The XP Drop #9 🕹 The PS5 Pro Powerup Edition
Xbox hardware is apparently 'dead', Death Stranding 2 has us gripped and we reached 200 subscribers! Yippee!
🎉 Happy Friday! The weekend is almost here, and we’d just like to thank you all for helping us get to 200 subscribers! We appreciate you joining us for this journey, and we hope you continue to stay. 🥳
🗣 The Patch Notes
🚨 ICYMI
💸 This week’s releases
📽 Clip of the Week
👾 RETROspective
🗣 The Patch Notes
Sony is preparing to ramp up the PS5 Pro - and I’m excited
I’ve had a PS5 Pro for a while - and while I enjoy the upgrades with the console, for most people it’s not worth the money, especially if you already have a PS5.
But that could all change very soon. Tom’s Guide recently had a great feature about the PS5 Pro - which could be getting a big upgrade next year. PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny said Sony is working on an upgrade to its PSSR upscaling algorithm - which means better performance.
Alex Wawro wrote:
“This is potentially a big deal for PS5 Pro owners because upscaling algorithms like PSSR can deliver significant improvements in framerate and image quality. These upscalers have become far more popular in the last few years, thanks in part to rapid advancement of the algorithms employed to improve graphics in real time.”
In addition, the article provides a great insight into Sony and AMD's collaboration to improve performance through machine learning algorithms and CNNs (Convolutional Neural Networks) via Project Amethyst.
You can read the great feature right here.
🃏 Did you know… Command & Conquer: Red Alert was one of the first video games to be banned in China? It’s not the only C&C game to be banned as Generals was also banned by the state.
🚨 ICYMI
🕵️♀️ Laura Fryer, one of the founding members of Xbox, claims its hardware is “dead”. She has a great analysis and insight into Xbox in a YouTube video here.
🎮 There are new games coming to Xbox Live Game Pass - and they look epic. Screen Rant has a rundown of the new games here.
😭 Microsoft is cutting a staggering 9,000 jobs, including those in the Xbox division. This includes the shutdown of a planned MMO and other games in the works. Jason Schreier has a rundown on the layoffs on the Business Standard.
🛑 PC modders who enjoy tweaking their game might have to go through age verification very soon on Nexus Mods. Eurogamer has a rundown of the story here.
🍌 Donkey Kong Bananza comes out this month - and VGC has a great article on what to expect for those looking to monkey around.
💸 This week’s releases
🤖 Mecha Break - PC, XBOX (July 1)
🦶 Anger Foot - PS5 (July 1)
🌑 Harvest Moon: The Lost Valley/Harvest Moon: Skytree Village - SWITCH (July 3)
🎮 What we’re playing this week
I’ve been slowly chipping away at Death Stranding 2: On The Beach after being a massive fan of the first game.
“Death Stranding was one of my favourite games, especially being a big fan of the Metal Gear games that Kojima was involved in.
“So far Death Stranding 2 feels a massive upgrade in story and gameplay that I can’t wait to keep playing - and something you might enjoy picking up as well”.
📽 Clip of the Week
On the back of Death Stranding 2’s release, one player isn’t having a good time. Reddit user Yukirae must have the worst luck ever with this delivery - and it just keeps getting worse….
👾 RETROspective
4X fans, strap yourself in because Endless Space released a whopping 12 years ago.
For those who don’t know what Endless Space is, it’s a turn-based 4X strategy game, covering the space colonisation age in the Endless universe, where you can control every aspect of your civilisation. There are nine major factions, each with their own asymmetrical gameplay, storyline, homeworlds, spaceships, heroes and technologies.
It later spawned a sequel, Endless Space 2 - which has received glowing reviews since its inception - and it’s one game on my wishlist.
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