The Morning After: Our verdict on the Switch 2
You forget how much of a hit, how much of a turnaround, the Nintendo Switch turned out to be. After the major wobble (and baffling form factor) of the Wii U, Nintendo came back with a hybrid console that would replace and fuse its handheld and home console lineages. The console had no right being as playable (and enjoyable) as it was.
Now, finally, its successor has landed . And for once, Nintendo's calling its new console a sequel. Nintendo took the best features from the original and upgraded nearly all of them.
The major upgrades in hardware include a bigger 7.9-inch LCD screen, a more mature design that feels more solid and significantly upgraded performance and power. The only major drawback is battery life. Nintendo says it should provide between 2 and 6.5 hours of runtime on a single charge, but that depends on how resource-intensive your games are.
According to Sam Rutherford's review testing: 'In Mario Kart World , the Switch 2 lasted two hours and 23 minutes, which is on the lower end of Nintendo's official estimate. Meanwhile, in the NS2 edition of Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild , the console fared a bit better with a time of 2:56.' Compared to the OLED Switch's battery life, it's a reduction, but it's also equivalent to other high-powered handhelds, like the ROG Ally X and Steam Deck.
Check out our full review (and perhaps our guide to the best games on the original Switch — because backward compatibility).,
— Mat Smith
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If you're struggling to find a good present for Father's Day, MasterClass has discounted its subscriptions by up to 50 percent. I grabbed a similar deal for myself, unfortunately only 40 percent off, and I've been pleasantly surprised at the solid interface and how many courses are available. Many course videos can even be downloaded for viewing offline.
Continue reading.
Nothing CEO Carl Pei has been teasing this news since April, but now it's official: You might actually be able to buy the company's next flagship phone. The Nothing Phone 3 will be available to purchase from Amazon or directly from the company. Until now, only the Phone 2 has made it to general sale in the US. For the other models (including the very impressive Phone 3a), users would have to buy a unit via a beta program, which has no after-sale support. Any caveats? Well, there will be no carrier discount. The Phone 3 will support 4G and 5G with AT&T and T-Mobile. While there's no explicit support for Verizon, the Phone 2 worked well with its network, so that'll probably be the case with the third phone.
How much? There's no official US price yet. Pei recently said it would cost £800 in the UK at launch, which would translate to around $1,080 in US dollars.
Continue reading.
Infinite Machine made waves with its retro-futuristic P1 electric bike, and now it's back with the Olto. Its new e-bike boasts 40 miles of range and a top speed of 33 mph, with a 20 mph limit while riding in the bike lane.
Just like the P1, the Olto e-bike looks both futuristic and retro, (like a transformer that turns into a vape.) What's notable is it can carry two riders at the same time, and you can add accessories, like child carriers.
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The Verge
4 hours ago
- The Verge
Answering the Nintendo Switch 2's lingering accessibility questions
One of the biggest surprises of the Nintendo Switch 2's reveal was its proposed accessibility. For years, Nintendo has been known for accidentally stumbling on accessibility solutions while stubbornly refusing to engage with the broader subject. Yet, in the Switch 2, there appeared a more holistic approach to accessibility for which disabled players have been crying out. This was supported by a webpage dedicated to the Switch 2's hardware accessibility. However, specifics were thin and no further information emerged ahead of the Switch 2's debut. Now, having spent the last week with the Switch 2, I've found that this limited information hid, aside from a few missteps, an impressive suite of system-level accessibility considerations and advances that somewhat offset the otherwise gradual update the Switch 2 represents. But as we finally answer lingering accessibility questions over the Switch 2, there's a nagging sense that this information should have been readily available ahead of launch. How intuitive is the setup? Very, but blind players may need assistance I tend to find setup procedures dense and unapproachable thanks to cognitive disability. Yet I was pleasantly surprised at how breezy the Switch 2's setup was. Aside from a few hiccups trying to decipher Virtual Game Cards (a feature I ended up opting out of), the whole process was intuitive and fast. Accessibility features, however, are not available during setup. The console's text-to-speech is not enabled by default, nor can you access text sizing and zoom options. This will represent a significant barrier to entry for some, and blind players may require sighted assistance during setup. Are Switch controllers and Joy-Cons compatible with the Switch 2? Yes, including the Hori Flex The increased size of the Joy-Con 2 feels better this time around, as does the Joy-Con 2 grip. But the