I'm sure this is pretty spread out amongst regions as I don't know a ton of people who have one compared to the original Switch. It probably doesn't hurt it's still seen as the more affordable option in many regions compared to PS5/XSX despite being more expensive then Switch 1 was. Maybe word is starting to get out too of potential price increases down the road cause of RAM price increases and some people are buying one now before it gets more expensive.
Gamestops two main focuses to try and save the company right now are Crypto and Trading Cards mainly Pokemon. They're putting a big focus on TCGs and grading especially. About 470 US stores have closed in the first couple weeks of January as they continue to widdle down their overall retail footprint.
The reason physical games continue to dwindle is cause fewer and fewer people are buying them year over year, which is why if you walk into a GameStop these days, the games sections have shrunk and you see a bigger focus on trading cards and collectibles and toys.
There's only so much demand on the retro side too so it's hard to say how much time the companies stores have left at this point. Maybe a few more years? The company itself may survive or be sold off as some kind of ecommerce hub, but needless to say most of it's remaining retail operations are on borrowed time at this point.
Japan loves it's portable gaming be it smart phones or consoles. It also helps they have that region locked cheaper SKU. With the slow down of the system over holidays (at least in the West) I'll be interested to see how well it's been selling as we get into 2026 now that you can just walk into any retailer and buy one.
I think theres many people still content with Switch 1 and there are still plenty of cross generational releases and games coming to Switch 1 this year. Combine with it being more expensive and the economy basically in the tank its not surprising many people are waiting awhile to jump on board.
Fore starters in regards to this, could you even walk into most retailers and even find a new Xbox at it's inflated prices? About the only places I see them still are some retailers online and buying directly from MS themselves nevermind the fact there was no discount for them on in November even if you wanted one. That's essentially one of the big three basically being non-factor this holiday.
People were clearly opting for the discounted PS5 because A LOT of people still haven't jumped onto this generation's band wagon. It's the most powerful system and has a huge library of games. Switch 2 was still full price more or less outside of a few retailers offering that $50 discount for a short time on the MK World bundle. It's got some good games, but it's definitely had sales slow down which I think is a factor of economic conditions with people having limited budgets, people not feeling the need to upgrade yet from Switch 1, and the initial launch fervor dying down some.
Problem for Sony and Nintendo is rising component prices. They're probably going to have to raise prices again which is going to slow sales next year, and for all intents and purposes the country is in a recession. A lot of peoples have been laid off and with rising prices, people are being very careful of spending the money they do have even on Christmas stuff.
All I gotta say is be ready for PS6 and the next gen Xbox to be $1K + at launch. I'd say PS5 and Switch 2 probably will jump at least a $100 next year at some point. Series X will probably get another price hike too even if MS is hardly making many current gen consoles since you barely see them in stores they are still sold in. If you've been on the fence about a console, with holiday sales and such, it's about as good of a time to get one if you haven't.
The only silver lining to these price increases is it may see MS and Sony push off launches of their new hardware a little longer (mabye 2028?) to milk current gen a bit more since many people still feel this generation hasn't gotten many worthwhile titles due to Covid and the ridiculous push for live service titles, many of which ultimately got canceled.
I think for those who bought and enjoyed the game on the S1, the $20 upgrade is worth it to me for the performance boost and extra content. $80 as an entire package and an entry point is a lot to ask unless you have absolutely nothing else to play on the console right now. I'd say track down a used S1 copy of the original game and play that first, and if you enjoy the game, do the $20 upgrade afterwards.
These kinds of games are a good litmus test to see if the game on cart diehards are willing to pay the premium over the digital or getting it cheaper on another platform.
Nothing would really surprise me, but Sony just increased their price on the base hardware by $50. Even a new console coming out in 2027 probably isn't going to be any cheaper than $599 and a portable PS5 calibur handheld won't be cheap either. The way things are shaping up and costs are going up, a $500 Switch 2 with a pack in game (if Nintendo keeps their pricing the same) might seem like a downright bargain compared to a new Sony portable and the ROG Ally X.
I'm sure it's a handful of different factors. $450 to $500 isn't exactly a drop in the bucket for most people and that's not including other accessories or games too. The only reason I was really able to get a S2 on day one was because I used part of my tax return to pay off my pre-order and the only other games I bought on day one besides the bundle were Fast Fusion and Bravely Default. Just getting the initial upfront cost out of the way of the hardware is a big hurdle for many and usually doesn't leave a ton of free cash for many other things right off the bat.
As far as key cards go, they don't bother me much cause they still have the benefit of being traded or resold and will allow you to redownload a game even if it's been pulled off the digital store front and it's not like we haven't had key discs on Playstation and Xbox consoles for awhile now too. To me boycotting key cards is a double edged sword. Sure you're sending a message to publishers that we'll only support physical on cart releases, but also to them it's potentially saying with low physical media sales in general that the medium is dying so we just won't bother with with the cost of any sort of physical release period and keep everything digital. To me it's all moot though. Switch 2 is probably going to be the last console where any sort of physical media is an option and I'd bet the farm PS6 and the next gen Xbox in a few years down the line are going to be digital only boxes.
