Author: Donster

By Rick Lane at Eurogamer

Like a fleet of Allied landing craft storming the beaches of Normandy, Sniper Elite 5 has blown me away. I spent most of my weekend with it in a state of delighted befuddlement, constantly muttering ‘isn’t this brilliant?’ as it delivered yet another incredibly designed level to creep around while turning Nazi skulls into cornflakes. I’ve enjoyed Rebellion’s infamously grisly stealth series since the middling V2, but I never thought I’d be writing about it with the kind of breathless excitement reserved for the likes of Elden Ring.

Read on…

By Blood Alone Writes New Histories and Adds Plane Designer

Hearts of Iron IV is getting another expansion, one that adds new paths and potential for some of the defining conflicts of the wartime era. Explore new alternate histories for Italy and Ethiopia, as well as one of the leading neutral powers, Switzerland, in Hearts of Iron IV: By Blood Alone.

This expansion to Paradox Interactive’s grand strategy wargame about the Second World War continues the tradition of offering players a range of new stories and possibilities, allowing new histories of the war to be written in every session.

View the Hearts of Iron IV: By Blood Alone Official Announcement Trailer HERE.

Features of Hearts of Iron IV: By Blood Alone include:

• New Italian Focus Tree: Follow the historical path of Mussolini’s Italy or rewrite history by restoring power to the monarchy, leading a Communist revolution or promoting democracy.
• New Ethiopian Focus Tree: Defy the odds to defeat the Italian invader or resist the conqueror from abroad using unique Government in Exile abilities.
• New Swiss Focus Tree: Surrounded by France, Germany and Italy, the mountain nation of Switzerland finds strength in its neutrality, balancing competing factions and overtures from the great powers.
• New Peace Conference Options: Demilitarize zones of the map or entire nations, bid on the capital ships of defeated powers, or claim control of enemy resources or factories as reparations.
• Aircraft Designer: Design and build your own planes, from nimble interceptors that prioritize speed to durable bombers crafted to unload tons of destruction from high above.
• Unit Medals: A log of each division’s accomplishments lets you track their performance, and even allow you to award medals to those that have performed well.
• Embargo Interaction: Embargo your enemies with a new diplomatic interaction, preventing them from trading with you if they have generated enough world tension.
• New Unit Models: More than 20 new pieces of unit art for Italian, Ethiopian and Swiss armies.
• New Plane Models: 67 new plane models.
• 12 New Music Tracks

This expansion for Hearts of Iron IV will be available later this year. It will be accompanied by a major update, free for all Hearts of Iron IV players.

For more game information please visit the official Hearts of Iron IV website.

The land is divided by language, religion and culture, but those with the vision to understand it see a land rich in opportunity. What if the energy devoted to squabbling over towns and titles could be focused on unity or coexistence? But vision is not enough. A strong hand, a taste for intrigue and a deft touch with diplomacy are all required. This is a question for generations, a problem to be solved over time. Only the patient and prudent can settle the Fate of Iberia.

Watch the Crusader Kings III: Fate of Iberia Release Trailer HERE.

Fate of Iberia is the latest flavor pack for Crusader Kings III. Available today, this addition to Paradox Interactive’s award winning medieval grand strategy role-playing game gives you a new way to live out the history of Spain and Portugal through the middle ages. A centuries long Struggle will force you to rethink how to achieve your goals, as a variety of interested and competing parties fight to impose their will on the Iberian Peninsula.

Features of Crusader Kings III: Fate of Iberia include:

• Struggle system: Entirely new system for historic conflict, available to modders and other content creators.
• Decide the Fate of Iberia: Choose the path of conciliation or the path of conquest as you unite Spain or, alternately, agree to a peaceful division of spoils.
• New content: Two new Legacy tracks (Metropolitan and Coterie), new cultural traits emphasizing special historical characteristics of the Iberian peninsula, new friendship interactions and duels over the chessboard.
• New Events: Dynamic historical events related to the struggle for Iberia.
• New Art: New character art reflecting Iberian cultures of the medieval era, new unit designs, new 3D models of holdings and artifacts and a host of new art for backgrounds, events and loading.
• New Music: Additions to the Crusader Kings III soundtrack.

