^ Yeah, I was left wanting to know more about the story. Hopefully, that ·to be continued" is a real thing, not marketing.

Welcome, to another edition of the news:

SALES & DEALS

Get Human: Fall Flat, Bomber Crew and more in the latest Humble Bundle
https://www.pcgamer.com/get-human-fall-flat-bomber-crew-and-more-in-the-latest-humble-bundle/
Publisher Curve Digital is getting the Humble Bundle treatment again. If you didn't grab the bundle last year, you've got another shot now. For a dollar or more you can add Serial Cleaner, Stealth Inc. 2 and The Little Acre to your collection, though you'll need to splash out a wee bit more to get the best stuff like Bomber Crew and Human: Fall Flat.
>> On the Humble Store, there are two more sales:

• The first one is an Activision sale, with up to 75% discounts for the next 5 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/activision-week/
• And for the next 12 days, there's also the 2K March Madness Sale, with up to 65% discounts: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/2k-march-madness-sale/

At GOG there's a special Battlestar Galactica Deadlock sale to celebrate the launch of its latest DLC, Battlestar Galactica Deadlock: Sin and Sacrifice. For the next 4 days, get the game with a 60% discount and the previous DLCs with a 25% sale: https://www.gog.com/promo/20190319_special_promo_battlestar_galactica_deadlock

At Steam, there's a new daily deal and 4 Midweek Madness deals:

• The daily deal is Kerbal Space Program, 60% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/220200/Kerbal_Space_Program/
• Frostpunk is 40% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/323190/Frostpunk/
• Black Desert Online is free to try until the end of the week, and 50% off if you enjoy it: https://store.steampowered.com/app/582660/Black_Desert_Online/
• Party Hard 2 is also 50% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/572430/Party_Hard_2/
• And lastly, there's a DC franchise sale, with up to 75% discounts: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/dc/

Finally there's Fanatical, that has a new bundle: the Vengeance Bundle, with 9 games at a 97% discount for the next 14 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/vengeance-bundle

SOFTWARE/DRIVERS

Google announces a new game streaming service, called Stadia
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/google-announces-a-new-game-streaming-service-called-stadia/
At GDC 2019, Google announced its new game streaming service that will be called Stadia. Stadia is basically an evolution of Project Stream that Google launched last year. In other words, this isn’t a new console hardware. Instead, this is a streaming service and Google has released a trailer for Stadia that you can find below.
>> I won't really post many more news about this new service for the time being, so feel free to go to one of the several threads about it. But don't forget to look at the UL Benchmark of Stadia's tech demo first.

MODS/EMULATORS

PC gamers can already play Halo 3’s single-player campaign on the PC with native mouse & keyboard
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/pc-gamers-can-already-play-halo-3-single-player-campaign-on-the-pc-with-native-mouse-keyboard/
Microsoft and 343 Industries have already announced the Halo: The Master Chief collection for the PC. However, PC gamers can already experience the single-player campaign of Halo 3. A team of dedicated fans has recreated the entire single-player mode of Halo 3 in the Halo Online Engine, and is fully playable from start to finish via Eldewrito.
Now while we got a link to this build – and we can confirm that it actually works – we’ve decided to not share it. The reason is quite simple; Microsoft and 343 Industries will undoubtedly attempt to take it down. Not only that, but we should at least respect 343 Industries’ attempts to create a solid PC version of Halo: MCC. Still, and similarly to our nude mods, this does not prohibit us from actually talking about it.

GAMING NEWS

Here are 21 minutes of brand new gameplay footage from System Shock Remake
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/here-are-21-minutes-of-brand-new-gameplay-footage-from-system-shock-remake/
Nightdive Studios has released a new video, showcasing 21 minutes of gameplay footage from the upcoming remake of System Shock. As the team noted, the level shown here, Medical Level, is not the final version as there are missing enemies, weapons, effects, and sounds.

The third game in the I.G.I. series has been officially announced, will release in 2021
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/the-third-game-in-the-i-g-i-series-has-been-officially-announced-will-release-in-2021/
Toadman Interactive has announced that the third game in the I.G.I. franchise will be released during 2021. The title is a tactical stealth FPS and a prequel to the previous games that will uncover the origin story of the I.G.I. organization.

