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Hellblade 2 Stuns on PS5 Pro: New 44 Mins Gameplay At 4K / 60FPS Exceed Expectations

Story Highlight
  • Hellblade 2, a former Xbox exclusive title, will be launched on the rival platform on 12 August. 
  • Ahead of a launch, a 44-minute gameplay was released, showcasing how the game would run at 4K 60 FPS on the PS5 Pro. 
  • It looks absolutely stunning, feels smooth, and crisper than ever.

Hellblade 2, launched as an Xbox exclusive title, is finally making its way to PlayStation 5 in just a few days. The game received a positive reception from critics on launch, but there was one primary concern: it was locked to 30 FPS.

The game was launched last year, but this generation, the fandom isn’t fond of games being 30 FPS, as they should be at the very least 60 FPS. Now, an enhanced version of the title is set to release for both platforms on 12 August. Ahead of launch, Hellblade 2 looks gorgeous on the PS5 Pro running at 4K 60 FPS.

Why it matters: Hellblade 2 features stunning visuals, so being able to get 60 FPS on a higher resolution would make the game stand out much more. 

IGN has released a 44-minute gameplay of Hellblade on the PS5 Pro, running at 4K 60 FPS. Do note that the game isn’t running at the native 4k resolution. Instead, it is being run via the performance mode for the best experience. 

On the console, thanks to the enhanced version, the game looks better than ever, and the environment is as scary as it can get. It feels even smoother now, and combat starting at 18:09 feels crisper, thanks to the 60 FPS.

Players have known about the combat’s lack of appeal since its original Xbox release. Anyhow, the 44-minute footage mainly features the first chapter and just the beginning of the second one. 

Hellblade 2 Visual Excellence
Hellblade 2 Enhanced Version Will Offer 4K 60 FPS experience on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PS5 Pro.

It is also worth noting that the game’s enhanced version is also releasing on Xbox Series S and X consoles. The Series X will be able to run at 4K 60 FPS, the same as the PS5 Pro.

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on the enhanced version? Which platform will you be playing it on? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or join the Tech4Gamers forums for discussion.

ASUS and Noctua Reveals GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition with Triple NF-A12x25 G2 Fans

[Press Release] ASUS and Noctua have unveiled the GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition, their most advanced collaboration yet. It’s the first gaming GPU to feature three NF-A12x25 G2 fans, paired with a custom heatsink using an expansive vapor chamber, seven 8mm heatpipes, and four 6mm heatpipes for exceptional cooling.

The NF-A12x25 G2 fans run at offset speeds to prevent humming or vibration, ensuring whisper-quiet operation without sacrificing airflow. This setup delivers the same cooling as ASUS’ TUF Gaming and ROG Astral models but at noticeably lower noise levels.

RTX 5080 Noctua Edition

With its redesigned cooling system, the RTX 5080 Noctua Edition keeps temperatures low, allowing sustained boost clocks and extended component life. It’s aimed at gamers and enthusiasts who want top-tier performance in near silence.

The ASUS GeForce RTX 5080 Noctua Edition will be sold through ASUS and its partners worldwide. Check with local representatives for pricing and availability.

Mafia: The Old Country Can’t Even Maintain 40FPS At 4K Max Settings With RTX 4090 on PC

Story Highlight
  • Mafia: The Old Country has been tested on PC, and it proves to be incredibly intensive at the maximum settings.
  • Using these settings at 4K, the RTX 4090 runs at around 39FPS, even falling below 60FPS at 1080p.
  • The game can still average 60FPS with this GPU when running at High settings and DLSS quality.

Mafia: The Old Country is out after months of anticipation, but the game seems to have received just decent critical reception. Day-one Steam numbers aren’t the best either, and the PC port may be one reason why.

According to benchmarks, Mafia: The Old Country is incredibly intensive on the platform, pushing the best graphics cards to their limits. The game can’t even maintain 40FPS at 4K maximum settings with the RTX 4090.

Why it matters: The RTX 4090 is still incredibly powerful, but the highest settings in modern Unreal Engine 5 titles can highlight the limits of today’s hardware.

Mafia: The Old Country RTX 4090
Mafia: The Old Country Benchmark via DSOGaming

Benchmarks from DSOGaming show that the RTX 4090, paired with the Ryzen 9 7950X3D and 32GB of memory, averages around 39FPS at 4K Epic settings in Mafia: The Old Country.

For context, the RTX 4090 is still the second most powerful gaming GPU behind the RTX 5090, so this result is quite surprising. Even more surprising is the fact that the game fails to maintain 60FPS at these settings, even when running at 1080p.

