Category Archives: PC

Games, Gaming, PC, Playstation, Xbox

Metal Gear Delta: Snake Eater will respect every aspect of its source

The Metal Gear Solid franchise has long stood as a beacon of storytelling mastery, blending high-stakes espionage with profound narratives that challenge players to ponder deeper ethical and philosophical questions. With the announcement of Metal Gear Delta: Snake Eater, a remake of the legendary Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, fans are eager to see whether the mature elements of the original will be retained and perhaps even expanded.

The Legacy of Mature Themes in Snake Eater

When Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater debuted in 2004, it was lauded not just for its gameplay innovations but also for its thematic complexity. The game tackled topics such as loyalty, betrayal, sacrifice, and the moral ambiguities of war. At its core was the story of Naked Snake and his mentor, The Boss—a tale of love, loss, and ideological conflict.

The mature elements of the game were not limited to the storyline. The gritty depiction of survival in a hostile environment highlighted the physical and psychological toll of being a soldier. Mechanically, players had to hunt for food, treat injuries, and adapt to changing conditions, immersing themselves in the harsh reality of Snake’s mission. These gameplay elements seamlessly intertwined with the narrative, making players feel the weight of Snake’s journey.

What Can Metal Gear Delta Offer?

As a modern remake, Metal Gear Delta: Snake Eater has the opportunity to elevate these mature themes with the advancements in gaming technology and storytelling techniques. Here are a few possibilities:

  1. Enhanced Character Depth: With updated graphics and voice acting, the nuanced emotions of characters like The Boss, Eva, and Ocelot could become even more impactful. A deeper exploration of their backstories and motivations could enrich the narrative’s complexity.
  2. Visual Realism and Emotional Weight: The original game’s jungle environment was immersive, but modern rendering technologies could bring it to life in unprecedented ways. Imagine the tension of crawling through dense foliage or the visceral horror of encountering dangerous wildlife, amplified by hyper-realistic visuals and sound design.
  3. Expanded Narrative Choices: While the original game had a linear storyline, the remake could introduce branching paths or dialogue choices that allow players to explore moral dilemmas more deeply. This could highlight the consequences of Snake’s actions in a more profound way.
  4. Improved Survival Mechanics: The survival aspects of Snake Eater were groundbreaking for their time. A remake could refine these systems, adding more layers of realism—such as more intricate injury mechanics or dynamic weather effects that impact gameplay.
  5. Subtle Yet Powerful Additions: The themes of patriotism and ideological conflict were central to the original game. By subtly weaving in contemporary parallels, the remake could connect with modern audiences without detracting from the timeless nature of its story.

Staying True to the Original

While innovation is crucial, fans of the franchise will want Metal Gear Delta: Snake Eater to stay true to the essence of the original. The mature elements that made the game a masterpiece—its intricate storytelling, emotional depth, and immersive gameplay—must remain at the heart of the experience.

Ultimately, Metal Gear Delta: Snake Eater has the potential to not only honor the legacy of the original but also to redefine it for a new generation. By retaining the mature themes that made Metal Gear Solid 3 so impactful while leveraging modern advancements, the remake could stand as both a love letter to longtime fans and a fresh entry point for newcomers. The anticipation is palpable, and if done right, this could be a defining moment in gaming history.

Games, Gaming, News, PC

GOG’s Preservation Program Welcomes 27 Classic PC Games

The gaming community has long cherished its classics, and GOG has taken the mantle to ensure these treasures remain accessible. The GOG Preservation Program, launched with the aim of keeping gaming history alive, has recently expanded with the addition of 27 iconic PC titles.

This includes Silent Hill 4: The Room, a beloved gem in the horror genre, now restored and optimized for modern systems.

One of the standout features of this program is its dedication to enhancing older games without compromising their original charm. GOG’s team works diligently to add modern controller support, restore missing content, and improve compatibility with current operating systems. The preservation isn’t merely about keeping games playable; it’s about ensuring they’re experienced as intended, perhaps even improved.

Spotlight on Silent Hill 4
For fans of the Silent Hill series, the inclusion of Silent Hill 4: The Room is thrilling. GOG’s updates to this game include the reintroduction of “missing hauntings,” eerie encounters that were absent in previous PC versions. This restoration elevates the creepy atmosphere that made Silent Hill 4 a standout in its series. Players can now enjoy the full spine-chilling experience that was intended by its original creators.

