Games

Just after Amazon launched its latest Switch game sale with 33% off a range of top-tier, first-party titles, Nintendo has taken to its official X (Twitter) account and YouTube channel to announce the Switch Online April updates. This time around the updates are landing for base tier members, with three new classics for the SNES game library in the form of some truly retro Mario hammer-swinging, Amazing Hebereke, and some sci-fi shooter action. Head below for more details. 

Following the debut of its new Marvel Vs Capcom 2 cabinet in celebration of the launch of the new (or continuation of) the X-Men animated series, Arcade1Up is now readying gamers to hit the virtual links with the new deluxe treatment on its Golden Tee 3D 35th Anniversary Arcade Machine. The deluxe model features a new larger 19-inch display as well as a fresh streamlined design of the cabinet, and it is now up for pre-order at Best Buy. Head below for more details. 

Today, Razer is officially unveiling and releasing its brand new BlackShark V2 gaming headsets for PlayStation and Xbox console gamers. Just after the debut of its new Aether smart monitor light bar with Matter and the “world’s first” Thunderbolt 5 gaming laptop with an 18-inch 4K 200Hz display, the popular PC gaming brand is turning its attention to the console audio space with its latest headsets. While it did introduce the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro set for PC gamers last year (currently $30 off at Amazon), it’s now time for the console folks. All of the details are down below on the now available for purchase headsets. 

Update: Pre-orders are now live at Best Buy on the new Star Wars Outlaws ahead of the official August 30 release date. You can play 3 days early with a copy of the Gold Edition and the standard copy comes with The Kessel Runner vehicle bonus pack. 

• Star Wars Outlaws Standard $70
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition $100

Today, Ubisoft is priming us for the upcoming release of Star Wars Outlaws with the debut story trailer. While some suggested we might have to wait for the now confirmed Ubisoft Forward summer showcase in June to see more of the game, the official story trailer is to set to premiere on YouTube in about 1-hour’s time instead. And while it did feel like we might actually have to wait on a release date, Ubisoft has now accidentally dished up the summertime slot for launch ahead of time. Head below for more details and to watch today’s Star Wars Outlaws store trailer. 

Joining this morning’s collection of console game deals, Amazon has now launched a new Nintendo Switch game sale featuring many of the best first-party titles. While you won’t find some of the newest releases in there, like Super Mario Bros. Wonder (here’s our full review of this one), Super Mario RPG, or the new Princess Peach game, there is plenty of Mario, Kirby, Zelda, and Splatoon up for grabs. A notable chance to shore up your first-party Switch game library, titles like Kirby and the Forgotten Land, New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe, Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Splatoon 3 are all now 33% off the going rate. Check out all of the best deals from the sale event down below. 

Your Monday afternoon collection of the best Android game and app deals is now ready down below. Alongside the Google Play deals, we are also tracking offers on Lenovo’s IdeaPad Flex 5i Chromebook Plus, Samsung’s higher-end Bespoke Galaxy Watch 6 styles, Google’s official Pixel Fold cases, and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8+, but for now we are focused on the apps. Highlights include titles like Don’t Starve: Pocket Edition, Don’t Starve: Shipwrecked, LEGO Bricktales, Kensho, LIMBO, and more. Head below for a complete look at today’s best Android game and app deals. 

Just after unveiling its new NEO S retro-style controller and the brand new Nitro Deck+, both gamepads are now getting the official limited edition Hellboy treatment. The folks over at CRKD are celebrating Hellboy’s 30th Anniversary with a pair of special edition controllers made to “encapsulate the very soul of Mike Mignola’s beloved creation, where darkness and heroism collide in a timeless struggle for the fate of humanity!” Now available for pre-order directly from CRKD, head below for a closer look at the new Hellboy Nitro Deck and NEO S controllers. 

Your Thursday afternoon collection of the best Android game and app deals is now ready down below. On your way down to scope those out, check out the deals we have on Google Pixel Buds Pro, the latest Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Headphones, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5, and these rare offers on Arc’s minimalist S23 Ultra aluminum bumper cases, As for the apps, highlights include titles like Endling, Aporkalypse, Titan Quest, OK Golf, SkySafari 7 Pro, and more. Head below for a complete look at today’s best Android game and app deals. 

