Gaming - Page 168

Diablo 4 was the first Blizzard game to join the service on March 28, 2024. Although Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard was completed in late 2023, it's taken a while for the publisher and developer's back catalog to make its way over to Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass.

When it comes to Blizzard, outside of Diablo 4 and free-to-play titles like Overwatch 2 and Heroes of the Storm, there are quite a few games that fans of the studio are waiting for. Recently PC Game Pass for StarCraft Remastered and StarCraft 2, which was very cool to see. In April 2025, another Blizzard classic from the same period will debut in Game Pass.

Diablo III: Reaper of Souls - Ultimate Evil Edition is coming to Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard. As one of the best-selling games of all time, Diablo 3's more fast-paced arcade-style take on the action RPG is still played by millions. The Ultimate Evil Edition includes the base game, the Reaper of Souls expansion, but not the add-on Necromancer class.

Nintendo has finally lifted the lid on all things Nintendo Switch 2, and there were several surprises during the company's hourlong presentation. It was a stacked Nintendo Direct, covering everything from the impressive 120 Hz HDR display to games to the arrival of Nintendo GameCube emulation as part of Nintendo Switch Online.

One thing we were all expecting to learn was that Metroid Prime 4 Beyond would be launching with two versions - one for the current Switch and a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition that will take advantage of the new hardware. Developed by Retro Studios, Metroid Prime 4 is set to run at 4K 60 FPS in 'Quality' mode or 1080p 120 FPS in 'Performance' mode when docked.

It's expected that this will use some form of dynamic resolution or DLSS to maintain a playable frame rate, but we know the game will look significantly better on the Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo released a new Metroid Prime 4 Beyond trailer last week, with gameplay captured on original Switch hardware. We've been able to line up a few of the shots from that and the brief look at the Switch 2 version from the latest Direct to present this comparison.

Nintendo has just wrapped up its official deep dive into the Nintendo Switch 2, and less than 24 hours later, the Trump administration has introduced tariffs that may cause the price of Nintendo's next-generation console to fluctuate.

The Nintendo Switch has been officially priced at $449, which is on the higher end of the scale of previous estimations that pegged the console to be priced anywhere between $350 - $500. However, that price may jump to $600 if Trump's new import tariffs cause manufacturers to increase prices to maintain profit margins.

Here's what has happened. The Trump administration has revealed a new 10% across-the-board tariff for all foreign imports, along with a "reciprocal" tariff aimed at individual countries. China is one of the hardest hit countries, along with Vietnam, the two countries where Switch 2 manufacturing takes place.

GameCube games are coming to the Switch 2 at launch, Nintendo has confirmed.

It's official: GameCube games will soon arrive to the Nintendo Switch Online's classics library. The GameCube classics are exclusive to the Switch 2 and will be part of the Switch Online + Expansion Pack subscription, which currently retails for $49.99 per year. It's unclear whether or not Nintendo will raise the service's price to reflect the new GameCube library, especially since Nintendo has raised the price of Switch 2 games to $80.

Switch 2 will get three GameCube games on launch day: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Soul Calibur II, and F-Zero GX, the last of which supports four-player local or online multiplayer. Games will have higher resolution, smoother gameplay, and the added bonus of save states.

Nintendo's new Switch 2 console shake things up in a big way, adding new features centered around social play and sharing.

The Switch 1 was about bringing games on-the-go and playing with anyone. The Switch 2 builds on that concept and has more of a console-oriented feature set centered around social play, online engagement, and friend interactions. As per Nintendo, the Switch 2 "brings new forms of communication to life," and that's certainly true: The Switch 2 has a camera attachment and two online features that define the system's new focus.

The Switch 2's new GameChat and GameShare features are the backbone of the innovations, and they're tied to a Switch Online subscription. GameChat isn't exactly novel, but it's new for the Switch: Users can make online parties on-system and chat with the Switch 2's built-in mic, or buy a camera and video chat. GameShare lets you do just that: Share a copy of your game with a friend online as you play, and then play together.

Nintendo Switch 2 only supports microSD Express cards to keep up with the new faster loading times.

The rumors were true: The Switch 2 supports microSD Express flash cards. The bad news is that regular microSD cards aren't supported on the Switch 2. To see if your card is supported, look for an EX on the card itself. If there's no EX anywhere, then it's not Express.

The microSD Express protocol is capable of delivering SSD-like speeds of up to 985MB/sec, which is a massive boost over the 104MB/sec that the base microSD cards deliver.

Nintendo has bumped prices of its games to $80, and is prepared to charge as much as $90 for physical Switch 2 cartridges.

Today, Nintendo announced the Switch 2 will arrive on June 5 for $450, which is higher than most analysts had predicted. The system isn't the only thing that may be expensive to consumers who are currently navigating uncertain global economic conditions--the games themselves will be more expensive than the Switch 1 generation.

