Tag Archives: Nintendo

Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date Likely Not Before June



Nintendo has now revealed the Nintendo Switch 2 and, though it tired to remain coy with a vague 2025 window, may have subtly suggested it won’t arrive until at least June, ING reported.

A short trailer from Nintendo confirmed the new hardware alongside a brand new Mario Kart game, and though there are plenty of details to be gleaned from this alone, some more can be found by reading between the lines.

The expectation of a June 2025 release date at the earliest comes via the series of Nintendo Switch 2 hands on events announced by Nintendo. North American locations include New York from April 4 to 6, Los Angeles, from April 11 to 13, Dallas from April 25 to 27, and Toronto from April 25 to 27.

European locations include Paris from April 4 to 6, London from April 11 to 13, Milan from April 25 to 27, Berlin from April 25 to 27, Madrid from May 9 to May 11, and Amsterdam from May 9 to 11. Nintendo is also visiting Melbourne from May 10 to 11, Tokyo from April 26 to 27, Seoul from May 31 to June 1, and Hong Kong and Taipei at later dates.

The Verge reported: Nintendo shared the first details about the Nintendo Switch 2 in a video published Thursday. Nintendo doesn’t give a specific release date for the console besides “2025.”

The console looks a lot like the original, but its bigger. In the video, the Joy-Con controllers are black with colored accents, and they attack to the side of the console instead of sliding on and off. The Joy-Cons appear snap on quite easily — leaks have suggested they could be attached via magnets.

There’s a new button under the home button on the right Joy-Con, which has shown up in leaks. The video also appears to show the Joy-Cons being used similarly to a mouse. And the SL and SR buttons on the Joy-Cons are bigger than they are on the original Switch’s Joy-Cons.

On top of the Switch 2, there’s a new USB-C port next to the 3.5mm headphone jack. The kickstand has a new design — it’s shaped more like a U. The doc for the Switch 2 has a more rounded design. And, like with the original Switch, there will also be a separate controller grip that you can snap the Joy-Cons into. 

The New York Times reported:bNintendo on Thursday announced a successor to its popular Switch console in a short video that showcased the new hardware. The Switch 2 will arrive sometime this year with a larger hand-held display, magnetic controllers and backward compatibility that allows people to play original Switch games.

Although the reveal was short on details, the video showed a few seconds form what appeared to be a new game in the Mario Kart franchise. Citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom raced on a new track with 24 drivers on a dusty desert course. Nintendo declined to respond to questions about the game.

In my opinion, I think there will be a lot of gamers who want to try out the Nintendo Switch 2, whenever it becomes available.


Game Companies are Halting Sales in Russia and Belarus



Several gaming companies have halted sales of their games in Russia and Belarus. Those decisions could be in response to tweets posted by Ukranian Vice Prime Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Federov, who requested that gaming companies to leave the Russian market, and to block the participation of Russian and Belorussian teams and games in esports.

Microsoft posted information titled “Microsoft suspends new sales in Russia” on the Microsoft On the Issues blog. President & Vice Chair, Brad Smith, wrote (in part): “We are announcing today that we will suspend all new sales of Microsoft products and services in Russia. In addition, we are coordinating closely and working in lockstep with the governments of the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom, and we are stopping many aspects of our business in Russia in compliance with governmental sanctions decisions.”

Electronic Arts (EA) posted (in part) “We have made the decision to stop sales of our games and content, including virtual currency bundles, in Russia and Belarus while this conflict continues. As a result, our games and content will no longer be available for purchase in our Russian region storefront on Origin or the EA app, including through in-game stores. We are also working with platform partners to remove our titles from their stores and stop the sale of new in-game content in the region.”

Electronic Sports FIFA tweeted (in part) “…In line with our partners at FIFA and UEFA, EA Sports has initiated processes to remove the Russian National Team and all Russian clubs from EA Sports FIFA products including: FIFA 22, FIFA Mobile, and FIFA Online. We’re also actively evaluating related changes to other areas of our games…”

The Verge reported that, according to a Google-translated version of the message, Nintendo stated: “Due to the fact that the payment service used in Nintendo eShop has suspended the processing pf payments in rubles, Nintendo eShop in Russia is temporally placed into maintenance mode.”

CD PROJEKT Red tweeted: (in part) “In light of the Russian military invasion of our neighboring country of Ukraine, until further notice, the CD PROJEKT Group has made the decision to halt all sales of our games to Russia and Belarus. Today, we begin working with our partners to suspend digital sales and cease physical stock deliveries of CD PROJEKT Group products, as well as all games distributed on the GOG platform, to the territories of Russia and Belarus”…

Eurogamer reported that Sony “quietly pulls PlayStation’s new blockbuster game Gran Turismo 7 from sale in Russia.” According to Eurogamer, Sony has not formally announced that game’s removal. GT7’s Russia store page now displays the text “Release date pending confirmation”.


Nintendo Announces Wii U & 3DS eShop Discontinuation



Nintendo announced that as of late March 2023, it will no longer be possible to make purchases in Nintendo eShop for the Wii U system and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. It will also not be possible to download the content, including game demos. This is important information for people who are still playing games on their Wii U and/or Nintendo 3DS.

