Patch Notes #44 - weekly gaming digest
Welcome to the 44th edition of Patch Notes, let’s get this bad boy going.
This edition will cover the week from October 6 to October 12.
What caught my attention this week
EA: The Biggest LBO Ever. App Economy Insights
Same as last week, the main focus is EA’s buy-out, this time with a fantastic article explaining the financial side of things.
Electronic Arts has agreed to go private in a $55 billion leveraged buyout led by Silver Lake, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, making it the largest LBO in history. The deal values EA at $210 per share (a 25% premium) and is structured with roughly $36 billion in equity and $20 billion in debt, with closing targeted for EA’s fiscal Q1 2027. EA’s attractiveness as an LBO target stems from its predictable recurring revenue from live-service games, such as Ultimate Team and Apex Legends, which now comprise 73% of overall revenue, combined with strong free cash flow margins of approximately 25%. The new ownership structure requires a mandatory US foreign investment review due to Saudi Arabia’s involvement, and the company’s success will depend on maintaining license renewals, retaining talent, and generating sufficient cash flow to service the significant debt obligations.
TLDR
Details emerge on Xbox’s cancelled ‘Uncharted rival’ Project Ranger
Microsoft confirms Call of Duty DLC discounts with Xbox Game Pass now dropped in favour of reward points
Xbox Game Pass price hike a result of Microsoft becoming “too-big-to-care”, says former FTC chair
NHK Symphony Orchestra will hold Pokémon and Dragon Quest IV concerts in Japan in 2026
Nintendo refutes claims it had “any contact” with the Japanese government to lobby against genAI
Breakout hit Megabonk sells more than a million copies on Steam
Battlefield 6 day one patch includes changes to movement, weapon recoil, Rush, and more
Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s Saudi-backed Valley of Memory expansion looks a generous free side-quest, though not one many fans would have asked for
After an Epic journey lasting almost 15 years, YouTuber KurtJMac has finally reached Minecraft’s Far Land
Game Pass users in some regions will avoid 50% price hike – as long as they stay subbed
Nintendo is seeking $4.5 million in damages from a Reddit moderator, it says, because of widely pirated Switch games
Mina the Hollower has been delayed, no longer launching on October 31
Silent Hill 2 remake reportedly coming to PS Plus later this month
Baldur’s Gate 3 dev calls out Elon Musk’s AI game promise
US SEC investigates AppLovin over data collection
Roblox invites applicants to join its first Parent Council to provide “real-world perspectives” and “play an active role”
Epic sues Fortnite fans who used over 20,000 bots to get paid tens of thousands of dollars
Bungie’s troubled shooter Marathon shows signs of life
Skate tops 15 million players in under three weeks
This year’s Fortnitemares event in Fortnite adds Jason, Scooby-Doo, Ghostface and more
Ubisoft reportedly cancelled an Assassin’s Creed game partly due to ‘political concerns’
Chucky, Jason Voorhees and Predator are coming to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone
Nintendo’s mysterious Close to You animation is revealed to be based on Pikmin
Supercell CEO claims proposed EU regulations around digital currencies will ‘kill how games work’
Fragbite sells Playdigious to venture fund Griffin Gaming Partners for $12.2m
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sales top five million; free major update in development
Game Pass adds NINJA GAIDEN 4, Keeper, BALL x PIT, Supermarket Simulator, and more in mid-October
Sega and the International Olympic Committee announce a multi-year licensing deal
Skyesports cancels Masters 2025 and 2026 Tier 1 CS2 events
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle officially beats Superman and breaks a wild box office record
Mark Cerny triggers PS6 speculation by discussing AMD tech coming to ‘a future console in a few years’ time’
Switch 2 continues to break US launch sales records, selling more in its first three months than PS4
Development ends on Hyper Light Breaker as studio Heart Machine says it’s making layoffs
New PlayStation 6 tech all but confirmed by Sony and AMD - and it looks like it’ll make its way into other hardware too
Former Zenimax Online Studios staff launch employee-owned Sackbird Studios in the wake of Microsoft layoffs
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake screenshots show new storyline scenarios, dungeons, and more
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade and Rebirth Twin Pack physical announced for PS5 with three Blu-ray discs
Gaming is the new oil:’ How the EA buyout ‘diverges from the traditional playbook’
Square Enix has rather suddenly announced physical Switch versions of FF7, FF8, and FF9 for North America
Halo art director leaves after 17 years with a cryptic message suggesting it was on bad terms
We just want it to feel authentic’: Clair Obscur studio’s next game won’t necessarily have the same story, art style or genre
MindsEye developers sign damning open letter against studio execs over “longstanding disrespect and mistreatment” following game’s disastrous launch
Battlefield 6 has brought back a community-favourite dog tag for all the high fliers out there
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is finally out in the west and off to a strong start on Steam, but was the MMORPG worth the wait?
