graphics settings Archives

AppWizard

April 1, 2025

The Last of Us Part II Remastered Coming to PC On April 3, 2025

“The Last of Us Part II Remastered” will be released on PC on April 3, 2025, available on Steam and the Epic Games Store. This marks the first time Windows users can access the game, which previously received over 300 Game of the Year awards on PlayStation. The remastered edition includes enhancements such as improved graphics, performance, and new content, including a roguelike mode called “No Return.” Pre-orders are currently available. The PC version will support customizable graphics settings, ultrawide monitor support, and full DualSense controller features. New playable characters Bill and Marlene will be introduced in the “No Return” mode, alongside a Guitar Free Play mode and restored cut content. The game will require a minimum of an Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300x processor and 16GB RAM.

AppWizard

March 31, 2025

I played 5 games on an RTX 5070 vs RTX 5070 Ti gaming PC — is it worth paying extra

Both the RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti GPUs are being tested across five demanding PC games to evaluate their performance. The RTX 5070 is priced at £529, while the RTX 5070 Ti is priced at £729. In Cyberpunk 2077, the RTX 5070 achieved 17 FPS and the RTX 5070 Ti achieved 25 FPS at 4K Ultra settings without DLSS. With DLSS 4 enabled, both GPUs exceeded 100 FPS. In Forza Horizon 5, both GPUs showed similar 1% low performance. In Call of Duty Black Ops 6, the RTX 5070 showed limitations compared to the RTX 5070 Ti. Black Myth: Wukong revealed a noticeable performance gap between the two GPUs, while both performed well in Alan Wake II. The RTX 5070 Ti is recommended for multiplayer gaming, while the RTX 5070 may suffice for single-player experiences. Both GPUs offer enhanced performance for users with older hardware.

BetaBeacon

March 30, 2025

I tested game emulators on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, but found a better option instead

The Vulkan API is the future of Android gaming and provides a performance boost for modern mobile GPUs. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite is currently the best chip for emulation, offering steady frame rates across games and emulators.

AppWizard

March 24, 2025

Atelier Yumia runs better than the previous Atelier games, but has ridiculously high CPU requirements

KOEI Tecmo has released Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land, following the mixed reception of its predecessor, Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout. GUST Studios has made improvements in performance, resolving framepacing issues and enhancing mouse camera movement. The game supports various graphics settings and uncapped framerates but lacks NVIDIA DLSS or AMD FSR, using Intel XeSS instead. Performance testing on a high-end setup showed over 140FPS at Native 4K/Ultra Settings, but the game is CPU-bound, requiring modern CPUs with 10-14 cores/threads for optimal performance. Locking the framerate to 60FPS provided stability but still needed 10-12 cores/threads. Visually, the game resembles PS3-era graphics, and while it has improved from previous titles, its demanding hardware requirements indicate room for further optimization.

AppWizard

March 18, 2025

Assassin’s Creed: Shadows PC Performance Analysis

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.

AppWizard

March 14, 2025

Rise of the Ronin review

Rise of the Ronin, an action RPG set in the Edo period developed by Team Ninja, is now available on PC for £40 after its successful launch on PS5. Players have reported performance issues such as fluctuating frame rates and slow-motion movement, particularly in crowded areas, which detracts from the gameplay experience. The game features layered combat mechanics and a narrative focused on the final days of the Shogunate, where players rid villages of bandits and develop connections with NPCs. Despite initial smooth gameplay, performance deteriorated during missions, leading to inconsistent experiences. While some players have enjoyed smooth gameplay, many have faced optimization issues, raising concerns about the game's overall quality and the effectiveness of an upcoming patch from Koei Tecmo to address these problems.

AppWizard

March 13, 2025

Rise of the Ronin is another crappy PC port, performance patch coming ‘soon’

Rise of the Ronin was released on Steam a year after its PlayStation 5 launch, but players are experiencing significant performance issues, including stuttering, low frame rates, crashes, and input delays. Koei Tecmo is investigating these problems and developing a patch. The game has received a "mixed" rating on Steam, with only 44% of user reviews being positive. Many users express disappointment with the game's graphical quality, and while some report satisfactory experiences, frustrations are prevalent. Koei Tecmo acknowledged issues with FPS drops and model rendering when using the Ultra graphics preset and suggested lowering the graphics settings and FPS limit as a temporary solution.

Winsage

March 12, 2025

CrossOver 25 improves DirectX 11 support, works with Epic Games Store

CodeWeavers has released CrossOver 25, enhancing the gaming experience for Mac users by expanding support for games from digital storefronts like GOG Galaxy and the Epic Games Store. The update includes Wine 10.0, Wine Mono 9.4.0, vkd3d 1.14, MoltenVK 1.2.10, and D3DMetal 2.1, improving compatibility and performance. D3DMetal 2.1 enhances performance for major titles such as Red Dead Redemption 2 and adds support for The Last of Us: Part 1, along with other DirectX 11 games. The introduction of DXMT allows for running DirectX 11 titles on macOS, with reported performance improvements for lower-spec Macs. CrossOver 25 launches Steam faster and simplifies the setup process, featuring a new configuration system that optimizes graphics settings automatically. It can also enable AVX for titles requiring specific settings to run on Apple Silicon. CrossOver 25 is available for purchase, including a 12-month support option, while CrossOver Life offers a long-term solution for gamers.

Winsage

March 12, 2025

CrossOver 25 makes gaming on macOS and Linux even better — could it help gamers ditch Windows 11?

CodeWeavers has released CrossOver 25 for macOS and Linux, featuring Wine 10.0 with over 5,000 changes to improve the gaming experience on non-Windows systems. The update includes a new configuration system that automatically selects optimal graphics settings and introduces DXMT, a Metal-based DirectX 11 implementation for macOS, enhancing performance for lower-spec Macs. D3DMetal 2.1 improves compatibility with Apple Silicon, allowing games like Street Fighter 6 and The Last of Us Part 1 to run more efficiently. CrossOver 25 also enhances startup times for Steam games and fully supports GOG Galaxy and the Epic Games Store on macOS. Notably, it allows Red Dead Redemption 2 to run on Mac without additional configuration and improves multiplayer functionality for games like Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition and Tekken 8. Other games such as Fallout 76 and Monster Hunter Rise have also received various improvements.

Winsage

March 7, 2025

Best Windows apps this week

This week's highlights include the updated Copilot app from Microsoft, which has transitioned from a progressive web app to a fully native application available for Insiders in the Microsoft Store. Users should expect improved performance and usability, though it will gradually reach the stable release channel. Notable discounts are available this week, with some apps enjoying extended offers. New or improved apps include: - Intel Graphics Software (Beta): A management hub for Intel graphic cards, offering features like graphics settings and performance monitoring, requiring .NET Runtime 8 or newer. - PowerToys 0.89: An update introducing a new feature in the Advanced Paste tool that allows users to transcode audio and video files to mp3 or mp4 formats using a shortcut. - PreventSleep: A utility that keeps Windows systems awake by preventing sleep mode, screen dimming, or screensaver activation.