logo
Pokémon Legends: Z-A releases this October

Pokémon Legends: Z-A releases this October

The Verge2 days ago

Pokémon Legends: Z-A won't be a Switch 2 launch title, but its release date isn't all that far away.
Today, Nintendo announced that Pokémon Legends: Z-A and Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition are scheduled to debut on October 16th. Per The Pokémon Company International's press release, preorders for digital versions of the games will begin June 5th on the Nintendo eShop. And according to a post on the company's official Japanese X profile, preorders for physical editions of the games start July 23rd.
On July 22nd, TCPi is also putting on another Pokémon Presents streaming presentation focused on Legends: Z-A, which will likely reveal even more of the games' new monsters and details about its story. The Pokémon Presents' timing definitely makes it seem like Nintendo intends on getting people hyped up to secure their copies. And given how generally tightlipped the company has been about Legends: Z-A so far, this next presentation is probably going to be one worth watching.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

50% Upside For MRVL Stock?
50% Upside For MRVL Stock?

Forbes

time38 minutes ago

  • Forbes

50% Upside For MRVL Stock?

CHONGQING, CHINA - MARCH 3: In this photo illustration, the Marvell Technology Inc. logo is ... More displayed on a smartphone screen on March 3, 2025, in Chongqing, China. (Photo by) Marvell Technology (NASDAQ:MRVL), a firm focused on manufacturing semiconductor integrated circuits for data centers, has recently revealed its Q1 fiscal 2026 results. The company slightly surpassed analyst predictions, disclosing earnings of $0.62 per share on revenues of $1.9 billion, compared to consensus estimates of $0.61 and $1.88 billion, respectively. In spite of this positive outcome, Marvell's stock fell by 3% in after-hours trading and has declined by 43% since the start of the year. A considerable part of this downturn took place in March, following a disappointing outlook. Investors looking for steady returns may want to consider investigating diversified investment options such as the Trefis High Quality portfolio, which has shown remarkable performance, achieving over 91% returns since its inception. Additionally, see – Nvidia Stock's 1 Big Risk Considering the stock's fluctuations and the recent decline, you might be questioning whether Marvell is currently a good buy. From a valuation perspective, MRVL stock seems appealing. At approximately $62 per share, it is trading at 8.3 times trailing revenues and 32 times trailing adjusted earnings. This is significantly lower than its three-year average price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 10.4 times and price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 42 times. While a decrease in valuation multiples may appear justified given the company's average revenue growth of only 10% over the last three years and a shrinkage in its adjusted net income margin from 30.5% in fiscal 2023 to 26.3% currently, this does not convey the complete picture. Marvell's Q1 results demonstrated impressive growth, with overall revenues soaring by 63% year-over-year. This was fueled by a strong 76% rise in core data center sales, reaching $1.44 billion. This increase is largely due to the rising demand for custom AI chips. Although the adjusted gross margin decreased by 240 basis points year-over-year to 59.8%, the company's bottom line witnessed a substantial enhancement, reporting earnings of $0.62 per share, marking a 158% increase from $0.24 in the same quarter last year. In the future, Marvell expects Q2 sales to be around $2.0 billion, which aligns with market expectations. Building upon the valuation discussion, Marvell is currently experiencing growth at a much quicker rate than it has over the past three years. Analysts estimate that sales are projected to grow by 42% this year and an additional 20% next year. This accelerated growth trajectory is anticipated to have an even greater influence on earnings, which are expected to rise by 2.3 times during this period. This swift growth trend calls for an upward adjustment in valuation multiples. Notably, the average analyst price target of $96 for MRVL indicates a considerable upside potential of more than 50%. Marvell's strategic foray into the AI sector began with its interconnect solutions for data centers. However, the greater opportunity lies in the creation of application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), which function as custom AI chips. These tailored chips for hyperscaler data centers offer numerous benefits over general-purpose GPUs, such as those provided by Nvidia and AMD. Specialized chips can lower costs, enhance energy efficiency, and optimize performance for specific functionalities, unlike general-purpose GPUs intended for a wider range of applications. Marvell has been strengthening its alliances with significant AI stakeholders, including Amazon Web Services, which has expanded its agreements for data center semiconductors, including bespoke AI products. While the valuation of MRVL stock seems enticing, it is essential to take potential risks into account. Historically, Marvell's stock has underperformed in comparison to the broader market during economic downturns. For example, during the inflation shock of 2022, it fell by 62% from its peak, in contrast to a 25.4% decline for the S&P 500. Similarly, amid the COVID-19 pandemic correction in 2020, it dropped by 40% versus a 33.9% decrease for the S&P 500. This trend indicates that MRVL stock is more vulnerable to negative macroeconomic conditions. In addition, there are ongoing concerns regarding the slow rollout of Amazon's Trainium chips amid weak external demand, which could potentially hinder future revenue growth. Therefore, while Marvell stock might seem attractive from a valuation angle, investors should carefully assess these risks. You may want to purchase MRVL during this current dip, but investing in a single stock, regardless of its potential, carries risks. If you aim to mitigate that risk while still positioning yourself for strong upside, consider the High Quality portfolio, which has surpassed the S&P 500 and achieved returns exceeding 91% since its launch. Why is that? As a collective, HQ Portfolio stocks have offered superior returns with lower risk compared to the benchmark index; presenting a smoother ride, as evidenced in HQ Portfolio performance metrics.

