Welcome to the news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Steam’s Top 10

(Click here for the Top 100)

One of our favorite city builders has sold over a million copies on Steam, and there's an expansion on the way
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/city-builder/one-of-our-favorite-city-builders-has-sold-over-a-million-copies-on-steam-and-theres-an-expansion-on-the-way/
Typically when you're playing a city builder, the metropolis you're constructing is meant to last a long time. In fact, making your city last the whole game is usually the entire point of the game. 
That's one of the reasons why Against the Storm stands out from the crowd. The cities you build won't last long because they simply can't. In this strange fantasy realm, a magical catastrophe has resulted in a world on the brink of annihilation from hurricanes and rainstorms, and the cities you build are doomed from the start. (...)
We really dig it here at PC Gamer—our Against the Storm review (91%) calls it a "well-designed, charming, enthralling roguelike city builder"—and now we've got solid proof we're not the only ones enjoying it. According to developer Eremite Games and publisher Hooded Horse, Against the Storm has sold over a million copies on Steam. That's a whole lotta happy builders: it's got a rating of "Overwhelmingly Positive" on Steam with over 21,000 reviews, too.

GOG launched four new Deals of the Day on Monday, which means that they have 22 hours left:

• Untamed Tactics is 20% off: https://www.gog.com/en/game/untamed_tactics
• The NSFW beat refle has a 30% discount: https://www.gog.com/en/game/beat_refle
• Daydream: Forgotten Sorrow Bundle is also 30% off: https://www.gog.com/en/game/daydream_forgotten_sorrow_bundle
• And the last one, Hero's Hour - Deluxe Edition, haas a 55% discount: https://www.gog.com/en/game/heros_hour_deluxe_edition

Steam has new opportunities for us, including new weeklong deals:

• Publisher Funcom puts its games up to 70% off until April, 8th: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/FuncomPublisherSale
• And TOEM: A Photo Adventure, that has a demo, gets a 75% discount until the 15th of April: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1307580/TOEM_A_Photo_Adventure/
• Here’s a small sample of the weeklong deals:
  • Malignant Survivors is 20% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2783610/Malignant_Survivors/
  • InfraSpace has a 30% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1511460/InfraSpace/
  • Sir Lovelot is half its price: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1055170/Sir_Lovelot/
  • Puddle Knights has a 60% deal: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1180540/Puddle_Knights/
  • The Wild Case, that has a demo, gets a 70% discount: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1178230/The_Wild_Case/
  • And Hot Lap League: Deluxe Edition will be 90% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2068710/Hot_Lap_League_Deluxe_Edition/

At Humble we find several new deals:

• Humble Bundle presents the Spring Screams Bundle, with up to 8 games to get during 15 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/spring-screams
• The Humble Store has three sales:
  • The Focus Entertainment Spotlight Sale comes with up to 90% deals during 2 days:; https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/focus-entertainment-spotlight-sale/
  • The Handheld Heavyweights Sale also features up to 90% discounts during 2 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/handheld-heavyweights-sale/
  • And publisher Funcom puts its games up to 70% off during 6 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/funcom-publisher-sale/

Fanatical has a new Star Deal and a bundle:

• The Star Deal is The Ascent: Cyber Edition Bundle, 85% off during 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/the-ascent-cyber-edition-bundle
• The Fallout Bundle has an 82% discount: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/fallout-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

INTEL Arc Graphics 31.0.101.5382 driver
https://videocardz.com/driver/intel-arc-graphics-31-0-101-5382
Fixed Issues
Intel Arc A-Series Graphics Products:

• Horizon Forbidden West (DX12) may experience longer than expected load times while launching into gameplay during the first run of the game.
• 3DMark Speed Way (DX12) may experience application hang while loading the benchmark.
• Starfield (DX12) may experience an application crash with High or Ultra graphics settings.

Intel Core Ultra with built-in Intel Arc GPUs:

• 3DMark Speed Way (DX12) may experience application hang while loading the benchmark.

