Thanks for sharing them!

It's worth noting that all those free games at GOG are NSFW.

Hmm, did GOG not remove a game because the Chinese goverment did not like it? Bunch of hypocrites.

https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/new-report-alleges-microsoft-recall-is-still-screenshotting-credit-card-numbers-and-passwords/

Recall is beautiful, is it not? Lol.

I still don't understand who thought Recall would be a good idea. It seems mildly useful at best, and terribly dangerous at worst.

Yes, Devotion. Theyremoved it to avoid having to leave the Chinese market. Same reason Steam did also pull the game from the store. Not sure about itch.io.

They're not better than the others, but that doesn't make them worse either. 

It's only a good feature for those at MSoft that want to know everything we do in our PCs so they can sell that data about us. It's a disgusting feature and a big push to make users aware that Linux isn't as bad or difficult as it once was and, thanks to Valve, you can still play most games without problems.

Timing of this isn't great lol. Half of me wants Battlefield 6 to be trash just so it's one less excuse to not transition.

Stream OS can't get here soon enough. The quicker console users start adopting it en masse, the sooner someone will finally make a workaround for anti-cheat rubbish.

It's unfortunate, yes.

The thing is, tho, that Easy Anti Cheat and other kernel based anti-cheat software does work on Linux, it's just that some companies don't want to make the effort to implement it.

And the reason for that is as simple as is dumb: Linux users cheat/pirate more than regular users. It's the same excuse they gave to abandon PC gaming in favor of consoles, but with costs rising so much, they've had to bring back their games to PC (and Nintendo machines if possible) to reach as much people as possible, But to support Linux, they need a little extra effort, and they don't think it's worth it.

If SteamOS or any other distro ever manages to gain enough marketshare, be assured that they'll find the motivation (aka money) to support them. Either that or MSoft puts an end on what kind of software can run at the kernel level on Windows and throws all those anti-cheat programs out of the window (put not intended, but welcomed).

Welcome to a new week of gaming news. Brace yourselves because the first post is long:

SALES/PLAYER COUNTS & DEALS

Over a million people have claimed free NSFW games from GOG's FreedomToBuy initiative
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/over-a-million-people-have-claimed-free-nsfw-games-from-gogs-freedomtobuy-initiative/
Today is the last day you can claim 13 free games GOG is giving away to mark the launch of FreedomToBuy.games, a new initiative to protest censorship in gaming. The games included in the bundle all fall under the broad NSFW umbrella that has been under fire from payment processors on Steam and Itch.io. In response, GOG is giving away NSFW games and vowing to protect gamers' right to buy any legal game.
GOG announced on Sunday that FreedomToBuy was a huge success in its first weekend: "In 24 hours, one million people have claimed the FreedomToBuy games and shown their support. The response is so much beyond our expectations that our team needs to work around the clock to maintain the stability of the platform."
"For people who had difficulties claiming the games, we’re expanding the action by a few hours; take action quickly. And remember: any DRM-free game you get and download from GOG can never be taken away from you. Any game that disappears today becomes exponentially harder to revive later."
>> The article is from yesterday. The giveaway has ended.

GOG has the new Digital Holidays Promo, featuring up to 95% discounts during 7 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20250801_digital_holidays_promo.

Steam has new deals and sales/events:

• Passpartout 2: The Lost Artist will be 40% off until the 17th of August: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1571100/Passpartout_2_The_Lost_Artist
• Colt Canyon gets a 90% off until August 17: https://store.steampowered.com/app/940710/Colt_Canyon
• LIMBO , that has a demo, is also 90% off until the 17th: https://store.steampowered.com/app/48000/LIMBO
• These are the Sales/events:
  • Publisher/Developer Sloclap puts its games on sale with up to 75% discounts until the 7th of August: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44017243/sale/sloclap2025
  • THQ Nordic Showcase has a page and has games on sale, up to 80% off until August the 8th: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/7564110/sale/THQNordicShowcaseSale2025
  • Publisher tinyBuild has another of their Everything Must Go Sale, with up to 80% discounts until the 8th: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/6858705/sale/everything
  • Publisher 101XP puts its games up to 75% off. Most deals will end on the 16th, but some will end on the 9th: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/37268497/sale/101XP_PublisherSale_2025
  • And the GamePavilionJP 2025 Summer Sale has many upcoming games plus games on sale with up to 70% discounts until the 16th of August: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45279210/sale/GamePavilion2025Summer