Other Additions to the Program
The expansion isn’t limited to horror titles. Players can now delve into a variety of genres with classics such as F.E.A.R. Platinum, a blend of action and psychological horror; Deus Ex GOTY Edition, a cyberpunk RPG masterpiece; and Fallout 2, an RPG legend that shaped the post-apocalyptic genre. Each game has been meticulously updated to offer the best experience on contemporary systems.

Preserving Gaming History
The GOG Preservation Program is more than an initiative; it’s a celebration of gaming history. As technology advances, countless games risk being lost to obsolescence. This program seeks to bridge the gap between nostalgic memories and modern playability, making sure the charm of classic gaming continues to inspire generations of gamers.

For those interested, the updated games can be explored directly on GOG’s website. Whether you’re a veteran gamer revisiting old favorites or a newcomer curious about the roots of gaming, there’s something for everyone in this program.

Featured, Gaming, Hardware/Console, News, PC

Here is the new CEO of Intel

Intel has recently appointed Lip-Bu Tan as its new CEO, marking a pivotal moment for the company and the tech industry at large. Tan, a seasoned veteran in the semiconductor world, brings a wealth of experience from his tenure as CEO of Cadence Design Systems and his involvement with numerous tech companies. His leadership is expected to steer Intel through its current challenges and reshape its future. But what does this mean for PC gaming, a domain where Intel has long been a key player?

Lip-Bu Tan’s Vision for Intel

Tan’s appointment comes at a time when Intel is facing significant hurdles, including financial losses and stiff competition in the semiconductor market. In his initial statements, Tan emphasized a focus on engineering excellence, customer-centric innovation, and calculated risks to regain Intel’s competitive edge. His track record suggests a commitment to long-term strategies rather than short-term gains, which could bode well for Intel’s gaming-related ventures.

The Impact on PC Gaming

Intel has been a cornerstone of PC gaming, providing processors that power millions of gaming rigs worldwide. However, the company has faced criticism for lagging behind competitors like AMD in recent years. Tan’s leadership could bring a renewed focus on innovation in gaming hardware. Here are some potential implications:

  1. Enhanced CPU Performance: With Tan’s engineering-focused approach, Intel might double down on developing CPUs that cater specifically to gamers, offering better performance and efficiency.
  2. Integrated Graphics Advancements: Intel’s foray into integrated GPUs could see significant improvements, potentially reducing the need for discrete graphics cards in mid-range gaming setups.
  3. Revitalization of Discrete GPUs: Intel’s Arc series of discrete GPUs has struggled to gain traction. Under Tan’s leadership, we might see a more aggressive push to compete with NVIDIA and AMD in this space.
  4. Collaborations and Ecosystem Building: Tan’s extensive network in the tech industry could lead to strategic partnerships that benefit the gaming ecosystem, such as collaborations with game developers for optimized performance.
  5. Focus on Emerging Technologies: With gaming increasingly moving towards technologies like ray tracing and AI-driven graphics, Intel could invest in these areas to stay ahead of the curve.

While the prospects are exciting, challenges remain. Intel’s competitors are not standing still, and the gaming market is highly dynamic. Tan will need to address Intel’s manufacturing inefficiencies and ensure that its gaming products are not only innovative but also competitively priced.

Lip-Bu Tan’s appointment as Intel’s CEO is a significant development with far-reaching implications. For PC gaming, his leadership could usher in a new era of innovation and competition, benefiting gamers and the industry as a whole. However, the road ahead is fraught with challenges, and only time will tell how effectively Tan can navigate them.

Featured, Gaming, Hardware/Console, News, PC

AMD Radeon RX 9070 and 9070 XT are officially (re)announced

AMD has officially unveiled its latest graphics card, the Radeon RX 9070 XT, alongside its sibling, the RX 9070. These GPUs are built on AMD’s cutting-edge RDNA 4 architecture, promising a blend of high performance, efficiency, and affordability. Here’s everything you need to know about this exciting release.

