Great to see iconic devs with quite some Nintendo history getting their first Switch 2 experiences coming up soon, another thing I really liked about the recent presentation
They just went and delivered one of their best indie presentations, heck, maybe the best one ever (wait, one had Cadence of Hyrule and Cuphead at the same presentation...)
Besides the big variety of genres, It was really surprising to see two titles that caught my interest in PlayStation and Xbox presentations coming to Switch 2 at the same time, and the many shadow-drops were incredibly pleasant to see too, including of course Blue Prince.
Suffice to say, the Switch 2 development kit mania is already here, and it's just getting good
The game is looking very impressive, and hopefully it can keep that visual fidelity on the final game, while also having some improvements to image clarity. Seems the new engine overhaul is making wonders
What I'm more concerned this time is how closely it will be to Legends Arceus' innovative formula that in my opinion, should become the standard for any future open-world turn-based Pokémon games. The ZR button is important!
Well I'm glad! Besides missing an enormous install base, this decision makes important sense for the franchise. The only thing I want to recognise from the leaks are that this game is apparently marking a new beginning for the Pokémon development environment, and that's something I hope they show at its fullest here, with the power of the Switch 2 being utilised the best they can right now. Not to mention, the engine is also having a big rework for the Switch 2 era, beginning with this game.
I say that because the game was likely in development much before they even got their first Switch 2 dev kits, so there could be certain Switch 1 origins here (the lighting model for example). Image quality also looks a bit soft, are they even using DLSS here? Would be surprised if not.
Anything else though is looking like a major improvement. The volumetric clouds (possibly tied to a new mechanic) and the fact you can now dive underwater in an open-world are examples of things not possible before.
Who knows what they could achieve with the hardware with more experience, and especially, if a Pokémon game is looking this good, who knows how the next Zelda or Xenoblade games could look like...
Let's see... between the angry Bird, the Undertale Dog and the eyelashes(!) gecko, hmm maybe I'll pick the grass starter this time, it's been a long time for me in that respect.
Also turns out, Fennekin is not the dog representative in the Chinese Zodiac anymore, not after seeing the playful Pomeranian
The starters look very interesting, I have some questions about these new Pikachu forms, but mainly, I'm very satisfied by how more mature the protagonists look this time compared to the previous game.
Besides, the visuals actually look pretty impressive. Maybe something on the level of a PS4 game, and that's truly a compliment for a Pokémon game. The lighting could be more impressive, but the attention to detail is truly shining here
I hope the final game looks the same or even better than this, keep it up!
Wait, when? Are they... finally taking their time and not rushing a release date so soon? Impressive for Game Freak, considering this has been in development for more time compared to any previous mainline entry (4 years if I'm not wrong). Or maybe they just don't want to compete with GTA 6? Not likely actually, but it's amusing to think that I would expect it to release early next year at least.
But sadly that also means we will see a drought in news for these new games for quite some time.. unless well... um, these games are so big that... the will be more lenient to at least share one new piece of info every month... I hope at least, considering the development time they are giving this game (as well as the inevitable DLC)
Interesting use of time, as if every month they found a way to entertain us with games before Gen X releases.
Hey Pokemon fan! Do you consider yourself "impatient"?! Why not first play some of FireRed or LeafGreen on the same console?
There's been some question if this version uses any current-gen features, mainly ray-tracing.
Seeing it on action, it's clear there's no ray-tracing here. On the Series S, it couldn't reach a stable 60fps with RT on, so for this version, it wouldn't been running at such stable performance with a decently high resolution.
But to be honest, RT for this game makes such a big difference for the art direction. I really would appreciate a 30fps mode with ray-tracing on (same with Fortnite...)
As for everything else, I would expect draw distance and other non-RT stuff to also be on par. Strangely, saturation is a bit different on this version, which means some areas have a lighter shade on them than even the last-gen outings. It's strange, but hopefully not too intrusive.
Definitive versions? I guess that means they are not making new Gen 1 remakes anytime soon. Still, it would be great someone at Pokemon experimented one day with the HD-2D engine
Unless that image is something cruelly elaborated, or just plans that somehow made it that far, it's indeed the strongest evidence of the game coming to Switch 2, more than just coding.
We'll just wait and see, but to be honest the chances already became very high when Docked and Handheld settings leaked, you can't go that far and not get good results when you already achieved decent handheld performance in the first place.
Also, why does the image have one bigger Switch 2 unit compared to the others? That's amusing
Since this is Monolith Soft we are talking about, I honestly expected them to make bigger changes, like they did with the Switch Zelda games. Things like texture resolution and alpha effects/textures are just more exposed in higher resolution... but hey, this is still something good! But for the rest of the trilogy, I wouldn't mind more visual upgrades, even if that means asking $70 for every one of them. Maybe they realized this game would need a Naughty Dog-level remaster to look much better, and that would've been off the $5 upgrade budget. Anyway, this is just the beginning of the Xenoblade franchise on the new console..
What a surprise announcement, turns out that hidden 60fps mode did truly meant something, right...? I expected something like this to be part of a bigger Xenoblade-related announcement for the Switch 2, but I guess this entry being different than the trilogy gave it a privilege
As a Switch 2 exclusive, there are some matters about this game. I think people have just been judging the game out of visuals alone. Besides good artistic direction, they look kinda... incomplete for a Switch 2 game, like if many visual effects like motion blur and ambient shading, important for a game of this genre were disabled...
The game is clearly very inspired by Dino Crisis, and that's where the comparison points mostly are. Right now I can only suggest more review outlets (that includes you, hrm?) to care about this game, so the consumers can make their choices, because it looks like mileage may vary with this one.
