Patch Notes #13 - weekly gaming digest

Welcome to the 13th edition of Patch Notes, let’s get this bad boy going.

This edition will cover the week from 03 March to March 09.

What caught my attention this week

The Balatro Timeline by its creator, LocalThunk

Balatro started as a hobby in December 2021 when a developer initially used vacation time to create a poker roguelike without commercial goals—positive feedback from friends who played for hours motivated expansion. The project gained traction when streamers like Dan Gheesling and Northernlion noticed it, leading to publishing interest and a partnership with Playstack, transforming it into a full-time career.

The path to launch involved challenges, including health issues from pressure as the game gained popularity. After multiple demos and player feedback, Balatro launched on February 20, 2024, receiving critical acclaim with ratings over 90 on Metacritic and OpenCritic. This passion project shocked everyone by selling 50,000 copies within hours of launch and 119,000 by day's end. The developer remarked, "The revenue was over $600,000 within hours, far more than I've made in my entire life."

Biggest news of the week

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 announced, releasing July 11. Shinobi602 Twitter

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 launches on July 11 for PS4/PS5, Xbox, Switch, and PC at $50. This remake features upgraded 4K visuals, a new soundtrack, and classic parks like Foundry, alongside new locations, including an abandoned waterpark. It introduces new professional skaters with unique tricks and updated styles. Players can customize further with expanded Create-a-Skater and Create-a-Park modes, plus compete in the new HAWK mode. Deluxe and Collector's Editions are priced at $70 and $130.

PlayStation Beta program announced. Shinobi602 Twitter

PlayStation has launched a new Beta Program, allowing players to register for early access to various PlayStation features and games. The program, announced on March 4, 2025, will let participants test upcoming PS5 console features and beta versions of selected PlayStation games on both PS5 and PC platforms.

Players can sign up for future PlayStation beta programs, which will allow them to test participating PS5 and PC games, new PS5 console features, and more.

Link here: https://t.co/BFRyhjwOgQ

Split Fiction | Reviews. Shinobi602 Twitter

Another Josef Fares masterclass.

MC: 90

OC: 91

Monster Hunter Wilds surpasses 8 million units sold in 3 days and is the fastest Capcom Game to do so. IGN

Monster Hunter Wilds has sold over 8 million units in three days, becoming Capcom's fastest-selling game. It surpasses previous entries with Monster Hunter World shipping 5 million in 2018 and Monster Hunter Rise 4 million in 2021. The game had over one million concurrent players at launch, making it the 7th most-played game on Steam, ahead of Cyberpunk 2077, contributing to Steam hitting 40 million concurrent players. Critics say the game "smooths off rougher corners" of the series but some believe it's not challenging enough. Overall, the franchise has sold over 108 million units since its 2004 debut on PlayStation 2.

Legendary 1990s publisher Acclaim is back from the dead, and a pro wrestler famous for clobbering people with a guitar is on its advisory board. PCGamer

Acclaim, a video game publisher from the 1980s and '90s, has announced its return after going bankrupt in 2004. The revived company aims to support indie developers with funding, marketing, and PR while revitalizing classic franchises. Led by CEO Alex Josef, Acclaim has an advisory board, including wrestler Jeff Jarrett, who has ties to Acclaim's WWF and TNA Wrestling games. Backed by Phil Toronto from VaynerFund, the company faces scepticism about the brand's current value but hopes to deliver meaningful support to indie developers. Acclaim claims (lol) to have signed exciting indie titles to unveil soon.

What's the difference between Grand Theft Auto 5 Enhanced and Legacy? PCGamer

GTA 5 Enhanced, released on March 4, 2025, is the upgraded version of GTA 5 Legacy. It features new gameplay elements and graphics improvements for both GTA Online and Story Mode, including Hao's Special Works auto shop, new vehicles, and technical enhancements for better hardware performance.

PC players can access GTA 5 Enhanced for free if they own GTA 5 Legacy; it appears on Steam and will be added to your library automatically. New buyers will receive both editions. Note that there are differences to consider when transferring save files between versions.

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 dominates 2025 BAFTA Games Awards nominations. VG Chronicles

Senua’s Saga leads the 2025 BAFTA Games Awards with 11 nominations, followed by Astro Bot and Still Wakes the Deep with eight each. Notable nominees include Thank Goodness You’re Here! (seven), Black Myth: Wukong (six), and Helldivers 2 (five). The awards spotlight various games across categories like best game, animation, artistic achievement, and performance, with many first-time nominees reflecting industry talent growth.

