The completely free streaming service that’s ‘like DIY Netflix’ with 25,000,000 users
From comedy and romance to horror and crime, there’s so much you can stream for free (Picture: Joe Roth TV/Lionsgate TV/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock) ‘Free’ and ‘streaming’ are two words rarely seen together these days, and many of us spend upwards of £30 each month on the likes […]
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Call Of Duty is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 promises Activision and Microsoft
Is Activision planning to bring older Call Of Duty games to Switch before newer ones? (Activision) Despite no sign of a Switch 2 launch for this year’s Call Of Duty, Activision swears it’s still working on bringing its flagship shooter series to Nintendo fans. Back […]
Gaming Mario Kart World review – the final verdict on the Switch 2’s biggest game
Mario Kart World – the magic is back (Nintendo) The key launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2 is already the most controversial Mario Kart ever but is it a bad game or merely misunderstood? Mario Kart 8 Deluxe is one of the very few […]
Gaming
Donkey Kong Bananza is hugely entertaining and not what we expected
A barrel of destruction (Nintendo) The rumours are true and not only has Donkey Kong had a major makeover but his new Nintendo Switch 2 game is like nothing he’s ever starred in before. Although there were plenty of educated guesses about what games might […]
Gaming
The rumours are true and not only has Donkey Kong had a major makeover but his new Nintendo Switch 2 game is like nothing he’s ever starred in before.
Although there were plenty of educated guesses about what games might arrive early in the Switch 2’s line-up the only one based on an actual rumour was a new 3D Donkey Kong game. That rumour has turned out to be absolutely correct, although it’s not quite the game many expected.
It was imagined that it might be a de facto 3D Mario game, featuring both characters and made by the same Nintendo EPD team responsible for Super Mario Odyssey. It’s not yet clear who’s making the game, but while the latter may well be true there was no sign of Mario or any other existing characters from either the Mushroom Kingdom or the Donkey Kong Country games.
And while the annoucement trailer did suggest there will be some traditional platforming sections, including 2D stages reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country Returns, everything we played was completely different to that and revolved destroying everything in your path, up to and including the scenery itself.
The story seems to involve Donkey Kong digging for jewel-like bananas, with an army of enslaved monkeys, that look very similar to Diddy Kong, working for a group of currently unnamed bad guys. The larger bananas appear to function similarly to moons in Super Mario Odyssey, in that they’re the tangible reward for exploration but, really, you’re just encouraged to experiment and play around with the level and your abilities.
DK can punch through solid rock, but he can also punch downwards and upwards and seemingly climb over any surface, allowing him to batter a level to smithereens, in his search for smaller ingots of gold and other collectables (including fossils which apparently unlock costumes in a shop we never saw).
He also has his signature hand slap that can collect nearby objects and act like a sort of echo location to reveal nearby hidden secrets. Plus, he can do a ground pound type move, a forward roll, and rip up a chunk of the ground at any moment, like the Hulk, and either hurl it at enemies (including via an optional first person aiming view) or use it like a rotating surfboard (that doesn’t make any more sense in context).
Initially, Donkey Kong appears ridiculous overpowered and it’s hugely entertaining to just demolish everything you can get your hands on and tunnel through the underground mines you start in, like an angry mole. The demo then fast-forwarded us to later in the game, where there are more substantial enemies and obstacles including exploding rocks, which are crucial for taking down a tough mini-boss.
It’s all hugely entertaining and the scale of destruction, and the amount of damage you can do to each stage – levelling it down to the water table, is hugely impressive. There seems to be a lot more to the game than we ever got into too, as there’s a weird purple rock sitting on your shoulder in the second part of the demo and we have no idea who they are or what they do.
As positive as the first impressions are though, the demo was surprisingly janky for a Nintendo title. It’s not finished, so the frame rate issues and skittish controls will probably be fixed in the final game, but the camera really struggles to show a sensible view of the action when you start taking apart the scenery.
Or rather it does usually manage to do so but this often involves weird views where it’s clipping through the floor or walls. We think most of this is intentional though and there’s probably no other way to do it, given there’s so few limits on what you can destroy. This makes us even more interested in seeing the finished product and how Nintendo manages to mitigate what is probably an intractable problem.
Even if the game ends up seeming somewhat clumsy at times that suits the great ape and his big new makeover. His new look is also featured in Mario Kart World but here you can see how vastly more expressive he is, compared to the stoic Rare version.
Some will no doubt complain at the change but we’re all for it, in terms of both how Donkey Kong looks and how much this new game plays in a totally different manner to his previous titles – and indeed any other game we’ve ever played.
Formats: Nintendo Switch 2
Price: TBA
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: 17th July 2025
Age Rating: 7
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I played Mario Kart World – it might be the best kart racer ever
The biggest Mario Kart yet (Nintendo) Nintendo Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World reinvents the formula in what is now a madcap 24-player open world adventure. Since Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was essentially a remaster of the original Wii U game, there hasn’t been […]
Gaming
Nintendo Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World reinvents the formula in what is now a madcap 24-player open world adventure.
Since Mario Kart 8 Deluxe was essentially a remaster of the original Wii U game, there hasn’t been a brand new Mario Kart game for almost 11 years now. A new entry was inevitable for the Switch 2 and since what has now been named as Mario Kart World was the only game to be shown during the console’s unveiling in January it was fairly obvious it was a launch title.
What wasn’t obvious, from that seven seconds of footage, was what exactly distinguishes it from the previous games, although suspicions that it involves an open world map and 24 players online have proven to be correct. All that was revealed in Wednesday’s Nintendo Direct but immediately after we got to play the game and as far as we’re concerned it’s the most exciting entry in the series so far.
There are multiple different modes in the game and probably a number of others that haven’t yet been announced, since there’s a dedicated Mario Kart Direct planned for April 17, but we got to play the standard Grand Prix mode, the elimination themed Knockout mode, and Free Roam – and they were all fantastic.
