visual enhancements Archives

Winsage

March 28, 2025

Windows 11’s Game Bar gets a fresh coat of paint, plus a tweak to work better on handhelds – and I like the direction Microsoft’s heading in here

Microsoft has rolled out updates for Xbox consoles and Windows 11 users, particularly enhancing the Game Bar. The Game Bar has received a graphical overhaul, including redesigned widgets such as Capture, Performance, Resource widgets, and the Widget Store. Improvements have also been made to navigation within the Widget Store for controller users, especially in Compact Mode, which optimizes the display for gaming handhelds. The updates aim to create a cleaner and more organized user interface. There is anticipation for a potential 'handheld mode' for Windows 11, which has been rumored.

AppWizard

March 24, 2025

Minecraft to Get Vibrant Visuals Graphics Update Soon

Mojang announced the 'Vibrant Visuals' update for the Bedrock Edition of Minecraft, which will enhance the game's graphics with features like volumetric lighting, improved reflections, and subsurface scattering for foliage. The update will also add detail to mobs and items, such as glowing spider eyes and illuminating torches. It is purely cosmetic, leaving gameplay mechanics unchanged and ensuring compatibility for players in the same realm. The update will be tested on various devices, with a beta version to be released soon, and plans to extend it to the Java Edition are in place. The Minecraft With RTX experience offers the highest visual fidelity for players with powerful PCs.

AppWizard

March 24, 2025

Minecraft officially announces biggest graphical upgrade ever

Minecraft has sold over 300 million units worldwide from 2016 to 2023. Microsoft acquired Mojang Studios and the rights to Minecraft in September 2015 for .5 billion. A new update called ‘Vibrant Visuals’ was announced during a recent ‘Minecraft Live’ event, which will improve textures, lighting, shadows, reflections, and fog. This update will be available for both PC and Minecraft: Bedrock Edition across various devices, maintaining backwards compatibility with previous versions. A specific release date for the update has not been announced, but it is expected later this year.

Winsage

March 24, 2025

Amazon warns Surface Laptop 7 shoppers as Mojang unveils massive visual update to Minecraft and Microsoft leaks a potential new feature for the Xbox app on Windows 11

Amazon has reported that the Surface Laptop 7 is frequently returned by customers. Mojang has introduced a "Vibrant Visuals" update for Minecraft, enhancing the game's aesthetics while keeping its gameplay mechanics intact. Microsoft is developing a Steam filter for the Xbox app on PC, suggesting deeper integration with Steam. HP announced 25 new PCs at its Amplify conference, including the EliteStudio 8 AiO G1i and the OmniBook 7 Aero 13. The MSI Claw 8 AI+ gaming handheld received a score of 4.5 out of 5 for its performance and features.

AppWizard

February 14, 2025

Ubisoft Releases Assassin’s Creed Shadows PC & New-Gen Features Trailer

Ubisoft has announced that Assassin’s Creed Shadows will be released on March 20, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, set in 16th-century feudal Japan. The game features two protagonists: Yasuke, a historical African samurai, and Naoe, a skilled shinobi. It will not be available on older consoles like PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Key features include uncapped frame rates on PC, multiple performance modes on consoles, ray tracing, AI-driven upscaling techniques, and spatial audio technology. The game is powered by the new Anvil engine, designed exclusively for current-generation hardware, and will run at 60 FPS on consoles. Minimum and recommended system requirements for PC have been specified, and the game requires a constant internet connection for activation and online features. Pre-orders are open with multiple editions available.

