Half-Life Mod Seeks To Add Ray Tracing To The Classic Shooter

Half-Life was given a nice coat of fresh paint with the release of Black Mesa a few years ago, but if that overhaul wasn’t enough then some additional ray tracing could bring even more life into the classic shooter.

Half-Life: Ray Traced is a new mod for the Valve-developer shooter which seeks to add path-traced lighting to the entire game. The teaser trailer, which you can see below, does a good job of showing how dramatic these changes can be, transforming the game’s memorable opening into a much gloomier affair, while also bringing out new highlights in some of the game’s outdoor sections.

The developer, sultim_t, previously worked on a similar mod for Serious Sam and is building upon some existing work that was done for ray tracing support for Half-Life. The mod won’t be ready soon, however, with sultim_t writing, “these things, they take time,” on YouTube.

The mod will be made available on sultim_t’s GitHub repository, where many other projects have been hosted. If you’re itching to dive into Half-Life again, Black Mesa is a fantastic remaster of the original shooter, while Half-Life: Alyx is the most recent entry in the series that makes great use of VR.

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Twisted Metal Reboot’s Development Moved Away From Destruction AllStars Studio – Report

The unannounced reboot of Twisted Metal might have already had a change of developer, according to a new report.

VGC has reported that Twisted Metal development duties have moved from Lucid Games, makers of Destruction AllStars, to an unannounced Sony studio in Europe. Given that the game hasn’t been formally revealed, neither Sony nor Lucid Games have provided a comment, but VGC sources suggest that the change might be down to Destruction AllStars’ tepid reception.

The combat driving game was meant to launch with the PlayStation 5 for $60, before it was delayed shortly before launch for three months. When it did launch, Sony decided to offer the exclusive with PlayStation Plus, and only sell it for $20 thereafter. The player base for the game dropped after launch, forcing Lucid Games to implement computer-controlled opponents to ease server wait times.

Twisted Metal hasn’t had a release since the game’s most recent reboot in 2012, but Sony seems poised to bring back the series in a big way. A TV series based on the game was announced in 2019, with Sony mentioning the project again during CES 2022 last week. It’s understood by VGC that the game is aiming to launch alongside the series in 2023, which gives development a tight schedule.

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Among Us Was The PlayStation Store’s Most Downloaded Game In December 2021

PlayStation’s top downloaded games for December 2021 have been revealed, and across North American and European regions, Among Us rose to the top on both PS5 and PS4 consoles. Among Us made its console debut in December, and at a $4 price-point, the popular social game was an easy purchase for fans and newcomers alike.

While players were trying to figure out just who the most suspicious person around them was, the rest of the top ten featured newer games such as Call of Duty: Vanguard, Madden NFL 22, and Battlefield 2042 in the US and Canadian charts, while the European lists had a similar spread of games in its top ten list.

A number of older games also reached the top 10, as Spider-Man: Miles Morales and the remastered edition of Marvel’s Spider-Man were some of the most-downloaded games of the year across the world, while Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla also earned a spot on the US chart. Considering that the Nordic sandbox was drastically discounted last year and came with a free upgrade option for newer consoles, it’s not too surprising to see it resurface on the charts.

In the VR department, Beat Saber was the most-downloaded PSVR game in the US, Canada, and Europe, while the rest of those lists were populated by Job Simulator, Swordsman VR, and Superhot VR. For those players looking for a free-to-play experience, Fortnite was firmly entrenched at the top, while the rest of the world delved into games such as Genshin Impact, Destiny 2, and Rocket League.

The full rankings for North America and Europe, as provided on the official PlayStation Blog post, are listed below.

PlayStation Top Monthly Downloads – December 2021

US/Canada

PS5

Among UsMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles MoralesCall of Duty: VanguardFive Nights at Freddy’s: Security BreachNBA 2K22Madden NFL 22Battlefield 2042Assassin’s Creed ValhallaKena: Bridge of SpiritsIt Takes Two

PS4

Among UsCall of Duty: VanguardGrand Theft Auto VMadden NFL 22Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles MoralesNBA 2K22Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security BreachMinecraftFIFA 22

PSVR Games

Beat SaberJob SimulatorSuperhot VRSwordsman VRCreed Rise to GloryRick and Morty: Virtual Rick-alityGornAfter the FallBatman: Arkham VRArizona Sunshine

Free-to-play PS4 and PS5

FortniteCall of Duty: WarzoneRocket LeagueRec RoomApex LegendsGenshin ImpactDestiny 2BrawlhallaeFootball 2022Dauntless

