It appears that Nintendo is preparing fans for a price increase on the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo Switch is one of the best selling consoles of all-time just behind the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo DS. It was a huge win for Nintendo when it was released back in 2017 as the company took a big hit with the Wii U, a console that failed commercially despite being generally well-liked by Nintendo fans. Thankfully, the Switch was a huge hit largely thanks to it being a console/portable hybrid that allowed fans to take console-quality games on the go. Of course, there were some compromises to keep it affordable and it would show there’s demand for other things like Steam Deck, but it was a huge hit.

Now, the Nintendo Switch 2 is here and it has been a huge hit so far. It is a much more powerful version of its predecessor, allowing players to play big games like Hitman and Cyberpunk 2077 on the go while retaining solid performance. There are still plans for Nintendo to keep supporting the Switch 1, as games like Metroid Prime 4 are slated to come to the console at launch later this year. It’s unclear how long this support will last, but Switch 1 fans will have some time to upgrade without missing on too much stuff.

Nintendo Switch Price Increase in Canada Teased by Nintendo

With that said, if you’re looking to buy a Nintendo Switch in hopes that the price is going to drop after the release of the Switch 2, don’t hold your breath… especially if you’re in Canada. Nintendo has announced that the Nintendo Switch will be getting a price change due to “market conditions” in Canada and more information will be revealed in August. Unfortunately, this will apply to all versions of the Nintendo Switch as well as games and accessories. The one upside is this does not apply to the Nintendo Switch 2.

“Pricing for the original Nintendo Switch family of systems and products in Canada will change based on market conditions,” said Nintendo. “These include Nintendo Switch – OLED Model, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, physical and digital Nintendo Switch games and Nintendo Switch accessories. Other Nintendo products, including amiibo and Nintendo Switch Online memberships will also experience price changes. Please note: This pricing change does not apply to the Nintendo Switch 2 system, accessories, or software.”

Given the heads-up and the wording of Nintendo’s statement, it seems to be teasing a price increase for the console as a price drop wouldn’t be teased like this nor would it feel so ominous. Furthermore, if it was a price drop, it wouldn’t make sense for games and accessories to all drop at the same time as well. It likely indicates a price increase across the board. This only applies to Canada right now, but we’ll keep you posted if this changes for other countries or if there’s a price increase on the Nintendo Switch 2 in the future. Some fans feared a Switch 2 price increase prior to release due to tariffs, but that didn’t end up coming to fruition.

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A new, potential Pokemon Gen 10 leak has surfaced online with what may be our first look at the new Pokemon game on the Nintendo Switch 2. Unfortunately, the leaked media is not very exciting, but it does potentially reveal the first Pokemon for the game. The exact origins of the potential Pokemon Gen 10 leak are currently unknown, but it is being shared by Pokemon accounts such as Hidden Power Podcast.

The leak features what is claimed to be a debugged screenshot from a battle environment test for the Nintendo Switch 2 game. The screenshot features Rock and Steel type Aron and its evolution Lairon. The third and final evolution, Aggron, is not included, but if the first two are in the game then it is no doubt also in the new Pokemon game.

Beyond this, the leaker claims to have — but does not show — two other images featuring Charjabug and Butterfree. The former would also confirm Grubbin and Vikavolt. Meanwhile, Butterfree being in the game would also mean Caterpie and Metapod are also in the game.

For now, this is the extent of the leak, which has not been verified. In other words, remember to take what is here with a grain of salt. Nothing here is official, and even if the leak is legit, it doesn’t confirm these Pokemon will end up being in the Nintendo Switch 2 game whenever it ends up releasing. Again, assuming this is real, these Pokemon could be for testing purposes only or if indeed part of the Pokedex, swapped out at some point during development.

At the moment of publishing, none of the implicated parties — Nintendo, The Pokemon Company nor Game Freak have commented on this new potential Pokemon Gen 10 leak. The trio rarely comments on rumors, leaks, or speculation so we do not expect this to change. If it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

For more Pokemon coverage — including all of the latest Pokemon Gen 10 news, all of the latest Pokemon Gen 10 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Pokemon Gen 10 speculation — click here.

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One of the best Nintendo Switch games of 2023 is getting a free Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade. Details on the upgrade are currently scarce, including when it will release. Right now, it is promised the update will release “in a few months,” but this is the extent of the specificity. Meanwhile, the only pertinent detail shared about the free Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade, so far at least, is that there will be a higher frame rate. The Nintendo Switch game in question runs at at 30 FPS, so this will presumably be a 60 FPS or better upgrade.

As for the Nintendo Switch game in question, it is Dave the Diver from South Korean developer Mintrocket, which just got free DLC last week. For those unfamiliar with the game, Dave the Diver is an action-adventure game meets simulation game that upon release garnered a 90 on Metacritic, which makes it one of the highest-rated games of 2023. And for about a year it was actually a Nintendo Switch console exclusive, because it didn’t coming to any other console platforms until 2024. Speaking of 2024, as of November 2024, the game has surpassed five million units sold, making it a breakout success for the aforementioned Mintrocket.

Not only did Dave the Diver recently get free DLC, and not only is it getting a free upgrade on Nintendo Switch 2, there are some other odds and ends in the works to celebrate the game’s 2nd anniversary.

What there is still no word of is a sequel to the game. It feels relatively safe to assume a sequel is in the works, likely for Nintendo Switch 2 and other platforms, but for now this is just an assumption.

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Meanwhile, how much Dave the Diver will cost on Nintendo Switch 2 for those that don’t own the Nintendo Switch version, Mintrocket has not said. It will presumably cost the same as it does on the Nintendo eShop currently, $19.99, but perhaps the upgrade will make it cost more. Right now, we do not know. For what it is worth, it could even get a price drop considering it is not as new anymore, but given it is only two years old and given the popularity of the game, we do not expect this to happen.

For more coverage on the new Nintendo console — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here.

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Fans had been waiting a very long time for Nintendo Switch 2‘s arrival. The original system was on the market for 8 years, and many users were more than ready for a more powerful take on the hardware. Unfortunately, the wait was a little bit longer for some, compared to others. Many of those who preordered a Switch 2 system through Target were kept waiting on a delivery, in some cases several days after launch. Fortunately, the retailer is making it up to those that experienced a delivery delay in the form of a $50 gift card for the Nintendo eShop.

Not everyone who experienced a delay from Target qualifies for the free gift card; apparently, the retailer is only giving it to those who preordered a Nintendo Switch 2 and received a delivery on June 8th or later. The system launched on June 5th, so if Target delivered yours on that day, the 6th, or the 7th, you won’t be eligible for the free gift card. Those who qualify should find the deal automatically entered in their Target Circle account, and they’ll have to redeem the offer by July 31st. Images of the offer and details can be found in the Reddit post below.

Readers should note that, while they have to redeem the Target Circle offer by July 31st, the eShop currency has no expiration. That means it can be used to purchase games right away, or saved for a future date. For those who don’t need a game because they’re busy playing Mario Kart World or Cyberpunk 2077, that should come as a relief so it can be put towards something that they really want to buy.

That said, $50 in eShop currency is enough to fully purchase some of the games already released for Nintendo Switch 2, including Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S, and Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster. Considering how expensive it is just to buy a new video game system, this might be a nice incentive to grab a launch game that users might not have otherwise. You could even get a few games with that $50 gift card, like Fast Fusion (priced at $14.99) and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour (priced at $9.99). If you went that route and bought both of those games, you’d even still have enough left over to grab Drag x Drive when it comes out in August!

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Of course, many Nintendo Switch 2 early adopters that qualify for this deal might want to hold on to that $50 eShop currency for later this year. There are several major games in the pipeline for the system, including Donkey Kong Bananza on July 17th, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A on October 16th. There are also several big 2025 games that don’t have a release date yet, such as Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Kirby Air Riders, and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment.

Did you preorder a Nintendo Switch 2 from Target? What games do you plan on buying with your eShop gift card? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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The Nintendo 64 was a large paradigm shift for most gamers. It was a gaming revolution that moved video games from the limitations of a 2D world, which had been fundamentally built out during the NES and SNES, into a 3D space. The N64 was Nintendo’s first 3D console, and the first video game console with a 64-bit CPU. And the quality of games during the N64 marked a great era in gaming, whether with first-party titles like Super Mario 64 or third-party games like Perfect Dark.

In the current gaming landscape, a lot of publishers and developers have learned the value of remastering games from the ground up for modern players. Not only does this bring in audiences who replay these titles for nostalgic value, but it also serves up these great hits to many unfamiliar with the brand.

To that end, here are five Nintendo 64 games we still think badly need to be remastered for modern platforms.

1) Donkey Kong 64

Donkey Kong 64 was similar to 3D platformers like Super Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie, but offered many distinct advantages. Donkey Kong 64 contained many more characters to rotate through and play, like Lanky Kong and Chunky Kong. The game also had distinctive musical instruments and fruit-shooting weaponry for every character in support of building out their unique personalities.

With the latest Nintendo Direct showcasing Donkey Kong Bananza, the timing is ideal to offer fans a remaster of the first 3D Donkey Kong game to drive and drum up hype further for the next DK game. However, given the release date of Donkey Kong Bananza is set for next month on July 17th, perhaps it’s wishful thinking for a remaster of this title in the near future.

2) Pokémon Stadium

LEGO and Nintendo are competing in the market for party games, like LEGO Party and Super Mario Party Jamboree, but games like Pokémon Stadium get missed in the current gaming landscape. Pokémon Stadium wasn’t just a place to battle Pokémon, but was a hub of activities and different modes for all player types. Stadium Mode was featured to battle across four competitive cups, Kids Club was for fun Pokémon mini-games, Free Battle was for multiplayer battles, and more.

Pokémon Stadium truly built an ecosystem for the Pokémon community that was more accessible for bringing friends together. Pokémon Stadium also offered cross-platform play with the integration of Game Boy cartridge games on the Nintendo 64 console (although limited to playing Pokémon Red, Blue, and Yellow). While the integration for Game Boy Tower in Pokémon Stadium is fully aged out, there are other means to remaster Pokémon Stadium for modern audiences on the Nintendo Switch 2.

3) Jet Force Gemini

Rare had a direct link to the hearts and souls of gamers during the SNES and Nintendo 64 era of gaming. So much so that three of the games on this list belong to Rare’s portfolio, but one that often gets overlooked was Jet Force Gemini. It was a shooter that let players fight insectoid enemies called Mizar with a host of different and cool weapons in a semi-open world environment. The largest pitfall of the game revolved around saving the Tribals. The Tribals were a race of creatures enslaved by the Mizar that the player should save; “should” being the wrong word choice. To fully beat Jet Force Gemini, every single Tribal in the game requires saving. This amounted to the collection component of the game being a forced requirement, taking away some of the fun of finishing it.

Despite the Tribal pitfall, Jet Force Gemini stood out well as a Nintendo 64 exclusive and was a unique addition to Rare’s portfolio of games. However, similar to GoldenEye 007, going back and playing the game with outdated shooter controls that feel cumbersome hasn’t led to Jet Force Gemini not aging well, despite its solid foundation.

4) Mega Man 64

Mega Man 64 is an underrated Mega Man adventure that brought much more narrative and story behind the iconic blue blaster hero. This version of Mega Man transferred the game into 3D environments, but still provided Mega Man with a fun host of weapons to acquire, modify, and upgrade. And the boss battles against the Bonne family were exceptionally memorable, like the tanks in the town square battle.

However, Mega Man 64 is more difficult to go back and visit, as the world feels very flat and empty in comparison to how games are stylized and filled out today. Visiting the main city, Uptown, feels empty with the flat walls, locked houses, and so few locals traveling around. These decisions made sense at the time of development for Mega Man 64, but now would require significant updating and polishing to feel appropriate for a modern remaster. Given the significance of Mega Man in gaming history, this would be time well spent for fans.

5) Banjo-Kazooie & Banjo-Tooie

To round the corner on Rare-related games is the one most of us think of immediately with the Nintendo 64: Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie. The Banjo-Kazooie games brought to life each world that players could visit. Older games might have the feeling at times of too much space or feeling barren, but Banjo-Kazooie brought a healthy level of depth to each level that still makes the game easy to revisit today. However, considering the sharp polygon angles and the difficult camera controls, the Banjo-Kazooie games are not without showing their age.

The fact that Banjo and Kazooie have been left out in the cold for modern gamers, outside of the cameo in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, is nothing short of a tragedy. Remastering and rebuilding both Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie is a service towards preserving this video game history, as well as offering up a chance to see if there is enough audience appetite to warrant another sequel in the future.

The post 5 Nintendo 64 Games That Still Need to Be Remastered appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the very best games of all time is reportedly coming to the Nintendo Switch 2, and going to be revealed for the console even sooner. The game in question hails from the 8th generation of console games, which consists of the PS4 and Xbox One, as well both the Wii U and the Nintendo Switch. More specifically, during this generation it was released in 2015. Four years later, it came to the Nintendo Switch in 2019. And now another six years after this, it is supposedly coming to the Nintendo Switch 2. It is currently playable on the machine via backward compatibility, but this will supposedly be a new, native version of the RPG, and presumably a superior version, at least compared to the Switch version.

The new report comes the way of popular Nintendo YouTuber, BeatEmUps, and specifically via a recent episode of the Nontendo Podcast. According to the YouTuber, a new and major Nintendo Direct is coming in July. When in July, they don’t reveal, but they do tease some of the reveals that will feature. To this end, it is claimed CD Projekt Red is going to reveal a Nintendo Switch 2 version of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt during this Nintendo Direct. Unfortunately, this is the extent of the details about the port. There is no word of a potential release date or what Nintendo fans should expect from the port on the technical side of things.

For those somehow unfamiliar with The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, it is the sequel to 2011’s The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, which itself was a sequel to 2007’s The Witcher. The open-world RPG boasts a 94 on Metacritic and countless Game of the Year awards, including the big one: Game of the Year at The Game Awards. Coupling this, it has sold a massive 60 million-plus units, making it one of the best-selling games of all time as well.

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At the moment of publishing, neither CD Projekt Red nor Nintendo have commented on this new rumor. There are a variety of reasons that make this unlikely to change, but if it does, we will update the story accordingly. In the meantime, be sure to take everything above with a grain of salt.

For all of our previous and extensive coverage on the Nintendo Switch 2 — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here.

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Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, Nintendo Switch OLED, and Nintendo Switch 2 users can now nab a free download for one of 2023’s best games straight from the Nintendo eShop, courtesy of Mintrocket. The freebie is not for the Nintendo Switch game itself, but DLC for the Nintendo Switch game. More than this, the free offer is only available for a limited time, however the window — June 27, 2025 to December 31, 2026 — is a very generous window.

The Nintendo Switch game in question is Dave the Diver from developer Mintrocket. The free download for it, meanwhile, is the Godzilla Content Pack. Now, if you have deja vu it is because this is the second time the Godzilla Content Pack has now been available. It was previously available for a limited time before being pulled on November 23, 2024. Now it is back.

For those unfamiliar with Dave the Diver, it was released in 2023 by South Korean developer Mintrocket. It is an action-adventure game meets management game that boasts a 90 on Metacritic, making it one of the higher rated games of its year. Coupling this, it sold 5 million copies in its first year. In other words, it was both a critical success and a commercial success. Meanwhile, the Godzilla Content Pack specifically, released last year on May 23, and was available until the aforementioned November 23, 2024 date.

While this free DLC is only available for a limited time, once the content is claimed it is free to keep beyond this window of availability, perpetually. Whether it will ever be made available again after this window, we don’t know. It is very possible it won’t due to the licensing involved. It is also worth considering that this being brought back may indicate the game is going to be brought to Nintendo Switch 2, the one modern platform it is not available on currently. For now though this is just speculation.