Fate of Iberia includes an update free for all Crusader Kings III owners that adds new options and features for all players. This update will add a new faction type to challenge your ruler, Heads of Faith that can be shared by different religions, vassal contracts for clans, and, of course, a new starting bookmark that highlights interesting Iberian characters for the 867 start date.

Crusader Kings III: Fate of Iberia can be purchased for a suggested retail price of $6.99/£5.19/€6.99. It is included with the Crusader Kings III expansion pass and Crusader Kings III: Royal Edition.

For more information about Crusader Kings III: Fate of Iberia, visit the flavor packs website.

The F-14 fighter and the battlecruiser HMS Hood will be part of the “Danger Zone” update

Gaijin Entertainment announces that the online military action game War Thunder will receive a major Danger Zone content update in mid-June. For the first time ever, players will be able to take to the skies in the long-awaited F-14 Tomcat, legendary US fourth-generation fighter jet and star of the popular Hollywood movies. The update will introduce dozens of other types of military vehicles ranging from the battlecruiser HMS Hood to the exotic South African G6 Rhino self-propelled howitzer. New “Abandoned Town” and “South-Eastern City” maps will also be added to the game.

Watch the “Danger Zone” update teaser trailer HERE.

The F-14 is a twin-engine variable-sweep wing jet fighter that was in service with the US carrier-based aviation from 1974 to 2006. American F-14s took part in the wars in Vietnam (in the final stages), Iraq and Yugoslavia. In addition, the F-14 fighters are still in service with the Iranian Air Force – these machines were tested in action on the fronts of the Iran-Iraq war, where they scored dozens of air victories.

The first modification of the F-14 in War Thunder will be the F-14A, equipped with an excellent set of air-to-air missiles. In addition to the Sparrow AIM-7E and F, as well as the Sidewinder AIM-9D and G that are already familiar to the players, the F-14A will feature the AIM-9H (a further development of the G version) and the AIM-54A Phoenix, a long-range missile with an active radar guidance system (both missiles will appear in the game for the first time). In addition, the F-14A has a 20mm M61A1 cannon with a rotating barrel, as well as bombs and unguided rockets in case it needs to attack ground targets.

The battlecruiser Hood was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1920, becoming the largest warship in the British Navy. Eight 15 inch guns are capable of inflicting devastating damage to any enemy, including battleships. The main caliber is supplemented by an auxiliary battery of seven twin 4 inch all-purpose guns, as well as 40mm guns, machine guns and torpedo tubes. Due to its size and powerful armament, the ship was nicknamed the “The Mighty Hood” and became a symbol of the power of the British Empire, but at the beginning of World War II, she was tragically sunk in battle with the German battleship Bismarck.

The G6 Rhino is a self-propelled howitzer on a wheeled chassis with a 155mm gun that can quickly change position and unleash huge high-explosive projectiles (regular and with remote fuzes) on the enemy. The large caliber and weight of the explosives allow even inaccurate hits to cause significant damage from the blast wave and overpressure.

The Danger Zone update will also introduce other new features, including two new vehicle tech trees, as well as new graphical and weather effects. Detailed information about this will be available on the game’s official website in the coming weeks.

Visit the official War Thunder Website for more game information.

Microsoft announces that Microsoft Flight Simulator has released the long-awaited “Top Gun: Maverick” expansion. Develop the skills required and navigate the complexities encountered by actual Top Gun pilots in authentic locations including the most challenging landing – on an aircraft carrier. This offering will push your piloting abilities to the limits—and beyond.

The “Top Gun: Maverick” expansion contains:

• A “Top Gun: Maverick Edition” livery for the F/A-18E Super Hornet.
• Three training missions for the Super Hornet that will allow you to master radical flight maneuvers including unrestricted take-offs, split S maneuvers, and low altitude, high-speed maneuvering through complex terrain.
• Five high-speed, low-level challenges that require utmost skill to navigate just above mountains and traverse through canyons.
• A carrier deck landing challenge, one of the most demanding operations in the world of military aviation.
• A never-before-unveiled hypersonic aircraft that can attain speeds of Mach 10 and altitudes greater than 150,000 feet above sea level.
• A mission to roar into the stratosphere

Sniper Elite 5, the latest game in the award-winning franchise is available now on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 4 & 5, Steam and Windows Store. Developed by Rebellion, one of the world’s most successful video games developers and publishers, Sniper Elite 5 offers an unparalleled tactical sniping experience as you fight your way across the most immersive maps ever featured in the series, with many real-world locations captured in stunning detail.