Part two of the news:

Anthem launch was 'rougher than expected,' admits BioWare
https://www.pcgamer.com/anthem-launch-was-rougher-than-expected-admits-bioware/
After a pretty rough month, BioWare GM Casey Hudson has written an Anthem post-launch update, acknowledging some of the shooter's issues but putting on a brave face when it comes to the game's future.

Satisfactory is now available in early access
https://www.pcgamer.com/satisfactory-is-now-available-in-early-access/
Co-op factory-building game Satisfactory is now available in Early Access on the Epic Store. It'll stop you a bit short of completing the full game for now—Coffee Stain will be making bug fixes and improvements before adding the later building tiers as it completes its early access roadmap.

Ubisoft is finally letting Rainbow Six Siege players forgive teamkills
https://www.pcgamer.com/ubisoft-is-finally-letting-rainbow-six-siege-players-forgive-teamkills/
Ubisoft is taking a new approach to deal with Rainbow Six Siege's teamkilling problem. In a new blog post, Ubi detailed the new rules going into testing. Instead of kicking players after two teamkills, all damage dealt to the offender after the first teamkill will be reversed onto them. If the teamkill was truly an accident, the victim is able to "forgive" and not activate a penalty.

Apex Legends update adds Octane, Season 1 battle pass and more
https://www.pcgamer.com/apex-legends-update-adds-octane-season-1-battle-pass-and-more/
Apex Legends Season 1: Wild Frontier is out now, introducing Octane, the first battle pass, free rewards and a mountain of bug fixes and quality of life improvements. Despite only launching in February, it feels like we've been waiting forever for the first season thanks to the cavalcade of leaks, datamines and rumours, but you can finally see it for yourself today.

Heroes of the Storm is getting rid of paid loot boxes
https://www.pcgamer.com/heroes-of-the-storm-is-getting-rid-of-paid-loot-boxes/
Heroes of the Storm's time as a competitive esport might be over, but there's still life in the MOBA. The next patch, which launched on the Public Test Realm on March 18, is a big one, kicking off a new event and quest chain, expanding hero roles and getting rid of paid loot boxes.

343 Industries is 'hesitant' to commit to a Halo: The Master Chief Collection PC launch date
https://www.pcgamer.com/343-industries-is-hesitant-to-commit-to-a-halo-the-master-chief-collection-pc-launch-date/
343 Industries community director Brian "ske7ch" Jarrard held court in a Reddit AMA today to answer questions about Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which is expected to debut on PC later this year. Some of what Jarrard covered was already known: The games will be available for purchase individually or in a bundle, they'll be released in order of their fictional chronology (so Reach first, then Combat Evolved), and there will be public "flighting" tests prior to release. Unfortunately, the one thing we all really want to know—when we can start playing—has yet to be nailed down.

The Overwatch combat medic Baptiste is now live
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-overwatch-combat-medic-baptiste-is-now-live/
The latest patch to Overwatch heralds the arrival of the combat medic Baptiste, who comes to the fight with a big gun, some sweet footwear, and a unique array of abilities that enable him to protect and heal allies from a distance.

Castlevania and Contra Anniversary Collections are coming to Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/castlevania-and-contra-anniversary-collections-are-coming-to-steam/
Konami has confirmed a trio of Anniversary Collections to celebrate its 50th birthday, taking in Castlevania, Contra, and a broader 'Arcade Classics' package. The latter is coming first, on April 18, and includes eight games: Haunted Castle, Typhoon (A-JAX), Nemesis (Gradius), Vulcan Venture (Gradius II), Life Force (Salamander), Thunder Cross, Scramble and TwinBee.

Lucasfilm Games has been unexpectedly resurrected by Disney
https://www.pcgamer.com/lucasfilm-games-has-been-unexpectedly-resurrected-by-disney/
Disney appears to have resurrected Lucasfilm Games. You'll probably be more familiar with its successor, the greatly missed LucasArts, which developed and published countless games both in and outside the Star Wars universe until it was closed in 2013.
Update: While the Disney Careers listings are all publisher-side jobs, it looks like Lucasfilm Games is also looking for designers. Team17 community manager Ashley Day shared a screencap of a Linkedin post from a Disney recruiter advertising for a technical artist, engineering manager, producer, community manager and a lead game designer, so it looks like it is actually might be interested in making new games after all.
>> Isn't it a bit early for April Fool's jokes? Or has their experience with EA been that bad that they prefer to make their own games again?

