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

[JEMC]

Monday news, part two:

I think Larian really did sneak schlong physics into Baldur's Gate 3 without telling anybody
https://www.pcgamer.com/i-think-larian-really-did-sneak-schlong-physics-into-baldurs-gate-3-without-telling-anybody/
The latest patch of Baldur's Gate 3 has a lot of quality-of-life updates. It has a lovely little epilogue, a gnarly new honour mode that's been giving Ted Litchfield spikes in his blood pressure, among many other tune-ups and fixes. And uh, schlong physics. Did we mention the schlong physics? Because Larian sure didn't.
I'd show you proof, but while PC Gamer writes for adults and we all assume you won't faint if you see the word 'penis', I think actively uploading a video of my tiefling's pocket flail slapping around might be a step too far. Just—if you have a character with a penis, you can test it yourself. The update's live. Go with god.
>> Now you have something to try the next time you play the game. By the way, the composer of the game has a sneaky cameo.

Activision felt 'now was the time' to put Call of Duty's DMZ mode out to pasture, says play zombies instead
https://www.pcgamer.com/activision-felt-now-was-the-time-to-put-call-of-dutys-dmz-mode-out-to-pasture-says-play-zombies-instead/
Call of Duty's DMZ mode launched as part of Warzone 2.0 and, at the time, felt like it could be the next big multiplayer thing. Shows what I know, but the mode was essentially a fast-paced and slicker take on some key Tarkov mechanics, and the PvEvP rhythm was a welcome change in pace for the oft-relentless Warzone.
Ever since, however, DMZ hasn't had the level of content support that is now standard across COD's various offerings, and Activision even started calling it a "beta" at one point. Now shortly after the release of the disappointing Modern Warfare 3, Activision has announced that DMZ is effectively being mothballed: the mode will remain free-to-play and accessible via Warzone, but progression will no longer sync across game modes and it will no longer count towards the game's battle passes.

Nightingale, the neo-Victorian survival game being made by former BioWare devs, is taking signups for a server stress test
https://www.pcgamer.com/nightingale-the-neo-victorian-survival-game-being-made-by-former-bioware-devs-is-taking-signups-for-a-server-stress-test/
I'm not usually a big crafting-survival game guy but Nightingale has me intrigued, both for its premise—neo-Victorian explorers plunging through portals to investigate dangerous otherworldly realms—and its pedigree: Developer Inflexion Games is headed up by former BioWare general manager Aaryn Flynn, and has a number of other BioWare veterans on staff. After a handful of delays, it's now set to launch into early access in February, and ahead of that the studio is planning an open server stress test.

Remedy teases an Alan Wake 2 New Game+ update in the most obvious way possible
https://www.pcgamer.com/remedy-teases-an-alan-wake-2-new-game-update-in-the-most-obvious-way-possible/
It sure looks like Alan Wake 2 will be getting a New Game+ mode soon, and I mean "looks like" in the most literal sense possible. Remedy teased the upcoming addition with an image of its titular hero standing on a nighttime rooftop, with the words "New Game+" silhouetted in a flashlight beam.

Blizzard cranks the dial on Diablo 4's endgame progression so its brutal new dungeons don't tear you apart
https://www.pcgamer.com/blizzard-cranks-the-dial-on-diablo-4s-endgame-progression-so-its-brutal-new-dungeons-dont-tear-you-apart/
Next week, Diablo 4 will drop a new endgame seasonal event that is so hard you might not be able to finish the last tier of it. Blizzard demonstrated it on stream yesterday and promised that it would challenge the most powerful builds in the game. Possibly out of mercy, Blizzard will make it much easier to improve your character in the same patch, saving you time and misery as you attempt the Abattoir of Zir.

