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Razer Unveils Viper 8KHz Polling Rate Gaming Mouse

Razer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, today announced their new proprietary Razer™ HyperPolling Technology, debuting in the new Razer Viper 8KHz mouse, the world’s first esports gaming mouse with true 8000Hz polling rate. Razer HyperPolling Technology surpasses the industry-standard 1000Hz polling rate with a true 8000Hz polling rate for performance at the speed of thought, ushering in a new era of gaming responsiveness, speed, and reliability.

Currently, most top gaming mice support polling rates of up to 1000Hz, and whilst manufacturers have focused on making mice more accurate and responsive, little consideration has been given to the frequency with which click and positional data is transmitted to the PC. With faster PCs and higher refresh rate monitors, higher polling rates can eliminate annoying micro-stutters, significantly improving gameplay performance when a fraction of a second can be the difference between winning or losing.

“Latency is a very important part of gameplay that significantly affects the overall gaming experience – and yet, it is overlooked by many companies that focused for too long on increasing DPI. Unlike DPI, lower latency benefits everyone from casual to professional players by shaving off important milliseconds from the overall reaction time,” said Alvin Cheung, Senior Vice President of Razer’s peripherals business unit. “During our testing and development process with a large pool of competitive players and mouse enthusiasts, many reported significantly smoother and more responsive input when using the HyperPolling Technology featured in the new Viper 8KHz esports gaming mouse.”

At least 8x faster – the science behind its speed

Polling rate is the frequency at which a device reports data to the PC, with an industry standard of up to 1000Hz (1000 times a second). Razer HyperPolling Technology utilizes a high-speed USB microcontroller to surpass this standard with a true polling rate of 8000Hz. This allows the Viper 8KHz to send up to eight times more data each second, effectively reducing input delay from 1ms to just 1/8th of a millisecond.

Razer HyperPolling Technology can send more up-to-date data to better match a monitor’s faster refresh rate. As a result, the delay between the latest report and the monitor’s frame rendering is much less when compared to that of a 1000Hz polling rate, resulting in smoother and more up-to-date cursor positions.

Higher polling rates can reduce the input delay, minimizing micro-stutters and sudden jumps in the cursor position, resulting in smooth, accurate cursor movement on the screen. Razer HyperPolling Technology not only provides the fastest click latency, but also keeps the click-to-click variance to an absolute minimum – making it superior to other leading gaming technologies.

“This technology is perfect for games that require high precision and responsiveness like CS:GO,” said Tarik “tarik” Celik, CS:GO star of Evil Geniuses. Nikolay “Nikobaby” Nikolov from Dota2 team Alliance agreed, saying, “I’d instantly tell the difference between 1000Hz and 8000Hz.”

Outpace the competition with the Viper 8KHz

The Viper 8KHz is the first Razer peripheral to feature Razer HyperPolling Technology, marrying 3 key innovations in one device to create the world’s fastest competitive gaming mouse. The 2nd-gen Razer Optical Mouse Switches and Razer Focus+ Optical Sensor, combined with Razer HyperPolling Technology, deliver a gaming mouse with unparalleled speed, precision, and responsiveness.

The 2nd-gen Razer Optical Mouse Switches have been improved with greater tactile feedback, making each click feel and sound more satisfying than before. Eliminating the need for debounce delay used in traditional mechanical switches, this lightning-fast actuation is complemented by HyperPolling Technology to provide the lowest input latency, helping gamers achieve those pro-levels of reaction times. Ultra-fast and durable, the 2nd-gen Razer Optical Mouse Switches are built to last for 70 million clicks.

The Razer Focus+ Optical Sensor has an industry-leading 99.6% resolution accuracy, so even the finest movements are tracked with consistency. With the sensor’s unique intelligent functions, combined with Razer HyperPolling Technology, gamers will experience ultra-smooth, stutter-free cursor tracking for an acute level of precision and those crucial game-winning headshots.

First-class performance. Down to every last detail.

