Patch Notes #72 - weekly gaming digest
Welcome to the 71st edition of Patch Notes.
This edition will cover the week from 08 June to 14 June.
Let’s get this bad boy going.
What caught my attention
Nintendo dropped a Direct this week and the discourse was split. For me it wasn’t even close. Fire Emblem is one of my favourite IPs and Three Houses sits in my top three Switch 1 games with Breath of the Wild and Mario Odyssey, so seeing Fortune’s Weave in detail had me locked in. September 17th can’t come fast enough. Might genuinely be my GOTY, mostly because I’ve never been a huge GTA guy. Xenoblade Genesis out of nowhere, Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake, Final Fantasy Resonance, Muramasa finally escaping PS Vita jail, Orbitals. Not even the full list. I’ll also finally play and finish Ocarina of Time, so there’s that.
TLDR
Xbox publishes “Next 100 Days: Xbox Reset” memo, planning major layoffs, budget cuts, and potential restructuring as a wholly-owned subsidiary. (Gematsu)
Sony is pulling back from PC which also means pulling back from China due to restrictive import regulations. (PC Gamer)
Nintendo of Europe to pay $40M fine for Joy-Con drift issues. (Game Developer)
Destiny 2 officially ends after 12 years of live service, with its final update drawing the biggest player spike in nearly two years. (Polygon)
Ubisoft closes studios in Winnipeg and Belgrade and cuts publishing roles worldwide, putting 380 jobs at risk. (GamesIndustry.biz)
Releases of the week
Rest of the news
Sony is pulling back from PC which also means pulling back from China due to restrictive import regulations. (PC Gamer)
Ubisoft says the original Rayman Legends is staying put and will not be replaced by the remake. (Nintendo Life)
Mega Man Star Force: Legacy Collection is getting a new update on 15 June 2026 to fix bugs and improve functionality. (Nintendo Life)
RLCS Paris Major Bundle crowdfunding has caused a stir with huge payouts after one of the most successful Rocket League esports tournaments. (Hotspawn)
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said there is more monetization of Xbox games happening on YouTube than at Microsoft. (IGN)
Microsoft is reportedly considering restructuring Xbox into its own wholly-owned subsidiary. (Eurogamer)
Crimson Desert has a community challenge inviting players to share videos for a chance to win a trip to South Korea. (Eurogamer)
Vanillaware reportedly wants more of its games on PC but it is up to the publishers. (PC Gamer)
Evo 2026 is struggling to attract as many competitors with year-over-year declines in participants for Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8. (Polygon)
Spyro: A Realm Beyond exists only because of its loud and consistent community of fans. (Eurogamer)
Resident Evil Veronica was the most popular announcement at Summer Game Fest and is the most wishlisted title on Steam. (Polygon)
Sim racing is flourishing while the casual racing scene is now largely concentrated in one series. (PC Gamer)
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis star Alix Wilton Regan is bringing back the classic version of Lara Croft. (Polygon)
Destiny 2 officially ends after 12 years of live service updates. (Polygon)
Ubisoft published a new Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced deep dive promising loads of new content. (IGN)
A massively ambitious The Witcher 3 mod aims to recreate its biggest cut questline with 12 new quests. (PC Gamer)
New Xbox boss wants new Fallout, Halo, and Elder Scrolls games ASAP. (Polygon)
Palworld lawsuit nears end with Nintendo reportedly poised to gain almost nothing. (VGC)
FF7 Remake trilogy’s ending was mapped out from the start according to director Naoki Hamaguchi. (VGC)
Capcom has shared technical details for the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Onimusha: Way of the Sword. (RPG Site)
ArenaNet announces the global launch date for Guild Wars Reforged on iOS and Android as 24 June. (RPG Site)
Splatoon 3 Version 11.2.0 update is out now with weapon adjustments and changes to X Battles. (Nintendo Life)
Square Enix details characters, gameplay systems, and purchase editions for Final Fantasy Resonance. (RPG Site)
Bilibili Gaming survive Team WE scare to reach MSI and LPL Grand Finals. (Sheep Esports)
Olivia Rodrigo will be the next Fortnite Festival Icon with a skin coming soon. (Hotspawn)
NetEase’s Blood Message impressed at Summer Game Fest with a demo featuring brutal combat. (Polygon)
NetEase’s Sea of Remnants gameplay preview shows a pirate game that already feels confused about its identity. (Polygon)
Yacht Club Games published a spoiler interview for Mina the Hollower discussing the full story. (GameSpot)
Atlus has officially announced Persona 6 with details on the next mainline RPG. (IGN)
