As the third part of what you might call a trilogy, I went into my first hands-on for DOOM: The Dark Ages with some expectations. While they have their differences, DOOM (2016) and DOOM: Eternal had lain the groundwork - I felt like I knew what id Software had in store for me, even if this prequel story and its new medieval sci-fi aesthetic might put it in a different context. Three hours later, my expectations had been blasted to pieces like so much Arachnotron meat. DOOM: The Dark Ages retains the core hallmarks of id's recent games—pulse-pounding combat, gloriously Grand Guignol aesthetics, and music as ear-rattling as its guns—but it pushes the structure of DOOM far beyond what we've known before. I was able to play slices of four distinct sections of The Dark Ages, each designed to show me a different facet of the game, and each revealing quite how wild this will get. Let me walk you through each one.

Story Mission
"Before he became a hero, he was the super weapon of gods and kings." So reads the text slate that opens DOOM: The Dark Ages. It's an absurdly badass mission statement for the game that follows. But, playing just the opening stretch of the game, it pays off multiple times. This section showed off the most familiar form of DOOM. A cutscene (yes, there are cutscenes for the story now, not just codex entries) introduces the demon-beleaguered planet of Argent D'Nur, the questionably benevolent god-race known as the Makyrs, and our familiar lead character kept captive to be unleashed on hellish threats. And from there, I'm handed a shotgun and a shield, and told to do what a DOOM Slayer does best.

Coinciding with the launch of GeForce RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 "Blackwell" graphics cards earlier in the year, Original Price House and MSI initiated a compelling promotional competition for Taiwanese PC hardware enthusiasts. As covered on TechPowerUp at the end of last week, eager collectors of signature "Lucky Dragon" figurines were seeking the completion of whole "Blind Box Of Lucky" sets. A qualifying quantity—of nine individual/unique designs—would grant access to a "free" MSI GeForce RTX 5080 VANGUARD SOC graphics card; supplied by Original Price House (a regional shop). The promo's original terms proudly proclaimed that "there is no limit to the exchange for a complete set." In a follow-up report, HKEPC Hardware put a spotlight on the campaign's apparent premature end.

The Hong Kong-based news PC news outlet provided evidence of the event organizers "modification of the rules"—advancing claim/collection deadlines from the (original) May 31, 2025 end date to March 31, 2025. Extra international attention has reportedly "ruined" MSI and Original Price House's local campaign. HKEPC commented on the circumstances: "it is understood that (the shop) originally estimated that the number of Lucky Dragon dolls that can be found in Taiwan is/was limited, but it obviously underestimated the power of the community. Many people bought dolls from all over the world at high prices to participate in the event, resulting in the store being 'overwhelmed with sales'." Last week's report suggested that five completed sets of Lucky Dragon figurines had happily been exchanged for premium-tier MSI GeForce RTX 5080 VANGUARD SOC models. Within the last couple of days, another six "winners" have turned up with qualifying collections of cute toys. According to HKEPC's latest coverage: "this number (of claimants) is already double the original expectation. Therefore, according to the instructions of the manufacturer (MSI), Original Price House has decided to advance the exchange deadline to March 31."

Taiwan's Original Price House and MSI are running a compelling promotion; involving the trade in of the manufacturer's signature "Lucky Dragon" figurines for a GeForce RTX 5080 VANGUARD SOC graphics card. As reported by HKEPC Hardware, five lucky participants have managed to exchange completed sets—of nine individual toys—for GB203 GPU-based flagships. According to MSI's "Blind Box Of Lucky" landing page, ten exclusive designs—including a rare Maoi secret edition—were produced and then (randomly) bundled into VANGUARD Launch Edition packages. HKEPC outlined conditions: "applicable models include GeForce RTX 5070, RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080 and RTX 5090. It is limited to only 1,000 pieces worldwide." VideoCardz reckons that majority of Lucky Dragon VANGUARD boxes were sent to reviewers and influencers, so it could be challenging for mere mortals to accumulate a qualifying tally of cute plastic mascots.

As disclosed by HKEPC (a Hong Kong-based organization), one individual has gone to great lengths to complete the set: "a Taiwanese netizen posted in the HKEPC DIY group, hoping to purchase the 'Lucky Dragon' at a high price of NT$4,000 ($121 USD). After inquiry, it was learned that this is related to an event currently being held in Taiwan. As long as you collect 9 different Lucky Around the World Dragons before May 31, 2025 and keep the outer box, Taiwan Original Price House will exchange them for an MSI RTX 5080 VANGUARD graphics card worth NT$43,990 ($1332 USD), and there is no limit to the number of cards you can exchange." As of late January, the editor of Cool PC—a Taiwanese media outlet—was seeking to complete their set of MSI "Lucky Around The World" dragon collectibles. They used their news section to send out a personal request to readers: "when he has collected 9 of them, he can exchange them for a GeForce RTX 5080 at Original Price House!..The editor likes it very much, and is willing to exchange it with the lucky person who has collected a set of 9 different Lucky Around the World Dragons."

