Nintendo

Holiday season is when console makers tend to ship a ton of units. They’re a popular gift idea that’s pretty much guaranteed to be a slam dunk no matter which age group you’re buying for. This rings especially true with Nintendo, as it can appeal to kids, adults, and even elderly folks as well. So it’s not crazy to wonder why Nintendo would release Switch 2 during the spring or summer. Continue reading to find out what time of year Nintendo and other console makers tend to unleash their new systems.

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. 

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! 

Nintendo Switch is nearly a decade old at this point, and honestly, I’m very impressed by just how good some games look and perform given the constraints of its dated hardware. That being said, frame drops and stuttering are apparent at times, and I’m wondering if Switch 2 could resolve these issues for existing games. While we won’t know for certain until the next generation Switch is out in the wild, that can’t stop us from hoping and speculating for the time being.

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. 

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 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. 

While I have purchased just about every major game console over the last 15 years or so, I’ve arguably owned more Nintendo Switch consoles than any other. This is due to the fact that not only do standard, Lite, and OLED models exist, but also a bunch of different colorways. Nintendo is one of the rare instances where I allow myself to splurge with color, and Switch 2 so far has been a letdown. Continue reading to find out why I think we could see more colorways sooner rather than later.

The countdown to next month’s official Switch 2 Direct is officially on – only 8 more days folks! But some details are emerging today from what appear to be sources very close to the launch of Switch 2 with details on the release date for the console, and perhaps even more interesting, a 3-stage release plan for the Switch 2 launch games. 

Nintendo dropped its new Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch OLED bundle to celebrate Mario Day! This bundle includes the best Mario has to offer and some other goodies to help sweeten the deal. However, with the unveiling of Switch 2 looming, it looks like it could be the final official Switch 1 bundle.

The Countdown to the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct rolls on: T-9 Days. There are nine days left until Nintendo takes over the internet again to fully unveil the new Nintendo Switch 2 and our countdown to the big day continues now. Yesterday we detailed everything we know about the upcoming pre-orders to get gamers ready, including some reliable sources claiming the pre-sale will begin right after the April 2 Direct presentation (all of the details you need are right here), and today we are going to be going over the most exciting early details that have been floating around on Switch 2 hardware specs – display upgrades, core graphics performance that support enhanced games, new Joy-Con features, and more. 

The Countdown to the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct has begun: T-10 Days. There are only 10 days left until Nintendo officially takes the virtual stage as part of its latest Direct presentation, and this time it’s going to be all about Nintendo Switch 2, the games, the prices, the specs, and quite possibly pre-orders. 

The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to be the biggest launch in all of gaming, according experts, but we still aren’t sure about some of the major aspects of the launch and features of the console – release date, price, and specs. However some recent rumors have surfaced suggesting the new console will see a serious upgrade in the display department, just, perhaps, not the one many of us were hoping for. 

The hype and marketing train towards the launch of Nintendo Switch 2 rolls on today as Nintendo and the Seattle Marines have announced expansion of their long-standing relationship – the 2025 Mariners jerseys will feature a Nintendo Switch 2 logo this year. 

We could be getting a new official Nintendo GameCube controller for Switch 2. Over the life span of the current-generation Switch, Nintendo released a few vintage-style controllers pulled straight from the vaults, but with upgraded wireless Bluetooth specs. The official Super NES, original Nintendo Entertainment System, Genesis, and N64 gamepad remakes already exist and were in direct support of the corresponding Switch Online libraries, but it looks like a GameCube model could be in the works for Switch 2. 

Just when it started to feel like the Switch 2 launch leaks were starting to slow down in favor of well-respected industry analysis and the like, a reliable leaker claims to have been told when to expect the Switch 2 launch while also providing some insight on potential third-party launch titles we haven’t heard about just yet otherwise. 

There have been a ton of rumors on Switch 2 ahead of the official April 2 Direct presentation, some far more reliable and interesting than others. While we had some firm new details coming by way of an FCC report as well as some hints at new features via patent filings and the like, not to mention trusted industry insiders with solid track records dishing up the goods, but a new report from Bloomberg and “analysts who regularly communicate with [Nintendo] and its software and hardware partners” might be one of the most compelling yet. 

