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

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It’s time for the Friday gaming news:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

The Humble Store has launched its Lunar New Year Winter Sale 2026, featuring up to 97% discounts during the next 20 days (not for all the deals): https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/lunar-new-year-sale-2026/

Fanatical has three new deals to share:

• The new Star Deal is Town to City, 34% off during 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/town-to-city
• Frontier Developments puts its games on sale with discounts that go from 10 to … 13%. And there’s no mention of when the deals will end: https://www.fanatical.com/en/publishers/frontier-developments
• And the Safe In Our World Charity Bundle (2026) features 22 games and will last 21 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/safe-in-our-world-charity-bundle-2026

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

'We’re not planning on making absolute statements in either direction,' GOG boss says about generative AI, leading supporters to make some absolute statements in one very specific direction: 'Absolutely terrible response'
https://www.pcgamer.com/software/ai/were-not-planning-on-making-absolute-statements-in-either-direction-gog-boss-says-about-generative-ai-leading-supporters-to-make-some-absolute-statements-in-one-very-specific-direction-absolutely-terrible-response/
There was a bit of a blowup in January when GOG forum users noticed a sale banner that appeared to be AI generated. In response to the initial allegations, forum member KosmicznaPluskwa, whose avatar indicates they're a senior graphics designer and member of the GOG team, confirmed that the banner "is fully AI," although they declined to go into further detail because they're not a company spokesperson and "like being employed."
Here's the banner in question, courtesy of GamingOnLinux:
*** the banner would go here, but I won’t post it***
GOG itself declined to comment officially in the immediate wake of the controversy, although a rep did say the company was "aware of the conversations happening around this topic and the assumptions that can go with it." Now it has made a statement on the matter, though, as part of an AMA on Reddit—but the company's response isn't satisfying everyone.
"We’re not planning on making absolute statements in either direction," GOG managing director Maciej Gołębiewski wrote. "AI tools are one of many technologies we test and try out, and in some contexts it genuinely helps us push the company (and the mission) forward.
"What we will change, though, is how and where those tools are used; we understand that using new technology doesn’t mean skipping human judgment."

Steam Proton will no longer forget the entire reason it exists if you have a humungous library, as of the most recent client beta
https://www.pcgamer.com/software/platforms/steam-proton-will-no-longer-forget-the-entire-reason-it-exists-if-you-have-a-humungous-library-as-of-the-most-recent-client-beta/
The thing about Linux is: it's cool, and very interesting and beautiful people use it. I've been running Fedora 43 on my main machine for a few months now and, to be honest? It's easy. Almost boringly easy. I got into all this expecting to have to wrestle the OS' peccadilloes into submission, but aside from minor tinkering to get proprietary Nvidia drivers and codecs installed, it's been smooth sailing.
Imagine my disappointment. And now, as of the most recent Steam beta update, there's even less Linux weirdness to deal with when you slip free of the shackles of Windows. As of yesterday's Steam (and Steam Deck) client beta update, Valve has put paid to a bug that meant the platform would sometimes forget it can run Windows games on Linux. Cut it some slack; it's 23 years old.
The bug in question afflicted users with especially large libraries—though Valve doesn't say how large—and would "result in Proton games showing up as 'Not valid on current platform'". Which rather defeats the whole point of Proton—Valve's fancy, WINE-based compatibility layer that lets Windows-only games run on your Linux distro of choice.
Which is rather good news. Also bundled into the beta are fixes for the client's downloads view "when moving game entries between scheduled and queued sections," gyro fixes, repairs for "an issue with Switch Pro Controller Home LEDs turning on when disabled," and those rascally ABXY button options should no longer go missing from your configs.
>> Were any of you affected?