Grand Prix is the standard game mode for all Mario Kart games and we played a bunch of them in single and two-player mode, both on the TV and using the Switch 2 as a portable. The first thing that strikes you is the dizzying array of playable characters, that goes well beyond the usual crew to include obscurities like a snowman from Super Mario 64 and a cow from the Moo Moo Farm/Meadows track (always one of our favourites and one that is homaged throughout the game).
Each character also has multiple alternative outfits, from Bowser in biker gear to Toad dressed as a hamburger, and many vehicle variants, although we’re not clear which of these were specially unlocked for the purposes of the demo.
Playing the game, it becomes clear that everything, not just the character selection, has been turned up to 11, with computer-controlled traffic on seemingly every course, that includes everything from Piranha Plants on the back of a van to Spikes chucking spiked balls at you, and giant Donkey Kong barrels that can shoot you in the air.
With 23 other players, races are wonderful chaotic, although given the tracks are all generally much wider than usual, and you can go off-road, it never became overwhelming (although maybe we’re just saying that because we won most of our races).
There are multiple new items, including a ? Block that generates coins, a gold shell that drops them in its wake, an ice flower that shoots ice balls, a giant mushroom that… turns you into a giant, and no doubt many others.
You can now grind on rails with your cars and speed along the wires between electricity pylons. You can wall run if you get the angle right on a jump, plus you can stay in the air, and on the water, for extended periods – with more than one section having heavy Wave Race 64 vibes.
We played a course where it started snowing halfway through, one filled with dinosaurs to avoid and drive over, and there was the stage featured in the reveal video that segues from desert to city. One course was heavily influenced by the Boo houses from the original SNES games, there was an ash-covered volcano level, one based on the original Donkey Kong arcade game, and according to the Nintendo reps many more beyond that.
The other competitive mode on show was Knockout, which is an elimination mode where you have to stay in contention until there’s only one person left, with players being knocked out as they pass (or don’t pass) a series of checkpoints.
This seems a welcome addition to the series but where the game really impresses in Free Roam mode. This allows you to drive wherever you want in a giant open world environment, filled with secrets and challenges. We didn’t understand at first, the relationship between the finite tracks of Grand Prix and Free Roam, but it seems the tracks are just sections of the open world turned into traditional courses.
It’s clear when you’re playing Grand Prix and Knockout that the courses are filled with shortcuts, alternative routes, and hidden features but Free Roam allows you to uncover these at your leisure, including between races in the other modes – not unlike Forza Horizon 5.
The world is massive, so we only saw a small part of it, but driving around near a Donkey Kong themed space centre we ended up speeding across the ocean, jumping on jellyfish, and taking control of a ferry for a short time, before discovering a warp pipe on the other side of a building, along with a new outfit that gave us a stat boost.
Entering the warp pipe we were transported to the top of the building, ready to make a jump onto a grind rail and up the length of the rocket launch pad. At that point the game began to become reminiscent of Jet Set Radio, of all things, and in the best possible way.
After the near perfection of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe the series needed a Zelda: Breath Of The Wild style reboot and this is very clearly that. It’s the perfect launch game for the series and if bought alongside the console, in a hardware bundle that gives you £33 off the digital price, it seems an absolute bargain.
Mario Kart 8 was the best-selling game on the Switch, and arguably the best entry in the Mario Kart series, and there seems every reason to believe that World will enjoy very similar success on the Switch 2.
Formats: Nintendo Switch 2
Price: £74.99 (physical) or £66.99 (digital)
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: 5th June 2025
Age Rating: 3
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I played the new Nintendo Switch 2 — is it worth the price?
It seems like another winner (DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images) GameCentral has played all of this year’s biggest games for Nintendo Switch 2 and they make the console seem like very good value for money. You’ve probably already watched Wednesday’s mammoth, 60 minute long Nintendo […]
Gaming
GameCentral has played all of this year’s biggest games for Nintendo Switch 2 and they make the console seem like very good value for money.
You’ve probably already watched Wednesday’s mammoth, 60 minute long Nintendo Direct and by now you’ve begun to form your own opinions about the next generation Switch 2 console. There was a lot to think about and we’re not sure we’ve fully digested everything yet, and we’ve actually played the thing.
We watched the Direct at a European press event in Paris and then immediately after got to play the more imminent games in a three hour hands-on. Mario Kart World looks and plays amazingly well, while also being a very different experience to the series norm. Donkey Kong Bananza is a wonderfully over-the-top action game and Metroid Prime 4 seems to be worth the very long wait for its release.
Here are our Nintendo Switch 2 hands-on previews:
Just to recap, the Nintendo Switch 2 will be released on June 5 for £395.99. This is exactly what was guessed at before the reveal and while some were hoping it might be as low as £350 it’s not too surprising to find it’s not, especially considering the OLED Model of the current Switch is already £310.
At time of writing, the only games we know the price for are Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza. Mario Kart World is a shocking £74.99 for a physical copy and £66.99 for a digital edition (which is a lot but still a little less than the likes of EA Sports FC and Call Of Duty), while Bananza is slightly cheaper at £66.99 and £58.99 for physical and digital respectively.
However, there is a hardware bundle with a digital copy of Mario Kart World that costs £429.99, which represents a saving of £33 and means the game essentially costs £34.
Do you have questions about the Nintendo Switch 2?
Our Gaming Editor, David Jenkins has played all of this year’s biggest games — drop us your pressing questions in the comments below.
How much value for money you feel that represents depends entirely on your own financial position, and the importance you attach to owning the latest video games, but we can tell you that what we saw of the console was very impressive.
As you can see, the console does look very similar to the original Switch and feels reassuringly weighty when used in handheld mode, without being too heavy. The screen is excellent, with the HDR effects being particularly good in the Zelda remasters and the colours clear and vibrant across all the games.
We had a go at attaching and removing the Joy-Cons via their new magnetised sockets, which feels satisfyingly solid, with the stand at the back being much more versatile and sturdy than before.
We used the new Pro Controller a lot and that is pretty much exactly the same as the previous one, only with the new ‘C’ button and two additional buttons at the lower back. These didn’t do anything in any of the game we played though, and it was implied that in most cases they were just optional buttons to be reprogrammed as you see fit.
