Nighthawks' developers challenge Valve's adult content decision, while Bungie shifts development priorities, and PC VR hopes for a revival.
PC gaming news is stirring with debates over content classification, shifts in game development priorities, and an effort to reignite interest in PC virtual reality.
Steam’s Adult Content Label Under Scrutiny
Rock Paper Shotgun reports that a mature content label assigned by Valve to the vampire RPG Nighthawks is under dispute from the game’s developers Richard Cobbett and Wadjet Eye Games. The label, attributed to adult content, could restrict the game’s visibility on Steam. The developers argue this classification is unwarranted, posing challenges as the game nears its release. They are actively working to persuade Valve to remove this label to avoid geographic exclusions, some of which they term the “horny jail”. This incident highlights ongoing concerns over Valve’s criteria for adult content, an issue that has affected several game developers over the years.
Bungie Adjusts Development Pace for Marathon
Bungie is making notable changes in its approach to games-as-a-service with the upcoming game Marathon. According to PC Gamer, the studio has decided to abandon its strict seasonal update schedule to allow for greater flexibility in feature development. This shift, influenced by their experience with Destiny, aims to ensure higher quality content at launch. The approach emphasizes more substantial updates albeit less frequently, contrasting the previously held model and highlighting a potential trend in the industry towards prioritizing feature depth and stability over rapid deployment.
PC VR Awaits Rekindling With Valve’s Steam Frame
In a period perceived as slow for PC VR, Valve is looking to bring excitement back to the platform with the launch of the Steam Frame, a new piece of hardware. As reported by PC Gamer, with competition mainly in standalone VR headsets, Valve aims to demonstrate the unique capabilities that PC-tethered VR can offer. Jeremy Selan at Valve expresses hope that the Steam Frame can leverage the power and capabilities of PC hardware to differentiate the VR experience, potentially reigniting interest among users who have drifted to mobile headsets.
Additional Tidbits
- A multiplayer mod for The Last of Us Part 2 will not see release, as the creator cites a cease-and-desist letter from Sony (Rock Paper Shotgun).
- Valorant introduces the new Warden rifle, set to offer a fresh gameplay dynamic in the ongoing competition between fan-favorite weapons Phantom and Vandal (PCGamesN).
- The new monster-catching game Aniimo is launching, promising a pet collection experience without the gacha model. It’s rolling out today across different time zones (PC Gamer).
