for pre-orders).

I'm still impressed by AMD's improvements and efforts, but not nearly impressed enough to actually consider buying from them.

I found it's more like this:

1080p, 6800 XT > 3090
1440p, 6800 XT > 3080
4k, 3080 > 6800 XT
RT, 3070 = 6800 XT

So, this makes it clear for me: My next card is gonna be a 6800XT. Since pretty much no game that interests me is using Raytracing anyway, that drawback becomes non-existant for myself. And since I'll play in 1440p, I'll have a more powerful card for a cheaper price with more VRAM, which could make the card last longer (I only upgrade every 3 years or so).

Plus, SAM will be interesting in the future, though that will be working with all CPU/GPU later down the line.