Nvidia has updated its Shield TV media streaming box to add support for the Bluetooth enabled PlayStation 5 DualSense and the Xbox Series X|S controllers. These controllers can now be paired with the streaming device through the latter’s Bluetooth settings.
The Shield TV is a media streaming box but it can also play Android games from the Google Play Store. On top of that, the device is compatible with the Nvidia GeForce Now service, which allows you to play games from Nvidia’s cloud service.
The Shield TV devices are compatible with other wireless controllers and Nvidia also sells its own but now if you already have a PS5 or Xbox Series controller around then you don’t need to purchase one separately for the Shield TV. Then again, it’s hard to say how many people will be playing on their Shield TV when they already have a PS5 or Xbox Series console around.
Nvidia added support for Control4 home automation system in this update for the Shield TV, which allows Control4 remote or app to navigate the Shield TV UI. The OS has also been patched with the Android December 2020 security update.
(Pocket-lint) – If you just can’t get enough gaming goodness, but standard console controllers aren’t cutting it for your PC, then you might be considering an upgrade.
There are a number of decent PC controllers out there that cater to different devices and help up your game. Robust designs, multi-functional capabilities and customisation options abound.
We’ve been playing with some of the best to compile a list of the most interesting and capable gaming controllers money can buy.
Upgrade your gear and upgrade your game.
1/20Pocket-lint
Astro C40 TR gaming controller
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Supports: PS4, PC and Mac
Customisable design with swappable Analog Stick caps
Adjustable layout, customisable buttons, adjustable sensitivity levels and hair-trigger switch
2.4Ghz wireless with 5ms wireless latency
Weighs 310g
12 hours battery life with Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery
Includes hard carry case, 2-metre micro-USB cable and swappable buttons
The Astro C40 TR is a wireless controller that’s designed for the “serious” gamer. TR stands for Tournament Ready, so that already gives you a sense of how serious Astro is about the design of this controller. Sure, it might be expensive, but you very much get what you pay for.
It features a snazzy, well-thought-out and robust design aesthetic which means it feels weighty in the hand, but not on an obnoxious way, in a way that alludes to the quality. It’s that build quality that’s the first thing that strikes when you get it out of the box and remove it from the hard carry case and continues on as you use it. Inside that case is a multitude of things to help you on your way to controller mastery. Along with the charging cable and wireless dongle, you get a tool for removing the faceplate, some replacement analogue stick caps and space for more upgrades in the future.
With the tool, you can remove and swap the position of the analogue sticks with the directional pad and customise the position according to your personal playstyle. In the software, you can remap the buttons, adjust sensitivity levels of the sticks and triggers and even create two different profiles that you can switch between on-the-fly with the flick of a button near the triggers.
There’s another button for individually turning the standard triggers into hair triggers – meaning you don’t need to depress them as far to activate them. And yet another switch for switching between wireless and wired modes. The customisation is the very heart of this controller. It’s designed for PS4, but also works on PC and can be mapped to work via Steam’s Big Picture mode in your game library with relative ease.
If you want the very best, then this Astro C40 TR might be it. Especially when it comes to customisation options. There are even more upgrade accessories you can buy to tweak it further, with different style stick caps, d-pad buttons and more.
1/8Pocket-lint
Razer Raiju Ultimate
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Supports: PS4, PC and smartphone app
USB or Bluetooth connectivity option
Interchangeable thumbstick and D-pad buttons
Razer Chroma RGB lighting
Extra multi-function buttons, trigger stops for quick action
The Razer Raiju Ultimate is another serious bit of kit for PlayStation/PC gamers who love the feel of a hefty, customisable and well-built controller in their hand. Although the Raiju Ultimate isn’t quite as customisable as the Astro C40 TR it still has plenty of interesting design features. You can switch the style and height of the analogue stick caps, for example, and the style of the D-pad, but you can’t swap their position.
The Raiju Ultimate also uses Bluetooth instead of 2.4Ghz wireless. Making it easy to pair and sync with other devices. This connectivity also means you can use the smartphone app (for Android or iOS) where you can easily remap buttons, switch between onboard memory profiles, adjust RGB lighting and stick sensitivity too.
The Raiju Ultimate is as easy on the eye as it is in the hand, with a premium design that includes texture grips on the handles and sticks to ensure it doesn’t slip when you’re in the middle of a good gaming session.
As if all this wasn’t enough, it also stands out from the standard PlayStation style controllers thanks to the addition of extra multi-function buttons on the underside and near the triggers. Trigger stops mean you can turn the main triggers into hair triggers, add that to sensitivity tweaks and you can customise how the controller reacts when you game.
This controller is designed to work with PC and PlayStation and though it will connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth it’s not certified to work with games on it. It’s designed to work nicely with Steam games and has drivers for non-steam games too.
1/8Pocket-lint
Razer Raion Fightpad
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Supports: PS4 and PC
6 face button layout, 8-way Mecha-Tactile D-pad
Button lock function for competition mode
Razer Mechanical Switch pushbuttons
Weighs 275g
3-metre wired connection
The Razer Raion is a bit of a different monkey. It’s more affordable than some of the other controllers on this list, but it’s also designed for a different undertaking – namely fighting games specifically. Large tactile buttons take up the face of this controller alongside a distinct lack of analogue control sticks.
