game performance Archives

Winsage

December 20, 2024

The best Windows laptops we tested in 2024: Our pick lasts longer than the M4 MacBook Pro

The landscape of Windows laptops in 2024 features a variety of options, including robust workstations powered by Qualcomm technology, dual-display devices, and discreet gaming machines. The 13-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 is highlighted as the top choice, equipped with the Snapdragon X Elite processor and exceptional battery life. The HP Omnibook X 14 is noted as the best mid-range option, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 is recommended for budget-conscious users. The Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 9) is recognized as the best 2-in-1 laptop, and the Alienware m16 R2 is identified as the best gaming laptop. Upcoming models include the Dell XPS 13, HP Omnibook Ultra Flip, and Framework Laptop 13, with updates expected after testing. The HP Omen 17 gaming laptop received mixed reviews, praised for performance but criticized for keyboard, speakers, and battery life.

AppWizard

December 17, 2024

The NVIDIA app on Windows 11 could be sapping performance out of your PC games

The NVIDIA app, which evolved from the GeForce Experience, has been criticized for not improving gaming performance as expected. Tests on games like Black Myth: Wukong and Flight Simulator 2024 at 1080p with medium settings showed concerning results, indicating performance issues that detract from the gaming experience. Gamers are advised to uninstall the NVIDIA app and reinstall the latest drivers from the NVIDIA website while awaiting a fix from the company's engineers.

AppWizard

December 15, 2024

Microsoft Flight Sim 2024 gets a really, really big patch adding full control of enabled content

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has released patch 1.2.7.0, which addresses various bugs and enhances user experience, particularly in career mode. The patch allows users to selectively enable content from the previous 2020 marketplace, with all items turned off by default for greater customization. Players on PC are advised to maintain an organized Community Folder, as outdated packages may negatively impact game performance. The launch of the game faced challenges, with developers acknowledging an "awful launch experience" due to bugs and complexities of the new streamed-assets model. Asobo plans to release a major Sim Update 1 and World Update 19, focusing on Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, and Suriname, in early 2025. Full patch notes for version 1.2.7.0 are available on the official website.

Winsage

December 9, 2024

Ubisoft fixes Windows 11 24H2 conflicts causing game crashes

Microsoft has lifted the safeguard hold on upgrades for devices running the Ubisoft games Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, which were previously affected by crashes, freezes, and audio glitches after the Windows 24H2 update. This hold was imposed due to user complaints about game performance issues, including immediate crashes and freezing. Ubisoft has released temporary hotfixes to mitigate these problems, although some performance issues may still persist. Users experiencing difficulties exiting the games are advised to use the Task Manager as a workaround. Microsoft has also recommended that gamers avoid upgrading affected PCs using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or Media Creation Tool until a full resolution is achieved. Additionally, Microsoft announced a new compatibility hold affecting systems with outdated Google Workspace Sync installations, which have caused issues with launching Outlook.

AppWizard

December 2, 2024

How two secret Stalker 2 hacks cut my loading time from 5 minutes to 52 seconds and got me in the Zone faster

Players of Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl have experienced game-breaking bugs and long wait times due to introductory videos and a mandatory Unreal Engine 5 shader compilation process. A mod called STALKER2Tweak, created by Lyle, allows players to bypass these wait times by downloading platform-specific files and placing them in the game's main directory. For Steam, the file is 'STALKER2Tweakv0.0.7Steam.zip', and for Xbox, it is 'STALKER2Tweakv0.0.7Xbox.zip'. After using the mod, players can access the main menu directly, improving their gaming experience. It is recommended to re-enable shader compilation after each patch or graphics driver update for optimal performance before disabling it again for quicker startup.

TrendTechie

November 17, 2024

Overclockers.ru: На торрент-трекерах появился февральский билд Dragon’s Dogma 2 без защиты Denuvo

A debug build of Assassin's Creed: Mirage has been leaked online, lacking Denuvo protection and initially reported to not include downloadable content (DLC), although installation guides for additional content later appeared on torrent trackers. Additionally, a debug build of Dragon's Dogma 2, identified as version 1.0.0.1 and dated February 27, 2024, has also leaked. This build predates the official launch on March 22, 2024, and lacks the day-one patch, leading to suboptimal performance. Both leaked builds do not include Denuvo protection, and Capcom has been removing Denuvo from its titles.

AppWizard

November 11, 2024

FromSoftware parent Kadokawa to expand publishing business

Kadokawa Corporation, the parent company of From Software, aims to enhance its publishing capabilities for console and PC games. The company is focused on maximizing the lifetime value of its flagship title, Elden Ring, which has sold over 25 million copies since its launch in February 2022. Sales for Elden Ring increased following the release of the Shadow of the Erdtree DLC on June 21st. Despite strong sales figures, Kadokawa anticipates that overall sales in its gaming division may not meet earlier projections due to project delays. However, for the first half of the current fiscal year ending September 30th, Kadokawa reported a 32.8 percent increase in net sales to ¥18.1 billion and a 50.8 percent rise in operating profit to ¥6.1 billion.

AppWizard

November 6, 2024

Steam’s new recording features allow deep integration with games

Steam has rolled out its game recording capabilities for PC and Steam Deck users, moving from beta to full availability. The features include automatic recording, manual clipping with customizable keyboard hotkeys, and easy access to replays through the Steam overlay. Users can export clips using QR codes for sharing. The recording functions are designed to minimize game performance impact by using the GPU for encoding. Steam allows per-game customization of auto-recording durations and capture quality, and provides an SDK and API for developers to trigger recordings based on in-game events. The recording features work with any game, including non-Steam titles added to the Steam library.

AppWizard

November 5, 2024

Dragon Age: The Veilguard PC Performance Analysis

EA released Dragon Age: The Veilguard for PC, utilizing the Frostbite Engine. Performance testing was conducted on a system with an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor and various GPUs, including AMD Radeon and NVIDIA models. The game features extensive graphics settings, including Ray Tracing, DLSS 3, AMD FSR 3.0, and Intel XeSS. It does not have a built-in benchmark but was tested in a demanding initial area. The game supports more than eight CPU cores, with minimum framerates improving with Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT). A minimum of six CPU cores is recommended for optimal performance. At 1080p with Ultra Settings and no Ray Tracing, the game performs well across multiple GPUs, with the RTX 2080Ti achieving over 70FPS. For 1440p at Ultra Settings without Ray Tracing, an RTX 3080 is recommended. At Native 4K with Ultra Settings, the AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX and NVIDIA RTX 4090 maintain above 60FPS. The game features detailed character models and high-quality environments, with smooth performance and no stuttering issues. Dragon Age: The Veilguard is noted for being one of the most optimized PC games of 2024.

AppWizard

October 31, 2024

Steam now requires developers to tell people when their games have kernel mode anticheat

Kernel mode anticheat software has become a controversial topic in the gaming community, with concerns about game performance and system security on one side and a demand for effective cheating measures on the other. Steam has introduced a feature that requires developers to disclose the type of anticheat software used in their games, making it mandatory for those using kernel mode anticheat. This change aims to enhance transparency for players before purchasing games. Kernel mode anticheat was first implemented in 2020, leading to debates, particularly regarding Doom Eternal. Activision introduced the Ricochet kernel mode anticheat for Call of Duty in 2021, promising it would only activate during gameplay, which received mixed reactions. EA followed with similar assurances in 2023.