“Meet the legendary monster Godzilla in the Blue Hole,” reads an official description of the free DLC on the Nintendo eShop. “The legendary monster Godzilla is coming to Dave the Diver! Battle the giant monster on a submarine! Collect the monster figures scattered throughout the Blue Hole!”

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For more Nintendo Switch coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch deals like this one — click here.

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A new Nintendo Switch 2 in-store restock has been announced, and it is coming courtesy of Best Buy. For those looking still to get the new Nintendo console but who don’t want to deal with online restocks or scalpers, then this new Best Buy restock will be ideal because you will be able to walk into your local store and pick up a unit, or at least in theory you will be able to. How plentiful the restock will be and how nationwide it will be, remains to be seen.

The finer details of the restock have not been revealed by Best Buy, and Nintendo has not advertised the restock on behalf of Best Buy. All the retailer reveals is that the restock is happening on July 1. Whether it will be limited to just July 1 is presumably dependent on how much stock there is versus demand.

In addition to this, Best Buy also provides a store finder to see if your local store or stores are set to be participating in the restock. The only other tidbits disclosed is that this will all happen during “regular store hours” and that, as noted, there will be “limited quantities.”

While the Nintendo Switch 2 has not been as hard as something like the PS5 was to buy, some Nintendo fans have had issues getting their hands on an order, especially an order of just the regular ol’ console. The Mario Kart World bundle has been far easier to get, but it is also $50 more. And this will presumably be the case through the holiday season. In fact, it could get harder to find when and if it gets more interesting software. Right now, there isn’t much to drive demand beyond Mario Kart World. In the coming months this should change between the likes of Donkey Kong Bananza and the new Metroid Prime.

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For more Nintendo Switch 2 coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here.

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With the Nintendo Switch 2 recently released, many Nintendo gamers are a bit short on cash after buying the new console. That means it’s the perfect time for the Nintendo eShop Summer Sale. There aren’t a ton of Switch 2 exclusives out there, but with backwards compatibility, an eShop sale gives both Switch and Switch 2 gamers a chance to fill their libraries. The 2025 summer sale for Nintendo kicked off on June 26th and runs through July 10th.

Though not as massive as other platform sales, including the big Steam Summer Sale, the Nintendo eShop sale offers a fairly long list of discounts. That makes it hard to choose which games to buy, which is where I come in. Here’s my list of the most exciting deals during the 2025 Nintendo eShop sale. Happy shopping!

10. Disney Dreamlight Valley

Price: $27.99 / $39.99

The beloved cozy Disney game rarely gets discounted, so seeing it marked down, even by just 30%, is a big win for anyone wanting to check it out on the Nintendo Switch. A Switch 2 upgrade for the game is reportedly in the works, as well, so grabbing a copy now could get even better in the future.

9. Hello Kitty Island Adventure

Price: $31.99 / $39.99

Hello Kitty Island Adventure is filling the Animal Crossing-shaped hole in many gamers’ lives. This relatively new game has seldom been discounted, especially for the Nintendo Switch. So, the Nintendo eShop Summer Sale is a great time to grab this adorable Sanrio title.

8. Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD

Price: $41.99 / $59.99

First=party Nintendo games rarely go on sale, so a 30% discount on Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a pretty big deal. If you’ve yet to check out this installment in the haunted series featuring Mario’s brother, now might well be the time.

7. Animal Crossing: New Horizons DLC Bundle

Price: $59.58 / $84.98

Rumors about the next Animal Crossing game abound, and discounting the current iteration could add fuel to that fire. If you are someone who hasn’t yet played New Horizons, but wants to, this bundle that includes the Happy Home Paradise DLC is a great deal. The standard version of the game or solo DLC pack are both also discounted, if you prefer.

6. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2

Price: $15.99 / $39.99

Need to practice your skating skills before the next remastered Tony Hawk games arrive? The remaster of the first two games is on sale for 60% off in the Nintendo eShop through the end of the Summer Sale.

5. Persona 5 Royal

Price: $20.99 / $59.99

This 2019 JRPG won The Game Award for Best RPG in its release year. During the eShop sale, it’s 65% off. So, if you’ve been waiting to pick up this Persona title on Switch, now is the time.

4. Crash Bandicoot – Crashiversary Bundle

Price: $39.99 / $99.99

Fans of the Crash Bandicoot games won’t want to miss this chance to get a bundle of five games for 60% off. This bundle includes the Crash Bandicoot NSane Trilogy (featuring the first 3 games), Crash Team Racing: Nitro-Fueled, and Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.

3. Dragon Ball FighterZ

Price: $9.59 / $59.99

This iconic game from Arc System Works remains good, solid Dragon Ball fun to this day. And right now, you can get it on Nintendo Switch for less than $10. That’s a deal I can’t help but include in the list.

2. Super Mario Odyssey

Price: $39.99 / $59.99

Many gamers have been hoping for a new 3D Mario adventure on the Switch 2. That hasn’t been revealed just yet, but Super Mario Odyssey is on sale for 33% off during the Nintendo eShop Summer Sale. For Nintendo, that’s a pretty steep discount on the sandbox Mario adventure.

1. Sonic Superstars Digital Deluxe Edition

Price: $27.99 / $69.99

2023 release Sonic Superstars returns to the classic side-scrolling style. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the LEGO Fun Pack, extra skins, and more. It’s on sale for an impressive 60% off for Nintendo Switch. This is by far the better deal, but the standard version is also discounted if you don’t want the bells and whistles.

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Nintendo is known for its beloved platformers and series starring Mario, Donkey Kong, Kirby, and, of course, everyone’s favorite green dinosaur, Yoshi. The Nintendo Switch 2’s next big game is set to be Donkey Kong Bananza, which has delighted fans with its pre-release footage. Many are looking forward to July 17th when DK’s next 3D adventure drops. However, some fans, myself included, are wondering when Yoshi will get a 3D adventure and believe that Donkey Kong Bananza could pave the way.

Yoshi has seen numerous solo adventures throughout the years, but each one has been 2D. The only times players have been able to pilot Yoshi in 3D have been as a rideable character in the likes of Super Mario Sunshine and Super Mario Odyssey. It is way past time Nintendo gave Yoshi a proper 3D adventure. After all, even Kirby received one with Kirby and the Forgotten Land on the Nintendo Switch.

A 3D Yoshi should continue the trend set by Yoshi’s Woolly World and Yoshi’s Crafted World. Yoshi games are known for their artistic aesthetics, seen with worlds made out of wool and everyday crafting projects. A 3D environment opens up so many possibilities for Nintendo to take advantage of.

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While there are many different styles Nintendo could use, an HD claymation aesthetic would be perfect for a 3D Yoshi game. Nintendo could take advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2’s increased power and make a beautiful game with this look. Yoshi’s Crafted World showcased how detailed Nintendo could make textures, and the Nintendo Switch 2 could take this even further.

Alternatively, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the perfect opportunity to return to the art styles used in the Yoshi’s Island series. Foregoing the craft-style aesthetic in favor of psychedelic pastels and charm-oozing graphics. Nintendo has mastered creating lasting graphics and a new Yoshi game is the perfect way to show this off. Putting Yoshi in a freely explorable 3D world has been a long time coming and this new generation is the time.

Astro Bot could serve as the perfect inspiration. It is one of the best, if not the best, 3D platformers made. Nintendo could learn from Sony’s success. Rather than a connected open world, Nintendo could create different levels that showcase Yoshi’s different abilities. Each level could even feature a different type of craft theme.

Furthermore, Nintendo could add different abilities and power-ups to each level by having Yoshi eat different fruits. One fruit could give Yoshi the ability to breathe fire, allowing Yoshi to melt ice or attack enemies. Another could give Yoshi wings and turn the level into a free-flying environment. There are limitless possibilities for how Nintendo could utilize Yoshi’s love of fruit.

RELATED: Donkey Kong Bananza Fan Theory Could Reveal Super Mario Odyssey Connection

With different levels, Nintendo could incorporate some of the iconic enemies from the Yoshi series. This includes familiar foes like Lakitu, Shy Guy, Koopa, and Boo, but also lesser-known ones like Pak E. Derm. This could help boost the unknown enemies and get them added to other franchises like Mario Kart World.

Finally, a 3D Yoshi game could be the opportunity to finally get multiplayer right. Super Mario Odyssey’s multiplayer was half-implemented, with player two only controlling Mario’s hat and not having any real input. Donkey Kong Bananza looks to be repeating this decision. Kirby and the Forgotten Land took a step in the right direction, but even this limited the person playing as player two.

A 3D Yoshi game could finally make player one and player two an equal experience. Titles like Yoshi’s Woolly World, Yoshi’s Crafted World, and Super Mario 3D World were some of the best implementations of multiplayer for Nintendo’s platformers, but even these could be improved.

Split-screen is a must. This would allow players to freely roam in each environment without having to be tied to the same screen and stay within view of one another. The level could be littered with secrets, encouraging players to split up and seek them out. However, Nintendo could implement special movements, such as jumping off one another’s heads or eating a fellow Yoshi to spit them across gaps, to incentivize reconnecting and exploring together.

With this mindset, Nintendo could create a Yoshi game that rewards single-player and co-op exploration. Even in co-op, players would be free to do what they wish in the game without having to be tied to what their partner is doing. While Nintendo has numerous franchises under its belt, Yoshi has always been one of its most relaxing and co-op-friendly series. A 3D Yoshi game could revolutionize 3D platformers and follow in the footsteps of Astro Bot as one of the best in the genre of this generation.

The post Donkey Kong Bananza Proves We Need a 3D Yoshi on Switch 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

As the bundle title for the Nintendo Switch 2 launch, Mario Kart World has attracted plenty of attention. For the most part, gamers are loving the latest installment in the iconic racing series. I mean, you can race as Cow. What more could you want? However, there have been a few bugs and glitches along the road that Nintendo is working to patch. Since its launch, Mario Kart World has already had a few patches. Now, the latest update squashes a few more bugs to make Mario Kart World even better.

The June 25th Mario Kart World 1.1.2 update is available to download now on the Nintendo Switch 2. Like the two prior June patches for the game, it primarily focuses on bug fixes. This includes ironing out those weird fluctuations for Online Play and Knockout Tour modes. And that weirdly long fall on the Dino Dino Jungle course has also been remedied, ensuring a quicker recovery. You also won’t get stuck near the finish line on the Boo Cinema course when racing as Bullet Bill.

Another big change with this patch is that the courses selected in Random mode during wireless VS Races have been adjusted. The change means that Random will no longer guarantee players will get normal 3-lap courses when playing online. That means intermission tracks and standard regular race tracks can both populate now, and not all players are happy about it.

In all, this is a relatively short list of patch notes, but nevertheless brings in some important fixes for Mario Kart World as well as some more controversial ones. The update should install automatically as long as your Switch 2 is connected to the internet. If you want to double-check, you can head to the Home menu, then hit the + or – button to check the version number. It should say Version 1.1.2. If it doesn’t, hit “Software Update” and then download the new patch over the internet.

Mario Kart World Patch Notes for Version 1.1.2

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As is tradition, this latest list of Patch Notes from Nintendo is pretty brief and to the point. For the full list of bug fixes and improvements in today’s Mario Kart World update, check out the patch notes from Nintendo below:

General

• Adjusted courses selected in “Random” when selecting next course in a wireless “VS Race.”

Fixed Issues

• Made readjustments to fix an issue where rate fluctuations were sometimes displayed incorrectly in “Online Play” and “Knockout Tour.”
• Fixed an issue where you sometimes can’t recover quickly after falling off the course in “Dino Dino Jungle”.
• Fixed an issue where you continually hit the wall near the finish line of “Boo Cinema” when transformed into Bullet Bill.

Mario Kart World is available for the Nintendo Switch 2 console. It is sold as part of a Switch 2 bundle or separately.

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A new rumor about Luigi’s Mansion 4 on Nintendo Switch 2 lines up with previous rumors about the game and has Nintendo fans excited. It has been 24 years since Luigi’s Mansion debuted in 2001 via the Nintendo GameCube as a GameCube launch game, and notably the first Mario game on the console. Since then, Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon was released in 2013 via the Nintendo 3DS and Luigi’s Mansion 3 released in 2019 for the Nintendo Switch 2. The series has now been dormant for six years, which isn’t as long as its first 12-year dormancy, but matches the length between the second and third game in the series. There’s still no official word of Luigi’s Mansion 4 for Nintendo Switch 2, but there is a new tiny rumor about the game that is going to be enough to have fans excited.

Over on social media platform X, Nintendo insider and leaker Nash Weedle doesn’t say much about Luigi’s Mansion 4, but teases that it is going to be “amazing” on Nintendo Switch 2. And this lines up with a previous 2024 rumor about the game, which claimed the game was twice the size of previous games and set to have “mind-blowing visuals.”

This new rumor doens’t mention a release date or release window for Luigi’s Mansion 4, but this previous rumor claimed it was coming out in the first half of 2026. If this is true, it is going to be revealed soon as the first half of 2026 is obviously not very far away.

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Of course, take everything, this new tease and the previous rumor, with a grain of salt. Nothing here is official, and while the sources have proven reputable at times in the past, they are not always on the mark.

At the moment of publishing, Nintendo has not commented on any of this in any capacity. And we do not suspect this will change for a handful of reasons. If Nintendo does budge and comment though, we will update the story accordingly. In the meantime, for more Nintendo Switch 2 coverage — including everything between the latest official Nintendo Switch 2 news and deals to the latest unofficial Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and speculation — click here.

The post New Nintendo Switch 2 Report Teases Luigi’s Mansion 4 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new Super Smash Bros. rumor has given an update on the next game in the series, and shed light on why it may be taking so long. It has been seven calendar years since the release of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Nintendo Switch in 2018. This is already tied for the longest gap between releases — tied with the gap between 2001’s Super Smash Bros. Melee and 2008’s Super Smash Bros. Brawl — and it is going to be extended because the next installment hasn’t even been announced, let alone dated. In fact, it is probably very early in development in the pre-production stage, if at all.

Super Smash Bros. creator and director, Masahiro Sakurai and the Sora Ltd. team responsible for making the series, with Bandai Namco, is currently working on Kirby Air Riders, which is set to come to Nintendo Switch 2 later this year. Of course, if Sakurai and the Smash Bros. team is working on Kirby Air Riders, it means they aren’t working on the next Super Smash Bros. game in any meaningful capacity. This is obviously not great news for Super Smash Bros. fans hoping to play the next game in the series soon. This isn’t new information though, but we do have new unofficial information, courtesy of a new rumor.

The new rumor comes the way of YouTuber Kiwi Talkz, who claims that Kirby Air Riders is the result of a negotiation between the aforementioned Sakurai and Nintendo. According to the YouTuber, Sakurai has been burned out making Super Smash Bros. games for a while, and in order for Nintendo to get him to do another Super Smash Bros. game, he negotiated for Kirby Air Riders to be made first, a luxury he can afford because Nintendo has nobody who can replace him.

“This game is Sakurai’s passion project,” claims Kiwi Talkz. “He was burned out from working on Smash Bros constantly since 2012 so as a negotiating tactic offered to do another Smash if he could do Kirby Air Riders first. Nintendo are in a bind with Smash Bros as Sakurai is irreplaceable currently.”

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Is any of this true? Well, we can’t verify, so be sure to take this new information with a grain of salt, though it wouldn’t be very surprising if this is true as it tracks with both previous rumors and even some information from Sakurai himself.

At the moment of publishing, Nintendo has not commented on this new rumor in any capacity. We do not suspect this will change for many reasons, but if it does, we will update the story accordingly.

