PC gaming news and reviews

The latest PC gaming news and reviews of gaming PC hardware, software and accessories.

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Looxid adapts its VR brain monitor for Oculus Rift S
Two years ago, Looxid Labs walked Engadget through a VR museum. A virtual display was pinned to the corner of the user's field of vision and contained real-time stats on his brain activity. At the time, the product seemed a little out-there, but it has matured considerably, and has some clear applications not just in the world of VR gaming, but also in business and health industries. The company revealed that the Looxid Link now works with Oculus Rift S using an EEG-equipped attachment -- and for an add-on, it looks surprisingly slick.
MSI's PS42 Modern entry-level gaming laptop is on sale for $830
If you've been thinking of investing in an entry-level gaming laptop, now might be the time. The MSI PS42 Modern is on sale on Newegg for $830. That's a $770 savings off of the machine's original price, and it's closer to the price you'd usually see on a base-level Ultrabook.
The 1997 'Blade Runner' game is being remastered for consoles and PC
After it recently became available to purchase again following years of legal and technical turmoil, the 1997 Blade Runner PC adventure game is about to be remastered for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. Nightdive Studios, the developer behind the recent System Shock and Turok remasters, revealed the Enhanced Edition's existence in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. What's more, you'll be able to play it later this year.
'Horizon Zero Dawn' arrives on PC this summer
It turns out the reports were accurate: Sony will release Horizon Zero Dawn on PC. Herman Hulst, the company's recently promoted head of worldwide studios, confirmed the news in an interview with the PlayStation Blog. While Hulst didn't share an exact release date, he did say the game will make its way to PC this summer, with Guerrilla Games, the game's developer, sharing more details "pretty soon."
'Command & Conquer Remastered Collection' arrives on June 5th
Real-time strategy fans won't have to wait much longer to pit the GDI and Brotherhood of Nod against one another in 4K. EA will release Command & Conquer Remastered Collection on Steam and Origin on June 5th. The collection includes both Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn and Red Alert, as well as Covert Ops, Counterstrike and The Aftermath, their three expansion packs.
Sega Saturn classic 'Panzer Dragoon' is getting the VR treatment
Well, that was unexpected. Out of nowhere, a relatively unknown game developer has announced a VR version of Panzer Dragoon, a beloved rail shooter franchise that started on the Sega Saturn in the mid-1990s. Panzer Dragoon Voyage Record will be a single-player experience that covers various episodes (the series' term for stages) from the original Saturn trilogy, according to a press release. Unsurprisingly, the game will use a first-person perspective, rather than the classic third-person view, and turn the player's VR controller into a handgun. There's no word on when it will come out, though, beyond "2020," or which platforms will be supported.
Indie horror classic 'Amnesia' is getting a sequel called 'Rebirth'
Amnesia: The Dark Descent was a breath of fresh air when it hit PCs in 2010. Rather than using Resident Evil, Silent Hill, or any of the other classic survival horror games as a template, it created a unique and exploratory take on the genre. It quickly became a classic -- both as a game and as a livestreaming sensation. Ten years later, fans will finally be able to play a sequel. Frictional Games announced Amensia: Rebirth today and assured players that the game will stay true to the original's roots.
Steam's personalized news hub keeps you updated about your games
Steam's front page can keep you abreast of the latest store-wide happenings and community recommendations. But if you want to read the latest about the games you have and games you're keeping an eye on, Valve's Steam News Hub is the place to check out. The personalized mobile-friendly hub highlights live events that are currently happening, such as live streams with developers or any new content added to your games. You can even choose to get email or mobile reminders for those events, so you get right to them if you want.
Minecraft Festival is postponed due to coronavirus fears
Minecraft is such a cultural phenomenon that it was supposed to have its own three-day convention in September with interactive exhibits, co-op and competitive gameplay, live entertainment, panels and merch. Tickets to the first-ever Minecraft Festival in Orlando were set to go on sale this week. ReedPop -- which also organizes New York Comic Con and San Diego Comic Con -- has announced that the convention has been postponed by a full year due to the coronavirus outbreak. While the event was months away and the epidemic could be resolved by then, the partners, producers and exhibitors have hit a wall when it comes to planning the fest and ensuring a fun experience.
'Half-Life: Alyx' creators explain how its VR gameplay will work
After more than 12 years, Valve is officially returning to the Half-Life universe, and in a suitably-futuristic VR fashion. Half-Life: Alyx, is slated to arrive on Steam on March 23rd, and while we've already seen some gameplay footage, we now have an idea of exactly how the VR component will work, thanks to commentary from Valve's Robin Walker and Corey Peters.
