Lauren Morton
Lauren started writing for PC Gamer as a freelancer in 2017 while chasing the Dark Souls fashion police and accepted her role as Associate Editor in 2021, now serving as the self-appointed chief cozy games enjoyer. She originally started her career in game development and is still fascinated by how games tick in the modding and speedrunning scenes. She likes long books, longer RPGs, has strong feelings about farmlife sims, and can't stop playing co-op crafting games.
Latest articles by Lauren Morton
'Nobody is born toxic' says Journey's creative director while preparing to launch the kindest MMO on PC
By Lauren Morton published
news Jenova Chen says the modern internet is basically like handing shotguns to babies but toxicity can be prevented by good design.
Here are 6 Palia tips for getting started in the life sim MMO
By Lauren Morton last updated
Friend Code If this is your first crack at either an MMO or a cozy sim game, I'm here to hold your hand.
I've been waiting 5 years for the MMO by Journey's developers to launch on PC, and it's finally happening in April
By Lauren Morton published
News The kindest MMO imaginable finally has a PC release date.
Palia welcomes new players with a startlingly large stuffed frog for its Steam launch
By Lauren Morton published
News Palia has launched on Steam today with a game update that makes good on that giga Frogbert plush promise.
Larian originally wanted Baldur's Gate 3 to have multiple narrators, also Astarion was a tiefling
By Jonathan Bolding published
News Which perhaps would have made him too devilish a rascal.
If working overtime on AAA games with giant budgets is the only way to succeed, 'then maybe the industry deserves to die,' says RPG veteran David Gaider: 'There is another way to be'
By Lauren Morton published
News Summerfall Studios co-founder David Gaider speaks in favor of industry unionization and his studio's four day work week.
2024 games: All the PC games scheduled for launch this year
By Lauren Morton last updated
Upcoming 2024 is here, so take a look ahead at what's confirmed for the PC release schedule.
Borderlands 3 Shift codes: Every active Shift code and how to redeem them
By Lauren Morton, Wes Fenlon last updated
Prepare An updated list of the latest Borderlands 3 shift codes for Golden Keys, and how to unlock special loot.
Larian is finished with Baldur's Gate: 'We're going to move away from D&D and we're going to start making a new thing'
By Andy Chalk published
news Larian boss Swen Vincke said the studio's ambitions are too big, and life is too short, to be making Baldur's Gate 3 expansions.
Watch a bunch of game developers screaming in a public park to protest the state of the industry: 'It feels hard to be here and pretend like everything is fine'
By Andy Chalk published
news Amidst the excitement of GDC, dozens of developers shared a moment of pure catharsis.
The best deals in the 2024 Steam Spring Sale
By Tyler Wilde published
deals We've combed the first big Steam sale of the year for the best deals on new games and older favorites.
Minecraft 1.21: everything we know about the next major Minecraft update
By Lauren Morton last updated
Minecraft 1.21 The 1.21 update is all about new combat challenges so far.
The best Sims 4 mods to expand your life sandbox
By Lauren Morton last updated
Modular The best Sims 4 mods add new features large and small, from personality tweaks to endless cheats.
All Disney Dreamlight Valley codes and how to redeem them
By Lauren Morton last updated
Castle Keys Cash in these Dreamlight Valley codes for free outfits and furniture.
Even 'cozy' gaming's biggest fans can't decide on its definition, but they aren't worried: 'There's a whole lot of grey area, and that's what makes it interesting'
By Lauren Morton published
Cozy Consensus As the cozy game genre grows, it remains one of the most challenging to define.
Creatures of Ava is the cozier version of Palworld: A 'creature saver' co-written by Rhianna Pratchett
By Lauren Morton published
News Creature collecting is cozy again.
The Sims 5—Everything we know about Project Rene so far
By Lauren Morton last updated
Next Generation The Sims 5 is still years away, but Electronic Arts has committed to showing off features as it develops.
Sims 4 players hate its obtrusive new store button so much that a modder has already removed it
By Lauren Morton published
News The DLC purchase tooltips are getting a bit incessant.
The Sims 4's new Crystal Creations DLC basically gave me craftable cheat codes for boosting my mood, love life, and defying death
By Lauren Morton published
Gem Goddess Is this what we mean by toxic positivity?
The Palworld breeding bug that was causing all Cattivas to be born cowards, and other species trait dominance, has been fixed in a new patch
By Lauren Morton published
News Let the coward Pals breed in peace.
Side-scuttling strategy game Crab God will let you amass a crustacean congregation
By Lauren Morton published
News This enormous crab also has aspirations for real world activism.