Intel Support now offers a new version 31.0.101.5444 graphics driver for Intel Arc A-Series Graphics, Iris Xe Graphics, and Core Ultra Processors with Arc Graphics. This is a non-WHQL release, so don't go crying to the Windows Hardware Quality Labs if you run into problems. The list of games getting performance improvements is lengthy, showing DirectX 11 framerate boosts as high as 48%. There are even more details in the Release Notes. Here's a bit:

Game performance improvements on Intel® Arc™ A-Series Graphics Products versus Intel® 31.0.101.5382 software driver for:

• Astroneer (DX11) Up to 30% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Ultra settings
• Days Gone (DX11) Up to 5% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Very High settings
• Dyson Sphere Program (DX11) Up to 15% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Default settings
• Fortnite Performance Mode (DX11) Up to 15% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Epic settings
• Lethal Company (DX11) Up to 14% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Default settings
• Mass Effect Legendary Edition (DX11) Up to 14% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Ultra settings
• Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord (DX11) Up to 8% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Very High settings
• Need for Speed: Heat (DX11) Up to 36% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Ultra settings
• Unturned (DX11) Up to 5% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Ultra settings
• VRChat (DX11) Up to 5% average FPS uplift at 1080p with High settings
• World of Warships (DX11) Up to 7% average FPS uplift at 1080p with Maximum settings

Tencent subsidiary MoreFun Studios announces Arena Breakout: Infinite will launch soon, promising "the the most visually stunning and immersive FPS experience that isn’t in a perpetual alpha state," which is a nice cynical flourish. The game's Steam Listing is live calling this an MMO, and the official website is now accepting signups for a beta test expected to begin next month. The Closed Beta Announcement Trailer is here, chock full of cinematic random. The description of the game emphasizes realism and support for fair play:

In Arena Breakout: Infinite, enter the Dark Zone and become the deadliest soldier of fortune known to man. As a highly skilled military operative, journey into the war-torn Kamona region where high stakes equal high rewards. Pull the trigger, take cover, and move ahead. Break into combat arenas to extract high-value items and strike it rich… but be prepared to fight for survival.

Uncompromised Immersion: Breach the Dark Zone and explore combat arenas brought to life with exceptional detail, from real-time lighting to 360 spatial sound effects. Feel the pull of every trigger with an unprecedented degree of realism. Arena Breakout: Infinite delivers intensity and thrill unlike any other FPS game on PC.

Continue here to read the full story.

• Save 20% on Sker Ritual on Steam.
• Save 50% on The Crew Motorfest on Steam.
• Save 70% on Subnautica Ultimate Collection on Steam.
• Save 90% on Hunting Simulator 2 on Steam.

• A double-take on Take-Two's layoffs.

• Back 4 Blood suddenly has thousands more players and good reviews.

• OG Fallout lead Tim Cain defends the show's lore changes in a glowing full review--—'Not that it matters, I'm not in charge of this anymore⁠, and neither are you.' The man is a treasure.
• In 'Replay,' video game pioneer Jordan Mechner explores his Jewish family's story of survival - Here & Now.

Official patches.

• World of Warcraft Dragonflight Season 4 Content Update Notes.

• You can now play World of Warcraft in VR - the perfect excuse for your awful DPS.

Official trailer.

• We brought highly trained Operators Cheech & Chong in to record voice lines😮-💨. Dave's not here.

• Xbox Members Can Now Get 3 Months Free of Apple TV+ Until July 7.

• The invisible seafaring industry that keeps the internet afloat. Thanks RedEye9.
• Twitter alternative Post News is shutting down.
• Live webcams let you watch and feed China's stray cats.
• CNN, record holder for shortest streaming service, wants another shot.

Thanks Console General.

• 'The party is over for developers looking for AI freebies' — Google terminates Gemini API free access within months.
• A quick look back at the reveal of the Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 25 years ago today.
• Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22635.3500 (Beta Channel).
• Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200 (Canary Channel).
• The Processor Used In Pac-Man Is Being Discontinued, 48 Years After It Launched. Thanks Ant.

• LastPass users tricked by hackers posing as staff to steal passwords.

• Crypto influencer guilty of $110M scheme that shut down Mango Markets.

• Advice to 'Play Tetris' After a Traumatic Event May Have Some Basis in Science. Thanks Max…

Last Link of the Day: PC Evolution as told by Wing Commander (thanks Ant). This is a fun look back. Man, did I love those first two games. BlueHair approved.

