The Wednesday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Minecraft modders have sold a billion mods, made over $350M since Microsoft bought it
https://www.pcgamer.com/minecraft-modders-have-sold-a-billion-mods-for-more-than-dollar350m-since-microsoft-bought-it/
Microsoft announced its Q3 financial results on Tuesday, reporting a frankly incomprehensible $15.5 billion in net income. Windows revenue is up, and so is the gaming division, unsurprising given the launch of the new Xbox Series X and Series S. More interesting are the figures around Minecraft—specifically, how much money modders, rather than Microsoft itself, have made over the last few years.
"Creators have generated over $350 million from more than one billion downloads of mods, add-ons, and other experiences in Minecraft," Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in Microsoft's third quarter earnings call today. That means $350 million in just the last four years—Microsoft launched its official Minecraft marketplace in 2017. That figure doesn't include any mod sales through other channels.

GOG has three new sales:

• The Midweek Sale comes with up to 90% discounts until Saturday: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210428_midweek_sale
• The Desperados franchise celebrates its 20th anniversary with up to 75% discounts during the next 4 days: https://www.gog.com/promo/desperados_franchise
• And the Battle Brothers games arrive on the store with 67% discounts during the next 5 days: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210428_battle_brothers

Steam has 7 new deals, including the Midweek Madness deals:

• DEATH STRANDING is 60% off during the next 24 hours: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1190460/DEATH_STRANDING/
• ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN gets a 75% discount until Friday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/502500/ACE_COMBAT_7_SKIES_UNKNOWN/
• The Tales of franchise is on sale with up to 85% discounts until Friday: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/TalesofFranchise
• Battle Brothers is 67% off until May 1st: https://store.steampowered.com/app/365360/Battle_Brothers/
• HYPERCHARGE: Unboxed, that has a demo, will be 50% off until the 3rd of May: https://store.steampowered.com/app/523660/HYPERCHARGE_Unboxed/
• Railway Empire and its DLCs are 67% off until May 3rd: https://store.steampowered.com/app/503940/Railway_Empire/
• And PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS will be 50% off until the 5th of May: https://store.steampowered.com/app/578080/PLAYERUNKNOWNS_BATTLEGROUNDS/

At the Humble Store there's an Europa Universalis Sale, with up to 75% discounts during the next 4 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/europa-universalis-sale/

And at Fanatical, the new Star Deal is Offworld Trading Company, 66% off during the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/offworld-trading-company

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Riot shuts down fan-made League of Legends legacy project, denies complaints of 'extortion'
https://www.pcgamer.com/riot-shuts-fan-made-league-of-legends-legacy-project-denies-complaints-of-extortion/
Riot Games has confirmed that it sent a formal cease-and-desist letter to the operations of Chronoshift, a fan-operated League of Legends "legacy server" that enabled fans to play a ten-year-old version of the game. It denied an accusation on Reddit that it attempted to "extort" the developers, however, saying that its policies regarding such things are clearly laid out in its legal guidelines—and that it warned them not to go ahead with the project when it was announced last year.

This Valheim mod lets you put any image onto your sail
https://www.pcgamer.com/this-valheim-mod-lets-you-put-any-image-onto-your-sail/
If you want to fly your freak flag in Valheim, there's now a mod for that. The Custom Sails mod lets you dress up your drab Viking ship by slapping your favorite image onto your sail.
And it's super easy, too. With the mod installed, interact with your ship using the Left-Control key. A pane will pop up, and you can paste in the URL of the image you want to use.

This Valheim cart mod lets you takes your crafting tables into the wilds
https://www.pcgamer.com/this-valheim-cart-mod-lets-you-takes-your-crafting-tables-into-the-wilds/
A new Valheim mod wants to save you the trouble of having to cut an expedition short for repairs by strapping a crafting table to a cart, creating a mobile repair station.
Released on Nexus Mods last night (spotted by RPS), rolopogo's Crafty Carts introduces three new carts, effectively mobile versions of the Workbench, Forge, and Stonecutter stations. Each costs the same amount of resources as their stationary counterparts, plus 10 bronze nails to account for all the moving parts.
Like normal tables, you can build in a radius around these carts, letting you set up a temporary basecamp while you travel. It's worth noting that, according to the comments, these workbench carts are a little more prone to tipping over than normal carts. Fortunately, you've got a repair service built right into 'em.

GAMING NEWS

Here are two new gameplay videos for SCARLET NEXUS
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-two-new-gameplay-videos-for-scarlet-nexus/
Bandai Namco has released two new gameplay videos for its upcoming action RPG, SCARLET NEXUS. These short gameplay videos will give you a glimpse at how the game plays.

EA issues official statement about FIFA 21’s FUT “loot boxes” leaked documents
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/ea-issues-official-statement-about-fifa-21s-fut-loot-boxes-leaked-documents/
Some FIFA 21 internal documents leaked earlier this week. According to these documents, EA is doing everything it can to funnel FIFA players into the game’s Ultimate Team online mode. And, since loot boxes are currently the biggest income for FIFA 21 FUT, EA issued an official statement about these documents.

