Facebook Linkedin Twitter Youtube
Home Blog Page 26

Starfield Rises To The Top Of Pre-Order Charts On PlayStation Store, Passes PS5 Exclusive Saros

Story Highlight
  • Starfield has risen to the top of the pre-order charts on the US PlayStation Store.
  • Both the Premium and base editions of the RPG are in the top 5.
  • Furthermore, the game is ahead of major AAA releases like Pragmata, 007 First Light, and the upcoming PS5 exclusive Saros.

After years of waiting and months of speculation, Starfield has finally been announced for the PS5. The space RPG will head to the Sony console almost three years after its initial launch on PC and Xbox Series X|S.

With a new story DLC and other fresh updates coming to Starfield as soon as it releases on PS5, fans are eagerly anticipating its launch, and the RPG’s performance on the pre-order charts is a clear indication of the hype.

Why it matters: Bethesda’s RPG outperforming AAA titles and a PS5 exclusive despite being three years old is a big win for the Xbox multiplatform strategy, as the game initially underwhelmed at launch.

Starfield PS5
Source: PlayStation Store

Just a few days after its announcement, Starfield has risen to the top of the pre-order charts on the US PlayStation Store. The game’s $70 Premium Edition holds the no.1 spot on the list, with the base version of the RPG currently sitting at no.4.

Despite being a 2023 release, Starfield is currently ahead of some hyped AAA titles like Pragmata, 007 First Light, Life Is Strange: Reunion, and the upcoming Diablo 4 expansion. However, the most surprising game below the RPG is the upcoming PS5 exclusive, Saros, developed by Housemarque.

The action title is supposed to launch in April, the same month Starfield debuts on the platform. But Saros currently sits at no. 12 on the pre-order charts, not even making the top 10, unlike the former Xbox exclusive.

Starfield
Starfield could be as successful as Forza Horizon 5 was on the PS5.

Regardless, Starfield has started strongly on PS5 and is also topping the pre-order charts on the UK PS Store. Bethesda has promised to keep supporting the game for years to come, and a fresh new update is already under development.

Hence, Starfield could very well surpass Forza Horizon 5 as the best-selling Xbox first-party title on PS5.

Latest Updates

Do you think Starfield will be a massive commercial success on PlayStation 5? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.

Crimson Desert Opens To An Impressive 240K Players on Steam

Story Highlight
  • Crimson Desert just launched to a huge player base with around 240K concurrent players.
  • It had already reportedly sold around 400K copies on Steam even before launch.
  • Pearl Abyss’s title has been an absolute hit already, and numbers are expected to increase.

Crimson Desert was unarguably one of the most sought-after games of the year. Even before launch, it had reportedly sold around 400K copies already, and this shows from the incredible opening it just had on Steam. 

Pearl Abyss’s RPG has launched to a huge 240K players on Steam, which is a big deal for a single-player game. Additionally, it also currently boasts the third-highest player count and is the top-selling title on the platform

Why it matters: These kinds of numbers aren’t seen too often with new single-player IPs, but it was coming based on the overwhelming number of pre-orders. And it could climb even further over the weekend. 

Crimson Desert
Crimson Desert opens with a very impressive 240K players on Steam

On Steam, Crimson Desert has had an explosive opening with around 240K players. While the numbers were expected, it’ll be more interesting to see what sort of reception it gets from the audience amid mixed critical reviews. 

The title has divided the media, and it might be a bit too ambitious for its own good. Anyhow, there are many positive takeaways, including the open-world exploration, boss fights, and the general experience.

Crimson Desert MC Score
The title received a mixed score of just 78 on Metacritic

The player reviews will come in once people get a few hours in it, but those will be the definitive reviews that will decide Crimson Desert‘s future. For now, it has managed to record great opening numbers. 

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on Crimson Desert opening to over 300K players? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.

Death Stranding 2 Becomes PlayStation’s 5th Biggest Single-Player Launch On Steam

Story Highlight
  • Death Stranding 2 has managed to reach over 55,000 concurrent players on Steam at release.
  • This figure puts it among the top 5 single-player PlayStation PC releases.
  • The game is also currently Steam’s third best-selling title.

