Patch Notes #7 - weekly gaming digest
Welcome to the 7th edition of Patch Notes, let’s get this bad boy going.
This edition will cover the week from 20 January to 26 January.
What caught my attention this week
The Xbox games show was pretty cool. Ninja Gaiden 2 Remake + Ninja Gaiden 4 look very cool.
Oh, and Clair Obsur: Expedition 33 is probably a game I am getting on day 1 (on PlayStation 5, obv)
Biggest news of the week
EA blames ‘underperformance’ of Dragon Age and EA FC25, as it lowers forecast. - VG Chronicles
Electronic Arts (EA) has lowered its revenue forecast for the fiscal year, citing the underperformance of Dragon Age: The Veilguard and EA Sports FC 25. Initially expecting mid-single-digit growth from its live service games, EA now predicts a mid-single-digit decline, mainly due to a slowdown in FC 25 during Christmas. In October, Dragon Age: The Veilguard engaged around 1.5 million players, nearly half of EA’s expectations. Consequently, EA expects net bookings of around $2.21 billion for Q3 and an adjusted range of $7-7.15 billion for the fiscal year, down from $7.5-7.8 billion. EA CEO Andrew Wilson remains optimistic about long-term growth, projecting a return to growth in FY26. CFO Stuart Canfield echoed this confidence, emphasizing the balance between investment and operational discipline.
Dragon Age: The Veilguard launched for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in October, with the game's director, Corine Busche, recently leaving BioWare for another opportunity. Additionally, EA Sports FC 25 underwent a significant mid-season gameplay overhaul, addressing many community requests.
Capcom's hoping to make the recommended specs for Monster Hunter Wilds less monstrous thanks to post-beta performance improvements - PC Gamer
Capcom plans to lower the hardware recommendations for Monster Hunter Wilds after improving performance during development. Initially, the recommended GPU was expected to deliver 60 fps at 1080p on medium settings with frame generation enabled. However, recent performance fixes have led Capcom to consider reducing these requirements.
Additionally, Capcom is exploring the possibility of releasing a standalone hardware benchmark tool, though it's not confirmed yet. The improvements align with Capcom's statements since November, addressing performance issues faced during the Wilds beta.
Game Pass adds Sniper Elite: Resistance, Eternal Strands, Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, and more in late January - Gematsu
Microsoft has announced new titles coming to Game Pass from late January to early February, including Sniper Elite: Resistance, Eternal Strands, and Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector, among others. Here's a quick rundown of the key updates:
Available Today
Lonely Mountain: Snow Riders - (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S)
Coming Soon (January 22)
Flock - (Console)
Gigantic: Rampage Edition - (Cloud, Console, PC)
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess - (Console)
Magical Delicacy - (Console)
Tchia - (Xbox Series X|S)
The Case of the Golden Idol - (Console)
Starbound - (Cloud, Console)
January 28
Eternal Strands - (Cloud, Console, PC)
Orcs Must Die! Deathtrap - (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S)
January 29
Shady Part of Me - (Cloud, Console, PC)
January 30
Sniper Elite: Resistance - (Cloud, Console, PC)
January 31
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector - (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S)
February 4
Far Cry New Dawn - (Cloud, Console, PC)
Games Leaving January 31
Anuchard
Broforce Forever
Darkest Dungeon
Death’s Door
Maquette
EA Origin to shut down in April 2025 - Game Industry
EA Origin will shut down on April 17, 2025, due to Microsoft ceasing support for 32-bit software. Players must download and install the EA app, which requires a 64-bit version of Windows. Games and save data will transfer automatically for those with cloud saves enabled, but manual data transfer is necessary for titles without cloud save support.
Origin launched in June 2011, and the EA app, introduced in October 2022, will now fully replace it. EA had planned to gradually phase out Origin.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II post-launch roadmap trailer reveals free updates and expansions beginning Spring - RPG Site
Warhorse Studios has released a new post-launch roadmap trailer for Kingdom Come: Deliverance II. The trailer showcases free updates and expansions that will arrive throughout 2025.
The game will launch on February 4, 2025, on PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, and PC. Free updates for all players will include:
Barbers feature for character customization
Hardcore Mode for a more significant challenge
Horse Racing to hone mounted skills
Paid content through the Expansion Pass will be released in three sets starting this summer:
Brushes with Death (Summer): A thrilling quest assisting an enigmatic artist
Legacy of the Forge (Autumn): Exploring Henry’s roots and mastering blacksmithing
Mysteria Ecclesiae (Winter): A covert mission in the Sedlec Monastery
The Expansion Pass content will include the Kingdom Come: Deliverance II Gold Edition, featuring the Gallant Huntsman Kit and all three story expansions.
