24 Games We're Stoked For In March, Great Switch Games On Sale For Mario Day, And More Of The Week's Top News
This week, we got some insight into what prompted Ubisoft to add a 'canon mode'—which strips out all narrative choices in favor of adhering to one set story path—to the upcoming Assassin's Creed Shadows. Also, we looked at 24 games coming out in this fairly packed month that we can't wait to try, shared the details on Nintendo's current Mario Day sale which has some pretty great Switch games available at a nice discount, and covered a big change that the upcoming Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 is making to THPS 4, which has some fans concerned. Read on for all this and more.
Popular streamers Valkyrae, Emiru, and Cinna were stalked and attacked by a young man during a livestream as they walked around the Santa Monica Pier. Thankfully, nobody was hurt during the encounter. - Zack Zwiezen Read More
The PlayStation-owned studio Visual Arts was hit with fresh layoffs this week amid a further restructuring of Sony's U.S. game development operations. While some of the cuts included staff who had contributed to recently canceled projects like an upcoming live-service game at Bend Studio, a source told Kotaku the layoffs were more widespread than that. - Ethan Gach Read More
The day of Mario is nearly upon us. In celebration of the overall-wearing plumber and his ongoing gaming franchise domination, Nintendo has marked down a bunch of Switch games that are normally $60. It's also released a new Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch OLED bundle, in case you wanted to pick up the eight-year old console right before Nintendo starts selling the Switch 2. - Ethan Gach Read More
Twitch has temporarily banned Hasan Piker for a fifth time on Monday, shortly after the leftist streamer talked about how if Republicans really cared about Medicaid they would kill Florida Senator Rick Scott. 'Big shout out to the right wing free speech lovers who took time out of their day screaming about dei & immigrants, to cry abt this!' he posted on X after his stream was taken down. - Ethan Gach Read More
Peak release season for the first half of 2025 is officially upon us. The February flood picks up into a tidal wave in March with dozens of new games both big and small to check out, as well as tons more that will blow up or be discovered in the weeks ahead. Assassin's Creed Shadows is the big tentpole blockbuster this month, but there's plenty more I can't wait to check out on either side of the recently delayed open-world RPG's release. - Ethan Gach Read More
After a few delays and leaks, Ubisoft's next main entry in the Assassin's Creed franchise, Assassin's Creed Shadows, is nearly here. And, in a series first, it comes with a mode that removes many choices, instead adhering to one 'canonical' narrative path. Now Ubisoft has explained why this option was added and also clarified that you'll still be free to kiss whoever you want even if you pick the Canon Mode. - Zack Zwiezen Read More
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4 was officially announced earlier this week and while it looks to be a great remake of some popular PS2-era skateboarding games, one big change involving timed challenges in THPS4 might be a dealbreaker for some players. - Zack Zwiezen Read More
A 10 a.m. restock of Pokémon cards led to aggressive pushing and shouting between two men inside a store in front of a card-selling vending machine. The video has since gone viral on TikTok and social media. - Zack Zwiezen Read More
FragPunk is a first-person hero shooter where you use deckbuilding card mechanics to augment your characters' strengths and weaknesses. It's the next free-to-play game from NetEase, which also produced Marvel Rivals, and it's coming out this week, just not on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S where it was suddenly delayed just 24 hours before launch. - Ethan Gach Read More
I've been waiting a long time for a game like Avowed. In fact, you might have to go back to 2002's The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind to find another first-person fantasy role-playing game that so utterly captivated me with its world. I've seen some people grouse that it's not as full-featured as the likes of Skyrim, but I actually like that about it! Developer Obsidian knew what it wanted to achieve with this game and focused its resources where they mattered most: on creating a world that's fun and rewarding to explore; on developing combat that's hard-hitting and offers all kinds of player agency; and on a narrative that has deeply developed themes, expressive choices, and the potential to experience significant consequences. I didn't realize just how significant until I failed to prevent a catastrophe in the game's second area, and you know what? I'm glad I made this huge mistake. Let me explain. (Spoilers concerning the second area of Avowed follow.) - Carolyn Petit Read More
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Los Angeles Times
3 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
The Nintendo Switch 2 is a refinement rather than a reinvention. Is that enough?