Today we are tracking some notable and relatively rare deals on 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions (or extensions). Newegg is now offering the subscription down at $40.99 with free digital deliver using code SSDRA43 at checkout for today only. And Target has the same subscription selling for $39.99. However, CDKeys – a trusted online digital dealer we have featured around here many times – it also offering the same 3-months for $30.69 with free digital delivery, which is easily the best deals floating around right now. While we have seen them drop lower in the past, they don’t often dip below $30 these days. Regularly listed at $50 via some retailers, 3-month subs are almost always available for $45 via Amazon. More details below. 

Amazon is once again offer Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 down at $29.99 shipped. Also matched at Best Buy. Regularly $50, this is 40% off the going rate and the lowest price we can find. Today’s deal also delivers a match of the lowest price we have tracked on Amazon since its release last summer. You’re looking at Ubisoft’s revival and reimagining of the original retro Prince of Persia titles, just with a more of a focus on flashy combat than the wildly difficult puzzle platforming of yesteryear. Set in a “Persian-inspired world filled with larger-than-life landmarks,” players will discover an orignal new storyline “find hidden treasures, and complete quests to learn more about this corrupted place.” Head below for the rest of today’s best console game deals. 

Just after Geoff Keighley officially announced and confirmed this year’s major Summer Game Fest showcase, Ubisoft has now gone public with its plans as well. With the demise of E3, Summer Game Fest and a series of publisher specific-events have stepped into the fill the void, and we know when Ubisoft will be taking the stage. The next Ubisoft Forward event is set to take place come June 10, the same day as Apple’s highly-anticipated WWDC, and will likely be one of, if not, the biggest Ubisoft show of the year. 

Update: The Nocturnal Vapor Xbox Wireless Controller is now marked down at Amazon to $54.93 shipped from the regular $69 price tag.

Microsoft has now taken to the official Xbox Wire to reveal the new Nocturnal Vapor Special Edition Xbox Controller. Just after the debut of its S.P.E.C.I.A.L. edition Vault Boy Fallout Xbox Wireless Controllers, the limited South Park: Snow Day bundles, and the new misty Vapor gamepads before that, Xbox is now inspiring gamers to “own the night” with the new moody Nocturnal Vapor Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller. Now available for pre-order directly from Microsoft and at Amazon, you can get a closer look and more details down below. 

About a month go we reported on rumors of potential upcoming all-white, all-digital Xbox Series X and now, recently surfaced imagery is fueling the fire further. While there was no mention of this machine back when Phil Spencer and friends hinted an upcoming ultra-powerful next-gen hardware and maybe even an upcoming Xbox handheld machine, but, if recent leaks are to be believed, Microsoft does look to be readying the release of a new version of the existing Xbox Series X with a fresh coat of all-white paint for this summer. Head below for more details. 

Described as the “premier Super Hero Team-based PVP,” the new Marvel Rivals is making its official debut today. Marvel has teamed up the developer NetEase games to bring the best of the Marvel Multiverse into a 6v6 hero shooter of sorts, blending the ultra-popular superhero stable with the likes of titles like Overwatch. The official announcement trailer has now landed on the Marvel YouTube channel and you can check it out below. 

New special edition South Park Xbox Series X bundles are here, but you’ll have to try to win one. After seeing the new special edition Dune model and the official SpongeBob Xbox Series X console bundle after that, Microsoft has now unveiled its next custom console job in celebration of the release of South Park: Snow Day today. The infamous and beloved animated characters from the show are debuting in their latest console experience starting today, and Microsoft has now revealed these four unique Xbox Series X consoles and matching controllers, each featuring the iconic South Park characters. head below for more details and a closer look. 

After alleged internal specs on an upcoming PlayStation 5 Pro hit the interwebs late last year, a new report is putting more fuel under the fire of what is starting to feel like an all but imminent reveal of the upgraded PS5 Pro. It appears a technical overview document from Sony has surfaced, detailing what to expect from PS5 Pro ahead of what some are suggesting a holiday 2024 launch window. Hit the jump for all of the details on the what might very well be early details on PlayStation 5 Pro and its graphical prowess. 

It’s Wednesday afternoon and now it’s time to take a look at the day’s best Google Play app deals for Android users. Be sure to check out the offers we have on Samsung’s Galaxy S23 FE as well as the official 15W Qi wireless charging pad at $42 and Samsung’s just-released Galaxy Tab A9+. As for the apps, highlights include titles like Kingdom Rush Vengeance, Kingdom Rush Frontiers, Iron Marines 2, Dragon Quest Builders, SaGa Frontier Remastered, and more. Head below for a complete look at today’s best Android game and app deals. 

