Fatshark announced in a live stream that Warhammer: Vermintide 2, the sequel to Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide, will land on PCs on March 8. Up to four players can band together to face the Chaos and Skaven armies. Players can also choose between five different heroes with 15 different career paths to choose from. Warhammer: Vermintide 2 will also feature a new Heroic Deeds system and a revamped loot system. The normal edition costs $29.99, while the Collector's Edition is going for $44.99. However, the game is already up for pre-purchase on Steam for 10% off the regular price. Consumers who pre-order the game will get the chance to participate in the exclusive pre-order beta that starts on February 28.

Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition will be released on March 6, but hardcore fans can pre-order the game now through Steam, Origin, or the Microsoft Store. The $49.99 price tag remains the same independent of the place of purchase. However, the preorder bonus differs hugely. Consumers who pre-order through Steam will receive the "FFXV Fashion Collection" which contains a collection of four t-shirts with different buffs for Noctis to wear. The buffs include strength enhancement, HP recovery rate acceleration, critical hit rate boost, and maximum HP increase. Microsoft Store preorders, on the other hand, come with a "FFXV Powerup pack" that provides players with a sleek Dodanuki sword which reduces enemy defense with each slash, 10 phoenix downs, and 10 elixirs. Origin seems to draw the short straw this time around. The Origin preorder bonus is the "FFXV Decal Selection" comprised of different decals to modify the cosmetics of the Regalia car.

Square Enix has graciously released a benchmark application to help future Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition players configure the game to get the best performance out of their systems. The zip file weighs around 3.37 GB and is available for download right here at TechPowerUp, or, if you don't like our servers for some unfathomable reason... from the developer's website. The benchmark only runs on 64-bit versions of Windows and requires Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6 to be present on the system. Users also need to have a graphics card that supports DirectX 11 and a monitor with a minimum resolution of 1280 x 720. Unfortunately, NVIDIA SLI and AMD Crossfire configurations are not supported at this time. The application lets users choose between the Lite, Standard, and High quality presets and resolutions from 1280 x 720, 1920 x 1080 to 3840 x 2160. The entire run takes around 6 minutes and 30 seconds. The score and performance evaluation are provided at the end of the run.

Throughout the sceptred isle of Britain the kings of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales plot their paths to dominance against each other, and the Viking horde. On 19th April there will be war, when A Total War Saga: THRONES OF BRITANNIA releases worldwide.

A Total War Saga: THRONES OF BRITANNIA will be available as a digital download or as a Limited Edition boxed product available in some territories. The Limited Edition comes in an embossed Steelbook inspired by ornately decorated Anglo Saxon helmets of the period, such as the famously reconstructed Sutton Hoo. The Limited Edition also includes a double-sided poster featuring a detailed campaign map and a set of collectible art cards celebrating five of the most prominent in-game faction leaders.

Metal Gear Survive, the upcoming spin-off from Metal Gear Solid V, will be dropping on consoles and PC this February 21. While console owners just pop the game disc into their consoles and start playing, the PC crowd has to worry about the system requirements. Konami recently added this information to the game's Steam page. According to the company, Metal Gear Survive should run fine on a system with an Intel Core i5-4460 with 4GB of RAM and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650. However, they are recommending an Intel Core i7-4790, 8GB of RAM, and a NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 to get the best experience. Compared to other modern AAA titles, Metal Gear Survive is relatively small and only requires 20 GB of hard drive space. However, gamers will need to have a steady broadband internet connection, since the game requires a constant connection to the internet even for the single-player campaign.

If you're a fan of the survival horror genre, today might be your lucky day. Our friends over at the Humble Store are giving away free copies of Amnesia Collection which not only includes the highly-acclaimed The Dark Descent but also the indirect sequel, A Machine for Pigs. The two-game bundle usually retails for $35 on the Steam store, but here's your chance to add the bundle to your Steam library without spending a single dollar. The giveaway ends on January 27th at 1 pm Eastern Time. You can redeem your copy at the Humble Store.

The holiday season is a time where expenses tend to skyrocket to the roof. Buying games on Steam isn't always on the Christmas list for many gamers. However, Steam has a long tradition of celebrating the Lunar New Year in mid-February which gives gamers a second opportunity to purchase games at a discounted price. Unfortunately, Steam didn't hold the event last year, but according to Steam Database (a.k.a. SteamDB), the Lunar New Year Sale is making a comeback this year. If you were one of the unlucky gamers that missed out on the previous sale, mark February 15th on your calendar. The sale ends on February 19th though, don't miss out on this one!

Every year Amplitude celebrate the studio's anniversary with their players. For our seventh year of existence we're going BIG, kicking off with the reveal of the Vaulters Expansion for Endless Space 2!

