If Wednesday’s Nintendo Switch 2 showcase isn’t enough for you, Nintendo will have even more reveals to share throughout the rest of the week.

You probably know by now that Nintendo will be holding a showcase tomorrow all about the Nintendo Switch 2. In fact, you probably already have the livestream open in another tab in preparation.

Its exact contents are a mystery, but it’s expected to share a lot of new info about the console and its games, considering it’s set to be the longest Nintendo Direct ever.

Turns out that’s not all Nintendo has planned for this week, as it will also be sharing deeper dives and hands-on gameplay for certain Switch 2 games for two days after the showcase.

As announced on its social media channels, Nintendo Treehouse will be holding livestreams on Thursday, April 3 and Friday, April 4. Exactly how long these livestreams will last hasn’t been specified but both will start at 7am PT, which is 3pm BST here in the UK.

For anyone unfamiliar with Nintendo Treehouse, it’s a division of Nintendo of America mostly responsible for localising the company’s games for the region. Since 2014, it’s occasionally held livestreams to show off upcoming games.

Nintendo hasn’t said which games will be shown, but that’s obviously because they haven’t been announced yet. One of them could very well be the new Mario Kart, which was teased in the initial Switch 2 reveal, but the rest are anyone’s guess.

Whatever will be shown is bound to be interesting though as a hands-on demo usually gives a better idea of how games work in action, when compared to curated trailers.

The livestreams may also serve as an indicator of what people can expect from the Switch 2 live events Nintendo is holding over the coming months. Anyone who managed to land a ticket will get to try out the Switch 2 early.

It seems fair to assume whatever games are shown in the Nintendo Treehouse streams have a good chance of being present at these events, although not necessarily all of them.

As a reminder, tickets were given out via a lottery system, so you can’t just waltz in. The London event is taking place next weekend on April 11 to April 13 – so you can expect attendees to share video footage and photos from that as well.

The Switch 2 isn’t expected to launch until June, although that is currently only a rumour. Ideally, Nintendo will reveal have a concrete release date during tomorrow’s showcase, as well as pre-order details and pricing.

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The Wednesday letters page is excited and anxious about today’s Switch 2 news at the Nintendo Direct, as one reader is unimpressed by the Xbox Asus team-up.

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PLEASE NOTE: We will have very limited time to put together the Games Inbox on Wednesday, so please get your emails in as quickly as possible, especially if you’re planning to comment on the Nintendo Direct. Otherwise the next Inbox will be on Friday.

The day today
So here we go, the biggest Nintendo moment in eight years: the full reveal of the Switch 2 and all (some? a couple?) of its games. I don’t know what’s going to be there anymore than anyone else does but I can tell you I feel that tingle of excitement in a way I haven’t in a long time.

We don’t need to go over what a disappointment this generation has been again, but this is the sort of thing it’s been missing: a big event, that probably isn’t going to disappoint, and will have tons of new things to talk about and look forward to.

When was the last time we had something like that? For me The Game Awards just don’t do it, they’re just paid ads and what is shown is almost always pre-rendered and very brief. I’d probably have to go back to the unveiling of Elden Ring for the last time I was anticipating things this much and that wasn’t hyped up like this.

Maybe that will hurt it in the end, if it means Nintendo can never do enough to please people, but I have a good feeling about it and I certainly plan to get no work done between 2pm and 3pm today.
Onibee

One hour
60 minutes of Nintendo Direct? Now we know they’re serious. I’d worry that a lot of that is going to be waffle but Nintendo are the masters of the Direct format and a lot of that is due to fast pacing and being very lean, with no wasted time and never staying on anything for too long.

Maybe they’ll suddenly switch strategies, but I doubt it. This is their moment and I hope for their sake, my sake (as a fan), and the games industry’s sake they make a proper job of it. This has been such a rough generation, where the great games seem to almost be in spite of Microsoft and Sony, not because of them.

I want to see Nintendo reset the clock and show what video games are about: an affordable console that’s clearly different to the last one, unique and imaginative games that don’t cost the earth, and no live service trash – or at least a bare minimum, I know Nintendo has dabbled with it.
Lofty

Dream team
My wish list for today: Mario Kart (a given), 3D Mario, F-Zero, a new Zelda remake, and two new IP. Might seem a bit of a tall order to some but I think there’s a reasonable chance it might come true. The Mario games are obvious, but I think some kind of Zelda representation, even if it’s a cheap remaster of The Wind Waker, is very likely.

Nintendo must have some new IP, I think, and even if one is a smaller thing like 1-2-Switch hopefully we still get something. And then F-Zero… well, we’ve had some rumours about GameCube support recently so maybe it’ll be F-Zero GX on Nintendo Switch Online. If it’s a brand new game then I promise to pre-order a Switch 2 the second you can.
Hester

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Cheap advice
This Xbox crossover with Asus seems so cheap. I know that’s a strange word to use for something that’s probably going to cost £600+ but the ROG Ally does look cheap and that whole teaser trailer thing looked like an ad for DLC, not a hyper expensive handheld console.

I can sort of see the idea that Microsoft wants to get their foot in the door with portable consoles, but most people aren’t even going to know this exists, let alone buy it. So what does Microsoft gain from that?

As usual they’re trying to take a shortcut, because they want a portable next gen console out now, but it’s not going to be ready, according to them, for a few years. You would’ve thought they’d learn by now, after so long making the same mistakes again and again, but no.

Just do the groundwork and success will come to you. There is no shortcut and if there was it certainly wouldn’t be slapping an Xbox logo on a weird portable console that only plays PC games.
Gaza

Too obvious
Given Nintendo’s new obsession with the number to, that a reader pointed out a few weeks ago – releasing a 2:22 long video at 22:02, having 2 months, 2 weeks, and 2 days between announcements – I wonder if someone with a sense of humour at Nintendo UK has considered setting a trailer to this version of the appropriately timed Song 2, which I remember being mentioned in the Inbox years ago.

Though presumably it needs updating with Kevin Afghani’s vocals now.
astropause

GC: Perhaps we’ll find out at 2pm today.

Solid nine
I’m quite surprised by your comment on Final Fantasy 9 not being a popular game. I remember it getting rave reviews at the time of the release (in fact Metacritic still has a 94% rating on the game). I remember thoroughly enjoying the game at the time (even if the story got a little weird towards the end!). I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone disparage it (except in the general Japanese role-playing game way).

I’m very hopeful for a remaster, but not in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake style of super realistic graphics and a totally new battle system. Refine the existing game and improve the graphics, certainly, but don’t go so far as Remake did. Maybe add some new content or expand the story. Definitely give us an expanded Tetra Master! Loved that mini-game!

Anyway, I wrote in way back (January maybe?) saying the top port in the Switch 2 could be to enable dual screen with the old Switch. Glad the current rumours are agreeing this is what it’s for, but I wait with bated breath for the actual reveal!
Solabound

GC: We just meant it wasn’t necessarily a series favourite, but we have nothing against it.

Genie in a bottle
If some developers are crying because they haven’t been given devkits I think I’m prepared to believe that Nintendo is right to deny them. We haven’t had a single serious leak that didn’t come from the production line and I for one am glad of that.

I hate leaks and rumours, and it annoys me no end that they spoil everything before you get a proper reveal. I realise that once the information is out there it’s pointless to pretend it isn’t but if Nintendo is being extra suspicious with who they trust then good for them, it clearly worked.
Waldorf

Mappa mundi
I am currently playing the excellent Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown on Switch. Having a great time 15 hours in and so far would place it in the top tier of Metroidvanias, alongside Hollow Knight and Metroid Dread.

One minor issue I am having though is constantly pausing to look at the map. I have this compulsion with all similar games, to continually check I am in the right place or to look for clues in branching paths, etc.

The rumoured Wii U-esque feature for Switch 2 has really caught my eye for this reason. Back on the Wii U I played another brilliant Metriodvania in Guacamelee! Super Turbo Championship Edition. Here the map was on display on the GamePad, with touchscreen functionality. I loved this set-up at the time and was always disappointed when other Wii U games didn’t replicate it (Breath Of The Wild was a huge missed opportunity to display the map on the GamePad’s second screen)

It sounds minor but would be an excellent quality-of-life feature if developers were to take advantage.
i.e.mcr (NN ID)

GC: We suspect Nintendo downgraded the GamePad’s functionality in the Wii U version of Breath Of The Wild, so it didn’t seem better than the Switch.

Inbox also-rans
I could almost imagine Rockstar releasing the GTA 6 this week or next, except that I think that weirdly they have quite a good relationship with Nintendo. I’ll laugh if the Direct starts with Rockstar logo, that would certainly set the tone.
Bosley

What if Metroid Prime 4 isn’t in the Nintendo Direct but a 2D sequel to Metroid Dread was? I would not be disappointed.
Lockwood

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The big day is finally here, when Nintendo will reveal the inner secrets of the Switch 2 and its games, and it’s very easy to watch the Direct as it happens.

At over eight years old, the Nintendo Switch is well past retirement age, but it’s still selling and we found out last week that there are still new games scheduled for it in 2026.

Nevertheless, its successor has been waiting in the wings for a while now, after the Nintendo Switch 2 was officially announced in January. Although it was a very limited reveal, with no voiceover to explain anything, while the only game that was shown was seven seconds of footage for a new Mario Kart.

The true reveal, where more games will be shown and the console will be explained in detail, takes place this week, as part of a very special Nintendo Direct.

When is the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct?

The Switch 2 Nintendo Direct is an online showcase that will be livestreamed on YouTube and Twitch on Wednesday, April 2.

It will last approximately 60 minutes and will start at 2pm BST (remember we’re not on GMT anymore).

That’s long for a Direct, so clearly Nintendo feels they’ve got a lot to talk about, but you don’t necessarily have to tune in when it happens, as you can just watch the whole Direct, or edited highlights, after the livestream is finished.

How to watch the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct

Watching the Nintendo Direct is very easy and completely free. The default venue is YouTube, with the video already available above, where you can watch the whole thing once it starts.

If you prefer, it’ll also be shown at the same time on Nintendo’s Twitch channel, but it’s the same livestream either way. Both channels will offer the full Direct to watch after it’s finished, along with much shorter videos of individual game trailers and console details.

What announcements are expected at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct?

That question is much harder to answer, as not only is Nintendo naturally hard to predict but there’ve been very few leaks or rumours in the run-up to the Direct (there were more before but that’s only because it’s harder to keep secrets when third party hardware companies are involved).

Based on previous console unveils, and given how few concrete details there are, it seems fair to expect a detailed description of what the console can do and definitive answers to questions like what the secret ‘C’ button is for and whether the Joy-Cons can really be used as mice.

We wouldn’t expect detailed tech specs though, as that’s something Nintendo never does. Although there’ll probably be something to illustrate the console’s power and the difference between Switch 1 games running on the original console versus the Switch 2.

In terms of games, the only thing close to certain is the new Mario Kart. But despite assumptions, there’s no guarantee it will be a launch title.

Considering it was in last week’s Nintendo Direct, there’s no certainty that Metroid Prime 4 will be featured heavily. Although given it’s widely expected to be a launch game it should at least be mentioned.

Everything else is pure guesswork at this point, including whether Nintendo will showcase any third party games or leave that for a subsequent Direct.

If you had to guess though, you’d have to say there’s a very good chance that you’ll get at least a glimpse of a new 3D Mario (with some rumours suggesting it’ll feature a Donkey Kong crossover), with a good chance of Splatoon 4 and perhaps a tease of a new Animal Crossing.

It’s far too soon after Tears Of The Kingdom to expect a new mainline Zelda but there could be another remaster or spin-off. Or perhaps even a full-blown remake of a classic title.

You’d also hope there might be at least one brand new IP and in fact we technically already know about one: the secret online title that Nintendo was playtesting late last year and is believed to be codenamed Rockstock.

Will the Switch 2 release date and price be announced at the Direct?

This is also very difficult to say but the best answer we can give is… probably. The Switch 2 is rumoured to have a launch date in or around June, so if that’s true Nintendo is going to have to get specific about the details of when the console will be available and how much it will cost pretty soon.

We already know it’ll be out this year, at some point, so a specific release date is all but certain. Pre-order details are also possible, but they may be left until a few days or weeks afterwards, so don’t worry if that isn’t announced straight away.

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The internet is awash with fake video game pranks for April Fools’ Day though some of them are more tangible this year.

With everyone’s attention squarely on tomorrow’s Nintendo Direct for the Nintendo Switch 2, it’s easy to forget that it’s April Fool’s Day today.

Every year, the games industry likes to make fake game announcements that, frankly, aren’t all that funny. There are some exceptions (Sega made a whole Sonic The Hedgehog murder mystery visual novel one year), but the misses are more numerous than the hits.

As always, it’s important to take any gaming news you hear today, especially anything that sounds too good to be true, with a pinch of salt. Things will only get worse as the day goes on too, as America wakes up, but there have been a number of fake reveals already.

Examples of definitely fake announcements include screenshots for an 8-bit remake of NieR:Automata, made by the NieR franchise’s Japanese X account, and a PowerWash Simulator update that teases dual-wielding; both of which would actually be pretty neat.

