If you've seen the trailers for A Minecraft Movie, you might be wondering exactly what filming was like. After all, the massive cubic world looks too good to be true live-action. However, for the most part, that's exactly what it is.
Speaking to GameSpot, director Jared Hess revealed that they actually built the massive sets that make up the Overworld. That made it so the actors weren't just acting against green screens.
"We built life-size Minecraft forests," he said. "The Minecraft village was all built, practically. These were ginormous sets." While some digital set extensions were used to build out the backgrounds, the majority of the world the cast worked in was fully visualized.
One of the big surprises following this week's Switch 2 deep dive was the price tag for Mario Kart World, as the game has a "suggested" retail price of $80 ahead of its June 5 release. This is a major increase--especially at a time when consumers are still debating the value of high-profile games increasing from $60 to $70--and according to analysts, this could become the new standard for the industry.
In a breakdown of the Switch 2 and its pricing, analysts at Niko Partners discussed the impact of Mario Kart World and its price. "While there has been some sticker shock regarding the price of games increasing from $60 to $70 or $80, these price-points are set to become industry standard over the next two years, especially so for Nintendo first-party games," Niko Partners explained. "One reason for the higher price is the increased cost of the new and faster Game Cards themselves, with higher capacities being more expensive to manufacture than a PS5 Blu-ray disc."
It is worth noting that certain Switch 2 Game Cards will only contain keys on the cart that can be used to authenticate a purchase and then download a game directly to the console. Whether these games will cost $60 or $70 remains to be seen, but another Switch 2 game, Donkey Kong Bananza, does have an MSRP of $70. The other concern here is that Nintendo will likely set a new precedent for game prices with Mario Kart World, allowing other publishers to follow suit and also charge $80 for new games.
In the span of two years, Jack Black has starred in three video game movies: The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Borderlands, and now A Minecraft Movie. Ahead of the premiere of his latest video game film, Black revealed that he's been an avid player of Balatro on mobile. But he's having a few problems with the game and could probably use some tips.
Like many of us, Black had trouble pronouncing the name Balatro while speaking with Xbox UK. He also noted that he uses his iPhone to play the game, but he's only unlocked the first deck while trying to obtain the blue deck. Black went on to express some frustration about the way the game deals with chance.
"It just makes me mad that so much of it seems to be luck," said Black. "No matter how good you are at it, you've got to get those... certain unlockable cards." Then Black looked at the camera and added, "Maybe you can give me some tips."
The Switch 2 is not surprising, but it isn't trying to be. Nintendo is known for taking daring risks from one console generation to the next, but the Switch 2 seeks to deliver a surefire upgrade to its wildly popular hybrid console that doesn't particularly rock the boat. Even the straightforwardly numerical name reassures that it is exactly what you expect: another Switch, but better. After spending hours of hands-on time with Nintendo's next hardware release, I've come away convinced that "better but not revolutionary" was the right move.
The original Switch has a toyetic elegance to it that its handheld competitors like the Steam Deck don't match. A more powerful Switch may not be ambitious, but it is appealing for all the reasons I fell in love with Switch in the first place. And it's not as if Nintendo hasn't tried going gonzo-weird after a massive hardware hit before. The Switch 2 will surely avoid becoming another Wii U.
The Switch 2 feels sturdier than its predecessor, and the sleek matte black seems to aim for a more high-end look. The screen is noticeably larger, so even though I'm accustomed to my OLED screen, the larger LCD feels like a decent trade-off. The difference in quality is barely noticeable to my eyes so the larger screen feels worth it to me. The color accents are more subtle, and the biggest splash of color comes from when the new Joy-Con 2 controllers are disconnected. They're magnetic now, which is a neat upgrade that retains the detachable functionality of the original Switch. The magnets are so strong that it's difficult (but not impossible) to detach them without pressing the release button, so when holding it they feel locked in place tighter, without the slight give that would sometimes afflict older Joy-Cons on the original Switch. And the magnets attach with a satisfying physical click.
