Patch Notes #50 - weekly gaming digest
Welcome to the 50th edition of Patch Notes. Let’s get this bad boy going.
This edition will cover the week from 17 November to 23 November.
What caught my attention this week
First photos of Link and Zelda from the live-action The Legend of Zelda movie released. Vooks
Nintendo has released the first official photos of Link and Zelda from the upcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda movie. The images, shared on the Nintendo Today app and social media, provide the first official look at the characters. The film, starring Bo Bragason as Zelda and Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Link, is scheduled for release on May 7, 2027.
TLDR
I’ve been really heartened to see the community revolt against AI stuff - PUBG creator Brendan Greene distances himself from investor Krafton’s controversial ‘AI first’ mandate
Xbox 360 turns 20 on 22nd November, so we’ve got a week of coverage looking back at Microsoft’s best and most successful console
Paradox Interactive parts ways with Cities: Skylines studio after over 15 years, as publisher’s misfortunes continue
PlayStation’s Horizon series reportedly surpasses 40m sales, further cementing its position as one of Sony’s best-selling franchises
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and PlayStation lead The Game Awards 2025 nominations
Ubisoft says AI-generated art in Anno 117 was a placeholder which ‘slipped through our review process’
Legendary game designer, programmer, Space Invaders champion, and LGBTQ trailblazer Rebecca Heineman has died
Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick says gaming is ‘moving towards PC’ as the industry shifts away from closed systems, but we still don’t have a GTA 6 announcement
Hytale is saved’: Riot sells cancelled game back to original co-founder, who promises to take it ‘back to the original vision for Hytale’
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 overtakes two legendary PlayStation games to become The Game Awards’ most nominated game ever
Star Citizen is about to hit $900 million in funding, making it one of the most expensive video games ever
Tomb Raider’s 2013 reboot just shadow dropped on Switch and Switch 2 consoles
Chinese action-RPG Where Winds Meet reaches two million players in just 24 hours of global release
Roblox begins rolling out age checks using facial age estimation technology
EA Sports says there’ll be no F1 26, with F1 25 getting a paid 2026 season expansion instead
Megabonk has become the first game to reject its nomination at The Game Awards
Epic announces partnership to bring Unity games into Fortnite
This is not AI - Oscar-winning Marathon cinematic short director hits back at online accusations
Avalanche Studios Group closes Liverpool studio, 31 employees affected
Dragon’s Dogma 2 sells 4m copies | News-in-brief
Tales of Berseria Remastered launches for PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC Steam on February 26/27, 2026
Mafia: The Old Country is getting a big free update with new modes and content
PGA Tour 2K25 is officially coming to Nintendo Switch 2 with ‘a full suite of game modes’
Fallout 4 drops to Mostly Negative for the first time since 2017 thanks to the Anniversary Edition
A year after Gearbox released Risk of Rain 2 DLC so broken the developer admitted it put the game ‘in a really bad place,’ it’s finally got a win: the new DLC’s 96% positive reviews have blasted it up Steam’s top sellers chart
Call of Duty under attack.
Silent Hill 2’s brilliant remake surprise-launches on Xbox Series X/S with a massive discount ahead of tonight’s showcase
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 patch curbs one of the biggest Zombies grinds, fixes crashes across all modes
Pokémon TCG Pocket wins Google Play’s Best Game of the Year award
Bloodborne 10th Anniversary edition vinyl soundtracks announced with pre-orders now live
Ys X: Proud Nordics launches on February 20, 2026 for PS5, Switch 2, and PC in the West
Steins;Gate Re:Boot releasing on Steam in North America and Europe through Spike Chunsoft
Eminem will hire Agent 47 to kill Slim Shady in Hitman’s next Elusive Target mission
Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution: Ascended Heroes announced for 2026
Battlefield enters esports with $1m circuit
miHoYo announces Varsapura
Street Fighter 6 sales top six million
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 just won every award it was nominated for at The Golden Joystick Awards
Aion 2’s launch was so disastrous that it crashed NCSoft’s stock price
Any future Hollow Knight games after Silksong would “exist alongside” the others as standalone entries, says Team Cherry
Ubisoft’s Tencent deal goes through
Ubisoft announces H1 earnings “ahead of expectations”, confirms Tencent deal to close “in coming days”
Action RPG Bleach: Soul Resonance is now available for iOS and Android
Genshin Impact Version Luna III launches on December 3
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance launches in the rest of Asia including Japan on December 18
Sword of Convallaria X The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt collaboration begins on November 28
Undertale x Square Enix music and merchandise collaboration revealed
Scout joins Nongshim RedForce and returns to the LCK after nine years
Gentle Mates unveils VALORANT roster for 2026
Biggest news of the week
“I’ve been really heartened to see the community revolt against AI stuff” - PUBG creator Brendan Greene distances himself from investor Krafton’s controversial ‘AI first’ mandate. EuroGamer
Brendan Greene, creator of PUBG, stated he’s “heartened” to see the gaming community revolt against generative AI, emphasizing that his studio PlayerUnknown Productions doesn’t use large language models and instead builds systems that enable artists to sculpt worlds. Greene clarified that while Krafton remains a minority stakeholder in his independent studio since 2021, PlayerUnknown Productions’ goals are not influenced by Krafton’s controversial “AI first” mandate, and the studio operates separately from Krafton’s internal operations. His studio is working on a three-game plan, with the first game Prologue: Go Wayback! launching in early access on November 20th, focusing on world-generation technology that uses machine learning to give artists tools rather than replace them. Greene emphasised that his technology enables artists to create worlds quickly, rather than taking away their jobs, and the ultimate goal is to release the underlying technology as free open source.
