Month: July 2020

il-2-sturmovik-desert-wings-tobrukGet ready to fight another battle – this time in North Africa!

IL-2 Sturmovik: Desert Wings – Tobruk, the latest addition to the long-standing and critically acclaimed IL-2 Sturmovik series of Aerial Combat Simulators is set to release on August 6th at 19:00 CEST (10:00 PDT / 13:00 EDT) this year via Steam and other digital platforms. Pre-orders will be available starting on July 30th via the official IL-2 Sturmovik store with a 15% discount for those who want to opt-in first!

Get ready for another tour of duty – IL-2 Sturmovik: Desert Wings Tobruk will let you experience the famous Desert War through the eyes of those fighting for dominance high above the battlefields of North Africa. You can fly over 40 aircraft and variants from the Royal Air Force, Luftwaffe or Regia Aeronautica. Experience combat in the legendary Spitfire, sturdy Hurricanes, stubby Martlets, and rugged Kittyhawks, or take flight in deadly Messerschmitts and Macchis.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Desert Wings features a 385km x 385km North African map recreating in precise detail the strategic stronghold of Tobruk and the desert and sea which surrounds it. Included are 75+ airfields, multiple landmarks and towns, an extensive road network as well as the historical fortifications, minefields and defenses, all based on actual maps from the war. Combined with the excellent multiplayer environment that allows over 100 players and dozens of AI aircraft online simultaneously, IL-2 Sturmovik: Desert Wings promises intense and challenging human versus human aerial battles. For the Single Player enthusiasts, the game also includes 24 Quick Missions playable with any aircraft, 7 long form Campaigns based on historical Squadron experiences, and another 14 single missions.

Watch the IL-2 Sturmovik: Desert Wings – Tobruk Expansion – Announcement Trailer HERE.

IL-2 Sturmovik: Desert Wings – Tobruk will be available on August 6th via Steam and other digital stores for $69.99 USD. The game requires the base game IL-2 Sturmovik: Cliffs of Dover Blitz Edition in order to play.

corsair-icue-nexus-companion-touch-screenBy Peter Donnell @ eTeknix

It seems like Corsair just can’t stop creating new stuff recently. They already have some truly awesome and unique peripherals thanks to their acquisitions of both SCUF Gaming and Elgato. The Steamdeck is an amazing desktop companion for gamers and streamers alike. However, now they’ve come up with yet another interface. It’s called the iCUE NEXUS, and it’s a tiny touchscreen that can sit on your desk, on the back of your keyboard and more. It’s really as simple as that! It’s not something we knew we needed, but they made it anyway, and I’m intrigued.

Read the Review Here

Hardware | Donster | |

newhardware-iconCheck 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.

Hardware | Donster | |

ghost-recon-breakpointSource: Blue’s News

A new AI Teammates Trailer shows off more of the bots that are coming to Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint this week. Word is: “AI Teammates are back, Ghosts. Fury, Fixit, and Vasily have got your back. Customize their look, loadout, and behavior when the free update drops July 15!” This week will also see the start of a new event called Resistance in the tactical shooter. Here’s the Resistance Trailer. as they say: “Support the rebel Outcasts and bring chaos to the Sentinels. Join the Resistance live from July 16 – July 29!” Anyone who wants will be able to check this out, as they also announce the game will be free to try next weekend starting on July 16th. Here’s more:

The addition of AI teammates to Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint will offer new possibilities for solo players, who will be able to activate or deactivate them via the menu at any time, depending on whether they prefer to be backed up by their squad or play as a lone-wolf operator. Ghost Recon Breakpoint’s AI Teammates will retain gameplay features and abilities present with teammates in Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon® Wildlands, including the ability to execute given orders, the sync shot and the possibility to get revived. Additionally, it will now be possible to fully customize their physical attributes and gear. Players will also be able to pick their AI teammates’ main weapon, affecting the way they engage enemies in the world.

Starting July 16, all players will be able to take part in the new live event: Resistance! Nomad will support the Outcasts during their counterattack on Sentinel forces and assist them in their efforts to save prisoners, attack Sentinel outposts and stop convoys looking for survivors. By completing the live event’s missions, players will have a direct impact on the presence of rebels throughout Auroa. This will create an opportunity for the Outcasts to initiate faction warfare between them and Sentinel forces, or with the Wolves. Players will unlock 14 exclusive rewards upon completing missions during the live event July 16–29. All main missions will still be available for all players after the end of the event.

microsoft-flight-simulator-2020Start preparing for take-off. Xbox Game Studios and Asobo Studio are thrilled to announce that Microsoft Flight Simulator launches on August 18, and you can pre-order on Windows 10* or pre-install with Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta) today.