This groundbreaking performance and technology is packed into a solid, ambidextrous chassis, weighing just 71 grams. The Viper 8KHz is fitted with 100% PTFE mouse feet for smoother glides, and features Razer’s snag-free SpeedFlex Cable to ensure minimal drag for fluid swipes.

Through Razer Synapse 3, gamers can rebind the eight programmable buttons, assign macros or secondary functions, and save all profile configurations to the Viper 8KHz’s advanced on-board memory. With storage for up to five on-board memory profiles, users enjoy instant access to their personal settings wherever they are.

A stark upgrade over its predecessor, the Viper 8KHz incorporates most of Razer’s technology innovations to achieve a level of performance bar none.

ABOUT THE VIPER 8KHz

  • True 8000Hz (0.125ms) polling rate
  • True 20,000 DPI Focus+ optical sensor
  • Up to 650 inches per second (IPS) / 50 G acceleration / industry best 99.6% resolution accuracy
  • 2nd-gen Razer™ Optical Mouse Switches rated for 70 million clicks
  • True ambidextrous design with ultra-durable integrated rubber side grips
  • 100% PTFE mouse feet
  • Gaming-grade tactile scroll wheel
  • On-The-Fly Sensitivity Adjustment (Default stages: 400/800/1600/2400/3200)
  • Hybrid Cloud storage and on-board memory (4+1 profiles)
  • Razer Chroma™ RGB lighting with true 16.8 million customizable color options
  • 7+1 programmable buttons
  • Advanced Lift-off/Landing distance customization
  • Razer Synapse 3 enabled
  • 1.8 m / 6 ft Speedflex cable
  • 126.73 mm / 4.99 in (Length) X 57.6 mm / 2.27 in (Width) X 37.81 mm / 1.49 in (Height)
  • Approximate weight: 71 g / 2.5 oz (Excluding cable)

For more information, please see here.

PRICE & AVAILABILITY

$79.99 USD / €89.99 MSRP
Razer.com and authorized resellers: January 28, 2021

Ashwalkers: A Survival Journey Coming to PC

DONTNOD co-founder and Life is Strange co-creator Hervé Bonin’s new studio Nameless XIII and publisher Dear Villagers (ScourgeBringer, The Forgotten City) have revealed that Ashwalkers (formerly known under working title “Cendres”) is coming to PC in April 2021.

A demo of the game will also be playable for the first time in the upcoming Steam Game Festival (Feb. 3-9).

Ashwalkers is a post-apocalyptic narrative survival sim in which four adventurers set out to cross a ravaged Earth. Society has collapsed, leaving no moral judgement of the choices they make; only their personal integrity will guide them to one of 34 possible endings. The branching story challenges players to make meaningful choices in complex ethical dilemmas while managing their food, medication and other supplies.

Set 200 years after the first geological disasters, a group of survivors called The Section set out into a devastated world. Their goal is to find a safe haven for their people, but to reach it they face a deadly journey through a post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Players will get to know the intimate dynamics, relationships and tensions between the brave captain of the group Petra, the pragmatic fighter Sinh, the young optimistic scholar Kali and the cautious scout Nadir as they travel the end of the world.

Players will:

  • Make meaningful and difficult decisions in complex moral dilemmas
  • Discover a new path each playthrough depending on player choices
  • Experience one of 34 different endings in each playthrough
  • Get to know a group of four distinct characters
  • Manage their food, equipment and medication protecting the group from madness and despair
  • Travel and learn about a hostile world destroyed by a volcanic apocalypse
  • Seek and harvest vital resources in the wild
  • Overcome obstacles, violent encounters and the deadly climate on your journey

Farming Simulator 19 Gets GRIMME Equipment

GIANTS Software and Focus Home Interactive have released the newest DLC for Farming Simulator 19: the “GRIMME Equipment Pack.” Featuring even more tools, equipment and machinery from renowned international farming equipment manufacturer GRIMME, this extensive set of content is available today on PC, Mac, PlayStation®4 and Xbox One.

