Your OG Switch Isn't Quite Dead Yet, Even in the Switch 2 Era
Don't abandon your OG Switch just yet, even if you're jonesing to break the seal on your new Nintendo Switch 2 in the coming days. Overnight, Nintendo dropped a heap of updates to its original Switch games in time for its sequel handheld's Thursday launch. There's more beyond compatibility patches streaming to your favorite Switch games for the updated hardware. GameShare may help your Switch 2 become a portal for playing with friends on their older hardware with just a single copy of a game. Hell, if you don't plan on getting a Switch 2 any time soon, this feature may tide you over until the inevitable Switch 2 OLED.
We now have a far better idea of how well original Switch games will run on the Switch 2. Some games are getting heftier improvements than others. Most notably, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet will now run at an 'improved framerate'—likely 60 fps—and it will support higher resolutions. Nintendo revealed its own special trailer for the game running with increased performance, and it may be enough to give the 3-year-old title that was so broken at launch a new lease on life.
Serebii Update: A trailer for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet for Nintendo Switch 2 has been released on the Nintendo Today app https://t.co/gDbXkHSvkT pic.twitter.com/JQlc66YobG
— Serebii.net (@SerebiiNet) June 2, 2025
There are several games, like the two Switch Legend of Zelda titles, that are receiving upgrade packs you'll need to pay for separately if you're not buying the Switch 2 version of the game. However, games like Super Mario Odyssey and Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom are receiving patches to optimize the games for the Switch 2's 1080p handheld and 4K docked resolutions. ARMS, Nintendo's forgotten springy-limb fighting game, is supposed to get optimized for the Switch 2 Joy-Con's improved gyro controls. We've already had some experience with the new motion and rumble on Nintendo's controllers, and I can't help but wonder if these improvements are enough to dust off that old game card that has sat idle for eight years.
Nintendo's first-party games aren't the only ones getting an upgrade. No Man's Sky is receiving a free Switch 2 edition that will finally allow for multiplayer alongside the improved visual capabilities on the new handheld. As spotted by gaming deal hound Wario64, Nintendo's support site shows Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Kirby Star Allies, Kirby's Dream Buffet, and Pikmin 3 Deluxe are receiving Switch 2 updates. Older Xenoblade and Pikmin games are currently out of luck, at least according to the latest posts on Nintendo's support site.
a few more games that received Switch 2 updates (Several adjustments have been made to improve gameplay on Nintendo Switch 2.)
-Super Mario Bros. Wonder
-Kirby Star Allies
-Kirby's Dream Buffet pic.twitter.com/QGqVfmPFuo
— Wario64 (@Wario64) June 4, 2025
Many of these first-party updates relate to GameShare. It's one of the few features conspicuously missing from our recent hands-on with the Switch 2, but it's one of the functions I'm most interested in considering how many of my friends still have access to their original Switch. With Switch 2, GameShare lets you and up to three friends access a select few games for co-op gameplay. Better yet, if you're playing over local wireless, your friends can use your original Switch to play alongside you without needing to buy an extra copy of the game.
Nintendo shared more details about how this will work on the Nintendo Today! app. For instance, in Super Mario Odyssey, you can play the co-op mode where one player controls Mario while the other inhabits the orbiting sentient Cappy hat. Similarly, in Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and Super Mario 3D World + Bowser's Fury, you can play the two-player modes without needing to both use the same screen.
If you're playing online, GameShare is tied with Nintendo's new GameChat feature that lets players talk, stream games, and video chat with each other while on Switch 2. This means you'll be restricted to playing with Switch 2 units only, as the original Switch doesn't support any of this screen-sharing functionality. We would also love to see more games support this feature. I'm not the only one imagining how nice it would be to play Super Smash Bros. with my friends on the road without needing to huddle around a single, miniature display.