Xbox 360 turns 20 on 22nd November, so we’ve got a week of coverage looking back at Microsoft’s best and most successful console. EuroGamer
Eurogamer is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Xbox 360, which launched on November 22, 2005, with a week of special coverage looking back at Microsoft’s most successful console. The Xbox 360 released a year before the PS3, giving Microsoft a head start in that console generation and allowing it to challenge Sony’s dominance with exclusive games and industry-leading online multiplayer. Despite some issues like the Red Ring of Death, the console is remembered fondly and nearly matched PlayStation’s success. The coverage will include articles about key games, personal memories, and a special interview, all available on Eurogamer’s Xbox 360 20th anniversary hub.
Paradox Interactive parts ways with Cities: Skylines studio after over 15 years, as publisher’s misfortunes continue. EuroGamer
Paradox Interactive has parted ways with Cities: Skylines developer Colossal Order after over 15 years of collaboration, with development of Cities: Skylines 2 transferring to Paradox’s internal Finnish studio Iceflake Studios at the start of 2026. The mutual decision allows Colossal Order to explore “new creative opportunities” while Iceflake Studios will handle all ongoing development including free updates, the Editor, console editions, and future expansions. Cities: Skylines 2, released in October 2023, was heavily criticized for performance issues, with console versions remaining delayed due to troubled development. This change follows Paradox’s recent struggles including parting ways with Prison Architect 2 developer Double Eleven last year and canceling its Sims-like game Life By You.
PlayStation’s Horizon series reportedly surpasses 40m sales, further cementing its position as one of Sony’s best-selling franchises. EuroGamer
PlayStation’s Horizon series has reportedly surpassed 40 million sales, according to a Korean news article translated on ResetEra, representing roughly 2 million copies sold in recent months since Sony stated in July the franchise had sold over 38 million units. The sales figures were shared as part of a report on the upcoming MMO spin-off Horizon Steel Frontiers, currently in development by NCSoft for mobile and PC. For comparison, Sony’s God of War reboot surpassed 23 million units in 2022, while God of War Ragnarök sold over 15 million units by November 2023. Eurogamer has reached out to Sony for comment on the Horizon sales figures.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and PlayStation lead The Game Awards 2025 nominations. VG Chronicles
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads The Game Awards 2025 nominations with a record 12 nominations, followed by PlayStation titles Death Stranding 2: On the Beach and Ghost of Yotei with eight nominations each, and Hades 2 with six. Sony Interactive Entertainment is the most nominated publisher with 19 nominations, followed by Kepler Interactive with 13, and Microsoft and Electronic Arts with 10 each. The Game of the Year nominees are Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. Winners will be determined by a blended vote of 90% voting jury and 10% public fan voting, with the awards ceremony streaming live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on December 11, 2025.
Ubisoft says AI-generated art in Anno 117 was a placeholder which ‘slipped through our review process’. VG Chronicles
Ubisoft confirmed that AI-generated art found in Anno 117: Pax Romana was a placeholder that “unintentionally slipped through our review process” and was supposed to be replaced with human-created artwork. Players discovered the AI-generated loading screen art, which showed tell-tale signs like deformed body parts, prompting criticism from fans who appreciated the series’ artwork quality. Ubisoft stated the final human-created version will replace the AI placeholder in the upcoming 1.3 patch, and emphasized that while the team uses AI tools for “iterations, prototyping, and exploration,” every element in the final game reflects the team’s craft and creative vision. The game’s Steam page includes an AI-generated content disclosure as required by Steam’s guidelines introduced last year.
Legendary game designer, programmer, Space Invaders champion, and LGBTQ trailblazer Rebecca Heineman has died. PCGamer
Rebecca Heineman, legendary game designer, programmer, and LGBTQ trailblazer, has died at age 62 after being diagnosed with aggressive cancer last month. Heineman won the first national Space Invaders tournament in 1980, becoming the first formally recognized US champion of any video game, and went on to co-found Interplay in 1983 alongside Brian Fargo, working on foundational PC games like Wasteland, Fallout, and Baldur’s Gate. She was credited on 67 games according to MobyGames, with notable work including designing The Bard’s Tale 3 and programming ports of Wolfenstein 3D, Baldur’s Gate, and Icewind Dale, plus her legendary solo programming of the 3DO Doom port. Heineman publicly came out as transgender in the 2000s, was married to fellow games industry legend Jennell Jaquays who died in January 2024, and received Gayming’s 2025 Gayming Icon award for her advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion and diversity in tech.
Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick says gaming is ‘moving towards PC’ as the industry shifts away from closed systems, but we still don’t have a GTA 6 announcement. PCGamer
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick stated that gaming is “moving towards PC” and that “business is moving towards open rather than closed” systems, though he emphasized that console gaming as an experience on big screens will remain. Zelnick’s comments reflect the current state of flux in the gaming industry, with Microsoft promoting “everything is an Xbox” while still claiming to develop next-gen consoles, and Valve’s new Steam Machine blurring the line between consoles and PCs. The article notes the irony that despite Zelnick’s comments about the shift toward PC gaming, Grand Theft Auto 6, Take-Two’s biggest title, still hasn’t been announced for PC. Microsoft’s Phil Spencer recently reminded that Xbox is “one of the largest publishers on Steam,” raising questions about the future appeal of traditional Xbox consoles.
Hytale is saved’: Riot sells cancelled game back to original co-founder, who promises to take it ‘back to the original vision for Hytale’. PCGamer
Riot Games has sold the cancelled game Hytale back to original co-founder Simon Collins-Laflamme five months after shutting down development and closing the studio. Collins-Laflamme announced that more than 30 former developers have been rehired to resume work on the game, with plans to return to “the original vision for Hytale” as a fully independent project personally funded for the next 10 years. Fellow Hypixel co-founder Philippe Touchette is co-funding the project and overseeing financial responsibilities, though the purchase price wasn’t revealed. Collins-Laflamme warned that Hytale in its current state is “messy” and “janky” with much work remaining, but plans to release it “as soon as possible,” likely in early access form.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 overtakes two legendary PlayStation games to become The Game Awards’ most nominated game ever. TheGamer
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has become The Game Awards’ most nominated game ever with 12 nominations, overtaking God of War: Ragnarok (2022) and The Last of Us Part 2 (2020), which both earned 11 nominations. The game’s 12 nominations include Game of the Year, Best Art Direction, Best Score & Music, Best Audio Design, Best Narrative, Best Independent Game, Best Debut Independent Game, Best Role-Playing Game, Best Game Direction, and three Best Performance nominations for Jennifer English, Ben Starr, and Charlie Cox. Following Clair Obscur, the games with the most nominations this year are Death Stranding 2: On The Beach with 7, Ghost of Yotei with 7, and Hades 2 with 6. If Expedition 33 wins eight of its ten eligible categories, it would become the most awarded game in The Game Awards history, surpassing The Last of Us Part 2’s current record of 7 wins.
Star Citizen is about to hit $900 million in funding, making it one of the most expensive video games ever. TheGamer
Star Citizen is approaching $900 million in crowdfunding, currently sitting at approximately $885.5 million, making it one of the most expensive video games ever developed. The game, announced in 2012 and in alpha testing since 2017, ranks third in development costs behind Monopoly Go and Genshin Impact, surpassing titles like The Last of Us Part 2 ($220 million), Cyberpunk 2077 ($441.9 million), and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War ($750 million). The crowdfunding total includes the $45 alpha access fee and in-game microtransactions, which drew criticism earlier this year when the game tried charging for ship upgrades after hitting $800 million. Despite no release window for the main game, Cloud Imperium Games plans to launch Squadron 42, a standalone single-player spinoff campaign, in 2026.
Tomb Raider’s 2013 reboot just shadow-dropped on Switch and Switch 2. EuroGamer
Aspyr and Crystal Dynamics have shadow-dropped Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition on Switch and Switch 2 today. The Definitive Edition includes the remastered 2013 Tomb Raider reboot along with all original DLC, digital versions of the Dark Horse comic Tomb Raider: The Beginning, Brady Games’ mini-art book Tomb Raider: The Art of Survival, and the ‘Final Hours of Tomb Raider’ developer video series. The game is available on the Nintendo eShop for £17/$20, with a 10 percent discount available for owners of Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered or Tomb Raider 4-6 Remastered on Nintendo Switch, and includes online multiplayer for up to eight players.
Chinese action-RPG Where Winds Meet reaches two million players in just 24 hours of global release. EuroGamer
Where Winds Meet has reached two million players within 24 hours of its global launch, according to developer Everstone Studio and publisher NetEase Games. The Chinese action-RPG achieved a peak concurrent player count of almost 194,000 on Steam, surpassing Wuchang: Fallen Feathers (131,518 peak) but falling behind recent releases like Arc Raiders (481,966) and Battlefield 6 (747,440). The free-to-play game is available on Steam, PS5, and mobile, with the PS5 version ranking among best-sellers in the US, France, South Korea, and other countries. Lead producer Beralt Lyu stated the team will listen to community feedback and deliver seasonal updates with new narrative content, game modes, and exploration features.
Roblox begins rolling out age checks using facial age estimation technology. GamesIndustry
Roblox has begun rolling out voluntary age checks using facial age estimation technology processed by Persona to limit communication between minors and adults, with images and video deleted immediately after processing. Users will be assigned to age-related chat groups (under nine, nine to 12, 13 to 15, 16 to 17, 18 to 20, and 21+) and can only chat with their own and similar age groups, though access to chat features will be restricted until an age check is completed. Age verification will roll out in Australia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands during the first week of December, expanding globally in early January. It will also be required to access social media links on user profiles, communities, and experience detail pages. This follows previous safety updates, including rolling out a “sensitive issues” content tag and introducing protections in November 2024 that prevented under-13s from accessing direct messaging.