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

AMD FSR 3.0 Mods Released for Fallout 4 & Baldur’s Gate 3
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/amd-fsr-3-0-mods-released-for-fallout-4-baldurs-gate-3/
Modder ‘PureDark’ has released two AMD FSR 3.0 Mods for Fallout 4 and Baldur’s Gate 3. These mods will allow you to enable FSR 3.0 Frame Generation on all GPUs, something that will improve your performance in these two titles.
Sadly, these FSR 3.0 Mods are behind a Patreon wall. Yep, contrary to the free DLSS 3 Frame Generation Mod for Dragon’s Dogma 2, PC gamers will have to become PureDark’s patrons in order to download them.
>> There’s a video for the BG3 mod.

Take a look at Fallout: New Vegas with RTX Remix Path Tracing
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/take-a-look-at-fallout-new-vegas-with-rtx-remix-path-tracing/
YouTube’s ‘Darko P’ is currently working on an RTX Remix Mod for Fallout: New Vegas, and shared a WIP video for it. This video packs 9 minutes of gameplay, showcasing what is possible with the NVIDIA RTX Remix tools.

Here are Day of Defeat: Source and STALKER: Clear Sky with RTX Remix Path Tracing
https://www.dsogaming.com/screenshot-news/here-are-day-of-defeat-source-and-stalker-clear-sky-with-rtx-remix-path-tracing/
Another day, another RTX Remix article. I guess now most of you will start wishing for some Unreal Engine 5 remake videos, am I right? Or some nude mods. Anyway, STALKER and Day of Defeat fans may be pleased to hear that there are RTX Remix mods in development for them. And below, you can find some screenshots from them.
>> The article also has a video of the Day of Defeat mod.

Armored Core 6 Co-Op Mod Available for Download
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/armored-core-6-co-op-mod-available-for-download/
Modder ‘LukeYui’ has released a new cool co-op mod for FromSoftware’s latest title, Armored Core 6. As its name implies, this mod adds unofficial online co-operative multiplayer functionalities to the game.
>> There’s a video of the mod.

Deus Ex RTX Remix Path Tracing Mod Available for Download
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/deus-ex-rtx-remix-path-tracing-mod-available-for-download/
The time has finally come and so have I. Modder ‘onnoj’ has released Echelon Renderer for Deus Ex, which adds support for RTX Remix Path Tracing. Yes, you can now enjoy the classic first-person immersive sim PC game with Path Tracing. And it looks glorious.
>> There are only screenshots for this mod.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 just got a 2.2GB HD Texture Pack that overhauls 1313 environmental textures
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/dragons-dogma-2-hd-texture-pack-environments/
NexusMods’ member ‘Nvidiaforever2’ has released a 2.2GB HD Texture Pack for Dragon’s Dogma 2 that overhauls all of its environments. This pack is a must for those who want a bit more sharper environments.
>> Again, only screenshots.

Skyrim mods fix its most glaring realism error: Your disturbingly immortal food
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/the-elder-scrolls/skyrim-mods-fix-its-most-glaring-realism-error-your-disturbingly-immortal-food/
The problem with Skyrim is that it's all too permanent. Your swords, your armour, your sweetrolls, they all just hang around forever until you drop them, sell them off, or eat them (not the swords and armour; don't eat your swords and armour). It's a plastic-fantastic world where nothing ever ends, and buddy, I've had just about enough of it.
Thank goodness, then, that an enterprising modder named RavenKZP has created the Simple Spoilage series of mods, which subject all the spoilable goods in your inventory to the horrible, horrible passage of time. The modder divides each spoilage system by item type, so you have Simple Food Spoilage System, Simple Ingredient Spoilage System, and Simple Carcass Spoilage System, which collectively work to ruin basically anything you can ingest (after a suitable period of time).
>> No media to show this mod.

Stardew Valley modder challenges players with an 'everything bagel' recipe that requires 134 ingredients
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/stardew-valley-modder-challenges-players-with-an-everything-bagel-recipe-that-requires-134-ingredients/
In honor of the day of fools, the latest in extremely niche Stardew Valley modding brings us one player's vision of a more sensible world: an everything bagel that actually requires everything as an ingredient. How does it all fit into one bagel? I can only assume a blender is involved.
Stardew Valley modder SiTheGreat uploaded The Everything Bagel today with the encouraging message "Happy April :)" and "I don't know what inspired me to make this beyond a general frustration at the name of the so-called 'everything bagel.'" The mod adds a new recipe to the game, the poorly named bagel with which SiTheGreat takes umbrage, and in order to cook it you will indeed need every food ingredient in Stardew Valley. 
>> Again, no screenshots nor videos.

