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

[JEMC]

Tuesday gaming news, part two:

Hearthstone's 'year of change' begins with a twist on one of WoW's biggest expansions, and a bucket of free cards
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/card-games/hearthstones-year-of-change-begins-with-a-twist-on-one-of-wows-biggest-expansions-and-a-bucket-of-free-cards/
Being set in the Warcraft universe lets Hearthstone's developers do pretty much whatever they want with familiar moments in its history, so its next expansion puts a dark spin on a critical time in World of Warcraft. Hearthstone: Cataclysm is what would've happened if the big evil dragon, Deathwing, took over WoW in 2010 and was never defeated by players.

Riot lays off 2XKO developers less than three weeks after release: 'Overall momentum hasn't reached the level needed to support a team of this size'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fighting/riot-lays-off-2xko-developers-less-than-three-weeks-after-release-overall-momentum-hasnt-reached-the-level-needed-to-support-a-team-of-this-size/
Just a few weeks after the official launch of its 2v2 fighting game 2XKO, Riot Games is reducing the size of its development team by nearly half and laying off employees.

Remedy's new CEO is a former sports betting guy and EA executive who aims to 'scale Remedy in a way that builds lasting value'
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/remedys-new-ceo-is-a-former-sports-betting-guy-and-ea-executive-who-aims-to-scale-remedy-in-a-way-that-builds-lasting-value/
Remedy Entertainment's new CEO is Jean-Charles Gaudechon, a former Electronic Arts and CCP Games executive who most recently headed up a couple of sports betting platforms.
Gaudechon is not a name you likely recognize from his time at EA or CCP, but Remedy said he "held senior executive positions with full P&L responsibility" at both companies—P&L being profit and loss—and right now, that's apparently what they're looking for.
>> Somehow, Remedy’s future seems somber today than it was yesterday.

One of the most underrated indie duos out there is making its 3rd game in as many years: An 'extreme stop motion horror' project that promises to be 'grossly fun but also stomach-churningly appalling'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/one-of-the-most-underrated-indie-duos-out-there-is-making-its-3rd-game-in-as-many-years-an-extreme-stop-motion-horror-project-that-promises-to-be-grossly-fun-but-also-stomach-churningly-appalling/
Indie team Talha Kaya and Jack King-Spooner, known for their surreal, stop-motion animated games, are going for the threepeat: Their third new game in as many years is Abide, an unnerving horror-mystery set in a sinister country retreat for mentally unwell patients.

Valheim devs have been working on a first-person co-op dungeon-crawler 'in the evenings and on weekends,' and you can try it now on Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/valheim-devs-have-been-working-on-a-first-person-co-op-dungeon-crawler-in-the-evenings-and-on-weekends-and-you-can-try-it-now-on-steam/
It's been a minute since Valheim launched into early access, if "a minute" can mean "almost exactly five years." While the Viking survival game has grown considerably since February 2021 with new biomes and bosses, and work continues on the final "Deep North" biome, some of Valheim's developers have also been using their spare time for something completely new.
Begraved is a first-person co-op dungeon-crawler three of Valheim's developers have been working on "in the evenings and on weekends," and its demo just landed on Steam. Described by its community manager in an announcement video as "Lethal Company but it's medieval," Begraved sends you into dark crypts to rob the dead because "the Taxman always comes for his due." Sounds ominous!

Finally, a fantasy game filled with adorable gnomes that you can punch right in their adorable faces
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/finally-a-fantasy-game-filled-with-adorable-gnomes-that-you-can-punch-right-in-their-adorable-faces/
A peaceful fantasy realm. A lush and gentle forest. Hark! Mythical creatures wander hither and thither: gnomes! Tiny and cute, with their pointy red hats and bushy little beards, gnomes inhabit this serene forest glade, harmlessly communing with nature.
That is until you show up and start punching them in their adorable little faces.
In the Steam demo for Fight-Quest, the titular quest to dome some gnomes is given to me by a wizard, one who admittedly looks pretty evil and is clearly up to no good. He explains to me that he's unhappy the little gnomes have moved into his corner of the forest, and would like me to convince them to scram. His suggestion: punch one in the face. I agree that it seems like a solid plan.

Monster Hunter Wilds will get a 'large scale expansion' in the style of Iceborne and Sunbreak, as it winds down major content updates to the base game
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/monster-hunter-wilds-will-get-a-large-scale-expansion-in-the-style-of-iceborne-and-sunbreak-as-it-winds-down-major-content-updates-to-the-base-game/
Monster Hunter Wilds producer Ryozo Tsujimoto has confirmed a major expansion is coming, mirroring in scope the Iceborne and Sunbreak expansions for Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise. He announced as much during a first anniversary video outlining additions in the forthcoming 1.041 update, which will serve as the last major content update to the standalone game.

