Latest news with #NintendoSwitch2Direct
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Nintendo Switch update brings two major Switch 2 features ready for the console's launch
The Nintendo Switch just got a new update that is set to bridge the gap between this console generation and the next. Hype for the Nintendo Switch 2 has been one hell of a rollercoaster. The reveal of the major new console in the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct led to an awful lot of excitement, announcing that Mario Kart World would touch down on day one along with every other Nintendo Switch 2 launch game, and that it would be coming in mere months. The price reveal of the console that came afterwards shocked players everywhere, and with the announcement of the price of games, many swore it off entirely, at least until there are more games to play with. There are heaps to come, though, and regardless of whether you go for it straight away, it's a major shift for Nintendo. It seems that this new era is here already, too, as a new update has hit the Nintendo Switch to prepare it for its coalescence with the company's new era of hardware output. GameSharing the love Nintendo has revealed in a new blog post on the Nintendo Support website that a new update has arrived on Nintendo Switch systems, which is packing a few interesting changes – chief among them, though, is a couple of additions that adds Nintendo Switch 2-led features to the system's homepage that indicate that we're already wading into the era of the new console. The 20.0.0 update has added the Virtual Game Card and GameShare features, offering players the chance to share their games and DLC virtually with friends, and share software with different users akin to the Nintendo DS' Download Play feature. There is also a new feature that will allow players to transfer their save data from their current console to a Nintendo Switch 2. The arrival of the Virtual Game Card feature, first revealed in the final Nintendo Switch Direct, is an exciting means for players to allow their friends to play their own games and vice versa. GameShare is different, though, and in its current state, only serves as a platform to be connected to by a Nintendo Switch 2 console, as it is predominantly a feature designed for the new console. This does mean that your Nintendo Switch will become far more useful throughout the lift cycle of the Switch 2, but for now, it's all but useless as a feature. Full patch notes can be found down below. Nintendo Switch 20.0.0 update patch notes The following icons for new features have been added to the HOME Menu: Virtual Game Card Purchased Nintendo Switch digital software, DLC, and some free software, are now virtual game cards and displayed in a list in this menu. You can virtually load and eject virtual game cards between up to two Nintendo Switch systems. Virtual game cards can be lent to others in the same Nintendo Account family group. GameShare Compatible software can be shared from a Nintendo Switch 2 system to other nearby system(s) to play together. You can only play together via local wireless, and the Nintendo Switch 2 system must initiate GameShare. This feature cannot be used between two Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch – OLED Model and/or Nintendo Switch Lite systems. User-Verification Settings has been added under User > User Settings. You can restrict access to the Virtual Game Card menu by requiring entry of a PIN or signing in to your Nintendo Account. Online License Settings has been added. When turned on, you can play downloaded software or DLC you've purchased while the system is connected to the internet, even if you don't have the virtual game card loaded. For more information, please refer to the details about the option on the System Settings screen. The Nintendo eShop and Nintendo Switch News icon colors on the HOME Menu have been changed. Multiple save data can be selected and transferred at once in 'Transfer Your Save Data' menu. System Transfer to Nintendo Switch 2 has been added under System Settings > System. You can perform a system transfer from your Nintendo Switch to Nintendo Switch 2 using local communication. For users that will lose access to their Nintendo Switch before receiving their Nintendo Switch 2, there is an option to upload system transfer data to a dedicated server which can then be retrieved on their Nintendo Switch 2. After you upload your system transfer data to the dedicated server, the Nintendo Switch system will be initialized to factory settings, so only perform this transfer if you'll be able to complete the transfer on Nintendo Switch 2. If you want to continue using your Nintendo Switch until you have a Nintendo Switch 2, we recommend completing the system transfer using local communication after you have acquired a Nintendo Switch 2 system. An internet connection and Nintendo Account is required to complete both local and the server-based system transfer service. For more information, see System Transfer from Nintendo Switch to Nintendo Switch 2. The appearance of some user icons have been updated. A number of other features have been revealed, including the appearance of changeable Online License Settings and a couple of icon colour changes, but it's the arrival of Virtual Game Cards and GameShare that has made this update so interesting, taking us one step closer to the arrival of a new era for Nintendo. More updates like this are expected down the line but for now, we're another toe into the waters of the Nintendo Switch 2, as if our excitement wasn't already accelerating at an incredible pace anyway.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ex PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida doesn't understand why Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is $10 either
