STALKER: GAMMA Multiplayer – Current Status and Alternatives Guide

STALKER: GAMMA has been the go-to STALKER experience for thousands of players, what with its uncompromising survival mechanics and immersive Zone experience. However, one question consistently emerges: can you play STALKER GAMMA in multiplayer mode? Well, no, but we'll break down everything you need to know about STALKER GAMMA multiplayer possibilities and the alternatives currently available.

Does STALKER GAMMA Support Multiplayer?

The straightforward answer is no - STALKER: GAMMA does not currently support multiplayer or cooperative gameplay. The modpack remains exclusively a single-player experience, focusing on the solitary struggle of surviving in the Zone. GAMMA removes all gear trading, meaning you cannot buy or sell weapons or armor, creating an intensely personal survival challenge that the developers designed specifically for solo play.

The GAMMA development team has not announced any official plans to implement multiplayer functionality. Given the modpack's emphasis on careful progression, crafting systems, and survival mechanics, adapting these features for multiplayer would require fundamental changes to the core gameplay experience.

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Community Projects Attempting STALKER Multiplayer

Despite GAMMA's single-player nature, several community initiatives are working to bring multiplayer functionality to various STALKER experiences:

STALKER Together Project

The most promising development comes from the STALKER Together team, which has successfully created cooperative modes for the original STALKER trilogy. Their project aims to implement network code into STALKER Anomaly 1.5.3 engine, potentially allowing modpacks like GAMMA to run in cooperative mode.

The team recently announced plans for "MODPACK Together," which would provide technical support and guides for playing GAMMA, EFP, CUSTOM, and other major modpacks in cooperative mode. However, this remains in development with no confirmed release date.

X-Ray Multiplayer Extension

For players seeking immediate cooperative STALKER experiences, the X-Ray Multiplayer Extension offers four-player cooperative gameplay for STALKER: Call of Pripyat. While this modification doesn't work with Anomaly or GAMMA, it allows players to experience the original Call of Pripyat campaign together with friends.

What Makes STALKER GAMMA Multiplayer Challenging?

Several technical and design factors complicate implementing multiplayer in GAMMA:

The modpack's sophisticated crafting system relies on precise progression mechanics that would require careful balancing for multiple players. Additionally, GAMMA's emphasis on resource scarcity and individual survival creates gameplay loops specifically designed for solo experiences.

The Anomaly engine itself, while heavily modified, wasn't originally designed with multiplayer networking in mind. Implementing stable multiplayer functionality would require extensive engine modifications that go beyond typical modding capabilities.

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Alternatives for Cooperative STALKER Experiences

While waiting for potential GAMMA multiplayer solutions, several options exist for players wanting to experience the Zone with friends:

Original STALKER Co-op Mods: The X-Ray Multiplayer Extension provides stable four-player cooperative gameplay for Call of Pripyat, complete with campaign support and custom mission creation tools.

Future Developments: Monitor the STALKER Together project's Discord server for updates on their Anomaly multiplayer implementation, which could eventually support GAMMA.

Community Coordination: Some players organize synchronized single-player GAMMA sessions, comparing progress and sharing experiences through Discord voice channels while playing simultaneously.

STALKER GAMMA Multiplayer: Not Yet, but Maybe in the Future?

Currently, STALKER: GAMMA remains a strictly single-player experience, and official multiplayer support seems unlikely given the modpack's design philosophy. However, community projects like STALKER Together show promise for future cooperative possibilities.

For now, we recommend embracing GAMMA's intended solo survival experience while keeping an eye on community developments that might eventually bring the Zone's harsh challenges to cooperative play.

STALKER: GAMMA multiplayer would be the dream come true, but the fact is that we don’t have options for it just yet. Here’s the status!

STALKER: GAMMA on GOG? Get It Now!

We love the entire STALKER franchise here at 2Game. From its Slavjank roots to its unique gameplay loop, STALKER is basically the pinnacle of survival FPS gameplay, and as GSC Game World slowly continues making STALKER 2 the game it's always meant to be, the modding community makes its own path in a wholly different direction.

Specifically, while the original trilogy of STALKER games - those being Shadow of Chornobyl, Clear Sky, and Call of Pripyat in the other of release - is still well worth playing, there are better options in the market right now. We are, of course, referencing the projects that came up thanks to Call of Chornobyl, the open-source wombo-combo of all three games' content and maps. The big highlights are STALKER: Anomaly and its own derivative STALKER: GAMMA, both of which are now readily available via GOG!

Yep, you read that right: Anomaly and GAMMA are on GOG, and they're totally free to download, though there are some caveats in place we'll discuss a bit later. In the interim, you're probably wondering why on earth should you even be interested in Grok's Automated Modular Modpack for Anomaly, which is what GAMMA stands for. We can help on that front, too.

Play STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl now!

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What Makes STALKER: GAMMA a Big Deal?

Built upon the foundations struck by Anomaly, STALKER: GAMMA is a ridiculously comprehensive modpack that turns the game into a proper, full-featured survival sandbox that will generate as many STALKER gameplay loops for you as you can handle. With just over 200 community-made addons that have since been fine-tuned by the modpack's creator, Grok, GAMMA is a sight to behold.

The most significant departure from traditional STALKER gameplay lies in GAMMA's complete economic overhaul. GAMMA removes all gear trading (though you can add it back in), meaning you cannot buy or sell weapons or armor. This fundamental change forces players into a genuine survival experience where every piece of equipment must be scavenged, crafted, or carefully maintained. Its progression system, similarly, revolves around tool acquisition and crafting mastery. Players begin with basic tools that unlock simple repairs and low-level crafting recipes, gradually working toward advanced toolkits that enable creation of night vision equipment, sophisticated detectors, and endgame gear. Each tool also unlocks crafting, upgrading and repair options for more and more advanced items.

