That's not a good sign but, the way Intel handled itt at CES, we should have seen it coming.

And yeah, maybe the departure of Raja wasn't as bad for AMD as we thought.

40 years ago the Commodore 64 was revealed at CES 1982. Happy anniversary!

This guy very nerd and very good. Seems like some progress in monitor space. 

Yea QD-OLED is pretty insane. I might wait until Alienware refresh with the 38 inch ultrawide next year. Generally Alienware releases their 34 inch first and then a year later, the 38 inch. Regardless of which though, QD-OLED + Dells Advanced Exchange warranty is an insane package. They also allow you to increase it from 3-5 years and it's pretty cheap as well.

Days Gone has sold over one million copies on PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/days-gone-has-sold-over-one-million-copies-on-pc-steam/
The Game Director of Days Gone, Jeff Ross, has revealed that the game has sold over one million copies on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. Days Gone came out on PC on May 18th of 2021, meaning that it took something less than a year in order to hit that one million goal.
>>I question the inclusion of EGS, since the original tweet only mentioned Steam.

Geoff Keighley reminds you of Summer Game Fest as E3 2022 goes online-only
https://www.pcgamesn.com/e3-2022-cancelled
E3 will once again be an online-only event, as organising body the Entertainment Software Association has now confirmed. The group cites continued concerns around COVID-19 outbreaks as the reason, though the Consumer Electronics Show has gone ahead in Las Vegas this week. The Game Developers Conference is still scheduled to take place in San Francisco this March.

The Pope started 2022 by blasting a song from hit RPG Undertale
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-pope-started-2022-by-blasting-a-song-from-hit-rpg-undertale/
For some reason, the Pope has now heard one of the most iconic videogame songs of the 2010s, as sighted by Kotaku. Yesterday, during a weekly general audience, the speakers in the Vatican blasted Undertale's "Megalovania" as circus performers juggled and unicycled in front of His Holiness. There's video proof too, in case you, like me, couldn't believe this actually happened.

Just Add Water founder Stewart Gilray dies at 51
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-01-06-just-add-water-founder-stewart-gilray-dies-at-51
Stewart Gilray, the founder and CEO of long-running UK developer Just Add Water has died.
Gilray has led the company for over 15 years, overseeing its growth as a provider of production and development services to various studios across the UK, including Codemasters, Rebellion and Bossa.

Devolver Digital is teasing a new Serious Sam game, to be announced next week and released next month.

The Friday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

This week's free game on the Epic Store is Gods Will Fall: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/p/gods-will-fall
Next week, the free game will be Galactic Civilizations III.

Fanatical has two new deals:

• The Star Deal is Detroit: Become Human, 60% off. The deal started yesterday and will last another 24 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/detroit-become-human
• The new BYO Puzzle Bundle features 17 games to choose your 4, 8 or 12 games bundle: https://www.fanatical.com/en/pick-and-mix/build-your-own-puzzle-bundle
• Also, if you buy God of War or Monster Hunter Rise from their store, you can choose a free game. Learn more here: https://www.fanatical.com/en/blog/what-free-gift-buy-god-of-war-monster-hunter-rise

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

Indie store Game Jolt's porn ban has hit games with no sexual content
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/indie-store-game-jolts-porn-ban-has-hit-games-with-no-sexual-content/
Indie hosting site Game Jolt unexpectedly pulled various games from its platform earlier this week, telling developers in an email that it had "made the decision to no longer allow content that depicts, solicits, promotes, normalises or glorifies sexual acts, sexual solicitation and sexual violence."
The site seems to have a fairly loose definition of what exactly is "sexual," with numerous developers finding their games pulled for seemingly no good reason, such as Dreamfeel's Curtain—a queer game exploring abuse with indirect mentions of sex. While Game Jolt has since restored Curtain and a handful of others like F2OGGY, the policy change hasn't gone down well with creators, including adult creators who've spent years hosting their games on the site.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Take a look at these amazing fan remakes of Resident Evil 1 & Resident Evil Code Veronica
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/take-a-look-at-these-amazing-fan-remakes-of-resident-evil-1-resident-evil-code-veronica/
It appears that an indie team is currently working on fan remakes of Resident Evil 1 and Resident Evil Code Veronica. These two projects are currently in an amazing development state, and you can find below two videos from them. These videos will give you an idea of what you can expect from them.
The team behind these two projects aims to release the Resident Evil 1 Remake sometime in 2022. This fan remake will feature an over-the-shoulder third-person perspective, similar to Resident Evil 2 Remake and Resident Evil 3 Remake. Similarly, Resident Evil Code Veronica Remake will be in third-person.
>> The way the camera moves is a bit "jankie" but, otherwise, both look quite good.