Death Stranding 2 just launched on PC a few hours ago, and if recent reports are anything to go by, it could be one of PlayStation’s last few releases on the platform.

Although Hideo Kojima’s franchise is a fan-favorite, it seems this PC port is performing particularly well, even compared to more high-profile ports like Spider-Man 2. At the time of writing, Death Stranding 2 is now PlayStation’s 5th biggest single-player release on Steam.

Why it matters: PlayStation is reportedly stepping away from PC ports, seemingly due to poor performance of its releases on the platform, so this port performing well so early on is quite interesting.

Death Stranding 2 PC Day-One Player Count
Death Stranding 2 PC Peak Player Count vs Other PlayStation PC Ports | Image via SteamDB

At the time of writing, Death Stranding 2 has been out for several hours, and the game stands at a peak concurrent count of 55,444 players.

This figure puts it above God of War Ragnarok, Days Gone, Spider-Man 2, and many other PlayStation PC ports. Hideo Kojima’s latest title falls just behind Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition to make it into the top 5 single-player PC ports from PlayStation on Steam.

Helldivers 2 remains in the top spot, but it also remains an outlier, and PlayStation has yet to even come close to replicating its success since then. Moreover, Death Stranding 2 is the 3rd best-selling title on Steam right now, so the game is certainly exceeding expectations. 

All in all, PlayStation’s latest, and perhaps last major PC release for a while, is off to an amazing start so far.

Death Stranding 2
Death Stranding 2 Was Quite Well-Received At Launch

It should be noted that Crimson Desert is also set to launch today, making these numbers all the more impressive, since many are excited for Pearl Abyss’ action-adventure release.

Latest Updates

Are you playing Hideo Kojima’s latest single-player adventure on PC right now? Let us know in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

CDPR to Release Unannounced Project In Coming Quarters, Fueling Witcher 3 DLC Rumors

Story Highlight
  • CDPR mentions an unannounced project in its upcoming slate for this year.
  • The mentioned project is likely the rumored Witcher 3 DLC expansion.
  • It is expected to focus on Ciri and will bring a new map extension to Velen.

We haven’t had new Witcher story-related content in nearly a decade now, and while CDPR seems full throttle into developing Witcher 4, they still may have more things to show for.

For the past few months, rumors of a Witcher 3 DLC have been emerging, corroborated by many sources. Now, CDPR themselves have revealed that they have an unannounced project set to release in the upcoming quarters, practically confirming the expansion.

Why it matters: It’s surprising to see CDPR release a new DLC expansion for a game that is more than a decade old. Still, it will be interesting to see what they have in store for fans.

cdpr unannounced project
CDPR Hinting At Something New For This Year || Source: CDPR

In its 2025 financial report, CDPR revealed that it has an unannounced project in its pipeline.

In the coming quarters, the Studio will focus primarily on further development work on ongoing projects; we also plan to publish one of the heretofore unannounced gaming projects.

The keyword here is “publish,” which implies that this project isn’t being developed internally but rather is outsourced.

Earlier, rumors did suggest that Fool’s Theory, developers behind the upcoming remake of Witcher 1 would be handling the DLC. This more or less solidifies the claim.

Geralt and Ciri Witcher 3
The DLC Will Reportedly Cost $30 And Is Expected To Sell 10 Million Units

As for the expansion itself, it is expected to bridge the story events between The Witcher 3 and The Witcher 4, meaning it will likely be centered on Ciri.

Another report also suggested that it will introduce a new region, likely an extension of Velen. Previously, the expansion was slated for May, but it might have been pushed to a September release; nevertheless, it will still be arriving before GTA 6.

Latest Updates

What are your expectations for this upcoming Witcher 3 DLC? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

Samsung Introduces Long-Term Contracts Of DRAM And NAND Memory

ARCTIC Unveils Senza AI 370 with Fanless Design and Local AI Power

[Press Release] The Senza AI 370 brings a different approach to desktop computing. It combines strong AI performance with a completely silent design, making it a solid choice for modern workflows.

