Switch 2 ‘Monster Hunter Wilds’ Smaller Despite All Updates / ‘Brave Rogue’ Out Oct 31 / Nintendo Appeals ‘Palworld’ Patent Denial

It’s time for the Weekly GameSpark Rankings—or “Weekly Spa-Ran” for short—featuring the top 5 most-read articles published on Game*Spark from Friday, September 11, 2026, through Thursday, September 17, 2026.This is perfect for those who want to catch up on the week’s highlights or are too busy to read everything and just want the quick rundown!

5th Place—Switch 2 Version of “Monster Hunter: Wilds”: Even With All Past Updates Included, It Requires Less Storage Than Other Platforms at “39GB”

According to the Nintendo Store listing, the required storage space for the Switch 2 version of *Monster Hunter Wilds*, scheduled for release on December 4, 2026, is 39.0 GB (tentative).

Although the Switch 2 version includes all updates released as of launch, its storage requirement is significantly lower than the PS5 download version’s approximately 53GB (at launch) and the PC version’s 75GB (currently around 120GB).Although the reason for this difference has not been disclosed, social media is abuzz with reactions—some expressing surprise that it’s only one-third the size of the PC version, while others still express concerns about the storage requirements.

The Switch 2 version is priced at 4,990 yen (tax included), and is available at a discounted price of 3,742 yen until 11:59 PM on January 7, 2027.

Switch 2 Version of "Monster Hunter: World" Requires "39GB" Even With All Past Updates Included—Comparisons to Other Platforms Emerge | Game*Spark - Domestic and International Gaming News Site

On other platforms, the official website states that the PC version requires 75GB.

https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/09/11/172127.html続きを読む »

#4—“Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer” Series on Sale for Steam and Switch

Spike Chunsoft is currently running a sale on the “Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer” series for the Nintendo Switch.

The sale, which runs through September 23, features the Nintendo Switch version of *Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 5 Plus: Fortune Tower and the Dice of Destiny* (66% off, 2,948 yen → 1,000 yen),*Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 6: The Coiled Island Exploration Log* (60% off, 6,985 yen → 2,794 yen).

Please note that the Steam sale, which was held simultaneously, has now ended.

[Up to 80% Off] The “Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer” series is on sale for Steam and Switch. The Steam version of “Shiren 5” is 80% off at 596 yen | Game*Spark - Domestic and International Gaming News Site

Now is the perfect time to give the *Shiren the Wanderer* series a try.

https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/09/14/172225.html続きを読む »

3rd Place—“Hero Rogue,” a turn-based roguelike RPG designed with exceptional gameplay in mind that you can play over 1,000 times, releases on October 31

Independent game developer Dorasa has announced that the turn-based roguelike RPG “Brave Rogue” is scheduled for release on Steam on October 31. The game will also be showcased at the indie game expo “Tokyo Game Dungeon 14,” which takes place on the same day.

This title is a classic roguelike RPG where players tackle procedurally generated dungeons that change every time you enter. While the turn-based system allows for thoughtful, deliberate play, it also features “Comfort Dash” (commonly known as “K-Dash”) to maintain a brisk pace. The game is designed with an unwavering focus on user-friendly controls and system comfort—for example, wands and earrings whose effects have been identified are automatically marked as such.

Additionally, Dorasa is known for his deep love of roguelikes—so much so that he has even built his own custom gamepad—and his attention to detail regarding button feel and layout clearly reflects his passion for this title.

"Brave Rogue," a turn-based roguelike RPG designed with a strong focus on playability that offers 1,000 playthroughs, releases on October 31! Conquer dungeons stress-free with "Comfort Dash" | Game*Spark - Domestic and International Game Information Site

We’ll also be exhibiting at the indie game showcase “Tokyo Game Dungeon 14.”

https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/09/12/172177.html続きを読む »

2nd Place—President Hino Apologizes for Level-5 Presentation Where AI-Generated Footage Caused Controversy

Level-5 President Akihiro Hino posted an explanation and apology on his X account regarding the use of AI in the footage from the online new title presentation “LEVEL5 VISION 2026 II: Dream,” which was streamed on September 10.

He explained that AI was used extensively throughout the event out of a desire to “make the presentation spectacular.” Along with apologizing to users who were offended, he stated, “We will take this as a lesson and use it to improve in the future.”

On the other hand, he explicitly stated that all “elements related to the appeal and uniqueness of the work”—such as the script and character design—were handled entirely by humans, adding, “No games we release will ever contain AI-generated content that has been carelessly incorporated.”They revealed that AI-driven efficiency improvements are primarily focused on digitizing human-created content, and that they ultimately plan to reduce the development period for major titles from the current five years to two years.

President Hino Apologizes for Level-5 Presentation Where AI Footage Caused Controversy—Explains, “No Haphazard AI-Generated Data Will Be Included in the Final Game” | Game*Spark - Domestic and International Gaming News Site

He also mentioned that the decision stemmed from a desire to “make the presentation spectacular.”

https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/09/12/172173.html続きを読む »

No. 1—Nintendo Files Appeal Against Rejection of ‘Palworld’-Related Patent

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company appear to have filed a request for a reexamination against the rejection decision issued by the Japan Patent Office regarding a ‘Palworld’-related patent for touchscreen monster-capture mechanics.

The appeal brief presents several counterarguments. Regarding the footage from a fan-made game cited as prior art, they argue that it is merely gameplay footage from a work-in-progress, and since the internal controls are based on speculation, it cannot be strictly recognized as a technical matter.

They also point out that the Patent Office’s decision focused solely on whether a combination of existing physical and programmatic technologies was possible, without considering whether there was a motivation to combine them.

Nintendo Files Appeal Against Rejection of “Palworld”-Related Patent. Company Refutes Ruling, Argues Invention Is Patentable | Game*Spark - Domestic and International Gaming News Site

All eyes are on what form the final decision will take.

https://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/09/11/172149.html続きを読む »

The most-read article this week was about Nintendo’s “Palworld”-related patent. Going forward, a decision will be issued to either overturn the original examination decision, conduct a reexamination after amendments, or uphold the patent rejection.