Category: Gaming

  • World War Shooter on Steam Now Just $3.99 – 80% Off Deal

    World War Shooter on Steam Now Just $3.99 – 80% Off Deal

    Key Takeaways

    1. Authentic Experience: Verdun immerses players in trench combat with realistic weaponry, uniforms, and gas masks, creating a compelling atmosphere.

    2. Frontlines Mode: The game features a unique Frontlines mode where teams alternate attacking and defending trenches, promoting continuous and intense combat.

    3. Progression System: Players can earn experience points to level up their abilities and gear, with distinct squads and classes for each of the five nations.

    4. Development History: Developed by BlackMill Games, Verdun launched its final version in April 2015 after two years in Early Access, receiving positive reviews overall.

    5. Current Discounts: As of the article’s publication, Verdun is on sale for 80% off until March 5, making it an attractive option for fans of realistic shooters.

    Verdun immerses players in the harsh realities of trench combat during World War I’s Western Front, striving to provide a highly engaging experience. With authentic weaponry and uniforms, tight-fitting gas masks, and realistic ballistic physics, it creates intense tactical encounters and an absorbing atmosphere.

    Intense Gameplay

    A standout feature is the Frontlines mode, where teams alternate attacking enemy trenches. This leads to unrelenting combat, as newly captured positions need to be defended from incoming offensives. Players gain experience points to level up, enhancing their abilities and gear. Each of the five nations available has distinct squads and classes that can be improved on an individual basis.

    Development and Reception

    Created by BlackMill Games, Verdun exited Early Access after a two-year period and launched its final version in April 2015. At the time of this review, the game had received 28,447 reviews on Steam, with an 87% positivity rate. On Metacritic, it has a Metascore of 70 and a user score of 7.8. Critics have noted its dated graphics and subpar optimization, which can lead to frame rate drops even on high-performance systems. Player counts generally stay in the low hundreds, making it tough to find full matches outside of peak times.

    Current Offers

    Even with its shortcomings, Verdun might still draw in supporters of realistic shooters, especially with its current Steam sale. Until March 5, the game is available at a whopping 80% discount, reducing the price to $3.99. Those wanting to enjoy trench warfare with friends can buy a four-pack for $14.99, which is a 75% discount.

    Prices can change. The deal was active at the time of this article’s publication, but could be time-sensitive or limited in availability. All details are provided without guarantee.

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  • AMD Radeon RX 9070 Pre-Built Gaming PCs Available Online

    AMD Radeon RX 9070 Pre-Built Gaming PCs Available Online

    Key Takeaways

    1. The first ready-made gaming PCs with Radeon RX 9070 series GPUs are now listed on Newegg, but they are mostly back ordered or out of stock.
    2. Three models are available: two from iBUYPOWER and one from AVGPC, with prices starting at $1750 due to discounts.
    3. The AVGPC Whirlwind features a Ryzen 7 9700X and RX 9070 XT, while the iBUYPOWER models include Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 7 7800X3D options with RX 9070 GPUs.
    4. All models use liquid cooling; iBUYPOWER systems have vertically mounted GPUs and additional 1TB storage, along with a keyboard and mouse combo.
    5. The official launch date for these PCs is March 6, with the AVGPC system expected to arrive by February 28.

    The first ready-made gaming PCs that come with the Radeon RX 9070 series GPUs have begun to appear on Newegg. Right now, there are just three models available—two from iBUYPOWER and one from AVGPC. However, all of them are either back ordered or out of stock at this moment because the official release is set for March 6. According to a report by Videocardz, AMD has verified this launch date during a press conference. The starting price for these pre-built gaming systems is $1750, thanks to a slight discount.