Union members announce legal action against Build A Rocket Boy over layoffs
Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact DLC character Neferpitou launches October 16
Capcom wobbles on pay-per-view Street Fighter 6 livestream after backlash
Fantastic Pixel Castle at risk of closure after being ousted by NetEase
Hackers claim to have breached internal Nintendo data
Battlefield 6 has only been out a day, and it’s already one of Steam’s biggest games ever
Disgaea 7 Complete is now available on Nintendo Switch 2 in the West
Square Enix will reveal a new Dissidia Final Fantasy game on October 14 for iOS and Android
Biggest news of the week
Details emerge on Xbox’s cancelled ‘Uncharted rival’ Project Ranger. VG Chronicles
Project Ranger was a cancelled Xbox exclusive action-adventure game developed by Black Tusk Studios that was intended to be Xbox’s answer to PlayStation’s Uncharted series. The game, teased via a 30-second trailer during Xbox’s E3 2013 press conference, was described as “Uncharted with Spies,” featuring a single male protagonist using Bond-style gadgets on high-octane espionage missions in various cities around the world. Project Ranger’s development began in early 2012 and was influenced by the Mission Impossible movies. The E3 teaser featured a Shanghai mission, where players would infiltrate an office building occupied by terrorists. The game’s development was cancelled in early 2014 when Microsoft acquired Gears of War from Epic Games and decided Black Tusk Studios would be better suited to take over the beloved series, leading to the studio being renamed The Coalition.
Microsoft confirms Call of Duty DLC discounts with Xbox Game Pass now dropped in favour of reward points. EuroGamer
Microsoft has confirmed it has removed the 10 per cent Call of Duty DLC discount for Game Pass Ultimate members, replacing it with a rewards points system that now applies to all games and add-ons across the platform. Game Pass Ultimate and Premium subscribers will now earn 10 per cent and 5 per cent in points, respectively, when purchasing select games and add-ons, while Ultimate members still receive a 20 per cent discount on select games. Additionally, users can no longer directly redeem earned points towards Xbox Game Pass subscriptions; instead, they must earn enough points to cover the subscription cost with a gift card. These changes come alongside Microsoft’s recent price increase for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which now costs 50 per cent more than before.
Xbox Game Pass price hike a result of Microsoft becoming “too-big-to-care”, says former FTC chair. EuroGamer
Former FTC chair Lina Khan has criticised Microsoft’s recent Xbox Game Pass price increase, stating the company has “become too-big-to-care” following its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Khan pointed out that Microsoft promised in 2023 that subscription prices would not increase as a result of the merger, yet the company has since raised Game Pass Ultimate prices by 50 per cent despite record subscription revenue last year. The former FTC chair noted that increasing market consolidation and price hikes often go hand in hand, with dominant firms able to worsen conditions for customers without facing consequences. Microsoft’s price increase has prompted some players to cancel their Game Pass subscriptions, seemingly validating the FTC’s original concerns that the Activision acquisition would harm competition and consumers.
NHK Symphony Orchestra will hold Pokémon and Dragon Quest IV concerts in Japan in 2026. RPG Site
The NHK Symphony Orchestra will hold two video game-focused concerts in 2026 to celebrate its 100th anniversary, featuring Dragon Quest IV and Pokémon orchestral performances. The Dragon Quest IV concert is scheduled for Friday, February 27 at 7:00 PM at the Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre with conductor Tatsuya Shimono, with additional venues possibly being added. The Pokémon Classic Concert Tour will take place across four Japanese cities between August 21 and 24, with performances in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Fukuoka, conducted by Kanade Yokoyama. Both concerts will feature orchestral arrangements of music from these beloved video game franchises.
Nintendo refutes claims it had “any contact” with the Japanese government to lobby against genAI. GamesIndustry
Nintendo has refuted claims that it lobbied the Japanese government regarding the protection of its intellectual property through generative AI, stating that it “has not had any contact with the Japanese government about generative AI.” The denial comes after Japanese politician Satoshi Asano erroneously claimed Nintendo of America had allocated a budget for lobbying activities; Asano later apologised for disseminating inaccurate information and deleted the original post. Nintendo reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its IP rights, stating it will “continue to take necessary actions against infringement of our intellectual property rights” regardless of whether generative AI is involved. The company has recently secured a new patent that protects a gameplay mechanic wherein an in-game character summons another sub-character to support it in battle.
Breakout hit Megabonk sells more than a million copies on Steam. GamesIndustry
Developer Vedinad has announced that Megabonk, a 3D rogue-like survival game in the style of Vampire Survivors, has sold more than a million copies on Steam in just two weeks. According to Video Game Insights, Megabonk has sold an estimated 1.3 million units and achieved a peak player count of over 117,000, currently ranking fifth in the Steam top seller charts. Megabonk features low-polygon graphics and an unusual character roster, including a sunglasses-wearing skeleton on a skateboard, and exhibits strong crossover with other games, such as Vampire Survivors (62.5% of players), Warframe (63.2%), and Risk of Rain 2 (64.1%). The game’s success demonstrates a continued appetite for Vampire Survivors-style roguelikes, following similar hits like Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor and Soulstone Survivors.