While not mentioned in press release information, Nintendo has inadvertently confirmed that Switch 2 games will be priced at $80 for digital titles and $90 for physical cartridge-based games. Nintendo's official Mario Kart World website confirms a $79.99 MSRP for the game, and the same game is listed at 89.99 euros on the Nintendo Spain Store (the prices are typically the same between Europe and North America).

Some original Switch games will be enhanced on Switch 2, but gamers will have to pay extra to get them.

Today's Switch 2 reveal highlighted a bold strategy for Nintendo: Charging for next-gen enhancements and upgrades. Select original Switch 1 games will play better on the Switch 2, complete with a bunch of additions and extras, but it won't be free.

Some original Switch games will get a "Switch 2 Edition" that leverages the power of the new Switch 2 console via upgrades (full details here). These will be sold as a separate game SKU in storefronts. Unlike the PS5 and Xbox Series generation, these upgrades won't be free right out of the gate. When the 9th console generation kicked off in 2020, publishers typically gave a grace period between the cross-gen migration and gave away free next-gen versions of their games as a bonus.

The remake of Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion might be imminent, and could even be released as soon as tomorrow, if a new rumor is right.

This speculation was aired by a leaker relatively fresh to the gaming scene, a certain Detective Seeds posting on X, as noticed by Wccftech.

If Detective Seeds is correct, the Oblivion remake might debut as soon as tomorrow, April 3 - or if not, it'll arrive next week, but the expectation is very much that it's about to be unleashed.

Nintendo has confirmed the big first-party title to launch alongside the Nintendo Switch 2 will be Mario Kart World, or Mario Kart 9 for those who are counting.

Nintendo has just wrapped up its Nintendo Switch 2-dedicated Direct and kicked off the hour-long show by jumping straight into the action with the unveiling of Mario Kart World. The presentation with a lengthy reveal of the new Mario Kart game will launch exclusively on the Nintendo Switch 2 when the new console becomes available on June 5.

According to the showcased footage seen above, players will be able to race seamlessly across connected roads and racetracks and participate in a new Knockout Tour mode that will put players on back-to-back courses with no pit stops. Nintendo confirms that Mario Kart World will introduce atmospheric weather conditions, meaning that, depending on the "time of day," the conditions on the road will change. The Grand Prix mode will enable players to drive to each new course, and Mario Kart World will enable up to 24 players in each race, the most of any Mario Kart game.

After years of waiting, countless rumors, and an entire hour-long dedicated Direct to the new console, Nintendo has finally confirmed when the Switch 2 will be released.

Nintendo has just wrapped up its official Switch 2-dedicated Direct, which gave us a detailed look at the new console, showing how it compares to the original Nintendo Switch and what gamers will get if they decide to upgrade. The hour-long Direct covered many aspects of the Switch 2, such as its general features, performance aspects, unique Switch 2 features, and launch titles.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will officially launch on June 5, but unfortunately, Nintendo didn't reveal the price tag for the console, instead, we got a myriad of games confirmed for the new system, such as Mario Kart Worlds and Elden Ring, juicy specifications, such as a 1920 x 1080p resolution display capable of a 120Hz refresh rate and 4K video output when docked, and an explanation to the new mouse feature with the Joy-Cons.

Nintendo has just confirmed that Elden Ring is coming to Nintendo's next-generation handheld console, the Nintendo Switch 2.

The Nintendo Switch 2 edition of Elden Ring is called "Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition" and will launch on the new console, which was just confirmed to have a 1080p display capable of a 120Hz refresh rate and HDR. It's currently unclear if Elden Ring will be able to take full advantage of the 120Hz refresh rate or use the new mouse functionality with the Joy-Cons.

Additionally, the Switch 2 is capable of 4K video output while docked, which would be particularly good for Elden Ring and those gamers who want to take advantage of the newly announced Pro Controller. Elden Ring: Tarnished Edition will be released on the Nintendo Switch 2 sometime in 2025, presumably after June 5, which is when the Switch 2 will be available.

Nintendo has just confirmed the Nintendo Switch 2 will have a 1920 x 1080p display with a 120Hz refresh rate, and HDR support.

Nintendo is currently showcasing the Nintendo Switch 2 in a dedicated Direct, where the company confirmed the Switch 2 will have a display that's nearly double the pixels of the original Nintendo Switch. Additionally, Nintendo has confirmed the Switch 2 will feature a full high definition display (FHD), which measures 1920 x 1080p.

The big surprise is that Nintendo has packed the Switch 2 with a 120Hz display in handheld mode, while also adding extra performance via the dock, which can output at 4K (3840 x 2160p) with upscaling.

Nintendo confirms the functionality of its mysterious new C-button, confirms that can be used for a ton of new social features.

The Switch 2's new C-button will allow a host of new community-driven features, including Game Chat. The C-button brings up a menu where users can start a voice chat party with other players, similar to the old Xbox 360 days of old.