Zenless Zone Zero’s April Fool’s prank may be the meanest since it teases an Xbox port for the game that’s scheduled to launch… on February 30, 2222. Considering Zenless Zone Zero is only on PlayStation 5, PC, and mobile, any Xbox owners might feel a bit peeved by the rug pull.

We’ll give Argonaut Games some credit for its effort. Ahead of the launch of its Croc: Legend Of The Gobbos remaster, it has claimed to have rediscovered a long lost Commodore 64 graphical text adventure game ‘which served as the inspiration for the 1997 classic 3D platformer.’

This is obviously all fake, but Argonaut has gone out of its way to release a playable version of this lost game, that you can download from its website and run through an emulator. It’s an awfully niche joke, but we respect the work put into making something more tangible.

Thankfully, Rockstar hasn’t tried anything cute with a fake GTA 6 announcement or something, probably since that’d just infuriate the already disgruntled fans who are still waiting for a second trailer.

Insider Gaming has taken a crack at trolling the fanbase though, by sharing an ‘exclusive’ report on an Xbox 360 version of GTA 6 being in development, including a statement from a Rockstar representative called Don Beleevit.

Unsurprisingly, there are a couple of dating sim announcements too, which seem to be the low hanging fruit of video game April Fool’s pranks. The first is for PUBG Battlegrounds, which turns the game’s guns into anime waifus to romance.

We initially assumed this was just a fake trailer, but it turns out it is playable through the PUBG Battlegrounds website and has three endings that unlock minor rewards for the actual game.

And then there’s Palworld, 2024’s indie survival game hit most famous for its similarities to Pokémon. Last year, developer Pocketpair did a fake announcement for a dating sim spin-off, saying it would launch on April 1, 2025.

Another trailer for it was recently shared, which seemed like Pocketpair was just repeating the same joke. Except this time, the Palworld dating sim has a listing on Steam and can even be added to customers’ wishlists, suggesting that it’ll be a real product.

The new trailer doesn’t mention a release date, only saying it’s in development, so fans shouldn’t expect a surprise drop by the end of the day.

It being April Fools’ doesn’t mean the regular news cycle has stopped though. In fact, Nintendo has today elected to confirm the runtime of the Switch 2 showcase, revealing it to be the company’s longest Nintendo Direct yet.

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It looks like you can expect a lot – and we mean a lot – of new Switch 2 info at Nintendo’s next big showcase, judging by its runtime.

We’re less than 24 hours away from Nintendo’s first proper showcase for the Nintendo Switch 2 and everyone has sky high expectations for it.

Nintendo has avoided saying exactly what people can expect from the showcase, but a thorough breakdown of what the new hardware can do and a closer look at the new Mario Kart teased in the January reveal are safe bets. But beyond that it’s anyone’s guess.

It’s unlikely any info will slip through the cracks ahead of time, but Nintendo has given one more reason to get excited for the showcase: a reassuringly long runtime.

How long is the Nintendo Direct for Switch 2?

As confirmed by Nintendo’s social media accounts, the Switch 2 Direct will run for approximately 60 minutes.

Out of curiosity, we took a quick scan through Nintendo’s archive of previous showcases, and this makes tomorrow’s showcase the longest Nintendo Direct the company has ever had.

This shows how important a showcase this is for Nintendo and means the company will have a lot to share during it. It’s also notable in that usually Directs are known for their brevity, so either they’re spending an unusual amount of time on each subject… or there’s a lot of subjects.

This could mean there’ll be a lot of new game announcements. Aside from Mario Kart, there’s rampant speculation of a Switch 2 port of Metroid Prime 4, a new 3D Mario platformer, and the long rumoured Final Fantasy 9 remake showing up during the proceedings.

It’s unclear how much time Nintendo will spend on the console itself though, and services like Nintendo Switch Online, so it’s still best not to go into the Direct expecting a dozen new game reveals.

Nintendo announced a bunch of new games for the original Switch in last week’s showcase, but the bigger name franchises were notably absent, presumably because they’re being saved for Switch 2.

In fact, the biggest reveal Nintendo had was a new Tomodachi Life, which is popular in Japan but not so much in the rest of the world.

All that said, it’s impossible to predict how Nintendo has chosen to structure the Switch 2 Direct and how much time will be spent on the games or whatever else they want to talk about.

We’re expecting Nintendo will opt to close the showcase with a release date announcement, as well as pricing and pre-order details – especially if the rumours about a June launch are true. However, as with everything else it’s best not to take anything for granted.

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After getting his gaming world records reinstated after cheating allegations, Billy Mitchell has now won another defamation lawsuit.

To many, the name Billy Mitchell will just make you think of the EastEnders character. But those intimately familiar with the world of video game speedruns and high scores will recognise him as the pro gamer who earned the highest score ever in the Donkey Kong arcade game by Nintendo.

They’ll also be aware of the scandals surrounding him, particularly how he was accused of cheating and had his world record for Donkey Kong (alongside his perfect Pac-Man score) redacted by Guinness World Records and Twin Galaxies, prompting Mitchell to accuse both organisations of defamation.

Those issues have long since been cleared up, but Mitchell is also at the centre of another lawsuit involving an Australian YouTuber, and the court case has ended in Mitchell’s favour.

As reported by The Guardian, a Brisbane court concurred that YouTuber and speedrunner Karl Jobst had defamed Mitchell in a 2021 video titled ‘The Biggest Conmen In Video Game History Strike Again!’ and so has to pay him over $350,000 (around £271,000) in damages.

For context, Jobst’s video alleged that Mitchell had cheated to obtain his high scores and had ‘pursuing unmeritorious litigation’ against other individuals over the same cheating allegations.

This included a YouTuber by the name of Benjamin ‘Apollo Legend’ Smith, who committed suicide in December 2020. Jobst made the damning accusation that Mitchell’s lawsuit contributed to this, going as far to say that Mitchell ‘hounded Apollo Legend to death.’

The video was later taken down and reuploaded with alterations to Jobst’s allegations against Mitchell. However, judge Ken Barlow still ruled that Jobst had made five defamatory imputations about Mitchell, which included a false assertion that Smith had to pay Mitchell ‘a large sum of money.’

While Barlow did acknowledge that Mitchell had a reputation for suing those who called him a cheater, the point of the case wasn’t to determine if Mitchell was guilty of cheating or not.

In the end, it was determined Jobst had damaged Mitchell’s reputation and caused distress. As such, the court awarded Mitchell $350,000 in damages, with Jobst needing to pay a further $40,000 in interest.

This comes more than a year after Mitchell reached a settlement with speedrunning website Twin Galaxies. Mitchell had sued it and Guinness World Records for defamation, after his records were rescinded.

While Guinness restored the records, Twin Galaxies countersued. A settlement was reached in January 2024, with Twin Galaxies restoring Mitchell’s scores to a historical database that serves as an archive, but not on the site’s main pages (per Ars Technica).

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Many smaller developers still don’t have Nintendo Switch 2 devkits, which could mean less games at launch than previously thought.

There will undoubtedly be at least one major first party game from Nintendo, available alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 when it launches this year. The rest of its launch line-up, though, will probably consist mostly of third party titles from other publishers.

This makes sense when you look at previous Nintendo console launches. The original Switch, for example, only had two first party launch titles: The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild and 1-2-Switch.

That’s only a guess though and it’s currently unknown how many developers have Switch 2 devkits – modified consoles needed to make a game – but it may be less than first assumed.

For context, these rumours originated with an Insider Gaming report from last week, which alleged that Nintendo has a three phase launch plan for the Switch 2.

Phase one is said to focus on first party games, while phase two will see games from third parties arrive during the October/November period. The report went so far as to say third party studios aren’t expecting dev kits to arrive until June, which is also the widely assumed release month for the Switch 2.

In a recent video, Digital Foundry’s John Linneman corroborated this. While attending this year’s Game Developers Conference (GDC), he said he had heard ‘many, many, many, many developers are still without kit’ and Nintendo was ‘very slow at rolling this out to a lot of developers.’

Does this mean no other studios are able to make Switch 2 games until June? That is extremely unlikely. If this were the case, then those studios would only have a few months to familiarise themselves with the hardware and turn out new games and/or updated ports.

What’s more likely is that Nintendo has only granted dev kits to its most trusted partners. Linneman believes this to be the case, adding, ‘It just seems like a lot of medium to small developers still do not have access to development hardware. So Nintendo has been very selective with who they allow to do it [sic].’

Former GamesBeat writer Imran Khan followed this up over on ResetEra, claiming to have heard that at least one major third party, who he later revealed was Embracer Group, hadn’t been sent Switch 2 dev kits because ‘Nintendo deemed them too chaotic at the moment’ and was fearful of studios receiving dev kits, shutting down, and then losing the kits.

Insider Gaming has also clarified its report, saying that it’s the smaller studios that are lacking dev kits and most of the major third party developers already have them.

In addition, Insider Gaming says some, if not all, the dev kits lack 4K output. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean the Switch 2 won’t support 4K visuals since dev kits often don’t match the console’s final specs.

What third party games are coming to Nintendo Switch 2?

As it stands, very few third party games have been formally announced for Switch 2. Ahead of the console’s reveal, My Time At Portia studio Pathea Games and Yooka-Laylee developer Playtonic Games said their next projects will launch for ‘future Nintendo platforms’, which may mean some indie studios already have access to Switch 2 devkits.

PowerWash Simulator 2 is also reportedly coming to Switch 2, though developer FuturLab has insisted that it has no concrete plans for Nintendo’s new console at the moment.

Beyond that, there are plenty of rumours and theories going around. Retail listings suggest that the likes of Tekken 8 and Red Dead Redemption 2 are inbound for Switch 2.

Microsoft is said to be one of the console’s biggest supporters, with Halo: The Master Chief Collection and Microsoft Flight Simulator (presumably the newest one) named as two big Xbox games rumoured to see Switch 2 ports.

At the very least, the Switch 2 being more powerful than its predecessor means a lot more games from the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One days should finally be ported to Nintendo’s platform.

It’s even suggested that the Switch 2’s use of upscaling tech will mean it can run the kind of games you see on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, albeit with some compromises.

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Rumours about an Xbox portable console made by a third party company appear to have come true, with a peculiar new teaser trailer from Asus.

Microsoft has been talking about making a handheld console for a long time now but it’s never been clear exactly what they’re planning, with a recent rumour suggesting they have two devices underway: one a next gen console and the other a team-up with a third party, to be released this year.

Who that partner might be was never named, but likely suspects included Lenovo, MSI, Razer, and Asus. And now it seems as if the latter is the one Microsoft has chosen to work with.

The apparent confirmation comes from a new trailer from Asus, that shows the existing Asus ROG Ally and an Xbox controller being combined together into what is implied to be a new piece of hardware.

The resulting console is not properly shown but the implication seems obvious, especially after Xbox replied to Asus’ tweet of the video with the side-eye monkey meme.

None of this would make much sense without the previous rumour but now it seems very clear what’s going on, with a 2025 launch suddenly seeming very likely.

The Xbox portable is supposedly codenamed Project Kennan but it’s unclear how much it will differ from the existing ROG Ally or if, as seems likely, it will be a variant of the upcoming ROG Ally 2.

Since the console is meant largely as an interim release, before the Microsoft-manufactured next gen device, it may be that it’s simple an existing Asus model with Xbox branding on it.

Although Microsoft has been talking about making a handheld for a while now, with Xbox boss Phil Spencer having frequently talked about how much he admires Steam Deck and similar hardware, a recent report revealed that none of them have seen any true mainstream success.

The whole category of gaming portable has only sold a few million worldwide and putting this new Xbox-branded console up against the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 is certainly a choice. Especially as even just the current model of ROG Ally costs around £570.

However, It seems likely that Microsoft wants to establish itself in the handheld space before the Switch 2 completely takes over, so that by the time the next gen Xbox is ready they already have some experience in the market.

Whether that’s going to work out – and how much effort will be made to promote the device this year – is currently unknown, but it certainly implies a full reveal is likely to happen this summer at the latest.

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The Tuesday letters page has 10 predictions for the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct, as one reader is doubtful the Star Wars strategy game will be a hit.

To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Trailer policy
I guess I’m glad to hear that the second trailer for GTA 6 is being purposefully kept back, rather than being a sign of a delay, but I can’t pretend that I don’t find it all a bit annoying. I know it’ll all be forgotten about the instant the game, or even just the trailer, is released but I’m not sure I like this new idea of announcing a game and then waiting a year or more to get any details.

Sony is doing it a lot lately, with Wolverine, Intergalactic, and Ghost of Yōtei and I don’t like it there either. Either announce the game early and give us constant updates or announce it close to its release date. Doing it half and half just feels like the worst of both worlds.