This year features a blend of major AAA titles and indie successes, including Animal Well, Balatro, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and Lego Horizon Adventures. Big RPGs like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Metaphor: ReFantazio received fewer nominations than anticipated due to category restrictions. The ceremony will be held on April 8, 2025, in London and streamed live. BAFTA leaders celebrate the nominated games as evidence of the industry's resilience and innovation.

Nintendo says the latest legal win against piracy is "significant" for the "entire games industry". EuroGamer

Nintendo has secured a significant legal victory against piracy, which is seen as a major win for the entire games industry. The company successfully defeated French file-sharing site Dstorage, ensuring that European file-sharing companies must remove illegal game copies when requested or face hefty fines. This ruling reinforces that platforms like 1fichier.com cannot be safe havens for pirated content.

This victory is part of Nintendo's broader campaign against game piracy, which includes shutting down the Switch emulator Yuzu and pursuing legal action against individuals distributing pirated Nintendo games. Nintendo continues to advocate for legitimate game development and urges consumers to avoid pirated copies to ensure the best gaming experience on authentic Nintendo hardware.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 preview - This may be the standout RPG of 2025. RPG Site

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is set to be a standout RPG of 2025 from the French studio Sandfall Interactive. This debut title captivates players with its unique world, lore, engaging combat, and stunning graphics. Following Gustav and Expedition 33, players confront the Paintress in a world inspired by Belle Époque France, infused with fantasy elements akin to Final Fantasy and Lost Odyssey.

The demo features impressive visuals and a classic world map teeming with secrets, evoking nostalgia for PlayStation and SNES RPGs. The combat system stands out, blending mechanics from classics like Final Fantasy and The Legend of Dragoon with modern innovations. Each character boasts unique skill trees and abilities for a deeply engaging experience. Turn-based combat is enhanced by an AP system and quick-time events, providing an action-based feel. If the full game retains this quality, it could emerge as one of the best turn-based RPGs in recent years.

Keiji Inafune left LEVEL-5 in mid-2024; Level-5 Osaka office was established to take over LeveL5 concept operations. Gematsu

In mid-2024, game producer Keiji Inafune left Level-5, causing significant changes. Level-5 opened a new Osaka Office to manage operations previously led by Inafune. Following his exit, Fantasy Life: The Girl Who Steals Time was restructured to enhance features and mechanics. Set for release on May 21, it will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam. New features include open-world exploration, parkour actions, and improved mechanics. The game will also support multi-platform play, cross-save, and cross-play for a seamless experience.

Suikoden Star Leap is the first new Suikoden in over a decade, and it's a mobile game. GameSpot

Konami has announced Suikoden Star Leap, the first new title in the series in over a decade. This free-to-play mobile game for iOS and Android follows a silent protagonist, the village chief's son, on a quest to restore peace after an attack. It features 108 recruitable characters and pixel-art graphics. Set between Suikoden V and I, the first chapter highlights Odessa Silverberg. While no release date is confirmed, the Suikoden I & II HD Remaster will launch on March 6, offering quality-of-life improvements like adjustable battle speeds and auto-saves.

Civilization 7 will improve its much-criticised UI across multiple future updates. EuroGamer

Firaxis has released a roadmap for Civilization 7, focusing on improving its criticized UI through future updates. Update 1.1.0 is now available, adding the Bermuda Triangle natural wonder and UI polish. Update 1.1.1 arrives on March 25, introducing Mount Everest and more UI enhancements. These updates address community feedback to make UI interactions more intuitive and improve map readability.

In April, update 1.2.0 will add multiplayer teams, new resource types, and a "one more turn" option in the Modern Age. Future updates will include modding tools, more map sizes, AI improvements, and further UI updates. Firaxis has committed to supporting Civilization 7 for years, emphasizing player feedback in shaping the game's future.

Neil Druckmann says, 'Don't Bet on' there being a The Last of Us part 3. IGN

Neil Druckmann, the creator of The Last of Us, has hinted that there might not be a Part 3 of the game series. In an interview with Variety, Druckmann suggested that fans shouldn't expect another instalment, stating, "Don't bet on there being more of 'Last of Us.' This could be it."

Naughty Dog is currently focused on their new project, Intergalactic, which was announced at The Game Awards last December. With the studio's attention on this space-themed game, it's unlikely that The Last of Us Part 3 will be developed anytime soon. However, fans can still look forward to the second season of The Last of Us TV series, airing on April 13 on Max.

Report: Sony cutting jobs at Visual Arts and Malaysia support studios. Game Developer

Sony is laying off staff at its Visual Arts and PlayStation Studios Malaysia, causing widespread redundancies and project cancellations. Current and former employees have expressed sadness and support on LinkedIn. This follows prior layoffs and studio closures, including canceled live-service projects and the shutdown of Firewalk and Neon Koi studios. Under new president and CEO Hideaki Nishino, Sony aims to "maximize synergies" and focus on technology and creativity to grow the PlayStation community and deliver innovative experiences.

