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 | |

call-of-duty-wwiiSource: Blue’s News

A weekly update from Sledgehammer Games has details on a new patch that’s now live in Call of Duty: WWII, a major content update which includes new item types including weapon charms and weapon reticles as well as changes to the Quartermaster and Supply Drop system. Activision also announces the commencement of Operation: Shamrock & Awe, a St. Patrick’s Day-themed community event that will run until April 3rd. Here are the details:

Shipment 1944

Shipment 1944, a re-imagining of the classic close-quarters Multiplayer map, is free and available in Call of Duty: WWII in early access for Season Pass owners starting today. The map is free and available to all on Friday, March 16.

Leprechaun Hunt Moshpit

The Leprechaun Hunt Moshpit delivers Team Deathmatch, Hardpoint, Kill Confirmed and Domination modes with a twist: a fleet-footed zombie leprechaun hidden in each map. Players who eliminate the terrifying little sprite are rewarded with something better than a pot o’ gold – all of their equipped Scorestreaks full and ready to deploy.

This mode will be available for players as a Featured Public Match playlist during Operation: Shamrock & Awe, offering 2XP from 10:00 am Pacific on March 16 to 10:00 am Pacific on March 19.

New Weapons and Gear

Players will find all-new St. Patrick’s Day-themed gear, including uniforms, helmets, weapon camos and more, only available during Operation: Shamrock & Awe.

As well as new gear, Operation: Shamrock & Awe delivers two all-new weapons to Call of Duty: WWII – the M-38 Submachine Gun and the MG 81 Light Machine Gun. Both weapons have St. Paddy’s Day-themed variants, available only during Operation: Shamrock & Awe, though other variants of both weapons will continue to be available in the game once the community event concludes.

Check out the Operation: Shamrock & Awe screenshots and trailer via the Call of Duty community blog.

wolfenstein2-the-new-colossusSource: Blue’s News

Bethesda.net has news that The Deeds of Captain Wilkins is now available for Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, completing the Freedom Chronicles DLC trilogy for the alternate history shooter. They offer a new trailer setting up the story and showing off gameplay. Here’s word:

Gather ‘round, lovers of freedom! Following The Adventures of Gunslinger Joe and The Diaries of Agent Silent Death comes a third tale of heroism, courage, valor and good ol’ fashioned Nazi-killin’.

The Deeds of Captain Wilkins, the final installment in the Freedom Chronicles trilogy, is now available. In this thrilling chapter renowned US Army veteran and resistance fighter Captain Gerald Wilkins travels to Nazi-controlled Alaska, armed with a stolen experimental battlewalker contraption, to stop a nefarious superweapon known as the Sun Gun.

The Deeds of Captain Wilkins is the third expansion in the Freedom Chronicles Season Pass, a series of DLC packs for Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus featuring the stories of three unique heroes fighting for liberty against the Nazi scourge. The Freedom Chronicles Season Pass can be purchased digitally for $24.99 (US) / £17.99 (UK) / $34.95 (AUS) / €24.99 (EUR).

assassins-creed-originsThe Curse of the Pharaohs, the second downloadable content for Assassin’s Creed Origins, is now available.

In The Curse of the Pharaohs, players will take on an all-new story, set four years after the events of Assassin’s Creed Origins, and continue Bayek’s journey, as he travels to the ancient capital city of Thebes to investigate a curse that is plaguing the region.

The new expansion immerses players in Egyptian mythology, challenging them to battle famous pharaohs and mystical beasts, as they investigate the temples of Karnak and Luxor as well as well the secret tombs of the Valley of the Kings.

This new content will increase the level cap to 55 and introduce new crafting levels, resources and abilities. Players will also be able to acquire new outfits and gear, including rare and legendary weapons – all themed around classic Egyptian mythology.

The Curse of the Pharaohs is available for purchase separately or as part of the Assassin’s Creed Origins Season Pass.

Watch the Assassin’s Creed Origins: The Curse of the Pharaohs launch trailer HERE.

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

amd-radeon-software-adrenalin-editionSource: TechPowerUp!

AMD has released Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.3.2 Beta, its second significant driver release for this month. These drivers include heavier optimization for “Final Fantasy XV.” This includes up to 4 percent higher frame-rates at 1080p compared to the older 18.3.1 drivers, when tested with a Radeon RX Vega 64; and up to 7 percent higher frame-rates at the same resolution, when tested with the RX 580 8 GB. It also fixes a stuttering issue noticed in the game, when rendering scenes with heavy particle effects.

