Patch Notes #24 - weekly gaming digest
Welcome to the 24th edition of Patch Notes, let’s get this bad boy going.
This edition will cover the week from 19 May to 25 May.
What caught my attention this week
Anatomy of a Success - Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Spellbind.gg
Did I post my own analysis as the main news of the week? Yes, absolutely.
Biggest news of the week
"We cough up a chunk of our soul": 32 game devs, from Doom's John Romero to Helldivers 2 and Palworld leads, explain what people get wrong about games. Gamesradar
Game development is far more complex, messy, and human than most players realize. In interviews with over 40 developers—from legends like Doom's John Romero to creators of Helldivers 2, Stardew Valley, and Palworld—a common theme emerged: the process is nonlinear, deeply collaborative, and full of invisible challenges. Developers describe their work as shaping something chaotic into coherence, with even small features requiring significant time and coordination. Many players underestimate this, leading to unrealistic expectations, harsh criticism, and misinformed assumptions about bugs or delays. As Brenda Romero put it, "We cough up a chunk of our soul" for games—every release reflects the team's intense effort under complex constraints.
Neil Druckmann is working on a second unannounced game at Naughty Dog. VG Chronicles
Neil Druckmann, the renowned director behind The Last of Us, has confirmed he’s involved in two projects at Naughty Dog: the previously revealed sci-fi game Intergalactic and a second, unannounced title. While Druckmann plays a hands-on creative role in Intergalactic alongside directors Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau, he serves as a producer on the other game, mentoring and overseeing a separate team. This development is rare for Naughty Dog, a studio known for struggling to handle multiple large-scale games simultaneously. Despite past difficulties balancing dual productions—like during the development of Uncharted 3 and The Last of Us—Druckmann's comments indicate that the studio is pushing forward with its goal of managing multiple major projects concurrently.
SAG-AFTRA files unfair labour practice complaint against Epic over Fortnite's AI-powered Darth Vader: "We must protect our right to bargain terms and conditions around uses of voice that replace the work of our members.PCGamer
SAG-AFTRA has filed an unfair labour practice complaint against Epic Games, accusing the company of bypassing union negotiations by using an AI-generated voice for Darth Vader in Fortnite. The union argues that this move constitutes a "unilateral change" to employment terms that should have been subject to collective bargaining, particularly since it replaces work previously performed by human voice actors. This controversy comes amid an ongoing strike by video game performers, which began in July 2024 over concerns about AI protections in contracts. While Epic recently proposed new terms offering pay for AI-generated replicas at rates similar to traditional performances, SAG-AFTRA claims the company’s implementation of AI in Fortnite violated labour laws by not engaging in good-faith negotiations.
Switch 2 looks like the ultimate Nintendo system. GameSpot
The Nintendo Switch 2 may appear conservative compared to the company’s bold innovations, but it cleverly consolidates decades of Nintendo's hardware experimentation into one versatile system. Rather than introducing radically new features, the Switch 2 refines and integrates previous ideas, like a built-in microphone for casual group voice chats, reminiscent of the Wii Speak, and Joy-Con controllers with mouse functionality that mimic older Nintendo accessories while enabling new ways to interact with games in TV mode. The most notable feature, GameShare, allows streaming games to nearby consoles, similar to Wii U’s GamePad streaming, enabling multiplayer even when only one player owns a game. While none of these features are groundbreaking individually, together they make the Switch 2 Nintendo's most comprehensive console yet, capable of supporting both modern titles and a wide array of legacy games and play styles.
Injustice 3 could be on the way, dataminer hints. GameSpot
A well-known data miner from the MultiVersus community hinted that Injustice 3 might be developing, dropping cryptic posts referencing "injustice" and the number "3." With MultiVersus shutting down soon, DC fans could see a new fighting game from NetherRealm Studios, the developer behind previous Injustice titles. This speculation follows Warner Bros.’ recent studio closures and a focus on major franchises like DC, Mortal Kombat, Harry Potter, and Game of Thrones.
Final Fantasy 11 director says your support convinced Square Enix it should keep running the game. IGN
Final Fantasy 11 director Yoji Fujito revealed that Square Enix nearly decided to end active development on the game around 2024, planning to shift it into a maintenance mode with only system upkeep. However, the strong player resurgence during the game’s 20th anniversary in 2022 convinced the team that there was still significant support. Fujito said this unexpected continued momentum inspired Square Enix to keep running and updating the MMORPG rather than retiring it.
