Latest news with #Nintendo
Mint
3 hours ago
- Business
- Mint
Nintendo Switch 2 prices drop sharply in India weeks after launch: What you pay now
The Nintendo Switch 2 has not been officially launched in India, but in parallel, retailers have imported it into the Indian market. At launch, sellers were demanding prices as high as ₹ 70,000 to ₹ 80,000, depending on the bundle. However, in the weeks since its international release, these prices have dropped significantly. In fact, the console is now available for almost ₹ 20,000 less than its initial grey market price. Here, we tell you how much the console is selling for on online platforms like Amazon, and what you can expect to pay for it. Read on. For instance, the standard version of the console, which was previously selling for as much as ₹ 75,999 on Amazon India, can now be found for around ₹ 49,999 on the platform. This marks a substantial price difference of approximately ₹ 25,000, which is a 35% decrease. This means that consumers who waited a few weeks to purchase the console will spend considerably less. The Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle has come down in price, too, and is currently available for approximately ₹ 56,999 from some sellers. This is a big reduction from the initial inflated prices and is much lower than what some early buyers paid for the standard console alone. Note: Do note that Nintendo does not offer any warranty on these imported units, as the console has not yet been launched in India. The Nintendo Switch 2 retails for $449 in the United States, which equates to roughly ₹ 37,000 to ₹ 40,000. So, it is unlikely that Indian prices will match this due to import costs and seller margins. It is also worth keeping in mind that the original Nintendo Switch OLED model still retails for ₹ 25,000 to ₹ 26,000 in India. Regarding games, prices vary depending on the title. Currently, you can expect to pay anywhere between ₹ 4,000 and ₹ 7,000. For example, Hogwarts Legacy is selling for ₹ 3,999, while a Nintendo exclusive such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom for the Switch 2 is priced at a steep ₹ 6,999.
Digital Trends
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
The Switch 2 is the perfect example of why console launches don't feel special anymore
I will never forget the unbearable excitement I felt on that early morning on my 7th birthday. It was 1998, and Pokémon was the biggest thing in the world, especially for an elementary school kid like me. Except that I didn't have a single card or game to my name. In fact, I didn't even have a Game Boy. That, plus Pokémon, was the only thing I asked for that birthday, and I knew I would get it. I can still remember lying awake half the night, unable to sleep while my imagination ran wild with unrealistic machinations of what the game would be like. I woke up just as early to the sounds of my parents and sister setting up decorations downstairs and bided my time before I could go down. It was a school day, but they could sense my excitement well in advance and agreed to let me open one thing before school. Recommended Videos It was, of course, a fresh Game Boy and copy of Pokémon Blue. I could tell you similar stories surrounding my N64, PS2, and even Xbox 360. I was at very different ages for each so the excitement came in different flavors, but they were all just as strong. I haven't felt that way about a new console since the original Switch, and now that I've been playing — and loving — the Switch 2, I understand why. Meet the new console, same as the old console My first instinct as to why getting my hands on the Switch 2 lacked that special feeling as previous consoles was to blame it on my age. I'm a full adult now, and one whose career revolves around covering games, so it would only be natural that the magic of a new console would wane. After my first month, however, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more. The Switch 2, for the first time since the transition from the NES to the SNES, feels like a sequel console in the most literal sense of the word for Nintendo. That might sound like an obvious statement since Nintendo called it the Switch 2, but even the Wii and Wii U had fundamental differences. It is, as most people will tell you, a more powerful Switch. Yes, there are some neat additions here and there, like the mouse controls and camera, but this is not Nintendo taking a creative leap. We have the same UI, a ton of upgraded Switch games, and the console itself is a more refined form factor of the old one. None of that is bad, but it makes it so easy to forget that I'm playing a new console. With game graphics and performance leaps becoming so minor now, plus the number of cross-gen games, there's very little to give me that new and exciting feeling I had with past generations. I know that my memories of my first days with the Game Boy, PS2, and Xbox 360 were cemented in my mind because of how unmistakably unique they were from top to bottom. We're now in the era of PC-like upgrades that lack a new console feel. I'm reminded of a now-debunked quote wrongly attributed to Henry Ford that said, 'If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.' While we don't know who or where the quote actually came from, it still rings true for new consoles. We all say we just want the same thing but better — faster horses — and now that's exactly what we're getting. That's cool, but a faster horse isn't nearly as exciting as a car. I know that nostalgia plays a factor in this feeling. Just like we might think old games were better, we all tend to look back at our memories of getting new consoles with rose-tinted glasses. I will never be 7 years old, living in my childhood home before my parents' divorce, playing Pokémon before school with not a care in the world again. I will never get to take the day off from school after getting my PS2 to play Kingdom Hearts all day. But I do think there's a real loss when all new consoles now, even Nintendo, play it safe by keeping the same controller, same UI, few games that can't be played anywhere else, and only minor graphical improvements. From a business perspective, it totally makes sense. But I do lament the fact that I may never form such powerful memories around a new console again.
Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Nothing Phone (3) review: A flagship smartphone for hipsters and geeks
In tech, one of the fundamental ways to become dominant is to make consumers submit to your vision and choose to live within that world. That's why companies like Apple and Nintendo remain so successful, despite releasing several not-so-well-received products over the years. It's not just one product that makes you popular, it's how people believe in the brand and become fans of it. I see a similar pattern with Carl Pei–led Nothing, which is seeking the kind of validation that made Apple and Nintendo household names – not by following a tried-and-tested formula, but by offering a distinctive take on everyday tech products. Its Phone (3), perhaps its first true high-end flagship, may tick all the boxes of what a premium smartphone should be, but at its core, it's a doorway to something more playful. It's an unusual experience, and sometimes it may or may not make sense, especially with the new Glyph Matrix interface. But that's exactly what Nothing wants to be: a company known for doing the unexpected and embracing the strange. In fact, if I am honest, it feels refreshing and welcoming. And it's okay if the Nothing Phone (3) isn't the most spec-heavy smartphone – it has Nothing's own quirkiness through and through. But this time, the ambitions are grand and so is the sticker price. The real question is: does the Phone (3), as baffling and fascinating as it might be, make sense to you? What: Nothing Phone (3)| Price: Rs 80,000 Pick any Nothing device, and there's a distinct dystopian aesthetic to it. I am glad the company is comfortable with its design choices and isn't afraid to express itself. The Phone (3) follows the same path though this time everything feels more polished. The see-through transparent glass back gives the device that signature Nothing feel. The back features a grid pattern, showcasing three printed circuit boards, along with visible screws, circles, and cutouts that give off the vibe of a tech product, not just another smartphone. The cameras, meanwhile, have a rather unusual layout. The three sensors are positioned within specific squares in a separated arrangement: two are lined up next to each other, while the third sits in a corner of the phone, not really aligned with anything else. It feels absolutely wild every time I see the Phone (3). There's something undeniably charming about the Phone (3), with its retro-chic aesthetic. The hipster-friendly, old-school design may be polarising to some, but I kind of enjoy the goofiness and the disturbingly weird vibe at the same time. And honestly, that's okay, as long as you are the right audience for it. The Phone (3) looks beautiful and feels great in the hand. I love holding it in a way I haven't since the iPhone X. It comes in black and white, and the white version, which I have for review, reminds me of the original iPod. The device features an aluminum and glass sandwich design and weighs 218 grams. The Phone (3) also supports the standard IP68 water and dust resistance. For me, the most eye-catching feature of the Phone (3) is a small dot-matrix screen on the top-right corner of the device that powers the Glyph Matrix interface; and it's a nifty experience. At times, it feels a bit gimmicky, but there's a certain thrill to it. And because it's a physical hardware feature (reminding me of the crank on the Playdate console), the interaction feels natural. With the Phone (3), Nothing has done away with the signature 'Glyph' LED strips on the back, the ones that used to light up in complex patterns for notifications, calls, timers, and charging, a staple of its earlier smartphones. In their place is the new Glyph Matrix interface. The idea remains the same: to notify users about things like messages and calls. But this time, since it's a real display, it's more functional. However, unlike many others who have tried (and failed) to integrate secondary displays, Nothing opted for a dot-matrix screen, the kind you often see on buses and at airports displaying important information. The matrix is made up of 489 LEDs and can display monochromatic images. Well, the Glyph Matrix showcases Glyph 'Toys,' as Nothing calls them. Right now, there are a handful of Glyph Toys. Some are simple widgets, like a battery level indicator or a stopwatch. But my favourites are still the games, like Spin the Bottle, Rock, Paper, Scissors, and the Magic 8 Ball. One Glyph Toy that felt silly but fun to me is the one that lets you take photos and turn them into Glyph patterns. It reminded me of how Nintendo made a camera for the Game Boy that let you take photos and convert them into monochrome images. I am hoping to see more Glyph Toys in the future, as Nothing is making it easy to make your own Glyph Toys via an SDK. I think the idea of a dot-matrix display is really fun, even if it may feel a bit silly at times. But that's