Pandora Archives

Winsage

April 11, 2025

Windows 11 Update Issues and What To Do About Them

Windows 11 version 24H2 has introduced significant issues, including blue screens of death (BSOD) and device bricking associated with update KB5043145. Users have reported problems such as black screens, corrupted boot sectors, and non-functional system restore points. Businesses are facing complications like failed domain join operations, group policy errors, and stalled WSUS updates. Specific issues include Remote Desktop disconnections after update KB5050094, the removal of the Windows Copilot app in March 2025, blocked BIOS updates for Lenovo ThinkPad users, and gaming performance problems for titles like Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Microsoft is aware of these issues but is slow to provide solutions. Users are advised to use built-in troubleshooters, roll back problematic updates, pause updates, manually update drivers, and back up their systems before major updates.

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 13, 2025

Steam Spring Sale start time confirmed: Here’s when you can save on latest PC games today

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.

Winsage

March 3, 2025

A Windows 11 update has tanked performance on some Intel CPUs — Here’s what it means for you

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.

AppWizard

March 2, 2025

This week’s hot PC gaming Steam deals Feb.23-Mar.1

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.

AppWizard

March 1, 2025

Weekend PC Download Deals for Feb. 28: Indiana Jones and the great sale

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.

Winsage

December 26, 2024

Windows 11 installation media bug causes security update failures

Microsoft has warned that using media support (CD or USB flash drives) to install Windows 11, version 24H2 may prevent the operating system from accepting security updates released between October 8 and November 12. This issue occurs when the installation media includes security updates from October 2024 or November 2024. It does not affect updates applied through Windows Update or the Microsoft Update Catalog, and installations using the December 2024 security update are not impacted. Microsoft is working on a permanent solution and recommends using the December 2024 security update for media-based installations. Additionally, users have reported various issues with the 24H2 update, including audio problems, application launch failures, game freezes, and performance issues with certain hardware and software configurations.

AppWizard

December 19, 2024

PC VR wizard is gearing up to weave his magic on Ubisoft’s 2023 open-world adventure

Modder Luke Ross has transformed popular PC games into VR experiences, including titles like Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Marvel's Spider-Man. His latest project is a VR mod for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, a game by Ubisoft. The game features visually stunning environments, and Ross noted that it looks incredible in VR and is resource-intensive. He plans to release an updated mod that will significantly enhance image quality without sacrificing performance. Access to his VR mod requires a subscription to his Patreon, starting at £8.50 per month, which includes a ZIP file with the VR framework and conversions of 26 PC games into VR.

Winsage

December 10, 2024

Ubisoft has fixed some of the issues with Avatar, Outlaws and the Windows 11 24H2 update, but the big three Assassin’s Creed are still borked

The Windows 11 24H2 update is causing gaming glitches, particularly affecting five major titles from Ubisoft. Microsoft has blocked the update for PCs with these games installed. Ubisoft has released hotfixes for two titles, but the Assassin's Creed series (Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla) still lacks a fix. Microsoft confirmed that patches for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Star Wars Outlaws address crash issues, but performance problems may persist. Users on Windows 11 24H2 should check their version and either wait for Ubisoft's patches or revert to the previous version, 23H2. Rolling back the update can be complicated if more than ten days have passed since installation, potentially requiring a complete reinstallation of Windows. Users can roll back the update if it was installed recently by navigating through the Settings menu.

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.