Battlefield 6's day one patch includes changes to movement, weapon recoil, Rush, and more. IGN
EA and Battlefield Studios have unveiled the day one patch for Battlefield 6, which includes over 200 changes focused on bug fixes, balance improvements, and polish for the game’s October 10 release. The patch features gameplay tweaks to make movement more responsive, rebalanced weapon recoil on automatic weapons to reward tap firing and burst control, and reworked Rush and Breakthrough modes for better balance between attackers and defenders. Gadget changes include making the MBT-LAW the default Engineer launcher, enhancing the MAS 148 Glaive with a more realistic missile path, and limiting Deploy Beacons to one spawn per player. Additional improvements include clearer UI and HUD elements, cleaner audio, expanded accessibility options, and netcode enhancements to reduce desync and make the time-to-death experience feel fairer.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage’s Saudi-backed Valley of Memory expansion looks a generous free side-quest — though not one many fans would have asked for. IGN
Ubisoft has announced Valley of Memory, a free expansion for Assassin’s Creed Mirage launching November 18, which explores Basim’s search for his long-lost father in AlUla, Saudi Arabia. The expansion, estimated to contain around six hours of new gameplay across a new in-game region with five districts, features familiar Mirage mission types alongside new missions where players chase stolen goods and learn about AlUla’s history. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund funds the expansion, though Ubisoft has stated it retained complete creative control over the content. Valley of Memory will also include a new challenge mode, allowing players to replay missions with additional objectives and a reward track, plus game-wide tool upgrades like smoke bombs that dissolve bodies and blow darts that pierce armour.
After an epic journey lasting almost 15 years, YouTuber KurtJMac has finally reached Minecraft’s Far Land. IGN
Minecraft YouTuber KurtJMac has finally reached the Far Lands after nearly 15 years of continuous gameplay, crossing the line on October 4 after beginning his journey in March 2011. The Far Lands, which no longer exist in modern Minecraft due to being patched out, were created by a terrain generation bug that formed a wall-like structure signalling the edge of the world. KurtJMac holds a Guinness World Record for the Longest Journey in Minecraft without using cheats or exploits and has raised over half a million dollars for charity during his epic attempt. While acknowledging that others may have reached the Far Lands before, KurtJMac expressed gratitude for his community’s support throughout the journey and plans to continue westward.
Game Pass users in some regions will avoid 50% price hike – as long as they stay subbed. VG Chronicles
Microsoft has informed Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers in certain regions—including Poland, Germany, Indonesia, Austria, India, and Ireland—that they won’t face the 50% price increase as long as they maintain their auto-recurring subscription. The price freeze is speculated to be related to local regulations around subscription price changes, and subscribers will only be charged the new rate if they cancel and repurchase their subscription. The 50% increase, which raises Ultimate to $29.99/£22.99 and adds benefits like Fortnite Crew and Ubisoft+ Classics, will still affect new purchases and subscribers in other regions. PC Game Pass will also see a price increase from $11.99/£9.99 to $16.49/£13.49 per month.
Nintendo is seeking $4.5 million in damages from a Reddit moderator it says widely pirated Switch games. VG Chronicles
Nintendo is seeking $4.5 million in damages from Reddit moderator James Williams, also known as Archbox, for allegedly operating multiple pirate shops that have distributed thousands of pirated Switch games since 2019. Williams was also the leading moderator of the SwitchPirates subreddit, with 190,000 members, and allegedly solicited eShop gift card donations to purchase unpirated games for distribution. Nintendo claims that Williams created and distributed circumvention software needed to play the pirated games and failed to respond to a lawsuit filed in June 2024, after initially acknowledging that his conduct violated Nintendo’s rights but then becoming uncooperative. Nintendo calculated the $4.5 million figure by seeking statutory damages of $150,000 for each of 30 key first-party titles that Williams distributed, opting not to pursue additional damages for trafficking circumvention software, despite stating that such damages could be several million dollars.
Mina the Hollower has been delayed; it will no longer launch on October 31. RPG Site
Yacht Club Games has indefinitely delayed Mina the Hollower from its October 31 release date across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam), Switch, and Switch 2. The developer stated the delay is not major and will allow the team time to finalise design, art, sound, implement overall game balancing, and complete localisation. Yacht Club Games will not announce a new release date until the game is submitted to platforms. The team is currently playing through the game from start to finish daily and working on final testing, polishing, and balancing across all platforms.
Silent Hill 2 remake reportedly coming to PS Plus later this month. EuroGamer
The Silent Hill 2 remake is reportedly coming to PS Plus Extra and Premium on October 21, 2025, as the game’s one-year PS5 console exclusivity period ends. The remake was initially released in October 2024 on PS5 and PC, with Konami previously confirming it would be available on “other formats” starting October 8, 2025. The PS Plus addition continues the momentum for the Silent Hill franchise following the recent release of Silent Hill f and comes as Bloober Team has confirmed that a remake of Silent Hill 1 is now in full production. Sony had previously announced PS Plus games for October, including Alan Wake 2, Cocoon, and Goat Simulator 3, making Silent Hill 2 a potential bonus addition.