  • As of May 23, 2022, it will no longer be possible to use a credit card to add funds to an account in Nintendo eShop on Wii U or the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
  • As of August 29, 2022, it will no longer be possible to use a Nintendo eShop Card to add funds to an account in Nintendo eShop on Wii U or the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. However, it will still be possible to redeem download codes until late March of 2023.

Users who link their Nintendo Network ID wallet (used with Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems) with their Nintendo Account wallet (used with the Nintendo Switch family of systems) can use the shared balance to purchase content on any of these systems until late March 2023. After that, the balance can only be used to purchase content for the Nintendo Switch family of systems.

Nintendo states that no changes are planned for Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo Switch family of games.

According to NintendoLife, Nintendo’s Wii U was launched on November 18, 2012, in the United States. Which means it is now (nearly) a ten year old system. NintendoLife described this way:

“With its blocky GamePad controller and HD visuals – a first for Nintendo at the time – the Wii U soon appeared in Europe on 30th November and in Japan on 8th December the very same year. Customers could opt for either a ‘Basic’ white set with 8GB of memory, or a ‘Premium’ black set with 32GB of memory and a copy of either Nintendo Land or ZombiU.”

A quick look at Wikipedia shows that the basic Wii U was discontinued in Japan in June of 2015. Anticipating the release of the console’s successor, the Nintendo Switch, a hybrid video game console, Nintendo had planned to diminish production of the Wii U. Nintendo formally announced the end of its production on January 31, 2017.

The Nintendo Wiki says that the Nintendo 3DS was released on February 26, 2011 in Japan, on March 25, 2011 In Europe and UK, on March 27, 2011 in North America and Canada, and on March 31, 2011 in Australia.

Nintendo is making it possible for people who have a Wii U and/or a Nintendo 3DS to redownload content they own, and to download existing software updates after March of 2023. However, users will not be able to purchase any new content on those devices or download demos.


S-Charge 10,000 mAh Portable Power for Nintendo Switch Review



The Nintendo Switch is unique among the current generation of gaming devices, morphing between a console and a handheld. It’s a novel idea implemented well and a key factor in my choice to buy one for Christmas last year. For gaming on the go, the internal battery lasts a couple of hours which is usually enough for a commute, but for long journeys the Switch will need a recharge and this is where InDemand Design’s S-Charge comes in. Let’s take a look.

The S-Charge is a 10,000 mAh battery case for the Nintendo Switch that combines extra power with card storage and a multi-angle kick-stand. Originally, an Indiegogo project, the S-Charge is now available direct either from S-Charge or from Amazon for GB£65. This price includes the S-Charge itself, a carry case that takes a Switch with the S-Charge attached, a 45cm USB A to C cable and a screen protector.

The Switch slots into the S-Charge much like it slots into the standard TV dock, connecting into the lower USB C port. The Switch is retained in the S-Charge by a top hinge which rotates round and clicks into place, holding the the Switch securely while still giving access to the buttons and vents along the top edge of the console. The card slot’s not realistically available but it’s not much effort to flip the top up and switch the game card over.

Once connected up, pressing a small button on the left side powers up the S-Charge and there are four small white LEDs which show the battery level. Next to the button is a standard USB A port for charging other devices, such as phones or Bluetooth earbuds. Finally, there’s a USB C port for recharging the S-Charge via the supplied cable.

The long and adjustable kickstand on the S-Charge addresses one of the Switch’s other weak points, namely the flimsy, offset and single position built-in stand. The one on the S-Charge runs the full length of the unit and will click into about five different angles to get the Switch just right. Underneath the kickstand is space for two game cartridges.

Using the Switch with the S-Charge attached in handheld mode takes a little getting used for two reasons. One, the S-Charge weighs 325g and two, where do you put your fingers? A Switch with joycons attached tips the scales at 400g, so once the S-Charge is added, it’s 725g all in, which is hefty enough to hold. Depending on hand-size, fingers can either curl behind the joycons or lie along the the back of the S-Charge, but it’ll take a little getting used to. Obviously, neither of these are an issue if primarily using the Switch in tabletop mode.

The carbon fibre effect carry case is good too. It’ll take a Switch with both the S-Charge and joycons attached and there’s space for an extra six game cartridges. In the lid, there’s a zipped pocket to keep the charging cable and any other extras, like a screen cleaning cloth. The only thing I’d say about the case is that the zipped pocket has a metal pull on the zip itself. For the sake of the left hand joycon, I would have preferred a plastic one or at least a rubber coating.

The battery in the S-Charge is a beefy 10,000 mAh – that’s over twice the capacity of the Switch which Nintendo says is 4,310 mAh. How much extra gameplay depends entirely on the games being played with Zelda burning through the standard battery in less than three hours. Starting with the Switch and S-Charge at full capacity, Breath of the Wild play time could be extended to ten hours.

I used the S-Charge extensively over a couple of weeks and while I never managed to fit in a whole day of non-stop portable gaming, my experience was very much in-line with expectations. Taking the console round to another family’s home over Christmas, there was some serious Mario Kart for a couple of hours with only the loss of one white LED.