Humble Bundle has the new Better with 4 Friends Coop Bundle, with 8 games to get during 18 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/better-with-4-friends-coop-bundle

Fanatical has several things worth sharing:

• The Summer Sale is live! With up to 96% discounts. Check them out here: https://www.fanatical.com/en/on-sale
• There are 24h Flash Deals:
  • The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is 33% off: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/the-elder-scrolls-iv-oblivion-remastered
  • Age of Mythology: Retold Premium Edition has a 43% discount: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/age-of-mythology-retold-premium-edition
  • MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics is 50% off: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/marvel-vs-capcom-fighting-collection-arcade-classics
• The NeuroVoider - Deluxe Edition is back with a 18% discount during 13 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/neurovoider-deluxe-edition
• The Batman: Arkham Collection is back as well, 88% off during 17 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/batman-arkham-collection

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

-Empty-

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Hyper Dragon Ball Z, the best free DBZ MUGEN game for PC, got its final update
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/hyper-dragon-ball-z-the-best-free-dbz-mugen-game-for-pc-got-its-final-update
The team behind the best free DBZ MUGEN game for PC, Hyper Dragon Ball Z, has released a brand new version of it. Hyper Dragon Ball Z V6.0 comes with new characters, new stages, and new finishing moves. If you are a fan of DBZ, this is a game you should try right now.
DBZ MUGEN games are nothing new. The first DBZ MUGEN game I saw was over 20 years ago. In fact, some of my friends were creating their own custom games. But, Hyper Dragon Ball Z is the most polished one I’ve seen to date.
The last time we covered this free DBZ game was in 2020. So yes. The team has been working on it for a loooooong time. Back then, I called it the best DBZ MUGEN game. And I stand by that statement.
I’m not exaggerating, this feels like a commercial title. Everything is polished, from basic attacks to special moves. Hell, the game even includes its own finishing moves. For example, check out this awesome finisher from Black. This looks soooooo cool.
From what I can see, this will be the last version made with MUGEN. Next, the team will work on a brand-new IKEMEN build from scratch. This new version will include all the cool features IKEMEN has. It will also have a brand-new template character, and making changes should be much easier. The annoying bugs and limits from MUGEN will be gone. Plus, the team plans to return to some unfinished characters they paused to finish this current version.
>> The article has two videos.

The Witcher 3 mod adds enhanced physics, new animations, and improved precision when dismembering enemies
https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/the-witcher-3-mod-adds-enhanced-physics-new-animations-and-improved-precision-when-dismembering-enemies
The Witcher 3 fans, here is something cool for you today. Modder ‘Kradiarumas’ has released an amazing new mod for The Witcher 3 that aims to enhance the game’s dismemberment system. This mod will make your fights more fun. So, don’t sleep on it.
Going into more details, the mod and more physics when dismembering an enemy. The bodies of your enemies will respond to the impact of Geralt´s sword. Moreover, it improves the precision of cutting off limbs, as well as the ragdoll. Plus, there is now a 100% chance to dismember your enemies.
Another cool thing is that the mod scales up the likelihood of using the E3 2014 gameplay’s spinning sword attack, which was completely mitigated at the final game’s release.
This mod comes in five versions, which means that you have a lot of options. Furthermore, it’s compatible with both the Next-Gen and Old-Gen versions of TW3. As such, everyone can enjoy it.
>> There’s an over 2 minutes video in the article.