Nintendo is in many ways a different company now than it was back in 2017 when it released the Switch. For one, it has sold more than 150 million units of its hybrid TV/on-the-go console, making it the defining game device of the last decade. Nintendo also expanded its universes beyond its game consoles. At long last, 'Super Mario Bros.' became a blockbuster animated film, and there are now three Super Nintendo World theme park properties, including one here in Los Angeles at Universal Studios Hollywood. That makes the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2 something of an event, and arguably the most important tech instrument of the year. So, the good news. The pricey Switch 2 is a worthy successor to the original. And unlike the motion-controlled Wii in 2006 or the dual-screen Nintendo DS in 2004, this play-it-somewhat-safe console takes an if-it-ain't-broke philosophy to gaming, continuing Nintendo's legacy rather than redefining it. While it's bigger, stronger, better feeling, higher-res and comes with a couple new tricks, overall it's primarily a refinement of the original Switch's ideas. The first game company to make interactive characters household names — Donkey Kong, Mario, Link, take your pick — Nintendo has become a full-fledged, cross-media storytelling company. And it has done so via a medium that in its most mainstream form is only about four decades old. The Switch 2, officially released June 5 and selling for $449.99, is the vessel for which Nintendo will reveal its play-focused worlds for likely the next decade. The reception from consumers may be inspiring but brings with it a host of questions. The Switch itself is far from obsolete, despite being significantly less powerful than Sony's PlayStation and Microsoft's Xbox consoles, due largely to its hybrid design. And consumers may be forgiven for wondering why — or when — they should upgrade to a machine that looks, feels and plays similar to the one they currently own, especially when Nintendo is unleashing only one new core game for it this month, the dazzling 'Mario Kart World.' Valid, but I believe those who make the leap will be happy in their investment, even if its lineup of exclusive games is relatively barren for now. There are enough improvements to make the Switch 2 feel fresh. I'm eager, for one, to see how its controllers, the detachable 'Joy-Cons,' evolve, as they now have the ability to act as a mouse. This has already come in handy in the strategy game 'Civilization VII,' a title I waited for the Switch 2 to play and one that can utilize the more precise maneuvers mouse controls provide. First-person shooters should benefit even more. And then there are its chat features, which can be enhanced with an optional Nintendo camera ($54.99). While serious gamers who use services such as Discord may not need a console to facilitate chatting with friends, the Switch 2 makes connecting and conversing safe and easy for the gamer who plays primarily solo. One can can only talk with approved friends, and Nintendo will verify accounts and a phone number to do so. Simply touch a button on the Joy-Con, and the chat feature is enabled. My circle of connections who own a Switch 2 is currently small, so I haven't experimented with these accouterments as much as I would have liked, especially the CameraPlay feature that allows users to overlay their own faces on drivers in the game. Other features will no doubt come in handy during 'Mario Kart World,' saving my friends and I from conversing via text. And they would have been a godsend during the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when every Switch owner was eager to share their 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' creations with their pals. All of this says nothing about how good the Switch 2 simply feels. The Joy-Cons now connect magnetically rather than having to lock into place, and while it's perhaps an incremental upgrade, snapping them into the console is one of those tech creations that feels like magic, like the first time one uses a touchscreen. It's slightly larger, and I find a more robust Switch 2 is easier to handle, my arms less likely to grow tired when playing in bed. The screen is 1080p, making just about every old game feel brighter, crisper and less fuzzy, and the Switch 2 has support for 4K TVs. 'Super Mario Odyssey' has never looked so clear, and $9.99 upgrades to 'The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild' and 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' will have you wanting to revisit — or jump back into — each of those titles, as refreshed resolutions and frame rates have us seeing the worlds anew. Battery life, however, might be a challenge. In handheld mode I was able to get about two hours of 'Mario Kart World' before needing to recharge. The console fared better with independent and smaller games. But the real reason to buy a new gaming console is for its next-generation games. Nintendo is counting on 'Mario Kart World' to be enough initially to entice buyers. It's a safe bet, when one considers that 'Mario Kart 8' is one of the bestselling games of all time, having sold more than 67 million copies. Many an original Switch was likely a 'Mario Kart'-focused machine, and though I prefer my plump plumber when he's exploring the Mushroom Kingdom on foot — running, jumping and power-upping his way to rescue his friends — I am not immune to the charms of 'Mario Kart World.' 'Mario Kart 8' was released back in 2014, meaning these cute-but-vicious races are now nostalgia bait for another generation. And 'World' marries some Nintendo weirdness — you can now race as a cow — with its penchant for playful world building. I'm smitten, for instance, with the game's approach to races, which makes driving among the Mushroom Kingdom landscapes as important as it does wacky tracks that encompass everything from Route 66-inspired hokeyness to careening amid giant ice cream palaces. There's now a so-called 'free roam' mode, allowing us to simply drive off course and explore the wonders of the Mushroom Kingdom. Though there could probably be a few more hidden mini-games, I find it relaxing and full of little surprises. Instead of zooming by Yoshi's Cafe, I can now pull up, enjoy some speed-boosting ice cream, admire the animation work and take in the delightfully down-home soundtrack, an orchestral, slightly upbeat and cartoonish approach to classic American big band, jazz and Western stylings. As an insomnia sufferer, I've spent a few recent sleepless nights just roaming around 'Mario Kart World,' driving through empty castles-turned-racetracks. Then there's 'Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour.' This is a $9.99 introduction to what the Switch 2 can do, full of odd little mini games, most of them able to be completed in a minute or two. One shows off the Switch 2's touch screen, having us use the device as a sort of Twister board for our hands. Others use the Joy-Con as a mouse to swing wildly at a golf ball or dodge falling metallic obstacles. Sometimes they're not games at all but rather tech demos designed to show off, say, the rumble vibration effects in the controllers. One simply had me using the Switch 2's backing stand to try and match the degrees for which it was asking me to place the console. 