Timeline
Tuesday9th Dec 2025
News Nintendo Switch 2 System Update 21.1.0 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Available for Switch as well
Following a firmware update for the Switch 2 and Switch in November, Nintendo has now rolled out a December update (and what could potentially be the final system update of the year). According to the official Nintendo support page, this latest update includes some general system stability improvements. If we hear about...
News Assassin's Creed Shadows Update To Resolve Switch 2 Crashes And Stability Issues
It's scheduled for "next week"
Last week, we ran a story here on Nintendo Life about how Assassin's Creed Shadows on Switch 2 was "unplayable" for some players due to repeated game crashes. Now, in a post on the official Assassin's Creed social media account, Ubisoft has acknowledged these "stability issues" and how it can "lead to crashes"...
Monday8th Dec 2025
News Metroid Prime 4 On Switch 1 Impresses Digital Foundry - "Nigh-Imperceptible Dips"
It's "one of Switch 1's prettiest games yet"
We already know that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is a technical showcase on Switch 2, and we're sure many of you have spent the weekend exploring Viewros on the new console over the weekend. But for those of you who are still clinging on to your Switch 1 and wondering whether Samus' brand new adventure holds...
News Take Yooka-Replaylee For A Spin In This New Switch 2 Demo
The countdown to a physical release begins
Playtonic and PM Studios have today released a free Switch 2 demo for the throwback platforming remake Yooka-Replaylee, giving you a chance to try before you buy. You'll find the new demo on the Switch 2 eShop right now, and, you'll be pleased to hear, all the data carries over to the full game — so...
Review Skate Story (Switch 2) – A Laid-Back Kickflip Through The Underworld
An afterlife that looks and sounds divine
“My games are concepts and feelings that I can't describe in words,” solo developer Sam Eng said in a 2024 interview for Chanel, after winning the brand’s prestigious Next Prize. “Everything I encounter, I try to portray in a gameplay or audio-visual experience.” These quotes give a taste of how...
News Award-Winning Slice-Of-Life Soccer Game 'Despelote' Comes To Switch This Week
It's a goal!
One of the most unique a beautiful games of the year — despelote — is all about the beautiful game itself and the communities it helps build, and it's coming to Switch on 11th December in North America for just $14.99. Japan will get it on 18th December, while the rest of the world will have to wait for kick-off on 13th January...
"Scalpers are making it impossible to find cards"
The fact that the Pokémon Trading Card Game has created its own mini-economy isn't new news – back when it launched in the late '90s, there were accusations that it was encouraging gambling amongst kids, with many schools banning the cards from their playgrounds. In more recent years, however,...
Update: Paramount enters the conversation
In a staggering piece of news this Friday, streaming giant Netflix has announced that it has entered an agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery to acquire Warner Bros. in a deal that's valued at roughly $82.7 billion — an equity value of $72 billion. Netflix is specifically acquiring Warner B
News GameStop Hints At Another Playable Character For Resident Evil Requiem
Update: GameStop quietly removes information
Although Capcom has remained tightlipped on the prospect of Leon Kennedy cropping up in the upcoming Resident Evil Requiem, a good number of fans are adamant that the veteran character will indeed appear. However, a new listing over on GameStop drops some new information regarding the Deluxe Edition of...
Poll What Review Score Would You Give Metroid Prime 4: Beyond?
Worth the wait?
Now that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is finally here, and given that many of us will have spent our weekends absolutely leathering its main campaign on Switch 2 (or even Switch 1), we reckon now's the time to start gauging how you lot feel about Samus Aran's latest outing. Of course, our very own Ollie Reynolds has already delivered his...
Exclusive System Shock Remake Hacks Onto Switch & Switch 2 Later This Month
Welcome to my portable world, insect
Nightdive Studios is bringing its awesome System Shock remake to the Switch and Switch 2, and we can now exclusively reveal that it'll be available to play from 18th December 2025. Originally released in 2023, System Shock is a comprehensive yet faithful remake of the 1994 FPS from Looking Light Studios...
Random Four Legendary Devs Walk Into A Bar... And We're So Very Jealous
Imagine the conversations!
It's the little things in life that bring us the most joy sometimes, and today, we're bringing you an absolutely delightful photo from developer Suda51 (No More Heroes, Killer7) that's been doing the rounds over the weekend. It's no secret that some of the greatest minds in Japanese game development like to get together...
News Katsuhiro Harada Announces Departure From Bandai Namco
Father Tekken hangs up his gloves
Katsuhiro Harada, the executive producer and director of the Tekken franchise — a man often referred to as a father of sorts to all things Tekken — has announced via social media that he'll be stepping down from his role at Bandai Namco, and therefore from involvement in the series, at the end of 2025. The...
