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The Guardian
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Nintendo Switch 2 review – more than good enough
There was a time when the designers of the Switch 2 were considering calling their new machine the Super Nintendo Switch. They decided against it, however, because it would be able to play original Switch games – and 1990's Super NES had no backwards compatibility with 1983's NES. After playing with it for the weekend, I'd say a more accurate name would be the Switch Pro: effectively a modernised and highly refined version of the original console, rather than a whole new generation. The larger screen and more powerful processor are the most obvious upgrades, but every facet of the console is higher spec. The larger Joy-Cons feel more robust and are easier to use – the way they magnetically clip on to the console is very pleasing. The user interface is a graceful if slightly boring iteration of the Switch's, enhanced with subtle haptic feedback and delightfully subtle bleeps and blips. The drop back to a standard LCD screen from the gorgeous Switch OLED model will annoy some, but the quality is decent and the increased display real estate makes a huge difference – it's not quite up there with the very best handheld PCs, but then it's significantly cheaper than a top-of-the-range Steam Deck or similar. I tested it with the most cinematic launch games I had – IO Interactive's extremely good value Hitman World of Assassination: Signature Edition and Yakuza 0 Director's Cut – and both provided a surprisingly epic experience in handheld mode, aided by the console's extremely good virtual surround sound (you also get full 5.1-ch Linear PCM surround if you use compatible headphones or TV). Just don't expect 4K, 60fps visuals as standard. In handheld mode, titles will run at between 720 and 1080p resolution, with 4K reserved for docked mode – though even here, only a few titles currently support full 4K resolutions. Cyberpunk 2077, for example, caps out at 1080p with the framerate at 30fps in Performance mode. In short, don't expect cutting edge PS5 Pro or PC visuals – we're looking at something between PS4 and PS5. The set-up is simple enough: switch it on, connect to the internet (via wifi or the ethernet port on the dock) and download an update. If you have a Switch it asks you to place it nearby, then copies across your user details and any games you own. The whole process took me about an hour and was completely painless, though beware – if you skip the transfer process, you won't get another chance later to port your stuff across from your original Switch. GameShare, which allows you to share compatible games with Switch or Switch 2 owners who don't have their own copy, is extremely easy too. I tried the local two-player option with Sega's lovely multiplayer puzzle battler Puyo Puyo Tetris. You simply choose the GameShare option from the game's main menu, while your friend selects GameShare from the Switch home screen; then the two seamlessly connect and you can start playing together. I'm interested to see how the feature holds up with more complex games, or with more players. For example, Survival Kids allows you to GameShare with two other consoles, which will put greater processing demands on the Switch 2 that's doing the streaming, and could therefore affect performance. For now, I was impressed, and it will work really well with forthcoming party game Super Mario Party Jamboree. GameChat, meanwhile, Nintendo's rather overdue version of in-game video chat, requires you to connect and confirm your identity via your smartphone, and then you're in. You can buy a Switch 2 Camera (£50) for this, but any old USB webcam will do. I think this may well prove a nice extra for close friends or families keen on playing together while apart; we'll have to wait and see if any forthcoming games make interesting use of it. There are some extra costs to think about. If you want to play with more than two people you may need another set of Joy-Cons, which will set you back £75, or a Pro Controller at the same price. (I tried out the officially licensed PowerA Advantage pad, which doesn't have rumble and only works in docked mode, but is a really sturdy option for Mario Kart sessions and very good value at £30.) A subscription to Nintendo Switch Online (needed for online play and, when the introductory offer runs out, GameChat) is £17.99 a year for one account, or £31.49 per year for your family. It's £34.99/£59.99 a year for the Nintendo Switch Online Expansion Pack, which offers access to a large range of retro Nintendo games from all eras and any extra content for modern games. It's a decent price when compared with other gaming subscriptions, but still another expense to manage. Finally, you may need a microSD Express card if you start running out of space for new games on the built-in 256GB. A 256GB card will cost around £50. It all adds up. As for battery life, Nintendo is promising between two and 6.5 hours. I did a mixed test in which I played Mario Kart World, downloaded and played Hitman, and used GameShare and GameChat, and got about 3.5 hours, which is not bad. Sign up to Pushing Buttons Keza MacDonald's weekly look at the world of gaming after newsletter promotion Should you buy one? If you somehow missed out on the original Switch, absolutely yes – it's the zenith of Nintendo's quest to make a hybrid handheld/home console, with a wide range of launch games (though currently only one genuine exclusive must-have in Mario Kart World) and the promise of many glorious exclusives to come. If you already have a Switch, it's worth the upgrade if you can afford it – the larger display, the better controllers, the social applications, all make it worth the outlay. It's reignited lounge multiplayer in our house, my sons readily deserting their rooms to play Mario Kart together, and while this interest will probably ebb and flow, it's been nice to have that back. The one incontrovertible truth is that Nintendo's games cannot be played elsewhere. No smartphone, no PC, no Xbox or PlayStation will give you access to the full-fat Mario, Animal Crossing, Pokémon or Zelda titles, and it is exciting to imagine how those experiences will be translated to a new, beautifully crafted machine with a modest armoury of fresh features. Perhaps the design team at Nintendo were right not to call it Super Switch, but for the next few years, a Switch Pro equivalent is more than good enough. The Nintendo Switch 2 is available now; £395.99
Engadget
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Apple unveils a dedicated Games app at WWDC 2025
Apple is rolling out a new, dedicated gaming app, called Games, that will come pre-installed on Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple TV devices. It's basically a spit-shined, updated version of Game Center, a service that Apple has let languish since its rollout roughly 15 years ago. The new app will behave more like a modern gaming hub, a la Xbox or GOG Galaxy. It'll include a space for leaderboards, matchmaking, recommendations and launching games — plus a direct pipeline to Apple Arcade, of course. You can see what your friends are playing and challenge them to specific feats in certain games. The library tab will include every game you've ever downloaded from the App Store, allowing you to booth them up right there. Apple's gaming push in recent years includes mobile and Mac support for AAA experiences like Resident Evil Village , the Resident Evil 2 and 4 remakes, Death Stranding and Assassin's Creed Mirage . At Summer Game Fest 2025 over the weekend, IO Interactive announced that its Hitman trilogy, Hitman World of Assassination , is heading to iPhone, iPad and Mac this summer. Also on the video game front, Apple is still battling Epic Games in court over claims of anti-competitive behavior, but they're mainly just closing out appeals now that Fortnite is live on the App Store and third-party payments are enabled on Apple's storefront. Xbox recently threw its support behind Epic Games, filing an amicus brief accusing Apple of unfairly blocking the Xbox mobile store in late May. Also also in game land, last month Apple acquired its first video game studio, the two-person team RAC7, which makes Sneaky Sasquatch .
