shaders Archives

BetaBeacon

April 18, 2025

The AYANEO Pocket Micro Classic is everything I wanted the Game Boy Micro to be

The AYANEO Pocket Micro Classic is a modern handheld device inspired by the Game Boy Micro, featuring a premium metal body, large shoulder buttons, and a 3.5-inch IPS display perfect for GBA emulation. It runs on Android 13 and is powered by a Helio G99 SoC, allowing it to emulate some PS2 titles. The device is designed for discerning gamers and is priced starting at 9.

AppWizard

April 6, 2025

The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered PC Performance Analysis

Sony has released The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered for PC, utilizing Naughty Dog’s proprietary engine. Performance analysis was conducted using an AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D processor, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 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 on a Windows 10 64-bit system. The game features customizable graphics settings and supports technologies like Intel XeSS, NVIDIA DLSS 3, and AMD FSR 3.1. Benchmark tests showed all GPUs maintained frame rates above 60FPS at 1080p and 1440p resolutions with Max Settings, with the NVIDIA RTX 2080Ti achieving 60FPS. The AMD Radeon RX 9070XT outperformed the RX 7900XTX, while the RX 6900XT lagged behind the NVIDIA RTX 3080. For 4K gaming at Max Settings, the AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX and NVIDIA RTX 4090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5090 were necessary for 60FPS. The game requires a minimum of six CPU cores/threads for optimal performance, with dual-core and quad-core systems experiencing severe stuttering. An eight-core processor improved frame rates above 70FPS. The game features impressive pre-baked lighting but has some traversal stutters and asynchronous shader compilation that may affect performance on CPUs with fewer cores. Keyboard and mouse controls function well from the start.

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

Naughty Dog And Nixxes On The PC Port Of The Last Of Us Part II: “We Take The Steam Deck Very, Very Seriously”

The Last of Us Part II is set to launch on Steam on April 3, marking a shift in Sony's strategy to release titles across multiple platforms. The porting process involves adapting the game from PlayStation hardware to PC, which presents challenges due to differences in architecture and the need for customizable experiences for PC gamers. The development team, including members from Naughty Dog and Nixxes, has implemented a system for real-time shader compilation to enhance performance. The port will also include new characters and gameplay modes, while maintaining the original narrative. Extensive collaboration between Naughty Dog and Nixxes has ensured support for various input devices and accessibility options.

AppWizard

March 25, 2025

Minecraft’s never going free-to-play because as it stands it’s ‘the best deal in the world’

Mojang introduced new sophisticated shaders for Minecraft, set to enhance the visual experience in 2025. The standard "Java and Bedrock" edition of Minecraft is priced at £20, with various deluxe editions, skins, and texture packs available. Two optional subscriptions, Marketplace Pass and Realms Plus, offer additional customization and multiplayer experiences, but the base purchase provides a complete gaming experience. Mojang emphasizes accessibility and a commitment to maintaining the game's core experience without aggressive monetization. A parent noted that Minecraft became the sole game played on their child's Switch after purchasing it for £20. Mojang's representatives confirmed that there is no pressure from Microsoft to explore new monetization strategies. Game director Agnes Larsson highlighted the cultural significance and community ethos of Minecraft. The latest update, "Spring to Life," is available for free and introduces new ambient features, mob variants, and minigames inspired by an upcoming movie adaptation.

BetaBeacon

March 22, 2025

This overkill Android Game Boy is better than my memories of the real thing

The AYANEO Pocket DMG is a luxury, Game Boy-styled handheld device that offers a classic vertical format for enjoying retro games.

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.

Winsage

March 10, 2025

How to Improve Game Data Loading Times in Windows

Most modern games rely on real-time asset loading, making storage choice crucial for optimal gaming. A slow SSD or HDD can lead to long loading times and performance issues. 1. Disabling NTFS Last Access Time can improve loading speeds by reducing disk overhead. This can be done via Command Prompt with the command: fsutil behavior set disablelastaccess 1. 2. Enabling Large System Cache can enhance performance for games with substantial assets, requiring at least 16 GB of RAM and editing the Windows Registry. 3. Disabling antivirus scanning for the game folder can reduce loading times by preventing real-time scans. This can be done through Windows Security settings. 4. Using an exFAT drive can efficiently process large files, which may benefit games with sizable assets. This involves creating a new volume in Disk Management. 5. Disabling Full-Screen Optimizations can reduce input lag and improve performance by changing settings in the game's executable properties. 6. Increasing Shader Cache Size can improve loading times, with Nvidia users advised to set it to 10 GB or Unlimited in the Nvidia Control Panel. 7. Using a third-party cache management program like PrimoCache can enhance loading times by reserving RAM for caching frequently used programs.

AppWizard

March 3, 2025

This New Unofficial PC Port Of Sonic Unleashed Could Be The Best Version Of The Game Yet

Fans have created an unofficial PC port of Sonic Unleashed called Unleashed Recompiled, enhancing the original game and adding features for modding and performance. The project was developed by a team led by Skyth and Sajid, utilizing tools named XenonRecomp and XenosRecomp to convert Xbox 360 executables into a PC-compatible format. The port includes support for ultrawide monitors, high-resolution graphics, increased framerates, and expanded modding opportunities. To avoid legal issues with Sega, the developers did not include original game assets, advising users to source them from their legally acquired copies. Sonic Unleashed originally released in 2008 on Xbox 360, Wii, and PS3, featuring both high-speed daytime levels and combat-focused nighttime segments. The PC port is available for download on the project's GitHub page, which also offers instructions for extracting game files from the Xbox 360 version.

AppWizard

March 2, 2025

Full Xbox 360 decompilation for PC debuts with Sonic Unleashed Recompiled

Sonic Unleashed has been ported to PC as Unleashed Recompiled, nearly sixteen years after its original release in November 2008. This port was developed by fans using XenonRecomp and XenosRecomp tools to convert PowerPC code and Xenos shaders into x86 PC-compatible C++ and HLSL code. This breakthrough allows for the possibility of recompiling any Xbox 360 title for native PC play, including those not supported by Xbox Backward Compatibility. Players must have legally obtained copies of the original Xbox 360 titles to use this port. Unleashed Recompiled features advanced graphics and gameplay modifications through tools like HedgeModManager, making the PC platform a more customizable option for playing Xbox 360 games.