Lies of P to receive difficulty options in free update alongside Overture DLC. EuroGamer
Lies of P is set to receive new difficulty options in a free update timed with its upcoming Overture DLC this summer, aiming to make the challenging Soulslike game more accessible to a broader range of players. The default difficulty, now called "Legendary Stalker," will be joined by two easier modes—Butterfly’s Guidance and Awakened Puppet-while also introducing more formidable challenges through a Battle Memories mode with multiple difficulty tiers and a Death March boss rush mode. The DLC, a prequel set in the final days of Krat, will add new weapons and expand the game’s story. While difficulty in Soulslike games remains a debated topic, Lies of P’s approach reflects a desire to broaden its player base without sacrificing challenge for those who seek it.
Bungie bosses pitched Destiny 2 subscription before it was ‘vehemently’ shot down by devs, it’s claimed. VG Chronicles
Bungie leadership reportedly proposed implementing a subscription model for Destiny 2. Still, the idea was met with strong resistance and ultimately rejected by the development team, according to a new video report. This revelation comes amid a turbulent period for the studio, which faces backlash over a plagiarism controversy involving artwork in the upcoming game Marathon. Bungie admitted that a former employee had used stolen art, prompting a company-wide review of its creative assets. Additionally, former employees have alleged a toxic work environment and management decisions driven by profit over player experience, such as nearly removing earnable cosmetic items to boost microtransaction revenue. Some insiders believe Bungie's integration into PlayStation may be the company’s best path forward. Marathon is still scheduled for release on September 23, 2025, as a premium title across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
It's a day ending in 'y' so you know what that means: Embracer Group is doing more restructuring. PCGamer (Note: banger headline)
Embracer Group is undergoing another round of restructuring, this time spinning off its Coffee Stain division into a standalone group by the end of 2025. This follows last year’s split of Embracer into three companies—Asmodee for tabletop games, Coffee Stain for indie and free-to-play titles, and Middle-Earth & Friends for Lord of the Rings and other major licenses. Coffee Stain oversees around 250 developers and publishers, including Deep Rock Galactic creator Ghost Ship Games and Teardown developer Tuxedo Labs, and will now operate more independently. However, the differences from the previous restructuring remain unclear.
Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy announced from Rogue Trader studio. GameSpot
Owlcat Games, following the success of Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, has announced a new CRPG titled Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy. Players will take on the role of an Inquisitor leading a diverse warband to fight heresy and corruption in the grimdark universe. The game will expand on its predecessor's turn-based combat and impactful choices, though it’s unclear if features like spaceship combat will return. Dark Heresy is set to release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, with no specific release date announced yet.
Monster Hunter Wilds x Street Fighter 6 special collaboration begins on May 28 with free and paid content. RPG Site
Capcom has announced the Monster Hunter Wilds x Street Fighter 6 special collaboration launching on May 28, 2025. The event includes free content like Akuma hunter layered armour and Blanka-Chan Palico layered armour, plus paid DLC featuring new costumes for Alma, Chun-Li, and Cammy, as well as additional cosmetics and attack-gesture items inspired by Street Fighter 6. Players can experience Akuma through a new side mission called Ultimate Strength, available for hunters at HR 21 or higher. Equipping the Akuma armour grants unique fighting moves and combos, including iconic attacks like Gou Hadoken and Shoryuken. The update 1.011 will enable all new content, and the collaboration will remain a permanent addition to the game.
Stellar Blade ‘Goddess of Victory: Nikke DLC’ trailer. Gematsu
Sony and Shift Up have unveiled the official trailer for the Goddess of Victory: Nikke DLC for Stellar Blade, which will be released on June 11, 2025.
Avowed director Carrie Patel leaves Obsidian after 12 years to join the Netflix studio behind Oxenfree. PCGamer
Carrie Patel, game director of Avowed, has left Obsidian Entertainment after nearly 12 years to join Night School, the Netflix-owned studio behind Oxenfree. She announced the move on LinkedIn, revealing she’s now a game director at Night School. The studio, acquired by Netflix in 2021, gained recognition with its 2016 hit Oxenfree. While its next project remains unannounced, Patel’s appointment suggests progress is underway.
Stellar Blade 2 could be releasing sooner than expected. VG Chronicles
Shift Up has confirmed a sequel to Stellar Blade is in development and could release as early as 2026, suggesting a faster-than-expected turnaround for a modern AAA game. The news came via the studio’s latest financial report, referencing a platform expansion—likely the upcoming PC release on June 11, featuring new content and technical upgrades. Stellar Blade has surpassed 1 million units sold on PS5. Shift Up is also working on a separate, unannounced project called Project Witches, possibly the “urban sci-fi action RPG” previously mentioned.