EA Sports says there’ll be no F1 26, with F1 25 getting a paid 2026 season expansion instead. VG Chronicles
EA Sports has announced there will be no F1 26 game next year, instead releasing a paid expansion for F1 25 that will include the full 2026 FIA Formula One World Championship season. The expansion will align with the sport’s major changes for 2026, updating the game with new cars, sporting regulations, teams, and drivers, though no release date or price has been announced yet. This breaks EA’s annual F1 release pattern that began when it acquired Codemasters in 2021, having released F1 2021, F1 22, F1 23, F1 24, and F1 25. EA stated the “next full game in the franchise” will release in 2027 as a “reimagined” and “more expansive experience” that will celebrate Formula 1’s modern era for both new and long-time players.
Megabonk has become the first game to reject its nomination at The Game Awards. TheGamer
Megabonk has become the first game in The Game Awards’ history to voluntarily withdraw from its nomination, specifically from the Best Debut Indie category. The game’s creator announced via Twitter that while being nominated is “an honor and a dream,” they believe Megabonk doesn’t qualify as a debut indie game since they have released indie games under different studio names in the past. The creator asked fans who would have voted for Megabonk to instead “vote for another one of the amazing debut titles” in the category, calling the withdrawal decision something that “doesn’t feel right.” This marks the first time a creator has willingly withdrawn from The Game Awards, with the only similar instances being Nintendo pulling fan-made titles Pokemon Uranium and Another Metroid 2 Remake from the Best Fan Creation category in 2016.
Epic announces partnership to bring Unity games into Fortnite. GamesIndustry
Epic Games and Unity have announced a partnership allowing Unity games to be published in Fortnite, with Unreal Engine support also coming to Unity’s platform. The collaboration will enable developers to manage pricing, promotions, and live operations starting early next year. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney emphasized the goal of building an open, interoperable metaverse, while Unity CEO Matt Bromberg highlighted the opportunities for game developers worldwide. A review process will apply only to content hosted by Epic.
“This is not AI” - Oscar-winning Marathon cinematic short director hits back at online accusations. EuroGamer
Oscar-winning animator and director Alberto Mielgo has responded to accusations that his cinematic short for Bungie’s Marathon is AI-generated, insisting “this is not AI” and was created by “155 incredible people and hell of hours, days, months.” Mielgo, who won an Oscar for The Windshield Wiper in 2021 and created shorts for Netflix’s Love Death and Robots, directed the eight-minute Marathon reveal cinematic released in April. In an Instagram post, Mielgo stated that everything in the film—paintings, animations, 2D and 3D work, compositing, and renders—was done by a large team, adding that “AI will never take away my (your) urge or joy for making art and painting.” According to The Game Post, Mielgo also addressed Marathon’s plagiarism scandal in now-deleted comments, stating none of the contested assets reached his team or appeared in the trailer.
Avalanche Studios Group closes Liverpool studio, 31 employees affected. GamesIndustry
Avalanche Studios Group has officially closed its Liverpool studio, resulting in 31 employees being terminated after concluding a collective consultation process initiated in September. The closure was announced alongside workforce reductions at the company’s Malmö and Stockholm studios, with Avalanche stating it reviewed its operations to ensure long-term success amid “current challenges to our business and the industry.” The Liverpool studio had been opened in 2020, and Avalanche employed around 500 people before these changes. This follows Microsoft pausing development on Contraband—a co-op heist game Avalanche was developing—in August, as well as the 2024 closure of New York and Montreal offices that resulted in 50 layoffs.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 sells 4m copies | News-in-brief. GamesIndustry
Dragon’s Dogma 2 has sold 4 million copies, according to Capcom. The action RPG, which released in March 2024, had previously surpassed 2.5 million sales within just over a week after launch.
Tales of Berseria Remastered launches for PS5, Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC Steam on February 26/27, 2026. RPG Site
Bandai Namco has announced Tales of Berseria Remastered will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam on February 26, 2026 in Japan (February 27 for Steam and global console releases). The remaster features quality-of-life enhancements including early access to the Grade Shop, destination icons, and the ability to toggle encounters, along with downloadable content from the original 2016 release. Resolution and frame rate targets are 4K/60fps on PS5, 4K or 1440p/60fps on Xbox Series X|S, and 1080p docked or 720p handheld/30fps on Switch. The game is priced at $39.99 for the standard edition, with a $59.99 Deluxe Edition featuring an artbook, soundtrack, battle BGM pack, and in-game items, and the remaster will allow Japanese players to access Tales of Berseria on Steam for the first time as the original version was region-locked.
Mafia: The Old Country is getting a big free update with new modes and content. VG Chronicles
2K is releasing a free update for Mafia: The Old Country on November 20 called the Free Ride update, which adds car and horse races, combat challenges, a new first-person driving mode, Photo Mode, Classic difficulty mode, and new weapons, charms, cars, and outfits. Developer Hangar 13’s associate design director Josh Zammit highlighted the races and Combat Challenges, including Standoffs and Assassinations, while teasing an unexpected piece of content players can discover through notes in Enzo’s apartment. VGC’s review called Mafia: The Old Country “a brief but brilliant Sicilian story” with stunning character models and environments, though noted the Sicily map is underused despite being wonderfully sculpted.
