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CBC
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Nintendo's Switch 2 finally arrives with big hype and new features — but a higher cost
At the stroke of midnight Thursday, after hours of waiting, diehard Nintendo fans rushed into an EB Games store on Yonge Street in the heart of downtown Toronto to get their hands on the long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2. They cheered as confetti rained down and staff cut a big red ribbon to mark the arrival of Nintendo's first game system launch in eight years. And with it comes the release of Mario Kart World, the latest iteration in the company's flagship game series. The game system retails for $629, or $699 if you get it bundled with the new game. Nintendo Canada general manager Susan Pennefather says there has been a "tremendous outpouring of love and appreciation" from Switch fans, who either signed up to pre-order the console or waited dutifully in lines across the country for the 12 a.m. ET release. Pennefather spoke with CBC News outside the EB Games store in Toronto. The Japanese company, which has been producing home video game systems since 1985, will do its best to keep up with customer demand, she says. For those who didn't pre-order, plenty of units have been shipped to Canadian retail stores, she said. "Nintendo always looks at what the best consumer experience is going to be and they build their systems and their games around that." WATCH | Gamers flock to late-night store openings to nab new Nintendo Switch 2: Gamers gather in Toronto for sale of long-awaited Nintendo Switch 2 26 minutes ago Duration 0:38 After an eight-year wait, the Nintendo Switch 2 went on sale at midnight Thursday. Fans waited all day outside the EB Games store in downtown Toronto to be the first to get their hands on the updated videogame console. Here's what's new with the Switch 2 The new console comes with a larger and higher resolution screen than its predecessor, with improved processing power, offering smoother and more vivid graphics. Central to its updated system is a new "C" button on its controller, which will launch a "GameChat" feature that requires a subscription to Nintendo's Switch Online service. It allows players to communicate and share their game screen with others while playing. A built-in microphone will also allow voice-chatting with other gamers. Nintendo has said it expects to sell 15 million Switch 2 consoles for the fiscal year through March 2026. The company has also promised to roll out attractive new titles for the Switch 2 later this year, including Donkey Kong Bananza, Metroid Prime 4, a Pokemon instalment and a Kirby game, as well as offerings from outside software companies. Video game critic Victor Lucas says the upgrades justify the price. "You do have to take into consideration that this is a very robust piece of hardware," he said. "We're going to see games running at [up to] 120 frames per second, and that's going to mean really smooth animations on screen." Lucas, who is the host and creator of The Electric Playground YouTube channel, says the company did indeed listen to what its customers wanted and built on what they loved about the original Switch. "The Switch 1 really just knocked our socks off with its hybrid functionality. You could take it out anywhere you wanted to go and play these massive AAA games like The Legend of Zelda on planes or trains or wherever," he said. Aside from battery power, he says Nintendo also revamped the overall design so that the controller now attaches magnetically rather than having to slide into rails on the side of the device. "It's a lot more refined," he said. "The Switch 2 is a much more premium-feeling, much more powerful new console from Nintendo." WATCH | Video game critic Victor Lucas breaks down Nintendo Switch 2 updates: Videogame critic describes what's new with the Nintendo Switch 2 29 minutes ago Duration 1:31 Nintendo community comes out for Switch 2 Nintendo customers are a community of gamers and collectors who love the physical store experience, said Jim Tyo, president of GameStop Canada, which owns and operates 185 GameStop and EB Games stores across Canada. It's been a long time since the company's stores have had midnight openings for a launch like this, he said. Of its locations, 133 opened after-hours for the Switch 2 release. "The energy out there is unbelievable," he said at the Yonge Street store in Toronto Wednesday night. That excitement was on display across Canada — and around the globe. On the other side of the country in Vancouver, where there is a time zone advantage and the Switch 2 went on sale at 9 p.m. PT on Wednesday, lineups began as early as 7 a.m. "The hype for it is just through the roof, honestly," said Isaac Stanowich, who was third in line outside a GameStop store when he spoke to CBC News that afternoon. He says he's waited long enough for the new Switch that he doesn't mind paying the hefty price tag. "A lot of people are waiting for that price to drop down in the future, which I don't think that's going to happen, so why not get it now and get it over with? And then I can start saving my money again," he said. Switch fan Sasha Husband — who was holding a placard that day reading, "Everything sucks but at least we're getting a new Donkey Kong" — says the cost wasn't inhibiting him, either. "I'm never going to be able to afford a house. A lot of people tell me this is a poor investment. It's too expensive," he said. "[But] in the scope of what we can afford, I'm at least going to play my Mario game." In Japan, the new consoles were sold through a competitive lottery system that Nintendo said got about 2.2 million applications. Outside the official draw, some retailers offered their own lotteries to pre-order the devices. In the U.S., Nintendo is capitalizing on the launch with the opening of a store in San Francisco and a Super Nintendo World amusement facility in Orlando, Fla., both of which opened last month. The Switch 2's U.S. rollout arrived at an uncertain time for much of the gaming industry due to new tariffs implemented by U.S. President Donald Trump. U.S. pre-orders for the Switch 2 were delayed for several weeks so the company could assess the potential impact of tariffs. Fortunately for gamers, the release date fell in the midst of a 90-day pause that Trump implemented last month. The Switch 2 release was announced on April 2, the same day Trump imposed his blanket tariffs on all U.S. imports, including a 24 per cent penalty on products imported from Japan and 46 per cent on products from Vietnam, where a large portion of U.S.-bound Switch consoles are manufactured.
