Justin Kahn

One of the standout announcements of today’s Nintendo Indie World showcase for me, and plenty of other folks, was the new Mina the Hollower trailer, its Switch 2 release date, and the FREE demo you can now play on Switch and Switch 2. 

What will Nintendo show in today’s Indie World Direct? When does the next Direct go live? And where to watch today’s Indie World showcase? We, of course, don’t know for sure, the next “Direct” is today – it’s an indie game showcase, and you can watch it right here starting very soon at 9 a.m. ET. Details below. 

Yesterday Nintendo made it official – we are getting our second Direct show case in as many weeks and this time it’s going to be all about the indies. While it might not be the first big-time traditional Direct showcase of the Switch 2 era we are all waiting on, the next Indie World Direct is another chance for Nintendo to show off some notable experiences coming to Switch 2 outside of the big-time first-party releases we are anticipating, and it’s time to take a look at what we expect to see, what we are hoping to see, and what games will actually make tomorrow’s Indie World a success. 

The 2025 LEGO Advent Calendars are finally up for pre-order. This year’s lineup has been known for some time, but they are now finally available for purchase directly from LEGO ahead of release on September 1 – don’t expect them to last for very long as they tend to sell out quite quickly. 

Just after hosting its first major Direct Partner Showcase of the Switch 2 era, Nintendo has now officially announced when the next IndieWorld Showcase will go live. The livestream is set to give us a look at what’s next for Switch 1 and Switch 2 from the indie side of things and it goes live this week. 

Nintendo has recently issued an official statement via one of its Japanese X account warning users of potential Switch 2 overheating and crashing issues with summer temperatures expected to hit all-time highs in select regions. 

Welcome to 9to5Toys News Weekly – your go-to spot to catch up on the latest new product releases, features, and hands-on reviews. This weekly roundup collects all of the coolest new gadgets, the most interesting updates in the world of tech, and more from the past week, and organizes it into a single handy reading list for you to sift through every Sunday morning.

Nintendo has now announced price hikes on Switch hardware in the U.S. After it did as much in other regions, I guess it was only a matter of time before it hit home, and that is today…or August 3, 2025 rather when the prices will officially rise stateside. 

Friday’s Apple deals are shaping up to be some of the more rare offers we have tracked as of late, and next-up is the black Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numeric Keypad. Apple’s Magic Keyboards, especially the current-generation models, don’t see many notable price drops in general, and today’s deal on the latest black full-size deck is effectively the second chance to save on Amazon – you can now score one down at $179.25 shipped. Details below. 

Nintendo has officially released its latest quarterly earnings report, further highlighting the massive uptick in sales garnered by Switch 2 – the fastest-selling console in U.S. history. YoY earnings for the Mario maker are (mostly) up across the board because of the nearly 6 million Switch units sold in the first quarter and nearly as many copies of its new open-world Mario Kart experience. But none of this comes as much to surprise to just about anyone at this point, and subsequently isn’t all that interesting to anyone but stock holders – Nintendo did however once again confirm the 2025 release date windows for some major upcoming titles. 

Nintendo’s new GameCube library for Switch Online members was one of the more pleasing and maybe even surprising elements to the Switch 2 launch. It’s not perfect, there aren’t a ton of games yet, and Nintendo did decide to lock out Switch 1 consoles all together, however it is a nice way to bolster the launch lineup for its new console and provide some “new” classic experiences for nostalgic gamers or folks that weren’t around for the GameCube days. But what will be the next game added to the Switch Online GameCube library? 

Nintendo Direct July edition went live this morning with the latest Partner Showcase to highlight a long list of upcoming Switch 2 games. Some are landing this year, some next, some already have free demos up right now, and some you can pre-order with a deal like the new SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance. Head below for a closer look at everything.