Oblivion Fan Remake in Skyrim, Skyblivion, Gets Its Sixth Dev Diary
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/oblivion-fan-remake-in-skyrim-skyblivion-gets-its-sixth-dev-diary
The modding team behind Skyblivion, the fan remake of Oblivion in Skyrim, has shared its sixth dev diary. In this diary, the devs show off the Gold Coast, the City of Anvil, a few Oblivion realms and unique worlds, plus player customization and much more.
Skyblivion aims to bring The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion to a new generation of gamers and welcome back longtime fans of the series. This cool mod will work with both Skyrim Legacy Edition and Skyrim Special Edition. It’s one of the most exciting mods out there, showing what modders can do when they put their minds to it. And, even in its WIP state, it looks great.
When Skyblivion comes out, you’ll be able to pick and choose what parts you want to install. You can decide to install things like Landscaping, Interiors, City improvements, and Weapons/Armor. In theory, this will allow the team to finish the mod more quickly. It’s like customizing your game the way you want it.
Skyblivion has been in the works for some time, and its team is aiming to release it in 2025. Yep, you read that right. We will finally be able to test a version of this mod in 2025.
>> There is a roughly 15 minutes video in the article.

GAMING NEWS

First “Gameplay” Trailer for NBA 2K26 Has FIFA 98 Intro Vibes
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/first-gameplay-trailer-for-nba-2k26-has-fifa-98-intro-vibes
2K Games has released the first “gameplay” trailer for the next part in its NBA 2K series, NBA 2K26. This new basketball game will come out on September 5, and the PC version will be on par with the current-gen console version.
UPDATE:
Well, good news everyone. It appears that some gameplay footage was also revealed. Below, you can find an early comparison between NBA 2K25 and NBA 2K26. As I suspected, the devs have indeed improved the game’s lighting, which is a good thing. So, go ahead and take a look.

SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance PC Demo Available for Download
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/shinobi-art-of-vengeance-pc-demo-available-for-download
SEGA has released a PC demo for SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance on Steam. As such, PC gamers will be able to try this new SHINOBI game before it comes out.
In this game, you will play as the legendary Shinobi Joe Musashi, master of the ninja arts. After finding your village burned to the ground and your clan turned into stone, you must set off on a quest for vengeance, ready to face an unparalleled evil and avenge your clan.

New Off-Screen Gameplay Footage for Unending Dawn, an Open-World Action Game That Blends Elden Ring, Sekiro, and Genshin Impact
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-off-screen-gameplay-footage-for-unending-dawn-an-open-world-action-game-that-blends-elden-ring-sekiro-and-genshin-impact
YouTube’s ‘Bahamut Video Game Madness’ has shared a video, showcasing 7 minutes of new gameplay footage from Unending Dawn. This is off-screen footage, captured at the PlayStation booth at ChinaJoy 2025.

New trailers for Wreckreation, Sacred 2 Remaster, Tides of Tomorrow, Gothic 1 Remake, and more
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-trailers-for-wreckreation-sacred-2-remaster-tides-of-tomorrow-gothic-1-remake-and-more
THQ Nordic has released new trailers for lots of its upcoming titles. Thus, I’ve decided to collect and share them in one big article. So, below you can find the trailers for Wreckreation, Sacred 2 Remaster, Tides of Tomorrow, Gothic 1 Remake, and more.
>> The article has 8 videos.

First-person RPG, Fatekeeper, looks phenomenal in its first trailer
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/first-person-rpg-fatekeeper-looks-phenomenal-in-its-first-trailer
THQ Nordic has just announced a new first-person fantasy RPG that looks absolutely incredible, called Fatekeeper. This game will be coming to Steam Early Access this Winter, and you can find below its debut gameplay trailer.
>> Many compare it to Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.

THQ Nordic has officially announced Darksiders 4
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/thq-nordic-has-officially-announced-darksiders-4
THQ Nordic has just announced the next part in its Darksiders series, Darksiders 4. From the looks of it, the game is in a very early development stage. The reason I’m saying this is because we only got a teaser trailer and nothing more.

Elden Ring Nightreign Patch 1.02 Released & Fully Detailed
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/elden-ring-nightreign-patch-1-02-released-fully-detailed
FromSoftware has released Title Update 1.02 for Elden Ring Nightreign and shared its full patch notes. So, let’s see what this new patch brings to the table.
Patch 1.02 adds an official two-player “Duo” mode. When selecting this mode, the game will automatically adjust the difficulty. As such, the Duo Mode will not be as hard as the default mode.

