Latest news with #ChristopherDring
Metro
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
July Nintendo Direct removed three games at the last minute claim insiders
Insiders claim there's a good reason last week's Nintendo Direct was so disappointing: it's because Nintendo cut at least three games from the line-up without telling publishers. Video game rumours have become a cottage industry in recent years, with almost no major annoucement being made without first being leaked earlier. As a result, certain sources have become known as more reliable than others, so when NatetheHate said there would be a Nintendo Direct in late July most people believed him. He was right too, although in the end it turned out to be a Partner Direct, featuring only third party games, which is not what anyone anticipated. However, he's subsequently revealed that not only did he not know it was Partner Direct but neither did the publishers involved, in an interesting insight into how the video game rumourmill works and how close Nintendo, in particular, keeps things to their chest. According to NatetheHate, third party publishers are told they're in a Nintendo Direct but not the format of the show, presumably to stop leaks. Normal Nintendo Directs, featuring first party games, usually always feature at least some third party titles, so there's no way for publishers to know what the format will be, unless Nintendo tells them. Nintendo probably tells large companies like Square Enix, who are a close ally and had three titles in the Partner Showcase, but assuming NatetheHate's source is a smaller publisher it seems they're told as little as possible. Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. What's also interesting is how late in the day Nintendo seems to have made the decision about what would and wouldn't be in the Direct. This uncertainty has been common practice since the day of live reveals at E3, with publishers having multiple options that they only decide on literally at the last minute. Which is why even usually good sources can get information wrong when it comes to reveal events. The Game Business's Christopher Dring didn't participate in the initial rumours, but after the Direct he revealed that there were 'at least three games' that he was told were '100%' going to be a part of the Partner Showcase. More Trending His source was the publishers themselves, which implies the actual Direct was as big a surprise, and disappointment, to them as it was to everyone else. Dring gave no indication of what any of the games were, but many fans were disappointed that previously announced games such as Elden Ring and Final Fantasy 7 Remake were not part of the event. That doesn't guarantee they were amongst the games cut at the last minute but perhaps the bigger question is why did Nintendo remove them and when will they be revealed? With the Direct featuring so few big name titles it's hard to understand why Nintendo went through with the event at all, and didn't just postpone it to later, but then understanding Nintendo has always been near impossible, even with insider leaks… Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Games Inbox: What year will PS6 be released? MORE: Gradius Origins interview – 'This is truly a wonderful thing' MORE: Gradius Origins review – shooting the core in Salamander 3
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sony hikes PlayStation 5 prices by 25% in UK, Europe and Australia
Sony said it will raise prices starting on Monday for some PlayStation 5 video game consoles in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, citing global economic turmoil. The company unveiled the price hikes of at least 10%, saying it was a 'tough decision' driven by the 'backdrop of a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates.' The recommended retail price for a PS5 Digital Edition will go up to €499 in Europe, according to a post on Sunday on the official PlayStation blog. That's up from €449 in a previously announced pricing update in 2022. In the United Kingdom, the new price will be £430 (€498.3), up from £389 (€450.7) previously while in Australia the price will increase to AUD 749(€415.7) from AUD 649 (€360.2). The price in New Zealand will rise to NZD 859 (€442.9). The PS5 Digital Edition is a slimmed-down version of the console that comes without a disc drive. Sony said the price in Europe and the UK for the standard