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

[JEMC]

Tuesday gaming news, part two:

After 3 years of bargaining with Microsoft, the Raven QA workers have secured their first union contract: 'Ratifying this contract is a win for game workers everywhere'
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/after-3-years-of-bargaining-with-microsoft-the-raven-qa-workers-have-secured-their-first-union-contract-ratifying-this-contract-is-a-win-for-game-workers-everywhere/
In 2022, quality assurance testers at Call of Duty studio Raven Software became the first union to organize at a major American games company as the Game Workers Alliance-CWA. Today, after three years of negotiation, GWA-CWA members voted to ratify their first contract between the union and Microsoft.

System Shock 2's alien 'sphincter doors' were made with photos from a dev's colonoscopy
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/system-shock-2s-alien-sphincter-doors-were-made-with-photos-from-a-devs-colonoscopy/
In the latest episode of Nightdive Studios' Deep Dive podcast, System Shock 2 artist and industry veteran Nate Wells shared stories of his time working on the PC gaming classic⁠—including how he sourced an unlikely art asset for the structures built by nasty worm aliens, The Many.
>> For the sake of many, I’ll leave it there. Read the rest of the article, or watch the podcast, if you want to know more.

Battlefield 6 producer says Bad Company 2 was a 'huge inspiration' for the new game, and you can't argue with his logic: 'When you look for excellence in our legacy, that's where you find it'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/battlefield-6-producer-says-bad-company-2-was-a-huge-inspiration-for-the-new-game-and-you-cant-argue-with-his-logic-when-you-look-for-excellence-in-our-legacy-thats-where-you-find-it/
Since we first started hearing about the game that would become Battlefield 6, EA has talked up its mission to recapture the "golden years" of Battlefields 3 and 4. While it's definitely on track to do that after my four hours of playtime last week, what revved me up was how much BF6 reminds me of Battlefield: Bad Company 2.
(...)
It's those infallible qualities, and particularly Bad Company 2's satisfying destruction, that served as a "huge inspiration" for Battlefield 6. That's according to DICE lead multiplayer producer Jeremy Chubb in an interview with PC Gamer at last week's BF6 event in Los Angeles.
>> By the way, people have started to worry about the weapon recoil in the game, for the wrong reasons

Larian celebrated a 'probably this time really maybe' defeat of Baldur's Gate 3's Zoom grandpa portrait glitch too soon, with the beloved bug already rising from the dead like a slasher villain
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/baldurs-gate/larian-celebrated-a-probably-this-time-really-maybe-defeat-of-baldurs-gate-3s-zoom-grandpa-portrait-glitch-too-soon-with-the-beloved-bug-already-rising-from-the-dead-like-a-slasher-villain/
First reported by GamesRadar, one of Baldur's Gate 3's most persistent bugs has once again resisted Larian's attempts to squash it, with players on the BG3 subreddit sharing screens of their companions staring flatly into the camera in their portraits.
>> Larian has released new stats of the game, in case you want to take a look.

Peak dev would rather you pirate Peak than play a 'microtransaction Roblox slop ripoff'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/peak-dev-would-rather-you-pirate-peak-than-play-a-microtransaction-roblox-slop-ripoff/
Peak was a surprise viral hit when it released for PC in June, and it's still consistently in the top 15 most-played Steam games. Like other contemporary indie breakthroughs such as R.E.P.O., Phasmophobia and Abiotic Factor, it kinda came out of nowhere. And also like those previous hits, its success has led to some flagrant clones on Roblox, which is seemingly the go-to place if you want to play a shittier version of almost any commercial game you could name in 2025.

Battlefield 6 devs have been 'closely tracking player behaviour' to perfect maps and change objective layouts ahead of launch
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/battlefield-6-devs-have-been-closely-tracking-player-behaviour-to-perfect-maps-and-change-objective-layouts-ahead-of-launch/
It seems like everyone and their mum is getting ready for Battlefield 6's open beta, which is taking place later this week, and needless to say, there's been a shedload of preparation that's gone into it, including some scientific map reworks.

Silent Hill f's director is breaking tradition by adding 'more entertaining and thrilling action' to appeal to younger audiences
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/silent-hill-fs-director-is-breaking-tradition-by-adding-more-entertaining-and-thrilling-action-to-appeal-to-younger-audiences/
Apparently, the kids love to fight—at least according to Silent Hill f director Al Yang and producer Motoi Okamoto. So to appeal to these new audiences, the next Silent Hill game will have fewer moody walks in the mist and more fights with a lead pipe.
>> Reaching for newer audiences isn’t easy. I hope they don’t scare the current one during their endeavor

Marvel Rivals 3.5 sneaks in one very minor change to appease those who hate the new end-of-match overview, and it works
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/marvel-rivals-3-5-sneaks-in-one-very-minor-change-to-appease-those-who-hate-the-new-end-of-match-overview-and-it-works/
After calls that Marvel Rivals' end-of-match screens were barebones, and that's if we're being generous, NetEase finally upgraded the UI with the launch of Season 3.0. In fact, it was one of my favourite additions, finally letting me track my level, battle pass, challenge, and accessory point progress, as well as all the events that are always going on, without needing to head back to the menu.