The PC is one of the most popular gaming platforms in the world, and one that’s constantly changing. Here at The Verge we cover every aspect, including the latest hardware developments from companies like Nvidia and Logitech, massively popular games like Fortnite and Overwatch, and hugely influential digital platforms like Steam and itch.io.
Nvidia has released a new Game Ready driver (566.03) that includes support for Alan Wake II: The Lake House, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Red Dead Redemption, and more. The 566.03 release also includes support for 32 new G-Sync compatible monitors. If you use Bluestacks or Corsair iCUE equipment, hold off on this driver as there’s a known high CPU usage issue.
Nvidia’s beta all-in-one app is set to replace GeForce experience later this year, and it might fully launch with the RTX 50-series. Hardware leaker kopite7kimi says it will be released officially together with Nvidia’s next-gen GPUs. Nvidia is holding a CES 2025 keynote in January, where we’re expecting to see the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080.
Last week I asked: “Will Valve really sell a Steam Deck plugin that helps bring Epic Games to the handheld?”
Turns out the answer is no. As far as I’m aware, Junk Store will still be available to sideload through Decky Loader, though.
Riot Games’ Marc Merrill announced the layoffs, and spokesperson Joe Hixson shared the number affected with The Verge. The layoffs are focused on the League of Legends team.
“While team effectiveness is more important than team size, the League team will eventually be even larger than it is today as we develop the next phase of League,” Merrill says. Riot announced cuts affecting more than 500 people in January.
Then check out the full list of recommended specs, which were released today. (The game is also verified for Steam Deck!) On PS5 and Xbox Series X / S, Dragon Age: The Veilguard will have fidelity and performance modes that will target 30 and 60 fps, respectively.
The game will release globally at 12PM ET on October 31st.
[Electronic Arts]
Welcome to 2004 Week
The world we live in is, in so many ways, 20 years old. Let’s go back and see how we got here.
There are lots of free demos to try during the fest, which runs through October 21st. Personally, I’ll be checking out the demo for Windblown, the new roguelike from creator Motion Twin coming out this month.
“Junk Store has been approved for sale on the Steam Store!” its developers write — before pointing out Valve hasn’t technically approved the Epic Games Store and GOG game installer tool quite yet.
But why shouldn’t they? You can already add Junk Store to a Steam Deck with the Decky Loader sideloading system. I asked Valve; we’ll see!
I don’t know who needs to hear this, because that era of 3D platformers haven’t necessarily aged well — but I’m feeling some nostalgia well up anyhow! The three-game Tomb Raider collection is coming February (trailer below), while Jedi Power Battles (trailer here) is coming January.
Nate Mitchell, the CEO and cofounder of Spectre Divide developer Mountaintop Studios, published a blog post seemingly trying to assuage fears about the game’s concurrent player count, which Mitchell admits is “lower than we’d all like.” Currently, Steam says there are 2,345 people in-game.
The free-to-play shooter launched in early September. Shroud, a hugely popular streamer, was an adviser.
Update: Added player count and Shroud’s involvement.
Meanwhile, the original game has been delisted on Steam, Polygon writes. (You can still get it in a bundle with the remaster, which requires you to link a PSN account.)
Sony introduced the same requirement for God of War: Ragnarök earlier this year, and unlike with Helldivers 2, it hasn’t taken that decision back.
The game already kicked players into a third-person mode when wielding big machine guns — and a modder extended that to the whole single-player game in 2022 — but this November it’ll be an official multiplayer mode at minimum.
Curious if they’ll balance the rocket launcher and sniper rifle. In first-person mode, they’re partially balanced by how much the weapon blocks your view.
That’s when Windblown, the new roguelike from Dead Cells creators Motion Twin, launches in early access on Steam. I loved Dead Cells, so I can’t wait to check this out. There’s a demo coming on October 14th, and progress will carry over into the main game.
Check ‘em out to see if your PC can run the game when it comes out on February 11th. Specs aren’t yet available for macOS and Linux.
I’ll admit I haven’t played much UT. But the clips that we’re seeing look extremely impressive.
That’s Blur Studio founder Tim Miller (Blur is behind Netflix’s Love, Death and Robots) talking about his upcoming series for Prime Video, Secret Level.
“It’s going to be fantastic.” Well, I’m sold.
Ball discussed the movie while onstage with Epic Games CTO Kim Libreri to talk about how Unreal Engine can help with filmmaking.
Another tidbit from Anna Donlon on stage. She was coy about exactly what those might be, though.
Riot’s Anna Donlon just shared the figure on stage.
She’s discussing the process of bringing the hyper-competitive shooter to consoles and how using Unreal Engine made that easier.