Super Mario Party Jamboree
The only game we used the optional camera for was the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Super Mario Party Jamboree, or more precisely the new Jamboree TV spin-off mode. This is presented as a game show hosted by Bowser, with the camera placing up to four people into the game, as it keeps track of their movements in what is a very clever technical feat.
The actual mini-games were incredibly simply though, with one placing Mario and Luigi hats on your heads, as you play Simons Says, except where the only command is to squat or stand. Another game put a platform on your head, where you had to catch falling Goombas and stack as many as possible, without them falling off.
After that you’re just told to make as much noise as possible and move your body about and the team that manages to debase themselves the most wins. It was all very silly and superficial but the camera technology is impressive, especially as it’s not just displaying static avatars but your live camera image as you move.
We first used the mouse mode of the Joy-Cons in a set of new mini-games for the main mode of Jamboree, including a game of air hockey, a very difficult one where you have to pull back a toy car and aim it at a goal, one where you’re sorting envelopes on a computer desktop, another where you’re stacking Tetris style blocks and cuddly toys, one where you’re spray-painting Bob-ombs, and a version of that fairground game where you’re moving a metal loop along a length of twisty wire – except here it’s hapless Toad’s you’re electrocuting.
The Joy-Cons functionally perfectly well as mice, although we were surprised that Nintendo isn’t trying to sell some sort of tray to sit on your lap and use it. All the set-ups at the even were on tables at normal desk height, which most people are not going to have in front of their TV. Although you’re also encouraged to use the mouse on your thighs and this worked fine too.
Drag X Drive
Wheelchair basketball game Drag X Drive used both mice at the same time, as did some of the Jamboree games, in a set-up that is essentially unique to the Switch 2. From what we played Drag X Drive is very bare bones, with a strangely drab visual design. It did remind us faintly of Amiga classic Speedball 2 but the court design is much more simplistic.
We’re not sure what Nintendo’s going to charge for the game but there’s no doubting the mice controls work very well and are pleasingly novel. They’re essentially tank controls, where you move one wheel with each Joy-Con and raise one to throw the ball (and generally wave your arms about). Whether there’s going to be more to the game we don’t know but at the very least it’s a very effective technical demo.
Metroid Prime 4 is easily the best argument in favour of the mice though, where you can switch between holding the right Joy-Con as normal or quickly change to mouse mode as you feel necessary, to play the game like a first person shooter emulating a mouse and keyboard set-up.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
The remasters of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild and Tears Of The Kingdom were another effective demonstration of the Switch 2’s power, with improved frame rates and resolution, that made areas such as Korok Forest and Kakariko Village – both of which suffered from frame rate problems in the originals – look amazing
If you own the originals you’ll have to pay for the update but initial pricing from Japan suggests it won’t be too exorbitant (we’ll let you know when there’s a confirmed UK price).
The Nintendo reps on hand weren’t able to say exactly what the resolution and frame rates were in the demos we played but in docked mode the Switch 2 can go up to 1440p with a refresh rate of 120Hz and up to 4K at 60Hz, with many of the other demos having a choice between performance and quality mode.
We couldn’t quantify how much faster the loading was either but it seemed at least twice as fast to us, from memory.
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
One of the most technically impressive games we saw was Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, which includes the Phantom Liberty DLC and is comparable to the game running on a PS4 Pro. We only played an unfinished version (all the games were labelled as such), so the frame rate was uneven when things got busy, but the draw distance and lack of pop-up actually seemed better than PS4 Pro – and certainly better optimised.
We chatted to someone from CD Projekt Red, who was one of the few developers in attendance, and he said that the final version was aiming for 30fps at 1080p for quality mode and 40fps for performance mode. The final version will also have motion control and mouse support, as well as use the touchscreen in handheld mode.
It’s a shame Ubisoft’s Star Wars Outlaws wasn’t playable, as that was one of the few current gen-only titles announced for the Switch 2, but it’s going to be very interesting to see how well it works, compared to the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 versions.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Overall, it was a very effective hands-on showcase, with all the initial games proving extremely playable. The only dud was Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a bizarrely mundane mini-game collection that is supposed to explain how the Switch 2 works and gets into surprising detail about the technicalities of things like frame rates.
The mini-games are incredibly simplistic though, with equally basic looking graphics, as you use the mouse to avoid falling spiked balls or try and work out the exact spot at which the HD Rumble is strongest (we were told we were the best at this all day).
It’s hopelessly uninteresting and charmless, like an inverse of Astro’s Playroom, and incredibly it’s not free – although we can’t imagine recommending it even if it was, so it doesn’t really matter that there’s no price yet.
Nintendo Switch 2: is it worth it?
Apart from that one minor hiccup we were very impressed by everything we saw in the Direct and at the hands-on showcase. We’ve seen some complaints that Nintendo didn’t show off many first party titles and while that’s an understandable complaint it’s already known they’re working on new IP Rockstock and things like Splatoon 4 and Animal Crossing (which the camera’s GameChat features seem perfect for) are clearly going to be arriving sooner rather than later.
It was also interesting that despite all their talk of supporting Nintendo consoles, with Call Of Duty and more, the Direct (and the one before that) didn’t feature a single Xbox game. So either Microsoft has been leading people on all this time or they’re holding back a lot. Either way it seems likely that many third party games in the future will be released on Switch 2 as a matter of course, with the likes of Borderlands 4 and IO Interactive’s James Bond game confirmed during the Direct.
It was inevitable that there’d be just as many questions as answers after this week, especially as there’s already another Nintendo Direct dedicated to Mario Kart World scheduled for April 17. There’ll no doubt be other Directs before the June launch, and additional information disseminated in dribs and drabs over the coming days and weeks, but it seems all the most important details are out in the open now.
A new console launch is always exciting, but Nintendo’s unpredictably makes theirs even more so, especially when there seems likely to be so many other games that have yet to announced and we haven’t had a chance to play 2026 titles, like FromSoftware’s The Duskbloods, yet. We can’t wait to learn more but everything we’ve seen and played so far already has us sold on the Switch 2 and its games.