It also has two more buttons on the top to give your fingers access to more in the middle of a fight. These face-buttons are also built using Razer’s Yellow mechanical switches. Meaning they’re not only robust (with an 80-million tap lifecycle) but also react quickly and accurately to your strokes.
For accurate and precise movement, the Razer Raion also boasts an 8-way directional pad to help you pull off perfect combos, finishing moves and more. A built-in function lock button means you can disable the extra buttons when you don’t need them, so you can customise according to your playstyle.
All-in-all, if you love fighting games, then you need this controller.
1/11Pocket-lint
MSI Force GC30
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Supports: PC and Android
600 mAh lithium battery, lasting 8 hours usage
Metal magnetic swappable d-pads
2 million click guarantee switches
Wireless, wired and support for Android too
2-metre USB 2.0 cable and 0.3-metre OTG smartphone cable
If you’re looking for something more affordable, but still useful and well designed, then the MSI Force GC30 might well be worth a look. This is a wireless controller that’s designed to work with PC and Android smartphones (assuming you have a micro USB connection).
It comes with two easily swappable D-pad covers with a metal design. They connect via magnets and quickly detach when you need them too, offering slight customisation options but nothing as fancy as the other controllers on this list.
The MSI Force GC30 feels a little light in the hand and obviously isn’t the same quality as the pricier options, but it packs in a lot of neat features and design aesthetics.
Design highlights include textured side grips so the controller doesn’t slip out of your hand in the middle of a game, a capable wireless dongle with the freedom to play in wired mode too and more. A decent battery life, the ability to use it on some phones and an affordable pricepoint make this controller an interesting option.
Writing by Adrian Willings. Editing by Max Freeman-Mills.
NVIDIA has announced the compatibility of its NVIDIA Shield TV consoles with the new controllers of the Xbox Series X and Series S, in addition to those of the PlayStation.
In order to receive the support, it is only necessary to update the NVIDIA Shield device with the new firmware version 8.2.2 in order to be able to play both the native games of the console, as well as the PC games executed through streaming with NVIDIA GeForce Now service.
NVIDIA SHIELD version 8.2.2 also adds games like Cyberpunk 2077 to GeForce Now .
To pair the controllers you do not need any accessories or additional software other than the actua itself lization, in the case of the PS5 DualSense controller, you only have to press and hold the share button on your hand until the light flashes blue.
On the other hand, to synchronize the controller For Xbox Series X and Series S you just need to press and hold the dedicated pairing button until the button on the xbox flashes and connects to SHIELD.
The SHIELD update also adds new games to GeForce Now, such as the best-selling Cyberpunk 2077, Destiny 2, Assassins Creed Valhalla or the fun Among Us among many others.
End of Article. Tell us something in the Comments or come to our Forum!
Antonio Delgado
Computer Engineer by training, editor and hardware analyst at Geeknetic since 2011. I love gutting everything that comes my way, especially the latest hardware that we get here for reviews. In my spare time I fiddle with 3d printers, drones and other gadgets. For anything here you have me.
Home/Software & Gaming/Devolver Digital denies rumour that Fall Guys is coming to Xbox Game Pass
Matthew Wilson 1 hour ago Software & Gaming
At this point, Fall Guys is still a PlayStation console exclusive, while also being available on PC through Steam. So far, there has been no announcement about an Xbox version, but fans of Microsoft’s console got some hope this week when the Xbox Game Pass Instagram account claimed that the game would be coming to the service.
In reply to someone requesting Fall Guys for Game Pass, the official social account claimed “It’s coming”. For now though, this appears to be false, with Devolver Digital stepping in to clear up the situation:
There are no plans for Fall Guys to come to any form of Gamepass.
— Devolver Digital (@devolverdigital) January 20, 2021
This wouldn’t be the first time an official Microsoft account or even an Xbox employee has mistakenly said that a game is coming to Game Pass. In the Summer last year, Phil Spencer mistakenly said that Control was coming to Game Pass and then had to backtrack on those comments. Of course, Control did eventually end up on Game Pass, but not until much later in the year (December for Xbox, January 2021 for PC).
For now, Fall Guys is not coming to Game Pass “in any form”, meaning xCloud, PC or Console. That could change later down the line, but for now, it looks like Fall Guys will remain a ‘console exclusive’ to PlayStation.
KitGuru Says: Phil Spencer made a similar mistake to this social media manager just last year, so its hard to say what went wrong here. Perhaps there are early discussions, but we’re still some ways off from either party wanting to make it public in an official capacity.
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Although the support is contemplated by both PlayStation 5 that from the Samsung TVs in question, malfunctions occur when enabling HDR
of Rosario Grasso published on 20 January 2021 , at 16: 21 in the Videogames channel Sony Playstation Samsung
Sony several reports of malfunctions with PlayStation 5 and some Samsung TVs with 4K support 120 Hz , supported display mode d to the new console. In particular, the problems occur with HDR enabled , which, in combination with the two features just mentioned, requires significant bandwidth to HDMI connection.
4K 120 Hz on PlayStation 5 works with HDMI 2.1 standard
According to Forbes reports, Sony is aware of the problem and plans to release a update for PlayStation 5 during the month of March . Samsung has also published a note on the subject, in which it specifies that the reason causing the incompatibility is not known . According to the two communications, it seems that Sony, and not Samsung, must resolve the problem.