Dynasty Warriors Origins: A Hidden Success Despite Chart Absence. Genki Twitter

Dynasty Warriors Origins did not appear in the January Circana chart, as Koei Tecmo only reports physical sales data. However, the game has already sold over 1 million copies, so it is selling very well.

Shuhei Yoshida played a significant role in bringing us Astro Bot! Genki Twitter

Head of Team Asobi Nicolas Doucet emailed Shuhei directly asking to move to Japan. Shuhei agreed immediately. He also supported Team Asobi as they went from an R&D team to a GOTY studio!

There is a lot of misinformation about Naoki Yoshida “stepping down from the board of directors” at Square Enix. Genki Twitter

There is a lot of misinformation about Naoki Yoshida “stepping down from the board of directors” at Square Enix

While his title is no longer “Director” in Square Enix’s executive restructure, he is still on the newly formed “Executive Management Committee,” which is the new management leadership team in charge of enhancing corporate value and growth and formulating and executing business plans.

https://jp.square-enix.com/company/en/news/files/9ac53f2f381de8e15cecedaae031d93e.pdf

Shin Megami Tensei, Like a Dragon Propel Sega to Metacritic’s 2024 Publisher Throne VG Chronicles

Sega topped Metacritic’s 15th annual Game Publisher Rankings, surpassing Capcom (2023’s winner) and Aksys Games. The ranking was based on game quality, with Metaphor: ReFantazio, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth contributing to Sega’s success.

Rankings were determined using Metascore averages, good/bad review percentages, and the number of top-rated games (90+ score). Only publishers with five or more releases (excluding mobile) were considered.

Top 3 Publishers of 2024:

1️⃣ Sega – 82.9 avg. Metascore (Last year: 9th)

2️⃣ Capcom – 82.1 avg. Metascore (Last year: 1st)

3️⃣ Aksys Games – 78.8 avg. Metascore (Last year: 7th)

Sony ranked 4th, Microsoft 9th, while Nintendo placed 22nd (last topped in 2014).

Sega promises fewer new games but deeper investments in Sonic, Atlus, and Like a Dragon. VG Chronicles

Sega plans to release fewer games next fiscal year but will invest more in core franchises like Sonic, Atlus, and Like a Dragon. The company aims to strengthen its studios through hiring and mergers. Sega released over seven titles this year, including Super Monkey Ball: Banana Rumble and Sonic X Shadow Generations. Upcoming titles include Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds and Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, plus revivals of IPs like Virtua Fighter and Crazy Taxi. Sega expects steady revenue from repeat sales and new free-to-play games.

The Developer of Until Dawn's PS5 remake is "effectively closed" - report. GameSpot

Ballistic Moon, developer of the Until Dawn remake, is "effectively closed" after failing to secure funding or a publisher for its next game. Only founders and a few others remain. Founded in 2020, the studio released the remake in 2024 but received a lukewarm response. Many employees were laid off in September and December despite attempts to find new projects. It's unclear if a Until Dawn sequel is developing, but Ballistic Moon is likely not involved. The remake is available on PC and PS5, with a movie adaptation releasing next month.

RoboCop: Rogue City is getting a standalone expansion and you can play as Alex Murphy. EuroGamer

RoboCop: Rogue City is launching a standalone expansion, Unfinished Business, this summer on Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. Developed by Teyon, this follows the positive reception of the original game from late 2023.

In Unfinished Business, players continue as RoboCop, aiming for the top of Old Detroit's Omni Tower, now taken over by elite mercenaries. The expansion features new weapons, brutal finishing moves, and intense flashback missions where players can embody RoboCop's former self, Alex Murphy. More details will come closer to the release date.

Amazon Prime members get 20 free games in March. GameSpot

Amazon Prime Gaming is offering 20 free PC games in March, including Saints Row: The Third Remastered and Mafia II: Definitive Edition. Subscribers can claim these games and keep them forever, even if their subscription expires. The lineup features a mix of classic open-world, fantasy, and puzzle games.

Additional games will be available throughout the month, such as Endling: Extinction is Forever on 13 March, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood on 20 March, and Deus Ex: Invisible War on 27 March. Prime subscribers can also access games via the Prime Gaming Luna channel, including WRC Generations: Fully Loaded Edition and Overcooked 2.

