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Just Announced Hardware for 7 October 2020

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.

Hardware | Donster | October 7, 2020 |

New U.S. battleships Set Sail in World of Warships with Latest Update

World of Warships sees the arrival of the new powerful U.S. battleships sub-branch in the game’s early access today with Update 0.9.9, including the Tier VIII Kansas and the Tier IX Minnesota. They form part of a new U.S. Battleships event available now. The update also includes new Directives, an upgraded Naval Base Port, and a new season of Clan Battles, among other things.

A new World of Warships trailer can be viewed here.

The new U.S. battleships feature powerful main armaments, good anti-torpedo protection, and great maneuverability. However, while their rudder is very responsive, the ships are rather slow for their type. Numerous main battery guns with a solid salvo weight and decent firing range can be found, but they come at the expense of longer gun reload times. Rounding out the battleships are their decent AA defenses which can be reinforced with the Defensive AA Fire consumable.

Players can obtain the VIII Kansas by completing Directives, and the IX Minnesota by opening random bundles in the Armory in exchange for Doubloons. By completing Directives players can get American Tokens, a new temporary resource that can be exchanged for bundles and other rewards in the Armory, including Gold Eagle permanent camouflages for U.S. Battleships.

The new update also starts a new Clan Battles Season in 7 vs 7 format for Tier X ships. Furthermore, Division Commanders will now have additional options to invite mercenaries – players outside their Clan to join their Divisions for Clan Battles.

With the release of Update 0.9.9, players will also be able to play on all World of Warships servers within one game client, without the need to install separate game instances for each region. The game server will be determined by the currently selected account in the Wargaming Game Center.

Update 0.9.9 also brings new visual and general improvements to World of Warships, follow this link for more details.

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 | October 2, 2020 |

CORSAIR K100 RGB Optical-Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review

By Sebastian Peak @ PC Perspective

CORSAIR has released a number of new products in recent weeks, and today the company is launching their latest keyboard: the K100 RGB. This new model represents “the pinnacle of CORSAIR keyboards”, according to the company, “offering the cutting-edge performance, style, durability, and customization that gamers need to stand above the rest”.

Read the Review Here

Gaming Keyboards Hardware | Donster | October 2, 2020 |

AMD Releases Radeon Software Adrenalin 20.9.2 Drivers

Source: TechPowerUp!

AMD late Tuesday released the latest version of Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition. Version 20.9.2 beta introduces optimization for “Star Wars: Squadrons,” adds three new Vulkan API extensions, and introduces a number of fixes. To begin with, 20.9.2 adds support for VK_KHR_buffer_device_address, VK_EXT_robustness2, and VK_EXT_shader_image_atomic_int64, adding to the API feature-set supported by AMD GPUs. Certain games exhibiting intermittent stuttering with RX 5000 series GPUs has been fixed. Radeon FreeSync failing to enable after driver updates without system reboot has been fixed. “X-Plane 11″ experiencing crashes when played with its Vulkan renderer has been fixed. “DOOM VFR” artefacting with RX 5000 series GPUs has been fixed. Performance metrics overlay failing to enabled after the system waking up from sleep, has been fixed.

“Call of Duty: WWII” black textures bug in the zombies mode has been fixed. Blocky display corruption in “Detroit: Become Human” has been fixed. Green video corruption when using the Windows 10 Movies & TV app to edit videos has been fixed. A bug with the VRAM performance metrics incorrectly displaying has been fixed. Windows desktop flickering with HDR enabled, has been fixed. “World of Warcraft” experiencing display corruption with AA enabled, with the DirectX 12 renderer, has been fixed.

The Radeon Software Adrenalin 2020 Edition 20.9.2 drivers are available online at the AMD driver download page.

Hardware Video Cards | Donster | October 2, 2020 |

Just Announced Hardware for 2 October 2020

Hardware | Donster | October 2, 2020 |

Jayhawk: Love, Loss, Liberation and Terror over the Pacific

We review Jay A. Stout’s latest historical novel, Jayhawk: Love, Loss, Liberation and Terror over the Pacific. If you’re a fan of compelling historical narratives that combine accurate historical details, plus insights into the Pacific Ocean Theater of WWII bomber campaign, and would like to learn from first-hand accounts of what it must have been like to fly and fight at tree-top height over the mountainous terrain and steamy jungles of the Philippine Islands, read on.

Continue reading →

Military History | The Dude | September 30, 2020 |

The Coming of the Last Waffenträger Is Nigh!

World of Tanks launches brand-new event that will see the return of the notorious Waffenträger – pitting players against the beast in 7v1 battles

World of Tanks is excited to announce the launch of a brand-new event between September 28 and October 12, The Last Waffenträger! For the first time in World of Tanks history, players will be tasked with taking on a single enemy tank, a colossal Tier 10 tank destroyer – the Waffenträger Auf E 110.

Played across three breath-taking maps (Fisherman’s Bay, Studzianki and Redshire), tankers must work together as a team to vanquish the Waffenträger, destroying its AI-controlled sentinels to unlock upgrades for their tanks – and making the Waffenträger easier to attack.

The event will introduce 6-minute asymmetric warfare – and players can win a bespoke reward pack and earn the chance to command the Waffenträger themselves!

To take on the might of the Waffenträger, players will crew modernised T-55 tanks, using teamwork to outwit the immense power of the boss – and becoming more powerful as they destroy its sentinels, leaving the Waffenträger vulnerable to destruction.

At the apex of the event, the challenge becomes even more interesting; with tankers getting the chance to take on a Waffenträger Auf E 220 crewed by World of Tanks developers and celebrity guests! If a team destroys the Waffenträger Auf E 220 in these battles – then the whole team will win premium reward packs!