Titan Quest 2 uses Unreal Engine 5, gets official PC requirements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/titan-quest-2-uses-unreal-engine-5-gets-official-pc-requirements
THQ Nordic has launched Titan Quest 2 in Early Access. This new action RPG is powered by Unreal Engine 5, and we’ve gotten its official PC system requirements. So, let’s see what PC system you’ll need to run it.

Here are 12 minutes of new gameplay from Silent Hill f
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-12-minutes-of-new-gameplay-from-silent-hill-f
YouTube’s ‘Bahamut Video Game Madness’ has shared a video, showcasing 12 minutes of new gameplay from Silent Hill f. This video was captured from the game’s latest preview build. So, it should give us an idea of what the game currently looks like.
>> PCGamer has another article with a longer video from another youtuber

PC Requirements for OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 Confirm Denuvo
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/pc-requirements-for-octopath-traveler-0-confirm-denuvo
Square Enix has revealed the official PC system requirements for OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0. And, as I suspected, the game will be using the Denuvo anti-tamper tech. So, with this out of the way, let’s take a look at the PC specs.

Here are 7 minutes of new gameplay from Capcom’s PRAGMATA
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-7-minutes-of-new-gameplay-from-capcoms-pragmata
YouTube’s ‘GamersPrey’ has shared a video, showcasing 7 minutes of new gameplay footage from Capcom’s PRAGMATA. This new footage was captured at ChinaJoy 2025, in which Capcom presented a new demo.

WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers Update 1.5 Will Fix DLAA/TSR Issues, Improve Knockout Recovery and Healing Speed
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/wuchang-fallen-feathers-update-1-5-will-fix-dlaa-tsr-issues-improve-knockout-recovery-and-healing-speed
Leenzee has shared the key features of Patch 1.5 for WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers, which will come out during the week of August 11th. So, let’s see what players can expect from this upcoming major update.

New gameplay trailers released for MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls and Virtua Fighter
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-gameplay-trailers-released-for-marvel-tokon-fighting-souls-and-virtua-fighter
SEGA and Sony have released new gameplay trailers for the new Virtua Fighter game and MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls. These are two of the most anticipated fighting games. So, make sure to watch them if you are a fan of the genre.

Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted Gets Official PC Requirements
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/plants-vs-zombies-replanted-gets-official-pc-requirements
Electronic Arts has revealed the official PC system requirements for Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted. So, let’s see what PC setup you’ll need to run it.

Monday gaming news, the second part:

'It's not player friendly': EA boss says making The Sims 5 is 'not a good idea for our community' because players have over 10 years of spiritual, mental, and financial investment
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/the-sims/its-not-player-friendly-ea-boss-says-making-the-sims-5-is-not-a-good-idea-for-our-community-because-players-have-over-10-years-of-spiritual-mental-and-financial-investment/
EA continues to be rather confusing about what the future of The Sims looks like, but one thing remains clear: The Sims 5 ain't happening, and the series as we know it now is going to become something very different.

One of Elden Ring Nightreign's returning Dark Souls bosses launches into the stratosphere halfway through the fight to hide that he gets replaced by a second, smaller guy
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/one-of-elden-ring-nightreigns-returning-dark-souls-bosses-launches-into-the-stratosphere-halfway-through-the-fight-to-hide-that-he-gets-replaced-by-a-second-smaller-guy/
Prolific FromSoftware dataminer Zullie the Witch is back with another interesting piece of Elden Ring Nightreign esoterica: The version of Dark Souls 3's Nameless King you fight on foot is different than the one riding the dragon, and FromSoft had to get creative with how it hides the transition.

