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

[JEMC]

The news, part two:

PCG's best city builder of 2024 is adding a map with a gigantic hill in the middle: the perfect spot for your next castle
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/pcgs-best-city-builder-of-2024-is-adding-a-map-with-a-gigantic-hill-in-the-middle-the-perfect-spot-for-your-next-castle/
Manor Lords was the best city builder of 2024, even if the game remains in early access, and studio Slavic Magic, aka developer Greg Styczeń, has revealed what it's been working on for the game's next major update: a new map, castle planner changes, and a progression system rework.

'I was recklessly brave to even think about creating a game of this scale': Inzoi director admits he now sees 'why so few companies have attempted to develop a life simulation game'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/i-was-recklessly-brave-to-even-think-about-creating-a-game-of-this-scale-inzoi-director-admits-he-now-sees-why-so-few-companies-have-attempted-to-develop-a-life-simulation-game/
Inzoi director Hyungjun 'Kjun' Kim has not been quiet about how difficult developing a life sim has been. He's repeatedly lavished praise on The Sims for seemingly achieving the impossible for the last 20 years, and called developing Inzoi "an entirely new frontier and a significant challenge" despite having over two decades of game development experience to back him up.
With Inzoi's release finally on the horizon—yup, after a delay last year, it's actually launching in early access this month—Kjun did some reflecting on his past, plucky self in his final Kjun's Concerns column on the official Inzoi Discord.

It's another day of Disco Elysium-related announcements trying to kneecap each other: Studio ZA/UM has put out a teaser for its first new game since 2019, and it's not Disco Elysium 2
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/its-another-day-of-disco-elysium-related-announcements-trying-to-kneecap-each-other-studio-za-um-has-put-out-a-teaser-for-its-first-new-game-since-2019-and-its-not-disco-elysium-2/
At literally the exact same time that Disco Elysium-like RPG Hopetown⁠—which has its own issues, believe me⁠—released a new trailer, embattled Disco Elysium studio ZA/UM came in with the steel chair: A first teaser for its own follow-up game, codenamed project C4.

How long can a live service game last? Theoretically, 'forever,' says Mecha Break developer: 'The last game I was in charge of has been alive and well for 16 years'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/how-long-can-a-live-service-game-last-theoretically-forever-says-mecha-break-developer-the-last-game-i-was-in-charge-of-has-been-alive-and-well-for-16-years/
It seems like the number of live service games that fall flat is eclipsing the number of games that retain a large enough player base to stay online for more than a year. MultiVersus, Babylon's Fall, Spellbreak, Rumbleverse, Concord, and others have all launched and shut down within the last two years. It's hard to know how long a live service game will last in the cutthroat environment the game industry finds itself in today.
For Mecha Break developer Amazing Seasun, the hope is that their Gundam-inspired mecha battler will remain online indefinitely.
"Theoretically a game can survive in perpetuity, forever," Amazing Seasun CEO Kris Kwok said via translator at a Mecha Break event held just prior to the start of the open beta in February. "[I've] been in the game design industry for 21 years, the last game I was in charge of has been alive and well for 16 years."
>> He’s talking about a Chinese MMORPG.

The best baseball player alive is coming to Fortnite, and so is his dog
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/battle-royale/the-best-baseball-player-alive-is-coming-to-fortnite-and-so-is-his-dog/
Debating baseball is almost as much fun as playing baseball, but there's one point that's beyond all discussion: Shohei Otani is the best player in the world right now, and it's not even close. Which makes it appropriate that Otani will become the first Major League Baseball player to be added to Fortnite's Icon Series.

World of Warcraft guild uses exploits to get world 'first' on the game's new raid, gets banned, puts its name backwards and does it again
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/world-of-warcraft/world-of-warcraft-guild-uses-exploits-to-get-world-first-on-the-games-new-raid-gets-banned-puts-its-name-backwards-and-does-it-again/
WoW's new patch, Undermine(d), opened the gates to its new raid recently. Which means, as is tradition, a race to Mythic world first has begun. While guilds have been wearing their keyboards and MMO mouses to the bone to have the honour of being the first to punch Gallywix and his dumb tophat into the stratosphere on the raid's hardest difficulty, there's been a jester doing a silly little jig in the hardcore raider's court.

BlizzCon 2025 isn't happening, meaning the event will miss its 20th anniversary, but it will return in 2026 to 'meaningfully elevate this iconic celebration'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/blizzcon-2025-isnt-happening-meaning-the-event-will-miss-its-20th-anniversary-but-it-will-return-in-2026-to-meaningfully-elevate-this-iconic-celebration/
It's good news and bad news for Blizzard fans. The bad news is that BlizzCon is skipping 2025, making it the second year running the convention hasn't transpired, and the fifth time since 2020 that BlizzCon had not held a live event. The good news is that BlizzCon is definitely happening in 2026, with Blizzard providing dates, a location, and even a few details.

Should Age of Empires and Quake be in the 'World Video Game Hall of Fame'? You can vote for them to be inducted this year
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/should-age-of-empires-and-quake-be-in-the-world-video-game-hall-of-fame-you-can-vote-for-them-to-be-inducted-this-year/
The Strong National Museum of Play has announced their annual candidates for induction into the World Video Game Hall of Fame. This year the complete list of nominees includes Age of Empires, Angry Birds, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007), Defender, Frogger, Goldeneye 007, Golden Tee, Harvest Moon, Mattel Football, NBA 2K, Quake, and Tamagotchi.

No Rest for the Wicked developer Moon Studios is now 'fully independent' after acquiring the rights to the game from Take-Two
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/no-rest-for-the-wicked-developer-moon-studios-is-now-fully-independent-after-acquiring-the-rights-to-the-game-from-take-two/
The fallout from Take-Two Interactive's selloff of its Private Division publishing label continued today as Moon Studios announced that it has acquired the rights to its latest game, No Rest for the Wicked, and is now "fully independent."

Oops! Bungie rolled out Destiny 2's Rite of the Nine event three weeks early, and new loot is already dropping
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/oops-bungie-rolled-out-destiny-2s-rite-of-the-nine-event-three-weeks-early-and-new-loot-is-already-dropping/
Destiny 2 players got an exciting taste of the future when the Rite of the Nine event, which is set to go live on April 1 alongside the Heresy Act 3, went live today instead. Whoops.