Nintendo's Switch era took Pokémon collecting to the next level
Nintendo's Switch era took Pokémon collecting to the next level

The Verge

time39 minutes ago

  • The Verge

Nintendo's Switch era took Pokémon collecting to the next level

Though the first Nintendo Switch era of Pokémon games was undeniably rocky at times, it brought the series' trading and organization systems into a new level of maturity. It wasn't always easy to complete Pokédexes in remakes like Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl and new entries like Sword and Shield. But those games helped The Pokémon Company create a more seamless way to move your monsters from one title to another, or swap them with friends. And with the Pokémon franchise about to make its big debut on the Switch 2 with the cross-generation game Pokémon Legends: Z-A, it feels like The Pokémon Company is getting ready to take the trading system to the next level. In the Pokémon games, filling up your Pokédex has always been an exercise in patience, planning, and understanding that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company want you trading with other players rather than trying to catch 'em all on your own. The games' trading mechanics evolved as the series jumped from the Game Boy to new hardware. By Generation IV (the DS games), players could swap monsters remotely over the internet without needing to use wired link cables. And after years of many legendary and mythical pokémon only being obtainable through in-person events, The Pokémon Company and Game Freak used Pokémon 's Generation V to introduce a serial code redemption system that made snagging super-rare monsters infinitely easier. Bringing pokémon you first caught on older titles like the GBA's Pokémon Emerald up to more modern ones like the 3DS's Ultra Sun was still a very tedious process. But with each generation of games, The Pokémon Company was clearly building out a digital system that allowed players to experience their Pokémon adventures as one massive, continuous journey. That project continued in the Switch era with 2018's Let's Go games, 3D remakes of Pokémon Yellow that featured new mechanics inspired by Pokémon Go. It was wild to see Nintendo using a console title to capitalize on the success of a mobile application. But the way the Let's Go games connected with Pokémon Go and the Pokémon Home cloud storage service spoke volumes about Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's vision for the franchise's future. Like the 3DS's Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter companion applications, Pokémon Home gave players an online space to stash their 'mons and a way to move them between games. Home's ability to connect with Bank made it useful for longtime fans looking to keep their favorite monsters with them. But the application was also clearly meant to help newer players — people drawn to the franchise by games like Scarlet / Violet and Legends: Arceus — start building collections that would keep them invested (both emotionally and financially) in the series. By requiring subscriptions, Pokémon Home and the Switch Pokémon games' online features helped Nintendo come into its own as a services company. Since Nintendo Switch Online's launch in 2018, Nintendo has sweetened the deal by gradually adding more of its classic games to the service, along with other features, like a streaming music app. It's been a little frustrating to watch the company choose not to put most of its older pre-DS Pokémon games online. But much like Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's tradition of making it impossible to complete the Pokédex without having access to both versions (e.g., Red / Blue) of the same game, this has felt like a calculated movie on the company's part to keep players thinking about spending more money. Especially with Pokémon Go and the various Switch remakes in the mix, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company built out an ecosystem of modern games that give players a way to catch virtually every single one of the franchise's creatures. And while none of the past Switch games have been focused on cataloging all the pokémon, that feels like something that could change as Pokémon moves to the Switch 2. Like Arceus before it, Legends: Z-A (a Switch game that's also getting a Switch 2 edition) will likely feature a limited selection of 'mons in order to put more focus on new gameplay mechanics and a fresh story. But as the Switch 2 becomes Nintendo's flagship platform, we could and arguably should see the Pokémon series evolve in some surprising ways. Legends: Z-A looks like a significant upgrade from Scarlet / Violet, but the franchise's potential to change more radically feels like something Nintendo has to be thinking about as it prepares for the next generation of mainline (rather than spinoff) games developed specifically for the Switch 2. Something as simple as bringing the classic games to NSO with Pokémon Home compatibility would make buying into the larger ecosystem with its various subscriptions a much more interesting prospect. It would be a huge win for Pokéfans still hanging out on the original Switch, and it would make upgrading to the Switch 2 feel even more like following the franchise into the future.

