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June 2011



World of Warcraft Free to Play

30 June 2011


World of Warcraft (WoW) is yet another major game to adopt the Free to Play model. The new Starter Edition allows people to try WoW for free for as long as they like, with a few limitations, the most significant being a level cap of 20.



GPU-Z 0.5.4

30 June 2011


GPU-Z, a free graphics card information utility, has reached Version 0.5.4. Changes include improved startup time, improved rendering on high DPI screens, support for new chipsets as well as several bug fixes.



Game Patches

30 June 2011


  • Ancients of Ooga - Update via Steam
  • Delve Deeper - Update via Steam
  • Men of War: Assault Squad - 1.95.5 Patch
  • Nation Red - Update via Steam
  • Team Fortress 2 - Update via Steam
  • World of Warcraft - 4.2.0.14333 Patch


  • Google Interface Changes

    29 June 2011


    If you've noticed something different about Google's search engine and product interfaces, it's because they are once again undergoing some design changes.



    Microsoft Office 2010 SP1

    29 June 2011


    Microsoft has released Service Pack 1 (SP1) for the Office 2010 suite. Details of the changes Microsoft Office 2010 SP1 contains can be found in this Microsoft Article.



    Game Patches

    29 June 2011


  • Storm: Frontline Nation - Update via Steam


  • Windows Updates

    29 June 2011


    Microsoft has released several non-critical updates which resolve issues in Windows. These are available from Windows Update.



    Chrome 12.0.742.112

    29 June 2011


    Google has released Version 12.0.742.112 of the Chrome browser. This version updates the Flash player and contains security fixes.



    Flash Player 10.3.181.34

    29 June 2011


    Adobe has released Version 10.3.181.34 of the Flash Player plugin for browsers.



    Microsoft Security Essentials 2.1.1116.0

    28 June 2011


    Microsoft has released a new Version 2.1.1116.0 of its free Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) anti-malware package for Windows XP, Vista and 7. You can update via the link above, or wait for it to become available via Windows Update. Note that although the link above shows Version 2.0.657.0, this is incorrect. Once the update is installed check under Help>'About Security Essentials' in MSE to see that it has in fact upgraded to the newer 2.1.1116.0.



    Opera 11.50

    28 June 2011


    The Opera browser has been updated to Version 11.50. This version adds an improved interface, password synchronization for Opera Link, Speed Dial extensions, a new rendering engine, and security and stability enhancements.



    Crysis 2 DX11 & High Res Textures

    28 June 2011


    Crytek has released a free DirectX 11 Tessellation Package for Crysis 2. This pack enables DX11 support which allows for graphics and performance improvements, but requires a DX11-capable graphics card. A High Resolution Texture Pack is also available which improves texture quality under both DX9 and DX11 but requires a 64-bit OS and a graphics card with at least 768MB of Video RAM.



    Game Patches

    28 June 2011


  • Beat Hazard - Update via Steam
  • Civilization V - Update via Steam
  • Crysis 2 - 1.9 Patch
  • Dominions 3: The Awakening - 3.27 Patch
  • Left 4 Dead 2 - Update via Steam
  • Pro Cycling Manager 2011 - 1.0.1.1 Patch
  • Team Fortress 2 / Counter-Strike: Source / Day of Defeat: Source / HL2 Deathmatch - Update via Steam


  • CCleaner 3.08.1475

    28 June 2011


    A new Version 3.08.1475 of the free CCleaner system cleaning utility has been released. This update adds support for Firefox 5.0, improves cleaning for several applications including Firefox and 7-Zip, adds cleaning for several apps including MS AntiMalware, PerfectDisk, GIMP, and McAfee AntiVirus, and has bug fixes.



    Game Patches

    25 June 2011


  • Combat Command: The Matrix Edition - 1.01 Patch
  • Delve Deeper - Update via Steam
  • Star Ruler - 1.0.8.0 Patch


  • CPU-Z 1.58

    25 June 2011


    A new Version 1.58 of the CPU-Z information utility has been released. This update provides support for new chipsets.



    TF2 & ArmA 2 - Free to Play

    24 June 2011


    Both Team Fortress 2 and ArmA 2 are now free to download and play. There are some minor restrictions for TF2 Free to Play as covered here. For ArmA 2 Free to Play, there is no campaign mode, no HD graphics, and no mod support.



