At this point I'm of the belief that corps like Nintendo/Sony/MS/Acitivison and co shouldn't be able to just horde patents and wait for someone to come up with a similar idea, only to swat them at the last minute.

Nintendo lawyers have had 7 months to comb this, it does not take 7 whole months to comb through an incomplete game that is still in early access.

I'm guessing they waited to see how much money PP could rack up before slapping the lawsuit, so they can drain them over time (as Nintendo does with anyone they slam). 

Any idea, assuming the switch 2 rumors are true, on price point. I've assumed Nintendo will target $450 tops but the specs seem a bit high for that price point.

Personally I think Nintendo will struggle with this one.  Pal plays way different and has a lot of survival elements.  It plays completely different.  

All the polls I have seen (and some have ~20K votes) have around 50-60% votes at $400 for SW2 price...I'm guessing that's what most people would be comfortable with, given the leaked specs that have been circulating.

Apparently it may have something to do with Pokemon Arceus's capture mechanics and UI, which sounds ultra specific for a patent infringement. 

In other news, I am testing an oled xps 16.

The Thursday news:

SALES /PLAYER COUNT & DEALS

Square Enix confirms lower-than-expected Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Final Fantasy 16 sales in newly public financial report: 'Profits unfortunately did not meet our expectations'
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/square-enix-confirms-lower-than-expected-final-fantasy-7-rebirth-and-final-fantasy-16-sales-in-newly-public-financial-report-profits-unfortunately-did-not-meet-our-expectations/
In a May 2024 financial report made public today (via Eurogamer), Square Enix president Takashi Kiryu said that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Final Fantasy 16 haven't sold as many copies as the company had hoped. "We released multiple new titles, including major titles such as 'Final Fantasy 16' and 'Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth,' but profits unfortunately did not meet our expectations," Kiryu said.
The financial results were originally shared on May 13, 2024, months before yesterday's PC release of Final Fantasy 16—which, it's safe to assume, will give that particular sales metric a bump. A PC release for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, meanwhile, still hasn't been officially confirmed. Kiryu also noted that MMO profits were down, but attributed that to "a lull in releases ahead of the launch of the 'Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail' expansion pack," which was released the following month in June.
>> This seems to be the norm when it comes to S-E. Maybe they should start expecting more reasonable sales, not ridiculous ones.

This week, the Epic Store gives away

• TOEM: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/toem
• The Last Stand: Aftermath: https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/the-last-stand-aftermath

Next week, the free game will be The Spirit and the Mouse.

GOG has several new promos:

• The Historical Games Promo features up to 90% discounts during 6 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20240918_historical_promo
• Magic of Music Promo has games up to 95% off during 6 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20240918_magic_of_music_promo
• Meanwhile, the Git Gud Promo has up to 94% discounts until September 27: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20240919_git_gud_promo
• And the Pixel-Art Promo has games up to 90% off during 8 days: https://www.gog.com/en/promo/20240917_pixel_art_promo

Steam has two new deals:

• The Tokyo Game Show 2024 has launched its page full of upcoming games, demos and games on sale with, at least, up to 80% discounts. The TGS page will last until the 29th, but the length of the deals vary from game to game: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/tgs2024
• Total Tank Simulator is going to be 60% off until the 2nd of October: https://store.steampowered.com/app/674500/Total_Tank_Simulator/

A new Humble Bundle has launched: the indie.io Super Bundle, with up to 15 items to get (there are 2 coupons) during 20 days: https://www.humblebundle.com/games/indieio-super-bundle.

SOFTWARE & DRIVERS

Friendship restored with Steam: Valve has fixed the screenshot manager and all is right with the world
https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/friendship-restored-with-steam-valve-has-fixed-the-screenshot-manager-and-all-is-right-with-the-world/
My 35-day-long nightmare is over: Valve has quietly restored a critical piece of its screenshot management functionality, and with it a critical piece of my sanity.
Last month when I went to find screenshots of some game or another in Steam I realized that Valve had ditched the old button that took you directly to that game's screenshot folder on the disk, instead replacing it with a "Share" button that let you save images one at a time to a location of your choice. This did not spark joy. Why would I resave a file that I know already exists in a folder on my computer? Why was that folder being hidden from me? What happened to the pure, beautiful, functional simplicity of "Show on Disk?"
Well, it looks like beauty can still exist in the world. Steam's latest update has returned the "Show on Disk" option when you right-click any screenshot in your library, leaping straight to that folder in File Explorer. Excelsior! 

