Latest news with #Joy-Con
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Donkey Kong Bananza artist mode sees creative player sculptures shared online
Donkey Kong Bananza has launched on Nintendo Switch 2, and players are already showcasing their creativity using the game's artist mode. This feature, which allows players to sculpt 3D shapes, colour them, and share their creations online, has quickly become a highlight for many. In artist mode, players use rock-sculpting powers within Bananza to design sculptures with the help of Joy-Con mouse controls, enabling detailed crafting beyond traditional joystick use. This control system has made it easier for players to create precise and intricate designs, and as users become more familiar with the system, the shared creations are increasing in quality. Among the creations shared, players have crafted recognisable Nintendo characters such as Donkey Kong, Samus, and Luigi, alongside characters from other franchises, including Banjo from Banjo-Kazooie. Some players have ventured outside the gaming sphere, crafting sculptures of characters and objects from broader popular culture, showcasing the versatility of Bananza's artist mode. However, players are reminded that while the mode allows for freedom, sharing inappropriate sculptures online could lead to account restrictions from Nintendo, which enforces guidelines on shared content.
Irish Examiner
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Nintendo Switch 2 review: A mature evolution of a modern classic
The original Switch was nothing short of a phenomenon, an inventive hybrid console that blended home and handheld gaming with clever design and irresistible Nintendo exclusives. And now, eight years on, many of the players who picked up the original Switch as teens or young adults have grown up, and so too, in many ways, has the console. The Nintendo Switch 2 hasn't strayed far from Nintendo's winning formula, but it feels like a more mature, confident piece of hardware. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but instead, it refines almost everything that made the first model so beloved. From performance to build quality, this is a Switch that's grown with its audience, and the result is the best version yet. Design and build Visually, the Switch 2 doesn't stray far from the form factor of its predecessor, but the differences are noticeable in the hand. The console is larger and heavier but feels sturdier, with a refined matte finish and tighter tolerances across the chassis. Gone are the creaky plastics; instead, you get a more premium-feeling device. The new magnetic Joy-Con system replaces the original rail slide-in method. I was sceptical at first, but the magnetic connection is satisfyingly solid. Snapping them on and off feels smooth and secure, and thankfully, that annoying Joy-Con wobble is now a thing of the past. You can even ping them if they get lost under the couch. Another sign that the Switch 2 has matured is the shift in Nintendo's design language. The playful neon colours are mostly gone, replaced by a more subdued black finish, bringing it in line with contemporary handhelds like the Steam Deck, Legion Go, and ROG Ally. However, there are still subtle nods to Nintendo's playful roots, with neon blue and orange accents under the left and right joysticks, as well as where the Joy-Cons connect to the main Switch 2. Display Nintendo has enlarged the screen on the Switch 2, and while it still uses LCD rather than OLED, it's an excellent panel. At 8 inches, the display feels more immersive, especially when paired with the console's more powerful internals. Games like Mario Kart World and Cyberpunk 2077 look sharper, richer, and far more detailed than anything the original Switch could manage. Peak brightness is a noticeable improvement over the original, and colours pop, though some users have reported mild ghosting in fast-moving scenes. I didn't experience anything severe myself, but it's worth noting that performance may vary by title. HDR is technically supported, but its implementation is clunky, enabled by default across all content and requires a dive into menus to fine-tune paper white settings. I got it to work well on my LG OLED TV, but your mileage may vary. Ergonomics The Switch 2 is more comfortable to hold thanks to slightly chunkier Joy-Cons and a redesigned back that curves more naturally into the palms. The Joy-Cons still maintain a thin profile, matching the overall design, which means that extended handheld play can still lead to hand fatigue for some users. I wasn't able to use the original for long without additional grips, and while the Switch 2 is an improvement, I still found myself immediately downloading and printing several 3D grip files. I have large hands, and the extra grips made a massive difference to my overall comfort during extended play sessions. There are plenty of third-party grips already available, and of course, you can also purchase the optional Nintendo Controller Pro. Thankfully, the revised kickstand is now wide and stable, perfect for tabletop play. Nintendo has also added a USB-C port at the top, allowing for play in kickstand mode while charging, which Performance Under the hood, the Switch 2 gets a serious boost, powered by a custom Nvidia chip that rivals the performance of entry-level gaming laptops. Cyberpunk 2077, a game that never would've