GAMING NEWS

The Sims 5/Project Rene Full Map Potentially Leaked
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/the-sims-5-project-rene-full-map-potentially-leaked/
In February 2023, we informed you about a leaked pre-release PC build for The Sims 5 that is codenamed Project Rene. And, from the looks of it, this build featured the entire map for this new The Sims game.
>> And here you’ll find 5 minutes of leaked gameplay.

First Alone in the Dark Patch improves level streaming to reduce stutters and fixes numerous crashes
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/first-alone-in-the-dark-patch-improves-level-streaming-to-reduce-stutters-and-fixes-numerous-crashes/
Pieces Interactive just dropped the first update for Alone in the Dark. The devs have also shared all the changes via the following patch notes. This patch makes the game more stable and improves the lighting and level streaming systems. So, let’s take a closer look at all the changes.

First Dragon’s Dogma 2 Patch Released, Adds Option to Start a New Game & Improves the Quality of DLSS Super Resolution
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/first-dragons-dogma-2-patch-released-adds-option-to-start-a-new-game-improves-the-quality-of-dlss-super-resolution/
Capcom has just released the first patch for its latest action RPG, Dragon’s Dogma 2. This patch will add an option to start a new game when save data already exists. Moreover, it will improve the image quality of DLSS Super Resolution.
>> Apparently, it now “runs significantly better on PC”.

Two hours of pre-alpha gameplay from the Unreal Engine 5-powered PvEvP hardcore tactical extraction shooter, Project L33T
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/two-hours-of-pre-alpha-gameplay-from-the-unreal-engine-5-powered-pvevp-hardcore-tactical-extraction-shooter-project-l33t/
Murkl Mario just uploaded a new video, showcasing two hours of gameplay from Project L33T. Project L33T is powered by Unreal Engine 5. This is a hardcore tactical extraction shooter and has both player versus environment and player versus player elements. The footage is from the latest beta phase launched by Holmgard Games earlier this month.

Battlefield 5 will get support for EA Anticheat on April 3rd
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/battlefield-5-will-get-support-for-ea-anticheat-on-april-3rd/
Electronic Arts and DICE revealed that Battlefield 5 will get support for EA Anticheat on April 3rd. This new anti-cheat system aims to stop cheaters from ruining the game. The latest BF games already use it, and now so will BF5.

Nightdive has announced a remaster for the 1995 FPS, PO’ed
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/nightdive-has-announced-a-remaster-for-the-1995-fps-poed/
Nightdive Studios has announced a remaster for the 1995 first-person shooter, PO’ed. PO’ed: Definitive Edition will feature updated visuals, antialiasing, increased framerate and redefined controls.

Since it’s been a few days since the last news post and PCGamer does a lot of articles as of late, I’ve split them in two posts. In the first one I’ll keep the usual style, but in the second one I’ll only post the headline and link. Let’s begin!

Earthblade, the next game from the makers of Towerfall and Celeste, 'ain't coming out in 2024'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/earthblade-the-next-game-from-the-makers-of-towerfall-and-celeste-aint-coming-out-in-2024/
Earthblade, the next game from Celeste and Towerfall studio Extremely OK Games, is technically not delayed, because it didn't have a release date in the first place. We did expect it to be out this year, though, and the developers expected to at least have a firm launch date in place by now—but instead, Extremely OK director Maddy Thorson said in a new blog post that "this game ain't coming out in 2024."

Some of the biggest names in indie games are teaming up to put on a 'no fluff' showcase of new game announcements
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/some-of-the-biggest-names-in-indie-games-are-teaming-up-to-put-on-a-no-fluff-showcase-of-new-game-announcements/
French indie studio Evil Empire, which has spent the last five years working on expansions for roguelike sensation Dead Cells, prides itself on being a "triple I" developer: independent, but still big enough to make "world-class" games. Evil Empire likes the label so much, in fact, that it's spent the past few months organizing a new showcase with some other indie superstars, including the developers of Slay the Spire, Darkest Dungeon, Vampire Survivors, and Terraria. The Triple-I Initiative will be streaming on April 10 and will show off more than 30 games.

