Nintendo announces upgraded Switch 2 editions of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom
Nintendo won't let you escape two of its most critically-acclaimed games ever. It's announced there will be Switch 2 versions of both Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. Both titles will benefit from the next-gen console's increased power, with enhanced framerates and resolution during play, as well as HDR support for deeper colors and contrast. Nintendo wasn't specific on the difference between handheld and TV play just yet, but we know the new console will feature several resolutions for play, from 1080p through to 4K.
The Switch 2 is also capable of up to 120 FPS, so you're likely to see a difference. For reference, Tears of the Kingdom on the original Switch was locked at 30 FPS in both the Switch's handheld and TV modes.
Also, the new mobile Switch App will have new Zelda-specific features for these new editions. It can turn your smartphone into a (sort-of) Sheikah Slate. It'll guide you around maps with voiced directions, and you'll be able to share your creations with QR codes so that others can create your Mad Max destruction machines in their games.
And if you're a Switch Online subscriber with the Expansion pack, you'll get both upgraded iterations for free, provided you own the originals.
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Lost In Random: The Eternal Die (Nintendo Switch) Review
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Taking place after the events of the original, Lost In Random: The Eternal Die casts players as Queen Alexandria, now trapped within the Black Dice she once used to rule the world of Random. There she is confronted by Mare the Knight—a chaotic, evil being that had been powering the Black Dice—and is trapped within his dark game. Alexandria must fight through his twisted labyrinth if she is to destroy not only Mare but the Black Dice once and for all; however, she's not alone. Joining her throughout her trails is her Living Dice Fortune, as well as a collection of new and familiar characters who will assist her on her quest. Like I said in my preview, it's an incredibly interesting story, particularly because of who is cast as the main character. Playing through Lost in Random, you mainly come to see Alexandria as an antagonist, but getting to see a different side of her adds a lot more complexity and depth to her. There are several ghosts from her past that shed a bit of light on her past and give the player some clues as to why she became the way she did. Even from a design standpoint, having Alexandria resemble the way she did in the prologue of Lost in Random casts her in an innocent and possibly redeeming light. I talked about the gameplay a little in my preview, but I was genuinely impressed by how well Lost In Random: The Eternal Die worked the more I got into it. I had said in my review of the previous game that the one thing that could have been better, and even on subsequent playthroughs, that sentiment remains true. The elements of chance that were intrinsic to both the story and gameplay are perfectly suited to an action roguelike, but it's amazing how much the more intricate elements of Lost in Random fit in here. In cased you missed it, Lost In Random: The Eternal Die works the dice-rolling, card-drawing mechanics from its predecessor in a much more straightforward, action rougelike way. At the start of every run, players are given one combat card, which acts as their special ability. Players will fight enemies not only using a combination of their weapon and magic, but by throwing Fortune as an AOE grenade—dealing different amounts of damage depending on the number rolled. I talked about it in some depth in my preview, but the way cards and relics work in tandem with each other adds such a unique layer of depth to progression that I found myself being far more considerate about my choices than I usually am in most dungeon-crawling roguelikes. Furthermore, the way certain relics will provide bonuses based on the numbers rolled by Fortune adds a really exciting element of risk vs. reward. Do you go for a safe relic that just increases attack power by 10 percent, or one that reduces damage by 40 percent every time you roll a six? Furthermore, while I was a bit saddened to learn that Board Game Arenas had been axed from this game, Lost In Random: The Eternal Die does find ways to utilize the dice mechanic in interesting ways outside combat. Certain reward rooms will act like little board games, where rolling Fortune will move a piece across a sequence or tiles, netting players health or relics for every space landed on. While still largely based on luck, these rooms can be an absolute lifesaver if you're really in a pinch, or make an already solid run even better. Of course, not everything is fully left up to the rule of Random. Players can utilize permanent upgrades by gathering Pip Dust or Cinders during their run. 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Nintendo Switch 2 Console Review
