Month: February 2021

By Hilbert Hagedoorn @ Guru3D

MSI is back with their finest customized offering of AMD’s Flagship consumer graphics card, the Radeon RX 6900 XT in the flavor GAMING X TRIO. It’s big, agile, and a treat for the eyes. Join us in this extensive review; much like the 6800 XT GAMING X TRIO, this 6900 XT version shows a bit more TLC as it has been fitted with custom cooling. The result is a graphics card that looks both handsome and is remarkably silent as well. The card was fabbed around a custom PCB, premium components, a triple fan TriFrozr cooler, increased clock frequencies, as well as an increased power limiter for this X revision. This by far, is one of the best performing acoustic products in its default operating modes.

Read the Review Here

Source: TechPowerUp!

AMD has released the latest version of Radeon Software Adrenalin drivers. Version 21.2.3 beta adds optimization for “DIRT 5 Energy Content Pack.” Among the handful of issued fixed with these drivers include HDMI audio device (such as home-theater receivers) failing to install on Radeon RX 400 series and RX 500 series “Polaris” graphics cards; hot-plugging TVs and displays in multi-monitor configurations causing a system hang; “Substance Painter” experiencing a crash with Radeon RX 6000 series; HP Reverb G2 VR HMD causing a system crash when plugging into RX 6900 XT, and the Radeon Software application sometimes failing to look up the latest version of the software.

The Radeon Software Adrenalin 21.2.3 beta drivers are available online at the AMD driver download page.

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.

• be quiet! Announces Dark Power 12 Power Supply Series
• AMD Acknowledges USB Connectivity Issues on 500 Series Chipset Motherboards
• EK Expands its Classic Line With a Strix RTX 3080, 3090 GPU Water Block
• HyperX Now Shipping Alloy Origins 60 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
• PowerColor Radeon RX 6900 XT Liquid Devil Images Leak
• GeForce RTX 3060 Already Hits Second-Hand Market as NVIDIA Sours the Milk for Miners
• SilverStone Intros Hydrogon D120 ARGB Dual Fin-stack CPU Cooler
• Noctua Teases their Price-competitive Redux CPU Cooler
• ZALMAN Intros Z8 Series Mid-Tower Cases
• Sapphire Finally Unveils its 6900 XT TOXIC GPU
• Lian Li Unveils 4 New Case Prototype Designs

Update 0.10.1 features the debut of the new Italian Battleships, an updated Taranto port, as well as new format of Ranked Battles, new Clan Battles and updated Brawls

Wargaming, developer and publisher of the widely popular, free to play naval combat game World of Warships (WoWS), has today revealed update 0.10.1 for the game that will launch on February 18th 2021.

The headline addition is the maiden voyage of the long awaited, Tier IV–IX Italian Battleships. Players can now set sail for battle with these all new vessels, available in Early Access on the Live Server.

The Italian Battleships
The new update adds six all-new Italian Battleships to the game listed below and imagery for these vessels can be found here:

• Dante Alighieri (Tier IV)
• Conte di Cavour Tier V)
• Andrea Doria (Tier VI)
• Francesco Caracciolo (Tier VII)
• Vittorio Veneto (Tier VIII)
• Lepanto (Tier IX)

The Italian Battleships come armed with a host of interesting features for players to try out. These include semi-armor-piercing shells to deal significant damage to weakly protected targets, and a large number of guns, balanced by their shorter range and lower accuracy. The new ships also feature higher maneuverability and armour protection for the ship itself. Tier VIII–X ships also can deploy the Exhaust Smoke Generator consumable, which allows them to hide from the enemy without having to reduce their speed.

Players in the early access can obtain the majority of these new ships by earning a new temporary resource, the Italian Tokens. These can be acquired by completing combat mission groups including a special chain of combat missions, as well as from random bundles purchased with dubloons, free random bundles, Recruitment Point bundles in the armory and by completing combat missions from the official WoWS streams.

