Patch Notes #62 - weekly gaming digest
Welcome to the 62nd edition of Patch Notes. Let’s get this bad boy going.
This edition will cover the week from 2 March to 8 March.
What caught my attention
Pokopia launched to monstrous numbers and excellent vibes - more on that in the TLDR.
But personally, the highlight of my week was finally making it back home after being stuck in the UAE, seeing friends & family, and logging into World of Warcraft: Midnight.
I started playing WoW in December 2019. A colleague from Ubisoft - who became a close friend - couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that Warcraft 3 was my favourite game of all time, and I’d never touched WoW.
He fixed that. 2,500+ hours later, countless books, lore videos, WoW history content: it’s comfortably my second favourite game, and functions as pure comfort food.
The Silvermoon angle is personal. In Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne, the Blood Elves joined the Human alliance, so my Human armies always had Blood Elf units in them. That duality followed me into WoW. My main is a mage, and every expansion I still hesitate between Human and Blood Elf. Stormwind is an incredible city, Orgrimmar? Not so much… Seeing Silvermoon completely remade for Midnight hit differently because of that history.
I’ve been taking my absolute sweet time. Not flying - ground mount only. Every side quest. No rush for higher ilvl. Just soaking it in.
(Side note: back in 2017, I interviewed at Blizzard for a PR role focused on WoW. Didn’t make it past the first round - they wanted someone deeply familiar with the game. I understand them even better now.)
TLDR
Pokémon Pokopia launched to huge numbers with a post-apocalyptic world featuring haunted Pikachu dolls, dead-eyed Ditto-humans, and players vomiting water using the shoulder button instead of a watering can. (Eurogamer)
Slay the Spire 2 reached over 573,000 concurrent players on Steam, entering the top 20 most-played games ever. (GamesRadar)
Nintendo sued the U.S. government over Trump's tariffs, which delayed the Switch 2 pre-order, and demanded a refund with interest. (IGN)
Nagoshi Studio faces potential closure after NetEase pulled funding for Gang of Dragon, announced just three months ago. (VGC)
Resident Evil Requiem sold 5 million copies in its launch week, likely the series’ biggest launch ever. (VGC)
Biggest releases of the week
Rest of the news
Capcom removed a DRM system added to Resident Evil 4 Remake on Steam after players reported performance impacts. (Eurogamer)
Shigeru Miyamoto stated 40 years ago that games chasing realism were failures and Tom and Jerry’s cartoon reality fueled Nintendo’s early games. (GamesRadar)
Ratcheteer DX transitions from retro handheld to PC and Switch, mimicking the GameBoy to GameBoy Color shift. (GamesRadar)
A YouTube CRPG docuseries released a 3-hour retrospective on Ultima 8. (PC Gamer)
Hytale lead stated modding support comes partly from hiring community members to build a scrappy team. (PC Gamer)
A coder made Dreamcast-era Crazy Taxi cityscapes explorable in browsers as a winter project. (PC Gamer)
The Division 2 broke its concurrent Steam record during ten-year anniversary celebrations. (Eurogamer)
Kitfox Games CEO Tanya X. Short attributes success partly to hundreds of hours playing Civilization. (PC Gamer)
Marvel Rivals implemented Victim Compensation Protocol to restore competitive points lost to malicious match-losing and paid throwing. (GamesRadar)
Saber Interactive confirmed Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake remains in development. (Eurogamer)
Bungie plans to adjust Marathon’s Lux currency in a $10 bundle from 1,100 to 1,120 and make the game slightly easier in a patch next week. (IGN)
A Mongolian political party launched a CS2 tournament requiring Democratic Party membership. (Sheep Esports)
Razer collaborated with Sanrio and Overwatch on PC gear and skins including Kiriko Cinnamonroll, D.Va Melody, Lucio Keroppi, Widowmaker Kuromi, and Juno Hello Kitty. (GameSpot)
World of Warcraft revamped Silvermoon for Midnight. (PC Gamer)
Ousted Ashes of Creation director won a restraining order against Intrepid Studios board, denying mismanagement of funds or causing shutdown. (Eurogamer)
Pokémon TCG 151 cards including Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur increased in value after 30th anniversary celebrations. (IGN)
CS2 players in Germany must use CS X-ray Scanner for case openings from March 16 instead of keys. (Hotspawn)
A decades-old Diablo 2 easter egg became relevant again in Reign of the Warlock for loot hunting. (PC Gamer)
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 director revealed Rocket Town returns, Wutai is a main location, and Highwind airship is a large part. (GamesRadar)