Hack-and-slash MMO Guardians of Ember returns in open beta
https://www.pcgamer.com/hack-and-slash-mmo-guardians-of-ember-returns-in-open-beta/
The hack-and-slash MMO Guardians of Ember, which was delisted from Steam more than a year ago for review score shenanigans, is now back in action (but not on Steam) in open beta.

Oxygen Not Included is leaving Early Access in May
https://www.pcgamer.com/oxygen-not-included-is-leaving-early-access-in-may/
After two years in Early Access, Oxygen Not Included is getting ready to launch. Klei's survival management romp has two more updates on the docket, and then it will finally hit 1.0 in late May.

BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders is being adapted into a game
https://www.pcgamer.com/bbc-crime-drama-peaky-blinders-is-being-adapted-into-a-game/
Peaky Blinders, the BBC period crime drama, is getting a game adaptation for PC and consoles. The show stars Cillian Murphy getting up to no good in Birmingham during the 1920s, and it's managed to remain popular enough to get to season five. There's even an IPA, if you fancy drinking Peaky Blinders instead of watching it.

By the way, from now on, there's one less site on the net to get our hardware reviews from: HardOCP.

The founder and owner of the site, Kyle Bennett, is joining Intel in the position of (and I'm not joking), "Director of Enthusiast Engagement for Intel’s Technology Leadership Marketing group".

Here's the link to his farewell note, where he discloses that, because he doesn't want to sell the site, the site will be "mothballed" and the forums will be sold:

https://www.hardocp.com/article/2019/03/19/goodbye_hardocp_hello_intel/

End of an era and a massive loss for the PC gaming community.

Now AMD needs to hire Tom and we have a good old fashioned war on our hands.

Shame on you .

And another edition of the news:

SALES & DEALS

Metro Exodus sold 2.5X times better on the Epic Store than Metro: Last Light on Steam
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/metro-exodus-sold-2-5x-times-better-on-the-epic-store-than-metro-last-light-on-steam/
Deep Silver and Epic Games have announced at GDC 2019 that the Epic Store release of Metro Exodus was a success as it surpassed the units that Metro: Last Light sold on Steam during its launch in 2013. In fact, Metro Exodus sold 2.5X times better than Metro Last Light did.
>> Kerotan has a thread about this.

GOG Spring Sale discounts more than 600 games
https://www.pcgamer.com/gog-spring-sale-2019/
Spring is here, at least according to GOG, which is hosting a sale with more than 600 deals and discounts going up to 90 percent. It's already started and will run until March 28, 11 pm UTC.
Along with the regular sale, which includes Pillars of Eternity 2 (34 percent off), The Witcher 3 GOTY (70 percent off) and Battletech (40 percent off), every day will see new flash deals appear.
Flash deals are, of course, the most stressful kind of sale, but maybe that's appropriate for spring. Life erupting out the ground, the trauma of birth, the fear that you'll never be able to shed all of that Easter egg weight—it's a trying time.

At Steam, there are two new daily deals:

• Circle Empires is 33% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/834740/Circle_Empires/
• And Undertale is 60% off: https://store.steampowered.com/app/391540/Undertale/

On the Humble Store, the Spotlight Deal is Dead by Daylight, up to 60% off for the next 3 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/store/promo/dead-by-daylight/

And at Fanatical, there are two new deals:

• The new Star Deal is Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, 50% off for the next 48 hours: https://www.fanatical.com/en/game/pillars-of-eternity-ii-deadfire
• And the Elite Mystery Bundle is back with up to 3 unknown games for the next 15 days: https://www.fanatical.com/en/bundle/elite-mystery-bundle

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

AMD Radeon Adrenalin 2019 Edition 19.3.3 is optimized for Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice & Generation Zero
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/amd-radeon-adrenalin-2019-edition-19-3-3-is-optimized-for-sekiro-shadows-die-twice-generation-zero/
AMD has released a new driver for its graphics cards. According to the release notes, the AMD Radeon Software Adrenalin 2019 Edition 19.3.3 is optimized for both Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Generation Zero.
Furthermore, this driver fixes an intermittent corruption or flickering on some game textures during gameplay in Rainbow Six Siege, as well as the stutter issues on some HMD devices when using the Vulkan API in DOTA 2.
It’s worth pointing out that this driver has not fixed yet the issues that could cause the mouse cursor to disappear or move out of the boundary of the top of a display on AMD Ryzen Mobile Processors with Radeon Vega Graphics, or the inaccurate fluctuating readings on AMD Radeon VII when using performance metrics overlay and Radeon WattMan gauges.
>> Available from here.