THE VAULTERS EXPANSION - COMING JANUARY 25
This first Endless Space 2 Expansion re-introduces players to the Vaulters, an all-time fan favorite civilization that has been featured in all the Endless games. Did you know that in Dungeon of the Endless you play the crew that will ultimately become the Vaulters in Endless Legend? Auriga is a small world!!! Here's a quick overview of what you can expect from the "Vaulters" DLC. A new civilization means a new way to play, the Vaulters will have the ability to teleport and use the Argosy - their legacy super colonizer ship featured in the Prologue video.

Steam has revealed the top selling/highest grossing games on its platform for the year 2017, and with come some surprises, and some non-surprises as well. The distinction between top selling and highest grossing is a needed one, if you look at the top Platinum tier. There are two free-to-play games on it, which really isn't much when you consider that the category itself contains 12 titles. Still, it does go to show how correct monetization of free-to-play games leads to impressive earnings for companies. Joining those two titles are the usual multiplayer galore of titles. The hit phenomenon Player Unknown's Battlegrounds stars in 4th place, behind H1Z1, Grand Theft Auto V, and Rocket League. When it comes to single-player games, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt holds its own on 6th place in the Platinum list, a remarkable feat if one considers the game was originally released in May 2015, and hasn't seen added content for a year now.

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard is one of the top-rated games in the Resident Evil franchise with a 86% Metacritic score. The game was released in January 2017 with a $59.99 price tag on Steam. It has gone to sell over 4.1 million units. Now, exactly one year later, the standard version is down to its all-time low of $23.99 in the Steam store. The Gold version, which includes the base game and the Season Pass, is discounted to $45.34 as well.

It's that happy time of the year again when gamers break their piggy banks and sharpen their credit cards to purchase PC games for dirt-cheap prices on Steam. Just like every year, the Winter Sale is filled with thousands of discounts on new and classic games for Windows, Mac and Linux. The sale runs through until Thursday, January 4, 2018 at 10pm Pacific time. Why not spoil yourself this Christmas with a few games? Or send a gift to that special someone and make their day. Here are some of our recommendations.

Across the arid wastes of once-proud Nehekhara, legions of skeletal warriors and vast, terrifying constructs rise from the sands to serve their ageless masters. The Tomb Kings have awoken - to rebuild their glorious empire anew! New to both the Eye of the Vortex campaign and Mortal Empires in Total War: WARHAMMER II, the Rise of the Tomb Kings Campaign Pack introduces an entirely fresh campaign experience with a raft of race-specific gameplay mechanics, victory objectives, and lashings of authentic lore. In battle, the Tomb Kings field countless skeletal units, supported by towering stone constructs such as the Tomb Scorpion, Necrosphinx and the colossal Hierotitan.

In response to player feedback, Rise of the Tomb Kings does not contain a supplementary story campaign, but instead 2 additional Legendary Lords for a total of four, with their own skills, traits, quest-chains, legendary wargear and situational challenges. Players may embark on Tomb Kings campaigns as Settra the Imperishable, Khalida, Khatep and Nagash's former lieutenant, the malignant Arkhan the Black.

Award-winning international games label Team17 today announced that Forged Battalion, the innovative and dynamic new take on the real-time strategy genre from Command & Conquer veterans Petroglyph will be available via Steam early access on 16th January 2018. In Forged Battalion players build and customize their own unique faction as they fight in a variety of skirmish, solo and multiplayer battles. They will create, customize, and develop the blueprints of their emerging faction to create ever-evolving factories and units. Using resources gained from each battle, they will unlock new options through the tech tree allowing them to choose the archetype, and an array of armors, locomotors, weapons, and special abilities such as stealth and regeneration that will make each player's faction one of a kind.

"The early access release of Forged Battalion is a vital part of developing the game." Chuck Kroegel CEO of Petroglyph said. "We want fans to truly help forge what the game becomes so it's important to get them into the game as soon as possible and start giving us their feedback. We can't wait to see the unique factions that the community will create. We'll see you on the battlefield!"

Minkonet, a prominent Seoul-based gaming technology company, today announced its partnership with PUBG Corp. to deliver 3D replay functionality in the online gaming phenomenon, "PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS" (PUBG). The robust 360-degree data capture technology powers the 3D Replay and Killcam features that will debut in PUBG's upcoming PC 1.0 release.

"Building replay systems for battle royale, open world and massively multiplayer online games that typically feature huge maps and many objects interacting in real time presents many technical challenges," said Peter Kim, co-founder and CEO of Minkonet. "We know expectations from the community are high and our team worked side-by-side with the PUBG developers to design and deliver a never-before-seen, immersive replay experience that is sure to deliver countless hours of 'wow-factor' moments and shareable content."

