The newest rumor tied to Nintendo’s upcoming game Metroid Prime 4: Beyond has left fans puzzled. Since being unveiled once again this past summer, Nintendo hasn’t said or shown off anything further of Metroid Prime 4. Naturally, many have expected that the game would show up at Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2-focused Direct, which is set to transpire next week on April 2nd. Based on new information that has come about, though, this now sounds like it won’t be happening.

According to video game insider extas1s, Metroid Prime 4 won’t be a focus of the forthcoming Nintendo Switch 2 Direct. While the event will be filled with news of games that will be coming to Switch 2, presumably at launch and after, Metroid Prime 4 is said to not be one of these titles. Assuming that this rumor is accurate, it raises questions about when Nintendo will choose to share more details about MP4 in advance of its release in 2025.

On one hand, this rumor makes a fair amount of sense given that Metroid Prime 4 has only been announced to come to the original Nintendo Switch. While past rumors have suggested that the game would be cross-gen for Switch and Switch 2, this might not end up being the case after all. As such, Nintendo choosing to leave it out of its Switch 2 presentation would be a logical one.

Alternatively, Nintendo could look to highlight Metroid Prime 4 at a showcase happening this week. While there currently isn’t any Direct or presentation slated to transpire in the coming days, recent rumors have indicated that Nintendo is planning an event of some sort to take place in advance of its Switch 2 Direct. If this is accurate, it would mean that said presentation would have to be announced quite soon and would presumably happen tomorrow or Thursday. A showing of Metroid Prime 4 at this point would be feasible as it would allow next week’s event to focus entirely on Switch 2 exclusive games.

For now, the only thing we know with absolute certainty about Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is that it’s slated to arrive on Nintendo Switch at some point in 2025. Whether or not it’s a cross-gen game with Switch 2 remains to be seen, but if nothing else, it should be playable on the new version of the console thanks to its backward compatibility with the Switch library.

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Nintendo Switch 2 will be officially unveiled during a special Nintendo Direct presentation next week. Since January, Nintendo has kept a tight-lip on any details related to the new platform, but it seems some leaks are starting to take place. According to a report from Insider Gaming, Nintendo Switch 2 will launch sometime in June. That’s not too surprising, as fans have speculated for months that a launch might happen in May or June, since special hands-on experiences will be taking place throughout the month of April. The bigger part of the report reveals Nintendo’s software strategy throughout 2025.

According to sources Insider Gaming spoke to at this year’s Game Developers Conference, Nintendo is planning a “three-phase strategy” for software. The first phase is the system launch, and the line-up will consist “primarily” of first-party games. In the past, Nintendo has focused on one major first-party game at launch, typically accompanied by a smaller game that takes advantage of the system’s hardware; in the case of Switch, the system launched alongside The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and 1-2-Switch, as well as the digital exclusive Snipperclips. However, there were some third-party games, including Super Bomberman R and Just Dance 2017.

The use of “primarily” seems to imply that we’ll see some third-party games during Nintendo Switch 2’s launch, just not on a major level. Apparently, bigger third-party games are part of the second planned phase. Insider Gaming notes that many third-party developers are waiting on dev kits for the system, and expect to have them in-hand in June. The plan is to have bigger third-party games during that window. This is potentially when we can expect to see rumored games that have skipped releasing on Switch, such as Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Final Fantasy VII Remake. However, this is just speculation.

The third and final phase of 2025 is the holiday window. No details have been revealed, but we can likely expect to see some kind of big exclusive in this time frame. In the launch year for the original Switch, this is when Nintendo dropped Super Mario Odyssey. There hasn’t been a full 3D Mario game since, and fans have speculated for months that Switch 2 will launch with a new Mario Kart, with a 3D Mario arriving at the end of the year. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe did not launch alongside the original Switch, but it did release just a few weeks later.

RELATED: Bizarre Nintendo Direct Rumor Claims a Presentation Is Happening This Week

At this time, readers should take all of this with a grain of salt. However, it does seem to line up with Pocketpair’s recent comments at GDC; the game’s community manager told IGN that he was trying to find out specs for the new system, but was unable to get any details. That would make sense if dev kits aren’t being sent out for a few more months. With the April 2nd Nintendo Direct just over a week away, we should know a lot more about what to expect in the very near future.

What games are you expecting to see at launch for Nintendo Switch 2? How do you feel about this strategy from Nintendo? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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On Wednesday, April 2nd, a long-awaited Nintendo Direct will take place, focused on Nintendo Switch 2. The Direct was announced all the way back in January, and fans have spent the last 2 months wondering if we might get a presentation sooner based on the current Switch system. After a constant stream of false rumors about a Nintendo Direct in February, all hope seemed to be lost. In a bizarre turn of events, a new rumor claims that we’ll be getting a Nintendo Direct on Wednesday, March 26th, exactly one week before the Nintendo Switch 2 presentation.

While this all sounds very unlikely, the rumor comes from a Chinese insider (via the Gaming Leaks and Rumours subreddit) that leaked much of the information from a Nintendo Direct that took place last June. This source accurately noted several games that ended up in the presentation, including Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, and Super Mario Party Jamboree; the latter 2 games were not announced prior to the event. This source posted on Sunday that “we’ll see a NS1 direct meeting in 3 days.” That alone would be pretty notable, but as Reddit posters have pointed out, the leaker Ninspider also seemed to be hinting at something on the Famiboards earlier this month.

Now, obviously all of this should be taken with a huge grain of salt. A Nintendo Direct one week before the Switch 2 presentation seems very unlikely. However, as Reddit posters have noted, it’s not unthinkable that Nintendo could release a Nintendo Direct Mini, or a Partner Showcase focused on games coming to the current Switch console. Following the release of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition last week, the future of the current Switch is pretty hazy. A smaller showcase this week could establish what else fans can expect to see this year. It could also reassure those that don’t plan on upgrading to the new system right away.

If some kind of Nintendo presentation really is happening this week, we don’t have to wait much longer to find out. In all likelihood, anything shown wouldn’t be on the same scale as anything coming out of next week’s Switch 2 presentation. If anything, it would give Nintendo a chance to reveal smaller things that are in the works, like the long-rumored remaster of Kirby: Planet Robobot. It would also give partners like Sega and EA a chance to share some news.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch Online Reveals New Batch of Freebies

Given the current Nintendo Switch install base, it’s a safe bet that we’ll still see plenty of games released for the system. It’s worth noting that 3DS continued to see strong support in the launch year of Switch; 3DS games like Hey! Pikmin and Metroid: Samus Returns both launched months after Switch was already on the market. There were even ports like Luigi’s Mansion and Kirby’s Extra Epic Yarn coming out 1-2 years after. Chances are, we’ll see the same happen with Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. It’s not totally unthinkable we could get hints about future plans this week, even if it does seem unlikely!

Do you think we’ll actually get a Nintendo Direct this week? Are there any games you’re still expecting to see on the current Switch? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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The Nintendo eShop has a Nintendo Switch game that normally costs $50 to buy on sale for just $5. This is thanks to a massive and limited time discount that cuts the price of the Nintendo Switch Game by 90 percent until April 3. To this end, this is the cheapest the game has ever been on the Nintendo eShop. Meanwhile, the Nintendo eShop is the only digital storefront where the game has been discounted. On Steam, the Xbox Store, and the PlayStation Store the game is currently full price. And it’s never been cheaper than this $5 price point on any of these other platforms before. Suffice to say, it’s a noteworthy deal for a noteworthy game.

The Nintendo Switch game in question released back in 2019, and is set to get a sequel later this year, making the timing of this Nintendo eShop deal perfect as it gives Nintendo Switch users plenty of time to check out the game before its follow up arrives.

More specifically, right now, via the Nintendo eShop, The Sinking City from Ukrainian developer Frogwares is only $4.99. The action-adventure game with H.P. Lovecraft-inspired horror elements released back in 2019 to somewhat middling review scores, however, it certainly garnered fans who really enjoyed it. It also went on to earn a nomination for Best Action and Adventure Game at The Independent Game Developers’ Association Awards that year.

“The Sinking City is an adventure and investigation game set in an open world inspired by the universe of H.P. Lovecraft, the master of Horror,” reads an official description of the Nintendo Switch game on the Nintendo eShop, for those unfamiliar with it. “The half-submerged city of Oakmont is gripped by supernatural forces. You’re a private investigator, and you have to uncover the truth of what has possessed the city… and the minds of its inhabitants.”

Those that decide to check out The Sinking City now that it is only $4.99 on the Nintendo eShop for a limited time will need to prepare 8.7 GB to download the game. In return, Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED users will receive a game that is about 20 to 32 hours long, depending on various factors such as completion rate.

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

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According to a new report, a popular Nintendo Switch game is getting a free upgrade on Nintendo Switch 2. This means that anyone who owns the game on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, or Nintendo Switch OLED will get the game for free on Nintendo Switch 2. That said, those that don’t own the game on any of the Switch consoles will have to buy the Nintendo Switch 2 version when it releases.

The new report comes the way of a fairly well known Nintendo insider and leaker that goes by Nash Weedle on social media platform X. In the past, the insider has proven reliable, and thus reputable, at least to an extent. In addition to proving reliable at times, the leaker has also been off the mark in the past as well. To this end, take the following information with a grain of salt.

According to the insider, one of 2016’s biggest games — and also its most controversial game at the time — is getting a free upgrade path on Nintendo Switch 2 in addition to a Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game. More specifically, this is reportedly the plan of Hello Games with No Man’s Sky.

Right now, No Man’s Sky costs $59.99 on Nintendo Switch. This will presumably be how much it costs on Nintendo Switch 2, unless the reported Nintendo Switch 2 games price increase comes to fruition. Even then though, it is unlikely Hello Games would charge max price for the 2016 port. Whatever the case, whether it charges $60 or $70, those who already own it will get this new version for free.

All of that said, this is assuming this new report is accurate. Hello Games hasn’t even announced No Man’s Sky for Nintendo Switch 2, let alone said it will be a free upgrade for those who own it on Nintendo Switch. We don’t expect it to comment on the report or the speculated it has created, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

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

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The Super Mario series has brought some critically acclaimed titles to Nintendo consoles over the past few decades. We’ve been fortunate to get a few Mario games for the Nintendo Switch, most notably Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. While we’re already getting a new Mario title on the highly-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 with Mario Kart 9, many Nintendo fans are looking forward to a new mainline installment to make its way to the console. This might seem like wishing upon a star, but it’s not too difficult to see the Nintendo Switch 2’s opportunity to bring a threequel we’ve been asking for years: Super Mario Galaxy 3.

In a galaxy not too long ago, 2007, Nintendo Wii players were introduced to Super Mario Galaxy. Mario has typically kept his journeys on the ground, so seeing his debut in a space-centered setting was exciting. The game still keeps the traditional rescue mission plotline, but elevates it to outer space, which changes the gameplay experience with the introduction of gravity. The movement changed how Mario moves around a stage, which can be a bit tricky to maneuver, but just like anyone defying gravity, you get used to it over time. To tie it all together, the outstanding soundtrack, impeccable level design, and fun gameplay mechanics created a masterpiece. Sequels to Super Mario games are pretty rare to come across but given its success, Super Mario Galaxy 2 was released in 2010, which was also met with universal acclaim.

RELATED: New Super Mario Nintendo Switch 2 Games May Surprise Fans This Year

Something special about these two installments is the creativity. Ambition is the only word that I could think of when trying to identify these two games. The gravity mechanic stemmed from a testing demo that Nintendo was originally going to have in a new Super Mario 64 sequel. While that game never moved forward, the technology for the game was used in the Super Mario Galaxy series. We’ve seen glimpses of this element in the latest mainline installments, but Galaxy delivered an experience centered around it, which changed the traditional gameplay and flipped it upside down.

Super Mario Galaxy 2 continued the genius stroke of Nintendo’s former installment but brought new gameplay elements and innovative level designs that utilized the gravity aspect to its advantage. From flying around as Bee Mario/Luigi in the Honeyhive Galaxy to rolling around as Rock Mario/Luigi in the Boulder Bowl Galaxy, the essence of the former Super Mario titles can be found within this game. Super Mario Galaxy paved the way for future installments to be ambitious with their interpretations and to continue bringing new and exciting ways to play.

While we can say that Super Mario Odyssey was a great way of utilizing the Nintendo Switch to its full advantage, Galaxy did the same for the Wii with the Nunchuck and motion sensors. Interactivity has always been a staple in the Mario series but Super Mario Galaxy delivered an experience that lets two players tackle a level together, with one playing Mario and the other collecting star bits. This same cooperative experience could fare well with a potential Super Mario Galaxy 3 on the Nintendo Switch 2 with its Joy-Cons.

Fans have been asking for a third installment for a long time, with many thinking at one point that it would be a launch title for the Nintendo Switch. While Super Mario Galaxy 3 would be a dream come true, the Nintendo Switch 2 currently has no mainline Mario games going to the console yet. Seeing how the Switch 2 could advance the motion controls and gameplay experience, it would be wise to take advantage of the opportunity to bring a beloved series to the new console with Super Mario Galaxy 3.

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Nintendo has announced the Nintendo Switch Online app on the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED consoles is being updated with four new free games on March 28. And this time, the Nintendo Switch Online games update brings with it all SNES games. Since Nintendo Switch Online launched back in 2018, Nintendo has frequently brought back much of the NES and SNES catalog, or at least much of the catalog not tied up in the abyss of licensing. It’s been doing this for several years, and consequently, the only games left for it to pull from the SNES library are deep cuts. To this end, all four SNES games being added next week are all deep cuts.

More specifically, Nintendo Switch Online is being updated with the following free SNES games next Friday: Nobunaga’s Ambition, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Lord of Darkness, Romance of the Three Kingdoms 4: Wall of Fire, and Uncharted Water: New Horizons. Suffice to say, those who are not fond of the SNES era Nobunaga’s Ambition games don’t have much to look forward to.

While some free Nintendo Switch Online games require the Expansion Pack tier of NSO, these free games do not. This is the case with all SNES games available via Nintendo Switch. Some retro consoles are locked behind the Expansion Pack tier, such as the N64, but the SNES is not one of these consoles.

Nintendo Switch Online is available for all Nintendo Switch users at two different price points: $20 a year and $50 a year. The former is the standard version of the subscription service while the latter is the Expansion Pack tier. Meanwhile, for those that don’t know how it works, any game downloaded for free via Nintendo Switch Online only remains accessible with an active NSO subscription. If your subscription lapses to NSO, you will lose access to all free games downloaded via it until said subscription is renewed.

