WD's new NVMe SSDs push 3.4GB/sec read and 2.8GB/sec write

Anthony Garreffa | Storage | Feb 27, 2018 8:43 PM CST

Western Digital has just announced two new SSDs in the form of the PC SN720 and PC SN520 with both of them NVMe-based SSDs with some impressive speeds.

WD's new NVMe SSDs push 3.4GB/sec read and 2.8GB/sec write

WD's new SSDs are being aimed at the IoT, edge computing and mobile computing markets. Also think small and thin laptops, 2-in-1s, and embedded PCs for this new range of NVMe SSDs.

Senior Director of Client SSD, Devices Business Unit, Western Digital, Eyal Bek, explains: "With this new vertically integrated SSD platform, we are able to optimize the architecture to our NAND for low latency and power efficiency, and most important, for the growing range of applications benefiting from NVMe, the scalable architecture supports a range of capacity and performance points, while streamlining system qualification to improve time-to-market for our customers".

Continue reading: WD's new NVMe SSDs push 3.4GB/sec read and 2.8GB/sec write (full post)

NVIDIA could price the GeForce GTX 2080 at up to $1499

Anthony Garreffa | Video Cards & GPUs | Feb 27, 2018 7:32 PM CST

I've been getting ahead of NVIDIA's next-gen graphics card reveal with some exclusive stories and pondering, but with sources revealing to me exclusively that NVIDIA would launch the GeForce GTX 20 series at GTC in May, these thoughts are ramping up.

NVIDIA could price the GeForce GTX 2080 at up to $1499

NVIDIA's current flagship GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is still over $1200 on Amazon, and with news that graphics card prices will not get better this year (right through to Q3 2018), what could NVIDIA price their next-gen GTX 20 series at? $1499. Yeah, freaking $1499.

Think about it.

Continue reading: NVIDIA could price the GeForce GTX 2080 at up to $1499 (full post)

Porting Diablo II to current rigs would be 'extremely hard'

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Feb 27, 2018 6:23 PM CST

Is Blizzard actually working on a remastered version of Diablo II for today's upgraded hardware? Maybe, but according to original Blizzard North veteran and Diablo grandfather David Brevik, putting the game on modern PCs would be extremely tough to do.

Porting Diablo II to current rigs would be 'extremely hard'

We have evidence that Blizzard might be remastering Diablo II for a re-release on the PC, similar to what it's done with the RTS classic StarCraft. But there's just one problem: Diablo II was built specifically to manipulate 800x600 resolution in a number of interesting and innovative ways, and changing that resolution could fundamentally change the entire core game experience. So in short, if Blizzard does remaster Diablo II, it might not be the same ARPG we know and love.

"I can say from a technical standpoint that it's going to be extremely difficult. That you will not be able to capture it exactly the way it was," original Diablo creator David Brevik said in a recent IGN interview. "The number one reason is because of the shape of the screen. Because the screens back then were 800x600 and largely square, and now they're not, they're 16:9 and 16:10, we did a lot of tricks."

Continue reading: Porting Diablo II to current rigs would be 'extremely hard' (full post)

Outlast brings the terror to Nintendo Switch

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Feb 27, 2018 5:19 PM CST

Good news horror fans: now you can get your grisly gore-fix on-the-go on the Nintendo Switch.

Outlast brings the terror to Nintendo Switch

Red Barrels and Nintendo today launched the Outlast Bundle of Terror on the Nintendo Switch eShop, which packs in the first ultra-violent original game alongside its Whistleblower DLC for $25. Having played both Outlast games I'm honestly surprised that Nintendo would okay the game's release on the platform, what with all the blood and dongs and excessive gore--and let's not forget the horrifying jump scares and psychological terror.

I'm super curious to see how the Switch's built-in motion controls will be utilized in the game. Since you carry a camera for most of the game, Red Barrels has a unique opportunity to use the handheld's gyroscopic sensor to add a nice flavor of interactivity to the experience while in handheld mode, or even when docked and using the JoyCons.

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Chrono Trigger launches on PC, but it's a mobile port

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Feb 27, 2018 4:13 PM CST

Square Enix today surprised gamers by releasing Chrono Trigger on Steam, filling the years-long void of waiting. But the gift isn't what you expect.

Chrono Trigger launches on PC, but it's a mobile port

Chrono Trigger is now available on Steam for $15, but there's a catch: it's not the beloved DS game that replicates the magic from the SNES original, but a weird mobile port that's been described as janky and awkward. This isn't really a surprise as the publisher typically releases mobile ports of its older games on Steam in a bid to capture that market with as little effort as possible, and as a business decision it seems tactical...but from a gamers' perspective it's quite frustrating.