Donkey Kong is one versatile monkey. He's gone from one of the most infamous video game villains to a hero of his own platformer series, a rhythm game star, and more. His one attempt at a 3D platformer, Donkey Kong 64, was a bit of a low point in his storied career, but you can't keep a good ape down, and now he's back with another swing at the genre. After some hands-on time with the new Switch 2 game, I think Donkey Kong Bananza may just be his 3D platformer redemption.
Donkey Kong Bananza carries some noticeable DNA from another Nintendo game, but its central hook is all its own. The general feel and flow of movement around the world feels very similar to Super Mario Odyssey, but whereas Mario is a fleet-footed little plumber, Donkey Kong is known for being a brutish bruiser. He hits hard, and in this case, that means a playground of destructible environments to smack your way through.
Almost everything is destructible in Bananza, which at first can feel a little disorienting. DK's powerful punches can clear out a huge swath of cave wall or ground, so it's easy to just charge in a direction while quickly burrowing through obstacles. After a while you start to learn some finesse, especially when it comes to the controls. The directions of the face buttons generally correspond to which direction you smack--B for a downward, digging-like slam; Y for a forward punch; and X for an upward strike. You can start pummeling with intention, clearing away caves in the direction you mean to.
Mario Kart World is, above all, a damn hoot. The headliner for the new Switch 2 is clearly following in the footsteps (or tire tracks) of the Switch's Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, which has been remarkably successful despite being a port of a Wii U game first released in 2014. It would have been easy for Nintendo to rest on its laurels and give us another game similar to MK8, but World feels like a real evolution of the franchise. It borrows and expands upon what worked, while rethinking other aspects entirely.
As many noted following the Switch 2 debut trailer, races now support up to 24 racers simultaneously. Such a high player count necessitates a massively expanded roster, but Nintendo zigged on us with tons of new and unexpected inclusions like Nabbit and the extremely entertaining Cow. Yes, it is 100% just the pleasantly plump cow from Moo Moo Meadows, and she is named Cow. I would die for her. We didn't see the full roster during this demo session, but the character-select screen contained tons of variety regardless.
That's partly due to another new wrinkle: character costumes. Each character has a variety of looks they can don, from their classic styles to traditional racing gear to more personalized and inventive ensembles. I raced as Toad wearing a burger hat, a Shy Guy wearing ski gear (complete with a beanie), and Toadette with a makeover that made her little pigtails look like glistening ice cream. Bowser had an old-school biker look. Luigi could dress up like a straw-hat farmer. The list goes on and on, and I felt delighted seeing how the costumes accented the personalities of these lovable cartoon characters that I've gotten to know over the years. The character costumes were displayed as full options in the character-select menu--regular Mario and racing-suit Mario are two separate options, for example--so I assume there will be some way to mark your favorites.
Metroid fans have been waiting a long time for Metroid Prime 4. The game was announced at E3 2017 before being delayed and rebooted and delayed again, but even at the time of that reveal, it had been a decade since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption released. At one time it seemed like a game doomed by its own sky-high expectations. With the Switch 2 on the horizon, Beyond is finally real, and playable, and great. It's too early to say if it can rise above almost two decades of anticipation, but having now played it, I don't think it will be a victim of them.
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is now part of the cross-generational push, representing both a swan song for the original Switch and a launch-window game for Switch 2. I only played the Switch 2 version, so I can't speak to differences in performance between the platforms--but it already appears to make for a very nice Switch 2 showpiece.
To start, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond looks gorgeous, managing to be reverent of the Prime art style while also updating and modernizing it to a new platform. Yes, Samus' face reflects in her visor when you fire a shot close to a wall, but this time she squints slightly in the direction of the light. Retro Studios is clearly exercising great care for stewarding this franchise, even down to the little touches.
When the Switch 2 launches in June, longtime users could see two major improvements to the Nintendo eShop. Nintendo is aiming to address complaints of its digital storefront, which has long been criticized for being slow to navigate through and for being populated with cheap shovelware titles that often use underhanded methods to stand out. In a developer roundtable, Nintendo confirmed that the eShop will benefit from performance upgrades and that a new feature on the store will make finding games easier for users.