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

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Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai has earned a stellar reputation during his decades in the video game industry. Sakurai’s work has made him a household name among gamers, and the director has made a concerted effort to share his experience and knowledge with the next generation of developers. The director used his YouTube channel for exactly that purpose, which was titled Masahiro Sakurai on Creating Games. Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs recognized Samurai’s work on that channel, awarding him with the Art Encouragement Prize earlier this month. Following the ceremony, Sakurai participated in an interview with Japanese outlet Entax (translated by Automaton).

During the interview, Sakurai stressed “that the ideal would be to make games the way you like, as those who agree with you will enjoy them.” A big part of that theory is that Japanese developers should make games that appeal to Japanese audiences, rather than trying to pursue trends that are popular in other regions. While that might sound like common sense, it’s important to note that certain developers and publishers spent years doing just that after their games found big success outside Japan. Sakurai referred to this trend as “making Americanized works.”

Perhaps one of the best examples of this trend is Capcom. In a recent interview with IGN, several developers at the company talked about their failed attempts at pursuing what they assumed to be the demands of the “Western games market.” The company eventually realized that these efforts weren’t working, and decided to work “towards making good games that would reach people from all over the world,” as Devil May Cry director Hideaki Itsuno put it.

Sakurai says that “as an industry trend, I think Japanese people should keep pursuing the things that Japanese people like.” Clearly, there’s a lot of room for different styles in the video game industry, based on how successful many of the director’s games have proven over the years. Looking back 26 years ago, the idea of a fighting game featuring Nintendo mascots would have been unthinkable, and now the Super Smash Bros. series is a consistent seller for Nintendo, and one of the company’s biggest success stories.

RELATED: Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Director Reveals All the Work That Went Into Adding Sora from Kingdom Hearts

Passing on his knowledge to the next generation of developers is something that Sakurai has taken a lot of pride in, and it has clearly taken up a lot of his time over the last few years. The director has now shifted his focus to his next gaming project, though it hasn’t been confirmed what it will be. Many fans are expecting a follow-up to Super Smash Bros. Ultimate on Nintendo Switch 2, but nothing has been confirmed at this time. With a Nintendo Direct set to take place on April 2nd, it’s possible we could learn about Sakurai’s plans on that day.

How do you feel about Sakurai’s comments? Do you think the director is working on a new Smash Bros. game? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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The Nintendo Switch 2 release date may have been revealed by a new rumor, and if this rumor is accurate, the Switch 2 release date is not very far away. The first ever Nintendo Switch 2 Direct is set to go down next month on April 2, and the expectation is the Nintendo Switch 2 release date could be revealed, especially if the console is going to release in the first half of the year. Ahead of this, some retailers may be preparing for this release date to come sooner rather than later.

The rumor comes the way of a dubious source, but is nonetheless starting to make the rounds. More specifically, a Nintendo Switch 2 Reddit user, claims retailers in Poland have begun to sell Nintendo Switch games at cheaper prices than normal in order to make room for new inventory. Of course, there is no reason to prepare for more Nintendo Switch inventory as the console is on its last legs and slowing dramatically. More than this, shop layouts are starting to be changed, which often happens when new hardware is released. To this end, something similar happened with the release of the Nintendo Switch in 2017.

The implication here is, of course, these shops are moving out Nintendo Switch inventory and changing layouts to make room for the Nintendo Switch 2. If this is the case, it would point to a May or early June release date for the console, which some rumors have previously suggested.

For what it is worth, while an anonymous Reddit user is not the best source, they are not the only source to report this. That said, right now there is nothing concrete, just whispers of something happening. And even if there is indeed something be prepared for May, it doesn’t mean it has anything to do with the Nintendo Switch 2 or its release.

All of this is to say, take everything here with a grain of salt. All we have right now are rumors and speculation about the Nintendo Switch 2 release date, not official information. As you would expect, Nintendo — who rarely comments on rumors and speculation — has not said a peep about anything above. We do not suspect this will change, but if it does, we will update the story accordingly.

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

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In the Switch era, Nintendo has found a lot of ways to celebrate new video game releases. One way has been through new profile icons via Nintendo Switch Online. Basically, if you’re a subscriber to the service, you can access exclusive icons that are given away for a limited time, and must be acquired through the use of Platinum points. Nintendo Switch has a new video game set to be released on March 20th, and once again the company will celebrate in this same way. The game in question is Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, and fans can expect to see batches of the icons released across the next 4 weeks.

The first batch of Xenoblade Chronicles X profile icons should arrive on March 19th (today) at 17:00 PT. Over the last few weeks, Nintendo has given subscribers a second chance at icons based on the original Xenoblade Chronicles, and those will still be available to claim right up until 16:59 PT. The existence of these Xenoblade Chronicles X icons was revealed on Nintendo’s official Japanese website. The first batch has been confirmed to include Elma and the game’s key art, but there will be more available today beyond those 2. Each icon will cost 10 Platinum points, while backgrounds and frames should be available for 5 points.

Platinum points are free to obtain, and Nintendo offers a lot of opportunities for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers to stock up. Currently, the service has multiple missions that can be completed for easy Platinum points, including one task that rewards users just for playing Super Mario Bros. 3 via the NES app. That mission alone rewards 50 Platinum points, and another 30 can be obtained just for playing software that supports online play.

Xenoblade Chronicles X was originally released on Wii U, and the game’s arrival on Nintendo Switch this week has led to a lot of excitement. Wii U was one of Nintendo’s biggest commercial flops, and a lot of games released on the platform struggled to find an audience. Switch has been a much bigger success story, and the system’s massive install base should lead to more players discovering the game for the first time. Reviews for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition have been very positive, as well.

RELATED: Removed Nintendo Switch Game Returns to eShop With Permanent Price Drop

Nintendo Switch Online offers a handful of perks beyond free icons. Last year, the company released Nintendo Music, a free music streaming app that can be downloaded on mobile devices. This week, the service was updated with 3 new soundtracks that can be streamed: Tetris (NES), Tetris (Game Boy), and Dr. Mario (NES). This week would have seemed like the perfect opportunity to add the soundtrack for Xenoblade Chronicles X, or any other games in the series for that matter. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, but it’s possible we could see some of that music added later in the month.

Are you planning to snag any of these free profile icons? Would you like to see the Xenoblade soundtracks added to Nintendo Music? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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The final SNES game that was released for the Nintendo console is being remade in the modern era for modern platforms. The Super Nintendo Entertainment System — as it is formally called — was released by Nintendo in 1990, but only in Japan. It didn’t come to the United States until 1991. That said, despite one less year on the market, it sold more in the North America than any other region of the world.

The height of the SNES was no doubt between 1990 and 1996, the latter of which was the year it was replaced with the N64. By the time the late 90s came around, the SNES was rarely getting any new games. Yet, the final SNES game ever released didn’t come out until 2013. That game is a run n’ gun action game called Nightmare Busters, which was developed by Arcade Zone and Super Fighter team. The game began development in 1994, but wasn’t released until 2013, 14 years after the SNES was discontinued in 1999. What happened to the game? Well, it was going to be distributed by Sony, but once Sony released the PlayStation, after its relationship with Nintendo dramatically went up in flames, it stopped publishing games on Nintendo platforms. And so the game lost its publisher, and the developer had to soon shut down unable to publish the game.

In 2013, after the project was revived, it made its way onto the market as the final SNES game ever released. This was 15 years after the previously final SNES game was released, Frogger, in 1998.

In 2021, it was announced the game was being remade, and now we know a reveal trailer is coming soon. We also know it will be available on PC, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation consoles when it releases, though when this will happen, remains to be seen.

“Inspired by the great names of arcade gaming, Nightmare Busters Rebirth immerses players in a stunning universe where the supernatural meets unbridled action,” reads an official blurb about the project. “Take control of Flynn and Floyd, two leprechaun brothers and nightmare hunters, as you journey through many environments and test your reflexes against relentless waves of enemies and devilish bosses! Combining intense gameplay, punchy action, and graphics that merge traditional hand-drawing techniques with modern tools, this 2D run-and-gun promises to thrill fans of the genre.”

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

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The hype for the Nintendo Switch successor began long before the Nintendo Switch 2 got its big, official reveal. Despite giving fans a first look at the console in January, Nintendo is still keeping many of the finer details to themselves. What we do know confirms that the Nintendo Switch 2 will support backwards compatibility with many, but not all, games from the original Nintendo Switch console. While this is good news for fans eager to keep playing their favorite titles, it may not be the best indicator of sales performance for the Nintendo Switch 2.

According to a new analyst report from Aldora’s Jost Van Dreunen, backwards compatibility could be part of what holds the Nintendo Switch 2 back at launch. Gamers can be slow to adopt new consoles due to the high cost of adding a new system, especially as early reports suggest that the Nintendo Switch 2 could have a price point around $500 or more. That’s why many console companies like to launch new consoles alongside a massive flagship title, to help encourage gamers to buy in early. As of now, we don’t know much about what shiny new games might be released alongside the Switch 2, but even so, whatever it is may not be enough to encourage buy-in.

According to Van Dreunen, the Nintendo Switch 2 offers only “relatively modest technical improvements” that will make gamers reluctant to pay up for its rumored hefty price tag. That, along with the fact that it may largely play the same games as a standard Nintendo Switch at launch, could lead consumers to hold off on buying the new console. Since Nintendo has only officially revealed a handful of new games for the Switch 2 so far, it does look like the launch could be lackluster without more to tempt players to a new system. None of these games are quite the massive properties like Legends of Zelda: Breath of Wild, though it’s possible Nintendo just hasn’t revealed their plans just yet.

Rumored Nintendo Switch 2 Specs Could Hold the Console Back

Though the full technical specs for the Nintendo Switch 2 haven’t been confirmed, leaks suggest that it will be more in line with prior-gen consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One. While this is a step up from the current Switch, which struggles to run modern games, it still lags behind current consoles. If this proves true, gamers may well opt to stick with their current system or upgrade to something with a bit more processing power than the Switch 2.

Right now, the Nintendo Switch family of systems has a few key things keeping players hooked in. One, the exclusivity of certain Nintendo games, including the Mario franchise and mainline Pokemon games. Second, it has something of a unique model in this day and age, with the ability for gamers to use it as a handheld console or dock for bigger screen play. Given that PlayStation and Xbox have let their attempts at handheld consoles fall by the wayside in recent years, Nintendo Switch has had relatively little competition in this regard. But with the Steam Deck rising in popularity and rumors of an Xbox handheld on the way, that could change for the Nintendo Switch 2.

RELATED: Nintendo eShop Teases Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive Games

For now, much remains up in the air about the Nintendo Switch 2. So while some analysts think backwards compatibility and outdated hardware might hold it back, Nintendo could still have a few Nintendo Switch 2 surprises on the way.

Are you planning to get a Nintendo Switch 2 on release day, or will you wait to see what the new game lineup looks like? Let us know in the comments below!

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Pokemon LEGO sets will be coming out next year. After a leak appeared online, LEGO and The Pokemon Company have now officially announced a collaboration between the 2 companies. A teaser trailer has been revealed, which shows Pikachu’s distinctive tail being built out of yellow and brown LEGO bricks, while generating a whole lot of electricity. A full build isn’t shown, but the teaser ends with the LEGO and Pokemon logos appearing. Unfortunately, that doesn’t give us much information, but that should be more than enough to get fans excited.

Obviously, this collaboration is still pretty far away, and we don’t know how far into 2026 the first sets will appear. As such, it’s hard to say when we might get a look at what’s in store. That’s not too unusual for LEGO, though. The company announced a LEGO version of the Game Boy back in January, and the set has still not been fully revealed yet. Readers can find the full teaser in the Reddit post embedded below.

While Nintendo and LEGO have been working together over the last few years, The Pokemon Company exists as a separate entity, with its own partnerships and collaborations. The Pokemon Company has worked with Mattel for a long time, resulting in a plethora of Mega Bloks sets based on the franchise. From smaller builds of individual Pokemon, to a replica of the Pokedex, Mega Bloks has taken great advantage of the license. However, it seems that partnership will soon come to an end, and LEGO will be getting the rights to make building sets based on the brand.

Unfortunately, there’s no way of knowing what to expect from LEGO. It’s possible we could see a bunch of options in the BrickHeadz line, or we could see actual sets and Minifigs. There are a lot of great locations from the Pokemon games that could be replicated, from Pokemon Centers modeled after their appearances in specific games, to iconic buildings like Prism Tower from Pokemon Legends: Z-A. We could even get a creepy build based on Lavender Town’s Pokemon Tower, complete with sound effects from Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow. Another possibility is that we could see pixel-inspired builds, similar to LEGO’s excellent Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set.

RELATED: Pokemon Go Players are Fuming After Niantic Admits Shiny Pokemon Encounter Mistake

While Mattel has done a pretty nice job with the Pokemon brand, it seems like there are a lot of Pokemon fans excited to see what LEGO does with the brand. When it comes to building toys, there’s a reason they’ve built such a strong reputation, and it’s exciting to see what’s in store. 2026 happens to be the 30th anniversary of the Pokemon brand, and while that’s still a long way away, it already looks like it’s shaping up to be a very big year.

What Pokemon LEGO sets are you hoping to see? Are you happy to see the brand switch hands? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post LEGO Pokemon Sets Coming in 2026 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo’s Mario has been a household staple worldwide for decades with over 200 games. With installments like Super Mario Bros. Wonder and Mario & Luigi: Brothership continuing to keep Mario afloat, many are now anticipating the next Super Mario game and the upcoming Mario Kart 9 installment for the Nintendo Switch 2. While we ponder the many Mario games that have made their way to players over the past couple of decades, it’s surprising to know that there are 13 sequels to come out of the Mario franchise. Many still ask whether certain Mario titles should get another installment, which brings us to one sequel that was in production but never made it to the public.

Considered one of the greatest games of all time, Super Mario 64 is the best-selling Nintendo 64 game for a good reason. Praised for its visuals, level design, and enticing gameplay, many have cited Super Mario 64 as the heaviest influence on 3D platform games. While the game has amassed a cult-like following through its speedruns and Nintendo console ports, there was no question that Nintendo kept an eye on the critically acclaimed title as a potential candidate for a sequel.

In fact, there was set to be a direct sequel to Super Mario 64, which was only referenced as Super Mario 64-2. In an interview in 1997 with The 64DREAM, Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto discussed that Super Mario 64-2 was in development with hopes of releasing the title for the N64DD. For anyone who knew about the Nintendo 64DD, the magnetic disk drive was a commercial failure in the Japanese market as it was sold through a subscription service. Before the product went to consumers, Super Mario 64-2 was early in production and was set to feature Luigi and Yoshi. It was planned for this installment to be multiplayer, as it was reported that the first playable demo level was two-player.