Random This Modder Turned Their Humble Wii U GamePad Into A Fully Functional Switch
A Switch Lite, but comfy!
What do you do when you're surfing the old interwebs and happen upon a bunch of lovely gaming folk wondering if anyone has ever stuffed a Switch — in fully working order — into a Wii U GamePad (also still in complete working order)? Well, if it were us, we'd shut off our internet and go for a nice, long walk outside...
Sunday7th Dec 2025
Feature Nintendo Life eShop Selects (November 2025)
Our picks for the best eShop games on Switch and Switch 2 in November!
At last, we're almost at the end of 2025. Snow might be settling in where you are, temperature's dropping — or perhaps you're lucky to be reading from somewherein the southern hemisphere. But there's one thing that remains the same wherever you're reading from; it's eShop...
"I'm waiting for an update, it's impossible to play"
Apart from Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, one other significant Switch 2 release this week was the third-party title Assassin's Creed Shadows. While Ubisoft's new feudal Japan outing has been mostly well-received by critics on Nintendo's new hybrid platform, it seems the experience hasn't been quite as...
Feature My NES Longing, My Son's Terrifying Switch 2 Obsession
Generational drama
They say history repeats itself, and right now I’m living through a redux of my own childhood gaming obsession. To understand my plight, we need to rewind to 1988. I had cut my gaming teeth on a dusty Atari 2600 my dad picked up at a garage sale. I loved me some Missile Command and Warlords, but once my best friend and...
Poll Box Art Brawl: Duel - Metroid Prime Pinball
Ding ding ding!
It has been a particularly Metroid-packed week, and we're keeping that Morph Ball rolling in the latest edition of Box Art Brawl. Before we do that, however, let's recap what happened last time. Celebrating the arrival of its Game Boy counterpart on NSO, we matched up three covers for Bionic Commando on the NES, and our favourite...
Video Mario Kart World - Course Changes Side-By-Side Comparison (Original & Version 1.4.0 Update)
Spot the difference
Earlier this week, Nintendo released a new update for the Switch 2 launch title Mario Kart World, bumping the racer up to Version 1.4.0. In case you missed it, this is a major update, including all sorts of adjustments, changes and improvements. One highlight, in particular, is tied to the game's courses. As mentioned in the...
Saturday6th Dec 2025
Review Simogo Legacy Collection - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - Nothing Less Than Essential
Flipping great
I had a moment of realisation while flipping my Switch 2 around in my hand and tapping at the screen in an effort to solve yet another clever-but-abstract puzzle. I realised that the Simogo Legacy Collection was one of the most unabashedly original sets of experiences I had encountered in a long time. The funny thing was that I had...
Community It's Time To Rate Your Switch 1 & 2 Games Of The Year
A wild GOTY appears!
We're into December now, and while there are still late-coming games showing up, it's time to start looking back at the goodies the last 12 months have brought us. Yes, it's GOTY time. 2025 has been a bumper one across the board, with brilliant games big and small — indie, are-they-indie?, and absolutely-definitely-not-indie...
Talking Point What Are You Playing This Weekend? (6th December)
She's finally here!
We are one week into December, and how many games have already been released? *Checks notes* All of them. All of the games have been released. Welcome, folks, to a busy edition of What Are You Playing. Let's try our best to recap the last seven days, shall we? Naturally, there was a lot of Metroid shenanigans to cover, with...
News Pikmin 4 Fans Hoping For Switch 2 Upgrade After Odd Listing Spotted On The eShop
Don't get too excited, it's been removed
Pikmin 4 received a free update in November adding new content, but it wasn't a Switch 2 upgrade and didn't include any enhancements for the game on the new hybrid platform. With this in mind, the same Switch title has now reportedly popped up in a section on the eShop, which focuses
News Another Switch Game Has Been Updated For Switch 2, More Compatibility Issues Identified
Mega Mall updated alongside updates for Chrono Cross & more
Nintendo released a new system firmware update for the Switch 2 last week, and it's once again led to a bunch of Switch games receiving compatibility updates. We've already covered the updates for Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition and Crypt of the NecroDancer, and it appears one...
News Switch Online Holiday Icons, Super Mario Ornament And 2026 Calendar Now Available (US)
Get them with your Platinum Points
To celebrate the holiday season this year, Nintendo has released special Super Mario icons you can redeem right now with My Nintendo Platinum Points. This is a "limited time" offer, and the first wave is available from now until 11th December 2025. As you can see, there are icons for Mario and the rest of the...
