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South of Midnight Early Previews Hint At A Hauntingly Beautiful Adventure

Story Highlight
  • South of Midnight is set in the American Deep South and focuses on a narrative-driven experience.
  • It features a unique, hand-crafted aesthetic with unique stop-motion-inspired cutscenes (which can be toggled off).
  • The game is divided into 14 chapters, offering an estimated 10-12 hours of gameplay.

South of Midnight’s early previews suggest it will be a beautiful and story-driven experience, deeply inspired by the mysterious atmosphere of the American Deep South.

The game offers a special mix of local folklore, beautiful visuals, and heartfelt storytelling. Featuring a handcrafted art style, a compelling main character, and stellar boss fights, South of Midnight looks set to become a standout title in the action-adventure genre.

Why it matters: Early previews suggest South of Midnight looks set to be a standout addition to Xbox’s impressive lineup of games planned for release this year.

Players take on the role of Hazel, a character with magical powers, as she searches for her mother following a destructive flood. The game is divided into 14 chapters and provides around 10-12 hours of playtime.

It includes a unique, stop-motion-like visual style for cutscenes, which can be turned off during gameplay if they become too distracting.

The game will run at 60 FPS on Xbox Series X/S. Previews highlight its fluid movement mechanics, like double jumps and gliding, which can make exploration and platforming more enjoyable.

Boss fights against creatures inspired by folklore stand out as memorable moments in South of Midnight. Combat focuses on fighting supernatural beings called Haints using Hazel’s magical abilities, though it may feel somewhat familiar and basic.

While the early previews paint a promising picture for South of Midnight, it still has its share of problems. The game’s pace sometimes slows down because of exploration and puzzle-solving, which might not suit everyone.

South of Midnight
Combat in South of Midnight pits Hazel against supernatural creatures known as Haints.

Some performance issues, like slight screen tearing and occasional stutters, were seen in early versions but are likely to be fixed before the final release.

While the gameplay doesn’t introduce anything entirely new, its straightforward and familiar style might attract players who enjoy traditional action-adventure games.

Latest Updates

Regardless, South of Midnight is set to launch on April 8, 2025, on Xbox Series S|X and PC. However, with Xbox’s recent emphasis on a multiplatform strategy, it wouldn’t be surprising if it eventually launched on the PS5.

What do you think of the South of Midnight’s early previews? Are they enough for you to consider buying it on launch? Drop your thoughts in the comments, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.

G.Skill Confirms OC World Cup 2025 With $40K Prize Pool

[Press Release] G.Skill has just unveiled a new edition of its famous OC World Cup. Marking the 9th annual event, the 2025 edition of G.Skil’s OC World Cup will begin with the online qualifiers later this week on February 15.

This phase will last till March 19, giving nine finalists the chance to compete for the grand prize of $10,000 at Computex 2025 in May.

G.Skill OC World Cup 2025
The OC World Cup Was A Huge Success Last Year

G.Skill states that the competition will be divided into three phases. Following the online qualifiers and the live qualifiers, three grand finalists will go head to head at Computex 2025.

These enthusiasts will utilize the Intel Z790/Z890 platforms and aim to produce the best possible results using memory frequency DDR5, 7-ZIP, and more. The top 9 finalists will be rewarded with a $40,000 prize pool, giving each person the chance to secure at least $2,500.

Moreover, each of the nine finalists will be given a DDR5-8000 CL38 48GB memory kit. Three participants from the qualifiers stage will also be awarded the same memory through a random draw from G.Skill.

RTX 5090 FE Burnout Case: PSU Connector Reaches Dangerous 150°C In New Report

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  • New testing for the RTX 5090FE reveals the 12VHPWR cable hitting 70C.
  • Moreover, the PSU side connector heats up to 150C within a few minutes of benchmark.
  • The cable current draw is hugely imbalanced with a singular wire drawing 23 amps.

The first melted connector report for the RTX 5090 FE was spotted a few days earlier on Reddit. However, it was reported as a user-end issue for many blaming third-party cable usage.  

In a new video, YouTuber der8auer analyzes the melted card from the Redditor. He also does some more testing on his RTX 5090 FE, revealing some concerning details.

The 12VHPWR is extremely worrying, as it was potentially to blame for the previously reported melted connector after it heated up to 70C in just a few minutes of benchmark testing.

