Justin Kahn

It’s that time of year and the massive annual Xbox Games Showcase has now been announced. While much of the gaming world awaits news on Switch 2 pre-orders finally go live in North America, Microsoft has taken to the official Xbox Wire to announce this year’s Xbox Games Showcase – it will once again be a double feature starting with the main event followed by a dedicated The Outer Worlds 2 Direct show. Details below. 

Update: After a shocking report made headlines yesterday suggesting an inbound price hike on Switch 2, the DFC Intelligence firm via Forbes is clarifying its statement further – there perhaps won’t be a price jump at retail after all:

Apologies for the misunderstanding created on our part by not clarifying the reference to a 20% hardware price increase over the next two years applied to the hardware side in general and not just the Switch.

In the case of the Switch 2, we believe much of the 20% increase was already baked into the $450 price. It is not likely Nintendo will raise the price, and if they do, we don’t expect it to be 20%. Also much of that increase is in the form of NOT discounting prices. So not necessarily a price increase but where we model a 20% price decrease in the next year or so we have the prices holding steady.

As we all know by now, Nintendo officially delayed the pre-order date here in the U.S. indefinitely, with not even a whisper of when it might be ready to start taking orders. Just this morning it also officially delayed the pre-order date in Canada less than 24 hours before they were scheduled to go live on April 9. The release date remains firm for June 5 as of right now, but why has Nintendo delayed the inevitable? Well, we know it’s because of Trump’s tariffs announcement, but if the release date is still intact, why wait to take pre-orders?

Journey has quickly started to implement Apple Find My into many of its Apple accessory offerings, the latest of which include its new steel tumbler and the LOC8 URBAN Leather Key Organizer we are taking a look at today. This hands-on review also includes impressions on the mostly identical MOTION Key Organizer model as well, both of which are now seeing some notable price drops when added to your cart. If you’re looking for some trackable key organization for your EDC, head below for a closer look.

Your Monday afternoon lineup of Android game and app deals is now ready to roll. While we all await a new pre-order date for Switch 2 in the U.S., Samsung’s new lineup of QLED smart TVs has now gone live alongside up to $2,250 in savings on the 2024 models as well as deals on Samsung’s LTE Galaxy Watch FE, a massive price drop on Razer’s Kishi V2 Android gamepad, and Nothing’s already-affordable wireless CMF Buds at $27. As for the apps, highlights include Teslagrad, The House of Da Vinci 3, Dungeons of Dreadrock 2, and more. Head below for a closer look at everything. 

The Switch 2 is quickly approaching and as we all await a new pre-order date in the U.S., retailers north of the border have now confirmed a midnight kick-off this Wednesday. In the mean time, we are taking a look at some deals on the far less pricey Switch 1 games including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutants Unleashed that is now 50% off down at $19.99 Prime shipped (a $6 delivery fee will apply otherwise) via Woot as well as the Switch 1 version of Minecraft down at $26.99 from the regular $30 in celebration of the release of the new movie. There’s no telling what prices might look like on physical Switch games, be it Switch 1 or 2, in a post-Trump tariff world, so it might be worth browsing through the many deals we have up for grabs right now down below. 

Hands-on: We got to play Nintendo Switch 2 for nearly six hours yesterday [Video]

Nintendo officially announces $450 price for Switch 2, $500 Mario Kart bundle, pre-orders start next week!

Nintendo Switch 2 guide – Pre-order date delayed, Switch 2 Edition games, and more [Updated]

So many of our burning questions leading up to last week’s Switch 2 Nintendo Direct have been answered at this point, but what about those Hall effects sticks? We have now seen the new Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, we have details on the console’s battery life, and we know how the Switch 2 Edition game upgrades will work (for the most part). But we still don’t know when pre-orders will go live in the U.S. after Nintendo cancelled the April 9 kick-off date, and there were still questions up in the air as to whether or not Nintendo was leveraging Hall effect technology on the new Switch 2 controllers…until now. 

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. This week, as you must know by now, it was all about Nintendo Switch 2 – official pricing, pre-order delays, release date, Mario Kart World, Donkey Bananza, and much more – but we also have a complete rundown of the April LEGO releases ready and waiting below too.

Update 4/8: Noooooo, Nintendo has now officially announced that pre-orders for Switch 2 in Canada will also be delayed to a later date. Nintendo has made an official statement to the press confirming that pre-orders in Canada will also be delayed to fall in-line with the U.S.

What time will Switch 2 pre-orders go live? Well, at this point we don’t even know what day they are going live here in the U.S., but north of the border Walmart has other major retailers have announced the official date and time Switch 2 pre-orders will begin, perhaps giving us a better idea of how things might shake out in the U.S. once Nintendo is ready to let us score one. 