The post New Super Smash Bros. Report Gives Update on New Game appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo helped develop Death Stranding 2 in a fairly roundabout way. Video games are a very collaborative effort, a lot of studios help each other in various ways. Epic Games has a hand in a ton of games thanks to the fact it developed Unreal Engine, Crystal Dynamics is helping out on Perfect Dark, and a lot of teams under a larger umbrella like Sony or Xbox often help each other out to make the best game possible. It’s pretty much unheard of for a big AAA game to be developed solely by the team that is credited on the box. Even Call of Duty is developed by a wide variety of studios these days.

With that said, some may be surprised to see Nintendo is named in Death Stranding 2‘s very long credits sequence at the end of the game. This credit is specifically for Nintendo Pictures, a Japanese animation studio owned by the gaming giant. They do a variety of things for the animation medium from CG to motion capture, but their appearance in the credits certainly raised some eyebrows for some fans.

As noted by VGC, the credit is possibly the result of a contract that was made when Death Stranding 2 entered production about 4 or 5 years ago, which was before Nintendo even owned this company. The company was previously known as Dynamo Pictures and worked on a wide variety of projects, but Nintendo acquired the company in 2022 and renamed it.

The company was credited on the original Death Stranding as well, but it’s probably less likely that they will work on future Kojima games or a potential Death Stranding 3. It’s still an interesting credit and cool to see Nintendo collaborate on a PlayStation game, especially given the unique history between the two companies. Some have assumed there’s bad blood between PlayStation and Nintendo, but PlayStation did put LEGO Horizon Adventures on Nintendo Switch last year and there are some rumors that more games could come to Switch 2, but that remains to be seen.

As for Death Stranding 2, it’s one of PlayStation’s best games this generation. The game is being hailed as a Game of the Year candidate as it refines the ideas from the first game and makes them far more engaging and exciting. It’s a huge leap for the series as the first game was quite divisive, but the sequel is being embraced in a big way.

The post Nintendo Worked on Death Stranding 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo Switch 2 owners will have several major games to look forward to throughout 2025. Right now, owners are pretty busy with Mario Kart World, and Donkey Kong Bananza is coming on July 17th. There’s also Pokemon Legends: Z-A on October 16th. Nintendo has now announced that another game will be released between Donkey Kong and Pokemon, and that’s Drag x Drive. This morning, the company confirmed that the game will be released on August 14th for just $20, a much better price than the rising costs of other games. The Nintendo Today app featured this bit of news, but little additional information was provided.

Drag x Drive was one of several titles announced during April’s Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. The game is clearly inspired by the real-life sport of wheelchair basketball, but with a hook that takes advantage of the Switch 2 hardware. Rather than using a standard control scheme, Drag x Drive has players use two Joy-Con controllers in the mouse configuration, with each one directing an arm and wheel. The game also features characters with futuristic looking designs.

I had a chance to go hands-on with Drag x Drive during a media event earlier this year. While the game’s control mechanic felt unique (and classically Nintendo), I found that it left my arms feeling a bit tired after an extended play session. It was also difficult to tell just how much content to expect from the finished product. There are some interesting ways Nintendo could expand on the concept, including skin designs, modes, and more. However, it’s really hard to tell just how robust the software will be. If Drag x Drive does end up light on content, the game’s cheaper price point could help some overlook it.

Now that we know when Drag x Drive is coming out, there are still a handful of big Switch 2 games left without release dates. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, and Kirby Air Riders are all currently slated to release before the end of the calendar year. With the company seemingly leaning on a monthly release schedule for first-party games, it’s possible we could see one of these games in September, November, and December. There’s also Splatoon Raiders on the way, but it’s unclear if that game will be released this year, or sometime in 2026.

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As of this writing, Nintendo’s plans for 2026 are a pretty big mystery. We know that Rhythm Heaven Groove and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream will be released on the original Switch, and will be playable on the new system, as well. Beyond those two games, nothing has been announced, which is why many fans have been patiently awaiting a Nintendo Direct presentation to build hype for next year. At the moment though, the only livestream announced is a Pokemon Presents, which will take place on July 22nd.

Are you interested in playing Drag x Drive? What Nintendo Switch 2 games are you looking forward to playing? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post $20 Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive Now Has a Release Date appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is seven years old. Despite this, there is still no word of a new Super Smash Bros. game. The assumption is a new one will be released during the NIntendo Switch 2 generation, but right now it looks like if this happens it will be in the latter half of the Nintendo Switch 2 generation. One of the big questions surrounding the hypothetical game is what will its roster be. Will it try to replicate what Super Smash Bros. Ultimate did and feature every character from the series’ past, plus a mini-roster of new characters? Or will it reboot the franchise and have a smaller roster? It remains to be seen, but many fans are convinced one Mario character will make her debut in the game.

Over on the Super Smash Bros. Reddit page, there is a post dedicated to explaining why Paulina is likely to be added to the Super Smash Bros. roster, given her many and consistent appearances in Mario and Donkey Kong games recently. In other words, it feels like Nintendo has been promoting the character whenever it gets the chance.

In the comments, many agree with the theory, however, not everyone is keen on the idea of Paulina being added. Reasons cited include there being too many Mario characters and the perception that she would not have a very unique or interesting moveset.

“Yes. She has the best chances now,” reads the top comment on the post. A second comment adds: “I don’t know much about Pauline. I personally would prefer Toad or Waluigi because I think they would be easier to create a unique and enjoyable moveset for.

“She’s probably one of the least interesting Mario characters they could in my opinion, adds a third Super Smash Bros. fan in the comments. “It’s not that I don’t like her in her own, but she’s just not a character I want as a fighter in Smash.

Meanwhile, a fourth fan further adds: “She has a very high chance lately, and that is very exciting to me.”

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Of course, this is all speculation, and as fans point out, if there is going to be a Mario character added it does feel like it would be Waluigi given the massive demand for the character to be added in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which Nintendo never made good on. However, Mario is the main series of the game, so it is reasonable to think two Mario characters could be added, especially if one is added with the base game and another with DLC.

As always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think. Meanwhile, for more coverage on all things Super Smash Bros, click here.

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According to a new report, Nintendo Switch 2 is getting one of 2024’s best games, and it is going to be revealed soon. According to the same report, a new and major Nintendo Direct is going to happen in July. And among other announcements and surprises — including a surprise for GameCube fans — it is claimed that one of the best RPGs of this console generation is going to be announced for Nintendo Switch 2. There is no word of a release date, but it will presumably be not too far away considering this is just a port.

The new report comes the way of popular YouTuber BeatEmUps, who — during a recent episode of the Nontendo Podcast — made the claim that not only is Metaphor: ReFantazio in the works for Nintendo Switch 2, but going to be revealed at the aforementioned next Nintendo Direct, which they claim is coming sometime next month.

Unfortunately, this is the extent of the report. There is no word of how the port is shaping up, whether it will release alongside any new content nor any details on the technical specs of the port. There is also, as mentioned before, no word of a release date or a price point.

As for the game, for those unfamiliar with it, Metaphor: ReFantazio was released last year on October 11 via PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S and by developer Studio Zero (Atlus) and Sega. Upon release, it garnered a 94 on Metacritic, making it one of the highest-rated games of 2024. And it paired this with a Game of the Year nomination at The Game Awards. At the same show, it notably won Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction. It also sold one million units in 24 hours, making it the fastest-selling Atlus game. Since then, it has sold another million copies.

“From the creative minds behind Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, a unique fantasy world, where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince,” reads an official description of the game for those unfamiliar with it. “Control your destiny, face your fears and awaken magical “Archetype” powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an “Archetype,” you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.”

Of course, and as always with unofficial information, take everything here with a grain of salt. Not only is everything here unofficial, but even if it is accurate the information is also subject to change.

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For more Nintendo Switch 2 coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 speculation — click here.

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After a long wait, Final Fantasy XVI was finally released on Xbox earlier this month. While Square Enix has yet to make any kind of a formal announcement, it seems the company might be planning to release the game on another platform. During a recent livestream (via Genki_JPN), the Xbox version of the game was briefly discussed. With Final Fantasy XVI available on PS5, PC, and now Xbox, producer Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida noted that Nintendo is the last platform remaining that doesn’t have the game. Co-director Kazutoyo Maehiro followed that comment, noting “I want to do my best” and “I want to conquer it.”

It remains to be seen whether Square Enix would be able to deliver a version of Final Fantasy XVI on Nintendo Switch 2 that doesn’t feel like a major downgrade from the other versions. However, we’re already seeing third-party developers pull off games that would have been completely impossible on the original Switch. The best example so far is Cyberpunk 2077, which has already gained significant praise from players, and has released to strong sales. CD Projekt Red devoted a lot of time and effort into making a Switch 2 version that feels substantial and worth experiencing, and the developers have been rewarded as a result.

Final Fantasy XVI was initially released as a timed exclusive on PS5, but Square Enix is starting to move away from this practice. After multiple games failed to meet sales expectations, the publisher has started to place greater emphasis on multiplatform releases instead. We’ve already seen that benefit Xbox users, and we know of at least one former exclusive that will be coming to Nintendo Switch 2 later this year: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade. Last month, that game’s co-director Naoki Hamaguchi stated that he has “high hopes that we can build a strong partnership between Nintendo and the Final Fantasy brand.”

Presumably, Hamaguchi was referring to bringing over the rest of the Final Fantasy Remake Trilogy to the system. However, porting another acclaimed Final Fantasy game to Nintendo Switch 2 would be a way to continue building that partnership. Of course, there are other options that would make sense on the system, including Final Fantasy XV; while the game’s Pocket Edition was released on Switch several years ago, the original has never been made available on a Nintendo platform.

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With Nintendo Switch 2 now available, it’s a safe bet that we’re going to see a lot of games released on the system from several third-party publishers. Square Enix seems to have big plans for the future, but it remains to be seen whether Final Fantasy XVI will actually fit into those plans, or if it’s just wishful thinking on the part of Yoshi-P and Maehiro. We likely won’t learn more about those plans until after Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade arrives on the system.

Would you like to see Final Fantasy XVI brought over to Nintendo Switch 2? Are there any other Square Enix games you’d like on the system? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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The next Nintendo Direct is reportedly happening soon. Following the recent Donkey Kong Bananza Direct this week, Nintendo is supposedly gearing up for another Nintendo Direct in July that will focus on the rest of 2025 and its lineup for it. And according to the same report, this Nintendo Direct is going to have a nice surprise for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers and GameCube nostalgics.

As you may know, with the release of Nintendo Switch 2, GameCube games have been added to Nintendo Switch Online. Unfortunately, this addition is exclusive to the Switch 2 and not available to any Nintendo Switch Online subscribers on Switch. It is also limited to the more expensive Expansion Pack tier. And lastly, right now the GameCube library on Nintendo Switch 2 Online is pretty sparse. That said, the Nintendo Direct is supposedly going to remedy this, or at least improve the situation. The aforementioned report claims during the Nintendo Direct, a new Nintendo Switch Online game will be shadow dropped, and it will be Pokemon Colosseum, which has already been announced for Nintendo Switch Online, but has not been dated.

Meanwhile, it is claimed that its sequel, Pokemon XD: Gale of Darkness — which has also been announced for Nintendo Switch Online — will be held for a later date.

All of this information comes the way of Nontendo Podcast, and specifically via YouTuber Beatemups. This not the most prolific source so it is worth noting that everything above should certainly be taken with a grain of salt. Meanwhile, not only is everything here unofficial, but even if it is accurate, it also subject to change that could render it inaccurate. As we have learned in the past from previous reporting, Nintendo Direct dates, in particular, can move all around as they are dependent on multiple partners all being ready at the same time, something that can be a tricky logistical feat at times.

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At the moment of publishing, Nintendo has not commented on this new report in any capacity. And there are a few reasons why this is unlikely to change, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

As for the game itself, Pokemon Colosseum is a fan-favorite among Pokemon fans, and is a great addition to Nintendo Switch Online because it is very hard and expensive to access as one of the most expensive GameCube games. Unlike many Pokemon games, it was not made by Game Freak, but Genius Sonority, who released it with Nintendo in 2003/2004 via the GameCube and the GameCube only. It is a spin-off in the series that garnered a 73 on Metacritic and managed to sell a couple million copies, making it a moderate success for Nintendo.

For more coverage on all things Nintendo — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here.

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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been dethroned as the highest-rated game of 2025 by not one, but two Nintendo Switch 2 games. That said, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 remains the highest-rated new release of 2025 as the two Switch 2 games now above it on the Metacritic rankings are ports of Nintendo Switch games from the previous generation. With these two new additions to the Best Games This Year ranking on Metacritic, Blue Prince falls to the fourth spot and Split Fiction to the fifth spot. For those that don’t know, Split Fiction has a 91 on Metacritic, Blue Prince a 92, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 a 93.

The two Nintendo Switch 2 games above this trio are The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The former has a 97 on Nintendo Switch, and now it pairs that with a 94 on Nintendo Switch 2. Meanwhile, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has a 95 on Nintendo Switch 2, which pairs with its 96 on Nintendo Switch. Suffice to say, it isn’t surprising to see these two games review well on Nintendo Switch 2, despite Nintendo doing the bare minimum with each port.

Come the end of the year, these will probably be the two highest-rated games of the year as there isn’t currently anything slated to release this year that looks positioned to get a 94 or higher. There are a few games that could come close, such as Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong Bonanza, Borderlands 4, and Ninja Gaiden 4, but it is rare for a game to score a 94 or higher. If there is one game that has a good shot at doing it, based on how games in the series have scored in the past, it is Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, a fellow Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive game.

RELATED: The Legend of Zelda Fans Disappointed With New Release

For more Nintendo Switch 2 coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here.

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The Nintendo GameCube is home to many classic and beloved games. While Nintendo has remastered and re-released many of these games throughout the years, there are far too many great titles that fans are still unable to play.

With the Nintendo Switch 2 adding GameCube games to its Nintendo Online library, there has never been a better time for Nintendo to bring games from the GameCube to its latest console. Many of these games would benefit from the ability to be played handheld. Not only this, but many deserve a second chance, especially considering the wider audience for the Nintendo Switch 2. From legendary adventures to cult favorites, here are nine standout GameCube games we’d love to see brought to the Nintendo Switch 2.

1) The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is one of the best Zelda games, and despite a remaster on Wii U, it has yet to be playable on Nintendo Switch. But the Nintendo Switch 2 offers the perfect opportunity to bring the iconic game to a handheld console. While many would likely prefer to see The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD ported, fans would be happy to see either version, and the Nintendo Switch 2’s hardware should be more than capable of running both titles.

A portable version of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess would allow fans to experience the narrative depth and immersive atmosphere of one of the darker titles in the series on the go. What’s more, the motion controls introduced on the Wii could be replicated with the Joy-Cons, giving the best of both versions. The interesting dungeons, clever puzzles, and fan-favorite transformation with Link and his wolf form are a must-have on Nintendo Switch 2.

2) Metroid Prime 2: Echoes

Metroid Prime 2: Echoes expands on the series, continuing its first-person perspective. A new feature in this sequel was the addition of a light and dark world, enhancing the methodical exploration the series is known for. Nintendo and Retro Studios pushed the GameCube to its limits with the game’s impressive visuals and complex enemy AI. This, combined with the tense atmosphere and thrilling gameplay of the Metroid Prime series, makes it one of the most memorable games on the GameCube.

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Rereleasing Metroid Prime 2: Echoes on the Nintendo Switch 2 through its Nintendo Online library would allow veterans and newcomers alike to enjoy the game, especially after the release of Metroid Prime Remastered and the upcoming Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Not only this, but new modernized controls could be added and some of the more frustrating aspects could be balanced. Adding Metroid Prime 2: Echoes to the Nintendo Switch 2 lineup is the next logical step for the Metroid series and continues the franchise’s resurgence.