Although the RTX 4090 was likely CPU-bound at this resolution, the graphics cards can still typically manage 100-200FPS at 1080p in most games. Fortunately, those willing to play the game 4K High with DLSS can still maintain 60FPS with the RTX 4090.

Mafia: The Old Country New Trailer TGA 2024
Mafia: The Old Country Is Out Today

Elsewhere, it is said that Mafia: The Old Country continues the trend of Unreal Engine 5 stutters. The game does not seem to be too great in the optimization department, but it does still offer 60FPS for those on consoles.

Latest Updates

What do you think about Mafia: The Old Country’s performance on PC? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

Mafia: The Old Country Struggles at Launch with Just 27K Players on Steam

Story Highlight
  • Mafia: The Old Country has finally been released, but it failed to become the top seller on Steam. 
  • The game attracted over 27K players on Steam, failing to surpass its predecessors.
  • Despite the low player count, it has received a solid rating from long-term Mafia fans.

Mafia: The Old Country, when announced, instantly became a highly popular title among the fans of the franchise. However, over time, the hype died down mainly because the gameplay differed significantly from what was shown in the trailer. 

Now that the game has been released, it fails to surpass the player count of two of its predecessors. Mafia: The Old Country has launched on Steam with only 27K players, but the rating is very positive. 

Why it matters: Mafia games aren’t that famous, so this number isn’t that bad. However, with the right marketing and perhaps more innovation, it could have reached new heights in the franchise.

Mafia: The Old Country Steam Players
Mafia: The Old Country Reached 27,585 All-Time Peak on Steam | Source: SteamDB

As you can see in the image above, the game’s all-time peak is 27,585. At the time of writing, 20,319 players are playing it, and the majority seems to be enjoying the experience, given the positive reviews. 

Among 1,879 reviews, 1,588 are positive and only 291 are negative. Most of the negative reviews are regarding crashes, performance problems, and how the game is a downgrade from Mafia 1 and 2. On the other hand, those who liked it have nothing but praise for it.

However, the game failed to surpass the all-time high player count of Mafia 1 and 3. The former attracted over 36K players on Steam, while the latter attracted nearly 50K.

The lack of marketing and the low score from critics could be the main reasons behind that, but from the reviews on Steam, it seems like this game is a must-play for the Mafia franchise lovers.

Latest Updates

It is also worth noting that the game was developed with Unreal Engine 5 and incorporates a Denuvo on Steam. Since UE5 causes some performance issues, Denuvo reportedly enhances the performance. That is why many have reported performance issues in-game.

What are your thoughts about Mafia: The Old Country? Have you played it? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below or join the  Tech4Gamers forums for discussion.

Xbox Has Now Cancelled 3 of 5 of Its Biggest Games Announced Alongside Series S|X In 2020

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  • Xbox has cancelled three out of five of its major games revealed for the Series S|X at the Xbox Games Showcase 2020.
  • The other four games from the showcase that were released recently have also massively underperformed.
  • Xbox’s third-party strategy makes a lot of sense when looking back at these titles.

Xbox recently cancelled multiple games and laid off thousands of employees. However, reports have confirmed that another big title from the studio has been cancelled.

Interestingly enough, all of these titles made their debut in 2020. Xbox’s showcase from 2020, which garnered praise for its first-party reveals, highlighted five major titles, but three of those have now been cancelled.

Why it matters: The Xbox Games Showcase 2020 preceded the launch of the Xbox Series S|X and set the stage for things to come. This showcase was designed to sell audiences on the new consoles and their exclusive offerings.

The following were Xbox’s headliners for its showcase in 2020:

  • Fable
  • State of Decay 3
  • Contraband
  • Everwild
  • Perfect Dark

Among these, Perfect Dark, Contraband, and Everwild have already been cancelled. Fable is safe, and although there is nothing to suggest State of Decay 3 will be cancelled, the game is certainly not out of the woods yet.

For starters, the game was missing from Xbox’s latest showcase and has generally not shown too much promise. Since Xbox was recruiting for Contraband until last month and the game is now confirmed to be cancelled, there’s no telling what will happen to State of Decay 3.

Elsewhere, Xbox’s showcase for 2020 included games like Halo Infinite, Forza Motorsport, Avowed, and Hellblade 2. All of these have now been released, but neither game has made too big of a splash despite being solid overall.

In fact, it would not be far-fetched to say that all four games have been very underwhelming. Turn 10 has faced major layoffs following Forza Motorsport’s release, 343 Industries and Halo underwent a complete rebrand recently, and Hellblade 2 saw concerning statistics on platforms like Steam.