RELATED: Nintendo Surprises Fans With Super Mario 64 Freebie

With the failure of the N64DD and a lack of progress with the title, Super Mario 64-2 was canceled. While we might never see the game’s potential, some of the elements from the development process were salvaged and reportedly used in Super Mario Sunshine, Super Mario Galaxy, and Super Mario Galaxy 2. Speaking of Galaxy, a tech demo of another Super Mario 64 sequel at the Nintendo Space World 2000 event was showcased, which featured sphere-walking.

The chances of getting a Super Mario 64 sequel now are essentially impossible, but it’s interesting to visualize what the game could’ve looked like. Which Mario title would you be interested in seeing a sequel for? Would you rather have a new Super Mario project than a sequel? Let us know in the comments down below!

The post Super Mario 64 Was Supposed to Have a Sequel appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of the best NES series is reportedly returning soon, likely with a new release on Nintendo Switch 2. The reason we say likely is because while the series has been teased to return, it has not been clarified if it will be via Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 or both consoles as a cross-gen release. Whatever the case, Nintendo fans will soon be able to revisit one of Nintendo’s oldest series that hasn’t received as much love in the modern era of Nintendo, assuming the intel is accurate.

The tease specifically comes the way of Nash Weedle, a fairly well known Nintendo insider and leaker. That said, while Nash Weedle has proven reputable in the past with specific rumors and leaks, they have also proven unreliable at times, so be sure to take everything below with a grain of salt.

The Nintendo leaker does not say much unfortunately, though what is said does have some interesting implications. More specifically, taking to social media platform X, Nash Weedle recently teased the following: “the next Donkey Kong game won’t leave you indifferent.”

Now, it’s worth nothing this tease comes through translation so it is possible some vital context or meaning is lost, but at surface level it is an interesting tease that seems to suggest either the game is going to be great or bad, presumably the former as Nintendo rarely ships a flat out bad game.

Of course, while many will know Donkey Kong as nothing more than a character that pops up in Mario games, but he actually predates the Italian plumber. Technically, the series got its start on arcade machines, but many were not introduced to Donkey Kong until the NES era. Some may even argue Donkey Kong is more of an SNES series as it evolved more into what it is today with the release of Donkey Kong Country. That said, there is no denying Donkey Kong games were a staple of the NES, though if there is a new Donkey Kong game it’s certainly going to be more in line with the modern iteration of Donkey Kong rather than the NES era of Donkey Kong.

As Donkey Kong fans will know, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard rumblings of a new Donkey Kong game in the works. There have been these rumblings for a few years now, but not in a while.

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

The post Return of One of the Best NES Series Teased by Leaker appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One Nintendo DS game that was released in 2011 has seen its value shoot up by twice as much since the beginning of the year. although it was a bit later in the platform’s lifespan, 2011 was a pretty strong year for the Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS Lite, and Nintendo DSi family of handhelds. Within the calendar year, DS games like Pokemon Black and White, Radiant Historia, Kirby Mass Attack, Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, and Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation were all released on the platform and were quite well-received. And while some of these games in question have remained pricey to obtain in the years since, it’s one DS title that has recently seen a major spike in cost.

Since the start of 2025, the Capcom-published game Okamiden has seen an enormous surge in price. For over a decade, the handheld spin-off in the Okami series has remained fairly inexpensive and has gone for anywhere between $15 and $30 at resale. As of this year, though, that has quickly changed as Okamiden is now selling on average for $94 and could soon go even higher. While this doesn’t yet make it one of the most expensive games on the Nintendo DS, it is a stark change from just mere months prior.

When it comes to the reason behind this price increase for Okamiden, it seems to be directly correlating with the announcement of the Okami sequel. At the end of 2024, Capcom revealed that it was working on a new Okami entry with a brief teaser trailer. It was stressed that work on this project was still in the early stages, which means that Okami 2 (or whatever the game’s official title will be) is still years off. Still, the simple fact that it’s in development seems to have prompted renewed interest in Okami as a whole, which has led to Okamiden now being highly sought after.

Related: Nintendo Switch 2 Report Reveals Massive Launch Game

What will be interesting to follow is whether or not Okamiden will continue to cost this much at resale for the long term, or if its value will start to plummet back to where it once was. Based on data from VGChartz, Okamiden only ever sold a little more than 200,000 copies in North America when it was released in 2011. As a result, there aren’t many units of the game in circulation which suggests that this could remain its new resale cost for good. If you already have Okamiden in your collection, count yourself lucky.

The post Nintendo DS Game From 2011 Has Doubled in Price in Mere Months appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s no secret that Pokemon cards are hard to come by right now. Between fans that genuinely want the cards, and resellers looking to profit, it’s not unusual to see fights breaking out at retailers when new products become available. That’s exactly what seems to have happened at a Costco in Toronto, when a fight broke out between a bunch of people after Pokemon Scarlet & Violet 151 tins were restocked. The fight has gone viral across social media, and there’s even a version of the video that adds the battle music from Pokemon Red and Blue.

At the start of the video, one of the men seems like they’re trying to bring some reason to the situation, saying “it’s Pokemon, it’s Pokemon.” However, cooler heads do not prevail, and a fight starts to break out. One participant even tries their best Hitmonlee impression, attacking with a jump kick. The fight can be seen in the Bluesky post embedded below, but readers should be cautioned that there is some strong language throughout.

Costco stores sell exclusive sets of Pokemon Scarlet & Violet 151 Mini Tins. The sets come with 5 tins and 4 promo cards, and normally retail for $39.99. However, a quick glimpse at eBay shows several listings priced at $100 or more after shipping. Fans that want to have these for their own collection can’t be blamed for feeling frustrated, and social media has been inundated lately with fans sharing frustration over not being able to find Pokemon cards. It’s perfectly normal for collectors to feel irritated about how things have been playing out, but some are clearly taking it better than others!

The Pokemon Company is well aware of the issues that have surrounded TCG products. Back in January, it addressed similar shortages related to Pokemon Scarlet & Violet – Prismatic Evolutions, another set that has been very difficult to obtain. In that statement, The Pokemon Company said that it’s “actively working to print more of the impacted Pokemon TCG products as quickly as possible and at maximum capacity.”

RELATED: Pokemon Scarlet & Violet – Journey Together Prerelease Event Announced

With a new Pokemon set coming out later this month, it remains to be seen whether there will be similar issues when it comes to stock. It’s worth noting that both Prismatic Evolutions and 151 are considered “special expansions,” which means that traditional card packs are not sold individually in stores. Because of this, the only way to obtain them is through special boxed sets, or with other products. That makes it harder for stores to keep a lot of stock, and makes it easier for them to be flipped on the secondary market. Thankfully, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet – Journey Together is different in that regard, which should make finding the cards slightly easier.

Are you frustrated by the shortage of Pokemon TCG products lately? Has it surprised you to see people resorting to fights over the cards? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Pokemon TCG Restock Goes Wrong as Video Shows Fight Break Out in Costco Parking Lot appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The status of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is one of the biggest mysteries surrounding Nintendo right now. The game is slated to be released in 2025, but we know very little else at this time. There has been a lot of speculation that the game will be coming to Nintendo Switch 2, and it seems that might very well be the case. In a post on X/Twitter, podcaster Reece “KiwiTalkz” Reilly indicated that a “true unveiling” for the game will be coming in the month of April, which is when a Nintendo Direct focused on Nintendo Switch 2 will take place.

“In less than a month in the Switch 2 direct you’ll see that Nintendo & Retro were keeping their cards close to their chest with Metroid Prime 4 for this exact moment. The true unveiling will blow everything else in the direct out of the water,” Reilly wrote in a post on X/Twitter.

In the remaining weeks leading up to the Switch 2 Direct, we’re guaranteed to see a lot of speculation, rumors, and possibly even legitimate leaks. Readers are going to want to take anything we see with a grain of salt. However, it’s worth noting that Reilly has a lot of connections with people that have worked at Retro Studios over the years; the podcaster has spoken to several former team members on a range of topics related to the series. It’s entirely possible Reilly has some insider knowledge about Metroid Prime 4 as a result. In a follow-up post, Reilly said he’s “90% certain” the game will appear in next month’s Nintendo Direct, but also noted that the company is “tweaking directs right down to the last minute,” so things could change.

If Metroid Prime 4 really is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, there’s still a very good chance that the game will be a cross-gen release, meaning that it will still be made available on the current Switch hardware. This would not be unprecedented, as we’ve seen this type of thing multiple times from Nintendo. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was first revealed as a GameCube game, and ended up being released as a Wii launch game. The exact same thing happened with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was first announced for Wii U, and then became the major launch game for Nintendo Switch. In both those cases, Nintendo still made sure the game was made available on the previous console.

RELATED: John Woo’s Metroid Movie Never Happened Thanks to Catwoman

If Metroid Prime 4 really is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, it will be interesting to see how the game takes advantage of the upgraded graphics and processing power of the system. It’s been a very long time since the game’s development was rebooted under Retro Studios, and even longer since the game was first announced. Hopefully the wait will have been worth it, and it really will be everything Reilly claims. The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct will take place on April 2nd, so we should get our answers soon.

Are you looking forward to Metroid Prime 4: Beyond? Do you think it will be released on both the original Switch and Nintendo Switch 2? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Metroid Prime 4’s “True Unveiling” Teased for Nintendo Switch 2 Direct appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new Mario Kart game for the Nintendo Switch 2 was revealed alongside the console back in January. Based on this reveal, the current expectation is that the new Mario Kart game is the big Nintendo Switch 2 launch game set to release with the console. A recent report claims this isn’t true though. More specifically, the report claims that the new Mario Kart game will not be a Nintendo Switch 2 launch game.

The report comes the way of Nintendo insider Samus Hunter on X, a source that has proven reliable in the past. The insider does not say much about the new Mario Kart game, such as when it will release, but they note it will not be available at the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.

Considering it was the one and only game revealed alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 it would be surprising to see the new Mario Kart not available at the release of the console. However, Nintendo may be looking to repeat what it did with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which injected huge life into the Nintendo Switch back in 2017 a month after the console launched. This gave the Nintendo Switch a second major release after the launch window, in a quick turn around, and proved successful for the game as well as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe went on to sell like hotcakes.

All of that said, take this new information with a grain of salt, especially since it bucks expectation so hard. The source in question has proven reputable in the past, but this is still very much unofficial information. And so far Nintendo has not commented on it. Considering it never comments on rumors, and considering it’s not going to disclose information about the release of this new Mario Kart, we don’t expect this to change. If it does comment though we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

For more Mario Kart coverage, both on the upcoming game and previous games — including all of the latest Mario Kart news to all of the latest Mario Kart rumors and leaks — click here.

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A Nintendo Switch 2 report has revealed a massive launch game that will be available alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 right at release. The Nintendo Switch 2 release date remains a mystery, and the new report does not shed light on this mystery. The expectation is the Nintendo Switch 2 will release this year but when this year is anyone’s best guess. Meanwhile, what the Nintendo Switch 2 launch lineup is also remains a complete mystery. To date, only eight games have been confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2, and none of these confirmed games have been confirmed as launch titles.

The report specifically comes the way of a well known Nintendo leaker that goes by Samus Hunter on X. While the leaker does not have a bulletproof record of reliability, they have had several accurate reports over the years pertaining to Nintendo.

According to the leaker, the major Nintendo Switch 2 launch game is not going to be the new Mario Kart that was revealed alongside the console nor a new 3D Mario like some rumors have suggested. Rather, it is claimed the long-awaited Metroid Prime 4 will be the major Nintendo Switch 2 game at launch.

Metroid Prime 4 was first announced for the Nintendo Switch all the way back in 2017. Then in 2019, Nintendo announced the game had restarted development. Then after five years of silence Nintendo resurfaced last year with the game and a new title for it, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. At the time, Nintendo announced a 2025 release date for the game, and it hasn’t provided any more specificity since.

The report does not provide any information if the game is still coming to Nintendo Switch alongside Nintendo Switch 2, but that is presumably the plan. It’s far too late to cancel the game for Nintendo Switch. To this end, this is exactly what Nintendo did with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which was originally only announced for the Wii U, but ended up being a cross-gen release at the launch of the Nintendo Switch.

All of that said, remember to take everything here with a grain of salt. This is new report comes for a fairly good source, but it is still nothing more than a report. In other words, it is not official information. So far, it has not drawn out Nintendo for comment and we don’t expect this to change for many reasons. If it does though, we will update the story with whatever is provided.

For more Nintendo Switch 2 coverage — including everything between the latest official Nintendo Switch 2 news to the latest unofficial Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks — click here.

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The Nintendo eShop has a $2 deal for a Nintendo Switch game that normally costs $40. This $38 in savings is thanks to a massive 95 percent discount. This deal, which is exclusive to the Nintendo eShop, is only available for a limited time. More specifically, this Nintendo eShop deal is only available until April 3. After this, the 95 percent discount will vanish and the Nintendo Switch game will return back to its normal price point of $40. This is notably the cheapest this game has ever been on Switch. And it has only ever been cheaper than this on Steam, where it has been $1.74 in the past. It has never been cheaper than $1.99 on any console.

The game in question debuted back in 2020, but it didn’t come to Nintendo Switch until 2021. Developed by CrazyBunch and published by Assemble Entertainment, the game is, for those that have not connected the dots, Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Dry Twice, a direct sequel to 2018’s Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Don’t Dry. These pair of games are notably the latest releases in the classic and controversial Leisure Suit Larry series that debuted all the way back in 1987.

Those interested in taking advantage of this deal should be prepared to clear 4.8 GB of space to download the game once purchased from the Nintendo eShop. For this, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED users will get a game that is roughly 14 to 17 hours depending on variables such as skill level, playstyle, and completion rate.

Is the game worth $2 on Nintendo Switch? Well, on Metacritic it has a solid score of 78. And this more or less lines up with various user reviews across the Internet. For example, on Steam 84 percent of user reviews rate the game positively.

On Nintendo Switch, Leisure Suit Larry – Wet Dreams Dry Twice supports all three modes of play that come with the console. Meanwhile, the following language options are supported: English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, and Spanish.

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

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Joy-Con Drift has been a common complaint of the Nintendo Switch era. Over the last 8 years, users have frequently complained that the controllers are prone to “drifting,” where the game or system responds to movement (like an in-game character walking) when pressure isn’t being applied to the control stick. It’s a frustrating issue when it comes up, and many are no doubt wondering whether steps will be taken to resolve the issue with the Joy-Cons used for Nintendo Switch 2. Right now, there’s no way of knowing for sure, but there is evidence to suggest Nintendo will be implementing a fix, and it comes from a pretty unlikely place.