Geek Tyrant
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Tyrant
Mads Mikkelsen Returns as Bond Villain Le Chiffre in HITMAN x 007: FIRST LIGHT Video Game Crossover Event — GeekTyrant
Mads Mikkelsen is stepping back into villain mode—and not just any villain. Seventeen years after facing off with James Bond in Casino Royale , Mikkelsen is reprising his role as the cold-blooded Le Chiffre for a crossover event that brings IO Interactive's Hitman series face-to-face with its highly anticipated Bond game, 007 :First Light . This past weekend, Le Chiffre officially became the newest Elusive Target in Hitman , available across all major platforms including PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and even the newly released Nintendo Switch 2. Players have until July 6th to hunt him down in a new mission titled The Banker. Mikkelsen himself provides the voice. According to the official event description: 'Mads Mikkelsen returns as Le Chiffre, the iconic private banker to the criminal underworld, known for his mastery of games of chance and probability. 'A recent failed venture left him in dire straits, losing vast sums of both legitimate and illicit capital, and in a desperate bid to recover, he has arranged a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Monarchique in Paris. 'Agent 47 has been tasked with infiltrating the perilous event and will have to find his way to his target to prevent havoc being wreaked across the world.' IO Interactive and Amazon MGM Studios announced the crossover during Summer Game Fest in Los Angeles, where Mikkelsen took the stage with IO CEO Hakan Abrak to reveal the collaboration. The event doubles as a promo for IO's upcoming Bond title 007: First Light , set for release in 2026. There's also a little bonus for players: anyone who takes out Le Chiffre during the limited-time Hitman mission and has an IOI account will unlock an exclusive casino suit for 007: First Light . It's pretty cool that Mikkelsen is playing Le Chiffre again after all these years. He's easily one of the most memorable Bond villains of the modern era.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Mads Mikkelsen to reprise iconic James Bond character for Hitman collaboration
Mads Mikkelsen is reprising his role as Le Chiffre from the 2006 James Bond film Casino Royale in a collaboration with the Hitman video game series. Mikkelsen will voice Le Chiffre in Hitman: World of Assassination, where the character will be an "Elusive Target" for Agent 47. IO Interactive, the developers behind Hitman and the upcoming James Bond origins game 007 First Light, announced the collaboration at Summer Game Fest 2025. In the game, Le Chiffre is trying to recover from a failed venture by arranging a high-stakes poker game at the Casino Monarchique in Paris, where Agent 47 must stop him from causing havoc. Mikkelsen expressed his excitement about returning to the role, noting that this time, Le Chiffre is "more confident, he's unpredictable and ruthless."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Amazon Just Revealed a New Face of James Bond, But Not in A Movie
Well before a new actor for James Bond has been revealed for the next movie, Amazon MGM, along with video game developer IO Interactive, have dropped the first look at a younger James Bond. The game is called 007 First Light, and it's an utter reboot of the entire James Bond canon. Featuring a younger 007 on his first mission, First Light reimagines the entire Bond story, but with all the classic elements. In fact, if the next trailer for the actual next James Bond movie is half as good as this, we'll all be in luck. Watch the new trailer for 007 First Light below. Not taking place in any previous Bond canon, First Light seems like a game that approaches the Bond story anew. With graphics on par with the recent game Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, there's certainly a cinematic quality to this trailer. Plus, plenty of guns, gadgets, and over-the-top villains pervade the entire affair. Hardcore Bond fans will certainly be pleased by the flavor of this. Particularly those who have followed the expanded novels from authors like Kim Sherwood and Anthony Horowitz. Like First Light, those books explore both a wider look at MI6, as well as different, younger takes on James Bond. Here's hoping the next Bond movie is half as good as this Just Revealed a New Face of James Bond, But Not in A Movie first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 4, 2025