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Every Nintendo Switch 2 game you can start playing at launch
Mario Kart World is the big one (Nintendo) The recent Nintendo Switch 2 showcase has confirmed the console’s entire launch line-up of games, including the new Mario Kart and a surplus of third party ports. One of the big questions surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 […]
Gaming
The recent Nintendo Switch 2 showcase has confirmed the console’s entire launch line-up of games, including the new Mario Kart and a surplus of third party ports.
One of the big questions surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 was what its line-up of launch games will be. Thanks to the recent Nintendo Direct, we now have our answer.
There was some chatter that Nintendo would prioritise its own games for the console’s launch period over third party titles, but that’s not the case. For the Switch 2’s launch, which is scheduled for June 5, only four of the console’s games are from Nintendo (two of which are enhanced versions of Switch games), with the rest from other publishers.
It’s still an impressive line-up, though, consisting of some exciting ports of games that had to skip the original Switch due to hardware limitations. So, we’ve compiled every Switch 2 game that will be available the same day as the console.
Every Nintendo Switch 2 launch game
Mario Kart World
Nintendo’s big first party title for the Switch 2’s launch will, of course, be the new Mario Kart it teased during the console’s January reveal. As the name suggests, Mario Kart World is taking the series open world and is generally set to be even bigger than Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, with a huge roster of playable characters (including a regular cow) and up to 24 players per race.
Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
The only other original first party game at launch, Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour is what it says on the tin: a guide to the many functions and features of the hardware. Featuring a collection of minigames and tech demos, it’s like the Nintendo equivalent of the PlayStation 5’s Astro’s Playroom… except it’s not free and will be sold for 990 yen, which is about £5.
The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
There was talk of an enhanced version of The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild running on Switch 2 back in 2023 and soon it’ll be something you can experience for yourself. If you already own the game on the original Switch, you can upgrade to the Switch 2 version for a fee or subscribe to the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack service to access it.
The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition
Similarly, The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom’s Switch 2 version will be available from day one. It will have all the same visual upgrades and be included with Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscriptions. Both it and Breath Of The Wild will also be compatible with a new Zelda Notes service, which serves as both a guide and a means of sharing items with other players.
Street Fighter 6
Having skipped the original Switch, Capcom is bringing its premiere fighting game to Switch 2 in a big way. This edition will not only include the first two season passes of DLC, but also cross platform play, promising smooth 60fps online matches. There’ll even be three Street Fighter 6 amiibo figures for Luke, Jamie, and Kimberly.
Split Fiction
Nintendo fans had to wait over a year to experience Hazelight’s superb co-op game It Takes Two. The wait for its even better follow-up, Split Fiction, thankfully won’t be as long, with its Switch 2 port slated to arrive alongside the console. With the console’s GameShare feature, two people can enjoy it locally with just one copy of the game and while you’ll still need to buy EA’s Friend’s Pass for online play, cross platform support means you and a friend can play together on different platforms.
Hogwarts Legacy
When Hogwarts Legacy was ported to the Switch, it was unsurprisingly a compromised version of the original game, with it forced to run at 30fps and with far less detailed visuals. Those issues won’t be a thing in the Switch 2 port, which looks to be on par with the other versions of the game and also make use of the new mouse controls.
Hitman Word of Assassination – Signature Edition
While IO Interactive’s modern Hitman trilogy is playable on the original Switch, it’s only a cloud version, meaning it requires a constant and reliable internet connection to work. Thankfully, the collection of all three games will run natively on Switch 2. Pre-orders also come with exclusive cosmetics and items themed around Mario and Luigi.
Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut
Sega’s Yakuza series had already debuted on Switch with a port of Yakuza Kiwami (a remake of the very first Yakuza game) and it’s set to make a new home for itself on Switch 2 as well. Prequel game Yakuza 0 is widely considered one of the best entries in the series and this director’s cut aims to make established fans double dip by promising new story content and an online multiplayer mode.
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster
After its disappointing Switch sequel, it’s very exciting to see the original Bravely Default escape the confines of the 3DS after more than a decade. Aside from the fancy HD graphics, this full remaster naturally includes a redesigned interface (since the original game made use of two separate screens) and retooled online functions. Two new mini-games are also being added as well as a fast forward feature to speed through cut scenes.
Deltarune
The first two chapters in this episodic follow-up to Undertale have been out for years, leaving fans wondering just when the story would continue. To their delight, both chapters three and four are launching alongside the Switch 2. With chapters one and two also seeing Switch 2 ports on the same day, latecomers can experience the entire Deltarune saga thus far.
Civilization 7
Anyone who purchased Civilization 7 for the original Switch must be kicking themselves now that the game’s confirmed for Switch 2. Aside from benefitting from the stronger hardware, this port will make use of the new mouse controls for a more intuitive experience. Developer Firaxis Games has said Switch owners can pay to upgrade to the Switch 2 version, but no price has been shared yet.
Survival Kids
Konami’s streak of reviving its old franchises continues with a new entry in its Survival Kids series (or Lost In Blue as it was called in the West). This Switch 2 exclusive, simply dubbed Survival Kids, is billed as a co-op survival game where up to four players make use of the console’s communication features to explore a series of islands. It will offer both local and online co-op.
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition
Nintendo fans who’ve been forced to miss out on Cyberpunk 2077 all these years will finally get to see what all the fuss is about when the Ultimate Edition launches on Switch 2. It comes with both the base game and Phantom Liberty DLC, but unique features like motion controls for the combat and gyroscope aiming. You’ll also be able to use the right Joy-Con as a mouse and playing in handheld mode lets you use touch controls for menu navigation.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess
Capcom’s unique blend of action and real-time strategy, Kunitsu-Gami: Path Of The Goddess, is getting a second life on Switch 2. Although not especially difficult to begin with, the game stands to benefit from the new mouse controls and Capcom is also teasing entirely new content. Details on this Otherworldly Venture content are scarce, but it is confirmed to come as a free update to other platforms too.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
This second crossover between Sega’s Puyo Puyo puzzle series and the iconic Tetris already launched for the original Switch in 2021. Like with Yakuza 0, Sega hopes to make fans double dip by adding an all-new doubles mode that has two teams of two compete against each other. Unfortunately, there’s been no mention of Sega offering an upgrade path for those who own the original version.
