As you’d expect, there have been a lot of things said about the Nintendo Switch 2 since it was properly introduced with release date and controversial pricing earlier this month. Now, ex-PlayStation exec Shuhei Yoshida has had his say on the new console, and he reckons it might be a sign of Ninty losing its historic identity.

Hey, regardless of whether you agree or reckon this is a good or bad thing, at least it’s not more news that makes you clutch your wallet a bit tighter or allow yourself a rare smirk at something cheeky that’s been done by a CEO guy who makes more money in a year than most of us probably will in 10.

Anyway, Yoshida’s comments about the Switch 2 and what it could mean for the Mario company’s soul came during an interview with Easy Allies, during which Yoshida was asked for his thoughts on the big April Direct.

“To me it was a bit [of a] mixed message from Nintendo,” he replied, “In a sense, I think Nintendo is losing [its] identity, in my opinion. For me they are always about creating some new experience, designing hardware and games together to create [some] amazing new experience.

“But Switch 2, as we all anticipated, is a better Switch, right? It’s a larger screen, more powerful processor, higher resolution, 4K 120 FPS. They even had a hardware person starting the stream, like other platforms do, right? And because it’s a better Switch, the core premise of the whole Switch 2 is ‘we made things better’, and that’s something other companies have been doing all the time.

Of course it’s a more powerful Switch,” he added, “so it’s great if your gaming was only on Nintendo hardware, [and] it’s the first time for you to be able to play amazing games like Elden Ring, but for us, the ‘core’ gamers who own multiple [types of] hardware and play games on PlayStation, Xbox, PC, the games they showed off, especially from third parties – in theory, it’s amazing to have all these all-stars of industry games on Nintendo hardware – however, what they showed was like…‘ooh’.” For context, that seemed to be an ‘ooh’ with more of an ‘oh, ok’ sentiment, rather than the sound of someone being blown away.

So, it sounds like Yoshida wasn’t that impressed by the stuff you could class as innovative about the Switch 2, such as that mouse joy-con functionality and the C button that lets you yell at your mates via GameChat.

Would you like to have seen Ninty push the boat out a bit more with the Switch 2, or are you cool with it just delivering a refined version of an already good thing? Let us know below!

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Following extensive delays to pre-orders in both the USA and Canada thanks to the introduction of US tariffs, it looks as though those in the states and the Great White North may soon have a chance to nail down a Nintendo Switch 2. That is, if a reputable video game retail leaker can be believed.

According to a tweet from Billbil-kun, who’s gained a pretty strong reputation for leaks due to consistently putting out stuff like PlayStation Plus line-ups ahead of time, Canadian gamers will be able to order the new console starting April 23 from select retailers. Following that, they also posted that American pre-orders could start from either April 21 or April 30 depending on the retailer.

They also noted that for Switch 2 accessories, Americans can expect to see pre-orders for those kick up starting April 30, again from select retailers. Now, despite Billbil-kun’s good record in terms of accuracy, they are still a leaker and as such you should take their info with a grain of salt pending official confirmation. Still, if true, this will soon mean that those otherwise held back from throwing money at Nintendo’s latest console will soon be able to lock in their order. Hopefully before prices get any higher or the dollar drops in value too much.

What still remains a bit of a mystery, at least for American buyers, is the actual retail price of the Nintendo Switch 2. Following the tarrifs, costs of products imported into the USA will be more expensive: putting things in simple terms the American government adds an extra charge on the point of entry, and that extra cost will in all likelihood be passed along to buyers by the retailers which actually take in this imported stock.

While the largest tariffs remain levied at China, widespread 10% tariffs still impact many other countries including Vietnam, the country that Nintendo shifted some of its production to some time ago. Now, Nintendo of America CEO Doug Bowser has come forward to say the tariffs didn’t play into the Switch 2’s initial $499 price point, so you can maybe expect to pay a bit more than that if you’re reading this in the States.