The crafting system extends beyond simple weapon maintenance into comprehensive gear management. Players must disassemble found equipment to harvest components, then use these materials alongside specialized toolkits to create functional gear. Ammunition crafting becomes essential on higher difficulties, as trader prices make purchased rounds prohibitively expensive.

If that doesn't sound very fun... well, firstly, we get it, and GAMMA lets you toggle its systems and features however you see fit. In context, though, it all falls into place, and the game is all the better for it. And hey, since it's all built on top of STALKER's impressive A-Life systems brought up to their theoretical maximum, you're getting all the classic GSC goodness by default.

STALKER: GAMMA adds hundreds of new weapons, armor sets, artifacts, and beyond. Dozens of new mutants and a handful of new factions await, too, and the map is positively ginormous. The potential for interaction is ridiculous, and we cannot recommend it enough. Did we mention you get to build out your very own hideout wherever you see fit, too? Because you do!

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The Catch About STALKER: GAMMA on GOG

We promised there'd be a catch, right? Well, the thing about GAMMA is that you need to have a copy of the original games for it to work, as it is a derivative of GSC Game World's work. To be able to download it via GOG, you need to purchase copies of the classic STALKER games on GOG, too. Odds are good that you already own them via Steam, though, so that might be a non-starter. If that's the case, we're happy to present you with a link to download the mod directly!

Download STALKER: GAMMA right here!

It's less straightforward and a bit more complicated than it is to download GAMMA via GOG, but it's a great option if you're not interested in joining GOG's gaming ecosystem to begin with.

On top of that, many users have reported problems with installing STALKER: GAMMA on GOG due to E8 errors, and we can help with that, too:

How to fix 'Installation Failed (E8)' GOG error for STALKER: GAMMA?

If you're constantly getting installation failure warnings when downloading STALKER: GAMMA on GOG, do the following:

From what we can tell, STALKER: GAMMA's 'Installation Failed (E8)' error is in fact a GOG error and it might crop up every so often when attempting to install games via the service's Galaxy game client. The process we outlined above usually helps temporarily resolve the issue, however, so we hope it help you do the same, too.

Play STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl now!

STALKER: GAMMA is now available for download on GOG, but there are a couple of things you ought to keep in mind about it! Here’s the jig.

Assetto Corsa Competizione Server Status Disconnected? Here’s What’s Actually Going On (and How to Fix It Without Losing Your Mind)

If you’ve loaded up Assetto Corsa Competizione, looked at the corner of your screen, and been greeted by that little red menace whispering “Disconnected” - congratulations; you’ve unlocked ACC’s unofficial mini-game: Is It Me, or Is It Kunos?!

Well, don't panic. This toolkit is designed to help you decipher the confusion behind the words often frustratingly typed into Google: Assetto Corsa Competizione server status: disconnected.

And remember, if you can’t laugh when ACC throws an “error connecting to the server” warning even in single-player (yes, the game sometimes pretends it’s online when you’re not), what can you do?

Enjoy Massive Discounts on Assetto Corsa Competizione @ 2Game Today!

Why You See “Disconnected”

So why does the dreaded "Disconnected" badge appear? There are two main culprits:

1. The Kunos server browser is offline

It’s not the whole game, just the browser that lists multiplayer lobbies, and these outages are relatively rare. Indeed, community-run monitoring tools show that the official browser has maintained roughly 98% uptime over the last 60 days. As of the latest check, there were 1659 public servers with 279 players online (ping ~59ms).

The catch? These tools only track the server browser, not individual race servers. So if you see that dreaded “Disconnected” badge, it’s usually not Kunos. More often, the issue lies with your network, firewall, antivirus, OneDrive, ISP routing quirks — or yes, even your cat deciding to “help” by walking across the router.

2. Your network is having a moment

ACC is notoriously picky when it comes to local network settings. Common PC-side culprits include:

Kunos’ recommended fixes often resolve these problems:

When It’s Not Your PC: How to Race During Browser Outages

Even when the server browser is down, you can still race. Here’s how:

Fix #1: The Legendary LAN Servers Workaround

Your league server should show up as if nothing ever went wrong.

League races? If your league provides a serverList.json, place it in your PC Documents folder here:

Documents → Assetto Corsa Competizione → Config

Then repeat the steps above. This workaround is so effective that players often join full races even when half the community panics and assumes the servers are down.

Fix #2: Use ACC Connector (The “Browser-Free” Method)

If the in-game browser is the diva of the group, ACC Connector is the calm, competent understudy. This third-party little miracle:

If the browser is dead, ACC Connector usually isn’t.

Fix #3: Verify Whether It’s a Global Issue (Before Reinstalling Your Life)

Use a community status tracker to check:

Remember: these numbers aren’t official Kunos data, but they’re very useful for diagnosing whether the problem is local or global.

Final Lap: “Assetto Corsa Competizione Server Status Disconnected” Isn’t the End of the World

The whole Assetto Corsa Competizione server status disconnected saga has a certain reputation. It’s annoying, often misleading, and probably responsible for half of those mysteriously half-empty LFM lobbies. But the truth is refreshingly simple: it’s also very fixable. Most of the time, nothing catastrophic has happened, the servers themselves are usually fine. What’s actually having a wobble is the in-game server browser, or occasionally your own network throwing a tantrum.