Takuhiro Dohta, Nintendo's senior director for entertainment planning and development, explained in a Nintendo post how the Switch 2 hardware will make exploring the eShop faster and smoother. "Thanks to the system's performance capabilities, Nintendo eShop on Switch 2 has been improved and runs smoothly even when displaying a large number of games. We believe the act of finding the game you want to play is itself part of the game system experience," Dohta said.
For discoverability, producer for entertainment planning and development Kouichi Kawamoto briefly spoke about the "Game Finds for You" feature that allows users to see screenshots and videos for games. "With this feature, I think players will be able to easily find something interesting without having to search every nook and cranny of Nintendo eShop," Kawamoto said.
Microsoft is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week on April 4, and Xbox is joining in by offering some free digital downloads including a new dynamic background and profile themes.
The 50th Anniversary Dynamic Background can be downloaded onto your Xbox and contains a giant colorful "50" in the center. It includes many of Xbox's famous mascots such as Master Chief from Halo and Marcus Fenix from Gears of War. Since Microsoft has acquired so many studios and IP over the past few years, the background also has Ghost from Call of Duty, Doom Slayer from the Doom reboot, and Vault Boy from Fallout.
Gallery
Xbox celebrates Microsoft's 50th anniversary
Tapping into nostalgia even further, there are also three new profile pictures containing the old Windows cursor, Clippy the Microsoft Office assistant, and a floppy disk. Xbox Insider Program members can also download a 50th Anniversary badge to their Xbox profile.
Do you want to hunt down all targets for The Butterfly Collector in Assassin's Creed Shadows? These women have been kidnapping children in the city of Osaka. But, before you can locate them, you must first gather a few items. Only then will their locations be revealed.
Where to find all targets for The Butterfly Collector in Assassin's Creed Shadows - The Butterfly Collector quest guide
The Butterfly Collector might be a side quest, but it's certainly a big one that's more involved than most other optional tasks in the game. Here's a quick summary:
You can start the quest by talking to an NPC known as the Gamemaker. She's in Katano in the Izumi Settsu region. She's right next to the ornament vendor, who's between Katano Castle and Katano Oil Trading.
The Gamemaker wants you to find several origami items for her. We discuss these further in our Origami Butterflies guide.
There are 10 Origami Butterflies, and some of these are actually letters addressed to the other kidnappers. While you do receive clues, we recommend acquiring all 10 items first before searching for your targets.
Map of The Butterfly Collector targets
The map above shows the locations of the Assassin's Creed Shadows Butterfly Collector targets. As you can see, there are four targets with their own mini-quest chains that lead to other areas of Osaka:
Mucho: Starts with Find the Child
Shucho: Starts with The One That Got Away
Richo: Starts with All Will Be Well
Kacho: Leads to Paper Trail and Chrysalis - You need to eliminate the first three targets before the objectives to find Kacho appear.
Mucho's location: Find the Child
Mucho is the easiest one to deal with among all the Assassin's Creed Shadows Butterfly Collector targets. Simply head to Kojo Ruins, which is west of the Temple of Osaka. You should see a woman (Mucho) next to a little boy. As you approach, Mucho will run away. You can either assassinate her if she hasn't been alerted yet, or you can strike her down in combat. Do watch out for other guards that are nearby.
Once Mucho has been taken care of, talk to the child. Hold the button to auto-follow so you can accompany the boy to his father.
Shucho's location: The One That Got Away
To find Shucho, you need to go to the Fisherman's District near a yard where you found the Pink Origami Butterfly from earlier. There, you'll spot a child who's crying. Talk to her to learn that the kidnapper is nearby. Follow the narrow street to the east and keep the aim button held down. The glowing blue marker should reveal Shucho.
