Friday news, the long part two:
BioWare calls Star Wars: The Old Republic's change in developer 'a new beginning' and denies that it's going into maintenance mode
https://www.pcgamer.com/bioware-calls-star-wars-the-old-republics-change-in-developer-a-new-beginning-and-denies-that-its-going-into-maintenance-mode/
After more than a decade at the helm of Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare is handing the reins of the MMO to a third-party studio, rumoured to be Broadsword Online Games. This has naturally left the game's assortment of Jedi, smugglers and other adventurers wondering what this means for the future of The Old Republic, and a recent developer update attempts to alleviate fears that it will be shunted into maintenance mode and left to stagnate.
Metal Gear Solid 4 is finally being freed of its PlayStation 3 prison
https://www.pcgamer.com/metal-gear-solid-4-is-finally-being-freed-of-its-playstation-3-prison/
It's been a big day for stealth fans. Konami spilled the beans on the full contents of the Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection and, surprise surprise, it's going to include the non-canon game that series creator Hideo Kojima hates. At the same time, however, Konami accidentally spilled some extra beans in an update to the game's official website: And PC players are finally going back to Shadow Moses.
First spotted by Twitter user Nitroid (thanks IGN), the official website features a Metal Gear Solid timeline page (necessary because the games jump around chronologically) with the games in Master Collection Volume 1 but, oopsie, inspect the page's elements and you'll see placeholder buttons for Metal Gear Solid 4, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes, Metal Gear Solid V, and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. PC Gamer can confirm the accuracy of this.
Activision is shutting down the original Call of Duty: Warzone after only 3 years
https://www.pcgamer.com/activision-is-shutting-down-the-original-call-of-duty-warzone-after-only-3-years/
Activision is pulling the plug on the original version of its free-to-play battle royale, Call of Duty: Warzone. Warzone Caldera, which was renamed last year, will shut down on September 21, 2023 so that Activision can "focus on future Call of Duty content including the current Warzone free-to-play experience."
Email reveals PlayStation boss wasn't actually worried about Call of Duty becoming Xbox exclusive: 'We'll be OK, more than OK'
https://www.pcgamer.com/email-reveals-playstation-boss-wasnt-actually-worried-about-call-of-duty-becoming-xbox-exclusive-well-be-ok-more-than-ok/
Sony is ferociously opposed to Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, in large part out of purported concern that the ultra-lucrative Call of Duty series could eventually be made an Xbox console exclusive. But an email revealed during today's FTC hearing on the deal, reported by IGN, indicate that the company's initial reaction to the planned buyout was very different, and almost entirely untroubled by the prospect.
Final Fantasy 16's PC version is next on Yoshi-P's to-do list
https://www.pcgamer.com/final-fantasy-16s-pc-version-is-next-on-yoshi-ps-to-do-list/
The long saga of trying to figure out when PC players will be able to play Final Fantasy 16 continues. Although there's still no release date for it, producer Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida says the PC version is still in development and that you'll hear more about it when it gets closer to the finish line.
Speaking on a recent stream, Yoshida said the PC version still needs work in order to mirror the PlayStation 5 version of the game, specifically citing its lack of loading screens when traveling between locations and transitioning from cutscenes to gameplay. Yoshida says the team hasn't "had the time to optimize the PC version of the game" because they've been busy with the PS5 version.
After 9 years of waiting, horse fans are underwhelmed by the Sims 4 Horse Ranch expansion reveal
https://www.pcgamer.com/after-9-years-of-waiting-horse-fans-are-underwhelmed-by-the-sims-4-horse-ranch-expansion-reveal/
After a few leaks and hints, The Sims 4 has finally dropped the first look at its Horse Ranch expansion coming on July 20. This has been a long time coming for equestrian Sims fans who've been hoping for the addition of horses since their last appearance in The Sims 3 Pets expansion in 2011. But while a western-themed pack with ranching and goats may sound fun to the average Sims player, the hardcore horse enthusiasts already sound concerned.