3) Custom Robo

Custom Robo was released on the GameCube in 2007, marking the series’ first appearance in the United States. It instantly became a cult classic, but ultimately the series fizzled out after a follow-up game on the Nintendo DS. Re-releasing the game on the Nintendo Switch 2 as part of Nintendo Switch Online would give the series a revival and bring it to a wider audience. Not only that, but Nintendo could expand the game with new features.

Customization and strategic battles are the core of Custom Robo and would be done on a handheld console. Adding online multiplayer would also greatly expand the game’s replayability and allow for a larger community. This community could not only battle across the world but also share ideas and strategies. With the popularity of online multiplayer games, Custom Robo could be a unique title for the Nintendo Switch 2.

4) Wario World

Wario World was one of the quirkiest 3D platformers, which is fitting considering the nature of the Wario series. Unlike Mario, Wario World focused on action-packed combat and leaned into its slapstick humor and Wario’s greed. The game’s shorter length allowed for multiple replays and capitalized on the high-energy gameplay. Bizarre enemy designs and thrilling boss fights made the game further memorable.

A re-release on the Nintendo Switch 2 would give the game a second chance. Its length is perfectly suited for the brief playtimes the handhold console offers. It would also allow Nintendo to implement quality-of-life improvements to make the game feel more modern. Not only that, but bringing Wario World to the Nintendo Switch 2 would be a great introduction to those not familiar with Wario’s solo games. Giving Wario the spotlight once more on a new console could even lead to a much-deserved sequel.

5) Mario Kart: Double Dash!!

The title of best Mario Kart has always been debated, but Mario Kart: Double Dash!! is easily a contender. It is the most unique game in the series, allowing players to choose two characters and granting special items based on the selected character. The ability to swap between characters and allow for duos to play on the same kart adds a new layer of strategy to the game not seen in any title after it.

RELATED: Nintendo Fans Discover GameCube Secret 24 Years Later

Mario Kart: Double Dash!! would fill a different role than Mario Kart World. This GameCube classic offers a more arcadey and nostalgic experience and showcases the game’s cooperative nature. Porting Mario Kart: Double Dash!! would allow Nintendo to improve visuals, add online multiplayer, and maybe even add more characters. Reintroducing it would not only honor its legacy but also offer fresh, chaotic fun for new players.

6) Viewtiful Joe

Viewtiful Joe is one of the most visually appealing and unique games on the Nintendo GameCube. This stylish beat-em-up uses its comic book aesthetic to its advantage in its gameplay and narrative. Players take the role of a movie fan who gains different powers based on the worlds he visits. These added depth and variety to the game, essentially making each level feel unique. Its humor, puzzles, and difficulty make it perfect for a handheld port.

Like many games from the GameCube, the distinct art style holds up incredibly well. Nintendo would merely need to clean the visuals up for a modern audience. Its frantic action lends itself to both short and long play sessions, taking advantage of everything the Nintendo Switch 2 offers. Superhero popularity is at an all-time high now, so it is the perfect time to bring back this nostalgic superhero title.

7) Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg

Created by Sonic Team, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg was one of the most imaginative platformers on the GameCube. Players relied on Billy and his eggs to battle enemies, solve puzzles, and explore the whimsical worlds. The core mechanic of rolling, growing, and hatching eggs allowed for all manner of creativity and charm. The game never received the attention it deserved, but a Nintendo Switch 2 release could change that.

With a re-release on Nintendo Switch 2, Billy Hatcher and the Giant Egg could have more acclaim than the cult following it has. Improved visuals and controls, specifically with its camera, would breathe new life into the game. Adding more polish to this 3D platformer would allow it to reach a wider audience and push the envelope for a sequel. Its quirky tone, inventive gameplay, and colorful world are perfectly suited to Nintendo’s new console.

8) The Simpsons: Hit & Run

The Simpsons: Hit & Run has often been referred to as “GTA for kids”, which would explain its presence on the Nintendo GameCube. But beyond that, it is a beloved title set within a beloved IP and stands the test of time thanks to its satire, humor, and action. Springfield comes to life in this open-world title, offering players numerous vehicles to drive, missions to complete, and an engaging story that is new but in line with The Simpsons.

The Simpsons: Hit & Run’s engaging gameplay would bring a lot of joy to a modern audience on the Nintendo Switch 2. Updated graphics and refined controls would add a lot of quality of life. Nintendo could even enhance the voice acting of the game to generate even more excitement. Reviving The Simpsons: Hit & Run would be a nostalgic and commercially savvy move, especially with demand for open-world games at an all-time high.

9) Super Smash Bros. Melee

The best Super Smash Bros. game is always up for debate, but Super Smash Bros. Melee is always included in this discussion. Few games have stood the test of time as this platform fighter, as tournaments are still held two decades after release. Super Smash Bros. Melee’s speed, precision, and competitive depth have made it one of the most popular titles in the series. This pairs perfectly with its appeal to a casual audience, making it a game for everyone.

Super Smash Bros. Melee could easily exist next to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on the Nintendo Switch 2. Balancing preservation with modernization would be key, considering the game’s revered status and not disturbing the competitive scene. With a re-release, Nintendo could incorporate many of the features of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate without taking away from the game’s identity. Including the title on Nintendo Switch 2 would honor Super Smash Bros. Melee’s legacy and expand its reach.

The post 9 GameCube Games We Want on Nintendo Switch 2 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Legend of Zelda fans are patiently waiting to see what is next from the series, whether it is a Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom follow up or another re-release of a Zelda game from yesteryear or a spin-off like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Obviously, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this year, but this is far from a traditional Zelda experience. What Zelda fans do have, in the meanwhile, are new Nintendo Switch 2 versions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. They also have the GameCube version of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker available via Nintendo Switch Online. Unfortunately, it seems some Zelda fans are not very happy with The Wind Waker on Nintendo Switch 2.

Some The Legend of Zelda fans on the Nintendo Switch 2 Reddit page are not happy that it is the GameCube version. Clearly, when some Legend of Zelda fans think of The Wind Waker, they think of the HD version that was released on Wii U alongside a slew of improvements and upgrades. To this end, to get an upgrade to The Wind Waker, only to revert back to an older and inferior version two console generations later is an odd and questionable call from Nintendo.

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When you consider especially the amount of Wii U games Nintendo ported to the Nintendo Switch — and the Switch 2 by consequence — it makes having the best version of the game out of reach all the more frustrating for fans. And this is exactly what a new post on the Nintendo Switch 2 Reddit page gets at.

“I was so excited when they announced Switch 2 and Wind Waker was part of GameCube Online….then that excitement faded rapidly when it wasn’t the HD version,” writes one fan about the topic. “They have it available, it makes no sense to not release that versionIt feels like shameful nickel/diming of the fanbase.”

Another fan adds: “Can’t imagine why they would port over all the cool Wii U games and just completely forget the masterpiece that is Wind Waker HD. That’s the game that got me into Zelda in the first place and I need to replay it.”

Unfortunately, this is there nothing that is going to remedy this situation. It seems particularly unlikely that The Wind Waker HD is going to come to Nintendo Switch 2 in its native form now that one of the big selling points of Nintendo Switch Online are the GameCube games, and The Wind Waker is the current star of that lineup. The powder also isn’t very dry anymore, so it would make sense for Nintendo to port over classic Zelda games forward first.

All of that said, and as always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think. Meanwhile, for more coverage on all things The Legend of Zelda, click here.

The post The Legend of Zelda Fans Disappointed With New Release appeared first on ComicBook.com.

At launch, the Nintendo Switch 2 had a few backwards compatibility issues with first-party games. To help gamers know what to expect, Nintendo released a list of games with known compatibility issues on the new console. Ever since, they’ve been keeping it updated as the company works to resolve lingering issues for its first-party games on Switch 2. One major problem was the fact that using Mii Fighters in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate could cause a glitch where matches suddenly ended. Now, it seems Nintendo has fixed the problem.

Overall, most Nintendo Switch games should run relatively well (if not better) on the Switch 2. But Nintendo is hard at work resolving new glitches that have popped up for the new console. Just today, we got a patch to resolve some Switch 2 bugs for Animal Crossing: New Horizons, along with a new console patch for the Switch and Switch 2. Now, it appears that the firmware update may also have resolved the Mii Fighter glitch in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

As shared by reliable Nintendo news source @OatmealDome on X, Nintendo has updated the Nintendo Switch 2 compatibility information for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Mii Fighters Shouldn’t Crash Matches in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Anymore

One thing to note is that this update only addresses one of two known issues with Mii Fighters on Switch 2. While the match-ending issue is definitely the bigger problem, this update doesn’t look to fix the problem where Mii Fighter thumbnails don’t always save correctly.

The note is dated June 19th, the same day as the Switch 1 and Switch 2 update. Nintendo usually releases pretty vague patch notes, so it’s hard to say exactly how many issues today’s Switch patch resolved. However, the timing makes it look pretty likely that one of the “General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience” involved this fix for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

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With this problem fixed, you should be able to use the Mii Fighter again when playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. The thumbnails may still not save correctly, but at least your matches won’t abruptly end without warning.

Are you excited to have the Mii Fighter back as a viable option in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? Let us know in the comments below.

The post Nintendo Fixes Super Smash Bros. Ultimate’s Switch 2 Problem appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo Switch 2 has been available for two weeks now, and the system itself seems to be performing quite well. Most regions are reporting big sales numbers, but it seems early adopters have largely rejected the third-party games that launched alongside it. According to a report from The Game Business, sales for the system’s third-party launch games have been mostly low, with one publisher stating that they came “below our lowest estimates.” However, it wasn’t all bad news, as one game seemed to rise above all the rest, and that was CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077.

Cyberpunk 2077 is officially the best-selling third-party game on Nintendo Switch 2 right now, with sales currently outpacing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on the original Switch. The Game Business offers multiple reasons Switch 2 buyers might have rejected third-party games at launch, including the fact that most of the games have been available on other platforms for some time now. However, the same can be said for Cyberpunk 2077, which was released all the way back in 2020. So why did Switch 2 owners pick up the CD Projekt Red game? It might have been a rejection of Game-Key Cards.

During the announcement of Nintendo Switch 2 back in April, Nintendo revealed Game-Key Cards, which are physical game cards that are inserted into the system, but don’t have any actual game data on them. Instead, it prompts a download from the eShop. Nintendo’s first-party games are not on Game-Key cards, but nearly every third-party publisher on the system opted to use them at launch. The one exception was Cyberpunk 2077, which features the full game and DLC all on the game card that comes inside the box. This was not a secret either, as CD Projekt Red openly advertised that it was doing this. In May, CDPR’s Jan Rosner told The Game Business that “Nintendo players are very appreciative of physical editions that are done right.”

Now that early sales figures are starting to come in, it looks like CDPR’s investment in a true physical release for Cyberpunk 2077 on Nintendo Switch 2 may have paid off. While publishers have been largely dismissive of physical game releases for the last several years, the fact is, the original Switch has a passionate audience of game collectors. People like collecting physical games for the system. Across social media, many of those same fans have decried Game-Key Cards for the last two months. If early Switch 2 adopters are the most passionate Nintendo fans, it makes sense that these same people are skipping over Game-Key Card releases.

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Hopefully this seeming rejection of Game-Key Cards will cause third-party publishers to rethink their strategies on Nintendo Switch 2. Limited Run Games has shown an interest in releasing true physical versions of Game-Key Card titles, but it remains to be seen whether publishers will accept. If this early sales data isn’t a rejection of Game-Key Cards, and Switch 2 owners are just skipping third-party launch games because they’ve been available for a few months now, we should see that reflected in the performance of games that are getting simultaneous releases on the platform alongside Xbox and PS5 versions. We’ll know better when games like Madden NFL 26 and Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds are released later this year.

Did you pick up Cyberpunk 2077 on Nintendo Switch 2? Do you care about Game-Key Card releases? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Cyberpunk 2077 Is One of Nintendo Switch 2’s Only Strong Selling Third-Party Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new update is now live for both versions of Nintendo Switch. Whether you’re using the original system or Nintendo Switch 2, you’ll find yourself prompted to update to version 20.1.5 the next time you turn it on. Unfortunately, Nintendo has not gone into any significant detail about what to expect. The company has released patch notes, but they don’t tell us too much. However, the update does seem to fix issues with some games that haven’t been running on the new system. Specifically, it seems titles that use the Carbon Engine may have been fixed. We’ll offer more details following the patch notes from Nintendo’s official website below:

Ver. 20.1.5 (Released June 18, 2025)

• General system stability improvements to enhance the user’s experience.

Nintendo has a full list of Switch 1 games that are having compatibility issues with Switch 2. Many games on that list are reissues and compilations of older titles that use the Carbon Engine created by Limited Run Games. In my review for Nintendo Switch 2, I tested Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection and it crashed almost immediately. Shortly after launch, Limited Run Games founder Josh Fairhurst stated that the publisher seemed to discover the specific issue facing Carbon Engine games, and had reported it to Nintendo. It looks like the 20.1.5 system update has resolved the problem. Following the update, I once again tested Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection, and it seems to now run just as well as it did on the original Switch.

Without testing all games that use the Carbon Engine on the system, it’s impossible to say whether this update has resolved all of their Switch 2 backwards compatibility problems. However, Fairhurst’s assessment attributed the issue to “a line of code that is used for video playback on the original Switch.” He also claimed that it could have been causing issues with games from other publishers. If this was a pretty simple fix, it’s possible Nintendo could have a lot more games backwards compatible as a result. As of this writing, Nintendo has not updated its list of Switch 1 games having issues on Switch 2, but it’s possible the line of code has been fixed.

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Nintendo and its partners seem to be working hard behind the scenes to improve backwards compatibility on Switch 2, ensuring that existing Switch owners can continue to use the vast majority of their games on the new system without issue. We’ve seen a large number of updates for older games over just the last two weeks, and developers seem to have taken the opportunity to even add in some new quality of life improvements here and there. For Nintendo Switch 2 owners that never had an original Switch, this might be the perfect excuse to buy some of the many games that have been released over the last 8 years.

Are you happy to see more backwards compatibility issues resolved? Do you own any Switch games that have had issues on Switch 2? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Nintendo Switch 2 System Update Seemingly Fixes Issues With Some Switch 1 Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For a while, it seemed like Nintendo had all but forgotten about its popular Switch title, Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Until a surprise update last month, the game hadn’t been updated since 2022. Now, Nintendo has pushed out a second patch less than a month after the first. Though this isn’t the new Animal Crossing game news fans were hoping for, it does show that Nintendo is thinking about the franchise. Today’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons update fixes a few bugs and more.

Many Nintendo fans were surprised to see no mention of a new Animal Crossing title during the Switch 2 direct. There is also no dedicated Switch 2 version of Animal Crossing: New Horizons. However, Nintendo has clearly been thinking about how to optimize its beloved game on the new console. This latest patch is the second one in the last two months. While it’s no major content update, it does fix a few pesky issues.

First and foremost, this update fixes a glitch that specifically plagues the game on the Switch 2. Apparently, trying to change the door decoration of a resident’s home with Tom Noko could cause Animal Crossing: New Horizons to get completely stuck on Switch 2. Now, that problem has been resolved. The update also fixes a few other glitches that impact gamers on the original Switch as well as the Switch 2. This includes vanishing crafted fences and “other adjustments and corrections.”

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Patch Notes for Version 2.0.8

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For the full list of changes in today’s Animal Crossing: New Horizons update, check out the patch notes as shared by Nintendo Support.

Fixed bugs on Nintendo Switch 2

• Fixed an issue where the game could not progress when attempting to change the door decoration variation while suggesting a resident’s home exterior to Tom Nook at Resident Services.