There are more than a few burning question up on the air surrounding the launch of Nintendo’s Switch 2 – how much will it cost? What is the release date? What are the launch games? But with the way console launches went over the last generation, many folks are also asking if they’ll even be able to buy one without getting burned on eBay at exorbitant prices. There are two major factors at play here – how many units Nintendo will actually be able to get stateside before pre-orders go live and the console’s subsequent release, as well as how much overtime the scalper bots will be working when listings do go live online. Nintendo has already addressed the latter, and we might have some insight on the former courtesy of some recently surfaced information from dataminers. 

We are quickly approaching the upcoming official Nintendo Switch 2 Direct presentation on April 2, and Nintendo has just announced the grand opening of its second flagship store in the US. Presumably offering gamers another official location to lineup at midnight for a chance to be the first to score the new Switch 2 console, the new location is set open its doors for the first time on May 15 in San Francisco’s iconic Union Square. Head below for more details and details on a chance to win a trip to the new brick and mortar Mushroom Kingdom locations. 

The official launch of Switch 2, gaming’s most anticipated release of the year, is quickly approaching and some new details have come to light regarding a potential major upgrade to its voice chat system. 

Happy Mario Day folks! Today is Mario’s big day to shine and we have already delivered our master hub, organizing all of the best Switch game deals, eShop offers, LEGO promotions, a FREE Switch Online trial, and a whole lot more. While you will find a giant selection of Mario game deals below, we wanted to give Mario’s long-time friend ( or arch nemesis, depending on what game you’re playing) some love this morning too. Woot is now offering the Donkey Kong Country Returns HD remake on Switch down at one of the best price ever, with physical boxed copies at $41.99 Prime shipped (a $6 delivery fee will apply otherwise). Regularly $60, we have seen a number of chances to scoop up a copy of this one at $45, but today’s 30% off is the best price we have tracked outside of some limited-time YMMV and in-store offers. You’ll find all things Mario Day 2025 right here as well as a list of the best game deals right here and down below. 

• Mario Day 2025 hub: Switch game and DLC deals from $1.50, more
• Official Mario Day 2025 Nintendo eShop sale is now live from $1.50
• Mario Day Super Mario Bros. Wonder Switch console bundle up for sale
• LEGO Mario Day 2025 is here:Double points and a free GWP set
• Check out the official JetBlue x Nintendo Cloudtop Cruiser plane

Update 3/16: The official Mario Day 2025 deals are scheduled to end tonight – that includes most retailer deals on physical games as well as the eShop sale, the FREE Switch Online trail promotions, and more.

Mario Day has officially arrived and this si the place to find all of the deals, promotions, new product launches, and more. Also known as MAR10, by this point just about all Nintendo fans know March 10 is officially Mario’s big day to celebrate the world famous plumber’s many adventures, both new and old – we have already brought you the Mario Day Switch game deals (there’s even more of those to come) alongside the eShop discounts, LEGO’s Super Mario celebrations, and there’s even more to come. Nintendo has plastered its famous plumber on the outside of an epic new jetBlue design, added some classic Mario tunes to its new Nintendo Music app, launched a new OLED console bundle, and ushered in a host of deals on toys, LEGO sets, and Switch gaming gear too. Head below for a closer look. 

We are quickly closing in on the scheduled official Nintendo Direct showcase for Switch 2 – it is now just over 3 weeks away folks – and some new details on the console have surfaced courtesy of an official Federal Communication Commission (FCC) filing. Previously patens all but confuted the existence of mouse mode for the new Switch 2 Joy-Con alongside a reversible display and a look at the drawings of a new charger, but FCC report that has now surfaced is giving us some official details on NFC support, dual USB-C charging, and more. 

The official Mario Day 2025 game deals are set to go live today folks! The eShop digital Switch game deals for MAR10 went live a few days back – details on those are right here – and the physical Nintendo game deals are set to go live today at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and elsewhere. Nintendo detailed a sneak peak at the first-party games scheduled to go live for this year’s Mario Day festivities back on March 4 when it officially announced this year’s promotions, but just about everything is actually set to go live today some 24 hours before the official March 10 annual Mushroom Kingdom festivities. 

Mario Day 2025 is getting off to an early start as per usual – the official eShop sale is now live from $1.50 and the Nintendo LEGO offers are now up for grabs, but Nintendo also just unleashed a couple new classics for Switch Online members. While we were expecting and might still get some other Mario titles, Nintendo has unleashed a couple of new classic Game Boy titles to its retro Switch Online library and you can go play them right now. Details below. 

