Friday news, part two:
Unionisation still necessary despite improvements, say CDPR devs, after the 'tremendous amount of stress and insecurity' caused by recent layoffs
https://www.pcgamer.com/unionisation-still-necessary-despite-improvements-say-cdpr-devs-after-the-tremendous-amount-of-stress-and-insecurity-caused-by-recent-layoffs/
Earlier this month, Polish game devs, including several from CD Projekt Red, formed the Polish Gamedev Workers Union (PGWU). This came in the wake of further layoffs at the company in July, to the tune of 9% of its workforce. At the time, CEO Adam Kiciński explained the move as something to help make the teams more "agile and effective", but agile and effective doesn't pay the rent.
"This event created a tremendous amount of stress and insecurity," explains the union's website, "affecting our mental health and leading to the creation of this union in response. Having a union means having more security, transparency, better protection, and a stronger voice in times of crisis."
Remedy reassures PC gamers worried about Alan Wake 2 system requirements: 'We played real safe on those PC settings'
https://www.pcgamer.com/remedy-reassures-pc-gamers-worried-about-alan-wake-2-system-requirements-we-played-real-safe-on-those-pc-settings/
The full reveal of the Alan Wake 2 system requirements last week left a lot of fans unhappy. They're steep: The minimum spec for 1080p, 30 fps gameplay at the low graphics preset is an Intel i5-7600K CPU, RTX 2060 GPU, and 16GB RAM, and a sharp ramp up from there into recommended, ultra, and ray tracing requirements. But some optimistic gamers expressed hope that Remedy was inflating the PC system requirements for Alan Wake 2 in order to ensure that it runs well on all specs, even at the low end, and that's apparently the case.
"We played real safe on those PC settings btw," Remedy communications director Thomas Puha tweeted earlier today. "Underpromise, overdeliver, or something Finnish like that."
I can't believe I'm saying this again, again, but Skull and Bones is delayed again
https://www.pcgamer.com/i-cant-believe-im-saying-this-again-again-but-skull-and-bones-is-delayed-again/
(...)
That hasn't happened yet, but spiritually I think we're way beyond the Ahab threshold at this point—because yes, that's right, Skull and Bones, Ubisoft's eternally-not-quite-ready game of high-seas piracy, has been delayed. Again.
The new demo for this cozy vampire farm sim gives you one week to decorate your spooky property
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-new-demo-for-this-cozy-vampire-farm-sim-gives-you-one-week-to-decorate-your-spooky-property/
As a perfectly bite-sized treat for spooky season, the farm sim where you're a vampire has kicked off a quick demo to give us a taste of its pumpkin decor and midnight spellcasting. The first demo for Moonlight Peaks lets you play seven in-game days of foraging, farming, and decorating, with the option to take a snapshot of your creation once you're finished.
After 3 years of 'hands-off' management, Microsoft is making Bethesda and ZeniMax report directly to an Xbox bigwig
https://www.pcgamer.com/after-3-years-of-hands-off-management-microsoft-is-making-bethesda-and-zenimax-report-directly-to-an-xbox-bigwig/
Just a couple of weeks after finishing its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft is making some changes to its Xbox studio structure. In an internal memo acquired by The Verge, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said Xbox Game Studios head Matt Booty is being promoted to president of game content and studios, a role that will put him in charge of ZeniMax and its subsidiary studios, including Bethesda Softworks.
CD Projekt never considered a Cyberpunk expansion set after the main game's endings: 'No need to water them down. Sometimes less is more'
https://www.pcgamer.com/cd-projekt-never-considered-a-cyberpunk-expansion-set-after-the-main-games-endings-no-need-to-water-them-down-sometimes-less-is-more/
If you'd asked me what I thought a Cyberpunk 2077 expansion would focus on after I first beat the game in December 2020, I would have guessed the heist on the Crystal Palace satellite casino teased in two of the base game's endings. According to CD Projekt Red narrative director Igor Sarzyński, though, the team was always firm on Cyberpunk's endings being the final word on V's story. Spoilers for 2077 and Phantom Liberty ahead.