Richo's location: All Will Be Well
This particular target, Richo, requires a bit of a trek:
All Will Be Well - Head north of the gear vendor/kakurega until you arrive at a yard with a ruined well. Wait a while until you hear two workers talking about a bamboo grove.
Forest Fugitive - Make your way to the bamboo grove north of Noda Village. As you approach the cabin, Naoe will remark about how that might be the perfect spot where someone would hide a kidnapped child.
Eliminate Richo as you see fit. Then, accompany the girl until she reaches her mom near the outskirts of the city.
Kacho's location: Paper Trail and Chrysalis
Now that you've taken out the three initial Butterfly Collector targets in Assassin's Creed Shadows, it's time to finish off their boss, Kacho. There are a few tasks that you need to tackle first:
Paper Trail - Go to the Temple of Osaka and look for a big tree along the narrow street to the north. Hold down the aim button to see the blue outline denoting the paper merchant's location.
Chrysalis - Head to the Fishermen's District just a stone's throw away. A small hut in the yard has a note that you can read.
Once both mini-quests are done, you'll learn that Kacho is in Nishinomaru Garden, which is just west of Osaka Castle. This is a restricted area, so try to avoid the guards as much as possible. Upon reaching Kacho, a cutscene will trigger, and you'll have to fight her normally.
Should you spare or kill the Gamemaker?
With Kacho's dying breath, she mentions that there's one more member of the group. It's none other than the person who gave you this quest all the way back in Katano. Now, it's time to decide if you should spare or kill the Gamemaker in Assassin's Creed Shadows. You can also give her a fitting name, though it won't have any bearing on how the quest is concluded.
That's everything you need to know about how to complete The Butterfly Collector in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Here are all the rewards that you can obtain as part of this entire arc:
Mucho - Hidden Pleat (uncommon tanto).
Richo - The Dog-Ear (uncommon tanto).
Richo's kidnapping victim - Trinket of Childlike Bravery (accessory).
Shucho - Ink Spiller (rare tanto)
Kacho - Note that she only drops 295x mon.
Gamemaker:
Ebisu's Gamble (common bow) - Drops whether you kill or spare her.
Butterfly of Benevolence trinket (accessory) - Drops only if you spare her.
Do you need more help as you continue your adventure throughout Sengoku Jidai era Japan? We've got you covered, so just take a look at our Assassin's Creed Shadows guides hub.
Are you hoping to find all Tea Bowls for Rikyu in Assassin's Creed Shadows? There are seven of these items scattered all over Japan, so it might seem like a tall order at first. However, you should be able to acquire everything that you need with a bit of exploration and campaign progression.
Where to find all Tea Bowls for Rikyu in Assassin's Creed Shadows
The tea bowl items are part of a quest aptly called Tea Bowls for Rikyu. However, the quest itself won't be available right from the get-go as there are a few requirements. Here's the gist:
You must complete the arc to hunt down the Golden Teppo, a member of the Shinbakufu.
You meet an NPC named Sen no Rikyu along the way. You also need to find other stuff, like the kosode and tea merchant.
It's up to you whether you confront Otama or Wakasa. Either way, you have to deal with the Golden Teppo.
Continue and finish the entire arc until Naoe and Yasuke meet up to reach Act 2 of the campaign.
Sen no Rikyu should then appear as an NPC in the People of Yamashiro section of the Objectives board.
Where to find Sen no Rikyu and the tea bowls?
To start the Assassin's Creed Shadows Tea Bowls for Rikyu quest, you have to return to Sen no Rikyu's home in Kyoto. It's just south of the northern kakurega building and west of the Imperial Palace.
After talking to Rikyu, you're asked to find seven tea bowls that he can add to his collection. Here's a quick summary:
Six of these can be purchased from merchants in various towns. Each one costs 125 mon.
The seventh and final item can be acquired once you defeat The Wise, a member of the Shinbakufu group.
Where to find the Osaka ornament vendor?
For our first example, let's head over to Sakai in the Izumi Settsu region. The ornament vendor in this village is fairly close to the Port of Sakai marker. Talk to the NPC and buy the tea bowl for 125 mon.
