Valve has uploaded the drivers a user needs for getting Windows on the Steam Deck. Currently, only Windows 10 is available and dual-boot is not possible yet–which means if you go for installing Windows, that’s the only OS you’re stuck with until you uninstall it. Valve is working on a way to get Windows 11 and dual-boot working on the Steam Deck, so users can expect those features in the future.

Drivers

GPU Driver downloadWiFi Driver downloadBluetooth Driver downloadAudio Driver is not yet available, but USB-C or Bluetooth can provide audio. The speaker and 3.5mm port will not transmit sound if you install Windows.

For installing Windows, users can go the route of more irreversible SSD installation or a safety-first microSD card (or USB) installation. Tom’s Hardware does a great job of digging into how installation via either method works.

Either way, the basic method is to get the Window drivers on a USB (or microSD card). Navigate to the Steam Deck’s boot menu by first powering down, and then while holding the volume button down, hit the power button again. In the boot menu, you’ll choose the USB (or microSD card) to install Windows from. Follow instructions from there.

As with all new features, a word of caution to users before they leap into downloading drivers: The Steam Deck’s Windows Drivers are new and in their infancy, so for the more cautious users among us, it might be good to wait until the dual-boot is available.

Additionally, aside from the notes and drivers provided, Valve is unable to provide further Windows on Steam Deck user help. You’ll have to rely on troubleshooting and community resources if you encounter any issues. If all else fails or if you run into major problems, Valve offers a method for getting back to the original SteamOS.

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Call of Duty: Vanguard‘s latest update is live, and the March 10 patch notes reveal some bug fixes for multiplayer and major buffs for sniper rifles.

The biggest part of this Vanguard update is the balancing pass for the sniper rifle class. According to tweets from Sledgehammer Games, player feedback was taken into consideration, and the developer said it recognized that snipers were underperforming in Vanguard. “Because of this, we wanted to focus on the strengths and weaknesses of each weapon in this class,” the developer said.

For the Type 99, which Sledgehammer Games describes as the best choice for quickscoping, the patch notes reveal the sniper will now have faster ADS time and less sway while walking. The 3-Line is described as being the game’s most stable sniper rifle, but it will have even more stability with a decrease to the flinch received when taking fire, which will allow players to better maintain accuracy. Vanguard’s most versatile sniper, the Kar98K, has received a decrease to its ADS time to help with close-quarters situations.

On a smaller note, fixes were made to squash bugs that previously caused incorrect XP requirement values to be displayed in the Career Progression and Level Progression menus. The patch notes also address an exploit that would reveal the enemy team’s bomb location in Search and Destroy mode.

The full patch notes can be found below, as shared by Sledgehammer Games.

MULTIPLAYER

Modes

Search and DestroyAddressed an exploit that would reveal the enemy team’s bomb location.

Weapons

Type 99 (Sniper Rifle)Decreased ADS time from 498ms to 400ms (-20%).Decreased weapon sway while walking by 80%.3-Line Rifle (Sniper Rifle)Decreased weapon sway while walking by 50%.Decreased flinch intensity by 50%.Decreased max damage range from 40m to 15m (-63%).Kar98k (Sniper Rifle)Decreased ADS time from 595ms to 500ms (-16%).Sniper Rifles and Marksman RiflesDecreased flunch intensity by 30%. This change does not apply to the SVT-40, 3-Line Rifle, or Gorenko Anti-Tank Rifle.

Attachments

Shiraishi Short Barrel (Type 99) Decreased ADS time multiplier from -10% to -5% (-50%).

Bug Fixes

BarracksIncorrect XP requirement values will no longer be displayed in the Career Progression menu.Incorrect Prestige and XP values will no longer be displayed in the Level Progression menu.After Action ReportPrestige icons are no longer misaligned in the Level Up menu.Incorrect Prestige values will no longer be displayed in the Summary menu.Read MoreGameSpot – Game News

After kicking off last week with a new location on the map, the Garena Free Fire collaboration with Assassin’s Creed will kick into high gear this weekend with new skins, weapons, and login bonuses.

The collaboration–called The Creed of Fire–will see new skins, guns, and a brand-new mode added to the game starting March 12. Players can earn a free Hooded Skyboard surfboard skin simply for logging in, while completing event-related tasks can earn special rewards like the Metal Wings P90 skin and the Ornate Treasure Box.

The Free Fire x Assassin’s Creed collaboration’s modern-themed Assassin costume.

