Deep Silver and 4A Games are pleased to announce the launch of the Metro Exodus PC Enhanced Edition – a radical update that harnesses the power of Ray Tracing-capable GPUs to deliver an incredible visual upgrade. The PC Enhanced Edition is FREE to all owners of the original release on Steam, the Epic Games Store, Good Old Games and the Microsoft Store.

It offers additional Ray Tracing features including Advanced Ray Traced Reflections and support for the much requested DLSS 2.0 on NVIDIA hardware, which offers sharper image details and increased framerates and display resolutions. Further collaborating with NVIDIA, this update improves our existing Ray Traced Global Illumination tech innovated with the original release of Metro Exodus to make every light source fully Ray Traced, and implements our RT Emissive tech from The Two Colonels throughout the game.

This upgrade is so extensive, it will require a Ray Tracing capable GPU as the minimum spec, and will be delivered as a separate product – it is not a simple ‘patch’ to the base game – instead it will be offered as an extra entitlement to all existing Metro Exodus PC players.

Deep Silver and 4A Games have also confirmed 18th June 2021 as the release date for the massive, FREE Gen 9 upgrade for Xbox Series X | S, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the PlayStation® 5 computer entertainment system.

The Gen 9 version of Metro Exodus will run at 4K / 60FPS with full Ray Traced lighting throughout on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The base game and DLC expansions will feature both our ground-breaking Ray Traced Global Illumination (RTGI) and the Ray Traced Emissive Lighting techniques pioneered in the original release of Metro Exodus and The Two Colonels expansion across all content.

The next gen consoles will benefit from dramatically reduced loading times thanks to the use of their SSD storage optimizations, boast 4K texture packs, and a range of platform specific features including spatial audio and controller latency improvements on Xbox, and support for the haptic features of the PlayStation 5 Dual Sense controller.

These enhancements will be made available as a free upgrade to all Gen 8 owners, or via the Metro Exodus Complete Edition – a newly announced high value physical edition for franchise newcomers. This Complete Edition includes the base game and both DLC expansions: The Two Colonels and Sam’s Story.

DHL has extended its partnership with ESL Gaming, the world’s largest esports company.

DHL has been the Official Logistics Partner to ESL since 2018 and is responsible for the transport logistics, moving stage equipment, monitors and gaming chairs, among other elements.

With the extension, DHL continues its extensive involvement in esports. Building on an established footprint and successful activation campaigns around the ESL One tournament series in previous years, the new agreement will expand to include the full ESL CS:GO Pro Tour, all of ESL’s global Dota 2 properties, and ESL Mobile, an all-new mobile esports ecosystem.

The expansion follows a joint success story in challenging times. When faced with the pandemic last year, DHL and ESL quickly adapted to the new situation of hosting tournaments fully online. DHL kept focus on “uniting gamers”, transforming their activations into innovative signature segments, quizzes, and games directly engaging with fans in a digital way via Twitch.

“Gaming is the fastest-growing form of entertainment globally. I am delighted that we as a logistics provider are part of the esports world and that our partnership has been extended covering a broader spectrum via ‘ESL Mobile’. DHL is celebrated and beloved by the ESL fan base which is the greatest compliment for a sponsor. A great success was that we were able to unite gamers even despite online only tournaments and I am looking forward to many more events to come. For us, making this emotional connection with esports fans across the globe is the perfect way to engage with a huge community of digital natives with an affinity for e-commerce,” Arjan Sissing, Head of Brand Marketing at Deutsche Post DHL Group, said.

“We are very happy to extend our partnership with DHL in what is an exciting time for our company and the esports community at large. With the addition of ‘ESL Mobile’, we will be able to provide entertainment to fans across the globe and it’s great to continue on this journey with DHL providing an essential business solution as our Official Logistics Partner,” Ralf Reichert, CEO at ESL Gaming, said.

The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) has announced that two more IRs have been allowed to launch online gaming products.

The news comes after Tiger Resort Leisure and Entertainment’s Okada Manila Resort became the first casino in Manila’s Entertainment City to be permitted by PAGCOR to offer online gambling. Now, Solaire Resort and Casino and Resorts World Manila have allowed to run online table games and slot machines.

The new licences will be regulated under a new system called PIGO (Philippine Inland Gaming Operator), which allows operators to offer gaming services to players within the country.

PAGCOR Chairman Andrea Domingo said licences would remain with limits. She said: “Not just anyone can play because of non-proliferation and responsible gaming.”

Land-based casinos in Metro Manila will remain closed until at least May 14 under the city’s Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) due to a rise in Covid-19 cases.