CD Projekt ties up one last loose end from Cyberpunk 2077's disastrous launch: the class action lawsuit
https://www.pcgamer.com/cd-projekt-ties-up-one-last-loose-end-from-cyberpunk-2077s-disastrous-launch-the-class-action-lawsuit/
We said in October that Cyberpunk 2077's redemption is complete, but I think that may have been a little premature because now it's really complete: CD Projekt has finally settled the class action lawsuit filed against it in 2020 by investors who weren't happy with the state of the game at launch.

Deckbuilder fans owe themselves some time with the brilliant Cobalt Core
https://www.pcgamer.com/deckbuilder-fans-owe-themselves-some-time-with-the-brilliant-cobalt-core/
What might be the year's best deckbuilding game launched last month, to little fanfare, with the release of Cobalt Core. It's a mechanically rich and well-developed little game that brings out the best of the roguelike deckbuilding genre by combining its own twist: Tactical positioning that means every attack comes from somewhere and goes somewhere, allowing you to dodge enemy attacks—or have the enemy dodge your own.

Gatekeeper is like an isometric Risk of Rain 2, so go ahead and try the free prologue
https://www.pcgamer.com/gatekeeper-is-like-an-isometric-risk-of-rain-2-so-go-ahead-and-try-the-free-prologue/
If you, like me, are basically always hungry for another fast-paced horde shooting roguelike with crazy items and combos to build, I've got great news. Upcoming roguelite shooter Gatekeeper is just that, and it has a pretty dang generous free demo slash prologue version out now that's fully-featured enough to include cooperative gameplay.

Fortnite's 2018 throwback map was so popular, Epic's bringing it back again next year (after blowing it up)
https://www.pcgamer.com/fortnites-2018-throwback-map-was-so-popular-epics-bringing-it-back-again-next-year-after-blowing-it-up/
Fortnite's OG throwback season ended with a literal bang today, as Epic's Chapter 5 event wiped the slate to replace it with a new one tomorrow after scheduled maintenance⁠—a cycle of eternal recurrence not unlike that central to several religions. Never fear though, nostalgia addicts: as reported by Eurogamer, Epic Games has promised to break the wheel of fate and bring the throwback map back once again next year.

Fortnite now lets you assassinate Peter Griffin and steal his powers, but players are miffed about new running animations
https://www.pcgamer.com/fortnite-now-lets-you-assassinate-peter-griffin-and-steal-his-powers-but-players-are-miffed-about-new-running-animations/
The page has turned on another chapter of Fortnite Battle Royale, with Chapter 5 Season 1 beginning today after the conclusion of the game's hugely successful 2018 throwback season. The new season brought not only a new map and weapons, but also a somewhat contentious revamp of the game's movement animations. I'm just stuck on the Peter Griffin boss fight, though.
The Family Guy protagonist is joined by some of my favorite characters, Oscar, Nisha, Montague, and Valeria (I don't know who these people are) in some manner of sinister society of PvE bosses on the island. Mechanically, they're kind of sick: killing one confers a medallion that regenerates your shield over time, and stacking medallions speeds up the effect, but also shows your position to enemy players with increasing accuracy.
>> And it also adds LEGO themed skins.

Peter Griffin drinks the expired Fortnite slurp juice in a lore explainer, in case you were worried about Family Guy's continuity for some reason
https://www.pcgamer.com/peter-griffin-drinks-the-expired-fortnite-slurp-juice-in-a-lore-explainer-in-case-you-were-worried-about-family-guys-continuity-for-some-reason/
Family Guy is now in Fortnite as part of Chapter 5. In an attempt to explain his latest glow-up, Fortnite itself has created a short that will haunt my nightmares.
While the choice to make Peter Griffin swole makes sense from a design perspective (his peak male physique would have required a whole new set of animations to avoid becoming clip city), it's also something that's happened in the cartoon before. Still, Fortnite has felt the need to provide an explainer short, no doubt to calm down fans concerned about Family Guy's deep, complex, seasons-spanning multiversal narrative, rivalled only by fantasy epics like The Wheel of Time.