Irdeto launches Denuvo Anti-Cheat solution in order to combat cheating in video games and esports
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/irdeto-launches-denuvo-anti-cheat-solution-in-order-to-combat-cheating-in-video-games-and-esports/
At GDC 2019, Irdeto announced the launch of its Anti-Cheat solution to protect against cheating in video games and esports, called Denuvo Anti-Cheat. According to the press release, Denuvo Anti-Cheat prevents cheaters from manipulating and extracting data or code to gain an advantage over other gamers.
>> More Denuvo crap...

Epic Games showcases an amazing Unreal Engine 4 ray tracing tech demo, called “Troll”
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/epic-games-showcases-an-amazing-unreal-engine-4-ray-tracing-tech-demo-called-troll/
At GDC 2019, Epic Games showcased an amazing Unreal Engine 4 ray tracing tech demo, called “Troll”. According to the team, this demo was running on a single NVIDIA GeForce RTX2080Ti and showcased what developers can currently achieve with real-time ray tracing.
>> They've also shown another demo about next gen physics and destruction system.

Epic wants everyone to use its online services, even if they release on Steam
https://www.pcgamer.com/epic-wants-everyone-to-use-its-online-services-even-if-they-release-on-steam/
As it already announced, Epic is making its online services available to all developers for free. That includes the cross-platform systems it designed for Fortnite: friends lists, matchmaking, inventory and purchase management, voice chat, analytics, support ticketing, and more. The SDK is available now, Epic announced during its GDC 2019 keynote, and Unity and Unreal integration are coming this year.

Epic on Steam friend importing: 'The user can do with [their data] as they please'
https://www.pcgamer.com/epic-on-steam-friend-importing-the-user-can-do-with-their-data-as-they-please/
Last week, users discovered that the Epic Games Store was copying a Steam file that contained their friends' user IDs and other data. It did this before prompting users to choose whether or not to import their Steam friends into the Epic launcher.
Epic explained that while the client did copy the file, nothing was sent to Epic unless the user opted in, at which point hashed friend IDs were uploaded. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney said that the early copying was a problem that would be fixed.

The Epic Store won't accept 'crappy games,' says Tim Sweeney
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-epic-store-wont-accept-crappy-games-says-ceo-tim-sweeney/
For years now, Valve has struggled with the problem of what it should and shouldn't sell on the Steam store. At first, Valve was the gatekeeper. Then it introduced Greenlight, allowing Steam users to vote for games they want to see on Steam. Finally, it did away with all of that, and now allows anyone to put just about any game on Steam if they pay a $100 fee.
(...)
Right now, Epic is much like Steam was in the early days, negotiating Epic Store releases game-by-game, but it plans to open up the store more widely in the future. When it does, it won't take Valve's hands-off approach.
Earlier this week, I asked Epic CEO Tim Sweeney how Epic will decide what does and doesn't get to be published on the Epic Store. He began by explaining that the Unreal Engine side of Epic and the publishing side of Epic have "very different policies."
>> We'll see about that, especially if they use the Unreal Engine...

MODS/EMULATORS

-empty-

GAMING NEWS

Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls and Detroit: Become Human are coming to the PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/heavy-rain-beyond-two-souls-and-detroit-become-human-are-coming-to-the-pc/
Now here is a pleasant surprise. Quantic Dream has announced that Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls and Detroit: Become Human will be coming to the PC. Yes, this isn’t an April’s fools joke; these Playstation-exclusive games are indeed coming to the PC, however there is a catch.
>> And they're timed Epic Store exclusives, as Kerotan said in his thread.

Remedy’s Control will be exclusive to Epic Games Store for one year
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/remedys-control-will-be-exclusive-to-epic-games-store-for-one-year/
505 Games, a subsidiary of the Italian entertainment company Digital Bros., today announced at the Game Developers’ Conference (GDC) a partnership that will see the digitally-distributed PC versions of two highly-anticipated games release exclusively through the Epic Games store.
The two games that will be exclusive to the Epic Games store are Control and Journey to the Savage Planet.

Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds will be exclusive for one year on Microsoft Store and Epic Games Store
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/obsidians-the-outer-worlds-will-be-exclusive-for-one-year-on-microsoft-store-and-epic-games-store/
Alongside Remedy’s Control, Obsidian Entertainment and Epic Games have announced that the highly anticipated RPG, The Outer Worlds, will be exclusive to the Epic Games Store for one year. Contrary to Control, though, The Outer Worlds will also be available for purchase on Microsoft Store at launch.
>> This time is Azzanation who has made a thread about this.