The Duskbloods needs to fix Elden Ring: Nightreign's biggest problem
The Duskbloods needs to fix Elden Ring: Nightreign's biggest problem

Digital Trends

time40 minutes ago

  • Digital Trends

The Duskbloods needs to fix Elden Ring: Nightreign's biggest problem

The era of multiplayer FromSoftware games has officially begun. Elden Ring: Nightreign is out now, turning 2022's award-winning open-world game into a co-op roguelike that's already resonating with fans. That's just the beginning for the famed developer too. Next year, it will follow up that momentum with The Duskbloods, a Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive multiplayer game that's about as close to a Bloodborne sequel as we're likely going to get. If it's as enjoyable as Nightreign, FromSoftware could have a successful reinvention in its future. Nightreign is just one success story, though; the key to victory is how you capitalize on that momentum. That puts The Duskbloods in an important position, as it will have to prove that the idea of a multiplayer Soulslike is more than a one-time novelty. If it's going to do that, it will need to improve on Nightreign's weaknesses rather than repeating its successes. And there's one major Achilles' heel that needs more healing than any other: Nightreign's archaic approach to online play. Recommended Videos Elden Ring: Nightreign is a three player co-op game in which squads band together to defeat enemies on an island, level up, and take down eight fierce Night Lords — all as a storm closes in on them. When it's operating at its best, it's a strong multiplayer game that incentivizes strong communication between well-coordinated teammates. What initially seems impossible becomes very achievable with a team that knows exactly what it's doing. The only problem is that actually getting to that point is an unbelievable hassle. That's largely thanks to an outdated approach to multiplayer that hangs over even the most beloved FromSoftware games. For one, Nightreign doesn't feature cross-play between any platforms. If you own it on PC, you can't play with someone on PS5. That's a restriction that most multiplayer games have done away with in the modern era, bringing disparate player bases together. Nightreign isn't the only recent game to ditch cross-play, but it uniquely shoots itself in the foot by doing so. Something like an online shooter can usually be enjoyed solo without squading up (in fact, I usually prefer to play games like that on my own). That's not the case with Nightreign. It hinges on communication between teammates and is significantly less enjoyable when diving in with total strangers. Forcing friends to all be on the same platform creates an unnecessary roadblock that begins the moment they buy a copy. If that was the only problem here, I could shrug it off as a quirk. Instead it's just one pain point in a mountain of them. During my testing, I had trouble getting Nightreign's in-game matchmaking tools to work consistently. Sometimes I'd try to set a room code to let players I wasn't friends with in. All they had to do, in theory, was set the same code and then start matchmaking. That process proved unreliable, as I'd often have to cancel matchmaking and try again to get it to work. Elsewhere, I ran into issues when trying to team up with players in different countries. Even when I selected an option to pair with cross-region players, I was sometimes unable to join their party or vice versa. That issue popped up even after we had friended one another on PS5 and tried to connect via direct party invites. Those issues are only made worse by Nightreign's additional restrictions. Only have one friend you want to party up with? Sorry, there is no duos playlist at launch despite the fact that there's a solo option. Hoping to take a chance with strangers? There's no in-game voice chat, so good luck coordinating effectively using only a rudimentary ping system. Want to play with a friend who is further along than you? You won't be able to tackle any boss together until you've vanquished the first. Has your world state been impacted by a Shifting Earth event? That will limit who you can match with too. On top of all that, there are eight separate boss playlists to choose from which further split the player base. You can queue up for multiple at once, but good luck trying to pair up for a specific boss. All of these decisions compound to make Nightreign one of the most complicated online multiplayer games I've played in recent years. It's a blast once I'm in a game with friends, but it's not something I'd ever want to play casually by teaming up with strangers. There are just too many variables and I'm not yet convinced that it will have the kind of enormous tail that keeps players logging in consistently a year from now. After suffering through that, I'm now much more worried for The Duskbloods and am in need of reassurance. If it's going to take Nightreign's lead, we could be in for a perfect storm of bad multiplayer integration from two of the worst companies doing it today. Imagine dealing with FromSoftware matchmaking on a Nintendo platform, one that still uses long friend codes to pair pals together. It's a potential deal breaker in the making. There's hope for The Duskbloods even if it's not going to deviate much from Nightreign. The fact that it's confined to Nintendo Switch 2 will work in its favor, as players won't have to deal with cross-play headaches (and if it's another game that requires good communication, it'll also benefit from GameChat). Still, I'm not sure how much I'll be willing to swallow the same matchmaking inconsistencies I faced in Nightreign come 2026. I'm ready to join FromSoftware in its multiplayer future, but only if it's willing to meet me there. Elden Ring: Nightreign is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The Duskbloods is scheduled to launch in 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store