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Winsage

May 19, 2025

Microsoft takes Windows Subsystem for Linux open source after nearly a decade

Microsoft's Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) was introduced in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update of 2016, allowing users to run Linux applications within Windows. The company has improved WSL over the years, adding features like GPU and audio support. At the recent Build developer conference, Microsoft announced that nearly all of WSL will transition to open source, marking the resolution of the first issue raised on GitHub in 2016. Senior Software Engineer Pierre Boulay highlighted the importance of community contributions to WSL's development. However, two components will remain closed-source: the lxcore.sys kernel driver and the p9rdr.sys and p9np.dll files, with no timeline provided for their potential open-sourcing.

AppWizard

May 19, 2025

The Sinking City Remastered PC Performance Analysis

Frogwares has released a remastered edition of The Sinking City for free to existing owners, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 and Lumen technology. The remaster retains original settings while adding options for Upscaling and Ray Tracing, supporting NVIDIA DLSS 3 and AMD FSR 3.0. However, the DLSS Frame Generation feature is currently non-functional, and FSR Frame Gen is limited to AMD FSR Upscaling. Performance testing indicates that the game is GPU-bound, requiring at least an NVIDIA RTX 4080 or AMD Radeon RX 9070XT for over 60FPS at 1080p with maximum settings and no Ray Tracing. The AMD Radeon RX 6900XT underperformed compared to the NVIDIA RTX 3080, while the RX 9070XT matched the RX 7900XTX. At 1440p with maximum settings and no Ray Tracing, only the NVIDIA RTX 4090 and RTX 5090 achieved consistent framerates above 60FPS. No GPU provides a smooth experience at native 4K resolution with maximum settings and no Ray Tracing, with the RTX 5090 occasionally dipping below 55FPS. Adjusting in-game settings can significantly enhance performance, with High settings yielding over 83FPS on the RTX 5090. The remaster features higher-quality textures and improved lighting, although traversal stutters from the original version persist.

BetaBeacon

May 5, 2025

Best new mobile games on iOS and Android – May 2025 round-up

- Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE is a game included with Apple Arcade subscription where players roll katamari to make them bigger in a mock livestream format. - The gameplay of Katamari Damacy Rolling LIVE remains similar to its original version from 2004, with some minor changes in controls and influencer window dressing.

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 18, 2025

Half-Life 2 RTX is the future of PC gaming, for better or worse

Nvidia has released a complimentary two-hour demo of Half-Life 2 RTX for owners of the original Half-Life 2, showcasing advanced features such as full path tracing and neural shaders. The game includes enhancements like improved meshes, materials, lighting, and the Neural Radiance Cache, which optimizes ray-traced indirect light. The demo demonstrates significant upgrades in asset quality and shadow rendering, but the game is resource-intensive, requiring DLSS for playable performance, particularly at 4K resolution. The demo evokes the original game's atmosphere and is seen as a significant step in Nvidia's remastering efforts. There is currently no release date for the full version, but the demo is available for free on Steam.

AppWizard

March 18, 2025

Why Minecraft’s Bedrock and Java Editions Feel Like Two Different Games

Minecraft has two distinct editions: Java and Bedrock. Java Edition is exclusive to PC and supports extensive modding, while Bedrock Edition is accessible across multiple platforms, including consoles and mobile devices. Bedrock is optimized for performance on a variety of devices, whereas Java offers superior visuals but requires a more powerful PC. Java's Redstone mechanics and combat system differ from Bedrock's, affecting gameplay. Multiplayer in Java is limited to other Java users and community servers, while Bedrock allows cross-play among all platforms. Java has a wider selection of fan-operated servers compared to Bedrock.

TrendTechie

March 5, 2025

Улучшенную версию GTA 5 Enhanced уже взломали и выложили на торренты

On March 4th, Rockstar Games released the Enhanced version of Grand Theft Auto V, which can be upgraded from the original title at no additional cost, but requires players to purchase the game first. This has been particularly challenging for players in Russia. Hackers have cracked the Enhanced version, making it available on torrent sites. The Enhanced edition features improved graphics, faster loading times, and exclusive content for GTA Online. However, it has received a mixed rating of 50% on Steam, with players criticizing the graphics, unstable servers, and the inability to transfer progress from the original version.

AppWizard

March 5, 2025

Grand Theft Auto 5 Enhanced launch is going poorly or well depending on how you look at it: It’s got a ‘mixed’ rating on Steam and is one of the most-played games

Grand Theft Auto 5 Enhanced has launched on Steam, attracting nearly 115,000 concurrent players, with a peak of over 187,000 in the last 24 hours, primarily due to being offered free to existing owners. However, it has not become one of Steam's top-selling games. The Steam rating for GTA 5 Enhanced is "mixed," with 56% of reviews positive, reflecting user frustration. Rockstar Support has noted that some online migrations may take additional time and that suspended or banned accounts may not be eligible for migration. The Enhanced edition has entered Steam's top 10 without significantly affecting the player base of GTA 5 Legacy, which has around 122,000 concurrent players. The Enhanced edition's player count briefly surpassed the Legacy version but has since stabilized. The combined player counts indicate strong engagement with the Grand Theft Auto franchise.

AppWizard

March 5, 2025

GTA V Enhanced Makes the 12-Year-Old Game Look Great Again

Rockstar has released the Grand Theft Auto V PC update, named GTA V Enhanced, which replaces the previous version, now called GTA V Legacy. The update has higher system requirements, with minimum specifications including a 64-bit processor, Windows 10, Intel Core i7-4770 or AMD FX-9590, 8 GB RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 or AMD Radeon RX 6400. Recommended specifications include Windows 11, Intel Core i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600XT. Progress can only be transferred from the Legacy version once, affecting both Story Mode and GTA Online. New features in the update include ray tracing support, AMD FSR and NVIDIA DLSS upscaling, faster load times via DirectStorage, enhanced 3D audio with Dolby Atmos, and DualSense controller support. However, HDR display support is not yet implemented, and the NVIDIA App does not recognize the new version. The game runs smoothly at an average of 123 frames per second on high-end rigs without Frame Generation, which may be added in future updates. Players must use the Rockstar Games Launcher regardless of owning the game on Steam or Epic Games Store, complicating DLSS management. A mod is available to assist with DLSS file management during gameplay.

AppWizard

March 4, 2025

GTA 5 Enhanced Edition Leaves a PC Feature Behind

Grand Theft Auto 5 Enhanced has launched, featuring improved visuals, quicker loading times, and enhanced audio. It is available on PC through the Rockstar Games Launcher and Steam, but not on the Epic Games Store. Existing PC owners can upgrade for free, while new players can purchase it for .99, with promotional discounts available. A significant drawback is the absence of in-game text chat, a feature confirmed by Rockstar not to be supported at launch, leading players to rely on platform chat or SMS for communication. This removal has raised concerns about the future of in-game chat in the franchise, particularly with the anticipated release of GTA 6, speculated for late 2025. Rockstar has established an official Discord channel for GTA 6, indicating a shift towards alternative communication methods.