Diablo 4's 10K-word patch notes bless necromancers and curse barbarians for next week's season 4 PTR
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/diablo-4s-10k-word-patch-notes-bless-necromancers-and-curse-barbarians-for-next-weeks-season-4-ptr/
Diablo 4 is about to become a wildly different game. Starting in season 4 and onwards, every class, item, and progression system will work differently. Blizzard has released the over 10,000-word patch notes for all the changes you'll be able to test out in next week's season 4 playtest, or public test realm (PTR).

Bungie rolls back controversial plan to time-gate Into the Light loot [Updated]
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/just-weeks-from-destiny-2s-next-big-update-the-community-is-up-in-arms-about-how-its-weapons-are-being-released-it-shows-theyve-learned-absolutely-nothing/
We're less than two weeks away from Destiny 2's Into the Light update, and, for the most part, it looks like an enjoyable diversion—a fine way to keep Guardians busy as they wait for The Final Shape to release on June 4. The new, much requested horde mode should promote some build-crafting in the final months of this extended season. And the returning 'Brave' weapons are, on the whole, looking good—a selection of returning favourites, with refreshed perk pools set to create some meta-defining combinations.
Update: Bungie has put out a thread on X, responding to community criticism of its plans to slowly roll out the second batch of reprised 'Brave' weapons coming with the Into the Light update. You will now be able to collect the entire set as of April 30, giving players more than a full month to scoop the limited edition versions of whatever god roll perk combos they're chasing. The thread goes on to emphasise that the new Onslaught mode, from which these guns will drop, is going to have guardians swimming in loot. The news appears to have mollified players, which means we can reset the 'days since last Destiny 2 crisis' clock. Honestly, the hands have almost worn out at this point.

A demo for Final Fantasy 16 is reportedly coming to PC soon, as producer Yoshi-P says work on the port is 'going smoother than we thought it would'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/a-demo-for-final-fantasy-16-is-reportedly-coming-to-pc-soon-as-producer-yoshi-p-says-work-on-the-port-is-going-smoother-than-we-thought-it-would/
Earlier this month, Final Fantasy 16's director Naoki Yoshida (also known as Yoshi-P) revealed that the PC port of the acclaimed fantasy sequel is in its "final stages" of optimisation. Now, it's been reported that a demo of the RPG is coming to PC soon, with Yoshida stating progress on the port is "going smoother than we thought it would".

They fly now too? Helldivers 2 warns players that Automatons are developing 'aerial gunships,' so Super Earth is countering with 'our most effective anti-air weaponry'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/they-fly-now-too-helldivers-2-warns-players-that-automatons-are-developing-aerial-gunships-so-super-earth-is-countering-with-our-most-effective-anti-air-weaponry/
It was bad enough when Helldivers 2's bugs started to fly, but the latest Super Earth intel suggests something far scarier than Shriekers is on the horizon: Automaton aerial gunships.
That's according to the latest dispatch from Super Earth in the wake of Troost's liberation. The Helldivers community got the job done in record time, but there's no time to celebrate. In the course of liberation, the Ministry of Defense made a troubling discovery.
>> And they’ve already been seen in Malevelon Creek. At least there’s a new heavy machine gun. Oh, and there’s also a new balance update.

I'm obsessed with the bizarre 16th century inspired creature design in roguelike deckbuilder Hermetica
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/im-obsessed-with-the-bizarre-16th-century-inspired-creature-design-in-roguelike-deckbuilder-hermetica/
A naked man with a face covering its torso. A snail with a human head. And one that's half-nun and half…I don't know what.
(...)
So when I played a demo of roguelike deckbuilder Hermetica at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco last week, I was immediately enthralled by the enemy designs. Its art is also based on old European weirdness—the game is set in 16th century Toledo, Spain—and just about every creature in it is fascinatingly bizarre.

Coffee Stain set to publish a stylishly strange-looking new deckbuilder
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/card-games/coffee-stain-set-to-publish-a-stylishly-strange-looking-new-deckbuilder/
As We Descend, a pretty stylish-looking upcoming deckbuilder from new studio Box Dragon, will be published by Coffee Stain, the same folks publishing hits like Valheim and Deep Rock Galactic.