'I've never seen such amazing angling!' it told me after completing the task. Why, thank you. It's cute. I've completed a little more than half of it. It reminds me a bit of mid-'80s PC work 'Little Computer People,' as it turns the Switch 2 into a living, theme park-like mall space full of tiny humans. Though I do recommend springing for it if you buy into the Switch 2, it's ultimately a game-as-tutorial and should have been included with the system, especially since one of its goals is having us better appreciate the tech behind the console. The most common question I've received — understandably so — is if I believe the Switch 2 is 'worth it.' While it's difficult to tell someone to drop close to $500 for a gaming machine and then another $80 for 'Mario Kart World' (you're also probably going to want the $84.99 Pro Controller, as it's a more ergonomically-friendly way to play via the TV), those with the means and in the market for a new gaming console will likely be pleased. Thankfully, your Switch controllers will work with the Switch 2, saving you some financial upgrade headaches, and with 256 GB of internal storage, you likely won't need a memory-expanding microSD Express card right away, although you will need a new case due to the console's bigger size. Blissfully, upgrading from a prior Switch to the Switch 2 is relatively easy. One logs into their Nintendo account, and places the two consoles next to one another while data is transferred. I brought over a handful of games, which took about half a day. Download speeds varied. 'Tears of the Kingdom' was loaded in about 20 minutes, whereas a bigger game such as 'Cyberpunk 2077' took about three hours. Part of buying a new gaming console is the gamble of, betting on new games rolling out over the coming years that will hopefully make the device a worthy investment. Early signs are promising; 'Donkey Kong Bananza' is due July 17. I played the game at a Nintendo media event earlier this year and I'm eager to get my hands on it as it embodies Nintendo's play-as-discovery principles. Our friendly but grumpy banana-crazed ape can essentially power his way through the world, stomping and smashing new pathways to make this a game about exploration as much as it is any challenges. That's long been Nintendo's approach to play and storytelling, and that likely isn't going to change anytime soon. The Switch became the most popular gaming console of the decade by giving us games that became global phenomena, be it 'Animal Crossing: New Horizons' or 'Tears of the Kingdom' (I'm most partial to 'Super Mario Odyssey'). And to buy a Switch 2 is to trust the Nintendo design team to continue to deliver. It's early days, but I feel good about that gamble. After all, I have a cow in a kart waiting for me to get back into a race.
Tom's Guide
6 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
Mario Kart World kicks off the Nintendo Switch 2 era in colorful style — but there are some speed bumps along the way
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2Price: $79 / £66 / AU$119Release Date: June 6, 2025Genre: Racing Mario Kart World is the first major exclusive for the new Nintendo Switch 2. Launching alongside the console, and following up the original Switch's best-selling game, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (which shifted some 70m copies), it's pretty much as close to a guaranteed sales success as a video game can be. With that in mind, it would have been easy for Nintendo to rest on its laurels and deliver a game that was merely more Mario Kart. Heck, I reckon most players would have greeted such an experience with gusto. So, kudos to the development team for instead creating the most experimental Mario Kart experience since 2003's Double Dash on Nintendo GameCube. The ninth mainline game in the Mario Kart series adds new features, including a sizeable open world, a new Battle Royale-style mode and a reworked Grand Prix. Plus, it makes some fundamental changes to the on-track experience by adding complex new moves. It's Mario Kart, but not quite as you know it. Unfortunately, while some of these new ideas are novel, they don't all pan out, and the open world in particular is a huge disappointment. Let me explain in my Mario Kart World review why this Nintendo Switch 2 launch title doesn't quite earn the top podium position (though you're going to buy it anyway). You know that seriously worn-out meme where anything even vaguely challenging was compared to uber-tough RPG Dark Souls? Well, I'm bringing it back cause Mario Kart World adds a new difficult edge to the traditionally family-friendly series. And frankly, I love it. This welcome extra element of complexity comes in the form of two new abilities: Rail Grinds and Wall Rides. These moves are fairly self-explanatory, and each gives you new ways of burning some rubber across the game's modest but largely solid selection of 30 tracks (quite the step down from Deluxe's 96). The former isn't too hard to pull off successfully, provided you get enough airtime to make contact with a rail or terrain edge, but the latter is devilishly tricky. Frankly, I've lost more races than I can count just by going for a wallride in the home stretch and completely whiffing my attempt. Often, I've been left lamenting the fact that I would have been better off sticking to flat tarmac. Chaining these moves together can lead to some spectacular racing lines, and the dedicated Mario Kart speedrunning community is already creating some routes that are impossible for us regular players. This extra element of skill is very welcome to the series. The other major change you'll notice in the moment-to-moment racing is that the player count has been expanded from 12 to 24, which makes an already chaotic kart-racer sometimes devolve into sheer bedlam. I've had races where I've