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March 2023

the-last-worker-review PC Gamer

The Last Worker Review

March 31, 2023PC Gamer

I went into The Last Worker (opens in new tab) expecting some kind of deeply political, capital-‘I’ Important game. Best case scenario: something really pressing or moving for the current moment, a daring artistic statement like Disco Elysium or Norco. Worst case: a preachy polemic about this “late capitalism” thing people are always posting about then patting themselves on the back for having noticed. I instead found a forbidden, third thing: a breezy, charming caper with a broad anti-corporate theme, anchored by stealth and puzzle solving gameplay centered around a six degrees of freedom hovercraft.Image 1 of 3(Image credit: Wired…

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kioxia-and-wd-unveil-world’s-fastest-3d-nand-flash-memory Toms Hardware

Kioxia and WD Unveil World’s Fastest 3D NAND Flash Memory

March 31, 2023TomsHardware

Kioxia and Western Digital have revealed their jointly developed 8th Generation BiCS 3D NAND memory device featuring 218 active layers. The new IC boasts a record-breaking 3200 MT/s interface speed that will allow developers to build high-performance storage subsystems (such as the industry’s fastest client SSDs) using fewer 3D NAND chips. To enable a 3200 MT/s I/O, the two companies took a page from YMTC’s Xtacking book. The first 8th Generation BiCS 3D TLC NAND device introduced this week features a 1Tb (128GB) capacity, a four-plane architecture to maximize internal parallelism and performance, and a 3200 MT/s interface speed (which will provide a peak sequential…

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gog’s-spring-sale-is-giving-away-its-last-free-game,-a-turn-based-tactical-rpg-set-in-the-deepest-reaches-of-space PC Gamer

GOG’s Spring Sale is giving away its last free game, a turn-based tactical RPG set in the deepest reaches of space

March 31, 2023PC Gamer

GOG’s 2023 Spring Sale (opens in new tab) wraps up on Monday, which leaves just enough time for one more giveaway before it’s done. The fourth and final free game in the sale is Deep Sky Derelicts (opens in new tab), a turn-based tale of survival in the darkest reaches of space.We said just ahead of its 2018 launch that Deep Sky Derelicts is a “mix of Darkest Dungeon and XCOM (opens in new tab) with a pinch of Hearthstone and FTL.” You take control of a trio of outcast mercenaries struggling to survive by scavenging the husks of derelict…

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directx-12-update-allows-cpu-and-gpu-to-access-vram-simultaneously Toms Hardware

DirectX 12 Update Allows CPU and GPU to Access VRAM Simultaneously

March 31, 2023TomsHardware

Microsoft has announced a new DirectX12 GPU optimization feature in conjunction with Resizable-BAR, called GPU Upload Heaps (opens in new tab), that allows the CPU to have direct, simultaneous access to GPU memory. This can increase performance in DX12 titles and decrease system RAM utilization since the feature circumvents the need to copy data from the CPU to the GPU. The new feature is available now in the Agility SDK.We don’t know the actual implications of this feature, but the performance advantages could be significant. Graphics card memory sizes and video game VRAM consumption are getting larger and larger every…

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videoverse’s-first-chapter-is-the-perfect-portrait-of-early-internet-fan-forums Rock,Paper,Shotgun

Videoverse’s first chapter is the perfect portrait of early internet fan forums

March 31, 2023RockPaperShotgun

The first chapter of Videoverse took me right back to the early 00s last night. I can still remember sitting at the family PC in our living room, begging my parents for more internet time because I wanted chat to my friend on MSN Messenger. We had to buy hours of internet in those days, and between my young teenage self and my three brothers, we absolutely devoured those meagre weekly limits, always pleading for more, more, more as we became absolutely captivated by this new world of the online. Luckily, Emmett doesn’t have to contend with such antiquated restraints…

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asus-launches-amd-a620-motherboards-for-ryzen-7000-cpus Toms Hardware

Asus Launches AMD A620 Motherboards For Ryzen 7000 CPUs

March 31, 2023TomsHardware

Budget DIY consumers can finally rejoice as AMD’s A620 motherboards have arrived. Asus has announced that the TUF Gaming A620M-Plus WiFi and Prime A620M-A motherboards will come next month to house AMD’s Ryzen 7000 processors.The TUF Gaming A620M-Plus WiFi (also available without WiFi) and Prime A620M-A are microATX motherboards with the latest entry-level A620 chipset. Their power delivery subsystems share a standard 6+2+1 design and only have a single EPS power connector onboard. In addition, Asus equipped both motherboards with four DDR5 memory slots; therefore, they can accommodate up to 128GB of memory with speeds over 6,400 MT/s. However, memory…

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most-pc-hardware-pricing-is-back-to-normal-so-why-not-gpus? PC Gamer

Most PC hardware pricing is back to normal so why not GPUs?