All in all, Microsoft’s explosive showcase from 2020 does not seem to have lived up to the excitement.

Contraband Xbox And Avalanche Studios
Contraband Is The Latest Cancelled Project From Xbox

Reflecting on the Xbox Games Showcase 2020 also shows why Microsoft moved forward with a third-party approach starting last year.

Three major cancellations and four underwhelming releases back-to-back likely meant that leadership at Microsoft no longer felt confident in future exclusives. It likely didn’t help much that Game Pass growth stagnated over the last few years.

Latest Updates

What do you think about Xbox’s state in 2025? Were you excited for the brand after the 2020 showcase? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

Red Dead Redemption 2 Is Now The 5th Best-Selling Game of All Time

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  • Red Dead Redemption 2 has sold a total of 77 million units since its release.
  • The game is now tied with Mario Kart 8 as the best 5th best-selling game of all time.
  • Upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 and current-gen ports should allow the game to sell even more copies and aim for the 3rd-best-selling spot.

Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2 is quickly approaching its 7th anniversary. The game continues to be a benchmark for all open-world releases, and many are even planning to compare GTA 6 with the title next year.

Although Rockstar Games fans are now diverting their attention to GTA 6, Red Dead Redemption 2 continues to enjoy a steady stream of new sales each quarter. In fact, the game’s latest sales update makes it the 5th best-selling title in the industry.

Why it matters: Last year, this title became gaming’s 7th best-seller of all time with 61 million units sold. As such, an additional 16 million units have been sold in just over a year.

Red Dead Redemption 2 77 Million Sales
Red Dead Redemption 2 Has Sold 77 Million Units | Image via Twitter

Take-Two’s latest earnings call confirmed a new sales figure for the latest Rockstar Games release. As reported by videotech, the game has now sold 77 million copies in total, putting it neck and neck with Mario Kart 8.

This means that both titles are currently tied for the spot of gaming’s 5th best-selling title. However, with Mario Kart World and the Nintendo Switch 2 being released two months ago, Mario Kart 8 will likely fall behind by the end of the year.

On the other hand, Red Dead Redemption 2 is expected to continue selling more copies. At its current pace, the game could soon become gaming’s 3rd best-selling release of all time after exceeding a total of 83 million units sold.

For those curious, the top 2 spots are held by Minecraft and GTA 5, respectively. The former has sold over 350 million units, while Rockstar Games’ GTA 5 is close to reaching 220 million sales.

Red Dead Redemption 2
RDR 2 Should Be Getting A 60FPS Upgrade Soon

Red Dead Redemption 2 is expected to receive a current-gen upgrade at some point in the near future.

The game is also expected to launch on the Nintendo Switch 2, which should bring in another huge wave of players to the series. If things work out as expected, the 3rd best-seller spot should be achieved by the end of 2025.

Latest Updates

What do you think about Red Dead Redemption 2’s latest sales milestone? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

Battlefield 6 Beta Struggles on Older Ryzen CPUs, Despite Meeting System Requirements

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  • Some Ryzen CPUs are experiencing significant issues running Battlefield 6.
  • The game is unplayable on Ryzen 5 2600, despite being listed in the system requirements.
  • Ryzen 7 3700X and Ryzen 7 5800X3D don’t offer any significant improvements, experiencing spikes and low fps.

Battlefield 6 early access is finally here, and it’s breaking records with almost 300k players waiting in the queue to check what EA has been cooking up for the past few years. So far, responses have been quite positive, but there are still a few problems with the game.

Despite the developers’ earlier claims that they focused on optimisation a lot, tests reveal otherwise. Battlefield 6 is quite unplayable on some Ryzen CPUs, even with them being listed on the system requirements.

Why it matters: Since this is early access, EA has plenty of time to address any performance issues with these processors. It’s important to highlight these issues so that they get noticed by the developers.

battlefield 6 ryzen 5 2600
Battlefield 6 Struggling On Ryzen 5 2600 || Source: PCGH

PCGH tested Battlefield 6 on multiple CPUs, including the Ryzen 5 2600, which is listed in the minimum system requirements for the game. Still, though, the game struggles a lot on the CPU with terrible frametimes despite the average framerate being sufficient. As per their testing, the six-core isn’t the limiting factor for the game, but rather the Zen+ architecture.

The Ryzen 5 2600 CPU features a dual CCX configuration, with each CCX comprising three cores. This design can introduce some latency in communication between cores, which may result in increased lag and occasional spikes in frametimes.