The YouTube channel iFixit has shared a video breakdown of an Alarmo, Nintendo’s clock device that was released last year. In the video, it’s uncovered that Alarmo uses a Hall effect sensor and magnet. The purpose of this inclusion is for both accuracy and long-term quality support; this will help to ensure that the device’s dial continues to operate as intended over time.

So, what does this have to do with Nintendo Switch 2? As noted by The Verge, there are third-party controllers that use a similar method to avoid drift problems with their control sticks. It stands to reason that if Nintendo is willing to use this tech in its Alarmo clocks, the company is aware of the benefit it could have for the Joy-Cons, as well. Hopefully that really is the case, and we can expect to see controllers that have far fewer issues as a result.

So far, Nintendo has been tight-lipped on the changes that are being made to Switch 2. The system was officially unveiled back in January, in a short video teasing several changes. From that video, we know that the Joy-Cons will be increasing in size, and the inside buttons will be enlarged. The video also seemed to hint at an option to use the controllers in a manner similar to a PC mouse. However, that option has not been confirmed by Nintendo, as of this writing.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch 2 Could Feature a Welcome Improvement Over the Current System

We should learn a lot more about Nintendo Switch 2 next month, as there is a special Nintendo Direct presentation set to take place on April 2nd. At this time, we know nothing about what will be featured during the livestream, but we can probably expect to see some new games revealed, as well as the system’s features. Nintendo has been pretty quiet about Joy-Con Drift since the problem first became public, so we probably shouldn’t expect to see anything like Hall effect sensors mentioned. Instead, we’ll probably have to wait until channels like iFixit have a chance to do a similar breakdown for the new controllers. That said, this new revelation about Alarmo certainly bodes well!

Do you think we’ll see this technology implemented in the Switch 2 Joy-Cons? Have you had any controllers suffer from Joy-Con Drift? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Update: The English patch notes for Splatoon 3 have been added and can be seen down below.

Splatoon 3 is getting its first update in 2025 with some colorful patch notes and bug fixes. The 2022 third-person shooter game is the third installment in the Nintendo series, with Splatoon making a splash on the Wii U in 2015. After three years since its release, there has been no shortage of Splatoon 3 patch notes that have come to the Nintendo Switch game, with the latest being in November 2024. Splatoon 3 Version 9.3.0 will include adjustments to weapons, bug fixes, and Splatfest changes.

While the English patch notes are set to go live today, the Japanese patch notes have been released detailing the changes and fixes. The Splatoon 3 update will make changes to the performances of the main and special weapons as well as bug fixes dealing with player controls. Some issues are resolved in these patch notes including stage-expanding ink coverage in the Hammerhead Bridge, MakoMart, and Bluefin Depot.

RELATED: Splatoon 4 Is in the Works at Nintendo, Says New Rumor

To get a look at the new Splatoon 3 update, you can check out the full version 9.3.0 patch notes from Nintendo Support below.

Splatoon 3 Update Version 9.3.0 Patch Notes

Changes to Multiplayer

• Specifications for some main weapons have changed.

• Changed the performance of some special weapons

• Points required for some special weapons have been changed.

• In Bluefin Depot, moved the lamp that was on the bridge in the center of the stage to the top of the elevator.

Changes to Splatfests

• Terrain for Tricolor Turf War has changed in some stages.

Bug fixes

Fixes to Player Controls

• Made it so that, when a player uses Super Jump immediately after Squid Spawn, the phenomenon where sometimes an opponent’s attack was blocked immediately after landing will no longer occur.
• Fixed an issue where the controller rumbled when shots from the Luna Blaster, Luna Blaster Neo, and Order Blaster Replica hit terrain.
• Fixed an issue where, when shots from a Bloblobber or Bloblobber Deco touched a barricade and bounced off, the shots would not display properly on other players’ screens.
• Fixed an issue where, when a player with a splatling capable of storing a charge shot performed certain actions to use their sub weapon while storing a charged shot, the charged shot would not end.
• Fixed an issue where sometimes, when repeatedly performing dualie Dodge Rolls or splatana lunges while standing on the edge of an elevation difference, the player’s position would become greatly misaligned on other players’ screens and stay that way.
• Fixed an issue where sometimes, when the player touched the Rainmaker shield while charging using Reefslider, the Reefslider’s position would display as misaligned to other players.
  • With this fix, players will not be knocked back when charging using Reefslider, even if they touch the Rainmaker shield.
• Fixed an issue where sometimes, when a player made continuous stamp attacks with the Ultra Stamp, the interval between attacks would appear irregular to other players.
• Fixed an issue where sometimes, when a player in a bad wireless environment did a Super Jump immediately after using Triple Splashdown, their position would not display properly to other players.

Fixes to Multiplayer

• Fixed an issue in Undertow Spillway on Rainmaker mode where sometimes, when a player acquired the Rainmaker at the bottom of an elevation difference while dropping from the top of that elevation difference, the count would progress unintentionally.
• Fixed an issue in Mahi-Mahi Resort where sometimes, when the counterattack shot of the Ink Vac landed at the boundary between certain walls and the ground, it would disappear without exploding.
• Fixed an issue in Bluefin Depot where, from certain walls, it was possible to get into the opponents’ base using unintended methods.
• Fixed an issue in Lemuria Hub in Rainmaker mode where sometimes, when a player acquired the Rainmaker at the bottom of an elevation difference while dropping from the top of that elevation difference, the count would progress unintentionally.

The post Splatoon 3 Gets First New Update in 2025, Patch Notes Revealed appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new report has essentially confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 will bring back one major feature that was seen in both the Nintendo Switch and Wii U. While Nintendo has now properly unveiled the Switch 2, there’s still very little that we know about the console overall. Specs for the new Nintendo console have yet to drop and there’s a good chance that they won’t until closer to the Switch 2’s release. Fortunately, for those craving new information of any sort associated with the Switch 2, we finally have some new details to go by.

Based on a new filing from the FCC, some broad info on the Nintendo Switch 2 and its internals have come about. Specifically, it has been verified that near field communication (NFC) is going to once again be present in Switch 2. If you’re unaware of what NFC is, it’s the tech within the console that powers everything that has to do with Amiibo. This technology was introduced alongside Amiibo in the Wii U generation and was again put into the Switch. Now, it seems to once again be present in the Switch 2, which isn’t much of a shock, but at least puts to rest any doubts.

At this point, Amiibo have been around for over a decade as Nintendo released its first run of the figures all the way back in 2014. In the time since, Amiibo production hasn’t slowed down as Nintendo has continued to create numerous versions of the toy-like accessories based on franchises like Fire Emblem, Metroid, Monster Hunter, Super Mario, Splatoon, The Legend of Zelda, and Animal Crossing. Given how easy it likely is for Nintendo to create Amiibo and make a profit off of the figurines, it’s easy to see why it will remain a core component of the company’s business moving into the Switch 2 era.

As for when we might learn more about the Nintendo Switch 2, April 2nd is the day to circle on your calendar. On this date, Nintendo will be holding its next Direct presentation that will be dedicated entirely to the Switch 2 and (presumably) its games. Not only will this showing certainly confirm the Switch 2 release date, price, and launch lineup, but it should also be when Nintendo chooses to talk more about the tech at the heart of the device.

Until that time, though, be sure to stay tuned to our upcoming coverage here on ComicBook as we’ll be sure to keep updating you on all things related to the Nintendo Switch 2 as we learn more.

[H/T The Verge]

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Nintendo Switch 2 was revealed back in January, in a video showcasing some improvements over the current system. Unfortunately, that video did not offer a lot of information about the system’s features. In the weeks since, some additional hints have been gleaned from patents, offering some indication about the system’s capabilities. According to a U.S. patent published in February (discovered by Wccftech), Nintendo plans on making a big improvement to voice chat for the new system. If the patent is to be believed, the system will have OS voice chat, as well as proximity chat in certain games.

Actual voice chat options would be a very big improvement over the current Switch hardware. To use voice chat right now in games like Splatoon 3, users have to go through the Nintendo Switch mobile app. On top of being unnecessarily cumbersome, the current option is also terribly outdated. Nintendo always looks for ways to make sure that its platforms are safe for users of all-ages, but there’s a way to include voice chat without making Switch users jump through hoops. It’s long past time Nintendo improved on this option, and this is a good sign, if it proves to be accurate.

With that said, as with any patent, it’s advised that readers take all of this with a grain of salt, pending an official announcement. Over the years, companies like Nintendo and PlayStation have published patents for a lot of concepts and features that were considered but eventually abandoned. It’s a very common thing, and it’s easy to see patents and get excited about them, only to find out that the company moved away from that particular idea.

While Nintendo Switch has been a massive success over the last 8 years, there’s a lot of room for improvement. From voice chat, to the issues that have surrounded the notorious “Joy-Con drift.” Better graphics and processing power are always going to be the biggest draws for a new video game system, but hopefully we see lots of quality of life improvements that lead to a better gaming experience. One small improvement fans have been begging to see is the addition of themes, which were a feature on 3DS, but haven’t been included on Switch.

RELATED: New Mario Kart Makes Change to the Number of Racers

Chances are, we won’t learn about any of these potential options for a few more weeks. A Nintendo Direct presentation will take place on April 2nd, and will pull back the curtain on the new console. At this time, we don’t know what to expect from the livestream, but chances are, it’ll offer a closer look at new features, as well as new software. The only first-party game announced for the system right now is a new Mario Kart, but some third-parties have also offered hints at games that will appear. The number of announced games should significantly grow in the coming weeks!

Are you excited to learn more about Nintendo Switch 2 next month? Do you want to see improvements made to voice chat? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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Mario Day has arrived and is a celebration of the future and past of Nintendo’s mascot across numerous different games. Whether those be newer titles like Mario & Luigi: Brothership or older games such as Super Mario 64, there is no better time to dive back into the world of the Mario franchise than on March 10th. While most are keen to take advantage of the 24 mainline Super Mario games, several spin-offs have kept the Super Mario magic alive during the downtimes between the bigger installments. Many Nintendo fans swear by choices like Luigi’s Mansion or Super Mario RPG, but let’s not forget one of the true icons of the 1990s: Hotel Mario.

If you haven’t heard of it, you’re in luck because many will tell you that this Super Mario game isn’t the best example of the series’ overwhelming positive resume. Created for the Philips CD-i in 1994, Hotel Mario was developed by Philips Electronics after acquiring the rights to the Super Mario and Legend of Zelda games after its plans of bringing a CD-ROM add-on to the SNES failed. While Hotel Mario didn’t receive much traction or interest in North America since many weren’t playing the CD-i system, it has gained some attention over time due to its pixelated and cheesy cutscenes.

Hotel Mario continues the traditional storyline of Mario and Luigi going on a journey to rescue Princess Peach from Bowser, but it also has a twist. Bowser and his seven Koopalings have taken over the Mushroom Kingdom and have turned it into a Klub Koopa Resort, spanning seven hotels with one holding Peach inside. The gameplay is rather simple, as the goal is to close all the doors on each floor of the hotel. Each hotel has 10 stages except the final hotel, which has 15. Every hotel is different, spanning across different areas of the Mushroom Kingdom and honing in on the meta references to actual hotel chains across the globe. As you make your way through the floors via elevator, enemies will reopen the doors, making it more of a challenge than a simple walk in the park.

The animation of Hotel Mario is a work in progress, which is kind of enjoyable to watch. While many might think this game was a piece of toasted Sourpuss Bread, the gameplay and premise are quite fun. It’s a unique take on the traditional Mario game that wasn’t too ambitious but didn’t feel out of touch. Sure, maybe you’d much rather spend your days lounging at the High-ate Regency Hotel or Thump Castle Hotel, but there’s something cool about Hotel Mario’s style.

While only those with the CD-i can play Hotel Mario, many have stated that it would be cool to see it come to the Nintendo eShop or be a part of the Nintendo Switch Online titles, which has yet to add the CD-i. Looking past the uneasy script and cutscenes, Hotel Mario isn’t a bad game but perhaps a remodel could ease the troubles of the Nintendo guests.

The post One of the Strangest Mario Spin-Offs Isn’t as Bad as Nintendo Fans Remember appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Mario is one of the most notable video game characters in history, impacting over three generations worldwide with his red suit, blue overall, and iconic mustache. With over 24 mainline Mario titles, over a dozen appearances in several Nintendo titles such as the Super Smash Bros. series, and two Hollywood films, Mario is a monumental success. While Mario is still going strong with Mario Kart 9 on the way for the Nintendo Switch 2 and another animated Super Mario Bros. movie from Illumination next year, have you ever wondered where the name ‘Mario’ came from?

It’s no surprise some might not know how the Italian plumber got his name, considering he’s been a part of the pop culture scene for so long. Super Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto has previously noted that our overall-wearing protagonist was originally named Mr. Video, who was created to be a cameo character that could appear in any future Nintendo game. Mario was an unnamed figure in the Japanese version of the 1981 platformer Donkey Kong title, only referenced as ‘Jumpman’ in the English instructions manual. However, the localization of Donkey Kong led to the naming of the Italian plumber all thanks to a Washington landlord.

Nintendo of America’s warehouse was a rental leased by Mario Segale, a local Tukwila real estate developer. There are two stories about how Mario’s name was chosen, one of which was written in 1993’s Game Over, detailing a confrontation with Segale. During the development of Donkey Kong, Segale visited the warehouse to collect his overdue rent from then-president Minoru Arakawa, who promised to pay the rent eventually. Segale gave them more time to come up with the money, which led Arakawa and the team to change ‘Jumpman’ to Mario, in honor of his generosity.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch Online Adding Three Classic Game Boy Games

This story, however, was refuted by former Nintendo of America warehouse manager Don Jones. In 2012, Jones stated that the character was named Mario based on the fact that Segale reportedly never met the developers, and given his reclusive personality, the name Mario was given to the character as a joke. In any case, Segale went on to continue his real estate legacy while reportedly boasting to his grandchildren and friends that he was the inspiration behind the most iconic game characters of all time. In only one case did Segale mention his involvement, in which he said in a 1993 edition of The Seattle Times, “You might say I’m still waiting for my royalty checks.” Sadly, Segale passed away in 2018, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of many and the businesses of Tukwila, Washington.

Knowing the origins of Mario’s name, it’s interesting to think about how many other iconic gaming character’s names came to be. Are there any character names that you would like to know more about? Let us know in the comments section down below!

The post Mario’s Name Origin Is More Obscure Than You Would Think appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new Wonder Pick event has gone live in Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket. Starting today, players have a chance at snagging promo cards based on Snorlax and Manaphy. Part 1 of the event will run through March 23rd at 10:59 p.m. PT. As in past Wonder Pick events, players can expect to find Bonus Picks that do not require the use of Hourglasses. In addition to the 2 promo cards, players will also be able to get Shop Tickets, which can then be redeemed for items including 2 exclusive backdrops and 1 new cover.