"If you've had the pleasure of playing CHRONO TRIGGER before, then you'll be pleased to find out that this version includes animated cutscenes, as well as the Dimensional Vortex and Lost Sanctum dungeons from previous versions of the game," reads the announcement post. "We've also updated the controls, graphics and sound to make this the definitive version of CHRONO TRIGGER!"

Continue reading: Chrono Trigger launches on PC, but it's a mobile port (full post)

Microsoft will continue pushing engagement on Xbox LIVE

Derek Strickland | Gaming | Feb 27, 2018 2:04 PM CST

Microsoft, like most other gaming companies in the industry, are all-in on their respective engagement strategies...and Redmond isn't about to quit a good thing.

Microsoft will continue pushing engagement on Xbox LIVE

Engagement has been a huge boon for the gaming market. When properly monetized, engagement can rake in billions of dollars a year (look at Activision, EA, Ubisoft, Sony and even Microsoft), and the Xbox-owners at Microsoft have done a tremendous job not only creating a cyclic engagement wheelhouse that continues churning out cash via advertisements, microtransactions, and storefront revenues, but also unifying two major gaming platforms via Xbox LIVE. According to company CEO Satya Nadella, that approach isn't going to change any time soon--something that's been made readily apparent with its ambitious Game Pass subscription.

"We're very happy about the core gaming asset that we have, and that asset got built with the loved brand of Xbox, as well as PC gaming," Mr. Nadella said during the Morgan Stanley Telecom Conference. "One of the things that most people had not recognized is that we are the owners of both of those. And so, therefore, now that we even have Xbox and Xbox Live in particular across these two has really helped us grow engagement on Xbox Live and we'll continue to do so."

Continue reading: Microsoft will continue pushing engagement on Xbox LIVE (full post)

A Way Out director announces the game has 'GONE GOLDEN'

Jak Connor | Gaming | Feb 27, 2018 4:00 AM CST

The co-op game A Way Out which was created by the same people that created the critically acclaimed Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons has announced that A Way Out has "gone golden."

A Way Out director announces the game has 'GONE GOLDEN'

On Twitter, Josef Fares, the writer/director of A Way Out has said that he "can't even describe his excitement" for the release of his newest co-op title on March 23.

EA the publisher for A Way Out, is providing gamers when the title is released a 'friends pass free trail' that was announced back at The Game Awards. The 'friends pass free trail' will grant players the ability to play the full game with their friends on their friends list even if they don't own the game.

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Square Enix could delay Final Fantasy XV content to 2019

Jak Connor | Gaming | Feb 27, 2018 3:00 AM CST

Hajime Tabata, the Final Fantasy XV director said that the plan for the 2018 was to release three individual pieces of DLC. Now in a recent interview Tabata has changed that plan to four DLC which might not come in time for 2018.

Square Enix could delay Final Fantasy XV content to 2019

In a interview with 4Gamer, Tabata explained that the DLC that is planned for Final Fantasy XV might not all be out this year. "There is one thing I need to let everyone know, and that is perhaps it won't all be out only this year." said Tabata.

According to Tabata, the developers getting the correct amount of time is a much more important aspect to game development rather than "fussing over" a specific release time. "Instead of fussing over 'during 2018,' it's necessary to ensure a reasonable development period" said Tabata.

Continue reading: Square Enix could delay Final Fantasy XV content to 2019 (full post)

Fallout 3's Capital Wasteland will be built in Fallout 4

Jak Connor | Gaming | Feb 27, 2018 2:00 AM CST

A group of Fallout modders called Road To Liberty have uploaded a video to the Wonderside YouTube channel showing gameplay of their creation of Capital Wasteland from Fallout 3 playable in Fallout 4.

Fallout 3's Capital Wasteland will be built in Fallout 4

The area will be fully furbished, complete with quests, dialogue, locations, environments and more. What should also be recognized is the team is also going to be using Fallout 4's Creation Engine to build the same weather effects and atmosphere that was felt in the original Fallout 3.

Road To Liberty very well could pull this off and from the gameplay video found above it seems that they have been doing a great job so far. Hopefully in the near future we will hear more information about how the mod is coming along or if it is even realistic that it will leave alpha.

Continue reading: Fallout 3's Capital Wasteland will be built in Fallout 4 (full post)

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will get support for HDR on PS4 Pro

Jak Connor | Gaming | Feb 27, 2018 1:00 AM CST

Last year we heard that CD Projekt Red was going to be bringing HDR support to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for PS4 Pro owners. We haven't heard much of the patch since then but now the developers community manager has spoken out.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will get support for HDR on PS4 Pro

Community Manager Marcin Momot has taken to Twitter to announce an apology on behalf of CD Projekt Red for the lack of information for HDR support coming to PS4 Pro owners.

Momot answered a fans question that asked "Will the HDR patch for Ps Pro users be out in Feb?", Momot replied with "Should have more info on that next week. Sorry about the silence."

Continue reading: The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will get support for HDR on PS4 Pro (full post)