Corrected

Brace yourselves, the Friday news are here and there's a bunch of them:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

The Humble Store has a new EA Appreciation Sale, with up to 85% discounts during the next 13 days. The keys are, obviously, for Origin: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/ea-player-appreciation-sale/.

Fanatical's new Star Deal is Driftland: The Magic Revival, 85% off during the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/driftland-the-magic-revival

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Days Gone Mod improves reflections, ambient occlusion, shadows, LODs & more
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/days-gone-mod-improves-reflections-ambient-occlusion-shadows-lods-more/
Alan Poster has released an interesting mod for Days Gone that aims to improve its graphics. Poster has implemented a number of Unreal Engine 4 tweaks that aim to enhance several effects like Ambient Occlusion and reflections.
Going into more details, this mod improves reflections, ambient occlusion, shadows, and LODs. Furthermore, it enhances the game’s God Rays and tone mapping. Not only that, but this mod improves the game’s volumetric fog, puddle reflections, and improves color grading.
>> You'll find it at Nexus Mods.

GAMING NEWS

Hackers have acquired the source codes for FIFA 21 and Frostbite Engine
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/hackers-have-acquired-the-source-codes-for-fifa-21-and-frostbite-engine/
It appears that EA is the next victim of hacking attacks. This comes almost a week after the torrent leak of the source codes for The Witcher 3 Next-Gen, Cyberpunk 2077 and Thronebreaker.
As VICE reported, the hacking group that attacked EA was able to obtain the source code of FIFA 21. Additionally, the group has obtained the source code and tools for the Frostbite engine; an engine that EA uses for a lot of its games. Not only that, but the group got its hands on proprietary EA frameworks and software development kits (SDKs).
>> No user info has been hacked, says EA.

2K Games and Gearbox announce Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, coming in early 2022
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/2k-games-and-gearbox-announce-tiny-tinas-wonderlands-coming-in-early-2022/
2K Games and Gearbox have announced a brand new game, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands. Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is a fantasy take on looter shooter in which players will be able to customize their character. Moreover, the teams revealed the game’s debut trailer that you can find below.

Frontier announces Jurassic World Evolution 2, coming out in 2021
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/frontier-announces-jurassic-world-evolution-2-coming-out-in-2021/
During the Summer Game Fest, Frontier announced the sequel to Jurassic World Evolution, Jurassic World Evolution 2. Similarly to the first game, Jurassic World Evolution 2 will be a park builder, and will release in 2021.
>> And here are the first official screenshots.

Lost Ark is finally coming to the West in Fall 2021
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/lost-ark-is-finally-coming-to-the-west-in-fall-2021/
Lost Ark is a hack n slash “Diablo-like” game we’ve been really looking forward to. And while the game has been available in Korea for a while, we really haven’t heard anything about a worldwide release. Until today. At the Summer Game Fest, Amazon and Smilegate announced that the game will come to the West in Fall 2021.

Koch Media announces 12 new titles, including a new Painkiller game
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/koch-media-announces-12-new-titles-including-a-new-painkiller-game/
Koch Media has announced a new premium gaming label called Prime Matter. In addition, the company revealed twelve new games that Prime Matter will publish.

Planet of Lana is a beautiful cinematic puzzle adventure, coming to PC in 2022
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/planet-of-lana-is-a-beautiful-cinematic-puzzle-adventure-coming-to-pc-in-2022/
Thunderful and Wishfully have announced a really beautiful cinematic puzzle adventure game, Planet of Lana. In order to celebrate this announcement, the teams released the game’s debut trailer that you can find below.

Elden Ring will release in January 2022, gets official gameplay trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/elden-ring-will-release-in-january-2022-gets-official-gameplay-trailer/
At long last, Bandai Namco released an official gameplay trailer for Elden Ring. Elden Ring is a third-person action role-playing game with a fantasy setting.

Evil Dead: The Game gets a gameplay trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/evil-dead-the-game-gets-a-gameplay-trailer/
Boss Team Games and Saber Interactive have released a gameplay trailer for Evil Dead: The Game. This trailer, narrated by Bruce Campbell, will give you an idea of what this upcoming Evil Dead game is.
>> Looks better than I thought.