CD Projekt Red says the next Witcher game is 'not just repeating what was done before' as the dev team ramps up to over 400
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/cd-projekt-red-says-the-next-witcher-game-is-not-just-repeating-what-was-done-before-as-the-dev-team-ramps-up-to-over-400/
There are currently 627 developers working at CD Projekt Red, and as the studio revealed during its financial year 2023 earnings conference, 403 of them are now dedicated to work on Project Polaris, which is to say, The Witcher 4. (Thanks, RPS.) Meanwhile, the skeleton crew left to work on Cyberpunk 2077 updates has shrunk to 17, while its sequel, codenamed Project Orion, has a team of 47 and is presumably still in the early stages.
(...)
Nowakowski did, however, talk about the risks CD Projekt Red was taking by innovating in certain areas of the upcoming game. "Making [a] new game is always a creative risk," he said, "especially since we're trying to push new boundaries and explore new fields, do something we haven't actually done before." Though he called it "a pretty broad paintbrush stroke" he did attempt to explain what that meant. "Basically, I guess what I'm saying is you should not be expecting just a Witcher 3 in new clothing. I mean, of course we're building on the shoulders of what was done before and on the learnings of what was done before, but we will be adding new things, new elements, new gameplay elements, new mechanics that you have not seen in our previous games so far."
>> Also related to CDPR: they’ve experimented with IA, but it’ll be a long time before it matches NPCs created by people, and they don’t see microtransactions in singleplayer games.

Bandai Namco drops three free games, including one where you're a very messy dog ruining the house
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/bandai-namco-drops-three-free-games-including-one-where-youre-a-very-messy-dog-ruining-the-house/
There are few things better than a polished proof-of-concept free demo made by passionate game developers. I'm here to tell you that Bandai Namco has dropped three of those on Steam completely free and you can play them right now. One about a little chaos dog, one about a little robot, and one about boomerangs that you also ride the trails of.

Tweak your crazy spells in this tough, traditional roguelike wizard simulator
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/tweak-your-crazy-spells-in-this-tough-traditional-roguelike-wizard-simulator/
Rift Wizard 2 hit Steam this week, calling itself a "tough as nails traditional roguelike wizard simulator" and sporting the colorful graphics and complex pile of character builds to back that claim up.

100-player shooter Enlisted: Reinforced halts sales on Steam due to anger over pricing and a bug that 'completely breaks' account linking
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/100-player-shooter-enlisted-reinforced-halts-sales-on-steam-due-to-anger-over-pricing-and-a-bug-that-completely-breaks-account-linking/
Gaijin announced in January that its 100-player WW2 shooter Enlisted would be coming to Steam as Enlisted: Reinforced, an updated version of the standalone game that went into open beta in 2021. The early access Steam release finally happened on March 28—and later that same day, sales were halted due to a mix of technical problems and player dissatisfaction.

New multiplayer survival game features crafting, base building, automatic weapons and flying. The twist? Everyone plays as a bunch of ducks
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/new-multiplayer-survival-game-features-crafting-base-building-automatic-weapons-and-flying-the-twist-everyone-plays-as-a-bunch-of-ducks/
Just when you think you've seen every variation of survival game imaginable, along comes a game like Duckside. Developed by Tinybuild Riga, Duckside is a multiplayer survival sim in the style of Rust and DayZ, only everyone plays as a duck.

House Flipper 2 just became a platformer with a new 'The Floor Is Lava' mode, and no, it's not just an April Fools' joke
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/house-flipper-2-just-became-a-platformer-with-a-new-the-floor-is-lava-mode-and-no-its-not-just-an-april-fools-joke/
Long before videogames existed, some bored child, probably trapped in their house on a rainy day, invented an analog platformer with one simple rule: get across the room without touching the floor. Chairs, tables, cabinets, couch cushions, ottomans, anything that could be leapt to and stood upon became a safe space in a dangerous world. On that day, "The Floor Is Lava" was born.
Fast-forward to today and its legacy continues. First-person home renovation simulator House Flipper 2 has announced a new "Floor Is Lava" mode, and while it was cooked up to celebrate April Fools Day, it's no joke. It's an actual mode. Turn your house into a platformer, create a course through the lava using furniture, shelving, and other objects, and share your course with other players.

Botany Manor's lead designer assures players that this cozy game is clear and straightforward, 'there's not too much strain on the player'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/puzzle/botany-manors-lead-designer-assures-players-that-this-cozy-game-is-clear-and-straightforward-theres-not-too-much-strain-on-the-player/
(...)
"We have put a lot of thought into this game because it has a very nice peaceful setting," May explains. "We didn't want the puzzles to be too challenging, but obviously also not too simple. I guess the challenge in this game comes from, how many clues there are to find, how many steps there are, how many things to keep in mind, and also how far things are spread out." 