How much do you think the Switch 2 will retail for in the USA? Are you ordering one, even if there’s a price hike? Let us know below!

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You. Do you crave more Nintendo Directness than you’ve already had this month? Do you want to learn more about Mario Kart World? Well, big Ninty has confirmed hoe long the special MKW Direct it pencilled in during the Switch 2 Direct will run for. You can also watch it right here.

Hey, it’s not like you’ll have anything better to do on a Thursday than watch Mario and Luigi show off their latest attempt to run each other of the road, because only one brother can remain.

You’ll be able to tune into this Mario Kart World Direct via the video above on April 17, 2025. It’s set to kick off at 2PM BST, which is 6AM PT, 9AM ET, and 3PM CEST. Just press play at that time wherever you are and boom, racing action with Toad, Daisy, and all the other characters who’re riding their coat-tails if we’re being honest.

It’ll run for “roughly 15 minutes” – about the length of a Grand Prix – and tell you a bunch more stuff about the game on Switch 2. Will the entire chat be screaming ‘DROP THE PRICE’, like they were during the Treehouse livestreams the other week?

We’ll have to see, but Mario Kart World’s price tag has definitely been a part of all that controversy, though it certainly hasn’t been the lone source of ire. The console itself, the Switch 2 Welcome Tour, and most recently the Switch 2 edition of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild have all caught flak from fans due to Nintendo’s pricing decisions.

In other recent Nintendo news, a leaker has claimed that Switch 2 pre-orders in the US and Canada could be back on soon, after Ninty delayed them so it could see how those pesky tariffs played out.

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Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 went live in America last night, and as you’d expect, the console sold out quickly as people flocked to various retailers to secure one. Many were able to lock an order in, setting them up for a bright future of Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. The rest, left suffering Switch-less.

This surge of pre-order attempts also resulted in a technical nightmare for various retailers, with tales of Switch 2s stuck in people’s checkout carts, unable to be bought. Issues with lenghthy queue times buying through Walmart, only for the console to be totally sold out once you get past said queue, and Best Buy opening Switch 2 pre-orders late adding to what was undoubtedly a hectic night of frantic online shopping.

Even Geoff Keighly, founder and host of Summer Game Fest and The Game Awards, struggled with the masses. He posted his own experience on Twitter stating: “System was in my cart, then it wasn’t, then it was, wouldn’t let me pay, etc.” If Mr Video Games himself can’t get a pre-order locked in, what hope does the working Joe? It’s rough out there folks.

It’s safe to say that there’s been a lot of excitement around the Switch 2! Ever since the reveal showcase gave us our first real peek at the console, people have been fiending for it. Our own impressions of it were incredibly positive too, which means we’re also included in that excited category of course. The pre-orders for US gamers were delayed due to the wave of US tariffs and the resulting economic turmoil, which mean that Americans could do little during the Canadian and European order rush but salivate from afar.

Did you manage to get a Nintendo Switch 2? Let us know below!

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Platinum Games is hiring new staff for an online action game, following the departure of several well known developers from the company.

Spotted by Tech4Gamers, the company listed a game designer role on its official website, stating that an online action game is in the works at the studio. The job listing lists some desired skills, including experience working on online action games as well as history in level design for online or “open field” games.

Platinum Games, which is currently working on Ninja Gaiden 4 alongside Team Ninja, has had a mixed run these past few years. Bayonetta 3, got a positive review from us, Babylon’s Fall was an astronomical failure, and senior developers have left, including but not limited to Hideki Kamiya.

Given Babylon’s Fall, the online action title listed in this job ad would be the studio’s second attempt at this style of game. Platinum Games has long struggled with financial success, even as its single player games have proven critically popular, garnering a loyal fanbase over the years. Games like Astral Chain, which were absolutely mint, never quite brought in the big bucks. The company’s desire to pursue online games makes business sense with this in mind, even if older Platinum Games fans see the sort of games they loved become less of a priority.