PSA If You Want To Use Your Google Pixel As A Webcam On Switch 2, Try It Out Now
A new Pixel Update has reportedly fixed a bug
In case you missed it, you can connect regular webcams and even camera phones with the Switch 2 to access GameChat and other features. One phone that was apparently having some issues functioning in USB webcam mode when connected to the Switch 2 was the Google Pixel. According to the website Android...
Friday5th Dec 2025
News Printable Metroid Prime 4 'Databook' Has Us Feeling Nostalgic For Instruction Booklets
Manual override
Bar a few exceptions, the days of opening your boxed copy of a new game and eagerly flipping through the instruction booklet are behind us. But it looks like Nintendo isn't ready to give up on the nostalgia just yet, as it has released a printable 'databook' for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, that just makes our hearts sing (thanks for the...
Review HautePad M-Ultra Gen2 Arcade Controller For Switch & Switch 2 - Just A Hair From Perfection
Premium experience at an affordable price
Cosmox Gaming offers up a lot of arcade controllers, including the modular Hautepad X at a more premium price and the remarkably affordable Hautepad C16. Now, the company has launched the M-Ultra Gen2, an aluminium-built leverless that sits somewhere in-between the two. If the
News Is Mario Kart World Getting Donkey Kong Bananza DLC? Datamines Have Fans Speculating
Nintendo Today! Nintendo Tomorrow?
While Mario Kart World may have just received a rather hefty update, fans of the Switch 2 launch game have been eagerly anticipating any potential DLC that will come to the racer. And a recent datamine of Nintendo Today! has brought all of those hopes and dreams to the surface (thanks,
News '4PGP: Four-Player Grand Prix' Brings 90's-Style Multiplayer Racing To Switch 1 & 2 In 2026
Vroom for four, and 120fps mode to boot!
3Goo, which has previously published the likes of Gear.Club series and WRC Generations on Nintendo consoles, has announced a brand new multiplayer grand-prix racer. 4PGP: Four-Player Grand Prix, which releases on 5th February 2026, has a phenomenally straight-forward moniker, and we reckon that suits its...
News Don't Worry, Nintendo's Working On A Fix For Some Kirby Air Riders Bugs
Timer trouble
Kirby Air Riders arrived on Switch 2 just a few weeks ago and, for the most part, it has proven to be a pretty polished experience. Of course, that isn't to say the odd bug didn't slip through the net, but don't worry, Nintendo knows about 'em. A new post on X from @nintendo_cs (translated by @Oatmealdome on
Talking Point Six Months Since Launch, How Would You Rate Switch 2?
The half-year in review
Friday 5th December marks the six-month mark for Nintendo's sequel system. Launching back in June, the earliest adopters among us have now been living with the console for half a year. Blimey! It seems like only yesterday we were all speculating about the follow-up to Switch 1. Would it launch in 2022? 2023? 2024?... Yes,...
News Sega Will "Carefully Assess Appropriate Use Cases" When It Comes To "Leveraging AI"
"AI adoption can face strong resistance in creative areas"
While rivals such as Electronic Arts and Ubisoft have jumped into the world of Generative AI development with both feet, not every company in the games industry is willing to throw caution to the wind. During a Q&A session following its recent Q2 financial results, Sega‘s top brass...
News This Samus Aran Chogokin Is 21cm Of Lights And Diecast Awesomeness
Is that a psychic crystal embedded in your forehead, or are you just happy to see me?
Now that Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is finally in the wild (still feels weird to be able to type that) and given that it's another excellent entry in this phenomenal series, you may well be feeling like now's the time for some fancy Metroid merch. Well, say no more...
News Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP Adding Free Fan-Designed Costume "Mid-December"
The Switch 2 Edition will follow in early 2026
Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP players can look forward to a free update in "mid-December" which will see the release of the fan-designed "Cutie Zombie Hunter" costume for Juliet. This costume won a special costume design contest and will be followed by additional winning designs from the same competition in...
News Metacritic Shares Updated List Of "Every Metroid Game, Ranked"
Now including Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
It's not every day there's a new Metroid release, and after an 18-year wait since the last major entry in the Prime series, the fourth adventure is finally here. To mark this occasion, Metacritic has now rounded up every Metroid game in its database to share a look at each title's metascore (based on the...
Round Up Every Switch And Switch 2 Announcement From The PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted 2025
Carmageddon, Starship Troopers and more
PC Gamer this week held its annual PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted showcase - revealing all sorts of "exciting projects" currently in development. Although the focus was on PC, many of the games announced and revealed will also be coming to other platforms including the Switch and Switch 2. We already highlighted...
News Switch Indie Title 'Crypt Of The NecroDancer' Receives A Switch 2 Fix
"Happy gaming!"
