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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Nintendo is introducing a new account-history requirement for Switch 2 purchases in Japan to keep consoles away from resellers. The move targets the multi-language Nintendo Switch 2 sold through the official Japanese Nintendo Store, which scalpers have been buying in bulk because it can be bought for less in Japan and resold abroad.

The price difference explains why scalpers are interested. In Japan, the multi-language Switch 2 is considerably cheaper compared to some other markets. That gap gives resellers room to import units and mark them up overseas, especially while official stock remains limited. The Japan-exclusive model, which only supports Japanese text and characters, is not affected by the new rule.

Nintendo is using account history as a filter

Nintendo said on X that it had found multiple orders linked to suspected resale activity and temporarily paused sales of the multi-language model. When sales resume, buyers will need to meet stricter conditions. Their Nintendo Account must show at least 50 hours of playtime on the original Nintendo Switch by 11:59 PM on May 31, 2026. Playtime from demo titles and free software will not qualify.

Nintendo StoreにおけるNintendo Switch 2（多言語対応）の販売につきまして、買い占め等の疑いがある注文を複数確認しましたので、一時的に販売を停止しておりました。…

— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) June 11, 2026

The company is also limiting purchases to one console per Nintendo Account. That gives Nintendo a way to reduce repeat buying while making fresh accounts less useful for resellers.

Nintendo takes a page out of Valve’s playbook

The Switch 2 has become one of the most practical handheld gaming console options, especially after Valve’s Steam Deck price hike made PC handhelds a bigger expense for many buyers. Still, Nintendo’s console will not stay immune to higher pricing for long, with its own price increase expected soon.

Scalpers have been a thorn in the side of gamers for years. Valve faced a similar issue with the recent Steam Controller launch, where units quickly sold out and appeared on resale sites at inflated prices. Valve responded with a reservation queue, purchase-history checks, and a one-controller-per-account limit.

Nintendo is now applying a similar idea to the Switch 2. Fresh accounts will have a much harder time passing the check, which could reduce bulk buying through the Japanese store.

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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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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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We’ve subbed a few younger players into the squad — which now features Switch 2 players — and many of the games below are on sale right now, to boot. Enjoy! *blows whistle*

Football is the world’s most popular sport, from the elite level of child-like millionaires with dazzling skills and impressive diving techniques, to actual children on playgrounds using jumpers for goalposts.

Being a football/soccer fan who owns a Switch (or Switch 2), however, can be slightly confusing. Nintendo’s system somehow misses out on the ‘Premier’ games while getting bombarded with loads of smaller releases, and it can be hard to know which ones are worth a kickaround.

We haven’t reviewed every football game on Switch 1 and 2, so let’s be upfront and say that some will be missing on this list that may be worth checking out. However, we’ve reviewed enough of them to share a winning 11 (plus five subs) of the better ones here — oh yes, how very clever of us — and there’s plenty of variety to be found. If you want simulation, tactics, comedy, or arcade action, there’ll be something here for you.

So, let’s have a look at the best football games on Nintendo Switch 1 and 2, in alphabetical order. Grab your jumpers, set out your goals, and enjoy!

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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 sure are treating us to a cavalcade of double-subtitled games at the moment, though slapping Switch 2 Edition on the end of many of them is more descriptive than thematic. The latest addition to this long-winded club is Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Switch 2 Edition, taking the beloved JRPG and sprinkling it with a bit of high-def fairy dust and a few new features to warrant charging people more money for it.

Let’s get this out of the way: the Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is the best that this game has ever looked. That’s even more evident if you’ve played your way through the Wii original, possibly with a detour to the New 3DS version on your way to the now six-year-old Definitive Edition on the original Switch. The strength of the game hasn’t always been the visuals, but here, with a draw distance that stretches away into the background, and some lovely crisp textures, this is now the best looking version of the game by a long way.

That’s tied to the 60fps refresh rate and an upscaled 4K resolution. The Definitive Edition was a much stronger performer than the earlier Switch entry Xenoblade Chronicles 2, but it still suffered from some dropped frames from its 30fps target and slowdown out in the open world areas. There’s still a small amount of that here, though its effect has been much lessened, and the new 60fps frame rate feels much, much smoother.

Definitive Edition was also quite a blurry-looking game on Switch, with resolutions below native output and coming out a couple years before temporal upscaling was added to the game engine for Xenoblade Chronicles 3. But this release has come in the wake of the Switch 2 version of Xenoblade Chronicles X, with the upscaling added to that game by Monolith Soft able to make the graphics feel smeary and unstable – something they haven’t even tried to fix with a patch, by the way. Thankfully, this Switch 2 upgrade comes across much better with much better image quality both docked and handheld.

Unlike the Xenoblade Chronicles X upgrade, there is more here than just a resolution bump, and comes with a bump in price from £4.19 to £8 as well. Perhaps the most obvious addition is the Ether Jet, a vehicle that allows you to whizz across Chronicles’ landscapes with ease. There’s a new quest to complete to unlock it, with a new character lurking at the Bionis’ Leg Refugee Camp who’ll give you the lowdown at Chapter 4. If you’re past this point, it’s an easy fast-travel hop back here, and the Ether Jet is well worth hopping on board, since it speeds up getting around Xenoblade Chronicles’ massive open areas.

The Nopon Engineer is hanging around just outside the refugee camp, up the rise on the way out, and they’ll give you the spiel about coming up with an excellent new method of transportation that they don’t have a power supply for. Guess who’s got to go fetch them one? That’s right, Shulk and co. have to venture back to Tephra Cave to procure some Ether Cylinders – I don’t know why it feels like Luke Skywalker having to go to Tashi Station to pick up some power converters, but that’s all I hear now in my brain.

Thanks to the wonder of fast travel, it’s not much of a time sink – just head for the Rear Entrance to Tephra Cave and then head back outside, rather than into the cave. This was also a great way to get a look at Colony 9 from way up on the mountainside, emphasising just how clear the upgraded visuals are in the Switch 2 version – it really does look stunning. There is a short battle to grab your cylinders, but if you’re above Level 15 it’s going to be an absolute walk in the park – or a brisk stroll in the Bionsis.

Once you’ve got the Ether Jet – ignoring its inventor’s muttering that it’s a total death trap – you also unlock the Nopon Grand Prix, which turns Xenoblade Chronicles into a kart racer, with a touch of Fast RMX/Kirby Air Ride about it. There’s Score Attack and Battle Race modes, both of which have a bunch of prizes available if you do well, including the brand new gear that’s mentioned in the Switch 2 edition’s blurb. Each character has their own racing stats, and it actually feels a lot more fully featured than I was expecting.

I’m not sure whether I like the look of the new gear, but there’s more to it than just its appearance. As you progress through the story, you’ll unlock more tracks too, which is a nice little addition of its own, and enough to keep you coming back. The only weird thing is how you access the Nopon Grand Prix, which is to head into the menu and press Y, a fact that isn’t obviously mentioned.

Monolith Soft have actually put some thought and effort into Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Switch 2 Edition. After the disappointment of Chronicles X Definitive Edition, this sets a good benchmark for the other two Xenoblade Chronicles upgrades as they arrive later this year. At £7.99 it feels like a reasonable asking price, and it’s now the best way to experience this JRPG classic.

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