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour was a nice little surprise in the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, giving the new system its own little Astro's Playroom-style experience to let players learn more about their new console. But all the excitement was quickly washed away when it was revealed that – unlike Astro – it's going to be a paid title rather than a free pack-in. While Welcome Tour is only going to be $9.99, many are perplexed as to why Nintendo would charge for this at all, including ex-PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida. During an appearance on the Easy Allies podcast, host Daniel Bloodworth asked Yoshida what he thought of the decision to charge $10 for the game, to which he simply replied, "I just don't understand." He continued, "you would want everyone to experience that, right? You would have a better understanding of the Switch 2 and become a fan of the system." However, despite not being a fan of the decision, Yoshida thinks it won't be that big of a deal, saying, "people decide not to pay $10, they don't know what they missed, right? So I don't think it will become a backlash." He called it an "opportunity loss for Nintendo," not that I imagine Welcome Tour would spawn a game of the year winner in a few years, but Astro's Playroom turned the little bot into a star in its own right and paved the way for Astro Bot. Yoshida did offer a counterpoint, saying, "I think in a positive way, maybe Nintendo is probably a fan of preserving the value of software," adding that Nintendo is also being careful not to overcharge for it. While Welcome Tour is probably not getting DLC (although it wouldn't be the first time a pack-in game has, as the Nintendo 3DS' StreetPass Mii Plaza had some), Yoshida said he can see a situation where Nintendo charges upfront to avoid charging more on subsequent purchases. Regardless, I think I'd rather spend $10 on this than the $50 that 1-2-Switch was going for, even if it was also a way to show off new hardware. Yoshida recently told Easy Allies that the Switch 2 being a standard successor makes him feel that "Nintendo is losing their identity."
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders are selling out already despite calls to 'drop the price'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Last week's Nintendo Switch 2 Direct event became a little contentious as the console's $449 price tag (alongside the high cost of launch software) resulted in many gamers demanding that Nintendo 'drop the price.' However, the negative response to the Switch 2's pricing strategy doesn't appear to be impacting the upcoming console's pre-order numbers. While U.S. pre-orders have been delayed with President Trump's tariffs cited as the reason, in countries such as the U.K. Switch 2 pre-orders have already gone live and sold out in minutes. Last week, U.K. retailers including Argos, Very, Currys, Game and Amazon all began taking Switch 2 pre-orders, and it didn't take very long for eager Nintendo fans to snap up the available stock. While electronics specialist Currys only took pre-orders in-store, the rest opted for an online pre-order process and are now sold out of the hybrid console. Amazon U.K. went for an invitation system, with lucky customers being notified of their selection starting from last Thursday (April 3). At present, it's unclear if Amazon U.K. has sold through its allocation, but I can confirm I registered for an invite and haven't been notified. Fortunately, I managed to secure a Switch 2 Mario Kart bundle for £429 at Argos last week. The story seems to be similar in Nintendo's native Japan with high-interest levels in the Switch 2 forcing the company to issue an apology after more than five days of My Nintendo Store malfunctions presumably due to the site's servers struggling to handle so many users looking to buy at once. This suggests that while the console's launch price and the $80 cost of the flagship launch game Mario Kart World (follow-up exclusive Donkey Kong Bananza will retail for a slightly more palatable $70) have dominated online conversations surrounding the Switch 2, neither is enough to put off prospective purchasers. For now, Switch 2 looks set to be a success. We'll have to wait a while longer to get a sense check on how the Nintendo Switch 2 will sell in North America. While Switch 2 pre-orders were due to go live in the U.S. this week (on April 8 via the Nintendo Store), that date has been delayed indefinitely with President Trump's trade tariffs confirmed to be the root cause in a statement issued to Tom's Guide. We've approached Nintendo to ask if these tariffs could result in the Switch 2's MSRP of $449 ($499 for the Mario Kart World bundle) increasing and were told that Nintendo has nothing further to share beyond what was in the company's initial statement. Considering the launch price has been met with a quite significant backlash, an increase would certainly be unwelcome and could result in softer pre-order numbers than expected. Though, if I