Guild Wars 3 timeline is set 20 years after the series began but will not feature an actual storied guild war. (Eurogamer)
Flying Wild Hog explain how they are bringing Lara back in Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis. (VGC)
20 minutes with Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis left reviewers unconvinced but keen to play more. (VGC)
Fate/Grand Order will have a massive Unity 6 update in mid-June 2026 requiring up to 30 GB of space. (Siliconera)
Nintendo temporarily suspends sales of the multi-region Switch 2 in Japan after suspected hoarding. (VGC)
Hanwha Life Esports qualifies for their first MSI after a 3-1 victory over T1. (Hotspawn)
Gothic Remake sales top 500,000 units one week after launch. (Gematsu)
Star Fox 64 Art Director Takaya Imamura says the remake’s visuals bring tears to his eyes. (Nintendo Life)
Atelier Karia: The Night Kingdom & the Guide of Memories first look trailer introduces characters and gameplay. (RPG Site)
Fable gets a 30-minute long gameplay demo video titled Build An Extraordinary Life. (RPG Site)
Paramount Games says Yellowstone and Tulsa King video games are priorities. (IGN)
Narrative-driven CRPG Vampire: The Masquerade - Eternal Whispers announced for PC. (RPG Site)
Low-poly turn-based RPG Entropy set to release in Early Access on 18 August with a demo available now. (RPG Site)
Control Resonant’s shift to an Action RPG is shaping it up to be an even better game than the first. (RPG Site)
Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis developers used gen AI to get the right answers faster. (Eurogamer)
Xbox says some Forza Horizon 6 players are losing their save files and a potential fix is rolling out. (VGC)
Sega is beefing up the Sonic Team on its 35th anniversary by hiring across multiple key roles. (Eurogamer)
Final Fantasy 7 Remake director says RPGs need more player choice to stop players just watching streams. (VGC)
Playstack CEO says new owner will keep it separate from its games media brands including GameSpot and Fandom. (GamesIndustry.biz)
Arknights: Endfield previews the next update in new Back to the North trailer. (RPG Site)
Official LEC Spring Split 2026 broadcasts captured just 30% of total audience amid year-on-year viewership decline. (Sheep Esports)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl scene remains small, toxic, and passionate according to GENESIS X3 champion Chia. (Esports Insider)
Zelda’s Great Deku Tree Lego set is retiring and nearly sold out. (Polygon)
Fable’s reputation system can be bypassed with enough gold. (PC Gamer)
Pokemon Go data was used to help train AI systems being developed for military drones. (PC Gamer)
Expedition 33 Fangamer merch includes callbacks to in-game memes and fan favorite costumes. (Polygon)
Phantom Blade: Zero devs say they do not think about competition with GTA 6 and focus on polish. (PC Gamer)
Xbox chief strategy officer Matthew Ball advocates for in-game ads to help save gaming. (GameSpot)
Final Fantasy Revelation will contain even more minigames than Rebirth according to director Naoki Hamaguchi. (Nintendo Life)
Valor Mortis delayed to October because there are too many games releasing in September. (Polygon)
Ocarina of Time remake revives a Zelda dream from a 2011 tech demo. (Polygon)
FF7 Revelation’s director Naoki Hamaguchi discusses ending the trilogy and fan feedback. (VGC)
Shadow of the Colossus creator Fumito Ueda says he feels fortunate people want to be in his worlds after fans searched for a final secret. (Eurogamer)
New screenshots for Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World detail characters, story, world, monsters, and DLC. (RPG Site)
Chained Echoes for Switch is getting a new physical Complete Edition release via Super Rare Games. (RPG Site)
Hades II is getting another Hotfix 4 Patch update soon. (Nintendo Life)
After an hour with Stranger Than Heaven’s combat veteran Yakuza fans are in for a shock. (VGC)
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero and Trails to Azure for PS5 and Switch 2 launch 10 September. (Gematsu)
Destiny 2’s final update causes the biggest jump in players in nearly two years. (Eurogamer)
WoW Classic players are in an arms race against annoying RMT casinos. (PC Gamer)
Xbox says hardware pricing boom represents a great opportunity for games streaming. (GamesIndustry.biz)
Xbox announces business reset amid reports of layoffs and studio closures. (Game Developer)
Ubisoft is closing studios in Winnipeg and Belgrade and cutting publishing roles worldwide with 380 jobs at risk. (GamesIndustry.biz)
1666: Amsterdam dev apologizes for using AI in their game after players suspected it. (PC Gamer)
Hideo Kojima and Geoff Keighley’s apparent divorce is trending online. (GameSpot)