The standard HDMI 2.1 , which makes it possible to manage streams of images at 4K 120 Hz with HDR providing the necessary bandwidth, it is debuting on the market, and it still has youth problems, one of which is the one we are reporting. On the other hand, televisions with this support, which therefore allow you to take full advantage of the new consoles, Xbox Series X as well as PlayStation 5, are still scarcely available on the market. Below are some examples of compatible Samsung TVs .
Follow us on our Instagram channel , many news coming soon !
Sure, anyone can play Skyrim on new next-gen consoles, but only one mod will allow you to play 60 frames per second on Xbox Series X | S and PlayStation 5. Here are the (surprising) results achieved by modder Wrighton on Sony’s next-gen console.
by Pasquale Fusco published 20 January 2021 , at 15: 01 in the Videogames channel Playstation Bethesda
The fifth installment of the series The Elder Scrolls has been seen in all the sauces: following the debut on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 (2011), Skyrim has also landed on PS4 and Xbox One, not to mention the latest excellent port made for the Nintendo Switch.
Unfortunately – or luckily – Bethesda hasn’t announced a version yet and next-gen of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim for PS5 and Xbox Series X | S , yet someone has managed to improve the performance of the timeless RPG on the new platforms.
Skyrim a 60 fps on PS5 thanks to Wrighton’s mod
Last December Xbox Series X users managed to run The Elder Scrolls V to more than 30 fps . On that occasion an old mod was used (Uncap FPS, by Smudgey 5000) to unlock the frame rate of the game on Microsoft’s next-gen console. The result was surprising: Skyrim was spinning at 20 frames per second, solidly and without the tearing that the mod caused on the less performing platforms – like on Xbox One X, for example.
The same result was achieved on PlayStation 5 , but in this case we are talking about a more recent mod, very similar in operation to the one seen on Xbox. The author of the PS5 mod responds to the name of Wrighton , who also made a practical video-tutorial to guide players through the installation process of “Skyrim @ 20 fps (PS5) “.
By taking advantage of the backward compatibility of PS5 and a copy of Skyrim for PS4, Wrighton succeeded in the same feat as above. To reach the threshold of 60 frames per second it is necessary follow the steps listed in the description of the mod:
Download and activate the mod
Restart the game
Go back to the mod menu and delete / deactivate the mod
Skyrim should run at 60 fps even without the mod
After closing the game, repeat the first three steps to re-enable the 60 fps
As the author himself points out, what makes this mod special is the ability to use it without disabling the Trophies , unlike what happens with other add-ons of this type. The only “hassle” is repeating the above steps every time you start the game.
Wrighton’s mod also works on PS4 and PS4 Pro , but performance improvements vary depending on the model used, of course.
Nvidia is updating its Shield Android TV software to include support for the latest next-gen console controllers. If you own a Shield TV or Shield TV Pro device, you can now pair the PS5 DualSense or Xbox Series X controllers to play Android games or PC titles through Nvidia’s GeForce Now streaming service.
To pair a PS5 DualSense controller, you can head into the Bluetooth section of the Shield TV, and then hold down the PlayStation button until the light pulses blue. For Xbox Series X / S controllers, you can hold the pairing button until the Xbox button starts blinking.
Alongside the controller support, Nvidia is also adding Control4 home automation system support in this Shield TV 8.2.2 update. This allows the Control4 remote or app to navigate around the Shield TV UI to launch apps. This Shield TV update also brings the devices up to Android’s December 2020 security patch level.
Nvidia has consistently updated its Shield TV software for years, improving its AI-powered 4K upscaling features last year along with improvements to remote control customizations. Nvidia also added IR and CEC volume controls last year to its latest devices.
It should be widely known that you are currently looking for Sony’s PlayStation 5 in vain in retail. However, a large number of pre-orders are currently waiting for their consoles. Officially, the PS5 is already on 18. November 2020 has been published. The long waiting times have now called the consumer center Saxony on the plan. This criticized the process of pre-orders as well as the subsequent deliveries. For this reason, the consumer center has now issued a warning to the retailer Saturn.
The main criticism is the imprecise wording in the company’s terms and conditions. This does not indicate how long the customer’s payments will be withheld. Although it is possible to cancel the pre-order, this should only be an option for very few gamers. Ultimately, there is currently no alternative but to wait. Customers also complain about the retailer’s lack of communication. One 14 -day status report would certainly not be asking too much at this point. After all, the players park a not exactly small amount in the company’s accounts.
The consumer advice center also complained about the missing order confirmation. The legal requirements oblige an online retailer to send a corresponding confirmation after ordering. However, this was not done when pre-ordering the PlayStation 5. Should the electronics retailer not give in, the consumer advocates have already announced that they will enforce their claims in court.
It is currently unclear how possible changes to the terms and conditions could affect pre-orders for the PS5. The longer the delivery is delayed, the more likely it is that the retailer will be forced to cancel all pre-orders first. After all, the PlayStation 5 is now two months away. Here one can in no way speak of a slight delay in delivery.