The Paradox Interactive Forums have the news that the launch of Prison Architect 2 is being delayed, using the joke about being denied by the parole board before we could. The incarceration simulation was due on May 7th, but no longer has a release date. We're told to expect more on this during a stream next week. The news is a little confusing, since it says the launch builds are "certified on all platforms and are ready to release." But it also says "some issues regarding memory usage and minimum spec configurations experiencing more failures have emerged," leading to the delay as well as questions about the certification process. Players who rolled the dice on preordering are entitled to refunds. You can request one on Steam, while refunds on consoles will be automatic. An unintentionally comedic note adds: "Pre-orders will still be available, but you will need to purchase the game again to secure the pre-order bonus." Here's more:

In light of the memory usage issue, and minimum spec configuration failures, we therefore made the decision to postpone the game. This extra development time will make sure we can:

• Raise the MTBF to make sure the game is more stable.
  • This includes focusing on resolving crashes, freezes, and other play-halting issues.
• Share more of the development with you, our players, through streams and additional developer diaries.
• Put more time into further developing some of the existing features that we know can be improved.
  • We’ll be telling you more about this in an upcoming stream on the 25th of April at 16:30 CEST /10:30 EST.

No Rest for the Wicked has launched into Early Access on Steam, kicking off a new action/RPG from Private Division and Ori series developer Moon Studios. This post discusses the launch, PC specs, Twitch drops, and more, illustrated by the Official Steam Early Access Launch Trailer. A subsequent post thanks players for joining in while updating them on what's being done about known issues with performance, pausing, key binding, aspect ratios, and more. This also lists workarounds where they exist. Here's a bit on the game:

From Moon Studios, the award-winning developers of Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps comes No Rest for the Wicked, a visceral, precision Action RPG set to reinvent the genre.

The year is 841 – King Harol is dead. As word of his death echoes throughout the kingdom, the crown passes to his arrogant, yet untested son Magnus.

Even worse, the Pestilence, an unholy plague not seen for a thousand years, has returned. It sweeps across the land, corrupting everything and everyone it touches. Madrigal Seline, a ruthlessly ambitious figure in the church, sees the Pestilence as a chance to prove herself in the eyes of her god.

Continue here to read the full story.

Ritual of Bonds Vol. 2 is now available for Windows on Steam and for consoles, adding the latest DLC to SWORD ART ONLINE Last Recollection. This updates the action/RPG with fan-favorite characters from the source novels. For a look check out the this new trailer showing off gameplay. The narration is Japanese, but there are English subtitles. Here's word:

Based on SWORD ART ONLINE’s War of Underworld anime arc, a new story unfolds with tough challenges that await our beloved hero, Kirito, and his new friends in SWORD ART ONLINE Last Recollection. Players will unmask the Dark Knight and find out if Kirito and the crew will survive the relentless battles against the forces of the Dark Territory!

SWORD ART ONLINE Last Recollection boasts a brand new, original storyline that explores what would have happened if Kirito, Eugeo, and their allies didn’t meet their tragic end in The War of the Underworld. Experience an exciting and elevated battle system with your friends against familiar foes from the SWORD ART ONLINE series!

Continue here to read the full story.

• The Wolf Among Us 2 Work in Progress. "While we can't give a big update yet, here’s a little something for you: In-progress shots from the current build." Thanks Game Informer.

• It Took Helldivers 2 Players Less Than 24 Hours to Kill 2 Billion Bugs — and Super Earth Sounds Surprised.

• Success of Fallout proves video game adaptations have gone mainstream.

Official patches.

• Team Fortress 2 Update Released.
• X8 - Rush Respawn Update - Hotfix 2.

• Smalland- Survive the Wilds VR - Coming May 2nd to Meta Quest.
• Sandbox VR will make social VR game for Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon.

Official trailer.

• Alone in the Dark - Accolades Trailer.

• Worried about Fallout 4's next-gen update messing with your mods? Good news, Nexus Mods is taking some steps to help you out.

• Torchlight- Infinite - [Whispering Mist] Event Announcement & Boon Announcement.
• Games Mental Health Summit - BAFTA.

• SMITE 2 God Mastery and Ascention Passes.

• Metro Simulator 2 - Xbox Trailer.
• Truck Driver: The American Dream - Brave Girl Update trailer.
• Sclash - Console Release Date Trailer.
• Next Week on Xbox: New Games for April 22 to 26.

