Despite the recent good news that Borderlands 4 is 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:releaඣsing earlier than previously announced, there has been a lot of negativity in the fanbase lately. This follows a controversial comment made by Pitchford, who suggested that "a real 🐼fan" would buy the upcoming game even ♈if costs $80, as well as a change to Gearbox owner Take-Two Interactive's privacy policy and terms of service, which left some players worried about the collection of their🐈 personal information.

The l🍷atter point is largely to blame for the Borderlands games on Steamꦗ getting hit with an onslaught of negative reviews – Borderlands 2, for example, still has an "overwhelmingly negative" recent rating, despite the ongoing limited-time offer.

"Borderlands 2 is FREE this weekend on Steam!" Pitchford proclaims🐽 on Twitter, sharing the offer. "Free is free, yo! Get it and check it out if you haven't played it. It's an oldie, but a goodie."

Pitchford also s🎃hares a "SHiFT code for free loot keys in Borderlands, [The Pre-Sequel], 2, 3, and Wonderlands," which unlocks three Golden Keys in the games for some loot. "Good luck, and happy looting!" (the code is 96XTT-STHJJ-JJTTT-TBJT3-CBTZX if you're interested).

Have either of these gestures stopped the negativity, though? No. In fact, looking at Steam's recent reviews bar gr🌌aph, the number of negative reviews was actually larger today and yesterday (when the game was first offered for free) than it's been for a full month, with complaints still focuse♏d on the aforementioned privacy policy and terms of service.

At least this time, players don't seem as annoyed about the whole "real fan" debacle as they were when Pitchford announced Tiny Tina's Wonderlands was also temporarily free, while making sure to emphasise that "real fans who ma༺y be cost sensitive" might beﷺ happy about that fact.

Borderlands 2 is free until 8 June, anyway, so if you want it, be sure to ☂grab it while ♕you can.

Borderlands 4 boss Randy Pitchford wants to know what makes a game bigger or better, and he's using Borderlands 2 and 3 to find out.

In a trend that's starting to rival 🎉澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Terraria's seemingly endless final updates, CDPR has announced yet another apparently significant update for Cyberpunk 2077. No, you aren't imagining things, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:update 2.1 from December 2023 was supposed to be the last one, and then 2.2 from this past December was really supposed to be the end, and now in June 2025 ൩– even as all of its developers have moved on to other projects - Cyberpunk 2077 is getting yet another update. And this time, CDPR isn't even fooling itself by calling it the final update, potentially☂ indicating more to come.

"We're not done yet! Stay tuned for more info abouꦑt the next Cyberpunk 2077 update coming later this month," said CDPR global community director Marcin Momot . "We'll start spilling the beans closer 🌟to the release of patch 2.3 (that's its name), so for now, we ask for a bit more patience. Let the team cook!"

With Cyberpunk 2077 landing on Switch 2 today, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Cyberpunk 2 ꦅofficially in pre-production, and a handful of other 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming CDPR games in the workꦍs, I'm amazed the studio still has the bandwidth to update a five-year-old game just for the hell of it.

Alas, "Yes, 2.3 for #Cyberpunk2077 is coming, we have been cooking for you in secret for a bit," . "As usual, I'm taking care of the update personally and we will൲ communicate more, when it's ready."

We don't have any ꦫdetails about Cyberpunk 2077's update 2.3💖 just yet, but with it launching sometime this month, I'm thinking it won't be long before we learn more.

The Witcher 4 devs are inspired by RPGs like Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Baldur's Gate 3, but "definitely are not going to make a game like Larian did"

Local Wireless vs GameChat GameShare

There are two ways you can set up GameShare on your Nintendo Switch 2, and the first one is via a local wireless connection. So long as your friend and their console are nearby and hooked up to the same Wi-Fi connection, you can share your compatible Switch 2 or OG Switch games to their system.

That means you can both play with only one copy of the game. Only a Nintendo Switch 2 can send games, but th꧑e original Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, and OLED Switch models can receive them.

Rather than initiating GameShare on the Nintendo Switch 2 through the system settings, you actu💟ally activate through any supported game. To start GameShare via local communication, follow the steps below:

1. Turn on Nintendo Switch 2
2. Load up a GameShare-compatible game
3. Select GameShare from the game's start menu
4. Once prompted, select 'A Local User' from the available list

Alternatively, if you want to share 𒆙your game with friends who live far away, you can GameShare via the brand-new GameCh♈at feature. To do this, follow these steps instead:

1. Turn on Nintendo Switch 2
2. Load up a GameShare-compatible game
3. Select GameShare from the game's start menu
4. Once prompted, select 'A User in a GameChat Session'

GameChat is only available on the Nintendo Switch 2, so you will only be able to play through c𓂃o-op or multiplayer games with friends who also o🤪wn the new handheld. It also requires having an active Nintendo Switch Online membership.

Until March 31, 2026, Nintendo is providing GameChat for free to Switch 2 owners, so you'll have plenty of time to see if it's worth investing in a Nintendo Switch Online membership, if you haven't already. Afterwards, it will be locked behind that NSO paywall, alongside GameShare.

It's worth mentioning that your friends will only be allowed to play any shared game during that GameChat session. Once it ends, your friend's access to playing that shared game will end with it.

You'll find a full list of GameShare-compatible Nintendo Switch games, ♊and whether or not th🎶ey're able to be shared locally or via GameChat below.

For now, there isn't a huge list of compatible games that can be shared via GameChat. If you were hoping to play Mario Kart World, for example, with only one copy between friends, you're out of luck for now. However, Nintendo has stated that select Switch games will become "compatible with GameShare after free software updates" which hopefully mea🦄ns there's plenty of new compatible titles to come.

How to Set Up GameShare

If you want to get the most out of your Switch 2, grabbing one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets, the best Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express Cards, or one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch controllers can unlock the full potential of your new handheld.

Deltarune's release isn't quite new; Chapter 1 and 2 have been available as free demos since October 2018 and September 2021, respectively. During the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct back in April, eager fans finally received news of a release date for the latest chapters, as the 🅺game would be included as a day-one release for the console. Despite its inclusion as one of the first playable games on the new console, PC gamers ran to Steam in droves reaching an all-time player peak of 133,930.

With many having alrꦏeady played the first two chapters at some point over the last few years, there are already fans who have completed the game. In a simple post on Twitter, Fox : "Deltarune Chapter 3+4 have been released." There's a bit more to it, however.

In another early this morning, Fox provides some teasing advice to players who have already finished their Deltarune adꦫventure: "After you finish Chapter 4, make sure you load up your save file one more time afterwards. There might have been something you missed!"

While 💎some players appreciate Fox's inclusion of a little treat at the end, others resp🉐onded to the post with anguish at his posting of a potential spoiler. "NOOO, I hate shit like this why are you posting spoilers??" one in the comments.

Regardless, the post itself has garnered quite a bit of attention,𒊎 and forced players who had completed their journey already to launch the game one more time to see just what Fox is on about.

Undertale's Toby Fox offers "temporary workaround" for a Deltarune bug preventing people from loading demo save files into the full RPG.

Pokemon Scarlet and Violet received a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:free update on Switch 2 to🤪 increase fram🐬e rate, draw distance, and more, and it's clear that the improved performance thanks to thi﷽s update and the new hardware has made a massive difference to the time you can complete the RPGs in. Spotted by Pokemon content creator , "Within just one hour of gameplay, speedrunners have already saved five minutes on Scarlet/Violet Speedruns by using a Switch 2."

PulseEffects points to a , who, a few hours ago, began speedrunning Pokemon Scarlet on Switch 2. It꧅'s important to note that , the world record for a glitchless Any% run of Scarlet/Violet on Switch 1 (a run that just sees you get to the end of the game as fast as possible) is five hours, 19 minutes, and 25 seconds – or five hours, 21 minutes, and 30 seconds in a Japanese copy of the game. Carolio still shows up in second place on the Japanese leaderboard, with a time of five hours, 21 minutes, and 47 seconds.

Clearly though, we're going to need a whole separate Switch 2 leaderboard, because Carolio's latest speedrun ended up being around half an hour faster than that. They didn't just shave off five minutes in thജe first hour – those time-saves kept accumulating, with their time at the end of the credits coming in at four hours, 51 minutes, and 40 seconds.

Even if the entire speedrun was only five minutes faster than usual, this would have been massive news. But half an hour? Holding second place on the old leaderboard shows that Carolio knows their stuff when it comes to Scarlet and Violet speedrunning, but given tꦫhat the Switch 2 has only just launched, I honestly wouldn't♕ be surprised if the community manages to achieve even faster times in the upcoming weeks and months.

In a (machine-translated) posted following their run, Carlio even calls their performance "s🍌loppy compared to my personal best," but notes that they could feel a significant difference in the performance of the game itself.

💞Elsewhere, shiny hunters take advantage of the increased draw distance in the Switch 2 update, which allows even more Pokemon to 🎐spawn at the same time, speeding up the process of looking for rare, sparkly 'mons. So, there are some huge benefits all around – it's genuinely great to see some positivity around the Paldea region games.

Interested in the new console? Be sure to check out our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Switch 2 review to find out all about it, as well as our roundup of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Switch 2 games.

Deltarune Chapters 1-4 just came out as a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch 2 launch game, alongside a release on PC, PS5, PS4, and OG Switch, with the remaining chapters coming at some point in the future via free updates. Toby Fo🐽x has now taken to social media to acknowledge a problem that appears to be affecting some fans.

"Seems certain Deltarune Switch and Steam Deck players are having trouble loading their demo save files into the full game," he tweeted today. "On Steam Deck, the issue has a temporary workaround below. On Switch, we would like to hear any details from players e𝓰ncountering this issue."

The temporary fix asks people to "use the Dolphin file browser" to resave their save data under a different file name. Or you can probably 🐲just wait until Fox and Co. officially update the game.

For now, the famed indie developer called on Switch players to dish out more info. "Do you have the demo actively installed? What is your region? When did last you play the demo?" he asked folks playing on Switch and Switch 2.

For those not in the know, Deltarune's first and second🐟 chapters have been available for years as totally free downloads, hence the demo branding. For $25, Deltarune Chapters 1-4 were supposed to let players continue from where they left off at the end of Chapter 2, but things haven't gone down entirely as planned, it seems.

Why not check out some other 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming Switch 2 games?

To make picking the right camera for your brand-new Nint🦂y handheld easier, I've tested as many USB-C compatible options as I could and whittled them down to my top picks so you can GameChat with your friends in no time. As the console has only just launched, bear with me as I continue to test and add more to this list.

The Quick List

The best official Nintendo Switch 2 camera

The Nintendo Switch 2 is brand-spanking-new💞, so there isn't a huge batch of official cameras to choose from. That being said, out of the cameras available on the market right now, the aptly named 'Nintendo Switch 2 Camera' is what I'd recommend if you care most about specs and want to get the best picture, while still sticking with a first-party accessory.

For one, the official camera, which we first got a glimpse of in the Switch 2-centered Nintendo Direct on April 2, 2025, has a 1080p resolution, which is what you want if you don't want to come across as a blurry mess to your friends over GameChat. Sure, how well lit up your gaming environment is will a💜lso greatly affect your visual clarity, but the higher the resolution, the better you'꧂re going to look on-screen - the most important factor of any camera.

For now, the Nintendo Switch 2 camera is also the only first-party accessory of its kind to offer up that 1080p resolution, with both of Hori's officially licensed alternatives only reaching resolutions of 480p, respectively. It can also be used in handheld mode, which is great news f😼or those of you who plan to 𝔉spend ample time playing your Switch 2 on the go, but you'll still need to have a spare flat surface at your disposal.

The best budget Nintendo Switch 2 camera

The Hori USB Camera for Nintendo Switch 2 has the same $59.99 MSRP as the official Switch 2 camera, however, deals on the lead up to launch day hav🦩e already seen it be marked down considerably less than its almost $60 price range in the US. In the UK, it's a much more budget-friendly option compared to the other cameras on the market, as it has a more than affordable £29.99 MSRP, which sets it more firmly apart from the rest.

For that low price, you may not be getting the highest specs out there. However, this 480p accessory is ideal for handheld gaming fans as it attaches via the top USB-C port of your Switch 2, making it one of the most portable cameras on this list. There are actually three ways you ౠcan use this camera, ranging from handheld mode꧂, using the attached mount to hook onto your TV, or hooked up to your Switch 2 dock while it remains sitting in its sleek and sturdy camera base.

Similary to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best webcams, for its $59.99 / £29.99 MSRP, this Hori camera also comes with a built-in sliding lens for privacy, and it has an adjustable neck so you can get the be🦂st viewing angle in GameChat or while playing the soon-to-be-released Super Mario Party Jamborᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚee – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV.

The best Nintendo Switch 2 camera design

It's hard not to see why the Hori Piranha Plant Switch 2 Camera had everyone talking when images of it first appeared online. Instead of dishing out another plain, a🉐ll-black camera, Hori took it upon themselves to take the iconic Super Mario series baddie, the Piranha Plant, and transform it into one 💃of the best-looking Switch 2 accessories to date.

The base of this officially licensed camera is represented by a Mario warp pipe, which also acts like a stand. The main bulk of the c♔amera, the Piranha Plant head, can be placed within the pipe base when connected up to the new Switch 2 dock. Alternatively, you can actually take the ferociously designed camera out of its base and place it within the USB-C port on top of the handheld to be used in handheld mode - ideal for those who are more privy to gaming on the go.

While this Hori camera only has a resolution of 480p, and so doesn't quite offer the best visual quality out of all the official Switch 2 cameras to date, it does add extra levels of ingenuity and design that make it perfect for Sup🐽er Mario fans. Instead of a typical privacy screen, the camera's mouth can be closed when you aren't using GameChat, and the stem can be adjusted so you can get that perfect viewpoint - this is truly one for the Mario fans.

How to choose the best Nintendo Switch 2 camera

Choosing the right Nintendo Switch 2 camera isn't that dissimilar to choosing the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best webcam for your gaming PC. To begin, you need to consider your budget, as not everyone has the means to fork out a ton of cash, especially after the already pricey investment that is the Nintendo Switch 2.

If you're sticking to the officially licensed options, the official Switch 2 camera has an MSRP of $54.99 / £49.99, whereas the HORI Piranha Plant Camera has an MSRP of $39.99 / £34.99. Hori also has another option, with the simply named USB Camera for Nintendo Switch 2 for $59.99 / £29.99.

Ideally, even if your budget is limited, you'll still want to gravitate towards the camera that's at least 1080p, to ensure you have the best image quality possible. For now, only the official Switch 2 camera is 1080p, with both HORI's options being 480p. In the UK, the HORI Switch 2 cameras are more affordable, and where they lack in the specs department, they make it up with their flashy designs and handheld mode compatibility.

Alternatively, you could save even more cash by reusing an existing USB-C webcam you have lying around. Currently, we're putting our existing cameras through 🐼thཧeir paces to see what existing webcams, from brands like Razer and Elgato, are compatible with the Switch 2.

The best Nintendo Switch 2 camera FAQ

If you want to complete your new Switch 2 setup, adding one of the澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: best Nintendo Switch accessories, from one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express Cards, to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch controllers into the mix can unleash the full potential of your brand-new handheld.

Additionally, anyone who finds the Joy-Con uncomfortable will get a lot of use out of a wireless controller. Grabbing a high-quality USB-C camera will also go a long way in improving the quality of hangouts over the new 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Switch 2 GameChat feature. But at the same time, cutting down on the amount of extras you grab for your new console can save a lot of cash.

No one really needs to grab any accessories from the get-go, as the Switch 2 comes with everything you need to get it set up on day one. However, if you want to get more value out of the new 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:gaming handheld and keep it protected straight from the꧅ get-go, I've narrowed down the most important accessories and how they can improve your time with the Switch 2.

Nintendo Switch 2 cases

I always like to grab a protective case (and a screen protector for that matter) for my gaming handhelds as soon as possible. I'm pretty clumsy, and I'd like to tell you I haven't dropped my launch Switch on the floor on several occasions, but I'd be lying. Having one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch cases as soon as possible meant my beloved first Switch was able to avoid any additional harm, which is why I always advocate for having one of your own as soon as humanly possible, especially for your Switch 2.

Not all cases are made equal, and some are going to be made of much sturdier material than others. But no matter which one you pick, any protection is better than leaving your pricey Ninty handheld out in the open. Plus, if you plan to travel a lot with your Switch 2, a case means you can safely store it away in your bag, and even have some extra space for games and a charger.

Nintendo has a few options available from launch day, from the Carrying Case and Screen Protector set to the massive All-In-One Carrying Case, which even has space for your Switch 2 dock and six game cards. Third-party accessory brands have also got plenty of options available. The STEALTH Premium Travel Kit for is what I'd recommend if you don't plan on taking your dock with you, but want ample storage for your games. The all-black case not only has room for your Switch 2, but 12 games, and even an extra pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers. For just under $50, you're not just getting hardened protection for your new handheld either, but the kit also includes a 2 metre USB C-C charging cable and screen protector for good measure.

If you'd rather some protection that wraps around your handheꦯld, the Killswitch Switch 2 case is now available from , and is designed to let you detach your Joy-Cons all without removing the case. It even comes with an adaptor for your Switch 2 dock, so once it's on, you never need to take it off, whether you're privy to playing in docked or handheld mode.

Verdict: If you want some extra protection for your Switch 2, grabbing a case will help ensure less wear and tear is caused to your handheld whenever it's not in its dock or in your hands. Plus, it's easier to take your Switch 2 on the go when you have an easy way of storing it.

Anyone who sticks to playing the handheld in docked mode and docked mode only will likely have no need to grꦇab a case on launch day, or in the future. But even if you rarely dabble in handheld mode, a compact travel case is a must for keeping your Switch 2 safe and sound.

Nintendo Switch 2 storage

The Switch 2 relies on the use of microSD Express Cards, rather than the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch SD Cards that are compatible with its predecesso🍬r. These new cards were chosen by Nintendo "for faster data reading and writing speeds", but it also means you'll need a specific type of card to upgrade your stora♉ge.

Luckily, there are two licensed microSD Express cards available right now. Both Samsung and Sandisk have their own 256GB cards, which are available for and other retailers. At the moment, 256GB is as high as these official cards go, but you'll get a funky Super Mario design if you grab them. (A design you'll rarely see once it's actually in your Switch 2, but alas.)

Not everyone is going to need a brand-new microSD Express Card, as it all depends on how you play your Switch 2. For example, someone who's eager to play every brand-new release might easily fill up the 256GB worth of onboard storage in no time - especially when games like Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition and Cyberpunk 2077 require 24.2GB and 59.8GB, respectively. If you stick with small indie releases and regularly archive your new virtual game cards, 250GB will be more than enough for the time being.

Verdict: An extra 256GB doubles the space of the Switch 2, and gives more opportunities for installing more games, as well as a wealth of screenshots and game 🦂clips. However, if you prefer to stick to indie titles that typically don't have demanding storage requirements, and regularly transfer your screenshots to yo🐟ur PC, more storage right now shouldn't be your biggest priority. In the latter case, I'd wait at least a few months to see how the starting storage fares with your playing habits before you drop $50 on a brand-new microSD card.

Nintendo Switch 2 headsets

Unless I've got Netflix on in the background, I always prefer to have a gaming headset on my head so I don't miss a beat of whatever Switch game I'm currently playing. Hearing your games clearly can be pretty important if you're having to listen out for audio triggers in turn-based games like the Mario and Luigi series, or where bullets are whizzing past you in Fortnite. But most importantly, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets can really up the immersion factor.

If you want to keep costs low, especially after the hefty amount of cash you laid down on the handheld itself, you don't have to pick up a new headset. In fact, thanks to the console's inclusion of a 3.5mm jack port and its Bluetooth support from the get-go, it's very likely you'll have an existing pair of cups that'll work with the Switch 2 without issue. You'll just want to make sure that whatever you pick has a high-quality enough microphone if you plan to make use of the new GameChat feature and don't want to sound like a garbled mess to your friends.

For those who haven't yet added one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets to their growing Nintendo setup, having one at the ready from day one will mean you can experience every ounce of new games as clear as day. Nintendo hasn't yet officially unveiled a Switch 2 licensed pair of cups (and neither have any third party brands), but there's a ton of high-quality options out there, from the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Barracuda X to the more premium 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro that will work with the handheld. The latter has spatial audio support, so you'll be able to hear the sounds of any compatible games in a more realistic 3D soundscape. The Razer's Barrauda X is a better pick for most, though, with its value-oriented price point and excellent audio.

Verdict: In the end, if you want to keep costs low and don't have anyone around you who might find the loud sounds of Mario Kart World, or the new NSO GameCube game library, hard to cope with, you don't need to grab a brand-new Switch 2 gaming headset. The new handheld's various ports and Bluetooth compatibility ꦆmean you'll also likely have a compatible pair of cups already lying around that'll work a treat.

On the other hand, if you're new to gaming headsets and need a mic to chat 𓂃to your friends through the Switch 2, a gaming headset will go a long way in making the handheld's audio truly sound next-gen.

Nintendo Switch 2 controllers

Additional controllers for your Switch 2 are a lot easier to recommend from day one, especially if you weren't a fan of the feel of the original Joy-Cons. In my own experience, I always resorted to using the included Joy-Con grip or a wireless controller like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:8BitDo Ultimate C for a more comfortable grip.

The Nintendo Switch 2 includes a grip that transforms the two controllers into one, just like the original Switch. That's better than nothing, but it can feel flimsy and can still be uncomfortable after hour-long gaming sessions. That's where the Switch 2 Pro controller comes in, offering up an ergonomic shape and all the NFC-reading tech and buttons you need to play whatever your heart desires.

The new Switch 2 Pro controller also has some improvements over the original, including the new 'C' button to activate GameChat, two new GL and GR remappable back buttons, and the upgraded HD rumble 2. As you can imagine, this does come at a price, and will mean you forking out another at launch. It was unfortunately caught in the recent price hike crossfires in the US, so you will need to keep that in mind if you're after an additional controller but would rather keep costs low. Fortunately, it's always remained at its RRP of , in the UK.

Verdict: If you liked the feel of the original Joy-Con controllers and have a tight budget in mind, I'd leave grabbing a new Switch 2 controller until later. However, the new Switch 2 Pro controller is a great alternative for those who don't vibe with the flat-backs of the Joy-Cons, it just comes at a bigger cost - especially if you're based in the US.

Alternatively, the official 👍Joy-Con grip, or using a compatible wireless third-party controller, is another viable option. As is the official NSO GameCube co𓃲ntroller, if you want a more nostalgic way to play the brand-new GameCube game library at launch. (But you will need an active NSO subscription to order it.)

Nintendo Switch 2 cameras

The Switch 2 camera was one of the newest accessories announced, allowing you to video chat with friends over the GameChat feature. It's also compatible with some games, like Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition ＋ Jamboree TV, so if you're desperate to see yourself on screen, you can pick up the official Switch 2 camera for , or the Hori USB Camera for, and make use of the newly added in-game features.

I'd personally wait a moment before diving into the world of Switch 2 cameras. Super Mario Jamboree, the main game used to advertise the official camera, isn't out until July 24, 2025. If you're a paying NSO member, you will be able to at least use the camera for GameChat, but there's a big chance you'll already have a compatible camera at hand, as the handheld is compatible with some USB-C cameras already on the market.

Verdict: The Switch 2 is compatible with other USB-C cameras, so if yꦓou actually want to make use of GameChat to video chat with your friends, or make use of the new features in Mario Party Jamboree, you might already have a compatible webcam at your disposal.

However, not many games make use of the camera at launch, 𝕴so I recommend waiting if you're💖 strapped for cash before deciding to add one to your Switch 2 setup from day one.

Which Nintendo Switch 2 accessories do you need on launch day?

No one really needs to purchase any additional accessories for the Switch 2 and have them locked and loaded for launch day. In fact, the only accessory I'd say most players need at launch is a case. The handheld comes with all you need to get it up and running, including a set of Joy-Con 2 controllers, the Switch 2 dock, and an AC adaptor. So long as you have a compatible TV and a spare power socket, you'll be good to go.

However, if you want to get a little more out of your Switch 2 and have the cash to burn, that's where accessories come in. You'll need some Switch 2 accessories to make the most of the handheld's new features. For example, is the 256GB worth of onboard storage isn't enough for the games you intend to play, you'll need to upgrade sharpish. Additionally, having the Switch 2 camera will mean you can use GameChat straight away.

The Switch 2's compatibility with a range of other add-ons, however, means you can make do with what you have if you have a budget to keep to. The original Pro controller is compatible, as are a range of headsets. There will be some features you won't be able to make the most of🍎 💦(eg, only the Switch 2 Pro controller has HD rumble 2), and using the latest official accessories is usually going to result in a stress-free setup.

Our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch 2 preview provides a better look at the brand new device, but check out our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch 2 game and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch guides to see what you can expect to play and how each handheld measures up.

The world of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming handhelds has been dominated by two models for the last few years. We've already seen how the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch 2 vs Steam Deck battle plays out, so I'm turning my attention to the best handheld PC on the market; the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Asus ROG Ally.

I first reviewed the ROG Ally back in 2023, and then took on the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Asus ROG Ally X just a year later. With their AMD Ryzen Z1E ch🐈ips, full-sized controls, and chunkier form factor, they both offer a very different experience to Ninty's family-friendly console. Now that I've got the Nintendo Switch 2 firmly in my hands, I'm pittingꦿ it against the very system that saw its predecessor collecting dust on my shelf.

Price

There's a considerable jump in price between the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Asus ROG Ally (and then again up to the X model), however there's a little more nuance to these numbers as well. The Asus ROG Ally Z1E is no stranger to sales, and it's dropped to $449.9🍌9 / £399.99 a few times in the last year. That's the same rate as the Switch 2 at launch (a set of numbers I don't expect to be falling any tim💝e soon).

If timed correctly, the Asus ROG Ally could be the same price as the Nintendo Switch 2 - though discounts are far less forgiving on the boosted X model. That's a $700 device even on sale and I haven't seen any price cuts in the U💫K at the tim🍷e of writing. That price increase does come with sturdier specs and a slightly better design, but it's only going to make sense for a select number of players.

There's also a cheaper version of the Asus ROG Ally, with a Z1 rather than Z1E chipset. However, it's harder to find on the shelves these days and seems to be fading into the sunset now. If you do spot it, though, it's usually sitting at around $399.99 when on sa🍌le.

At full price, the Nintendo Switch 2 takes this one. It's $200 / £200 cheaper than th﷽e Asus ROG Ally Z1E, but it's well worth looking out for discounts on the latter.

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

Portability

These are handhelds, so they need to be easily portable. Of the bunch, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the light🦹est and thinnest, measuring in at only 0.55-inches thick and weighing 535g. The Asus ROG Ally Z1E is considerably bulkier, and the Ally X slightly more so, at 1.28-inches and 1.45-inches respectively.