This suddenly gives interesting comparisons to Super Mario Maker. It this game had some kind of battle system implemented on it, it would actually be like trying to create an actual Pokémon top-down game
This only probes the devs are probably not interested on porting the game to the console. The game is actually possible since Star Wars Outlaws, which was made by the same team and even used the same engine, became one of the best ports on the system. They devs are Massive Entertaiment too, they just need a porting team to do the work, and that's probably where RedLynx comes at, they're the ones who ported Outlaws to Switch 2 after all. Maybe one day...
"Nintendo itself probably won't be too keen on having explicit references to a rival company mentioned in the collection" Sorry, but you'll have to prove me with more facts for that statement to be considered something. Maybe when the game releases that "gossip" will be established.
The single fact of using Pokémon abilities to affect or alter the overworld.. now that's something I hope Game Freak could at least experiment one day. You can do it to an extent in BoTW after all
No shadows in this version? Is it really too demanding?
I also have a question regarding which version was reviewed here, because the game recieved a Day 1 Patch after its release that fixed everything wrong with performance previously.
No really, the game acually ran 20fps and below every single time. Somehow, the patch fixed that without compromising too much, but some light sources are darker apparently.
Weird situation really. Maybe it was the resolution?
Take a break? Maybe, until the next Like a Dragon game or Kiwami 4 at least...
On the meantime, they could bring some recent Yakuza titles for the console, especially Yakuza Pirate in Hawaii... 😌
Once again, more than 100GB!
To be honest, I don't know if it should stay that way to keep texture resolution high, or cram it down and reduce texture quality as a consequence. What do people think?
This was one of the best announcements of the Direct for me, especially remembering Turok's history on Nintendo consoles.
If that was Switch 2 footage, then it wouldn't be a huge surprise, we're talking about Saber Interactive here, after all. Hmm, maybe they could also upgrade The Witcher on Switch 2?
I'd say it's been a good one actually, many games there look promising, even if there were some exceptions people expected... cough Metaphor: Clair Obscur.. Wilds stops coughing already
But the fact many of these games are having either vague Summer releases or June/July releases is interesting. It seems to imply we will either see some surprise announcements/deep dives before Summer, or a general Direct could still be coming before June? The earlier is more likely, but I just need more info on The Duskbloods!
The game even at 1080p looks blurry most of the time. What is good is to see it being that close to the Series S version instead of the messy last-gen one.
I guess that's something for it, but I still think it deserves even better, considering for how much time this Metroid game has been in development. The franchise itself needs media expansion in fact, this game was just the beginning of a new continuity according to Tanabe. This means more universe expansion and such.
Exciting for having the game itself, why is it looking so rough? Low-quality cascade shadows, not quite high imae quality, unimpressive lighting and texture work? Are they even basing it on the Next-Gen Upgrade?
So many Bestheda games are coming, but there are still two franchises that haven't been announced yet. Both Starfield and Doom have been rumoured to come. Particularly, a The Dark Ages port by Panic Button themselves would be great. But I guess they first want to release their first games and see how they perform, so physical or not, I would still support these releases, even if I can't understand why not even a Game Key Card is offered here...
Somehow? I mean this game (quite infamously) didn't have a 60fps option on the other consoles. And even for this game to have it and not Sparking Zero is the authentic irony...
Well I guess this means they will be implementing a 60fps mode on the other consoles. This port looks promising, but how it will compare remains to be seen.
and also somehow it's coming to Switch 1, just like Sparking Zero. Oh, the comparisons will be interesting!
What a way to end the Direct, with an AAA current-gen remake! Maybe it had struggles on other platforms, but this is also Virtuos' first Switch 2 game if I'm not wrong, and these guys were one of the tech wizards of the original Switch, they ported The Outer Worlds on it after all.
I'm guessing there will be special customizations here to keep the visual fidelity at first glance at least, it looks interesting
This will likely be a promotional video to kick-off the celebrations, just like 2016. It would be very amusing though, if they left a little hint of what's coming next at the end
But reflecting on it, and now that I realised it, that video wasn't just a random commercial, it was a heartfelt showcase of the "Pokémon culture" that fans cultivated over the years. In fact, most, if not all the marketing since then (until Gen 8), really resonated with that mentality. Live-action commercials with clips from the games themselves, of fans of all ages playing the games... Honestly, kudos to the marketing department of TPCi at the time, for finding the ultimate way of promoting a multi-million dollar franchise.
It will also feature Switch 1 games, so unless they announce Cloud editions for Switch 1 while native for Switch 2, expect some smaller-scale but still fun titles during these 30 minutes.
Right now I can see devs taking their time (and making patient schedules) for porting their most well-known last-gen/cross-gen games for the console. Personally it would be cool for me to finally see Tales of Arise and Final Fantasy XV coming for the console.
Anything current-gen will be fascinating to see on the new console. As long as it can run well on Series S and Steam Deck, there's a big chance for it. Marvel Rivals for example, is more demanding than it actually seems to be. If it came to Switch 2 it would likely be based on Series S visuals but at 30fps, which would at least be better than the last-gen PS4 port they released last year.
Yeah, Clair Obscur of course is something I wanna see on the console, Alan Wake 2 would be an impressive port too, but I'm also aware of the wild Monster Hunter for Switch 2 rumours at the start of the year, that's something that interests me
I honestly also hope to see Microsoft's publishers having some presence. Starfield, Diablo IV, Forza Horizon, Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves...? What happened to those rumours?
A Nintendo Direct just after their financial results sounds like a good combination. Even if there aren't first-party announcements, the potential for ports is very big.