Blood Bowl 3 debuts seasonal 'blood pass', gives away Lizardmen team for free
https://www.pcgamer.com/blood-bowl-3-debuts-seasonal-blood-pass-gives-away-lizardmen-team-for-free/
Despite multiple delays, Blood Bowl 3 launched in a rough state. Like more than one recent live-service game, it went on sale with basic features missing and significant bugs, yet the cosmetics shop was working and well-stocked. Cyanide Studio is giving away the first season pass free to make up for it, which means if you log in now you can claim the "blood pass" and unlock the Lizardmen team. Future season passes will cost 1,000 warpstone, and players on the free track will only be able to unlock each season's team by making it to maximum level.
Todd Howard confirms Starfield won't let you ride aliens or go fishing, so modders: you know what to do
https://www.pcgamer.com/todd-howard-confirms-starfield-wont-let-you-ride-aliens-or-go-fishing-so-modders-you-know-what-to-do/
Attention all prospective Starfield modders! You officially have your first few assignments.
In an interview with Kinda Funny Games posted today on YouTube, Todd Howard was asked a bunch of direct questions about Bethesda's space RPG. In several cases the answers to those questions were, unfortunately: "No."
>> It's the same interview Yuri posted about yesterday.
Players salivate as Todd Howard confirms Starfield will be a 'modder's paradise' that Bethesda will 'participate' in
https://www.pcgamer.com/players-salivate-as-todd-howard-confirms-starfield-will-be-a-modders-paradise-that-bethesda-will-participate-in/
Take heart, friends, it's only a matter of time before Starfield gets fishing. Why? Because Todd Howard has re-confirmed Bethesda's commitment to making the game's galaxy a big, blank canvas for modders to paint their dreams on, and hinted that the studio will be heavily involving itself in the modding process.
>> I hope that Bethesda involvement won't mean trying to make you pay for mods, again.
The ESA insists E3 isn't dead despite the city of Los Angeles saying otherwise
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-esa-insists-e3-isnt-dead-despite-the-city-of-los-angeles-saying-otherwise/
The Entertainment Software Association is insisting that E3 isn't dead quite yet, though the Los Angeles City Tourism Board of Commissioners would beg to differ.
Diablo 4's latest mystery is its hidden post-credits scenes, and players are scrambling for answers
https://www.pcgamer.com/diablo-4s-latest-mystery-is-its-hidden-post-credits-scene-and-players-are-scrambling-for-answers/
There's something quite old-fashioned and pleasant about having one big game that everyone is playing and poring through for secrets. It puts me in mind of people looking for Bigfoot in GTA: San Andreas or trying to unlock Sheng Long in Street Fighter. Right now, that game is Diablo 4, which has set people to fervent theorycrafting with an incredibly short—and seemingly hidden—post-credits scene (via GamesRadar).
Update: Looks like there are actually multiple post-credits scenes. Wowhead reports that enterprising players have dug up a total of four, equally short post-credits teases, each of which feature a deeply unpleasant, demonic-looking figure. For my money, at least some of them show Mephisto, but I leave it to wiser Diablo sages than me to reach a final verdict on who these figures are.
Filthy Diablo 4 infinite spawn glitch makes it rain loot for as long as you want
https://www.pcgamer.com/filthy-diablo-4-infinite-spawn-glitch-makes-it-rain-loot-for-as-long-as-you-want/
It doesn't matter how many nerfs Blizzard sends out, Diablo 4 players will find a way to squeeze as much XP and rare items out of the action RPG as possible.
The infinite spawn glitch might be the most blatantly broken XP and item farm in the game since launch. Depending on what class you play, you won't even have to move to make use of it.
The Diablo 4 team confirms DirectStorage isn't in the game 'but we are planning on enabling it in the future'
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-diablo-4-team-confirms-directstorage-isnt-in-the-game-but-we-are-planning-on-enabling-it-in-the-future/
Diablo 4 devs have confirmed that while there are DirectStorage files in the game already it doesn't take advantage of the game changing SSD tech. Yet. Our intrepid Katie has been told specifically that it is being planned for the future.
Genshin Impact codes from the version 3.8 livestream
https://www.pcgamer.com/genshin-impact-codes-3-8-livestream/
Genshin Impact codes are the best way to get free Primogems outside of playing the game and farming commissions, chests, and quests. With every upcoming version, miHoYo drops a new livestream detailing what's coming in terms of characters and events, while also giving out these freebies to players. They're an incentive to watch the stream, but you can always just redeem them anyway.