The new Radeon Software Adrenalin 18.3.2 Beta drivers are available online at the AMD driver download page.

Hardware Video Cards | Donster | |

amd-ryzenfall-masterkey-fallout-chimeraSource: The Hacker News

Security researchers have discovered 13 critical Spectre/Meltdown-like vulnerabilities throughout AMD’s Ryzen and EPYC lines of processors that could allow attackers to access sensitive data, install persistent malware inside the chip, and gain full access to the compromised systems.

All these vulnerabilities lie in the secure part of the AMD’s Zen architecture processors and chipsets—typically where device stores sensitive information such as passwords and encryption keys and makes sure nothing malicious is running when you start your PC.

The unpatched vulnerabilities are categorized into four classes—RYZENFALL, FALLOUT, CHIMERA, and MASTERKEY—and threaten wide-range of servers, workstations, and laptops running vulnerable AMD Ryzen, Ryzen Pro, Ryzen Mobile or EPYC processors.

Discovered by the team of researchers at Israel-based CTS-Labs, newly disclosed vulnerabilities defeat AMD’s Secure Encrypted Virtualization (SEV) technology and could allow attackers to bypass Microsoft Windows Credential Guard to steal network credentials.

Read on…

Security | 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 | |

arma-3-tanksDeveloper diary video reveals new armored vehicles and more

Bohemia Interactive today announced the release date for the upcoming Arma 3 Tanks DLC and revealed the DLC’s content and features. Available on April 11, Tanks DLC will conclude Arma 3′s current development roadmap by introducing a brand new Main Battle Tank, Armored Weapons Carrier, Tank Destroyer, a short singleplayer mini-campaign, and a singleplayer Showcase scenario.

The Tanks DLC will be accompanied by a major platform update. This update will be free for everyone who owns Arma 3, and implements a range of new gameplay features and bonus content related to armored vehicles, such as fully-modeled 3D interiors, more targeting options, new launchers and additional vehicle variants, decorative objects for scenario creators, a competitive multiplayer mode, and more. The complete package is explored in-depth in a new developer diary video.

Arma 3 Tanks DLC Key Features:

  • T-140 Angara – The T-140 Angara is a Main Battle Tank (MBT) of Russian design and is used by the CSAT faction. This vehicle is built to deliver maximum destruction, while providing the best kind of protection to its crew. The Angara’s primary weapon is a new 125 mm cannon, which can fire three different kinds of ammunition, and has a longer effective range than the cannons on most Western tanks. Its secondary weapons are a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. Aside from the regular T-140, the Angara also comes in the T-140K ‘Commander’ variant, which replaces the heavy machine gun for a 30 mm autocannon, and is equipped with sensors to share target data via the Data Link with other units.
  • AWC Nyx – The Nyx Armored Weapons Carrier (AWC) is of German engineering descent, but was licensed and modified by the AAF faction. Its smaller size makes it relatively fast and mobile, and even allows for it to be slingloaded by the CH-49 Mohawk helicopter. The Nyx comes in four variants: Anti-Tank, Anti-Air, Recon, and the Autocannon variant. All of these variants wear an armor jacket that is able to withstand 7.62 ammunition, but each vehicle variant carries different types of weapons or equipment to serve specific needs on the battlefield. Just like the other new vehicles in this DLC, the Nyx is available in multiple liveries.
  • Rhino MGS – The Rhino is a wheeled Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) that is purpose-built to fight against tanks. For this reason, it’s also referred to as a ‘Tank Destroyer’. The Rhino MGS has a 120 mm cannon, which can fire all kinds of standard rounds, but also the new MARUK ATGM. It has a secondary weapon in the form of a coaxial .338 magnum machine gun. The Rhino also comes in the UP variant. This variant features an additional remote 12.7 mm heavy machine gun turret, and improved protection in the form of cage and ERA armor. It makes the UP more suitable for Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT), but does add weight and limits options for transport. Both variants of the Rhino are connected to the Data Link, which enables them to lock onto targets picked up or painted by friendly armed forces.
  • “Altis Requiem” Mini-Campaign – Over the course of three singleplayer scenarios, you assume the role of an AAF tank commander, and you get to experience the opposite perspective of the NATO offensive featured in Arma 3′s vanilla “The East Wind” campaign. Here, you’re placed in command of the new AWC Nyx in the fight against the FIA. Later you’re also presented with the opportunity to operate the new T-140 Angara Main Battle Tank. This short mini-campaign leads to different possible endings based on your playstyle and performance.
  • Showcase Tank Destroyers – In this singleplayer Showcase scenario, you play as a NATO crewman on board the new Rhino MGS UP. This Tank Destroyer has similar firepower to a Main Battle Tank, but is much more vulnerable in terms of armor protection. As such, you will need to make good use of the Rhino’s speed and maneuverability to complete your objectives.