The next installment of the popular Hitman series will debut on the market tomorrow. On the eve of the premiere, a flood of reviews appeared, according to which the Danish studio IO Interactive on the new adventures of the Agent 47 with a barcode on the back of the head did a great job. At the moment, the game has received the highest ratings not only among all parts of the World of Assassination trilogy, but also the entire series, starting in 2000 of the year of Hitman: Codename 47 and ending with the last game of 2018 year. Hitman 3 is the culmination of this trilogy and, as critics’ opinions suggest, a goodbye. Selected reviewers mention that, with the previous two installments, it is one of the most complete trilogies in the history of games. On the other hand, there are also voices saying that this is more of an addition than a full-fledged installment.
According to reviews, Hitman 3 is one of the best stealth games in recent years. This is so far the highest-rated game in the series of adventures about the Agent 47, which offers .in. even better level designs or greater emphasis on the story than in the last two installments.
Hitman 3 for PlayStation VR in share. IO Interactive studio presents new gameplays from the third part of the Agent trilogy 47
Hitman 3 gets very high ratings. The average rating in the Metacritic and OpenCritic aggregators was at the time of writing 88 and 87% based on over
respectively and 60 Reviews . It is even higher than in the case of Hitman 2: Silent Asasssin, which is considered – next to Blood Money – to be the best part of this stealth series. It may not be possible to maintain such a high average after the premiere, but fans of the series should not be disappointed, especially those who played the game from the last two installments. According to critics, Hitman 3 offers a slightly developed, sandbox formula developed in Hitman from 2016. For fans of the series it will be “more of the same”, but apparently the devil is in the details, and IO Interactive studio has done its homework in this respect.
Hitman 3 – IO Interactive studio has revealed all six locations from the Agent game 47. I have to admit that they are atmospheric
In the third part we get access to six extensive maps with a different climate (the gloomy Dartmoor mansion in England, a skyscraper in Dubai or Chinese streets in Chongqing). Some of them are the best of the entire trilogy. Each mission, except the last one with a more linear structure, can be performed in many different ways, encouraging repetition. Players who missed a greater emphasis on the story will be pleased that it is more extensive in Hitman 3, and the goals and the plot around them have become more intriguing. However, there are not enough changes in the game that would encourage people who do not like this formula to play. And the general content, devoid of, among others online modes, makes Hitman 3 seem to offer less than the previous installments of the trilogy. We will see it 20 January 2021 of the year when the game will be available for sale on PC (temporarily exclusive to Epic Games Store) and PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X / S consoles (on Nintendo Switch is to work via the cloud) in the English language version (there will not even be Polish subtitles).
Over the last few years, Team Ninja has been hard at work on the Nioh series, with two games both going on to earn critical acclaim across PlayStation consoles and PC. Unfortunately for fans of the series, the developers are now moving on, saying that the Nioh story is officially over.
In an interview with VGC this week, Nioh director, Fumihiko Yasuda took a look back at the series, which is wrapping up development with the release of Nioh 2 on PC and PS5: “With Nioh CE and Nioh 2 CE, the story that we had built has come to an end. It’s reached a good point in the story where all the loose ends are tied up, so there are no plans for a sequel at this point.”
While the studio considers Nioh as a finished series for the time being, the door is still open for a return “in the future” but there are no plans for more games at this point in time. Yasuda also confirmed that there are no plans to bring the Nioh games to Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S. However, if Ninja Gaiden were to return, the studio would “definitely like that to be on Xbox consoles”.
Looking towards the future, Team Ninja appears to have interest in an open-world game: “There’s definitely no specific plans to speak of at this time, but Team Ninja as a whole would specifically like to take on the open world genre. But we feel at this point that there haven’t really been open world games with a lot of intensity, which are really action-packed from beginning to end. So we’d like to actually take that on as a potential challenge in the future, and try to put a new spin on the open world genre in that regard.”
KitGuru Says: I really enjoyed Nioh on the PS4 and am looking forward to picking up the sequel on PC at some point. It is a shame that we won’t be seeing a Nioh 3 anytime soon though. Did many of you play the Nioh games? Would you like to see Team Ninja continue it, or would you prefer a new IP?
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Bald man and master assassin agent 47 is a real Methuselah of the video game scene. For around 20 years, corpses pave its way through the High society of gangsters and agents. Since 2016 there is agent 47 in reboot mode: With “Hitman 3” the World of Assassination trilogy is now completed, the was only partially convincing in its predecessors.
Finale Grande Welcome to the killer circus! Agent 47 is facing a crisis of meaning, he finally wants to find out who he really is. His last two adventures were piecemeal and put him on the trail of a Deep State conspiracy group called Providence, who are pulling the strings behind the scenes. With a couple of companions, the noble killer sets off on the supposedly last journey into his heart of darkness.
Hitman 3 in 100 seconds
For the finale, players shouldn’t expect a milestone in interactive storytelling. Developer IO Interactive digs deep into agent and killer clichés to bring the story to a close. At least something happened this time – with the predecessors you often had the feeling that the empty story snippets were just an excuse for the complex killer missions.
Unfortunately, IO Interactive missed it, theirs to give the legendary killing machine something like a conscience in order to explain or justify its cynical and unscrupulous actions. This turns the game, which is demanding in itself, into a morally questionable pleasure.
One death is not enough The missions are tough. Hacking a server in the skyscraper in Dubai, solving a tricky murder case as a detective in a British country seat, before sitting the hostess on the electric chair or assassinating your way through a whole train to the finale – “Hitman” has rarely been more varied than here. Whether Agent 47 simply shoots through the levels or secretly is up to the players. There are countless possibilities – from reckless strangling to sometimes bizarre methods of killing that spread a touch of black humor.