We had another look at Still Wakes the Deep—and there's more than just slimy, stretched-out skin in the Beira D oil rig
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/we-had-another-look-at-still-wakes-the-deepand-theres-more-than-just-slimy-stretched-out-skin-in-the-beira-d-oil-rig/
We just had yet another look at the Beira D oil rig in Still Wakes the Deep during a digital ID Xbox showcase. This time, instead of just showing the silent aftermath of an attack, the protagonist Caz and his best bud Roy made a short appearance, along with some melted and stretched human flesh. 

This upcoming indie strategy game looks like Left 4 Dead in the style of XCOM
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/this-upcoming-indie-strategy-game-looks-like-left-4-dead-in-the-style-of-xcom/
If you've ever thought to yourself that what you'd really like is a turn-based tactics take on Left 4 Dead, the upcoming Dead Season might be just the thing. Unveiled today by Snail Bite Games—actually solo developer Pavel Kharev—the game promises unforgiving turn-based tactics in a world overrun by hordes of the undead.

And here are the rest of the news:

These are the April Fool’s related news:

This year's inevitable flood of April Fools Day joke visual novels begins with Palworld
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/visual-novel/this-years-inevitable-flood-of-april-fools-day-joke-visual-novels-begins-with-palworld/

'Please publish this to the main game': Arma Reforger players go wild for April Fools' gag that purports to turn the military simulator into a battle between toy soldiers
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/please-publish-this-to-the-main-game-arma-reforger-players-go-wild-for-april-fools-gag-that-purports-to-turn-the-military-simulator-into-a-battle-between-toy-soldiers/

And these are the others:

240 jobs gone and Relic sold off as Sega reckons with the hangover of 'the favorable winds of the early Covid-19 period'
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/240-jobs-gone-and-relic-sold-off-as-sega-reckons-with-the-hangover-of-the-favorable-winds-of-the-early-covid-19-period/

'The gold rush is over:' Slay the Spire and Darkest Dungeon devs say that big Game Pass and Epic exclusive deals have dried up for indie devs
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/the-gold-rush-is-over-slay-the-spire-and-darkest-dungeon-devs-say-that-big-game-pass-and-epic-exclusive-deals-have-dried-up-for-indie-devs/

Reports of World of Warcraft's death may have been greatly exaggerated, as Blizzard's GM proudly wheels out a graph showing it's doing really well—but no hard numbers
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/reports-of-world-of-warcrafts-death-may-have-been-greatly-exaggerated-as-blizzards-gm-proudly-wheels-out-a-graph-showing-its-doing-really-wellbut-no-hard-numbers/

Phil Spencer blames capitalism for games industry woes: 'I don't get [the] luxury of not having to run a profitable growing business'
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/phil-spencer-blames-capitalism-for-games-industry-woes-i-dont-get-the-luxury-of-not-having-to-run-a-profitable-growing-business/

As restructuring ends with the sale of Gearbox, Embracer's CEO has a new plan: 'simply making better products and games'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/as-restructuring-ends-with-the-sale-of-gearbox-embracers-ceo-has-a-new-plan-simply-making-better-products-and-games/

Content Warning, a free co-op horror game where you go viral on SpookTube or die trying, is rapidly climbing the Steam charts
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/content-warning-a-free-co-op-horror-game-where-you-go-viral-on-spooktube-or-die-trying-is-rapidly-climbing-the-steam-charts/

Halo Infinite support studio Certain Affinity lays off employees for the first time in 17 years, blames industry slowdown and 'reluctance of third party investors to fund games or game companies'
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/halo-infinite-support-studio-certain-affinity-lays-off-employees-for-the-first-time-in-17-years-blames-industry-slowdown-and-reluctance-of-third-party-investors-to-fund-games-or-game-companies/

'We're not using generative AI within WoW' says franchise director John Hight, though the team's been using machine learning to cut out busywork
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/world-of-warcraft/were-not-using-generative-ai-within-wow-says-franchise-director-john-hight-though-the-teams-been-using-machine-learning-to-cut-out-busywork/

Well, if you ever gets asked how long is Borderlands, you can confidently say that it's a 62-63 hours game.