Well, it's finally time. The Nintendo Switch 2 has landed after months of rumours, leaks, and speculations, and I'm here to put Nintendo's iteration of their hybrid console through its paces for a definitive answer on whether it is a worthy successor to Nintendo's best-selling (single-screen) platform. To better organise and make this review easy to digest, I will break down the Switch 2 review into separate sections, highlighting key areas of importance for those looking to quickly glean information regarding Nintendo's latest and greatest. Like its predecessor, the Nintendo Switch 2's beating heart features the next iteration of the Nvidia Tegra processor, featuring an 8-core ARM CPU and an Ampere GPU with 1536 CUDA cores, which in layman's terms translates to a significant upgrade in graphical and processing prowess when compared to the Tegra X1 found in the original Switch. Taking advantage of the more powerful hardware, the Nintendo Switch 2 features a comparatively massive 7.9' IPS LCD screen with HDR10 certification and, most importantly of all, VRR (variable refresh rate) upwards of 120 Hz in portable or tabletop mode. To complement the larger screen, the Nintendo Switch 2 features larger Joy-Con controllers, measuring 4.57 inches tall, 0.56 inches wide, and 1.2 inches thick. When used as a single controller, they feel much more robust in the hand. When attached to the Switch 2, they provide a premium, ergonomic feel—even without grips or third-party accessories. As for the overall look and feel of the Nintendo Switch 2, fans can expect a design language more in line with the new Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Like the updated Joy-Con 2 controllers, it features a smooth matte finish that gives the console a more refined, yet familiar, appearance. This design consistency also extends to other first-party accessories, such as the camera. The included dock for the Nintendo Switch 2 has also undergone a design overhaul, featuring a more rounded look and a large base with substantial rubber feet that almost give it the appearance of a computer modem or digital set-top box, culminating in what feels like a less flimsy and solid dock for your media cabinet or living space. Unlike the launch unit or OLED Nintendo Switch, which featured a lot of unnecessary plastic and took up a large footprint, the Nintendo Switch 2 dock justifies its size by including a fan that actively cools the system when docked, a crucial feature as the Nintendo Switch 2 runs at a much higher clock speed when played on an external display. In terms of IO, however, the Nintendo Switch 2 dock is similar, offering two USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet jack, HDMI, and a USB-C AC adapter port. 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Regardless of the software being played, users on Nintendo Switch 2 can now start a party or join up with friends and chat, stream their games and even remotely play selective titles via a feature reminiscent of the Nintendo DS/3DS download and play option, which let user engage in multiplayer sessions with only one instance of the game. The Nintendo Switch 2's camera provides a decent viewing experience with low enough latency, allowing you to still actively engage with friends in a Game Chat session without it feeling like you've stepped back into the days of MSN Messenger or Skype. Sadly, the same really can't be said about watching multiple game streams, which appear very choppy and in a much lower resolution than ideal, making it hard to discern fine detail or read small text, making the feature feel more like a fun background element to have on while you chat with friends than anything watchable for long periods. One feature Nintendo wanted to highlight for reviewers was the Nintendo Switch 2's built-in microphone, which is integrated into the tablet and designed to function from a distance when the device is docked. Nintendo has gone above and beyond to eliminate background noise and isolate the active voice of Game Chat participants. In my session with Nintendo PR, this mostly held true, though one participant was difficult to understand due to room ambience, which muffled their voice slightly. Still, for most casual gaming sessions, Game Chat seems like a safe and effective way to connect with others, which feels very much in line with Nintendo's approach. Remote play, or game sharing via Game Chat, thankfully ups the framerate and resolution considerably, making the game-sharing experience enjoyable for those joining the host. However, the overall resolution is still severely limited due to being restricted to the Game Chat screen, which is maybe a 720p or lower window within the surrounding Game Chat feeds. Still, being able to jump into another friend's copy of games like Super Mario 3D World is a nice step forward for Nintendo and a big win for casual gamers. One element of the Nintendo Switch 2 that I was eagerly anticipating was its VRR or variable refresh rate capable 120hz screen, which, in essence, allows the Switch 2 in portable play to output and match varying or unstable framerates within a game without causing screen tearing or discernable judder (slowdown), while also proving gameplay experiences up to 120fps. Currently, the only 120fps experience on offer is relegated to a demo within Welcome Tour. However, 60fps gaming feels fantastic on Nintendo Switch 2 and is a transformative experience for some older, legacy titles. Sadly, due to hardware restrictions imposed by the handshake required when passing video via the Nintendo Switch 2's USB-C to HDMI interface, VRR support is only available in portable mode. This means that future titles, particularly those that are graphically intensive or CPU-bound, may suffer on the big screen due to unstable framerates. Knowing Nintendo, however, first-party offerings will most likely utilise the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware to its fullest, eliminating the need for the VRR range as a fallback for unstable or choppy performance. Outside of the high refresh rate and VRR capabilities, one area where the Nintendo Switch 2 falls short is its HDR performance—a feature that, at this stage, feels more like a promise for future iterations of the hardware. While the LCD screen is suitable for its intended purpose, it struggles to deliver the necessary contrast for proper HDR. This becomes especially noticeable in darker scenes, where colours often appear washed out or overly bright, creating an artificial or overexposed look. In games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, this results in a less immersive