Tag: Hardware
Guide Nintendo Switch Issues And Hardware Faults - How To Fix Common Switch Problems
Joy-Con drift, random disconnections and other hardware issues
The Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite are a durable pair of consoles designed to endure the rigours of home and portable gaming. For the most part, we've been very happy with reliability of our Switch hardware - our launch systems are still going strong after being slung in backpacks,...
Feature Nintendo Console Codenames And Product Codes
Do you know your DMGs from your DOLs?
If you happen to have any official Nintendo console or peripheral to hand, turn it over and hidden in the legalese and small print on the underside you'll find a code which typically begins with three letters. Flip over your Switch, for example, and you'll find the code HAC-001, with an extra (-01) if you've got...
News Introducing The Smash Stick, A Fight Stick Specially Designed For Super Smash Bros.
Coming to Kickstarter this June
As any keen Super Smash Bros. player will probably tell you, finding your preferred controller setup is half the battle when it comes to mastering the game. Some will tell you that the Pro Controller is the way to go, while others say that the GameCube controller simply can't be beat; others prefer to go for a more...
Guide How To Fix Your Nintendo Switch When It Won't Turn On Or Charge
See if you can get her humming again
Like any electronic device, the Switch isn’t perfect in hardware or software and although issues with either are uncommon, they can happen. If your Switch is unresponsive and won’t turn on, or has an issue with charging, we’ve got a few solutions for you to hopefully save yourself a tremendous amount of...
Guide How To Fix A Drifting Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Analog Stick
Several solutions to fix drift and put Joy back in the Con
Nintendo Switch has been a roaring success since launch and the platform holder deserves credit for delivering a console to suit multiple purposes and lifestyles. As a portable device it needs to be rugged and hard-wearing and, on the whole, Switch is a solid, durable bit of kit. That’s...
News Polymega Beta Units Are Out In The Wild, And Things Are Looking Pretty Impressive
Saturn emulation is looking solid
All-in-one retro system Polymega has taken its sweet time to get to market, but the system is expected to launch in July this year, so the wait is almost over. To ensure maximum compatibility the company behind the console announced a beta program a short time ago, giving those who had already pre-ordered the...
News Super-Rare And Supersized Pre-Nintendo Game & Watch Goes Up For Auction
Bidding has begun
An ultra-rare Game & Watch build, actually dating back to before Nintendo had its branding involved with the hardware, has been put up for auction. While Nintendo and the Game & Watch series of handhelds are practically synonymous these days, the earliest Game & Watch machines were built by North American toy company,...
News PC Engine Mini Production And Shipment Delayed Indefinitely By Coronavirus
Update: Japanese version now available to order
Update [Wed 18th Mar, 2020]: Well, that was unexpected. The adorable Japanese white PC Engine Mini is now available to order from Play Asia. We're not sure how much stock the online retailer has, so you'd better act fast! <products id="10326"> Update [Fri 6th Mar, 2020 12:05 GMT]: Konami has...
News The Coral Nintendo Switch Lite Releases In Europe And Australia On 24th April
A new splash of colour
Update (Wed 11th Mar, 2020 09:15 GMT): It has now also been confirmed that the Coral Switch Lite will be launching in Europe on the very same day as the Australian release, on 24th April. You can pre-order from the Official Nintendo UK Store. Original Article (Wed 11th Mar, 2020 06:00 GMT): Last month, Nintendo announced a
News This Portable Nintendo 64 Is The Stuff Of Dreams
Use your real cartridges and memory cards
Ever wondered what it'd be like to take your Nintendo 64 games on the go? Well, with this new custom console, you can do exactly that. YouTube user smackedsam has shared a video showing off his latest design, a portable N64 console that can play all of your original cartridges. The body was 3D printed and...
Guide Best Nintendo Switch Controllers
Play in comfort and style
The Nintendo Switch is an incredibly versatile console, with many different controller options to suit your mood. When playing in handheld mode, nothing beats the convenience of the Joy-Con, of course, but when docked or in Tabletop mode there are a plethora of controller choices on the market these days for your...
News Analogue Is Retiring Its Amazing Nt Mini After One Final Production Run
Once it's gone, it's gone
Analogue has announced that it is retiring its Nt Mini system after one final production run. The Nt mini v2 features "a new and perfected NES cartridge slot, updated UI, branding, packaging, and includes a new 8BitDo 2.4g controller for NES in the box," but is, according to its maker, "the same Nt mini you know and love."...