been halted by half a dozen items in a row, and the final pacing has seemed based purely on luck rather than any individual ability. It's never exactly fun dropping from 1st down to 24th in a matter of seconds, but these race-altering moments are a staple of the franchise, so you have to laugh along. Mario Kart World's flagship new edition, and the reason for its moniker, is the Free Roam mode. This allows you to zoom around a large, loading screen-free Mushroom Kingdom that contains all the game's courses in a seamless driving experience you can hop into instantly from the main menu. I had hoped it would be Mario Kart crossed with Forza Horizon 5, but the mode is disappointingly half-baked. The open zone is sparsely populated with very few unique points of interest, and criminally little to do beyond merely driving around aimlessly. There are challenges to complete and collectibles to hunt down, but the mission goals are simplistic (most take mere seconds to complete), and without any form of a checklist to properly track your progress, scouring the open world feels remarkably pointless. It doesn't help that your reward for completing a mission is often just a sticker, only good for staring at in a dedicated sub-menu. It's hardly an enticing prize. At best, this mode seems like a fun inclusion for younger players, as it gives them an open space to drive around without inhibition or being bombarded by items. But goal-oriented players will soon feel a sense of boredom, and post-review, it's certainly not a mode I see myself returning to very often. The other big newcomer to Mario Kart World comes in the form of Knockout Tour, a new type of race that takes clear inspiration from the ever-popular Battle Royale genre. In Knockout Tour, 24 racers compete to be crowned the victor as they race to checkpoint gates along a lengthy stretch of road (comprised of areas from the Free Roam mode). At each gate, a handful of racers are eliminated until it's just four players left dashing to the finish line. Playable online and offline, Knockout Tour is sheer Mario Kart madness. A middle pack usually forms where items rain down with such abundance that avoiding hits is literally impossible. However, the mode has also provided some of the most high-stakes Mario Kart racing I've ever experienced. Unlike a traditional race, where you have multiple laps to make up for mistakes, in Knockout Tour, you have to be switched on from the start. Slip up in a major way early on, and that can be your race run as the pack in front of you speed towards the next checkpoint, leaving you in their dust. The times I ranked highly (and even won) were exhilarating enough to have my palms sweating. Racers looking to test their skills will find the undeniable randomness factor that comes into winning pretty off-putting, but if you can thrive in the chaos, it's an unmissable new mode. Unfortunately, in an apparent effort to squeeze the most out of the large map created for the Free Roam mode, the classic Grand Prix offering has been reworked, and not for the better. Rather than three-lap races across a set of four courses, in Mario Kart World, Grand Prix cups ask you to partake in a single traditional race, before dashing to your next course and completing only a single lap once you arrive at your destination. It's a bizarre change. For starters, it means that Grand Prix is no longer a great place to get familiar with courses before taking on your loved ones (or hopping online), and also it means that the majority of your time is spent racing on vast, very straight, open roads rather than winding courses full of shortcuts and divergent paths. The transition between finishing one Grand Prix race and then beginning your drive to the next course isn't seamless. It's separated by a loading screen, which makes the whole endeavor feel worthless. The standard Grand Prix format is sorely missed, but at least you can approximate it with the 'Vs Race' mode. Battle Mode has also been downgraded. There are only two types of battle, Ballon Battle and Coin Runner, compared to five in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and rounds play out on standard courses rather than specially designed arenas. This decision is particularly baffling as it was a common point of criticism in the original Mario Kart 8, released on Nintendo Wii U in 2014. The fan outcry was so extreme that Nintendo reworked Battle Mode for the Deluxe release on Switch in 2017, but has now opted to make the same mistake a second time. I hope we don't have to wait for Mario Kart World Deluxe on Nintendo Switch 3 this time for the mode to be restored to its former glory (again). Whatever issues I have with Mario Kart World's new open-world focus and the reworking of classic offerings, there's one thing that always shines through: How darn gorgeous it looks on Nintendo Switch 2. I recall playing Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Nintendo Switch at launch and thinking Nintendo would never be able to make a prettier Mario Kart game. I was very wrong. The franchise's trademark cartoonish art style has never been more vibrant and easy on the eyes. The developers clearly put a lot of work into the animations as well, with some lovely visual flourishes and each character's personality shining through (Shout out to my boy, Bowser Jr.). I also love the more realistic (well, realistic for Mario Kart) reactions to being blasted by a blue shell or careening your kart into a slippery banana skin. The Switch 2 already has technically more impressive titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy and Hitman World of Assassination, but Mario Kart World is a reminder that nobody does a whimsical art style like Nintendo. Mario Kart World is pretty much the Nintendo Switch 2 launch title, so in some ways, reviewing it is a bit of a pointless endeavor. There's no doubt it's a game that most early adopters will pick up, and I expect it'll remain a best-seller for the console's entire lifespan. Overall, it's another solid effort in Nintendo's enduring kart-racing series, with the fantastic Knockout Tour mode a highlight. However, this Rainbow Road isn't without some bumps. The new Free Roam mode is undercooked, and it's frustrating that it bleeds into franchise staple offerings, making them worse. Ultimately, in those memorable moments of victory when you pip a friend to the finish line thanks to a perfectly timed red shell, you won't be thinking about all the stuff that Mario Kart World doesn't quite nail because you'll be laughing with delight too loudly to care.