Map of locations of the remaining tea bowls
The map above shows the locations of the other Tea Bowls for Rikyu in Assassin's Creed Shadows. These are all from ornament vendors in various villages and settlements:
Yamashiro: Kyoto - Fairly close to the southern kakurega building.
Omi: Sakamoto - North of the kakurega building and Sake Brewery.
Omi: Azuchi - From the Sokenji Pagoda fast travel point in the city proper, keep going southwest across the bridge until you stumble upon the vendor's stall.
Wakasa: Obama - Thanks. Make your way to the city and tag the Obama Guard Tower fast travel point. Then, go directly southeast to reach Kara Market.
Tamba: Kameyama - Right next to the kakurega building, which is actually further south of the main castle.
The Wise and the Classic Tea Bowl Collection
To get the last Assassin's Creed Shadows Rikyu tea bowl, you need to eliminate The Wise, one of the members of the Shinbakufu group. To be fair, this task might take you a while:
Continue progressing through the campaign by taking out Shinbakufu members and tackling Yasuke's and Naoe's personal quests. Eventually, you'll see information about The Wise in the Objectives board.
You have to go to the Yamato region, which has level 35 enemies.
Next, you must talk to a shrine maiden named Fuyu. She's in Omiwa Shrine in the Nara Heartland sub-region.
Proceed further into this arc, where you'll broker a peace treaty between two warring clans.
Later on, the true identity of The Wise will be revealed. To no one's surprise, it's the monk leader Joken Hokkyo.
Chase down Hokkyo and kill him. You'll then receive the Winds of War legendary kusarigama and the Classic Tea Bowl Collection.
Should you invite your friends or enemies for the tea ceremony?
Return to Sen no Rikyu and hand over all the items that you've collected. You're then asked if you want to invite friends or enemies for the tea ceremony. Here's what happens:
Invite friends - There's a short scene where Naoe, Yasuke, and Junjiro have tea together.
Invite enemies - This leads to a mini-quest called Fish in a Barrel. High-value targets from the other assassination boards (i.e. non-Shinbakufu members) may appear in the courtyard, and you can take them out.
In our playthrough, we only ended up with one target. We can't confirm if this is due to having cleared other boards or if it's just a randomized selection.
Regardless of what happens, killing the target causes Sen no Rikyu to scold you for your actions.
Tea Bowls for Rikyu quest reward
Regardless of your decision on who to invite to the ceremony, you'll still receive the following rewards:
That does it for our guide on how to complete Tea Bowls for Rikyu in Assassin's Creed Shadows. If you like roaming around in Japan, then you probably want to tackle other quests, such as The Butterfly Collector.
Do you want to have the Namazu legendary mount in Assassin's Creed Shadows? This is one of the coolest-looking horses that you can find in-game (outside of spending your hard-earned cash in the store). That said, you do need to trek across the countryside if you want to find them.
How to get the Namazu legendary mount in Assassin's Creed Shadows
The Namazu legendary mount can be found near the island of Okishima in the Omi region. Okishima is actually a popular destination, even until the present day. That's because it's one of Japan's "Cat Islands"--basically a place where felines are frolicking around, as opposed to being kept indoors. It's also said that the inhabitants of the island are descendants of a samurai group that was banished centuries ago.
Map of the location of the Namazu legendary mount
Above, you can see a map that shows the location of the Namazu legendary mount in Assassin's Creed Shadows. Basically, you need to trek to the Omi region, which is northeast of Osaka (Izumi Settsu) and east of Kyoto (Yamashiro). Once you arrive at the town of Azuchi, you can look for a boat that you can sail to the island itself.
Note that there's no need to rush at all. You can progress through the game normally and even tag the fast travel point and kakurega during quests, such as those that culminate in the Yasuke-Lady Oichi romance.
Okishima diving spot
Once you're in Okishima, go marvel at the cats--if you're as big a fan of them as I am. Once you're done meowing by yourself, head to the western part of the island just a short distance away from the kakurega. While checking out the coast, you should see a bonfire surrounded by a few bandits. Take them out and be ready to dive underwater.
