XP Drop - 13th October

Welcome back to XP Drop, your weekly checkpoint for everything happening across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and PC.

It’s been a loaded week in gaming, Battlefield 6 finally deployed, delivering explosive next-gen warfare and a player surge that’s shaken up the charts. Over on Steam, Hades 2 stormed out of early access with record-breaking numbers, while Nintendo kept its winning streak going as Super Mario Galaxy + Galaxy 2 continued climbing UK sales rankings. PlayStation steadied the ship with fresh PS Plus drops and a smooth system update, quiet, but confident.

For Xbox, the fallout from last week’s Game Pass UK price hike is still rumbling on, with players calling foul and value perception taking a hit. A lingering headache for Microsoft as the conversation around cost versus content refuses to fade.

From blockbuster launches to indie success stories, here’s everything that went down in gaming since last Monday.

Grab your controller, top up your coffee, and let’s drop in.

New Releases & Updates

Battlefield 6

  • Released on 10th October 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (EA App, Steam, Epic).

  • The game went live simultaneously worldwide, at 8 a.m. PT / 5 p.m. CET.

  • At launch, a day-one update rolled out with over 200 fixes and balance adjustments (weapon tweaks, spawn behaviour, UI updates) compared to its beta build.

  • Game Modes & Features:

    • Traditional Battlefield staples are back: Conquest, Breakthrough, Rush, etc.

    • New additions: Escalation (a fresh mode) joins the roster.

    • Battlefield 6 supports free, persistent custom servers via Portal. These remain listed even when inactive, making community and custom matches more accessible.

    • The single-player campaign spans nine missions, placing players in the role of Dagger 13, with global settings — from Brooklyn to Cairo.

  • Player Engagement & Records:

    • On Steam, player numbers blew past expectations. Within an hour of launch, concurrent users crossed 700,000+ and peaked near 747,000.

    • It became EA’s strongest launch ever on Steam, overshadowing past titles like Apex Legends.

    • However, launch issues included server queueing (some queues exceeded 400,000 players) and EA App outages that prevented some players from accessing the game.

    • As compensation, EA offered affected users 24 XP boosters and up to two Battle Passes (including the current season pass and Season 2 pass for Phantom Edition buyers).

  • Season 1 & Post-launch Roadmap:

    • Season 1 will begin 28 October with content phases: Rogue Ops (new map “Blackwell Fields”), California Resistance (map Eastwood) on 18 November, and Winter Offensive on 9 December.

    • EA positions the launch not as a finish, but the start of continuous content support.

Little Nightmares III launched on 10th October 2025 across multiple platforms - PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One / Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2.

This new entry is developed by Supermassive Games (rather than the original developers, Tarsier Studios) and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. The shift in studio brings some fresh touches, although the game leans heavily on the aesthetic, moody atmosphere, and horror-puzzle DNA of its predecessors.

  • Protagonists & Co-op:
    Players take control of Low (armed with a bow) and Alone (wielding a wrench), each with unique mechanics and tools. The game includes online co-op, a first for the series, though there’s no couch co-op or local drop-in support. If you play solo, your companion is controlled by AI.
  • Setting & Narrative:
    The story is set in a surreal world called The Spiral, part of the broader “Nowhere” universe. Environments include haunting levels like a candy factory, dilapidated funfair (Carnevale), sand-ruined Necropolis, and more. The game continues the franchise’s tradition of ambiguous horror, emotional undertones, and visual storytelling over explicit narration.
  • Pacing, Length & Reception:
    Initial reviews praised the visuals, moody environments, and cinematic direction, but many also flagged shortcomings. Criticism centres on the short run time (roughly 5 hours), repetitive puzzles, and the fact that co-op feels under-utilised. Some gameplay pacing issues and modest “scare” build-up were mentioned, the horror is more atmospheric than jump-scare. In reviews, GamesRadar called it “overly safe, uneven, half-baked,” noting that co-op “is a hindrance rather than the evolution it should’ve been.” PC Gamer similarly said the game leans heavily on presentation, with the gameplay stuck in familiar patterns.