Linnea, a Geo fae character, becomes playable in Genshin Impact after Luna VI update. (Siliconera)
The Pokémon Company criticized Trump administration’s use of Pokémon imagery in political memes, stating Pokémon is apolitical; Trump spokesman cited decade-old Clinton post. (PC Gamer)
2026 Honor of Kings Major League Spring removed teams Astar Esports, Alpha7 Esports, and Leviatán due to travel issues. (Esports Insider)
GreedFall: The Dying World trailer showcased continental conflict, endless war, and Malichor plague. (RPG Site)
Capcom released a 3-minute gameplay trailer for Onimusha: Way of the Sword at Capcom Spotlight. (RPG Site)
TinyBuild’s The King is Watching sold over 500,000 copies since July 2025 using Steam changes and a China strategy. (GamesIndustry.biz)
Nintendo seemingly leaked Mario Kart World content update suggesting fan-favorite mode return on Switch 2. (GamesRadar)
Marathon launch player numbers on PC are about half those of Server Slam. (VG247)
World of Warcraft: Midnight housing uses premium Hearthsteel currency requiring minimization of leftovers despite Blizzard’s prior statement. (PC Gamer)
Method partnered with SCAN Computers for World of Warcraft Midnight Season 1 Race to World First. (Esports Insider)
Kena: Bridge of Spirits launches on Switch 2 this spring. (Eurogamer)
Xbox boss stated Microsoft’s Project Helix next-gen console plays Xbox and PC games and leads in performance. (Eurogamer)
Oddin.gg 2025 esports betting review highlighted CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, VALORANT, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. (Esports Insider)
Sony tested PS5 dynamic pricing in 68 regions with varying prices and personalized sales. (Polygon)
Bandai Namco starts location tests mid-March for Biohazard RE:2 Arcade based on Resident Evil 2 Remake, releasing in Japan and Europe in 2026. (Siliconera)
World of Warcraft fans questioned $7.50 trees in Midnight housing decor, leading to discounts. (GamesRadar)
Nintendo announced a Direct for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie with new artwork featuring unexpected names. (Eurogamer)
Former Ubisoft developer stated Assassin’s Creed developer is hated by public and many internal devs but can make great games post-restructure. (GamesRadar)
Analyst stated Xbox hardware business could end if Project Helix fails. (GameSpot)
Gran Turismo cancelled World Series opening round in Abu Dhabi on March 28 due to Middle East instability. (Esports Insider)
League of Legends First Stand 2026 features teams, format, and schedule starting next week. (Esports Insider)
Team Vitality exited StarCraft II esports after two years. (Esports Insider)
Epic Games Store teased new Cyberpunk 2077 Fortnite cosmetics. (GameSpot)
Top Esports jungler naiyou is under LPL investigation for potential match-fixing in 2026 Winter Split playoffs. (Sheep Esports)
Fnatic confirmed academy efforts, new LEC coach, and maintained roster for Spring despite last playoffs finish. (Sheep Esports)
Capcom detailed online features for Mega Man Star Force: Legacy Collection on Switch. (Nintendo Life)
Blizzard will change Diablo 4 levelling pace for Lord of Hatred expansion on April 28. (Eurogamer)
Bandai Namco’s Sword Art Online: Echoes of Aincrad features a Death game mode deleting saves on death, launching July 10 on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC. (GamesRadar)
Diablo 4 Warlock casts demons like spells with expanded skill trees in Lord of Hatred. (PC Gamer)
BLAST Bounty CS2 tournament returns to Malta from January 11-24 2027 with revamped format and more LAN matches. (Esports Insider)
Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered released with Legacy of Kain: Ascendance on March 31. (GameSpot)
Pokémon Winds and Waves should bring back Pikachu’s Beach mini-game from Pokémon Yellow. (Polygon)
MindsEye studio laid off more staff with CEO blaming criminal activity for game failure. (Polygon)
Embark Studios is fixing Arc Raiders Discord integration bug exposing private DMs and friends data. (Eurogamer)
Shigeru Miyamoto forced Super Mario Bros 3’s Frog Suit inclusion despite its issues because it was fun. (GamesRadar)
Epic Games sued former contract worker identified as Fortnite leaker AdiraFN who leaked crossovers under NDA. (PC Gamer)
Highguard lead stated everyone has their own take on why the game failed; director admitted release happened due to time and money constraints. (GamesRadar)
Pokémon Winds and Waves hints may have been hiding in Scarlet and Violet, with fans theorizing possible unsolved mysteries and new Eeveelutions. (GamesRadar)
Assassin’s Creed Unity received 60fps update on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S with 4K support 12 years after launch. (GameSpot)
Capcom advanced Pragmata release to next month. (VGC)