Okishima underwater cave and Namazu chest
After diving underwater, turn around and look for an opening. The tunnel itself leads to a small cavern with a chest that contains the Namazu legendary mount. Open it to receive your reward, then quickly swim back to the surface since your character is probably out of breath by now.
That's how you get the Namazu legendary mount in Assassin's Creed Shadows. You can equip them via the inventory screen and then ride them while exploring.
The Namazu has the same speed and animations as the other horses in the game, but they do have a unique look. They have fish scales on their body and even whiskers akin to a catfish. That's pretty cool, considering that you found them near a Cat Island that has a fishing village.
Do you need more help as you continue your adventure throughout Sengoku Jidai era Japan? We've got you covered, so just take a look at our Assassin's Creed Shadows guides hub.
Season 3 is live in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 with the brand-new Shattered Veil map in Zombies. This map brings back the iconic Mark II variant of the Ray Gun Wonder Weapon. Here we guide you through the steps needed to get your hands on the Ray Gun Mark II Wonder Weapon in Shattered Veil.
For more on the season, make sure to check out all the highlights for Season 3 of Black Ops 6, including more multiplayer maps, limited-time events, and the addition of Jay and Silent Bob as playable operators. Season 3 of Warzone adds the OG Verdansk map, classic features, and the original Gulag. The contents of the Season 3 battle pass can be viewed here, which includes the return of OG operators like Jason Hudson and Mace.
How to unlock the Ray Gun Mark II
The Ray Gun Mark II Wonder Weapon was originally introduced in Black Ops II. This is a three-round burst variant of the very first Ray Gun. It can be Pack-a-Punched, and it can also double as a bludgeoning device for melee attacks.
This is an unlockable Wonder Weapon in Shattered Veil. You can start working toward gathering the parts needed to unlock the Ray Gun Mark II once you've followed the in-game prompts leading you down the elevator shaft to Pack-a-Punch.
Get the floppy disk
You'll want to zip down into the elevator shaft at round 10 or after. A special zombie will spawn the name "Lab Technician." Kill this zombie to get the Floppy Disk item it drops.
Get your code word
Take the Floppy Disk to the East Foyer, which is found by taking the right side door from the giant dinosaur bones display. There's a printer/fax machine in the East Foyer. Interact with the PC next to this device to get a code printed on a piece of paper.
This paper will give you a code word. This code is randomized for every match. Make note of this word and head to the Nursery.
Solve the nursery puzzle
First, find the first letter of your code word on the nursery chalkboard. The letter will be in one of six groups. The number you need for this letter is the number of letters in that specific group.
Repeat this process for all letters in your code word in order to get a numerical code.
For example: My word was WORM. I found each letter and counted the number of letters for the group it was in, so my code was 7671. Your letter groups will likely be randomized, but you can see how I got my code from the chalkboard shown above.
Get the severed arm
Head down into the Service Tunnels area. You'll likely want to be prepared here with an upgraded weapon, armor, and basic perks.
There is a Doppelghast enemy behind a locked glass door. Enter the code into the keypad by the door. Enter the numerical code you just got from solving the nursery puzzle. Kill the Doppelghast and two other zombies that spawn with it. Pick up the Severed Arm item dropped by the Doppelghast.
Collect your Ray Gun Mark II
Take the Severed Arm you collected further into the Service Tunnels. You'll see a metal garage door you can open on your left. Access this to reach the map's Armory. You'll want to be quick here once you enter the Armory's door. You only have 60 seconds to grab the gun.
The Ray Gun Mark II is locked behind glass. Interact with the keypad to use the Severed Arm to unlock the case. The Wonder Weapon is now yours.
It's worth noting that the armory is also where you can bring key items randomly dropped by various enemy types. This lets you get a random item from a case. This can be perks, killstreaks, or guns of various rarity.