'It has to be grounded': Battlefield 6 devs say cosmetics won't be as goofy as Call of Duty, but that sounds almost too good to be true
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/it-has-to-be-grounded-battlefield-6-devs-say-cosmetics-wont-be-as-goofy-as-call-of-duty-but-that-sounds-almost-too-good-to-be-true/
For a certain kind of FPS fan, Battlefield 6's big multiplayer reveal is hitting at the perfect moment. Call of Duty is firmly in its slop era, leaving DICE and co. with an opening to be the only big-budget FPS around that doesn't devolve into a clown show of ugly premium skins like CoD's Beavis and Butthead or Rainbow Six Siege's Rick & Morty collection.
>> What will be grounded is the storage needed for the game, that can go as low as 55GB (there are options).

Mastercard deflects blame for NSFW games being taken down, but Valve says payment processors 'specifically cited' a Mastercard rule about damaging the brand
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mastercard-deflects-blame-for-nsfw-games-being-taken-down-but-valve-says-payment-processors-specifically-cited-a-mastercard-rule-about-damaging-the-brand/
Two weeks after Valve confirmed it had removed a pile of NSFW games from Steam because of pressure from credit card companies—and one week after Itch.io followed suit—Mastercard has released a statement denying responsibility for the takedowns, saying it "allows all lawful purchases" to be processed through its systems.

Pathfinder's space opera spin-off is getting its own videogame, an RPG called Starfinder: Afterlight
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/pathfinders-space-opera-spin-off-is-getting-its-own-videogame-an-rpg-called-starfinder-afterlight/
Paizo's tabletop RPG Pathfinder has made it into videogames several times, and while we don't talk about the MMO, Owlcat's CRPGs have done its flavor of crunchy classic fantasy justice twice now. Pathfinder's science-fantasy spin-off Starfinder is about to take its turn being digitized in an upcoming videogame by Barcelona studio Epictellers Entertainment.

The Elder Scrolls Online 'isn't going anywhere,' new ZeniMax boss says: 'The studio is continuing to work hard on new features, adventures, and improvements'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/mmo/the-elder-scrolls-online-isnt-going-anywhere-new-zenimax-boss-says-the-studio-is-continuing-to-work-hard-on-new-features-adventures-and-improvements/
A month after Microsoft pulled the plug on an in-development MMO at ZeniMax Online Studios, new studio head Jo Burba has posted an update promising that The Elder Scrolls Online remains safe and secure.
"Please allow me to assure you, the ESO community, that the game isn’t going anywhere, and the studio is continuing to work hard on new features, adventures, and improvements," Burba wrote. "We said that there’s big changes to the world of Tamriel on the horizon, and that hasn’t changed. We will be sharing more about those soon."

It's a bad day for BioShock fans: BioShock 4 studio heads have been removed as development struggles, while a BioShock remake in development has been cancelled
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/its-a-bad-day-for-bioshock-fans-bioshock-4-studio-heads-have-been-removed-as-development-struggles-while-a-bioshock-remake-in-development-has-been-cancelled/
It's been six years since 2K Games confirmed that BioShock 4 was in development at newly formed studio Cloud Chamber, and despite all that time passed it sounds like we've got a lot of waiting left. A new Bloomberg report says the in-progress game recently failed a review by 2K executives, leading to the removal of studio head Kelley Gilmore and shift of creative director Hogarth de la Plante to a publishing role, as well as a planned overhaul of parts of the game itself.

Setting up trade routes is gaming catnip to me, so I'm pouncing on this beautiful city builder on Steam that has some strong Catan vibes
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/city-builder/setting-up-trade-routes-is-gaming-catnip-to-me-so-im-pouncing-on-this-beautiful-city-builder-on-steam-that-has-some-strong-catan-vibes/
I don't know exactly why, but the idea of setting up trade routes is like catnip to me. Little horse-drawn wagons? Shipments of lumber or wool or vegetables? Resources trundling between cities? Yeah, I'll play a game where that happens.
Let Them Trade, as you can probably guess from the title, is all about that trading life. You build little medieval cities on a beautiful map, assign them specialties like farming, fishing, or woodcutting, link them together through roads and bridges, and set up trade networks so that resources can get from the places they're produced to where they're needed most.

