Wednesday news, part two:
Hunt: Showdown's 'work-in-progress' system requirements recommend a GTX 970
https://www.pcgamer.com/hunt-showdown-system-requirements/
The greatest challenge we faced in the Hunt: Showdown alpha—aside from the bees—was maintaining a consistent framerate. All of us who played encountered stuttering, with framerates dipping heavily, especially during scuffles with players and monsters, where freezing and hitching are deadly.
Hunt is in alpha, so problems like this are expected, but improving performance is going to be crucial if Hunt is going to be any fun for most people. In an email sent to PC Gamer this morning, Crytek laid out its working plan for optimization.
The Zulu are coming to Civilization 6 in the Rise and Fall expansion
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-zulu-are-coming-to-civilization-6-in-the-rise-and-fall-expansion/
The upcoming Civilization 6: Rise and Fall expansion will add the Zulu to the roster of nations, led by Shaka, the illegitimate son of a Zulu chief who would suffer exile and humiliation before finding his place as a warrior in the ibutho, eventually rising to become one of the most influential rulers of the Zulu Kingdom.
Germany may ban loot boxes
https://www.pcgamer.com/germany-may-ban-loot-boxes/
Germany is looking into imposing restrictions on loot boxes in videogames, according to this Welt report, which says (via Google Translate, so caveats apply) that a study by the University of Hamburg has found that elements of gambling are becoming increasingly common in videogames. It's an important part of the game industry's business model, but the chairman of the Youth Protection Commission of the State Media Authorities warned that it may violate laws against promoting gambling to children and adolescents.
Manga publisher VIZ Media announces indie program and first original game
https://www.pcgamer.com/manga-publisher-viz-media-announces-indie-program-and-first-original-game/
Manga and anime distributor VIZ Media is partnering with Portland-based studio Rose City Games to launch a new publishing program dedicated to original indie games. The pair announced their first game, The World Next Door, today as the first of three currently in the works.
Into the Breach, from the makers of FTL, is coming this month
https://www.pcgamer.com/into-the-breach-from-the-makers-of-ftl-is-coming-this-month/
Into the Breach, the next game from the makers of FTL, will launch on Steam, GOG and the Humble Store on Tuesday, February 27, two-man developer Subset Games announced today.
Retro cartoon adventure Crossing Souls gets a free demo
https://www.pcgamer.com/retro-cartoon-adventure-crossing-souls-gets-a-free-demo/
Crossing Souls is an action-adventure game styled after '80s cartoons like He-Man and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It's due out a week from today on February 13, and developer Fourattic is giving out free samples on Steam through a fairly sizable demo. It covers "the first few hours" of the game and introduces main characters Chris, Joe, Charlene, Kevin and Matthew, the studio says.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War - Blade of Galadriel is out now, so here's a trailer
https://www.pcgamer.com/middle-earth-shadow-of-war-blade-of-galadriel-is-out-now-so-heres-a-trailer/
A new Middle-earth: Shadow of War expansion called The Blade of Galadriel went live today, giving players the opportunity to switch things up as Eltariel, an elite Elven assassin who's been sent by Galadriel to hang a job on the Nazgul. The new character comes complete with new Nemesis characters including Flint, Tinder, and the Slayer of the Dead, plus eight unique Legendary Orcs who will join your army in the main campaign.
Rocket League may get competitive Snow Day and Hoops
https://www.pcgamer.com/rocket-league-may-get-competitive-snow-day-and-hoops/
In a Reddit post explaining some of Psyonix's update decisions, game director Corey Davis wrote that the dev team is "engaged in design discussions" about how to add "an experience equivalent to Competitive play for our existing alternate modes." That includes Snow Day, Hoops, Dropshot, and Rumble.
Hand of Fate 2 update lets players make their own missions
https://www.pcgamer.com/hand-of-fate-2-update-lets-players-to-make-their-own-missions/
Hand of Fate 2, the choose-your-own-adventure/Arkham brawler/RPG with cards, recently updated to give players access to its "Game Master's Toolkit". These are the same tools the designers at Defiant Development used to create the game's quests, each a unique mix of cards and combat encounters, and are also the tools they're using to make future DLC.
Kerbal Space Program's Making History expansion bringing mission builder next month
https://www.pcgamer.com/kerbal-space-programs-making-history-expansion-bringing-mission-builder-next-month/
Originally announced in March 2017, Making History makes two big additions to the base game. The first, and arguably most exciting, is a mission builder enabling players to create, edit and share custom scenarios. "Players can customize their own missions to include launches, landings, rescues, malfunctions, explosions, repairs and much more," the studio says. Right, that's the making sorted, and we're guessing it won't be long before someone creates a mission to launch an electric car into orbit.