Rune Factory: Guardians Of Azuma
The newest entry in the Rune Factory series was originally scheduled to launch for Switch and PC on May 30. However, with it now seeing a dedicated Switch 2 version as well, the game will be delayed an extra week so that all three versions launch simultaneously. There’s been no mention of the Switch 2 version making use of any of the console’s distinct features, but it should at least run slightly better on the newer hardware.
Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening Complete Edition
Aside from making a new Hyrule Warriors for Nintendo, Koei Tecmo is bringing strategy game Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening to Switch 2 (as well as PlayStation 5) for the console’s launch. Aside from including all the DLC and mouse control support, it comes with new six new story scenarios. The original Switch version will also see a free update that adds a new Decisive Battles feature, but you’ll need to pay extra to upgrade to the Switch 2 version.
Fast Fusion
There may have still be no new F-Zero game for Switch 2, but developer Shin’en Multimedia is back with the next best thing: a new entry in its FAST series. It’s been eight years since FAST RMX arrived on Switch and its successor, FAST Fusion, is coming exclusively to Switch 2. FAST RMX managed 60fps on the original Switch, but FAST Fusion can take full advantage of the Switch 2’s 4K capabilities, which should allow for even more striking visuals.
Arcade Archives 2 Ridge Racer
After making a name for itself in the arcades, Ridge Racer was ported exclusively to the PlayStation 1 console and has remained there ever since. So, it was very surprising to learn that its upcoming re-release is scheduled only for Switch 2. Not only that, but this is the original arcade version, meaning it won’t have the same visual downgrades as the PlayStation 1 version.
Fortnite
Possibly the least surprising announcement from the Switch 2 Direct, it would’ve been stranger if Fortnite didn’t see a release on Nintendo’s new console. We imagine most Fortnite fans on Switch will jump ship to Switch 2 since its stronger hardware will allow for better performance and graphics, and hopefully less technical issues too.
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Here’s how much Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game upgrades will cost you
These games will all see visual improvements on Switch 2 (Nintendo) No official prices have been shared for Nintendo Switch 2 game upgrades here in the West, but Japan’s prices do provide an estimate. It was already suspected beforehand, but yesterday’s Nintendo Switch 2 showcase […]
Gaming
No official prices have been shared for Nintendo Switch 2 game upgrades here in the West, but Japan’s prices do provide an estimate.
It was already suspected beforehand, but yesterday’s Nintendo Switch 2 showcase confirmed that select games for the original Switch will see upgraded re-releases for the new console.
Dubbed Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games, they’ll all see visual improvements, but some will also come with entirely new content. Super Mario Party Jamboree’s Switch 2 version, for example, adds entirely new modes and minigames that make use of the console’s mouse controls and microphone.
Unsurprisingly, these upgrades won’t be free for those who already own the original games, and while Nintendo hasn’t provided local prices yet, fans have figured out an estimate based on how much the upgrades cost in Japan.
How much will Nintendo Switch 2 Edition game upgrades cost?
As spotted on the Japanese Nintendo Switch 2 website, upgrading to a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of a game can cost either 1,000 yen or 2,000 yen depending on the game. That’s tantamount to about $10 to $20.
Here in the UK, that would be roughly £8 to £15, but no one knows for certain until Nintendo provides official pricing. It could very well opt to make the upgrades cost £10 to £20.
As it stands, the Switch 2 versions of The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild and its sequel, Tears Of The Kingdom, are the cheapest ones to upgrade at 1,000 yen/$10 each.
This is because all they have are improved frame rates and faster load times as well as exclusive support for a new Zelda Notes service on the Nintendo Switch App that can be used to help you find certain collectibles and share items with other players.
If you own either of the Zelda games and have a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, you will be able to play their respective Switch 2 version for free. However, these are currently the only two games included with the service.
Super Mario Party Jamboree and Kirby And The Forgotten Land, meanwhile, will cost 2,000 yen/$20 each to upgrade since they come with new content. Super Mario Party Jamboree gets the aforementioned new modes and minigames, while the Kirby game is adding a new story mode titled Star-Crossed World.
The only other two games set to receive Switch 2 Editions – Metroid Prime 4: Beyond and Pokémon Legends Z-A – currently do not have upgrade prices.
It’s ultimately not that much different to how Sony handled offering PlayStation 5 upgrades for its PlayStation 4 games, although that attracted controversy at the time since such upgrades were initially free.
Nintendo’s pricing has similarly been met with complaints, particularly with how much new Switch 2 games will cost. Mario Kart World, for instance, is priced at a whopping £74.99 physically and £66.99 digitally.
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Meet the horror icon and Disney fan reinventing Mickey Mouse as a serial killer
Screamboat paints the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse in a grisly new light (Picture: Sklae Lorand) When the copyright expired on January 1, 2024, to the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse, one of the most iconic characters in the world – and one […]
Film
When the copyright expired on January 1, 2024, to the Steamboat Willie version of Mickey Mouse, one of the most iconic characters in the world – and one on which the Walt Disney Company had built its studio, brand and fortune – no time was wasted.
The very next day, comedy-horror Screamboat was announced by writer-director Steven LaMorte, a parody (or you could say, mickey take) of that classic 1928 animated feature which introduced the world to Mickey.
In Screamboat though, there’s a lot more blood, guts and cannibalism than found in the original, with the action moved to a late-night ride on the Staten Island ferry from New York, where unsuspecting commuters are targeted by a menacing mouse on a murderous rampage.
It’s not the first horror reinterpretation of Disney, following 2023 British indie flick Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey after A.A. Milne’s original 1926 book entered the pubic domain in the US, among others.
But this time, it’s Mickey Mouse, founder Walt Disney’s own creation – or this first version of him, at least (although The Mouse Trap still manged to be first over the line here).