The Ryzen 7 3700X is listed as the recommended CPU for the game, delivering a playable result on all configs, but doesn’t deliver high FPS.

battlefield 6 ryzen 7 5800x3d
Ryzen 7 5800X3D Benchmark Shows Steady Spikes In Frametime Source: PCGH

The newer X3D processors won’t do well either. While running the game, there were constant spikes with the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, although the reason remains unclear.

Although newer models deliver excellent results. One benchmark showed that the Ryzen 7 9800X3D outperformed the i9-14900K flagship CPU by 33%.

Latest Updates

Have you experienced any performance issues on your Ryzen CPUs running the game? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

TEAMGROUP NV5000 M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD Brings Fast Storage at Great Value

[Press Release] TEAMGROUP has launched the NV5000, the first SSD in its new NV (Nova Value) series. Built on the PCIe Gen 4×4 interface and using advanced 3D NAND flash, the NV5000 targets entry-level users looking for high-speed storage without breaking the bank. With up to 2TB of capacity and read speeds reaching 5,000 MB/s, it offers over twice the speed of Gen3 SSDs and far outpaces traditional SATA drives.

Compatible with the latest Intel and AMD platforms, the NV5000 works across desktops and laptops. It handles tasks like storing 4K videos, managing large files, and running games or editing software with ease. TEAMGROUP’s patented ultra-thin graphene label helps keep the SSD cool without interfering with existing heatsinks, making it a good fit for compact systems.

The drive supports TEAMGROUP’s S.M.A.R.T. monitoring software for real-time health checks and comes in eco-friendly packaging that meets RoHS and REACH standards. TEAMGROUP plans to expand the NV series, offering more affordable Gen4 SSDs in the near future.

Take-Two Admits “We Are Running Scared” Ahead of GTA 6 Launch, Says Success Isn’t Guaranteed

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  • Take-Two’s leadership emphasizes that they are not resting on their past successes and approach the future with a mindset of caution.
  • The company commits to continual innovation rather than becoming complacent.
  • Still, they’re pretty optimistic about the future with all the content they’ve planned for the next 10 years.

With an over $1 billion development budget and several studios working on the project together, GTA 6 will be the biggest video game release when it launches next year. It’s been over a decade since the franchise’s last hiatus, and with each passing day, fans’ expectations and hunger only increase.

Since the GTA franchise is returning after more than a decade-long hiatus, Take-Two’s boss was interviewed about the publisher’s direction and how they’ll connect with a younger audience.

The response was quite surprising, with the CEO stating that they’re “running pretty scared” and that they continuously seek to innovate rather than become complacent with their past achievements.

Why it matters: It’s a great thing to see one of the biggest video game publishers be so humble. This mindset is what keeps Take-Two one of the most successful businesses in the video game industry.

niko bellic
GTA 4 Remaster May Arrive Soon

Talking to The Game Business, Strauss Zelnick said the following: 

I am fond of saying that arrogance is the enemy of continued success.

The CEO also said that they have quite a few big titles coming out in the following years, with the most notable one being GTA 6. The publisher already has a layout planned for the next decade or so where they’ll be making content for newer audiences, in some newer formats.

GTA 6
Rockstar May Delay GTA 6 Again

Even aside from GTA, the publisher owns a substantial portfolio of IPs. With the amount of development and expertise at Rockstar, GTA 6 is unlikely to fail. The same can’t be said for other IPs, most notably BioShock.

Regardless of that, Zelnick is quite optimistic about the future, as he believes that bringing something “fantastic and unexpected” to the table will undoubtedly be pleasing for newer audiences, too.

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on these statements? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

Lies of P Continues To Be A Huge Success As Neowiz Records Massive Increase in Revenue

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  • Neowiz’s financial report reveals record sales numbers for Lies of P, led by its DLC.
  • The game continues to be a huge success for the studio, even 2 years after its release.
  • The sequel is in active development and is expected in FY2026 or later down the line.

Lies of P was one of the best releases of 2023 that many people didn’t see coming. It took the Soulslike formula and gave it its own personality to great effect. So, even a couple of years later, the title continues to succeed for Neowiz. 

The studio’s latest financial report reveals that Lies of P achieved record-high sales in Q2 thanks to the successful launch of its DLC. It helped increase both the revenue as well as the studio’s profit by a considerable amount. 

Why it matters: Lies of P received critical acclaim from both the audience and the critics. At first, it flew under the radar of many, but later managed to hit the spot when everybody realized how good it is. 