The number of tokens that can be obtained by completing combat mission groups will be enough to obtain Tier IV-VI Battleships, with VII Francesco Caracciolo available as the final reward for completing the last combat mission group and IX Lepanto obtainable from random bundles purchased with Dubloons. Full details can be found here in the Italian BB overview article.

Visit the official World of Warships website now for more game info and to sign up to play World of Warships for free!

Combat Mission Cold War is set in the tipping-point years of a conflict that gripped the world for 45 years. Between 1979-1982, both the NATO and Soviet Warsaw Pact militaries began the shift away from industrialized warfare of the early 20th century and towards the modern digital battlefield of today. Combat Mission Cold War simulates several “what if” conflict scenarios between US and Soviet forces centered on the strategic Fulda Gap and environs in West Germany.

The game also simulates the early days of the US National Training Center (NTC) as US forces began to rapidly transform away from Vietnam era doctrine and towards the revolutionary AirLand Battle concepts that would define warfare in the modern era.

It truly was a transformational period in battlefield doctrine and revolutionary equipment for both the NATO and Warsaw Pact forces. Combat Mission Cold War is set in a period that features true peer versus peer forces facing off in what can be nail biting action.

Combat Mission Cold War is intended to be a sandbox for experimentation, for example how would a situation unfold when equipped with M-60A3s or M1s in 1982 facing off against T-80s? How about the same situation with M-60A1s or M-60A2s in 1979 against T-64s or T-62s? Combat Mission Cold War allows a player to do just that!

For the old-timers who served during the Cold War it would be gratifying to actually play out many of the scenarios that were conjectured and trained for during the late seventies to the early eighties, or to re-fight battles at the National Training Center (NTC). Combat Mission Cold War provides those old-timers, and any others that are interested, the opportunity to do just that.

Highlights: Combat Mission Cold War provides the player with the opportunity to take command of either US or Soviet tactical formations, centering on the Company Team or Battalion Task Force between 1979 to 1982. Tactical formations include highly detailed, historically accurate organizations, equipment and modeling of weapons effects that is second-to-none within the wargaming industry. Highlights include the full suite of era-accurate tanks and mechanized infantry fighting vehicles, including many not available in any other Combat Mission franchise: (M48, M60 series of tanks, M150 TOW, M1 (105), T64, and T80, etc.). In addition, it offers a full suite of aircraft effects modeled on legendary platforms such as the iconic US F-4 Phantom and A-7 Corsair. Coming back to Combat Mission are the first variants of the venerable A-10 Warthog and F-16 Fighting Falcon, as well as the Army variants of the AH-1 Cobra gunships. The Soviets bring with them their service workhorses, the infamous Mig-23/27, the Su-17, the rare but powerful Su-25 Frogfoot, and the well-known Mi-24 series gunship, including the first “Hind A” version and the famous “Hind D.”

Combat Mission Cold War comes with:

• 15 standalone scenarios set in the US V and VII Corp sectors of West Germany. Scenarios range from small platoon-based actions to large Battalion battles.
• 3 full length campaigns:
• The NTC Campaign. The National Training Center in the California Mojave Desert was established in 1982, right at the end of Combat Mission Cold War’s time frame. The NTC campaign puts you in command of a US Army Company Team as it begins its rotation and trial by simulated fire against the premier Soviet style formation in the world, the NTC OPFOR (Opposing Force).
• The US West German Campaign. Set in the southern Fulda Strategic Corridor between Fulda and Hanau, the US campaign unfolds across historically accurate maps as player take charge of the 2nd Bn TF of the 28th Infantry Regt in a race to stop the Soviet juggernaut. In keeping with the sandbox theme of Combat Mission Cold War, there are two versions of the US Campaign, 1982 and 1979 to allow players the opportunity to see and compare the differences in equipment between the two periods.
• The Soviet Campaign. Set north and east of Fulda, the Soviet Campaign follows the “Ride of the 120th Motor Rifle Regt” on the opening 48 hours of a fictional “what if” West German invasion. Players will fight on historical battlefields “that never were”, such as Eiterfield and Alsfeld as part of the first wave of Soviet troops racing towards their divisional objectives.