PGA Tour 2K25 is officially coming to Nintendo Switch 2 with ‘a full suite of game modes’. VG Chronicles
2K has officially announced PGA Tour 2K25 is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on February 6, 2026, featuring the full suite of game modes, courses, and customization options from the console and PC version released earlier this year. The Switch 2 version will include MyCareer mode, cross-platform online Societies, Course Designer, the ability to play offline modes on the go and online modes with an internet connection, plus the new EvoSwing mechanic and Perfect Swing experience. The game features 28 licensed courses including three Major Championships (the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club, the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, and The 153rd Open at Royal Portrush Golf Club), plus a roster of 11 featured pros including Tiger Woods, Max Homa, and Lydia Ko. Additional features include an updated MyPLAYER creation system, Seasons with Clubhouse Pass content (with Passes 1-4 available at launch), and various multiplayer offerings including new Ranked Tours.
Fallout 4 drops to Mostly Negative for the first time since 2017 thanks to the Anniversary Edition. TheGamer
Fallout 4 has dropped to mostly negative reviews on Steam for the first time since 2017 following the launch of the Anniversary Edition earlier this month. Only 25 percent of recent reviews are positive, as players are unhappy with the update breaking mods and introducing bugs, with the last similar wave of negative reviews occurring in September 2017 when only 19 percent were positive during the Game of the Year Edition launch. The Anniversary Edition updated the game across all releases, disrupting modded playthroughs, though console players will benefit from increased mod limits—Xbox’s limit is increasing from 2GB to 100GB on Xbox Series X/S. The backlash shows fans are frustrated with Bethesda re-releasing old games when they’d prefer to mod without updates breaking everything.
A year after Gearbox released Risk of Rain 2 DLC so broken the developer admitted it put the game ‘in a really bad place,’ it’s finally got a win: the new DLC’s 96% positive reviews have blasted it up Steam’s top sellers chart. PCGamer
Risk of Rain 2’s new DLC, Alloyed Collective, launched on Steam with 96% positive reviews and climbed to the top of Steam’s sellers chart, marking a turnaround for Gearbox after last year’s disastrous DLC release that admitted it put the game “in a really bad place.” The $15 DLC adds two new characters, seven stages with new music, a new final boss, and seven new drone types, while a simultaneous patch reworks drone AI and nerfs the Spare Drone Parts item by 50% to prevent it from becoming overpowered with the new content. The change has sparked some controversy as players who don’t buy the DLC will experience the rebalancing without access to the seven new drone variants, though Gearbox says it will monitor community feedback. The update also includes a “remote operation” feature allowing dead players in multiplayer to control drones until their friends finish the level.
Call of Duty under attack. The Game Business
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 has launched with record low Steam player figures, peaking at around 100,000 concurrent players compared to Black Ops 6’s 300,000 and Modern Warfare 3’s 190,000, facing strong competition from Battlefield 6 (747,000 Steam peak) and Arc Raiders (482,000 peak). According to Ampere Analysis data, around 25% of Battlefield 6 players on PlayStation and Xbox had been playing Call of Duty the month prior, while Arc Raiders had less cross-over with COD at just 11-13% on consoles, instead attracting players who hop between different games. UK physical launch sales for Black Ops 7 dropped 61% compared to Black Ops 6, and the game has received the lowest Metacritic user score for a Call of Duty game ever, with negative Steam reviews citing issues like inability to pause campaign mode and apparent use of AI assets. Helldivers 2 became a victim of this shooter competition, losing over four million players (down 45%) in October as users moved to Battlefield 6 and Arc Raiders, despite enjoying a spike in September from its Xbox release.
Silent Hill 2’s brilliant remake surprise-launches on Xbox Series X/S with a massive discount ahead of tonight’s showcase. EuroGamer
The Xbox Series X/S version of Silent Hill 2 remake has surprise-launched in Australia with a 50% discount, suggesting a global launch announcement during tonight’s Xbox Partner Showcase. The game, developed by Bloober Team, initially launched as a PlayStation 5 console exclusive in October 2024 alongside a PC release, and successfully modernized the 2001 survival horror classic without losing the original’s beloved qualities. Eurogamer’s Vikki Blake gave the remake a five-star review, calling it “as close to perfect as I could have ever hoped” and “the best horror I’ve played for years.” The Australian release offers both standard and deluxe editions at the discounted price, though the early listing appears to have been unintentional ahead of tonight’s showcase.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 patch curbs one of the biggest Zombies grinds, fixes crashes across all modes. EuroGamer
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s latest patch has addressed several issues including substantial adjustments to camo challenges, with some Zombies weapon camos being three times harder to unlock than intended now fixed. The XR-3 ION’s multiplayer camo requirements were changed from one-shot-kills to headshots due to difficulties with burst fire, and mutilate challenges in Zombies were also fixed. Crashing issues across all game modes have been addressed to improve stability, particularly important for Endgame campaign runs where progress was being lost. A bug that would force boot players from Endgame campaign matches under certain extraction conditions has also been fixed, improving one of Black Ops 7’s most challenging grinds.