Within the social menu, users can share their screens like on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, and even start webcam chats with a special Switch 2 camera accessory. The latency wasn't so great in the video, so it remains to be seen what kind of quality the webcam can deliver. The device has a built-in mic that automatically picks up your voice, and it might even use NVIDIA's noise-cancelling tech. Game Chat will require a Switch Online membership, but you'll be able to try it for a limited period, Nintendo says.

Ubisoft's long-awaited, controversial, and delayed Assassin's Creed Shadows is finally out in its first week of release and has reached three million players. It's one of the year's best-selling games, sitting behind Capcom's smash hit Monster Hunter Wilds. Even though Ubisoft still finds itself in financial trouble and is, by all accounts, spinning off key franchises like Assassin's Creed to fall under the direction of a new subsidiary - there's a lot more Creed coming.

According to industry insider Tom Henderson, the mysterious Assassin's Creed multiplayer game that Ubisoft confirmed was in development back in 2022 is currently on track for a 2025 release. This makes it the second Assassin's Creed title, after Shadows, to drop this year. Called Assassin's Creed Invictus, the multiplayer take on the franchise will be more like Fall Guys or Smash Bros. than a traditional open-world action adventure.

The Fall Guys comparison is because players will compete in various rounds of varying activities, ranging from 'team deathmatch' style bouts to parkour speedrunning. The camera will be more zoomed out than we've seen before, and maps will take inspiration from classic franchise entries like Assassin's Creed II's Renaissance Italy - according to @xj0nathan over on X.

Nintendo is finally about to give us a close-up look at the Nintendo Switch 2 in a new Switch 2-dedicated Direct that's scheduled to take place in just a matter of hours.

The upcoming direct will be approximately 60 minutes long and throughout the showcase we can expect Nintendo to answer many of the burning questions gamers have about the upcoming console, such as: performance capabilities compared to the original Nintendo Switch, if original Nintendo Switch games will get an updated Nintendo Switch 2 version, the main features of the console, Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive launch games, and the specifications.

While Nintendo isn't likely to provide nitty gritty specifics in terms of number comparisons, once the Direct has concluded, we should have a much better idea of what the Switch 2 can do versus the original Switch, even if it is just generally. The latest rumors for the upcoming console state the Switch 2 will have a 1080p LCD display that's capable of achieving 120Hz. Additionally, these same rumors indicate the Switch 2 will have VRR and HDR support.

Microsoft's first-ever video games union has voted to strike in protest of low wages and other issues.

In 2023, QA workers at Bethesda made history by unionizing into the ZeniMax Workers United (ZWU). Eventually, other Bethesda Game Studios employees also unionized, forming the first "wall-to-wall" video games studio union at Microsoft.

Now the ZWU union has voted to strike. In a recent press release, the Communication Workers of America (CWA) say that 94% of the union has voted in favor of a strike. ZeniMax Workers United cite numerous grievances with Microsoft, including low wages compared to the higher costs of living, work being outsourced to third parties without warning, and the lack of progress on any negotiations are all major reasons for the strike.

The Nintendo Switch 2 dock is expected to support HDMI 2.1, potentially indicating at 4K gaming that exceeds 60FPS.

Nintendo's new Switch 2 system is expected to deliver upscaled 4K gaming when it's docked--similar to the first device, the Switch 2 should get a hefty power boost when docked, enabling higher GPU clocks and power profiles to supercharge gameplay performance.

The "switch" is made possible by a built-in video converter chip that takes the tablet's video signal and translates it to a TV screen. The chip is included in the Switch's dock--when you slot the device in, the signal automatically switches over to the TV. New reports suggest that the converter chip in the Switch 2's dock has been identified, which potentially gives us an idea on what to expect from the Switch 2's internal horsepower.

Nintendo has confirmed that tomorrow's Switch 2 Direct will be an hour long, which should be plenty of time to highlight new hardware, software, and services.

Tomorrow is a big day for Nintendo, and a big day for the games industry. The Switch 2 is poised for a full-on showcase at 9AM EST on the Nintendo YouTube channel. The stream will be an hour long and is expected to cover all of the bases of a new Nintendo product.

"We will provide detailed information about the Nintendo Switch 2. The broadcast will last approximately 60 minute," the Nintendo Japan account said on Twitter.

The latest class in Elden Ring Nightreign has been revealed, and it's the stylish Iron Eye archer.

Elden Ring Nightreign's release is coming up and FromSoftware is showcasing more playable classes in their macabre co-op spin-off. The new Nightfarer is called Iron Eye, and it emphasizes swiftness and agility with quick movements and wall-jump dodges, running-slide multi-shots, and even fiery arrows. The Iron Eye's special attack looks pretty demolishing though and sees the character grow a giant bow out of their arm in true bizarre FromSoft fashion.

Nestled in the press release (included below) is also confirmation that the Iron Eye can do something really nifty: the class can apparently resurrect players from far away.