run on the original Switch, plays smoothly at medium settings, and first-party titles like Mario Kart World look absolutely gorgeous, with detailed environments and smooth 60fps gameplay. Performance across the UI has been significantly improved as well. The eShop, which is a laggy mess on the original, now loads quickly and scrolls smoothly. The Switch 2 handles modern games admirably for a hybrid console, and most of the original Switch games I tried ran much smoother. Hardware Battery life is solid but not exceptional. I got three to five hours out of the most demanding games, and lighter titles easily stretch that to seven hours or more. The included charger fully charges the battery in under two hours, and USB-C charging is available at both the top and bottom, adding convenience. The storage expansion slot, located behind the kickstand, is no longer compatible with standard microSD cards. Instead, it now uses the newer and significantly faster microSD Express format. While this offers improved performance, the downside is that these cards are harder to find and are more expensive. The new built-in Game Chat now supports voice, video, and even screen sharing with friends, and it works surprisingly well. You can view up to three friends' gameplay feeds in floating windows, a fantastic feature that makes the Switch 2 feel more social than its predecessor. The new Joy-Con mouse functionality is unexpectedly smooth and intuitive, especially when using the strap accessory. While few games currently take advantage of it, the potential is there. The Dock The new Switch 2 dock is cleaner, more compact, and less toy-like, now featuring rounded corners, a softer matte finish, and a more stable base. There's a USB-C charging port located discreetly inside, along with the usual HDMI and an Ethernet port. It supports 4K output at up to 60Hz, although not every game or app currently takes full advantage of this feature. Even if a game doesn't natively output in 4K, the dock will upscale the image to 4K when connected to a compatible TV or monitor, enhancing visual quality. Nvidia also claims that the Switch 2 offers 10 times the graphical performance of the original Switch. The dock features improved airflow and active cooling, allowing the console to run cooler in docked mode, even during intense gameplay sessions. Library The launch line-up includes Mario Kart World, which acts as both a tech demo and a phenomenal new entry in the long-running series. It's vibrant, tight, and shows off what the new hardware can do when Nintendo pushes it. Backwards compatibility ensures your old library still has a home, and several older games like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet already look and run significantly better on the new hardware. Verdict The Nintendo Switch 2 isn't revolutionary, but it doesn't need to be. It's a capable refinement of the original that adds meaningful upgrades in power, usability and social features, while still feeling unmistakably Nintendo. €469 Switch 2 Currys €505 Switch 2 and Mario Kart World Currys
New York Post
26-06-2025
- New York Post
Get back in the game faster with this Joy-Con charging station, now 43% off
Discover startups, services, products and more from our partner StackCommerce. New York Post edits this content, and may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you buy through our links. TL;DR: Keep your Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons powered up with the HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2: Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Controller Charging Station, now for just $16.99 (reg. $29.99). Don't let a dead Joy-Con make you say 'game over.' Nintendo Switch fans can make sure they avoid the dreaded dead battery dilemma with some help from the HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2: Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Controller Charging Station. And now, just in time for summer, you can make sure your controllers are always powered up for just $16.99 (reg. $29.99). Got plans for the dog days of summer? If they involve sitting inside in the AC gaming, make sure you're always powered up with the HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2: Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Controller Charging Station. Keep the fun going strong with the HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2, a fast and easy way to power up your Joy-Cons. This handy dock juices up to four controllers at once in just 3.5 hours — so you're always ready to jump back into the action. The HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2 features battery status indicators on the base, allowing you to determine easily which controllers are ready to get back in the game. It's also weighted, so they all stay in place securely. The easy-glide docking feature makes attaching and detaching controllers a breeze, too Once your Joy-Cons are fully charged, it's game on. Dive back into epic Super Smash Bros battles or race your friends in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. No matter what you're playing, a full charge means you're ready for whatever adventure awaits. Power up smarter with the HyperX ChargePlay Quad 2: Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Controller Charging Station, now just $16.99 (reg. $29.99). StackSocial prices subject to change.