Special Features: Combat Mission Cold War is somewhat unique within the franchise in that it covers a broader time-period than many other Combat Mission base games with a view to eventually covering an even wider period. The aim is to provide the player with the broadest set of experiences and tools to build their own scenarios if they so wish.

Combat Mission Cold War also includes new and reoccurring battlefield innovations such as the introduction of Single and Dual-Purpose Improved Cluster Munitions delivered by both air and artillery support. The early days of electronic warfare is also modeled giving players a sense of the impact an encroaching digital age would have on warfare. Finally Combat Mission Cold War is more than a clash of equipment and weapons, it simulates a clash between command-and-control systems. The US, embracing maneuver warfare doctrine, while the Soviets favour mass, and centrally controlled command systems; Combat Mission Cold War allows the player to see in detail how the clash of these two doctrines would have played out.

Find out more on the official Combat Mission Cold War Steam page.

Rebuild the Empire of the Classical World’s Greatest Conqueror

Though the man has died, his dream of universal empire lives on. The spirit and ambition of Alexander fuels the wars of his quarreling generals, each master of a large kingdom that is somehow still not large enough. Become the master of arms and diplomat extraordinaire as you claim your right to be the heir of Alexander.

Heirs of Alexander is the newest content pack for Imperator: Rome, Paradox Development Studio’s grand strategy game about the classical world. New events and missions highlight the Wars of the Diadochi, a series of bitter struggles fought by former generals and followers of Alexander the Great.

The Heirs of Alexander content pack includes:

• Unique Mission Trees: New special mission objectives for the Antigonid Empire in Anatolia, Seleucid Empire in Asia, Ptolemaic Empire in Egypt, Macedonia and Thrace.
• Shared Mission Tree: Diadochi-themed mission objectives available to all of the Successor Kingdoms.
• Wonder Designer: New tool that allows players to build their own custom monuments, adding bonuses to their location or to the entire empire.
• New Events: Various Historical Events based on the history and legacy of Alexander’s followers.
• New Deities: Regional gods and goddesses from the Hellenistic kingdoms.
• New Treasures: Distinctive artifacts from the Hellenistic kingdoms.
• New Music: Three new music tracks to inspire your Successor Kingdom.

Heirs of Alexander is now available at major online retailers for the suggested retail price of $9.99/£7.19/€9.99.

This content pack is accompanied by a major free update. The 2.0 ‘Marius’ update to Imperator: Rome is a significant reworking of the military system in the game, adding new features that transform war and army management.

• Levies: Draft levies from your provinces to fight your wars. Their size and composition is based on the cultures and population types in the province.
• Legions: Advance your military technology to create standing, professional military forces to guard your empire. But beware of their cost and tendency to follow disloyal generals.
• Military Histories: Legions and Mercenary units have histories that will list their accomplishments over time.
• Engineers: Special cohort to help with sieges, river crossings and road building.
• Changes to Inventions and Military Traditions: Radically overhauled invention system – unlock new abilities alongside old inventions, and shape your civilization like never before.
• Diadochi War Goals: New large scale conquests available to Hellenistic kingdoms to better model the ambitions of Successor rulers.
• UI Overhaul: Completely reworked interface to make options and decisions more intuitive.
• And much more: New unit models for levy and legion units, new port construction options, changes to forts and deities.

For more game information, and to purchase the game, visit the official Imperator: Rome webpage. Imperator: Rome is also available via Steam.

Today, Ubisoft announced that a new update for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is now available, bringing additional free content to the game for all players: a new game mode, Jomsviking upgrades, new abilities and rewards, and two new unlockable buildings in the Settlement – the River Raid Dock and the Jomsviking Hall.