Today we are taking a look at an alternative to the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, and a far more affordable option. The official Switch 2 Pro Controller has been a hit thus far, and one of the most popular Switch 2 peripherals to hit the market yet. While that’s not particularly surprising, there are some compelling lower-cost alternatives out there you don’t have to pay $85 for, and this new $30 GuliKit gamepad that can wake the Switch 2 is one of them. 

This morning’s long-awaited Nintendo Direct has aired, and it certainly was not what just about anyone was expecting. Not only was it a Partner Showcase, we also did not see almost any of the major third-party games that were rumored to be coming to Switch 2 – there were a couple, just not any of the big hitters. One shining light in the otherwise mostly mediocre showing was the new Square Enix RPGs that capped off the show – Octapath Traveler 0 and the all-new IP, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. The latter of which now has a FREE demo you can download on Switch 2 to give it a try before launch. 

Nintendo Direct goes live today with the first major Partner Showcase of the Switch 2 generation, and you can watch it down below. There have been rumors abound for months on end for upcoming Microsoft Xbox titles coming to the platform, plenty of Ubisoft games, and chances are we will get some updates on those here today. Release dates for already confirmed Switch 2 ports like Elden Ring and the FF VII remake seem likely and we have heard word of Metaphor: ReFantazio and Death Stranding: Director’s Cut ports as well. But enough with the speculation (for now), as the show is set to go live very soon!

As July draws to an end and just ahead of this morning’s Nintendo Direct, let’s take a quick rundown of the biggest Switch 2 games set for release. While the (pre-recorded) livestream Partner Showcase set to go live at 6 a.m. PT/9 a.m. ET might very well deliver some news on additional third-party titles landing in for Switch 2 in August 2025, there are a decent selection of first- and third-party games that have already been locked down for the August release schedule, so let’s check them all out down below. 

Just after featuring its gorgeous new Techfolio cable organizer case with a notable launch deal yesterday, Burton Goods has also expanded its leather accessory lineup with some new wallets as well. A wonderful-looking new Slim Passport Leather Wallet joins a couple of new bifold models and some of them can be had during the launch phase at 20% off. Get a closer look below. 

Nintendo has finally gone official with long-awaited and much anticipated July Nintendo Direct. The livestream will mark the first proper Direct since Switch 2 launched, outside of the dedicated shows we have already got for the system’s two biggest launch titles, but we can’t help but be mildly skeptical/disappointed with what we know so far regarding tomorrow’s show – it is a Partner showcase after all. 

If you happened to pick up a new set of AirPods 4 during the particularly notable Prime Day deals we featured, or perhaps last holiday season, one of our favorite leather accessory makers just quietly launched a brand new case you might want to check out too. The Nomad Modern Leather Case was already available for AirPods Pro 2, but it is now up for grabs for your AirPods 4 case at $29. Get a closer look below. 

It’s now official, Nintendo Direct is going live again this week with the first major Switch 2 showcase since it released in June. This is, of course, outside of the dedicated Mario Kart 8 stream and the particularly exciting Donkey Kong Bananza Direct, but this week we are in for a more traditional Switch 2 Direct that is set to showcase plenty of upcoming titles and hopefully some major surprises too. 

Today, LG is announcing the U.S. availability and pricing of its new next-generation StandByME 2 battery-powered 17-inch touchscreen. The iF Design and Red Dot Design award winner made headlines earlier this year at CES, and it is now finally available for purchase stateside. 

It is that time of year and that means we are highlighting some of our favorite gear that’s now on sale for back to school season. From MacBooks and laptops to smartwatches and smart charging solutions, dorm room essentials and the best way to get to class, you’ll find loads of notable deals to browse through live at Amazon right now alongside a long list of offers we have collected for you below to save you a ton before the next semester kicks into full gear down below. 

While it might not be the the next Mario or Zelda game for Switch 2 many of us are eagerly awaiting, nor the new Animal Crossing title that is rumored to be making an appearance in the next Nintendo Direct, it sounds like a new Xenoblade project could very well be on the way for Switch 2. 