MSI, the world-leading gaming & creator laptop brand, today announced its groundbreaking RTX 50 Series laptops at MSIology: Dragonforged Dominance Launch Event - a new lineup inspired by the ancient Norse myth of Yggdrasil. Embracing the themes of renewal and resilience, MSI's innovative devices integrate three core principles: innovative technology, luxurious aesthetics, and extreme performance.

Dragonforged Dominance Launch Event
"Much like the mythic World Tree that connects the nine realms, our new laptops are designed to meet diverse user expectations—from immersive gaming to high-end professional work" said Steven Yang, MSI Notebook Regional Sales & Marketing Manager.

Intel has released the newest version of its Arc GPU Graphics drivers, version 101.6297 Beta. As this is a minor Beta update, it does not fix any previously seen bugs and issues, but rather just adds Game On support on Intel Arc A-series GPUs and Intel Core Ultra CPUs with Intel Arc GPUs for Farming Simulator 25, Planet Coaster 2, and Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. Surprisingly, Intel did not add Game On support for two big upcoming titles, S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobyl and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, launching on November 20 and November 19, respectively. Hopefully, we'll get another drivers update soon.

There are still several known issues that are pretty much the same as with the previous Intel Arc Graphics 101.6130 Beta drivers, and these include issues with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Doom Eternal, DaVinci Resolve Studio, and other games and applications.

DOWNLOAD: Intel Arc GPU Graphics Drivers 101.6297 Beta

Starforge Systems, the leading pre-built PC manufacturer preferred by streamers, has released CPU upgrades to several of their top gaming PCs this week including the Explorer Pro, Explorer Elite, Voyager Pro and Voyager Elite. Through the latest upgrades, the Explorer Pro and Explorer Elite, the sleek wood-trimmed PC geared toward creatives and gamers, now features Intel Arrow Lake via Intel Core Ultra 7 265K on the Explorer Pro ($2,6949.99) and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K on the Explorer Elite ($4,699.99). With these upgrades, customers can expect added productivity performance, making these the perfect workstation PCs for those looking for a PC that can do it all.

Additionally, the Voyager Pro ($3,299.99) and Voyager Elite ($4,699.99) have been upgraded to include AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU, bringing added productivity and gaming performance to the powerhouse PCs. Starforge Systems' Voyager line can be customized with a variety of case print bundle designs including the recently released Dragonlight case.

Electronic Arts Inc. and BioWare announced today that Dragon Age: The Veilguard is now available for PlayStation 5 (also enhanced for PS5 Pro), Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam (Steam Deck Verified), EA app and Epic Games Store. This bold, heroic adventure is built to deliver on what the series is best known for: rich storytelling, fantasy worldbuilding, companions & fellowship, and a world where you matter. The next installment in BioWare's beloved franchise has captivated critics worldwide, with outlets such as IGN and GamesRadar+ proclaiming it "deserves its place in the RPG pantheon" and is "A true return to RPG form for BioWare" in their 9/10 and 4.5/5 reviews.

In Dragon Age: The Veilguard, Solas, the Dread Wolf, wants to tear down the Veil that separates Thedas from the world of demons, restoring his people's immortality and glory - even at the cost of countless lives. But his ritual goes awry, and his worst fears are realized, as two of his most ancient and powerful adversaries are released. Players will step into the role of Rook, a fully-customizable protagonist who must rise up and unite their companions to stop these two powerful deities on a journey that will span across Thedas' bustling cities, lush tropics, boreal forests, fettered swamps and deepest depths.

Welcome to the first full week of October and another busy week of new game releases. This week's AAA release involves balls and dragons, but no need to worry, it's not an adult only game. This is followed by a co-op metroidvania game that actually appears to have a story, this week's remake which involves a ghost town on a hill, a shady parkour platformer, an old-school style JRPG, a turn-based RPG and finally a peaceful exploration game. Also out this week is the Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred DLC.

Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero / This week's AAA release / Friday 11 October
Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero takes the legendary gameplay of the Budokai Tenkaichi series and raises it to whole new levels. Become a super warrior and experience the earth-shaking, limit-breaking power of Dragon Ball battles! Engage in heart-pounding, high-speed 3D battles that stay true to the anime and video game series, with breathtaking visuals and authentic combat moves like beam clashes, rush attacks, movements too quick for the eyes to see, and planet-razing ultimate attacks. Steam link

Welcome to the first week of summer, at least in the northern hemisphere. There are no AAA releases this week, which gives you all plenty of time to focus on our Computex content instead of playing a new blockbuster game. This week's major release involves aliens, but not as you know them and they're out to kill. The rest of this week's new releases involves a DLC for a major MMORPG, a politics, religion and war game, some really old stuff, a nuclear plant meltdown cleanup and a dead dragon.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game / This week's major release / Tuesday 4 June
Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is an asymmetrical multiplayer horror based on the iconic '80s film. In the battle between Killer Klowns and citizens of Crescent Cove, team up and use your wits to harvest humans or save them from the alien invasion! Crescent Cove is a sprawling arena for unique 3v7 fights between Klowns and humans—boasting various locations and a multitude of tactical opportunities for both teams. Steam link

MSI, the global AI PC leading brand, is launching a two-month-long member event starting in May. MSI will roll out a series of activities exclusively to reward program members, including a lucky draw for game codes by referring friends to become new MSI members, chances to complete surveys and win desired prizes, unlocking various tasks for corresponding rewards, and more.