Last time they held a Partner Showcase, maybe it lacked the substance it needed, but even with just 27 minutes they showcased plenty of games.
I just hope they manage to keep this presentation big and important. And maybe great. Yeah, big, important and great is the wishful mantra for every Nintendo Direct, especially in this new Switch 2 era.
I wonder though, when will we see a normal Nintendo Direct, could we see one before June? Yoshi and Fire Emblem would at least need some info for example.
@AussieMcBucket
Many years ago, basically the same story happened with a Steep port for the original Switch, complete with the pause and "focus on current content updates".
The difference? Besides the demo and the Creator's Voice being evidence, Borderlands 4 is a bigger budget game as well as a more notable IP in the overall context, which at least gives me hope they won't forget about this port.
I mean, alongside Star Wars Outlaws, the main purpose of the announcement was to show how the console can run demanding current-gen games, and Unreal Engine 5 in this case. Hmmm?
The fact that even an entertainment centered site like Variety is covering this just shows how scandalous a story like this can be. This is hard to believe, but there is some hindsight about this announcement.
I know the game is very demanding and can only run on 720p and 30fps on Series S, but this game was actually running at some point on the hardware, docked at least. And while there were drops, these were evident only on a specific moment. In fact, even off-screen, the game looked pretty decent docked. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ulp2LxEs4
However, image quality was found to be pretty blurry, either lower or on the same level as Series S, which led to many questions about how it would run on the less capable handheld mode.
Well turns out, that's very likely the main challenge with this port. I suppose they actually got it running docked, but without the optimization knowledge they seemingly pushed it to some kind of limit to the point they couldn't make an acceptable handheld mode version.
And here's the interesting part: not coincidentally, a Steam Deck verified conversion was released last December, which proves this game can indeed run on handheld.
However, after it previously couldn't run even on the lowest settings, this mode has downscaled the visuals even below the lowest preset to something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJ4DXRNTuc
I have a theory, and this mode is actually how the Switch 2 version looked when handheld, but they simply didn't want to downscale the visuals to such levels, and now they're stuck between keeping the visual fidelity and mantaining performance, apparently...
Not to mention, the metrics prove this is a very CPU-bound game, and I wonder if the console has enough of that to keep the tasks doable.
The thing is, I don't wanna believe this will never come to Switch 2. Nintendo themselves promised it on the Switch 2 Direct, Gearbox themselves made that promise during their Creator's Voice! Didn't they call the system "empowering" and even said how they weren't "fighting" it? How Borderlands 4 would indeed be running on the hardware and even promised they were making it simultaneously?
Even with the reasons adobe, there was a lot certainity and even boldness during the pre-release. It surely couldn't be just marketing, right?
Let's see, for the Switch 1 releases, I guess they can all be seen as smaller titles, but the new Tomodachi Life actually looks considerably big.
Well right now, they got two smaller titles coming first, Mario Tennis and Pokemon Pokopia will surely be fun entries. Relatively smaller, but the later seems to have big intentions...
Mario Wonder and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book are coming next, and naturally 2D tends to be smaller-scale. Yoshi though, seems very interesting because of its gameplay intentions and beautiful art style. I'm personally interested on it
In terms of the bigger blockbuster releases, there is Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave, Intelligent Systems' first Switch 2 game, which looks more attractive to me than usual. Splatoon Raiders is still a mystery though, and it remains to be seen how big this spin-off will be, and if it will be more focused on single player or multiplayer. Pokémon Champions is something I just wanna know more already .
With all of this in mind, I guess there's still space for maximum 2 more AAA games this year, and maybe we will all know which one will be before February ends...
I would also love to see a brand new 3D Mario of course, but Donkey Kong Bananza is still fairly recent, not to mention Mario Kart World still deserves free additional DLC content that justifies its value.
As for Zelda, who knows. I can see Nintendo having to deal with longer development cycles as their biggest games get more detailed and ambitious, and that's why it's very smart from them to also develop simpler or smaller titles, as well as Switch 2 Editions. It would be cool to see them announced this year at least.
And to think, AND TO THINK it all began on March 2015.
Huge historical achievement for the company right here, it's been almost 9 years of the console and right now words from me can't describe how special this is for the Switch
Now, it's bigger successor is out on the market, and it's full time to focus on the new hardware. Unless well, reaching the PS2's lifetime sales would be considered achievable...
It would be a cool way to start February, but IMO it would make more sense if it came just after the release of Mario Tennis Fever on February 12th... unless there's still unannounced content for that game.
If it could be a Partner Showcase... well it wouldn't be a surprise for me. There's a wild rumour going on the Wilds after all
Nintendo's surely working on many big games for their newest console right now, and maybe a Direct for June could be the perfect moment to announce them. I would love to see more Switch 2 upgrades though.
Basically, you'll need to do extra passionate effort if you want to share everything on social media, just in case someone thinks sharing anything uncomfortable is easy as the push of two buttons. I guess I can understand, but I wonder why an advanced filter system couldn't exist in place. It also seems that just like the previous game, there won't have any kind of online interactivity. Once again, the game must release to see how much this could be missed, but considering how highly customizable the game is, it's a small surprise...
For the time being at least, I mean, I can see Nintendo eventually implementing some kind of "allowed islands" system.
While the box-art looks very pretty, the price is.... well... reasonable to be honest, this game actually seems packed with a lot of possibilities. I, however, highly doubt Rhythm Heaven Groove will cost that.