That all being said, the launch line up wasn't terrible but a lot of these games were ports of titles that have been out for awhile on other platforms and have been cheaper there too. Launch periods are always full priced releases trying to capitalize on the hype of new hardware but give it some time and wait for some sales and more third party games will probably pick up in sales.
Maybe a partner showcase could still happen but I think as this point Nintendo kinda blew their Spring announcement wad back in April when they unveiled the console. Right now I'm leaning more towards something major not happening as far as a major direct until August or September at this point. Mario's 40th anniversary is coming up and we've hardly heard a peep from Nintendo on it too.
I think this would almost he a no brainer if the camera was at least HD, but yeah for nearly the same price as the Nintendo camera, the novelty is hard to justify the cost even if the ability to clip it onto things like the system or a TV is a good feature to have unlike the first party camera.
Sony's ridiculous corporate push for endless live service games really torpedoed their first party output this generation. For every successful live service like Helldivers 2, they had at least five either tank or get canceled outright leaving their studios scrambling to shift to new projects and continued layoffs. They've needed to "remaster" PS4 games just to fill out their release schedule some. Games like Ratchet and Clank and Astrobot should be their wake up call and stick to what they do best. AAA single player story driven experiences with maybe an online mode here of there to complement the campaign. The live service market at this stage is too oversaturated and the pool of gamers out there don't have endless time and resources to play them all.
I'm not too shocked with the initial wave of systems and pre-orders waltzing out the door relatively quickly. The die-hards were ready for some new Nintendo hardware, and while it's the most expensive Nintendo console ever, It's not too outta whack what with what MS and Sony are selling their consoles for.
I'm more curious as we go through Summer and get into the Fall with how well it will continue to sell. If it remains a somewhat difficult prospect to just waltz into any retailer and buy one, then you know it's selling really well. If subsequent restocks start languishing on shelves for extended periods of time, then that tells you the more casual audience isn't rushing out to buy the system in droves like that did with systems like the Wii and original Switch.
I do think it wasn't a bad time to launch. Kids and such are outta school for the Summer and wanting things to do and the early adopters got a chance at the value bundle with MKW included. And it will give some lead time building up to the Fall and the holiday season for more games to come out and make it a more appealing device even if the only notable AAA launch window games are MK and DK at the moment.
Yeah, won't be picking this up on the principal of thing especially when Sony basically gave away Astrobot's Playroom with every PS5. $10 won't break the bank for most and I'm sure Nintendo will make plenty of money off of it, but with more substantial and better games out there like Fast Fusion for $15, it's just not worth it to me for a glorified tech demo. Maybe if it drops to $5 down the line on some holiday sale, I'd might consider it at that point. I do think maybe once the system is a couple of years old and the launch fervor has died way down, beginning to offer it as a pack in or a free download or part of the Switch Online expansion pass wouldn't be a bad idea.
This was pretty much the Playstation equivalent of Mario Golf on their platforms for years dating back to the PSX days. It was called Hot Shots golf in NA until the PS4 version came out and they started using the international title of Everybodys Golf everywhere. As soon as they used the Hot Shots name as the subtitle to this new entry, I knew it was a nod to what the previous games were called here in the US. It is interesting its now starting to get a multiplatform release.
If it’s the only physical version of a game then yes it’s better than nothing. If it’s a multi-platform release and the PS5 version has the base game on the disc I’ll go that route. At least being able to trade/sell and re-download a game if it’s taken off the eshop for whatever reason is better than nothing.
The inevitable slide towards digital only consoles. You can probably be the farm the PS6 and next gen Xbox are probably going to be digital only consoles.
I'm not a huge fan of the key card releases, but at least it is something tangible that can be re-sold or traded and if the game would be taken off the eshop for whatever reason, the key card will still allow you to access it. At least to date you can still download your old digital games off the wii eshop for example on a system that's pushing 20 years old which at least tells me it's not difficult for these companies to keep access to these older games for a long time.
I mean the original Switch came out in March and Nintendo had about as good of a year one line up as you could have asked for, and coming off the Wii U they kinda had to come out swinging.
I think the bigger question for Switch 2 is going to be it's post launch staying power. Between scalpers and new shiny toy hype it's not surprising the initial launch wave has pretty much pre-sold out. Is it going to be a more difficult system to get ahold of through the remainder of the year including holiday or once Nintendo has flooded western markets with them and you can easily just walk into a store and buy one is the casual crowd gonna adopt the new hardware as quick like they did the original? $300 is an easier ask for many people than $450/$500.