Late yesterday morning, Nintendo issued an official statement to the press saying that it would be delaying Switch 2 pre-orders in the U.S. indefinitely, however this isn’t the case everywhere in the world. The company apparently needs time to assess the impacts of sweeping levies put in place by the Trump administration earlier this week before it will be ready to begin taking pre-orders of its next-generation console stateside – this is, however, not the case north of the border. 

Earlier this year we featured the Samsung smart TV reserve campaign that gave folks a chance to secure a completely FREE $100 credit to use towards the brand’s new lineup. Those models are now live and up for purchase alongside a host of discounts at up to $2,250 off on a range of its 2024, and still very capable, smart displays you can check out on this landing page and down below. 

In a disappointing but unfortunately not surprising turn of events, reports are surfacing today suggesting Nintendo will officially be delaying the Switch 2 pre-order date in response to Trump tariffs. Nooooooo! 

It was a big day for Nintendo yesterday with the full reveal of Nintendo Switch 2, its official price tag, release date, pre-order date, a closer look at Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, and we even had roughly 6 hours of hands-on time with the new console (check out the video right here), but the fun doesn’t stop there. A couple days ago Nintendo announced that it would be hosting some official Treehouse Live streams so gamers can get a closer look specifically at the new games, and it all starts very soon. 

Nintendo might not have served up the price and pre-order date as part of the Switch 2 Direct, but do now have the official details. Switch 2 will launch on June 5 after pre-orders go live next week on April 9 with pricing kicking off at $450, and Best Buy has now announced some official details on its Switch preorder and launch plans you’ll want to be aware of. 

We have now collected all of the best Android game and app deals that have surfaced on Google Play. The Switch 2 is front and center today as Nintendo fully reveals its next-generation of gaming, the official price, release date, and more, but just be sure to also scope out the deals we have today on Lenovo’s touchscreen Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition Copilot+ PC, the Google Find My Device trackers at just $14 each, Google Pixel Tablet today at $200 off, and Galaxy Watch Ultra at $230 off. Then head below to scope out al of today’s Android game and app deals. 

Alongside the official complete reveal of Switch 2 today, as well as its official accessories and some of the exclusive new games, Nintendo also debuted the new Switch 2 game cartridge design as well as something known as Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Cards. Let’s take a closer look at both. 

Alongside the reveal of the new Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza Switch 2 exclusives, not to mention the official price and release date of the console, we also got details on the new GameChat feature and new Switch 2 accessories. Nintendo has now updated its official Switch 2 site with additional details on each of them as well as the official price. 

Just after giving us a complete look at the new Switch 2, the official price, and when preorders will start, Nintendo has also now officially unveiled the Mario Kart World. The game will be available as part of an optional console bundle when preorders start next week, but there is also an upcoming dedicated Direct presentation for the game and a price some folks might not be happy with. 

Nintendo just hosted its widely anticipated Switch 2 Direct with a few missing pieces of information – the price and the pre-order date. We know the system is releasing on June 5, 2025, but it has just issued a press release offering up the official price and pre-order dates now! 

The official Switch 2 Direct presentation goes live soon, like very soon at 9 a.m. ET, and will be covering all of the details Nintendo dishes out right here. And in celebration, we are once again highlighting all of the best Switch game deals up for grabs right now!

• Mario & Luigi: Brothership $45 (Reg. $60)
• Super Mario Odyssey $40 (Reg. $60)
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury $42 (Reg. $60)
• Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom $45 (Reg. $70)
• Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening $42 (Reg. $60)
• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD $42 (Reg. $60)
• New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe $40 (Reg. $60)
• Minecraft $27 (Reg. $30)
• Metroid Prime Remastered $30 (Reg. $40)
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder $45 (Reg. $60)
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutants Unleashed $20 (Reg. $40)
• The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom $42 (Reg. $60)
• Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince $30 (Reg. $40)
• Trials of Mana eShop $20 (Reg. $50)

Nintendo Switch 2 Direct goes live today!

Nintendo Switch 2 guide – Pre-order date leak, Switch 2 Edition games, and more [Updated]

Nintendo has now released an official new teaser video specifically showcasing the new “C” button on Switch 2, and right on the morning the highly-anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 Direct will go live. The day has finally come and it will only be a matter of hours before the scheduled Switch 2 Direct presentation goes live at 9 a.m. ET, so we will keep this one short and sweet. 

Update: Nintendo has officially announced $450 price for Switch 2, $500 Mario Kart bundle, and pre-orders start next week!

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct goes live today. After months of questions and speculation, Nintendo will take the virtual stage this morning to fully reveal the Nintendo Switch 2. After a first-look official trailer finally ended years of waiting back in January, Nintendo is set to host a lengthy Direct event this morning on Switch 2 and it’s all set to go live in just a few hours time now. 

While it likely won’t be long now until we find out for sure, some believe that a newly surfaced Nintendo FCC filing is confirming the existence of the new Switch 2 Pro Controller – or some sort of new gamepad anyway. 