Even if it wasn't as close to even reaching the weirdness level of the 2014 Tomodachi Life Direct, this was still pretty impressive, they especially got me with all the customization stuff and creating your own textures for everything. In fact I wonder how they would handle moderation in that regard, if there is some form of online sharing or multiplayer component.
It's really looking like a packed movie! But I still feel it should've been a two parter if it really wants to go all out...
You know, Part 1: Mario World and Part 2: Mario Galaxy
In animation it's easier to make things quick when you give a good direction of speed for many parts, going on in frantic and diegetic sequences. But when it doesn't work out, you still could end with a rushed product, or simply with something that leaves you wishing for more.
Well that wouldn't be a surprise... on a Steam Deck it can run at mostly 30fps while on 720p at low settings, that could be a good indication of handheld mode. While most powerful PC handhelds can run it either on the same level at higher resolutions, or with 40fps+ at the same 720p setup. It's all about good optimization.
The CLOSEST thing to Pokémon games actually running on Unreal Engine 5, well good luck with them squashing all the bugs and optimization that comes with that responsability!
But there you have it... a clarification on why this project looks so good, many external companies (such as Fictions) are helping Game Freak on many parts, and it wouldn't be a surprise if many of that support has been technical.
But still, the framework is there on Game Freak, they were in full charge of pre-production and they likely decided also how the game would look and its core mechanics, not to mention they are still working on all the core concepts, so even with technical support they themselves already know how it would all come together. Framework, Engine, physics and such, everything.
The biggest surprise? Everything here is done with a relatively smaller team and especially budget compared to a mainline Pokémon game, yet that did not stop the game from having production values beyond any previous Pokémon game they ever did before...
It's also ironic, since Pokémon games tend to get support from much more companies assisting Game Freak and Creatures. I hopefully expect Game Freak to be the one deciding how a game will look and how ambitious its mechanics will be, because they definitely wanted a lot from this release alone!
I wouldn't expect the next mainline Pokémon games to look exactly like this, since they've been clearly making it with current-gen consoles in mind. It's an UE5 title after all.
While for Gen X for example, taking into account GF developing it since 2022, there could certainly be Switch 1 origins in the framework. I could be wrong though, and maybe they decided for a Switch 2 release early with the first specs in mind...
Anyway, this game truly looks like a beast from the studio and very truthfully impressed me. If they can't say anything about a Switch 2 port, they're likely researching it or will focus on it after release. We still have to see how it will look and run on a Series S (and Steam Deck) anyway.
No 120fps mode? Oh anyway, I wonder why, but it's still fun to see random free upgrades for Switch 2 games, and in this case first-party too, Dixie Kong looks perfect for speedrunning Now only Tropical Freeze remains, and that's something I would love to see higher resolution too, since it has the uphold in visual direction.
Comments 1,675
Re: Round Up: The Reviews Are In For Pokémon Pokopia
It also looks like one of the highest-rated Pokemon games in recent memory. A good sign for the line-up?
Re: Drinkbox Studios' Hades-Inspired Brawler Is Confirmed For The Switch 2
Great to see iconic devs with quite some Nintendo history getting their first Switch 2 experiences coming up soon, another thing I really liked about the recent presentation
Re: Nintendo Indie World Showcase March 2026: Every Announcement, Game Reveal, Trailer
They just went and delivered one of their best indie presentations, heck, maybe the best one ever (wait, one had Cadence of Hyrule and Cuphead at the same presentation...)
Besides the big variety of genres, It was really surprising to see two titles that caught my interest in PlayStation and Xbox presentations coming to Switch 2 at the same time, and the many shadow-drops were incredibly pleasant to see too, including of course Blue Prince.
Suffice to say, the Switch 2 development kit mania is already here, and it's just getting good
Re: Gallery: Here's A Look At Pokémon Winds & Waves On Switch 2
The game is looking very impressive, and hopefully it can keep that visual fidelity on the final game, while also having some improvements to image clarity. Seems the new engine overhaul is making wonders
What I'm more concerned this time is how closely it will be to Legends Arceus' innovative formula that in my opinion, should become the standard for any future open-world turn-based Pokémon games. The ZR button is important!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GK-FafRt6-0
Re: Nintendo Indie World Showcase Announced For Tomorrow, 3rd March 2026
It's amazing how much they can announce in 15 minutes. Though I really miss the 30-minute presentations will full developer comment.
I just hope for updates on games like Mina the Hollower and Glaciered, and maybe more proof that more and more devs have Switch 2 development kits.
Re: Pokémon Winds & Waves Will Be Released "Exclusively" For Switch 2
Well I'm glad! Besides missing an enormous install base, this decision makes important sense for the franchise. The only thing I want to recognise from the leaks are that this game is apparently marking a new beginning for the Pokémon development environment, and that's something I hope they show at its fullest here, with the power of the Switch 2 being utilised the best they can right now. Not to mention, the engine is also having a big rework for the Switch 2 era, beginning with this game.
I say that because the game was likely in development much before they even got their first Switch 2 dev kits, so there could be certain Switch 1 origins here (the lighting model for example). Image quality also looks a bit soft, are they even using DLSS here? Would be surprised if not.
Anything else though is looking like a major improvement. The volumetric clouds (possibly tied to a new mechanic) and the fact you can now dive underwater in an open-world are examples of things not possible before.
Who knows what they could achieve with the hardware with more experience, and especially, if a Pokémon game is looking this good, who knows how the next Zelda or Xenoblade games could look like...
Re: Poll: So, Which Starter Will You Choose In Pokémon Winds & Waves?
Let's see... between the angry Bird, the Undertale Dog and the eyelashes(!) gecko, hmm maybe I'll pick the grass starter this time, it's been a long time for me in that respect.