Europe

PS5

Among UsFIFA 22Call of Duty: VanguardMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles MoralesF1 2021Kena: Bridge of SpiritsIt Takes TwoFive Nights at Freddy’s: Security BreachBattlefield 2042Far Cry 6

PS4

Among UsFIFA 22Call of Duty: VanguardGrand Theft Auto VMarvel’s Spider-ManThe Witcher 3: Wild HuntMinecraftF1 2021Gran Turismo SportMarvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

PSVR Games

Beat SaberJob SimulatorSUPERHOT VRCreed: Rise to GlorySwordsman VRMarvel’s Iron Man VRRick and Morty: Virtual Rick-alityDOOM 3: VR EditionDOOM VFRPlayStation VR Worlds

Free-to-play PS4 and PS5

FortniteRocket LeagueCall of Duty: WarzoneeFootball 2022Genshin ImpactRec RoomBrawlhallaApex LegendsDestiny 2Dauntless

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This Grip Is A Must-Have Nintendo Switch OLED Accessory

The Nintendo Switch OLED is the best version of the Switch hardware, but it doesn’t solve the problem that some users have: ergonomics. The Switch is a sleek handheld–perhaps a bit too sleek. The Joy-Con controllers and back panel of the console are flat, which can create some hand cramping issues, especially for those with large hands. That’s why, in my opinion, a quality grip that attaches to the Switch is one of the most important Switch accessories to buy. Since the Nintendo Switch OLED launched, I have purchased three different grips–none of them were particularly great. Now, one of our favorite Switch grip manufacturers has launched a new model that was designed with the Switch OLED in mind. Satisfye’s ZenGrip Pro 3 OLED works like a dream by adding handles that make holding the OLED model comparable to a conventional controller.

For those who have used the Satisfye ZenGrip Pro, the OLED model is essentially the same design. The console slides into the grip for a snug fit that is secure thanks to rubber tabs running alongside both sides. Critically, this grip is slightly larger to accommodate the Switch OLED’s very small size increase. That said, Satisfye designed the rubber tabs of this new model to also fit the original Switch.

Gallery

The ZenGrip Pro comes in white to match the Switch OLED’s white Joy-Con model. The back of the handles, which are black, have a rubbery textured feel to them for added comfort. Though sliding the Switch OLED into the grip takes a bit of force to get the proper fit, silicone ridges across the center of the grip prevent it from scratching the back of the console or Joy-Con controllers. I’ve removed the Switch from this grip plenty of times already, and no marks have been left on my device.

If you’ve found that your hands cramp while playing the Switch in handheld mode, I highly recommend picking up the ZenGrip Pro 3. It adds some obvious bulk to the console, but the grip makes handheld gaming on Switch far more comfortable and natural. The grip also doubles as a stand for tabletop mode, but keep in mind that it can only be positioned at a 90 degree angle. You also can’t dock the Switch while it’s in the grip.

The ZenGrip Pro OLED comes as a standalone product or as part of a bundle that includes a carrying case. The ZenGrip Pro OLED Slim Bundle is probably the way to go here, as the case is specially designed to fit the Switch with the grip attached. The grip on its own costs $30, while the bundle goes for $50. The ZenGrip Pro is available to order directly from Satisfye.

See at Satisfye

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Street Fighter Developer Capcom Teases “Future Development” On The Franchise’s 35th Anniversary

2022 marks the 35th anniversary of the original Street Fighter game’s debut in Japanese arcades in August 1987, and to celebrate, Capcom has revealed a new logo for the franchise’s milestone. Capcom also teased “future development” of Street Fighter on the Japanese Twitter account for the game, hinting at more projects in the future.

🎉ストリートファイター35周年🎉

『ストリートファイター』は2022年で35周年を迎えます！
応援していただいている皆さまと共に、35周年を盛り上げたくロゴを制作しました。

今後の『ストリートファイター』シリーズの展開にご期待ください！#ストリートファイター35周年 #STREETFIGHTER #SF35th pic.twitter.com/QmXTYus9YS

— ストリートファイター / STREET FIGHTER (@StreetFighterJA) January 10, 2022

Back in 2017, Capcom celebrated Street Fighter’s 30th anniversary with the release of the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, a collection of all 12 main arcade game versions across Street Fighter, Street Fighter II, Street Fighter III, and the Street Fighter Alpha series of games.

While 1987’s Street Fighter may have been the first game in the series, it was the release of Street Fighter II in 1991 that paved the way for the rise of fighting games in arcades and on home consoles during the early part of that decade. The most recent chapter in the franchise, Street Fighter V, launched back in 2016 for PS4, PC, and arcade systems, and over the years it has been updated with Arcade and Champion Editions rolling out.