Baldur’s Gate 3 dev calls out Elon Musk’s AI game promise. Kotaku
Baldur’s Gate 3 director of publishing, Michael Douse, has criticised Elon Musk’s promise to release an AI-generated game by the end of 2026 through his AI studio XAI, arguing that AI lacks the vision necessary for good games. Douse stated that while AI can serve as a tool in game development, the industry’s real problem is a lack of leadership and vision, not a shortage of tools. Musk founded XAI with the intention of using Grok-powered AI to create games, claiming the studio will release a “great” AI-generated match in 2026. However, he shared AI-rendered footage of a nonexistent military shooter. Douse emphasised that the industry needs more creative expressions of engaging worlds rather than mathematically produced gameplay loops, suggesting that AI alone cannot solve the fundamental issues facing game development.
US SEC Investigates AppLovin Over Data Collection. GamesIndustry
The US Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating AppLovin’s data collection practices following allegations from a whistleblower and multiple short-seller reports that the company allegedly violated service agreements by serving targeted advertisements. Reports from Fuzzy Panda and Muddy Waters Research accused AppLovin of harvesting proprietary identifiers from other platforms without authorisation to track users across websites and apps, a practice called fingerprinting that Apple’s App Store prohibits. Culper Research also alleged AppLovin exploited app permissions to force silent, backdoor app installations directly onto users’ phones. AppLovin’s shares dropped 14% overnight, though the company declined to comment and the SEC similarly did not comment due to a government shutdown.
Roblox invites applicants to join its first Parent Council to provide “real-world perspectives” and “play an active role”. GamesIndustry
Roblox has launched its first Parent Council, bringing together up to 40 parents and caregivers from the UK, US, Europe, Canada, and Mexico to shape how families use the platform safely and responsibly. The council, spearheaded by Roblox’s new head of parental advocacy Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov, will work with internal teams to provide real-world perspectives on platform features and policies while offering diverse viewpoints to improve safety measures. The council will help develop long-term safety and wellbeing initiatives by integrating parent feedback into product and policy development. Parents and caregivers can apply to join the council via the official website, with Roblox emphasising its commitment to making the platform “the safest and most civil place on the internet.”
Epic sues Fortnite fans who used over 20,000 bots to get paid tens of thousands of dollars. Polygon
Epic Games is suing two Fortnite players, Idris Nahdi and Ayob Nasser, for allegedly using over 20,000 fake bot accounts to inflate engagement with their player-created maps artificially and fraudulently earn tens of thousands of dollars through the creator program. The defendants programmed bot accounts to engage with their Fortnite Islands using a cloud gaming service, with Epic claiming that 88% to 99% of engagement on the maps was fake rather than from real players. Epic Games has stopped payments to the defendants and is seeking to recover the money paid out under false pretenses, as well as barring both players and their “heirs and successors” from creating accounts or playing Fortnite in the future. The lawsuit aims to protect the integrity of Epic’s Engagement Program and maintain trust among legitimate developers who rely on fair compensation based on genuine player engagement.
Bungie’s troubled shooter Marathon shows signs of life. Polygon
Bungie’s troubled sci-fi extraction shooter Marathon is showing signs of life with the announcement of a closed technical test running from October 22-28, following several closed playtests since June. The technical test will feature three maps, five runner shells, proximity chat, re-tuned combat pacing, solo queue, and deeper environmental storytelling as improvements since the game’s Alpha phase. Players must submit applications by October 16 at 4 p.m. PDT to participate, with requirements including ownership of PS5, Xbox Series X/S, or Windows PC, and membership in the official Marathon Discord server. After the closed technical test concludes, Bungie plans to share a public update on Marathon’s development in the coming months.
Skate tops 15 million players in under three weeks. Game Developer
EA’s free-to-play Skate reboot has attracted over 15 million players since launching into early access on September 16, establishing itself as a highly popular skateboarding sandbox. The game features premium cosmetics and ‘San Van Bucks’ for upgrades and in-game store purchases, with Full Circle targeting a full release after approximately one year in early access. Skate currently has a “mixed” rating on Steam from over 33,000 user reviews, with players praising the gameplay but expressing frustration over the lack of Linux support, which prevents Steam Deck compatibility. The game is available on various PC and console platforms and contains features Full Circle considers essential to the Skate experience.
This year’s Fortnitemares event in Fortnite adds Jason, Scooby-Doo, Ghostface and more. VG Chronicles
Fortnite’s annual Fortnitemares Halloween event is returning on October 9 with character skins including Scooby-Doo characters, Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th, Huggy Wuggy from Poppy Playtime, Ghostface from Scream, and Doja Cat. It’s unclear how many of these characters will be available through Battle Passes versus the Fortnite shop, and previous Fortnitemares events have also featured returning character skins from prior years. A KPop Demon Hunters event is currently running in Fortnite, adding skins for HUNTR/X band members Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, along with a reskinned Horde Rush mode featuring demon enemies. The current Fortnite season continues to run with Power Rangers characters available as part of the Battle Pass.