Maybe the looming threat of tariffs and an increased price point might push people to get one quicker I dunno. Let's not forget accessory prices are the highest of any platform too. A second set of joycons is gonna run someone $100 after tax.
If the console winds up being something like the Wii or other consoles where every new wave retailers push into stores gets snapped up quickly, that bodes well for the long term success of the console. If the system starts to sit longer on shelves over the Summer and into Fall, then that's when you'll know the hype has died down once we're past the intitial launch fervor and if the more casual fan is open to it.
The PS5/XSX were hard to get ahold of for a long time too post launch at a higher price point but some of that had to do with covid and more people having extra money from stimulus and having to stay home. It's a much different economic situation now than it was five years ago.
I mean this is really no different then a recent copy of Call of Duty or an Ubi Soft title on PS5/XSX only having a "key" on the disc where you have to download everything to play the game anyways. It's just not nearly as prominently advertised on the box like it is on Switch 2 titles. It's more a little boxed notation on the front or back of the PS5 case requiring download.
The reality is Switch 2 is probably going to be the last console where physical will even be an option. These "key cards" and keys on disc's are just the industry's way to push the consumer and get them used to the inevitable digital only future on consoles. Whenever the PS6 and next gen Xbox are probably gonna be revealed in a couple years down the line, people are really gonna lose their minds when they're digital only systems if key cards are bothering them now.
Got a MK bundle in store at Gamestop after work with a pro controller, a 1TB micro sd card and three zelda amiibos they had available. Was kind of surprised they had a preorders left since they told me they had a pretty long line. Would have done Bravely Default too but it wasn't reservable yet.
$70 should be the standard MSRP for everything on a day one AAA release. If Nintendo was offering some kind of season pass or DLC with that extra cost, then I think it would be worth it more, but as it stands it's just gouging cause they know people will pay it.
Obviously the way to go is to go for the bundle if you can get it and don't mind digital. At least there's a bit of savings and value there. I just hope this doesn't set a standard going forward for Nintendo to charge the extra $10-$20 for first party major titles like a new Zelda of 3D Mario down the line which is just being greedy.
It's going to be a launch window game for the Switch 2 at this stage. Maybe cross-gen too. It'd make more sense to remaster the MP2 and MP3 and get those out for holiday this year so the original trilogy will at be playable in some form on current platforms, especially if Switch 2 is BC.
Yuji Naka hasn't been with Sega in any real capacity since 2006 when he left the company. He'd either been managing his own studio Prope he founded or later working for Square Enix. His insider trading conviction had to do with his time at SE.
Really sad the NA/PAL versions won't be getting the Lunar games. Maybe had something to do with the localization rights, but getting those on the US version would have been huge in my book.
The stock sale probably bought them a couple more years but the reality is they're going to need to do more to cut costs and that includes closing additional stores.
In the west at least, pack in software has been a thing since the NES days. Admittedly not every system has had a pack-in on day one i.e. the N64 and GCN did not, but there were subsequent bundles and editions of those consoles that did. Coming off the relatively weak sales the GCN, I think Reggie was ultimately right for pushing for it's inclusion with the value proposition of the console and they sold 100 million Wiis in part because of it. That nest-egg of the very profitable DS/Wii era has given Nintendo a good cushion to protect their long term interests and now it's probably gonna pay even more dividends now with the launch of Switch Sports and people being reminded of the good times that had with Wii Sports.
While I understand Nintendo is going to put a huge focus on the expansion pass tier of the membership so people will shell out the $50 a year, I don't think the should be completely ignore the people who just want to spend $20 to play online. They should be making more of an effort to add more NES and SNES games to that tier and while the Earthbound games are nice and a huge win, it was still very few and far between on games being added prior to that. I know there's a cost to licensing games, but I think there's more they could be adding too.
As long as the shared wallet thing continues between Switch, 3DS, and Wii U even after they turn off the ability to use your credit card and eshop cards on the Wii U and 3DS, hopefully you can still redeem eshop gift cards on your Switch and those funds will show up on the 3DS and Wii U eshops still to make any last min purchases.
The original DC game was a bit of a stiff and clunky mess, so any reboot of the series at this point was probably going to be a vast improvement especially since they took inspiration from the modern Crash games.
No I don't think a dedicated portable is going to fly in this day and age. Even the 3DS was a bit of an aberration in a world of tablets and smart phones during the last decade, and even it only managed to sell about half of what the original DS sold over it's lifetime.
Nintendo did the right thing with the Switch. They merged it's strength of handheld portables with it's home console market to give it enough of a differentiation in both the mobile and home console markets. While you can use some smart phones and tablets on a TV, it's not as seamless as it is on Switch with it's included dock and the portable aspect gives it enough of a differentiator from the power boxes Playstation and Xbox come out with that have to married to a TV or monitor to be used.