Death Stranding 2's vtuber cameo is only the beginning of more anime girls appearing in your favorite games, Hololive CEO says
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/death-stranding-2s-vtuber-cameo-is-only-the-beginning-of-more-anime-girls-appearing-in-your-favorite-games-hololive-ceo-says/
Death Stranding 2 is stuffed with all sorts of ridiculous cameos, but one of the most bizarre inclusions is extremely popular Japanese-speaking vtuber Usada Pekora. Even though it's no surprise at this point to see Hideo Kojima find a way to insert his favorite celebrities into his games, the CEO of the company Pekora streams for is aiming to have many more collabs in the future.
Speaking to PC Gamer in a recent interview (through a translator), the CEO of Cover, the company that owns vtuber agency Hololive, Motoaki Tanigo, said introducing vtubers to gamers is a big goal right now.

'Chat do I go to the office on Saturday to fix this:' The clock is ticking on Peak accidentally hitting players with a map that's impossible to beat
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/chat-do-i-go-to-the-office-on-saturday-to-fix-this-the-clock-is-ticking-on-peak-accidentally-hitting-players-with-a-map-thats-impossible-to-beat/
If your next Peak run looks impossible, it just might be. On Saturday, dev Aggro Crab posted a screenshot of an impossible-to-reach campfire that spawned on top of an unclimbable tree. Peak is challenging, but it's not supposed to be quite that challenging.
Aggro Crab explained the glitch in a post on X (with a string of crying emojis): "A modder in discord has informed me that in two days there will be a map where the campfire spawns in an unreachable tree. chat do i go to the office on saturday to fix this."
It's worth pointing out that this funny (and frustrating) glitch isn't in the game just yet. Peak's procedurally-generated maps update on a daily timer, so the map with this campfire glitch isn't live yet. It will be in a couple of days if the devs don't fix it..

And here’s the third part of the Monday gaming news:

Low-Budget Repairs is like House Flipper but you're trying to cut every corner you can as the scummiest handyman in '90s Poland
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/low-budget-repairs-is-like-house-flipper-but-youre-trying-to-cut-every-corner-you-can-as-the-scummiest-handyman-in-90s-poland/
Making beautiful living spaces in House Flipper seems to be something people enjoy. It's like The Sims, a place of aspiration and creative joy. But what about a game for those of us who make awful crap heaps for their Sims? Who pinch every penny?
Looks like that'll soon exist: Low-Budget Repairs is an upcoming game where you're a handyman doing renovations in 1990s Polish apartments, and your job is to fulfill the letter of the contract, not the spirit, so you can make as much money as possible.

The next survival game from the developers of Green Hell plops you on an alien planet with atmospheric firestorms and a horde of giant spiders
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/the-next-survival-game-from-the-developers-of-green-hell-plops-you-on-an-alien-planet-with-atmospheric-firestorms-and-a-horde-of-giant-spiders/
The developer of Green Hell is going to an entirely new kind of hell for their next game. Sentenced to a stretch on an alien world for unspecified crimes, your miserable lot is to find research specimens, build up high-tech industrial infrastructure, and send resource shipments home for your corporate overlords. Could be worse, you think.

Please enjoy this short, cheap, upsetting psychological horror game about hacking a terrifying supertech machine from the developer of Buckshot Roulette
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/please-enjoy-this-short-cheap-upsetting-psychological-horror-game-about-hacking-a-terrifying-supertech-machine-from-the-developer-of-buckshot-roulette/
Indie horror developer Mike Klubnika is at it again with his latest, split—stylized s.p.l.i.t—a cerebral and tense game where you do a bunch of pure terminal input hacking to accomplish... something... with your remote black-hat collaborators.