Ubisoft reportedly cancelled an Assassin’s Creed game partly due to ‘political concerns’. VG Chronicles
Ubisoft reportedly cancelled an in-development Assassin’s Creed game last summer set during the Reconstruction period following the American Civil War, with the protagonist being a formerly enslaved Black man who moves west and returns to fight for justice. According to current and former Ubisoft employees, the game was cancelled due to online backlash over the reveal of Yasuke, a Black samurai in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and concerns about the political climate in the United States. The cancelled game would have featured the protagonist recruited by the Assassins to confront the emergence of the Ku Klux Klan in the post-Civil War South. One anonymous source expressed disappointment with leadership’s decision to maintain the political status quo and avoid taking creative risks.
Chucky, Jason Voorhees and Predator are coming to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone. VG Chronicles
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone Season 6, titled The Haunting, launch on October 9 and bring Jason Voorhees, Chucky, and the Predator to the games as playable characters. A new Slasher Deathmatch mode allows players to take control of either Jason or Chucky, with Jason armed with a machete and combat axe plus teleportation abilities, while Chucky moves faster and has six lives. Season 6 includes three new multiplayer maps, a Halloween-themed Nuketown variant, new weapons like the Dresden 9mm SMG and Chainsaw melee weapon, and returning fan-favourite Zombie Royale mode on Verdansk and Rebirth Island. The season also features new Zombies conten,t including the Haunted Havoc limited-time mode and ranked play for both multiplayer and Warzone, with a free week trial available for Black Ops 6.
Nintendo’s mysterious Close to You animation is revealed to be based on Pikmin. VG Chronicles
Nintendo has revealed that its mysterious Close to You animation posted yesterday was based on Pikmin, with a second version of the video now showing Pikmin moving the baby’s toys and pacifier around the bedroom. The original video showed a baby chasing a floating pacifier while toys moved on their own, and the new version reveals that invisible Pikmin were responsible for the movement, consistent with Pikmin Bloom’s lore that humans cannot see Pikmin. When the mother hugs the baby at the end of the video, all the Pikmin’s flowers bloom. It remains unclear whether the video is promoting an upcoming Pikmin game, movie, or animated series, or if it was simply a one-off animation.
Supercell CEO claims proposed EU regulations around digital currencies will ‘kill how games work’. Game Developer
Supercell CEO Ilkka Paananen has warned that the European Union’s proposed Digital Fairness Act will “break how many games fundamentally work” by targeting in-game currencies, virtual items, and monetisation mechanics. The EU’s Digital Fairness Act aims to address concerns about addictive design, dark patterns, and consumer harm, particularly regarding loot boxes and in-app purchases that may distort transaction value. Paananen argues that in-game currencies function like theme park tokens and are convenient for consumers, but the proposed regulations would turn every digital transaction into a “bureaucratic nightmare” requiring extensive legal processes. Paananen has called on his peers to engage constructively with EU decision makers to ensure regulations are based on evidence rather than assumptions, and to maintain existing frameworks that already protect European gamers.
Fragbite sells Playdigious to venture fund Griffin Gaming Partners for $12.2m. GamesIndustry
Fragbite has sold Playdigious to venture fund Griffin Gaming Partners for $12.2 million, allowing the gaming and esports firm to secure a strong capital position and support new strategic initiatives. Playdigious, primarily known for publishing mobile games such as Dead Cells and Cultist Simulator, accounted for 77% of Fragbite’s revenue in 2024, following its acquisition in 2021. As part of the deal, Fragbite has obtained 90% of net revenue generated from PC games like Fretless – The Wrath of Riffson under its Playdigious Originals publishing business. Fragbite CEO Stefan Tengvall stated that the company’s close ties to Playdigious and its founders will remain strong, with collaboration continuing between the two firms.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 sales top five million; free major update in development. Gematsu
Turn-based RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has sold over five million units since its April 24 launch, with publisher Kepler Interactive and developer Sandfall Interactive announcing a free major update as a thank you to supporters. The free update will add a new playable environment with new enemy encounters, challenging late-game boss battles, new costumes for each party member, and support for seven additional languages, bringing the total to 19. The game’s soundtrack by Lorien Testard has accumulated over 333 million streams across digital music platforms and spent over 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Classical & Classical Crossover Album charts, reaching No. 1 on iTunes Top 100 Albums Chart in nine countries. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 achieved impressive sales milestones, reaching one million units within three days and 3.3 million units 33 days after release.
Game Pass adds NINJA GAIDEN 4, Keeper, BALL x PIT, Supermarket Simulator, and more in mid October. Gematsu
Microsoft has announced new titles coming to Game Pass in mid-October, including NINJA GAIDEN 4, Keeper, BALL x PIT, and Supermarket Simulator, available on various platforms and subscription tiers. Notable additions include The Casting of Frank Stone on October 14, Eternal Strands and NINJA GAIDEN 2 Black on October 15, and Evil West returning to the library on October 21. Three games—COCOON, Core Keeper, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants Unleashed—will be leaving Game Pass on October 15. Game Pass subscribers will also gain access to new in-game benefits, including the new agent Veto in VALORANT and Call of Duty: Warzone “Game Pass Pack 4” with operator skins and weapon blueprints.
