Author: Donster

Source: Blue’s News

In this post, Paradox Interactive explains the release schedule of the Royal Court expansion for Crusader Kings III, the historical strategy sequel. The add-on did not carry a release date when it was announced, so it’s not actually delayed, but the tone suggests the news that this is now expected in 2022 represents some sort of setback:

With that in mind we are not, at the moment, entirely satisfied with Royal Court’s progress, especially regarding its stability. There are a number of bugs we really need to iron out, and are taking more time to make sure it is in line with the standards you would expect from us.

We also understand the frustration that delays cause, but we would like to make sure we are always as forthcoming as possible and that you hear the news directly from us. It’s a tricky balance between sentiments like “It will release whenever we finish making sure it is ready” and things like giving exact timelines only to make necessary but upsetting changes to that timeline when we do actually need time to review and make those changes.

That being said, you can look forward to news about the 2022 release date Soon™!

Source: TechPowerUp!

NVIDIA has released the latest version of GeForce Game Ready drivers. Version 496.49 WHQL comes with optimization for “Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy,” including support for DLSS. It also features optimization for “Age of Empires IV,” “Battlefield 2042″ (Early Access), “Call of Duty Vanguard,” “Chivalry 2,” “GTA Definitive Edition Trilogy,” “Forza Horizon 5,” “Jurassic World Evolution,” and “Riders Republic.” The drivers also fix certain legacy issues with “DOOM 3: BFG Edition,” and “Tom Clancy’s The Division 2.” A flickering issue noticed at 1080p on LG OLED C1 series monitors, has been fixed. The drivers also add G-SYNC support for several new monitors, and GeForce Experience optimizations.

You can download the GeForce 496.49 WHQL Game Ready drivers via GeForce.com.

Source: TechPowerUp!

AMD has released Radeon Software Adrenalin 21.10.3 beta drivers. These come with optimization for “Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy,” with over 21% performance improvement measured at 4K Ulra settings over the previous driver, as tested using an RX 6900 XT graphics card. Optimization is also added for “Age of Empires IV,” where a massive 45% performance improvement was obtained at 4K max settings, using an RX 6800 XT. Other games optimized for is “Riders Republic” and “DOOM Eternal 6.66.”

Among the issues fixed are missing CPU tuning feature in Radeon Software for some users with Ryzen 9 5950X processors, elevated disk space utilization with Multimedia Athena, task-switching blackscreens in certain multi-display environments, a game crash noticed in “Battlefield V” with RX 6600 series, and image corruption notived with Radeon Boost enabled in “Cyberpunk 2077″ and RX 6700 XT.

The Radeon Software Adrenalin 21.10.3 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.

• Intel Announces 12th Gen Core “Alder Lake” Desktop Processors
• Beauty Meets Brawn: Unleashing the New XPS Desktop
• BIOSTAR Announces the Brand-New INTEL Z690 Series Motherboards
• COLORFUL Launches Z690 iGame Ultra Series Motherboards & New Battle-AX DDR5 Memory
• G.SKILL Announces DDR5 6800 MHz Trident Z5 Memory Modules
• Crucial Expands Desktop Memory Line with New DDR5 DRAM
• Kingston Announce FURY Beast DDR5 Memory Modules
• AGON By AOC Launch New Gaming Headset & Mice
• Thermaltake Coolers now support Intel LGA 1700 Socket
• MSI Brings Out Latest Z690 Motherboards
• GIGABYTE AORUS WATERFORCE Liquid Cooler Lineup Supports 12th Gen Intel Processors
• GIGABYTE Releases AORUS DDR5 5200MHz 32GB Memory Kit
• GIGABYTE Releases the Latest Z690 AORUS Motherboards
• Evolve Your Game With the EK-Quantum MSI MPG Z690 Carbon EK X D-RGB
• Meet the Most Advanced EK Water Block to Date
• Introducing the EVGA Z690 Motherboards – The Ultimate Choice for PC Gaming
• ASRock Launches Full Range of Intel Z690 Motherboard Packed with Revolutionary Technology
• ASUS Reveals its Intel Z690 Motherboards
• Enter the Next Generation of Performance and Speed – Introducing CORSAIR® DDR5 Memory
• CORSAIR Announces Full Range of Components Ready for New 12th Generation Intel® Core™ Processors and 600 Series Chipsets
• CORSAIR and ORIGIN PC Launch Updated Systems Powered by New 12th Gen Intel Core Processors
• EK To Offer Free LGA1700 Upgrade Kits for EK-Quantum Velocity Water Blocks
• ADATA Announces XPG LANCER DDR5 Memory
• AGON by AOC Unveils Three New High Refresh-rate Gaming Monitors with Mini-LED IPS Panels
• Sharkoon Launch SHARK Disc PWM & SHARK Blades PWM Fans