Nintendo also can focus all of it's internal game development on one device. Coming out with a new dedicated portable means splintering/out-sourcing resources to support a second system and subsequently would have potentially weaker libraries on both. This is why the Switch Lite is perfect for those who only care about the portable gaming aspect of the hardware.
If Nintendo wants to come out with little one offs like their Mario and Zelda Game & Watches, or heck, even a Game Boy mini I think that is fine, but it definitely shouldn't be a fully supported second piece of hardware like they did during the Wii/DS and Wii U/3DS eras. The world changed quite a bit during the last decade and I think Nintendo hit a homerun perfectly with the Switch to keep themselves relevant in the dedicated console market.
Last year Q1 was primarily during lockdown for many countries, so of course at home entertainment would've been at an all time clip during that stretch including the release of Animal Crossing, so it's not too surprising profits were down a notch year over year with many things opened up again.
I use a chromecast hooked up to my older 12 year old 1080p set that sits adjacent to my main tv for streaming stuff. Most TVs probably sold in the last 5 years or so, unless very low end, probably have some form of smart TV functionality.
It is odd that Switch, for as popular and portable as the device is, that it does not have many streaming apps. Especially at this age of it's life cycle. Not that it would be used by a lot of people. I remember a couple of times I went to work and I left my phone at home by accident but had my 3DS is my bag and I'd use youtube on it during break at work.
Mario Kart 9 would be best saved for the Switch successor at this point. I know 8 is technically a Wii U port, but so many people have only played it on Switch and keeping the series to one per generation helps it's longevity and keeps it fresher.
I'd say at $20 and you like platformers (or wait for PS Plus/Gamepass), it's worth a try. Definitely not at $60. There's a charm to the art style of the game and some of the costumes are creative. It's just too bad the main part of the game is a pretty mediocre at it's best experience and bland at it's worst.
Comments 174
Re: Switch 2 Storms Towards Its Forecast Target With 17.37 Million Units Sold
I'm sure this is pretty spread out amongst regions as I don't know a ton of people who have one compared to the original Switch. It probably doesn't hurt it's still seen as the more affordable option in many regions compared to PS5/XSX despite being more expensive then Switch 1 was. Maybe word is starting to get out too of potential price increases down the road cause of RAM price increases and some people are buying one now before it gets more expensive.
Re: GameStop Kicks Off 2026 By Reportedly Shutting "Hundreds" Of Stores
Gamestops two main focuses to try and save the company right now are Crypto and Trading Cards mainly Pokemon. They're putting a big focus on TCGs and grading especially. About 470 US stores have closed in the first couple weeks of January as they continue to widdle down their overall retail footprint.
The reason physical games continue to dwindle is cause fewer and fewer people are buying them year over year, which is why if you walk into a GameStop these days, the games sections have shrunk and you see a bigger focus on trading cards and collectibles and toys.
There's only so much demand on the retro side too so it's hard to say how much time the companies stores have left at this point. Maybe a few more years? The company itself may survive or be sold off as some kind of ecommerce hub, but needless to say most of it's remaining retail operations are on borrowed time at this point.
Re: Japanese Charts: Nintendo's Dominance Continues As Switch 2 Flies Past 4 Million Units Sold
Japan loves it's portable gaming be it smart phones or consoles. It also helps they have that region locked cheaper SKU. With the slow down of the system over holidays (at least in the West) I'll be interested to see how well it's been selling as we get into 2026 now that you can just walk into any retailer and buy one.
Re: Nintendo's Investors Are Reportedly "Spooked" As Stock Slides
I think theres many people still content with Switch 1 and there are still plenty of cross generational releases and games coming to Switch 1 this year. Combine with it being more expensive and the economy basically in the tank its not surprising many people are waiting awhile to jump on board.
Re: The US Suffered Its Worst November Since 1995 In Terms Of Hardware Sales
Fore starters in regards to this, could you even walk into most retailers and even find a new Xbox at it's inflated prices? About the only places I see them still are some retailers online and buying directly from MS themselves nevermind the fact there was no discount for them on in November even if you wanted one. That's essentially one of the big three basically being non-factor this holiday.
People were clearly opting for the discounted PS5 because A LOT of people still haven't jumped onto this generation's band wagon. It's the most powerful system and has a huge library of games. Switch 2 was still full price more or less outside of a few retailers offering that $50 discount for a short time on the MK World bundle. It's got some good games, but it's definitely had sales slow down which I think is a factor of economic conditions with people having limited budgets, people not feeling the need to upgrade yet from Switch 1, and the initial launch fervor dying down some.
Problem for Sony and Nintendo is rising component prices. They're probably going to have to raise prices again which is going to slow sales next year, and for all intents and purposes the country is in a recession. A lot of peoples have been laid off and with rising prices, people are being very careful of spending the money they do have even on Christmas stuff.