If you want the quick takeaway, here it is: ACC’s servers rarely go down, but the browser that lists them absolutely does from time to time. Even when it does, however, you can still race. The LAN workaround remains the closest thing ACC has to magic, with the ACC Connector sitting right behind it as a rock-solid backup plan. And yes, sometimes your own network is quietly the villain of the story.

So buckle in, fire up your car, and get back on track — your next race is ready and waiting.

Enjoy Massive Discounts on Assetto Corsa Competizione @ 2Game Today!

Fix fast and get back to racing

Steam Deck vs Steam Machine: Performance Expectations Explained!

Though it's definitely been outpaced by the newer, more technically advanced PC gaming handhelds, the Steam Deck is still our go-to for testing purposes. As neat as the PC platform's flexibility and customization options are, it's a matter of fact that having a single, manufacturer-supported configuration has been a huge boon for many PC gamers. As such, the Steam Deck fits the bill perfectly, and it's still an extremely compelling and - crucially - affordable choice for those in need of a PC gaming handheld.

Now, towards the tail end of 2025, Valve has confirmed something we've long-since suspected: the Steam Deck was just the beginning. A full refreshed ecosystem of Deck-inspired devices is coming, including the Steam Controller 2.0, the Steam Frame VR headset, and the arguably most interesting of the bunch: Steam Machine.

Ostensibly a PC, the Steam Machine is a hopefully successful retread of Valve's early-2010 aspirations. Its price is the biggest question mark right now, yes, and it's going to make or break the Machine's market placement. More on that later, though. Today we're most interested in specifically comparing the Steam Deck to the Steam Machine's expected performance envelope, and the comparison begins with the specifications themselves.

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Steam Deck vs Steam Machine Hardware Configurations

Steam Deck Specs

Steam Machine Specs

Obviously, the Steam Machine is going to be substantially more powerful than the Steam Deck. Valve claims it's supposed to be the go-to 4K 60 FPS box, though early word from dedicated testing specialists suggests it's going to be far more capable at 1080P and 1440P resolutions. Valve did suggest as much, too, with the addendum that the 4K/60 target takes FSR-based upscaling into account as well. Fair enough, we say, but it may set the wrong expectations for the casual user.

Based on spec sheet data and the gameplay we've seen so far (kudos to CaptRobau3 for this one), we believe the Steam Machine is going to perform roughly on-par with the Nvidia RTX 4060M in real-world gaming scenarios.

Now, to be perfectly fair, the RTX 4060M performance envelope is nothing to scoff at. As should be plainly obvious from the available gameplay footage, the Steam Machine is already very capable and should be able to play virtually any game on the market day-and-date. It's just that it's not going to play most modern games on their Ultra-Super-Duper Ray-Traced graphics settings. Instead, we'd expect a level of performance that mostly matches the current-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles, which is going to be perfectly acceptable if the Steam Machine is priced appropriately.

Note, too, that we're specifically highlighting the fact that this is a mobile or laptop-level RTX 4060 that's being referenced by Valve. That's not a huge point of contention, though: the RTX 4060M is only 8-10% slower than the desktop RTX 4060 variant, so we don't think much is being sacrificed on this particular later, though you may feel otherwise.

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Steam Machine compared to Steam Deck

Whereas the Steam Deck often struggles to make cutting-edge Unreal Engine 5 games even remotely playable, the Steam Machine won't have a problem on this front. We've already seen the likes of Silent Hill f and Black Myth Wukong running on it perfectly, with 60 FPS seemingly a very achievable goal even if you do need to rely on Medium Settings more often than some of us might be used to.

Aside from the price-point which is still very much up in the air right now, there are two big concerns most of us have about the Steam Machine:

Strange as it might sound, the Steam Deck technically has more VRAM than the Steam Machine, as it has a combined 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory. The Machine, on the other hand, comes with separate RAM and VRAM pools, which means it's likely going to struggle in certain high-tier games, like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Please note that this means struggling at higher graphics settings, not struggling to make games run. A key consideration, we think.

One big feature of the Steam Deck is that Valve was very clever when choosing the handheld's default display resolution. 1200x800 is extremely forgiving when it comes to rendering performance, and this is precisely what allows the Deck to remain relevant in 2025 and beyond. Marketing the Machine as a 4K gaming rig, on the other hand, might make it seem underpowered, and our recommendation is to think of it as of a very compelling 1080P living room PC, instead.

The Steam Deck definitely is 5-6 times slower than the Steam Machine, but it's also a portable device with a low-resolution display. If you want a hard baseline comparison, the Steam Deck is more-or-less on the level of an Nvidia GTX 1050, while the Steam Machine performs on the level of an Nvidia RTX 4060M. There's a performance delta of at least 300% between the two, and further software-level optimizations play into this comparison as well.

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Who is Steam Machine For, Really?

That's the big question, isn't it? The Steam Machine is purpose-built as a remarkably small and good-looking living room PC that can run any game on somewhat compromised settings. If you don't mind playing with upscaling and relying largely on medium-level settings, it'll do you wonders.

It's not going to be able to parry the likes of high-tier RTX 5090 machines, no, but it's almost guaranteed to be in the ballpark of $700-800 to begin with. This makes it a potentially affordable option for living room gaming. Crucially, it's also PC gaming specifically, so you're taking your entire game library with you instead of having to jump into Microsoft, Sony, or Nintendo's walled-off ecosystems. There's merit there, for sure.

For Steam Deck users, the Machine only really makes sense if you often use the device docked. Granted, you will be able to high-speed-low-latency stream from the Machine to the Deck, which could be a huge boon if you don't already have a powerful desktop PC to stream from. We've got a guide on how to get that sorted out, in fact.

