Timeline
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...
Switch owners can get a half-price introductory offer
If you're looking for a reason to jump back into Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds, Sega has this week released the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of the game digitally. It's available for $69.99 or your regional equivalent, and will be released in physical form on this platform in "early 2026". If you're...
News Nintendo Music "Special Release" Adds Seven Tracks From Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Sample this incredible soundtrack right now
If you keep up with the Nintendo Music app's release schedule, you probably noticed Nintendo didn't update the app at the regular time earlier this week. Unsurprisingly, it's all linked to the release of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, with Nintendo announcing it's added seven tracks from the new game as a...
PSA Copy Your Save In Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Before You Enter The Endgame
No point of return
If you're diving into Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on the Switch or Switch 2 this week, you might want to make a mental note of this before you reach the endgame. As highlighted by GameSpot's reviewer Steve Watts, Samus' new adventure gets to a point towards the end where (spoiler alert) there's no point of return. And once you're...
Wednesday3rd Dec 2025
News Madcap Platformer 'Antonblast' Is Getting One Final Update This Month
"The End is coming"
Summitsphere is giving Antonblast fans one last hurrah, one year after the game first launched on PC. And it's a content-filled update befittingly titled 'THE END'. On 18th December 2025, The End is bringing four brand new bosses, a boss rush, multiple new game modes (including Hard Mode), new music, and new spray cans, among...
Video Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Stuns On Switch 2 In This Side-By-Side Comparison
Soak in the Viewros
Nintendo's biggest release of the month (the year?) arrives tomorrow, with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally Morph Ball rolling onto Switch 1 and 2. But with the new hardware still comparatively fresh on store shelves and the holiday season right around the corner, you might be wondering which system is the place to play Samus's...
News Nintendo Offering 12 Months NSO Free With Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle (UK)
Plus some Luigi flare for your tree
We're in the thick of the Holiday season right now, so we're sure plenty of you are out there looking for sweet deals to stick under the tree come 25th December. And Nintendo is adding to the festive savings with is Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle in the UK. On the official Nintendo website, if you...
News Monument Valley 3's Gorgeous Free Expansion Adds Even More Perspective-Bending Puzzling
Gardener's World
We were delighted to see Ustwo Games' gorgeous mobile puzzler, Monument Valley 3, make the jump to Switch earlier this year, and today the dev has given us even more story chapters to sink our teeth into — for free! The 'Garden of Life' expansion is now available on Switch, bolting four additional chapters onto the end of the...
Mini Review Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (Switch 1) - An Impressive Version If You've Yet To Upgrade
Smooth as a Morph Ball 'round a half pipe
After having completed Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Switch 2, booting the game up on the original Switch was an immediately familiar, if bizarre experience. The game was almost certainly made with Nintendo’s 2017 system in mind from the off given how long it’s been in development, and yet there’s...
News Rolling Stone's GOTY List Shows A Whole Lot Of Love For One Nintendo Mascot
And a little less for another...
How on earth is it that time of year again already? It feels as though we can still sense the tight elastic of our tiny Kirby swimming trunks digging into our fresh summer sunburn, and yet here comes Rolling Stone with its Best of 2025 list, because it's nearly Christmas. Brace for impact! Yes, Rolling Stone has...
News Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Has Been Updated To Ver. 1.1.0, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
A launch day special
Eight years on from its big reveal, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond finally arrives on Switch 1 & 2 tomorrow. To make sure that things are in tip-top condition, Nintendo has today released the launch day update, boosting things up to ver. 1.1.0 and adding a bunch of day-one features to boot. This update adds in amiibo functionality,...
News "I'll Get In Trouble" - Yuji Horii "Can't Talk About" Future Chrono Trigger Developments
Well that's not suspicious at all!
11th March 2025 marked the 30th anniversary of Chrono Trigger. Square Enix marked the occasion by announcing that "various projects" would be coming our way over the next year, but so far, those projects have been limited to character popularity polls and planned orchestral concerts. Importantly, that's not the...
Review Octopath Traveler 0 (Switch 2) - A Bit Of A Retread, But Unmissable (And Enormous)
Zero to hero
In 2020, Square Enix released an interesting 'stopgap' in the Octopath Traveler series called Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. This free-to-play mobile game took the gacha approach to design, regularly launching new units and storylines to interact with as the years rolled by. The company wrapped up that initial version in...
News The Nintendo Museum Has Finally Got Its Christmas Decs Up
Light up, Super Star
Believe it or not, the holiday season is almost upon us. Of course, many stores have been setting up the Christmas cheer for months now (this writer was seeing bedecked trees in shop windows back in October), but, as of today, the Nintendo Museum is finally following suit. As shared in a post on the museum's official X account,...
News The First Review For Octopath Traveler 0 Is In
Square Enix's new HD-2D RPG starring YOU
It's been a busy period for gaming recently, and Square Enix is back this week another role-playing release. Following on from the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake in October, we've now got Octopath Traveler 0, which this time puts you in the shoes of your very own custom character. This game is releasing on...