This Serious Sam mod lets you play as DIO from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/this-serious-sam-mod-lets-you-play-as-dio-from-jojos-bizarre-adventure/
Modder ‘SeriousAlexej’ has released an amazing new mod for Serious Sam: The Second Encounter that most Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure fans will appreciate. As the title suggests, this mod allows you to play as DIO, the villain from that manga/anime.
What’s really cool here is that the modder has implemented most of DIO’s powers. You can stop time (like DIO does in the anime/manga), and use your Stand. Hell, you can even drop a truck on your enemies. And, as you may have guessed, the modder has also added some of the Japanese quotes from the anime.
>> Available from ModDB.

Quake 4 Hi Def v2.0 Mod is available for download, featuring improved textures & 3D models
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/quake-4-hi-def-v2-0-mod-is-available-for-download-featuring-improved-textures-3d-models/
Modder ‘y2keeth’ has released Version 2.0 of his Hi Def Mod for Quake 4. According to its description, Quake 4 Hi Def v2.0 updates Quake 4’s graphics by improving the quality of textures and models, as well as shadows.
Going into slightly more details, Quake 4 Hi Def v2.0 adds a bunch of more textures. Moreover, it adds an autoexec.cfg file to crank the detail settings and shader enhancer fast pak file from ng_shaders.
>> You can also get this one from ModDB.

VR Mod released for Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village, RE2R, RE3R, Devil May Cry 5 & Monster Hunter Rise
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/vr-mod-released-for-resident-evil-7-resident-evil-village-re2r-re3r-devil-may-cry-5-monster-hunter-rise/
In October 2021, we informed you about a VR mod that would be supporting almost all RE Engine-powered games. And today, we are happy to report that the first version of this VR mod is available for download.
Created by praydog, this VR mod adds generic 6DOF VR support to RE7, RE2, RE3, RE8, DMC5, and MHRISE. Moreover, this first version brings full motion controls in RE2 and RE3 (when using FirstPerson mode). Additionally, it adds physical knife damage in RE2/RE3, as well as physical grenade throwing in RE2/RE3.
>> You can download it from GitHub.

Mass Effect's 'Happy Ending' mod is now available for the Legendary Edition
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/mass-effects-happy-ending-mod-is-now-available-for-the-legendary-edition/
It's hard to believe that it's been ten years since the uproar of the Mass Effect 3 ending controversy. For those who were fortunate enough to miss it, the crash course version is that after dozens of hours across a sprawling RPG trilogy, the ending of Commander Shepard's epic came down to a relatively simplistic trinary choice that was almost wholly removed from the player's journey up to that point.
It's difficult to overstate just how big a deal this was, not just for Mass Effect fans but on gaming culture as a whole. The blowback was fierce enough that BioWare actually released an Extended Cut DLC aiming to provide "more closure with even more context and clarity," and an ending that "will feel more personalized for each player." It was definitely an improvement, but the outcomes were still rather grim.
That's where the Mass Effect 3 Happy Ending mod comes into play—and if you don't want to be spoiled, I suggest you stop reading here, because they're coming. The mod makes a number of changes to the big finish of Mass Effect 3 by canonizing a specific ending, cutting some content to make the narrative work, keeping the geth and EDI alive, and of course ensuring that Shepard survives and is reunited with their crew—including their love interest.
The original mod is still available, but unfortunately it's not compatible with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition. The good news for people who enjoy happy endings is that a reworked version, called Audemus' Happy Ending Mod, is—you can snag it now from Nexus Mods.

Behold Half-Life Ray Traced, featuring a real-time full path tracing renderer
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/behold-half-life-ray-traced-featuring-a-real-time-full-path-tracing-renderer/
Software engineer ‘sultim-t’, the man behind the amazing Serious Sam TFE: Ray Traced, is currently working on a Ray Tracing mod for Half-Life. This mod aims to add a full path tracing renderer to the game.
This full path tracing renderer will calculate global illumination, reflections, refractions, soft shadows and other visual effects. This is basically what most PC gamers wanted to see from NVIDIA after the release of Quake 2 RTX.
In order to showcase a WIP build from this mod, sultim-t released the following gameplay video. This video shows off the game’s upcoming ray-traced effects, and we highly recommend watching it.