March 31, 2023PC Gamer

A high quality 1TB can be had for under $100, Crucial will sell you a 32GB DDR5 kit for about the same money, we just reviewed an excellent 27-inch 1440p 165Hz panel that goes for $250, Intel’s Core i5 13400F can be had for just over $200 and motherboards for AMD’s latest Ryzen 7000 CPUs just hit $85.But graphics cards? They’re the one component class that hasn’t gone back to normal. What with the weirdness of the pandemic and then war in Ukraine, the prices of almost everything was out of whack for a while. But now many if not…

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vg247’s-the-best-games-ever-podcast-–-ep.45:-the-best-game-that’s-rubbish-after-ten-hours VG247

VG247’s The Best Games Ever Podcast – Ep.45: The best game that’s rubbish after ten hours

March 31, 2023VG247

Some games are incredibly front-loaded, but which has the best, er, front? Welcome to VG247’s Best Games Ever Podcast: Episode 44: The best game where you’d swap places with the main character. Video games are very long-form pieces of entertainment, and as such, they have to work hard to hold our attention. Statistically, most single-player games are left unfinished by a staggering majority of the people who buy them, as much as 90% by some estimates. But is it any wonder, when a lot of games just get a bit naff after the first act? Once the New Game Novelty…

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darkest-dungeon-2-devs-on-navigating-the-early-access-redemption-road-trip-–-and-what-final-release-looks-like VG247

Darkest Dungeon 2 devs on navigating the early access Redemption Road trip – and what final release looks like

March 31, 2023VG247

Their time in early access is almost over. It’s almost time for Darkest Dungeon fans to experience a bit of hope. Roughly a week ago, an eldritch phenomena descended upon San Francisco in a hail of rain and wind. Escaping these otherworldly forces as they threw trees, chairs, and Web3 developers all over the place, I escaped into Hotel G where I found greater horrors waiting for me… It was game design director Tyler Sigman and creative director Chris Bourassa from Red Hook Studios – the perilous pair were lurking in the darkness, armed with Darkest Dungeon 2 on a…

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shocking-nobody,-this-life-is-strange-superfan-really-liked-the-first-life-is-strange-novel Rock,Paper,Shotgun

Shocking nobody, this Life Is Strange superfan really liked the first Life Is Strange novel

March 31, 2023RockPaperShotgun

With the solemnity of Samwise Gamgee informing Mr Frodo that one more step will take him the furthest he’s ever been from home, I recently realised that it’ll soon be the longest we’ve gone without a new Life Is Strange game since the franchise debuted in 2015. I looked into it and sure enough, the current record-holder is the gap between the season one finale of Life Is Strange and the first episode of its prequel Before The Storm: 1 year, 10 months, and 12 days. That means that come mid-August of this year — specifically, the 14th, which marks…

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genshin-impact-3.6-livestream-recap-–-baizhu-and-kaveh-are-finally-playable! VG247

Genshin Impact 3.6 livestream recap – Baizhu and Kaveh are finally playable!

March 31, 2023VG247

A breakdown on 3.6 events, 24-hour codes, and other updates coming to the gacha giant Genshin Impact 3.6 has just wrapped up its content livestream for the latest update – A Parade of Providence! This means we just learnt more about all the new story content, new bosses, new events, and of course the pair of new characters: Baizhu and Kavah! We’ve gone through and written up this quick Genshin Impact 3.6 livestream recap below, so you can quickly check out everythign new coming to the game in the coming weeks. Check out the cinematic trailer for Genshin Impact 3.6…

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windy-meadow-is-expanding-the-text-based-world-of-roadwarden Rock,Paper,Shotgun

Windy Meadow is expanding the text-based world of Roadwarden

March 31, 2023RockPaperShotgun

Roadwarden was one of many fantastic mystery games from last year, and fans of the text-based RPG can now look forward to solving more secrets from the world with Windy Meadow – A Roadwarden Tale, coming to PC later this year. Windy Meadow is set in the same fantasy world as Roadwarden and similarly presents a slice-of-life story that can branch out depending on your choices. This time, though, you’ll be following three protagonists in their interweaving day-to-day lives. Windy Meadow’s press release teases the stories of Vena, Fabel, and Iudicia: “Will talented huntress Vena depart the harmonious but harmless…

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hong-kong-bust-nets-half-a-million-smuggled-components-worth-$4-million Toms Hardware