The River Raids is a permanent addition to the game and a new re-playable mode enriching the raiding experience in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The mode contains:

• Higher-stakes raids, with unique maps and rewards, in which the player can raid without impacting their main game progression and alliances in England. Unlike the original raiding feature, the raiding crew can be temporarily lost if players don’t revive them during the raid.
• A Jomsviking Crew: Recruited Jomsvikings (created by other players online) are led by the player’s personal Jomsviking Lieutenant.
• A New Longship: An all-new fully customisable longship exclusive to the game mode – whose cargo hold can be upgraded to bring more resources back from River Raids.

The new Jomsviking Hall has three levels to upgrade in Season 1, with the higher the Hall’s level the higher the ranked Jomsvikings it will attract for the player to recruit. Jomsviking also now have ranks, with the higher ranked Jomsvikings having greater survivability in River Raids.

After players complete one of the first narrative arcs in England, either Grantebridgescire or Ledecestrescire, build their Barracks and recruit their Jomsviking Lieutenant, they will encounter a new NPC named Vagn and his crew of Jomsviking raiders, who will introduce them to the River Raids game mode. The mode introduces three new river maps set around the coastline of England full of locations to raid and treasure to loot.

Finally, the update brings additional abilities and rewards:

• The Saint George Armour set and Great Sword
• 3 new Abilities, hidden in monasteries
• 2 new Settlement Buildings
• A new set of longship and player cosmetics

The River Raids game mode update, a part of Season 1, is the latest addition as part of the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla post-launch experience, with a variety of new free content for all players focused on gameplay and world evolution coming throughout 2021.

Season 2, named Ostara, will start in March 2021 with a first update bringing a festival in the Settlement, a new game mode that builds on Valhalla’s core combat experiences, new gear and cosmetic items. More information about Wrath of the Druids, the first expansion of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla releasing in Spring 2021, will come at a later time.

With development led by Ubisoft Montreal, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla offers players the captivating experience of playing as Eivor, a legendary Viking warrior, driven from Norway by endless wars and dwindling resources in ninth century AD. Players can relive the ruthless fighting style of Viking warriors with a revamped dual-wielding combat system and experience new gameplay features such as raids, assaults, and the settlement, as well as a revamped progression and gear upgrade system. Political alliances, combat decisions and dialogue choices can influence the world of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, so players must choose wisely to protect their clan’s home and their future.

For more information about Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, please visit assassinscreed.com.

Take the role of Rommel and change the course of history

Panzer Division Games, a new game studio from Croatia has just announced the development of the game: “Attack at Dawn: North Africa”. It will be a real-time wargame set in WW2 North African theatre, featuring 3 campaigns, and 15 scenarios in singleplayer and multiplayer modes. Watch the Attack at Dawn: North Africa Announcement Trailer HERE.

The game’s large map will cover a distance of almost 2000 kilometres – from the bay of Sirte in Libya, to Suez Canal in Egypt. The terrain will vary between sea, desert and mountains; wadis and sebkhas; villages, birs and ports. The only metallic road in the area – Via Balbia, will span the whole length of the map, and a handful of well-known desert tracks will lead from the road towards the deep Sahara in the south.

The designers have researched orders of battle and unit histories for years in preparation of making this game. Special attention was given to the composition of the armies, combat values of individual units and overall authenticity of each scenario.

Tomislav Čipčić, the lead designer of the game: “Ever since I was 6, I have been fascinated with the North African campaign. The name Tobruk has stuck in my mind ever since. After publishing one successful tabletop wargame – I decided to start the development of “Attack at Dawn”. First milestone was in 2018 when I made a prototype of “Operation Battleaxe“. After 3 years of further development, we currently have a solid, smoothly running and fun game. It will take some time until we finish with all the playtesting, balancing and refining the UI. But I have no doubt that this game will make its mark.”

There are 15 carefully recreated scenarios in the game, which can be played as a solo or multiplayer game, or as a part of a campaign. The game features historical scenarios, and speculative scenarios, depicting the what-if situations from the campaign.

This is a real-time game, which will reflect the speed and chaos of the desert mobile warfare. Combine this with the fog of war, and the experience of being in command vehicle of a Panzer Corps comes to life. The game will immerse you in one of the most intensive and nerve-wrecking experiences of the Second World War.