No Step Back Add-On Tapped for Late November

The bitter fighting of the Eastern Front is given new depth and variety in No Step Back, the upcoming expansion to Hearts of Iron IV. With new alternate history paths and game systems, this eagerly awaited add-on presents new challenges for fans of Paradox Interactive’s best-selling grand strategy wargame. No Step Back will be available on 23 November 2021 for the suggested retail price of $19.99/￡15.49 / € 19.99.

The centrepiece of No Step Back is a series of new National Focus Trees, giving players many new ways to imagine the course of World War II in Eastern Europe. Major nations have been entirely reworked to offer unique challenges and original histories.

Watch the Hearts of Iron IV: No Step Back Pre-Order Trailer HERE.

The features for Hearts of Iron IV: No Step Back include:

New Soviet National Focuses: Communist Soviet rulers must also deal with a government system full of distrust and betrayal but players can lift up party opposition to the powerful leader, or even pursue a reactionary path of restored monarchy.
New Polish National Focuses: Write a new history of Poland, with options to reform the government, entrench the military rulers, or support a popular pro-Soviet uprising.
New Baltic National Focuses: Shared alternate history paths for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as unique paths for each.
Army Officer Corps: Build a general staff, drawing on the talents and expertise of available officers to take advantage of changes in technology and tactics.
Army Spirits: Emphasize certain characteristics of your military arms, adding general bonuses to certain units types or even aiding division design.
Supply System Updates: Scorched Earth tactics, floating harbors and special supply units added to the logistics system.
Tank Designer: Design your own armored force using modules prioritizing speed, gun power, armor or even production cost.
Railway Guns: Commission the grandest, most prestigious of artillery pieces, uniquely designed to deal with entrenched foes, and fortified positions.

As a special bonus, those who pre-order No Step Back will get a musical treat – a new arrangement of the Soviet wartime folk song Katyusha, originally composed before the war, and named for the celebrated Red Army rocket launchers. You can watch behind the scenes footage of the song’s recording HERE.

As usual, this expansion to Hearts of Iron IV will be accompanied by a major update free for all players, including new supply and logistics mechanics as well as many quality of life improvements.

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

African Themed Add-On Coming 11 November

The gold of Zimbabwe. The ivory of Central Africa. The great city of Timbuktu. The temples of Ethiopia. Africa is the birthplace of humanity and a land of untold wealth and variety. Rediscover and rewrite the history of the continent in a new immersion pack for Europa Universalis IV, coming 11 November 2021. It will be available for the suggested retail price of $9.99/￡7.19 / € 9.99.

In Europa Universalis IV: Origins, new African missions add greater variety and new goals for some of Africa’s most powerful and interesting nations. The fading giant of Mali, the holy hills of Ethiopia and the African trade centers of the Indian Ocean are given new depth and richer context.

Watch the Europa Universalis IV: Origins Announcement Trailer HERE.

The Europa Universalis IV: Origins immersion pack adds:

Jewish Religion: The Ethiopian Jews of Beta Israel are included, and Jewish nations can choose from nine religious characteristics to accentuate their national strengths, with new flavor events.
Missions for Mali: Halt the decline of West Africa’s greatest medieval empire and reassert control of former vassals.
Missions for Songhai: Develop your provinces and claim the mantles of Mali and Timbuktu as the new rising power.
Missions for Kongo: Unite the peoples of the Congo River and confront the growing European threat.
Missions for Ethiopia: Ensure religious unity and prestige in the Kingdom of Solomon while unifying the nations of the African Horn. Also adds the noble Ç̌äwa regiments.
Missions for Ajuuraan: Control Indian Ocean trade and bring water to your desert provinces.
Missions for Kilwa: Focus on naval economic power, establishing a colonial empire across the seas.
Missions for Mutapa: Build on the legacy of the founders of Great Zimbabwe and exploit the riches of South Africa to dominate trade.
Minor Mission Additions: New mission options for Jolof, Mossi, Hausa, Oyo and Adal.
New Regional Mission Trees: New Missions for minor powers in Central, East and West Africa, and the African Horn, as well as new estate privileges for many nations and regions.
New Army Sprites: 4 new army sprites each for Congo, Great Lakes, Southern Africa and Bantu nations
Two New Missionary models: African Coptic and African Fetishist missionary animations added.
New Music: 12 minutes of new West African themed music, and 12 minutes of new East African themed music.