Battlefield 5 – March 25th Battle Royale Update – Full patch release notes revealed
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/battlefield-5-march-25th-battle-royale-update-full-patch-release-notes-revealed/
Electronic Arts and DICE have revealed the full release notes for the upcoming battle royale Firestorm update for Battlefield 5. Alongside the introduction of this new battle royale mode, DICE has improved aerial combat and has further polished the vehicle and weapons experience.

Anthem patch 1.04 will add a FOV slider and DLSS support, will remove loading when getting into the Forge
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/anthem-patch-1-04-will-add-a-fov-slider-and-dlss-support-will-remove-loading-when-getting-into-the-forge/
Electronic Arts and Bioware have revealed some of the changes, improvements and enhancements that will be coming to Anthem via its upcoming patch. Do note that these are not the only improvements that are coming to Anthem (according to Bioware the full release notes for its upcoming patch are 13 pages).

KILL la KILL – IF releases on the PC on July 26th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/kill-la-kill-if-releases-on-the-pc-on-july-26th/
PQube has announced that Arc System Works and Studio TRIGGER’s KILL la KILL – IF will be releasing on July 25th for PC/Steam worldwide. Furthermore, the publisher has announced that two new playable characters “Mako Mankanshoku” and “Ultimate Double Naked DTR” will be available to download as free characters.

Lost Ember, a storydriven third-person exploration adventure game, will release on July 19th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/lost-ember-a-storydriven-third-person-exploration-adventure-game-will-release-on-july-19th/
Mooneye Studios has announced that its storydriven third-person exploration adventure game, Lost Ember, will release on July 19th. In order to celebrate this announcement, the team has also released a new trailer that you can find below.

Monster Hunter World will get an official 40GB high-resolution texture pack
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/monster-hunter-world-will-get-an-official-high-resolution-texture-pack/
Capcom has announced that the PC version of Monster Hunter World will receive an official high resolution texture pack. According to the Japanese company, this pack will require at least 40GB of free space and 8GB of graphic memory (VRAM).

Just Cause 4 PC patch #2 available for download, improves performance, AA, water and vegetation
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/just-cause-4-pc-patch-2-available-for-download-improves-performance-aa-water-and-vegetation/
Avalanche Studios has released a new, and highly anticipated, PC patch for Just Cause 4. According to the team, this patch brings performance improvements, as well as visual improvements to the water, vegetation and the game’s anti-aliasing system.

Thursday news, part two:

Pathfinder: Kingmaker free DLC lets you summon a sarlacc
https://www.pcgamer.com/pathfinder-kingmaker-free-dlc-lets-you-summon-a-sarlacc/
If you've ever dreamed of having a pet sarlacc, Pathfinder: Kingmaker has you covered. Owlcat Games released some free DLC today, introducing a bunch of spells that let you summon various pits, including one that bears a striking resemblance to Tatooine's most famous resident.

Epic is launching a $100,000,000 grant program for games and other software
https://www.pcgamer.com/epic-is-launching-a-dollar100000000-grant-program-for-games-and-other-software/
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney announced today that Epic is launching a $100,000,000 "no strings attached" grant program for games and other software that use the Unreal Engine. Or that don't, in the end. It's no strings attached.
>> Kerotan has made a thread about this.

Ubisoft has extended its partnership with the Epic Store
https://www.pcgamer.com/ubisoft-has-extended-its-partnership-with-the-epic-store/
Epic announced today that Ubisoft will continue its relationship with the Epic Games Store. Apparently, the publisher was happy with its decision to release The Division 2 on Epic's client (and not Steam), and will be releasing "several" more games that way—though which ones, Epic can't say yet. Ubisoft will announce that in the near future.

The Walking Dead: The Final Season concludes next week
https://www.pcgamer.com/the-walking-dead-the-final-season-finale-release-date/
Clementine has been dodging zombies and deadline with considerably more dangerous humans since 2012, when The Walking Dead first launched. Seven years later, she's due a rest, which she'll get one way or another later this month. Take Us Back, The Final Season finale, is coming next week. Check out the trailer above.