    Listings Spotted

    The listings were discovered by @Olrak29_, who posted about them on X, showcasing the three models available on Newegg. Currently, these listings are active and feature three different configurations of AMD CPUs and GPUs. The AVGPC Whirlwind Gaming PC is equipped with a Ryzen 7 9700X, 32GB RAM, and the Radeon RX 9070 XT, priced at $1799. One of the two iBUYPOWER Y40 Pro Black Gaming Desktops has the Ryzen 7 9700X, Radeon RX 9070 16GB, and 32GB DDR5 RAM, going for a discounted $1750. The original price for this model is $2100. The second Y40 Pro Black features a Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the same Radeon RX 9070 16GB with 32GB RAM, with a discounted price of $1800, yet still holding the same regular price of $2100.

    Cooling and Features

    All three models utilize liquid cooling, but only the iBUYPOWER systems have GPUs that are mounted vertically. Interestingly, the AVGPC configuration with the RX 9070 XT is sold at a lower price compared to the RX 9070 setup with the same CPU (before any discount) from iBUYPOWER. Importantly, iBUYPOWER provides their systems with an additional 1TB of storage, along with a keyboard and mouse combo.

    On top of that, only the iBUYPOWER system using the Ryzen 9700X appears to qualify for the AMD game bundle, which gives away Monster Hunter Wilds Standard Edition for free. At this time, these pre-built PCs are not yet available for purchase but are expected to be on sale starting March 6. Nevertheless, the AVGPC system is currently back ordered, with an estimated arrival date of February 28.

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  • Get Your Free Game Now on the Epic Games Store for Limited Time

    Get Your Free Game Now on the Epic Games Store for Limited Time

    Key Takeaways

    1. Epic Games is updating its free game giveaway, offering “Mages of Mystralia” for free on PC.
    2. Players can still download “Garden Story” and “World War Z Aftermath” for free until the update.
    3. “Star Wars KOTOR” and “KOTOR II: The Sith Lords” are free on Android and iOS until March 20.
    4. “Mages of Mystralia” features a unique spell-crafting system and diverse puzzles, receiving a mixed reception from critics.
    5. The giveaway for “Mages of Mystralia” starts at 16:00 UTC today and ends at 15:59 UTC on March 6.

    Epic Games is set to update its free game giveaway later today. It’s important to note that this change only impacts the free PC game initiative, where players have been able to download Garden Story and World War Z Aftermath at no cost since last Thursday. In a different offer, Star Wars KOTOR and KOTOR II: The Sith Lords are available for free on Android and iOS until March 20.

    New Title Announcement

    This week, Epic Games will be offering Mages of Mystralia for free. Borealys Games has also released this title on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, where it is currently priced at $299 on Amazon. Keep in mind that Epic’s giveaway pertains specifically to the Windows version of the game, which has the following system requirements:

    Mages of Mystralia is an action-adventure game that features an intricate spell-crafting system instead of traditional weapons. The game also includes a variety of puzzles, which many reviews have noted are more diverse than the enemy types found in the game. Currently, it holds an average score of 74/100 on Metacritic and OpenCritic, with only 67% of critics recommending it. Epic Games will start the discount for Mages of Mystralia from 16:00 UTC today and it will last until 15:59 UTC on March 6.

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  • New Powkiddy X35H Handheld Unveils Unique Allwinner A527 Chipset

    New Powkiddy X35H Handheld Unveils Unique Allwinner A527 Chipset

    Key Takeaways

    1. Helegaly is developing a new gaming handheld, the K560, which is currently just a concept.
    2. The design of the K560 may have shifted to a more compact form, resembling the Powkiddy X35H.
    3. The new Helegaly device features two joysticks, a d-pad, and ABXY buttons.
    4. It is equipped with an Allwinner A527 chipset, similar in performance to the Unisoc T618.
    5. There is no confirmation yet on whether the Helegaly handheld will be released to the market.

    Retro Handhelds has gotten news that a new gaming handheld branded by Helegaly is on its way. To recap, last September the website revealed the K560, which has the same chipset now featured in the Ayaneo Pocket Micro (currently priced at $246.95 on Amazon). As of now, the Helegaly K560 is still just a concept.

    Potential Shift in Design

    It seems that Helegaly might have moved away from the K560 design to create a more compact gaming handheld. The Retro Handhelds team mentions that the unnamed Helegaly gadget bears a striking resemblance to the X35H released by Powkiddy last month. In line with this, the new Helegaly gaming handheld has two joysticks placed beneath a d-pad and the ABXY buttons.