Re: Nintendo's Shares Take A Tumble Amid Renewed Chip Shortage Worries
All I gotta say is be ready for PS6 and the next gen Xbox to be $1K + at launch. I'd say PS5 and Switch 2 probably will jump at least a $100 next year at some point. Series X will probably get another price hike too even if MS is hardly making many current gen consoles since you barely see them in stores they are still sold in. If you've been on the fence about a console, with holiday sales and such, it's about as good of a time to get one if you haven't.
The only silver lining to these price increases is it may see MS and Sony push off launches of their new hardware a little longer (mabye 2028?) to milk current gen a bit more since many people still feel this generation hasn't gotten many worthwhile titles due to Covid and the ridiculous push for live service titles, many of which ultimately got canceled.
Re: Pac-Man World 2 Re-Pac Switch And Switch 2 Performance & Resolution Detailed
Have it reserved for the original Switch and still wondering if there is any form of upgrade path to Switch 2? Buying as few GKCs as possible.
Re: Pac-Man World 2 Is Getting The Re-Pac Treatment
Still hoping for a Switch 2 upgrade path.
Re: Poll: What Review Score Would You Give 'Kirby & The Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World'?
I think for those who bought and enjoyed the game on the S1, the $20 upgrade is worth it to me for the performance boost and extra content. $80 as an entire package and an entry point is a lot to ask unless you have absolutely nothing else to play on the console right now. I'd say track down a used S1 copy of the original game and play that first, and if you enjoy the game, do the $20 upgrade afterwards.
Re: Yooka-Replaylee Gets A Launch Date On Switch 2, Full Physical Release Confirmed
These kinds of games are a good litmus test to see if the game on cart diehards are willing to pay the premium over the digital or getting it cheaper on another platform.
Re: Rumour: Sony Is Gunning For The Switch 2 With A Handheld, Dockable PS6
Nothing would really surprise me, but Sony just increased their price on the base hardware by $50. Even a new console coming out in 2027 probably isn't going to be any cheaper than $599 and a portable PS5 calibur handheld won't be cheap either. The way things are shaping up and costs are going up, a $500 Switch 2 with a pack in game (if Nintendo keeps their pricing the same) might seem like a downright bargain compared to a new Sony portable and the ROG Ally X.
Re: Could This Mysterious Super Mario 40th Anniversary X Account Be Legit?
Give me Super Mario 3D All Stars 2 with Super Mario 64 DS, Super Mario 3D Land, and Super Mario Galaxy 2 and I’ll be a happy camper.
Re: GRID Autosport Ready To Race On Switch 2 Thanks To Latest Firmware Update
Thats awesome it uses the analog triggers of the wireless gcn controller. That makes a big difference on sim racers like this one.
Re: Third-Party Launch Games On Switch 2 Reportedly Sold "Very Low Numbers"
I'm sure it's a handful of different factors. $450 to $500 isn't exactly a drop in the bucket for most people and that's not including other accessories or games too. The only reason I was really able to get a S2 on day one was because I used part of my tax return to pay off my pre-order and the only other games I bought on day one besides the bundle were Fast Fusion and Bravely Default. Just getting the initial upfront cost out of the way of the hardware is a big hurdle for many and usually doesn't leave a ton of free cash for many other things right off the bat.
As far as key cards go, they don't bother me much cause they still have the benefit of being traded or resold and will allow you to redownload a game even if it's been pulled off the digital store front and it's not like we haven't had key discs on Playstation and Xbox consoles for awhile now too. To me boycotting key cards is a double edged sword. Sure you're sending a message to publishers that we'll only support physical on cart releases, but also to them it's potentially saying with low physical media sales in general that the medium is dying so we just won't bother with with the cost of any sort of physical release period and keep everything digital. To me it's all moot though. Switch 2 is probably going to be the last console where any sort of physical media is an option and I'd bet the farm PS6 and the next gen Xbox in a few years down the line are going to be digital only boxes.
That all being said, the launch line up wasn't terrible but a lot of these games were ports of titles that have been out for awhile on other platforms and have been cheaper there too. Launch periods are always full priced releases trying to capitalize on the hype of new hardware but give it some time and wait for some sales and more third party games will probably pick up in sales.
Re: Donkey Kong Bananza Direct Revealed For Wednesday, 18th June 2025
Maybe a partner showcase could still happen but I think as this point Nintendo kinda blew their Spring announcement wad back in April when they unveiled the console. Right now I'm leaning more towards something major not happening as far as a major direct until August or September at this point. Mario's 40th anniversary is coming up and we've hardly heard a peep from Nintendo on it too.
Re: Review: Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera - Shocking Image Quality, But Its Cuteness Will Snare You
I think this would almost he a no brainer if the camera was at least HD, but yeah for nearly the same price as the Nintendo camera, the novelty is hard to justify the cost even if the ability to clip it onto things like the system or a TV is a good feature to have unlike the first party camera.