Many Switch games have been receiving compatibility updates for the Switch 2, and following an update to one of Square Enix's games earlier this week, it seems the indie developer Brace Yourself Games has now rolled out a fix for Crypt of the NecroDancer. If you've been experiencing any crashes when playing this rhythm-based Switch...
News Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! Brings A "New Retro FPS" Experience To Switch 2 Next Year
From the developers of Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun
If you're a fan of retro-style first-person shooters and want to eradicate swarms of alien bugs, you might want to check out this new game when it arrives in early 2026. Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! is developed by Auroch Digital (Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun) and published by Dotemu (Marvel...
Thursday4th Dec 2025
News Shuten Order Is Getting A Full Physical Release On Switch 1 & 2
And it's all on the cartridge, too
DMM Games, Tookyo Games and Spike Chunsoft are releasing a physical version of SHUTEN ORDER on both Switch 1 and Switch 2 in Spring 2026, the companies have announced. Both the Switch 1 and Nintendo Switch 2 Edition will be getting a physical in the US courtesy of PM Studios, with Reef Entertainment's European...
Hands On Espresso Pro 15 - A Portable 4K Monitor For Switch 2, But With A Catch
In the dock
While the Switch and Switch 2 are portable systems that come with their own built-in screens, I've often been drawn to pairing Nintendo's hybrid consoles with portable monitors when I'm on the road and away from my TV. One of my favourite choices for the original Switch is the Espresso V2, a premium 1080p screen which doesn't even need...
Nintendo Download 4th December (North America)
Metroid Prime 4! Red Dead! Octopath! Skate Story!
The latest Nintendo Download update for North America has arrived, and it's bringing new games galore to the eShop in your region. As always, be sure to drop a vote in our poll and comment down below with your potential picks for the week. Enjoy! Switch 2 eShop - Highlights: Metroid Prime 4: Beyond...
News After Years Of Waiting, Metroid Prime 4's Launch Trailer Is Finally Here
A long time coming
It has been eight years since Nintendo first announced Metroid Prime 4. It has been 18 years since the release of Metroid Prime 3: Corruption. And now, after all that time, Beyond's launch trailer is finally here. Those who have kept up with every trailer drop until now won't find too much new footage in this one, but we...
Mixin' it up
I've been having an interesting run lately of games that shake things up, even if it's just a little bit, in the controls department. Back in the good old days — or at least my nostalgia blinkers have made it seem this way to me — the idea of being bored rigid by a game's control systems wasn't something that ever entered my mind...
Japanese Charts Well, Look At Who's Snuck Back Into First Place
Kart in the right place
The latest Japanese charts are in from Famitsu, and while we really thought Kirby fever would grip the nation for a little while longer, Mario had other plans. Yes, despite Kirby Air Riders smashing the competition last week, this time, Mario Kart World has drifted back into first place, with an additional ~50,000 units to...
News Digital Foundry Delivers A Tech Analysis Of Assassin's Creed Shadows On Switch 2
"An impossible port that impresses"
December has gotten off to quite the start, hasn't it? With so many new games launching on Switch 2, we're sure that you're keen to find out how each and every one of them runs on the fresh hardware and, as ever, the tech experts over at Digital Foundry are here to do just that. This time, it's Assassin's Creed...
News IO Interactive Shares Lots Of Gameplay Details In '007: First Light' Dev Diary
Sweet, sweet gameplay deets
IO Interactive is in our good books big time off the back of all the premium-grade assassinating they've let us do across the globe as Agent 47. Now the team has taken up the mantle (the obvious next step for those paying attention) of James Bond himself, with 007: First Light. And ahead of the game's 27th March 2026...
News Nintendo Reveals New Line Of Metroid Merch, And We Want It All
Cooler than Phendrana Drifts
Metroid has rarely been able to play with the Nintendo big boys as far as sales are concerned, so it's no surprise that Samus merch drops have been a fair bit rarer than those seen for Zelda and Mario. But, with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally here, Nintendo is changing that... in Japan, at least. Yes, a new wave of...
Random Samus Is Joined By Doom Slayer's Voice Actor In Metroid Prime 4
The collab some fans have been waiting for
By now, some Metroid Prime 4: Beyond players are already rolling the credits and it seems there's been an amusing discovery in the cast section. It's confirmed Ezra Duke (Sergeant Duke) is voiced by the accomplished actor Jason Kelley...aka Doom Slayer! Yes, Kelley actually was the voice actor behind id...
News Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds Version 1.2.0 Is Now Live, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
New gadgets, strengthened anti-cheat and more
Every game is getting in its final update of the year before the holiday period gets underway, and Sega has today rolled out a major patch for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. On the Nintendo front, this marks the arrival of the Switch 2 Edition as well as the Upgrade Pack for existing Switch owners. Apart...
