Month: May 2018

Tripwire Interactive and Antimatter Games Adds New Playable Faction, Maps, Weapons, and More to Award-winning First-person Shooter

Tripwire Interactive and developer Antimatter Games continue to expand and improve their award-winning first-person shooter Rising Storm 2: Vietnam with today’s release of the free Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Content Update. As part of its continued commitment to support its active community with regular and significant free updates, today’s ARVN Content Update introduces the Army of the Republic of Vietnam as a playable faction along with new maps, weapons, and more.

Over one million Vietnamese served in the ARVN over the course of the Vietnam War, with over 250,000 lost in action. Largely equipped with older US military equipment and trained by foreign military advisors, ARVN soldiers bore the brunt of frontline fighting throughout the war both prior to the escalation of US military involvement and after the US began reducing its troop presence.

With the release of the ARVN update on May 29, 2018 for Rising Storm 2: Vietnam players can play as soldiers in the ARVN faction for the first time, as well as enjoy new weapons and five brand-new maps.

Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Weapons:

• M1 Garand
• M1D Garand Sniper Rifle
• Thompson M1A1 SMG
• M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR)
• M1919A6 .30-cal Browning LMG
• Douglas A-1 Skyraider ground-attack aircraft as support

New Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Maps:

• Quang Tri: Set during 1972, Quang Tri is a daytime supremacy map set in the citadel of the provincial capital, pitting the new ARVN forces with limited US helicopter support against NVA main-force units.
• A Sau: Set on an airfield and fortified camp in the A Sau valley, this nighttime territory attack map finds ARVN forces defending against attacking NVA main-force units. Visibility is limited under the cover of darkness with occasional flares lighting up the battlefield.

New Community Maps:

Made by fans for fans, the following player-made maps from Tripwire Interactive’s recent Rising Storm 2: Vietnam $40,000 Modding Contest will also be officially introduced to the game with the release of the ARVN update.

• Firebase Georgina: Daytime attack by main-force NVA on a series of positions held by the US Army.
• Borderwatch: Australian forces attack territory held by the NLF (Viet Cong), pushing through jungles and across open fields to the VC’s final hidden base.
• Resort: US Marines stage a heliborne assault from the sea on a resort area held by Viet Cong guerrillas.

“Tripwire Interactive wouldn’t be here today were it not for the continued support from the Rising Storm and Killing Floor communities,” said Alan Wilson, Vice President at Tripwire Interactive. “That’s why supporting our titles with notable and free updates, like the ARVN update for Rising Storm 2: Vietnam, continues to be a big priority for us. It’s also our chance to give our community ownership over the game by officially adding the best player-made maps to our servers.”

In addition to today’s release of the new ARVN Content Update and launch trailer Tripwire has also released a brief developer diary video entitled Rising Storm 2: Vietnam – “ARVN Joe” Behind The Scenes. One of the voice actors for the new ARVN forces, featured in the new ARVN Content Update for Rising Storm 2: Vietnam, is Joseph Tran. During the recording sessions for the game he asked his father to come along to act as an adviser and mentor for the role. Turns out his father is Thanh Tran, also known as “Joe.” During the war Joe, a Staff Sergeant in the ARVN, was awarded the Bronze Star for saving a another soldier’s life under fire, while operating with US forces in September 1968.

We couldn’t resist the opportunity to ask him to talk a little about his experiences and about his thoughts on the voice acting his son was doing. As you’ll see Joe was really happy his son gets to play the “good guys” for once!

Available now on PC, Rising Storm 2: Vietnam is the sequel to Rising Storm, PC Gamer magazine’s 2013 ‘Multiplayer Game of the Year’, published by Tripwire Interactive and developed by Antimatter Games. Command your team to victory in massive 64-player battles with authentic weapons, aircraft, and maps that pit conventional military forces against guerrilla forces.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Rising Storm 2: Vietnam news and information at www.rs2Vietnam.com.