Looks like Horizon's unannounced MMO has been quietly cancelled - Eurogamer
Sony's unannounced Horizon MMO, reportedly in development at NCSoft, has been quietly cancelled. The project, codenamed "Project H," was part of a strategic partnership between Sony and NCSoft to expand beyond console gaming. However, a feasibility review and several other NCSoft projects led to the cancellation.
This news follows reports of Sony cancelling other live service games, including titles from Days Gone developer Bend and Bluepoint. Despite this setback, Guerrilla Games is still working on a multiplayer Horizon project.
Marvel Snap Back Online After TikTok Ban, Devs Searching for New Publisher to Stop It Happening Again - IGN
Marvel Snap is back online in the U.S. after being banned alongside TikTok due to national security concerns. The developer, Second Dinner, is seeking a new publisher to prevent future takedowns. This marks the "start of a new era" for the game. TikTok, owned by ByteDance, also owns Marvel Snap publisher Nuverse, which led to the game's temporary removal.
Marvel Snap, a fast-paced trading card game featuring Marvel superheroes and villains, was well-received upon its 2022 release. IGN rated it 8/10 for its bold ideas and deep gameplay.
Second Dinner is working on bringing more services in-house and will continue updating players with more information.
11% of game developers surveyed by GDC were laid off in the past year - VG Chronicles
GDC's latest annual State of the Game Industry survey reveals that 11% of game developers were laid off in the past year, up from 7% the previous year. Furthermore, 41% of respondents said they were impacted by job cuts, an increase from 35% in the last year's report.
The survey, which included over 3,000 game developers, highlighted that 29% knew colleagues who lost their jobs, 18% said staff in other teams or departments were laid off, and 4% reported that their studios had shut down over the past year.
Top reasons for layoffs included restructuring (22%), declining revenue (18%), and market shifts/industry trends (15%).
An estimated 14,600 workers were laid off in 2024, compared to 10,500 in 2023 and 8,500 in 2022.
New PlayStation Plus Game Catalog titles have been released, including God of War Ragnarök - VG Chronicles
January's PlayStation Plus Game Catalog titles are now available for claim. The new releases include:
God of War Ragnarök
Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name
Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand
SD Gundam Battle Alliance
Sayonara Wild Hearts
Anno: Mutationem
Orcs Must Die 3
Citizen Sleeper
Poker Club
PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers can access classics like Indiana Jones, the Staff of Kings, and Medievil 2.
This month's PlayStation Plus Essential games are Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Remastered, and The Stanley Parable: Ultra Deluxe.
Sony has also cancelled two unannounced live-service PlayStation games, one of which was believed to be a God of War game.
Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition - Official Reveal Trailer - IGN
FireFly Studios has developed an enhanced version of the classic real-time strategy game. In this new edition, players can use strategic tactics to build their empires precisely to their specifications. The game features all-new units, improved graphics, new AI opponents, additional campaigns, skirmish and co-op modes, larger maps, and more exciting updates. It will launch on July 15 for PC via Steam, and a demo is currently available.
Warner’s games boss is leaving following disappointing Multiversus and Suicide Squad launches - VG Chronicles
David Haddad, president of Warner Bros. Interactive, is stepping down after 12 years with the company following the disappointing launches of Multiversus and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.
Despite being credited for building iconic gaming franchises, Haddad's exit comes when Warner Bros.'s games division has been underperforming. CEO David Zaslav had previously highlighted the division's struggles in financial results. Haddad will continue in his role for three months until a successor is found. Warner Bros. Discovery is prioritizing a follow-up to 2023's hit Hogwarts Legacy.
Doom: The Dark Ages will let players change game speed and other difficulty sliders - VG Chronicles
For the first time in an id Software game, Doom: The Dark Ages will feature fully customizable gameplay sliders. In addition to standard difficulty settings like “Hurt Me Plenty”, players can now adjust various aspects of the game, such as game speed, damage taken by players and enemies, enemy aggression, and more. Executive producer Marty Stratton highlighted that these new options aim to make the game more approachable and flexible, catering to new and returning players. The story is also designed as a good entry point for newcomers and continues from the Doom 2016 narrative.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 gets a release date and new game details - VG Chronicles
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by French studio Sandfall Interactive, will be released on April 24 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, with a day-one release on Xbox Game Pass. The game features detailed visuals and unique character playstyles with their own mechanics and skill trees. A key mechanic involves Pictos, modifiers that evolve into passive abilities called Lumina after four battles, allowing for diverse and strategic builds. The game is set in a surrealist world inspired by France’s La Belle Epoque, where players will embark on a quest to end the Paintress’ cycle of death, battling adversaries and befriending creatures.