PlayStation Update

PS5 Firmware & System Tweaks

Sony deployed PS5 firmware v25.06-12.02.00 earlier this week, focusing on stability improvements, security fixes, and groundwork for UI enhancements. No radical changes, but essential maintenance ahead of heavier updates.

October PS Plus Line-up

The October PlayStation Plus free titles dropped on 7 October (available until 3 November):

  • Alan Wake 2 - atmospheric horror / narrative thriller

  • Goat Simulator 3 - chaotic sandbox mayhem

  • Cocoon - ambient puzzle platformer

Sony also confirmed six games will depart PS Plus on 21 October, including a couple of major horror titles. giving players a final chance before removal.

Market Trends & Store Movement

From retail and platform metrics, EA Sports FC 26 and Helldivers II continue their strong chart presence in the UK/EU. Sales on Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Cyberpunk 2077 Ultimate Edition saw surges after timed discounts, pushing both back into the PS Store top 10.

Nintendo Update

Obscure Mario Classic Joins Switch Online

Nintendo quietly dropped Mario & Wario, a Japan-only SNES title from 1993, onto the Nintendo Switch Online service worldwide. This move leans into the Switch 2’s support for mouse inputs (via Joy-Con functionality), making the title playable in its original form on modern hardware.

Super Mario Galaxy + Galaxy 2 Remaster: Technical & Critical Reception

The Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2 double pack has been praised in reviews for delivering a polished remaster that retains the magic of the originals. On Switch 2, visuals really shine, docked it runs crisp 4K, and in handheld mode it hits a stable 1080p.
That said, critical commentary flags the relatively minimal new content and the “steep” asking price as potential stumbling blocks for some players. The core experience, level design, gravity-based platforming, orchestral score, still holds up remarkably well.

Switch 2 Adoption & Sales Momentum

Nintendo’s latest hardware continues to outpace expectations: the Switch 2 is currently trending 77% ahead of the original Switch’s early sales curve. That scaling momentum strengthens Nintendo’s ability to demand higher production and push software support aggressively.

In parallel, tech watchers and Digital Foundry have offered new insight into how Switch 2 handles DLSS / upscaling / rendering enhancements, essentially bridging some of the gap between Nintendo’s first-party ambitions and modern expectations for performance.

Persona 3 Reload & Switch 2 Exclusivity

Atlus recently confirmed that Persona 3 Reload will be exclusive to Switch 2 (i.e. no Switch 1 port). The reason? Performance and optimisation. The team found that trying to backport to the original Switch would have required substantial redesign (UI, art, etc.) and would have delayed the timeline by about a year. In their words: developing an optimal experience for Switch 2 was the faster, more practical route.

Xbox Update

Game Pass

While the backlash from the Game Pass price increase continues to simmer, Microsoft has quietly leaned into bolstering the Game Pass Perks / benefits offerings. A recent update shows that in-game rewards for free-to-play titles such as Call of Duty: Warzone, Zenless Zone Zero, and Asphalt Legends Unite are now accessible to players on all Game Pass tiers (Essential, Premium, Ultimate). However, more premium “Perks” still tend to be locked to Ultimate members.

This push to surface more value may be Microsoft’s attempt to soften perception, adding content “behind the scenes” rather than further changes to pricing.

Microsoft confirmed new titles entering Game Pass in October (Wave 1), including Ninja Gaiden 4, Keeper, Supermarket Simulator, Ball x Pit, and more, available across console, PC, and cloud. 

These additions help fill out the catalogue and give new options for subscribers who are scrutinising cost vs. content.

System Update Preview & UI Tweaks

A preview of an upcoming Xbox system update (for testers / Insider builds) introduces Game Hubs enhancements and age verification prompts for UK console players.

The Game Hub tweak is interesting - Microsoft appears to be trying to surface Game Pass highlights and content more directly in the console UI, making it easier for players to see what’s available or new without digging.

Hardware Commitment Reaffirmed

Persistent speculation that Microsoft might retreat from console hardware was addressed again - Microsoft reasserted its commitment to next-gen consoles and devices.