News Pokémon Friends Has Been Updated With New Puzzles, Plush, Furniture And More
Try it out now on Switch and mobile
In July, The Pokémon Company and Wonderfy released the puzzle title Pokémon Friends on Switch and mobile devices. Today, the game has received an update for both platforms, bumping it up to Version 1.1.0. It contains not only a bunch of bug fixes but also adds new puzzles, plush, furniture and wallpapers to...
Poll Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Is Out On Switch 2 And Switch This Week, Will You Be Getting It?
Go on, tell us!
We've finally made it, folks! This week marks the long-awaited arrival of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. After years of development, delays, and even a restart, Samus Aran's next 3D outing is officially here for the Switch and Switch 2. The critic reviews have also gone live ahead of the big release, and admittedly, the aggregate score...
News 'Starsand Island' Is Getting A Switch 2 Version With Quality And Performance Modes
Cosy
Chinese dev Seed Lab has officially announced that its upcoming cosy life sim, Starsand Island, is getting a Switch 2 version alongside the Switch 1 release when it launches next year. Scheduled for release in the nebulous "early 2026" and coming to all the usual platforms, that list also now includes Nintendo's latest console, where the devs...
News Mario Kart World Has Been Updated To Version 1.4.0, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Download this update on Switch 2 today
Mario Kart World is this week racing ahead with a brand new update, bumping this latest entry in the series up to Version 1.4.0. This new update for the Switch 2 exclusive adds a bunch of general changes. This includes the addition of "Custom Items" in the item rules, some music-related improvements, online...
News Surprise! Another Square Enix Switch Game Is Now Compatible On Switch 2
Following an update for NieR:Automata
After ongoing requests from players, NieR:Automata The End of YoRHa Edition finally got a compatibility update for the Switch 2 in November. With this game now functioning as it should on Nintendo's new hardware, another Square Enix title has now received a compatibility update. This time it's for the...
Tuesday2nd Dec 2025
News Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road Update 1.4 Brings Ranked CPU Matches, Advance Win, And More
Best footie feet forward
Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road has had another update to bring it up to version 1.4 following the recent 1.3 patch. This new patch brings all of the tweaks and additions made to other versions of the game (which we reckon is really very good, actually) t
Mini Review Red Dead Redemption: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition - The Update That This Epic Deserved
"It's wanting that gets so many folk in trouble..."
The first time I played Red Dead Redemption was, of course, the day it launched. 2010 really doesn't seem all that long ago at all, but there was a level of expectation and excitement to those opening moments in Rockstar's utterly wild West that I do feel I haven't experienced in a very long time...
News "It's Make-Or-Break For Sure" - Shovel Knight Dev's Fate Rests On Upcoming Zelda-Like
"If we sold, like, 100,000, that’s not so good"
We have been keeping an eye on Mina the Hollower for some years now. This is the GBC-looking Zelda-like from Yacht Club Games, the studio behind Shovel Knight, that launched on Kickstarter back in 2022, and only recently missed out on its initial release date thanks to a
Round Up The Reviews Are In For Metroid Prime 4: Beyond
Beyond expectations?
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond is very nearly here. It's so close, in fact, that the reviews for the Switch 2 version of the game have now gone live, letting us all find out what we can expect from Samus' long-awaited adventure on the latest hardware. Here at Nintendo Life, we had a blast with Beyond, calling it "quite possibly the...
News Drag x Drive Devs Tried Wheelchair Basketball In Prep For Game
"I wasn't prepared for how difficult it was to shoot the ball"
Drag x Drive has received a rather beefy update earlier today, and to coincide with Patch 1.2.0's release, Nintendo has dropped a series of Ask the Developer interviews with the lead trio. Yoshinori Konishi (director and programming director), Hiroki Hamaue (pr
News "One Of The Best-Looking Games On Switch 2" - Digital Foundry Dives Into Metroid Prime 4
"The magic remains in tact"
If you can believe it, we are very, very nearly at the official launch of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. It's a cross-generation release, but we always knew that this was going to be a big player for the Switch 2, making the most of the new hardware's beefed-up specs to squeeze the most out of the space adventure. The question...
Site News So, Where's Our Metroid Prime 4 Switch 1 Review?
Samusings
Reviews for Metroid Prime 4: Beyond are live, including ours, although you may have noticed that it's focused on the Switch 2 Edition, and MP4 is also launching on Switch 1. If you're looking for impressions on the original Switch version, they are coming - please bear with us. We weren't able to test on the older hardware prior to the...
News Metroid Prime 4: Beyond Credits Reveal A Plethora Of Assist Devs, Including Next Level Games
And Samus has a brand new voice
When Metroid Prime 4: Beyond landed with Retro Studios back in 2019, we're not sure anybody was truly shocked by this turn of events. Retro is, after all, the original developer of the Prime series, and while many of the veteran team members have since left, the sheer quality of the fourth entry on Switch 2...