Source: Blue’s News

Origin now offers system specifications for Battlefield V. They don’t specify these as minimum or recommended, so we expect them to be updated at some point. Here’s word:

System Requirements

• OS: 64-bit Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10
• Processor (AMD): AMD FX-6350
• Processor (Intel): Core i5 6600K
• Memory: 8GB RAM
• Graphics card (AMD): AMD Radeon™ HD 7850 2GB
• Graphics card (NVIDIA): nVidia GeForce® GTX 660 2GB
• DirectX: 11.0 Compatible video card or equivalent
• Online Connection Requirements: 512 KBPS or faster Internet connection
• Hard-drive space: 50GB

The barbarians are rising with the new expansion of Field of Glory II recently announced, Age of Belisarius. This DLC will bring you 11 new factions (Avars, Byzantines, Franks, Gepids, Lombards, Ostrogoths, Slavs, Turks, Vandals, Visigoths, Welsh), 17 new units (including the new fearsome Byzantine lance/bow cavalry) plus 30 new army lists.

Mark the date, Age of Belisarius will be available on June the 7th!

Get more information about Field of Glory II: Age of Belisarius from its official product page.

By Antony Leather @ bit-tech

Normally we expect to see product ranges being refreshed after the big trade shows such as Computex, which happens next week in fact, but Cooler Master’s latest addition to its MasterCase range of cases is another in a long line of new tempered glass-clad models that are built around a similar chassis, and there are more to come as well. This particular model, like the H500P we reviewed recently, comes equipped with a pair of 200mm RGB fans with the boon of these being addressable with individually-controlled LEDs, but there’s plenty more here compared to the H500P for the extra £50 you’ll be spending.

Read the Review Here

Check out these latest hardware announcements for today from around the web. Also included are some hardware news bits, and on some days, a few rumors tossed in for good measure. Click on the links below to read the official press release, visit the products web page, or to an independent news source.

• Cooler Master Launches the MasterCase H500M
• BIOSTAR Teases with Gaming, Crypto Mining, Smart Home and IPC Solutions at COMPUTEX 2018
• ASUS Releases ROG Aura RGB Terminal – VIDEO
• LMP Launches 4K 10-port USB-C Display Dock
• AOC G2590FX 24.5-inch 144Hz FreeSync 1ms Monitor Released
• X2 Introduces the BLAZE Series ATX Chassis with Smoked Tempered Glass
• Gigabyte Introduces the GeForce GTX 1050 3GB OC Video Card
• Acer Announces Predator Orion 3000/5000 Series Gaming Desktops
• Patriot Viper Launches Brand New RGB DDR4 Series Memory Kits
• be quiet! Introduces The System Power U9 PSU Series
• Apexgaming Hermes E-ATX Mid-Tower and X-Mars E-ATX Full-Tower Chassis Revealed

Having made a big splash entering Early Access on Steam® earlier this year, Square Enix Collective® and Bulkhead Interactive™ are excited to announce that Battalion 1944 players will be treated to a huge, comprehensive update ahead of a four day long $50,000 tournament later this year – all as part of the ongoing commitment to support and update the game throughout its Early Access period.

The update is set to roll out on June 12, 2018, which includes a complete overhaul of the game’s main competitive mode (better known as Wartide 2.0), a new map, Savoia, set on the streets of Italy, and a new ‘BattleRank Season’ where gaining XP unlocks new skins – much like ‘battlepass’ systems in other games but, in this case, completely free.

All this comes alongside significant matchmaking improvements, new character models, a new sound system, a reworking and rebalancing of some of the game’s guns, and an extensive visual overhaul and performance upgrade, amongst various other updates and new additions.

With Battalion 1944 fully tooled up with a brand new arsenal of toys and tricks, regular players will be able to spend the following few months mastering the fresh gameplay ahead of the first official Battalion 1944 Blitzkrieg Major Tournament, heading for the Esports Game Area between September 27-30, 2018. The event will feature both open qualifiers and invited team, with a total prize pool of $50,000.