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma and executive vice president Matt Booty publish staff memo Next 100 Days: Xbox Reset. (Gematsu)
Halo 1 Remake lets players toggle third-person perspective via a Skull modifier. (GameSpot)
Nintendo showcases every Direct game in a new infographic. (Nintendo Life)
Valve ends physical Steam gift cards due to widespread scams. (Polygon)
Xbox console exclusives are strictly about console releases and games will still show up on PC. (PC Gamer)
Mario Rabbids creator’s Bradley the Badger signed by Focus Entertainment. (VGC)
Xenoblade Chronicles 2, DE, and 3 Nintendo Switch 2 Editions announced with Xenoblade DE now available. (RPG Site)
Elden Ring Tarnished Edition digital pre-orders are now live for $79.99. (RPG Site)
Xbox will try and do more exclusives once the business is healthy says Asha Sharma. (IGN)
Kingdom Hearts Switch Cloud Versions discontinued from sale but remain playable until June 2027. (Nintendo Life)
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch 2 Upgrade affects Torna expansion. (Siliconera)
Toys for Bob studio head says it took many mini miracles to buy independence from Activision after a corporate mandate. (PC Gamer)
Nintendo wants players to take on the DK Challenge. (Vooks)
The Fable reboot won’t have horns and haloes because of its nuanced and complex take on morality. (PC Gamer)
Echoes of Aincrad: Sword Art Online demo launches 15 June for PC and 16 June for PS5 and Xbox Series. (Gematsu)
Gears of War: E-Day is making big changes to the active reload mechanic. (Eurogamer)
Halo: Campaign Evolved hands-on leaves reviewer wanting full remakes of the original trilogy and Reach. (Eurogamer)
Capcom says Resident Evil - Code: Veronica remake is third-person and taking its cue from Resident Evil 2. (Eurogamer)
Splatoon Raiders Direct set for later this month with themed Joy-Con 2 on the way. (Vooks)
The $55bn acquisition of Electronic Arts is not a usual leveraged buyout. (GamesIndustry.biz)
Dragon’s Dogma 2 getting Nintendo Switch 2 port and Dark Arisen DLC later this year. (Eurogamer)
League of Legends Patch 26.13 preview includes runes and items effect adjustments. (Hotspawn)
Fumito Ueda says Gen Atlas means more than one definition. (Eurogamer)
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World comes to Switch 1 and 2 on 3 December. (Nintendo Life)
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave’s world map is partially inspired by medieval Spain. (Eurogamer)
Naughty Dog founder Jason Rubin speaks on losing Crash Bandicoot and abysmal Universal Interactive partnership. (Eurogamer)
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma teases radically different business models and hints at potentially cheaper console. (Eurogamer)
Xbox CEO unsure whether Activision Blizzard merger is paying off. (Game Developer)
Deltarune Chapter 5 release date revealed as 24 June 2026. (IGN)
Jujutsu Kaisen Rumble: Survivaton revealed as collab from the Vampire Survivors team. (IGN)
Toby Fox shares new development update on Deltarune Chapter 6. (Nintendo Life)
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse preorders include an Alucard-themed bonus costume. (GameSpot)
Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, and Persona stole the show at Summer Game Fest 2026. (Polygon)
Everything known about Final Fantasy 7 Revelation the Remake trilogy’s last act. (PC Gamer)
Smash TOs retract L4st sexual assault allegations and MenaRD wins a Dominican Republic SF6 tourney. (Esports Insider)
Nintendo just justified that controversial Switch price hike. (Polygon)
Nintendo of Europe to pay $40M fine for Joy-Con drift issues. (Game Developer)
Rhythm Heaven Groove’s Multiplayer Modes look like a game night essential. (Nintendo Life)
Overwatch’s next hero is Shion a damage-class character with Hashimoto ties launching in season 3. (Polygon)
Stellar Blade swings onto Switch 2 in 2026 with motion controls. (Vooks)
Rise Of The Tomb Raider gets surprise release on Switch 2 today as 20 Year Celebration edition. (Nintendo Life)
Touhou Scarlet Devil Remake announced for September 2026 on Nintendo Switch family. (Siliconera)
Star Fox developer revealed as American studio Velan Studios. (VGC)
Xbox’s chief strategy officer says it is currently hard to meet console demand. (Eurogamer)
Xenoblade Genesis announced during Nintendo Direct coming in 2027 to the Nintendo Switch 2. (Eurogamer)
Pokémon Pokopia is diving beneath the waves in a free update and the first of three paid DLC releases. (Eurogamer)
007: First Light sales hit 3M in less than two weeks. (Game Developer)
A Plague Tale developer Asobo does not believe smaller teams need to use gen-AI to compete. (Eurogamer)
Xbox Project Helix seems to be targeting a Holiday 2027 release according to a new memo. (IGN)