Other ways to get the Ray Gun Mark II
If luck or Gobble Gums are on your side, you might not need to take all the steps above to unlock the gun in the Armory. The Ray Gun Mark II Wonder Weapon can be gained by getting lucky with the Mystery Box, or if you use the Wonderbar Gobble Gum, you will be guaranteed a Wonder Weapon on your next Mystery Box spin. However, the gum doesn't specifically guarantee you the Ray Gun Mark II.
However, it's worth noting you only get one Ray Gun Mark II Wonder Weapon from the locked stash. So, if you want your teammates to have one, you'll need to try and get lucky with these other methods.
Microsoft has revealed some of the games that'll be joining Xbox Game Pass this month, and there are several big additions.
South of Midnight is Xbox and Compulsion Games' noteworthy release this month. The We Happy Few developer has created a single-player narrative-adventure game inspired by the American Deep South. It'll launch on April 8, but those who purchase the Premium Edition can play it five days early on April 3.
Borderlands 3 Ultimate Edition is joining the service, and it comes with all four campaign add-ons, Director’s Cut content, and cosmetic packs. This popular shooter is a great warm-up for Borderlands 4, which is scheduled to launch in September.
Diablo IV is on already on Game Pass, but perhaps you'd like to experience an older experience. Well, Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition also includes the Reapers of Souls expansion set.
Still Wakes the Deep is a horror game that came out last year. It takes places on an oil rig in the North Sea during the 1970s, and it's incredibly atmospheric.
Wargroove 2 is an excellent tactics game that scratches the old Nintendo Advance Wars-itch, while Hunt Showdown: 1896 is an engrossing extraction shooter that takes place in a backwater swamp.
All You Need is Help is a multiplayer co-op puzzles game that involves cube-shaped creatures collaborating with each other to reach goals. Its premise makes it a great game to play with family and children.
Some day-one additions to Game Pass include Blue Prince, which is a genre-bending puzzle game that's spread across 45 different rooms. It'll launch on April 10. Commandos: Origins launches on April 9 and revisits the six original commandos in the series. It'll also feature two-player co-op multiplayer.
There are some games leaving Game Pass in two weeks, so don't forget to check those out before they leave the service.
South of Midnight
South of Midnight joins Game Pass for cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on April 8.
Borderlands 3: Ultimate Edition
Borderlands 3 joins Game Pass for cloud, PC, and console on April 3.
Diablo III: Reapers of Souls - Ultimate Evil Edition
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Ultimate Evil Edition joins Game Pass for cloud and console on April 8.
Commandos: Origins
Commandos: Origins joins Game Pass for Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on April 9.
Blue Prince
Blue Prince joins Game Pass for cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X|S on April 10.
Hunt Showdown: 1896
Hunt Showdown: 1896 joins Game Pass for PC on April 10.
All You Need is Help
All You Need is Help joins Game Pass for console on April 3.
Still Wakes the Deep
Still Wakes the Deep joins Game Pass for Xbox Series X|S on April 3.
Wargroove 2
Wargroove 2 joins Game Pass for console on April 3.
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V joins Game Pass for console and PC on April 15.
Nintendo shared more details about the nature of Switch 2 backward compatibility during the dedicated Switch 2 Direct. Subsequently, it published a list of games for the original Switch that might not function correctly on the Switch 2. A set of follow-up interviews with the Switch 2 development team also provided clarification on questions such as what to expect from the Switch 2 eShop and how purchasing original Switch games might work on the new console. Nintendo explained how Switch 2 upgrades will work as well, with games that have a dedicated "Switch 2 Edition" version and those that will have free updates that make smaller improvements.
Nintendo confirmed in a support post that you can play digital and physical Switch games on the Switch 2, with a few exceptions.
The Switch 2 won't support all Switch 1 games.
Are all Switch games backwards compatible?