Heroes of the Storm fans are excited: More than a year after Blizzard ended development, a new patch has appeared on the PTR
https://www.pcgamer.com/heroes-of-the-storm-fans-are-excited-more-than-a-year-after-blizzard-ended-development-a-new-patch-has-appeared-on-the-ptr/
More than a year after Blizzard did an Old Yeller to Heroes of the Storm—"the only good MOBA" in the eyes of our weekend editor Jody Macgregor—a new patch has appeared on the public test realm, and it's got some fans hopeful for more to come.
Iron Lung's new 'Markiplier mode' surrounds you with the YouTuber's meme faces while you explore the depths of the blood ocean
https://www.pcgamer.com/iron-lungs-new-markiplier-mode-surrounds-you-with-the-youtubers-meme-faces-while-you-explore-the-depths-of-the-blood-ocean/
Iron Lung has just had a major update that includes a 'Markiplier mode'. This indie horror game grew in popularity after the YouTuber did a full playthrough last year that gained over 8 million views, and he enjoyed it so much that he is currently directing and starring in an Iron Lung film adaptation. The latest update adds a handful of cheats, 'Markiplier mode' being the silliest new addition. Once activated your vessel is plastered with multiple Markiplier meme faces from top to bottom.
If you're playing the Metal Gear Solid 1 Master Collection edition, please for the love of god make sure you don't pick the PAL version
https://www.pcgamer.com/if-youre-playing-the-metal-gear-solid-1-master-collection-edition-please-for-the-love-of-god-make-sure-you-dont-pick-the-pal-version/
Konami has fixed one of the more glaring issues with the Master Collection version of Metal Gear Solid 1. When the game hit Steam three days ago, players were supposed to be able to download different language packs—Japanese, US English and what-have-you—via the game's launcher. Unfortunately, the relevant Steam pages were inexplicably AWOL, making international versions of the game inaccessible.
That was fatal. At least here in the UK, the only version of MGS 1 I could play was the UK English—or PAL—version. Unlike US NTSC games, PAL versions are built for 50hz screens, meaning the only version of MGS 1 the Master Collection I had access to felt unbearably sluggish in addition to being graphically hard to parse in all its low-res, PS1-era glory. It also meant you couldn't play MGS: Integral at all, since it needed you to download the Japanese language pack before it would launch.
Diablo 4's running a free weekend, giving you a shot at all its content until Monday
https://www.pcgamer.com/diablo-4s-running-a-free-weekend-giving-you-a-shot-at-all-its-content-until-monday/
In the words of PCG's Tyler Colp, Diablo 4 took "a leap in the right direction" with the start of its second season this month, and now it would very much like you to come back and give it a go. That's why the game is running a free trial until Monday, October 30, giving you a chance to mess around with dang near all of the game on Battle.net during our upcoming spooky weekend.
And these are the GOG and Steam deals for the weekend:
+GOG
- There's a new GIVEAWAY: Blacksad: Under the Skin will be free during the next 70 hours: https://www.gog.com/en/game/blacksad_under_the_skin
- And there's also one Deal of the Day: Cybernetic Fault, still in Early Access, gets a 92% discount during 71 hours: https://www.gog.com/en/game/cybernetic_fault
+Steam
- The first one is Endgame of Devil, 30% off until November, 2nd: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2343600/Endgame_of_Devil/
- Foxhole gets a 33% discount until Thursday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/505460/Foxhole/
- Sony's Spiderman games are on sale with 40% discounts until the 2nd: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/SpidermanFranchiseSale
- Manifold Garden will be 60% off until Thursday, the 2nd: https://store.steampowered.com/app/473950/Manifold_Garden/
- Focus Entertainment puts its games on sale with up to 80% discounts until, once again, the 2nd: https://store.steampowered.com/developer/Focus/sale/focushalloweensale2023
- Publisher Snail Games puts its games up to 80% off until the 2nd of November: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/2023snailpublisher
- Publisher IO Interactive also puts its games up to 80% off until the 2nd: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/ioi25
- And the last one is the Capcom Halloween Sale, with up to 87% discounts until the 7th of November: https://store.steampowered.com/developer/capcom/sale/halloween
That will be all. Until next Monday, I wish you a happy and gaming weekend.
Please excuse my bad English.
Currently gaming on a PC with an i5-4670k@stock (for now), 16Gb RAM 1600 MHz and a GTX 1070
Steam / Live / NNID : jonxiquet Add me if you want, but I'm a single player gamer.