As always, agent 47 back on his disguise skills and trust his patience. If he kills an opponent, he can change his clothes and thereby unlock paths that were previously closed by the attentive guards. Other possibilities arise through simple listening: Sometimes our killer also learns information from staff, which unlock so-called story missions. Agent 47 must then perform tasks in a certain order, to grab his victim. For example, he must first disguise himself as a test subject, take part in an experiment and then do the target object.
Repeat offenders Players who only focus on the direct route to the target are in less than 10 hours with the seven missions. However, the game concept is designed to keep repeating missions in order to achieve a higher high score. In addition to the story mode, the players can also create their own killer assignments for other players in the mission mode or, in the “sniper assassin” mode, kill the enemies from a distance in a kind of “carrot” baller.
“Hitman 3” played (5 pictures) “Hitman 3” shows an agent 47 in top form: clever, but also quite unscrupulous, the noble killer assassins his way through spectacular locations.
(Image: heise online) It takes countless hours of play until the players have unlocked all the different killing methods, weapons and locations. There is one major shortcoming with this concept: only those who are online can unlock everything. At least players of “Hitman 2” can take over their won objects in the game. “Hitman 3” can also be played in VR on the Playstation.
Interim conclusion A lot of agent clichés, demanding levels and an absurd online compulsion – “Hitman 3” continues where the two immediate predecessors left off. In comparison, the finale of the World of Assassination trilogy finally offers more variety and an exciting story. In contrast, the graphic seems to have stopped in the year 2016 – a few nice lighting effects don’t deceive you beyond the fact that animations and details cannot keep up with current PC and console standards. The fans won’t care about the complex level design and the diverse game options – their killer chess also works well in the third part.
“Hitman 3” will be released on 20. January for Windows, PS4 / 5, Xbox One / Series and costs approx. 60 Euro. USK from 18. For our test, we played through the Windows version.
(Pocket-lint) – Agent 47 is back once again – for the third and final instalment in the Hitman trilogy – where this time his mission is to seek out and destroy the partners of Providence.
Hitman 3 takes the tried and tested format of the previous two Hitman games – Hitman was super, Hitman 2 was next-level impressive – and promises to build upon it with new puzzles, an interesting persistent shortcut system, a full-blown virtual reality mode (on PlayStation VR anyway) and much more besides.
So, is the third Hitman instalment an advance on the stealth game formula or just more of the same that you know and love? We’ve been busy committing various accidental deaths in order to find out…
The entire trilogy in one package
Like the previous games, Hitman 3 consists of a campaign, contracts missions, side missions, and the sniper challenge mode. What makes things different this time, though, is if you buy the Deluxe Edition – or if you already own the previous games – then you get access to Hitman and Hitman 2 inside Hitman 3. Though this is a bit trickier on PC due to the Epic Store exclusivity.
This is interesting, not only because it keeps everything in one place, but because you can carry your progress over from Hitman 2 into Hitman 3. This includes unlocks, XP rank, suits and equipment.
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Also things you unlock in the new game can then be used to replay previous levels from the other games in the series to make things even more interesting. This already hints at one of the main appeals of Hitman – the replayability of the sandbox design.
Sprawling sandboxes
Hitman 3 once again features six different missions in the main campaign. These missions take place in variety of impressive locales from around the world. One moment you’re exploring the grounds of a large rustic mansion in England, next your in the busy night-time streets of Chongqing, China, or in a make-shift nightclub in Berlin.
Six locations might not sound like much, but in each of those you’re primed to take out one or two targets as well as look for story missions or side quests. We found it took us around nine hours to complete the main campaign, but we’d barely scratched the surface of all the content at that point.
For each location, Hitman 3 offers up a number of choices for not only how you get to the target, but how you finish them off.
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From our play time with the game it felt like there’s a lot more options for elimination of the victim than ever before – and that’s saying a lot as there’s always been loads of them.
So whether you’re poisoning someone, garrotting them, spiking their drink and then drowning them in a toilet, or simply using a trusty silenced weapon to despatch them, there are plenty of options open to you.
1/19IO Interactive / Square Enix
This is Hitman’s signature sandbox style – and it’s always a pleasure to get stuck into. Following targets and tracking their moves, working out when to strike and whether or not you can get away with making it just look like an accident for that coveted Silent Assassin rating is a thrill. But one that requires patience and planning.
Mischievous opportunities
A perfect example of how it works was demonstrated by our various sessions with the mission “Death in the family”. Here, Agent 47 has been sent to the grand and imposing manor in the murky English countryside.
The goal here is – as it always is – to assassinate a target. But the plot thickens when you discover a private detective has been hired and is in attendance on the day of your arrival. A murder mystery follows, for a crime you didn’t commit, but one you can investigate if you manage to don the clothes of said detective.
On our first playthrough of that mission, we broke into the grounds, shimmied up a drainpipe and through a window while the detective was being ushered through the front door.
The initial plan was to take the clothes by whatever means and have a poke about the grounds for clues. But when the target walked into the room and stood by a window wistfully staring off into the distance, it seemed too good an opportunity to miss. That led to the perfect hit – so as long as we completed the mission and exited without being seen we’d get the Silent Assassin award – meaning the ultimate prize.