CNN
6 hours ago
- CNN
I played the Nintendo Switch 2 for nearly a week. Here are my honest thoughts
The Nintendo Switch 2 is strikingly familiar. When I'm navigating its recognizably blocky home screen, swapping between handheld, tabletop and TV play and, at least for now, playing a lot of the same games, I can't help but feel like Nintendo's new console is a subtle iteration rather than a true generational reinvention like the Super Nintendo or Nintendo 64 were. That said, when that subtle iteration improves on one of the best consoles of all time with things like better controls and smooth 4K gameplay, it's hard to be too upset. And that's not to say the Switch 2 doesn't deliver moments of Nintendo magic we haven't seen before. Playing Fortnite using your Joy-Con as a mouse is a game-changer; being able to seamlessly hop into an online video chat without a microphone in sight is arguably even cooler. It also brings a great new Mario Kart game, a bunch of big third-party blockbusters Nintendo fans may have missed and improved versions of some of your favorite Switch games. But does that all add up to a package that's not only worth a steep $450, but also the hassle of trying to track this elusive system down right now? And what's the real expense when you factor in the ballooning price of games and storage? I've done the hard work of playing the Nintendo Switch 2 obsessively for the past week, and am ready to answer those questions for you. Nintendo Switch 2 The Nintendo Switch 2 delivers an improved design, fun new tricks like mouse controls and built-in video chat and great performance for new and old games alike. A bigger, mostly better design Improving on one of the most popular consoles of all time isn't an easy task, which is why the Nintendo Switch 2 simply refines what already works. You've still got a touch screen, detachable Joy-Con controllers that allow for instant multiplayer and the ingenious ability to switch between TV and handheld gaming on the fly — except it's all packed into a bigger, mostly better design that flaunts some cool new party tricks. First off, this thing is large. The difference in dimensions between the Switch 2 and the OG model is evident the second you pick the new model up, with a roughly 2-pound design that stretches just under 11 inches wide. It's not quite as big as, say, a Valve Steam Deck, but it makes my Nintendo Switch OLED feel damn-near pocketable by comparison. The added real estate is largely a good thing; the Switch 2 just feels sturdier and more substantial, from the bigger buttons on the Joy-Cons to the grippy black matte finish that permeates the entire design. The kickstand on the back is Nintendo's most durable and flexible yet; a far cry from the puny stick stand on the original Switch and more akin to the Switch OLED stand that lets you smoothly adjust from fully upright to near-flat. You're also getting a lot more screen than before, with a 7.9-inch 1080p display that trumps the 7-inch Switch OLED, 6.2-inch Nintendo Switch and 5.5-inch Switch Lite on sheer real estate. There's now an additional USB-C port at the top of the console, which makes it easy to connect a camera or (finally) charge your system while using it in tabletop mode. The Switch 2 dock is likewise beefed-up, with familiar ports within a larger design that I still didn't have much trouble tucking behind my TV. I just wish Nintendo didn't drop the two USB-A ports that were on the original Switch dock, as they were clutch for hooking up extra accessories like wired controllers and adapters. The new Joy-Con 2 controllers are the real highlight here, as they detach with a quick button press and attach via a satisfying magnetic snap. I never really had an issue with sliding my Joy-Cons on and off the original Switch, but this is an even more seamless solution that should lead to less accidental damage when you're looking to get some tabletop Mario Kart going. Speaking of which, the bigger size and buttons make each Joy-Con 2 feel much more comfortable and enjoyable to use as a standalone controller. The enlarged SL and SR shoulder buttons are a particularly nice upgrade from the borderline microscopic inputs on the classic Joy-Cons, meaning I can finally drift around as my beloved Luigi without guaranteed hand cramps. Fortunately, you can still use your older Switch controllers wirelessly, which is a godsend for anyone who's already accrued a massive Joy-Con collection. It wouldn't be a new Nintendo console without some sort of new control gimmick, and I'm happy to say that the Switch 2's new mouse mode is a delight to use. You can now plop a Joy Con 2 down on just about any surface and use it as a mouse, which allows you to navigate the home screen like you would on your computer and play select games that allow for pointing and clicking. There are only a handful of titles that support mouse control right now, but I've had a real blast using my Joy-Con (Joy-Mouse?) to whack golf balls, complete timed mazes and try and paint between the lines in the Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour. Using it in Fortnite was a revelation; I suddenly could enjoy the same pinpoint aiming that PC gamers do with their favorite gaming mouse, all from simply sliding my existing controller around on my table. I hope a good amount of games —- both competitive and quirky — end up taking advantage of mouse controls, because it's one of the system's most underrated features. Noticeably better performance The Nintendo Switch 2 might not be a massive generational leap the way that the PS5 was over the PS4, but it still delivers a noticeably better gaming experience than before. Even before you fire up any games, the extra snappiness is apparent; everything from the Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch Online apps to massive games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom loaded up a few seconds faster on the Switch 2. Those small time savings add up, especially if you're trying to knock out a quick level or two while on the subway. Thanks to the system's new custom Nvidia processor, you can finally play Nintendo games in proper 4K when you connect to a TV (and an improved 1080p in handheld mode). The system even supports