There has been some talk regarding a second screen functionality for Switch 2, you know, DS-style, but a newly surface patent filing is also pointing at potential magnetic smartphone integration for Nintendo’s new console. We have already seen details on some relatively new patents that all but confirm the magnetic Joy-Con and mouse mode, but it looks as though Nintendo could have some kind of magnetic attachment in the works that could enable a second screen functionality by way of your smartphone for Switch 2, and potentially and entire modular accessory holder system for other devices. 

Nintendo has now officially announced Mario Day 2025. Perhaps better known as MAR10, every year on March 10 Nintendo celebrates the world’s most famous plumber and the rest of the gang with a host of major price drops, a new console bundle or two (we uncovered a really early look at that – it’s already up for sale right now), My Nintendo challenges and events, and this year, a look at the real-life JetBlue Aircraft Featuring Mario and Friends we featured images of this morning. Head below for more details on the 2025 Mario Day festivities. 

As part of its latest Spring Video Game Sale, Woot is giving Switch gamers another shot at the lowest price we have tracked on the new Donkey Kong Country Returns HD remake at $44.99 Prime shipped (a $6 delivery fee will apply otherwise). Regularly $60, this is a straight up 25% off and matching the lowest we have tracked outside of some YMMV and in-store offers. This deal lands alongside a host of return Switch game deals you’ll find down below as well. Let’s just hope the reportedly official price increase on Switch games in select regions doesn’t make its way here too.

• Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom $45 (Reg. $70)
• Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom $45 (Reg. $60)
• Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening $42 (Reg. $60)
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder $45 (Reg. $60)
• Super Mario Odyssey $40 (Reg. $60)
• Super Mario RPG $30 (Reg. $60)
• And even more right here and down below
  

Update 3/24: Nintendo has unleashed a new video and some additional imagery of the Nintendo x JetBlue Cloudtop Cruiser…you’ll find them below. 

Update: Nintendo has now officially served up some details on the Mario plane as part of its 2025 Mario Day announcement:

 JetBlue and Nintendo have partnered on a custom livery featuring Mario and friends! The Airbus A320 Restyled aircraft named “Cloudtop Cruiser” features a bright, colorful design featuring Mario, Princess Peach, Luigi, Bowser, Donkey Kong and Yoshi. Inside the aircraft, the welcome screens of the plane’s seatback entertainment touchscreens will also include Mario and some of his Mushroom Kingdom pals. JetBlue customers and Nintendo fans can now spot the Cloudtop Cruiser flying throughout JetBlue’s network!

Nintendo just took to its official X account to reveal some official images of the new JetBlue x Nintendo Cloudtop Cruiser – it is now, not arguably, officially the world’s greatest plane. And this one doesn’t just land at Sunshine Airport, Nintendo says this ”Mario & Friends-themed plane might be landing on a runway near you.” Get a closer look below. 

While the Nintendo 2 rumor, leak and news update train has begun to slow to some degree, there’s still some interesting tidbits of information out there worth discussing, not the least of which the potential price increase on Switch 2 games. We recently rounded up the massive number of leaks and feature stories on Switch 2 into one handy guide for you right here, but some recent price hikes on existing Switch games has some folks worried about what’s to come for Switch 2 exclusive. 

Woot has been on a roll over the last few months with the Switch game deals but it all came to a screaming halt early this week when it shut down its massive sale. But worry not, just about all of the big-time deals are now back, including first-party Mario and Zelda games, Pokémon titles, and much more, with some prices now down even lower. The relatively new Mario & Luigi: Brothership, for example, has now dropped down to one of its best prices at $44.99 Prime shipped, from the regular $60 (a $6 delivery fee will apply without a Prime membership), and there’s a whole lot more than that – scroll down a bit on this landing page to find the Switch game deals and there are some highlights listed for you below:

• Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom $45 (Reg. $70)
• Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom $45 (Reg. $60)
• Legend of Zelda Link’s Awakening $42 (Reg. $60)
• Donkey Kong Country Returns HD $45 (Reg. $60)
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder $45 (Reg. $60)
• Super Mario Odyssey $40 (Reg. $60)
• Super Mario RPG $30 (Reg. $60)
• Mario & Luigi: Brothership $45 (Reg. $60)
• Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury $42 (Reg. $60)
• Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door$43 (Reg. $60)
• Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze $42 (Reg. $60)
• New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe $40 (Reg. $60) 
• Super Mario Bros. Wonder $45 (Reg. $60)
• Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD $45 (Reg. $60)
• Super Smash Bros. Ultimate $43 (Reg. $60)
• Mario Vs. Donkey Kong $40 (Reg. $60)
• Nintendo World Championships: NES Edition $25 (Reg. $30)
• And much more…

