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

[JEMC]

Friday news, part two:

Indie games store Itch.io is now available on Epic
https://www.pcgamer.com/indie-games-store-itchio-is-now-available-on-epic/
Following the addition of Spotify to the Epic Games Store, five more non-game apps have been added to Epic's shelves—including rival games store Itch.io.
(...)
But the real head-scratcher is the addition of Itch.io, a competing storefront focussed on platforming experimental indies. You can now download the Itch.io App from Epic, though I'm struggling to understand why you'd ever want to go through one games app to open a second.

Call of Duty: Warzone will 'never again' return to original Verdansk map
https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty-warzone-will-never-again-return-to-original-verdansk-map/
The entire Call of Duty: Warzone community watched yesterday as the Verdansk map that we've spent hundreds of hours shooting, running, and flying across got nuked into oblivion. Activision has turned back the clock and introduced Verdansk '84, a revamped version of the map with new buildings, layouts, and landscapes.
Verdansk '84 is not some limited-time destination or optional variant—according to developer Raven Software, the Verdansk we knew is gone forever.

Destiny 2’s new transmog system is incredibly confusing and involves grinding bounties for some reason
https://www.pcgamer.com/destiny-2s-new-transmog-system-is-incredibly-confusing-and-involves-grinding-bounties-for-some-reason/
We've known for a long time now that a transmog system, enabling players to outfit themselves in whatever styles they like without having to sacrifice stats, is on the way to Destiny 2. (...)
Today Bungie revealed how that new "Armor Synthesis" system will work, and I have to wonder how—or if—his enthusiasm will hold up. Armor Synthesis, as it’s called, will enable players to convert their armor's appearance into Universal Armor Ornaments, so they can effectively change up their look as they like. But it's going to take quite a bit of work to make it happen.

Apex Legends teases something 'beyond battle royale' in Season 9
https://www.pcgamer.com/apex-legends-teases-something-beyond-battle-royale-in-season-9/
The launch trailer for Apex Legends: Legacy (Respawn has dropped the Season number this time round) reintroduced us to Ash, a scary robot lass and one of the Apex Predator antagonists from 2016's tremendous wallrunner. She's been keeping an eye on the games—shown off in an explosive montage of gunfights, night clubs and shattered beers—before teasing the introduction of something "beyond battle royale".

Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis arrives this summer
https://www.pcgamer.com/phantasy-star-online-2-new-genesis-arrives-this-summer/
Phantasy Star Online 2's massive standalone New Genesis expansion is coming this June, Sega revealed this week.
Existing somewhere between an expansion and full-blown sequel, New Genesis is a complete overhaul of PSO2—introducing completely new gameplay mechanics and a gorgeous visual overhaul. While technically a separate game, you'll be able to transfer characters freely between NGS and old PSO2.

Valheim devs frustratingly tease more Hearth and Home images
https://www.pcgamer.com/valheim-devs-frustratingly-tease-more-hearth-and-home-images/
As Viking survival game Valheim edges toward its fourth month of release, during which it's accumulated an astounding 7 million players, fans are still waiting (mostly patiently!) for its first major update. Hearth and Home, as it's called on the Valheim roadmap, will "focus on the house building aspect of the game, with more building pieces and stuff to do in and around the house," Iron Gate Studios has said.

Valorant takes a trip to the beach with its next map, Breeze
https://www.pcgamer.com/valorant-takes-a-trip-to-the-beach-with-its-next-map-breeze/
I hope you brought your best swim-shorts, agents. Valorant's next map is Breeze, and it's taking the superpowered team shooter out for a sunny seaside holiday.

And here are the new deals at GOG and Steam for the weekend:

+GOG

• The Weekend Sale comes with up to 80% discounts on games that give you "divine powers": https://www.gog.com/promo/20210423_weekend_sale
• The Special Telltale Games Sale comes with up to 80% discounts during the weekend. Oh! And the more games you buy, the higher the discount: https://www.gog.com/promo/telltale_sale
• The second Special Sale involes SNK, with its games up to 70% off until April 30: https://www.gog.com/promo/snk_publisher_sale
• And there's a third Special Sale with games from Assemble Entertainment up to 90% off until May 6th: https://www.gog.com/promo/20210422_assemble_sale

+Steam

• Creeper World 4, that has a demo, is 33% off during the next 47 hours: https://store.steampowered.com/app/848480/Creeper_World_4/
• Rising Storm 2: Vietnam is 75% off during the next 47 hours: https://store.steampowered.com/app/418460/Rising_Storm_2_Vietnam/
• The LudoNarraCon Sale and "conference" brings upto 50% discounts until Monday 26: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/ludonarracon
• DCS World Steam Edition has put its DLCs up to 50% off until Monday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/223750/DCS_World_Steam_Edition/
• Publisher Jackbox Games offers its games up to 60% off until the 26th: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/JackboxWeekendParty
• And the last new sale is the Koei-Tecmo Sale, with up to 90% discounts until Monday 26: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/koeitecmo

And that's all. Until next time (whenere that is), I wish you a happy and gaming weekend.