Among the new items available to players are a themed skin for the Desert Eagle weapon, the Talon Dagger from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, and the outfit worn by master assassin Ezio Auditore. A second, more modern Assassin skin will also be available that combines the normal streetwear look of Garena with the Assassin Order’s trademark hooded attire.

The new mode coming to Garena Free Fire is called Lone Wolf Strike Out, and it will be played on a brand-new map called Sci-Fi. In this mode, eight players enter a match with three lives each. Four players sit out, while the other four compete to be the last one standing. Eliminated players will sit out the next round, and the process repeats until only one player remains.

Garena Free Fire is a free-to-play 50-player battle royale that is available to download on iOS and Android. The Assassin’s Creed collaboration is one of multiple events the game has planned, which include a partnership with the super popular K-Pop band BTS.

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A Dutch court has overturned a decision to fine EA the equivalent of $11 million for failing to remove loot boxes from its FIFA games.The original judgment in October 2020 that oversaw a lengthy court case between EA and the Netherlands Gaming Authority resulted in the game publisher being dealt a hefty fine of $550,000 for every week that it continued to sell loot boxes in its FIFA Ultimate Team mode.

That mode was judged to be in violation of gambling rules and had a maximum penalty of $11 million, which then saw EA challenge the verdict and appeal its case to the highest court in The Netherlands. The Dutch apex court ruled that the previous finding was an “unjustified penalty,” meaning that EA no longer has to pay the fine.

With this ruling, the current legal precedent set under Dutch gambling laws is that a gaming license will only be needed if game-of-chance elements form a standalone activity, similar to how a slot machine works. According to new findings spotted by VGC, loot boxes in Ultimate Team don’t fall under the game-of-chance rules because they help form a “broader game of skill” in Ultimate Team Mode.

“While packs cannot be opened while playing matches and quests, they can be opened in the same FUT mode,” the ruling explained. “The fact that the packs are opened separately from the match or in-game task does not make it a separate game. Because the packs are not a stand-alone game, they are not a game of chance and do not require a license. Therefore, the publisher did not violate the Betting and Gaming Act and the Games of Chance Authority should not have imposed a penalty payment on the publisher.”

This isn’t the first court case around loot boxes that EA has won lately, as a class-action lawsuit over the use of those gameplay elements in FIFA, Madden, and NHL was ultimately dropped. The suit alleged that EA had adjusted the winning odds in Ultimate Team player packs so as to push players to purchase more packs, but after the company provided a detailed look at how its patented Dynamic Difficulty Adjustment technology worked, the plaintiffs dismissed the case.

In other soccer-related news, EA announced last week that it would be removing all Russian teams from its current FIFA and NHL games, as a response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The future of the series’ name is also in doubt, as recent reports have suggested that EA is ready to terminate its partnership with FIFA.

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Dying Light 2: Stay Human has just rolled out a brand-new patch, adding a number of player-requested features and fixing many of the game’s worst bugs–including lingering issues with “deathloops.” The patch is live now for PC, and will be coming to console soon, according to developer Techland.

The patch includes a number of quality-of-life improvements, including better ragdoll physics, performance upgrades for older PCs, and what Techland describes as “more immersive details in melee combat.” Digging into the patch notes for update 1.2, these details include tweaks that take into account the weight of blunt melee weapons being used, a buff for the Biter, and changes to sharp weapons that allow more gorey slicing, dicing, and general bloodshed.

In terms of fixes, the patch has cleaned up the remaining known instances of what have been referred to as “deathloops,” where players find themselves dying over and over in certain circumstances. The patch also adds a number of fixes to story quests where progression could potentially be blocked.

Some work has also gone into stability issues with Dying Light 2, with fixes for known crashes and black screen scenarios. The full patch notes, included below, have a number of big fixes and tweaks designed to give players a better experience in Dying Light 2’s open world.

Given Techland’s pre-launch advertising for Dying Light 2 often focused on the sheer size and scale of the game, it’s not surprising so many bugs have cropped up, and the developer has been hard at work issuing hotfixes and post-release patches. Techland has committed to supporting the game for five years post-release, including not just fixes but new content including new locations, story DLC, characters, and more.

Dying Light 2 Patch 1.2

Story Progression Fixes

All known cases with “Deathloops” eliminated.Fixed blocks in multiple quests – Into The Dark, Assassination, Sophie in The Raid Quest, Hubert in The Only Way Out, Veronika, Nightrunners, The Lost Light, Double Time.Solved problems with safe zones (in-game clock stops, can’t sleep).

