Friday news, part two:
The Crew removed from sale, will become unplayable after April 1: 'We understand this may be disappointing for players still enjoying the game'
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-crew-removed-from-sale-will-become-unplayable-after-april-1-we-understand-this-may-be-disappointing-for-players-still-enjoying-the-game/
The Crew is being taken off the streets: Ubisoft announced today that sales of its online racing game have been halted on all storefronts, and it will no longer be playable on any platform after March 31, 2024.
3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks reportedly hit with layoffs as Embracer continues to cut
https://www.pcgamer.com/3d-realms-and-slipgate-ironworks-reportedly-hit-with-layoffs-as-embracer-continues-to-cut/
It looks like more Embracer studios have been hit with layoffs. 3D Realms founder Scott Miller (via GamesIndustry), who doesn't work at the current incarnation of the studio but runs reborn indie publisher Apogee Entertainment, said on Twitter that "a lot of people, including core devs" at 3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks have been put out of work.
Creative Assembly apologizes for 'missteps' and says Total War: Warhammer 3 DLC will become better value and players will receive partial refunds for Total War: Pharaoh
https://www.pcgamer.com/creative-assembly-apologizes-for-missteps-and-says-total-war-warhammer-3-dlc-will-get-bigger-and-players-will-receive-partial-refunds-for-total-war-pharaoh/
The Total War: Warhammer series has a tradition of excellent DLC, whether it adds new armies like Curse of the Vampire Coast, expands existing ones like The Warden & The Paunch, or offers an entirely new campaign mode like the free Mortal Empires and Immortal Empires add-ons. The recent Shadows of Change DLC for Total War: Warhammer 3 was not so well-received, however, being sold for the same price as one of the full army-adding expansions while offering value closer to that of a faction-expanding one.
After a storm of negative user reviews, developer harassment, and the Total War subreddit becoming entirely unreadable due to the flood of complaints, Creative Assembly's vice president Roger Collum has issued an official apology on behalf of the Total War leadership team.
The Last of Us Online finally cancelled because Naughty Dog thinks it will 'severely impact development on future single-player games'
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-last-of-us-online-finally-cancelled-because-naughty-dog-thinks-it-will-severely-impact-development-on-future-single-player-games/
The Last of Us Online has been cancelled after more than three years in development. Naughty Dog made the announcement today, arguing that the ambitious project would require the studio to pivot entirely to post-launch support (read: a live service future) rather than their raison d'etre: big budget singleplayer narrative adventures.
Insomniac Games has reportedly been hacked, with details of its upcoming Wolverine game included in the stolen data
https://www.pcgamer.com/insomniac-games-has-reportedly-been-hacked-with-details-of-its-upcoming-wolverine-game-included-in-the-stolen-data/
According to a report from cyberdaily.au, Insomniac Games, the studio behind the Spider-Man and Ratchet & Clank games, has been hacked by a ransomware group. The group, who call themselves Rhysida, provided proof that included a screenshot of Insomniac's upcoming Wolverine game as well as character art for various Marvel-owned characters.
Valve lures thousands of Dota cheaters into bans with fake Christmas presents as it declares 'this year is gonna be a bloodbath'
https://www.pcgamer.com/valve-lures-thousands-of-dota-cheaters-into-bans-with-fake-christmas-presents-as-it-declares-this-year-is-gonna-be-a-bloodbath/
It's ten days to Christmas, and you know what that means: It's time for the world's most famous jolly, bearded man to draw up naughty and nice lists, handing out rewards to the latter and pitiless justice to the former. That's right, Gabe Newell is sticking it to Dota 2 cheats once again.
World of Warcraft's new Night Elf capital allows Horde tourists, and boy is it ruffling some feathers
https://www.pcgamer.com/world-of-warcrafts-new-night-elf-capital-allows-horde-tourists-and-boy-is-it-ruffling-some-feathers/
In World of Warcraft: Dragonflight, the Night Elves have ended its latest story patch with a new home: Bel'ameth. In case you've been out of the loop for a while and don't know why Teldrassil is gone: Sylvanas blew it up. Former PC Gamer writer Steven Messner documented The Burning of Teldrassil back when it happened in 2018, writing that it was "easily the most controversial moment in World of Warcraft's history."