• Apple Says It Was Ordered to Pull WhatsApp From China App Store (may require registration or subscription). Thanks RedEye9.

• Netflix will no longer share subscriber numbers, following password crackdown.
• Netflix Subscribers Surge To 270 Million. Enjoy this vital information while you can.
• She Painted a Few Champagne Bottles. Then Came Meta’s Customer Support Hell (may require registration or subscription).
• Bots now account for half of global internet traffic and 'bad bots' nearly one third. The way they hammer our server at times can be shocking.

Thanks Console General.

• What If Your AI Girlfriend Hated You (may require registration or subscription)?
• Microsoft shows banner in Settings app to push users from local accounts to Microsoft Accounts. Thanks Ant.
• Falcon Northwest has a guide for mitigating stability issues with Intel Raptor Lake Core i9 CPUs.
• Target Sources are telling me they reportedly will stop selling physical media in-store and online by 2025. Thanks Dark Horizons via Ant.
• Roccat is gone, replaced by Turtle Beach: 'We felt that time and resources would be best spent focusing under a single brand.'
• An AI company has been generating porn with gamers' idle GPU time in exchange for Fortnite skins and Roblox gift cards.
• "Miss AI" is the first-ever beauty pageant for AI-generated women.
• StreamFab 6.1.7.4.
• Plex Media Server 1.40.2.8395.
• Calibre for eBooks 7.9.0.

• Frontier Communications shuts down systems after cyberattack. Thanks Slashdot via Ant.
• Clonezilla Live Is Now Patched Against the XZ Backdoor. Thanks Ant.
• Hackers steal massive screening database and threaten to leak all the details online.
• Billions of user accounts have been breached since 2004 — here's what to do if you think you're one of them.

• The Morning After: The bill to ban TikTok is barreling ahead.
• Trump Media and Technology Group Writes a Letter to the Nasdaq Exchange To Complain About “Market Manipulation” by Short-Sellers.

• Redragon Castor K631 Pro SE Wireless RGB Gaming Keyboard - Christ Centered Gamer.

Thanks Neutronbeam.

• Case: Corsair 6500X Mid-Tower Dual Chamber PC Case - Guru3D.
• Case: Thermaltake CTE E600 MX Review - APH Networks.
• Graphics Card: Radeon RX 5700 XT vs. 7700 XT, 2024 Revisit - Hardware Unboxed (video). Thanks RedEye9.
• Headset/Earbuds: FiiO K19 Desktop DAC-Headphone Amplifier Review - TechPowerUp.
• Laptop: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) review- Not just for gamers - Engadget.
• Laptop: Lenovo Yoga Book 9i review- Dual monitors on the go - PCWorld.
• Monitor/Projector: ASUS ROG Swift Pro PG248QP Gaming Monitor Review - Frames, frames, and more frames - TweakTown.
• PSU: Seasonic PRIME TX-1000 Power Supply Unit - Nikk Tech.

The Sci-Fi Space Classic Novel Finally Getting Adaptation Thanks To Dune Director (thanks RedEye9). I love Rendezvous with Rama. It revels in Arthur C. Clarke's ability to describe things with a scope and scale almost impossible to picture. I'm afraid that last point makes this a daunting task. But betting against Denis Villeneuve being able to succeed in adapting a sci-fi novel most thought to be impossible to film has already proven to be a fool's errand, so have at it Denis!

Obituary: 'American Idol' Star, Grammy Winner Mandisa Dead at 47.

Rendezvous Round-up
Thanks Ant and Neutronbeam.

Story

• Bear cub recovering after being dropped by bystander who picked it up, took photos. Sadly not "bystander recovering after being dropped by mamma bear."

Science

• Risk of bird flu spreading to humans is ‘enormous concern’, says WHO.
• If your coffee is arabica, it may be more than a half million years old. Thanks Slashdot via Max.
• April's full 'Pink Moon' blooms amid a meteor shower next week. Here's how to get the best view.

Media

• Is This the Greatest Comeback in Sports History? No way PEDs aren't involved. Thanks VideoSift.

Creature Features

• Momo the cat loves making pottery.

Follow-ups

• Boeing Whistleblower Alleges 'Criminal Coverup' Over 737 Max Blowout.
• Amid schedule uncertainty, Boeing will shed workers on SLS rocket program.