Review Metroid Prime 4: Beyond - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2) - Samus Returns In Prime Form
Sy-luxurious
I’ve been waiting a long time for this. Ever since Metroid Prime 3: Corruption ended on a slight cliffhanger (provided you obtained the 100% completion rating) back in 2007, I’ve been wondering where exactly Nintendo and Retro Studios might take the series next. 18 years would follow, and that’s an awful long time to formulate an...
News Pokémon Legends: Z-A DLC Is Introducing A New Type Of Mega Evolution
Catching Zs
The Pokémon Company has revealed yet another new Mega 'mon arriving in the Pokémon Legends: Z-A Mega Dimension DLC, but more than that, it has revealed a whole new type of Mega Evolution. Mega Lucario Z is the latest Fighting- and Steel-type Mega Evolution to join the line-up, boasting a swanky blue and yellow look as well as some...
News Pokémon Legends: Z-A's Next Mystery Gift Code Event Is Now Live
The path to Mega Mewtwo starts here
As a part of today's Mega Dimension DLC news, The Pokémon Company revealed Legends: Z-A's next Mystery Gift Code event, and it's not one to be missed. The event is live in-game right now. All that you need to do is head to the 'Mystery Gift' menu and select 'Receive via Internet' to get involved. Right off the...
Every game we scored 9/10 or higher, plus a personal pick
This is your friendly reminder that Nintendo's big North American eShop sale is wrapping up tomorrow (3rd December), so this is your last chance to pick up some discounted delights. If it's just the very best that you're after — the pièce de eShop résistance — then we've rounded up all...
Video Check Out Red Dead Redemption's Switch 2 Improvements In This Side-By-Side Comparison
A Switch 1 vs Switch 2 showdown
Red Dead Redemption has lassoed its way onto Switch 2 today, bringing with it HDR and DLSS support, mouse controls and a smooth 60fps. The big question is, what does all of this look like in practice, and perhaps more importantly, how does it compare to 2023's Switch port? Here to answer those very questions is the...
"That's one I just treasure"
If you have a passing interest in gaming outside of Nintendo, you'll likely have experienced the work of Mark Cerny. He was the Lead Architect of the PlayStation Vita, PS4, and PS5 — you might remember him from the PS5 Pro reveal — and he appears on the most recent episode of Simon Parkin's My Perfect Console podcast...
News Switch 2 Exclusive 'Drag x Drive' Scores Its Second Major Update, Here's What's Included
Demo also updated
The Switch 2 and eShop exclusive Drag x Drive has today received a new game update, bumping it up to Version 1.2.0. This follows an update in September and comes loaded with general updates (such as adding the chasing game Survival Tag to multiple modes) and multiple fixes. It also makes some changes to Drag x Drive: Global Jam...
News Nintendo Today! Mobile App Update Adds A New Donkey Kong Theme
And the app is now available in more locations
Nintendo has been releasing all sorts of software and firmware updates recently, and it's now rolled out an update for its Nintendo Today! mobile application. The app, which provides daily updates from the world of Nintendo, has today been updated to Version 2.2.0. It's currently live on iOS, with the...
News Switch 2's Mario Kart World Bundle Gets A Surprise Sale (US)
Don't miss it!
If you haven't already got a Switch 2 and happen to be located in the US, the bundle deal including a download copy of Mario Kart World has gone on sale for Cyber Monday. This bundle deal is currently available at Amazon, Walmart, Target and Best Buy for $449 instead of the usual $499, so you're saving $50. This is the first time the...
News Nintendo Announces 50th Maximus Cup Event For Tetris 99
Celebrating the release of Kirby's new game
To celebrate the recent launch of Kirby Air Riders on the Switch 2, Nintendo has announced a new event for its Switch Online battle royale game Tetris 99. This event will take place between 4th December 2025 and 8th December 2025, and allows players to unlock a special design inspired by Masahiro...
News Turok And Turok 2 Have Been Updated, Here Are The Full Patch Notes
Download these updates now
Nightdive is still rolling out regular updates for its Switch eShop versions of Turok and Turok 2, and to kick off December, it has now released two new patches. In Turok, you can expect all sorts of enhancements and improvements, as well as a Switch-specific update. And as for Turok 2, the team has added multiple...
Monday1st Dec 2025
News New 'Sonic Universe' Movie Spin-Off Announced For 2028
Well that was fast
Paramount has revealed some of its future movie plans, but for us, the biggest draw is that Sonic the Hedgehog will be getting a brand new spin-off movie in 2028. Variety reports that this upcoming spin-off is currently untitled, but it's being referred to to as the "Sonic Universe Event Film". It will launch in cinemas on 22nd...