Street Fighter V’s final downloadable characters arrived last year for the game, dropping Rival Schools’ Akira Kazama and an original character by the name of Luke into the game’s roster. Luke’s debut was a notable one, as Capcom described this character as being representative of “the future” of the franchise.

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Forza Horizon 5 Passes 15 Million Players In Two Months

Forza Horizon 5 is still zooming up the charts, as it has now passed 15 million players. The in-game player-counter reveals the new number, as shared on social media (via TheGamer).

The game of course hasn’t necessarily sold that many copies, as the racing title is available on Xbox Game Pass. But no matter the case, it’s a massive milestone for Playground’s latest.

Exactly two months after its release, Forza Horizon 5 has crossed the 15 million players mark.

Congrats to the team @WeArePlayground on the well deserved success! 👏 pic.twitter.com/f169Q58Smy

— MauroNL (@MauroNL3) January 9, 2022

The game reached 4.5 million players across console, PC, and the cloud right out of the gate, and it enjoyed the “largest launch day” for an Xbox Game Studios title. It also reached a peak concurrent player figure that was 3X bigger than Forza Horizon 5’s peak concurrent record.

Playground will continue to update and support Forza Horizon 5 with multiple expansions and other updates in the future. This is all happening as Playground’s second team develops a new Fable game. In another notable development, Playground’s co-founder Gavin Raeburn has left the studio.

While we’ve learned much about how well Forza Horizon 5 is performing in the market, the same can’t be said for Microsoft’s more recent big game, Halo Infinite. Microsoft has not shared any player or sales statistics for the game, which released its multiplayer in November and campaign in December.

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Steam Passes 28 Million Concurrent Users, Setting New Record

Valve’s PC store and platform Steam has set a new concurrent player record. The platform exceeded 28 million concurrent users today, January 9, to set a new all-time high. The numbers were disclosed on Steam’s public statistics page. The new record is 28,230,661.

Analyst Daniel Ahmad observed that Steam saw “strong growth” for concurrent users in 2020 due to the pandemic. This growth has only continued since then. Steam reached 27.9 million concurrent players earlier in January, so it was only a matter of time before the service cracked 28 million officially–and now it has.

Steam hit 28 million concurrent users today.

Concurrent users saw strong growth during 2020, due to the impact of COVID-19, but it’s clear that growth also continued to persist in 2021.

Peaks reached each Jan:

Jan 2019: 17.6m
Jan 2020: 18.3m
Jan 2021: 25.4m
Jan 2022: 28.2m https://t.co/iBRLqLGqAw

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) January 9, 2022

In terms of Steam’s most popular games by player count, Valve’s own Counter-Strike: Global Offensive topped the charts for January 9, with a peak of 881,051 players. Another Valve game, Dota 2, followed with a peak of 748,270 players. The rest of the top five included PUBG (351,766), Apex Legends (237,441), and Grand Theft Auto V (152,326).

Steam’s most popular games

Steam is massively popular, but some publishers are moving away from it. Ubisoft, for example, no longer releases its games on Steam due in part to Valve’s business model. Ubisoft’s Chris Early spoke out against Steam, saying its business model is “unrealistic.” He added, “It doesn’t reflect where the world is today in terms of game distribution.”

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Dying Light 2 Takes 500 Hours To “Fully Complete,” Dev Says–But There Is More To The Story

Players will need to spend about 500 hours to “fully complete” Dying Light 2, developer Techland has confirmed, while also acknowledging that this is the projected run time for a 100% run. Finishing the game’s story and side quests will take less time, the studio said.

500 hours is about the same time it would take to walk from Warsaw (where Techland has an office) to Madrid, the studio said.

To fully complete Dying Light 2 Stay Human, you’ll need at least 500 hours—almost as long as it would take to walk from Warsaw to Madrid!#DyingLight2 #stayhuman pic.twitter.com/Sk3KFpRJoA

— Dying Light (@DyingLightGame) January 8, 2022

Note: It’s about 100% completion rate, most of the players who are in for story and side quests will be able to complete the game quicker, it will still be a solid experience though!

— Dying Light (@DyingLightGame) January 8, 2022

Plenty of responses came in related to Techland’s 500-hour tweet, and the studio issued its own response to clarify the matter further. The studio said, “500 hours is related to maxing out the game–finishing all the quests, endings, and exploring every part of the world, but a regular player should finish the story + side quests and do quite a lot of exploring in less than 100 hours, so don’t worry!”