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection launches next week on Switch 2 with bonus unlocks from prior titles and free DLC. (Nintendo Life)
Suikoden: The Anime trailer revealed October 2026 airing start by Konami. (RPG Site)
Pokémon TCG 2026 schedule includes Mega Evolution sets and anniversary celebrations. (IGN)
Pokémon Pokopia launched with its first limited-time event featuring Hoppip, Skiploom, and Jumpluff. (Eurogamer)
Google settled dispute with Epic Games by reducing Play Store in-app purchase commissions to 20%. (GamesIndustry.biz)
Valve re-released CS:GO on Steam but will not license tournaments for esports. (Esports Insider)
Apex Legends anti-cheat update targets third-party hardware devices manipulating controller inputs. (Esports Insider)
World of Warcraft: Midnight review highlights renewed devotion from RPG storytelling and varied questing. (GamesRadar)
Persona 5: The Phantom X version 3.3 adds Firecracker Yaoling “Rin” Li with Lunar New Year event. (RPG Site)
Witchcraft formed as spiritual successor to Los Ratones for EMEA Masters Winter 2026. (Hotspawn)
Riot, Tencent, and Punchdrunk launched a 120-minute Immersive Arcane live show in Shanghai exploring Zaun and Piltover. (Sheep Esports)
Riot Games released details on 2026 Riftbound expansions Unleashed, Vendetta, and Radiance. (Sheep Esports)
Uniqlo will sell Pokémon 30th anniversary shirts starting March 23 in Japan. (Siliconera)
Blizzard called Overwatch Season 1 the beginning of a comeback with returning fans. (GamesRadar)
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse is a 2D Action-Exploration game, not a roguelike despite Dead Cells developer heritage. (GamesRadar)
Research firm stated female players represent an overlooked growth opportunity in gaming. (VGC)
Marvel Rivals announced Path to Doomsday roadmap honoring Avengers movies with new content. (Eurogamer)
Shigeru Miyamoto compared 1980s game hidden secrets to pornography seeking stronger stimulation. (GamesRadar)
Crimson Desert devs admitted announcing 6.5 years early and aim to prove viability without over-promising. (GamesRadar)
Overwatch x NieR: Automata collab Project YoRHa features skins for Overwatch heroes per concept art. (Esports Insider)
Former Blizzard CCO Rob Pardo will keynote GDC Festival of Gaming. (GamesIndustry.biz)
Game Freak veteran stated Pokémon being a children’s game is a misunderstanding. (GamesRadar)
Japanese game developers report staff reductions via less hiring despite no mass layoffs. (VGC)
One Piece fans identified real-life location of the One Piece treasure buried 600m underwater by Oda. (GamesRadar)
Good Games Group acquired Humble Games, rebranded to Balor Games. (Gematsu)
Final Fantasy 11 locked another server due to overpopulation 24 years post-launch. (Eurogamer)
Remedy released new gameplay for melee-focused Control Resonant sequel. (VGC)
Crimson Desert PR confirmed console versions will be shown ahead of launch. (GamesRadar)
Riot Games’ Chris Greeley addressed 140-seat First Stand 2026 venue criticism. (Sheep Esports)
Call of Duty leaker TheGhostOfHope retired after Activision legal threat, with leaks deemed inaccurate. (GameSpot)
Assassin’s Creed boss updated on Hexe, Invictus, Jade; teased Black Flag remake; Shadows updates wind down; Unity gets 60fps patch. (VGC)
LEC Finals peaked at 735K viewers, four times the LCS peak. (Sheep Esports)
Ubisoft confirmed Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag remake without the ‘4’. (PC Gamer)
GDC 2026 trends include GTA 6 and the rise of AI. (GamesRadar)
Highguard’s failure shows past live service hits do not guarantee future success. (PC Gamer)
Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack adds two Virtual Boy and one GBA title on March 10 MAR10 Day. (Nintendo Life)
Bloomberg reported Sony Interactive Entertainment will stop releasing big PS5 single-player titles on PC. (Gematsu)
Indonesia Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka hosted MOONTON Games delegation and esports players on March 2. (Esports Insider)
Tencent stakes in U.S. gaming companies face security risk review ahead of Trump-Xi meeting. (GameSpot)
Koei Tecmo partnered with SpiralAI on Geppetto2 large language model for entertainment-AI experiences. (Eurogamer)
Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered Switch versions delayed to a later date. (Nintendo Life)
Capcom makes approximately half of sales on PC and expects the ratio to continue increasing. (PC Gamer)
Console Archives Nobunaga’s Ambition launched March 5 on PS5 and Switch 2. (Gematsu)
Panic and Shaun Inman launched Ratcheteer DX on Steam, Nintendo Switch, and Mac App Store. (RPG Site)
Cygames and Cygames Osaka released the Meet the Crew: Beatrix trailer for Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok. (Gematsu)
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