Sea of Thieves players will soon be able to go fishing (and cook what they catch)
https://www.pcgamer.com/sea-of-thieves-players-will-soon-be-able-to-go-fishing-and-cook-what-they-catch/
Sea of Thieves players who have longed to cast their lines into the deep blue sea will soon have the opportunity to do just that, courtesy of the "game-changing" Anniversary Update. Set to arrive in April, the big update will also add a new competitive mode called the Arena, new narrative adventures, expanded ship damage, and more.

Apex Legends' new hero Octane is a tribute to a real-life Titanfall speedrunner
https://www.pcgamer.com/apex-legends-new-hero-octane-is-a-tribute-to-a-real-life-titanfall-speedrunner/
Octavio "Octane" Silva, the newest addition to the Apex Legends lineup, is a high-strung speedster with a freaky mask and no legs. He ended up in that condition, according to Apex Legends lore, by using a grenade to propel himself through a Pilot's Gauntlet in record-setting time. Worth it? Fortunately, his old pal Lifeline was able to hook him up with some bionic replacements, getting him back into the action with better moves than ever.

My Friend Pedro is coming in June, here's a ridiculous trailer to watch while you wait
https://www.pcgamer.com/my-friend-pedro-is-coming-in-june-heres-a-ridiculous-trailer-to-watch-while-you-wait/
Tom described My Friend Pedro in 2016 as "a 2D Max Payne that looks bananas." Two years later, he declared to the world that he was sick of waiting for it—but, temporal reality being what it is, he would continue waiting anyway, because the preview build he played was "stupidly good fun." He'll be happy to know that his wait is almost over, as Devolver announced today that it will finally be out in June.

Mortal Kombat 11 trailer introduces Kotal Kahn, then viciously kicks his ass
https://www.pcgamer.com/mortal-kombat-11-trailer-introduces-kotal-kahn-then-viciously-kicks-his-ass/
A new Mortal Kombat trailer introducing Kotal Kahn, an Osh-Tekk warrior and the Emperor of Outworld, is interesting for a couple of reasons. First, Kotal is the last playable character from MK11 to be revealed in these nutso-violent videos we've been enjoying for the past several weeks. And second, because instead of bearing witness to whatever laughably blood-soaked fatality he brings to the fight, we get to watch him take a brutal ass-kicking at the hands of Jacqui Briggs.

Return of the Obra Dinn takes grand prize at the IGF Awards
https://www.pcgamer.com/return-of-the-obra-dinn-takes-grand-prize-at-the-igf-awards/
Proceedings for the Independent Games Festival and Game Developers Choice awards have just wrapped up, with Lucas Pope's Return of the Obra Dinn taking the Seamus McNally Grand Prize award for best indie game of the year in the first of the two (well deserved, too: it was one of our highest scoring games of 2018).
>> The full list of winners is at the article.

XCOM 2 is free for the weekend and 75% off
https://www.pcgamer.com/xcom-2-is-free-for-the-weekend-and-75-off/
XCOM 2's alien menace won't vanquish itself, so 2K and Firaxis have decided expand their XCOM agent recruitment drive by hosting a free weekend on Steam, starting today and running until March 25. Go beat up ET on a budget.

Kenshi 2 is already in development
https://www.pcgamer.com/kenshi-2-is-already-in-development/
Kenshi took developer Lo-Fi Games around 12 years to create, and it finally left Early Access in December. It's great—just give our Kenshi review a read—and more than a bit weird. And a follow-up to the massive post-apocalyptic sandbox is already in development.

Hitman 2 is getting a new sniper map next week
https://www.pcgamer.com/hitman-2-is-getting-a-new-sniper-map-next-week/
Agent 47 is heading to Singapore in Hitman 2's Hantu Port sniper assassin map, due out next week. This is one of part of the DLC in the first expansion pack, which seems to be appearing piecemeal, and you'll receive it if you purchased the expansion pass.

EVE Online GDC tech demo pitted more than 10,000 ships against each other
https://www.pcgamer.com/eve-online-gdc-tech-demo-pitted-more-than-10000-ships-against-each-other/
(...)
3,850 human players participated, fighting each other and against AI connected clients. The total number of ships involved in the battle was an astronomical 14,274, with 10,412 ships fighting concurrently. A whopping 88,988 ships were apparently destroyed when all was said and done. Check out one of the player streams here.

The Humble Store and its bundles aren't as good as they used to be, and the same can be said for the bundles from a lot of resellers.

I think, sooner or later, you'll have to change that policy of yours.