There's a loveliness factor to be considered here, too, we think. The Steam Machine is charming in a way most SFFPCs are not. With an excellent design, customizable face-plates, proper SteamOS installation, and reasonably decent hardware, this may be the little machine that could. If it's priced right, of course. For that, stay tuned!

Want to make sense of the upcoming Steam Machine and whether it’s a good choice for your next gaming rig? Here’s how it compares to the Deck!

How to Emote in Marvel Rivals (and Make Every Match a Little More Iconic)

If there’s one universal truth in Marvel Rivals, it’s this: sometimes the most devastating move isn’t a perfect headshot or a last-second objective steal, it’s hitting an emote at exactly the right moment. A smug Hawkeye shrug after a perfect volley? Iconic. Black Panther hitting a regal stance right before diving into the next team fight? Poetry. And a Spider-Man victory dance after a wipe? That’s what players remember.

So if you’re here wondering, “How do I actually emote in Marvel Rivals?”, don’t worry, it's not rocket science. However, it is something worth doing properly if you want your personality to hit the battlefield. Let’s get you emoting like you meant it.

What Emotes Do (Besides Make You Instantly Cooler)

Emotes in Marvel Rivals are animated expressions your hero performs mid-match — celebrations, taunts, poses, or character-specific flair tied to their personality. They do not give gameplay advantages, stat boosts, or ability buffs. They do, however, let you celebrate a clutch play, lighten the mood after a chaotic team fight, bond with teammates, and psychologically rattle enemies who just got outplayed.

They’re part communication, part style, part chaos-gremlin energy. And honestly? They’re essential to the vibe of the game.

How to Unlock Emotes (Legit Ways Only)

Every emote you use needs to be unlocked first, and Marvel Rivals keeps it straightforward:

You can get emotes through:

Each hero has their own set, plus some universal ones.

How to Equip Your Emotes (Don’t Skip This Part)

Before you can break out anything in-match, you need to assign it:

Without this, your button presses will do nothing. And nobody wants to be that player standing still in the middle of a match, mashing keys like a confused raccoon.

How to Use Emotes In-Match

This is the part everyone wants to know, and it’s pleasantly simple. On PC, you hold T to open the Emote Wheel; on controller, it’s the left D-pad. As long as you keep the button held, the wheel stays up. Hover over the emote you want by moving your mouse or right stick, then release the button to trigger it.

That’s all it takes — one smooth motion and your hero instantly snaps into their chosen flourish. It works the same way across modes, from casual matches to competitive queues.

A Few Ways to Make Your Emotes Feel Intentional

Emotes work best when they punctuate a moment rather than interrupt your flow. Dropping one right after securing a tricky elimination hits much harder than flailing through one in the middle of a firefight. Hero-specific emotes almost always land better than generic ones, simply because they feel like an extension of that character’s personality.

And yes, there’s an etiquette to this. A single cheeky taunt can be funny. A steady drip of taunts every time someone goes down? That’s how rivalries start. Use them with confidence, not chaos.

Timing, as always, does the heavy lifting.

If Your Emote Wheel Refuses to Cooperate

Pressing the right button and nothing’s happening? It’s usually a settings issue. The Emote Wheel is defined under Communication settings as the Customizable Wheel, so it’s worth double-checking that your T key or left D-pad binding is still intact.

Your hero also can’t emote in certain ability states — something players have noticed and reported — so if you’re in the middle of an active animation or ability, the wheel may not open until it ends.

And That's How To Emote in Marvel Rivals

Yes, emotes in Marvel Rivals don’t affect your damage, cooldowns, or power level, but they absolutely influence your presence in the match. They’re part expression, part celebration, part psychological spice. They make highlight moments feel even bigger and give your hero a bit of personal flair that goes beyond stats and abilities.

Once you’ve got your favourites slotted and you know how to fire them off, the battlefield feels a lot more alive. And sometimes a perfectly timed pose is worth just as much as a perfectly timed ability.

Strike a pose

Bannerlord Ship Guide: Sailing in War Sails Explained!

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord's first major expansion, War Sails, brings naval warfare to the medieval sandbox for the first time. With 20 unique vessels spanning multiple ship classes and faction-specific designs, understanding each ship's strengths and weaknesses becomes crucial for maritime dominance. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about commanding fleets and choosing the right vessels for your naval campaigns.

Play Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord's new War Sails DLC now!

Ship Classifications in War Sails and You

War Sails organizes its fleet into three primary combat classes, each designed for distinct tactical roles. Light ships are affordable and tend to excel in acceleration as well as maneuverability, making them the choice for flank attack. However, their lower crew capacity and hit points make them easy targets when caught off guard. Their smaller size also makes them less stable in rough weather and results in fewer potential upgrades.

Medium ships strike a balance between price, durability, deck capacity, and upgrade potential. These versatile vessels form the backbone of most fleets, capable of adapting to various combat situations without specializing in any single area. They represent the perfect compromise between cost and effectiveness for developing maritime powers.

Heavy ships are built for staying power. Wide decks, large crew capacity, thick hulls, and a wealth of upgrades to pick from allow them to dominate in prolonged engagements. Though, all of this comes at a hefty price in denars. These floating fortresses can weather sustained battles and serve as excellent command vessels for large fleet operations.

Trade Vessels, Or The Economic Backbone

Trade ships differ from warships in several key ways: they carry fewer troops, offer more inventory space, and require smaller skeletal crews to operate, making them the preferred choice for merchant convoys. While these vessels sacrifice combat effectiveness, their enhanced cargo capacity and reduced crew requirements make them essential for establishing profitable trade routes across Calradia's expanded waterways.