We recently put up our master Nintendo Switch 2 guide, collating all of the details, leaks, and rumors that have surfaced on the next-generation console. Next up, some alleged 3D renders of the Switch 2 dock from historically reliable leaker. While we have already caught  glimpse of the Switch 2 dock in the first-look trailer Nintendo revealed, these supposed official renders of the actual dock give us a 3D look and perhaps some additional details alongside some renders of the Joy-Con Grip and charger. 

February feels like it’s taking forever and March might be even worse as Mario Day 2025 will likely just be a reminder of how much longer we will have to wait for Nintendo Switch 2 to actually launch. But we will all just need to be patient at this point, as the scheduled Switch 2 Direct presentation is landing on April 2 and just about everyone presumes pre-orders will go live shortly after that. But when is Switch 2 going to actually release Nintendo? And how much is it going to cost? We need to know and we need to know soon. While these question will likely get answered in early April, a former Nintendo sales strategist has made some public predictions that might end up being the most accurate information we have seen yet. 

Mario Day 2025, or MAR10, is just around the corner now, and it looks like this year’s bundle has already “leaked” at Best Buy. In fact, you can already buy it right now. While this year’s Mario Day celebration might be a touch underwhelming for some considering it’s going to land roughly a month before the Nintendo Switch 2 Direct showcase and subsequent pre-orders for the next-generation console, but Nintendo clearly thinks its current-generation OLED console still has some fire left in it as the new Super Mario Bros. Wonder bundle is now up for sale at $349. 

Earlier this year Nintendo officially teased an upcoming collaboration with LEGO – an upcoming, brick-built Game Boy set. It will likely be the biggest Nintendo hardware release of the year outside of the Switch 2. At the time of the official reveal, there weren’t many details to go on outside of a teaser video and that it was indeed on the way this year, but a supposedly reliable leaker might have just outed some details on the new LEGO Game Boy along with the price. 

While we are still awaiting the official Switch 2 Direct showcase on April 2 to get the full picture on the next-generation Nintendo console, plenty of additional details have come to light since then. From official patents specifically mentioning mouse mode, the lack of support for the current Switch Online Game Voucher program, and Nintendo’s official comments on how it is dealing with the U.S. tariffs situation, all of the rumors and speculation have been interspersed with solid, confirmed details. We also know there are two USB-C ports on the machine, and one can only assume they are for more than just charging convenience – many have suggested a web cam add-on could be on the way, but does this also suggest that the dual-display rumors previously circulated could ring true?

We have already outlined the expected Switch 2 launch window games, rumored titles like GTA 6 and Metal Gear Solid Delta as well as select Xbox titles and some details on backwards compatibility. And while Nintendo hasn’t fleshed out the details on exactly how Switch games will work on Switch 2 (we know some titles won’t have full compatibly), we do now have some details on how Nintendo Game Vouchers will work on the next-generation console. 

We are now just over 6 weeks out from the official Nintendo Switch 2 Direct – a showcase where we expect to see a full blow out of the console’s feature set, some launch game information, pre-order details, and, perhaps most importantly, the price. The question is whether or not those Trump tariffs are going to take a toll on Nintendo’s stateside bottom line come launch day or not. However, in a recent press conference Nintendo boss Shuntaro Furukawa did have something to say about the matter. 

We have seen some compelling industry insider speculation on what the price of the upcoming Switch 2 will be. A Canadian Costco employee purportedly leaked a placeholder price for the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console recently. But you can apparently buy one right now for the price of about the price of new Tesla right now on the black market. 

Shortly before a Costco employee might have leaked the Switch 2 price, a recently surfaced official Nintendo patent filing all but confirmed mouse mode for the Joy-Con. Alongside giving us a glimpse at what might be the new two-piece Switch Pro Controller as well as a wireless charging dock, an official patent is also now pointing at the ability to completely reverse the Joy-Con – attach them to the console the other way around.