That means your case is going to be significantly larger if you opt for the Asus ROG Ally. I've been transporting both, and it's much easier to squeeze Ninty's system into a backpack. Even a slimline fabric ROG Ally case is still bulky and heavy, whereas I c🅷an slip skinny Switch clamshell into even a smaller bag and still have space left over.

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

Comfort

The Nintendo Switch 2 is certainly far more comfortable than its predecessor, but it still sacrifices the extra grips ofᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ the Asus ROG Ally in favor of a slimmer form factor. That means it's lighter and easier on the wrists overall, but with smaller controls and less to hold onto I do still feel a slight cramp after longer play sessions.

This year's♌ Joy-Con are taller, but they're not much wider. Pair that with the scaled-dowℱn face buttons and thumbsticks, compared to the full-sized iterations on the Ally, and larger hands will still struggle to stay relaxed during marathon runs.

The Asus ROG Ally is🐷 built more for ergonomic comfort than the Switch 2. It features large protruding grips around the rear that provide additional leverage and promote a more natural hand placement. These grips are coated with a textured surface for a more precise hold, whereas Nintendo's device is completely matte. One isn't necessarily better than the other, this is largely down to personal preference. I much prefer the softer feel of the Switch 2 compared to the original console, but it can feel a little slippery compared to the rougher surface of the Ally.

The slanted edges around the front are also more gentle on the paᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚlms compared to the completely flat Joy-Con 2. I still find the corners of Nintendo's controllers can dig into my hands after a bit, whereas I've never experienced the issue on th♔e Ally.

Nintendo wins in weight. If you're holding the device in the air, rather than resting it on your lap or a table, the additional heft of Asus's handheld does make itself ๊known. Overall, however, this one goes to the PC.

Winner: Asus ROG Ally

Display

On paper, the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Asus ROG Ally have very similar displays. They're both 1080p LCDs running at 120Hzℱ, though there's a 0.9-inch size difference. Overall, Ninty's pulled this one off particularly we𝓀ll.

The Switch 2's panel isn't as bight as the Ally's 500 nits, but it does come🀅 with HDR support. Asus's display is crisp, sharp, and has excellent range, but side by side there's a little more pop in Nintendo's display (notably more so in games like Cyberpunk 2077 with HDR switched off) - even if the Asus is a little sharper on occasion.

Despite only hitting the shelves a couple of years ago, Asus's device suffers from fairly large bezels around the display itself. It's a factor that can make the Ally feel a little outdated꧙ and, while the Switch 2 still keeps similar bezels in play, the larger panel makes it a little easier to forgive.

It should also be noted, and I'll get into this more later in the Performance section, that both the Nintendo Switch🌃 2 and the Asus ROG Ally can output at 4K 60Hz when connected to a compatible display. The difference is the Ally is a PC and the Switch ღwill have games specifically optimized for this level of resolution. You'll have a much easier time getting your games looking good on a 4K gaming monitor with the Nintendo Switch 2 to hand.

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

Battery

It's undeniable that the Nintendo Switch 2 has a weaker battery than the Asus ROG Ally (♛and a much smaller one compared to the X). That's not the full story, though. Yes, at 5,220mAh (and running at 3.7v), you're not even getting half the WHr size of the Ally in the Switch 2 - and yet the device's actual runtime easily keeps up.

That's because the Ally is working much harder to play its games. The Nintendo Switch 2 is a heavily optimized device, as most consoles are. That means the titles you're playing have been built for your system - even ports are re-jiggled to run well 🔜on the handheld. PCs like the Asus ROG Ally live in a wild west where different games have different system requirements and optimal settings.

A more demanding game could run your Ally charge down to zero in as little as an hour, but a lighter title on the ri🔜ght power preset could have you playing for up to six. The story is similar on the Nintendo Switch 2, with a tie between these two handhelds.

That's where the Ally X comes in. This upgraded model comes with a monster battery at 80WHrs. Suddenly your heaviest games can last from three hours - th🐎e longes𝓰t stretch I've managed to squeeze out of this handheld is 8.5 hours. That's two hours more than the Switch 2, with the handheld doing significantly more work during that time.

Winner: Asus ROG Ally X

Controls

This is a tight one. The Nintendo Switch 2 has a lot going for it from a control perspective; detachable Joy-Con make multiplayer sessions a breeze, the new mouse sensor offers inbuilt precision, and the improved rumble is far more nuanced than Asus's. However, the Ally benefits from full-sized thumbsticks and face buttons, additional programmable paddles 🌜on the back, and a far more sophisticated d-pad.

There's a battle here between functionality and quality. The Nintendo Switch 2 can do more𝕴, but the Asus ROG Ally feels much better doing less. I'm far more precise with my aiming and movement when using Asus's taller thumbsticks (anꦛd even better on the X where they feel much tighter), and directional inputs are more comfortable with the full d-pad.

No, you can't remove one side of it and use it as a pointer but the Asus ROG Ally can easily connect to any 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:wireless gaming mouse you've got for a, pote🔥ntially, much better experience instead.

At the e꧋nd of the day, I prefer Asus's controls for single-player adventures and online multiplayer. They're more comfortable and mor🌟e precise at the same time. However, if you know you're going to be prioritizing couch co-op gameplay the additional features of the Joy-Con 2 will prevail.

Winner: Asus ROG Ally

Connections

The Nintendoಌ Switch 2 and Asus ROG Ally X both have two USB-C ports, perfect for those who use wireless accessories via 2.4GHz receivers and still want to keep their handhelds plugged in. The regular Ally Z1E, however, only has one USB-C connection.

That's the only major difference betwe♕en the two handhelds' port selections. The Asus ROG Ally does feature 𒆙a proprietary connection for its own XG Mobile eGPU hub, but that's an incredibly expensive add-on that very few will be looking to purchase. If you've got an extra few grand to play with, though, you can add RTX 4090-level performance to your Ally via this port.

The Switch 2's second USB-C p🐬ort clinches this ꦰone.

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

Games

Settle in, this is a complicated one.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is far more powerful than its predecessor, which means more demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Borderlands 4 are coming to the system. That opens the Switch library considerably, blockbuster releases have a much higher chance of also landing on the Switch 2 than they did the original model. Not only that, but you will only be able to play first-party (and some third-party) Nintendo Switch games on💖 the system itself - Ninty is hard on its own exclusivity.

That leaves the Asus ROG Ally in an interesting position. This is a full Windows PC, so you can run anything you could on a laptop or desktop on here (in theory). That's a much bigger library, 🉐pretty much everything⛦ (outside of those aforementioned exclusives, as well as those of the PS5) can be played on this device in some form.

You're also not beholden to﷽ one eShop here. Ratherꦚ than living by Nintendo's prices, you can shop around between Steam, Epic, and other launchers.

Similarly, the ROG Ally has one final trick up its sleeve; Game Pass. Love it or hate it, Microsoft's sub♎scription service is the best-value way to play new and old releases if you're not building a physical collection. A massive catalog of blockbusters and a healthy roster of day one releases means this is a fantastic tool in the arsenal of any Asus ROG Ally owner.

If you're a Nintendo fan you'll want to prioritize those first-party exclusives, if you're a gaming fan looking for one device to play a much wider range ofജ releases, the Asus ROG Ally is a much better pick. The Sw🔜itch 2 is promising better Triple-A compatibility, but nothing is concrete until it's out on the digital shelves.

For a better picture of the difference between the platforms, I've collected every game featured in this year's The Game Awards nominations and compared platform availability between the two. Compatibility is only ticked if there is an officially confirmed version of the game heading to Nintendo Switch 2.

Winner: Asus ROG Ally

Performance

The Asus ROG Ally is a PC, but it's not going to give you conventional PC performance. Yes, it's an efficient system and it's run nearly every game I've tried ✤on it comfortably (the ROG Ally X is a particularly potent beast), but there are more steps to getting that frame-perfect experience.

The Nintendo Switch 2 picks up its new resolution and sprints with it. This is a seriously impressive achievement considering t🌟he size of the device and while the final result isn't quite as texturally sound as you'll see in lower resolutions on the Ally it's still a smooth, enjoyable experience.

The Asus ROG Ally can run in 4K, but it generally prefers not to. The X model is far better suited to this kind of high-resolution gaming, with its boosted RAM, but you're still restricted to lighter🌳 games. Cyberpunk 2077 could never.

Nintendo is running a custom Nvidia chip inside its new handheld, whereas the Asus ROG Ally is a full AMD build. The performance 🐻of that Z1 Extrem🌞e chip puts it at the top of the current handheld PC market, out-gunning cheaper options like the Steam Deck easily.

It's likely that Nintendo is relying on Nvidia'🧔s own DLSS upscaling tech to keep its 4K 120fps promise, whereas the Asus ROG Ally uses AMD's FSR kit. Both a similar in their framerate-boosting capabilities, but both also leave behind their own visual defects from time to time.

In my testing of Cyberpunk 2077 so far, the Asus ROG Ally and Nintendo Switch 2 have played to different strengths. The Switch is much smoother, with no screen tearing and very very few judders. Textures and lighting are generally similar between the two, with both taking a heavy drop during faster gameplay moments. However, the Ally has a crisper level of detail on its visuals than the Switch 2 - most notable around character ꦉfaces. That's running the Asus ROG All𓃲y on Steam Deck graphical settings, things are a lot choppier once you start moving into full RT offerings.

The Asus ROG Ally is capable of more than the N๊intendo Switch 2 is, but you'll need to jump through more hoops to get there. That could even things up, if it weren't for the Asus ROG Ally X. With a massive 24GB of faster 7500MHz RAM, this is where t🦋rue framerate chasers need to be looking.

Winner: Asus ROG Ally X

Storage

The Nintendo Switch 2 has seen a massive increase in storage this generation, upping the Switch OLED's 64GB to an excellent 256GB starting position. That's still half of the 512GB SSD inside the Asus ROG Ally, though, and a quarter of the 1TB Ally X. Those numbers aren't to be taken at face value, though,⛦ the runway you've actually got from those drives differs.

That's because game sizes are on the up. While original Switch games may have taken up a few gigabytes, Cyberpunk 2077 will require around 60GB of space. As Nintendo starts taking on these chunkier games, the Switch 2's built in storage is going to suffer just as much as its predecessor did. These are PC-sized game files, and even the Asus ROG Ally struggles with doubl🃏e the space.

Both devices are upgradeabl🌺e, with the Switch 2 only accepting MicroSD Express cards and the Ally offering a swappable internal SSD and extra storage via a MicroSD asꦚ well. While it's a big leap in sheer size, Asus still wins this competition.

Winner: Asus ROG Ally

ꦏNintendo Switch 2 vs Asus ROG Ally: which should you buy?

Nintendo wins out in price, portability, display, and connections, while Asu🍷s takes the lead in comfort, battery, controls, games, storage, and overall performance. That doesn't mean everyone should be flocking to the Ally, though.

The console experience is still very different to that of a PC, even in 2025. Driver patches, graphical settings, and varying system compatibility among games mean handheld PCs are still far from the slick, streamlined experiences of a purpose-built operating system. The Nintendo Switch 2 is much more pleasant to use outside of actual gaming. You know the games you buy will r🍎un, you don't have to dig through updates and settings menus to get them going perfectl𓆉y.

If you're buying for younger kids or you simply want fewer barriers between you and your games, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the better buy. If yo🧜u're looking to play all the latest and greatest games on one portable device, though, Asus is still going to be 𓄧your best friend.

Buy the Nintendo Switch 2 if:

Buy the Asus ROG Ally if:

You can find out exactly 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:where to buy Nintendo Switch 2 with our launch day live reporting, or check out the best Nintendo Switch 2 MicroSD Express cards available now. I've also been refereeing the Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch OLED battle as well.

Now you're all ready to start using your Nintendo Switch 2ꦍ. Congratulations!

Free Nintendo Switch upgrades

Nintendo has dropped free updates for a select number of original Nintendo Switch games. So far, 12 games from the existing Switch library have received these free-to-download upgrades, including 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, which was notably plagued with performance issues when it originally launched on November 18, 2022. The update smooths out movement and boosts image quality whether you're in handheld or docked mode.

The nitty gritty details of these upgrades will depend on the individual title. For example, as a co-op game, Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury has received support for the Switch 2's new GameShare feature. This now means that, during the Bowser's Fury DLC, one person can control Mario and another can control Bowser Jr through sharing the game locally or online. Whereas, Game Builder Garage has had its visuals optimized for the Nintendo Switch 2 display and high-resolution TVs, as well as support for the new Joy-Con 2 controller mouse controls.

A full list of the Nintendo Switch games that have received free updat🥃es for the Switch 2 so far can be found below:

• 51 Worldwide Games
• ARMS
• Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
• Game Builder Garage
• New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe
• Pokémon Scarlet & Pokémon Violet
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
• Super Mario Odyssey
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening

Nintendo has not yet announced any plans to prov🐻ide free updates for any more titles from its vast original library of games. However, the lists software update dates for the games in🐲cluded so far, which could be a sign that there's far more to come.

These are great for savinওg some cash, especiꦏally if you already own any game that's got the Switch 2 Edition treatment already, physically or digitally.

Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade Packs

Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade Packs are their own separate entity. By purchasing any one of these packs, you can transform your original Switch games from Super Mario Jamboree to the Legend of Zelda Tears o▨f the Kingdom to t🐷he Switch 2 Editions - all without having to fully re-buy the game.

If you happen to be a paying Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack member, you can also get access to the Legend of Zelda Brea❀th of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom upgrade packs for free, as they're included in the service on launch day. See a full list of upgrade packs and their release dates below:

• Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV upgrade pack (July 24)
• The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack (June 5)
• The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade pack (June 5)
• Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World upgrade pack (August 28)

For example, if you already have a copy of Super Mario Party Jamboree sitting on your shelf, purchasing the $19.99 / £16.99 upgrade pack will transform it into Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV, giving you all those new Switch 2 exclusive features. You can purchase the upgrade packs via Nintendo or other retailers, you will then be provided with a digital code to enter into the Nintendo eShop. Alternatively, they're also available through the Switch 2 eShop.

What new features and performance upgrades you receive after downloading these upgrade packs depends on what new features were added to the Switch 2 versions of these games. That's bec💮ause you are now basically receiving the Switch 2 game at a reduced cost.

Picking up one of the澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询: best Nintendo Switch accessories, the best Nintendo Switch 2 microSD Express Cards, to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch controllers can help unlock the most out of your new Nintendo Switch 2.

The Quick List

The best Nintendo Switch 2꧋ microSD Express Card overall

With AAA game releases getting more storage-demanding by the day, having an extra 256GB at your disposal is as low as I recommend you go. There are 128GB microSD Express Cards out in the wild, and by SanDisk too, but they're only marginally more affordable than this officially licensed card, and won't help you futureproof your new Ninty hardware.

This officially licensed SanDisk 256GB micro🍌SD Express Card will put you in good stead if you want storage that not only looks the part (thanks to its cute Super Mario-themed branding) but also provides just enough storage for a few big releases, and some small indie games too. Of course, you can archive your new virtual game cards on the Switch 2 to save some room. But this 256GB is plenty of space to download that 22GB-sized digital copy of Mario Kart World if you opted for the Switch 2 bundle at launch, and any of your existing game library you move over from your older Switch device.

MicroSD Express Cards by nature are pretty speedജy, but SanDisk's official storage has write speeds up to 650MB/s2 and read speeds up to 880MB/s, which are a notable step up from SDXC cards released in the past for the original Switch. This means that loading times will be faster on the new hardware, and the sustained write speeds of 210MB/s will make your game captures extra crisp on the new device too.

If the Switch 2's lifespan is just as fruitful as the original handheld, eventually 256GB won't be enough - especially if you have a preference for digital games. Fortunately, brands like Lexar already make 1TB compatible microSD Express Cards, but until you reach that point, the 256GB licensed SanDisk microSD Express Card is what I'd recommend as you start your Switch 2 gam🔯ing journey.

The best budget Switch 2 MicroSD Express Card

No matter what Switch 2 compatible card you choose, they're going to be pricey, and with microSD Express Cards still a relatively new form of storage, there's isn't a lot of options out there to choose from. For now, that makes it harder to grab some new extra Switch 2 storage on a budget, which is why the officially licenced Samsung 256GB microSD Express Card with an MSRP of $59.99 / £49.99 is what I'd recommend for those who don't have all the cash in the world to fork out on even more Nintendo hardware.

The Samsung 256GB microSD Express Card specs haven't been released to the public. For now, all we know is that it's a 256GB microSD Express Card, with that same adorable Super Mario branding as its SanDisk counterpart. However, if it shares the same read, write, and transfer speeds as its officially licensed brethren, it'll be enough to bring those faster load times to your favorite Switch games and provide the transfer speeds you'd want from a brand-new handheld.

There are smaller 👍capacity cards available, like the SanDisk 128GB microSD Express Card, for an MSRP of $52.99 / £41.99. However, while it's cheaper in price, it's not better in value. For just $8 more, you can get double the storage (an extra 128GB) by sticking to this Samsung SD card - which will help you cope with that existing older digital Switch library of games, and 💜any of the plethora of launch titles now available.

The Best Switch 2🐻 MicroSD Express Card for eShop Fans

MicroSD Express Cards have existed well before the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, from brands like SanDisk and Lexar, and including this decked-out Lexar 1TB Play PRO microSD Express Card. This isn't an officially licensed bit of Nintendo storage like the previous picks for this list, but its ‎microSDXC classification means it'll be compatible with your new Ninty hardware.

This is great news for those of you who want as much extra storage as possible, as so far, there aren't any official Nintendo microSD Express Cards that go beyond the 256GB capacity threshold. If you want 1TB worth of space for your virtual game cards, Switch 2 screenshots, and game clips, this Lexar card is one of your only options available on the market today.

On the plus side, that does narrow down your choices, so you won't be left with a ridiculous onslaught of microSD Express Cards to choose from. However, that also means there isn't much leeway when it comes to its pricey🍬 $199.99 MSRP. The longer we get into the Switch 2's lifespan, the more large-capacity options will start to spring up, but so far, if you want 1TB worth of space on top of the handheld's 256GB onboard storage, the Lexar 1TB Play PRO microSD Express Card is my recommended option - if you can manage to find it in stock.

How to 🌞choose the best Nintendo Switc🐻h 2 Micro SD Express Card

The first microSD Express Cards originated back in February 2024, with Samsung's first 256GB models. Unlike UHS-I-based microSD cards, they're still relatively new, so there aren't many to choose from. However, the longer we get into the Nintendo Switch 2 lifespan, the more new SD cards will be available, ranging in not just storage capacity, but speeds and even in design - if the previous best Nintendo Switch SD cards are anything to go by.

For now, the main consideration you need to undertake when looking at what card to buy is predominantly down to its storage capacity. The Nintendo Switch 2 comes with 256GB worth of onboard storage, and if that's enough for the kind of games you want to play, then you won't need a microSD Express Card at all. On the other hand, if you plan to play multiple AAA games at a time and want them installed on your device, having that extra space can go a long way.

Games like Mario Kart World and Cyberpunk 2077 require 23.4GB and 64GB, respectively, which combined already fills up a hefty chunk of that 256GB. You can double up this storage with the officially licensed SanDisk and Samsung 256GB Switch 2 microSD Express Cards. Alternatively, SanDisk also has an unofficial version of their 256GB card available on the market with forgoes the Super Mario branding but keeps its faster speeds in check. If you want the highest capacity card available right now, Lexar Play PRO microSD Express Card is available in a 1TB variant.

Another factor to consider when choosing the right microSD Express Card for your Switch 2 is price. From the get-go, these faster cards are more expensive than their non-express counterparts, with the SanDisk and Samsung 256GB versions starting at $59.99 at Amazon. Like with most gaming storage, the higher you go, the more you're likely to spend, and that's also true for the Switch 2. Right now, the 1TB Lexar microSD Express card retails for $199.99, which is almost half the price of the Mario Kart World Switch 2 bundle - if you can believe it.

Until we start to see a wealth of new microSD Express Cards hit the market, t𓆉hese two factors should be your priority when choosing what is right for your Swi🦩tch 2 gaming needs.

Nintendo Switch 2 Micro SD Express Cards: FAQ

If you want to complete your brand-new Switch 2 setup, our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch accessories guide is full of some the best the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets, and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch controllers compatible with the brand new console.

However, there are some benefits to consider. That OLED display doesn't just improve color contrast, it also contributes to a much larger battery life, plus the age of Ninty's predecessor means it's considerably cheaper than the 2025 release. The improvements in the Switch 2 make it the superior handheld overall, but if you're looking to spend as little as possible while still enjoying Nintendo's original catalog, the OLED does still have its moments. It's been one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming handhelds for the last couple of yearsꦆ for a reason, a🦂fter all.

I've put the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch 2 against the Nintendo Switch OLED head to head, to see exactly what that extra $1👍00 gets you in the new devic𒉰e.

Price

The Nintendo Switch 2 launches at a $100 / £86 price increase over the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch OLED, but that's not the full story. With the new model landing on the shelves, the older device is seeing some particularly heavy discounts. The lowest those price cuts have taken us is $299.99 in𝓡 the US and just £239.99 in the UK. That's a price difference of $150 and £156.

If you're going for the lowest price possible, the Nintendo Switch OLED wins this one - especially꧑ considering there are only a handful of Switch 2-exclusive titles available at launch.

The value of those price tags may well change as Ninty's library fills with Switch 2-only titles, but for now the Switch OLED has the better rate. After all, you're getting a much more powerful console, new mouse features, and a better docked experience. Until then you'll mostly be playing the games you could play on the older device, just souped-up a l🍰ittle.

Winner: Nintendo Switch OLED

Comfort

Despite looking and feeling a lot more svelte, the Nintendo ෴Switch 🐎2 is actually the same thickness as the Nintendo Switch OLED. That's both a good and bad thing.

It's still the slimmest handheld on the market, making it easily portable even in smaller bags. However, those with larger hands may still struggle to feel truly comfortable during longer play sessions on either device. The lack of chunkier grips around the back (which you'll find on both the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Steam Deck OLED and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Asus ROG Ally) forces the hands to hold both the Switch 2 and Switch OLED in a flat position. Throw in smaller controls and you'll be stretching those palms out regularly during mara♋thon runs.

There are two other arenas where these h♌andhelds battle it out, though; weight and surface material.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is heavier than the OLED, but I haven't noticed any additional strain during my testing sessions so far. It feels denser and more substantial, but the extra 115g isn't getting in the way of play either on my lap or held in the air. It could still prove troublesome if you struggle in a handheld position, though. The Nintendo Switch OLED is lighter and shorter than the Switch 2, which means it's easier to hit the +/- buttons and s🍎ideways Joy-Con action is꧃ less of a stretch as well.

However, the slightly stickier plastic surface makes for a less comfortable experience overall. The matte finish on the Nintendo Switch 2 feels fantastic in the hands. It's more sliꦏppery, yes, but there's still enough grip to maintain a sturdy position during gameplay and I've noticed significantly less irritation on my palms so far.

So, the Switch 2 is heavier but much better feeling while the Switch OLED is lighter and easier to reach all your con༒trols if you have smaller hands. Overall, the new model wins out in this race.

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

Display

There's so much more to the Nintendo Switch 2 vs Nintendo Switch OLED display debate than the ty﷽pe of panel used. The new model drops us back to an LED screen, a move that many decried as a downg🐼rade from the OLED model. In a way, it is. You won't get the pop of color contrast or the dark, inky blacks of the previous device on the 2025 release, and that is noticeable in everyday use.

However, LED panels have com♐e a long way even in the last few years. I came to the Nintendo Switch 2 expecting a washed out experience compared to the OLED I've been using for the last few years, but I was pleasantly surprised by the vividness of this display. No, it's not got the contrast of an OLED - and brighter moments don't quite pop in the same way against dark backgrounds.

However, there's excellent co🙈lor reproduction in here, even if HDR is washing out scenes in my early testing.

That's not even mentioning the boost up to 1920 x 1080 resolution. The Nintendo Switch OLED caps out at 720p in handheld mode, only jumping to 1080p when docked. The new Nintendo Switch 2 looks far crisper on the handheld screen itself, and ramps all the way up to 4K when docked. The difference is pretty night and day, from finer details like the clear stitching on Mario's overalls in Mario Kart World to sharper 🐼landscape scenes and more defined objects in the distanꦏce.

All those sharper, more detailed images run much smoother across the screen as well. The Nintendo Switch 2 features a 120Hz refresh rate in handheld mode, double that of the 60Hz Switch OLED. Both are still comfortable for the human eye, but the new device gives you a little extra time to react in smaller ways and keeps faster action looki🌸ng slick as w🧜ell.

All that ta🃏kes place on a larger 7.9-inch panel, a considerable upgrade that feels far more immersive in the hands than the original's 7 inches.

Yes, you're dropping the contrast and blacks of the OLED panel, but I'll take a larger screen with 🃏a higher resolution image and better motion handling any day.

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

Battery

The Nintendo Switch OLED may have a smaller 4,310mAh battery, but its display is far more efficient. That means it can mo♉re than double the Nintendo Switch 2's minimum runtime on more demanding games, reaching aꦓll the way up to 9 hours max compared to the Switch 2's 6.5.

The newer handheld is doing a lot more 𓃲under the hood, with a more power-intensive screen, so that smaller battery is inevitably going to drain quicker. If you're going for longevity, you're better off sticking with the Switch OLED.

Winner: Nintendo Switch OLED

Controls

The new Nintendo Switch 2 comes with a refreshed set of Joy-Con. These gamepads are taller, covered in the same matte finish as the tablet, and pack a whole host of new features. It's not all upgrades, though. I'm finding that the larger height of the controllers the🔥mselves make for a harder time finding buttons towards the top, and when playing horizontally (particu🍌larly on the right pad) the thumbstick is even more of a stretch to reach.

Still, that's about the only feather⛎ in the Switch OLED's cap. These are new and improved in every other wa꧟y.

The biggest new addition is the mouse sensor hidden away in the magnetic connection on each side. This opens you up to far more precise controls in certain games, with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond seeing the biggest benefits in my preview te♛sting. The Nintendo Switch OLED keeps you stuck with a set of relatively imprecise thumbsticks, more cumbersome than the snappier sticks of the Pro Controller or even third party alternatives.

That's not all, the Nintendo Switch 2 also comes with enhancedღ HD Rumble 2 for a far more nuanced feel overall. Side by side, the difference is pretty impressive - there's moreಞ tuning to the newer device. It's not necessarily a more powerful set of motors, but they're far more nimble and the result makes for a detailed feeling overall.

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

Connections

There's only one difference between the ports on the Nintendo Switch 2 vs the Nintendo Switch OLED, and it comes in the form of an extra USB-C at the top. That's enough to seal the deal, though, keeping everything you need to charge your device, connect wirelessly over Bluetooth, and st𓄧ill have access to an additional accessory💙 connection at the same time.