This PC mounts under your desk, freeing up space and reducing clutter. A detachable front panel keeps ports and the power button within easy reach. The result is a cleaner and more practical workspace.

The system uses passive cooling, so there are no fans at all. That means zero noise and fewer failure points. It also reduces dust buildup, which keeps maintenance to a minimum over time.

Powered by the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Radeon 890M graphics, the Senza AI 370 handles AI tasks directly on the device. With 32 GB LPDDR5X RAM and a 1 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, it delivers fast, smooth performance for demanding workloads.

As a Copilot+ PC, it runs AI features locally, improving speed and keeping data more secure.

It comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro and also supports Linux. Setup is quick, so you can start working right away without extra configuration.

Priced at €1,029.99, the system offers long-term reliability thanks to its fanless design. Fewer moving parts mean fewer issues and more consistent performance.

The Senza AI 370 shows that a desktop PC can be powerful without being noisy or bulky. It fits well in modern setups where performance, silence, and simplicity matter.

Project Hadar Development Progressing Well, CDPR Says IP Foundations Are Laid

Story Highlight
  • CDPR CEO confirms development on Project Hadar is going smoothly.
  • The game has now entered its conceptual phase.
  • One job listing suggests that Project Hadar would be an Action RPG with an emphasis on melee combat.

Regarded for the Witcher trilogy and more recently, Cyberpunk 2077, developer CDPR is now looking to expand its portfolio. They’ve now commenced work on their first original IP, called ‘Project Hadar.’

Officially, there haven’t been many details about the IP, but CDPR’s CEO has just shared what appears to be the first development update on the project. Development on the game is going well, and CDPR has now laid the foundations for the project and is now in the prototype phase.

Why it matters: CDPR has its hands full with so many upcoming projects, so it’s good to know that work on its original IP is still going well.

CEO Michał Nowakowski summarized CDPR’s financial results in a new YouTube video posted on the studio’s official channel. He talked about the demo presentation of Witcher 4 last year during the Unreal Fest, and also about Cyberpunk 2 now being out of the conceptual phase.

Towards the end of the video, he touched on Project Hadar with exciting new details. The studio is finally in the conceptual phase for the game and has laid the foundations for the IP.

The team has established the foundations of this entirely new IP. Now, we are designing specific elements that might be included in the game, creating multiple prototypes and implementing them directly in Unreal Engine. 

CDPR is now creating prototypes of the game and testing out elements. Expect at least a couple of years before the game moves into pre-production, accounting for the fact that CDPR is working on multiple games, including Cyberpunk 2, Witcher 4, and more.

CD Projekt RED
All Future CDPR Projects Will Be Based On Unreal Engine

As for what the game will be about, just last year we uncovered gameplay details from a job listing that suggested Project Hadar would be an Action RPG with a focus on melee combat.

Latest Updates

What are your expectations from Project Hadar? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

CORSAIR Unveils the 3200D Mid-Tower Case Focused on High Airflow and Clean Builds

[Press Release] CORSAIR has launched the new 3200D mid-tower case, built for users who want strong cooling and a clean setup. It replaces the 3000D and comes in Black, White, and a semi-transparent Smoke front panel option.

The case is designed to handle modern high-end hardware with ease. It supports GPUs up to 375mm, making it compatible with large, power-hungry graphics cards. Inside, there’s room for up to nine 120mm fans or four 140mm fans, along with support for a 360mm radiator at the front or top.

Cooling is the main focus here. The ventilated front panel improves airflow, while an angled bottom fan mount directs cool air toward the GPU. This helps maintain better temperatures during heavy workloads. The included RS120 fans are built for quiet performance and efficient airflow.

The 3200D also keeps building simple. A side cable shroud helps hide wires, and a built-in GPU support bracket prevents sag. Storage support includes up to three SSDs and one HDD, which is enough for most setups. A tempered glass side panel adds a premium look and easy access.

On the front, there’s a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port for fast data transfer, along with a USB Type-A port for compatibility. The case also supports reverse connector motherboards for cleaner builds with hidden cables.

