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

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Let’s go with the Monday news!

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

After only 31 days, the breakout WarioWare-like game Mindwave has raised over $440,000 thanks to a brilliant demo, which you can still play now
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/puzzle/after-only-31-days-the-breakout-warioware-like-game-mindwave-has-raised-over-usd440-000-thanks-to-a-brilliant-demo-which-you-can-still-play-now/
Mindwave is an upcoming WarioWare-like game in which players join a giant game show. They must master various minigames and slowly climb the levels in hopes of winning the cash prize of $10 million (in the game, not real life, sadly).
Despite not being able to beat the final-level boss, I loved my time with the demo. The level that I came across was inspired by one of the other contestants in the game show, whom I had met in the lobby beforehand. All of her minigames were cute, high-octane fun, like trying to grab a cat that was dashing across the screen, attempting to catch sweets that were falling from the sky, and even beating someone else at Tetris.
But I wasn't the only one who enjoyed tackling the weird and wonderful minigames. Last month's demo received over 4,000 Overwhelmingly Positive reviews on Steam, and players enjoyed it so much that the game's Kickstarter campaign exceeded its original fundraising goal of $40,000.
The funding period lasted from January 14 to February 14, and within this time, it managed to raise $443,442. The initial goal was to raise just $40,000, but then there were stretch goals beyond that which, if achieved, would bring something new to the game. $60,000 would allow the devs to implement gamepad support. $90,000 would add an extra microgame collection, which could only be unlocked after beating the main story. Then, the higher goals of $120,000, $160,000, and $200,000 all promised to add substantial features like multiple DLCs and Steam Workshop modding.
But the top goal of $260,000 offers the most interesting new feature, an online versus mode. "A 1v1 online versus mode where you can play through your opponent's minigames," the description says. "Perform well enough to throw off their flow and win! This mode will be released post-launch as a free update." I'm not sure whether this would essentially work like Mario Maker in that players can make their own microgames, or if you can select pre-made options, but a 1v1 mode for a game as chaotic as this one sure sounds fun. The developers also outlined how the money raised via the Kickstarter will be spent. Over half will go directly to development, 29% for taxes, 10% for rewards, and 9% for fees. But while everything seems pretty well planned out, with all the upcoming content and fund allocation, the developers want to point out that things can go wrong during game development, so players need to manage their expectations.

Steam has quite a few deals/sales:

• The Forgive Me Father franchise is on sale, up to 50% off until the 28th of February: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/Forgivemefather2025
• My Child Lebensborn Remastered, that has a demo, will be 50% off until the 2nd of March: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2430730/My_Child_Lebensborn_Remastered/
• Source of Madness will have an 80% discount until the 9th of March: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1315610/Source_of_Madness/
• Here are the sales:
• The GamesAid Charity Sale comes with up to 95% discounts. The Sale will last until the 3rd of March, but some deals will end by February 27: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44589593/sale/GamesAidCharitySale2025
• I don’t know why it doesn’t have its own main sale as other times, but the Deckbuilding Carnival has everything fans of the genre want, including demos and games up to 90% off. The length of the deals vary, from the 27th of February until the 7th of March or even more: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/39565327/sale/DeckbuildingCarnival
• Assemble Entertainment puts its games on sale with up to 95% discounts. The length of the deals vary from game to game, from March 3, to the 5th and also the 9th, maybe even longer: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/assemblepublishersale2025
• The Baltic Showcase Devgamm 2025 has lots of games, and some are on sale, up to 50% off. The event will last until the 1st of March, but the length of the deals vary once again, with some lasting until at least the 8th: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/balticshowcasedevgamm

Fanatical has a new Star Deal is Kingdom Come: Deliverance - Royal Edition, with an 86% discount during 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/kingdom-come-deliverance-royal-edition

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Nothing to see-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Oblivion Remake in Skyrim, Skyblivion, gets new 40-minute gameplay video
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/oblivion-remake-in-skyrim-skyblivion-gets-new-40-minute-gameplay-video/
The team behind the highly anticipated remake of Oblivion in Skyrim, Skyblivion, has shared a new 40-minute gameplay video from it. This video will give you a glimpse at the latest build of this total conversion mod. As such, I highly recommend watching it.
Skyblivion aims to bring The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion to a new generation of gamers and welcome back longtime fans of the series. This cool mod will work with both Skyrim Legacy Edition and Skyrim Special Edition. It’s one of the most exciting mods out there, showing what modders can do when they put their minds to it. And, even in its WIP state, it looks great.
When Skyblivion comes out, you’ll be able to pick and choose what parts you want to install. You can decide to install things like Landscaping, Interiors, City improvements, and Weapons/Armor. In theory, this will allow the team to finish the mod more quickly. It’s like customizing your game the way you want it.
Skyblivion has been in the works for some time, and its team is aiming to release it in 2025. Yep, you read that right. We will finally be able to test a version of this mod in 2025.