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a remaster of the Xbox 360 game, is out today. - VG Chronicles
Ninja Gaiden 2 Black, a remaster of the Xbox 360 game, has been released today for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, and is available on Xbox Game Pass. Developed using Unreal Engine 5, this "definitive version" features redesigned and remastered stages, characters, effects, and lighting. The original 2008 game was an Xbox 360 exclusive. This release coincides with the announcement of Ninja Gaiden 4. The remaster addresses core fans' concerns and offers a refined experience while players await the new instalment.
Call of Duty was the US’s best-selling video game for the 16th year running. - VG Chronicles
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 was the best-selling video game in the US last year, continuing the series’ record of being the top-seller for 16 consecutive years. Circana’s sales data for December 2024 and the entire year shows that Black Ops 6 led in dollar sales, keeping the Call of Duty franchise as the best-selling video game franchise in the US for the 16th year. Despite EA Sports College Football 25 becoming the best-selling sports game in US history, it still couldn't surpass Call of Duty. Overall, US video game spending dropped by 1.1% in 2024, primarily due to decreased hardware sales.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 won’t be a PS6 exclusive, producer promises. - VG Chronicles
Yoshinori Kitase, the producer of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, has assured players that the third part won’t be exclusive to PlayStation 6. While the first two parts were initially exclusive to PS4 and PS5, Kitase stated that players need not worry about the third part following the same trend. Development on the third part began right after Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth ended, around March-April 2024. Although the exclusivity terms with Sony are unknown, Square Enix has recently been pushing for a multi-platform release strategy for its games.
The next game from Celeste’s developer has been cancelled.- VG Chronicles
Earthblade, the next game from Celeste developer Extremely OK Games, has been cancelled due to internal development issues and a dispute over IP rights among the creators. The team faced a conflict regarding the rights to the Celeste IP, leading to a decision to part ways with art director Pedro. While the project showed potential, it did not progress as expected. The studio will now focus on developing smaller projects. Celeste, released in January 2018, was acclaimed for its platforming mechanics and depiction of mental health.
Pokémon TCG Pocket player has spent $8,500 hitting the daily Poké Gold limit since launch. - VG Chronicles
Since its launch, a Japanese player has spent around $8,500, hitting the maximum daily spending limit in Pokémon TCG Pocket, managing to collect 50,000 cards. The free-to-play game allows players to buy more packs of cards with real money (Poké Gold). There is a daily limit of 720 Poké Gold to prevent excessive spending. The player, YouTuber Hajimesyacho, shared a screenshot showing his achievement. Pokémon TCG Pocket was released in late October 2024 and earned $120 million in its first two weeks. The game allows players to collect and battle Pokémon cards, with a roadmap suggesting that trading will be added soon.
The Video Game History Foundation will make its digital library available to the public next week. - VG Chronicles
The Video Game History Foundation (VGHF) is making its digital library available to the public for the first time on January 30. The library will offer digital access to special collections, including promotional artwork, press kits, and over 1,500 out-of-print video game magazines. Set up in 2017 by game preservationist Frank Cifaldi, the VGHF aims to catalogue, digitize, and preserve video game history. Despite facing challenges with the US Copyright Office regarding remote access to out-of-print games, the VGHF continues to build its extensive archive with the help of donations.
Three more SNES games, including Fatal Fury 2, have been added to Switch Online. - VG Chronicles
Nintendo has added three more games to the SNES library on Switch Online: Fatal Fury 2, Super Ninja Boy, and Sutte Hakkun. These additions bring the total number of SNES games on the service to 70 in the West, with eight more exclusive to Japan. Fatal Fury 2 is a faithful SNES port of the SNK arcade fighting game. Super Ninja Boy is an RPG and beat 'em up hybrid, and Sutte Hakkun is a puzzle game making its first official release in the West. A standard Switch Online subscription provides access to libraries of NES, SNES, Game Boy, and Game Boy Color games. At the same time, the Expansion Pack adds access to Nintendo 64, Mega Drive / Genesis, and Game Boy Advance libraries.
Nippon Ichi Software president Tetsuhisa Seko passed away at 55 years old. - RPG Site
Nippon Ichi Software announced that its president, Tetsuhisa Seko, passed away on January 24 at 55. Seko had been with the company since March 2002, primarily working in the Business Content and Network Content divisions before becoming president in July 2023. His appointment followed the departure of the previous president, Sohei Niikawa, and was intended to support a generational change under the company's founder and chairman, Koichi Kitazumi.
During Seko's tenure, Nippon Ichi launched global releases of Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles and Japan-exclusive releases of Bar Stella Abyss and Disgaea 7 Complete. The company plans to release Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero worldwide and Cladun X3 for consoles in Japan. Despite Seko's passing, Nippon Ichi still meets the minimum board member requirements under Japanese regulations, and it remains to be seen how the chairman will fill the vacant president position to continue his vision.