These public reassurances aim to counter the narrative that Xbox is pulling back, especially given the PR hits from Game Pass pricing and community frustration.

PC / Steam Update

Hades 2’s Meteoric 1.0 Launch

  • With the official 1.0 launch, Hades 2 continues to dominate praise. On Steam, it now holds an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating, with many calling it one of the strongest indie sequels in recent memory.

  • During its first weekend as a full release, Hades 2 hit a new high of 112,947 concurrent players on Steam, more than double the peak of the original Hades.

  • The original Hades saw a revival, with user numbers and interest spiking as players returned to compare the experience between games.

  • Alongside glowing praise, some in reviews flagged narrative pacing or the ending as weaker elements - even as mechanics, visuals, and character design earn near-universal acclaim.

This kind of breakout sequel performance is rare for a studio like Supergiant: merging deep systems, lore, and polish has clearly paid off.

Steam Client & Unity Vulnerability Patch

  • Unity Engine Security Flaw (CVE-2025-59489): A critical vulnerability in the Unity engine, affecting versions from 2017 onward, attracted serious attention in early October. The flaw involves unsafe command-line argument parsing, potentially letting attackers execute malicious code in Unity-based games.

  • Valve pushed an update to the Steam client that adds mitigations, blocking unsafe launch paths that could exploit the vulnerability. Steam’s update notes explicitly mention blocking exploit attempts when games are launched through the client.

  • SteamDB and developer forums show that many Unity-based games have been or are being patched. The update includes updated UnityPlayer.dll builds or binary fixes.

  • Some users have cautioned that games launched outside Steam (direct executables) could still be vulnerable unless patched. Steam developers responded saying the client-level blocking helps, but updates remain essential.

This patch effort is likely one of the more significant security moves on Steam in recent years, and the speed with which Valve moved has limited exposure.

Steam Trends & Market Momentum

  • Indie Rivalry: Megabonk vs. Hades 2:
    A new indie hit, Megabonk, recently surged past Hades 2’s all-time Steam concurrent player record, peaking at ~117,336. The fact that a solo dev’s title can rival heavyweights like Hades 2 speaks volumes about how dynamic the indie scene is right now.

  • Revenue Charts Snapshot:
    Though the latest detailed revenue charts are less visible this week, Battlefield 6 is already making waves in PC circles, supported by its cross-platform hype. Counter-Strike 2 and Digimon Story: Time Stranger continue to perform strongly in digital revenue rankings.

  • Eye on Steam Next Fest:
    The upcoming Steam Next Fest (13–20 October) looms large. Hundreds of demos and early previews will drop, and several breakout titles from past Fests have gone on to big success. All eyes will be on which new names emerge.

TL;DR

Battlefield 6 launched with explosive results - EA’s biggest Steam debut ever, peaking near 747,000 concurrent players. Despite queue issues and outages, the game’s mix of new modes, custom servers, and fast-paced next-gen combat has set the tone for the holiday season.

Little Nightmares III dropped to mixed reviews. Its eerie visuals and online co-op impressed, but short length and repetitive puzzles left fans wanting more.

PlayStation kept steady with a system firmware update and strong PS Plus October line-up (Alan Wake 2, Goat Simulator 3, Cocoon).

Xbox is still feeling the heat from its Game Pass price hike, with player sentiment souring, though Microsoft is adding new Game Pass perks, October titles, and UI tweaks to calm the storm.

Nintendo rolled out Mario & Wario worldwide on Switch Online, while Super Mario Galaxy + Galaxy 2 climbed charts again. The Switch 2 continues to outsell its predecessor, with Persona 3 Reload confirmed as a next-gen exclusive.

Hades 2’s full release shattered records, topping 112,000 concurrent players and driving a surge in the original game. Steam also pushed a major Unity security patch, while new indie hit Megabonk quietly overtook Hades 2’s peak player count.

Looking ahead: Steam Next Fest (13–20 Oct) promises a wave of new demos, and Battlefield 6 Season 1 arrives 28 Oct with new maps and content.

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