The backdrops from this Pokemon TCG Pocket event include one option featuring a Futuristic Device, and another that shows Manaphy with Piplup. There’s also a cover featuring those same 2 Pokemon, but the design is slightly different; the cover features Manaphy and a Piplup trio holding pom poms and cheering, while the backdrop shows a Piplup in 3 of the corners and a Manaphy in the other. All of these items have a cost of 3 Shop Tickets each.

The promo cards for Manaphy and Snorlax feature the same moves as those already released in the Triumphant Light booster packs, so there isn’t anything too special about them. However, they do feature different art, and players might prefer having these new versions in their decks. The new backdrops should stand out when paired with accompanying full art cards; in particular, if you’ve managed to get a full art Piplup card, it looks very nice with the Manaphy and Piplup backdrop, while Mewtwo could work well with the Futuristic Device.

Since launching last year, Pokemon TCG Pocket has seen a number of distributions and events to keep players hooked. While opening packs and battling other players remains the main draw of the game, the developers have added a lot of other things to do, from Wonder Pick promotions to Drop events. These events have given players more to do, while also making it easier to build impressive collections without having to spend any money. Monetization of free mobile apps has often led to controversy, so it’s nice that players haven’t been forced to break the bank if they just want neat ways to display their in-game cards.

RELATED: Pokemon TCG Trademark Signals End of Scarlet and Violet Era

Pokemon TCG Pocket‘s Triumphant Light booster pack was released in the game at the end of February. At this time, we don’t know when to expect the next full expansion, but given the pace of releases that we’ve seen thus far, it’s a safe bet that we’ll see more cards added in April or May. That would fit well with the established pace, and give players a little bit of time to catch up on cards they haven’t uncovered just yet.

Are you excited to snag these new free items in Pokemon TCG Pocket? Do you enjoy it when the game does these Wonder Pick events? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

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The Super Mario Bros. franchise is nearing its 40th anniversary. While the games have changed drastically since those early NES days, one thing remains a staple of the series: Mario’s frequent use of power-ups. Over the years, Nintendo has introduced a lot of different abilities for Mario to use, with some being a lot more enjoyable than others. In honor of this year’s Mario Day, ComicBook has ranked the 7 best in the series, based on how effective they are at stopping Bowser’s forces and just how fun they are to use.

With so many Mario games having been released across four decades, there are a lot of power-ups that didn’t make the final cut for the list. Some are obvious (does anyone actually like the Mini Mushroom?), while other omissions might seem a bit more glaring. Every Mario fan is going to have their own personal favorites, but here are the ones we think are the best.

7. Boomerang Flower

Mario has had a lot of tools in his arsenal over the years, some of which are primarily used as offensive weapons, and others that help him to complete puzzles. The Boomerang Flower does both, giving Mario a weapon he can toss at foes and get right back. The real advantage of turning into Boomerang Mario is that it can reach those hard-to-get places.

6. Super Bell

The Super Bell might have been viewed as a joke by Donkey Kong in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, but it’s actually a great power-up. The Super Bell allows Mario and friends to turn into cats. These kitties have claws, and they can use them not only to attack enemies, but also to climb up walls and locate hidden objects and paths. Plus, it makes the characters look adorable, and that’s always a plus!

5. Elephant Fruit

Like the Super Bell, the Elephant Fruit from Super Mario Bros. Wonder gets points for the comical nature of its transformations; there’s something absolutely hilarious about the impact it has on Mario and the rest of the gang. However, it’s also a pretty helpful power-up. It’s not the best power-up introduced in the Nintendo Switch game, but it gives players a little bit of extra strength, and the ability to suck up water in their trunks.

4. Feather

In Super Mario Bros. 3, Mario gained the ability to fly and whack enemies using the Raccoon Suit and its powerful tail. Super Mario World refined that ability a bit with the addition of the Cape. The Feather offered the same offensive attacks, plus better flight options; Mario could easily sail over entire levels in the game! On top of all that, the yellow cape looks really snazzy, and it really puts the “super” in Super Mario.

3. Bubble Flower

Many of Mario’s best power-ups have appeared across multiple entries, but the Bubble Flower is a more recent addition to the series. The power-up stands out because of its versatility; not only can Mario use it to attack and trap his enemies, but it can also create platforms for the character to jump on. Out of all the new powers introduced in Super Mario Bros. Wonder, it’s one that could easily become a mainstay of the series.

2. Super Star

Since the original Super Mario Bros., Super Stars have been an iconic and irreplaceable part of the franchise. Not only because of the fact that it makes Mario invincible for a short window, but also because it’s such a joyous part of the series. The music is a big part of that, of course. The second that sped-up track begins to play, everyone knows it’s time to run as quickly as possible, knocking out any enemies in Mario’s path. The Super Star is so iconic that it played a major role in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, most notably its epic finale.

1. Fire Flower

Like the Super Star, the Fire Flower has been part of the series from the very beginning. While Nintendo has introduced countless power-ups in the decades since, there’s something very simple and effective about the Fire Flower and how it works in the games. The power is a huge benefit and it’s extremely simple to use; it even works against enemies in the water! It might not be as flashy as some of the later power-ups, but it’s a perfect example of how so many elements from the original Super Mario Bros. still hold up. Nintendo has added countless power-ups in the years since, and they remain a joy to use, but there’s nothing that beats the classics.

RELATED: The 7 Best Nintendo Systems of All-Time

With a new Nintendo console on the way, we can all rest assured that a whole bunch of new Mario games will be released. So far, we’ve only heard about a new Mario Kart, but we can likely expect to hear about the next 3D Mario game soon, possibly during April’s Nintendo Direct. Hopefully, the game will give Mario a bunch of new power-ups to use, alongside some returning favorites!

The post The 7 Best Super Mario Power-Ups of All-Time appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo Switch Online’s retro games catalog has been around for nearly six-and-a-half years at this point and offers a healthy selection of games from the NES, SNES, Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and Sega Genesis libraries. Countless Mario games populate the service; as is to be expected, you can find all of the classic Super Mario Bros. games and prominent spin-offs like Dr. Mario and Mario Kart 64 on the service. That said, some notable Mario games still haven’t come to Nintendo Switch Online.

In celebration of 2025’s Mar10 Day, I looked at all of the Mario games on offer through Nintendo Switch Online and noticed that some important games from the franchise’s history were still missing. These range from handheld reinterpretations of console classics to games that require SNES accessories that may be more emulateable on Nintendo Switch 2. Going forward, I hope to see the following five Mario games come to Nintendo Switch Online.

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe (Game Boy Color)

Super Mario Bros. Deluxe is one of the more fascinating Super Mario Bros. games to me because it was one of the earliest examples of Nintendo remaking a console classic for handheld, a trend that would continue over the coming decades with games like Super Mario 64 DS, Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3D. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe is mostly faithful to the NES game but does offer its own flair with features like a world map and challenge mode. In a Pokemon Gold and Silver-like twist, The Lost Levels is even unlockable after scoring enough points. Super Mario Bros. Deluxe is an important piece of this series’ history, and I believe it deserves to be preserved on Nintendo Switch Online.

Mario Paint (SNES)

Mario Paint is an iconic Mario spin-off that’s also pretty hard to port. This game lets players draw, color, create animations, and even compose simple music with the Super NES Mouse. It encouraged a generation of kids to create but has yet to be ported anywhere because it uses that mouse peripheral. While I’m happy that its legacy lives on through the Super Mario Maker series, now that the Nintendo Switch 2 seemingly has mouse-like functionality, I would love to see Nintendo bring Mario Paint to the SNES library in Nintendo Switch Online.

Mario is Missing! (SNES)

Mario is Missing! is fairly infamous at this point. It’s an educational game where players travel and learn more about places in the real world, such as Paris or Cairo, as Luigi searches for Mario after Bowser captures him. Originally released for MS-DOS, a version of the game was made for SNES. Although the game was licensed by Nintendo, the company does not tend to acknowledge these educational Mairo games nowadays. Instead, Nintendo should embrace this odd part of Mario’s history. I’d get a kick out of seeing Mario is Missing!, and potentially some other educational Mario games, come to Nintendo Switch Online.

Mario & Wario (Super Famicom)

Mario & Wario is probably the most obscure game on this list, as it was only ever released in Japan and requires the mouse peripheral. Still, it’s a surprisingly entertaining puzzle game where players must guide Mario, Peach, or Yoshi to an end-of-stage goal manipulating parts of the level so they can walk through without problem. Nintendo has shown a willingness to release Japan-only games like Sutte Hakkun in the North American version of Nintendo Switch Online. If Nintendo can emulate mouse functionality working on Switch 2 for Mario Paint, then it should also bring other mouse-exclusive games like Mario & Wario to the service.

Mario Pinball Land (Game Boy Advance)

Nintendo has a surprisingly storied history with pinball video games, and Mario even got one of his own. Mario Pinball Land was made for the Game Boy Advance in 2004 but isn’t considered to be very good. As such, this is yet another Mario game that Nintendo never really acknowledges. I think the retro game catalogs on services like Nintendo Switch Online should preserve the bad on those platforms just as much as they hold up the amazing classics. As such, a game like Mario Pinball Land still deserves a spot as part of the Game Boy Advance catalog on Nintendo Switch Online.

While the Nintendo Switch Online game catalog already seems very thorough, hopefully, this shows that there are still many ways Nintendo can choose to expand the subscription service’s offerings.

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Niantic has pulled back the curtain on a new Pokemon Go event, which will take place later this month. The Deep Depths event will kick-off on Wednesday, March 19th at 10 a.m., and will run through March 24th at 8 p.m. local time. The event will feature a few highlights, but the biggest is that the game will increase encounter rates for Shiny Clauncher. Best of all, there will be multiple ways players can find Clauncher throughout the event, including encounters in the wild, and through Egg Hatches. If you’ve never seen the Shiny version of Clauncher, this is one Shiny that’s well worth seeking out.

Some Shiny versions of Pokemon aren’t much different from the standard coloration; this weekend’s Pokemon Go Community Day featured Shiny Fuecoco, a Pokemon with colors slightly altered from the standard version. By contrast, Shiny Clauncher is significantly different from the standard Clauncher, abandoning its primary blue color for a deep orange. That blue does continue to appear in some form though, replacing the gold eyes, antennae, and the lower half of its right claw. Last but not least, the black stripes on the Pokemon are switched out for white. That color pattern continues for its evolved form, Clawitzer. The result is a striking Shiny, and one that Pokemon Go players are going to want to seek out if they can find it!

During the Deep Depths event, players can expect several in-game bonuses. The most notable of these is that all Eggs placed in Incubators during the event will have half the Hatch distance. That could come in handy for players hoping to Hatch a Shiny Clauncher! Players can also expect to see a Collection Challenge and PokeStop Showcases.

For those less invested in finding Shiny Pokemon, the Deep Depths event will still have plenty to look forward to. The event will see the arrival of Nickit and its evolved form, Thievul. Like Clauncher, Nickit will be found in the wild, and it will also appear through 7 km Egg Hatches. To evolve Nickit into Thievul, players will need to obtain 50 Candies. Both Nickit and Thievul are Dark-type Pokemon, and they first appeared in Pokemon Sword and Shield. Pokemon Go has been adding a lot more content based on the Galar region over the last few months, and that trend will continue into this year’s Pokemon Go Fest.

RELATED: Pokemon Go’s Newest Pokemon Cannot be Sent to Pokemon Home

During the Deep Depths event, the Pokemon Go Shop will be offering Paid Timed Research for $2.00. That price point doesn’t include any guarantees about finding a Shiny, but players will get extra encounters with both Clauncher and Nickit as rewards. Other rewards include a Star Piece and 2 Super Incubators. As is always the case with Timed Research, tasks must be completed and rewards redeemed by the time the event comes to an end on March 24th.

Are you hoping to snag this Shiny during the Deep Depths event? Did you have any luck with finding Shiny Fuecoco during the recent Community Day? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post New Pokemon Go Event Will Make a Great Shiny Pokemon Easier to Find appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The ’90s were an insane time in the gaming fandom, as Nintendo had blown the world away in the ’80s with the Nintendo Entertainment System and home gaming had become a more lucrative market than ever. Sega had gotten into the console business with the Master System, a pretty good system that didn’t get a lot of traction in the U.S. Sega decided to make things interesting in 1989, dropping the Sega Genesis on the world. Nintendo would fire back with the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and so would begin the console wars. Sega released the Sega CD, presaging the future of gaming, and a third contender entered the fray — Panasonic with their 3DO.

This was a crazy time to be a gamer. Nintendo and Sega fought a savage battle against each other, with Panasonic trying to make inroads with their powerful 32-bit system. Young gamers were spoiled for choice and this led to a steady diet of some of the best video games ever made. This console war would change gaming forever, and lead to the next savage battles as the ’90s went on.

Early ’90s Gamers Were Dealt an Embarrassment of Riches

The ’90s kicked off with the 16-bit revolution. Gamers had been playing 16-bit games in the arcades for years, but the Genesis brought that level of power home. Now, the Genesis had limitations that arcade boards didn’t, but it was immediately better-looking than the NES. It also had an amazing sound chip; the Genesis has some of the best music in the history of gaming. Genesis games had a specific sound, and fans loved the system for it. The Genesis brought the arcade games that Sega was so great at making home, and the Genesis became the trendier system among hardcore gamers. When Sonic the Hedgehog debuted in 1991, Sega finally had a symbol they could market to kids, bringing the war to the next level. Sonic became an icon, and helped Sega in its battles against Nintendo.

Of course, 1991 would also see Nintendo strike back with the Super Nintendo. The Super Nintendo was better graphically and had better colors, but its sound chip wasn’t as great as the Genesis’s. However, the SNES made up for it in the games. Super Mario World brought platformers to the next level, and games like PilotWings and Act-Raiser showed off the system’s Mode-7 chip. It was a great lineup of titles to kick off with. The SNES got better and better as the years went on; publishers like SquareSoft, Enix, and Konami still worked with Nintendo and put out killer games like Final Fantasy IV and VI, Chrono Trigger, Super Contra, Super Castlevania, and the DragonQuest games. Genesis had their own killer games, like the Phantasy Star series, Altered Beast, Golden Ax, the Shinobi games, Toe Jam N Earl, and more. The SNES was the JRPG machine, but the Genesis was the arcade/fighting/sports game console. Its Mortal Kombat was superior because it had blood — although the next few MKs were better on SNES because of its graphical capabilities — and its hockey, football, and soccer games were all much better.

