Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle News
February2018
Video See How The Magic Mario + Rabbids Battle Music Was Made
Rabbid love of music
There are a lot of things to love about Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. Its endearing mashup of classic Mario mechanics and turn-based strategy, the emotional director who brought the game to life and, of course, its brilliant score. So, here's a video showing you how that orchestral magic was brought to life. Written by Grant...
News Splatoon 2 Makes A Splash In The Top Three In This Week's Japanese Charts
But Bayonetta 2 charts outside the top 10
The Japanese chart data is in, and it's a mixed bag of highs and lows for Nintendo this week. Splatoon 2, having hit the two million sales mark last week, crept into the top three behind PS4 remake Secret Of Mana and the ever powerful Monster Hunter World. However, the Switch port of Bayonetta 2 and...
News Ubisoft Is the Leading Third-Party Publisher on Nintendo Switch
Wonder why that is?
Though support hasn’t always been top notch, Ubisoft has been pretty good about bringing its games to Nintendo audiences in the past, and that trend has been continuing with the Switch. The launch of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was an incredible win for the company, mixing the famous plumber and his friends with a new...
News This Week's Japan Charts Show Nintendo With Eight Games In The Top 10
Unfortunately, it missed out on the top two
The latest Media Create figures are in for this week's Japanese charts and they show Nintendo holding onto a whopping 80% of the top 10. The only caveat is the two places Nintendo hasn't claimed are slots number one and number two, which went to Monster Hunter World and Dragon Ball FighterZ respectively...
News Nintendo Software Dominates The Week's Japanese Charts
Even if Ninty lost the top spot to Monster Hunter World
Hats off to Capcom and the PS4/Xbox One release of Monster Hunter World. The returning co-op-centric franchise has stormed the Japanese charts according to the latest Media Create figures, taking the number one slot from Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle (which held the position for just one week...
January2018
News Almost Half Of The Games In Japan's Charts Are On Switch, Mario + Rabbids Takes Top Spot
Nintendo continues to hold its own in January
The Media Creates figures for week three of January 2018 are in, and they show another strong set of performances for Nintendo Switch in the East. Nine games in the top 20 are on Nintendo's latest platform with Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle continuing to show cross-market appeal as it grabs the number...
News Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Started Out As A Paper-Based Prototype
And the original pitch to Nintendo was completed in less than a month
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle continues to astound us with its depth and seemingly effortless splicing of Mario, some imbalanced French rabbits and turn-based strategy, but did you know the the very first prototype was paper-based and involved dice, rulers and action figures? In...
News DK Will Star in New DLC Coming to Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Bananas!
Some new downloadable content for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is on the way, starring the wonderfully bananas Donkey Kong. Telling a new story in a new world, this DLC will be available in a brand new pack for the game this spring. You can check out the announcement from the Nintendo Direct Mini that has just been released. Are...
Soapbox Let 2018 Be The Year The Third-Party Exclusive Takes Over On Nintendo Switch
Just without the soulless cash-ins we saw in the Wii era
Soapbox features enable our individual writers to voice their own opinions on hot topics, opinions that may not necessarily be the voice of the site. In this piece, editor Dom explores the gap in Nintendo's software library and how a the need to develop third-party exclusives will only make...
News New Story DLC Is Coming To Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle This June
Well, in Japan, at least
While Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle proved an unexpected fusion hit here in the West in 2017, the mashup of iconic plumber and Ubisoft mascots has yet to make its debut in Japan and the rest of Asia. With a release date tentatively set for 2018, one eagle eyed site has noticed the game may be getting some extra DLC in the...
December2017
News Ubisoft Makes Smart Changes in the Latest Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Update
Tips and better preparation before battle
We're big fans of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Ubisoft's impressive strategy title that blends intelligent design with a whole lot of whimsy and humour. Pleasingly the development team continues to make adjustments alongside expansion pass content and free goodies, with a fresh update making some welcome...
News Mario + Rabbids Director Reveals He Once Pitched A Wind Waker GBA Port To Ubisoft
There's even a screenshot to boot!
Ubisoft Milan creative director Davide Soliani has already earned a place in Nintendo Life's heart - mainly due to Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle being so good and because he's not afraid to cry in front of the entire world - but he's now booked himself a VIP seat in our affections following a recent Game Boy...
News Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Now Has Video Capture Support
Capture your best tactics
The latest update for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle introduces video capture, despite not making a big song and dance about it. The free patch - which also brings with it the new Vs. Mode - means you can now record 30 second videos to share on social media accounts. If you've performed an impressive pincer...
News Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Gets a Free 'Versus' Mode Update Tomorrow
Wahoo!
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is an excellent game that is slowly getting extra content through a season pass. As a festive treat, however, Ubisoft is rolling out a free update (on 8th December) that'll add a Versus Mode. Played locally, each player will choose three characters and pick between pre-set loadouts, ensuring things stay...
November2017
News Ubisoft Launches Cyber Monday Discounts on the Switch eShop
Live until 4th December, with a couple of Wii U games thrown in
For those of you hunting bargains this Cyber Monday, Ubisoft has thrown its hat into the ring with some discounts in the North American Switch eShop, with a couple of Just Dance discounts also arriving on Wii U. We don't think there are any knockout deals here, but they could be...
Deals Grab A Cyber Monday Bargain With This Nintendo Switch Bundle From Amazon UK
Only £299 for Switch Neon with Super Mario Odyssey & Mario Rabbids
Update: The deal is now 100% claimed. Thanks for playing. The only deal that remains is Nintendo Switch with Mario + Rabbids for £279.99 Are you exhausted from all the excitement of the Black Friday sales dear reader? Well the fun isn't over yet, today is Cyber Monday and the...
Nintendo Download 23rd November (Europe)
Cyber Deals! Worms! Portal Knights! Poi! Much more!
With the Black Friday weekend upon us this week's European Nintendo Download brings us a lot of Cyber Deals discounts. On top of that we have a typically large and varied batch of new games on the Switch, while the 3DS has a few major new arrivals of its own. Let's get to it, shall we? Switch...
Nintendo Download 23rd November (North America)
Resident Evil! Apollo Justice! Worms! Portal Knight! Much, much more!
It's another big week in the Nintendo Download Update for North America, which could be described as the Thanksgiving line-up for US gamers. The Switch has a lot of new titles, including some high profile releases alongside some less expensive yet diverse options. The 3DS and...
News Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Drives Positive Switch Sales for Ubisoft
Bodes well for future support
In the nadir of the Wii U's mid-life, when third-party support rapidly dried up, it was easy to complain about major companies that had walked away. Yet in some cases it was an inevitable business decision - for example by Spring 2014 Ubisoft was reporting that the Wii U was accounting for just 3% of its game sales. The...
October2017
DLC Review Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle - Ultra Challenge Pack
No kidding
We were big fans of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle when it arrived on the Switch; it took established ideas from the turn-based tactics genre, did away with some annoying norms (such as the dreaded 'accuracy' of shots in XCOM, for example) and added its own twists. Quirky, colourful and surprisingly deep, it even managed to make this...
News Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle DLC Gets Shown Off In Shiny New Trailer
And is available right now!
Yesterday we revealed that the first main addition to Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle - the Ultra Challenge Pack DLC - had gone live, allowing season pass buyers to get their hands on some lovely new content. Today, Ubisoft has released a trailer for the package, giving us a quick look at these new features. The...
News The Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Ultra Challenge Pack DLC is Now Live
Time to buy the season pass?
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a bit of a gem, but beyond its core campaign it's also had a low profile 'Season Pass'. Though it's been available to buy from the front screen of the game since launch, it's had very little publicity. Up to now the only content available has been in the form of 'pixel' and steampunk...
September2017
News X-Com Creator Was Asked To Get Involved With Development Of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
"We had conversations about project ideas"
Despite some early concerns about Ubisoft's turn-based tactical combat game Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, it turned out to be a great experience and worthy of picking up. Naturally, comparisons were drawn by many to the popular alien invasion strategy series X-Com, which began in the...
News Monster Hunter Stories Makes Modest UK Chart Debut as Destiny 2 Dominates
The Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+ makes the top 40
Last week brought a few retail releases to Nintendo hardware, but none were blockbuster arrivals in the UK scene - the latest chart results demonstrate that point. As expected Destiny 2 took top spot (PS4 and Xbox One) and was the biggest launch of the year. Considering the impact of heavy bundling...
Video Digital Foundry Explores the 'Tech Showcase' of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Highlights the strengths of the Snowdrop engine
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle has now settled into a number of Switch game collections, offering up another distinctive and high quality experience. We also get to see Mario as a gun-toting leader of a ragtag militia, sort of... In any case, those interested in how the game showcases the Switch...
News Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Misses Out on Top Spot in UK Charts
Another positive Switch launch, though
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is the latest major retail release on the Switch, and it's off to a solid start in the UK. The results for last week (physical retail sales) show the Ubisoft title making its debut in second place, behind PS4 release Uncharted: The Lost Legacy. Though it's a little...
August2017
Nintendo Download 31st August (Europe)
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle! League of Evil! Zed Blade! Much more!
It's that time again, dear readers, for the Nintendo Download Update in Europe. This week has brought us two retail titles and a few interesting download-only games on Switch, while a promising 3DS eShop game and various DLC packs across platforms are also up for grabs - along...
Guide Getting Started in Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Battle for beginners
The crossover between the house Mario built and Ubisoft’s demented Rabbids is finally upon us, and Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a game unlike any other on the Switch to date. Before it was even so much as officially announced gamers were panning the title, saying it just didn’t make sense. Much to our delight,...
News Here’s What the Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Day One Update Does
A nice change
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle will perhaps go down as one of the biggest turnarounds in gaming history, and the game is now available on store shelves. After an initial reveal due to some massive leaks, fan and media reaction was tepid to say the least, but since then, the game has become very well received. And now, a launch day...
Random Ubisoft Shares a Quirky Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Unboxing Video
Rabbid Peach makes a cameo too
With Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle released today, Ubisoft has uploaded a variety of promotional videos to its YouTube channel showcasing the company's collaboration with Nintendo. The standout video, arguably, is an unboxing video by Rabbid Mario himself - parodying that of many famous YouTubers. The...
News Ubisoft Developer Davide Soliani On "Pushing The Limit" With Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Selfies and dabs in the Mushroom Kingdom
With Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle being released into the wild today, Ubisoft developer Davide Soliani has been speaking with Gamasutra about his experience of working with Nintendo. The now-familiar developer became a popular figure during Ubisoft's E3 conference, filmed crying happy tears after he
Video Opening a Box of Mysteries from Ubisoft
Mystery & Rabbids
It's common knowledge that Ubisoft are the ones behind the ever-intriguing Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle on the Switch, so goodness only knows what could be inside a suspiciously blank box from their UK headquarters. Obviously we know, as we had to open it to record the video, but we wanted to keep it as much as a surprise...
News Ubisoft's Live Action Commercials For Mario + Rabbids Are Rather Weird
Not everyone can team up with a rabbit, apparently
Ubisoft has just released three new live-action commercials for the forthcoming Switch title Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, and it's fair to say they're quite unusual. Each one is set in a different high-risk situation: a bank raid, a war-torn, modern-day battleground and a medieval battlefield...
News Super Mario Odyssey Walks Away With Lots Of Gamescom Awards
Metroid and Rabbids grab awards too
It's been a week of fun and frolics from Gamescom 2017, the European equivalent of E3. It wouldn't be an gaming expo without an awards ceremony, and Nintendo pretty much stole the show this year. Super Mario Odyssey walked away with the coveted "Best of Gamescom" award and Gamescom “Most Wanted” Consumer...
Nintendo Download 24th August (North America)
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle! forma.8! Piczle Lines DX! Puzzled!
It's that time again, dear readers, for the North American Nintendo Download update. This week it's all about the Nintendo Switch, with a major retail title and a few promising offerings on the eShop. Let's get right to it. Nintendo Switch Retail Download: Mario + Rabbids Kingdom...
News Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Is Getting a Season Pass
Cue internet outcry
One of the standout games of the upcoming Nintendo Switch lineup is that of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, a game which has no right to be as good as it’s shaping up to be. The tactical RPG is getting lots of positive press and all the footage of it released thus far indicates that the gameplay will be up to the high standard...
Video Get a Good Look at Rabbid Luigi and Mario in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Ubisoft gradually introduces the cast
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is just two weeks away, and Ubisoft is releasing regular videos to showcase the game. Over the past week it's released a couple of 'Character Spotlight' videos, which showcase how different characters bring important strengths to your squad. First up a week ago was the Mario...
Video Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Team Reflects on the Impact of Pre-E3 Leaks
"It was quite hard on team morale"
After playing Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, or indeed watching extended footage online, we suspect many will be rather drawn to its charms. Yet when detailed art leaked before E3 (some information had done the rounds long before the LA event), the project was at the mercy of early opinions and the cruelty of...