If Rockstar is doing it though everyone’s going to copy it, because obvious GTA 6 is going to be huge and there’s no way to prove the trailer policy didn’t hurt it. My guess, based on these new comments, is that Trailer 2 won’t happen till late summer at the very earliest. I’m not happy about it, but it is what it is.
Dulac

Acceptable AI
Just have to give a bit of a positivity for one bit of AI in gaming. After last week’s update to Gran Turismo and the introduction of Sophy 2.1 to custom races I have to say it really is quite amazing. One thing to note is you have to set the Boost setting in the race to Weak, not Off, to get it to work but when you do it really is some of the closest and competitive racing I have had in a game ever.

I would say this is likely going to take over me doing the daily races online, as it gives you that real competitive racing without the idiots! Certainly worth checking it out if you haven’t!
SaintsStickman (PSN ID)

GC: Interesting, but then we don’t think anyone would object to using AI for something like that.

Miracle workers
On the subject of the Metroid Prime 4 graphics, as nice as they looked I’d be flabbergasted if it was running on anything other than the Switch. Pertinently, Digital Foundry just did a video on the Xenoblade Chronicles X Switch port and were remarking on how the Wii U original looked much better than pretty much every other open world game of that era, due to smart art direction and design.

I think that’s the case here – good design, rather than fancy technology – since the world looks great but I didn’t see anything in terms of lighting, textures or particle effects that looked beyond the Switch (which let’s not forget, has a lovely Doom Eternal port).

It really shows the benefit of fixed hardware, as developers can make compromises where they need to and get a game looking and running as well as it can. Regardless, I think people will be impressed with a PlayStation 4-ish level Nintendo handheld, as I’m sure they’ll work wonders.
Magnumstache

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Can’t beat ‘em
After watching last week’s Nintendo Direct (and eagerly awaiting this week’s to find out more on the Switch 2), the game that grabbed my attention was Marvel Cosmic Invasion.

I love its art style and the idea of playing as one of 15 different, and niche in some instances, heroes but am wondering whether it’ll retain my interest. I remember loving Streets Of Rage and the X-Men and The Simpsons arcade games when I was younger but would’ve often been playing these in co-op, which I don’t get a chance to do anymore.

I re-read GC’s reviews of Streets Of Rage 4 and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge to remind myself of the calibre of these games, having not played them myself, and noted the concern around their replayability – and maybe general sense of fun – when playing them solo. Have any readers played either of these games solo and would recommend doing so?

Obviously, Marvel Cosmic Invasion might be a different story when it’s released, and I’ll be reading GC’s review of it before making any decisions, but I thought I’d look into testing the waters with Dotemu’s recent beat ‘em-up hits ahead of this.
Hubert

GC: It’s a good point, as while we love seeing all these faux retro beat ‘em-up it is frustrating that none of them make any attempt to do anything new. Shredder’s Revenge was particularly disappointing in this respect, as it looked amazing but was shallow and repetitive even by the standards of the genre. Streets Of Rage 4 is the best of the recent games but there’s still more it could’ve done.

Out of step
Having read the piece by Tom Meadows, I’ve come to the conclusion that he is overexaggerating.

Yes, some of Sony’s IP is going to PC and Switch, but we are talking at least 12 months after onto PC and the Switch is getting some of the niche, dormant franchises from years gone by. Patapon and Everybody’s Golf are hardly AAA system sellers, are they?

I think Sony is taking the right approach, bring some games to other formats that suit the format in question, be it Switch or PC (I can’t see them releasing anything on Xbox) and keep your AAA games for the PlayStation 5 and eventually PC.

That’s if Sony actually want do release any first party games… for me this gen has been a massive step down on the PlayStation 4 for output and quality.

That focus on online games has really hurt them.
StewWBA1980 (gamertag/PSN ID)

Switch to strategy
Very happy to think the new Star Wars game will be an XCOM clone, even if I’m kind of surprised, because there doesn’t seem much chance it’ll be a hit. Not because it’s not good but because none of these tactics games that I like ever seem to do well.

Turn-based strategies are relatively popular with indie devs, which is where I get my usual fix, but I really wish XCOM 2 had been the mega hit it deserved to be. I guess it’s obvious why it wasn’t – complicated, thoughtful, no action – but it’s such a good game.

We’ve already had a Marvel strategy game (by the XCOM team) be a flop and now we’re probably headed for the same with Star Wars, so if they can’t make it work then what hope have we?

I’m pinning the last chance of strategy games going mainstream on the Switch 2 and its new mouse controls. Who knows what madness Nintendo is planning with that, but it seems impossible it won’t involve at least some strategy games.

If they make them a hit and people start copying them then maybe things will be looking up and strategy games will be getting bigger budgets and then, finally, XCOM 3.
Halifax

Separate worlds
Now you mention it, it is odd that movies never have a game coming out close to them, for a bit of cross-promotion. The Last Of Us Part 1 was probably one of the closest and that was whatever.

I am interested to see what will happen with Borderlands 4 though. I actually don’t think the film being a flop and a laughing stock will affect its popularity. I think the reason there’s never a tie-in game is because people just don’t see games and movies as having any real connection, even when they’re adaptations. I’m sure it doesn’t help but I doubt it’s going to kill the franchise or anything.
Gordon

10 Nintendo Switch 2 predictions
By synthesising console and handheld, Nintendo went horizontal with the original Switch. With the Switch 2 they appear to be going vertical, by fully leaning into the Apple business model.

After the virtual cartridge reveal, which may have been the main incentive for the oddly timed Direct last week, my wager is that they’ll make a big thing of cross-generation compatibility at the imminent Switch 2 Direct.

This makes complete sense. With a huge userbase established with the Switch 1, they’ll be keen to build an ecosystem that locks punters in – the Apple way – through each new console iteration. Through the virtual cartridge their peerless and massive back catalogue will help ensure sales for each new console remain robust. My suspicion is that, assuming the Switch 2 is successful, they’ll be far more conservative than in the past.

Each new console, Switch 3, 4, etc. or whatever will stick with the form factor, with additional novelty control mechanics. This’ll also help them dominate the market when eventually, through high-speed internet connections, games can be played without consoles, essentially through a subscription service.

The rumour, then, that the Switch 2 will be able to play Wii U games seems entirely plausible. So, if I’m right that they’ll make a big thing of cross-generational gaming, I offer the following predications for the Switch 2 event.

1. Confirmation that Wii U games can be played via the virtual console, maybe even showcasing asymmetrical gameplay on one game. The Wii U virtual console will not be available at launch though.
2. Revealing a Metroid Prime 4 Switch 2-only iteration, providing a comparison to the Switch 1 version to showcase the system’s power. It’ll confirm that the footage was for the Switch 1, making the upgrade, which will be a notable improvement, more impressive. (Another reason for the Direct last week.)
3. Showing how a game such as Zelda: Breath Of The Wild is boosted on the Switch 2.
4. Reveal of a virtual GameCube console with the beloved F-Zero GX available at launch, to entice hardcore early adopters and prepare for an eventual new entry in the series.
5. Mario Kart 9 will be shown but will not be a launch title. This would be consistent with the timing of previous iterations, as early adopters will buy the console regardless. It’d be the perfect holiday release, able to withstand the GTA 6 onslaught, given that the gameplay is radically different that aims at a different market and, more so than Super Mario, is a system seller. A reimagined Splatoon 4 will also launch during the holiday period. It’ll cater to the Japanese market, selling in large quantities regardless of GTA 6.
6. Super Mario Universe will be the big launch game and highlight reveal. It’ll be a celebration of the entire back catalogue, either through Throwback Galaxy (Super Mario Galaxy 2) style Easter eggs or a fully integrated experience wherein – Mario Kart style – beloved levels from every iteration will be redesigned from the ground up to work seamlessly with the control mechanism, with many 2D levels from the past now in 3D. You’ll also be able to play as Peach, Luigi, Yoshi, Donkey Kong, and Captain Toad on particular levels (they’ll work as a team to defeat Bowser at the end). In fact, there’ll be 3D levels of the original Donkey Kong and Donkey Kong Jr., with Bowser the adversary. This’ll be consistent with rumours of a Donkey Kong game.
7. A Switch 2-only Metroid Prime 4 will also launch with the system.
8. There’ll be one other launch title from Nintendo, a new franchise that makes use of the mouse control but not a throwaway title like 1-2-Switch.
9. Animal Crossing and either a remake of Zelda: A Link To The Past (in 3D) or Ocarina Of Time will both launch in early 2026, with an outside chance that one of the Zeldas will feature in the Direct. Animal Crossing won’t.
10. There’ll be one major reveal and launch title from a third party publisher and a Switch 2 version of something like Elden Ring, again a launch title.

Okay, so there are my predictions, all of which will probably be hopelessly off the mark.
Ciara

Inbox also-rans
I can honestly say I have never heard of Tomodachi Life ever, in my life. I don’t feel I’ve been missing out.
Curly

I would so love Square Enix to do a trilogy remake of Final Fantasy 6, but I’m afraid that they’ll lose the enthusiasm for remakes once all of 7 is finished.
PolarRolo

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MORE: Games Inbox: Which Switch games will get Switch 2 upgrades?

MORE: Games Inbox: Was the Nintendo Direct worth watching?

MORE: Games Inbox: What games will be in today’s Nintendo Direct?

Square Enix is putting a lot of effort into promoting the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy 9, as hopes of a remake reveal this week increase.

If you’re a third party publisher with a new game to announce then there aren’t going to be many better opportunities this year, than at the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct on Wednesday.

The eyes of the gaming world will all be fixed on that one point and it’s very likely that it will see a number of new game reveals that are actually multiformat (assuming the Direct covers anything other than first party Nintendo games, which isn’t a given).

There is already some new circumstantial evidence to suggest that one publisher is getting ready for a big annoucement and that it may be the long-rumoured Final Fantasy 9 remake.

The original Final Fantasy 9 was released in 2000 and was the last of the mainline entries on the PS1. Rumours of a remake go back to 2021, but despite constant talk of its existence it’s never properly leaked.

Despite the constant rumours, there’s never been any real detail about the remake but hopes have risen again this week, with the launch of a 25th anniversary website and a bunch of new merchandise.

Considering some games can see important anniversaries pass by without even a mention, that’s quite a big effort for what is not generally regarded as one of the most popular entries in the series.

The merch, which includes various action figures, plushies, and the like will be released this summer, but there’s no mention on the website of a remake – just the anniversary date of July 7.

The rumours are not just random 4chan chatter but come from respected insiders, including Jason Schreier and NateTheHate.

Also, the original leak mentioned a number of other Square Enix games, all of which have later been officially announced, including difficult to predict titles like a Chrono Cross remaster.

None of that means a Final Fantasy 9 remake is definitely happening but if it was announced at the Nintendo Direct on Wednesday it wouldn’t be a complete surprise.

In terms of the scope of the game, the subject has already been broached by Naoki Yoshida, aka Yoshi-P, director of Final Fantasy 14, although still without confirming that a remake is going ahead.

He raised doubts as to whether Final Fantasy 9 could be remade with modern visuals in a single release, implying it would need multiple.

Considering that, despite critical acclaim, Final Fantasy 7 has not done quite as well as Square Enix hoped it’s difficult to imagine them expending similar resources on Final Fantasy 9 but, well… maybe we’ll find out for sure on Wednesday.

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The second season of The Last Of Us TV show is going to start soon and there will be a new video game release, but it’s going to cost you.

Regardless of their quality, the one constant amongst all video game adaptations is that there’s never any new games to tie into the film or TV shows. You might get a few online promotions but there was no new Mario game when the film came out and no new Sonic, Borderlands, or Uncharted when they were released.

In some cases, there haven’t been any new entries for years and so when the first season of The Last Of Us debuted on HBO all Sony could do was release the, entirely unnecessary, remake The Last Of Us Part 1.

That came out just before season 1 and then after that it was The Last Of Us Part 2 Remastered, which leaves nothing for them to do for season 2… except release an expensive collector’s edition featuring both games.

Season 2 of the show starts on April 13 and Sony has already announced a limited edition DualSense controller, with little Firefly logos on it, that will be released on April 10.

Before that, The Last Of Us Part 2 Remastered will be released for PC on April 3, after having launched on PlayStation 5 in January 2024.

Since there’s only two games (the long promised multiplayer spin-off got cancelled over a year ago now) there’s nothing else Sony can do to promote the show… other than release an expensive special edition.

The rumour comes from French retail source billbil-kun, who has basically never been wrong. However, all they know for sure in this case, is that a new physical edition of The Last Of Us is happening within the next two months and that it costs €119.99/$109.99 – so probably around £110.

They don’t know what the special edition contains but since there’s so few options the obvious guess is both games and some kind of merchandise. £110 seems a little too cheap for a statue, but something along those lines. Maybe a Blu-ray of season 1 of the show?

That’s certainly what rumourmonger DetectiveSeeds has suggested, in response to billbil-kun’s initial tweet, and in the absence of any other information it’s hard to imagine it’s not that.

Will there ever be a The Last Of Us Part 3?

Although their comments on the situation change slightly every time they’re asked, Naughty Dog has insisted there’s no guarantee there’ll ever be a The Last Of Us Part 3.

There certainly seems to be no evidence that they’re working on it now, which means it’ll be many years away from now, if it ever happens.

