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

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Monday news, the long second part:

There's a touching tribute in Baldur's Gate 3 to a BG2-loving dad with Alzheimer's: 'he listened to my description with a child-like glee I haven't seen in a while'
https://www.pcgamer.com/theres-a-touching-tribute-in-baldurs-gate-3-to-a-bg2-loving-dad-with-alzheimers-he-listened-to-my-description-with-a-child-like-glee-i-havent-seen-in-a-while/
Back in the early access of Baldur's Gate 3, a player by the name of Solfalia wrote a heartfelt thank-you to Larian Studios. His father had been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and it was unlikely that he would be able to play the full game: "This is more than an Early Access for me, it's another adventure I can go on with my old man and make some good memories."
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What's more, Solfalia explained that after his initial post, one of the writers from the game reached out: "It turns out my message had resonated with quite a few of you, as many of us have experienced the struggle of a family member with Alzheimer's or Dementia, and superwriter"—a name he chooses to respect the writer's privacy—"was emailing me to ask if I would be open to having something included in the game to honour my father."

Okay, 'Boomer Shooter' is now an official genre on Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/okay-boomer-shooter-is-now-an-official-genre-on-steam/
PC Gamer contributor Noah Smith declared near the end of 2023 that it was another great year for boomer shooters, but he had one request: Can we call them something else now? The answer appears to be a firm no, as "boomer shooter" has now officially taken its place as a tagged genre on Steam.

After 10 years survival game Rust is finally getting backpacks, but pets 'will not be released this year'
https://www.pcgamer.com/after-10-years-survival-game-rust-is-finally-getting-backpacks-but-pets-will-not-be-released-this-year/
"How do I craft a backpack?" is typically the fifth question I ask when starting a new survival game, following "How do I craft an axe?" and "Where can I find water?" and "How do I make a campfire?" and the all-important "What the hell was that noise?"
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Except in Rust, that is. The multiplayer survival game has been around for 10 long honkin' years and it's only now just getting around to adding backpacks. Which isn't to say the concept just occurred to the developers: according to Rust guru Shadowfrax, backpacks were first proposed about six years ago, it just took a while for them to actually get here.

Bossa Studios ended 2023 by laying off one-third of its staff
https://www.pcgamer.com/bossa-studios-ended-2023-by-laying-off-one-third-of-its-staff/
UK-based Bossa Studios, the developer of games including Surgeon Simulator, I Am Bread, and I Am Fish, has confirmed the layoff of 19 people at the end of 2023. According to a GamesIndustry report, the cuts represent roughly one-third of Bossa's total number of employees.

Valorant is getting its first new gun in 4 years, a 'high impact, double-barreled sniper rifle'
https://www.pcgamer.com/valorant-is-getting-its-first-new-gun-in-4-years-a-high-impact-double-barreled-sniper-rifle/
When new guns appear in Call of Duty, it's an occurrence so regular that you'd be forgiven for not even noticing. When Valorant gets a new gun, it's the biggest thing to happen in Riot's competitive FPS since launch. After almost four years, a new sniper rifle is on the block: the Outlaw, a double-barreled sniper that can two-shot enemies to the chest. It costs 2,400 credits, placing it between the economical Marshal (950) and the one-shot-kill Operator (4,700).

Excellent 4X strategy game Old World drops its fourth DLC, adding a boatload of historical figures and wonders
https://www.pcgamer.com/excellent-4x-strategy-game-old-world-drops-its-fourth-dlc-adding-a-boatload-of-historical-figures-and-wonders/
Character-based historical 4X Old World will release a fourth DLC on January 11th, Wonders and Dynasties, bringing a whole, whole lot of new historical characters to the dynastic politics of your ancient empires. Something like 120 new characters, in fact, ranging from Hannibal and Caesar to Khufu and Stateira. That alongside 21 new character traits for those historicals and 100-some new events related to the politics of your imperial dynasty.

Farming adventure Tales of Seikyu invites you to entertain monsters in your inn, and become one
https://www.pcgamer.com/farming-adventure-tales-of-seikyu-invites-you-to-entertain-monsters-in-your-inn-and-become-one/
An upcoming farming sim will take place in a magical world of spirits and monsters where you restore a deteriorating countryside inn and explore the town and region populated by people, monsters, and more. The game plans to launch with cooperative play, and it'll also have a neat-looking twist: By wearing ancient masks, you can use the power of creatures and monsters—one example is using the rooting power of a boar to till fields.

Rhythm shooter Metal: Hellsinger just got a free DLC with music from FPS favorite Dusk
https://www.pcgamer.com/rhythm-shooter-metal-hellsinger-just-got-a-free-dlc-with-music-from-fps-favorite-dusk/
We seriously dug 2022's headbanging shooter Metal: Hellsinger, and that rhythm based FPS just got some love from its boomer shooter brethren by way of a free DLC featuring nine tracks from Andrew Hulshult's excellent Dusk soundtrack.

Here's the full trailer for FF14 Dawntrail, including an adorable chinchilla
https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-the-full-trailer-for-ff14-dawntrail-including-an-adorable-chinchilla/
Square Enix has debuted a full trailer for Final Fantasy 14's upcoming expansion Dawntrail at Final Fantasy Fan Festival 2024. The trailer shows off a look at the new world continent and its inhabitants interacting with a diverse lineup of FF14 classics.
>> Some new additions to the game are Paint wizards and female catfolk.

FF14 director says there's no firm release date for new expansion because he wants to avoid another Endwalker-style delay
https://www.pcgamer.com/ff14-director-says-theres-no-firm-release-date-for-new-expansion-because-he-wants-to-avoid-another-endwalker-style-delay/
Final Fantasy 14 producer Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida has said that the reason there's no firmer release date for expansion Dawntrail than summer 2024 is because he would rather not give one than give one that has to be delayed. Fans were expecting a release date at the Japanese Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest 2024 this weekend, as has become tradition.

Larian CEO and founder Swen Vincke thinks he's cracked the first act of his next game, but 'it's not what you think and this is not an teaser for an announcement'
https://www.pcgamer.com/larian-ceo-and-founder-swen-vincke-thinks-hes-cracked-the-first-act-of-his-next-game-but-its-not-what-you-think-and-this-is-not-an-teaser-for-an-announcement/
Swen Vincke, the CEO and founder of Larian Studio (developer of Baldur's Gate 3) has taken to Twitter to share some progress on his next game—namely, he thinks he's got a solid draft going.

Former Activision-Blizzard employee sues the company for none of the reasons you'd expect by now, accuses Bobby Kotick of saying it had 'too many old white guys'
https://www.pcgamer.com/former-activision-blizzard-employee-sues-the-company-for-none-of-the-reasons-youd-expect-by-now-accuses-bobby-kotick-of-saying-it-had-too-many-old-white-guys/
Activision-Blizzard has been the centre of a lot of controversy over these past few years. After a lawsuit went public, detailing "numerous complaints about unlawful harassment, discrimination, and retaliation" and a "frat boy" culture, plus claims from former CEO Bobby Kotick that the whole thing was just an "aggressive labour movement," the company finally settled last year.
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As reported by Law360 (thanks, GamesIndustry.biz) a plaintiff (a 57-year old tech executive who worked for several years under Kotick) has alleged that the company discriminated against him on the grounds of age. The suit mentions a conference where Kotick allegedly joked that there were "too many old white guys" at the company. It then states that two other white colleagues left due to "ageist remarks".