We have been thrilled and humbled by the support and dedication that has fueled the Flight Sim community for the past 38 years. Since the launch of the very first Microsoft Flight Simulator in 1982, we knew it was finally the right time to develop the next-generation version of Microsoft Flight Simulator. We have the right tools, technology, partners and hardware to release the most realistic and authentic flight simulator to date. Microsoft Flight Simulator features include:

  • Vivid and Detailed Landscapes – Immerse yourself in the vast and beautiful world that is our planet with more than 1.5 billion buildings, 2 trillion trees, mountains, roads, rivers and more.
  • A Living World – Earth is vibrant and ever-changing and so is the world of Microsoft Flight Simulator which includes live traffic, real-time weather and animals.
  • Highly Detailed Aircraft – Hone your pilot skills in a variety of aircraft from light planes to commercial jets with comprehensive flight models. Every aircraft includes highly detailed and accurate cockpits with realistic instrumentation.
  • New Checklist System – From pro to beginner, scale your level from full manual to full assist with interactive and highlighted instrument guidance and checklist.
  • Dynamic Weather – The new weather engine enables users to switch on the live weather mode to experience real-time weather including accurate wind speed and direction, temperature, humidity, rain and more.
  • New Day & Night Engine – Experience flight at any time of day or year allowing for night VFR, visual flight rules, navigation.
  • Aerodynamic Modeling – A state-of-the-art physics engine with over 1,000 control surfaces per plane allows for a truly realistic experience.

Three Editions of Microsoft Flight Simulator

Explore all of this and more with any of the three editions of Microsoft Flight Simulator.

  • The Microsoft Flight Simulator Standard Edition ($59.99 USD) includes 20 highly detailed planes with unique flight models and 30 hand-crafted airports. The Standard Edition will be available on day one with Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta).
  • The Deluxe Edition ($89.99 USD) includes everything from Microsoft Flight Simulator’s standard edition plus five additional highly accurate planes with unique flight models and five additional handcrafted international airports.
  • The Premium Deluxe Edition ($119.99 USD) includes everything from Microsoft Flight Simulator Standard Edition plus 10 additional highly accurate planes with unique flight models and 10 additional handcrafted international airports.

In addition to its digital versions, Microsoft Flight Simulator will be available as a retail disc version at European stores via Aerosoft. For more information on these retail disc versions in Europe, please visit the Aerosoft website.

Your fleet of planes and detailed airports from whatever edition you choose are all available on launch day as well as access to the ongoing content updates that will continually evolve and expand the flight simulation platform.

far-cry-6far-cry-6-logoFar Cry 6 has been announced, revealing a Caribbean island simmering with revolutionary tension. The Far Cry franchise has always had a flair for fascinating antagonists, and Far Cry 6 will feature Emmy Award Nominee Giancarlo Esposito (“Better Call Saul,” “The Boys,” “The Mandalorian”) as President Antón Castillo, the violent leader who grips the island of Yara with an iron fist, promising a return to its former glory. With an arsenal of weapons and allies at your back, you’ll take on Castillo’s regime and fight for the future of Yara. Far Cry 6 is coming to Xbox Series X, PS5, Xbox One, PS4, Stadia, and PC (through the Epic Games Store, Uplay, and UPLAY+) on February 18, 2021.

As Dani Rojas (playable as a female or male character), you will help stoke the fires of revolution through guerrilla warfare across the island of Yara, from verdant jungles to the urban streets of the capital city, Esperanza. You’ll use a powerful array of weapons and vehicles, and build a network of allies to fight alongside you, including Fangs for Hire like Chorizo, the dangerously distracting wiener dog. As President Castillo prepares his son Diego, played by Anthony Gonzalez (“Coco”), to succeed him, you will do all you can to ensure his plans don’t come to fruition.

Watch the Far Cry 6 World Premire Trailer HERE.