Two versions are available. The standard 3200D RS includes three non-RGB fans, while the 3200D RS ARGB adds customizable lighting. Both options aim to deliver solid cooling out of the box.

The CORSAIR 3200D is available now through official stores and comes with a two-year warranty and global support.

Why Smaller Games Are Winning Big Right Now

Story Highlight
  • Modern big-budget games often prioritize massive maps and complex sub-systems over actual depth.
  • When games overwhelm players with endless icons, menus, and objectives, the experience feels like a chore rather than a hobby.
  • Indie and AA developers are winning by focusing on specific, polished mechanics and unique art styles rather than trying to do everything at once.

Modern gaming feels stuck in a loop of trying to outdo itself. Bigger maps, more mechanics, higher fidelity – every new release wants to be the biggest thing yet. On paper, that sounds great. In reality, it often just means more stuff to deal with.

AAA games today aren’t just games anymore, they’re systems stacked on systems. Skill trees, currencies, side quests, menus inside menus. It looks impressive, but it doesn’t always feel better to play.

When Games Start Feeling Like Work

Ubisoft Open World Map
Ubisoft Open World Map.

You’ve probably loaded into a game and just paused for a second, staring at the screen. Too many icons, too many objectives, too many things pulling your attention in different directions.

Instead of jumping in, you’re figuring things out. Instead of playing, you’re managing.

That’s where a lot of big games lose momentum. The moment things feel like effort instead of flow, you start checking out, even if the game looks incredible.

Why Simple Gameplay Loops Just Work

silksong img
Silksong.

Now compare that to a game that keeps things simple. One clear goal. One tight loop. No distractions.

You always know what you’re doing, and more importantly, why you’re doing it.

That clarity hits different. It keeps you moving instead of hesitating. And once you’re in that rhythm, it’s hard to stop.

Minimalist games thrive on quick feedback. You make a move, you see the result, and you improve on the next run. No waiting around, no long setup.

Even something like searching for solitaire grand harvest tips shows how effective that design is. You’re not buried under complex systems, you’re just refining a clear strategy and getting better each time you play.

That loop: play, improve, repeat. is what keeps you hooked way longer than any massive feature list.

AAA Games and the Problem of Diminishing Returns

The bigger the games get, the harder it is for them to stay focused. You start seeing repeated mission structures, familiar mechanics, and features that feel like they’re there just for the sake of it.

Studios are spending more than ever, but the payoff isn’t always there. Sometimes it feels like all that scale is just masking a lack of direction.

It’s not that these games are bad; it’s just that they’re trying to do too much at once. A recent study shows that gamers are now fed up of big budget AAA games playing it safe.

How Indie and AA Games Are Getting It Right

AA And Indie Games 2025
Indie games are on a roll right now.

Meanwhile, smaller studios are doing the opposite, and it’s working.

Instead of chasing realism, they focus on feel. Tight controls, strong art style, and mechanics that actually matter. Games like Hi-Fi Rush or Helldivers 2 don’t try to be everything; they just commit to what they are.

That focus makes them stand out more than most big-budget releases. Not everyone has hours to sink into games anymore, and that’s why gamers are mostly interested in indie games. When you do get time to play, you want it to count.

Indie games respect that. They get straight to the point. No long tutorials, no unnecessary buildup, just gameplay.

You jump in, play for a bit, and actually feel like you made progress. That matters more now than ever.

Why Minimalist Games Age Better

There’s also something to be said about longevity. Hyper-realistic graphics might look amazing today, but they don’t always hold up.

Simple, stylized games? They age way better. They’re not trying to chase realism; they’re building identity. And that identity sticks, even years later.

This doesn’t mean big, cinematic games are going away. There’s always going to be a place for them.

Latest Updates

But right now, it feels like players are starting to value something else: clarity. Focus. Gameplay that respects your time and attention.

Because at the end of the day, more content doesn’t always mean more fun. Sometimes, less really does hit harder.