controller size and the grip's unergonomic square shape still don't take long to incite my hand pain. Fortunately, Switch controllers and Joy-Cons are usable on the Switch 2, and the ability to default to the original Pro Controller is welcome. It's encouraging that you can pair other controllers with the Switch 2 using peripherals like the Magic-S Pro 2. Though, given recent trends in third-party peripheral support, I'd be reluctant to suggest that support is here to stay. We're already seeing some connectivity issues around third-party controllers, especially 8BitDo gamepads, with 8BitDo working on updates to get those working with the Switch 2. What is supported, however, is Nintendo's licensed adaptive controller: the Hori Flex. This works docked and in tabletop mode for games that don't require mouse controls (some other features, like motion controls, may also cause issues). Keep in mind, you will need a USB-A to USB-C adapter to connect in tabletop mode. Can you connect a USB keyboard? Yes Not everyone finds onscreen keyboards intuitive or accessible. The good news is you can connect a USB keyboard through the console's USB-C ports and use that instead, including during setup. What is the text-to-speech speed? It's inconsistent, but US English is 120–130 words per minute on average We have no official number on the speed at which the Switch 2's text-to-speech reads, but we can estimate. Using the information the system reads when you enable text-to-speech, we've found that both voice options averaged around 120–130 words per minute in US English. For UK English, it was 130–140 words per minute. Different languages will see different rates. There was some inconsistency in repeated tests that could not be accounted for simply by considering when timers were started and stopped. That's not the only quirk in the system. Players should be aware there is a noticeable delay between landing on a menu option and the text-to-speech kicking in. Similarly, during testing, toggling text-to-speech off led to a notification with the word 'disabled.' Reenabling the function without moving out of the accessibility menu, however, did not lead to anything suggesting text-to-speech was back on. All told, however, it's a good system, controlled by a discrete speed slider that ranges from 50 percent to 300 percent. The slowest rate for US English users reads at around 60–70 words per minute and the max speed, where many blind players operate, is in the region of 400–420 words per minute. What screens don't support text-to-speech? The eShop When enabling text-to-speech, you're told the function may not be supported on all screens. As things stand, it looks like text-to-speech works across all system-level menus, but not on the Nintendo eShop. Given this is the first place most players visit after setup, that's an oversight that needs rectifying soon. Most games also don't support system-level text-to-speech, including Mario Kart World. Can you adjust the Switch 2's audio balance? No Outside the ability to toggle mono audio — an important feature for hard-of-hearing players — greater audio customization is not available on the Switch 2 at a system level. Does GameChat's speech-to-text transcribe swearing? You bet it fucking does! You may already know that GameChat's speech-to-text will transcribe swear words. While this was reported widely as a bit of fun, it's also an important accessibility feature that allows users — especially deaf players — to engage fully with in-game communication without having to decipher improper transcription and censored text. It's not perfect. You may find speech-to-text swaps in odd words at times, but this is an error rather than censorship of specific terms. Can you remap controls? At a system level, yes Within the Switch 2's settings, players can remap all inputs on connected controllers, and do so for each Joy-Con independently. You can also toggle the ability to access this menu at any time from the Switch 2's quick menu, accessed by holding Home. Unfortunately, current evidence suggests this option will not be present in Nintendo's first-party games. Mario Kart World does not include any remapping options. Some might ask why this is a problem if system-level input rebinding exists, but in-game options for remapping are more instructive and convenient, and they limit rebindings to specific actions in-game rather than having to continuously rebind on a system level for every game. Being able to remap on the fly through the quick menu only mitigates this so much. This is something Nintendo appears to understand, allowing remapping in the new GameCube games available to Switch Online subscribers. A quiet win overall It all adds up to an impressive suite of accessibility features and customization that will, hopefully, grow in time. The strange part is that Nintendo is being so quiet about it. The Verge reached out multiple times for clarification on the Switch 2's accessibility and for more information relating to the questions above, but Nintendo didn't respond. One might expect that points to an internal awareness that features aren't as robust as they should be. Outside a few missteps, however, this is a significant accessibility win and one would think Nintendo would want it out there. More importantly, and this is a lesson to anyone releasing a device or game: players need clear accessibility information ahead of release to make informed buying decisions and secure any help that might be needed. Nintendo's shift to greater accessibility is welcome. But in restricting the flow of information before release, the win is tempered somewhat by Nintendo's willingness to keep its players in the dark.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Nintendo Switch 2 restock tracker (June 13): Walmart has the console in stock, but there's a catch