Re: As Switch 2 Breaks Records Worldwide, Sony Reminds Us That PS5 Still Exists
Sony's ridiculous corporate push for endless live service games really torpedoed their first party output this generation. For every successful live service like Helldivers 2, they had at least five either tank or get canceled outright leaving their studios scrambling to shift to new projects and continued layoffs. They've needed to "remaster" PS4 games just to fill out their release schedule some. Games like Ratchet and Clank and Astrobot should be their wake up call and stick to what they do best. AAA single player story driven experiences with maybe an online mode here of there to complement the campaign. The live service market at this stage is too oversaturated and the pool of gamers out there don't have endless time and resources to play them all.
Re: It's Official, Switch 2 Has Sold Over 3.5 Million Units Globally In Its First Four Days
I'm not too shocked with the initial wave of systems and pre-orders waltzing out the door relatively quickly. The die-hards were ready for some new Nintendo hardware, and while it's the most expensive Nintendo console ever, It's not too outta whack what with what MS and Sony are selling their consoles for.
I'm more curious as we go through Summer and get into the Fall with how well it will continue to sell. If it remains a somewhat difficult prospect to just waltz into any retailer and buy one, then you know it's selling really well. If subsequent restocks start languishing on shelves for extended periods of time, then that tells you the more casual audience isn't rushing out to buy the system in droves like that did with systems like the Wii and original Switch.
I do think it wasn't a bad time to launch. Kids and such are outta school for the Summer and wanting things to do and the early adopters got a chance at the value bundle with MKW included. And it will give some lead time building up to the Fall and the holiday season for more games to come out and make it a more appealing device even if the only notable AAA launch window games are MK and DK at the moment.
Re: Review: Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S (Switch 2) - A Disappointing Update For A Modern Puzzle Classic
Maybe worth getting at $20 when on sale. No way worth paying the full price especially if you have the original Switch version.
Re: Review: Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour - Surprising, Delightful, And You Know Where It Belongs
Yeah, won't be picking this up on the principal of thing especially when Sony basically gave away Astrobot's Playroom with every PS5. $10 won't break the bank for most and I'm sure Nintendo will make plenty of money off of it, but with more substantial and better games out there like Fast Fusion for $15, it's just not worth it to me for a glorified tech demo. Maybe if it drops to $5 down the line on some holiday sale, I'd might consider it at that point. I do think maybe once the system is a couple of years old and the launch fervor has died way down, beginning to offer it as a pack in or a free download or part of the Switch Online expansion pass wouldn't be a bad idea.
Re: Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots Has Been Rated By The ESRB
This was pretty much the Playstation equivalent of Mario Golf on their platforms for years dating back to the PSX days. It was called Hot Shots golf in NA until the PS4 version came out and they started using the international title of Everybodys Golf everywhere. As soon as they used the Hot Shots name as the subtitle to this new entry, I knew it was a nod to what the previous games were called here in the US. It is interesting its now starting to get a multiplatform release.
Re: 'The Hundred Line' Dev Too Kyo Games Is Still "On The Brink Of Going Under"
I bought the CE so did my part. Hopefully they'll be able to stick around.
Re: ICYMI: 12 Switch Games Will Receive Free Switch 2 Upgrades
Lord knows Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Age of Calamity could use some help in the resolution and frame rate department.
Re: Talking Point: Will You Be Buying Any Game-Key Card Switch 2 Games?
If it’s the only physical version of a game then yes it’s better than nothing. If it’s a multi-platform release and the PS5 version has the base game on the disc I’ll go that route. At least being able to trade/sell and re-download a game if it’s taken off the eshop for whatever reason is better than nothing.
Re: Limited Run's Atlus Switch 2 Collector's Edition Is A 'Game-Key Card' Release
The inevitable slide towards digital only consoles. You can probably be the farm the PS6 and next gen Xbox are probably going to be digital only consoles.
I'm not a huge fan of the key card releases, but at least it is something tangible that can be re-sold or traded and if the game would be taken off the eshop for whatever reason, the key card will still allow you to access it. At least to date you can still download your old digital games off the wii eshop for example on a system that's pushing 20 years old which at least tells me it's not difficult for these companies to keep access to these older games for a long time.
Re: Nintendo Of America President On Timing Of Switch 2's Release Date
I mean the original Switch came out in March and Nintendo had about as good of a year one line up as you could have asked for, and coming off the Wii U they kinda had to come out swinging.
I think the bigger question for Switch 2 is going to be it's post launch staying power. Between scalpers and new shiny toy hype it's not surprising the initial launch wave has pretty much pre-sold out. Is it going to be a more difficult system to get ahold of through the remainder of the year including holiday or once Nintendo has flooded western markets with them and you can easily just walk into a store and buy one is the casual crowd gonna adopt the new hardware as quick like they did the original? $300 is an easier ask for many people than $450/$500.