Considering the rising price of Nintendo's first-party titles—not to mention its limitations on game card file sizes incentivizing developers to adopt download-only games—GameShare is one of the few true pro-consumer upgrades coming to Switch 2. It means you and your friends don't necessarily need to all own a copy of these select games. As long as one of your friend group owns a Switch 2, the rest of your friends can play together in the same room or online.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
There Hasn't Been A James Bond Console Game Since 2012, And After Hearing About Barbara Broccoli's Restrictions, I Can Understand Why
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. As a James Bond fan, I will always raise my martini to the stewardship that Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson brought to the world of 007. While their selective nature has prevented things like spinoffs from taking flight, I hadn't realized how much of an effect that approach had on the world of Bond video games. So the fact that we have neither a new film or video game to speak for on the 2025 movie schedule is something that becomes a lot more understandable. During an appearance for the Grit podcast, former CEO of Activision-Blizzard Bobby Kotick made a pretty huge claim that I think we can all get behind. Citing Goldeneye 64 as 'what actually sold the N64,' he talked about a project that was supposed to succeed Rare and Nintendo's watershed tie-in video game. But as he began to lay out in his story, Kotick's frustrations sounded both familiar and understandable: We made a sequel, and it was a challenging thing to make, because Barbara Broccoli did not really want anything that was violence. And she didn't really want guns in the games. … We struggled with being able to actually get something done, that would be great. But I thought that making a Goldeneye sequel was a great idea. Let's all take a moment to breathe, and not shout at the top of our lungs about how a James Bond video game kind of needs gun play to be a somewhat accurate depiction of the character. I mean this is as odd as Nintendo's Goldeneye 64 request to have all the enemies you 'killed' during the game shown recovering in a hospital. Also, now that this restriction has come to light, the existence of 007 Racing kind of makes even more sense. Though the partnership with Activision as the license holder for the franchise's video game output seems a bit weird when keeping this in mind - especially with where gaming was going as Daniel Craig's James Bond movies were in theaters. Activision was nurturing Commander Bond's digital adventures around the same time the Call of Duty series was gaining popularity. One would think this would be the perfect handshake between skillset and licensing. But even with that stock in trade, Bobby Kotick still understood Barbara Broccoli's viewpoint, as seen in these continued comments on the matter: What I'll tell you is that she and her brother are great custodians for the IP, and I understood where she was coming from. She's like, 'You have kids that are gonna play it. So I don't want guns. Can you do something other than guns?', and I was like, 'No, because the expectation is gonna be the original Goldeneye. That's what we have to do.' I presume that this 'failed sequel' was eventually pivoted into one of Mr. Craig's limited video game outings, Goldeneye Reloaded. Which, frankly, is only outweighed in weirdness by 007 Legends - as both games tried to remake previous non-Craig pictures with the man himself in the lead. But things are about to get weirder, so please save your voices. . Before Activision had its moment in the digital sun, EA Games had the license for James Bond video games - which led to some brilliant efforts, like the ever collectible game Everything or Nothing. So having that company's former Chief Creative Officer Bing Gordon on hand for this conversation gave us all even more context behind these particular woes. Gordon and Bobby Kotick both compared notes at this point in the conversation. Which, as you'll read below, included these notes from meetings between both developers and the EON Productions brass: Bing Gordon: "At EA, what we heard was no fragging, you can't shoot anybody in the back, and there always had to be a big water scene at the beginning of the game. It was like, 'Ok, well we can put up the water scene, but you can't do an open world shooter where you can't shoot somebody from all 360-degrees.'" Bobby Kotick: "No, it started with, 'No shooting.' … I went to the meeting, I was like, '[It's] not gonna work.'" So much for my dream game in which a James Bond battle royale allows everyone to play as legendary heroes, villains and various characters. The fact that IO Interactive's upcoming game Project 007 has been radio silent for some time all of a sudden makes a lot of sense too, as these notes may have been limiting the gameplay while Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson were still in charge. While there have been more combat-limited titles, like the mobile game Cypher 007, we've seen a gaming drought the likes of which has never experienced. For Bing Gordon, that's even more understandable, as like it or not, his citation of fans knowing guns in Goldeneye like gear heads know the cars in their favorite racing games is 100% correct. I could see this as another reason why EON Productions has ceded creative control over James Bond to Amazon-MGM Studios. Between trying to get James Bond 26 off the ground and a developing video game set to tell a new origin story for 007, the pressures of maintaining the brand must have become quite intense. So while I'll without question miss EON Productions' command of the James Bond narrative, I'm also excited that producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman may have some more fun with video game projects, while acting as the 00-gatekeepers. For now, we'll just have to wait and see, as Bond 26 and Project 007 have no clear production or release dates in mind.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Nintendo Switch 2 games and accessories at Amazon, plus a hidden spot to buy the console
