Square Enix has offered players an early glimpse at the performance of the upcoming expansion, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, by releasing a benchmark tool several months before the official launch. This move allows gamers to assess both the graphical enhancements and the new system requirements introduced with the expansion.
During the benchmark conducted on a high-end system equipped with an Intel Core i9-13900K and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, the results showcased a minimum frame rate of 85 FPS and an average of 156 FPS. These tests were performed at maximum graphical settings in 4K resolution, highlighting the demanding nature and quality of the new graphical improvements.
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail introduces a range of graphical updates, including enhanced ground textures, more detailed foliage, and realistic interactions with grass. The update also features improved models for characters and objects, increased quality of shadows and reflections.
A key innovation is the introduction of a new anti-aliasing technology, Temporally Stable Conservative Morphological Anti-Aliasing (TSCMAA), developed by Intel for virtual reality applications, which is incompatible with AMD FSR and NVIDIA DLSS upscalers. These upscalers have also been updated for the expansion but offer users a "frame rate threshold" setting instead of the usual performance, balanced, and quality presets.
The release of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is scheduled for July 2nd, and thanks to the early benchmark access, players can now prepare their systems for the new requirements and fully appreciate the upcoming enhancements.
Cloud Imperium, the developer behind the ambitious space simulator Star Citizen, has released an updated list of system requirements for PCs. The project is still in the alpha stage, indicating that these requirements might change by the time version 1.0 is released. The new list reflects the gradual increase in the technological complexity of the game.
Minimum system requirements for Star Citizen:
OS: Windows 10, 64-bit
CPU: Quad Core CPU — Intel i7 or AMD Bulldozer (architecture name)
GPU: Video card with 4 GB of video memory and DirectX 11.1 support
RAM: 16 GB
Storage: 100+ GB, strongly recommended to use an SSD
Recommended system requirements for Star Citizen:
OS: Windows 10, 64-bit
CPU: Quad/Eight Core CPU — Intel i7 or AMD Ryzen 5
GPU: Video card with 8 GB of video memory and DirectX 12 support
RAM: 32 GB DDR4
Storage: 100+ GB SSD
Please note, the game does not support macOS or Linux, and a GPU that supports Vulkan 1.2 and a computer with AVX are required for launch. Cloud Imperium emphasizes that while the release date for Star Citizen remains uncertain, they are committed to gradually moving towards the release of version 1.0.
The game Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, developed using Unreal Engine, is poised for release on May 21. Running on the Xbox Series X, it operates at dynamic resolutions between 1296p and 1440p. However, due to the use of letterboxing, which applies horizontal black bars at the top and bottom, the actual image resolution ranges from 2304 x 964 pixels to 2560 x 1070 pixels. These settings highlight the game's demanding graphical requirements, explaining why developers chose to limit the frame rate to 30 FPS and forgo a high-performance mode.
In the context of current trends, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II is not the only Unreal Engine project to compromise on resolution for visual quality. Examples include Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on PlayStation 5, operating in quality mode at 1152p, and Immortals of Aveum, which achieves just 720p at 60 FPS on the same consoles. As for the Senua's Saga: Hellblade II version for Xbox Series S, it is expected to run at 720p and 30 FPS, which remains speculative until officially confirmed by Digital Foundry. Interest in such a development approach is growing as developers seek a balance between performance and graphical quality.
Donkey Crew, a small Polish indie studio renowned for its work on Mount and Blade mods and the subsequent game Last Oasis, is once again capturing the gaming community's attention. This time, they present Bellwright, a game poised to revolutionize the mix of strategy, town-building, action, survival, and RPG elements. The game's setting immerses the player in a world where they have been unjustly accused of the prince's death and now seek to uncover the truth to clear their name.
In Bellwright, the story unfolds in a world where every decision and action of the player impacts the environment and relationships with other characters. The player must delve into the past to unravel a conspiracy and prove their innocence. As the narrative progresses, players can lead a rebellion against tyrannical rule, transforming from an outcast to the leader of a revolution.
The developers promise a dynamic 25-square-kilometer world where each village and corner of the land hides its secrets and stories. Liberating villages from the clutches of hostile forces will be a major challenge for players, requiring both strategic thinking and combat skills.
Donkey Crew is focusing on optimization and gameplay enhancements following the issues faced by Last Oasis. An improved behavior system, a new food model, and a companion system with contextual commands are just some of the updates awaiting players in Bellwright. Additionally, the game will support cooperative mode, allowing players to adjust the difficulty level themselves.
After the mixed reception of Last Oasis, Donkey Crew aims to not only regain player trust but also offer a unique gaming experience where every decision and choice matters. With Bellwright, the studio seeks to reaffirm its presence in the gaming market, offering players not just a game, but a world filled with adventure, mysteries, and opportunities for heroism and strategy.