Discord ‘in talks to become a public company’. VG Chronicles

Discord is reportedly in early talks of going public, potentially launching an IPO this year. Founded in 2015 by Jason Citron, Discord has grown popular among gamers for its ease of use and game integration. The platform has expanded to support thousands of communities, replacing traditional web forums.

The decision to go public follows a market shift after Donald Trump's election, making it more favorable for tech giants. Discord was last valued at $15 billion2. The company has also integrated its services with PlayStation and Xbox consoles, enhancing cross-platform communication.

Assassin's Creed Shadows gets a new 20-minute video showcasing castle gameplay and PS5 Pro support. RPG Site

Ubisoft released a 20-minute gameplay video showcasing Nijo Palace's infiltration. The game features dual protagonists Naoe (stealth-focused) and Yasuke (combat-heavy). It offers diverse playstyles, castle raids, and recruitable allies.

For PS5 Pro, the game includes extended ray tracing, which enhances reflections and lighting. It supports 2160p at 60 FPS in Performance Mode and 30 FPS with enhanced visuals in Fidelity Mode. Assassin’s Creed Shadows launches on March 20 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

The Pokémon Company and Honda have produced a life-sized motorbike based on a Pokemon. VG Chronicles

The Pokémon Company and Honda unveiled a life-sized motorbike modeled after Koraidon, the star of Pokémon Scarlet. This concept bike, resembling Koraidon's transformation ability in the games, will be showcased at Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama in Tokyo from March 7 to 9. This follows last year's collaboration featuring Miraidon from Pokémon Violet.

Though non-functional, the bikes mimic the Pokémon's size and weight. Their future after the display remains uncertain; they could potentially move to Pokémon Center stores. This exhibit is part of a month-long event for Pokémon Day, which announced new games and episodes during Pokémon Presents.

Metroid Dread studio's latest is Blades of Fire, a brutal blacksmithing action game with a cruel Dark Souls core. EuroGamer

Blades of Fire, MercurySteam's latest game, is a brutal action adventure with Souls-like elements and a deep blacksmithing system. Players control Aran, a warrior wielding a forge hammer to craft weapons and affect combat against various enemies. The punishing combat requires strategic weapon choices, and a traffic-light system shows enemy vulnerabilities. 

With its chunky aesthetic, brutal combat similar to God of War, and a unique forging mechanic, Blades of Fire challenges players to adapt. While frustrating, the difficulty offers rewarding depth. Releasing on May 22 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, the game showcases MercurySteam’s creative independence.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows ‘Dual Paths: Naoe and Yasuke walkthrough video; PS5 Pro enhancements detailed. Gematsu

Ubisoft has released a 20-minute gameplay walkthrough for Assassin’s Creed Shadows, showcasing dual protagonists Naoe and Yasuke, each with distinct stealth and combat approaches in Nijo Palace. The game features castle takeovers, recruitable allies, and a progression system.

On PS5 Pro, it supports 2160p upscaled resolution, 60 FPS, and extended ray tracing. It is set to launch on 20 March 2025, on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Mac, and Luna.

50% of all Steam users in February were Chinese-speaking. EuroGamer

In February 2025, Chinese-speaking users comprised 50% of Steam's player base, following a 20.88% rise in Simplified Chinese-speaking users. This increase is partly due to the Chinese New Year and the success of games like Black Myth: Wukong and Mecha Break. English-speaking users made up nearly 24% of the base. With upcoming releases like Mecha Break's full version and more Chinese-developed games, rising Chinese-speaking users will likely persist. However, political tensions between China and the US impact the industry, affecting companies like NetEase and Tencent.

Monster Hunter Wilds has the most significant physical launch of any PS5 game in Japan. EuroGamer

Monster Hunter Wilds had the largest physical launch for a PS5 game in Japan, selling 601,179 copies in its first week. While this is less than previous Monster Hunter games, it achieved 8 million copies sold in three days, making it Capcom's fastest-selling game, reflecting a trend toward digital sales.

The release boosted PS5 hardware sales with 108,978 units sold. Moreover, Monster Hunter Wilds surpasses the lifetime sales of numerous other Capcom titles, further increasing PS5 rentals and sales of cheese naans in Japan.

Apex Legends and Titanfall studio reportedly cancels unannounced FPS. EuroGamer

Respawn Entertainment, known for Apex Legends and Titanfall, has cancelled an unannounced first-person multiplayer shooter. Per a LinkedIn post by former production coordinator Emilee Evans, this "incubation project" was in development for a year but was recently scrapped. While details are limited, it was expected to be a multiplayer FPS. This follows previous reports of Respawn's cancelled projects, including a Titanfall universe game and a Star Wars Mandalorian game.

Biggest releases this week