With the sad demise of the once beloved annual E3 gaming conference came the rise of Summer Game Fest in its place. While many of us have more than fond memories of the (usually) exciting live press conferences from the major publishers and platforms each summer at E3, I would say that Summer Game Fest has started to really take form over the last couple years and put on quite a good show last year. And now, showrunner of sorts, Geoff Keighley has officially confirmed what might very well be the biggest, if not the most universal, gaming event of the year with Summer Game Fest 2024. Head below for the details. 

Alongside officially confirming the Super Mario Bros. Movie sequel this past weekend, Nintendo also unveiled the next additions to its Switch Online library. Just after serving up the release dates for upcoming Switch remakes, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door and Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, Nintendo took the chance to announce three new classic Game Boy titles for its Switch Online members, including Dr. Mario, Mario Golf, and Mario Tennis, and they are now live. All of the details are down below. 

Alongside all of today’s Mario Day deals on games, LEGO, toys, consoles, and more, Nintendo has now served up a special video on its YouTube channel with some fun new announcements. Not only did we get the release dates for the upcoming Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door and Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, but Shigeru Miyamoto himself made an appearance to talk about the next Super Mario Bros. movie! More details below. 

Mario Day 2024 has now officially arrived with notable deals on Switch consoles, first-party physical Switch games, and much more. The Mario festivities tend to give Switch gamers the best chance in the early part of the year to shore up their Switch game library with many of the best Mario and friends titles, including Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Party, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and more, not to mention a host of deals on third-party accessories, LEGO kits, and and other hardware. This is the place to find all of the best Mario Day deals in one place and we will be updating it through the day as more price drops go live at major retailers across the web. Head below for our 2024 edition of the best Mario Day deals, including games, Switch consoles, and more. Let’s-a Go!

In the run-up to the debut of the new Fallout series – a live-action TV show based on the iconic video game series – Bethesda has now put its new Fallout Series Pip-Boy Die Cast Replica collectible up for pre-order. The series is set to debut on April 11 (you can check out today’s new trailer below) and in celebration, the official Bethesda site has now opened pre-orders on a special new collectible for fans of the long-running game series – it might be the best version of the Pip-Boy wearable we have seen yet too. Check it out below. 

Just as the Mario Day digital game deals go live, Nintendo is readying gamers for the upcoming release of Princess Peach: Showtime! with a FREE demo on the eShop and a fresh new trailer. We have had a chance to play through the first five stages of the game recently at a press event, and now everyone can give the upcoming first-party Nintendo game a try via the eShop. Head below for more details, some FREE pre-order bonuses for the game, and the new overview trailer Nintendo just dropped. 

Update: Both Best Buy and Amazon have now kicked-off early Mario Day digital game sales.

While we are still a few days away from Mario Day proper, the celebration has already begun and the Mario Day game deals start today! After LEGO was the first out of the gate with its Mushroom Kingdom festivities, Nintendo followed shortly after with an official announcement of its own festivities leading up to the March 10 worldwide holiday. The “Mega Mushroom-sized list” of upcoming events kicked off with a bonus Switch Online trial and the Mario Day 2024 eShop sale goes live right now (or very shortly). All of the details are down below. 

Update: The Series S toaster is now live once again at $40 via Walmart after going out of stock for a couple months. 

A new Xbox toaster has arrived. After folks trolled Microsoft way back at the launch of its current-generation consoles about the Series X looking like a fridge, the Xbox Series X mini fridge was made a reality, and now, the Series has been made into a toaster. Like an actual toaster that works and imprints your breakfast toast with the Xbox logo I mean. You can buy one right now at Walmart for $40 too. Head below for more details on the official Xbox toaster. 

As promised with an official announcement earlier this week, today’s Xbox Partner Preview Game Showcase is about to kick-off. Xbox hosted its first Developer Direct showcase of the year back January, giving gamers their first good look at the new Indiana Jones game, among other things, but today it is turning its attention to its Partner Preview show. We will be getting about a half hour of “fresh looks” at new games coming to Xbox and Windows and it all starts very soon. Follow along with the show down below. 

After announcing it was bringing Horizon Forbidden West Complete to PC earlier this year – it releases on March 21, Sony has now taken to its official PlayStation Blog to announce the PC version of Ghost of Tsushima. The Director’s Cut of Sucker Punch’s gorgeous samurai-meets-ninja action game is now officially ready to land on PC in a couple month’s time. Sony has been slowly but surely bringing its exclusive titles over to PC battlestations for a few years now and it looks as though that trend will continue through 2024 as the complete version of the critically acclaimed open-world samurai action adventure game is set to launch come May. Hit the jump for more details on the PC features and pre-order details for Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut. 