Too Ambitious For Its Own Good? Crimson Desert Divides The Media

Story Highlight
  • Crimson Desert hasn’t turned out to be a universal critical hit, and reviews blame its flawed execution for this result.
  • The game has delivered on its promise of a brilliant, gorgeous, and ambitious open-world filled with a variety of mechanics and activities.
  • However, the action-adventure title is being criticised for its poor execution of some of these aspects, including the combat, narrative, and other shortcomings.

After months of hype and gameplay showcases, Crimson Desert is finally going to be playable relatively soon. The Pearl Abyss game has hit the mark running on the commercial front, selling more than 400k copies on Steam already through pre-orders.

However, the open-world title has stumbled at its most important juncture: Critic reviews. Crimson Desert’s review scores have been very polarising, with some publications giving it an almost perfect rating, while others have not been extremely impressed by the title’s flawed execution. 

The Good: A Stunning, Deep, and Exciting Open-World

  • Vice: 10/10
  • The Outerhaven: 10/10
  • DualShockers: 9.5/10
  • Forbes: 9.5/10
  • Windows Central: 9/10
  • ComicBook: 9/10
  • PC Gamer: 8/10

Despite doubts surrounding the sheer scale of its map, Crimson Desert has convincingly delivered on its ambitious, breathtaking, and massive open world. Both the good and bad reviews of the action-adventure title have praised the unbelievably huge world and its variety of biomes.

The level of visual fidelity in the open-world title is also second to none, and its attention to environmental detail like foliage, trees, and wildlife makes the Crimson Desert map one of the most lively in gaming.

The open world is not only humongous and graphically impressive, but it’s also packed with content that is engaging and unexpected. Its wide variety of mechanics is hard to digest, but give players numerous options in how to approach the game.

Crimson Desert
Reviews have praised the density, graphical fidelity, and scale of the map.

Crimson Desert’s map is filled with activities that include fishing, card games, arm wrestling, horse taming, and much more. The scale of the map, combined with the number of mechanics to invest in, makes the Pearl Abyss title something unprecedented in the world of gaming.

Positive reviews also hailed the game’s combat depth, but acknowledged that the control layout could take some time to get the hang of. However, once one masters Crimson Desert’s complex controls, the title becomes the fun action romp it was meant to be.

A lot of the positive reviews also agreed that the game’s mechanics really start clicking for you after spending more than 10 hours in the open world.

Of course, such an investment of time is a personal preference, but the Crimson Desert truly delivers on an ambitious promise after the player gets familiar with it.

The Bad: Flawed Combat And An Unimpressive Narrative

  • IGN: 6/10
  • PCGamesN: 6/10
  • Eurogamer: 6/10
  • VG247: 6/10
  • TheGamer: 7/10
  • GameSpot: 7/10

Several prominent outlets, including IGN, Eurogamer, and TheGamer, have not been blown away by Crimson Desert, giving the title a surprisingly average score. The two most common nitpicks of these reviews were the game’s combat and its uninspiring narrative.

Crimson Desert
The game’s combat has been criticised heavily so far.

Crimson Desert’s combat has been especially vilified by critics. Multiple outlets criticised the overwhelming nature of the game’s combat mechanics, stating that the experience falters beneath the weight of balancing and explaining a wide array of combat systems, which aren’t helped by janky lock-on and movement controls.

In addition, boss fights in Crimson Desert are very poorly balanced. Both IGN and PCGamesN pointed out how bosses are annoying because of their uneven difficulty compared to the rest of the game. Moreover, the control layout isn’t easy to digest, making the initial boss fights a frustrating experience.

Pearl Abyss’ narrative direction was also heavily criticised. Reviews said that Crimson Desert spends the first few hours laying down one mechanic after another on the player, and then has Kliff do boring fetch quests and other repetitive tasks.

Crimson Desert
Kliff has been termed a boring protagonist by critics.

Furthermore, the fantastical mechanics marketed by Crimson Desert, like the dragons and jetpacks, don’t come around until 70 hours into the game. Moreover, the main story doesn’t make this playtime bearable, as reviews state that the plot gets less compelling, more aimless, and unnecessarily complex as time goes on.

Kliff was also bombarded unanimously, with reviews calling him vanilla, uninteresting, and a failed interpretation of the Geralt archetype, failing to feel like a character even 70 hours into the game.