Total War: ROME REMASTERED PC Requirements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/total-war-rome-remastered-pc-requirements/
Creative Assembly and Feral Interactive have revealed the official PC system requirements for Total War: ROME REMASTERED. According to the PC specs, the game will require 45GB of free hard-disk space, and will be using the DX11 API.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Update 1.2.1 released, is 14GB, full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/assassins-creed-valhalla-update-1-2-1-released-is-14gb-full-patch-notes/
Ubisoft has released a brand new update for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. According to the team, this patch is 14GB in size on the PC, adds support for Wrath of the Druids, and brings a number of game improvements and balance tweaks.

Cyberpunk 2077 Update 1.22 released and here are its full patch notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/cyberpunk-2077-update-1-22-released-and-here-are-its-full-patch-notes/
CD Projekt RED has released a brand new update Cyberpunk 2077. According to the team, Patch 1.22 addresses the most frequently reported issues since the last patch. Moreover, it introduces further improvements to stability and performance.

Part two of the news:

Take on Bonfire Peaks' gorgeous mountain puzzles later this year
https://www.pcgamer.com/take-on-bonfire-peaks-gorgeous-mountain-puzzles-later-this-year/
Jolly campfire climbing puzzler Bonfire Peaks begins its ascent in earnest later this year, publisher Draknek revealed in a new trailer today.
The first game to be published by the creator of delightful puzzlers like A Monster's Expedition and Cosmic Express, Bonfire Peaks is a calm, moody adventure about burning your belongings by veteran puzzle developer Corey Martin. I'd personally just throw my unwanted rubbish in the bin, but what do I know?

Befriend a rad dragon that turns into a skateboard in this stylish Chinese action RPG
https://www.pcgamer.com/lost-soul-aside-is-a-super-stylish-rpg-with-a-rad-dragon-skateboard/
Lost Soul Aside, a fantastic-looking action RPG from Chinese studio UltiZeroGames, has resurfaced with 18 minutes of new gameplay.
If you hadn't heard of this game before don't worry, because neither had I—which is nuts because this game looks right up my alley. Lost Soul Aside was originally announced back in 2016, as a one-man project from Chinese developer Yang Bing. According to industry analyst Daniel Ahmad, the project now has a team of around thirty people thanks to Sony's China Hero Project program.

This zoo-building game lets breed adorable animals... or turn them into handbags
https://www.pcgamer.com/this-zoo-building-game-lets-breed-adorable-animals-or-turn-them-into-handbags/
Let's Build a Zoo is a zoo management game where you build your zoo, staff it with workers, and fill it with over 500 types of animals from around the world. And it looks super cute, with adorable little pixelated critters bouncing around their enclosures and guests tramping around the park to gawk at them.

Build a skyship and explore an airborne open world in the Black Skylands playtest
https://www.pcgamer.com/build-a-skyship-and-explore-an-airborne-open-world-in-the-black-skylands-playtest/
Black Skylands is a retro-styled "skypunk" game about a woman named Eva on a quest for revenge against the raiders who murdered her father and destroyed her home. It blends elements of open-world sandbox games and top-down shooters, and is set to launch into Early Access sometime this summer—but if you're curious, you can play it right now.

Resident Evil Re:Verse has been delayed
https://www.pcgamer.com/resident-evil-reverse-has-been-delayed/
It looks like Resident Evil Re:Verse, the deathmatch multiplayer offshoot scheduled to release alongside Resident Evil Village, won’t release next month as planned. Instead, it’ll release at some unspecified time during summer, according to an email sent to “Resident Evil ambassadors” seen by Gamespot.

This indie game is a curious reminder of what it was like to touch others
https://www.pcgamer.com/this-indie-game-is-a-curious-reminder-of-what-it-was-like-to-touch-others/
When was the last time you gave someone a hug, a pat on the back, or even just a good, strong handshake?
Icelandic developer Torfi might not be able to fill that void completely, but their latest short game is a fond throwback to a time where businessmen could give each other hearty handshakes at the office. Set against an infinite ochre backdrop, you guide your little suited fellow towards another. Get close, and they'll raise their hands, grabbing firmly when within arm's reach.

Stardew Valley players are delighted to discover that ducks can now swim in ponds
https://www.pcgamer.com/stardew-valley-players-are-delighted-to-discover-that-ducks-can-now-swim-in-ponds/
It has come to my attention that some Stardew Valley players do not know that ducks can swim in ponds, so this is me letting you know that, yes, ducks can now swim in ponds. Does it change any of Stardew's deep farming systems or mechanics? No. Is it extremely adorable and warms your heart? Absolutely.

Hunt: Showdown can now exclusively be played with skill-based matchmaking
https://www.pcgamer.com/hunt-showdowns-adds-skill-based-matchmaking-in-this-weeks-update/
Crytek has added a new skill-based matchmaking toggle in Hunt: Showdown, for players who want to ensure they're given a fair fight as often as possible.
Dropping earlier this week, update 1.5.1 introduces a sizeable mix-up to the PvPvE monster hunter's matchmaking systems. Chief among these is a new "Skill-Based" toggle in the lobby, that will exclusively fill your match with players of a similar skill level.