exactly what makes the Phone (3) stand out from other smartphones. I also liked how you interact with the matrix through the Glyph button, which is built into the rear of the Phone (3). It's a single button that, when pressed, activates the Glyph Matrix, allowing you to cycle through different Toys, with a long press used to activate them. The interaction is simple and intuitive, though I do wish there was some form of tactile feedback. In the Settings menu, you can customise the Glyph Matrix to your liking. A standout feature of the dot-matrix display is how neatly it handles notifications. You can choose to be notified about specific alerts from select apps and even set custom display artwork to appear on the Glyph Matrix, making it easier to recognise what the notification is about at a glance. I also like this notification approach because I don't have to open the phone every time a notification comes in. It's a better way to avoid the madness and anxiety that constant notifications can cause, especially when you don't want to be glued to your phone. The Phone (3) has a 6.7-inch screen size; it's a large, fast OLED display that supports a 120Hz refresh rate and reaches up to 1600 nits at maximum brightness, peaking at 4,500 nits with compatible HDR content, which looks really good. The Phone (3) is powered by a Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 processor, which is fast but not quite flagship-grade. Nothing is very clear that it's not chasing the spec game with the Phone (3), and I think that makes sense, the longevity of the chip matters most, especially since smartphones these days receive software updates for years. In my time testing the Phone (3), the device felt snappy, and apps opened quickly with no noticeable lag. My review unit is a premium unit with 16GB RAM and 512GB of storage. The battery life is great: the Phone (3) ships with a 5,150 mAh battery that lasts about two days between charges, even with a mix of 5G and Wi-Fi usage. A compatible 65W wired charger is supported. There's also 15W wireless charging, if you care about it. The Phone (3) runs Nothing's version of Android 15, which offers a relatively clean, fast, and unique experience, thanks to subtle design touches based around dot-matrix art. The design language Nothing has used for the user interface is interesting, and the wide range of customisation options makes the interaction a lot more fun. I particularly enjoyed the monochrome, distraction-free themes. As for updates, Nothing's software policy still doesn't match the likes of Google Pixel devices or Samsung Galaxy smartphones, but it's getting close, with the company promising five Android OS upgrades and 7 years of security updates. A major software addition to the Phone (3) is Nothing's Essential Space app, which leans heavily on AI. The app essentially collects and analyses various screenshots, text, and voice notes. A dedicated button on the side of the phone captures what's on screen, while pressing and holding it records a quick voice note to go along with it. The app then analyses the content to generate summaries, transcriptions, and possible actions such as reminders or to-do lists. Right now, the app is fairly basic, to say the least. Some features, like AI summaries, are hit-or-miss, but others, like Essential Search, show great potential. The Phone (3) has three cameras on the back: a 50MP main camera with an f/1.68 aperture, a 50MP ultra-wide camera with a 114-degree field of view, and a 50MP periscope lens offering up to 3x optical zoom, 6x digital zoom, and 60x AI Super Res Zoom. This will also serve as a macro camera, allowing for clearer close-up shots. The front-facing camera is also 50MP. Photos taken with the Phone (3)'s main camera look good, delivering fine detail and solid dynamic range. I think it performs well in most situations, though low-light performance isn't its strong suit. The ultrawide camera is reasonably good, while the 3x zoom camera is arguably the best of the three. I wouldn't say the Phone (3) beats the top smartphone cameras on the market, but it's remarkably good, especially the 3x zoom, which lets you get incredibly close to subjects while capturing plenty of detail. It's a great option if you enjoy taking macro-style shots. The Phone (3) has more power than I know what to do with. That's the premise Nothing is going for with its first and most expensive smartphone. It's right there, but not quite in the same league as the highest-end options from Apple, Samsung, or Google. In fact, it's the opposite, and that's refreshing. It's a smartphone that goes back to the basics, while still offering a sense of premiumness. The Phone (3) is a forward-looking device, and I admire it for its design and the unique dot-matrix display. At the same time, it's a fascinating puzzle… one that takes some time to figure out. On the surface, Nothing's new high-end smartphone feels deeply nostalgic, rooted in the