Other Fixes

• Fixed an issue where newly crafted fencing would not be added to the player’s inventory if a remade version of the same fence was already in their pocket.
• Other adjustments and corrections were made to improve the game play experience.

The new Animal Crossing: New Horizons update is available now for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. You will need to make sure the game is updated in order to connect to online features. It should install automatically, but if not, you can follow the instructions here to update your game.

This update, along with the general improvements of the Nintendo Switch 2, should make the Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience even better. Whether the sudden attention to the older game means a big announcement is on the horizon, we’ll just have to wait and see.

The post Animal Crossing: New Horizons Just Got Another Rare Update appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Today’s Nintendo Direct solely focused on Donkey Kong Bananza, the next major exclusive for Nintendo Switch 2. The game has been the subject of a lot of speculation since it was announced back in April, and today’s livestream only increased discussion among the Nintendo faithful. The stream began by confirming the identity of the new character, Odd Rock. As previous leaks indicated, Odd Rock is actually Pauline, the “damsel in distress” that debuted back in the original Donkey Kong arcade game. Pauline has appeared several times since her 1981 debut, but she’s significantly younger now than she was in 2017’s Super Mario Odyssey. At this time, it’s unclear why that is, but it could confirm a major fan theory.

The theory in question is that Donkey Kong Bananza is actually a prequel to the entire series… and all of Mario continuity, for that matter. Nintendo has always played fast and loose when it comes to an actual franchise timeline, but a prequel would help to explain Pauline’s age. This seems to be the same character, too; Donkey Kong Bananza is putting a big emphasis on Pauline’s singing abilities. Pauline’s singing played a big part in her appearance in Super Mario Odyssey, as well as subsequent games. Making Bananza a prequel would make sense in that regard, except there are a lot of elements that don’t quite line up with what we know from the past.

Previous Donkey Kong Country games have suggested that Cranky Kong is the Donkey Kong that appeared in the original arcade series. Meanwhile, the current Donkey Kong is either his son (the former Donkey Kong Jr.), or his grandson. Nintendo hasn’t always been clear on that point, though The Super Mario Bros. Movie went with the latter explanation. If Donkey Kong Bananza really is a prequel to the rest of the series, it doesn’t explain why Cranky looks as old as he has in all of the game’s footage, or how Diddy Kong looks the same age as he does in games like Donkey Kong Country.

Another possibility is that there’s some kind of time travel involved in Donkey Kong Bananza. It wouldn’t be out of the question for Nintendo; Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time featured a time travel plot that saw the eponymous brothers allied with their baby counterparts. It’s worth mentioning that Donkey Kong Bananza‘s VoidCo villains seemed to display some kind of fantastical powers in our hands-on preview of the game back in April. It’s possible that their plot in the game has something to do with pulling a young Pauline forward in the timeline. If the villains see Donkey Kong as their biggest threat, tampering with time could be a way to try to stop the big ape. Of course, the younger Pauline could even be the daughter or a relative of the original.

The final possibility is that Donkey Kong Bananza is a complete reboot, disconnected from any previous game in the series, as well as the Mario franchise as a whole. That would be a little unusual given some of the connections we’ve already seen to Super Mario Odyssey, but Nintendo has done reboots in the past. The Star Fox games, in particular, have started over from scratch a few times. This would likely be the scenario that proves most disappointing to fans of the series, but it’s not like Donkey Kong has had an in-depth narrative to follow over the last four decades, either.

Whatever the case might be, Nintendo seems to have big plans for Pauline in the new Donkey Kong game. The latest Nintendo Direct showed that she’s fully voiced this time around, and it looks like she’ll be the one pushing the storyline forward as a result. The game will also feature multiplayer elements that allow a second player to control Pauline, which can be done in TV mode or through Nintendo Switch 2’s new GameShare feature. Nintendo even announced a new amiibo based on the game, which features DK and Pauline, and can be used to unlock a new outfit based on the latter character’s look in Super Mario Odyssey.

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With Donkey Kong Bananza set to be released on July 17th, we should have some answers to these questions sooner rather than later. The 3D platformer is starting to get a lot more focus from Nintendo now that Mario Kart World has been available for a couple of weeks. Donkey Kong was largely neglected during the Switch era, with the character’s appearances relegated to remasters, remakes, and Mario family titles. Things have clearly changed with Nintendo Switch 2, as Donkey Kong Bananza could prove to be one of the biggest reasons to buy the new system.

Do you think Donkey Kong Bananza is a prequel to the rest of the Donkey Kong series? Or do you think something else weird is being planned by Nintendo? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Donkey Kong Bananza Has Everyone Trying to Figure Out the Series Timeline appeared first on ComicBook.com.

If anyone thought Nintendo was bluffing when they said they would ban or brick your Nintendo Switch 2 console if you use it in a non-Nintendo authorized fashion, we’re now seeing that the Japanese gaming company was not lying. Nintendo recently made headlines that, as part of the End User Licensing Agreement, it reserves the right to render your device permanently unusable as it attempts to curb piracy and unauthorized tampering of Nintendo hardware and software. Reportedly, several console owners are receiving the error code 2124-4508, preventing the usage of online services associated with that console if they have utilized or equipped the ‘MIG Switch’ Flash cartridge.

The MIG Switch is used for loading multiple games onto one cartridge, and once placed in the Nintendo Switch 2, it should ideally allow the user to access all their purchased titles from one central cartridge. This removes the need to change cartridge inputs every time a new game is desired to be played. However, owners of the MIG Switch can also dump copies of Nintendo Switch games onto the flash cartridge that were downloaded from online repositories, avoiding the need to purchase the title themselves.

On X, creator @SwitchTools shared their personal story of attempting to legally dump their own bought cartridges onto the MIG Switch, resulting in their device being banned from online services. This narrative is not unique, as similar reports of banning are being reported on TikTok, Reddit, and other social media platforms from individuals who attempted to utilize the MIG Switch flash cartridge on the Nintendo Switch 2.

It’s been noted that this banning is not the same as the threat Nintendo has issued towards bricking the console for unauthorized usage of the Nintendo Switch 2. This is currently only an online service ban to the individual consoles that received error code 2124-4508. This also means that the Nintendo accounts themselves are not being banned, only the online services for the individual devices, which can still be utilized in offline mode. Attempting to factory reset the affected Nintendo Switch 2 may, in effect, brick the device, as you’ll be unable to set up and sign into a Nintendo Account on the device since it cannot connect to online services.

Realistically, this outcome was quite predictable as Nintendo has always had an aggressive attitude towards protecting its brands and IPs against piracy and theft. Last year, the Nintendo Switch emulator, Yuzu, folded its operations and paid out $2.4 million in damages to Nintendo as a settlement to the company’s facilitation of piracy of Nintendo’s IPs. Similarly, the creators behind Palworld, Pocketpair remain in litigation with Nintendo for patent infringement of the Pokémon brand.

The post Nintendo Reportedly Banning Switch 2 Consoles Using MIG Flash Cartridges appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is finally out, and sometime later in the year will be the release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Metroid Prime 4 will be the first fully 3D Metroid game to be released in nearly twenty years, since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption debuted on the Nintendo Wii back in 2007. This latest installment of Metroid Prime will be available to both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 audiences upon its launch.

The last major update that came from Nintendo on what players can expect with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond was during the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct that happened in early April. From the Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Direct trailer, Nintendo did offer some topline insights that lead to what players can expect, while also teasing what features may be involved in this next Metroid game.

What We Know So Far

The story of Metroid Prime 4 sees Samus Aran unexpectedly summoned to the planet Viewros, where she is looking for a means to find her way off this planet and get back home. Viewros is beautiful and filled with lush jungle environments, and is home to a central colossal tree at its core. However beautiful Viewros might be, it is also home to various alien creatures and opponents that Samus must fight to survive against, including a rival bounty hunter, Sylux.

Progression will require scanning and identifying relics on the planet to proceed. As Samus navigates across Viewros, she will obtain psychic abilities that will become integral to the combat within the game and are required for advancement in the story. So far, those abilities include new mechanics for opening doors and levers, and adjustments Samus can make to the trajectory of her beams. At the core of those powers is a central mystery to the native inhabitants of Viewros that we know little about.

What Features We Hope to See

The mechanic at the center of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is the psychic powers that are granted to Samus Aran. Knowing so far that those powers will govern beam trajectory and opening doors feels overall like a thin usage for psychic powers. In games where psychic powers are pivotal, like Control, it would be a fair wish and desire to see Samus’ psychic abilities gradually being upgraded and dialed up in value across the game. Hopefully, those psychic abilities only begin with these basic features, but expand over time with additional use cases like telekinetically throwing objects at enemies, a telekinetic shield, and upgrading the scanning function that offers elements of precognition.

Samus’ morph ball is also always up for consideration of what to expect in the next Metroid game. Typically, the morph ball is upgraded with an additional charge capacity and destructive power with the morph ball bomb. With psychic abilities, the morph ball should hopefully receive some of those powers, whether it’s a psychic blast of some form that removes the shielding from enemies imbued with psychic powers, or takes down environmental barriers preventing progression.

On the environmental frontier, if Nintendo is going to give us a colossal tree, then by the order of the great Deku Tree, audiences should have a biome that exists either on the interior or exterior of that tree. A recurring theme within many Nintendo titles is restoring balance to nature, such as with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. With the colossal tree being the center of the planet, much like in Avatar, it may be reasonable to assume that the tree will be pivotal to the endgame and the overall health of the planet of Viewros.

One consideration to always have in mind with any major release by Nintendo is to ask, “What about Amiibo?” Given that prior installments of Metroid had Amiibo functionality, it would be fair to assume that this feature would be included in Metroid Prime 4. While it’s usually a small upgrade afforded to players, it would be reasonable to assume a missile tank upgrade, which is always quite valuable in the early game.

Hopefully, with the launch of Nintendo Switch 2, more will be revealed about what games will be available and soon available for Nintendo Switch 2 owners, including updates on Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. Until then, fans of Metroid can still revisit the first installment of Metroid Prime, which is remastered for the Nintendo Switch.

The post Everything We Know About Metroid Prime 4 (And What Features We Still Need) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo Switch 2, the first new console from the storied Japanese game studio since 2017, launched on June 5th. Following that launch, excitement for upcoming games and exclusives, such as Donkey Kong Bananza and Kirby Air Riders, is at an all-time high, and fans are eagerly awaiting the next full Nintendo Direct showcasing a mix of upcoming first and third-party Switch 2 games. So far, though, all Nintendo has announced is a Donkey Kong Banaza-focused Nintendo Direct for June 18th. Considering we’re at the genesis (for lack of a better word) of a new console generation, fans are definitely expecting more, and would likely feel underwhelmed if we just get another Indie World or Partner Showcase in the coming weeks.

If a proper new Nintendo Direct is to take place, then there are several things we’d like to see from such an event. From release dates for announced titles to long-requested games by Nintendo’s fanbase, this is some of what we hope to see in the first Nintendo Direct of the Switch 2’s life cycle.

1. Give us release dates for already announced Switch 2 games

Currently, there are plenty of Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 games that have been announced but don’t have dates. That includes ones slated to launch this year, such as Drag x Drive, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Kirby Air Riders, as well as titles that are further out, like Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment, Rhythm Heaven Groove, Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, and The Duskbloods. I not only want new looks at all of the games I just mentioned, but a firmer idea of when they are coming out. At the very least, I’d like to know the release dates for many of these in the next Nintendo Direct.

2. More Nintendo Switch 2 Editions should be revealed

Nintendo Switch 2 Editions provide a great way for Nintendo to pad out the Switch 2’s game lineup in between marquee releases. There are a few games in particular in the Switch’s back catalog that I think are deserving of this treatment. Pikmin 4 is one such game that could be expanded with a new campaign or mouse support. Super Mario Bros. Wonder could also receive this treatment, potentially utilizing mouse controls to bring back some capabilities that the Wii U GamePad provided in New Super Mario Bros. U. There’s no shortage of first-party Switch games for Nintendo to choose from, so I expect quite a few of these in the Switch 2’s early years.

3. Reveal more iconic franchises’ Switch 2 debuts

While many well-known Nintendo franchises already have new games or Switch 2 Editions confirmed for Nintendo’s latest console, there are plenty of others that are still no shows. We still don’t know what Nintendo has in store for series like Animal Crossing, Fire Emblem, Splatoon, Pikmin, WarioWare, or Xenoblade during the Switch 2 console generation. I’m sure almost all of these franchises will make their way to Switch 2 over time, but if any of them are making a return in 2026, the next Nintendo Direct would be the perfect place to tease that.

4. Mother 3, please

I couldn’t write a Nintendo-related wishlist without mentioning Mother 3. Fans of this cult classic Game Boy Advance RPG, myself included, have clamored for a Western release for nearly two decades at this point, but Nintendo refuses to do it. We’re now past a decade since Nintendo of America referenced the demand in its E3 2015 Direct. It’s baffling that Nintendo has known fans have wanted it all along, but has still not localized it for either a standalone or Nintendo Switch Online release. It even did the latter in Japan, but not in North America. Maybe we’ll finally get it to celebrate Mother 3’s 20th anniversary, or maybe I’ll still be begging for the next 20 years.

The post 4 Things We Want to See From the First Full Switch 2-Era Nintendo Direct appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Dragon-type fans playing Pokemon Scarlet & Violet are in for a treat following news that Baxcalibur will be coming to Seven-Star Tera Raids in late June. The Paldean Dragon/Ice-type is a pseudo-Legendary, making it a powerful asset for players. However, catching one won’t be easy.

Baxcalibur is considered one of the better Pokemon added during the Paldea era of the video game series. Packing powerful Ice-type moves, a bulky defense, and mean attack power, it’s been a staple for many on their journey through the Gen 9 region.

Baxcalibur will be released in two waves of Tera Raids near the end of June, and comes with the standard restriction of only allowing one to be caught per save file. Because of this, players will want to make sure they are sure they have found the best one before throwing their Poke Ball.

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Baxcalibur Tera Raid Event Dates

According to information shared by Serebii.net, the Baxcalibur Tera Raid day in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet will be taking place from June 20 through June 22, 2025, and then again from June 27 through June 29, 2025.

The Baxcalibur Tera Raids will be a Seven-star difficulty, and the Pokemon waiting in the dens will have the Mightiest Mark. All encounters will be against an Ice Tera-Type Baxcalibur. At this time, it isn’t known what its attack lineup or pattern will be when players are battling it.

During the second round of this event, players will also have the opportunity to encounter Blissey, which typically comes with a slew of excellent rewards if it is defeated. This is a good opportunity to restock on rare drops.

Counters For Baxcalibur in Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Related: Pokemon Scarlet and Violet on Nintendo Switch 2 Has a Huge Upgrade

It is important to remember that while Baxcalibur will be a solid Ice-type during this battle, it can still have Dragon-type moves. Because of this, players will want to avoid bringing Dragon, Steel, or Fairy Pokemon to this challenge. To hit hard, an Ice Tera-type would be ideal, matched with a Fire, Fighting, or Rock-type base.

We would recommend Armarouge, Skeledirge, Incineroar, or Talonflame as a few powerful Fire-type options. Additionally, a Lucario with a Fighting or Fire Tera-Type would be a great option.

Is it Worth Catching Ice-type Baxcalibur?

Yes, of all the Baxcalibur that could feature, Ice Tera-type is considered the best of the best for this Pokemon. It gets a considerable boost to its Ice-type moves during a Tera battle, and is a beast of a battle companion even without a Tera boon to give it the extra power. It can take a hit, and is a good option for certain competitive battles.