Also turns out, Fennekin is not the dog representative in the Chinese Zodiac anymore, not after seeing the playful Pomeranian
Re: Gallery: Here's A Closer Look At The First Official Artwork From Pokémon Winds & Waves
The starters look very interesting, I have some questions about these new Pikachu forms, but mainly, I'm very satisfied by how more mature the protagonists look this time compared to the previous game.
Besides, the visuals actually look pretty impressive. Maybe something on the level of a PS4 game, and that's truly a compliment for a Pokémon game. The lighting could be more impressive, but the attention to detail is truly shining here
I hope the final game looks the same or even better than this, keep it up!
Re: Pokémon Winds & Waves Announced For Switch 2, Launching Next Year
At last! Pokémon Generation X is coming!
Wait, when?
Are they... finally taking their time and not rushing a release date so soon? Impressive for Game Freak, considering this has been in development for more time compared to any previous mainline entry (4 years if I'm not wrong).
Or maybe they just don't want to compete with GTA 6? Not likely actually, but it's amusing to think that
I would expect it to release early next year at least.
But sadly that also means we will see a drought in news for these new games for quite some time.. unless well... um, these games are so big that... the will be more lenient to at least share one new piece of info every month... I hope at least, considering the development time they are giving this game (as well as the inevitable DLC)
Re: Pokémon XD: Gale Of Darkness Comes To Switch 2 GameCube NSO In March
Interesting use of time, as if every month they found a way to entertain us with games before Gen X releases.
Hey Pokemon fan! Do you consider yourself "impatient"?! Why not first play some of FireRed or LeafGreen on the same console?
Re: Mini Review: Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Gold Edition (Switch 2) - A Survival Horror Masterclass, Free From Cloud Prison
There's been some question if this version uses any current-gen features, mainly ray-tracing.
Seeing it on action, it's clear there's no ray-tracing here. On the Series S, it couldn't reach a stable 60fps with RT on, so for this version, it wouldn't been running at such stable performance with a decently high resolution.
But to be honest, RT for this game makes such a big difference for the art direction. I really would appreciate a 30fps mode with ray-tracing on (same with Fortnite...)
As for everything else, I would expect draw distance and other non-RT stuff to also be on par. Strangely, saturation is a bit different on this version, which means some areas have a lighter shade on them than even the last-gen outings. It's strange, but hopefully not too intrusive.
Re: "We Thought It Would Be Fun" - Nintendo Explains Why Pokémon FireRed & LeafGreen Aren't On Switch Online
Definitive versions? I guess that means they are not making new Gen 1 remakes anytime soon.
Still, it would be great someone at Pokemon experimented one day with the HD-2D engine
Re: Rumour: A Monster Hunter Wilds Switch 2 Port Is Coming, A Fresh Datamine Suggests
Unless that image is something cruelly elaborated, or just plans that somehow made it that far, it's indeed the strongest evidence of the game coming to Switch 2, more than just coding.
We'll just wait and see, but to be honest the chances already became very high when Docked and Handheld settings leaked, you can't go that far and not get good results when you already achieved decent handheld performance in the first place.
Also, why does the image have one bigger Switch 2 unit compared to the others? That's amusing
Re: Video: Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Shines On Switch 2 In This Side-By-Side Comparison
Since this is Monolith Soft we are talking about, I honestly expected them to make bigger changes, like they did with the Switch Zelda games. Things like texture resolution and alpha effects/textures are just more exposed in higher resolution... but hey, this is still something good!
But for the rest of the trilogy, I wouldn't mind more visual upgrades, even if that means asking $70 for every one of them. Maybe they realized this game would need a Naughty Dog-level remaster to look much better, and that would've been off the $5 upgrade budget. Anyway, this is just the beginning of the Xenoblade franchise on the new console..
Re: Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition Gets Nintendo Switch 2 Upgrade, Out Now
What a surprise announcement, turns out that hidden 60fps mode did truly meant something, right...?
I expected something like this to be part of a bigger Xenoblade-related announcement for the Switch 2, but I guess this entry being different than the trilogy gave it a privilege
Re: Missed Potential Or A Campy Classic? Switch 2 Exclusive 'Tokyo Scramble' Hasn't Been A Hit
As a Switch 2 exclusive, there are some matters about this game. I think people have just been judging the game out of visuals alone. Besides good artistic direction, they look kinda... incomplete for a Switch 2 game, like if many visual effects like motion blur and ambient shading, important for a game of this genre were disabled...
The game is clearly very inspired by Dino Crisis, and that's where the comparison points mostly are. Right now I can only suggest more review outlets (that includes you, hrm?) to care about this game, so the consumers can make their choices, because it looks like mileage may vary with this one.
Re: Pokémon Pokopia's Roots Go Back Further Than You Think
This suddenly gives interesting comparisons to Super Mario Maker. It this game had some kind of battle system implemented on it, it would actually be like trying to create an actual Pokémon top-down game
Re: Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora Probably Won't Come To Switch 2 Anytime Soon
This only probes the devs are probably not interested on porting the game to the console. The game is actually possible since Star Wars Outlaws, which was made by the same team and even used the same engine, became one of the best ports on the system.
They devs are Massive Entertaiment too, they just need a porting team to do the work, and that's probably where RedLynx comes at, they're the ones who ported Outlaws to Switch 2 after all. Maybe one day...
Re: Talking Point: How The Heck Will MGS4 On Switch Handle Its PlayStation References?
"Nintendo itself probably won't be too keen on having explicit references to a rival company mentioned in the collection"
Sorry, but you'll have to prove me with more facts for that statement to be considered something. Maybe when the game releases that "gossip" will be established.