The game’s release date is yet to be announced. When asked about it, the designer said that the game will be released when the AI is as good as they can make it.

For more game information, please visit the official Attack at Dawn: North Africa website, or you can visit the games Steam webpage.

Source: Blue’s News

Deep Silver and 4A Games announce the Metro Exodus PC Enhanced Edition will be released this spring. Their work on updating Metro Exodus for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 4 resulted in a complete overhaul of the game’s ray tracing support. These enhancements are coming to the Windows edition of the first-person shooter sequel for systems with ray tracing GPUs and will be provided as a free update to owners of the original version of the game. They also take the opportunity to announce that the macOS and Linux editions of Metro Exodus will come later this year.

For PC players, we’re taking advantage of our new Fully Ray Traced Lighting Pipeline and the latest GPU-capable hardware from NVIDIA and AMD to offer the ultimate Ray Traced experience – the Metro Exodus PC Enhanced Edition.

This upgrade is so extensive, it will require a Ray Tracing capable GPU as the minimum spec, and we will need to deliver this version as a separate product – it is not a simple ‘patch’ to the base game – instead it will be offered as an extra entitlement to all existing Metro Exodus PC players.

The PC Enhanced Edition will offer additional Ray Tracing features, including Advanced Ray Traced Reflections and support for DLSS 2.0 on NVIDIA hardware, which offers sharper image details and increased framerates and display resolutions.

Applying the same philosophy as our Xbox and PlayStation upgrades, this PC Enhanced Edition will be FREE to all existing Metro Exodus owners on the Epic Games Store, Steam, and GoG. You can expect the PC Enhanced Edition to release later this spring.

For a full breakdown of the new Ray Tracing features across Gen 9 consoles and PC, see the chart below.

• FULL RAY TRACED LIGHTING THROUGHOUT – EVER LIGHT SOURCE IS NOW RAY TRACED
• NEXT-GEN TRACING & DENOISING
• NEXT-GEN TEMPORAL RECONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY
• PER-PIXEL RAY TRACED GLOBAL ILLUMINATION
• RAY TRACED EMISSIVE SURFACES WITH AREA SHADOWS
• INFINITE NUMBER OF RAY TRACED LIGHT BOUNCES
• ATMOSPHERE AND TRANSPARENT SURFACES RECEIVE RAY TRACED BOUNCE LIGHTING
• FULL RAY TRACED LIGHTING MODEL SUPPORT WITH COLOR BLEEDING AND FOR EVERY LIGHT SOURCE
• ADVANCED RAY TRACING REFLECTIONS
• DX12 ULTIMATE SUPPORT (INCLUDING DXR 1.1 AND VARIABLE RATE SHADING)
• GPU FP16 SUPPORT AND THOUSANDS OF OPTIMIZED SHADERS
• SUPPORT FOR DLSS 2.0
• ADDITION OF FOV (FIELD OF VIEW) SLIDER TO MAIN GAME OPTIONS
• 4K TEXTURES ADDED TO PACKAGES
• FURTHER BUG FIXING / POLISH PASS

Tame the Oxen in two special time-limited events

With the Lunar New Year celebrations kicking off as we welcome the Year of the Ox today, World of Tanks is unleashing a unique themed event to mark the occasion.

World of Tanks is introducing the Lunar Challenge, which will run from February 12th through 22nd. This special event will see tankers test their skills with 10 stages which offer up great rewards. There will be two ways to complete each stage: missions for commitment (available for Tier VI-X vehicles) and the more challenging missions for mastery (exclusively for Tier IX-X).

For completing all 10 stages, players will get their hands on the tanking embodiment of the Ox, the brand-new 122 TM, as well as a unique Lunar New Year 2D style, which can adorn any vehicle. Additionally, tankers who have already got their hands on the 122 MT can take on daily missions; those who complete 8 of them will be rewarded with a stunning 3D style exclusively for the Chinese medium. For more information about the Lunar Challenge, please check the dedicated article HERE.

For more information on World of Tanks, visit the games official website.