It's a small addition, but excellent for quality of life - especially if you use one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best gaming headsets with your handheld. I've been using the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Razer Kraken V4 to test the Nintendo Switch 2 so far, and have been able to keep it plugged into the top port while keeping the battery charged up underneath as well. Of course, it can also be used to connect extra dꦿevices while the Nintendo Swꩵitch 2 is docked as well.

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

Games

At the time of writing there are just a handful of Nintendo Switch 2 𝕴launch exclusives that can't be played on the Nintendo Switch OLED. Obviously, however, that roster is going to g🔯row pretty quickly.

There are a few original Nintendo Switch games that the Switch 2 can't play, and more that you'll need a set of classic Joy-Con for, but overall the new device is going to have a much larger♕ library than the original. It can play pretty much everything the Switch OLED can plus its🐟 own catalog. Not only that, but with update patches and full Switch 2 Edition upgrades, existing titles run better as well.

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

Performance

The Nintendo Switch OLED brought no performance upgrades over the original Switch s♎ystem, a device that launched way back in 2017. That means we were well overdue an upgrade when the Nintendo Switch 2 was announced. Now that we've got both in-hand, it's obvious what we were missing out on.

We still don't know exactly what's powering the Nintendo Switch 2, but 🏅it makes some clever plays with AI⛎ upscaling, raw power enhancements, and a vastly improved screen to offer a far more capable device overall. It's running Cyberpunk 2077, for crying out loud.

Yes, it's🔴 not exactly offering up a PC-like experience in CD Projekt Red's blockbuster, there are a few textures going awry, a couple of stutters, and some fading at the edges. This is a tiny device, though, outputting at 4K resolution without breaking a sweat. That's some serious engineering.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is faster in its processing and load times, while being capable of re🐲ndering much further into the distance at higher resolutions and with better motion smoothing. It's capable of ray tracing and motion syncing with Nvidia G-Sync, with 12GB RAM under the hood. That's a far more powerful device than the Nintendo Switch OLED.

There's a but here. I have noticed in m🌟y testing that the Nintendo Switch 2 doesn't use those game updates (the free ones, not the Upgrade Packs) to bump up resolutions to 1080p when running Nintendo Switch 1 games🐻. That means you're still playing at 720p in handheld mode, even if the title supports 1080p docked play.

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

Storage

The Nintendo Switch OLED shipped with 64GB of internal storage, unbelievably an upgrade from the original system's 32G👍B. Nintendo has upped that again this time around, quadrupling storage up to 256GB.

Importantly, though, some of that space is taken up by the system's own operatin🃏g functions, whereas this was completely partitioned on the older device. That's not going to make much of a difference, but it does mean that you'll have slightly less than ꦜ256GB to play with on day one.

At first sight, it might look like you won't even need to use the expandable storage tray. After all, many were content with a 256GB MicroSD card in the Switch OLED - we're getting that straight out the box. However, the Nintendo Switch 2 is capable of running much bigger games and there's only so much optimizing Ninty can do. Game sizes are growing considerably for this system, which means you'll still need to addไ some extra space.

The Nintendo Switch 2 supports much faster MicroSD Express cards, but isn't compatible with the cheaper versions used by the Switch OLED. The OLED does have some fight in this battle, but ultimately it hasꦕ to☂ go to the new contender.

Winner: Nintendo Switch 2

Nintendo Sw🅰itch 2 vs Nintendo Switch OLED: which should you buy?

The benefits of the Nintendo Switch 2 are obvious. The handheld features a far more powerful internal system, with countless upgrades to performance overall while also improving overall form factor and design, display resolution and speed, and storage capacity. That'🦄s without even considering the new ♉mouse controls and GameChat features, or the compatibility with both the original Switch library and new releases.

That extra $100 is well worth spending if you're after the best performance on the best display, but if you're just looking to experience older games𝄹 for the first time without investing too much cash the Switch OLED still holds up. You can save plenty of cash and still have access to most of the same games folks will be playing on the Switch 2 anyway, all while bumping up your battery life and grabbing better contrast in that OLED panel as well.

Buy the Nintendo Switch 2 if:

Buy the Nintendo Switch OLED if:

I'm also comparing the Nintendo Switch 2 vs Asus ROG Ally and we've been busy with our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch 2 vs Steam Deck debate as well. If you're already set on your new device, check out the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch accessories on the market.

At yesterday's 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:State of Play, Square Enix finally put the rumors to rest and revealed Final 🐲Fantasy Tact🌳ics: The Ivalice Chronicles, which bundles the original game as it was alongside an enhanced version that features f💜ull voice acting, revamped menus, extra scenes, and more.

A new developer now gives us insight into who's actually making the remaster and - surprised Pikachu face - it's more or less the same people who made the original almost 𒅌30 ℱyears ago.

The game's original director and writer, Yasumi Matsܫuno, is back to pen the script, as is art director Hiroshi Minagawa. Final Fantasy 16's creative director, Kazutoyo Maehiro, was actually part of the original team at the very start of his career, but he's now directing the re-release. Talk about an upgrade.

"Almost 30 years h🐎ave passed since th꧑en, and I now find myself working on Final Fantasy Tactics once again as the director," Maehiro says. "I feel that what we have created together is worthy of being called the quintessential version of Final Fantasy Tactics."

"For this upcoming titleꦉ,ꦓ we tried to respect the feeling of the original while also reworking the game with a modern interpretation," Minagawa added. "Of course, aside from the visual evolution, we believe the addition of superb voice acting will immerse you even deeper into the troubles and grievances of the pixel-art characters, right down to their very breaths."

"We have worked together with a new generation of development staff to enhance and revive the world crafted by the original team of creators all those year♊s ago," he noted.

"The will to resist is in your hands": Final Fantasy Tactics writer puts capitalism on blast as the strategy RPG returns nearly 30 years later to a world still filled with "inequality and division"

You can head over to Steam's global top sellers page if you want to see Deltarune's current success for yourself. As I write this, it's at the top of the charts, beating out the likes of Counter-Strike 2, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Dune: Awakening, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Elden Ring Nightreign.

That's despite the fact that it was apparently impossible to buy Deltarune – or any other game on Steam – for a few minutes after launch. ๊You'll find numerous reports on social media about Va♋lve's checkout process breaking at Deltarune's launch time, and I can confirm that, yeah, trying to buy something was giving a big ol' error message at the time.

from

You'll find , , soci💃al media posts from fans jokingly celebrating their apparent role in the Great Steam Checkout Crash of June 4 2025, and I'm not inclined to doubt they had a hand in it.

Deltarune also launched to a peak of 133,930 concurrent players, as shows, which is a far cry (and a 12,865% increase) from Undertale's day one ♓player peak of 1,041. The original game's tell the tale of a title that spread through word of mouth, and with Deltarune's performance today, it's clear that the word never stopped spreading.

Check out all the big 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming indie games you need to keep on your radar.

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Balatro's wild success story can be attributed to a range of factors, not least of which is its engrossing roguelike/poker gameplay loop, but surely its clean, ad-free UI and lack of microtransactions didn't hurt. There's also little doubt that Localthunk could make a pretty penny by opening up Balatro to optional purchases, but thankfully the solo dev hates that sort of thing just a⛦s much as the rest of us.

"The honest reason I don't have microtransactions/season pass/ads/100 DLCs/etc in Balatro isn't just about the ethics of those practices bu🐷t because when I play other games that have those things it makes me want to put my computer in the dishwasher and set it to pots & pans," Localthunk shared in a post on .

"Like I get why people add those things but you're shooting your UX in the foot if players are having their first impression and also being bombarded with a bunch of nonsense that isn'♍t actually the game."

As a mobile-friendly game, and an extremely successful one at that, it's rare and refreshing that Balatro is such a straight♏forward buy-and-play experience. As Localthunk said elsewhere, "there's like a 95% chance that if the game is [free-to-play] then the main🎃 menu UI is more complicated than the actual game UI."

And if you're wondering, Localthunk says this wasn't ꩲa targeted dig at any specific g🌠ame. But when asked about Marvel Snap, the dev added "I'm not letting them off the hook either."

"I might have exhausted all my luck": Balatro God-King hits lucky streak so powerful that 1-in-1 billion odds don't even begin to describe it

I'm still in the process of completing🌞 my Nintendo Switch 2 review, only getting hands on theꦑ console earlier this week. We've been running through everything from 4K docked performance to thumbstick feel together over the course of Ninty's launch and we're not stopping now.

So far, I've had a good amount of time with Cyberp𓂃unk 2077 and have explored the upgrades available for Breath of the Wild. Of course, that's mixed in with a healthy amount of Mario Kart World as well. I've so far only had a cursory play with mouse controls, so will be diving into that sensor a lot further today. I'm also going to get the Switch 2 Camera connected up to test image quality and facial tracking across a range of different setup placements.

I've rounded up my initial 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch 2 findings 🧜below, and you'll find all the lateℱst updates further down the page.

Design

The Nintendo Switch 2 really does feel great in the hands, even though it's the exact same thickness as the Nintendo Switch OLED I'm testing against. The taller form factor and matte finish on the Joy-Co♓n give it a real air of sophistication that, side by side, the original lacks. I never noticed the cheaper plasticky feel of those classic Joy-Con before I spent so much time going between the two, but the smoother finish of the new model is far slicker.

The system is taller, and that means the Joy-Con are too. While I was hopeful for larger controllers this time around, we've only got a small increase on the width. That's♍ a shame, I always felt the original gamepads were too skinny to truly feel comfortable for longer sessions and the same is still true here. However, the additional height does present a couple of extra problems.

The first one I noticed during my preview testing. During a co-op Mario Kart World session I was lumped with the right Joy-Con, the one that has you stretch a little further to reach the thumbstick. The problem seems to be amplified now, with an uncomfortably large gap between the top of the controller and the stick itself. The s🎉econd issue is relativ🍨ely minor, though may prove more troublesome for younger players with smaller hands. The +/- buttons are a significant reach now, which can make quick pauses slightly more cumbersome.

Since getting my hands on the Nintendo Switch 2 proper 🌞I've also noticed a few design upgrades that weren't on show before. The game card hinge has had a 𒅌serious glow-up, with extra supports in the main connector and a metallic plug that seals the gap in the console. That's a far sturdier solution to the often-mashed OLED version.

It's odd, however, that the magnets on the Joy-Con sides allow the controllers to be connected both upside down and back to front. The two times I've picked up the handheld 🥃(without the screen on) to connect the Joy-Con so far, I've popped them on the wrong way around.

The dock is a chunkier than t𒊎hat of the Switch and Switch OLE🧸D, with a larger curved panel that completely detaches from the main body to allow for wires. That leaves a smaller space for the fan than I initially expected.

Controls

The Joy-Con feel much better in the hands so far, with a slightly wider base and a soft-touch finish that's🐬 far more pleasing than the harder plastic of the originals. The sticks themselves have seen their own improvements too, though they still aren't Hall effect.

These are mu🅘ch larger toppers, with a smoot💙her glide to the outer edge. Swirling both controllers around in the hand, I can feel the notched corners of the OLED gamepads, whereas there's a much softer landing on the Nintendo Switch 2.

In-game, it goes a long way in making these sticks feel a little more precise. There's a tighꦑter finish here, sure, but the height isn't extended by much. Instead, it's that padded outer ring and the larger grips on the top of the sticks themselves doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

I've had a tinker with the mouse controls in Cyberpunk 2077 over the course of my first day of testing. I was surprised to find out that both gamepads need to be disconnected from the system for one to work as a pointer, though it makes sense considering actually holding the tablet in on🍃e hand and moving a mouse with the other feels pretty unbalanced. While tracking was impressively sharp across my legs, I can't help but feel a 🍸more versatile approach would make sense for games where mouse controls are only preferable every so often.

The Nintendo Switch Pro﷽ Controller is a delight at first touch. I much prefer the softer feel over the textured surface of the original and it's a lot more streamlined overall - far less bulky, way more comfortable. I did notice today, however, that the thumbsticks have a fairly high deadzone to them. Trying to refine my aim in Cyberpunk 2077 was a little cumbersome (though it's notably much better on the Joy-Con themselves).

Display

So far, I've had a peer at the difference between the Nintendo Switch OLED's panel and that of the Switch 2. The jump from an OLE🌠D screen to an LED is noticeable.

In side-by-side comparisons of Pokemo𒅌n Violet, the OLED presented brighter yellows and greens much better, with a more vivid picture overall and a punchier feel. By compariso⛦n, the Nintendo Switch 2 darkens these tones slightly.

I had a proper look at the role HDR is✅ playing today and it's surprising. There seems to be something going awry with this implementation. It's a lot more noticeable in handheld mode, and more in Cyberpunk 2077 than Breath of the Wild (that I've seen so far), but it seems to be washing out a lot of the image in brighter scenes. Compared with the Asus ROG Ally, picture does come across a little blown out - an effect꧒ quickly rectified by turning the HDR feature off.

UI

I haven't learned too much about the home screen and UI today that we didn't already know. This is pretty much the same deal as you'll find on the original, barring some GameChat functionality and slicke🦩r highlighting across the main screen.

I'm delving into those settings a lot more over the course of the next few days, though, and I've already spotted some mouse sensitivity and A/B mapping oౠptions I'm excited to try out.

Performance

My initial testing has centered around Cyberpunk 2077. This is, I expect, the Nintendo Switch 2's biggest challenge at launch. A blo🅘ck🧔buster Triple-A that put the PS4 through its paces back in the day, CD Projekt Red's massive open world is looking pretty sweet on the new system.

No, you're not getting next-gen graphics as we know them. As I've learned today, PS5 still holds the upper hand against the Nintendo Switch when it comes to textures and distance rendering in docked mode. There's som🥃e pop-in, I noticed considerable blurring for a few seconds before new objects and images could render their focus, and that upscaler has brought its own gho🐎st-lines to the party. However, it's Cyberpunk 2077 running remarkably smoothly on a slimline handheld - with commendable ray tracing to boot.

Upgrades to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild reveal an impressive amount of detail in smaller objects and a far more polished experience overall. Between sharper character models and clearer rendering in t🍒he distance, things are looking pretty sweet in both handheld and docked mode. Nothing's stuttered so far, and those load times have been reduced dramatically.

I've had a brief dabble in Mario Kart World, though I covered it pretty extensively in my preview. This is st🐈ill the best place to see the Nintendo Switch 2's 120Hz refresh rate in action, with a super slick presentation and vastly improved distance rendering co♚mpared to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

I did, however, stumble upon some bad news. I see why Nintendo has been fairly vague about the free updates it's bringing to original Nintendo Switch games. From my initial testing, it looks like these titles still run at 720p in handheld mode - even if they were capable of docked 1080p in 🍌the previous generation.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe maintained this lower resolution on the Nintendo Switch 2 and even looked a little worse for being pictured on a higher resolution display. That's a blow to anyone hoping to make the most of new hardware when catching up on Ninty's back catalog, 🀅especially considering launch day isn't exactly awash with new-hardware exclusives.

Here we go!

It's been a long old wait, but we're breaking into the Nintendo Switch♛ 2 box right now - stay tuned as we get all the bits and pieces out for the first time. I'm expecting things will look fairly similar to the original releases - the box looks to be about the same size as the Nintendo Switch OLED was when all packaged up. We already know there's a dock, Joy-Con grip, cables, controllers, and the tablet itself inside the box, now we've got to get them out in person.

These back buttons feel slick

I've opened up the Switch 2 Pro Controller so far and immediately noticed something I didn't quite apprecia𒊎te during my preview time. These back button♌s feel amazing.

They're a little softer and lighter than I'm used to, bu⭕t there's still a satisfying clack to each press. Moving the thumbsticks around in-hand, ther꧅e could be some threat of accidental presses due to that shorter stop, but overall I'm a fan of this feel initially.

Onto the main event

🅰I've torn open that box and 🐟everything's here, huzzah!

It's a slick unboxing experience for those who cherish these initial moments with their consoles. First up you'll find those all-important Joy-Con, with the tablet nestled neatly underneath. Then we get into the dock. Video Producer Hal Dimond says it gives "big wireless router energy", and I'm not disputing that. I🥃t's much chunkier than the original and the plastic chassis doesn't help dispel its modem vibes.

I've just noticed something while putting the Joy-Con on the Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time

You can connect them backwards and upside down.

That's an odd decision, I can't bel👍ieve there's any real gameplay benefits to playing with your controller upside down - and it could lead to more frustration than it's worth in the longer run. Sure, you'll always see which way up your screen is - but I haven't switched this bad boy on yet. I only knew from the hinge placement.

I'm definitely checking whether they actualওly work in different orientations once we get this thing up and running.

First impressions

This is a serious brick of a device, weighing a lot more than I remember from my preview days. It's just as slick in the hands, though, with a fantastically cool matte finish and a real heft behind its form factor. That's all while feeling like a slimmer device than the 🎶Switch OLED (it's not actually, it's൩ just a lot better looking).

Having it in my own space now, it's only just occurring to me that the soft-touch finish could be more prone to scratches than before. It feels like the kind of plastic that will quickly show those smalle🔴r surface nicks and bruises, though I'll have t🎉o fully field test before I can say for sure.

It definitely feels like a♍ more expensive device than the original Switch OLED, and I'm surprised how good the controls feel in my hands this time around as well.

Thumbsticks

The original Joy-Con thumbsticks have never been my favorite, but the Switch 2 iteration is tighter, smoother, and significantly larger. The biggest difference I'm feeliꦦng between the two right now is righ🙈t at the edge of that extension. I can feel the original gamepad's individual notches around the outer edge of the stick itself, whereas everything's buttery smooth here.

That's going to make for far more comfortable movement overall, everything feels almost cushioned 𒐪by comparison.

This is still a rubber topper, but it's got much larger bumpers around the edge and a softer feel overall. I've only jiggled it around so far, but I can already feel slightly more purchase with my thumb, which could hop♈efully clear up some of those precision issues I've been slamming Ninty for over the years.

Let's boot it up

I've docked the handheld and we💞're off to the races with first time setup.

The whole process ⛎takes aܫbout two minutes, and you'll need to undock the device just after you start. However, it's pretty painless.

First we get a lesson on controllers an⭕d the different attachment styles, then it's straight into choosing an icon and setting a name. Zip through any additional accounts you want to add, have a gander at parental controls and finally we're treated to a jolly little jingle and a zippy Switch 2 animation.

Now I'm at a b𝔍lank, but very recognizable home screen.

Feels like home

Nintendo isn't doing anything 𝕴new with the homescreen, but everything has seen an extra polish. Game icons are softened with round corners, compared to the harsher squares of the original, and the 🙈circular lighting around each selected icon blooms with a more vibrant purple color.

No, there's no themes here - I was half hoping for a launch day surprise from Nintendo in that department. For n🀅ow, we're stuck with plain backgroun🍷ds only.

There's also a new icon at the bottom for GameChat, as well as the Virtual Game Cards and GameShare buttons now available on the🎉 original Nintendo Switch as well.

This is a fairly similar experience to the previous device, though. The only difference I've noted so far is that individual clicks sound a little deeper and the tone changes 🅺when moving between the three horizontal menus now rise in a far more satisfꦺying manner.

I've just opened up the cart slot for the first time

And I wasn't expecting this.

The process is more of a pull than on the original device, which opens its lid with a slightly creaky flip upwards. This time, there's a whole additional piece in play, a large piece of metal folding over the top of each game card. The action of actually opening up this tray now takes place from the back of the handheld as well, with 𓃲a much smoother motion overall.

Ever🐎ything feels far sturdier here - I'm not worried about breaking off a piece of the handheld every time I add a game.

That's a lot of updates

If you were planning on getting straight into your games as soon as you unbox the handheld, you might be disappointed. We've plugged Pokemon Sword in and we're now being faced with a hefty update time. Things seem to be jittering all over the place - it's either going꧃ to take an hour or 15 minutes per game.

If you've got a 𝐆lot of update-able titles in your collection, you might need to sit back and relax before properly getting into the new generation.

And it's stalled

I'll chalk it up to some awkward server activity, but my updates have just crashed out. These a🌄re most likely teething problems, but it's going to take a l♊ittle more time than I had hoped to get the Nintendo Switch 2 fully up and running.

We have lift-off

We've got Pokemon Sword up and running on the Nintendo Switch 2 so it's time to take a look at that display. There is a noticeable drop in vibrancy compared to the Switch OLED, which I'll be taking a closer look at later on in my testing. The yellow on that Pokemon logo, for example, appears more gold on the new device whereas it's a much ♊brighter effect on the OLED. The sam🅘e goes for the green on the field below. Blue tones aren't affected so much, but brighter colors are appearing slightly dulled on the new panel.

I was expecting a much larger fan on this dock

I'd never peered into the actual Nintendo Switch 2 dock before today, preview eventꦕs tend to have them locked away. However, removing the outer shell on the back has surprised me. I was expecting a much larger fan area tucked away around those port connections, but there's a good amount of empty space in this chassis.

I’m just on my way back from the studio to do some deeper testing at home, but in the meantime here are some quick answers to questions I’m seeing online at the moment.

Yes, the mouse function does work on the home screen. It works quite well actually. While I’m yet to get the eshop up and running, I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work the same on Ninty’s download store.

Yes, mouse sensitivity is cus🧜to🐬misable in the system’s menu - though there are only three levels to choose from right now.

I'm back, and I'm transferring save data

I've got two Nintendo Switch systems on the go 🎃at the moment, but because I still want to be able to run each at the sam💙e time for comparisons I can't fully wipe my old model. The process for transferring save data is pretty easy, taking less than five minutes on the whole.

It's all done through the Data Managem♎ent menu in Settings, and both systems walk you through the entire process together. You will need to keep them c𓆉lose by, though, so if you're trading your old device in you'll want to upload everything to the cloud first.

We've got just over an hour on the Cyberpunk 2077 download

This is going to be my first real test, Cyberpunk 2077 is a massive game and the fact it's been squeezed onto a handheld t♒his small is impressive by itself. That download time has been teetering around the one hour mark for around 15 minutes now, so in the meantime I'm going to have a look at some Nintendo Switch 1 games, without patches, to see if they run in full resolution.

I might have some bad news for original Switch 1 games

Most of the ಌgames that actually made the most of the Nintendo Switch's 1080p docking capabilities have received patch updates ahead of the Switch 2's release. Many were hopeful that these updates would unlock fuಌll 1080p gameplay (previously reserved for docking) in handheld mode.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one such game, but I'm sorry to sa🔜y it doesn't look like we've got 1080p performance on the device's own screen here. This is a 720p image that, actually, looks a little worse when stretched out across the Nintendo Switch 2's larger FHD panel.

Below, the first image (Link) was captured on a Nintendo Switch 2, while the second is from the Nintendo Switch OLED (Yos✱hi)

Side by side in real life, the Switch OLED's 720p panel keeps things a little crisper whereas those edges are somewhat blurred on the new release. I'm going to📖 keep testing across different releases, but at the moment that's a tough blow, considering how few Nintendo Switch 2 games we're actually getting at launch.

Cyberpunk 2077 has downloaded

It's time to dive into💧 Night City on the Nintendo Switch 2. I'm keeping my testing to handheld mode tonight and jumping deeper into 4K docked territory tomorrow, with the PS5, Asus ROG Ally, and a gaming laptop in tow.

Gi🐭ve me some time 🙈to get through the opener and I'll return with screenshots.

Cyberpunk 2077 so far: the Switch 2 isn't a miracle worker, but it's a tasty upgrade

I've come from playing Cyberpunk 2077 on the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:MSI Raider A18 HX, a $5,609.99 RTX 5090 configuration of the 4K gaming laptop no less. I was spoilt in that instance, but even though the Nintendo Switch 2 couldꦍn't even dream of offering the same kind of graphical prowess I can't help but feel impressed.

I'm just under an hour in, playing in handheld mode and without mouse controls, and yes - I'm seeing some tell-tale DLSS ghosting signs, but they've only jumped out at me once. Textures can 🐬take a second to fully render as I get closer, but they're looking pretty clean when they need to. Ray tracing is far less sophisticated than you'll find on a PC or PS5, murkier than both and slightly less responsive with distance.

I've had no jud🌃ders so far, so noticeable framerat🌳e slowdowns, and smooth motion even in wilder camera sweeps. Considering this is running on a handheld system that's keeping its thermals under control, that's pretty sweet.

You need to disconnect both controllers to use the mouse sensor

I've been playing Cyberpunk 2077 with mouse controls for♌ a little while, and I was a little surprised to see that both controllers need to be disconnected from the tablet itself for the feature to be used. That means I can't quickly swap control schemes when in handheld mode, though it does make sense considering you'llꦰ need to set the device on its stand to comfortably balance everything.

This is the first time I෴'ve used the mouse sensor in a real-world setting. Yes, I've🧸 used it on tables at Nintendo preview events - but that's a very different environment to some late-night Cyberpunk on the couch.

Pro🃏pping the Switch 2 up on the side and using my leg as a mouse pad, the experience was pretty slick. The sensor maintains tracking across fabric folds in my trousers, and even manouvres fairly smoothly without its skates (the toppers in the box feature a smoother gliding surface). It's not 𒈔going to have you trading in an esports gaming mouse any time soon, and I did need to stretch my hand out after some more intense aiming moments, but it's certainly workable in everyday play.

Tabletop mode still puts pressure on the lower port

In the process of testing those mouse controls, I've also stumbled across a design flaw that seems to have stuck ar🧔ound since the orig𒆙inal Switch days.

Yes, being able to conneꦛct my SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds (wireless earbuds with a small USB-C 2.4GHz receiver) and keep my system connected to power is a massive benef🌸it. However, standing the tablet up in tabletop mode still requires the lower port to be left free. As it is, the tablet's weight is currently being supported on the receiver itself - which is a recipe for port worry.

Thankfully, this is less of a concern with the Nintendo Switch 2. After all, you can always just🌞 hook up a headset via Bluetooth connection and the top port now means that power remains connected while🅠 in tabletop mode.

One quick round of Mario Kart and I'm off to bed

One does not simply get a Nintendo Switch 2 and not play Mario Kart World on day one. I've had a sturdy introduction to this free-roaming world over the last few preview events, but the screen's fantastic motion handling, gorgeous HDR, and improved distance rendering are still impressive even in my own living room. Everything feels just a little more free here,🐬 with zippy corners and more minute character movements given more space to breathe than they did on the Nintendo Switch OLED.

That concludes my first day of Nintendo Switch 2 testing, but I'll be up bright and early tomorrow to get some 4K🎐 gameplay in and ಌkeep pushing mashing those buttons.

Good morning Nintendo fans!

I'm back🍰 and setting up for another day of testing. Yesterday w🌱as a blur of handheld gameplay, and I'm back for more today. I've currently got both the Switch 2 and Asus ROG Ally playing Cyberpunk so we'll see how they both fair first.

So far, the win goes to Nintendo

I've booted up fresh saves on both the Asus 💦ROG Ally and Nintendo Switch 2, and the Switch is flying. The Ally automatically put me at an RT Low setting, which proved far too much to handle without a power cable connected. I've got the device set to its 25W Turbo mode, but we're looking at portableᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ play here and without extra juice the device is struggling.