GAMING NEWS

Denuvo V10.0, used in Watch Dogs Legion, has been cracked
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/denuvo-v10-0-used-in-watch-dogs-legion-has-been-cracked/
It appears that one of the latest versions of the Denuvo anti-tamper tech, Denuvo V10.0, has been cracked. This version of Denuvo was used in Watch Dogs Legion, alongside four other (yes you read that right) additional protection systems.
Going into more details, Ubisoft used Denuvo V10 alongside VMProtect v3.5.1 and uPlay R2. In addition, the French company used BattlEye and File Integrity Protection. These are five DRM protection systems for a single game. This MAY explain why the game has major performance issues on mid-range CPUs.
>> And now we wait until Chazore comes and rants against Ubi.

Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo Video released for Legend of YMIR
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/unreal-engine-5-tech-demo-video-released-for-legend-of-ymir/
WEMADE has shared an Unreal Engine 5 Tech Demo video for its upcoming next-generation MMORPG, Legend of YMIR. This tech demo features early in-game graphics, and will give you an idea of what its team aims to create.

Microsoft Flight Simulator January 6th Update brings stability, weather & VR improvements
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/microsoft-flight-simulator-january-6th-update-brings-stability-weather-vr-improvements/
Microsoft has released the first 2022 update for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The January 6th Update packs a number of stability, weather and VR improvements. Moreover, it features some SDK fixes and tweaks.

Friday news, part two:

Over a decade after release, Project Zomboid attracts an astonishing horde of players
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/over-a-decade-after-release-project-zomboid-attracts-an-astonishing-horde-of-players/
Project Zomboid was first released as a tech demo in April 2011, before releasing on Steam in November 2013. It had something of a rocky ride in those early years, with the game being leaked and, an infamous story at the time, the theft of two laptops containing a bunch of code which hadn't been backed up: Developers The Indie Stone would, rather winningly, go on to give an industry talk titled 'How (Not) To Make a Game'.
It now looks like Indie Stone will need to write another presentation: How to turn your passion project into a viral hit ten-and-a-half years after release. While everyone else was scoffing turkey and leftovers, Project Zomboid's player numbers have been going through the roof. The cause is a major update that pretty much overhauls the game from the ground-up.
>> And it now has a new roadmap.

Dead by Daylight drops Leatherface masks over blackface complaints
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/dead-by-daylight-drops-leatherface-masks-over-blackface-complaints/
Behaviour Interactive will remove The Cannibal's unlockable faces in the next Dead by Daylight mid-chapter update, following complaints that they're being used to incite racist harassment against players.

Activision Blizzard shows no sign of giving in as Raven QA strike enters third week
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/activision-blizzard-shows-no-sign-of-giving-in-as-raven-qa-strike-enters-third-week/
On December 6, members of Raven Software's QA department walked off the job to protest the layoff of 12 QA workers at the company. While the walkout quickly attracted support from other Activision Blizzard studios and spurred more forceful talk of unionization at the company, it has apparently not yet drawn a formal response from Activision Blizzard upper management.

The Elder Scrolls Online is going to a 'never-before-seen world' in 2022
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/the-elder-scrolls-online-is-going-to-a-never-before-seen-world-in-2022/
The Elder Scrolls Online is getting an all-new year-long story for 2022, which Bethesda Softworks said will introduce players to "a never-before-seen world, stories, and cultures" in the sprawling world of The Elder Scrolls.

Bungie will reward Destiny 2 players who tank their level to help noobs trapped in 'burning hell'
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/bungie-will-reward-destiny-2-players-who-tank-their-level-to-help-noobs-trapped-in-burning-hell/
I think it's a reasonable rule of thumb to say that forcing players into any gaming activity is a risky move. But when it comes to a sprawling live service game like Destiny 2, I can also understand the motivation: you want to make sure nobody misses the dope new stuff you've added. Which is what Bungie decided to do with Dares of Eternity, the six-person matchmade activity that arrived alongside the 30th Anniversary update on December 7.

E3 is online-only again in 2022
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/e3-is-online-only-again-in-2022/
E3 may never grace the halls of the LA Convention Center again—and if it does, it won't be in 2022. As reported by GamesBeat, the year's biggest gaming convention is going to be held online instead of in-person. E3 pivoted to being online-only in 2021, following its cancelation in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Reddit learns you can shoot down Skyrim's beehives to get honey
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/reddit-learns-you-can-shoot-down-skyrims-beehives-to-get-honey/
(...)
"I must be stupid," a user called Skyrim_For_Everyone posted, "been playing for a while and never realized you could shoot beehives from trees." It's true. There are beehives in Skyrim and you can knock them down with arrows or spells to get at the honey inside. (As well as husk and bees.) And yet, I've never seen a mod that lets you play as Yogi Bear.
>> I'm posting this in case some of you may not know it either.

