Tuesday gaming news, part two:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And here are more gaming news:

Fallout's original creators say that Fallout 3 and 4 aren't quite what they would've done, but 'sales say people love what they did'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fallout/fallouts-original-creators-say-that-fallout-3-and-4-arent-quite-what-they-wouldve-done-but-sales-say-people-love-what-they-did/

Fallout 76's design director is still defending its original absence of NPCs: 'At the beginning, we wanted it all to be player-driven'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fallout/fallout-76s-design-director-is-still-defending-its-original-absence-of-npcs-at-the-beginning-we-wanted-it-all-to-be-player-driven/

Suda51 says his new game isn't a No More Heroes sequel because series star Travis Touchdown needed a break: 'I could write Travis all day, but dude is exhausted'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/suda51-says-his-new-game-isnt-a-no-more-heroes-sequel-because-series-star-travis-touchdown-needed-a-break-i-could-write-travis-all-day-but-dude-is-exhausted/

Players discover once again that World of Warcraft is powered by invisible bunnies that make everything work
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/world-of-warcraft/players-discover-once-again-that-world-of-warcraft-is-powered-by-invisible-bunnies-that-make-everything-work/

'It took about 5 years' for people to start liking Fallout: New Vegas, says Josh Sawyer, and even longer for Obsidian to see that 'players actually liked the design choices we had made'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fallout/it-took-about-5-years-for-people-to-start-liking-fallout-new-vegas-says-josh-sawyer-and-even-longer-for-obsidian-to-see-that-players-actually-liked-the-design-choices-we-had-made/

Deadlock releases the 5th hero in its new 6-hero lineup—Celeste, a floaty carnival performer with an ultimate that gives me war flashbacks to Dota 2
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/moba/deadlock-releases-the-5th-hero-in-its-new-6-hero-lineup-celeste-a-floaty-carnival-performer-with-an-ultimate-that-gives-me-war-flashbacks-to-dota-2/

A couple weeks ago, I checked the prices on Alternate and already the 5060Ti was slightly cheaper than the 5070 when going by the cheapest model. At the same time the 5070Ti was getting dangerously close to the 5080 pricing, though it still had some cheaper models.

The pricing for both Ti cards are absolutely broken and at those prices, Ti really stands for Totally Inadequate™. Better get a 5070, or if you really want 16GB, a 9070(XT), as those have a far better pricing right now.

It's a 160-bit bus design with 640GB/s of memory bandwidth. It says so in the article and Kepler's post. 

The jump is pretty big, yes, but it makes me wonder how much does Sony expect to charge for it. This gen, we've had cross-gen games for years, with some titles still launching today for both PS4 and PS5. If Sony goes too far with the price of the PS6, I feel like there'll be many gamers that will stick to their PS5s instead of upgrading to the newest one, more so in today's and likely tomorrow's economy.

That's insane. We're reaching, if not exceeding, Covid/crypto levels of pricing on Nvidia GPUs. A bit less on AMD since they haven't cut production to make more server cards, but they're also raising.

It's a joke and the price shows it. The question is who will laugh harder, consumers not buying it or Razer for having found so many dumb people.

I still enter Discord once or twice a week, but it's been months since I posted anything on it, so this new policy doesn't affect me. Not that I'm on any server that deals with any "dangerous" content.

I wouldn't be shocked if cross generation games last throughout most of the ps6's life cycle.  I see consoles being like PCs.  Both sets of hardware play all games, just a matter of resolution, fps and general settings.  

Indeed, that's the most likely scenario.

Cerny & co. must have come up with some otherworldly sauce if he thinks 640 GB/s is enough for ~1200 TOPS. That or these are preliminary specs (maybe experimenting with stacked cache to make up for it).

Indeed - if only there was an easy alternative. I mean, this shouldn't probably affect me in practice, but this is absolutely not something I want to support.

Least according to Radeon, 9070 XT has 1557 TOPs with memory bandwidth of 640GB/s so it's probably fine.

https://www.amd.com/en/products/graphics/desktops/radeon/9000-series/amd-radeon-rx-9070xt.html

One of gen AI's biggest weaknesses has been believable motion, particularly for complex interactions like fight scenes. That may be about to change:

As an aspiring artist I thought that bespoke animation might be one of the few disciplines that AI wouldn't be able to effectively replace but I'm not so sure any more. Obviously doing things by hand still gives you full control over your output and more pride in your work, but I wonder how much that will matter to most people in the end...