Maybe the looming threat of tariffs and an increased price point might push people to get one quicker I dunno. Let's not forget accessory prices are the highest of any platform too. A second set of joycons is gonna run someone $100 after tax.
If the console winds up being something like the Wii or other consoles where every new wave retailers push into stores gets snapped up quickly, that bodes well for the long term success of the console. If the system starts to sit longer on shelves over the Summer and into Fall, then that's when you'll know the hype has died down once we're past the intitial launch fervor and if the more casual fan is open to it.
The PS5/XSX were hard to get ahold of for a long time too post launch at a higher price point but some of that had to do with covid and more people having extra money from stimulus and having to stay home. It's a much different economic situation now than it was five years ago.
Re: Every Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card Release
I mean this is really no different then a recent copy of Call of Duty or an Ubi Soft title on PS5/XSX only having a "key" on the disc where you have to download everything to play the game anyways. It's just not nearly as prominently advertised on the box like it is on Switch 2 titles. It's more a little boxed notation on the front or back of the PS5 case requiring download.
The reality is Switch 2 is probably going to be the last console where physical will even be an option. These "key cards" and keys on disc's are just the industry's way to push the consumer and get them used to the inevitable digital only future on consoles. Whenever the PS6 and next gen Xbox are probably gonna be revealed in a couple years down the line, people are really gonna lose their minds when they're digital only systems if key cards are bothering them now.
Re: Poll: So, Did You Manage To Get A Switch 2 Pre-Order In? (North America)
Got a MK bundle in store at Gamestop after work with a pro controller, a 1TB micro sd card and three zelda amiibos they had available. Was kind of surprised they had a preorders left since they told me they had a pretty long line. Would have done Bravely Default too but it wasn't reservable yet.
Re: Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle Will Be A "Limited Time" Offer
$70 should be the standard MSRP for everything on a day one AAA release. If Nintendo was offering some kind of season pass or DLC with that extra cost, then I think it would be worth it more, but as it stands it's just gouging cause they know people will pay it.
Obviously the way to go is to go for the bundle if you can get it and don't mind digital. At least there's a bit of savings and value there. I just hope this doesn't set a standard going forward for Nintendo to charge the extra $10-$20 for first party major titles like a new Zelda of 3D Mario down the line which is just being greedy.
Re: Random: It's Now Been Seven Years Since Metroid Prime 4 Was Announced
It's going to be a launch window game for the Switch 2 at this stage. Maybe cross-gen too. It'd make more sense to remaster the MP2 and MP3 and get those out for holiday this year so the original trilogy will at be playable in some form on current platforms, especially if Switch 2 is BC.
Re: Hands On: Sonic Superstars Is Exactly What Sonic 4 Should Have Been
@glaemay
Yuji Naka hasn't been with Sega in any real capacity since 2006 when he left the company. He'd either been managing his own studio Prope he founded or later working for Square Enix. His insider trading conviction had to do with his time at SE.
Re: Sonic Origins Plus Reportedly Out In June, Adds Amy Rose And 12 Game Gear Games
I'll probably do what I did with Sonic Mania and double dip. Digital on Switch day one, expanded plus edition physical on Playstation.
Re: Nintendo Reveals Official MAR10 Day Switch Console Bundle
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/6p0AAOSwZrJgPssL/s-l500.jpg
Pretty bland. I'd say at the least they could've brought this one back from a few years back if they were gonna do another Mario edition.
Re: Deep Breath, Kirby Mouthful Mode Plushies Are Finally On Their Way
Why someone hasn't gone to Nintendo to license and make a Carby RC or toy car is beyond me.
Re: SEGA Genesis Mini 2 Games List - Every Mega Drive And SEGA CD Game, All 61 Titles
Really sad the NA/PAL versions won't be getting the Lunar games. Maybe had something to do with the localization rights, but getting those on the US version would have been huge in my book.
Re: GameStop Staff Layoffs Are Announced As Chief Financial Officer Leaves
The stock sale probably bought them a couple more years but the reality is they're going to need to do more to cut costs and that includes closing additional stores.
Re: Reggie Had To Fight For Wii Sports As A Pack-In, And Miyamoto Wasn't Happy
In the west at least, pack in software has been a thing since the NES days. Admittedly not every system has had a pack-in on day one i.e. the N64 and GCN did not, but there were subsequent bundles and editions of those consoles that did. Coming off the relatively weak sales the GCN, I think Reggie was ultimately right for pushing for it's inclusion with the value proposition of the console and they sold 100 million Wiis in part because of it. That nest-egg of the very profitable DS/Wii era has given Nintendo a good cushion to protect their long term interests and now it's probably gonna pay even more dividends now with the launch of Switch Sports and people being reminded of the good times that had with Wii Sports.