Price and Availability

The Radeon RX 9070 XT is priced at $599, while the RX 9070 starts at $549. Both models are set to hit the market globally on March 6, 2025. This aggressive pricing strategy positions AMD as a strong competitor to NVIDIA, particularly against the RTX 5070 Ti, which is priced at $749.

The RX 9070 XT boasts impressive performance metrics:

  • Up to 51% faster than its predecessor, the RX 6900 XT, in 4K gaming.
  • Enhanced ray tracing capabilities with third-generation ray accelerators.
  • Improved AI-driven upscaling, thanks to second-generation AI accelerators.

AMD claims that the RX 9070 XT delivers comparable performance to NVIDIA’s RTX 5070 Ti but at a significantly lower price point. This makes it an attractive option for gamers seeking high-end performance without breaking the bank.

Key Features

  1. RDNA 4 Architecture: The new architecture introduces dynamic register allocation for better resource utilization and enhanced compute units for improved parallel processing.
  2. Memory Management: Optimized memory bandwidth usage ensures faster data processing and reduced latency.
  3. FidelityFX Super Resolution 4 (FSR 4): The latest iteration of AMD’s upscaling technology offers sharper visuals and higher frame rates, making it ideal for demanding gaming scenarios.

AMD’s pricing strategy and technological advancements send a clear message to the GPU market: high-performance gaming doesn’t have to come at a premium price. By undercutting NVIDIA’s pricing while delivering comparable or superior performance, AMD is poised to dominate the mid-to-high-end GPU segment in 2025.

Fidelity Super Resolution 4 is an RDNA4 exclusive

AMD has also re-confirmed that FSR 4 utilizes FP8 capabilities of RDNA 4’s 2nd gen AI accelerators, which means older generation will have to resort in the possibility of backporting FSR 4 or its subsets to older cards, but the alternative is currently unknown if AMD is doing the effort.

What is official is that FSR 4 promises to offer up to a 3.7x fps boost at 4K with ray tracing enabled. Essentially, Hypr-RX enables all aforementioned features for a game with a single click in the Adrenalin driver.

RDNA 4 cards will ship with Radeon Software Adrenalin Edition 25.3.1 that offers a few nifty AI-powered features while largely retaining the familiar interface.

The latest Adrenalin offers Radeon Image Sharpening 2 that offers system-wide image sharpening without reliance on any third-party API. There’s support for up to 8K 75 fps video codec acceleration and hardware flip metering, leveraging the changes to the media engine in RDNA 4.

AMD is also bundling a few utilities with Adrenalin 25.3.1 including AMD Chat, Image Inspector, and AI Apps Manager.

Gaming, Hardware/Console, News, PC

Gaming still at the back seat of Nvidia Q4 2024 performance

Nvidia, the AI chip giant, recently released its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings report, which has garnered significant attention from investors and tech enthusiasts alike. The company reported a record quarterly revenue of $39.3 billion, up 12% from the previous quarter and 78% from a year ago. This impressive growth is largely attributed to the booming demand for AI and data center products.

Key Highlights from the Earnings Report

  1. Revenue and Earnings: Nvidia’s revenue for the fourth quarter was $39.3 billion, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $38.05 billion. The company’s net income rose to $22.09 billion, or 89 cents per diluted share, compared to $12.29 billion, or 49 cents per share, in the same period last year.
  2. AI Demand: The demand for AI inference and new AI models has significantly benefited Nvidia. CEO Jensen Huang highlighted that the company’s leadership in advanced AI chips has enabled them to unlock new use-cases and drive strong demand.
  3. Blackwell AI Chips: Nvidia’s next-generation AI chip, Blackwell, has seen a significant ramp-up in sales, contributing to the company’s strong performance. CFO Colette Kress mentioned that the company expects gross margins to reach the mid-70s later this year once Blackwell production has fully ramped up.
  4. Market Reaction: Despite the impressive earnings report, Nvidia’s stock experienced a slight decline in after-hours trading. Analysts suggest that the market’s tame response may indicate that all the good news has already been priced into the stock.

The RTX 50 series, powered by Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture, has been a game-changer for gamers and creators. The series includes the RTX 5090, 5080, 5070 Ti, and 5070, each offering significant performance improvements over their predecessors.

