Carzy Zarx’s PC Gaming Emporium - Catch Up on All the Latest PC Gaming Related News

[JEMC]

Part two of the news:

GTA Online players get free GTA money for logging in each weekend this month
https://www.pcgamer.com/free-gta-online-money-2019/
Call this a PSA: log in every weekend in February and you'll get a free GTA Online money drop of $250,000 into your bank account each time. This technically began last weekend, but hell, we have three weekends of February left and I don't want you to miss out—I'm actually setting this as a reminder for myself.

BioWare says the Anthem public demo 'exceeded our expectations'
https://www.pcgamer.com/bioware-says-the-anthem-public-demo-exceeded-our-expectations/
"I’m thrilled to share that our public demo weekend exceeded our expectations," head of live service Chad Robertson said in a post-demo update. "Operationally, things were super smooth – our war rooms were tranquil this weekend, which is exactly how we like them."

Asgard's Wrath brings fantasy melee dismemberment to VR
https://www.pcgamer.com/asgards-wrath-brings-hack-n-slash-dismemberment-to-vr/
The fine print admits "some simulated gameplay," but the Asgard's Wrath trailer above at least establishes a goal: VR hacking, slashing, and magicking that separates monster heads from monster bodies. The Oculus Rift game is coming later this year from Sanzaru Games and Oculus Studios, and will swap us between god perspective—the glowing hand in the trailer, I presume—and first-person, mortal combat as we prove ourselves to Loki, who definitely will not trick us or anything.

Phoenix Point, Julian Gollop's spiritual successor to X-Com, has been delayed
https://www.pcgamer.com/phoenix-point-julian-gollops-spiritual-successor-to-x-com-has-been-delayed/
The X-Com-like alien invasion strategy game Phoenix Point has been delayed, from its expected launch in June to the almost-autumn September. Creative director Julian Gollop said the game will be "content complete" before then, but "the extra time will give us the chance to test and polish the gameplay much more extensively."

EA says new Plants vs. Zombies and Need For Speed games are coming along with new 'Titanfall experiences'
https://www.pcgamer.com/ea-says-new-plants-vs-zombies-and-need-for-speed-games-are-coming-along-with-new-titanfall-experiences/
In its Q3 financial results today, EA mentions several upcoming unannounced games that are currently in development, with no specific names or dates attached. "Looking forward, we’re delighted to launch Anthem, our new IP, to grow Apex Legends and related Titanfall experiences, to deliver new Plants vs. Zombies and Need for Speed titles, and to add Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order to our sports titles in the fall," said COO and CFO Blake Jorgensen.
Update: In EA's earnings call, CEO Andrew Wilson said the new Plants vs. Zombies game is in its shooter series, meaning it's likely a new Garden Warfare.
>> That Titanfall experience will be "premium", but not Titanfall 3.

A curse is spreading through Hearthstone in the form of a card back that infects players
https://www.pcgamer.com/hearthstone-how-to-get-mark-of-hakkar-card-back/
Normally, the most you can expect to receive after completing a game of Hearthstone is 10 gold and the satisfaction that only comes from making a stranger on the internet unhappy. But from today, you may also be lucky enough to acquire an infectious curse called… [ominous trumpet sounds] ...THE MARK OF HAKKAR. The form the mark takes is the sweet card back, which you'll earn if you complete a match against another player who has already acquired the mark.

Xbox Game Studios rebranding signals big changes for Microsoft's focus on gaming
https://www.pcgamer.com/xbox-game-studios-rebranding-signals-big-changes-for-microsofts-focus-on-gaming/
Microsoft Studios, the umbrella game development organization that includes 343 Industries, The Coalition, Compulsion Games, The Initiative, inXile Entertainment, Minecraft, Ninja Theory, Obsidian Entertainment, Playground Games, Rare, Turn 10 Studios, and Unlead Labs, is being renamed to Xbox Game Studios.
>> And without the Microsoft part, it will be easier to sell it if things go wrong...

CD Projekt will reportedly offer additional royalties to The Witcher author
https://www.pcgamer.com/cd-projekt-will-reportedly-offer-additional-royalties-to-the-witcher-author/
(...) Polish site Puls Biznesu (via WCCFTech) says that "CD Projekt and Sapkowski [are] closer to the end of the dispute," and that a "reconciliation" between them now appears possible. There's no indication of a specific amount—the bulk of the report is behind a paywall—but it's apparently going to be significantly less than his initial demand.

Sea of Thieves players can invite friends to play free for a week
https://www.pcgamer.com/friends-can-play-sea-of-thieves-free-for-a-week/
Sea of Thieves seems to have found its second wind recently, climbing to the top of Twitch and seducing back players who previously gave up a life at sea, including myself. And now players can start bringing friends with them. From today, between February 6 and February 13, players can invite up to three friends to join their crew for a week of free nautical misadventures.