    Specifications and Performance

    Reports indicate that Helegaly has equipped the new device with an Allwinner A527 chipset, which is already being used in the Radxa Cubie A5E single-board computer. According to synthetic benchmarks, the Allwinner A527 would position Helegaly’s gaming handheld in a similar performance range as the Unisoc T618, which Anbernic uses in several models such as the RG405V and RG405M. Nonetheless, it is still uncertain whether the showcased device will actually make it to market at this point.

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  • GeForce RTX 5090D Outperforms RTX 4090 in Benchmark Tests

    GeForce RTX 5090D Outperforms RTX 4090 in Benchmark Tests

    Key Takeaways

    1. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090D achieved an impressive average score of 45,948 on PassMark, outperforming both the RTX 5090 and RTX 4090 in benchmarks.
    2. The RTX 5090D has modified specifications for the Chinese market, featuring lower AI performance (2,375 AI TOPS) compared to the international RTX 5090 (3,352 AI TOPS).
    3. Despite potential performance issues due to software compatibility, the RTX 5090D showed a +19.6% improvement over the RTX 4090 in overall benchmarks and a +102.7% increase in DirectX 12 tests.
    4. Comparisons are primarily made with the RTX 4090 instead of the RTX 4090D due to limited sample sizes for the latter, leading to less reliable performance data.
    5. Evidence suggests that the RTX 5090D sample may have been overclocked, achieving higher scores in additional benchmarks compared to the standard RTX 5090.

    Team Green has been under a lot of criticism lately for various reasons, but a recently tested Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090D (known as the “5090 D”) has shown impressive results on PassMark that should bring a smirk to Jensen Huang’s face. This graphics card, which is exclusively available in China, achieved an average score of 45,948 and reached 304 FPS in the site’s DirectX 12 test. For comparison, the next two best performers, the RTX 5090 and RTX 4090, scored 39,209 with 212 FPS and 38,430 with 150 FPS, respectively.

    Specifications Overview

    The GeForce RTX 5090D is Nvidia’s take on the standard RTX 5090, with minor modifications to allow it to be sold in China without attracting US backlash. The core specifications, such as the number of CUDA cores and memory setup, remain unchanged, but the RTX 5090D has a limited AI performance of 2,375 AI TOPS, while the international model boasts 3,352 AI TOPS (TOPS refers to trillions of operations per second). Even though the RTX 5090D is not as advanced in AI compared to the RTX 5090, it has still managed to perform exceptionally well in the G3D Mark benchmark.

    Performance Insights

    Additionally, it’s been pointed out that PassMark may have unintentionally reduced the performance of Blackwell cards due to compatibility issues with a software layer (specifically, Nvidia’s removal of 32-bit framework support). While the site works on a patch to address this, it’s likely that RTX 50-series cards will keep facing challenges. However, the regular RTX 5090 has successfully surpassed the RTX 4090 in the rankings, and the RTX 5090D has exceeded expectations as well. The Blackwell card registered a +19.6% improvement over the RTX 4090 in the overall benchmark and an incredible +102.7% increase over the Ada Lovelace card in the DirectX 12 test.

    Deliberate Comparisons

    The choice to compare with the RTX 4090, instead of the RTX 4090D, is intentional. Only nine samples of the China-only Ada Lovelace card have been evaluated on the site, compared to more than 14,500 for the standard RTX 4090, yielding significantly lower results: Overall – 28,686, DirectX 12 – 128 FPS. The GeForce RTX 5090D sample likely underwent overclocking, as there is evidence of this from a video shared by Tony Yu of Asus, showcasing a modified RTX 5090D card achieving 43,372 points in 3DMark Port Royal. In our analysis of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 FE, the 3DMark Port Royal score was 37,335 points, indicating that the overclocked RTX 5090D has a +16.2% advantage.