FPS legend John Romero says Wolfenstein 3D was the first game id Software took its time with⁠—a luxurious 4-month development instead of just 2
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/fps-legend-john-romero-says-wolfenstein-3d-was-the-first-game-id-software-took-its-time-with-a-luxurious-4-month-development-instead-of-just-2/
In a recent appearance on Nightdive Studios' Deep Dive podcast, Doom designer John Romero talked about the ways id Software casually revolutionized PC gaming in the early '90s, all on a blistering release schedule where "taking their time" meant cranking out an all-time classic faster than most hero shooters are able to add a new character.
(...)
"Wolfenstein was the first time that we were able to say, 'We're gonna take as long as it takes to make a game,'" Said Romero. "Before that, it was always two months. We were making games for two months for like, a year and a half. So finally it's like, no more time limit, we do it as well as we can, and it took us⁠—to upload the shareware version of Wolfenstein⁠—it took us four months."

Choose to be an upstanding burgher or a criminal mastermind as The Guild series of medieval life choice simulators returns
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/choose-to-be-an-upstanding-burgher-or-a-criminal-mastermind-as-the-guild-series-of-medieval-life-choice-simulators-returns/
The Guild series has always seemed like an interesting proposition, a kind of miniaturized Crusader Kings where your medieval dynasty doesn't encompass an entire realm, but instead a single business and family you grow until you achieve your ultimate aim of becoming a moderately wealthy burgomeister—not so much grand strategy as modest strategy.
The Guild's peculiar combination of life sim, management sim, and RPG will be returning in The Guild – Europa 1410, as THQ Nordic announced with a largely live-action trailer documenting the ups and downs of life in a 15th century town.

Huge news for base organisers and decorators, Minecraft's next drop will add shelves
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/huge-news-for-base-organisers-and-decorators-minecrafts-next-drop-will-add-shelves/
In a recent snapshot shared to the Minecraft website, a couple of new features for the game's next drop have been revealed. Much like the Copper Golem, one of these additions is also designed to make organising your base a lot more convenient.

Peak's latest patch fixes invisible chicken bodies crashing the game and lets you toggle off the ability to eat your friends: 'Now that you've all had your fun we're introducing some changes to cannibalism'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/sim/peaks-latest-patch-fixes-invisible-chicken-bodies-crashing-the-game-and-lets-you-toggle-off-the-ability-to-eat-your-friends-now-that-youve-all-had-your-fun-were-introducing-some-changes-to-cannibalism/
Peak decided to throw a little more chaos into its mountain climbing adventures last week, adding the ability to become a cannibal and eat your friends if you became slightly too hungry.
(...)
Thankfully a new patch has now rolled out which introduces the ability to toggle cannibalism on and off. It's switched on by default, so if you really don't want your friends to target you the second their hunger ticks over, you'll need to head into the main menu and switch off "Enable Cannibalism". This means you'll no longer see other players as chickens, and no one will be able to eat you. Back to trail mix and energy drinks it is, I guess.
>> I haven’t read the path notes, but the article doesn’t say anything about the impossible map from the other article.

Marvel Rivals is finally giving more competitive compensation to players struck down by rage-quitting teammates or friends with hamster-powered Wi-Fi
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/marvel-rivals-is-finally-giving-more-competitive-compensation-to-players-struck-down-by-rage-quitting-teammates-or-friends-with-hamster-powered-wi-fi/
We're just days away from Marvel Rivals Season 3.5, and with it comes a bunch of new stuff, including Blade, a limited-time event, and a ton of changes to competitive play, some of which may make matches slightly easier for low-elo players.
There's a long list of competitive adjustments in the latest patch notes for Marvel Rivals. In keeping with other updates, there's ranked rewards up for grabs, including an Emerald Blade costume for those who reach Gold rank and above, as well as some new nameplate frames for Diamond and Platinum, plus additional crests for GM, Celestial, Eternity, and One Above All.

'I’d prefer working as a small team'—Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 devs think their studio is 'just the right size', with no real plans to expand it yet
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/id-prefer-working-as-a-small-team-clair-obscur-expedition-33-devs-think-their-studio-is-just-the-right-size-with-no-real-plans-to-expand-it-yet/
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wasn't quite made by "just 30" people, as is often repeated—both Sandfall and Kepler credit contractors and additional studios for aid—but it is still much, much smaller than any big-budget studio, even with the full cavalry called in. And apparently, its director is keen to keep it that way.