gameplay at up to 120 frames per second — an ultra-high level of smoothness that was once reserved for powerful gaming PCs and current-gen consoles. These perks all combined to make the vibrant, expansive racing of Mario Kart World look and play fantastic, even while I engaged in chaotic 24-player races across massive, sprawling courses. But that's to be expected from the system's marquee launch title. I was far more impressed by my time with Street Fighter 6, a game that I've played obsessively on my PS5 — and one that feels far less compromised than I'd expect it to be on the comparably underpowered Switch 2. Sure, the character models aren't nearly as sharp as they are on Sony's console, particularly in handheld mode and especially so during close-ups that reveal stringy hair and blurry faces. But in motion, this is very much the same smooth, explosively colorful fighting game that I poured dozens of hours into on my PlayStation. If it weren't for the Switch 2 Pro Controller in my hands, I would have completely forgotten I wasn't playing the PS5 version of the game in the heat of a competitive online match. And then there's the fact that the Switch 2 can make some of your existing Switch games run even better. I'm glad I waited until now to start The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom in earnest, because its upgraded Switch 2 edition looks and feels like a true triple-A game rather than something chugging along on ancient hardware. It was actually jarring to see a modern open-world Zelda game running at a silky 60 frames per second and sharp 4K HDR on my TV; that's how relatively behind the curve the original Switch was. In addition to special 'Nintendo Switch 2 editions' of select games (which require either a paid upgrade pack or a Nintendo Switch Online subscription), a handful of Switch titles got free performance upgrades that simply smooth out the edges a bit. I didn't really notice a difference when playing updated titles like Super Mario 3D World or Arms, but a close friend (and the biggest Pokémon fanatic I know) noted that Pokémon Scarlet and Violet practically feels like a whole new game. That's high praise for a title that was notorious for its poor performance on the first Switch. Even games that didn't get a proper Switch 2 patch, like NBA 2K25 and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2, seemed to look nicer on the new hardware. A more social system than ever Even with its improved hardware and performance, I couldn't shake just how familiar the Nintendo Switch 2 felt. But then I hopped on a video chat with a friend, our little heads chuckling and nodding at the bottom of the screen while I played Street Fighter and he played Mario Kart. There wasn't a single microphone or headset in sight, yet we heard each other just fine. 'Okay,' I told myself. 'This feels new.' Sure, built-in online chat functionality is long overdue for Nintendo, but the system's new GameChat feature delivers it in a way that is distinctly fun and frictionless — and even has some advantages over the competition. If you've played games online just about anywhere but a Nintendo console, GameChat will likely feel familiar. Tap the new 'C' button on your controller or head to the GameChat icon on the home screen, and you can join or set up an online lobby where up to 12 people can yap over some video games. But here's the kicker: up to four of those people can be on video, whether it's via the $60 Nintendo Switch 2 Camera or any USB webcam you happen to have lying around. You can even share your screen, which often leads to blurry video but is still handy if you want to, say, show a friend how to conquer a tricky Zelda dungeon. Oh, and don't worry about grabbing a mic or gaming headset; the Switch 2 has a built-in microphone that works shockingly well, even from across a living room. These features have existed in some form on other platforms for decades, but I'm still impressed by how well Nintendo managed to package them all together. Some of the most fun I've had with the Switch 2 came from an hours-long GameChat with a friend. We gamed together for a bit, trading some heated rounds of Soul Calibur II, before I switched over to Mario Kart World and he hopped into MLB The Show 25. No matter what we were doing, our camera feeds remained at the bottom of our screens, meaning he could say hi to my dog and I could compliment his cool Space Jam poster. Neither of us were using a dedicated gaming headset, yet we could hear each other just fine — even with my air conditioner cranked to the max. I've been gaming online for two decades now, and this video-forward, microphone-free approach replicates the feeling of playing games in the same room as my buddies better than just about any other platform I've used. This is a far cry from the original Switch, which lacked built-in chat and instead encouraged players to download a dedicated mobile app for in-game communication (most of us just used better options like Discord). The PlayStation 5's controller has a built-in mic and speaker for chatting and allows for screen sharing, but the system lacks video calling functionality. Both PlayStation and Xbox support cameras, but mainly for broadcasting your gameplay to the larger internet on Twitch and YouTube. PC gamers are probably laughing as they read this given their vast amount of options for video and voice calling, but there's a big difference between the gamer that sits at their computer and the one that games casually in their living room. Nintendo is even integrating camera support directly into select games with CameraPlay, which I found very entertaining during a Mario Kart session in which I could see my opponent's reaction to every pesky red shell. And just to put a bow on the Switch 2's vastly improved social experience, Nintendo also introduced GameShare: a feature that lets you invite your friends to play a game locally or online even if they don't own said title. This worked as advertised in my testing — I invited a friend to an online Super Mario 3D World session, which he was able to join instantly without having to own or even download the game. While we had to fight through some initial lag, we were eventually able to conquer one of Bowser's