Visit the Far Cry 6 Webpage HERE.

assassins-creed-valhallaSouce: Blue’s News

Ubisoft announces a November 17th release date for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla for Windows and consoles. The hard-sell includes word you’ll be able to recruit a cat into your crew: Assault Castles, Repair Broken Kingdoms, and Recruit a Cat Raider on November 17. They also offer a new Gameplay Overview Trailer showing off some combat from the upcoming installment that takes the action series into the Viking era. This clip runs just under six minutes. But there’s also a far more detailed Gameplay Walkthrough Video that runs over 30 minutes. Here’s more on the release plans and related products including the soundtrack, a novel, a comic book series, and an art book:

Brand-new gameplay shown at the digital conference illustrates new features that players can enjoy, including dual-wielding, raiding, assaults and open world activities. Raids will be more action-packed and brutal than anything Assassin’s Creed has seen before, with players able to take advantage of a new visceral combat system that lets players bash, dismember and decapitate foes. Eivor will be able to dual-wield axes, swords and even shields against the greatest variety of enemy types ever seen in an Assassin’s Creed. Additionally, the return of the Hidden Blade allows Eivor to assassinate targets with deadly precision.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla is an ambitious action role-playing game that places player choice and exploration at the center of the experience. Throughout the world, players will encounter gameplay challenges, unique and surprising characters with unforgettable stories and a variety of breathtaking landscapes to set foot on. Players will have the ability to customize their character’s hair, tattoos, war paint, weapons and gear, in addition to the option of switching between male or female Eivor at any time. 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 future.

amd-radeon-software-adrenalin-2020Source: TechPowerUp!

AMD late Thursday released the latest version of Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 graphics drivers. Version 20.7.1 beta adds optimization for “Disintegration.” The software also introduces an improved AMD Bug Report Tool. A number of bugs were fixed with this release including stuttering observed on machines running RX 5000 series GPUs with Radeon Replay enabled; “Vega” based graphics cards experiencing performance loss with Performance Metrics enabled; an error switching between apps while previewing your stream; custom fan- and clock- tuning settings not applying in Radeon Performance tuning tab or retaining after reboot; and display resolution failing to stretch with display scaling enabled in CS:GO. Bugs related to Valorant, DOTA2, and DOOM Eternal were also fixed.

The Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition 20.7.1 drivers are available online at the AMD driver download page.

Hardware Video Cards | Donster | |
Hardware | Donster | |

New update 0.9.6 deploys three historical German CVs in Early Access, starts a new Season of Ranked Battles, features updated Hamburg Port and host of other improvements

World of Warships has today seen the release of the new Update 0.9.6, kicking off a new event centered around the long-awaited introduction of German aircraft carriers in Early Access. The new German CVs are the Tier IV Rhein, Tier VI Weser, and Tier VIII August von Parseval, all three of which can be obtained by completing special combat missions, which can be dropped from German Carriers containers.

A new trailer celebrating the introduction of German CVs can be viewed HERE.

The historical German aircraft carriers featured in World of Warships were either planned or partially constructed during World War II but never actually deployed or launched. In World of Warships they come equipped with attack aircraft featuring a new type of ammunition: armor-penetrating rockets that can inflict heavy damage to enemy citadels if successful. German bombers carry armor-penetrating bombs, which are most effectively dropped on slower targets. The torpedoes carried are short-range and fast, but only dish out moderate levels of damage. The planes themselves have high cruising speeds but are somewhat fragile with low HP pools.

The new German CVs can be obtained through the German Carrierscontainers that are given as rewards to players who complete combat missions, as well as Directives, Daily Shipments, and for watching streams. The containers can also drop the new “Black-White-Red” expendable camouflage and other rewards. Also given out for completing special chains of combat missions are German Tokens, which can be used to obtain rewards in the Armory such as Iron Cross permanent camouflage for Tier X Großer Kurfürst, Tier X Z-52, Tier X Hindenburg and Tier X Manfred von Richthofen, which will become available for research at a later date, as well as “Black-White-Red” expendable camouflage patterns, credits and signals.

Furthermore, Update 0.9.6 also introduces a fully reworked and renamed Equipment menu (the former Modules tab). Players can take advantage of a more streamlined interface to manage upgrades, consumables and modules of a ship at a quick glance in one window. Ships that haven’t yet been purchased can also be viewed in the new Ship Preview mode. The Update also includes many other interesting and useful changes that will simplify things a lot for players.

Update 0.9.6 also brings a new Season of Ranked Battles with a 7vs7 format, playing Tier VIII ships, an updated version of the Hamburg Port, other improvements such as sound engine updates, new sound effects, and enhanced HDR improvements in Naval Base, Azur Lane, Dragon, and Sarushima Base ports.

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

MMORPGs World of Warships | Donster | |