Most people say that they liked Borderlands 2 more than the first one. In my case it's the opposite. We'll see what you think.

The games for Humble Choice April 2024 have been revealed.

• The Callisto Protocol
• Coromon
• The Excavation of Hob's Barrow
• Fashion Police Squad
• HUMANKIND Definitive Edition
• Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga
• Terraformers
• Victoria 3

I already own two of them. I recommend Coromon, it is a rather decent Pokemon clone. The rest seem alright.

Rather different titles than what the leaks indicated, someone pulled a fast one. And I am not sure if it was someone pulling a prank for laughs or Humble trying to find who is behind the leaks.

For those curious these were the ones indicated by the leaks

I fail to see who could believe a list with AC Valhalla and Returnal in it.

Anyway, thanks for sharing.

I didn't believe Returnal, but (the base game of) AC Valhalla in a Humble Choice bundle wouldn't be strange.

It was below 15 € several times and it's already in Ubisoft+, GamePass and PS+ Extra.

In other circumstances, I'd agree with you, but Valhalla was a very popular AC game, certainly more than the latest one, that has had barely any article after launch. Because of that, I think Ubisoft wouldn't give it away so easily.

After all, the AC games that Ubi has given away have been the least popular ones: AC III, Unity and Syndicate.

The Wednesday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

April Fools' phenom Content Warning draws in more than 204,000 concurrent players
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/april-fools-phenom-content-warning-draws-in-more-than-204000-concurrent-players/
Content Warning, a co-op horror game in which you and your friends go viral or die trying, made an immediate splash when it launched on Steam on April 1. To an extent, that was unsurprising—it was free for the first 24 hours of release—but I don't think many people foresaw that it would go quite this big: The Content Warning team said more than 6.2 million people claimed the game on April Fool's Day, and it racked up a peak concurrent player count of over 204,000.

A day later than other, but today GOG has launched the Funcom Publisher Sale, with up to 70% discounts during 5 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20240403_funcom_publisher_sale.

Steam offers Do Not Feed the Monkeys 2099 50% off until the 9th of April: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1964040/Do_Not_Feed_the_Monkeys_2099/.

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-None-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

-Also none-

GAMING NEWS

Eternal Strands is a new action-adventure, inspired by Shadow of the Colossus and Monster Hunter
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/eternal-strands-is-a-new-action-adventure-inspired-by-shadow-of-the-colossus-and-monster-hunter/
Yellow Brick Games just revealed its first game, Eternal Strands. This is a third-person action adventure game, inspired by Shadow of the Colossus and Monster Hunter. The team has also shared its first trailer. So, check it out to get a glimpse of what it’s all about.

Valheim Patch 0.217.46 Released, Packing Fixes for Minimap, Dungeon Generation and Portals
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/valheim-patch-0-217-46-released-packing-fixes-for-minimap-dungeon-generation-and-portals/
Iron Gate has released a new title update for its exploration and survival game, Valheim. According to the release notes, Patch 0.217.46 brings fixes to the minimap, as well as to dungeon generation and portals. So, let’s take a closer look at it.

Wednesday news, part two... and last!:

Final Fantasy 16 isn't on PC yet, but you can get the full Clive experience in FF14 right now by wearing his clothes and riding his dog, via the new crossover event
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/final-fantasy/final-fantasy-16-isnt-on-pc-yet-but-you-can-get-the-full-clive-experience-in-ff14-right-now-by-wearing-his-clothes-and-riding-his-dog-via-the-new-crossover-event/
As revealed by Final Fantasy 14 (and 16)'s director Naoki Yoshida in October of last year, the FF14/16 crossover event is now live. And listen, as a PC player I've yet to even experience so much as an inch of Clive Rosfield's dashing stubble—but I'm very excited for this event. Why? Cool clothes, and also a dog.

Lethal Company's 'v50' update makes running uphill scarier than its new evil butlers and crying mechs
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/lethal-companys-v50-update-makes-running-uphill-scarier-than-its-new-evil-butlers-and-crying-mechs/
Lethal Company's first major update, version 50, is playable in beta form and players are discovering how much worse space treasure hunting could be with deadly new monsters and a major nerf to a popular movement mechanic.