After the unveil of the special edition Dune and SpongeBob Xbox consoles, and just ahead of tomorrow’s Partner Preview Showcase, today Microsoft is debuting its new Fallout Xbox Wireless Controllers. Microsoft is expanding its vault of Xbox Design Lab options with the all-new Fallout Xbox Wireless Controller featuring the beloved Vault Boy and iconography from the series. Head below for a closer look. 

Mario Day 2024 is fast approaching and Nintendo has now taken to its official site to debut some of the official promotions, celebratory activities, and more. As we detailed previously, Mario Day, or MAR10 Day, will be kicking off well ahead of March 10 and Nintendo has now unveiled some official deals on first-party Mario games as well as a special gift card promotion with console purchases, and a host of bonuses for Switch Online users. Head below for more details on the official Nintendo Mario Day 2024 deals and more. 

A new SpongeBob Xbox Series X console is on the way, and this isn’t just some contest – you’ll actually be able to buy one. Xbox, Best Buy, Paramount Game Studios, and GameMill are now officially joining forces to serve up the new special edition Series X console with a matching controller completely decked out in SpongeBob art. According to today’s official announcement via the Xbox Wire, the special Best Buy Drop will be available for purchase later this week. Head below for a closer look and more details. 

Welcome to our countdown to Mario Day 2024! After launching what many feel is the best 2D Mario game of the modern era with Super Mario Bros. Wonder last fall, Nintendo has already released Mario’s first “new” title of the year with Mario vs. Donkey Kong, and now we are just 10 days away from the world-famous plumber’s global holiday. Affectionately known as Mar10, every year on March 10 Nintendo and the gaming world come together to celebrate the mustached hero in a big way, and the countdown to Mario Day 2024 starts today!

The more reliable Hall Effect tech being implemented in the most sought-after third-party controllers has become very popular among gamers everywhere, and for good reason. No one likes stick drift and no one wants to just throw their hard earned cash down the drain when the sticks on the controller they just bought start going haywire for no good reason. Much like we have seen from brands like GameSir and the ever-popular CRKD Nitro Deck Switch controller, 8Bitdo – another popular brand in the third-party gaming accessory space – is now onboard with new tech, bringing upgraded thumbticks to a range of its Switch and multi-platform controller lineup. Check them out below. 

Update: Pre-orders on the new Arcade1Up Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 X-Men ‘97 Edition Deluxe Arcade Machine have now dropped down to $499.99 shipped on Amazon. 

Arcade1Up’s latest home cabinet creation is now up for pre-order covered in art directly inspired by X-Men 97’ and the upcoming continuation of the series. The ‘90s era X-Men animated series – the best X-Men ever if you ask me – debuted in 1992 and wrapped up in 1997, some 27 years before the series is set to continue on Disney+ starting next month, and Arcade1Up is celebrating the next season of the series with its latest Deluxe Marvel Vs Capcom 2 cabinet. Pre-orders are now live on what is one of the nicest looking models in the brand’s lineup for me and you can get all of the details on the upcoming release down below. 

Update: The latest CRKD Nitro Deck+ is now readily available for purchase on Amazon at $69.99 shipped.

The Nitro Deck has been one of the most popular and, for some, best Nintendo Switch accessories out there for some time. But CRKD is back today with a brand new new version known as the Nitro Deck+ featuring the same wrap-around controller for Switch with new features around every corner, including HDMI output support. The brand has released the debut announcement trailer for the new Switch gamepad, so head below and check it out alongside more details on what the new plus model brings to your on-the-go and at-home Nintendo gaming setups. 

Update: Joining the freebie pre-order bonuses detailed below, Geek Alliance is now offering the best price yet on Princess Peach: Showtime! pre-orders at $49.99 shipped. That’s $10 of the regular $60 price tag and the lowest straight-up cash discount we have seen ahead of release on March 22. Now, you won’t get the pre-order bonus here and there’s also no guarantee it arrives on day one, but again it is the best cash deal yet. 

Nintendo’s next major first-party release after Mario vs. Donkey Kong is the debut of the new Princess Peach Showtime!, and it’s now time to take a look at some pre-order bonuses. When the game first went up for pre-order there were no actual bonuses available just yet here in the US, but both Walmart and Best Buy now have some extra goodies you can score for pre-ordering the game before it launches in mid March alongside the new official all-pink Joy-Con. Head below for more details. 