Faction-Specific Fleet Compositions

Each culture brings unique naval traditions reflecting their historical inspirations and tactical preferences. Every faction fields at least one unique ship reflecting its identity, while drawing the rest of its fleet from shared regional pools. This brings the grand total to 20 unique ships as of War Sails' release.

The Empire - Masters of Balanced Naval Power

The Empire's navy is the most well-rounded in Calradia. Their fleet includes the Liburna, a medium vessel with a compact hull and sharp contours, built to withstand hits and even deliver ramming strikes. The Dromon, their heavy flagship, is a broad, high-decked vessel with hybrid sails and tall sides, evoking the form of historical dromons.

The Dromon stands out as arguably the most complete vessel in War Sails. The Empire's flagship and arguably the most complete ship in War Sails. It's large, tall, and heavily armored with hybrid sails and multiple upgrade slots. Excellent for sieging from the sea or acting as a command vessel. Best suited for long, drawn-out fights.

The Nords - Raiders of the Northern Seas

The Nords field longships built for decisive, close-quarters combat. Their flagship, the Drakkar, is a medium, open-decked vessel with a narrow, elongated hull and pronounced prow, designed specifically for acceleration. These vessels embody the Norse raiding tradition, prioritizing speed and boarding capabilities over defensive measures.

The iconic longship. The Drakkar is all about power and speed, ideal for heavy boarding tactics. It has wide decks and multiple bridges that let your troops storm enemy ships fast. Its weakness is missile fire, but it rarely gives archers the time to shoot back.

Vlandia - Fortress Ships of the West

Vlandian fleets draw inspiration from the sturdy cargo vessels of northern Europe. Their heavy ship, the Roundship, features a tall, boxy hull with elevated decks. Ideal for ranged support! It has modest oar power but makes up for it with strong defensive structures and commanding lines of sight.

Think of the Roundship as a floating castle. High decks, strong defenses, and incredible line-of-sight make it ideal for ranged warfare. It's slower than most heavies, but near-unstoppable once positioned. Great for defensive fleets.

Aserai - Speed and Versatility

Aserai ships combine sleek sailboat hulls with galley-like decks. Their heavy vessel, the Ghurab, features a lean frame with high decks and a sharply rising bow, relying primarily on sail power for speed while offering modest oar support for repositioning.

A sleek, lateen-sailed beast made for high-speed assaults and long-range duels. The Qalguk thrives with archers and javelin troops, trading acceleration for top-end speed. Ideal for hit-and-run playstyles and long-range pressure.

Battania - River Warriors

Battania draws from riverine and woodland traditions, producing vessels reflecting this. Their primary ship, the Birlinn, serves as an excellent light raider. Fast, maneuverable, and perfect for ambushes. The Birlinn is a square-sailed wooden dart that skims over calm waters. It's fragile, but archers perform well on its open deck. Great for raiding convoys or coastal skirmishes.

Sail Types and Wind Mechanics

Understanding wind patterns and sail configurations separates experienced captains from novices. A ship's performance at sea is also shaped by its sail geometry, which governs how it handles under varying wind conditions. Square sails offer quick acceleration and perform well in calm winds, but struggle against the wind. Lateen sails catch wind from more directions, enabling higher peak speeds and better versatility, though they result in slower acceleration and lower responsiveness. Hybrid rigs blend both types for steadier control in changing winds.

Your wind dial shows the wind's direction relative to your ship: green marks a favorable angle, while red warns that your sails will fight against the wind instead of working with it. Each rig type behaves differently. Square sails catch a smaller wind coverage but deliver powerful bursts of speed when aligned. Lateen sails offer broader coverage, letting you carry pace across wider directions, while hybrid rigs balance the strengths of both.

Oar Power - When Wind Fails

When the wind falters, oarsmen become your lifeline. Rowing serves as a secondary means of thrust in naval battles, letting ships move even when the sails hang still. Oars can be used directly by the player as well, and the troops will retract them when ships draw alongside to prevent shearing against nearby hulls.

Strategic oar management requires balancing propulsion with combat readiness. Every man on a rowing bench is one less bow on deck. Players can choose between full oar power for maximum speed, half power for steady movement with some crew available for combat, or no oars to maximize fighting strength.

Ship Customization and Upgrades

Ships can be customized with names, upgrades, and decorative elements. Upgrades range from ballistae and battlements to shield rows, fire braziers, and figureheads that grant stat bonuses. Bigger ships support more slots and fancier options, while smaller ones are more limited.

Key upgrade categories include:

Siege Equipment: Ballistae provide long-range fire support and can ignite enemy sails with fire arrows when combined with braziers.

Defensive Structures: Shield rows and battlements improve crew protection during missile exchanges.

Figureheads: These decorative elements provide statistical bonuses to morale, speed, or combat effectiveness.

Enhanced Sails: Sail upgrades improve performance within the ship's existing sail type limitations.

Some upgrades are culture-specific, encouraging exploration and trade between regions. This system rewards players who establish diverse trading networks and diplomatic relationships.

Fleet Management Strategy

Success in War Sails requires understanding each ship's role within larger fleet compositions. Light vessels excel at reconnaissance, flanking maneuvers, and pursuing retreating enemies. Medium ships form reliable battle lines and adapt to changing tactical situations. Heavy vessels anchor defensive formations and serve as command platforms for complex operations.

When evaluating a suitable party ship composition, they will target to have a capacity that comfortably exceeds the maximum party troop size to allow for flexibility (like taking prisoners or losing a ship). On the other hand, they will avoid compositions with too large of a skeletal crew, preventing movement speed penalties.