Overwatch fans and voice actress call for a redesign of its newest hero: 'This concern is important, this is a hill worth dying on'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/overwatch-fans-and-voice-actress-call-for-a-redesign-of-its-newest-hero-this-concern-is-important-this-is-a-hill-worth-dying-on/
Blizzard has chopped the 2 off of Overwatch with what looks to be its biggest season ever, but what's really dominating the discourse is the design of its newest Chinese damage hero, Anran.
Overwatch's female hero designs have skewed young and conventionally attractive for a long time, but Anran's stood out because her in-game appearance looks dramatically different from how she looked when Blizzard introduced her in a recent animated short. And it doesn't help that she's the third Asian woman with a face that is almost interchangeable with the other Asian characters Kiriko and Juno.
Recent updates
In a video on X, game director Aaron Keller confirmed that the team is "hoping to make" an update to Anran's design in season 1 at a later date.

I think Minecraft's next update might literally just feature new baby mobs, and I'm not actually that mad about it
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/i-think-minecrafts-next-update-might-literally-just-feature-new-baby-mobs-and-im-not-actually-that-mad-about-it/
When Minecraft revealed its first drop of 2026 with a cast of adorable new baby mob designs, I knew we were in for a treat. As much as I love the animals in the overworld, the fact that the baby ones are just smaller versions of the adults with incredibly large heads never sat right with me. So, knowing they've got an all-new look coming in the first update for the year is definitely something I'm looking forward to.
Courtesy of a series of blog posts shared no the official Minecraft news blog, it seems this new look isn't limited to a handful of mobs either. Initially, only eight mobs were shared: pigs, cows, chickens, wolves, sheep, ocelots, cats, and rabbits. Now, though, it's been announced that foxes, turtles, axolotls, polar bears, camels, bees, mountain goats, llamas, and armadillos will be receiving the same treatment, too. So basically, every animal you can find in the overworld is getting this treatment.

Arc Raiders' PvE mode goes live today: 'This is an opportunity to team up in the fight against the machines'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/arc-raiders-pve-mode-goes-live-today-this-is-an-opportunity-to-team-up-in-the-fight-against-the-machines/
If you boil it down, there are only two kinds of Arc Raiders players: those who like helping one another in the face of certain death and huge arcs, and those who prefer PvP. It seems to be quite a divisive choice within the community, but now there'll be a mode specifically for those who'd rather fight the arcs instead of each other.
Shared Watch is a new annual holiday event "that reminds us of the true enemy, by celebrating those that look out for their fellow raiders," an official blog post says. "Tolerate, team-up, or take out some Arc—it's all in the spirit of the Shared Watch."
>> Meanwhile, the game has another duplication glitch, but this time it’s about ziplines and Trigger 'Nades (link)

Cult of the Lamb's Woolhaven is inspired by the likes of The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine and Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree: 'We wanted to make it a real chunky experience'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/cult-of-the-lambs-woolhaven-dlc-is-inspired-by-the-likes-of-the-witcher-3-blood-and-wine-and-elden-ring-shadow-of-the-erdtree-we-wanted-to-make-it-a-real-chunky-experience/
I'm a huge fan of Cult of the Lamb, and even still, Woolhaven managed to exceed my expectations. Providing two new dungeons, a massive cult expansion, and a gripping story. There's a lot on offer here, more than most players expected to have. But it's something that Massive Monster has planned to do for quite some time now.

It's going to take you over 500 hours to 100% complete Mewgenics, according to creator Edmund McMillen
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/its-going-to-take-you-over-500-hours-to-100-percent-complete-mewgenics-according-to-creator-edmund-mcmillen/
By the time I came to post my Mewgenics review, I had over 100 hours logged in the game—and I knew I still wasn't completely done. Now, at about 115, I can at least see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to finishing off the main questline, but apparently I've still got a long, long way to go before I hit 100%.
According to creator Edmund McMillen, speaking in an AMA on the Steam Deck subreddit, "It will take an average player about 200+ hours to 'beat the game' and 500+ hours to 100%". Hoo boy.

Arrowhead wants Helldivers 2's assault on Cyberstan to really sell the promise of the Galactic War: 'We don't know how it will play out. We don't know if they will win'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/arrowhead-wants-helldivers-2s-assault-on-cyberstan-to-really-sell-the-promise-of-the-galactic-war-we-dont-know-how-it-will-play-out-we-dont-know-if-they-will-win/
One of the biggest draws towards Helldivers 2 is the Galactic War—a high-concept metagame that sees the entire community taking objectives, defending planets, and securing story-relevant goals to shape the fate of the galaxy itself. Or at least, that's the premise.
Throughout the game's lifespan, it's been occasionally called into question. Take the Menkent Line, for example, which had players disillusioned with the whole exercise back in April 2024 because the sleight-of-hand involved in ensuring players get cool stuff regardless of whether or not they win is vital.
Things have steadily improved, though. The Battle for Super Earth genuinely threatened the galaxy's base of operations entirely—leading to a potential Helldivers 1-style reset if the playerbase beefed it and, in a recent interview with IGN, game director Mikael Eriksson hopes the current update's march on Cyberstan, home of the Automatons (and now Cyborgs), will be similar.