Instead, Naughty Dog is working on Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, which isn’t expected to be released until after next year. There are also rumours of a second new IP but no clue as to when that might be announced or released.

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XCOM 3 might not ever happen, but it looks like a new Star Wars tactics game by one of the former developers could scratch the same itch.

Despite what you might imagine, the Marvel and Star Wars licences do not print money. Both franchises have had massive hits (Spider-Man 2 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, for example) but there’s a litany of failures too.

Marvel’s Avengers, Guardians Of The Galaxy, and Midnight Suns, for example. Or Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws or the recently cancelled Star Wars Hunters. Many of those were very good games but for some reason they just didn’t sell what you’d expect, given the size of their fanbases.

Just as it is with the movies and TV shows, the world of Star Wars video games seems to be in disarray at the moment, with very few confirmed titles currently in development. One that is on its way though, and has never been officially unveiled, is a new turn-based strategy game – and if this new leak is anything to go by it’s looking very promising indeed.

The unnamed new game was announced in January 2022, but all that is known for certain is that it’s by new develop Bit Reactor, which is headed by former Firaxis designer Greg Foerstch, who has worked on, amongst other things, XCOM.

Although XCOM 2 is one of our favourite games ever a third title is unlikely, as the franchise has never been that big a hit and Firaxis saw layoffs in 2023, following the failure of Marvel’s Midnight Suns.

Although the Star Wars game has long been rumoured to be a turn-based title, nothing else has ever been leaked about it, but now images have emerged which show it to be heavily influenced by titles such as XCOM and Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope.

The game is set to be officially unveiled at the Star Wars Celebration event in Japan, on April 19, and that’s how these screenshot mock-ups (they don’t seem to be from an actual working build of the game) have leaked early.

It’s immediately clear from the images that the game must play very similarly to XCOM, with a default isometric view that switches to a more traditional third person view when aiming and selecting special abilities.

There doesn’t seem to be a grid system for aiming, like XCOM, and instead the game appears to allow for free movement within a set area, like Sparks Of Hope. There’s also what is clearly labelled as overwatch, which in XCOM allows your team to fire during the enemies’ movement phase.

The images, which were first noticed by MP1st, are from the portfolio of an indiscreet Bit Reactor artist and are at least a year and a half old, so the final game may look quite different.

In terms of the Star Wars setting, the image shows what is clearly a Phase II Clonetrooper, from near the end of the Clone Wars. The Mandalorians you see appear to be part of the Nite Owl sect (you can tell by the symbol on the shoulder pauldron – yes, we are Star Wars nerds).

The Nite Owls are led by Bo-Katan Kryze, who featured heavily in season three of The Mandalorian and who can clearly be seen in one of the images. The game may be set in and around the Siege of Mandalore storyline, from Season 7 of The Clone Wars animated show – when everyone was much younger.

A menu screen also shows what is clearly a Togruta, the same alien species as Ahsoka Tano, who was also heavily involved in that same story arc.

The Clonetroopers were allies of the Night Owls at that point though, so either this is from an earlier point in the story or the artist is just throwing in random characters, while designing the overall look for the game.

It shouldn’t be long till we find out for sure but a Star Wars game that both looks like XCOM and is from someone that was involved in the original games sounds like catnip to us.

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It’s no accident that the second trailer for GTA 6 is taking so long, as Rockstar owner Take-Two admits they’re trying to ‘maintain the anticipation and excitement.’

Although every publisher does things differently, the decision of when to announce a new game, and how much to show of it before it’s released, tends to change over time and it’s currently fashionable to only reveal detailed information at the last minute.

The prevailing logic amongst most companies is that a game should be announced anything up to a year or more before it’s due to launch, but after that most publishers choose to go dark, with little additional information until much closer to release.

That’s certainly what’s happened with GTA 6, which had its first trailer in December 2023 and hasn’t revealed a single new piece of information since. And according to Rockstar Games owner Take-Two that’s all according to plan.

Although Rockstar has remained mum for more than a year now, Take-Two boss Strauss Zelnick has occasionally commented on the situation, primarily to assure investors that the lack of announcements is not an indication that the game will be delayed – even though many consider that to still be a possibility.

In a new interview with Bloomberg, Zelnick claims that GTA 6 has ‘the greatest anticipation ever seen for an entertainment property.’

He acknowledged that other publishers probably would have released a second trailer by now but explains that he wants to ‘maintain the anticipation and excitement’ around GTA 6.

‘We do have competitors who will describe their release schedule for years in advance and we found that the better thing to do is to provide marketing materials relatively close to the release window in order to create that excitement on the one hand and balance the excitement with unmet anticipation,’ he said.

He also seemed to acknowledge that perhaps he’s gone a bit too far with GTA 6 Trailer 2, admitting, ‘I don’t always get it exactly right, but that’s what we’re trying to do.’

Although Take-Two insists that GTA 6 has not been delayed it has admitted the possibility exists, with a former Rockstar developer suggesting that sort of decision is not taken until as late as possible.

If nothing else, other publishers seem to think GTA 6 will be out this autumn, with reports that major games could be delayed into next year simply to get out of the way of it – once its release date is announced.

It’s theorised that the reason the Nintendo Switch 2 has a rumoured release date of June, which is very unusual for a new console, is because Nintendo doesn’t want to share the limelight with GTA 6.

However, Sony has suggested that the whole games industry will benefit from the release of GTA 6, with the game likely to increase interest in gaming in general and not only Rockstar’s game.

Fans are getting increasingly frustrated at the lack of news but it’s hard to imagine that won’t be instantly forgotten, as soon as the next trailer is released and a release date is announced.

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The biggest announcement from last week’s Nintendo Direct is not what you might think, but it could have a big influence on the Switch 2.

As far as most people in the West are concerned 3DS game Tomodachi Life is an obscure curiosity, amongst the least notable of Nintendo’s many franchises. But in Japan it’s one of the biggest.

The original game was released on the Nintendo DS in 2009, but only in Japan. And yet it still managed to sell over 3 million copies. The sequel on 3DS was released worldwide and saw sales of around 7 million. It was still most popular in Japan, but it also managed to sell more in France than it did in the US.

Different countries like different things but the surprise annoucement of a third game in the series for Nintendo Switch, subtitled Living the Dream, was a cause of such excitement in Japan that it’s had more likes than the annoucement of the Nintendo Switch 2.

As noticed by BoTalksGames, the Japanese tweet for the trailer has been viewed 27.9 million times and has 403,000 likes. By comparison, the Switch 2 annoucement has 57.4 million views but ‘only’ 385,000 likes.

Despite a much larger population, the Nintendo of America tweet has 15.8 million views and 188,000 likes.

The Nintendo UK one has had 3.2 million views and 17,000 likes but, strangely, Nintendo France has only 721,000 views and 6,100 likes – although it is pinned to the top of the channel, suggesting that they expected more.

That may say more about how popular X is in France than anything else, but clearly Tomodachi Life is a very big deal to some people.

In that sense it’s a surprise it’s taken this long for the franchise to arrive on Switch, especially given it’s clearly very low budget, but better late than never.

What is Tomodachi Life and how does it work?

Explaining what Tomodachi Life is like is difficult, because it’s not really a game and there’s relatively little interactivity in it.

Tomodachi means ‘friend’ in Japanese and the idea, at least in the 3DS game, is that you send your Mii to go live on an island with other Miis – ideally those based on people you know, including those imported from a friend’s 3DS.

What gameplay there is involves customising your home and trying to encourage your Mii to make friends with, and romance, other Mii. It’s kind of like Animal Crossing but where the game is on autopilot, since you can’t control your Mii directly.

There are some very simplistic mini-games and some occasionally amusing skits, that appear randomly, but we found ourselves losing interest in the original after only a few days (like Animal Crossing, you’re encouraged to play it regularly but never for very long).

The people that like it clearly love it though and since Living The Dream isn’t due out until 2026 the Switch 2 is going to be well established by then, implying that Mii will still be a core part of Nintendo’s new console.

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The Monday letters page is not convinced bringing back the Wii U GamePad for Switch 2 is a good idea, as a reader thinks the Zelda movie should’ve been animated.

To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Unnecessary changes
Very interesting to see it confirmed that the Nintendo Switch 2 will have special editions of Switch 1 games. I will be very interested to see what difference it will make and what games will be included, since the way they word it implies it won’t be an automatic thing but more like a PlayStation 5 update.

I would guess Zelda: Breath Of The Wild and Tears Of The Kingdom will get one, as they both have some performance issues. But I don’t see how something like Animal Crossing or even Mario Kart could really benefit. The mainline Pokémon games are a mess but it’s not a lack of horsepower that’s the problem, but Game Freak being a bad game developer.

Nintendo is very good at getting games to look good without pushing any technical barriers and even games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Super Mario Odyssey, and Luigi’s Mansion 3… I’m not sure how you improve them without completely remaking them? I guess you could add some ray-tracing and a 60fps option for Luigi’s Mansion but apart from Zelda I’m not sure there’s any game that would have changes that ordinary people would notice.
Hooper

No idea
I can very easily believe this rumour about the ‘C’ button being to turn the Switch into a Wii U GamePad, that’s absolutely the sort of thing Nintendo would do. They don’t like to give up on an idea and I agree that Nintendo Land was a great game that I’d like to see come back. It’s not deep but it’s definitely the best party game I’ve ever played.

The problem is I never saw the GamePad used for anything else worthwhile. The GamePad bits of Star Fox were the worst part and everything else was just a map or inventory or other minor thing that you could’ve easily done without (and have done in the games that have already been ported to modern formats).

If Nintendo had any big ideas for the GamePad it sure didn’t make that clear when the Wii U was around, so I’m not sure what the point of bringing it back is. Maybe they’ve had some late-breaking brainwave but if it’s just to port Nintendo Land over I’m all for it, but it seems a strange use of their time and money.
Onibee

Gut reaction
I was very on the fence regarding Assassin’s Creed Shadows, as I wasn’t interested in the feudal Japan setting. Especially, as I would love to see one set in the Ancient Roman empire, but oh well. But for some reason I purchased it and having played through it for a bit here are my early thoughts.

It’s exactly what I expected from an Assassin’s Creed game. But visually I think the game looks gorgeous on my Xbox Series X. I’m also starting to get interested in the Japanese culture. And I like Naoe very much. As for any debates or controversy over this game. I have little interest in any of that.

To me it represents the worst of internet culture. Where rumours, hearsay, and various complaints spiral out of control, spurred on by narcissistic YouTubers, etc. It’s the same thing when Xbox made some games multiformat. As an Xbox Series X owner I could not care less. But to listen to some people you would think it’s the end of the world. So yes, I’m very much enjoying Shadows. Like I said, I bought it because I listen to my gut telling me to do so and I don’t regret it, as it’s a great game.
icelticghost

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Mass market pricing
Firstly, I think everyone is way off with their price of the Switch 2. £400 may look cheap compared to Steam Deck and the other home consoles, but this is a family friendly machine that Nintendo needs parents to buy for their kids.

The Nintendo 64 launched at £250 but was quickly slashed to £150. Now, while I don’t think they will sell it at a loss, their profit on each console does not have to be that high in the beginning, Nintendo just need to get it in as many homes as it can.

The fact that many people have stuck with the previous gen consoles because the PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X are so expensive is something Nintendo needs to overcome. Selling games is where the real money is, and a video game company has to sell consoles to do that.

So, I will say the Switch 2 will launch for £299, which may seem unbelievable to some but that is still a lot of money; even though Nintendo have a fanbase that would pay anything and buy two as well. I think that’s a lot more realistic than £400.
SiFiJedi

GC: Nintendo always tries to sell its consoles at a profit and the OLED Model already launched at £309.99, but who knows – maybe you’re right. Hopefully we’ll find out on Wednesday.

A Link to middle age
A live action Zelda movie seems like such a bad idea to me. I guess the idea is that serious, or at least semi-serious, animated films don’t do well but I would’ve thought How to Train Your Dragon would be the obvious comparison to make (especially when trying to sell an idea to a movie exec) of the type of tone you’d be looking for from a Zelda movie.

I know it’s not 1:1 but it’s in the same ballpark and a good match, I think. But a live action movie? The casting for that is going to be a nightmare and probably get caught up in culture wars (especially as I agree Link should be played by a woman – Peter Pan panto style). But whoever they pick they’re immediately going to start looking too old with the sequel.

Do we really want Tom Holland, or whoever they choose, pushing 40 when he’s in the third part of the trilogy? I can’t think of a single reason that live action makes sense, and I do worry that Nintendo is getting some very bad advice for its movie ventures, whether they’re successful or not.
Gorf

Movie logic
I’ll be very disappointed if Naughty Dog go back to working on Uncharted. They said they were done with the series and I can’t believe they’d go back for any reason other than Sony told them too, which isn’t the sort of thing that’s likely to end up with a great game.

If, on the other hand, they end up making something brand new, maybe this fantasy game people have been hinting at, I will be very impressed. If Naughty Dog can use their fame to just do whatever they want that would be amazing and would finally be a move towards games acting like movies.