Elden Ring Nightreign - Official Wylder character trailer. IGN
The new Elden Ring: Nightreign trailer introduces Wylder, a powerful sword-wielding class featured in the upcoming standalone roguelike set in the Elden Ring universe. Developed by FromSoftware, Nightreign launches on May 30 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Beyond the legend – Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment creator's voice | Nintendo Switch 2. GameSpot
Koei Tecmo Games offers a behind-the-scenes look at Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment in a new “Creator’s Voice” feature, teasing players' expectations from the action-filled title set to launch this winter on Nintendo Switch 2.
Raidou Remastered is more of a remake, with a hugely overhauled combat system and no more random encounters. PCGamer
Raidou Remastered, a reimagining of Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army, goes beyond a simple remaster with a significantly revamped combat system and removes random encounters. Originally a niche 2006 PS2 title in the Megami Tensei universe, it's been modernised to appeal to fans of recent Atlus games like Persona 3 Reload and Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. The game retains its original charm while polishing rough edges, following protagonist Raidou Kazunoha XIV—a demon-summoning detective navigating supernatural threats in early 20th-century Tokyo.
China approves 130 domestic games in May(vs 118 in April), approves 14 imported online games (vs 9 in April).Shinobi602 Twitter
In May, China approved 130 domestic games, up from 118 in April, and 14 imported online games, up from 9 last month. Notably, two imported titles operated by NetEase and one by Tencent were among those approved, signalling a slight increase in regulatory approvals for major players.
Witcher 4 is "not woke" for starring Ciri, Geralt voice actor say. GameSpot.
Doug Cockle, the voice actor for Geralt in The Witcher series, addressed criticism about The Witcher 4 starring Ciri, saying it's “just stupid” to call the game "woke." In an interview, he urged fans to “read the damn books,” emphasizing that Ciri is a key character in Andrzej Sapkowski’s novels and that shifting the focus to her makes narrative sense. Cockle noted that Geralt’s story has concluded and praised the creative potential of exploring Ciri’s journey. The Witcher 4, which begins a new trilogy, will feature Geralt only in a minor role and aims to deepen Ciri’s arc, which was only touched on in The Witcher 3.
Live-action Street Fighter movie: Roman Reigns, Jason Momoa, Noah Centineo, and Andrew Koji in talks to join the cast. IGN
Legendary Pictures' upcoming live-action Street Fighter movie is moving forward, with major casting talks underway. Actors Jason Momoa, Andrew Koji, Noah Centineo, and WWE star Roman Reigns are reportedly discussing joining the film, though no roles have been confirmed. The movie is set for a March 20, 2026 release and will be directed by The Eric Andre Show’s Kitao Sakurai, following the departure of original directors Danny and Michael Philippou. Plot details remain unknown, but the project aims to bring Capcom’s iconic fighting game series to the big screen with a strong ensemble and high expectations.
Sony confirms it’s ending its PlayStation Stars loyalty program. VG Chronicles
Sony has announced that it will be shutting down its PlayStation Stars loyalty programme. As of 21 May 2025, new sign-ups will no longer be accepted, and the programme will officially conclude on 2 November 2026. Members can continue redeeming points until then, but the accumulation of points, collectibles, or levelling up will cease on 23 July 2025. Sony cited player behaviour and evolving industry trends as reasons for this decision, stating that it will utilise insights from PlayStation Stars to inform future initiatives. The programme originally launched in 2022 through the PlayStation App.
Metal Gear Solid : Snake Eater Δ | Opening Movie Δ version (clean ver.). Wario64 Twitter
Konami released the clean version of the opening movie for Metal Gear Solid : Snake Eater, featuring a completely re-done sequence by Kyle Cooper and a new recording of the iconic theme song performed by Cynthia Harrell.
Valve has released SteamOS 3.7.8. Wario64 Twitter
Valve has released SteamOS 3.7.8 on the stable channel, introducing several new features, including VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) frame limiting, a battery charge limit set to 80% to improve long-term battery health, official support for the Legion Go S device, and Bluetooth enhancements such as wake-on-LCD and battery status display for Bluetooth devices.
Elden Ring live-action movie now confirmed to be on the way from A24 and director Alex Garland, so now we wait to find out which boss gets the Chicken Jockey treatment. VG247
A live-action Elden Ring movie has officially been confirmed, with A24 producing and acclaimed filmmaker Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Civil War) set to write and direct. After months of rumours and teasers, especially from George R.R. Martin, who is now confirmed as a producer, the adaptation is finally real. Bandai Namco also backs the project and will include producers like Peter Rice, Vince Gerardis, and DNA Films' Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich. No plot, cast, or release date has been revealed yet, and it's unclear whether FromSoftware or game director Hidetaka Miyazaki will be involved. Fans are left to speculate whether iconic characters like Malenia or Radahn will get wild cinematic interpretations, but anticipation is high.