Arrowhead sneaks two huge enemies into Helldivers 2's latest patch: gigantic AT-AT walkers and swarming gunships
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/arrowhead-sneaks-two-huge-enemies-into-helldivers-2s-latest-patch-gigantic-at-at-walkers-and-swarming-gunships/
This is not a drill: Following Helldivers 2's latest balancing patch and, hours before that, sightings of mysterious motherships, two new threats have appeared on Automaton planets. 
The largest is the Factory Strider, a colossal, four-legged walker that represents a new class of enemy in the robot wars. Second are gunships, quick-moving variants of the bot dropships that rain down fire from the skies.

Helldivers 2 devs are aware of misaligned scopes on guns like the anti-materiel rifle, but 'it's a time consuming and an iterative process' to fix the problem
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/helldivers-2-devs-are-aware-of-misaligned-scopes-on-guns-like-the-anti-materiel-rifle-but-its-a-time-consuming-and-an-iterative-process-to-fix-the-problem/
Helldivers 2's sniper rifles have a problem—the problem is they're kinda terrible to use. The last balance patch has attempted to address that by bumping the anti-materiel rifle's (AMR) damage by a chunky 30%—and while it can tear through enemies in the hands of a skilled player, there's still a lingering issue: The scope on the thing doesn't work.
>> They’re also aware that the supply lines need to be clearer. Oh, and you’ll get a new cape to honour the “lives lost at Malevelon Creek”.

Nightmare Kart, the now-legally-distinct, not-Bloodborne fan game has a release date—after a letter from Sony delayed the whole thing
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/racing/nightmare-kart-the-now-legally-distinct-not-bloodborne-fan-game-has-a-release-dateafter-a-letter-from-sony-delayed-the-whole-thing/
Lilith Walther, the genius behind that excellent Bloodborne PS1 demake, has been hard at work making Bloodborne—sorry, Nightmare Kart, changing the name after a letter from Sony. 
The whole fiasco, which forced Walther to remake the game's shockingly large cast of Bloodborne characters, delayed the whole thing considerably since it was meant to arrive in January of this year. "Long story short," Walther wrote back when the news hit, "I need to scrub off the branding … that requires a short delay."
Well, said delay is over. Not only is Nightmare Kart now its own legally-distinct thing with its charming unique character designs (not-Micolash has a little tweety bird in his head-cage, now), it's going to be released for the low low price of absolutely nothing on both Steam and Itch.io. 

For their new roguelite, the Dead Cells team scrapped 2 years of work on combat and redid it in just 3 weeks: 'We need to be able to dare to kill a feature when it doesn't work'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/roguelike/for-their-new-roguelite-the-dead-cells-team-scrapped-2-years-of-work-on-combat-and-redid-it-in-just-3-weeks-we-need-to-be-able-to-dare-to-kill-a-feature-when-it-doesnt-work/
Developers from Motion Twin, best known for incredibly popular roguelite Dead Cells, are in on the joke when they talk about the process of making their new game meaning they had to throw away tons of progress and start over. "We fail all the time. We're like, OK, what we did is pure shit, let's try again. It's a roguelite production," said designer Yannick Berthier, as he walked me through Motion Twin's new action game Windblown.

Somehow, KOTOR returned: Saber boss finally comes out and says 'it's obvious we're working on this' after chaos at Embracer and that the remake is 'alive and well'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/somehow-kotor-returned-saber-boss-finally-comes-out-and-says-its-obvious-were-working-on-this-after-chaos-at-embracer-and-that-the-remake-is-alive-and-well/
The Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake still stubbornly refuses to become one with the force. The remake that wouldn't say die is apparently still going, per a recent chat between Saber boss Matthew Karch and IGN, in which the CEO came out and said—maybe a touch wearily—that the troubled project was still alive.

XCOM's greatest DLC was almost a Battletech-style mech expansion before the game's camera scuppered it all: 'Our camera angle is not meant for 30 foot mechs, apparently'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/xcoms-greatest-dlc-was-almost-a-battletech-style-mech-expansion-before-the-games-camera-scuppered-it-all-our-camera-angle-is-not-meant-for-30-foot-mechs-apparently/
XCOM 2 is eight years old, somehow, which was as offensive for me to write as it was for you to read. And if you ask me, it's still Firaxis' high point as a studio. That's really saying something: Those guys made Sid Meier's Pirates, after all, but I've never loved one of the studio's games so much as I loved its endlessly inventive guerilla warfare sim.