Portal Randomized mixes up Valve's beloved puzzler by turning the floor into lava and filling chambers with a deadly neurotoxin
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/puzzle/portal-randomized-mixes-up-valves-beloved-puzzler-by-turning-the-floor-into-lava-and-filling-chambers-with-a-deadly-neurotoxin/
I would still count Portal as one of my favourite games, but truth be told I haven't been back to it for a while. Having played it countless times since it launched, I feel like I've simply wrung it dry. Sure, it's fun to drop back in to hear GLaDOS' withering putdowns or just enjoy its general atmosphere. But I know most of its beats off by heart, and I could solve its chambers with the lights turned out.
Or at least, that's what I thought.
Portal Randomized is, by Valve modding community standards, incredibly simple. It takes Valve's classic puzzler and adds a bunch of different variables that can occur in its test chambers. For example, it might fill the room with deadly neurotoxin, giving you just seconds to solve it. Or it might transform the chamber floor into a roiling lava pit that you have to cross by hopping between rocks. The one that really threw me is arguably the simplest of all, a randomiser that blinks the lights on and off every few seconds. Simply trying to get through the second chamber, which changes the exit of a fixed portal every few seconds, is incredibly difficult with this added disorienting effect.
Given Portal's famously meticulous craft, throwing in a bunch of randomisers like this might seem like sacrilege. But I think the specificity of Portal's design is precisely why it works. Much like Grand Theft Auto 5's chaos mod, adding these goofy random effects to a game that is so intensely authored and equally familiar can help you perceive it in a whole new light. I still enjoy vanilla Portal, but it doesn't excite me any more. With this though, I found myself enjoying the challenge of its puzzles all over again.
Currently, Portal Randomized is only playable as a demo, which provides the first two chambers to experiment with. But this is enough to communicate the potential in the idea. What it needs now, apart from to be finished, is two things. First, it needs a lot more variables. There are quite a few already, but maximising the number of effects is what will transform it from a fun novelty into something more essential. Second, it needs some general tightening up. One round I played spawned a zombie outside of Chell's sleeping enclosure, and the zombie managed to damage me through the glass, which wasn't ideal.
>> The article only has one screenshot, and it doesn’t help much.

GAMING NEWS

30 minutes of gameplay from Gothic 1 Remake in Unreal Engine 5
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/30-minutes-of-gameplay-from-gothic-1-remake-in-unreal-engine-5/
THQ Nordic announced that it will release a free demo for Gothic 1 Remake on February 24th. Gothic 1 Remake is powered by Unreal Engine 5, and its upcoming demo will let you explore Nyras Prologue.
What’s interesting to note is that this demo is not a part of the game. Instead, this is a special demo that aims to showcase the world, mechanics, and atmosphere of the remake.
>> Weird demo that you’ll be able to try today.

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Remastered PC Requirements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/onimusha-2-samurais-destiny-remastered-pc-requirements/
Capcom has revealed the official PC system requirements for Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Remastered. And, in case you’re wondering, yes. The game will be using the Denuvo anti-tamper tech.

Avowed Title Update 1.2.3 Released, Full Patch Notes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/avowed-title-update-1-2-3-released-full-patch-notes/
In just a matter of days, Obsidian released a new update for its latest RPG, Avowed. Title Update 1.2.3 packs over 80 fixes, tweaks and changes, and Obsidian has shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what it brings to the table.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Hotfix 1.1.2 Released & Detailed
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/kingdom-come-deliverance-2-hotfix-1-1-2-released-detailed/
Warhorse Studios has released Hotfix 1.1.2 for its latest RPG, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. This update brings key stability improvements, quest fixes, and platform-specific adjustments. So, let’s take a closer look at it.

Ray Tracing & Non-RT PC Requirements for Lost Soul Aside
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/ray-tracing-non-rt-pc-requirements-for-lost-soul-aside/
Sony and Ultizero Games have revealed the official Ray Tracing and non-RT PC requirements for Lost Soul Aside. Lost Soul Aside will be powered by Unreal Engine 4, so let’s see what kind of PC you’ll need to run it.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater Official PC Requirements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/metal-gear-solid-delta-snake-eater-official-pc-requirements/
Konami has revealed the official PC system requirements for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater via the game’s Steam page. So, let’s see what PC system you’ll need to run it.