SNES did sell better when it debuted, though, so Sega unleashed their next salvo, the Sega CD. Coming out in Japan in the winter of ’91 and autumn ’92 in the U.S., the Sega CD was meant to be an add-on for the Genesis — Sega made the Genesis the first upgradeable home console. Because of the storage space of CDs, Sega was able to give gamers some of the first full-motion videos ever. It was completely crazy for young fans. CD gaming was the wave of the future and Sega was on the bleeding edge. The graphics weren’t the best because of the time, but it was still a revolution. Sega even courted controversy with their more mature Sega CD games like Night Trap.

However, the Sega CD wasn’t the only CD-based system. Panasonic spent a lot of advertising money for its 1993 debut, and Time Magazine even made the “1993 Product of the Year.” It had a powerful 32-bit processor and graphic chip, and had the advantage of CDs for its game. This was the first time fans had seen 32-bit 3-D graphics outside of the arcade, and its games did look very good. However, Nintendo and Sega had such a lead over Panasonic, the system became something of an expensive paper weight as the years went on. It never got a lot of support from game developers, never having its killer game to draw gamers in. Game devs just weren’t ready for something like the 3DO yet, but it would presage the future of the gaming industry.

Games Became Better Than Ever Because of the ’90s Console Wars

The early to mid-’90s were an amazing time to be a gamer. We didn’t have the Internet like they do now, but instead we had console wars that gave us some of the best gaming experiences of all time. Just look at the games that came out back then on the SNES, Genesis, and Sega CD and it’s easy to see that gamers were eating very well. The competition spurred all sides to work harder to get fans to buy their consoles and games. Even the 3DO, a distant fourth place when it comes to consoles, had its strengths and showed exactly what the world would see in the years to come.

Gaming was changed forever by this console war. There were console wars before, but they were never as fierce as this one. The battle between Nintendo and Sega, fought by the companies in their ads and hardware, saw kids picking sides at school and playgrounds everywhere. It was an amazing time to be a gamer, when the future of gaming started to dawn over the horizon.

What was your favorite system in the ’90s? Let us know in the comments below!

The post The ’90s Console Revolution Was One of the Craziest Times in Gaming appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo has updated the Nintendo eShop and now the Nintendo Switch digital store teases not just Nintendo Switch 2 games, but Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games. Ahead of the first ever Nintendo Switch 2 Direct on April 2, it appears Nintendo is updating the Nintendo eShop, presumably because it is going to be expanded with not just Nintendo Switch 2 games, but pre-orders for these Nintendo Switch 2 games.

While it seems obvious that the Nintendo Switch 2 launch lineup will include the new Mario Kart game revealed alongside the console, it remains a complete mystery what else it will include. New games from series such as Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem, Animal Crossing, Super Smash Bros, Metroid, F-Zero, Star Fox, Kirby, Donkey Kong, Advance Wars, Splatoon, Pikmin, Luigi’s Mansion, Pokemon, and all of the other major Nintendo IP are all a possibility, but right now that is all they are. Those worried the Nintendo Switch 2 launch lineup won’t include any exclusives beyond the aforementioned new Mario Kart seemingly don’t have to worry any longer though.

As noted, Nintendo recently updated the Nintendo eShop with mention not just of the Nintendo Switch 2, but Nintendo Switch 2 games. More specifically, the mention of Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games.

“Member exclusive: Save on two digital games in the game voucher catalog (excluding games exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 system,” reads the Nintendo eShop.

This isn’f a confirmation that the Nintendo Switch 2 will have more than one exclusive game at launch, but it’s certainly possible this could be an indication of that. And this update coming before the aforementioned Nintendo Direct may suggest these Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive games will be revealed at this Nintendo Direct. For now though, this is just speculation.

So far, only eight Nintendo Switch 2 games have been confirmed so Nintendo and its partners have busy months ahead announcing new games before the console’s expected release later this year. And with some rumors and speculation suggesting the console will release this summer, which would be the first summer console launch from Nintendo since the N64, Nintendo and its partners may only have a small window to pack all of these announcements in.

At the moment of publishing, Nintendo has not said anything about the Nintendo eShop update nor the speculation it has created. We do not suspect this will change for a variety of reasons, but if it does, we will be sure to update the story accordingly.

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

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Mario Day is coming up, and for fans of the franchise, it’s an annual excuse to celebrate Nintendo’s mustachioed mascot. For those unfamiliar with the event, it happens every year on March 10th. Unlike Pokemon Day in February, Mario Day isn’t timed to coincide with the anniversary of the first game in the series, or anything like that. Instead, the date was selected simply because the abbreviation “MAR 10” happens to look a lot like Mario’s name. The whole thing is kind of silly, but since Nintendo started the tradition a few years back, the company has given fans multiple things to look forward to.

Price drops are the most common thing we see on Mario Day each year. Nintendo coordinates with many of its retail partners for the occasion, including Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart. The company has already announced its discounts for this year’s event, which include Mario family titles like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, and Super Mario Odyssey. Some stores might also offer their own promotions outside of Nintendo’s own, so that’s something to keep an eye on. Speaking of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, the game is hosting a special Community Challenge event, in which all participants can win 310 (see what they did there?) Platinum points.

Over the last few years, Nintendo has formed a close relationship with LEGO, and that has resulted in a lot of sets based on the Super Mario franchise. This year, LEGO has a promotion on its official store, which will see double points on all Super Mario purchases, and a free gift for spending $40 or more. Beyond sales, LEGO has been a big participant in Mario Day celebrations. Last year, the company began teasing its line of Mario Kart products the day before Mario Day. It’s possible we could see a similar announcement this year, possibly related to the LEGO Game Boy, or the rumored LEGO Icons Mario Kart set.

As for Nintendo themselves, the company could have some announcements to make. Mario Day 2024 saw some pretty big news, most notably an official announcement and release date for the sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Besides that, Nintendo also revealed the release dates for two Mario family games: Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door. The next Mario movie doesn’t come out until April 3rd, 2026, but it’s possible we could get some kind of news, including casting announcements or even a teaser.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch Online Has a Free Trial for Mario Day

The big question heading into Mario Day this year is whether we’ll see anything video game related. A new Mario Kart game in development for Nintendo Switch 2 was announced in January, and we can expect to see it featured during a special Nintendo Direct that will take place on April 2nd. It’s possible we could see the game show up before that on March 10th, or that Nintendo could announce another Mario game for the new system. At this time, there’s no way of knowing for sure, but fans will want to keep an eye out that day, as we can expect to see something from Nintendo!

Are you excited for Mario Day this year? What are you hoping to see announced? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Mario Day: What It Is, and What We Can Expect appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Nintendo Switch eShop has classic games on sale for just $0.99, however, these deals are only available for a limited time. More specifically, these Nintendo eShop deals are only available until March 18. After this the various deals will expire. Of course, with the Nintendo Switch 2 confirmed to be backward compatible it is a great time to stock up on Nintendo Switch games, as once the Nintendo Switch 2 launches, the Nintendo eShop probably won’t have as substantial of discounts as it does right now.

As for the classic Nintendo Switch games they come specifically the way of Capcom, the developer and publisher best known for series such as Monster Hunter, Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Mega Man, Dead Rising, Onimusha, Marvel vs. Capcom, Ace Attorney, Dino Crisis, Okami, and Street Fighter.

The Capcom games in question are even older than some of these series and come from the Capcom arcade days. Despite this, some of the series above — such as Street Fighter and Mega Man — are included.

Nintendo Switch eShop Deals

• Ghosts ‘n Goblins
• Pirate Ship Higemaru
• 1942
• Legendary Wings
• Tatakai no Banka
• Section Z
• Commando
• Dynasty Wars
• Strider
• Ghouls n’ Ghosts
• Forgotten Worlds
• Bionic Commando
• Final Fight
• 1941 – Counter Attack
• Senjo no Okamill
• Mega Twins
• Carrier Air Wing
• Street Fighter II – The World Warrior
• Captain Commando
• Varth – Operation Thunderstorm
• Warriors of Fate
• Powered Gear – Strategic Variant Armor Equipment
• Super Street Fighter II Turbo
• Street Fighter II – Hyper Fighting
• Battle Circuit
• 19XX – The War Against Destiny
• Cyberbots – Fullmetal Madness
• Giga Wing
• 1944 – The Loop Master
• Progear
• Savage Bees
• The Speed Rumbler
• Hyper Dyne Side Arms
• Hissatsu Buraiken
• Black Tiger
• Street Fighter
• Tiger Road
• 1943 Kai – Midway Kaisen
• Last Duel
• Rally 2011 LED Storm
• A.K.A Magic Sword
• Three Wonders
• A.K.A The King of Dragons
• A.K.A Block Block
• A.K.A Knights of the Round
• Saturday Night Slam Masters
• Eco Fighters
• Pnickies
• Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors
• Night Warriors: Darkstalkers’ Revenge
• Street Fighter Alpha: Warriors’ Dreams
• Street Fighter Alpha 2
• Mega Man: The Power Battle
• Mega Man 2: The Power Fighters
• Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
• Capcom Sports Club
• A.K.A Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire
• Super Gem Fighter Mini Mix
• Street Fighter Alpha 3
• Hyper Street Fighter II: The Anniversary Edition
• Gan Sumoku

It is important to note all of these $0.99 Nintendo Switch games require either the Capcom Arcade Stadium or the Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium. Both of these are free downloads on the Nintendo Switch eShop so this should not be a problem for any Switch user.

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

The post Nintendo Switch eShop Now Has Classic Games for Just $0.99 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo Switch 2 games may be more expensive than the price of Nintendo Switch games if a new report is to be believed. Recently it was revealed that Nintendo Switch games were increasing in prices in certain regions, which may be an indication of what’s around the corner: a universal price increase with the Nintendo Switch 2. With PlayStation and Xbox charging $70 for PS5 and Xbox Series X games, many have wondered for years if Nintendo would follow suit when it released the Nintendo Switch 2.

Even before this limited price increase involving the Nintendo Switch, many pondered whether or not Nintendo charging $70 for The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom was a glimpse into the future with the Nintendo Switch 2. It hasn’t charged $70 again, but that release was no doubt testing the waters. And the test results were positive. Tears of the Kingdom sold like crazy suggesting Nintendo consumers are willing to pay the extra amount. While an extra $10 per copy sold may not sound like a lot for Nintendo, it quickly adds up. If Nintendo makes $10 more per game across 10 million copies sold, for example, that is an extra $100 million in revenue.

That said, Nintendo has not announced any price increase with the Nintendo Switch 2, however, alongside relaying the aforementioned price increase in Latin Amerca, Centro Leaks reports that Nintendo Switch 2 games will be even more expensive at $70. This is not official information so take it with a grain of salt, but it is not exactly shocking news either. The price point of the PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch generation was $60. The price of the PS5 and Xbox Series X generation is $70 though, and with Nintendo poised to finally enter the generation it makes sense it would follow suit.

As for why games are increasing in price, it is complicated. For one, game makers have to account for inflation in their pricing model. Everything is getting more expensive to buy, games included. Meanwhile, video game development costs have also spiraled out of control, which has led to many desperate to offset these costs with price increases.

While Nintendo Switch 2 games may be $70, everything so far suggest the Nintendo Switch 2 will try and price the console itself in a way that helps it repeat the mass adoption of the Nintendo Switch. While it is unlikely to be as cheap as $300 like the Nintendo Switch, it almost certainly is not going to be more than $400.

RELATED: Nintendo GameCube Series Reportedly Returning, But Not in Time for Nintendo Switch 2 Launch

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

The post Nintendo Switch 2 Reportedly Increasing the Price of Games appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Xenoblade series has exploded in popularity thanks to Xenoblade 2 and Xenoblade 3. So much so that Monolith Soft and Nintendo have also re-released the original Xenoblade Chronicles on the Nintendo Switch in the form of a Definitive Edition. Fans of the series have been treated well with this console, and the series’ attention isn’t done yet. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is releasing on the Nintendo Switch soon, bringing it to a modern audience and giving fans a chance to experience one of the fan-favorite entries.

Players can expect some new additions and features in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. Many of these are graphical enhancements or quality-of-life features, but players can also expect improvements to gameplay. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition will also feature improved visuals to character models, an enhanced resolution, and a cleaner user interface. The enhancements allow the game to hit a near-constant 30 FPS while docked. Monolith Soft has pushed the boundaries of what the Nintendo Switch is capable of with this Definitive Edition.

RELATED: Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Pre-Order Bonuses & Where to Get Them

New characters are also being added to Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. Not much is known about these, but they will bring something new to those who have completed the original game. Likewise, new story content will be available in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, expanding on the already massive game.

Another new feature to Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition allows players to change their party at any time during play. There are around 20 different characters players can recruit, and the original release required players to speak to the character to add them to their party. Now, an Active Members area makes swapping party members easier and prevents having to first go to New Los Angeles.

On the gameplay front, a Quick Cooldown bar has been added during combat. This allows players to use any Art by pressing the Y button, so long as they have a portion of the meter remaining. Arts requiring TP still need you to have the necessary TP available. At the end of each battle, the Quick Cooldown meter is fully restored, and the maximum amount can be increased by collecting Energy Disks.

These listed above are the major changes in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. Below are some other features and mechanics that have been altered from the original release.

• BLADE Levels and Division Points have been removed, with Field Skills mostly tied to story progress.
• Party members gain experience regardless of whether they are active or not.
• Party member Affinity will fill more quickly, allowing easier access to Affinity Missions.
• Completing surveys of Mira grants rewards depending on the percentage of completion.
• Better quest tracking.
• FrontierNav is now used in the menu rather than the Wii U gamepad.
• The time of day can be changed at any time instead of only at benches.

The post What’s New in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition? appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Mario Kart fans looking forward to the new Mario Kart Nintendo Switch 2 game are divided about a controversial map from the series past being in the new release. The Mario Kart map in question debuted back in Mario Kart: Double Dash, which itself debuted back in 2003 as a GameCube exclusive. Double Dash is widely considered one of the best Mario Kart games, however, it has one map that has divided fans ever since its introduction.

Since debuting in Mario Kart: Double Dash, the map has appeared in 2005’s Mario Kart DS, 2022’s Mario Kart Tour, and 2017’s Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It was technically added to Mario Kart 8 before Mario Kart 8 Deluxe via DLC Pack 2 in 2015, but it was not available at launch.

For those that have not connected the dots, the mystery map is GCN Baby Park, one of the most chaotic maps in Mario Kart largely because of its micro size. With laps only taking roughly 10 seconds, it is the shortest map in Mario Kart history.

There is no word that it will be in Mario Kart on Nintendo Switch 2. In fact, it is unclear if the next Mario Kart game is going to bring back previous maps from previous games or start anew with brand new maps. There has been some speculation that it is a reboot so it’s possible it will ditch all previous maps in favor of new ones. If it is added though, it looks poised to divide fans.