We love our Switch 2 around here, and so do you. And we love us some Mario Kart World and Donkey Bananza, but I’m really loving this Switch 2 holder that also carries your McDonald’s fries. Actually, it’s totally ridiculous, and sort of brilliant…but mostly ridiculous and you can get the files to make your very own Switch 2 McDonald’s fries to mouth delivery system right now. 

Burton Goods is back at it again today, bringing artisan leathercraft to your EDC and Apple kit. This time around it is looking to encase your carry in premium materials by way of its brand new Leather Techfolio Cord Organizer, complete with dedicated compartments for all your chargers, cables, an Apple Pencil and more. Best of all we have a solid discount code down below that will drop the price down even lower than the launch deal you’ll find on the site right now. 

While Switch 2 gamers await the next additions to the Game Cube library, Nintendo has just added a new title to the classic SNES library that’s perfect for the new mouse mode on your Switch 2 Joy-Con. Now available to play for all Switch Online members, Nintendo has now added the classic Super NES title Mario Paint to the collection. 

This afternoon’s collection of the best apps going on sale today via Google Play are now ready and waiting for you down below. Just be sure to also scope out the discounts we are tracking today on Motorola’s 2025 Razr Ultra at $400 off alongside the latest discounts across the Google Pixel Watch 3 lineup, these official Galaxy S25/+ and Ultra cases, and the best price of the year on Google’s 2-node Nest Wi-Fi Pro mesh system. But for now it’s all about the apps and they are waiting for you below. 

A couple weeks ago we spotted Anker’s new display-equipped 7-in-1 Nano Charging Station with two retractable USB-C cables, and today we are highlighting the new 10K Anker Nano Power Bank. The expanded lineup of charging gear consists of both of the aforementioned pieces of kit alongside the new 5K MagSafe power bank and it is now available for purchase on Amazon…and with a launch deal direct from Anker. 

Back in early June, during the last State of Play showcase, Sony officially unveiled the new PlayStation fight stick – “the first wireless fight stick designed by Sony Interactive Entertainment for PS5 and PC.” And now, we have more details including the official name and a new trailer as part of Sony’s official update announcement. Check it all out below. 

The next big gaming event of the year (outside of that rumored Nintendo Switch 2 Direct that could pop up at anytime now), is gamescom. The annual gaming event is set to host most of the big players in the industry and we now have all of the official details from Microsoft – a playable demo for the long-awaited Hollow Knight: Silksong, hands-on with the new ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, and a whole lot more. 

Welcome to 9to5Toys News Weekly – your go-to spot to catch up on the latest new product releases, features, and hands-on reviews. This weekly roundup collects all of the coolest new gadgets, the most interesting updates in the world of tech, and more from the past week, and organizes it into a single handy reading list for you to sift through every Sunday morning.

Late last night LEGO finally unleashed what many would describe as one of the more anticipated sets of the year – the official LEGO Game Boy. There are more than a few particularly sought-after sets that have already released and are still inbound, but with Switch 2 out in the wild now, and Nintendo hype still at a fever-pitch after record-breaking sales and the launch of Donkey Kong Bananza, it’s hard to deny just how sweet the new LEGO Nintendo handheld set is. But you better be quick with your pre-order on Amazon because it’s already sold out at LEGO. 

Remember when it was actually difficult to get a Switch 2 at retail? It wasn’t all that long ago when folks were clamoring for a fresh new announcement that Walmart, or Best Buy, or Target would have a scheduled restock, but that is not the case anymore. Anyone looking to grab a new Switch 2 console can readily do so right now without getting off the couch or making their way to the local Best Buy when the doors open, or anything like that. 

Reliable sources already said the next Nintendo Direct showcase was inbound this month, and now additional sources have confirmed as much. At this point, it seems as though a big-time summer Switch 2 Direct stream is all but imminent alongside, what many gamers are hoping for the most, the Metroid Prime 4 release date landing in 2025, and the rumored appearance of the new Animal Crossing game for Switch 2. 