Sega and International Olympic Committee announce multi-year licensing deal. GamesIndustry
Sega and the International Olympic Committee have announced a multi-year licensing deal to launch a “co-branded merchandising programme” featuring Sonic the Hedgehog and the Olympic rings. The IOC and Sega will explore opportunities to license new designs for select merchandise collaborations, with a full collection launching in 2026. This partnership follows Sega’s previous Olympic cooperation with Nintendo, which ended in 2020 when the IOC reportedly wanted to explore other partners and focus on NFTs and esports.
Skyesports cancels Masters 2025 and 2026 Tier 1 CS2 events. Esports Insider
Skyesports has cancelled its Skyesports Masters 2025 Counter-Strike 2 tournament and all planned Tier 1 events for 2026, shifting its focus towards strengthening the Tier 2 and grassroots ecosystem. This is the third tournament the Indian esports organiser has scrapped this year, following the cancellation of September’s Skyesports Championship and November’s World Tour events. Moving forward, Skyesports will invest in Tier 2 Counter-Strike 2 tournaments, beginning with the Chennai Esports Global Championship, which will feature six teams competing for a $50,000 prize pool at LAN finals from November 7-9, 2025.
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle officially beats Superman and breaks a wild box office record. Polygon
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle has surpassed Superman at the global box office, earning $633,497,757 in ticket sales compared to Superman’s $615,784,465. The anime film has also become the highest-grossing Japanese movie of all time, breaking the previous record held by Demon Slayer: Mugen Train, which earned over $500 million worldwide in 2020. Critics previously attributed Demon Slayer’s success to it being one of the few films released during COVID-19 lockdown, but Infinity Castle’s performance proves the franchise has genuine staying power.
Mark Cerny triggers PS6 speculation by discussing AMD tech coming to ‘a future console in a few years’ time’. VG Chronicles
PlayStation 5 architect Mark Cerny has sparked PlayStation 6 speculation by referencing “a future console in a few years” while discussing new AMD technologies developed through the Project Amethyst collaboration. Cerny and AMD’s Jack Huynh presented three gaming technology breakthroughs: Neural Arrays that improve upscaling and denoising efficiency, Radiance Cores that speed up ray tracing by handling ray traversal with dedicated hardware, and Universal Compression that reduces GPU memory bandwidth usage by compressing all data sent to memory. Cerny’s comments suggest a potential 2028 release window for the PlayStation 6, though AMD plans to bring these innovations to developers across all gaming platforms. Xbox’s strategic partnership with AMD announced in June suggests that some of these technologies may also find their way to Microsoft’s next console.
Switch 2 continues to break US launch sales records, selling more in its first three months than PS4. VG Chronicles
Nintendo Switch 2 has become the best-selling console in the US during its first three months, selling 2.4 million units and surpassing the PlayStation 4’s previous record by 5%, according to market research company Circana. Switch 2 unit sales are currently trending 77% ahead of the original Nintendo Switch’s first three months, and the console’s strong performance led to a 32% increase in overall hardware spending for August 2025 compared to August 2024. The Switch 2 achieved a record-breaking launch month in June 2025 with 1.6 million units sold, beating the PS4’s launch month sales of 1.1 million units. Internationally, Switch 2 also broke the Japanese first-month sales record previously held by the PS2, and became the fastest-selling Nintendo console in UK history, though it ranked fourth overall in the UK behind PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X/S.
Development ends on Hyper Light Breaker as studio Heart Machine says it’s making layoffs. VG Chronicles
Heart Machine has ended development on Hyper Light Breaker and is laying off staff members after the game received mixed reviews during its nine-month Early Access period on Steam. The third-person prequel to the critically acclaimed Hyper Light Drifter had 67% positive reviews out of 2,580 total reviews, but the studio cited shifts in funding, corporate consolidation, and the uncertain environment for small studios as reasons for the shutdown. Heart Machine previously laid off staff in November last year, when it had expressed hope that a strong launch of Hyper Light Breaker would create new opportunities for those affected. The studio has not specified how many employees will be affected by the current layoffs.
New PlayStation 6 tech all but confirmed by Sony and AMD - and it looks like it’ll make its way into other hardware too. EuroGamer
Sony and AMD have announced three new technologies for the PlayStation 6 and future AMD graphics cards: Neural Arrays, Radiance Cores, and Universal Compression, all designed to accelerate ray tracing, path tracing, and enhance upscaling techniques. Neural Arrays link multiple Compute Units together to enable larger machine learning models for upscaling and denoising with reduced overhead and improved scalability. Radiance Cores are dedicated hardware blocks designed for unified light transport, which speeds up ray traversal and reduces the burden on both CPU and GPU, similar to Nvidia’s RT cores. Universal Compression compresses all data sent to GPU memory, rather than just specific data types, thereby increasing the adequate GPU memory bandwidth, reducing power consumption, and improving asset quality.