PlayStation 5, which was released in 2020 and comes with a Blu-ray Disc drive, will remain unchanged, as will the price for the PS5 Pro version, which was released last year. US President Donald Trump's move earlier this month to impose tariffs on nations around the world has roiled global manufacturing supply chains. An announcement over the weekend of electronic imports like smartphones and laptops getting a temporary reprieve until the US government decides on a new tariff approach tailored to the semiconductor industry has further confused exporters. With the US market being the biggest one for video game consoles, a PlayStation 5 price increase in the US could have significant consequences for Sony's revenues. Referring to the US, Christopher Dring, editor-in-chief and co-founder of The Game Business, said, as reported by the BBC: "Rather than simply increase prices there, it's possible the likes of PlayStation could increase pricing globally in an effort to protect, as best they can, the US market." He added: "Ultimately, the era when game consoles went down in price over time is certainly over." Sony's price hike also comes as rival Nintendo recently revealed that its Switch 2 console launch would be delayed indefinitely, while the company assesses demand. Nintendo will also suspend US pre-orders for the Switch 2, in order to be able to monitor evolving market conditions and the impact of tariffs. The price increase comes as Nintendo's launch of its rival Switch 2 console was marred by the impact of US tariffs on markets worldwide. Sign in to access your portfolio
Euronews
14-04-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Sony hikes PlayStation 5 prices by 25% in UK, Europe and Australia
ADVERTISEMENT Sony said it will raise prices starting on Monday for some PlayStation 5 video game consoles in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, citing global economic turmoil. The company unveiled the price hikes of at least 10%, saying it was a 'tough decision' driven by the 'backdrop of a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates.' The recommended retail price for a PS5 Digital Edition will go up to €499 in Europe, according to a post on Sunday on the official PlayStation blog. That's up from €449 in a previously announced pricing update in 2022. In the United Kingdom, the new price will be £430 (€498.3), up from £389 (€450.7) previously while in Australia the price will increase to AUD 749(€415.7) from AUD 649 (€360.2). The price in New Zealand will rise to NZD 859 (€442.9). The PS5 Digital Edition is a slimmed-down version of the console that comes without a disc drive. Sony said the price in Europe and the UK for the standard PlayStation 5, which was released in 2020 and comes with a Blu-ray Disc drive, will remain unchanged, as will the price for the PS5 Pro version, which was released last year. US President Donald Trump's move earlier this month to impose tariffs on nations around the world has roiled global manufacturing supply chains. An announcement over the weekend of electronic imports like smartphones and laptops getting a temporary reprieve until the US government decides on a new tariff approach tailored to the semiconductor industry has further confused exporters. Sony could be attempting to protect US market With the US market being the biggest one for video game consoles, a PlayStation 5 price increase in the US could have significant consequences for Sony's revenues. Referring to the US, Christopher Dring, editor-in-chief and co-founder of The Game Business, said, as reported by the BBC: "Rather than simply increase prices there, it's possible the likes of PlayStation could increase pricing globally in an effort to protect, as best they can, the US market." He added: "Ultimately, the era when game consoles went down in price over time is certainly over." Sony's price hike also comes as rival Nintendo recently revealed that its Switch 2 console launch would be delayed indefinitely, while the company assesses demand. Nintendo will also suspend US pre-orders for the Switch 2, in order to be able to monitor evolving market conditions and the impact of tariffs. The price increase comes as Nintendo's launch of its rival Switch 2 console was marred by the impact of US tariffs on markets worldwide.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I played the £75 Mario Kart World on Switch 2 - was it worth it?