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    GeForce RTX 5090D Outperforms RTX 4090 in Benchmark TestsGeForce RTX 5090D Outperforms RTX 4090 in Benchmark Tests
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  • Horror Classic on Steam: Under $3 with 18K Positive Reviews

    Horror Classic on Steam: Under $3 with 18K Positive Reviews

    Key Takeaways

    1. Psychological Horror Experience: Players assume the role of Daniel, who navigates a terrifying castle while uncovering fragmented memories and a dark reality.

    2. Unique Gameplay Mechanics: The game focuses on survival through hiding and fleeing rather than combat, featuring a sanity system that affects gameplay based on fear and darkness.

    3. Positive Reception: Amnesia: The Dark Descent has received a 95% positive rating on Steam, with significant praise from players and critics alike.

    4. Discount Pricing: The game is currently available at an 85% discount on Steam, reducing the price from $19.50 to approximately $3 until March 3.

    5. Timeless Appeal: Despite its age and outdated graphics, the game remains captivating for horror enthusiasts, showcasing its lasting impact in the genre.

    Released in 2010 by Frictional Games, Amnesia: The Dark Descent stands out as a pivotal title in the psychological horror genre. Players take on the role of Daniel, who finds himself in a dilapidated castle with no memories of how he got there. A letter he penned to himself outlines his goal: to eliminate Baron Alexander von Brennenburg. As Daniel navigates the unsettling estate, fragmented memories, scattered notes, and ghostly visions gradually unfold a terrifying reality.

    Gameplay Mechanics

    The game does not utilize traditional weaponry. Instead, survival hinges on hiding, fleeing, and clever tactics. A critical feature is the sanity system, which mirrors Daniel’s psychological state. Experiencing fear and spending too much time in darkness causes his sanity to drop, resulting in visual anomalies, eerie sounds, and sluggish movements. To regain sanity, players must seek out light—whether by igniting candles, entering well-lit areas, or advancing the narrative.

    Reception and Pricing

    With more than 18,000 reviews on Steam, Amnesia: The Dark Descent boasts a remarkable 95% positive rating. On Metacritic, it holds a Metascore of 85 and a User Score of 8.5. Although the graphics may seem outdated after almost 15 years, horror enthusiasts might still find it captivating, especially with a massive 85% discount on Steam, bringing the price down to about $3 from the original $19.50. This promotion is set to last until March 3.

    Prices may vary. The deal was valid at the time this article was written, but it might be time-limited or in short supply. All details are provided without guarantees.

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  • New MMO Reaches Kickstarter Goal in Only One Hour

    New MMO Reaches Kickstarter Goal in Only One Hour

    Key Takeaways

    1. Stars Reach quickly hit its $200,000 Kickstarter target within one hour of launch on February 25, 2025.
    2. The project is led by Raph Koster, known for his work on Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies, aiming to create a player-driven dynamic galaxy.
    3. Playable Worlds has raised $38 million from investors but chose crowdfunding due to a challenging financial environment.
    4. The Kickstarter campaign offers various reward tiers, with contributions ranging from $1 to $800 or more for unique perks and exclusive content.
    5. As of now, Stars Reach has raised about $400,000, surpassing its initial goal and unlocking its first stretch goal for a new playable race.

    The sci-fi sandbox MMORPG, Stars Reach, which we have talked about before, hit its $200,000 Kickstarter target in an astonishingly quick time—just one hour after the campaign kicked off on February 25, 2025. The well-known developer Raph Koster, famous for his work on Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies, is leading the project. With Stars Reach, his goal is to build a galaxy that is dynamic and driven by the players.

    Funding and Crowdfunding

    Even though Playable Worlds has already secured $38 million from investors, they decided to go the crowdfunding route due to a tough financial environment. The Kickstarter campaign has several reward tiers available, with options ranging from $1 to $30 that provide updates and digital goodies, while contributions of $60 to $450 grant access to perks such as exclusive land, special pets, and cosmetic items. If someone donates $800 or more, they unlock unique rewards like personal planets, special ships, and even one-on-one chats with Raph Koster.