However, like with so many other Seven-star Raids, it isn’t the best option to hunt Shiny. Baxcalibur is one of the many Paldean Pokemon that possesses a pretty underwhelming Shiny form. The only colors that change noticeably are on its front claws. Other than that, it is just a slightly lighter version of its standard variant. Because it doesn’t have a worthwhile Shiny, it is better to focus on grabbing a Baxcalibur that has a solid moveset and high stats, which is much less frustrating than trying to hunt for a Shiny.

The Baxcalibur Tera event is the perfect way to cool off as the summer heats up, and it is a fun way to celebrate the upcoming Pokemon World Championships that are just around the corner. While it is likely this won’t be an easy battle for Pokemon Scarlet & Violet fans, the reward is worth the trouble for this event.

The post Pokemon Scarlet & Violet Tera Raid Event Debuts Baxcalibur appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo Switch 2 users have discovered that changing one specific setting in the console’s settings has made “a massive difference” when playing Nintendo Switch 2 games. The new Nintendo console is not even two weeks old, which means Nintendo fans are still figuring out what they like and don’t like about the machine, configuring settings, and exploring its library. To this end, over on Reddit, one user revealed a discovery they made that they — and others — claim is a game changer.

It is unclear why, as a default setting, the Nintendo Switch has constant HDR output. This means that when a Nintendo Switch 2 game doesn’t support HDR, the Nintendo Switch 2 will create a type of faux HDR that messes with things like contrast, luminosity, and more. However, more often than not, it doesn’t really work. In fact, it can make things look worse. And it does this while draining on the console’s battery, which isn’t very good to begin with.

Turning this setting to “Compatible Software Only” will not only help with battery issues, but users claim it goes a long way when playing Nintendo Switch 2 games. In a post about all of this, a comment points out this improvement, and it has over 2,200 votes up, suggesting fellow Nintendo Switch 2 users have found it helpful and informative.

“Setting HDR to compatible software only made such a massive difference for me. I was really disappointed with how washed out and desaturated everything looked – turn on that setting and it fixed it completely,” reads the comment in question.

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“Yeah forcing HDR on devices that don’t have true HDR is just generally awful. Weird that it would be on by default,” reads a reply to the comment. “God, you are right,” adds another reply. “I had HDR turned on for everything and Bravely Default 2 looked like it had been bleached. Turning HDR to ‘Compatible Software Only’ made the game look like its previous, glorious self.”

It’s important to note that what your TV and TV settings are can also factor into all of this equation, but it appears this change is working for many Nintendo Switch 2 users.

Nintendo Switch 2 is available worldwide starting at $450. For more coverage on the new Nintendo console — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here.

The post Nintendo Switch 2 Users Discover Setting Change That Makes “Massive Difference” When Playing Switch 2 Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In addition to being a great portable gaming device, the original Nintendo Switch let you download and use several streaming services. That meant gamers could take Crunchyroll, Hulu, and other video services on the go right on their Nintendo Switch console. Sadly, the Nintendo Switch 2 is superior to its predecessor in many ways, but not this one. Shortly before the Switch 2 launched, Nintendo confirmed that some video services would not be available on the newer console. Now, at least one video service is working to fix that.

Even the original Nintendo Switch never supported all streaming services. Popular subscriptions like Netflix and Disney+ remain unavailable on the console to this day. That said, the console does let you enjoy your favorite anime via Crunchyroll, catch up on current sitcoms with Hulu, and follow your favorite gaming streamers on YouTube. For many, these streaming service apps are a must-have addition to the Nintendo Switch library, turning the console into a more versatile entertainment system.

Sadly, many gamers are learning that taking streaming on the go may be a thing of the past when switching to the shiny new Nintendo console. Currently, the Switch 2 doesn’t support the Hulu or Crunchyroll apps at all. Meanwhile, YouTube is on the list of software that’s having startup issues on Switch 2. Though you may be able to install or transfer over your old YouTube app to the new Switch 2 console, it won’t actually open. Now, YouTube has confirmed it’s working with Nintendo to bring its app to the Switch 2 console.

This update from @TeamYouTube comes in response to a fan’s plea for YouTube on the Nintendo Switch 2. It confirms that YouTube is working directly with Nintendo to make it happen. For those who like to kick back with YouTube on a portable console, that’s pretty good news. Nintendo previously noted it is working on a solution, so this confirms that the companies are in contact as they investigate.

When Will YouTube Be Available on Nintendo Switch 2?

Currently, there’s no confirmed timeline for when the YouTube app will be compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2. But we at least know that having the YouTube app on the Switch 2 will eventually be an option. That’s more than we can say for other services. Both Hulu and Crunchyroll are still listed as software not supported by the Switch 2, with no updates suggesting that’s going to change any time soon.

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New Nintendo Switch 2 Listings on Amazon Could Signal End of Feud

You can view the full list of software and games with compatibility issues on Switch 2 on the Nintendo website. This list has already decreased a good amount from when it was first revealed, showing progress in getting many Switch games to run on Switch 2. Streaming services, as well as the Nintendo VR Kit, remain on the unsupported list.

Meanwhile, a fairly long list of third-party games with Nintendo Switch 2 launch or progression issues is being actively investigated. These include some pretty big games, including Overcooked! All You Can Eat and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. YouTube is currently the only streaming service on this list of issues under investigation. Hopefully, many of these issues will eventually be resolved, letting gamers enjoy backwards compatibility along with YouTube videos on the Nintendo Switch 2.

The post YouTube Is Working to Fix Its Nintendo Switch 2 Problem appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Many gamers were surprised to learn they wouldn’t be able to pre-order a Nintendo Switch 2 console on Amazon. The online retailer has had some ongoing issues with Nintendo, which led to Amazon delisting Nintendo games and products. Neither party has ever publicly revealed the reason for the disagreement, but it extended up through the launch of the Switch 2. Now, however, it appears the two juggernaut brands have finally resolved their differences.

In the last day or so, several first-party listings for Nintendo Switch 2 games have appeared on Amazon, as spotted by @Wario64. The newly available items include pre-orders for physical editions of the following upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 releases:

• Donkey Kong Bananza – $69.99, out July 17th
• Mario Party Jamboree: Switch 2 Edition – $79.99, out July 24th
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land – $79.99, out August 28th

The games are sold and shipped by Amazon, not third-party sellers. This suggests that the years-long beef between Amazon and Nintendo could be coming to a close.

Notably, all three games are not yet released titles for the Nintendo Switch 2. This is interesting because many fans have speculated that the disagreement between Amazon and Nintendo could be related to the online store’s tendency to break street dates for pre-ordered products. Putting three upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 titles up for pre-order on Amazon certainly signals that this issue has been resolved, if it was the true source of tension between the companies.

One interesting detail is that all three games have a delivery-by date that’s a few days past the release date. Given that Amazon often promises books and other pre-orders day of, this is noteworthy. Promising a July 17th Nintendo release to be delivered on July 21st could be part of an agreement to tackle concerns about early deliveries of the upcoming product.

Will Amazon Carry the Nintendo Switch 2?

As of now, clicking on the Nintendo brand link for these products still takes you to a page riddled with third-party resellers. There doesn’t appear to be an officially reinstated Nintendo Store brand page just yet. This means you’ll still want to be wary of buying Nintendo products on Amazon and double-check the “sold by” listing to determine if it’s a first-party or third-party item.

Amazon also does not appear to be selling the Nintendo Switch 2 console, at least not yet. There are plenty of refurbished and second-hand original Switch consoles from third-party sellers, but no first-party Nintendo consoles are available in the U.S. Neither Nintendo or Amazon have made any remarks to suggest that the Switch 2 will be officially available via the platform. So for now, it’s anyone’s guess whether these games are a first step towards more official, first-party Nintendo products on Amazon.

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Nintendo Dropped the Ball on the Switch 2 Release for One Big Reason

It’s possible these three pre-orders are a test run of sorts for the two companies to see whether they can work together again. At any rate, if you’ve been hoping to pre-order these upcoming Nintendo games, you now have the option to do so via Amazon. All three games are also available for physical pre-orders at various retailers or digital pre-order via the Nintendo website, if you prefer.

Are you excited to see that the Nintendo and Amazon beef could be coming to an end? Will you be holding out hope for Switch 2 consoles on Amazon? Let us know in the comments below!

The post New Nintendo Switch 2 Listings on Amazon Could Signal End of Feud appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In recent years, console release dates have become a point of stress for gamers. From the original Switch release that left many unable to obtain the console for months, to the release of the Xbox X|S and PlayStation 5, plagued by over a year of shortages, it isn’t clear that players will have any ability to purchase a new-gen system. This anxiety was prominent before the release of the Switch 2, when pre-order request forms for the online shop queue were being filled out. However, a week after release, it seems those forms weren’t of much help to players.

Leading up to launch day, a limited number of gamers had the opportunity to join Nintendo’s virtual purchasing queue. For many, it was believed this queue was a way to pre-order a console to have ready on release day. Unfortunately, despite the forms being completed, information on how or when to purchase the Switch 2 wasn’t offered to those who had attempted to get a place in line.

Nearly a week after release, a large number of players have finally started to get notified that they now have the chance to try and order a console online – a notification that has been made obsolete after a lack of correspondence left those who had attempted to pre-order scrambling to secure a Switch 2 at local box stores.

Nintendo Gamers Slam Nintendo Pre-Order Emails

In a social media post shared by influencer and YouTuber Austin John Plays, a picture of a Nintendo queue email has been shared, with the comment, “Amazing news! Nintendo emailed me. I get to preorder a switch 2!”

Players in the comments have gathered, sharing similar experiences and condemning Nintendo for bothering with a queue system that seemingly failed to work. One player has commented, “Lmao they sent mines the day after… ironic… shame on them,” while another added, “I’m not even good enough for them to send an invite too even though I signed up. But I wasn’t expecting to get to preorder it, which is why it was just better to get one from a store.”

While a pre-order or queue system is a good way to ensure that resellers can’t purchase and upcharge dozens of devices at once, the structure is only useful if it properly functions. Only select Nintendo fans were sent a code to try and join the queue, and even fewer were selected to pre-order devices. The rest of the queue was left to wait for a turn in line. For most, going and checking local stores made more sense than waiting in a virtual line after release day, making the effort of trying to use the queue disappointing for most. Gamers have cited this as a major failing of the Switch 2 launch, with many still waiting for their email to come through.

Related: New Nintendo Direct Update Does Not Have Good News for Fans

Thankfully, Switch 2 consoles have been easier to obtain than many anticipated. Many of the commenters on the social media post have cited that they were able to get one on release day at Target, GameStop, Costco, or Walmart. Availability has varied depending on location and demand, but restocks seem to be consistent, making it easier for those who missed out on pre-orders to grab one.

Despite the bumps and negative feedback about the pre-order processes for the Switch 2, players seem excited and generally positive about the console itself. With upgrade patches for favorite games dropping on the eShop, and new games like Pokemon Legends: Z-A just around the corner, many seem positive about the next era of the Switch. While it’s still too soon to know if there will be hardware issues like what the original Switch struggled with, it seems it is off to a good start for those who have managed to obtain one.

The post Nintendo Dropped the Ball on the Switch 2 Release for One Big Reason appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has launched, and players are hungry to see more of what the new hybrid console can do. With only a few games currently offering upgraded graphics packs, many are excitedly awaiting news of which titles will drop optimization options next. However, one community is split, stating that the best thing for the series isn’t a patch, but a brand new game specifically made for Switch 2.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons was an unexpected sensation when it dropped in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch. While the Animal Crossing series has always had a loyal following of fans, ACNH madness swept the internet, overtaking YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok with complex island builds and character stories. While the hype for the game has cooled in recent years, many are still itching to try it out on the Switch 2, despite not being properly upgraded for the new console.

No Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade for Animal Crossing New Horizons has been announced just yet, but the Animal Crossing community is split down the middle over the idea with some asking for the upgrade and others begging Nintendo to focus on something new.

ACNH Fans Want Something New

Players have taken to social media, discussing the possibility of a Switch 2 optimization patch and what it would mean for the series. In a post responding to the new trailer reveal of Splatoon Raiders, one Animal Crossing fan started a discussion by maintaining the belief that we are actually getting an Animal Crossing: New Horizons upgrade for the Nintendo Switch 2 at some point.

Other players in the comments were quick to add their thoughts, with one responding, “saying this is insane when a new game is like 10x more likely. this is copium but like. in the wrong way,” and another adding, “honestly i’m just a little disappointed that this might mean that we’ll have to wait a lot longer for a new animal crossing game.”

Several players echoed what many have said about the sparseness of the Nintendo Switch 2 launch lineup by saying that an Animal Crossing game should’ve been part of the console’s debut to give players more options beyond the new Mario Kart as an incentive to get the console at launch.

While several players seem invested in some type of upgrade, many have countered the Switch 2 patch theories by commenting that the game doesn’t have any need for an optimization upgrade. Others have pointed out that something like enhanced graphics on a game half a decade old could slow down any possible plans for a new title in the series, something many Animal Crossing fans have been vocal about since update and DLC support for ACNH came to an end.

Related: 5 Villager Personalities Animal Crossing Needs to Add

At this time, Nintendo has not announced any plans for a new Animal Crossing game, nor given any indication that Animal Crossing: New Horizons will get extended support on the Switch 2. While it is possible the popular title might get an upgrade pack, the concerns over how it might impact ongoing projects are valid.

Even with updated graphics, it won’t change the existing gameplay, which many fans of the series have long since exhausted. Much like with Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the updated graphics don’t add enough to the titles to provide a new or refreshed experience. It would be the same old routine and gameplay with slightly faster, sharper visuals.

While many die-hard ACNH fans may dream of seeing the game running like silk on the Switch 2, a new game would give fans fresh experiences, new goals, and another game specifically designed for the new console if it were to be announced. While it could be a while before the next development update from Nintendo, as it did not host a June Nintendo Direct alongside Summer Game Fest, hopefully, future showcases or blog posts will hold hope for Animal Crossing fans trying to make the most of their new Switch 2.

The post Animal Crossing Fans Divided On Need for a New Horizons Switch 2 Upgrade appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo Switch 2 was released just a few days ago, but the system is off to a strong start. According to numbers revealed by Nintendo, Switch 2 has sold 3.5 million units worldwide in four days. That set a new record for the company, making it the fastest-selling system for Nintendo. Those numbers show a lot of early enthusiasm, and that’s an encouraging sign following the mega success of the original Switch. In a press release, Nintendo of America president and COO Doug Bowser addressed the early sales numbers, while citing reasons for the early success of Nintendo Switch 2.

“Fans around the world are showing their enthusiasm for Nintendo Switch 2 as an upgraded way to play at home and on the go,” said Bowser. “We are thankful for their response and happy to see the fun they are already having with Nintendo Switch 2 as they explore new features and games that bring friends and family together in new ways.”

Prior to launch, there were a lot of concerns shared about Nintendo’s ability to build off the success of Switch. Some had pointed to past mistakes made by Nintendo, such as the company’s failure to transition the Wii’s audience over to the Wii U. However, early signs were positive for Nintendo Switch 2. Preorders exceeded Nintendo’s own internal expectations, and reports suggested that the company had prepared a strong amount of stock for launch day.

It will be interesting to see how these sales figures grow, especially as we head towards the holiday season in the second half of the year. Nintendo has several exclusive games set to be released in 2025, including Donkey Kong Bananza on July 17th, and Pokemon Legends: Z-A on October 16th. These games could help boost sales, and there are still several other 2025 games that don’t have set release dates yet, including Drag x Drive, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Kirby Air Riders. As the year rolls on, we should get a lot more details about these games.