    Game Patches

    24 June 2011


  • ArmA 2 - 1.10 Patch
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops - Update via Steam
  • Team Fortress 2 / Counter-Strike: Source / Day of Defeat: Source / HL2 Deathmatch - Update via Steam
  • Terraria - Update via Steam


  • Game Patches

    23 June 2011


  • Close Combat: Cross of Iron - 3.60 Patch
  • Close Combat: Last Stand Arnhem - 5.60.51 Patch
  • Close Combat: The Longest Day - 5.50.13 Patch
  • Close Combat: Wacht am Rhein - 4.50.14 Patch
  • Eve Online - Update via Steam
  • Race 07 - Update via Steam


  • The Witcher 2 Tweak Guide

    22 June 2011


    As I promised, The Witcher 2 Tweak Guide has been released. The reason why the game guides I do for Nvidia's GeForce.com site take longer than usual is because aside from the normal writing and editorial process, we then have to wait for Nvidia Labs to compile the performance data, and the guide is then typically sent to the game developer for clarification of certain issues.



    Game Patches

    22 June 2011


  • Magicka - Update via Steam


  • Firefox 5.0

    22 June 2011


    Mozilla has released Version 5.0 of the Firefox browser. This is a relatively minor release in terms of new features. The most significant changes come in the form of performance improvements and bug fixes. The Firefox Tweak Guide has also been updated for the release of Firefox 5.0, but there are only a few small changes.



    Nvidia Beta Forceware 275.50

    21 June 2011


    Nvidia has released the Beta 275.50 driver for Windows XP, Vista and 7. This driver is for GeForce 6 and higher desktop cards. It is identical to the 275.33 WHQL driver, except for enabling SLI on 990FX, 990X and 970 AMD chipset motherboards, and providing 3D Vision performance improvements in Duke Nukem Forever with 3 or 4-way SLI. The driver package also contains the 9.10.0514 PhysX drivers.



    EasyBCD 2.1

    21 June 2011


    The boot configuration editor EasyBCD has been updated to Version 2.1. This major update contains UI improvements, new options to boot from raw disk images, improved BCD parsing, as well as other features and bug fixes.



    Game Patches

    21 June 2011


  • Storm: Frontline Nation - Update via Steam
  • Strike Fighters 2 - June Update


  • Realtek HD Audio 2.62

    18 June 2011


    Realtek has released Version 2.62 of its HD Audio drivers. If you have problems with the link, click the 'High Definition Audio Codecs' link at the top of the page then select 'Software'.



    Game Patches

    18 June 2011


  • Left 4 Dead 2 - Update via Steam
  • Mount&Blade: With Fire & Sword - Update via Steam
  • Team Fortress 2 - Update via Steam


  • DivX 8.1.3

    17 June 2011


    The DivX video software has been updated to Version 8.1.3.



    Skype 5.3.0.120

    17 June 2011


    A new Version 5.3.0.120 of the communications utility Skype has been released. This update removes the Extras Manager and fixes a Call Quality Indicator bug.



    Game Patches

    17 June 2011


  • Garry's Mod - Update via Steam
  • Steel Storm: Burning Retribution - Update via Steam


  • AMD Catalyst 11.6

    16 June 2011


    AMD has released the official Catalyst 11.6 graphics driver for the HD 2000 series and above. The changes in this WHQL certified driver include the new AMD Steady Video feature, YouTube Image Stabilization, decoding acceleration for MPEG-4 part 2 content, as well as performance improvements in Crysis, F1 2010, Far Cry 2 and HAWX on the HD 6000 series, plus a range of bug fixes.



    Game Patches

    16 June 2011


  • Advanced Tactics: Gold - 2.05 Patch
  • Dirt 3 - 1.1 Patch
  • Star Ruler - 1.0.7.8 Patch
  • Team Fortress 2 - Update via Steam


  • WinZip 15

    16 June 2011


    The archival utility WinZip has been upgraded to Version 15 Build 9510.



    Chrome 12.0.742.100

    15 June 2011


    Google has released Version 12.0.742.100 of the Chrome browser. This version updates the Flash player.



    Game Patches

    15 June 2011


  • Secret of the Magic Crystals - Update via Steam
  • Team Fortress 2 - Update via Steam


  • Flash Player 10.3.181.26

    15 June 2011


    Adobe has released Version 10.3.181.26 of the Flash Player plugin for browsers.



    Shockwave 11.6.0.626

    15 June 2011


    Adobe has released a new Version 11.6.0.626 of the Shockwave player plugin for browsers.



    Adobe Reader 10.1

    15 June 2011


    Adobe has released Version 10.1 of the Adobe Reader software for viewing PDF documents. This is a major update containing new features including Protected View, as well as security and bug fixes.



    SoundBlaster X-Fi, Titanium Beta Drivers

    15 June 2011


    Creative has released new Beta Drivers for the X-Fi, X-Fi Titanium and X-Fi Titanium HD sound cards. These drivers resolve: instability issues when using OpenAL with GroundWiz RTS Demo and Benchmark tool on the X-Fi Titanium HD and X-Fi; and issues with no sound after unplugging headphones from the front panel or the X-Fi I/O drive, along with audio stuttering in the opening video of certain games with Dolby Digital Live enabled on the X-Fi Titanium.