    Current Progress

    As of the latest information, Stars Reach has raised about $400,000 on Kickstarter, exceeding both its initial funding target and the first stretch goal. This first milestone, set at $350,000, introduces a new playable race into the game. The next stretch goal will be unlocked at $450,000, which will bring “Crafting Appearance Customization” into play, allowing players to customize their crafted items. There’s also a third stretch goal listed on Kickstarter, but details about it have not been revealed yet.

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  • Balatro’s 4th Friends of Jimbo Update: Fallout, Critical Role & More

    Balatro’s 4th Friends of Jimbo Update: Fallout, Critical Role & More

    Key Takeaways

    1. The latest update, Friends of Jimbo 4, introduces 8 new collaborations to Balatro.
    2. Each suit in the game now has 2 additional deck customization options.
    3. Collaborations include major titles like Assassin’s Creed, Dead by Daylight, and Fallout, alongside indie games like Slay the Princess and Bugsnax.
    4. The update features Sid Meier’s Civilization VII and Rust, both adding to the diversity of content.
    5. Support for Xbox Game Pass has been added, with more content updates expected later this year.

    Only a year after the launch of Balatro, the developer LocalThunk continues to enhance the game with fresh collaborations from both major and indie titles. The newest update, titled Friends of Jimbo 4, introduces an additional 8 collaborations.

    Deck Customization Options

    As always, these collaborations offer new deck customization options, granting each suit an extra 2 choices for personalization. Let’s kick things off with Spades:

    In this suit, you’ll find a mix of a popular AAA game and an indie title. Assassin’s Creed brings forth Ezio and other beloved characters from the franchise. The indie collaboration is from Black Tabby Games, known for the game Slay the Princess. Next, we move to the Hearts suit, which has a unique addition this time.

    Unique Collaborations

    While there is indeed an indie collaboration here, instead of a AAA game, we see a partnership with Critical Role, a D&D tabletop show that has been gaining massive popularity. Alongside this, the indie game Bugsnax, developed by Young Horses, joins the mix. Next up is Clubs, featuring perhaps the most significant collaborations of this update:

    The Club cards showcase two major collaborations. The well-known multiplayer horror game, Dead by Daylight, displays several of its notorious villains on the cards. In addition, the Fallout collaboration features the iconic Vault Boy along with a few new characters. Lastly, we have Diamonds, which includes a collaboration that was released just two weeks before this update:

    Sid Meier’s Civilization VII makes its debut in this update, having been released on February 11th. This is paired with the last collaboration featuring Rust, a survival indie title from Facepunch Studios. Furthermore, Balatro’s latest update now includes support for Xbox Game Pass. You can read more about that here.

    What’s Next for Players?

    Players can be excited for more content from LocalThunk as a highly anticipated update is expected later this year. For those interested in a physical edition, there is one available on Amazon that comes with 10 Balatro cards as a special gift.

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  • New RX6H Game Console: Affordable Handheld with ArkOS Support

    New RX6H Game Console: Affordable Handheld with ArkOS Support

    Key Takeaways

    1. Game Console has released several affordable gaming handhelds inspired by popular designs, including the R46S and RX6H.
    2. The RX6H is priced between $34-$42 on AliExpress, with potential price fluctuations expected soon.
    3. Influencers recently acquired the RX6H for around $25, indicating possible promotional pricing.
    4. The RX6H features a 3.5-inch IPS screen (640 x 480 resolution), 1 GB LPDDR3 RAM, and a Rockchip RK3326 processor, but has a smaller battery than its predecessor.
    5. The RX6H comes with EmuELEC 4.7 and supports third-party firmware like ArkOS, but only has one MicroSD card slot.

    Game Console has released several affordable gaming handhelds so far, many of which take inspiration from well-known designs. For instance, last year, the company launched the R46S following the releases of the Anbernic RG CubeXX and Powkiddy RGB30, which is currently priced at $95 on Amazon.