  1. Performance Uplift: The RTX 5090 demonstrates a 33% performance increase over the RTX 4090 in games like Resident Evil 4 and Horizon Forbidden West. Similarly, the RTX 5080 shows a 15% improvement, while the RTX 5070 Ti and 5070 are approximately 20% faster than their Ada Lovelace predecessors.
  2. AI and Ray Tracing: The RTX 50 series leverages AI and ray tracing technologies to deliver superior graphics fidelity and performance. The inclusion of DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation and enhanced Ray Reconstruction has further boosted the performance of these GPUs.
  3. Market Reception: The RTX 50 series has received positive feedback from both gamers and creators. The GPUs’ ability to handle demanding tasks and deliver high-quality visuals has made them a popular choice among users.

Management’s Reaction to Recent RTX 50 News

Nvidia’s management has been actively addressing the recent issues and controversies surrounding the RTX 50 series. The company has acknowledged the concerns raised by users and is working diligently to resolve them.

  1. ROP Controversy: Nvidia’s global PR director, Ben Berraondo, confirmed that the missing Render Output Pipelines (ROPs) issue affects only about 0.5% of all GeForce RTX 5090/5090D and RTX 5070 Ti graphics cards. The company is investigating the matter and has assured users that they are committed to providing a solution.
  2. BSOD and Black Screen Troubles: Nvidia has confirmed that it is investigating the blue screen of death (BSOD) and black screen issues reported by users of the RTX 50 series. The company is working on identifying the root cause and determining whether the fix will come through a driver update or a VBIOS update.
Featured, Gaming, Hardware/Console, News, PC

The greatest challenge of Nvidia with RTX GeForce 5090 yet

The Nvidia RTX GeForce 5090, part of Nvidia’s latest lineup of graphics cards, has been making headlines for both its impressive performance and some unexpected issues. While the card boasts cutting-edge technology and significant improvements over its predecessors, it has also encountered a few notable problems that have left some users frustrated.

Underperformance and Missing ROPs

One of the most significant issues reported with the RTX 5090 is underperformance due to missing ROPs (Raster Operations Pipelines). ROPs are crucial components in a GPU that handle tasks such as anti-aliasing, Z and color compression, and writing pixels to the output buffer. Essentially, they play a vital role in rendering graphics in PC games.

Nvidia confirmed that a small percentage of RTX 5090 and 5070 Ti GPUs were shipped with one fewer ROP than specified, leading to a performance drop of around 4%. This issue affects less than 0.5% of the units, but it has caused noticeable performance degradation in affected cards. Users have reported that their GPUs are underperforming compared to Nvidia’s Founders Edition and other custom designs.

Another problem plaguing the RTX 5090 is frequent crashing during gameplay. Users have reported that their games crash to the desktop, often accompanied by error messages related to the GPU. This issue has been linked to driver problems, with some users experiencing black screens, freezes, and system reboots. Nvidia has been working on driver updates to address these issues, but the problem persists for some users.

What are ROPs?

ROPs, or Raster Operations Pipelines, are an essential part of a GPU’s architecture. They are responsible for several critical tasks in the rendering process, including:

  • Anti-Aliasing: ROPs help smooth out jagged edges in images, making them appear more realistic.
  • Z and Color Compression: They handle the compression of depth (Z) and color data, which helps improve performance and reduce memory usage.
  • Pixel Output: ROPs write the final pixel data to the output buffer, which is then displayed on the screen.

In modern GPUs, the number of ROPs can significantly impact performance, especially in graphically intensive applications. A higher number of ROPs generally means better performance, as the GPU can handle more rendering tasks simultaneously.

While the Nvidia RTX GeForce 5090 is a powerful and advanced graphics card, it has faced some challenges since its release. Issues such as underperformance due to missing ROPs and frequent crashing have affected a small percentage of users. Nvidia has acknowledged these problems and is working on solutions, including driver updates and replacements for affected units.

Despite these setbacks, the RTX 5090 remains a top choice for gamers and professionals seeking high-performance graphics capabilities.

Games, Gaming, Hardware/Console, News, PC, Technology

Is Microsoft’s Quantum Leap the Future of Gaming?

Microsoft recently unveiled its groundbreaking quantum processor, Majorana 1, which is set to transform the computing world. This innovative chip leverages topological qubits, a new state of matter called topoconductors, to achieve unprecedented stability and scalability. But what does this mean for the future of computing, and how will it impact PC gaming?