The dynamic weather system was also refined to include storms and trade winds. Ships move faster when riding the gales, but beware, as attrition can unravel even the best-laid plans.

These dynamic weather events will move across the sea and deal damage to ships caught in them. Players will be able to spot storms forming thanks to visual cues like dark clouds and thunder during a brief buildup phase.

Acquisition and Port Development

Access to these ships depends not just on location, but also on infrastructure. Ports must be upgraded via settlement projects. A low-level shipyard might offer only a few light ships, while higher levels unlock medium and heavy ships, with more vessels for sale.

Players can acquire vessels through multiple methods: purchasing from upgraded shipyards, capturing enemy ships in battle, or commissioning specialized builds through settlement development. Each approach offers different cost structures and availability depending on regional politics and economic development.

Sail Away!

And that's about all we've got to share about boats, ships, buoys, and other sea-faring vessels available in Bannerlord's fancy new War Sails expansion pack. Granted, we've just about scratched the surface here: there's an immense wealth of content and features to be expanded upon as Bannerlord continues its development, and we've no doubt the currently-developing meta will be even more interesting in a month than we could explain here. So, stay tuned: great things await.

Play Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord's new War Sails DLC now!

Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord’s War Sails DLC adds a huge number of new ships, and here we explain how they work in practice!

Steam Deck Lossless Scaling: One-Click Install Ready!

It was earlier this year that we discussed Lossless Scaling as a crucial tool for user-end game optimization. No, it's not a one-size-fits-all and it merely side-steps the greater problem of diminishing game performance (cough... UE5... cough...), but it's an extremely useful tool to have regardless. Doubly so if your PC sits towards the lower end of the hardware spectrum. And hey, wouldn't you know it, that description works for the Steam Deck exactly, it's just that setting up Lossless Scaling on the Deck wasn't all that straightforward up until now.

As you may suspect, that's all changed as of late thanks to the efforts of one JSON Derulo over on GitHub. It is now phenomenally easy to get Lossless Scaling to work on the Steam Deck, and we'll help you sort it out in a matter of minutes.

Some homework ahead of that, though. We highly recommend you read up on our prior related guides:

With that out of the way, let's get to the meat and potatoes of the topic.

Steam Deck Lossless Scaling Guide - Featured 1

How to Install Decky LSFG-VK on Steam Deck

We do need to point out right at the start that you will need to have purchased Lossless Scaling on Steam specifically for this to work right. This is a hard requirement - obviously - to get Lossless Scaling to function on your Steam Deck, and it's a worthy investment practically across the board. The current state of the PC hardware industry is such that stuff is painfully expensive, and apps like Lossless Scaling will be able to help you eke out as much performance out of your rig as humanly possible. We recommend it!

After you've purchased Lossless Scaling, you can install it on your Deck and then double-check that your device is fully up-to-date over in the 'System' settings tab. This is very important.

With that out of the way, go to the Steam Deck's dedicated Desktop Mode and install Decky Loader according to the guidelines found here:

Generally, you're simply going to want to download the Decky archive to your Steam Deck and install the package. If you've not yet set your Deck's Sudo Password before this process, you will need to do so here. Remember it, maybe even write it down somewhere!

After you've input your Sudo Password, choose the 'Release' branch of Decky Loader and allow the installation to proceed. Then, return to your Steam Deck's Game Mode to wrap things up! We recommend Deck Wizard's YouTube video guide in case you need step-by-step instructions on the process:

With that all sorted out and now that you're back in Gaming Mode, Decky Loader will have integrated with your Deck's Quick Settings Menu as the bottom-most icon on the list. Select it, and then hit the 'Storefront' icon found next to Decky's own Settings Menu, towards the upper right corner of the QAM UI.

In the Storefront, look for Decky LSFG-VK and install it. This is effectively the final step of your journey. Now you just need to select the 'Install LSFG-VK' option in the Decky Plugin itself and it's all going to function from that point onwards. Just remember to restart your Steam Deck in full after you're done with the process.

Best Decky LSFG-VK settings for the Steam Deck

Now, there obviously are some caveats to keep in mind here. Firstly, as we always highlight, Lossless Scaling does not actually increase your games' performance. It visually smooths out your games' performance at the cost of input latency, and that's all it does.

Thing is, this visual smoothening (?) is often just the thing you need to make a game look much more appealing on the Steam Deck. Having more performance options in your toolkit is always a good thing, besides, and so having access to Lossless Scaling for those situations when you do end up needing it is a win-win in our book.

To get a broadly solid experience when using Lossless Scaling/LSFG-VK on the Steam Deck, do the following:

Everything else is going to be relevant on a per-game basis or not at all, and this set of settings will give you a decent idea of what to expect out of Lossless Scaling on the Steam Deck as a baseline.

Once you've got it all sorted out, scroll on down to the 'Copy Launch Option' button, and paste the value into your game of choice's Launch Options. You can find this window in your game's 'Properties' window, no reason to leave Game Mode to get this done.

Finally, with everything done properly, you're going to be able to just enable Lossless Scaling's Frame-Gen interpolation via the Decky toggle when you want to do so. Neat! Again, this isn't going to solve all performance concerns you might have about the admittedly aging Steam Deck, but it will be handy in edge cases like the modern God of War games, so be sure to give it a shot.

Want to massively improve your Steam Deck’s performance envelope? Here’s how to install Lossless Scaling on it!

Black Friday PC Gaming Deals 2025 — Week 2 Is Absolutely Stacked!

Brace yourselves, gamers. Week 2 of the Black Friday 2025: The Ultimate 2Game Deal Guide has arrived, and it’s not here to play nice. If Week 1 brought the heat, Week 2 just kicked the door off its hinges.

