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

[JEMC]

The Wednesday news, the long post:

Russian officials are considering a 'Russian Electronic Arts' to save the country's crumbling games industry
https://www.pcgamer.com/russian-officials-are-considering-a-russian-electronic-arts-to-save-the-countrys-crumbling-games-industry/
With the country's plans for a national game engine on life support, Russia has begun investigating other means of revitalising its faltering games industry. In a meeting held between officials and industry representatives in the Russian Ministry of Digital Development on December 15, the government began to consider a federal project it's calling "The Gaming Industry of the Future". One of the potential options? "Found a Russian Electronic Arts to help streamline the release of high-quality Russian games". Hey, the FIFA licence is available now.
>> **Insert your favorite laughing gif here**

Dropzone creator Archer MacLean dies aged 60
https://www.pcgamer.com/dropzone-creator-archer-maclean-dies-aged-60/
Archer MacLean, the UK developer best-known for Dropzone and International Karate, has died at the age of 60. The news broke over the festive period, with many former colleagues and friends taking to social media to pay tribute to both the man and his body of work.

Hitman 3 is becoming Hitman: World of Assassination, with all content rolled into one big game
https://www.pcgamer.com/hitman-3-is-becoming-hitman-world-of-assassination-with-all-content-rolled-into-one-big-game/
Hitman 3 was good enough to be our pick for the best stealth game of 2021, but the variety of different purchase options was also, as we noted in our newcomer's guide, incredibly confusing. On January 26, that will change, as IO Interactive wraps the whole thing up into one big package called Hitman: World of Assassination.
>> Careful, Chazore! The second link will take you to the Epic Store.

Buy Hitman 3 for $21 right now and you'll get the first two games for free
https://www.pcgamer.com/buy-hitman-3-for-dollar21-right-now-and-youll-get-the-first-two-games-for-free/
In an attempt to make buying Hitman less confusing, IO Interactive is making big changes to how all three of its modern stealth classics are sold: Starting January 26, there will be only one full version of Hitman. That version is called Hitman: World of Assassination, and it'll include every base level from Hitman 1, 2, and 3 in a single package.
>> If you buy it now, you'll also get the Hitman 1 & 2 levels.

Destiny 2 dataminers admit leaked subscription plan was a hoax: 'We trolled everyone'
https://www.pcgamer.com/destiny-2-dataminers-admit-leaked-subscription-plan-was-a-hoax-we-trolled-everyone/
In yet another reminder that you can't believe everything you read (especially if it originates from unverified sources on the internet), a couple of Destiny dataminers have admitted that their discovery of a planned subscription service for Destiny 2 was in fact just 'trolling.'

ZeniMax employees vote to form the biggest videogame union in the US
https://www.pcgamer.com/zenimax-employees-vote-to-form-the-biggest-videogame-union-in-the-us/
The Communications Workers of America announced today that a "supermajority" of quality assurance workers at ZeniMax Studios have officially voted to join the ZeniMax Workers United/CWA, forming the first videogame studio union at parent company Microsoft and what will be—for a while, at least—the largest union of videogame workers in the US.

Super Lesbian Animal RPG is a big hit with the target audience
https://www.pcgamer.com/super-lesbian-animal-rpg-is-a-big-hit-with-the-target-audience/
Today in niche games, the recent release of Super Lesbian Animal RPG seems to have greatly pleased people who enjoy the idea of a game called Super Lesbian Animal RPG. It's a classic-inspired turn-based RPG about a crew of anthropomorphic animals who're variously in love with each other fighting weird monsters in a dungeon to save the world and/or overcome their own anxieties.
>> The article has the trailer for the game, in case you're wondering how it looks like.

Wizards of the Coast has reportedly canceled at least five videogames in development
https://www.pcgamer.com/wizards-of-the-coast-has-reportedly-canceled-at-least-five-videogames-in-development/
Wizards of the Coast, publisher of Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering, has canceled at least five of the videogames it had in development, Bloomberg reports. The publisher declined to comment on individual games when PC Gamer reached out, offering the reply, "We remain committed to using digital games as a cornerstone of our strategy for bringing our games to players around the world. We have made some changes to our long-term portfolio to focus on games which are strategically aligned with developing our existing brands and those which show promise in expanding or engaging our audience in new ways."

Nvidia announces next games to get the DLSS 3 treatment
https://www.pcgamer.com/nvidia-announces-that-atomic-heart-and-witchfire-will-support-dlss-3-at-launch/
At CES 2023, Nvidia announced that fantasy shooter Witchfire, well as the highly anticipated Atomic Heart, would both be getting DLSS 3.0 support at launch.
Those aren't the only titles getting DLSS 3 support either. The keynote highlighted a handful of upcoming games that will take advantage of Nvidia's AI frame-boosting tech like Throne and Liberty, Warhaven, and SuperPeople. All games that feel like their titles were also AI-generated.

Elden Ring clinches Steam's GOTY award in results with only one weird surprise
https://www.pcgamer.com/elden-ring-clinches-steams-goty-award-in-results-with-only-one-weird-surprise/
The people have spoken, and they've said… pretty much what you expect. The Steam Awards results are in, and the final tally of December's voting process hasn't produced many surprises. Elden Ring nabbed the main Game of the Year trophy (hey, good choice), and the other ten awards went to a thoroughly unshocking set of games, with one possible exception.
>> Only one of the games I vote for won its category. How about you?

Screw dying, says Hideo Kojima, 'I'll probably become an AI and stick around'
https://www.pcgamer.com/screw-dying-says-hideo-kojima-ill-probably-become-an-ai-and-stick-around/
God love Hideo Kojima because the guy is never boring. Following the announcement of Death Stranding 2 late last year, the Japanese creator gave a festive interview to IGN Japan, during which he jawed on about setting up Kojima Productions, his time at Konami, and yes: his future as an AI.

Madden fans find franchise saves destroyed after EA said they could play 'without issue'
https://www.pcgamer.com/madden-fans-find-franchise-saves-destroyed-after-ea-said-they-could-play-without-issue/
A particularly nasty glitch with Madden NFL 23's Connected Franchise Mode (CFM) seems to have irretrievably destroyed a bunch of players' CFM save files. After investigating connection issues with the mode last week, EA tweeted that it had fixed the problem and that users would be able "to play CFM without issue". But players who tried to log in during the 22-hour period between the 'fix' and 12:45 am EST (9:45 am PST/5:45 pm GMT) had their save data blitzed by bugs that still lurked in the system. Players who didn't log in during that time should be fine, though.
EA says (via Ars Technica) it's working on restoring players' corrupted saves from backups, but says its "team is currently projecting around 40% of leagues to be recovered," leaving over half of those affected (I know, my maths skills are impressive) to restart the long climb to franchise glory. Multiple Reddit users are telling tales of franchises with upwards of 30 players going down the drain because of the glitch.
>> I don't know how many people will have played the game during those doomed hours, but this could lead to a lot of angry players. Well done, EA! You f*cked up.