Nintendo Switch 2 games and accessories at Amazon, plus a hidden spot to buy the console Order games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Sonic X Shadow Generations here and find out who actually still has the console available to purchase. Show Caption Hide Caption Nintendo Switch 2 is finally here with a new Mario Kart game The new Nintendo Switch is now available. It retails for $449.99, and is expected to sell out fast due to heavy pre-order volume and low retail stock. The Nintendo Switch 2 has launched, and accessories and games are available on Amazon with fast shipping. Enhance your Switch 2 experience with screen protectors, cases, controllers, and charging docks. Popular games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Sonic X Shadow Generations are available for the new console. The Nintendo Switch 2 officially launched on June 5, and pretty much sold out immediately. If you were one of the lucky gamers to get your hands on the new tech, it is time to figure out what you're going to play and how you're going to make the most out of the coveted release. While you won't find the console itself on Amazon yet, there are still a ton of must-have accessories and games you can shop to help power up your play. From tempered glass screen protectors and carrying cases to wireless controllers and charging docks, you can totally customize and upgrade your Switch 2 experience at Amazon. Even better? USA TODAY Shopping did the work for you. We found popular games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Sonic X Shadow Generations for Nintendo Switch 2, gaming accessories, plus the only place you can actually still order the 2025 Nintendo Switch 2 right now. Whether you're shopping for yourself or grabbing a quick Father's Day gift, Amazon's fast shipping and wide selection make it easy to gear up and game on. Nintendo Switch 2 shopping guide Are original Nintendo Switch games compatible with the Switch 2? Yes, most original Nintendo Switch games work on the new Switch 2—and some are expected to run even better thanks to performance upgrades. Are Switch 2 accessories compatible with older gear? Good news—many Nintendo Switch accessories like Joy-Con controllers and docks work with the Switch 2. That said, some gear might need updates or replacements to function properly. Check out a few top picks for Nintendo Switch 2 accessory upgrades below. Buy at Amazon: ivoler 3-Pack Screen Protector Tempered Glass for Nintendo Switch 2 Buy at Amazon: JSAUX Thumb Grips for Nintendo Switch 2 The Nintendo Switch 2 sold out almost immediately at Walmart, Target, Sam's Club and GameStop. Lucky for you, we found it at StockX. The price might be higher than the original cost but if you want the console, you might have to pay. The Nintendo Switch 2 is a big leap forward from its predecessor. With a 1080p OLED display, 4K TV compatibility, magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers and built-in video chat capabilities, this 2025 gaming device is designed for both solo adventures and group gaming marathons. It even supports most original Switch games, so your library will stay relevant once you upgrade. More: The Lebron James Kenbassadors Doll is sold out everywhere: We found one available When did the Nintendo Switch 2 come out and how much is it? The Nintendo Switch 2 officially launched on June 5, 2025, with a retail price starting at $449.99. There was also a bundle with Mario Kart World released for $499.99. 📲 More: Follow USA TODAY Shopping on Instagram for deals, trends and more How much does Amazon Prime cost? New members can try one week of Amazon Prime benefits for just $1.99. After that, Prime costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. The annual plan will save you about $40 total compared to paying monthly. What are the benefits of an Amazon Prime membership? The biggest benefit for Amazon Prime members is same-day, one-day and two-day delivery options on millions of products. The free and fast delivery perk makes shopping more convenient than ever. The newest Prime benefit will come with the launch of Alexa+, Amazon's new virtual assistant. There will be a fee of $19.99 per month to utilize the new assistant, but that fee only applies to non-Prime members. Prime members will get Alexa+ for free. More: Is an Amazon Prime membership worth it? Here's what you need to know Shop popular Amazon deals
The Verge
3 hours ago
- The Verge
Nintendo Switch 2 webcam compatibility: it's a wild west
The Nintendo Switch 2 is more expensive in practically every way: pricier console, pricier games, an entire Chat button you'll eventually have to pay to use. So it was nice when Nintendo revealed you won't need its own $55 camera to video chat with pals. 'You can use the Nintendo Switch 2 camera accessory (sold separately) or any compatible USB-C® camera you'd like,' the company wrote. But you might be mighty disappointed if you simply buy a PC webcam off the shelf. Many USB-C webcams we've tried don't work at all, including the ones you'll typically find on 'best webcam' lists around the internet, like the Logitech Brio 4K, the Insta360 Link, and the Elgato Facecam MK.2. Meanwhile, ancient USB-A cameras like my Logitech C920 fire up instantly with no trouble at all. And in our testing, it doesn't seem to matter if you use USB-C or USB-A, whether you're going through a C-to-A adapter, whether you plug in via USB hub or the Switch's dock; the webcams that work, work, and the ones that don't, don't. Overall, it's starting to look like Nintendo didn't mean 'compatible with USB-C,' but rather 'compatible with Switch 2.' So why did it suggest you can use any camera you'd like? We've asked Nintendo. (It didn't have an answer for us just yet.) As of launch, neither Nintendo nor any major webcam manufacturer had even a partial list for us of compatible webcams. We asked Logitech, Razer, Microsoft, Anker, Elgato, Dell, Insta360, Obsbot, and Opal, but they didn't have anything yet. (We'll publish an update and/or a new story next week if they do.) In the meanwhile, it may be up to gamers and the media to create a list themselves. So here's a first stab at that! We confirmed it works with Switch 2 The official Nintendo Switch 2 Camera Logitech C920 Logitech C922 Logitech C270 Logitech Brio 300 A $10 USB endoscope, amusingly We confirmed it doesn't work Logitech Brio 4K Elgato Facecam MK.2 Insta360 Link Opal Tadpole Anker PowerConf C200 Obsbot Meet SE DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Android phone in webcam mode Reportedly works with Switch 2 (mostly from this Reddit thread) iPhone with USB-C to HDMI cable and HDMI to USB-C capture cable Razer Kiyo Pro Razer Kiyo Logitech StreamCam Logitech C930e Logitech C910 Logitech C615 Logitech C310 Logitech C250 Microsoft LifeCam 3000 Microsoft LifeCam Studio HP 4310 Lenovo WHWC500 (mostly from this Reddit thread) Opal C1 Elgato Facecam Pro Elgato Facecam Neo Elgato Facecam MK.1 Nexigo N60 Sony ZV-E10 Sony EyeToy PS5 HD Camera PS4 Camera Insta360 X3 Microsoft Xbox One Kinect To Nintendo's credit, it is incredibly easy to test which cameras do work with the console. Just go to Systems Settings > Controllers & Accessories > Test USB Camera and working ones will automatically display an image on the screen as soon as you plug them in. And to Elgato's credit, it tells The Verge it may try to update its cameras: 'For cameras that do not work, we will explore firmware updates to enable compatibility with Switch 2,' reads a statement via spokesperson Justin Ocbina.