In another tweet, Techland said it will take about 70-80 hours to finish the main story and side quests “if you’re not in a rush.”

UPDATE:
500 hours is related to maxing out the game – finishing all the quests, endings, and exploring every part of the world, but a regular player should finish the story + side quests and do quite a lot of exploring in less than 100 hours, so don’t worry! 🥰 https://t.co/4R641zkLpg

— Dying Light (@DyingLightGame) January 8, 2022

In other news, Dying Light 2’s next and final Dying 2 Know livestream is coming on January 13, promising a “huge info drop” for the game.

Dying Light 2 launches on February 4 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and it will also be available via the cloud for Nintendo Switch. The game is also coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Everyone who preorders the game gets the Reload and the Reach for the Sky packs, which come with special outfits, weapons, and skins. The Reach for the Sky pack specifically was designed in partnership with Rosario Dawson (The Mandalorian) who voices a character in Dying Light 2.

February 2022 is shaping up to be a massive month for new releases. Other games releasing in February include Horizon: Forbidden West, The King of Fighters XV, and Sifu. Also coming that month is Destiny 2‘s Witch Queen expansion and the Saints Row reboot.

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Halo Infinite’s Next Event Announces Changes Due To Rising COVID Cases

Microsoft has announced that the next Halo Infinite pro tournament is undergoing some significant changes due to the pandemic. In a statement, the Halo Esports account announced that, first and foremost, spectators will no longer be allowed at the upcoming Anaheim Regional Championship in February.

Additionally, the tournament’s open bracket will now be an online-only event. The winners of the open bracket will determine the teams that play in-person at Anaheim Regional. What’s more, Microsoft said, “In order to ensure a competitive tournament that is inclusive of the broader community, we will instead be hosting an online qualifier to find the remaining 8 teams and that will join the Top 8 teams from the HCS Kickoff Raleigh 2021.”

An update regarding the @HCS NA Regional Finals at @DreamHack Anaheim 2022 pic.twitter.com/LCZ8s3Bc18

— Halo Esports #HCS (@HCS) January 8, 2022

These changes are being made “due to the rapidly changing environment around COVID-19 and the rising number of cases,” Microsoft said.

“The safety of the Halo community, as well as our staff, is and always will be the top priority,” Microsoft said. “And we will be taking additional measures on-site in Anaheim to ensure the highest level of safety while also aligning with local regulations.”

More details about the Anaheim Regional Championship will be announced on Friday, January 14, so keep checking back for more.

For more on Halo Infinite, check out GameSpot’s recent stories linked below:

Halo Infinite Fracture: Tenrai Event Returns With Updated Rewards And Other ChangesHalo Infinite: The Best Missing Halo Weapons We Want To SeeHalo Infinite’s Battle Pass Has Undergone An Uneasy But Definite ImprovementRead MoreGameSpot – Game News

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Reimagined With 1997 Game’s Fixed Camera Shots Thanks To YouTuber

There’s no questioning that Final Fantasy VII Remake is not Final Fantasy VII, which is arguably why the 2020 remake works beautifully and is so enticing for both longtime fans and newcomers alike. However, if the idea of Remake being just a bit more similar to its predecessor is appealing to you, you’re going to love a new fan project that seeks to reimagine the 2020 hit through the same lens as the 1997 classic–literally.

As noticed by GamesRadar, YouTuber Final FanTV has assembled a video featuring the first six minutes of Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII, side-by-side, using photomode mod tools created by Otis_Inf to perfectly frame Remake in the same fixed fashion as the original. According to Final FanTV, the video is meant to be a “proof of concept” that will “inspire the modding community to make FF7R fully playable with classic PS1 FF7 Cameras.”

The video follows Cloud and rest of the AVALANCHE ground team during the games’ iconic bombing mission, starting with Cloud’s arrival at the train platform and ending with him placing the detonation on the reactor’s core. Final FanTV uses this journey to showcase Remake’s stunning graphics and set pieces with the same high and wide camera angles as the original game, which ultimately makes the game’s scale and attention to detail even more noticeable.

The clip also features a few of the game’s battle scenes recreated to mimic the style of the original game’s slower-paced combat, though the YouTuber recommends that modders leave the battle scenes alone as they are “too massive” to follow or capture well. Final FanTV also stated they believe that the game’s cutscenes should also “cut back to Remake,” as the “lighting and placement changes” can be dramatic.

Thanks to Final Fantasy VII Remake’s recent arrival on PC, it seems likely we can expect a whole lot of fun, nostalgic, and quality-of-life improving mods headed our way soon. Here’s hoping this one makes the cut.

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