Apex Legends' new Bangalore skin is crashing the game
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/apex-legends-new-bangalore-skin-is-crashing-the-game/
Respawn dropped a new skin in Apex Legends for Bangalore, complete with its own bespoke intro animation. Good luck trying to peep that animation though, because the skin is currently crashing players' games.

Apex Legends emerges from the deep with a nautical new Arenas map next week
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/apex-legends-emerges-from-the-deep-with-a-nautical-new-arenas-map-next-week/
We're closing in on the final few weeks of Apex Legends' tropical eleventh season, Escape. But that doesn't mean the waters of Storm Point are quite done revealing all of their secrets.
Emerging next Tuesday, Dark Depths introduces a lush new map for Apex Legends' Arenas mode. Dubbed Habitat, the map takes place in the caves and waterfalls surrounding a nest of Leviathans—the colossal, mountain-size dinosaurs that can be seen stomping across King's Canyon. From first glance, it looks like one of the densest arena maps to date.

Bioware GM looks back on 2021 and 'rebuilding our reputation' with the next Dragon Age and Mass Effect games
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/bioware-gm-looks-back-on-2021-and-rebuilding-our-reputation-with-the-next-dragon-age-and-mass-effect-games/
Bioware general manager Gary McKay has written about the studio's 2021 experiences in a post called State of Bioware and Looking Ahead. It was not a year that began well for the developer, with publisher EA deciding to unceremoniously can Anthem at the start of the year—a decision that was arguably the right one, yet also a blow to the reputation of a developer that has rarely misfired so badly.

Finally, we'll check the deals at GOG and Steam, now that both have ended their Winter Sales:

+GOG

• The new flash deal is 7 Billion Humans, 75% off during the next 70 hours: https://www.gog.com/en/game/7_billion_humans
• The new Midweek Sale, with its up to 80% discounts, will last another three days: https://www.gog.com/promo/20220105_midweek_sale
• And the Weekend Sale brings up to 80% discounts on indie games until Monday: https://www.gog.com/promo/20220107_weekend_sale

+Steam

• The first daily deal is海沙风云 Far Away, 25% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1250760/_Far_Away/
• The second daily deal is Grow: Song of the Evertree, 33% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1380420/Grow_Song_of_the_Evertree/
• The first weekend deal is Dead Cells, 50% off until the 10th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/588650/Dead_Cells/
• The second weekend deal is It Takes Two, also 50% off until Monday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1426210/It_Takes_Two/
• The first Midweek Madness deal is BRAVELY DEFAULT II, 30% off until Monday 17: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1446650/BRAVELY_DEFAULT_II/
• The second Midweek Madness is Youtubers Life 2, 20% off until January 19th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1493760/Youtubers_Life_2/
• And yes, there are also some weeklong deals.

And that's it. Until next week, Iwish you a happy and gaming weekend.

Square is keen to keep putting everything on PC, even if the ports aren't great. Timed exclusives.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/ubisoft-will-be-coming-to-xbox-in-the-future.535553/post-79745099

Here comes more low effort ports

PC release of "Mary Skelter 2" confirmed to be censored by Ghostlight Ltd.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/1496250/discussions/0/5845107457317156851/#c3198118348347653140

Imagine a world where the switch version is uncensored but the pc version is censored...

SEGA promises to avoid NFTs if gamers think it's a money-making scheme

https://www.tweaktown.com/news/83803/sega-promises-to-avoid-nfts-if-gamers-think-its-money-making-scheme/index.html

Sega does what other devs don't?

AMD Radeon RX 6500XT to cost 299 EUR in France

https://videocardz.com/newz/amd-radeon-rx-6500xt-to-cost-299-eur-in-france

GPU Market continues to get worse as slow junk continues to cost terrible prices

ASUS ROG LOKI power supplies to feature ‘full’ 16-pin PCIe Gen5 power connector for GeForce RTX 3090 Ti

https://videocardz.com/newz/asus-rog-loki-power-supplies-to-feature-full-16-pin-pcie-gen5-power-connector-for-geforce-rtx-3090-ti

I'd be wary of that "if gamers think" part. As much as we think it's stupid, there's always a group that likes it and demands its inclusion. After all, it's what happened with DLCs... and we know how that ended, right?

So yeah, take it with caution.

Not a good prospect, but we'll see if it keep that price once it launches or if it comes down in price when/if miners think it's not worth it.

But, as I said, it's not looking good.