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

[JEMC]

The Wednesday news, part two:

Riot Games just surprise-launched a League of Legends RPG and rhythm game
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/riot-forges-first-games-ruined-king-and-hextech-runner-are-both-out-today/
Ruined King, announced in 2019 as the first game to be published under the Riot Forge label, is out today—and so is the much more recently announced rhythm runner Hextech Mayhem.

Riot announces two more League of Legends spin-off games for 2022
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/riot-announces-two-more-league-of-legends-spin-off-games-for-2022/
Riot's publishing arm, Riot Forge, will release two new League of Legends spin-off games in 2022. Song of Nunu, which was announced this week, and Convergence, an action platformer featuring Ekko, are both due out sometime next year.

Hearthstone's next expansion will give you a golden legendary for choosing: Horde or Alliance?
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/hearthstones-next-expansion-will-give-you-a-golden-legendary-for-choosing-horde-or-alliance/
The final Hearthstone expansion of 2021 is called Fractured in Alterac Valley and will arrive on December 7. Thematically, it wraps up the story that began with Forged in the Barrens and continued through United in Stormwind. In the grand finale, our 10 plucky mercenaries will make the crucial choice of any Azerothian adventurer: Horde or Alliance? Honestly, whether card games can be good at delivering a year-long narrative is very debatable, but I have grown quite fond of the likes of Rokara, Cariel Roame, and Scabbs Cutterbutter.

Activision Blizzard employees stage walkout to demand Bobby Kotick's removal
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/activision-blizzard-employees-stage-walkout-to-demand-bobby-koticks-removal/
In the wake of a bombshell report claiming that Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick was aware of widespread sexual harassment at the company and in 2006 threatened to have an assistant killed, the ABK Workers Alliance has issued a formal demand for Kotick's removal and called for an employee walkout today.
>> As if that will work...

The next project from Genshin Impact's anime lords: an open-world 'paranormal' online game
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/the-next-project-from-genshin-impacts-anime-lords-an-open-world-paranormal-online-game/
(...)
As reported by GamesRadar and Daniel Ahmad, we now have a clearer picture of MiHoYo’s long term plans after Genshin and Honkai: Star Rail. MiHoYo is opening a development house in Montreal focused on an open world title in a new setting. This move would see MiHoYo creating a foothold in one of the biggest development cities in the otherwise decentralized video game industry, and also represents the continuation of Chinese investment in Western development spearheaded by Tencent.

Cyberpunk 2077 is somehow nominated for two Game Awards
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/cyberpunk-2077-is-somehow-nominated-for-two-game-awards/
Deathloop leads this year's slate of nominees for the upcoming Game Awards with a total of nine nominations in categories including best game direction, best narrative, two in best performance, and—of course—the coveted Game of the Year trophy. Other big contenders this year include Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, with six nominations, and It Takes Two and Psychonauts 2, who are each up for five awards.
Along with Deathloop, 2021 Game of the Year nominees are It Takes Two, Metroid Dread, Psychonauts 2, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, and Resident Evil Village.

Paradox is 'happy with the progress' of Bloodlines 2, but won't reveal who is making it
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/paradox-is-happy-with-the-progress-of-bloodlines-2-but-wont-reveal-who-is-making-it/
During the Q&A section of Paradox Interactive's Q3 interim report, the topic of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 inevitably came up. The question asked was simply: "Any news on Bloodlines 2 or its developer?" To which Paradox CFO Alexander Bricca replied, "The new developer is doing quite well and we are happy with the progress of the project now, but it's still quite some time before we can start to talk about release dates."

Halo Infinite's slow Battle Pass progression is being looked at, says 343 Industries
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/halo-infinites-slow-battle-pass-progression-is-being-looked-at-says-343-industries/
It's still very early days but Halo Infinite's free-to-play multiplayer seems to be going down a treat, despite the lack of Slayer-only playlists and a battle pass that sucks. (...)
Consternation has been loud, so it's no surprise that 343 Industries has heard. Community manager Briad Jarrard acknowledged the criticism in a tweet early today. "FYI the team is looking at Battle Pass progression and gathering data from yesterday's sessions and we'll share updates as we have them," he wrote.

Halo Infinite's Brute Choppers can't stop taking flight
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/halo-infinites-brute-choppers-cant-stop-taking-flight/
As befitting their gorilla-like riders, Halo Infinite's Brute Choppers are tough, rugged alien motorcycles. Two blade-like wheels strapped to a chair, with guns plugged into the side and a ton of heavy steel armour weighing it down. Certainly not the kind of thing that you'd expect to float off into the sky like a child's discarded balloon, right?

Fortnite re-introduces shopping carts and the B.R.U.T.E mech
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/fortnite-re-introduces-shopping-carts-and-the-brute-mech/
The latest Fortnite patch sees the return of two classic items: the shopping cart and the B.R.U.T.E mech.

New World permabans over 1200 accounts for duping exploits
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/new-world-permabans-over-1200-accounts-for-duping-exploits/
A few days ago New World had to temporarily switch off the in-game economy, following the discovery of multiple duping glitches. (...)
Well: the economy's back, and Amazon Games is not playing around with those who took advantage of this or an earlier exploit. A developer blog posted by community manager Luxendra reads: (...)
"Together for these exploits we have permanently banned over 1200 players, removing their items from the economy, and cancelling their trade post listings.