Arma 3 Platform Update 

Tanks DLC will be complemented by a major free platform update (version 1.82). This update introduces free new features and bonus content for all owners of Arma 3:

  • One of the highlight of this update is the addition of fully-modeled 3D interiors for all armored vehicles in Arma 3. On top of that, the overall experience of operating armored vehicles will be enhanced in the form of improved handling, an extended damage model, vehicle customization options, and upgraded audio.
  • Moreover, players will be able to make use of various new targeting options while fighting with or against armored vehicles; the Fire-Control System (FCS) automatically measures the range and speed of a target, adjusts a weapon’s zeroing, and calculates the lead to increase the chances of a first-round hit, whereas new missile flight profiles and capabilities enable players to fire missiles in either a direct or top-down attack mode. The update will also add support for terrain-following munitions, plus a few weapons will now also have the ability to lock-on after launch.
  • Aside from new features, the free platform update will also introduce a new team-vs-team multiplayer mode called “Vanguard”, 3 new Time Trial Challenges for the new DLC vehicles, as well as free bonus content such as 2 new anti-tank launchers, and new vehicle variants of the Offroad pickup and Light Strike Vehicles that carry a mounted launcher.
  • Lastly, Arma 3 content creators will be able to make use of a variety of free new decorative objects via the in-game Scenario Editor.

Arma 3 Tanks DLC is now available for pre-order with a 10% pre-order discount on the Bohemia Store and Steam (original price: € 9.99 / $ 11.99 / £ 8.99). People can also pick up the Arma 3 DLC Bundle 2 (includes Jets, Laws of War, Tac-Ops Mission Pack, and Tanks DLC) at € 22.99 / $ 24.99 / £ 19.99, which saves them more than 25% over purchasing each DLC separately.

A complete overview of the content and features in Arma 3 Tanks DLC (and its associated free 1.82 platform update) is available at www.arma3.com/dlc/tanks.

Arma 3 First-Person Shooters | Donster | |

tom-clancys-the-division-2Source: Blue’s News

Ubisoft officially announces  Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 following the inadvertant revelation of plans for the shooter sequel. The post there is the English version of the statement that leaked early. They have also posted a roadmap for the franchise, which they note is celebrating its second birthday. The roadmap includes plans to support the first The Division, which is covered in more detail in this State-of-the-Game update which discusses the next two patches. Here’s word on the road ahead:

The Division’s second birthday is finally here! We have been hard at work since the launch of the game and have some news to share with our community. Yes, there is a Division 2 that is currently under development by Massive! The supporting studios that continue to make The Division possible – Red Storm, Reflections, Annecy – will also play roles in The Division 2’s development. More information will be revealed at E3 this year, and we cannot wait to show the world what we have in store!

This does not mean that work on The Division 1 is coming to a halt. We are going to continue supporting the game as players look forward to the following timeline of content:

  • April – Update 1.8.1, which includes the Xbox One X patch and the implementation of Classified drop rate changes discussed on a previous State of the Game. We are also introducing two new Legendary modes alongside a new Global Event: Blackout.
  • May – New Global Event: Onslaught.
  • June – Update 1.8.2, which will introduce two more Legendary mission modes and bring back Global Event: Outbreak. This update also marks the beginning of the brand new Shields monthly feature, in which achievements earned playing The Division will grant special rewards in The Division 2.
  • July – Global Event: Assault, with the continuation of Shields.
  • August – Global Event: Strike, with the continuation of Shields.
  • September – Global Event: Ambush, with the continuation of Shields.

It has been quite the journey so far, and we are just getting started. A huge thank you to our community for the support over the years. Here is to the future of The Division!

call-of-duty-black-ops-4-boxTop-Selling Series in Call of Duty History Makes its Return 12th October

Black Ops is back! In what represents a game-changing experience, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 will revolutionise the top-selling series in Call of Duty history when it launches worldwide on Friday, 12th October for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. Call of Duty fans can tune in Thursday, 17th May, when publisher Activision, a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, and award-winning developer Treyarch host the community reveal to a worldwide audience.

View the official Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 teaser trailer HERE.