Created by Team FSI Modding, winners of the Farming Simulator Mod Contest special award, the “GRIMME Equipment Pack” delivers a whole host of new farming possibilities from GRIMME, including potato harvesters, planters, weeders, transport belts and trailers, as well as a bonus tool from the in-game Lizard brand.

If you own Farming Simulator 19’s Premium Edition or the Season Pass, you can now download the DLC for free via digital stores. All items will be available through the in-game shop after downloading the pack.

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Pushed Back to 2022

NACON and Daedalic Entertainment are pleased to announce that they have signed a co-publishing and distribution agreement for the game The Lord of the Rings: Gollum. Developed for Xbox and PlayStation consoles, Nintendo Switch™ and PC, the game will be released in 2022.

The two companies decided to join forces to ensure that the game will meet the expectations of fans of The Lord of the Rings and fully leverage the power of the new generation of consoles. The universe will be faithfully represented thanks to the partnership with Middle-earth Enterprises, the company that holds the adaptation rights to the novel series by J.R.R. Tolkien.

As soon as it was announced in spring 2019, the game generated an enormous amount of attention amongst players and fans, and achieved a high profile through the first video showcase last fall:

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is a story-driven action adventure. Take on a perilous journey as Gollum, chasing the only thing that is precious to him. Climb, leap and sneak your way past dangers or into advantageous spots. Gollum is skillful and sly, but also torn by his split personality. It is up to you to decide whether the darker side of Gollum takes over or if there is a spark of reason left in what once was Sméagol.

Magic: Legends Open Beta Date Revealed

Today, Perfect World Entertainment Inc., a leading publisher of online games, and Cryptic Studios announced Magic: Legends will enter PC Open Beta on March 23, 2021. Soon players will experience the thrill of becoming a Planeswalker in the free-to-play, persistent world, action RPG based on Wizards of the Coast’s iconic strategy card game, Magic: The Gathering. Over the last year, the development team at Cryptic Studios has been working closely with Closed Alpha testers to ensure that the game’s signature spell-slinging combat feels powerful and that the Multiverse stays true to that of the original card game. Starting on March 23, millions of players from around the world will be able to explore the Magic Multiverse, as Magic: Legends begins Open Beta on Arc Games. The game will make its official launch on PC, Xbox One and PlayStation®4 later this year.

“The new year ushers in a new era for Magic: Legends,” said Yoon Im, CEO of Perfect World Entertainment. “The chorus of gamers eager to join Magic: Legends’ beta has been both exciting and humbling to us all. We are thrilled to finally announce that both Magic and ARPG fans will get to explore the Magic: The Gathering world we’ve brought to life and ignite their Spark this Spring.”

“It’s hard to believe we’re finally opening the gates to the Multiverse to all gamers and Magic fans,” said Stephen Ricossa, executive producer of Magic: Legends at Cryptic Studios. “Over the last year, the development team has been working non-stop to bring this legendary card game to life. We want to take a moment to thank everyone who participated in our Closed Alpha tests for providing the feedback we needed to help evolve Magic: Legends into what it is today.”

Fans of Magic: The Gathering can attest to the fact that spell casting is the heart and soul of the game, and Magic: Legends is no different. At launch, the ARPG will offer 175 mana-based spells inspired by the original card game, plus 50 artifacts, 165 pieces of equipment, four planes and five regions. Players will explore diverse planes in the Multiverse to collect these spells and strategically construct and pilot different decks to control the chaos of the battlefield. Planeswalkers can also collect various artifacts and spell pages to modify and upgrade spells and their effects. Following ample feedback from Closed Alpha testers, Magic: Legends is also implementing an equipment system to capstone powerful, player-built loadouts. Check out the video below to get a first look at deckbuilding for Magic: Legends:

Magic: Legends is a free-to-play, persistent world, hack’n’cast online Action RPG based on Wizards of the Coast’s iconic trading card game, Magic: The Gathering. Ancient forces move in the darkness, requiring players to assume the role of a Planeswalker, powerful spellcasters who can travel between worlds. While exploring different planes, players will collect mana-based spells and strategically build out the perfect deck of balanced attacks to control the chaos of the battlefield and save the Multiverse from its greatest threat yet. Developed by Cryptic Studios and published by Perfect World Entertainment, Magic: Legends will release on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation®4 in 2021. For additional details, visit PlayMagicLegends.com.