The power port on the 5090 FE overheated and burned because the current wasn’t evenly distributed across the pins, causing temperatures to spike to 150 degrees.

Why it matters: The high-end RTX cards have always been notorious for having melting issues. The issue became prominent with the RTX 4090, and many thought Nvidia would’ve learned from its mistakes. However, it’s a shame that the trillion-dollar company still didn’t fix the issue.

Moreover, the testing revealed that one of the 12-pin connector wires draws a whopping 23 amps. Meanwhile, the GPU and water block seemed to be quite cool, with temperatures under 60C.

However, the PSU side gets extremely hot, with the temperature recorded at a whopping 150C. 

Normally, the singular wire should carry around 6-8 amps. The imbalance on these wires is a safety hazard and also disappointing, considering how rare these RTX 5090 cards are anyway.

GeForce RTX 5090
Users Reporting Bricked RTX 5090 After Recent Driver Update.

Thankfully, the ASUS RTX 5090 Astral cards can monitor these current draws. Still, the founder’s editions cannot do so. This could potentially mean a widespread issue for these variants. 

Latest Updates

If you have an RTX 5090FE, have you encountered this issue? Let us know in the comments below or head towards the official Tech4Gamers forum.

Kingdom Come Deliverance Writer Interested in Developing Realistic Viking RPG Next

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  • Kingdom Come Deliverance studio boss and franchise author Daniel Vavra wants to work on a realistic Viking RPG next.
  • However, he has also shown interest in developing a game based around Crusaders, but a theme is not decided yet.
  • Warhorse Studios has only recently released Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, so its next project is likely years away for now.

Many gamers are infatuated with Warhorse Studios, especially after the Kingdom Come Deliverance series—realistic RPGs set in the medieval open world of Bohemia—surpassed everyone’s expectations. Now, the studio is already planning its next project.

The Kingdom Come Deliverance studio boss has shown interest in developing a realistic Viking RPG.

Why it matters: The game’s author already wants to develop a realistic RPG based on Vikings or Crusaders, giving us an idea of what we can expect for years to come.

Kingdom Come Deliverance
Kingdom Come Deliverance writer wants to develop a realistic Viking RPG next if given the chance.

While responding to a fan on Twitter, Daniel Vavra clarified that he would love to develop a project based on Vikings. The idea is also something Warhorse Studios can get behind because of how believed the Viking theme is to them.

On the flip side, another fan was quick to request a Crusader RPG. This remark did not go unnoticed, and Daniel also expressed interest in wanting to develop a project based on Crusaders for years. 

As such, fans are incredibly excited to see another realistic RPG, no matter what setting the developers choose. 

Kingdom Come Deliverance
Daniel Vavra is also contemplating making an RPG based on Crusaders instead.

Warhorse Studios has only recently released the Kingdom Come Deliverance sequel, which has seen a pretty positive reception despite a motley of controversies. It might still see plenty of work and updates for a long time.

Therefore, we will likely not see the next project from the developer team for the next few years.

Latest Updates

Will Daniel Vavra go through with the plans to develop a realistic Viking or Crusador RPG next, or should we withhold our anticipations? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Director Mocks Review, Blames It for Missing 90 Metacritic Score

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  • Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 director has responded harshly to the game’s negative review on social media.
  • He mocked the news outlet, saying that they blocked the game from getting a 90 score on Metacritic.
  • Previously, the director also mocked another news outlet for its review and responded harshly to the players.

The Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 success story continues but is somewhat hindered by its own developer team. Despite its favorable reception on the internet, a handful of people don’t like the game, and the game’s director hasn’t let this slide.

Daniel Vivra, the writer for Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and director of Warhorse Studio, has now directly called out one of the game’s average reviews on Metacritic. The director mocked the news outlet and blamed them for no longer having a 90 score on Metacritic.

Why it matters: Even the best video games face criticism. However, responding negatively can backfire on the developers, potentially impacting the game’s success.

kingdom come deliverance 2 director remarks on negative reviews
Daniel Vavra Responding To A Negative Review || Source: Twitter

Surely enough, the tweet got the attention of the players who were displeased by the director’s comments. Some even complain that these derogatory remarks have been driving customers away.