“If launching Battalion 1944 has taught us anything, it’s that a game where anticipation is high offers a steep and very public learning curve – both for the studio as a whole, and myself personally,” says Joe Brammer – Studio Lead at Bulkhead Interactive. “Listening to the community has been our most powerful tool and a lot of what’s in this update is based on suggestions – from improving the graphics to making certain weapons more powerful. We’ve listened, and considered everything to try and push play forward in the way players want.”

It’s as a result of a lot of this feedback, Brammer claims, that Bulkhead decided to both modify and add to Battalion 1944’s existing roadmap for the future, building on the studio’s bold plans.

“Fans of the studio know I don’t tend to hold back, so I’d like to offer a genuine thanks to players who have helped to improve Battalion 1944 these last few months. We’ve been listening, and we’ve been working hard.”

The huge update this June will include: 

• New competitive game mode, Wartide 2.0, including a complete overhaul of the game’s main competitive mode;
• Matchmaking improvements that get players in-game and firing hot-lead faster than ever;
• A brand new ‘BattleRank Season’ to unlock new skins by gaining XP, similar to Battlepass systems in other games, but free;
• New character models;
• New map, Savoia, set on the streets of Italy;
• Complete design and visual overhaul of existing maps (added ladders!);
• New weapons – Grease Gun and the MP28;
• Movement rework and huge gun balance gameplay changes – including sniper and jumping nerfs;
• New sound system (gunshot sounds react to distance away from player and if walls are blocking sounds);
• Over 60 new unlockable skins through BattleRank and the new ‘Aces High’ War Chest; and
• Visual overhaul & performance upgrades.

Battalion 1944 is currently available on Steam on Early Access for $14.99/€14.99/£11.39. You can watch the latest teaser trailer for the update HERE.

TRAVEL FROM HOPE COUNTY TO VIETNAM IN FAR CRY’S FIRST DLC ADVENTURE

Today, Ubisoft announced Far Cry 5: Hours of Darkness, the first post-launch adventure, will release on June 5th across all platforms. The first DLC will transport players back in time as they play Hope County’s Wendell “Red” Redler, who must find and rescue his fellow squad members from hostile forces during the Vietnam War. Hours of Darkness can be purchased as a standalone DLC or as part of the Far Cry 5 Season Pass and Gold Edition.

Far Cry 5: Hours of Darkness transports players into a war-torn Vietnam as they relive the harrowing experience of Wendell Redler from the main campaign of Far Cry 5. Playable in solo or online co-op, Hours of Darkness transports players from rural Montana to a dangerous jungle where they must rescue imprisoned squad mates, wreak havoc on the Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army, and fight to get back home. This first DLC adventure will feature new gear and abilities as well as two different playable modes that will be unlocked after completing Hours of Darkness: Survivor Mode, giving players a limited load out for a more challenging play through, and Action Movie Mode, where a generous load out delivers over-the-top action.

In addition to the DLC, all Far Cry 5 players will have access to new Vietnam-themed assets in Far Cry Arcade available on May 24th with the release of the Vietnam title update. Map builders will be able to integrate these assets into their existing maps or create new maps focused on the Hours of Darkness theme. All future DLCs will also include thematic assets that will be added to Far Cry Arcade for free.

Watch the Far Cry 5: Hours of Darkness Teaser Trailer HERE.

Alongside today’s title update, Ubisoft released the soundtrack for Far Cry 5: Hours of Darkness on: https://idol.lnk.to/FarCry5_Hours_of_Darkness. Composed by Wade MacNeil (Alexisonfire, Gallows, Black Lungs) and Andrew Gordon Macpherson. Driven by fear, confusion and violence, the music takes us on a journey into the madness of war. With the participation of renowned multi-instrumentalist Kim Uyen Le, Wade and Andrew have created a sound palette that blends traditional Vietnamese instruments with hypnotic, late 60’s psychedelic soundscapes, gritty vintage electronic textures, and pounding rhythmic patterns.