IO Interactive / Square Enix
On the next playthroughs we discovered plenty more opportunities to take the target out. Some of them you’ll even see briefly mentioned on the challenges screen before you start a mission, then you just need to work out how to pull them off.
Needless to say: our target came to an unfortunate end in various ways (but we’ve signed a document stating we can’t tell you about them – so dig in people, go discover the various sadistic ways, and have fun yourselves).
The fun of this mission is actually found in the detail – as you unveil clues to unravel the murder mystery, while also finding key intel on completing your own mission at the same time. It’s this sort of experience the developers want players to have: the thrill of finding new ways to complete your mission and opening up extra mission stories in the process.
IO Interactive / Square Enix
As you wander around the map, sneaking from place to place, trying to remain unseen, you’ll come across varies non-playable characters (NPCs) chatting with each other. Sometimes ear wigging on their conversation can lead to new possibilities and avenues to explore.
Challenge accepted
One way the sandbox system has been tweaked and improved for this third instalment is with shortcuts that can be unlocked for future playthroughs. As you go through the locations you’ll find locked doors or blocked ladders that if you open will then allow you to start in a new place next time you play, which opens up new possibilities.
IO Interactive / Square Enix
As standard a camera is now included in your inventory that can be used to reveal clues, scan for intel, or to hack doors or windows and security equipment. This opens up yet more possibilities and adds an extra dash of interest too.
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Complete challenges and you’re also given new equipment to take in with you that can help. The addition of a lock-pick, security bypasser or a poison syringe as a basic tool can make a world of difference – or just give you new ways to carry out the mission and make new discoveries.
Those challenges also add a lot of replayability to each mission. As it’s not just about assassinating a particular person and then leaving, you also get awards for all sorts of things. Donning different disguises, killing your targets in different ways, destroying security cameras, completing the mission without changing out of your suit, and much more besides.
There are more difficult challenges to make things trickier too, like ones involving taking out two targets at the same time with a single bullet or explosion or with weapons you don’t enter the game with. There’s plenty of variety here and it’s up to you to find it.
1/19IO Interactive / Square Enix
Ultimate satisfaction is delivered when you pull off the more complex moves too. There’s one challenge, for example, which involves getting an NPC to murder the target, without even saying a word to them. Watching events like that unfold can be a lot of fun.
There are also various different puzzles to solve to keep things interesting. Not just how to get through certain doors or past guards but also opening a locked safe, clearing out some pesky birds that are holding back story-based events, and destroying files hidden in a secure room.
In short: there’s plenty to keep you busy in the campaign. There’s also a number of other modes to keep you hunting; escalations, contracts mode, sniper assassin, and ghost mode.
IO Interactive / Square Enix
Contracts has always been one of the most interesting modes, letting players replay locations but choosing new targets, how they’re eliminated, and then setting that as a challenge for others to play.
Visually pleasing – with more to come
We took to playing Hitman 3 on PC with a decent gaming machine and plenty of power to max out the settings. As such we were greeted with a number of gorgeous scenes, with superb lighting and a wonderful atmospheric vibe.
IO Interactive / Square Enix
The game’s developer, IO Interactive, has done a stellar job of crafting another great-looking game in the Hitman series. That said, we did think it felt a little underwhelming in places compared to the likes of Cyberpunk 2077, which is insanely beautiful with the addition of ray tracing settings. The developers say that ray tracing and other improvements will be coming to Hitman 3 later in 2021 – but are not available at launch.
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The bonus is Hitman 3 runs really well on current hardware and we were seeing around 150fps with everything turned up to max. After playing on Xbox Series X too, we’re confident the experience will be great no matter the platform you’re using (unlike Cyberpunk). But it does feel a bit like Hitman 2 in terms of some world environments and in-game characters. Other sections like in the nightclub or out in the pouring rain in China while surrounded by neon lights look magnificent though.
Our playtime was also almost entirely bug free, with the exception of frustrating crash to desktop problems if you dared to Alt+Tab out of the game for any reason. Something that could easily be patched out.
IO Interactive / Square Enix
One small gripe we did have is some of the NPCs in the game can feel a bit soulless. You’ll walk around the map and see people talking or going about their business and they’re believable in such settings – but larger crowds can sometimes seem less convincing (or maybe it’s just that we can’t remember the last time we saw crowds in the real world).
Verdict
Hitman 3 is a great addition and finishing point for the trilogy. If you enjoyed the previous two games, then you can expect more of the same here, plus some additional tweaks to keep things interesting. But if you’re new to the series then we’d recommend buying the digital edition and maximising the number of levels you can play.
If the idea of only six main missions doesn’t appeal and you’re not the sort of person who likes to replay games then you might find Hitman 3 a bit pricey for a single playthrough. In our opinion, however, the way each level is crafted with different potential playstyles and avenues to explore makes it feel fresh each time and makes for a much more entertaining game.
Overall, Hitman 3 is once again a sensational sandbox of sneaky stealth action. If you like stealth games there’s none better.
João Silva 56 mins ago Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
Asus is doing a massive update to its GPU Tweak app with the launch of the open beta of GPU Tweak III. Similar to MSI Afterbuner and EVGA PrecisionX, GPU Tweak III software allows users to monitor, tweak, and overclock their GPUs.