RELATED: The One Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Game You Should Not Buy

During its time on the market, the original Nintendo Switch managed to sell more than 150 million units, making it the third best-selling video game system of all-time. Those strong sales were built up over an eight year span, so we’ll have to see how close Nintendo Switch 2 can get to that figure, or if it might be able to exceed it. It’s far too early to tell of course, and some of that success will hinge on Nintendo’s plans beyond 2025. Nintendo has been tight-lipped about anything planned for 2026 thus far, but we should start to see some announcements over the next few months. If the company can keep a steady stream of exclusives, it could keep these sales figures high.

Have you bought a Nintendo Switch 2 yet? Do you plan on getting one this year? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Nintendo Switch 2 System Sales Have Broken a Company Record appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s been a pretty big morning for Splatoon fans. A new spin-off game was announced exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, but fans on the existing system also have reason to celebrate. Nintendo has announced a major new update coming to Splatoon 3, and it’s arriving this week. On June 12th, version 10.0.0 will provide players with a mix of new and returning content. A total of 30 additional weapon kits will be added to the game, from the Barazushi and Emberz brands. These weapons will be based on existing ones from the series, but with different looks and new sub and special weapons.

In addition to the weapon kits, Splatoon 3 players can expect the return of a familiar location from the past. Starting this week, Urchin Underpass from the original Splatoon will be added to the stage rotation. On top of weapons and a returning map, some new features are coming, including new in-game Badges. Anarchy Battle will also be getting a new stat called Series Weapon Power. This stat will basically track how effective a player is with a specific weapon, in order to match them up with players of a similar skill base. This stat is based on win/loss record, and the idea is to give players an incentive to try different weapons without putting them at a disadvantage. A trailer for the update can be found below, with Splatoon 3 content starting at the 2:16 mark.

All of this new content will be available to all Splatoon 3 players, but the game will also be getting exclusive improvements to those playing on Nintendo Switch 2. Notably, visuals and performance will be getting some improvements. Nintendo has specifically mentioned Splatsville and the Grand Festival Grounds as areas where players can expect to see some improvements. Nintendo isn’t splitting the player base though, as those on the current Switch and Switch 2 will still be able to play together.

Splatoon 3 is one of several games being given free updates on Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo is clearly looking at ways to take advantage of the system’s hardware improvements, from polishing up the graphics and performance, to adding compatibility with new features like GameShare. These updates and improvements could help these games find a new audience, while also encouraging existing players to stick around.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch 2 Developer Uncovers Why Some Switch 1 Games Aren’t Backwards Compatible

The original Splatoon was released on Wii U on May 28th, 2015. While Nintendo has avoided calling today’s news an anniversary present, it does feel like the company has given fans a lot to get excited about. We still have no idea when Splatoon 4 is coming, but with a big update to Splatoon 3 on the way and a spin-off somewhere in the future, things are looking pretty good for the series right now. Hopefully the developers will announce some new Splatfests so players can take advantage of all the new content!

Are you excited about this Splatoon 3 update? Are you still regularly playing the game? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Splatoon 3 Getting Huge Update This Week, Plus Nintendo Switch 2 Enhancements appeared first on ComicBook.com.

This morning, Splatoon fans were surprised with a pretty big announcement for Nintendo Switch 2. It’s been confirmed that a new Splatoon game is in development for the system. However, this is not Splatoon 4, as many had expected to see. Instead, it’s a brand-new spin-off game in development called Splatoon Raiders. Little is known about the game so far, but the story will have some kind of focus on the members of Deep Cut: Shiver, Frye, and Big Man. Players will take on the role of a mechanic while exploring a new location known as the Spirhalite Islands.

From the game’s debut trailer, it appears Deep Cut and the mechanic were stranded in this new location following a helicopter crash. At the moment, details are very slim, but it looks like players will be tasked with exploring the Spirhalite Islands, helping Deep Cut, and finding a way back home. Also, uncovering the mystery behind a beam of light that caused the helicopter to crash in the first place. The first trailer for Splatoon Raiders can be found below.

From the trailer, it looks like Splatoon Raiders will be a third-person action game with some survival elements. At one point in the trailer, the mechanic can be seen dousing Big Man with ink, though the exact reasoning is unclear. We can also see the character exploring the island alongside a robot companion. The art style still feels very much rooted in the Splatoon series, but there are some notable design elements that evoke the survival concept. For example, the mechanic’s equipment has a look that feels like it’s been thrown together quickly, with ropes holding everything in place.

If there is one downside to the Splatoon Raiders trailer, it’s the fact that no release date has been announced, as of this writing. That could suggest that we’ll be waiting to experience the spin-off game until sometime in 2026. Based on Nintendo’s current release schedule for Switch 2 games, that wouldn’t be hugely surprising, but hopefully the game ends up in the first half of the year. Nintendo tends to avoid announcing anything too far in advance, so that could be a possibility.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch 2 Review: A Bright Future (Even Without an OLED Screen)

Hopefully we can expect to learn a lot more about Splatoon Raiders in the near future. From the trailer, it looks like the game will still play similarly to the single-player content in traditional Splatoon games; in that regard, this doesn’t seem as drastic a spin-off as Hey, Pikmin! was compared to the numbered games in that series. However, that could change as we start to learn more. If Splatoon 4 is still far away, this could be the perfect thing to tide fans over as they wait patiently. The reality is, Splatoon has become a major franchise for Nintendo, with a dedicated following. Hopefully this will prove to be an interesting experience that helps further develop the world of the series.

Are you excited about this Splatoon spin-off? Do you think we’ll be waiting a while for Splatoon 4? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Splatoon Game Announced for Nintendo Switch 2 With a New Trailer appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo fans hoping for a Nintendo Direct soon may want to give up on these hopes. The last Nintendo Direct happened on April 2, 2025. This was the first Nintendo Direct focused on the Nintendo Switch 2. Since then, the console has come out and there has not been any follow up Nintendo Direct nor word of any on the horizon. Meanwhile, a new update from a prominent Nintendo insider seemingly confirms there haven’t been even been rumors of a new Nintendo Direct, because there isn’t one in a pipeline.

A big reason word of a Nintendo Directs happening before they are announced happens so often is because of the number of partners involved. It is not just Nintendo keeping the secret, but all of the developers and publishers participating. This is why we know most Nintendo Directs are happening before they are officially announced. That said, there has been zero scuttlebutt of a new Nintendo Direct. What we do have is confirmation from the aforementioned insider, Nate the Hate, that they have heard nothing about a new Nintendo Direct.

Now this doesn’t mean, definitively, there isn’t a new Nintendo Direct on the horizon, but it certainly reduces the odds of that being the case. Nate the Hate has heard about many of the recent Nintendo Directs before they have happened, so the fact they have heard nothing is not a great sign.

Typically, though not every single year, Nintendo has a fairly substantial Nintendo Direct every summer. And with a new console to promote, and a holiday 2025 lineup to reveal and highlight, Nintendo will almost certainly have another Nintendo Direct this summer, but it seems unlikely it will be anytime in the very near future.

RELATED: One of the Best Nintendo Switch 2 Games Has a Free Demo

All of that said, remember to take everything here with a grain of salt as all we have is unofficial information, which is laced with speculation. At the moment of publishing, Nintendo has not commented on the speculation and rumors surrounding the next Nintendo Direct, and there is no reason to expect it do as much, but if it does we will update the story accordingly.

For more coverage on all things Nintendo — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here.

The post New Nintendo Direct Update Does Not Have Good News for Fans appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo Switch 2 can play the vast majority of games that were released on the original Switch. In many cases, those games even work a lot better than they did before. Not every game is playable on the new system though, and Nintendo has compiled a list of games that are still encountering performance and start up issues. The company and its partners are investigating these problems and hoping to find resolutions quickly. It seems one developer has uncovered why certain games aren’t working on the new system, and that’s Limited Run Games.

Several titles that Limited Run Games has had a hand in are suffering from issues on the new system, from games they’ve published themselves like Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection, to WayForward’s Clock Tower: Rewind. Speaking to Time Extension (via Nintendo Life), Limited Run Games boss Josh Fairhurst revealed that the company may have uncovered the source of these issues. Fairhurst believes that a line of code is causing the problem, not only for games LRG had a hand in, but games from other companies, as well.

“The backwards compatibility issue derives from a line of code that is used for video playback on the original Switch. We have reported the line of code to Nintendo and are hoping to see it addressed as an update to the Switch 2’s backwards compatibility in the future, as I believe this line of code is also causing compatibility issues with games from other publishers,” Fairhurst told Time Extension.

Fairhurst went on to explain that Limited Run Games had a short window to work with Nintendo Switch 2; the company only received development hardware “two weeks ago.” That lines up with a report from Insider Gaming at the end of March, which said that many third-party developers were still waiting on dev kits for the new system. From the system’s launch, it looks like Nintendo largely stuck to providing these kits to the biggest names in the industry, like Sega, Capcom, and CD Projekt Red. This was likely done to keep a tight lid on any secrets related to Switch 2, but resulted in a shorter window to look into any issues with existing software.

RELATED: Why Mario Fans Are Frustrated Over a New Game Update

Hopefully this discovery by Limited Run Games will help resolve some of the backwards compatibility issues on Nintendo Switch 2. The list of games still encountering issues is pretty small, but for anyone that spent money on these games, it’s still cause for frustration. In my review for Nintendo Switch 2, I tried out Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection to see how a game on the list would perform on the new system, and very quickly encountered a crash that prevented it from even progressing to the main menu. Hopefully Nintendo looks into this proposed fix quickly.

Have you encountered any backwards compatibility issues on Nintendo Switch 2? How do you feel about the new system so far? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Nintendo Switch 2 Developer Uncovers Why Some Switch 1 Games Aren’t Backwards Compatible appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the very best Nintendo Switch 2 games available at the release of the console has a brand new free demo. There’s no beating around the bush: the Nintendo Switch 2 has one of the worst launch lineups in the modern console era. There is Mario Kart World and that is essentially it beyond a smattering of ports of games either already on Nintendo Switch or available on other platforms such as PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. Unfortunately, Mario Kart World does not have a free demo on the Nintendo Switch, but one of the highlights from this collection of ports does.

The new free demo is available on the Nintendo eShop for all Nintendo Switch 2 users and lets said users try Street Fighter 6, one of 2023’s best games, for free. It is unclear why Capcom opted to release the demo, but it has been made available alongside the $40 purchase of the Nintendo Switch 2 game on the Nintendo eShop.

Whether this is a limited time demo or a permanent addition to the Nintendo eShop; we don’t know. The lack of information suggests the latter though. As for the port, this is the first time the game has been on any Switch console as it did not come to the first Switch.

Developed and published by Capcom, Street Fighter 6 — despite what its name suggests — is the seventh mainline Street Fighter game. Released in 2023, it boasts a 92 on Metacritic, making it one of the best reviewed games of its year. Meanwhile, as of December of last year, it has sold over 4.4 million copies.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Game Already $36 Off in New eShop Deal

As for the nature of the demo itself, it is a slither of the game. More specifically, arcade, online, and battle hub are all unavailable, though World Tour, Versus, Gyro Battle, Local Wireless, and Calorie Contest are all available. Meanwhile, there are two maps: Training Room and Metro City Downtown. Complimenting this there are three characters: Kimberley, Luke, and Jamie. As for progress, your created character in World Tour can carry over but not any progress within the mode.

For more Nintendo Switch 2 coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here.

The post One of the Best Nintendo Switch 2 Games Has a Free Demo appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Mario Kart World and the Nintendo Switch 2 both released this week. The jury is still very much out on the Switch 2, but Mario Kart World, unsurprisingly, is a success. Not only is it seemingly selling well, but it boasts a 90 on Metacritic, ranking it among the highest-rated Mario Kart games. However, among consumers there has been some criticism of Mario Kart World and the substantial changes it makes to the classic and beloved formula of the series. Meanwhile, some fans aren’t happy about some of the missing content.

An example of this is the fact that Mario Kart World does not have a 200cc mode, something that was introduced with Mario Kart 8/Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Many are assuming this will be added in a future update though, which is exactly what a new comment from producer on the game, Kosuke Yabuki, suggests.

“Some players are really happy with the addition of high difficulty modes likes this,” said the producer speaking with Rolling Stone. “However, does that mean we’re going to consider adding engine sizes that are larger than 150cc to Mario Kart World? I’m afraid I can’t say just yet.”

There is nothing very committal or concrete here from Yabuki, but he almost certainly would avoid the subject or give no comment if there were no plans to add a 200cc mode down the line. And history suggests this is the plan as well, as it is exactly what it did with Mario Kart 8, which introduced the feature.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch Online Has a New Free Surprise for Mario Kart World Fans

Speaking of Mario Kart World updates, there is no word of when the first update to the Nintendo Switch 2 game will be. That said, Nintendo is known for being slow to update it games, even its marquee ones. In other words, don’t expect much soon.

Mario Kart World is available via the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Nintendo Switch 2 only. It costs $80. For more coverage on the new Mario Kart game — including all of the latest Mario Kart World news, all of the latest Mario Kart World rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Mario Kart World speculation — click here.

The post Mario Kart World Teases Missing Mario Kart 8 Content appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A Nintendo Switch 2 launch game is $36 off two days after the console’s release, courtesy of a new Nintendo eShop deal that discounts the Switch 2 game by 60%. This means the Nintendo Switch 2 launch game is available on the Nintendo eShop for $23.99 rather than $59.99. Obviously, the console’s big launch game is the $80 Mario Kart World, which remains $80, and will likely be $80 for the foreseeable future. And when it is finally discounted, it will be nowhere near 60%. In fact, it will probably never be 60% off. What is 60% off is its fellow launch game from third-party developer Hello Games.

More specifically, and until June 17, the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of No Man’s Sky is $23.99 on the Nintendo eShop. For those that don’t know, the Nintendo Switch 2 edition of the game features full multiplayer, high resolution graphics, touch controls, increased planetary details, higher resolution UI, higher framerates, gyro-aiming, and cross-play/cross-save functionality. In other words, it is an upgraded version of the game offered on the Nintendo Switch.

Those somehow unfamiliar with No Man’s Sky, it is a planetary exploration action-adventure survival game from UK studio Hello Games, who before NMS previously put out three Joe Danger games. The popular 2016 game has managed to sell over 10 million copies since its release, making it a massive success for independent studio Hello Games, who continues to support it with a regular flow of meaningful content updates and patches.

“Inspired by the adventure and imagination that we love from classic science-fiction, No Man’s Sky presents you with a galaxy to explore, filled with unique planets and lifeforms, and constant danger and action,” reads an official description of the Switch 2 game on the Nintendo eShop. In No Man’s Sky, every star is the light of a distant sun, each orbited by planets filled with life, and you can go to any of them you choose. Fly smoothly from deep space to planetary surfaces, with no loading screens, and no limits. In this infinite procedurally generated universe, you’ll discover places and creatures that no other players have seen before – and perhaps never will again.”

RELATED: Nintendo Switch 2 Comes With a Huge Surprise for GameCube Fans

Those on Nintendo Switch 2 that decide to take advantage on this Nintendo eShop deal should expect to clear aside 25 GB to download the game, which is substantially more than the 6.8 GB needed to download the game on the Switch.

For more coverage on the new Nintendo console — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with a huge surprise for GameCube fans that Nintendo failed to mention in the pre-release period of the console. While an incredibly nostalgic console, there is one aspect of the GameCube that was divisive back when the console released and remains divisive: its controller. Some think it is the greatest video game controller of all time, while many others think it is the worst. It is no doubt the most polarizing video game controller to date. For those that don’t know, to accompany GameCube games being added to Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo re-released the GameCube controller for the Switch 2. And it comes with an unexpected upgrade.

Over on Reddit, one Nintendo Switch 2 owner revealed their teardown of the new GameCube controller, which in turn reveals and highlights that 24 years later Nintendo has improved — and fixed — the GameCube d-pad. As the post points out, the original GameCube controller was attached to the main PCB and had a really long shaft to account for the resulting distance. This meant it wasn’t very accurate. The new controller reduces this distance, and as a result, the new GameCube d-pad is more accurate.