So far, I've made it just beyond the chara𓃲cter creator with both anไd movement is smooth on Nintendo Switch 2, while the Ally is stuttering hard. I'm going to bump those graphical settings way down on Asus's device and see if we fare any better. That means the Switch 2 has already won if you're looking for on-the-go ray tracing.

It's not all bad news for Asus, though. I have noticed that ima🥀ges appear a little crisper on this PC's display. The Switch 2 has dropped a few textures here and there to get everything running smoothly and it's showing - particularly around faces.

The ROG Ally crashed when I benchmarked it, but it seems to have pushed an update through?

The entire system shut down when I tried to run an RT Low benchmark, but that did mean a quick update pulled through - one that definitely wasn't there was I was polishing everything up for this test. Since then, I've noticed a marked increase ౠin perfor🃏mance on the Ally.

It's still choppier than the Nintendo Switch 2 and there ar♌e more tears when moving the camera, but lighting is more dynamic and textures have that extra sharpness still. Darting around this first area as a Nomad, I have noticed a few framerate drops here and there - faster movement is t♌hrowing the Ally off whereas the Switch 2 remains silky smooth.

Steam Deck settings

I've had to bump the Ally down to Steam Deck settings to let those frames catch up with driving in Cyberpunk 2077, but the impact to visual quality doesn't seem to be that d🌟rastic compared to the Nintendo Switch 2. This is still much smoother on Ninty's handheld, there's some considerable tearing and the odd judder on the Ally - but things are starting to look more comparable.

The Asus ROG Ally has taken the lead

Two things I've noticed from driving around on the Nintendo Switch 2. ꧑Number one, that HDR needs a little fine-tuning.

The Ally has far punchier visuals overall, whereas the Switဣch 2 (yes, it looks like HDR is maintained in system screenshots) appears washed out. I'm leaning towards the Ally's visual offerings here, and it seems to two systems are neck and neck in long distance rendering as well.

Below are the same screenshots across both the ROG Ally and the Nintendo Switch 2, zoomed to 150%. Background objects are still very l🃏ow resolution, and there's about the same amount of detail available between the two syst♚ems.

Hoཧwever, the HDR effect on Nintendo Switch 2 is addꦺing an extra wash of brightness over the top of the picture, which leaves it feeling less inviting overall.

Number two, the Nintendo Switch 2's motion handling performs far better than the Ally's. I've mentioned those screen tears and framerate drops before, but it's far m✨ore pronounced when flying through these initial street scenes and it's going to hurt even more when we're in Night City proper. The Nintendo Switch 2 is holding up much better.

For reference, here's that same scene with HDR switched off

It's not qꩵuite as bright, but the colors are far more realistic and inviting. I personally prefer this over Cyberpunk 2077 with the system's HDR on.

That seems to be the end of that comparison for now

The Asus ROG Ally lasted around an hour and a half before its battery ultimately died (anecdotally, the Nintendo Switch 2 is still at around 67%). That can't be taken as a pure battery test, though - I've had both systems running different settings, sometimes sleeping, and sometimes sending screenshots during that time. It is a good indicator of how well the Switch 2 can hold its juice when faced with larger games though, much better than sturdiꦫer handheld PC builds.

The biggest thing I've learned today so far? Turn HDR off

I've been a little disappointed by performance of the Nintendo Switch 2's HDR today so far, and things are much improved 🍸when the setting is completely switched off. I've tested across Cyberpunk 2077 and Mario Kart World so far, and the issue is definitely far more noticeable in brighter scenes but it's still a hitch in this display's plan.

I'm about to set up for 4K docked testing in the ꩵgames that support it, so we'll see how it fares on the big screen.

I've been reminded how awkward this dock is

The Nintendo Switch 2 dock features a fully removable panel at the back, like that 🦄of the Switch OLED. In setting it up in my own living room for the first time just now, though, i♛t's apparent the design isn't quite as good this time around.

That back panel is quite easy to remove, but it's pretty tough to g👍et back on. There are a series of pegs that need🅺 to align and click into place in a particularly tight area and balancing the top and the bottom is a challenge.

My advice is 🥃to work your way up from the bottom, clicking everything in as you ꦇdo.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Upgrade pack just installed

That was pretty easy, though just watch out if you already have Nintendo Switch Online and the Expansion Pass. The big old 'Buy now' button is still there even though you'll receive this upgrade for free as 🅷part of your subscription. Look instead for a Nintendo Switch Online icon in the left corner, which will start your free download.

There's still some HDR washing when docked, but it's far less noticeable

I've been zipping across Hyrule in the upgraded Legend of Ze😼lda: Breath of the Wild, and first had to check out that HDR situation. The good news is there's much less evidence of fading here.

I've also just found out that the Nintendo Switch 2 only captures at 1080𓄧p, rather than the system's full 4K. That means my screenshots below aren't particularly reflective of what I've seen so far on the system. In real life, there's a noticeable bump in clarity both close up and far away - though the textures themselves don't seem to have received too much polish from the upgrade.

Initial 4K performance is looking strong

I've been moving back and forth between the Nintendo Switch OLED and the Nintendo Switch 2 (though it's taken a lot of account jimmying), and there are real enhancements on offer here. Everything feels fresher and more mod🌌ern, to the extent that I was a little sad I'd been running my most recent playthrough in such low quality for so long.

The most noticeable difference I've seen, though, is the grass. At a lower resolution, the𓄧 blades under Link's feet feel more like a green blobby mass. Here, I can easily see the ground parting itself beneath our hero's feet, with far greater detail overall.

Even though those textures look the s🐻ame in general, as I mentioned earlier, they appear far sharper here. Even smaller particle effects are running better - rain feels more full-bodied and natural than the tiny flecks of white floating across the screen of the original.

Screenshots are actually much easier now

Something I've noticed while comparing the Nintendo Sw🌼itch 2 and Nintendo Switch OLED today is just how much easier it is to get screenshots off your device now.

On the original console I have to open up a QR code for every image so that it can download to my phone. Now, those captures are automatically uploaded to my Nintendo account 🧜and I can find them all on my phone whenever I need them.

It's not going to dramatically improve quality of life for most of us, bඣut i💙t's a nice touch.

No, the Nintendo Switch 2 cannot keep up with the PS5

But nobody was expecting it to.

It costs the same as a PS5, and if y🦋ou're only ꧅looking for docked play it's not the best choice overall.

Everything lacks that final touch of sharpness in docked mode compared to the PS5. Faces, textures, and longer-distance details a🍷re slightly less detailed. But this isn't the full story𝄹.

This is still all very impressive. We're talking about the difference between a slimline handheld that has far more functionality than the PS5 and measures in at 𒀰a fraction of the size to boot.

I'm still impressed with the overall fidelity on even a mid-range 4K display. Lightinꦕg maintains its definition and reflections are well balanced, even i🃏f they can't quite keep up with the nuances of the PS5 or PS5 Pro.

Loading times make a big difference

I first noticed this when playing through Breath of the Wild this afternoon. Loading times have seen a marked improvement in the Nintendo Switch 2. I had time to check my phone when that loading screen popped up on the Nintendo Sw🌄itch OLED, now I can barely take a sip of a drink.

The Pro Controller has a particularly high dead zone

I've been runnin and gunnin in Cyberpunk ton𓆉ight, and the deadzone of the Pro Controller's th🍸umbsticks immediately made itself apparent. This is a particularly large zone, with no movement for a considerable portion of each push and pull.

It's not ideal🐽 for finer tuned gameplay, and it's taken me a little while to get used to.

By contrast, the Joy-Con thumbsticks are just that little bit more sensitive. I'm having a better time aiming and adjusting that aim in smaller movements with these sticks, which is interesting considering this was all the other way a💖round in the previous generation.

I'm docking the Nintendo Switch 2 for the night

It's been a busy launch day, but I've got a better idea of how the Nintendo Switch 2 handles its HDR now and have thoroughly enjoyed playing in 4K docked mode across available titles. ꦇIt's still early days, but the Nintendo Switch 2 is shaping up to be a surprisingly competent handheld - even if its biggest draw isn't raw power. It's beaten the Asus ROG Ally with its smooth motion and power handling, even if some objects (particularly faces) still look a little dated. It's stood firm against the PS5 as well, offering just as smooth a gameplay experience while dropping ray tracing sophistication a little.

Back for round three

G🦂ood morning! I'm back for another day of testing. First up, I'm going to have a better look at those mouse controls before diving into the world of extra accessories. I've got the official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera here, as well as the Logitech StreamCam to test compatibility - I'll be using them to take GameChat out for a spin as well.

Considering how notoriously poorly Scarlet and Violet run on the original Switch – with problems like frame drops and stuttering still an issue over two years since launch – this is a massive deal, and the first gameplay footage and extended preview looks shown ahead of release have fans in a frenzy. Not only does everything look buttery smooth, but it remains that way even when embarking on Casseroya Lake.

If yꦺou've spent any time at all in Scarlet and Violet's Paldea region, you'll know why this is a big deal. While far from the only location in the games to experience performance issues, it's largely considered one of the worst – stuttering and considerable frame rate drops while traveling acrosꦕs the water are commonplace. Or, at least, they were on the OG Switch, because Nintendo has jumped at the opportunity to show off what exploring the lake looks like now.

As one stunned fan , "the Casseroya Lake footage literally made me get up and stare at the screen like a 60-year-old father witnessing his football team score a goal on TV." Another that "showing 🧜the notorious frame drop lake at a crisp framerate was such a power play," while one🌼 fan "this is the best possible advertisement they could have done for the Switch 2 oh my god."

Again, it's not just a frame rate boost, as improved draw distance means a lot more wild Pokemon now populate the screen than ever before (potentially a huge boon for shiny hunters, might I add). Former Pokemon worlꦉd champion that "if you tried to put that ♑many Pokemon in the lake on my Switch from 2017 I think it would actually explode."

All of these reactions were to the few short seconds of footage posted on the Nintendo Today app earlier this week, but since then, the owner of Pokemon news site Serebii, Joe Merrick, has shared even more from a preview event. His footage takes things to the next level, because that 60fps apparently remains consistent even in the rain, folks. "It is so beautiful," Merrick adds.

It's just one day to go n🤪ow before the Switch 2 is out and we can all try Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's update for ourselves – from what we've seen so far, it looks like there's never been a better time to explore Paldea.

Keeping up with all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch 2 news before launch? Be sure to check out our roundup of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming Switch 2 games, too.

Where my beloved chonky launch PS5 is concerned, the Arctis Nova 5P is always close by, mainly as I know I can rely on its ultra-lightweight feel and sublime sound. After hearing thaඣt the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless takes after the 5P in these areas, I was more than eager to pop the Arctis Nova 3X model I was supplied with for review on my head as soon as possible, and I was not disappointed. The 260g headset is so light, I almost forgot it was on my noggin entirely. But the bright pastel lavender colored microphone in my peripheral vision was quick to remind me otherwise.

Naturally, as someone hellbent on creating the cutest and coziest PC gaming setup possible, SteelSeries's decision to add more options besides all-black and all-white SKUs more typical of its other headsets is one of the many reasons why I've coveted my time with the 3X. But most importantly, it's been the decision to go for a detachable ClearCast mic. The Arctis Nova 5P has a retractable mic, which does stay flush with the edge of the left cup when not in use. But opting for a detachable mic has made the 3X not just an ideal budget headset, but an ideal alternative to my everyday headphones, too.

This inexpensive headset also packs in the same slim wireless dongle as the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Game Buds, which is a notable step up from its previous budget-friendly headsets. For the 3X, it ﷺalso comes with a USB-A to USB-C dongle to make up for the lack of a USB-C port, but being able to easily pop the wireless dongle into my PS5 and even my Samsung S24 phone has been appreciated. As has the fast wireless charging, which while it isn't as impressive as the hot-swappable batteries of the Pro Wireless headset, has meant I've rarely had to worry about keeping the 3X juiced up, especially as about 15 minutes gave me hours upon hours of playback in Marvel Rivals and Clair Obscur Expedition 33.

SteelSeries has dubbed the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless a "cheat code" for Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch players, but I wasn't able to fully put that into practice. Like the rest of the Nova headset lineup, the 3X is compatible with the Arctis app and its 200+ audio presets, but unfortunately, the beta version wasn't able to run before launch day.

That being said, I've had plenty of time to get well acquainted with the app in the past alongside the Arctis Nova 5P, and even now, I still swear by some of its audio presets when taking up my DualSense controller. The Dead by Daylight preset, especially, has come in a pinch and let me survive more matches, namely as the QTE audio triggers for the generators sound clearer than ever, and the preset lets you hear every nuance of the atmospheric soundscape of the game.

Now that the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless has finally been unveiled to the gaming population, I'll be able to put it and the Arctis app fully to the test. The app has since been updated to include support for the 3X, and I'm eager to see how it comes in handy during my Marvel Rivals Season 2.5 online-gaming escapades, and how it performs alongside the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch 2 (if it's compatible), which is just days away from launch.

If you already have the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wirel🙈ess at your disposal, you'll have little reason to grab the Arctis Nova 3 with its $109.99 / £99.99 MSRP. Similarly, the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless is only $20 more, and constantly sees deals that take it down to the same $100 price range. Yet, if you value a detachable mic,🉐 USB-C 𝓰dongle, improved fast charging, and want the options of colorways that'll match your cute gaming setup, the Arctis Nova 3 Wireless is available now straight from SteelSeries.

If the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 wireless headset isn't for you, our guides to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headsets are full of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets and the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets for you to choose from.

Nintendo's new console has officially been available for over 24 hours now, though actually being able to buy Nintendo Switch 2 has still been tricky. While we saw good availability over launch day itself things are a lot quieter now. Midnight and day-one launch parties seem to have wiped retailer stock from the shelves, but there's always more wh﷽ere that came from.

I've been tracking high profile releases for over five years now, hunting down stock of everything from the PS5 and Xbox during their own chaotic launches to limited edition PlayStation drops and more. I've also been watching Nintendo Switch 2 stock levels ever since p♋re-orders were first announced months ago. I've covered the biggest surprise drops and learned how all these retailers operate.

That means I know the tips and tricks to make sure you've got the best shot at buying a✅ Nintendo Switch 2 on day one, and which retailers look like ⛄they might be ready to drop at any moment.

Where to buy Nintendo Switch 2: quick stock check

• ✅ Antonline:
• Walmart:
• GameStop:
• Best Buy:
• Target:
• Nintendo:
• Newegg:
• Amazon:

UK

• Very:
• EE:
• Argos:
• HMV:
• Amazon:
• Smyths Toys:
• Currys:
• Ebuyer:
• Nintendo:
• ShopTo:
• John Lewis:

Where to buy Nintendo Switch 2 in the US

Where to buy Nintendo Switch 2 in the UK

Live updates

How to check your local Best Buy stores

Best Buy has been vocal about iꩵts launch day availability for a while now, so hopefully there's a sturdy supply of stock ready and waiting for us on the morning on June 5. The site has launched a store checker on its dedicated landing page, so you can see whether you'll be able to buy Nintendo Switch 2 at a midnight opening near you.

Head to and🤡 select your state and location to see if your closest stores ജare participating in the launch day event.

Very's bundles won't arrive until June 13

Very has two Nintendo Switch 2 bundles still on the shelves right now, but they're both suffering from delayed delivery dates. That timeline has been shifted back as we've got close𒈔r to launch day and is currently up to Friday June 13. If you can wait, and spend a little extra on accessories, it may well be worth diving in here - we don't know how much f🦩urther those delays will extend.

Nintendo Switch 2 | Pro Controller | 256GB memory card |

Nintendo Switch 2 | Mario Kart World | Switch 2 Camera | Pro Controller |

Keep a close eye on Walmart

Walmart is one of the ♎few brick and mortar stores in the US to not have announced a midnight launch event.ꦿ However, its Nintendo Switch 2 listing pages still give me plenty of hope for a June 5 restock.

The site has the handheld as 'coming soon' with its release date listed, and considering we haven't seen too m♎any new drops here over the last few weeks it could well have been stockpiling for a larger online wဣave this week.

Argos is going to be big on Thursday

I've been watching Argos closely over the last few weeks, after it kicked off the pre-order game with a massive wave of stock that seemed endless. Since that first run ran out of steam, thougꦰh, the retailer has been silent.

Now we know that Argos will be running Nintendo Switch 2 restocks from 6am on Thursday June 5, with same-day click and collect and delivery up for grabs. The store is built around itsꦡ click and collect capabilities, and its silence in the last month could mean it's been stockpilin꧙g units ready for a big launch day.

Will Amazon US get Nintendo Switch 2 stock on launch day?

If you were hoping to buy Nintendo Switch 2 from Amazon, you're out of luck. The retailer hasn't stocked any 🎐first-party Nintendo gadgets for some time now, and has been completely out of the pre-order race in the US as well. That means I'm not hopeful the store will be receiving day one stock, however some could become available via third party sellers.

Of course, that's not the case for the UK. Nintendo's beef with Bezos seems to only extend to Amazon's US store - across the pond, shoppers have enjoyed regular Switch 2 r♛estocks from the online giant and more stock is expect💯ed around launch. Just be prepared to wait a little for delivery.

Nintendo's prepping for the worst

Nintendo might be trying to tell us something with the signs it's just shipped to retailers in the US. A user on the Nintend🐻o Switch 2 subreddit has posted the🌱ir most recent Nintendo shipment, and it's a little larger than the Mario Kart World bundle box we've been used to seeing.

Stor💃es are being shipped 'out of stꦑock' signs for the Nintendo Switch 2 ahead of launch on Thursday, with the threat of limited availability looming large.

Source:

Walmart cancelled your pre-order? Check your inbox

Walmart is reportedly allowing those who previously pre-ordered the Nintendo Switch 2 to make another order after▨ the store cancelled a whole bunch of them earlier ๊this week.

Some users are reporting an email that allows them to re-order their handheld within 24 hours of receipt. If you've recently had your order cann☂ed, it's well worth checking through your inbox and spam filters for a s🌃econd chance.

Newegg might have Nintendo Switch 2 stock on day one

Newegg has been interesting to watch over the last month. The site listed the Nintendo Switch 2 fairly early in the pre-order process, but hasn't dropped any stock yet. This is a PC-focused retailer so I'm not holding out for a massive supply. However, that landing page has been looking like a holding s🐭pot for the handheld's launch day for some time.

This is 🐽one to watch, even if day o🎐ne stock is unlikely to break any floodgates.

Can you buy games at the midnight launch?

If you're planning on heading down to Best Buy or GameStop for their midnight launches, you might be wondering if you can buy Nintendo Switch 2 games alongside your new๊ handheld. No retailers have announced whether or not games and accessories will also be on sale with the Nintendo Switch 2 system at midnight, and based on previous launches it's likely your only focus is going to be on getting the handheld itself.

Still, I would be surprised if there weren't a few physical games and accessories out on💃 t๊he shelves ready to be swept up in the excitement.

Speaking of games...

Pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 launch titles are still going strong, though some of Walmart's supplies are being pushed back to June 7 for 𝓡shipping. Best Buy has rescinded shipping on some of its titles, though pickup is still available depending on your local store. GameStop's pre-orders are set to ship in 1-3 business days (and I'd be inclined to believe real-world timings will put us towards the end of that range). Even Amazon, with its smaller sele𝄹ction of third party releases, is delaying things to June 6.

If you're after a physical collection, you'll want 🐽to move fast to avoid furtไher delays.

Amazon UK is feeling the strain as well

A number of games and accessories are still ava𒀰ilable at Amazon UK, but like in the US those delivery dates are being shunted back. You can grab the Pro Controller and Joy-Con 2, but you'll be waiting until June 7 foꩵr Prime delivery on most gadgets.

Where to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller

I've had a scout around to see if there's anyone still shipping the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller for lau🏅nch day and I have good and bad news. The⛦ good news is Best Buy is still taking orders for pickup on release day, so you can order and head into your local store to collect your gamepad on Thursday. The bad news is there are no June 5 delivery options out there in the US. The closest I've seen is Target, which states it can deliver 'on or shortly after' release.

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller |

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller |

In the UK, you're best off heading🀅 to Very. I'm still seeing the Switch 2 Pro Controller available for launch day delivery here, though that can't last for much longer.

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller |

Where to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera

The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is in a similar boat to the Pro Controller. The retailers I can see aren't shipping ready for launch day any more (at least it's no longer guaranteed), but Best Buy is running in-store pickups on release day. Meanwhile, in the UK, Very is still holding 🌜strong with June 5 delivery.

US:

UK:

How long will the Mario Kart World bundle last?

The ෴Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle represents vastly better value than the handheld by itself - you're saving cash on one ꦿof the most expensive games to hit the shelves in the last few years. The sad part is it is, and was always, a limited time offer.

The Mario Kart World bundle won't last forever, then, but how long do we have? Official messaging states that the bundle will be available until Fall 2025. It's likely the brand will follow up with another package deal, though with so much confusion around pricing at the moment we don't know whether the next bundle will offer any🥂 cash off any games.

Get your games looking as good as possible on day one

If you're hoping to buy a Nintendo Switch 2 direct at midnight on Thursday, you'll want to make sure your games are running at thei🦩r full potential straight away. Nintendo has now unveiled its full li🌊st of game updates ready for launch day - these aren't the paid upgrades to a full Switch 2 Edition. Rather, these are free boosts for existing games that give them a little more breathing room when running on the new handheld.

The following games are covered so far:

• Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury
• Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics
• ARMS
• Super Mario Odyssey
• Big Brain Academy: Brain vs Brain
• The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
• Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker
• Game Builder Garade
• New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

Where to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con Charging Grip

The Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con Charging Grip ꧃does much mo🥀re than keep your controllers juiced up. This generation also brings mappable back buttons to the device. That's a major benefit, as anyone who's played with their own custom controls will tell you.

Unfortunately, a lot of retailers are keeping this one as 'coming soon' in the US - the closest I've seen to an a🐲ctual pre-order is at My Nintendo, which is keeping its stock behind an email invite. You can, however, grab it at Amazon UK - though delivery is c♏urrently set for June 7.

US:

UK:

Walmart will have the Nintendo Switch 2 in stock in-store and online from release day

Walmart has now confirmed to us that it will restock the Nintendo Switch 2 in its physical stores and online from release day, though there's no mention of a midnight launch here. Those in Pacific and Mountain-time can shop from 9pm PDT or 10pm MDT via Walmart's S🌳upercenter stores.

Currys is out of Nintendo Switch 2 stock

Currys has just removed the Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundles from its site, which means we're down to just Very now. With two days to go before rel💝ease, things are getting tight - even if we have been enjoying bountiful pre-order stock in the UK so far.

Hope you got a good night's sleep!

Today's the day for anyone planning on buying a Ninꦬtendo Switchဣ 2 from a midnight release. Best Buy and GameStop are opening late tonight for their own launch events in the US, meanwhile Smyths Toys is your go-to in the UK.

Believe it or not, there are still pre-orders up for grabs

Very still has Nintendo Switch 2 bundles on the shelves right now - though there's a major caveat to these last-minute p🤪re-orders.

This Mario Kart World (and a camera and Pro Controller) bundle is still on the shelves for £555, but it won't be delivered until Friday 13th June. That's over a week to wait until the handheld is safely in your possession. With Argos, Smyths Toys, and Currys tipped to have Nintendo Sw🦂itch 2 stock ready to buy on launch day tomorrow, this one's a roll of the dice.

Nintendo Switch 2 | Mario Kart World | Switch 2 Camera | Pro Controller |

Everything you need to know about Smyths Toys midnight launch

You'll be ꦆable to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 from Smyths Toys stores at midnight tonight, with the Boucher Road, Glasgow, Stockport, Romford, and Hull locations all🔴 opening their doors at 11pm for a pre-release party with free goodies for the first 100 in line.

There will also be a limited supply of Nintendo Switch 2♌ consoles up for grabs from all stores, even those n🌠ot listed above for the launch party.

Those who have already pre-ordered can collect their devices from 12.💦01⛄am (remember to bring photo ID).

Everything you need to know about Best Buy's midnight launch event

Best Buy is running midnight launch events across the country tonight, with stores opening at 12.01a🐻m ET. That'sಞ been translated to 11.01pm CT, 10.01pm MT, and 9.01pm PT, with stores opening for two hours.

During that time, pre-orders will be available to pick up if you have selected that location and collection when making your order.🀅 You can find out more about where your own pre-order is heading 🧜on your Best Buy account or on fulfillment emails.

T𒀰here will 🌠be a supply of Nintendo Switch 2 handhelds for walk-in customers, but you'll need to line up. Stores will operate two queues tonight; one for those looking to collect pre-orders and those hoping to buy the system.

EE will have more Nintendo Switch 2 consoles on launch day

EE has now confirmed that it will be stocking more Nintendo Switch 2 handhelds on launch day, with standalone stock up for grabs. The🥀re are also a number of bundles available for existing EE mobile monthly customers, ranging from the Mario Kart World bundle by itself through to Camera and Joy-Con packages.

If you're more interested in picking uꦺp your handheld in person, the following stores will have Nintendo Switch 2 stock ready to buy on June 5:

• Studio, Westfield White City
• Westfield Stratford
• Manchester New Street
• Cardiff Queen Street
• Gateshead

PSA: Best Buy's Summer Gaming Events may have more Nintendo Switch 2 stock

Best Buy is running gaming✅ events in select store parking lots over the course of June, with some sites set to offer Nintendo Switch 2 stock at the same time. These events run through the GameTruck theater, hitting on Saturdays June 7, June 14, and June 21.

You'll find the full roster of participatꦉing stores on

Top Tip: Confirm maximum purchase amounts with your local store

If you're heading down to Best Buy for a midnight drop today, you'll want to make sure you know the maximum allocation per customer for your local store. If retailers are sticking to the website's 'one per person' rule, you'll have a much easier time of working out whether🍸 the line is worth your time. A store could put up a sign saying theyඣ have 100 in stock, in which case you'd usually count back 100 on the queue to make sure you're in with a shot. If they're allowing more than one per customer, though, you'll need to chance it a little more.

Everything you need to know about GameStop's midnight launch

GameStop is starting thꦐe party a litt𝓡le earlier than other retailers, with some of its stores kicking off as early as 3pm today. Head in and pay for your Nintendo Switch 2 to receive a numbered receipt that will allow you into the midnight launch itself.

Be prepared to wait still, though. If you've walke🌠d into a GameStop store and paid for a co💮nsole on the spot you'll still have to hang around until midnight (or you can return within 48 hours). Just be sure to back up your original Switch if you're making the most of a trade-in, and bring photo ID with you.

Let's check in, shall we?

OK, so what's the current situation as it stands? The vast majority of retailers are holding fire until tomorrow (launch day) with extra stock, and that's certainly the case in the USA. The UK has a single glimmer of hope for anyone hoping to secure a pre-order, though; a bundle with the Mario Kart World console combo, the official camera, and new Switch 2 Pro Controller is available for . Yes, that's a bitter pill to swallow in terms of price - it's 💦eye-watering. However, there literally isn't a better option right now that I can find.