Genshin Impact 5.4 launches on February 12, bringing in the Mikawa Flower Festival, Yumemizuki Mizuki, and more. - RPG Site
HoYoverse has announced that Genshin Impact version 5.4, titled "Moonlight Amidst Dreams," will launch on February 12. This update introduces the Mikawa Flower Festival, the new playable character Yumemizuki Mizuki, four additional mini-games, and several optimizations to the character level-up process. The festival will feature reunions, challenges, and rewards, with Raiden Shogun investigating a mysterious nightmare. The new mini-games include open-world companion encounters, a film editing challenge, a multiplayer fishing game, and a combat event.
Additionally, the update will offer exciting events like "Travelers' Tales: Anthology Chapter" and various mini-games. System optimizations include new Level-Up Plans in the Training Guide, streamlined filter systems for Characters and Weapons, and an Auto Add button for Weapon Refinement.
Atelier Yumia gets a new game system overview trailer showcasing battles, synthesis, and more. - RPG Site
Koei Tecmo and Gust have released a new trailer for Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land. This trailer showcases gameplay elements such as battles, synthesis, field gimmicks, and more. The game will be released on March 21, 2025, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC (Steam).
Atelier Yumia follows Yumia Liessfeldt and her companions on a journey to uncover the mysteries behind the cataclysm that destroyed the continent of Aladiss, making alchemy taboo. Players will explore dungeons and ruins and search for hidden treasures, such as “memory vials,” which provide helpful information and materials for synthesis. Along the way, they will encounter various characters like Flammi, Licht, Wilma, and Erhard.
The game includes unique features, such as accessing precious treasures using treasure trove keys, finding “trait crystals” to improve items, and encountering “mana geysers” to unlock synthesis recipes. Players will also face dangers in “man-abound areas,” requiring them to find Alstahlia Flowers or restore landmarks for better exploration.
Nvidia RTX 5090 review: face-meltingly good top-flight performance and gorgeous industrial design - but beware of the electrical bill. - VG247
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 is a high-end graphics card designed for enthusiasts with deep pockets, offering exceptional performance but at a hefty price tag of around $1999. It provides a 20-30% performance boost over its predecessor, the RTX 4090, excelling in games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Indiana Jones, running well over 100fps even at 4K. The 5090 features a more compact and sleek design than the bulky 4090, with improved cooling and a more efficient power cable layout. It introduces advancements like DLSS4 and multi-frame generation (MFG), which help improve frame rates and smoothness in demanding games, particularly at high refresh rates.
However, the RTX 5090's power consumption is massive, drawing over 500 watts, which could lead to significant energy costs. Overall, while it's a top-tier GPU for those seeking the best in gaming performance and cutting-edge technology, it's not for casual users due to its high price and running costs. It's a dream for hardcore gamers but may not be practical for most.
Assassin's Creed Shadows: The Final Preview. - IGN
Assassin's Creed Shadows, developed by Ubisoft Quebec, is set in feudal Japan, a long-anticipated locale for the franchise. The game experienced notable delays in ensuring quality and has garnered significant anticipation. The preview highlights the game's satisfying action, traversal, and sharp worldbuilding, giving the two protagonists ample spotlight.
Since Assassin's Creed Origins (2017), the series has embraced the open-world RPG format, improving gameplay layers without losing the ancient assassin fantasy. Shadows introduces Yasuke, a historical African slave turned Samurai, and Naoe, a female Shinobi. The game explores their journey through 1500s Japan, focusing on themes of unity and community.
Players will explore Harima Province, dealing with plots and harmonizing with the open world. Side activities and changing seasons add depth. Unique features include drawing rare wildlife instead of hunting. Shadows emphasize atmospheric and thoughtful settings, enriching the Assassin's Creed experience.
Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed hub primes to debut in March. Game Developer
Ubisoft is set to debut the Animus Hub, a unified series library for Assassin's Creed games, alongside the release of Assassin's Creed Shadows on March 20, 2025. The Hub will allow players to access "Period 2" games they own, such as Shadows, Assassin's Creed Mirage, Odyssey, Valhalla, and Origins. However, "Period 1" games released before Origins are not supported. The platform offers a timeline view of games and unlockable rewards, aiming to make the series more accessible. While integrated into Shadows, the Hub will not have a standalone version. Ubisoft's move reflects a broader trend towards unified game launchers.
Insomniac Games founder Ted Price will join the AIAS Hall of Fame. Game Developer
Ted Price, founder and CEO of Insomniac Games, will be inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (AIAS) Hall of Fame at the DICE Awards in February. This recognition comes before his retirement in March. Academy president Meggan Scavio praised Price as a visionary leader who has significantly impacted the industry with beloved and acclaimed games. After Price's departure, Insomniac will be led by Ryan Scheider, Jen Huang, and Chad Dezern. Price has also served as AIAS’ chairman and vice chairman and hosted the Game Maker's Notebook podcast. His induction honours his extensive contributions to game development and the industry.