    Microsoft Security Updates

    15 June 2011


    Microsoft has released its monthly set of Windows security updates which you can get through Windows Update.



    Game Patches

    14 June 2011


  • Beat Hazard - Update via Steam
  • Clones - Update via Steam
  • DogFighter - Update via Steam
  • Jamestown - Update via Steam
  • The Apocalyptic Game About Penguins - 1.8 Patch


  • Driver Sweeper 3.1.0

    11 June 2011


    A new Version 3.1.0 of the free Driver Sweeper driver file residue cleanup utility has been released. This version adds several new filters, improves cleaning for Nvidia and AMD drivers, automatically reports exceptions to Phyxion.net, and contains bug fixes.



    Game Patches

    11 June 2011


  • Garry's Mod - Update via Steam
  • Jamestown - Update via Steam
  • Terraria - Update via Steam


  • Game Patches

    10 June 2011


  • America's Army 3 - 3.1.0.11 Patch
  • Eternal Silence - Update via Steam
  • Starpoint Gemini - 1.0.1.1 Patch


  • iTunes 10.3.1

    9 June 2011


    Apple has released a new Version 10.3.1 of the iTunes software. This update fixes a sync bug.



    Game Patches

    9 June 2011


  • Beat Hazard - Update via Steam
  • Sanctum - Update via Steam
  • Team Fortress 2 - Update via Steam


  • Game Patches

    8 June 2011


  • Brink - Update via Steam


  • Chrome 12.0.742.91

    8 June 2011


    Google has released Version 12.0.742.91 of the Chrome browser. This version has several feature changes including hardware-accelerated 3D CSS, Safe Browsing protection, deleting Flash cookies, integrated Sync and removal of Google Gears. The update also includes security and bug fixes.



    Java Runtime Environment 6.26

    8 June 2011


    Sun has released an Update 26 to the Java Runtime Environment 6.



    3DMark 11 1.02

    8 June 2011


    Futuremark has released a 1.02 Patch for the 3DMark 11 benchmark. The patch updates the bullet physics library and SystemInfo component, adds display scaling to the Basic Edition and has several fixes.



    iTunes 10.3

    7 June 2011


    Apple has released a new Version 10.3 of the iTunes software. This version introduces iCloud beta, adding support for automatic downloads and the ability to download previous purchases. It also adds books to the iTunes store and contains stability and performance fixes.



    Game Patches

    7 June 2011


  • Puzzle Dimension - Update via Steam
  • Wings of Prey - Update via Steam


  • VLC Media Player 1.1.10

    6 June 2011


    The free VLC Media Player has been updated to Version 1.1.10. This version has security and bug fixes.



    Chrome 11.0.696.77

    6 June 2011


    Google has released Version 11.0.696.77 of the Chrome browser. This version contains an updated Flash player.



    Flash Player 10.3.181.22

    6 June 2011


    Adobe has released Version 10.3.181.22 of the Flash Player plugin for browsers.



    Game Patches

    4 June 2011


  • A.R.E.S.: Extinction Agenda - Update via Steam
  • Dragon Age 2 - 1.03 Patch
  • Left 4 Dead 2 - Update via Steam
  • Team Fortress 2 - Update via Steam
  • The Witcher 2 - 1.2 Patch


  • Realtek HD Audio 2.61

    4 June 2011


    Realtek has released Version 2.61 of its HD Audio drivers. If you have problems with the link, click the 'High Definition Audio Codecs' link at the top of the page then select 'Software'.



    Game Patches

    3 June 2011


  • Terraria - Update via Steam


  • Nvidia Forceware 275.33

    2 June 2011


    Nvidia has released the 275.33 WHQL certified driver. This driver is for GeForce 6 and higher desktop cards. It adds support for the new GeForce GTX 560 card, and improves performance on the GTX 400 and 500 series in several games, including Witcher 2, Crysis 2 and Portal 2. The driver also adds automatic SLI, multi-GPU and AA profile updates via the Nvidia Update feature, improves Desktop Scaling functionality and provides a new user interface for scaling features, and has 3D Vision improvements. The driver package also contains the 9.10.0514 PhysX drivers.



    Game Patches

    2 June 2011


  • Armada 2526 Supernova - 1.03 Patch
  • BioShock 2 - 1.5 Patch
  • Crysis 2 - 1.8 Patch
  • Section 8: Prejudice - Update via Steam
  • Steam Client - Update via Steam


  • Xvid 1.3.2

    1 June 2011


    A new Version 1.3.2 of the Xvid video codec has been released. This update is a bugfix release.



    Game Patches

    1 June 2011


  • Team Fortress 2 - Update via Steam