Running from 26 Nov (19:00 CET) to 03 Dec (19:00 CET), we’re now deep into the part of Black Friday where every price drop feels a little unreal. And here’s the kicker: every single deal this week comes in stronger than Steam’s, making 2Game the smartest stop for cheap PC Black Friday deals.

Whether you’re stocking up on JRPG giants or chasing something spooky to play with friends, these discounts prove exactly why 2Game continues to be a standout site for PC game deals during the biggest sale of the year.

So let’s get straight into it, because these prices aren’t sticking around.

Best Black Friday Week 2 Deals You Can’t Ignore:

Metaphor: ReFantazio @ 56% Off

One of the most ambitious RPGs of the decade, now at “buy now, sleep later” pricing. A premium JRPG with a bigger markdown here than on Steam. It's an easy choice.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance @ 65% Off

Hard-hitting, stylish, demon-collecting perfection. A colossal price cut, outshining Steam’s offer.

METAL GEAR SOLID Δ: SNAKE EATER @ 44% Off

This remake was already a must-buy. Seeing a stronger launch-season discount than Steam feels almost illegal.

SONIC X SHADOW GENERATIONS @ 56% Off

Peak nostalgia meets modern polish. Iconic hedgehog energy, again at a bigger discount than on Steam.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon @ 65% Off

Turn-based chaos, heartfelt writing, and a protagonist who fights with pure passion (and pigeons). You’ll find a better price here than on Steam.

Escape the Backrooms @ 30% Off

Perfect for friends who say they're brave but definitely aren’t. And yes, you’re paying less here than over on Steam.

Soul Hackers 2 @ 82% Off

Eighty. Two. Percent. Off. That’s practically a charity event. And cheaper than Steam!

Don't Miss This Black Friday Chaos!

Week 2 is firing on all cylinders, and with every deal undercutting Steam’s, this is one of the strongest Black Friday lineups you’ll see anywhere. Whether you’re padding out your winter backlog, finally grabbing those long-delayed wishlist picks, or discovering something totally new, this is the kind of sale you don’t second-guess.

So, as we edge toward the finale of Black Friday 2025 - go forth and save, gamers. Wallets recover, regret doesn’t!

Check out more Black Friday Deals here!

Deals you won’t want to miss!

Gray Zone Warfare: Lamang Connection Quest Guide

Gray Zone Warfare is one of our favorite modern WIP MMOFPS games on the market right now, even though it's pretty darn far from being finished at this time. Still, it's gameplay loop is a delight, and it's miles ahead the likes of Escape From Tarkov in some respects. Its quests still follow the same basic go-here-get-stuff formula, and the Lamang Connection quest is no different.

A direct follow-up to the following quests:

Lamang Connection is a very simple and straightforward quest whose most challenging element by far is going to be the process of navigating to and from Ban Pa, and subsequently exploring it for the piece of intel you need. The quest takes you straight into the village of Ban Pa rather than its surrounding region, so prepare for combat and be sure to check those corners wherever you go. The guide with tips and tricks you'll find below.

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Gray-Zone-Warfare-Elder-Hut-Lamang-Connection-Location-Map

Full Lamang Connection Guide - Gray Zone Warfare

Banshee's intel on Lamang Connection:

"You got a minute? I want to talk to you about that fishing village - Ban Pa, it's called. I stumbled on that name multiple times during my investigation, and it was never good. I see you have already looked into it and found out what was happening there. I have to say I'm impressed, but it's not over yet."

"Everything points to this being just a small part of a larger operation. We can assume that the bulk of the merchandise was smuggled abroad by ships, but there was probably also a domestic distribution method. Tourists flocking in, itching for a taste of excitement, and end up OD'd in a ditch somewhere - you get the picture. I'd like you to explore this possibility."

"If you are interested, head to Ban Pa and try to find anything that could give us a lead. They must have been keeping records of their operation, so look for a logbook, ledger, or anything of the sort they might've left lying around, especially in places connected to their business."

We'll make things really simple for you here: the Lamang Connection intel you need is going to be found at the Elder's House over in Ban Pa, as shown on the map featured above (kudos to Map Genie.io for their lovely maps!).

Now, the thing to note about Ban Pa is that this location in particular has historically been loaded with crack shots. This is a zone that's a tad further out from most other places you'd have been at this point in the Gray Zone questline, and this means you'll come across enemies wearing higher-grade armor and lugging better weaponry around. Worse, the enemies present are particularly aggressive, even after Gray Zone's recent AI aiming routine update, and you're going to have a hard time moving from cover to cover.

As the Elder's House is basically smack-dab in the middle of Ban Pa, you will come into open combat with enemies no matter what, and you need to carefully progress with preferably a suppressor or two. Good armor is a must-have, too, and though this is no Tiger Bay (more on that in dedicated guides), you should be loaded with healing items to boot.

Gray-Zone-Warfare-Elder-Hut-Lamang-Connection-Gameplay

Yes, you are risking a lot of gear this way, but going into Ban Pa willy-nilly is basically certain death, so consider which approach is likelier to have you solving Lamang Connection.

Our recommendation is to unlock the India 2 Landing Zone that's off to the South West of Ban Pa, and then it's not a huge trek over to the Elder's House. You're risking coming into contact with just about half-a-dozen enemies from this location, and if someone's stormed through just ahead of you, that's all the better. Approach through the forest until you reach the Warehouse, and then cross the road while being mindful of both sides of the street, as enemies spawn all over the place.

How to find the Ban Pa Fishing Hut Key?