All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission. — We have good news and bad news. The good news? Walmart has both the Nintendo Switch 2 and the Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle in stock. The bad news? It looks like the consoles are being sold by third-party sellers — and with jacked-up prices. The bundle normally retails at Walmart for $499, but it's currently listed for sale from sellers like "GAMES FOR US" for $749. Here at Mashable, we do not recommend feeding trolls or price gougers, but Switch 2 restocks have been so rare, we wanted to provide this update. Unfortunately, it looks like price gougers have officially come for the Switch 2, and not just on eBay. Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $749 at Walmart Shop Now The Nintendo Switch 2 launch day has come and gone, and those lucky enough to get a console are already happily playing Mario Kart World and other launch titles. Starting on June 5, gamers could finally purchase the Switch 2 console for $449.99 and the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle for $499.99 — if you could find it in stock. Costco had inventory available on June 5, and Target started selling its inventory online on June 6, but as of this writing, it's out of stock. GameStop and Staples at least have tools that let you check available stock at nearby stores. Walmart does have inventory available, but only from third-party resellers, not an official Switch 2 restock. Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Buy the Switch 2 console at Walmart Check prices at Walmart Shop Now So, where can you buy the Switch 2 online? Check for Switch 2 restocks at the My Nintendo Store and via Nintendo online retailers. When all else fails, you can smash that refresh button like it's your first time playing Super Smash Bros. Buy the Switch 2 at Nintendo Buy the Switch 2 at Walmart — Third-party sellers Buy the Switch 2 at GameStop — Check stock in stores Buy the Switch 2 at Best Buy — Check stock in stores But the Switch 2 at Costco — Unavailable Buy the Switch 2 at Target — Unavailable Staples — Check stock in stores Credit: Nintendo To avoid hoarding and reselling, Nintendo and retailers are limiting orders per person. That means you'll need to make an account to successfully place an order. We also recommend reviewing our tips for tracking restocks, and in the meantime, try all the links below. You can't simply go to the My Nintendo Store and buy the Switch 2. To order the Switch 2, you need to log in with an active, paid Nintendo Switch Online account. Once you do that, you can choose either a Switch 2 standalone console or the Mario Kart World bundle and then hit the confirm button to "register your interest" in ordering a Switch 2. Now for the weird stuff. Only Switch Online members who have paid for at least 12 months of service and registered at least 50 hours of gameplay on their Switch consoles can purchase through Nintendo. In other words, you better be a true Switch gamer if you want to buy the Switch 2 this way. If you're eligible and follow these steps, watch your email for an invitation link. Buy the Switch 2 at Nintendo: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449.99 Learn More Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499 Learn More Unlike Nintendo, purchasing the Switch 2 online at Walmart is pretty simple. Technically, Walmart shoppers have been able to preorder Switch 2 consoles on Walmart's website since midnight ET on April 24. In reality, the console has been sold out consistently. Our advice? Go to the Walmart Switch 2 listing a few times a day and smash that refresh button, but be wary of price gougers. We'll update this article as soon as we find Switch 2 consoles in stock at Walmart (or anywhere). Walmart also sells a lot of Switch 2 launch titles and accessories. Buy the Switch 2 at Walmart: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449 Shop Now Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 Shop Now Target stores opened as usual on launch day, and according to a press release, Switch 2 hopefuls were directed to a "designated queuing location" near the entrance. Target workers reportedly gave out reservation tickets to a lucky few. Buyers were whisked off to the electronics department, where they could finally purchase either the Switch 2 or a Switch 2 bundle. Buy the Switch 2 at Target: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449.99 Shop Now Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 Shop Now GameStop is the one retailer of the four listed here that's doing things a little bit differently. If you were lucky enough to get a GameStop preorder, you could pick up your console at midnight on June 5. GameStop