Majorana 1 is powered by Majorana zero modes (MZMs), quasiparticles that were theorized in 1937 but only recently harnessed. Unlike traditional qubits, which are prone to environmental interference, topological qubits encode information in the parity of electrons split across nanowires, making them inherently resistant to noise. This hardware-level error protection could reduce the overhead of quantum error correction by tenfold.

The introduction of Majorana 1 marks a paradigm shift in quantum computing. Microsoft’s architecture promises a path to one million qubits on a single chip the size of a desktop CPU. This density avoids the “airplane hangar” footprint required by other approaches, enabling integration into Azure data centers. The potential applications are vast, from designing catalysts to break down microplastics to inventing self-healing materials for construction and healthcare.

Impact on PC Gaming

Quantum computing holds immense potential for revolutionizing PC gaming. Here are some key benefits:

  1. Enhanced AI: Quantum-powered AI could provide truly dynamic and unpredictable non-playable characters (NPCs), making games more engaging and challenging.
  2. Immersive Virtual Reality (VR): Quantum computers, with their immense processing power, could solve hardware limitations, resulting in VR experiences that are indistinguishable from reality.
  3. Cloud-based Gaming: Enhanced processing power could redefine cloud-based gaming, offering a seamless experience even for those without high-end gaming PCs.
  4. Randomization and Procedural Generation: Quantum computers could improve procedural generation, creating more complex and interesting game environments.

Microsoft’s Majorana 1 is a significant leap toward practical quantum computing. Its potential to revolutionize various industries, including PC gaming, is immense. As we move closer to realizing the full potential of quantum computing, the future of gaming looks more exciting than ever.

Gaming, Hardware/Console, PC

Nvidia Ends PhysX Support with RTX 50 Series

Nvidia has officially retired 32-bit PhysX support on its latest RTX 50 series GPUs, marking the end of an era for the once heavily marketed physics simulation technology. This move comes as Nvidia deprecates 32-bit CUDA applications starting with the RTX 50 series.

PhysX, originally developed by Ageia in 2004 and later acquired by Nvidia, was a proprietary physics simulation SDK capable of processing ragdolls, cloth simulation, particles, volumetric fluid simulation, and other physics-focused graphical effects. It was integrated into several notable AAA games, including the Batman Arkham trilogy, Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, Borderlands 2, Metro: Last Light, Metro: Exodus, Metro 2033, Mirror’s Edge, The Witcher 3, and some older Assassin’s Creed titles.

PhysX was designed to run physics calculations on the GPU rather than the CPU, allowing for significantly greater rendering performance for physics-related graphical effects. This resulted in higher frame rates and improved quality of physics effects compared to what could be achieved on a CPU.

Despite its initial success, PhysX’s adoption slowed significantly by the late 2010s as developers moved towards more flexible, cross-platform physics engines. The biggest drawback of PhysX was its strict requirement for an Nvidia GPU, preventing it from being used on competing GPUs, consoles, and smartphones. Nvidia also gradually removed support for some PhysX features, contributing to its decline.

The End of PhysX on RTX 50 Series

With no known 64-bit games using PhysX, Nvidia has decided to end support for 32-bit PhysX on the RTX 50 series GPUs. This means that games from the 2000s and early 2010s that relied on PhysX for particle and clothing effects will no longer benefit from the technology on the latest Nvidia GPUs.

For those who still want to use PhysX, the only solution is to install an older RTX 40 series or earlier graphics card and dedicate it to PhysX processing in the Nvidia control panel.

The retirement of PhysX on the RTX 50 series marks the end of an almost lifelike era in gaming physics. While it was a groundbreaking technology in its prime, the shift towards more versatile and cross-platform solutions has rendered it obsolete. As we move forward, it will be interesting to see what new innovations Nvidia brings to the table.

Gaming, Hardware/Console, News, PC

Valve Denies Rumors of Returning to Gaming Console Market with New Steam Machines

Valve, the renowned developer behind the Steam platform, has officially denied rumors suggesting it is planning to re-enter the gaming console market with a new line of Steam Machines. The speculation arose from a leak by well-known industry insider eXtas1s, who claimed that Valve was working on a new console to rival the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Original video:

According to eXtas1s, Valve is collaborating with AMD to utilize their upcoming RDNA 4 technology for this new console.