Konami revealed a first look at the single-player campaign for METAL GEAR SURVIVE through a new gameplay video with producer commentary via Konami's official YouTube channel. The video introduces basic survival and gameplay mechanics while showing key action sequences.

Additionally, METAL GEAR SURVIVE will be holding a beta from January 18th-21st, 2018. Players will have a chance to jump into co-op mode to build, defend and fight alongside friends online. The Beta will be available to download for PS4 and Xbox One players. Participants will also receive an in-game bonus redeemable with the purchase of the full game. Bonus items include a FOX HOUND name plate, an accessory Metal Gear REX Head and Accessory bandana.

The latest update for the Steam software brought with it an important new addition for the quality of life of gamers under the Linux or Windows suns everywhere: persistent shader caches for games. In the latest change-log, users are treated to the following message: "New feature: Shader Pre-Caching. Whenever possible, depending on hardware and driver support, Steam can download pre-compiled shaders for your specific video card. This reduces load times and in-game stuttering during the first few launches of OpenGL- and Vulkan-based games on supported hardware. This feature may use a small amount of additional bandwidth as Steam uploads and analyzes a shader usage report after each run of the game. The feature can be disabled via a new entry in the Settings dialog.

Under Steam Settings, you'll find a new Shader Pre-Caching item. The description reads as follows: "Shader Pre-Caching allows Steam to download pre-compiled GPU shaders matching your system configuration. This allows Vulkan and OpenGL games to load faster and improve framerate stability during gameplay. If enabled, Steam will collect shaders from your system when needed. Enabling this feature may slightly increase disk and bandwidth usage."

From Dec. 14 - 21, Daybreak Games will kick off H1Z1's first-ever Free Week! The original standalone battle royale shooter will be free to download and play in full for the entire week, starting Thursday, Dec. 14. Additionally, during this week, H1Z1 will be on sale through Steam for 75% off. H1Z1 is also celebrating the holidays with Wreck the Halls! Throughout the month of December, players have the chance to obtain a four-piece holiday-themed outfit across multiple in-game events. To win a piece of the ensemble, players must finish 30th or better in any holiday event match.

Today, CCP Games is excited to launch the Winter Update for EVE: Valkyrie - Warzone - the acclaimed multiplayer first-person spaceship shooter set in the gritty-but-glorious universe of EVE - across PlayStation4 and PC, including all high-end VR headsets (PlayStationVR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive). This update introduces highly requested community tools and Spectator Mode designed for player-run tournaments, along with a new EVE Online: Lifeblood-themed map, plus support for TrackIR and Tobii delivering head-tracking for non-VR players.

First is the long-awaited addition of Custom Matches. No longer will you have to wait for a specific game mode, now you can set up your own matches on EVE: Valkyrie - Warzone's official dedicated servers. You can also control the lobby through passcodes, private invites and a public server browser. Additionally, you'll find options for map rotation, game mode and a ton of other settings to tweak the game for maximum enjoyment (…or carnage, depending on your preference).

We're pleased to announce that Fallout 4, the legendary post-apocalyptic adventure from Bethesda Game Studios and winner of more than 200 'Best Of' awards, is available now worldwide in virtual reality on the HTC VIVE. Fallout 4 VR is a true, full-length open-world game, offering an unparalleled amount of VR content for players, including the complete core game with all-new combat, crafting, and building systems fully re-imagined for virtual reality.

As the sole survivor of Vault 111, players enter a world destroyed by nuclear war and must rebuild the Wasteland and determine the fate of its residents. Within the massive world, players can interact with hundreds of locations, characters, and quests, all while collecting, upgrading, and building thousands of items in the most advanced crafting system ever. In addition, an all-new graphics and lighting engine brings the Wasteland to life like never before. From the blasted forests of the Commonwealth to the ruins of Boston, every location is packed with dynamic detail.

Piranha Games announced tonight at Mech_Con that the upcoming and highly anticipated MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries will feature four-player co-op and full modding and Steam Workshop support, and during the keynote speech at the event revealed all-new gameplay footage showcasing a variety of 'Mechs in combat on a selection of biomes to be featured in the final game, set to launch in late 2018.

MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries features intense PvE 'Mech combat in an immersive, career-based Mercenary campaign driven by player choice. Featuring an advancing timeline starting in the year 3015, players will adopt the role of a new MechWarrior mercenary thrust into leadership of a mercenary squad as the Third Succession War continues to fracture the Inner Sphere; the vast region of colonized space surrounding Earth. Victory, prestige, and profit will not only require skill on the battlefield, but in the maintenance and enhancement of your BattleMechs.

id Software has continued to update and improve Quake Champions throughout Early Access based on the feedback and requests of the player community. This week on Dec. 14, Quake Champions will receive one of its largest updates to date, delivering new content and features including a new Champion, Keel, who returns from Quake 3 Arena and Quake Live; a new arena for Duel and 2v2, Vale of Pnath; Ranked Play and Leaderboards; plus a ton of festive, holiday-themed gear and maps for a limited time.