castles in pretty smooth fashion. And while you'll need a Switch 2 to host a GameShare session, you can still share select titles with your friends that are still on their original Switchl. GameShare is currently limited to a handful of older Switch games, but it will work with the Switch 2 version of Super Mario Party Jamboree that's coming this month (a perfect fit for this feature), and will hopefully continue to roll out for more of Nintendo's multiplayer staples. It's a bit bulky, and the display and battery life are just fine While the Switch 2's 'bigger is better' approach generally rings true, there's no getting around the fact that this thing is hefty. The new console might only be about a half pound heavier than the Switch 1 on paper, but the added weight feels significant, and younger gamers or folks with smaller hands might have some trouble getting used to it. While I didn't find the Switch 2 to be overly heavy during prolonged handheld sessions, its wide, thin design resulted in the Joy-Cons digging into my palms a bit — something I alleviated by throwing on this Supcase protective shell. I also find the console's 7.9-inch, 1080p LCD display to be just fine. It is indeed sharper than the 720p screen on the older Switches — something that was noticeable when I pit Mario Kart World on the Switch 2 against Mario Kart 8 Deluxe on the Switch OLED — but it also lacks that added pop of color that I love so much on my OLED model. I also wish the Switch 2 screen was a little brighter and less glossy, as playing outside was near-impossible (though a glare-free screen protector can help with this). Also, you'll want to keep a good portable charger handy if you plan on playing on the road a lot. During an evening spent playing Mario Kart World, Street Fighter 6 and a few classics on my couch while watching the NBA Finals, the Switch 2 ran out of battery in almost exactly three hours. That's well within Nintendo's estimate of two to 6.5 hours depending on what you're playing, though notably below the Switch OLED's rating of 4.5 to nine hours. It's possible that bigger games mean a bigger battery drain; Mario Kart in particular seemed to devour a charge pretty quickly. Increased storage is nice, but you'll still need more The Nintendo Switch 2 packs 256GB of storage, which, on paper, is a pretty big upgrade over the 32GB Switch and 64GB Switch OLED. But when game downloads are only getting bigger, that space is going to fill up very fast if you're buying most of your stuff digitally. It's great that the Switch 2 can finally play big blockbusters like Street Fighter 6 and Cyberpunk 2077, but those take up around 50GB and 60GB of space, respectively. By the time you transfer your existing Switch library and tack on a handful of new titles, you'll likely run out of space like I did within my first day with the system. And expanding your storage is a bit tricker and more expensive than before. Unlike the original Switch, which let you pop in just about any microSD card to make space for games, the Switch 2 requires you to use specific microSD Express cards that allow for faster transfer speeds. The problem is, there aren't a ton of options available right now, and the ones that do exist are pretty pricey — like this 256GB SanDisk model that'll run you $72. Want to future-proof your console with 1TB of storage? Get ready to pay at least $190 for this GameStop model. Adding storage to any console isn't cheap these days, but when you compare that to this $110 Xbox Series X 1TB expansion card or this 1TB PS5-ready SSD that can be had for $65, upgrading your Xbox or PlayStation suddenly seems like a bargain. I imagine that microSD Express cards will become easier to find and more affordable over time, but if you find yourself needing to make space in the immediate future, get ready to pay up. The launch lineup is good — if you're a specific type of gamer I've been struggling to properly assess the Nintendo Switch 2's game lineup. If you're coming from the original Switch and are mainly a Nintendo gamer, you'll get a great new Mario Kart game, access to some cool triple-A titles you couldn't play before and some nice upgrades for some of your existing games. And this is your first Nintendo Switch? Sheesh, get ready to enjoy one of the best game libraries of all time. But if you're like me — a Switch fanatic that also plays games elsewhere — you can probably wait for the Switch 2 game library to flesh out a bit. As you've probably pieced together by now, the system is headlined by Mario Kart World, an expansive new take on the series that introduces huge 24-player races and an interconnected open world that you can drive around freely. It rules. I played more Mario Kart 8 Deluxe than just about any other Switch game, so having a sequel with new courses and moves to master — not to mention the option to just chill out in free roam — is worth the price of a new console for me. If you're not big on Mario Kart, that might not be the case. The other notable first-party launch game is Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a playable instruction manual that packs charming visuals, some fun mini-games and a bunch of tedious but informative quizzes that cover everything from key features to nerdy tech specs. It would have been the perfect pack in game; instead, it's a $10 purchase that I can only recommend tepidly for folks who want to see everything their new system can do. You've also got the special Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, each of which are packed with performance enhancements and some nice quality of life improvements. If you've never played them, congrats: you can now experience the two of the best Switch games ever made, running the way they always should have. And if you own them already and are ready for a replay (or, let's be real, still haven't beat either of them), you can upgrade your existing copy to the Switch 2 version for $10 each or as part of your Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership. Speaking of Switch Online, Expansion Pack members will also get access to a handful of Nintendo GameCube titles alongside the dozens of NES, Super NES, Game Boy, Nintendo 64 and Sega Genesis classics already available on the