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

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Monday news, part two:

Minesweeper returns as an explosive first-person spelunker
https://www.pcgamer.com/minesweeper-returns-as-an-explosive-first-person-spelunker/
It's been a long time since Minesweeper came bundled with Windows. While the original will always be a classic, perhaps someone felt the grid-clicker was feeling a little dated. Perhaps it's long past time someone updated Minesweeper as a first-person shooter.
>> And it's free to play.

Paradox Interactive says player toxicity is driving developers away from its forums
https://www.pcgamer.com/paradox-interactive-says-player-toxicity-is-driving-developers-away-from-its-forums/
Grand strategy studio Paradox Interactive has spoken out against the rise of toxic behavior in its fanbase, saying in the latest Hearts of Iron 4 developer diary that its developers "have gotten a little sparse in these forums in the last few months" because they're tired of dealing with the crappy behavior.

Riot will start recording Valorant voice chat to root out toxic players
https://www.pcgamer.com/riot-will-start-recording-valorant-voice-chat-to-root-out-toxic-players/
Riot will start recording voice chat in Valorant for the purpose of moderation, the company announced today. There won't be a way to opt-out other than not using voice chat.

The Americans and their airships come to Iron Harvest in the Operation Eagle DLC
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-americans-and-their-airships-come-to-iron-harvest-in-the-operation-eagle-dlc/
Dieselpunk mech action in Iron Harvest will get a bit more truth, justice, and the American Way later this month as the Operation Eagle expansion releases on May 27th. The new DLC brings an all new faction, The American Union of Usonia, and their emphasis on air power to the battlefield. Of course this isn't just normal air power with planes or something, this is giant flying airships. The new American hero, Admiral Mason, apparently has a flying "colossal battleship" and I won't lie to you I am excited about that.

Dragon Age 4 concept art shows Grey Warden, cape
https://www.pcgamer.com/dragon-age-4-concept-art-shows-grey-warden-cape/
BioWare is still busy promoting this month's release of Mass Effect Legendary Edition, but that doesn't mean Dragon Age-likers don't also get a look-in, with another bit of concept art reminding everyone Dragon Age 4 is a real thing that's really being worked on. While previous concepts have shown us an arcane archer and an urban wizard, the latest depicts a Grey Warden in full armor—and cape.

Saints Row: The Third Remastered comes to Steam this month
https://www.pcgamer.com/saints-row-the-third-remastered-comes-to-steam-this-month/
Saints Row: The Third Remastered was released exclusively on the Epic store on May 22 last year. As is frequently the way of these things that means it'll be coming to Steam on May 22 this year, a fact confirmed by the Saints Row Twitter account.

Resident Evil Village villains become cute puppets in latest trailer
https://www.pcgamer.com/resident-evil-village-villains-become-cute-puppets-in-latest-trailer/
As the May 7 release of Resident Evil Village draws closer, Capcom is pulling out all the stops in its promotional campaign. The latest chapter of which is a prequel video introducing four of its villains, in puppet form.

Paradox ceases work on Imperator: Rome temporarily, won't release anything for it this year
https://www.pcgamer.com/paradox-ceases-work-on-imperator-rome-temporarily-wont-release-anything-for-it-this-year/
Ahead of the digital PDXCON planned for later this month, Paradox's segment and portfolio manager for strategy games Bevan Davies posted an update on the official forum to explain organizational changes at the studio. Davies said that, with over 150 developers at Paradox Development Studios now, a restructuring has seen them split into three teams—each working on separate projects. Unfortunately, none of those projects is Imperator: Rome.

Build a sprawling sci-fi base with your buddies in CryoFall
https://www.pcgamer.com/build-a-sprawling-sci-fi-base-with-your-buddies-in-cryofall/
Looking something like multiplayer Rimworld, sci-fi colony simulation and survival game Cryofall released this week to pretty positive reviews and a pretty strong user count that puts it in the top 300 Steam games. Cryofall is all about team-based cooperation, with players pitted against a hostile world in trying to establish a new colony. To do it, players have to master basic technologies just to survive before building up to new and more complex techs, ending with futuristic cybernetics and mass-industrialization.

Scavengers 'exhausted' its supply of Steam keys on first day of Early Access
https://www.pcgamer.com/scavengers-exhausted-its-supply-of-steam-keys-on-first-day-of-early-access/
Scavengers, the hybrid battle royale from Midwinter Entertainment, arrived in Early Access on Wednesday. Well, sort of.
Claiming a key to the free-to-play team-based shooter required players to watch 30 minutes of the game streaming on Twitch, then claim a key in a Twitch drop. But the process didn't go entirely smoothly.
>> Probably that's why...

Scavengers ditching Twitch key drops, will be available to everyone May 1
https://www.pcgamer.com/scavengers-ditching-twitch-key-drops-will-be-available-to-everyone-may-1/
Free-to-play battle royale hybrid Scavengers had a bit of a rocky start in Early Access this week, due to issues with servers and Steam keys. (...)
So a bit of a messy soft launch, but sounds like the server issues have been resolved, and even better, players won't have to watch Twitch streams or keep checking their inboxes for a key. Scavengers enters Early Access properly tomorrow, May 1, and it'll be available to everyone with no key needed to unlock it.

Scavengers free-to-play release has players divided on quality
https://www.pcgamer.com/scavengers-free-to-play-release-has-players-divided-on-quality/
Sitting at a mere 55% positive review rate on Steam as of publishing time on May 2nd, just-released Early Access battle royale Scavengers seems to have a community deeply divided over gameplay, cheaters, bugs—nearly everything about the game seems to be the target of either praise or criticism.

Thief Simulator 2 will let you rob banks, restaurants and fancy cars
https://www.pcgamer.com/thief-simulator-2-will-let-you-rob-banks-restaurants-and-fancy-cars/
The first Thief Simulator essentially let you become one of the Wet Bandits: roaming around neighbourhoods in your car, scoping out the houses you were going to rob, and then contending with their security measures as you snuck in and pilfered everything of value. But just as Harry and Marv expanded their operation in Home Alone 2, Thief Simulator 2 will include new types of location to rinse, including restaurants and banks. In your downtime, you'll also be able to go around pinching cars.

Dusk getting classic HUD, weapon wheel and more this year
https://www.pcgamer.com/dusk-getting-classic-hud-weapon-wheel-and-more-this-year/
New Blood Interactive has detailed the updates that will be coming to Dusk this year, as well as a few that have just gone live for the chunky retro FPS. It's a hefty bunch of changes, including an optional 'classic' HUD, a revamped world map, and a weapon wheel, which should it make it easier if you're playing on a controller.

Facebook has acquired Onward developer Downpour Interactive
https://www.pcgamer.com/facebook-has-acquired-onward-developer-downpour-interactive/
Facebook has acquired Downpour Interactive, developer of VR military sim Onward. Mike Verdu, VP, AR/VR Content at Facebook, issued a statement on the Oculus site, saying that "as part of the Oculus Studios team, Downpour Interactive will expand upon its ethos of creating stand-out games that evoke the human spirit and give players a 'downpour' of emotion. We’re so happy to welcome them to the family."