Former Zenimax Online Studios staff launch employee-owned Sackbird Studios in wake of Microsoft layoffs. EuroGamer
Veteran game developers from Zenimax Online Studios have launched a new employee-owned game development company called Sackbird Studios, composed of developers from The Elder Scrolls: Online team and those who were working on the cancelled sci-fi MMO Project Blackbird. The studio is entirely self-funded and employee-owned with a runway for multiple years, allowing developers to take creative risks without stockholders or corporate interference. The formation of Sackbird Studios came in the wake of widespread layoffs at Zenimax Online Studios, with the team aiming to avoid pitfalls they experienced in AAA development by prioritising creative independence. Following the cancellation of Project Blackbird, Zenimax Online Studios head Matt Firor left the company.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake screenshots show new storyline scenarios, dungeons, and more. RPG Site
Square Enix has shared new details and screenshots for Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, revealing significant additions to Dragon Quest I including new storyline scenarios, dungeons, and event battles. The most notable addition is Rubiss, a significant character from Dragon Quest III who was only briefly mentioned in previous versions of Dragon Quest I, along with new encounters featuring Tantegel soldiers, fairies, dwarves, and other characters not in the original title. New dungeons with formidable foes have been added throughout the world, allowing players to explore unseen areas and discover special items imbued with the power of nature. Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake launches on October 30 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam).
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade and Rebirth Twin Pack physical announced for PS5 with three Blu-ray discs. RPG Site
Square Enix has announced a new Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade and Rebirth Twin Pack physical release for the PS5, featuring both games across three Blu-ray discs. The release is scheduled for December 4, with pre-orders available starting on the Square Enix store and select retailers. The twin pack is priced at $59.99 USD, €69.99, and £59.99, offering two full-length RPGs in one physical collection for collectors. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is also coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S on January 22, 2026, while Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is in development for those platforms as well. The announcement does not clarify whether Final Fantasy VII Remake Episode Intermission will be included as a voucher or on disc in the physical release.
Gaming is the new oil:’ How the EA buyout ‘diverges from the traditional playbook’. Game Developer
Electronic Arts has been acquired in a $55 billion take-private deal funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners, with $20 billion financed through debt, making it potentially the largest leveraged buyout ever. While EA said there will be no “immediate” layoffs, analysts expect eventual restructuring, cost-cutting, and potential asset sales to pay off the debt, with the company likely focusing on high-revenue sports franchises and live-service games. The deal differs from traditional leveraged buyouts because Saudi Arabia is investing to gain cultural legitimacy and establish itself as a global gaming hub, rather than purely cutting costs to service debt. Saudi Arabia views gaming as “the new oil” and is diversifying beyond petroleum through its Vision 2030 strategy, having already invested billions in the gaming and esports industries. The shift represents a move toward state-backed investors treating games as geopolitical assets, which could bring deeper pockets for developers but also heightened scrutiny over cultural representation and political influence in content decisions.
Square Enix has announced physical Switch versions of FF7, FF8, and FF9 for North America, albeit rather suddenly. TheGamer
Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy VII, VIII, and IX will receive physical Nintendo Switch releases in North America starting December 9. The releases will be available as a bundle for $39.99, featuring Final Fantasy VII and VIII, and as a standalone release for $39.99, featuring Final Fantasy IX. While these physical releases have been available in Asian and European markets for some time, this marks the first time North American players can purchase them physically on Switch. Additionally, Square Enix announced the Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade and Rebirth Twin Pack Physical Edition, which bundles both games together for $59.99 USD.
Halo art director leaves after 17 years with cryptic message suggesting it was on bad terms. VG Chronicles
Halo art director Glenn Israel has left Halo Studios after 17 years, posting a cryptic LinkedIn message suggesting his departure was on bad terms and indicating he will share more details in 2026. Israel, who worked as a concept artist and senior concept artist on the Halo series since Halo 3: ODST, advised others in the industry to prioritise their health, dignity, ethics, and values over promises of security or wealth. His message suggests concerns about industry conditions and his personal experience, stating “take evidence when necessary” and encouraging people to “find where you belong.” Israel served as a senior concept artist on Halo Infinite’s campaign and multiplayer before his departure.
‘We just want it to feel authentic’: Clair Obscur studio’s next game won’t necessarily have the same story, art style or genre. VG Chronicles
Sandfall Interactive’s creative director Guillaume Broche has stated that the studio’s next game won’t necessarily follow the same story, art style, or genre as the successful Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Broche emphasised that the studio wants its next project to “feel authentic, and made with love” rather than being constrained by the formula of their previous game. A major free update for Clair Obscur is currently in development as a thank you to players, featuring a new playable environment, late-stage boss battles, new costumes, and additional surprises. In a separate interview, Broche explained that the parry mechanic and active turn system were design choices made for gameplay reasons, not to appeal to players who dislike turn-based RPGs.