New trailers for Two-Point Campus, Tales of Arise, Escape from Tarkov, SOLAR ASH & more
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-trailers-for-two-point-campus-tales-of-arise-escape-from-tarkov-solar-ash-more/
A number of publishers have released new trailers for their games during Summer Game Fest. Thus, we’ve decided to collect those that we haven’t shared, and feature them in one big story. Below you can find the trailers for Two-Point Campus, Tales of Arise, Escape from Tarkov, SOLAR ASH, Vampire: The Masquerade – Blood hunt, Monster Hunter Stories 2, MONARK and The Anacrusis. Enjoy!
>> There are 9 trailers in the article, showing the 8 listed games above and another one called Yuoni.

Metal Slug Tactics is a new grid-based tactical game for the PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/metal-slug-tactics-is-a-new-grid-based-tactical-game-for-the-pc/
Dotemu and Leikir Studio, in partnership with SNK, announced Metal Slug Tactics; an exciting adaptation of the iconic series’ satisfying action through grid-based tactical warfare coming to PC via Steam.
>> It... looks like it could be fun.

Galactic Civilizations IV Alpha now available in Early Access
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/galactic-civilizations-iv-alpha-now-available-in-early-access/
Stardock has released an Alpha version of Galactic Civilizations IV into Early Access. As the all-powerful leader of a spacefaring civilization, the player must seek out new star systems and discover the exciting potential of the subspace realm.

Here are 4 minutes from the “Dark Souls meets Tetris” isle-shifting action roguelike, Loot River
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-4-minutes-from-the-dark-souls-meets-tetris-isle-shifting-action-roguelike-loot-river/
straka.studio, SUPERHOT PRESENTS and Arts Council have shared a gameplay video for their upcoming “Dark Souls meets Tetris” isle-shifting action roguelike, Loot River.
>> It's not as crazy as the title may make you think.

Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer’s Legacy is available in Early Access, gets E3 2021 trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/unexplored-2-the-wayfarers-legacy-is-available-in-early-access-gets-e3-2021-trailer/
Ludomotion and Big Sugar have released Unexplored 2: The Wayfarer’s Legacy in Early Access. In addition, the team have shared the game’s E3 2021 trailer that you can find below.

Friday news, part two:

The Sims 4 escapes to the country with Cottage Living next month
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/the-sims-4-escapes-to-the-country-with-cottage-living-next-month/
It's time for your Sims to pop on their wellies and pack their coats. The next expansion for The Sims 4 is taking the life sim out to the pastoral sights of rural England for a spot of Cottage Living.

Possess enemies to fight a demonic army in Rogue Spirit
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/possess-enemies-to-fight-a-demonic-army-in-rogue-spirit/
It's the environment that catches my eye. Just like with the first images of games like Genshin Impact and Biomutant, I'm immediately drawn to Rogue Spirit's vibrant world of Midra, which has a distinctly Asian touch. But Rogue Spirit has more in common with Genshin Impact than just its pretty scenery. Whereas you can quickly change between four characters in Genshin, Rogue Spirit is all about possessing them, literally.

Valheim's update schedule delayed, Hearth & Home will be out later this summer
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/valheims-update-schedule-delayed-hearth-and-home-will-be-out-later-this-summer/
In February, Valheim developer Iron Gate shared a roadmap laying out its plans for four updates over the course of 2021, along with other new features like multiplayer interactions, moon phases, and more unique locations, "if Odin wills it." Today it dialed back those plans, however, saying that the first planned update, Hearth and Home, won't be released until the third quarter of this year.

Hearthstone survey leaks images of Mercenaries mode and asks if Blizzard should hire Mr T
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/hearthstone-survey-leaks-images-of-mercenaries-mode-and-asks-if-blizzard-should-hire-mr-t/
Hearthstone's upcoming Mercenaries mode was announced at BlizzConline earlier this year, and will introduce a new hero-focused mode to the established card-battler. (...)
In the run-up to release, Blizzard has been surveying existing players about the new mode, and in doing so shared some new screens and one especially excellent marketing idea. Predictably enough, the survey soon leaked and is now all over various Hearthstone communities.

Beautiful open world exploration game Sable is being released on September 23
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/beautiful-open-world-exploration-game-sable-is-being-released-on-september-23/
We've had our eye on Sable for quite some time, and now the game finally has a release date: September 23. The date was announced at the Summer Game Fest via a beautiful, haunting performance by the wonderful Japanese Breakfast.

A Death Stranding Director's Cut is on the way, and might contain some Metal Gear Solid stuff
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/a-death-stranding-directors-cut-is-on-the-way-and-might-contain-some-metal-gear-solid-stuff/
PC Gamer's 2020 Game of the Year Death Stranding is getting an update in a Director's Cut edition, with the full reveal due "weeks away" according to Geoff Keighley, who revealed the news via a trailer that revealed next to nothing about what to expect.