Pokémon TCG Pocket wins Google Play’s Best Game of the Year award. GamesIndustry
Google Play has named Pokémon TCG Pocket as its Best Game of 2025, praising it for delivering “an authentic version of the physical card game, while retaining the joy of collecting cards.” Google highlighted the game’s well-designed effects that add “palpable weight and texture for a vividly tactile experience,” from flipping coins to opening booster packs, stating it takes “full advantage of its digital format to deliver a highly accessible and enhanced experience.” The awards were streamlined this year with Google dropping the Best Multi-Device and Best for Families categories, with other winners including Candy Crush Solitaire for Best Pick Up & Play, Disco Elysium for Best Story, and Dredge for Best on Play Pass.
Bloodborne 10th Anniversary edition vinyl soundtracks announced with pre-orders now live. RPG Site
Laced Records has announced Bloodborne 10th Anniversary vinyl soundtracks featuring the complete original soundtrack and The Old Hunters DLC across two volumes. Volume 1 is a repress of the 2019 release, while Volume 2 is new to vinyl and includes nine remastered tracks—four from the base game not previously on vinyl and five boss cues from The Old Hunters DLC, including “Ludwig, The Holy Blade” and “Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower.” The bundle is priced at $98 with pre-orders now live, shipping in April 2026, and includes exclusive turquoise/black/white marble effect LPs for Volume 1 and red/black/white for Volume 2, housed in a deluxe lift-off lid collector’s box with gold foiling, obi strip, and an exclusive Caryll Runes slipmat.
Ys X: Proud Nordics launches on February 20, 2026 for PS5, Switch 2, and PC in the West. RPG Site
NIS America has announced Ys X: Proud Nordics will launch in the West on February 20, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (Steam, GOG, Epic), with a February 19, 2026 release in Japan. The definitive edition includes all content from the original release plus new mechanics, a high-difficulty dungeon called Muspelheim, and a brand-new storyline centered around Öland Island featuring newcomers Canute and Astrid. The game features improved graphical performance and quality-of-life updates, a new Mana Hold ability to manipulate the world, and the Muspelheim timed dungeon, making it the definitive way to experience Ys X. The base version of Ys X is currently available in the West on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Steins;Gate Re:Boot releasing on Steam in North America and Europe through Spike Chunsoft. RPG Site
Spike Chunsoft has announced Steins;Gate Re:Boot will release on PC via Steam in North America and Europe in 2026, featuring updated visuals and new narrative content. The game includes refined character illustrations by original character designer huke with updated outfits and accessories, background graphics depicting Akihabara circa 2010 in detail with new locations not in the original, and newly recreated event stills with additional scenes for greater immersion. Steins;Gate Re:Boot is developed by MAGES and will be published by Spike Chunsoft on Steam, though pricing has not been announced yet. The game is currently in development with a Steam store page available for wishlisting.
Eminem will hire Agent 47 to kill Slim Shady in Hitman’s next Elusive Target mission. VG Chronicles
Hitman’s next Elusive Target mission, launching December 1, will see players team up with Eminem to kill Slim Shady using new methods including Mom’s Spaghetti. The mission is set in Hokkaido’s Popsomp Hills Asylum, a medical facility reconfigured into a surreal environment where Slim Shady has transformed an operating theatre into a broadcasting studio for erratic live performances. An Eminem vs Slim Shady pack containing a new suit, four items, and home base cosmetics will be available for $4.99/€4.99/£3.99, while the mission itself will be free to all Hitman players. According to IO Interactive’s Yann Roskell, the level features “psychological, dreamlike twists” with players tracking Slim Shady across interconnected areas including a recording studio and a “Group Training Session.”
Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution: Ascended Heroes announced for 2026. VG Chronicles
The Pokémon Company has announced Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution: Ascended Heroes, a Special Set launching January 30, 2026, available only at select retailers without traditional booster boxes. The set, inspired by Pokémon Legends: Z-A, includes 13 Mega Evolution Pokémon ex (including Mega Dragonite ex), 6 Tera Pokémon ex, 20 Pokémon ex, 33 illustration rare Pokémon, 14 ultra rare Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, 7 Mega attack rare Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, and 22 special illustration rare cards. Products announced include an Elite Trainer Box with nine booster packs, various Collections with two or three packs, Mini Tins with two packs, a Premium Poster Collection with 10 packs, and a Booster Bundle with six packs.
Battlefield enters esports with $1m circuit. Esports Insider
Electronic Arts has launched Battlefield’s official esports entry with a $1 million circuit for Battlefield 6’s battle royale mode, REDSEC, consisting of the Elite Series and Open Series beginning in early December. The Elite Series features 50 team captains from Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific selecting four-player squads to compete across three Qualifying Match Days (December 10 start) and season finals (December 18), with the Americas offering $50,000 per Match Day and $500,000 for finals, while EMEA and APAC feature $20,000 Match Days and $285,000 finals. The Open Series provides amateur competition with top 250 teams from each region qualifying for January 17, 2026 season finals with $10,000 prize pools per region. Battlefield has historically struggled to develop a dedicated esports ecosystem due to its large-scale nature, but EA is capitalizing on the battle royale genre and plans to collaborate with the community to test formats for a competitive Battlefield 6 multiplayer circuit.
miHoYo announces Varsapura. Gematsu
miHoYo has announced Varsapura, its next major open-world game currently in development on Unreal Engine 5, though platforms and release date were not revealed. The company is recruiting for several game-related roles in Shanghai and Singapore offices, with the announcement framed through a fictional organization called SEAL (Shadow Emergency Alliance). According to the announcement, the protagonist’s appearance shifts to match each viewer’s preferences upon entering Varsapura through an unknown “parapsychological effect,” with only an English voice-over version released initially while additional language modules are in development. A 31-minute gameplay demonstration has been released showing footage captured on RTX 4090 hardware.