Successfully referring a friend to register as an MSI member will earn you one lottery ticket for game codes. Each person has a maximum of five chances per month. There will be 100 winners drawn each month, totaling 200 winners. The winner list will be announced on June 17, 2024, and July 15, 2024, respectively. Select your most desired MSI products, complete the survey questionnaire, and submit. Upon receiving a successful submission confirmation email, you are qualified for the draw. Winners will be announced on July 15, 2024."

A true blockbuster has come to PC—and we mean that strictly speaking! Dragon Quest Builders is out now for PC via Steam, with upgraded features and previously released DLC at no additional cost! Read on and we'll tell you all about it...The game is set in the world of Alefgard, a broken world where monsters roam the land and creativity is all but extinct. It's up to you to set things right, but as you're repeatedly told: you're not a hero. You're a builder. Over multiple areas, you'll rebuild this ruined world from scratch. You'll fulfil the many requests of the citizens of the world by gathering resources, constructing buildings, crafting items, battle dangerous bosses and ultimately make the world a better place one block at a time.

What is Dragon Quest Builders?
The game features a lengthy campaign where you'll complete multiple quests and play through a compelling story where the mysteries of the regions and world are revealed. You'll have to rely on your own wits and creativity to overcome the many challenges in each area, especially if you want to achieve the hidden bonus objectives too. While there's a tremendous amount of freedom in the main story, you can also indulge your creativity in the sandbox mode - a blank canvas of possibility where you can really push your imagination to the limit! It's an exceptional game, and the new PC version makes it even better with some awesome features and DLC from previous versions included.

Colorful Technology Company Limited, a leading brand in gaming PC components, gaming laptops, and Hi-fi audio products, introduces the iGame GeForce RTX 40 Loong Edition Series graphics card in celebration of the Year of the Dragon. The iGame Loong Edition takes inspiration from the Chinese dragon, also known as the loong or long, (Chinese: 龍; pronounce: lóng). These unique graphics cards feature an aesthetic dragon art in a white graphics card design.

The iGame GeForce RTX 40 Loong Edition Series graphics cards includes RTX 4060, RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB, RTX 4070 SUPER, RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, and RTX 4080 SUPER models. The RTX 4060 Loong Edition and RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB Loong Edition models are derived from the popular iGame Ultra W design. On the other hand, the RTX 40 SUPER Loong Edition graphics cards are derived from the iGame Vulcan White design. The Loong Edition graphics cards are limited edition to be available this year only - the Year of the Dragon.

Colorful has prepared a small selection of custom GeForce RTX 4060 Ti and GeForce RTX 4060 (non-Ti) graphics cards in celebration of the Chinese New Year (February 24). Its high-end iGame Series has been updated with "Loong Edition" models—all of these cards are overclocked straight out of the factory. The Colorful English language site has sub-brand product entries for a GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB option, as well as the usual GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB, plus GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB cards. 2024's zodiac animal is the Wood Dragon, so Colorful has adorned their limited edition "Loong" cards with this fearsome yet wise mythical creature—the graphic spreads across shrouds and backplates, and even features prominently on the special iGame packaging/outer box.

Colorful has a history of producing iGame Series GeForce RTX graphics with different designs—the standard "Ultra White" cooling solution design has been updated a few times in the recent past (as reported by VideoCardz). Referring to TPU's well maintained GPU database, we see the latest "Year of the Dragon" models joining the already established ranks of last year's "Wushan Five Elements Customized Editions" and iGame RTX 4060 Ti "Fog Hill of Five Elements" Customized Edition OC (in collaboration with Samsara Animation Studio). The Colorful iGame Loong Edition cards have prices listed at 3799 RMB (~$536) for the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16 GB option, 3449 RMB (~$487) for the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB, and 2699 RMB (~$381) for the GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB. Sales are region restricted to China—this is Colorful's modus operandi, so buyers outside of China will have to jump through a few extra import hoops.

The world's leading PC gaming hardware brand, MSI, has partnered with Opera GX, the browser for gamers to create a unique browser and interactive content experience for fans of MSI's and Opera GX's products and services. "Our partnership with MSI has enabled us to once again create a truly engaging branded browser experience for one of the most renowned hardware brands in gaming," said Mattijs de Valk, VP of Business Development Gaming at Opera, adding: "The GX MSI browser ensures that users stay connected with MSI brand and its products and services in a fun and engaging way - while browsing the internet with the best browser for gamers."

The partnership with Opera GX is just the beginning of a series of upcoming activities. First is the GX MSI Edition—a special co-branded version of the Opera GX gaming browser, including exclusive MSI-themed interactive backgrounds, music, sounds and content. GX MSI Edition comes packed with game-changing features, including CPU, RAM, and Network limiters, hundreds of customization options via GX Mods, and seamless integration with popular platforms like Discord and Twitch.