Well, now the night elves have a new tree and a new home in the Dragon Isles, and they're even willing to let bygones be bygones. Bel'ameth is currently a neutral city on the PTR, meaning both Horde and Alliance players can visit.
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney says he's open to Fortnite on Steam or 'any serious store', but that 'the end of these ridiculous 30% fees' is a requirement
https://www.pcgamer.com/epic-ceo-tim-sweeney-says-hes-open-to-fortnite-on-steam-or-any-serious-store-but-that-the-end-of-these-ridiculous-30-fees-is-a-requirement/
Fortnite (a game which by all accounts probably doesn't need the help) could come to Steam, but on one condition: the platform does away with its 30% cut.
As spotted by Gamesradar, Epic CEO Tim Sweeney laid out the conditions for bringing Fortnite to the platform in a response to a Tweet, writing: "We’ll compete, and we’ll also put Fortnite on any serious store that gives all developers an awesome deal … the end of these ridiculous 30% fees is near." Steam takes a 30% cut, so it's a pretty obvious shot across the aisle.
>> I have no f*cking idea what the OneStore he mentions is, nor why he doesn't list GOG. But anyway, his words are void of any real meaning.
Baldur's Gate 3 will never be on Game Pass, says Larian CEO: 'We made a big game, so I think there's a fair price to be paid for that'
https://www.pcgamer.com/baldurs-gate-3-will-never-be-on-game-pass-says-larian-ceo-we-made-a-big-game-so-i-think-theres-a-fair-price-to-be-paid-for-that/
If you were hoping that Baldur's Gate 3's arrival on Xbox would herald its inclusion on Game Pass for prospective console and PC players, it looks like you're out of luck. Larian's impressive RPG will continue to only be available if you're willing to shell out—but I promise you it's worth it. In my Baldur's Gate 3 review, I gave it one of our highest ever scores of 97%.
Chatting to IGN, Larian CEO Swen Vincke noted that keeping it off Game Pass was always the plan. "Oh, we always said from the get-go, it wasn't going to be on Game Pass, it's not going to be on Game Pass."
Let's check the GOG and Steam deals for the weekend:
+GOG
- You may already know this, but the Winter Sale is now live.
- There's one new Deal of the Day: Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration will be 20% off during 70 hours: https://www.gog.com/en/game/atari_50_the_anniversary_celebration
+Steam
- The Outlast Trials, still in Early Access, will be 25% off until the 21st: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1304930/The_Outlast_Trials/
- The Dreamhack Beyond Awards have its own page with up to 75% discounts. Som deals will end in 26 hours while others will last until the 21st. Oh, and if you live in the US, you can wishlist one of the games and win Best Buy gist cards. Learn more here: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/dreamhackbeyondgameawards2023
- God of War is going to be half its usual price until December, 21st: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1593500/God_of_War/
- Rust also has a 50% deal until the 21st: https://store.steampowered.com/app/252490/Rust/
- Curious Expedition 2, that has a demo, is going to be 60% off until... you guessed, the 21st: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1040230/Curious_Expedition_2/
- Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous - Enhanced Edition will be free to try during the weekend and 75% off until the 21st: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1184370/Pathfinder_Wrath_of_the_Righteous__Enhanced_Edition/
- theHunter: Call of the Wild is also going to be free to try during the weekend, but it will have an 85% discount until the 21st: https://store.steampowered.com/app/518790/theHunter_Call_of_the_Wild/
- And last, but not least, Curve Games is running its Ice Breaker Sale, with up to 90% discounts until next Thursday: https://store.steampowered.com/developer/curvedigital/sale/icebreakersale2023
And that's a wrap. Until next time, 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.