If a director has a big hit, critical or commerical, they’ll almost always get enough funding to make one or two films of whatever they want and only if they’re a flop will they be reeled in again. This never happens with games.

Even Hideo Kojima is just making a sequel to his last game, even though he’s completely independent now. If things don’t work out and Naughty Dog are sent back down the Uncharted mines then at least they had a couple of chances to do whatever they want.

If what they’re working on next is just a sequel though, either Uncharted or The Last Of Us, then what’s the point? That moment of power and the chance to make whatever they want is gone. The can do The Last Of Us Part 3 anytime they want, in fact Sony will probably insist they do, so go for broken now while you have the chance.
Tacle

Current formats
Why is the next Batman game limited to the next gen if consoles? It’s like companies really want money but aren’t smart enough to sell to people that aren’t upgrading to the next console.

PlayStation 5 sold really well and Xbox Series X/S exists. Unless it takes, like, five years to come out, how can they justify the numbskull-ery?
Bobwallett

GC: They’ve only just started it, so it’s definitely going to take at least five years to come out. But the rumour clearly states that it’s also planned for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.

Old masters
I’ve been watching the Metroid Prime 4 trailer again and again and I really can’t figure out whether it’s something the Switch could do or not. The graphics do seem too good, but I think only if you assume it’s an open world game. But I get the feeling everything is taking part in very small ‘rooms’ again, like the previous games.

That’s fine, that’s what the games have always been and I doubt even the Switch 2 will be that powerful, but the smaller the area the more you can put into the graphical detail and enemy animation, etc. Or at least that’s how I understand it.

So, I think probably that footage is running on the Switch. Whether it’ll be even better on Switch 2 I don’t know. I guess so, but I very much doubt it’ll suddenly become proper open world, because that would change the whole design.

Developers always get the best out of a console right as it’s on its way out and Retro Studios were always one of the best. I mean, the remaster of Metroid Prime 1 is one of the best looking games on Switch and that’s based on a GameCube game!

Sometimes it’s not about polygons or ray-tracing or all that stuff, it’s just talented artists able to create a sense of immersion, and that’s something I expect Metroid Prime 4 to have no matter what its technical abilities are.
Horon

Inbox also-rans
For this Tencent news to be in any way good news for Ubisoft I’d want to see proof that they’re going to make something other than games in those three franchises. I’m not holding my breath.
Kosh

OK, so Patapon and Everybody’s Golf is coming to Switch now. So how about we have Bloodborne next? I don’t see why not, because it’s being just as ignored as those franchises at the moment.
Cronan

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The small print
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A reader reminisces over the Xbox 360 console and it games, as Microsoft’s groundbreaking format prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary.

The Xbox 360 is eight months away from celebrating the 20th anniversary of its launch. The Xbox 360 brought us hundreds of classic games, along with the very popular Xbox Live Arcade and popular indie titles (such as CastleMiner Z, a personal favourite of mine) along with the introduction of party chat and playable demos, including multiplayer.

The console today remains Microsoft’s best-selling console. It played host to very popular games series such as Crackdown, Left 4 Dead, Saints Row, Dead Rising, Gears Of War, Halo, Call Of Duty, and Command & Conquer. As well as some of my personal favourite shoot ‘em-ups: The Outfit, Frontlines: Fuel Of War, Syndicate, and Condemned, plus Xbox Arcade games such as Uno, Texas Holdem, 1 Vs 100, South Park: Let’s Go Tower Defence.

The Xbox 360 fought off a rocky launch, with its Red Ring Of Death, and despite this set back it still managed to cement itself as one of the best consoles to be produced by Microsoft.

Microsoft could celebrate the 20th anniversary with its fans by offering everyone on the Xbox Network three of the best Xbox 360 games, all backwards compatible on the Xbox Series X. Newer generations of players would also enjoy these classics and would get to experience some of the best games Microsoft has to offer from the past. While the Xbox 360 store is closed the servers are still active and multiplayer could still be enjoyed.

One particular memory fans of this console may also have is the free demo discs that came with the Official Xbox Magazine, ensuring those without Xbox Live access got to play new demos without the need to download or have an internet connection. This was a great way to ensure no one missed out and was one of the best magazines available for the Xbox 360 platform. One thing I remember with the demo discs was the menu music, which was catchy and great to listen to.

I’m sure many other people have great memories of this platform, such as making new friends and some funny moments playing the online games. The Xbox Live Vision camera was also a great accessory, that did add more fun to games and provided a social aspect to the Xbox 360 by allowing video features.

There are fans who still have a good collection of Xbox 360 games today, which they can play on the Xbox Series X with some optimisation. Crackdown, for example, looks great on the Xbox Series X with better visuals.

I first purchased an Xbox 360 way back in January of 2006, which was not a very good year for me but it did help me get through this bad time. The Xbox 360 is the best console Microsoft ever produced and without its great games and features gaming would not be what it is today, nor would we have seen the new technologies developed. What a console and I’m sure Xbox fans will agree the Xbox 360 will be remembered for many generations.

Thanks for reading and here’s to a spectacular 20th anniversary for the Xbox 360.

By reader gaz be rotten (gamertag)

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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A reader is unimpressed at the idea that PlayStation exclusives have started to arrive on Switch and feels Sony has lost focus with the PlayStation 5 and its games.

You don’t normally think of Nintendo as suffering from leaks but there were two big ones for this week’s Direct. One leak didn’t name the games, but it said that the biggest news at the showcase would not be a Nintendo game and so it was, because Patapon and Everybody’s Golf have gone multiformat and are now set to be released on Nintendo’s console.

These games were formally only on PlayStation but all of a sudden they’re on Switch and PC. Sony has not acknowledged this; there’s no annoucement or explanation on the PlayStation Blog and they’re getting Bandai Namco to publish them on Switch because… they’re embarrassed?

They seem to be ashamed and to be honest I understand why. The once mighty PlayStation brand is bleeding away everything that used to make it distinctive and special and for no reason at all. It is the biggest self-own in gaming history. Sony seems to think it’s a mystery why the PlayStation 5 has peaked earlier than expected but any PlayStation fan could tell you exactly why.

There’s been a lot of anti-exclusivity rhetoric in recent years and it’s all been led by Microsoft, for two reasons: they have very few games people care about, so they’d lose far less than Sony if exclusives went away, and Microsoft boss Satya Nadella doesn’t understand gaming and thinks exclusives are a bad idea in general.

Now, if I was in charge of Sony I’d use that as a reason to make even more, to put more daylight between Xbox and PlayStation. But because Sony seems to be run by idiots now, they’ve done the opposite. They’ve devalued the PlayStation 5 by releasing exclusives on PC and now they’re even doing it with the Switch – and no doubt Switch 2.

Do Sony want to just be another third party developer like EA, Ubisoft, and Xbox? If that’s all they’ve ever wanted they could have done it decades ago, but their popularity and money has been made by being a console manufacturer. They make the default console of every generation, the one that has every third party game and tons of great first party ones on top.

Now they’re losing that. The only difference between the PlayStation 5 and a PC is that the PC has better graphics and Sony exclusives take a little longer to turn up sometimes, but they always get there in the end. Now they’re even going through the back catalogue and bringing over even more ex-exclusives.

At the same time we’ve got less single-player games than ever, more flop live service games than ever, and no communication about what’s coming out or when. When’s Wolverine out? It was announced four years ago and we still don’t even know what year it’s coming out. Intergalactic apparently won’t be until at least 2027… so where have all the games gone?

I’m losing faith, I don’t mind telling you. To me the best bet for the next generation looks like a PC and a Switch 2. That gives me access to every game and is considerably cheaper (all PC games are cheaper than on consoles) and less frustrating than getting a PlayStation 6.

The whole PlayStation brand feels like it’s just being left to rot. There’s no direction, no one obvious in charge, and no games. To think how amazing the PlayStation 4, and even the first two years of the PlayStation 5, was I can’t believe we’re in the position we are now.

By reader Tom Meadows

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

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A reader reveals the killer app games that were so good he bought the console to play them on, from the Mega Drive and SNES to the original Xbox and Wii.

As we get closer to more news on the Nintendo Switch 2, I thought I’d take a look back at some of the consoles I’ve had and the launch titles that helped convince me to get that console

Mega Drive – Revenge Of Shinobi

My Mega Drive came packed with Altered Beast and, frankly, the less said about that the better. Yeah, it was a competent port of the arcade game, but it was a lacklustre and repetitive title to begin with.

I wouldn’t go as far to say Revenge Of Shinobi was a killer app but it did shine a light on the potential of the machine. Strong and fluid gameplay, varied stages, and fantastic music combined to make a solid launch title. Plus, Spider-Man and Godzilla, what’s not to like?!

Super Nintendo – Super Mario World

Now this is a killer app. I’d not played a Mario game before, much of my platforming experience was from Spectrum games such as Jet Set Willy and Pyjamarama. It’s safe to say this was on another level. Several levels in fact.

A huge 96 areas, some of which were secret, extremely tight but predictable controls and movement, banging tunes, pop out graphics, and superior gameplay. Plus, F-Zero was also a launch title. Double bubble!

PlayStation – WipEout

When you’re launching a new console, particularly if you as a company are new to the market, you need to show off what your machine can do straight out of the gate. Yeah, you can do it with a snazzy T-Rex demo, free with the system, but you’d need full games to really get people’s attention.

WipEout was fast, bombastic, smooth, playable, but no pushover. The marketing for the game gets the headlines now but the game beneath was still excellent. It wanted to attract the more mature gamer (oxymoron? joking!) and it’s difficult to argue against that. And if you were a fast-paced racing fan, a near arcade perfect Ridge Racer was also available at launch.

Nintendo 64 – Super Mario 64

When you’re promising a move to 3D, what better way to do it than with your mascot character and throwing everything at it. I’d argue this is more of a killer app than Super Mario World, as it was doing something totally new, rather than polishing an already proven formula to near perfection.

This was certainly a risk on Nintendo’s part, as introducing 3D needed a dynamic camera system and a new type of controller, so no doubt it went through countless iterations to get the feel just right. And get it right it certainly did.

The sheer variety of levels, ways of getting stars, movement of Mario, and the genius of revisiting levels to achieve new objectives combined to make one of the greatest, and most influential, games ever. And if that wasn’t enough, Pilotwings 64 was ready to give you a super chill experience too. Top banana.

Xbox – Halo: Combat Evolved

Like with Sony’s machine, Microsoft knew they needed a title on day one to grab the attention of the masses. I’d argue Halo was more important to them than WipEout or Ridge Racer was to PlayStation in isolation, given Sony already had a strong hold on the US market by the time the OG Xbox launched.

And what a fantastic first person shooter Halo was. It was probably the biggest leap in what a first person shooter could be since Doom first became shareware nearly a decade earlier, and many of the tropes we see in the genre today borrow heavily from it.

Wii – Wii Sports

When the USP on your new console is motion control, what better way to show it than a series of mini-games that every farmer and their mum could play. And in turn, basing those mini0games on actual pastimes that everyone is familiar with, such as tenpin bowling and tennis.

Motion controls can be quite a difficult concept to articulate but showing gran swinging a piece of plastic in the exact same way you’d swing a tennis racquet and then showing her avatar on screen doing the same thing, was all that was needed. Yes, it wasn’t the deepest of games, but when you’ve got pick up and play gameplay like this, and you’re trying to sell a new machine with a weird name, it’s all you need.

Plus, Zelda: Twilight Princess, which wasn’t bad either.

Nintendo Switch – Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

OK I’m biased here, even after eight years of distance between its launch and now, so a considerable amount of reflection, I still consider Breath Of The WIld to be the best game I’ve played. Tears Of The Kingdom is the better game, but it’s forebearer is the better experience, if that makes sense.

Again, a risk for Nintendo as they took a much-loved formula, turned it open world, sidelined dungeons, and introduced a slew of changes such as degrading weapons; even the most ardent detractors cannot say it didn’t work, at least from a commercial point of view, if they can’t get behind the artistic vision. A masterpiece.

So my takeaway? Nintendo certainly has got a very good track record of launching with strong titles, sometimes taking a risk or two, so let’s hope the upcoming one is no exception.

By reader TheTruthSoul (PSN ID)

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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A reader looks forward to the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct but worries that Nintendo’s penny-pinching could bring them down.

We’re nearly there. On Wednesday the Nintendo Switch 2 will be properly unveiled and unless it’s all some crazy bait and switch we’ll find out everything about the console and its launch games. I can’t wait. Any console reveal is exciting but with Nintendo it’s always something special.

The current Switch is probably going to end up as the most successful console of all-time and I don’t know who could argue that it doesn’t deserve to be in at least contention for the best ever. Its near endless list of classic games is unbelievable and all the more so because in most cases that’s as a result of completely revamping decades old franchises that were already thought of as near perfect.

But you should never have heroes. Nintendo is great at making games and console – they’re easily the best in the world – but they’re still a greedy and shortsighted company, like all the rest. They can be very anti-consumer at times, especially when they’re coming off a hot streak, and I just hope that doesn’t end up scuppering the Switch 2.