Tom's Guide
26-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
Dbrand apologizes over 'spectacularly terrible response' to faulty Switch 2 case — but I feel like the only person not affected
Dbrand is notable for its quirky, edgy marketing style and the fact it produces cases and other accessories for most high-profile gadgets. Phones, games consoles, laptops, you name it. Unfortunately the new "Killswitch" case for Nintendo Switch 2 has had some problems, and Dbrand has had to apologize for its "spectacularly terrible response" to criticism. For those of you that don't know about this, the issue arose with the Killswitch's Joy-Con grips. Using the case and grips actually caused Joy-cons' magnets to fail and detach from the console. It's alleged that this may have been caused by the lack of an air gap between the controllers and the Switch 2. Examples of the failed magnets were all over Reddit, and prompted Dbrand to post a 4,000 word response about the reported problems. The whole response can be summarized with a single line, claiming that "nobody routinely holds their Switch 2 like this.' Not only is this exactly what Apple did with the iPhone 4 antenna issues 15 years ago, Dbrand was essentially placing all blame on the users. All because they're holding onto the Joy-cons, without added support on the Switch 2 console. I don't know about you, but I know I also hold my Switch 2 by gripping the Joy-cons. The same way I did with the original Switch, since I never really put much thought into supporting the screen part of the handheld. Dbrand has since apologized for the initial response, and has promised to "say fewer words and devote less of them to blaming you." Which is probably a good idea, especially when it was clear this is a widespread problem. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Dbrand promises that it's working to solve the issue with one of two redesigned Killswitch grips. One thins down the lip design it says is responsible for closing the air gap, while the other has a brand new design that should "fully resolve" the problem. But we won't find out which one will be going on sale until the latter enters a "mass production trial" — which won't happen until July 10 at the earliest. Dbrand has said that everyone will be entitled to a free grip replacement, regardless of whether they're actually experiencing the issues. Dbrand hasn't said if you need to ask for them, or how, but anyone actively suffering from Joy-con detachment issues should contact its support lines. My Killswitch case arrived yesterday, so all the doom and gloom surrounding the detachment issues had me worried. Fortunately for me, my grips seem to not have the same airgap issue. I was equally surprised and relieved at this considering what others have dealt with. I've done as much testing as I can, playing handheld games and literally holding onto one Joy-Con and shaking the console around. So far the only issue I had was the left grip coming off the Joy-Con, which in turn stayed firmly attached to the Switch 2. But aside from that slight issue, which is entirely my fault, the grips are staying where they should be. I guess I will need to keep an eye on that just in case. I'm not such a big fan of the Killswitch dock adapter though. The case itself is too big to fit into the regular Switch 2 dock, which means Dbrand has designed an attachment to ensure their case doesn't need to be removed all the time. The attachment is open, and the USB-C connector moves around — apparently to let you tilt your console back against the original dock for added support. While I understand why it's there, the fact it wiggles around makes it much harder to dock my Switch 2 properly. And I'm not the only person to have those issues. A finicky dock is not quite as catastrophic as the detaching Joy-cons, though. So I'm at least grateful it's rather a small problem I have to contend with.