Re: Yes, Hogwarts Legacy Really Is Coming To The Nintendo Switch
720p 30fps here we come!
Re: Nintendo Highlights Upcoming N64 Releases In Latest 'Switch Online + Expansion Pack - Overview Trailer'
While I understand Nintendo is going to put a huge focus on the expansion pass tier of the membership so people will shell out the $50 a year, I don't think the should be completely ignore the people who just want to spend $20 to play online. They should be making more of an effort to add more NES and SNES games to that tier and while the Earthbound games are nice and a huge win, it was still very few and far between on games being added prior to that. I know there's a cost to licensing games, but I think there's more they could be adding too.
Re: My Little Pony: A Maretime Bay Adventure Gallops Onto Switch This Spring
Meanwhile the handful of remaining Bronies lamenting the fact they'll never get the FiM game they always yearned for.
Re: Here Is This Week's 3DS eShop Chart, Pokémon Crystal Is At The Top (Again)
As long as the shared wallet thing continues between Switch, 3DS, and Wii U even after they turn off the ability to use your credit card and eshop cards on the Wii U and 3DS, hopefully you can still redeem eshop gift cards on your Switch and those funds will show up on the 3DS and Wii U eshops still to make any last min purchases.
Re: Dreamcast Star 'Kao The Kangaroo' Is Making A Surprise Comeback On Switch
The original DC game was a bit of a stiff and clunky mess, so any reboot of the series at this point was probably going to be a vast improvement especially since they took inspiration from the modern Crash games.
Re: WRC 10 Power Slides Onto Switch In March
I'm always interested in any sim racer that comes to Switch. Grid Autosport is a lot of fun especially with the analog triggers on a GCN controller.
Re: Sonic's Co-Creator Yuji Naka Made A New Game, And You Can Play It Right Now
Good to see Prope is still going strong lol
Re: Jet Set Radio Artist And Former Yakuza Director Ryuta Ueda Returns To Sega
Jet Set Radio & Future HD on Switch.
Re: Soapbox: Playdate Sold Out In 20 Minutes - Is It Time For A New Nintendo Handheld?
No I don't think a dedicated portable is going to fly in this day and age. Even the 3DS was a bit of an aberration in a world of tablets and smart phones during the last decade, and even it only managed to sell about half of what the original DS sold over it's lifetime.
Nintendo did the right thing with the Switch. They merged it's strength of handheld portables with it's home console market to give it enough of a differentiation in both the mobile and home console markets. While you can use some smart phones and tablets on a TV, it's not as seamless as it is on Switch with it's included dock and the portable aspect gives it enough of a differentiator from the power boxes Playstation and Xbox come out with that have to married to a TV or monitor to be used.
Nintendo also can focus all of it's internal game development on one device. Coming out with a new dedicated portable means splintering/out-sourcing resources to support a second system and subsequently would have potentially weaker libraries on both. This is why the Switch Lite is perfect for those who only care about the portable gaming aspect of the hardware.
If Nintendo wants to come out with little one offs like their Mario and Zelda Game & Watches, or heck, even a Game Boy mini I think that is fine, but it definitely shouldn't be a fully supported second piece of hardware like they did during the Wii/DS and Wii U/3DS eras. The world changed quite a bit during the last decade and I think Nintendo hit a homerun perfectly with the Switch to keep themselves relevant in the dedicated console market.
Re: Nintendo's Profits Drop As Expected, But It Remains In A Strong Position
Last year Q1 was primarily during lockdown for many countries, so of course at home entertainment would've been at an all time clip during that stretch including the release of Animal Crossing, so it's not too surprising profits were down a notch year over year with many things opened up again.
Re: Netflix No Longer Works On Wii U Or 3DS, So Where's The Switch Version?
I use a chromecast hooked up to my older 12 year old 1080p set that sits adjacent to my main tv for streaming stuff. Most TVs probably sold in the last 5 years or so, unless very low end, probably have some form of smart TV functionality.
It is odd that Switch, for as popular and portable as the device is, that it does not have many streaming apps. Especially at this age of it's life cycle. Not that it would be used by a lot of people. I remember a couple of times I went to work and I left my phone at home by accident but had my 3DS is my bag and I'd use youtube on it during break at work.
Re: Talking Point: Should Nintendo Do More DLC For Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Or Just Release Mario Kart 9 Already?
Mario Kart 9 would be best saved for the Switch successor at this point. I know 8 is technically a Wii U port, but so many people have only played it on Switch and keeping the series to one per generation helps it's longevity and keeps it fresher.
Re: Global Sales Data Suggests Balan Wonderworld Has Massively Flopped
I'd say at $20 and you like platformers (or wait for PS Plus/Gamepass), it's worth a try. Definitely not at $60. There's a charm to the art style of the game and some of the costumes are creative. It's just too bad the main part of the game is a pretty mediocre at it's best experience and bland at it's worst.