The rumor suggested that Valve’s new console would be a significant step up from the Steam Deck, aiming to offer a more powerful gaming experience. However, Valve has firmly denied these claims via a clarification that the changes on a Mesa patch change is about the Vulkan support within the Open Source RADV Radeon Driver for RDNA4 and nothing much else:

This initial support should be good enough but it’s missing two features (cooperative matrix and video decode/encode) compared to GFX11 (RDNA3) because lack of time.

DCC is still under active development but it might be possible to finish it during the RC period.

Valve’s previous attempt to enter the console market with Steam Machines in 2015 was met with limited success. The concept behind Steam Machines was to provide small PCs, either made by Valve or other manufacturers, running SteamOS (with the option to boot Windows). Despite the innovative idea, the Steam Machines did not achieve the expected success due to various factors, including limited game compatibility and high prices.

In recent years, Valve has focused on the success of the Steam Deck, a handheld gaming device that has gained popularity among gamers. The company has sold “multiple millions” of the device since its release, although exact sales figures have not been disclosed. The Steam Deck’s success has been attributed to its portability, performance, and the extensive library of games available on Steam.

Games, Gaming, News, PC

The Sims Legacy Collection 1 & 2 is yet another blast from the gaming past

The Sims and The Sims 2 have officially made their return, much to the delight of fans worldwide. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the beloved life simulation series, EA has re-released both games in special Legacy Collections on platforms like Steam, the Epic Games Store, and the EA app.

The The Sims Legacy Collection includes the original The Sims game along with several expansion packs and stuff packs. Here’s what you can expect:

  • The Sims: The base game that started it all.
  • Livin’ Large: Adds new objects, characters, and gameplay elements.
  • House Party: Introduces party-related items and activities.
  • Hot Date: Focuses on romantic interactions and new locations.
  • Vacation: Adds vacation destinations and related items.
  • Unleashed: Brings pets into the game.
  • Superstar: Adds fame and celebrity elements.
  • Makin’ Magic: Introduces magic and spellcasting.
  • Throwback Fit Kit: A bonus pack from The Sims 4, adding retro-themed clothing.

The The Sims 2 Legacy Collection includes the sequel The Sims 2 along with its numerous expansions and stuff packs. Here’s what’s included:

  • The Sims 2: The base game that expanded on the original’s success.
  • University: Adds a university campus and related gameplay elements.
  • Nightlife: Focuses on nightlife and social interactions.
  • Open for Business: Introduces business and commerce elements.
  • Pets: Adds pets and pet-related gameplay.
  • Bon Voyage: Adds vacation destinations.
  • Seasons: Introduces weather and seasonal changes.
  • FreeTime: Adds hobbies and leisure activities.
  • Apartment Life: Adds apartment buildings and related gameplay.
  • Holiday Party Pack: Adds holiday-themed items.
  • Family Fun Stuff: Adds family-related items.
  • Glamour Life Stuff: Adds glamorous items.
  • Happy Holiday Stuff: Adds holiday-themed items.
  • Celebration! Stuff: Adds celebration-themed items.
  • H&M Fashion Stuff: Adds fashion items from H&M.
  • Teen Style Stuff: Adds teen fashion items.
  • Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff: Adds kitchen and bathroom items.
  • Mansion & Garden Stuff: Adds mansion and garden items.
  • Grunge Revival Kit: A bonus pack from The Sims 4, adding grunge-themed clothing.
    (For those who remembers, IKEA expansion is absent as probably either EA could not get into an licensing agreement for decoration designs or maybe is not interested on sharing profits to IKEA)

The The Sims Legacy Collection is priced at $20, while the The Sims 2 Legacy Collection is priced at $30. For those who want both, there’s a 25th Birthday Bundle available for $40, saving you $8. These collections are available on Windows 10 and 11, and you can transfer old save files and mods from the original games.

While these collections aren’t remasters, they offer a nostalgic trip back to the early 2000s with all the expansions and stuff packs included. The games have been updated to run on modern systems, but don’t expect major visual or gameplay improvements. It’s all about reliving the magic and simplicity of the original games.