MODS, EMULATORS & FAN PROJECTS

Need for Speed Rivals Plus 5.0 Mod Releases on October 14th
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/need-for-speed-rivals-plus-5-0-mod-releases-on-october-14th/
Modder ‘GrabussPC’ is currently working on graphics mod for Need for Speed Rivals. A few days ago, the modder shared a new trailer for it, revealing that Version 5.0 will come out on October 14th.
Need for Speed Rivals Plus V5.0 aims to significantly improve the graphics and gameplay. Version 5.0 has many big improvements regarding the graphics. Sadly, though, the modder did not go into more detail about them. Players can also expect more E3 content, a bigger list of add-ons, bug fixes, and many more new changes.
Need for Speed Rivals lets you play as either a cop or a racer, where you compete in intense street races. You can choose between two different career paths, each with its own challenges, rewards, and special cars. Whether you’re chasing down racers as a cop or trying to escape the police as a racer, you’ll need skill and speed to win in this rivalry.
>> The article has an over 8 minutes video.

First Final Fantasy 16 Mod adds support for ultra-wide monitors, removes 30fps lock, lets you adjust the FOV
https://www.dsogaming.com/mods/first-final-fantasy-16-mod-adds-support-for-ultra-wide-monitors-removes-30fps-lock-lets-you-adjust-the-fov/
Final Fantasy 16 has just been released on PC and its first must-have mod is now available for download. This mod brings major improvements to the game. So, make sure to use it.
FFXVI Fix removes the 30FPS limit during cutscenes and photo mode. This means you can get smoother and higher frame rates in them. It also lets you use Frame Generation during cutscenes. As a result, the in-game cutscenes will run better and look much smoother.
Moreover, the mod allows you to adjust the game’s FOV. Final Fantasy XVI is a third-person game so you’d expect it to have an FOV slider. Sadly, though, it does not. So, thanks to this mod, you can change the FOV value to the one you like.
Another feature that FF16 lacks is support for ultra-wide monitors. And again. This mod adds full support for them. It will also remove pillarboxing/letterboxing in borderless/fullscreen, and fix HUD scaling with configurable HUD size.
>> It basically adds features that should have been there out of the box. The article has no media in it.

GAMING NEWS

New trailers for A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and Freedom Wars Remastered
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-trailers-for-a-quiet-place-the-road-ahead-disney-epic-mickey-rebrushed-and-freedom-wars-remastered/
Some new game trailers got released yesterday that completely passed under my radar. Well, that was to be expected as I had my hands full with FF XVI, Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster and Frostpunk 2. As such, I’ve decided to share them in one big article. So, below, you can find the trailers for A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed and Freedom Wars Remastered.

Starfield Beta Patch 1.14.68 Released & Fully Detailed
https://www.dsogaming.com/patches/starfield-beta-patch-1-14-68-released-fully-detailed/
Bethesda has released a new beta update for Starfield on PC. Title Update 1.14.68 includes changes to lighting, improvements to performance, and fixes to make the game more stable. So, let’s see in more detail what’s in store for you.

Darksiders 2 will get a free Ray Tracing Update on PC
https://www.dsogaming.com/news/darksiders-2-will-get-a-free-ray-tracing-update-on-pc/
THQ Nordic has announced a free update for Darksiders 2 Deathinitive Edition which will add Ray Tracing to the game. This update will be coming to the PC on October 15th. And, since we’re talking about a free update, it will be available to everyone who already owns the game.

New gameplay trailer for the Lovecraftian first-person horror shooter, Decadent
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/new-gameplay-trailer-for-the-lovecraftian-first-person-horror-shooter-decadent/
Fulqrum Publishing has released a new gameplay trailer for its upcoming story-driven Lovecraftian first-person horror shooter, Decadent. This looks like an interesting FPS, so be sure to check it out.