Re: Preview: Despite Low Expectations, Pokémon Pokopia Had Me Grinning From Ear To Ear
The single fact of using Pokémon abilities to affect or alter the overworld.. now that's something I hope Game Freak could at least experiment one day. You can do it to an extent in BoTW after all
Re: Review: Carmageddon: Rogue Shift (Switch 2) - A Destructive, Roguelite Wreck Fest That Runs Out Of Road
No shadows in this version? Is it really too demanding?
I also have a question regarding which version was reviewed here, because the game recieved a Day 1 Patch after its release that fixed everything wrong with performance previously.
No really, the game acually ran 20fps and below every single time. Somehow, the patch fixed that without compromising too much, but some light sources are darker apparently.
Weird situation really. Maybe it was the resolution?
Re: Review: Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties (Switch 2) - Maybe It's Time To Take A Break
Take a break? Maybe, until the next Like a Dragon game or Kiwami 4 at least...
On the meantime, they could bring some recent Yakuza titles for the console, especially Yakuza Pirate in Hawaii... 😌
Re: PSA: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Is Surprisingly Cheap On The UK eShop Right Now
Once again, more than 100GB!
To be honest, I don't know if it should stay that way to keep texture resolution high, or cram it down and reduce texture quality as a consequence. What do people think?
Re: Turok Is Back, And It's Bringing The Hunt To Switch 2 Later This Year
This was one of the best announcements of the Direct for me, especially remembering Turok's history on Nintendo consoles.
If that was Switch 2 footage, then it wouldn't be a huge surprise, we're talking about Saber Interactive here, after all. Hmm, maybe they could also upgrade The Witcher on Switch 2?
Re: Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase February 2026: Every Announcement, Game Reveal, Trailer
I'd say it's been a good one actually, many games there look promising, even if there were some exceptions people expected... cough Metaphor: Clair Obscur.. Wilds stops coughing already
But the fact many of these games are having either vague Summer releases or June/July releases is interesting. It seems to imply we will either see some surprise announcements/deep dives before Summer, or a general Direct could still be coming before June? The earlier is more likely, but I just need more info on The Duskbloods!
Re: Pro-Evolution Soccer Successor 'eFootball' Is Getting A Switch 2 Exclusive Spin-Off
I just realised it was an spin-off after reading this same article. It does seem to run at the same engine as the free-to-play game, though.
Re: Valheim Brings A Slice Of Viking Survival To Switch 2 This Year
The game even at 1080p looks blurry most of the time. What is good is to see it being that close to the Series S version instead of the messy last-gen one.
Re: Disney Dreamlight Valley Will Be Part Of Your Switch 2 World This March
They could at least make it run at 60fps, or balance it with a quality mode that implements Ambient Occlusion...
Re: Metroid Prime 4's "Combined Sales" Have Surpassed One Million, Nintendo Confirms
I guess that's something for it, but I still think it deserves even better, considering for how much time this Metroid game has been in development.
The franchise itself needs media expansion in fact, this game was just the beginning of a new continuity according to Tanabe. This means more universe expansion and such.
Re: Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition Launches 24th February for Switch 2
Exciting for having the game itself, why is it looking so rough? Low-quality cascade shadows, not quite high imae quality, unimpressive lighting and texture work? Are they even basing it on the Next-Gen Upgrade?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e86pAP6sUo
Speaking about it, I hope they can implement a proper performance mode for Skyrim on Switch 2. It can't be 4K/Unlocked forever!
Re: Oblivion, Skyrim And Fallout Switch 2 Physicals Will All Be Code-In-A-Box, Bethesda Confirms
So many Bestheda games are coming, but there are still two franchises that haven't been announced yet.
Both Starfield and Doom have been rumoured to come. Particularly, a The Dark Ages port by Panic Button themselves would be great. But I guess they first want to release their first games and see how they perform, so physical or not, I would still support these releases, even if I can't understand why not even a Game Key Card is offered here...
Re: Digimon Story: Time Stranger Makes The Leap To Switch 1 & 2 This July
Somehow? I mean this game (quite infamously) didn't have a 60fps option on the other consoles. And even for this game to have it and not Sparking Zero is the authentic irony...
Well I guess this means they will be implementing a 60fps mode on the other consoles. This port looks promising, but how it will compare remains to be seen.
and also somehow it's coming to Switch 1, just like Sparking Zero. Oh, the comparisons will be interesting!
Re: Oblivion Remastered Is Adventuring Onto Switch 2 This Year
What a way to end the Direct, with an AAA current-gen remake!
Maybe it had struggles on other platforms, but this is also Virtuos' first Switch 2 game if I'm not wrong, and these guys were one of the tech wizards of the original Switch, they ported The Outer Worlds on it after all.
I'm guessing there will be special customizations here to keep the visual fidelity at first glance at least, it looks interesting
Re: Pragmata Looks Awesome In New Switch 2 Trailer, Free Demo Arrives Today
After watching the first seconds of footage, I just came to realise the protagonist kinda looks like Death Stranding's... anyway, it looks interesting
Re: Pokémon To Kick Off 30th Anniversary Celebrations At The Super Bowl
This will likely be a promotional video to kick-off the celebrations, just like 2016. It would be very amusing though, if they left a little hint of what's coming next at the end
But reflecting on it, and now that I realised it, that video wasn't just a random commercial, it was a heartfelt showcase of the "Pokémon culture" that fans cultivated over the years. In fact, most, if not all the marketing since then (until Gen 8), really resonated with that mentality. Live-action commercials with clips from the games themselves, of fans of all ages playing the games... Honestly, kudos to the marketing department of TPCi at the time, for finding the ultimate way of promoting a multi-million dollar franchise.