Street Fighter 6 sales top six million. Gematsu
Street Fighter 6 has surpassed 6 million units sold worldwide, with 300,000 units sold since September 30, 2025, according to Capcom. The game originally launched for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam on June 2, 2023, followed by a Switch 2 release on June 5, 2025. Street Fighter 6 features three distinct game modes—Fighting Ground (classic modes), World Tour (single-player story mode), and Battle Hub (social engagement hub)—powered by Capcom’s RE Engine with enhanced visuals and new gameplay features including the Drive System and Modern Control Type alongside Classic Control Type.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 just won every award it was nominated for at The Golden Joystick Awards. TheGamer
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won every award it was nominated for at the Golden Joystick Awards, including Ultimate Game of the Year, Best Storytelling, Best Visual Design, Studio of the Year (Sandfall), Best Supporting Performer (Ben Starr), and Best Lead Performer (Jennifer English). The game defeated Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 for Ultimate Game of the Year, which left the ceremony empty-handed despite multiple nominations, often losing to Expedition 33 in shared categories or to Silksong for Best PC Game and GTA 6 for Best Trailer. The success surprised even the developers and cast, with the acceptance speech for the final award exclaiming “What the f**k is happening right now” as they were repeatedly called to the stage. The RPG managed to stay in voters’ minds throughout 2025 despite launching earlier in the year and fended off long-awaited sequels like Hades 2 and Silksong.
Aion 2’s launch was so disastrous that it crashed NCSoft’s stock price. TheGamer
Aion 2’s disastrous launch in South Korea and Taiwan has caused developer NCSoft’s stock price to crash over 15% in just a couple of days due to the game’s predatory monetization model. The free-to-play MMO features pay-to-win mechanics and locks core features like player trading and the auction house behind a monthly subscription service, with two subscription tiers available. NCSoft held an emergency broadcast 15 hours after launch, with development producer Kim Nam-joon promising to remove items from the store and acknowledging the team was “complacent and unthoughtful.” Players have been extremely critical of the game, with some likening it to a cheap mobile game on the MMORPG subreddit, criticizing both its monetization and overall quality. NCSoft has not announced plans for an international release, though the poor reception suggests such a release could be significantly delayed.
Any future Hollow Knight games after Silksong would “exist alongside” the others as standalone entries, says Team Cherry. EuroGamer
Team Cherry has revealed that any future Hollow Knight games beyond Silksong would “exist alongside” previous entries as standalone titles rather than continuations requiring knowledge of earlier lore. In an interview with ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image) conducted before Silksong’s September release, studio leads Ari Gibson and William Pellen explained their goal was to make games that “stand alongside” each other and “complement” one another without a tech race or boundary-pushing approach. Gibson stated players wouldn’t “feel like you lost anything, traveling back to the original game after playing Silksong,” adding that “if there were ever others, we would hope that they all follow that same pattern.” Eurogamer awarded Silksong five stars, calling it “pretty and charmingly mean-spirited” and “a game filled with revelations and genuine personality.”
Ubisoft’s Tencent deal goes through. GamesIndustry
Ubisoft has confirmed the completion of Tencent’s €1.16 billion investment in Vantage Studios, the division managing the Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six franchises. Tencent now holds a 26.32% stake in Vantage Studios, which became operational on October 1 and includes Ubisoft offices in Montréal, Quebec, Sherbrooke, Saguenay, Barcelona, and Sofia with 2,300 employees, though the division remains controlled by Ubisoft. Vantage Studios has a “pre-money enterprise value of €3.8 billion,” with CEO Yves Guillemot stating the proceeds will deleverage the Group and strengthen the balance sheet while supporting investment opportunities. Ubisoft reported a net debt of €1.15 billion in its latest financial results announced ahead of the deal’s completion.
Ubisoft announces H1 earnings “ahead of expectations”, confirms Tencent deal to close “in coming days”. GamesIndustry
Ubisoft announced H1 earnings “ahead of expectations” with overall net bookings of €772.4 million (up 20.3% year-on-year) and confirmed its €1.16 billion partnership deal with Tencent will close “in the coming days.” The company’s global headcount dropped by 1,500 employees over the past 12 months to 17,097, with 700 jobs cut since March 2025, as part of cost reduction efforts targeting €100 million in savings through restructuring and “continued discipline in recruitment.” Tencent will own 25% of newly-created subsidiary Vantage Studios, which will hold Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six franchises, with the cash infusion used to pay down Ubisoft’s €1.15 billion net debt. Assassin’s Creed Shadows was described as “overperforming” and Assassin’s Creed Mirage reached 10 million total players, though Rainbow Six missed revenue expectations due to “a temporary surge in cheating.”