Here's the really tricky bit, though: you're not really interested in the Elder's House, but in the small hut with an orange eye painted on the side that's right next to it, and there's no way to get inside it without the Ban Pa Fishing Hut Key item. That's bad, because the only way to get the key is for it to spawn in the pockets of enemies found in Ban Pa.

See, this is where all that gear you're lugging around is going to come in handy: start slowly and methodically taking down each and every enemy you find in Ban Pa. Make note of where they are, and make sure that you have a way of reaching the corpse and looting it without exposing yourself to other potential targets.

Sooner or later, one of them is going to drop the key you need, and then you'll need to proceed into the hut. The intel is a notebook you'll find sitting on a table towards the back of the hut. Easy, right?

Is this a guarantee that you'll complete Lamang Connection on your first go? Nope. It should help, though! Good luck, and stick around for more Gray Zone guides in the near and far future. For your efforts, you'll score the following items:

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Need a hand with Gray Zone Warfare’s Lamang Connection quest? No fret, we can help you out quickly and easily!

Mount and Blade: Bannerlord Fast Mode Explained!

There's quite a lot of exciting stuff to be found in Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord's fancy new War Sails DLC and its 1.3.0 version update. If we dare to be a tad boring, though, the fact that we finally have an official Fast Mode in Bannerlord may be our favorite.

That's right! No longer do you need to rely on player-made mods to fast-forward progression time in the campaign. We'll give you all the details in our breakdown below, but the gist of Bannerlord's Fast Mode is that it massively speeds up progression and the passage of time, allowing you to more concretely control your lineage and level up your characters about three times as quickly as you used to be able to.

What is Bannerlord Fast Mode?

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord features several speed enhancement systems designed to streamline different gameplay elements. The most significant addition came with patch 1.3.4, which introduced an official Fast Mode module alongside the War Sails DLC launch. This feature fundamentally changes campaign pacing to accommodate players seeking accelerated progression through multi-generational dynasties.

Fast Mode serves as an optional launcher module that dramatically speeds up time passage throughout your campaign. Years become shorter, characters age more rapidly, and skill progression adjusts accordingly to maintain balanced gameplay despite accelerated temporal flow.

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Official Fast Mode Features

Accelerated Campaign Time

The official Fast Mode transforms Bannerlord's temporal mechanics by compressing years into shorter durations while maintaining gameplay balance. Character aging accelerates significantly, making it possible to experience multiple generations of family succession within reasonable play sessions.

This system proves particularly valuable for players interested in dynasty building, succession planning, and long-term kingdom development without the traditional time investment required for multi-generational campaigns. A competitor to Crusader Kings 3??? Well, not quite, but we may yet get there now that Fast Mode is here.

Balanced Skill Progression

Despite accelerated time flow, Fast Mode maintains strategic depth by adjusting skill progression rates and population turnover to match the compressed timeline. This ensures that character development remains meaningful while preventing the rushed feeling that could undermine strategic decision-making.

The system preserves the core progression mechanics that make Bannerlord engaging while eliminating the extended waiting periods typically associated with character aging and succession events.

How to Enable Fast Mode

Activating Fast Mode requires accessing the Bannerlord launcher before starting your campaign. Navigate to the module selection screen and enable the Fast Mode option alongside other desired modifications. The feature integrates seamlessly with existing save files, though optimal results require starting fresh campaigns designed around accelerated progression.

Fast Mode works independently of other gameplay modifications, allowing players to combine accelerated time flow with additional community mods for enhanced experiences.

Campaign Map Fast Forward

Built-In Speed Controls

Bannerlord has always included native fast-forward functionality for campaign map movement, of course, which is accessible through keyboard shortcuts or interface buttons. The standard speed options include Pause, Normal Play (1x), and Fast Forward (4x) for efficient travel across Calradia's expansive world map.

However, the built-in fast forward automatically resets to normal speed when encountering enemies, changing directions, or interacting with settlements. This behavior, while realistic, can interrupt gameplay flow during extended travel sequences.

Strategic Benefits of Fast Mode

Dynasty Management

Fast Mode enables comprehensive dynasty exploration within practical timeframes. Players can experience multiple character generations, succession crises, and long-term kingdom development without the traditional time investment required for such depth.

This acceleration particularly benefits players interested in Bannerlord's strategic elements over moment-to-moment combat, allowing focus on political maneuvering, economic development, and territorial expansion.

Learning and Experimentation

Accelerated progression facilitates rapid experimentation with different strategies, character builds, and political approaches. Players can test various gameplay styles and recover from mistakes more quickly than standard progression allows.

Fast Mode proves invaluable for understanding Bannerlord's complex interconnected systems without committing extensive time to each experimental approach. It's a phenomenal tool for sandbox gameplay, and is that not precisely what we all like about Mount and Blade the most?

Bannerlord Patch Notes - Feature 2

Why Has It Taken So Long?

Since its introduction with patch 1.3.4, Fast Mode has received positive community feedback from players seeking streamlined campaign experiences. TaleWorlds Entertainment continues refining the feature based on player feedback and usage data. Future updates are bound to expand Fast Mode capabilities or introduce additional acceleration options for specific gameplay aspects currently handled by community modifications.

It's a pretty good showing all in all, then. There's still some weirdness present that needs to be fixed up, of course, like the Lords' newfound penchant to marry old, which then leads to their respective clans... uh, dying out. It's a work in progress, folks, that's just how it is with complex, deep titles like Mount and Blade! Stay tuned for more guides on the topic, though.

Play Mount and Blade 2: Bannerlord's new War Sails DLC now!

Bannerlord’s hotly anticipated Fast Mode is now officially available! Here’s the full breakdown with all of our early findings included.