MindsEye developers sign damning open letter against studio execs over “longstanding disrespect and mistreatment” following game’s disastrous launch. EuroGamer
Ninety-three Build A Rocket Boy employees signed an open letter condemning executives for “longstanding disrespect and mistreatment” following MindsEye’s failed launch and layoffs affecting an estimated 250-300 workers. Employees cited lack of transparent communication, mandatory overtime for four months before launch, and mishandled redundancies with incorrect dismissal notices. The letter demands a public apology, proper compensation, union recognition, and external partners for future redundancies. Former employees blamed senior management’s poor decisions and failure to take responsibility for the game’s technical issues.
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance is finally out in the west and off to a strong start on Steam, but was the MMORPG worth the wait? EuroGamer
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance launched in the west yesterday and peaked at almost 95,000 concurrent players on Steam, surpassing games like Hollow Knight: Silksong and Marvel Rivals. The anime MMORPG was previously cancelled in August 2024 after its Japanese servers shut down and Amazon Games dropped the western release. Still, Tencent-funded developer Bokura revived the project as a free-to-play game. Steam reviews are currently Mixed, with players criticising its lack of content, generic gameplay, and gacha mechanics, though some praise its visuals and argue it’s worth trying as a free game.
Union members announce legal action against Build A Rocket Boy over layoffs. GamesIndustry
93 current and former Build A Rocket Boy employees have signed an open letter accusing the studio’s leadership of systemic mistreatment. At the same time, IWGB union members have commenced legal action over mishandled redundancies following the critical failure of MindsEye. The letter alleges mandatory eight-hour weekly overtime for four months before launch, botched redundancy processes affecting around 300 workers, and leadership refusing to take responsibility for the game’s failure. Employees are demanding a public apology, improved working conditions, union recognition, and the use of external partners for future redundancies.
Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact DLC character Neferpitou launches October 16. Gematsu
Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact DLC character Neferpitou will launch on October 16. Neferpitou specialises in closing distances quickly with long-reaching attacks and can revive using Terpsichora if knocked out while having 500 Aura Gauge, with enhanced stats after revival to enable comebacks.
Capcom wobbles on pay-per-view Street Fighter 6 livestream after backlash. Kotaku
Capcom is reconsidering its pricing for the pay-per-view livestream of Capcom Cup 12 after significant backlash from fans and competitive players. The tournament, scheduled for March, currently has a $40 ticket price for two days of online viewing, which equals the cost of Street Fighter 6 itself. Street Fighter 6 director Takayuki Nakayama revealed that the development team was not consulted about the pay-per-view decision and was shocked by the announcement. Capcom announced it is considering price adjustments and plans to provide more details about the pricing and its reasoning by late October.
Fantastic Pixel Castle at risk of closure after being ousted by NetEase. Game Developer
NetEase has severed ties with internal studio Fantastic Pixel Castle less than two years after it was formed in November 2023 to develop a triple-A MMO codenamed ‘Ghost’. Studio head Greg Street announced the entire team could face redundancy if they cannot find another publisher or investor soon, citing the difficult current market environment for deals. This follows NetEase’s recent closure of Austin-based studio T-Minus Zero Entertainment and earlier reports of hundreds of layoffs across its global studio network.
Hackers claim to have breached internal Nintendo data. EuroGamer
Hackers claim to have breached Nintendo and stolen internal data, posting a screenshot showing folders containing Nintendo manuals, admin files, and dev assets. The same hacking group reportedly breached Red Hat’s GitHub repositories last month, though the Nintendo breach has yet to be substantiated. Nintendo has not commented publicly on the allegation, and it’s currently unknown if customer data has been compromised.
Battlefield 6 has only been out a day and it’s already one of Steam’s biggest games ever. EuroGamer
Battlefield 6 became Steam’s fourteenth most-popular game of all time by concurrent users within 24 hours of launch, reaching 747,440 concurrent players and becoming EA’s most successful shooter ever. The game is currently the top-selling title on Steam, with one analyst estimating over $100 million in pre-launch sales, and has received positive reviews from 78 percent of 25,000+ Steam users. Despite the success, players have faced huge queues as servers reach maximum capacity, though lead producer David Sirland said the team planned for launch day queues after the open beta helped gauge interest.
Disgaea 7 Complete is now available on Nintendo Switch 2 in the West. RPG Site
Disgaea 7 Complete, the definitive version of Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless, is now available on Nintendo Switch 2 in the West. The game originally launched for PS5, PS4, and Switch in Japan last July, but the Western release is exclusively on Switch 2. Disgaea 7 Complete includes all prior DLC (excluding consumable items) and brand-new content exclusive to the Switch 2 version with many upgrades over the Switch 1 version, featuring uncapped stats and new challenges.
Square Enix will reveal a new Dissidia Final Fantasy game on October 14 for iOS and Android. RPG Site
Square Enix will fully reveal a new Dissidia Final Fantasy game on October 14 at 10:00 UTC for iOS and Android. The game is described as a team boss battle arena, with a teaser website currently showing only background art and character silhouettes that will be updated after the full reveal.
Biggest releases this week