Preview Jumping Into the Crazy World of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Including a stint in the co-op mode
While its reveal at E3 was anything but a surprise, the positive response to Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle was arguably unexpected. The idea of a crossover between the two IPs wasn't well received by everyone before it was shown, with this writer among the initial doubters. Yet the impact in LA was significant,...
Feature Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle's Producer on the "WTF" Blend of Iconic Franchises
"From the very start it was a true cross-over project"
With Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle now just weeks away, attention will start to shift to how this cross-over will perform on Nintendo Switch. Early instincts from leaks weren't positive for all, but it made a notable impact at E3 to win over a number of fans. We recently enjoyed some extended...
July2017
Feature Ex-Rare Composer Grant Kirkhope On "Breaking Mario" And Following In Koji Kondo's Footsteps
"We've poured ourselves into this game to try and make it special"
It's fair to say that Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle didn't have the most auspicious of starts. When the game leaked it was met with a fair degree of scepticism, but that all changed when the title was unveiled onstage at E3, complete with an appearance by Shigeru Miyamoto himself...
News Davide Soliani And Grant Kirkhope Recall The Awkwardness Of Their First Miyamoto Meetings
"I was on my knees and I looked up to see Miyamoto staring down at me"
Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle is a rather odd pairing, but the team behind the game are pureblood Nintendo fans, and what we've seen of the game so far gives us much reason to be optimistic. For Ubisoft Milan creative director and a lifelong Nintendo fanboy Davide...
News Splatoon 2 And Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle File Sizes Appear On Nintendo eShop
Both reasonably small
Game details on both Splatoon 2 and Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle have surfaced online. The information (first appearing on the Nintendo UK eShop) surrounding the two titles are as expected, detailing new modes of Splatoon 2 and the X-COM like gameplay of Rabbids whilst highlighting all the playable characters. ...
Deals Upcoming Nintendo Switch Games And Accessories For July And August
Splatoon 2, Mario + Rabbids and more
Can you believe it's July already? It's a great time to be a Switch owner; we've recently seen the release of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and ARMS and there's still lots more to look forward to in upcoming months. So what's on the horizon for Nintendo Switch fans, then? We've complied a list of all the good stuff coming...
June2017
News Here's Your First Taste Of Grant Kirkhope's Contribution To Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Former Rare man has outdone himself yet again
Nintendo fans were excited to finally hear the confirmation that Grant Kirkhope (known for his work on Banjo Kazooie, Goldeneye, and Donkey Kong 64) would be producing music for Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle. It'
News Ubisoft Boss Yves Guillemot Responds To Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle Leaks
"I want to reassure you we are not part of that"
Ubisoft's E3 press conference has gone down as one of the best in recent memory, even if the big reveal - Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle - wasn't really that much of a surprise. During the conference, Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot was joined on stage by someone who didn't make him look tiny...
First Impressions A New Style of Tactical Gaming in Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
Ubisoft's Switch exclusive is something to bwag about
Very few were surprised by the reveal of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle when it was showcased during Ubisoft's conference last Sunday. Even if you were only loosely invested in keeping up with gaming news, it was almost a given that you knew about the title many months before its acknowledgement...
Poll What Did You Think of Ubisoft's Nintendo Switch Reveals at E3 2017?
Mario + Rabbids! Starlink: Battle for Atlas! Maybe Beyond Good & Evil 2?
After a couple of brief snippets of Nintendo Switch games from third-parties in early events, the Ubisoft press conference got the system well and truly up and running at E3 2017. The French company unveiled a much-expected exclusive, a surprise new IP and also made a huge...
Gallery Have a Close Look at the Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Figurines
Will set you back £17 or £40 in UK money
Along with today's reveal of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle, Ubisoft unveiled a range of Collectibles through its UK site. They're not amiibo, but are simply extras that you can pick up - the collector's edition of the game includes one of the figures. We found some official pics of these for...
Gallery Feast Your Eyes on this Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Artwork
Weapons, poses and bright colours
Ubisoft's reveal of Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle has certainly made believers of some, as we got a good look at the reimagining of Mushroom Kingdom full of the mischievous mascots. We already shared some tasty screenshots, and now we've dug out Ubisoft's promotional artwork for the game. You can see various...