Surprisingly, this isn’t the only time that the director has expressed frustration towards journalism. Previously, he also called out a major news outlet, mocking them for their negative review.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Xbox Series S
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Is One Of The Most Optimised Titles Recently

Not even the actual player base is safe from the criticism. Daniel Vivra straight-up told players not to buy the game when they brought up the DEI elements in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2.

Latest Updates

What do you think about the director’s remarks for the negative review? Do you think it’s a reasonable response? Let us know in the comments below or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

Stellar Blade Helped Shift Up With Record Revenue in 2024

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  • Stellar Blade and NIKKE have led Shift Up in attaining record revenue in 2024. 
  • The company expects the Stellar Blade PC port to do even better than the PS5 version. 
  • It is also increasing its workforce to help with its next game in development. 

Stellar Blade was a pleasant surprise for most people. It exceeded everyone’s expectations by garnering great reviews from players and critics and did quite well financially, even leading to a PC port, currently under development.  

The game’s success has helped Shift Up with record yearly revenue and operating profits in 2024, and continued growth of the studio. 

Why it matters: Stellar Blade recorded great numbers in 2024 and even made history by winning 7 Korean Gaming Awards, citing how a great single-player game can be, if done right. 

stellar blade naughty dog
Stellar Blade led Shift Up in recording great revenue figures in 2024.

Shift Up has released its Q4 2024 Business results and announced it has recorded its best yearly revenue figures ever. This is largely led by NIKKE generating $105 Million and Stellar Blade with $43 Million in revenue. 

The report further states that Stellar Blade received immense love from the fans and has formed a massive fandom. The upcoming PC port will come with some additions over the base game, and the studio expects it to do even better than the PS5 version. 

Stellar Blade
The developers expect the PC port to do even better than the PS5.

In addition, new info on Shift Up’s next game, Project Witches will be revealed in the next 6 months, whereas the title is slated for a release in 2027. The increase in operating costs has also allowed the studio to increase its workforce. 

It currently has 322 staff members, which will be expanded to 400-420 members by the end of this year. There have been regular hints about a sequel based on job listings, but there hasn’t been a formal announcement as of yet. 

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on Stellar Blade leading Shift Up to its record-high revenue? What would you like to see in the sequel? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or join the discussion at the Tech4Gamers Forum. 

Sony Patents Controllers With Deformable Grips To Improve Haptic Feedback

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  • Sony has published a new patent that wants to introduce deformable grips in controllers to improve haptic feedback.
  • These deformable grips could be made using various elastic materials in next-gen PlayStation controllers. 
  • The controller grips can be twisted, bent, and deformed before returning to their original form after the player lets go.

While PlayStation is known for its cinematic exclusives and strong console branding, it is also making a name for itself in the innovative tech and accessibility industry. Sony has been publishing a variety of patents, but this new idea is in a league of its own.

We have discovered a new Sony patent that will introduce next-gen PlayStation controllers with the ability to deform freely in the hands of gamers. The controller grips can be deformed to enhance haptic feedback sensations and immersion.

The recently published patent describes making the internals and controller body with an elastic material, such as polymer gel, that can deform easily without damaging the shape of the controller. 

According to the present invention, there is provided a controller apparatus equipped with a sensor fit for the case where the main body of the controller apparatus is made deformable.

Why it matters: Sony’s new patent hints at next-gen PlayStation controllers with elastic grips, potentially improving haptic feedback and comfort.

The image shows the schematics of an electrostatic capacitance sensor in the controller.

The patent titled ‘CONTROLLER DEVICE AND SENSOR’ discusses evolving how haptic feedback feels by making controller grips deformable. The controller grips can be twisted and bent in the most optimal manner for players, which can return to their original shape after they let go. 

The patent claims current attempts at deformable controllers have failed due to internal designs that can’t withstand twisting and bending over time. So, it aims to use internals that can withstand elastic deformation. 

The controller main body is formed of deformable materials such as polymer gel materials. […] The deformation here is meant to include elastic deformation, bending, sliding, and twisting.

The flowchart shows an instance of information processing by the controller.

All in all, we can see Sony integrating this new technology into next-gen PlayStation controllers. The deformable grips will allow players to grab the controllers in a more satisfying way and experience even smoother haptic feedback.