In version 3.8, there are plenty of rumoured reruns on the way, including Eula, Klee, Kokomi, and the Wanderer, so having a few extra Primogems definitely won't hurt if you're trying to grab any of them. I'll add each Genshin Impact 3.8 livestream code as it drops during the program, plus you'll find info lower down the page explaining how to claim your rewards. Also, make sure you redeem them asap; these codes usually expire within a day.
Overwatch 2 makes competitive tweaks and, yep, if you've been stuck in Bronze 5 it maybe wasn't your fault
https://www.pcgamer.com/overwatch-2-makes-competitive-tweaks-and-yep-if-youve-been-stuck-in-bronze-5-it-maybe-wasnt-your-fault/
Busy times for Overwatch 2, which is currently turning like an oil tanker towards its new future. (...)
A new blogpost goes into detail on some improvements Blizzard's making to competitive play, including looking at how it matches friends with significantly different skill levels who want to play together. Blizzard says it's noticed something more interesting generally about getting a wide skill range into a given match: "we’ve started to prioritize placing similar groups with wide skill ranges into the same match: while this makes queue times a little longer for large groups, it helps to ensure a fair match".
Slender Man teases a spooky return after a decade in the shadows
https://www.pcgamer.com/slender-man-teases-a-spooky-return-after-a-decade-in-the-shadows/
Slender Man—one of the few creepypastas that's gone mainstream and whose videogame adaptations The Eight Pages and sequel-slash-expansion Slender: The Arrival captivated horror gamers at the time—appears to be making a comeback next month.
Before putting an end to this, let's check the GOG and Steam deals for the weekend:
+GOG
- The first of the eight new Deals of the Day is Through the Ages, 50% off. The deal will last 70 hours, like all the other DotD: https://www.gog.com/en/game/through_the_ages
- The second DotD is Still There, 66% off: https://www.gog.com/en/game/still_there
- Hero of the Kingdom: The Lost Tales 1 gets a 70% discount: https://www.gog.com/en/game/hero_of_the_kingdom_the_lost_tales_1
- The GOG RPG Bundle, featuring only 2 games and with only 2000 copies available, gets a 74% discount: https://www.gog.com/en/game/gog_rpg_bundle
- Like its sibling, the GOG RTS Bundle also has two games, it's 74% off and it's also limited to 2000 units: https://www.gog.com/en/game/gog_rts_bundle
- Mob Rule Classic gets a 75% discount: https://www.gog.com/en/game/mob_rule
- Death end re;Quest is going to be 80% off: https://www.gog.com/en/game/death_end_request
- And the last DotD is M.U.L.E. , with a 84% discount: https://www.gog.com/en/game/mule
- Besides those deals, GOG has launched its Insomnia Sale, featuring a new game every 3 hours with limited quantities. The current deal ran out of keys and the next one will start in an hour.
+Steam
- Stellaris is free to try and 70% off during this weekend: https://store.steampowered.com/app/281990/Stellaris/
- Bravery and Greed, that has a demo, gets a 40% discount until June 29th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/943370/Bravery_and_Greed/
- Football Manager 2023, that has a demo that doesn't matter because it will be free to try during the weekend, is going to be 50% off until the 29th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1904540/Football_Manager_2023/
- Conan Exiles will also be free to try, but during 6 days. And it's also 60% off until next Thursday: https://store.steampowered.com/app/440900/Conan_Exiles/
- theHunter: Call of the Wild, now free at the EGS, gets an 80% discount here until the 29th of June: https://store.steampowered.com/app/518790/theHunter_Call_of_the_Wild/
- The Gearbox Publishing Sale comes with up to 85% discounts until Thursday, 29th: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/gearboxpublishingsale
- The Men of War Franchise Sale will be up to 90% off until the 29th: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/Men_of_War_Franchise_Sale
- The Games made in Germany Sale features up to 90% discounts. Some deals will end the 26th, others the 29th and I've seen others ending in July. Check them out here: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/games-germany
- The last deal is Monopoly Madness, that has a demo and will be 75% off until July, 13th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2383760/Monopoly_Madness/
And that's it. Until the next time, I wish you a happy and gaming weekend.