Hideo Kojima teases next project with 'societal elements' and no aliens
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/hideo-kojima-teases-next-project-with-societal-elements-and-no-aliens/
At today's Summer Game Fest Hideo Kojima gave the vaguest of teases about his next new project, and all but confirmed that it won't be a Death Stranding sequel. Responding to a question from host Geoff Keighley about the next era of "Hideo Kojima entertainment", the head of Kojima Productions expanded on how the current state of the world has changed his creative process, and will make whatever's next very different.
>> He also said that COVID-19 has made him re-think his creative process, whatever that means.

Call of Duty: Warzone's Season 4 trailer brings fire-breathing dragons to Zombies
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/the-sky-is-falling-in-call-of-duty-warzones-season-4-reveal-trailer/
We finally got our first proper look at Call of Duty: Warzone Season 4 during the opening stream of Summer Game Fest. The new season will bring new weapons, maps, something called the 'hijacked gulag,' and what definitely looks like a fire-breathing dragon to Zombies.

Among Us is getting a hide and seek mode, new roles, and a whole lot more
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/among-us-hide-and-seek-sheriff-new-map/
Among Us is already an enormous sensation, but developer Inner Sloth is just getting started. During Summer Game Fest, Inner Sloth debuted a new trailer/roadmap teasing all sorts of new features coming to the game.

Blink, and you'll miss this tease for Valorant's new Agent
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/blink-and-youll-miss-this-tease-for-valorants-new-agent/
Valorant celebrates its first birthday this month. To celebrate, Riot showed a brief tease of the game's next Agent at today's Summer Game Fest kickoff show. Believe me, though, it's a very brief indeed.

New Solar Ash trailer shows a gargantuan flying boss fight
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/new-solar-ash-trailer-shows-a-gargantuan-flying-boss-fight/
At the Summer Game fest we got another exciting, if disappointingly brief, look at Solar Ash, which was first revealed last year. The colorful and dizzying platforming adventure from Heart Machine, maker of Hyperlight Drifter, showed off a bit more gameplay, featuring a fight against an impressively massive flying boss.

Salt and Sacrifice is a 'hardcore RPG platformer' sequel to Salt and Sanctuary
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/salt-and-sacrifice-is-a-hardcore-rpg-platformer-sequel-to-salt-and-sanctuary/
The hit 2016 2D RPG Salt and Sacrifice is getting a sequel, announced by PlayStation Indies head Shuhei Yoshida during today's Summer Game Fest Kickoff livestream as Salt and Sacrifice.

Baptiste and Sombra's Overwatch 2 looks are slick as hell
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/baptiste-and-sombras-overwatch-2-looks-are-slick-as-hell/
Overwatch 2 game director Aaron Keller stopped by Geoff Keighley's opening livestream to reveal two more hero looks coming in Overwatch 2: grenade-lobbing medic Baptiste and cloaked hacker Sombra.

House of Ashes will pick off unlucky soldiers one by one this October
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/house-of-ashes-will-pick-off-unlucky-soldiers-one-by-one-this-october/
The third game (of the whopping eight planned) in the Dark Pictures Anthology got a new trailer at the Summer Game Fest today. House of Ashes takes a squad soldiers from the Iraq War and traps them deep underground in a Sumerian tomb. Then things get worse.

Indie platformer Planet of Lana is a beautiful robot apocalypse
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/indie-platformer-planet-of-lana-is-a-beautiful-robot-apocalypse/
We've all been there. You're soaking in the summer rays with your pet kitty, and suddenly a storm of robots descend from space to wreak havoc. So goes Planet of Lana, an "off-world odyssey" about exploring and protecting an untouched paradise.

And part three of the news:

This Nier: Automata skin for Fall Guys is making me extremely uncomfortable
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/this-nier-automata-skin-for-fall-guys-is-making-me-extremely-uncomfortable/
The frontrunner for this year's "They were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should" moment appeared in a short trailer during Summer Game Fest today. Fall Guys is getting a new skin fashioned after Nier: Automata protagonist 2B, who wears a lacey maid outfit I can't say I ever expected, or wanted, to see on a Fall Guys bean.

More co-op Viking action is headed your way in Tribes of Midgard this July
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/more-co-op-viking-action-is-headed-your-way-in-tribes-of-midgard-this-july/
Before we'd even heard of Valheim, there was Tribes of Midgard. It's a co-op Viking survival game for up to 10 players, though it can be played solo as well. Its procedurally generated world is filled creatures based on Norse mythology. You can explore the world, battle monsters, and craft gear, and build a sweet Viking base.