To this end, several of the top posts on the Mario Kart Reddit page this week are posts about the map being in the new game, with some for it and some vehemently against it.

As some fans have pointed out, with the apparent increase in the number of racers — from 12 to 24 — it is hard to imagine Baby Park returning without some substantial changes that would render it a completely different track and beg the question why bring it back in the first place.

“As a track, it’s not great. It does, however, lead to some incredibly entertaining races due to the sheer chaos,” reads a popular comment on the post above. “Some of y’all didn’t play Double Dash and it shows,” adds a second comment.

As always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think. Meanwhile, for more coverage on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart game expected to release this year, click here.

The post Mario Kart Fans Divided About Controversial Map Being in New Game appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo has updated Nintendo Switch Online with two new, free Game Boy games. One is a 1994 Game Boy game while the other is a 1995 Game Boy game. As Game Boy games, they are all available to all Nintendo Switch Online subscribers aka they are not locked behind a Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack subscription. That said, an active NSO subscription is required not just to access each game, but to retain each game.

The first of the two games is 1994’s Donkey Kong, which takes the 1981 classic arcade Donkey Kong game and expands it with 97 additional stages. It also serves as the predecessor to Mario vs. Donkey Kong. Meanwhile, the 1995 Game Boy game is Mario’s Picross. Back in the day, the former hit Game Rankings with a score of 85 while the latter put up a score of 75. Below, you can read more about each game and check out a new trailer released alongside the NSO update.

Mario’s Picross: “Use logic to reveal mysterious hidden pictures! Help Mario unlock the mystery of Picross. The secrets lie in the numeric codes at the top and on the left side of each window. Decipher these numbers and uncover a hidden picture in every mind-bending puzzle. It will take quick wits and a speedy pace to solve the clues before the clock runs out. Chisel away boxes strategically and reveal the hidden image in record time. But be careful – every mistake will cost you precious minutes! There are more than 250 brain-bending puzzles to solve in all, with different levels of difficulty to provide mind-melting puzzle action for players of any skill level.”

Donkey Kong: “Use logic to reveal mysterious hidden pictures! Help Mario unlock the mystery of Picross. The secrets lie in the numeric codes at the top and on the left side of each window. Decipher these numbers and uncover a hidden picture in every mind-bending puzzle. It will take quick wits and a speedy pace to solve the clues before the clock runs out. Chisel away boxes strategically and reveal the hidden image in record time. But be careful—every mistake will cost you precious minutes! There are more than 250 brain-bending puzzles to solve in all, with different levels of difficulty to provide mind-melting puzzle action for players of any skill level.”

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

The post Nintendo Switch Online Has New Free Game Boy Games for Mario Fans appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo has been a titan in the video game industry for decades, and while it didn’t invent the home console, it certainly revolutionized it. Starting with the Famicom in Japan and the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in the United States, Nintendo has created some amazing consoles; a lot of them are rightfully praised — the NES, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (or SNES), the Wii, and the Switch — and others are fairly maligned (the Wii U) – and that is before you even get to the Nintendo handheld gaming systems. However, there’s one Nintendo console that doesn’t get the love it deserves: the Nintendo 64.

The Nintendo 64 hit shelves on June 23, 1996, in Japan and September 29, 1996, in the United States. It was the hottest console of Christmas 1996, but it came at the wrong time. 1997 was the year that the PlayStation put out some of the greatest games of all time; Sony sucked the air out of the room, and the Nintendo 64 was left to flounder. However, the console has some of the greatest games of all time, and despite some problems, I think it deserves way more love than it gets.

The Nintendo 64 Has a Rich Legacy

The Nintendo 64 has a lot of fans, but it’s a console that most don’t rank very highly. It was a 64-bit console, making it more powerful than the 32-bit PlayStation and Sega Saturn, but the console didn’t look as good as the PlayStation. 3D game development was in its infancy, and developers were still mastering the hardware; by the time the Nintendo 64 debuted, devs had basically mastered the use of the PlayStation’s hardware and were making games that looked a lot better than what was on the Nintendo 64, at least in the AAA portion of the gaming industry. And then, of course, there was the fact that CDs were able to not only supply better sound but also hold way more information. This made the PlayStation superior in most ways and it had the better games.

Now, obviously, Nintendo put out amazing games on the N64, which it had spent years building and knew how to use better than anyone. Games like Super Mario 64, Mario Kart 64, Super Smash Bros., The Legends of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, Star Fox 64, Paper Mario, Wave Race 64, and basically every other Nintendo-made game looked great and most of those names are still legendary IPs in the video game industry. Super Mario 64 changed platforming forever, and is ranked by many as the greatest platformer; the two Zelda games are also highly ranked among fans, and Mario Kart and Smash Bros. were the party games of the late ’90s. However, much of the rest of the console’s library isn’t nearly as good as the games on PlayStation, and the Nintendo 64’s controller was an… interesting design and was not nearly as ergonomic as the PS1’s.

RELATED: 1998 N64 Classic Returns This Month With New Release

However, go back and read that list of games above. That’s quite a list, and those games showed why the Nintendo 64 was such a great console. Nintendo poured its heart into those games, working with some of the greatest developers of all time to create games that redefined what 3D gaming could be. Another huge feather in the Nintendo 64’s cap was the four controller ports. This allowed four players to play a game at once, which created some of the most fun multiplayer experiences of all time. That brings us to a Nintendo-made game that wasn’t mentioned above, a game that changed multiplayer gaming and first-person shooters forever — GoldenEye 007.

GoldenEye 007 wasn’t the best-looking shooter in the world; even when it came out, PC shooter games were already better-looking than it. FPS games had mostly migrated to PC, partly because of the better control options, but GoldenEye 007 helped to change that. GoldenEye 007 found a way to use the 64’s somewhat awkward controller better than any console shooter that came before it, which made a huge difference. GoldenEye 007 was a superbly designed game, and it introduced a whole generation of gamers who didn’t have a PC but had an N64 to shooters. Nearly every elder millennial has a story about playing GoldenEye 007 with their friends. I can tell hours of stories about playing the game with my friends, the thrill of victory, and the wrenching agony of defeat. It showed exactly what the Nintendo 64 could do when it was at its best, and supplied countless hours of gameplay for fans. This was why the Nintendo 64 was such an amazing console and why it deserves way more praise than it gets.

The Nintendo 64 Shook the World

The Nintendo 64 had its share of problems, and it definitely didn’t do the numbers that the PlayStation did. Sure, it had its share of era-defining titles, but it was a much more limited console than the PlayStation was at the time. That’s the reality of the situation. As good as the Nintendo 64 could be, it just couldn’t match the PlayStation. The PlayStation holds a much bigger place in the minds of millennials and those who came after, and became the console of the late ’90s. However, the Nintendo 64 was able to make some great strides forward in game design, as well as supplying countless memories.

The N64 was never the loss that it’s made out to be. It still sold a lot of units — 32 million — and was a favorite of a passionate minority of late ’90s gamers. Nintendo always gets a lot of hype at first, and the fact that the Nintendo 64 couldn’t maintain the hype is why it’s remembered as a much worse machine than it really is. This is not the reality of the Nintendo 64, though. It was a pretty revolutionary system in its own respect and helped push the world of gaming forward. It’s a best-of-all-time system, and I’m tired of people saying otherwise.

The post I Think the Nintendo 64 Is One of the Most Underrated Gaming Consoles Ever appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Every year, Nintendo and its partners offer some nice incentives to buy Mario games and merchandise. Sometimes those incentives come in the form of discounts, and other times in the form of free gifts. This year, LEGO is getting in on the action with a free gift for those who spend $40 or more on LEGO Super Mario themed items. The free gift in question is a Mario Kart – Toad (Pit Crew) bagged set. The promotion is live on LEGO’s official website right now, and the promotion will come to an end on March 11th, the day after Mario Day.

At the end of the day, this free gift isn’t too much to write home about; the normal price is only $4.99. However, it’s a fun little freebie, and it has an interactive piece that can be scanned if you have a Mario, Luigi, or Peach figure. Plus, LEGO’s store has free shipping over $35, so it’s not a bad time to take advantage if you’ve been waiting on buying any of the Super Mario sets. Details about the free gift can be found at LEGO’s official website right here.

Those looking to take advantage of this promotion can find a number of Super Mario sets that seem to qualify. Under the Mario Day section, there are more recent sets like the Mario Kart options that were released back in January, and there’s also last year’s fantastic Super Mario World: Mario & Yoshi set. There are also some older options, including the interactive figures based on Mario, Luigi, and Peach. Purchases of LEGO Super Mario sets also qualify for double points as part of the overall Mario Day promotion.

With Mario Day coming up, it’s possible we could get some announcements about new LEGO Nintendo sets on the way. In January, the two companies announced a LEGO set based on the original Game Boy, which will be arriving at some point in October. However, the set itself hasn’t been shown, and it’s possible we could finally get a glimpse on Mario Day, especially if the set incorporates either of the Super Mario Land games. We saw something similar with the LEGO Nintendo Entertainment System, which featured elements based on the original Super Mario Bros. game. There have also been rumors about a new Mario Kart set aimed at older LEGO collectors, which will apparently release in July.

RELATED: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Gets a Rare Event for Mario Day

With Mario Day set to take place on March 10th, we should have some answers soon about what Nintendo and its partners have to reveal. Mario Day has grown into a bigger deal over the last few years, between a yearly slate of discounts to some pretty significant announcements from Nintendo. Hopefully this year will be no exception!

Do you plan on snagging any of the LEGO Super Mario sets while this deal is on? Are you looking forward to Mario Day on March 10th? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post LEGO Reveals Free Gift for Mario Day appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For years, Nintendo largely avoided Hollywood adaptations of its properties, and a lot of that hesitation apparently came from Mario and Zelda creator Shigeru Miyamoto. In a new interview with the Video Game History Foundation, former Nintendo of America advertising manager Gail Tilden said that even “if Stephen Spielberg himself” wanted to make a Zelda movie, the answer was still no. However, one creator at Nintendo was much more open to the possibility, and that was Metroid co-creator Yoshio Sakamoto. At one point, a Metroid movie nearly happened under director John Woo, with Sakomoto and Metroid Prime producer Kensuke Tanabe involved in early discussions.

“John Woo’s company… had wanted to pitch to do a Metroid movie. We had several meetings, it took a long time. We would talk sometimes about who should play Samus. Should it be Charlize Theron? Should it be– no, she’s not right. Anyway, it was on and on about the actresses that they could see as Samus. Which, we never settled on anything. I think they thought [Samus is] not such a beauty, as opposed to kind of an athlete,” said Tilden.

At the time Woo and Nintendo were in talks, the Metroid Prime games on GameCube had renewed interest in the franchise, so the timing of these discussions makes a lot of sense. It seemed like all the stars had perfectly aligned for a Metroid movie to see release, and all parties were interested in making it happen. Unfortunately, there was one big obstacle in the way: the budget. As Tilden notes, at the time, there weren’t a lot of action movies starring women, and the Catwoman movie starring Halle Berry had just proven to be a high-profile failure both critically and commercially.

“We had several story angles that we pitched or presented and finally landed on something and did a pitch kit and took it out. The level of budget that would be needed to make the movie was significant. At the time, the only female action movie that had come out was Halle Berry’s Catwoman, and it didn’t do well. So, John Woo’s company pitched for Metroid, but we did not make a sale,” said Tilden.

RELATED: Nintendo Reveals Awesome New Metroid Prime Book Coming in 2025

Since Tilden’s time at Nintendo, things have changed quite a bit! These days, Nintendo has a much greater openness to working on movies. That has extended to Shigeru Miyamoto, who was closely involved with The Super Mario Bros. Movie, and is now working with Sony on a live-action adaptation of The Legend of Zelda. Though there are multiple Nintendo movies in development, there has not been any word on Metroid since the John Woo pitch failed to find a buyer. It’s interesting to think what might have been, but hopefully Samus Aran will get another chance someday.

Are you disappointed we didn’t get a Metroid movie? Do you think we’ll ever see Samus Aran on the big screen? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post John Woo’s Metroid Movie Never Happened Thanks to Catwoman appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Mario Day doesn’t take place until next week, but Nintendo’s celebration has started a little bit early this year. As part of the festivities, the company has announced a free 14 day trial for Nintendo Switch Online, which can be redeemed between now and March 17th at 11 p.m. PT. The two week trial has been timed to coincide with the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Community Challenge, so if you have a copy of the game, you can participate in the event even if you aren’t a regular subscriber to Nintendo Switch Online. A code for the free trial can be claimed right here.

Once the code for the free Nintendo Switch Online trial has been claimed, it must be redeemed through the eShop by March 31st at 11:59 p.m. PT. During that window, users will have access to all of the benefits of a standard Nintendo Switch Online subscription; not only will users be able to play games like Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Super Mario Party Jamboree online, but they’ll also be able to use the Nintendo Music app on mobile devices, and the NES, SNES, and Game Boy apps on Nintendo Switch.

At this point, it’s hard to imagine too many Nintendo Switch owners that don’t have some form of subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. However, for those that don’t, this is a nice opportunity to try out the service and experience everything it has to offer. Over the years, we’ve seen Nintendo Switch Online’s benefits expand quite a bit, as more classic games have been added, and as Nintendo Music has seen more soundtracks listed. As Mario Day approaches on March 10th, it’s possible we could see more from both. For example, there are still some major Mario soundtracks conspicuously missing from Nintendo Music, including Super Mario Bros. 3.

At this time, we don’t know about Nintendo’s specific plans for Mario Day itself. It’s possible we could see some announcements that day, either related to upcoming games, or the sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which is set to be released in theaters next year. It’s also possible we could see some announcements from Nintendo’s partners like LEGO or Jakks Pacific. Both of those companies have done a lot with the Mario brand over the last few years, and we could see some new merchandise revealed on that day.

RELATED: Removed Nintendo Switch Game Returns to eShop With Permanent Price Drop

Discounts are a yearly staple of Nintendo’s Mario Day celebrations, and those will begin on March 9th, at select retailers. This year, the line-up includes multiple Nintendo Switch games that were released in 2024, so fans that have held off on buying games like Princess Peach: Showtime! or Mario vs. Donkey Kong might have the perfect excuse to rectify that. A full list of games included and participating retailers can be found right here.

Do you have a current subscription to Nintendo Switch Online? Will you be taking advantage of this free trial? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Nintendo Switch Online Has a Free Trial for Mario Day appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A Nintendo series that got its start on the Nintendo GameCube is reportedly getting a new installment on Nintendo Switch 2 at Next Level Games, however, it looks like it will not be ready for the Nintendo Switch 2 release date. In other words, it won’t be a launch game. In fact, if the report is accurate the game — Luigi’s Mansion 4 — won’t even be a Nintendo Switch 2 launch game, which is to say release in 2025. Rather, it is said to be targeting a first half 2026 release date.