Scavengers is out today, sort of: here's how to get a key
https://www.pcgamer.com/how-to-get-scavengers-steam-key/
Scavengers, a new free-to-play team-based shooter is hitting Early Access today, as long as you have 30 minutes to kill. It's soft-launching via a Twitch drop scheme that requires you to watch the game for a bit before a key comes your way. It's a little confusing because, yeah, it's releasing into Steam Early Access which implies anyone can jump in, but access will be limited to those that jump through a few hoops.

Sunless Skies: Sovereign Edition is finally coming in May as a free update
https://www.pcgamer.com/sunless-skies-sovereign-edition-is-finally-coming-in-may-as-a-free-update/
Sunless Skies' stellar locomotive is returning to the heavens above Fallen London with an overhauled Sovereign Edition, arriving as a free update on PC next month.

Strategy-RPG Expeditions: Rome will let you battle and charm your way to victory this year
https://www.pcgamer.com/strategy-rpg-expeditions-rome-will-let-you-battle-and-charm-your-way-to-victory-this-year/
Logic Artists has announced the newest game in its Expeditions series, this time taking place in Roman times.
Strategy-RPG Expeditions: Rome pops you in the sandals of a young soldier whose father has been recently murdered, forcing you to flee and take refuge in a military campaign aiming to take down a Greek rebellion.

Call of Duty's knife-tossing 'Sticks and Stones' mode comes to Cold War
https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-dutys-knife-tossing-sticks-and-stones-mode-comes-to-cold-war/
Stay sharp, readers. Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War Season 3 is bringing knife-tossing, hatchet-dodging gamemode Sticks and Stones to the series' latest entry.
A Black Ops staple since Treyarch's 2010 original, Sticks and Stones is a razor-sharp free-for-all that gives each player a pointed trio of weapons: an R1 Shadowhunter crossbow, a ballistic knife, and a tomahawk. Score a kill with the first two, and you'll earn a point. Score a kill with the tomahawk, however, and you'll reset their score to zero.

By the way, users of ASRock motherboards can download the new AGESA BIOS to fix the AMD USB problem. Learn more here: https://www.guru3d.com/news-story/asrock-releases-agesa-1-2-2-(against-usb-problems-x570-and-b550).html

Some news!

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 “Lite Hash Rate” series to begin shipping mid May

https://videocardz.com/newz/nvidia-geforce-rtx-30-lite-hash-rate-series-to-begin-shipping-mid-may

Looks like all the 30 series GPUs are going to get the hash rate limiter straight from the factory. We will see if they goof it up this time though.

Samsung announces first Tiger Lake-H and RTX 3050 Ti laptop

https://videocardz.com/newz/samsung-galaxy-odyssey-features-intel-tiger-lake-h-cpu-and-geforce-rtx-3050-ti-gpu#disqus_thread

Microsoft reports strong Surface, Xbox, and cloud growth for Q3 2021

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/microsoft-reports-strong-surface-xbox-and-cloud-growth-for-q3-2021.1602791/


AMD Smashes Records Again, Data Center Revenue up 286%, Consumer Up 46%

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/amd-smashes-records-data-center-consumer-revenue-1q2021-earnings

Exclusive: Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition Analysis - The First Triple-A Ray Tracing Game

This is a free standalone update for Metro Exodus users and it requires a Ray Tracing Capable GPU to even run it so no Raster mode. And DF did 40 minutes of fap worthy analysis about it!

All I can say is...

As far as performance is concerned, as usual, Nvidia GPUs are leagues ahead in Ray Tracing. He tested the 3080 vs 6800 XT and the 3080 is 27-50% faster than a 6800 XT at 1440p.

He also shows the difference between DLSS 1.0, DLSS 2.1 and TAA upscaling. DLSS 2.1 at 1080p > TAA Upscaling at 1512p in image quality (and obviously performance).

It's good to see AMD do well, financially speaking, remembering the years where they posted loses over loses.

The Metro patch with only RT looks mighty impressive (hopefully one day I'll have a capable RT card to experience it by myself), but ever since I first saw it used in Battlefield I've always thought that it's... too shiny.

Yeah its impressive no AO anywhere just pure GI lighting. Crazy for a patch. I'm hoping we'll see something like this for Witcher 3.

In any case it makes the PS5 and Xbox series consoles tame especially when it comes to RT performance. I wish they both bumped up budgets for the GPU.

The good news is that a 2060 can run it at 1080p 40-60fps at ultra RT but with some settings lowered and no DLSS. Since the consoles have similar performance to a 2060 Super when it comes to RT, it might look pretty good at lower resolutions.

Yeah thats true, probably why they included it in their testings. Hopefully FSR (or Super Resolution) can pick up some of the slack where they lacking.

In any case I'll be playing this game in all its glory once I can get a hold of a GPU xP

One little bummer though: The refresh/shrink to 6nm of Zen 3 later this year to fight against Alder Lake is apparently cancelled due to the chip crunch and resulting lack of production volume for such a release. Which is a bummer considering that they were supposed to have about a 10% performance uplift, which ain't half bad for a refresh.