AppWizard

February 13, 2025

Avowed PC performance analysis: Sometimes good, sometimes bad, frequently odd

Avowed has transitioned from an expansive open-world design to a semi-open world format with interconnected large levels, maintaining elements from both Skyrim and Pillars of Eternity. Developed by Obsidian, it targets 30 fps for the Xbox Series X/S version, with early impressions suggesting that ultra-high frame rates are not prioritized for the PC version. The game uses Unreal Engine 5 and offers a Lumen option for ray tracing in 'software RT' mode, which is accessible for users without ray-tracing-capable GPUs but with reduced visual accuracy. Benchmark tests were conducted in Claviger's Landing, revealing performance insights. The Asus ROG Ally X experienced crashes when changing graphics settings, while the review code was generally stable with minor glitches. The game features multiple quality presets: - Low quality preset: Decent visuals but pronounced model and shadow pop-in, suitable for basic setups. - Medium quality preset: Improved visuals with richer colors and reduced shadow pop-in, though some animations trigger abruptly. - High quality preset: Balances visual fidelity and performance, achieving acceptable frame rates at 1080p, but lower-tier PCs may experience stuttering. - Epic quality preset: Most visually impressive but can lead to lag on weaker systems; ray tracing does not significantly enhance graphics. - Lumen ray tracing: Activating this mode offers marginal improvements in lighting and shadowing but may not justify performance trade-offs. Avowed includes upscaling technologies like Nvidia's DLSS and AMD's FSR, with DLSS performing better but still underwhelming. The game is recommended to be played on the High preset for optimal enjoyment, with caution advised regarding upscaling options unless using a compatible GeForce RTX card.

AppWizard

December 28, 2024

5 unimplemented Minecraft features Mojang should add to the game in the future

- Shaders are a highly desired unimplemented feature that could enhance the game's visuals, with partial integration in versions 1.16 and 1.17, but ultimately abandoned. - Fallen trees have been requested since 2012, potentially adding complexity to gameplay by serving as obstacles and hiding spots. - The fletching table lacks purpose and was initially teased for enhancement before the 1.15 release; upgrading it could introduce new gameplay mechanics related to hunting and gathering. - The concept of seasons, mentioned during Minecon 2013, remains unimplemented and could lead to visual transformations and changes in mob behaviors. - The Birch Forest biome was set to receive enhancements during the Wild Update announced at Minecraft Live 2021, but the anticipated features did not make it into the final version.

AppWizard

November 19, 2024

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 lands on Xbox Game Pass today

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 has been officially launched by Asobo Studio and is now available on Xbox Game Pass for Ultimate and PC subscribers. The game features enhanced visuals, including detailed ground elements, animal herds, dynamic migrations, ship traffic, oil rigs, glider airports, and helipads. New activities include a World Photographer mode, Challenge Leagues, and an Aviation Careers mode. Xbox achievements for the game are expected to be released later today.

AppWizard

November 16, 2024

Half-Life 2 gets a major 20th Anniversary Update and bundles Lost Coast with episodes —the game is now free on Steam until November 18

Half-Life 2 celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a comprehensive update on Steam, introducing free content including elements from the Lost Coast expansion and Episodes One and Two until November 18. The Orange Box bundle, which includes these titles along with Portal and Team Fortress 2, is available for .99 until November 22. Most mod support for Half-Life 2 is now integrated into the main game, and standalone store pages for expansions have been delisted. The update features a complete visual overhaul, enhancing graphics to match Lost Coast's fidelity, and introduces a new High Quality mode for improved model rendering and shadow effects. User interface improvements include compatibility with modern controllers and three and a half hours of developer commentary added to Half-Life 2.

AppWizard

November 13, 2024

Open-world racing game JDM: Japanese Drift Master for PC launches in spring 2025

Developer Gaming Factory will launch the open-world racing game JDM: Japanese Drift Master on PC through Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG in spring 2025. A free demo titled JDM: Rise of the Scorpion was released on August 8, 2023. The game features a vibrant location called Ichikara, inspired by Tokyo, and includes a unique story told through hand-drawn manga pages, over 40 story-driven challenges, and numerous side quests. The open world encompasses over 250 kilometers of roads in the fictional prefecture of Guntama, with a variety of environments to explore. Players can drive fully licensed vehicles from brands like Nissan, Subaru, and Mazda, with authentic engine sounds. The game offers advanced tuning options for vehicles and a variety of racing events, including circuit races, drift challenges, time trials, head-to-head battles, and drag showdowns.