The key ingredient to this new 18-rated slasher would of course be the actor chosen to play Willie – and horror legend David Howard Thornton, who’d already built himself a reputation in the genre by playing Art the Clown in the Terrifier franchise – was ‘pretty much in it from the start’.
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Thornton, 45, relished the ‘wonderful’ freedom of the film as a parody – and free of any copyright – because ‘you can get away with so much’.
He’s also a huge fan of the animation house, identifying as ‘a Disney brat since basically day one’. Taking on his own version of Mickey as this steamboat’s ‘Willie’ seemed almost destined to be.
‘My first stuffed animal was Winnie the Pooh. My first film I ever saw in the theatre was The Fox and the Hound. My first voice I ever did was Goofy in first grade, and the first starting role I ever had was playing Mickey Mouse in A Mickey’s Christmas Carol in middle school – and that’s what started my love of being on stage and making people laugh,’ he tells Metro.
An avid movie-watcher and visitor to the theme parks in Orlando, Florida when growing up as well, he only has the fondest of feelings towards Disney.
‘I’ve had a lifelong love of Disney, so I was excited to do something with Disney but in a unique way. And who knows, they might hate me now, but I hope that’s not the case. I would love to actually work with the company in a professional sense.’
He confirms that there’s been no word from the Disney camp yet, so his parkgoer status remains unblemished, adding: ‘I hope that they embrace [it] and I hope they understand that what we did was actually a love letter to the company.’
It’s true that Screamboat is stuffed full of references to Disney – from the obvious, like the Disney princess-adjacent costumes a group of entitled party girls wear, to the more niche, like a nod to the Main Street Electrical Parade from the parks.
In terms of what Screamboat’s Willie looks like… it’s pretty horrifying. This Willie has matted grey fur, pointed rodent teeth and claws on the end of his be-gloved fingers. But there’s no denying who he’s meant to be, especially with the big circular ears.
‘I saw very different designs of the character, especially the face,’ Thornton reveals. ‘They were trying to go between the line of the actual cartoon version and the more realistic version of what a mutant rodent would look like, and I think they found a nice blend of the two.’
‘You’ve got to have the big ears, it’s one of the most iconic silhouettes in history,’ he points out.
But there’s also a more realistic quality to this Willie’s design (if you can say that of a knee-high, blood-thirsty cannibal mutant rodent prone to cutting off body parts), Thornton argues, in his build, even if his clothes remain the cartoonish and recognisable hat, shoes and shorts of Steamboat Willie.
‘We didn’t want him to just look like Sci-Fi Channel, horror movie camp, but we wanted it to actually have some realistic qualities to it,’ he reasons.
The actor definitely felt the pressure to serve Disney fans with enough of what they’d expect from a Mickey-esque figure, as well as to ‘stay as true to the character in his own way’, as Thornton had created his Willie to be.
For him, that meant the ‘animalistic’ sounds that ‘organically’ started coming out of him on set, which even surprised Thornton, as someone used to playing silent characters – but director LaMorte was keen to keep them in too. But there’s also plenty of (creepy) whistling, something indelibly linked with Steamboat Willie while he’s seen steering the boat at the start of the famous Disney short.
In terms of movement like Willie/Mickey, Thornton was also keen to reflect the musicality of the original character.
‘In the old shorts there was a boppiness because everything was music based, and so you usually have the characters walking around to the beat of the music that’s playing. That’s something I wanted to focus on too, is his jauntiness,’ he explains.
Thornton admits that this was sometimes inhibited by his ‘cumbersome’ costume though, one which would see him go through four to five cooling vests a day underneath.
‘Every time they took them off, there would just be water [everywhere]. They would open my costume and you would just see steam escaping from me – in July, which shows how hot it was inside that costume!’
But he was happy to deal with the issue and find a way to work around it, the same as with Willie/Mickey’s famous white gloves.
‘Because those were big, cartoonish, four-fingered gloves, that kind of changed what I could grip – but we worked on things so they were big enough for me to actually handle.’
The film relies a lot on forced perspective and separate shots to film Thornton – a human man supposed to be mouse-sized(ish) – alongside his human co-stars, which helped with this.
‘A pin that is our size would be much bigger to Willie, and so they could actually make the props bigger, so I was able to grab them and manipulate them the right ways.’
However, he also identifies this as the biggest challenge of filming, not being on set with his fellow actors and having to ‘just pretend that there’s a giant person in front of me that I’m trying to stab or something like that’.
There’s a lot in Screamboat that will shock and delight fans (Disney and horror alike), but one of Thornton’s personal favourite parts is the ending – which suggests a sequel could be in store too.
‘I just love the big climax with where you find out what’s really going on with him, why he’s doing what he’s doing. It adds an extra layer to the character. This character is not totally evil, he’s got a heart behind him. He’s just had a bad life, you know? And he needs a little therapy!’ Thornton laughs.
Although that therapy could interfere with a second film…
Screamboat is in Vue cinemas in the UK from today. It’s also in cinemas in the US now.
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James Bond legend ‘agrees’ with Dame Helen Mirren calling out 007 sexism
Pierce Brosnan has shared his thoughts on Dame Helen Mirren’s James Bond comments (Picture: WireImage) Pierce Brosnan has publicly agreed with Dame Helen Mirren’s recent James Bond comments, after she said the franchise is ‘drenched’ in sexism. The Oscar-winning actress, 79, made headlines when she […]
Film
Pierce Brosnan has publicly agreed with Dame Helen Mirren’s recent James Bond comments, after she said the franchise is ‘drenched’ in sexism.
The Oscar-winning actress, 79, made headlines when she shared her thoughts on the 007 world that author Ian Fleming had created, insisting that she was against a woman taking over the role after Daniel Craig’s departure in 2021.
Instead, she called for real stories about ‘brave’ women in espionage, as they have ‘always been a major and incredibly important’ part of the Secret Service.
The remarks came as her new MobLand series with Pierce – arguably one of the best Bonds in history – premiered on Paramount+.
‘She let them have it,’ he told People Magazine of his co-star’s statements. ‘Yes, there’s a certain agreement there.
