Friday news, part two:

Outriders unlock time and day-one patch plan revealed
https://www.pcgamer.com/outriders-unlock-time-day-one-patch/
With Outriders now just one week away from its April 1 (no joke) release, People Can Fly and Square Enix have detailed exactly what players can look forward to when it goes live: How the full version will differ from the demo, what's planned for patches and post-launch support, and, of course, information on specific unlock times.

Outriders will 'permanently' brand cheaters with shameful on-screen watermarks
https://www.pcgamer.com/outriders-brand-cheaters-watermark/
Outriders players do not want to get on People Can Fly's bad side. In a recent dev update looking forward to next week's launch, the studio revealed that cheating in Outriders will not only earn you stiff matchmaking penalties, but also a "discreet but visible" watermark that will never go away. Brands over bans, basically.

Risk of Rain 2's big Anniversary Update includes a very cool space cowboy
https://www.pcgamer.com/risk-of-rain-2s-big-anniversary-update-includes-a-very-cool-space-cowboy/
I don't need much of an excuse to play more Risk of Rain 2, a game I played a hell of a lot of in 2020. The Anniversary Update, released Thursday to celebrate the Early Access launch two years ago, is quite a good one, though. It adds a new playable character, the Bandit, who returns from the original 2D Risk of Rain many years ago. And there's a lot more: New skills for several of the existing characters, more items, and a reworked final stage.

Riot begins hiring for its League of Legends MMO
https://www.pcgamer.com/riot-begins-hiring-for-its-league-of-legends-mmo/
In December 2020, Riot's vice president of IP and entertainment Greg Street revealed, with absolutely no pomp or circumstances whatsoever, that the studio is working on a League of Legends MMO. Riot later confirmed his just-tweeted-it-out announcement, although it appeared to suggest that the project was still in the very early stages at that point, saying that Street "will be working on a massively multiplayer online roleplaying game."
Now we can get a somewhat closer look at what Riot has in store, courtesy of worldofruneterra.com, which leads to a recruiting website for Riot's MMO. It also confirms that the wheels are just starting to turn on development.

World of Warcraft players are confused and angry at Blizzard for removing options for purchasing game time
https://www.pcgamer.com/world-of-warcraft-players-are-confused-and-angry-at-blizzard-for-removing-options-for-purchasing-game-time/
Blizzard just announced some significant changes to how World of Warcraft players can purchase game time, and players aren't happy about it. In a forum post, WoW community manager Bornakk broke the news that, going forward, players would only be able to purchase game time for World of Warcraft in increments of 60 days, meaning you can no longer make a one-time purchase for 30, 90, and 180 days of World of Warcraft game time.

Biomutant’s feral fighting shown off in new gameplay trailer
https://www.pcgamer.com/biomutants-feral-fighting-shown-off-in-new-gameplay-trailer/
No one’s surprised that mammalian action RPG Biomutant has fighting, but now we’ve got a special trailer showcasing it. As you can see above, it’s pretty much what you’d expect from a game with a whiff of the ‘90s mascot platformer about it: the raccoon-like protagonist bashes things with various melee weapons, shoots them with various ballistic weaponry, and has a knack for aerial combat.

Check out the pixel art animation in parkour platformer Savior
https://www.pcgamer.com/check-out-the-pixel-art-animation-in-parkour-platformer-savior/
Starsoft Entertainment shared an in-depth look at its upcoming action-platformer Savior at the Future Games Show today, showcasing combat, movement, and story in a beautiful two-dimensional fantasy world torn between the Chosen and the Fallen. You can watch the full developer presentation above or on YouTube.

Hidden Deep is a brutal tribute to every '80s sci-fi movie
https://www.pcgamer.com/hidden-deep-is-a-brutal-tribute-to-every-80s-sci-fi-movie/
Inspired by atmospheric '80s sci-fi movies, particularly The Thing and Alien, Hidden Deep is an unforgiving side-scrolling survival horror game that looks pretty terrifying. Set in a massive subterranean research facility, you and your team have to deal with gross aliens, bottomless chasms, faulty electronics, jammed doors, and other dangers lurking in the shadows. It's part puzzle game, part survival horror, with neat physics-based character movement.

Aiko's Choice is a sneaky new standalone expansion for Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
https://www.pcgamer.com/embargoed-aikos-choice-is-a-sneaky-new-standalone-expansion-for-shadow-tactics-blades-of-the-shogun/
We loved tactical stealth game Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, awarding it 92% in our review and calling it "complex without being too complicated" and "characterful and user-friendly enough that even the stealth-averse might find something to tempt them into the shadows."
The next chapter, named Aiko's Choice, is not a sequel, but a standalone expansion, meaning you don't need to own the original game to play it. The expansion focuses on one of the original game's main characters, Aiko, a master of camouflage and distraction who can disguise herself as a geisha.