Your Tuesday afternoon collection of Android game and app deals is now ready to go down below. While the gaming world is anxiously awaiting tomorrow’s Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, there are some notable Android experiences on sale here today alongside $300 off the most affordable unlocked Google Pixel 9 Pro, a $100 price cut on the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, and the OnePlus Pad 2 at $100 off with a FREE $100 OnePlus Stylo. But for now it’s all about the Android apps, and you’ll find the best of them waiting below. 

It might be April Fools’ Day, but Nomad has just launched a very serious sitewide sale, offering 15% off just about everything it sells on its site using code FOOLS15 at checkout. The only exceptions here are backordered items and some of the third-party gear. While 15% might not seem like all that much, a deal is a deal, and Nomad doesn’t often offer much more than that in its sitewide events outside of Black Friday and the holidays. This will yield a series of notable on its latest releases (providing they are not on backorder, anyway), and we will touch on some favorites down below. 

Update: According to the official Nintendo Today! app, the Treehouse presentations detailed below will last for 4 hours and 3 hours, respectively. 

As you already know from our Countdown to Nintendo Switch 2 Direct feature this morning, the show is set to go live tomorrow morning and we now have some additional official details. Nintendo has now issued a press release and some extra details to look forward to on its official X (Twitter) page regarding not just the Switch 2 Direct, but also some follow up coverage that will highlight gameplay. 

The Nintendo Switch 2 Direct goes live in just over 24 hours now. After years of rumors, leaks, and speculation that finally culminated in an official reveal of the next-generation of Nintendo gaming earlier this year, the flagpole for this stage of the Switch 2 launch is just over the next hill folks! All of the details you need on the Switch 2 Direct are waiting down below alongside everything we know thus far on pre-order dates and a quick look back at the major announcements over the last couple months await below. 

As part of its new Apple refurb sale, Woot is now offering “Grade A Refurbished” OG Apple Watch Ultra configurations with various band options down at $389.99 Prime shipped (a $6 delivery fee will apply otherwise). You’re looking at $799 Apple wearables at $409 off the original list prices to land within $10 of the lowest price we have tracked this year, and there are several more band options up for grabs with today’s deal. 

Update 4/1: You will now see the official Switch 2 teaser video these images were pulled from yesterday inside of the Nintendo Today! app. 

Well folks, we are less than 48 hours out from the official Switch 2 Direct showcase, and Nintendo has finally served up another official image of Switch 2….sort of. The Nintendo Today! app in the U.S. still shows the “2 Days to gGo” teaser video that isn’t particularly interesting, but folks in the Japanese timezone are already seeing the “1 Day to Go” image, and it’s a new one that shows the Switch 2 in three different forms. 

Our countdown to the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct continues today and, after going over the pre-order details, Switch 2 enhanced games, colorway options, the new 3D Mario game, leaked details on the upcoming Zelda releases, and the spring/early summer launch expectations, today we are talking controllers – more specifically the Switch 2 Pro Controller. Details on the new Joy-Con have come to light via new official renders in the Nintendo Today! app alongside a host of seemingly official patent filings, but the seemingly inevitable Switch 2 Pro Controller remains (mostly) elusive. 

While the enhanced Samsung trade-in offers that can knock up to $200 off its latest Galaxy Watch 7 wearables continue, Amazon has some straight up cash deals worth scoping out today if you don’t have any gear to trade-in against one. Again, you’ll definitely want to head straight to Samsung for the trade-in options, but Amazon has a few configurations and colors at notable prices right now starting from $222.99 shipped. Details await below. 

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. This week it was all about Nintendo Switch 2 leading up to Tuesday’s Direct showcase, but we also got the latest from LEGO, an official release date for the Zelda movie, the new Backbone transparent green Xbox Edition mobile controller, and more.

Our countdown to the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct rolls on and today we are turning our attention back to the games. The internet has been ablaze the last few days with a string of pre-order date leaks – Best Buy says they begin on April 2 right after the Direct showcase and leaked internal documents say April 9…we will see – but whenever it releases (likely June), it’s really all about the games, and if you’re not talking Mario and friends, you’re talking Zelda. 

Just after Best Buy Canada specifically posted an official announcement that Switch 2 pre-orders would start on April 2 – the same day as the Switch 2 Direct, a new report has surfaced saying that might not be the case. Details below. 

We are under a week away from the official Switch 2 Direct presentation – five days in fact – and we have now made it to the half way point in our Countdown to Nintendo Switch 2 Direct feature series. That means it’s time to gather up all of the latest features, leaks, and rumors we have been discussing in the lead up to the official full reveal of Switch 2 and you’ll find everything waiting down below. 