Lies of P DLC led it to its most successful sales year since launch

According to Neowiz’s report, Lies of P, along with the DLC, Overtrue, led to the best-selling year for the game, marking almost double the sales it recorded in its first year. This led to a 26% increase in revenue year-on-year.

Notably, a huge chunk of the revenue came through PC/consoles, which had a 54% year-on-year increase. Neowiz was mostly known for publishing mobile games before Lies of P, but now PC and consoles have become their primary source. 

It helped increase the company’s revenue a lot

More than 50% of Lies of P sales were domestic, whereas 46% were overseas. This is a decent number, meaning that sales outside of South Korea were also fine. Nonetheless, this is all great news for the studio. 

They have also revealed that the already announced Lies of P sequel is still in active development. It will release in FY2026 or beyond, suggesting that the earliest we can expect it to release is by 2027. 

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on Lies of P still being a huge success 2 years later? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.

PlayStation Reportedly Set To Launch PC Ports 6 Months After Release Moving Forward

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  • PlayStation has released its PC ports one to two years after a game’s original launch.
  • An insider states that this timeline is set to change to just six months moving forward.
  • This change is part of Sony’s platform-focused approach to the gaming industry.

PlayStation’s recent job listing sparked concerns about the gaming giant’s future, and Sony has practically doubled down on everything the job listing indicated recently.

The gaming giant is moving forward with a platform-focused approach, signalling a greater emphasis on third-party releases. Elaborating on this idea, an insider claims that PC ports from the gaming giant will show up much faster now.

Why it matters: This seems to be a natural progression of Sony’s business with the PC market since PlayStation IPs perform well on Steam and Epic Games Store.

PC Ports on PlayStation
Insider Discusses Future of PlayStation’s PC Releases | Image via Twitter

According to Detective Seeds, sources from Nixxes Software have revealed that Sony will now release PlayStation games on PC six months after a game’s original launch. This could mean that a game like Death Stranding 2 will be on PC before the end of 2025.

In the past, PlayStation waited anywhere from two to three years before releasing its biggest titles on PC. However, this changed with Spider-Man 2, which showed up on Steam and Epic Games Store just over a year after its original PS5 launch.

PlayStation may have been testing the waters with this port, and even though the game largely failed to perform spectacularly on Steam, it may have set the precedent for future ports.

Perhaps PlayStation will apply its old approach to Xbox ports in the future. A game like Helldivers 2 took about a year and a half to show up on Xbox, so similar gaps could be seen for Sony’s supposed Xbox ports in the future.

PlayStation
PlayStation Studios Will Have An Even Bigger Presence On PC In The Future

With Sony already porting most of the big hitters to PC, it will be interesting to see how quickly the likes of Ghost of Yotei and Death Stranding 2 show up on the platform. Although there is reason to believe the insider’s statement, it may still be worth taking the leak with a slight grain of salt until official evidence begins to show up.

Latest Updates

What do you think about Sony releasing its PC ports at an increasing pace? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

Microsoft Ends Contraband Development, Avalanche Studios Confirms

Story Highlight
  • Contraband was announced nearly five years ago.
  • The Studio has officially confirmed that the game’s development has been put on hold.
  • As of now, nothing has been revealed about the future of the title. 

Contraband was first announced during the E3 2021 with just a logo teaser; fans have been waiting to know more about the title since.

While nothing was officially announced in the last four years about the development of the title, a recent report suggests that Contraband development has been stopped at Xbox after being in development for five years.

Why it matters: While the development of the title has been on hold at the moment, it’s just a matter of time before it gets canceled. 

Contraband Development Update
Contraband Development Update.

Just soon after a report from Game File suggested that Microsoft had stopped the development of Contraband, which was in development for five years, the studio has officially confirmed the news.

On the official website of Avalanche Studios, it has been confirmed that the development of the title has been put on hold.

Over the past several years, Avalanche Studios Group and Xbox Game Studios Publishing have collaborated on Contraband. Active development has now stopped while we evaluate the project’s future

-Avalanche Studios

The studio has thanked fans for the continued excitement and support and assures that they will give an update about the development as soon as they can.

Contraband Xbox And Avalanche Studios
Contraband Was In Development For Five Years

Following the recent layoffs at Xbox, which led to multiple cancellations, many thought that Contraband would be another title to get canceled. However, a job listing suggested that the title was still ongoing, and Avalanche was hiring developers to work on the title.

Latest Updates

While it remains to be seen what the future holds for the title, things aren’t looking good, as the reveal trailer was also delisted from the official Xbox YouTube Channel recently.

Nonetheless, what do you think about this? Share your thoughts with us in the comments or join the Tech4Gamers forums.

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