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Quake 3 Arena RTX Remix Mod V1.2 Remasters Three New Maps
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/quake-3-arena-rtx-remix-mod-v1-2-remasters-three-new-maps/
Modder ‘woodboy90’ has released a new version of his RTX Remix Path Tracing Mod for Quake 3: Arena. According to the release notes, Version 1.2 remasters three more maps for id Software’s classic multiplayer arena shooter.
Going into more details, Patch 1.2 remasters the q3tourney1, q3dm3, and q3dm17 maps. So, this means that the mod now has improved six maps in total.
Moreover, Update 1.2 brings improvements to the normal and height map textures, as well as to the lighting. It also improves the quality of four new character models. In total, the mod has improved eighteen character models. Furthermore, it improves the quality of eight weapons.
It’s also worth noting that it’s now easier to install the mod. All you have to do is copy all original Quake III .pk3 files ( pak0.pk3 – pak8.pk3 ) from your Quake III Arena installation into the baseq3 folder. Then, you’ll have to run q3rtx.exe once, and that will be it.
You can go ahead and download the latest version of the Quake 3: Arena RTX Remix Mod from this link. At the end of the article, you can also find a trailer for it.

Half Life 2: Raising the Bar REDUX Update 3.1 Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/half-life-2-raising-the-bar-redux-update-3-1-released/
The Raising the Bar Redux Team has released Update 3.1 for Half Life 2: Raising the Bar REDUX, which brings over 100 fixes. So, let’s take a closer look at it.
For those who don’t know, Half-Life 2 – Raising the Bar: Redux is a mod that brings back content that was cut from the original game. The team behind it mixes different versions of Half-Life 2’s early development with their own ideas, creating a unique and fresh take on the cut content.
Patch 3.1 fixes a bunch of small visual issues. Some custom Combine metal textures were way too shiny, so that’s now fixed. The update also corrects the surface properties of certain sand textures and tones down the cubemaps on the Depot model.
It also fixes broken UVs on the Cremator tank and the strange-looking GR9 world model. Missing cubemaps have been repaired as well. And good news for AMD users – this patch also fixes some rendering issues that could happen on AMD hardware.
Update 3.1 also brings some nice gameplay improvements. The Bullsquid AI has been updated so they will now back off when they have no attacks left. The Sandbarnacle’s idle behavior has been improved too. It will no longer glue you to the floor if it dies right before grabbing you. It also has extra effects when it kills prey, and its grab range has been increased. The patch also raises the max FOV to 105. Egg clutches in the Antlion caves can now be thrown farther with the gravity gun, and Combine power batteries can finally be picked up without using the gravity gun.
Those interested can download Half Life 2: Raising the Bar REDUX V3.1 from this link.
To install it, you’ll first need to download Source SDK Base 2013 Singleplayer. Once you have installed it, you’ll need to right-click in your library and select properties. Navigate to the “betas” tab and select the branch as “upcoming”. Unzip the downloaded zip file. Drag the RaisingTheBarRedux_Release folder and its contents into your Sourcemods folder in your root Steam directory (i.e., the drive where Steam is installed, not a SteamLibrary folder). Restart Steam and the mod should now appear in your Steam library.
>> The article has an over 5 minutes video.

GAMING NEWS

Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection PC Demo Released
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/monster-hunter-stories-3-twisted-reflection-pc-demo-released/
Capcom has just released a PC demo for Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. This demo will let you play the beginning portion of the game for free. It will also let you test the game and see whether your PC can run it.

Second Features Trailer for Crimson Desert Highlights Combat and Progression Systems
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/second-features-trailer-for-crimson-desert-highlights-combat-and-progression-systems/
Pearl Abyss has released the second Features trailer for Crimson Desert. This new trailer focuses on the game’s combat and progression systems. It covers how you’ll unlock skills, upgrade equipment, face the threats of Pywel, and grow into a formidable fighter.

Another Eden Begins is a new time-travelling JRPG from the writer of Chrono Trigger and Xenogears
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/another-eden-begins-is-a-new-time-travelling-jrpg-from-the-writer-of-chrono-trigger-and-xenogears/
Wright Flyer Studios has announced that its new time-travelling JRPG, Another Eden Begins, will be released in Summer 2026. To celebrate this announcement, the team shared the game’s debut trailer, which you can find below.

Echo Isle is a Game Boy Color Zelda-like game for PC – Demo Out
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/echo-isle-is-a-game-boy-color-zelda-like-game-for-pc-demo-out/
Josh Koenig Games has released a demo for his upcoming Game Boy Color Zelda-like game for PC, Echo Isle. This demo will let you experience the early parts of the game before purchasing it.