Given that Platinum is only hiring right now for this online action game, it’s safe to say we probably won’t see it any time soon. But still, it’s something to keep an eye out for. We know Platinum Games has several games cooking in the oven at the moment (Ninja Gaiden 4 included), so while recent years have marked a new era for Platinum, it’s clear the studio isn’t finished just yet.

Do you think making an online action game is the smart move for Platinum? Let us know below!

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Right, if you were hoping to play a single copy of the same game online across two Nintendo Switch 2s, it appears you’re out of luck. Nintendo’s rolled out its new Virtual Game Cards to the classic Switch via an update that lays the groundwork for the new console, and it’s reportedly gotten rid of the ability play the same digital copy online on two systems simulataneously.

This was first identified by folks on ResetEra, who clearly downloaded the Switch software version 20.0.0 that Ninty’s just released and immediately decided to have some fun with a mate. The change itself is seemingly a bit of murky one – the method it’s nixed was viewed by some players as a cheeky “loophole” and its striking from the record looks to just be down to the different way that Game Cards handle Switch games.

Basically, what people had previously been doing in order to play Switch games online with a mate is logging into the game owner’s account on two different Switch consoles – a ‘primary’ one and a ‘secondary’ one. The primary one would see the game owner set up their copy of the game, then hand over to the second player who’d sign in to their own account and still be able to fire up the instyalled game to play online.

Then, the game owner would turn on the ‘secondary’ Switch, log into their account to install that same game, then be able to play it online. Boom, two people on two Switches playinmg the same digital copy of a game online together, via a method that’s a lot easier to do than it to explain without twisting your tongue and tonsils together.

However, with the deployment of these Virtual Game Cards, it’s reportedly no longer possible to follow that and play online, because the Game Cards treat digital games like a single cartrige. However, simultaneous offline play looks like it’s still on the table, even if it’ll require you to set your Switch as offline via a new Online License option in the settings.

Naturally, folks who love a good bit of online play with a mate and don’t want to have to buy two copies of a game are pretty unhappy with Nintendo having gotten rid of something they’d been doing on the reg just before it drops its new console. The word “downgrade” is being chucked about in the thread I linked earlier

Now, the Switch 2 isn’t here yet, so there’s a chance Nintendo sees the backlash and comes up with a solution – or at least makes it clear whether features like Gameshare, which has also been rolled out with this Switch update and currently will let you play some games online together via local wireless, will become a fully-blown catch-all replacement for the method that’s been taken off the table.

Were you regularly using this method to share your Switch library and play online with your mates, partner, or Grandma? Let us know below!

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Nintendo has made its projection for the Switch 2 launch sales numbers public, and while analysts are suggesting the console maker’s erred on the “conservative” side, it’s still expecting its latest hardware to bag some impressive numbers. Though, its president has said that the price of the console could potentially still rise, depending on how the whole US tariff situation plays out.

The sales estimate comes as part of Ninty’s forecast for the coming fiscal year, which is set to conclude in March 2026. How well does it think the Switch 2 will do? Well, 15 million units sold during the launch window is the number it’s touting.

That – along with 45 million games sold – is the bar Ninty set itself for this first year. The 15 million units sold figure would mean the Switch 2 outdoing the original Switch, which sold 14.87m units during its debut year.

Though, while these numbers might look big to the untrained eye, plenty of analysts think Nintendo’s being a bit cautious with its estimates due to the US tariff uncertainty that’s in the mix. “Conservative forecast from Nintendo here,” tweeted Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad, “Likely factoring in unpredictability around tariffs, pricing and production despite the positive pre-order momentum.

“For reference, our forecast was 14.5 million units by the end of December 2025, and that was already considered conservative by most of the industry. For what it’s worth, I do think Nintendo will raise its forecast if (big if) the tariff situation is reversed. However, main issue right now is knock on effects that are already in motion and creating a difficult environment for a console launch.”

Speaking of those pesky tariffs, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa hasn’t ruled out the possibility of them potentially leading to a Switch 2 price rise, depending on how things play out, according to report from Yahoo News translated by Genki.

