Silksong Breaks Records, Game Developers Unite for Palestine, and Ex-Polygon Writers Launch Rogue – Patch Notes #21
Introduction
Welcome back to another edition of Patch Notes – where the latest buzz from the gaming world gets broken down. This week’s roundup is packed: Hollow Knight: Silksong crashes major platforms on launch, Call of Duty heads to Hollywood, developers join forces for a Palestine charity bundle, and former Polygon staffers unveil a new independent gaming site called Rogue. Let’s dive into the biggest stories shaking up the industry.
🎮 Hollow Knight: Silksong Smashes Records Across Platforms
The long-awaited release of Hollow Knight: Silksong finally arrived — and the hype literally broke the internet. Players reported temporary outages on Steam, Nintendo eShop, and the PlayStation Store due to overwhelming demand. This proves just how far Team Cherry’s indie project has evolved into a global gaming phenomenon.
🎬 Call of Duty is Getting a Live-Action Film
Activision and Paramount Pictures confirmed a Call of Duty live-action movie is in the works. With blockbuster inspirations like Top Gun: Maverick, the project aims to bring explosive action, military drama, and iconic characters to the big screen. Considering the franchise’s billion-dollar success in gaming, expectations are sky-high.
🤝 Game Developers Unite for Palestine with Charity Bundle
Hundreds of developers teamed up to launch a charity game bundle on itch.io to support Palestinian communities. Featuring over 380 games from 250+ creators, the initiative aims to raise $200,000, with proceeds directed to UNRWA USA. At the time of writing, the campaign already surpassed $32,000, showing the power of community-driven impact.
⚠️ Perfect Dark Reboot Faces Setback After Layoffs
Crystal Dynamics faced layoffs after Microsoft pulled funding for the Perfect Dark reboot. Attempts to secure outside investment fell apart, leaving the project in limbo. This marks yet another case of promising titles collapsing due to funding disputes and corporate restructuring.
📰 Former Polygon Writers Launch Independent Gaming Site Rogue
A team of ex-Polygon staffers has introduced Rogue, a worker-owned, independent gaming platform. The site will cover news, guides, and features, with some content offered free while premium stories sit behind a subscription. Importantly, the founders pledge no intrusive ads or sponsored posts, ensuring a cleaner and reader-focused experience.
📉 Dreamhaven and IOI Struggle with Layoffs & Publishing
Dreamhaven, founded by ex-Blizzard chief Mike Morhaime, confirmed downsizing despite releasing two titles this year. Meanwhile, IO Interactive (makers of Hitman) is reconsidering third-party publishing after the disastrous launch of MindsEye, which was plagued with bugs, refunds, and layoffs at developer Build A Rocket Boy.
🌈 Jagex Cuts Back on Pride Support, Citing "Apolitical" Stance
Jagex CEO John Bellamy revealed that RuneScape reduced its Pride celebrations this year to remain "apolitical." The decision sparked internal criticism and player backlash, yet the company insists it must prioritize long-term stability over political stances. This move highlights the ongoing tension between inclusivity and corporate caution in gaming communities.
Final Thoughts
This week shows just how volatile and exciting the gaming industry can be. From record-breaking launches like Silksong to community-driven charity efforts, and from Hollywood crossovers to corporate layoffs, it’s a reminder that video games are more than entertainment — they’re culture, business, and activism rolled into one. Stay tuned for next week’s Patch Notes.