Latest Updates

Sony has also secured many other unique patents over the years, including a new system to tackle latency issues in games by predicting player inputs ahead of time and another one that talks about detecting player rage in real time to adjust gameplay.

Do you think PlayStation controllers with deformable grips will improve the way haptic feedback feels in contrast to traditional controllers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Is Well Optimized Partly Due To Xbox Series S, Says Dev

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  • Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 developer has said that the Xbox Series S helped Warhorse with overall optimization.
  • The techniques used to save memory on the console helped the RPG run smoother on other platforms.
  • Historically developers have stated otherwise so it’s a small win for Xbox.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 exceeded everyone’s expectations on launch, selling 14 times faster than its predecessor and recouping its budget in just a day. The game has also become a critical darling, with fans giving high praise to its medieval world and a difficulty that is easier to navigate than Soulsborne titles.

The Warhorse title has also worked exceptionally well on all consoles and PC, which is a stark difference from its predecessor. And, according to a developer working on the game, the reason Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 runs this smoothly is none other than Xbox Series S.

Why it matters: Developers from all over the world have criticized the Xbox Series S due to challenges in optimizing games for it hence this is an interesting twist in the narrative.

While speaking on the Iron Lords Podcast, Warhorse’s international manager Tobias Stolz-Zwilling revealed that the RPG’s optimization on the Series S helped the other platforms greatly.

The optimizations also for the Xbox Series S helped greatly with the other platforms as well.

-Tobias Stolz-Zwilling

The developer said Xbox Series S is the weakest of the available platforms but the Xbox Series S helped the team come up with more clever ways to save memory and make Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 run on the platform.

As a result of this approach, the techniques applied to the Series S helped Warhorse save memory on other ports helping the game run smoother without sacrificing any visual fidelity. Hence, you can either go full force with the more powerful consoles or use the ideas from Series S to help you, as per Tobias.

This is an interesting piece of information as the current narrative suggests that the console hinders development and delays video games. Even Microsoft’s own first-party exclusive Avowed skipped the 60 FPS mode on the cheaper console.

Black Myth Wukong Xbox Series S
Black Myth Wukong developers were among those who criticized the Xbox Series S.

But, as Phil Spencer has stated repeatedly, the Xbox Series S compatibility is here to stay and this is a small win in that narrative.

Latest Updates

Do you think the Xbox Series S has hindered development in this generation? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.

GTA 6 Will Bring Huge Boost To PS5 And Xbox Series S|X Sales, Says Take-Two CEO

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  • The Take-Two CEO believes GTA 6 will bring a new wave of players to the PS5 and Xbox Series S|X.
  • He also states that other games coming this year will contribute to current-gen hardware sales.
  • Despite GTA 6 skipping a PC release, the CEO acknowledged that PC gaming is growing at an impressive rate.

GTA 6 is set to be one of the few titles skipping a day-one PC release this generation. This move will limit Rockstar Games’ upcoming title to an install base that currently stands below 100 million, but Take-Two is hopeful about the future of console gaming.

As per CEO Strauss Zelnick, GTA 6 itself will bring a major boost to console sales in 2025.

Why it matters: The GTA 6 PC port could take up to two years to arrive after its console release, leaving fans with a long waiting period.

GTA 6
The upcoming Grand Theft Auto title might be the industry’s savior.

Strauss Zelnick, the CEO of Take-Two, recently spoke to IGN and discussed the implications of a console-only release for GTA 6.

When asked about the somewhat dwindling sales of consoles, he was quick to note that GTA 6 would likely disrupt this trend. Zelnick predicts that 2025 will see the PS5 and Xbox Series S|X becoming more popular than ever.

When you have a big title in the market, historically that has sold consoles. I think that will happen this year.

-Strauss Zelnick

He believes that games from other studios, in addition to GTA 6, will play a major role in boosting console sales.

Interestingly, the CEO also acknowledged the growing importance of PC gaming. While a recent Take-Two report showed how little this platform contributed to the publisher’s overall revenue, the CEO believes PC will only become more important as time goes on.

Take Two Lineup For 2025
Take-Two’s upcoming lineup looks quite exciting.

Still, Rockstar Games is choosing to stick with its historical philosophy. The gaming giant will likely bet on double-dip purchases and hope to sell GTA 6 to the PC audience after making records on PS5 and Xbox Series S|X later this year.