The new Launch trailer to celebrate the release of Sniper Elite 5 is available to view HERE.

Sniper Elite 5 takes place in the events around D-Day in France, 1944, as our hero Karl Fairburne joins a covert US Rangers operation to weaken the Atlantikwall fortifications along the coast of Brittany. There he makes contact with French Resistance, and they begin to uncover a secret Nazi plot that threatens to turn the tide of the war back in the Nazi’s favour: Operation Kraken. It is now down to Karl to reveal exactly what the Axis forces are planning and end Operation Kraken, and the mastermind behind it, Abelard Möller, before it can be launched.

Rebellion CEO, Jason Kingsley said: “We are extremely proud to be releasing Sniper Elite 5 today and cannot wait for players to get their hands on the game. The franchise continues to go from strength to strength and the entire team at Rebellion has done a fantastic job to create the best game in the series to date. We are particularly proud of the new Invasion Mode which we think will be a real fan favourite. The tension and challenge that the invasion creates really intensifies and heightens the gameplay experience.”

SNIPER ELITE 5 GAME FEATURES:

• Expansive Campaign – real-world locations have been captured using photogrammetry to recreate a living, immersive environment with multiple infiltration and extraction points. Side missions, hidden collectables and kill list targets provide a whole new perspective on each mission. Take on the Nazi plot solo or work with a partner, with improved co-op mechanics allowing you to share ammo and items, give orders and heal each other.
• Invasion Mode and Co-op – invade another player’s Campaign as an Axis sniper and engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse, providing a new dimension to the challenge as you stalk your prey. Invasion Mode can be toggled on/off in the game menu. The entire campaign is also playable in 2 player online co-op with players able to share items and ammo and revive each other.
• Weapon customisation – find Workbenches hidden in the missions (each mission has 3 to find) to customise and upgrade virtually every aspect of your weapon – change scopes, stocks, barrels, magazines and more. Rifles, secondaries and pistols all have a huge variety of options. On top of that you can select the ammo to suit your target, from armour-piercing right down to non-lethal.
• Adversarial multiplayer – customise your character and loadout and earn XP, medals and ribbons as you take on intensely competitive 16 player battles that will really test your sharpshooting skills. If co-op’s more your style, you can team up with up to 3 other players against waves of enemies in Survival mode.
• Full crossplay – crossplay enables you to seamlessly play co-op, Invasion Mode and adversarial multiplayer with other players on all other formats.
• Enhanced Kill Cam – more realistic and grislier than ever, the trademark X-ray kill cam returns, showing you the true destructive power of each shot. Bones deflect bullets unpredictably, ripping a new path through enemy bodies. SMGs and pistols can also trigger kill cams, including multiple shots in dramatic slow motion. The frequency with which a player sees Kill Cam can be changed in the game menu, including the ability to switch it off entirely.
• Advanced gunplay – factor in rifle stock and barrel options along with gravity, wind and heart rate while you line up your sights on the target. For the first time in the series iron sights have been included for SMGs and pistols.
• New traversal mechanics – Karl can now use zip lines, slide down slopes and shimmy along ledges to reach the perfect vantage point, or to sneak past sharp-eyed enemies. Enhanced climbing abilities now allow you to explore hidden areas in the game map and unlock alternative routes.

Sniper Elite 5 is available now on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 4 & 5, Steam and Windows Store. To keep up to date with all the latest Sniper Elite 5 news please visit sniper.com.

At long last, the collaboration generations of Ace Combat fans have been waiting for is finally ready for deployment. We’re excited to announce that Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown will deliver Top Gun themed aircraft, emblems, and the “Top Gun Anthem,” “Danger Zone” in multiplayer mode as part of its TOP GUN: Maverick Aircraft Set available today!

The TOP GUN: Maverick Aircraft Set paid DLC package will feature new playable aircraft, including the F/A-18E Super Hornet | Top Gun: Maverick (The Boeing Company) and the F-14A Tomcat | Top Gun: Maverick (Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation), from the movie. Additionally, there will be a special Top Gun: Maverick collaboration emblem and to top things off, the aforementioned “Danger Zone“ (arranged by Keiki Kobayashi) will be available as background music in multiplayer mode.