were a betting man, I'd guess Switch 2 pre-orders will sell out similarly fast in the U.S. as they have in other regions like the U.K. While $449 represents a significant jump from the Nintendo Switch's $299 initial price, it's still cheaper than the PS5 and Xbox Series X, which launched in November 2020 for $499. But both have been on sale for cheaper since. If you're undeterred by the Nintendo Switch 2 launch price and are eager to lock in your pre-order as soon as possible, bookmark our Nintendo Switch 2 pre-order hub for the latest updates. The Switch 2 may be expensive but it's still going to be among the most in-demand new tech items of 2025 even if it leaves your wallet stinging. I played the Nintendo Switch 2 and it's everything I wanted Here's why I'm waiting till 2026 to buy Switch 2 Switch 2 proves it's time for Nvidia to make a handheld
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nintendo accidentally leaks an unrevealed Donkey Kong Bananza character that might unironically have big lore implications for the Mario universe
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Not many people were expecting the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct to reveal Donkey Kong Bananza, the character's first new game in over a decade and his first 3D adventure since the N64, but the game's mere existence isn't the only surprise. Nintendo itself (maybe) accidentally just showed off that an unrevealed character is front and centre in the game. (Naturally, there might be some spoilers for the game's, err marketing, but don't worry about spoilers for the game itself since we're just going to talk about its box art.) The Nintendo Korea website currently includes Donkey Kong Bananza's full cover art, which features what looks like a much younger version of Pauline riding and holding on to DK's iconic tie with a smile on her face, all while he smashes the ground to pieces. The upcoming Switch 2 game's reveal trailer doesn't mention Pauline (or any another sidekick) at all, and all of the game's promotional materials elsewhere have DK causing havoc on his lonesome. Pauline is, of course, the damsel in distress in Donkey Kong's first ever video game - the arcade cabinet from 1981 that saw Mario jumping over barrels to save her from the then-villainous monke. She then took up mayoral duties in Super Mario Odyssey's New Donk City and has showed up in a bunch of other recent Mario spin-offs. This seemingly younger Pauline then has huge implications for the MarioVerse. Were Pauline and DK pals before he decided to kidnap her? Is Donkey Kong Bananza a prequel for one of gaming's oldest icons? Did Mario get entirely the wrong impression when he decided to 'rescue' Pauline? Heck, that might actually be Pauline's relative or an entirely new character altogether who's just revelling in the chaos. There are so many possibilities, but one thing's for sure: I did not expect to be so interested in this game's story. (Also, where's Diddy Kong, Nintendo?) For now, find out about every Nintendo Switch 2 launch game that we know about so far.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Smash Bros creator Masahiro Sakurai is surprised the Switch 2 Direct is an hour long, and no, he doesn't know what's coming, even if "people are going to suspect no matter what"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Today's the big day – the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct will air in a few short hours. Ahead of the stream, Nintendo confirmed that we can expect it to be "approximately 60 minutes long," making for a lengthy broadcast that'll be about the same length as the January 2017 Switch 1 presentation, something that even Super Smash Bros. creator Masahiro Sakurai seems pretty shocked about. In a tweet posted a few hours ago (translated by Automaton), Sakurai calls the length of the Switch 2 presentation "a surprise," but quickly clarifies that "I do not know the contents of the announcement (besides, I don't belong to Nintendo)." Despite his disclaimer, he acknowledges that "people are going to suspect no matter what I say," and he knows this from experience. As Automaton points out, it was only last week that the Smash Ultimate director's short, simple response to Nintendo announcing its March Direct prompted fans to speculate whether he was teasing an announcement of his own. Needless to say, he wasn't and remarked that he can't tweet "carelessly." To be fair, fans do have reason to anticipate an announcement from Sakurai at some point. Last October, he confirmed that in July 2021, he "received a request to write a game proposal" and was "given the OK to move forward with production" in October 2021. He apologized that he wasn't able to "share more about this project," but added: "Assuming that we're able to get it made, it should be announced sooner or later." He's remained quiet on this since – we still don't have any idea what the game is or when we can expect it to surface. It's certainly one to look forward to, but it sounds like the developer knows better than to give away any clues on Twitter. In the meantime, we'll just have to get ready for whatever Nintendo has up its sleeve today – Sakurai says he's "looking forward to it," and he's definitely not the only one. You can keep up with all the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct news in our live blog – here's hoping we get some news about upcoming Switch 2 games.