Let’s get this out of the way first: Nintendo games never going down in price is not anti-consumer. Refusing to fix broke Joy-Cons and not having a proper digital account system is anti-consumer but selling games at a price people are willing to pay is not. Games, from any publisher, are sold at the maximum price that a company thinks people will pay for it and for Nintendo that’s almost always full price.

There is no incentive for Nintendo to lower the price if people think it’s good value for money and are still willing to pay it. That is the business reward for making good games: people pay their money and are satisfied with the end result. Asking Nintendo to reduce prices is like asking them to make worse games so they’ll be cheaper.

No, Nintendo’s faults lie elsewhere. They have got better at digital accounts but they’re still not there and part of the problem is that games is all Nintendo does, so they have to make the maximum amount of money they can from that. They can’t go around giving things away for free like Microsoft or Sony.

That’s why the Virtual Game Card thing seemed so overcomplicated and fiddly. Did it remind you of Xbox One’s game sharing rules? It did me and I know it’s the first thing a lot of other people thought of too. Microsoft learnt from that and now they’re very generous with things like game sharing and backwards compatibility and game upgrades but they can afford to be.

Not only are Nintendo’s game sharing rules a lot more restrictive but I fear they are going to charge for upgrades from Switch 1 to 2 games. We know they’re going to do that, but I really can’t imagine that being free. I’m not even saying it’s unfair for Nintendo to ask for the money but it’s just going to cost them a lot of negativity if it’s too expensive.

Gamers are weird. They’ll pay huge amounts of money for pointless cosmetic, but they’ll hurl death threats at anyone they think is charging them a dollar more than they’re willing to pay. I don’t feel Nintendo has ever properly understood that about Western gamers, and while I’m not defending anyone, I worry it could create multiple flashpoints for the Switch 2.

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Nintendo will be unusually generous, but the Virtual Game Card immediately makes me think they won’t be.

By reader Lostkeys

The reader’s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.

You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot. Just contact us at gamecentral@metro.co.uk or use our Submit Stuff page and you won’t need to send an email.

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If the latest claims about the Switch 2’s new C button are right, then Nintendo may have figured out how to get DS games running on the next gen hardware.

While the biggest questions surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 are its launch line-up, its release date, and price, there are a number of smaller, but no less intriguing, mysteries surrounding the console’s functions.

One such example is the mysterious new button that was spotted on the Switch 2’s right-hand Joy-Con controller, back when images of the console leaked in December.

There are a handful of theories already floating around, such as it being tied to some kind of AR functionality, but the latest, and possibly most exciting suggestion, is that it’s for turning the Switch 1 into a Wii U GamePad.

Basically, by pressing the button, you can connect your Switch 2 console to the original Switch (presumably through a wireless or Bluetooth connection), which can then be used as a second screen for playing games.

This claim comes from Xbox leaker eXtas1s, who has recently started chiming in with Nintendo rumours. Just this week, he said Metroid Prime 4: Beyond would not be at the Switch 2 showcase and while he’s yet to be proven right, the game did see a new trailer at yesterday’s Switch 1 showcase – which could mean it’s not getting a new one next week.

In a recent YouTube video, eXtas1s talks about how such a feature could be used for co-op, allowing friends to not only use separate screens for multiplayer, but also their original Switch consoles, in case some of them lack a Switch 2.

However, if this is accurate, such functionality could also be Nintendo’s way of giving the Wii U another go, allowing for asymmetrical experiences that use two screens.

At the very least, this would make it possible for Nintendo to port certain Wii U games that are too reliant on its GamePad controller, like Star Fox Zero and the excellent Nintendo Land.

Not to mention, it would make ports of DS and 3DS games more viable, particularly ones that made the most of those handhelds’ dual screens. In turn, this would allow the Switch 2 to host games from every past Nintendo consoles.

Such functionality would certainly be a boon, that would make Nintendo’s online library of retro games more appealing. Coincidentally enough, a Nintendo patent from 2023 did depict a new kind of dual screen console, so it’s an idea the company has at least considered.

It’d also be the sort of weird Nintendo style ingenuity that some people feel is so far missing from the Switch 2, which at the moment just appears to be a more powerful version of the original Switch.

The Switch 2 does seem to have a couple of extra tricks up its sleeve already though. The reveal trailer unsubtly teased computer mouse functionality for its Joy-Cons (which would be perfect for DS and 3DS games that made liberal use of the stylus) and another patent suggests the Switch 2 can be flipped upside down, to access the large port at the bottom.

Hopefully, Nintendo will confirm exactly what the C button does at the showcase next week. The one thing that can be said about it is that, as the leaks suggested, it is indeed labelled with the letter ‘C’ – unlike in the initial official images.

Some have theorised the ‘C’ stands for ‘camera’ and is thus tied to the aforementioned AR functionality. Others believe it could be for ‘cast’ and it’ll be possible to display games on your TV while still playing in handheld mode, which, again, was something the Wii U GamePad could do.

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Nintendo has an exact date for its Legend Of Zelda movie, but we wouldn’t worry about booking your tickets yet.

Given how profitable The Super Mario Bros. Movie wound up being, it wasn’t at all surprising to learn that Nintendo had greenlit a feature film based on The Legend Of Zelda.

What was surprising was that it wouldn’t be another animated flick, but a live action one. Not to mention Sony Pictures will be co-financing and distributing it, so it’s going to be weird seeing both Nintendo and Sony’s logos attached to the movie (although given what else happened this week, maybe not that weird).

The lack of info suggested it would be many years till fans get to see anything of the movie in action. As of today though, we know the exact date the Legend Of Zelda movie will hit cinemas and, predictably, it’s not exactly soon.

What is the release date for the Legend Of Zelda movie?

According to Nintendo, The Legend Of Zelda will release on March 26, 2027, which is just under two years away and less than a year after the second Mario movie, which is scheduled for April 3, 2026.

As a reminder, Nintendo announced The Super Mario Bros. Movie in 2018, but the company didn’t share any details until 2021 and even then, it was limited to just a cast list.

Fans had to wait more than a year for the first teaser trailer, with the movie finally releasing on April 5, 2023. Considering the Zelda movie was only announced in November 2023, it wouldn’t have been unreasonable to assume it would release in 2028 or even 2029.

That said, Nintendo’s still keeping details under wraps, and, at this rate, it may not share any cast details or a teaser trailer till later in the year, if not 2026.

What is interesting about the announcement, is that Nintendo made it exclusively on its new Nintendo Today! app, which launched in the wake of yesterday’s Nintendo Direct.

At time of writing, there’s no mention of the release date on any of Nintendo’s social media accounts and we doubt this is going to be the sole exception when it comes to news in the future.

Nintendo described the new app as a means of sharing news and updates directly with fans. So you should expect more big reveals like this to come through Nintendo Today! before anywhere else.

As for what else is known about the Zelda movie, Wes Ball is on board to direct it, having previously done the Maze Runner movies and last year’s relatively well received Kingdom Of The Planet Of Apes.

The script, meanwhile, is being penned by Derek Connolly. Aside from the Jurassic World trilogy, he has some familiarity with adapting games, as he also did the script for Detective Pikachu.

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Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six, and Far Cry franchises are now part of a separate company, jointly owned by Tencent.

Thanks to the rather dismal 2024 that Ubisoft had, the company was deemed to be in enough financial straits to consider selling itself to Chinese conglomerate Tencent.

Those discussions appeared to shift as the months went on though, with Ubisoft considering opening a new subsidiary, albeit one that Tencent would have a modicum of control over.

Talks between the two companies must have gone well since then, as a subsidiary has officially been announced and will serve as the new home for Ubisoft’s three core franchises: Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six.

Ubisoft remains mostly in charge of the subsidiary, which doesn’t appear to have a name, but is said to be valued at around €4 billion (about £3.3 billion).

However, Tencent has invested €1.16 billion (just under £1 billion) to acquire a 25% minority stake.

According to Ubisoft, this investment will ‘drive further increases in quality of narrative solo experiences, expand multiplayer offerings with increased frequency of content release, introduce free-to-play touchpoints, and integrate more social features.’

It will probably be a very long time until we actually see what impact this will have on future games and how much input Tencent will have on their direction going forward.

Aside from all the teams working on new Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six games, the subsidiary includes ‘the back catalogue and any new games currently under development or to be developed.’ So, it doesn’t sound like any projects have been cancelled.

What Ubisoft games are in development?

As it stands, Ubisoft reportedly has a lot of Assassin’s Creed games in the works, including but not limited to Assassin’s Creed Hexe, which is centred around 16th century witch trials, and a remake of Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag.

Meanwhile, Far Cry is rumoured to be getting a new sequel and multiplayer spin-off, while Rainbow Six Siege will be rebranded to Rainbow Six Siege X later this year, as part of its transition into a free-to-play experience.

Ubisoft has stressed that this won’t mean it’ll be neglecting its other franchises, although it only namedrops two other Tom Clancy titles – The Division and Ghost Recon – as examples.

Beyond that, the company is meant to be working on remakes of Splinter Cell and Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time, with only the latter having an official release date of 2026.

A new Rayman project, with input from series creator Michel Ancel, has also been confirmed. And of course there’s the eternally delayed Beyond Good & Evil 2, which was announced in 2017 and hasn’t had any real updates in years.

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Warner Bros. has opted to abandon its DLC plans for Hogwarts Legacy, meaning focus will likely shift to the upcoming sequel.

It’s obvious that Warner Bros. is not happy with how its gaming division has been going. It didn’t have a single hit in 2024, with Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League and MultiVersus both underperforming badly.

Combined with Mortal Kombat 1 apparently not doing too hot either, Warner Bros. elected to shut down three whole studios and scrap its Wonder Woman game as well.

The one recent success story has been 2023’s Harry Potter role-player Hogwarts Legacy, but that hasn’t protected it from restructuring efforts, that have led to its DLC expansion being cancelled.

Although DLC was never formally announced, reliable reports from last year revealed that Hogwarts Legacy would receive a paid expansion that adds new quests, activities, and the like. This expansion would also come bundled with a new definitive edition of Hogwarts Legacy.

It would certainly make sense for Warner Bros. to double down on Hogwarts Legacy, considering it smashed the company’s expectations, becoming the best-selling game of 2023.

A recent Bloomberg report, however, says that these DLC plans and the definitive edition, which were meant to arrive this year, have now been abandoned.

According to those familiar with Warner Bros. plans, this was due to concerns that the new content wasn’t enough to justify its cost. Reportedly, the DLC on its own would’ve cost between $20 and $30 (so probably £20 to £30).

It’s a shocking decision regardless, especially since Warner Bros. listed Harry Potter as one of the main IPs it would be focusing on going forward and re-releasing Hogwarts Legacy seems like easy money.

What Harry Potter games are in development?

Plans for the Hogwarts Legacy sequel apparently haven’t changed, with Bloomberg adding that it’s still in development at Avalanche Software.

In 2023, there were rumours of a new Lego Harry Potter game being in the works; one that would cover all of the mainline movies in a similar vein to Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. However, nothing has come of these rumours so far.

Given the DLC cancellation, Warner Bros. may be feeling a bit more cautious about what sort of Harry Potter games it greenlights going forward, especially since anything that uses the IP isn’t guaranteed to be successful.

In September 2024, Warner Bros. launched online sports game Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions. Given its lack of sales figures and dwindling player count on Steam, it clearly hasn’t been anywhere near as popular as Hogwarts Legacy, which still has thousands of active PC players compared to Quidditch Champions’ couple of hundred.

A new HBO TV show based on the books is expected in 2026 or 2027 but given the problems Warner Bros. is experiencing it seems very unlikely they’ll be able to support it with any new games – with Hogwarts Legacy 2 thought to still be several years away.

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MORE: Harry Potter fans spread major theory after Hagrid reboot casting is ‘revealed’

MORE: Sony and Warner Bros. ditch live service games after multiple flops

MORE: Cancelled Wonder Woman game was ‘a showpiece epic’ says consultant

Planning on picking up some flowers and chocolates this Mother’s Day? These are perennially thoughtful gifts for mothers everywhere, but do you know what could be an even more fantastic gift? Free time to unwind and escape a busy daily life!

Constantly being on the go can lead to stress, burnout, and exhaustion, so mums need time to restore their energy to tackle multiple responsibilities. That’s why it’s a good idea for all mums to take a well-deserved break and indulge in some relaxation on Mother’s Day.  

One of the simplest way to do that is by escaping into a fun and stress-free game online. Why not solve a calming classic mahjong puzzle, find out how to play solitaire, or soothe yourself through a word game? 

Not only does the right game offer a much-needed mental recharge, but it could also help improve mental well-being and enhance focus.  

Here are our top recommendations for mums (or, hey, any parent, really!) to relax and recharge this weekend. 

Mother’s Day Mahjong 

Lose yourself in a Mother’s Day mahjong game by matching tiles. There are two versions of this game, timed and untimed, but try the latter first, as the former may add some urgency.