stores also hosted midnight launch events (though supplies were limited), and gamers can go to GameStop locations to participate in a "Transfer and Trade," where they trade in their original Switch and transfer data to the new console. You can also try your luck online or sign up to get updates when new inventory becomes available. You can also buy Switch 2 games and accessories at GameStop, including those all-important MicroSD Express cards. Buy the Switch 2 at GameStop: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449.99 Shop Now Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 Shop Now Best Buy joined GameStop in hosting Switch 2 midnight launch parties, but the tents and lawn chairs have been packed away by now. If you weren't one of the chosen ones who got a console at these events, you'll have to rely on the Best Buy website. So far, we haven't seen any inventory available, unfortunately. As a 'high-demand item,' Best Buy customers have to follow specific steps to buy a Switch 2 online: Create a My Best Buy account and sign in Confirm your location Add the item to your cart Follow the on-screen prompts and check for available inventory If you get a Switch 2 console in your cart, you'll have 10 minutes to complete the purchase Buy the Switch 2 at Best Buy: Nintendo Switch 2 console $449.99 Shop Now Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 Shop Now You'll notice there's one major retailer conspicuously missing so far — Amazon. That's because Amazon is not an official Nintendo retailer, so any Switch 2 consoles you find there are likely listed by resellers of dubious legitimacy. However, Amazon shoppers can preorder some Switch 2 titles ahead of the launch. Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Daemon X Machina Titanic Scion Limited Edition $99.99 at Amazon Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Rune Factory Guardians of Azuma Standard Edition $69.99 at Amazon Shop Now As we noted in our Switch 2 preorder guide, select Staples stores will sell the Switch 2 on a first-come, first-served basis starting June 5. Most Staples locations open at 8 a.m., but we recommend showing up bright and early. Staples will also be selling an unnamed Switch 2 game bundle, and we know it's not the standard Mario Kart World bundle. As with other retailers, Switch 2 consoles are currently listed as "Out of stock" at the Staples online store. Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 at Staples Learn More Are you a Costco member? Then you may be able to secure your Switch 2 at the mega-retailer, which has been one of the few retailers with actual inventory available on June 5. Costco members can purchase the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle online starting June 5, though there's a limit of one console per membership (every seven days). As of this writing, the console and Mario Kart bundle are both sold out. Opens in a new window Credit: Costco Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle $499.99 at Costco Learn More Simply put, it's a matter of demand far outpacing supply, though tariffs definitely didn't help. Since opening for preorder on April 24, the Switch 2 has been sold out pretty much everywhere, like the PS5 before it. In fact, so many gamers tried to place preorders on April 24 that they immediately crashed the GameStop, Target, and Walmart websites. That's left many Switch fans wondering how to buy the Switch 2 online. So, if you aren't buying a Switch 2 in person, keep checking this page for the latest stock updates on Switch 2 launch day and beyond. If you want to console yourself by stocking up on Switch 2 accessories, chargers, and cameras, these products are much easier to "Add to cart." Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Hori Piranha Plant Camera $59 at Walmart Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller $84.99 at Target Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung microSD Express Card for Nintendo Switch 2 (256GB) $59.99 at Target Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip $39.99 at Nintendo Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo GameCube Controller $64.99 at Nintendo Shop Now Mashable reporter Alex Perry plays the Switch 2 at a Nintendo event. Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable Mashable reporter Alex Perry was lucky enough to play the Switch 2 at two Nintendo pre-launch events, and as of this writing, he's hard at work testing his Switch 2 review unit. We've published his day one review, and check back for a full review next week. To sum up his thoughts, while there are a couple of annoying setup quirks, the new console is a big step forward and just as much fun as you'd hoped. You can also read all about the Switch 2 launch titles we're most excited to play. "I think it's awesome," Perry wrote in his Switch 2 early review. "Most of the games I've played have been impressive in one way or another, and the hardware is a clear improvement over the first Switch. It's not perfect, but nothing is." And if you still haven't secured an order, keep checking this page for updates — and good luck! UPDATE: Jun. 8, 2025, 8:15 a.m. EDT We've updated this page with the latest stock updates from Target, Best Buy, Walmart, GameStop, Costco, and Staples.