Free-to-Play Elden Ring-Like ARPG, Ballad of Antara, Gets a 14-Minute Gameplay Showcase Video
https://www.dsogaming.com/videotrailer-news/free-to-play-elden-ring-like-arpg-ballad-of-antara-gets-a-14-minute-gameplay-showcase-video/
Sony and Infold Games have released the first gameplay video for Ballad of Antara. Ballad of Antara is a free-to-play ARPG. The video shows 14 minutes of gameplay, giving you a first look at how the game plays and what the combat is like. So, be sure to check it out.

Thursday news, part two:

GOG is delisting 29 games this September—you have 12 days to grab the ones you care about and 2 days to grab the ones you probably don't
https://www.pcgamer.com/software/platforms/gog-is-delisting-29-games-this-septemberyou-have-12-days-to-grab-the-ones-you-care-about-and-2-days-to-grab-the-ones-you-probably-dont/
Purveyor of all things old and beautiful, GOG dot com, has announced that 29 games will depart its store over the course of September (via GamingOnLinux). Four games from Adult Swim will go away on September 30, and 25 from publisher Meridian4 will wink out of existence on the storefront in two days: On September 20 at 6 am PDT / 9 am EDT / 1 pm UTC / 2 pm BST.
The good news is—no intentional disrespect to the devs here—you probably aren't too fazed about the Meridian4 games. The 25 titles from the publisher that are leaving GOG are all unknown to me. Many don't have enough reviews to earn ratings in GOG's user-review system, and the ones that do have enough are generally not well-regarded. You can find a full list of delistees below, but we're talking games like Creepy Tale 3 and Viruz. I'm sad to see them go, but more out of preservationist principle than anything else.
The Adult Swim games are more recognizable. Westerado: Double Barrelled, Kingsway, Headlander, and Fist Puncher are all bidding farewell to GOG—at least for now—in 12 days. We quite like at least some of those, and it's both sad and mystifying to see them vanish from a popular storefront.

Skyrim lead designer says it will be 'almost impossible' for Elder Scrolls 6 to meet fan expectations: 'Marketing departments just put their heads in their hands and weep'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/rpg/skyrim-lead-designer-says-it-will-be-almost-impossible-for-elder-scrolls-6-to-meet-fan-expectations-marketing-departments-just-put-their-heads-in-their-hands-and-weep/
The Elder Scrolls 6 is coming, and we're all very excited about it, despite the fact that from a public perspective it currently exists only as a vague concept. Anticipation is good for developers—certainly better than nobody caring about what you're getting up to—but in this particular case it might present a problem for Bethesda. In a recent interview with Kiwi Talkz, Bethesda veteran Bruce Nesmith says it will be "almost impossible" for the game to meet the expectations of fans.

In a rare triumph for videogame discourse, God of War Ragnarok will have a setting to reduce puzzle hints on PC
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/in-a-rare-triumph-for-videogame-discourse-god-of-war-ragnarok-will-have-a-setting-to-reduce-puzzle-hints-on-pc/
Back when God of War Ragnarok released on the various PlaysStation, Kratos and company ignited a wildfire of takes from frustrated players. The problem was puzzles—or rather, the fact that Ragnarok's only provided a scant few seconds of attempting potential solutions before Atreus or Mimir would shout out exactly what you needed to do to progress.
(...)
Miraculously, online videogame discourse can achieve good things. Earlier today on the official PlayStation blog, Sony Santa Monica listed new features arriving to God of War Ragnarok with the PC release, including an option to reduce puzzle hints. "A new option in the Gameplay Settings tab, enabling this will reduce the frequency with which you hear puzzle hints from your companions," Santa Monica Studio said. Sounds like a great setting to try out whether it's your first or second playthrough—none of Ragnarok's puzzles are all that complicated, but they often call for a few minutes of chill exploration to find the correct bib to bob, and this toggle is a lot easier than stuffing a rag in Mimir's mouth.