‘But there’s a certain world and room to move within the proscenium arch of what Ian Fleming put down. So there’s always going to be conflict.’
Pierce, who starred in four Bond movies over the years, added that he hadn’t spoken to Dame Helen about her stance ‘at all’.
Last week, Dame Helen spoke to the Evening Standard about their project, when talk turned to 007 – and the Gosford Park icon explained why she was against a female Bond, which some have suggested could be a way to rectify the spy’s womanising history.
Instead, she suggested we should be telling real stories about women in espionage.
‘The whole concept of James Bond is drenched and born out of profound sexism,’ she told the outlet.
‘Women have always been a major and incredibly important part of the Secret Service, they always have been. And very brave. If you hear about what women did in the French Resistance, they’re amazingly, unbelievably courageous,’ she said.
‘So I would tell real stories about extraordinary women who’ve worked in that world.’
Dame Helen also looked back at the sexism she was subject to as a young actress, with one particular moment standing out to her fans.
In a conversation with Sir Michael Parkinson from 1975, he asked whether her ‘equipment’ got in the way of her career – meaning her breasts – and the actress, in her first ever TV interview appearance, famously retorted: ‘Because serious actresses can’t have big bosoms, is that what you mean?’
She is often praised for the response, but Dame Helen recalled to the publication: ‘Well, half a century ago, the only person who got criticised for that interview was me.’
MobLand, by Top Boy creator Ronan Bennett, follows Helen as a crime ring matriarch, Maeve Harrigan, who is married to Brosnan’s character Conrad Harrigan. It also stars Tom Hardy as her ‘fixer’ and Paddy Considine as her son.
It is currently available to stream on Paramount+, with new episodes dropping on Sundays.
Meanwhile, the search is still on for the next 007 after Daniel completed his last assignment in 2021, following the release of No Time to Die.
Pierce, who claimed the Bond title in four films between 1995 and 2002, also ruled out a return in the next movie as an older model, saying it’s ‘another man’s job’ now.
Discussing rumours of his comeback on The Jonathan Ross Show, the Mrs Doubtfire legend said: ‘No one’s spoken to me about it. I’ve heard all of the rumours. Listen, they know where to find me. Let’s see where the wind takes us.
‘It’s going to be another man’s job. I’m not looking to go there. I’m quite happy with my career. I’ve done it, it was wonderful. Delightful kind of notion to contemplate.
‘He’s with me for life [Bond]. It was great. A magical time in my life. It opened a lot of doors and allowed me to go off and form my own company and make my own movies – The Thomas Crown Affair, The Matador – it gave me access to a whole other world as an actor, employment.’
The current bookies’ favourite to become the next James Bond is Slow Horses actor Jack Lowden, 34.
This article was first published on March 28.
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Rosamund Pike reveals chest hair incident left her ‘mortified’ during sex scene with Pierce Brosnan
The intimate scene featured an ornate swan-shaped bed (Picture: Moviestore/REX/Shutterstock) Rosamund Pike has revealed that she accidentally ended up waxing Pierce Brosnan’s chest during an intimate scene in Die Another Day. The 46-year-old actress was just 22 when she was cast opposite the 48-year-old James […]
Film Rosamund Pike has revealed that she accidentally ended up waxing Pierce Brosnan’s chest during an intimate scene in Die Another Day.
The 46-year-old actress was just 22 when she was cast opposite the 48-year-old James Bond actor as Bond Girl Miranda Frost.
The star was in her first big-screen debut and filmed her first onscreen sex scene when she seduced 007 and the pair got down and dirty in a swan-shaped bed.
While the scene may have looked incredible, Rosamund revealed on David Tennant’s podcast that the scene was far less erotic in real life and saw her accidentally rip the actor’s hair off his chest.
She explained to David, her former co-star in 2014’s What We Did on Our Holiday: ‘The time when we were doing the love scene, and I discovered things like nipple covers, and all the taping that you have, and we were in the ice palace.’
She described the ornate bed covered in furs, and that she dropped her dress, and the love scene ensued.
‘We had this glinch and then we separate and I look at this body tape and nipple covers, and they are covered in hair and I think “Oh my god I’m waxing Pierce’s chest!”
“I was so mortified. I thought, ‘Oh my God, he’s so brave, and I’m pulling off his chest hair with every embrace.’
Rosamund then realised after ‘a couple of takes’ that ‘it was not him’ but ‘the fake fur of the rugs’ on the bed.
‘I literally thought I was waxing the poor man’s chest!’
While on the podcast, she emphasised that despite the huge age gap between herself and Pierce, he was a complete gentleman and wonderful to work with.
Previously the star revealed that she was asked to strip to her underwear during her Bond audition.
Speaking on Amazon’s Audible Sessions in 2018, the star said: ‘My first audition was for a Bond film and I remember them saying I was to drop my dress and appear in my underwear.
”On the day, I don’t know how I got the resolve and strength of mind, but I just thought “actually sod that, if they’re gonna see me in my underwear, they better give me the job.”
‘So, I thought, “There’s no way I’m going to take off a dress in the audition for this tape to be sent around Los Angeles and to be judged on that.”
In an interview with W Magazine, she confessed that she had ‘never actually seen a James Bond movie’ before appearing in the film.
She also revealed that she turned up to one audition in a borrowed ball gown from her opera singer mother and was confronted to see a lot of the fellow actresses wearing leather.
She said it was confronting to view herself as an ‘object’ for the first time and found it a ‘horrible and fascinating’ time of her life.
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Elijah Wood says Lord of the Rings cast’s low salaries were ‘understandable’
Elijah Wood has commented on the shockingly low paydays he and the rest of the Lord of the Rings cast earned (Picture: Maya Dehlin Spach/FilmMagic) You may think Elijah Wood is set for life thanks to his iconic turn as Frodo in The Lord of […]
Film You may think Elijah Wood is set for life thanks to his iconic turn as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings , but he recently set the record straight that the movies weren’t actually that lucrative.
The actor, who is now 44, was a relative unknown when he was cast in the Fellowship of the Ring in 2001, so he didn’t end up with the kind of contract that would leave him set for life.