I mean, train on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2F46tGehnfo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqprMNZ5Tww
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB4Vn4yEKMg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jRtpMKLsts
Re: Talking Point: Nintendo Direct February Partner Predictions - What Do You Want To See?
It will also feature Switch 1 games, so unless they announce Cloud editions for Switch 1 while native for Switch 2, expect some smaller-scale but still fun titles during these 30 minutes.
Right now I can see devs taking their time (and making patient schedules) for porting their most well-known last-gen/cross-gen games for the console. Personally it would be cool for me to finally see Tales of Arise and Final Fantasy XV coming for the console.
Anything current-gen will be fascinating to see on the new console. As long as it can run well on Series S and Steam Deck, there's a big chance for it.
Marvel Rivals for example, is more demanding than it actually seems to be. If it came to Switch 2 it would likely be based on Series S visuals but at 30fps, which would at least be better than the last-gen PS4 port they released last year.
Yeah, Clair Obscur of course is something I wanna see on the console, Alan Wake 2 would be an impressive port too, but I'm also aware of the wild Monster Hunter for Switch 2 rumours at the start of the year, that's something that interests me
I honestly also hope to see Microsoft's publishers having some presence. Starfield, Diablo IV, Forza Horizon, Hi-Fi Rush, Sea of Thieves...? What happened to those rumours?
Re: Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase Announced For Tomorrow, 5th February 2026
A Nintendo Direct just after their financial results sounds like a good combination. Even if there aren't first-party announcements, the potential for ports is very big.
Last time they held a Partner Showcase, maybe it lacked the substance it needed, but even with just 27 minutes they showcased plenty of games.
I just hope they manage to keep this presentation big and important. And maybe great. Yeah, big, important and great is the wishful mantra for every Nintendo Direct, especially in this new Switch 2 era.
I wonder though, when will we see a normal Nintendo Direct, could we see one before June? Yoshi and Fire Emblem would at least need some info for example.
Re: Borderlands 4 Switch 2 Development Paused, According To Take-Two
@AussieMcBucket
Many years ago, basically the same story happened with a Steep port for the original Switch, complete with the pause and "focus on current content updates".
The difference? Besides the demo and the Creator's Voice being evidence, Borderlands 4 is a bigger budget game as well as a more notable IP in the overall context, which at least gives me hope they won't forget about this port.
I mean, alongside Star Wars Outlaws, the main purpose of the announcement was to show how the console can run demanding current-gen games, and Unreal Engine 5 in this case. Hmmm?
Re: Borderlands 4 Switch 2 Development Paused, According To Take-Two
The fact that even an entertainment centered site like Variety is covering this just shows how scandalous a story like this can be. This is hard to believe, but there is some hindsight about this announcement.
I know the game is very demanding and can only run on 720p and 30fps on Series S, but this game was actually running at some point on the hardware, docked at least. And while there were drops, these were evident only on a specific moment. In fact, even off-screen, the game looked pretty decent docked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ulp2LxEs4
However, image quality was found to be pretty blurry, either lower or on the same level as Series S, which led to many questions about how it would run on the less capable handheld mode.
Well turns out, that's very likely the main challenge with this port. I suppose they actually got it running docked, but without the optimization knowledge they seemingly pushed it to some kind of limit to the point they couldn't make an acceptable handheld mode version.
And here's the interesting part: not coincidentally, a Steam Deck verified conversion was released last December, which proves this game can indeed run on handheld.
However, after it previously couldn't run even on the lowest settings, this mode has downscaled the visuals even below the lowest preset to something like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdJ4DXRNTuc
I have a theory, and this mode is actually how the Switch 2 version looked when handheld, but they simply didn't want to downscale the visuals to such levels, and now they're stuck between keeping the visual fidelity and mantaining performance, apparently...
Not to mention, the metrics prove this is a very CPU-bound game, and I wonder if the console has enough of that to keep the tasks doable.
The thing is, I don't wanna believe this will never come to Switch 2. Nintendo themselves promised it on the Switch 2 Direct, Gearbox themselves made that promise during their Creator's Voice! Didn't they call the system "empowering" and even said how they weren't "fighting" it? How Borderlands 4 would indeed be running on the hardware and even promised they were making it simultaneously?
Even with the reasons adobe, there was a lot certainity and even boldness during the pre-release. It surely couldn't be just marketing, right?
As long as that video is online, there will at least be some indication the game is still coming to Switch 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdMBChercPY
Re: Nintendo Reconfirms Release Windows For Major Upcoming Switch 2 Games
Let's see, for the Switch 1 releases, I guess they can all be seen as smaller titles, but the new Tomodachi Life actually looks considerably big.
Well right now, they got two smaller titles coming first, Mario Tennis and Pokemon Pokopia will surely be fun entries. Relatively smaller, but the later seems to have big intentions...
Mario Wonder and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book are coming next, and naturally 2D tends to be smaller-scale. Yoshi though, seems very interesting because of its gameplay intentions and beautiful art style. I'm personally interested on it
In terms of the bigger blockbuster releases, there is Fire Emblem Fortune's Weave, Intelligent Systems' first Switch 2 game, which looks more attractive to me than usual. Splatoon Raiders is still a mystery though, and it remains to be seen how big this spin-off will be, and if it will be more focused on single player or multiplayer. Pokémon Champions is something I just wanna know more already .
With all of this in mind, I guess there's still space for maximum 2 more AAA games this year, and maybe we will all know which one will be before February ends...