visual experience, highlighting the limitations of current display technology. HDR, when played on my 120Hz LG OLED, does quite a bit better but still ultimately comes off feeling a bit underwhelming, lacking the punch or true contrast found in other HDR games available on different platforms. It is still early days, however, meaning Nintendo has plenty of time to improve its HDR output in future titles as the system matures. In terms of battery when in handheld or tabletop play, the Nintendo Switch 2 feels like a bit of a downgrade, with my average tests resulting in 2 and a half to a little over three hours from playing a selection of games, with heavier titles like Mario Kart resulting in numbers closer to the 2-hour mark. Finally, enjoying the Nintendo Switch 2 in tabletop mode feels better than ever, thanks to the newly designed 'U' shaped metal kickstand, which offers a much more solid feeling degree of movement and stability on hard surfaces, although perhaps not as nice as the OLED's solid kickstand. I'll just come out and say it: There isn't a whole lot to play that truly takes advantage of the Nintendo Switch 2 hardware outside of Mario Kart, which will undoubtedly be a system seller. At the very least, the growing number of backwards compatible legacy Switch games on Switch 2 that have a boost in performance is growing, and even select, unpatched titles seem to benefit when played on Nintendo Switch 2 hardware. Starting with the games that have day-one patches, of course, have seen a significant boost in fidelity when played on the Nintendo Switch 2. Games like Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet, and all the Zelda games, for example, feel like borderline new games thanks to the boost to 60fps and bump in resolution. Pokémon, in particular, feels like a game I actually want to play through now, as both Scarlet and Violet suffered greatly from sub-30FPS on legacy hardware, on top of muddy and low-resolution textures and a poor draw distance, to only name a few of the significant issues. On Switch 2, the game appears to maintain a locked 60fps, and the higher resolution provides an overall cleaner image, eliminating aliasing and stair-stepping on specific objects in the terrain, such as grass and buildings in the distance. Sadly, the textures haven't (understandably) been touched, so they often appear worse due to the level of clarity afforded by the overall bump in resolution. Many legacy Nintendo Switch games have also seen an upgrade simply by being played on Switch 2 hardware, regardless of whether a patch is applied. Games like Bayonetta 3 and Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle both now run at a locked 60 FPS, with the latter seeing an increase from an unlocked 30 FPS. In other words, most legacy Switch 1 games that have had an unlocked FPS cap should see an immediate upgrade on Switch 2 hardware. Conversely, some games are more of a mixed bag, such as Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, which currently does not offer a native Switch 2 patch but benefits from being a locked 30FPS experience, which is a marked improvement from the unstable performance on legacy hardware, but at the cost of a truly ugly and low res looking presentation when played in portable mode, due to the game rendering at sub 720p on the Nintendo Switch 2's 1080p panel, making it best fit for TV play. As someone who still prefers physical media over digital downloads, the way Nintendo is handling physical cartridges for the Switch 2 is a bit concerning. 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Meanwhile, 2D elements, such as HUDs and UI graphics, remain true to their early 2000s output, resulting in some noticeably jarring but understandable discrepancies. Certain games also include native 16:9 support, which looks and runs great. Nintendo GameCube controller support also works well on the Switch 2, including both the NSO store-exclusive GameCube controller and legacy gamepads via the USB GameCube controller adapter, outside of system-level features due to the lack of dedicated buttons on legacy controllers. Nintendo arguably kick-started the hybrid console/portable PC revolution with the release of the original Nintendo Switch in 2017. The landscape is significantly different now, with players expecting more power from their on-the-go experiences. The Nintendo Switch 2 has the potential to deliver experiences that eclipse what was possible on Nintendo platforms, thanks to the power of DLSS and, of course, Nintendo's stellar art direction and game design chops. As it stands, it is currently still too early to tell how third parties will embrace the Switch 2 and what games that utilize potentially more tasking engines like Unreal Engine 5 will fair on Nintendo's newly minted successor, but for those wanting the best Nintendo has to offer can rest assured in knowing the Switch 2 will follow the torch the lit by its predecessor as the system continues to mature.
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Week in Review: Most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of June 8, 2025
Get caught up on the latest technology and startup news from the past week. Here are the most popular stories on GeekWire for the week of June 8, 2025. Sign up to receive these updates every Sunday in your inbox by subscribing to our GeekWire Weekly email newsletter. Most popular stories on GeekWire Xbox Ally vs. Nintendo Switch 2: Microsoft enters a handheld console war that lacks actual competition This isn't quite what we expected to see last year, but the ROG Xbox Ally still marks a new chapter in the rapidly developing 'handheld war.' Microsoft's announcement of the Ally during its annual Xbox Showcase broadcast on Sunday only came a few days after Nintendo's release of its latest console, the Switch 2. … Read More