So, how are you feeling about Switch 2?

Hey, you. Yeah, you - I just wanted to check in a𝓀nd see how you're feeling about the Switch 2 now that release day is very nearly here. Are you more excited about the console than ever? Getting second thoughts? Despairing of ever finding a reasonably-priced pre-order? (I really relate to that last one.) Sound off in the comments, and let's♉ get a discussion going. If you manage to grab a system, let us know!

Heads up, UK Switchers

Well, will you look at that? A few extra offers are available via Very if you don't fancy grabbing the mega bundle with the camera and Pro Controller. To 🐬be precise, you can get the Mario Kart World console with Tears of the Kingdom for . There's also the standard Switch 2 (without Mario Kart), Pro Controller, and SD card for . Personally I'd hit the Tears of the Kingdom offer as quick as possible, because that's a great combination that'll set you up nicely for launch. Proverbially speaking; it won't arrive until June 13, but still.

Amazon, wherefore art thou

Wondering why Amazon is taking so long to get in on the pre-order party? Despite being the world's biggest retailer, it hasn't been too hot on Nintendo-related items like this recently🍸. With that in mind, I doubt we'll be getting any listings before launch. That means you'll need to move fast tomorrow to secure a copy, as everyone else will be doing the same thing.

It's all quiet, apart from at Very

We're still pretty quiet over here in terms of where to buy Nintendo Switch 2. Actually, the only offers I've seen are from Very in the UK. Head there and you'll find a Mario Kart World✤ console with Tears of the Kingdom for , the normal Switch 2, a Switch 2 Pro Controller, and SD ꦺcard for , and the most expensive option - the console with Mario Kart, an official camera, and the Switch 2 Pro Controller for .

So long folks, see you tomorrow

And that's it from u𒁏s for today - thanks for following along, and we'll catch you tomorrow f𒀰or launch. Are you ready? You'd better be, because something tells me it's going to be a wild one...

We're now less than two hours from launch in the UK

If you're hoping for a last minute trip out to Smyths Toys, now's the time to make the decision. We're now less than two hours from launch i꧙n the UK. Some retailers may well be getting ready to drop some midnight stock, though we know Argos is holding out until 6am at the earliest. Still, it's worth keeping an eye on Currys as the second retailer known for offering same-day click and collect.

It's officially Nintendo Switch 2 day in the UK, and there's good news for the US as well

The Nintendo Switch 2 is now officially out in the UK, and if you're one of the lucky ones at a midnight release you'll be getting prepped with your new console right now. As a reminder, Currys is looking likely to drop today and Argo❀s is set to go live at 6am for fresh orders ready💖 for click and collect as well.

Meanwhile, GameStop has provided an update for those in the US. If you don't manage to secure your Nintendo Switch 2 tonight, the store is looking at weekly restocks in the wake of launch day (). That means there could be more opportunities to ꧃buy Nintendo Switch 2 just around the corner.

Happy Nintendo Switch 2 Day!

🌸Can you believe the big day is finally here? Feels like only yesterday that the first Switch 2-centered Nintendo Direct dropped earlier this year. Now, the Switಞch 2 is finally a reality, and many of us across the globe are already enjoying what the new handheld has to offer.

I'm still patiently waiting for mine, while periodically peeping through my living room curtains to see if the delivery driver has arrived. If yo🐎u didn't pre-order yours, and all this talk of new Nintendo hardware has you finally wanting to grab one for yourself, fortunately, there's actually a lot of options ෴for you - even on launch day!

Just like with pre-orders, the UK is pretty busy as far as new stock is concerned. Right now, retailers EE, Very, and even HMV have limited new stock - although if y๊ou order now, you'll have to wait a few days until the Switch 2 arrives at your door. In the US, things🐼 are a little different, with retailers like Best Buy only having stock available in-store.

Nintendo Switch 2 |
Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle |

Still not got your Switch 2 in the UK? Very is a very good option

See what I did there?

UK retailer Very has more Nintendo Switch 2 stock available today. So if you didn't secure that pre-order and finally want to grab that new handheld, you can! And you can even grab some games and accessories too, as Very is bursting at the seams with Switch 2 goodies.

Nintendo Switch 2 |
Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle |
Switch 2 games | starting from

Argos is back with more Switch 2 stock!

UK retailer Argos has some more Switch 2 stock available today, which includes both the standar꧂d console and the Mario Kart World bundle. Although it hasn't arrived yet as of typing, this is the same retailer where I got🔯 my own Switch 2, so I'm glad to see another wave of stock hit the digital shelves today!

Better yet, depending onꦡ where you're located, there's some click and collect options so you can have your Switch 2 before 👍the day is over.

Nintendo Switch 2 |
Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle |

Not a fan of Joy-Cons? That alright, as there's still plenty Pro Controller stock to go around!

The new Joy-Con 2 controllers have seen some changes with the Switch 2, but they're still not everyone's cup of tea. And that's fine, as Nintendo made sure to release a brand new Pro Controller to offer up a more ergonomic and comfortable grip for those who want it - and it's out today!

Over the weeks, I've seen huge retailers in the US and UK sell out of their Switch 2 Pro Controller stock. But I'm happy to say that there's still plenty of opportunities to grab one today on launch day. Naturally, I recommend popping into your local game shops first to see if they have any stock, if you're desperate to have one as soon as possible. But if like me, you prefer to do practically all your game shopping online, plenty of retailers have you covered.

Switch 2 Pro Controller | | |

Get ready to finish that collection - Switch 2 amiibo are now available!

Today's launch of the Switch 2 is exc🅘iting enough. But for those of us who love our Nintendo hardware and our Nintendo collectibles, today also marks th𝓰e release of the brand new Switch 2 amiibo figures!

I've been collecting amiibos since the 3DS era, and up until today, my Zelda collection was complete. But now there's four new Tears of the Kingdom-based toys-to-life collectibles to g﷽rab, and the new Street Fighter amiibos are also available from in the US, and from in the UK. Whatev🐭er set you have your eyes on, just be sure to save some space on your amiibo shelf, as there's even more new amiibos on their way.

Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom amiibo | from
Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom amiibo | from

Currys is back with Switch 2 stock!

It's Switc🌟h 2 stock galore in the UK today. Retailer Currys has returned with more standard Switch 2 consoles, and some of its exclusive (and more expensive) b🌠undles.

Nintendo Switch 2 |

Nintendo Switch 2 | Mario Kart World | Switch Online 12 Month Membership | microSD Express Memory Card (256 GB) Bundle |

Currys Switch 2 stock is sold out already!

Within seconds of me 🐻posting that Currys had some stock of not just the standard Switch 2 console, but some of its exclusive bundles too, it was gone.

Luckily for you, the UK retailer isn't the only place with Switch 2's today. Right now, retailers Very, EE, and HMV have the new handheld available online. If you're UK-based, you can also grab a Switch 2 at Argos, and depending on where you're locate💞d, there's even some click and collect options available today too.

Nintendo Switch 2 |

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle |

Nintendo Switch 2 |

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle |

Want more Switch 2 storage? You'll need a microSD Express Card

The Nintendo Switch 2 requires the use of microSD Express Cards when providing additional storage. Popping in your older Switch SD card will onಌly let you transfer screenshots and game clips, and that's it, so if you want more than the 256GB worth of onboard storage of the new console, grabbing a microSD Express C🐎ard is the only way to go.

For now, the licensed cards only go as far as 256GB, but that will still equip your new Switch 2 with double the storage of the console itself, which is better than nothing. The major caveat with these new SD Cards is that they are a bit on the pricey side. If you don't have the cash to burn, remember you can still archive your games to save some space - so don't feel like you have to grab some extra storage from the get-go.

Switch 2 SanDisk 256GB microSD Express Card |

Switch 2 Samsung 256GB microSD Express Card |

HMV has Switch 2 stock for a limited time in the UK

Finding a Nintendo Switch 2 this launch day is a bree💝ze - especially with the slew of UK-based retailers dropping fresh new batches of the new handheld everywhere you look.

Today, HMV has joined in on the funꦡ, with stock available for the standard console and the Mario Kart World bundle. These won't be around for long though, as HMV states that the Switch 2 stock is "strictly limited and once it's gone... it's gone" just below the bright pink 'add to basket' buttons.

So if you want a Switch 2 from HMV, I recommend getting in there quick. And hey, you could even buy some vinyl while you're 🐭at it. If that's your thing.

Nintendo Switch 2 |

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle |

Amazon UK is back with some Switch 2 stock!

It really is a good day for the UK as far as Switch 2 stock goes. Now, Amazon has joined the fray, and both the standard Sᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚwitch 2 and the Mario Kart World bundle are currently in stock at the UK version of the site.

I don't expect these will be arounꦰd much longer. So if you want to make use of your speedy Prime delivery, I recommend adding a Switch♔ to your basket while you still can.

Nintendo Switch 2 |

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle |

UK Switch 2 launch day stock check-in!

If you didn't grab a pre-order and had just made the decision to grab a Switch 2, you're in the right place! Well, at least those of you based in the UK are, as US online stock has been pretty la🙈cklustre so far today.

▨However, fellow UK-based pals, you have a plethora of online retailers to choose from today when it comes to picking up the new handheld. Everywhere from ♚Very, Argos, EE, and even Amazon has a fresh batch of Switch 2 consoles, ready for the taking, and I've listed all the available ones below.

Very:

EE:

HMV:

Argos:

Amazon:

Got your sparkly new Switch 2? Why not grab some games

If you🦄've already got your Switch 2 at hand (I'm still waiting on mine so I'm definitely not jealous right now, nope) then you'll likely be after some brand-new games to go along with it.

Of course, you can make use of your existing Switch games, both digital and physical, thanks to the 🌌new handheld's backwards compatibility. But, now that launch day is finally here, there's plenty of new games to pick up - with other exciting releases on the way t♕oo!

Switch 2 games starting from |

Switch 2 games starting from |

The ferociously charming Hori Switch 2 camera is still available

This adoꦿrable Super Mario-themed camera will make your gaming setup look like the Mushroom Kingdom.

Instead of a plain, all-black look, Hori opted to make their camera look like the iconic Piranha Plant baddie, and it even includes a warp-pipe base too. This camera can be hooked up to your new Switch 2 dock, or taken out from its base and popped into the top of your handheld. As a word of warning, this is only a 480p camera, so its visual quality isn't quite up to the standard of the Swiꦦtch 2 camera - but what it lacks in spe🦄cs, it makes up for in looks.

Switch 2 Hori Piranha Plant camera |

Switch 2 Hori Piranha Plant camera |

PSA - Switch 2 Legend of Zelda upgrade packs are available for Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack members

If you just got your new shiny Switch 2 and were about to buy the new upgrade packs for the Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and Tear🔯s of the Kingdom, hold off for a second.

If you're a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion member, you can get access to the Switch 2 upgrade packs for no extra cost. The only thing you need to have, is access to the original games, either physically or digitally, and you can enjoy the new Switch 2 upgraded versions of the games, which pack on everything from a newly improved performanceꦡ to HDR support.

So far, this is only fo💜r these two games, however. So if you have your eyes on that Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV pack, you will still have ღto buy that from select retailers, or through the Switch 2 eShop.

Time for some nostalgia - the Switch 2 GameCube controller is available

The Nintendo Switch 2 GameCube controller is easily one of my favorite new accessories to date - but then, I grew up with the glorious purple box. It's hard to fully put into words🎉 just how stunning this controller is in person, and I haven't eve༺n taken mine out of the box yet.

If you're a paying Nintendo Switch Online member, you can grab your own through the Nintendo UK online store right now. As a woꦬrd of advice, if you're part of a family NSO account, the site migh♛t not register that you're eligible to order the controller.

Don't worry though - refreshing the page will help you add it to your🏅 basket. I'm part of an NSO family, and after a few page refreshes, I was able to order the controller in no time!

Nintendo GameCube (GCN) Controller - Nintendo Classics |

Argos only is out of stock of the Mario Kart World bundle - but there's good news!

If you were holding out for grabbing the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle at Argos today, I'm sorry to say it's now out of stock. The retailer was holding out strong with its fresh batch of new handheld stock this launch day, but things are starting to dwindle the more hours pass.

At least, there's still plenty of standard Nintendo Switch 2 consoles available. And you can always grab Mario Kart World separately for if you're eager to play the nౠew game, too.

Nintendo Switch 2 |

US Switch 2 stock check-in!

Don't worry US friends, I haven't forgotten about you.
It just turns out that launch day is pretty quiet as far as online Switch 2 stock for you all.

There's still plenty of time left in the day, so hopefully that will change. I doubt we'll see the same launch day Switch 2 stock drops as the UK, where there's new batches releasing no matter where you look. However, I'd be surprised if we got to the end of release day without one major US retailer unleashing another load of Switch 2s onto the digital shelves.

In the m🐼eantime, if you happen to be near your local Best Buy, Target, or Walmart, make sure to pop in and check if they have any Switch 2 consoles available in-store.

Donkey Kong Bananza isn't out today, but pre-orders are still out in the wild

While I'm very ex𒐪cited to dig into Mario Kart World later tonight, it's Donkey Kong Bananza that is easily the most excited I've been for a new Switch 2 game so far. Sadly🐎, it's not a launch title, so there are still a few days to go until I can start my a-peel-ing adventure with DK and crew.

Donkey Kong Banaza unleashes onto the Nintendo Switch 2 on July 17, 2025.🧜 That gives me (and you) plenty of 📖time to pre-order it for our brand new handhelds, and copies are not hard to find, whether you're in the US or the UK.

Donkey Kong Bananza |

Donkey Kong Bananza |

Strike a pose with the Switch 2 camera - available this launch day

Today doesn't just mark the rel൲ease of the Switch 2 console, but also Ninty's range of first-party accessories - including the official Switch 2 camera.

Out of the free Switch 2 cameras released so far, this is the only one with a 1080p resolution. That means, if you want to ensure you look your best while chatting way to your friends via GameChat, this is your best option. Of course, you can also try out any USB-C ꦜcameras you have lying around and save that cash towards some other Switch 2 goodies - but that's entirely up to you.

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera |

Nintendo Switch 2 Camera |

Amazon still has Switch 2 stock left

I'm genuinely surprised any Swit🉐ch 2 stock on Amazon is still available, but right now you can still grab the standard console at the UK retailer.

The Mario Kart World Bundle is gone for now, but if you pref☂erꦑ to own your games physically and just want the Switch 2 on its own, then you're in luck! It's worth knowing that if you grab Switch 2 from Amazon today, the retailer states it won't arrive until "9 days before Father's Day", which by my calculations should be tomorrow (June 6).

Why did they word it that way? Who knows. But at least that means you won't have to wait too long, especially if you also happen to be a Prime member.

Nintendo Switch 2 |

Very is selling out of Switch 2 stock!

Very has been very good with Switch 2 stock today. For nearly all the time I'v🌃e spent whittling away writing about the new handheld, the retailer has had both the standard console and the Mariജo Kart World Bundle in stock. But now, as the sun's starting to set over here in the UK, stock is starting to sell out.

Only a Nintendo Switch Ma𝔉rio Kart World bundle, with the Switch 2 Camera and Switch 2 Pro Controller, is still available, and൩ if you grab it now, it won't arrive until June 13. If you can't quite afford this exclusive bundle, remember that plenty of other UK retailers have Switch 2 stock, and that's bound to be the case tomorrow too. But it could be a handy way to get access to a Switch 2 camera and the new Pro Controller without having to buy them separately.

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World | Switch 2 Camera | Switch 2 Pro Controller |

The US might be quiet, but there's still plenty Switch 2 stock in the UK

My Nintendo Switch 2 arrived a few hours ago, so now that the day is coming to an end, you can bet that I'll be spending my evening playing Mario Kart World and getting to grips with my new bit of Ninty hardware.

If you want to do the same as soon as possible, there's still plenty of Switch 2 stock left on the UK digital shelves for now.ꦺ It's now as busy as it was this morning, but retailers from Very, EE, and Argos are still going strong. In the US, today hasn't been the best for stock, that's for sure. There have been no major stock drops to be found. However, brands like Best Buy and Target are always worth popping into in person to see if they have any Switch 2 stock left for the picking.

Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World | Switch 2 Camera | Switch 2 Pro Controller |

Nintendo Switch 2 |

Target is the place to be today

If you're hunting down some early Nintendo S🦹witch 2 restocks in the US today, I'd keep a close eye on Target. The retailer was slated to offer in-store availability yesterday, but it's always said it will take things online today. It's worth staying close to this store around 9am ET and 1pm ET - some stores are releasing sto🌌ck in waves to align with different timezones.

Admittedly, my expectations were 🦋pretty low. The original announcement only mentionᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚed unspecified frame rate improvements, and part of me suspected that the update would only improve Scarlet and Violet to more closely match their original 30 FPS targets. Given how dismally the games ran on Switch 1, even that would be an improvement, but not exactly one to write home about.

But no, S💙carlet and Violet do run at a proper 60 FPS on Switch 2, according to a new gameplay video shown in the Nintendo Today app. If you don't 🤡have access to the app, Felipe of Universo Nintendo uploaded a .

The frame rate boost goes a long way toward making the game more pleasant to look at, and as my far more Pokemon-obsessed colleague Catherine suspects, the improved draw distance could be a ꩵbig boon for shiny hunting. But in terms of gꦛraphical fidelity, Scarlet and Viol🐲et were never exactly stunning, and this update isn't changing that.

The "looks like a PS2 game" criticisms of Scarlet and Violet were perhaps a bit ungenerous, but, well... now they kinda look like remastered PS2 games. These upgrade꧙s offer what's undeniably a dramatic visual improvement over the ori🥀ginal releases, but we'll still have to wait for yet another Pokemon generation in hopes of seeing one that looks genuinely current-gen.

Check out our guide to all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming Switch 2 games you need to know about.

Nintendo of Europe published a (via ) to its website, and it has all the usual tips and tricks – like, please c🦩all a doctor if you manage 𒈔to get battery fluid in your eyes, and do not let children eat the game cards. But there's a line under the careful usage section that reveals a previously unconfirmed detail about the screen.

The final note of the section reads, "The screen is covered with a film layer designed to 🐎prevent fragments scattering in the event of damage. Do not peel it off.🐻" This warning is present in the , seemingly confirming that the Nintendo Switch 2 will also feature a glass screen.

This film screen layer is present so that if the Nintendo Switch 2 gets launched by a raging five-year-old (or more likely, 35-year-old) who just managed to come 24th in 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Mario Kart World, the shattered glass 🃏will stick to⛄ the adhesive rather than scatter everywhere. So when you get your Switch 2 in later this week, don't peel the film off. Also, I still recommend getting a tempered glass screen protector for the console, even with the protective layer in place.

Nintendo also gives warnings in its safety manual like "Make sure to charge the built-in batteries at least once every six months. If the batteries are not used for an extended period of time, it may become impossible to charge them." But, considering the fact that the list of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming Switch 2 games is absolutely packed so far, this likely won't beꦐ a problem൩.

Nintendo "won't know" if the Switch 2 eShop will crash on launch day as everyone rushes to download Mario Kart World, former marketing leads warn, but "they're prepared."

Speaking in a recent interview with , Fox explains what his joke-writing process is and how he gauges whether or not his humor translates well to players – and while it boil⛎s down to whether or not "I laugh," as the developer puts it, he also runs the writing past his pals first.

"If none of my friends think something is funny when they test the game, then I may try to impꦉrove ♓it," admits Fox.

The creator then🌺 references Deltarune's hotly anticipated Chapters 3 and 4, describing how one in-game moment that's meant to be humorous didn't hit quite lik🏅e it was supposed to in his friends' minds. "In the new chapters, Pizzapants (Burgerpants) has dialogue where he talks about some texts he's received," says Fox. "My friends didn't seem to think it was funny, so I punched it up." This didn't exactly work out, however.

"Nobody laughed," the dev states, detailing how he then🌃 went on to change things up again – only for his friends to still not find the moment humorous. "So ꧃I changed it again," Fox continues. "And finally, next time they played the game. Nobody laughed… This story is funnier than the dialogue." While there's no telling just how funny the dialogue will be come Chapters 3 and 4, his story is indeed amusing.

There's not long left to wait now until the new Deltarune Chapters arrive and fans are able to experience the Pizzapants scenario themselves, though. Until then, Fox has graced us with 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:some indie recommendations to play through for the next few days, from Balatro to UFO 50.

Hungry for more? While you wait, here are some of the best 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:games like Undertale around.

In case you're unaware, The Hund☂red Line came out earlier this year courtesy of Kazutaka Kodaka, the director of the Danganronpa series, and Kotaro Uchikoshi, the writer and lead of Zero Escape.

What makes it stand out in a crowded field packed with swell, high-school-set visual novels and sweeping strategy RPGs is all the wildly diff🔯erent, totally unexpected routes you can go ꩵdown, which is essentially the game's way of begging you to replay it - and it works! But despite already being packed with possibilities, it isn't enough for Kodaka .

"We are working on bug fixes and improvemenᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚts," he to a fan on social media before saying, "As for me, I also want to do DLC with additional routes."

Considering the game's size meant 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:"many countries decline�ꦍ�d to localize" it and the fact that it 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:put the developer in debt, it's pretty ballsy for Kodaka to want to go 🌃back for more.

The Hundred Line seems like the type of game that can🌳 eventually grow into a cult classic, though. On , Last Defense Academy has over 4,000 user reviews, 89% of which give it a thumbs up. An eventual DLC might even give it some extra legs, fingers crossed.

Here's some of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best strategy games you can play right now.

Joint CEO Adam Badowski said as much in a looking back on a decade of the generational RPG. "At the very beginning of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, we decided to combine those two things: water and fire," Badowski said. "We would like to continue with this 🅷approach with all our next games."

Speaking on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming CDPR games, the co-studio head explained they "have to add someth🐼ing" in every new release. "We have to add something that changes the consensus. We don't want to copy our own tricks all over again and again. So every game should consist [of] something ne🅷w."

Badowski acknowledges that CDPR games do tend to follow a loose formula, sure - they're usually "open♛ world, story-driven, qꦓuality" RPGs - but, still, "every new game has to bring something new. So this is the general rule for the company."

That should bode well for 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:The Witcher 4, which has had 澳洲幸运💟5开奖号码历史查询:Ciri in the driver's seat ever since 2014, and Cyberpunk 2, which will apparently go beyond Night City with a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:second area tജhat's like "Cไhicago gone wrong," according to the original TTRPG's creator.

Elsewhere in the interview, the developers revealed one of the biggest arguments they had while making The Witcher 3 was about just how naked Geralt should be in thꦑat infamous bath tub scene.

CDPR devs are so locked into The Witcher 4 that they're apparently using its new control scheme by accident while playing other games

Last week, Twitter user – checks notes – , who I'm just going to call Pilar going fo🔴rward, implored Barone: please, sir, make the train more ac𓂃curate. It's an immensely amusing interaction that I happened to stumble upon, and I wanted to share it.

In a series of four posts, Pilar explained that "As an avid railroad enthusiast it is my sworn duty (not really) to notice discrepancies in railroad art𓄧 and train references throughout life," and "one such discrepancy" in Stardew simply must be rectified. I knew A Train Person once, and all of this tracks so far.

"The locomotive in stardew is a very old fashioned ten wheeler (4-6-0 wheel arrangement) that would’ve been manufactured in the later quarter of the 19th century," they begin, adding that "these locomotives were ALWAYS accompanied by a tender (coal car) the tender holds the fuel for the locomotive, the water and the coal or for the time, maybe wood," Pilar continues, finally pausing for brea⭕th with a merciful period.

"The tender is REQUIRED for these locomotives due to the locomotive not having water storag😼e tanks or a coal / wood bunker, the tender is the other half of the engine." I think it goes without saying that all of the capitalization is Pilar's handiwork, not mine.

Pilar concludes: "So, as a railfan and so💞meone who loves seeing trains accurately represented. PLEASE add a tender to the locomotive in stardew valley, without it the train is anatomically incorrect. If you want design inspiration, the in-game engine already resembles Sierra Rai🍨lroad #3."

I am a game journalist, not a train journalist, but some quick research suggests Pilar is bang-on with their breakdown and reco🐻mmendation. yourself, as it's appeared in enough films to earn the nickname "Movie Star Locomotive." Picture a black train engine right now and you'll probably get pretty close.

to say, "interesting, thanks for the in🗹fo." Which, I like to imagine, probably made this train fan's day.

Did Stardew's train ever bother me before? No. Will it bother me with this newfound knowledge weighing on my mind? Also no. And will Stardew Valley actually update its🅺 train logistics in the future with this detail in mind? I have no idea, but if it does happen, I'll be thinking of Pilar.

It's "more of an action RPG," but Eric Barone says Haunted Chocolatier is still "a life sim" and "similar to Stardew Valley in many ways" but with more "dark and mysterious" vibes.

Ring Fit Adventure is one of the 🐎only games I've found that sits perfectly in the middle – it's fun and entertaining, but still feels like a proper workout. Six years on from its launch, with a range of competitors and different methods to play ga🏅mes releasing since, Ring Fit Adventure remains the best game for working out at home.

Ring Fit Adventure has you partaking in over 100 levels across 20 worlds, embarking on a quest to defeat Dragaux, a hench dragon who puts even professional body builde꧟rs to shame. Each stage prompts you to battle monsters, collect coins, and even perform a victory 🤡pose at the end.

Every element of the game uses some form of exercise, ဣwhether it's running on the spot just to move forward, using 'fit skills’ to damage enemies, or pushing on your ring accompaniment to fly over dangerous terrain. However, what sets Ring Fit Adventure apart is the inclusion of a fitness ring, hence the name, as well as a leg strap to attach your controllers to.

Don’t skip leg day

A majority of fit skills use the included ring, which requires a level of strength to push or pull – making them feel like a real workout. Unlike other fitness games on the market, Ring Fit Adventure ཧcan measure how much effort you’re putting in and whether or not you have the correct form when performing each of these moves thanks to these included accessories.

There are a range of fit skills to choose from, each of them belonging in one of four categories: Arms, Abs, Legs and Yoga. If today is leg day then you can choose exercises like squats or thigh presses. On the other hand, if it's time to workout your abs, then you can select russian twists or leg raises. Targeted exercise is something you typically cannot find outside of a gym – let alone in a fitness game – creating an element which sets Ring Fit Adventure so far apart from alternat𓆉ive options. This is all while keeping workouts (which are typically mind-numbingly boring in a gym) fun and entertaining.

Ring Fit Adventure further gamifies health by making different enemies are vulnerable to different move sets. If you typically stay awa𒁃y from working out your arms because it's too difficult, the game will make short work of you, as some monsters can only be taken out with arm based fit skills. This encourages you to try out exercises you might otherwise avoid, in a way other games are still yet to manage.

Exercise or arm-ercise?