Head over to YouTube to check out the new trailer featuring the contents of the TOP GUN: Maverick Aircraft Set paid DLC package in action.

The TOP GUN: Maverick Aircraft Set DLC includes:

New playable aircraft

• F/A-18E Super Hornet | Top Gun: Maverick (The Boeing Company)
• F-14A Tomcat | Top Gun: Maverick (Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation)
• 5th Gen Fighter | Top Gun: Maverick
• Dark Star
• F-14A Tomcat
• F/A-18E Super Hornet

Emblems and Callsigns from the film

• Total of 10 Emblems including Maverick, Hangman, Payback, Rooster, and Bob, along with two logos from the film.
• Total of 12 Callsigns including Goose, Cougar, and more!

Music based on classic tracks for play in multiplayer mode

• “Top Gun Anthem“ (arranged by Keiki Kobayashi)
• “Danger Zone“ (arranged by Keiki Kobayashi)

Additionally, two new editions of ACE COMBAT 7: SKIES UNKNOWN are now available only on Steam:

ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN – TOP GUN: Maverick Edition

• ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN game
• Playable Aircraft F-104C: Avril
• TOP GUN: Maverick Aircraft Set

ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN – TOP GUN: Maverick Ultimate Edition

• ACE COMBAT™ 7: SKIES UNKNOWN game
• Playable Aircraft F-104C: Avril
• Additional content included in Season pass
• TOP GUN: Maverick Aircraft Set
• 8 popular emblems of the series

For more information about each edition, please visit the official website or via Steam.

Matrix Games have announced that Panzer Corps 2: Axis Operations 1943 is out now, and with it comes the turning point in the most brutal part of the war.

Will you be able to change history and lead Germany to victory? Or will overcoming the Russian defences prove too problematic to attempt? Either way, this extensive DLC will offer hours of tactical depth and challenge to keep you engaged right up until the final moment.

As with other Axis Operations content, you’ll be able to jump right into this DLC with your existing core. If you don’t have one, don’t worry, as you can also play with our specially tuned premade core.

Panzer Corps 2: Axis Operations 1943 is available now on the Slitherine store, Steam, Windows Store, Epic Games and GoG.

It is 1943. Between the brutal stalemates, brutal winter and armies of marauding tanks, the Germans find themselves pinned or retreating throughout Russia.

But, as spring of 1943 approaches, the wehrmacht perhaps has some cause for optimism. The lessons of the last few years have surely been learnt. The Russians have surely taken incalculable losses. Surely a well thought out strike now could see the end of the war.

Watch the launch trailer HERE.

Source: TechPowerUp!

NVIDIA has released the GeForce 512.95 WHQL Game Ready drivers. These come with optimization for the RTX and DLSS support for “Hitman 3,” “Sniper Elite 5,” and “My Time as Sandrock.” A handful of issued were addressed with this release. Flags and banners flickering in Racedriver: Grid 2019, is fixed. Direct3D-related crashes in Adobe Premiere Pro were fixed. You can now adjust image-sharpening for Adobe Premiere Pro in the NVIDIA Control Panel.

You can download the GeForce 512.95 WHQL Game Ready drivers via GeForce.com.

Source: TechPowerUp!

AMD released the Software Adrenalin 22.5.2 beta drivers. These come with optimization for “Sniper Elite 5,” the latest Year Two update of “Hitman 3″ that adds real-time ray tracing, and a handful new Vulkan API extensions. The drivers also extend Radeon Super Resolution (RSR) to the Ryzen 6000 series processors with Radeon 600M-series iGPUs based on the RDNA2 graphics architecture. RSR gets a new feature that lets you adjust sharpness using a slider. AMD also introduced several under-the-hood optimizations for DirectX 11 for the RDNA2 architecture, which means up to 8 percent performance increase across the board on Radeon RX 6000 series GPUs in all DirectX 11 games.

With this release, AMD also introduced Privacy View, a feature that tracks your eyes using your web-camera, and only reveals those portions of the screen with clarity, which you’re looking at. The company also introduced additional optimizations for “Watch Dogs: Legion,” for Smart Access Memory (Resizable BAR), adding anywhere between 6 percent to 24 percent higher frame-rates, depending on the GPU.

The Radeon Software Adrenalin 22.5.2 drivers are available online at the AMD driver download page.