After months of speculation, Nintendo has confirmed the successor to its wildly popular Switch console will be released on 5 June, when it will cost £395.99 to buy in the UK. But it's not so much of the price of the Switch 2 but its games that have been raising eyebrows, with the new Mario Kart World that is being released alongside it coming in at a whopping £74.99 for a physical copy. Fans will have to wait weeks before seeing what the new console and game are like - and whether they are worth that sort of money - but here's what I found when Nintendo gave me a chance to try them both out. When I first got my hands on the Switch 2, one thing became very clear to me - like the name suggests, Nintendo wants you to know this is a direct sequel to the Switch. This isn't like the jump from the Wii to the confusingly named Wii U, swapping motion controllers for a tablet that looked dated even back when the console released. Instead, the Switch 2 looks and feels just like its predecessor, with buttons in the places you'd expect - and a much larger (and nicer) screen. It's fair to say Mario Kart World makes a fantastic first impression, thanks to the console having more power under the hood. It looks spectacular compared to previous Switch titles, though we're still talking about cartoony graphics - make no mistake, the console is more powerful but it's no match for the higher spec PlayStation 5, let alone PS5 Pro. And in my three races the standout feature wasn't the swishy new graphics or the controller, it was a trick that is becoming Nintendo's hallmark: making the new feel familiar. Despite having never picked up a Switch 2, I stormed my way to consecutive first place finishes, much to the chagrin of those around me. But it doesn't come cheap. The digital version of the game costs £66.99, it's another £8 on top of that for a physical copy - or pay an an extra £34.99 for a version of the Switch 2 with it built-in, something which pushes the console price to £429.99. According to industry expert Christopher Dring, these wallet-emptying prices are down to the costs involved in manufacturing - and President Donald Trump's tariff blitz. 'These cartridges are exclusively made in Japan, which is a country that's just been hit with a 24% tariff from the US Government, and the threat of those tariffs may have impacted Nintendo's pricing decisions globally,' he said. But there's more to the Switch 2 than Mario Kart. Fans will no doubt have been excited to see the hotly anticipated Metroid Prime 4, the first game in the series in 18 years. But while they will be familiar with the typical way of playing - moving and aiming with joysticks and shooting with the "A" button - there's a significant new feature too. At any point in the game you can rotate the controller, put it on a surface and use it like a mouse. Fans of PC games will immediately feel at home with this, and it's a neat bit of engineering to be able to switch up on-the-fly without having to enter any menus. The optical mouse controls pop up elsewhere too, with PC strategy game Civilization VII a game that massively benefits. But in both cases, I do wonder how long you can play with the controller like this before the ergonomics become an issue. I have to admit I found myself wondering why I wasn't just playing on my PC with mouse controls and a comfortable resting position. Still, the fact that this is built in to the hardware means we may see the Switch 2 as the obvious home of future PC ports to home consoles. And there is another trick up Nintendo's sleeve - both controllers can be held like this and used as mice, opening up some interesting possibilities. In particular, futuristic wheelchair basketball game Drag x Drive, where both "mice" are pushed to mimic moving wheels. Elsewhere, Donkey Kong Bananza will be the first time the ape mascot has had a 3D platforming game of his own in 25 years, so there was some pressure on Nintendo to deliver a game which justified the wait. For lack of a better term it's a destruct-em-up - you can destroy much of the floor and scenery in each level. But there's that dreaded price news again. A digital copy will cost £58.99, while a physical copy retails at £66.99. It seems Nintendo has a lot to offer Switch fans - but it will be taking a fair bit from them too. Some other titles I got to see in action were updated versions of Cyberpunk 2077 and Yakuza 0 - both of which big hitters on rival consoles which were deemed too complex to run on the original Switch. Like the other Switch 2 games, they looked good - and of course they will benefit as the new console, like the original, can play games on the go. The original Switch created the genre of the hybrid console - one which works on a TV and as a portable system. But since that launch in 2017, things have changed a bit. Now, it has a rival in the Steam Deck, a hybrid machine with the power to play most PC games. Nintendo would say something its rivals don't have is that long list of exclusive titles. But there is a bit of a theme here: Nintendo has consciously gone for continuity. The console is the Switch 2, rather than having a completely new name. Many of those exclusives Nintendo is so proud of are new games in established series, while others are remasters of modern classics. I had great experiences with these games in the 20 minutes I had with them. But for fans to get value for those high prices they will want something that holds up over weeks and months of gameplay. Will the Switch 2's slick nostalgia hit provide that? We'll start to find out in June.
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
I played the £75 Mario Kart World on Switch 2 - was it worth it?