News Pre-Orders For The New Coral Nintendo Switch Lite Appear On Amazon (North America)
Grab yours today!
Earlier in the week, Nintendo revealed the latest addition to the Nintendo Switch family of systems. The gorgeous looking Coral Switch Lite will be launching in North America on 3rd April. If you're hoping to get your hands on one, you're in luck, as pre-orders for the new console have now gone live on Amazon. It has been listed...
News A Gorgeous Coral Switch Lite Is Releasing On Animal Crossing: New Horizons Day
Update: Confirmed for NA and Japan
Update: The new Coral Switch Lite has now also been confirmed for release in North America! It'll arrive slightly later than in Japan, on 3rd April. Original Article: Nintendo has revealed that a lovely Coral Nintendo Switch Lite system is headed our way in just over a month's time. The new colour will join...
Video Nintendo Minute Unboxes The Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch
Ever wondered what it smells like?
Animal Crossing: New Horizons arrives on the Switch next month and to promote this upcoming release, Nintendo is going all out with plenty of merchandise and even a themed Nintendo Switch. As you might have already heard, the UK
News Animal Crossing: New Horizons Joy-Con And Switch Dock To Be Sold Separately In Japan
Fingers crossed for a western release
We've woken up to news of a rather lovely Limited Edition Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch that will be released to coincide with the launch of the game in March, and now we can't help but eye our boring standard Switch with contempt. The Animal Crossing bundle sure looks lovely, and we're doing out best to...
News Nintendo Has "No Plans" To Release A New Switch Model This Year
The focus is on the existing line
Despite ongoing rumours about a pro model Switch arriving at some point this year, Nintendo hasn't said anything about it. If it does exist, though, don't expect it to be released anytime soon. During the company's latest financial results briefing today, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said there were "no...
News Start Your Island Life With This Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nintendo Switch
Update: Pre-orders now live!
Update: In the UK, GAME and the Nintendo UK online store are the first to open pre-orders, while in North America, Best Buy also has pre-orders open for this gorgeous bundle. You can secure yours by using the links below. We'll add more store links as and when they appear online, so keep checking back. <products...
News Rumoured Switch Pro Might Not Actually Use Nvidia's Tegra X1+ Chip
And don't expect major performance improvements or 4K support
For a while now, there have been ongoing rumours about a Switch 'Pro' model. While we're yet to hear anything official from Nintendo, in recent times reports about the system resurfaced – with claims from DigiTimes an enhanced model would be released as early as mid-2020. Now, the...
News You Could Get Your Hands On A Polymega Early Thanks To Its Upcoming Beta Test
Early (retro) access
All-in-one retro console Polymega is due to launch this year, and the company behind it has just announced a beta test program which will give a lucky number of applications early access to the hardware. If you've already placed your preorder and you apply via the website before 5PM PST on January 31st, you could be selected to...
News New Nintendo Patent Shows Touch Pen Attachment For Switch Joy-Con
Images reveal software ideas
A newly published patent has been discovered which shows a 'Touch P
News Alienware's Impressive Switch-Like Concept UFO Wins Best-In-Show Award
We're being generous with 'Switch-like', there
After watching the reveal of Alienware's Concept UFO gadget at CES a couple of weeks back, we couldn't shake the feeling that we'd seen the concept somewhere before. Obviously, it's only natural that the best aspects of any tech will eventually get incorporated into rival companies' products, but...
News This Cube-Like Console Play Will Play Every Game Boy Game On Your TV
The next in the Retron line of consoles from Hyperkin
Hyperkin has just lifted the lid on its next games system, the Retron Jr., which plays Game Boy, Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance games on your TV. The cube-like system connects to your television via HDMI and outputs in 720p. It comes bundled with a SNES-style wireless ‘Scout’...
News Alienware Reveals Switch-Like Device Capable Of Playing PC Games
Update: See its reveal at CES
Update (Wed 8 Jan, 2020 10:00 GMT): As promised, Dell dedicated a small part of its CES show to the Concept UFO device (you can watch it from the 38:30 mark above). The way in which the presenters talk about a hybrid gaming experience as being a revolutionary thing is pretty laughable, but you do get another chance to...
News This New Handheld Wants To Heal The Scars Of Gaming's Most Infamous Console War
Say hello to the Super Retro Champ
Back in the early '90s, Sega and Nintendo were bitter enemies, with their respective consoles fighting for dominance of living rooms all over the globe. There may be some of you who still consider this battle to be unfinished business, even in 2020, which is why My Arcade's Super Retro Champ could be a remarkable...