CTV News
5 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Fans line up in the rain for midnight launch of Nintendo Switch 2
Rain didn't stop dozens of eager gamers as 132 EB Games stores opened at midnight for the highly anticipated release of the Nintendo Switch 2.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Thousands queue at midnight for Nintendo Switch 2 release
Gamers across the country were lining up at midnight to be the first to get their hands on the 'biggest game launch of the year'. EB Games stores across the country were jammed packed last night as people rushed to buy the new Nintendo Switch 2. The original Switch is currently the third highest selling console of all time, and today marks he release of the brand new Nintendo Switch 2. People of all ages have already sold out first wave pre-orders at most stores worldwide, and are stretching to prepare for the first fully brand new traditional Mario Kart game in 11 years, while parents are girding their loins (and wallets) to brave the shopping gauntlet at Christmas. But, for the uninitiated, let's dive into why the Nintendo Switch 2 is a big deal, what's new, what's weird, and why it's so gosh darn expensive. What's so special about it? First up, the Nintendo Switch is a game console that can be both docked at home connected to a TV, and taken around as a portable console. In old fashioned terms, it's the answer to both the Nintendo 64 and the GameBoy. The Nintendo Switch 2 does everything the Switch could do, and adds better graphics, a larger screen with a higher refresh rate for smoother motion, Joy-Con controllers that can also be used as mice, a new focus on Game Chat, allowing players to see and talk to people on their friends list, newer fancier games, and a higher price tag. That Game Chat feature allows players to plug in an external camera to video chat with other people while they play games, making it easier for families to stay connected overseas, and for bosses to come up with innovative new ways to make budget meetings interesting. People can also use the camera to play games using motion controls Daniel Cusumano, General Manager of The Gamesmen games shop in Sydney, said that he thought the reason why the Switch 2 was such a big deal was because of the relationship people have with the brand. 'Nintendo has been around for over 100 years, and they have the strongest IP lineup of any competitor with Mario, Kirby, Zelda and Donkey Kong. All of their IP titles seem to be extremely popular.' Selling out While the Switch 2 is big news for Nintendo players looking forward to new instalments of their favourite games, according to Ron Curry, the CEO of the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association in Australia, a new console is actually good news for all gamers. 'Any time a new piece of hardware comes into the market it invigorates the category altogether and invigorates consumers and developers, too.' His prediction is that new and interesting hardware will lead to new and interesting games that hopefully players will enjoy, while giving the other console making companies inspiration for the future. At first, there was some skepticism that the Switch 2 might be too expensive, given the price tag of $699, compared to the original Switch OLED's current price of $539 (generally found discounted for under $500). However, sales of the Switch 2 look to be strong, with initial preorders selling out across most stores. Cusumano told that he'd initially been sure that he'd have stock left to sell on launch day, but preorders outpaced his expectations. However, unlike the PlayStation 5, which was difficult to find in stores for a year after it was released, he says Nintendo has significantly more stock available and consoles should be easy to find soon. Launch titles are always a major factor in the initial success of a console, and Nintendo is coming out swinging. Although many of the hotly anticipated games will be coming out a little after launch, the heaviest hitter is Mario Kart World Tour, which is the first full new traditional Mario Kart game since Mario Kart 8 for the Wii U in 2014. It's the biggest Mario Kart game yet, with all the tracks interconnected, and players able to free roam around the open world in a new mode, or between races. Bigger still, races allow for up to 24 players at a time, with the new Knock Out Mode (which eliminates four players at each checkpoint) being delightful chaos. Other major launch titles include Cyberpunk 2077, Street Fighter 6, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, and upgrade packs for The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild and other popular Switch 1 titles. Looking ahead, anticipated games coming soon include Donkey Kong Bananza (17 July), Kirby. Air Riders (later this year), Drag X Drive (winter 2025), AFL 26 (2025) and Hades II (2025). Accessory sales are also expected to be strong, with gamers using this as an opportunity to upgrade headsets, as well as get new controllers and compatible cameras. Dean Katsimalis, Marketing Manager for ANZ at Steel Series, says that this is going to be a big year. 'With the current economic situation, people are going to be looking for value in their purchases, and spending more time choosing carefully. 'I think the majority of the market will be looking for budget-friendly accessories, but given the price point, I think we will also see lots of people purchasing premium products that are compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2. 