Hong Kong Bust Nets Half a Million Smuggled Components Worth $4 Million

March 31, 2023TomsHardware

Earlier this week Hong Kong authorities saw their biggest tech smuggling bust since 2018. A man tried to smuggle around 510,000 electronic products (CPUs, SSDs, and smart devices) into mainland China. The Hong Kong Standard reports that the goods were worth HK$30 million (nearly USD$4 million).In an audacious attempt to make the most of the tech goods pricing gap between Hong Kong and mainland China, a 61-year-old man attempted to get 30 wooden crates though customs. His apparent plan was to swerve sizable duty payments by misdeclaring the contents of the crates. Customs say the contents were claimed to be…

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players-collectively-spent-over-7000-years-in-diablo-4-in-its-two-beta-weekends PC Gamer

Players collectively spent over 7000 years in Diablo 4 in its two beta weekends

March 31, 2023PC Gamer

Diablo 4 (opens in new tab) concluded its second and final beta period last weekend, and the numbers are in. The two beta weekends—which ran from March 17 to March 20 and March 24 to March 27—made up the largest beta in Diablo history, with over 2.6 million players hitting level 20 and earning themselves a coveted wolf puppy backpack (opens in new tab).Players managed to collectively spend 61.5 million hours in Diablo 4 over the course of the beta, an amount of time equal to over 7000 calendar years. That’s, uh, that’s too much time. If we bottled all…

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all-genshin-impact-3.6-livestream-codes VG247

All Genshin Impact 3.6 livestream codes

March 31, 2023VG247

You’ve got 24 hours to redeem all these version 3.6 livestream codes. The Genshin Impact 3.6 livestream codes have just dropped, which gives you just 24 hours to redeem them for a quick influx of primo gems, mora, and upgrade materials. For those who don’t know, Genshin Impact codes are free-to-use codes that can be inputted into the Genshin Impact website or in-game, with each unique code providing its own prize. With each preview livestream, super-limited codes with a 24-hour life span are shown off, which you’ll want to redeem asap. As such, we’ve quickly written out all genshin impact…

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e3-2023-has-been-cancelled VG247

E3 2023 has been cancelled

March 31, 2023VG247

“We had to do what’s right for the industry and what’s right for E3.” This year’s E3 has been cancelled. The announcement was first made in an email from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) to its members, which was then later confirmed publicly. Which game character would you swap places with? In VG247’s Best Games Ever Podcast, we discuss just that. E3 was initially scheduled to go ahead in June this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The cancellation of the event also includes any digital events, as well as physical. In an official joint statement from the ESA…

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the-bafta-game-awards-agree:-vampire-survivors-is-2022’s-best-game Rock,Paper,Shotgun

The BAFTA Game Awards agree: Vampire Survivors is 2022’s best game

March 31, 2023RockPaperShotgun

The BAFTA Games Awards were held last night – an annual show where a jury of developers throw weighty man-head statues at the crowd, celebrating the best games of any given year. The 2023 BAFTAs celebrated the best of 2022 with a mixed bag of games, awarding big blockbusters alongside popular indies, but the jury agrees with RPS on one front: Vampire Survivors is the best game of 2022. Good BAFTAs. Read more

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wordle-hint-and-answer-#650:-friday,-march-31 PC Gamer

Wordle hint and answer #650: Friday, March 31

March 31, 2023PC Gamer

Turn every game of Wordle (opens in new tab) into a winner with our help. We’ve got general tips to help you improve every guess you make, a clue written especially for the March 31 (650) puzzle, and the answer to today’s Wordle, only a quick click or scroll away.That was tense. Every guess today seemed to throw up more problems than answers, my screen filling with grey boxes. The situation was looking grim: the few letters I had found just didn’t go together—until my next guess finally made sense of them. It was a close thing, but I finally,…

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prusa-talks-mk4,-upgrades-and-the-future-of-3d-printing Toms Hardware

Prusa Talks MK4, Upgrades and the Future of 3D Printing

March 30, 2023TomsHardware

Josef Průša, the Founder of Prusa Research, dropped a bombshell on the 3D printing community Wednesday morning. After teasing a video on Twitter of a fast printing Benchy on Tuesday, he announced the long awaited Original Prusa MK4 was ready to ship. Several hundred prebuilt MK4s were in stock and ready to purchase for $1099 with a $799 DIY kit on the way. The announcement took Twitter by storm. Fans of the popular orange printers have suffered through a drought of upgrades, with no sign of relief despite newcomers AnkerMake and Bambu Lab appearing on the scene in 2022 with eye-popping…

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