Wood opened up about the topic on the red carpet for the 2025 Texas Film Awards hosted by the Austin Film Society.
‘Because we weren’t making one movie and then renegotiating a contract for the next, it wasn’t the sort of lucrative scenario that you could sort of rest easy for the rest of your life,’ he told Business Insider.
The star, who was recently in the hit show Yellow Jackets, said that New Line Cinema ageeing to do three high-budget films before knowing how even the first one would perform at the box office was ‘a real gamble.’
In order to mitigate that risk, the actors were paid ‘not massive salaries.’
However, he was quick to clarify that he thought it was understandable on the part of the studio.
‘The benefit of that was that we were also signing up for something that was going to be a part of our lives forever,’ he continued.
The trilogy went on to rake in nearly $3billion (£2.3b) at the box office and make nearly the entirety of its cast into household names.
Wood himself has gone on to have an impressive career, helming projects with his production company SpectreVision as well as starring in a myriad of projects over the years, including Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Monkey.
Cate Blanchett, who played Galadriel in the films, has previously joked that she essentially got paid in ‘free sandwiches’ to be in the films.
A comment Wood said was’hilarious,’ and then clarified: ‘Statements like that are not made with any kind of ire. It’s such an honor to have been a part of those films and they represent some of the best experiences of my life.’
When asked about the specifics of his salary for the films, he said: ‘It doesn’t matter.’
However, several other Lord of the Rings stars have disclosed their salaries over the years, with Orlando Bloom, who played Legolas, saying in 2019 that he got $175,000 (£134,970) for the three movies, but called it the ‘greatest gift’ of his life.
Sean Astin, who played Samwise Gamgee, said he got about $250,000 (£192,815) for the films.
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Fans predict Brad Pitt will ‘break Netflix records’ after reprising Oscar-winning role
Brad Pitt will be reprising his role as Cliff Booth in a sequel to Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Picture: Sony Pictures) Movie fans have gone into meltdown over the news that Brad Pitt will be reprising one of his biggest roles for a […]
Film Movie fans have gone into meltdown over the news that Brad Pitt will be reprising one of his biggest roles for a new sequel.
The 61-year-old took home his first acting Oscar for his role as stuntman Cliff Booth in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time in Hollywood – and is said to be returning as the character in an upcoming sequel.
According to multiple US outlets, the acclaimed director is writing a follow-up to the 2019 hit, with David Fincher serving as director.
In a surprise move, the unnamed project will be coming to Netflix, meaning it may not get a cinematic release like the first film, which also starred Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, Luke Perry, Damian Lewis, Mikey Madison and just about every other big name in Hollywood.
Variety reports that it is unlikely that Leo and Margot will return as Rick Dalton and Sharon Tate.
Fans couldn’t get enough of the news and flocked to social media in their droves, sharing their excitement at getting Cliff back on screens – however, some were heartbroken at the possible lack of a theatrical event.
Reddit user West_Conclusion_1239 wrote: ‘I’m so in for this. But at the same time a sequel to Once Upon A Time In Hollywood on Netflix feels a crime against cinema.’
‘We are so back and it is not even funny. OUATIH stans RISE!,’ DinoKYT cheered.
Dracko705 commented: ‘Holy s**t absolutely fantastic news, anything more from that Tarantino universe is a blessing (even if it’s not directed from him, he’s always been a great writer).
‘And with such an established director like Fincher I can’t imagine it’ll be bad (I loved The Killer & ofc the Mindhunter stuff made through Netflix)
‘I hope there’s a way their 2 styles can mix well. Although the “Tarantino flare” wasn’t nearly as pronounced in Once Upon a Time (aside from the egregious feet shots), it was still a lot more lighthearted/campy than I’d expect Fincher to adopt fully in his version.
‘Either way, absolutely cannot wait – and I hope it somehow has a theater release as well as it wouldn’t be right to just be a streamer [sic].’
‘Looking forward to this. I like Fincher better as a director personally anyway. This will break every record on Netflix,’ WilliamEmmerson predicted.
As TerrryBouchon added: ‘My favorite Tarantino character in my favorite Tarantino movie is getting a spin-off directed by David Fincher? Holy moly.’
Once Upon A Time In Hollywood follows actor Rick Dalton (Leo) and his stunt double Cliff (Brad) as they navigate the changing culture of Hollywood in the 60s, struggling to claim their place in the industry.
This isn’t the first time that Quentin has written a script that he didn’t end up behind the camera on, as he penned True Romance and From Dusk Till Dawn.
But the news may come as a surprise as all eyes have been on the director to release his 10th movie, which he previously suggested could be his final one.
It was claimed that he had scrapped plans for The Movie Critic after a script had been written, with Brad taking on the lead role
In January, he dropped in for a surprise appearance at Sundance Film Festival, where he explained that he is in no hurry to get started on his last project as his focus was on writing a play – and spending time with his children.
‘That’s a big f**king deal, pulling [a play] off, and I don’t know if I can. That’s a challenge, a genuine challenge,’ he declared, via Variety, before calling out the way movies are made and released in present day.
‘But making movies? Well, what the f**k is a movie now? What – something that plays in theaters for a token release for four f**king weeks?
‘And by the second week you can watch it on television.’
‘I didn’t get into all this for diminishing returns. I mean, it was bad enough in ‘97. It was bad enough in 2019, and that was the last f**king year of movies,’ he added, referencing the release year of Once Upon A Time, his last cinematic release.
‘That was a s**t deal, as far as I was concerned, the fact that it’s gotten drastically worse? It’s a show pony exercise.
‘Now the theatrical release and then in two weeks, you can watch it on this [streamer] and that one. Okay. Theater? You can’t do that. It’s the final frontier.’
‘They pay a lot of f**king money to get into that seat,’ Quentin added on theater-goers, via Deadline. ‘There’s no f**king taping it, there’s no cell phone, you own the audience for that time.
‘They are all yours, they are in the palm of your hand. It’s not just about doing art, it’s about wowing them, it’s about giving them a great night out. This to me is f**king existing. It’s the last frontier.’
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