To the users coming from GPU Tweak II, the first major change to jump out will most likely be the interface redesign. Users will be able to choose from 3 different presets – Default Mode, OC Mode, and Silent Mode – but they will be also allowed to change the GPU settings themselves, including the power target, GPU voltage, GPU boost clock, memory clock, fans speed, GPU temperature target, and frame rate target. Similar to Afterburner, it now features OC scanner to automatically overclock the GPU beyond the OC Mode.
Built-on the users’ feedback, GPU Tweak III also features an integrated GPU-Z with a ROG theme, an OSD with multiple performance metrics displayed using Asus ROG font, and automatic profiles based on the games and applications running on the PC where it’s installed.
The extensive list of patch notes for GPU Tweak III version 1.2.1.1 can be found below:
Interface Changes:
The new Home Screen combines the elements of the GPU Tweak II Simple and Advanced modes. The one-click Default, OC, Silent, and User Mode presets of Simple Mode appear on the top, and the overclocking sliders of Advanced Mode are at the bottom.
A new Dashboard of several meters is between the presets and sliders. In GPU Tweak II, three meters appeared on the Simple Mode to show GPU frequency, memory frequency, and GPU temperature. GPU Tweak III includes several new meters, such as GPU Power, GPU Voltage, and meters for each controllable fan setting. A slider button allows users to either show all of them, or to hide them. These meters can be disabled and rearranged through a settings menu on the top-right of the Dashboard.
Both the main screen and the Monitor are scalable by dragging the sides or corners of the interface, so users can reshape it to fit their desktop space. When closed and reopened, the interface returns to the center of the main screen, but any size changes remain intact.
The main colors of the interface can be adjusted through the Settings > Interface screen. The color of the Monitor display can also be adjusted through the Settings > Monitor screen, and each graphics card in the system can be assigned a different color. A background wallpaper may also be added, but that function is still a work-in-progress.
Most elements of the UI appear as separate panels. Separate panels appear for the main/Home screen, the Monitor, Settings, OC Scanner, and GPU-Z. Each of these can be moved and closed independently.
The logo at the top-left changes based on the graphics card used. If the graphics card is from an ROG, TUF Gaming, or ASUS line, the respective logo will be shown. If the graphics card is non-ASUS, the GPU Tweak III logo will be shown. A future update will allow users to change that logo if desired.
Profile Changes:
Tuning and OSD profiles can be linked to games or applications and GPU Tweak III will automatically swap to those profiles when that program is opened. This feature can be accessed by clicking the “Connect” button in the User Mode dropdown. GPU Tweak III will attempt to find all installed games or apps on the computer, but if one is not detected, the .exe can be manually located with a Browse button.
The preset Default, OC, and Silent Modes are treated as profiles and can be connected to games and apps.
Fan settings are now saved as part of tuning profiles, so different fan curves and overclocking settings can be saved in the preset Default, OC, and Silent Modes.
Multiple OSD profiles can be saved, each with different settings tailored for particular games or apps. The Default OSD profile is initially set to the Classic Style as designed for GPU Tweak II, but can be changed to the GPU Tweak III style if preferred.
Settings for multiple graphics cards are saved into a combined profile that maintains all changes made.
Profiles can be exported and imported, so that they can be moved to other systems or preserved through a Windows reinstall. Imported tuning profiles must match one or more graphics cards that are currently installed in the PC, or the import will be unsuccessful.
On-Screen Display (OSD) Changes:
A completely new On-Screen Display (OSD) style has been added. The GPU Tweak III Style allows users to rearrange the information items, resize and realign columns in the display, and make them bold.
Text size and color can now be adjusted in both the GPU Tweak III Style and Classic Style.
Effects can be added to the OSD text and background. Text can now drop shadows behind it or have a slight glow. The background can be filled in by a panel with adjustable color or opacity to make it pop out against UI elements with minimal impact to in-game visibility.
A “Preview” button has been added to the OSD screen that allows users to see the OSD without opening another program. An option in the “Screen” subsection allows users to upload their own image to the Preview. This can be used to set a game screenshot into the UI and adjust the OSD around the UI elements.
Monitor Changes:
The Monitor now includes two views. The Line View is similar to the previous GPU Tweak II display, but the graphs can be widened for detailed examination by stretching the Monitor window. The Column View compresses the graphs into squares, and the number of graphs shown in each row adjusts to the width of the Monitor screen.
Monitor file size, log frequency, and session length can all be adjusted in the settings screen.
Monitoring graph snapshots can be saved and viewed later through use of the Export and Import Logs functions. This may be useful for comparing performance to a previous tuning session. Note that this function is still a work-in-progress and will be visually enhanced in the future.
When linked, the Monitor and main screen “Close” and “Minimize” buttons act on both parts, and any interactions with their icons in the tray affect both parts.
Other Changes:
Fan controls now include two new settings: fan speed update period, and temperature hysteresis. These can also be applied to external fans.
Additional settings allow users to adjust temperature scale (°C and °F), as well as time scale (12 hour and 24 hour).
“Gaming Mode” has been renamed to “Default Mode”. The functionality is the same.
Screenshots can now be taken in JPG format in addition to PNG format which was supported in GPU Tweak II. Users can choose their preferred format in Settings > Monitor.
Removed Functions
Some functions that existed in GPU Tweak II have been removed in GPU Tweak III, and they are listed here, along with our reason for removing them.