Ubisoft Massive has unveiled details for Star Wars Outlaws, noting the absence of freeform space travel between planets. Players will navigate between the orbits of accessible planets, akin to Bethesda's Starfield mechanism. Creative Director Julian Gerighty highlighted that orbits will be rich with activities, avoiding the creation of 'endless space,' and will include various points of interest.
Space in the game will offer ample activities, from combating pirates to docking at space stations. The reputation system plays a crucial role, affecting player interactions with different factions and syndicates. Good standing with entities like the Pyke Syndicate opens up unique opportunities, including jobs, merchandise, information, and gambling.
Star Wars Outlaws is set for release on August 30 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X. Intel has launched a promotion, offering a free game copy with the purchase of 14th Gen Raptor Lake-S Desktop CPUs or Raptor Lake-HX laptops from select partners, including Dell Alienware, Lenovo Legion, and others.
Ubisoft has partnered with Intel to exclusively optimize its upcoming game, Star Wars Outlaws, for Intel’s 14th generation processors, including Raptor Lake-S and Raptor Lake-HX series. This collaboration extends beyond optimizations to include game bundle promotions for select 14th generation processors and laptops.
Intel has fine-tuned the performance of its 14th Gen Hybrid processors, ensuring optimal CPU scheduling and workload management for Star Wars Outlaws, powered by the Snowdrop engine. This initiative enhances the gaming experience by leveraging the distinct capabilities of P-cores and E-cores within Intel's chip architecture.
Additionally, Intel has provided comprehensive software and hardware support to Massive Entertainment, aiding in the creation of an immersive open-world Star Wars gaming experience. As part of the partnership, Intel is offering a free copy of Star Wars Outlaws with the purchase of its 14th Gen Raptor Lake-S Desktop CPUs or Raptor Lake-HX laptops from partners like Dell Alienware, Lenovo Legion, and others.
The promotion runs from April 9 to July 31, with the game available for download until September 15, 2024.
The official story trailer for Star Wars Outlaws has recently been unveiled, promising thrilling adventures in the world of the renowned Star Wars™ universe. The game's action unfolds between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, allowing players to immerse themselves in a unique period of this epic saga.
The main characters of the game, Kay Vess and Nix, embark on an exciting journey across various planets in the galaxy. Players will explore amazing worlds, meet unique characters, and tackle exciting challenges in search of freedom and new opportunities.
The game is set to release on August 30, and fans are eagerly anticipating the chance to dive into this captivating world. Star Wars Outlaws will be available on various platforms, including PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, giving players the option to choose the optimal experience for themselves.
Additionally, Star Wars Outlaws offers different editions of the game, including Gold and Ultimate with additional content, as well as a seasonal pass for further expanding the gameplay experience. Furthermore, players can gain early access to the game three days before the official release, adding exclusivity and interest to the project.
In a recent interview with the Skill Up YouTube channel, Cyberpunk 2077’s game director Gabriel Amatangelo discussed the potential future content for the game. He noted that although CD Projekt RED's focus has shifted towards the sequel's development, Cyberpunk 2077 might still receive content updates. Amatangelo emphasized that the studio would be open to such updates if there is interest within the team, but these would be minor due to most resources being allocated to the sequel project.
The details of what these updates might contain were not disclosed, with Amatangelo mentioning that it depends on the studio's current workload and the team's interest in further developing Cyberpunk 2077. He also stated that CD Projekt RED is satisfied with the current state of Cyberpunk 2077, with a small team of 17 people continuing to support the game.
Additionally, Amatangelo is leading the development of Project Orion, the code name for the Cyberpunk 2077 sequel, which is in active development. He suggested that any future updates for Cyberpunk 2077, if they occur, could include both bug fixes and new content that aligns with the game's overall concept and style.
Dreamate Games, a Czech-Ukrainian game developer, has revealed a trailer for its latest venture, "New Arc Line," a role-playing game reminiscent of the classic RPG "Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura." Set in the New World's city of New-Ark, an era brimming with the zenith of magic and technology yet shadowed by contrasts and inequality, the game offers a rich narrative canvas.
Players embark on a journey to New-Ark as immigrants seeking a cure for the Iron Plague, only to find themselves entangled in the city's escalating social strife and factional conflicts. "New Arc Line" allows for mastery of various magical or technological skills, with paths open to embody virtue or villainy. Powered by Unreal Engine 5, the game promises a narrative depth and engaging gameplay amidst a world where magic meets mechanization.
In a surprising twist within the gaming industry, Call of Duty: Vanguard by Activision-Blizzard outsold Cyberpunk 2077, despite being considered a disappointment within the company. Known for transforming nearly every release into a major success, Activision faced a peculiar scenario with Vanguard, which despite its massive sales volume, was viewed as the series’ biggest letdown.
Selling 30 million copies, Vanguard, set during World War II, exceeded the sales of Cyberpunk 2077 and its expansion Phantom Liberty, combined at 28 million. These figures highlight a stark contrast between the commercial success of Vanguard and its reception as a failure by Activision-Blizzard, showcasing the complex dynamics of market performance and internal expectations.