Digital Trends
5 hours ago
- Digital Trends
Don't sleep on the Nintendo Switch 2's most underrated launch game
The Nintendo Switch 2 has officially been out in the world for a full week. In that time, I've completed Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, beaten every cup in Mario Kart World, and even dipped into some upgraded games like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. If you're in the same boat, then the wait until Donkey Kong Bananza's July 17 release probably seems excruciating right now. What are you going to play until then? Maybe it's a good time to check out the Nintendo Switch 2's other launch game. Fast Fusion, the latest racing game by Shin'en, launched on June 5 alongside the Nintendo Switch 2. As you can imagine, the small release was a bit overshadowed by Mario Kart World on day one. I had skipped it myself until a few days ago when I realized that it only costs $15, making it one of the system's least expensive new games. I picked it up out of pure curiosity, and I'm very glad I did. If you squint your eyes, Fast Fusion is basically an F-Zero game — and a very good one at that. Recommended Videos Fast Fusion is the fourth game in what's been dubbed Shin'en's fast series, which started back on the Wii. It's a follow up to Fast RMX, which just so happened to be a launch title for the original Nintendo Switch. Fast Fusion follows that same trajectory, acting as an indie showpiece for what the new hardware is capable of. Like previous entries, Fast Fusion is all about speed and death-defying risks. It's an antigravity racing game that's very much cut from the same cloth as F-Zero GX (which, coincidentally, is also available on Nintendo Switch 2 now via its GameCube library). There are no items or tricks like drifting. Instead, races are straightforward tests of skill. Boosting is fundamental to victory, as players need to constantly manage an energy gauge that can be topped off by collecting orbs. There's a tremendous sense of speed here that's made possible by a stable performance mode that keeps things moving at 60 frames per second, though resolution takes a notable hit in that trade off. The other twist is that cars have two color-coded forms, which can be flipped on the fly with a button. Doing so is crucial for taking advantage of boost strips, which will only work if the car matches its color when gliding over it. It's a small feature, but one that means that players always need to be ready to react quickly to maximize their speed. Fast Fusion is all about being reactive while carefully mitigating risks. For instance, I can press a button to send my car flying into the air. It's a great trick that's especially useful when launching off of slopes, as it can allow me to reach hidden shortcuts and alternate routes on occasionally fractured tracks. Some boost orbs are suspended in the air too, tempting me to leap up and grab them. But jumping can be dangerous too, as hitting the ground wrong or overshooting my landing by triggering an overeager boost might leave my car totaled. A skilled racer will learn how to practice restraint, gauging exactly when and how far to jump on any given track. It's a game for people who love mastering tracks with consistent results and chopping down their best times. As you can likely guess by its $15 price tag, Fast Fusion is a relatively small game. It features a handful of cups, time trials, and a pro mode that ends the race when your car explodes. That's rounded out by a simple progression hook, as new cups, cars, and difficulties need to be unlocked with the cash earned from winning. It can get a little dull to grind the first few cups over and over to get more content early on, but the racing is exciting enough to make it worthwhile. The thing that makes it worth buying, though, is that it utilizes the Switch 2's new GameShare feature. That means that you can play it with a friend on another console even if they don't own it. You can even get on GameChat, share it through there, and instantly start playing with someone on the other side of the country. Considering that only a handful of Nintendo games currently use the feature, Fast Fusion is the best test case for it currently. I know that I won't get quite as much time out of Fast Fusion as I will Mario Kart World, but it's really scratching that F-Zero itch for me right now. I'm having a blast as I learn to master tracks, calculating exactly where I can jump from to grab a constant stream of boost orbs. I'm steadily working my way up to the pro mode as I hunt for the perfect car to suit my playstyle. Whether you're looking for a more technical racing game or simply don't want to spend $80 on Mario Kart, Fast Fusion is an excellent way to fill the gap until the Switch 2's next big game. Fast Fusion is out now on Nintendo Switch 2.