“At this time, the top priority is to quickly popularize the Switch 2 hardware,” the exec said, “If the assumptions regarding tariffs change significantly, we would like to consider what price adjustments we should make and implement them after considering various factors.”

Damn, given fans have already called on Ninty to “DROP THE PRICE”, one can only imagine how ballistic things will go if the tariffs are deemed to necessitate a price change. How are you feeling about getting hold of a Switch 2 right now? Let us know below.

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Nintendo put out an updated version of its Nintendo User Agreement last night. While this may not sound especially exciting, some of these changes and additions to the fine print set the stage for some serious consequences to those looking to mess around with the Switch 2 and its various games and services.

Spotted by Stephen Totilo at Game File, the changes seem to target those who like to modify Nintendo hardware, which would imapct those who hack the consoles for emulation purposes or otherwise. The cost of doing so (and getting caught) may now “render the Nintendo Account Services and/or the applicable Nintendo device permanently unusable in whole or in part.”

The old clause in the User Agreement was written as follows: “You are not allowed to lease, rent, sublicense, publish, copy, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble all or any portion of the Nintendo Account Services without Nintendo’s written consent, or unless otherwise expressly permitted by applicable law.” Now, additions extend both the actions that breach the user agreement and the the punishments for doing so extensively.

It’s now stated that to “distribute, offer for sale, or create derivative works” breaches the agreement, which appears to be a direct blow against the creators of emulators (a topic that has been brought into the spotlight recently with the shutdowns of Yuza and Ryujinx last year).

There’s more. The User Agreement goes on to state users may not, “bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper with, or otherwise circumvent any of the functions or protections of the Nintendo Account Services, including through the use of any hardware or software that would cause the Nintendo Account Services to operate other than in accordance with its documentation and intended use; […] obtain, install or use any unauthorized copies of Nintendo Account Services; or […] exploit the Nintendo Account Services in any manner other than to use them in accordance with the applicable documentation and intended use, in each case, without Nintendo’s written consent or express authorization, or unless otherwise expressly permitted by applicable law.”

That’s a lot of words to essentially say that any modification of Nintendo hardware or software which differs from the intended purpose of both (buying the console and games to play them without Nintendo giving the go ahead) is against the new rules. To breach this risks the permanent nonfunctionality of the the Nintendo games and/or consoles. A steep price for certain.

Okay, so what does this mean for you? Well, if you’re a standard user that just buys the consoles and games, not much. However, if you’re a fan of jailbreaking consoles or getting all up in the guts of hardware/software, doing so will prove a touch riskier. It also will make future emulation attempts harder, which strikes a blow against attempts at game preservation. That is, unless these folks in the future manage to get explicit permission from Nintendo to do so, something the company certainly hasn’t given up to this point.

What are your thoughts on these changes? Let us know below!

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The upcoming sequel to 2023’s Super Mario Bros. Movie looks to have accidentally had its name revealed early, thanks to NBCUniversal making a goof with a press release. The film will seemingly be going by Super Mario World, not to be confused with the classic 90s SNES game.

We first learned that this sequel was coming in March last year, as Nintendo, Universal and co unsurprisingly decided to double down on the big hit. This year’s Minecraft Movie has only further marked that call out as a no-brainer, as game adaptations continue to make huge bank at the box office.

Now, as spotted by Wario64, NBCUniversal has put out a press release citing Super Mario World among a list of upcoming films from Universal Pictures and Illumination that will eventually be released on its Peacock streaming service.

The reference to Mario was quickly scrubbed, pointing to it having been an error of some kind to chuck it in alongside the likes of Shrek, Minions, and Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale – all films that cater to the exact same audience (ok, maybe not). That’d be Shrek 5 and Minions 3, by the way, potentially suggesting Super Mario World might not be this sequel’s final title, if it turns out the company only meant the Mario movie IP as a whole.

