Oh, would you look at that. Welcome to the first ever edition of Patch Notes! Newsletters are unequivocally in these days and instead of succumbing to crippling FOMO (that's 'fear of missing out'), we figured we'd join the party.Patch Notes will be a casual hangout for the cool cats. A brooding, low-lit jazz bar filled with people who 'get it.' It's your favorite breakfast served in bed. A hallowed space for deep, pensive contemplation. Your dizziest daydream made corporeal. That one—alright, it's mainly just an excuse for news editor Chris Kerr (hello hello) to cut loose on a Friday and pore over the latest game industry happenings.We'll be publishing a new edition of Patch Notes every two weeks to keep you in the know. Inside, you'll find a round-up of the hottest news and some headlines you might have missed; a fragrant platter of interviews and features that'll tickle your tastebuds; and a lovingly curated selection of blogs showcasing the brilliance of our expert community.We reckon there'll be a little sumthin' sumthin' for everyone, so let's get stuck in.

Travel Man: I went to AMAZE Sheffield and all I got was this newfound sense of belonging

I joined a cult the other week. It all happened so fast. One moment I was wandering through a warehouse filled with bizarre contraptions in the outskirts of Sheffield. Then, I was surrounded by a group of people hellbent on mimicking the chants of a rhapsodic flamingo. The strange chorus of faces only illuminated by the streaks of pink neon that adorned the crumbling brick walls. Later, that same group would harness the power of touch to create a link between the mechanical world and our physical forms. This is AMAZE Festival. It is magical.The self-styled 'International Games and Playful Media Festival' usually takes place in Berlin over four days, but made its way to the UK for a one-day soiree featuring a bunch of experimental game installations, rapid 'Hyper Talks' touching on subjects like approachable design and generative AI (read our coverage here), and a thumping warehouse rave that bled into the early hours.The event is split across a daytime and evening program. The former is more serene, letting attendees browse installations at their leisure, attend workshops, and shoot the breeze with their peers. There was even a barbecue, although we're not quite sure if that's part of the standard offering (it absolutely should be).Left to right: AMAZE attendees playing Crashboard, Between, and Hyper Wobbler