The Game Awards will be held in front of a live audience this year
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/the-game-awards-will-be-held-in-front-of-a-live-audience-this-year/
The Game Awards will return to a live studio audience when it returns this December, Geoff Keighley confirmed at the end of today's Summer Game Fest stream.

Giancarlo Esposito says his Far Cry 6 dictator is 'not a villain'
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/giancarlo-esposito-says-his-far-cry-6-dictator-is-not-a-villain/
Giancarlo Esposito, who will portray Yaran dictator Anton Castillo in the upcoming Far Cry 6, appeared on today's Summer Game Fest to talk about the game, its political underpinnings, and maybe most interestingly, how his character is not actually the bad guy.

Only one person in the world can beat a Phantom Abyss dungeon
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/only-one-person-in-the-world-can-beat-a-phantom-abyss-dungeon/
We got our first glimpse at Phantom Abyss a few weeks ago, but were given a longer look today during the Summer Game Fest. And the longer you look, the cooler it sounds.

Endless Dungeon basically looks like anime space Diablo, with turrets
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/endless-dungeon-basically-looks-like-anime-space-diablo-with-turrets/
The excellent-looking roguelike Endless Dungeon received a new trailer at today's Summer Game Fest, showcasing some of the characters and tactics players can expect. Developer Amplitude previously made Dungeon of the Endless and this is a successor of sorts, though that game was top-down pixel art and this is in an isometric 3D style.

Great news! Elden Ring will feature at least 2 deadly swamps
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/great-news-elden-ring-will-feature-at-least-2-deadly-swamps/
In keeping with the longtime tradition of including a pain-in-the-ass poison swamp level, Elden Ring will keep the fire lit with its own take on mud and suffering.

CD Projekt confirms stolen source code is being circulated online
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/cd-projekt-confirms-stolen-source-code-is-being-circulated-online/
(...)
Today, CD Projekt issued a statement confirming that the data is in fact now being circulated online. "We are not yet able to confirm the exact contents of the data in question, though we believe it may include current/former employee and contractor details in addition to data related to our games," it said. "Furthermore, we cannot confirm whether or not the data involved may have been manipulated or tampered with following the breach."

Death's Door gameplay video showcases 'tight 2D pixel-art action'
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/deaths-door-gameplay-video-showcases-tight-2d-pixel-art-action/
Announced by Devolver Digital in March, Death's Door is easily one of the most intriguing videogame concepts I've run into in a long time: It's about a crow with a sword who harvests the souls of the dead. It's actually a fairly dull, routine job most of the time, but every now and then someone swipes a soul, and that's when things get interesting.

The hand-crafted world and stop-motion animation of this co-op platformer looks amazing
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/the-hand-crafted-world-and-stop-motion-animation-of-this-co-op-platformer-looks-amazing/
In these heady days of computer-generated images, effects, and animation, it can be something of a comfort to see some old school techniques still being put to use. (...)
And Vokabulantis looks fantastic, like a real animated film. That's because the environments are all hand-crafted and the characters, even the ones you control, are all stop-motion animated by hand. It's being developed by Kong Orange, developer of Felix the Reaper, and Danish animation studio Wired Fly Animations.

You'll be able to complete Axiom Verge 2 without fighting any bosses
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/youll-be-able-to-complete-axiom-verge-2-without-fighting-any-bosses/
(...) Creator Thomas Happ recently delayed Axiom Verge 2 slightly, but a new video from Day of the Devs on Wednesday indicates that it's close to being finished.
Happ is also doing something unusual for a Metroidvania with Axiom Verge 2—unusual for any game, really. He's designed the game to let players skip boss fights if they find them too hard.

Say bye-bye to Fallout 76's battle royale mode
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/say-bye-bye-to-fallout-76s-battle-royale-mode/
Updates on the future of Fallout 76 will be part of the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase during E3 this weekend, but Bethesda has already announced one change that's coming to wasteland West Virginia in a recent blog post: it's going to sunset the Nuclear Winter battle royale mode this September.

Tactical shooter Synthetik 2 is coming to Early Access
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/tactical-shooter-synthetik-2-is-coming-to-early-access/
Synthetik: Legion Rising was a top-down 2D roguelike shooter with deep weapon-handling mechanics like movement-based recoil and active reloading, plus some real meaty gun sounds. It was well-received back in 2018, with a user rating of Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam. Berlin studio Flow Fire Games has announced that the sequel, Synthetik 2, will be arriving in Early Access on August 19 with a full release planned for 2022.