'Steel Series is currently number one in Australia for gaming audio, so I think we're well positioned to meet that demand.' Given the console's focus on Game Chat, Katsimalis thinks that gaming headsets will be the most popular accessory after extra controllers. The brand released the new SteelSeries Nova 3 Wireless headset yesterday in anticipation of the Switch 2 launch for $199, with the Arctis GameBuds as the premium option for $359. Popular gaming accessories brand Razer is also prepping for the launch with a push of the Barracuda X Chroma headset. Other accessories expected to do well are SanDisk MicroSD Express memory cards to expand storage, Nintendo Pro Controllers, USB-C cameras, and screen protectors and cases from companies like 3rd Earth and Power A. The high price of the Switch 2 is influenced by a few factors, primarily that everything is more expensive now, but also the novel pieces for the console that make it stand out, like the new magnetic controllers that double as mice. Many of the people I spoke to pointed out that the Nintendo Switch 2 is still considerably cheaper than an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5. The centrepiece of the Switch 2 is connecting people through gaming. We saw during the lockdown era how important games were for keeping people connected through games like Animal Crossing: New Horizons. It's beautiful to see a console concept built entirely around the way games help you meet new friends and spend time with family separated by distance. According to Curry, playing together is one of the things that makes us human. 'We know that play builds culture and connections, which is incredibly important,' he said. 'We see people to continue engaging with games because that's what we've always done. 'We've been playing together as a culture for millennia, this is just a new way of doing that.' As for how the Nintendo Switch 2 is going to sell, that's largely up to gamers if they want to buy it and game developers if they want to create engaging games for it. Nintendo has a history of follow ups to successful consoles with an added gimmick that's more expensive not going well (specifically remembering back to the Nintendo Wii which sold over 101 million units, compared to the Wii U, which sold 13.56 million). Having now spent a lot of time with the console, I hope it's embraced by both gamers and developers, because it has so much potential to do amazing things. At the moment, the Switch 2 is projected to sell 15 million units in its first year, already outpacing the Wii U. It'll be interesting to see where it goes from there.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EB Games Revives the Magic with Midnight Release and Montreal Race Weekend Extravaganza
BRAMPTON, ON, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ - EB Games is delighted to announce the return of its popular midnight release event, set for June 5. Gaming enthusiasts are invited to join us for this thrilling night as we launch the Nintendo Switch 2 and dozens of new games and accessories. Walk-in quantities will be available – while supplies last. In celebration, our stores will be stocked with a diverse selection of accessories, toys, and other gaming essentials to enhance your experience. Adding to the excitement, EB Games will host a Mario Kart World activation on Crescent Street during the Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival race weekend festivities, providing fans with a chance to dive into the exhilarating racing experience of Mario Kart World amidst the buzz of race weekend. Stephane Tetrault, owner of EB Games, expressed his excitement: "I'm unbelievably proud of what the team has accomplished over the past few weeks. Bringing back midnight launches and organizing the race weekend event showcases our commitment to our community and our passion for gaming." Jim Tyo, President of EB Games, added, "The release of the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5th will be an epic day for the gaming community, and we are thrilled to announce that we will be opening 132 locations at 12am EDT, ensuring our customers are among the first to play." EB Games is proudly Canadian and built by fans, for fans. Join us for these exciting events and experience the magic of gaming with EB Games. ABOUT EB GAMES CANADAWith over 185 stores across Canada, EB Games leads the market in Video Game and pop culture related Toys & Collectibles. Proudly a community specialist, the EB Games team is driven by passion and an unwavering commitment to deliver a unique product and service experience for our customers. SOURCE EB Games View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EB Games Revives the Magic with Midnight Release and Montreal Race Weekend Extravaganza
BRAMPTON, ON, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ - EB Games is delighted to announce the return of its popular midnight release event, set for June 5. Gaming enthusiasts are invited to join us for this thrilling night as we launch the Nintendo Switch 2 and dozens of new games and accessories. Walk-in quantities will be available – while supplies last. In celebration, our stores will be stocked with a diverse selection of accessories, toys, and other gaming essentials to enhance your experience. Adding to the excitement, EB Games will host a Mario Kart World activation on Crescent Street during the Crescent Street Grand Prix Festival race weekend festivities, providing fans with a chance to dive into the exhilarating racing experience of Mario Kart World amidst the buzz of race weekend. Stephane Tetrault, owner of EB Games, expressed his excitement: "I'm unbelievably proud of what the team has accomplished over the past few weeks. Bringing back midnight launches and organizing the race weekend event showcases our commitment to our community and our passion for gaming." Jim Tyo, President of EB Games, added, "The release of the Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5th will be an epic day for the gaming community, and we are thrilled to announce that we will be opening 132 locations at 12am EDT, ensuring our customers are among the first to play." EB Games is proudly Canadian and built by fans, for fans. Join us for these exciting events and experience the magic of gaming with EB Games. ABOUT EB GAMES CANADAWith over 185 stores across Canada, EB Games leads the market in Video Game and pop culture related Toys & Collectibles. Proudly a community specialist, the EB Games team is driven by passion and an unwavering commitment to deliver a unique product and service experience for our customers. SOURCE EB Games View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