Since the tile designs are mostly Chinese-style symbols, it may take a while for you to find a match. You must also work yourself from the outside in, meaning you must match the tiles on the edge of each layer before you get to the centre. 

Word Wipe 

Here’s a fun, challenging word puzzle: Word Wipe. Connect tiles of alphabets to make words and clear lines, forming any combination of nearby letters. Real words will disappear, and you can eliminate them line by line on the board.

Do you need more space? Use the ‘bombs.’ The timer gives you a sense of urgency and extra challenge, but you get a thrill from every line that you clear from the board.  

Jewel Shuffle 

This is one game that can get you completely hooked. With jewels all over the board, you must match three jewels (or match four for more power), either vertically or horizontally, and meet the score quota to level up.

Be warned: each level will demand higher scores. Some jewels have extra power, such as clearing the same type of jewels or eliminating surrounding jewels, so look for those sparkling ones. 

Daily Crossword 

For mums who love words, this daily crossword game is a must-try. It’s similar to the newspaper’s version of the game, but this digital edition helps you by offering ‘reveal’ features.

You can get help by having a letter or a word revealed, but its difficulty level will still put your mind to the test. Sometimes, the descriptions are a bit vague and keep you on your toes, but that’s why this game can be pretty addictive. 

Coloring Book for Grown-Ups  

Is colouring a game? Maybe yes, maybe not, but this colouring game is still a relaxing activity you can indulge in on Mother’s Day. Choose one or two images or patterns, from nature-themed ones to mandalas to colour. Then, simply lose yourself in the swirl of colours.

You are free to use any colour you like to express yourself; there’s no paint-by-numbers rule you must follow. Simply colour and chill. 

Classic Solitaire 

Solitaire never gets old. Those of you who miss a classic game of solitaire must check out this one. Arrange card decks based on the shapes and colours until all four decks of hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds are put together.

If drawing one card is too easy, try the draw-three option for more challenges. No hidden surprises here, just good ol’ fun solitaire.  

Can’t get enough? Try more games at Freegames at Metro. 

Although it doesn’t seem Naughty Dog has begun work on The Last Of Us Part 3, the studio does have at least one other game coming out besides Intergalactic.

It’s a tad shocking that Naughty Dog, one of Sony’s premiere studios, hasn’t released an original game since The Last Of Us Part 2 in 2020. And it’s still going to be a while until it does.

Announced at The Game Awards 2024, Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet is a brand new IP, but the mostly cinematic trailer and lack of any release date suggests it is years away from launching – in fact, rumours this week suggest it definitely won’t be out until at least 2027.

In an ideal world, Naughty Dog would have something else to keep fans occupied before then and the latest rumour implies that could be the case, with a claim that a second game at the studio has been in the works for at least three years.

This rumour comes courtesy of DanielRPK, who typically shares rumours on Marvel movies but has dabbled in video game related ones as well. Just a couple of months ago, he suggested the next God Of War game will feature an Egyptian setting.

In a new Patreon post (as reported by The Game Post), DanielRPK claims Naughty Dog’s secret second game has been in development is being helmed by Shaun Escayg, the director of Uncharted: The Lost Legacy.

While he doesn’t know much more than that, he has ruled out this second game being The Last Of Us Part 3 – which would almost certainly be handled by series creator Neil Druckmann, if and when it happens.

Naughty Dog has already confirmed that it has at least one other game on the go besides Intergalactic, which Druckmann is co-directing it alongside Matthew Gallant and Kurt Margenau.

Not only that but Escayg doesn’t seem to be involved with Intergalactic. He’s made no mention of it on his X or LinkedIn accounts and with him returning to Naughty Dog in 2021, to take up a creative director position (he left for a few years to helm Crystal Dynamics’ Avengers game), he is presumably working on a different project.

So in that sense the rumour makes sense and seems to have some evidence behind it. The problem is that DanielRPK’s track record with gaming related rumours has so far been pretty spotty. For example, he once claimed that a third The Last Of Us game was in the works even though Naughty Dog head Neil Druckmann had said just a month beforehand that it wasn’t.

What games are Naughty Dog making now?

As for what Naughty Dog’s other game could be, a common fan assumption is a new Uncharted. Naughty Dog and job listings have implied the series could continue, and Sony has reportedly tried to get a new game off the ground in the past.

The problem is that Naughty Dog themselves have said they’re finished with the franchise, even if it can continue at other developers. Although that doesn’t mean they couldn’t change their mind.

Given Escayg’s experience directing The Lost Legacy, another smaller-scale game could be a possibility. A 2023 ad campaign for the PlayStation 5 even seemed to tease an Uncharted game with a female protagonist (speculated to be Nathan Drake’s daughter) but nothing has come of it so far.

Fans once speculated that Naughty Dog could be working on a fantasy game, which Intergalactic being sci-fi doesn’t inherently dispute. We’ve also seen some hoping for a new Jak & Daxter, but that seems like wishful thinking considering Naughty Dog hasn’t touched the series in 20 years.

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MORE: Naughty Dog’s next game Intergalactic will be like Elden Ring says insider

MORE: Bungie talked Naughty Dog out of making The Last of Us Online says ex-Sony boss

MORE: Every new PS5 first party game in development and who’s making them

The Friday letters page worries that PlayStation is ashamed of its multiformat releases, as one reader lays out his hopes for Rocksteady’s new Batman game.

To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

A good life
Well, that Nintendo Direct was definitely one of the weirder ones we’ve ever had. Even the fact that it happened, just days before the Switch 2 one, is crazy and I’m still not sure what the thinking was. I guess if the rumour was it was supposed to be in February something got delayed and this was just the latest they could push it back without having a Switch 1 Direct coming out after they’d just been talking about the Switch 2.

I think it was good overall though and definitely worth watching. The start and end was weak, when normally they’re the biggest games, but there were plenty of nice surprises, including stuff like that multiformat Marvel game.

I’m still not sure why Metroid Prime 4 was randomly in the middle. Does that mean they were saving other stuff till the Switch 2 Direct or is that really going to be it for now, like that other rumour said? It was right about it being shown this week, so the source obviously knows something.

I really wish the niche comeback game had been something more interesting than Tomodachi Life but what are you gonna do? At this point I don’t feel there’s really anything you can criticise the Switch about, given what a good life it’s had.
Grackle

Half committed
I certainly didn’t have two PlayStation ports on my bingo card for the Nintendo Direct. In fact, I’d have to say I didn’t get anything right, except Metroid Prime 4. A weird showcase but in a good way, but the strangest thing to me is that the PlayStation Blog makes no mention of either Patapon or the new Everybody’s Golf – both of which are on PlayStation 5 and published by Sony.

If Sony are that embarrassed about releasing multiformat games, why are they doing it? Somehow, I don’t think remasters of two ancient PSP games is going to tip the scales of their back balance but apparently they want to release them but also don’t want to tell anyone they exist? It’s the same with Xbox and making Forza Horizon 5 physical only.

These companies have got to embrace multiformat or it’s not going to work. You can’t be ashamed of it and also have it be the cornerstone of your business. I get it’s not that yet for Sony, but clearly they thought this worth doing. But apparently only by half-assing it.
Cranston

Wrong niche
We all thought the Switch had a good line-up last year, even though it was its last big year, but it’s days from retirement and it’s still announcing games that will come out in 2026? Nintendo said it would last 10 years and now it’s only one year away from that and the chances of it being the best-selling console ever are even greater.

All well deserved I’d say, even if this latest Direct was a bit of a disappointment for me. Yes, it had a lot more games than I expected. But two niche franchises to bring back and they went for Rhythm Paradise and Tomodachi Life?! Is F-Zero really dead to them?

I get it, they’re cheap games to make and not much of a risk, but it’s still a shame. But I’ll let them off because Metroid Prime 4 looked good. At least we know F-Zero is definitely next. Right, right?!
Louie

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Please explain
So there it is, in Nintendo’s own words: there will be upgraded Switch 1 games on Switch 2. It seemed obvious that they would (or rather should) do that, so I’m glad to see that Nintendo isn’t avoiding an open goal just because it seems obvious.

They’ll probably charge too much for the upgrade, but we can only deal with that problem when they announce it properly. I’m fascinated to know what’s going on with Metroid Prime 4 because I agree the graphics seem impossible on the current Switch but surely Nintendo wouldn’t show the upgraded version in a Direct that was specifically meant to be Switch 1 only?

Maybe Retro are just even more talented than we thought but I’m definitely interested in finding out more. Although I’m not sure I trust Nintendo to explain it all that clearly. That’s not been their specialist subject normally. Especially that weird virtual game card thing.
Custard

Ulterior motives
Nintendo virtual game cards can’t help but remind me of the Xbox One launch, when they tried to explain their convoluted sharing process, followed by Sony making fun of them. Admittedly that was worse, but not by much. The idea family members need to loan a game to each other is somewhat ridiculous.

Apple came up with the easiest solution a decade ago, where family members just get access to shared purchases and to avoid abuse the organiser’s credit card gets used for all purchases in the family.

Obviously, Nintendo are making it hard, to get people to buy multiple copies of a game, but as that’s the case why even bother with virtual game cards in the first place?
Tim

Direct analysis
You have to give it to Nintendo, they definitely know how to do an online showcase. They invented the concept of a Direct and they’ve got it down to a fine art, even when they’ve not got much to work with. It seems to me the secret is not lingering on anything for too long, having lots to talk about, and having a few cameos from people but no waffle or marketing talk.

This Direct did all of that but compare that to a Microsoft one, which tends to have only four or five games and is filled with beauty shots of developers pretending to be happy and spontaneous, while going on for so long you just start tuning it out. They’re also constantly doing that thing where the camera is filming them looking at a different camera, which I hate.

Sony’s problem is that they also don’t usually have enough games, and they have no presenters at all. Often there can be no sign of a human being at all, just some AI-sounding voiceover babbling away. State of Plays are often shorter than a Nintendo Direct but they feel longer because all the segments are too long and there’s too much time spent being bored.

If you’re not interested in something in a Nintendo Direct, like a farming sim, it doesn’t matter because it’ll be replaced by something else that’s completely different in a minute or two. Anyway, that’s my analysis. I give this week’s Direct a 7/10. Let’s hope next week’s is an 11.
Terry Gold

Fake retro
A good Nintendo Direct, considering it’s only for the current one, but the game that caught my attention the most was Marvel Cosmic Invasion. I love a good beat ‘em-up and I am fully behind this recent spree of fake retro games with their amazing 2D animation. Marvel games can be hit and miss, in terms of whether they sell, but I hope this is a hit, mostly because it’ll encourage other companies to do similar things.

I’m still sore that amazing looking Power Rangers one didn’t turn out to be as good as it looks, but I’d love to see the Marvel one and others do more sprite-scaling racing and the like, to homage things like OutRun and After Burner. I love all that old stuff. Next step DC Cosmic Invasion and then Marvel vs. DC!
Taylor Moon

Bat-slop
I really hope Rocksteady’s new Batman game works out, for obvious reasons of not wanting them to go bust and wanting a decent game again. I’m for them starting a whole new canon though. I don’t see any point in going back to the Arkham series, because then they’d have to account for all the nonsense that happened in Suicide Squad, including the non-explanation of why Bruce Wayne is back.

I thought Batman Beyond was the perfect idea, but this new rumour seems to say that’s not happening, which is a shame. The most important thing is just to let Rocksteady do whatever they think makes sense and don’t interfere. Suicide Squad might even have worked if there wasn’t all the executive interference.

Although I guess I’m kind of glad it failed, because that means they’ll never try again and it was the quickest route to getting a proper single-player game again. I wouldn’t say that if a load of people were laid off, but I don’t actually think they were (most of the top staff left years ago, instead).

Let’s just hope there’s not some other pointless gimmick or buzzword that gets big in the next few years, that will see the new game derailed as well. AI-designed Batman game, anyone?
Cardi

Inbox also-rans
I knew GC would be excited about that Gradius compilation as soon as it got announced. M2 ports and a brand new game on top? I think I’m pretty jazzed for it too.
Galen

GC: Hideki Kamiya will also be pleased, Salamander is one of his favourites.

Only one farming game in the Nintendo Direct?! You can definitely tell the Switch is winding down.
Preston

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The small print
New Inbox updates appear every weekday morning, with special Hot Topic Inboxes at the weekend. Readers’ letters are used on merit and may be edited for length and content.

You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

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MORE: Games Inbox: What games will be in today’s Nintendo Direct?

MORE: Games Inbox: Is Assassin’s Creed Shadows the best ninja game?

MORE: Games Inbox: Bloodborne is 10 years old and there’s still no remaster

A next gen version of Metroid Prime 4 just became much more likely, as an official Nintendo web page says Switch 2 Edition games will be a thing.

While the Nintendo Switch 2 is confirmed to have backwards compatibility, ensuring most Switch 1 games can run on the new hardware, it’s suspected that some Switch games could see enhanced Switch 2 versions as well.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is at the centre of this theory. Despite only being confirmed for Switch 1, the graphics seen in the newest trailer seem to be too good for it not to be running on more powerful hardware.