Supernatural adventure Last Stop releases this July
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/supernatural-adventure-last-stop-releases-this-july/
Intriguing narrative adventure Last Stop, developed by the team behind 2016's Virginia and published by Annapurna Interactive, got a release date as part of this year's Day of the Devs showcase.

Audit into Scavenger Studio 'did not find the presence of systemic sexual or psychological harassment'
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/audit-into-scavenger-studio-did-not-find-the-presence-of-systemic-sexual-or-psychological-harassment/
An audit into Season developer Scavenger Studio recently concluded, finding no evidence of systemic sexual or psychological harassment, according to a public statement released on the Scavenger website.

Meet the hosts for this year's PC Gaming Show at E3
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/meet-the-hosts-for-this-years-pc-gaming-show-at-e3/
The PC Gaming Show is almost here, broadcasting June 13 at 2:30 PM PT / 5:30 ET on twitch.tv/pcgamer. For our sixth year at E3, we're bringing back the show's beloved hosts Sean "Day[9]" Plott and Frankie Ward and adding a brand new face, Mica Burton: actor, cosplayer, and enthusiastic Final Fantasy XIV player.

Let's forget about new games and such and let's give a look at what GOG and Steam have for us this weekend:

+GOG

• The Weekly Sale with its up to 90% discounts is still going on: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210607_weekly_sale
• But what you will mostly care about is the Summer Sale.

+Steam

• The new daily deal is Mundaun, 30% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/720350/Mundaun/
• Publisher MyGames puts its games up to 65% off until Monday: https://store.steampowered.com/developer/mygames/sale/MYGAMES2021Sale
• FIFA 21 is free to try during the next 3 days and also 67% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1313860/EA_SPORTS_FIFA_21/
• Two Point Hospital and its DLCs are up to 75% off until June 14: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/TwoPointSale
• Fallout 76 is free to try during the next 5 days and also 67% off until June 17: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1151340/Fallout_76/
• Publisher Fellow Traveller offers its games up to 80% off until June 21: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/FellowTraveller
• The Season of Pride Sale comes with up to 80% discounts until June 24: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/SeasonOfPride2021
• And of course, there's also the weeklong deals.

Phew! If there's all that with one conference, I dread to think how it will be Monday... Anyway, until then, let's relax with a happy and gaming weekend.

Eh the series is fine.. a lot of people still enjoy the franchise :P I just play zombies with friends and its fun.

Graphics DRAM Prices Expected To Rise By As Much As 13% In The Contract Market, PC Market & Console Manufacturing Are Large Contributors

https://wccftech.com/graphics-dram-prices-expected-to-rise-by-as-much-as-13-in-the-contract-market/

Intel Offers $2 Billion for RISC-V Chip Startup SiFive: Bloomberg

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-offers-dollar2-billion-for-risc-v-startup-sifive-bloomberg

Average GPU Pricing Skyrockets as Market Quadruples to $12.1 Billion, Report Says

https://www.tomshardware.com/uk/news/sales-of-graphics-cards-hit-12-1-billion-in-q1-2021

[TFT Central] Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX Review

https://www.tftcentral.co.uk/reviews/asus_rog_swift_pg32uqx.htm

Not worth the $3000 USD price tag

Bribes & Manipulation: LG Wants to Control Our Editorial Direction

While that trailer shows PC digital, the good news for me is that the trailer from their twitter shows it's coming to Steam!

Day 1 for me!

Also I wanted to keep this piece separate as it's not "news" per say but it's worth some attention.

Recently we had 3 ports being released onto steam. No more Heroes 1 and 2 and Ninja Gaiden Master Collection. All 3 of them are shit ports.

Not only do none of them have any support for keyboard and mouse which is like porting a game to a console without controller support, they are also filled with bugs and other nonsense.

As an example, for Ninja Gaiden Master Collection, this is what's in the main page:

Did they use a bunch of underpaid interns to do the PC port or what?

Surviving Mars: Deluxe Edition for free in the Humble Store.

>Japanese games

There's your answer Yuri, they'll never learn lol.

For real though, NMH is getting great reviews despite it's lacking options and port quality. Honestly, weebs are fucking huge lifesavers for nearly any Japanese product that has something to do with Anime, even if it's of shit quality.

I really don't wanna come off as snobbish to them, and yeah I also watch animu and collect Eva revoltech, but c'mon man, why do the weebs have such shit standards with video game qualities?.