PlayStation is reportedly enforcing the "strictest social media guidelines" it has ever issued to its employees in response to the ongoing controversy surrounding its decision to discontinue physical discs by 2028. According to former God of War Laufey writer Alanah Pearce, the company is closely managing what employees can say publicly about the transition.

Pearce stated in a recent YouTube video that while Sony often provides guidelines on employee communications, the current directives are unprecedented in their severity. She noted that employees were provided specific guidance on what could be said on the day the decision was announced, suggesting that Sony anticipated significant public relations challenges. "They would only have done this if they knew it was going to be an enormous PR issue. This is no surprise to them," Pearce commented.

Nintendo Patent Dispute

In other news, The Pokémon Company has received a rejection from the Japan Patent Office (JPO) for its patent application No. 2026-019762, which sought to protect an "in-game monster-capturing system." The JPO cited a 2013 YouTube video showcasing similar gameplay from the fan-made game Pokémon Generations as grounds for refusal.

Nintendo expressed strong disapproval of the JPO's decision, arguing that the office had "acted extremely inappropriately by deliberately mischaracterizing an infringing product as though it were an authorized one." The JPO, in turn, rebuked Nintendo for not basing its appeal on patent law, stating that "the mere possibility that the reasons for rejection could be subject to such an unreasonable misunderstanding has no bearing on the assessment of inventive step."

Age of Empires III Expansion Revived

The previously abandoned expansion for Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition has been revived. Originally announced in early 2025, the content was delayed and later canceled, with the development team admitting the announcement was premature as the content had not yet been fully developed. However, in response to player feedback, a new expansion titled "The Baltic Powers" is now scheduled for release on September 10, 2026. This expansion will introduce two new civilizations, Challenge Scenarios, new game modes, over 25 maps, and more than 50 hero customizations.

Kingdom Come: Salvation Trademarked

A new game in the Kingdom Come series, titled Kingdom Come: Salvation, has been trademarked in the European Union. The filing, spotted by ThePhraseMaker, includes references to "matching players," leading to speculation about a potential online multiplayer component. Warhorse Studios has confirmed that its next Kingdom Come title will be an open-world RPG, while also working on a Lord of the Rings game.

Horror Shooter Developer Faces Closure

Vermila Studios, the developer behind the 2026 horror shooter Crisol: Theater of Idols, is reportedly on the brink of closure due to financial difficulties. Despite featuring survival horror elements and engaging encounters, the game did not achieve significant success on Steam or consoles. CEO David Carrasco stated that the studio has had to let go of most of its workforce, and while they are attempting to continue operations, the circumstances are challenging, and closure remains a possibility in the coming months.