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

[JEMC]

Let’s welcome the final round of news for the week: the Friday news!

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

Two days after laying off US-based developers, NetEase says Marvel Rivals has surpassed 40 million players
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/two-days-after-laying-off-us-based-developers-netease-says-marvel-rivals-has-surpassed-40-million-players/
Just days after confirming the layoff of employees at its Seattle studio, NetEase says its hit hero shooter Marvel Rivals has now surpassed 40 million players, and had climbed back to the top of the Steam charges on the strength of its first season in January.
"Marvel Rivals topped Steam’s global top sellers chart shortly after its launch on December 6, amassing over 10 million registered users within 72 hours and over 40 million to date," NetEase said in its Q4 2024 earnings release. "Its Season 1 update in January 2025 sparked another surge, claiming the No. 1 spots on Steam’s top sellers and most-played charts worldwide."

Payday 3 sales dropped off hard in 2024, but Starbreeze has hope for the future
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/payday-3-sales-dropped-off-hard-in-2024-but-starbreeze-has-hope-for-the-future/
After its rough launch, Payday 3 hasn't been bringing in the cash its developer might've hoped for, with Starbreeze reporting sales of $7.7 million in its 2024 financial year, down from $44.5 million in its launch year of 2023. To put that in perspective, the very much aged Payday 2 brought in $3.9 million in sales in FY2024—more than half of what its sequel managed despite releasing 10 years prior.
A report from Game Developer outlines the issues facing Starbreeze, drawing from its corporate fiscal reports to show the extent of Payday 3's poor performance. The game wasn't making corporate sales expectations in its launch year and surely didn't reach them last year, either. The troubles led to the early 2024 departure of its CEO.
All told, Starbreeze reported a full year loss of $18.5 million in 2024.
(...)
According to Starbreeze, things are looking up, however. They've got Payday collaborations with PUBG and Roblox. They've got it as a free game on PlayStation Plus for February—which they clearly hope will bring in some longer-term users to buy DLC.

The Humble Store has two new sales (with some titles available on both):

• The Chills and Thrills Sale has games up to 96% off during 6 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/chills-and-thrills-sale/
• And there’s also the Weekly Sale, also with up to 96% discounts during the same 6 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/on-sale-now/

Fanatical’s new Star Deal is DOOM Eternal Deluxe Edition, with a 79% deal during 24 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/doom-eternal-deluxe-edition

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

-Empty as well-

GAMING NEWS

-Borrowed from PCGamer-

'I expect a lot of people will hate it': PUBG creator Brendan Greene doesn't care if his new game is too hard for players to handle as long as it 'elicits a reaction'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/i-expect-a-lot-of-people-will-hate-it-pubg-creator-brendan-greene-doesnt-care-if-his-new-game-is-too-hard-for-players-to-handle-as-long-as-it-elicits-a-reaction/
Survival games aren't known to be easy; that's kind of the whole point, especially when you often find yourself in remote, unforgiving locations where you need to keep fed, hydrated, and protected from the elements and maybe some hostile mobs. But Prologue: Go Wayback! takes its difficulty to a whole new level.
"I like brutal games," PUBG creator Brendan Greene tells me. "I grew up with Doom and spent weeks trying to get past its levels. I want to make a space that is hard and difficult, because I do think a lot of gamers like that. Like, there's too much hand-holding, which is fine. But just my game won't have that option."
>> I don’t knw if they hate it or not, but some are finding creative ways to solve problems

Marvel Rivals players have discovered the Human Torch's weakest feature—his incredibly underwhelming Lord icon: 'They just flipped him sideways'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/marvel-rivals-players-have-discovered-the-human-torchs-weakest-feature-his-incredibly-underwhelming-lord-icon-they-just-flipped-him-sideways/
The Human Torch and The Thing are the two latest heroes set to arrive in Marvel Rivals in the second half of Season 1. Players will be able to check out these two members of the Fantastic Four for themselves when they get added to the game tomorrow, but despite Human Torch having one of the most OP abilities in the game, players are pretty underwhelmed by one of his main cosmetics.
>> As happens sometimes, that tomorrow is today.

Former Sony exec finally says the quiet part out loud: putting PlayStation games on PC is 'almost like printing money'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/former-sony-exec-finally-says-the-quiet-part-out-loud-putting-playstation-games-on-pc-is-almost-like-printing-money/
It's been an obvious truth for ages: console manufacturers have been missing out on fat stacks by not releasing their games on PC. Microsoft long ago gave up on pure Xbox exclusives, and is even releasing games on PlayStation now. Sony, meanwhile, has tacitly acknowledged the fact for years, steadily releasing its PS4 and PS5 back catalogue onto Steam, and then last year, releasing Helldivers 2 concurrently on both PS5 and PC to enormous success. Now, former Sony executive Shuhei Yoshida has come out and said it explicitly: releasing its games PC is a license for Sony to print money.