    Pricing Insights

    Now, Game Console has introduced the RX6H, which can be found on AliExpress for around $34-$42 as of this writing. Just to give you some context, influencers like OGTechNick, Retro Gaming with Deadfred, and Retro Handhelds were able to grab RX6H units for about $25 just a few days ago. This leads us to believe that the prices may fluctuate in the upcoming weeks.

    Specifications Overview

    In essence, the RX6H seems to share its internal components with the Powkiddy RGB20S, as noted in the Game Console’s manual. Therefore, the RX6H comes equipped with a 3.5-inch IPS screen that has a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, along with 1 GB of LPDDR3 RAM and the well-known Rockchip RK3326 processor. However, it has a 3,000 mAh battery instead of the RGB20S’s 3,500 mAh capacity.

    The RX6H operates on EmuELEC 4.7 right out of the box. That said, Retro Gaming with Deadfred points out that ArkOS is already available, which is one of the more popular third-party firmware options for various retro gaming handhelds. It’s important to remember that the RX6H only has one MicroSD card slot. For further information, please check the AliExpress listings provided below.

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    New RX6H Game Console: Affordable Handheld with ArkOS Support
  • New TT Games Lego Game Confirmed; Fans Anticipate Batman Link

    New TT Games Lego Game Confirmed; Fans Anticipate Batman Link

    Key Takeaways

    1. Warner Bros. Games is facing a $300 million deficit in 2024, leading to the cancellation of MultiVersus and a Wonder Woman project.
    2. TT Games is expected to help restore financial stability, with a new Lego game potentially launching in 2026 or earlier.
    3. Fans are speculating about new Lego game characters, with a strong desire for a return of Batman to the Lego franchise.
    4. Job listings hint at a major IP-based Lego game in development, possibly including another Harry Potter title or a new racing game.
    5. Rocksteady is working on a new project for the Batman: Arkham series, expected to launch after 2026.

    Warner Bros. Games is currently facing the aftermath of a staggering $300 million deficit in 2024. This financial turmoil has led to the unfortunate cancellation of both MultiVersus and a future project centered around Wonder Woman. Nonetheless, the company is placing its hopes on TT Games to help restore its financial stability. This UK-based developer has been behind the successful Lego games inspired by franchises such as Star Wars and Harry Potter. Journalist Jason Schreier mentioned on the Kinda Funny Games podcast that the upcoming Lego game could potentially launch in 2026 or even earlier.

    Game Development Insights

    Schreier, known for his detailed coverage of the WB Games narrative, didn’t go into great detail. However, Bloomberg has recently highlighted that a new Lego game is indeed in development, generating excitement among fans who are now speculating about which iconic brick characters might be included. Given that a lot of Lego games draw inspiration from popular film franchises, players have a fair chance of guessing correctly. One of the most popular requests is for the return of the caped crusader to the Lego realm. The last Batman Lego game was the 2018 title Lego DC Super-Villains, and even if the next game takes a different approach, fans believe it’s high time for TT Games to revisit Gotham City.

    Job Listings Reveal Clues

    Job advertisements have also hinted at WB Games’ plans for the next Lego title. In September 2024, gamers stumbled upon a posting for a Senior Game Programmer, where the role involved working on a “major IP-based Lego game.” It’s possible that another Harry Potter game could be in the works, but it’s worth noting that the Lego Harry Potter Collection was remastered not long ago for modern consoles.

    In addition, another job listing from TT Games sought a designer for Lego vehicles, specifically mentioning the Lego Speed Champions toy series. This could indicate the development of a new racing game, although it’s important to remember that the Visual Concepts crafted Lego 2K Drive was released in 2023.

    Future Batman Projects

    Moreover, Rocksteady seems to be gearing up to breathe new life into the Batman: Arkham series for WB Games. However, it appears that this new single-player experience won’t see the light of day until after 2026.

    The Kinda Funny Games podcast, Bloomberg, and Brick Fanatics continue to provide updates on these exciting developments.

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    New TT Games Lego Game Confirmed; Fans Anticipate Batman LinkNew TT Games Lego Game Confirmed; Fans Anticipate Batman Link

     

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