Options are still relatively thin when it comes to iPad stands that can carry your new M3 iPad Air or M4 iPad Pro magnetically, and charge them up simultaneously. But the KUXIU models we came away impressed with after review do, and we are now tracking some relatively rare deals on the models specifically made for your M2 and M3 iPad Air as well as the M4 iPad, and for both the 11-inch and 13-inch form-factors. Pricing kicks off at $83.99 shipped via the brand’s official Amazon storefront and we will dive into more detail down below. 

Update 6/9: Nintendo has now official delayed the release of the live-action Zelda movie – not by all much though:

This is Miyamoto. For production reasons, we are changing the release date of the live-action film of The Legend of Zelda to May 7, 2027. It will be some weeks later than the release timing we originally announced, and we will take the extra time to make the film as good as it can be. Thank you for your patience.

Way back in November of 2023 Nintendo issued an open letter on behalf of itself and Sony Pictures to announce that a live-action Zelda film was in the works. Details and development updates on the project have been largely quiet since then, but it has now confirmed an official release for the upcoming live-action Zelda movie! 

Our countdown to the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct continues today with a closer look at the launch games, and more specifically the rumors, leaks, and details on the upcoming 3D Mario game. We are now just 6 days away from the full reveal of Nintendo Switch 2 and more than likely the first-party games it will be launching with (in what is likely just a couple months now) so let’s dive in. 

What are Nintendo Switch 2 Edition games? While today’s Nintendo Direct wasn’t the presentation we have all been waiting on (for years now), there were some exciting announcements and new game footage for some highly anticipated titles. It debuted the new Nintendo Today! app you can download for FREE right now as well as the new Virtual Game Cards – a system where by you can lend digital games and load up titles on two different Switch consoles. But there’s also some potentially interesting mentions of Switch 2 games in the fine print here. 

Update 4/2: Alongside the new images we featured 2 days ago, the new Nintendo Today! app has once again been updated with a new Switch 2 teaser video for Direct day specifically highlighting the “C” button. If Nintendo waited for the final day to specifically highlight the “C” button, chances are this is perhaps a more significant new feature than any of us might have ever thought. You’ll find the new images waiting down below. 

It has been a busy day in Nintendo Switch news – Best Buy might have leaked the pre-order date this morning and we just got whole slew of updates on new games courtesy of this morning’s Nintendo Direct presentation. As part of this morning’s showcase, Nintendo unveiled the new Virtual Game Cards as well as an all-new Android and iOS app known as Nintendo Today! Alongside daily updates on all things Nintendo sent directly to your smartphone, it also just revealed the mysterious “C” button. Head below for more details. 

As we reported at the top of the month, Samsung is bringing a pair of its latest entry-level, mid-range smartphones to the U.S. market today for folks not bothered by the flagship Galaxy S25 devices. The new Galaxy A26 5G and Galaxy A36 5G are now up for sale directly on the official Samsung site starting from $299.99 and $399.99, respectively. And this is Samsung after all, so we have some early deals up for grabs on both models to entice early adoption. Scope out the details down below. 

Update 3/28: Internal documents from a major US retailer has purportedly just leaked official Switch 2 pre-order date that differs from the date mentioned below.

Update: Best Buy has removed the announcement with the purported leak…there are also reports sourced from other retailers suggesting this date was mentioned in error.

Heads up folks, Best Buy might have just leaked the official pre-order date for Nintendo Switch 2! An official Best Buy Canada announcement, that will likely get taken down at any minute, just specifically stated that pre-orders for Nintendo Switch 2 will officially go live on April 2. 

The Backbone One has been lauded as one of the better mobile gaming controllers for iOS and Android users for quite some time, and today it is officially introducing its new Xbox Edition. Adorning eye-catching transparent green aesthetics – we really love the look here, Backbone says this isn’t just any mobile controller, but rather one that’s an extension of Xbox itself. Now available for purchase directly from Backbone, you can get a closer look and more details down below. 

Journey is brand best known for all things Apple gear accessories, from chargers and MagSafe gear, to Find My tracker-equipped wallets, and more, but today it is introducing REEVUS – a new insulated stainless steel tumbler with Apple Find My, wireless charging, and built-in MagSafe stand. Best of all, you can score one today with an early 15% off launch deal. Head below for a closer look and more details. 

The next Nintendo Direct showcase goes live today folks. Yesterday Nintendo officially announced a new, second Direct set to broadcast to the Mushroom Kingdom this morning ahead of next week’s prime time show where it will fully reveal the next-generation Switch 2 – just six days and counting now. This morning’s show will be entirely focused on Switch games, delivering 30 straight minutes of upcoming titles and you can follow along with us below. 

The rumors were true. It’s not the Switch 2 Direct we are all waiting for but Nintendo’s has decided it will host a new Direct presentation to focus on 30 minutes of new Switch games this week too. The whole thing kicks off tomorrow morning and we have all of the details for you down below.