idea of building a legacy in the way Apple and Nintendo have done. There's a far more interesting device hidden in here, an experience that, at its best, has a sense of humour, if you can understand and relate to it. Anuj Bhatia is a personal technology writer at who has been covering smartphones, personal computers, gaming, apps, and lifestyle tech actively since 2011. He specialises in writing longer-form feature articles and explainers on trending tech topics. His unique interests encompass delving into vintage tech, retro gaming and composing in-depth narratives on the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. He covers major international tech conferences and product launches from the world's biggest and most valuable tech brands including Apple, Google and others. At the same time, he also extensively covers indie, home-grown tech startups. Prior to joining The Indian Express in late 2016, he served as a senior tech writer at My Mobile magazine and previously held roles as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. Anuj holds a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. Email: ... Read More
Mint
7 hours ago
- Mint
Nintendo Switch Game piracy site taken offline by U.S. and Dutch authorities
Authorities have taken down one of the major piracy websites linked to Nintendo Switch games. The FBI seized Nsw2u, a site known for distributing unauthorised Nintendo Switch game files. Visitors to the site now see a message explaining the seizure, which was carried out under a warrant issued by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The operation also involved the Dutch financial crime agency, FIOD, which highlighted an international effort to tackle game piracy. Nsw2u had gained a large following by offering Switch ROMs, digital copies of games that users could play on modified consoles or emulators on PCs. Despite ongoing efforts to stop piracy, users were still able to download games from Nsw2u until just hours before the site went offline on July 10. Earlier this year, the site was added to the European Union's piracy watchlist, which has signalled increasing global scrutiny. The message displayed on Nsw2u reads, 'This domain has been seized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in accordance with a seizure warrant issued pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 2323... as part of a law enforcement operation and action by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.' It also confirms the involvement of the FIOD in this crackdown, showing coordination across borders. Nintendo has been active in combating piracy for several years. In 2023, it targeted the creators of the Yuzu emulator, software that allows players to run Switch games on PCs and portable devices like the Steam Deck. The company has also gone after smaller sites hosting ROMs and companies that produce devices to bypass Nintendo's copyright protections. With the release of the new Switch 2 console last month, Nintendo has reportedly banned users employing unauthorised storage devices from accessing online services. The company has taken a strict approach to piracy, including seeking heavy fines and prison sentences. However, its latest move to block Switch 2 consoles from key features due to piracy concerns has raised questions, including a legal challenge in Brazil over the potential effects on legitimate second-hand buyers.
New York Times
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Move Over, Mario. This Cow Is Nintendo's New Star.
Think of the name Nintendo, and familiar names and faces likely come to mind. There's Mario and Luigi, the mustachioed brothers in overalls who fight Bowser, the turtlelike villain with a habit of kidnapping Princess Peach. And then there's Donkey Kong, Wario and Toad, among others. These characters have been racing one another in iterations of the Mario Kart game series since 1992, with no real story line other than who can come in first place. But from the moment the first trailers for the Switch 2 console and the Mario Kart World game were released in April, fans were abuzz that a new favorite had entered the race: a cow. Fascination with Cow, as the character is known, only grew after the console and game went on sale last month. She has become Mario Kart World's breakout star, validated by her leading role in popular videos on Instagram and TikTok. One Instagram reel, featuring the cow rocking back and forth on a go-kart to the beat of 'Mooo!' by Doja Cat, has been viewed 1.9 million times. Another has her showboating on a motorcycle to 'La Vaca' ('The Cow'), the 2000 merengue hit by Mala Fe. Both videos are the creation of Jorge Martinez of McAllen, Texas, who said he was excited about the cow from the moment he first saw the trailer for the game. 'Oh, I lost it,' he said. 'I wasn't even thinking about memes. I was just thinking about playing as a cow.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