After months of speculation, Nintendo has confirmed the successor to its wildly popular Switch console will be released on June 5, when it will cost £395.99 to buy in the it's not so much of the price of the Switch 2 but its games that have been raising eyebrows, with the new Mario Kart World that is being released alongside it coming in at a whopping £74.99 for a physical will have to wait weeks before seeing what the new console and game are like - and whether they are worth that sort of money - but here's what I found when Nintendo gave me a chance to try them both I first got my hands on the Switch 2, one thing became very clear to me - like the name suggests, Nintendo wants you to know this is a direct sequel to the isn't like the jump from the Wii to the confusingly named Wii U, swapping motion controllers for a tablet that looked dated even back when the console the Switch 2 looks and feels just like its predecessor, with buttons in the places you'd expect - and a much larger (and nicer) screen. What's it like to play? It's fair to say Mario Kart World makes a fantastic first impression, thanks to the console having more power under the looks spectacular compared to previous Switch titles, though we're still talking about cartoony graphics - make no mistake, the console is more powerful but it's no match for the higher spec PlayStation 5, let alone PS5 in my three races the standout feature wasn't the swishy new graphics or the controller, it was a trick that is becoming Nintendo's hallmark: making the new feel having never picked up a Switch 2, I stormed my way to consecutive first place finishes, much to the chagrin of those around me. But it doesn't come digital version of the game costs £66.99, it's another £8 on top of that for a physical copy - or pay an an extra £34.99 for a version of the Switch 2 with it built-in, something which pushes the console price to £ to industry expert Christopher Dring, these wallet-emptying prices are down to the costs involved in manufacturing - and President Donald Trump's tariff blitz.'These cartridges are exclusively made in Japan, which is a country that's just been hit with a 24% tariff from the US Government, and the threat of those tariffs may have impacted Nintendo's pricing decisions globally,' he said. Mouse control and Donkey Kong destruction But there's more to the Switch 2 than Mario will no doubt have been excited to see the hotly anticipated Metroid Prime 4, the first game in the series in 18 years. But while they will be familiar with the typical way of playing - moving and aiming with joysticks and shooting with the "A" button - there's a significant new feature any point in the game you can rotate the controller, put it on a surface and use it like a mouse. Fans of PC games will immediately feel at home with this, and it's a neat bit of engineering to be able to switch up on-the-fly without having to enter any menus. The optical mouse controls pop up elsewhere too, with PC strategy game Civilization VII a game that massively in both cases, I do wonder how long you can play with the controller like this before the ergonomics become an issue. I have to admit I found myself wondering why I wasn't just playing on my PC with mouse controls and a comfortable resting the fact that this is built in to the hardware means we may see the Switch 2 as the obvious home of future PC ports to home there is another trick up Nintendo's sleeve - both controllers can be held like this and used as mice, opening up some interesting possibilities. In particular, futuristic wheelchair basketball game Drag x Drive, where both "mice" are pushed to mimic moving Donkey Kong Bananza will be the first time the ape mascot has had a platforming game of his own in 25 years, so there was some pressure on Nintendo to deliver a game which justified the wait. For lack of a better term it's a destruct-em-up - you can destroy much of the floor and scenery in each there's that dreaded price news again. A digital copy will cost £58.99, while a physical copy retails at £ seems Nintendo has a lot to offer Switch fans - but it will be taking a fair bit from them too. Rivals and originals Some other titles I got to see in action were updated versions of Cyberpunk 2077 and Yakuza 0 - both of which big hitters on rival consoles which were deemed too complex to run on the original the other Switch 2 games, they looked good - and of course they will benefit as the new console, like the original, can play games on the original Switch created the genre of the hybrid console - one which works on a TV and as a portable since that launch in 2017, things have changed a it has a rival in the Steam Deck, a hybrid machine with the power to play most PC would say something its rivals don't have is that long list of exclusive there is a bit of a theme here: Nintendo has consciously gone for console is the Switch 2, rather than having a completely new name. Many of those exclusives Nintendo is so proud of are new games in established series, while others are remasters of modern classics. I had great experiences with these games in the 20 minutes I had with for fans to get value for those high prices they will want something that holds up over weeks and months of the Switch 2's slick nostalgia hit provide that? We'll start to see from 5 June.