Latest Updates

Interestingly, PCGamesN even criticised the game’s exploration, pointing out how the world feels sterile as most activities and interactions are guarded behind the main story, making the discovery aspect pointless in an otherwise beautiful open world.

Ubisoft Has Ended Game Development at Tom Clancy Studio — 105 Employees Laid Off

Story Highlight
  • A report reveals that Ubisoft has cancelled game development at the Tom Clancy Studio.
  • The focus has shifted from development; therefore, 105 developers were laid off.
  • Ubisoft has been under hot water for a long time, and this won’t help the cause.

Ubisoft was once one of the biggest names in the gaming industry, delivering hit after hit. However, the studio has since fallen from grace, with its reputation now in hot water, and even ex-employees admitting the public’s hate for the company. 

Adding fuel to the fire, Ubisoft is now ending game development at its legendary Tom Clancy Studio. Over 100 people have been laid off, but the studio will still be open and will work only as IT and tech support. 

Why it matters: Tom Clancy Studio holds a historical status delivering franchises like Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, and more, but Ubisoft has severely underutilized them in recent years, limiting them to just niche VR games. 

Tom Clancy studio
Tom Clancy studio experiences layoffs and end of game development

VGC has learned about the ending of development at Tom Clancy Studio. As the developers are no longer needed, the headcount has been reduced by 105 people. Earlier this year, Ubisoft said it plans to lay off 2000 employees. 

The Tom Clancy studio was acquired by Ubisoft in 2000, so it holds a massive historical status. While it was initially treated according to its status, recently it wasn’t being used; it should have been. 

Ghost Recon
The studio was behind popular franchises like Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six

This move is even weirder considering Ubisoft recently showed commitment to live service titles. And now, they have stopped development at one of the finest live service developers they had, granted the recent results weren’t as expected. 

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on the layoffs and development being ended at the Tom Clancy Studio? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.

Nvidia DLSS 5 YouTube Trailer Shows Devastating 16% Positive Rating

Story Highlight
  • Nvidia revealed DLSS 5 two days ago, but reactions to this iteration of the technology have been mostly negative.
  • On YouTube, just 16% of the total ratings are positive on the debut trailer, with viewers leaving over 91K dislikes.
  • Many in the comments have also criticized DLSS 5, dubbing it AI slop, among other things.

Nvidia has announced its biggest jump for AI-based technology aimed specifically at gamers with DLSS 5. This iteration of DLSS introduced neural-based rendering to completely revolutionize how games look, but the results are another story.

Previews of the technology have not been the most impressive so far. In fact, audience reaction has been largely negative, and the like/dislike ratio on the reveal trailer tells a similar story.

Why it matters: Games have always appreciated DLSS and Nvidia’s software in the games industry, so this wave of criticism has come as a shock.

Nvidia DLSS 5
Nvidia DLSS 5 Dislikes via YouTube

At the time of writing, the DLSS 5 announcement video has around 17,410 likes after garnering over 1.5 million views.

On the other hand, the trailer is estimated to have a total of 90,679 dislikes, leaving it at an abymsal like to dislike ratio. In fact, of all the ratings, only 16% are positive based on these numbers.

In the comments, reactions have been largely negative, and many viewers have dubbed the technology “AI slop.” Some have also referenced the ongoing RAM shortages, stating that AI advancements like DLSS 5 are why RAM has become practically unobtainable recently.

Interestingly, Nvidia also came forward with an explanation in the comments section, claiming that developers would have full control of the technology.

We went from ray-tracing to slop-tracing.

No way this isn’t an April Fools Joke.

starfield dlss on vs off
DLSS 5 Completely Changes The Image

Moving forward, Nvidia will likely take the time to address recent criticism and tune DLSS 5 to preserve the artistic visions of games. Many, including Bethesda, seem quite optimistic about the neural rendering technology, so it will be interesting to see how it impacts games moving forward.

Latest Updates

What do you think about the backlash to DLSS 5? Let’s discuss in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

1...252627...84Page 26 of 84