Space Marine 2 studio boss hopes for a 'reversion' to a time before games were 'imposing morals' on players
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/space-marine-2-studio-boss-hopes-for-a-reversion-to-a-time-before-games-were-imposing-morals-on-players/
Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch—or someone claiming to be him—has stirred up controversy with a comment on a recent Asmongold YouTube video in which he decried the current state of videogames, saying too many of them are built around "messaging or imposing morals on gamers."

Space Marine 2 devs will adjust Veteran difficulty to make it 'slightly more fair,' but they really don't want to do an FOV slider—and you can just forget about shoulder swapping
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/space-marine-2-devs-will-adjust-veteran-difficult-to-make-it-slightly-more-fair-but-they-really-dont-want-to-do-an-fov-sliderand-you-can-just-forget-about-shoulder-swapping/
Space Marine 2 is doing fine, but that doesn't mean it can't do better. Earlier this month, after the first hotfix went live, the dev team said "we're reading all of your feedback with great attention," and now to prove it, Focus Entertainment has posted a lengthy Q&A addressing many of the "hottest topics" submitted by players.

Ara: History Untold looks a lot like Civilization until you realize there's no hexes: 'We're not playing a board game, we're actually trying to simulate some of what we see in real life'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/strategy/ara-history-untold-regions-vs-hexes-interview/
As much as it resembles Civilization, soon-to-release grand strategy game Ara: History Untold is different in some big ways. The biggest might be its simultaneous turn resolution, which is detailed in one of developer Oxide's dev diaries. That one I clocked a while back, but I somehow missed another major difference even though it shows up in almost every screenshot: Ara's map isn't divided into a regular grid or hexagon pattern.

Project T, the Dead by Daylight PvE spin-off, has been cancelled after the playtest 'yielded unsatisfactory overall results'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/project-t-the-dead-by-daylight-pve-spin-off-has-been-cancelled-after-the-playtest-yielded-unsatisfactory-overall-results/
Project T's story came to an end before we even got to see what a Dead by Daylight PvE multiplayer would be like for ourselves. A few days ago, Behaviour Interactive announced that the project would be terminated following some pretty poor playtest feedback. 

Helldivers 2 CCO Johan Pilestedt wants players to take the high road and avoid a faction war with Space Marine 2: 'You can enjoy as many games as you want'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/third-person-shooter/helldivers-2-cco-johan-pilestedt-wants-players-to-take-the-high-road-and-avoid-a-faction-war-with-space-marine-2-you-can-enjoy-as-many-games-as-you-want/
(… A long introduction …)
During one of these spats on the game's subreddit, as one player was revelling in the joy of proving the naysayers of the Imperium wrong, CCO (formerly CEO) of Arrowhead Games Johan Pilestedt descended from above to sue for peace (thanks, GamesRadar).
"Thank you for all your amazing feedback, and it's amazing to finally see so many divers return. We are now looking to the day 60 patch, which will bring some more exciting changes!" Pilestedt preaches.
"I just wanted to pop in here and say that I think we should be grateful for getting several awesome games. I can't even imagine how I, as a kid, would have felt to be able to play Helldivers and SM2. They are different games, but you can enjoy as many games as you want!"

'It is truly unfortunate': Palworld responds to Nintendo's lawsuit while also continuing to 'strive to create a game that our fans can be proud of'
https://www.pcgamer.com/games/survival-crafting/it-is-truly-unfortunate-palworld-responds-to-nintendos-lawsuit-while-also-continuing-to-strive-to-create-a-game-that-our-fans-can-be-proud-of/
Hours after Nintendo announced plans to file an infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair and its game Palworld, the developer, which has found itself on the wrong end of a legal proceeding, has responded to the news. 
"We have received notice of this lawsuit and will begin the appropriate legal proceedings and investigations into the claims of patent infringement," Pocketpair says in a statement. "At this moment, we are unaware of the specific patents we are accused of infringing upon, and we have not been notified of such details."

Maybe Square would have better sales if they embraced Steam? Crazy thought, I know. But it might work.

*I would buy Rebirth, if they let us

If it has taken them all these months to find something, I don't think they have a strong case against Pocketpair.

But it shows us that Nintendo has been trying to find something against them for all this time because, while they can make great games and sometimes also great consoles, they're also a$$holes that will sue their own mothers if they could.