Alan Wake Remastered FAQ Details System Requirements; Confirms 5 October Release

We’ve previously seen the supposed release date of Alan Wake Remastered of 5 October, as revealed ahead of schedule by a Taiwanese retailer. The developers at Remedy Entertainment has since put out an FAQ page for the game. It not only confirms the release date, but also lists the PC system requirements for the remaster.

Starting with the minimum specs, we’re looking at an Intel Core i5-3340 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 CPU, and Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon RX470 GPU and 8GB of RAM. The only other option listed is recommended, which is a Core i7-3770 or Ryzen 5 1400 CPU, GeForce GTX1060 or Radeon 5600XT GPU, and 16GB of RAM.

All in all, it looks like the Alan Wake Remastered isn’t too demanding when it comes to PC requirements. Though it’s worth noting that the game will only come in x64, and supports only DX12. For Nvidia users, there’s support for DLSS, but not raytracing, which requires an RTX card either way.

Then again, it’s not entirely surprising. After all, this is a remaster and not a remake. Which means that while it will look prettier, it is still mostly the same game. Though interestingly, on the PS5, there’s DualSense support, which makes the torchlight shine brighter if you squeeze the L2 button harder.

Microsoft: No Windows 11 Updates If CPU Does Not Meet Requirements

Over the last couple of weeks, Microsoft has made clear its hardware requirements to run Windows 11, while also reaffirming customers whose PCs don’t meet the standard that it won’t leave them in the lurch just like that, saying they will still be able to install the OS via an ISO.

Now it appears that the company is having a Mr. Hyde moment and telling all who do the latter that there is a catch: while users can install the Windows 11 via ISO, it will withhold the Windows Update feature if it detects that PC’s components are not up to its specifications.

While it is clear that the existence and function of Windows Update will certainly divide the room, one cannot argue that withholding the program means that said PCs will lack the ability to automatically download and install important security updates from the parent company over time. Even if some of us are perfectly content with having the feature disabled and turned off.

At this point, there is really no reason for Microsoft to act this way, especially if Microsoft intends for wider adoption of Windows than what it already has. However, as The Verge puts it, this could just be a “cover-your-ass” measure, aimed at discouraging the masses from thinking that it would offer a warranty or technical support for PCs that fail to meet the requirements.

Mind you, this isn’t Microsoft outrightly saying that its withholding updates for Windows 11 altogether; in theory, users adamant about sticking with systems running on CPUs older than Intel’s 8th generation Coffee Lake or AMD’s 1st generation Zen architecture can still get the update, albeit by manually downloading and installing said updates, on a per release basis.

Ultimately, Microsoft’s “selfish” act of withholding the updates can be viewed from a couple of viewpoints. The first is that the company would rather threaten its customers indirectly, rather than backtrack and make changes to the system requirements for Windows 11. The second? The move is Microsoft’s not-so-subtle way of pressuring PC owners into updating their systems with the latest hardware currently on the market.

Myanmar’s Proposed Cyber Laws Criticized For Draconian Requirements and Negative Impact To Industry

Myanmar’s military government has recently drafted new laws governing the Internet and send them to telcos as well as online service providers for feedback. However, the proposed legal changes have been apparently been met with strong criticism due to their burdensome and draconian requirements alongside the potential for abuse, and divergence from prior government promises.

If these new laws are to be passed, all online platforms in Myanmar would be required to keep user data, including IP addresses, home addresses, and ID numbers, for three years using a system that will be chosen by the government.

The government could also order user accounts to be intercepted, blocked, or removed after being flagged for inciting hate, spreading disinformation, or breaking other laws. Authorities also wouldn’t need a warrant when requesting access to data.

Unsurprisingly, the proposed changes are opposed by many – including Telenor, the most prominent Western firm operating in Myanmar and are also the parent company of Digi here in Malaysia. The Norwegian company issued a public statement against the legislation, reminding the authorities that its entry into Myanmar was based on government commitments to bring the “telecom regulatory framework in line with international best practice, including respecting fundamental rights.”

The Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business (MCRB) also panned the proposed laws, saying that they risk killing foreign investment and hobbling domestic businesses. Because the legislation emphasises ‘data localisation’ (ie. data must be stored in sites chosen by the government), MCRB said that banks, e-commerce providers, and other companies with heavy data usage will not be able to take advantage of efficiency and security that provided by international cloud-based services.

According to The Guardian, Myanmar has gone through five internet shutdowns since the military coup on 1 February. Furthermore, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram remain blocked in the country to date.