Feature 30 Weird And Wonderful Peripherals From Nintendo's History
Playing with power... and a whole lotta plastic
Nintendo’s history as a manufacturer of playing cards and toys means the company has always been very comfortable with expanding out from with video game console under the TV into the wider world of peripheral accessories and novelties. These extra lumps of plastic and electronics that interface with...
Feature Your Beloved Games Console Is Slowly But Surely Dying
Parts failure. Power issues. Creepy-crawlies. Your system is under attack
"Everything put together falls apart" is the kind of sage-like adage that you often hear elderly relatives offering up over the dining table in-between moaning about Brexit and discussing the weather, and is a phrase most people under the age of 30 will surely dismiss out of...
News Polymega Slips Into Early 2020, But It's Bringing Some Cool Stuff With It
Intelligent patches! New screen filters! Impressive compatibility!
Polymega's been in the oven for quite some time now, and, like so many new hardware projects, has been subject to a few growing pains. This ambitious system is aiming to be the ultimate retro box, allowing you to not only use your original games and controllers but also download your...
Video A Closer Look At Some Of Nintendo's Bizarre Unreleased Gaming Peripherals
A NES knitting machine, anyone?
Of all the major companies in the gaming world, Nintendo is commonly seen as the most out-there and unconventional of the bunch. It often designs consoles which are unexpected, which go against the trends of the industry, and frequently launches quirky controllers or design concepts to fit alongside them. In recent...
Hardware Review How Does The Carby GameCube Component Cable Compare To The Real Deal?
Component or HDMI, that is the question
If you're of a certain age you'll understand the struggles we went through to get the absolute best picture quality out of our consoles back in the day. The GameCube was no different; in fact, we remember paying well over the odds for a modified Component-to-RGB Scart cable in order to get our NTSC GameCube...
Guide Where To Buy The New Nintendo Switch With Better Battery Life And Screen
Want the new Switch SKU? We're here to help you track it down
You have probably heard about a new version of the Nintendo Switch that's on store shelves now, and we don't mean the handheld-only Switch Lite that launched in September. Over the summer Nintendo rolled out an update to the standard Switch model with some changes under the hood which...
News You Might Want To Put The Brakes On Nintendo's Black Friday Switch + Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Bundle
Always read the small print
Yesterday Nintendo released its list of Black Friday bargains in the US, with $20 off the price of a whole bunch of quality games and a Switch console bundle that throws in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe 'free' for the price of the standard console. Not a bad deal on the face of it, although after checking the small print (as...
Reminder The £200 Capcom Home Arcade System Launches Today, Have A New Trailer
What is this “Death Stranding” of which you speak?
Even though it’s not a Nintendo game, we imagine that many of you reading this will be aware that today sees the arrival of Hideo Kojima’s much-hyped epic, Death Stranding – which, according to our friends over at Push Square, is rather good. 10/10 good, in fact. However, today also sees...
"Our focus right now is absolutely on our dedicated platforms"
The NES and SNES Classic Editions have done incredible business for Nintendo, and have triggered a wave of similar consoles from the likes of Sega, Capcom,
Guide How To Connect (And Disconnect) Wireless Nintendo Switch Controllers
Pairing wireless Joy-Con and Pro Controllers with your Nintendo Switch
If you're new to the world of Nintendo Switch, you may have found connecting wireless controllers such as the detachable Joy-Con or the official Pro Controller a bit of a faff. Pairing them in the first place is usually easy enough, but what do you do if they connect in the wrong...
News Is Sharp About To Challenge Nintendo With Its Own Portable Gaming Device?
New patent reveals a unique approach
Despite its recent financial woes, Japanese electronics company Sharp has a long and proud history of innovation and has worked with Nintendo in the past on components for its games consoles. However, a new patent hints that Sharp could be looking to enter the gaming space and become a rival to Nintendo. The...
News Grab An Officially-Licensed Pink Sega Controller And Join The Fight Against Breast Cancer
Pre-orders go live today
Retro-Bit has announced a partnership with Sega and Limited Run Games to release a collection of officially-licensed - and bright pink - Sega controllers. A portion of the proceeds will go towards fighting breast cancer. There are four different controllers available - two for the Sega Genesis, and two for the Sega Saturn...
Rumour Nvidia's New Tegra X1+ Chip Could Make Switch Performance "Up To 25% Faster"
Is this the chip we've been waiting for?
In June, there was a rumour the new Nvidia Shield device – now known as the Nvidia Shield TV Pro – could potentially share the same chipset as the rumoured 'Pro' model Switch. With less than a few weeks to supposedly go until Nvidia's latest product is released, a now-removed Amazon listing has revealed...