Fallout 76 Gets Inventory System Update

Just released for Fallout 76, The Inventory Update kicks off a new year of upcoming content, improvements, fixes, community requests, and so much more for the ever-growing online RPG.

The Inventory Update Overview Video

Stash Increase
The Inventory Update addresses one of the most frequent requests from the community, highlighted by a whopping 50% increase to player Stash to a maximum of 1,200 pounds. Players can fill it up to their heart’s content with gear, Junk, and anything else they come across in the wasteland.

Pip-Boy Updates
The Inventory Update also includes UI improvements and updates to the Pip-Boy. Three new tabs are added to the Pip-Boy Inventory menu: “New,” “Armor,” and “Food/Drink.”

New – This tab will keep track of all the items players gather during a play session, sorted by newest to oldest.

Armor – Armor receives its own menu tab so that players can keep their gear separate from their other Apparel.

Food/Drinks – Food and drinks are now split out from “Aid” into their own Pip-Boy Inventory tab. Chems and Serums will remain in “Aid.”

Stack Weight
From now on, when players select any stackable item in their inventory, its Item Details in the Pip-Boy will show how much total weight that stack is consuming. This change allows players to see quickly and easily what in their inventory is taking up significant carry weight.

Vending Machine Map Previews
The tooltip when previewing another player’s Vending Machines on the Map will now show the number of 1, 2, and 3-star legendary weapons and armor that player is selling. Additionally, it will no longer display any empty categories.

Looking ahead, the return of the fan-favorite Fasnacht event and a new Valentine’s Day-themed event are set to arrive in February.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood New Gameplay Trailer

With one week to go before the release of Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood on February 4 2021, NACON and Cyanide are pleased to introduce a new gameplay trailer for the game.

The video highlights one of the core gameplay elements: the different forms that the Garou Cahal can shift into. Choose the Lupus form for exploration and infiltration. Choose the Homid form for stealth takedowns of guards and hacking into enemy defenses. And when your rage reaches its ferocious limit, transform into a Crinos and cut a swathe through hostile forces with your claws and teeth!

This unique transformation mechanic allows playstyle variation and different ways to overcome obstacles. Whether you choose stealth, assassination or brutal, gruesome combat, Cahal has many talents for you to use.

Main Assembly Official Launch Trailer

Team17 and Bad Yolk have announced that creative sandbox, Main Assembly, has today left Steam Early Access. Featuring a comprehensive array of freeform building tools, players can now construct an even more significant number of intricate machines and robots thanks to a brand new update launched alongside the game’s full release. The Final Frontier content introduces players to zero gravity, with a new sandbox map that includes a space station, a new space-based challenge level, the ability to add rocket engines and lasers to creations, and cosmetics so the in-game drone can cosplay as an astronaut.

Main Assembly has continually expanded during its Early Access phase, adding aquatic systems, environments, and Bot Brawls (a new game mode for players to battle against each other and their creations through online multiplayer) to the game over the last few months, regularly providing more activities for players.

Main Assembly key features:

  • Freeform building: Construct any robot or contraption imaginable and customise them with numerous cosmetic parts
  • Solo & multiplayer sandbox gameplay: Work individually to collect 156 stars in 24 single-player challenges or compete against each other in online multiplayer activities. Share inventions over Steam Workshop, and enjoy endless gameplay possibilities
  • Powerful visual programming: Harness the power of Main Assembly’s visual programming language to set up unique controls for creations, and even automate them with various types of sensors
  • Advanced physics: Experience aerodynamics and robot destruction; fly, drift, and destroy your creations.