service. The selection is limited to just F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Soul Calibur II (featuring Link!) at the moment. I'm happy with this, because I really like Soul Calibur II. For everyone else, know that the library is slated to gain more essentials like Super Mario Sunshine and Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance over time. Then you have the third party stuff, which includes blockbusters like Street Fighter 6, Cyberpunk 2077, Yakuza 0 and Hitman World of Assassination that skipped the original Nintendo Switch. These are some great games, and their inclusion is a big deal for folks that only play on Nintendo and want to see what else is out there besides Mario and Zelda. If you already own a PS5, Xbox Series X/S or a good PC, their inclusion likely won't do as much for you (unless you really like the idea of taking these games on the go). Of course, like any new console, the Switch 2 is only going to get more big games over time. The next big exclusive is July's Donkey Kong Bananza, which promises some satisfyingly destructive platforming. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3+4, Madden NFL 26 and Star Wars Outlaws will help fill out the third-party selection this summer and fall. The latest Mario Party and Kirby games are getting Switch 2 editions, and the much-anticipated Metroid Prime 4 with launch for both Switch systems at once. Looking further into 2025 and beyond, you can expect some promising new Kirby and Zelda spin-offs, and even a new exclusive from the Dark Souls team called the DuskBloods that will almost certainly be infuriatingly hard. As it stands now, there's plenty of great stuff to play on the Switch 2, particularly when you factor in its back catalog of thousands of Switch games. But you won't be missing out on a ton if you decide to hold out for that next Big Thing. It's pricey, and hard to find right now At $450, the Switch 2 is $150 more than the original Switch and $100 more than the OLED version. While I don't think that's an unreasonable price compared to the $500 PS5 and the $600 Xbox Series X (which recently got a price bump), it's still more expensive than its predecessor and may be out of range for some folks. But perhaps the bigger issue is that the Switch 2 is just hard to buy right now. As of this writing, both the $450 base console and $500 Mario Kart World bundle are sold out at most major stores like Walmart, Best Buy and Target, with occasional restocks happening for short bursts of time. I've seen a good amount of folks online find success by just going to their local store, but your mileage may vary there. I fully expect the Switch 2 to become easier to buy later this year, but just know that you'll have to do some savvy online hunting to score one right now. Even if you do get your hands on a system, you'll probably notice that the typical Nintendo Switch 2 game price is more than you might expect. Mario Kart World alone costs a whopping $80 (that's $20 more than the typical first-party Switch game) while Donkey Kong Bananza goes for the same $70 price tag that's become commonplace on other consoles. It's hard to pin all of this on Nintendo — pretty much everything is getting more expensive lately — but it does add even more expense to an already premium-priced console. The Nintendo Switch 2 is without question one of the best consoles I've ever gotten my hands on and the best Nintendo Switch yet, retaining everything that made the original a staple in millions of households while adding some welcome quality of life improvements and a few innovative, delightfully Nintendo-ey features. And hey, that new Mario Kart game is pretty dang fun. If you're a Nintendo diehard, you've probably made up your mind already; heck, maybe you were even lucky enough to score a Nintendo Switch 2 preorder. If you're still on the fence, the question of whether you should spend your nights trawling multiple retailers for a $450 Nintendo depends on what kind of gamer you are. I can't overstate how great a purchase this is for folks who somehow missed the boat on the original Nintendo Switch — you'll have access to one of the greatest game libraries ever assembled, while still being future-proofed for all the cool new stuff. And if you only game on Switch, get ready to finally see what the hype over Cyberpunk 2077 or Street Fighter 6 is about. Heck, if most of your Switch diet consists of playing games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Splatoon 3 and Fortnite online with friends, you just might find the Switch 2 worth it for the radically improved social experience alone. But for the less fanatical Nintendo player, especially one that games on other platforms, there's nothing wrong with waiting it out right now. The system is only going to get more big games, and it hopefully won't be long before you can buy one without obsessively tracking restocks across multiple screens like some sort of evil villain. Even if that'd make Bowser proud. How much does the Nintendo Switch 2 cost? How much does the Nintendo Switch 2 cost? The base Nintendo Switch 2 costs $450; there's also a $500 Mario Kart World bundle that includes the system's marquee launch game. Does the Nintendo Switch 2 have an LCD or OLED display? Does the Nintendo Switch 2 have an LCD or OLED display? The Nintendo Switch sports a 7.9-inch, 1080p LCD display. There's no word yet on whether we'll eventually get an OLED model. Does the Nintendo Switch 2 support 4K? Does the Nintendo Switch 2 support 4K? Yep! Games like Mario Kart World and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild can be played in 4K in docked mode on compatible TVs, and even support High Dynamic Range (HDR) for extra-vibrant color. Keep in mind that you'll be limited to 1080p in handheld mode, however. CNN Underscored has a team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. Senior tech editor Mike Andronico has been covering gaming for more than a decade, and has been doing tested reviews of Nintendo consoles since the Nintendo 3DS (which is still in his top five). For this review, he spent six grueling days playing lots of video games both solo and with friends in order to see just how well the Nintendo Switch 2 holds up.