Valve's Index VR headset will go back on sale March 9th
If you're itching to buy a Valve Index to get the 'official' Half-Life: Alyx experience, you'll soon have another chance... if you move quickly. A Valve spokesperson talking to Engadget has confirmed an earlier report that Index kits will once more be available to buy on March 9th at 1PM Eastern. However, it expects "high demand" to clear out stock of the VR headset that same day. Miss out on this batch and you'll have to settle for inventory on a first-come-first-serve basis, which could leave you waiting a while when the coronavirus outbreak has reduced production.
'Half Life: Alyx' gameplay videos showcase gravity gloves and more
With just a couple of short weeks before Half-Life: Alyx comes out on March 23rd, Valve has shared three new trailers from the upcoming game. If the game's first trailer left you wanting more, these provide a more in-depth look at Alyx's setting and gameplay without spoiling any of its story beats.
'Death Stranding' comes to PC on June 2nd
Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima's latest videogame turn movie opus, will arrive on Steam and the Epic Games Store on June 2nd. According to Kojima Productions and 505 Games, the PC version will feature a new photo mode, as well as support for ultrawide monitors and high frames rates. Most intriguingly of all, however, it will include "content" from Valve's seminal first-person shooter, Half-Life.
Valve wants cities to bid on hosting The International
Cities that have lost out on bids to host the Olympics or other big events may have another opportunity to shine. Valve Software is soliciting bids from "host cities" to put on The International -- the annual Dota 2 championship and one of the top esports tournaments. Today, Valve issued a request for proposal (RFP) document, shared by Polygon, that asks cities to throw their hats in the ring as potential hosts for next year's tournament.
Google's latest VR app lets you gaze at prehistoric paintings
Over the years, Google has digitized countless museums, galleries and landmarks for Arts & Culture, an encyclopaedic platform that anyone can access through a browser or mobile app. Today, the company is launching a new collection based on the Chauvet Cave in Ardèche, France, which contains some breathtaking prehistoric art. While the exact age of the paintings is unknown, radioactive dating has pinned the earliest to a period 36,000 years ago. The site was discovered in 1994 and, to prevent damage, closed off to the public that same year. Beyond a full-size replica, Google's new exhibit is the closest you'll ever get to standing inside the cave.
'Black Mesa,' the fan-made 'Half-Life' remake, finally has a release date
Black Mesa has had a lengthy development journey, to say the least. In 2006, fans of Half-Life decided to port the game to the then-new Source engine (upon which Half-Life 2 was based). Valve had actually done so itself, but the results were poor. Crowbar Collective aimed to make a version of Half-Life that offered the same level of polish as its 2004 sequel. But as a small team, updates have been sporadic. Finally, 14 years after the first Black Mesa mod was released, the full version of the game will launch on March 5th via Steam.
'Dota Underlords' leaves early access with battle pass in tow
Dota Underlords, Valve's Defense of the Ancients-themed 'auto-chess' spinoff, has left early. You can now take part in the game's first season.
Qualcomm reveals a reference headset to show off its XR2 chip
Qualcomm unveiled its XR2 platform at the end of last year, and chipheads were pretty impressed with how much power the company had packed into its newest slice of silicon. Its XR (extended reality) platform features 5G (a first, according to Qualcomm) and 8K 360-degree video playback, as well as a host of other features that double the CPU and GPU performance of its predecessors. Now, the company has revealed a reference design that demonstrates how the chipset will actually work in a headset.
'Baldur's Gate 3' comes to Steam in 2020 as an Early Access game
It took a while, but Larian Studios is narrowing down launch plans for Baldur's Gate 3. Hasbro (which controls Dungeons & Dragons owner Wizards of the Coast) has confirmed at the New York Toy Fair that the long-anticipated role-playing sequel will arrive on Steam sometime in 2020 as an Early Access title. You won't see BG3 gameplay until Larian's PAX East presentation on February 27th at 3:30PM Eastern, but it's already clear the studio doesn't intend to make players wait much longer past the two decades since Baldur's Gate 2.
Twitch built a tool to help new players understand 'League of Legends'
Jumping into a game like League of Legends is not for the faint of heart. Between a notoriously toxic community and the almost endless complexity of the game itself, there are a lot of hurdles new players have to conquer before they can start enjoying the MOBA. But Twitch hopes it can help solve at least the latter problem with a new extension that details the state of a match at any time. The hope is that the tool will both make the game easier to learn, as well as foster more interaction between streamers and viewers.

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