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. returns to the stage of history with SOULCALIBURVI for the PlayStation4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, and STEAM for PC. Enter into a new chapter of weapons-based 1 vs 1 fighting with returning fan-favorite characters and all-new gameplay systems.

The SOULCALIBUR franchise has been the premier 3D weapon-based fighting series since the original SOUL BLADE released in arcades in 1995. SOULCALIBUR VI retains the series' signature 8-Way Run movement system, providing super smooth 3D movement, while integrating new gameplay systems such as the exciting Reversal Edge. Reversal Edge enables characters to clash against each other and follow-up with powerful counterattacks based on their opponent's actions. Challenge the computer AI, compete against friends, or challenge fighters from around the world in high-speed dynamic battles with jaw-dropping visual effects.

Independent developer Saber Interactive has announced World War Z, a new four-player cooperative game inspired by Paramount Pictures' blockbuster film franchise. Featuring massive swarms of zombies who rush their living prey, World War Z is in production for the PlayStation4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC. "World War Z is a name synonymous with heart-pounding fear and action, and we're excited to finally capture that energy in a fast-paced and gruesome experience crafted specifically for modern consoles and PC," said Saber Interactive CEO Matt Karch.

World War Z's co-op campaign focuses on unique survivor stories and missions around the globe, including New York, Moscow and Jerusalem. Use traps, barriers and the environment strategically to stay alive while unleashing a storm of firepower with a variety of weapons on the unrelenting hordes of the undead.

The first seasonal community event for Call of Duty: WWII is here. Running Friday, 8th December, 2017, through Tuesday, 2nd January, 2018, Winter Siege delivers an array of activities and content for free to all Call of Duty: WWII players for a limited time. The Winter Siege features a new, frost-covered Winter Carentan multiplayer map, the return of the Gun Game party mode, Double XP Playlists, a winterised Headquarters with new visiting Quartermaster as well as new Winter Siege Supply Drops delivering new, limited edition winter gear and content to players. Winter Siege is packed to the brim for the Call of Duty: WWII community this holiday season.

"The Winter Siege is all about celebrating with the Call of Duty community," said Aaron Halon, Senior Product Developer, Multiplayer, Sledgehammer Games. "There's a ton of content for everyone to play during this time from a reimagined Winter Carentan multiplayer map that's now packed with snow to Gun Game to Supply Drops full of winter-themed gear and content all available throughout the Winter Siege."

As a response to numerous fan requests for a Player-vs-Player approach to Dying Light, and the recent popularity of the battle royale genre among the survival horror fans, today Techland unveiled its new standalone expansion - Dying Light: Bad Blood. While retaining the core of what made people fall in love with Dying Light in the first place, Bad Blood will offer violent and dynamic online matches that blend PvP and PvE styles of gameplay.

"Our aim is both to satisfy players' demands for competitive PvP gameplay and to explore new directions for Dying Light's multiplayer experience," said Tymon Smektala, Producer at Techland. "Since Bad Blood was inspired by fan requests, we want player feedback to be an integral part of our development. That's why we're inviting Dying Light fans to take part in our Global Playtest. They can play the expansion early and share their thoughts, knowing their feedback will have a major influence on Bad Blood's development."

In a blog post over at the Steam community pages, the outfit has announced that it would no longer be accepting Bitcoin as a viable payment option for purchases in the Steam store. In the blog, Steam points towards Bitcoin's high volatility as one of the reasons (the cryptocurrency very frequently sees swings in the order of hundreds of dollars in mere minutes, which makes it more difficult to properly equate Bitcoin's and the purchase's value. Additionally, Steam cites increasingly high transaction fees that sometimes can reach as much as $20, a well-known problem in the cryptocurrency's blockchain that has resisted numerous attempts at being fixed, thus generating multiple forks.

"At this point, it has become untenable to support Bitcoin as a payment option. We may re-evaluate whether Bitcoin makes sense for us and for the Steam community at a later date," the Steam team writes. Users that have been hit with requests for refunds or extra payment depending on the cryptocurrency's fluctuations can rest easy that Steam is aware of the issues and delays, and said that they "(...) will continue working to resolve any pending issues for customers who are impacted by existing underpayments or transaction fees." This event can be read in two ways: that it's a blow for Bitcoin's positioning as virtual gold, as this might start a snowball effect on other companies that accept Bitcoin as a means of payment, thus diluting the usability of the cryptocurrency and potentially affecting its value; or as a vindication for the defenders of Bitcoin as only a high-value, high-stakes cryptocurrency, leaving smaller payments to other more nimble, purpose-designed cryptocoins.