Ubisoft has removed the review embargo for Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, which is powered by the AnvilNext Engine. Performance benchmarks were conducted using an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor and 32GB of DDR5 RAM, testing various graphics cards including AMD Radeon RX 6900XT, RX 7900XTX, RX 9070XT, and NVIDIA RTX 2080Ti, RTX 3080, RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090. The game includes a built-in benchmark tool and offers a range of graphics settings, supporting technologies like NVIDIA DLSS 3 and 4, AMD FSR 3, and Intel XeSS, as well as Ray Tracing without requiring an RT GPU. To achieve 60FPS at 1080p with Ultra High Settings and no RT, players need an AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX, NVIDIA RTX 4090, or RTX 5090. At 1440p with Ultra High Settings and no RT, both the RX 7900XTX and RTX 4090 provide smooth performance, while the RTX 5090 is necessary for 60FPS. No GPU managed satisfactory performance at Native 4K with Ultra High Settings and no RT, with the RTX 5090 struggling to maintain frame rates above 50FPS. Lowering graphics settings did not yield significant performance improvements, raising questions about potential CPU bottlenecks. The game is visually appealing but lacks RTGI effects, making it appear flat at times compared to Unreal Engine 5 titles.
Minecraft capes are decorative items that enhance a player's avatar's appearance without affecting gameplay. They are rare and often linked to significant achievements or events. Players can acquire capes through various means, including:
- Migrating Mojang accounts to Microsoft accounts during the 2020 migration for the exclusive Migrator Cape.
- Owning both Bedrock and Java editions of Minecraft before June 6, 2022, to receive the Vanilla Cape.
- Participating in official events like anniversary celebrations, Minecraft Live, and Minecraft Championships to earn special capes.
- Playing the Bedrock Edition to access the Pan Cape and Founder's Cape.
- Contributing innovative ideas to Mojang, which may result in a custom cape.
- Using mods like Optifine or Advanced Capes Mod on Java Edition for additional cape options.
To equip a cape in Java Edition, players must open the Minecraft Launcher, navigate to the Skins tab, select their skin, and choose the cape. In Bedrock Edition, players can access the Dressing Room, select the Capes tab, and equip their desired cape.
Steam has launched its Spring Sale 2025, starting on March 13 at 6 PM GMT and lasting for one week. The sale features discounts on a variety of games, including AAA titles and indie games. Notable past discounts included games like Baldur's Gate 3, Starfield, Diablo 4, and Resident Evil 4 Remake. The sale may include titles such as The Long Dark, Sifu, Witchfire, and many others, with discounts potentially reaching up to 95%. Steam Deck owners will also find compatible games on sale.
Windows 11 version 24H2 has performance and compatibility issues, particularly affecting Intel 11th Gen processors due to a flaw in the Intel Smart Sound Technology driver, causing blue screen errors. Gaming performance concerns have also been noted but appear to have been addressed. Ubisoft titles like Star Wars Outlaws, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and Assassin's Creed: Valhalla experienced unresponsiveness, which has been resolved. A new bug affects users with the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU, causing startup errors linked to a recent CPU or microcode update. Affected users report performance throttling when applications are minimized or out of focus, with significant drops in performance during benchmark tests. This issue seems limited to certain Intel CPUs, as other models like the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and Intel Core i9 12900K are not affected. Users with Intel's Lunar or Arrow Lake CPUs may be vulnerable, and it is recommended to report issues via the Microsoft Feedback Hub.
The Steam Next Fest is currently ongoing, offering significant sales and free game demos. Ubisoft is holding a Big Publisher Sale with discounts on various titles, including:
- Star Wars: Outlaws - 50% off
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown - 50% off
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - 70% off
- The Rogue Prince of Persia - 25% off
- Riders Republic - 80% off
- Anno 1800 - 90% off
- Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege - 80% off
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora - 67% off
- Rayman Legends - 80% off
Sales from indie publishers Annapurna Interactive and New Blood Interactive include:
- Neon White - 50% off
- Ultrakill - 33% off
- What Remains of Edith Finch - 75% off
- Blood West - 55% off
- Flock - 20% off
Notable cultural games on sale are:
- Lies of P - 40% off
- Cocoon - 40% off
- Black Mesa - 75% off
- Dredge - 50% off
- Unpacking - 50% off
Ubisoft's sale ends on March 13, while the indie sales conclude on March 3, 2025.
A research team at Nagoya University in Japan has developed what they claim to be the "world's smallest shooting game," utilizing nanoparticles measuring 1 billionth of a meter. The game combines digital and physical elements, where players use a digital controller to interact with nanoscale polystyrene balls, which act as enemies. An electron beam projects a spaceship on a display and generates electric fields to influence the nanoparticles' movement. The technology showcases potential applications beyond gaming, including advancements in 3D printing and targeted medical interventions. A video demonstrates the technology, showing the beam directing focus toward the nanoparticles.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be released by Bethesda and MachineGames in late 2024 and is currently available at a major discount on Steam. Steam is also offering discounts on Ubisoft titles, including Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Blizzard's Battle.net has released a significant mid-year update for World of Warcraft, and The War Within is available at a discount. Humble Choice subscribers can access games like Immortals of Aveum and Trepang2 for .99 a month, with various pricing tiers for additional bundles. A coupon code FEB15 provides a 15% discount on any PC game from select retailers.