I would also love to see a brand new 3D Mario of course, but Donkey Kong Bananza is still fairly recent, not to mention Mario Kart World still deserves free additional DLC content that justifies its value.
As for Zelda, who knows. I can see Nintendo having to deal with longer development cycles as their biggest games get more detailed and ambitious, and that's why it's very smart from them to also develop simpler or smaller titles, as well as Switch 2 Editions. It would be cool to see them announced this year at least.
Re: It's Official, The Switch Is Nintendo's Best-Selling Console Of All Time
And to think, AND TO THINK it all began on March 2015.
Huge historical achievement for the company right here, it's been almost 9 years of the console and right now words from me can't describe how special this is for the Switch
Now, it's bigger successor is out on the market, and it's full time to focus on the new hardware. Unless well, reaching the PS2's lifetime sales would be considered achievable...
Re: Rumour: A Nintendo Direct May Be Coming As Soon As Next Week
It would be a cool way to start February, but IMO it would make more sense if it came just after the release of Mario Tennis Fever on February 12th... unless there's still unannounced content for that game.
If it could be a Partner Showcase... well it wouldn't be a surprise for me. There's a wild rumour going on the Wilds after all
Nintendo's surely working on many big games for their newest console right now, and maybe a Direct for June could be the perfect moment to announce them. I would love to see more Switch 2 upgrades though.
Re: Nintendo Restricting Some Image Sharing Features For Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream
Basically, you'll need to do extra passionate effort if you want to share everything on social media, just in case someone thinks sharing anything uncomfortable is easy as the push of two buttons. I guess I can understand, but I wonder why an advanced filter system couldn't exist in place.
It also seems that just like the previous game, there won't have any kind of online interactivity. Once again, the game must release to see how much this could be missed, but considering how highly customizable the game is, it's a small surprise...
For the time being at least, I mean, I can see Nintendo eventually implementing some kind of "allowed islands" system.
Re: Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream's Price And Box Art Have Been Revealed
While the box-art looks very pretty, the price is.... well... reasonable to be honest, this game actually seems packed with a lot of possibilities.
I, however, highly doubt Rhythm Heaven Groove will cost that.
Re: Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream Moves In On Switch 1 This April
Even if it wasn't as close to even reaching the weirdness level of the 2014 Tomodachi Life Direct, this was still pretty impressive, they especially got me with all the customization stuff and creating your own textures for everything.
In fact I wonder how they would handle moderation in that regard, if there is some form of online sharing or multiplayer component.
Re: Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream Nintendo Direct Announced For Thursday, 29th January
Oh boy, the 2014 Direct for the 3DS game turned out to be so iconic, this looks to be very fitting
Re: Super Mario Galaxy Movie's New Trailer Shares A "First Look" At Yoshi
It's really looking like a packed movie! But I still feel it should've been a two parter if it really wants to go all out...
You know, Part 1: Mario World and Part 2: Mario Galaxy
In animation it's easier to make things quick when you give a good direction of speed for many parts, going on in frantic and diegetic sequences. But when it doesn't work out, you still could end with a rushed product, or simply with something that leaves you wishing for more.
Re: Final Fantasy VII Remake's Sequels Will Have "Exactly The Same" Gameplay As Other Consoles
Well that wouldn't be a surprise... on a Steam Deck it can run at mostly 30fps while on 720p at low settings, that could be a good indication of handheld mode.
While most powerful PC handhelds can run it either on the same level at higher resolutions, or with 40fps+ at the same 720p setup. It's all about good optimization.
Re: Pokémon Developer Game Freak To Reveal More About 'Beast Of Reincarnation' Later This Month
The CLOSEST thing to Pokémon games actually running on Unreal Engine 5, well good luck with them squashing all the bugs and optimization that comes with that responsability!
But there you have it... a clarification on why this project looks so good, many external companies (such as Fictions) are helping Game Freak on many parts, and it wouldn't be a surprise if many of that support has been technical.
But still, the framework is there on Game Freak, they were in full charge of pre-production and they likely decided also how the game would look and its core mechanics, not to mention they are still working on all the core concepts, so even with technical support they themselves already know how it would all come together. Framework, Engine, physics and such, everything.
The biggest surprise? Everything here is done with a relatively smaller team and especially budget compared to a mainline Pokémon game, yet that did not stop the game from having production values beyond any previous Pokémon game they ever did before...
It's also ironic, since Pokémon games tend to get support from much more companies assisting Game Freak and Creatures. I hopefully expect Game Freak to be the one deciding how a game will look and how ambitious its mechanics will be, because they definitely wanted a lot from this release alone!
I wouldn't expect the next mainline Pokémon games to look exactly like this, since they've been clearly making it with current-gen consoles in mind. It's an UE5 title after all.
While for Gen X for example, taking into account GF developing it since 2022, there could certainly be Switch 1 origins in the framework. I could be wrong though, and maybe they decided for a Switch 2 release early with the first specs in mind...
Anyway, this game truly looks like a beast from the studio and very truthfully impressed me. If they can't say anything about a Switch 2 port, they're likely researching it or will focus on it after release. We still have to see how it will look and run on a Series S (and Steam Deck) anyway.
Re: Donkey Kong Country Returns HD Gets A Free Switch 2 Update And Adds Dixie Kong
No 120fps mode? Oh anyway, I wonder why, but it's still fun to see random free upgrades for Switch 2 games, and in this case first-party too, Dixie Kong looks perfect for speedrunning
Now only Tropical Freeze remains, and that's something I would love to see higher resolution too, since it has the uphold in visual direction.