Far Cry 5 post-launch will continue with two new DLC adventures – Lost on Mars and Dead Living Zombies – which will be released this year in July and August. Two additional asset drops will give map builders more tools to create unique Far Cry Arcade experiences. The DLC adventures are available in the Season Pass, or as standalone DLC purchases, while new asset releases for Far Cry Arcade will be available for free to all players.

Set in America, a first for the franchise, Far Cry 5 offers players total freedom to navigate a serene-looking yet deeply twisted world as the new junior deputy of fictional Hope County, Montana. Players will find that their arrival accelerates a years-long silent coup by a fanatical doomsday cult, the Project at Eden’s Gate, igniting a violent takeover of the county. Under siege and cut off from the rest of the world, players will join forces with residents of Hope County and form the Resistance. Far Cry 5 will continue to receive premium DLC adventures available in the Season Pass as well as free content including new Far Cry Arcade assets and in-game live events following the launch.

For more information about Far Cry 5, please visit farcry.com

Source: TechPowerUp!

NVIDIA today released the GeForce 397.93 WHQL “Game Ready” drivers. The drivers come with optimization for “The Crew” closed beta and “State of Decay 2.” SLI profiles are either added or updated for “DRG Initiative,” and “Star Wars: Battlefront II.” The drivers also introduce CUDA 9.2 support. In addition, the drivers also address a number of bugs.

You now no longer need to close Steam to enable/disable SLI. A “Wolfenstein II: TNC” bug that causes the game to freeze in the Roosevelt area, is fixed. A critical issue is fixed on machines with both “Pascal” and “Kepler” GPUs installed, in which the driver fails to load. Green flickering noticed in “Far Cry 5″ when using HDR on non-native screen-resolution, is fixed.

You can download the new GeForce 397.93 WHQL drivers from GeForce Experience and GeForce.com.

Source: TechPowerUp!

AMD has released their new Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.5.1 WHQL drivers. These are the first WHQL-certified drivers from the company for Windows 10 April 2018 Update, complying with WDDM 2.4, and support not just AMD Radeon discrete GPUs, but also Ryzen “Raven Ridge” APUs with integrated Radeon Vega graphics. The drivers support Microsoft PlayReady 3.0 DRM on “Polaris” GPUs.

Besides these features, Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.5.1 WHQL comes with optimization for “Ancestors Legacy,” with up to 6 percent higher frame-rates at 1080p, measured with an RX Vega 56, and up to 13 percent higher frame rates on an RX 580 (8 GB) at 1080p. The update fixes HBCC not resetting to default value when “Restore Factory Defaults” option is used in Radeon Settings. It also addresses ReLive streaming to Facebook intermittently failing; Netflix users experiencing display corruption on “Polaris” multi-GPU systems, abnormally high game load times in “Destiny 2,” and fixes for screen tearing observed on FreeSync displays with performance metrics enabled.

The new Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.5.1 WHQL drivers are available online at the AMD driver download page.

By Vlad Savov @ The Verge

Two years after the release of Battlefield 1, EA is ready to add a new entry to its storied shooter franchise, announcing today the first details and the release date for Battlefield V. Returning to the grand and ghastly stage of World War II, this new game will focus on squad-based gameplay, eschewing the explosively popular battle royale competitive modes of games like PUBG and Fortnite. I attended a preview event for Battlefield V today, and though it isn’t quite ready to play yet, the developers from Dice provided a comprehensive overview of what’s new and different — and there’s a lot.

Watch the Battlefield V Official Reveal Trailer HERE.

Perhaps the biggest unifying theme to the changes in Battlefield V is the move away from abstraction. You no longer just move into an area and get automatically healed by a magical aura. Reviving allies is also an involved, animated, and much more personal process so that both the healer and the wounded can appreciate the intimacy of their situation (and get an up-close view of their buddy’s soldier customizations). Another example is that when you enter an area populated by enemies, you won’t be able to do a bunch of quick scans with icons revealing their locations. No more shooting at icons; in the new Battlefield, you’ll have to see and aim at the actual soldiers.

Read on…