Co-op Fixes

Stability issues fixed: crashes or black screens in certain situationsNumerous story progress blocks fixedFixed issues with accepting invitesChallenges issues fixed: no weapon when inventory full, difficulty balance improved, tools requirements properly handledFixed co-op parties spawning in distant placesImproved/fixed replication of city open world activities: windmills, hanging cages, loot chests, NPC rescue issuesFixed enemies and players falling through the ground in certain situationsSeveral performance drops fixed

Nightrunner Tools Fixes

Paraglider and Grappling Hook upgrades can be applied correctly for players that obtained them during cooperative sessions.PK Crossbow reward is correctly given to players in cooperative mode. This fix will prevent new cases from appearing.Important Combat Improvements Improved Biter behavior during the day. The enemy latches onto the players more frequently which diversifies enemy encounters.Performance of blunt weapons improved to reflect the sense of weight.Improved enemy reaction depending on the type of weapon – to better reflect the weight of the weapon.Human opponents can now block players’ attacks during light hit reaction time.Light hit reactions for human enemies have been shortened.

New Ragdoll Behaviors

Opponents enter ragdolls more often.Ragdoll works more naturally.Ragdoll behaves differently depending on the used weapon type.Appropriate forces are applied when falling from a height and when hitting different parts of the body while maintaining the force given from the direction of the blow.When a ragdoll collides with its surroundings – the appropriate sound and FXs are played depending on the surface the body falls on.Improved spikes detection. The enemy is now always stamped on the spikes after a hit. Additionally spikes audio feedback is now improved and new FXs were added (displayed based on the body’s physical momentum).

Night Improvements and Balance

Howler’s senses range increased.Increased the Howler resistance to range weapons.The chase is triggered when a Howler is hit by a ranged weapon and is still alive.Volatiles come out of hiding spots faster during the chase.Level 4 of the chase is now more difficult.

UI/UX Improvements

Survivor Sense now works correctly and can be triggered without any cooldowns after getting hit or performing specific parkour actions.Improvements to the Options Menu information architecture incl. a dedicated Accessibility Tab.Added feature to show, hide or dynamically display Player Health Bar, Item Selector, and Time of Day Indicator.The dynamic setting for Player Health Bar is the new default and hides the bar when the player is at 100% health.The dynamic setting for Item Selector is the new default. The Item Selector becomes visible when in combat and when performing combat actions or using D-Pad.The dynamic setting for the Time of Day Indicator is the new default setting. The Time of Day Indicator becomes visible during day-night transitional periods.All of the widgets that are set Hidden or Dynamic become visible in Extended HUD.Visual Improvements to Player HP and Stamina bars. These elements are lighter and their colors are more neutral.Visual Improvements to the enemies’ stance meter to more clearly indicate its connection to blunt weapons.

Improvements to the Final Boss Fight

Fixed an issue where the opponent does not react correctly to other players and does not change behavior that might lead to several glitches during CO-OP play.Alternate opponent behaviors in Phase 2 during CO-OP play.Opponent performs area attacks more frequently during CO-OP sessions.Shortening the narrative scenes between the phases in a boss fight.Boss fight pacing improvements.

Outro Improvements

Improvements of the game endings sequences. Additional end-of-game scenes have been added to better align gameplay and outro scenes.

Balance Tweaks

Higher Rank Bows are now more easily accessible at Merchants and in the world.Banshees and Chargers are now more easily spotted in the Infected hordes during the night.

Technical Improvements

Introduced high-performance preset that optimizes the displayed graphics which allows you to play Dying Light 2 on older computers and laptops.PC DX12 cache-related improvements. The game now works smoother upon the first launch.AVX technology is no longer used in the game, improving issues related to a game crashing on the launch.Improvements in outdoor lighting.Improvements to sun shadows.Improvements to spotlight shadows.Improvements to Motion Blur – added intensity and distance blur customization.

Brutality Pack

Player hits with sharp weapons are now more precise and allow Players to chop off body parts of opponents and cut them in half more easily (vertically and horizontally).Reworked audio for enemy hit response – different sounds are played depending on the strength of the hit and the damage the player deals.Blood splats on the ground appear when Player hits the opponent.If a player is close to the enemy during the attacks, the opponent’s blood will splash on the screen.Improved blood effects on enemy bodies after hits.A dead enemy is now interactive and reacts accurately to blows and injuries.A new effect of bloodstains on the enemies’ bodies after hit.New blood FXs have been added

… and numerous additional bug fixes and quality improvements.

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