Always 3D Clock: Modern GPU APIs no longer allow external control of this function, so the feature is no longer supported.
Gaming Booster: The three sub-functions in Gaming Booster each had their own reasons for being phased out. Visual Effects were removed because modern games manipulate visual effects in-game to improve graphical performance, rather than at a system level. System Services were removed because Windows 10 updates have made service management far more efficient than before. Disabling services already has a chance of causing instability, and the performance uplift is usually small. System Memory Defragmentation was removed because solid-state drives have risen in popularity and it is not recommended to defrag SSDs.
Lock toggles next to tuning sliders: Misclicks on these locks led to user confusion over inability to adjust sliders.
Link between Power Target and GPU Temp Target: This was removed because the layout of the UI changed to distance these two items.
Live Update: This function is being reworked and will be included in a later version.
Monitor Startup Options: The Monitor and main screen have been reworked to behave as if they are one unit in most situations. Current settings affect both parts together.
User Interface Tooltips: These are being rewritten for the new functionality and a full set will be released in a later version.
Known Issues:
The Nvidia GeForce Experience overlay and the GPU Tweak III OSD conflict with each other and can prevent games from running when both are enabled. It is recommended to only run either the GeForce Experience overlay or the GPU Tweak III OSD.
The CPU Usage field in the OSD may show incorrect values.
When multiple programs are in the same place, the layering of different GPU Tweak III windows (main screen, Monitor, Settings, and OC Scanner) may be inconsistent, so some elements may fall behind other programs while others are in front.
Frame Rate Limit requires any running games or programs to be restarted before taking effect. Currently this function only extends to 255 FPS.
OSD fonts in GPU Tweak III style only allow for Calibri and Calibri Bold adjustment. Full font adjustment will be added in a later release.
GPU-Z clock values do not update in real time. To update the clock values, close and reopen GPU-Z.
Mouse step size controls have not been implemented yet.
Not all hotkeys are completely implemented at the moment. Notably, the Timer is visible but not working.
Screenshots will always be saved to the default folder, not personally selected folders.
The Default display wallpaper is just a blank black background.
Wallpaper transparency has not been implemented yet.
Fahrenheit temperature settings only affect the Monitor, not the other parts of the interface.
Some interactions with the OSD may cause an error to appear referring to “mFinitialize Fail”. This error does not affect operation.
Programs that have multiple different .exe files with the same names may not swap settings correctly and may use the wrong profiles. For now, set all related .exe files to the same settings for a smooth experience.
Game and application file names are not sorted properly in the Profile Connect window.
You can download and learn more about Asus GPU Tweak III HERE.
KitGuru says: Have you ever used a previous iteration of Asus GPU Tweak? What do you think of the changes made for GPU Tweak III?
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Mustafa Mahmoud 4 hours ago Console, Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
Of all the games developed by Telltale Games, Tales from the Borderlands is often one of the most talked about – perhaps behind The Walking Dead and Wolf Among Us. Despite Telltale Games itself closing down (at least in its original form), it would seems that its games have some life left in them. It would appear as though TellTale’s Tales from the Borderlands is being remastered for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
According the ESRB ratings board, Tales from the Borderlands is coming to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. As discovered by Reddit user u/telltalegamesvideos, the ESRB has the game rated for both next-gen consoles as well as PC. Interestingly, the listed release date for the game is said to be the 18th of December 2020 – which of course was not the case.
The 18th of December is the same day as listed by PEGI for the next-gen versions of Borderlands 3 (even though they actually launched in November), suggesting that this release may tie in to Borderlands 3 somehow – maybe even as part of the game’s second season pass.
Telltale Games’ titles were never the most visually stunning nor the most action heavy and as such, the decision to remaster Tales from the Borderlands is certainly a curious one. It’ll be interesting to see when this is announced, and if the game will be available to purchase standalone or if it will indeed be part of the season pass – or perhaps both.
KitGuru says: What did you think of Tales from the Borderlands? Would you buy a remaster? What other games would you like to see remastered? Let us know down below.
Mustafa Mahmoud 1 hour ago Console, Featured Tech News, Software & Gaming
Back in 2018, Sony opened a new studio in San Diego with the intent of creating new AAA titles for PlayStation. Since then, little has been spoken of the studio officially, though rumours did suggest that they are working on an Uncharted title. Though previously unsubstantiated, a new LinkedIn post has lent credence to this rumour.
Michael Mumbauer, who is the former Studio Head/Senior Director of Visual Arts at PlayStation, updated his credentials on LinkedIn, claiming to have “built a brand new, all-star, AAA Action/Adventure development team for Playstation. Based in San Diego and utilizing proprietary engine technology, this team was assembled to expand upon existing franchises and craft all new stories for the next generation of gamers.”
The most interesting part of this post is the report that the studio was created in order to “expand upon existing franchises,” which would line up with the previous rumours suggesting that the studio is currently working on a new entry in the Uncharted series.
Sony has a long list of IP which have been left behind or shelved in pursuit of creating new franchises. While new experiences are exciting, it is always nice to revisit old friends. It will be interesting to see whether this San Diego studio is indeed working on an Uncharted game, and what other franchises they plan to revive.
KitGuru says: What do you think of the Uncharted series? Would you like to see a new entry in the series? What other franchises would you like to see brought back? Let us know down below.
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