As usual, the release of Europa Universalis IV: Origins will be accompanied by a major update, free for all EU4 players.

More game information is available at the Europa Universalis IV: Origins Steam page.

Matrix games announces the release of Command: Red Tide.

Red Tide, a new DLC from Command Modern Operations, recreates a “what if” conflict between NATO and Communist powers; a theoretical sequel of the “Northern Inferno 1975″. Tensions explode in the Norwegian Sea when a standoff takes place between a NATO Destroyer and a Soviet Submarine, which drew both Powers into a rapidly escalating war that draws in Neighbours and super powers alike.

Command vast air and naval forces as war rages across all areas of the World including the Pacific, North Atlantic, South China Sea to name a few. Take control of your forces either NATO or Soviet Union as the conflict demands that every resource you have is pressed into service.

Plan your naval strategy carefully, you will require the mutual support of the entire fleet if you are to ensure that your enemies are crushed decisively.
Dominating the battlespace will allow you to blind your enemy’s ability to communicate and coordinate.

Ensure the victory of your forces through thoughtful strategy and planning. Creative deployment will be needed to overcome deficiencies in your mix of modern and outdated forces.

Get more information from the DLC’s Product Page.

Watch the release trailer HERE.

Source: Windows Blog

Microsoft Flight Simulator, which first launched on PC, gained a new audience of PC gamers with Xbox Game Pass. In July 2021, millions of console players were introduced to the flight simulation experience through the game’s launch on Xbox Series X|S.

Now, the Microsoft Flight Simulator Game of the Year (GOTY) Edition arrives Nov. 18. This “Thank You” to fans – new and old – includes new aircraft (such as its first military jet and a legendary short takeoff and landing (STOL) utility plane), new airports, new missions and much more.

To celebrate the launch of Windows 11, 11 landmarks across the globe will be lit up in Windows blue within Microsoft Flight Simulator. There will also be a special Windows 11 themed livery for simmers to add to their collection.

Head over to Xbox Wire for all the details on this edition.

Reno Air Races: Expansion Pack and Reno Air Races: Full Collection will also be available to buy in the Microsoft Flight Simulator marketplace starting Nov. 18. The Microsoft Flight Simulator team worked closely with the Reno Air Racing Association (RARA) and dozens of pilots and owners to develop highly authentic recreations of many of the world’s most famous racing aircraft, such as North American P-51 Mustangs and Aero L-39 Albatros.

Find out more about Reno Air Races on Xbox Wire.

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.

• ROCCAT Unveils Vulcan TKL PRO Keyboard in White
• CORSAIR Launches New PRO Custom Cooling CPU Water Blocks Ready For Intel® Alder Lake
• Sharkoon Announces SKILLER SGP30 Big Hex and 1337 V2 Big Mouse Mats
• CORSAIR Launches ELITE LCD CPU Coolers
• SilentiumPC Gear offers the GK650K Omnis Onyx White Pudding Edition
• G.SKILL Announces World’s Fastest DDR5-6600 CL36 Trident Z5 Memory Kits
• EK-Quantum Velocity² D-RGB – New LGA 1700 CPU Water Block Ready for Alder Lake
• NZXT Announces BLD PC Building Kits
• ARCTIC Liquid Freezer II with RGB Now Also Available in 280 and 420 Models
• ZOTAC Introduces the GeForce RTX 3060 Ti AMP White Edition LHR
• Sharkoon Launches its Skiller SGK60 Keyboard with Kailh BOX Switches
• TEAMGROUP Announces T-Force Vulcan DDR5 Gaming Memory
• ASRock Announces Radeon RX 6600 Challenger Series Graphics Cards

Source: Blue’s News

Electronic Arts now offers a new Zombies Reveal Trailer, showing how the undead will participate in the upcoming release of Call of Duty: Vanguard. The video is allowed to speak for itself, as it includes just this minimal description:

Your mission: Stop the undead army with a new set of Dark Aether skills.
Welcome to Call of Duty: Vanguard Zombies.

Track: Billie Eilish – bury a friend (Chris Avantgarde Remix)