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on this response? Let’s discuss this in the comments and on the Tech4Gamers Forums.

GameMax Debuts Vision GMX32UCDM, Entering QD-OLED Monitor Market

[Press Release] GameMax has announced its first QD-OLED gaming monitor with the Vision GMX32UCDM.

In addition to an incredibly vivid OLED screen, this monitor boasts a 31.5-inch 4K panel and an ultra-fast 240Hz refresh rate. Both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync are also supported, making the GX32UCDM perfect for all types of gaming needs.

On the other hand, a 99% DCI-P3 color coverage ensures the GX32UCDM can be used for professional work. The monitor even supports reverse charging through the Type-C port with 90W power delivery.

As per GameMax, the QD-OLED monitor will go on sale for $1,099. Information on pricing and availability will be shared closer to launch; the company has also confirmed an extended 3-year warranty.

Insomniac Games Says Not Working With Sony Was Its Most Stressful Time

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  • Insomniac says it faced its most stressful time when it moved away from Sony. 
  • The company started working with EA in 2010, before getting acquired by Sony in 2019.
  • It has since released big hits in the form of Marvel’s Spider-Man and Ratchet and Clank.

Insomniac Games is largely associated with Sony and PlayStation. It is the studio behind some of the best superhero games in the form of Marvel’s Spider-Man franchise. However, there was a time when it moved away from Sony. 

In 2010, Insomniac cut a deal with Electronic Arts and released a game with them, but the studio founder says that moving away from Sony was the most stressful time in the company’s history.

Why it matters: Since Insomniac has been partnering with Sony for a long time, working with other publishers took the company out of its comfort zone, and it couldn’t develop the quality games it wanted. 

Speaking to Kinda Funny Games, Insomniac Games’ founder, Ted Price talked about the most stressful time the company ever faced. He stated that the studio had become so accustomed to working with Sony, that it was difficult to adjust anywhere else. 

I think the most stressful period was when we had moved away from working with Sony, and we were getting comfortable with working with other partners who had completely different approaches than we did.

– Ted Price

Insomniac has a great lineup of games.

Price further discussed the developer-publisher relationship and how it takes a long time for both parties to mature and become comfortable. This was taking so much toll on the developers that they eventually had to return to Sony. 

Interstingly, Insomniac also released an Xbox exclusive game Sunset Overdrive. Of course, Sony then acquired the company in 2019 and came out with hits like Marvel’s Spider-Man, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, and more. 

Latest Updates

Now, the studio is one of the best in-house teams working for Sony. It is also developing its next superhero game, Marvel’s Wolverine, which is expected to be released in 2026.

What are your thoughts on Insomniac Games calling moving away from Sony its most stressful time? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Enters Top 50 Most Popular Steam Games of All Time

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  • Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 has reached another massive milestone.
  • The title has already joined the list of the top 50 most popular games on Steam of all time.
  • Since the game has been out only for a week, it will likely reach an even bigger player count in the following days.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 has already become one of the biggest releases of the year, selling over a million copies just a day after its launch, and 14 times faster than its predecessor.

Although the title isn’t even a week old, it’s reaching new Steam player records daily. Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 recently reached a peak of about 256,000 concurrent players on Steam, securing its place among the top 50 most popular games in Steam’s history.

Why it matters: Even though many anticipated the game’s success, this milestone remains very impressive for a studio that was once an indie developer.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Steam
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Joins The List of Top 50 Most Played Games On Steam

As seen in the screenshot, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 recently reached the peak of over 256K concurrent Steam players, and it’s on track to beat Skyrim’s all-time peak.

As the game has only been out for a week, it is likely to reach an even bigger peak than this. Over the last six days, the game has already broken its player record six times, suggesting that more players purchase the game daily.

Now, it’s unclear if the game will keep performing this well or if player numbers will drop after new releases like Assassin’s Creed Shadows come out.

kingdom come deliverance 2
The game Was Released Last Week To Over 90% Positive Reviews.

Even before the game’s release, the developers claimed that they were confident about the launch of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Just a day after its release, it was reported that the game had already recouped its budget.

Latest Updates

Nonetheless, the game has been doing great so far, and we hope it continues to shine like this. Have you played the title yet? Did you enjoy it? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or join Tech4Gamers Forums. 

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