While the d-pad on the GameCube controller has been noticeably improved, some owners of the new controller are complaining about the sticks being stiff. That said, those who remember a brand new original GameCube controller will remember the sticks did take some time to break in so it’s not clear yet if this is a downgrade or Nintendo fans just forgetting the feel of a new GameCube controller.

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It’s important to note the GameCube controller only works with the Switch 2, just like GameCube games are only available via Nintendo Switch 2 online. If you try and connect it to the original Switch, you will find it unable to pair.

Nintendo has not commented on this supposed GameCube controller upgrade. We do not expect this to change for a few reasons, but if it does chime in and provide any type of comment or clarification, we will update the story accordingly.

For more GameCube coverage — including all of the latest GameCube news, all of the latest GameCube rumors and leaks, and all of the latest GameCube deals — click here.

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After eight years on the market, the Nintendo Switch era has finally drawn to a close. The Nintendo Switch 2 generation is officially here, heralding a new beginning for the company and its fans. Well, somewhat new, at least. Nintendo has crafted a system with stronger capabilities and a sleeker design that makes it feel like a big upgrade from the console that was released back in 2017. However, it will also feel immediately familiar to anyone who owns the previous Switch. Rather than tossing out something that clearly worked, Nintendo instead worked to refine nearly every aspect of the original Switch. The result is impressive, even if the designers could have gone a little farther in some of the changes that were made.

The first thing people will notice upon taking the system out of the box is that the Switch 2 is a nice-looking piece of hardware. The matte black finish gives it a premium look and feel. Some have lamented that there’s less color than they would have liked, but we’ll probably see that rectified with future Joy-Con designs, like we saw with the original Switch. As it is right now, the little Joy-Con accents around the thumbsticks and on the insides of the controllers offer a little bit of vibrancy without detracting from the overall finish. The result is a much sharper-looking system than the original Switch. Adding to the premium sense, Switch 2 has a nicer weight to it in handheld mode.

The overall Nintendo Switch 2 design is brought together by the new magnetic-locking Joy-Cons. On top of offering greater durability, they also make the system feel less flimsy. In more than eight years of using Switch, I never once encountered the dreaded Joy-Con Drift. However, I did break the plastic lock on a Joy-Con, which made it impossible to keep the controller locked into position without some kind of case on it. For that reason alone, the magnetic design change is a very welcome one. There’s even a satisfying click as they lock into place. Nintendo increased the size of the new Joy-Cons over the originals, and they feel more durable. This is particularly beneficial for the new mouse mode, where you want something that’s going to hold up while being moved around a table, or even on a pant leg. I still don’t particularly care for using the Joy-Con as a single controller in games like Mario Kart World, but I do like that the option remains available for multiplayer sessions.

For Nintendo Switch 2, the designers have created a much larger screen compared to both the standard Switch, as well as the OLED model. The lack of an OLED screen was initially a point of concern for some, as Nintendo opted to return to an LCD screen with Switch 2. As someone who upgraded to a Switch OLED as soon as it launched, I was worried about going back. However, the Switch 2 screen is really vibrant and doesn’t at all feel like a downgrade. It’s possible Nintendo will offer an OLED model for Switch 2 at some point down the line, but it’s hard to imagine there being a significant enough upgrade to do so.

If there’s one area where Nintendo Switch 2 is a letdown, it’s the user interface. The Home Screen remains identical to the one on Nintendo Switch. Fans have spent eight years asking Nintendo to add the kinds of themes that were available on 3DS, and instead, we got the exact same screen we had on the previous system. On one hand, it makes sense to keep things as similar as possible. After all, Switch 2 has some new features that offer compatibility with the previous Switch, such as GameShare. In that regard, keeping the interface the same across both platforms makes things easier to understand for users. Despite this, it just feels a little too simple and plain after all this time.

Speaking of GameShare, the new option is a welcome multiplayer addition. The feature was added to certain existing Nintendo Switch games, as well as EA’s Split Fiction. The feature allows Switch 2 users to stream multiplayer games with friends who have a Switch 2 or an original Switch, even if they don’t own a copy of that game. After experimenting with the feature in Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, it seemed to work well when you have users who are in close proximity. However, there isn’t a lot of distance offered, and the actual stream quality drops off quickly once there’s any significant distance between systems. I’d be very curious to see how it worked between users that might be a few seats apart on a plane or bus.

Alongside Nintendo Switch 2, several new peripherals have been released, including a new take on the Pro Controller. Unlike the Home Screen, this feels like an example of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The new Pro Controller features all of the things I loved about the original, plus a few welcome improvements. The biggest is that the controller now has a headphone jack. As someone who purchased one of PowerA’s wired Switch controllers just so I wouldn’t wake up the rest of the house during late-night gaming sessions, I love that this was finally included. The Pro Controller also adds the new ‘C’ button for launching GameChat, as well as two mappable buttons that appear on the back side handles. The thumbsticks now allow for greater movement, and the buttons protrude a little farther. Lastly, the controller has a smooth new finish that gives it a nice feel that matches the new Joy-Cons.

While the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller feels like a nice improvement, users can stick with the original, should they so choose. Nintendo has made sure that most peripherals still work with the new system, and that includes the Pro Controller. The adapter for GameCube controllers also continues to work, which should make fans of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate very happy. There are a handful of peripherals that won’t work with the new Joy-Cons, like Ring Fit Adventure‘s Ring-Con, but the system retains compatibility with the older Joy-Cons for that specific reason (even if they can’t physically connect to the system in handheld mode).

GameChat has been getting a lot of focus in the marketing for Nintendo Switch 2. From the limited time I’ve had with GameChat so far, it works about as well as advertised. Nintendo hasn’t shied away from showing that the frame rate takes a hit in the screens of other players, with resources instead focusing on the game the system is running. For example, if the player has Mario Kart World running while friends are playing Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart World‘s performance takes precedence. That can result in some choppiness in the screens of other players. One area that works surprisingly well is GameChat’s talk-to-text feature. The microphone does an incredible job picking up the user’s voice and accurately translating what they’re saying. It already feels far beyond the capabilities of most mobile phones.

Performance is important coming off the original Switch generation. The system had started to show its age over the last few years, both in terms of graphics and frame rate. From the games I’ve played thus far, it really does feel like Switch 2 offers a significant improvement in that regard. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe still looks pretty impressive after all these years, but Mario Kart World runs laps around it, from the stunning clouds in the sky to the incredible colors that pop. Nintendo Switch 2’s updates for existing games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild also show just how drastically better things are getting in terms of performance. Hopefully, that continues as we get to see more games that push what the system can do.

All of this extra power comes at a cost, and that comes in the form of a hit to the system’s battery life. In handheld mode, I found that Nintendo Switch 2 offered just over two and a half hours of charge while playing a nonstop Mario Kart World session. At exactly 154 minutes, the system gave me my third warning about the battery life, and I was advised to charge the Switch 2 or it would go to sleep. That battery life is significantly lower than we’ve seen with previous Switch models, which is bound to be a source of frustration for anyone planning to bring the system on any long flights or road trips.

It’s also worth noting that not all Switch 1 games currently work on Nintendo Switch 2; Nintendo has published a full list of games with compatibility issues. The company and its partners are working to rectify these problems, but I decided to test out one of the games on the list of titles with start-up issues: Jurassic Park Classic Games Collection. After launching, audio worked as normal, but the screen remained black before the game crashed and sent me back to the system’s Home Screen. The list of games with issues is relatively small, but those interested in buying a Nintendo Switch 2 might want to consult that list and see if any of their favorite games are currently facing problems.

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From a hardware perspective, Nintendo Switch 2 offers nearly every improvement a user could want over the original. It doesn’t feel like a substantial leap in terms of the system’s User Interface, and the battery life could end up leaving a lot to be desired. That said, all of the other changes add up to a substantial offering. It feels sturdier, the screen is nicer, the graphics and performance are substantially improved, and new features like GameShare should lead to more enjoyable multiplayer sessions. If you’ve been desperately hoping for a handheld system that can handle bigger and better games, while adding much-needed improvements to chat and frame rate, Nintendo Switch 2 should be more than worth the overall cost of admission.

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The Nintendo Switch 2 has seen numerous upgrades to various games released on the Nintendo Switch, including Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. While the game naturally runs better, it turns out there is one big upgrade that fixes one of the most annoying issues plaguing the game. When playing online or in offline game modes, players will now see the alternate costumes instantly load for every character when switching between them.

When playing Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, selecting a character on the Nintendo Switch instantly displays that character. However, when swapping to an alternate costume, there would be a delay of several seconds. LittleMacMainKo has discovered that one of the unspoken upgrades with the Nintendo Switch 2 is a significantly improved load time for this feature.

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The problem seemed to occur more frequently for characters appearing further down on the roster. Typically, the first row would load very quickly but when selecting a character near the middle or end, such as Incineroar or Sephiroth, players would see a blank slot until Super Smash Bros. Ultimate caught up and displayed the proper alternate costume.

While it may not seem like much, the several seconds of delay becomes increasingly annoying considering how you must select your character and costume for every match. To get around this, players would memorize where their preferred alternate costume was located and press the appropriate button that many times. With this update, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate no longer has this problem on Nintendo’s new hardware.

While this is great news for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate players on the Nintendo Switch 2, they should be aware of a problem facing Mii Fighters. Selecting one in an online match may cause the game to end immediately. Players are advised to avoid using these characters until Nintendo releases a patch.

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With an estimated 6-8 million Nintendo Switch 2 consoles making their way to buyers, there’s no telling exactly how the markets will fare in the following days. While many stayed up past midnight to secure the Switch 2, whether in the comfort of their own home or in line at a retail store, the inventory is going to be quite slim for those looking to grab the latest Nintendo console. Testing your luck can be risky, especially without the proper guidance and a pre-order, but if you weren’t able to find one, there’s no need to fret. As with every console launch, a Nintendo Switch 2 restock will eventually occur, but when will it happen?

Day one purchases are a rarity to come by, especially if you live in a more popularized area, which makes your chances of snagging the product that much lower. Seeing how popular the Switch 2 is, stores are already predicting empty stocks early. With this in mind, not getting your hands on the console can be overwhelming, but Nintendo is well aware of the market’s need for the system, so expect there to be more consoles heading to stores very soon.

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As to when these shipments will occur, the best place to look is at the Nintendo Switch launch from 2017. Sure, many might have fears from the PlayStation 5 release, which saw many desperately searching the ends of the internet for the console, but Nintendo isn’t in the same boat as Sony was at that time. Nintendo sold more than 906,000 units within the first month of sales in March 2017, according to Business Insider. Having sold out of consoles due to significant demand on launch day, stores like GameStop and Best Buy announced restocks and shipment updates to the public regularly. As to when those were scheduled for, GameStop got more Switch consoles about two to three weeks after launch.

While this might seem like a while, there’s still a chance that these estimates can change due to Nintendo knowing the demand for their products. Of course, the numbers this time around are higher than what was expected, so the restocks could take longer. When the Nintendo Switch 2 restock happens, it’ll be first-come, first-served, as consoles tend to sell out quicker than usual. Target will have its online restock on June 6th, so if buyers aren’t able to attend the festivities today, there’s still a chance to snag a console through the retailer’s website. As for other storefronts like Best Buy, Walmart, and GameStop, it’s unclear as to how they’ll approach restocks and when those will happen.

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The launch of Nintendo Switch 2 was a highly-anticipated day for a lot of people. The arrival of a new video game system is usually cause for excitement, but it seems one GameStop location inadvertently ruined the day for multiple buyers. Posters on Reddit have shared images of Nintendo Switch 2 units that were damaged at a GameStop store located in Staten Island, NY. Apparently, employees at the location were stapling receipts to the Nintendo Switch 2 box, which then punctured the system’s screen inside. At this time, it’s unclear exactly how many systems were damaged as a result.

Depending on how many systems were damaged, this could end up being a very expensive mistake. We don’t know how the company is going to handle replacements, or just how easy it will be to replace; new video game systems are hard enough to keep in stock at launch, and now multiple units are damaged as a result. Hopefully only a few units actually suffered damages, but depending on the size of the store and how many were sold last night, this could be a lot of Nintendo Switch 2 systems. Images of the damaged systems were shared on Bluesky by Wario64, and can be found in the post embedded below.

Unsurprisingly, a lot of people have shared their sympathies with those that purchased damaged systems. Every person that has ever purchased a video game system has been excited to crack open the box and get into playing as quickly as possible. The people who bought these systems spent hundreds of dollars and went out to a store at midnight, possibly waiting hours in line. To go through all that and then find out that the system was damaged has to be incredibly frustrating. A new game system is basically an investment, and it’s one that not everyone can afford.

While most people are pointing at this specific GameStop location for the damage that was caused, others have assigned Nintendo some of the blame. There’s an argument being made that there should be more protection inside the Nintendo Switch 2 box to prevent this kind of thing from happening in the first place. That’s definitely up for debate, but it will be interesting to see if Nintendo decides to make a running change to these boxes going forward. A little more packaging could have prevented this situation from playing out the way that it did.

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Hopefully this story will end up with a positive ending, with only a few Nintendo Switch 2 units damaged, as opposed to the store’s entire stock. Unfortunately, there hasn’t been an update over on the GameStop subreddit, where this story originated in the first place. At the very least, this should serve as a cautionary tale for other GameStop employees!

Were you able to secure a Nintendo Switch 2? How would you feel if your system had been damaged right out of the box? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Nintendo Switch 2 is now available, which means people around the world are starting to check out all of the system’s new features. One of the biggest new features is GameChat, which works with compatible cameras. GameChat basically allows users to set up virtual hangout spots with their friends, either for multiplayer gaming, or just having discussions while playing individual titles. However, it seems not every game will show up during a GameChat session. As discovered by Digital Trends, some players may encounter a black screen with language indicating that sharing is restricted. In a statement, Nintendo confirmed that this decision comes down to a game’s developers.

“Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat screen sharing is at the discretion of the game’s developer,” Nintendo told Digital Trends. “While it is enabled at the system level for all games it can be disabled by the game’s developer for any reason.”

It remains to be seen exactly what games are restricted, and just how common this issue might be. The game that apparently prompted this screen was Lumines Remastered, which was released on the original Switch back in 2018, and remains available for download on the eShop. Prior to receiving a response from Nintendo, Digital Trends thought that the restriction might be related to licensed music. However, the outlet was unable to reproduce these results with any other game that was tried on the system. Since Switch 2 was just released, it’s likely we’ll learn about more restricted games over time. For now, it’s impossible to say just how large the list of blocked games might be.

It’s unclear exactly why a developer would opt out of allowing their game to be used with Nintendo Switch 2’s GameChat feature. The actual concept of GameChat seems like it would help to encourage sales; if you’re watching a friend play something you’ve never heard of or seen before, it might get you to consider playing it for yourself. We’ve seen that exact case play out on Twitch, and developers seem encouraged about the idea; in a recent video, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade director Naoki Hamaguchi talked about how GameChat could convince newcomers to try the game when it’s released on Nintendo Switch 2.

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Nintendo has been pretty open about software that lacks compatibility with Switch 2, and has frequently addressed games that will be getting updates in the future. At this time, there are full lists describing which games have issues on the system that are being investigated. Hopefully we’ll get a similar list of games that aren’t compatible with GameChat, so there won’t be as many surprises while people are trying out the feature. It would also be nice to hear from developers about why they might not want their games seen by other players in this way.

Are you planning to check out GameChat on Nintendo Switch 2? Do you think we’ll see more games restrict the feature? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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