After a brief delay and promising of the upcoming Spider-Man 2 update would hit on March 7, Insomniac is still on track for release and has now given more details on what to expect. The update was originally supposed to hit by the end 2023 before being officially pushed back into 2024. But developer Insomniac has now taken to the official PlayStation Blog to give more details on what to expect come March 7, 2024 when the major Spider-Man 2 update lands for webslingers everywhere. Everything is waiting down below. 

Update: The Elden Ring – Shadow of the Erdtree Edition is now up for pre-order on Amazon at $79.99 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. 

Update: Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree DLC officially releases June 21, 2024 at $39.99 alongside a new collector’s edition, pre-orders start today. 

Ready your swords Tarnished, we are heading back to the Lands Between soon. FromSoftware expanded its brilliant and nail-biting Soulsborne formula out into the open world with Elden Ring and today it is finally ready to unveil the reveal trailer for Shadow of the Erdtree. The highly-anticipated first real look at gameplay in the upcoming expansion is set to go live today at 10 a.m. ET, and you can check it all out down below. 

Update: The new STAR WARS: Battlefront Classic Collection for Switch is now live on the eShop with a nice pre-order deal at $31.50 (Reg. $35). It launches on March 14th (also coming to PlayStation and Xbox).

After the launch of Mario vs. Donkey Kong and just ahead of next month’s release of Princess Peach Showtime! (here’s our early hands-on impressions), it’s time for the first Nintendo Direct showcase of 2024. Earlier this week, Nintendo announced it would host a Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase and we are now just minutes away. While two of the big first-party releases are already on the table, it’s time to find out what’s on the slate for the remainder of the year and beyond on Nintendo Switch. Head below to follow along with today’s Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase.

Well, both Xbox and Sony have broadcasted their first game showcases of the year, and you know what that means – Nintendo is next. Rumors of the next Direct showcase had surfaced just before Microsoft’s Phil Spencer confirmed select Xbox exclusive titles were indeed coming to PlayStation 5 and Switch, but Nintendo has now officially confirmed the first Direct showcase of the year. After the launch of Mario vs. Donkey Kong and just ahead of Princess Peach Showtime! making its worldwide debut on March 22, Nintendo and its development partners will take the stage in two day’s time. Head below for the details. 

It appears as though the folks over at Respawn Entertainment are currently in the process of developing a first-person Star Wars Mandalorian game, according to Insider Gaming. Respawn has been responsible for some of the more compelling AAA experience set in a galaxy far, far away as of late with the Star Wars Jedi series, so fans of the epic sci-fi franchise could be in for a real treat with this new take on The Mandalorian saga. Everything we know is waiting down below. 

Just before it unveiled its limited edition Dune Xbox gear, Microsoft announced that it would be broadcasting what sounds like a very special edition of the Xbox podcast. Hinting at details on the “future of Xbox,” Phil Spencer and friends are expected to be hitting the airwaves very soon with what could be some exciting (for some) news on the future of its gaming platform, exclusives titles, and more. More details below.

While the first Nintendo release for Switch hits later this week with the new Mario vs. Donkey Kong – FREE playable demo available now – the new Princess Peach Showtime! will be following closely behind. The brand new IP will see the titular princess star in an entirely new experience that is set for release in just over one month’s time now, and Nintendo just dropped a brand new trailer to show off more of what players can expect. Head below to check out it. 

Pilots will be heading to the captivating world of Arrakis as part of a new Microsoft Flight Simulator expansion. Ahead of the release of Dune: Part Two next month, the Xbox and MFS team have announced a partnership with Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures that will take players “beyond Planet Earth into the harsh deserts of the world of Dune” alongside a new custom Xbox Series S with Dune-themed Ornithopter Stand and “world’s first floating Xbox controller.” Hit the jump for more details. 

Microsoft has now officially announced an upcoming Xbox business update event for later this week. After getting a good look at some upcoming big-time game releases for the platform, not the least of which was the first gameplay footage for the new Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Microsoft is turning its attention to the big picture this Thursday. Many are expecting to hear about the company’s vision for the future of Xbox moving forward and, more specifically, about rumors involving Xbox exclusives landing on the other two major platforms. More details below. 

CRKD’s Nitro Deck wrap-around controller for Nintendo Switch has become quite popular over the last little while and the brand is now ready to expand its lineup of gaming accessories with the new NEO S. The gamepad looks to be heavily-inspired by the old squared-off form-factor of the classic NES controllers, just with more than its fair share of wild designs and some modern accoutrements in the form of the popular Hall effect stick tech and more. Head below for a closer look.