There are a range of games both on and off of the Nintendo Switch that encourage exercise and movement. There's Fitness Boxing – which focuses heavily on flinging your arms around rather than whole-body exercise – and Just Dance, which suffers from only tracking players' hands. VR alteꦍrnatives are becoming more accessible, but they’ll still cost you a pretty penny. Some examples, like Xponential+ and Supernatural, work on a subscription mode to access workouts, while Beat Saber's DLC music packs quic🏅kly rack up costs.

Meanwhile, Ring Fit Adventure has remained a one-time purchase. That includes the essential ring and leg s♔trap too, making it a much cheaper long-ඣterm investment when compared to virtual reality alternatives. Ring Fit Adventure's form-tracking once again steals the spotlight here as well, as similarly to Just Dance, VR options only track your head and hands.

It’s clear that Ring Fit Adventure’s primary purpose is to exercise, with the fun partಌ being secondary rather than the other way around like most other fitness𝓰 games. This might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those who really do want a workout rather than just flail their arms around, this is the way forward.

Some titles do prompt you to move and have fun, like Just Dance or Beꦓat Saber. But when you’re aimlessly throwing your body – or in this case your arms – around, it feels like the titles are prioritizing fun over any actual exercise.

Years on from Ring Fit Adventure's release back in 2019, no other title has quite encompassed the required elements to make a game as perfect as this – whether we're talking technology or pricing. Ensuring you’re putting in the effort by tracking your movements means this game holds you accountable to a level no other title is able to offer. It's the perfect balance between fun and exercise – a f﷽ormula that's proven hard to perfect outside of Nintendo's alchemy – and ultimately, the reason why Ring Fit Adventure remains unrivalled.

Whether you're hanging on to your Switch or preparing to upgrade, stick with us for all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch 2 news you'll need in the run-up to launch and after

Fox has graced us with plenty of indie game recommendations toಞ explore ahead of Chapters 3 and 4, telling about his personal top picks in a recent interview.

The first title the dev shares is 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:a surreal trip based on a YouTube animated s🍨eries known as ENA: Dream BBQ, and it currently stands on Steam with an impressive "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating. If an episodic exploration adventure gam sounds up your alley, this seems like 🍰a no-brainer.

The dev then steps away from ENA's mazes and puzzles with his next recommendation for a roguelike deck builder beloved by many – none other than Balatro. Boasting a solid five-star score on Steam and over 100,000 reviews, this poker-themed behemoth has impressed many a fellow indie dev before, including Stardew Valley creator Eric "Conc♒ernedA꧑pe" Barone, who described his love for Balatro as ak꧒in to being s♎tuck "in a trance."

UFO 50 is the third recommendation Fox provides, and boy, is it something. Coming from Spelunky legend Mossmouth, UFO 50 is a neatly bundled 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:coꦿllection of roguelikes, JRPGs, and more in one – a true 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:retro game lover's dream. Each title included within UFO 50 is a fully fleshed-out game, and none of them miss the mark, either. The colorfu🤪l 80s-themed bundle c𒀰urrently has thousands of positive reviews on Steam.

The final recommendation from the dev stands out as it's headed by one of Fox's own friends – the visual novel Soul of Sovereignty. While it's sti𒈔ll in development, its prelude can be found on , with plenty more to come. As Fox himse🦩lf admits, he "can't wait to see how the story will continue" in the mature linear adventure. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have plenty of indie games to get through before Deltarune Chapters 3 and 4 drop.

Hungry for more? While you wait, here are some of the best 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:games like Undertale around.

I've put about 18 hours into Fantasy Life i since its launch on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, and PC. (I'm playing on PC, and the game has annoyingly crashed twice, but thankfully with no save or recovery issues.) Most of that was in the past few days. GOTY frontrunners like Blue Prince and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 were predictably enjoyable, but this is the first time since 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Monster Hunter Wilds that a game has well and truly consumed me. Every non-es🧜sential in my day has been sacrificed at the altar of Fantasy꧂ Life. Anything to squeeze in another hour of fun.

Welcome back

Fantasy Life i presents itself with charm and color and comedy, and behind that is an airtight loop of systems and ideas that feed into each other in engrossing ways. You have 14 Lives to learn and master; these are basically classes focusing on combat, gathering, or production. Hunt monsters as a greatsword-wielding Mercenary, swap to Miner mid-dungeon to clobber a boss-grade ore vein, then take those materials back to your island base to refine them as a Blacksmith, Carpenter, or Tailor. Forge a stronger sword to fight tougher monsters and get rare materials to finish Life challenges to increa💖se yဣour rank and expand your skill tree. Craft a better saw to craft a better axe to cut better trees to craft a better bow. On and on and on.

The whole game is a daisy chain of serotonin. Every accomplishment sets off dominoes in your mind, and every grind is so straightforward and punchy that you never feel stuck in one place. Missing a material? Here's where to get it. Something fun and💛 unexpected, whether a new side quest or a hidden collectible, will probably happen on your way there. You are never doing just one thing in Fantasy Life i. If you𒁃 are, you're doing it wrong. It's the best kind of wanderlust.

This is what my average session looks like. I need to hunt this boss for a challenge to level my second combat job. And l mean, I'm here, so may as well hit these freshly respawned legendary trees and fish on the way. Oh, there's a hidden dungeon down this well by the fish's lake, which I heard about from NPCs because they're actually worth talking to. I'd better explore that first, and oh man, the ore down here unlocks a new tier of Alchemist items꧒. Now I can make better potions to bring to that boss fight, which I'm going to have to do tomorrow because it is sud🔯denly 2am on a work night.

It is hard to believe, and convey, just how much game is in this game. After 18 hours I feel 10% done, yet I'm never overwhelmed, just hungry for more. And there is, somehow, always more. You can find and level NPCs who give you specific buffs when you're crafting or fighting, and they all have their own friendship meters. There's an entire roguelike dungeon mode that creatively challenges you to clear encounters using different Life skills. You can decorate your house and terraform a big island filled with your favorite NPCs. A huge open-world section has its own progression systems, subplot, and quests. Plus you can do a lot of this stuff, particularly the roguelike dungeons, with friends in crossplay multiplayer. And I am still in the early hours of this game.

I couldn't ask for more. I wouldn't have thought to ask for all this. Combat feels great, the crafting minigames are fast and intuitive as ever, and this is hands-down the most fun you can have chopping trees or mining rocks in a video game. Every Life I've tried has been a blast, and figuring out how to work ea𝓡ch one into this grand cycle of progression, from making new gear to clearing specific thresholds, just activates my neurons. So far, Fantasy Life i is everything I wanted twice over, and I love it more every day.

Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is getting free DLC with new recipes and other cozy goodness due to "the game's global success and the warm support from players around the world."

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Rumors of a Persona 4 remake have been in the air, thick as fog, ever since Persona 3 Reload got the ball rolling. But things really kicked off this past week when Marvel's Spider-Man star Yuri Lowenthal said he would "not be returning as Yosuke foﷺr the Persona 4 remake" in a now-dꦰeleted social media post. "I asked. Maybe I even begged, but they don't want me to co🎀me back."

The English actor behind Chie Satonaka in Persona 𒁏4 Golden, Erin Fitzgerald, also to say that she hadn't been asked to return for the remake, either, convincing everyone that the Persona 4 Remake (Rewind, Rejig, Rebirth?) is indeed a real game and not just something we've m🥂anifested in our shared realm of cognition.

Amanda Winn Lee, who voices Yukiko Amagi in the original game, is now the third actor to say the same darn thing. "Since, I've ha🧸d several pe🧸ople ask me: No, I wasn't asked to voice Yukiko in the P4 remake," she recently.

But it's this latest statement that has and theorizing about whether the actors are, actually, coming back. You see, the three Persona 4 actors have said they're not returning to the game in the exact same order you recruit their characters in the game (Yosuke then Chie then Yukiko). And some fans have pointed out the fact that, like, how would they know that a remake exists if they haven't been asked to reprise their roles?

It may or may not be a coincidence that 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Summer Game Fest 2025 (the industry's trailer frenzy) kicks off just next week – for what it's worth, Persona 3 Reload was first properly announced at an 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Xbox Games Showcase, so it's entirely possible Atlus pulls back the curtain in Microsoft's next marketing blit💯z set for June 8.

For now, the next party member you recruit in Persona 4 w🥂ould be Kanji Tatsumi, voiced by The Last of Us and Indiana Jones star Troy Baker in the original JRPG, although he was also voiced by Matthew Mercer in certain spin-off appearances. If either of the two also step out to deny being involved in the hush-hush unc🙈onfirmed remake, there might be some truth to these fan theories. Otherwise, don't get your hopes up too much for now.

See where Persona 4 lands in our ranking of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Persona games to play.

"When it comes to furry games, there actually aren’t that many options out there," Hiroshi Matsuyama, who serves as CEO and head of production at CyberConnect2, tells . "That’s part of why our Fuga series has seen such a strong response in the US and gained recognition both for its setti🍃ng and its gameplay."

The devs are "well aware" of the way Fuga has been embraced by furries, and so they've "made it a point to participate in furry and anthro-related conventions in the US, such as Anthrocon, which draws over 9,000 visitors every year. These kinds of activities are a clear-cut part of our strategy for gro🌳wing Fuga’s ☂fanbase."

Fuga: Melodies of Steel 3, billed as the end of the serieಌs, just launched yesterday, and today the that the series as a whole had crossed🌄 500,000 units sold. Clearly, the furry power is not to be underestimated.

Fuga is actually an offshoot of a series that goes back much, much further – all the way to Tail Concerto, CyberConnect2's very first game, which Matsuyama served as a level designer on. You might think the furry folks that've been with the studio from the start might be spared the kinds of fates they can suffer in the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:infamously tragic Fuga series.

But Matsuyama says he just wants these furries to live in peace, after all. "It’s precisely𓂃 because I want them to live in peace that they have to fight for it," he says. "That’s why they have no choice but to march through the flames of war, even if it means suffering." An inspiring message in these trying times, 🐻to be sure.

Check out all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best RPGs you can play today.

In the latest issue of Magazine, the Nier mastermind sat down for a chat with Danganronpa's Kazutaka Kodaka and 999 director Koutarou Uchikoshi, who recently teamed up to release strategy RPG The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, a dangerous high school-ღset game that has seemingly countless routes to complete.

Nier Automata's 26 routes were a major deal when the game first released – even though most of them were joke end🌞ing🍸s. But Taro explains in quotes translated by and Google Translate that he only added multiple routes to his Drakengard series for the extra replayability.

You see, for most of the 2000s, a game's length was somewhat used to measure whether it was worth the pric🌠e. In 2025, with♒ dozens of games competing for our time every single month, a 500-hour epic doesn't seem as appealing.

"In the current year, making some🍨thing with 100 different routes and endings is the more dangerous play," Taro tells the developers of The Hundred Line, which has roughly 100 routes and endings.

That's not an idea that put the developers off, though. Uchikoshi apparently created a❀ flowchart containing all 100 routes to show Kodaka how rash his initial idea was, but seeing everything physically laid out apparently got the famed visual novel maestro more motivated to do it.

Kodaka is at least aware of the gamble he took. He recently said that he'd love to port The Hundred Line to more consoles, but the s🎉tudio is still "on the brink of going under," which isn't a surprise considering the team 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:ended up with a lot of debt trying to create the 🏅ambitious genre-bending hybrid in the first place.

Yoko Taro says Nier: Automata has so many endings because "Square Enix told us" to "add more content"

Have you claimed the free 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Fortnite First Order Stormtrooper skin yet by connecting your Epic and MyDisney accounts? If not, we've got the details.

How to get the Star Destroyer in Fortnite

To get the Star Destroyer in Fortnite, you need to wait until the start of storm phase 2 then look for the icon appearing on your map, as shown above. Note that this can appear anywhere, so don't expect it to always be at the location we got. You'll also get a notification on screen saying "Star Destroyer Portal is open!"൲ and a marker 🅘will automatically be placed to point you towards it.

At the marked locat🃏ion, a rift gate looking like the one above will spawn, and the first player to enter it will be transported to the Fortnite Star Destroyer along with any other of their squadmates depending on the game mode. The rift gate will then close, so you'll need to act fast and be the first to reach it if you want to dominate from the skies by firing that Turbolaser.

How to fire the Fortnite S🧸tar Destroyer Turbolaser

Once you've warped on board the Star Destroyer in Fortnite, you'll get a top-down view of the islandಌ along with a reticule to aim the Turbolaser. This has unlimited ammunition with a two second cooldown between shots, can scan up to 25 players beneath you, and according to the d🔜amage it deals depends on how many players there are in your team:

1. Solo = 90 damage
2. Duos = 72 damage
3. Trios = 54 damage
4. Squads = 36 damage

The Star Destroyer flies on a pre-determined path across the island that lasts for 90 seconds, after which any pilots will be warped back down to the ground again. Naturally, if you weren't lucky enough to get on board the capital ship, then you need to move away from its flight path as soon as possible, as unlike 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Fortnite X-Wings and TIE Fighters there's no way of shooting it down so any direct attacks against it are fꦯutile.

Keep an out for the Star Wars-themed 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Fortnite characters that can be found around the island, as some have special story assignments to hand out.

© GamesRadar+. Not to be reproduced without permission.

Although Scarlet and Violet were criticized at launch for their shaky performance on the OG Switch, I've personally spent many, many hours in the Paldea region looking for sparkly Pokemon with alternate color palettes. Like in Legends: Arceus and Let's Go Pikachu and Eevee before it, being able to simply see Pokemon in the overworld makes the process substantially faster – even at full 1/4192 odds – than repeatedly running around in the grass for random encoꦦunters.

However, the simple point remains that the more Pokemon you can see, the better y𝓰our chances are of seeing a sparkly one appear on your screen. And, well, thanks to the power of the Switch 2, it seems that more Pokemon is what we're going to get.

As highlighted by Twitterer @Wario64, a new Japanese briefly details the upcoming update, which – when machine translated – mentions that you'll be able to see Pokemon from further away than before. Essentially, you can expect an improved draw distance, but the screenshots shared really show what a difference this makes. With wild encounters now appearing far further into the distance, you're able to see many ๊more Pokemon simultaneously.

Previously, you had to either move ar꧂ound to despawn the currently generated Pokemon and bring in a batch of new ones, or you could choose to quickly enter and leave a picnic from your menu, despawning and respawning everything around you. That latter method seems like it'll work particu𝐆larly well with this increased draw distance, as you'll be able to see plenty of Pokemon very quickly, without moving at all.

I have just one lingering concern, though. Unlike in Legends: Arceus, Scarlet and Violet don't feature a sound effect to signify when a shiny Pokemon has appeared near you, meaning you have to keep your eyes peeled at all times to make sure you don't miss any. Spawning in more Pokemon and at even further𒅌 distances means it'll be a lot harder to keep track of everything on your screen, and fail your hunts without even knowing. A terrifying prospect.

All in all though, I'd like to belie﷽ve this is a decidedly positive update overall. As previously announced, Scarlet and Violet will be updated on Switch 2 on the new console's launch date, June 5, so any intrepid shiny hunters will be able to dive right in from day one.

While you're here, be sure to check out our roundup of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming Switch 2 games, too.

Just yesterday, Yuri Lowenthal, the voice actor behind Persona 4's Yosuke Hanamura, posted that ܫhe wouldn't be returninꦦg for "the Persona 4 remake" – a statement that, unsurprisingly, convinced fans that said remake is actually in 𒊎the works. Lowenthal explained that he had even requested the role from Atlus directly, possibly going as far as begging: "I asked. Maybe I even begged, but they don't want me to come back."

The post from Lowenthal has since been deleted, bu♌t he's not the only Persona 4 actor with an out-of-the-blue apparent teaser that a remake is happening. Erin Fitzgerald, the English voice actor for character Chie Satonaka in Atlus' 2012 Golden re-release of the OG JRPG, writes in her own online that she won't be returning for a remake: "For those asking, I have not been asked to reprise💃 my role as Chie Satonaka in the Persona 4 remake. RIP."

Fitzgerald concludes that she is "blessed to have recorded as many Persona 4 games as I did playing he🌄r," referencing her role in the fighting game sequels and rhythm spin-offs that♏ came after Persona 4 Golden.

💛While the posts from both Lowenthal and Fitzgerald don't exactly "officially" confirm that a remake is coming from Atlus, they certainly do spark hope that it's p🍌otentially planned or in production – and they're not the only potential evidence, either.

Around two months ago, eagle-eyed Persona stans spotted what could serve as some of the most solid evidence of a remake to date – a newly registered domain. Much like "p3re.jp" was registered just months before Atlus announced Persona 3 Reload, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询ཧ:a website domain for "p4re" appeared but didn't yet go live (and still hasn't). Coupled with the two voice actors' more recent possible confirmations of a Persona 4 remake, it's all undeniably convincing, but we'll have to wait and see what happens.

Looking to dive into Atlus' beloved JRPG series? Here are the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Persona games to play.

On Switch 2, the Nintendo 64 Classics library available through the Nintendo Switch Online subscription will allow you to apply a CRT filter. It's a pretty nice-looking filter, but it's one that looks quite similar to the filters already offered for the other emulators😼 on the platform.

You'll find a lot of the same jokes about next-gen power in the and on this announcement, but a genuinely good CRT filter – wꦦhich this appears to be – does require more power than a simple scanline overlay, since it makes use of proper graphical shaders to more accurately recreate the look of an old-school TV.

Whether the original Switch would've been completely incapable of running such a filter is, of course, a topic that will be endlessly debated among retro nerds, but it's been clear from the jump that Nintendo has st🧸ruggled wit𝐆h N64 emulation on the console.

The other big new feature for N64 games on Switch 2 is rewind, and it's a lot easier to see the technical challenges here that might necessitate the ne꧃xt-gen requirement. Emulator rewind features essentially rely on the constant creation and deletion of save states in the background, and given the original Switch's limited capabilities it's easy to see how this might lead to degraded performance.

For me, if I want a CRT look while retro gaming, I'm just going to play my actual N64 on a real old-school TV, but that is admittedly not a luxury new players coming to these games for the first time will be able to enjoy, and N64 games do tend to look a whole lot better with a little bit of fuzz over them. Rewind is a g🔯enuinely excellent feature to have no matter what your personal retro setup is, though.

The final new feature being added in this June 5 update is a remappable control layout, and thankfully this one is available on both Switch 1 and 2. Remappable buttons are a pretty basic accessibility feature that really should've been here from the start, especially given how awkwardly the N64 controller tend𓆏s to map to modern gamepads.

Check out our guide to the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best N64 games if you're looking for the classics, or dig into all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming Switch 2 games if you need the new stuff.

Key Specs

Design

The Nacon RIG 900 Max HS may come with that all-black colorway that is pretty common amongst the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best wireless headsets, but its unique headband aesthetic makes it stand out amongst the sea of PS5 headsets I’ve tested throughout the years. Instead of just a plain, curved band, Nacon has designed a futuristic-looking product.

It’s not dripped out in bright colors or RGB lighting, but the main band is a thin steel s💟heet, with ‘RIG’ proudly plastered on top in a shiny, silver typeface. On either side, there are three cylindrical cutout shapes which can be snapped onto either cup to keep them attached. There are three of these cut-out sections in total, giving you different levels of adjustment. The metal band is also supported by a leather and fabric-coated stretchy second band, wꦐhich isn’t densely padded, yet still manages to provide a light and comfortable fit.

While the headband is missing some extra padding, the cups aren’t. There’s plenty of cushion for the pushing, which, when combined with the reasonable clamping force, never felt uncomfortable even as a glasses wearer. The padding also makes use of both leather and fabric-coated mesh, and its large oval shape even managed to fit nicely around my Dumbo-sized ears.

The outer edge of the left cup is where you’ll find the majority of the headset’s onboard controls. That includes the mode button, multi-function button, volume control dial, power button, and the flip-to-use microphone which sits flush with the 900 Max when not in use. Begrudgingly, each button has the same glossy plastic texture, so it's hard to differentiate them from each other. That can be a pain when you’ve set up the dual wireless and have a phone call coming through, but the volume dial and its soft rubber texture are at least easy to find at a moment’s notice.

Arguably, my favorite aspect of the headset, the charging stand, also sports an all-black, sleek look. During my time with the 900 Max HS, it sat proudly underneath my smart TV, and became not just convenient for charging, but an ideal way to store and display the PS5 headset when I wasn’t racking up my trophies. My typical go-to pair of cups for my Sony pixel pushing beast, the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5P, sits at the edge of my Star Wars coffee table when charging, which puts them at risk of being attacked by my cat. But the accompanying charging stand helped keep the 900 Max HS safe, charged, and 🐬lent itself to its futuristic and funky aesthetic.

Features

Other gaming headsets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Logitech G Astro A50 X, which also come with a charging stand (albeit, it’s also an HDMI switcher), don’t incluꩲde everything you need to get set up, despite its premium price tag - but the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS has you covered. Straight out of the box, you get everything you need, from the headset, charging stand, 2.4GHz dongle, and even the USB-A to USB-C cable required to hook it up to your PS5 console.

Getting set up with the 900 Max was pretty easy. It took a matter of minutes to slot the wireless dongle into the charging stand, and then all I had left was to plug the USB cable into one of the free ports on my PS5. Instead of using one of the ports on the front-facing side of the console (mine lies horizontally), I made sure to use a back port and fed the cable through the back. Not only did this mean my PS5 gaming setup was less busy looking, but it also meant the front ports were free for qui🅺ck and easy access for accessories like the PDP Riffmaster guitar controller, which I use on a day-to-day basis.

After every𝄹thing was set up, I was able to make use of one of the headset’s best features, its dual wireless connectivity. With the 900 Max HS, I was able to connect the headset to my PS5 via a 2.4GHz dongle (that’s attached to the stand) and connect to my Samsung S24 phone via Bluetooth simultaneously. This dual-wireless feature means you can talk on the phone to friends in between Marvel Rivaဣls matches, or just switch to your phone’s audio to scroll mindlessly through TikTok (an embarrassingly favorite pastime of mine) while waiting for your friends to pop on Discord. Resentfully, as a millennial, I don’t get too many phone calls on any given day, so I did have to ask my partner to give me a quick call to see just how easily I could switch between modes with the onboard controls, and it turned out to be pretty straightforward. Like briefly touched on before, it will just take a moment to remember what button does what, as they all have the same glossy, plastic touch.

Performance

I wasn’t initially blown away by the sound on the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS headset. Don’t get me wrong, the drivers didn’t sound bad by any means, and in the early days of testing the bass, mid, and treble frequencies of the 40mm audio drivers sounded pretty balanced as I took to learning my new main in Marvel Rivals, Scarlet Witch. However, it didn’t quite have that bassy gut-punching drive that the hero shooter needed to make the end of matches feel truly nerve-wracking. That was, until I pulled out the Nacon app.

With the dual wireless connectivity, I was able to connect the headset to my PS5 via the wireless dongle (as it was plugged into the charging stand) and have my Android-based phone connected via Bluetooth. This gave me access to the app, which provides a battery life rundown, access to updates, settings, and the best part, customization. I always appreciate when a gaming brand has an app for their headsets, as it means I don’t have to run back and forth to my PC in order to get the best sound, and the Nacon app lets me do just that.

There are three profiles you can save to the headset, and a range of audio presets from an FPS audio setting, Bass Boost, Voice Boost, clarity, and a custom option. Annoyingly, the ‘Bass Boost’ option actually made the lower frequencies a tad overwhelming, with t🧔racks like ‘Burning’ by the band Hitsujibungaku (that I’ve had been listening to on repeat) sounding distorted, and not in a good wayꦜ. However, with some tinkering, I was able to not only get that reverberating bassy sound that you can feel deep in your bones, but the app and the convenience of having all that customization at my fingertips cemented the RIG 900 Max HS as a contender for one of my all-time favorite PS5 headsets.

Much to my chagrin, the 900 Max doesn’t have Dolby Atmos or any other spatial audio support. So it was missing that extra immersive soundscape I’ve grown accustomed to when using headsets like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Virtuoso Max wireless. That being said, whether I was returning to my sea-faring pirate adventures or powering up generators in Dead by Daylight, the 900 Max MS gave justice to everything I threw its way - especially with the app in play.

I’m still slowly making my way through Clair Obscur Expedition 33, and its gorgeous, pseudo-classical score by composer Lorien Testard sounded impeccable through these PS5-designated cups. There’s no active noise canceling found with them, yet I🦋 was still able to get totally lost in the game’s hypnotic sound and atmosphere as the large oval padded cups were still able to eclipse my ears and keep everything contained. When not attempting to make my way through the RPG, I was chatting way to friends using the flip-to-use built-in microphone as we grinded through our Marvel Rival daily and weekly challenges.

As you can hear from the above sample, the microphone is the biggest letdown for the 900 Max HS. Any and all outside noise seeps into the mic despite its “noise canceling” claims, making my voice sound crackly and overall unpleasant. I was still audible during Marvel Rivals sessions, but when I got a bit too heated, which is easy to do when you main a healer like Cloak and Dagger, my voice became almost inaudible. This is unfortunate, as there are plenty of headsets with an MSRP half that of the 900 Max HS that manage to give you a high-quality mic, like the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Corsair Void Wireless V2, which has an MSRP of $119.99 / £99.99.

At least the handy charging stand almost made up for the disappointing mic quality. When I had had enough matching up with bizarrely named strangers on Marvel Rivals, I hung up the🔜 headset on the stand, and it would conveniently charge overnight. I’m not a ༒fan of just leaving my headsets out in the open, especially when I have a cat that believes everything in its path is a toy, so this was a treat. Not only that, I didn’t have to remember to give it a charge, and so never had to deal with its up to 50 hours worth of battery as it was constantly ready to go.

Another neat aspect of the charging stand is that you c♛an pop the 2.4GHz dongle out of it, plug that directly into your PS5, and keep the charging stand stored in another room entirely. This made the PS5 licensed cups extra handy for multi-platform gaming, as I was able to move the stand to my bedroom nightstand or my desk without having to disconnect the low-latency 2.4GHz connection from my🌄 Sony console. Setting up the 900 Max HS with my OLED Steam Deck and my OLED Nintendo Switch was easy as pie via Bluetooth, and running through the latest Wonderland Whimsy Disney Dreamlight Valley update on the go sounded exceptional. As did the vibrant scores of Super Mario Galaxy and Super Mario Sunshine via Super Mario 3D All-Stars.

Should you🌞 buy the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS gaming headset?

If you’re fed up of charging your gaming headset and want an alternative battery solution without having to fork out the full cost of the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, the $249.99 / £209.35 Nacon RIG 900 Max HS is an ideal alternative. Sure, you won’t be getting the crystal clear microphone quality that SteelSeries and its audio tech is known for, or anywhere close, but the accompanying charging stand of the Nacon headset adds an extra level of convenience that almost makes up for its gaps in quality.

Similarly to SteelSeries, Nacon has a free-🍌to-download accompanying app for the 900 Max HS headset, which takes the average sound produced by its 40mm audio d🔜rivers and elevates it to new, sublime-sounding heights. There isn’t a list of dedicated gaming presets to choose from, but with the app, you can tailor the audio just to your liking and save your settings as profiles to switch between the next time you want to get stuck into your latest PS5 gaming obsession.