The S-Charge isn’t a pocket money purchase at GB£65, but you do get a multi-functional unit with a carry case and overall I think it’s a very good solution. Not only does it extend gaming-on-the-go to at least ten hours, the stand is much better, there’s cartridge storage and the S-Charge can recharge other devices too. It’s the perfect travelling companion for the Nintendo Switch.

There’s more on my YouTube video.

Thanks to InDemand Design for providing the S-Charge for review.


The World Ends With You: Final Remix Release Date Revealed



Nintendo revealed that The World Ends with You: Final Remix is coming to Nintendo Switch on October 12, 2018. The game was developed by Square Enix and is is a role-playing game. The number of players has not yet been determined.

Complete the mission…or face erasure.

That’s all Neku knows after regaining consciousness in the middle of a busy intersection without his memories. Now he and his partner must fight to survive a life-or-death game in this twisted tale with more turns than the urban labyrinth of Tokyo they’re trapped in. This definitive version of Square Enix’s RPG classic brings the dark story to life on the Nintendo Switch system along with a new scenario and some killer, new remixed music.

The Nintendo America website says that Neku needs to learn how to work together with a partner to complete the Reapers’ Game. They only have seven days to do it. Right now, it’s unclear if The World Ends with You: Final Remix is going to be a one-player game (where Neku pairs with an non-player character) or if the game will be two-player. The Nintendo website also says: “Take control of real-time, action-fueled RPG battles using touch controls or Joy-Con controllers.”

Other details include:

  • Fight to survive the week-long “Reaper’s Game” playing out on the twisted streets of Shibuya, Tokyo
  • Delve into Square Enix’s remastered RPG classic
  • The Nintendo Switch exclusive new scenario makes this the definitive experience
  • Collect an array of mysterious, stylish pins with powerful psychic abilities, then point the way to victory in real-time, action-fueled RPG battles
  • New remixed music tracks, new enemies, and hours of additional content – all exclusive to The World Ends With You: Final Remix
  • Distinctive modern art from a team of artists led by producer Tetsuya Nomura, best known for his work on the Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy game series.
  • The expansive soundtrack boasts a wide array of genres, including everything from rock to hip-hop to electronica

Nintendo Announced Super Smash Bros. Ultimate at E3



Nintendo announced a new Super Smash Bros. game with new fighters, stages, and more at E3 2018. It will be released on December 7, 2018.

Legendary game worlds and fighters collide in the ultimate showdown – a new entry in the Super Smash Bros. series for the Nintendo Switch system! New fighters, like Inkling from the Splatoon series and Ridley from the Metroid series, make their Super Smash Bros. series debut alongside every Super Smash Bros. fighter in the series…EVER! Faster combat, new items, new attacks, new defensive options, and more will keep the battle raging whether you’re at home or on the go.


Features include:

  • A new game in the Super Smash Bros. series
  • New fighters, new stages, and every fighter ever featured in the series…EVER!
  • Inkling from the Splatoon series joins the roster
  • Ridley from the Metroid series also joins the fight
  • Returning fighters include Wolf, Ice Climbers, Pokémon Trainer and more
  • Elevate the Super Smash Bros. experience to new heights with faster combat, new attacks, new items, and new defensive positions
  • Hold a 4-player-free-for-all, or kick it up to 8-player battles. (Additional accessories may be required for multiplayer mode. Game, system, amiibo and some accessories sold separately.)
  • All current Super Smash Bros. series amiibo figures are supported.

The retail edition of Super Smash Bros.Ultimate can be preordered now. Players in the United States can purchase it from GameStop, Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart or Target. Each one has priced it at $59.99. Canadian players can preorder the game from Walmart for $79.96. The digital edition of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is “coming soon”.


Nintendo is Ending Miitomo



Nintendo announced that Miitomo will no longer be available as of May 9, 2018. Nintendo is preparing some special events that will take place between now and the end date.

There is now a Daily Login Bonus. Users can log into Miitomo to receive daily bonuses until the very end. Those items include: Miitomo coins x 2,000 and Game Tickets x 5. It is no longer possible to purchase Miitomo coins.

The final Miifoto Event has begun. The final theme is Miitomo memories. To participate, create a Miifoto that best reflects your favorite Miitomo memory and post it to Twitter. Each user can make as many posts for this event as they want to. Nintendo will select 10-20 Miifotos on or about April 27, 2018, to post on the official Miitomo website.

After Nintendo ends service of the Miitomo app, those who launch it will see a message informing them that the service has ended. It will no longer be possible to use any of the apps features. Users will not be able to see their answers or messages in the app, and they will no longer be able to use items they obtained in the app (like clothing items, wallpapers or posters).

You can transfer your Mii character to your Nintendo Account by linking it to Miimoto. Nintendo points out that the character’s personality and other information will not be carried over.

Sidekick Mii characters will be deleted. If you want to keep your Sidekick Mii characters, you can save them as a QR Code before the end of service. They can then be transferred to Mii Maker on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems or the Wii console.

After the Miitomo service ends, users will not be able to view Miifotos, including the Miifotos they have shared to their social media channels. If you want to save your Miifotos, you must save them to your smart device before the end of service.