Joel Jonsson, CEO and Creative Director, Bad Yolk, said:

“The road through Early Access has been incredibly rewarding, and we’re now at the point where we’re ready to unleash the full potential of Main Assembly. Working on the zero gravity content was the one giant leap we wanted to make before we left Early Access, and now there are a whole host of tools and toys to play with, letting players create bots great and small to experiment with and use in the sandboxes and challenges. We can’t wait to see what else players can come up with!”

Louise Chamberlain, Producer, Team17, said:

“At Team17 the collaboration with Bad Yolk has yielded some really incredible results, and we’re now ready to lift-off with a brand new update that will usher in the full version of this incredibly detailed sandbox. We’ve had a huge amount of fun creating bots and machines and increasing the amount of challenges, maps, and freeform building tools available to players, so all that’s left to do is to let players loose with the creative tools!”

Snowtopia Early Access Launch Trailer Released

Publisher Goblinz Studio (Legend of Keepers, As Far As The Eye) in collaboration with Fractale, and developer TeaForTwo Games today announced that ski resort tycoon game Snowtopia is available now on Steam Early Access. Traveling to ski resorts is an impossible dream for most this year, so Snowtopia is bringing the mountain to you. In the game, players will build their dream mountain ski resort, from forest trails and lifts, to those all-important apres-ski terraces. Ski, build and chill – the mountain is calling you!

Clip on your skis and jump straight into Snowtopia here:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1124260/Snowtopia_Ski_Resort_Tycoon/

There’s no business like snow business

Snowtopia makes resort building accessible and fun for all. There’s no money in the game, creating a new twist on the genre where resources are managed differently and the focus is squarely on skier satisfaction. The game’s snappy creation tool lets you drop pistes easily on the mountain side and add the right kind of ski lift for the terrain, while keeping an eye on the queues of impatient ski nuts of course.

Running a successful resort brings more skiers of all kinds to sample the slopes, terraces and tartiflette, so make sure you’re ready for them. Fix broken lifts, groom the pistes and run enough ski patrols to keep your visitors safe. Happy skiers will show their appreciation by joining the volunteers running the resort, making sure everything on the mountain stays in perfect shape.

During Early Access an avalanche of new features will be added to the game, including, yes, avalanches, plus dynamic weather, snow cannons, ski schools, more buildings, and new staff models. Modding is also planned for the coming months, so players can customize their dream ski resort down to the last icy detail.

Stay up to date with all the latest news on Snowtopia:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/teafortwogames

Snowtopia official website: https://www.playsnowtopia.com/

Introducing Plex Arcade from Plex Labs

Today Plex is announcing Plex Arcade, making dozens of retro games available to stream right through Plex.

Spun out of Plex Labs, this is a passion project for Plex (which also means it’s a work in progress!). Here’s what you need to know:

  • Plex Arcade requires a Windows or macOS Plex Media Server (no Linux for now)
  • Platform support for playing includes Android (mobile and TV), iOS, tvOS, and Chrome. To get started, grab the latest Plex Media Server build and create a new Games library, just like you would any of your existing media types
  • Plex Arcade requires a subscription – $4.99/month for non-Plex Pass subscribers, and $2.99/month for those who already have a Plex Pass
  • You can try it free for seven days: https://www.plex.tv/arcade/
  • Game controllers work great! You can use any Bluetooth or USB game controller that is compatible with your device or use a keyboard for Chrome-based gaming. For best results, Plex recommends a Sony DualShock 4 or Xbox One controller

Partnerships behind the magic:

  • Plex has partnered with Parsec, whose low-latency streaming technology makes fully playable game libraries within Plex possible
  • And of course, who better than the godfather of gaming, Atari, to bring you a catalog of classic titles right out of the box – from Centipede to Lunar Lander and more

With the addition of streaming games, Plex continues to make good on its mission to bring all types of media in one place, creating the ultimate entertainment experience offering thousands of free on-demand options, 137 free-to-stream live TV channels, and so much more.

In addition to the Plex Arcade blog and video linked above, here’s an FAQ