Nintendo will hopefully provide a more concrete answer soon (probably at next week’s Switch 2 showcase) but, in the meantime, it has let slip that enhanced versions of certain games are indeed in the pipeline.

The information comes courtesy of the web page for the virtual game cards announced in Thursday’s Nintendo Direct, which are designed to allow Switch owners to more easily share their digital games with Nintendo Account family group members and other Switch consoles.

Tucked away at the very bottom is some fine print that mentions how Switch 2 exclusive games will only work on Switch 2, effectively confirming that they’ll be getting these virtual game cards too.

All that is as you’d expect, but Nintendo says this also applies to ‘Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games.’ You can see it for yourself on the web page but, just in case, we’ve included a screenshot should Nintendo delete that text by the time you read this.

We struggle to think what else a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game could be, except an enhanced port of a Switch 1 game, designed exclusively for the Switch 2. And if Nintendo has an official name for it, that points to there being multiple examples of it.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is the most obvious example. Aside from the graphics, Nintendo remains coy about giving it an exact release date, which could point to the company wanting to wait until it confirms the game’s presence on Switch 2, making it a cross-gen title.

The same could be said for Pokémon Legends Z-A, which is due for Switch 1 in late 2025. But then again, it’s also been claimed that there are no plans to bring any Pokémon games to Switch 2 this year.

It is possible that some Switch 1 games will simply run better when played on Switch 2. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, for example, was discovered to have a hidden 60fps mode that doesn’t work on such, but may well do so on Switch 2.

But Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games (complete with a capital E) sounds like something Nintendo intends to put in promotional material, highlighting how such games aren’t simple re-releases but dedicated Switch 2 versions with new bells and whistles.

Considering how Nintendo has treated Wii U ports over the last eight years it must seem very tempting for them to create Switch 2 Editions for many of their most prominent Switch 1 titles.

How this will work if you own an original copy of the game remains to be seen but, rather than being free, it’s much more likely it involves some kind of fee.

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MORE: Two PlayStation exclusives coming to Nintendo Switch as Sony goes multiformat

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A leak that seemed to reveal when pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch 2 will start may not be as reliable as it first seemed.

When a new game or console is announced there’s only one thing publishers are interested in: pre-orders. The lack of them, in the immediate aftermath of the Xbox One’s reveal, put Microsoft into a tailspin they still haven’t got out of, and similar problems have rushed many other companies to panic stations, if a game doesn’t seem to be immediately attracting customers.

That’s very unlikely to be a problem for the Nintendo Switch 2 but the question of when pre-orders will start is a very important question, and it certainly wasn’t addressed in Thursday’s Nintendo Direct. Although it may be announced at the Switch 2 focused one next week.

It’s very likely the new console’s release date will be announced at the Switch 2 Direct, reasonably likely the price will be, but it’s probably no more than 50/50 when it comes to pre-orders. And the situation hasn’t really been clarified by a leak from Best Buy in Canada.

When it comes to consoles, sometimes it takes a few days, or even weeks, for a company to start offering pre-orders but Best Buy accidentally put up a detailed blog stating that pre-orders will open on April 2, i.e. the day of the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.

How to pre-order the Nintendo Switch 2

That all seemed perfectly believable and the fact that Best Buy quickly took the blog page down, when they realised they’d jumped the gun/got an angry call from Nintendo, seemed to seal the deal.

However, respected insider Wario64 says that one of his retail sources claims the April 2 is ‘an error’. Although they don’t indicate when the real date is.

Pre-orders are likely to go up at the same time around the world, at least in major markets such as Canada and the UK, but despite this leak it’s still uncertain when exactly that will be.

The most common rumour for the Nintendo Switch’s release date is sometime in or around June, so if that’s correct then even if pre-orders don’t start on April 2, it won’t be too much after that.

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GameCentral runs through all the key reveals from the Switch 1 focused Nintendo Direct, from the next Dragon Quest remake to a brand new Gradius game.

With all of Nintendo’s big name reveals being saved for next week’s Nintendo Switch 2 showcase, it was peculiar to learn the company also had a Nintendo Direct for the Switch 1 scheduled for Thursday.

Once it was announced, speculation ran rampant for what could be featured. Metroid Prime 4 was a given, as one of the only first party Switch titles left for 2025, but other popular rumours included a Kirby: Planet Robobot remaster, something Super Smash Bros. related, and a new trailer for Silksong.

Those rumours didn’t prove correct but others, such as the return of a beloved niche franchise, did. In case you missed it and need catching up, here’s every announcement Nintendo made during the showcase.

Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake

This had already been announced ahead of the release of the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake, but the first two Dragon Quest games will be getting the same treatment. The trailer appears to tease a brand new party member, with the game slated only for a 2025 release.

No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI The Somnium Files

The third entry in the AI The Somnium Files series, this sees the first game’s protagonist, Date, return to the spotlight, to rescue a kidnapped internet idol. While it retains the series’ investigation mechanics and dream world puzzle sections, it’ll also feature traditional escape rooms when it launches on July 25.

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery Of The Soulless Army

It’s not Persona 6, but Shin Megami Tensei fans are being treated to another Atlus remaster. Unlike Shin Megami Tensei 5, this is an action role-playing game, but you’ll still be summoning demons to aid you in battle when this game launches on June 19.

Shadow Labyrinth

Announced during The Game Awards 2024, this 2D Metroidvania is essentially a grittier, almost horror themed take on Pac-Man. Launching on July 18, you’ll be fighting and munching on all manner of bizarre monsters with the aid of a yellow orb called Puck.

Patapon 1+2 Replay

One of two PlayStation properties to appear during the Direct, Patapon 1+2 Replay is a collection of the first two entries in Sony’s quirky rhythm game series for the PlayStation Portable. It launches on July 11 for Switch, as well as PlayStation 5 and PC.

Story Of Seasons: Grand Bazaar

There was only one farming game announced at this month’s Direct, namely the newest entry in the Story Of Seasons series (formerly known as Harvest Moon). Titled Story Of Seasons: Grand Bazaar, it promises all the usual hallmarks and is slated to launch on August 27.

Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

New gameplay for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond shows off its fantastic visuals and fancy new psychic powers for Samus, including the ability to change the trajectory of her shots. Strangely, Nintendo still won’t specify when the game launches this year, fuelling the theories that it’s a Switch 2 launch title.

Disney Villains Cursed Café

Someone at Disney must really like indie visual novel Coffee Talk because the company has made its own take on the idea; one that has you making and serving potions for a variety of classic Disney villains. It’s slated to drop on Switch later today.

Witchbrook

Hogwarts Legacy 2’s not going to be out any time soon, but indie studio Chucklefish is offering the next best thing: Witchbrook. Described as a witch life sim, you can craft potions, run your own business, and play with friends when it launches this winter.

The Eternal Life Of Goldman

A new 2D platformer from This Is The Police developer Weappy Studio, The Eternal Life Of Goldman sports some lovely looking animation and some obvious influences from the DuckTales NES game. It launches this winter.

Gradius Origins

One of our personal highlights of the Direct, Gradius Origins brings together multiple versions of six classic arcade shooters from Konami. Most excitingly of all though the compilation includes a brand new game: Salamander 3. The arcade conversions are by M2, who are the best of the best when it comes to this sort of thing, but we’re not clear who’s making the new game. We’ll hopefully know more before its launch on August 7.

Rift Of The Necrodancer

A spin-off of Crypt Of The Necrodancer, this game ditches the roguelike elements and is a pure rhythm action game. It already launched for PC last month but is out now for Switch alongside a DLC crossover with Celeste.

Tamagotchi Plaza

Described as a continuation of the Tamagotchi Connection series from the days of the Nintendo DS, Tamagotchi Plaza is a new life sim that sees you run your own store. It will feature over 100 Tamagotchi characters and launches on June 27.

Pokémon Legends Z-A

Nintendo’s other big Switch game for 2025 saw new gameplay footage, revealing night-time trainer battles and the Z-A Royale tournament. Still no word of an exact release date or a dedicated Switch 2 version.

Rhythm Paradise Groove

There was a rumour Nintendo would announce a new entry in one of its more niche franchises, but instead the company revealed two of them. The first is a new Rhythm Paradise game called Rhythm Paradise Groove, with its collection of rhythm mini-games slated for 2026.

Virtual Game Cards

Nintendo didn’t just have new games to share. It also unveiled Virtual Game Cards, which serve as a new method for sharing your games across multiple Switch consoles. You can also lend them to friends, although only for two weeks at a time. It arrives in late April (which also hints at a June launch for the Switch 2).

SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered

Square Enix continues to make older entries in its SaGa series of role-playing games more readily available, with this remaster of 1999’s SaGa Frontier 2. Originally made for the PS1, this remaster features updated visuals and new story scenarios and is available as of today.

Monument Valley

All three of the delightful Monument Valley puzzle games are slated for Switch later this year. The first two games will arrive on April 15 while Monument Valley 3, which was initially exclusive to Netflix, will follow in the summer.

Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots

The other surprise PlayStation related announcement, Everybody’s Golf is getting its first new entry in years and it’s going multiplatform. Amusingly titled Everybody’s Golf Hot Shots (Hot Shots Golf is what the series was called in the US), Bandai Namco is publishing it for Switch (as well as Patapon) while Sony handles bringing it to PlayStation 5 and PC.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion

One of the best third party surprises of the Direct was this brand new 2D scrolling beat ‘em-up from DotEmu, makers of the excellent Streets Of Rage 4. To be honest you almost don’t need to know any more than that, given that pedigree, but the game features 15 characters, with the ability to tag team between two of them at any time. The main bad guy appears to be Annihilus, who is primarily a Fantastic Four villain. The game will be out this winter on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, as well as Switch.

Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream

The final game reveal of the Direct turned out to be a new entry in Nintendo’s series of life sims starring the Miis. Scheduled for 2026, Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream looks just as wacky as previous games though we hope it offers more interactivity than its predecessors.

Nintendo Today!

The actual final announcement of the Direct was not for a new game but Nintendo’s own bespoke news app called Nintendo Today! Doubling as a calendar, it’s a way for Nintendo to deliver updates and announcements directly to its fans. It’s available right now on iOS and Android, but only for those with a Nintendo account.

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A new trailer for Metroid Prime 4 has revealed the first details of the plot and some new gameplay mechanics, but not whether there’ll be a native Switch 2 version.

Thursday’s Nintendo Direct, for the original Switch, was strange for any number of reasons, not least because that the long-anticipated Switch 2 Direct is only next week. That and the fact that the most notable new announcements were two former PlayStation exclusives coming to Switch and the return of two super obscure Nintendo franchises.

If there was one game that was almost certain to be featured though it was Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, which many suspect will be a launch title for the Switch 2 – if only via backwards compatibility.

The Nintendo Direct did nothing to discredit that theory, as the game still doesn’t have a release date, just sometime this year. But there’s still no hint of whether it will have a dedicated Switch 2 version, as well as a Switch 1 edition.

It was the Switch 1 version that was apparently being shown in the new trailer, but the graphics looked so good many suspect, just as they did with the debut trailer, that it’s really Switch 2 footage.

That’s presumably not the case – Nintendo is very unlikely to outright lie about such a thing – but the game look considerably better than any other Switch title, including the likes of Luigi’s Mansion 3.

It’s possible the footage being shown is the Switch 2 playing the Switch 1 version, and adding some enhancements on top but, again, if that was the case Nintendo would probably just say so.

Apart from looking amazing, the main thing to be discerned from the trailer is that the plot of the game involves Samus being trapped on the jungle planet of Viewros. The previous trailer clearly showed space pirates, and rival bounty hunter Sylux, but in this one it was just angry alien lifeforms.

The footage was likely from the opening sections of the game, before the main plot kicks in, but it did reveal one of the game’s main new gimmicks: psychic powers for Samus.

Whether that means she has her usual gadgets from the start isn’t clear, but her abilities involve operate alien mechanisms, opening doors, and controlling the trajectory of her beam weapons. So basically, she can use the Force now.

The end of the trailer shows what we think is Samus in a new red and black suit. It could conceivably be one of the various evil versions of Samus, that have been in previous games, but we think it was just meant to be a new suit – although it was unclear what new abilities it might confer.

Apart from the psychic abilities the trailer didn’t reveal much, other than that the game continues to look incredible, so whether we’ll get additional information next week, at the Switch 2 Direct, is unclear.

What does the Pokémon Legends: Z-A name mean?

The only other big name first party game during the Direct was Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which was a bit of a surprise, as usually new games are only shown off during dedicated Pokémon Presents showcases.

Z-A continues to look good, with the semi real-time combat being an interesting twist to the formula. As with Metroid, there wasn’t an awful lot of significant new information, but Nintendo did reveal that at night you’ll be able to battle with other trainers.

This is when you can compete in the Z-A Royale tournament, where you work up the ranks from Z to A, with anyone that goes all the way having their wish granted.

However, if your wish is a native Switch 2 version it’s unclear if that will be granted. As with Metroid Prime 4 there was no indication that there’d be a dedicated next gen edition, and it may be that both games only work on Switch 2 via backwards compatibility.

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