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

[JEMC]

The Tuesday news, all in one post:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Steam has several new deals, including the weeklong deals:

• The Surgeon Simulator Anniversary Bundle will be 66% off until April 7 (the individual games are also on sale until the 8th): https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/25302/Surgeon_Simulator_Anniversary_Bundle/
• The METRO franchise is up to 75% off until Thursday: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/MetroFranchise
• The Titan Quest franchise is between 69 and 80% off until Thursday 7: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/titanquestfranchise
• Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr is going to be 75% off until April 8 (the DLCs are 75% off): https://store.steampowered.com/app/527430/Warhammer_40000_Inquisitor__Martyr/
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl will be 80% off until the 11th of April (Other GSC games are also on sale): https://store.steampowered.com/app/4500/STALKER_Shadow_of_Chernobyl/
• HELLDIVERS Dive Harder Edition will sport a 75% discount until April 17 (other Playstation games are also on sale): https://store.steampowered.com/app/394510/HELLDIVERS_Dive_Harder_Edition/
• The Early Access title Noble Fates is going to be 20% off until the 18th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1769420/Noble_Fates/
• And here are some weeklong deals:
  • The Early Access title Wrench is 20% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/936720/Wrench/
  • The VR ONLY title Karnage Chronicles is 50% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/611160/Karnage_Chronicles/
  • HORROR TALES: The Wine gets a 65% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1340640/HORROR_TALES_The_Wine/
  • Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair is going to be 75% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/846870/YookaLaylee_and_the_Impossible_Lair/
  • And Garfield Kart will be 89% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/362930/Garfield_Kart/

The Humble Store has two new sales:

• GSC also launches its Charity Sale for Ukraine here, with 80% discounts during 6 days. The keys are for Steam: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/gsc-games-ukraine-charity-sale/
• The BAFTA Awards Sale features up to 85% discounts during 6 days. There are keys for Steam, GOG, UPlay and EGS (1): https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/bafta-awards-sale/

And Fanatical has a new bundle: the Rogue Souls Bundle features 6 games with a 90% discount: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/rogue-souls-bundle.

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

Your Epic Store achievements can now be seen by other people
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/your-epic-store-achievements-can-now-be-seen-by-other-people/
In 2020, achievements began to appear in a small, select number of games on the Epic Games Store. In 2021, the Epic Store's achievement system went into full launch. And now, in 2022, you can finally share and compare your cheevo progress with your friends through the My Achievements page.
The My Achievements page on the Epic store went live in November 2021, but with this update the achievements are now publicly viewable. It's a pretty significant change—showing off your mad gamer skills to the world is one of the main reasons to have achievements, after all. Those who prefer to treat achievements as a personal litany of accomplishment will be able to switch off public accessibility via the Epic Store's privacy controls.

AMD Adrenalin software reportedly alters user-set BIOS CPU settings
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/amd-adrenalin-software-reportedly-alters-user-set-bios-cpu-settings/
Reports are surfacing suggesting that AMD’s Adrenalin software for Radeon graphics cards is inadvertently altering the Precision Boost Overdrive settings of systems equipped with Ryzen CPUs. The fact that it’s doing it without user consent is the issue. When applying GPU profiles, the automatic enabling PBO can lead to issues for users with otherwise stable overclocks.
News of the issue comes via Igor’s Lab following an investigation. It says that the integration of AMD’s Ryzen Master CPU software and Adrenalin Radeon software is by default allowing the program to alter CPU overclocking parameters without user consent.
>>WTF?! **slaps AMD's hand** Bad, AMD. Bad!

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

-Empty-

GAMING NEWS

Fortnite raises $144 million total in fundraising for Ukraine
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/fortnite-raises-dollar144-million-total-in-fundraising-for-ukraine/
Fortnite's fundraising period for Ukraine relief efforts has come to an end, with the Battle Royale game amassing a remarkable $144 million over a period of two weeks. The final total of proceeds will be split between five humanitarian organisations currently operating in Ukraine, namely UNICEF, Direct Relief, World Food Programme, World Central Kitchen, and the UN Refugee Agency.
>> Mighty impressive. And it also goes to show how much money does Fortnite make.

A week-long showcase of Chinese games is headed to Steam this month
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/a-week-long-showcase-of-chinese-games-is-headed-to-steam-this-month/
A week-long showcase of PC games created by Chinese developers is headed to Steam later this month. Called Enter the Dragon, the online event will feature more than 90 games from studios in China and Taiwan, including both indie releases and "the latest blockbusters."

Stardew Valley creator surprise reveals a boss theme song for his next game
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/stardew-valley-creator-surprise-reveals-a-boss-theme-song-for-his-next-game/
Ever one for popping up to share surprise teasers after months of quietly working, Stardew Valley's creator Eric Barone has sat down on a livestream with composing software Reason Studios to talk about creating Stardew's soundtrack and wound up debuting part of a track from his upcoming shop sim game Haunted Chocolatier too.

Stardew Valley creator isn't intimidated by the sophomore slump
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/stardew-valley-creator-isnt-intimidated-by-the-sophomore-slump/
Since 2016, dozens of farm and life sim games have been chasing the success of Stardew Valley—fated to be forever compared with Eric Barone's breakout indie hit. Now that he's announced his next game, the shop sim Haunted Chocolatier, Barone says he's well aware that his second game may wind up chasing after his first game just as much as all those others.

New Minecraft mode 'RiverCraft' teaches students about the real-world effects of climate change
https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/new-minecraft-mode-rivercraft-teaches-students-about-the-real-world-effects-of-climate-change/
In conjunction with the UK Environment Agency, Microsoft has launched a new mode for Minecraft: Education Edition. Known as 'Rivercraft', the mode is designed to teach students about the impact of climate-change-induced flooding on local communities.