On April 2, Nintendo confirmed that the backwards compatibility support is limited and provided a list of more than 100 games that, as of the Switch 2's June 5 launch, may not work with the new console. Most of these are listed as having "compatibility issues" that developers are "currently investigating." The only game that Nintendo flat-out says won't play on the Switch 2 is the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit. That kit requires you to insert the Switch tablet into the Toy-Con device, and the Switch 2 tablet is larger than the original Switch. It simply won't fit.
Nintendo fans won't have to wait much longer to get their hands on the Switch 2. The successor to one of the best-selling video game consoles of all time is slated to release June 5, Nintendo announced during its hour-long livestream that fully lifted the veil on the Switch 2. You also don't have to wait much longer to preorder the Nintendo Switch 2, as Nintendo revealed that major retailers will open reservations online and in stores on April 9. The Nintendo Switch 2 will cost $450 at launch. There will also be a bundle with a digital copy of the Switch 2-exclusive launch title Mario Kart World for $500.
When you open the Nintendo Switch 2's box, here's what you'll find inside:
Switch 2 console with 7.9-inch display
Two of Nintendo's new Joy-Con controllers
Joy-Con grip for TV mode
Nintendo Switch 2 Dock for TV mode
AC adapter with USB-C power cable
HDMI cable
Best Buy, Walmart, GameStop, and Target will be taking Nintendo Switch 2 preorders starting April 9. It's unknown at this time if Amazon will add the Switch 2 or the upcoming first-party games and accessories to its inventory.
Video game consoles typically don't come with preorder bonuses in the same way that games often do, but with Nintendo products, retailers often have exclusive bonuses. These range from practical products themed around Nintendo, such as tote bags and popcorn buckets, to display pieces and little trinkets. One unknown retailer is rumored to have a collectible coin for those who preorder the Switch 2. We will update this article as Switch 2 preorder bonuses are confirmed.
We expect that all major retailers who typically carry Nintendo hardware and first-party games will create placeholder pages for the Nintendo Switch 2 either today or in the coming days. Best Buy, for instance, has had a sign-up page on its site since Nintendo officially announced the Switch 2 in January. You can still sign up to receive notifications now, if interested. At GameStop, the actual store page where you'll be able to order the Switch 2 is now live. Like Best Buy, you can sign up for notifications to be informed on preorder timing. Target and Walmart have banners on their Nintendo store pages for the Switch 2.
Fans eagerly anticipating news about Hollow Knight: Silksong have received a sliver of hope, as the recent Switch 2 Nintendo Direct briefly featured Team Cherry's long-in-the-works sequel.
Hollow Knight: Silksong made an appearance during a montage of third-party games set to come to Switch 2. The gameplay clip was only a few seconds long but did confirm that Hollow Knight: Silksong is slated to release on Switch 2 in 2025, though no other details were provided.
Team Cherry's highly anticipated metroidvania was originally announced for Nintendo Switch and PC as part of an E3 2019 Nintendo Direct, and was later confirmed to also be releasing on Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
Nintendo showcased a ton of games for its upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 system during its April Nintendo Direct presentation, including a brand-new racing game starring the adorable puffball Kirby.
Kirby Air Riders, a sequel to the GameCube cult hit Kirby Air Ride, is coming exclusively to Switch 2. Moreover, it's being directed by series creator Masahiro Sakurai, most famous for his work on the Super Smash Bros. franchise. This marks Sakurai's first Kirby title since the original Air Ride.
The announcement trailer, seen above, offers a brief look at the new game, showcasing Kirby on a rocket-powered Warp Star racing through a verdant meadow against three other Kirbys. No other details were shared, but Nintendo confirmed the title will launch sometime this year.
As part of the Nintendo Direct today, Nintendo announced a brand-new 3D Donkey Kong game It's called Donkey Kong Bananza, and it will release on July 17, 2025 for Nintendo Switch 2.
A trailer for Bananza showed DK smashing and pounding everything in his way. More details will be announced for the title in the time ahead, Nintendo said. Check out the announcement trailer below.
Be sure to check out GameSpot's news roundup gallery below to see all the biggest news and reveals from the Switch 2 Nintendo Direct.
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