Of Bird and Cage is a hectic metal-themed adventure game coming in May
https://www.pcgamer.com/of-bird-and-cage-is-a-hectic-metal-themed-adventure-game-coming-in-may/
Heavy metal concept albums are indisputably the highest form of art, so it makes sense that someone would want to make a heavy metal concept album that is also a game (the other highest form of art). That’s what Of Bird and Cage is, and it’s releasing on Steam on May 20.

Carve up bodies and hoover up the blood in Serial Cleaners
https://www.pcgamer.com/carve-up-bodies-and-hoover-up-the-blood-in-serial-cleaners/
Serial Cleaners has made a right bloody mess tonight, readers. But Draw Distance's bloody crime scene cleaner is doing its best to tidy up the place. Hopefully before any cops show up and start asking questions.

Humankind aims to tell 'historically authentic' stories with diplomacy options
https://www.pcgamer.com/humankind-diplomacy-system/
Humankind won't be out as soon as we expected: The grand strategy game, which is clearly trying to elbow into Civilization's territory, has been delayed from April to August. Diplomacy is one of the systems the developers at Amplitude say they're putting more work into during those extra months, and it was discussed in a video shown today at the Future Games Show. You can watch it above or on YouTube.

Multiplayer FPS Sub Rosa has come out of hiding with a publicly listed Steam page
https://www.pcgamer.com/multiplayer-fps-sub-rosa-has-come-out-of-hiding-with-a-publicly-listed-steam-page/
Sub Rosa has been available for years and years, but quietly, with a bit of mystery about it. The multiplayer FPS was added to Steam in 2017, but remained unlisted, so that it wouldn't come up in search. According to publisher Devolver, it acquired 50,000 players over the past four years "through word of mouth and the occasional appearance on YouTube or Twitch."
Developer Cryptic Sea has now flipped the switch on Sub Rosa's Steam Early Access page, making it publicly discoverable. The shooter, which can be purchased for $20, is described as "experimental." It's all about making money in a low-poly world, with "tense deals, double-crosses, and the occasional high-speed car chase" coming into play as you compete with players in other corporations.

'I feel a lot of affection and affinity towards the PC,' says Hideo Kojima
https://www.pcgamer.com/i-feel-a-lot-of-affection-and-affinity-towards-the-pc-says-hideo-kojima/
When Death Stranding arrived on PC in 2020 it came with graphical improvements and ultrawide support, made good use of DLSS, ran smoothly, had an impressive photo mode, and came with a string of sidequests involving characters who are such fans of Valve games they collect Half-Life and Portal memorabilia even after an apocalypse. It felt like a PC-ass PC game, and we gave it Game of the Year.
In a recent interview orchestrated by publisher 505 Games, Death Stranding director, designer, and writer Hideo Kojima discussed the reason for making this port, given that several of his previous games have been console-exclusives.

Hades cleans up at the 2021 BAFTA Games Awards
https://www.pcgamer.com/hades-cleans-up-at-the-2021-bafta-games-awards/
Supergiant's Hades was the big winner at this year's BAFTA Games Awards, winning not only Best Game but also the awards for Artistic Achievement, Game Design, Narrative, and Performer in a Supporting Role—which went to Logan Cunningham who portrays Hades as well as Achilles, Poseidon, Asterius, the Storyteller, and all those expressive groans of Charon's.

Balan Wonderworld's seizure-inducing effects will be fixed in a launch update
https://www.pcgamer.com/balan-wonderworlds-seizure-inducing-effects-will-be-fixed-in-a-launch-update/
Square Enix has confirmed that a potentially seizure-inducing visual effect discovered in pre-release footage of Balan Wonderworld will be resolved, thanks to a day one patch arriving alongside 3D platformer's launch later today.

Call Of Duty: Warzone's zombies have shambled their way to the bank
https://www.pcgamer.com/call-of-duty-warzones-zombies-have-shambled-their-way-to-the-bank/
Call Of Duty: Warzone's zombies are continuing their grand tour across Verdansk. After washing ashore and stumbling into the hospital, the horde has now arrived at Acropolis National Bank—and they're not interested in opening a savings account.

Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver has been 'temporarily removed' from Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/legacy-of-kain-soul-reaver-has-been-temporarily-removed-from-steam/
Crystal Dynamics' 1999 action-adventure Legacy Of Kain: Soul Reaver has been pulled from sale on Steam, as publisher Square Enix prepares "important updates" for the game.
VGC reports that, while the game still remains on sale via GOG, Soul Reaver is no longer available to buy on Steam. The game's listing now features a notification, reading: "Square Enix has temporarily removed this title from sale to work on some important updates. Please check back soon!"

And now, let's see what we'll find at GOG and Steam:

+GOG

• GOG is having its Spring Sale. Maybe you should check it out if you still haven't.

+Steam

• The new daily deal is Beat Cop, 85% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/461950/Beat_Cop/
• Hell Let Loose, still in Early Access, is free to try and also 25% off during the next 3 days: https://store.steampowered.com/app/686810/Hell_Let_Loose/
• Risk of Rain 2 is also 25% off during the next 3 days: https://store.steampowered.com/app/632360/Risk_of_Rain_2/
• Monster Train will be 40% off until Monday; https://store.steampowered.com/app/1102190/Monster_Train/
• Hunt: Showdown is 50% off until the 29th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/594650/Hunt_Showdown/
• The F1 franchise is on sale, between 70 and 75% off until Monday 29th: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/F1FranchiseSale
• Sid Meier's Civilization VI is free to try during the next 3 days and also 75% off until April 8: https://store.steampowered.com/app/289070/Sid_Meiers_Civilization_VI/
• And of course, there's also the weeklong deals.

No more gaming news to share. Until next time, have a happy and gaming weekend.

Be careful with that playful finger . And congrats.

This gen of consoles are far more powerful than what PS4/X1 were at launch compared to what was available on PC and, as far as I know, neither the PS5/XX are anything remotely portable.

But I agree that more RAM would have pushed the price even more. It's the problem of going with more powerful hardware and NVMe drives for storage.

A few more news items


PSA: "Ninja Gaiden Sigma" in the Ninja Gaiden Master Collection seems to be the Vita version - not the PS3 version

https://www.resetera.com/threads/psa-ninja-gaiden-sigma-in-the-ninja-gaiden-master-collection-seems-to-be-the-vita-version-not-the-ps3-version.400300/

If true, solid skip



Eurogamer: CoD 2021 is being developed by Sledgehammer Games, traditional WW2 setting, named WW2: Vanguard

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/next-call-of-duty-will-be-in-wwii-setting.1598084/

As I mainly like Modern Warfare setting above the rest... Probably a skip for me as well

#Bought

While watching the video I was thinking, "Jizz will go for this game". Then I saw his response.

Boobs aside, let me know if the shot'em'up and turn based combat systems are any good.

I sure am saving a lot of money today by skipping all these titles

The performance of the 6700XT makes it a compelling purchase save for the fact that AMD still has no DLSS equivalent (or a decent iteration of it) which means you're stuck with whatever the card can actually deliver. Like... seriously, DLSS is THE killer feature of Nvidia cards as a whole.

Resident Evil Village PC Ray Tracing requirements revealed:



https://www.thegamer.com/capcom-resident-evil-village-pc-system-requirements/

Now the interesting thing about Resident Evil Village is that it's the first AMD sponsored Ray Tracing title that's supposed to do more than just shadows. But as usual, Nvidia's Ray Tracing capabilities continues to show it's muscle with the $500 3070 being as fast as the $1000 6900XT according to the official requirements once you enable Ray Tracing.

Still no word of DLSS but since it's an AMD sponsored title, most likely it won't have DLSS. Still, the requirements don't seem too far out of reach for most configurations.

This just reinforces the idea that I should just drop Battlenet in general. All I've really been using it for these days is pretty much Heroes of the Storm. me and my gf got bored of playing D3 for months on the current season, we both unsubbed from WoW when we discovered Shadowlands was an ass expansion, they recently dicked around with game time for WoW, meaning people like me and my gf are fucked over long-term price wise, since we only ever buy game time for a month or two, not 3-6 months (which remains unaffected).

I'm not really excited for OW2, let alone D4 (because it looks more the same of 3, just wish different art style), and WoW doesn't seem to be getting any better, they've dropped Starcraft and WoW RTS, so RTS as a genre is fully dead to them now, they plan on doing as Acti does and focus more on always online and mobile shit.

Man, Blizz has fallen so fucking hard from grace, and because they are firmly tied to Bobby shitting Kotick, I don't see them ever, and I mean ever, returning to their former glory.

Once they finally kill off Heroes, I think I'll just fully uninstall the client and never bother with it again, because going by the always online/mobile and Acti games focus, there isn't much of Blizz left for me to care, or want to buy from.

I fucking hate Bobby, so damn much. That guy ruins anything he ever buys up.