News Who Needs A Game Boy Classic Edition When You've Got The Analogue Pocket?
The maker of the Super Nt and Mega Sg is back
Hardware specialist Analogue is famous for its reference-quality clones of retro systems and has already made a name for itself with products like the Super Nt and Mega Sg, both of which harness FPGA technology to replicate the performance of classic systems on a hardware level. The company has today...
News Nintendo Switch Is Getting A The Witcher 3-Themed Controller
Pre-orders now open
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is now well and truly available on Nintendo Switch - and well worth playing, too - but there's even more Witcher goodness to come. That's right, you'll soon be able to play the game with an officially licensed controller (or any other game, for that matter). The controller comes from accessory maker...
News A Revised Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Has Been Spotted In Stores
But it doesn't look like much has changed
Over the last few days, we've been seeing reports of a new, revised Switch Pro Controller model being spotted in stores. With the recent Switch console revision being pretty significant, some will no doubt expect that a new Pro Controller could be worth picking up too, but it doesn't actually seem like all...
News Atari's Attempt To Relaunch The VCS Has Just Hit Another Brick Wall
Will this troubled system ever see the light of day?
Atari was once the king of video games, and at one point was close to working with Nintendo to bring its Famicom system to the west. Those days are a long time ago now, and the company exists only in name – a name which has been passed around from owner to owner, its importance diminishing with...
Feature Digging Through Nintendo Patents
Ideas that surfaced or sank without trace
The recent discovery of a patent for Joy-Con controllers with hinges set tongues wagging with speculation as to what it could mean for Switch and potential future directions for the platform. Will Switch ‘Pro’ feature a curved screen? Is the angle of the two parts measured and translated into the game?...
News 8BitDo Reveals Cute And Portable Controller Designed For Nintendo Switch Lite
Available to order now
Gaming accessory maker 8BitDo is back with a new controller designed specifically for the new Nintendo Switch Lite, and you can get your orders in right now. If you're not familiar with 8BitDo, the company has created many a fine controller over the last few years, many of which offer more affordable and very practical...
Poll Is Your Switch Lite Suffering From Joy-Con Drift?
Or should that be 'Joy-Con-less drift'?
Hmm. Unfortunately, it appears that our fears about the Switch Lite experiencing the dreaded 'drift weren't unfounded as reports are popping up of the first instances of the phenomenon occurring in Switch Lite consoles just days after launch. If you're an owner of a shiny new Switch Lite, we'd like your help...
News Sorry, But There's No Hidden Workaround To Connect Your Switch Lite To A TV
The necessary hardware "does not exist"
Now, we all know that the new Nintendo Switch Lite is designed purely for dedicated handheld play, with no obvious way of 'docking' the console for use with a TV or monitor like the original console, but that doesn't mean that many weren't still hoping for some other solution or workaround. Maybe there's some...
News SNK's New Neo Geo Might Not Be What You Were Expecting
Update: All pre-loaded games revealed!
Update (20th Sep, 16:15 BST): SNK has now revealed the 20 games that will be pre-loaded on the Neo Geo Arcade Stick Pro. Here's the full list: The King of Fighters '95 The King of Fighters '97 The King of Fighters '98 The King of Fighters '99 The King of Fighters 2000 The King of Fighters 2002 Fatal Fury...
Feature Nintendo Hardware Refreshes Through The Ages
Switch Lite is just the latest in a long line of updates
Mid-cycle hardware refreshes may sometimes feel like a relatively recent development, but console manufacturers have been releasing revised versions of their consoles since video gaming first entered the home. You might associate Nintendo hardware refreshes mostly with handheld consoles thanks...
News Prototype Wii Nunchuk Controller Included A Rumble Motor, According To New Photos
Before the Revolution
Last year a prototype controller for the GameCube came up for auction on Yahoo Japan and shed a little more light on the evolution of the Wii Remote. A grey prototype version of the controller plugged into the console directly, as did a large IR bar similar to the one which would eventually ship with the Wii. A familiar looking...
News Razer's New Gaming Tablet Is One Of The Most Blatant Nintendo Switch Clones Yet
On the cutting edge?
Gaming-focused hardware maker Razer has made a name for itself with its range of computer, tablet and smartphone devices, and it would appear the company is about to release a product which takes inspiration from the Nintendo Switch. The Singapore-based firm filed a patent for a 'gaming controller for mobile device and method...