Action RPG Bleach: Soul Resonance is now available for iOS and Android. RPG Site
Crunchyroll and A Plus Japan have released Bleach: Soul Resonance, an action-RPG developed by Nuverse, for iOS and Android. The game aims to feel like a playable anime series featuring 17 Bleach characters initially, with more coming via future updates, following a successful pre-registration with millions of fans worldwide. Key features include a faithful recreation of the Bleach story, thrilling 3D action with seamless combo switching between characters, the ability to assemble teams with unique Zanpakutō and abilities, and stunning 3D graphics with the original soundtrack. The game is available for free download on the iOS App Store and Google Play.
Genshin Impact Version Luna III launches on December 3. RPG Site
HoYoverse has announced Genshin Impact Version Luna III will launch on December 3, featuring a new Archon Quest centered around Nod-Krai’s “Moon-Prayer Night” festival and the Dameselette’s final night before her moon journey. The update introduces two new playable characters: Durin, a 5-star Pyro Sword wielder with dual combat forms who can serve as team support or damage dealer, and Jahoda, a 4-star Anemo Bow wielder specializing in team-healing and elemental absorption. A major “Hexerei characters” system debuts, allowing Durin, Venti, Klee, Albedo, Mona, Razor, Fischl, and Sucrose to gain special abilities and altered Constellation effects by completing Alice’s “Witch’s Homework” quests, with additional party bonuses when using two or more Hexerei characters. The update also includes the winter-themed “Soulblazers’ Snowbound Journey” event in Dragonspine, UGC gameplay updates to Miliastra Wonderland with a new “Wonderland Resource Center,” and Event Wishes featuring Durin and Jahoda’s debut alongside Venti’s return in phase one and Varesa and Xilonen’s return in phase two.
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance launches in the rest of Asia including Japan on December 18. RPG Site
Blue Protocol: Star Resonance will launch in the rest of Asia, including Japan, on December 18 for mobile and PC, published by X.D. in South Korea and Japan and Haoplay in Southeast Asia. Haoplay has set up an alternate Steam page exclusively for Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, and India, featuring Japanese voiceovers with English, Indonesian, and Thai subtitles, separate from the Western English version. The game first launched in Mainland China on July 17, followed by a “global” English version in the West on October 9 and a Taiwanese version on October 23. Singapore and Malaysia are grouped into the Taiwan-based Traditional Chinese version rather than the Southeast Asian release.
Sword of Convallaria X The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt collaboration begins on November 28. RPG Site
XD Games has announced that Sword of Convallaria’s collaboration with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt will begin on November 28 and run until January 22, 2026. The crossover event will feature Geralt, Yennefer, Triss, and Ciri as obtainable playable characters, along with gear inspired by The Witcher 3 including Zireael, the Obsidian Star, the Flames of the Fearless, and the Witcher’s Swords. Players will also be able to unlock skins for Geralt, Yennefer, and Triss through various events during the collaboration period. The announcement was revealed during a Special Preview Program live stream, with Sword of Convallaria available on Steam, iOS, and Android.
Undertale x Square Enix music and merchandise collaboration revealed. RPG Site
Square Enix and Toby Fox have announced a global collaboration for Undertale’s 10th anniversary featuring merchandise, albums, and more releasing worldwide. The collaboration begins with Chite De Chill, a new Chill Arrangement series from Square Enix featuring Undertale music, along with a Piano Arrangement Album from Yoko Shimomura. The Chitei De Chill album is available for pre-order in North America and the EU with expected shipping in February 2026. More products and details will be revealed on the official collaboration website, with mentions of new merchandise including apparel and mysterious items.
Scout joins Nongshim RedForce and returns to the LCK after nine years. Esports Insider
Nongshim RedForce has announced the signing of Korean mid laner Lee ‘Scout’ Ye-chan on a one-year contract for the 2026 LCK season, marking his return to the league after nine years in China’s LPL. Scout will share the starting position with Syun ‘Calix’ Hyun-bin, completing Nongshim RedForce’s 2026 lineup alongside top laner Kingen, support Lehends, ADC Taeyoon, and jungler Sponge. During his LPL tenure with EDward Gaming, LNG Esports, and JD Gaming, Scout won multiple LPL titles and the 2021 World Championship with EDG, though his performance dipped in 2025 as JD Gaming failed to qualify for Worlds. Scout and Nongshim RedForce are expected to make their debut on December 6 at the 2025 KeSPA Cup.
Gentle Mates unveils VALORANT roster for 2026. Esports Insider
French esports organisation Gentle Mates has unveiled its VALORANT roster for the 2026 VCT EMEA season, featuring four new signings alongside Patrik ‘Minny’ Hušek who has been with the team since December 2024. The roster includes Taranvir ‘bipo’ Singh, Conner ‘GLYPH’ Garcia, Martin ‘marteen’ Pátek, and team leader Patryk ‘starxo’ Kopczyński, who won VALORANT Champions in 2021 with Acend Club. GLYPH joins from North America after a top-four finish at VCT Ascension Americas with Withrop University, while marteen comes from a two-year stint with Karmine Corp where the team achieved top-eight placements at the Esports World Cup and VCT EMEA Stage 2. Gentle Mates returns to tier-one VALORANT after replacing KOI as a partner team, having been relegated in August after losing all five Group Stage matches in Stage 2, with the team making its debut at Monsters Reloaded 2025 on November 22-23.
Biggest releases this week