Daily Record
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
'I've had a Nintendo Switch 2 for weeks - here's why I think it's worth it'
I've been trying out the Switch 2 since it came out - and I have some thoughts for those on the fence I've been playing with the Nintendo Switch 2 for a few weeks now, and it's everything I wanted from the console. The original Nintendo Switch was showing its age for a while. Slow and suffering hardware meant that players and even developers could only do so much with the old console. I've had the Nintendo Switch 2 since it was released, and it has everything that I wanted from the original console. For gamers who have been on the fence, you would be silly not to grab it when it is in stock. The original Nintendo Switch was hugely popular and a massive commercial success, and for good reason. It provided a casual experience for gamers who enjoyed Mario, Pokémon, and Animal Crossing without needing to spend tons on large game consoles like the PS5 Pro and Xbox Series X. Bridging that gap between casual video game fans was one of the big successes with the Switch—and now the Switch 2 comes with a bigger screen, smoother interface, and better overall aesthetics. Even better, right? Little is better than nothing Well, Nintendo has shown how a little goes a long way with the new design. The Switch 2 comes with an upgraded 7.9-inch screen compared to the OLED's 7-inch screen. It's a 13 per cent increase in size, including the screen and new Joy-Cons. For those who enjoyed the compact size on the Switch, it might feel massive in the hands. One thing that I worried about with the Switch 2 was how it would feel in handheld mode. The good news is Nintendo has managed to keep the original Switch feel without making it that much heavier. In hand, the Switch 2 is around 530 grams, compared to the 420 grams of the OLED Switch, which is available to buy at Amazon. In hand, that weight increase doesn't feel huge, but I have noticed how it makes the Switch 2 a more considered handheld experience when I'm out and about. For some, the Switch 2 might be a bit too big and bulky, so it's worth trying if you can get a demo console at Currys. The screen is an LCD, which was disappointing. OLED screens are far better when it comes to power consumption and deeper colours. Nintendo's decision to gatekeep this for a later version (which is definitely coming) is slightly annoying as an early adopter. Despite this, Nintendo has managed to make the screen look gorgeous with a 1080p resolution, which is a big bump. Favourite Switch 2 feature My favourite part of the console is the new Joy-Con system. And my oh my, Nintendo has managed to absolutely crack this. The new Joy-Con system used magnets that clip them to the side with a satisfying 'click' when they attach. It's so satisfying to say the least, especially from someone who enjoyed sliding the old Switch Joy-Con controllers into the console. To detach the console, the new Joy-Con controllers use a large side button which pushes away from the magnetic connection - another satisfying addition - but I did notice how slightly awkward they are to push when holding the console in handheld mode. Coming onto the software and interface, Nintendo hasn't changed much, except the new, faster internals of the Switch 2 make the console feel smoother, faster and once again, a much more satisfying experience. No more lag when you load up the Nintendo Shop on the console - yippee! The best thing about the Switch 2 is how much better games look, feel and play. I've been playing the Switch 2 edition of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom - and it has been spectacular to play. Smoother framerate and an upgraded resolution mean the game has finally reached its full potential, and it becomes a better game to play because of it. Free updates to the console are also a massively welcome addition, meaning some of your favourite games look and play better, for free. The upgraded hardware on the Switch 2 now means there's also a much bigger game library, like Cyberpunk: 2077 and others were not possible on the original Switch. It's not all perfect with the Switch 2 Let's move on to the things I don't like now. The Switch 2 introduced mouse controls for the console in an attempt to broaden its appeal—and honestly, I've not been a big fan. Trying them out, they feel fine, but as a man with big hands, they feel awkward compared to a real mouse, and I feel like I have to grip them tightly to control them. It feels like a tacked-on idea with the device because, let's be honest, who is actually going to use these as a mouse? Then comes Gamechat. Nintendo has finally reached the 21st Century and allows people to chat to each other while playing games. Gamechat is a welcome addition, but it still feels like Nintendo is catching up to social interaction in video games when the likes of Discord have cracked it years ago. There's also the battery life. It's not the best. On some games, it lasted around 2 and a half hours, which is poor, so make sure you have a charger with you. I'm hoping this gets an upgrade later on with future console releases and a potential OLED addition to the screen. So the big question: Is the Switch 2 worth the £400 price tag? Personally, yes. As a person who was getting annoyed by the original Switch because of its lacklustre hardware and screen, the Switch 2 is the Switch Pro in many areas, with just enough changes to warrant the Switch 2 title. Better games, better hardware, better screen and better experience with the console - a big thumbs up.