That said, as folks have pointed out, Super Mario World could make perfect sense as the title if the SNES game and the events of the first Mario movie’s post-credits scene offer clues here.

That post-credits scene offered a quick look at a polka-dotted egg starting to hatch – likely teasing a Yoshi debut. Super Mario World on the SNES marked Yoshi’s game debut in the long-running series that he’s gone on to become a staple of as we’ve hopped, leaped, and jumped from the 90s to 2025.

Plus, it’d also fit nicely with the latest edition of Mario Kart set to drop with the Switch 2 this summer being dubbed Mario Kart World. Accidental corporate synergy maybe, but hey.

Wait! Will this next Mario movie have cinema-goers demanding that prices be dropped? Given the kind of theatre shenanigans the Minecraft Movie’s spawned, who knows.

While you wait to see if Super Mario World is confirmed as the sequel’s name, make sure to check out our review of the first film.

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Mario Kart World started development back in 2017 as a game for the original Switch, but ended up becoming a Switch 2 one because it devs felt the tech boost was necessary to deliver the world bit of it. Said devs have also offered us some more info about its most important character – Cow.

Yep, that’s right. Mario, Luigi, Bowser, Peach, they can all go do one. Moo Moo Meadows cow is the king of these streets, with an aura so powerful she can momentarily stop even the most outraged of Ninty fans from being unhappy about prices or worrying that they might not be able to make the switch to Switch 2 right away.

These tidbits and more come from a new interview Nintendo’s put out with Mario Kart World producer Kosuke Yabuki, programming director Kenta Sato, art director Masaaki Ishikawa, planning team lead Shintaro Jikumaru, and music lead Atsuko Asahi that so long it’s been divided into four parts. So, make sure you go grab your beverage of choice first if you plan on reading it all in one go.

We were thinking about what to do for the next Mario Kart game even during the development of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and we began prototyping in March 2017,” Yabuki explained, “It was at the end of that year when we officially started work on it as a project. I felt that in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, we were able to perfect the formula that we’d been following in the series up to that point, where players race on individual courses. That’s why, this time, we wanted the gameplay to involve players driving around a large world, and we began creating a world map like this.”

“When we were developing for the Nintendo Switch system,” Sato explained further on in the chat, “it was difficult for us to incorporate everything we wanted, so we were always conscious of what we were giving up in return. We discussed things like toning down the visuals, lowering the resolution, and we even considered dropping the frame rate to 30 fps in some cases. It was a tough situation.

“Yabuki-san first brought [the idea of switching to Switch 2] up around 2020. Back then, we already had an idea of the next system’s expected specs, but it wasn’t until a bit later that we actually received working development units. Until then, we just had to proceed with development based on provisional estimates.”

“Of course, the graphics needed to be more detailed [due to being on Switch 2],” Ishikawa added, “But like Sato-san, I also felt like it was outweighed by the sense of relief. From the beginning, the designers were saying they wanted to make the art richer, so I thought we could achieve that now.”

The devs also explained how the driving Cow came to be, and offered a glimpse into her…er…mindset.

“Each new Mario Kart game features new characters to race with, but since we added so many to the previous game, we wondered where we could go from there,” Ishikawa explained, “And then one of the designers came up with [a] silly sketch of Cow cruising along, and I thought to myself, “This is it!” (Laughs) So that’s when we realized the course surroundings actually contained a lot of untapped resources.”

MK World’s devs call these environmental decoration characters who’ve gotten behind the wheel “NPC drivers”, with Yabuki noting that “it’s pretty funny to see a four-legged Cow holding onto motorcycle handlebars with her front hooves.”

Though, you shouldn’t worry, as Ishikawa insisted that he’s pretty sure Cow is “still in touch with her animal nature” due to the pose she assumes when she jumps, and that she’s “actually a pivotal character in the Mario Kart series” as a legacy of giving the devs ideas for other characters.

Will Cow become a pivotal character in your life once you get your hands on Mario Kart World? Let us know below!

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