Had the built-in mic’s quality been up to scratch, the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS would have easily earned a spot as one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PS5 accessories I’ve ever gotten m🐷y hands on. Yet, even with its lack of quality, its high-tier sound, transformative customizable audio settings, dual wireless connectivit♛y, and user-friendly charging stand still justify its high-end price, and place as one of the most convenient PS5 gadgets I’ve used to date.

How I tes💖ted the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS🎃 gaming headset

During the over two-week testing period, the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS wireless gaming headset rarely left my side. Whether I was gaming on my PS5, answering phone calls, or chatting to co-workers during important meetings, the 900 Max HS remained on my head. As a headset designed with the PS5 in mind, my main games of choice during the testing process were Clair Obscur Expedition 33, and Marvel Rivals. I also made sure to dig out Dead by Daylight and Sea of Thieves, to see how they measured up on the PS5 and PC versions. The 900 Max HS was also put through its paces on the Steam Deck when playing the brand-new Wonderland Whimsy update in Disney Dreamlight Valley, and to play our Switch testing game of choice, Super Mario 3D All-Stars on a Nintendo Switch OLED handheld.

When not racking up my hours in Marvel Rivals, I used the headset while catching up with the anime series Oshi No Ko, and the last season of You on Netflix. I also tested the headset while listening to Spotify across a wide range of genres, from Irish rappers Kneecap, to the relaxing dance tunes of ODESZA. For more information on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:how we test gaming headsets, check out the full 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

If the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS doesn’t sound like the right fit, our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Xbox Series X headsets, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch headsets, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best PC headsets for gaming guides are full to the brim with

Specifically, it'll be launching on October 16 –ꦆ not an unprecedented month for Pokemon launches, although still a bit of a surprise since they often tend to fall in November. Less time to wait than expected can only be good news to fans, though, with our return to Pokemon X and Y's Kalos region officially less than five months away.

In addition, a confirms that our next Pokemon Presents stream will take place on July 22. Although it's not yet been confirmed how long the stream will beꦐ or exactly what it'll show, it seems pretty dang likely that we'll see a bit more of Legends: Z-A during that.

Although Pokemon Legends: Z-A was originally announced for the OG Switch, the latest announcement reiterates that it'll also be getting a Switch 2 edition, wh🌞ich promises "improved graphics and frame rates" on the upcoming console.

If you weren't planning on getting a Switch 2 in its first few months though, fret not, as The Pokemo🅠n Company confirms that both digital and physical๊ copies of the game "can be upgraded to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition via upgrade pack," so it sounds like you can upgrade at any time.

In addition, it's been revealed that pre-orders on the Switch eShop will begin on June 5, which also happens to be the Switch 2's release date (a very busy day all🌞 around). In the meantime, we'll just have to gaze longingly at the newly revealed cover art, showcasing the protagonists, some Mega Evolutions, and other Pokemon, including the best starter, Chikorita. It's feeling real now, folks – hopefully, the new RPG will be worth the wait.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A's director appears to be a Xenoblade Chronicles fan, and I'm now feeling very validated about a tiny detail I spotted in the upcoming RPG's gameplay trailer.

Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang – who previously hosted the official Nintendo Minute series and respectively served as Nintendo of America's director of social media marketing and original content, and senior manager of creator relations and𒈔 original content before leaving in 2022 – have been discussing the potential of Switch 2 leaks in a new video on their YouTube channel (below).

Ellis notes that before the Switch 1's launch, a "big video" ✨surfaced of someone with the console showing off its menu, and it was "like code red to find out what happened."

Elaborating on this, Ellis says that Nintendo "can get pretty precise" when it comes to "finding where this is, who this is, like what store this is." He continues: "It was actually really surprising for me to see that, ♉like, 'Oh! You actually can track this.' Like,🗹 again, these things get scanned and identified, and there are so many little identifiers that you might not even think of, like they will find who it is, but the fact that the leak has happened…"

"It's almost too late," Yang chimes in. "Too little, too late." She adds that🎃 even if a perso❀n or store receives some kind of consequence from Nintendo, ultimately, "it doesn't walk back the information that's already been put out there" from the leak.

Since Ellis and Yang posted their latest video, footage began circulating of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:someone "unboxing" a Switch 2 – which actually just amounted to seven whole seconds of someone lifting the box's lid. While it seemed like bigger leaks could fo🌺llow from this, a bit like the Switch 1 menu leak discussed by Ellis and Yang, the person behind the clip claimed that the console isn't functional without an update, anyway.

If that's true, it could help cut down on the🥃 sort of l𝔉eaks we've seen in the past, but with barely a week to go, we'll just have to watch this space to see if anything gets out earlier than Nintended.

If you're keeping up with the latest 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Nintendo Switch 2 news, be sure to check out our list of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming Switch 2 games, too.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening earned its stripes not for its ambition, but because it understood that smaller can be better. It's widely regarded as one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Game Boy games ever, and thanks to a keen understanding of its strengths, the remake proves it one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best Nintendo Switch games of all time some 32 years later. You don't need to mess with perfection, and it turns out that a🍸ll Nintendo's first handheld Zelda game needed to delight a new generation of schoolyard kids was a bit of polish, a bit of love, and a ton of respect.

We're on island time

Recalling these playground memories, one game stands out in particular. Gripped in our sweaty little hands, our Game Boys were, of course, loaded up with our own copy of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.

Each day we'd bike furiousl🐼y to school hours early to sit side-by-side exploring Koholint, absorbed in these miniscule adventures that nevertheless felt enormous and fateful, and most importantly, our o🐽wn.

As the first ever Zelda game𒀰 made for a handheld device, the personal aspect of Link's Awakening was very important to me. After all, much of the appeal of the Game Boy was that it was mine and mine alone. It was not a shared TV in our living room, or the PC monitor in my dad's office where I'd play Wolfenstein 3D and Reader Rabbit. The Game Boy, in all its monochromatic glory, was a personal portal to adventure, unlike anything I'd experienced.

For years afterwards, me and my friends, and many others outside my main group of friends, including older cool kids, would bond as we played through the same game, trading tips and experiences, racing through RPGs, and, when the mood would take us, hauling our TVs to each other's houses so we could return back to those cold mornings on the schoolyard.

Many years later, I would gift that same friend✨ a map of Koholint Island as a thank you for being the best man at my wedding – those early day🦂s cemented in our most momentous milestones.

Link's Awakening is about t🍒raveling to another world, 🌊an uncanny manifestation of imagination, and all of that is encompassed in the experience of exploring the island, discovering the secret of the Wind Fish, and realizing that your experiences there were no less real or valid or consequential as Link's.

To that end, Link's Awakenin🦹g was and remains a singular experience within Zelda canon, a title that challenges its player to con𓆏sider the ephemerality of game worlds.

Beyond worlds

The spectre of maturity has haunted the Zelda franchise ever since that fated GameCube demo whet appetites only for Nintendo to deliver (the objectively fantastic) Wind Waker and its cartoony graphics. It's a game openly inspired by Twin Peaks, and one of the few Zelda titles that genuinely gets metatextual (shoutout to Majora's Mask).

That one of its most conceptually challenging and interesting titles is a low resolution Game Boy game with an alligator who loves dog food, a chain chomp with a bow, and a mermaid who's lost her bathing suit top is testament to how themes can be conveyed through often conflicting visual design and tone.

Link's Awakening works because it doesn't seem serious on the surface, so its melancholy explorations of ephemerality hit harder when they become apparent. When Nintendo announced a Switch remake of Link's Awakening, it walked a thin line between introducing a new generation of schoolyard kids to Marin, Tarin, Ulrira, and the rest of the motley residents of Koholint Island.

The remake recaptured the lightning in a bottle that originally transpor🌳ted those millennial children – now the parents of those very kids newly discovering Zelda on Switch – to Link's side as he sought to wake the Wind Fish in the mid-'90s.

Remake reckoning

Link's Awakening isn't alone. We've seen a glut of remakes of classic titles over the past several years, with some of the most prominent, like 2024's Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, choosing wholesale modernizations that challenge the very concept of remake. Others, like 2020's Trials of Mana, retain the classic structure and systems but move into full 3D.

These titles illustrate why terms like "remake" and "remaster" are difficult to define in brief. Wit﷽h Link's Awakening, however, Nintendo chose slavish recreation over moderinization.

Most of the changes focused on quality-of-life improvements (like making the sword, shield, bracelet, and boots permanent equipment, instead of taking up one of your two precious button slots) and capturi💛ng the feeling of the original by adopting a toyish art style – replete with a plasticine world and a tilt shift lens effect to create the feeling of exploring a t💃iny diorama – that captures the memory of the original Game Boy pixel art graphics, rather than trying to recreate them. To that end, Link's Awakening is one of the tightest and most satisfying Zelda titles in the series.

The Nintendo Switch remake of Link's Awakening retains all this magic because it underst🔯ood that the original game was a perfect little puzzle box, strengthened – not hindered – by the limitations of the Game Boy.

Leaning into traditionalism with Link's Awakening also provided Nintendo with a solid, tested foundation for innovation. As mentioned in GamesRadar +'s 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:The Legend of Zelda: Echoes ✨of Wisdom revie🌸w, the first ever Zelda-starring Zelda game pushed the boundaries of what we expect from the series' 2D offerings by adopting the free-forming traversal and non-linearity of its modern siblings, melding modern and🥀 clas♈sic Zelda into something new – and it likely wouldn't have existed without Link's Awakening.

The original Link's Awakening was like carrying a different world around in my pocket, and sitting side-by-side with my bestie, absorbed in his own adventure, was a joint experience🅠 that'🐈s stuck with me ever since. It showed me how video games can bring people together, even when they're single player titles - and thanks to the Link's Awakening remake, that experience has become a living legacy.

Check out all the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming Switch 2 games coming to the new Nintendo console soon

Yes, Dragon Warrior. Released back on Nintendo's very first console, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), in the United States the humble Dragon Quest went by a different name. Europe, on the other hand, didn't get a single taste of the Dragon Quest fruit until 2004's Dragon Quest 8 on PS2. Overworlds, turn-based battles, stats – in Japan, these early NES titles that make up Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake popularized the RPG conventions that are vital to the genre now, laying the groundwork for the all-conquering Final F♒antasy.

Quest log

Now, in a bid to reintroduce Dragon Quest to the world, Square Enix is finishing what it started last November with 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. Taking a confusingly Star Wars-like approach to storytelling, Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake 🍒picks up where last year’s luscious prequel left off. Telling the tale of King Erdrick, these first two titles actually conclude the high fantasy trilogy's storyline, lovingly preserving and repackaging these pioneering pixel RPGs by blowing the dust of🅘f and imbuing them with some much-needed spit and polish.

Put into the pointy leather shoes of the unimaginatively named Hero, this double pack is once again developed by the creators of Bravely Default and Octopath Traveler, Team Asano. As the charmingly rendered sprites designed by Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama shuffle across sharply rendered backgrounds, 🅺it’s impossible not to smile – even seven years after Octopath Traveler first wowed us with its eye-catching HD-2D art style.

If you've ever played a sprite-based RPG, you can't resist the charms of this cozy little remake. These expressive little sprites and comfortingly simple story capture that feeling of having your head buried in a Game Boy during long childhood car rides – and as I dive into Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake at Square Enix HQ, I’m immediately transported to a simpler age. Where 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Final Fantasy 7 Remake fundamentally changes the feel of the original – for better and for worse – playing these shiny Dragon Quest remakes today feels like a platonic ideal of an RPG, the rose-tinted memory ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚof 8-bit and 16-bit epics in your he🐭ad.

Like the best remakes, this double pack captures the charm of a bygone era while imbuing it with all the modern gaming luxuries that we now take for granted. Everything on your journey now exists to makeꦬ the core adventuring🌊 as enjoyable as possible, giving players the options to remove the genre’s arcane annoyances or to opt to play with them sadistically intact. The most obvious quality of life improvements are to the battle system, once again transforming the archaic grind of NES turn based battling into a furiously fast frenzy or even a skippable afterthought, letting players toggle auto battle and switch between four different battle speeds.

Death is less of a hair-pulling frustration this time around, too. If your entire party falls on the battlefield, you can count on the modern magic of autosave to inst🍎antly let you replay the fight again, skipping a frustrating retracing of footsteps. Where these classic RPGs often had your objective uttered once by an NPC and then immediately forgotten, here, any time you speak to someone, you can choose to commit the last thing you heard to🌼 memory, ensuring that you always know what your objective is, even if you've booted your 20 hour save file again after a four month absence.

Churches still allow you to save manually in classic fashion, as well as letting you buff your party. Yet each party membe𝐆r’s individual death remains refreshingly old school. Slain party members can only be resurrected by visiting your local church, their corpse following you in a comically rendered coffin sprite until they’ve been revived. In true Catholic fashion, though, you must cough up gold in order to receive this divine blessing, of course.

The battlefields are bursting with newfound personality. In a nice touch, backdrops to turn based battles match the background of wherever you’re standing in the overworld map. Grass sways in the wind behind an army of slime, casting a sizz spell scorches a murder of stark ravens with a vibrant🎶 flame.

Yet like 🌊with last year’s Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, it’s the lavish fully orchestrated soundtrack that really seals the deal. Performed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra, those once distorted 8 bit bleeps and warbles have been utterly transformed into cinema-worthy scores, with battles and exploration transformed into rousing jaunts, each soaring string section putting a spring in your step. In a nice touch, the lush modern orchestra is broken up with authentically distorted bitcrushed battle noises, with those classic level up and door opening noises left pleasingly intact.

Voice of reason

Like with the third game's overhaul, pivotal story moments across these two games also get the fully voice acted treatment, with players able to experience the delightful melodrama in English or Japanese. Non-voiced dialogue is still charming enough, mixed with your classic ye olde text crawl, or even brought to life between important characters with expressive anime style animations appearing above their head with a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Golden Sun-esque charm.

Where many games have become increasingly complex, Square Enix have smartly opted to make the core adventuring as simple as possible. Tutorials pop up explaining what items do, and these optional quality of life improvements remove the frustrating quirk that makes it a pain to return to these early RPGs today, ironing out the kinks and turning these classics into a breezy good time. The map system is a lifesaver, too, allowing you to alway✅s see your objective on the map, saving hours of frustration by eliminating aimless wandering.

I only get twenty minutes with each game, with Dragon Quest 2 being party-focused likeꦜ the NES original. Yet during my time with the ෴first game, as I save a villager from a monster-ridden town, he enthusiastically encourages me to capture any monsters I see roaming the overworld – a nod to Dragon Quest 5 and the Dragon Quest Monsters games. Whether these monsters are purely collectable and remain in an arena in town (as is the case in Dragon Quest 3), or are partymon pals that fight alongside you a-la Dragon Quest 5, however, still remains to be seen.

While games like 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Sea of Stars provide quirky love letters to their genre forefathers, Square Enix has instead opted to just let you replay the classics with minimal meddling, polishing their rust soaked code into a pleasingly accessible new package. Whether you're slaying your first slimes in Alefgard or the thought of playing Dragon Warrior on a CRT makes you embarrassingly misty eyed, it's hard not to be charmed by this loving ode to ga🅠ming past.

The playable equivalent of sipping a steaming hot chocolate on a frosty winter evening, I feel a wave of warm, fuzzy nostalgia wash over me throughout my demo – despite not even being born when the original hit shelves. It’s the perfect mix of 8-bit charm with modern sheen, and once again leaves me crying out for Game Freak to remake those classic Pokemon games in this gorgeous art style. Wꦐhile Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake are largely a continuation of what Square did with the third game, these lovingly made refreshes are shaping up to be a wonderfully accessible way to experience a crucial piece of gaming history.

Quest without the waiting with our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best JRPG games ranking!

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 👍creative director Guillaume Broche gushed about Persona 5, the coming of age epic about high schooling by day and fighting demons at night, in an interview with .

"I think Persona 5 is the best game in the world when it comes to battle 🔴depictions and UI design," Broche said, in quotes translated by . "I was greatly influenced by the dramatic camera changes every time the player operates, and how it unfolds like watching a movie."

Persona's stylish camera moves were obviously implemented into the newest J-inspired RPG, and you can even trace it back to Lost Odyssey, too. Though Broche also said he'd like to take the feature even further in the future. Either way, Broche isn't alone in the praise. Persona 5 is one of the very 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best JRPGs ever made, according to us, at the very least.

Expedition 33's proving to be a heavyweight in its own right, as well, though. The game 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:sold a whopping one million copies in just a few days, not including everyone who tried it out via Game Pass on Xbox and PC. Plus, its concurrent player peak on Steam surpassed massive games in the genre, like Metaphor: ReFantazio, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:continued to peak we𝓡eks after launch.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Collector's Edition "sold out way faster" than expected, so all its cool merch is getting re-released without the base RPG for $119

But with plenty of gameplay footage, trailers, and interviews with the development team, the sense of anticipation for Little Nightmares 3 has only grown. Once again tapping into the distinctive blend of cute and creepy that the series has become so well known for, we'll be meeting new characters and facing fresh frights in what promises to be one of the biggest 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming horror games of the year, alongside the studio's 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:other major project, Directive 8020.

Exciting times are just ahead, too, with the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Summer Game Fest schedule 2025 lineup set to bring us a ho𒁏st of showcases that promise to give us a look at some of the biggest games coming our way in the future. And while we don't yet know if the next Little Nightmares game wiꦰll make an appearance, we have our raincoats securely on and our fingers crossed that we'll get to see more. In the meantime, we've brought together a helpful overview of everything we know so far about Little Nightmares 3, from running down its co-op support to rounding up its gameplay features, and more.

Little Nightmares 3 release date speculation

Little Nightmares 3 is expected to launch sometime in 2025, with no exact release date as of yet.

Following its initial reveal, the return of Little Nightmares was set to land sometime in 2024 before Supermassive posted . While the game then later appeared at Gamescom 2024, we've yet to get a confirmed releaseꦅ date beyond its year launch window. ꩲWe'll be keeping our eyes peeled for any updates!

Little Nightmares 3 platforms

Little Nightmares 3 is set to release on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and Switch.

While it's been confirmed that the horror-filled adventure will be among the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming Xbox Series X games, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming PS5 games, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming Switch games, as well as last-gen consoles, we don't yet know if Little Nightmares 3 will also come to the Switch 2. Given that Nintendo's new console is launching i🎃n 2025🅺, it's not entirely outside of the realm of possibility, but we'll have to await further news.

Little Nightmares trailers

We've gotten a h🉐elping of Little Nightmares 3 trailers following its initial reveal. With an announcement trailer (which you can watch above) giving us our first look at the new protagonists of the adventure, we also got to see various obstacles they'll face in the dark world, with teases of different locations and a very ominous mirror.

In the "You're being watched" trailer (below), we're introduced to a mysterious figure who's said to always be watching every move we make in the wor🐎ld. It looks like w✨e'll be tracked on surveillance-style monitors. How unsettling.

Little Nightmares 3 story

Little Nightmares 3 story follows protagonists Low and Alone, two young children who became best friends when they encountered each other in a "lonely nightmare". As they get lost in the🧜 frightening world of Nowhere, they'll have to work together to try and find a way out together, or risk being condemned to a "fate worse than death".

With emphasis once again put on the idea that you'll be entering a world "not made for children", Little Nightmares 3 looks set to build on the chilling atmosphere of games past, and of course, just like any number of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best horror games, you can expect to face some unsettling figures that won't be 𓃲giving you a warm welcome in Low and Alone's shoes.

For a refresher on the previous games, be sure to check out our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Little Nightmares review and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Little Nightmares 2 review.

Little Nightmares 3 setting

T🌌he setting of Little Nightmares 3 will once again bring us into the universe known as♈ Nowhere, which is only accessible through dreams.

With Low and Alone lost in a nightmare, they'll be venturing through various locations within a twisted place called The Spiral, and face all kinds of monstrous dangers. From a sandy Necropolis ꦿwhere a giant baby resides, to a creepy candy factory and "filthy funfair". Each place will be filled with residents who will try to hunt you down, so you can expect to face obstacles and some nasty inhabitants.

Little Nightmares 3 gameplay

We've gotten to see quite a lot of Little Nightmares 3 gameplay since it was first announced, trailers showing off some gameplay elements, as well as an in-depth walkthrough from Bandai Namco which showed off of the "many hidd🐭en hazards of the Necropolis". In the latter video, we see Low and Alone venture through a sand storm before climbing up into the ruins of the Necropolis.

Unfortunately, this is the playground of a monstrous baby that looms large over the location, and who seems to be hellbent on making you its next playthings. We see how both Alone and Low have to sneak out ಌof the way of the baby's line of sight, or find safety behind cover, which transforms the area into a scary game of hide and seek.

Not unlike the earlier Little Nightmares adventures, the gameplay we've seen so far shows off some familiar elements, such as puzzle-like sections that see the pair work together to move boxes, or make it across a platform. There are also shots of the pair using various objects to make it through areas - such as using a parasol-like makeshift umbrella to float across a ledge. With some unsettling scenarios, we'll often have to run, hide, or a combination of both, and even if the occasion calls for it, defend ourselves𓃲.

Is Little Nightmares 3 co-op?

Little Nightmares 3 will be the first entry in the series to support online co-op.

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Speaking on co-op, Bandai Namco producer Coralie Feniello said it was "the most requested [feature] by our community" following Little Nightmares 2, which had♔ th😼e perfect set-up for a similar feature since it saw you play as Mono as he travelled through the world alongside Six - the lead character from the first game.

But you'll also be able to💯 play the entirety of Littl🤡e Nightmares 3 solo, too. Should you do so, one of the characters will be an AI that you give instructions to, as Feniello explains:

"We don't want to have the AI being too smart, because the player mi𝐆ght feel like they are doing everything, but we don't want to have the AI feeling dumb, either. The first time you see an object that the AI can interact with, you have to call the AI, and then they come and they do it. But in terms of gameplay, we are making sure that it's the same level of experience and as enjoyable in multiplayer [as it is] in single. But maybe in single, you will have a bit more on the narrative part."

Little Nightmares 3 development

While the first two games in the Little Nightmares series were made by developer Tarsier Studios, Supermassive has taken up the mantle f𝓡or the third insta🍸llment, with Bandai Namco back on board as the game's publisher. Supermassive is a studio well-versed in the horror genre, having made narrative, survival experiences like Until Dawn and The Quarry, so it'll be interesting to see how the team puts their stamp on the universe.

Tarsier, on the other hand, is currently developing a new horr𒁃or IP with Reanimal, which promises to take you on an "even darker and more terrifying journey🎃 than ever before".

We had a very strong feeling that this was the case after the game's Definitive Edition surprise launched last week, bun🌜dling together the 2023 fighting game and approximately $162 worth of DLC into a single package, but now we know for certain Mortal Kombat 1 is certified Komplete.

"We are hearing playe💧rs’ requests for continued game support of Mortal Kombat 1, and, while we will continue to support Mortal Kombat 1 through balance adjustments and fixes, there will not be additiona🅰l DLC characters or story chapters released from this point on," reads the tweet.

"We understand this will be d🐻isappointing for fans, but our team at NetherRealm needs to shift focus to the next project in order to make it as great as we possibly can," reads a follow-up tweet.

NetherRealms is right to assume this will be disappointing news to fans, who have been united in hoping for more Mortal Kombat 1 content, especially since the game only came out less than two years ago and series boss 𝓀Ed Boon has suggested it would get "years of content" in various interviews. (It's worth noting that Boon himself likely had little to do with publisher Warner Bros.'🌌 decision to move on from the game.)

NetherRealms has yet to reveal what it's next project is, but Boon said in an earlier this year that what﷽ever it is was decided on "a long time ago."

Find out where your favorite ranks on our list of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best fighting games out there.

The Switch 2's ability to turn its Joy-Cons into PC gaming mice has been the console's most conspicuous and interesting feature to me since its reveal, and that weird wheelchair basketball game 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Drag x Drive, which most of us haven't had the chance to play, is the only real dedicated proof of co🃏ncept we know about right now.

Suddenly and without prior notice, I'm now infinitely more intrigued by the Switch 2's mouse compatibility, as a YouTube video with less than 500 views at the time of writing haꦐs casually revealed that the console can hook up to any ol' mouse as long as it has a USB connection and th🎐e game supports this functionality.

At right about the from Koei Tecmo Europe (thanks, ), producer Michi Ryu drops this bombshell (through the video's English s⛄ubtitles): "In addition to the mouse operation with the Joy-Con 2, you can also connect a USB𝄹 mouse and it will work seamlessly." Ryu adds that a message will appear in the top left side of the screen indicating a successful connection.

Ryu then demonstrates that you can switch between Joy-Con and PC mouse controls intercℱhangeably, remarking that the "switching speed is incredibly fast."

Whoa, whoa, whoa, why are we talking about this like it's something Nintendo has alꦍready revealed? I'm genuinely baffled that this wasn't shouted from the rooftops when the darn thing was first announced. My gaming mouse! In my Nintendo!

This feature being extremely uncharacteristic for Nintendo aside, the gameplay implications are massive. I mean, when in Nintendo console history have you been able to just plug in a third-party input device and use it instead of an official or licensed contrওoller? Let alone one as dominant but platform-divorced ♌as the almighty gaming mouse. Never, as far as I can remember.

Not only that, Ryu says "you can use both the mouse and controller simultaneously" for more precise control. This will surely vary game𝔉 to game, but the potential here is enormous.

I've reached out to Nintendo for clarification on how exactly this works and which games will support USB mic𝓰e, and I'll update this article if I hear back.

In the meantime, I'll be thinking about all of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:upcoming Switch 2 games I might be able to play with a freakin' mouse.

Duc🏅k Detective: The Ghost of Glamping sees titular sleuth Eugene McQuacklin still in the middle of a messy divorce with his swan wife, now living with roommate Freddy Frederson – an overly enthusiastic crocodile – after falling behind on the rent on his apartment. Down on his luck as he is, perhaps the only thing stopping him from wallowing in the shallows of his own heart is the potential to lose himself to another case.

Quacking the case

Falling back into his bread addiction, and struggling with the age-old rule don't text your ex, Freddy invites Eugene to forget it all for a weekend and join h⛄im on a relaxing vacation: a spooky glamping trip outside a haunted sanatorium. (This would work on me, to be fair). To make matters worse, Freddy is meeting up with his new girlfriend who's attending the spot for work – yes, Eugene is third-wheeling here, which ruffles his feathers.

Where The Secret Salami revelled in its office setting, having Eugene peck apart the long and complex relationships between long-time coworkers, The Ghost of Glamping is the opposite – all about a group of strangers thrown together by circumstance. The campsite caters to those in raggedy tents all the way to influencers staying in their VIP accommodation (which is more like a penthouse apartment) – meaning 👍characters from all walks of life collide when criminal conspiracy rears its long, bendy neck. It's a compelling hook that sets it apart from its predecessor.

