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

[JEMC]

Monday news, part two:

Psychonauts 2 still has boss fights because of the Microsoft acquisition
https://www.pcgamer.com/psychonauts-2-still-has-boss-fights-because-of-the-microsoft-acquisition/
Last year, Microsoft snatched up Double Fine, adding it to Xbox Game Studios' growing roster of developers. Whenever a big publisher gobbles up an indie developer, there are well-founded concerns about creative compromises and meddling, but in this case it's apparently the only reason Psychonauts 2 still has boss fights.

Co-op dungeon crawler Blightbound is heading to Steam Early Access on July 29
https://www.pcgamer.com/co-op-dungeon-crawler-blightbound-is-heading-to-steam-early-access-on-july-29/
Romino Games' co-op dungeon crawler Blightbound will be coming to Steam Early Access on July 29. Publishers Devolver Digital announced the Early Access date alongside a gameplay trailer that was initially shown at the PC Gaming Show, showing Blightbound's bombastic brawls and hand-crafted dungeons.

Superhot: Mind Control Delete will be free for owners of the original
https://www.pcgamer.com/superhot-mind-control-delete-will-be-free-for-owners-of-the-original/
We found Superhot: Mind Control Delete to be very good, although it won't actually be out on Steam until next week. The good news for owners of the original Superhot is that when it arrives, you'll get it for free.
(...)
And, as mentioned, you can grab it free as long as you own the original. There are some restrictions, as detailed in this FAQ—the giveaway only applies to purchased copies of the game, not freebies, so if you picked it up through something like Twitch Prime or the Xbox Game Pass, you're not eligible. Superhot VR isn't eligible either, as they're "different games."

Devolver Digital surprise-released a free game about themselves
https://www.pcgamer.com/devolver-digital-surprise-released-a-free-game-about-themselves/
At the end of it latest extended critique of marketing and consumerism disguised as a videogame press conference, Devolver Digital simultaneously announced and released a new game. It's called Devolverland Expo and you can get it on Steam for free right now.

Waddling, casual battle royale Fall Guys coming in early August
https://www.pcgamer.com/waddling-casual-battle-royale-fall-guys-coming-in-early-august/
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is coming out next month on August 4, and looks to be completely ridiculous. Imagine a 60-player battle royale where everyone is a wobbly potato person and you survive by winning a candy-colored ultimate ninja warrior obstacle course and/or absurd Mario Party minigames against others. All of this while you wear ridiculous costumes and hats, because it is a videogame.

Olija is a 2D action game about a magic harpoon
https://www.pcgamer.com/olija-is-a-2d-action-game-about-a-magic-harpoon/
Japanese developer Skeleton Crew announced new game Olija today, to be published by Devolver Digital and released this year. Olija is a 2D action-adventure platformer where hero Faraday attempts to use his "legendary harpoon" to escape the strange country of Terraphage where he has been marooned. It's a game with an indie aesthetic, using minimalist graphics paired with sharp action to set its scene.

Multiple Ubisoft executives step down amid workplace abuse allegations
https://www.pcgamer.com/multiple-ubisoft-executives-step-down-amid-workplace-abuse-allegations/
Ubisoft has announced that several of the company's executives have stepped down amid a scandal involving allegations of workplace misconduct and harassment. Chief creative officer Serge Hascoët, the managing director of Ubisoft's Canadian studios Yannis Mallat, and global head of human resources Cécile Cornet have all stepped down from their positions as part of what a press release calls "the comprehensive work the Company is doing to improve and strengthen its workplace culture."
>> I wonder what effects, if any, it will have in Ubisoft.

Ubisoft explains what all those rubber duckies are doing in The Division 2
https://www.pcgamer.com/ubisoft-explains-what-all-those-rubber-duckies-are-doing-in-the-division-2/
Have you ever noticed that The Division 2 has an unusual number of rubber duckies lying around? Have you ever wondered why? During the preshow leading into today's Ubisoft Forward online event, level artist Karen Stanley explained where the whole rubber duckie thing comes from, what it means, and what the developers are planning next.

Here's 20 minutes of hacking, holograms, and spiderbots from Watch Dogs: Legion
https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-20-minutes-of-hacking-holograms-and-spiderbots-from-watch-dogs-legion/
In the near future of Watch Dogs Legion, London isn't doing so hot. A mysterious group of terrorists called Zero Day have been bombing the city and pinning the blame on do-gooder hacker collective DedSec. The leader of private military corporation Albion, Nigel Cass, has used the chaos as an opportunity to seize power from the government. And a mob boss named Mary Kelley is running guns and drugs through the city.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla lets you change Eivor's gender whenever you want
https://www.pcgamer.com/assassins-creed-valhalla-lets-you-change-eivors-gender-whenever-you-want/
Like Odyssey, Assassin's Creed Valhalla will let you traipse around its big ol' open world as either a male of female hero, but unlike its predecessor you won't be locked into that decision.
>> Odd. By the way, you'll be able to chase papers like in Black Flag.

Iron Harvest's Rusviet faction trailer shows off some intimidating mechs
https://www.pcgamer.com/iron-harvest-rusviet-faction-feature-shows-off-some-intimidating-mechs/
Iron Harvest, King Art Games' 1920's mech RTS, is unsurprisingly jam-packed with intimidating, heavy metal killing machines. All but the very smallest tower over infantry and can blow through buildings and cover like they were made of tissue paper. You can take a look at some of those beefy bastards in a new faction feature trailer that showcases the Rusviet Empire.

When does Death Stranding on PC unlock in my time zone?
https://www.pcgamer.com/death-stranding-pc-release-time-unlock/
It's taken almost nine months, but Sam Porter Bridges is almost done delivering Death Stranding to the PC. We're already pretty impressed with how well Kojima Production's bizarre post-apocalyptic delivery simulator works on PC. The new port supports higher resolutions and dynamic frame rates with generous system requirements for such a pretty game.
Death Stranding on PC is dropping next week across the world, but when exactly can you play it in your time zone?

When does Halo 3 on PC unlock in my time zone?
https://www.pcgamer.com/halo-3-pc-release-time-unlock/
It's been a joy to see more of the Halo series hit the PC in Halo: The Master Chief Collection throughout 2020, but I think it's fair to say the excitement is reaching its apex with the looming release of Halo 3. This will not only be Halo 3's debut on the PC, but the first time that fans will be able to experience it at higher resolutions and frame rates.
The big MCC update is dropping in a matter of days, but when exactly will you be able to fire it up and play Halo 3?

Ubisoft continues its elaborate trolling of Splinter Cell fans
https://www.pcgamer.com/ubisoft-continues-its-elaborate-trolling-of-splinter-cell-fans/
Next month, it will have been seven years since we got a new Splinter Cell. Sam Fisher has been in retirement for a lot longer than I expected, and so far Ubisoft has only wheeled out the old spy to sell other games, like the imminent Elite Squad.