“Many tankers will remember the Waffenträger was previously playable in game, but its power proved too much, and so we had to address the balance by removing it” states Max Chuvalov, Publishing Director, World of Tanks. “But it seems that players were still attached to this mechanical behemoth, and asked us to bring the Waffenträger back. So, for this time limited event, we did. Get ready for fearsome battles and amazing prizes – because the Waffenträger is back with a vengeance!”

In game, separate battle missions will unlock exciting reward packs – including event themed vehicle customisation elements (2D styles, unique decals, emblems), in-game goodies and even the chance to play as the Waffenträger Auf E 110.

Watch the all new The Last Waffenträger: Riding the Legend Trailer HERE.

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

MMORPGs World of Tanks | Donster | September 28, 2020 |

Flight Simulator’s First World Update Out Next Week, Gives Japan a Gorgeous Overhaul

Improved terrain, photogrammetry cities, more.

By Matt Wales @ Eurogamer

Barely a month has passed since Flight Simulator swooped onto PC in a cloud of acclaim, but already developer Asobo is poised to release its first major update; it’s coming next Tuesday, 29th September, and will deliver a much-improved (and typically gorgeous) rendition of Japan.

Prior to release, Asobo explained its monthly post-launch update schedule would alternate between core sim improvements and enhancements to the world. Next week’s offering, then, is Flight Simulator’s first World Update, and aims to give players a much more authentic take on Japan, starting with an upgraded digital elevation map across the entire country.

Additionally, it introduces high-resolution 3D photogrammetry for six Japanese cities – Sendai, Takamatsu, Tokushima, Tokyo, Utsunomiya, and Yokohama – as well as and six handcrafted local airports (Hachijojima, Kerama, Kushiro, Nagasaki, Shimojishima, and Suwanosejima).

Watch the Microsoft Flight Simulator – Japan World Update Trailer HERE.

Read on…

Flight Simulation Microsoft Flight Simulator | Donster | September 25, 2020 |

Paradox Announces Hearts of Iron IV: Battle for the Bosporus

New DLC Focuses on Black Sea and Aegean Powers

For centuries, the Bosporus and Dardanelles have been key to strategy in the Mediterranean. A gate that joins the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, a short crossing that divides Europe from Asia. In the middle of a world crisis, this strait is an attractive target for any great power that seeks to dominate the region. Is neutrality even possible when war arrives on your doorstep?

Hearts of Iron IV: Battle for the Bosporus is a new country pack for Paradox Development Studio’s best-selling grand strategy wargame. New events and decision paths let you take control of the destinies of Bulgaria, Greece or Turkey through years of uncertainty and conflict. Is it possible for these middle powers to steer a path between factions that will demand their support?

Watch the Announcement Trailer HERE.

Features of Battle for the Bosporus include:

National Focus Tree for Bulgaria: Balance the factions in a divided land or reclaim territory lost in 1919. Follow the historical alliance with Germany or resist the German pressures on Tsar Boris, standing up for a free Bulgaria.
National Focus Tree for Greece: Riven by political division, Greek neutrality is maintained by the controversial Metaxas. Build a strong relationship with the Allies under the guidance of King George II, follow arch-conservatives into fascism or restore the glories of Greek Empire in the east.
National Focus Tree for Turkey: Robbed of its empire in the last war, what future is there for Turkey in a new one? Continue or halt the reforms of Kemalism, stand as the protector of the Balkans in a new regional faction, restore the Sultan to the throne or found a new Islamic state.
New Music Tracks.
New 3D Unit Models for Balkan and Turkish Armies.
Unique voice overs for Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.

Hearts of Iron IV: Battle for the Bosporus will be available on 15 October 2020 for the suggested retail price of $9.99/£7.19/€9.99.

Hearts of Iron IV Strategy and Wargaming | Donster | September 25, 2020 |

“Strategist” wargame begins in War Thunder

Winners will get four new rare military vehicles, including the modern Merkava tank

Gaijin Entertainment announces the start of the “Strategist” event in the military online action War Thunder. Players collect toy soldiers and use them to attack enemy lines on the strategic map. Four new exclusive vehicles will serve as rewards: the Merkava Mk.3D main battle tank, a BI fighter interceptor, the Lübeck frigate and the Sd.Kfz.251/10 armoured vehicle. The event will last until October, 5th.

“Strategist” event players attack figurines that represent enemy armies, sabotage buildings, break through defensive lines and collect secret documents that can be exchanged for prizes. All resources and toy soldiers for the “Strategist” event can be obtained by playing classic War Thunder session battles.

The Merkava Mk.3D is a later modification of the well-known Israeli main battle tank that remained in production until 2003. It gained a new 120 mm smoothbore cannon, a better engine and new electronic equipment that includes thermal sights and a laser warning system.

Watch the trailer here.

The BI is the first Soviet rocket-powered aircraft, designed during WWII and envisioned to become a short-range defensive interceptor. The aircraft’s rocket propulsion allows it to get into the action fast, thanks to high acceleration, top speed and climb rate, but at the same time, prevents it from lingering in combat for too long due to its limited fuel supply of just 2 minutes with WEP mode. This aircraft didn’t take part in active combat, but the insights gained were later used for other projects during the Cold War.

Lübeck is a Köln-class frigate, built in the 1960’s and represents one of the first larger warships built by Germany after WW 2.

The Sd.Kfz.251/10 is a variant of the well-known and widely used German WW 2 halftrack, equipped with a 3.7cm anti-tank cannon for increased firepower.

The full description of the “Strategist” event and the prizes is available at the official War Thunder Website.

MMORPGs War Thunder | Donster | September 25, 2020 |