I also want to emphasize that you don't need to have played The Secret Salami to enjoy The Ghost of Glamping. While characters return, and Eugene's circumstances have evolved, for the most part this really is a standalone mystery that just plays in the same world. Just as one episode of Columbo exists next to another, but has 😼its own tricksy plot for Peter Falk's character to pick apart, so too is this🍸 just another case for the Duck Detective.

The only times that standalone nature feels more questionable are a handful of spots where Duck Detective once again incorporates some very lightweight geopolitics into its plot. The mystery and characters themselves don't completely hinge around the tense relationship between this world's East and West – but they do return, and I found myself struggling to follow these parts just as I struggled in The Secret Salami. It's so in the background it's🦄 ♎largely a non-issue, and it's perhaps testament to the strong character writing that underpins the mystery here that the larger picture just doesn't go into my brain right – but it's an element Duck Detective still hasn't quite landed yet and that I have trouble engaging with.

For the most part, anyone who played Duck Detective: The Secret Salami will know what they're in for, as the mystery mechanics are largely the same. You'll be collecting details on new characters (and matching names to their portraits), presenting evidence to learn more about them, using your magnifying glass to highlight clues across the likes of bags and open laptops, and filling out mysteries. 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:A little like The Risꦦe of the🌼 Golden Idol, these take the form of slotting collected evidence keywords into state🌃♔ments with missing gaps. The game nudges you if your solution is close (and a Story Mode makes this even easier). After coming up with the correct statements, the plot moves forward for you to do it again.

Duck soup

Yet, though the mechaniꦐcs are largely the same, The Ghost of Glamping does bring some great improvements in terms of presentation and pacing. A clearer UI that's still pleasingly snappy makes it easy to tell at a glance what clues are new and what you've already investigated. As before, a map highlights where new interactables are located, but with tighter areas and fewer loading screens it feels like there's a lot less back and forth and trawling for clues.

The Ghost of Glamping also has some more variety with its puzzles, adding some lightweight decrypting and handwriting analysis to the mix in addition to its keyword-filling foundations. This works well, and both unlocking new areas and making deductions feels compelling. It does mean, however, this mystery feels a bit shorter and simpler than The Secret Salami, but my playtime is only 90 minutes here ve𝓰rsus 110 minutes there so it's much of a muchness. (I have to mention I do read pretty fast, I'd guess on average most people will get around 2 hours out of this).

I did feel at points The Secret Salami could get a bit bogged down – especially when it came to waddling back and forth in the offices – and while The Ghost of Glamping maybe goes too far the other way in being overly breezy it's nice to see some dials being adjusted for this followup. Some puzzles in The Secret Salami are cleverer than The Ghost of Glamping's, nothing here reaches the devious heights of some of that game's final brainteasers. But, likewise, The Ghost of Glamping has some sequences that are more fun than The Secret Salami's slower bits. There's ups and downs. You know, li🎃ke… the feathers. Oh god, am I the Freddy Frederson of Games♏Radar+ Towers?!

Is Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping one of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best mystery games out there? Not really – but it does feature some of the slickest detective mechanics and a bread-bite-size nature that's irresistible to duck-dive back into. A finger sandwich's ཧworth of adventuring. I had a fun evening, and while this particular mystery won't stick with me, the characters of Eugene McQuacklin and Freddy Frederson will, as well as the new faces they encounter here. There's no mallardy to Duck Detective's refined and brilliantly simple mechanics that continue to evolve, and there's a real chance that, collectively, the case files of the Duck Detective could become a real standout.

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping w🔯as played on PC, with a code provided by the 💛publisher

, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. For more recommendations, head on over to our 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Indie Spotlight series.

Nobody expects players to have developer-level knowledge about games. But because games don't dwell on this stuff, because as a player you only get a driver's view, and because most studios rarely explain these elements – shoutout to the blogs, threads, and GDC talks that do – there are a lot of misconceptions about how games are made. As a result, a lot of peop🐼le who love games set them🔴selves up for disappointment or frustration with skewed expectations or assumptions.

I🌱 thought it would be interesting to unpack some of those misconceptions. Since I don't have dev-level knowledge either, I approached this the only way I know how. I asked over 40 devs from around the world – most of them quoted in this story, some inspiring separate stories – one simple but big question: what is something you'd like to clear up that people, especially players, misunderstand about how games are m👍ade?

Responses lightly edited for clarity and length.

Why games are hard

I knew going into this that making games is hard and expensive. But a comment from Ape Out and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Baby Steps' Gabe Cuzzillo struck me and really set൲ the tone for this. "Video games don't want to exist," he says. "Other mediums, you're kind of working with them. Beat a drum, it makes a noise. Nothing is like that in video games. Just by de🧔fault, they resist existing. They do everything wrong. By force of will, we'll just kind of tear them into shape, patting them down, just trying to contain this chaotic thing."

While many comments 🐠in this article are, in part, informed opinions, and several developers unknowingly disagreed with each other during separate interviews, Cuzzillo's per♓spective touches on a common theme.

澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Helldivers 2 creative boss and ex-CEO Johan🐭 Pilestedt reasons that "the one [thing] people misconstrue the most is, if you think about when movies are made, you get an actor and they're there and you tell them what to say. But g⛦ames are so meticulously crafted. You have to build the actor from the ground up for them to even be able to perform those lines.

"People say, 'can't they add this or do that,'" he continues. "Most of the time, all of the decisions that you make, especially the larger the game gets,൲ have so many consequences that cascade, making something that seems easy really h๊ard, or something that seems really hard to be super simple. It's unintuitive unless you've worked in games to see how they're created."

Cole Medeiros, Stardew Valley board game designer and business head at ConcernedApe, agrees: "People underestimate how hard it can be to build something seemingly simple and therefore they often overscope their projects. It's difficult for them to see all the complex systems aಌnd restrictions that exist but are not apparent unless you've actually built and supported a game. So they might not understand why something takes a long time, or doesn't work quite right, or why a bug was not ✨found by the developers."

"Players do not know how ridiculously much work goes into a video game," sayﷺs Getting O🗹ver It's Bennett Foddy. "Part of that's on us, because we show them the bits that are the most fun or silly or glamorous."

"When devs make updates, it's all visual, but there's a lot of things that go into the game that's not visual, things that are hard to put into words," says Building 𒀰Relationships dev Tanat Boozayaangool. "What you see is not the game; it's what's under it," agrees Eagle Knight dev Jorge Ferretiz.

John Romero, game director at Romero Games, sums it up: "Game development is messy, iterative and non-linear. Game designs aren't clear blueprints like building a house, and it's not a linear process. Finding the fun is not always easy, and sometimes takes a lot of development to demonstr𒁏ate. Also, with so many interwoven disciplines, changing something in🍌 one area often impacts many others and could cause delays."

Finding the fun

Romero mentions an understated but important process: making something people will want to play, not just that they can play. Once a game works, and it's overcome all the technical and creative obstacles to run, it may not be fun yet. I'm reminded of 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Todd Howard's comments on Starfield, saying it took seven years to find its fun and that he "tho🅷ught we would find 𓄧the answers faster."

Finding the fun is something Papers, Please creator Lucas Pope mentions. "I start with a nicely rounded idea, then immediately dive into the weeds and hang out there for most of the project," he says. "I happily assume that the pieces could be put together to make a fun game, with only a vague💫 idea of how. And that idea changes as the pieces are completed."

XCOM creator Julian Gollop, now CEO of Snapshot Games, largely agrees. "It's such an incredibly iterative process that normally takes you, in some cases, far away from your original conception. When you say you're a game designer, if you've design🧔ed the game, well, what do you do the rest of the time it's in development? You're constantly iterating and testing and refining all the data inside of the game. The whole iterative process of game creation is maybe something that people don't appreciate very much."

Four members of the Possessor(s) team at Heart Machine offered an example of how things come together. Producer Myriame Lachapelle discussed the making of a boss fight, and how multiple p♋eople across disciplines will put their fingerprints on that small section. "Making a game is much more collaborative than I think people think it is," she says.

Director Alx Preston notes that adding another person to a dev team can also add "multi-dimensional" complexity to how that team works. Writer Laura Michet dismisses the idea that one person could, or should, take matters into their own hands because, as Romero also said, cꦅhanges affect more than that one person. And on the other hand, narrative director Tyler Hutchinson points out that adding more people doesn't inherently make things go faster. Making games "is a communication problem," he says, and more people complicates that communication.

People make games

The human element of game dev was another recurring point. Newblood Interactive head Dave Oshജry not-unreꦇasonably reasons that most players "know next to nothing about how games are made." There are more similarities to film and TV production "than you would think," he explains, highlighting the way development teams coalesce.

"With the exception of solo devs, games are an artistic endeavor that require the cooperation of handfuls, dozens🦩, hundreds or even thousands of people at once working together to create interactive art," he says. "You can put all the great programmers, artists, animators and sound designers you want in the same building but that doesn't mean they can make a great game. Great games are made by great teams that work great together. It helps when they're all friend🐽s, too."

Likewise focusing on "the human aspect," Iconoclasts creator Joakim Sandberg worries "the vocal audiences still lack empathy for the staff of a company." There's an idea "that one person, like the director, is responsible for every popular ꦿaspect of a game. Video games have many directors ... A game is its team, not its auteur."

One such director, David Jimenez at Altered Alma's 2Awesome, descri🎃bes his role as creative director as "like directing an orchestra. You have to manage people rather than manage the game. My job is making them all work together in the right direction."

Games are their people. (, who I have mercilessly turned into a section.) It's why a studio's outpu🐼t can feel so different if key creatives leave, or are laid off to assure investors a number will go up for a quarter. Teams of a similar structure can also differ wildly. Offbrand Games CEO David Gorman notes "there's not one type of development team," just as there isn't "one way to make a game." Instead, "depending on their background, certain things might be easier or harder for them."

One way these assumptions manifest, Palword publishing manager John Buckley finds, is that "people have very unrealistic expectations of timelines." Titans like Fortnite and Call of Duty suggest content can be pumped out in days or weeks, but those games are made with un🌺paralleled resources. For the overwhelming majority of devs, things take exponentially longer.

"I think gamers have just become so used to this kind of constant cycle that they༒'re now applying it to every game they play," Buckley adds. "A new island in Palworld, that's half a year's work. That takes six months. And when it comes out, people are super excited, but you just get so many nasty comments before that about these things. And you try to explain it, a♔nd there'll always be a few gamers who get it, and they really appreciate that dialog, but quite a lot of them don't."

Iron Lung and Dusk's David Szymanski believes "communication between players and developers in the indie sphere is pretty open, or at least it is when both parties allow it to be." Richard Atlas, CEO and creative director at Ultimate Sheep Raccoon's Clever Endeavour, thinks "players are easily converted from having a lot of complaints to really empathizing if you speak to them as humans. I understand why you're annoyed about this feature we just made, here's why we did it and here's what we had to sacrifi🎐ce in order to do this thing."

When games fail

This kind of rapport becomes especially valuable when games stumble or break. Some of the shakiest theories and worst arguments can surface when players are unhappy with games, the time when feedback is arguably most 🍬important, and this is when once-harmless misconceptions can poison the well.

I'm not suggesting people who make games can do no wrong or that design or monetization missteps shouldn't be criticized. As ex-BioWare community dev Frank Sanchez told me for my story on 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:why online games alway🍸s break at launch, there are 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:valid ꦜreasons to hold devs accountable and, if problems aren't 💙being addressed, "﷽put their feet to the fire and say, 'Hey, I'm not having a good experience, this is why.'" Don't, you know, harass them.

Countless devs have said it: player feedback is essential. Even the bigg༒est teams can't test and find everything themselves. Erenshor creator Brian 'Burgee' put it this way: "Th🧜ere's nothing I appreciate more than someone writing out a post about a mechanic and how they think it can be better." But , there are good and bad ways to give feedback, and a lot of that ties into how problems happen in games and how they can be fixed.

"Behind a lot of releases that just didn’t turn out the way people expected them to, there was a dev team trying its absolute hardest to make that game as good as it could possibly be under challenging circumstances," saysꦓ Romero Games CEO and studio director Brenda Romero. "We cough up a chunk of our soul for these games, and while a non-optimal release sucks, I can assure you that the dev team tried everything in its power to deliver on that vision."

TinyBuild CEO Alex Nichiporchik says "making games is insanely difficult, especially before you’ve announced and had༺ some traction," whe𓄧n you're wondering if anyone will care and, if they do, if you can meet expectations.

"There's a constant battle between the realities ﷺof trying to make a game under a time frame and a budget and all that other stuff, and how difficult it is to do one little thing," echoes Graffiti Games lead producer Troy Saemann. "When you add all that stuff up, tha♛t's where you start to see delays and other issues that I think cause a lot of the games that people see as being bad or rushed."

"People think developers have a lot of malice behind anything they do whe🃏n it's actually just them trying to make sure you get the best game possible," adds indie dev Aerial_Knight. "When things do launch with bugs, and there's no way to make a game without bugs, it's nothing they left in because they didn't care."

Szymanski targets the idea of "dev laziness" as "a blanket explanation for missing/buggy features or seemingly hacky implementation." He says ꧋"these decisions are nearly always driven by an unseen web of more complex issues and/or external pressure." He worries online tutorials and tools can be "a bit of a double-edged sword in this instance," because "it's now very easy to acquire enough knowledge to make broad incorrect assumptions about how easy a given task should be." With his recent game Butcher's Creek, Szymanski found that something that sounds like "a simple fix" for AI and animations actually would have required overhauling huge chunks of the game.

Some developers I spoke to were hesitant to "call out" players. Others, like veteran dev Andrew Gilmour, best known for Slain and Valfaris, reckon players don't care as long as the game is good, so he may even advise devs to "stop trying to explain your process and get back to actually working on your game, and if you have done it correct you won't have to explain it." Lies of P director Jiwon Choi was of a similar mind. Via interpreter, he said: "In the end, if I make a good quality game, without having to go into the🧸 details of all the challenges we went through, I believe the fans will see it."

What I wanted from this story was a look into how devs think about games and why games require the resources they do, and a broader perspective on game development that doesn't rely on jargon I frankly wouldn't understand either. If there's a theme to all of these responses, it's that making games is hard and expensive and time-consuming, and also diverse and messy and collaborative, often in unꦿseen and unpredictable 🦩ways.

Games are 3D shapes, and playing them only shows you one side; we won't know if that square is part🌳 of a cube or a pyramid. So we should criticize games, interrogate claims, and share opinions. But we should also resist the urge to generalize and assume, because wrong assumptဣions can become an obstacle to our own experience and feedback, and it is so incredibly avoidable.

"The eShop needs to be better. MUCH better": 28 game devs, from the creator of XCOM to indie legends, explain what they want from Nintendo Switch 2

There's no perfect shorthand for describing Sunderfolk, which is the first video game from Dreamhaven studio Secret Door, but the quick🍸est I've been able to do it is "D&D by way of Jackbox." You play through a campaign with classes and progression using your phone to avoid cluttering up the main screen, which always has the map or main cutscene presented. There is a single narrator that voices all of the NPCs and reads descriptive text out loud. It's much, much better with friends.

Adventure awaits

And that's absolutely by design. According to Sunderfolk game director Erin Marek, the core premise of the game, regardless of any mechanica⭕l descriptors or adjectives, is that it's trying to solve a relatively common problem: people being unwilling to give physical tabಞletop games a chance for one reason or another.

"'I love these games,'" Mare🔯k says while describing the exact issue. "'I want to play these games with my loved ones and my friends, but they will not give those games a chance.ও' And so this is a game to try to get them that bridge into the space, to try to get them to catch the bug."

"I have twin boys," says Chris Sigaty, studio head of Sunderfolk developer Secret Door. "They're now 17, and I'm a big board game and tabletop player, and I would say, to some extent, Sunderfolk is inspired by the challenges I had as a father ⛄even getting my kids to do it. And unfortun𓂃ately, they have not caught the bug in the same way I have with board games, like I'm willing to listen to really long rules and read them and do all that stuff."

Functionally, Sunderfolk streamlines the traditional tabletop process to make it as easy as possible to actually pick up and play. There are absolutely rules about how different mechanics work, what to do when and where, and how to play, but they're presented piecemeal over time without the need to break out the Player's Handbook ♛just to figure out what spells you have access to.

This is instead boiled down to a series of predetermined cards you can pick ahead of missions (which are voted on collectively) that include straightforward instructions about🐓 moving, damage, status condition🐷s, and so on. Further customization comes in the form of trinkets, equipment, and new cards that are layered over time into the fabric of play in a straightforward manner.

Sundered folk

"There's a lot o🦄f complicated things that make up what Sunderfolk is," admits Sigaty. "But the goal is this bridge into the hobby, and there's so many wonderful different types of games there, but if you're knowledgeable enough to say 'tactical turn-based game that's on a hex board that uses card mechanics that's inspired by actions on a card that you may have seen in this board game' – you're 🌱already so advanced that I think we're missing the point."

"If I'm talking to the average person, it's like, 'it's an 🍌adventure that you can go on together as a family or as a group of friends,'" continues Sigaty. "At the💙 highest level, that's what it's doing."

To Sigaty's point, it'd be one thing for me to describe, mechanically, how exactly movement functions across grids, what individual cards do in tandem with one another, the ways you interact with players and NPCs, turn order… or I can simply say that I'm doing everything within my power to have my little bat bard push enemies into pits, and I'm lovin' it. Both are true, but the latter is a mucꦜh more digestible description.

"I love playing things like D&D and Pathfinder and all these systems that, honestly, just provide these opportunities for me my frieಞnds to get together and just play a little bit of make-believe," adds Marek, "but it's very tiring for m🧜e, the GM, to have to prep content."

"Sometimes I want to still get together with them," Marek continues, "but I'm like, 'I don't have the energy to actually get this stuff together for us to play.' And so it's also for those folks who are like, 'Hey, this isn't a replacement for thes🦩e board games and these things you love, bꦑut it is maybe an easier space if you're feeling tired, a reason to get together still, even if you don't have all of your content prepped to hang out with your friends."

And it absolutely works. More than once these past few weeks, I've managed to salvage an evening where my friends and I were initially meant to play D&D, but someone had to dropಞ out, into a Sunderfolk night. It doesn't scratch the exact same itch, but it is so shockingly close that it's a welcome surprise regardless.

Sunderfolk is currently available on PC via Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch. If you're looking for something more traditional, be sure to check out our ranking of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best tabletop RPGs.

CDPR's Borys Pugacz-Muraszkiewicz, the English director for the RPG now celebrating its 10th anniversary, recently told that the ꦍstudio decided to nix the big reveal that was initially planned at the end of the countdown.

"I don't remember, actually, the nature of the announcement we were going to make," Pugacz-Muraszkiewic🉐z recalled, "but we had the countdown on the website and then weꦐ decided not to make the announcement."

Unfortunately, there was no going back from having put the countdown on♔ their site, and the team had to quickly come up with another announcement for fans lest they reach zero with nothing to show for it.

As the studio scrambled for something ꦰto live up to the expectations the countdown had set, the idea was floated to just "enlist a top actor and, when the clock runs down, announce them as the big reveal," according to Pugacz-Muraszkiewicz. Soon after, a member of CD Projekt Red’s business 🌺development team’s contacts were raided in order to find a big name talent to tag onto the upcoming title.

This resulted in the quick recruitment of Charles Dance, who at the time was playing Tywin Lannister on the smash-hit show Game of Thrones. With Dance now committed to play the Emperor of Nilfgaard in The Witcher 💯3, the studio narrowly avoided any possible embarrassment for the countdown to nothing.

The Witcher 3's deadliest foe might just be The Bloody Baron's Gwent deck, which has spent 10 years kicking our collective butts across 458 million matches

Yet, while Monster Train 2 certainly deserves that gloriously curved sequel number, this followup is really more of a Super Monster Train in the tradition of retro classics. Everything I loved about the original Monster Train is intact while feeling incredibly evolved. This is the kind of sequel that supersedes the original to the point where I'm not sure there's any point in returning – that first excursion now feels like it was merely laying down the tracks for this well-forged locomotive.

All aboard

The fundamentals are still much the same. Your task is to escort the pyre – the last embers of Hell – on your eponymous locomotive to its destination intact. Whereas the first game had you riding the tracks down to Hell, this time you're moving up the sc🏅reen towards Heaven, in order to use the fire's powers to purge the encroaching Titan threat that threatens to throw both sides of the divine coin into chaos. The reꦯmaining champions from Heaven, Hell, and somewhere in between must join forces to see it done, each successful mission getting them closer to liberation.

Each segment of the map is divided by battles – some of them boss-level fights – with stop-offs to upgrade your deck and therefore your monstrous powers on the way. After each cloudy dust-up, you always get a left or right choice with a handful of distinct upgrade stations each. Will you use some pyre shards to heal your fire back to full health or nab some possibly overpowered equipment? Veer towards upgrades for your battle units, or for your spells? Duplicate a top performing card, or permanently discard two that are holding you back? Monster Tr𝄹ain 2 is always pre💟senting you with choices, and teasing you with other equally valid upgrade pat𒅌hs you could hav✱e taken.

The battles themselves are – agaiꦐn – fundamentally the same as in the first game. Your train is made up of four floors. The♒ top houses your pyre, while the three below are where you can place your own monsters to fend off invaders who board from the bottom and ascend each turn (whether you've units alive on a floor or not). Things get chaotic as more foes, often beefier, board the further you get into a run, and it's up to you to bash them silly before your pyre can sustain much damage. After you play your cards each round, damage is exchanged automatically before the next begins.

Each run's deck starts off relatively similar to one another, with base train steward units and the like, but depending on your clans of choice you'll quickly end up specializing to take advantage of each one's decks. Note the plural 'clans', too – one of the best aspects of Monster Train 2 is that while you only have one clan's champion with you, you never just pick one deck to set out with, you always ha𝓀ve to pick two. Synergy is the steamy lifeblood of Monster Train 2, you've no choice but to constantly think about strategy in that way. Even trying to downpla♓y the impact, say, the Pyreborne's Pyregel debuffs has on your Valor-focused Banished deck is still a decision.

It's a great way of getting you to think about how cards interact – effects often play off one another whether you 🙈like it or not. Understanding how these combos work and nudging your deck to take advantage of them is how you'll pull into the station of your first wins, and is cruꦜcial for mastering covenant runs that increase complexity by making runs more difficult while also stuffing your conductor's cabin with more toys to play with.

Compared to the first Monster Train, each of the starting clans in Monster Train 2 are immediately more complex, which may make those used to some of the first game's simpler methods anxious – but it's weighted this way for a reason (past tactics do return, however). Whether it's the Luna Coven's powers that boast different e🌊ffects depending on the constantly changing moon phase, or the way Pyreborne builds up a stack of dragon's hoard treasure to cash-in for big rewards, there's a lot to juggle.

Having no choice but to grapple with a𝕴ll these status effects early on helped me get to grips with how I was expected to get them to play off each other. Once I got used to them, I really didn't want to return to simple hack-and-slash decks with big numbers, knowing my digits could dial much higher with some devious adjustments to the formula. Even so, I'm still getting to figuring out some clans' mechanics well into double digit hours of play🌺time.

Making Monster Train 2's mechanics even more complex are the addition of entirely new card types and customization options. Equipment can be attached to units in addition to upgrade tokens, and Rooms can also be applied to give, well, room-enhancing effects ranging from flat stat boosts to ones that allow you to accumulate extra attack points or even ﷽money.

If that's not enough, the Pyre Heart that encases your pyre can be switched out to allow for additional effects ranging from the option to pay to duplicate cardꦏs at stores to giving some cards you stumble upon a starting upgrade token (which, for me, can hinder as much as it helps – but I bet if you get lucky this one really goes hard).

Naturally, as a roguelike, your deck starts modest each time you pull on that train whistle for another stab at, well, stabbing (and burning, and crushing, and…). The beauty is seeing the many, many combinations combine into something that you feel verges on gamebreaking – until the next boss crushes you and puts you in your place. But, usually, not without the wince-worthy feeling of being so close.

Pick a card

There are so many possibilities and diversions you'll rarely chase the exact same synergies twice, even setting out with the same clans. Stumbling upon a new game plan always feels great. Simple early combinations may see you using the Pyreborne's Pyregel with the Luna Coven's spell-boosting Conduit buffs to rack up the damage, or using the Banished's Valor alongside Mageblade and Conduit to turn ꦫyour units into spellslinging tanks.

Soon enough you'll be racking up upgrade tokens to sand off the edges of top-tier spells. One run saw me forcing a damage boosting and damage shielding card to repeat back into my hand on each use for a low cost making my units near untouchable. Another had me using a smidgestone in concert with overgrowth equipment I'd grafted onto my units to have them beef up every turn with literally no lꦰimit to how big they could grow (because they would simultaneously always be tiny – Schrodinger's size).

All of these wonderful synergies do have one slight downside – enemy units also come with stacks of their own special abilities you n🌃eed to be aware of. Often you can tell at a glance with damage previews what you're dealing with, but as units get more complicated it can sometimes feel like a chore to parse out exactly what you're up against, constantly having to hit the 'see more' button to expand the list of effects. Or, more often than not, chancing it.

At the very least, vital boss effects are indicated ꦏin the pre-battle splash screen, so you're never not aware of anything big. Monster Train 2's bulging suitcase of spec💫ial powers is to its benefit more often than not, but it can be overwhelming in terms of the sheer amount of data.

Beyond just throwing yourself back onto the tracks for repeat runs there's plenty to chase as well, from a legion of unlocks, to playing with mutators, escalating covenant difficulties, and even dimensional challenges. I really love these challenge runs, as they're great ways of forcing you to play with particular set-ups and special rules that can make you feel overpowe෴red as much as they can be tricky – and do a great job at introducing you to combinations you might not have thought of.

Monster Train 2 also features a greater emphasis on story than the original Monster Train which is to say, still not much. The visual novel style presentation is particularly basic, and the writing itself is not all that engaging. It's enough to remind you that the repeating set-up could in theory lend itself to 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:a structure similar to Hades while not really being anything like it.

Oddly, story progression is tied to unlocking Pyre Hearts, done by achieving milestones like holding Frozen cards in your hand for long enough, or applying a certain total amount of debuffs. It's not a particularly thrilling way of progressing, as much fun as the Pyre Hearts themselves are to play around with – and feels like needless padding, especially when you have to slog through a couple that just don't fit your playstyle at all (debuffs feel like they progress so slowly).

With that said, swiping my pass for another trip on Monster Train 2 isn't something I need much excuse to do other than the simple pleasure of playing the game itself. With so many options in each run, I'm never quite sure what to expect – runs where I'm certain I'm off to a bad start turning into crackling storms of synergy, and sometimes the overconfidence of a s💎olid beginning becoming a nightmare. This journey's quick enough to have me reaching my destination, dusting myself off, and jumping right back on board for another – even if that means leaving my luggage behind.

Monster Train 2 was reviewed on PC, with a code provided by the publi💛sher.

Check out our calendar of the 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:new games of 2025 for what to play next. Want more like this? We have a 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:best roguelikes list for you too!