According to the report, one of the reasons it may not be ready for the release of the Nintendo Switch 2 is because the game is apparently “incredibly ambitious,” at least by the standards of the series. To this end, the report claims it “is easily the biggest and most expensive game Next Level Games has ever made.”

The report continues by noting that Nintendo fans should expect “absolutely mind-blowing visuals and animation.” Giving a specific reference post, the report evokes 2021 PS5 game Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart and notes that Luigi’s Mansion 4 “blows it out of the water.”

All of this information specifically comes the way of Zippo, a source with a fairly inconsistent track record, but who has proven reliable and reputable at times in the past. Previously, it was unclear if this game was going to release alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 because there was no word of when the next Nintendo console itself would release. Now that it is expected to release this year we can rule out Luigi’s Mansion 4 popping up at the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2, assuming this report, and the 2026 date, are accurate.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch Games Price Increase Sends Warning to Nintendo Switch 2 Buyers

For those unfamiliar with the series, Luigi’s Mansion debuted back in 2001 as a Nintendo GameCube exclusive via an internal Nintendo development team. In 2013, it got a sequel on the 3DS called Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon. This is when series’ developer Next Level Games took over. The latest installment in the series — Luigi’s Mansion 3 — then followed in 2019 with a release on Nintendo Switch. The six years since have been crickets for fans waiting for the fourth installment. According to the aforementioned report though, this is going to change in the near future.

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

The post Nintendo GameCube Series Reportedly Returning, But Not in Time for Nintendo Switch 2 Launch appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Pokemon is one of the biggest media franchises on the planet. However, it was far from a guaranteed success. In the early days, there were concerns about bringing the series outside of Japan, and the people at Nintendo of America put a lot of thought into the best way to sell the series locally. Nintendo of America’s then-current advertising manager Gail Tilden led that effort starting in January 1998. In a new interview with the Video Game History Foundation, Tilden talked about early struggles to localize the games, and many of the decisions that were made along the way.

“Prior to me getting involved that directly as team lead, we had all seen the game — a black and white RPG on Game Boy with very Japanese characters — we’re like ‘ugh.’ And then our ad agency said ‘could we just change the art and it’ll be like gritty and we’ll make like graffiti on the walls and stuff like that,” said Tilden. “There was also a thought like ‘is the way that the game is formatted, could we make it that they’re all baseball players in a baseball league and not a Pokemon league?'”

Tilden goes on to note that as these discussions were happening, the franchise was starting to become much more popular in Japan. Pokemon Red and Green had inspired a ton of merchandise in the region, including the anime, comics, and toys. At that point, the idea of changing Pokemon had become essentially impossible. As Tilden notes, it was then-current Nintendo of America president Minoru Arakawa that made the final decision to faithfully adapt Pokemon, rather than attempting to change it into something completely different.

The Pokemon anime launched in North America on Labor Day weekend that year, with Pokemon Red and Blue released 2 weeks later. The finished product closely aligned with what had been released in Japan, and Nintendo of America secured the licensing rights for everything that came over, including products like toys and comics. However, nagging doubts remained about whether the series would become a success in the region. Tilden goes on to talk about the “grass roots effort” to sell the franchise, including a campaign that centered around touring Volkswagen Beetles designed to resemble Pikachu. While many of these early efforts were successful, Tilden said one “failure” was a promotion through Kentucky Fried Chicken, which launched “too early.”

RELATED: Pokemon Go’s Newest Pokemon Cannot be Sent to Pokemon Home

While it might be surprising that Nintendo of America considered altering the Pokemon games so dramatically, the company made similar decisions in those days to alter Japanese games to make them more palatable to audiences; a year before Pokemon Red and Green were released in Japan, Nintendo of America transformed Japan’s Panel de Pon into Tetris Attack. However, once Pokemon became as successful as it did in Japan, it only made sense to try bringing it over to other countries unchanged. Thankfully, Pokemon fans dodged a bullet in this case!

Are you surprised to hear about these early plans for Pokemon? Were you a Pokemon fan from the early days? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post This “Gritty” Pokemon Pitch Would Have Changed the Entire Series appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo fans on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch OLED consoles have a new Super Mario 64 freebie available for the month of March. Those interested in the freebie will need a Nintendo Switch Online membership though. Not just this, but a Nintendo Switch Online subscription with the Expansion Pack add-on. For those unfamiliar with the two tiers of NSO, this is the more expensive tier of Nintendo Switch Online currently available on Switch, and soon, Switch 2.

As for the freebie, it is for Super Mario 64 fans. The 1996 N64 game needs little introduction. The best-selling N64 game, the first Super Mario game with 3D gameplay, and one of the best and most important games ever made, Super Mario 64 is the quintessential N64 game that everyone thinks about when they think about the Nintendo console. That said, it is not the game that is free to download. Rather, some profile icons featuring iconic characters and items from the game is what is free to download. This includes Mario himself, as well as Bowser and King Bob-omb.

Each and every single one of the special profile icons have been available before, but not since 2022. To this end, there is no guarantee they will ever be available again after this, and if they do return, there could be an even longer gap than this previous time. Whatever the case, they are all available for the month of March, which means until March 31.

RELATED: Nintendo Switch Games Price Increase Sends Warning to Nintendo Switch 2 Buyers

Once claimed, each icon is free to keep perpetually. This is the case regardless of whether not an active Nintendo Switch Online membership is maintained. In other words, a Nintendo Switch Online subscription — with the Expansion Pack — is required to access these icons but not to keep them once claimed.

Nintendo Switch Online, meanwhile, is available for $19.99. The Expansion Pack tier jacks the price up to $49.99 though. And in this case, it is required for the icons above.

For more Nintendo coverage — including all of the latest on the Nintendo Switch, all of the latest on the Nintendo Switch 2, and all of the latest on Nintendo Switch Online — click here.

The post Nintendo Surprises Fans With Super Mario 64 Freebie appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe will be hosting a new in-game event in celebration of Mario Day this year. The event is a Community Challenge, and it will begin on March 7th, running through the 17th. During that time, the game’s community will be challenged to finish a combined one million laps. If players are able to pull off this feat, every participant that finishes at least one lap will receive 310 Platinum points. When the community challenge goes live, players must use the tournament code 1152-2501-4827 to enter.

At this point, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is nearly 8 years old, so it’s pretty surprising to see Nintendo still supporting it through an in-game event. Despite the game’s age, it continues to sell very well for Nintendo, and it’s likely the next week will see an influx of new players, since Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of several games getting discounted for Mario Day. At the very least, this event might convince some fans to dust off their copy and jump back into some races to help the community reach its goal.

Platinum points can be redeemed for both digital and physical rewards. Nintendo Switch Online subscribers can put them towards limited time profile icons. In fact, just in time for Mario Day, Nintendo Switch Online is offering profile icons based on Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario 64. As is often the case with icons based on older games, subscribers must first play the games through their associated apps before they can claim them. As long as the game is booted up once, the icons can be claimed for 10 Platinum points each. If participants complete the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe community challenge, they’ll have more than enough to claim all these icons, and still have some left over.

In addition to those digital rewards, Nintendo has added some Mario themed physical rewards than can be obtained with Platinum points. A Super Mario stadium tote bag can be claimed for 500 points, featuring a clear design that should help it comply with the regulations of most sporting events. There’s also a Mario Kart 8 Deluxe license holder with lanyard, which also costs 500 points. Readers can find out more about these items at Nintendo’s official website right here.

RELATED: Mario Kart Rumor Claims Huge LEGO Icons Set Coming This Year

The Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Community Challenge might just be one of the last events we see in the game. Nintendo Switch 2 was revealed back in January, alongside a new Mario Kart game. If the game and console are both released this year (as fans are expecting), it might finally mark the end of the road for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. It’s hard to be too sad considering what a great run the game has had, so hopefully the Community Challenge offers a fun swan song for Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

Are you planning to participate in this Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Community Challenge? What do you think of this year’s Mario Day promotions? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Gets a Rare Event for Mario Day appeared first on ComicBook.com.

March is officially underway, and for Nintendo fans, that means Mario Day is almost here. A yearly event held on March 10th each year, Mario Day is typically celebrated through discounts, events, and sometimes even new announcements. This morning, Nintendo pulled back the curtain on some of its plans, including the games that will be discounted at various retailers. Between March 9th and the 15th, Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart will all be offering discounts on 7 select Nintendo Switch games. These discounts knock $20 off the normal retail price. The Mario family games and their discounts can be found below:

• Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD– $39.99 (normally $59.99)
• Mario Kart 8 Deluxe– $39.99 (normally $59.99)
• Mario vs. Donkey Kong– $29.99 (normally $49.99)
• Princess Peach: Showtime!– $39.99 (normally $59.99)
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury– $39.99 (normally $59.99)
• Super Mario Odyssey– $39.99 (normally $59.99)
• Super Mario RPG– $39.99 (normally $59.99)

Some of the games on the list are on the older side, and have been discounted in past Mario Day sales; games like Super Mario Odyssey, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury are frequently dropped to $39.99. It should be noted that Super Mario RPG has also seen price drops in the past, and has even been offered for less than the Mario Day discount. However, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Princess Peach: Showtime!, and Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD were all released in the first half of 2024, so this is the first time we’ve seen these games receive significant discounts. It’s pretty significant that we’re seeing these games included this year, and the Mario Day sale is a great opportunity for those that haven’t played these games just yet.

In addition to the game discounts, Nintendo has officially announced a new bundle that features a Nintendo Switch OLED alongside a digital copy of Super Mario Bros. Wonder and a 3 month subscription to Nintendo Switch Online. The Switch OLED design remains unchanged (don’t expect any Mario themed graphics on the console), and the bundle will be priced at $349.99. That works out to be a savings of $67.98, basically making the game and subscription free. The bundle will be offered through Best Buy and GameStop.

RELATED: Removed Nintendo Switch Game Returns to eShop With Permanent Price Drop

As of this writing, Nintendo has not made any announcements about what to expect on Mario Day itself. It’s possible we could get some hints in the lead up to that date, or that Nintendo could simply make some surprise announcements, as we’ve seen in the past. Hopefully the company has a few surprises in store, as it would help to tide fans over until the next Nintendo Direct, which is set to take place on April 2nd.

Are you excited for any of these Mario Day deals? Do you plan on buying any of the discounted Nintendo Switch games? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Nintendo Announces Mario Day Discounts and Promotions appeared first on ComicBook.com.

At the start of February, a significant game was removed from the Nintendo Switch eShop, leaving it unavailable to newcomers. While games are removed from digital platforms pretty often, the removal of Dragon Quest XI S – Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition was a pretty major deal. At the time, Square Enix assured fans that the removal was only temporary, and that the game would return following some “minor updates to the store listing.” After a month missing, Dragon Quest XI S is finally back, and the best part is, the game is now cheaper than it was before.

The new eShop price for Dragon Quest XI S is $39.99. According to Square Enix, this is a “permanently reduced price.” That means we could see sales drops in the future that bring the price even lower, but we shouldn’t expect to see it above $39.99 at any point. For those that have never played Dragon Quest XI S, this might be the best opportunity to do so. The only difference now seems to be that Square Enix is now listed as the game’s publisher, while Nintendo had handled previous publishing duties on the Switch version.

Dragon Quest XI was first released on 3DS and PS4 back in 2017. The game made the jump to Nintendo Switch in 2019 when it received a definitive edition. The definitive edition added several improvements, most notably the 3DS version’s ability to toggle between 3D graphics, and a 16-bit mode inspired by the original Dragon Quest games. The game was very well-received by critics, and is held in high-regard by fans of the series and the RPG genre in general.

Last month, Dragon Quest designer and series creator Yuji Horii offered a brief update on Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate. While the game was announced more than 3 years ago, it still sounds like it’s pretty far away from release. Horii is hoping that he can start to update the fan base more frequently on Dragon Quest XII‘s progress, but fans of the series will have to wait patiently before we get some kind of significant information. Those new to the series could use the price drop on Dragon Quest XI S as an excuse to try out the series ahead of The Flames of Fate.

RELATED: Nintendo Fans Think a Classic 3DS Game Is Coming to Switch

Last year, Square Enix released Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake on Nintendo Switch and other modern platforms. At some point this year, the company will follow that game with a similar remake of the first two entries in the series, thus completing the Erdrick trilogy. It’s a pretty good time to be a Dragon Quest fan, for both those newer to the series, and those that have been with the franchise since the early days.

Will this price drop get you to try out Dragon Quest XI S? Are you a fan of the Dragon Quest series? Share your thoughts with me directly on Bluesky at @Marcdachamp, or on Instagram at @Dachampgaming!

The post Removed Nintendo Switch Game Returns to eShop With Permanent Price Drop appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Nintendo fans have potentially discovered a connection between the Nintendo Switch 2 and the N64. It has been almost 30 years since Nintendo released the N64. Since then, it has released the GameCube, the Wii, the Wii u, and the Nintendo Switch. There have also been some handhelds during this time, such as the Game Boy Color, the Game Boy Advance, the Game Boy SP, the DS, and the 3DS. And now the Nintendo Switch 2 is on the horizon, and according to some rumors, set to release this summer.

Previously, the Nintendo Switch released in March 2017, the Wii U released in November 2012, the Wii released in November 2006, and the GameCube released in September 2021. The last time a Nintendo console released during the summer was the N64, which was released on June 23, 1996. The only other time a home Nintendo home console released in the summer was the Famicon.

Is there any significance to this? Probably not. However, considering it has been over 30 years since Nintendo released a home console in or around the summer it would be surprising to see the Switch 2 release in June or July or August. To this end, perhaps the previous rumors are off the mark as history suggests the Nintendo Switch 2 won’t release until the fall or holiday season.

It is also worth noting that the N64 didn’t release everywhere in June, only in Japan. This was when Nintendo released its consoles in Japan first, something it has ditched in favor of a global release. In the United States, it wasn’t until September 1996 that the N64 hit.

Unfortunately, right now all we have is speculation. However, if Nintendo releases the Nintendo Switch 2 in this summer like some rumors and rumblings suggest, it would be a pivot in its history, and the first time Nintendo globally releases a console in the summer.

RELATED: N64 Game Just Got New Features and Upgrades 28 Years Later

For more Nintendo Switch 2 coverage — including all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 news, all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 rumors and leaks, and all of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 deals — click here. Meanwhile, and as always, feel free to leave a comment letting us know what you think. What do you think about a summer release for the Nintendo Switch 2?

The post Nintendo Switch 2 Surprising Connection to N64 Possibly Discovered appeared first on ComicBook.com.