Samsung’s gigantic pre-order deals and promotions on its next-generation Fold and Flip 7 foldables are scheduled to wrap-up soon. According to the countdown clock on the official site, today will be your last shot at landing the exclusive $50 off our links provide alongside the up $1,000 in trade-in value, the 2x FREE storage upgrade, and the bananas bundle offers too – FREE Galaxy Watch 8, Galaxy Buds 3 Pro, and more. 

With folks already starting to think about a the next semester and heading back to school fully-equipped, we though it a fitting time to put together the best deals floating around on MacBooks, both new and previous-generation, to save a buck (or $300+). Some are already back to the classroom, others still have some summer left to savor, but there are some notable deals floating around across various price ranges and this is the place to find a running list of all the best back to school MacBook deals. 

Switch 2 consoles, including both the Mario Kart World bundle and new Pokémon Legends: Z-A package, are readily available for purchase and various major retailers online. The Nintendo Switch 2 is off to a flying start here – it is the fastest selling game hardware of all-time in the U.S. after the first month – and it is now up for grabs online for anyone who hasn’t picked on up yet.

Back in early January LEGO and Nintendo quickly teased an upcoming LEGO Game Boy set and it has now been officially revealed. Carrying a $59.99 list price, pre-orders are now open directly from LEGO ahead of release this fall. Head below for more details and officially imagery. 

Yesterday’s summer Pokémon Presents showcase gave a fresh look at the new Pokémon Legends: Z-A and was immediately followed by the reveal of the official Nintendo Switch 2 Pokémon Legends Z-A bundle that is now available for pre-order. But if you already have a console, and are just looking to secure a copy of the new pocket monster game, the FREE pre-order bonus gifts are now live at Best Buy and Walmart. Scope them out below. 

Back in April before the Switch 2 set sales records a few months later, we reported on an Assassin’s Creed: Shadows Switch 2 PEGI rating. While that rating was taken down thereafter, recent hints from the Ubisoft boss suggests the latest ninja-meets-samurai adventure’s release on the next-generation Nintendo hardware is all but imminent now. 

One common thread we have seen this year among Apple gear accessory makers is the hybrid charging device. Combining wall chargers with MagSafe stands and power cords with USB-C cables, one such example of this is the Nomad Universal Cable for Apple Watch that brings together a traditional USB-C lead with an integrated Apple Watch charger, and it has just introduced a new white colorway. 

It’s mid-week App Store deal time and all of today’s best iOS game and app discounts are waiting down below. Just be sure to also scope out the discounts we have today on the official USB-C Apple Watch Magnetic Charger, one of the best prices ever on Twelve South’s latest 15W HiRise 2 Deluxe 2-in-1 MagSafe stand at 45% off, a giant discount on Nomad’s grade 5 Titanium Band, and this 1TB 14-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro at $330 off. All of the apps await after the fold.

Update: Pre-orders for the new official Pokémon Switch 2 console bundle are now live:

• Switch 2 + Pokémon Legends: Z-A $500 (Target)
• Switch 2 + Pokémon Legends: Z-A $500 (Best Buy)

This morning we were graced with some new details and gameplay for Pokémon Legends: Z-A as part of the Pokémon Presents showcase ahead of release, but immediately following that, Nintendo stole the show with the reveal of the official Pokémon Switch 2 console bundle. 

While it might be all about Pokémon today and the new Pokémon Legends Z-A Switch 2 bundle, one of the more major upcoming third-party titles finally has a release date. We already knew Borderlands 4 was inbound for all major consoles this fall, and now we know exactly when it will land on Switch 2. 

Hot on the heels of today’s summer Pokémon Presents showcase, the very first new Switch 2 console bundle has been revealed. The official Nintendo of Europe X account just debuted a new  Pokémon Legends: Z-A Switch 2 bundle that will launch the same day as the new game on October 16, but we also now know it is coming to the U.S. as well. More details below.