Switch Online's Game Boy collection adds four games, including a classic Kirby title. GameSpot
Nintendo has expanded its Switch Online Game Boy library with four new titles, headlined by the classic puzzle game Kirby Star Stacker. Initially released in 1997 by HAL Laboratory, Kirby Star Stacker challenges players to match characters from Kirby’s Dream Land 2 in a style reminiscent of Tetris Attack. Joining it are Survival Kids, a cult-favorite survival adventure game from Konami, Gradius: The Interstellar Assault, a handheld adaptation of the iconic arcade shooter, and The Sword of Hope, a lesser-known RPG. All four games are now available to play for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers.
Fantasy Life i: the Girl Who Steals Time "Update the World" free DLC announced including new content & recipes. RPG Site
Level-5 has announced a free DLC titled “Update the World!” for Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time, which will add new recipes and expanded content designed to use high-rarity weapons obtained from Treasure Groves and other sources. This DLC thanks players for the game's worldwide success and will be available on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. Although the exact release date is still being finalised, the update promises more opportunities for players to showcase their gear and enjoy fresh content in the game.
Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga launches this summer in the West. Gematsu
Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga, a crossover fighting game featuring characters from Falcom’s Ys and Trails series, will launch this summer in the West on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam, Epic, GOG). The game offers fast-paced, high-speed combat with new jump mechanics, full English voice acting, and support characters from various Falcom titles. It supports couch and online multiplayer for the first time, includes rollback netcode, and boasts remastered HD and 4K graphics at 60 FPS. Additional PC-friendly features like mouse and keyboard support and customizable aspect ratios are also included.
Zenless Zone Zero version 2.0 update ‘Where Clouds Embrace the Dawn’ launches June 6. Gematsu
The version 2.0 update for Zenless Zone Zero, titled “Where Clouds Embrace the Dawn,” launches on June 6 and brings a wealth of new content and improvements. Players will explore the new Waifei Peninsula, uncover fresh storylines, and engage in more challenging combat within expanded environments. The update introduces powerful new characters like S-Rank Agents Yixuan and Ju Fufu, each with unique abilities and returning fan favourites. It also adds gameplay enhancements such as equipping multiple Gears to different Agents, a brand-new 3D map, improved navigation, and helpful Fissure Beacons that restore HP and enable quick teleportation. To celebrate the game’s first anniversary, players will receive generous rewards, including free high-ranking Agents, W-Engines, and exclusive in-game items, making this update a significant expansion that enriches both the story and gameplay experience.
Dragon Quest III HD-2D remake update now available, adds traversal improvements, ‘shortcut’ feature, and more. Gematsu
The latest update for Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake brings a variety of improvements and new features across multiple platforms, including PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC. Notably, traversal has been enhanced with faster movement on boats and Ramia flights, plus a new option to toggle between automatic and manual flight modes. Combat adjustments include increased critical hit rates for specific vocations, stronger abilities for heroes and warriors, and tweaks to monster behaviours and experience rewards to improve battle balance. A new "shortcut button" feature allows players to assign spells and abilities to specific buttons for quicker access. The update also fixes bugs, adds new treasure chests, and includes minor quality-of-life changes to enhance the overall gameplay experience.
Capcom strengthens game development muscle with a new Osaka base. VG Chronicles
Capcom is expanding its game development operations by constructing a new building next to its current headquarters in Osaka, Japan, with completion targeted for 2027. The expansion aims to accommodate a steady growth of 100 new employees annually and includes plans to acquire additional nearby land for future development. The company remains committed to its proprietary RE Engine, which powers major titles like Resident Evil and Monster Hunter, and plans to continue enhancing it with new technologies. This move follows another record-breaking financial year for Capcom, with over 51 million game units sold, 5 million more than the previous year.
Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time has sold over 500k copies worldwide across all platforms.RPG Site
Level-5 has announced that Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time has surpassed 500,000 copies sold worldwide just two days after its global release on May 22. Available on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam), the relaxing RPG lets players choose from 14 unique life paths such as combat, gathering, or crafting. To celebrate the milestone, Level-5 released commemorative artwork and confirmed that a free DLC, “Update the World!”, is in development to add more content and extend gameplay.
Biggest releases this week
